MUSIC
NEW ALBUM “FRAIL HOPE RANCH” OUT NOVEMBER 13, 2012
Limited edition white vinyl, with download card!
→ BUY HERE ←
—— * ——
Album Review by Tori Kerr of MXDWN.COM
Miners Hit Black Gold
As diverse as its members, The Stripminers’ debut album Frail Hope Ranch delivers a myriad of genres and themes - one moment heavy metal and the next minute bluegrass. The record is not, however, incoherent. The Stripminers derive brilliancy from a hybrid of sonic quality, grand lyrics, and conceptual mastery. Each track is more heavily saturated in some of these areas, offering fans of all varieties the opportunity to experience a powerful album.
Producer Scrote is responsible for this genius project. He encouraged The Radishes’ Paul Stinson to write songs with Brett Anderson of The Donnas, believing the two could complement each others’ styles and skills. Apparently, the combination of grunge and pop-rock caused an explosive creative reaction. Soon enough, DJ Bonebrake (X, Eyes), Brett Simons (Brian Wilson, Fiona Apple), and Holland Greco (Anais Mitchell, The Peak Show) leaped on board. Every member’s compositional influence and experience resonates throughout the record.
Frail Hope Ranch opens with the eerie and instrumental “Gothic,” leading listeners to expect more from this dark atmosphere of minor chords and heavy metal. Indeed, the following track “Y’all Part 1” sounds related, with its dragging, slow characteristics, but with a spotlight on chilling vocals. “The Twins” elevates the sound further, making Stinson’s grunge influence obvious. And so it goes with the remainder of the record; each song borrows aspects from its predecessor but tweaks the sound, heightens the energy, or spins it with new instruments.
Anderson shines brightest in Frail Hope Ranch. Donnas fans might be surprised at her change of genre, as she performs more as a folksy, soulful singer. For instance, note her lusty breathiness on “Felt It.” But her old audiences won’t be disappointed. Half torch, half rock and roll, “She’s Not There” allows The Stripminers to demonstrate their punk chops. DJ Bonebrake smashes his drums without missing a beat as Scrote and Greco get to ravish their guitars while bass master Simons grooves nonstop. This song, guaranteed stick in your brain, deserves coveted “repeat” status.
Though the album’s title incites hopeless, desperate ambiance, its spirit is anything but. The Stripminers will soon celebrate a two-year anniversary, but their cohesiveness sounds like they’ve been playing together for ages That’s the advantage to a band composed of already-experienced musicians, but these sorts of groups also run the risk of “washed-upedness.” However, the fresh and surprising quality of Frail Hope Ranch rejects any notion of this sort. Like actual strip miners, they ignore layers of earthly junk to expose the glistening reward underneath. Who knows what they’ll find when they dig even deeper?
THE FULL-LENGTH DEBUT ALBUM “MOVIES”
→ BUY HERE ←
THE LONG-AWAITED FULL-LENGTH DEBUT FROM THE STRIPMINERS IS AVAILABLE IN A LIMITED EDITION RUN OF 180 GRAM, AUDIOPHILE VINYL IN A GATEFOLD COVER. EACH ALBUM COMES WITH A FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD.
→ REDEEM DOWNLOAD CARD HERE ←
BUY NOW BY CLICKING ON THE LINK ABOVE, OR SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD STORE BY ASKING FOR “MOVIES” BY NAME. IF THEY DON’T YET HAVE IT IN STOCK THEY CAN ORDER IT FROM SUPER D!
ALSO AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ON ITUNES, AMAZON AND ALL THE USUAL SITES.
Here’s what the Owl Mag has to say about it:
The Stripminers was born out of a Sugar Knives music video casting of Brett Anderson, vocalist for The Donnas, and Paul Stinson of the punk band The Radishes. The two musicians got to talking, writing and recording, and formed the newest duo that stands up to other powerhouse guy/girl pairings like John Doe and Exene Cervenka (X) and Jamie Hince and Alison Mossheart (The Kills). Their debut album, Movies, is packed with kick-arse, high energy tunes that get your heart racing from the first raucous chords.
What is most striking about this album is how varied the tracks are, yet they come together seamlessly to school the listener in all that’s awesome in punk, alt-country, and garage rock. We are treated to fast and furious punk-laced songs like “Unnatural Lovers” and “No Luck,” then drift over to the sultry alt-country vibe of “Better Than A Song” and “Poison in the Paint” that is reminiscent of the recent collaboration between Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan. By the time you reach the title track, Movies leaves you completely spent, but with just enough energy to move your finger and tap “Repeat.”
Featuring: Movies, Get Out, No Luck, Predator, You Make Dyin’ Fun, Frail Hope Ranch, Poison in the Paint, Like a Harp, Unnatural Lovers and Better Than a Song
¤ ¤ ¤
PRIOR RELEASES
VINYL
Multi-colored 7″ vinyl from Suckerpunch Records – featuring “Movies,” “You Make Dyin’ Fun” and “Poison in the Paint”
Buy direct from SUCKERPUNCH
DIGITAL DIGITAL DIGITAL
→ BUY HERE ←
¤ ¤ ¤
WELCOME TO STRIPMINERS TV!
EPISODE 4 – LIVE REHEARSAL OF “NO LUCK”
Shot on hand cam by Paul during an 8/3/12 rehearsal for our gig at the LA Folk Fest. Recorded and engineered by Brett Simons at his awesome space in LA!
EPISODE 3 – DOUBLE SHOT OF “MOVIES”
”Movies” is the title song of the Stripminers’ forthcoming full-length album (due March, 2012). In this episode of Stripminers TV, Paul and Brett talk about the song (and Paul almost remembers how to play it!) . . . followed by a smokin’ live version from the band’s show at Pappy & Harriet’s in January of 2012. Shot live by Coreen Danaher on a Canon Vixia.
Enjoy!
EPISODE 2 – LIVE!!
We briefly interrupt our normal programming to bring you a special, live video of “No Luck” from our show at Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace on January 7, 2012. This was shot with one camera by our lovely and talented photographer Elizabeth Sloan using Paul’s Canon Vixia. Not bad for a *relatively* cheapo camera!”No Luck” was our very first single, released early in 2011, and will also appear on our forthcoming full-length debut album “Movies.”
All-star band lineup on these two tracks includes: DJ Bonebrake on drums on “Better Than a Song”; Mitch Marine (Dwight Yoakam) on drums on “No Luck”; Scrote on electric guitar; Chris Bruce (Me’Shell Ndegeocello) on electric guitar and banjo; Brett Simons on bass on “Better Than a Song”; and Jon Button (Roger Daltrey, Sheryl Crow) on bass on “No Luck.” Yeow!
WANNA BUY ‘EM? CLICK HERE!
—
great song…im a good friend of Mitch…he turned me on to you guys
Hi Doug! Thanks & we love Mitch ~
I bought the album at the show at the Blue Lamp tonight, and on here it says it comes with a free digital download of the album, but where is the code for it? Great set tonight!
There’s a somewhat flimsy card inside the album with the download code. Careful opening the album because it can drop right out of the sleeve. To redeem it click on the link on the page here. Let us know if you have any trouble: thestripminers@gmail.com
thanks!
Thanks, I got it and downloaded the album
Hi,
Saw 8 song album on CDBaby, under more songs from this artist. Different from Movies. Are these new songs? Wanted to know before purchasing. Thanks.
Yep, new material. Due to a technical glitch they got posted early and won’t be there for long. Shhhh!