Kevin Calaba, Jason Bell, and Daniel Orvik, collectively known as Stars of Track and Field, return with an album that transcends the trio’s previous efforts. A TIME FOR LIONS shows a more mature band, one that has evolved, bringing aggressive tempo and autonomous vision to their work. The songs build upon the foundation they have created over the past several years of touring and recording, and are arguably the band’s best work to date.

Stars of Track and Field began their journey in Portland, Oregon. Calaba is no stranger to the public eye, having encountered the world of Hollywood at a young age when cast to appear in Mr. Holland’s Opus as a child. He recalls, “It was my first thrilling experience in the entertainment industry, and I still get residuals. Twelve bucks hit the mailbox yesterday.” Bell, a former art school drop-out and Orvik, a gent who has never found a bet he doesn’t like, are simply characters. On stage, assembled together, there is no shortage of personality within this band.

Leisurely is a Brooklyn-based band that started as the joint songwriting endeavor of Steve Jewett and Mike Stroud. The two musicians have been friends for many years and often make recordings for fun when Stroud isn´t touring with Ratatat. Early in 2009, collaborators Jess Ludwicki, Caleb Lindskoog (The Silver State), and Johnny Hunt (Foreign Islands) joined in to round out the live performance and transform some early demos into full band arrangements.

Summoning the classic sound of enigmatic record label 4AD and crafting songs with the tension of modern Brit rock and distinctly American influences, Starling Crush aren’t looking to follow any current musical trends with their debut album Tea Leaves, Murder and Dreaming – they’re inspiring their own.
Cultivated in a tree house-like studio in Brooklyn, NY, the band is comprised of vocalist / songwriter Jennifer Glass and guitarist / producer Michael Simone (Lovesky). With apparent influences that range from The Cocteau Twins, The Sundays, Snow Patrol (a cover of their song “You Could Be Happy” appears on the record) and Bruce Springsteen, (Glass garnered acclaim for her cover of his song “Bobby Jean” for Light Of Day: A Tribute), it’s the duo’s distinctly different backgrounds that make Tea Leaves, Murder and Dreaming such an interesting infusion of concepts.
Whether you view the result as a nod to the vision of a past sonic oeuvre (Vaughan Oliver, 4AD veteran and lauded graphic artist created the artwork for their album) or Americana with ethereal guitars, it’s clear that Starling Crush has a sound that just might be the start of their own