Strand of Oaks - Weird Ways

Song of the Day
Hosted by John Richards
Today's song, featured on The Morning Show with John Richards, is "Weird Ways" by Strand of Oaks, from the 2019 album Eraserland on Dead Oceans.
WRITTEN BY JASMINE ALBERTSON
PHOTO BY Alysse Gafkajen

Strand of Oaks' Timothy Showalter is releasing his sixth studio album, Eraserland, on March 22 via Dead Oceans. The album sees Showalter enlist help from members of My Morning Jacket as well as Jason Isbell as his backing band. Our Song of the Day, “Weird Ways,” is the record’s lead single and elaborates on the depression Showalter experienced following the release of his last album, 2017’s Hard Love.

In an effort to battle his demons, Showalter journeyed to New Jersey to hole up with MMJ’s Carl Broemel, Bo Koster, Patrick Hallahan, and Tom Blankenship, as well as Isbell, to focus his energies on their collaborative spirit and putting together the songs that would make up Eraserland. "I don't feel it anymore," are the first words of “Weird Ways” but very quickly Showalter proves this to be untrue as the song rises and builds to anthemic levels, proving he clearly feels something and whatever it is, it's beautiful. 

“This project seemed to just fall together naturally,” said Broemel about the experience. “I felt drawn to Tim’s positive energy and his albums…I threw it out there that I’d be happy to help in any way I could with the record.”

Strand of Oaks will be in Seattle on Friday, April 26 to play Neumos. Witness first-hand the comradery that made Eraserland in the video for “Weird Ways” below.

 

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