This is scratching an itch I’ve long neglected. Yoinked incontrovertibly.
Needles & Grooves AotM /// Vol. 47 - May 2023 /// Ages and Ages "Me You They We"
- Thread starter Ericj32
- Start date
This is scratching an itch I’ve long neglected. Yoinked incontrovertibly.
Ericj32
Well-Known Member
As you dig into the songs on this record, I wanted to share this link to the band's website, where they've posted the lyrics and unique artwork for each song on the album, along with some behind the scenes information about creating the song.
www.agesandages.com
Me You They We — AGES AND AGES
www.agesandages.com
Ericj32
Well-Known Member
*added to the first post in this thread:
-Why I Picked This Album-
I don't have any fancy answer - this band and this album just represent a lot of what I love about music in general. Their sneakily ambitious song arrangements have lots of vocal layers and instrumentation, but what could sound really busy and chaotic all fits together in a beautiful and clear way and often produces an effect that's more than the sum of its parts (even though there are a lot of parts!). In a lot of ways, it would probably be simpler and easier to just have one singer and one guitarist and one percussionist, but they're not trying to take the easy way out. It reminds me of my favorite songs and albums from the sixties when bands used a whole Wrecking Crew/Funk Brothers-type of backing band to create a symphonic saturation of lavishly varied sounds to showcase the melodies and choruses. The financial constraints of paying that many musicians to rehearse and record (let alone tour) seem to have killed off that sound. When I listen to this band, it feels like they're giving it all that they have to do that kind of thing because they love what they're doing.
Ages and Ages is representative to me of so many bands in Portland that seem to put all of their energy into making the best music that they can, regardless of cost or marketability. They're not trying to make a lot of money or become famous by whipping up controversy on social media. Their focus is solely on creating songs that they want to live with and share with others - they let their music speak for itself. They should be a lot more famous than they are, but they're not as focused as many of their peers on building a brand or cultivating a following. You could call it idealistic or naive, or both, but you can't question their commitment. After working with some independent labels, they've now chosen to exist against the grain of the machinery of the music and culture industrial complex and enjoy total artistic freedom instead of the exposure (and smoke machines and fancy light shows, haha!) that a record label could provide. The only person on their end that's responded to me is the lead singer, Tim Perry, who told me via e-mail that they recorded "Me You They We" on their own in a basement, which, "took a while, but we did it on our own terms and had the chance to explore and try new things."
They're currently working on a new record. Tim says, "I feel like our musical tastes continue to branch out and evolve because we're humans who grow and change and music is there for us to work through these things. But I think what ties all of these albums together is a thread of hope and inclusion and celebration amidst a troubling and confusing world. I like the challenge of exploring these ideas, but using Ages as a channel to come out with a glass that's half full - or at least fun to drink? As I said previously, we're our own label now - so no advances to cover the expenses of making this next record. We're doing it from our own pockets and with money we make from selling pink vinyl (and other things), so please let everyone know how grateful we are for their interest and support."
*More info about the band, the album, and each of the songs on the album at: AGES AND AGES
-Why I Picked This Album-
I don't have any fancy answer - this band and this album just represent a lot of what I love about music in general. Their sneakily ambitious song arrangements have lots of vocal layers and instrumentation, but what could sound really busy and chaotic all fits together in a beautiful and clear way and often produces an effect that's more than the sum of its parts (even though there are a lot of parts!). In a lot of ways, it would probably be simpler and easier to just have one singer and one guitarist and one percussionist, but they're not trying to take the easy way out. It reminds me of my favorite songs and albums from the sixties when bands used a whole Wrecking Crew/Funk Brothers-type of backing band to create a symphonic saturation of lavishly varied sounds to showcase the melodies and choruses. The financial constraints of paying that many musicians to rehearse and record (let alone tour) seem to have killed off that sound. When I listen to this band, it feels like they're giving it all that they have to do that kind of thing because they love what they're doing.
Ages and Ages is representative to me of so many bands in Portland that seem to put all of their energy into making the best music that they can, regardless of cost or marketability. They're not trying to make a lot of money or become famous by whipping up controversy on social media. Their focus is solely on creating songs that they want to live with and share with others - they let their music speak for itself. They should be a lot more famous than they are, but they're not as focused as many of their peers on building a brand or cultivating a following. You could call it idealistic or naive, or both, but you can't question their commitment. After working with some independent labels, they've now chosen to exist against the grain of the machinery of the music and culture industrial complex and enjoy total artistic freedom instead of the exposure (and smoke machines and fancy light shows, haha!) that a record label could provide. The only person on their end that's responded to me is the lead singer, Tim Perry, who told me via e-mail that they recorded "Me You They We" on their own in a basement, which, "took a while, but we did it on our own terms and had the chance to explore and try new things."
They're currently working on a new record. Tim says, "I feel like our musical tastes continue to branch out and evolve because we're humans who grow and change and music is there for us to work through these things. But I think what ties all of these albums together is a thread of hope and inclusion and celebration amidst a troubling and confusing world. I like the challenge of exploring these ideas, but using Ages as a channel to come out with a glass that's half full - or at least fun to drink? As I said previously, we're our own label now - so no advances to cover the expenses of making this next record. We're doing it from our own pockets and with money we make from selling pink vinyl (and other things), so please let everyone know how grateful we are for their interest and support."
*More info about the band, the album, and each of the songs on the album at: AGES AND AGES
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Matt M
Santa Extraordinaire
Not from this album, but this is one of my favorite videos of these guys.
TrainFan73
Frothy
This guy got a shipping notice.
scotthilk
Well-Known Member
Congrats again on a great thread!
Matt M
Santa Extraordinaire
Grabbed this one and the second one. Need to find the first record somewhere, that's my favorite.
Ericj32
Well-Known Member
Yeah the first record has been sold out for a while. I was going to ask about that as part of the Q&A. It's the only one I don't own on vinyl, but it's only my third favorite, after Me You They We (#1) and Divisionary (#2).
Ericj32
Well-Known Member
Thank you for indulging me and playing along! It was both more time-consuming and more fun than I'd anticipated. Looking forward to your thread next month!
Record just arrived!
Sounds great!
The image on the cover seems very familiar. I am almost sure that I have seen this before... ages and ages ago? ... and was about to buy it. For some reason I didn't and it fell off my radar.
Anyway I am glad to pick it up now and give it some spins!
Sounds great!
The image on the cover seems very familiar. I am almost sure that I have seen this before... ages and ages ago? ... and was about to buy it. For some reason I didn't and it fell off my radar.
Anyway I am glad to pick it up now and give it some spins!
scotthilk
Well-Known Member
Shipping notification!
Ericj32
Well-Known Member
Thanks again everyone for playing along. It made me really happy to see so many people guessing and solving the riddles and clues. Just a reminder that if you have any questions for the band about the album or anything else, feel free to post them here or dm them to me and I'll shoot them over to Tim to answer. I'll give it maybe until the end of the month and then I'll send over what I have on Monday next week.
scotthilk
Well-Known Member
Look at what we have here!
I do have a question! It is kind of boring and technical so if they don't know that is alright. I've updated the info on the discogs for this album, and I wanted to make sure I got everything correct. In the runouts for this record, there is a scribble. Usually these scribbles are the mastering engineer or the lacquer cutting engineer. Do they know anything about that?
Also, are they going on tour? What are some of your favorite venues to play?
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Mine has successfully made it from Portland down to Carson, California before they fly it back up to Vancouver then send it over to the island...
should be here by this time next week.How does their creative Process work with that nany members, are they workinv in stuff togetger or does someone come in with a demo ready song and gey just record it together
scotthilk
Well-Known Member
I’d love to hear who they cite as their biggest influences as a band as well as personally.
I’m actually more interested in personal member’s influences as it’s cool to see how the sum of those parts make up a band’s personality. Thank you!
TrainFan73
Frothy
I may have waited too long, I'd like to know what their favorite album so far this year is, what their favorite album last year was and their favorite album all time.