See all 22 pictures

Play Murder by Death Radio

Murder by Death

On Tour

3,322,122 plays (107,226 listeners)
In your library (0 plays)

445 shouts

Add to my Library Share

Get Ringtones

Bloomington IN, United States (2000 – present)

Indiana’s Murder by Death (formerly known as Little Joe Gould) layers the vocal sounds of an old saloon with the haunting strings of a Hungarian folk dance and the hard driving rhythms of pure rock ‘n’ roll, producing what Stuff magazine has called “lush, orchestrated songs,” somehow simultaneously reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Radiohead. Added to that thick and intriguing sound are a series of dark and ironic lyrics, combining the mood and tone of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds with the narrative force of The Decemberists or a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Adam Turla fills out these sometimes frightening, sometimes beautiful lyrics by conjuring up a cast of character voices, allowing the songs to speak with the force of the characters themselves, and providing the listener with a sense of ensemble unique in rock music.

But this ensemble feel is not only the result of Turla’s vocal playfulness, but of the cohesive playing of the band itself. Sarah Balliet channels her Kentucky bluegrass roots through the skilled hands of a concert cellist, playing point and counterpoint to the lyrics and guitars with magnificent grace and style. Matt Armstrong’s bass guitar provides the rhythmic framework of the band, but also takes the lead with surprising frequency, guiding Murder by Death into driving highs and brooding lows. And Alex Schrodt’s drumsticks almost dance across the skins, giving the band what the Chicago Reader called “a rhythm section Nick Cave or The Faint would die for.” The result is a fascinating slice of American Gothic, replete with trail rides, whiskey shots and Old Scratch himself.

Tagged as:

indie, indie rock, alternative, folk, rock
See more…

Similar Artists

Top Albums

In Bocca al Lupo
Murder by Death
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $6.46
- eBay Search
Red of Tooth and Claw
Murder by Death
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $8.93
- eBay Search
Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?
Murder by Death
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Like The Exorcist, But More Breakdancing
Murder by Death
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.90
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.90
- Buy Album
- Amazon $26.99
- eBay Search

Top Tracks

1	Fuego! full track	410
2	Comin' Home	385
3	Brother	350
4	Ball & Chain	274
5	Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue	265
6	Killbot 2000	254
7	Steal Away	245
8	That Crown Don't Make You a Prince full track	241
9	Ash	239
10	A Second Opinion	235
11	Sometimes the Line Walks You	233
12	Boy Decide	226
13	'52 Ford	225
14	One More Notch	223
15	Theme (For Ennio Morricone)	222

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

Sosen wrote:
Friday evening

Some of their songs sound absolutely identical to Black Heart Procession. Like... completely indistinguishable. The guy even has almost the same voice. I was stunned that Black Heart Procession was all the way back on the second page of the "Similar artists" thing.

View Profile | Leave Sosen a shout
Illinoisemakerr wrote:
Thursday morning

Good news.

View Profile | Leave Illinoisemakerr a shout
Fantaflasche wrote:
Wednesday morning

"Follow up album to 2008’s Red of Tooth and Claw will begin production this December and is due out Spring 2010!" (via facebook)

View Profile | Leave Fantaflasche a shout
justinainsworth wrote:
Tuesday evening

They sound so much like cursive

View Profile | Leave justinainsworth a shout
synd465 wrote:
Tuesday morning

reminiscent of radiohead? fuck me sideways running up a tree

View Profile | Leave synd465 a shout
onegumas wrote:
15 days ago

"Murder by death" is a title of comedy by Peter Falk. In english is a lots of funny names...

View Profile | Leave onegumas a shout
mrombach wrote:
18 days ago

their name has "murder" and "death" in it, what else do you want? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074937/

View Profile | Leave mrombach a shout
AzuAtoms wrote:
last month

Better than Little Joe Gould or whatever stupid name they had before.

View Profile | Leave AzuAtoms a shout
Yakove28 wrote:
last month

I really love this band, i just wish their name was not so lame. I mean it's just bad.

View Profile | Leave Yakove28 a shout
Illinoisemakerr wrote:
last month

Fistisfast, tell it to the person who wrote the description. Maybe you could give the band a listen and then you'd be able to actually substantiate your assumptions.

View Profile | Leave Illinoisemakerr a shout
fistisfast wrote:
last month

that much name-dropping in the artist description guarantees these guys suck

View Profile | Leave fistisfast a shout
everafterparty wrote:
last month

this is one band for sure that i will never stop listening too!! to me this is music that can last decades and generations! cheers!

View Profile | Leave everafterparty a shout
rella987 wrote:
last month

Instrumental? Different but I'll listen to the whole thing tomorrow I need sleeps >_>

View Profile | Leave rella987 a shout
weirdfishjacek wrote:
last month

Finch is amazing indeed; I think it may be my favorite of their records musically (which makes sense because they had to focus exclusively on channeling emotion and mood and even characters/objects through music alone) though my overall favorite is still In Bocca al Lupo, by far.

View Profile | Leave weirdfishjacek a shout
Illinoisemakerr wrote:
last month

The Finch album is pretty awesome. If comparing it to any of their other albums, I'd say musically it's most like "Like The Exorcist...", but not exactly the same. I fuckin' love Turla's vocals, but it would be awesome if Murder By Death could do a score for a full-length movie, or something. They are well suited for it.

View Profile | Leave Illinoisemakerr a shout
ghmanage wrote:
last month

Has anyone heard the new Langhorne Slim record? Thoughts?

View Profile | Leave ghmanage a shout
prosopagnosia wrote:
last month

Glad my bewilderment about the top albums has finally been addressed by last.fm because, seriously, none of the tracks from "Like The Exorcist, But More Breakdancing" were even on the top 15 yet the last time I was here it was placed at the top of the most listened to albums?!? Although I'm sad at the same time because it doesn't deserve to be dead last. T__T

View Profile | Leave prosopagnosia a shout
preacherdaniel wrote:
September 2009

Can't wait for the instrumental album, hope it'll be a western themed like most of the rest.

View Profile | Leave preacherdaniel a shout
alexashton wrote:
September 2009

Been into this band since 2002, and I think Red of Tooth and Claw if by far their best. And that's absolutely nothing against their previous albums, all of which I love.

View Profile | Leave alexashton a shout
amikanyewest wrote:
September 2009

and to think they played a show at some small local indiana town near me and i missed it :(

View Profile | Leave amikanyewest a shout

See all 445 shouts

Videos

Featured Tracks

	Free MP3 Album Preview Podcast	26:14
	Free MP3 I'm Afraid of Who's Afraid of…	3:44

See all tracks

Events

Dec 5 Dan Magnum's 7th Annual Rock and Roll Christmas Outland Ballroom, Springfield, MO, United States
Add shout | 1 attendee

Add event See more

News

Attention NYC:

7 Oct 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/murderbydeath

Benny from Gaslight Anthem has asked us to share some information about a charitable opportunity coming up soon, and he's such a handsome man that we could not refuse his request, which is as follows:. …

Add comment