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Music for Dead Birds

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Music for Dead Birds
Music for Dead Birds performing at the Roisin Dubh, Galway.
Music for Dead Birds performing at the Roisin Dubh, Galway.
Background information
OriginGalway, Ireland
GenresIndie folk, lo fi, indie rock, anti-folk,[1] rock[2]
Instrument(s)voice, guitar, drums
Years active2007 – present
LabelsRusted Rail
MembersJimmy Monaghan, Dónal Walsh
Past membersBrianna Monaghan
Websitewww.musicfordeadbirds.eu

Music for Dead Birds are an anti-folk band from Galway and County Mayo, Ireland. Its members are Jimmy Monaghan (vocals, guitar) and Dónal Walsh (drums).[3][4]

History

[edit]

Music for Dead Birds formed in Galway city in 2007.[5] In April, 2009, they released their debut album "And then it rained for seven days" on the Irish independent record label Rusted Rail.[6] The album was self produced by the band and was mainly recorded using a 4-track tape deck. Foxy Digitalis commented "The additional album info describes the recording as taking place in "various sheds, attics & bedrooms in Galway and Mayo." The end result represents clear intentions and highly creative song writing and recording techniques."[7] However, it was also criticised for its lo-fi quality.[8] The song Four Years From Now went on to feature on the soundtrack of the German art project Centerland, which was released by Jellyfant Records in 2013.[9]

In October 2011, the group released their second album "The Pope's Sister".[10] AU Magazine said : "Over ten short tracks – each one as good as the next – Jimmy Monaghan and co meld Beta Band-esque charm with boldly erratic time signatures and disaffected fuzz."[11] Terrascope also praised the album stating: "By the time you get to “Release the Dogs” you find you are fully immersed in the album, the twisted guitar lines hooking you in with relentless ease."[12] It was listed by Irish radio DJ Dan Hegarty as one of the top 50 Irish albums of 2011.[13]

The group's third album "Vitamins" was released on 17 April 2014, by the band's own Ghost Home Recordings label, as both a Pay what you want digital download and a limited edition CD run of 100 copies.[14] The album was recorded in one weekend at Data Studios, County Kerry, with recording engineer Tadgh Healy.[15] Critical reception of the album was mixed, with Irish website GoldenPlec referring to it as a "flawed project",[16] while in a more positive review Ptolemaic Terrascope opined: "The sudden stop/starts, so beloved of Seattle residents, do sometimes get a little wearing, but it's never less than intriguing listening, and the good songs have their own chutzpah."[17] Lead track The Farmer's Corn was broadcast by 2fm in Ireland[18] and 2SER in Australia.[19] A music video was produced for the track Magic Witch which received some media attention for its dark content.[20]

They have played with artists such as Lite (band), Angus & Julia Stone[21] Woodpigeon (band),[22] And So I Watch You From Afar[23] & Girl Band (Irish band)[24] in Galway & Mayo.[25] They have also appeared at 93 Feet East in London,[26] The Space (Connecticut)[27] & The Living Room in New York.[28]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

EP's

  • "The Day The Water Ran Out", 2009. CD EP.[30]
  • "Black Tides Falling", 2010. Digital EP.[31]
  • "Your Brand New Life", 2015. CD EP.[32]
  • "Nail & Tooth EP", 2017. Digital EP

Singles

  • "English Weed/What A Waste", 2015. Digital single.[33]
  • "Summer in Suburbia/Untied", 2020. Digital single [34]

Compilations

  • Ball of Wax Vol. 12 [35]
  • Eardrums Music compilation [36]
  • Ball of Wax Vol. 36 [37]
  • Centerland OST, 2013

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Simpson, A (3 September 2014). "Anti-Folk – The Music Mutiny For You And Me". mookychick.co.uk. mookychick.
  2. ^ "Music for Dead Birds on AllMusic". allmusic.com. AllMusic.
  3. ^ Andrews, Kernan (9 April 2009). "Music For Dead Birds to release debut mini-album". Galway Advertiser.
  4. ^ ATL (22 February 2012). "BBC – Across the Line: That New Band Smell – Deerstalker". BBC.
  5. ^ "Raidió na Gaeltachta to release session compilation". hotpress.com. 15 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Rusted Rail – Music for Dead Birds". www.rustedrail.com.
  7. ^ "--==> foxy digitalis : Reviews <==--". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Music for Dead Birds – and then It Rained for Seven Days | ComfortComes". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Today: Centerland Exhibition and OST Release Party | JellyFant Records". Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  10. ^ Andrews, Kernan (17 November 2011). "Music For Dead Birds release new album". Galway Advertiser.
  11. ^ "Music for Dead Birds - The Pope's Sister". Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  12. ^ "© Terrascope Rumbles for March 2012". www.terrascope.co.uk. Ptolemaic Terrascope.
  13. ^ "Dan's Tope 50 irish Albums of 2011". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  14. ^ Fuller, Levi (3 June 2014). "Ball of Wax 36 Songs: Music for Dead Birds – "A Better View" | Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly". ballofwax.org.
  15. ^ "Vitamins: The recording of". musicfordeadbirds.eu. 24 November 2014.
  16. ^ Kilmartin, Danny (5 August 2014). "Music for Dead Birds - Vitamins | Review | Album Review".
  17. ^ "© Terrascope Rumbles for August 2014". Ptolemaic Terrascope. 1 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Dan Hegarty - the Alternative Monday 15 December 2014". RTÉ.ie.
  19. ^ "Sideways Through Sound June 11, 2014: Imaginational Anthem - 2SER - Real Radio 107.3 FM". Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Watch: Music for Dead Bird's song, Magic Witch". RTÉ.ie. RTE. 6 November 2014.
  21. ^ "St Stephen's Night spectacular at Finbar Hoban presents".
  22. ^ "Shows – Woodpigeon-Songbook – Page 30". www.woodpigeon-songbook.com.
  23. ^ "The Mayo News". www.mayonews.ie.
  24. ^ "Girl Band come to Garbo's in Castlebar next Saturday".
  25. ^ Moynihan, Ciara (11 July 2022). "ARTS Féile Iorrais attracts performers from four corners". The Mayo News.
  26. ^ "HOG RECORDS PRESENTS: MUSIC ARCADE – NEW KID IN TOWN + CRISTOPHER JOHNSON + JIMMY MONAGHAN + FORTLINE + MORE TBC". Eventful.
  27. ^ "Glint – Ribbons – Half Estatic – Music for Dead Birds". Eventful.
  28. ^ "Music for Dead Birds | the Living Room". Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  29. ^ "music for dead birds – vitamins". www.themodernfolk.net.
  30. ^ "New guitarists : Review page Music for Dead Birds". Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Best Free Music of 2010 « Harmless Noise". Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  32. ^ Andrews, Kernan (6 October 2015). "Music For Dead Birds to open October Citóg gigs". Galway Advertiser.
  33. ^ Coney, Brian (10 August 2015). "Watch: Music For Dead Birds – English Weed". The Thin Air.
  34. ^ "Irish Tracks of the Week - September 4th". thethinair.net. 4 September 2020.
  35. ^ "Volume 12 – Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly". ballofwax.org.
  36. ^ "EardrumsPop » Birdsongs, Beesongs Vol. D". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  37. ^ "Ball of Wax 36 Songs: Music for Dead Birds – "A Better View" – Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly". ballofwax.org.