Harvey Danger – “Little Round Mirrors” mp3

I was thinking today about the Harvey Danger song “Little Round Mirrors,” from their “Little By Little” EP. I was completely gobsmacked by it when they released it in late 2005, and though I haven’t heard it since a bunch of spins back then, I can recall the magnificent hooks in vivid detail and it’s one of those songs that just pops up from time to time in my mental playlist. So this morning I went to their site to see what’s up with them now, only to learn that like many recording artists in this era of severe public apathy about new music, they have called it quits. Their statement about hanging it up is gracious and completely without bitterness, which is about what I would expect from a band of such talent and generosity. You see, what they did with this EP, is they released the whole thing, for free, asking for donations if you felt like giving them something for their efforts, but hoping simply for their music to be heard. They detailed their reasons rather eloquently here. Their conclusion is by no means unique – plenty of bands have realized the same thing, and I wouldn’t bother posting this if not for one thing: the song is magnificent. It deserves to be heard. It’s a beautiful performance of a great pop composition that while difficult to classify, is immensely accessible. The hooks are breathtaking, the lyrics intelligent, poetic, compassionate and heartbreaking. I could go on. Think “Pet Sounds” goes to Seattle or, like, Jellyfish without the clown makeup. The whole EP is great, in fact, as I am just discovering now. Thanks to HD for leaving it up there. As a musician in a band myself, I know the cost in time, money and gear that it takes to write, rehearse, record, mix and master a record this good is anything but trivial. If you like, you can send the band some $ to offset their investment a bit, here. Hey it worked for Radiohead. Or you can go old school and buy a hard copy. Either way I think you’ll really enjoy their music.