ULTRABABYFAT: No Ringo No

Ultrababyfat

No Ringo No

© 2006 Ultrababyfat / Two Sheds Music (643052003324)

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Raucous, gritty power pop fronted by two women who finish each other's sentences.

notes

Atlanta indie rock institution Ultrababyfat breaks a five-year silence with the release of No Ringo No, its fourth overall release and its first on Two Sheds. This latest effort, while cementing Ultrababyfat’s reputation for raw-edged, hook-heavy pop gems, shows songwriting range which keeps the record sounding fresh and distinct from its previous releases. Whether it be the agitated piercing punk of “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” the breezy vibe of “Cool Shoes,” the doo-wop sway of “Climb,” or staccato shuffling riff and enticing harmonies of “Pollyanna,” No Ringo No never fails to please.

Ultrababyfat is the collaborative product of lifelong friends Shonali Bhowmik and Michelle DuBois, whose history of composing music dates back to their junior high days in Nashville. After a brief separation for college and a stint together in Santa Cruz, the pair each individually relocated to Atlanta in the early 90s, at which time the band began in earnest as Babyfat.

Paired with rhythm section Laurie Garner and Maricio Carey, the band released Dragons Go Away on Sister Ruby Records in 1995 as Babyfat (the band ultimately added the “Ultra” prefix when some bar band appeared from out of the woodwork to claim the Babyfat name). The result of having one lo-fi masterpiece record under its belt and building a reputation of energetic live sets, considerable buzz built around the band, and Walter Yentikoff’s Velvel Records snatched the band from the unsigned masses.

The Velvel debut, 1998’s Silver Tones Smile, featured a new rhythm section – Britta Phillips (subsequently of Luna) and Shane Sanders – and a much larger production budget. The record was primarily recorded by Doug Easley at Easley Studios in Memphis and mixed at Keith Cleversley’s Playground in Chicago. Silver Tones Smile was a smash hit on the CMJ and Gavin college radio charts, which led to critical media praise, successful tours, a video appearance on My So Called Life, and songs being licensed to MTV, USA Networks, VH1, and the WB Network.

Though BMG pulled the plug on Velvel during the crest of Ultrababyfat’s rising popularity, the band soldiered on doing what it does best, writing songs and touring. The band landed on Orange Records for the 2001 release of Eight Balls in Reverse. More touring followed including a stint on the Warped Tour and a tour in support of comedian David Cross.

Shonali relocated to New York following the release of Eight Balls in Reverse, and the band has been largely inactive while Shonali and Michelle devote most of their energies to their current bands (Shonali with Tigers and Monkeys and Michelle with Luigi). The two have managed to complete No Ringo No with the help of new rhythm section Jeff Holt (of the Silent Kids) and Joseph Bilinski. The band’s release show on September 8 will be the first formal performance by the band in four years.

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