Eisley's New Album Name
Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:17 am
Monday April 23, 2007, Dallas Morning News - blog in GuideLive Section today.
Dallas Morning News Leaks Eisley's New Album Name.
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IN CASE YOU CAN'T READ THE JPG
Romancing the Band
The Tyler-based family band Eisley is fast becoming a magnet for the men of punk-pop: In. February, Eisley singer-guitarist Sherri DuPree married New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert in Tyler, and guitarist Chauntell DuPree recently got engaged to Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday. That leaves 18 year old Stacy the only Eisley sister sans ring. Despite all the hooking up going on, Eisley has been busy guest starring on the new Bright Eyes CD and finishing its own disc, Combinations, due in August on Warner Bros."
Thor Christenson
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Preemptive Scoop
Well, it had to come from somewhere! It might as well be the Dallas Morning News. These are the kind of healthy press rumblings I've been talking about; This coming out of Eisley's home base - Dallas, well before the record has been serviced . It's not by accident - Thor has written most of the best press about the band for Dallas Morning News from the very beginning. I find it refreshing that he searched for something he felt was newsworthy at this early date and put it out there. Thank you, Thor.
Interesting that the album name was named, allegedly, as the lesser scoop - trailing behind the romantic bit about marriages and engagements. The album name is clearly not as newsworthy. Sure - we might all know about Sherri and Chauntelle's love life , but the readers of DMN proba bly don't. Welp - "all press is good press". In any case I was happy about the blog because it has given me a platform to talk about the album again!
" C O M B I N A T I O N S "
Eisley's brev-eloquent, keen sophomore album name needs no narrative support from the likes of this (hack) writer. Now with that disclaimer out of the way, I'll humor myself with a short paragraph.
Literally - root word: combine - the name succinctly references a combination... a sythesis, coalescence, a blend, a collection of ideas, songs, styles, emotions.
Also- to me the word has a kind of top-of-mind association with the "combination lock"... which brings to mind a puzzel... a system where only certain combinations unlock the mystery held captive... such devices are purposed to intrigue, slow down entry to those who don't belong... a mechanism designed to force humans to grapple... but to those w/ the key - h ha!: quick entry. Ok, maybe it's a stretch. Words and associations are like paint and the emotions they evoke. There are no limitations to the theatre of the mind. Add music and the medium is even more empowered.
Note: The band wasn't searching for a trendy, long, phrase to keep up with the Jones. Arguably, "I Shot Last But Missed" might have been catchier. Modish pursuits aren't unequivocally flawed; don't get me wrong... but neither is pandering to the past. Clearly - album names like "Help", "Tapestry", "Stages" (Hendrix), "Bookends" wouldn't be as popular today. It's my opinion but we might all be wise to think in 50 year blocks of time when we approach creative processes relative to art and music.
Besides, who knows - this decade might go down in history as witnessing the great collapse of the machine. Of course - if it does, I guess we're all just rearanging words on the Titanic Scrabble board.
Amusing Reference - Great Album Names:
"Animals" (Pink Floyd), "The Bends" (Radiohead), "Parachutes" (Coldplay), "Combinations" (Eisley) "Led Zeppelin IV" (Led Zeppelin), "Abbey Road" (Beatles), "Yes Songs" (Yes), "Ten" (Pearl Jam), "Nevermind" (Nirvana), "Revolver" (Beatles), "Weezer" (Weezer), "Elephant" (White Stripes), "Funera"l (Arcade Fire). Plenty album names share short & sweet simplicity.
Eisley's decision affirms the song - "Combinations" as the celebratory choice for anchoring and extending their own imaginative, magical brand. Though Eisley certainly explores deeper, darker waters in this project, the title song is brighter; very multi-faceted and utilizes the full, lush array of layerings of instruments in the cache afforded them - (Mr. Gibbs and team).
It might have been tempting to build an identity for this record implicating the bolder songs, such as "Taking Control"... but an intrepid Eisley understood the difference between being bold and portraying boldness. One translates into action, the other - insecurity.
I'm making up words to say aren't I. yeah, I do that. You get what you don't pay for.
Early Eisley Affinity I think it's no accident or coincidence that this record's name finds strong affinity with early eisley by title ("Laughing City" and "Marvelous Things"). Both ep names were title cuts. Perhaps this new album has a stronger connection to that era. Possibly even the MossEisley interval. Something old, something new... seldom borrowing. You'll surely be the judges.
When they told me the name, I was like... "perfect"... title cut, reminiscent of the ep's, short/sweet, etc. and it reminded me of a few great album names, none the least - "Rumours"... a sublimation which surely had nothing to do with Stacy's recent interview w/ Stevie Nicks. No... other than a point of reference I'm quite sure... since Stacy and Sherri penned the name during an extended hunkering (down); an endless span of laboring, searching... creative grinding; They worked so hard - well after the elbow grease had run dry - to come up with this solution.
Graphics BTW - don't expect a combination lock on the album art 
I don't see it. No inanimate objects...nothing linear. Sorry. Rather, we'll look for a visual juxtaposition that links eisley's core essence with this simple, keen title.
Speaking of album art... that's now on the front burner in a big way.
TrolleyWood
I just want to thank you guys who read this and provide great feedback. The discussion about radio in the last post was educational.
FORMAT CHANGE: I will have gRegor change the php on Trolleywood to allow editing and link pages so we don't have to drill down!
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