Germany Review: Birdseed “Not Out Of Time”

Birdseed / Not Out Of Time – EP Review

March 2, 2018

By Markus Kerren

Artist: Birdseed Label: Bird Records Music style: Pop Rock

 

Funnily enough, the band Birdseed from San Francisco, California was formed by middle-aged hobby musicians, who had met at school events of their descendants. After finding out that each other’s favorite hobby is the music, a band was started. The combo released from the end of 2015 a few digital singles, which were now summarized on the EP present to me.

The essence of the five tracks in total can be compared to the Fleetwood Mac sound in the early to mid-seventies. Cool Pop / Rock, so to say, who benefits from a clever groove and a strong lead vocalist. The title song “Not Out Of Time” starts the journey pleasantly rocking and the voice of Kerry Reed Landreth has that certain something that is so eminently important for every front man / woman. The track is very harmonious, variably arranged and loosely flaked over, which makes him a first winner. “Next Trip Around The Sun” starts off with an e-piano sound before the notable vocals take over the scepter. The ingredients mentioned above are also added here and make this number a listener.

With inviting guitar sound and piano, “I Want You To Know” starts the second act. Musically maybe not the best track on the disc, which is the strong text (the mother’s declaration of love to her child, probably not many years later can really understand) will be made up for. Background is probably that Kerry Landrethdiagnosed with incurable breast cancer a few years ago, she wanted to leave a statement here, so to speak. The shortest song of almost three minutes is called “We Can Do It” and builds again on a really cool groove. This works and harmonizes wonderfully with the vocals and the very positive or optimistic lyrics. The unfortunately last title “More Than I Needed The Truth” keeps the quality quite relaxed and invites you to enjoy the complete work “Not Out Of Time” right from the beginning.

Both the band Birdseed and (especially) the frontlady Kerry Reed Landreth can only wish to spend a lot of time to music and new recordings, because the present (on vinyl quantitatively limited) “Not Out Of Time” makes a great mood and goes splendidly into the ear. Relaxed music with profound lyrics, which at no time lead the listener to the uncomfortably sad feeling trail, but rather powerfully forward looking to convey an uplifting feeling.

---

Line-up Birdseed:

Brian Hetherington (keyboards)
Peter Landreth (saxophone)
Jamie Goodyear (guitars)
Scott Bell (drums)
Lane Murchison (bass)
Mason Morfit (guitars)
Kerry Reed Landreth (vocals)

Tracklist “Not Out Of Time”:

Side 1:

1. Not Out Of Time (3:48)
2. Next Trip Around The Sun (4:09)

Side 2:

1. I Want You To Know (4:53)
2. We Can Do It (2:56)
3. More Than I Needed The Truth (3:54)

Total Time: 7:59 (Side 1), 11:47 (Side 2), Release Date: 2017

 

 

 

Rootstime.be Review: Birdseed “Not Out Of Time” (translated)

“There is something special about this band from San Francisco. The group was formed in 2012 by parents who met each other at their children’s music school. Guitarist Mason Morfit, drummer Scott Bell and bassist George Belton were the first three band members to search for the endless list of coverable rock songs. Without thinking too much about it, they signed up for the “Battle of the Dad Bands” in the Bimbo’s 365 Club, and it was only when the date for that match came close, that the trio realized that they were nowhere without a singer. In a mood of mild panic they came to Kerry Landreth, whose voice proved to be a true discovery, and in that way, the band was able to flourish.

George Belton left the band after some time and was replaced by Lane Murchison, the founder of the Bird Music School, where the parents met. A little later, multi-instrumentalist Jamie Goodyear joined. The band got even more glory when saxophonist Peter Landreth joined the ranks. In 2015, when singer Kerry Landreth learned she had breast cancer, everything suddenly became urgent: the first two songs, “Next Trip Around The Sun” and “More Than I Needed The Truth” were recorded and were a sort of testament to her journey.  In the first song Landreth writes about mortality and fear, in the second, she summarizes that in a good relationship you should prefer happiness rather than being right. Sounds a bit swollen, maybe, but if you know that the singer was very ill, from the hospital room straight to the studio, even having to lay down on the ground at times, then you would listen to those songs differently. In early 2016, “We Can Do It” and “Not Out Of Time” were recorded in about the same painful circumstances, with the additional speciality of lyrics written by Kerry’s daughter Bebe in the song “We Can Do It.”

Beginning in 2017, there was “I Want You To Know,” a love letter from a parent to a child, where the parent knows well enough that the child will be able to catch the message only years later. The five songs have now been gathered on a 10 “vinyl record as a preview of their tour, which will be at the end of 2017.

The music itself is rock, with country accents, with pop influences. More than once you think of Fleetwood Mac, but just as well you hear the early Carole King pass by. This is a very nice recording of a band, whose members were no longer teens when they decided to start the group. Of course, that they can all play their instruments very well, but it is especially the powerful message behind the songs that suits the attention of listeners.”

rootstime.be/index.html

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

Let It Rock Review: Birdseed “Not Out of Time”

“Frisky rockers from Frisco tune into temporal vibe to turn all things terminal into the eternal.

What do you do when you’re in for a battle of the bands and you need a singer you don’t have? Find a kindred spirit and spread wings together! What do you do when you learn the singer has an incurable decease? Make the most of your time while those wings can hold you! That’s the atmosphere which makes this EP – available as a vinyl record and digital download as if to stress its transience for posterity – so special, and the atmosphere is as far removed from the gloom as possible.

A jolly jangle with a spring in its sunkissed step is a thread running through these five songs despite the variety of moods they demonstrate to allow the septet strut and shine, from the rousing riffs and release of the title track to “More Than I Needed The Truth” whose country inflections add sadness to the mix. The drift gets reflective in the cross-hairs of funky guitars and bubbling keyboards that carry Kerry Landreth’s voice into “Next Trip Around The Sun” where the group’s “Rumours” influences come to light, but at the same time there’s their sax-smoothed edge revealed for all to revel in, even though a piano ripple of “I Want You To Know” – a message from the vocalist to her young daughter – pours poignancy on the piece’s honeyed harmonies.

Yet, opening the doors for optimism, the choir voices of “We Can Do It” – co-written by the aforementioned 9-year-old – contradict the cocksure possibility outlined here, just because the ensemble have happened, right on time. Pick up the seeds and spread the news, then, until it’s too late.”

dmme.net/birdseed-not-time

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

Sights and Sounds of Note Review: Birdseed “Not Out of Time”

“Rock Band BIRDSEED (www.birdseedband.com) are a unique San Francisco musical undertaking originally formed by parents whose children were studying together at the Bird School of Music in the Bay Area. Eventually, they recruited the charismatic Kerry Landreth as lead singer and their fortunes began to turn and they started to build a loyal fan base attracted to Landreth’s star power and the band’s raw sound. The group might remind you of a Natalie Merchant fronted Fleetwood Mac with a driving Wilco-esque sound and sensibility and it’s these elements that have garnered them much local praise. Sadly, Landreth was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer in 2015 although she’s Not Out of Time quite yet as the title of the groups new 5-song vinyl EP declares. The songs that brim with themes of adult angst, lost loves, perseverance through pain, and the transcendent power of music – are made all the more poignant by their current uncertain future. Still there’s triumph here especially on “Next Trip Around the Sun” that finds Landreth coming to grips with mortality as she discards her fear, surrenders control, and sets out to achieve her dreams. That’s something we can all applaud.”

www.sightsandsoundsofnote.com

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

The Devil Music Interviews Birdseed’s Kerry Landreth

“Kerry Landreth is lead singer and songwriter for the San Francisco rock band Birdseed, whose recently-released 10” EP Not Out of Time the Reverend found quite impressive, writing that “Not Out of Time is one of those rare treasures that will take 20 years or so for rock music’s critical cognoscenti to catch up with.” Comprised of singer Landreth, guitarists Jamie Goodyear and Mason Morfit, bassist Lane Murchison, keyboardist Brian Hetherington, saxophonist Peter Landreth, and drummer Scott Bell, Birdseed delivers “grown-up rock ‘n’ roll from an adult’s perspective, with lyrics forged in the crucible of life.”

After my review of Not Out of Time was published, Birdseed guitarist Mason Morfit got in touch. He kindly hooked me up via email with Landreth for the following Q5 interview and she graciously took time out of her schedule to answer a few questions about the best band that you’ve haven’t heard (yet).

Q1. What originally got you interested in singing and music?

I grew up surrounded by music – I lived in London during Andrew Lloyd Weber’s heyday and sang songs from musicals in my living room every night. I sang in an a capella group and a band at Exeter, and then in an a capella group at Stanford. Joining Birdseed was a joyful revisit of the things I loved most. I’d beaten breast cancer in 2010-11 and going through that was as transformative as you’d imagine. Except my version of taking the “cancer lesson” wasn’t to slow down, it was to speed up.

Luckily I fell in with the right group of musicians – we were all at a point in our lives where we’d lived enough to know what was important to us. And to our surprise and delight, we found we write great music about it. My cancer came back in 2015, which created a sense of urgency. Musically, things ignited. We started writing, recording, and playing live with a vengeance.

Q2. Who are your musical and songwriting influences?

Sheryl Crowe, Natalie Merchant, Ray LaMontagne, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and J.J. Cale.

Q3. Why compile Birdseed’s singles onto vinyl rather than CD, and why a 10″ EP?

For the same reason we are writing music about people our age. It’s for the generation who grew up loving vinyl.

Q4. Why record and release singles rather than a full-length album?

We record them as soon as we write them (and inspiration only comes when it comes). We are so excited to share them with our friends that we can’t hold anything back for a LP. Most of the fun is from sharing this stuff.

Q5. Has the band been approached by any labels, or would y’all prefer to keep doing your records yourselves?

We signed early to Bird Records because of how cool the Bird school and studio are. That place brought music to all of our kids. Most of them now play music and have been in bands. We are an independent group of people and independent label makes sense for us.” Related content: Birdseed’s Not Out of Time EP review

www.thatdevilmusic.com

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

AntiMusic Review: Birdseed “Not Out Of Time”

“It is said that ingesting birdseed makes those of the avian sort so happy that they can’t help but sing. For those of us without wings and beaks, the band Birdseed and their bright pop melodies on Not Out of Time will do the same. The band’s lead singer Kerry Landreth has a voice that’s easy to get comfortable with and songs like the perky “We Can Do It” make singing along effortless. It doesn’t hurt either that Landreth’s voice carries a familiarity, often reminding of the more upbeat side of singers like Natalie Merchant and Edie Brickell. The band avoids getting overly showy behind Landreth, but her brother Peter stands out here and there with cool sax fills. Learn more here.”

www.antimusic.com

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

That Devil Music Review: Birdseed “Not Out Of Time”

“Creating music that is too good, and too authentic for major label release, Birdseed’s Not Out of Time EP is one of those rare treasures that will take 20 years or so for rock music’s critical cognoscenti to catch up with. Grade: A“

“Even for a jaded old rock critic like the Reverend, every now and then the blue-clad U.S. postman delivers a gem whose sparkle and gleam catches one’s eye. One such recording that muscled itself to the top of the slush pile amidst faceless modern rock clones and carbon-copy pop divas was Birdseed’s Not Out of Time. While promotional copies of vinyl records arrive more frequent these days (jeez, there was a time in the early ‘00s where wax was nearly extinct!), the diminutive younger sibling of the LP – the oddball 10” EP – is still a rarity though, to be honest, I have bought in EPs by Jimi Hendrix and Marshall Crenshaw in this 10” vinyl format recently.

Birdseed’s Not Out of Time
Birdseed is an honest-to-Chuck-Berry American rock band formed in 2012 in San Francisco. Comprised of singer Kerry Landreth, guitarists Jamie Goodyear (who also sings) and Mason Morfit, bassist Lane Murchison, keyboardist Brian Hetherington, saxophonist Peter Landreth, and drummer Scott Bell, Birdseed’s Not Out of Time EP collects five of the band’s songs that had previously been released as singles. Although the band’s sound has been described as “Fleetwood Mac meets Wilco,” there’s really a lot more than these convenient labels going on here.

The EP’s title track, for instances, offers Landreth’s throaty, slightly-twangy vocals which remind more of the Textones’ Carla Olsen than of Stevie Nicks. Roaring above country-flavored soundtrack that follows a jangly Byrdsian blueprint, the song’s accompanying harmony vocals, stinging guitars, and rumbling percussion provide an encouraging introduction to the band. “Next Trip Around the Sun” is unexpectedly stunning, Landreth’s voice channeling no little emotional turmoil above a low-slung rhythmic groove, her brother Peter’s mournful sax offering a masterful counterpoint to Landreth’s dark-to-light lyrics.

The newest song on the EP, “I Want You To Know” is a mid-tempo ballad with Landreth’s lovely voice complimented by elegant fretwork and subtle instrumentation. Lyrically a poignant letter from a parent to their child, it’s a well-crafted tearjerker. The inspirational “We Can Do It” was co-written by Landreth and her nine-year-old daughter Bebe, the song’s hopeful message bolstered by strong-though-subdued instrumentation that rightfully places the spotlight on the lyrics. Peter Landreth’s soul-flavored sax and some impressive Steve Cropper-style guitar provide additional texture to the performance. “More Than I Needed the Truth” addresses personal relationships from a mature perspective, Landreth’s twangy vocals partially-buried in a gorgeous, multi-faceted soundtrack with a too-brief guitar solo and melodic harmonies.

The Reverend’s Bottom Line
This ain’t your kid’s music, Birdseed delivering grown-up rock ‘n’ roll from an adult’s perspective, with lyrics forged in the crucible of life. Birdseed’s members were older than most bands when they got together, and most – if not all of ‘em – are parents, with all the headaches and heartaches parenthood entails. Birdseed’s lyrics are informed by Kerry Landreth’s struggle with incurable breast cancer, but are hopeful rather than dire, while the band’s instrumental talents provide a suitable backdrop for her skilled vocals. Creating music that is too good, and too authentic for major label release, Birdseed’s Not Out of Time EP is one of those rare treasures that will take 20 years or so for rock music’s critical cognoscenti to catch up with. Grade: A (Bird Records, released August 4th, 2017)

Buy the EP from Bandcamp: Birdseed’s Not Out of Time EP

www.thatdevilmusic.com

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

JP’s Music Blog Review: Birdseed “Not Out Of Time”

“The American rock band Birdseed recently released a new 10” vinyl EP titled “Not Out Of Time.” The band will be touring this fall and they wanted to get more music out to their fans. This new 5-song EP begins with the up-tempo title song as lead singer Kerry Landreth leads the band on this mainstream gem. They continue with the smooth, horn-infused melody of “Trip Around The Sun,” which sounds like it came from the 10,000 Maniacs catalog. Their new short release wraps up with the fun, youthful positiveness of “We Can Do It,” which features Kerry’s daughter on vocals and southern blues-rock groove of “More Than I Needed To Know.” To find out more about Birdseed and their latest vinyl-only release “Not Out Of Time,” please visit birdseedband.com.”

jpsmusicblog.blogspot.com

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

RELEASED TODAY: “Not Out Of Time” by SF Band, Birdseed! ORDER IT TODAY!

Bird Records is proud to present the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, a 10” limited edition vinyl and digital release from BIRDSEED, an American rock band formed in 2012 that has been attracting large numbers of Gen X and Gen Y fans with their classic Fleetwood Mac-meets-Wilco sound. This new release is now available worldwide online and in stores, and features some amazing players and solid, compelling songs that are the manifestation of many hours of hard work and drive. With an interesting backstory of ordinary moms and dads chasing a teenage dream, BIRDSEED was formed while their children were studying together at the Bird School of Music in San Francisco, CA. Their songs address adult angst, lost loves, perseverance through pain, and the transcendent power of music.

Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com

Sister Dorothy’s Music Blog Review: Birdseed “Not Out Of Time” [OUT TOMORROW!]

“I was honored to receive this limited edition vinyl record in the mail. With stickers!!!!!! Love it! The record is from a band called Birdseed out of San Francisco CA. The release date for this album is Aug. 4, 2017 with a follow up tour in the fall! Woooo! Tour time! This EP has a 70s rock vibe which I def dig! I love the song “We Can Do It.” It has a good beat and I love the bongos;) Def a 70s soul vibe. For tour dates, EP info and band info please click here.”

Pre-Order NOT OUT OF TIME on iTunes:

 http://smarturl.it/notoutoftime

BIRDSEED will be touring in the Fall of 2017 in support of their NOT OUT OF TIME 10” Vinyl EP, which is available worldwide online and in stores August 4, 2017.

For more information about BIRDSEED and the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, or upcoming tour dates, please visit the band’s website and social media pages via www.birdseedband.com

For more information about Bird School of Music please visit http://bird-sf.com/

To pre-order the NOT OUT OF TIME EP, please visit the Bird Records Bandcamp page at https://birdrecordingfoundation.bandcamp.com/

For Press and Interview inquiries, please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at (828) 350-8158 or glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Digital Marketing, please contact Jerome Forney at Independent Distribution Collective at jerome@independentdistro.com