Try The Pie is one of Bean Tupou's projects, she is also in Sourpatch and Crabapple among others and is based in San Jose although these songs were written in San Francisco between 2005 and 8 and then recorded at home giving them a bit of the sort of sound that Michelle Shocked had on her Debut album the Texas Campfire songs only without the crickets and trucks driving by.
Side one of the vinyl opens with A Lot Of Things a barely there folk strum as Bean Tupou asks her girlfriend for a second date. It's been Days is a very quiet plea from some communication with a lover who has been giving you the silent treatment for days in a sort of Stina Nordenstam whisper over quiet plangent guitar.
Please! Please! Please! Is a plea for reconciliation that sounds like it could have been on Tracey Thorn's debut solo album. Willing is all banjo led wistful song of love and pleading.
Bunkbed while not being the best song about bunkbeds I've heard and it would take something to beat San Francisco's Seahags Bunkbed Creek this song is a good attempt and is about trying not to get caught having sex with your girlfriend in her bunkbed at her parent's house. It's pretty damn good, yes will her mum figure out you've tried the pie.
Side one closes with Alu 'A which is the Tongan word for goodbye when you are staying and the other person is leaving apparently but this song doesn't sound like a kiss off far from it in fact.
Side 2 opens with F.Y.I. which is about keeping the monsters at bay as she asks the only friend who she thinks can help her to keep the monsters away over a nice quiet strum. The Hottest Day Of The Year has some percussion on it as she wants to know why her love isn't listening to her in the heat as she breaks her heart this might just about work at Lilith Fair if it's still going but I think the Womyns movement would be horrified at this for being too wimpy as she asks her friend if she's fallen in love.
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Eight is about a spider or is that an allegory for the fingers walking over her legs unlocking her secrets and wondering why the web and net are all sticky. Seahorse is one of those is she isn't she about to dump me kind of songs with harmony vocals in parts and as ever is very gentle.
Legs is obviously nothing to do with ZZ Top but is more of another should I stay or should I go love and seduction number as she wants to wrap her legs around you and just pump you. Like Trains is not another L & N Don't Stop Here anymore but more slow freight train moves across the plains barely moving and yet still shifting slowly towards the lonely Desert Hearts.
Side 2 and the album closes with Root to Branch is a very sparse tale of love and longing that is very Texas Campfire tapes as it slowly builds to the albums climax.
When this album arrived it had a note saying I might not like it well I've Tried The Pie both on Vinyl and on digital and I have to say I quite like it. It might not set the world on fire but it will make a good few girls smile and hold each other worth a listen. Find your slice of pie at www.hhbtm.com
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