With comparisons to Neil Young, Lucinda, Chrissie Hynde and even T. Rex, the Heartless Bastards deliver a career milestone with “Arrow” on their new album, musician-friendly Brooklyn indie Partisan Records.
Clients
Artists
Amy Ray
Heavy Trash
Portland Cello Project
The Sadies with Andre Williams
Xylos
Record Labels
Knitting Factory Records
- AgesandAges
- Gregory Rogove
- Lijadu Sisters
- Phantom Family Halo
- Shilpa Ray
Partisan Records
- BOBBY
- Dolorean
- Holy Sons
- Heartless Bastards
- Mountain Man
- Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
- Virgin Forest
Resources
With comparisons to Neil Young, Lucinda, Chrissie Hynde and even T. Rex, the Heartless Bastards deliver a career milestone with “Arrow” on their new album, musician-friendly Brooklyn indie Partisan Records.
Arrow is the fourth album released from Heartless Bastards since 2005 and the first on Partisan Records. The album opens with “Marathon,” a down-temp song for those that have gotten off track and found themselves lost in life. It’s mostly just Erika and electric guitar and her voice is on full display.
We all want to belong
to something more than ourselves
because you can’t always do it alone
sometimes you just need
need a little help
on this long way home
on this long way homeAnd oh I, I ran so far
that I’ve forgotten
what I was running from
And time it takes you so far
And I am longing to be back home
On this long way home.
“Parted Ways” follows up and it has fueled several dance parties in my home – events attended only by myself, my 3 year old daughter and 1.5 year old son. This song is an addiction and I’m eager to find out if a better song will be released this year.
While “Parted Ways” is hard to move beyond, pay attention to the soulful “Only for You.” It’s a marvelous song that shows the full range of Erika’s voice which is nearly overshadowed by an amazing lead guitar throughout. “Gotta Have Rock and Roll” is a hard driving song powered by a simple guitar riff – it’s a song that would make Joan Jett proud. And “Skin and Bone” opens with an rootsy acoustic guitar that had me double checking my iPod for Blitzen Trapper on accidental shuffle.
“Low Low Low” gets even twangier with a change in production. I’m not sure if it’s a different room or a change in technique, but it’s more organic and Wennerstrom’s vocals are more distant – as if we’re hearing her in a barn or by campfire light. It’s a brilliant change of pace.
We’ve been Heartless Bastards fans forever. After their live session with us, I had a chance encounter with them. It was years ago after a full day of drinking that I found myself standing next to Erika at a late night Playboy party at SxSW, waiting for Janes Addiction to take the stage. There she was, randomly right next to me. I think I opened the conversation about us both being from Ohio and how much I love that state – or something equally stupid. Maybe a bunny walked by and I said “fancy meeting you here…” I can’t quite recall. I do recall her being one of the sweetest musicians I’ve ever met and it’s always an experience to see the band live. They will be touring now through May, socheck their site for dates. Arrow will be released on Valentine’s Day.
SNL/Portlandia’s FRED ARMISEN puts legendary cult fave HOLY SONS (Portland’s Emil Amos) track “A Chapter Must Be Closed” as his top song. For special videos and Holy Sons content check out Emil’s Holy Son’s archive here: http://holysons.com or go to their @partisanrecords page http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/holy-sons and find out what Emil has going on in 2012!
web site
Whirlybird Grand Opening SAT, 12/17
4 - 7 pm
254 South 2nd (between Roebling and Havemeyer)
SOLO ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES BY IAN O’NEIL (DEER TICK) AND SCOTT STAPLETON (VIRGIN FOREST)
After years spent touring the globe with such bands as Phosphorescent and now Virgin Forest, musician Jeff Bailey, pictured above outside Whirlybird, realized there were two things that made life on the road better: a stellar cup of coffee and a top of the line breakfast taco, Austin, TX style - the impetus for opening Whirlybird. The cafe is partnering with Bailey’s label, Partisan Records, for their grand opening this SAT, December 17, from 4 - 7 pm. Partisan artists Ian O’Neil (Deer Tick) and Scott Stapleton (Virgin Forest) will be performing acoustically and Partisan releases will be on display.
In between touring and recording with Virgin Forest, who have a new Partisan Records album, Easy Way Out, set for a January 31, 2012 release, Bailey worked at Brooklyn’s Oslo coffee and realized that coffee was another of his passions.
Bailey, who’d experienced Austin, TX’s fine tradition of breakfast tacos on tour and while playing the SxSW Music festival, decided that was what his Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood was missing: a place to get a fresh, organic corn tortilla with top of the line ingredients, Tex-Mex style, and a fresh brewed, locally roasted cup of coffee. Knowing how popular the breakfast taco/coffee combo was among his fellow musicians, Bailey put his passions into practice and found a great space to start his cafe. Named Whirlybird (he also loves helicopters), the small cafe is run by Bailey and his chef, longtime Williamsburg fixture Francisco Paez, an Ecuadorean by birth and French-trained chef who advocates using fresh, local ingredients.
Whirlybird is cozy and has the feel of a neighborhood hang-out, from vintage books and Polaroids casually offered for perusal to the number of locals and fellow musicians who drop by to sample the food and coffee. Starting simply with one breakfast taco - either with or without chorizo - eggs, cheese and peppers, and several coffee options, the operation is streamlined. New tacos will be introduced and a special “Whirlybird Roast” is in development by the Oslo coffee folks.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012, 4 - 7 PM
WHIRLYBIRD GRAND OPENING!
254 South 2nd (between Roebling and Havermeyer)
Performances by Ian O’Neil and Scott Stapleton
http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/virgin-forest
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside take Target for a “Sleigh Ride” this holiday season. Check out their rockion’ version of the track, produced by Chris Funk of The Decemberists.
