Senior contributor, Chris Mollica, writes his first letter to newest AudioVoler, Jennifer Lao, dissecting Out of Love, the debut album from Mister Heavenly, a threesome comprised of Unicorns/Islands frontman, Nick Thorburn, Man Man’s Ryan Kattner (aka Honus Honus), and Modest Mouse drummer, Joe Plummer. Chris thinks Ocean’s Twelve doesn’t care about him. Goddammit, Chris. George Clooney cares about everybody. Everybody.
Buy Out of Love here!
Mister Heavenly – “Pineapple Girl”
From: Chris Mollica
To: Jennifer Lao
I found Islands’ Return to the Sea at a weird time. It was my first year in Los Angeles, and, as most people dropping into this city solo find, life is a little bit lonely at first. I was “doing this thing,” focused as all get out. I was scared, rigid and sad. Then some family members died. Things kinda, really sucked. So, I go to this concert…
It was one of those LA crowds, stoic-hands-in-pockets type, and quite thin in the capacity area. My friends and I were being “good concert goers.” Watching, shuffling but never quite enjoying. That would be socially unacceptable. A man named Randall, who I’d come with, started the funk festivities when Islands hit the stage. He didn’t know the band or their music but something in their playing told him, “DANCE.” Randall listened, let go and slid into the sauce that is Islands. Arms flailed. Legs kicked. It was infectious. Soon, a small haven formed and a few random strangers grooved and funked their ever-loving, white asses off. Pairs. Solo. It wasn’t attractive, rhythmic or even justifiable. It was powerful though. This feeling started in the music and flowed right through us, making us complete, blissful idiots.
Then it was over.
That’s where I know Islands from. They are a funky, experimental rock band. Nick Thorburn, one of Islands’ two driving forces, is one third of the triumvirate that forms Mister Heavenly. There’s also Ryan Kattner of Man Man, an indie, experimental rock band I only know from a badass mix, and drummer Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse, who has had their share of pop masterpieces. Individually, they’ve all done something with music that has transcended the average malarky and achieved bliss. Together, who knows what they could do.
Jenn, I’m confused. I find that’s how I feel about Out of Love. I keep putting this dang album on, enjoying the heck out of it and then I’m left with…silence. Until I put it back on and…happy again. A complete, blissful idiot. I like it, for it’s 36 minute running time. Even the songs I don’t necessary love (“Reggae Pie” should learn when to leave a party), I don’t mind enough to skip. Something I do like will be here in another second anyway. Is this enough? I’ve heard songs like this before. They Might Be Giants (“Mister Heavenly”), Queens of the Stone Age (“Bronx Spider”) and M. Ward (“Hold My Hand”) come to mind. Do I need to listen to Mister Heavenly? This is a band formed for the apparent reason to, according to Thorburn, “…just…make each other laugh and enjoy each other’s company creatively.” How many times do I have to watch Ocean’s Twelve before I realize it doesn’t care if I’m there? If Ocean’s Twelve plays in the woods and no ones around, it still makes a sound.
Here’s the query, Jenn: Is this an album for people to buy or a fun jam between friends? Is that enough for an album? Am I thinking too much about it? Should I stop and just enjoy? Then how do I effectively talk about it? We infamously disagree on what I call the album of the year thus far (Bon Iver’s Bon Iver), so where do you fall on what is essentially a non-album-album?
“In the Bronx when the guns go off, we like it,”
Chris
AudioVole 
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