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Stranger Kings

by Stranger Kings

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Agent K
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Agent K Female led dreampop band sort of.....this band looks both forward and backwards on the musical time line spectrum.
Melodies are very similar to post-punk movement in UK with bands like the Cure, Simple Minds, New Order, Echo...etc...etc.....
Yet at the same time has a lot of dreampop and shoegazer elements.
Its actually going to be one of my favorite buys of 2014.
Give it whirl for yourselves! Favorite track: All of Everything.
grandeped
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grandeped Been following Stranger Kings for years as they tortured us with one song at a time, but this collection shows the wait for a full length was worth it. Everything that you love about alternative rock (whatever that means) and nothing that you hate. Favorite track: America's Sweetheart.
Jesse Nelson
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Jesse Nelson This album single-handedly brought me renewed interest in rock music. Stranger Kings' alternative elements contribute to their own unique style and sound, while still maintaining the traditional feel of rock n' roll. Though it may sometimes seem that good music is obscured because of the crap we see in the mainstream media, there are talented people out there who are still motivated by the art and the quality of music, and this album is proof. I look forward to hearing more of their future work. Favorite track: Lay Low.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    33 1/3 rpm // Long-Playing format // Color Vinyl // Full-Color Artwork // Lyrics

    Includes unlimited streaming of Stranger Kings via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $20 USD

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Jewel Case // Full-Color Artwork

    Includes unlimited streaming of Stranger Kings via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 1 day

      $12 USD

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

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1.
________________________ "All Of Everything" I've watched you walking around Down the street to the beat of this town Hanging hope on the backs of us They talk about you wherever I go Come alive when you put on a show Telling time while the clocks are slow You say all that I can't say I know what you want to say We say all of everything You don't care that I'm kind of behind Living off what's inside of my mind Both blank but we're writing the line You say all that I can't say I know what you want to say We say all of everything ________________________
2.
________________________ "Half Truths And Alibis" Say what you like I won't rip it open Aim real high play to game over Wait wait Watch me watch me Wait wait This is called listening Say what you like I’ll hold you to the countdown Play it tight so I can feel it all around Say what you like I won't rip it open Day and night save me from my all alone Say what you like take me all the way home ________________________
3.
Lay Low 03:45
________________________ "Lay Low" Hot lights shine but they don't fool me Electric nights are no mystery Lay low stay so I can be your all night Wake me up on the bright side You can put all your burdens down They won't stop me from coming around Take my life and my hand to trace Static sigh and fading face Lay low stay so I can be your all night Wake me up on the bright side ________________________
4.
________________________ "America’s Sweetheart" Hey don't believe a word There's a line in everything you heard Hey don't believe a word Set fire to everything you learned Let me put my diamonds in your eyes I don't but I know you'll make them shine Hey you are not alone Your eyes are mine and we are whole Hey you are not alone Say goodbye I will take you home Let me put my diamonds in your eyes I don't but I know you'll make them shine ________________________
5.
Katherine 04:37
________________________ "Katherine" Pull me in Let it begin This is all for her Lines are gone Katherine This is all for her Katherine Come and go Fast and slow This is all for her Where's she been? Katherine This is all for her ________________________
6.
________________________ "Basement Tribes" Up there we gotta hold our breath Down here we can breathe A lot of people say they know what's best They don't know a thing They don't know a thing All the fables and the fairy tales All the lies that you tell They disappear like a house on fire I think it's just as well Yeah it's just as well All I have is you All I want is you Everything you do hits me like a drum Hits me like a drum You play the winner and I call you out Take you down to my cave Don't worry what you left behind We got nothing to save Nothing to save All I have is you All I want is you Everything you do hits me like a drum Hits me like a drum Hits me like a drum ba ba ba ba dum ________________________
7.
We Are 04:19
________________________ "We Are" Why you waiting I'm standing here Why we lying Truth is clear Had to try so hard to get it wrong Choose a side cause I can only Hold the door so long We are Don't wait too long Clear the runway I'm coming down Sick of climbing Through the clouds Lose my breath so far up in the sky Risk it all and now you know How much I hate to fly We are Don't wait too long ________________________
8.
The Quit 04:25
________________________ "The Quit" I’m not afraid of spending the night in the dark I’m not afraid of staying alive in your heart Stop that stop watch stopping Throw your life ring out to me I wasn't me when I threw all your letters away I can't believe that I thought they could ever betray We’ll fall in love again if you promise to stay Counting up to yesterday Stop that stop watch stopping Throw your life ring out to me Stay a little stay longer ________________________
9.
Lacuna 05:45
________________________ "Lacuna" You hold my hand not my heart You understand that's the way it has to be You want to read my mind But you find there are pages missing You hold my hand not my heart You understand that's the way it has to be I say I leave behind but you find The best part of you is me You hold my hand, not my heart That’s the way it has to be I give you, I give you My hand, my heart No law to make me feel your way No words for what I need to say I give you, I give you My hand, my heart I give you, I give you You hold my hand (I give you, I’ll give you) You hold my hand (The best part of me was you) You hold my hand not my heart You understand that's the way it has to be (The best part of me was you) You hold my hand (I give you my heart) ________________________

about

________________________

Finding a solution in dissolution, Stranger Kings was formed by guitarist Eric Campuzano and bassist Herb Grimaud after The Lassie Foundation breathed its last with the departure of Jeff Schroeder for the Smashing Pumpkins. Grimaud had completed three albums of dark ambience as The Sound Gallery after leaving Southern California alt-band The Violet Burning, and was looking for a new musical home. Early demos merged their Cali-gaze dream guitars and 80’s Brit post-punk melodic bass lines successfully enough to attract friends and contributors. Local solo artist Holly Nelson gave it a voice, and Brady Esquivel (Set To Sea) brought the drums to life, while Steve R (monorocket) and John Hertzberg added additional synthscaping.

The songs were largely recorded one at time from start to finish, as they were written. The album is truly an album, a collection of unique
moments captured in time, all from the great occasion of being a band. They found a point of inspiration in the idea of “John Hughes movies” from the 80’s, which always featured great soundtracks with current bands matching the uncomfortably teenagey emotions. And so you hear it here; bass like The Cure and New Order, clean, singing guitars and washes of Cocteau chords, synths and drums from Modern English and Simple Minds. Songwriting elements hail from Echo & The Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, and The Psychedelic Furs with romantic angst in the lyrical storylines balancing their sincere but measured delivery.

Tracks like “All of Everything” and “America’s Sweetheart” bounce with youthful innocence and driving enthusiasm, with big college-radio choruses, while tracks like “Lay Low” and “We Are” confirm a dark undertow with technological beats and minor-key misgivings. The rest of the tracks feel like Southern California feels: driving at the moderated pace of traffic in the warm sunset of a daydream day.
________________________

credits

released September 30, 2014

________________________

Stranger Kings //

Holly Nelson: Vocals
Herb Grimaud: Bass
Brady Esquivel: Drums
Campuzano: Guitar

Additional Contributors //

John Hertzberg: Keyboards, Drum Programming
Andy Prickett: Guitar, Keyboards
Jesse Nason: Drums
Jeremy Wood: Keyboards, Baritone Guitar, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Drum Programming, Ride Cymbal
Jared Rich: Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards
Dylan Hake: Soul
Steve R.: Keyboards, Analog Synth Modules, Drum Programming, Guitar
Wayne Everett: Vocals
Spooky Tavi wears a headband: Vocals
Sam West: Drums


All songs written and co-produced by Stranger Kings.
Recorded and co-produced by Andy Prickett, Steve R., Jared Rich, and Jeremy Wood.
Recorded at Northern Records, CA, Juliette Tower, CA, and Another Music Studio, WI.
Mixed and Mastered by Andy Prickett at Northern Records.
Art Work and Graphic Design by Brett Carlson, and J. Bozeman w/Campuzano.
Photos by Maisey Campuzano, Herb Grimaud, and Ingrid Shine.
________________________

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Founded in 1999, Northern Records is an independent music company.

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