ARTiST: Rich McCulley
ALBUM: Starting All Over Again
BiTRATE: 201kbps avg
QUALiTY: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.97 Final / -V2 --vbr-new / 44.100Khz
LABEL: CD Baby
GENRE: Rock
SiZE: 56.95 megs
PLAYTiME: 0h 37min 36sec total
RiP DATE: 2010-03-28
STORE DATE: 2010-03-09
Track List:
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01. Tell Me, I'm Listening 3:32
02. Dreams Tonight 3:21
03. The Last Song 3:17
04. Who'll Hang the Moon (Song for 4:25
DJ)
05. Nowhere 3:22
06. Not the One 4:18
07. Waiting on the Sun 3:47
08. Just a Few Miles to Go 3:07
09. Falling Apart 2:39
10. Wake Me Up 2:53
11. Starting All Over 2:55
Release Notes:
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As a new decade begins, veteran roots rocker Rich McCulley is celebrating an
anniversary of his own with the release of his fifth album, the 11 track
Americana pop ôStarting All Over Again.ö The 10 busy years since his debut
record in 2000 have included 3 additional critically acclaimed albums, hundreds
of storied gigs from coast to coast, tens of thousands of touring miles, over a
hundred published songs and co-writes, production credits on dozens of notable
records, and numerous prominent film and television placements.
At first glance this seems an ironic title for someone with this level of
credits, especially as McCulleyÆs new record is drenched in his classic,
road-tested sound: satisfying melodies, chiming guitars, humable harmonies,
whirling organs, soaring stringsà all the elements of catchy roots pop delivered
in tightly polished songs and recorded in an honest, straightforward style that
is McCulleyÆs trademark. Ever present is his distinctive gravelly voice (hailed
by IndieMusic.com as ôa great rock and roll voiceö), providing a solid dose of
heartfelt character throughout as the songs unfold.
A clue to the albumÆs bittersweet tone is found in the dedication notes, where
McCulley pays tribute to two friends who passed away from the roots Americana
scene in 2009: former girlfriend Amy Farris and close friend/co-writer Duane
Jarvis. Both respected solo artists in their own right, these two were also
heard as leading side players with artists such as Lucinda Williams, Dave Alvin,
Dwight Yoakam, Kelly Willis and others. Their presence loomed large in
McCulleyÆs work since his move to Los Angeles in 2004, as confidants,
co-writers, bandmates, and key members of McCulleyÆs treasured ôblack bookö of
musical friends always on call to enhance the musical projects under constant
construction at Red Hill Recording, his thriving LA-based recording studio. As
he sings in the title track, ôIÆm learning everything changes, in timeà itÆs not
the end, IÆm starting all over againö ù an acknowledgment that moving forward
means accepting that loss and disappointment are an inevitable part of the ride.
Accordingly, the album finds an emotional center with McCulleyÆs tribute to
Jarvis (ôWhoÆll Hang The Moonö), a touching, loosely delivered musical
reflection on a man he was proud to call a friend and mentor. ôThere is a light
that shines, that you turned on,ö sings McCulley. JarvisÆs example is ultimately
a sustaining one, as in ôJust A Few Miles To Go,ö where this imagery returns
atop a driving train beat: ôItÆs getting better, donÆt you knowà I can almost
see the light at the end of the road.ö The album opener ù the yearning pop
oriented ôTell Me, IÆm Listeningö ù was co-written with Jarvis and frequent
McCulley collaborator Todd Herfindal (and is one of the last tunes Jarvis
wrote).
Alongside these themes of regeneration and starting anew, McCulleyÆs sometimes
stormy love life is also a source of inspiration. We hear this from both sides
of the musical spectrum: in ôNot the Oneö (with strings by the late Amy Farris)
as an emotional and vulnerable lament of love lost, while ôFalling Apartö
delivers the same message powerfully as driving rocker that evokes classic
Replacements. Other highlights include the rock-oriented ôNowhereö and the
tongue in cheek, Tom Petty-ish ôThe Last Song,ö where McCulley tackles the
frustration felt by every long time artist as they struggle to keep their career
on the rails.
Returning listeners will recognize many favorite Los Angeles players forming
McCulleyÆs core band, including drummers Tommy Rickard (The Meadows, Linda
Perry), Brian Young (The Posies) and Tony Horkins (Grant Langston), bassist
Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam), guitarist/singer Todd
Herfindal, keyboardists Carl Byron (Anne McCue, Michelle Shocked), Dennis Hamm
(Crosby Loggins), and Adam Marsland, the late Amy Farris on strings, and (a
first for McCulley) a crack horn section comprised of Lee Thornburg (Tom Petty,
Bonnie Raitt, Tower of Power) and Dave Woodford (Roy Orbison, Aerosmith,
Supertramp). And as always, McCulleyÆs tunes are energized by the presence of
several close co-writers, including Duane Jarvis, Todd Herfindal, Grant
Langston, Justyna Kelley, and Mark Christian.
Prior to the launch of his solo career, McCulley was a hometown hero hailing
from humble Fresno, CA, where he wrote, recorded and toured with a variety of
county rock and pop rock bands on labels such as Geffen and Columbia. After the
release of his debut, he relocated his band to San Francisco for four years
before making the leap to Los Angeles in 2004. ôSan Francisco was a great
touring base and had a fun scene, but the dedicated underground Americana scene
in Los Angeles eventually drew me away,ö he says.
The move to Los Angeles helped expose McCulleyÆs music to the film and
television community, which responded by placing both his self-penned songs and
his co-written tunes in projects such as ABCÆs ôMen In Trees,ö CBSÆs ôCold
Case,ö HBOÆs ôCathouse,ö LifetimeÆs ôArmy Wives,ö and even a National Lampoon
movie. While live performing and recording have always been McCulleyÆs primary
motivation, these placements have helped inject new audiences and always-welcome
funds into his ongoing work.
Is there another ten years ahead for this Americana artist? ôWhat else would I
do?ö asks McCulley in return. ôMusic is all I know, and it is all I ever wanted
to do. It has kept me alive all this time with food on the table, great friends,
and a supportive, inspiring community. With any luck the songs will keep on
coming for many more years.ö