ALLAN DOUGLAS & THE TRAGEDIES - WE WERE SO CLOSE EP
Containing three new songs and alternate versions of three songs from Douglas’ 2007 “pop art†album,
Lipstick Pickup, the special release EP features new lead single “All My Friends Are Beautiful.â€
An explosive track driven by Douglas’ intense vocals and Will Ayers’ ferocious drumming, “All My Friends Are Beautiful†is reminiscent of the rawness of early Who recordings and the sonic crunch of Superdrag. Largely recorded live in-studio, the song’s energy pushed a tight “band†sound throughout the potent performance. Indie folk-rock singer/songwriter Wes Pickering also contributes strong backing vocals to the track.
Two new B-sides accompany “All My Friends Are Beautiful.†The first is a moody, “murky surf†instrumental titled “Diver’s Knife.†The other B-side is “Ballad of the Christmas Cactus,†a holiday-themed, tongue-in-cheek Western-style musical recitation. Each band member taking a verse of the recitation, bassist Brady Mills turns in an exemplary deadpan performance final verse.
The second half of the EP includes a live performance of the title track from
Lipstick Pickup, and acoustic demos of two other songs from the album, “Lonesome Desperate Love†and “Cast Away.†Alternate keys, lyrics and musical ideas provide a bit of a back-story to these early demos.
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ALLAN DOUGLAS - LIPSTICK PICKUP
Allan Douglas makes "pop art" music. It’s proud, unabashed guitar pop -- stressing melody and lyric, structure and style -- that embraces the sonic & emotional layers and colors found in reliable creative expression.
Douglas recently set out to make his own individual stamp on “pop art" -- combining his classical music training with his pop & rock music education. With help from many friends,
LIPSTICK PICKUP was recorded over the period of nine months, and was released in 2007 on Douglas’ own independent label, Photograph Records. Described as “warmly cinematic,†“a sonic soak,†and “Beach Boys-meets-Weezer,†the 11-song album speaks of sin & redemption -- and the tension those two subjects share.
While some songs address the freedom and intense joy found in fulfilling life’s callings (“When Time Began,†“Lipstick Pickupâ€), others articulate the restlessness and longing found in the struggle to live by grace in a fallen world (“Starburnt Child,†“Riversideâ€). Along the way are poignant songs of urgent desperation (“Cast Awayâ€), gaining love (“Angelinaâ€), and losing self (“Lonesome Desperate Loveâ€). Using rich imagery and captivating word pictures, the expressiveness of the lyrics is as multi-tiered as the thick vocal harmonies that saturate many of the songs.
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Allan Douglas & the Tragedies - LIVE
Will Ayers and Brady Mills join Allan Douglas for a tight and loud rock show. The band performs selections from
Lipstick Pickup and the
We Were So Close EP as well as attaining a long-time goal: playing fiery surf instrumentals live. Surf instrumentals from Nashville, TN? “Why not?â€
Write
[email protected] for booking.
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LIPSTICK PICKUP is now available at:
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WE WERE SO CLOSE EP is now available at: