MP3: Sad Baby Wolf (Ex-Shins) – "Everything Is"
(Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)
04.04.2012
Stereogum Premieres SBW's Take On Classic Neutral Milk Hotel Song
The Song:
It takes some considerable cojones to cover one of the most revered indie rock bands in music history, but Sad Baby Wolf confidently stepped up to the challenge with their take on Neutral Milk Hotel's early classic, "Everything Is" (Check the original here). Albuquerque's relatively young band, headed by former Shin's member Marty Crandall, are releasing their NMH cover as a loosie track while they prep the release of their debut EP later this summer.
"We have all loved Neutral Milk Hotel for years, and they are a big inspiration," says drummer Maury Crandall. "The song just fits what we're doing right now. The lyrics talk about newness and things just starting out and being exciting and beautiful, and that's how Sad Baby Wolf has felt for us."
Instead of trying to bring the track to a more modern place, SBW embraced the distinct '90s sound that Neutral Milk Hotel helped shape. SBW makes the song their own though, with Maury's more prominent drumming and Marty's vocals giving the song a more cohesive feel than the original. The band maintained the conscious fuzziness of Jeff Magnum's original vocal recording, and added just a little bit of spit shine to polish up the overall sound of the cover. "The song is a good one to rock out to." says Maury. "There was no big pressure or anything — we just had fun playing a song by a band we love."
Please contact Gavin if interested in talking with Sad Baby Wolf.
The Background:
The band was conceived during a homecoming of sorts—not in the heat of a romantic dalliance, but a brotherly collaboration. Sad Baby Wolf formed in 2010 when lead singer, Marty Crandall, who had just been "let go" from The Shins, returned to his hometown of Albuquerque for a visit. An old friend with roots in the Albuquerque music scene of yore was seriously ill and hosting a benefit concert to offset medical expenses. Hot air balloon pilot and fellow-former-Shins guitarist Neal Langford was a natural collaborator for what they assumed was a quick, one-off gig. Along with another long-time buddy and musician, Jason Ward, and Marty's brother Maury Crandall on drums, they pasted together a set of two covers and two originals.It was a slap-dash rush to compose the new songs, yet they found that it felt oddly, exhilaratingly effortless. The feeling persisted through the performance. Fast forward to late 2011, and Sad Baby Wolf are finally ready to release their debut single, "8th Level" / "Survival Guide". With a full length album planned for spring of 2012 and frequent gigs, the men of young Sad Baby Wolf contiunue to devleop their nascent sound. Beware of fangs and talons quivering in wait...
