“Waiting for the Sun”
from the album The Shore
2004
[iTunes]
Rock solid songwriting. A passionate commitment to music that makes a difference and the chops to pull it off.
With a name as evocative as their music, The Shore is a richly talented young quartet whose seamless ensemble sound welds a rich mix of influences. From Sly Stone to Neil Young, Coldplay to the Verve, The Shore brings it all together in a grand musical vision that is reminiscent of the best that rock can be while remaining utterly innovative and original.
The evidence can be heard on The Shore, the band’s awe-inspiring Maverick Records debut album, featuring ten original tracks from founder and front man Ben Ashley. Produced and mixed by veteran LA music scenester Rick Parker, The Shore brings a compelling new dimension to modern music with a style and sensibility as accomplished as it is original.
Formed on the thriving Silver Lake music scene during the summer of ‘02, The Shore brings together a young line-up from such far-flung locales as Philadelphia, Detroit and the surf haven of Dana Point in Orange County, California. Drummer John Wilmer is the only actual Los Angeles native, but the foursome quickly found common musical ground thanks to an extensive apprenticeship in a variety of bands on the club and studio scene.
It was in the spring of 2002 that Ben first joined forces with producer Rick Parker (Joe Firstman & Miranda Lee Richards). Parker offered to record some of Ben’s songs who, in turn, recruited the best local musicians he knew for the project. The combination clicked and The Shore was born.
The resulting disc eventually found its way to the desk of Maverick A&R man Scott Austin, who showcased and quickly signed the newly assembled band. The Shore immediately began pre-production and just a few months after their initial recordings, found themselves in the studio cutting their major label debut with Rick Parker returning to the producer’s chair. Building on the solid foundation of the demos, Ben wrote a sheaf of new material for the occasion. The sessions, lasting three months, featured the quartet tracking live as much as possible to capture the extraordinary creative energy that has set them apart from their inception.
The result is The Shore, ten original songs that announce, in no uncertain terms, the arrival of a young band with a very promising future indeed. From the evocative opening notes of “The Hard Road,” to the vivid imagery of “Waiting for the Sun,” to the resonant emotional pitch of “Hold On,” The Shore is an album that celebrates the enduring values of heartfelt songwriting and consummate craftsmanship in a collection of songs that seems certain to land The Shore a place among the very best of tomorrow’s rock originals.
~ Filter Magazine
 The Shore |