1997-2002(?)

Members:
Dusty Wylam: Guitar, Vocals
Jong Won Kim: Guitar, Vocals

Novel was a band that label co-founder Matt Fargo and I were borderline obsessed with around this time. Dusty I knew in a roundabout sort of way from being friends with his older sister. Also, one of his early bands, Petty Theft, had opened at a CIA show. Matt was friends with Jong Won, as was evidenced by the future Pretty To Look At song singing his praises. Matt recalls: “He was my friend Jong Soo's little brother, and was really into playing guitar. Totally self-taught, I think. So one day he played for me and it was like a total paradigm shift for me. Maybe my first real brush with genius.”

When Matt and I were searching for songs for the “I Think Cheyenne’s Friend Hates Me” compilation, Matt somehow acquired two songs from them. They completely blew away everything else that we had gathered. I am not exaggerating. I remember the two of us arguing over whether to include my choice, “I’d Like To Live,” or the equally genius, and Matt’s fave, “Hang Out.” Being the bossier of the two, I won. “I’d Like To Live” remains one of my favorite songs that Sly ever released. Although we used to harass them to let us release a cassette of theirs, for one reason or another we never did. I’d like to think they knew that they were too good for us. Dusty was still nice enough to record Pretty To Look At’s first album. The rest of their story I am fuzzy on. I think that they changed their name to Nepasa and eventually released a proper CD. The rumor was that they used a drum machine and re-recorded “I’d Like To Live.” I wish I had that CD…

- Eric

Sly Appearances:

Sly 001: I Think Cheyenne’s Friend Hates Me Compilation CS (1996)

Download free from Bandcamp.

- “I’d Like To Live”