PASTE MAGAZINE
Camper Van Beethoven’s Jonathan Segel To Release Solo Album and EP
By Hilary Saunders
Camper Van Beethoven co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel will release not only a full solo album, but also an instrumental EP on March 6 via Magnetic records.
The vocal LP, All Attractions, was mostly written in the Swedish countryside and features a number of guest musicians including CVB bandmate Victor Krummenacher on bass and guitar, Counting Crows’ David Immergluck on vocals and Built To Spill’s Brett Netson on the track “I Know You Know Me (Hey You),” just to name a few.
The bonus instrumental EP entitled Apricot Jam pays homage to George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album (which we quite like) in the form of seven improvised jams between him and John Hanes (drums), Krummenacher (bass) and Graham Connah (Hammond organ).
Segel will perform solo and with CVB at the first annual Camp-In in Athens, Ga. March 1-3, but in the meantime, check out the album information and stream/download his first single, “(Ever and) Always” below.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/02/camper-van-beethovens-jonathan-segal-to-release-so.html
ELECTRIC GHOST (UK monthly music e-journal) – Positive album review with artist photo
DAGGERZINE (online music magazine) – Positive album review
Jonathan Segel ALL ATTRACTIONS- (MAGNETIC)
Including the instruments he plays on Apricot Jam, the bonus disc included with the All Attractions CD, Jonathan Segel, who’s known for his role in Camper Van Beethoven, contributes violin, guitar, synthesizer, theremin, keyboards, and vocals. Segel’s one of those quadruple-plus threats for whom ambitious bands tend to compete – a mini list of those who’ve won his attention includes Eugene Chadbourne, Fred Frith, Young Fresh Fellows, and Sparklehorse. Comparing All Attractions with David Lowery’s last, typically high-spirited solo effort makes it clear that CVB got some of its more outlandish genes from Segel. There’s nothing even close to “Take the Skinheads Bowling” on All Attractions or Apricot Jam, which feature more intricately musical, wide-ranging, and less Pop-orientated fodder. The lead AA track, “(Ever and) Always” may have a CVB-sorta title. But it’s a classic, acid-rocking jam for five of its eight-plus minutes; after which something more like a song springs from its roots. “Hey You (I Know You Know Me”), the folksy ballad that follows, is seeded with the sweet notes of mandolins, acoustic guitar, and vocals with that droopsy CVB lilt. The third tune could nestle nicely next to one from Poco or Wilco. That’s more or less how All Attractions goes, although Segel’s fondness for foot-stomping, distorted guitar jams is the spice making this party noteworthy (along with the streamers and water balloons thrown around by guests including David Immergluck, Chris Xefos, Brett Nelson, and Victor Krummenacher). If you’re stoked by All Attractions/Apricot Jam, check Segel’s Wiki, along with the fascinating website he started with Krummenacher — to date, in addition to CVB releases, he’s contributed to over 50 albums, including soundtracks. www.magneticmotorworks.com MARY LEARY
http://www.daggerzine.com/reviews_main.html
KYRS RADIO (Spokane, WA Community Radio) – Hour-long feature interview with spins from new records on Bob Rice’s “Crossroads” show Sun March 25th.
Last Sundays Second Hour Program Follow Up!
It was a pleasure having Jonathan Segel as my second hour guest. Be sure to check out his “hot off the press” new record All Attractions. Complete information on Jonathan, his music and Camper Van Beethoven news can be found by simply clicking on photo … Thanks again Jonathan!
http://www.kyrs.org/showprofile.cfm?id=1234988911045
CULTURE BRATS (online music site) – Feature interview
All Attractions: Our Interview With Camper Van Beethoven’s Jonathan Segel
by Duffmano on Thursday, March 22, 2012
Jonathan Segel may be best known to some as the man who gets to play some of the most memorable violin parts in rock and roll, but he is an accomplished musician and composer in his own right with a catalog that extends far beyond his Camper Van Beethoven projects. Listening to his many and varied pursuits you’d be hard pressed to remember that only one man was responsible for them all.
On an unusually warm March afternoon, I sat on my front porch and talked to Camper Van Beethoven’s co-founder and violin virtuoso about his many talents and his new musical offering, All Attractions.
Hey Jonathan how are you today?
J.S.: Great, thank you. How are you?
Doing wonderful. I thought we could start out talking a little about the new album All Attractions. I listened to the songs quite a few times and I really like it.
J.S.: Oh good, nice. Thank you!
I noticed that it’s described as “guitar heavy” which while it’s totally true, struck me as funny because you are hard to pin down musically.
J.S.: Ha! Uh ha, true.
Did you feel like you needed to qualify to differentiate from the improvisational electronic music you’ve done?
J.S.: Well also from the violin because in Camper Van Beethoven I played violin most of the time and that’s mostly the reason for the differentiation. When people think of me as part of Camper Van Beethoven, they think of me as the violin player.
Weird, I always think of you as co-founder, although you do play a mean fiddle. Are you going to be touring to support the record?
J.S.: Probably just a few local shows. I can’t really afford to get musicians out on the road at this point.
I’m seeing quite a few acts taking it on the road solo these days. Solo acoustic or pared-down versions of the band. You are in California which sounds like us east coasters are going to be awfully sad missing out.
J.S.: Maybe not, but it probably won’t happen until next fall if you do see me!
I have a favorite song on All Attractions: “Listen,” with “She’s a Peach” and “Singularity” coming in a close second and third. Who else plays on these tracks?
J.S.: Let’s see, Chris Xefos is playing bass on that song and I think Victor Krummenacher is playing guitar. He’s the bass player from CVB, he played some of the guitar on the rhythm guitar track.
You are a multi-instrumentalist, you compose, you sing, and you still do an enormous amount of collaboration even thought you can seemingly do the whole thing solo. Do you think that’s in reaction to the temptation to do it all yourself because you can, or is it because the artists with which you play are so fantastic?
J.S.: Well it’s both of those things actually. One of the things is that no matter how much I can do by myself or want to do by myself, other people that are involved are going to come up with new ideas or things that I hadn’t thought about and that I love. When you start playing music with other people and they come up with stuff you wouldn’t have, it’s great.
The things you compose and the various artists you work with are wildly divergent. From pieces for dance troupes to electronic, I wasn’t aware that you were doing so much.
J.S.: That’s the thing. Even when Camper first started, I was doing electronic music. A lot of it of course was tape music back in the ’80s. Little bits and pieces of it sort of found their way into Camper Van Beethoven records you know. Eventually.
You have a masters degree in music composition and you’ve worked on countless film soundtracks. You work on many of these things simultaneously so do you ever have to take a break to get back into the swing of what you currently have going on or do you change gears as the mood hits you?
J.S.: Exactly. I sort of go back and forth but I do simultaneously work on multiple projects at once. For instance, it took several years to finish All Attractions and the funny part about that to me was that then it took one day to make Apricot Jam.
One day?
J.S.: Yeah, because basically we were in the studio recording the last basic tracks for All Attractions and we had a whole afternoon free so we were like, “Why don’t we just improvise?” So we just did that.
That’s a little stunning.
J.S.: But at the same time over the course of the years it took me writing All Attractions and recording bits and pieces of it, I sort of left it alone for periods of time, like eight, nine months at a time and did other things. On the BandCamp page there is a third little sort of group of songs called Turn Slowly For Maximum Vend and those are the sorts of outtakes that I was working on during the same period of time that I was working on All Attractions.
You aren’t hurting for lack of musical ideas, huh?
J.S.: Yeah, definitely not. I would write and record a lot more even but I’ve been working so much lately. That sort of takes it out of you.
You’re lucky in that you have a massive skill set to pull from when it’s time to go to work. Do you have any advice for young artists who are out there slogging it out and making a living?
J.S.: Well I don’t know about advice but definitely people need to play to their own strengths rather than trying to play to the strengths of some non-existent industry or what they think is going to be cool. Try to figure out what it is that you want to hear most of all. For the most part, I like a lot of different kinds of music. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music and when I make music I’m trying to make something that I find would be fun and interesting to listen to.
Yeah, so much of your stuff is really innovative and some of it really surprised me, which is unusual.
J.S.: Nice, thanks! That’s great.
The state of the corporate music industry these days is something to behold. It’s almost like watching a giant historic building reduced to rubble.
J.S.: I know!
What do you think about the decline and the more positive shift towards the do-it-yourself philosophy where a lot of these artists are making it and taking it straight to the consumer?
J.S.: Right, as an idea or a sort of theory it’s a good thing but one of the things that was nice at the time when people actually had record labels was that record labels did put up a lot of the sort of venture capital to be able to pay for people to record. And I actually really did like the way that the recording industry developed. A lot of people, we do it at home now but you can hear the difference. And I’m not sure that most people care much anymore about the difference. People like me, and people who have been involved with music for a long time and like listening to music that is higher fidelity, like the sound of a really well-recorded record. I don’t think that a lot of people that are listening to mp3s or iTunes care too much about that sort of thing anymore. So I think that there is definitely a cultural shift not only in the industry but there’s a cultural shift in the listener.
That is so true. While I’m not a well-trained ear, I definitely appreciate a great-sounding record.
J.S.: It’s nice that artists that are established still have the availability to be able to spend the money and record records even if it’s not going to bring them the same sort of income as it used to. Artists that can afford to tour and I think touring is one of the difficulties right now because for a little while there people were saying, “Well, everybody’s got to go out on tour in order to make money because we can’t make money on selling CDs anymore.” But then everybody went out on tour and no one could fill up a venue for awhile because there were shows like every night. Not last fall but the fall before I remember there were bands that I wanted to see every single night at every venue. And I’m like, “Okay, I don’t know how this is going to work out.”
That sounds like a pretty cool dilemma. Although with some of the ticket prices these days, you’d be bankrupt within two weeks.
J.S.: Again, for awhile that was the big source of income.
I’m a big believer in using my allowance to pay for concert tickets.
You’ve had a pretty eventful and interesting life, have you ever considered writing a book?
J.S.: I have! I don’t know when, because that type of thing would take a lot of time but I have definitely thought about it. I actually write fairly well and I’ve actually had periods of time where I’ve had to write for a living like writing for Electronic Musician magazine and stuff like that and I have considered writing a book before but I haven’t actually delved into the reality of that.
Okay, let’s get to The CB3. Purple Rain or Thriller?
J.S.: Oh boy, that’s tough. I’m going with Purple Rain.
If you were in charge of a music festival what artists living or dead would you choose for the roster and what would be their final jam?
J.S.: Oh my god. Well, the final jam would be Jimi Hendrix with Pink Floyd from about 1970. Actually, who else would be on there? Um, how many can I list? I’d definitely like to put on Radiohead and PJ Harvey, I love seeing their shows so much, really incredible stuff. Then I guess we’ll get Camper Van Beethoven to open it.
In school were you an athlete, the basket case, the princess, the brain or the criminal?
J.S.: Boy, that’s tough again. I’d say the criminal.
I won’t ask any further questions since I don’t want to implicate you, but thanks for talking with us and again, the album is great.
J.S.: Thank you and have a good one!
http://www.culturebrats.com/2012/03/all-attractions-our-interview-with.html
BARN OWL BLUES (Belgium online music site) – Positive album review in Dutch with album art
Translation:
Jonathan Segel – All Attractions / Apricot Jam
Multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel is a busy guy. As member and founder of Camper Van Beethoven he knew how to surprise us with gems, but alone he still is busy. Together with his CVB mate Victor Krummenacher and some friends he just released the album “All Attractions”. And at the same time with this ten song long album he released a bonus CD “Apricot Jam” with seven original instrumentals.
Most songs are written on the Swedish countryside, where he and his Swedish wife take their yearly holiday. And the peace and quiet of the country is audible on the album. Most song are reminiscent of the folky rock from the sicties and seventies.
Nice examples of this are the acoustic version of “Hey You (I Know You Know Me)”, which is repeated electrically at the end of the album, and the beautiful storytelling “Listen”. The album consists of ten strong and wellbuilt songs. And every time you listen to them you will hear new things.
The second album “Apricot Jam” is in fact a seven song long jam. And it shows that it can be done less lovely and ‘folky’ as on the first album. The approach is more in the direction of the long jamsessions as we know from the likes of Grateful Dead and others. Really well done, but a whole different style. But it is very nice to be able to listen to both styles.
http://barnowlblues.punt.nl/index.php#656213
ALT COUNTRY FORUM (Belgium online music site) – Positive album review in Dutch with album art and video.
ROOTSTIME (Belgium online music site) – Positive album review in Dutch
Loose translation:
Maybe you’ve never heard of Jonathan Segel, but if you are more focused on the music business and your interest in the alt.country and Americana genre is, you will certainly have this man as a violinist at work heard in his fixed group Camper Van Beethoven “or in the 90s as an opportunity guitarist ‘Sparklehorse’.
Born in the French Marseille but grew up in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California came Jonathan Segel soon in contact with the music scene in Santa Cruz and was in 1983 he co-founded the alternative rock group Camper Van Beethoven, the musical project which also subsequent ‘cracker frontman David Lowery, Victor Krummenacher, Greg Lisher and Frank Funaro cooperating.
Jonathan Segel has his whole life dedicated to playing various instruments, musical jamming and improvising, his second life and occasionally did he sometimes an instrumental soundtrack for movies. In addition, there was still some time to solo work to take and spend. Thus in 2008 there appeared a strong solo rock album with “Honey” in which the guitar sounds clearly committed to get the upper hand.
Now he does both in one fell swoop with the release of his new solo album “All Attractions” plus a second instrumental album “Apricot Jam” was added as a bonus CD. The latter CD contains 7 tracks where jam sessions to hear that Jonathan Segel on guitar with “Camper’ colleague Victor Krummenacher on bass, John Hanes on drums and Graham Connah on Hammond Organ in ‘Decibelle’ studio in San Francisco response.
“All Attractions” is the real new album by Jonathan Segel and consists of 10 songs composed by him when he sings, but again let his guitar tones dominate the rock songs. With the nearly 9 minute song “(And Ever) Always” is theatrical and epic began with an impressive guitar solo, then the song develops into something more than halfway into a singing and swinging rock track.
Number 2 is just under 8 minute ballad “Hey You (I Know You Know Me)” which he first shows us that he also has a beautiful singing voice. In the song “Listen” has the vocal aspect got the upper hand on the accompanying music, although the song towards the end also becomes an epic guitar rocker.
“Singularity” is a “Camper Van Beethoven’-worthy rock song and the funky” What Goes Around “will receive the least interesting of the label along track on this album. “The Good One” is his title is entirely true and also according to “the best one” to “All Attractions”. In the instrumental, classical-sounding music atmosphere “Winter” Jonathan Segel plays on his violin, while the Swedish-American Espvall Helena (the formation of ‘Espers’) on cello playing along.
At the very end in the jamsessievirtuoos Jonathan Segel again strongly upward in the more than 13-minute track “I Know You Know Me (Hey You)”. Note the funny song title woordmix in this respect the 2nd song on this CD.
Still quick to mention that we have heard that the original lineup of “Camper Van Beethoven” eight years after their reunion album “Times New Roman” in 2004 on a new album in the works later this year on the market will come. Until that will happen, you can certainly enjoy the musical offerings on the CD “All Attractions” of their co-founder Jonathan Segel.
http://www.rootstime.be/
ADOBE AND TEARDROPS (online music blog) – Positive album review
Jonathan Segel — All Attractions
Back in 1985, David Barbe of Mercyland sang,
A three-man band is bound by natural limitations.
How bound must we be?
Is there a rule that says we bank on imitation
And limit songs to only three
Minutes and parts, that is?
Jonathan Segel has an answer to that question.
I am completely unfamiliar with Segel’s work in Camper Van Beethoven. All I know about that band is that David Lowery is in it, and, frankly, he seems like kind of a douche. So kudos to Segel to putting up with him, I guess. In the interest of transparency, this album ended up in my inbox for “editorial consideration,” and I’m really glad it did.
Only one song in this album clocks in at 3 minutes, and that’s the shortest one of the lot. I don’t know what kind of music he plays with his other projects, but here Segel states rather emphatically that rock songs — even catchy ones — don’t have to be short to be sweet.
I’ve never been one for jam bands, but I’ve felt that rock and roll doesn’t always need to be so curt in order to pack a punch. Segel manages to find the balance between self-indulgent noodling and legitimate musical exploration. The songs float across genres, and the theme that unites them — searching for that one person who understands you — is eloquently expressed without sounding hackneyed or corny. For this, Segel deserves a huge round of applause for risking — and attaining — what many rock’n’rollers shy away from: an emotionally honest, deeply adventurous, and profoudnly satisfying album. And since the digital download is only $5, that’s definitely money well-spent.
(Ever And) Always
Hey You (I Know You Know Me)
Singularity
http://adobeandteardrops.blogspot.com/2012/03/jonathan-segel-all-attractions.html
EXAMINER (online A&E site) – News feature with album art and related links.
Camper Van Beethoven Co-Founder Jonathan Siegel releases new solo album
Chris Cordani
Multi-instrumentalist and Camper Van Beethoven co-founder Jonathan Segel today releases his latest solo album, All Attractions. It is Segel’s 13th post-Camper collection, and first since 2007’s Honey.
Segal wrote the music for All Attractions while staying with his wife’s family on the Swedish countryside. The tracks are inspired by a combination of 70s guitar rock and today’s modern alt-rock sounds. Segal’s former Camper Van Beethoven band mate Victor Krummenacher plays bass and guitar throughout the new album which also features an all-star lineup that includes former King Missile bassist Chris Xefos and longtime standout drummer John Hanes. Among the other guests on Segal’s new creation are David Immergluck (backing vocals), Helena Espvall (vocals/cello) and Brett Netson (guitar lead on “I Know You Know Me (Hey You)”
Segal also released a seven-track all-instrumental EP titled Apricot Jam, which is essentially a superstar jam session between him, Hanes, Krummenacher and Graham Connah. According to a press release, the album title is a reference to George Harrison’s third LP in his All Things Must Pass set.
Both albums are available as CDs and as downloads.
http://www.examiner.com/alternative-music-in-national/camper-van-beethoven-co-founder-jonathan-siegel-releases-new-solo-album
WHEN YOU MOTOR AWAY (online music blog) – Positive album review
REVIEW: Jonathan Segel – All Attractions
All Attractions is an old-school California rock album with some terrific guitar work from the multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel, part of what was always great about Camper Van Beethoven.
The record was started by Jonathan working with fellow Camper Van Beethoven bandmate Victor Krummenacher on bass and guitar, and their SF Bay Area cohorts former King Missile/Moth Wranglers’ Chris Xefos playing some bass and doing the recording and mixing, and John Hanes on drums. The lead guitar on the track “I Know You Know Me (Hey You),” you’ll say “this sounds familiar” and you’d be right. It’s Brett Netson from Built to Spill. This record carries a lot in common with BTS records – long songs, impeccable chops and good melodies.
The first song, the 8:30 “Ever and Always”, starts off with about a 5:00 instrumental introduction, reminiscent of maybe “Interstellar Overdrive”… and the album takes off from there. It’s heavy on the psychedelic guitars, well-played and Segel’s understated vocals grow on you. But the guitars grab you from the start. That’s what you’ll come back for.
As a bonus, there’s a 7-song EP called Apricot Jam which is included if you buy a physical CD. From Jonathan’s website: “After the last basic tracks were recorded for the accompanying CD All Attractions, John Hanes (drums), Victor Krummenacher (bass), Graham Connah (organ) and Jonathan Segel (guitar) jammed for several hours. These were 6 tracks, which started there, taken home and made into composition out of the improvisation, (which is always super fun.)”
Read more about what Segel’s been up to, and sample more of his music, at the Magnetic Records website, or check out downloads at Bandcamp:
If there’s anybody out there who still likes extended-length guitar rock songs, this record is good news. Out today, and recommended.
http://whenyoumotoraway.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-jonathan-segel-all-attractions.html
REVENGE OF THE 80S RADIO (online music blog) – News feature with album art and related links
http://www.revengeofthe80sradio.com/?tag=jonathan-segel
MAGNET MAGAZINE (national bi-monthly music magazine) – “(Ever And) Always” mp3 featured in Magnet’s “New Music Tuesday”
http://www.magnetmagazine.com/category/free-mp3s/
MAGNET MAGAZINE (national bi-monthly music magazine) –All Attractions featuring in their weekly poll “What Record Are You Most Looking Forward To Next Week?”
http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2012/03/02/what-record-are-you-most-looking-forward-to-next-week-58/
ATHENS EXAMINER (Athens online A&E site) – CampIn preview with mention of All Attractions.
In other CVB news, co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel will play a free show on Saturday at the Flicker Theatre & Bar in Athens (http://www.flickertheatreandbar.com/). He has a new album, “All Attractions,” coming out on March 6. It includes a seven-song improvised jam EP, “Apricot Jam.” On the record he’s joined by fellow CVB bandmate Victor Krummenacher, Chris Xefos (King Missle), David Immergluck (ex-CVB, Counting Crows) and Brett Netson (Built To Spill).
http://www.examiner.com/music-festival-in-national/camp-with-cracker-camper-van-beethoven
JAMBANDS (online music magazine / sister site to RELIX) – News feature (with “(Ever and )Always” mp3, album art and related links.
Members of Counting Crows, Built to Spill and More Join Camper Van Beethoven’s Jonathan Segel On New Album
Camper Van Beethoven co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel will release a full-length solo effort, All Attractions, on March 6. Most of the album’s songs were written in the Swedish countryside where Segal and his wife—who is Swedish—vacation every summer.
According to Segal’s camp, “Although one would expect a pastoral tone, the music ends up as some rocking electric guitar-based tunes, evoking the big ’70s rock bands of the past, along with some more contemporary features thrown in.”
The album features a number of guests, including Camper Van Beethoven’s Victor Krummenacher on bass and guitar, King Missile/Moth Wranglers’ Chris Xefos on bass, John Hanes on drums and Built To Spill’s Brett Netson on guitar. A number of musicians also supply backing vocals, including Counting Crows’ David Immergluck, Baby Flamehead’s Eden Daniels and Espers’ Helena Espvall (who also contributed some cello).
At the end of the recording process, Segel used Kickstarter to fund the mixing, mastering and manufacturing of the CDs. As part of this project Segel will not only release the full-length All Attractions studio album, but also the seven-track bonus instrumental EP Apricot Jam, an organic collection of improvised jamming alongside Hanes (drums), Krummenacher and Graham Connah (Hammond organ). The title is an obvious nod to George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album.
Segel will perform material from All Attractions as part of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker’s Camp-In Music Festival at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA on March 1-3 2012.
http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/02/07/members-of-counting-crows-built-to-spill-and-more-join-camper-van-beethoven-s-jonathan-segel-on-new-album
QRO MAGAZINE (online music magazine) – Positive 7.9 album review. album art and related links.
Jonathan Segel
All Attractions
By Ted Chase
The Bay Area’s Jonathan Segel is best known for his work in the genre-crossing/defying alt-rock outfit Camper Van Beethoven, but the multi-instrumentalist has performed in numerous other groups (such as Sparklehorse in the nineties) and done his own solo material. With All Attractions, the northern Californian definitely leans on the jam, but for an album that is both epic and touching.
In Camper and his work in other groups, Segel is primarily a violinist, but he focuses on the guitar on All Attractions – there are a lot more rock guitarists than rock violinists out there, so it’s only natural that he’s more sought-out elsewhere for his violin, and thus his solo record would be where he gets to most play his axe. Segel does extend his guitar work into jam-lengths – openers “(Ever and) Always” & “Hey You (I Know You Know Me)” average at eight minutes, while closer “I Know You Know Me (Hey You)” nearly reaches thirteen, with an average of about six minutes per track on the record. Thankfully, Segel knows more than enough about melody to eschew both jam-guitar wankery and rock guitar shred solos, instead using his instrument to carry the listener.
Extended pieces like the openers & closer are large and encompassing, but also can touch in a more intimate fashion. “I Know You Know Me (Hey You)” manages to bring everything together in a superb fashion, both grand instrumentals and moving intimacy. Indeed, the longer pieces like those three and the ‘lost Americana’ “The Dark Torch” outshine the (relative) shorter ones, such as the more psyched “Listen”, grind “Singularity”, and a bit funkier “What Goes Around”, though the shortest song on Attractions, “The Good One”, might be the Good-est one.
And for lovers of the jam, there’s also a bonus disc of seven improvised instrumentals, Apricot Jams, that goes with All Attractions.
Camper Van Beethoven are gearing up for a new album, their first since 2004’s reunion record New Roman Times. But before that, pick up Jonathan Segel’s All Attractions for big & small journey.
http://www.qromag.com/reviews/album_reviews/jonathan_segel_:_all_attractions/
LARGEHEARTED BOY (online music blog) – “(Ever and )Always” mp3 featured in their “Daily Downloads” feature
http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2012/02/daily_downloads_2921.html
ELECTROBLOGS (online music blog) – News feature with artist photo
CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN’S JONATHAN SEGAL’S NEW SOLO RELEASE
Posted by Christopher Levine
Quirky, different, eclectic, hard to categorize…the music of Camper Van Beethoven had no boudaries. I mean, who else at the time were releasing singles with titles like “Take the Skinheads Bowling?” From this band emerged the band Cracker later, and CVB’s cover of “Pictures of Matchstick Men” was a total Modern Rock & College staple. The violin on “Pictures of Matchstick Men” was played by long-time member Jonathan Segal.
Segal is going to be releasing a collection of his own work in March entitled “All Attractions,” and the the sound is really gratifying. Recorded in Sweden- hey, why not, right?- it has a varied feel as to be expected, but isn’t afraid to rock. Word has it there will be a pretty cool guest list of musicians and contributors, so stay tuned. Oh, and by the way…Jonathan Segel will be performing material from “All Attractions” as part of Camper Van Beethoven & Cracker’s CAMP-IN Music Festival at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA on March 1-3 2012.
http://eclectiblogs.webs.com/apps/blog/show/12627345-camper-van-beethoven-s-jonathan-segal-s-new-solo-release
RADIO ALTERNO (Spanish radio & music site ) – News feature posted on their site (in Spanish)
http://radioalterno.com/2012/02/jonathan-segel-de-los-camper-van-beethoven-lanzara-disco-solista/
MUCK RACK / CHICAGO SUN TIMES– News feature (from Paste feature) with “(Ever and )Always” mp3, album art and related links posted by Sun Times music critic Thomas Connor.
http://muckrack.com/chicagosmusic
95 ROCK RADIO (Augusta, GA Rock Radio ) – News feature posted on their site (from AntiMusic post)
WNEW RADIO– News feature posted with video and related links.
Camper Van Beethoven‘s Jonathan Segel will his newest solo album, All Attractions, on March 6th
According to a press release, most of the songs were written in the Swedish countryside where he and his wife regularly spend the summer with her family. Though one would expect the set to be pastoral in its approach, record reportedly “ends up as some rocking electric guitar-based tunes, evoking the big ’70s rock bands of the past, along with some more contemporary features thrown in.”
Word on the record began in San Francisco with Segel joining fellow Camper Victor Krummenacher on bass, John Hanes on drums and guitar and former King Missile/Moth Wranglers’ Chris Xefos doing the recording and mixing (along with adding a bit of bass himself).
Counting Crows‘ David Immergluck, Baby Flamehead’s Eden Daniels and Espers‘ Helena Espvall has notably contributed vox and Built To Spill’s Brett Netson adds lead guitar lead on “I Know You Know Me (Hey You).”
Here’s a look back at a live Segel solo cut from 2007.
http://wnew.radio.com/2012/02/08/what-goes-on-camper-van-beethovens-segel-announces-solo-set/
T.O.SNOBS MUSIC (Toronto-based online music blog) – “(Ever and )Always” mp3 featured with brief news
Camper Van Beethoven’s Jonathan Segel ready with solo album
Camper Van Beethoven multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel will be releasing his new solo album shortly. The record, All Attractions, comes out on March 6th, with a companion EP, Apricot Jam, of improvised jams.
The album was recorded with help from his CVB bandmate Victor Krummenacher, as well as members of King Missile, Counting Crows, Built To Spill and more.
STARS ARE SHINING BRIGHT (online music blog) – “(Ever and )Always” mp3 featured with brief news
Jonathan Segal – (Ever and) Always
From Camper Van Beethoven co-founder, Jonathan Segel, here is the first extract from his next solo album, All Attractions. The beginning of the track reminded me of the beginning of In Chains from Depeche Mode’s last album.
http://starsareshiningbright.tumblr.com/
DANE 101 (Madison daily) – Feature interview with album news and CVB preview
Soundcheck: Jonathan Segel of Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven are one of the weirdest bands to emerge from Southern California. During their heyday in the mid-80s they blended a kitchen sink mix of rock, ska, folk and country in a sound that foreran the alternative music explosion of the early 90s. Founding member Jonathan Segel (violin) left the band in 1988 and started a record label with fellow CvB alum Victor Krummacher. He also taught music composition at Ohlone College and worked as a listener advocate for Pandora. Segel has roots in Madison as his parents met here as grad students in the late 50s. He raised money to fund his latest record All Attractions via Kickstarter where fans can donate money directly to an artist to help defray the cost of recording and production. Camper Van Beethoven got back together at the turn of the century and picked up right where they left off, releasing New Roman Times in 2003 to excellent reviews. Dane101 talked to Segel in late December.
Dane101: Are you guys on tour right now?
Jonathan Segel: No, we’re starting up in about a week. We do the New Year’s Eve show in Chicago and then head to the show in Madison and then in St Louis I think? Then we’re doing some shows in California a month after that.
Dane101: And CvB has a new record coming out? I haven’t seen anything about it anywhere besides some pictures of you guys at work.
Jonathan Segel: Yeah, we spend a lot of time hanging out in the studio (laughs). The record is mostly recorded and we’re probably doing overdubs and such during the down time on the first part of the tour. Everyone in the band is riding a wave of creativity right now. David (Lowery) put a solo record out and I’ve got two records coming out in January and Victor (Krummacher) is working on a record as well.
Dane101: Tell me a bit about your new records and your band.
Jonathan Segel: All Attractions is a rock record. I didn’t think I was going to make any more rock records after Honey but here we are. Victor is on the record as well as the fabulous drummer John Hanes, who I’ve worked with for a long time. We do some shows in the Bay area, we opened for Built to Spill a few years back which was a lot of fun. The Apricot Jam record is really just a bonus disc where we took some stuff we worked out in the days off from recording and I took those recordings home and messed with them a bit.
Dane101: Your Bandcamp page is really impressive with the massive volume of stuff you’ve done over the last twenty years.
Jonathan Segel: Recently I’ve tried to put everything up that I’ve had a hand in, which is indeed a large amount of stuff and includes the soundtrack work I’ve done.
Dane101: What was the scene like when CvB started gigging?
Jonathan Segel: Our first shows in 1983 were strange because the SoCal music scene was very punk rock. There was this specific notion about what punk was supposed to be–if you didn’t sound like Black Flag, you weren’t punk rock. If you listen to the early CvB records we sort of sounded like punk but we would do these shows where we would say “Okay, we’re going to play this song but do a ska version of it” and that would mostly piss off the audience.
Dane101: How did the CvB reunion happen? You guys weren’t a band I figured would ever get back together.
Jonathan Segel: CvB wasn’t really a band in the 90’s. David was doing Cracker and the rest of us were doing our own different projects. David, Victor and I got together to work on Camper Van Beethoven is Dead in 2001, which was a sort of comp of older recordings that we overdubbed and remixed. Then we did the Tusk record as a sort of test to see if we could work together as a unit.
Dane101: Tusk is one of my favorite records. I really enjoyed hearing what you guys did.
Jonathan Segel: Well, it took a lot of convincing to get me to do it. I love that record too and was really obsessed with the phenomenon of Tusk. But we put that out and then over the next couple of years worked on what became New Roman Times.
Dane101: I was pleased to hear New Roman Times because it sounded like a CvB record. I had some fears that it was going to be a Cracker record with you guys on board.
Jonathan Segel: Part of the way the reunion happened is that Victor and I did some shows with Cracker. But yeah, it does sound like us with more elements mixed in. We all bring something to this band, David has lots of experience being the front man for Cracker and the rest of us have continued to make music in the interim. I think the sound has changed because of us being older and having more to bring to the table musically.
Dane101: What’s in store in 2012 for CvB?
Jonathan Segel: We’ll do the annual Campout out in California. Last year we did one in Virginia and this year we’re doing a Camp In in Athens. I’m not sure who all is going to be at that one but obviously CvB will headline a night and Cracker too, I’ll probably do a set as well. We mostly want to get the record finished and out the door!
Camper Van Beethoven play Wednesday January 4 at The High Noon Saloon with openers Scarecrow.
http://dane101.com/music/2012/01/03/soundcheck_jonathan_segel_of_camper_van_beethoven
THE SPACELAB TV (online music site) –News feature (from press announcement) with “(Ever and )Always” mp3, album art and related links.
http://www.thespacelab.tv/spaceLAB/2012/02February/MusicNews-038-Jonathan-Segel-Camper-Van-Beethoven-All-Attractions.htm
ANTIMUSIC (online music site) – News feature posted (from press announcement)
http://www.antimusic.com/news/12/February/07Camper_Van_Beethovens_Jonathan_Segel_Sets_Solo_Release.shtml
INNOCENT WORDS (online music site) – News feature (from press announcement) with “(Ever and )Always” mp3, artist photo, album art and related links.
http://www.innocentwords.com/tabId/807/itemId/3458/Camper-Van-Beethovens-Jonathan-Segel-To-Release-N.aspx
TOP 40 CHARTS (online music site) – News feature (from press announcement) with “(Ever and )Always” mp3, album art and related links..
http://top40-charts.com/news/Pop-Rock/Jonathan-Segel-%28Camper-Van-Beethovens-Co-founder-Multi-instrumentalist%29-To-Release-New-Solo-Album-All-Attractions-March-6th/75099.html
LEICESTER BANGS (UK online music site) – News feature (from press announcement) with artist photo.
http://leicesterbangs.blogspot.com/2012/02/camper-van-beethovens-jonathan-segel-to.html
HELLHOUND MUSIC (online music site) – News feature (from press announcement) with “(Ever and )Always” mp3, artist photo, album art and related links.
http://hhmzine.blogspot.com/2012/02/camper-van-beethovens-jonathan-segel-to.html
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS (online music industry site) – News feature (from press announcement), album art and related links. Also sent out as part of the weekly newsletter to thousands of music industry personel
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=150919