Name: Dark Shores
Brand: Strand of Oaks

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

WV204lp-C1

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Colour

Blue

Colour details

Sleeping Pill Blue Vinyl

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Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2019-12-06

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Secre­tly

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

843563120620

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: Yes / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / blue

WV204lp-C2

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White

Black/White Splatter Vinyl

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843563120613

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "843563120613"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / Extended format: Yes / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / white

Artist

Strand of Oaks

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Western Vinyl

Strand of Oaks is a rock project formed by songwriter and producer Timothy Showalter. Known for his introspective lyrics and powerful live performances, Strand of Oaks has gained a dedicated following since its inception. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Phosphorescent, Damien Jurado, and Deer Tick, Showalter's music combines elements of folk, indie rock, and Americana. With heartfelt storytelling and a raw musicality, *Strand of Oaks* continues to captivate audiences with their honest and evocative sound.

*Phosphorescent*, *Damien Jurado*, *Deer Tick*, *A.A. Bondy*, *Tyler Ramsey*, *Great Lake Swimmers*, *The Felice Brothers*, *Shearwater*, *Magnolia Electric Co.*, *Delta Spirit*, *Dylan LeBlanc*, *Jeff Tweedy*, *Joe Pug*, Hiss Golden Messenger', 'The Barr Brothers', 'Jonathan Wilson', 'Dawes', 'Wye Oak', 'Okkervil River', and Doug Paisley are among the similar artists who share Strand of Oaks' passion for crafting deeply personal music that resonates with listeners.

Experience the unique blend of vulnerability and power that defines Strand of Oaks' music. Explore their discography today to discover songs that will leave an indelible mark on your soul.

On Dark Shores, Showalter trades in his obscure references, convoluted plotlines, and grandiosity for bite-sized versions of his smoky-flavored brooding folk: condensed and accessible. He teamed up with John Vanderslice as producer, gave him some creative license, and ended up with a record every bit as cryptic and ambitious as its predecessor, even if the songs’ lengths and catchy melodies might sound otherwise. There are the record’s insane themes. Most, if not all, of these songs come from the perspective of a lonely, heartbroken man, stranded on the surface of the moon, longing for a former lover, cogitating the mistakes he had made with her, dwelling on the past, and firing flares up into the atmosphere in hopes of bringing her back to him. Then there’s the record’s peculiar, striking production, with Vanderslice’s signature messy hi-fi touch rippling through these songs’ simple anatomies. True to its name, the record’s surface glistens atop densely dark shores — a bottomless abyss pulling down on everything above it. These songs all have such richness and depth to them, you can honestly read the whole record differently with each listen.”Little Wishes”, for instance, sounds like cutesy folk abducted by aliens. Pitch-shifters warp plucks like small waves along a current of downbeat piano keys and seemingly arbitrary digi-fuzzed firecrackers, mimicking flares fired off into the dark sky. “Just love me again,” Showalter bellows, with intense urgency and longing. A bright first impression eventually yields a very dark experience, just as the moon only glows because of the darkness that surrounds it. Realizing his and his loved ones’ ultimate fates, our narrator leaves everything he knows on Earth behind, at the prospect of reaching the bright moon he sees as a beacon from so far away, only to be left stranded in its darkness, shooting lights up into the sky in aimless pleas for salvation. That’s a heartbreaking, beautiful thing to hear. – Drew Litowitz, Consequence of Sound

Dark Shores

Music US

Buy Strand of Oaks - Dark Shores (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.