Topshelf Records

By Surprise

Bio

Safely guarded behind four pairs of glasses and an arsenal of awkward tendencies, the members of By Surprise have spent an equal amount of time combing through the forgotten dust-filled grooves of 7-inch records released during the 90’s indie label boom, as they have with the off-beat and inspirational works of Henry David Thoreau, Jack Kerouac, and Douglas Adams. Mountain Smashers, the band’s first full-length album, romanticizes with the feelings of reluctance we’ve all felt towards growing up, slowing down, losing touch, and selling out. Clocking in at thirty minutes, it combines both the influence of those dusty 7” records, often overlooked, with the lessons learned from the aforementioned authors. It admits defeat, while exuding reassurance. It questions the norms, while embracing the inevitable. The guitars are loud and the feedback bleeds, the vocals clash in uniformed motion, and the lyrics are kind of weird. It’s by far the band’s most focused effort to date, and in some ways, it’s their most adventurous.

Music

<a href="http://topshelfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mountain-smashers">Mountain Smashers by By Surprise</a>

Video

Recent Tumblr Mentions

By Surprise Mountain Smashers anniversary & new 7"! Thu, Apr 05, 2012

A year ago today, we released By Surprise’s Mountain Smashers. It’s one of our favorite records we’ve put out and I don’t expect that to change. To celebrate, we’re putting it on sale and announcing a new EP from the band! Now’s the perfect time to pick up a copy if you never got around to it a year ago. Head on over to the store and check it out. It’s now just SIX BUCKS. That’s like, 50% off, basically.

If you’re still on the fence, why not appeal to what highly regarded, well-esteemed critics far and wide have had to say about Mountain Smashers:

I have been digging this record! Familiarly uncomfortable yet definitely trekking into new musical realms. If you can’t get into the opening guitar riff of ‘Books By Thoreau,’ something is wrong with you.

- Travis Shettel, TS & The Past haunts, Piebald

Greg Horbal strongly recommended this record to me but dude jams Bomb The Music Industry and Sublime all the time so I immediately dismissed it. I was a fool. It took a few listens to really resonate with me but next thing I know, I’m having day-time outdoor sex in a swimming pool with the words “artichokes with lettuce, corn on the cob with roses” repeated over and over the stereo like a wild aquatic sex mantra. I have no clue what that line is supposed to mean but “Mountain Smashers” slays and you are a fool for thinking otherwise. Pose in hell.

-Derrick Shanholtzer, The World Is A Beautful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. SOFX, One Hundred Year Ocean

Such a fun record, calling heavily on all of my favorite 90?s emo / indie influences. however, they give the style such a great facelift and breathe new life into it instead of just becoming another imitator. this record was a sleeper. don?t sleep on it.

-Evan Weiss, Into It. Over It.

So, all that said, we’ve been talking about the details of this all for a bit now and, more recently, how and when we’d announce it. When last night I missed a call from Rob Wilcox and awoke to a voicemail that really just hammers all the main points home for me. So, without further adieu, the one. The only. Intoxicated Rob Wilcox (with southern twang? Is that even what that is? What IS that?):

If you can’t make any of that out (understandable), here’s the main points:

By Surprise will be entering the studio in late May/Early June to record their next 7? with Dave Downham (Mountain Smashers) at Familyre Studios (mewithoutYou, Sufjan Stevens, Danielson). We’ll have more info soon!

Lastly, don’t forget to catch the band playing with the likes of�Into It. Over It. / A Great Big Pile of Leaves / The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer AFraid to Die / Young Statues / Heartwell / Everyone Everywhere! Info / tickets are�here.

Happy Mountain Smashers�anniversary, everyone!

This shall serve as a place holder for the next By Surprise... Sun, Mar 25, 2012

This shall serve as a place holder for the next By Surprise music video, for whenever that happens. In the meantime, enjoy this ?on the fly? offering of mostly in-tune notes.

Bobby Drillcox. Fri, Mar 16, 2012