With cartoon dreams of escaped criminal ciphers (“Tyrant King"), stoned musings on the history of coastal mountain roads (“Michael Landon”), rebound coke binge recollections (“Rizzo In The Wig"), and tales of sasquatches crossing the Alabama state line into Florida (“Bama Yeti”), One Eleven Heavy's third album, Poolside, reads at first glance like a road movie. Sort of, says the band.
"It's not one of those brooding, scorched-desert paeans to one's own masculinity, or whatever," asserts co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist, Nick Mitchell Maiato. “Rather, we wanted to make a kind of gothic western album in the spirit of Richard Brautigan's novel, The Hawkline Monster," he continues. “So, it's more picaresque romp than full-on journey to the center of the navel."
On first listen, you may not perceive anything overtly “gothic" or "western" about Poolside. It's an almost indecently joyful-sounding record that deepens the band's connection to the cosmic American heritage that inspired them to form back in 2016. Read between the high-flying lines of jubilant guitar revelry, though, and you'll find a wry sarcasm that cuts through the record just as sharply as the novel that inspired it.
Take the album's title, for starters-Poolside. The three-year gap between this and the last One Eleven Heavy record (the critically acclaimed Desire Path LP) might suggest that the band has been busy putting its collective feet up. Truth is, however, after the departure of former members Hans Chew (piano) and Dan Brown (bass) in early 2020, Mitchell Maiato and co-conspirator James Toth were forced to work twice as hard to make sure this record even came to pass.
“The title is definitely not reflective of our experience making this record," agrees
Toth. “We had to corral a lot of people and really push each other harder than ever before to get it record made," he continues. “We were super lucky to have Jake (Morris—Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks) at the ready to play drums, off the back of the 2019 tour we did with him. Nick had his English pal, Guy—who's fantastic-play bass on the record, too. Then we had a host of other small but invaluable contributions here and there from various friends—Samara Lubelski, Michael Troutman, and others. Finding a piano player was probably the hardest part of the whole process, so in the end, we didn't. Nick taught himself how to play piano in three months and just then nailed all the parts. The guy is a dynamo."
Guided by mysterious producer Colin Sick, One Eleven Heavy spent the best part of a year writing, arranging, and piecing together the tracks that form Poolside. It shows in the music, which feels more complete, more unified, and more comfortable than either of the band's first two albums, which were each recorded in the space of a week. From the John-Cale-plays-The-Faces stomp of Toth highlight “Bama Yeti” to the sprawling Mitchell-Maiato epic “Fruit Loops," this is a more accomplished One Eleven Heavy–one that appears to have truly found its groove. Both lead members play multiple instruments on the album and the vocal harmonies between them gel like prime Mick 'n' Keef.
“Ultimately, what it boils down to is friendship," says Toth. “Nick and I made a pact when we started this thing that One Eleven Heavy would be a band, not a project. The harder we work together, the closer we become as friends, and the more we trust each other. I think you can hear that on Poolside and I hope you'll hear it more and more as we continue."
credits
released November 4, 2022
NICK MITCHELL MAIATO: Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Synths, Percussion, Banjo
JAMES TOTH: Vocals, Guitars, Synths
GUY FOWLER: Bass
JAKE MORRIS: Drums, Percussion
Michael Troutman plays Synth on "Tyrant King”, JayVe Montgomery plays sax on "Billy" and Sandy Lane plays violin on “Michael Landon". Party guests on “Cici (If You Want To)": Donovan Quinn, Ben Chasny, Elisa Ambrogio, Angelo Bonaccorsy, Chrissy Stary, Arlo, Josh Roiland, Courtney Ryan Campbell, Ned Netherwood, Ilk, Loran of the Red Forest, Reverence, Will Burchard, Andy Stith, Anton Beine-McCarthy, Tanya Reyes, The Sacco/Verzi family, George and Catherine Reyes, Ryan Norris.
A1, A3, B1, B2 & B4 written by Mitchell-Maiato. A2, A4, A5 & B3 written by Toth. All rights reserved.
Produced by Colin Sick. Recorded March 2021-May 2022 in Valencia, Spain, Green Bay WI, and Portland, OR. Mixed June 2022. Mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market Mastering, June 2022.
Front cover painting by Erin Green. Layout by Nick.
Thanks to Scott McDowell, Ned Netherwood, Cory Rayborn, Devrinna, Leah, Ethan Miller, Dave Katznelson, Mike Newman, Samara Lubelski, and Bobby Lee. (C) 2022 Kith & Kin Records. All rights reserved.
I really liked "Cosmic Cash" a lot but this album is even better. Eight out of twelve tracks are on heavy rotation in my playlists. Papa Jay (Radio Smorgasbord)
The slashing roots rock on “Out On the Line” always makes its way to the kind of triumphant chorus that quickens the pulse. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 2, 2023
A killer live experimental rock LP from Chris Forsyth with the rhythm section of Sunwatchers, full of blistering energy. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2021