Album Notes

"Ian Shaul's vocals are soulful and sincere, yet his lyrics never lose the wit that will surely become his signature. At times the songs are so sadly beautiful that I wish to suffer through a break-up, if only to feel them more poignantly."
--Juliana Tringali, Music Editor, Bitch Magazine

"Ian's music is mean for the rowdy crowd, a crowd that isn't afraid to add a hoot and a holler every now and then. It's about as hardcore as a man and his guitar can get.
--Max Fox, Bagdad By the Bay

"...askeletonal acoustic disc composed of gritty, simple songs. Ian Shaul's roots-pop blends two different rhythms together in most of the songs, as the strumming moves at a different pace than the slow, lilting lap steel."
--The Owl Mag

"I can't tell if his songs make me happy or if they make me sad. But when I listen to him play, I need a drink. Badly."
--Luc Martin, Alcoholic

Ian Shaul's music is a rich bastardization of Country, Blues, Rock, and Bluegrass that hails from Lake County, a rural area of Northern California best-known for its pear orchards and methamphetamine production. The rural and destitute surroundings have shaped Ian’s songwriting and performing styles into something unique, and uniquely Northern Californian.

Now based in San Francisco, Ian Shaul has taken his music to some of the city's premier venues. He can also be found as a sideman, filling in on guitar, lap steel, banjo and dobro for local acts Karpov, Pirate Radio, and Tell River.

A follow-up to the widely circulated demo "Pie for Hayseeds" (2004) "Water Return" marks Ian Shaul's studio debut. Recorded in the heart of San Francisco at the analog mecca Tiny Telephone and the historic Different Fur, the album was made on a shoestring budget at guerilla speed.