Spring Break
Man-myth Brian Smith keeping folk alive
Craig Bidiman
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Diversions
Brian Smith
And We Packed Up Our Bags To Discover New Lands Under New Identities After Leaving Our Past Behind
Four stars
Label: Series Two Records
Check Out: "Creation Dream," "Train Down South," "This Town, This Place (I'm Leaving It All Behind)."
Skip: "The Wait," "Peace Dream," "Song For Leaving"
When I first met Brian Smith I didn't know who he was. I walked by him as he smoked long from his Cruella De Vil cigarette stick and I laughed. I merely saw a skinny boy smoking and thought to myself, "Wow, I love college - you never know what you will see."
Then I got to know Brian Smith.
He wandered into the first Oregon State Musician's Guild meeting in the fall and expressed his love for music in the most socially awkward manner I had ever experienced, which made me laugh, again. I promptly went home and looked up his MySpace like he asked me to, and I was blown away. As I heard each simple strum from his acoustic guitar I progressively became a believer in Brian Smith.
No, Smith isn't starting a cult. However, one would be surprised when they look at the support and following this freshman in zoology has going for him.
Straight out of the mean streets of Illinois, Smith has been writing, orchestrating and producing his own music for more than four years. In this span, he has surfaced two full-length albums, the first of which is "New Songs From a New Home," which contains 25 songs he wrote and recorded in his dorm room in Poling in one month.
"I think I went crazy working on that one," Smith said.
The newest full-length "And We Packed Up Our Bags To Discover New Lands Under New Identities After Leaving Our Past Behind," contains 18 tracks, which Smith noted he took more time on compared to the first album. It was completed in June 2008.
Smith was recently signed onto Nebraska indie label Series Two Records after a representative listened to tracks from the "And We Packed Up Our Bags" album that has received major airplay on his MySpace page.
And We Packed Up Our Bags To Discover New Lands Under New Identities After Leaving Our Past Behind
Four stars
Label: Series Two Records
Check Out: "Creation Dream," "Train Down South," "This Town, This Place (I'm Leaving It All Behind)."
Skip: "The Wait," "Peace Dream," "Song For Leaving"
When I first met Brian Smith I didn't know who he was. I walked by him as he smoked long from his Cruella De Vil cigarette stick and I laughed. I merely saw a skinny boy smoking and thought to myself, "Wow, I love college - you never know what you will see."
Then I got to know Brian Smith.
He wandered into the first Oregon State Musician's Guild meeting in the fall and expressed his love for music in the most socially awkward manner I had ever experienced, which made me laugh, again. I promptly went home and looked up his MySpace like he asked me to, and I was blown away. As I heard each simple strum from his acoustic guitar I progressively became a believer in Brian Smith.
No, Smith isn't starting a cult. However, one would be surprised when they look at the support and following this freshman in zoology has going for him.
Straight out of the mean streets of Illinois, Smith has been writing, orchestrating and producing his own music for more than four years. In this span, he has surfaced two full-length albums, the first of which is "New Songs From a New Home," which contains 25 songs he wrote and recorded in his dorm room in Poling in one month.
"I think I went crazy working on that one," Smith said.
The newest full-length "And We Packed Up Our Bags To Discover New Lands Under New Identities After Leaving Our Past Behind," contains 18 tracks, which Smith noted he took more time on compared to the first album. It was completed in June 2008.
Smith was recently signed onto Nebraska indie label Series Two Records after a representative listened to tracks from the "And We Packed Up Our Bags" album that has received major airplay on his MySpace page.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Gabe Acock
posted 2/27/09 @ 1:16 PM PST
well, written. i look forward to seeing him play, and to more coverage of local (especially college) musicians
Post a Comment
Comments by registered users are approved by default.