SPY ISLAND

I OFTEN WISH I WAS NICK CAVE

Sun, 23 May 2010 20:51:04 -0700

Badass Australians.

WE HEART OUR FRIENDS

Sun, 23 May 2010 17:34:11 -0700

The show was fun. Thanks for coming out! Now, we’re back to the lab to finish LP#3. Stay tuned...

SHOWS

Thu, 6 May 2010 19:26:42 -0700

Saturday, May 22 @ the Doug Fir  (w/ our good friends Derby and Slender Means from Seattle).  8 bucks!

PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:08:17 -0700

Photos from last month’s show. Check ‘em out here.

COMMERCIAL

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 09:48:22 -0700

We are back in the lab recording our third full-length. Stay tuned.

GRANDSCHEME INTERVIEW

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 23:15:21 -0800

Grandscheme’s Spokesman of the Ghost chats with Spy Island here:  http://www.grandscheme.blagspot.com/?p=352

LTD. EDITION CDS!

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:12:09 -0800

Our good friend Aaron Miller (Deer or the Doe, etc.) made these. They are awesome. They will be available at the March 27 show. Email us if you can’t make the show and want one!

ALLMUSIC GIVES LP 4 STARS

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:44:45 -0800

Allmusic.com gave the new lp a 4 star review!
Check it: 
Spy Island is a Portland-based indie pop outfit with a slightly spaced-out edge (not entirely unlike a less lysergic the Flaming Lips or Dirty Projectors minus the Afro-beat influences) and no shortage of cleverness at their disposal (not dissimilar from Pavement). But Spy Island very well could give cleverness a good name again if they keep making records like At the Vegan Witch Trials; instead of aiming for studied sloppiness or musical eccentricity for its own sake, Spy Island have embraced tight, tuneful arrangements and melodies that put some rock & roll muscle behind songs that show an impressive level of craft, and the result is a grand exercise in small-scale record making. Vocalists Dale Nicholls and Lucy Martin are both strong lead singers, and their harmonies reveal just the right snarky edge while making their too-cool-for-school lyrics sound reasonable (and even human), and the ensemble that backs them up generates an admirably diverse palette of tonal colors, from the garage rock overtones of "Hot Weather Anatomy" to the folky textures of "Vegan Witch Wars," and the lovely, languid pop of "Vegan Witch Food Cart." And while the credits claim At the Vegan Witch Trials was recorded "in some of Portland's most illustrious bedrooms and basements," you wouldn't guess that to listen to the results; this music sounds fully professional with just enough polish to help the hooks get over, and plenty of bands with larger budgets haven't been as well-served as the clean, spacious, concise production suits this band. At the Vegan Witch Trials is smart, joyous, and genuinely witty music that consistently satisfies, and it's nice to know that America's basements and bedrooms are still kicking out some great low-budget records at a time when the majors can't seem to find worthwhile new acts. 4/5 stars. - Mark Deming

“ROCK & ACOUSTIC POP PLAYED WITH SPIRIT AND MADE TO NEAR-PERFECTION” WHA!?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:00:09 -0800

From Damon @ adequacy.net:
On their new LP, Spy Island retains some of the endearingly rough edges that defined their earlier efforts, while taking their music-making talents to new heights. Thanks to clever instrumentation, glued-together harmonies, and a few gambles, rock and pop music thrive on At The Vegan Witch Trials. 
This mostly Portland-based band alternates between noise rock and quiet, acoustic-centered pop. A muted nerdiness may filter through at times, but this is overshadowed by a homey slacker vibe. That vibe is frequently attributed, often unfairly, to Northwest regional bands like Spy Island. A lot of work went into At The Vegan Witch Trials, and it shows. Download the album here. 
The relaxed, dirty little song, “Blue Pillows”picks up steam with a harmony that spills right into the chorus, where music and vocals both shine. This song actually gets better as it goes, taking a sudden but welcome turn at the bridge, where doting piano keys lead right back into the chorus. This chorus is almost anthemic in slacker terms. “Blue Pillows” also reveals the band’s refined ear and unique arrangements. Here and elsewhere on the album, assorted keys, trombone, and saxophone make themselves at home. This music doesn’t just find its comfort zone. It makes it.
Moving from rock to acoustic pop, “Walls of Home” showcases smart lyrics shared between the male-female vocals, sometimes trading off, sometimes in harmony. The band’s down-to-earth persona gushes through the vocals: “I know it comes from the armchair, but I’ve got suggestions. I want to help. I’ve got all these ideas.” 
Weak spots are few and far between here. At The Vegan Witch Trials excels. The band’s smarts translate into the music, and the music has never been better.

GET IT!!

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:14:09 -0800

Hello friends and friends of friends!

The latest Spy Island LP (AT THE VEGAN WITCH TRIALS) is now available for mass consumption. Please check it out and give it to your friends (or enemies, depending on what you think of it).

You can download it for free here:
www.wantstogiveyou.com

Or, if you want to support a great non-profit (seriously, no profit here), you can purchase the album from one of these fine digital establishments:

iTunes
Amazon

*SPY ISLAND*