Bloodshot Records artist: Murder By Death - Big Dark Love - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 3, 2015), Big Dark Love, by Murder By Death. This is not a blues release but adventurous and well written. Opening with I Shot An Arrow, Adam Turla on lead vocal, Matt Armstrong on bass, Sarah Balliet on cello, Dagan Thogerson on drums and David Fountain on piano set quite a stage. A cool but odd melody with Frank Black like characteristics features a solid anchor in Balliet and Fountain that is quite appealing. Strange Eyes has a driving pop beat and atmospheric backing. Title track, Big Dark Love is a really nice ballad with a haunting guitar riffs over a really solid melody and warm cello bottom. Very cool! Dream In Red has more of a club feel but with dark classical overtones. Solitary One has some of the nicest vocal harmonies with Fountain. The most air friendly track on the release, this is a track that is certain to collect followers. Send Me Home is a solid rocker with cool guitar reverb. A pinch of country gives the track a cool flavor. Last Thing, although floating a bed of synth, has banjo, violin and a country western beat. This has a modern feel not unlike another of my favorites bands in this genre, Camper Van Beethoven. Natural Pearl continues with the western flavor but this time with a light 2 step rhythm. A drum shuffle leads the way and vocal duets between Foutain and Turla with the latter adding some solid guitar riffs. Very cool track. It Will Never Die sets an easy folk track with a light poppy feel, balancing cello with mandolin. Breaking into one of the heaviest jams on the release with a wall of sound it is definitely on the the releases milestones. Wrapping the release is Hunted, seems quite a simple folk track until Turla steps up with his fat reverb filled western style guitar riffs. This is a cool track to complete an unusual and interesting release.  

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Murder By Death Debuts New Song "Strange Eyes"

(download artwork for usage)

*Exclusive stream via Entertainment Weekly of lead single from forthcoming album Big Dark Love

*iTunes album pre-order / New tour dates

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Murder By Death will release their seventh full-length album Big Dark Love on February 3rd, 2015. Today, Entertainment Weekly/EW.com is premiering “Strange Eyes,” the first new song from the band’s second release with Chicago label Bloodshot Records.  

http://music-mix.ew.com/2014/12/10/murder-by-death-strange-eyes/

Big Dark Love is now available for pre-order on CD and LP via Bloodshot’s website or digitally via iTunes, in which purchasing parties will receive an instant MP3 download of the lead single, “Strange Eyes.”

Big Dark Love reflects a different, more complex side of the band. As hinted in the title, the 10 songs circle a central theme of love, only in this case, the oft-traveled topic is examined through a non-traditional kaleidoscope: the love of a parent for their child, the struggle between unconditional love and morality, loving to excess. There can sometimes be a dusky patina of despair overlaying glints of hope. For a band that has built its formidable, near 15-year career around a consideration to tension, release, bombast, ecstasy, and highest-highs vs. lowest-lows, it is something to say that this is Murder By Death’s most dynamic release to date. Sonically here, their signature sound – rootsy indie rock, cinematic gothic ballads, and rousing pub rock shout-alongs – mixes with enlivening new stylistic elements - touches of pop, synth-y electronics, and psych rock - only hinted at on previous albums.

In support of the new album, Murder By Death will embark on a U.S. tour in late January, the first time fans will be able to hear new material in full. The lengthy stretch of dates begins on the West Coast in Seattle on January 30, continues across the continental U.S. to the East Coast in February, and eventually doubles back and wraps up in Bloomington, IN in mid-March. The band will also tour through the Midwest in late May. All tour dates can be found listed below, or on the band’s tour page.

Murder By Death Big Dark Love album release tour dates:

30-Jan	Seattle, WA	The Crocodile
31-Jan	Portland, OR	Star Theater
3-Feb	Salt Lake City, UT	Bar Deluxe
5-Feb	San Francisco, CA	The Independent
6-Feb	Santa Cruz, CA	The Catalyst Atrium
7-Feb	Los Angeles, CA	The Roxy
8-Feb	Santa Ana, CA	The Constellation Room
9-Feb	Phoenix, AZ	Crescent Ballroom
10-Feb	Albuquerque, NM	Launchpad
12-Feb	Dallas, TX	Club Dada
13-Feb	Austin, TX	Red 7
14-Feb	Houston, TX	Fitzgerald's Downstairs
15-Feb	Memphis, TN	Hi-Tone Café
24-Feb	Pittsburgh, PA	Mr Smalls
25-Feb	Cleveland, OH	Grog Shop
27-Feb	Boston, MA	Paradise Rock Club
28-Feb	New York, NY	Bowery Ballroom
1-Mar	Brooklyn, NY	Music Hall of Williamsburg
4-Mar	Hamden, CT	The Ballroom at The Outer Space
5-Mar	Charlottesville, VA	The Southern
6-Mar	Philadelphia, PA	Union Transfer
7-Mar	Washington, DC	Black Cat
8-Mar	Raleigh, NC	Kings Barcade
10-Mar	Tampa, FL	The Orpheum
11-Mar	Orlando, FL	The Social
12-Mar	Atlanta, GA	Terminal West
13-Mar	Nashville, TN	Mercy Lounge
14-Mar	Bloomington, IN	The Bluebird
28-May	St Paul, MN	Turf Club
29-May	Milwaukee, WI	Turner Hall Ballroom
31-May	Chicago, IL	Subterranean

BLOODSHOT RECORDS SIGNS MURDER BY DEATH; NEW ALBUM DETAILS + SUMMER TOUR DATES

We are extremely pleased to announce that Murder By Death has signed with Bloodshot Records. The Bloomington, IN quintet has been on our radar for some time with their unique brand of brooding, anthem-riding balladry and orchestral roots-inflicted indie rock, as found on defining albums such as In Bocca al Lupo (2006) and Good Morning, Magpie (2010). And really, with their sing-along/powder-keg performances; fan-first mentality; and consistently exceptional music, Murder By Death has built a decade-plus career embodying all the essential elements that Bloodshot could possibly ask for in band. Plus, Murder By Death + Bloodshot… the combo just has a nice, gruesome ring to it...

The band will release their Bloodshot debut and sixth full-length album this fall. Additional details to come soon.

In the meantime, they are heading out on the road this summer to support their upcoming release, performing with the support of new label mates Ha Ha Tonka, as well as Cory Chisel and other special guests. Full tour dates are below, along with some candid shots from the official contract signing.

Jul 12 Mr. Smalls Theatre Pittsburgh, PA Tickets *
Jul 13 Black Cat Washington, DC Tickets *
Jul 14 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA Tickets *
Jul 15 Heirloom Arts Theatre Danbury, CT Tickets *
Jul 17 Webster Hall New York, NY Tickets *
Jul 18 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA Tickets *
Jul 20 The Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, Canada Tickets #
Jul 21 Grog Shop Cleveland, OH Tickets *
Jul 22 Cosmic Charlie's Lexington, KY Tickets *
Jul 24 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN Tickets *
Jul 25 Newby's Memphis, TN Tickets #
Jul 26 Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, LA Tickets #
Jul 27 Fitzgerald's Houston, TX Tickets #
Jul 28 Mohawk Austin, TX Tickets #
Jul 31 Sol Santa Fe Santa Fe, NM Tickets *
Aug 01 The Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ Tickets *
Aug 02 The Casbah San Diego, CA Tickets *
Aug 03 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA Tickets *
Aug 04 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA Tickets %
Aug 05 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA Tickets *
Aug 09 The Media Club Vancouver, Canada Tickets %
Aug 10 Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA Tickets %
Aug 11 Dante's Portland, OR Tickets %
Aug 14 Neurolux Boise, ID Tickets %
Aug 15 Bar Deluxe Salt Lake City, UT Tickets %
Aug 16 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO Tickets %

Aug 17 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO Tickets %
Aug 18 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE Tickets %
Aug 20 Plush St Louis, MO Tickets %
Aug 22 Gabe's Oasis Iowa City, IA Tickets %
Aug 23 Triple Rock Minneapolis, MN Tickets %
Aug 24 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI Tickets %

Aug 25 Metro Chicago, IL Tickets *

*w/ Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons + Ha Ha Tonka

# w/ Cory Chisel

% w/ Ha Ha Tonka