Album Notes

Some things to know about TO KNOW YOU IS TO SAVE YOU, the new album by James Combs.

It’s like this: a pinch of psychedelia, a spoonful of raw rock, a dash of experimentalism, a dusting of folk, and a heaping cup of evocative pop…

James Combs' new album “To Know You Is To Save You” has arrived on CD Baby and I-tunes. Mixed primarily by Bryan Cook ("Walk Hard" OST, Inara George) and Steve Kaye (The Lions, Connie Price), it was three years and many contributors in the making (including Erin Shawn Hawkins, Kelly De Martino, John Would, and Nik Freitas from Bright Eyes). Employing vintage synths, an 8 foot plate reverb, a Salvation Army brass band (or a machine that sounds like one?), a saxophone, a semi-professional whistler, and some ripping guitar, James has wrestled to life his most accomplished batch of songs to date. And take a moment to notice the striking cover art by Canadians Andrew Pommier and Derrick Hodgson.

The LA Weekly says James "won’t be one of folk-pop’s best kept secrets for long." Delusions of Adequacy wrote, “This is the direction rock music needs to go in… James Combs has tapped into the same pulse that Low and The New Pornographers have.” As if to put a fine point on it, “To Know You…” spent the first month of its life jumping up the airplay charts at tastemaker Santa Monica radio station KCRW. Live shows have included slots on bills with legendary NY guitarist Tom Verlaine, Jack Black’s Tenacious D, Kristin Hersh, and Ed Harcourt… not to mention upcoming LA artists like Inara George and Marjorie Fair. KCRW DJ Gary Calamar describes James as "one of LA's top songwriters".

James’ tracks have appeared in a number of films and television shows, including HBO's "Entourage" and "Six Feet Under", Showtime's "Dexter", ABC's "Men In Trees" and in the upcoming 2008 Nanette Burstein documentary "American Teen" (Paramount Pictures.)

In addition to his solo material, James is a member of two bands:

The Plush Interiors with Linda Good (http://www.myspace.com/theplushinteriors)

and Black Olive with Kelly De Martino (http://www.myspace.com/loveblackolive)

http://www.myspace.com/jamescombsmusic