Friday, March 4, 2016

Frogpond - 2% tape (1994)

It must have been a good two decades ago when someone tipped me off to Frogpond, but when I learned they were on a major label that essentially sunk their credibility with me.  Glad I didn't pass up on this demo when I found it in a thrift store rack not too long ago.  Four young women from central Missouri unfurl an unholy volley of devastating hooks and crunchy guitar clatter on this eight-song nugget of buzz 'n fuzz, placing them squarely in the same marathon as the Breeders, Liz Phair and Veruca Salt.  In terms of sheer accomplishment and capability, the gold would go to Kim Deal and Co. in that hypothetical race, but Frogpond would clock in at a very close second or third.  I'm practically in love with 2%. Will have to check out their proper albums, even if they're lacking the raw, naschent charm of this tape.

01. Notion
02. Even Now
03. Losers
04. Emotional Slut
05. Here We Go
06. Talk to Me
07. People
08. Today

Hear

8 comments:

Theodora said...

Hi Spavid, I hope it's ok to comment off topic here...

I just discovered your Wilfully Obscure blog via this youtube upload of the Three Hits song "Numbers", which the uploader got from your page here: http://wilfullyobscure.blogspot.com/2011/02/singles-going-single-164-three-hits-7.html.

Unfortunately, it's from 2011 and been deleted for inactivity. Do you ever re-up old music? If so, I'd love to hear the whole EP and would be very grateful. Thanks!

DS

Bruce K. said...

Well, this one chugs along pretty well, doesn't it? For a pop fan like me just the right side of being noisy. Nice!

roverinexile said...

Got introduced to them about 15 years ago by someone I met who'd gone to college out in Kansas. Only ever found a couple of tracks and really enjoyed them. Looking forward to hearing this.

Mark H said...

I have both of their albums - good mix of bonafide gems and standard 90s alternative.

HarderThanYou said...

This is cool to see something from this band. My band was loading into the studio to record and Frogpond was just finishing up. I think that was 1994 or 1995 in Lawrence KS. I was worried because they recorded all night and now the engineer was going to spend all day recording us. It was not this demo they recorded at that time. Different studio.

greg kc said...

Wow, thanks a bunch of posting this. I've been on the search for these tracks for years. Still on the search for the physical item, but this helps immensely.

Anonymous said...

reup please, mate. Thanks!

DLBKCMO said...

I am from Kansas City, Missouri, and am friends with the lead singer of this band.

After taking a bit of a hiatus after Frogpond ended in 2000, she has been in a few crunchy alt. rock bands since (Abileen, Heidi Phillips, Lovelorn) and now plays alt. country folk-ish stuff with her good friend Daniel.

I saw them play in an old courthouse in Warrensburg, MO, a month or two back.

https://heidiphillips.bandcamp.com/

More than happy to upload her various projects if there was any interest!