The Silver Lining

There are 6 new jams up from our upcoming 2nd rekkid. Enjoy...
Co-fronted by the dynamic husband and wife songwriting team of singer/guitarist, Matt Rhodes and singer, Anna Price, The Silver Lining makes music blending '66 sunset strip psychedelia, Atlantic style soul, and British Invasion Beat Pop. Rhythm section Greg Radawich (bass) and Doug Fuller (drums) keep things dancey, and keyboardist Ted Collins layers on the vintage psyche and garage sounds, adding up to a swirl of “gorgeously danceable retro pop” according to Sarah Tomlinson of the Boston Globe, by a band who is “…a complete abstract based on their own absorption of all… [their] influences… creating music so delightful because they are reviving the PASSION of the 1960’s era with their bosomy embrace as well as deliberate sauciness.” (Joe S. Harrington, Kapitol Ink)
In June 2006, the band released their Tony Goddess (Papas Fritas)-produced debut record, Well Dressed Blues receiving significant airplay on college radio and stellar reviews throughout the United States and British Isles. Recorded at Revere, MA's Fleetwood Recording Studios (birthplace of the Shaggs' cult masterpiece Philosophy of the World) and Goddess' Bang a Sound, and mixed by Adam Taylor at Paul Q. Kolderie's legendary Camp St. Studios (the Dresden Dolls, Dinosaur Jr.), Well Dressed Blues was released on June 6, 2006 to coincide with the band's nearly sold out month long residency at Somerville Massachusetts' Abbey Lounge. Well Dressed Blues has been added to the regular rotation of hundreds of college radio stations and placed as high as 6 on regional CMJ charts.
In April of 2007, The Silver Lining reached the semi-finals in WBCN's prestigious Rock n' Roll Rumble, prompting Ian Schwartz of the Weekly Dig to say of the band, “the music was excellent, guitar-driven pop, and… could have been described to sound like any number of your parents' favorite groups… This was the kind of band you could take your mom to see and you'd both have a great time."
Currently, The Silver Lining is putting the finishing touches on their upcoming sophomore album with Tony Goddess reprising his role as producer. Price and Rhodes are also involved in various other projects including collaborating with Tony Goddess on music for the hit Nickelodeon tv show, "Yo Gabba Gabba."
Discography Well Dressed Blues June, 2006 (EYE-CON Records)
As Yet Untitled 2nd Record 2008 (TBA)***
Newie from Boston featuring the always captivating vocals o' ex-Sorry Jar chanteuse Anna Price w/ her new songwriting partner (who also just happens to be her husband-they met in an airport [sic] and the rest is history) Matt Rhodes. They're getting quite a big stir back home right now and they deserve it: "In the Future" is "Plastic Fantastic Lover" w/ gospel intonations ala Janis Joplin, and it bubbles, it churns and eventually works its way up to a 2-step ...Jesus, I haven't heard a band do stuff like this since the SIXTIES (and judging by the exploding day-glo cover that's what they WANT you to think!) But that's what you said about the Jonestown when you first heard 'em, right? And Matt n' Anna's sixties trip is equally fresh, but it's just a different SIDE of the sixties-remember it was the Silver Lining playing around the corner from the Jonestown during Anton's post-Dig meltdown in Boston, and they play kind of the well-intentioned angels to His Satanic Majesty. It's like in the sixties when Cass Elliot was actually hanging out w/ MANSON-and, come to think of it, the Mamas and the Papas is a good analogy, esp. since Rhodes and Price share lead vocal duties (although like John Phillips, Matt is the sole songwriter in the group). But whereas that band was heavily orchestrated, despite the fine harmonies, the Silver Lining is an organic experience wrought w/ all the tension (sexual and otherwise) that makes this a rock n' roll record and not some dreadful indie pap or dykey folkie whatsis. Anna may eat muff, but she ain't mad at the men of the world by any means-Anna is basically a giving soul who totally BLEEDS passion and honesty, and does it with the seductive syrupy-ness of all the great femme torchbearers, from Billie Holiday to Jenny Mae. It's a woozy ride, like the ten-gallon-woman opus, "Battered Senseless MIA Heart," with its greased-barstool slide guitar, sifting mid-tempo riff, and Anna singing the torchy booze-blooze. There's also a neat two-time thing-a weird variation of the basic riff-that sounds like something Spector, Brian Wilson (or Sonny & Cher for that matter) might've pulled.
Nine times out of ten the band conjures the lilting majesty of the Velvet Underground in the Loaded period, w/ the macabre carnival of late sixties LA-from the Manson kids to the Mamas to the Beach Boys (all inter-related theoretically of course). The fact is, the Silver Lining KNOW this-they are a complete abstract based on their own absorption of all these influences. But what comes off the most, and makes the record so delightful is, they are reviving the PASSION of that era-with their bosomy embrace as well as deliberate sauciness...only, like Gil and Sarge before them, coming from these wide-eyed, and "wide" in every way, wunderkids it comes off as petting-zoo playful, like two calves cunningling.
Like the Mamas and Papas and Jefferson Airplane-and for that matter, the Velvets-the band that loves together lives together. You hafta understand this group is masterminded by a couple in the midst of fullblown love-but don't forget these guys love VERYBODY-they really ARE almost drinking the Manson juice when Anna breaks out the, once again unassuming, "BAP BAP BAPS" in the title cut w/ the aplomb of Spanky McFarlane or Mama Cass herself. But when the whole group comes in with a mass of "Bap"-ing harmonies, it once again recalls the Velvets of "I Found a Reason."
Like the Jonestown, the Silver Lining is unafraid to wear their influences on their sleeve, but at the same time, they're adding something to it-they have the mark of all good bands: they OUTSTRIP their influences.
Take Outrageous Cherry, for instance-they're more sixties than the sixties, and in many cases BETTER...like the sixties that never was. And while we all know the Jonestown approach this territory, it's clear the Silver Lining are happily tripping along the same gilded path. They share the love-and believe me, with the Silver Lining, there's a LOT of it to go around...from the honky-tonk happiness of "Cemented Steps" and Matt 's cast-my-fate-to-the-wind-and-see-where-it-leads closing tune, "Death Song," to the absolute LIFT-OFF of the road-worthy "Even We Were Happy" (which actually MENTIONS having "too much to eat"-which is the first time anyone has done anything like that since vintage Gil). They're not a one-trick pony, and they may dress like queens, but they can kick like a mule. Alb produced by some tart named Tony Goddess. Isn't he playing with BEBE now?
--Joe S. Harrington, Kapitol Ink
What a psycho recording. Imagine the Lovin’ Spoonful or Mamas & Papas put through a more psychedelic filter than the Byrds, and you have an approximation of Boston band SILVER LINING. Then add in the sexual body politic into the mix. That equals a whole lot of fun and wild antics. The punk period started by putting down the hippie thing as being everything they were against, even as they slowly turned into the same counterculture media fodder, but this is not anything that even someone like G.G. Allin could have complained about. Silver Lining is punk in its own way, especially when it comes to attitude... Matt Rhodes (who wrote the songs and plays the sharp guitar) and Anna Price share the vocals on “Well Dressed Blues” (Eye-Con, c/o thesilverliningband.com), displaying both innocence and knowing at the same time. There is comfort in knowing this style of sound, and just a bit disconcerting what is being said on top. Hell, it’s a fun release from beginning to end. Seems MA is a center for mixed gender groups taking a style and imbuing it with a sensual ambiguity (e.g., The Mammals). Thanks for that.
-- Robert Barry Francos, Jersey Beat
"...as I came in from a cigarette The Silver Lining had already begun their set. Holy shit!... The Silver Lining brought their A-game to the Rumble, and it showed. Their songs were upbeat and catchy enough to make even the indiest of scenesters forget to cross his arms and gently bob his head. People were dancing, and I would have been too, if I wasn't a seven-foot tall gangly-ass mess with two left feet. Frontwoman Anna Price stood in the center of the stage looking like an icon from another time. She danced and never seemed awkward or ill-at-ease, even when her husband and guitarist Matt Rhodes took the lead. The music was good, guitar-driven pop, and the band could have been described to sound like any number of your parents' favorite groups. This was the kind of band you could take Grandma to and you'd both have a good time."
--Ian Schwartz of The Weekly Dig
It's rare to hear a debut album that sounds as fully-realized as the the Silver Lining 's note-perfect, Tony Goddess-produced Well Dressed Blues, which already already has folks describing them as the US's answer to Magic Numbers. Fronted by co-singing husband-and-wife team of Anna Price and Matt Rhodes, the group nails joyous '60s pop like no one we've heard in years.
--The Boston Phoenix
Well Dressed Blues, the Silver Linings self-released full-length debut... is quite simply, unlike anything youre likely to hear from a Boston band this year, or have likely heard from a contemporary band in a very long time. Expertly produced and engineered by Papas Fritas/Rudds member Tony Goddess, Blues is front-loaded with brightly gilded boy-girl harmonies that, yes, hark back to the Airplane, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Association. The groups transistor-radio pop also carries a dash of the Turtles and the Something Else era Kinks... Whats remarkable about Well Dressed Blues is how fresh it all sounds as an antidote to the troubled, politically divisive times were living in. The album works as both a balm and an escape.
-- Jonathan Perry, Stuff at Night
The Silver Lining recall those Saturday afternoons driving around in your parents slant-6 Dodge Dart with that glowing A.M.-radio pop kicking out of the single front speaker. Matt Rhodes tasteful guitar panache and Brill-bent songwriting prowess, along with Anna Prices harmonies and full-on wails, will propel their forthcoming debut Well Dressed Blues, produced by Tony Goddess (Rudds, ex-Papas Fritas), to local if not national breakout status.
-- Selene Angier, The Boston Metro
Gorgeously danceable retro pop.
-- Sarah Tomlinson, The Boston Globe
The sassy and sexy Well Dressed Blues is not the simplistic sounds of a group of kids in recently purchased bellbottoms playing with vintage gear. The record is exquisitely put together, a retro-pop gem turned into audio gold by the divine hand of the Rudds' bassist-gone-producer Tony Goddess. Well Dressed Blues is more of an appreciation and approximation of the songwriting spirit of the middle ages of rock, a time when shaggy-haired masterminds created wood-paneled goodness that would emanate from golden-grilled speakers.
-- CD Di Guardia, NE Performer
The cuddly lady and long haired lad may bring pop stars The Magic Numbers to mind, but this American act sound far more like the Cali-influences the Numbers purport to have. This demo was recorded in a big studio and the production is pretty nice although indebted to everyone from The Association through to Alice Cooper theres enough of the modern age about this cool harmony rock band to break through. For cats like us though, the songcraft and arrangements of the late 60s are very much in evidence. A little bit rockier than sunshine pop per se with some nice touches. I dig it.
-- Shindig!
The Silver Lining is not really a subtle band, and Id like to see the technology that could drown out these vocals. Soaring, powerful, turbocharged vocals. The combination of a sweet tenor and a power alto makes for gorgeous harmonies; Im reminded a little of Lennon and McCartney at a couple of points. And when Anna really cuts loose and wails, its glorious. With excellent drumming and bass lines and tastefully flashy guitar solos, there is just absolutely nothing wrong with this set. Im especially impressed with a song called Well Dressed Blues, the lyrics to which seem delightfully dirty when I can make them out. And the last song has a slow, smokey Patti Smith intensity to it.
-- Steve Giesselbrecht, The Noise
Matt Rhodes' brand of classic pop on songs like opener "Cemented Steps" is an inspired hybrid of LA psychesters The Merry Go Round and Victorian music-hall enthusiasts The Kinks. Anna Price's vocalizing on "Well Dressed Blues" evokes The Association and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy but the carnivalesque guitar line makes the song a splendid one-off... The band's sometimes harsh yoking together of disparate sub-genres actually works to their advantage, giving the songs unusual textures and grabby hooks: see the Southern rock guitar plus Beatles melodicism on "In the Future"; also see the brilliant waltz-rhythm coda to their ballad "Battered Senseless MIA Heart." TSL is neither revolutionary nor reactionary but evolutionary, fashioning splendidly colorful and worthy offshoots of the 1966-1972 era of psyche garage pop. If you're into The Hollies, The Turtles, and whatnot, you'll greet this release like a long-lost friend. If you've never heard of them, there's an introductory course right here.
Francis DiMenno, The Noise
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