STEWBOSS: Take Your Pretty Hands Off My Heart

Stewboss

Take Your Pretty Hands Off My Heart

© 2006 Stewsongs Records (634479359101)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

The boys from California return with their most authentic and ambitious album to date. Recorded and mixed in only four days in an old house in Escondido, this record is a rare and revealing look at a band on the verge of greatness.

notes

Four days. I have trouble getting my head around it. How did they record and mix an entire record in only four days? Bands spend three months, heck, they spend a year, making records that don’t hold a candle to this one. How in the hell did they do it? Well, after many, many listens I may have figured it out…

It starts with an old house in Escondido, California. Set-up the drums and bass in the living room, guitars and vocals in the kitchen and track everything live until you get the take that says it all. When you’re too exhausted to go on, simply sleep on the floor. Wake up the next day, get some fuel in you and start all over again. Now THAT, my friends, is how great bands make records.

Forget all the digital multi-track garbage the industry is trying so desperately to pass off as inspired. Our ears know the truth. Four guys playing together, that energy, that intent, you’ll hear it, you’ll feel it, and you’ll know… this is what music was meant to sound like.

I remember once hearing Jeff Buckley say that the greatest moments of musical inspiration happen when you’re completely exhausted. What comes out when you have nothing left to give, that’s where the magic is. I would have to agree. This record and this band are pure magic. Somehow, they’ve raised the bar again on every musician out there that thinks music and talent is about the clothes you’re wearing and which actress you’re screwing. Well, it’s not. And now we have proof.

Great songs and raw talent, the mighty Stewboss have it in spades. Taking a cue from Sam Phillips and the Sun Studios mentality, they went in and knocked out ten of the best songs you will hear on one record this year. They’re not playing country. They’re not playing blues or folk or even rock-n-roll, but somehow, the same feeling I get when listening to those old records from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, that feeling of reckless abandon and soulful wonder, I get that when listening to this album.

You will feel them in the room with you. On “The Ghost of Adeline” they sing, “she is standing there beside you too and looks through you.” Like ghosts through the speakers, they creep in and take hold of you, raising the hairs on the back of your neck, until you’re left paralyzed by the sound in the room. I’ll freely admit, this doesn’t happen to me much anymore. In fact, not since I was teenager listening to “Music from Big Pink”, "Astral Weeks" or maybe “Nashville Skyline”. But now it happens when I listen to this band, and I’m still not sure exactly why. And, you know what, I don’t care anymore. I’m just going to sit back, listen and be thankful for it.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Another Cracker...but
    author: Baxi

    The recorded catalogue of Stewboss is superb and having just caught them live in the UK again, they are still performing brilliantly. This CD is nearly up there with their best and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this CD to any newcomers, how they put this together so quick is astonishing! However, I would have preferred more than 31 minutes for my buck, as it were. Still, 31 minutes of Stewboss is still better than 71 minutes of some of today’s chart crap!

  • Really great!
    author: Rob Moorby

    Another strong release from the Stewboss lads. It's quite short (they like to leave you thirsty for more!) but they're all great songs and I'm looking forward to the new album and tour. Buy all their albums! Yeah!

  • author: Phil Page

    The Places We Meet was a hard act to follow and this cd needs a few listens to appreciate that Stewboss have actually come up with some tracks of similar stature. Three or four really evocative numbers that show excellent musicianship and thoughtful lyricism. Well worth the money.

  • Another Classic Batch Of Songs.
    author: Bobo

    Whether an official album or a snapshot of work in progress, this batch of new songs,recorded 'live' in four days is a must.The ten numbers come in at under 32 minutes but it's full of all that Stewboss do best,with at least three of the tracks being instant classics.

  • Time the band were famous !!
    author: andyacko

    Another fine, fine album featuring probably their greatest song ever - ' Roses, Hearts and Doves '. Worldwide success can only be just around the corner !!

  • Another great album
    author: John Moorby

    Here are ten more really well crafted songs played with real passion - Stewboss are sounding as good as ever. A fantastic live band too should you get the chance to see them.

email

Please log in to email this artist.