Artist Of The Week - Anchor & Braille

It's been about three years since we've gotten an album from Anchor & Braille, the indie side project of Anberlin's Stephen Christian, but this week, on July 31st, the band's sophomore album will be released. The Quiet Life is a collection of haunting melodies and catchy percussion, certainly a maturation of sound since 2009's Felt. The Quiet Life is available now in stores and online through Tooth & Nail Records.

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Showing posts with label Slospeak Records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slospeak Records. Show all posts
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// By Unknown



One of our favorite labels, Slospeak Records, are currently giving away a summer sampler over at Noisetrade, featuring free songs from Blood & Water, Sons, Owen Pye, Pioneer, and Golden Youth. The sampler can be downloaded below or right here.

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Pioneer - Pioneer
// By xanatwo


Artist: Pioneer
Album: Pioneer
Release Date: January 24, 2012
Label: Slospeak Records

Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana the band formally known as News from Verona, but now known as Pioneer has come out with their debut album on Slospeak Records, fittingly enough the album is self-titled. This album is a combination of soft-rock, and pop-rock goodness. Pioneer raw, energetic, passionate, and refreshing.

Musically the band is a combination of pop-rock and what I would call Relient K rock. I have no other way to describe it but it's that kind of soft laid-back but incredibly energetic and passionate music. You can tell the band has poured everything they have into this album and from the first actual song "Lights" it's perfectly clear the band decided they were going to make a positive, and highly energetic album. The energy doesn't let up throughout the album, it's constant pop-rock toe taping goodness from beginning to end. There's a cool little guitar riff running throughout the song "Treason" which I completely dig, and it proves this guys know how to play their instruments and they're not one of those manufactured pop-rock bands. There's also some slower acoustic driven parts to this album, one example the incredibly moving and touching closing track "King in Rags" that song ends the album on such a high note, you're left wanting more. There's a very good introduction track, which I usually hate, called "Clarity" which is a very cool start to the album. The band is more-or-less divided between the high energy pop-rock and the more serious tracks by an instrumental track called "Mantua", I don't really see the purpose of the track, other than to virtually serve as an intermission to the two sections of the album.

Josh Randolph's voice reminds me of the original lead singer of The Wedding, which is good because the voice compliments the music pretty well. Josh does make some rookie mistakes which the pop-rock staple "whoas" here and there, but they honestly aren't noticed too much because of the lyrics he is singing. The album is about reaching past complacency in our relationship with Christ and our everyday sins and reaching out for something more in this life. This message is clearly stated in the song "Reach" where Josh sings "We were made to be failures from the start/That doesn't mean we don't reach for something more than we are."
There's nothing really special about Josh's voice, nothing that when you hear him sing you'll say "Oh that's Pioneer" but with the style of music the band is playing he doesn't need to have that super original standout voice. His voice is strong, and carries well in the high-tempo songs, and excels in the slower songs. He does possess a good range, and an overall good voice.

Overall: Pioneer is a young pop-rock band, there is room for improvement, but at the same time there are a lot of things that the band does right. The album is very solid, and does have some staying power. There are songs on this album, that I listen to on a daily basis, maybe not the whole album but how bands do that these days anyways. The band definitely shows a maturity in the music, their vocals (especially the slower songs), and their lyrics which I find refreshing and an overall good thing for the pop-rock genre. The band doesn't fall into too many of the pop-rock pigeonholes and have made a statement that the genre can be mature, and actually mean something and stand for something. I think the band and their label are a good fit for each other, and with Slospeak's interest in developing and growing their artist this album could just be a stepping stone to something even better in the future, only time will tell.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended Tracks: "Treason", "King in Rags", "Catharsis", and Long Way Home"

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:
1. Clarity
2. Lights
3. Treason
4. Dreams
5. Whatever it Takes
6. Mantua
7. Reaching
8. Long Way Home
9. Better Days
10. Catharsis
11. Coming of Age
12. King in Rags

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Sons to Release Keep Quiet on February 14th
// By Unknown



NASHVILLE, TN – January 23, 2012 – SONS (formerly Sons of God) just announced the February 14th release of their debut full length album titled Keep Quiet. The indie rock band posted the album trailer (seen below) to give fans a preview of the highly anticipated record.


After signing with Slospeak Records at the end of 2011, SONS started preparing for the album release and winter tour, which came to a close last weekend. “We met so many great people while on the road. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to see them singing along to songs from the EP (2010) and reacting so well to the new tracks,” says lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.


The twelve track record is filled with the raw emotion and passion the band is known for - in addition to a wide vocal range, impressive instrumentation and revealing yet relatable lyrics. A re-recorded version of “Doubt” is SONS’ first radio single and charted at #2 Most Added on the BDS Chart its first week out.


ABOUT SONS:
SONS is Aaron Newberry, Jacob Bundren and Ethan Kattau. Newberry began the project under the name Sons of God.  He released The Genesis Prologue EP in 2010. The three tracks met excellent acclaim –getting recognition on Relevant’s “The Drop,” HM Magazine, IndieVisionMusic and more. From there, the band began working on Keep Quiet, which drops on February 14th, 2012, altered the name to SONS and signed with Slospeak Records. For more information, log on to www.sonsofficial.com


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// By Unknown




SONS SIGNS TO SLOSPEAK RECORDS, RELEASES SINGLE, EMBARKS ON JANUARY TOUR 
                                                                                 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 2, 2012  -  Slospeak Records just announced the newest addition to their roster.  SONS (formerly Sons of God) signed to the indie label and immediately crafted a marketing plan for their upcoming full length release. In addition, the band will re-release “Doubt,” as its first radio single and tour the south to mid west states with sosaveme in January. "Doubt" is now on online to stream and download. The Nashville, TN based indie rock band is pleased to be share this news with both SONS and Slospeak fans.

" Slospeak is a perfect fit because it's like a small family,” says lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.“We're really happy to partner with them and go a slightly unconventional route. "Most of all, we can't wait to share our new music with the world, and the people who have patiently supported our band." shares lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.

SONS began the signing process after developing a friendship with Slospeak A&R Davy Baysinger, after meeting Newberry through mutual friends. The relationship grew, music shared and conversation increased. Soon enough, there was a deal on the table and a pen in the guys’ hands.

The band previously called the nonprofit music organization Come&Live! their home, and founder Chad Johnson is giving them a proud send off. "We are floored for where God is taking SONS and what He has in store for them. They have formed a strategic partnership with an exciting new music endeavor and we wish them the absolute best. We look forward to how God will continue to use us to pour in to SONS."

The band is looking forward to releasing their long-awaited full length album this year, along with multiple tours. With a new lineup, new music and a solid direction, SONS is slated to spend a large part of 2012 on the road.

Tour dates are as follows:
January 7 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Hebrews
January 8 - Sidney, OH @ Sidney First United Methodist Church
January 11 - Cary, NC @ Grace Church
January 12 - Cary, NC @ Colonial Baptist Church
January 13 - Greenville, SC @ The Channel
January 14 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theater
January 15 - Columbus, GA @ Collision Church
January 17 - Chattanooga, TN @ TBA
January 19 - Nashville, TN @TBA
January 20 - Evansville, IN @ The Hatch
January 21 - St. Louis, MO @ Melvin Theater

ABOUT SONS:
SONS is Aaron Newberry, Jacob Bundren and Ethan Kattau. Newberry began the project under the name Sons of God.  He released The Genesis Prologue EP in 2010. The three tracks met excellent acclaim –getting recognition on Relevant’s “The Drop,” HM Magazine, IndieVisionMusic and more. From there, the band worked on a full length record, to release in 2012, altered the name to SONS and signed with Slospeak Records. For more information, log on to www.sonsofficial.com .
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