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UNICYCLE LOVES YOU

it is what it is, a raisin is a grape

About Me


UNICYCLE LOVES YOU full-length LP will be released 06-10-08 on Highwheel Records!!!
produced by Brian Deck (Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse)
featuring members of The Bitter Tears
art & design by Jeremy Phillips

CLICK HERE TO PREORDER OUR ALBUM THROUGH HIGHWHEEL
Unicycle founder Jim Carroll crafts tunes and lyrics that can be simultaneously dark and toe-tapping. Hear a Unicycle song once and discover it has burrowed into your frontal cortex. Jon Pollock, after just a few mega-calorie-burning minutes on stage, has the appearance of a hallucinating shaman emerging from a sweat lodge. Nicole Vitale, Baker and Labrada provide a percussive wall of often bouncy, always novel punk driven beats that buoy three-part harmonies and conjure up tuneful artifacts of pop evolution from 1958 to 2008.
Unicycle Loves You self-titled full-length album (produced by Brian Deck) will be released on Highwheel Records June 10, 2008.
Unicycle Loves You answer 20 questions on THE NIGHTFLY
URB Magazine says:
Often times when bands pay homage to their influences they end up being lax mimickers. Thankfully, Unicycle Loves You is far from that. They take bits from various genres spanning over several decades and pack them all into an indie-pop cornucopia of tasty feel-good music riddled with insightful lyrics. The Chi-town Quintet is currently busy touring/promoting their first full-length self-titled album due out later this year in early June. Unicycle Loves You kids and chances are you'll love them right back.
-AM
USA Today says:
Chicago group purveys zippy, energetic, complex pop tunes and impresses me considerably.
- KB
The Onion says:
Unicycle Loves You is equal parts deranged adrenaline and quirky genre exercises.
Chicago Tribune (RedEye) says:
Is it glam or new wave? Indie rock or power pop? Are they more influenced by the '50s, '60s, or '80s? Or are they just living in the moment? The answers aren't readily apparent on Unicycle Loves You's debut, but what's undeniable is the band's ability to remain entertaining and original while also vaguely reminding you of other acts you can't quite put your finger on. If songs like "Highway Robbery" don't add fun and sunshine to your day, you've got problems music can't fix.
-MP
CS Magazine says:
It won't be long until your smitten with U.L.Y.'s upbeat music on their self-titled debut. Combining 60s psychedelia with 70s arena rock hallucinationsand an overall hand-clappy circus vibe, Unicycle Loves You is one big party-and perfect for a hot summer in the city. The band's three-part harmony is a refreshing respite from the manufactured pop on the radio. -KT
UR Chicago says:
Nothing better than the box-of-chocolates analogy can describe the music of Unicycle Loves You. It is a sweet and sugary tasting menu featuring all your favorite delights from decades of old. While sampling their new record, or their explosive live show, you will undoubtedly taste the delicious, crunchy alternative of the early 90's, the smooth silky 80's new wave, the decadent and dramatic 70's glam, and of course, the classic and forever trendsetting 60's catchy pop. It's all right here in one handy package.
- BN
TimeOut Chicago says:
Unicycle Loves You careens through genres like a rubber bouncy ball.
Flavorpill says:
When local sunshine popsters Unicycle Loves You appeared on the Chicago scene nine months ago, they seemed fully formed, as if they'd stepped out of some secret Frankenstein indie-pop factory. At their first show in November of last year, the irrepressibly ebullient quintet arrived with an easy onstage chemistry and a stable of perfectly appointed pop songs, replete with clarion harmonies and '60s-style innocence. The lighthearted sound that garnered them immediate praise in the blogosphere has wisely retained its original whimsy with the help of tambourines and clap-alongs, while steadily increasing in complexity and sophistication.
-SN
Radio Free Chicago says:
Their influences stand side by side with them and can be heard, seen and felt within almost every song, but said influences jump through eras and seem so varied that they never overstay their welcome. A hint of 50's in the chorus of "Dangerous Decade", an homage to mid-60's psychedelia in "The Fuzzies Don't Sting" and doses of 80's influence administered throughout. In the live setting these songs are accompanied by a musical exuberance and an inclination towards the humorous which keeps the music feeling minty fresh. The interplay between guitars, paired vocals and interlacing keyboards are all part of a package that seems considerably ahead of their three shows to date. One can't help feeling it will only get better with time.
-RO
Captains Dead says:
they pack all the awesomeness of the last 30 or so years of music into 3 or so minutes better than i have heard anyone trying to pull off in a long ass time. ba da ba ba ba, im lovin it.
Babysue says:
These guitar-based pop tracks are catchy, upbeat, and ultimately hummable...a pure feelgood listening experience that features complex arrangements and top notch vocals. . . an easy thumbs up.
Wordpress.com says:
Their sound is, well, pretty fucking sweet. An amalgam of self-acknowledged influences ranging from sunshine pop to glam rock, they manage to be catchy without being kitschy, eclectic without losing focus, and clever without even trying.
-CK
No Dessert For You says
the bouncy, dark, concise melodies of Unicycle Loves You have made their rise to Second City prominence quick and clean.
Yerp Magazine says:
Unicycle Loves You…and We Love Them! Chicago quirk-quintet Unicycle Loves You is fun, fast-paced, catchy and incredibly unique. It’s psychedelic rock, with fantastically cute lyrics in the nonsensical Alice In Wonderland sense. They are so damn good it’s hard to believe this band just got together this past September. Their music combines the sensibility of 50s, 60s, and 80s rock music so smooth and painlessly that you have to wonder if they might be mad musical geniuses.
-FE
View Unicycle Loves You's EPK

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/3/2005
Band Website: unicyclelovesyou.com
Band Members:

Jim Carroll : vocals, guitar

Jon "The Atomic" Pollock : guitar, vocals

Nicole Vitale : bass, vocals

J.T. Baker : drums

Adam "P.Y.T." Labrada : keyboards

Trusten Williamson : kitchen sink
(photos by Lauren Kornman)
Influences: Pixies
The Cars
The Byrds
David Bowie
Belle & Sebastian
T Rex
New Pornographers
Guided By Voices
Roxy Music
The Billy Nayer Show
Neil Diamond
Stereolab
The Seeds
The Cure
Sonic Youth
George Harrison
Pavement
Os Mutantes
Flaming Lips
Neko Case
The Kinks
Dinosaur Jr.
The Rolling Stones
The Fiery Furnaces
Jefferson Airplane
Velvet Underground
W.C.P.A.E.B.
The Beatles
XTC
Frank Zappa & the M.O.I.
My Bloody Valentine
Leonard Cohen
The Cramps
Elevator To Hell
Wire
Talking Heads
Supergrass
Arcade Fire
Arthur Lee & Love
The Essex Green
Captain Beefheart
Unrest
Can
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Tommy James
Spoon
The Cyrkle
Liars

Sounds Like: Jimmy Carter saying YES!
Record Label: Highwheel Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

SOLD OUT @ EMPTY BOTTLE!!!!!!

Thank you ALL who came out and celebrated our big night with us!!! You made our night, Chicago!(photo by Shannon Walker)(photos by Lauren Kornman)(photos courtesey of The Dead Hub)...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:01:00 PST

I saw RED @ Schubas

Always a great show at Schuba's!!! photos by Kyle La Mere...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:06:00 PST

BLACK & WHITE & GOLD

UNICYCLE LOVES YOU LIVE! @ HEART OF GOLD!!! There was a "Jesus mermaid" behind us! all photos by Jeremy Phillips all photos by Jeremy Phillips Thanks to all who came and drank and danced!! &...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:28:00 PST

UNICYCLE LOVES UR CHICAGO MAGAZINE!!!

Unicycle Loves You in UR Chicago magazine!!!photo by Ginny Garramone....
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:21:00 PST

Reggies Rock Club photos

Photos from a fabulous night w/ OFFICE, Ultra Sonic Edukators, and SND on SND at Reggie’s Rock Club!!! photos by Jeremy Phillips Jeremy Phillips Design  ...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:36:00 PST

U.L.Y. and friends @ Darkroom

Camel sponsored our last show at Darkroom. (one of the best places in Chicago) Here's a glimpse at a surreal evening.   UNICYCLE LOVES YOULA SCALADRAGGED BY HORSESPARTY PEOPLE IN DA HOUSETHANKS ...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 05:34:00 PST

Amazing photos from an amazing night @ Empty Bottle

Two photo sets from what we consider to be one of our most enjoyable and exciting shows to date!!!It was also a sad night as it was Derek's last show with us.(But he did go out with a BANG!)This first...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:10:00 PST

eviL at The Kinetic Playground

A big fat delicious thanks to everybody that came out and made this show so fucking HOT!!!  WE LUV U!    ...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:05:00 PST

Live photos from DARKROOM!!!

Thank you everyone that made it out to our Darkroom show with Sally and Walking Bicycles.  You made it a special night for us!!!! Here are some photos taken by our new friend, Sofia! ...
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:40:00 PST

TWO PHOTO SETS from Schubas

Check out these two photo sets from Rory O'Connor of Radio Free Chicago and Chris Hiltz from the land of sexy! by Rory O'Connorby Chris Hiltz....
Posted by UNICYCLE LOVES YOU on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:46:00 PST