pick hit: strand of oaks
Wanted to throw a little light on a New Arrival that I think is particularly special: Strand of Oaks, Leave Ruin. Strand of Oaks is one guy — Timothy Showalter — who writes gorgeous, folky songs shot through with loss and longing. His voice is the very sound of heartbreak — and with good reason: six years ago, after a particularly bad breakup, Showalter’s house burned down, destroying everything he owned. The bulk of Leave Ruin was written on park benches, Showalter using music as therapy to piece his life back together.
There’s more to the story than that, and you can read about it in Melissa Maerz’s exceptional profile. If I could recommend just one song, it would be “Lawns Breed Songs,” a wrenching number in which Showalter describes a peacemaking phone call to his dad. I’m going to be so bold as to call Leave Ruin the first great record of 2009. Take a few minutes to see if you agree.
Awesome. Looking forward to giving it a listen…the Bon Iver similarities (in the story) are a tad ironic.
Yeah, the story is kinda similar, but musically they are a bit different. Tho I do think fans of Bon Iver will like this a lot.
“We have beaten the dogs of war/Found victory as we lay here on this floor.” Nice to wind up here. He’s engaged, living in a place he loves, loves his job, already at work on his next record, and can’t wait to tour. I’m not sure any of us get to have anything better out of this life. here.
In a way, though, it doesn’t matter. He could be making it all up, and he could be living in a mansion. Or he could be telling the truth and the record bites. Good for all of us, it’s a gem. I’ll throw in another vote for first great record of the year.
I scratch my chin as I recall that my vote for first great one of 2008 was Atlas Sound. Compare, contrast.
It’s totally beautiful but I’m so not in the mood for it now. I blame Nick Cave.
Although I will say this, I love the lyrics to Sister Evangeline!