14 reasons it’s going to be a good year for music
Here’s something to look forward to.
In 2017, you’ll have more Okie albums than you’ll know what to do with. Here’s a highlight of what’s landing throughout the year. You can see a more comprehensive listing in the Feb. 22 edition of LOOKatOKC.
Now, start getting excited.
Samantha Crain, ‘You Had Me at Goodbye’
(March 24 via Ramseur Records)
One of Oklahoma’s most reliable and relatable songwriting talents returned to Oakland, California, to collaborate on a set of 10 tracks with producer John Vanderslice. Each song ended up with a personality as strong as Crain’s voice. Electronic and synthy fingerprints pop up all over the place on a record that stretches far beyond a typical Americana offering. In 2017, you’re going to hear a lot about Crain’s fifth studio album.
Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road, ‘Il Fait Beau’
(Friday)
Kyle Dillingham has a string of impressive releases and his latest effort was recorded between his home studio in Oklahoma City, the Bass School of Music and in France. “Il Fait Beau” is entirely in French but contains original music from the Okie composer.
He’ll celebrate the release 7 p.m. Friday at the CHK Central Boathouse, 732 Riversport Drive.
“It is actually the original soundtrack of a Broadway-style musical that I wrote,” he said. “It was released as a stand-alone method for learning French (learning through story, song and music), but the soundtrack was never released independent of the full 10-disk method. Yet, I have always felt that this was some of my best and most creative work ever. So now is the time.”
Harumph, ‘Threes’
(Feb. 24)
Harumph spent five days inside Norman’s 115 Recording tearing apart songs and putting them back together. Multi-instrumentalist David Leach said he couldn’t be happier with the results.
“Listeners can expect 11 tracks that feature a mixture of pop and Americana tunes with a taste of jazz,” Leach shared via email. “The lyrics, melodies and instrumentation of each song are simple and purposeful. What you hear on the album is a polished studio version of a live show.”
Bearden native John Fullbright and Wes Sharon produced the album which features Leach, Kate Dinsmore, Kiel Dehnert and Marcus Spitz. Also, Fullbright shows up on the album in addition to Alan Orebaugh.
Brianna Gaither, ‘Vanity’
(Feb. 24)
This album could’ve also been titled “Ambitious” because Oklahoma City’s Brianna Gaither recorded “Vanity” in10 locations throughout the metro area and each song with a different producer.
“The nature of the project has given the collection of songs exceptional variety,” Gaither said via email. “On this record, you will find everything from praise songs to break up songs in styles ranging from raw and acoustic to pop and electronic. To me, this album represents the true variety of life: it exists outside of boxes and always within the realm of risk.”
The album also is a companion to an upcoming documentary called “Resonate.” It follows the record’s recording process and explores the “theology of creativity.”
The Lunar Laugh, ‘Mama’s Boy’ (Feb. 24)
This LPwas recorded all over the place: Oklahoma City, Norman, Nashville and even Los Angeles. Connor Anderson, Jared Lekites and Campbell Young comprise the trio.
“It’s a bit of a different vibe than our first album because we’re exploring some different styles and moods, but it’s still very much a Lunar Laugh album,” Lekites said.
SPRING Aaron Hale, ‘Wildflowers & Atom Bombs’
Aaron Hale injured his hand last year which delayed the completion of his upcoming album. “Wildflowers” features several new tracks and drumming from Matt Duckworth of the Flaming Lips. Hale collaborated with Bell Labs in Norman and listed Leon Russell, Jeff Buckley and Cat Stevens as influences. He also explained the title of this album to The Oklahoman.
“The message is clearly about an emerging world where global warming, drone wars, global nuclear war, transhumanism and technology fighting against the natural world, love, and the cosmos,” Hale said.
Haniwa, ‘Violent Sun’
This Oklahoma City outfit started recording a full-length album inside the now defunct Size Records location on Western Avenue but relocated to ACM@UCO’s studio in Bricktown. Dylan Walling promised more of the same indie pop and accessible arrangements fromHaniwa’sfirst album, higher highs, lower lows and more polish by a large margin.
“We wrote the material for the album almost three years ago and are just now committing them to tape,” Walling said. “Also, while in Size Records, we recorded a large part of the album next to a hanging poster that was just a collage of nipples.”
Sex Snobs, ‘Emotional Stuffing’
It’s not every day an Okie band packs up for Chicago and records with famed recording engineer Steve Albini. This fulllength punk offering from the Oklahoma City-based band won’t disappoint.
“The independent music scene is the bread and butter of this studio,” Albini told The Oklahoman in 2016. “Those are the people that we built this studio to be a resource for, the independent and underground music scene. So, that’s a principal clientele. Those are the people that we work with every day, and when I say every day, I mean every day. I work every single day making records with people in bands precisely like Sex Snobs.”
Judith, ‘Names’
Oklahoma City-based Americana trio Judith features the talents of Kinsey Charles, Lynn Neill and Morgan Ward. The band’s debut aims to capture their harmonious sound. Lunar Manor, a literal underground studio located in Oklahoma City, hosted the recording session and Brine Webb recorded the effort.
“We are really proud that with Brine’s help we were able to produce a full album that is true to what we present at our live shows,” Charles said. “It’s got a listening room feel to it. We included a brand-new song on the album that we’ve never performed anywhere.”
SUMMER
Lauren Barth, ‘Forager’
There’s just something about Fellowship Hall Sound, and Lauren Barth joins the cast of stellar Tulsa-based talent to record at the Little Rockbased studio. The recent Los Angeles transplant collaborated with Jesse Aycock on the 11-track collection.
“It has an old school songwriter vibe with mystical accents,” Barth said. “It’s imperfect, delicate and sounds like a storm on the plains.”
K.C. Clifford, Live album recorded at The Blue Door
Oklahoma City-based songwriter K.C. Clifford will record two nights at the listening room on March 25-26. So, here’s a chance to have your clapping heard on a professional recording and hear some quality songwriting.
Brad Fielder, ‘Vernacular Songs Vol. 1’
Just a man in his home with a guitar and his voice. Those are the ingredients for an upcoming acoustic folk collection from Norman singer-songwriter Brad Fielder.
He also recorded with Breathing Rhythm Studio last year and a second album of full-band Americana arrangements will land later this year.
Dylan Stewart, ‘Scarecrow Sessions’
North Broadway Studio is hiding about an hour west of Oklahoma City. The Hydro studio is where Norman’s Dylan Stewart holed up to record nine new songs alongside Ryan Houck. Expect guest appearances from Mike McClure, Scott Evans and Bryon White on this sophomore solo effort.
“It’s as honest as I’ve been as a writer,” Stewart said. “And that may cause some folks to be alarmed when they hear the content of these songs, but it’s been a year of personal loss, new found awareness, focus and progression as an artist and player.”
L.T.Z., ‘Sophisticated Slabs’
Rapper Tony Sure promised listeners can expect to hear some refreshingly original sounds. On L.T.Z.’s latest full-length album, he’ll mix hip-hop, soul, R&B and elements of gospel into the narrative of his life.
“I will continue to push my ‘everyman rapper’ style over unique production, mainly led by Chips,” LeSure said. “This is an album where my father is playing a huge role in recording. I’m also working with Cooki Turner, Sarafina Byrd and WoRm, heavily.”
LATE 2017 Red Dirt Rangers, ‘Live From The Blue Door’
The Red Dirt Rangers have been talking about doing a live record for more than 20 years. They finally committed to recording this album during three nights at Oklahoma City’s favorite listening room.
“I think the catalyst in the whole thing was the death of Tom Skinner,” RDR frontman John Cooper saidin 2015. “Greg had always wanted to make a live record on Tom at the Blue Door, and now you never have that possibility. So, he really started bashing on us and said, ‘Look, I want you guys to make a live record. No more screwing around, OK?’”
Nuns, ‘The Ghost Inside’
Nuns frontman Hank Hanewinkel worked alongside his father at Tulsa’s Valcour sound to follow up 2014’s “Opportunities.”
“You can expect progression from the first album,” Hanewinkel said. “I utilized more keyboards on this album than the first album. The lyrical theme of this album is about change, becoming someone you’re not, and though you see this change happening, you allow it to happen.”