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The State of Play

by Muler

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1.
Wrong Coat 03:02
2.
Thrush 04:25
3.
4.
5.
6.
Aspirin 05:28
7.
8.
Yellow 03:59
9.
Honey Fondue 03:03
10.
Sneakers 04:16
11.
12.
Rubber Shoes 04:40
13.

about

The State of Play, Muler's national debut, positively feels like the result of spare change, battered equipment, and a Budweiser party ball thrown in for good measure. But it couldn't sound better. Coy song titles like "Birthday Cake" and "Share an Apple" might warn of cute indie pop. But make no mistake, Muler rocks like the band's plane is going down. They're arena rock with '90s indie accessories: strained drums; rubber-band basslines; dual guitars that alternate between change jangling and gushy, sawtooth distortion. But State pushes such staples to their limits without falling into the ironic, self-aware trappings of geek rock. There's a whiff of Ben Lee and Dave Pirner in Dave Baumgartner's nasal-scratch vocals, but Baumgartner delivers his lines like Roger Daltrey on "Caesars Palace" and dork anthems "Wrong Coat" and "Sneakers." Kristin Durso's guitar and Will Veeder's bass shimmer and grind beautifully on "Thrush" and "Son of Karate." No indie meekness here, just rock that means what it says. Though first impressions may suggest standard nerd fare, the members of Muler rock like rock stars and hurt like rock stars. They put the "loss" back in "loser" with surprising, refreshing earnestness.

credits

released September 13, 1997

Sean Leahy plays the kit on all songs
Kristin Durso plays guitar on all songs
David Baumgartner sings on all songs, plays percussion ona plays guitar on When They Were Ultimatum
Will Veeder plays bass on all songs, keyboards on Seakers and Share an Apple and feedback on Honey Fondue

Strings on Yellow by Erica Kim, Alexis Koh, Kim Foster, Wells Cunningham
Cello on Thrush by Wells Cunningham
Arranged and conducted by Mark Faris
Ranting Vocals on Honey Fondue by Joe Tunis
Produced by Adam Lasus and Muler
Recorded at Missing Tooth, Rochester, NY January 1997
Mixed at Fireproof Recording by Adam and Muler March 97
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Masterdisk
Design by Steve Raskin, ION
Spin the Bottle Photos by Jimmy Cohressen
Photo shoot styled by Vida Russell
Band Photos by Mark Williams

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Muler Rochester, New York

Muler is Will, Sean, Jona, Nick, and David from Rochester, NY

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