The Whistles & The Bells

The Whistles & The Bells is an American experimental alt-rock band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that serves as a moniker for singer-songwriter and producer Bryan Simpson. The band has released two full-length studio albums: The Whistles & The Bells in 2015,[1] and Modern Plagues in 2017.[2] The band is influenced by rock, pop, folk, and electronic music.[3]

Formation

Singer-songwriter Bryan Simpson began The Whistles and The Bells as a solo musical venture, inspired by a spiritual awakening he experienced in 2008.[4] He described the project as an "autobiographical snapshot" of his personal struggle in seeking to understand his Creator.[5]

For the band's original lineup, Simpson brought in Matt Menefee and Ross Holmes, members of his previous project, progressive bluegrass band Cadillac Sky, with which he had released three albums.

The Whistles & The Bells

Simpson self-released the band's eponymous debut album, The Whistles and The Bells, in 2014.[6] On August 7, 2015, the album was reissued globally by New West Records.[7] The album was recorded at Sputnik Sound by Grammy award-winning engineer Vance Powell and Eddie Spear. All songs were written by Simpson except "Ghost Town" and "Ghetto Gold" (Simpson and Thad Cokrell) and "Last Night God Sang Me A Song" (Ben Kyle and Simpson)

Personnel

  • Bryan Simpson – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, fiddle
  • Matthew Menefee – banjo, mandolin, six string
  • Melvin "Maestro" Lightford – organ, upright piano
  • Byron House – upright and electric bass
  • Adam Stockdale – electric guitar
  • Keio Stroud, Chris Powell, Billy Brimblecom – drums
  • "Fats" Kaplin – steel guitar
  • Rob Ickes – dobro
  • Kai Welch – trumpet
  • Jim Hoke – sax
  • Ross Holmes – fiddle
  • Nat Smith – cello
  • Jeff Taylor – accordion
  • Eddie Spear – double gong
  • Sangers: Kristen Rogers, Thad Cockrell, Phoebe Deffenbaugh
  • Yellers: The Doberman Region aka "Crisco and Boots," Edward Spear

The Stars In My Sky Choir:

  • Kristi Simpson, Nathan Meredith, Matt and Brittany Jenkins, Brent Rupard, Nathan Belt, Doctor Proctor, Taylor Jones, Bruno and Caitie Jones, Aaron Mandalak, Gary and Debra Sadler
  • Produced by B. Simpson
  • Engineering: Vance Powell, Eddie Spear, Ben Phillips, Matt Gordon
  • Mixing Engineer: Vance Powell, Eddie Spear
  • Mastered by; Chris Athens[8]

Modern Plagues

The band's second album, Modern Plagues, was released on April 28, 2017 by New West Records. The album features collaborations with The Raconteurs' Brendan Benson and Matt Menefee. Eddie Spear engineered and co-produced the album with Simpson. Simpson described his intention as trying to create the sound of a "cosmic dinner party".[3]

Critical reception

The record received positive critical reception. According to Atomic Music Group, the album "[delivers] lyrical insights and audacious verbal imagery, while displaying a sonic sensibility that draws from a multitude of genres and textures."[9][10]

"The Whistles and the Bells' 2nd album is a winner...The elimination of genre limitations allows [Simpson] to explore every color of the musical rainbow, with exhilarating results." ASSOCIATED PRESS

"...the 11-track set feels like the product of a more sanguine, Fun-loving Father John Misty." ALLMUSIC

"[Simpson's] original off-the-wall undertakings are reminiscent of the whimsical and whip-smart work by David Byrne, Jim James and the Decemberists' Colin Meloy...The lyrics will make you think until your head explodes." THE HUFFINGTON POST

"This is the sound of freedom...Simpson's enormous toolbox includes tuba and harp, big drums and a flute solo, hip-hop, klezmer, topical lyrics and wordless 'la-la-la's.' An EDM groove propels 'Zombie Heartz,' while a fat bass steers 'Year of the Freak Out' toward classic R&B. A synthesizer echoes Simpson's vocal on 'Good Drugs,' and 'Small Time Criminals' connects the French Quarter with Appalachia. These aren't just random whistles and bells. Hooks abound, tying the cornucopia of noise together, and Simpson's social commentary provides further glue." ASSOCIATED PRESS

"That Simpson can keep so many disparate balls in the air (chamber pop, Americana, progressive folk, electro-soul, etc.) is impressive enough, but that he can make so much of that chaos compelling is the real trick." ALLMUSIC

"With songs like "Harry Potter," Bryan Simpson, a.k.a. the Whistles and the Bells, could find a niche for his second Whistles and the Bells album's connections between alt-pop snark, electronica and his old band Cadillac Sky's bluegrass side." MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

"Tying everything together are three things: snarly vocals, literate and pointed lyrics, and creative muddling of roots and pop music traditions." BLOGCRITICS

"The discerning listener will discover several nods to chamber pop, Americana, progressive folk, electro-soul, etc all filtered through a schizophrenic avant-garde sensibility that references the likes of David Byrne, Jim James, the Decemberists' Colin Meloy and Todd Rundgren. For our money, the best creators never stand still when it comes to expression and they fuck the 'formula' as much as they can because the music means everything to them. Bryan Simpson definitely falls into that category. Bloody essential!" POWER OF POP

Personnel

  • Bryan Simpson – vocals, guitar, mandolin
  • Matt Menefee – banjo, electric guitar, synth, piano, mandocello
  • Brooke Waggoner – piano, organ, synth
  • Royal Masat – electric and upright bass
  • Adam Stockdale – electric guitar
  • Dave Jackson – drums
  • Chris Powell – drums on "Spiral Staircase"
  • Eddie Spear – hookah on "Harry Potter," tambourine and animal drums on "Zombie Heartz"
  • Jon Estes – electric bass on "Year of the Freak Out" and "40 Years"
  • John Painter – horns
  • Timbre – harp
  • Eli Bishop & Tyler Andal – fiddles
  • Emily Nelson – cello
  • Tyler Summers – flute, clarinet
  • Phoebe Cryar - featured lead on "Supadope"
  • Phoebe Cryar, Callie Cryar Pittman, Doberman Region Act 2 – background vocals on "Head in the Sand", Uncle Buffalo
  • Produced by Eddie Spear and Bryan Simpson
  • Recorded by Eddie Spear at Sound Emporium - Nashville, TN; "Spiral Staircase" recorded at Omni Studios, Nashville, TN
  • Assistant Engineer: Zach Pancoast, Jordan Harrell, Logan Yandell
  • Mixed by Eddie Spear
  • Mastered by Chris Athens at Chris Athens Mastering, Austin, TX
  • Management: Santo Pullella at Head West Management [11]

References

  1. ↑ "The Whistles & The Bells, by The Whistles and The Bells". The Whistles and The Bells. Archived from the original on 2016-11-26.
  2. ↑ "Modern Plagues, by The Whistles and The Bells". The Whistles and The Bells. Archived from the original on 2017-05-06.
  3. 1 2 "The Whistles and the Bells". Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  4. ↑ "From Cadillac Sky to The Whistles & the Bells, Bryan Simpson Is Back in Full Force". Music Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "The Whistles & The Bells - New West Records". www.newwestrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06.
  6. ↑ James, Monger. "Apple Music Preview". Apple. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  7. ↑ "The Whistles And The Bells". New West Records. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05.
  8. ↑ "CD Booklet". The Whistles & The Bells (CD)|format= requires |url= (help). New West Records. 2015. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  9. ↑ "THE WHISTLES AND THE BELLS". atomicmusicgroup.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "New West Records Press Release". Archived from the original on 2017-06-23.
  11. ↑ "Modern Plagues by The Whistles and The Bells". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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