Brent Randall, Brian O'Reilly, Joel Goguen, and Paul Linklater is the current line up.
Pinecones also have and will include Dave Ewenson, Jess Lewis, Laura Peek, Caleb Langille and more.
Influences
Toytown Pop, Harry Nilsson, The Kinks, The Turtles, The Hollies, Van Dyke Parks.
Sounds Like
The Kinks, Van Dyke Parks, McCartney, Donovan, Nilsson
Arriving fully formed, Brent Randall & His Pinecones released the expertly crafted debut EP, Quite Precisely, in late 2004 (Charting 34 on Earshot). The seven songs on the album showed a style of song and depth in writing rarely seen since Brill Building era pop. Randall quickly became a enigmatic yet renowned character throughout the East Coast. Along with His Pinecones, made up of Laura Peek, David Ewenson, Joel Goguen, Brian O'Reilly and Jess Lewis, he played several legendary shows in the years that followed, previewing new songs from an ever forthcoming LP that never seemed to materialize.
Four years later, and the wait is finally over. From the first listen of "Strange Love (Don't Be Lazy)," it's apparent that the time spent honing the songs on We Were Strangers in Paddington Green was not in vein. The track's cabaret inspired delivery balances camp and beauty with equal grace. Produced by Jason MacIssac (Jenn Grant, The Heavy Blinkers), the song's lush sound is reminiscent of peak era Paul McCartney and Harry Nilsson. Randall's penchant for grandiose arrangements delivered over classic songwriting continues throughout the rest of the album. From the epic chorus of "This House" to the more crestfallen "Slumberjack," We Were Strangers in Paddington Green never reveals the hand print of its formation. It instead is a beautifully complete document, balancing emotion and sound into one forward striding and backwards looking collection of songs. But he does it for a larf, don't you know!
Brent Randall and his Pinecones's Friend Space (Top 16)
Great to see your Ples to get on the Paul McCartney gig...too bad it didnt happen...although I do see a quote from a "fan" who saw the show who went by the name Brent Randall on canoe...coincidense...hmmmmmm http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2009/07/11/10102161-cp.html
Great NXNE review in this issue of Exclaim Magzine, 'Brent Randall termed the trio format of this gig his "mini-Pinecones," but the Halifax-based tunesmith doubled ably on both keyboards and guitar. Their very tuneful songs showed 70s AM pop influences on some tunes, while "Mr. Shoemaker Man" had an almost vaudevillian approach. Sweet stuff'
Hello from the amazing windy plains just outside Calgary , Alberta Wonderful sites and sounds in your space.Many discoveries made at your space, very nice indeed to be Space m8s.
In a act of Kindness endorphin levels are elevated in the Giver, the Receiver and the Observer, how nice is that.
"do not seek happiness .. but .. do rid your self of unhappiness = Zero Negative thoughts"
"Share knowledge ,it is a way to achieve immortality"
B. Randall et Pinecones: I do indeed dig the "Love You" album. It was way more of an influence on my earlier stuff, than it is today. The height of it's influence is probably my now rare and way OP (but available "used") first cd, "For Those who like POP" on the defunct Twee Kitten label. I like that weird thing BW does with constant keys and a pared down kit, sometimes only a snare. Anyhoo, over and out...SB
Brent! Please have a listen to my new song, “Consideration” in the mighty MySpace player. It features me and that perfect percussive palooka, Anthony Allen of Washington, D.C. Not a real mix, but pretty much finished. It will appear on my next album, Smellicopter, in 2010/2011. Please “subscribe” to me if you haven’t already. You need to be in the loop, right?
Nice mention of the Lee's Palace show in Now Magazine, 'Earlier, Halifax’s Brent Randall and his three dapper Pinecones played upbeat Nilsson/Wilson lounge pop under a ceiling of suitably fetching umbrellas'
Brent R, et al: I hope you don't mind the plug. My download album, "A Song for Me, A Song for You" is finally available as a compact disc. Fifteen songs of pop glory in the grand tradition. Available direct from me.
Just a reminder to listen to BRENT RANDALL & HIS PINECONES on THIS GREAT WHITE NORTH. It's an ALL CANADIAN music show FRIDAYS 4:30-6pm CST on 91.7 KOOP FM in Austin, Texas. You can listen online at www.KOOP.org.
just wanted to let you know about my show tonight at The Local, 396 Roncesvalles - 10 pm, no cover. It's just me & a string section & it's sounding pretty sweet if I do say so myself! This is week 2 of my April residency...next week I'll have a pedal steel player with me. Details are posted at http://hopefulmonstermusic.blogspot.com
Thanks for blessing the !059 crowd with your sweet tunes, one of the highlights of many peoples night (and the instigation for several unwanted pregnancies). Let's do it again soon.
