Parasol Records
2005
Home Demons Volume 1
About This Album
Kevin Tihista is an immensely talented singer/songwriter, but his previous albums have occasionally had a somewhat precious, studied quality. Like Tihista's first three albums, Home Demons, Vol. 1 consists almost entirely of solo home recordings, but this collection of early takes, alternate versions, amusing experiments, and orphaned songs is considerably more low-key. From Tihista's gently self-mocking liner notes to oddball inclusions like "#32" (a pretty trumpet and piano instrumental that suddenly turns into a blast of Carl Stalling-style cartoony orchestral noise) and the utterly sincere soundalike cover of Dave Mason's '70s FM ballad "We Just Disagree," there's a charmingly loose feel to this album. Despite the title, however, many of these songs are as sumptuously arranged and exquisitely produced as those on Tihista's "proper" albums -- rough voice and guitar takes, like the brief, repetitive "Stratford Upon Avon," are the exception -- with layered gems like the propulsive pop/rock sound and multi-part structure of "Sweet" and the new wave throb of "Idiots" the rule. Particular highlights include an early, charmingly ramshackle version of "Wake Up Captain" and the increasingly chaotic, full-band workout "Jim Henson's Blues/You're Not Bad," which bears an unexpected resemblance to the Eels.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3 and 4)

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