I promise I’m not being a douche bag, that’s how it’s officially written.  tUnE-yArDs is an amazing band made up of Merrill Garbus, and sometimes some of her friends popping in on a track or two, but mainly Ms. Garbus takes on vocals, ukulele, and found sounds filtered through a hand-held digital voice recorder all on her own. Her self-released album “Bird-Brains” came out in July of 2008 and includes a very ecclectic, for lack of a better word, collection of songs ranging from lo-fi folk, to sample-laden experimental.  Interstingly enough, “Bird-Brains” was not only recoreded, produced, and released by Garbus, but was done using completely free media (ie. free Audacity, digital voice recorded, etc.).  The album was available for download using the pay-what-you-wish model, but alas great things don’t last forever.  However, you can purchase the album, released this year through Marriage Records, on the tUnE-yArDs website.  I will admit, I’ve been sitting on this great find for a little while now, trying to find some more information about her; sadly I have come up dry.  Though I do come bearing gifts!

FIYA – Tune-Yards

Jumping Jack – Tune-Yards

Happy Listening!

–Aurora Fisher