The album III is audacious: every note, every syllable, and every moment of silence in between is emotionally charged. The album is darker in tone than previous albums and is presented in three chapters, with each one centering on one main character from a fictitious family known as the Sparks, who span three generations in the album’s storyline. III’s concept began while the band was writing in the Catskill mountains, where producer Simone Felice works. Mixing raw emotional themes with their ear-catching melodies, expressive vocals and trademark acoustic sound, III moves masterly in artistic directions not yet traveled by the band.
Written by the two founding members, Schultz and multi-instrumentalist Jeremiah Fraites, the album sees violinist/vocalist Lauren Jacobson officially joining the band. Her playing can be heard on the band’s previous two albums. She joins the touring lineup that includes pianist Stelth Ulvang, bassist/backing vocalist Byron Isaacs and multi-instrumentalist Brandon Miller. (After eight years, cellist/vocalist Neyla Pekarek left the group in 2018 to embark on a solo career.)
Regarding the new album, Fraites says, “This collection of songs worked out in a beautiful way, and I feel with this album we’ve really hit our stride.”
Track listing:
- Donna
- Life In The City
- Gloria
- It Wasn’t Easy To Be Happy For You
- Leader of The Landslide
- Left For Denver
- My Cell
- Jimmy Sparks
- April
- Salt And The Sea
- Democracy (Bonus Track) (Leonard Cohen cover)
- Old Lady (Bonus Track)
- Soundtrack Song (Bonus Track)
