Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
The Exeter Popes is the two-man combination of singer-songwriter-guitarist Stephen Lipuma (Formerly of NYC club band Snob Hill) and Michael J. Bowman on bass and drums (according to the press sheet, he's been playing in underground bands for more than two decades, including a stint in the excellently named Brian Wilson Shock Treatment). At a thin three songs, their debut EP is a little slight and downbeat; yet it does have some fine lo-fi charm despite the short time, perhaps sounding a bit like The Pastels and The Clean. Lipuma's subtle-yet-pretty guitar playing and reverbed vocals show a strong potential for more good songs to come.
DAVID MANSDORF
- Losing Today
This is the first EP from this new Brooklyn duo composed of Stephen Lipuma (ex-Snob Hill) and Michael J Bowman (who's been self-releasing his music for decades). The music is swirly and dark, but still poppy, sounding something like a mixture of the Clientele, Statuesque and Moose, with a hint of Bryan Hanna's recording style. All three songs are slow to mid-tempo, which meant that it took a few listens before I warmed to them (the last song on the disc, "King Waltzer", was the only song that I liked instantly). The chorus-y guitars and vocals seem lethargic, but the spirited drumming helps to keep the songs going, while the occasional synths add to the atmosphere. A pleasant debut! MTQ=3/3
- Indie Pages
Featuring the singing/songwriting talents of Stephen Lipuma and the drumming of hometaper legend MJB, The Exeter Popes have put out this single EP as a testament to their unique take on folky pop music. The best song, "The Moon is Red," comes first - and what a treat it is. Britishy vocals lead the strangely mesmerizing piece, whose minor key melody takes a sort of Smiths influence but makes it the band's own. The other two songs, "Temporary Skin" and dreamy "King Waltzer," fail to live up to the first one's promise, though they still boast a type of unsettlingly infectious melody that I really dig. Nicely done, but now I want to hear more. - Indieville.com
I live in a an area of San Francisco called Nob Hill, or to the locals, "Snob Hill." Sure, some of the places around here are nice and classy, but my house sure as hell isn’t one of them. In fact, I often take offense to the remark, seeing as how I don’t have a living room, the fuse blows if you try to run more than two electronic devices in any room at one time, and we don’t have a heater. It’s pretty funny that I live in a shit hole, yet greet the doorman of a fancy apartment building one block away everyday on my way to work. I’m sure no one gives a hoot about where I live, so I should clarify that I only bring this up because the main man behind The Exeter Popes used to be in a band called Snob Hill. What a coincidence. Who cares? Sure, the Exeter Popes could have come a little more correct than three songs, but the nine minutes of music on this eponymous CD is pretty good. Mellow and dreamy with a bit of Brit/shoegaze to it, The Exeter Popes show potential on too short of a record.
- Lost At Sea.net
Joey: Off-key warbling on tunes that sound like rejects from Cure records. Downbeat and moody. Nice.
Marky: The Carpenters for the new age. Inoffensive and pleasant. Pass the suppositories.
Dee Dee: A sleepy jog through the Tootsie Roll forest of Rock and Roll land.
Johnny: Morning sounds like this when you kill the pain of a trust-fund with heroin. - Hybrid Magazine.com
7 out of 10 rating
This three-song EP by The Exeter Popes would make fans of bands like Belle and Sebastian, The Smiths and Morrissey somewhat happy. Short and to the point, the group paints a pretty sonic picture with the lovely but simple "The Moon Is Red" with its subtle keyboards and other knickknacks thrown in. The New York band nails the song without any problems thanks to lead singer Stephen Lipuma's deft touches. Just as appealing, although not as grandiose is "Temporary Skin' that brings to mind Travis covering Radiohead. The only thing missing is a loud, bruising guitar solo that could fit well over the rhythm section. The closing tune is "King Waltzer" that takes on, you guessed it, a waltz-like pop hue. On the whole 'tis a very good introduction into what hopefully is an equally appealing debut album. [Insound]
— Jason MacNeil
Jason, MacNeil, PopMatters.com
http://www.popmatters.com/shorttakes/2006/06/be-your-own-pet-micah-p-hinson-cue.shtml
INDIE / PROGRESSIVE / ROCK
- Popmatters.com
Discography
The Exeter Popes debut, self-titled EP was released on White Shoe Records (a Brooklyn- based label) on February 7, 2006.
The Snow, Mountain, Geisha EP will be released in December 2006.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Exeter Popes began as a solo singer/songwriter project to Stephen Lipuma in February 2006. The songs are derivative in nature of The Pastels, The Smiths, The Clientele and The Cocteau Twins, yet Stephen’s unique guitar-playing style, creates a sound all their own.
In March of 2006, White Shoe Records released The Exeter Popes' self-titled/self-recorded, debut EP to critical acclaim. After a couple of live shows to promote this release with just a drummer, Stephen returned to the studio, this time to Blue Door Studios with legendary producer and recording engineer Greg Hoy (The Last Town Chorus, Snob Hill, Eric Fox) and Snow, Mountain, Geisha, a five-song EP, was created in the Summer months of 2006 .
Stephen, looking to further expand the band’s sound, turned to his friends for help. A chance re-connection with bassist and kindred spirit Michael Figgiani, a prominent figure in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn’s bar and restaurant scene; a fateful introduction to keyboard player and percussionist, Becky Cousins, fresh off a hippie commune, also assumed the role as the band’s undisputed ambassador to the next world’s love, peace and harmony movement; and Greg Hoy stayed on to keep precise and deliberate time on the drums. What has emerged is a band best described as the Carpenters for the new age.
*The Exeter Popes unveiled their second release on White Shoe Records entitled Snow, Mountain, Geisha on January 9, 2007. The band has already begun work on a full-length and that will be released later in 2007.
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