THE HIGH STRUNG - ODE TO THE INVERSE OF THE DUDE (LP)

The High Strung Ode To The Inverse Of The Dude On Vinyl LP

When producer David Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Los Campesinos!) agreed to helm the latest High Strung album, a strange/wonderful meeting was set to take place. In the height of a brutal Canadian winter, the High Strung brought a decidedly different batch of songs with them to the small church-studio of the legendary indie producer. Josh Malerman (songwriter) has written his first group of personal numbers, songs that addressed bizarre psychological states as well as revealing/comforting ideas of a man turning himself inside out, the idea of celebratory self-examination.

Ode to the Inverse of the Dude sounds a lot like what it’s about; there’s no doubt Newfeld stretched a band who was ready to be stretched and the outcome is a fantastic/blissful proclomation. It's an exploratory album, combining dreamy sounds and lyrics with the magnificence of the rock band that the High Strung is. The album is an honest original, but it’s not a puzzle, it’s a matter of heart. Songs like “Guilt is How I’m Built,” “Standing at the Door of Self-Discovery” and “Out of Character,” not only adhere to the theme but feel and sound like a genuine self-evaluation where the subject is equal parts excited and frightened about their discoveries. Derek Berk and Chad Stocker, one of the country’s most colorful/dynamic rhythm sections, do not disapoint as they bring to life this coming together of wonderful artists. This record is a musical/pyschological triumph for both a producer who has worked his magic into the hearts of millions and a band who gets better with every album.

The High Strung Ode To The Inverse Of The Dude Track Listing

1. Standing at the Door of Self Discovery
2. Real Stone
3. The Lifestyle That Got Away
4. Out of Character
5. In the Middle
6. Guilt is How I’m Built
7. I Got Your Back
8. Bad with my Hands
9. Anyone
10. Rope