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Album Mp3s

Feral Harmonic

• "Little Bird Courage"

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Is it really already October? For many of us, 2009 may have gone hastily by without leaving much to show for it — but we can’t all be Chris Crisci. We can’t all release two albums through two different bands, all while raising a new baby. Show off.

Fans and friends have never had to wait too long to see Crisci play music. Last February his widest known act, the Appleseed Cast, released its seventh album, Sagarmatha and embarked on two lengthy tours, including several local shows.

Yet for all attention the Appleseed Cast garners, Crisci’s side project, Old Canes, lays relatively low. While Old Canes play the occasional local show, the Appleseed Cast has dominated most of Crisci’s increasingly limited free time. Long-standing rumors of a follow-up to the Canes' debut Early Morning Hymns never seemed like they would materialize into anything that would ever see the light of iPod.

Then last July came word of Feral Harmonic, to be released by Omaha’s Saddle Creek. Indeed, Crisci had been laboring over the recordings on and off for three years. In the basement of the house — which he shares with his wife, Melanie, and their kids including new member, one-year-old Ellis — Crisci has been tinkering and laying down tracks, with the help of several Lawrence musicians.

While musically darker than Early Morning Hymns, lyrically Feral Harmonic finds Crisci looking forward. Last week Crisci invited lawrence.com into his home to talk the album, his love for lo-fi, and what's been keeping him busy.

This week's CD release show at the Jackpot kicks off its tour, which includes a Saddle Creek showcase appearance at the CMJ music festival in New York.