the Shameless Pursuit

Several months old now, Fail It Forward has held true to its early praises of being a solid rock album, and remains as fresh in the ears as it did upon release. Kansas City trio The Shameless Pursuit debuted Fail it Forward at the end of October of last year, the first release from the collective of Jeffrey Means, Richard Newell, and Jon Eusey. The six-track EP, recorded and mastered at Clockwork Audio by Mike McDonough, showcases the band hitting the ground running before finding a solid pace through the duration of the album. For a debut album from a still-green band, Fail It Forward gives listeners a deep understanding of who The Shameless Pursuit are as a band and what they work to convey.

Lead singer and songwriter Means describes the album as an autobiography. “We have all been, or are currently in that spot where you are faced with the choice: courage or comfort? And what if courage means you will absolutely not succeed? You can only hope your failure has purpose, paying it forward so you or someone else can benefit.” A charming play on the concept of paying it forward, with a dash of reality and some reservations. Means continues: “It took us some time to decide on a title for the EP. The songs in this album were written over the last several years—the oldest one being from as far back as 2009, and the newest being written in the studio. When we put it together, we saw the progression of a very prominent theme in my writings.”

As mentioned, the band hits the ground running with their opening track, which is appropriately dubbed “The Opener.” Riffy guitar, insanely groovy bass lines, peppy drums, and soft-spoken vocals all meld together to declare, “I believe.” The song ramps up quickly as guitars become more prominent, the vocals get louder, and the trio turns everything up. Quickly you realize you’re in the midst of a sure-fire rock anthem.

The album enters an intense melodic chapter with the following tracks. “Captains and Kings,” “Fight and Flight,” and “Pt. II - No Hiding Places” (tracks 2, 3, and 4, respectively) start softly before evolving into larger, demanding tracks. While the songs carry their own themes, they are all masterfully orchestrated. The tracks do not follow a typical song structure, rather they swivel and swell and undulate and toss to and fro into lively symphonic pieces. “Doubt” brings us back to feeling that rock vibe we entered with, plenty of opportunity to shake it out and bob your head. The album finishes with a soulful, acoustic track, “Sing Louder To Me.”

For a band straight out of the gates, The Shameless Pursuit seems to be doing everything right. Though the album appears a bit eclectic—a jumbled mix of music that draws character from a cavalcade of influences—it really is showcasing the individual talents of the trio. Clear connections to Brand New, Death Cab For Cutie, and maybe even the New Amsterdams can be drawn if you listen closely. And though these influences are present, the band crafts their own unique sound.

Check out The Shameless Pursuit on Facebook, Twitter, and Bandcamp, and catch them this Sunday at The Riot Room.

--Steven Ervay
Steven lives the agency life by day, and hustles music by night at The Record Machine. If he's not going to your show, he's probably playing frisbee with his dog or is elbow-deep in some chicken wings. - The Deli Magazine

Today, we are doing some NEW music that I found this week.
Today, is Playlist day for this blog. Usually it’s songs that I will be using in the books.. Today, we are switching that up a little. By now, if you have read the blog, or if you’re new, you should know that I try to promote Indie Bands, while I also try to promote the music that moves me.
It’s a broad range of music, but that’s what I like. (I can’t help it..) I found some really cool tunes, and some awesome bands on Twitter this week. I decided what better day to share then today.
Let’s just jump right in to the two bands I want to feature this week. (May be an older one too!)
First off, let me say that both bands I contacted could not have been more awesome in response time, and were more than willing to take the time to talk to little ole’ me. That speaks volumes for their characters as people. You could really tell they love their fans...

...Okay, Band Number 2 on my list this week…
The Shameless Pursuit.
They are based from my hometown, Kansas City. This part was exciting for me. I hadn’t found a local band to talk about in a while, and then these awesome guys appeared!
The Shameless Pursuit started this past year, 2015, and are already rising artists among the Indie world. They have a singer/songwriter type vibe.
They have released their first album in October of this year.
They have been played on local radio stations, and the college circuit too. Again, I tried to find a band that I thought I could compare them too.. The only one that kept running through my mind was Death Cab for Cutie. They seriously have a very unique sound like Death Cab does.
Their album, Fall it Forward, took me by surprise. They have this kick ass song, The Opener, and I really enjoyed it. I listened to their album on repeat too. I really enjoy their sound. It’s got a hint of folk in there too, but it’s also the type of music that you can chill to. If you haven’t had the chance to check them out, it’s a must! I have to say the song Captains and Kings was my favorite though.
Both bands made me so happy to see that you don’t have to be mainstream to be amazing! It gave me hope again in the Indie world of music. (I have had some bands share with me, and I was like.. Oh boy, not sure what to even say about that?)
But then again, these people are pouring their hearts into their music, and that’s something I’ll always find admirable. No one is going to like every song, by every band, that’s why there is such a broad range of music in the world.
If the music moves you, then by all means, keep listening.
I also mentioned that I might talk about an old band today.. It’s really not an old band, it’s just been around for a while, and I wondered how many people have heard them.
Iron and Wine. It has got to be some of the best folk type music I have ever heard.
They had a very hit song that was played on the Twilight movie soundtracks, and I fell in love with that song. The song, Flightless Bird American Mouth, was so beautiful, it really struck me to the core. I just loved his raspy voice, the lyrics, and the music over all to that song. If you haven’t had a chance to hear that song. Please, check it out. You can find the whole album on Spotify, and or Youtube. It’s just a song that can move you.
You can slow dance to it, it can make your body sway back and forth, and bring memories of a love. That’s what this song does for me.
Alright, so now to the links of the awesome Indie Bands today.
http://shipshavesailed.com/about
http://theshamelesspursuit.com/
Please go check out these bands, you will not be sorry! And as usual, if you love the music they provide for our listening pleasure, purchase the album. They work hard to bring us such joy!
That’s all for today, my fine friends, see you on the flip side! - The Blog of Charming Dee King

This year’s been a busy one for local band The Shameless Pursuit. The guitar/bass/drum trio started in January and have already released an EP: Fail It Forward. The six-track album showcases the musical talent of the members while hinting at what’s possible in the future.
The quick EP smacks of Foo Fighters, Death Cab for Cutie, and even Switchfoot at times, but it’s obvious that Jeffrey Means, the guitarist and vocalist, has his own ideas for direction. The songs explore loss, the trickiness of an ended relationship (just look at the album cover), and life in general.
The opening track, aptly titled “The Opener,” is a tight radio-friendly song that gets the blood going. Means’ clean guitar syncs well with bassist/synth player Jon Eusey’s solid walking bassline, which in turn is right in step with Richard Newell’s restrained but driving drumbeat. The lyrics may be repetitive (“I believe I believe” etc.), but overall it’s a nice showcase of the guys’ ability.

Number two of six, “Captains and Kings,” is the most lyrically solid song here. Dealing with a broken relationship, Means arrives at the conclusion that “Captains and Kings can never/attain the desire/serenity is just a/wild dream for lovers.” The more melancholy sound matches Means’ voice well, and his harmony with someone else (I think it’s a girl) works well. The build up to the major-keyed chorus is well-placed and the song feels like it really goes somewhere.

The mysteriously titled “Part II – No Hiding Place” is the most Gibbard-esque on the EP, and that’s a good thing. It results in the best song on the EP. Means again deals with a haunting broken relationship and starts with the sad-sounding past tense phrase “You are all I ever/dreamed a person could be.” The rainy diner guitar and soft bass are paired well with Newell’s muted tom and bass drum work, and Means knocks it out of the park with the line “I can’t drown my sorrows/because you are in all of my favorite drinks.” Rings true for many.

The last song seems unfair to highlight as it’s an acoustic piece on such a short album, but “Sing Louder to Me” is the second-best song on the EP. Means’ voice seems to shine on the softer tracks. It’s just him and his guitar, and it really works. The rest of the tracks do have that singer/songwriter vibe, but this song solidifies that. The echoing “You’re looking farther into me” lyrics resonate mystically and gives the album a great wistful and hopeful closer. A perfect fall listener.

The Shameless Pursuit are shamelessly pursuing music. It shows. They’ve only been around since January and have already come far. The more they play together, the more they record, the more they just are, the tighter the sound will get. “Fail It Forward” is far from a failure. It’s a hint of the future.

- See more at: http://millsrecordcompany.com/shameless-pursuits-fail-forward-isnt-failure#sthash.d2exZHRi.dpuf - Mills Record Company

Click title to listen to our interview with Shane Presley of Rock Paper Podcast (Episode 209). - Shane Presley

Click the link (and scroll to 1/27/16) to listen to our interview with Alex Ellis of eCav Radio. -