Diversity imbues Edward David Anderson’s melancholic new album
Edward David Anderson spent more than a decade fronting Backyard Tire Fire, a band known for its fi erce live shows and swampy, bluesy sound. The songs on his second solo album, Lower Alabama: The Loxley Sessions, are just as intense and literary as those he cut with his former group, but they’re presented in mellow, semi-acoustic settings that keep the focus on Anderson’s restrained vocals and subtle guitar virtuosity.
“This an Americana record,” says Anderson. “The songs are diverse, yet they work well as a group, touching on a lot of infl uences. While there’s a folk feel at times, there’s also a bit of country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. I think (producer) Anthony Crawford did a stellar job of pulling it all together. I recorded my guitar and vocal live, then turned him loose on the tunes.
“I’ve never cut all my parts live, with minimal takes, before. This was at Anthony’s request. I was hesitant to commit, but after a couple of beers, I settled in and got relaxed. All my parts are live—most of them fi rst takes—playing and singing together. On previous records, I’d do several takes and do one thing at a time. On Lies & Wishes, my first solo record, I played a lot of the instruments myself. On this album, I recorded my parts and let Anthony do his thing, and he knocked it out of the park.”
Crawford is a producer and multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Neil Young and Dwight Yoakam. He lives a few miles from Anderson’s winter home in lower Alabama. His Admiral Bean Studio is located nearby, and that’s where Anderson cut The Loxley Sessions.
“Lower Alabama, especially down by the beach where we’re based, is pretty laid back,” says Anderson. “Things move at a slower pace, which I dig. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody in a suit and tie in Orange Beach. It smells di fferent, looks different, tastes different, sounds different and feels di fferent. I think that comes through on the record.”
Anderson’s stark guitar and vocal tracks are given a low-key polish by Crawford’s smooth pedal steel and Will Kimbrough’s atmospheric electric guitar. Crawford’s wife, Savana Lee, adds harmony vocals that intensify the emotional impact of the songs.
“Savana’s vocals are a huge part of the record,” says Anderson. “When I first heard the songs with her voice in the mix, I felt like it brought everything to another level.”
While music on The Loxley Sessions is usually bright and cheery, familiar themes of loss, regret and mortality surface in Anderson’s lyrics. “I’ve always had an easier time writing about sadness,” he says. “It strikes a chord for whatever reason. At the same time, I’m a hopeful person. I just think that when you get to this point in your life, sort of halfway through, you realize that there is an underlying sadness that you live with and accept. That said, you also recognize life’s undeniable beauty and cherish each moment of happiness.”
—j. poet
