The New Standards

The New Standards | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: October 4, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tinderbox Music
• ASIN: B000CCRXGA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,940 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Formed as an outlet to pay homage to their own favorite pop songs, The New Standards are a mini-Super Group out of Minneapolis, featuring John Munson (Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare), founding Suburbs member Chan Poling, and vibraphonist Steve Roehm. On this debut recording, produced by Munson's longtime bandmate, Dan Wilson, the musicians play sendups to Tin Pan Alley, glam, soul, and four decades of rock from Neil Young to the Replacements to Beck. The effect works best on well-worn compositions like "Nature Boy" and "Dark End of the Street." The only dud is a rendition of Blur's "Song 2" which suffers from over enthusiastic vocal "Woo-hoos" that only clobber an otherwise fine arrangement. All-in-all lovely versions of "September Song", Jack Logan's moving "Town Crier" and "The Inchworm" round out this warm and subtle album, leaving the listener hoping for future New Standards explorations through the wide world of pop music. --Ben Heege

Product Description

The record was cut live over two weekends. Including vocals. There are mistakes. There are transcendent moments. There is barebones intensity and scrap. We take our music straight. With Dan Wilson, John’s old partner in Semisonic, producing, the recording is big and pop while still preserving a soulful, jazzy intelligence. The emphasis is on developing beautiful arrangements, but there is still room for Steve and Chan to go off, soloing madly.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Music You Know, Heard for the First Time Again., January 7, 2006

By 

B. Knight (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Standards (Audio CD)

I saw them live, and was just knocked out. The disc is equally impressive and completely contagious. Just listen to it. You'll find yourself grooving on an arrangement, and suggenly discover you are listening to a TRex tune reinterpreted by the boys.

Amazing.

Get it. Tell your friends. Tell the band to record more discs.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!!!, December 8, 2005

By 

D. Mullins (Midwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Standards (Audio CD)

I can't get enough of this disc! Chan Poling, John Munson and Steve Roeh cover a variety of songs on this disc, from "Inch Worm" to "The New Pollution", from David Bowie to Blur. They sing and play their hearts out on each song making it their own, this is the way these songs were meant to be, better than the originals, or maybe the new originals.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this really works, June 4, 2007

By 

greg s. (Minnetonka, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Standards (Audio CD)

I saw The New Standards perform at Orchestra Hall, and was throughly impressed. I can't say why this concept works so well, other than these musicians, but it does. REALLY WELL. It's not just a good novelty act...
well beyond that.

That night, among the classic songs they covered was the Stone's Wild Horses. It was done in New Standards "sound", but with the right mood, and heartfelt respect the song deserves.

You have to see them live, to understand what I mean.