ARTIST: The Submarines
TITLE: Honeysuckle Weeks
LABEL: Nettwerk
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 201kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 34m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-05-13
RIP DATE: 2008-04-29
Track List
----------
1. Submarine Symphonika 3:49
2. The Thorny Thicket 3:30
3. You Me and the Bourgeoisie 3:22
4. 1940 3:08
5. The Wake Up Song 4:02
6. Swimming Pool 3:18
7. Maybe 3:22
8. Xavia 4:31
9. Fern Beard 2:49
10. Brightest Hour 2:33
Release Notes:
"In the beginning, we all start as a tiny seed, then a tender sprout. With
water, light and the hope of love, we grow up toward the skies above."
John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard recorded HONEYSUCKLE WEEKS, their second album
as THE SUBMARINES, as summer vines blossomed and the sun coaxed green grasses up
around the stones leading from their East LA home to their
garage-turned-home-studio. Honeysuckle Weeks weaves together themes drawn from
their immediate surroundings and experience: the garden outside, and the push
and pull of life and love inside.
After touring behind their debut, Declare a New State, in the US and Europe, The
Submarines were ready to make an album that felt good not only to record but to
play in a live setting. ôOur first album was hugely cathartic for us to make,
dealing with a breakup and getting out the sorrow, but weÆve been ready to freak
out and have a lot more fun this time around. WeÆre thankful not to have to make
that record again, to be in a better place,ö says Hazard. Honeysuckle Weeks also
marks the duoÆs first album made collaboratively; Declare A New State was
written separately during a breakup and recorded upon their reunion.
Sonically, Honeysuckle Weeks is a glorious collage of The SubmarinesÆ
wide-ranging influences, from old-school dub (most evident in tracks like ô1940ö
and ôFern Beardö) to intricately layered electronica (as in the
psychedelic-classical ôSubmarine Symphonikaö and ôThe Thorny Thicketö) to 60Æs
pop (as on ôSwimming Poolö and the Santaria-inspired ôXaviaö). While some songs
started with a traditional guitar-in-hand approach, many began with instrumental
tracks composed by Dragonetti, which Hazard then completed with words and
melody, drawing on each of the their musical strengths. Dragonetti--who
masterminded the recording--says, ôThe glitch is enjoyable, but so are the
Beatles, so I just try to follow what the song calls for.ö The duo was also
joined on a number of tracks by the phenomenal Section Quartet.
The record is as diverse in theme as it is in sound. The time-warped ô1940ö
conjures the things that go bump! in the night, while ôThe Wake Up Songö
portrays a coupleÆs start to the day--the act of preparing to leave the house,
setting the stage for relationship dynamics. ôYou, Me and the Bourgeoisieö
addresses the need for social consciousness, while acknowledging the hypocrisies
inherent in our own contemporary lives. The most prevalent theme in the record,
however, is the garden. Whether itÆs thorns wrapped around the heart in ôThe
Thorny Thicketö or plants taking back the city in ôFern Beard,ö the leafy tangle
surrounding The SubmarinesÆ studio made its way into the songs with a fresh
energy. The days when the garden grew while the album blossomed were The
SubmarinesÆ Honeysuckle Weeks.
Honeysuckle Weeks will be released on May 13, 2008 through Nettwerk Records,
followed by US tour dates.
ôWeÆre not living the good life, unless weÆre fighting the good fight.ö