 | The Ams The Release of An American Soul (CD) |
Bio:
The Ams are an indie rock band from Chicago, IL. The band consists of siblings Frank (vocals, guitars, keyboards) and Anna (keyboards, vocals). The duo performs both acoustically and at times backed by an electric band.
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Media Links & Downloads:
"Godspeed Your Safe Return" (MP3)
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Bio (Continued):
The Ams are set to release their debut album, The Release of an American Soul, a collection of thirteen tracks that showcases the siblings' knack for crafting deeply-layered orchestral pop gems. Frank, in the role of producer, draws heavily from the influences of producers like Joe Meek, Phil Spector, and Jeff Lynne. The production of The Release of an American Soul, is quite an ambitious undertaking, as Frank has taken it upon himself to compose and arrange all string and horn parts himself. In fact, the overall sound of the debut album reflects quite an independent spirit, as the large sound the listener hears is in fact a result primarily of countless overdubs done by Frank and Anna.
In terms of songwriting, Frank's tunes represent a wide variety of influences, seen with the Dennis Wilson-inspired ballad "Your Mere Presence," the Brazilian samba sound of "Godspeed Your Safe Return," and the swinging sixties London vibe of "Saturday Afternoon." While the melodies of the album overall reflect a hopeful and positive spirit, the lyrics, often, are anything but. Lyrically speaking, The Release of an American Soul is a dark, brooding album that dwells upon recurring themes of death, despair, and failed love. The songs constitute a concept album that loosely tells the story of a fictional sixties icon who obsesses over the themes of aging, dealing with broken relationships, an unfulfilled past, and an imminent death.
The identity of who this sixties icon is based on is left open; vague references are scattered throughout the album - California is mentioned, England, various places in Europe… but ultimately the death proclaimed in the last song is only explained as The Release of an American Soul. The apparent obsessions with death, regrets, and failed marriages of the lyrics are not what one would expect from two Chicago siblings in their mid-twenties who are both single.
Some might also be surprised by the strong presence of sixties influences on this debut album, but The Ams are not strictly left in the past on this record. This record embraces digital technology, as Frank programs sampled drum sounds to blend in with Anna's layers of vintage keyboard parts. The marriage between digital and analogue can also be seen with the way the album was recorded, as tracks recorded by DJ Horsethief were combined with overdubs set to two inch tape at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio Studios, in Chicago.
The Ams' desire to learn from the past but also move into new territories can perhaps best be seen on the album's final track, "The Death of An American." Here the band creates an experimental opus that runs longer than thirteen minutes, showing that The Ams have an affinity for the musique concrete leanings of bands like Spiritualized, and fellow Chicagoans Wilco. Beyond the debut album, the ability of the band to master new territory can be seen with their new single, "Feel Alive," available as a free download at the band's MySpace page. Here, The Ams are heard roaring amidst a confrontational mixture of hard rock and hip hop; the "b side" known as "Yes Ma'am/On the Dance Floor" shows The Ams feeling at home with house and techno beats.
The independent spirit of The Ams can be seen with their efforts to both self-produce and self-release their debut album. Frank and Anna have opted to create their own label, Shields Records, hoping to create a home for other independent-minded artists of the Chicago area. By releasing their new single as a freed download only, The Ams seek to find a model that fits in with the ever-changing record industry (selling full-length albums through traditional means, but also providing free singles online of songs that showcase other sides of the band).
What does the future hold for The Ams? In addition to touring to promote the debut album, The Ams are in the process of finishing their second record, as well as writing their third. This is an interesting band that promises to continue to have a strong, creative output for many years to come.
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