Lilys

Lilys are an indie rock band, formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the beginning of the 1990s, and based in Washington, D.C.. The group consists of singer-songwriter/guitarist Kurt Heasley and a long list of constantly changing musicians. Stylistically their music has evolved from their shoegazing debut album "In The Presence of Nothing". That owed a great deal to My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless") through The Kinks style 1960s pop to a more mellow sound on their recent releases. Lilys' most famous song, "A Nanny In Manhattan" became a hit in the UK Singles Chart after being used in a 1998 advertisement campaign for Levi's.

Discography

Albums

In The Presence of Nothing (1992)

Guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; guitar, bass on "Claire Hates Me": Archie Moore; drums: Harold "Bear" Evans; bass, guitar on "Claire Hates Me": Mike Hammel; backup vocals: Ken Heitmueller, Beth Sorrentino and Jay Sorrentino (all three of Suddenly, Tammy!). Engineered/produced by Jay Sorrentino and Ken Heitmueller.

A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns (1994) - 10" mini album

Produced by Adam Lasus (Space Needle, Versus, Helium, Madder Rose, Clem Snide, Yo La Tengo) at Studio Red in Philadelphia. The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums: Harold "Bear" Evans; bass: Paul "Pablo" Naomi (of various Lancaster bands)

Eccsame The Photon Band (1995)

Guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums, percussion, bass, vibraphone: Harold "Bear" Evans; organ, vibraphone, bass, tone cluster: Michael Deming (producer/arranger: Beachwood Sparks, Aspera, Apples in Stereo, Silver Jews, Flowchart); loops, synthesizer: Rich Costey (producer/mixer/engineer: Fiona Apple, Jon Brion, Franz Ferdinand, Mars Volta); french horn, flugle horn, cello, slide guitar: Robert Andreano (Sunny Murray, SOLO); drums: Dave Frank.

Better Can't Make Your Life Better (1996)

Guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Michael Deming; bass, vocals: Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers, Monsterland, producer of The Bigger Lovers); drums, percussion: Aaron Sperske (Miracle Workers). Featuring David Shuman (Rolla) playing bass on the reissue. Recorded by Michael Deming.

The 3 Way (1999)

Guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Michael Deming; drums, percussion: Aaron Sperske; guitar: Torben Pastore (Ill Ease); banjo, guitar: James "Fuzzy" Sangiovani (Deep Banana Blackout, Rolla); strings: Anhared Stowe, Diane Frederickson, Katrina Smith, Kathleen Schiano; additional percussion: Marc Balling (Rolla); saxophone: Marianne Nielsen, Lisa LaDone (New England Jazz Ensemble).

Zero Population Growth (1999)

Kurt Heasley. Trevor Kampmann (hollAnd, Sea Saw), and Archie Moore.

The Lilys / Aspera Ad Astra Split (2000)

Guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Paul "Pablo" Naomi.The original sleeve note on this release stating “Recorded by Art DiFuria” is entirely erroneous. All tracks on this release were recorded and mixed by Keith Thompson (later to engineer BR549) at 816 South Street Philadelphia, PA during the winter of 1993-1994.fact|date=July 2008

Precollection (2003)

Producer, mixer, engineer and arranger: Mike Musmanno. The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums, percussion: Steven Keller (HiSoft); bass, vocals: Mickey Walker; guitar: Torben Pastore (Ill Ease) guitar, percussion: Gerhardt Koerner (The Numbers, HiSoft); guitar: Don Devore (Ink and Dagger, The Icarus Line, Souls She Said); keyboards: Mike Musmanno.

Everything Wrong Is Imaginary (2006)

Guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass, keyboards, Oberheim programming, electric guitar: Michael Musmanno; drums, percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, vocals: Don Piper (A Don Piper Situation); guitars, vocals: Michael Johnson (Holopaw, solo artist); drums: Matt Horn (A Don Piper Situation); drums: Tommy Joyner; drums: Steven Keller; bass: Chris McAllen(asspussy); piano: Mario "Pel" Lopez (Human Television); Artwork(UK version): Xiaofei Zhang.

ingles/EPs

* "February Fourteenth" (1991)
* "Tone Bender" (1993)
* "Tone Bender EP" (1994) - first 2 singles re-released as EP
* "Returns Every Morning" (1996)
* "Which Studies The Past?" (1996)
* "A Nanny in Manhattan" (1996) - #16 in UK charts
* "Services (For The Soon To Be Departed) EP" (1997)
* "Selected EP" (2000)