**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.**
Something’s been going on in the golden state. Lately, it seems there’s been a handful of Alt-country/Americana bands making a dent in the California music scene. The sound is markedly different than what we hear coming out of Texas and other mid-west and southern Americana style bands where the connections to the genre are more overt. There seems to be more emphasis on classic rock from the 60s and alternative music from the 90s coming together to form a blend of harmonic beauty. My guess is that this is the legacy that may have started with Buck Owens, later The Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers and eventually manifesting itself as The Eagles. So who are some of the newer bands that appear to be carrying on the torch? I offer notice to bands like Low Stars, Careless Hearts, Haymaker, The Hacienda Brothers and most importantly for the purposes of this article LA-based Sam Mellon and The Skylarks.
A year ago, I mentioned an EP from Sam Mellon and The Skylarks and now I’m happy to tell you that they’ve finally released their first full length record. Luckily they’ve retained the three original songs from the EP: “The Bombs All Fall Around Me”, “Elevator on Fire” and “Your New Hometown”. Some of the newer and notable tracks include “Just Like Theves”, “Like the Twilight”, “Frozen Lake” and “Lost in Your Neighborhood”. Close your eyes and stroll through the streets of LA at a smooth, amble pace as your imagination soars through a listen of the 10 songs included on Sam Mellon and the Skylarks’ debut album.
The band consists of Sam Mellon (vocals, acoustic guitar), Dave Ray (drums, vocals), Julie Wolfe (accordion, piano, vocals) and Carl Urbinati (electric guitar, vocals) with David Serby (electric bass guitar) as a contributing artist for the record. Mellon, who leads the band, is a practicing visual artist who’s influence can be heard in the painterly songwriting. Working with Careless Heart’s Paul Kimball they produced the CD packaging that I believe really captures the spirit of the album as well as that of California alt-country through timeless black and white photographs of suburbia. Dave Ray seems to be the architect of the album as he’s credited with the arrangement and mixing which by the way is supurb. Julie Wolfe anchors the band with her underlying accordian, piano and vocals with an unmistakable feminine touch. Perhaps my favorite musician in the band is Carl Urbinati whose quitar playing is the alluring magic of the record. I can’t go without mentioning David Serby who recently left the band to pursue his solo interests. Serby contributed electric bass on the record and is now gaining noteriety on his own. According to the band web site, Robert Staron has since filled Serby’s vacated spot on bass.
In a brief email exchange with Sam Mellon who grew up listening to bands like the Talking Heads and The Police, I discovered that one of his biggest influences along with Bob Dylan is Michael Stipe and R.E.M. It was those artists’ ability to “paint a picture” with words that resonated in Mellon. He credits the song “Pale Blue Eyes” from R.E.M.’s Dead Letter Office as being a song that provided a direct connection between alternative rock and alt country eventually feeding itself into the The Skylark’s own unique style. And while the band will likely be grouped in an elusive alt-country category, its the alt side of the genre that interests the band. Says Mellon, “I don’t think I was trying to create an ‘Alternative Country’ band when I put the Skylarks together. Admittedly I have a strong influence musically from that genre- but I just didn’t (and don’t) write in a country narrative.” This becomes apparent while listening to the lyrics and music of the record. I can’t help but think of blue skies, cumulus clouds and vintage convertibles when I listen in. California dreamin’ reborn.
Now the fun part. In talking with the band, they’re as excited about this record as I am and would love to offer up a free copy of the album as a giveaway on Twangville. The only rule to be eligible is to add a comment to this blog post. As long as you’re not an apparent bonehead spammer you’ll be included in the pool of entries that I will randomly pick from (contest concludes Thursday 9/13/07 at midnight EST). Don’t know what to say? Maybe tell us your thoughts on the California music scene as you know it or take a listen to the song below and let the band know about your interest in hearing more.
Download: Just Like Thieves (MP3)*
[audio:http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/2/343660/02%20Just%20Like%20Thieves.mp3]
Download: Frozen Lake (MP3)*
[audio:http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/2/343660/04%20Frozen%20Lake.mp3]
For more on Sam Mellon and the Skylarks check out their official web site or their MySpace profile. Their debut album is available online at CD Baby and iTunes.
* MP3s posted with permission from Sam Mellon and The Skylarks.
**By participating in this contest you agree to allow Twangville to forward your contact info to Sam Mellon and The Skylarks and to post your name and city on our web site. We will never use your info for any other reason.**
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.