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New York | Nashville | Los Angeles
www.thepresshouse.com
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Critically Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter
James McCartney Announces New Album
The Blackberry Train
Album Pre-order Available Today With Instant Download of “Too Hard”
Album release worldwide May 6th on Kobalt Label Service
Singer-songwriter James McCartney’s signature aesthetic of melding smart hooks and feral alt-rock with the grandeur and spiritual centeredness of psychedelic music has won him press plaudits and a strong fan-base. He’s garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and The Daily News. He’s built a robust international profile through tirelessly touring the US, Europe and the UK, playing bigger and bigger shows with each go around.
Now, he issues the sharpest entry of his vision, the majestic The Blackberry Train. The record is engineered by Steve Albini, (Nirvana, The Pixies and PJ Harvey) and will be released worldwide on Friday, May 6th by Kobalt Label Services. Fans can pre-order the album now via James’ website. The opening track, “Too Hard”, will be available for instant download on iTunes and on Spotify with pre-order.
On the track, which can be described as a jangling rocker, James says: ” I wrote it in L.A, and tried to infuse it with a country feel to really bring out that desperation, and the idea of trying too hard. Dhani Harrison came into the studio and we both collaborated on the guitar solo in the song.”
In December 2015, before Christmas, James played a 3-show residency at The Islington in London, where he debuted material from The Blackberry Train to sold out audiences every night. This summer James McCartney will be sharing tracks from his new release as he tours the U.S. in the summer.
“It’s all been an evolution,” James says. “This set of songs definitely has a harder edge, but it’s a continuation of the last album. The main thing for me is to not conform or compromise.”
The Blackberry Train manages to be both diverse and cohesive. The album opens invigoratingly with the jangling rocker, “Too Hard” and closes with the stately and aptly named folk song, “Peace and Stillness.” Between these bookends, highlights include the rough-edged and urgently melodic “Unicorn,” the anthemic “Peyote Coyote,” and the soulful ballad “Prayer.” One very personal song is the winsome and reflective “Waterfall” which was inspired by memories of his mother.
To accurately capture the music in his head, James sought out the distinct audio stylings of Steve Albini. The results make for an edgy and eclectic album with fastidiously crafted songs documented in the studio with glorious purity.
“I like the music to have elements of the avant-garde, psychedelic, and be just a little against the grain,” James reveals. “But in the end, it’s about having as much emotion as possible for me, musically and lyrically. It’s all about the music being cathartic, heartfelt and true.”
The Blackberry Train Track Listing:
Too Hard
Unicorn
Waterfall
Paralysis
Ballerina
Peyote Coyote
Fantasy
Alice
Ring a Ring O’Roses
Prayer
Peace and Stillness
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Pre-order the record here.
For more information on James McCartney:
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