The new album continues in the tradition of 2001’s solo debut, six three one, which spawned the grassroots hit
June 8, 2004 (Press Release) --
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Tracy Spuehler, whose 2001 Los Angeles radio hit “Where Do We Go?” went from airplay on L.A.'s NPR outlet KCRW-FM to viewers of national television via a Nissan commercial, has completed her second album, It’s The Sound. The CD hits the streets on August 10.
The new album continues in the tradition of 2001’s solo debut, six three one, which spawned the grassroots hit – namely more of the “alt-bubblegum” edgy powerpop sound of its predecessor. Paste magazine described Spuehler as possessed of “writing so unobtrusive that she is able to evoke profound depth of feeling through little more than subtle suggestion.”
Los Angeles native Spuehler (rhymes with Bueller) has performed regularly in local venues since 1998. Prior to that, she played violin (although she presently focuses on guitar) with the Minneapolis-based band Pimentos for Gus, who recorded four indie albums. Her big break came when Southern California’s mega NPR station KCRW took notice of four songs from her debut album. The song “Hummingbird” became a fixture on “Morning Becomes Eclectic” with host Nic Harcourt and landed in the station’s Top 50 airplay chart along with CMJ’s Top 200 tracks. But it was “Where Do We Go?” that caught the ear of Nissan for an Altima commercial through the help of an intrepid music licensor, Danny Benair.
This, in turn, caused a national sales impact for Spuehler’s album far outside L.A. borders. She was able to take time away from her day job as a producer for MTV, VH1 and CMT to tour nationally, establishing an audience base in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco.
Critics responded to the album in no uncertain terms. New Times cited “elements of Juliana Hatfield’s little-girl lilt, Aimee Mann’s confessional pop and Liz Phair’s indie-rock feistiness. But this native Angeleno puts so much of herself into the songs that her music winds up charmingly fresh and all her own.” Another New Times writer likened it to “as if Elliott Smith were writing songs for the Breeders’ Kim Deal.” The St. Paul Pioneer Press called it “one of the most beautiful albums of 2001,” and the LA Weekly praised its "poppy jangles and hooks from the heart."
The new album builds on that tradition while elevating her strengths as a songwriter in a collection of bittersweet personal songs. The title track, “It's the Sound,” already leaked on KCRW, is a celebration of the moment – a sunny, carefree pop song. In “At The Frank Black Show,” the speaker is flooded with emotion over an ex she thinks she sees in the crowd, while the Pixies frontman is performing. “Time,” which "moves in a different way," features synth programming courtesy of Sean Spuehler, Tracy’s brother, whose resume includes work with Madonna, Beth Orton, Dido and Beck.
According to Spuehler, “In my last album, I was working through my experiences of losing my Mom, my childhood home and even my little red car. The new album reflects the next chapter, an intimate struggle with commitment, communication and the search for emotional connection. I guess it's my Indie Rock ‘Sex & The City’.”
It’s as sad as happy can be.
# # #
June 8, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Tracy Spuehler, whose 2001 Los Angeles radio hit “Where Do We Go?” went from airplay on L.A.'s NPR outlet KCRW-FM to viewers of national television via a Nissan commercial, has completed her second album, It’s The Sound. The CD hits the streets on August 10.
The new album continues in the tradition of 2001’s solo debut, six three one, which spawned the grassroots hit – namely more of the “alt-bubblegum” edgy powerpop sound of its predecessor. Paste magazine described Spuehler as possessed of “writing so unobtrusive that she is able to evoke profound depth of feeling through little more than subtle suggestion.”
Los Angeles native Spuehler (rhymes with Bueller) has performed regularly in local venues since 1998. Prior to that, she played violin (although she presently focuses on guitar) with the Minneapolis-based band Pimentos for Gus, who recorded four indie albums. Her big break came when Southern California’s mega NPR station KCRW took notice of four songs from her debut album. The song “Hummingbird” became a fixture on “Morning Becomes Eclectic” with host Nic Harcourt and landed in the station’s Top 50 airplay chart along with CMJ’s Top 200 tracks. But it was “Where Do We Go?” that caught the ear of Nissan for an Altima commercial through the help of an intrepid music licensor, Danny Benair.
This, in turn, caused a national sales impact for Spuehler’s album far outside L.A. borders. She was able to take time away from her day job as a producer for MTV, VH1 and CMT to tour nationally, establishing an audience base in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco.
Critics responded to the album in no uncertain terms. New Times cited “elements of Juliana Hatfield’s little-girl lilt, Aimee Mann’s confessional pop and Liz Phair’s indie-rock feistiness. But this native Angeleno puts so much of herself into the songs that her music winds up charmingly fresh and all her own.” Another New Times writer likened it to “as if Elliott Smith were writing songs for the Breeders’ Kim Deal.” The St. Paul Pioneer Press called it “one of the most beautiful albums of 2001,” and the LA Weekly praised its "poppy jangles and hooks from the heart."
The new album builds on that tradition while elevating her strengths as a songwriter in a collection of bittersweet personal songs. The title track, “It's the Sound,” already leaked on KCRW, is a celebration of the moment – a sunny, carefree pop song. In “At The Frank Black Show,” the speaker is flooded with emotion over an ex she thinks she sees in the crowd, while the Pixies frontman is performing. “Time,” which "moves in a different way," features synth programming courtesy of Sean Spuehler, Tracy’s brother, whose resume includes work with Madonna, Beth Orton, Dido and Beck.
According to Spuehler, “In my last album, I was working through my experiences of losing my Mom, my childhood home and even my little red car. The new album reflects the next chapter, an intimate struggle with commitment, communication and the search for emotional connection. I guess it's my Indie Rock ‘Sex & The City’.”
It’s as sad as happy can be.
# # #
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