After the Archers of Loaf disbanded, noted songwriter and indie-rock icon Eric Bachmann took his music in a different direction when he formed CROOKED FINGERS in 2000. Instead of the clamorous, angular rock of old, he began creating the sumptuous and delicately melancholic songs that have come to define the band.
CROOKED FINGERS’ latest album, Dignity and Shame, is chief songwriter Bachmann's masterpiece. The band convened last spring at Jupiter Studios in their Seattle homebase with producer Martin Feveyear (Screaming Trees, The Minus Five, Presidents of the United States of America, Rosie Thomas) to record and mix new songs. After recording 21 tracks that were intended to be a double record, the band pared the album down to 12 powerful songs of love, lost and found, illustrated by Bachmann’s heartbreaking yet newly hopeful lyrics.
The fourth proper CROOKED FINGERS full-length release, Dignity and Shame shows the band taking a decidedly new route. Their first three releases (Crooked Fingers, Bring on the Snakes, Red Devil Dawn) were filled with gorgeous portraits of the broken down and abused, the drunken and the melancholy, augmented by string arrangements and orchestral flourishes. In contrast, the beauty of Dignity and Shame lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Bachmann's vocals are at their most confident, while subtle lap steel surfaces from time to time to complement the standard guitar / bass / drums set up. The infusion of Latin influences that began on Red Devil Dawn has been taken to the forefront on Dignity and Shame - the bold Spanish guitar of the opening instrumental "Islero" to the hint of mariachi in the trumpet line of "Twilight Creeps" depicts a band expanding on their signature sound. In addition, Lara Meyerratken, the Australian singer / keyboardist / songwriter who has collaborated with Ben Lee, Luna, Nada Surf, and Luscious Jackson, lends her Siren-like voice to four tracks on the record. These new elements combine to make Dignity and Shame the band’s most cohesive and sophisticated work to date.
"Dignity and shame" is a masterpiece. I can't stop listening it... Thank you for the beautiful songs... "Andalucia" means something very special now for me... take care
low-fi from Boise, ID will be back in Seattle this Sat. May 17th! We have a free in-store at the Silver Platters in Queen at 2pm. Then on to the U District Street Fair! We'll be on the NE 43st stage at 5:30pm! Come by one of the shows if you can.
We love Crooked Fingers! low-fi from Boise, ID. will be in Seattle playing two shows next Saturday April 19th! Silver Platters in Queen Anne @ 7pm and a bar called 'Solo' @ 200 Roy St, show starts @ 8:30pm! Hope you can make it! :)
Thanks for adding me - I've been in avid appreciation of your music for years - saw you all in Austin a few years ago and saw/met Eric recently and was reduced to a grinnng fool. I just wanted to say thanks for the beautiful painting music.
Thanks for the great show tonight in Louisville. It's nice to see some grown-ups out and about. I'm looking forward to listening to the new record. Have a good rest of your tour.
Hey guys! Thanks for the add. I absolutely adore your music. I've had the great privilege of seeing you play at the Horseshoe in Toronto - when are you coming back?? We'd love to see another show!!
Pardon me while I embarass myself here...
Did anyone catch the Crooked Fingers reference on the Gilmore Girls last week? Shock and awe, shock and awe...
