As far as solo debuts go, Alec Ounsworth‘s Mo Beauty (Anti-) is impressive. The Philadelphia-based Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman travelled to New Orleans to record the album with producer Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) and a host of the city’s notable musicians, including bassist George Porter, Jr. (Meters), drummer Stanton Moore and keyboardist Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars). The result is a mature, confident, 10-song collection that Ounsworth had only hinted at being capable of with his work in Clap Your Hands. He also has a second solo album, Skin And Bones (credited to Flashy Python and available online only), that features members of the Walkmen, Dr. Dog and Man Man. While all this new music is good for Clap Your Hands fans, you get the impression that the band (now on hiatus) is no longer a priority for Ounsworth, who became a father last year and is enjoying family life at home. Ounsworth is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Ounsworth: I am writing this in and, in a way, about my dining room. Scott Dog just arrived. Scott is a founding member and songwriter for the band Dr. Dog. Scott’s real name is Scott McMicken. Scott just returned from Woodstock, where he has been making a Dog record. Scott and I have been friends for years. He is living at my house at the moment, or at least he left his things here. Recently, Scott helped me with Flashy Python. He played guitar, bass, drums, keys and percussion on the Python record. Scott is one of many friends from Philadelphia who helped me with this album. Some others are Quentin Stoltzfus, Matt Barrick, Matt Sutton, Billy Dufala, Toby Leaman, Mickey Walker, Tyler Sargent, Dave Cope and Emily, my wife. I am surprised to be happy with how the Python record turned out. This is a rare thing. It is, in my unbiased opinion, the best album I’ve worked on thus far. (No offense to whomever might take offense.). That is to say, it might be the album that has most clearly matched my initial vision for it. This weekend, I am practicing to bring it out live with three members (Peter MoDavis, Brian Ashby and Jonas Oesterle) of the recently, unfortunately, deceased the Teeth and one Mr. Matt Sutton. Video after the jump.
