CLIFF HILLIS "The Long Now"

2008(TALLBOY) ￥1,890(taxin) NEW ARRIVAL 09.02.09

SugarplasticやParallax Project などグッドメロディーを持つ良質なパワーポップバンドを輩出するNYのTALLBOYからリリースされた、シンガーソングライターCliff Hillisのサードアルバム！元々はバルチモアのポップトリオStarberryやTeenage Fanclubのコンピなどにも参加しているIKE（ex-CaulfieldsのJohn Fayeのバンド！）のメンバーとして活動していたが、ソロになってからは「John MayerとFountains Of Wayneが一緒にプレーしているよう」と評判に。両親の死をきっかけにより内面的な内容の歌詞になったという本作だが彼の持つダイナミックで優しいメロディーと耳に残る美しいコーラスは失われておらず、新しいCliff Hillisのサウンドの序章でなるであろう内容になっている。

Track Lisiting:
1. For what it's worth
2. Gravity
3. Built an empty home
4. It's all over
5. Six or seven
6. Like it or not
7. Closer
8. This direction
9. Back down
10. I won't leave you
11. To where you are

MEMBER
Cliff Hillis

Live band- "The Forward Thinkers":
Ken Herblin- guitar, Greg Maragos- bass, Ritchie Rubini- drums

SITE
OFFICIAL: http://www.cliffhillis.com/
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/cliffhillis

INFLUENCES
The Beatles, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, Cheap Trick, Elliott Smith, Todd Rundgren, Radiohead, Nick Drake, Neil Young, Wilco, Trip Shakespeare, Elvis Costello, Finn Brothers, Jayhawks

BIOGRAPHY
元々はバルチモアのポップトリオStarberryのメンバーとして活動していたが、ソロになってからは「John MayerとFountains Of Wayneが一緒にプレーしているよう」と評判を呼び曲がジェニファー・ロペス主演の”Enough”やブルック・シールズの”Life After Sex”、ドラマ”Roswell”など立て続けに起用される。

REVIEW
IKE/John Faye Power Trip.
Some people are so full of talent that it almost seems unfair. Cliff Hillis has such a monopoly on talent: a consistently wonderful songwriter, tasteful guitarist, and smooth vocalist. "The Long Now", named after an intriguing Foundation of the same name, is Cliff's third solo release. Prior to his trio of solo records, he built his musical muscle with one of my favorite power pop bands,

Faded Star
"The Long Now" finds Cliff more serious and matured; this can be detected in the subject matter covered by the lyrics and what some would call a more "seasoned" musical feel. The tunes just ease right into the ears and the melodies impress gently on the brain. Like other records by Cliff, "The Long Now" charms quickly, with Cliff's soothing voice more hypnotic than ever. The release has a more laid back feel with a lot of mid-tempo and breezy numbers, but there are some kick ass rockers too, like "Northern Lights" and the smoldering closer,