CD EP (JNR22)
Release Date: 06/10/08
DOWNLOAD ONESHEET

1. Hokusai (mp3)
2. Time & Energy
3. Cryptozoological Allstars
4. Accelerated Dickery
5. The Tangible

In response to the over-intellectualized, exclusive world of high art, singer/guitarist David Woodruff dropped out of art school to form The Delicious. With accessibility and sincerity as its goals, the Delicious craft strangely accessible indie-art-pop in their own complex, honest, light-hearted, and well-equipped fashion. Their disjointed pop sensibility combined with high-minded, jazz-degree-carrying musicianship results in an album that is complex and mathematical, yet always tasteful, unpretentious, and addictive. The group's first release for Joyful Noise, Postcard to My Sewing Circle, is chock-full of elegantly constructed power-pop - able to impress math-rock enthusiasts, jazz purists, and indie-rock snobs alike.

The referential and oftentimes hilarious lyrics are a perfect complement to the bubbly, punchy neon sound on this EP. Take as a random sampling a line from the first track Hokusai, which references Miles Davis, abstract pop art, formalism and a famous painting by Rene Magritte - and actually manages to make it sound funny and off the cuff. For the average listener without a background in art history this name dropping and peppering of sophistication will just sound off-kilter and weird; for the initiated they come off as almost rip-roaringly funny. Lines like, "Don't put it past a monster to appropriate self-portraiture," present us with paradoxes of such Byzantine weirdness that one might find oneself still trying to piece it all together days later. This band's cachet has also been illimitably enhanced by its lead-singer's Civil War era/Salvador Dali style mustache. Postcard To My Sewing Circle is an EP that's fun and bliss-inducing the first time through, with an enticing depth that will encourage many repeated listens.

REVIEWS

"Distant light-years from conventional pop, The Delicious delight (term very suited for the occasion) the listener with an art-rock extravagance skillfully diluted with detailed captions indie-pop: a gem not to be grasped."
— Kronic (Finland)

"References to art history, jazz and highbrow pop-cultural references turn up everywhere on this five-song EP. Postcard to My Sewing Circle isn't math-rock weird nor post-rock challenging... like a slowed-down version of late-'90s Chicago indie bands like Karate or Joan of Arc."
— Aversion

"Postcard To My Sewing Circle EP is a surprisingly personal record, abandoning light-hearted pop sentiments and references to long-dead political icons in favor of love songs long on youthful yearning and pop songs wrestling with the meaning of art and inspiration. David Woodruff has come into his own as a singer, shifting easily from quiet restraint to reckless pop wail. Musically the group builds upon an aesthetic of Holly-era early rock and roll brings a penchant for time signature diversions and bombastic bridges. It's as though they spent there time in between their s/t LP and Postcard To My Sewing Circle brushing up on their 1950's rock chops, which works very much to their benefit... Charming, quirky, with just the right dose of sentimentality, Postcard To My Sewing Circle is fine example of indie-pop done right."
— Bloomington Scene

"Lyrics are pretty off-kilter with snatches of polymathic sophistication ('Hokusai' refers to the Japanese woodprint master and Magritte, among other stuff, and 'Cryptozoological All-Stars' cryptically details some sort of subterranean lab work). The music is catchy as hell, with cheerful chord progressions, occasional vocal harmony and generally quick tempi (although in not always toe-tapping shifting signatures). Three band members have jazz backgrounds, training that informs the intricate arrangements - in particular, drums by Ben Fowler are strong, precise and well-suited to the pieces."
— Nuvo

"Don't let the light-hearted tone of the music fool you, or allow the disjointed lyrics to confuse you. The lyrics are clever and well written. But unfortunately, to appreciate them the songs might require a second listen... The most disappointing aspect of the album would be that it only has five tracks. Just as I was getting into it, it was over. I suddenly had the sensation to flip it over like a cassette tape to listen to another side of tracks."
— LEO Weekly

"Postcard to My Sewing Circle is an over artsy sort of video gamer interpretation of jazz for people who still wear neon pink sunglasses. The mathy constructions and intellectually zaney lyrics are fun, but might be a little too far reaching for the simple minds of casual listeners... Music snobs will probably really dig it.
— Evil Needles

"The Delicious seems to triumph in silliness and self affirmation. The lyrical content, although tough to decipher any rhythm, rhyme or reason, is full of innocent rhetoric and hidden meanings... the obscure vocabulary and verbose references of Postcard To My Sewing Circle makes one think Woodruff wants to show everyone how fast he can do a crossword puzzle."
— Stereo Subversion

"With its steady beats and guitars going from a garage rock sound to a more ardent sound, 'Hokusai' gives a good first glimpse into the Delicious and makes the listener wonder what will come next...One could characterize all of their songs as fitting into the indie/art rock genre, but just when you think you can categorize the band, the next song disproves any type of classification. Overall rating: 8.0/10"
— Bloomington Cultureweek

"Good, jangly dork rock, not unlike TMBG with some hipster elements. The lyrics are really highbrow and brainy, which sometimes comes off as exasperatingly show offy. But overall, this is pretty geektastic."
— Read Junk

"Considering I'm getting really fucking tired of indie-pop bands, this wasn't terrible. If you're not really fucking tired of indie-pop bands, you might even find this album enjoyable. If you could care less about fucking indie-pop bands, you're probably just wondering how many more times I'll write the word 'fucking.'"
— Tastes Like Chicken