Hello, we're getting closer to the date! I'm patiently waiting for the albums to be manufactured. In the meantime, here's a little bit about the songs on the EP.
Shawn Clarke & the Green Hearts- Stray Birds
1. Corners of Your Mouth (intro)
2. In Transit
3. Cold Wind
4. Eggshells
5. Corners of Your Mouth
1. Corners of Your Mouth (intro) has been around for a long time. Originally written for
"Like Birds Too Tired to Fly". In the original version, I played a chord organ. It was a little out of place in the "Like Birds" session, so we didn't record it. We did a couple different versions for this session, the one with Marty Smyth playing piano is the one we used.
2. In Transit is the oldest song on the EP. Written before the "Like Birds" session, I had envisioned it with a horn section, making it a little out of place for the album (ended up recording with Accordion instead). Written out of boredom on a bus trip from Orillia to Toronto, I played out a possible love between two people in the seat ahead of me. Great session with Sean Lancaric, drummer of
Wilderness of Manitoba.
3. Cold Wind is one of my most serious, straight ahead folk tunes. Written after reading an article about a Sudbury mine closing after only a year of operation. The foreign company that owned the mine promised a minimum of 3 years without layoffs. Much too dark for "Like Birds..."
4. Eggshells was written by
Olenka Krakus. I love her songwriting, she's easily one of my favorites, and thankfully, is also a good friend. This is a love song (one of her rare happy ones!) but because of the chord progression, and our arrangement, it sounds like a dark Tom Waits tune! Sean appears again on drums.
5. Corners of Your Mouth was written during the sessions for "Stray Birds". I felt I needed a fifth song, and thought a tie-in with the first track would be good. I started writing it as a love song, but it eventually turned much darker. Other than sharing the phrase "Corners of Your Mouth" the songs have no real relation to each other. You can actually download this track from the
Static Zine mix-tape.
So there you have it! Keep checking back, I will be updating more as we get close to December 2nd!
