wind up |ˈwīndˌəp| 

noun 

1 an act of concluding or finishing something: the windup of the convention. 

2 Baseball the motions of a pitcher immediately before delivering the ball, in which they take a step back, lift the hands over the head, and step forward. 

3 Brit. informal an attempt to tease or irritate someone. 

adjective 

(of a toy or other device) functioning by means of winding a key or handle: a windup clock. 

Here’s one more ‘definition’ for you… 

Wind Up -- A Texas-based pop/rock band with prog leanings and even classical proclivities. 

This self-titled, eleven-song album (Do they even make those anymore?) 

is another in a long line of compositional collaborations and non compos mentis musical undertakings between multi-instrumentalist (piano, all things guitar, every other keyboard known to man, mandolin and saxophone) -- Michael Clay, and vocalist/guitarist -- Ernie Myers. 

Also along for the harrowing, yet mellifluous excursion are: the adroit and Dorian Gray-like bassist -- Stephen Powell, crackerjack drummer and percussionist -- John Rousseau, and cello brujo -- Kourtney Newton. 

If you’re into Gordianesque and/or misty lyrics (with an occasional tongue placed firmly in the cheek), exceptional musicianship and sonic diversity -- this is the sure-fire antidote -- or at least a temporary respite, from mind-numbing sugar pop, and please-let-me-saw-off-my-own-head-with-a-rusty-hacksaw-if-I-hear-another-third-grade-level hip-hop tune! 

Bill of Fare: 

The Lamps of His Mouth
 Part of a title borrowed from "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth" -- a science fiction novelette by Roger Zelazny. The lyrics have nothing to do with the original story, however. Listen for a reference to a bugle call -- The Degüello (played at the Alamo) -- and Powell’s mean bass part on this up-tempo rocker. 

Here and Now
 A medium-speed rock song with obscure lyrics. Who knew? 

Two Haystacks
 Kind of like XTC meets Gentle Giant with lots of cool stringed instruments. Is this about the declining, two-party political system in America using farming metaphors or simply about the two distinct musical parts of the song? Note: Strawberry Moon is the Full Moon in June and is named after wild strawberries that start to ripen. 

Coming Up For Air
 The title is taken from something Peter Gabriel said in a 1987 Rolling Stone Magazine interview about giving each of his musical ideas a chance to come up for air. 

Thin Places 
In Irish Celtic lore, “thin places” are those locales where the veil between this world and the otherworld is porous, where there is mystery in the landscape. This one is a mixture of acoustic prog that morphs into dual rock guitars with some tasty, old-school, skin pounding by Rousseau and masterful keyboard work by Clay. 

Two By Two 
What if the animals on Noah’s ark violently took over the holy boat -- accompanied by blues harmonica, a wash of Les Pauls, and a Beatlelish piano of course? 

Whispers 
Metaphorical vampires, or something else altogether? Excellent cello work by Newton. 

Face in the Well 
Newton and Clay shine on this somber piece with classical overtones. 
Again, metaphors abound. You see there’s this well… 

To Your Scattered Bodies Go 
To Your Scattered Bodies Go is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip José Farmer, the first book in the Riverworld series. Any similarity between the book’s actual storyline and the convoluted lyrics is purely coincidental. Wonderful Byrd-like, electric twelve-string playing by His Clayness. 

Rubber Match 
The lack of compromise between warring political factions is but one interpretation. Enjoy Clay’s Fripp-like electric guitar throughout -- recorded in one take (with amp noise included) -- and Powell’s deceptively intricate bass lines. More cowbell! 

Floating 
Definitely the most atmospheric of the bunch -- with Newton’s moody string parts telling a different story than just a happy-go-lucky girl peacefully floating down a beautiful, wooded stream on a warm summer’s day. 

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So there you have it. 

Now, put on a real pair of headphones (not those crappy earbud things), lie back in the dark, and wind it up!