The Box of Vinyl Project: #4 The Autumn Defense-Circles (Broadmoor 2003)

About a year ago, I acquired a little more than two crates worth of old vinyl LPs (about 200, give or take, records). I’ve listened to some of them, the ones I already knew and liked, but the majority of the records have stayed put in the box they came in. I figured I’d start making my way through the collection of vinyl. I don’t intend to research any records that I’m not familiar with, so hopefully I’ll arrive at as objective a review/summary of each records as possible. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve never tried my hand at music criticism/record reviews.

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This record, I admit, is not part of the collection of records that I’ve set out to listen to. However, it was recently given to me, so I thought I’d do an entry on it since it’s relatively new to me. That said, I’m pretty familiar with The Autumn Defense, or at least the two principal members’, Pat Sansone and John Stirratt, other projects–notably Wilco, but also The Gimmecaps (Stirratt) and Birdy (Sansone). That said, Circles doesn’t really sound much like any of those bands. To me, it sounds closest to Birdy’s On The Moon, but probably just because of the atmospheric and/or baroque arrangements I think both records have in common. In any case, The Autumn Defense is clearly a side project for a reason. With good reason.

Circles, at times, sounds like Sansone and Stirratt have set out to record their own version of a 70′s soft rock album. While these aren’t the types of records I immediately reach for, I definitely find myself sitting down with them often enough to say I’m a fan of the good ones. So a 70′s soft record released in 2003 by two guys I already like–sign me up.

The songs are mellow and sound carefully crafted, maybe I should say arranged, in a way that makes you want to hear them on your back porch while the sun’s going down behind some leafless trees. (End poetics.) The songs are accessible, without always being catchy, with the kinds of melodies that you’ll remember the second time you hear the song–or possibly even halfway through the first listen. (The vocals, both Sitrratt’s and Sansone’s, are often the shoulders that the songs are carried on. And the lyrics. Neither Sansone nor Stirratt are known for their vocal stylings, but here they make sense in that both their voices are subtle and reinforce the hushed tone of the record.)

Back to the songs. The standouts are “Written In The Snow,” “Some Kind Of Fool,” and “Silence.”  Sansone’s “Silence” opens the record with a swirly, reverby sound that sets up the entire record pretty well. It reminds me, more than anything, of On The Moon (which if you can get ahold of, you should). It’s melodic in a way that some of the previous Box of Vinyl entries try to be, but it’s still interesting enough that it doesn’t sound like it follows the basic pop standard song structure. Stirratt’s “Written In The Snow” seems like a clear descendant of something from the Gimmecaps’ record but without electric guitars. And with more reverb-ed piano. It’s got the type of catchy chorus that would have made this a potential radio hit in the 70′s, I think. The lines “I would die, if I thought anyone would hurt you/Yes and I would cry, if I thought anyone could do something like that” might read a little cliche or purple, but Stirratt delivers them in an understated way that’s lost on so many singers that it makes you wonder why everyone’s on about the vocal acrobatics (masturbatory showings off) that seem to be a pre-req for radio hits.

So even though I feel a little like I cheated by including this record in the project, I’m glad I did. If nothing else, it’ll be an enjoyable record to put back on between the other 3 Emerson, Lake, and Palmer records I’ll have to review sometime soon. I should be objective, but, fuck it, I’m not looking forward to those. On a more positive note, Circles is easy listening. Easy listening in a good way. It’s a record that can please passive listeners while still rewarding those with a more attentive ear. I recommend it.

Buy it here.

Will I listen to it again? Sure. Especially when the day’s going dark and I want to sit outside with a big beer and take it easy.

Next up: The Doors-Waiting For The Sun

Then: The Who-The Kids Are Alright (OST)

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