Marnie Stern Returns With "The Chronicles of Marnia"

Guitarist/songwriter extraordinaire Marnie Stern is known for her dizzying guitar work and intricately composed instrumentation, for songs that sound like chaos harmonized. But for her fourth album, Stern wanted to continue evolving even further. She says, "I always gravitate towards interweaving and a more abrasive sound. I was working with Nicholas Vernhes from Rare Book Room Recording in Brooklyn, and he was the producer. He wanted my voice clearer and fewer guitar parts. I tried it because I wanted to try something different." The end result is the excellently titled The Chronicles of Marnia, out March 19th of next year via Kill Rock Stars. Hear first single "Year of the Glad" below.

Quinn's Top Albums of 2010

Well, the year is over -- didn't see that coming. If there's one thing I can say about 2010, it's that it was the best and most productive year Mixtape Muse has had since it was born back in 2006. I'd like to thank all the artists, bands, and readers who helped make this year so awesome and successful. I would have never thought Mixtape Muse could have accomplished so much in a year. So, thank you all.

Now, my choices for the top albums of 2010. Oh, the year-end list. It's just a troublesome thing. Are we ranking them according to how great they are or how much we enjoyed them? In the end, isn't this all just a matter of opinion anyway? I must admit that if you've been following the site over the years, I have never before ranked my year-end choices. It all seems rather odd to me to say "oh, this album was the best" when you come from the perspective of a musician. So, please consider the fact that I have never exercised my right, or rather my ability, to rank albums (save for my "Top Albums of 2010...so far" list) and that I struggled with this bad boy up until the end. Furthermore, because this isn't my day job I didn't have the opportunity to listen to everything that I saw, heard, or read about. Alright? Alright.

Remember, folks, as people, all we can do is offer opinions when it comes to art. Facts are what we use to form opinions, not the other way around; all we know are the facts, not the opinions. I can't tell you what your opinion is, because that is something you must create with the facts before you (e.g. FACT: I love a lot of different genres of music that some people might not fancy in the least bit). Then again, I guess there are at least a few flaws in this logic. Hopefully, you get my point. In the words of Malcolm Gladwell, "The key to good decision making is not knowledge, it is understanding."

REVIEW: Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern

Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern
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There are no two ways around it: Marnie Stern’s new self-titled album is inescapable. From the initial moments of chaotic guitar and drums to the gentle fadeout that closes the album, it’s one wild ride. Stern runs, not walks, that line between chaos and harmony. Apparently produced during a particularly difficult time in her life, Marnie Stern is certainly a rollercoaster of emotion, a reflection of good in bad and bad in good. It’s a relentless powerhouse that proves Stern is more than an adept guitarist, she’s also a capable songwriter.

The key element of the album’s overall success is Stern’s guitar work. It’s one thing to hide behind a bunch of flashy guitar work, it’s another to coax a wide array of expressions out of the instrument. Stern manages to muster pop hooks with serious guitar chops, the kind that would be head-splitting for some players to attempt and reproduce. She draws more emotion out of her guitar than most singers get out of their voices. What’s more, Stern is a thoughtful arranger, displaying careful consideration for the power of layering.

LISTEN: Marnie Stern - "Transparency is the New Mystery"

MP3: Marnie Stern - "Transparency is the New Mystery"

Like a cross between Deerhoof, Ponytail, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this song is certainly full of adventure and enough guitar riffing to hook and hold your ears' attention. It sounds almost as though Marnie Stern is on the other side of the world, performing this song along the banks surrounding the Kinkaku-ji -- if only because it sounds somewhat spiritual, instilled with a subtle elementary tone. It's so loud and full of such vitality that it reaches every corner of the globe.



"Transparency is the New Mystery" is from Marnie Stern's new self-titled album, out October 5th on Kill Rock Stars. Scope the tracklist here. Preorder it here.

Marnie Stern Releasing New LP, Hear New Song

Singer/guitarist Marnie Stern is set to release her third album entitled Marnie Stern on October 5th through Kill Rock Stars. The album follows In Advance of the Broken Arm (2007) and This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That (2008).

"I wanted to pay more attention to the delicate and subtly layered spaces in between sound and just make things louder and fuller where I didn't on my last 2 records," says Stern. When asked to sum up the album, she says, "It's direct and honest and real. I’m no longer taking cover under guitar lines or yelping vocals."

If the first track of the new album is any indication, this self-titled set is sure to be quite an adventure both emotionally and sonically. "For Ash" is wild but focused, and filled with just the right amount of technical flair. Hear it and get the tracklist after the jump.