seangj Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 PO from Graveface here: http://graveface.bandcamp.com/album/fruitless-research From TW Walsh: After every record, I think about packing it in. I mean, how long can I realistically do this? With Songs of Pain and Leisure, I felt like I had completed something. Like I had realized some kind of vague, ridiculous vision. I figured if that was the last one, I would be cool with it. At the beginning of 2013, as a result of an extreme exercise regimen, insomnia and a poor diet, I came down with a mysterious, debilitating illness. For about a year and a half, I totally struggled through each day. I didn't have the energy to be creative... I could barely function at all. The only diagnosis I ever received was chronic fatigue syndrome, but I'm still not convinced that was correct. I'll probably never know what was wrong with me. I'm still not nearly 100%. Eventually, I started to feel a little better, but then I fell off my bike and broke my elbow. This made it impossible to play guitar or drums for several months. That was a bummer. Over time, I did start to feel healthy enough to start messing around with song ideas. I recorded several demos, but I couldn't find the right sound. The songs were good, but I wanted the arrangements to be weirder and more varied, and I didn't know exactly how to do that. I had these patterns and ways of working I kept falling into and it made for stale bread. Yuuki Matthews (The Shins, David Bazan, Crystal Skulls, Teardrops) is a genius, and since working closely with Crystal Skulls back in the day, I had always wanted to do more collaboration with him. So in the spring of 2014, I reached out to him about working together. I think this was before Bazan started working with him on his monthly series, but I'm not sure. Anyway, he was down to bounce some ideas back and forth, so I sent him some songs. This approach clicked, so over the course of exactly one year, we finished the ten songs that make up Fruitless Research. In a few cases, Yuuki reworked the songs from the ground up - keeping only the vocal and some drum elements, and building a new chord progression around the melody. In other cases, he added overdubs and did some creative editing. But in every instance, his vision pushed the song over the edge into something exciting... something that I wouldn't have done on my own. His mixes also blew me away. They're pretty unconventional at times in their saturation and character. It kind of sounds like a tape from the 80's you left in your car too long. It reminds me of my childhood in the best way possible. I was left in the car too long a few times. Lyrically, this record documents a time of upheaval, discovery and change for me. I turned 40 right in the middle of it. I've been working through a lot of existential stuff. At some point, you gotta take a hard look at reality. Try to figure out what your life means. For real. I guess that's how I'll be spending the next 40. Thanks for listening. Here is a song. https://youtu.be/GfHPOADU9-E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 Also, if anyone doesn't want their subscription copy, let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I can't wait for this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anchorclose Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I'm pretty excited to hear what this record sounds like. That synopsis definitely has me intrigued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 New song "Public Radio" http://bbook.com/music/blackbook-premiere-tw-walsh-releases-public-radio-off-his-retro-futuristic-album-fruitless-research/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somethingvinyl Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I'll get this soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted January 27, 2016 Author Share Posted January 27, 2016 Another new song "Fundamental Ground" http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/01/tw-walsh-fruitless-research-05-fundamental-groundmp3.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machiventa Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Wow, loving all of these songs! This sounds like it'll become my favorite from him. I've liked most of his stuff that I've heard, but most of it is a tiny bit boring to me. The style of these tracks is more upbeat and lively, more up my alley. Can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Full stream is up: http://graveface.bandcamp.com/album/fruitless-research Machiventa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Test press with screen printed cover $39 ppd https://graveface.bandcamp.com/album/fruitless-research Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Received this today. Spinning now, and it sounds great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Received this today. Spinning now, and it sounds great! What color is the retail version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Purple marble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Purple marble Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eight1echo Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Great record. Fundamental Ground is a perfect song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I'm waiting til this comes in to listen. I'm pretty excited based off early reactions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copelandkid Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Purple marble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_c Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Great record. Fundamental Ground is a perfect song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machiventa Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 This album is waayyy better than his earlier material (that I've heard) IMO. I'm loving it, and it will easily make my top albums of 2016! It's just too bad that it'll most likely go unrecognized aside from fans. Hopefully he gets some songs on tv shows/commercials/etc. He deserves it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somethingvinyl Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Oh, man, I love The Soft Drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seangj Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 Oh, man, I love The Soft Drugs. I agree. That is my favorite TW project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somethingvinyl Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 One of my favorite PTL songs is "Start Without Me" and TW wrote it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somethingvinyl Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Since I know someone will inevitably challenge my superior (read: lame) PTL/Bazan trivia:https://twwalsh.bandcamp.com/track/start-without-me-2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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