- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Tony Sly
Album: 12 Song Program
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Playtime: 32:22 min
Genre: Acoustic
URL: http://www.myspace.com/tonyslymusic
Rip date: 2010-02-03
Street date: 2010-02-16
Size: 47.47 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 195 kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
If you think youÆve got Tony Sly all figured out, think again. For over two
decades Sly has made an indelible name for himself as the frontman for No Use
For A Name, one of pop-punkÆs premiere acts, however those close to him also
know that SlyÆs musical talents extend far beyond the melodic power chords
and socially conscious lyrics that heÆs pioneered via his career in NUFAN.
This fact will finally be made clear to the world with the release of Tony
SlyÆs solo debut 12 Song Program, a diverse collection of tracks recorded on
acoustic guitar that evoke the Pogues more than they do Pennywise and show
that SlyÆs gift for songwriting transcends genres and classifications,
proving that Sly truly is a rock nÆ roll Renaissance Man in the purest sense
of the phrase.
At this point youÆre probably wondering why it took Sly so long to get these
songs onto tapeùand, frankly, so is he. ôThis is something I should have done
about seven years ago,ö Sly replies, citing No Use For A NameÆs grueling
touring and recording cycle as the reason why it took him so long to find the
time to focus on his solo career. ôI started writing songs a while back that
didnÆt really fit the mold of NUFAN and I felt like I wanted to do something
different other than punk rock but the timing was never right,ö he continues.
Earlier this year when his band had a four-month break following an extensive
world tour supporting their ninth full-length album The Feel Good Record Of
The Year, Sly finally had the opportunity to focus on the songs that make up
12 Song Program. He immersed himself in these songs and began playing solo
shows at local bars to enthusiastic audiences.
Conceptualized and recorded in less than a year, 12 Song Program is the end
product of this burst of creativity and the result is anything but an
unplugged NUFAN album. ôWhen I was writing these songs I was drawing on
influences like the Beatles, Bob Dylan and David Bowie as opposed to my usual
old punk influences like Bad Religion,ö Sly explains. Sly credits his
infatuation with these songwriters to the first record he ever heard, a copy
of the BeatlesÆ Rubber Soul that his mother found at a garage sale and passed
onto him. ôI think the first record you ever hear sticks with you for life
and that was Rubber Soul,ö he continues. ôThe Beatles got me into playing
guitar, so what IÆm doing now is going back to my real roots before I got
into punk.ö
From the tender, orchestrally tinged ballad ôThe Shortest Pierö to
stripped-down acoustic tracks like ôExpiredö and the soul-searching barroom
sing-along ôToaster In The Bathtub,ö 12 Song Program is teeming with expertly
arranged songs that each have their own unique sound and sonic personality.
ôWhat IÆve heard from people around me is that it doesnÆt sound like No Use
For A Name and my response is, æIf it did sound like that then the songs
would just end up on a NUFAN record because thereÆd be no point in doing this
if it wasnÆt different.Æö Although the album was SlyÆs brainchild, he also
enlisted the help of friends such as NOFXÆs Fat Mike, Swingin UtterÆs Darius
Koski, LagwagonÆs Joey Cape and Dance Hall CrashersÆ Karina DenikΘ to help
flesh out and fully realize these tracks.
ôI had such a great time making this album,ö Sly says about his experience
recording 12 Song Program with Jamie McMann at Motor Studios in San
Francisco, California. ôNot that I donÆt [enjoy recording] with No Use, but
it was just a really freeing experience,ö he continues. ôI didnÆt really
worry about polishing up things because I wanted this to sound like a guy
playing in his living room, something you would hear at a barùand I hope that
came across.ö As you may have guessed from the title, lyrically 12 Song
Program sees Sly confronting his own demons in a way that heÆs never quite
captured before. ôThere is a little bit of politics, but its definitely more
personal than the last couple of NUFAN records- a lot of songs about drinking
to get by,ö he elaborates. ôThere are a couple relationship songs on there
but theyÆre not really love songs, theyÆre more about trying to fix what you
may have screwed up and ultimately growing from those experiences.ö
In early 2010 Sly has plans to hit the road with his former bandmate Chris
Shiflett (Foo Fighters) as well as with Joey Cape in order to bring these
songs to fans of his old band as well as the inevitable crop of new converts.
ôI know I have a foothold already because of NUFAN but IÆm really trying to
branch out and do something new to show people that I can write any type of
song,ö Sly responds when asked what he hopes to take away from the time he
spends supporting 12 Song Program before he starts work on NUFANÆs next
effort. ôl just love writing songs,ö he summarizes, ôthatÆs what all of this
is about.ö
TONY SLY debut album, 12 Song Program, out February 16th!
-Fatwreckchords
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Capo, 4th Fret ( 2:42)
02. Via Munich ( 1:56)
03. The Shortest Pier ( 2:36)
04. Already Won ( 2:26)
05. AM ( 3:02)
06. Expired ( 2:46)
07. Keira ( 2:34)
08. Toaster In The Bathtub ( 2:36)
09. Love, Sick Love ( 2:46)
10. Amends ( 2:08)
11. Second Act (End Credits) ( 3:00)
12. Fireball ( 3:50)
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