An Albatross

A devastating amount of freak out vocals mixed with a bombardment of driving guitar, bass, drums, and those swirly keyboard parts that give them that Devo in a blender vibe. . .the only problem that I have with Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder is that I have to keep the repeat button on to get a full An Albatross fix.”

An Albatross is a sonic orgasm, a flurry of mechanical, jerky and discombobulated time signatures eclipsed by Farfisa organ/synthesizer pseudomelodies. Not unlike sitting down with an average American family behind the television set during primetime, the music is unquestionably attention-span friendly for an ADD diagnosed society: unbelievably short, complex, infectious bursts.

Philadelphia's An Albatross is that band whose lead singer, Edward B. Gieda III, found himself naked and unconscious at their very first show in 1999. An Albatross is that band who has played four shows in one day-- that band whose chaotic live experience is equal parts disco bomb threat, Appalachian snake-handling church service, and James Brown "Live at the Apollo." After selling out of their demos on the initial tour in 1999, they released the 12" EP "Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder" on Philly upstart label When Humans Attack! in 2000. the CD version followed soon afterwards on Bloodlink Records. After members Eddie, Jay Hudak (bass), Jake Lisowski (guitar) and Farfisa master Phillip Price found new drummer Jeremy Gewertz (ex- Kill the Man Who Questions/Reversal of Man) in 2002, the 10-15 minute MC5-meets-70s-prog-meets-NAKED-CITY-meets-Nintendo-meets-carnival-music scorching shows continued. Their frenzied, rapturous, choke-holding sound was further expanded upon by the addition of second keyboardist Kat Paffett in January of 2003. The shows are now legendary, as maniacal fans and friends bootleg and file share anything An Albatross-related they can get their sweaty hands on-- recorded material, videos, even the t-shirts.