***SHORES was never intended to be a “band.” It had been a sound/style that had been obsessed over since the band members’ high school days. Formed by drummer JOHN MASSEL and guitarist/vocalist BRIAN PRZYBYLSKI somewhere in mid-2008, practicing in rogue basements around the Grand Rapids area and forming in the ashes of band members’ prior bands NORTH LINCOLN, WORMBURNER and THE HARTFORD WHALERS. Shores immediately embarked on their first album Coup de Grace tracked in just 16 hours over two days that fall. After a fairly inactive 2009, the band completed their critically acclaimed 2010 release To Volstead, adding members SEAN STEARNS (guitars) and BILLY BARTHOLOMEW (bass) to join the fold “for a few shows.” Bartholomew’s pop sensibility and love of all things “space rock” , and Stearns’ penchant for noise and sad bastard balladry were perfect complements, even almost missing pieces, to what Massel and Przybylski had already started, and led to an album described as reminiscent of slowcore champions Codeine, Red House Painters, Low, Slowdive, June of 44 and others. Leavening is a perfect reflection of Shores’ spectrum of influences, exploring loudness, playing with effects and noise, and raising the bar the band had previously set for themselves.
LP $14.00
08/14/2012
CD $13.00
08/14/2012
***BACK IN STOCK!!! “Michigan duo SHORES will pull you into a wintry, slowpaced haze and crescendos rising from the tinkling intros envelop you in a haunting, yet calming musical blanket. Shores make it all sound so effortless: subtle melodies twist their way around carved out guitar lines and prominent drums. It’s clean without being over-produced and offers dark and moody vibes, strung along by the constant promise of a climactic finale. Very much compelling, charming, subdued, delicate and mesmerising—check it out. For fans of: The New Year, Low.”—Rocksound
LP $14.00
11/22/2011
CD $13.00
01/03/2012
***NOW AVAILABLE ON CD!!! “The roots of Michigan’s SHORES tap the wellspring of Red House Painters, Bedhead, The New Year, Low, Spain, Seam and Slowdive. The first haunting note of “Coup de Grace” rings out, clear and clean, followed in time by another drenched in natural reverb, the living sound of a dark, wooden room. Not a cathedral, not a church, but a place of warmth and comfort nonetheless. The patient crescendo builds, the percussion kicks in, rocketing the dynamics into full play. Clean guitars, loud drums, clear vocals. Purposeful over casual, downbeat yet forward moving. Dark, not depressing. A rainy day, a late night adventure.”—Var.
LP $14.00
12/07/2010
CD $13.00
08/09/2011