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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2009
Bob Schneider's Raw Stream Of Consciousness Makes For Quirky Lyrics And Genuine Emotions On 'Lovely Creatures,' Out Sept 29 On Kirtland Records
Bob Schneider - bewitching pop-rocker and Austin phenomenon - may have devised many of the tracks on his new album through a songwriting game, but 'Lovely Creatures,' out September 29 on Kirtland Records, exemplifies Schneider's undeniable songwriting talents, and serious knack for writing brilliantly idiosyncratic songs out of this controlled creative chaos.
The rules of the game are simple: Schneider and other songwriting friends like Jason Mraz (who told Rolling Stone that Schneider is an inspiration, calling him "brilliant") pick a word or phrase, write a song using that phrase, and compare the results. The outcome isn't as haphazard as it might seem. Take for example "Realness of Space," which started with the phrase "bear fur," but thanks to Schneider's songsmith skills, grew into a vibrant stream of consciousness on the topic of longing.
"I've always been a big fan of songs that don't really make any sense lyrically, but when you add the music it somehow works," admits Schneider, who says he's less interested in telling a linear story and more about painting an abstract painting. "Hardly any of the songs that I write are autobiographical in a literal sense. The thing that is real is the mood that I'm in when I'm writing the song. Because the songs are all love songs, for the most part, I ended up calling the record 'Lovely Creatures' referring both to the collection of songs and to people in general."
The 12-song collection, produced by Dwight Baker, is a whimsical grab bag of love and life stories both devastating (as in "Changing Your Mind," featuring guest vocals from Patty Griffin) and hopelessly romantic (see the instantly appealing first single "40 Dogs [Like Romeo and Juliet]") where Schneider compares his love to "the color part of the 'Wizard of Oz' movie."
Schneider balances the Jack Johnson-esque mellow "Bringdown" with the Mambo-infused dance numbers "Bombonanza" and "Tarantula," (two staples in Schneider's live shows, recorded for the first time on 'Lovely Creatures') showcasing his ability to incorporate as many musical styles as one album can hold, while maintaining a sound that is uniquely his own.
Bob Schneider's sound has earned the singer near royalty status in Austin, where his critically acclaimed 2001 album 'Lonelyland' remains the best-selling album at the city's famous Waterloo Records. Schneider has opened for the Dixie Chicks, and lends his musical versatility to the bands The Scabs, Texas Bluegrass Massacre and Lonelyland. Schneider will kick off the release of 'Lovely Creatures' with Austin performances Oct 1st at Threadgills, Oct 2nd at Antones, and Oct 3rd with The Scabs at Austin City Limits Festival before launching a national tour.
