Jason Spooner - The Flame You Follow
ARTIST.....: Jason Spooner
TITLE......: The Flame You Follow
LABEL......: n/a
URL........: http://www.jasonspooner.com/
RIP DATE...: Jul-21-2007
STORE DATE.: 000-00-2007
GENRE......: Folklore
QUALITY....: VBR / 44.1Hz / Joint-Stereo
SIZE.......: 63,1 MB
Track Listing:
01 - black and blue 03:45
02 - all that we know 03:41
03 - spaceship 04:08
04 - the flame you follow 04:02
05 - hazel 03:47
06 - fight the fire 04:06
07 - meant to be 05:34
08 - simple life 03:30
09 - mirror this morning 03:37
10 - slippery people 03:59
11 - hover 05:23
─────
45:32 min
Release Notes:
"Sophomore Slam"
Jason Spooner delivers an ambitious second album
that draws heavily upon the power of three.
In stores June 1, 2007
The follow-up effort to a successful debut album has always
represented a potential ôBermuda Triangleö in the career path of
every songwriter. Some choose to replicate while others become
submerged by the weight of expectation. In the case of Jason
SpoonerÆs The Flame You Follow, the choice could not have been
simpler: reinvention.
Armed with a sound and a clarity of purpose that can only result
from countless live shows and years of ensemble-performance, the
trio, fronted by Spooner and rounded out by Andy Rice (bass) and
Reed Chambers (drums), quietly entered a small rural studio in the
dead of the Maine winter and set to work. Jason recalls, ôWe
barely even spoke about the particulars at first... we all simply
knew that it was time to make this record and that it was going to
be a far cry from previous efforts. Our first album felt more like
a collection of solo songs with the band folded in as an
afterthought. We all felt the same need to build this record from
the ground up around the core sound of the band... a sound that
has been percolating independently for quite some time.ö
The resulting urgency and energy captured during these sessions is
apparent from the first seconds of the lead off track ôBlack and
Blueö, which quickly establishes the cast of characters that
accompany the listener throughout. ChambersÆ infectious rim
pattern is eventually joined by the gigantic foundation of RiceÆs
upright bass, followed by SpoonerÆs signature tenor and
finger-picked fretwork on the acoustic guitar. The stage is set.
From here on, the listener traverses a varied sonic landscape of
complimentary colors that work together to create interesting
twists and turns while remaining loyal to the unique vision of the
record. The character-driven "All That We Know" is a vivid account
of a deal gone bad, complete with crystalline vignettes and
tremolo guitar flourishes. The anthemic "Spaceship" glides to
powerful sing-along crescendoÆs at the hands of Rice and Chambers
while providing insights around the human condition and the need
to disappear. The moody, Wurlitzer-driven groove of the albumÆs
title track, "The Flame You Follow" embraces the hook-laden
choruses and provides foundation for the songÆs haunting
dreamscape imagery. The deceptive innocence of "Simple Life" draws
the casual listener in with hints of Motown-infused horn and bass
lines driven by an unrelenting two-and-four snare followed by
musings on life in the modern world. The sinister
ôHitchcock-meets-Tom Waitsö swagger of "Fight the Fire" paints a
tale of mystery punctuated with organ wails and a carnival of sax
work. The album eventually subsides with Hover, a song that fuses
graceful string work with some of the albumÆs most emotionally raw
vocals and song-writing.
Recorded with celebrated New England engineer, Jon Wyman (a
seasoned music man with strong rock, alternative and hip-hop
sensibilities), the trio felt extremely comfortable at the thought
of exploring new ground while drawing upon their collective well
of influences. SpoonerÆs heroes are certainly present in spirit
(Neil Young, JJ Cale, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Paul
Simon), however there is a sense of maturity and reverence here
that has allowed Spooner to tip his hat while maintaining and
furthering his own voice and point of view. Also present is the
strong influence of the impressive group of guest musicians
hand-picked by the band to participate including Tim Carbone on
fiddle (Railroad Earth), Ryan Zoidis on saxophone (Soulive,
Lettuce, Rustic Overtones), songwriter Kim Taylor on guest vocals,
Andy Happel on cello & violin (Thanks to Gravity) and Abbie
Gardner on vocals & dobro (Red Molly).
In a day an age where high-speed, on-demand technology has flooded
the market with singles and threatened the album itself as an art
form The Flame You Follow is a refreshing reminder. ôMy goal from
the early writing stages of this recordö Spooner explains ôwas to
create a piece, a collection of songs where the whole felt great
than the sum of the parts. All of my favorite records were pieces;
Dylan records... Floyd, Bowie, Beatles... we all focused on
keeping this cohesive from day one.ö Spooner also comments on the
projectÆs interest in exploring the darker corners of the streets.
ôIÆm admittedly a fan of records that delve into the shadows a
bit. Neil YoungÆs beautifully dark TonightÆs The Night was a
formative record for me. Pink FloydÆs Obscured By Clouds ô is
another major one... and certainly Patty GriffinÆs masterpiece
Living With Ghosts.ö The results, through SpoonerÆs lens, are
brave portraits of struggle, self discovery and, eventually,
wisdom.