Dear Independence

The Blue Van | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 31, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tvt
• ASIN: B000JFY08E
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,259 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #54 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Denmark

Editorial Reviews

Stuff

"A boozy, bluesy volcano of sound inspired by The Kinks and The Who."

"Fuzzed guitar, eruptive drums and raspy, unbridled vocals."

"Five Stars!"

Product Description

After nearly two full years on the road, banging out sweaty, sixties-steeped garage rock, the members of the Blue Van were understandably spent when they shifted their touring van into park and began writing the songs that would compose their second album, DEAR INDEPENDENCE. So if DEAR INDEPENDENCE sounds a bit mellow for the normally full-throttle foursome, well, it should. After a marathon tour during which the band introduced the world to its frayed, booze-driven rock & roll, the members of the Blue Van began picking up acoustic guitars and delving into less subwoofer-shredding fare: vintage folk, the Zombies, and a lot of early Motown. Quips organist Soren V. Christensen, "After being on the road for two years straight--playing garage rock every night--when you come home, you don't start ripping out the Sonics record--you tend to go for something else."

If the Danish band's 2005 debut, The Art Of Rolling, pulsed with the reckless abandon of the early Kinks and The Who, DEAR INDEPENDENCE burns with the ragged beauty of Free. In songs like the strummy, mug-raising sing-a-long "Momentarily Sane" and the magnetic, folk-informed melody of "The Poet Tree," DEAR INDEPENDENCE reveals the Blue Van in both a mellow mood, and at a time when it has begun to spread its creative wings.

Splitting time between Denmark, and Brooklyn, NY's gritty Bed-Stuy neighborhood, the quartet cut DEAR INDEPENDENCE with Lenny Kravitz engineer Henry Hirsh producing. The disc was recorded the old-fashioned way--to tape--and without the benefit of digital, fix-it-later software. "We just went for an organic sound," says Christensen. "We wanted a loose studio feeling--no bullshit," says Soren. "We didn't tune the vocals, or cheat. There are a lot of mistakes here and there, but it's perfect to us."

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars retro, January 15, 2009

By 

M. J. C. Paul "just a regular guy" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dear Independence (Audio CD)

i usually never looked at the recommendations on this site, but recently i started out of curiousity checking them out. i came across this, listened to one clip, and bought it right then and there. i'd recommend this for anyone who is sick of the way modern rock'n'roll has gone. this has got that british-invasion bluesy feel to it with a touch of the late 60s early 70s country-style farm boy rock. modern take on retro styles complete with hammond organ. up-beat, throw it in on a drive.

5.0 out of 5 stars Blue Van's Summer of Love, November 13, 2008

By 

S. Pickard (Kernersville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dear Independence (Audio CD)

When I saw these guys live, it was like seeing The Who raw in the late 60s. Explosive. Now, with "Dear Independence", The Blue Van tones it down slightly, channeling the vibes of 1967, but still rocking hard. This is proof that great music is being created today that still has the heart of years past.

4.0 out of 5 stars White van man it aint!!!!, April 5, 2007

By 

LeopardPrince "Longshanks" (Berks , UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Independence (Audio CD)

Cant beleive no-one has reveiwed this album, its better than their debut
and that rocked. You people have to promote this stuff wherever you can.
Otherwise all you get is plastic S**t like Arctic baboons from over here or other tosh like that. This is old school rock & roll man whatsup widge ya listen and buy its good, check out their other album. Also check out a
Uk band called Little Barrie similar vein ( less organ ) ( more guitar) its what its all about man.