The Longwalls

The CriticTron 3000 says “They Might Be Giants crossed with REM,” which actually is not the worst strategy or sound. There’s an awful lot to like in these pleasurably jangly songs. Mostly this is a fun romp. “Sex and Work” is not only ingenious, but infectiously catchy. And tunes like “Sargasso in Space” and “UFO” are practically anthemic. Actually, even songs like the countryish “Homecoming” and the light-hearted “In the Cooler” (dig that middle-eight!) might well have the sort of staying power denied to more ponderous, self-serious local entries, in just the same way that currently I would rather listen to airy L.A. pop like the Turtles than to the querulous and far doomier Doors, or to the Rezillos and the Revillos than to, say, Public Image Limited. Highly recommended. - The Noise

Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience.’’ That’s the first thing you think of, at least for the first few seconds, when the whistling and back-porch acoustic guitar eases you into this disc (which, at eight tracks, is either a long EP or a short album — you decide). Not a bad starting point, but completely off the mark as it turns out. But fret not. While there are no toxic hard rock or hungover power ballads to be had, the Longwalls’ third effort aims high for a feeling of pop classicism and succeeds on the strengths of a can’t-miss triumvirate: carefully considered melodies with wraparound hooks, four guys who can sing and play (cello, pedal steel, electric piano etc.), and sublimely burnished, but not overpolished, production (memo to Longwalls: buy Q Division engineer/mix master Mike Quinn the beverage of his choice). Ostensibly, “Science’’ has something to do with retro sci-fi futurism, dystopian states, and phantom extraterrestrials. Whether that’s the case — and this is a compliment — is almost irrelevant. The pure sound of these songs provide such visceral pleasure that between being swept along into the reflecting tide pool of tracks like “Sargasso in Space,’’ or being struck by the stately, Sheila Divine-esque “King of Country,’’ parsing any over-arching narrative or grand theme seems beside the point. (Out now). - Boston Globe

http://dysonsound.com/2009/11/the-longwalls-get-to-shine/ - dysonsound

...the next song and recommendation is from a similar styled band in the aspect that comes with a bit of energy, but knows how to slow it down just right. This Boston foursome known as The Longwalls have one of the sweetest Alt Country ballads I’ve heard in a while in the title track from their upcoming EP “Dark Academy”. I first heard of The Longwalls from fellow blogger Matt over at DysonSound due to a previous EP “Field Guide for the Zombie Survivalist” which didn’t catch me off the bat. I admit I walked into Dark Academy not expecting what I heard – great classic Alt-Country/ Indie that allows you to enjoy both the energy of your evening plus the mellowing out on the way home at 2:00am. I think of a similar style “local” band from Edmonton Alberta, The Wheat Pool when I hear them – and that ain’t too shabby at all. If you have a chance you can stream the whole EP on SoundCloud HERE (you might want to check out the track “Ghosts” as well). You can also check them on MySpace or watch quite an entertaining video for Zombies from their former album over on YouTube.

Full texh + links: http://slowcoustic.com/2010/03/10/two-recommendationssongs-of-the-day-one-for-cavalier-rose-and-the-longwalls/ - Slowcoustic

...the next song and recommendation is from a similar styled band in the aspect that comes with a bit of energy, but knows how to slow it down just right. This Boston foursome known as The Longwalls have one of the sweetest Alt Country ballads I’ve heard in a while in the title track from their upcoming EP “Dark Academy”. I first heard of The Longwalls from fellow blogger Matt over at DysonSound due to a previous EP “Field Guide for the Zombie Survivalist” which didn’t catch me off the bat. I admit I walked into Dark Academy not expecting what I heard – great classic Alt-Country/ Indie that allows you to enjoy both the energy of your evening plus the mellowing out on the way home at 2:00am. I think of a similar style “local” band from Edmonton Alberta, The Wheat Pool when I hear them – and that ain’t too shabby at all. If you have a chance you can stream the whole EP on SoundCloud HERE (you might want to check out the track “Ghosts” as well). You can also check them on MySpace or watch quite an entertaining video for Zombies from their former album over on YouTube.

Full texh + links: http://slowcoustic.com/2010/03/10/two-recommendationssongs-of-the-day-one-for-cavalier-rose-and-the-longwalls/ - Slowcoustic

http://twangville.com/3291/the-longwalls-dark-academy/

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there’s a recent trend in the land of Twang to add some of the production values and philosophical, lyrical meanderings of the indie music scene into the roots and country values that have defined Americana. I’m not saying this is bad, or even new; in fact I’d argue you can trace it back 15+ years to The Jayhawks. In the last year, though, there have been Sarah Jarosz’ fantastic release, the excellent album from Blind Pilot, and many others. Witness, the latest EP release from The Longwalls, Dark Academy.

The album starts off with Playwrights, a nice jangly, twangy guitar-laden piece, and then goes into the title track with some old-fashioned guitar wah-wah and church chorus backup singers. There’s also Ghosts with a kind of indie folk feel, albeit with some guitar noise ear candy in the background. Coming at the mix from a different angle are Touchdown, an indie style song that would be at home on a Death Cab or Shins record, and Saturday about how “Saturday feels no pain”. The most interesting song in the collection, though, is Brave Arms, a more straight ahead rock and roll number that, ironically, admonishes us to “leave the country on the radio”.

Dark Academy has a little more to dig into than their 2008 debut, Field Guide For the Zombie Survivalist, even though it’s but 6 songs. But at only 5 bucks for the CD on their web site, this is a good addition to your collection if you want some indie cred in your otherwise twangy music catalog. - Twangville

http://twangville.com/3291/the-longwalls-dark-academy/

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there’s a recent trend in the land of Twang to add some of the production values and philosophical, lyrical meanderings of the indie music scene into the roots and country values that have defined Americana. I’m not saying this is bad, or even new; in fact I’d argue you can trace it back 15+ years to The Jayhawks. In the last year, though, there have been Sarah Jarosz’ fantastic release, the excellent album from Blind Pilot, and many others. Witness, the latest EP release from The Longwalls, Dark Academy.

The album starts off with Playwrights, a nice jangly, twangy guitar-laden piece, and then goes into the title track with some old-fashioned guitar wah-wah and church chorus backup singers. There’s also Ghosts with a kind of indie folk feel, albeit with some guitar noise ear candy in the background. Coming at the mix from a different angle are Touchdown, an indie style song that would be at home on a Death Cab or Shins record, and Saturday about how “Saturday feels no pain”. The most interesting song in the collection, though, is Brave Arms, a more straight ahead rock and roll number that, ironically, admonishes us to “leave the country on the radio”.

Dark Academy has a little more to dig into than their 2008 debut, Field Guide For the Zombie Survivalist, even though it’s but 6 songs. But at only 5 bucks for the CD on their web site, this is a good addition to your collection if you want some indie cred in your otherwise twangy music catalog. - Twangville

http://www.bandinbostonpodcast.com/longwalls/

Landing the coveted (is it?) #250 spot is Boston’s own The Longwalls. A perfect blend of Americana and catchy-as-heck pop, I dare you not to find yourself singing Zombies (source of my current favorite lyric: “It’s not a social commentary when I say there’s zombies at the mall”) at some point this week. And mark your calendar now – their EP release party (with Cassavettes!) is May 1 at the Lizard Lounge! - Band in Boston

http://www.bandinbostonpodcast.com/longwalls/

Landing the coveted (is it?) #250 spot is Boston’s own The Longwalls. A perfect blend of Americana and catchy-as-heck pop, I dare you not to find yourself singing Zombies (source of my current favorite lyric: “It’s not a social commentary when I say there’s zombies at the mall”) at some point this week. And mark your calendar now – their EP release party (with Cassavettes!) is May 1 at the Lizard Lounge! - Band in Boston

http://www.bostonbandcrush.com/2010/04/cd-on-songs-longwalls-dark-academy.html

Are you psyched for this weekend yet? I know I sure am. So after you watch the Bruins Saturday afternoon, you'll need someplace to work off all your energy. It just so happens that The Longwalls are releasing their new record this Saturday night at the Lizard Lounge with their buddies/spellcheck's enemies Cassavettes. It's derby night, whatever that means. Either you're supposed to wear a derby, or is has something to do with some horse race going on that night. So pick up your race form and we guarantee you won't lose at the Lizard Lounge.

The Longwalls - Dark Academy:

Sometimes you just need a song that lets you stand on the ledge of something and gaze bravely out off into the distance. So we should give special thanks to The Longwalls for allowing us admission into their "Dark Academy." This track has the slow, gradual swing of a medium sized wooden boat with masts and flags and whatnot.

"Dark Academy" has an emotion that's not too upbeat, yet not too down. It exists somewhere in the middle, where such emotions are part of the inevitable horizon, imminent yet unpressing. This is largely in part to vocalist Alan Wuorinen's stoic vocal performance. Like (we assume) fellow Finn Tuukka Rask, Wuorinen seems an unflappable, solid presence in his position.

Is this "Americana" music? Yes. Yet like New England is a unique piece of America, "Americana" music from our region has a specific quality that separates it from the mid-America sound normally associated with the genre. Our Americana is one that can look one direction and see America, yet look the other direction and see the wild expanses of the untamed ocean. The Longwalls have captured this essence in "Dark Academy." - Boston Band Crush

http://www.thenoise-boston.com/content/blogcategory/3/17/

This is a slightly darker slice of Americana from the Longwalls. This 6-song CD has the rootsy drawl of its critically acclaimed predecessor, but seems to be a little sadder and wiser. The writing is more mature and the wordplay is a clever mesh of pop hooks turned on the ear of a lover who has lost, had a family and grown old reflecting on life’s sad mistakes.

This record has all the earmarks of a future classic and gets better with every listen. If you haven’t checked out the Longwalls, this CD will make you a fan. I couldn’t recommend this band more highly. (Joel Simches) - The Noise

http://www.bostonbandcrush.com/2010/04/cd-on-songs-longwalls-dark-academy.html

Are you psyched for this weekend yet? I know I sure am. So after you watch the Bruins Saturday afternoon, you'll need someplace to work off all your energy. It just so happens that The Longwalls are releasing their new record this Saturday night at the Lizard Lounge with their buddies/spellcheck's enemies Cassavettes. It's derby night, whatever that means. Either you're supposed to wear a derby, or is has something to do with some horse race going on that night. So pick up your race form and we guarantee you won't lose at the Lizard Lounge.

The Longwalls - Dark Academy:

Sometimes you just need a song that lets you stand on the ledge of something and gaze bravely out off into the distance. So we should give special thanks to The Longwalls for allowing us admission into their "Dark Academy." This track has the slow, gradual swing of a medium sized wooden boat with masts and flags and whatnot.

"Dark Academy" has an emotion that's not too upbeat, yet not too down. It exists somewhere in the middle, where such emotions are part of the inevitable horizon, imminent yet unpressing. This is largely in part to vocalist Alan Wuorinen's stoic vocal performance. Like (we assume) fellow Finn Tuukka Rask, Wuorinen seems an unflappable, solid presence in his position.

Is this "Americana" music? Yes. Yet like New England is a unique piece of America, "Americana" music from our region has a specific quality that separates it from the mid-America sound normally associated with the genre. Our Americana is one that can look one direction and see America, yet look the other direction and see the wild expanses of the untamed ocean. The Longwalls have captured this essence in "Dark Academy." - Boston Band Crush