The Fire Theft

The Fire Theft were a three-piece indie rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 2001 and have been on indefinite hiatus since 2004. Notably, this band was formed by three-quarters of the quintessential Sunny Day Real Estate line-up, including guitarist/vocalist Jeremy Enigk, bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer William Goldsmith. The Fire Theft was formed immediately after SDRE split for the second time, with Mendel rejoining his former bandmates after having joined the Foo Fighters following SDRE's first split. Under this moniker, they released one full-length in 2003, alongside one single. Since the reformation of SDRE in 2009, it's doubtful this project will be ever picked up again, though no definite word has been given on the matter. 

Sonically, this is a pretty notable departure from the sound we've come to know these guys for. There's plenty of lush, arpeggiated melodic guitars, and Enigk's distinct vocal falsetto but with some added instrumentation coming in to the fold (synths, xylophones, strings, etc.) and some odd time signatures being utilized. There's also multiple atmospheric, ambient interludes throughout the album, breaking up some of the heavier-hitting moments. Bands like Gensis and Yes have been pointed to as influences, as though it's definitely noticeable, it's a little overblown to make any direct comparisons. It's a solid album, though admittedly not one I really check in on, and I would take any SDRE album over this. Having said that, it's still worth sharing and checking out if you're a massive fan of theirs and want to hear what they were up during on of their multiple interims. Enjoy.

Hands On You (2003)

1. Chain

2. Sinatra

3. Hands On You

The Fire Theft (2003)

1. Uncle Mountain

2. Wast Time Segue

3. Oceans Apart

4. Chain

5. Backwards Blues

6. Summertime

7. Houses

8. Waste Time

9. Heaven

10. Rubber Bands

11. It's Over

12. Carry You

13. Sinatra

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Friend/Enemy

Friend/Enemy were a short-lived indie rock project created by Tim Kinsella and Todd Mattei, lasting between 2001 and 2002. Both of them were also members of Joan of Arc at the time. If you're familiar with that band (and Owls to an extent), the strangeness of this project will come as no shock to you. The foundation of these songs were laid down by the aforementioned members, and then a ton of collaborators would come in and add density to these tracks. Other contributors include bassist Sam Zurick (a regular in the Cap'n Jazz/Owls/Joan of Arc collective), and even Zach Hill on drums (of Hella and Death Grips notoriety), among others. Sonically, this project is very experimental, dipping into elements of math rock, jazz, prog, and indie, all beneath Kinsella's distinct vocal stylings and storytelling. In addition, there's an array of sounds in the mix here in addition to standard rock instrumentation, such as a banjo and a bunch of percussion. It's an interesting album undoubtedly, and highly recommended to fans who lean more towards the stranger side on the strange/sad Kinsella spectrum. Enjoy.

10 Songs (2002)

1. Thax Douglas

2. Do The Stand On One Foot Dance To The Radio Rodeo

3. I'd Rather Be High Than Get Laid Any Other Day Of The Week

4. How Do You Explain Me To Your Mom

5. Out At The Inner (Dark)

6. Just Like Anne E. Fay's Bues

7. Teeny Comealong

8. The Lost Sciences Of The First Bible Pressing

9. I Once Loved Something, Etc.

10. Okay We'll Fade Before The End