BRANDON SCHOTT: Release

Brandon Schott

Release

© 2003 Fluffy Pillow Music (829757417127)

CD coming back in stock soon.

If you want us to email you the minute this CD arrives, enter your name and email address here. We will not give or sell your info to anyone, and will not use it for any other reason than to tell you when it arrives.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Dark organic pop-rock with a 70s singer-songwriter sensibility

tracks

1 Sunday A.m.
2 Afterglow
3 Little Juliet
4 May
5 Paper Wings
6 Burning the Days
7 Let Me Sleep
8 One Man's Poison
9 Still Life
10 Feels Like Home

notes

"Colorful songs with honest bravado."
-Music Connection

Sooooooooooo, this is my bio. First things first - I hate bios. No flashy adjectives or 3rd person subjectivity could possibly make my life nearly as fascinating as that of any of my idols (pick one? Stevie Wonder. Pick another? The Beatles - yeaaaahhhhh, NOW I sound like a serious songwriter). Hell, I could even go as far as to create some kind of intellectual persona for myself that overemphasizes how much my music is ìunderscored with vivid, 'cinematifikery', or that I'm 'blazing musical territory that was until now uncharted'. But, honestly folks, that's just not me.

Seriously, what do you really need to know about me? I went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA - that was pretty (expensive) cool. Good times. Graduated in 1999 with a degree in songwriting. Oh yeah, my son, Tyler - LOVES my music. He squeals and screams along with "Burning the Days" every time he hears it in the car twisting down Sepulveda on the way home from work. No accolade could ever possibly top that kind of review.

I suppose the most important thing you need to know about me, (much like many people doing my kind of gig) is that I am OBSESSED with all kinds of music and quite simply LOVE this music thing I do. Some people are Star Wars geeks and have to have a set of Boba Fett pajamas, or still keep their coolest Return of the Jedi action figures in a case shaped like Darth Vader's head in the toy chest in their living room that doubles as a coffee table. Me? I spend my Tuesday afternoons at Amoeba Music, gluttonously scouring the new releases and digging through the used racks searching for the next 'Revolver' to my ears. Or Iím rummaging through the thesaurus searching for the synonyms and euphemisms for experiencing an elevated state of consciousness, because how many different ways can you say that before people get the wrong idea? Really? Thatís right mom, the WRONG IDEA.

Anyway, it was this undeniable passion that gave me no choice but to embark on this crazy musical journey of mine. I moved out to LA about two years ago with my dog, a bottle of whiskey, and a suitcase full of songs - oh, and my wife (who, at this time has not left me or shot the dog). I started playing at this little coffee shop in Glendale to a good handful of friends who, I don't know, thought I had really awesome sneakers or something. This place didn't have a stage. They didn't have a sound system - half the time, they didn't really seem interested in having music in there at all. But I kept coming back - and a few of us even bought lattes every now and then, so in the end I think everyone was happy. Before I knew it I had built up the core of my musical dream team - bass, kazoo and guitar player Greg Jamrok and drummer/kazoo master Dave Stalker (a.k.a. Torkee and Tappy, respectively). We started getting pretty damn good together, and before I knew it we were turning our amps up to 11 in various clubs in and around LA and fleshing out the arrangements for what would become my first album, "RELEASE".

This album has been coursing through my veins for about three years. Its inception dates waaaaaaaaaaayy back to the summer of 2000 (insert Wayne's World flashback sound-EFX here). I was working for a small mom and pop record store selling CDs at a flea market on Cape Cod. There, in the humid August sun, sandwiched between an antique dealer and a shoe salesman (I still have 2 pairs of his shoes!), out of sheer discontentment I wrote Paper Wings and Little Juliet. In this case, art certainly paralleled life as the idea of letting go of the past and facing the future kept creeping into my lyrics (case in point, Still Life) - deep down, I knew I had a move and an album to make.

Jumping forward a few years - as my musical family started to build in LA beyond even my own lofty expectations; I came to the conclusion that it was time to commit to RELEASE. Tappy, Torkee & I started rehearsing in November 2002 with various guest artists (including, but not limited to Steve Barton, David Kalish - of Rickie Lee Jones fame, Rod Cumming - of The Wedding's Off & Black Valentine, Jack Maher, Jason Wormer, and NYC singer/songwriter and close friend, Brooke Fox). Tracking began in January 2003 at Strawberry Blonde Studios in Valencia, CA with Greg & me producing. We finished recording in August, and wrapped up mastering on September 9th, 2003.

That pretty much brings us up to date. The album was released November 18th, and more information pertaining to its support & creation (including a full length audio commentary) can be found on my website (www.brandonschott.com). I hope to see some of you at my shows, and maybe you'll dig my music enough to tell a friend - and have them tell a friend, and so on and so on. Bottom line: I love writing, recording, and playing music and I look forward to sharing every bit of this journey with you. This is only the beginning, friends. Thanks, and may the force be with you.

Until we meet again...

B

P.S. Don't eat fried Twinkies.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Creative, wonderful songwriting!!
    author: Scott Allender

    The more I listen, the more I enjoy "Release"! The creative production values that are peppered throughout the CD are unique, and refreshing to someone like me who is weary of most of today's contemporary songs. The entire CD is colorful, poetic and intimate, with my favorite tracks being: "Afterglow", "Little Juliet", and "Feels Like Home". I'm happy to have "RELEASE" as part of my collection!

  • Just touches your heart. Real songs!
    author: Pat Mavromatis

    The collection of songs is just incredible. Smart, witty, emotional. You can definitely tell that this whole record is truly a labor love. "Afterglow" is still one of my favorite songs along with "Sunday A.M." And I know that this might sound a bit cliche but "keep it real" Brandon. "Keep it real!"

  • WOW!!! What a ride! You have to take this trip!
    author: Gary in OH

    I heard this CD for the first time today... twice(once isn't enough) and now I hunger for my own copy. I also am a singer/song writer for about 27 years. I judge a song by an emotional meter, if I can sing my way into someones heart and touch their emotions, I have done my job right. Brandon made me laugh, shed tears of joy(not as easy as it sounds), made me feel his passion and feel the music. He kept my attention, just when you think you got it down, he throws in a twist you've never heard before, amazing! His style is unique. On a couple songs, I saw his Beatles influence, but by no means a copycat. Not to often you find an album that you like every song on it... this is it! Thanks for the journey Brandon! Where will you take us next?

  • Amazing songwriting and beautiful melodies, I can't get enough!
    author: Lyndsay in AZ

    I can not get these songs out of my head! Each song is uniquely and beautifully arranged. The songwriting is amazing! I love Sunday A.M., Afterglow, Little Juliet, May, Paper Wings, Let Me Sleep, and In Still Life... Paper Wings is my favorite but May and Sunday A.M. are WAY up there! I am HIGHLY impressed with the quality of this album and expect to hear a lot more from Brandon Schott in the future!

  • Simply remarkable! Don't miss out!
    author: Brandon's Auntie!

    The music on Release is very pleasing to the ear...soft...melodic...intimate...not lovey dovey...and not mushy...but there is an intimacy you find between Brandon and his music. I loved the entire CD, my favorite being Paper Wings! Keep it up my wonderful nephew...your dreams are no longer dreams!

  • This CD is AMAZING!!!!!! Its been a long time coming, and was most definitely w
    author: Cathy in Virginia

    This CD is AMAZING!! Its an eclectic mix of tunes that easily evokes lyrical images as you listen. Each song tells a story--from the cozy Sunday A.M. to the light-hearted Paper Wings, to the wild ride on Burning the Days--this CD will pull you into its grasp and not let go. The sound bytes are only a small taste of what is in store for you when you buy this CD. Buy it today!! You'll be glad you did!

  • .. WOW
    author: Aden Mott

    I remember a few years ago watching brandon sittin on the counter in the record store we worked at singing me an acoustic version of "Afterglow". I have loved that song since and been listening to his demo version of it. This entire CD has blown me away and it was well worth the wait. It passed my "car" test and everyone here at work is jamming to the CD. I would have to say that my favorite song is Sunday AM.. what an excellent choice to start the album off with. Each and every song on this CD has something different to it, VERY eclectic! Congrats Brandon, YOUR THE MAN!

email

Please log in to email this artist.