The Rosebuds
Artist of the Day
The Rosebuds' Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard
What? Indie rock duo Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp, a.k.a. the Rosebuds, may be happily married, but unlike the relentlessly chipper couple-in-arms Mates of State, even their brightest records have a sonically sinister side. Case in point: the pair's fourth full-length, Life Like, which refines the alt-country sound expressed on 2005's Birds Make Good Neighbors while further exploring the synth-processed wastelands laid out on last year's Night of the Furies. Featuring guest appearances by Portastatic's Matthew McCaughan and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, Life Like explores the dark side of adulthood without sacrificing the Rosebuds' hauntingly gorgeous melodic sense.
Who? After meeting at college in Wilmington, NC, Ivan and Kelly began making music as the Rosebuds, signing to Merge in 2003 and releasing their upbeat debut, The Rosebuds Make Out. In addition to typical musicians' duties of touring and recording, the couple keeps a blog where they wax extensively on such disparate topics as clairvoyance, black holes, and kittens. Currently, Ivan and Kelly are joined on tour by Giorgio Angelini and Matthew McCaughan.
Fun Fact: Earlier this year, the Rosebuds recorded a cover of Salt 'N Pepa's "Push It," accompanied by a hilarious video starring their dog, Jasmine. You can check out the canine-crazy video here.
Now Hear This: The Rosebuds, "Life Like" (DOWNLOAD MP3)
