This one has grabbed me by the throat. So good. One quibble - it's too short.
After meeting at a memorial for a mutual friend, Tony Molina (Ovens) and Sarah Rose Janko (Dawn Riding) started spending nights into mornings playing guitar and singing their hearts out to an audience of empty wine bottles in the East Oakland warehouse where Sarah lived. Both fans of each other's respective musical projects, they bonded over a shared love of The Byrds and Bill Fox and leaned into their friendship as a much needed support in a time of dizzying grief. The days were marked in trips to Jackson’s Liquor store, the same spot Tony frequented while recording with his band Ovens a decade earlier, at a studio in the same neighborhood. The nights drifted by. The songs kept coming. They decided they wanted to record all they’d been pouring their hearts into and The Lost Days was born.
Over the course of 2021, the two kept writing & sharing songs. Inspired by the solo work of Bill Fox, The Byrds, Dear Nora and Guided by Voices, The Lost Days started recording what was to be their first full-length LP, In The Store, at friend Nick Bassett’s basement studio on his Yamaha MT8X 8 track. The album is an exercise in true DIY lo-fi analog home recorded tradition, with songs that are a unique blend of folk and pop, crafted by two songwriters with a love of Beatles melody and ‘65 era Rolling Stones instrumentation.
The comfort and familiarity of friendship and the intimacy of home recording allowed the two to craft traditional and yet deeply personal pop and folk songs. Writing that addresses alcoholism, depression and complex relationships are lovingly brought to life on the ten tracks (in thirteen minutes) that make up the album. Characterized by 60’s folk rock arrangements, with jangly 12 string guitars, bright tambourine, swells of Hammond organ, and Byrd’s style harmonies, the songs are a groovier take on Molina’s signature pop-gem writing style, pulled together with Vampire On Titus era GBV recording methods.
“It was really about an obsession with the first three Bill Fox LPs, and finding a newfound freedom in home recording with Sarah that set the concept in motion. The Lost Days was a collaboration in which we were tapping into our love of traditional songwriting. We felt that recording to cassette at our friend’s house was the best way to capture the songs,” Tony says.
The songs that make up “In The Store '' represent a unique collaboration between two songwriters that express true-to-life realities over pop hooks, Byrds-style harmonies, and the songs leave one feeling hopeful or at least able to commiserate in the company of friends.
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
- DPM
This one has grabbed me by the throat. So good. One quibble - it's too short.
After meeting at a memorial for a mutual friend, Tony Molina (Ovens) and Sarah Rose Janko (Dawn Riding) started spending nights into mornings playing guitar and singing their hearts out to an audience of empty wine bottles in the East Oakland warehouse where Sarah lived. Both fans of each other's respective musical projects, they bonded over a shared love of The Byrds and Bill Fox and leaned into their friendship as a much needed support in a time of dizzying grief. The days were marked in trips to Jackson’s Liquor store, the same spot Tony frequented while recording with his band Ovens a decade earlier, at a studio in the same neighborhood. The nights drifted by. The songs kept coming. They decided they wanted to record all they’d been pouring their hearts into and The Lost Days was born.
Over the course of 2021, the two kept writing & sharing songs. Inspired by the solo work of Bill Fox, The Byrds, Dear Nora and Guided by Voices, The Lost Days started recording what was to be their first full-length LP, In The Store, at friend Nick Bassett’s basement studio on his Yamaha MT8X 8 track. The album is an exercise in true DIY lo-fi analog home recorded tradition, with songs that are a unique blend of folk and pop, crafted by two songwriters with a love of Beatles melody and ‘65 era Rolling Stones instrumentation.
The comfort and familiarity of friendship and the intimacy of home recording allowed the two to craft traditional and yet deeply personal pop and folk songs. Writing that addresses alcoholism, depression and complex relationships are lovingly brought to life on the ten tracks (in thirteen minutes) that make up the album. Characterized by 60’s folk rock arrangements, with jangly 12 string guitars, bright tambourine, swells of Hammond organ, and Byrd’s style harmonies, the songs are a groovier take on Molina’s signature pop-gem writing style, pulled together with Vampire On Titus era GBV recording methods.
“It was really about an obsession with the first three Bill Fox LPs, and finding a newfound freedom in home recording with Sarah that set the concept in motion. The Lost Days was a collaboration in which we were tapping into our love of traditional songwriting. We felt that recording to cassette at our friend’s house was the best way to capture the songs,” Tony says.
The songs that make up “In The Store '' represent a unique collaboration between two songwriters that express true-to-life realities over pop hooks, Byrds-style harmonies, and the songs leave one feeling hopeful or at least able to commiserate in the company of friends.
Great 1st listen vibes. I’ve bumped into Tony Molina solo stuff fairly often via Spotify and always enjoy the songs, but have never done a deep dive. Not familiar with Sarah Rose Janko. I see a 2021 EP called Lost Demos too. Hat tip!
Saw this a little while ago. My music budget has been out of control. How is it? Worth plunking down for?
Just pulled the trigger on this. Look forward to delving into it when it arrives next week.
Forgot about this. Working through it now. Feels like a lot of quality to mine so far. Standing within Pollard’s orbit maybe didn’t help Tobin’s solo appeal, but he is an undeniable force on his own.
This one has grabbed me by the throat. So good. One quibble - it's too short.
After meeting at a memorial for a mutual friend, Tony Molina (Ovens) and Sarah Rose Janko (Dawn Riding) started spending nights into mornings playing guitar and singing their hearts out to an audience of empty wine bottles in the East Oakland warehouse where Sarah lived. Both fans of each other's respective musical projects, they bonded over a shared love of The Byrds and Bill Fox and leaned into their friendship as a much needed support in a time of dizzying grief. The days were marked in trips to Jackson’s Liquor store, the same spot Tony frequented while recording with his band Ovens a decade earlier, at a studio in the same neighborhood. The nights drifted by. The songs kept coming. They decided they wanted to record all they’d been pouring their hearts into and The Lost Days was born.
Over the course of 2021, the two kept writing & sharing songs. Inspired by the solo work of Bill Fox, The Byrds, Dear Nora and Guided by Voices, The Lost Days started recording what was to be their first full-length LP, In The Store, at friend Nick Bassett’s basement studio on his Yamaha MT8X 8 track. The album is an exercise in true DIY lo-fi analog home recorded tradition, with songs that are a unique blend of folk and pop, crafted by two songwriters with a love of Beatles melody and ‘65 era Rolling Stones instrumentation.
The comfort and familiarity of friendship and the intimacy of home recording allowed the two to craft traditional and yet deeply personal pop and folk songs. Writing that addresses alcoholism, depression and complex relationships are lovingly brought to life on the ten tracks (in thirteen minutes) that make up the album. Characterized by 60’s folk rock arrangements, with jangly 12 string guitars, bright tambourine, swells of Hammond organ, and Byrd’s style harmonies, the songs are a groovier take on Molina’s signature pop-gem writing style, pulled together with Vampire On Titus era GBV recording methods.
“It was really about an obsession with the first three Bill Fox LPs, and finding a newfound freedom in home recording with Sarah that set the concept in motion. The Lost Days was a collaboration in which we were tapping into our love of traditional songwriting. We felt that recording to cassette at our friend’s house was the best way to capture the songs,” Tony says.
The songs that make up “In The Store '' represent a unique collaboration between two songwriters that express true-to-life realities over pop hooks, Byrds-style harmonies, and the songs leave one feeling hopeful or at least able to commiserate in the company of friends.
Great 1st listen vibes. I’ve bumped into Tony Molina solo stuff fairly often via Spotify and always enjoy the songs, but have never done a deep dive. Not familiar with Sarah Rose Janko. I see a 2021 EP called Lost Demos too. Hat tip!
This collaboration has led me down the Bill Fox rabbit hole. Former frontman for The Mice (head over to the power pop thread) who abruptly disbanded that outfit in the late 80s and embarked on a solo career a decade later. I snagged his 1st two albums Shelter from the Smoke & Transit Byzantium. Yet another artist to add to the too-expansive list of talented musicians who never got their proper due.
I like Tony Molina a lot. Have a few of his records.
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
- DPM
Hell yeah ! This era was my first exposure to Neil. He played with the Harvesters on Austin City Limits and my dad recorded it onto VHS. He watched it all the time. I was probably 5 and I fucking loved it. It was the lineup that had Tim Drummond on bass and Spooner on keys.
When that album came out a few years ago I listened to it a lot.
holy shit this sounds SO MUCH FUCKING BETTER than the original... tons of details i never knew existed. my favorite Chills record and i am really happy that Martin has finally put out a restored version, as he hinted at doing so decades ago.
