lo-fi longing, softly strummed heartache, electronic highlights

9 MP3 Songs
ELECTRONIC: Experimental, AVANT GARDE: Computer Music

Show all album songs: A Minor Miracle Songs


Details:
Have you ever wished you could just disappear?

That's exactly what John LaMonica, the artist now known as TIEBREAKER, attempted to do in October of 2005. Without warning, his band's fall tour was canceled, his website was shut down and his management was left with no contact information whatsoever. After rumors of his death began circulating among fans of his previous bands (My Spacecoaster, Death At Sea, The Polyphonic Spree), it seemed that someone should set the record straight as to his whereabouts and what seemed like a random vanishing act. Only, no attempt was made, at least on his part.

TIEBREAKER's lineup weathered numerous incarnations following it's inception in 2001. After four yeas, the band was still no closer to being a finalized unit. Interest in the band and its iconic central figure seemed to spread tirelessly, mostly via word of mouth, among devoted fans and on the internet. A few major labels even made attempts at snatching up the singer/songwriter after the release of "How Shall They Hear?" (Spune/Velvet Blue Music). Originally released under the Tiebreaker moniker one press outlet commented that the EP contained "songs so sparse and frail they can only be described as haunting" and many other critics echoed this sentiment. One of whom was director/actor, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Itch). At his request, TIEBREAKER was included on the soundtrack for the film Shortbus which also featured Yo La Tengo, The Hidden Camera's and Animal Collective. Around this time LaMonica began making unannounced appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Knitting Factory in New York, and SXSW in Austin as the official festival kickoff DJ. These performances brought about many questions concerning LaMonica's two year hiatus. Was there new material? A major label deal? Rehab? The truth might well have be stranger than all the above. It seems that, around the time of his "disappearance" the artist known as TIEBREAKER simply pulled the plug and hit the road. Without so much as a farewell concert, LaMonica packed up his belongings and couch surfed his way across the country. From Texas to Seattle, California to New York, DC to Canada, and so on. He finally ended up in none other than Salt Lake City where he has apparently decided to stay put, at least for now.

The question of John LaMonica's disappearance has been answered, but his musical output's status has not. He has kept busy writing and recording new songs on his laptop, preparing for the rebirth of TIEBREAKER. Two year's worth of material has surfaced and a re-introduction is in order. Doll House prepares to release the first of this collection this summer.