Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

Not available in this hemisphere until it's officially Wednesday, but looking forward to hearing it.

...and it sounds really nice, as expected. Laid back, for sure.

Btw – a friend mentioned that fans on Reddit were upset at "Vampire Empire" not just for the absence of flute, but also removal of the boldface phrases below from the lyrics (when compared to the song as performed on Fallon and maybe other live settings):

I am empty 'til she fills, alive until she kills
In her vampire empire, I am the fish and she's my gills
Falling, yeah

(...)

Well, I walked into your dagger for the last time in a row
It's like trying to start a fire with matches in the snow
Where you can't seem to hold me, can't seem to let me go

I can see why Adrianne may have considered those bits to be awkward or unnecessary (e.g., what does "last time in a row" mean, exactly); though I understand how their removal makes for "incomplete rhymes." Anyway, I don't think the song suffers greatly without them...

https://www.reddit.com/r/bigthief/comments/16ihrhi/news_from_buck_about_big_thief/

some news:
-they plan for the next album they record to be 'violent, distorted and screamed' and don't expect the recent unreleased live songs to fit with the concept
-they're going to spend 6 months writing songs for that next album soon, and are taking a year off from touring
-new adrianne solo album coming soon
-they're still thinking about putting out some unreleased material (probably from the dwnmibyi sessions?) as a stop gap while they work on their next album

All cool… hope they do that last thing!

it sounds like we can probably expect the adrianne solo album in january or so

A little surprising they would decide on the sound of a new album before even writing it, let alone getting into the studio… from past interviews, I had the sense that they followed a much more “organic” method of finding each album’s particular voice.

they plan for the next album they record to be 'violent, distorted and screamed'

Lost Somewhere Between the New Warm Mountain and My Home

Today, Adrianne Lenker (of Big Thief) announces a new online songwriting workshop through School of Song. The course will be taught online via live Zoom lectures across 4 consecutive Sundays –– January 7th, January 14th, January 21st, and January 28 –– with 2 lecture sessions on each class day to accommodate different time zones: 11 AM PT and 6 PM PT. Recorded lectures will be available and sent out afterwards for those who are unable to attend at those times.

Every week, Adrianne will give a lecture on subjects specific to her songwriting process. Each class will result in a homework assignment to write a song using the techniques discussed in the lecture. In addition to the lectures, there will be weekly song-sharing sessions composed of peer review and an additional hour of live Q&A with Adrianne.

The cost of the workshop is $160 total, and a 20% discount is available for those who sign up with a friend. The deadline to sign up is Saturday, January 6th at 11:59 PM PT. The course is geared towards anyone with an interest in songwriting in general or Adrianne’s process in particular, from absolute beginners to seasoned songwriters. There are no prerequisites to sign up, but having an instrument that you know how to play a few chords on will be helpful if you want to complete the assignments.

Course Description:
In Adrianne Lenker's songwriting workshop, we will begin with the understanding that songs emerge from an ever-mysterious source within us – our subconscious, our inner child, magic, the universe. Our primary task as songwriters is to ensure this source remains unblocked and unhindered. This workshop will cover how Adrianne navigates this unblocking process throughout all facets of life to get back to the place where songs come from.

Building upon this open foundation, we delve into song craft, touching on key elements of Adrianne’s approach. We'll explore how open tunings can transform the guitar into a landscape of drones and bass lines, welcoming resonant melodies to emerge. We’ll consider how various guitar techniques (e.g. strummed cowboy chords, fingerpicking) affect the expression of the songwriter's identity. Lyrically, we'll examine the process of drawing from personal experiences to create lyrics that balance the specific with the universal. Throughout the workshop, students will learn to write lyrics that highlight the beauty and magic often overlooked in our daily existence, revealing the depth that lies beneath the veneer of the mundane.

Join us in January as Adrianne gives our community insight into her process. You will leave the course with several new original songs of your own, and with new connections to fellow songwriters all over the world.

For more information, contact: Jacob Daneman | Pitch Perfect PR -
jacob at pitchperfectpr.com

Buck Meek's album Haunted Mountain is quite different from Big Thief but very enjoyable. Title track is a favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv8uI2VXppA

first single from adrianne's new album out on tuesday

here's the single, "ruined"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypx43W_YRg

it's lovely, interesting to hear her on piano. a rather different arrangement to the version big thief were playing earlier this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvJPMZb_mls

lol whenever james does those autotuned pitch-shifted backing vocals it's so goofy

album is apparently bright future which means we can expect this will be on it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTS83wW0Oa0

I know this alb has its own thread, but since we come here more often:

December 8, 2023
For Immediate Release

BIG THIEF RELEASE NEW EDITION OF
DEBUT ALBUM, MASTERPIECE

LAUNCH BIG THIEF KARAOKE CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE

REMASTERED VINYL AVAILABLE NOW

Today, Big Thief release a new edition of their 2016 debut album Masterpiece. For the first time on 4AD, the album containing much-loved songs ‘Paul’, ‘Real Love’ and title track ‘Masterpiece’ is available, remastered and reissued.

Masterpiece was recorded in July 2015 at an old house that they turned into a studio on Lake Champlain with producer Andrew Sarlo and engineer James Krivchenia (who would go on to become Big Thief's full-time drummer). The resultant debut Big Thief studio album is filled with characters and visceral narratives, songs that pivot in the space of a few words. Adrianne Lenker's voice and guitar playing speak of rich emotional territory with grace and insight. In her words, the record tracks, "the masterpiece of existence, which is always folding into itself, people attempting to connect, to both shake themselves awake and to shake off the numbness of certain points in their life. The interpretations might be impressionistic or surrealistic, but they're grounded in simple things." It soars on what Big Thief fan Sharon Van Etten called "...a real journey, with intelligent stories and twist-and-turn melodies."

Big Thief also launched a karaoke channel on their YouTube today, featuring karaoke versions of the songs on Masterpiece.

BIG THIEF KARAOKE CHANNEL

asterpiece Tracklist:

1. Little Arrow
2. Masterpiece
3. Vegas
4. Real Love
5. Interstate
6. Lorraine
7. Paul
8. Humans
9. Velvet Ring
10. Animals
11. Randy
12. Parallels

Big Thief 2024 Tour Dates:
Sun. Aug. 18 – London, UK @ Gunnersbury Park (w/ PJ Harvey)
Wed. Aug. 21 - Sat. Aug. 24 – Torremolinos, ES @ Canela Party 2024

For more information, contact: Jacob Daneman, Ahmad Asani | Pitch Perfect PR -
jacob at pitchperfectpr.com, ahmad at pitchperfectpr.com

Channel starts here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jFGy2oEMpg

haha that karaoke channel is ingenious

why not have both the original master and the remaster available online I wonder

this cover gets me every time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6YRAUKczyw
Steve Fisher - Anything (Adrianne Lenker Cover)

when she sings harmony ;_;

A message from Adrianne, Buck, James, and Max -
After many beautiful years together, Max is no longer in Big Thief. Our love for each other is infinite, and we are so grateful for all we have shared these many years together since the beginning of our journey as a band. We wouldn’t be who we are without Max. This separation marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one for Big Thief.
This change was made for interpersonal reasons with mutual respect in our hearts. It’s a big change for us and the four of us ask for your trust, respect, and care as we grow into the next chapter of our lives.
xo Big Thief

ah damn

it's not hard to infer that it's probably over israel/palestine and if so it's surely for the best, but it's still a shame. they're briefly touring again in a few weeks so i wonder who they've found to replace him. it'll be big shoes to fill given his absurd talent and distinct style

reports from their first show without max are that they played almost entirely new material & also had a second drummer in addition to a new bassist

"terrifying" is the new song people seem most excited about but no recordings have surfaced yet, hopefully some will before too long

Ooh exciting! Do we know who the new players are?

second drummer? let the jams-formation begin

the bassist is apparently justin felton who has played guitar with l'rain, but no details on the second drummer yet

some clips:

a new arrangement of "words":
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9_2F5RR-TE/

"no fear":
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9_ptjDxxyC/

apparently the new material ranges from mellow americana to jammy rock songs including a 12-minute one

clip of "space and time":

https://www.instagram.com/new_injuries/reel/C9_2excxx1G/

"all night all day"

https://www.reddit.com/r/bigthief/comments/1ef9806/one_of_my_favorite_moments_from_their_set_last/

clips of most of the new songs here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3vTq6RELDM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUoCYlM8r9g

more of "grandmother"

second drummer is reportedly jon nellen, who's played with nick hakim before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAqYmRwRmM0

most of "los angeles"

xp - yeah they just posted on Insta that Justin Felton and Jon Nellen will be playing on their tour

https://www.reddit.com/r/bigthief/comments/1egtl28/missed_the_first_few_seconds_but_heres_another/

full recording of "grandmother" is nearly 7 minutes! it rules

gonna turn it all into rock & roll!

a lot more full recordings of new songs now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSMoz6XZzlY

"terrifying" (kinda math rock-y!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ckkBAROPc

"muscle memory"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pFdtnVa-mU

"space and time"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2NaAz3GR6M

"more than anything"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ivn2n4aZA0

full show with a bunch more new songs

oh this absolute diva pic.twitter.com/hJL3dxMnp9

— lia 🚀 (@beeefyfridgers) August 7, 2024

ngl, I would totally listen to a Big Thief 2024 song called "Friends 4ever 4 A Day"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAzlkFL-aYc

that whole album's on youtube, it's from 2006 when she was 14 and is nearly completely unrecognisable as her. a few songs are written by her dad & a bunch are co-written with him. it's got nothing on her later work (the lyrics in particular are lacking) but it's remarkably accomplished

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqxSRdVvgH8

there's also this follow-up EP of tracks from a second album (no idea if it ever got a release) that's a bit more recognisable as her

Influences
Bjork, The Cranberries, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Nora Jones, Annie Lennox Sarah Mclaughlin, Pat Metheny, Six-pence non the richer, Switchfoot
Sounds Like
Vocals: Leigh Nash meets Nora Jones meets Jewel meets Sheryl Crow. Guitar: Emiliana Torrini meets Elliott Smith meets Jewel meets Pat Metheny. Writing Style: Depth of Jewel, Feel of Rachel Yamagata & Sheryl Crow, Edge of Switchfoot.

from her myspace bio at the time

oh her dad is in the youtube comments saying the full second album never got a release lol

I drunkenly purchased Stages of the Sun when it showed up on Discogs. For an embarrassing sum.

As soon as I bought it, another showed up from the same seller. And another. Dude has a case of them somehow. Maybe rescued them from the dump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd-67cMpnjA

another new song!

Someone on the Big Thief subreddit has uploaded a full concert soundboard quality recording from a recent gig in Sweden

https://www.reddit.com/r/bigthief/s/6ODLU0cs2B

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4hxQ4xpidg

it's from this video. quite a few of the new songs, but this version of "simulation swarm" doesn't quite work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEjLF6wrW5I

yet another new song, "taker" (not "hand through table", that's the one from two days ago but this video has the title mixed up)

Another good one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t34LAtkD_Vs

full recording of "hand through table"

According to setlist.fm they have played 14 new tracks on this summer tour so far, surely this must mean the new album is coming soon, right? Right?

they're probably recording sometime in the next two months, their last tour date is later this week and adrianne doesn't go back on tour until november. it doesn't seem like they've recorded an album yet, the arrangements for the new material have been shifting around a bit, they're still figuring them out.

on top of the 14 new songs they've played live this year, there's another 10 unreleased songs that adrianne's played live this year solo, and a bunch more they were playing on tour in 2022/2023.