Matt Jones' Random Acts of Verbiage

UPDATE: Please see my Lonely Forest page for lots of Lonely Forest pics, music, and video clips!

I promised a review of The Lonely Forest‘s new EP a while back so I suppose I should keep my promises! My sister Erin introduced me to John Van Deusen‘s music a while back and I have been enjoying his talents ever since. After his debut self titled solo album I have been eager to hear more. With some restructuring of a few of his groups, The Lonely Forest was born. The Lonely Forest with John as the primary creative force produced their second EP that bears the name of the new band (This EP is my selection for this year’s Family Book and CD/DVD Exchange). While too short to completely tide me over, I was blown away by the creative sounds and lyrics spewed forth out of the guitar, keys, and vocal chords of this young musician and the rest of his band. John has mentioned working on a (full length) project dealing with the pros and cons for belief in God that I really look forward to (although John’s father, Rusty, sadly informed me that it will still be a while - which is fine, of course, because thier new EP is quite amazing).

John Van Deusen and the Lonely Forest recently won the EMP’s Sound Off! for the reasons (and more) that make this EP as solid as it is. The talent of the band (overall) is very impressive and is up to par with bands that have been around much longer than the Forest. With deep respect to the rest of the band, Deusen’s ability on guitar and (especially) the keys is nearly unmatched. Seeing them live is a great experience. The other thing that separates the Forest from other bands is their creativity. Lyrically they are quite clever and profound while also being able to have fun at times. Stylistically they are able to cover a great amount of ground: ranging from keyboard driven power melodies to pure rock to moving ballads.

With all of that said, you need to hear them for yourself! Some of their music (and images and video clips from some of their shows) can be found here at my blog by doing a search for either John Van Deusen or The Lonely Forest. I also have four songs to share here (and I am not sure of all the legalities of this, so if I need to take them down I will - regardless, buy their stuff!): two off the new EP and two from local radio performances.

The Lonely Forest performed live at KEXP on March 18th. One of the songs was Opium Blues, check it out! (4.92 MB, MP3) They also performed on The End with Tooth for Tooth, check it out too! (5.55 MB, MP3) (You can also stream God is Dead and Tooth for Tooth from the End’s website.)

All six songs on The Lonely Forest’s Cd are well done and worth posting here, but you will just have to check them all out for yourself. Two you can download for your aural pleasure:

Now Onto Other News (6.83 MB, MP3)

Turn the fan to level three, place yourself parallel, cool off and clench your fists. Stare out the fogged up window, it’s rather dark outside, but you can’t see the stars. Oh Last night, a young man took his life, with a gun he bought from a pawn shop. Fell thirty stories, died in mid-flight. Now onto other news - What does it matter to you? It won’t affect you anyways - Now onto other news. His heart accelerates like a rusted gear, every rotation is one step closer pistol in hand. He emerges into crisp cold air right over left up filthy stairs to liberation. Oh Last night, a young man took his life, with a gun he bought from a pawn shop. Fell thirty stories, died in mid-flight. Now onto other news. What does it matter to you? It won’t affect you anyways. Now onto other news. Now go, go about your day, walk it off. Push it in the corner behind routine. Go, go about your day, walk it off.

I Blame Us (6.46 MB, MP3)

My parents lounge in the TV room. Paying excellent attention to This obviously captivating, new hit show On channel five. They burn money like America burns fat. Entertaining families nationwide. My Thursday night is booked. How about yours? I blame us. I blame us for tragedy. I blame us for living selfishly. But this is all we’ve known. Calamity, but why? Maybe they could be constructive. Instead of parading their wealth on screen. The envy in my heart is growing. Not envy for the crown of gold. But lust for the power. In hope that I could somehow, Do something to benefit Benefit a greater good. I blame us. I blame us for tragedy. I blame us for living selfishly But this is all we’ve known. Calamity, but why? Think of all the children without children without children with I blame us. I blame us for tragedy. I blame us for living selfishly. But this is all we’ve known. Calamity, but why?

Checkout their website to buy their stuff and for upcoming CD release shows: The Lonely Forest. You can also check their MySpace page for additional music. I think I am going to try to make it to their CD release show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle on April 21st (show at 8:00pm, $7): great time to buy their CDs! Again, be sure to check out my other posts on John Van Deusen and the Lonely Forest.

PS: Be on the lookout for Late Tuesday‘s new CD slated to come out in June with an early May presale and for shows to start up again around that time. In the mean time, you can catch Tara Ward in Round 11 at the Freemont Abbey: April 17th, 8:00pm, $3-$10 donation. Be there!