Andy Wagner is back with his third full-length album of uniquely pastoral alt-country music (after releasing one of TWSIS’s favorite EPs of 2009). His voice has a coarse drawl that gives it a weathered and experienced quality, but his delivery keeps his albums consistently rooted with an affable and pleasurable quality. On Silos and Smokestacks, he is supported with the full sound of his backing band. Guitars, synthesizers, and, most notably, a pedal steel allow the music to soar and sashay with a natural ease.
http://www.thewheelsstillinspin.com/2011/10/andy-wagner-silos-and-smokestacks.html
Those Who Forgive is an alt country album recorded at the late Jay Bennett’s Pieholden Suite Sound studio and is rooted in acoustic guitar, piano, and harmonica. So, yes, it has a sound similar to the better days of Wilco. But these dulcet songs, which are available for free download from Rock Proper, are more reminiscent of Jay Farrar, Ryan Adams, or Bob Dylan.
So I have been listening to the new EP from Andy Wagner for about a month now and it was officially released on Rock Proper this past Monday as a FREE Digital Download. This isn’t your standard complimentary download, this is probably my favourite EP of the year so far, and includes the potential to hold onto that title for longer.
I first posted on Andy Wagner’s album over on You Crazy Dreamers here. To quote myself:
“There is grit that one might not immediately perceive from his made for TV leading man jawline. There is a bit of saloon influenced Alt-Country mixed in with this Louisiana guitar slinger at heart. You will find the toned down rocker follow up a more up-tempo song with a pained rendition of lost love - with an almost Calexico feel…”
I still stand by it, good Americana/Alt-Country from this Chicago Native - and I cannot get enough of “My Blue Sea” and it’s harmonica - nothing gets me more than a great sombre Americana ballad with harmonica (or banjo). This song hits the spot every time I hear it. And to quote my magnificent self again:
“His vocal delivery basically solidifies it for me. He has Sunday morning after a rough night drawl. This is like the good Ryan Adams stuff, if I dare say, as it has the solo and band backed tracks to fill out the full package.”
So make sure to go over and check out the You Crazy Dreamers post (more mp3s from earlier Andy Wagner works) and pick up a copy of the newest release on Rock Proper by clicking the image below:
Visit Andy Wagner on his Website or his MySpace page.
~Smansmith
I have to honestly say that I didn’t know Andy Wagner before the good folks at Rock Proper introduced me to this Chicago troubadour. He already has two albums and has transitioned from Chicago to New Orleans and back again. Now settled back in Chicago, he is looking forward to his new album set to be released in February.
The new album, “Those Who Forgive”, will be released via Rock Proper on Monday, February 23rd and from having been listening for a couple of weeks already, this is a great late night experience. I say this as there is a bit of an intro on his website that just might make you think the same thing:
The sheets are crumpled at the foot of the bed and the blinds and orange dawnlight draw telephone lines across her sleeping face. Don’t worry darling, that was only a crow call. Don’t worry dear, this is only a love song. Chicago’s Andy Wagner writes, performs, sings and records dust and smoke and morning songs to wake to, unashamed.
Don’t let his good looks fool you (yes, I said it), this guy has chops. There is grit that one might not immediately perceive from his made for TV leading man jawline. There is a bit of saloon influenced Alt-Country mixed in with this Louisiana guitar slinger at heart. You will find the toned down rocker follow up a more up-tempo song with a pained rendition of lost love - with an almost Calexico feel (you might hear it in “Nothing to Defend” below).
The new album I feel is outright darker, at least by listening and taking it at face value. It has a slower cadence, a touch more production value and has the ache of harmonica (absolutely love the harmonica on “My Blue Sea”). His vocal delivery basically solidifies it for me. He has Sunday morning after a rough night drawl. This is like the good Ryan Adams stuff, if I dare say, as it has the solo and band backed tracks to fill out the full package. Click on the album image below to visit his Rock Proper page, bookmark it, return on Feb. 23rd for a free download of the entire album.
Take a few older tracks, some newer and some fresh from the recording boards of Jay Bennett’s Pieholden Suite Sound studio in downstate Illinois. Don’t be shy and visit him on his Website or his MySpace page.
Andy Wagner - Horse Year
10/12 (Buy this new)
Andy Wagner’s Horse Year is one of those albums that you can’t get out of your head. It takes this insistent hold upon your ear and then haunts you long after you’ve put on something else. Wagner follows in the line of Uncle Tupelo, using a healthy mix of country-influenced rock, but he has more of a western element and an edginess, which may be from his strange but affecting vocals or from his use of accordion.
Although Wagner gets help on drums from Mark Benson of Lying in States and Matt Lindblom of Early Day Miners plays electric guitar on one track, Wagner plays everything else; guitar, bass, accordion, vocals and keyboards. He also recorded and produced this as well as wrote all the songs.
I have everyone here at my office humming the first track, “Weak in the Knees.” It has this maniacal tune that is so catchy, it’s almost impossible not to learn. There was some fear that the rest of the album would pale in comparison, but that proved unfounded. The next track, “Nothing to Defend,” has this flare worthy of Calexico, only with different ghosts. I could list all the aspects of each song I found stirring, but wouldn’t you rather hear it yourself?
r. renzoni
2004 jan 16
