Thunder In The Valley - Where Oh Where Oh Where (EP)
ARTIST.....: Thunder In The Valley
TITLE......: Where Oh Where Oh Where (EP)
LABEL......: Ragged But Right Records
URL........: www.thunderinthevalleyband.com
RIP DATE...: Nov-07-2007
STORE DATE.: Sep-18-2007
GENRE......: Indie
QUALITY....: VBR / 44.1Hz / Joint-Stereo
SIZE.......: 20,4 MB
Track Listing:
01 - 94 In Reverse 03:42
02 - Come Now Virginia 02:51
03 - My Only Anna Lee 04:22
04 - Central Intelligence 02:19
05 - The Skies May Cease To Be 03:06
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16:20 min
Release Notes:
www.myspace.com/thunderinthevalley
Since its debut in early 2004, Thunder In The Valley has been
wowing Twin Cities audiences and critics with its exuberant blend
of rock and ragtime - not a nostalgia trip, but an innovative
blend of old and new styles that conjures thoughts of Tom Waits,
Sixteen Horsepower, and DeVotchKa with a bit of Kurt Weill and a
mad-eyed carnival barker thrown in for good measure.
When the Thunder rumbles, people hear it. In its first year,
TITV's six-song debut CD and rollicking live show made a big
impression on the Twin Cities music scene, fans and critics alike
- scoring high on City Pages' annual Picked To Click poll and
other year's-best lists. Even better, the band was given the gold
star by the legendary club First Avenue, which invited the band to
play its prestigious annual Best New Bands showcase. In 2005, the
Thunder keeps rolling along, with two Minnesota Music Award
nominations for Best New Group and Best Eclectic Group.
Thunder in the Valley's rising profile and undeniable talent
attracted the attention of the American Composers Forum, which
stepped in with resources and studio time to record a full-length
debut, A Long, Long Walk, on Heart of a Champion Records.
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This past July, the five members of Thunder in the Valley packed
up their raggedy indie-rollick 'n' roll and headed out to
Philadelphia to cut their latest record with producer-engineer
Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man). While no details have yet
emerged regarding a full-length release, the fellas were nice
enough to put together this five-song EP before leaving town once
again, this time on a six-week nationwide tour. A new album it
ain't, but what's wrong with a light smattering of things yet to
come?
Beginning with the jangly chug-a-long "94 in Reverse," the disc
starts on an upbeat note. With a simple guitar progression doubled
on the piano and garnished with twangy electric leads, it's
probably the most memorable track on the album. But for my money,
the slow and spare piano number, "My Only Anna Lee," may be the
disc's best. Sounding like a drunken love ballad sung alone and
woozy in a 19th-century saloon, it's about as dark and depressed
as the band seems to get.
Buoyed by pianist Jake Luck's ragtime syncopations, TITV's songs
have a charming sort of bounce to them that routinely inspire
audience members to break into (non-ironic, mind you) old-timey
dance - truly an amazing feat in the realm of earnest indie-rock,
a genre ballasted by hipster coolness. While the new material
still retains the band's trademark shuffle and bop, there's a hint
of alt-country here that suggests subtle forays into new
directions. (www.citypages.com)