On and Off
the Record
By Michel Cicero 05/03/2012
Tall Tales and the Silver Lining
Springles
At the premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in 1913, chaos erupted. The racy choreography, non-traditional complexity of the music and the misuse of the bassoon drove audience members into a frenzy. Near to 100 years later, Tall Tales and the Silver Lining’s Springles, with just three singles, is enough to drive anyone mad for the want of more. Fortunately, there are three other seasons’ worth of Tall Tales to enjoy. Produced by Seth Pettersen, the songs include “Good Time,” which demonstrates the dreamy, laid-back vocal attitude of Trevor Beld Jimenez; the whimsical and contemplative “Phantom Beard”; and “Till Summer Comes,” which dredges up the spirit of The Beach Boys’ “In My Room” while longing for an end to winter. This is the music of slow change, natural joy and summertime shenanigans.
— Chris O’Neal
Springles (with original art by Kyle Field), Winter Singles, Fall Singles and Summer Singles are available for download at www.talltalesandthesilverlining.bandcamp.com.
Far From Kansas
Rome Wasn’t Burned in a Day
Leave it to Buena High’s favorite librarian to come up with the cleverest title for a local record this year. Rome Wasn’t Burned in a Day is a swan song for the band, which, for years, has served as the vehicle for chief songwriter and singer J.D. Levin. Sadly, the band, which has been missing in action for the past few years, is officially calling it quits, and it’s a shame as the new record is by far their best, perfectly straddling the line between the indie power-pop of The Get Up Kids and the alternative country of early Wilco. Songs like “The Summer of ’96” and “28 Days Away” as well as “Lullaby,” the gorgeous duet with local singer Sarah Ashleigh, prove that Levin is one of the better lyricists in the area. One can only hope he carries on as a solo artist because these songs deserve to be heard live.
— Chris Jay
Available at Salzer’s Records and iTunes. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/FFKtheband and www.myspace.com/farfromkansas.
Todd Hannigan
Further Than the Bow
Submarine,” the opening track of Todd Hannigan’s Further Than the Bow, takes the listener down deep into the recesses and complexity of the coastal native’s knack for bringing forth the music of the sea. Hannigan’s guitar ebbs and flows on “Hearts Blue,” accentuating his unique amalgamated voice, sounding familiar and completely new, all the same. When the album suggests a Jose Gonzalez-esque guitar-forward narrative, the tide recedes revealing pianist Dave Palmer’s careful accompaniment and Amanda Landis’ haunting vocals on “End Game,” a slow crescendo of emotion breaking somewhat painfully, dredging up memories of lost moments while planting the seed of optimism. “I’ll keep on trying till my dyin’ days,” croons Hannigan, though he’s long past the point of trying. Further Than the Bow is a treasure found naturally as if uncovered by the slow erosion of the beach, as if it had been there all along.
— Chris O’Neal
Available on iTunes. Todd Hannigan will celebrate the release of Further Than the Bow at Zoey’s on Friday, May 18.
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