Listen to "Sparrows in the Bell":
Throw Me in the River
Without A Kiss
Horse and Buggy
Goin' Home
"Starkly poetic, buzzed-about Americana" - Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Lyrically clever, witty and vivid, and musically inspired, these songs live instantly in your head" - Q Magazine
"the Twin Cites' answer to Calexico... well-crafted originals with powerful reinterpretations of folk tunes" - The Onion
Featuring the talents of David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, The Pines combine elements of roots, blues and rock music to create a raw, haunting sound that is inventive and compelling. Sparrows In The Bell is a darkly romantic collection of original songs along with traditional tunes that have been updated for a new generation of folk fans. Like other roots acts of their generation, The Pines create timeless music that is hip and relevant yet evokes century-old ghosts, inspired by romantic writers and roving troubadours.
Sparrows In The Bell was produced by The Pines and Benson's father Bo Ramsey ( Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams, and mixed by Tom Tucker (Prince, Jonny Lang) It was recorded in just four days with the help of a whole lot of Minneapolis talent including bassist Chris Morrissey (Mason Jennings, Andrew Bird), drummer J.T. Bates (Michel Portal, John Gorka), singer JoAnna James, members of the Spaghetti Western String Co. and Benson's brother, keyboardist Alex Ramsey.
The centerpiece of the recording, though, is The Pines themselves. David's strong voice and rhythmic acoustic guitar blend seamlessly with Benson's soft raspy vocals and grooving electric guitar riffs. Whether singing a wistful love ballad like "Without A Kiss," or a restless song of unfulfilled dreams like "Let's Go," the duo has an unmistakenly original sound. Paying homage to traditional music of their youth, they artfully cover "Careless Love," giving the song a rolling Americana sound that is contemporary and fresh. The Pines create a sound all their own, walking a thin line between sweetness and sadness, harkening back to the folk, blues and country songs that they heard growing up in small-town Iowa.
1. Horse & Buggy
2. Don't Let Me Go
3. Without a Kiss
4. Throw Me in the River
5. Let's Go
6. Circle Around the Sun
7. Light Under the Door
8. Careless Love
9. Midnight Sun
10. Goin' Home
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