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Embarrassing Fruits

About Me


Embarrassing Fruits - Community / Exploitation
Available now on Trekky Records.
Order from Trekky Records.
Download from Trekky Records.
Download from iTunes.
Download from Amazon.
Also available at CD Alley, Bull City Records and Schoolkids Records.
Press:
Embarrassing Fruits are a power trio from North Carolina. And maybe it's just that most of the bands I know from that state were from the mid-'90s Chapel Hill, but I couldn't help visualizing the band fitting in well on a bill with Archers Of Loaf about 15 years ago. In fact, the kind of straightforward, well-played indie-rock that Embarrassing Fruits deliver is all too rare these days, which made their hummable tunes and kick-ass rhythm section that much more enjoyable.
- Al Shipley, Baltimore City Paper
"It’s hard to put a finger on why this is different from mp3 blog darlings like The Ting Tings, Fleet Foxes or Wolf Parade. But for me it harkens back to an earlier sound that I’ve yet been able to get over. It’s the sound of early Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Big Dipper, Galaxie 500, Superchunk, Meat Puppets and on and on. Man I love that sound…what ever happened to it?"
-Songs:Illinois
Press For "Community/Exploitation"
Talk about the good old days all you want, but the Triangle music scene has never been better than it is now. For proof, listen no further than the latest and greatest in new local releases, "Community/Exploitation" (Trekky Records), the debut album from Chapel Hill's Embarrassing Fruits. It's fully realized guitar-pop with revved-up hooks recalling everyone from Pavement to Husker Du, with a trace of R.E.M.-vintage jingle-jangle thrown in. But don't sweat the reference points, because Embarrassing Fruits put the pieces together with plenty of originality on a nine-song set that is start-to-finish great.
-David Makino, The News & Observer
The moaning but anthemic "Like That"—supplies the familiarly elemental indie rock of Embarrassing Fruits with an essential intimacy. Much like its resplendent hooks (and those are everywhere on this magnetic debut), such a feeling serves as a perfect bridge between the band's youthful reverie and its incoming experience, between its '90s rock reverence and its own personal advancement.
-Grayson Currin, Independent Weekly
Thankfully the album doesn’t go out of its way to be in-your-face but has its own invisible undercurrent – more foreboding versus being ominous. It growls easily without showing its teeth, the vibe subdued while maintaining sheer vibrancy. If this is any sign, getting older should bring about more great records.
-Brian Tucker, Bootleg Magazine
Embarrassing Fruits - The First Time EP
Available now on Trekky Records.
Order from Trekky Records.
Download from Trekky Records.
Download from iTunes.
Download from Amazon.
Also available at CD Alley, Bull City Records and Schoolkids Records.
Press For "The First Time EP"
"[Embarrassing Fruits] strip indie rock back to its primal elements, allowing a distinctive emotional resonance to come on out."
-The Independent
"Every once in a while, a band comes around that reminds you of how much fun rock 'n' roll used to be, before the world collectively developed a fear of amplifiers. Embarrassing Fruits prove that they are that sort of band, providing the shot in the arm that has been needed for quite some time."
-The Daily Tar Heel
"Never in a hurry and never missing a witticism, the Chapel Hill boys soundtrack (late) summer with tunes that amble around town in cut-offs and dirty T-shirts, scribbling down scenes and chuckling all the way home."
-The Independent
"Though the songs are glazed with nostalgia, their directness lends freshness to their tried, but still true inspirations."
-Shuffle Magazine
"This is a welcome sort of nostalgia, a re-simplification of indie rock that harkens to early '90s touchstones. Think Pavement on sedatives. Think Dinosaur Jr. without the feedback."
-The Independent
"Sometimes the combination of snippets of words, a singer's voice and a catchy riff are all it takes for me to like a song, and that's the case with [Embarrassing Fruits' "First Time"]."
-Lost in Your Inbox
"With a low Silver Jews-like tone, mid-range vocals and poppy-flavored lyrics, one of North Carolina’s top indie bands is well on their way."
-YES! Weekly
BOOKING: [email protected]

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 08/12/2006
Band Website: trekkyrecords.com/embarrassingfruits.html
Band Members: Joe Norkus - guitar, vox
John Neville - drums
Lee Shaw - bass, vox

Influences:

Sounds Like: That thing that's playing in the upper right hand corner

Record Label: Trekky / Subjective Collective
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Not the Biggest band on the Internet + Deckfight!

OK, so want the good news or bad news first?OK Bad news: we were NOT the biggest band on the internet as reported by WEAREHUNTED.COMI thought that had to have been a fluke but this guy, rather bluntly...
Posted by on Mon, 18 May 2009 12:39:00 GMT

Bootleg Magazine Review!

Embarrassing FruitsCommunity/ExploitationChapel Hills nineties indebted and rural entrenched lo-fi power trio Embarrassing Fruits could easily sound like a group of kids from just about anywhere i...
Posted by on Tue, 05 May 2009 06:24:00 GMT

The Baltimore Taper Presents....

Hello everyone we had a great tour, no breakdowns, good crowds, lots of margaritas and the best hospitality 3 smelly dudes could ever ask for! Jeff Mewbourn, AKA The Baltimore Taper posted a recording...
Posted by on Sun, 03 May 2009 17:24:00 GMT

Daily Tarheel covers our release show

Jordan Lawrence wrote a very complimentary review of our CD Release show w/ Sorry About Dresden and Blag'ard. Check it out:http://blogs.dailytarheel.com/?p=2909Thanks Jordan! And thanks to everyone wh...
Posted by on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:15:00 GMT

2 Great Reviews of Community / Exploitation!

Hey folks! So it seems people are liking the new record Community / Exploitation (FREE Release show this Friday @ Local 506). Here's 2 very kind and thoughtful reviews in full:Independent Weekly: h...
Posted by on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:08:00 GMT

"Corner" Reviewed in Scan - INDY blog

Here's what Grayson Currin has already said about our new track Corner:JoeNorkus affinity for the girl hes just met is much stronger than loveat first sigh. In fact, during the 160 seconds it takes ...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:58:00 GMT

Listen to our Interview on WXDU!

Click.. the logo:to download a podcast of an interview we gave this past Sunday @ the WXDU radio station in Durham, NC.There's live performances, a sneak preview of our new album coming out on Mar 2...
Posted by on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:20:00 GMT

Daily Tarheel Covers EF

Hey Guys, more press for your faces:Embarrassing Fruits recall their heroes Jonathan Pattishall, Staff Writer Published: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, November 5, ...
Posted by on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:41:00 GMT

Featured in Shuffle Magazine 4

Bryan Reed over at Shuffle Zine had this to say about our new EP:"Judging by The First Time EP, the three men of Embarrassing Fruits logged their share of bored adolescent hours wandering aimlessly th...
Posted by on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:18:00 GMT

Daily Tarheels Diversions Blog reviews

Jamie Williams gave us a good review in this week's Diversions Blog. Peep this:Embarrassing Fruits The First Time 3.5 Stars Every once in a while, a band comes around that reminds you of how much f...
Posted by on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:49:00 GMT