The Year of the Cow
On October 30, 2012, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Sam Russell released his first solo album The Year of the Cow. Sam is best known for having led his band The Harborrats through a series of releases and energetic live shows since 2006, with The Water Balloon, their last release from June 2012, getting local acclaim and radio play.
The Year of the Cow was recorded with Johnny Sangster at small Seattle-studio Crackle & Pop! Studios in two completely live and acoustic sessions with all musicians in one room so that traditional “punch-in” fixes could not be applied. Inspired by lovelorn and spiritually-infused examinations of heartbreak such as Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks, Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Ryan Adams’ Heartbreaker, The Year of the Cow captures the hard-earned perspective that comes with recognizing mistakes made in the aftermath of failed love.
The performances center around the stark ensemble of Sam on vocals and acoustic guitar, Kate Noson on harmony/lead vocals, Ken Nottingham on upright bass, and Michael Spaly on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocals. Overdubs were limited to what any one person could play live and further musicians were added sparingly. Kate provides the gorgeous harmonies for most of the album and takes lead vocals on the song “Too Far in the South.” On the playful Roger Miller-esqe "Monkey Trap," singer/songwriter Shelby Earl steps in to fulfill role of harmony vocalist. Shelby released her critically renowned debut album Burn the Boats in November 2011.
The songs themselves also bear the influence of laidback 70's singer-songwriters such as Jim Croce and John Prine along with more modern day likeminded wordsmiths such as Greg Brown, Elvis Costello, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, and the literate wordcraft of Leonard Cohen, Iris DeMent and Tom Waits.
Folk and country textures dominate the album: the sad harmonica and saloon piano on “The Lexington Waltz,” the border accordion of "Too Far in the South," and the creaking porch-swing violin on "I Am the Ghost," a to-the-bone close-harmony duet between Sam and Kate. The sound of just four musicians playing in one room is best demonstrated on "All These Passing Fields," the album’s second and possibly saddest track. A cello, an accordion, and pump organ can also be heard by careful listeners on certain tracks.
Following completion of the album, Sam went into Studio V to be filmed by Lulu Gargiulo performing all The Year of the Cow songs for the cameras. Performances of “I Am the Ghost” and “Too Far in the South” are available online for viewing. A cover of “Whatever’s Left” by alt-country singer/songwriter Zoe Muth was recorded as a last-minute bonus track is available with the digital release of the album and available for free download to those who purchase the physical CD of The Year of the Cow.
Throughout the year, Sam will alternate playing solo and full-band shows to promote the album, as well as solo tours of the Midwest, East and West Coasts. In the summer of 2013, Sam and The Harborrats will release The Blue Moon Bible, a compilation of tracks from the band’s first five albums as well as rare and unreleased tracks.
The Year of the Cow was recorded with Johnny Sangster at small Seattle-studio Crackle & Pop! Studios in two completely live and acoustic sessions with all musicians in one room so that traditional “punch-in” fixes could not be applied. Inspired by lovelorn and spiritually-infused examinations of heartbreak such as Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks, Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Ryan Adams’ Heartbreaker, The Year of the Cow captures the hard-earned perspective that comes with recognizing mistakes made in the aftermath of failed love.
The performances center around the stark ensemble of Sam on vocals and acoustic guitar, Kate Noson on harmony/lead vocals, Ken Nottingham on upright bass, and Michael Spaly on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocals. Overdubs were limited to what any one person could play live and further musicians were added sparingly. Kate provides the gorgeous harmonies for most of the album and takes lead vocals on the song “Too Far in the South.” On the playful Roger Miller-esqe "Monkey Trap," singer/songwriter Shelby Earl steps in to fulfill role of harmony vocalist. Shelby released her critically renowned debut album Burn the Boats in November 2011.
The songs themselves also bear the influence of laidback 70's singer-songwriters such as Jim Croce and John Prine along with more modern day likeminded wordsmiths such as Greg Brown, Elvis Costello, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, and the literate wordcraft of Leonard Cohen, Iris DeMent and Tom Waits.
Folk and country textures dominate the album: the sad harmonica and saloon piano on “The Lexington Waltz,” the border accordion of "Too Far in the South," and the creaking porch-swing violin on "I Am the Ghost," a to-the-bone close-harmony duet between Sam and Kate. The sound of just four musicians playing in one room is best demonstrated on "All These Passing Fields," the album’s second and possibly saddest track. A cello, an accordion, and pump organ can also be heard by careful listeners on certain tracks.
Following completion of the album, Sam went into Studio V to be filmed by Lulu Gargiulo performing all The Year of the Cow songs for the cameras. Performances of “I Am the Ghost” and “Too Far in the South” are available online for viewing. A cover of “Whatever’s Left” by alt-country singer/songwriter Zoe Muth was recorded as a last-minute bonus track is available with the digital release of the album and available for free download to those who purchase the physical CD of The Year of the Cow.
Throughout the year, Sam will alternate playing solo and full-band shows to promote the album, as well as solo tours of the Midwest, East and West Coasts. In the summer of 2013, Sam and The Harborrats will release The Blue Moon Bible, a compilation of tracks from the band’s first five albums as well as rare and unreleased tracks.
