Discography

Beau says about the album:

“I needed some intrigue. I challenged myself to make something new during the weird year that was 2020. I enjoy writing songs with different people, and felt interested in what would happen if I had to keep the instrumentation spare. I sent lyrics out to friends, they sent back demos, and most of it was recorded with no rehearsal. I accepted the keys and tempos my... [read more]

Be the first on your block to sport these stylish Ladyscissors Glitterbox Panties!

Available in Red and Black. Small, medium and large. Just indicate your preference on the "notes" when you place your order.

Showing off their lovely vocal arrangements, the album ranges from REM-like pop to moody, hypnotic rock, a la early Velvet Underground. Beautiful female harmonies often float over crunchy guitars with evocative thoughtful lyrics that feel urgent and politically potent. And catchy. The record is catchy. Even the background vocals will get stuck in your head.

"Madison band Ladyscissors covers a lot of... [read more]

Third release by Chicago's The Crooked Mouth.

Sharp, confident and rollicking. LoveloveloveloveSTOPlovelovelove shows off the band's new line-up to good effect. The songs are focused, intelligent and funny. The musicianship tasteful and just slightly off-kilter. The arrangements show off a playfulness that only comes with the confidence gained from hundreds and hundreds of gigs. As always, Crooked Mouth... [read more]

This 2 Disc album is a live concert from Juicy John Pink's, one of the premier acoustic music venues in the Chicago area during the mid 70's. Susan and RIchard Thomas were a husband and wife duo who were known and loved for the beauty of Susan's singing and songwriting, Richard's exquisite guitar work, and the wonderful way in which their voices blended and harmonized.

This is the second in our "Juicy... [read more]

Holy Bones is an indie-pop, musical commentary regarding a frazzled & hungry society. Written primarily on electric guitar with thick bass & rock ‘n roll drums, her new sound is fresher and lighter even when exploring the shadows of the modern American psyche. Mary Bue’s 6th studio album is a creative shift from her typical piano-driven singer-songwriting, funded in part by a career development grant... [read more]

Yes Face picks up where their debut ended. A little less country, perhaps.. First, though, the recording is lovely. Simple, complex, beautiful... It breathes. Deeply. As expected, the vocal arrangements are well conceived and executed flawlessly by people with an obvious passion for such perfections. The instrumentation is tasteful - bringing banjo and bluegrass sounds to folky show tune-y (almost) rock numbers.... [read more]

This fantastic green cotton tour shirt comes in both genders and a multitude of sizes.

Mens: S, M, L, XL, XXL
WoMens: M, L, XL, XXL

We printed 100 numbered copies. Each box contains all 8 original Maestro Subgum and the Whole albums and a "Rares" CD containing some of the best of the previously un-released tracks from the archive. Box buyers also get access to the on-line archive of live and unreleased recordings. The albums are also available individually and as downloads. The "Mp3" and "Flac" versions include all the albums and a digital... [read more]

The pinnacle of the band’s recording career was Lost Lost Lost, both because of the variety of writers and singers and the size and tightness of the ensemble. The writing was still strong, but the horn and vocal arrangements had reached a new, fantastically satisfying level.

It was recorded at Acme Studios and mixed at C.M.C. Recorders, where mixer Joe DeLeonardis had a huge influence on the flow of the... [read more]

By the early 90s, the creative font that was Maestro Subgum and the Whole erupted with an almost complete turnover in its song catalog. The sound changed significantly with the addition of a regular horn section, although a cappellas still happened, too.

The dual cassettes that came out of the Double Amazement sessions were dubbed Stormin’ And A Fever and Hot Ol’ Wadda. Jenny, Beau, and Miki wrote a lot... [read more]

The 1993 album At The Warthog Museum was curated by Red Ned. The band had set out to do a live album, and indeed much of it was recorded direct to DAT at The Beat Kitchen and other venues. Some tracks were also done completely in studio (Sedistudio, Monster Disk), and the complete list of engineers and mixers included Spencer Sundell, James Koffee, Ricky Barnes, Jim Janick, John Hughes, Pink Bob, and Red Ned.... [read more]

Essentially the soundtrack for one of the first scripted Maestro shows written by Jenny Magnus and Beau O’Reilly, A Soft Fist In A Hard Place features the writers on all the lead vocals with a band lead by pianist Michael Greenberg. Davy, the show’s title song Careening Is A Skill, and Darkness, Darkness are among the most enduring tracks here. Originally released on cassette, it is now available to all a ya’s... [read more]

This double CD features live performances from Juicy John Pink's, recorded during 1976 and 1977. One of the premiere acoustic music venues in the Chicago area, it was well known for its enthusiastic, respectful audiences, warm, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent acoustics. The musicians featured here represent a sampling of some of the favorite singer/songwriters from that era.

Kendell Kardt, who... [read more]

Skin is the first song by Stephanie Rearick Jr. (SR JR). SR JR features Stephanie Rearick on casio and loops. Brand new as of early 2012!

Up The Wall, is a return to form, four years in the making after 2007's Democracy. Side A is the political and economic side, side B gets personal. Part rock and roll, part sweeping beauty with some quirky ditties and jazzy piano numbers mixed in, Up The Wall is another remarkably original and fresh offering from Rearick. While primarily original songs, the covers here come from Dusty Springfield, Nina Simone and... [read more]

For the last decade Barry Bennett's been best known as leader of the iconic group MiLkBabY, whose alien world music made them a fixture of Chicago's left of center music scene. He's also a frequent creator of soundscapes and scores for Theatre and dance. His music has been heard at The Goodman, 16th Street Theater, CBDC, Chicago Moving Company, Chicago Dramatists, and with his own improvisational performance... [read more]

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble has always enjoyed live performance. Their second CD release is an inspired live recording titled "An Evening At The Brink Lounge." It features live versions of American and French jazz standards, Django Reinhardt classics, and original music. The CD was recorded in front of an intimate crowd of friends, family, and fans at Madison, WI's The Brink Lounge.

Personnel:

... [read more]

This is Katie Todd's 3rd studio CD. It features a wide array of instrumentation - piano, guitar, horns, strings and extra vocals.

Katie's music has always had a maturity beyond her years, with a voice that has seen the world. Mumbled Speech combines that with a sense of playfulness that comes across as an artist grown comfortable with herself - as a musician, writer and producer.

Residing solidly... [read more]

Jenny Magnus, described by the Chicago Tribune as "Everything a performance artist should be: subversive, personal, stimulating, a little scary and simply amazing," is a Chicago-based performer, writer, director, producer and teacher.

Songs From Shows is a collection of 23 songs written over quite a few years, but used in performances and plays in the last 8 years or so. All the songs were used in ways... [read more]

Limited edition hand-assembled package; limited to quantity of 50.

We have 4 of these beauties. Nice package and some great new songs from The Lonelyhearts. Great for collectors or new fans. The sound is similar to Dispatch but takes on a density that drives the disc forward. As always, the songs are propelled by their unique vocals and intelligent lyrics.

Jim Schwall's 2007 CD "Getting Old" features Jim performing solo, singing and playing acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, recorded live in venues in or near Madison WI. There is one traditional song, one song of unknown origin and three songs by other songwriters: Bill Morrissey, David Olney and Ed Haynes. The rest of the 14 tracks are Jim's originals. About half the tunes are in some of the styles of traditional... [read more]

Prog-ambient-tribal-rock music.

The latest release from MiLkBabY slices and dices the world of progressive and groove-oriented electronica into slivers of Bjork-laden psychedelica a la key lime pie era Social Distortion.

"...the music of Chicago's Milkbaby is nearly impossible to quantify. The duo of Barry Bennett and Darren Shepherd engage in a bizarre blur of electronics, percussion, brass,... [read more]

Two guys - Andre Perry (vox, keyboards) and John Lindenbaum (vox,guitar). Using a 12-string acoustic guitar and a couple of synthesizers, the duo blends angsty folk-rock lyrics with spacey keyboard textures. Their sound certainly recalls the acoustic stylings of Neutral Milk Hotel and the Mountain Goats as well as the synth-rock of Grandaddy and Earlimart.

"Hand-stitched with minimal percussion, a couple... [read more]

"...it's Geoffrey's vibraphone playing that impresses most and takes center stage here. While the vibes can sound tinny and bland in less skilled hands, Geoffrey coaxes rich, shimmering, expressive, and complex tones from his instrument — whether in dreamy, mysterious meditations such as "Dollars to Doinas" and "Re-Designed for Further Suffering" or playing restless, angular tunes like "Fly, Giant Robot, Fly!"... [read more]

"Singer-guitarist Kari sets the tone with a weathered, raspy trill focused in the same way as Chan Marshall's is in Cat Power. But bleak images cry out for hope through Shane's fluid guitar melodies, and it all turns out to be quite wonderfully heart-wrenching and beautifully melancholy." The Onion

"The recording is noteworthy for the rich sound the duo achieve by weaving together two beautifully played... [read more]

Brilliant vocals and production. This is vibrant, uplifting music. Katie's voice and songwriting are at the forefront. Her piano playing is simple but melodically powerful. The band keeps the energy simmering throughout. All in all, a great followup to Changing Faces.

This is a 'must have' for fans of great sounding pop music.

Acoustic Rock with folk and country flavors thrown in for good measure.

Ghosts of Yesterday features original songs that explore life, love, restlessness, defiance, disillusionment and hope in the backdrop of the American heartland. The music is acoustically driven, featuring mandolin, acoustic guitar, drums, bass and piano.

One can hear influences of rock, country, gospel and folk. The writing... [read more]

No Camouflage is a powerful anti-war cry by many of Madison's top artists. Spearheaded by Wendy Bugatti of Coney Island studio, No Camouflage features original new recordings of an astounding array of music and spoken word pieces, plus US soldier testimonials directly from Iraq. The release of this CD is an event that has brought together Madison artists, members of local peace organizations and political leaders... [read more]

"Rearick's a genre-bounding vocalist, keyboard player and trumpeter who takes great care bringing together things indie with her classical and art-music influences." - The Isthmus

Stephanie Rearick has been performing and recording since 1993, as frontwoman for Your Mom, Your Mom SRO, and the Coma Savants, occasional side-musician, silent film composer and accompanist, and solo artist.

"Star Belly... [read more]

"Taking a more pronounced detour away from the stronger country influences of their debut and moving towards an eclectic indie rock approach, Noahjohn manages to recast both in a startlingly original sound... gloriously unpredictable and occasionally disturbing, Johns toys with the listener, drawing intricately surreal sketches, but pulling them back just before he reveals too much. Equally haunted, Eena Ballard'... [read more]

The Erica MAther Trio's Borderlands is a CD with something for everyone. Styles range from stright-ahead swing to funk to latin to pure art chamber music. Of the disc Mather says, "it is a survey of influences which have manifested themselves in these nine compositions. Emotional sources for the compositions came from many places such as intriguing characters in books (Barbara Kingsolver's Adah), and capturing... [read more]

MiLkBabY returns to the studio with their new line-up to record an amazing new disc. Features Barry Bennett (acoustic and electronic percussion, vocal, keyboard, knobs-n-wires) and Darren Shepherd (electric guitar.) The songs range from quietly meditative to seriously funky and freaky. A must for improv lovers and for those looking for something a little of the beaten path. Full of great musicianship, driving... [read more]

"...pretty much cements
the Boys' reputation as
one of the region's top
bluegrass outfits."
- Wisconsin State Journal

This second release from the NHB came out in 2001 and featured the band as a five-piece unit with the addition of fiddler Paul Kienitz. Three of the Boys contributed original material to this project as well as some unique material from Kilby Snow, Red Sovine and... [read more]

Combining several genres of music, from rock to ragtime, blues to jug band music, jazz to rockabilly, Richard blends them seamlessly into an entertaining album. Taking a cue from Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Mississippi John Hurt, Richard plays in the finger-picking style pioneered by these greats. And now his new CD, "Out of the Blue", pays tribute to these men. It's a collection of some of the greatest songs of... [read more]

"Sharp Steel Pinafore is an unbridled joy - proof that she is among this city's best and most unappreciated musical treasures." - Isthmus

"she can sing sweet and soft or crank it out, the tunes ranging in style from folky ballads to indie flavoured rockers... she is attracting a real following of devoted fans... she has got a great band and people are starting to notice." - Ricks Cafe

"Pretty Little Town" is the second CD by The Midwesterners on Darlingtone Records.

Located in the 'frozen tundra' of Madison, Wisconsin, and spearheaded by Richard Wiegel, who plays guitar and writes the songs, the CD runs the gamut from rock to twang to rockabilly and all points in between.

Comprised of guitar, standup bass, drums and steel guitar, the CD reflects stellar production values and... [read more]

"This band's debut release is simply delightful. Pianist and vocalist Stephanie Rearick establishes that she is no slouch with the opening track, the band's theme song. Her performance invites comparisons to Nina Simone, a situation that most players would subsequently exploit at great length… the electric guitar madness of Jon Hain will appeal to anyone who enjoys new twisted takes on psychedelia. There is also... [read more]

Exploring the far reaches of jazz and improvisation. From the super-modern to the whimsical - a feast for the ears. Saxophone, clarinet, marimba, theremin, bass, drums, electronics and unusual percussion instruments.

Tomato Box is a contemporary jazz band that prompts nods to the fluidity of jazz forms past and present, while at the same time ushering in a vital styling of post-jazz -- one... [read more]

Under the assumption that music exists beyond assumptions, Tomato Box has been thrilling and perplexing audiences since 1999. With its signature combination of marimba, drums, saxophone, and upright bass, the band puts a unique spin onto its repertoire of original compositions and free improvisations.
Brenneis's colorful compositions have some of the same angular bite as Ken Vandermark's writing,...... [read more]

This lively, traditional klezmer album is expertly played and really shows off this excellent seven piece band -- both as musicians and as tasteful arrangers. The disc has a beautifully haunting quality and certainly belongs in every klezmer fan's CD collection.

Great live set by Chicago's masters of Organic Tribal Trance, MiLkBabY. Recorded June 22, 2001 at Mother Fool's in Madison, this disc shows MiLkBabY at their most extreme. Ranges from cool-breeze melodic trance to full-force beat-driven freakouts. Yes, this is MiLkBabY LIVE!!

Expedient live recodings 2001 volume 1

Recorded directly to two track digital on the Optical Approximator Mobile(1).

Hand printed cover in vinyl sleeve. Limited to 100 numbered copies. (colors may vary)

Honor Among Thieves guitarist Andy Ewen and cartoonist P.S. Mueller wrote a bunch of songs. Honor Among Thieves, liked them. So Andy, along with bassist Doug DeRosa, drummer Joey B. Banks, violinist Randy Hoecherl and Mueller got together with Steve Gotcher at Audio for the Arts and recorded The Blue God. It's really good. Everyone is very happy with it.
Though there are a couple of words and phrases on The... [read more]

This set of organic tribal trance work-outs is sure to impress both the experimenters and the ravers, as MiLkBabY seems to have a foot firmly in both schools. Primal, lush, evocative, and hypnotic, hUmaN was recorded without any over-dubs and serves as a great representation of the brillance of this Chicago Trio.

The talented Stephanie Rearick is captured her in live concert. A great set of piano and voice compositions that span classical, cabaret, pop and rock.

The debut full-length from the world's most wicked all-female punk metal band. All the rockin' hits that formed a cult, garnished with natural disaster samples and apocalyptic voice-overs.

Recorded at Weedstock 1998.

Features a humurous exchange between Ben Masel and a police officer.

Alt-country at its finest. This collection of songs takes an eerie yet comic plunge into the domestic sphere of rural Indiana, profiles midwestern indigenous persons, and wrestles with the age-old plight of heartache in a tavern.

SCAN TWELVE is the second release by Jack the Dog. Twelve short studio sculptures from a collection of piano and vibraphone duets in which both players also speak/sing, recorded in Chicago between Januray and April 1998.
The overall idea here is to replicate the effect of the SCAN function on typical CD players or radios. In this case the only material is JACK compositions.

"Intentionally or not,... [read more]

History: Formed in early '97, MiLkBabY honed its sound scoring plays and dance theatre pieces. Bridging the gap between between man and machine, tribal and techno, dreamscape and earth; MiLkBabY's sound is hard to classify. Their use of fierce percussion, lush synth textures, primal-soaring vocals, and the chemistry of the trio's improvisation create a body/mind experience that is hard to describe but has... [read more]

Recorded at Weedstock 1997.

"Lizards & Stars" was released in late 1997. It was recorded by Brian Daly at Optisonic Studios over Labor Day weekend with the exception of track 13, "Tearing and Merging." This track (which is based on the Russell Edson poem, "...the tearing and merging of clouds") was recorded live at Weird Out In The Woods by Studio Earth Remote. It features a special guest performance by pSteve Wessing.

Avant-garde saxaphone master, Hanah Jon Taylor checks in with his first studio release.

Honor Among Thieves is one of the hottest psychedelic blues bands. This disc catches them live at the Harmony Bar on Halloween, 1997.

This is the one that has everyone's attention... TRACTION picks up where the debut leaves off and it never looks back. From the foot tappin' all out energy of "Trish Dresser", to the intelligent, contemplative, yet explosive "Jimmy", this album has it all.

Recorded over 3 days at Smart Studios, this album, quite simply, rocks. For rockin blues, it does not get any better than this.

"...courses with the electricity of real life", says Isthmus

Klezmer, klezmer, klezmer!! This 7 piece traditional klezmer band adds just a hint of rock to create a party disc of unknown proportions.

The Spirit Of Spotty is Elizabeth's 2nd CD. Released in 1996, it features her full band.

Smart and sassy, alternative and quirky rock and roll.

The first and last compositions on Fugu were written for choreographer and dancer Li Chiao-Ping, although they have not yet been performed as dances. All but one of the pieces use varying compound time signatures and all are based on Stephen Dembski's post-serial tonal organization system. In fact, this is the most cohesive representation of that system as an nside the changes alternative to traditional jazz... [read more]

This Theater Was Razed is Schaefer's debut CD featuring an eclectic variety of popular Madison area musicians. The songs are undeniably theatrical and range from folk to blues. The songs are colorful if at the same time decadent in themes; including songs pertaining to ghosts in the moviehouse and muderous brothers locked up in the smokehouse.

Honor Among Thieves clock in with four high-energy cuts on this 1993 EP.

This is a CDr of the original 1990 Honor Among Thieves release, United Mind Workers. The packaging is minimal - just a jewel case with no cover art. It contains all the songs from the original release.