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<< ...it was actually not half bad: >>
Rose City Band - Summerlong
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<< INFO >>
Artist...... Rose City Band
Album....... Summerlong
Label....... Thrill Jockey
Genre....... Psychedelic Rock
Date........ 2020-00-00
Release..... 2023-06-18
Bitrate..... 264kbps
Size........ 81.20 mb
Duration.... 40:48
WWW......... http://www.facebook.com/TheRoseCityBand
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<< TRACKS >>
01 Only Lonely [ 3:57]
02 Empty Bottles [ 5:07]
03 Real Long Gone [ 5:08]
04 Floating Out [ 5:30]
05 Morning Light [ 2:50]
06 Reno Shuffle [ 6:23]
07 Wee Hours > [ 6:18]
08 Wildflowers [ 5:35]
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<< NOTES >>
It is impossible to talk about modern psychedelic music without mentioning
Ripley Johnson. As bandleader of Wooden Shjips and one half of Moon Duo,
Johnson has continually charted new cosmic paths that expand on the language
of the genre. With Rose City Band, JohnsonÆs songwriting and beautiful guitar
lines take center stage, the veil of psychedelia notably drawn back. While
his vocal treatment would be recognizable to any Wooden Shjips fan, the
sparseness of the instrumentation lays bare the beauty of his writing.
Shimmering guitar lines are free to shine, buoyed by driving rhythms. New to
the mix are arrangements and instruments drawn directly from classic country,
resulting in songs with more than a hint of twang. The aptly named
Summerlong, born of JohnsonÆs own fondness for the season, delivers an
emotional liftùan expression akin to the joy of getting out there on a warm
day, be it gathering for a BBQ, hopping onto a bike, leaping into a swimming
hole, or simply reading in a park.
Rose City Band started purely as a recording project, with Johnson's role
mostly obscured for the self-titled debut album. Released with no promotion,
in the style of private press records, it was a liberating act, a focus on
music without any expectations. Explaining it with a chuckle, Johnson
elaborates, ôI always would threaten to my friends that IÆm gonna start a
country rock band so I can retire and just play down at the pub every
Thursday night during happy hour. I love being able to tour and travel, but I
also like the idea of having a local band à more of a social music
experience.ö Freedom from expectation and obligation gave Johnson the space
to experiment with new instrumentation and arrangements. The introduction of
lap steel, mandolin, and jaw harp enhance JohnsonÆs lean guitar work with
radiant overtones, placing Summerlong more overtly within the country
tradition than its predecessor. Work on the album began at JohnsonÆs home
studio in Portland during the summer, but, interrupted by touring, it would
not be finished until the winter season. The dark isolation of winter and the
pining for summerÆs easier days can be felt in the albumÆs few quieter
moments. Summerlong was mixed by John McEntire (Stereolab, Broken Social
Scene, Tortoise) at his newly minted Portland Soma Studios and mastered by
Amy Dragon at Telegraph Mastering, also based in Portland.
Buoyant and joyous, Summerlong is a captivating listen that leaves the
listener yearning for more. The record is an ode to freedom, born of a
musician stepping out of all routines and whose own liberation is
communicated so completely in his music. Summerlong is a record that, taken
in its entirety, is an emphatic statement on the songwriting power of Ripley
Johnson. JohnsonÆs joy in every aspect of this album is delightfully
infectious.
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