After 2017’s Hard Love failed to live up to the lofty expectations of his breakthrough album Heal, Timothy Showalter the songwriter behind Strand Of Oaks was worn down and depressed. According to a note to fans announcing his new album Eraserland he was ready to retire from music until unbeknownst to him friend Carl Broemel booked recording sessions with three of his bandmates from My Morning Jacket along with producer Kevin Ratterman and challenged Showalter to write enough songs to fill them. The show of support helped him shake off his blues and emerge creatively refreshed.
In addition to 4/5s of My Morning Jacket a few other friends stopped by for the sessions at Louisville’s La La Land studio, including Americana superstar Jason Isbell who lends his guitar to several tracks on the album including some understated sunny day riffing on “Ruby”.
Musically the band digs into the lush vaguely roots-flavored grooves they’ve independently mined over the past decade plus, but as Showalter has shown in the past he’s not afraid to mix in unexpected flavors such as the glorious Clash meets Drive-By Truckers vamp “Moon Landing” which should be a trainwreck but somehow works.
With a little help from friends Timothy Showalter got his groove back. Good thing for all of us. Strand of Oaks’ Eraserland is Worth Its Weight.
