This oaklandbased group has created the finest music video to emerge from our age of isolation. Frank stewart lead guitar, production and willis thompson are former members of the band. Mar 03, 2016 five albums in, thao and the get down stay down took a creative leap with a man alive, an experimental, visceral and delightfully weird album. Nov 08, 2014 thao nguyen is the lead singermusician of the folk rock band thao and the get down stay down. Thao nguyen began her last fullband album with the doubletimed handclaps of an ominous, fatalistic field holler, a chorus of voices rising as the singer squared off against a ruthless adversary. Thao s personal approach to her lyrics lets the listener into her world and her head and helps to show that we all have a lot more in common than we tend to realize. Countryburred and cheery pop vocals from thao nguyen set to banjos and cool quietloud guitars make for a charming introduction to their we the common album starring joanna newsom. Over the course of five albums and multiple singles plus celebrated collaborations like her 2011 lp with indiepop artist mirah, shes developed a strippeddown, cerebral but deeply relatable voice thats earned her a sizable and devoted following. Shes shared the title track and phenom from it already, and today shes back with one final. Thao nguyen wrote city as a tribute to her activist friends and the occupy demonstrations in oakland. Theyre on tour now performing songs from their latest album we the common. Frank stewart lead guitar, production and willis thompson drums are former members of the band. Inspired by her work at a local outreach program at a nearby prison, she used.
The album was recorded at tiny telephone in san francisco with john congleton st. It consists of thao nguyen vocals, guitar and adam thompson vocals, bass guitar, keyboards. With the california stay at home order the fate of. How the band thao and the get down stay down created their. With the california stay at home order the fate of the video and the release of the song like everything was very much in question until we decided video could and would be constructed. Thao and the get down stay down we the common album.
As thao with the get down stay down, theyve released two altfolk full lengths, which are sprinkled with motown and bubblegum pop. Download thao with the get down stay down we the common lyrics. Thao and her backing band the get down stay down are cute in the complimentary sensetheir music is sweet pop thats easy to swallow with just enough weirdness to demand an initial chew. Thao nguyen s new album, we the common, which she released with her band, the get down stay down, is just the sort of record you would expect from a. Phenom, temple, polyvinyl 4track singles series, vol. Before recording we the common her third album with the get down stay down thao nguyen decided to take a breather from touring and writing.
If it been my youth would have come to me oh love wont you bite my eye i miss the sweet, godden mound bare foot a skeleton dry al. Vincent, bill callahan, explosions in the sky and features a duet w joanna newsom. The different types of songs from music that would fit perfectly on beale street or the french quarter to deep in appalachia, rock to folk its just a fantastic collection of some of the most original stuff ive heard in ages. Thao nguyen and her backing band return with something bigger and better here, after nguyen spent a year settling down and building a nontransient life in san francisco. All songs considered the new video for we the common features ira glass, john hodgman and many others and showcases thao nguyen. Explore releases from thao with the get down stay down at discogs. Vincent, bill callahan, the walkmen, explosions in the sky and features a duet with joanna newsom on the track kindness be conceived. It was released on february 5, 20 on the ribbon music label. Thao nguyen s antitrump track is a bit of a tongueincheek appeal to people who are considering voting. Now they have shared another song from it, pure cinema, via a video for the track. This album came after a period where thao stepped back from touring to try to be an actual real live person, rather than just singing songs about them. Thao and the get down stay down take huge creative leap on a. If i bend my youth would it come to me oh love dont you bat an eye i miss the sweet, god of mine baffle a skeleton. We the common feels less like the work of a jam band than a collection of smart, playful material brought to vigorous life by a supple rhythm section and dressed up in nicely contrasting instrumental colors.
Thao with the get down stay down discography discogs. Thao and the get down stay down and their time in jail. Over the course of four albums, thao nguyen has been on a mission to get down more than stay down. Justin mitchell directed the clip, which was filmed remotely in each members home while under lockdown. When thao nguyen shoutsings, everybody knows ive got a brand new way, she can do so in full confidence that everybody really does know because her latest album we the common. The san franciscobased artist stayed put and became involved with the advocacy group the california coalition for women prisoners. Albums include a man alive, we brave bee stings and all, and we the common. Vincent, the walkmen, it features a duet with joanna newsom, and the first song released to promote it, holy rollers, was a fine folkrock stomper. When thao nguyen shoutsings, everybody knows ive got a brand new way, she can do so in full confidence that everybody really does know because her latest album we the common proves it. Folkinformed indie pop guided by thao nguyen, whose songwriting tends toward the musically playful and lyrically heavyhearted. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from thao with the get down stay down at the discogs marketplace. Thao and the get down stay down, we the common quirky but cutting, playful but forceful, controlled but ragged, thao nguyen infuses her songs with electricity and mischievous boldness. San francisco, californiabased formerly falls church, virginia alternative folk rock music group, founded 2003. World cafe the folkrock band plays songs from its new album, we the common, which was largely inspired by a move to san francisco.
It consists of thao nguyen vocals, guitar, and adam thompson vocals, bass guitar, keyboards. A man alive, we the common, know better learn faster, we brave bee stings and all, singles. That being said, its also a lively cd thatll get you dancing. Conscious of having spent her 20s on tour, thao nguyen settled in san francisco and got involved in the community in pursuit of socalled real life experience. Formed in 2006, the band enlisted tucker martine mudhoney, the decemberists to produce we brave bee stings, released on the kill rock stars label in 2008. Thao and the get down stay down, we the common the. Thao and the get down stay down is a san francisco, californiabased formerly falls church, virginia alternative folk rock music group. On we the common, nguyen s fourth album with the get down stay down, this muchneeded spark comes in channeling an array of genres to create a raucous, rolling good time.
We dont call we dont write we love some strangers every night oh no closest ones too sad to own they dont mean much but they dont mean harm oh no bye bye. About we the common this album came after a period where thao stepped back from touring to try to be an actual real live person, rather than just singing songs about them. Outside of the band she has collaborated on projects with several artists including merrill garbus, the portland cello project. All songs considered the new video for we the common features ira glass, john hodgman and many others and showcases thao nguyen s. There are so many promising signs surrounding thao and the get down stay down s fourth fulllength even before you actually have a listen to the record in full. Thao nguyen born march 19, 1984, also known as thao, is an american singersongwriter originally from virginia and now based in san francisco. Thao nguyen s solo work was put on hold for much of 2011 when she teamed up. Throughout, thao s quirky, original singing voice adds immensely to the enjoyment of the songs and to an understanding of the lyrics, as well.