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"TRACKS is a brilliant collection of, well, tracks"
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By: Michael Thomas
Sometimes an album’s content is as witty as the corresponding album title. In ...By: Michael Thomas
Sometimes an album’s content is as witty as the corresponding album title. In this case, you could not get a better setup- a band called Lost Distance Runners, and an album called Tracks which has a double meaning. The album cover even contributes to the wittiness.
I was pleased to note that this album is a lot more than a clever play on words. In fact, Tracks is a brilliant collection of, well, tracks.
The band brought to mind more often than not a band straight out of the sixties. There is a certain slyness to the music, as if we’ve been best friends with Long Distance Runners for some time now. The music is also incredibly, incredibly smooth. The configuration of guitar, bass, drums or horns always seems to be just right.
Take the opener “Election Day.” The smoothness I mentioned is immediately present in the guitar and bass, as lead singer Chris Picco sings “Did they really believe they could destroy you?” In this song, Picco sounds like Bono fronting Zeus.
“Knuckles” at one point throws a banjo into the mix, and this might not be thrilling to note except for the fact that the band learned a banjo part at the last minute rather than have another musician play. That’s fairly impressive.
There’s an even more prominent “old-time” feel to “Treading Water” which makes very heavy use of horns (and I love me some horns, if that wasn’t already clear). “Sally Ann” meanwhile is a well-crafted pop song, and halfway through morphs into a song that could have been played by Lou Reed.
“If I Forget To Say I Love You” turned out to be one of my favourite tunes on the album even though the title makes it sound cheesy. Instead, it’s a heartfelt song sung playfully. If the character forgets to say he loves his girlfriend, he says, “Then darling don’t hesitate, punch me in the face/And throw me up against the wall.”
“Credits Roll” sounds like a song out of Joel Plaskett’s songbook, and this is a high compliment. There’s also some great power in “The Island.”
“He Doesn’t Stare Into the Sun No More” is a deceivingly sunny song, and the last song, “A Short History of America,” sounds like an extended campfire song, featuring the prominent line “If you don’t know where you come from/Where you s’posed to go?/I know where I come from/’Cause I was born to rock and roll.”
Upon closer listening I found myself enjoying this immensely. When you take a minute to consider what goes into each song, there’s nothing you can complain about.
Tracks will be out April 17th, 2012 on iTunes.
Top Tracks: “If I Forget to Say I Love You”
Rating: Hunting Call (Excellent) +*swoop*
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Ben Rayner's Reasons to Live for April 22
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Apr 20, 2012
Horror, shakes, track and field. The usual.
• Long Distance Runners, Tracks (In... Apr 20, 2012
Horror, shakes, track and field. The usual.
• Long Distance Runners, Tracks (Independent). Inspired shambles from St. John’s. Within the first four numbers on their debut full-length, Newfoundland’s Long Distance Runners have established themselves as slackadelic Pavement worshippers aping the Velvet Underground with a tasty hint of ELO on the side (“Election Day”), recast themselves as Pink Floyd-worshipping Hey Rosetta! contemporaries (“Knuckles”), fired off a sleazy cocktail-jazz goof (“Treading Water”) and sardonically violated Wilco’s idea of a perfect Rolling Stones track (“Sally Ann”).
The rest of Tracks pings around in similarly irreverent-but-earnestly-attacked orbits, with the wistful psych-folk of “You Don’t Answer Anymore” and a prog-ish second half betraying a serious side that butts against the occasional fits of Jonathan Richman-esque goofiness. Eminently likeable and oddly cohesive when consumed in toto as an album rather than just as, y’know, tracks.
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"If these guys don’t become absolutely huge, there is something wrong with the world."
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Long Distance Runners – Tracks (Independent)
Posted by kenkelley on 4/26/12 • Categorized as Musi...Long Distance Runners – Tracks (Independent)
Posted by kenkelley on 4/26/12 • Categorized as Music Reviews
Remember the exhilaration that you felt one of the first time you heard Exile On Main Street? The feeling that you had stumbled on something truly special? Don’t be surprised if you experience those very same feelings when listening to this debut full-length effort from Newfoundland band Long Distance Runners. Though the record starts out unassumingly enough, before long, you’re drawn in by a combination of catchy Velvet Undergound-Stones rock n roll melodies and clever word play courtesy of vocalist Chris Picco. If these guys don’t become absolutely huge, there is something wrong with the world.
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Music Review - Long Distance Runners
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Music Review: Long Distance Runners - Tracks
Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
These relative newcomers fro...
Music Review: Long Distance Runners - Tracks
Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
These relative newcomers from Newfoundland were one of the bands I got to check out for the first time at the Moncton ECMA's. It turns out I wasn't seeing the usual show, as it was an acoustic appearance on the SpinCount stage, but it certainly impressed me. Then one of the guys did a quick apology about it, saying "Oh, that was our first time doing that." Could've fooled me. Now that I've heard their debut album, I understand what he meant.
cover_tracks.jpg
Acoustic is just one of the things the group does, in one of your more varied discs imaginable. They go from a Velvets-Wilco rock (Election Day) to a vaudville-ragtime send-up on Treading Water. There are lots of acoustic moments throughout, but some strutting tub-thumpers, too. Sally Ann is a tale about that iconic thrift store, which starts out all glam, and then gets slow and serious in the middle section, as Chris Picco does his best spoken-word Lou Reed in the middle, except instead of Waiting For The Man, he was waiting for the clerk with his last three bucks. Ya, there's some music with a wink going on here.
As a lyricist, Picco can be a dark fellow, with a punches thrown along the way. He's a keen observer, describing the scenes and streets and folks, a song such as He Doesn't Stare Into The Sun becoming a Kinks-like domestic tale. So, obviously lots of classic reference points happening in this band's music, but it is so varied, you never know where they're going. That's okay, with these guys it's always an interesting street you'll go down.
Catch the Long Distance Runners on tour in N.B. on Tuesday, April 24 at the Cedar Tree in Fredericton and April 25 at Plan B in Moncton.
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"Never Heard of Long Distance Runners? You will soon"
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Long Distance Runners- Tracks
Article | April 4, 2012 - 11:03am | By Julia McMillan
Never heard ...Long Distance Runners- Tracks
Article | April 4, 2012 - 11:03am | By Julia McMillan
Never heard of Long Distance Runners? You will soon. The Newfoundland based band is quickly making a name for themselves on the Canadian music scene. The group sounds like a throwback to the 60s. Imagine the Kinks (but a little more stoned) fronted by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, and you have the Long Distance Runners.
Tracks is the band’s first full length album, and it’s sure to be the first of many. So far, the four-member ensemble has enjoyed small scale success, with a number of ECMA and Music NL nominations under their belt. But I predict the group is about to be met with some real love from the national music community. I was also pleased to discover that they sounded nothing like Hey Rosetta!, Newfoundland’s current buzz band (Disclaimer: I love Hey Rosetta!, but variation is important!) Long Distance Runners has some of the best old school guitar riffs that we don’t often hear today, and beautiful three part harmonies. They are definitely a group to keep on your Canadian Music Radar.??3.5 stars.
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Album Review: Long Distance Runners hit all the right notes on Tracks
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Album Review: Long Distance Runners hit all the right notes on Tracks
Many people have the three ...Album Review: Long Distance Runners hit all the right notes on Tracks
Many people have the three strikes rule for dates— c’mon, admit it. If someone flaked out on me up three times, they’re not getting another chance. I think it’s time the flip side of that coin was instituted, as in, if someone does three things incredibly right, they’re good as gold.
If Newfoundland’s Long Distance Runners were my date, we’d be solid. Firstly, “Election Day,” the single from their debut LP Tracks, piqued my attention the second it landed in my inbox. Check. I then saw them play at the Cedar Tree Cafe in Fredericton last week, where the band put a perpetual smile on my face and caused my date to proclaim that they reminded him of the Beatles and Kinks… “but more progressive sounding.” Check number 2. Lastly, I just threw a housewarming this past weekend, and several Tracks tracks (“Election Day,” “If I Forget To Say I Love You,” “Credits Roll”) landed on the dinner party playlist. High praise for an album I hadn’t even had time to review yet!
In short, let this catchy, completely enjoyable and excellent album woo you. I see myself listening to this one a lot as the weather gets warmer. Grab Tracks over on Long Distance Runners’ website.
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Long Distance Runners - Tracks
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500khz – Tounes, musique et tout le reste
Long Distance Runners – Tracks
laisser un commentaire ...500khz – Tounes, musique et tout le reste
Long Distance Runners – Tracks
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Cela m’a pris quelques instants pour apprivoiser le groupe terre-neuvien Long Distance Runners, sur la scène du Breakout Stage, lors de la dernière édition des ECMAs. Leur musique ne détonnait pas particulièrement, mais leur présence contrastait avec celle des auteurs-compositeurs qui jouaient ça safe ou cute. Il leur a fallu quelques chansons pour être à l’aise devant l’immensité de la salle, composée d’une foule éparpillée et assise à l’une ou l’autre des tables de banquet. Je retiens une bonne première impression de Long Distance Runners, surtout dans ce contexte, pas tout à fait accueillant pour un groupe du genre.
« Tracks », leur premier album complet, donne beaucoup plus de profondeur à leur rock à la Rolling Stones, au-delà de ce que le groupe semblait pouvoir offrir en spectacle. Les membres ont saisi l’occasion de l’enregistrement en studio pour construire et déconstruire leurs chansons. Le résultat est spontané et franc, entre les paroles du ténébreux Chris Picco et la solidité des arrangements du groupe. Le vrai bijou de « Tracks » est « If I forget to say I love you », brillante progression, aux allures de chanson d’amour tordue, marquée par l’arrivée soudaine des autres Long Distance Runners, poursuivant l’intensité déjà bien amorcée. Contournant nos appréhensions, le pont final vient solidifier le caractère unique de cette pièce.
On sent les Long Distance Runners s’amuser parmi leurs influences, que ce soit lors de moments plus roots ou jazz. Autant efficace dans leurs intentions rock que dans leur esthétique rétro, le groupe vient de livrer un des disques les plus intéressants des provinces de l’Atlantique en 2012.
Site officiel : http://www.thelongdistancerunners.com/
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Election Day - Track of the Day
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What’s better than a free show? A free show by a kick-ass band who are about to release a phenomenal...What’s better than a free show? A free show by a kick-ass band who are about to release a phenomenal new album.
All of these criteria will be met at 2pm this Saturday (May 5th) when St. John’s Long Distance Runners will perform a free show at Fred’s Records in anticipation of the release of their new album, Tracks. Fresh off their recent tour in support of the new record you can be sure Chris Picco (vocals, guitar), Dicky Strickland (guitar, vocals), Adam Cardwell (drums) and Matt Hender (bass, vocals) will be in top form for the show. I received a copy of Tracks a couple weeks ago. I was already familiar with the band via their 2012 debut EP but I was not expecting what was waiting for me on the new album…
Tracks exhibits a maturity and quality of song-writing that is rare to find on a band first full length. From the irresistible groove of the organ-drenched, Wilco-esque opener “Election Day” to the triumphant mandolin and acoustic guitar gospel of “A Short History of America”, Tracks holds the listener’s attention. Every song on the record stands strong on its own, and the track order choice creates a flow of emotional peaks and troughs making for a compelling listen, to say the least.
Tracks also find The Long Distance Runners exploring some new territory on songs like their jazz-inflected “Treading Water”, the Beach Boy style harmonies of the atmospheric ballad “You Don’t Answer Anymore” and the uniquely-timed waltz of “The Island”. But the group holds onto the straight ahead rock elements it used well on the debut EP; songs like the bluesy jaunt of “Credit’s Roll” and “Sally Ann”, a gritty romp about watching a beautiful woman from behind a stack of old records in a Salvation Army thrift store and resisting the urge to punch her boyfriend’s lights out. Tracks also abounds with nods to the Fab Four, especially in their choice of vocal harmonies, lyrical phrasing and chord changes — check out “He Doesn’t Stare Into The Sun No More” for evidence.
The Long Distance Runners have outdone themselves on Tracks. The album is extremely fresh, but has a reverence and respect for the classic influences that paved the road the band travels on. Be sure to drop by Fred’s Records at 2pm this Saturday (May 5th) to catch The Long Distance Runners live free show. The band will also be playing an album release at The Rock House on Friday, May 11th.
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"TRACKS is a rather splendid and pleasing debut album..."
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Long Distance Runners - Tracks (Independently released CD, Pop)
The debut full-length release from ...Long Distance Runners - Tracks (Independently released CD, Pop)
The debut full-length release from Canada's Long Distance Runners. These guys created quite a splash with their self-titled debut EP that was released in 2010...so they already had a built-in audience waiting for this one. Tracks shouldn't disappoint...and will likely increase the band's following ten fold. To give you a general idea of what this band sounds like...some of their tunes remind us of The Strokes while others are reminiscent of Queen. Bear in mind, however, that neither of these comparisons adequately describe the band's overall sound. These guys tread on that thin line that separates commercial music from artsy fartsy stuff. The songs are glossy and should appeal to most listeners...but they're never overtly gimmicky and cute. Tracks is a rather splendid and pleasing debut album chock full. of smart hummable tracks. It's no wonder they're getting so popular so fast...
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The Long Distance Runners: Election Day
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It’s Friday and the sun is shining brighter than Tiger Woods’ teeth. It’s the type of fake Spring da...It’s Friday and the sun is shining brighter than Tiger Woods’ teeth. It’s the type of fake Spring day that deserves the smell bbq wafting skyward, condensation from ice cold beer bottles pooling on tables, and summery rock gems exploding from back decks.
Newfoundland’s Long Distance Runners give off a gritty, Velvets type cool on “Election Day” that’s tailor made for days like this. It’s hard to deny the catchiness of the affair; big guitars, vocals with enough swagger to turn Clyde Frazier’s head and just enough retro flair to help you settle in to the sound.
The band’s LP, Tracks, is out now and is a surefire bet to make your porch sessions more enjoyable.
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"Pop this bad-boy in your boombox and prepare for some excellent tunage"
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Long Distance Runners - Tracks (LDR Music)
4/5
Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, this qua...Long Distance Runners - Tracks (LDR Music)
4/5
Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, this quartet is making music that’s sweeping Canada, travelling past the Canadian Shield, through the prairies, over the Rockies, and finally crossing the Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island.
The Long Distance Runners have come out with their first full- length album, Tracks, which is an eclectic fusion of folk and rock with hints of the blues.
This new album demonstrates the growth of the band, made evident in the song “The Island” by the integration of a changing time signature and multilayered bridge. This advancement on the instrumental side, along with the well-developed lyrics that are exhibited in every song except the relaxing instrumental “Up the River,” takes listeners on a great musical journey.
So suit up, or down, pop this bad-boy in your boombox (people still have those, right?) and prepare for some excellent tunage.
-Lucas Milroy
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Bands To Watch In 2011
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The Long Distance Runners:
One of the province's most intriguing new rock bands, this group - consi...The Long Distance Runners:
One of the province's most intriguing new rock bands, this group - consisting of Chris Picco, Matt Hender, Dicky Strickland and Adam Cardwell - released their self-titled EP in December, and it was different from the norm. It was a trippy, psychedelic affair that echoes back to the days of late Beatles or the days of progressive rock, and with the single 'Black 'N Blue' already earning airplay on OZ FM, we're eager what a full album will bring.
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New Music 2010
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The Long Distance Runners www.myspace.com/thelongdistancerunners
Looking for sing...The Long Distance Runners www.myspace.com/thelongdistancerunners
Looking for singer-songwriter Chris Picco? You’ll find him in the Long Distance Runners, alongside Matt Hender, Dicky Strickland, and Adam Cardwell. “If Brian Wilson, Nick Cave, Ray Davies and Jeff Lynne could have an illegitimate child together, it would probably look and sound like the Long Distance Runners,” laughs Picco.
Answers by Chris Picco
How and when did the group come about?
Matt and Chris barely knew each other until getting together for an out of town gig last summer. We talked about putting the band together on the three hour ride home. Within a few months Adam ‘Gandahar’ Cardwell was brought into the fold on drums and our voice of reason. The mysteriouso virtuoso Dicky Stricklando soon followed on keys and lead guitar.
How would you describe your sound?
We have a lot of different influences. If Brian Wilson, Nick Cave, Ray Davies and Jeff Lynne could have an illegitimate child together (not a pretty picture) it would probably look and sound like LDR. Our style is pretty eclectic. We can easily jump from pure wacked-out silliness to the sweetest vomit inducing drivel in the blink of an eye.
What is a typical live show like?
When the audience members (and some band members) aren’t busy texting or Twittering each other, they seem to be truly digging the band and get on the dance floor and get down. Some can even dance while they’re texting. We really appreciate the effort!
In all honesty though, our audience has been enthusiastic and supportive of us right from the get go. St.John’s has to be one of the best cities to test your boundaries as a band.
What makes you stand out on the local scene?
Until last year the four of us barely knew each other. And although we come from different musical circles we hit it off as band from the start. It’s really been a collaborative effort starting with an emphasis on lyrics and tight vocal harmonies. We think we have a sound that is unique and fresh for this city. Other than that, we’d have to say that Matt’s massive perm is turning some heads along with Chris’ kick ass ’stache.
What’s with the name?
‘The Long Distance Runner’ was one our early songs. It was inspired by the film adaptation of the book “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” by Alan Sillitoe. The lyrics of the song really inspired the group, especially the first verse… “I keep rolling along on this rhythm/ But the pain never shows in my face/ Just because I don’t wanna run with them/ Doesn’t mean I’ve dropped out of the race/ Like the long distance runner/ I just slow my pace”. We kinda took that verse on as our motto.
Future plans?
Right now we’re rehearsing for our first E.P. due out this fall. More shows throughout the summer and fall and the full length and tour will follow in Spring ‘11.
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Paper Covers Rock: 'Nothing But Your Love' by The Long Distance Runners.
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'Nothing But Your Love' by The Long Distance Runners
During a three hour long drive home from ...'Nothing But Your Love' by The Long Distance Runners
During a three hour long drive home from an out of town gig, Chris Picco (vocals, guitar) and Matt Hender (vocals,bass), decided that they would put together a live band to bring their original material into the world. Enter Dicky Strickland (guitar, keys, vocals) and Kujo skins-man Adam Cardwell (drums) and the line-up was complete. Inspired by the title of an Alan Sillitoe book, The Long Distance Runners were born. Describing the band’s sound Chris Picco once told The Scope “If Brian Wilson, Nick Cave, Ray Davies and Jeff Lynne could have an illegitimate child together, it would probably look and sound like The Long Distance Runners.” Picco’s description may be comical but it’s not far off the mark, as the group combines elements of classic pop and alternative to create a fresh blend of modern rock and roll. Last year the four piece released their incredible self-titled debut EP, produced by the band and Krisjan Leslie, which is currently available at Fred’s Records. On the EP you’ll find today’s track “Nothing But Your Love”, a dizzy, triple meter waltz rife with bouncy piano, gritty guitar leads, Doppler-effect horn blasts and spirited group sing-a-long vocals. Musically, the song conjures of hints of late-era Beatles, mid-period Elliot Smith and early Radiohead while Picco’s raspy, blues induced vocals at times recall Manic Street Preachers front-man James Dean Bradfield. Also contributing to the track is local music phenom Victor Lewis (Kujo/Casual Male).
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supersonic
