THE GENERAL STORE: Local Honey

The General Store

Local Honey

© 2002 Not Lame Recordings (618403007320)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Inspired by the Beatles and the Byrds, this is top-notch, jangly retro pop dressed up with contemporary songwriting wisdom, making each of these tracks simultaneously juicy and substantial.

tracks

1 Letdown
2 Airport Breakfast
3 Long Way
4 Pretty Eyes
5 Hold Me Now
6 Somewhere In Between
7 Think I'd Best Forget You
8 Coming Down
9 Stay
10 The Space Between Us

notes

The General Store is one Tam Johnstone, who will certainly become more familiar in the years to come as he's a song-crafter that fills each note and space inside his songs with amazing nuance and character that fans of great songwriters will not be able to ignore. In fact, he was a key contributor to the stunning Orgone Box cd's released in the past few years and was a member of the influential Green Tambourines. Here, though, as with Orgone Box and GT, the music is multi-varied and soul stirring. The gorgeous strains and influences of World Party, "Harvest"-era Neil Young, C,S,N & Y, Quiver and The Travelling Wilburys are present but filtered purely through Johnstone's immense talents. He's also worked with Orgone Box and Green Tambourines those bands' releases will find comfortable enjoyment here, as well. Like many timeless recordings, "Local Honey" was born out of a heartbreaking relationship breakdown. Seeking to express his despondency in a heart-ripping record, Tam rattled off this gem to make the world right. And "right" it clearly is; not a note or second is wasted.

Inspired by Neil Young, The Byrds, The Beatles and the deeply absorbed early '70's West Coast pop of his youth, Johnstone is now introduced to a proper and larger audience. "Filled with very pretty, langourous tunes...Songs like "Pretty Eyes" and "Stay" are absolutely gorgeous and the downhome, jangly "Airport Breakfast" has a chorus that will sneak up on you like a vulture stalking his prey. You'll also love the Teenage Fanclub-esque "Coming Down" which features cool chord changes and striking interplay between vocals and guitar, as well as the ever-building pocket symphony "Somewhere In Between"...and excellent, charming disc of which the major labels ought to take quick note"-Bucketfull Of Brains

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

email

Please log in to email this artist.