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"We get about 75 new albums a DAY coming in here now, (about 30,000 total), and the mercy kiss is one of the best I've ever heard." Derek Sivers, President CD Baby, February 2004 "[the mercy kiss] belongs on the radio on a national level" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 2003 "... a work of art" Maximum Ink, August 2003 the mercy kiss Aryn Moore - vocals, guitar, keys Bay Dariz - guitar, vocals Ian Finch - drums James Orbison - bass The members of Milwaukee's the mercy kiss have been able to combine the creativity and passion of indie rock with infectious pop melodies, resulting in a sound that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said "belongs on the radio on a national level." Perhaps this is why after playing only one live show, the band was tapped to open for acts such as Ben Lee and Year of the Rabbit and also performed on the second stage of Lollapalooza. Their story began in late 2002 when singer/guitarist Aryn Moore and guitarist/producer Bay Dariz rented a house on Milwaukee's east side - the hub of the city's music and arts scene - where they would have the freedom and space to work on music. The pair wrote and recorded dozens of songs within a few short months, using their own home studio to perfect their sound. In the beginning of 2003, the duo convinced two old friends to relocate to Milwaukee and complete the group: drummer Ian Finch (who was living in Ohio at the time) and bassist Chuck Tolentino (who had moved to Florida). Over the next several months, the quartet recorded what would become their debut EP. Described as "the newest incarnation of talent and melody... a work of art" (Maximum Ink, August 2003), the mercy kiss' self-titled debut EP showed incredible depth and range. The band's pop sensibilities are exemplified by tracks like the propulsive opener "Nothing Less [Than Everything]", a song that effortlessly flows from its math-rock verses to a soaring, powerful chorus. Just two short months after releasing their EP, the mercy kiss had already written and recorded 8 more songs, forming the framework for their 13-track LP "boys:girls touch:taste," released in October of 2003. Joining the 5 songs from the EP are standout new tracks like "She Just Walked Away." While the mercy kiss were surviving by selling CDs, tickets, and t-shirts, the band quickly outgrew the small town of Milwaukee and sought broad, national exposure. They decided that it was time to put their music to the test, so they packed it up and moved to Los Angeles in late 2003. Almost immediately upon arrival they began recording in a North Hollywood studio, and re-recorded "She Just Walked Away" and "Nothing Less [Than Everything]" along with "Truly", a powerful new song. --Jason Green [ KWUR FM ] February, 2004 Check out the artist's website: http://www.themercykiss.com Track List: 1. Boys:girls Touch:taste 2. Just Forget 3. She Just Walked Away 4. Not Over Yet 5. Life [with Me and You] 6. This Knife 7. Nothing Less [than Everything] 8. Too Late to Start 9. Something More 10. Hearts Reflect Scars 11. The Hollow Cost of Living 12. Better Off Alone 13. Is This What You Wanted? Suggested CDs:Other Genres: |