Album Notes

Comprised of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Rick Eppedio and lead vocalist C. R. Keyser-Posner, rock indie Smoke Ring Days' line-up first surfaced as the studio collective Barbarian Lovers. Following seven single, LP, and CD releases by the band on various foreign and domestic record labels- including London-based Aura Records, where labelmates included Alex Chilton, Steve Marriott, and Nico - the Barbs went on extended hiatus, leaving the two to continue writing and recording as a duo, and building on the ardent fan base they had cultivated in European radio. Lauded by Billboard's Music & Media and The Gavin Report for their "exceptional folky vocal harmonies [and] layered acoustic guitars," Smoke Ring Days creates aural commentary that spans the gamut from heartfelt emotional outpourings to powerful political punches.

Da Capo is a collection of previously-released and never-before-heard songs, some dating back from the early days of Smoke Ring Days, and others culled from the archives of Barbarian Lovers, the band's previous incarnation. These twelve tracks are amongst the band's catchiest and most melodic, with an audible emphasis on vocal harmonies, country-tinged guitar and harmonica riffs, and driving rhythm lines. The opening 'Round and Round,' originally released in Europe on Italy's Cruisin label, was a Gavin Report 'Spotlight Pick of the Month' upon its initial release, and numbers such as the hipster paen 'Simon Templar' and Yardbirds-influenced 'Don't Walk Away' received much airplay and positive press in Europe. For a limited time, the CD includes the bonus track '400 Miles from Nowhere' and the special preview song 'Nowhere Town,' an anthem to escapism from the band's upcoming album.