Posted on: March 15, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

With six officially released albums, two more in the can, four probably-never-to-see-the-light-of-day records in his closet, a few live albums on the shelf—culled from literally five years of straight touring—and a Myspace song-a-day project, the quietly prolific Jason Anderson returns to K Records with The Hopeful and the Unafraid [KLP189]. In a K first, this full-length album will be available only on vinyl and will include a bonus CD with all the vinyl tracks. Catch Jason this March during his residency at Union Hall in Brooklyn or playing shows with Tilly and the Wall.

The Hopeful and the Unafraid was made at Soma Studios in Chicago, on a two-day tour break in January of 2006. Recorded in a matter of hours—tracking the vocals, guitars, and drums simultaneously—Jason’s goal was to make an organic documentation of songs he’d been playing every night on the road for half a decade. Thusly, all the vocal parts are first takes. There were some indulgences, though, as some guys who used to play in Magnolia Electric Co. came by to put down pedal steel and guitar leads.

The album takes a stab at capturing some of the energy Jason loves putting into every show he plays, whether there are five or fifty people present. Jason says he’s come to grips with the fact that it can never be just the way he wants in the studio; that the passionate, in-the-moment rush of doing these tunes in a basement full of singing, sweaty friends is where his affection really lies. Jason has been touring for nearly 10 years with no booking agent, trying to connect with people anywhere and everywhere, wanting to make them happy, to make them feel alive. Jason currently resides on the East Coast where he works as a children’s music teacher.

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