Austin Sound

This is just too rich. We can’t help but think that the Black and White Years and the makers of their new video, Fogar Films, are having a little bit too much fun with all of the Talking Heads comparisons that the group’s excellent debut album has received. So maybe we critics brought this video [...]

It’s no surprise that the Black and White Years have served up a stellar debut with their first proper album. We’ve been expecting it since first crossing their path early last year, and the announcement last spring that the trio would be recording the album with Jerry Harrison, esteemed producer and former Talking Heads guitarist, only upped the ante. Thankfully, The Black and White Years delivers, and without changing the sound that has made them one of our favorites here on Austin Sound - even if that cover artwork is a bit suspect. The touch of expert production is noticeable, especially in comparison to the group’s early demos, and the album impressively captures the band’s unique and eclectic movements with an emphasis on the details and decidedly tighter control. The songs are still propelled by an overarching homage to Eighties keys and guitar driven rock, skittering beats that jump irresistibly behind Scott Butler’s deep, disjointed vocal dexterity as the group melds the Talking Heads and Dire Straits influences with a playfulness shining through in the flourishes of reggae rhythms and bursts of ska that gesture toward the Specials or Madness.

The “blogosphere” has been abuzz with excitement about the debut album from local act The Black and White Years. What’s the big deal, you ask? Scan down to the production credits and you’ll find Jerry Harrison, guitarist of The Talking Heads. Well, you say, that is a big deal!

After seeing them play at last year’s SXSW he agreed to help them produce an album. One year later, the results are a match made in heaven. Our own Doug Freeman checks them out in the Austin Sound column of the March issue of Soundcheck Magazine.

We’ve been waiting for the product of the Black and White Year’s collaboration with producer Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads all summer, and the result was worth the wait. Trading on 80’s styled grooves with a touch of ska, the local trio seemed a natural match for Harrison’s ear, and below are two tracks the band has shared off of their upcoming full-length, which is as yet untitled but looking for release early next year.

Scott Butler’s vocals still propel the band with a Dire Straits era Mark Knopfler pitch, but Harrison mellows the songs out a bit to compact their punch. The original version of “Power to Change” was featured in our Sound Off profile with the band back in February, and you can hear the differences on the new version below. The Black and White Years next gig isn’t scheduled until January at the Beauty Bar, the group is hitting up the MIDEM Festival in Cannes, France next month as well.

2/20/07
We hate to post these news items, but it seems we’ve been doing it a lot lately. The Black and White Years, a recent Sound Off artist of the week, are unfortunately the latest victims of gear theft in Austin. Their home was broken into and over $10,000 in equiptment stolen. Here’s the list of items to be on the lookout for:

Paul Reed Smith CE24 Red
serial: 723444

Apple Powrbook G4 “17 laptop-silver
serial: v73445z3p22

Warwick 5 string bass w/ wood finish

Gibson SG: brown w/ wood finish

Roland Juno-G Synth

If you spot any of this gear around town or have any tips, you can contact the group through their Myspace or Landon Thompson at 806-441-7675.

The Black and White Years are the current manifestation of, as they say below, “same three guys – five different band names.” So you may in fact remember them as the Trees or Paper Tiger, among others, but their latest project holds the most promise yet. With a unique sound that builds behind Scott Butler’s immediately identifiable vocals and an infectious post-punk groove, the Black and White Years are colored by both swing and grit. Butler’s lyrics are incisive and frantic with a voice that holds a Mark Knopfler distinctiveness. Musically the group is an impressive amalgam of 80’s guitar, shades of new-ska, and angular, almost reggae, rhythms. You have two chances to catch The Black and White Years this week. They’ll be opening at Red 7 on Thursday for an awesome lineup that includes A Five and Dime Ship, Sad Machines and the Wind-Up Bird Chronicles on one stage and Transmography, The Always Already, War Against Sleep, Dae Sole and Pulse and Theory on the other. You can also find the Black and White Years at Shakespeare’s Pub on Saturday.