DANIEL JOHNSTON announces release of brand new album ‘IS AND ALWAYS WAS’
Out November 2nd on Feraltone October 20, 2009, 08:21 PM Views: 250
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 Put the name 'Daniel Johnston' into any Internet search engine and you will find hundreds of pages about America's most unlikely pop phenomenon. Dating back to the earliest compilation of Songs of Pain in 1981, Johnston has spent nearly three decades exposing his heartrending tales of unrequited love, cosmic mishaps and existential torment to an ever-growing international cult audience. As a result, he has been hailed as an American original akin to blues-man Robert Johnson and country legend Hank Williams.
Johnston is the musician's cult hero, whose music is appreciated for its utter lack of artifice and undeniable simple brilliance. A wide range of notable artists have covered Johnston's songs, including Beck, Wilco, Sonic Youth, TV On The Radio, M. Ward, Flaming Lips, Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, Tom Waits, and Pearl Jam.
Hot on the heels of 3 re-issues he follows with the November 2, 2009 release of his latest - and possibly greatest - work, Is And Always Was, Daniel adds another chapter to his artistic legend. The Album is a decided step away from the lo-fi homemade recordings for which Johnston is famous. "Everyone needs to take their demos and go back to the studio," says Daniel.
On this album, Daniel allied with the musician and producer Jason Falkner, who is known for his own stellar solo career as well as his work with Beck, Air, and Paul McCartney. With Jason manning the boards, "Is And Always Was" was a project that aimed to take the rock and roll symphonies in Daniel's prolific musical brain and deliver fully-realized and professionally-produced recorded songs. "He possesses that rare individuality that makes the listener wonder where this music comes from," Falkner says of Daniel Johnston. "It was challenging to make our minds work together but I really found myself immersed in his musical world. It's a unique place to live, that's for sure!"
While the Beatles may be an obvious touch point - Johnston has often exclaimed his passion for the Fab Four while Falkner has released two acclaimed Bedtime with the Beatles instrumental lullaby albums - the Is And Always Was sessions were frequented by discussions on the shared appreciation for 70's pop-rock icons such as Queen, Elton John, Wings, and ELO.
Daniel Johnston is 48 now. Within his oversized adolescent frame and underneath that incongruously mopped grey hair lies a history of crash-and-burn volatility which co-exists with prolific creativity in music and the visual arts.
Daniel has said that his goal in life was to become a great artist, and the music was kind of 'accidental'. While he's always received attention for his music, his accomplishments in the art world have come to fruition as well. With exhibits worldwide since the late 80's, Daniel could finally feel he had "arrived" when his art was included in the Whitney Museum Of American art Biennial in 2006. In addition, his first formal table-top art book was released in March of this year.
Little surprises Daniel any more. On the heels of the successful 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Daniel has now signed with Regenerate (independent filmmakers whose most recent release was My Suicide) for the production of a feature length movie about his life.
Now, for the technically savvy, you can even buy an iPhone game that features his art characters and music.
His output has been erratic and his career trajectory unpredictable, but Johnston continues to exert a powerful creative presence despite the demons with which he is beset. Johnston's personal troubles have sometimes overshadowed his music legacy, but they didn't derail his prodigious talents. Listening to the amazing 11-song journey that Is and Always Was, you get the feeling that Johnston is feeling a lot better and that everything is going to be alright.
Tour dates:
Oct 31st London Bloomsbury Ballroom
Nov 1st Brighton Concorde 2
Nov 2nd London Union Chapel !SOLD OUT!
Nov 3rd Manchester Town Hall
Nov 3rd Liverpool The Masque Theatre - midnight show
Nov 4th Edinburgh Queens Hall
Nov 5th Gateshead The Sage
Nov 6th Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Nov 7th Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Nov 8th Bristol Trinity Arts Centre
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NORAH JONES TO RELEASE BRAND NEW ALBUM IN NOVEMBER 2009