I Love You But Damn, SINGLE: SMOKEY BRIGHTS – Since ’85 [ + 72, a film]
Smokey Brights – I Love You But Damn LP is available now at Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify.
by Walter Price
The new Smokey Brights album, ‘I Love You But Damn’, will draw comparisons, depending on who’s on vocals, to those hallowed sounds from Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Linda Ronstadt and Arcade Fire. That’s to say, that this new 10-track LP is an instant modern soft rock classic. With enough funk, disco, and retro AM pop radio throughout to make it this Summer’s must-have album.
Lyrically, most of the tracks seem steeped in the autobiographical, and if they aren’t actually from stored memories…you’d be hard-pressed to know any better. As each song a cinematic vignette, as honest and palpable and at the ready for a coming-of-age soundtrack. Simply put, this album is a damn good time.
Stream I Love You But Damn
Another thing that stands out about this Seattle band, fronted by husband and wife duo Kim West and Ryan Devlin, is their absolute passion for their craft as well as their outspoken appreciation for the humans that listen to their music. In this new chaotic world, it’s refreshing for artists to be talented, hip, and grateful all in one. Kudos.
As a gateway track, check out the funky slow-burner “Since ’85”. It has some of the best lyrics on the album, plus, the relatability, for me anyway, is on high with this one. You can stream it and watch the film, directed by Sylas Dall, for the single “72”, below.
SMOKEY BRIGHTS
Band photo by @trulybogus
I Love You But Damn
Ryan Devlin – guitars and vocals
Kim West – keys and vocals
Nick Krivchenia – drums and percussion
Luke Logan – bass guitar and vocals
–Featuring —
Aaron Benson – percussion
Andy D. Park – additional synthesizers
Sabrina Ellis – background vocals on “I Won’t Lie 4 U”
Jason Cressey – trombone and slide trumpet on “Shelter Me”
Peter Daniel – saxophone on “Shelter Me”
Recorded, produced, and mixed by Andy D. Park at Hall of Justice, Studio X, and The Crumb in Seattle, WA.
Sam Rosson is the Second Engineer on these recordings. Mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering.
Photography, design, and art direction by Jake Hanson and Travis Trautt.
72, the film
Director | Production Design – Sylas Dall
DP | Co-producer – James Winters
Producer – Bry Troyer
1st AD | Co-producer – Julie Kettman
Camera 1 – Sebastien Scanduizzi
Camera 2 | Steadicam – Daniel Mimura
1st AC | Grip – Aaron Castillo
Key Grip – Billy Miller
Key Art – Christy Anna Wu
Grip – Casey Jo Grosso
PA – Crystal Rose
UPM | Locations Manager – Victor Wallace
Hair & Makeup – Hannah Krutsinger
Hair & Makeup – Erik Warren
Lead Production Coordinator – Jordan Martin
Production Coordinator – Kaden Bolton
Production Coordinator – Kaitlyn MacCoy
Best Boy – Eric Schmidt
facebook / website / twitter / instagram
“YOU GUYS! We cannot express how blown away we have been by the reception for I Love You But Damn. Thank you for listening, buying a copy on vinyl from @freakoutrecords, joining in our virtual record release show, telling friends about us, and just being all around the best community a band could ask for.” – SB on Facebook