Album in Stores
- January 24, 2012 |
Dreaming of the West Coast marks the sixth full-length release from prolific San Francisco power poppers the Well Wishers. Driven by the songwriting and home-studio talents of frontman Jeff Shelton, Dreaming... is the band’s most lavish and full-bodied production to date. All twelve of the album’s tracks burst with vibrant pop music textures, tight arrangements, lush vocal harmonies and of course, the ever important melodic hook. The musical palette is varied - from the jangly, early-REM inspired “Escape The Light”, to the gliding 70's piano pop of “Nothing Ever Changes Around Here”, to the glam rock stomp of “Tonight”- all propelled by tight, splashy drumming from Shelton’s former Spinning Jennies bandmate Nick Laquintano. Shelton has never been one to escape an obscure, yet reverential cover song. This time he’s opted for the Nuggets gem “Have Some More Tea”, originally recorded in 1967 by the underground UK mod pop trio The Smoke.
Well Wishers brainchild Jeff Shelton honed his DIY power pop skills fronting the popular Bay Area band Spinning Jennies from 1993-2004. The band’s successful career yielded five full-length albums, a ‘Best Of’ compilation in 2006, and regular live appearances and tours around the Western U.S.
Since forming in 2003, the Well Wishers have released six full-length albums - 2004's Twenty-Four Seven and 2005's Under the Arrows - both on pop-friendly NotLame Records; 2007's post-punkish odyssey How I Won The War; 2008's "Jigsaw Days; and 2010’s powerhouse Post Modern Romantic. The Well Wishers have also had music featured on prominent major network TV shows including ABC’s “In The Motherhood” and NBC’s hit series “Parenthood”.
track samples
escape the light - now and then
- allison
- tonight
- nothing ever changes around here
- here comes love
- free? no
- have some more tea
- all i got
- truth is coming home
- honoree
- mother nature
album pre-order
“...prime examples of what sets [the Well Wishers] apart
from the rest of the pack, and why this is already my most
anticipated indie album of the coming year so far.”
- Hear!Hear!
“Power pop, while disposable, is hard to throw away
when it sounds this good. There's honestly not a bad song
on the album...”
- J.C. Monger, All Music Guide
"If power pop were like a sports league,
Shelton might be the frontrunner for MVP."
- Absolute Powerpop
“...follow through on the typical pop formula with the
precision of a surgeon. Not a single note or hook is
wasted here.”
- Powerpopaholic
