Zach Gill (Keys, Accordio… Read Full Bio ↴The Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) are:
Zach Gill (Keys, Accordion, Ukulele & Vocals),
Dan Lebowitz (Guitars, Percussion & Vocals),
Steve Adams (Bass & Vocals) and
David Brogan (Drums & Vocals).
“Roses & Clover being the intersection of passion and luck.”
ALO may be describing the inspiration for their forthcoming release Roses & Clover (out May 1st on Brushfire Records) however, it best surmises the band’s newfound approach to their music. For a band accustomed to performing songs live for years, crafting and shaping hundreds of times over before entering the studio, the age-old process of recording an album first was, well… liberating.
On Roses & Clover, ALO explored new methods of collaborating, finding a richer, more mature sound built on their individual songwriting strengths. Recorded in a turn-of-the-century barn in the hills overlooking colonial Santa Barbara, the four musicians holed themselves up for two weeks with little more than their favorite instruments and 40 songs in various stages – 80% of which had never been performed on stage.
“We’re a band that likes to experiment live,” says Dan Lebowitz. “I have a feeling these songs are going to evolve a lot. They’re young songs, like little kids, who over time are going to grow and change. And that’s a really exciting thing.”
Born from a childhood friendship and nurtured on the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara, the four-piece collective of Zach Gill (keyboards/vocals), Steve Adams (bass/vocals), Dan Lebowitz (guitars/vocals) and Dave Brogan (drums/vocals), more commonly known as ALO, found their musical roots in the feel-good vibe of the breezy California town.
After being reunited with collegiate cohort Jack Johnson - who not only invited the band to be the support act on his world tour, but also signed them to his label Brushfire Records - ALO made waves with the successful release of Fly Between Falls in 2006. Influential Triple A radio station WXPN declared them an “Artist to Watch,” while Associated Press touted their unified musical gifts in saying, “Each member of ALO could easily be the musical star of their own band, so it’s nice to see accomplished musicians like these stick together.” Adding to their accomplishments, the guys had the pivotal opening slot on one of the year’s highest-grossing tours with Dave Matthews Band.
“Since we usually develop our songs with the live show in mind, by the time we get into the studio we are used to playing them a certain way and it is often hard to separate ourselves from that,” says Dan. “Listening to a record is a different experience than going to a concert. This time we got to let the recording dictate how the songs would sound rather than the live experience.”
The album’s first track “Maria”, is an anthemic and unabashed pledge of love. From the infectious keyboard hook to the passionate lyrics, “Maria” is instantly catchy and uplifting.
“Zach played ‘Maria’ a year ago,” remembers Dave. “I loved it as soon as I heard it and knew that it had to be on the next album.”
Or take the album’s title track, “Roses & Clover” - a lyrical gem combining a funk heavy back beat and fiery guitar solos depicting a safe haven where all can meet. In many ways, the sound of the band can be summed up in the playful imagery of “Roses & Clover.”
“To me, roses represent maturity and clover youthfulness” says Zach. “After so much time exploring music together, our sound has become a blend of the classic and the contemporary.”
The inspired session produced ten gloriously infectious tunes that cruise through the classic American soundscape from roots rock to bluesy jazz with a hint of 70’s disco. Listen closely and you will hear a guitar that Dan rewired to conjure a sound that mixes Studio One with Motown, or Zach toying with the voice mutator (“All Alone” or “Monday”). Then on tracks like “Plastic Bubble” and “Lady Loop,” ALO dares you to bust out your best dance moves under the “rusty mirrorball.”
For Roses & Clover, the members of ALO shared much of the producing duties, though enlisted the help of veteran producer Robert Carranza (Beck, Los Lobos, Ozomatli) and Dave Simon-Baker. “Robert was like a mentor figure for us,” says Zach. “He has made so many albums and had so much experience. He would tell us we were on the right track, or not, which really empowered us even more.”
With that greater sense of power, the four friends look confidently towards the future when they venture out on another worldwide tour through much of 2007. This new incarnation will give them ample opportunities to shape, mold, and share the new songs on the road with their legions of fans.
“This is our favorite record we’ve made so far,” Steve says. “Making it was an incredible experience and it’s got us more excited about the band than ever before.”
All alone
ALO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Struggling to get his instrument in tune
People throwing vegetables and calling him a fraud
As they fall out of the room
He awakes at night with the fear
That this all might just disappear
But it scares him just the same
To think that his could all remain
Understanding why
We do what we do
Why we put ourselves
What we put ourselves through
When there's no longer comfort
In your comfort zone
And you feel
Like you're all alone
Self absorption never ending
Still the truth it keeps on bending
Feel like I'm pretending
To be something that I'm not
I gotta smooth it like Al Greene
Get funky like J.B.
Then stand up on my own two feet
And learn how to be me
I'm contradicting myself
I'm stealing from the past
I'm trying to slow it down
Because it feels like it's too fast
And I'm awaking with the fear
That this all might disappear
But it scares me just the same
To think that this could all remain
Understanding why
We do what we do
Why we put ourselves
What we put ourselves through
When there's no longer comfort
In your comfort zone
And you feel
Like you're all alone
Like you're all alone
All alone
All alone
Understanding why
We do what we do
Why we put ourselves
What we put ourselves through
When there's no longer comfort
In your comfort zone
And you feel
Like you're all alone
Well you're not alone
Not alone
No you're not alone anymore
Anymore
Anymore
Anymore
In ALO's song "All Alone," the lyrics tell the story of an artist struggling to find his place in the world. The first verse describes a moment of vulnerability when the artist is onstage, trying to tune his instrument while being bombarded with insults and vegetables. This scene conjures images of an old-time vaudeville show, where audiences could be ruthless and unforgiving. Despite the chaos, the artist feels a sense of belonging on stage and fears losing that connection.
The second verse takes a more introspective turn as the artist considers the motivations behind his art. He reflects on the pain and discomfort that come with self-expression, and wonders why he puts himself through it all. Despite the difficulties, he recognizes the need to push himself outside of his comfort zone in order to create something meaningful. The chorus reinforces this message, reminding the listener that the journey of self-discovery can be lonely, but ultimately worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on a stage
Struggling to put your talent on display
Struggling to get his instrument in tune
Frustrated with the challenges of preparing for a performance
People throwing vegetables and calling him a fraud
Experiencing harsh criticism and doubt from others
As they fall out of the room
The audience leaving and not wanting to listen to the artist anymore
He awakes at night with the fear
Thinking about the harsh reality of the situation even in his sleep
That this all might just disappear
Worried that all of the hard work and performances could just vanish into thin air
But it scares him just the same
Fearful of both losing everything and having it all stay the same way
To think that his could all remain
Feeling unsatisfied with the current success and striving for more
Understanding why
Grasping the meaning behind
We do what we do
The reasons for our actions and decisions
Why we put ourselves
The motives behind our struggles and challenges
What we put ourselves through
The difficulties and pain we endure to achieve our goals
When there's no longer comfort
When our usual safe and familiar environment is no longer satisfying
In your comfort zone
The place where we feel safe and secure in our routines
And you feel
When you experience
Like you're all alone
Feeling isolated and disconnected from others
Self absorption never ending
Being obsessed with one's own feelings and situations
Still the truth it keeps on bending
The reality is constantly being distorted
Feel like I'm pretending
Feeling fake and not genuine
To be something that I'm not
Trying to portray an image or personality that does not match with who the person really is
I gotta smooth it like Al Greene
Making a comparison to the musician Al Greene and how he handles performing
Get funky like J.B.
Making a comparison to the musician James Brown and how he performs
Then stand up on my own two feet
Being independent and true to oneself
And learn how to be me
Discovering and developing one's own identity
I'm contradicting myself
Going against one's own beliefs and principles
I'm stealing from the past
Taking ideas and concepts from history and using them in the present
I'm trying to slow it down
Attempting to take things at a more manageable pace
Because it feels like it's too fast
Feeling overwhelmed with the speed of events and changes
Well you're not alone
Reminding the listener that there are others who have experienced similar struggles and hardships
No you're not alone anymore
Reassuring the listener that they have support and are not alone in their journey
Contributed by Ethan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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