Now It's On

Favorite Albums of 2020: #5 - The Silent Years - Spider Season

As horrible as 2020 was, it at least gave me this. An album I've wanted to hear for a decade finally saw release. An album I thought would never see the light of day. An album I've talked about since I heard songs from it played live numerous times back in 2010 when The Silent Years were still an active band, playing shows around metro Detroit. So while it was recorded well over ten years ago, Spider Season, the band's third full length album, finally saw release in 2020. There weren't many bright spots in 2020. This was one of them.

If you look at my posts on this blog about The Silent Years, there was a lot of anticipation in 2010 for this album. It was given a release date of April 20, 2010 in fact. The band started playing songs from it live earlier in the year, starting with a show at the Blind Pig in January. Four songs were played that night, "Baptized", "Wolves", "Teeth Like Trophies" and "Maybe You Will" which for ten years I've been thinking was called "Maybe We Will", it happens. It was the last song, the one I had the wrong title for, that haunted me especially when I thought about this long lost album. Long story short, the band ran into problems with the now long gone label that was set to release Spider Season, it got held up in limbo, Josh Epstein had to fight to get the album back from the label, then was stuck having to figure out what to do with the album when he was successful in wresting it back from the label. In September, as the band closed out the DIY Street Fair in Ferndale, Epstein announced from the stage that they had found a label to release the album and all seemed right in the world again. 

From there, I can't really tell you why Spider Season never saw release on this different label. Epstein's new project with Daniel Zott, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. really started taking off nationally around this same time frame in 2010 taking him to heights The Silent Years never quite achieved, and it's no surprise his full attention had to be focused on a group garnering more coverage and airplay than The Silent Years did. I held out hope that Epstein would release Spider Season as a download on Bandcamp or something of that nature, he even reunited The Silent Years to perform a song at a Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. show at The Crofoot in Pontiac in 2014, but as the years passed it seemed this album would never see the light of day.    

But lo and behold, what happens in the middle of this shit year? Epstein mentions on Twitter that Spider Season is being released, it's really happening. And with Jr. Jr. now running their own label, Love Is EZ Records, it makes total sense. Over ten years after it was slated to be released, Spider Season finally came out in September 2020. So the question is, how can an album I've anticipated for this long possibly live up to the hype I've built in my mind? Well, I already knew the four songs I'd heard live back in 2010, still recalled their melodies and how they sounded, they were that ingrained in my head. That still left me with eight songs to explore, plus see how the studio versions of the other four turned out. 

Needless to say Spider Season does not disappoint. I've missed this band so much. If The Silent Years never record together again, this is a perfect send-off. I love their earlier work but this to me is their best album. Produced by Sam Farrar and Noah Passovoy with the band in Los Angeles, this was the one that was supposed to take them to the next level. They toured nationally and had received some national press, but these songs were among the most accessible in their catalog. Although every track is full of the experimentation and wonderful surprises The Silent Years brought to all of their music, tracks like "Teeth Like Trophies", "Wolves", "Baptized" and "Keepsakes" are hook-heavy pop/rock gems. A song called "Cages" with a line about people living in said cages seems just a tad too prescient given the year it was released. Every song is kissed by the touches that made The Silent Years special, exploring multiple genres, the horns, Cassandra Verras' keyboard and violin work, Epstein's masterful lyrics and the entire band's insistence on creating meaningful pop and rock music with substance.

Things are slowed down a bit on "Little Love", one of two ballads on the album. Warm vocal harmonies dominate this one, it's a beauty. And closing out the album is THAT song, the one I most wanted to be able to hear again, the achingly gorgeous "Maybe You Will", just as I remembered it, from the melody, the chorus to the ending harmonies. It puts the finishing touches on a great album and a great band. I can't thank Josh Epstein enough for deciding to release Spider Season. It deserved a better fate a decade ago, it deserves to be heard now, and the hometown fans are grateful it's finally out in the world.       

Favorite tracks: "Maybe You Will", "Teeth Like Trophies", "Wolves", "Little Love"

Spider Season was released September 25th, 2020 on the Love Is EZ label.

Purchase Spider Season from Amazon.com

Stream Spider Season on Apple Music

Stream Spider Season on Spotify

Album Review: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. "It's A Corporate World"

I come to the debut full length from Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. with a bit of a different perspective from most of the national writers who have been showering it with mostly positive reviews. I make no secret on this blog, I am a huge fan of Josh Epstein's band The Silent Years. They're still, in my opinion, one of the best indie rock/pop bands, not just locally, but nationally and it's criminal they haven't reached the level of attention DEJJ has. I also love Daniel Zott's band The Great Fiction, another favorite in the melodic rock/pop field, and Zott's solo work is stellar as well.

So if you've followed the projects of Epstein and Zott in metro Detroit, you knew a collaboration was going to result in something special. They're simply two of the finest songwriters from this area. Little did they know, however, that this project that they came into with no real expectations would be the one to launch them fully into the national music scene. Their four song "Horse Power" EP, recorded in Zott's basement and released last year, had music blogs, magazines and influential radio stations across the country buzzing, and sent the two on a national tour as their profiles continue to rise.

"It's A Corporate World" comes from those same basement sessions, so it made sense to include the tracks from the EP as part of the full length. The only "Horse Power" song missing here is their cover of the Beach Boys classic "God Only Knows". Stylistically, the album is cohesive, electronic drum beats are prevalent on most tracks, while all manner of glitchy effects, vocal samples of themselves, Epstein's whistles and other noises that seem like they shouldn't belong but somehow make sense, accentuate each song. But through it all, and what has made this material resonate with so many, is at the heart are Zott and Epstein's sweet pop melodies and vocal harmonies that turn each song into accessible, electronic pop confections.

"Nothing But Our Love", "Simple Girl" and "Vocal Chords" all appear in the same versions as on the EP, thankfully. I've complained before about bands who tweak with perfectly fine material for wider releases and end up ruining the charm it had in the first place. Glad to see that is not the case here. In fact, the biggest complaint for me is wishing some of the songs were longer. I've heard a good portion of these songs performed live by the duo and, in some cases, they extend the live versions from what has turned up on the album. My favorite song, "An Ugly Person On A Movie Screen" suffers the most. It's still my favorite track, that "Na-na-na-na" chorus is absolutely infectious, but it sadly abruptly ends, whereas the live version continues on for another 40-60 seconds at its conclusion. Still a great song, just wish they had went with the longer outro. Here's a live video so you can see and hear for yourself.

Other highlights include first single "Morning Thought", the sparse, acoustics of "Skeletons", a direction I'd love to see more of in the future, the title track which sounds like it could have been a Silent Years leftover as it is closest to the material Epstein records with that band, and their fantastic cover of Gil Scott-Heron's "We Almost Lost Detroit", which screams to be a single in my opinion. Zott and Epstein alternate lead vocals on this one before the electrifying chorus.  

As a fan of the Detroit music scene, I couldn't be happier for these two. It is nice to see true talent from this area rewarded and here's to hoping their signing to a major label with Warner Bros. Records is fruitful and succesful. If you like the music of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., I urge you to check out the music of their other bands as well, as both The Silent Years and The Great Fiction are equally deserving of your attention and have new albums currently sitting on the shelf, hopefully to be released before the end of 2011. In the meantime, it has been great watching these two represent Detroit on a national level and handle their increasing success in such a level headed way. From recording in a basement in Royal Oak to a debut album on Warner Bros. It's a great story and it will be fascinating to watch as new chapters continue to get written. Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

"It's A Corporate World" was released in the U.S. June 7, 2011 on Warner Bros./Quite Scientific Records.

Official Website of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. on Twitter

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. on Facebook

Purchase "It's A Corporate World" from Amazon.com

Purchase "It's A Corporate World" from CD Universe

The Silent Years Offer First Glimpse at Spider Season

Head on over to their MySpace page and you can check out the first official taste of The Silent Years' long delayed, but still forthcoming, third full length album "Spider Season". The band has put up the new track "The River" as of today as the first sampling of the new album. The song is yet another new direction for the band, almost acapella with harmonized backing vocals, claps, whistles and a near calypso feel.

Originally scheduled for release this spring, "Spider Season" has been left in limbo as the band worked to get out of their recording deal with SideCho Records. Once that was taken care of, the next hurdle was finding a new label to release the anticipated album. However, Josh Epstein announced onstage last month at the DIY Street Fair in Ferndale, that search appears to be over. 

No official word on a release date or the label releasing it just yet, but it appears it will be sometime in early 2011.

Concert Recap: The Silent Years at DIY Street Fair - Ferndale, MI 9/19/10

The 2010 DIY Street Fair in Ferndale came to an end with a fantastic performance from The Silent Years Sunday night. This was an exciting night for the Detroit band as earlier in the day, Josh Epstein announced on their Twitter feed the long awaited (and delayed) new album "Spider Season" may have finally found a home. That great news, coupled with closing an already incredible weekend of music, made this a much anticipated set and the band did not disappoint.

They opened, as they have most of their recent shows, with a re-worked version of "Pay It Back" from their last full length release, 2008's "The Globe". Ryan Clancy is joined on drums by bassist Michael Majewski during this performance, and the band was once again augmented with two horn players (forgive me for not knowing their names but they also joined TSY at their Fucking Awesome Fest performance in August). "On Our Way Home", another highlight from "The Globe", followed before they went into a trio of songs from last year's EP, "Let Go".

"Madame Shocking" started the run of "Let Go" tracks before a scintillating version of "Forest Fire". This is still one of the best songs the band has recorded to date and the live performance is always a highlight of a TSY show, especially the ending with Epstein going wild on guitar and screaming into his telephone microphone. The horn laden "Vampires Bite The Hands Feed Them" closed out the tracks played from the EP, another high energy performance.

At this point, Josh Epstein announced from the stage what he had posted earlier in the day on the band's Twitter page. It appears The Silent Years have found a record label that will put out their much anticipated third full length album "Spider Season". Originally slated to come out in the spring, the album has been tied up in red tape as the band tried to get out of a deal with their previous label. But the search for a new label to release the album seems over, although no release date has been made official yet.

Technical problems prevented a planned performance of a few songs from "Spider Season", so Epstein kicked into "Someone To Keep Us Warm" from their self titled debut full length. A surprise cover was next as Epstein wanted to close out the festival with everyone singing along, and they did, to the 4 Non Blondes classic "What's Up". Keyboardist Cassandra Verras and guitarist Fabian Halabou climbed down into the crowd to help lead the sing-along, while Epstein stood center stage on guitar belting out the song. It was a memorable moment and a great way to close out an amazing weekend in Ferndale.

The band returned to their self-titled release for the fan favorite "Someday", before ending the set with what has become their standard set closer, and what a great one it is, "Open Up Our Eyes". Ending with the crowd clapping in unison, while singing "Open up our eyes wide so we can see more" before the band bursts into a grand instrumental finale, this song never ceases to give me goosebumps no matter how many times I see it performed. Hopefully, with the release of "Spider Season" now seeming to be a sure thing, I'll have plenty more opportunities for just that.

Concert Review: The Silent Years - The Berkley Front, Berkley, Michigan 7/23/10

Yes this "review" is a couple weeks old, but I like to capture my concert memories in one convenient spot. So this is more a recap than a review since this was a bit of a surprise set from The Silent Years, who played before The High Strung. Things are really taking off with Josh Epstein's other project, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. who are garnering a ton of national attention with their first EP. Between that and the delay of The Silent Years new album "Spider Season", hung up in a battle with their former record label amongst other things,TSY shows have become few and far between locally. So any opportunity I get to see what is still the best band coming out of Detroit, I am there. 

This was my first time in The Berkley Front. There is an intimate stage upstairs from the main bar for live music. Not the greatest sound system around, but a cool place to see local favorites up close and personal. The Silent Years were performing as a four-piece for the first time in years, so it brought a different element to the set to be sure.

The band focused on older material, playing nothing from "Spider Season", as the arrangements just didn't fit the four piece lineup. They opened with a much more rocking version of their ballad "Someone To Keep Us Warm", very cool the way it was changed up. You truly never know what you'll hear at a Silent Years show, be it rarely played songs or completely rearranged versions of more well known ones, which keeps every set they do fresh. 

Two tracks from their last full length release, 2008's "The Globe", were next as "On Our Way Home" and "Aging Gracefully" were played back to back. Then it was on to the magnificent "Forest Fire" from last year's flawless "Let Go" EP. They returned to "The Globe" for that disc's opener "Out Into The Wild", before a fierce version of "TV>BJ" from "Let Go". Epstein was on fire all night on guitar, no better example than during this song's intense conclusion. 

As good as the band was sounding, it was around this time that Epstein started encountering technical problems with his guitar. He soldiered on and got it working for "Someday" from their self titled debut full length, but it continued to give him problems as it basically stopped working. They tried to close the set with the closing anthem "Open Up Our Eyes" from "The Globe", but Epstein cut the song off during the instrumental intro as his guitar just was not cooperating and thanked the crowd.

It was an unfortunate ending, but it did not detract from what was otherwise another strong set from a band that is still simply not to be missed whenever they play locally. As of right now, the next opportunity will be at the Launch Party for this year's Fucking Awesome Fest at the Magic Stick. The Silent Years are slated to close the night, taking the main stage around 12:15.

The Silent Years "Spider Season" Delayed

The Silent Years returned to a local stage last Friday, headlining a show at Woodward Avenue Brewers (aka the WAB) in Ferndale April 30th. TSY took the stage after wonderful opening sets from Jessica Hernandez and The Cold Wave and ran through a nice mix of old and new material.

After opening with "Out Into The Wild" and "Lidocaine", Josh Epstein then went into three new tracks from their unreleased third full length "Spider Season". Originally scheduled to be released April 20th on Sidecho Records, it was confirmed by Epstein from the stage that the band has severed ties with the label, have the masters from the album back and will look for another outlet to release the new material. Those options could include another label or self releasing but, whichever avenue they pursue, hopefully it does not delay this album too much longer as everything I've heard live sounds incredible. I'd pay good money just for a studio version of the mind blowing ballad "Maybe We Will" by itself, yet another highlight of the WAB show.

A number of songs from last years EP "Let Go" were performed including "Forest Fire", "Madame Shocking", "TV>BJ" and "Taking Drugs At The Amusement Park". A fast paced, punk version of the ballad "Someone To Keep Us Warm" from TSY's self titled debut kicked off the encore, another of the evening's high points.   

I know there isn't a ton of Silent Years news on the web so I will try to keep updates posted on here on "Spider Season" as I do see a lot of visits here from folks searching for news on the album release. As soon as any new updates come my way, I'll post them right away. Below are a few pictures from the show at the WAB.

Concert Review: The Silent Years, The Juliets - Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, Michigan 1/28/10

I know I repeat this over and over again, but I'll continue to until I can no longer talk or type. It's one of the main reasons I keep this blog going. There is so much great music coming out of metro Detroit and the surrounding areas. It's an embarrassment of riches for a music addict like myself, and the least I can do is write about it and help spread the message and music. Name pretty much any style or genre of music and it's being done here, and done damn well in many instances.

Two of the areas finest examples were on the same bill Thursday evening in Ann Arbor as both the Juliets and The Silent Years took to the stage at the Blind Pig. I've raved about The Silent Years on here at every opportunity, frankly, because it's deserved. The last thing you'll get from me is praise when I'm not feeling something. As big of a fan of certain artists as I may be, I'll tell you when I think they've released a dud. To this point, The Silent Years are on an amazing trajectory where each new release outdoes the last, and their quality control is impeccable. Personally, I feel they're the best band from this area and they continue to give me no reason to change that opinion.

The great part about going to so many local shows is the excitement of seeing new bands for the first time, or bands that have been around but you're just seeing for the first time. You never know when you'll be blown away, as was the case on December 11th of last year when I saw The Juliets for the first time at Pure Detroit's 11th Birthday show at the Magic Stick. I'd read about the band in various local publications, and knew of cellist Kaylan Mitchell from her work with The Silent Years and Jeremy Freer from his band Freer. But I wasn't expecting to leave the most impressed I've been with a local band since the first time I saw The Silent Years. With both of these bands on the same bill, this was a highly anticipated evening of music.

The night kicked off with Ypsilanti's The Ferdy Mayne. This was my second time seeing these guys, but the first was at an outdoor "festival" and it did not do them justice. Hearing them inside an intimate venue really brings out the strong musicianship of this quartet that blends elements of folk, rock, country, and some punk leanings as well, into a musical stew worth hearing. You can sample some of their material on their MySpace or, better yet, download their "Chase That Jackrabbit EP" completely free here.        

Ann Arbor's Farewell Republic was next. Heavy on the art-rock with psychedelia, ambient and post-punk thrown in as well, this one is an acquired taste. You can check them out on their MySpace as well as their official website. The first two songs were very good, the rest of the set just really wasn't my thing. I'd swear the last song of their set went on for 30 minutes, at least it felt that way, as it went through one progression after another. Just when you thought it was over,they went off in another direction.

Now it was time for The Juliets to take the stage, and their set did nothing but make me even more anxious for the release of their debut album, "Parade" (and no I don't believe the band has made a movie called "Under The Cherry Moon" that this is the soundtrack to). This was a bit longer set than the one at Pure 11, but it did include all the songs they performed there including my current favorite "Evolved Into". Apparently everything played here will appear on "Parade", meaning it very well should make my Top Ten Albums of 2010 list as this is flawless material. "Parade" will be released as a free download, but this is pop music of such high quality it deserves to be richly paid for. Jeremy Freer has an amazing gift for writing insanely wonderful, memorable hooks and melodies. The guitar,bass,keys and drums are complimented by Mitchell on the cello and Sarah Myers on violin to produce top of the line baroque pop music. You can hear for yourself with free downloads of both "The Letter" and "This Just In".  

The Silent Years closed it out, starting to set up around 12:45. But it became obvious it was taking longer than normal as there were issues with Cassandra Verras' keyboard, as well as other sound issues that would go on to plague their set. The band didn't seem too pleased there had not been a soundcheck and experienced issues with feedback and instruments and effects cutting out at times, but to their credit did not let it stop them from delivering a solid set.

Although it was great to hear older tracks like "On Our Way Home", "The World's Worst Birthday Gift" and set closer "Open Up Our Eyes", I was most excited for the new material that was promised and the band did not disappoint. Four songs from their forthcoming album "Spider Season" were played, three for the first time. The set opened with "Teeth Like Trophies" which was debuted during their set at the Pure 11 show. Two other new songs, listed as "Baptized" and "Wolves" on the setlist, show the band going in a, dare I say it, funkier direction. I can't wait to hear how these turned out in the studio.     

The last new song, the stunning "Maybe We Will", is the next in a long line of classic Silent Years ballads. I hesitate to even use the word ballad to describe songs like "On Our Way Home", "Forest Fire" and "Maybe We Will", as The Silent Years usually put their own distinctive spin on the songs so they're not what you'd typically think of when it comes to a ballad. All I know is, I think my jaw hit the floor as this epic unfolded and closed in a sea of looped vocals and effects.

Sound problems and frustrations aside, the band put on a great set with a nice mixture of old and new. At one point late in the set, lead singer/songwriter and guitarist Josh Epstein said from the stage "Let's call a spade a spade, this is not a great set for us" after someone in the audience apparently commented on the sound problems. But he was being too hard on himself, the new material sparkled as an enticing preview to the new album, and the older material was performed with the typical emotion and passion that has endeared this band to so many inside and outside Michigan. Hopefully there will be a few more intimate shows like this one as the band gears up the promotion machine and prepares to tour behind "Spider Season".

All in all, another enjoyable and entertaining night Michigan made music. I can't implore enough, get out there and support the local music scene. You'll be glad you did as long as there are bands like the ones who took the stage this night at the Blind Pig out lighting up the local music scene. 

The Silent Years to Release "Spider Season" April 20, 2010

Announced via their Twitter account today, Detroit's great The Silent Years will release their third full length album, "Spider Season", April 20th. Coming off last year's brilliant EP "Let Go", this is one of my most anticipated 2010 releases from a band that continues to grow and challenge itself and its fans with every release. If the track "Teeth Like Trophies" that they debuted in December at the Magic Stick is any indication, it's another exciting new direction for TSY with this release.

A full review will of course be posted here as soon as I'm lucky enough to get my hands on a copy.

 

The Silent Years "Taking Drugs At The Amusement Park" Video Released

The Silent Years new music video has made it's debut this week on Yahoo! Music. "Taking Drugs At The Amusement Park" is the second single, and first video, from their current EP "Let Go" (Sidecho Records).

As always, I'm pleased to host the latest from Detroit's best on Now It's On. Of the video, The Silent Years' Josh Epstein said "Taking Drugs At the Amusement Park was such a joyous sing-a-long type song that imagery of children was inescapable.  We reached out blindly to the Paul Green School of Rock and they were receptive so we nervously showed up to teach the kids our song.  We spent a long day there and brought pizza and snacks and taught the kids various parts. Then the most amazing stuff started happening, like conversations about how to start bands and how to tour and it wound up being one of the most rewarding days I can remember. We had the kids come up on stage at our EP release show and that was a riot."

Here is the end result, courtesy of Sidecho Records and Yahoo Music.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Demos on MySpace

Fans of The Silent Years will surely want to check out this new project featuring front man Josh Epstein. He has teamed up with another super talent of the Detroit area, Daniel Zott of The Great Fiction, to form Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. The two have made a few live appearances locally but now you can hear two demos on their MySpace page, "Simple Girl" and "Skeletons". The early stages of more great music to these ears, but wouldn't have expected anything less from a collaboration between these two. Looking forward to hearing more from this project.

Daniel Zott on MySpace

The Silent Years on MySpace

The Great Fiction on MySpace