These songs were largely written during the particularly hot, oppressive Texas Summer of 2011. It is a frenetic sounding record. There are no songs about romantic love, and only two of them are in major keys. Having said that, the writing is just as concise and melodic as anything on 2009's, "Better By Design." I went for a harder (for me), more modern edge to the recording. So, I enlisted the production ears (and drums) of my older brother, Bill Lefler (Patrick Stump, Gym Class Heroes), and took up in his LA studio for two weeks earlier this year. Instead of the ten plus musicians used to record the last record, "Shout Fire," was tracked by just Bill and myself - with the invaluable contributions from engineer/mixer, Craig 'The Regulator' Frank, and bassist, Joe Karnes (Fitz and the Tantrums, Imperial Drag). I feel like the result is a very tight-knit group of songs, all written and performed with a consistent mood/feeling. The rabbits on the cover kind of underscore that overall sense of nervousness, uneasiness.
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