Strand Of Oaks – In Heaven

28-12-2021

Strand of Oaks is the rock project by songwriter and producer Timothy Showalter. Originally from Indiana, he currently resides in Austin. His music has been classified as rock and folk, as well as folk rock. The project of Indiana-born, Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter and producer Tim Showalter, Strand of Oaks specializes in bold and anthemic indie Americana that draws from classic rock and folk. Skillfully blending traditional singer / songwriter introspection with stadium-ready melodies in the vein of artists like War on Drugs and My Morning Jacket. On October 1, 2021, Strand of Oaks released their eighth album "In Heaven". It was preceded by the single "Galacticana". The record includes contributions from the Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha on the song "Easter". "In Heaven" is Strand of Oaks' eighth album. Tim Showalter has built up a solid discography since 2009 that includes a number of four-star albums, including "Heal" and Eraserland. Anyone who has followed Showalter knows that the almost forty-something has already had a turbulent life with the necessary setbacks. In Heaven is another record that is partly fueled by loss and grief. Tim Showalter and his wife once survived a car accident. His mother-in-law was unfortunately not so happy in 2018. As usual, Showalter puts a lot of positive energy, enthusiasm, enlightenment and charity on this new album against the ongoing misery. In this way "In Heaven" gets an extra load, just like most previous albums by Strand or Oaks. What is striking is that Showalter again shows a lot of synths on "In Heaven". That's actually the first time since "Heal". It makes his more than solid rock songs (and ballads) on the album more accessible, more polished, without the feeling that he is deliberately aiming at a large audience. Just like with The War on Drugs, he regularly builds up atmospheres that go back to (American) atmospheric pop/rock of the mid-eighties. Take opener 'Galacticana'; it is immersive big radio music by the book. The effective guitar solo and the drama of the marching drums at the end are the exclamation points. 'Easter', with guest star James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) also showcases a shiny rock landscape, including piano, synths and acoustic guitar. Strand of Oaks knows how to captivate almost continuously on "In Heaven", especially when he slows down. 'Hurry', dealing with mortality, is a sparkling ballad with a grand, sometimes epic sound and a grand break. Showalter then returns soberingly: 'This world's not meant for me...'. 'Horses At Night' is again an impeccable ballad, this time acoustic (complemented by synths and second voice). It is one of the songs that mentions a deceased loved one: here it is the last show by Jimi Hendrix (Germany, September 6, 1970) that Showalter cites. Hendrix also quotes the lived-in sung 'Jimi & Stan'. The other protagonist is Showalter's cat, who died of cancer. 'Somewhere In Chicago', the track with the most Americana features, is dedicated to singer-songwriter John Prine, who died last year. 'I'm just carbon fueled by a conscience', Showalter sings on Carbon. It's a song that kicks in nicely. The enthusiasm, the energy and the violin part give this song Waterboys-like allure, an atmosphere that fits well with the musical character of "In Heaven". On 'Sister Saturn' Showalter and band effortlessly switch to eighties wave rock that is colored by piercing synths and funky passages. Like so many rock albums, "In Heaven" also has a point of rest, of reflection. And just like on many albums, this is a song in which vocals and piano are central. And a song that is performed at the end of the record. The melodramatic predominates in the sacred spheres of 'Under Heaven'. "You and me delusionally, we rise and fall," Showalter sings. Perhaps a spot halfway through the album would have graced this short song better. In the meantime it has become clear that "In Heaven" again contains a lot of ear pleasing and inspiring material. Tim Showalter is and remains an endearing personality who keeps the American rock heritage alive with personal, experienced but also accessible songs. And that for eight albums. "In Heaven" is definitely one of the best albums within that discography. "In Heaven" is a wonderfully disarming and honest album, with which Strand of Oaks does not reinvent itself as an artist, but does make full use of its strengths. This time we hear just a bit more eighties synth sound and galactic references than we are used to from the American, but because of that we are never listening to an extension of a previous album. This eighth full-length is yet another reason to look forward to the stage comeback of the sweetest hard rocker of the soft rockers, and we are already working on that. Looking back through Strand Of Oaks' discography, a murky theme emerges. "Leave Ruin"(2009), "Pope Killdragon" (2010), "Dark Shores" (2012), "Heal" (2014), "Hard Love" (2017) and "Eraserland" (2019) : these album titles evoke mysticism and surrealism, religion and apocalypticism. Strand Of Oaks' latest release, "In Heaven", is no exception from this pattern. The man behind the moniker is Timothy Showalter, Indiana born and Austin relocated. Understanding Showalter's history gives context to his work. Though just 39 years of age, Showalter has already been thwarted by arthritis, an unfaithful wife, a home burned down and a near-death car crash. For Showalter, the Strand Of Oaks project has provided inspiration and release from trauma. "In Heaven" continues along the same railroad. On opening single 'Galacticana', Showalter confesses, "I don't want to drag you down", his layered harmonies reasserting that intention. As a listener however, it's difficult to resist Showalter's sinkhole pull. Lyrics like "we're just moments in the dark / lonely fragments made of stars...cosmic dust / made of blood" on 'Horses At Night', are eerie to the point of distraction, making our human efforts seem futile to the point of being overwhelming. Adding to the mood is Showalter's signature chainsaw vocal. While some may appreciate its strength and conviction, the relentlessness of just that causes claustrophobia in its heavy handedness. The rhyming couplets structuring most verses across "In Heaven" are disappointingly predictable; like seeing how every piece of a jigsaw will fit moments after unboxing. Some delicate variations in both vocal dexterity and lyricism would provide refreshment across the eleven tracks. Hurry hits some kind of rock bottom, as the mid-track breakdown has Showalter, clarified, singing, "this world's not meant for me / till our bodies go back to the water". The vocal reverb and insistent drums however, create transcendence in the track, implying some kind of miracle can occur at the point when all seems lost. Pockets of much needed light continue to break through across the album. Take 'Somewhere In Chicago', for instance, or 'Jimi & Stan'. The one a tribute to the late John Prine, the other a tribute to Showalter's late cat. Somewhere in Chicago is sweet and innocent; the call and response providing the delicacy we've been craving. The major key is striking in its uplift, and emphasises how much of this album festers in the minor. 'Jimi & Stan' plays with the notion that Showalter's cat is hanging out with Jimi Hendrix in heaven. It's a welcome touch of humour that does not pass unnoticed or unappreciated. References to rock 'n' roll legends punctuate this album, as Showalter repeats, "We walked to the river singing 'Whole Lotta Love ...'". It's an intelligent way of revealing his personality; as much as we have seen what Showalter recoils from on 'In Heaven', it's satisfying to see what, or whom, he reveres. Timothy Showalter has undoubtedly achieved long lasting success with Strand Of Oaks, seven studio albums firmly attest to that. His hard hitting vocal is emotive and emotional; his instrumentation reliable yet creative. On "In Heaven", beacons of musical light have proved welcome through the stormy weather. Continuing to give airtime to these softer, more playful moments could see Showalter achieve greater success in mainstream circles. Quite an interesting retro/rock band, (as they're all the rage in the 2020's these days). Strand of Oaks, new album, "In Heaven" is heavy on the balladeering and songwriting poetry and songcraft. Showalter, who began writing and performing in 2003, issued his first collection of songs under the moniker Leave Ruin in 2009 via the Pennsylvania-based indie label La Société Expéditionnaire. Strand of Oaks' sophomore outing, the appropriately titled "Heal", arrived in 2014 via Dead Oceans Records after a period of turmoil and self-reflection. Returning from a hectic and often hedonistic tour, Showalter reentered the studio to record his follow-up to "Heal". Strand of Oaks has a distinctive sound similar to blending traditional singer, songwriter melodies in the vein of artists like War on Drugs and My Morning Jacket. As of this review, at time of writing, this site has not reviewed this album yet. Featuring a guest spot from Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha, Strand of Oaks' eighth album, "In Heaven", appeared in 2021. For enjoyable 70s sounding ballads, this band truly holds their own you see.

A1 Galacticana

A2 Easter

A3 Hurry

A4 Horses At Night

A5 Somewhere In Chicago

B1 Jimi & Stan

B2 Sunbathers

B3 Carbon

B4 Sister Saturn

B5 Slipstream

B6 Under Heaven

Bo Koster - keyboards