Mar. 28, 2012
This week Alabama-born singer/songwriter Lindsay Fuller released her first album for ATO Records. It's called You, Anniversary and our own Mark Deming says "the resonant force of Fuller's vocals is a wonder to behold." Elsewhere she's been compared to people like Nick Cave, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, and Flannery O'Connor, which is heady company for sure. We asked her for a list of some of artists that inspired her as she created the album....First, here's a track from the album for your listening pleasure!
"Everything I Ever Had"
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues and The Lyre of Orpheus
This double disc album is a masterpiece and will inform the way I think about creating music for the rest of my life. Every song is unique and unforgettable. Absolute, planets-aligned, musical and lyrical wizardry. I was listening to this album non-stop while I was writing/recording the songs for You, Anniversary and I remember feeling incredibly inadequate and inspired.
XTC - "Complicated Game"
This song is haunting and heavily influenced the themes of my record. Being human is an exasperating ordeal for many and those are the folks I'm trying to give a nod to in my songs. I love how the vocals begin in a whisper and end in a scream and the music follows suite. This song also has one of the best guitar solos of all time.
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
Mellotron.
Mark Pickerel - "Forest Fire"
I've always had a bit of a fascination with crooners. Mark Pickerel is one of my favorite singers. I've tried to learn to croon by singing his songs in my living room. I definitely thought of him when I was trying to figure out my delivery and structure for the song "One Can Only Hope." I also thought about Ennio Morricone and spaghetti westerns.
Songs: Ohia - The Magnolia Electric Co
This album feels like it could fog a window. I wanted my album to feel the same. We recorded You, Anniversary live and I hope folks can hear us all breathing. There's a potential to capture something magic when you record live that you'd be hard pressed to capture any other way. Magnolia Electric Co is a perfect example. Just listen to "Hold On, Magnolia".....the band will break your heart before Molina even begins his plea. This album also reminds me that "perfection" is a dirty, rotten word to speak in the studio.
REM - Fables of the Reconstruction
Southern gothic storytelling. Lots of minor chords.