The Hopeful and the Unafraid (KLP189)

With six officially released albums, two more in the can, four probably-never-to-see-the-light-of-day records in his closet, a few live albums on the shelf—culled from literally five years of straight touring—and a Myspace song-a-day project, the quietly prolific Jason Anderson returns to with The Hopeful and the Unafraid. While he also played guitar in Mount Eerie, has drummed with Tilly and the Wall, and played piano with David Dondero, you've probably heard little about him. The Hopeful and the Unafraid was made at Soma Studios in Chicago, on a two-day tour break in January of 2006. Recorded in a matter of hours—tracking the vocals, guitars, and drums simultaneously—Jason's goal was to make an organic documentation of songs he'd been playing every night for half a decade. Thusly, all the vocal parts are first takes. There were some indulgences, though, as some guys who used to play in Magnolia Electric Co. came by to put down pedal steel and guitar leads. The album takes a stab at capturing some of the energy Jason loves putting into every show he plays, whether there are five or fifty people present. For the most part it succeeds, but to say that these are the "definitive" or "final" or "best" versions of these songs would be unrealistic, it would be straight-up false, actually. Jason says he's come to grips with the fact that it can never be just the way he wants in the studio; that the passionate, in-the-moment rush of doing these tunes in a basement full of singing, sweating friends is where his affection really lies. This is a bittersweet notion, but maybe explains why someone would spend half a decade on the road, trying to connect with people anywhere and everywhere, wanting to make them happy, to make them feel alive. Please note: This LP includes a CD copy of the album. El Paso July 4th, 2004 Wanting and Regret This Will Never Be Our Town The Hopeful and the Unafraid Ohio Colonial Homes Watch Your Step The Post Office The Half Of It