The Voyces To Be Featured on "Coast To Coast AM"

Just got word that The Voyces will be featured on Coast To Coast AM with George Noory, on December 6th, 2009. This is a nationwide program, so everyone can listen. :)

On The Air

      During Voyces' front-man Brian Wurschum's recent stint as a guest disc-jockey on Southern California's KRLY 991.FM, it was announced that the station will have the singer/songwriter back on 11/19/09 to do an hour-long feature on the band's latest CD, Let Me Die In Southern California.

     On 10/29 and 11/12, Wurschum spun, and sometimes discussed, some of his favorite songs by other artists. Below are the track lists from these broadcasts, along with links for you to listen to the shows.

10/29/09 KRLY Broadcast (click here to listen)

 

1) The Swimming Song - Loudon Wainwright III

2) Love Runs Deeper - Lindsey Buckingham

3) Good Timin' - Jimmy Jones

4) The Underdog - Spoon

5) Inject The Venom - AC/DC

6) Catch The Rainbow - Rainbow

7) Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind? = The Lovin' Spoonful

8) Wall Of Death - Richard & Linda Thompson

9) The Happy Organ - David "Baby" Cortez

10) Arizona - The Scorpions

11) Waiting On The World To Change - John Mayer

12) Bron-Yr-Aur - Led Zeppelin

13) I'll Wait - Van Halen

14) Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time - The Darkness

15) Stumblin' In - Suzi Quatro

16) A Matter Of Time - Los Lobos

17) Percy's Song - Fairport Convention

18) Happy For The Rest Of Your Life - Johnny Rivers

19) Ol' 55 - The Eagles

20) Crackpot - Ric Ocasek

 

 

 

11/12/09 KRLY Broadcast (click here to listen)

 

1) Don't You Wish It Were True - John Fogerty

2) If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens

3) Home At Last - Steely Dan

4) Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun - The Beastie Boys

5) Cavier And Meths - Judas Priest

6) Sure Know Something - Kiss

7) Fearless - Pink Floyd

8) Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd

9) Minstrel Gigolo - Christopher Cross

10) Move On - Abba

11) Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) - Bob Dylan

12) Cirkus - King Crimson

13) I'm Different - Randy Newman

14) Take It To The Limit - The Eagles

15) Count On Me - Jefferson Starship

16) Darling Pretty - Mark Knopfler

The Voyces' New CD: The Hyperbolium Review

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Read The Review in Hyperbolium

My Current Favorite Voyces Song: "It Never Just Goes"

"It Never Just Goes" is one of the incredible new songs on the incredible new CD from The Voyces, "Let Me Die In Southern California."

Majestic. The tune distracted my brain for many listens and it was not for a long time that I paid much attention to the lyrics, which I think are the album's most poetic and gripping.

On a CD awash with alliteration, far more than any previous Voyces effort, "It Never Just Goes" melts the ears like a resplendent aural painting.

The only thing prettier than its melody are its words used, and the only thing prettier than the words used is its actual underlying message.
_____________________________________

LISTEN: The Voyces - "It Never Just Goes"



IT NEVER JUST GOES                             (B. Wurschum)

I know that you’ve been good to me
Let’s get back to where we want to be
The unknown can shine enchantingly
A lover can be a mystery

Hold on, all I am trying to say
Is I know what spun us out that day
It’s alright, oh God, I hope you’ll stay
It’s alright, oh please, oh please, don’t slip away

Love, it never just goes
Like leaves that land and get blown
Down streets
And never are shown
And wash away all alone
No, love, it never just goes
Love, it never just goes
Can’t hide or fight it, it flows
Real love, it never just goes
No, love, it never just goes

Distance – the kind of distance that stings
Missing – the kind of missing kissing brings
Madness – the kind that clips beautiful wings
Madness – the kind that breaks the prettiest things

But love, it never just goes
Like leaves that land and get blown
Down streets
And never are shown
And wash away all alone
No, love, it never just goes
Love, it never just goes
Can’t hide or fight it, it flows
Real love, it never just goes
No, love, it never just goes

(Copyright 2009, B.W.W. Music)

A Beautiful New Song From The Voyces

Jude Kastle sings lead. Enjoy...
http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/01_Bye_Bye_hifi.mp3

"Let Me Die In Southern California" Lyrics

Let Me Die in Southern California (B. Wurschum)

I’ve packed my bags, I’m gonna leave the city

The story leading up to this is long

But those big bright lights that sometimes seem so pretty

Lose every bit of allure when you,

You feel the weight of the world

Desert winds, please blow all that behind me

We know it in our hearts when we are home

Jasmine, take me to a place I’ll find me

Where the ocean catches the sun sinking

And taking all the undone

Ending where it begun

Let me die in Southern California

Big blue sky, you’re golden in the sun

As we fly through Southern California

Down the 101

A winding highway spilling through the canyon

A mission-style tavern packed with fools

Who laugh and raise their glasses up to heaven

As sunlight flickers off the tops of pools

It’s kind of like the sound of spirits thrashing

These waves that kiss this highway up and down

And calming is the calling of their crashing

And all you’ve loved, it just swirls in you

Yes, everything that you’ve loved

Yes, everyone that you’ve loved

Let me die in Southern California

Big blue sky, you’re golden in the sun

As we fly through Southern California

Down the 101

(lyrics written by Brian Wurschum; Copyright 2009 B.W.W. Music. )

"Let Me Die In Southern California" #5 on Hype Machine

http://hypem.com/track/891736/The+Voyces+-+Let+Me+Die+In+Southern+California

The Voyces - "Let Me Die In Southern California" Review

The Voyces’ second album released by Planting Seeds Records, “Let Me Die In Southern California”, is a magnificently crafted concept album filled with radio-ready singles, and serves as a tasty, riff-heavy ode to Southern California. Songwriter Brian Wurschum creates the group’s most memorable collection of songs, many of which could be compared to dreamy reflections by the likes of both The Eagles and Pink Floyd. Here, they have elegantly shaken their folk roots, sprinkling them into what can only be described as a classic rock and roll album, complete with searing and bombastic harmonies.




The brief intro “Gold Wine” sets the stage with its whimsy, dream-like, hum-along melody, only to be smashed to bits by the album’s instantly catchy and majestic title track. “King of Castle” follows, with Jude Kastle singing lead and bringing profound longing and yearning to an already captivating adventure. “If I Am Not Your Everything, Baby, I’m Not Anything” is, quite simply, one of the nicest love songs ever written, by The Voyces, or anyone else for that matter. “Finest Hour” barrels along next, a satanic-funk groove instantly embraced by the body of the listener. It is, remember, a concept album, and the next song, “La Lomita”, a quiet little instrumental, pastes the songs together effortlessly.



Then comes “You Can Never Know”, a chorus-heavy heartbreaker very much in the in the vein of Fleetwood Mac. “The Speed of Fear” is flat out heavy metal if it is not for the lush, Steve Miller-style vocal onslaught resting on top. The instantly classic and timeless, “It Never Just Goes” comes next, with another unforgettable hook, a plush, rich sound, and military-style drumming. “And The Trickling Sun”, a one minute instrumental puts the listener in a trance so that “It Whispers”, the album’s final piece, arrives like a epic, Floydian dream, summarizing the record’s journey with poetic greatness, violins, and a guitar solo that will make you want to start the whole album over again.


http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/02_Let_Me_Die_In_Southern_California_hifi.m3u

http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/07_You_Can_Never_Know1_hifi.m3u

http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-KING_OF_CASTLE.m3u

http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-IT_NEVER_JUST.m3u

http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-IT_WHISPERS_hifi.m3u

Powerpopulist: Guided by The Voyces

Powerpopulist: Guided by The Voyces

All Is Quiet On The Western Front

With the release of the long awaited "Let Me Die In Southern California" from The Voyces just around the corner (September 28th, 2009), I asked singer/songwriter Brian Wurschum to talk about both the new album and what is going on with The Voyces.

DK: The Voyces have been silent! What's the scoop?

Brian Wurschum: A lot going on behind the scenes. Business. All business.


DK: Do you enjoy the business aspect of being a musician?

BW: I care deeply about what we present creatively. There is no way to avoid the business stuff. I would if I could. But it's my love for the creative aspect of it all that keeps me involved.


DK: Are you guys hitting the road anytime soon?

BW: No dates have been set, no.


DK: I love the new record more and more each time I hear it. I can't get the riff to "Let Me Die In Southern California" out of my brain. It drives me nuts.

BW: Thanks, and sorry.



DK: It's a good thing!

BW: We're really proud of that song.


DK: Tell me why.

BW: Well, it is very rare in that it came out just like I heard it in my head. That is rewarding to no end. It's honest. And I got a lot off my chest by writing those words. That stuff's been inside of me my whole life.


DK: The lyrics are very visual. ("A mission-style tavern packed with fools/ who laugh and raise their glasses up to heaven/ as sunlight flickers off the tops of pools") Are these words personal? Is there a story?

BW: The story leading up to that is long.


DK: Ha!! That's also in the song.

BW: Everything is in that song.


DK: When can people buy this cd?

BW: They can order it now! From our website. With or without a real fancy color photo.


DK: The photo is of The Voyces?

BW: Well, the photo is of Dabney Coleman. It's nice. It's from 9 to 5.


DK: Hahaha

BW: Everything we do is for the kids. We're listening.


DK: Anything else today?

BW: Hmmmmmm. I mean, I think people should just get a copy of the CD. When we were making it, we had people listening to it in mind. It's like, we've done our part of that.


DK: Right. It's up to us now.

BW: Yeah, it is. Do your part, Dan.


DK: Hahaha. I am. I will.

Interview: Voyces' Manager John Myers

Recently, Voyces’ manager John Myers was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions I had for him.

1.) Tell me a little bit about how you became involved with The Voyces.

I met Brian in a class on religion at Fordham University about 4 years ago. We found out that we were both musicians and we hit it off instantly. A few weeks later he gave me a copy of "Angels of Fun" and I remember being blown away by the vocal quality of the record. It quickly became a record I listened to over and over on my iPod.

2.) Can you tell me about their upcoming album?

Their upcoming record is definitely more of a concept album than their past two efforts. I feel like it best represents who The Voyces truly are now. It has been very interesting to watch Brian grow as a musician/songwriter and not to take away from his past records, but this one shows a maturity that only time can bring. It sounds great from the beginning all the way to the end. I must say though, "It Whispers" is one of my all time favorite songs from The Voyces. It has so much emotion and power. It takes you for a wild ride. That solo has so much blues in it! I love it!

3.) What are the plans for the band?

Right now we are working on setting a release date for the record, booking some TV appearances and booking some future tour dates. So you keep your eyes peeled to the tube, your ears glued to the radio because we will soon be coming to a town near you.

4.) What is it like working with The Voyces?

Working with The Voyces is like going to my "happy place" all the time. It's like slowly nursing a nice scotch or taking a long bubble bath...

5.) What are some things about yourself that you would like to share?

I'm a Gemini. I like long walks by the beach, intimate conversation and a good back rub.

Interview: Wurschum On Upcoming Voyces Album, "Let Me Die In Southern California"

Recently, Brian Wurschum let me grill him about the upcoming Voyces album, “Let Me Die In Southern California.”

1.) Okay, I‘ve heard the upcoming album in its entirety. I have a lot of questions.

Shoot.

2.) First of all, let me tell you that Let Me Die In Southern California blows me away from the first song until the last song. It plays like one body of work, far more than any of your other records. It is almost a concept album. Was that planned?

Thank you. Ultimately, it was planned. I mean, I knew all along that this album was going to be basically an ode to Southern California. A lot of the things which wound up making it all flow so well, however, came to be during the actual making of the record. For example, we recorded some songs that did not feel right thematically once we could hear them in context, so they were left off. The album’s voice became clear to Bruce (Driscoll, the co-producer and engineer), Jude, and me as we were mixing the songs and playing around with the track order.

3.) It feels perfect. I think I have listened to it from start to finish about thirty times!

Be fair. I wish you would give the record a chance.

4.) Ha! Ha! Okay, seriously now. Is it true that you played all of the instruments?

It is true, for the most part. Bruce Driscoll is a brilliant musician. Brilliant. He did some things on the keyboards here and there. He had great ideas all the time. I can’t say enough about him. And our drummer, Eric Puente, who is a way better drummer than I am, was incredibly kind about letting me play most of the drums.

5.) You played all of the bass?

Yeah.

6.) I had no idea that you were such a great bass player, and such a great drummer.

Thanks.

7.) The acoustic instrumental, La Lomita is genius. Totally unexpected. Did you always plan on having that on the album?

Yeah, I did. I wrote it when I was a kid. It is part of my habitus, so I knew it needed to be on there. Same with And The Trickling Sun. Wrote it many, many years ago.

8.) And The Trickling Sun really puts me a trance.

Me too.

9.) Let me ask you about King Of Castle. You told me a while back that it is your favorite track on the album.

It is, yeah.

10.) Jude Kastle singing lead! It is really gorgeous.

I think so. I wrote that song years and years ago, as well. One day during rehearsal, we began playing it with her singing and we had no doubts about recording it. Felt right away like it was hers.

11.) If I Am Not Your Everything, Baby I’m Not Anything is just an amazing love song. The words, the melody, the strings. Can you tell that I am a fan? Am I making you uncomfortable yet?

No, it makes me feel good that you like our music so much.

12.) Want to tell me about that song?

What is there to say? It is about HUGE love. You either relate, or you don’t.

13.) There is a lot of electric guitar on this album. A lot of riffs and a lot of solos. That is all you, too?

Well, growing up my favorite band was Judas Priest. I try to “defend the faith.” (If you are not a Priest fan, you don’t know what I’m talking about.) Anyway, I still love and feel a deep loyalty to heavy metal. Real metal, anyway. Don’t get me started. Point is, that kind of music flows through me all the time, so it was bound to show up on this record.

14.) Why this record?

Because this record is closer to my heart than anything I’ve done in my life. Straight from the heart, actually.

15.) Feel like elaborating about what you deem to be “real metal”?

If someone in the band had a perm while touring for the first album, it’s usually a bad sign.

16.) Finest Hour and The Speed Of Fear? Do you consider them to be heavy metal?

I don’t know. I’d rather you answer that question.

17.) They sound close to being heavy metal. Your voices are too pretty though.

I see.

18.) The record starts off with a thirty second song called, Gold Wine (Intro). It is an interesting piece of music. There is this white noise, broken up by this gorgeous melody sung by you and Jude, and then there is what sounds like an alarm clock going off. Then it goes right into that great SoCal riff. It lends to the overall concept album feel of the disc. Can you tell me a little bit about this track?

I think you just did.

19.) What is that white noise meant to be?

The din of the city.

20.) New York City?

For me, right now, today, yes. But it is not meant to be that specific.

21.) Do you really want to die in Southern California?

I would like to move back there and then never leave. I would have made that the lyric to the chorus, but the words don’t fit as nicely.

22.) Ha! Ha! So it is not meant to be morbid.

Oh no! It is a celebration.

23.) Let’s talk about It Never Just Goes. The words are incredibly profound. I know you don’t like to talk about lyrics, but I would love it very much if you would say a little bit about these ones.

Well, I am basically saying that love is the most powerful force in the universe.

24.) That’s it?

Basically, yeah.

25.) Do you believe that?

Yes.

26.) It Whispers, which closes the album, is my current favorite. I have written about it on this blog already. Can you tell me a bit about this song?

It summarizes the whole record.

27.) I can see that. And what a great guitar solo.

Thanks.

28.) When will the album be released? And will the band be playing live again anytime soon?

We don’t know when it will be released yet because we are not quite sure who is releasing it. We are however working closely with Planting Seeds Records to devise a plan. Hopefully, the next time we play live it will be on television. But I have no idea when we will perform next.

29.) Well, thank you Brian. The album is fantastic and I can’t wait to get an actual copy in my hands.

Thank you.

Songs From The Upcoming Masterpiece

Last night, The Voyces threw a party to share their upcoming album with friends, fans, and business associates and I could not go because I had a freaking fever and was too sick to even go hang out with my favorite band. However, this morning I awoke to find gifts on their website.
Songs from "Let Me Die In Southern California."



Enjoy.

LET ME DIE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-Let_Me_Die_In.m3u

KING OF CASTLE:
http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-KING_OF_CASTLE.m3u

IT NEVER JUST GOES:
http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-IT_NEVER_JUST.m3u

IT WHISPERS:
http://www.thevoyces.net/audio/THE_VOYCES-IT_WHISPERS.m3u

New Voyces Album: An Update

I recently asked Brian Wurschum, Jude Kastle, and Co-Producer Bruce Driscoll to give me an update on The Voyces' upcoming album, "Let Me Die In Southern California."



1.) How is the new album coming along? Almost finished, I assume?

Driscoll: It's at that stage now where we're just making mix tweaks. Like, 'guitar in second verse up 1db' or 'vocal louder.' You know, little things. I've played it at least ten times in every boom box, iPod, speaker set that I own and it's passed the test. It'll be mastered very soon.

Wurschum: If it were a cake, it would be cooling on the stove top.

Kastle: Couldn't be better. Yes, it's almost done.





2.) What, if anything, can you tell us about it now that you could not before?

Driscoll: Probably that now, hearing the near-finished product I think we really achieved what we set out do - which was to make a classic sounding record. Talking to Brian and Jude I think we all couldn't be happier with it. I'm excited for more people to hear it. So far the feedback has been great.

Wurschum: There are eleven songs on it.

Kastle: I haven't had the opportunity to answer this question, and would love to gush on how this album was recorded. In this case, bragging is truly required. We started out on a Sunday to record the drums. Most people need a rough track of guitar and vocals to do this. Brian, on the other hand, lays down drums start to finish with just a click track in his head phones. He hears the whole song in his head: fills, crashes, and dynamics. This is Remarkable. This one take, start to finish, was the norm with almost every guitar part (acoustic and electric), and Bass line. Vocals, too. On this album Brian sang better than he ever has.
Now for Bruce: Half way through the recording, Brian and I were wondering where to find a Cape. Because of course, every super hero needs a cape, right? Bruce would hear frequencies in digits. Making adjustments in where a part sat in the mix or slightly changing the EQ of one hidden part that would make everything else fall into place, leaving Brian and I jumping up and down asking, “How did you do that?” He would also mix each song as he went along. It was mind bottling (see blades of glory) to watch. All in all, the process was amazing. It was a very special time.
In between all this was the gut-splitting laughter, a comedy show at all times.





3.) What are your favorite tracks, and why?

Wurschum: My favorite song on the album is King of Castle. Jude sings lead, and it is just beautiful. She does this twirly, "I am from the South" thing with her voice, which kills me.

Kastle: I guess my favorite tracks are Let Me Die In Southern California, It Whispers, and La Lomita.

New Songs from The Voyces "Whisper" and Scream

After having listened to two of the songs from The Voyces' upcoming album, "Let Me Die In Southern California" I sat speechless. SPEECHLESS!!! Folks, I am reluctant to use the word 'masterpiece' to describe anything, but I just heard two of them. Masterpieces. Both. Not indie-rock masterpieces. Not as good as can be in modern day masterpieces. I am talking full blown ALL TIME masterpieces. Goodness!!! I am not sure what to say. One thing I know is, very soon, when this CD is unleashed to the public, others will be saying the same things and using the same words. These songs are undeniably superb works of art. If the rest of their new effort comes even close to the two I have heard, "Let Me Die In Southern California" and "It Whispers", this recording is going to blow people's minds. Goodness!!

"Let Me Die In Southern California" has the catchiest and heaviest guitar riff I have heard come out of a band in I don't even know how long. I listened to it (albeit five times) two hours ago and it is still running through my brain constantly. But folks? That's nothing compared to what follows. The verses are...let's just say...well...picture some of the most enticing, majestic, incredible lyrics (about the mysticism of California) floating over one of the most original, cool as hell rhythms ever. But folks? The Voyces are just getting us warmed up for the chorus. It is difficult to imagine this and this alone not sending my favorite indie band of all time into full flight publicly . It is astonishing. Brilliant. You read it here first. Oh yeah, there is a guitar solo like no one has ever heard on a Voyces CD. But folks? That's nothing compared to the guitar solo that cascades into one's psyche during the other song, "It Whispers." Folks, it is another masterpiece. This one starts off with lyrics (see above) that gave me chills. But folks? The Voyces are just getting started. Just when you think you could not be more engaged in the song, Wurschum does something that makes me wonder why they ever had anyone else in the band holding a guitar on stage. Brian & Jude keep saying "It Whispers" all right, but truly, it left me breathless.

Admittedly, I am a huge fan of this band. But I promise that you won't have to take my word for it. Something purely magical is "slipping through the trees."

Interview: Voyces' Producer Bruce Driscoll

My interview with the talented producer behind The Voyces’ upcoming album, “Let Me Die In Southern California”

1.) How did your involvement with the new Voyces album come about?

Brian and I have known each other for a couple of years now. We met when we were both working out of a studio down on Canal Street. We'd always smoke cigarettes together in the break lounge and he'd crack me up with his ridiculously quick wit. At some point I think I played him something I was in the midst of producing and he got excited about the way it sounded and asked if I'd be into trying to record a song of his. That song was called Top of My Lungs and it was on their last album.

So then some time passed and we both stopped working at that studio and then a couple of months ago I got an e-mail from Brian asking if I'd be interested in recording a new record with them. I was.

2.) What can you tell me about this album?

Well, I think these are some of the most meaningful/best songs he's ever written. Honestly, it's a group of stellar, classic, beautiful, pop/rock songs. The kind that will never go out of style. We're pretty far into the process and I can safely say that I think we're all very excited about how it's turning out.

3.) Do you have any favorite songs from the record?

It's hard to pick, but the ones I find myself always wanting to listen to over and over again are If I Am Not Your Everything and You Can Never Know. There's an emotion in the two of those that I really connect with.

4.) Where is it being recorded?

We tracked drums at a studio in midtown with a very excellent engineer, Alex Nizich, who also worked on their prior album. The rest of the album is being done by Brian, Jude, and me, in my apartment. The energy is nice and relaxing here and feels conducive to creativity.

5.) You are a musician yourself. Tell me about your own music.

Yes, I play guitar, bass, drums, piano, and sing. It's stuff that's good to know when producing. Especially when relating to someone like Brian who can play everything as well.

I try to keep pretty busy with music, so I play in several different bands. The main ones are Blondfire, The Sleepy Rebels, The Saturday Club, Brookville, and Ivy. When I write my own songs I do it under the name The King of Nowhere.

6.) What are some other things you have recorded?

Recently I produced and wrote for a wonderful Ukrainian singer named Lana Mír. Her album is coming out this year on Unfiltered Records. I produce/co-produce the tracks for most of the bands I'm in.

7.) What are you most proud of?

Like, in life? or musically speaking?

I guess I can answer both with one answer... I guess I'm most proud of the fact that I've been able to survive almost completely from music related things, even in hard times.

8.) Back to The Voyces, how is it working with them? What is your creative involvement?

Working with the Voyces is a dream job on so many levels. It's like someone saying, "Okay Producer/Engineer guy, we're going to put you together with a band that you really love, the singers can actually sing (remarkably well), the front man can play everything in one take, they have similar influences and understand where you're coming from, and they are completely organized and great to work with."

Honestly, Brian and Jude are two of the nicest people I've ever met.

My creative involvement has a lot to do with what I do with the great performances Brian gives me. He knows and plays the parts he hears in his head, but it's my job to take those parts and make them sound like they should. The songs are so great that it would be a shame if they weren't recorded to their full potential. I do the best I can to make them sound timeless.

Occasionally I'll hear a part that I think would compliment it all in the grand scheme of things, but 99.9% of all the parts come from Brian's ideas. I'm convinced the man has a pop symphony running in his head 24/7.