SYFFAL: If you were a flavor of Chapstik brand Chapstik which flavor would you be and why?
KF: Original, because it’s a time tested sturdy flavor. None of that flashy here today gone tomorrow taste business.
THANKS to Tris McCall for delivering this thoughtful review of HIGGINS’ Straight A’s for the NJ Star-Ledger:
Straight A’s
Higgins
(Serious Business)
Those familiar with the High Llamas will know what I mean when I say that “Straight A’s,” the new disc by Higgins, is to “Zs,” their last, as “Hawaii” is to “Gideon Gaye.” Kevin Fish, Higgins’ principal songwriter, will: He shares with the High Llamas an appreciation of the impressionistic side of the Beach Boys and the impish, provocative side of the Grateful Dead. “Straight A’s” lacks the splashy instrumental rave-ups that made “Zs” so much fun. But by sticking to Higgins’ true strength — subtly magnificent pop melodies, Beatlesque vocal harmonies and graceful arrangements that scream of perfectionism but never sound less than relaxed — the band has topped itself. Every detail is framed for maximum impact: the thumping piano on “Satch Lab,” the portamento synthesizers and fuzz guitar on “Easy Thing,” twinkling music-hall spinet and rich strings on “T and T,” rattling percussion and slow-decaying snare hits by imaginative drummer Brian Kantor on “Never Here.” The productions are grand, but quietly grand; Higgins lets the band’s craftsmanship speak for itself. If you’re the sort of listener who pays attention to detail — and has the patience to let an album unfold at its own pace — Higgins may be the group for you.
— Tris McCall
Higgins just celebrated the release of Straight A’s with a show at the Rock Shop. Tim from SYFFAL was there. He posted a vid of “Easy Thing.” Here’s a concert review too: “balls out awesome” … read it!
HIGGINS: You Don’t Like What I Do
from the higgins album STRAIGHT A’S
new higgins video directed by jake lyons starring andy nauss, both men.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
HIGGINS: Build It Up
from Straight A’s. that sweet sweet string arrangement courtesy of josh kaufman (and performed on viola by Karen Waltuch).
The world rejoices!!! New Higgins record Straight As is available on Serious Business Records and Tapes! We’re all really psyched about how this one came out. Thanks Efrain for the sweet promo video.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
HIGGINS - Slap or Pinch
STRAIGHT A’S
SBR56
COMING SOON
VINYL / CD / DIGI
http://twitpic.com/8zhhpw Higgins Straight A’s testes pressing arrival. Delicious. Prepare for gatefold jacket, color vinyl, CD, etc #classy
Ampeater has delivered another exquisitely written review of some Serious Business. This time up on the golden pedestal is Josh Kaufman’s ROCKETSHIP PARK. This year’s Cakes and Cookies has quietly become a favorite for most of those who’ve come in contact with it’s sweet, melty core. Read here and download the digital 7” combo of “Swan” (“a small masterpiece”) and “See You,” (“Kaufman delights!”) two highlights from the record.
@syffaltweets
Our pal Tim at Syffal shouts out tonight’s REVUE at the Rock Shop.
Our friends at Serious Business Records are bringing their unique and delicious brand of music to the Rock Shop in Brooklyn, NY - TONIGHT!
Come see SYFFAL friends Rocketship Park and Higgins, along with Benji Cossa and The Unsacred Hearts who strangers that SYFFAL finds both dangerous and erotic.
You can read up more at Facebook
And you can get tickets here
COME OUT TONIGHT AND HELP US SELL THE BITCH OUT.
Dear Friends, Love Kevin Fish.
Higgins main-man Kevin Fish sent out this message to his closest pals yesterday.
Dearest Friends,
As you may know, Higgins has completed its 4th full length album entitled Straight A’s. In order to give this record a chance to enter the physical world we are trying to raise a few bucks by selling a few digital singles. Available here http://seriousbusinessrecords.com/releases/show/68-Do-You-Still is the first attempt at this. This song was written by me (KP) and recorded at home with BK in the grand old Higgins tradition. It was then completed at Serious Business Studios in Manhattan with Josh Kaufman on Lap Steel and Travis Harrison on the Mix. The Artwork was put together by Kara Smith and Brian Kantor. Have a listen and if it pleases you as it pleases us… Have it.
HIGGINS - Do You Still by seriousbusiness
Our second attempt will be out on October 25th and it features not one but two new recordings! http://www.seriousbusinessrecords.com/releases/show/72-Slap-or-Pinch-I-Wonder-What-Dudes-Are-Doing
This one boasts my favorite cover to date, picked out of the Village Voice by Billy Filo and fine tuned by Kara and Brian to suit the needs of Higgins. Both songs are very special to me and “I Wonder What Dudes Are Doing” is one of the rare crop of songs that came out of the band “The Banged Up” which was a collaboration between me and the Lyrical and Musical Genius of Billy Filo! It was an Impromptu version that we did in a live session at Serious Business Studios. One of the few songs I’ve ever heard that truly captures a man’s love and appreciation of his dude’s. Also, Higgins will be part of the first ever Serious Business Records Revue! My favorite people in the music world will all be there and share in a great night of celebrating the music we have been making and covers of the stuff that has inspired us over the years. Benji Cossa, Rocketship Park, The Unsacred Hearts along with us Higgins. This will be on October 28th at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Check it Here http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/69167?__utma=1.2145050613.1318271212.1318271212.1318271212.1&__utmb=1.1.10.1318271212&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1318271212.1.1.utmcsr=seriousbusinessrecords.com|utmccn=%28referral%29|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/venues/show/462&__utmv=-&__utmk=160573117
Come out and celebrate with us, it is sure to be a blast! Be well.
Love,
KP
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
HIGGINS
DO YOU STILL
SBR51 / 2011 / a digital single on Serious Business Records.
This is one song from the forthcoming new HIGGINS album called Straight A’s. Amongst the few people who have heard this album, many of them consider “Do You Still” to be of their favorite. Kevin’s vocal sounds beautiful donchya think?
HIGGINS - Do You Still by seriousbusiness
Artwork by Kara Smith and Brian Kantor
HIGGINS! oh shit .. On WFMU’s Free Music Archive
HIGGINS! oh shit .. On WFMU’s Free Music Archive —- freez Zs … then please buy CDs.
Visit the Free Music Archive to grab some Zs, then stick around to pick out some other sweet free shit.
Marshmallow Coast - “Seniors and Juniors Strikes Back”
featuring KEVIN FISH AND BRIAN KANTOR from HIGGINS! That’s right. Hell fuckin’ yeah. Elephant 6 grad Andy Gonzalez recently totally reinvented his decade old record Seniors and Juniors. He enlisted Team Higgins, huge fans and enthusiastic participants, to garnish his fonky chord meals. I recorded some of Brian’s drums here at SB. Andy even chose Kevin’s voice to be the lead vocal on the tune Lil Pythagoras. Purchase the result for a very reasonable $7 from Athens, GA’s hhbtm records. In other news, Andy has returned the favor, contributing guitar and synth stuff to Higgins’ almost-done Straight A’s album. Higgins and Marshmallow Coast are all up inside one another.
These two pop maestros converged for the first time on a 2009 split 7” where Andy chose to go under Andy From Denver instead of Marshmallow Coast. Get it here. Listen below:
SBR31: Higgins / Andy From Denver Split 7”
Higgins/Andy From Denver (Marshmallow Coast) Split 7” by seriousbusiness
Also, back in 2008 Kevin recorded an elaborate and beautiful cover version of Andy’s tune “Bermuda Rectangle” and that appeared on the digital only odds and sods mini LP Trust in Higgins, Vol I.
