The Mysteries of Life

About

Led by the husband-and-wife team of singer/guitarist Jake Smith and drummer Freda Love (both formerly of Antenna), the Bloomington, Indiana-based alternative pop band the Mysteries of Life also comprised keyboardist Dale Lawrence, celloist Geraldine Haas, bassist Kenny Childers and drummer LonPaul Ellrich. After debuting with the single "Kira," the group signed to RCA to issue their 1996 LP Keep a Secret; following a pair of indie label EPs, Focus on the Background and Anonymous Tip, the Mysteries of Life resurfaced with the full-length Come Clean in 1998. They later released the superb "Distant Relative" on in-house record label No Nostalgia in 2001. Released "Beginning To Move" in 2006 on Affirmitive/MFT. Currently Jake and Freda live in Nottingham England and continue to play and record. A new album of recordings is expected in 2008.

Albums

MOL Compiliation

18 songs

Going Through the Motions
3:35
Wish You Well
3:49
I Just Bet
2:57
A Year Ago Today
3:15
Hesitate
3:48
Southdowns
4:08
I Forgot To Say Goodbye
3:37
Your Face Betrays You
2:43
I Need To Know Where I Stand
2:36
3 Things at Once
3:40
Tell Me
3:33
Native Tongue
2:48
When I Let My Guard Down
3:24
Talk to Me Then
3:21
Once in a While
3:52
Feel My Way
2:43
Downhill
3:50
Native Tongue (LonPaul version)

Selections from Beginning To Move

3 songs

Early Summer
4:14
Stop Thinking
3:21
One False Move
3:09

Selections from Distant Relative

8 songs

T - 1
4:16
All My Might
3:40
Native Tongue
2:48
Talk to Me Then
3:21
3 Things at Once
3:41
When I Let My Guard Down
3:24
I Just Bet
2:57
Back and Forth
3:06

Come Clean Demos

17 songs

Track 05
2:53
Track 06
3:34
Track 07
3:45
Track 15
4:01
Track 10
3:36
Track 04
3:47
Track 03
2:53
Track 02
3:41
Track 11
3:30
Track 09
3:34
Track 13
3:20
Track 17
4:04
Track 19
3:54
Track 14
4:30
Track 18
3:37
Track 12
3:33
Track 01
4:00

Misc Recordings 1996

4 songs

5 Shortest Day
3:20
3 White Elephant
2:52
1 Naive Melody
4:10
4 Cold Out
2:46

Jake solo performance at Collins Dorm, IU Bloomington

6 songs

Track 02
2:28
Track 04
2:40
Track 03
2:34
Track 07
2:50
Track 05
2:56
Track 06
3:33

Live at MFT 2005 at Double Cross/The Church Bloomington

5 songs

Stop Thinking
2:52
Someday, Some Way
3:12
One False Move
2:35
I Just Bet
2:37
Take It Easy
3:03

Live at Lafayette Brew Pub 02/14/04

9 songs

A Year Ago Today (Live)
3:23
Walk On By (Live)
3:00
Hard As I May Try (Live)
3:00
In The Summer (Live)
4:07
Stop Thinking (Live)
3:54
Nothing Ever Happens (Live)
2:43
When I Let My Guard Down (Live)
2:58
I Just Bet (Live)
2:54
Cold Out (Live)
2:47

Live at Second Story 08/12/06

12 songs

Downhill
3:45
I Just Bet
3:03
Your Face Betrays You
3:11
Where Did Our Love Go? (Encore)
3:17
Naive Melody
5:13
Building On Fire (Encore)
3:27
Stop Thinking
3:18
Magnetic Fields
3:00
Shaking
2:26
Farewell Toast
0:54
Hot Dog
0:57
I Need To Know Where I Stand
2:38

Live at Second Story 03/11/06

7 songs

Full Moon In My Soul
2:49
Take It Easy
3:02
Gypsy
3:33
Stop Thinking
3:11
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
4:03
Tomorrow Night
2:50
Where Did Our Love Go?
3:02