This Is Then That Was Now

Final Spins are an almost super group of sorts for their Seattle scene; singer/guitarist Joe Syverson is the former bassist for Throw Me the Statue, bassist Zach Tillman and guitarist Colin Wolberg both used to with Siberian and also lend their time to J. Tillman's (Fleet Foxes) solo project. Chris Early (keys) plays with Amateur Radio Operator and used to play with Band of Horses while Colin English is also the drummer for Hardly Art's Pica Beats. The quintet with only 6 shows under their belt is pleased to be releasing their debut album, This Is Then/That Was Now. Formed at a house party in May of 2008, the group quickly started giving life to the songs Syverson had already begun writing and recording on his own since September 2007. With a full band in tact, Final Spins spent the gray, wet days of a Seattle fall and winter to finish up the album in December 2008. Recorded and mixed mostly by Early and the band at their homes, This Is Then/That Was Now was mastered by Ed Brooks at RFI in Seattle (Pearl Jam, Cat Power). While the title itself may suggest it, change and redemption are the central themes of the album. Song titles such as "Back to the Old" and "Used to" are further proof of that. Drawing from musical influences that include 60's garage rock, Spingsteen and Dylan, This Is Then/That Was Now spreads the gambit from quick grabbing rockers (Down the Road), (Free Love) to tambourine folk/rock (Don't Let Me Fall) to psychedelic burners (For Gold). Standout tracks include "Another Sunny Day" and "On & On & On"that are sure to grab attention. Book-ended by the sparse ukele of opener "Battle Wings" and the organ driven closer "Long Gone", Final Spins have delivered a debut album that sounds like a band deep in their catalog and have honed their skills to a point where "throw away" tracks are non-existent. This Is Then/That Was Now is a consistently strong and cohesive work from a young band with much more to give.