Performer Magazine Review

21.03.2010
20:14

A challenging, complex record, Future Sons & Daughters offers the sophisticated ear an exceptional experience, something like an amalgamation of Beck and the Beach Boys at their best.

AM (who’s the namesake of the band) worked on the disc with Charles Newman – the mix master of many Magnetic Fields albums – in his Silverlake cottage, where Elliott Smith actually used to live. A stunning songwriter and skilled vocalist, AM crafted a beautiful base for his band to build upon. Carol Kaye, a studio musician who played bass on Pet Sounds, gave lessons to AM’s bassist Mark Geffen prior to the Future Sons & Daughters session. The influence is striking – a spectacular result. Butch Norton (who has played with both the Eels and Lucinda Williams) reigns down drowsy drums and a dripping conga provided by Chris Lovejoy rounds out the rhythm section. Scintillating synth and keys work by Jesse Nason deepen the tracks, finishing them with a full, luscious sound – like a more crisp, contemporary incarnation of Phil Spector’s famous “Wall of Sound” effect.

The melting, modern alt-bossa nova, “It’s Been So Long,” feels like a reboot of Urge Overkill’s cover of “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.” This track’s duet between AM and a delicate-sounding Andrea Correa hearkens the Bangles’ sultry Susanna Hoff’s rendition of “The Look of Love.” The bass line basks in the limelight, lending an even more lecherous feel to the sexy lo-fi sound. “Endings are Beginnings” is a beautiful song, very light and ’70s in its cadence, like 10cc or Bread.

Much has been made, critically, of AM’s success in television and movie song placement, from ABC’s Brothers and Sisters to HBO’s Big Love and MTV’s The Real World. However, it’s easy to offset any potential undercutting of his credibility with his performance at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and a spring tour with the French princes of electro-pop, Air. AM’s 2006 release, Troubled Times, was also named one of the best indie albums of the year by iTunes.

Brian Wilson is quoted as saying that the Beatles’ Rubber Soul inspired many of the qualities of Pet Sounds, while Paul McCartney is supposed to have said that Pet Sounds influenced Sgt. Pepper’s. These albums still inspire to this day – as seen in Future Sons & Daughters – but AM wears them with poise, while still preserving his own sound.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

When Facebook Dies Will You Be Prepared

20.03.2010
16:32

When Facebook DIES how will you know what we are doing?
Sign up to get a free mp3 song download every month for an entire year.

Sign up here for ONE monthly newsletter- no spam, hear about tour dates FIRST, and get a free mp3 download every month for a year.

www.ymlp.com/signup.php?id=gubuwmmgmgs

www.amsounds.com

Get tickets to AM in concert now

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

LALA AND AM

17.03.2010
16:32

On LALA you can listen to AM for free here:  http://www.lala.com/#artist/AM

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

LALA= Rocks

17.03.2010
08:43

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Support The Band

16.03.2010
16:29

New! Limited edition, hand screened American Apparel AM merch shirt available now. Get your shirt now  and help support the band.  All proceeds go towards keeping the band out on the road touring.

Click here: http://www.theconnextion.com/am/am_cat.cfm?CatID=45

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Clap

15.03.2010
03:37

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.

~Author Unknown

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Support Public Radio

14.03.2010
09:23

Are you a KCRW member?  This is a radio station worth supporting, handpicked music for those with a discerning ear. http://subscribe.kcrw.com/subscribe.php

From the KCRW Blog:

Morning Becomes Eclectic producer Ariana Morgenstern

It’s a great pleasure to have AM back on our show today.  In around 2006, we began playing this local artist’s work, which at the time was ensconced in the confessional singer/songwriter style sound you hear at the Hotel Cafe. We have been impressed by his musical growth as he delves into Brazilian music,  Italian soundtracks, and even a little Turkish psychedlia. Even though this new recording is inspired by the global sounds of the 60’s and 70’s, the man is clearly grounded in pop, which is the foundation for it all. He’s about to tour with the French band Air and will be back in town later this month for what promises to be a memorable sold out show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Lucky for us, he’ll cap the end of the tour with his own performance at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach on March 30.

http://newmedia.kcrw.com/musicnews/2010/03/am-on-mbe/

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Retweet AM

13.03.2010
17:55

Get a free mp3 from AM when you retweet this message:

Get a free AM mp3 when you tweet: http://trkurl.com/DQZI4K #TFAT

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Live Bootlegs

12.03.2010
10:51

This video of the stripped down AM 3 piece was recorded on an iPhone (thanks Kristen!) with the Blue Microphone Mikey attached. No garbled mess like you normally get with the regular stock mic. Little attachment is light-weight and smaller than a coaster and snaps right on.  Check out the sound that came out on this video footage from The Troubadour.  For those into bootleg live recordings, please send me live recordings from the tour that sound cool.

Also, we have a free mp3 of the song from this video SELF PRESERVATION

Free giveaway for mp3 of Self Preservation from Future Sons & Daughters

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Behind The Scenes: Bass

10.03.2010
14:40

Mark Getten laying bass tracks for “When The Dust Settles” off the album “Future Sons & Daughters”.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

KCRW’s Top 50 Most Played

10.03.2010
14:33

http://newmedia.kcrw.com/musicnews/2010/03/kcrws-top-50-most-played/

KCRW’s Top 50 Most Played- AM’s new album Future Sons & Daughters- #18
KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 03/08/2010

1 BROKEN BELLS == Broken Bells >> [Sony]

2 MASSIVE ATTACK == Heligoland >> [Virgin]

3 GORILLAZ == Plastic Beach >> [Virgin]

4 GAINSBOURG, CHARLOTTE == Irm >> [Elektra/because]

5 RAE, CORINNE BAILEY == Sea >> [Capitol]

6 DINNER AT THE THOMPSON’S == Off The Grid >> [Bonne Pioche]

7 OZOMATLI == Fire Away – Sampler >> [Mercer Street/downtown]

8 PANTHA DU PRINCE == Black Noise >> [Rough Trade]

9 YEASAYER == Odd Blood >> [Secretly Canadian]

10 GROOVE ARMADA == Black Light >> [Om]

11 SI SE == Gold Ep >> [Self-released]

12 BAMBOOS == 4 >> [Tru Thoughts]

13 NEW PORNOGRAPHERS == Together – Sampler >> [Matador]

14 ROGUE WAVE == Permalight >> [Brushfire]

15 SHE & HIM == Volume 2 – Sampler >> [Merge]

16 GABRIEL, PETER == Scratch My Back >> [Realworld]

17 DJ CENTER == Everything In Time >> [Push The Fader]

18 AM == Future Sons & Daughters >> [Filter]

19 FOUR TET == There Is Love In You >> [Domino]

20 TORO Y MOI == Causers Of This >> [Carpark]

21 RJD2 == Colossus >> [Rj's Electrical Connections]

22 FIELD MUSIC == Measure >> [Memphis Industries]

23 KIDJO, ANGELIQUE == Oyo >> [Razor & Tie]

24 BEACH HOUSE == Teen Dream >> [Sub Pop]

25 PHANTOGRAM == Eyelid Movies >> [Barsuk]

26 EL PERRO DEL MAR == Love Is Not Pop >> [Control Group]

27 BONOBO == Black Sands >> [Ninja Tune]

28 ROUSE, JOSH == El Turista >> [Yep Roc]

29 BIRD & THE BEE == Interpreting The Masters – Volume 1 >> [Blue Note] 30 DJ CAM == Seven – Sampler >> [Inflammable]

31 SHOUT OUT LOUDS == Work >> [Merge]

32 MIRANDA, HOLLY == Magician’s Private Library >> [Xl]

33 UNDERWORLD VS THE MISTERONS == Athens >> [K7]

34 JAMES, JOSE == Blackmagic >> [Brownswood]

35 LOCAL NATIVES == Gorilla Manor >> [Frenchkiss]

36 TAKEN BY TREES == East Of Eden >> [Rough Trade]

37 MORNING BENDERS == Big Echo >> [Rough Trade]

38 CODEINE VELVET CLUB == Codeine Velvet Club >> [Dangerbird]

39 RUBY SUNS == Fight Softly >> [Sub Pop]

40 SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA == Rising Sun >> [Strut Records]

41 CASH, JOHNNY == American Vi – Ain’t No Grave >> [American/los Highway]

42 FLYING LOTUS == Cosmogramma – Sampler >> [Warp]

43 SADE == Soldier Of Love >> [Epic]

44 HOT CHIP == One Life Stand >> [Astralwerks]

45 SCOTT-HERON, GIL == I’m New Here >> [Xl]

46 CFCF == Continent >> [Paperbag]

47 VEIRS, LAURA == July Flame >> [Self Release]

48 EDITORS == In This Light & On This Evening >> [Fader]

49 CLIENTELE == Bonfires On The Heath >> [Merge]

50 AIR == Love 2 >> [Astralwerks]

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Free Tickets- AIR TOUR

10.03.2010
08:32

Record Store Day is April 17th, 2010. But it is going to take more then one day of support from music lovers to keep these stores in business.  Here is where you can help.  The new album FUTURE SONS & DAUGHTERS is  in every  indie record store, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble and Borders in the USA. (And if it isn’t there you can ask them to order it.)

First 20 people to email me a photo of themselves standing in front of the record store with their purchase of my new album in hand will get a free ticket to the show where I will be opening up for AIR. If you are wearing an AM shirt you and your friend will get in free.*  Email photos to am@visionworksmusic.com.  If you are unable to attend any of the shows on this March tour, I will give you a raincheck (but those tickets will be subject to venue availability of course.)

*Transportation not included, tickets awarded based on show availability.

*Tickets are not transferable and can not be resold must be awarded to person in the photo.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Clap

08.03.2010
04:37

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

~Confucius

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

FS&D Album Cover

06.03.2010
18:21

Found this post that was dead on. John Book- you are correct. Future Sons & Daughters’ album cover is an inspired homage to one of my favorite album covers.  Designer Jonathan Ady designed the logo for this album and also did the layout.

http://www.amiright.com/album-covers/whipped-cream-amp-other-delights/

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Behind The Scenes: When The Dust Settles

05.03.2010
12:47

AM experimenting with some guitar tones before recording guitars on “When the Dust Settles” off the album “Future Sons & Daughters”.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Live On Morning Becomes Eclectic

03.03.2010
08:30

AM is playing live on Morning Becomes Eclectic with his full band today March 3, 2010. Listen anywhere in the world online by clicking here to check it out streaming on KCRW here.  Angela Correa of Correatown will be a special guest performing on  “It’s Been So Long”.

Support music: www.itunes.com/am

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Behind The Scenes: Leavenworth

01.03.2010
12:43

AM working out the song “Leavenworth” from the album “Future Sons & Daughters” at an intimate Hotel Cafe performance in Los Angeles.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Clap

01.03.2010
09:34

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

~Albert Einstein

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Fan Video: It’s Been So Long

27.02.2010
14:27

Song: It’s Been So Long
Album: Future Sons & Daughters
From Kristen G. made this great tour trailer. Check it out at www.amsounds.com

Thank you.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis

Behind The Scenes: Fortunate Family Tree

27.02.2010
12:40

Mark Getten on bass and Butch Norton (who you might know from The Eels or Lucinda Williams band) on drums recording the song “Fortunate Family Tree” for the album “Future Sons & Daughters”.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • del.icio.us
  • Ping.fm
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Twitthis
« Older Entries
© AM