Beulah - If you want some sunny california pop

[Runaways]

Well beulah actually broke up in 2004, but excluding their ok debut, they released 3 pretty acclaimed records.  here's their allmusic review page, (i know heartstrings has the check, but i suggest something else for y'all)
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:09fuxq9jldke~T2

and don't mind that "mabel and i", that's some french chick mistakenly there.

BUT, y'all should check out the album "the coast is never clear", it's sunny california chill out but lush orchestral pop.  It's catchy with a bazillion hooks (all their albums are like that).  i'm sure a few of y'all have heard of them, but just sharing.  happily the main songwriter (miles kurosky) has his debut solo album out in march, so y'all got time to catch up on their brilliance.  This is for people who wanna mix Beach Boys and Beatles.  kurosky has said he's a beach boys fan. so you won't really find harmonies, but just really good music.  this is one of my favs from coast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h3ikhebwGk

after that, i suggest "yoko", it was the break up record so it isn't as sunny. but it's still amazing.  you really can't go wrong.  

[the captain]

Coast is Never Clear is one of my top 10 albums of the 00s.

[Runaways]

yeah. every song is pop bliss. i'm yet to really hear a bad beulah song.

[donald]

I've heard some of this music.  Very nice pop.  Elephant Six genre?

[grillo]

Yup, E-6, but I recommend the album, When Your Heartstrings Break, their second album. Way less slick than the two after that, but better songs and quirkier ideas. I actually thought Yoko kinda sucked, and so did the band if I remember what Miles told me correctly.

[Mr. Cohen]

"A Good Man is Easy to Kill"... does this song intentionally reference famous pop songs? Like the harmonies at the end, lifted straight out of a Stones song, "You Can't Get Always Get What You Want", I believe. Just curious.

[the captain]

They were only barely ever E6, more taking a little step around the periphery before establishing themselves. Their first album had the imprint, but they were never truly a part of that scene--never Athens-based, never even Denver-based. (The first one, I have no use for.) As for "Good Man," I would imagine the answer is yes. TOTAL GUESSWORK HERE, but 1) the band was pretty well-versed in pop history; 2) the band wasn't afraid to drop references in other instances (such as referencing the Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs in "Popular Mechanics for Lovers" on that same album) or even naming their breakup album Yoko).

[Runaways]

yeah i don't associate them with the E-6 crew.  Musically they're more straightforward and pop oriented.  Easier to like by far.  more relatable.  And i love Yoko.  maybe it wasn't like by the band cause lyrically it's pretty personal for Miles.  he was coming out of a divorce i think.  i will refuse the Pet Sounds connection of shifting from sunny pop to personal/emotional depth songs.  it's pretty weak connection anyway. and obv not as good.  but i still love it. 

[donald]

I've only heard Heartstrings, introduced to me by a fellow E6 fan.  I know the E6 connection/s got a little farfetched with so many bands being "lumped together" in that genre.  And that is how I have come to understand E6, as a genre, even if that is  not technically correct.

One day I will make that E6 compilation, including such bands as this.  Might even throw in a Mints tune or two.

[Alex]

I've only heard Heartstrings, introduced to me by a fellow E6 fan.  I know the E6 connection/s got a little farfetched with so many bands being "lumped together" in that genre.  And that is how I have come to understand E6, as a genre, even if that is  not technically correct.

One day I will make that E6 compilation, including such bands as this.  Might even throw in a Mints tune or two.

But the Wondermints weren't even in the E6.

[the captain]

That is his point: he associates E6 more with sound than actual truth. Pretty irrelevant anyway: really, even some E6ers can't quite describe the specifics of who was in or out once you spread past those original bands. And considering it was hardly ever anything more than an idea (as opposed to a formal label, which it only barely was), it doesn't much matter.

[donald]

Thank you Luther.  My thoughts exactly.  Its why I refer to it as a genre now.  I think I'm not exactly alone on this.

Even Rob Schneider, sidekick of Adam Sandler, claims to be a part of the E6 collective. 

[Runaways]

just saying, Miles Kurosky's Album Preview EP just got released on itunes.  only 3 songs. 2.97.  and it's awesome.

Def a return to Heartstrings style pop, except with the lushness and melodies of Coast is Never Clear.  

you just don't get pop as creative and hooky as this too often. love it.  actually i kinda get a "heroes and villains" vibe from them.  Just the dynamics, catchiness, humor and instruments.  just more guitars.

[DSamore]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this. I dig it and can't believe with all my research for Brian-influenced tunes that I hadn't found these guys. Thanks again!