Irresistibility comes in the forms of nicotine, roasted coffee beans when sleep lingers on in the corners of eyes, hot air balloons, pizza, swimming pools and whoopee cushions. It comes in accents and full lips. It comes in slow drives with the windows down and in an honest days work, in a way. It comes in Thao Nguyen, a Virginian and recent William & Mary University graduate, who seems to have performed emotional autopsies on just what it is one person can become attracted to in an insignificant little song, cased out the particular methods and then perfected an approach that makes her a very dangerous addiction indeed. Her songs and the way she goes through them – barefooted and patiently – is a lot like a hot, living form of maple syrup. She oozes over you and coats you with a level of comfort that you can’t shake as you would a pesky guilty party. She gleans the best from the best and is a writer first and foremost, but just so happens to be a sharp, sharp guitar charmer. She makes it move. She tells it and her melodies to jump and they say, “How fucking high?” A few hours with Nguyen and you know she’s not prudish about throwing the four-lettered words out in front of you like darting squirrels and indecisive hares. She’s not afraid to know you – part of her master plan – and she’s not afraid if you get to know her. She must figure that even when you think the trail’s still warm and you’re onto something that you’ll never really get her straight. There are hidden rooms in her, hidden rooms in her songs – behind the swinging bookcases and trap doors in the wall. You don’t know her. You just know that she’s charming and you’d really like it if she keeps charming you. The only thing, after these first few hours spent with her, that you’ll hold against her is that she can’t name a single Hall & Oates song. Not a single one. True story. And for that she will not be forgiven no matter how much her crooning woos us silly. – Sean Moeller

First song
Big Kid Table (Thao Nguyen) [4.77MB] [9451 downloads]


– unreleased
“I wrote this song about owning up to fucking up. And I played it for my final project in my “reconstructing female sexuality” class my last semester of college. I really like Adam’s bass line for it. I’d pay money, if he wasn’t so loosey goosey about giving it up.”

Second song
Geography (Thao Nguyen) [3.08MB] [10375 downloads]


– unreleased
“A more straight-forward song about wanting someone—badly. You know those people who you are certain will fuck your shit up, but you try for them anyway. This song is hard to play live because I can’t ever hear my guitar line for it and sometimes I confuse my fingers. Also, Adam sings back-up on this one, and goes much higher than I can. A curiosity, for sure.”

Third song
Feet Asleep (Thao Nguyen) [4.22MB] [8321 downloads]


– original version appears on “The Sound the Hare Heard” a Kill Rock Stars compilation
“I wrote this song as a tribute to my mom, who has worked too hard for too long and has never felt compelled to complain or lament. So I did it for her. Willis’ drumming is a highlight. I love mallets.”

Fourth song
Fear and Convenience (Thao Nguyen) [3.59MB] [7649 downloads]


– unreleased
“Written about the relationships you ( ‘you’ general, not ‘you’ specific) witness and how they influence your perspective and behavior. Let’s be honest, it’s about me.”

Purchase Thai Nguyen music at: Insound