ARTIST: Skybox
TITLE: Arco Iris
LABEL: Big Red Balloon
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 185kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 48m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-01-15
RIP DATE: 2007-02-21
Track List
----------
1. The Caravan Cabaret 2:55
2. Disco Duck 1:26
3. Silly Things that People Say 2:14
4. Superglued to My Spaceship 3:18
5. Various Kitchen Utensils 2:46
6. Infinity and Blue Skies 3:35
7. It's a Bumpy Ride on the Back 3:56
of a Camel
8. The Lass, The Bitch, and The 2:10
Butcher
9. Cue Conversation 3:49
10. Bee Mee 3:40
11. Gravity Can't Keep Us Down 6:51
(Unless We're On Earth)
12. The Devil's Road 4:22
13. Werewolf 3:05
14. Don't Get Spin Spin 4:06
Release Notes:
It was the year 2005 Anno Domini when a bolt of lightning streaked across the
sky and smashed down mightily into the barren desert landscape of Phoenix,
Arizona, leaving in its red hot embers the colorful spectre of the eclectic pop
band that would be known as Skybox. That cosmic genesis would portend great
things for the young quintet. Their debut LP Arco Iris was recorded by Jamie
Woolford (The Stereo, Let Go) and mastered by Jason Livermore (The Ataris, Rise
Against, MxPx) . It immediately won over critics and fans alike with its mix of
spacey indie-pop melodies and darker, Radiohead-esque moodiness. Their
wide-ranging appeal has strangers mumbling comparisons to The Flaming Lips from
dimly-lit corners of coffee shops and brothels. Thats what it sounds like, at
least...its tough to be sure about such things. After a years worth of
buzz-building live appearances with bands like The Honorary Title, The Format,
Dios (Malos), Jacks Mannequin, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and Communique, the
spaceship demanded a larger landing pad.
Packing their gear and some vacuum packed Mexican food, the band set off post
haste for the larger stage of Chicago. Perplexed by the savage cold and apparent
lack of available sunlight, the band still managed in a few short months to
catch the eye of the collective Chicago music scene. They have shared the stage
with heavyweights like The Figurines and Head of Femur and have been invited to
play industry showcases at The Midwest Music Summit and the CMJ Music Marathon
in November. In late fall the band will be setting out on their third national
tour in support of Arco Iris. Keep your eyes on the skies, folks: Skybox is on
the way.
What Leading Scientists Are Saying About Skybox:
"Perhaps best described as rockÆnÆroll for the A.D.D. set, Skybox packs an
immeasurable amount of energy and musicianship into its short, wily tracks. The
Chicago-by-way-of-Phoenix quintetùfronted by 23 year old Tim Ellisùself-released
itÆs first album ôArco Irisö last year. The fast-paced set weaves dark lyrical
nuances through its mostly bouncy songs: check the weird pop of ôDonÆt Get Spin
Spinö or the tinkling piano keys of ôVarious Kitchen Utensils.ö One moment
SkyboxÆs music calls to mind neo-folkie Devendra Bahhart, while at the next it
sounds like the atmospheric rock of Muse.ö Billboard Magazine
"But it was Skybox that impressed us most of all, early in the eve at West
Village basement R&R, so please -- somebody sign them. Best described as "ADD
rock," the band was wily, tight and funner than an open bar on the moon. That's
right, we said funner." Billboard Magazine, CMJ Review on their Jaded Insider
blog.
One of the best albums Ive heard this year is Arco Iris by this obscure quintet
which relocated to Chicago a bit over a month ago. Aside from having some of the
best cover art Ive seen in a while, the album is interesting from post to wire,
a wildly diverse journey through musical styles.--Chicago Innerview Magazine
an album of incredibly rich profundity and beautyA live Skybox show is nothing
short of an event: scented themes, pirates and cupcakes. Perhaps whoever coined
the New American Weird moniker was listening to Skybox; if not, they will be.
--The Phoenix New Times.
Check this band out, they could be your next favorite band.--Leakmob
Tim Ellis' lead vocals and active stage persona was thoroughly entertaining and
engaging. He touched on vocal notes that call to mind Devendra Banhart and
Julian Casablancas, especially on Various Kitchen Utensils, a hodge podge of Tom
Waits piano tickled to life by Christian Fields, and sprinkled with wooden box
beats and other burlesque textures by Anthony Hornyak.--Radio Free Chicago