The indie rock comeback I’m most looking forward to this fall? America.
Yeah, that America. The AM Gold hitmakers.
On 10/17 the once-popular ’70s fokies release double album Here & Now on Sony’s Burgundy Records, “an innovative record label dedicated to bringing you the best new music from your favorite iconic artists.”
One of the discs contains live material, the other features an all-star cast of Stereogum faves. Adam Schlesinger and James Iha produced. Ryan Adams makes a cameo. Ira and Elliot from Nada Surf help America cover their “Always Love.” AND Jim and Patrick from My Morning Jacket help America cover their lovely “Golden.”
It’s gonna be like Santana’s comeback, but not lame!
Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley gave a preview earlier this month at BB King’s when Iha, Schlesinger, and Adams joined ‘em onstage for “A Horse With No Name.”
If this project is as good as it sounds, I hope the boys turn their attention to our beleaguered Christopher Cross.
America – “A Horse With No Name” (MP3 Link Expired)
Fountains Of Wayne – “Hey Julie” (MP3 Link Expired)
My Morning Jacket – “Golden” (REAL)
Nada Surf – Q&A and AOL Performance [8 Songs] (M4A)
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“It’s gonna be like Santana’s comeback, but not lame!”
two words: muskrat love
one word: lame
Hate to be negative right off the bat on this, since I really like pretty much all of the collaborators, but America? Yuck. They’re probably the most irritating C-list band that classic rock radio overplays. “Horse with No Name” is bad CSN&Y. Their other stuff, while more original-sounding, is none the better for it. “Sister Golden Hair” is sonic genital mutilation.
sheesh, i was afraid to mention my love for that FoW track until scott spoke up.
thank you, sir- now i might live without shame.
I thought this might be a very-late April Fool’s story. Nope, it’s real. But at least the idea of these hipsters collaborating with America isn’t half as nutty as that story about the Kiss coffee shop.
Ventura Highway is a great song.
Ventura Highway is bollocks… let’s look at some of the lyrics….
cause the free wind is blowin through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air, in the air
…wow Bob Dylan must be shitting himself. Does James Iha actually play guitar or does he just fake it while Billy Corgan plays backstage???
Ira and Elliot from Nada Surf are one person with two first names. Do you mean Ira and Matthew, by chance?
I really love “Hey Julie” too, Scott – I actually was thinking about posting that song myself!
hey all you haters. Muskrat love is one of my personal favorites (ventura highway is up there too) Not because they are serious or inventive or even artfully composed (okay, the lyrics to Muskrat Love are kinda brilliant”singin and jingin the jango”), but because they are silly, fun, and enjoyable.
And you, Ventura Highway lyric hater…at least its not Yes making a comeback: (Roundabout)”In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they
Stand there..”
yacht rock. it was a time of dumb lyrics, acid and drugs like “china white.” oh, and damn good times.
“Hey Julie” rocks!
sister golden hair is pure pop bliss
are lyrics always that important? jesus
a full review of the BB King’s show w/ Iha, Schlesinger and Adams on Fresh Bread:
http://freshbread.blogs.com/fresh_bread/2006/06/america_and_fri.html
that FOW album kind of spread the gems too thin, but hey julie is a hell of a gem.
I’m really looking forward to the return of Kansas. I heard Ryan Adams likes them too.
Never heard “Hey Julie” before, but thanks for posting it, Scott. It’s so lovely, it makes me want to cry.
I’m gonna put it on a mixtape (yes, you analog-haters heard me) right before “Slack Motherfucker”.
i love that fountains of wayne song as-well, very catchy. and how can you go wrong with “a horse with no name” ?
In a world where Survivor (yes, the ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ fellows) are still making records, nothing surprises me anymore. Here’s an argument when record companies tell you downloading is killing music:
“In this day and age, if you can release new records by America and Survivor, you’ve obviously made FAR too much money, so how’s illegal downloading going to hurt you?”
Not that I’m an advocate of that. Oh no.
I’ve always been partial to Sister Golden Hair.
Wow. I’m amazed at how good Nada Surf sounds acoustic. I’m really impressed by those acoustic, in-studio songs…
For the record, America didn’t really go away; I saw them at a local fair in Allentown, PA, back in 2000. Well, I didn’t SEE them; I heard them from the other side of the fair.
But like all vaguely twee bicentennial babies, I’m a little partial to them for their contributions to the soundtrack of “The Last Unicorn.” Perhaps if Joanna Newsom keeps covering them I can be emancipated of the genuine article.
You know they aren’t the Rolling Stones but they sound good and they have made song really good albums. And let’s face it George Martin says “they are very talented chaps” – Sandman is a great song
Acoustic stuff from America’s first couple of albums are really good and I have a friend who has follow them and when he makes a cd for me he usually throws and America song or two in there and they are quite good. Zepplin and the Who are still my favorites but I must say America has sold a lot of albums and I can see why
When I hear all of these great groups were joining America in their new cd I went out and bought a couple of theirs. I bought Homecoming which had Ventura Highway – that is a great cd. I also bought View From the Ground which had You can do magic – a big hit when I was in High School
- this cd wasn’t as good a Homecoming but I liked it a lot. I can see where there is a lot to work with.
reading these reviews it sounds like someone has a sonic problem – America was/is a good band – not overly deep or big rocking but a good band that puts on a nice show and has had a lot of good songs and successful hits – I bet with a younger twist on this cd they will get a lot of airplay
“Ventura Highway” rules! Punk rock is for fools!
America, like all bands, has had its ups and downs, but to hold one or two songs against their greater body of work is your loss. Muskrat Love was not universally slammed until AFTER The Captain and Tenille turned it into a synthesized children’s song. America’s version came out first and was a modest hit on its own right.
Obviously from the number and names of the collaborators on this new album, people with much more musical savy than you see the value of their work.
America has been together since their beginnings.
Dan Peek (The voice of”Lonely People” , “Today’s the Day”, “Don’t Cross The River” left the group in 1979 to make christian music. Gerry Beckley & Dewey Bunnell have been together ever since. It’s been a few years since their last STUDIO CD, “Human Nature” which was released in 1998.
Beckley just released a great solo CD “Horizontal Fall”. All true America fans know this and know the have continued to make excellent music all along. The new CD being released in Jan ’07 “Here and Now” on Burgundy records can be previewed on MySpace, with sound bits from each song. They have toured every year
for the longest time. If you’re not a fan of them, then don’t buy the CD. If you liked their
early albums on WB, then I’m pretty sure you will
enjoy their acoustic driven music.
i am an artist i and my friend have our music demo and seek to get records companys abroad to sign us
america,my favorite band,i like all their songs especially she’s a runaway,your move,and all around…….