E332 - George Usher (Beat Rodeo, House of Usher) - Top 5 Self-Produced Albums
Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music PodcastShow Notes
This week, we grab the reins on a discussion of self-produced albums; that is, records on which the artist takes control over their own vision and not only performs the music, but takes responsibility for the final production as well.
Joining us on this an exploration is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and pop craftsman who has been a vital part of the New York City music scene, George Usher. George was a member of Beat Rodeo on their second and final album from 1986, Home in the Heart of the Beat, he’s written with Richard Barone from The Bongos, and has led or played in bands like The Decoys, The Schramms, and House of Usher during the ‘80s & ‘90s. It only takes one listen to his two disc anthology, The End and The Beginning 1990-2009, to recognize that George Usher has amassed a jaw-droppingly great catalogue of Byrdsy folk-rock jangle, melodic power pop, and brilliant chamber pop over the years. After a couple of gorgeous records with singer/songwriter Lisa Burns over the past decade, George is back with Stevensonville, a multi-media project that’s a long time in the making - a 12-part illustrated song-cycle moving through a fictional town and its residents. But don’t go looking for Stevensonville on streaming services right now - this is an experience to be enjoyed on vinyl LP and its accompanying 28 page booklet through georgeusher.bandcamp.com.
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