The Southern Sea
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The Southern Sea

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"The Southern Sea"

Today is Major League Baseball's Opening Day, one of my favorite days of Spring. I'm getting out of here early today to go watch the Rangers lose to the Red Sox, but I had to tell you guys about this band first:

The Wall of Sound Festival takes place this weekend in Ft. Worth. Okkervil River, Low, Dave Bazan, Midlake, Starlight Mints, SOUND team, and appoximately 50 other bands will be playing. But it was The Southern Sea that convinced me to buy tickets.

I first heard about The Southern Sea from Mark of Music for Robots fame, which is really pathetic on my part, considering the fact that the band is from my hometown of Plano, Texas. The band's EP, Simple Machines for Complex Problems, is a gorgeous collection of "sixties-influenced sci-folk" (according to the band). The arrangements and amazing vocal harmonies remind me at times of my very favorite Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys songs, and that is one of the highest compliments I could give a band. - gorilla vs bear


"People That Want to Be Successful In Life"

The Iowa Mountain Tour - By The Southern Sea

This song is everything texas isn't: it's quiet. It's graceful. It's small. It is, however, quite spacious, so in that regard it's quite like its home state. The Southern Sea are from a little town in Texas, and create delicate indie pop, sort of like American Analog Set, but with more emphasis on hymnal melodies. If that makes sense. The whole ep has the feel of a hand-holding sing-a-long, the sort of thing the Hoos would sing. I don't think the band is particularly religious, but they've certainly borrowed a few of their melodies from the choir. Each song is orchestrated with tiny bells, and delicate synth warbles alongside live strings and hushed voices -- it's a wonderful little thing.

The EP, titled Simple Machines for Complex Problems has actually been out since 2004, but this is the first I've heard of it. I actually stumbled on the bands myspace page and picked up their CD because it sounded so good. I don't really know much about the band, I just know that I love their songs. This song is a standout, as is the wonderful "There is a Fountain," which is just amazing.

I highly recommend tracking down a copy for yourself. As a matter of fact, you can order a copy direct from the band. Or, if you're into that whole digital thing, you can also download a copy from the always excellent AudioLunchBox.com. - Music For Robots


"Simple Machines For Complex Problems Review"

Refreshing effervescent pop. We are pleased to have received this little EP because it features what many other discs do not: Great songs. Recorded in the band's home studios in their home state of Texas, Simple Machines for Complex Problems features six stunning pop tunes. The arrangements are simple and understated...and serve the basic purpose of supporting the band's cool, gliding melodies. Indie pop fans are sure to get genuine thrills from tracks like "Iowa Mountain Tour," "Hotel Mishaps Are Sad," and "The Mighty Cottonwood Creek." The gentlemen in The Southern Sea have real talent and on this EP they really deliver the goods. Here's hoping that we are treated to a full-length album in the very near future. Fantastic stuff... (Rating: 5++) - Babysue


"Wall of Sound Festival Review"

...On the opposite side of the musical spectrum, Tyler's the Southern Sea made the biggest impression of the day. Their dreamy, eclectic pop could've been the mascot of the fest, full of intermingling guitar, piano and synthesizer melodies that combine the best of Beulah, Apples in Stereo and Lenola, resulting in an acid trip Brian Wilson wishes he'd taken... - Dallas Observer


Discography

Nina and the Wrong Note (EP) (Independent)
Simple Machines for Complex Problems (EP) (Independent)
Old House Records 2007 Sampler (Old House Records)

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Bio

Melody wrapped indie-rock for the people. With influences as vast as the state they call home, Texas independent artists The Southern Sea keep crafting sixties-influenced sci-folk for anyone that will take the time to listen. What is sci-folk you ask? Well...who the heck knows. I guess it's just as good a genre description as indie-rock, dream-pop, slo-core, lo-fi or indie-pop. Try to meld the vocal harmonies from the sixties with some synthesizers, a Rhodes piano, a theremin, an organ, a xylophone, an omnichord, guitars, drums and simple songwriting and you might get close.
The guys have been together for about five years now and don't have plans to stop anytime soon. With two self-recorded EPs (Nina and the Wrong Note & the more recent Simple Machines for Complex Problems); two compilations (one of which was released by Velvet Blue Music, once home to great bands like the Lassie Foundation, Bloomsday, Fine China, LN, etc); songs being played on college radio stations like KTCU 88.7 FM (Ft Worth, Texas), KNTU 88.1 FM (Denton, Texas), RCS 107.2 FM (Somewhere in Spain) they've kept busy.

If you're interested, patient and local you can catch them play live shows occasionally at music venues all over the Dallas metroplex like the Gypsy Tea Room, Trees, Rubber Gloves, Hailey's, The Wreck Room, The Cavern, Curtain Club, Liquid Lounge, Club Clearview or Double Wide. They've shared the stage with some of the best bands in Texas. Bands like Pleasant Grove (Badman Recording Co.), Midlake (Bella Union), The Theater Fire (Christmas Mountains Records), Comet (Spune) and others.