Posts Tagged ‘Snowdonia’

SURFER BLOOD – ” Snowdonia “

Posted: March 21, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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A darkness pervades John Paul Pitts’ lyrics on “Snowdonia”, the first Surfer Blood album since the death, by cancer, of guitarist Thomas Fekete, but the overall tenor is joyful. It’s a rebooted version of the band, with Pitts and original drummer Tyler Schwarz joined by guitarist Michael McCleary and bassist Lindsey Mills—the latter two the source of the breezy harmony vocals that sweetened the arrangements.

This is a zippy power-pop record, full of crunchy riffs and ringing leads, even as Pitts sings of mortality, aging and sacrifice. Pitts stretches out with multi part song structure on the title track and shifts “Instant Doppelgangers” into high gear with some judiciously placed distortion that hearkens back to 2010’s Astro Coast. But most of Snowdonia is immediate and direct, as bright and sharply defined as the weather in the band’s native Florida. At times reminiscent of the Lilys’ Better Can’t Make Your Life Better, Snowdonia works within formulas, but it does so with aplomb.

We are very excited to announce our new album ‘Snowdonia’ will be released February 3rd on Joyful Noise Recordings!

The new album. Out 2/3/17

SURFER BLOOD – ” Six Flags In F Or G “

Posted: February 10, 2017 in MUSIC
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Snowdonia’s rubbery lead single, “Six Flags in F or G.” “I really wanted to contrast one part that was sort of dark and sort of anxious, and kind of feels like a march, maybe a polka even,” Pitts says. “There is something that’s so rigid and … a part that’s really loose and free and American (he laughs), with the wah pedal guitar solo. I was listening to a lot of the Breeders for the second part — specifically a Breeders song called ‘Divine Hammer’ which I may or may not have ripped off a little bit.”

When Surfer Blood came on the scene with 2010’s Astro Coast, they wore their ’90s alternative fan badges with no shame. Those mighty detuned guitars have evolved on this fourth outing into multiple-act epics, reflections on aging and tweaking of common instruments like organs through vintage speakers to birth a new whole species of indie rock. And if Pitts has learned anything over his seven years in the spotlight, it’s to let go and trust his gut.

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From the album ‘Snowdonia’, available here: joyfulnoi.se/SurferBloodSnowdonia

 

SURFER BLOOD – ” Matter Of Time “

Posted: February 2, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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“I feel like this is the first record where I’ve actually been willing to talk about the lyrics and songs and where they come from. Honestly, I’m a pretty reserved person and pretty gun-shy about sharing my work with people,” quoted Surfer Blood’s John Paul Pitts . He’s reflecting on new album “Snowdonia”  to be released February. 3rd on Joyful Noise, Its the band’s fourth full-length and first in a new era for the Florida foursome. Its eight jagged, adventurous songs embrace experimentation while bidding a reverent farewell to founding guitarist Thomas Fekete, who died in 2016 after battling cancer.
Pitts has dared to post Snowdonia’s lyrics on Surfer Blood’s website, peeling back the layers of the glass onion of his creativity.

In past releases, he played his cards close to his chest, especially since his 2012 arrest on suspicion of domestic battery against his then-girlfriend. The charges were dropped once he completed an anger management program. The experience led to the vague 2013 album “Pythons”, which critics and even some fans held at arms’ length — for its possible references to the arrest and because it was seen as a sellout move when they signed to Warner Bros. Two LPs later,
“What can I say? 2016 was a pretty awful year. It started with my mom getting cancer, and somewhere in the middle, Thomas passed. Then we had the election,” he laments while discussing “Carrier Pigeon,” the album’s Monkees-meets-Wilco closer. But then he perks up. “My mom’s doing a lot better now. I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with her. It seems like things are really looking up for her. But it was really scary when I first heard that news.”

When Surfer Blood came on the scene with 2010’s Astro Coast, they wore their ’90s alternative fan badges with no shame. Those mighty detuned guitars have evolved on this fourth outing into multiple-act epics, reflections on aging and tweaking of common instruments like organs through vintage speakers to birth a new whole species of indie rock.
Snowdonia is Pitts shedding his skin. The remnants of Astro Coast, Pythons and 1000 Palms are still there. Fekete’s memory is still there. The major-label trials and the tribulations with former lovers are still there. But there’s a new freedom and more agility to this version of Surfer Blood.