Hey, all. I’ve got a new album out, and a new single from that album. I’d love for you to check them out!
The song: “Vows” (ft Cat Myles)
The album: https://www.franklazarus.com/swansongs
- Physical and digital copies of SWANSONGS, including all singles remixes and full-length album tracks.
- Physical and digital copies of my 2014 album, SOLITAIRE.
- A digital copy of my 2011 album FOLLOWING THROUGH.
- Digital copies of 2 BONUS tracks thag didn’t make the final version of Swansongs: “Eventually” and “High”
That's awesome! The keys after the guitar interlude have a Randall Bramblett feel/vibe (to me) - that' about as big a compliment as i could give to anybody! All very nice!
How was this recorded? I play around with a Fostex 8-track (I'm a total hack!) Always looking for a brain to pick!
Thanks for listening! I appreciate the kind words. Sea Level is a huge influence of mine, so thanks for name dropping one of my favs.
Recording this album was surely an undertaking, mostly because of the drums. The only space we had available to us was a storage locker in Long Island City; yes, an actual storage locker. 12X12, untreated. TOXIC for bleed. So the band played along, all direct in, with the drummer as he tracked his parts. Then we overdubbed fresh vocals, solos and keys parts on top. We kept most of the rhythm guitars that we tracked DI along with the drums, using amp modeling then re-amping when appropriate.
I mixed and mastered it all on Cubase 8.5, which I’ve been using for a while now. I had to cut it all down to make it fit on one disc, which it does just barely at 78:00+.
Thanks again for listening. If you have any of your stuff available to share, I’d love to check it out.
I like it too. Will this be released all over the country?
I had the pleasure of meeting Randall Bramlett about 3 years ago when his band played a very small club called the Spot in Roanoke, Virginia. They sounded good. Bramlett sang, played keys on many songs and a nice saxophone on a few.
At the break I had opportunity to mention I was a Sea Level fan. He said it was a very good band that had great potential that actually never fully bore fruit. Said Chuck was the leader and was a great friend and musician. Said Chuck tried several approaches to Sea Level to achieve what they felt would put the band over the top. Then he said he didn't want to get into things such as why Jaimoe left and Paul McCartney's drummer and creative differences. So I thanked him and said I look forward to the next set.
About 50 people there but they played like it was 2,000.
Thanks ^! Yes, it will be available all over the country. The album drops digitally on 12/29/20, and the physical copies will be in my possessions at the start of the new year, at which point I’ll ship them to anyone who ordered.
The track I posted above is the most “pop” track on the record. The rest of it is really an amalgam of The Allmans, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Lucinda Williams, solo Gregg and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Lots of blues and folk and jazz and classic rock. It’s also a concept album so all the songs are linked with musical interludes and by a singular story. It’s pretty heady! Haha...but it’s also got a ton of fresh grooves and lots and lots of extended jamming.
Hey, all. I put a new single out there today:
https://m.soundcloud.com/franklazarus/home
You guys might find this one to be pretty interesting. 
Single was cool. An ode I suppose. Is that slide guitar? Your voice reminds me a little of Leon Russell or Dr. John.
Hey, all. I’m streaming the whole album today:
If you don’t wanna listen to the whole thing, I’ll give you a little track-by-track commentary so you can sift through:
1. GROWN. Sort of Neil Young & Crazy Horse meets Lucinda Williams, with some Allman Brothers guitar harmonies and a very long Outro solo, ala Mr. Betts.
2. HOME. Trippy Amy Winehouse verses, as played by Steely Dan, meets raunchy fuzz slide over the angry choruses. Mule meets The Dan.
3. BEAST. Quiet, introspective take on CSNY styled acoustic vocal harmony music.
4. DESTINY. Jason Isbell meets 90’s rock on the verses, but with a reggae touch, and a straight up Allmans freak-out on the Outro.
5. DEBT. RnB meets 80’s synth pop, but approached with the abandon of 90’s rock KILLER DRUM SOLO to end the song.
6. VOWS. STEELY DAN pop funk jazz
7. ARMS. Gregg Allman styled soul ballad with lots of Duane-era spacey slide, and a pissed off crunch chorus.
8. BOSS. “Come & Go Blues” meets 90’s Aerosmith, with some Grand Funk on the choruses.
9. UNDERNEATH. Alt-country groove with George Harrison slide flourishes and a gorgeous gospel choir filling in the blanks.
10. LANDMINE. 90’s rock groove imbued with 2020 anger and lots of gnarly guitar.
11. BLOOD. A straight up classic rock anthem, this one is dripping with the soul of the Allmans, Grand Funk and the Mule. The rave out at the end is straight from the Joe Cocker playbook.
12. HOPE. More Neil meets the Allmans, but with some hard sturdy Mule funk on the choruses.
13. DIVINE. A rumination on life, in the spirit of late-60’s acid rock. The end guitar solo is Allman all the way.
Please feel free to listen and comment! Thanks, all!
I posted two new ones today, both much more in line with the Allmans and the general music vibe here.
BLOOD: https://m.soundcloud.com/franklazarus/blood
DESTINY: https://m.soundcloud.com/franklazarus/blood
I’d love your feedback so lay it on me!
