Two Songs

Single: Don’t Wake the Sun (2008)

Artist: Writer

Label: self-released

Where available/price: At live shows, Lou’s Records (Encinitas), Off the Record (North Park), M Theory (Mission Hills), and Spin Records (Carlsbad) for $5. Online at writertheband.com for $5.

Songs: 1) Don’t Wake the Sun (side A) 2) I Think She Died (side B)

Band: Andy Ralph (vocals, guitar), Jayme Ralph (drums, bass, synth, guitar), Eli Bowser (guitar), Kelli Noflte (vocals)

Website: writertheband.com

In the past two years, Writer must’ve been locked in a garage and threatened with beatings unless they developed greatness. It worked. Their last album, Cover Your Tracks (2006), slumped onto the scene, carrying its heavy load of teary, lost-love lamentations. This year’s offering beats with a robust heart — even if it’s only two songs.

Side A, “Don’t Wake the Sun,” effuses garage rock. A girthy guitar line drives the rhythm and adds an almost English rock grit. Andy Ralph’s voice rings with angst. As grubby and powerful as side A is, side B is equally soft and sad. Kelli Noflte lends her tender voice to this piano tune. The harmony is touching. Kelli delivers the song’s lyrics of death and disaster with a tone of grief tempered with perseverance.

Writer went with seven-inch vinyl to record this two-song record. Each copy of the 500 records pressed is hand-numbered. This medium fits with the band’s new dedication to authenticity and craft. It’s a great project.

But… Two songs in two years? Consider that the track from side B (“I Think She Died”) was already written and performed on their last CD, that really makes it one song in two years. I hope for their fans’ sake the band speeds it up a bit, or the next LP-release party will be held at the Lawrence Welk retirement community.