Carl Johns is Charlemagne. But he's been known as Carl Johns before like when he was born in Southern Indiana in the mid-'70s, and when he started playing the drums (his first instrument). He was also Carl Johns when he left the Hoosier State and relocated to Madison, Wisconsin in the late ‘90’s, learned to play guitar and ended up in the group Noahjohn (a sort of a psychedelic Americana project, depending on which album you're listening to), of which released four albums from 1999 to 2004, and toured all over the U.S. and U.K.

But today, Carl Johns is Charlemagne (translation: Carl the Great), and has taken his psychedelic-Americana songwriting style and put it through the Pop machine where out the other end came two albums, the first one self-titled, and the second called "Detour Allure" (SideCho). “Detour Allure” was recorded at Science of Sound with the assistance of his live band at the time; Curtis Whaley (keyboard and co-producer), Bill Borowski (bass), Alex Fulton (drums), Kaleen Enke (backup vocals and guitar) and Tenaya Darlington (vocals), and we’ve had the privilege of releasing it on (blue!) vinyl in July of 2006.

"Inspired by bands like Magnetic Fields, Fleetwood Mac and My Bloody Valentine, ‘Detour Allure’ finds Johns creating less of a singular, songwriter-esque release, instead opting to incorporate more of a full band aesthetic, even utilizing other musicians to assist in the album's creative process. Crammed with plenty of melodies, hooks, reverb, keys, beats and handclaps, ‘Detour Allure’ shows Charlemagne drafting a modern, psychedelic pop album, with plenty of conviction to boot." -SideCho

Official website: www.beholdcharlemagne.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/charlemagneandhisangels

His & Her Vanities began in Ricky and Terrin Riemer's Wisconsin basement in late 1999 where they found themselves beginning to write songs together while their infant son was asleep at night. Ricky had been playing music for years (in his band Transformer Lootbag, and for quite some time before that too), but for the first time in her life Terrin picked up a bass guitar and started noodling around while Ricky played drums. They would come up with an entire arrangement, record it, then layer other instruments and vocals on top. After writing a collection of quirky Post-Punk/Pop-Rock-type songs together this way (often compared to the sounds of The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Devo), the couple decided to branch out into a band. In 2001 drummer Sara Winkelman joined the Riemers, learning all of the parts flawlessly, and with Ricky on guitar and Terrin on bass they played several shows together before retreating to the basement to record a full-length which was released in June of 2002 (self-titled). With the addition of Matt Abplanalp (also in Transformer Lootbag with Ricky) on rhythm guitar, H&HV became a four-piece for live shows. They've shared the stage with many notable bands such as The Mekons, Scene Creamers (now called "Weird War"), The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Young People, The M's, The Dials and others. Their second full length, "A Thought Process," was released in 2004.

"... An infectious, fun, and refreshing group that simultaneously stands far out from and somehow fits into the scene of the numerous punk and post-punk revivalist bands that dominated indie culture during the early 2000s." -Gregory McIntosh, All Music Guide

Official website: www.hisandhervanities.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/hishervanities

Pale Young Gentlemen formed in a large unused bedroom in Madison, WI in August of 2004. Brothers Michael & Matt Reisenauer and friend Brett Randall started out as a three-piece (piano, drums, guitar) but soon added Milwaukee-based musician Andrew Brawner (bass) and cellist Elizabeth Weamer. This unlikely group made an unlikely brand of music and speedily gathered the attention of local show-goers.

Recorded in November of 2006 at Smart Studios, Pale Young Gentlemen's self-titled debut (self-released) is a demonstration of musical imaginativeness. The songs, carefully thought out by songwriter Michael Reisenauer, range from dark tales of pulsing theatricality ("Fraulein", "Clap Your Hands") to delicate and powerful narratives depicting a shared human condition ("Saturday Night", "Single Days"). As their music has evolved, so has the band's lineup. Currently, the band consists of original members Brett Randall, Matt Reisenauer, and Michael Reisenauer, accompanied by Beth Morgan on cello, Gwen Miller on viola, and Derek Powell on violin. Drawing upon the folk-classical movements of Brahms, the evocative storytelling of Randy Newman, and the pop orchestration and sensibilities of Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney, Pale Young Gentlemen fashion a unique and compelling sound in the chilly atmosphere of Wisconsin's capitol.

ś PYG will begin recording their follow-up album at Smart Studios in Madison, WI at the end of April and we're scheduled to release it in October, 2008. We will also be re-releasing their debut album in early 2009. We're extremely happy to welcome Pale Young Gentlemen to the SOS family!

Official website: www.paleyounggentlemen.com/
Myspace: www.myspace.com/paleyounggents

She is So Beautiful/She is So Blonde is the work of one individual’s home recording odyssey. Elliott Kozel recorded the self-titled album’s 11 tracks over the last four years in his bedroom, and the stylistic range gives an insight into his recent musical experiments. With sounds ranging from the sparse acoustic side of Smog to the spacey soundscapes of Califone and The Microphones, Kozel has created a darkly engaging, shambling mess of a record that rewards repeated listens. Elliott has been involved in a veritable mountain of projects within his current residence of Madison, WI, but his main focus currently is trio Sleeping in the Aviary (in which he is the guitarist, vocalist and main songwriter). SitA released their debut album “Oh, This Old Thing?” in February 2007, also on Science of Sound, and have spent several months touring the country in support of the record.  SiSB/SiSB on the other hand, is solely a recorded effort with no plans to play the material out live, but is a creative outlet for Kozel’s ideas that don’t quite fit into the realm of SitA.  The debut album is scheduled for release November 6, 2007.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/sheissobeautifulsheissoblonde

February 2007: Sleeping in the Aviary’s debut album, “Oh, This Old Thing?” (Science of Sound), showcased the trio's ability at creating bursts of catchy-as-hell pop. With songs averaging under two minutes in length, comparisons to The Thermals, Buzzcocks, Violent Femmes and Nirvana quickly bubbled up, leaving listeners wanting more. Receiving great praise on internet blogs and in regional papers, the disc also charted on the CMJ 200 throughout its entire radio campaign. SITA hit the road last year in support of the release, touring the entire United States (with a side trip to Canada for the North by Northeast festival).

June 2008: In advance of their sophomore release, SITA is changing it up a bit, showcasing another side of its musical personality. The band's core (Elliott Kozel on guitar and vocals, Michael Sienkowski on drums and Phil Mahlstadt on bass) has added a fourth member, Celeste Heule, on accordion and musical saw, heralding a move towards an indie-folk direction. SITA has just emerged from the SOS studio with an incredible collection of newly-recorded material. The sound is still intense, full and raw, but now could draw comparisons to the likes of Neutral Milk Hotel, Baptist Generals and even Bob Dylan. And the songs have grown longer in length --none are under three minutes!

Entitled “Expensive Vomit In A Cheap Hotel," the completed album is scheduled for release October 14, 2008, on Science of Sound. Tour plans, publicity and radio campaigns are all currently being lined up in support of the record, which will be released on both CD and vinyl.

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There has also been a pair of other releases from the Sleeping in the Aviary camp following their debut. In November 2007, SOS released an eponymous spacey-folk album under the moniker She Is So Beautiful/She Is So Blonde, written and recorded by Elliott Kozel in his bedroom between the years of 2003-2007. And in May 2008 it was the drummer’s turn, as Michael Sienkowski composed and recorded a ‘60s-inspired pop album entitled, “Sooner Late Than Never,” under the moniker Whatfor. Tracked and mixed at Science of Sound, Whatfor’s album featured Sienkowski, Kozel and Mahlstadt as well as other Madison musicians on strings and horns to flesh out the sound.

Official website: www.sleepingintheaviary.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/sleepingintheaviary

Matt Abplanalp, Steve Riches and Ricky Riemer have been making music together since high school, and in early 1996 they assembled themselves as a three-piece band with the name Transformer Lootbag. Always looking for new sounds and ways to combine them, the band writes angular songs using their instruments in unconventional fashions and labyrinths for arrangements, but the music seems to have no trouble making it through these mazes - like it’s just something normal and effortless to do – jerking, wailing and twitching along the way. Over the years the band has released its puzzles of sound on internationally distributed compilations, singles and home-produced recordings and has enjoyed playing shows with bands such as Mike Watt, U.S. Maple, Mudhoney, Deerhoof, Melt Banana, Sicbay, The Flying Luttenbachers and Numbers at various venues around the Midwest. In 2003 TLB recorded themselves and released their self-titled, nine-song debut album-- the only full-length that made it out of their enormous hidden vault of material.

"It's not easy to get on stage after Transformer Lootbag rocks well in Beefheartian and Minutemen fashion." - Vince Meghrouni of Mike Watt and the Pair of Pliers.

Official website: www.transformerlootbag.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/transformerlootbag

WHATFOR is more than just pop.

The man behind the moniker, Michael Sienkowski, has the mentality of the classics, a knack for sharp songwriting and a handsome set of pipes. This ensures that Whatfor's debut album is pointedly smart and crafty without compromising its levelheaded measure - the finest Midwestern gallantry tempered by the strong hands of wry humor and verse. With songs masking self-mockery in '60s-style pop, Sooner Late Than Never channels the sardonic joy of The Kinks, joined by Beatles harmonies and a vocal style reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright. Despite the oft-biting lyrical subject matter, the album sounds upbeat and manages to escape the trap of redundancy that can plague pop rock. Each track takes its own personality, from touches of baroque, finger-plucked rag to tongue-in-cheek misogyny that will put your hips in a twist.

Sienkowski is no stranger to the Madison, Wisconsin music scene. He's the drummer for spastic-pop trio Sleeping in the Aviary and was a founding member of the late, lamented Eyebeams. Whatfor finds him taking full advantage of his musical neighbors. SITA bandmates Elliott Kozel (guitar) and Phil Mahlstadt (bass) help flesh out Sienkowski's own work on piano, vocals and drums. Beth Morgan of Madison's Pale Young Gentlemen acts as cellist laureate, while UW music majors Erin Heinke (harpsichord) and Jamie Kember (trombone) add extra flavor to the mix. Cribshitter's Christine Christenson even busts out her tuba for a track. Overall, the crew conveys a sense of musical modesty, lending the album skillfully minimalist performances which Sienkowski has layered into an irrepressibly catchy whole.

Sooner Late than Never, recorded by Ricky Riemer at Science of Sound in Madison, is scheduled for release May 20, 2008 on the Science of Sound label.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/thisiswhatfor