{"title":"The Essex Green","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Essex Green\u003c\/strong\u003e are a neo-psychedelic pop outfit from Vermont and Montana. The band is primarily composed of songwriters Jeff Baron, Sasha Bell, and Chris Ziter and specializes in a classic sound inspired by 1960s–1970s pop and folk in the tradition of bands like The Left Banke and Fairport Convention.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-essex-green-the-long-goodbye-reissue","title":"The Essex Green - The Long Goodbye (Reissue)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe limited-edition white Peak Vinyl reissue marks the 15th anniversary of the band’s Merge debut—and its first appearance on vinyl! The album includes a full download plus three rare digital bonus tracks (“The Boo Hoo Boy Reprise,” “Mendocino,” and “Everybody’s Missin’ the Sun”).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align:center;\"\u003e+++\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDebut follow-up albums have a dreaded reputation for falling short of their predecessors. \u003cstrong\u003eThe Essex Green \u003c\/strong\u003ebucked the odds and delivered a masterwork release with \u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Long Goodbye\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e in 2003. The band’s core trio of Sasha Bell, Jeff Baron, and Chris Ziter were fresh out of the influential Elephant 6 stables with their stunning twin releases, a self-titled extended play and the classic full-length \u003ci\u003eEverything Is Green\u003c\/i\u003e. Compared to the psychedelic swirl and sunny disposition of \u003ci\u003eEverything Is Green\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Long Goodbye\u003c\/i\u003e was a mature and incredibly thoughtful endeavor that emphasized the core members’ evolution in songwriting and arrangement. Remember when XTC jumped the \u003ci\u003eBlack Sea\u003c\/i\u003e post-punk ship and delivered the eccentric and elegant \u003ci\u003eEnglish Settlement\u003c\/i\u003e? \u003ci\u003eThe Long Goodbye\u003c\/i\u003e embodies that massive leap by taking risks and sinking the debut album blueprint. Their second full-length has a more relaxed and assured vibe, akin to the feel of summer’s end. There’s a sense that the band is preparing for a new season. Each of the twelve tracks on \u003ci\u003eThe Long Goodbye\u003c\/i\u003e is distinctive. They create a patchwork of influences that range from post-Sandy Denny Fairport Convention on “By the Sea” to the spirited and catchy bounce of “The Late Great Cassiopia.” One almost hears a direct link between Flying Nun and K Records pop sensibilities. The hypnotic “Our Lady in Havana” summons the spirit of Judee Sill, and “Julia” rings like a Jimmy Webb \/ Emitt Rhodes collaboration at some roadside cafe. “Chartiers” would’ve been a hit on Scotland’s Postcard Records, with its stunning sound that either Lloyd Cole or Prefab Sprout longed to perfect. Take the essence of all these influences, wrap them up in sweetened Cowsill harmonies, add that passionate longing of Kevin Ayers and a dose of “Dandy”-era Kinks and you get close to what The Essex Green are capable of. \u003ci\u003eThe Long Goodbye\u003c\/i\u003e is timeless work and warrants another introduction to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"merge records","offers":[{"title":"Peak Vinyl","offer_id":52739214377271,"sku":"MRG228lp-C1","price":21.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Download","offer_id":52739214344503,"sku":"MRG228digital","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0966\/3935\/3143\/files\/536366c407a5f9727bb8b64c294163171a0a9fad_02a07f52b3ec560e7b6c0e16e49cf9864e199431_medium_jpg.jpg?v=1785381337"},{"product_id":"the-essex-green-cannibal-sea-reissue","title":"The Essex Green - Cannibal Sea (Reissue)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis reissue marks the first appearance of \u003ci\u003eCannibal Sea \u003c\/i\u003eon vinyl!\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eOur limited-edition opaque blue Peak Vinyl pressing comes with a full album download plus three rare digital bonus tracks (“Pack Up Your Sorrows,” “San Bernardino,” and “Victor”).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote: The CD available here is the original 2006 CD pressing. This CD version does not include bonus tracks.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align:center;\"\u003e+++\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“We’re not breaking any records yet” is the opening line from “This Isn’t Farmlife,” the first track from \u003cstrong\u003eThe Essex Green\u003c\/strong\u003e’s fourth outing, \u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCannibal Sea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e. The introductory words are rather passive aggressive. Perhaps The Essex Green were feeling like they had nothing to lose with this album, so why not raise the flag with a shrug? Ironically, the nucleus of EG—Jeff Baron, Sasha Bell, and Chris Ziter—came out firing on all cylinders with renewed focus and musical precision. While previous releases tended towards the Brian Wilson approach of utilizing the full studio and all the attendant aural tricks, on \u003ci\u003eCannibal Sea\u003c\/i\u003e, the band sounds like a cohesive live unit. And the “hits” are numerous: “This Isn’t Farmlife” wears a mod stomp skinny tie; raise-the-voice and make-joyful-noise abound on the harmonic “Don’t Know Why (You Stay)”; pop supreme “Penny \u0026amp; Jack” summons the Rickenbacker guitar army era of classic IRS records; hints of Stereolab circulate on the starry-eyed “Cardinal Points”; and the spirit of Lee Hazlewood is alive and well on “Rabbit.” Through it all, The Essex Green stay rooted in honor of all those cool \u003ci\u003eNuggets\u003c\/i\u003e compilations, with nods to early Soft Machine, Arthur Lee, The Left Banke, The New Pornographers, and all the dusty $1 record finds in some desolate resale shop just off a two-lane blacktop on Route 66. Ambitious, passionate, and brimming with grace, \u003ci\u003eCannibal Sea\u003c\/i\u003e may be rife with metaphorical description, but justice is served after one listen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"merge records","offers":[{"title":"Peak Vinyl","offer_id":52739214442807,"sku":"MRG278lp-C1","price":21.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":52739214475575,"sku":"MRG278cd","price":14.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Download","offer_id":52739214410039,"sku":"MRG278digital-R","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0966\/3935\/3143\/files\/69de1d23e8d35d1a1a9d4c57280354f3d1b5ec7c_43e8e4a52becae4e5b95e3f8cf6cc07b3705448d_medium_jpg.jpg?v=1785381341"},{"product_id":"the-essex-green-hardly-electronic","title":"The Essex Green - Hardly Electronic","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCD: \u003c\/strong\u003eHoused in a 4-panel digipak.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLP: \u003c\/strong\u003eBlack vinyl in a full-color heavyweight inner sleeve. Includes album download plus four extra digital tracks (same track list as CD).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align:center;\"\u003e +++\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFans will recognize The Essex Green’s signature sound in this work, their first since 2006’s \u003ca href=\"product\/cannibal_sea_reissue\/\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eCannibal Sea\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e: stacks of harmonies, upbeat melodies telling melancholy tales, layers of keys, and sparkling Telecasters. Their time-honored custom of fusing obsession with spontaneity has been refined through experience and wisdom. \u003ci\u003eHardly Electronic\u003c\/i\u003e explores the evolution of old friendships, the sadness of losing touch, the inadequacies of technology, and finally, the desire for reconnection with songs like “Bye Bye Crow” and “Slanted by Six.” Themes of connectivity for the online generation are on display in the war cry chorus of “Don’t Leave It in Our Hands,” while songs like “Bristol Sky” and “January Says” hint at how the same technology-connected culture can create division and distance, even in the most personal of relationships. On the flip side, the wonders of technology (and jumbo jets) made the recording possible. With Chris and Jeff in Vermont and Sasha living in Montana, finding ways to work together was challenging. The result is classic Essex Green sonic diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"merge records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":52739215294775,"sku":"MRG633LP","price":21.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":52739215360311,"sku":"MRG633CD","price":13.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Download","offer_id":52739215393079,"sku":"MRG633digital","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0966\/3935\/3143\/files\/0b6eed9b30edb497a4c9121893ce2d8ed9da02e4_d0b2e7295fee1bcc3515f3c46fe0a02c92413623_medium_jpg.jpg?v=1789600417"}],"url":"https:\/\/mergerecords.com\/collections\/the-essex-green.oembed","provider":"Merge Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}