Artist: The Usual Haunts
Album: Living Is Easy
Release Date: August 10, 2016
(c) 2016Pool Swimmer Records
The Usual Haunts:
Lead Vocals and Bass: Noirre
Lead Guitars/Backing Vocals: CJ Caffrey (NATVE)
Rhythm Guitars/Keyboards: Dustin Soares
Drums: Noah Corbitt
After two U.S. West Coast tours in 2016 where they performed for thousands of fans, The Usual Haunts, are charting their way into 2017 with supernatural abandon fueled by their love to create music that entertains and elevates their audience and listeners. The Usual Haunts bring together an incredible blend of Indie, Progressive and Psychedelic Rock with what Zeitgeist/TheRocker magazine calls "a musical prowess".
The Usual Haunts Deliver Other Worldly Bliss On Their New Album
The fact that the guys in The Usual Haunts are 19 and 20 years old only underscores the sophisticated songwriting ability, flawless performance and incredible production on their new album “Living Is Easy”; released August 10, 2016 on Pool Swimmer Records.
I suppose it shouldn’t be a huge surprise given the critical acclaim and impact that The Usual Haunts lead singer and producer, Noirre, achieved on his solo releases, “Nite Tales” - and recently, “Nostalgia”. Tracks from Nostalgia broke into the Top 40 singles in Japan and earned physical distribution to hundreds of Tower Records and HMV stores throughout that country. Add to it the immense global popularity of the songs, “My Mistakes Were Made For You” and “309” from Nite Tales, and you have an artist with over a million streaming spins and YouTube views. Listeners and critics alike are hearing and catching on to the quick ascension of this rising talent.
But what makes the debut album from The Usual Haunts (and the band itself) so amazing is that it reflects the compounding effect of Noirre’s songwriting and producing skills with the equally talented performance of guitar virtuoso, CJ Caffrey (aka NATVE), whose abilities remind one of David Gilmour, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. And that is saying a lot. To have that in one band is beyond rare - but to also bring in the resonating soul of the rhythm section from jazz and rock drummer, Noah Corbitt and multi-instrumentalist, Dustin Soares, creates sonic bliss to every note and every track. Now you have something special and meteoric in the making.
The songs on “Living Is Easy” are deep – both in compositional richness and in lyrical intent. But to the listener, these complexities do not stifle or impact the beauty and enjoyment of the songs. It’s like having a meal that you love – you have no clue of the time and insight that it took for the chef to add those special ingredients to the dish – all you know is that it is fantastic. That’s what you are in for as you experience the 15 songs (I would argue, 15 stories) on “Living Is Easy” from The Usual Haunts.
The Usual Haunts have the swagger of The Doors and the soul of The Red Hot Chili Peppers - but they also have the incredible artistic freedom of the Grateful Dead and easy going vibe of Mac DeMarco. Give the album a listen and you decide for yourself. I think you will agree with me. The Usual Haunts are something from another world and thank God for that.
Jon Murray
Founder & Managing Partner
Pool Swimmer Records