Songs for the Shortwave

Locust Avenue "Songs For The Shortwave"

DETAILS:

Recorded: 03/00-04/01
Released: 06/17/2001
Reissued: 12/19/2005
Running time: ~32 min.

Personnel:
Jeff Richardson / guitar, keyboard, vocals
Drew Van Wagner / guitar, keyboard, vocals
Chris Van Wagner / bass, drums, vocals

TRACK LISTING:

  1. Vacillate
  2. Flat Ones
  3. Needless Tedium
  4. A Man of Substance
  5. Barnacles
  6. Headcase
  7. Just Don't Get It
  8. Come Out
  9. Killing Time
  10. The Wrong Side
  11. A Clear Breakfast
  12. Can You
  13. You Race/Queer
  14. So Long

Ostensibly a solo album of Jeff Richardson (formerly of the helicopter). Over a year in the making, and I like to think it was worth the wait. What started unambitiously as a series of acoustic 4-tracks were embellished and re-recorded in Kansas City with the help Jeff's longtime friends the Van Wagner brothers, who happen to have their own band Block Watch Captain.

Folksy & poignant; goofy & rocking. This is Jeff's own brand of music for the masses with a countrified twist at times. Sometimes his music reminds me of George Harrison, and sometimes his voice sounds like Rod Stewart. A combination which is not as scary as you might think. It works on so many different levels. Originally limited to around 130 copies. The new reissue is limited to 106.

Shipping To:
Title Body
"Songs for the Shortwave" POP Magazine

Appeared in POP Magazine Friday, 9 Sept. 2001:
"Songs for the Shortwave" The Broken Face #12

Written by Mats Gustafsson. Appeared in issue #12 (October 2001) of The Broken Face
"Songs for the Shortwave" Dream #7

Reviewed in Dream Magazine #7:

A thumping melodic indie pop rock sound, with jangling guitars, compressed populist work ethics and Americana-earthliness. Humble and simmering rather than blazing. Likeable life-sized contemporary folk rock and more spilling out seemingly effortlessly. Slacker white boy blues numbly mulling over the end of the world from their living room lookout towers.