A Spring Widow
| A Spring Widow | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Released | 4 April 2017 | |||
| ⏳ Length | 39:42 | |||
| 🏷️ Label | Mint 400 Records | |||
| 🤑 Producer | Neil Sabatino | |||
| Fairmont chronology | ||||
| ||||
Buy this album A Spring Widow or listen to it on amazon
A Spring Widow is the ninth studio album from the American rock band Fairmont.
Content[edit]
The ten-track album was released on 4 April 2017, with Mint 400 Records. It was produced by Neil Sabatino. The departure of Sam Carradori in 2015 led to a lineup change, which included C'est la Vie bassist Mike Burns and the Bitter Chills lead singer and guitarist Matt Cheplic. Additionally, Christian Kisala switched to playing a vibraphone, which according to New Jersey Stage, "brings a touch of jazz to the songs and adds moments that sometimes seem Eric Dolphy-ish." The writer notes the new lineup "give[s] the band a different feel from previous albums and add[s] a complexity to the songs that may have not been there before," and likens the album to the music of Wilco and Cake.[1]
The lead single "Bones" was released on 24 February 2017, and was accompanied with a music video that is described as "whimsical, featuring puppets, toy instruments, and a not particularly scary vampire."[2][3] For an interview in North Jersey Media, Sabatino explains that "the chorus of ["Bones"] is about a blue-collar man and his feelings towards politicians."[4] Guest musicians on A Spring Widow include Sam Carradori and Erin Lockett, who plays trumpet on several songs. Steven Donahue of Young Legs sings on the song "Box of Crickets."[2] The album also includes a remake of the song "Oh Your Bitter Heart", which first appears on Destruction Creation.[5] "Little Bird" appears on the 2018 compilation album, NJ / NY Mixtape.
Reception[edit]
Music journalist Bob Makin describes A Spring Widow as "the Stones or New York Dolls mixed with the jangle of R.E.M.," and calls his favorite track the remake of "Oh Your Bitter Heart," saying "with the new "lounge version" the band takes a psychedelic pop approach that plays up the emotion by wrapping it with a cool vibe[;] an exercise in raw emotion muted and made more relatable by simple song structure." He concludes his review for A Spring Widow by saying it is "my favorite Fairmont album and one of the best records Mint 400 has yet to release."[5] A review by New Jersey Stage describes "Box of Crickets" as having "a very Edward Sharpe feel with its big group chorus vocals" and summarizes with "the band has always marched to the beat of their own drum creating music that has its' own unique niche sound."[1]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bones" | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Ghost" | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Strangers" | 3:51 |
| 4. | "Little Bird" | 4:32 |
| 5. | "A Spring Widow" | 2:59 |
| 6. | "Your Side" | 3:39 |
| 7. | "Box of Crickets" | 4:17 |
| 8. | "N.Y.C." | 3:29 |
| 9. | "Oh Your Bitter Heart" | 3:49 |
| 10. | "Shadows" | 5:11 |
| Total length: | 39:42 | |
Personnel[edit]
- Andy Applegate – drums
- Mike Burns – bass
- Matt Cheplic – guitar and backing vocals
- Christian Kisala – keys, vibraphone and glockenspiel
- Neil Sabatino – lead vocals and guitar
Additional musicians[edit]
- Sam Carradori – vocals on "Your Side"
- Young Legs – vocals on "Box Of Crickets"
- Erin Lockett – trumpet on "Strangers," "Shadows" and "Your Side"
References[edit]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Appio, Jim (13 February 2017), "Premiere: New Video from Fairmont. Single Is Due 2/24.", CoolDad Music, retrieved 25 January 2019
- Beckerman, Jim (26 January 2017), "North Jersey musicians respond to election with album", North Jersey Media, retrieved 25 January 2019
- Makin, Bob (6 April 2017), "Makin Waves with RocknRoll HiFives, Fairmont, Hub City Music Festival and more", Institute for Nonprofit News, retrieved 25 January 2019
- New Jersey Stage Staff (2 March 2017), "Fairmont To Hold CD Release Party For 9th Studio Album On April 7", New Jersey Stage, retrieved 25 January 2019
- Pirate! Staff (4 April 2017), "Fairmont A Spring Widow", Pirate!, retrieved 25 January 2019
