Smart Flesh
Encyclopedia
Smart Flesh is the fourth studio album by American indie folk
band The Low Anthem
, released on February 22, 2011 on Bella Union
. The majority of the album was recorded in an abandoned pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, Rhode Island
, near the band's hometown of Providence, Rhode Island
. Smart Flesh is the first album to feature multi-instrumentalist Mat Davidson, who joined the band in 2009.
A numbered, letterpress printed version of the album was issued upon release, containing an additional disc with three "passable strays that missed the cut." The bonus track, "Dreams Can Chase You Down", is written by former member Dan Lefkowitz.
, the band set-up a recording studio in an abandoned pasta sauce factory, in their hometown, Providence, Rhode Island
. Jeff Prystowsky states that the band "set out to make a record in a natural space, [...] a building that has its own kind of reverb, its own sound, a unique sound that we find beautiful."
The band stayed in the factory together for three months, with Prystowsky stating that "it wasn’t cushy at all." Ben Knox Miller noted that: "Obviously, there were personal tensions, you know? When you do anything intensely over a long period of time... it was like 3 months we were living in that place. This little place, as a family unit, whatever you want to call it. But yeah, we didn't picture that it would be that cold."
The environment of the factory ultimately dictated the album's overall aesthetic, with the band using different metals, woods and artifacts as percussive instruments. Prystowsky also notes that the album's emphasis on quieter songs is as a result of the recording space: "It just sounded muddy when you tried to play rowdy songs. It’s not an acoustically treated room, and [if] you get a lot of drums and electric guitar, [then] everything is muddy and you can’t hear the divisions, the timbres of the instruments. It had that kind of effect with some of those kinds of songs when we tried to play them in the factory building." Prior to the album's release, Miller remarked that "a lot of songs died in that space that would have flourished elsewhere, for musical reasons more so than lyrical reasons."
According to Miller and Prystowsky, the band recorded around thirty songs in the factory. The unreleased tracks are currently being considered for release under an "alter-ego" band, Snake Wagon.
Following the recording sessions, the band travelled to Omaha
to mix the tracks with Mike Mogis
, of Bright Eyes fame. Miller described the man as "a genius. He’s like the man with the Midas touch."
The band subsequently returned to the pasta sauce factory for the album's launch gig, in March 2011.
Indie folk
Indie folk is a music genre that arose in the 1990s from singer/songwriters in the indie rock community showing heavy influences from folk music scenes of the 50s, 60s and early 70s, country music, and indie rock. A few early artists included Lou Barlow, Beck, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith...
band The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, and rose to prominence with the re-release of its third studio album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, in 2009.In...
, released on February 22, 2011 on Bella Union
Bella Union
Bella Union is an independent record label that was started up by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie in 1997.After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they...
. The majority of the album was recorded in an abandoned pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, Rhode Island
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the thirty-second most densely populated incorporated place in the United...
, near the band's hometown of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. Smart Flesh is the first album to feature multi-instrumentalist Mat Davidson, who joined the band in 2009.
A numbered, letterpress printed version of the album was issued upon release, containing an additional disc with three "passable strays that missed the cut." The bonus track, "Dreams Can Chase You Down", is written by former member Dan Lefkowitz.
Background and recording
After extensive touring in support of the band's previous album, Oh My God, Charlie DarwinOh My God, Charlie Darwin
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is a studio album by American indie folk band The Low Anthem, originally released in 2008, and re-released on June 29, 2009 on Bella Union...
, the band set-up a recording studio in an abandoned pasta sauce factory, in their hometown, Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. Jeff Prystowsky states that the band "set out to make a record in a natural space, [...] a building that has its own kind of reverb, its own sound, a unique sound that we find beautiful."
The band stayed in the factory together for three months, with Prystowsky stating that "it wasn’t cushy at all." Ben Knox Miller noted that: "Obviously, there were personal tensions, you know? When you do anything intensely over a long period of time... it was like 3 months we were living in that place. This little place, as a family unit, whatever you want to call it. But yeah, we didn't picture that it would be that cold."
The environment of the factory ultimately dictated the album's overall aesthetic, with the band using different metals, woods and artifacts as percussive instruments. Prystowsky also notes that the album's emphasis on quieter songs is as a result of the recording space: "It just sounded muddy when you tried to play rowdy songs. It’s not an acoustically treated room, and [if] you get a lot of drums and electric guitar, [then] everything is muddy and you can’t hear the divisions, the timbres of the instruments. It had that kind of effect with some of those kinds of songs when we tried to play them in the factory building." Prior to the album's release, Miller remarked that "a lot of songs died in that space that would have flourished elsewhere, for musical reasons more so than lyrical reasons."
According to Miller and Prystowsky, the band recorded around thirty songs in the factory. The unreleased tracks are currently being considered for release under an "alter-ego" band, Snake Wagon.
Following the recording sessions, the band travelled to Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
to mix the tracks with Mike Mogis
Mike Mogis
Mike Mogis is a Nebraskan producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios ....
, of Bright Eyes fame. Miller described the man as "a genius. He’s like the man with the Midas touch."
The band subsequently returned to the pasta sauce factory for the album's launch gig, in March 2011.
Track listing
All songs written by The Low Anthem except where noted.- "Ghost Woman Blues" (George Carter)
- "Apothecary Love"
- "Boeing 737"
- "Love and Altar"
- "Matter of Time"
- "Wire" (Jocie Adams)
- "Burn"
- "Hey, All You Hippies!"
- "I'll Take Out Your Ashes"
- "Golden Cattle"
- "Smart Flesh"
Limited Edition bonus disc
- "Maybe So"
- "Vines"
- "Dreams Can Chase You Down" (Dan Lefkowitz)
Additional musicians
- Ben Pilgrim - harmonium ("Smart Flesh")
- Anton Patzner - violin ("Boeing 737")
- Louis Patzner - cello ("Boeing 737")
- Robert Houllahan - flickering film ("Boeing 737")
Production personnel
- The Low AnthemThe Low AnthemThe Low Anthem is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, and rose to prominence with the re-release of its third studio album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, in 2009.In...
- producer - Jesse Lautner - recording, mixing ("Matter of Time", "Burn" and "Hey, All You Hippies!")
- Mike MogisMike MogisMike Mogis is a Nebraskan producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios ....
- mixing - Dan Cardinal - recording ("Matter of Time", "Burn" and "Hey, All You Hippies!")
- Robert C. Ludwig - mastering
Artwork
- Alec Thibodeau - design
- Dan Wood - design
- DWRI Letterpress - printing
- Ryan Mastro - pasta sauce factory photographs