Midori DOWNLOADS, Streaming, & Info
FREE GOOGLE DRIVE DOWNLOADS (.WAV and .Mp3)
FREE SOUNDCLOUD DOWNLOADS (.WAV)
Bandcamp / Spotify
Release date: June 2, 2023
FCC: 4 (clean version in Google Drive folder above)
Recommended: 3, 1, 2, 5, 8
RIYL: Alvvays, Deep Sea Diver, Bright Eyes, Courtney Barnett
TRACK LISTING
1. This City Is a Sewer (3:30)
2. Tightrope (3:45)
3. World’s Fair (3:42)
4. Narrative (3:18)
5. Barefoot Pretender (4:37)
6. Venom (4:35)
7. Song for Matisse (4:19)
8. Servin’ Up the Dinner (1:44)
9. Stupid Feelings (3:51)
10. Pacific Ghost (2:51)
Tracks 1,3,5,8,10 written by Mitch Etter
Tracks 2,4,6 written by Brielle Rutledge
Tracks 7, 9 written by Brielle Rutledge and Mitch Etter
About the Record
Five years after Hi Crime's first LP The Kids Still Got It, the Seattle indie-pop quartet is releasing their second LP, Midori on June 2, 2023. This follow-up record was initially planned for 2020, before covid-19 severely disrupted the band's plans. Half of the band lost their jobs, and the other half suddenly became essential workers, with no time or energy for creative work. This forced hiatus gave the band a chance to reset, and grow before reconvening.
Lead singer Brielle Rutledge discovered new ways to creatively express herself, including starting her own custom stuffie business. The newfound creativity carried over into her music as she realized she could break conventional patterns she had developed over time. Instrumentally, she branched out from piano to writing on ukulele and guitar. Lyrically, Rutledge is more personal in both message and style. Not feeling a pressure to constantly rhyme, Rutledge sings on 'Narrative' "I don't need the long commute, or power suit, suburban heated floors. I wanna spend my time being stupid with my sister petting all the cute cats, showering my house plants."
Guitarist Mitch Etter took time during the hiatus to study music theory, learn piano, and practice production by recording elaborate demos. Many aspects of the demos ultimately appearing on the finished record. This effort culminates to great effect with the song ‘Barefoot Pretender.’ It’s an entirely new direction for the band that takes form as a mini folk-odyssey with rich acoustic guitar harmonies, orchestra swells, bright piano, and exquisite vocal layering.
The band states that “the music on Midori is a very different album than what would have been made in 2020. We hope you’ll agree that it’s very much been worth the wait.”
Cover Artwork by Glenn Hendrick
CREDITS
Brielle Rutledge - Vocals, Guitar, Ukulele
Mitch Etter - Guitar, Bass, Keys, Mandolin, Ukuele, Percussion
Cody McCann - Drums, Percussion
André Zapata - Bass, Guitar
Guest Musicians:
Dafna Margalit - Vocals on Tightrope and Barefoot Pretender
Erika Gersten - Piano on Barefoot Pretender
Seven Sky Spillos - Saxophone on Servin’ Up the Dinner
Tony Lefaive - Upright Bass on Barefoot Pretender
Slater Swan - Mixing on tracks 2,4,6,7,9
Marshall Pruitt - Mixing on track 5
Mitch Etter - Mixing on tracks 1, 8, 10
Cole Paramore - Drum mixing on tracks 8, 10
Mathieu Riede - Mixing and Mastering on 3
Matt Ogaz - Mastering on 1-2,4-10
LYRICS
All lyrics for Midori can be read HERE
TIGHTROPE
Music Video by Dylan Randolph
When playing ‘Tightrope’ live, vocalist Brielle Rutledge often describes the song as being about the feeling when you finally get what you want, and immediately think “What’s next?” In an effort to push that feeling aside, Rutledge begins by singing “Is it enough now that we have it all?” Appreciating the things you do have, big and small. Visually, this video highlights the small things as Rutledge strolls around her apartment watering plants, cuddling a stuffie, playing guitar, and watching television.
Barefoot Pretender
Music Video by Dylan Randolph
Inspired by unusual tunings, guitarist Mitch Etter aimlessly began strumming his nylon acoustic during a late evening in 2021. Lyrics immediately began to spill out of his mouth in a stream-of-consciousness manner. In about 10 minutes, the full song was complete… Despite the simple inception of this folk-rock odyssey, “Barefoot Pretender” became one of the most ambitious projects for the band. Instrumentally, the arrangement grows to vast levels with full orchestration, layered vocals, guitars, pianos, and percussion elements.
Visually, the band wanted to capture a grandness that properly compliments the song. Two days of filming by a mausoleum, lighthouse, woods, and fields in WA’s Friday Harbor provides exactly that.
*Note: “Barefoot Pretender” was selected for screening at the 2023 NW Film Forum’s Local Sightings film festival.
World’S Fair (2020 single)
Music Video by Dylan Randolph
Written and recorded in 2019, ‘World’s Fair’ is the oldest song on Midori. “When it became obvious that covid-19 was going to severely delay the record, we decided to release ‘World’s Fair’ as a single in late 2020. We had it complete, we were proud of it, and couldn’t stand the thought of just sitting on it until the full album was done.” - Hi Crime
Hi Crime was honored to see the song become their most popular on Spotify, and also be selected as a KEXP Song of the Day.
Servin’ Up the Dinner
Music video by Mitch Etter
Sonically quite different than the other songs on Midori, “Servin’ Up the Dinner” showcases the band’s whimsical, silly nature that has only been hinted at in past releases. The music sounds like an upbeat summer vacation, while the lyrics reflect a desire to manage stress by “swimming in soup cans,” “making smoothies,” and “watching anime.”
There weren’t originally plans to create a music video for this song, but when guitarist Mitch Etter discovered this royalty free, lo-fi animation of cats dancing, it was just begging to be edited to “Servin’ Up the Dinner.”
PHOTO USE
Press approved portrait and performance images can be downloaded in HQ here. Please credit photographers as listed, thank you.