What I hope you hear as you move through the tracks on this mix is not only the wide range of sounds that his music has incorporated throughout his progression as a musician, but also the raw honesty that comes through on these tracks. This is especially true of some of the demos, which often were sent to me with caveats like "this is just to give you an idea and is really rough, so don't judge the song yet." In sharing these tracks, which often show the fragility of his creative process or the subtle insecurity of lyrics not yet believed, Jim showed a trust in me that I will always appreciate. This trust has led to an attachment to his songs that I have with no other artist. Unfortunately for Jim, this has also led to a consistent stream of "I liked the demo version better" when the songs were finally released. I don't think Jim ever expected these songs would be distributed to a larger audience, but the privilege I have had is now yours. I hope you enjoy the mix and hear a little of the greatness I hear when I listen to these songs.
Also, I wanted to throw out a special thank you to all of the musicians who have been involved in the writing and recording of these songs, including...Tim McNicholas (Tracks 1, 14, 15 and 24); Bronson Stevic (Tracks 1 and 14); Danny Smith (Tracks 7 and 9); Ryan Weiner (Tracks 22 and 24); Matt McNiff (Track 12 and 16); George Niesuchouski (Tracks 13 and 19); Rob Devlin (Track 20); and Matt Mahone (Track 26).
If you click on certain of the album titles, you can download the album for free, compliments of the bands.
The picture above was an album cover created by Ryan Callis for the unreleased album, We Forgot Our Weapons (which the demos Flc Raga, Luna Mesa, Up in an Oaktree and Through Walls were created in connection with). His work is incredible, so please click on this link and check it out.
Trying To Figure Each Other Out - James Ward and Company
1 (0:00). Analog Birds - Arbiters Grounds (Musique Concrete, 2007)
2 (2:11). James Ward - Angry Sun (Demo, 2006)
3 (4:58). Analog Birds - Symbol Minded (Don't Let It Slow You Down, 2004)
4 (7:59). Sonic Six - Nothing's Wrong (Dumb Angel Demo Tape, 1999)
5 (12:08). Analog Birds - Infidel$$ (Musique Concrete, 2007)
6 (14:17). The Latters - In the Meadow (Simple Shapes+Patters Demos, 2008)
7 (16:51). Analog Birds - Flc Raga (Demo, 2005)
8 (20:18). James Ward - Daybreak (Demo, 2007)
9 (21:02). Analog Birds - Over the Desert (Monkey Knife Fight, 2003)
10 (23:36). Analog Birds - No Salt in the Sea (Monkey Knife Fight, 2003)
11 (26:30). Analog Birds - Green City (Don't Let It Slow You Down, 2004)
12 (30:14). Analog Birds - Luna Mesa (Demo, 2005)
13 (32:15). Analog Birds - Overdone (Removables, 2000)
14 (35:18). Analog Birds - Jingo (Musique Concrete, 2007)
15 (37:57). Analog Birds - Up in an Oaktree (Demos, 2005)
16 (42:27). Analog Birds - Land of the Whales (Out of Sight, 2004)
17 (44:37). James Ward - What's the Mission (Demo, 2006)
18 (46:43). James Ward - Reception (Demo, 2005)
19 (48:40). Sonic Six - Variation 3 (Dumb Angel Demo, 1999)
20 (50:02). Analog Birds - Is it Slowing Down (Don't Let It Slow You Down, 2004)
21 (53:05). Analog Birds - Stroller (Monkey Knife Fight, 2003)
22 (55:49). James Ward - Dawn Project (Demo, 2006)
23 (59:31). Analog Birds - Through Walls (Demo, 2005)
24 (62:40). Analog Birds - Across the Hills (Demo, 2006)
25 (64:50). Analog Birds - Lavish (Removables, 2000)
26 (68:20). Sonic Six - Weatherman (Dumb Angel Demo Tape, 1999)
27 (70:14). James Ward - Star Collector (Demo, 2008)
28 (72:58). The Latters - Somebody Told Me (Simple Shapes+Patters Demos, 2008)
29 (75:34). James Ward - Red Project (Demo, 2006)
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