Americana

Description

Americana is the third full-length album by the American indie rock band Starflyer 59, released on Tooth & Nail Records in March 1997. The album was produced by Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame and the band.

The album features Jason Martin on guitar and vocals backed by a rhythm section consisting of bassist Eric Campuzano and drummer Wayne Everett of The Prayer Chain fame. Producer Gene Eugene fills out the sound with a variety of keyboards: ‘70s Fender Rhodes on “Help Me When You’re Gone,” Hammond B-3 on “You Don’t Miss Me,” and a solid foundation of Moog on “The Hearttaker.”

Jason Martin followed this album by the self-titled debut album by Bon Voyage, a new side project by Martin featuring his wife Julie on lead vocals.

Starflyer 59 has been pretty much without peer in the Christian marketplace, producing “noise pop art rock” in an extremely prolific (five albums in three years) and effective manner. ‘Americana’ can only further that reputation.

There is no radical departure here from the pattern set by previous albums: the tunes are still moody, fuzzy and very atmospheric. But there are several throwbacks to bygone genres of American music – everything from blues and surf rock to stadium anthems. «You Think You’re Radical» even sounds a bit country-esque, if I dare say so.

Oddly enough, lead singer Jason Martin, who married since the last album was released, focuses a bit less on personal relationships this time around, and more on faith. «The Heart Taker», for example, finds Martin singing the relatively ambiguous lyric of “Until you go/ You know it’s hard to know/ Or just believe/ Because the heart taker makes it easier/ Just believe.” Still, that’s a bit more spiritually directed than, say, «A Housewife Love Song» from the last album.

Production duties were shared by Martin and the inexhaustible Gene Eugene, along with Starflyer newcomers (and ex-Prayer Chain members) Wayne Everett and Eric Campuzano. The four give the album a delightfully thick, heavy, mesmerizing sound.

It does take some work to fully digest ‘Americana’. With vocals that can be almost indecipherable without repeated listens and frequent lyric sheet checks, this is by no means easy listening music. Yet those who seek are likely to find it worth their time. Starflyer 59 deserves credit for, once again, giving birth to an original and memorable collection of songs. Toss in the extra-groovy packaging, and ‘Americana’ is a clear keeper. [Michael Ciani, CCM, May 1997]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/americana/724688750)

CD tracklist:

01. The Voyager – 4:38
02. The Hearttaker – 4:06
03. Harmony – 4:22
04. All You Want Are The Things I Need – 4:00
05. You Think You’re Radical – 4:08
06. The Translator – 2:56
07. You Don’t Miss Me – 4:45
08. The Boulevard – 2:29
09. Help Me When You’re Gone – 5:04
10. Everyone But Me – 4:46

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Tooth & Nail Records.

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