I've got a soft spot in what's left of my heart for a pair of fools getting together and trying to make music. read: The Helio Sequence, deadboy and the Elephantmen, and, I suppose, The White Stripes.
One fine evening I found myself clicking a random comment from The Helio Sequence's entry into myspace land... (yes, I'm *that* lame, but at least I didn't do it because their myspace name was LilGirlie16XXX or something.) Despite their description, what graced my ears was anything but "a lawnmower running over a herd of dolphins." And I should know... that thing about the cops earlier had nothing to do with LilGirlie16XXX...
Hailing from, where else, Seattle The Ministry of Love are TC Brownell and Aaron Roden - just a couple of guys trying to see what they can do with a room full of musical what-nots. From the opening riffs of "Your Master Plan" through the admittedly typical closure of "RAD" I was drawn into the experiment on myspace like... hmmm... butter dripping off a hot biscuit? No... like tears to spilt milk. Yeah. Like that.
Shit. Just to prove how cool this is, I opened a Bass when I walked in the door, realized I had the MoL CD in my hand fresh from the FedUps guy, set the Bass down, came to my computer, listened twice, and starting writing this. Thank God Scott taught me to use a coozie.
Now. What was I talking about? ... Right. These guys. 
I know I started this mess out trying to be all googly over two-man bands cuz, like, we're connected, man, but the first thing I thought of while clicking through the myspace song links was a fantastic (although now defunct) band from Louisville called Reading. (Which I also highly recommend - introduced to me by Mr. Dustin Edge.) I'm sorry, but I can't really give another comparison as I find the sound of the two to be so very similar. There's this fantastic clarity of muddeledness (it's a word - look it up) in the sound of the plucked strings that rolls right into the yelly vocals. All backed by driving and groovy drumbeats. It speaks to me. It's music I can understand and the kind of music I'd like to make if I had any talent to go along with my desire. A little trippy, a little punk rock, a little rock-and-roll. I might prefer to be stoned if I saw them live, but I'm pretty damned sure it wouldn't be necessary in order to be thoroughly entertained. And I'd probably prefer to be stoned regardless. So... take it or leave it.
I am now through listen #5 and Bass #2, and I continue to be drawn into the layers and tightly woven and yet oh so sovereign melodies. The more I drink, however, the louder iTunes becomes, and the more I expect the crazy lady who lives next to me to start banging on the wall even though it's not even midnight. wtf. Soon I'll have to depart from my new found vice. ("Hey you, get off my cloud. Get off my cloud, you crazy bitch!" poetry... pure poetry.) Before I retire my click-klack of the keys for the comforting simple click of the mouse, I should toss in a little more honesty.
Scary. Yes, I know.
As best I can tell, these couple of guys in their room with their musical what-nots aren't being produced by anybody. And, even though they're from Seattle, I'm pretty sure Isaac Brock actually had nothing to do with this. It's just them with, perhaps, a little help from their friends. I managed to bug them long enough about wanting the record since the myspace songs aren't downloadable that Aaron sent me a nice burned copy complete with hand labeling with a Sharpie whose days were numbered. But it was a trade. I got the record provided I told people that this band is rad. What I didn't tell him was that, if the record sucked, I'd be mailing it back to them mixed into a nice dolphin stew. It does not, however, suck. The record is rad.
The Ministry of Love.
"Queens of the Stone age got drunk in a really shitty bar and later got into a fight with The White Stripes and then had a night cap at Pavement's house."
The Ministry of Love. It doesn't suck.
It's rad.
And it's free to try. Thirty day money back guarantee.
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