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Tag: Shovels and Rope

Review | Shovels & Rope – Swimmin’ Time

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[T]here is an inherent sense of foreboding and unease layered throughout the new sophomore release titled Swimmin’ Time from Charleston, South Carolina duo Shovels & Rope, which is almost a complete 180 from the uplifting merriment found in the pair’s first album released under the moniker Shovels & Rope, 2012’s O’ Be Joyful. It’s as though our favorite southern charmers, Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, took a peek through the curtain of popularity that was opening wider for the singer-songwriters and were slightly taken aback by the response of the ever-growing crowd.

Now, don’t read that opening paragraph as a condemnation on the more introspective outlook the new Shovels & Rope album brings to the (turn)table. I am crazy about this record and have been listening pretty much non-stop since it arrived at Music Savage, however with each push of the play button I can’t help but wonder what the catalyst was for creating this musical shift in gears.

There are quite a few heavy topics Hearst and Trent wade through throughout Swimmin’ Time, most notably (as the title suggests) the songs focus on the power of water and the struggle to move forward through fluctuating tides, or to pick oneself up and dry off after the storm subsides. Whether it’s the plea for guidance and hope found in the beautiful song, “After the Storm,” the impassioned call of the album’s title track to swim or drown as the ocean waves pull you away from shore, or the true story of “Thresher,” a submarine lost at sea in 1963 with 129 souls on board, the main theme here is the struggle.

The struggle of ol’ fashioned good versus evil is also explored. The album’s stellar opening track, “The Devil Is All Around,” focuses on finding salvation and turning against temptation. With the glory of a church organ, and the almighty power of a kick-drum, the song perfectly sets the fight or flight tone of the album. You also find the theme in the 50’s inspired numbers as well. The Doo Wop style of “Coping Mechanism” looks for answers away from the obvious inebriants, and my favorite track, the rockabilly, “Mary Anne & One Eyed Dan,” delves into the topic of redemption through love.

While the emphasis of Swimmin’ Time is on the trials and tribulations of a life in the spotlight, I think the message is pretty clear. The road (or river) may be tough going but if you keep your chin up, and swim against the current, eventually you will find your way back to shore. As with most sequels the storyline cautiously dives into the heart of the conflict with the determination to rise above and conquer. Shovels & Rope have created the Empire Strikes Back to their Star Wars, the Superman II to their Superman: The Movie. We all know the heroes win in the end!

Buy Swimmin’ Time

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Happy Valentine’s Day | Shovels & Rope – Birmingham

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvQBgm1QyVE[/youtube] [I] can’t think of a band that we here at Music Savage love more than the husband and wife duo Shovels & Rope. I also can’t think of readers we love more than all of you! D’aaawww sappy I know, but if it wasn’t for the fact that you enjoy music as much as we do then this little ol’ site wouldn’t exist. Thought we should post this sweet video for “Birmingham” for you fine folks today in lieu of flowers or a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Happy Valentine’s Day from Music Savage!

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Tonight | Shovels & Rope – Royale Boston

[R]egular readers of our little music loving site know how much we here at Music Savage love Charleston, South Carolina’s dynamic husband & wife duo Shovels & Rope. Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst are amazingly talented, switching back and forth between instruments faster than a jackrabbit on moonshine, and constantly engaging the crowd with their charming brand of southern warmth and kindness. They have graced many a greater Boston area stage in 2013, the last time was just this past June at the Royale, and if you have not yet jumped on the S&R train tonight is your chance…

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2012 | Steve’s Top Albums of the Year

1. Father John Misty – Fear Fun [C]roce, Skynard, Nilsson, Fogerty and Morrison had a baby and named it Father John Misty. Right out of the gate this album rocketed to the top of my most listened to list. Hooked in by “Well You Can Do It Without Me”‘s Nilsson-like flavor and then drawn into the much deeper and more complicated workings of stunners such as “Funtimes in Babylon”, “Only Son of the Ladies Man”, and… fuck it, the whole album is fantastic. 2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers [I]t says a lot about the state of the musical union…

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Live Review | Jack White at the Agganis Arena

Photos by Boston Concert Photography [O]n Friday, September 28th Jack White paid a visit to Boston to promote his solo album Blunderbuss and remind everyone at the show exactly who is in charge. The last time Jack was in our neck of the woods he was behind the drums with his last super-group side project, The Dead Weather, back in the summer of 2009. When I asked fans around the arena if they had been to that show most of them said no. When asked why did they miss a chance to see Jack White in Boston the most common…

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Win Tickets to See Jonny Corndawg this weekend

[SnapApp id=2] I’m putting another quick sweepstakes offer to win 2 tickets to see Jonny Corndawg this Sunday night at Great Scott in Boston.  Its practically the show of the decade for me here, he’ll be backed up by Shovels and Rope and Robert Ellis, two acts that I never shut up about.  I’ll pick the winner randomly on Saturday and see you there on Sunday night.  Enter and win.

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Video | Shovels & Rope – Gasoline

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1XMhdAGDgc[/youtube] For a long time it seems I’ve been a fan of just about everything related to Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, I excitedly caught a set of theirs when they were in town opening for Butch Walker last month.  I’m a huge fan of their solo works (The Winner, Lions And Lambs), as well as some of their other projects (Oh, Scorpio) and well I have been in love with Shovels & Rope for years now.  Check out this video of Cary & Michael performing song “Gasoline,” one of my favorites from their album.  If you are unlucky…

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