Sono Oto profile picture

Sono Oto

Apple Season '07

About Me


There is a lot more to apples than petty disputes between Apple Corps and Apple Computers. Do you know why Johnny Appleseed planted so many seeds? Apples were the only source of alcohol on the frontier. They called it apple jack. And then there's the whole Adam and Eve thing (which was probably a persimmon, if you believe in that stuff) not to mention that thanks to an apple WE HAVE GRAVITY. Just think about it, if that apple had not hit Newton on the head, we'd all be floating around in space helplessly.
Besides that, they taste great. For these reasons (and more) Sono Oto has recorded an unbelievable EP in which each song is about an apple. (Granny Smith, Empire, Malus Domestica, Pink Lady, Northern Spy, and Honey Crisp.) Three songs are up on this page and the rest can be found on itunes . We're going to make the whole album available for free for a limited time. We'll be playing the last three Tuesdays of Feb. at Piano's. Come and bring your friends! Apples are too good to hoard for yourself.......
Mark Henry Phillips was born on Sept 13, 1981 in Columbus, OH. He moved to NYC in 1999 and makes music. Sono Oto was an idea shortly there after. Sono Oto is much more than a band; perhaps a collective is the proper term. Other times it is much less than a band. Still, the output of music with the marking "sono oto" is steady, eclectic, and highly enjoyable. Mark is already at work on another album about non-fruit. He likes music, sandwiches, public radio, and rainy days.
CLICK HERE to see a short film with a Sono Oto song as the score
(give it a sec to load)
*****

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/22/2006
Band Website: SonoOto.com
Band Members: Mark Phillips: toy-grade & professional grade keyboards, vocals, guitar, bass
Many others - please contact us if you want to join the Sono Oto Orchestra
Influences: Beatles
Pharoah Sanders
Dogen Zen-ji
Kinks
Karl Marx
Elliott Smith
The Ethiopians
Sounds Like: "Sono Oto's applesongs reflect a smart and seductive pop craftsmanship that'd be a hit in the veggie aisle or anywhere."

-Lost in the Grooves

"Anything these guys learnt from their unique musical lineage seems to have been filtered into creating a multi-layered, beatific album of psychedelic Americana. Elegantly poised... random spacey effects... twinkling lo-fi electronics backed by touching vocal harmonies that would make a young Brian Wilson cry. The album's unifying feel of reflective folk-Americana puts them in the same orbit as their similarly ambitious musical peers the Flaming Lips and Grandaddy. In fact, this album is so perfect it makes you wonder what could happen if some of the worlds less inspiring indie outfits were shipped out to Cuba for six months of rigorous drum training..."

- JoyZine

"Sono Oto's I'm in August till July is a whip smart indie pop album. Filled with lush moments, the whole thing can only be best compared to something off The Soft Bulletin. [But] the wrote comparisons between the Flaming Lips and Granddaddy can be squashed... Sono Oto, I'm looking your way now shine not for the critics, but for everyone."

- Eleven Elephants

"Sono Oto make very likeable, inoffensive, indie pop rock, a pleasant dish of geek rock heard from bands like Apples in Stereo and Alfie. With loads of electronic elements, no song rains assault on the senses and the lackadaisical lyricism allows each song takes (sic) its sweet time reaching any semblance of a climax. The duo keeps each cut interesting and invested in the sweet sounds they're making.

- The Deli

"There is a uniqueness to this album that would easily lend itself to more widespread distribution. Phillips himself sounds a little like Jason Molina of Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. or that guy from that country-pop band, The Thrills. But these are just small reference points. Phillips departs from these comparisons in his songwriting. The music here is clever and catchy in a lo-fi, Casio keyboard kind of way that surely would find a larger audience."

- Loose

Type of Label: None

My Blog

Do you believe in the iTunes?

The Apple EP is on iTunes. That means you can just click HERE and get a song or the whole Apple E.P. in about 20 seconds. If you don't like it, write us and we'll give you your money back. I swear. J...
Posted by Sono Oto on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:31:00 PST

Feburary Residency @ Piano's

So a few months ago we played a show at Piano's and it was sweet. Everyone had a great time, the band, everyone who came, and even the people who worked at Piano's. Rather than quit while we were ahea...
Posted by Sono Oto on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:34:00 PST

CD RELEASE SHOW!!!

MERCURY LOUNGE10:30 Wednesday, Sept. 20th$10 (plus free apple ep)So the Apple EP is being printed right now. It's going to look beautiful and sound great. It was mastered and a good friend did the art...
Posted by Sono Oto on Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:59:00 PST

Everyone is talking about the Myspace

So now Sono Oto is on Myspace - I hope this lead to good things like legions of new fans and scores of new friends. I'm quite optimistic.
Posted by Sono Oto on Mon, 23 Jan 2006 08:23:00 PST