Friends of Sound

In 1997 the Birmingham, AL pair Leslie Lochamy (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Reed Lochamy (guitars, vocals, keyboards) launched their two-person recording endeavor after testing out assorted names and finally settling on Friends of Sound. Their unadorned pop pieces routinely include guest spots from budding musician pals, 11-year-old trumpet players, and a five-year-old lyricist—specifically a cousin responsible for the words to “So Mean”—and carry the flavor of “early classic Sarah Records 7” singles filtered through a late model weirdometer. A steady stream of homemade four-track cassettes eventually secured a distribution arrangement with indie label Parasol Distribution, which issued the duo’s lo-fi pop full-length CD Rock-Ola in early 2001. ~ Zac Johnson