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Austin May SOTF 002 October 4, 2005 |
Digital $8.00 |
CD $12.00 |
Stream
Home
to Me
Track List
1. Dog Ears2. The Best I Can
3. Home to Me
4. Make Up Your Mind
5. All I Have
6. S. Bouquet
7. Pacific Tide
8. Too Much to Ask
9. Don't Steal My Heart Away
10. Weekends
11. Tomorrow
Album Description
Austin May's debut, self-titled album is a stripped-down collection of songs performed entirely by May. It's just the essentials; one track of acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. It's a strong debut that fits nicely in the acoustic-alternative pop/rock subgenre.
Notes
All songs were performed and recorded by Austin May in Pennsylvania from March through June of 2005. "Dog Ears" was written by James Hoffman. "The Best I Can," "Home to Me," "Make Up Your Mind" and "All I Have" were written by Austin May and Kenneth Morton. "S. Bouquet" and "Pacific Tide" were written by Samantha Lee, Austin May and Kenneth Morton. "Too Much to Ask" and "Weekends" were written by Aaron Feudo. "Don't Steal My Heart Away" was written by Aaron Feudo, Austin May and Ryan Weaver. "Tomorrow" was written by Aaron Feudo and Austin May.
Press
The Wig Fits All HeadsThe surprise success of Bright Eyes will most likely open the doors for other uncompromisingly independent male singer/songwriters, but I doubt you will see Austin May on MTV any time soon. That’s certainly not a knock against May, who is simply doing his own thing. The material here is fairly stripped-down, yet there are sharper edges in May’s acoustic rock than what you’d normally expect. “S. Bouquet” is my pick overall for its spellbinding riffs. May takes music back to its basics, handling all of the instrumentation by himself, never burdening his songs with overly complicated arrangements. In fact, they sound as simple as it gets. It may take a while to digest, but it’s a rewarding experience if you give it time to sink in.
- Karla AshInk 19
I remember hearing Olympia's indie iconoclasts Beat Happening for the first time in college. A classmate of mine blasted one of their tapes in the cafeteria, and gradually you can see the looks of bewilderment and annoyance on the people's faces when they noticed how out of tune the vocals and guitar playing were. It was a true punk rock moment, but there was nothing particularly punk in Beat Happening's state of mind. They weren't ranting at the world, just banging on their instruments in a simple, charming (at least to my ears) way.
Austin May will most likely get that kind of reaction from folks who've absorbed too much Top-40 radio. This is "love it or hate it" material; rarely will you find somebody in the middle. May's voice is dry and often drones, such as on the intro to "Dog Ears." It's an acquired taste. While his singing is not as bizarre as Calvin Johnson's, it's bound to polarize listeners. And there's nothing wrong with that; the most challenging artists are usually not the most widely understood.
The dead branches and storm clouds on the album cover fit the mood. It's a little dreary at times, but it can rock, too -- check out the acoustic shred in "S. Bouquet." May plays all of the instruments himself, and the production doesn't get anymore intimate than this. It feels as if you are in the room with him, listening to these compelling private conversations.
- Kyrby Raine
Our Rating: 7/10
If Lou Barlow of Sebadoh had formed the Velvet
Underground as a one-man band, he probably would've recorded a
record similar to Austin May's self-titled CD (http://www.austinmay.com).
With its spare arrangements and low-fi production, "Austin May"
epitomizes the indie aesthetic.
The Velvets comparison isn't hype. Strip away Lou Reed's poetic,
shockingly vulgar, and streetwise storytelling and you basically
have a group that sound as underground as their name. Like Reed, May
has a monotone voice that's as far removed from commercial pop as it
gets. But it's his style and a prettier vocal would lighten the
punch.
On "Dog Ears," May opens the track by singing slowly, and you wonder
where the song is going until, yes, it does pick up and clangs along
in prime Velvets fashion. Even better is "Home to Me" with its
brittle riffing and sensitive vocals a la Barlow.
Most of today's acoustic rock is too polished, mainly because those artists are trying to break into mass consciousness. May isn't even attempting that. He's following his own muse. There's a downbeat quality to these tunes, especially "Make Up Your Mind" with its tribal drumming, which makes it perfect for rainy, miserable nights.
- Adam Harrington