Richard Buckner is a modern-day troubadour; a man and his guitar, on the road, constantly in motion, searching, following his muse. His music, much like the man, is full of wanderlust, doubt, hope, redemption and grace. Widely considered one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation, Buckner has been recording his music and performing it in front of crowds both expansive and intimate since the early 90’s when he burst onto the scene in San Francisco with his band The Doubters. The band was short lived but kicked up a good amount of dust in their short time together. Richard used this momentum to launch his solo career. Over the years, his wandering ways have led him from San Francisco to Edmonton, through Atlanta and Austin, with numerous way-stations along the way. He now resides in Brooklyn, NY, but still spends the majority of his time out on the road, ever-honing his craft, and chasing that elusive muse.

Dents And Shells is Richard Buckner’s 6th studio album, his first for Merge Records, and his first in two years. Since his solo debut in 1994, Buckner has continued to evolve and expand his palette as a songwriter, all the while bringing praise from critics and legions of devoted fans as well. While Dents And Shells would not be considered a radical departure for Buckner, it is nonetheless obviously a document to his growth as a songwriter and a musician. Where his last LP, Impasse, was a sparse yet beautiful record, an intensely personal document of loss and change, Dents & Shells is brimming with a sense of optimism and renewal. Moving forward, while never forgetting where you came from. Don’t get me wrong, we are not talking about ""Shiny Happy People"" here, Buckner still paints on the canvas of heartbreak, loss and world weary cynicism that has become his distinctive oeuvre, but there is redemption here as well. And I suppose that this is what has always been appealing about Buckner’s work—the simple yet poetic discourse between the dark places in all of us and the light that attempts to pull us through to the other side.

For Dents And Shells, Richard Buckner assembled a distinguished cast of players from among his friends in and around Austin, TX into a band that adds subtle depth and texture to his always poignant songs. The album was recorded in Austin at Top Hat Studios (w/ John Harvey behind the board), as well as in Tucson, AZ at Wavelab Studios (w/Craig Schumacher). Richard also committed some of the material to tape in various hotel rooms and hovels along the way. The players involved include: Jason Morales on guitar; King Coffey on drums; Andrew Duplantis on bass; Jacob Schultz on keys; Bukkha Allen on piano and accordion; Gary Newcomb on pedal steel; Mike Harwick on slide guitar and Brain Standifer on cello. Richard contributed vocals, guitar, keys, percussion; a little bit of everything. We could not be more excited or proud to be associated with the results. We know that you will enjoy them as well.

Comments                                                Add new Comment   View All

Tiger,Tiger	5/3/2007 9:47:07 AM Great stuff Richard. You've got a nice driving music style that reminds me a bit of some Steve Earle, and a singing style that really resonates with me. The styles fit great together as something that sounds original without trying too hard. Just good songwriting. Glad to have stumbled across your art. Tiger,Tiger
		View All