Holly HoX!
01/29/10, 11:45 AM
State Champion - Stale Champagne
Record Label: Sophomore Lounge
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Born as a solo acoustic project back in 2006, lead singer Ryan Davis uprooted from his native Louisville, KY to play the traveling troubadour for two years, writing his initial demos before settling back in Chicago to begin the long road to form the band that would become State Champion.
For a few years, Davis played the Jeff Tweedy merry-go-round game of rotating band members before State Champion formed into the unit they are today with Aaron Osbourne (drums), Mikie Poland (bass), Sabrina Rush (violin/mandolin/banjo), and additional vocals by Lindsay Powell. The overall rough sound of the record is attributed to its creation. Recorded from August 22-25 of 2009, State Champion hunkered in the home of a childhood friend to record each of the debut eight tracks live to capture the authentic sound of the band when they perform.
Switching on Stale Champagne for the first time is like kicking in the door to a whiskey drenched road house. What is immediately apparent is the gritty production quality, which breathes life into the rustic, organic sound that is the essence of State Champion. The vocal cracks and shotty notes add to the purity behind Davis’ alt-country anthems. And that is what most the tracks throughout Stale Champagne are: anthems. With only eight tracks, the album still breaks 40-mintues with each song at least 4-minutes long. It’s a hefty album, but the sways, builds and tempo changes keep the flow of the record from dragging.
The album kicks off with “Thanks Given,” easing listeners in with Davis crooning over guitar until ripping into a larger-than-life, Band-esque crescendo and soaring chorus. Davis’ southern, whiskey-drenched vocals balance perfectly against his barroom, country-grit. Davis doesn’t allow State Champion’s sound to be compromised to a specific genre, as he does a fine job blending influences effectively to create a country album that remains alternative reminiscent of Wilco’s A.M. But that doesn’t say that he doesn’t wear his heart on a county sleeve. “Keeping Time” and “Bite the Dust” both kick like Hold Steady ruckus.
Then there’s “Come See What I Have Done,” Davis’ acoustic ballad. It’s a gripping song, one that proves Davis’ words and notes aren’t pulled from a distant memory. You can hear the pain and longing in his voice as he asks, “Loaded gun why don’t you come and see what I have done/ And I shall prove myself to thee/ When I was young my momma said son/ don’t you fall in the first one that you see.” They kick the dust back up with the up-tempo, “Help Me Sing,” that will be a live favorite with its great sing-along chorus.
The bulk of the album follows the rules of standard country-rock. There’s nothing too complex about the instrumentation, but there are enough layers to keep listeners engaged. What also adds to the richness of State Champion’s southern sound is the great string work by Sabrina Rush, especially on tracks like “The World Don’t Need Me Around Much Anymore” and “Just an Answer.” “The Years” is the defining moment and the end of a long road in the formation of State Champion. Davis lets his voice soars before they throw it all on the table for a great, all-together finale.
The main thing that kept me coming back to the album was the brutal honestly in Davis’ songwriting and delivery. The barks and strains in his voice are never forced and always heartfelt. At the same time, State Champion has succeeded in making a solid statement for themselves: a soaring, genuine record that is just as much fun as it is emotional - a throwback to the likes of Big Star and The Band with enough alternative edge that will make them accessible through a variety of listeners. Take a big chug of Stale Champagne and sing-along.
Recommended if you like: One part garage-rock, two parts twang, and three parts whiskey. (Wilco, The Band, Son Volt, The Hold Steady, hangovers)
Record Label: Sophomore Lounge
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Born as a solo acoustic project back in 2006, lead singer Ryan Davis uprooted from his native Louisville, KY to play the traveling troubadour for two years, writing his initial demos before settling back in Chicago to begin the long road to form the band that would become State Champion.
For a few years, Davis played the Jeff Tweedy merry-go-round game of rotating band members before State Champion formed into the unit they are today with Aaron Osbourne (drums), Mikie Poland (bass), Sabrina Rush (violin/mandolin/banjo), and additional vocals by Lindsay Powell. The overall rough sound of the record is attributed to its creation. Recorded from August 22-25 of 2009, State Champion hunkered in the home of a childhood friend to record each of the debut eight tracks live to capture the authentic sound of the band when they perform.
Switching on Stale Champagne for the first time is like kicking in the door to a whiskey drenched road house. What is immediately apparent is the gritty production quality, which breathes life into the rustic, organic sound that is the essence of State Champion. The vocal cracks and shotty notes add to the purity behind Davis’ alt-country anthems. And that is what most the tracks throughout Stale Champagne are: anthems. With only eight tracks, the album still breaks 40-mintues with each song at least 4-minutes long. It’s a hefty album, but the sways, builds and tempo changes keep the flow of the record from dragging.
The album kicks off with “Thanks Given,” easing listeners in with Davis crooning over guitar until ripping into a larger-than-life, Band-esque crescendo and soaring chorus. Davis’ southern, whiskey-drenched vocals balance perfectly against his barroom, country-grit. Davis doesn’t allow State Champion’s sound to be compromised to a specific genre, as he does a fine job blending influences effectively to create a country album that remains alternative reminiscent of Wilco’s A.M. But that doesn’t say that he doesn’t wear his heart on a county sleeve. “Keeping Time” and “Bite the Dust” both kick like Hold Steady ruckus.
Then there’s “Come See What I Have Done,” Davis’ acoustic ballad. It’s a gripping song, one that proves Davis’ words and notes aren’t pulled from a distant memory. You can hear the pain and longing in his voice as he asks, “Loaded gun why don’t you come and see what I have done/ And I shall prove myself to thee/ When I was young my momma said son/ don’t you fall in the first one that you see.” They kick the dust back up with the up-tempo, “Help Me Sing,” that will be a live favorite with its great sing-along chorus.
The bulk of the album follows the rules of standard country-rock. There’s nothing too complex about the instrumentation, but there are enough layers to keep listeners engaged. What also adds to the richness of State Champion’s southern sound is the great string work by Sabrina Rush, especially on tracks like “The World Don’t Need Me Around Much Anymore” and “Just an Answer.” “The Years” is the defining moment and the end of a long road in the formation of State Champion. Davis lets his voice soars before they throw it all on the table for a great, all-together finale.
The main thing that kept me coming back to the album was the brutal honestly in Davis’ songwriting and delivery. The barks and strains in his voice are never forced and always heartfelt. At the same time, State Champion has succeeded in making a solid statement for themselves: a soaring, genuine record that is just as much fun as it is emotional - a throwback to the likes of Big Star and The Band with enough alternative edge that will make them accessible through a variety of listeners. Take a big chug of Stale Champagne and sing-along.
Recommended if you like: One part garage-rock, two parts twang, and three parts whiskey. (Wilco, The Band, Son Volt, The Hold Steady, hangovers)