那些說著The Mynabirds如何集Dusty Springfield、PJ Harvey、Jenny Lewis（Rilo Kiley）與Fiona Apple等搖滾女伶魅力於一身的傳聞，或許總令你半信半疑。然而，這個華盛頓雙人組Georgie James成員Laura Burhenn化名單飛的音樂單位，2010年邀來加州低傳真怪才Richard Swift打造的處女作《What We Lose in the Fire, We Gain in the Flood》，卻令人驚豔地將Georgie James的甜蜜復古Indie Pop基因完美升級，交融著靈魂、藍調、低傳真等各式元素，加上從音樂到概念上鋒芒畢露的企圖，拿下PopMatter（9／10）、Pitchfork （8.0）、NME（8／10）等指標傳媒壓倒性好評，實地證明了那些看似天花亂墜的對照與描繪，絕非空穴來風。
延續著對60年代流行音樂的鍾情，The Mynabirds再度邀來Richard Swift為全新專輯《Generals》坐鎮，取材自美國攝影大師Richard Avedon名作「Generals of the Daughters of the American Revolution」的專輯名稱，讓其中濃郁的政治色彩不言而喻，以其獨樹一格的個性化聲響，將對當代社會局勢的沮喪、挫折與憤怒，透過創作化為更積極的能量與動力，並以繽紛的音樂風貌，為這一不留心便會顯得艱澀的專輯概念，帶來和煦動人的親和力，舉凡瀰漫Cat Power《The Greatest》時期浪漫神采的〈Karma Debt〉與〈Disaster〉，駕著直逼The Kills低傳真車庫搖滾魅力而來的〈Generals〉，以Ambient電氣揮撒幽異淒美輕煙的〈Mightier than the Sword〉，非洲打擊樂此起彼落的〈Body of Work〉，亦或末段〈Greatest Revenge〉揚起的60年代流行曲式，The Mynabirds那近乎完美的詮釋力與編曲能耐，無疑為這波看似永無止盡的復古潮流，掀起了另一個令人期待的美麗浪潮。
The Mynabirds are a collective of musicians fronted by singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn. Founded in 2009 following the split of her previous DC band, Georgie James, the Mynabirds are currently based in Omaha, Nebraska. Their debut album, “What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood“, was produced by Richard Swift and released to critical acclaim by Saddle Creek in April of 2010.
The Mynabirds supported their debut LP with more than a year of busy touring alongside bands-become-friends, including Bright Eyes, David Bazan and Crooked Fingers. In December of 2010, they released “All I Want is Truth (for Xmas)“, a limited edition 7〞 on Saddle Creek, which featured an original (anti-commercialism) holiday song and a cover of the Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year”.
At the end of 2011 following a year on the road as a member of Bright Eyes’ touring band, Laura headed back into the studio with Richard Swift to start on something new. The Mynabirds’ sophomore album, GENERALS, will be released on Saddle Creek on June 5, 2012. The first single, the title track “Generals” is available for FREE download here. The Mynabirds will be hitting the road for a short US tour in March 2012, including dates in the midwest, on the west coast, and down south for SXSW. Check out all the tour dates and come hear new songs live.