Earthsuit (EP)

Infobox Album |
Name = Earthsuit
Type = EP
Artist = Earthsuit


Released = 1997
Recorded =
Genre = Jazz rock
Length = 34:37
Label = independent
Producer = Dave Rumsey
Reviews =
Last album =
This album = "Earthsuit"
(1997)
Next album = "Noise for Your Eyes"
(1998)

"Earthsuit" is the first release by the band Earthsuit. It is most commonly known as "Headless Clown", a title which is derived from the CD cover (which shows a toy clown whose head is not visible). The songs "Fearless Torch," "Desert Dreams," and "Lady Wisdom" have never appeared elsewhere, and the other three studio tracks underwent considerable changes before appearing on the band's major label debut, "Kaleidoscope Superior". According to the liner notes of the EP, the band's official line-up at this point, only consisted of Adam LaClave and Paul Meany.

Track listing

# "One Time" – 4:35
# "Sort of Wonder" – 4:09
# "Fearless Torch" – 2:57
# "Desert Dreams" – 3:29
# "Lady Wisdom" – 4:31
# "Against the Grain" – 5:13
# "Oh Magnify (Live)" – 5:23
# "Intro Medley (Live)" – 4:20

Album credits

*Vocals - Paul Meany, Adam LaClave
*Keyboards & Drum Programming - Paul Meany
*Guitar - Dave Rumsey
*Bass - Dan Rumsey, except for "Sort Of Wonder" & "Fearless Torch" by Dave Rumsey
*Drums - Steve Howard, except for "Lady Wisdom" & "Fearless Torch" by Joel Salvador and "Desert Dreams" by Paul Meany
*Percussion - Darren King on "Sort Of Wonder" and Adam LaClave on "Desert Dreams"

"Oh Magnify" live at Cornerstone in Springfield, MO. Vocals by Paul Meany, Adam LaClave, Reba Rambo McGuire, and Abby McGee. Keyboards by Paul Meany. Guitar by Scott Brimhall. Bass by Tom Stewart. Drums by Greg Hand. Saxophone by Joseph Davis. "Intro Medley" live at Cornerstone, performed by The Rockhouse Youth Band featuring Earthsuit. "Killing Me Softly" written by Roberta Flack. Tracks 1-6 were recorded at Bedroom Studios in New Orleans, LA. Produced by Dave Rumsey on tracks 1-6. Engineered by Dave Rumsey on Tracks 1-6 and Garrett Hestla on Tracks 7, 8. Mixed by Garrett Hestla at RMMI Studios in Franklin, TN. Assisted by Dave Rumsey. Executive Producer: Dony McGuire.

EP differences

The songs on the EP that also appear on "Kaleidoscope Superior" are demo versions and therefore sound significantly different.

*"One Time" is sung and rapped almost entirely by Paul Meany. (On the album version, Adam LaClave sings the verses and choruses.) This, along with the slightly slower tempo and instrumental style, gives the song an even more pronounced reggae feel. The guitar solo is also notably different; it is more jazzy and improvisational as opposed to the clean, melodic solo heard on the album version. Finally, the end of the song is a bit longer. There is also one lyrical difference: "Funk Republic's in the house" instead of "Earthsuit is in the house."

*"Sort of Wonder" is the counterpart to the album's "Wonder." Its funk guitars are more pronounced and it doesn't have as much of a Latin flavor to it; it lacks the extra guitar heard in the intro and chorus of the album version. The song also has some different lyrics: "Change all my fears to faith in You" is "The game in my head will never end," and "I can see now all your wonder" is "I can see now, sort of wonder."

*"Against the Grain" is drastically different from the album version. It has more of a straight-up rapcore feel, with thrashing guitars and more straightforward rhythms. Adam LaClave has more background vocals in the verses. Structurally the song is almost the same, but the overall sound is so different that it is virtually unrecognizable. There are also many lyrical differences: the bridge has no lyrics, instead of "Your liberty is what we need; Father, set us free." The song contains an intro where Paul speaks, "This song is not addressed to those inflicted with the disease, but to the disease itself." Also, the word "throw" in the chorus ("throw religion") is replaced with various other words at different parts of the song.