The San Francisco-based group, Thao and The Get Down Stay Down, have just announced the release of their latest album, A Man Alive. This is the bands fourth studio album and with the critical praise that has been afforded to the band regarding past albums, as well as to Thao Nguyen, the woman who fronts the whole get down, A Man Alive is sure to receive wonderful reviews.
This album will differ from the band’s previous work in terms of content. In the press release for the album’s arrival, Nguyen discusses how she found herself dealing with very personal issues within the music, and giving a fans a bit more insight into her past. “The record is essentially about my relationship with my dad, its trajectory,” Nguyen says. “It’s a document of my life in conjunction with his, even though we’ve always been leading our lives away from each other. Some are optimistic and forgiving, some are the opposite”, said Nguyen.
She also commented in the press release on the sound of the record, and how it too was taking a bit of a different direction this time around.
““With this record I had clearer vision and aspirations. I wanted emotion. I wanted power. I wanted A Man Alive to be beat- and bass-driven,” says Nguyen of the album. “A Man Alive is more instrumental, more riff- and loop-centric, and has more manipulated sounds.”
The first track off the record, “Nobody Dies,” premiered today, and is wonderfully-catchy, while still maintaining an alternative essence. It is groovy, up-beat, and one of those songs you find yourslef jamming out to in the car. Very well done musically, with Nguyen’s rocker really shining through.
This is a unique band whose sound and memorable live shows have made them a band to talk about. Thao and The Get Down Stay Down, will be following the release of their newest record with a tour which will hit the states in 2016, according to the press release.
A Man Alive
1. Astonished Man
2. Slash/Burn
3. The Evening
4. Departure
5. Nobody Dies
6. Guts
7. Fool Forever
8. Millionaire
9. Meticulous Bird
10. Give Me Peace
11. Hand To God
12. Endless Love