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The Shore s/t
Maverick
Hailing from the thriving music of scene of Silverlake CA., ironically as do I, is the talented quartet “The Shore.” Focusing on rock solid, heartfelt song writing is what sets this band apart from many of the musical masses starting out today. The album is infused with original and creative work, yet also relies heavily on a mixture of influences; Sly Stone, Neil Young, Coldplay, and The Verve to name a few. “The Shore” brings a fresh, innovative new depth to modern music flair with a sophistication and refinement as consummate as its predecessors do. The recording has a pleasant, cohesive and flowing theme throughout that doesn’t leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth, or should I say a wretched song stuck in your head.
Track listing:
01 The Hard Road
02 Firefly
03 Take What's Mine
04 Everything We Are
05 Waiting For The Sun
06 Different Ways
07 It Ain't Right
08 Hold On
09 I'll Be Your Man
10 Coming Down
The band consisting of 4 members was formed in the summer of 2002. In the spring of that year founder and front man Ben Ashley joined forces with producer Rick Parker. Parker decided to put faith in Ashley and record some of his songs, which simultaneously resulted in the recruitment of the best local musicians he could find for the project. With the basis of common musical ground and the use of an extensive apprenticeship in an array of bands on the club and studio scene, “The Shore” was formed. The resulting album eventually landed in the hands of Maverick A&R man Scott Austin, who showcased and quickly signed the newly formed band. Just a few short months later after their initial recordings they found themselves in the studio cutting a major and well-deserved record label debut. In a matter of months using demos as a template, Ashley wrote a sheaf of music that contained some of the most creative, insightful, innovative and original pieces to date.
The album opens with a pleasant and charming ballad “Hard Road,” which states “I’ve been lost now I’m found/ sailing the tide to your heart.” One of the likable qualities to this album is that everyone can relate to their lyrics on some level. Rather it be lines of reminiscing on loss, dreams of the one that got away, feelings of regret, or trying to hold on to something that’s not there, we all can connect at some point or place in time. “Take What’s Mine” is a rather melancholy ballad containing beautiful piano interludes, enchanting guitar interplay, mixed harmoniously with exquisite vocals. Lyrics cry out “I’ve been losing these days/can’t feel you no more/ I’ve been lost in a haze, got my head on the floor.” “Waiting For the Sun” is a dreamy, mesmerizing tune that has a relaxing and soothing appeal to it. My favorite track on the album, “Hold On,” contains perspicacious lyrics, trance-inducing vocals, captivating instrumentation and the ability to arise forgotten emotions of needing and losing the one you lost. Lingering words of “went through another day/watching the tide roll away/in the ocean of our lives is fading/ and I’m trying to feel the light passing darkness in the night/ we’re both changing”. Many of their songs overlap on ideas and themes, but not in a bland unappetizing way, it’s more of a universal, determined, gradually building sound that lingers in the heart and mind for an enduring period of time.
The end product of this album is ten unique, yet intricately overlapping songs that proclaim to the industry their definitive right to very well be known. For four young men that only had a common musical appreciation to go from they’ve managed to form a very insightful, wholehearted sound. The radiant craftsmanship, deep passion, enduring values, and ardent compositions make the foundation for this celebrated album. Vivid imagery, nostalgic notes, everlasting ideas and emotional dimensions add flavor to the zest of their sound. Although “The Shore” may not be a well-known name now, I’m predicting they definitely have a very promising and bright future on the horizon.
