Posts Tagged ‘Hard Love’

STRAND Of OAKS – ” Radio Kids ” (Solo Piano Version Live on The Current)

Posted: April 3, 2017 in MUSIC
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Strand Of Oaks’ Timothy Showalter performs a solo version of “Radio Kids” on the Steinway grand piano in the studios of The Current.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Tim Showalter of Strand of Oaks sat down at the piano in The Current studio. “It’s nice to switch it,” Showalter says. “It’s definitely something you need to learn over the course of writing a song; tricks don’t make a song. It still has to have some basis.”

In the Twin Cities for a show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, Showalter visited The Current studio for a solo-piano session hosted by Mary Lucia. “I’m not a trained pianist by any stretch of the imagination,” Showalter says about playing the songs on piano, “but I think the lyrics take on a whole new meaning.”

Strand of Oaks’s latest album, Hard Love, reflects Showalter’s life view. “I think life is totally capable of being ecstatically joy[ful] and sad at the same time,” he says. “That’s just how I approach loving other people and trying to love myself.”

Showalter says he’s doing his best to live in the present and to be sincere. “One thing I’m really happy about is I don’t have cynicism,” he says. “If I genuinely love something, I sing about it or feel it. … It’s such an important thing to remember as we continue to go through this life: Just because you feel like you’ve experienced a lot doesn’t mean there’s thousands and millions of new firsts you can have.”

STRAND of OAKS – ” Rest Of It “

Posted: January 19, 2017 in MUSIC
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I’m not sure anyone has ever more seamlessly gone from writing sparse folk songs to Springsteen-esque stadium rock anthems. I’m all-in for it this new album. Strand of Oaks Frontman Tim Showalter parties hard in the new music video for “Rest of It” above. This is a rocking second single from the band’s upcoming album, Hard Love.

Here is the backstory, courtesy of the band’s Facebook page:

“Rest of It” is the song for everyone who wanted to burn the party a little bit longer. Boogie through whatever is getting you down and just suck out every last drop. I’ve spent enough time talking about the “tough” parts of life, this song’s soul purpose is for us all to collectively rage. I spent a weekend freezing my ass off in Chicago, partying with the amazing Weird Life Films crew. However you find this song, just blast it, and I hope it makes you smile. Also, can we just talk about Jason Anderson shredding? That’s the first take people, it’s something to behold! peace – tim

Hard Love is scheduled to be released on February 17th, 2017 on Dead Oceans. Last month, the group shared the LP’s more downtempo first single, “Radio Kids.” check it out elsewhere.

“Rest Of It” from ‘Hard Love’ by Strand of Oaks, out February 17th on Dead Oceans

STRAND OF OAKS – ” Radio Kids “

Posted: December 1, 2016 in MUSIC
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Following on from the 2014 excellent album “Heal” , Strand of Oaks is set to release a new record “Hard Love” on 17th February 2017 on Dead Oceans. To say we’re fans of Timothy Showalter is an understatement . . Anyway, the new album kicks ass. Have a listen to the first single.

Tim had this to say, “Some records are built like monuments, set in stone,” says Showalter. “I want this record to be burned in effigy, in celebration of the limited time we have on this earth.”

Hard Love walks a tightrope of emotions — from rock ‘n’ roll abandon to harrowing self-reflection — and Showalter has lived every minute of it. From a life-changing psychedelic awakening at the Boogie Festival in Australia (“On The Hill“) to his own domestic troubles (“Hard Love”) and the near-death of his brother from cardiac arrest (“Taking Acid and Talking With My Brother“), Hard Love is a sledgehammer of a record rife with unrestrained sonic expression.

Written and conceptualized during Showalter’s post-tour break as he reveled in what he considered to be a life-changing experience, the initial sessions for Hard Love were scrapped. Showalter brought in producer Nicolas Vernhes to capture the loose, hedonistic vibe he was searching for. “In a time of calculation and overthinking, I wanted to bring back the raw, impulsive nature that is the DNA of so many records I love,” says Showalter, who draws from his love of Creation Records, Trojan dub tapes and Jane’s Addiction throughout the album’s nine tracks.

But that rocking intensity is tempered by the wounded ballad “Cry,” a sobering moment of clarity that serves as the emotional fulcrum of the record. It’s this strain of honesty and self-reflection that helps mark ‘Hard Love’ as the most fearless work of Showalter’s career .