Asthmaboy - Later Days
Asthmaboy is a soft indie rock duo consisting of Glindon Marten and John Boone of Bellingham, Washington. I have an theory that the artist’s environment places itself in the artist’s work. Bellingham is known as the city of “subdued excitement” which pretty much describes the music of Asthmaboy. Unfortunately my theory breaks down in the light of Grunge and sophisticated Seattle. I still have a few kinks to work out.
Their free online album titled Later Days is full of pastoral folk rock that is soft but with just a hint of bittersweet. The title track is representative of the combination of folksy acoustic background and the slightly nasal but thoughtful vocals of Martens. The dual songwriting of Martens and Boone contributes immensely to the suburban quality of the songs. Other favorites on the album include “Disappearing Trick” and “Do The Math”. This is a quiet album for those who prefer their pop and rock on the peaceful side.
The album is available as an album zip in VBR MP3 (around 192kbps).
Very nice. Definitely worth the look.
Comment by Kurt — September 23, 2007 @ 4:36 am
I love this album, its definitely worth a listen
Comment by scott — October 8, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
These guys not only put out a great album in bedrooms and kitchens of rental houses with cheap equipment, piecemeal-homebuilt computers, and thrift store plastic glockenspiels, but they give it away for free to boot! It’s going to take more groups like this to break the stranglehold of the RIAA and other like entities. If more people just realized that there’s so much good, free music out there (or took the time to make some themselves!), the lawsuits and DRM and diminishing collective musical creativity would finally leave us alone.
Thanks for the review. I know these guys and they’re great guys that deserve the attention, even though they’ve really made very little effort to get any. One thing, though: Glin’s last name is “Marten” without the s at the end.
Comment by Tom — October 9, 2007 @ 1:39 am
Very inspiring album. I can’t stop listening to it.
I really hope these guys will get another album out.
Comment by Christoffer — October 3, 2008 @ 6:06 am
Thank you. :)
Comment by louise — November 26, 2009 @ 12:59 am