• The Curses have released their first full-length CD!

  Exciting! The concept with this recording is to have two flavors, one on each side. The first side of the record will feature songs with more... lets say... "pop/jazz sensibility."

  The B side will get your hips moving to modern versions of an old style called "Swing" No "Zoot Suit" crap! We mean original weird swing music. Have you ever danced to a swing song that is about mowing the lawn? Well-oh-well my friend... be prepared. "Vroom Ditty Doom" will take you to the porch steps in your underwear at 6am in the morning (while nobody is looking of course) softly bobbing your head while you sip your coffee with sleep in your eyes. Swing? Kinda. It's Side B!

  Hey! You know what else is cool? This album was recorded ol' skool style. Thats right recording nerds! 2" TAPE! With the help of Aaron MacCallister engineering and co-producing at Mr. Matt Talbotts (HUM) studio in Tolono IL. Check it!
  Great Western Record Recorders.

The Curses: Old Sound, New Style.

Before the editors gave me The Curses' new CD, I had never heard of the band. I'm willing to blame the time I spent away from C-U for this, but I feel bad for not seeing these talented musicians play since I have returned.

Their new album, Old Magazines, is well done. The band displays their musicianship well, mining jazz and blues on the first half and kicking out swinging jams on the second. The album effectively displays their skills, but I don't think it does a good enough job of properly portraying the full extent of their musicianship.

It seems like everyone on the album is good for at least two instruments, eight if your name is David Tcheng. The arrangements on the album are well thought out and use the vast instrumentation to its advantage, but the whole time I listened to this album, I couldn't help thinking that this is a band that would be best heard live.

The album is co-produced by the band and Aaron McCallister, and the combination works. But at times it sounds a bit too clean.

Lead singer Benjamin Spoden has a Waitsian growl to his voice that does not appear enough on this album. He lets it loose on a few songs, "Vroom Ditty Doom" and "Blow Your Speakers" especially, but at times he coos more than snarls. I could go for much more, but I'd be willing to guess he hasn't had as much whiskey as Tom Waits has, so he can have some more time.

"Blow Your Speakers"— featuring that wonderful growl—is probably my favorite song on the album. The slide guitar and marimba match everything else that is going on very well and give the song a great brooding feeling.

The album's first song, "Hold On," and their cover of the Kinks "Sunny Afternoon" also stood out to me as fantastic songs. The rest of the album played well, especially with the switch from jazz/blues to swinging pop. The only song that didn't catch on with me was "Vroom Ditty Doom." I loved the rough vocals, but I just didn't connect with the storyline about mowing the lawn.

Overall, Old Magazines is a good album and worth discovering for yourself. But, I would recommend picking up the album at a live performance. Seeing The Curses live just seems like the right way to hear their music—I know I'll be finding a concert of their soon.

Review written by Chris D. Davies from smilepolitely.com.

The Curses have released their first full-length CD!

Exciting! The concept with this recording is to have two flavors, one on each side. The first side of the record will feature songs with more... lets say... "pop/jazz sensibility."

The B side will get your hips moving to modern versions of an old style called "Swing" No "Zoot Suit" crap! We mean original weird swing music. Have you ever danced to a swing song that is about mowing the lawn? Well-oh-well my friend... be prepared. "Vroom Ditty Doom" will take you to the porch steps in your underwear at 6am in the morning (while nobody is looking of course) softly bobbing your head while you sip your coffee with sleep in your eyes. Swing? Kinda. It's Side B!

Hey! You know what else is cool? This album was recorded ol' skool style. Thats right recording nerds! 2" TAPE! With the help of Aaron MacCallister engineering and co-producing at Mr. Matt Talbotts (HUM) studio in Tolono IL. Check it!
Great Western Record Recorders.

The Curses Videos

Contact The Curses!

To book The Curses click HERE
If you have questions or comments,
or simply want some more information about the band:

Call or email Benjamin Spoden.

Phone: (312) 593.5040
Booking Email: thecursesbooking@gmail.com

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