Music
Press
It’s only May and I will hear a lot of music between now and December, but there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that Joe Hedges’ Curvature will sit proudly at the top of my 2007 best-of list come the year-end Ink19 polls.
The former July For Kings frontman’s debut solo record positively brims with the sort of bold, creative brush strokes notably absent from the majority of signed or unsigned acts in today’s homogenous music scene, and his departure from a commercial modern rock sound to a more ambient and left-of-center vibe has proved to be richly rewarding.
Acclaimed L.A. producer Blumpy took a chance on backing Hedges’ vision when the major labels would not and the end result is an album of such depth and beauty that it’s almost impossible to find enough superlatives to do it justice. And if you think such gushing praise is over the top, one listen to the beautiful “Futureflies,” the epic “Perseus” or the haunting closing ballad “Pray The Stars” should convince you otherwise.
Not surprisingly, Hedges’ new material shares July For King’s innate sense of melody, but only the punchy opener “Wake Up” is remotely similar to his past musical endeavors. Instead, a combination of diverse instrumentation and inspired songwriting characterize Hedges’ new direction, principally demonstrated on the superb “White Bird” and the innovative "Mitral Valve Prolapse."
Above all else, Curvature has allowed the wildly creative artist that lay within Joe Hedges to step outside of a constricting band environment and express himself in a way that is as unexpected as it is successful.
- Ink 19, Andrew Ellis, Curvature - June 2007
His stunning debut “Curvature” is an impressive display of spiritual expression and musical creativity.
- alternative addiction, Chad Durkee, Wednesday April 25th 2007
His voice makes every song soaring and symphonic and so many of the songs on Curvature would be career-defining songs for some bands. For Hedges, its just another effortless part of self-expression.
- resident media pundit, New CD Release: Joe Hedges’ Curvature, Greg Robson, Tuesday April 10th 2007
…Hedges possesses an everyman’s poet type of style…With this album, I suspect Hedges is getting himself yet one more step closer to indie-rock semi-stardom and respect. This disc is a proving ground for Hedges, and he proves himself in spades—he has without a doubt made the leap from fun rock front man, to now a respected singer-songwriter.
- sound the sirens magazine, Trent Moore Monday April 16th 2007
The snow on the trees and the quiet reminded him of C.S. Lewis’ fictional kingdom Narnia and helped shape the tone of the music.
- traverse city record eagle, studio in the woods, Tom Carr, Friday April 6th 2007
…the artwork of Middletown-born musician Joe Hedges, whose artwork for the show also serves as the cover for his latest album, “Curvature.” The artwork is known as the “Leaking Heart” series.
- middletown journal, Miami University Middletown exhibits alumni artwork for anniversary, Eric Robinette, Friday April 6th 2007
The new album marks a change in style for Hedges, who used to write and record his demos on the guitar. The new tracks were layered in the studio, resulting in a more exotic sound Hedges likens to “ambient pop.”
- dayton daily news, Barnes & Noble conducts ‘Curvature’ CD release party, Eric Robinette, Friday April 6th 2007
…an experiment gone extremely right!
- kidinbigd, iTunes customer review, April 2007
"[Hedges] leaves behind the driving guitars of yore; and instead follows his ear, and heart, down an avenue more akin to an ambient singer-songwriter than a rock & roll frontman. Judging from the sampling of tracks I got to hear from Curvature, I would say that this will definitely be a release to watch out for."
- Trent Moore, Sound the Sirens Magazine, UK
"Joe Hedges is...a "songwriting powerhouse" filled with catchy hooks, painted mental pictures, unforgettable melodies and lyrics that make you want to be part of his world."
-Chris Line MTV2 VJ
"...Joe Hedges is without a doubt a passionate singer...with a gift for memorable hooks and anthemic, arena-rock-ready choruses."
-Don Thrasher, The Dayton Daily News Dayton, OH
"From the beginning, when I worked July For Kings' first single at radio it became clear how much programmers loved Joe Hedges' passionate voice and the mass appeal of the songs he wrote."
-Dara Kravitz Senior VP of Radio Promotion Geffen Records New York
"The new release is a reminder of why national labels would be attracted...melodic rock with Hedges lyrics that again sparkle'"
-Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post
"powerful songs...together with a real lyrical thoughtfulness and sophistication"
-popmatters.com
"The band's sound is built around Hedges' penetrating lyrics that alternate between whimsical and heart-wrenching...a group that stands a good chance of being the 'next big thing' to come out of the tri-state."
-Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post
"This would have to be the most brilliantly written and melodic music, and some of the most sincere and thought provoking lyrics I have ever heard...I am trying to spread the word in Australia..."
-Steve Hunt CDBaby.com Consumer Review - about Joe Hedges
Discography
albums:
Curvature - April 17th, 2007
singles:
"Wake Up" - October 19th, 2006
"Mitral Valve Prolapse" - February 14th, 2007
Photos
Bio
Please visit joehedges.com to watch a short video giving an overview of Joe Hedges and his world.
Curvature "brims with bold, creative brush strokes...an album of such depth and beauty that it’s almost impossible to find enough superlatives to do it justice.
- Ink 19, Andrew Ellis, June 2007
His stunning debut “Curvature” is an impressive display of spiritual expression and musical creativity.
- Alternative Addiction, Chad Durkee, Wednesday April 25th 2007
His voice makes every song soaring and symphonic and so many of the songs on Curvature would be career-defining songs for some bands. For Hedges, its just another effortless part of self-expression.
- Resident Media Pundit, New CD Release: Joe Hedges’ Curvature, Greg Robson, Tuesday April 10th 2007
…Hedges possesses an everyman’s poet type of style…With this album, I suspect Hedges is getting himself yet one more step closer to indie-rock semi-stardom and respect. This disc is a proving ground for Hedges, and he proves himself in spades.
- Sound The Sirens Magazine, Trent Moore Monday April 16th 2007
…an experiment gone extremely right!
- Kidinbigd, iTunes Customer Review, April 2007
Joe Hedges is...a songwriting powerhouse filled with catchy hooks, painted mental pictures, unforgettable melodies and lyrics that make you want to be part of his world.
-Chris Line, The Stage TV and MTV 2 Vee Jay
Joe Hedges has created an intensely creative debut. Dark and uplifting all at once, Curvature weaves cello, piano, synth, and the occasional crushing guitar around Hedges’ soulful voice for a powerful, eclectic modern rock record. The album produced by Blumpy (Filter, Marilyn Manson, VAST) was recorded in the dead of winter at a remote lakehouse in northern Michigan. Hedges first honed his songwriting with July For Kings, formerly of MCA Records, as they worked their way from clubs in Cincinnati to #1 requested on Las Vegas KMXB
* YouTube honors received: Most Watched Today (#5), This Week (#11), This Month (#76).
* Won Cincinnati's WKRQ (Q102 101.9FM) Cincinnati Choice Award for Best Singer.
* Myspace Top Artist.
* July For Kings singles “Normal life” and "Girlfriend" generated airplay at hundreds of stations in the U.S. and elsewhere.
* #1 Most requested on Mix 94.1 Las Vegas
* Participated in National “You Saw it first” college tour and countless small club tours.
* Won two Cammys (Cincinnati Music Awards) including Favorite Band.
* National press and publicity including Billboard Magazine, Instyle, and Rolling Stone.
* Five songs featured on MTV’s “The Real World”
* 2005 July For Kings independent release Nostalgia #1 seller for several weeks on CDBaby.com (the world's largest online retailer of independent music)
In My Own Words…
I spent two months living in an isolated cabin on the edge of a lake with my friend and producer Blumpy. The scenery was beautiful; the weather was cold. It was the dead of winter. I went there to get inspired and to record these songs you’re listening to right now.
The idea was simple: not worry so much about writing songs that fit into a specific mold, just make music I really love. I first worked with Blumpy (an accomplished LA producer/engineer/programmer with credits ranging from VAST to Filter to Depeche Mode) with my former band July For Kings, on our MCA album, Swim. We recently reconnected and he said to me, “Let’s do an album”. So we started talking about it and our scheming became a reality.
I immediately locked myself away and did demos of about thirty songs. Some days I was writing several songs. Meanwhile Blumpy sacrificed a couple of months of work in LA and shipped his studio halfway across the country to a lakehouse just outside Traverse City near the great lake of Michigan. Trees crashed down around us in the occasional storm, it was freezing cold and the power would go out. But the whole idea was to completely get away and immerse ourselves in this project, and apart from trips into town to buy food and kerosene, there were no distractions.
The only concept we had was to be creative. Rather than get caught up in what people are going to like or dislike, we didn't over-think anything. We threw out some rules and started. We used what might be considered the wrong mic’s, and recorded things contrary to convention. We did use traditional rock guitars but we also experimented with keyboards, piano, sequencers, loops, and unusual sounds. One integral part of the record is the cello, performed by my band-mate cellist/guitarist T Miller.
Despite all the fun we had with production, we were careful to keep the album about the songs. First and foremost I am a songwriter so we kept the focus on the progressions, lyrics and melodies. Instead of the traditional studio order of drums and bass first, we started with only the guitar or piano and vocal and let the mood of the song dictate how we built up the rest of the track.
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