Song Preservation Society – Ready Room

Sometimes we get carried away with comparisons. Greg and I often talk about how he compares Good Old War to The Beatles and how I completely understand what he means but that it just sounds so ridiculous. Well, it’s my turn. Song Preservation Society (awesome name, right?) is the moniker of Trevor Bahnson, Ethan Glazer, and Daniel Wright. These three guys are using three guitars, three voices, and an amazing group of influences to craft a sound right out the golden eras of music, including an obvious allusion to The Beatles.

Ready Room is a group of 7 songs that show the kind of songwriting and sound production these guys are capable of. Using almost only guitars and vocals, Song Preservation Society has created an EP that will surely be among our albums of the year. To start the album, we have “We Think What You Think”, an acoustic solo song to start, but one that quickly turns into three part harmonies and multiple guitars and a piano. It’s sung almost entirely in harmony and that’s a rare treat, especially when done this well. “Circus” changes things up a bit by using some oboe and strings. It’s the perfect kind of filling for an album like this and does an awesome job lending some atmosphere to song about a circus.

“And how the sunlight was fleeting,/ And how you called out my name,/ And I, I don’t know the sunshine from the rain, falling down./ So alone in the dark, asleep at the wheel,/ Alone in the dark, in this field I will stay” is the chorus to “Just Like A Dream”, another fantastic song, this one using harmonies sparingly. Perhaps the album’s best song, and one that is immediately reminiscent of Fleet Foxes, is “Wheels of the World”. It’s a song about always feeling on the go, never getting to rest. “Running up and down the walls,/ Probably gonna take a fall,/ I’m never gonna sleep again.”

“Love Me Like She Did” is probably the song that most makes me feel like I’m listening to The Beatles or music from the greatest periods in music history. It doesn’t start like a Beatles tune, but it has the flavor and sonic qualities that make it difficult to think about anything else. Ditto for “Stars”, which uses strings and background music to emphasize the importance of particular lines or verses. It’s something that we don’t think about often, but can be incredibly powerful when it’s evident.

Lastly, “You Can’t Stop Me From Tryin'” takes a slightly different tact. It’s a little bit of Paul Simon’s Graceland, but not entirely. “This is the story of pain and friendship and the women and men who brought me here./ This is the story of revolution in a small child’s mind.” It’s heady stuff and a great, poignant way to end this collection. Ready Room should be ignored at your own peril. This album is a phenomenal collection of songs and has me chomping at the bit for a full length album from these guys.

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