ARTIST: Amsterband
TITLE: Buckle in the Bible Belt
LABEL: MayApple Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 202kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 29m total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-00-00
RIP DATE: 2006-09-11
Track List
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1. Up Nights 3:18
2. St. Nick On the Fourth in a 4:00
Fervor
3. Gusto 3:21
4. Falling In 2:08
5. Hangman 1:34
6. Caney Mountain 3:20
7. Cure for the Common Cold 3:30
8. Bully in the Pulpit 3:24
9. Cureall 2:17
10. You Lit Up the Night 2:38
Release Notes:
http://www.amsterband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/amsterband
http://www.mayapplerecords.com/
As a follow up to their 2004 debut CD Beatchen, Amsterbands latest release,
Buckle in the Bible Belt, adds a new level of musical depth, lyrical complexity,
and overall maturity to an already original style. Combining traditional
elements from Ozarkian folklore and bluegrass beats into a high-energy rock
sound gives Amsterbands music a feel like no other, and carves out a space in
the indie rock scene that holds their music alone. This is not to say that the
bands influences can not be felt in their music- a southern rock style that
captures the catchy foot-stomping energy of Credence Clearwater Revival with an
indie twist. The bands first single from the album, Saint Nick on the Fourth in
a Fervor, is perhaps the most representative of this sound, combining four-part
harmonies and biting guitar riffs with lyrics that delve into issues of
nationalism, religious allegiances, and rites of passage.
Amsterbands lyrics authentically replicate the paradox that exists in the
Midwestern Bible Belt that they know so well, where the realities of meth use,
strip clubs, socio-economic hardship, and backwoods prejudices meet the literal
interpretations of Biblical story-tellers. This Ozark milieu creates some
contradictory notions of reality, but also some of the most poignant folk and
gospel musical traditions in the nations history. Amsterbands uniquely Ozarkian
vocals drive the lyrics home, and the sometimes sobering melodies are balanced
musically by a full-on rock sound fitting the aptly titled Buckle in the Bible
Belt.
This album follows a successful round of touring that began in 2004 with
Beatchen. Since that debut full-length release on MayApple Records, Amsterband
has visited many of the nations major markets, playing with national acts like
Limbeck, Steel Train, Waking Ashland, and Ludo along the way. Their intense
touring schedule over the past year and a half has seen them play almost 200
shows in over 60 cities, and those numbers are always growing. Only further
success and growth is anticipated with the release of their latest album Buckle
in the Bible Belt. A line from their debut single St. Nick captures the
experience of this album precisely: this glimpse of brilliance is much better
than your long look at mediocrity.