Beach Slang, an indie punk rock group from Philadelphia, is getting quiet. The band’s front man James Alex has turned from loud and raucous to soft and subdued with a new project Quiet Slang. Everything Matters But No One is Listening is Quiet Slang’s debut full-length album comprised of stripped down Beach Slang tunes. And Alex has taken this special project on the road.
The idea for Quiet Slang came about shortly after the formation of Beach Slang. Alex went on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert where he performed Beach Slang songs with just a guitar. The simple show of just him and a guitar got positive feedback and that got the wheels spinning. Also influencing Alex was Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields. One of Merritt’s most popular lyrics “Why do keep shrieking/ When we mean soft things?” stuck with Alex and the idea that quiet can be more powerful.
Released earlier this year [May 18th via Polyvinyl Records], Everything Matters But No One is Listening, is Quiet Slang’s first full-length album. The album has 10 Beach Slang songs that have been stripped down musically. Initially I wondered why there were not original Quiet Slang songs on the album but after reading an interview with Alex the reason makes more sense. When speaking about the remake of two Beach Slang songs: “Future Mixtape for the Art Kids” and “Warpaint”, Alex stated “I was really proud of those things when I wrote them, but, once they left my home studio, something sort of slipped away. When they went loud, they never quite found the emotion I knew was tucked inside of them.” The softness of Quiet Slang helps to reveal stories of love and empathy within the songs. With the possibility of a new Quiet Slang album I wonder if there will be any original Quiet Slang songs. It may be a while until another Quiet Slang album is released though as Beach Slang does have a new album coming out soon.
Compared to a Beach Slang show with their “play it loud/ play it fast” M.O., a Quiet Slang show will have a very different feel. Instead of distortion and drums, Alex will be backed by cello and piano. The stripped down music will put the well-crafted lyrics and emotion of the Beach Slang’s songs at the forefront of the show. Quiet Slang is currently touring the east coast through August and making a stop in Atlanta. Quiet Slang will be performing July 6th at The EARL. You can pick up tickets at https://www.freshtix.com/events/the-bowery-presents–quiet-slang
Preview by Christina Pradhan
Quiet Slang Online:
Website // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
Quiet Slang Upcoming Tour Dates:
7/6: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
7/7: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle – Back Room
7/8: Richmond, VA @ Chilton House
7/9: Brooklyn @ Rough Trade
7/11: Allston, MA @ Great Scott
7/12: Washington, DC @ Washington Rock and Roll Hotel
7/14: Philadephia, PA @ Philedelphia Underground Arts
