Listen to Ezra Furman & the Harpoons' "The Stakes Are High"

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons may have been an under-the-radar act in 2007 when they dropped their unexpectedly stellar full-length debut, Banging Down The Doors, but they won't be for much longer. On their forthcoming sophomore release, Inside The Human Body, the band has found a fuller, more cohesive sound, and the 22-year-old Furman’s imaginative songwriting and penchant for poetic, narrative lyrics have grown more assured.

Having just graduated from Tufts University, Chicago native Ezra Furman and his Harpoons (fellow Tufts students) capture that exhilarating moment when one finds oneself at the cusp of adulthood: Rollicking exuberance as well as provocative contemplation about the future beat through Inside The Human Body.

When our friends at Minty Fresh offered us a free download to give you, our discerning readers, throughout the month of October, the choice was difficult. Should we go for the raucous, harmonica-fueled stomp of “Take Off Your Sunglasses”? (After all, Furman’s future’s looking so bright!) Or should it be the indelibly catchy and poetic sing-along of “The Stakes Are High”?

We chose the latter, so you'll just have to pick up Inside The Human Body when it hits stores October 7th for the rest of the good stuff.

Download “The Stakes Are High” here.

Full tracklist for Inside The Human Body
1. "We Should Fight"
2. "Take Off Your Sunglasses"
3. "The Stakes Are High"
4. "The Dishwasher"
5. "The Faceless Boy"
6. "Big Deal"
7. "If I Was A Baby"
8. "The Worm In the Apple"
9. "The World Is Alive"
10. "Springfield, IL"
11. "The Moon"
12. "Weak Knees"

Related Links:
Live Review: Ezra Furman & The Harpoons @ Schubas 8/25/08
A New D****? - Andy Whitman on Music
Paste:Local launches in New York City and Chicago