The majestic mountain range and the happy trees that surround it on the cover of the Annuals' second album, Such Fun, are the work of the late Bob Ross, the big-haired landscape painter whose art instruction series was a PBS staple for decades. The choice is fitting, because just as Ross could summon an evocative image of the great outdoors with a few well-placed brush strokes, the six members of the Annuals have created a widescreen indie pop spectacle that sounds big as all outdoors despite the rather conventional size and scope of the band. Annuals leader Adam Baker wrote, arranged, and co-produced Such Fun along with handling guitars, keyboards, percussion, and lead vocals, and you sure can't say the guy lacks vision -- from the laid-back semi-ska of "Hardwood Floor," the shred-tastic guitar heroics of "Hot Night Hounds," and the crunchy '70s-style ock of "Talking" to the psychedelic drift of "Hair Don't Grow," the country-accented melody of "Always Do," and the massed choral splendor of "Springtime," Baker never passes up an opportunity to pull something new out of his bag of tricks, and his bandmates invariably rise to the challenge, especially Kenny Florence on guitar and pedal steel and drummer Nick Radford. For all the talent Baker and the Annuals show on Such Fun, the album's relentless eclecticism begins to work against it after a certain point -- the musical shape-shifting keeps it from developing a coherent musical personality that would hold the pieces together, and the arrangements often sound overcooked when a more concise approach would better serve Baker's genuine knack for a tune. Next time out, maybe the Annuals should think simple watercolors rather than a massive fresco -- Such Fun might fill that space over the fireplace, but it doesn't really pull the room together.
Annuals have truly been an entertaining band to listen and watch as they've expanded and progressed throughout their brief existence. Annuals' newest album, Such Fun, which sports a delightful Bob Ross original as it's cover, shows the band in it's most polished and unified form to date. Such Fun runs through complicated tight instrumentation with [...]
More >
This post appeared originally on the brilliant Four Oh Five, and is one in our continuing series of guest blogs from their capable team of authors. Its exam time, and I've been looking for any reason to procrastinate. Normally this involves a lot of unnecessary movie watching, video game playing, and cleaning and tidying. This semester [...]
More >
Annuals has been a name bandied about the blogoshere for a couple of years now, and although they've appeared in QBiM posts before, I never really gave them the time of day. It probably has to do with their status as a "blog band". I hate that label. And, more often than not, I don't particularly like the bands that get labeled as such... at least, I don't think I'll like them. And then, ...
More >
You might have noticed the cover art of Annuals new album Such Fun is by none other than Bob Ross, the late painting-made-easy guru famous for his perm-fro hair and "happy trees" artistic style. When asked about the connection, Annuals had the following to say: "The way that Bob made his paintings, and the way he paints in particular, is pretty similar to the way that our band makes a recor...
More >
--- - |- Annuals - Confessor Download audio file (annualsconfessor) Tour dates after the jump. ANNUALS ON TOUR WITH MINUS THE BEAR October 8 - Spokane, WA - Service Station # October 9 - Missoula, MT - The Other Side# October 11 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre # October 12 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown # October 13 - Iowa City, IA - [...] ~~- Annuals
More >
Annuals have truly been an entertaining band to listen and watch as they've expanded and progressed throughout their brief existence. Annuals' newest album, Such Fun, which sports a delightful Bob Ross original as it's cover, shows the band in it's most polished and unified form to date. Such Fun runs through complicated tight instrumentation with [...]
More >
You might have noticed the cover art of Annuals new album Such Fun is by none other than Bob Ross, the late painting-made-easy guru famous for his perm-fro hair and "happy trees" artistic style. When asked about the connection, Annuals had the following to say: "The way that Bob made his paintings, and the way he paints in particular, is pretty similar to the way that our band makes a recor...
More >
Annuals have mapped out their first North American tour of 2009. The band will kick off their jaunt on January 22 in Chicago, IL.The six date tour, in support of their latest release 'Such Fun ', will be wrapped up on January 31 in Carrboro, NC. Annuals Tour dates:Chicago, IL Empty Bottle (January 22) Cleveland, OH The Grog Shop (23) Toronto, ON El Mocambo (24) Boston, MA TBA (27) New York,...
More >
Annuals has been a name bandied about the blogoshere for a couple of years now, and although they've appeared in QBiM posts before, I never really gave them the time of day. It probably has to do with their status as a "blog band". I hate that label. And, more often than not, I don't particularly like the bands that get labeled as such... at least, I don't think I'll like them. And then, ...
More >
This post appeared originally on the brilliant Four Oh Five, and is one in our continuing series of guest blogs from their capable team of authors. Its exam time, and I've been looking for any reason to procrastinate. Normally this involves a lot of unnecessary movie watching, video game playing, and cleaning and tidying. This semester [...]
More >
When you pick a few Bob "every tree needs a little friend" Ross paintings for the cover tart you expect a band with sunny tunes. And sure enough, the Annuals , a six piece from Raleigh, NC, peddle joyous sounding indie tunes on their Such Fun album. Despite the fact that all members are in their early twenties they play like seasoned veterans for a few bars and then dive in at the deep end of a...
More >
--- - "Annuals have revealed the album art for their upcoming album, Such Fun. The cover was painted by the “happy little trees” painter, Bob Ross. The band explains why they chose to use a Bob Ross painting for their cover, and how Bob’s approach relates to their approach to songwriting:\r\n\ \xE2\x80\x9CThe way that Bob made his paintings, [...]\n\n\ ~~"- Annuals
More >
North Carolina-based Annuals' second Lp is out now. Debut Be He Me was amazing indie rock album....
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Confessor |
|
|
| 2 Hot Night Hounds |
|
|
| 3 Springtime |
|
|
| 4 Dawn the Mountain |
|
|
| 5 Always Do |
|
|
| 6 Talking |
|
|
| 7 Hardwood Floor |
|
|
| 8 Hair Don't Grow |
|
|
| 9 The Tape |
|
|
| 10 Blue Ridge |
|
|
| 11 Wake |
|
|
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Such Fun")
