DODD FERRELLE & THE TINFOIL STARS: The Murder of Love

Dodd Ferrelle & the Tinfoil Stars

The Murder of Love

© 2005 Dodd Ferrelle (643052002921)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 30% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

Dodd's latest is another roots-rock stomper, this time with more pop hooks.

notes

The Murder of Love will be viewed by some as a change in direction for the Athens-based Dodd Ferrelle & The Tinfoil Stars. The fiddles and mandolins may be left in the cases for this recording, but the strong songwriting and memorable hooks associated with Dodd's best songs are very much still in place. In fact, songs like "Hiding Out" and "If You Could Be" from The Murder of Love are more likely to get stuck in your cranium than anything he has previously penned. In a review of the band's previous CD, Always Almost There, British music publication Bucketful of Brains said the band "bears the influence of the golden age of post-punk pop ala Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello." The Murder Love should go one step further in backing this claim.

When Dodd's previous band, the alt-country outfit Rags, dissolved, Dodd's first solo CD, A Carriage On The Hill, moved deeper into twangy and Irish sounds with songs that have become audience favorites, such as "Bow to the Fiddle" and "Waiting on the Pour." Produced by former Sugar bassist David Barbe (Drive By Truckers, Son Volt), A Carriage On The Hill was promoted for the most part by just word of mouth, but in the three years since its release it has become a favorite of critics and the fans. "Strung Out (Like the Lights at Christmastime)" received a Nashville-based Diamond Ram songwriter's award.

Around the time of the release of the Carriage CD, Dodd assembled a band with guitarist Tim Adams that included Michelle McClure on bass. Calling themselves the Tinfoil Stars, the band started playing around Athens, Atlanta and Savannah. Dodd's name was prominent enough in those towns for them to decide to bill the band as Dodd Ferrelle & The Tinfoil Stars. Dodd took the Tinfoil Stars in the studio with him to record his next CD, Always Almost There, once again with Barbe producing. After a year of playing out the band had become a tighter and a more cohesive unit, and the new songs reflected a more straight-ahead rock sound. Overall the new CD had less twang than A Carriage On The Hill and more short pop songs such as "Too Bad You" and "Always Almost There." Also included was a cover of the Waterboys' "Fisherman's Blues."

During the summer of 2003, Dodd took time from touring to compile Sweet Lowland - Songs Inspired By Tybee Island and Savannah, a tribute to Dodd's home and the influence for a number of his compositions. Originally intended only for distribution in the Low Country area, the CD became a much bigger success, garnering radio and press appreciation on a much broader scale.

Sessions for The Murder of Love with Barbe again producing were completed in 2004. While touring in 2004, the band worked up a cover of the ABBA song "S.O.S." Audience reaction was strong enough for the band to go back in the studio to record the song for inclusion the new CD. Lyrically there is an underlying theme that ties the songs on The Murder of Love together. Even the cover of "S.O.S." fits with the songs Dodd has written. Yes, this is a collection of songs about the end of a relationship, but there is hope in the spirit and feel of the songs and music.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Very good CD
    author: jmsdeeter

    My favorite S.O.S. hase the potential for a hit song!I!m not into slow songs mutch,but TURN IT ALL AROUND is a winner.

email

Please log in to email this artist.