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notes from cdbaby
"...purely American folk-pop kind of of concoction, tough and sensitive, tasteful and inventive, channeling a softer Jeff Buckley or a stripped-down, entirely unpretentious Wilco." -John Meyer, WERS
AM's debut album "Troubled Times" made the year end "Best Of" lists including "Best Singer/Songwriter of the Year" LA Weekly Music Awards and iTunes "Best Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year". With all 10 songs placed in movies and television shows including HBOs "Big Love", ABC's "Men In Trees", and MTV's "Real World", 35 song placements to date caught the attention of critics and fans alike. Now, AM has finished his second album "Soul Variations" and it is on CDbaby before the music hits record stores in the Fall of 2007.
AM will headline DFEST in Tulsa Oklahoma on July 27 and 28, 2007 with other great acts such as The Flaming Lips and Shiny Toy Guns....
In his own words AM describes “Soul Variations”:
“’Soul Variations' has more of a political edge. Does anyone care what is going on in the world right now? But like many of my songs I don't think it has to be restricted to that. I try to write songs that can be applied to different situations so the listener can be free to interpret the songs and not be restricted by what I "intended." Many of the songs off the album could be about politics, but could also be about personal relationships. I've never really felt the two are that different. Business, politics and personal relationships all deal with the same fundamental qualities: love, passion, power and sometimes evil. I also feel this record has a much more communal vibe and more of a live feel. There are very little overdubs and the record has a lot of space. I did the whole thing on 2-inch tape so the analog nature of the recording gives it a much deeper and richer feel than my first record. Musically I feel it has a lot more groove to it. I've been listening to a lot of jazz, R&B and Brazilian music over the last couple of years. I also produced this album myself so that was a great experience.”
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"Soul Variations" is a rich and musically varied album with political undertones heavily influenced by the current American political climate and the effects Hurricane Katrina had on AM’s hometown of New Orleans, what the tragic event revealed about America, and perhaps of humanity in general. “Soul Variations” also offers AM’s signature songs of lost love such as "Stepping Stone" and "Live A Lie".
WERS SAYS:
Equally classic is the story that brought AM to where he is today. Small-town background (Tulsa, OK) led to a guitar-in-hand musical calling and relocation to Los Angeles. He played South by Southwest (is there any amazing artist nowadays that wasn't discovered there?) and caught the attention of Defend Music. The label re-released AM's first record (Troubled Times) to great reviews and now, those searing good looks, soft hooks, and passionate subtleties are back with Soul Variations. The album presents a personal and universal sense of heartache and triumph (reportedly inspired by the effects of Hurricane Katrina) as only AM's sophisticatedly brooding voice can convey.
The result is like taking a little Jeff Buckley-brand sweetener in your Bob Dylan-brewed cup of black coffee. A bittersweet start to what will hopefully turn out to be a beautiful day. If you're ever feeling low in the AM (it was unavoidable), you'll now know what to listen to.
http://www.amsounds.com/
-Jon Meyer
LYRICS FOR SOUL VARIATIONS (in CDbaby or here in the blog in comments)
www.myspace.com/amsounds
http://www.amsounds.com/
1.Stepping Stone
ResponderEliminarTake on what you will
But I still
Believe what I do
And I was your stepping stone
And I knew
So take your hand in mine
And all you will find
You'll find what you need
And I was your stepping stone
And I couldn't leave
Oh now my head keeps spinning
Oh now I'm right back in it
Oh now I was your stand in
Oh now I guess this will pass in time
Take things as they come
But you know that is so hard
Yeah you know what I mean
To take your piece of ground
And let what will be just be
Oh now my head keeps spinning
Oh now I'm right back in it
Oh now I was your stand in
Oh now I guess this will pass in time
I was your stepping stone
I guess this will pass in time
I was your stepping stone
I guess this will pass in time
I was your stepping stone
I guess this will pass in time
2. I Want Someone
C'mon don't fill your plate
Loneliness will be up late
Backbones can't stay straight
When all you do is take and you take
Yeah how the sun shines
When I'm making you mine
You give me half yourself
Say you're taking your time
I want someone
You want everyone else
There's one thing I do know
We all want someone to own
But things aren't much better alone
I'm coming back to you I know
Yeah how the sun shines
When I'm making you mine
You give me half yourself
Say you're taking your time
I want someone
You want everyone else
Yeah how the sun shines
When I'm making you mine
You give me half yourself
Say you're taking your time
I want someone
You want everyone else
I want someone to stay
3.Old Song
Keep saying that you're somewhere you're nowhere at all
Now you're running on habit hanging plans on the wall
It always seemed like the tables turned easy for you
Now there's all these people tellin' you what to do
But I know that you once were somebody that had so much to say
Now you're nothing but an old song rearranged
When you've got all you need sometimes you can't tell
I wonder if those big hands are holding you well
This wasn't what I had hoped for I wanted you to shine
Now it seems that you're moving down the narrowest line
But I know that you once were somebody that had so much to say
Now you're nothing but an old song rearranged
Now you're lost cuz you've got yourself in the way
Now you're nothing but an old song rearranged
Now they're stuck on their new found
Soon you won't be around
God I wish I was wrong
But I know that you once were somebody that had so much to say
Now you're nothing but an old song rearranged
Now you're lost cuz you've got yourself in the way
Now you're nothing but an old song rearranged
4.Live a Lie
All around me now
There's nothing but pain
And I'm giving nothing back
That you gave
My house is crowded now
And I just can't convey
Just how much you meant to me
And you take
A little time
Those mistakes
You know they were mine
And all the plans
That we made
Turned to stone
Walking away to live a lie
Now you found an open place
Where you wanted to be
And there's nothing better than
What you need
And all those lonely eyes
Keep searching the streets
To find the things you gave to me
And you take
A little time
Those mistakes
You know they were mine
And all the plans
That we made
Turned to stone
Walking away to live a lie
And you take
A little time
Those mistakes
You know they were mine
And all the plans
That we made
Turned to stone
Walking away to live a lie
Walking away to live a lie
Walking away to live a lie
5.Pulling Triggers
I don't know what you're saying
Don't bother explaining
Your reasons are old
Hoping somebody's listening
Can't you see that you missed them
It's taking its toll
All good things have gone under
Continue to lumber
So bright and so loud
Just forget all you wanted
It's time to move on here
We're lost in the sound
Wander Wander
Backwards you wander
Think you know my name
You're pulling triggers
On anything bigger
Than yourself
Everyday
Windowpanes are all broken
Don't speak cuz you've spoken
I won't hear a thing
All or nothing defeats you
My god can't we please you
It's some kind of game
Wander Wander
Backwards you wander
Think you know my name
You're pulling triggers
On anything bigger
Than yourself
Everyday
And all your troubles
Just blame them on your double
As you walk away
Wander Wander
Backwards you wander
Think you know our name
You're pulling triggers
On anything bigger
Than yourself
Everyday
And all your troubles
Just blame them on your double
As you walk away
6.Streets You'll Never Know
Through your window
You say people are feeling pain
Looking out at the streets
you'll never know
You're taking pictures
Of the things that you want to see
Looking out at
The streets you'll never know
You always find a reason
You're keeping out of season
Tell me something I haven't heard
You're keeping down
You're waiting
And time just keeps on fading
I think it's time you took your turn
Speaking softly
You say things are the worst they could be
Never touching the streets
How could you know
Those timeless answers
Now you're not fooled and you don't agree
Looking out at the streets
You'll never know
You always find a reason
You're keeping out of season
Tell me something I haven't heard
You're keeping down
You're waiting
Time just keeps on fading
I think it's time you took your
And I think it's time you took your turn
The walls you put up they won't crumble
Cuz you just won't let them
And lonely roads are not the only paths
That you can tread on
And tables turn but you just have to go ahead
Let them turn
And speaking softly
You say things are not what they seem
Looking out at the streets
How could you know
You always find a reason
You're keeping out of season
Tell me something I haven't heard
You're keeping down
You're waiting
Time just keeps on fading
I think it's time you took your
And I think it's time you took your turn
7.Stop
They told your story backwards that's what you say
It doesn't matter cuz nobody cares anyway
All the moments choking can't get em down
Keep on looking but I can's see what you've found
But I'm not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don't want to know all the tables you've turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I'm watching them burn
I'm not gonna pour more salt in your wounds
But I'm not gonna move any mountains for you
Can't you see that you have already won
Don't want to fight but you have loaded the gun
But I'm not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don't want to know all the tables you've turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I'm watching them burn
But I'm not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don't want to know all the tables you've turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I'm watching them burn
What I'm seeing is wrong
You can't change what's already done
And I don't know what to say
Anymore
But I'm not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don't want to know all the tables you've turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I'm watching them burn
But I'm not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don't want to know all the tables you've turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I'm watching them burn
8.We Will Remain
I know it won't be the same
Two figures meeting in the middle
Hold onto something
Now that I know this
I know that I'm gonna change
I know it's easy to say
Two made us two is what we will remain
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I'm gonna stay
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I'm gonna stay
Back-story is that nobody knows for sure
What will remain
And now I know I am sure about where I stand
I'm not afraid
Back-story is that nobody knows for sure
What will remain
And now I know I am sure about where I stand
I'm not afraid
I know it's easy to say
Two made us two is what we will remain
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I'm gonna stay
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I'm gonna stay
9.Everybody's Jesus
You're reaching out for the loneliest hand
The friend that you want to make
You always mention the people you know
Don't you know there's a time and place
You walk along and hope they will follow
Comfort is the voice you bring
You just pretend that you're part of the plan
Till you get everything you need
You want to own all the hands that you hold
You're telling' stories that you've already told
But you care
Yeah you care
Lord knows you're a fantasy foe
You can look but you just can't touch
You make believe there's a story to read
But I know that it won't say much
You want to own all the hands that you hold
You're telling' stories that you've already told
But you care
Yeah you care
You want to own all the hands that you hold
You're telling' stories that you've already told
I know the reasons they're not what you say now
It's more defeating and I hope you would see
But you can't
Yeah you can't
10. What You Hide
Tell me stories tell me lies
Don't want to know the things you hide
Take me back to where I was
Watching sunsets feeling fine
Just be careful what you say
Some things will not wash away
Now I don't need to know it all
I just hope you feel the same
AM Troubled times --Album de debut. Gracias a DCM.
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