Could it really be Monday again? Another weekend behind us, 2012 already quickly becoming old news and five days between us and the weekend. Fortunately, there’s something to brighten your day: free music. Today, Steal This Track brings you fresh music from . Your day is sure to fly by in a happy haze after you steal a tune from the band’s debut EP.
Officially released on Christmas Day, A Mouthful of Thunder’s “Slow Burn” EP slipped itself quietly into the waning days of 2011, not drawing too much attention to itself. That’s too bad, because it just might’ve been one of the strongest indie pop records to come out of Denver last year. Fronted by — formerly of , , and many other bands — A Mouthful of Thunder makes straightforward indie rock with very few frills, but a whole lot of heart.
On “Slow Burn,” bassist Daniel Stephenson (no longer with the band), guitarist Aaron Pott, keyboardist Justin Croft (also formerly of Nathan and Stephen/Hearts of Palm) and drummer Kevin Henkelman create energetic-yet-understated tunes that rock gently, like a cradle holding a particularly spirited infant. Front and center, however, is Till’s guitar, his expressive and sincere voice, and his lyrics, which manage to be personal without being overly confessional. The liner notes give songwriting credit to A Mouthful of Thunder, but it’s impossible not to hear the veteran musician’s artistic stamp throughout the record’s six tracks. Collaborating with , and others over the years has turned Till into a songwriter to be reckoned with. As Till himself says, “I have never spent so long on writing and recording songs before.”
Fans of early Built to Spill and Sebadoh will find familiar sounds and attitudes at work here. And though A Mouthful of Thunder is more reserved than his previous projects, Till shows that “mature” doesn’t have to be the opposite of “rock.” Steal “Don’t Tread on Me” to hear for yourself, and then scurry to to cop the whole release for a mere fiver.
Please note that downloads offered via Steal This Track are intended to whet your appetite, and are NOT CD-quality recordings. If you want those, please support the artists by buying their music and/or seeing them live.
If you’re a band or musician ready to expose your fresh sounds to the readers of Reverb, email your tracks — along with any interesting facts about them, as well as a photo or album art — to Eryc Eyl for consideration.
Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out for local music you can HEAR, and the for stories about Denver musicians doing extraordinary things. Against his mother’s advice, Eryc has also been known to . You can also follow Sorry, Mom.
