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Bright Examples finds Guthrie and Irion taking their patented country-rock sound and tilting it in a direction Guthrie describes as “more atmospheric or psychedelic, sort of dreamy but colorful.” Recorded at Dreamland Studios near Woodstock, N.Y., the album features a dozen original compositions, chosen from more than 50 they’d accumulated over the past five years. “It was really great to have that many songs,” says Guthrie, “but at the same time, what do you do with the rest? They weren’t any less good. We just picked the songs that we thought went together well.”
Bright Examples was co-produced by Andy Cabic, the prime mover behind the San Francisco pastoral psych-rock band Vetiver, and Thom Monahan, who has worked with Vetiver as well as Devendra Banhart, the Pernice Brothers and Jayhawks vocalist Gary Louris, who just happened to have produced Exploration for Sarah Lee and Johnny. Members of Vetiver provide the instrumental accompaniment on Bright Examples as well as special guest artists including Louris (vocals), Mark Olson (The Jayhawks, vocals), Otto Houser (Vetiver, drums), Neal Casal (guitar), Kevin Barker and Charlie Rose (pedal steel, flat picking guitars), and Rad Lorkovic (piano).
Press:
Quotes:
“If renowned American wordsmiths had a royal bloodline, Sarah Lee
Guthrie and Johnny Irion would be poised to take the throne.” – Paste Magazine –
June 2011 by Riley Ubben
“Bright Examples exudes a gentle beauty and easy-going
charm. While the disc’s quiet,
soft-focused qualities make it an easy listen, Bright Examples holds
enough memorable songs to make it a rewarding listen too.” – American Songwriter
– Feb. 2011 by Mike Berick
“The duo’s talent is obvious…their voices blend with near
perfection; Guthrie’s supplying the lovely voice while Irion’s is high and
wispy, sometimes bringing to mind Neil Young.” - Vintage Guitar Magazine – Oct.
2011 by John Heidt
“What a wonderful sound, when two beautiful voices converge in
harmony to form a melody that is so pleasant you feel as if you could reach out
and touch it.” – Glide Magazine – Mar. 2011 by Leslie Derrough
“This folk royalty has truly carved its own charming path.” - Relix Magazine – Jan. 2011 by Nancy Dunham
“Bright Examples delivers 12 tracks of painterly, organic country-rock
with complementary male-female harmonies, showcasing the genuine vulnerability
of Guthrie’s trembly vibrato and the subtle magic of these two voices
intertwining and melting together.” Daily Vault – Apr. 2011 by Jason Warburg
“Bright Examples doesn't explode their folk background so
much as push it to the side in favor of a dreamy roots pop that falls somewhere
between She & Him and Neil Young's Harvest. It
is a bold step forward for Guthrie and Irion, but one soundly tethered to their
folk roots.” – Austin Chronicle – Mar. 2011 by Jim Caligiuri
“In today’s strong
songwriting climate, Irion and Guthrie’s original lyrics and song structures
shine. Bright Examples is
sophisticated, catchy and well-developed, with tight phrasing, timing,
arrangements and production.” - The Asheville Citizen Times – Dec. 2011 by
Carol Rifkin
“Vaguely psychedelic at times, it’s less trippy than
stripped-down, and streamlined to the point where every note falls into place
and the vocal harmonies between Guthrie and Irion are the icing on the musical
cake.” - Kevin Oliver, Columbia Free Times, Dec. 2011
“Folk legend Arlo Guthrie's daughter and husband Irion have
shifted their strummy but traditional singer/songwriter approach to a more
delicate, retro '60s inflected dreamy folk-pop. The duo's sympathetic voices
and strong knack for melody make the new material particularly memorable and
provide a fertile and fresh direction for their undeniable talents.” - Creative
Loafing Atlanta - 12/6/11 by Hal Horowitz
“Bright Examples is a
warm, inviting album fueled by bright melodies and a sturdy pop with a rock
backbeat. This is proof of their ample talent to accomplish just about
anything.” - Indyweek.com – Dec. 2011 by Chris Parker
“With such famous folk lineage behind them, it has always been refreshing to hear how Guthrie and Irion produce wholly original music, while embracing the tradition that comes before them.” -Sleepover Shows 2/13/12
“The distinguishing feature
throughout is the couple’s caressing harmonies, which carry on the legacy of
Johnny and June, Gram and Emmylou.” - Maverick
“…the pair click together like an old belt buckle.” - Independent On Sunday
“Welch and Rawlings apart – its hard to recall two modern country voices that
dovetail as elegantly as this husband and wife team… a dream.” - Uncut
Contact Info:
Publicity:
Jesse Cutler
publicity@jpcutler.com
Management and Booking Agent:
Lee Smith
lee@earnestmanagement.com
Legal:
Ken Abdo
Ken@lommen.com
European Booking Agent:
Belmont Bookings
Bas Fleeseman
www.belmontbookings.nl
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