This is the third transmission from the humans responsible for the recording project known as Noble Lake. Originally a rotating lineup of myself and an excellent bunch of Baltimore rockers, among them Andy Stack and Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak. We used to play the spots in Bmore that were in rotation from '05-'10, often on the floor or a similar locality. Then things fell apart as they often do on account of life, volition and other mysterious circumstances. We scattered, we hibernated. Personally, I went on a long journey of fatherhood, loss, and sobriety that ultimately landed me all the way across the country in Portland. I've been meditating on these themes along with many others in the intervening years that lead to the creation of this album. A few of these songs were in their infancy when I left Baltimore almost a decade ago and have now reached full maturity, thanks in no small part to the vision and creativity of two old friends and collaborators, Chris Freeland and Walker Teret, without whom I would never have been able to bring these songs to fruition with such potency. This is a collection of songs of fucking up and getting straight, within it are the ghosts of Gary Gilmore and friends and family dead and gone, the arc of generations and struggles, and the gentle breeze on the highway that cools the sweat on your neck as you carry yourself down the road. I hope you enjoy it.
James Sarsgard
June 2018
credits
released June 26, 2018
James Sarsgard-guitar, banjo, vocal
Walker Teret and Chris Freeland played a bunch of instruments
Tracks 2, 4, and 6 produced by Chris Freeland and Walker Teret
All songs recorded and mixed by Chris Freeland at Beat Babies Recording Studio in Woodstock, Md jadedrobot@hotmail.com
Additional overdubbing on track 3 by Eric Crespo in Portland, Or
Mastered by Eric Crespo in Portland, Or torchtoucherrecording@gmail.com
Words and Music by James Sarsgard except "Itinerant Song"
Music by Sarsgard/Teret
Cover photo by Deborah Woodroofe Sarsgard
In memory of Andrew Marshall and Deborah Woodroofe Sarsgard
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