Neurot Recordings looks to capture the spirit and genius of Townes Van Zandt once again by putting together their second tribute album in honor of the late singer-songwriter.
Founded by members of the experimental band Tribes of Neurot, and metal group Neurosis, Neurot Recordings released Songs Of Townes Van Zandt in 2012, collecting rave reviews in the process. The instrumental album was the result of a collaboration between Scott Kelly (Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot), Scott “Wino” Weinrich (The Obsessed) and Steve Von Till (Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot).
This time around Neurot has gone mostly metal again, choosing musicians the likes of John Baizley (Baroness), Mike Sheidt (YOB, VHÖL) and Nate Hall (USX) for the tribute, the latter of which has this to say about his idol:
It happens every now and then. I’ll be in a bar, some guy will declare that Townes Van Zandt is his favorite, settle in to a well-rehearsed, perfectly tuned and meticulously finger-picked rendition of…whatever. I’m gone, I can’t take it. I’m not buying anybody’s domesticated, presentable, un-slurred, smiley faced and emasculated version of the man. And I ain’t selling it either. If I’m going to play one of Mr. Van Zandt’s songs, it’s going make anyone in earshot a little uncomfortable. It will harsh some mellows, trigger some bad memories, some tears, bring it…way down. Hell-fire man, play them in that hazy, beautiful, dangerous, wild and unreasonable place that birthed them! Forget you played it and play it twice! Botch the chords, miss some words, fall down off the chair. Man, he’s up there, out there, under the bar and in your guitar laughing his guts out! Never forget, we’re talking about a man who would walk across the Texas desert with only a bag of records, sniff some glue, steal his best friend’s girl, make up a lie that was way better than any truth, and then write a better song in his sleep than any rational person’s waking pinnacle. I love Townes for the beautiful, low-down, disaster of a genius that he was. And God help you if you run him down around me. Trust me, it’s happened before – I am not afraid to make a scene. And by God, you’ll know you just saw something then. I believe that Townes is still very much alive, more alive than you and me. We are living in the shadow world right now, all of us soon to move on. Don’t fear it, don’t water it down. Listen to these songs and then cuss me for the fool I am, run out and scream at the moon. Have one for the man, then move on down the road and don’t look back.
For Songs of Townes Van Zandt Vol II, Neurot Recordings has partnered again with Germany’s My Proud Mountain Records, who helped in the making of their first TVZ tribute. For a complete track listing of the this new installment, due out March 2014, see below:
Songs of Townes Van Zandt Vol II Track Listing:
01. To Live Is To Fly (Mike Scheidt)
02. Pancho & Lefty (Nate Hall)
03. St. John The Gambler (John Baizley & Katie Jones)
04. Rake (Mike Scheidt)
05. Waitin’ Around To Die (Nate Hall & Stevie Floyd)
06. For The Sake Of The Song (John Baizley & Katie Jones)
07. Highway Kind (Mike Scheidt)
08. Our Mother The Mountain (Nate Hall & Dorthia Cottrell)
09. If I Needed You (John Baizley & Katie Jones)
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