Austin Sound

It’s taken Shawn Jones of The Lovely Sparrows nearly two years to craft an album worthy of following up the EP that completely redefined the band’s sound in 2006, Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On (New) Paint. The new album, titled Bury The Cynics, is more expansive, both musically and lyrically, than its predecessor, but its writing was marred by its own set of problems, including the theft of a laptop containing most of the demos. Now on the brink of the album’s release, we sat down with Shawn Jones to talk about the new album, the state of the band, his view on the local scene, hipsters, swing music and, most importantly, to reprimand him for his lengthy absence.

The long awaited follow-up to the Lovely Sparrows’ spectacular 2006 EP, Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint, will be released next month on Abandoned Love Records. The debut LP, titled Bury the Cynics, is equally lush, but lead Sparrow Shawn Jones seemed to have focused his vision much more clearly and shed some of the depressive weight of the EP. Bury the Cynics is still rife with a dark and dramatic humor, though, some of which is evident in the new video for the song “Year of the Dog.”

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Artist: The Lovely Sparrows
Label: Abandoned Love
Genre: Indie Pop

If I was asked to peg an album from a local act as a possible break out effort it would certainly be The Lovely Sparrows upcoming debut full length, Bury The Cynics. Why them? Because the Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On (New) Paint EP was stellar enough to give me confidence and high hopes for anything they’re planning on putting out.

Although there is really no reason to put these two releases together other than their avian association, we felt compelled to do so. Both are, however, exceptional debut EP’s from two of Austin’s most promising young groups. The Lovely Sparrows, who was our Sound Off featured artist a couple of weeks ago and will be performing with Shapes and Sizes and the Weird Weeds at Emo’s on Thursday Dec. 14th, offers up a nearly perfect collection of indie pop on Pulling up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint behind Shawn Jones’ emotionally charged lyrics. Sparrow House’s Falls, the project of Voxtrot keyboardist Jared Van Fleet, shows off his own songwriting skills through a mellow and delicate flood of love and longing. Were we prone to making year-end lists, both of these debuts would certainly be near the top.

The Lovely Sparrows debut EP pulling up floors, pouring on (new) paint has been one of our favorite releases this fall. True to the band’s name, the songs’ arrangements are beautifully lush and vibrant, yet often with an understated intimate atmosphere that draws the listener into the swelling crescendos. Like the best folk-pop, Shawn Jones’ voice is distinctive but smooth, while the collective handclaps and chorus harmonies of the songs belie the heartbreak and desperation of his smart lyrics. “War has Seen the Best of Me” (available for listen on their myspace), perhaps mixes all these elements the best – bursting at the end with a frantic mandolin that even recalls Okkervil River’s early work. This Friday, the Lovely Sparrows will be opening at Emo’s for the Evangelicals and Jimmy Flemion of the irascible Frogs.