So Stressed initially began in Sacramento, CA as a largely improvisational
noise project that included the band's three members
(Morgan Fox, Andrew Garcia and Kenneth Draper). Over
time, the lineup was refined and their sound coalesced into
what's heard on 'Unlawful Trade,' a technically meticulous but
anxiety ridden and sometimes terrifying cry which calls to mind
everything from Q and Not U to No Trend and the Minutemen.
At times, Fox's lyrics bring to mind the emotional distress and
social reservation seen in Wire and Wall of Voodoo.
The fact that their sound is so violent and tense as to be physically
disarming is almost deceptive; the members of So Stressed
are kind, conscientious and smart young men. Writing this
album took more than two years (and recording took more than
six months) due to a common habit of throwing away fullyformed
songs deemed to be even slightly less than perfect. All
this was done with no goal in mind- if no one wanted to release
it, Fox says, "we were just going to delete it." Honor Press
could not be more pleased to offer this as our first release.
