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.

The Voyces Render A Packed Room Speechless

The Voyces - JANUARY 9th, 2009: Rockwood Music Hall in New York City

As much as I already knew that I absolutely love this band, a performance like the one I saw tonight to reminds me of all the reasons why. I go and see a lot of bands, and believe me there is a lot of crap out there. Even artists I like (The Majoreons, Adam Levy) do not come close - in my humble opinion - to the pure magic weaved by The Voyces.




What makes them so special? What is this possession of theirs that makes them so creatively superior? Tonight I tried to break it down if only for myself. These are the things I came up with. First, and I think least, which says a helluva lot, it is the stage presence of both Brian Wurschum and Jude Kastle. Brian is the shit. The man. In all my life I can't think of anyone else with his power to silence a crowded room. I can't put my finger on what it is exactly. Charisma I guess. He starts doing something and everyone just jumps in his hand. Tonight, and the place was packed, he did this.......again. Started playing while peering around the room and it got still and silent. His look. It is intimidating if he wants it to be. He looks mean. Until he smiles. Disarmed! The whole room. Makes this look easy I tell ya. It is his presence. I don't know what it is exactly. (My girlfriend, who thinks he is hot and a stud and the whole annoying nine yards, laughs at all of his jokes and explains to me that this is a factor.) He is funny between songs. Biting sarcastic wit. I don't know he is just the man. He just seems like a star, and so does Jude. Jude. She counteracts his scowls with warmth. Kastle is the gorgeous siren who proves to be trustworthy. It is hard not to look at one of these two singers and be drawn in all the way to their world of music. Bassist Frank Carreno is the most fun to watch though. He smiles throughout like he knows something we don't. And Drummer Eric Puente is so lost in what he is doing at any given moment that he may not even know the crowd is there.

Really it's the songs. They blow my mind every time. Tonight they opened with "Turn Around And Run Away." The lyrics are so intense that I don't wanna get into it. Sorry. But here is a sample so you see what I mean:

"...all at once, it hit me/I've been living backwards and wrong/So put on a skirt and come get me/You'll be so impressed you'll just have to undress when you hear all the truths that I have confessed and slipped into a song/But they're lies, lies/So turn around and run away and don't come back again..."

It's so freakin melodic and haunting and great.

Then they played "You're In Charge Of Driving The Narcotics Trolley And You're Doing An Excellent Job."

"...Sugar milk/Lined around your block now
Superstars draw chalk around it somehow..."

It's a funk song. Or something.

Then they pushed "Where The Little Girls Still Throw Roses" on us. Usually they play it last. It was perfect early. The harmonies are well just hear for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYFNhH4pMc
This is not from the same show but still. You get the idea.

They played "Tangerine" and "Kissing Like It's Love" and "Please Wash Away" and "Hair Up High." Such great songs people I tell ya.

It's really about the songs and the best part of the whole night was the new ones they played. They did not anounce the song titles but I already knew what they were because Brian sent me some samples and lyrics from their upcoming CD. They played "If I Am Not Your Everything Baby I'm Not Anything" and "It Never Just Goes" and "King Of Castle."
When Brian was nice enough to send me samples and lyrics he told me "don't do anything with 'em." Otherwise I would post them here. The CD comes out in March so I will be posting them soon. They were the best songs they played tonight. I am so excited for the new CD to drop. I swear.

This blog is a labor of love I swear. Any of you who were at the show can write to me. I would love that.

The Voyces at Rockwood Music Hall Tonight

After hiding inside of studios for over six months, The Voyces are finally playing again. According to the band's website, they have no shows booked after this in the foreseeable future.
I am so freaking excited about tonight's gig. Going to post a full review tomorrow, for those who have seriously important other plans tonight.

Tonight, January 9th, 2009
Rockwood Music Hall (http://www.rockwoodmusichall.com)
196 Allen Street
New York NY 10002
212-477-4155