Originally born out of an art project at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Wheat has been steadily turning out masterworks for a decade now. Unfortunately, as is all too common with art projects, the masses failed to deem Wheat’s work a mainstream success, despite notable laurels like a song popping up in Cameron Crowe’s Elizabethtown. Following the departure of guitarist and vocalist Ricky Brennan, Wheat’s future was uncertain.
But proving themselves to be as hearty as their namesake, the trio-turned-duo (Scott Levesque on vocals and guitar with Brendan Harney tackling drums) rededicated their efforts to music and have emerged with their first record in four years, Everyday I Said a Prayer For Kathy and Made a One Inch Square (the mouthful of a title refers to what Levesque calls “the ritual of remembering”).
Harney told SPIN.com that following the shake-up and near-break up, “everything is fresh again: the live thing, the recording process, all of it. It allowed us to come at it like it was all brand new — to explore making songs, and run around without direction, like little children.” To wit, the youthful and lighthearted instrumentals in the opening of the song “Move=Move,” wouldn’t be out of place in a Wes Anderson movie, before Wheat rolls into outright rock mode, perfectly ticked out in precision drumming. Everyday I Said a Prayer For Kathy and Made a One Inch Square will be squared away on Empyrean, May 22nd. BRIANA MOWREY
Now Hear This: Wheat – “Move=Move” DOWNLOAD MP3
On the Web:
wheatmusic.com
Wheat at MySpace
Talk: Does Wheat separate the grain from the chaff with “Move=Move”?
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