Andy Stack and Jenn Wasner spent much of the first Wye Oak record, If Children, submerging their songs of youthful love and dread in a distortion haze, but the band's new record, The Knot, starts with a bell. From the first clarion-clear note, Wye Oak's collective vision is sharpened on The Knot, a set of songs that sway, stretch, and scream while always reaching outward for personal connection.
As ever, Stack's production layers his own multi-instrumental arrangements over Wasner's woozy compositions, but musically, too, things sound more precise. There is perhaps less squalling feedback than before, but lingering violin and pedal steel bring out the droning Americana that has always informed Wye Oak's sound. If Children may not have had anything quite as dark and harrowing as "Mary Is Mary," The Knot's nearly eight-minute centerpiece, but the band has rarely been so blissfully shimmering as on "I Want for Nothing" or "Talking About Money," in which a single-note melodica pattern is willed into a powerful, emotive hook. Throughout The Knot, Wasner's lyrics explore the metaphorical possibilities of the album's title, assessing the ways (voluntary and otherwise) that our ties to other people define our experiences. The Knot encompasses romantic possibility as well as unromantic obligation.
Wye Oak started as two friends recording songwriting demos together, but their basement project has since evolved to include tours of America and Europe and a home on legendary label Merge Records. The Knot reflects that burgeoning confidence and comfort while maintaining the intimacy and emotional directness that are the band's hallmarks. Only good things can come of a band this curious, honest, and oblivious to current trends. Pay attention.
wyeoakmusic.com
www.myspace.com/wyeoak
As ever, Stack's production layers his own multi-instrumental arrangements over Wasner's woozy compositions, but musically, too, things sound more precise. There is perhaps less squalling feedback than before, but lingering violin and pedal steel bring out the droning Americana that has always informed Wye Oak's sound. If Children may not have had anything quite as dark and harrowing as "Mary Is Mary," The Knot's nearly eight-minute centerpiece, but the band has rarely been so blissfully shimmering as on "I Want for Nothing" or "Talking About Money," in which a single-note melodica pattern is willed into a powerful, emotive hook. Throughout The Knot, Wasner's lyrics explore the metaphorical possibilities of the album's title, assessing the ways (voluntary and otherwise) that our ties to other people define our experiences. The Knot encompasses romantic possibility as well as unromantic obligation.
Wye Oak started as two friends recording songwriting demos together, but their basement project has since evolved to include tours of America and Europe and a home on legendary label Merge Records. The Knot reflects that burgeoning confidence and comfort while maintaining the intimacy and emotional directness that are the band's hallmarks. Only good things can come of a band this curious, honest, and oblivious to current trends. Pay attention.
wyeoakmusic.com
www.myspace.com/wyeoak
01/14/10
Wye Oak just announced spring tour dates with Shearwater in support of their 2009 release, The Knot! Jenn & Andy will also be in Austin for the SXSW festival.
Spin Magazine described The Knot in their “Best Albums You May Have Missed” roundup, “Singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner’s hypnotic songwriting has obvious Americana roots, but on the duo’s sophomore full-length, her dreamy vocals artfully join ragged riffs to drummer/keyboardist Andy Stack’s layers of thunderstorm drums and surging keyboard drones.”
Preview and purchase The Knot on CD and digital download in the Merge store.
Also, listen and watch their live performance from the studios of Oregon Public Broadcasting!
Wye Oak on Tour:
1/29 Baltimore, MD G Spot
3/24 Atlanta, GA The Earl
3/25 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
3/26 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel
3/27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
3/28 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
3/30 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear’s
3/31 Montreal, QC Canada La Sala Rossa
4/01 Toronto, ON Canada Lee’s Palace
4/02 Ithaca, NY Castaways
4/04 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
4/06 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
4/07 Grinnell, IA Gardner Lounge – Grinnell College
4/09 Norman, OK The Opolis
*All shows with Shearwater except 1/29
Spin Magazine described The Knot in their “Best Albums You May Have Missed” roundup, “Singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner’s hypnotic songwriting has obvious Americana roots, but on the duo’s sophomore full-length, her dreamy vocals artfully join ragged riffs to drummer/keyboardist Andy Stack’s layers of thunderstorm drums and surging keyboard drones.”
Preview and purchase The Knot on CD and digital download in the Merge store.
Also, listen and watch their live performance from the studios of Oregon Public Broadcasting!
Wye Oak on Tour:
1/29 Baltimore, MD G Spot
3/24 Atlanta, GA The Earl
3/25 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
3/26 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel
3/27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
3/28 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
3/30 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear’s
3/31 Montreal, QC Canada La Sala Rossa
4/01 Toronto, ON Canada Lee’s Palace
4/02 Ithaca, NY Castaways
4/04 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
4/06 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
4/07 Grinnell, IA Gardner Lounge – Grinnell College
4/09 Norman, OK The Opolis
*All shows with Shearwater except 1/29
10/08/09
Today on Converse.com, see Wye Oak play an acoustic version of “Take It In” from their new album, The Knot.
The Wye Oak video joins an ongoing series at Converse.com showcasing six Merge bands performing stripped-down sets somewhat spontaneously in various locations during the festival. Visit the XX Merge section of Converse.com for videos from Superchunk, The Clientele, Telekinesis, Lou Barlow, and now Wye Oak.
Check back next week for the next clip in this series of unique sessions courtesy of Converse.com. And don’t forget to check out the Merge channel at Babelgum for live footage from the XX Merge shows held July 22-26th at the Cat’s Cradle and Memorial Hall.
The Wye Oak video joins an ongoing series at Converse.com showcasing six Merge bands performing stripped-down sets somewhat spontaneously in various locations during the festival. Visit the XX Merge section of Converse.com for videos from Superchunk, The Clientele, Telekinesis, Lou Barlow, and now Wye Oak.
Check back next week for the next clip in this series of unique sessions courtesy of Converse.com. And don’t forget to check out the Merge channel at Babelgum for live footage from the XX Merge shows held July 22-26th at the Cat’s Cradle and Memorial Hall.
| 03.12.2010 | Frederick, MD | Cafe Nola | w/ Jana Hunter |
| 03.13.2010 | Pittsburgh, PA | Brillobox | w/ Jana Hunter |
| 03.14.2010 | Indianapolis, IN | Vollrath Tavern | w/ Jana Hunter, Le Loup |
| 03.15.2010 | Memphis, TN | Hi-Tone Cafe | w/ Jana Hunter, Le Loup |
| 03.24.2010 | Atlanta, GA | The Earl | w/ Shearwater |
| 03.25.2010 | Chapel Hill, NC | Local 506 | w/ Shearwater |
| 03.26.2010 | Washington, DC | Rock and Roll Hotel | w/ Shearwater |
| 03.27.2010 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom | w/ Shearwater |
| 03.28.2010 | Philadelphia, PA | Johnny Brenda's | w/ Shearwater |
| 03.30.2010 | Cambridge, MA | TT The Bear's | w/ Shearwater |
| 03.31.2010 | Montreal, QC Canada | La Sala Rossa | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.01.2010 | Toronto, ON Canada | Lee's Palace | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.02.2010 | Ithaca, NY | Castaways | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.03.2010 | Chicago, IL | Beachland Tavern | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.04.2010 | Chicago, IL | Lincoln Hall | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.06.2010 | Minneapolis, MN | 400 Bar | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.07.2010 | Grinnell, IA | Gardner Lounge - Grinnell College | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.09.2010 | Norman, OK | The Opolis | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.10.2010 | Dallas, TX | The Loft | w/ Shearwater |
| 04.22.2010 | Phoenix, AZ | Rhythm Room | w/ Shearwater |
The Knot (Merge) 2009
If Children (Merge) 2008
If Children (Merge) 2008
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American Music Club [+]
| February | ||
| 21 | Portland, OR | Aladdin Theater |
| 22 | Portland, OR | Aladdin Theater |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | Town Hall |
| 24 | Seattle, WA | Town Hall |
| 27 | Oakland, CA | Fox |
| [see all] | ||
Richard Buckner [+]
| February | ||
| 26 | Berkeley, CA | Starry Plough Pub |
The Clientele [+]
| February | ||
| 21 | Hoboken, NJ | Maxwell's |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | Johnny Brenda's |
| 23 | Washington, DC | Black Cat |
| 24 | Carrboro, NC | Cat's Cradle |
| 25 | Atlanta, GA | The Earl |
| [see all] | ||
Let\'s Wrestle [+]
| March | ||
| 18 | Austin , TX | Cedar Street |
| April | ||
| 15 | St. Paul, MN | Turf Club |
| 16 | Madison, WI | Annex |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | Magic Stick |
| 18 | Toronto, ON | Horseshoe Tavern |
| [see all] | ||
Oakley Hall [+]
| April | ||
| 02 | Brooklyn, NY | Knitting Factory |
Radar Bros. [+]
| March | ||
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | Spaceland |
The Rosebuds [+]
| March | ||
| 19 | Asheville, NC | UNCA Alumni Hall in Highsmith |
| 20 | Carrboro, NC | Cat's Cradle |
| May | ||
| 08 | Beaufort, NC | Beaufort Music Festival |
She & Him [+]
| March | ||
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | Largo at the Coronet |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | El Rey Theatre |
| 27 | Savannah, GA | Trustees Theatre (Savannah Music Festival) |
| 29 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom |
| 30 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom |
| [see all] | ||
Shout Out Louds [+]
| March | ||
| 01 | Brooklyn, NY | Music Hall of Williamsburg |
| 23 | Rostock | MAU |
| 24 | Hamburg | Uebel & Gefahrlich |
| 25 | Berlin | Astra |
| 26 | Dresden | Reithalle |
| [see all] | ||
Spoon [+]
| February | ||
| 14 | Glasgow | King Tuts |
| 15 | Manchester | Academy 3 |
| 16 | London | Electric Ballroom |
| 18 | Amsterdam | Paradiso |
| 19 | Cologne | Luxor |
| [see all] | ||
Superchunk [+]
| March | ||
| 19 | Austin, TX | La Zona Rosa |
Wye Oak [+]
| March | ||
| 12 | Frederick, MD | Cafe Nola |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | Brillobox |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | Vollrath Tavern |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | Hi-Tone Cafe |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | The Earl |
| [see all] | ||
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