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Wildy's World covers Pictures of Then
Wildy's World
Review: Pictures Of Then - And The Wicked Sea
Pictures Of Then - And The Wicked Sea
2009, Pictures Of Then, LLC
August 4, 2009 will be a big day in Minneapolis and for many fans of Pictures Of Then around the US. On that day, Pictures Of Then will release their highly anticipated sophomore album And The Wicked Sea. Pictures Of Then’s previous album, 2007’s Crushed By Lights saw the band finding placement on MTV’s The Real World and The Hills, and gaining such coveted festival spots as the Red Gorilla Music Fest, Midpoint Music Festival, NACA and the Crossroads Entertainment Conference. Pictures Of Then garnered airplay on 220 stations across the US and even toured as part of the MTV Choose or Lose Tour. With all of this behind them, Pictures Of Then look to take the next step with And The Wicked Sea.
And The Wicked Sea is mostly successful musical experience with some amazing moments. The Big Sell is a great bit of Brit Pop with a strong melodic sense, outstanding harmonies and some very interesting guitar work. This song is highly commercial without trying to sound commercial. Nowhere Is Somewhere is a piano-driven Pop tune that gets to the idea of what love is all about. 7th Street is one of those songs that if released 25 years ago would have bought each member of The Wicked Sea a mansion they couldn't dream up. The melody here is highly memorable and has great movement and rhythm all throughout the arrangement presented here. History Of Bones is my favorite track here; a philosophical look at how day-to-day details are often more significant than they might seem at the time. The song is wrapped up in big hooks and a Pop sensibility that indicate significant commercial potential. Wicked Sea is a funky mix Rock N Roll with lyric passages and Ooh-La-La harmonies and is a real pleasure to listen to. The album closes out with some Ambient Rock on Lands Uncharted, and epic story in song wrapped around an impressive piano part.
Pictures Of Then have managed to create a highly memorable CD in And The Wicked Sea; distinguishing themselves from the pop pack with original songwriting and real knack for big hooks and turns of phrase. This is the sort of album where a band really consolidates their sound and their fan base. With the right breaks, Pictures Of Then could be a household name. Check them out!
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Review: Pictures Of Then - And The Wicked Sea
Pictures Of Then - And The Wicked Sea
2009, Pictures Of Then, LLC
August 4, 2009 will be a big day in Minneapolis and for many fans of Pictures Of Then around the US. On that day, Pictures Of Then will release their highly anticipated sophomore album And The Wicked Sea. Pictures Of Then’s previous album, 2007’s Crushed By Lights saw the band finding placement on MTV’s The Real World and The Hills, and gaining such coveted festival spots as the Red Gorilla Music Fest, Midpoint Music Festival, NACA and the Crossroads Entertainment Conference. Pictures Of Then garnered airplay on 220 stations across the US and even toured as part of the MTV Choose or Lose Tour. With all of this behind them, Pictures Of Then look to take the next step with And The Wicked Sea.
And The Wicked Sea is mostly successful musical experience with some amazing moments. The Big Sell is a great bit of Brit Pop with a strong melodic sense, outstanding harmonies and some very interesting guitar work. This song is highly commercial without trying to sound commercial. Nowhere Is Somewhere is a piano-driven Pop tune that gets to the idea of what love is all about. 7th Street is one of those songs that if released 25 years ago would have bought each member of The Wicked Sea a mansion they couldn't dream up. The melody here is highly memorable and has great movement and rhythm all throughout the arrangement presented here. History Of Bones is my favorite track here; a philosophical look at how day-to-day details are often more significant than they might seem at the time. The song is wrapped up in big hooks and a Pop sensibility that indicate significant commercial potential. Wicked Sea is a funky mix Rock N Roll with lyric passages and Ooh-La-La harmonies and is a real pleasure to listen to. The album closes out with some Ambient Rock on Lands Uncharted, and epic story in song wrapped around an impressive piano part.
Pictures Of Then have managed to create a highly memorable CD in And The Wicked Sea; distinguishing themselves from the pop pack with original songwriting and real knack for big hooks and turns of phrase. This is the sort of album where a band really consolidates their sound and their fan base. With the right breaks, Pictures Of Then could be a household name. Check them out!
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
read me here
Posted By keenangaynor on Sunday, June 21, 2009
WEBSITE: http://picturesofthen.com
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/picturesofthen
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/picturesofthen
Pictures of Then is an indie rock group based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota who seem to be on a fast track to success. With two solid, well produced albums under their belt, they make it a habit to consistently be on tour. Whether it be a festival, venue, or college campus, they manage to make themselves heard on a continual basis. Having only recently been introduced to them, I can't quite put my finger on what their style reminds me of. In a video they have posted up on their myspace page, their singer (Casey) mentions how they often get referred to as "The Beatles with a modern twist." I'll let you be the judge of that though.
"When It Stings" off of And the Wicked Sea
THE SKINNY: Pictures of Then is an indie rock & roll group from Minneapolis with a British twist.
FOR FANS OF: Panic at the Disco
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1 comments:
Anonymous said... Sunday, June 21, 2009
This song rocks, thanks for the post!
Posted By keenangaynor on Sunday, June 21, 2009
WEBSITE: http://picturesofthen.com
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/picturesofthen
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/picturesofthen
Pictures of Then is an indie rock group based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota who seem to be on a fast track to success. With two solid, well produced albums under their belt, they make it a habit to consistently be on tour. Whether it be a festival, venue, or college campus, they manage to make themselves heard on a continual basis. Having only recently been introduced to them, I can't quite put my finger on what their style reminds me of. In a video they have posted up on their myspace page, their singer (Casey) mentions how they often get referred to as "The Beatles with a modern twist." I'll let you be the judge of that though.
"When It Stings" off of And the Wicked Sea
THE SKINNY: Pictures of Then is an indie rock & roll group from Minneapolis with a British twist.
FOR FANS OF: Panic at the Disco
Digg This! • Technorati Links • Save to del.icio.us • Share on Facebook • Email the author
1 comments:
Anonymous said... Sunday, June 21, 2009
This song rocks, thanks for the post!
PICTURES OF THEN review on AMPLIFER MAGAZINE
PICTURES OF THEN
PICTURES OF THEN AND THE WICKED SEA
INDEPENDENT (2009)
On Pictures of Then’s 2007 debut, Crushed by Lights, the Minneapolis quintet seemed to be shining Billy Corgan’s flashlight through a 1966 Pink Floyd prism, projecting a gorgeous psychedelic pop rainbow across a Ziggy Stardust tour poster. The combination of PoT’s respect for the vintage past and desire for a modern future came together seamlessly in a soundtrack that was both vaguely familiar and engagingly fresh.
As telegraphed by the gorgeous New World-tinged woodcut illustrations adorning their sophomore album, Pictures of Then and The Wicked Sea, PoT spend a little more time perusing their sonic scrapbook of the past this time around while still remaining committed to indie rock’s vibrant here and now. The Wicked Sea’s opener, “A Glimpse of Dawn,” nods to Superdrag’s modern retro vibe in a perfect balance between pop delicacy and guitar bombast, which segues into “When It Stings,” a swinging soul/pop mind meld of early Kinks and later Spoon and continues into “The Big Sell,” a similar treatment that shivers and pounds like a Smashing Pumpkins tribute to the Pretty Things. Fans of the Shins and the 88s will find much to love on The Wicked Sea, from the gentle lilt of “Ahead” to the simple pop appeal of “7th Street,” and I defy anyone (Chris Martin, are you listening?) to write a more beautifully wrought love song than PoT’s “Nowhere is Somewhere,” which skillfully blends propulsive and balladic pop under a lovely, lyrical sentiment (“I’d rather go nowhere together than somewhere alone...”).
Pictures of Then is an amazing blend of reverent classicism and modern vision, and The Wicked Sea is loaded with glittering pop diamonds that are never showy, always tasteful and completely infectious.
--Brian Baker [July 6, 2009]
read here
PICTURES OF THEN AND THE WICKED SEA
INDEPENDENT (2009)
On Pictures of Then’s 2007 debut, Crushed by Lights, the Minneapolis quintet seemed to be shining Billy Corgan’s flashlight through a 1966 Pink Floyd prism, projecting a gorgeous psychedelic pop rainbow across a Ziggy Stardust tour poster. The combination of PoT’s respect for the vintage past and desire for a modern future came together seamlessly in a soundtrack that was both vaguely familiar and engagingly fresh.
As telegraphed by the gorgeous New World-tinged woodcut illustrations adorning their sophomore album, Pictures of Then and The Wicked Sea, PoT spend a little more time perusing their sonic scrapbook of the past this time around while still remaining committed to indie rock’s vibrant here and now. The Wicked Sea’s opener, “A Glimpse of Dawn,” nods to Superdrag’s modern retro vibe in a perfect balance between pop delicacy and guitar bombast, which segues into “When It Stings,” a swinging soul/pop mind meld of early Kinks and later Spoon and continues into “The Big Sell,” a similar treatment that shivers and pounds like a Smashing Pumpkins tribute to the Pretty Things. Fans of the Shins and the 88s will find much to love on The Wicked Sea, from the gentle lilt of “Ahead” to the simple pop appeal of “7th Street,” and I defy anyone (Chris Martin, are you listening?) to write a more beautifully wrought love song than PoT’s “Nowhere is Somewhere,” which skillfully blends propulsive and balladic pop under a lovely, lyrical sentiment (“I’d rather go nowhere together than somewhere alone...”).
Pictures of Then is an amazing blend of reverent classicism and modern vision, and The Wicked Sea is loaded with glittering pop diamonds that are never showy, always tasteful and completely infectious.
--Brian Baker [July 6, 2009]
read here
SMARTGIRL feature on PICTURES OF THEN
http://smartgirl.org/reviews/editor1.html
Pictures of Then
The Wicked Sea
Pictures of Then has a familiar sound, like a band you've heard of before, but you can't place your finger on it. It sounds like something you've listened to before, even if it's your first time. Don't take this the wrong way; it's just that the music is so easy to get into, you're singing along before the the first song is even over.
Of course, they make it easy on you. The rhyming is straightforward, the pitch doesn't jump around between 12 octaves, and the chorus will come back for quite a few spins. The singer enunciates well, so you won't have to look up the lyrics on the internet. If you want to learn how to play a song on the guitar, this is your album. If you want to teach yourself how to harmonize, this is your album. You'll have all the words memorized your third time around. Along with the easy, persistent beat, this is an excellent album to keep within easy reach of the stereo in your car. The sound is just right for windows down, tapping the steering wheel, singing along, and taking it easy in traffic. Put it on repeat, because the tracks loop well, and stop shuffling through your music collection while trying to drive with your knees!
Better yet, it might give you something to think about. The album tells a story from beginning to end, starting out with a lot of rebellious energy, taking it down for some introspection in the middle, and a reassertion of self and experimentation toward the end. The lyrics are simple but honest, and they're about things that everyone can relate to: feeling suffocated and wanting to get out on your own, recognizing that your first love isn't perfect but being afraid to lose it anyway, wanting to make your own mistakes, and wanting people to take responsibility for their actions. It's a growing up point of view, starting to letting go of the innocence of youth, recognizing the shades of gray between black and white, but not sure if you're ready for all the compexity. It's being bored with the suburbs, but scared that the alternative is even worse.
My favorite songs were "Stuck," "7th Street," and "Questions, Anyone?" which came at the middle and toward the end, where the style tends toward folksy, they add more instruments, and the pacing mixes up within a song. The front of the album is a bit more traditonal and generally accessible, and it's stronger on the drums.
Overall, we got the feeling over and over again while listening to Pictures of Then's The Wicked Sea that this music would be the best live. Imagine the fans, all singing along; imagine the energy on the stage; imagine the beat, and being free to move your whole body to the music. Awesome!
Exclusive Interview with Pictures of Then!
SmartGirl was lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with the band. They answerd 10 of our burning questions, and without further ado, here they are:
SmartGirl: Many of our readers aspire to be musicians, but don't really know how to get started. How did Pictures of Then get off the ground?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble -
Pictures of Then started between close friends. Casey (singer and guitar player) and Joe Call (Drummer) are brothers, and I lived in the same small town as them growing up. We would always get together and jam, most of the time in a small garage or in a basement. Because we grew up together, we understood each other and were able talk openly about music. As time passed, we realized that we had something really special, so we decided to move to Minneapolis, MN and start the band. Once we moved to the city, we found our keyboard player (Tim) who brought a whole new dimension to our sound.
The key to starting a band (as well as staying together) is to be honest with each other, and to be comfortable being yourself around the other band members. No one in our band is more important than any other member, and that keeps us all close. It's ok to have arguments, but remember to respect each other...when you tour, these are the people you will be spending weeks at a time with.
SmartGirl: The lyrics are easy to relate to -- a lot about realizing that life is a little harder than it used to seem, and figuring out how to deal with that: ignoring the bad stuff (nowhere together is better than somewhere alone), running away until there's no more gas left, just plain sinking or swimming. How did these lyrics come about? Can you tell us how the inspiration made it into a song?
Pictures of Then:
Casey Call - It's really pretty simple, we mainly just write about what we know, or things that have happened in our lives, both good and bad. For me music has always been a way of celebrating the good and coping with the bad. I think that is why listeners can more easily relate to our lyrics because a lot of them stem from real human emotions, hopes, fears and experiences that many of us have had at one time or another. Many times music becomes vehicle for us to put a finger on certain things in life that just piss us off, there is so much beauty in life but sometimes you just have to wade through the ugly to be able to see it.
Tim Greenwood - the funniest part of music is reading into lyrics or getting moved by a melody and making it your own. Our music is really powerful to us personally, but we want it to mean something to other people, and it doesn't have to all be the same.
SmartGirl: Personally, we really like the 2nd half of the album best. We like the changes of pace, the different instrumental sounds, and the added grit to the vocals. What were your favorite parts of the album or even individual songs, and why? Was there anything left out that you were sorry to see go?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Call -
Personally I don't have a favorite song, I enjoy the album as a whole. While in the studio there are always songs or parts that are left out and don't make it onto the final version of the album. With any artwork what you see or hear can be just as important as what you DON"T see or hear.
SmartGirl: After listening to your album, we're pretty sure that seeing Pictures of Then live would be an experience not to be missed. Can you tell us what a live show is like? Does the crowd get involved? Do you have any good stories from a live performance?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble -
Live shows are the best! There's nothing better than connecting with a room full of fans, where everyone is having fun and expressing themselves. When we play a live show, we bring an energy that not all bands are able to bring. I think it's because we genuinely want to play music, and we all enjoy playing together. If you really enjoy what you're doing, people will notice and want to be involved.
Things don't always run smoothly though. I remember one time we were playing for a huge crowd in Tulsa, OK. We were standing on stage behind a giant curtain, and the announcer was on stage introducing us. He was just finishing up the introduction and I noticed my guitar wasn't making any noise! I scrambled around, checking the connections to all my guitar pedals, making sure the amplifier was on and turned up, and making sure my guitar was turned up. I didn't know what to do! Right as the curtain swung open, our bass played spotted that my guitar cable wasn't plugged into my guitar...I felt like such an idiot! I quickly plugged in and right as the curtain opened was able to start the show. That was a nail-biter!
Joe Call -
Describing a live Pictures Of Then show with only words, is like comparing pudding to an ice cream sundae, the ice cream is just way better! You will have to hear it for yourself, but take my word for it when I say it's alive, exciting, full of energy, and a deeply artistic expression of us portrayed through the music.
SmartGirl: Aside from the lyrics, we think that the instrumentals do a great job setting the mood for each song. There is a definite rise and fall to the entire album, like a story, and then the intro forms the perfect connecting loop to jump back in again. Did you premeditate the full-circle story of the album, or was that just a happy accident?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble - What makes this album so much different from our first album is how much room we gave ourselves to explore. A lot of the songs on the album sounded drastically different before we recorded them. I think it's important to keep an open mind when writing, and to be open to change. What's great about the intro and the outro is that we had no intention of putting it on the album. As a matter of fact, we didn't even write the intro/outro until the album was finished. We had the idea and started working out the concept, and when we were done, we knew we had to add it to the album. Sure it took extra time and held up the process, but it was important to us to make an album that was true to us.
Joe Call -
The album was most certainly a premeditated thought process in terms of the overall concept of the story. A lot of the details within each song happened organically while in the studio, which always adds to the overall studio magic. We like to consider ourselves deep thinkers and feel that the album, songs, story, and artwork are a great testament to that thought.
SmartGirl: Did you always know that you were going to be musicians? When did you realize that this was really something you were going to do and be as professionals?
Pictures of Then:
Casey Call -
Not sure I can speak for the rest of the band but as a fetus I really only dreamed of being a little baby boy. Once I achieved boyhood I don't think I ever really had the conscious thought of "and now I decide to become a musician." I come from a very musical family so I've just always been surrounded by music and I simply joined in and did what came naturally.
Tim Greenwood -
Age 11, I had taken piano lessons when i was 7 and quit 2 years later... I hated it, and then I heard ben folds five, the melding of melody, rage, soul, pain, and hope... i was changed.
Joe Call - teen years (13ish) when I learned my first guitar chords, dad and grandpa were both drummers too
SmartGirl: A lot of people think that being a musician is glamorous and lots of fun. We're sure it is, but do you have any advice for aspiring musicians, or words of wisdom? If you could do it again, is there anything that you would do differently?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble -
I'm sure we've made plenty of mistakes, I know I have. But that's what helps you grow as a musician. It would be easy to want to go back and fix all the mishaps and blunders, but if we did that, we wouldn't have learned anything from those experiences. One mistake that sticks out in my mind is when we were touring through Texas (which is a long way from Minneapolis) and I had left the band checkbook on top of the van when filling up gas. We didn't notice until we were hundreds of miles down the road, and by that time the checkbook was long gone! It was bad...I mean it had EVERYTHING in there...credit cards, debit cards, and cash. The good news is that when we returned home to Minneapolis, a Texas farmer had contacted our manager and returned the checkbook. Wow did we get lucky, nothing was missing!
Joe Call -
Being a musician is fun and can be very glamorous at times, but there is equally as much hard work involved. Today the music scene is more diverse and competitive than it's ever been, so it's essential to be extremely driven and never give up. There are also many unseen elements to being a successful musician, we are always trying to remember that you're only as good as the team you have around you. Having people around you that are just as excited and focused as you are is a great recipe for success!
SmartGirl: Where do you want to go next? What's on the horizon? It doesn't have to be music-related, unless it is.
Pictures of Then:
Casey Call -
I was sort of thinking of going to Urban Outfitters next, (jeans are way on sale). On a more serious note though, I also need new socks.
Joe Gamble -
Things are really going great for us right now, and the future looks exciting. We're just getting ready to release our new record, and we're looking forward to touring behind it. You never really know what is on the horizon, but that's what makes being a musician so exciting. Things move fast, 2 years ago I would never believe that we would be touring the United States and have songs on MTV. We're just going to go out there and keep having fun. Don't get me wrong, we have some specific goals we're working towards, but most importantly, we need to stay true to the music. If we keep having fun and enjoy what we're doing, we can keep writing more songs, we can play more shows, and meet more people. Playing in a band is the greatest job in the world, and it we're looking forward to doing it a long, long time.
SmartGirl: Tell us a little bit about yourselves as individuals and as a band. Is it hard to work together? Why should we love you? And which band member should be our favorite?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Call -
My passion for music began at an early age and never let go of me. My brother (Casey - vocal/guitar) and I have been crafting songs since we were in middle school. When we collaborate to create new music, many times it's effortless and the ideas come very easily. At other times song writing can be more of a struggle and conflict (brotherly or not) can always arise. We've learned that through any circumstance keeping the focus on the song and the music will always get you through the conflicts.
Casey Call -
We all love long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners and quiet evenings by the fire, did I say fire? I totally meant x-box. Sometimes working together can be difficult since Joe (the drummer) and I are brothers and we're both way too competitive, at the end of the day though we are usually able to put aside our differences and do what is best for the music, that seems to be the one thing that we never lose sight of no matter how much drama is going on.
Who should be your favorite? Hmmm... Well, I could sit here and tell you how I'm the dashingly handsome lead singer with the golden voice and smashing guitar skills, but unfortunately I'm much too humble for that. I do believe that to say those types of things about myself in an effort to boost my ego would exhibit a shameful level of self serving immaturity that you would normally only expect to find in a drummer, with that said I should totally be your favorite.
SmartGirl: Thanks for the interview! If you want to listen to Pictures of Then for yourself, visit their official website.
Share
Pictures of Then
The Wicked Sea
Pictures of Then has a familiar sound, like a band you've heard of before, but you can't place your finger on it. It sounds like something you've listened to before, even if it's your first time. Don't take this the wrong way; it's just that the music is so easy to get into, you're singing along before the the first song is even over.
Of course, they make it easy on you. The rhyming is straightforward, the pitch doesn't jump around between 12 octaves, and the chorus will come back for quite a few spins. The singer enunciates well, so you won't have to look up the lyrics on the internet. If you want to learn how to play a song on the guitar, this is your album. If you want to teach yourself how to harmonize, this is your album. You'll have all the words memorized your third time around. Along with the easy, persistent beat, this is an excellent album to keep within easy reach of the stereo in your car. The sound is just right for windows down, tapping the steering wheel, singing along, and taking it easy in traffic. Put it on repeat, because the tracks loop well, and stop shuffling through your music collection while trying to drive with your knees!
Better yet, it might give you something to think about. The album tells a story from beginning to end, starting out with a lot of rebellious energy, taking it down for some introspection in the middle, and a reassertion of self and experimentation toward the end. The lyrics are simple but honest, and they're about things that everyone can relate to: feeling suffocated and wanting to get out on your own, recognizing that your first love isn't perfect but being afraid to lose it anyway, wanting to make your own mistakes, and wanting people to take responsibility for their actions. It's a growing up point of view, starting to letting go of the innocence of youth, recognizing the shades of gray between black and white, but not sure if you're ready for all the compexity. It's being bored with the suburbs, but scared that the alternative is even worse.
My favorite songs were "Stuck," "7th Street," and "Questions, Anyone?" which came at the middle and toward the end, where the style tends toward folksy, they add more instruments, and the pacing mixes up within a song. The front of the album is a bit more traditonal and generally accessible, and it's stronger on the drums.
Overall, we got the feeling over and over again while listening to Pictures of Then's The Wicked Sea that this music would be the best live. Imagine the fans, all singing along; imagine the energy on the stage; imagine the beat, and being free to move your whole body to the music. Awesome!
Exclusive Interview with Pictures of Then!
SmartGirl was lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with the band. They answerd 10 of our burning questions, and without further ado, here they are:
SmartGirl: Many of our readers aspire to be musicians, but don't really know how to get started. How did Pictures of Then get off the ground?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble -
Pictures of Then started between close friends. Casey (singer and guitar player) and Joe Call (Drummer) are brothers, and I lived in the same small town as them growing up. We would always get together and jam, most of the time in a small garage or in a basement. Because we grew up together, we understood each other and were able talk openly about music. As time passed, we realized that we had something really special, so we decided to move to Minneapolis, MN and start the band. Once we moved to the city, we found our keyboard player (Tim) who brought a whole new dimension to our sound.
The key to starting a band (as well as staying together) is to be honest with each other, and to be comfortable being yourself around the other band members. No one in our band is more important than any other member, and that keeps us all close. It's ok to have arguments, but remember to respect each other...when you tour, these are the people you will be spending weeks at a time with.
SmartGirl: The lyrics are easy to relate to -- a lot about realizing that life is a little harder than it used to seem, and figuring out how to deal with that: ignoring the bad stuff (nowhere together is better than somewhere alone), running away until there's no more gas left, just plain sinking or swimming. How did these lyrics come about? Can you tell us how the inspiration made it into a song?
Pictures of Then:
Casey Call - It's really pretty simple, we mainly just write about what we know, or things that have happened in our lives, both good and bad. For me music has always been a way of celebrating the good and coping with the bad. I think that is why listeners can more easily relate to our lyrics because a lot of them stem from real human emotions, hopes, fears and experiences that many of us have had at one time or another. Many times music becomes vehicle for us to put a finger on certain things in life that just piss us off, there is so much beauty in life but sometimes you just have to wade through the ugly to be able to see it.
Tim Greenwood - the funniest part of music is reading into lyrics or getting moved by a melody and making it your own. Our music is really powerful to us personally, but we want it to mean something to other people, and it doesn't have to all be the same.
SmartGirl: Personally, we really like the 2nd half of the album best. We like the changes of pace, the different instrumental sounds, and the added grit to the vocals. What were your favorite parts of the album or even individual songs, and why? Was there anything left out that you were sorry to see go?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Call -
Personally I don't have a favorite song, I enjoy the album as a whole. While in the studio there are always songs or parts that are left out and don't make it onto the final version of the album. With any artwork what you see or hear can be just as important as what you DON"T see or hear.
SmartGirl: After listening to your album, we're pretty sure that seeing Pictures of Then live would be an experience not to be missed. Can you tell us what a live show is like? Does the crowd get involved? Do you have any good stories from a live performance?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble -
Live shows are the best! There's nothing better than connecting with a room full of fans, where everyone is having fun and expressing themselves. When we play a live show, we bring an energy that not all bands are able to bring. I think it's because we genuinely want to play music, and we all enjoy playing together. If you really enjoy what you're doing, people will notice and want to be involved.
Things don't always run smoothly though. I remember one time we were playing for a huge crowd in Tulsa, OK. We were standing on stage behind a giant curtain, and the announcer was on stage introducing us. He was just finishing up the introduction and I noticed my guitar wasn't making any noise! I scrambled around, checking the connections to all my guitar pedals, making sure the amplifier was on and turned up, and making sure my guitar was turned up. I didn't know what to do! Right as the curtain swung open, our bass played spotted that my guitar cable wasn't plugged into my guitar...I felt like such an idiot! I quickly plugged in and right as the curtain opened was able to start the show. That was a nail-biter!
Joe Call -
Describing a live Pictures Of Then show with only words, is like comparing pudding to an ice cream sundae, the ice cream is just way better! You will have to hear it for yourself, but take my word for it when I say it's alive, exciting, full of energy, and a deeply artistic expression of us portrayed through the music.
SmartGirl: Aside from the lyrics, we think that the instrumentals do a great job setting the mood for each song. There is a definite rise and fall to the entire album, like a story, and then the intro forms the perfect connecting loop to jump back in again. Did you premeditate the full-circle story of the album, or was that just a happy accident?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble - What makes this album so much different from our first album is how much room we gave ourselves to explore. A lot of the songs on the album sounded drastically different before we recorded them. I think it's important to keep an open mind when writing, and to be open to change. What's great about the intro and the outro is that we had no intention of putting it on the album. As a matter of fact, we didn't even write the intro/outro until the album was finished. We had the idea and started working out the concept, and when we were done, we knew we had to add it to the album. Sure it took extra time and held up the process, but it was important to us to make an album that was true to us.
Joe Call -
The album was most certainly a premeditated thought process in terms of the overall concept of the story. A lot of the details within each song happened organically while in the studio, which always adds to the overall studio magic. We like to consider ourselves deep thinkers and feel that the album, songs, story, and artwork are a great testament to that thought.
SmartGirl: Did you always know that you were going to be musicians? When did you realize that this was really something you were going to do and be as professionals?
Pictures of Then:
Casey Call -
Not sure I can speak for the rest of the band but as a fetus I really only dreamed of being a little baby boy. Once I achieved boyhood I don't think I ever really had the conscious thought of "and now I decide to become a musician." I come from a very musical family so I've just always been surrounded by music and I simply joined in and did what came naturally.
Tim Greenwood -
Age 11, I had taken piano lessons when i was 7 and quit 2 years later... I hated it, and then I heard ben folds five, the melding of melody, rage, soul, pain, and hope... i was changed.
Joe Call - teen years (13ish) when I learned my first guitar chords, dad and grandpa were both drummers too
SmartGirl: A lot of people think that being a musician is glamorous and lots of fun. We're sure it is, but do you have any advice for aspiring musicians, or words of wisdom? If you could do it again, is there anything that you would do differently?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Gamble -
I'm sure we've made plenty of mistakes, I know I have. But that's what helps you grow as a musician. It would be easy to want to go back and fix all the mishaps and blunders, but if we did that, we wouldn't have learned anything from those experiences. One mistake that sticks out in my mind is when we were touring through Texas (which is a long way from Minneapolis) and I had left the band checkbook on top of the van when filling up gas. We didn't notice until we were hundreds of miles down the road, and by that time the checkbook was long gone! It was bad...I mean it had EVERYTHING in there...credit cards, debit cards, and cash. The good news is that when we returned home to Minneapolis, a Texas farmer had contacted our manager and returned the checkbook. Wow did we get lucky, nothing was missing!
Joe Call -
Being a musician is fun and can be very glamorous at times, but there is equally as much hard work involved. Today the music scene is more diverse and competitive than it's ever been, so it's essential to be extremely driven and never give up. There are also many unseen elements to being a successful musician, we are always trying to remember that you're only as good as the team you have around you. Having people around you that are just as excited and focused as you are is a great recipe for success!
SmartGirl: Where do you want to go next? What's on the horizon? It doesn't have to be music-related, unless it is.
Pictures of Then:
Casey Call -
I was sort of thinking of going to Urban Outfitters next, (jeans are way on sale). On a more serious note though, I also need new socks.
Joe Gamble -
Things are really going great for us right now, and the future looks exciting. We're just getting ready to release our new record, and we're looking forward to touring behind it. You never really know what is on the horizon, but that's what makes being a musician so exciting. Things move fast, 2 years ago I would never believe that we would be touring the United States and have songs on MTV. We're just going to go out there and keep having fun. Don't get me wrong, we have some specific goals we're working towards, but most importantly, we need to stay true to the music. If we keep having fun and enjoy what we're doing, we can keep writing more songs, we can play more shows, and meet more people. Playing in a band is the greatest job in the world, and it we're looking forward to doing it a long, long time.
SmartGirl: Tell us a little bit about yourselves as individuals and as a band. Is it hard to work together? Why should we love you? And which band member should be our favorite?
Pictures of Then:
Joe Call -
My passion for music began at an early age and never let go of me. My brother (Casey - vocal/guitar) and I have been crafting songs since we were in middle school. When we collaborate to create new music, many times it's effortless and the ideas come very easily. At other times song writing can be more of a struggle and conflict (brotherly or not) can always arise. We've learned that through any circumstance keeping the focus on the song and the music will always get you through the conflicts.
Casey Call -
We all love long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners and quiet evenings by the fire, did I say fire? I totally meant x-box. Sometimes working together can be difficult since Joe (the drummer) and I are brothers and we're both way too competitive, at the end of the day though we are usually able to put aside our differences and do what is best for the music, that seems to be the one thing that we never lose sight of no matter how much drama is going on.
Who should be your favorite? Hmmm... Well, I could sit here and tell you how I'm the dashingly handsome lead singer with the golden voice and smashing guitar skills, but unfortunately I'm much too humble for that. I do believe that to say those types of things about myself in an effort to boost my ego would exhibit a shameful level of self serving immaturity that you would normally only expect to find in a drummer, with that said I should totally be your favorite.
SmartGirl: Thanks for the interview! If you want to listen to Pictures of Then for yourself, visit their official website.
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Pictures of Then review on JERSEY BEAT
Read jersey beat review here
Pictures of Then - And the Wicked Sea (Picturesofthen.com)
Pictures of Then didn’t throw away any of their vinyl records, epically their Manfred Mann, The Small Faces, and 60’s British Invasion records. Armed with those pop rock nuggets, they shake the tree and plant some of their own musical roots on “And the Wicked Sea.” Well developed songs like “The Big Sell,” “Lands Uncharted, and especially “Nowhere is Somewhere,” (I dare you not to sing along with the catchy chorus), barely break a sweat, as the poetic, unpretentious lyrics offer thoughtful perspectives without losing their rock ‘n’ roll vibe.
The band never succumbs to blandness, nor do they spread any clichéd writing around. You want to hear what the next song is about, and the next, and the next…
Featuring slippery bass chords, melodic vocals, strumming guitars, and on-the-beat drumming, Pictures of Then make their mark by ingeniously adding and subtracting whatever they think it will take to make a good song, and they’re usually right. Sometimes it’s just the bass, simple drumming, and frugal bits of guitar, over a quiet vocal that are propelled by the rest of the band’s musical lustfulness.
Unlike some albums that end up labored and dull, “And the Wicked Sea” has an emotional drive that never prods along. 12 sturdy songs that hold up, and have plenty of personality!
BENJAMIN BEAR in PERFORMER MAGAZINE
Benjamin Bear
Lungs
Seattle, WA
Recorded and mixed by Mychal Cohen | Produced
by Benjamin Bear | Unmastered
The relationship between Benjamin Bear’s drummer Stern and
pianist/vocalist Cohen creates the atmosphere for the oddly
titled Lungs in which song titles seem to inhabit
the air like smog floating above a background of
uncomplicated music. The voice of the narrator
does not always stay on pitch, but that drives the
curiosity and desire to interpret the lyrics.
To say this release grabs attention would be
untrue. The record sort of pushes the listener away
like a whiny girlfriend who demands too much, but
if enough attention is paid the vocals mellow out
and the lyrics remain to grind against the brain.
At first listen, songs like “Russ” may turn people
away, but by the time the mellow “Station Rest
Release” starts, a peak hits and listeners will
either continue the journey or get off the ride.
Whining vocals turn into a kind of yearning
feeling expressed through lines like, “All I wanted
was love from you”; a simple, almost trite,
supplication that has no choice but to hit home
with a wide audience. The prose in the lyrics calls
for the most attention if the listener delves
deeper into the psyche of the songwriter.
Experience Lungs as an attempt to connect to those
communicating with their inner most demons and
fears, which may just be universal. The unleashing
of air from lungs may connect the passion of a duo
dreaming in real time. (self-released)
-Ellen Eldridge
myspace.com/benjaminbearmusic
Lungs
Seattle, WA
Recorded and mixed by Mychal Cohen | Produced
by Benjamin Bear | Unmastered
The relationship between Benjamin Bear’s drummer Stern and
pianist/vocalist Cohen creates the atmosphere for the oddly
titled Lungs in which song titles seem to inhabit
the air like smog floating above a background of
uncomplicated music. The voice of the narrator
does not always stay on pitch, but that drives the
curiosity and desire to interpret the lyrics.
To say this release grabs attention would be
untrue. The record sort of pushes the listener away
like a whiny girlfriend who demands too much, but
if enough attention is paid the vocals mellow out
and the lyrics remain to grind against the brain.
At first listen, songs like “Russ” may turn people
away, but by the time the mellow “Station Rest
Release” starts, a peak hits and listeners will
either continue the journey or get off the ride.
Whining vocals turn into a kind of yearning
feeling expressed through lines like, “All I wanted
was love from you”; a simple, almost trite,
supplication that has no choice but to hit home
with a wide audience. The prose in the lyrics calls
for the most attention if the listener delves
deeper into the psyche of the songwriter.
Experience Lungs as an attempt to connect to those
communicating with their inner most demons and
fears, which may just be universal. The unleashing
of air from lungs may connect the passion of a duo
dreaming in real time. (self-released)
-Ellen Eldridge
myspace.com/benjaminbearmusic
Friday, July 10, 2009
Imagine Echoes review of No Go Know
Thursday, July 02, 2009
No Go Know: Time Has Nothing to Do With It Review
read here
"Pretentious" is a term that cynical rock critics love to use, and it was a term that plagued Progressive Rock. Bands that were tagged as being "pretentious" were more often than not just releasing music that was bigger and more complex than what the typical rock audience was accustomed to hearing, and quite often, simply better. However, releasing double albums is also an excuse for critics to call a band pretentious, and while I won’t go as far as to say that double albums themselves are pretentious, it is a little too much material for a listener to digest. It has always been a mystery to me as to why a band would release a double album - take the best songs from each disc and make one masterful album instead of creating some bloated album that has listeners falling asleep by the second disc. If it’s a rock opera, release it as two separate entities - System of a Down’s approach to releasing what was technically a double album, although not a rock opera, and turning it into two separate releases was fantastic because it allowed listeners to absorb all of the material. No Go Know decided to take the bombastic route, and released a double album that is mixed with subherb highs, and the occasional lows.
No Go Know puts together an album that predominantly purveys indie sensibilities but are never afraid to go outside the boundaries and mix in a myriad of hard rock jam sessions doused in fuzzed out psychedelia. It’s during these rocking climaxes where No Go Know truly shines. On "End of a Stay"- a rather violent and sadistic tale, No Go Know closes the song down with primal wailing vocals, drama educing guitars, and pounding drums, all of which arrives after a rather mellow, yet emotionally powerful introduction. As the album moves along into the second disc, it feels a little bogged down and all of the music starts to feel more and more like a blur, and much of this is due to the excessive amount of material on the album.
Periphrasis is a tell tale sign of poor writing (for more signs of poor writing just read my blog) which seeks to achieve greater volume at the expense of quality. If you can release a single disc with the strongest material rather than two discs which cover both highs and lows, then the obvious choice is to go for the single disc. There's nothing wrong with brevity. No Go Know’s best moments shine brightly; condense this album and you would have one of the better albums of 2009.
Grade: B
No Go Know: Time Has Nothing to Do With It Review
read here
"Pretentious" is a term that cynical rock critics love to use, and it was a term that plagued Progressive Rock. Bands that were tagged as being "pretentious" were more often than not just releasing music that was bigger and more complex than what the typical rock audience was accustomed to hearing, and quite often, simply better. However, releasing double albums is also an excuse for critics to call a band pretentious, and while I won’t go as far as to say that double albums themselves are pretentious, it is a little too much material for a listener to digest. It has always been a mystery to me as to why a band would release a double album - take the best songs from each disc and make one masterful album instead of creating some bloated album that has listeners falling asleep by the second disc. If it’s a rock opera, release it as two separate entities - System of a Down’s approach to releasing what was technically a double album, although not a rock opera, and turning it into two separate releases was fantastic because it allowed listeners to absorb all of the material. No Go Know decided to take the bombastic route, and released a double album that is mixed with subherb highs, and the occasional lows.
No Go Know puts together an album that predominantly purveys indie sensibilities but are never afraid to go outside the boundaries and mix in a myriad of hard rock jam sessions doused in fuzzed out psychedelia. It’s during these rocking climaxes where No Go Know truly shines. On "End of a Stay"- a rather violent and sadistic tale, No Go Know closes the song down with primal wailing vocals, drama educing guitars, and pounding drums, all of which arrives after a rather mellow, yet emotionally powerful introduction. As the album moves along into the second disc, it feels a little bogged down and all of the music starts to feel more and more like a blur, and much of this is due to the excessive amount of material on the album.
Periphrasis is a tell tale sign of poor writing (for more signs of poor writing just read my blog) which seeks to achieve greater volume at the expense of quality. If you can release a single disc with the strongest material rather than two discs which cover both highs and lows, then the obvious choice is to go for the single disc. There's nothing wrong with brevity. No Go Know’s best moments shine brightly; condense this album and you would have one of the better albums of 2009.
Grade: B
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Review of NO GO KNOW on GASPETC
Read GASPETC here
NO GO KNOW
Time Has Nothing To Do With It
The Union
One can not live on metal music alone. Right? Well, I guess that is what I listen to mostly now, but every once in a while I need a break from it. I frequently listen to Rush during these times (as they are still my favorite band), but every once in a while I'll get something from a band I'd never heard of before that I just flat out like the first time I hear it. No Go Know's soon to be released Time Has Nothing to do With It is one such release. This is the Portland, Oregon trio's third release, and the two-disc set combined poppy progressive rock with a bit of an aggressive edge, and even throws in some psychedelic spaciness at times.
Highlights on this disc are many, but "My Black Dog" grabs you right from the start with a throbbing bass groove and jangly guitar parts that hit a crescendo at the end with some crazy over the top guitar work. "Yours is a Small, Still Voice" has a bit of a Talking Heads vibe to it at times, and the middle half trips out into a spaced out bit for a while that I like a lot. "End of a Stay" is a mellow psychedelic trip from start to finish, and might be my favorite song on here - I can just put it on, crank it up and space out for 7-minutes if I need to. "Is It Getting Better?" throws even more out there at you, this time using a lap steel guitar (or at least something that sounds like it) that gives a bit of a country feel to the song - a really good and unexpected change there. "No, We Won't" probably goes as close to the metal side as this album gets, and that is just for a little segment in the middle when the song briefly builds up to a strongly distorted guitar part.
This album won't likely appeal to the majority of our readers, but if you have an open mind and want something that is simply good to listen to, and need a break from the brutal metal for a bit, this will fit the bill nicely.
B+ -Goz
NO GO KNOW
Time Has Nothing To Do With It
The Union
One can not live on metal music alone. Right? Well, I guess that is what I listen to mostly now, but every once in a while I need a break from it. I frequently listen to Rush during these times (as they are still my favorite band), but every once in a while I'll get something from a band I'd never heard of before that I just flat out like the first time I hear it. No Go Know's soon to be released Time Has Nothing to do With It is one such release. This is the Portland, Oregon trio's third release, and the two-disc set combined poppy progressive rock with a bit of an aggressive edge, and even throws in some psychedelic spaciness at times.
Highlights on this disc are many, but "My Black Dog" grabs you right from the start with a throbbing bass groove and jangly guitar parts that hit a crescendo at the end with some crazy over the top guitar work. "Yours is a Small, Still Voice" has a bit of a Talking Heads vibe to it at times, and the middle half trips out into a spaced out bit for a while that I like a lot. "End of a Stay" is a mellow psychedelic trip from start to finish, and might be my favorite song on here - I can just put it on, crank it up and space out for 7-minutes if I need to. "Is It Getting Better?" throws even more out there at you, this time using a lap steel guitar (or at least something that sounds like it) that gives a bit of a country feel to the song - a really good and unexpected change there. "No, We Won't" probably goes as close to the metal side as this album gets, and that is just for a little segment in the middle when the song briefly builds up to a strongly distorted guitar part.
This album won't likely appeal to the majority of our readers, but if you have an open mind and want something that is simply good to listen to, and need a break from the brutal metal for a bit, this will fit the bill nicely.
B+ -Goz
Caravan of Thieves review on SKYSCRAPER Magazine
Read the review here on SKYSCRAPER
CARAVAN OF THIEVES
Bouquet CD - Caravan of Thieves
On debut album Bouquet, acoustic swing quartet Caravan of Thieves perform a brew of up-tempo, gypsy-styled folk-pop that has a pendulant charm akin to Squirrel Nut Zippers mixing it up with DeVotchKa. Underneath the amiable double harmonies, gypsy violin, acoustic guitar strums, and plucky double bass, however, is a somber world filled with femmes fatales, carnival freaks, spouses with secret homosexual trysts, insanity masquerading as vampirism, murder at sea, and other dark anecdotes. Hubby and wife James and Carrie Sangiovanni have obviously dove deep into Django Reinhardt's swing jazz, European string bands, and bright pop music, and instrumentally the result is compelling and colorful. One of many sunlight-and-shadow highlights includes the noir-ish predator narrative "The Butcher's Wife," with the apt warning, "If you care not to tango with a knife / Then don't get friendly with the butcher's wife." Another memorable tale is the cheater's double-take "Bar Isole," where the narrator discovers what (and who) her husband does during his nightly walk: the surprise answer involves the male bartender the wife is attracted to. There's even a timely allegory, "Angels In Cages," where the entertaining pigs and diversionary clowns that are in charge allude to contemporary Madoff-esque current events. (Doug Simpson)
caravanofthieves.com
The South End (wayne state univ) previews Caravan of Thieves
Read article here
Caravan of Thieves kicks off Midsummer Nights in Midtown
Nicole Hayden
For The South End
Updated: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thursday, June 4, was the start of Midsummer Nights in Midtown—an arts and cultural event which is taking the place of the Detroit Festival of the Arts this year.
Various free programs will be taking place throughout midtown every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday all through the month of June.
The gypsy flavored group called Caravan of Thieves was one of the first acts to start off the night at the Detroit Artists Market.
They opened with a song titled “Ghost Writer,” which was written and dedicated to a spirit they call during their séances to gather inspiration for their music.
The song had a lively, upbeat acoustic sound that captivated the audience. The themes of their songs were not run-of-the-mill topics.
The theme of one song was the letter “S.” This song included many words and sounds related to that particular letter. A second song, with a childish topic, was about a boy who turned into a bug.
Another song, titled, “The Butcher’s Wife” included great words of wisdom advising men not to fool around with other men’s wives, and especially men who are skilled at using sharp objects.
They also did a few covers, like Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Girl,” by the Beatles, the greatest band ever in their opinion.
For each cover, they managed to make the song their own, and they did it “caravan” style, making the sound deeper with a gypsy flair.
They also sang an interesting version of “You are my sunshine,” that transitioned into “Singing in the rain.”
Through every song they performed, their love for the art beamed through, which made what they were doing so much more sincere. Their vocals had a pure, natural sound, and Carrie, the female vocalist of the group, had a mesmerizing, enchanting voice that hypnotized the audience.
The band consisted of husband and wife— Mr. Fuzz and Carrie on acoustic guitar and vocals, Ben Dean on violin, and Brian Anderson on the contrabass.
Their sources of sound did not stop there though. They clapped their hands, stomped their feet and utilized metal kitchen accessories like soup cans and measuring cups to create a unique sound.
They ended their performance with a bang by singing a song they wrote titled and dedicated to all “Freaks.” It was fast paced with harmonized vocals, as most of their songs were.
It included a couple contrabass solos and a great heart pounding, low pitched beat that made you feel alive.
For all who missed this amazing performance or for any who just didn’t get enough they will be back in August of this year and have also released a new album titled “Bouquet.”
Sequenza 21 review of MOTORIK "KLANG!"
Sequenza 21 read here
Klang!
Self-released
A trio of Seattle self-starters, Motorik creates boisterous songs that combine art rock with dance-punk. Theirs is an incendiary rhythmic approach, featuring cannonading percussion, syncing downbeat ‘thwacks’ with bass guitar punctuations, and retro New Wave-style guitar riffs. Meanwhile, bassist Sio also supplies hearty vocals, indulging the occasional wail amid staccato outbursts.
“Utopia Parkway” is a standout; Motorik creates a mathy groove with danceability at its core – despite multiple layers of simultaneous activity. As a title,“Box of Knives” has an attitudinal snarl to it. But musically, it’s much more than just ‘tude; a combination of sharpened guitar ostinati, tight-knit rhythmic underpinning, and a bellicose post-punk refrain makes for a substantial lead-off single.
True, the band gets a bit giddy on “Robert Palmer;” but one can forgive a few over-the-top synth flourishes and yelps in service of such exuberant rocking! Indeed, just when you think that the songs have hit a predictable stride, “It’s Just Sugar” throws a few off-kilter bass-lines, unexpected keyboard harmonies, and a noise-based guitar break into the mix – all reminders that Motorik is a band capable of providing pleasant surprises.
THe BAcksliders covered in California Chronicle
Read whole story here on California Chronicle "If you're interested in checking out Dallas alt-country act the Backsliders, they've made it easy: The foursome has its latest record, Thank You, available as a free download on its Web site, www.thebacksliders.com. "
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