TAS Super LP List! Special Merit: Informal
The Absolute Sound Top New Vinyl Release of 2016!
180g Vinyl Double LP! Pressed at RTI!
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering!
Michael Fremer Rated 10/11 Music, 10/11 Sound on analogplanet.com!
“Frogtown,” an album of original songs, is guitarist Anthony Wilson’s most wide-ranging recorded work to date, and his debut as a singer. Wilson enlisted Grammy-winning producer/bassist Mike Elizondo and a cast of musicians including legendary drummer Jim Keltner, violinist Petra Haden, and iconic saxophonist Charles Lloyd, to help him realize his vision. Virtuosic guitar and ensemble work, well-crafted songs, and intimate vocals drive this album, rooted deeply in jazz while summoning an array of diverse influences. “Frogtown” reaches across genres and evokes complex emotional landscapes. With “Frogtown,” Anthony Wilson steps confidently into the center of a vivid musical and personal portrait.
“Anthony Wilson, best known as a jazz guitarist, has released an organic,occasionally noir-ish, sounding album on which he sets up and sings withincinematic musical landscapes, proving himself to be an equally compelling storyteller. “Frogtown” is an area of Los Angeles, whose official name is “ElysianValley”. People live there but other than a lush stretch of the L.A. riverbed,there’s not much there, which is how the people like it. The same can’t be saidof this record, which will have you wondering from where came this AnthonyWilson?
“Wilson doesnt ease into this new rolehe jumps: opening with She Wont LookBack, which sounds conjured up by Angelo Badalamenti with direction by DavidLynch.
“Not every musician can make convincing this kind of epic shift, but Wilsondoesnt force a note or vocal gesture unwinding a story that navigatesskillfully from heartbreak to liberation…
“The first of the albums four sides ends with Your Footprint, a dreamy, lateafternoon-sounding drift down reverie that Wilsons vocal nails. First playleaves you wondering where this Anthony Wilson has been hiding all of theseyears? If the goal was to establish a crossover foothold in Norah Jonessmusical territory, mission accomplished.
“That was my thought before reading in the credits that Jones collaborator JesseHarris plays harmonica on one tune. Harriss Wikipedia page says his music hasbeen described as a blend of folk, rock, jazz and world rhythms and thatpretty much sums up what this record offers. Also onboard here on varioustracks: Petra Haden, Patrick Warren, Jim Keltner and on one track CharlesLloyd….
“Produced by Mike Elizondo, who also plays bass and synth bass, and engineeredby Adam Hawkins at Can-Am Recorders, the albums sound and the deftly drawnarrangements (for some reason uncredited) perfectly compliment Wilsons dreamy,rural intentions (producer Joe Harley gets a audio consultation credit). Thesound achieves a rare level of transparency, delicacy and three-dimensionalityin todays hard-edged audio world. Bernie Grundman cut lacquers from what Iassume were high resolution files. I doubt youll ask yourself why buy thevinyl? after your first listen.
“While those familiar with Wilsons previous recorded output will be stunned andperhaps left confused after the first play, I think even those with no Wilsonianperspective will be equally moved by the records musical and sonic beauty andespecially by Wilsons evocative vocalizing. Who knew?
“From the first note of the first song Frogtown engages and it doesnt let go ofits considerable grip for four sides…” – Michael Fremer, Analogplanet.com,April 12, 2016
“Anthony Wilson is surely one of today’s most versatile, creative, and chameleonic guitarists…On Frogtown, Wilson moves into singer-songwriter territory, adding his voice to six of the record’s 13 tracks. With a stellar group beside him…Wilson weaves a coherent, personal, and jazz-inflicted album…Frogtown is open and airy, with a relaxed, warm clarity that suits the music. Instruments are beautifully captured tonally and texturally, and Wilson’s voice is nicely integrated with the unfussy mix.” – Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, November 2016
Features:
180g Vinyl
Double LP
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Audio consulation by Joe Harley
12″ x 12″ insert fold out with lyrics
Pressed at RTI
Musicians:
Anthony Wilson, guitars, vocals
Petra Haden, violin, bird whistle
Mike Elizondo, bass, synth bass
Patrick Warren, piano, organ, pump organ, autoharp, keyboards, samples
Jim Keltner, drums, percussion
Matt Chamberlain, drums, percussion
Charles Lloyd, tenor sax on “Your Footprints”
Jesse Harris, harmonica on “Arcadia”
Josh Nelson, piano on “Silver And Flint” and “The Geranium”
Daniel Rosenboom, trumpet
Bob Reynolds, tenor sax
Adam Schroeder, baritone sax, bass clarinet
Selections:
LP 1
Side A:
1. She Won’t Look Back
2. Frogtown
3. Your Footprints
Side B:
4. Occhi di Bambola
5. Silver and Flint
6. Our Affair
LP 2
Side C:
7. The Cares of A Family Man
8. Mopeds
9. Arcadia
Side D:
10. The Geranium
11. Shabby Bird
12. I Saw It Through the Skylight
13. Downtown Abbey
