Now It's Overhead (album)

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Now It's Overhead
Now It's Overhead cover
Studio album by Now It's Overhead
Released October 17, 2001
Genre Indie rock
Length 36:07
Label Saddle Creek Records
Producer(s) Andy LeMaster
Professional reviews
Now It's Overhead chronology
Now It's Overhead
(2001)
Fall Back Open (2004)


Now It's Overhead's self-titled is the first release by the band, Now It's Overhead from Athens, Georgia. It was released October 21, 2001.

Saddle Creek has spent the last few years establishing themselves by releasing an eclectic range of artists from Omaha, Nebraska. For the label's first full-length release from a non-Nebraska based band, they proudly presented Now It's Overhead, consisting of friends Andy LeMaster (vocals, instruments, recording), Orenda Fink (bass, keyboards, trumpet, vocals), Maria Taylor (keyboards, vocals), and Clay Leverett (drums, vocals).

Now It's Overhead's self-titled debut book ends the life-span of a relationship from hopeful beginnings to a hopeless ending and all points in between. The album's dark melodic pop sensibilities are not unlike those found in earlier works of bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode, and R.E.M., yet are combined with lush sonic layers shared by bands like My Bloody Valentine and Spiritualized. Generally refreshing with a few eerily haunting tracks, this is a beautiful sounding and carefully sculpted composition.

Andy LeMaster, former Sugar bassist David Barbe, and current Glands bassist Andy Baker jointly own and operate Chase Park Transduction Recording Studio in Athens. Along with the Now It's Overhead recording, Chase Park has been host to recent recordings by Japancakes, Azure Ray, Seaworthy, Amy Ray, and the Glands. Andy's studio experience is personified through the recording techniques and sound manipulation that play an integral role on this album.

Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink, also of Azure Ray, lend the lush airiness of their voices and harmonies to several songs, although it is Andy that handles the main vocal duties. Acoustic and electronic drum loops provide the circulatory system for these multi-layered tracks. With beats that compliment each song effortlessly, it's not surprising to learn that Andy and drummer Clay Leverett have played music together since their early days in middle school.

This record is a sophisticated collection of airy pop songs full of atmospheric keyboard sounds, layered breathy background harmonies, coronary beats, and soulful lead vocals. Select moments of sparseness punctuate dense layers of lushness. The band's use of space forges a soundscape to be drawn into and hypnotized by.

[edit] Track listing

  1. Blackout Curtain (4:17)
  2. Who's Jon (4:19)
  3. Hi (4:03)
  4. Hold Your Spin (3:47)
  5. 6th Grade Roller (3:03)
  6. Wonderful Scar (4:03)
  7. With a Subtle Look (5:01)
  8. Goodbye Highway (3:58)
  9. Skeleton on Display (4:56)