Paradising Bridge by The Elizabeth Dane
All four members of Chicago rock outfit The Elizabeth Dane are pop-culture obsessives, and on their second album, Paradising Bridge, their love of classic rock, horror movies, and literature becomes a running theme. But the songs aren't merely fan tributes to extant works of art. Rather, each track uses a different musician, genre film, or novel as a springboard to explore a variety of topics. On opener "Blue-Turtle Yoga", the band slinks into a faux-reggae groove as guitarist/vocalist McKenzie Gerber imagines Gordon Sumner (a.k.a. Sting) slowly losing his mind in an incoherent haze of yoga, social crusading, and tantric sex. Later on, lead guitarist/vocalist Jon Patrick Penick casts the specter of Syd Barrett over the 9-to-5 office grind ("Madcaps"), and bassist/vocalist Dan Caffrey sees the serial killer from the Halloween films as a personification of existential dread ("I Saw Michael Myers Standing Outside My House"). KISS, the Eagles, A Christmas Carol, and Naked Lunch also figure into the lyrics.
Because of these diverse pop-culture roots, Paradising Bridge is a record brimming with more hooks, humor, and major chords than its gloomier predecessor, 2014's Into The Thinny. The fact that it was recorded live in one day by drummer Mae Shults (who also mixed and produced the album) also contributes to the LP's loose, spirited atmosphere. Pop culture is The Elizabeth Dane's passion. It is their joy. It is their paradise.
Tracklist
| 1. | Blue-Turtle Yoga | 3:32 |
| 2. | Eugene | 4:32 |
| 3. | I Saw Michael Myers Standing Outside My House | 3:14 |
| 4. | Ghost | 3:01 |
| 5. | Catherine | 3:52 |
| 6. | Terry | 1:58 |
| 7. | Shot Six Times | 1:29 |
| 8. | Madcaps | 4:48 |
| 9. | Bug Powder | 3:19 |
| 10. | Desert Band-Name Blues | 5:00 |
Credits
All songs written & performed by The Elizabeth Dane:
Dan Caffrey – Bass / Vocals / Lyrics (1, 3, 10)
Mac Gerber – Left Guitar / Vocals / Lyrics (1, 4, 6, 9)
Jon Patrick Penick – Right Guitar / Vocals / Lyrics (2, 5, 8)
Mae Shults – Drums / Etc.
Dialogue on 5 performed by Teagan Walsh-Davis,
Taken from the play "Terry" written by Randall Colburn
Recorded live at Hell's Half Acre Studio on December 13th, 2015
Additional vocal recording on January 18th & February 7th, 2016
Engineered, produced & mixed by Mae Shults
Artwork & design by Nina Helene Hirten
The Elizabeth Dane would like to thank: Nancy & Randy Shults for the space/patience; Michael Catano for the microphones; Nina Hirten for the amazing artwork; Tegan Walsh-Davis for her voice; Randall Colburn for his words; Casey Bentley, Justin Gerber, Sarah Santarelli, Susan Myburgh, Catherine Bullard, Matt Test, Alison & Mike Balletta, Drew, Janine, Peg, & Owen Caffrey, Adele & Howard Walker, Allison Shoemaker, Liz Goodson, Chris & Amanda Acevedo, Joshua Powell & The Great Train Robbery, Not Blood Paint, Sadie and The Stark, White Syrens, Transistor Records, and everyone who has come out to see us play.
