Out Today – Edward David Anderson’s New Muscle Shoals Recording ‘Chasing Butterflies’

Edward David Anderson Releases Chasing Butterflies
Out Today October 19 on Black Dirt Records
Recorded at the NuttHouse in Muscle Shoals with Producer Jimmy Nutt

Available Now On All Outlets → http://smarturl.it/8bdvv6

BLOOMINGTON, IL — Edward David Anderson has been writing songs, making records, and playing shows for a living for more than 2 decades. An American songwriter and rock & roll veteran who spent his formative years fronting the revered Midwest band, Backyard Tire Fire, and having penned eight albums for the band, he is known for infectious melodies and memorable messages. Since their hiatus in 2011, EDA has continued to write and tour as a solo artist and his 3rd solo studio record, Chasing Butterflies, is out today October 19, 2018 on his own Black Dirt Records.

“The story of my life’s written on my skin,” sings Edward David Anderson on the devilishly sardonic “Bad Tattoos” on Chasing Butterflies. The song, like the artist, is brutally honest and has a worn feel; like it’s coming from someone that has been around and put in the miles. “I don’t think I could have written these tunes when I was 25,” Anderson explains. “Everything I’ve done, the people I’ve met, all the places I’ve been, have brought me to this moment.”

It was through a tip from a friend that Anderson connected with GRAMMY Award winner Jimmy Nutt (SteelDrivers) from the iconic Shoals region of north Alabama. During their first conversation it was clear the two had a natural rapport and he quickly set a course for Jimmy’s NuttHouse Recording Studio in Sheffield. Diverging from past albums EDA used local session musicians for his backing band. “I felt the way to get the most authentic Shoals sound was to play with people who live and work there,” he said. Nutt played bass and brought in Jon Davis (Dylan LeBlanc) on drums, Brad Kuhn on keys, Todd Beene (Lucero) on pedal steel, and Kimi Samson on violin and the chemistry was instant.

The core of the 10-track album was cut live in just a few short days with minimal overdubbing, making it feel both cohesive and human. “We brought in strings on a few and pedal steel on one, but didn’t want to get too carried away,” Anderson recalls. The result is a stunningly sublime, less-is-more snapshot of a writer in his prime.  

On Chasing Butterflies there is a feeling of arrival. Absorbing and learning and growing through life experience has clearly refined his ability to write about the human condition. In “The Best Part,” he sings to his wife “You help me to understand/you make me a better man/I’m gonna do the best I can/to love you,” and you believe him. This kind of sincerity and honesty along with a candidly dry sense of humor recur throughout the album.

WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING:

“There are a handful of songs spread throughout the 40-minute disc that would make Chris Stapleton sit up and notice… Musically, the album has a deep southern soul feel… Grooves are deep, guitar breaks are extended (but not exaggerated), and emotion is palatable… Chasing Butterflies is a stunning collection of modern Americana. Poetic and fresh with a deceptively laconic quality making it all the more momentous. I don’t use the word often: brilliant.” —Fervor Coulee, Donald Teplyske

“Thematically, Anderson again weaves stories about the multi-faceted South, painting character portraits, dealing with its duality, its mysteries, and its special charms. Of course, there are love songs too…. Anderson has a knack for infectious hooks as evidenced by ‘Bad Tattoos’ and ‘Only in My Dreams’… Anderson continues to impress.” —Country Standard Time,  Jim Hynes

“He has the rare ability to open his soul and unfold his stories in a natural style that is simultaneously guileslees and universal. Another fine collection from my good friend!” —Johnny Hickman (Cracker)

“The album’s other standout track… ‘The Ballad of Lemuel Penn’ tells the true story of a black war hero and Assistant Superintendant of the D.C. Public School System who was shot near Athens, GA by white supremacists nine days after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Taking a story song format similar to Bob Dylan’s ‘The Hurricane,’ the song tells of how, despite witnesses turning in the three Klansmen who shot Penn, the ‘all white jury’ acquitted the trio. It’s an old story, but one that resonates just a year after the events of Charlottesville, especially in the closing lines, when Anderson reminds us that ‘one still lives in Athens today.’ Anderson’s tale is greatly assisted by fiddler Kimi Samson’s haunting melodies.” —Concert Hopper, Chris Griffy

“Edward David Anderson’s Chasing Butterflies paints a melodic Americana picture that humanizes symbols we see every day.” —Jon Norton (WGLT)

“EDA has always been one of my favorite songwriters and singers, and on this record he has beautifully managed to capture the elusive dichotomy that is the American South- a combination of mystery, darkness and relaxed geniality. Great album.” —Steve Berlin, Los Lobos

“An artist to the bone who is raw, open, gritty… A portal into the human condition.” —Seth Walker

“Chasing Butterflies is a treasure chest full of American songs, just waiting for you to open and find all of the joy and mysteries stored inside.  Edward David Anderson’s voice and these songs are like a back porch conversation with a great old long lost friend. You can pick up right where you left off and it always feels right.” –Ed Jurdi (Band of Heathens)

The Bluegrass Situation Song Premiere “The Best Part”

Americana Highways Song Premiere “Chasing Butterflies”

Live And LIsten Song Premiere “Only In My Dreams”

Chasing Butterflies Track Listing:

1. Harmony (3:19)
2. The Ballad of Lemuel Penn (4:02)
3. The Best Part (3:23)
4. Bad Tattoos (4:19)
5. Crosses (4:03)
6. Only in My Dreams (4:49)
7. Dog Days (2:32)
8. Chasing Butterflies (4:19)
9. Sittin’ ‘Round at Home (2:23)
10. Seasons Turn (5:45)

Edward David Anderson – vocals, acoustic, electric & baritone guitars, banjo
Jimmy Nutt – Bass, Percussion
Jon Davis – Drums, Percussion
Brad Kuhn – Keys (Wurlitzer, Hammond A100, Yamaha C7 Grand, Rhodes)
Kimi Samson – Violin (2,6,9)
Todd Beene – Pedal Steel (8)

For more information, please visit www.edwarddavidanderson.com, facebook.com/edwarddavidandersonmusic, twitter.com/edanderson72, and instagram.com/edwarddavidanderson.

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Edward David Anderson Shares Title Track Of New Muscle Shoals Recording ‘Chasing Butterflies’ – Out 10/19

Edward David Anderson Releases Chasing Butterflies
Out October 19 on Black Dirt Records
Recorded at The NuttHouse in Muscle Shoals with Producer Jimmy Nutt

“EDA has always been one of my favorite songwriters and singers, and on this record he has beautifully managed to capture the elusive dichotomy that is the American South- a combination of mystery, darkness and relaxed geniality. Great album.”
—Steve Berlin (Los Lobos)

“Ed has the rare ability to open his soul and unfold his stories in a natural style that is simultaneously guileless and universal, a direct hit to the heart.”
—Johnny Hickman (Cracker)

“An artist to the bone who is raw, open, gritty…a portal into the human condition.”
—Seth Walker

BLOOMINGTON, IL —  “The story of my life’s written on my skin,” sings Edward David Anderson on the devilishly sardonic “Bad Tattoos” from his soon to be released Chasing Butterflies (Black Dirt Records – Oct. 19, 2018). The song, like the artist, is brutally honest and has a worn feel; like it’s coming from someone that has been around and put in the miles. “I don’t think I could have written these tunes when I was 25,” Anderson explains. “Everything I’ve done, the people I’ve met, all the places I’ve been, have brought me to this moment.”

Americana Highways premieres the title track “Chasing Butterflies”, a song based on an old songwriter pal of EDAs, and writes of it, “With the clear vocals highlighted front and center on this song, and the music sustaining the suspense, we’re carried along in the tale of ‘chasing butterflies in the wind,’ a story on the run, in and out of relationships, in and out of prison, and in and out of sobriety, following life’s veering, restless paths just as butterflies do.”

Edward David Anderson

The gifted songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who spent a decade fronting the revered Midwest rock band Backyard Tire Fire, broke away and released his ambitious debut Lies & Wishes in 2014. The album was lauded “a superb solo effort” by No Depression and David Dye (NPR World Cafe) praised the follow-up Lower Alabama: The Loxley Sessions as “a wonderfully soulful record.”

Both releases were significant steps forward for EDA, but on Chasing Butterflies there is a feeling of arrival. Absorbing and learning and growing through life experience has clearly refined his ability to write about the human condition. In “The Best Part,” he sings to his wife “You help me to understand/you make me a better man/I’m gonna do the best I can/to love you,” and you believe him. This kind of sincerity and honesty along with a candidly dry sense of humor recur throughout the album.

It was through a tip from a friend that Anderson connected with GRAMMY Award winner Jimmy Nutt (SteelDrivers) from the iconic Shoals region of north Alabama. During their first conversation it was clear the two had a natural rapport and he quickly set a course for Jimmy’s NuttHouse Recording Studio in Sheffield. Diverging from past albums EDA used local session musicians for his backing band. “I felt the way to get the most authentic Shoals sound was to play with people who live and work there,” he said. Nutt played bass and brought in Jon Davis (Dylan LeBlanc) on drums, Brad Kuhn on keys, Todd Beene (Lucero) on pedal steel and Kimi Samson on violin, and the chemistry was instant.

The core of the 10-track album was cut live in just a few short days with minimal overdubbing, making it feel both cohesive and human. “We brought in strings on a few and pedal steel on one, but didn’t want to get too carried away,” Anderson recalls. The result is a stunningly sublime, less-is-more snapshot of a writer in his prime.

The songs on Chasing Butterflies are as diverse as they are hooky. As thought-provoking as they are heartbreaking. They are simple yet complex and were thoughtfully produced and recorded. From the hopeful opening lyric, “It’s a beautiful thing/when two people sing/in harmony,” to the haunting title track’s “There’s a restlessness I guess/I’m uneasy I confess,” EDA takes you on a vast & colorful musical journey. You get the feeling he’s lived these songs. That the sleepless nights, the long drives, and the never ending search fuel the fire that keeps Edward David Anderson out there “Chasing Butterflies.”

Chasing Butterflies Track Listing:

1. Harmony (3:19)
2. The Ballad of Lemuel Penn (4:02)
3. The Best Part (3:23)
4. Bad Tattoos (4:19)
5. Crosses (4:03)
6. Only in My Dreams (4:49)
7. Dog Days (2:32)
8. Chasing Butterflies (4:19)
9. Sittin’ ‘Round at Home (2:23)
10. Seasons Turn (5:45)

Edward David Anderson – vocals, acoustic, electric & baritone guitars, banjo
Jimmy Nutt – Bass, Percussion
Jon Davis – Drums, Percussion
Brad Kuhn – Keys (Wurlitzer, Hammond A100, Yamaha C7 Grand, Rhodes)
Kimi Samson – Violin (2,6,9)
Todd Beene – Pedal Steel (8)

For more information, please visit www.edwarddavidanderson.com, facebook.com/edwarddavidandersonmusic, twitter.com/edanderson72, and instagram.com/edwarddavidanderson.

 

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