Childballads

We know what became of Paul Maroon, Matt Barrick and Walter Martin when Jonathan Fire*Eater split after their debut album in the late ’90s — they became the Walkmen. But what about JF*E front-man Stewart Lupton? Now fronting Childballads, Lupton has toned down his off-the-hook vocals for something more subdued. "Onion Domes” is like a JF*E demo before all of the heavy organs and chopping crystalline guitars took the reins, with Lupton proving he can do more than grunt. The band have just signed a deal with hip British label Loog Records and plan to release an album in 2006. Walkmen fans get ready. (futility.typepad.com/futility/ files/childballads_oniondomes.mp3)