Marnie Stern

If you haven't yet heard of Marnie Stern's 2008 "This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That" you need to. She is a singer/guitarist that hails from NYC. She teamed up with the amazingly impressive (and busy) Zach Hill of Hella fame, who produced and drummed amazing on this record. After talking with Maih about Stern he checked this record out from his local library and promptly text me his initial thoughts: "Its wild and unruly." These are prefect descriptors of her music. This record highlights some of the best technical skills I've heard in a long time while still focusing on creative songwriting. Stern yelps, screams, and shouts her vocals over chaotic and spastic music; its as if she has a massive case of ADHD and lived on nothing but coffee and Red Bulls. Yet she's still able to craft songs that showcase her excellent songwriting ability. What impresses me about this record is Stern's ability to create technical masterpieces that still have emotion. Often times technical music lacks any sort of vulnerability; Stern bucks that trend and has created a splendid art-rock record that is well worth your time.


PS: If you need this record, check your library. Most people who read this blog live in Bend or Phoenix and there are copies of this for check out in both city's libraries. Or just shoot me an e-mail and I'll send it to you on a thumb drive.