An open letter from Whispertown 2000’s Morgan Nagler to you, the Daytrotter peeps and those just here for the ear candy: “Well, first off, we were so excited to come in and do these live recordings as we had just worked out three new songs about five days previous that we were real excited about. I guess the downside is they didn’t have a chance to simmer into themselves, but on the upside they were caught in their newest, raw form! I think “103” turned out as my favorite We also just started playing with drums and the band sound is evolving. I’m so excited to make our new record. The recording style was inspired by these Daytrotter recordings — the actual sound and the idea of recording live onto tape without modern amenities. Since we have a somewhat loose, falling down sound, I hadn’t thought this style would be best for us,  but we had so much fun and you really get to capture a collective vibe. I seriously wish we could record our record at Daytrotter, although we sensed how annoying we were while recording the last song, “Ebb and Flow” about six times over!”

Daytrotter checking in: First off, there was no annoyance. I will rebuff the last portion of that final sentence and go on to explain how this very idea is preposterous. You see, it can be said that Morgan Nagler – the lead singer for this Californian troupe – is a combination of sugar and spice, boundless thank yous and whatever’s in or on a sunflower that attracts butterflies and bees to it. There might be some nectar in her tears, when and if there’s ever a need for her to shed them. Taste them if you can get close enough. Here’s guessing you can as Nagler, brothers Tod and Casey Wisenbaker and Vanesa Corbala are endlessly inviting and jovial. They’re the first unsigned band that we’ve featured on the site and it’s for good reason, we think. There is, beneath the covers of these songs a freshness that is emblematic of the reason that this site exists in the first place and we hope that every session spills a little more of that out for listeners to hear and see. Whispertown is happy to let its shirttails out from the tight snug of a belt and just get relaxed, letting the raw energy of a sky getting into its songs. The session came about suddenly, no more than four days before it happened at the end of October. Two nights before the band’s performance with us, I caught its show in the lobby of a Grinnell College dormitory – a place where I’ve seen Ted Leo the week after the 2004 election (he berated some fans that night; he was still fuming) and The Decemberists – opening for Margot & the Nuclear So & Sos and The Elected. Nagler was cute and unpolished in her stage banter. She mentioned to a kid in the front row that she admired his Tilly and the Wall T-shirt and said she had one just like it at home (like Thor speaking to Sara about her helmet in “Adventures in Babysitting). Cute and unpolished are just some of the things that this band is exceptional at. You’ll see this. – Sean Moeller

First song
103 (Whispertown 2000) [1.84MB] [2167 downloads]


– unreleased
This was the first one we recorded. It’s about the end of the world. We love playing this song.

Second song
Restless (Whispertown 2000) [2.06MB] [1935 downloads]


– original version appears on Livin’ In A Dream
It’s on our first album, and one of our favorites. We’d never played it with drums until you pressed record, and I think it turned out prety sweet. I love Vanesa’s parts on this song. The song is about living life.

Third song
Mountain (Whispertown 2000) [3.87MB] [1973 downloads]


– unreleased
(Alternate title “I Was”) I feel it encompasses the past being the future being the past. A true matter of perspective. It’s rare, but every so often an entire song just pours out of me, where I almost don’t feel responsible. And I have to look back to see what I meant or what I’m even talking about. I think on the record this song will have a new or more dynamic approach. I love this version though…Tod kills it on the drums.

Fourth song
Ebb and Flow (Whispertown 2000) [4.19MB] [1946 downloads]


– unreleased
Is one of my favorite selections for the new record. On this recording, the vocals are not totally worked out..[nor is the key!], but the vibe couldn’t come across better. I think Tod’s guitar work is ridiculous and blows my mind every time I hear it. Another highlight is Vanesa’s drum, and my tambo debut.. she continues to amaze me. Annnnd, Casey Wisenbaker seriously holding it down as the newest addition to the band on bass, and other things, after only playing with us for a week and a half! This song was inspired by the universe lining up to give you everything you desire…and more, being in tune with the universe and not getting caught up.  Don’t believe the hype.