Press & Reviews
March 14
BLOCK’S BIZARRE TALES OF LIFE’S
DARK-SIDE IN THE EAST VILLAGE
‘THE LAST SINGLE GUY,’ OUT 6/12, ALREADY HAS ALBUM OF THE WEEK NOD FROM TASTEMAKER NYC RADIO STATION WFUV
On ‘The Last Single Guy,’ enigmatic power-folkie Block captures the essence of the dark-side of a rock-n-roll lifestyle in Manhattan’s East Village. It is a memorable and revealing largely autobiographical album that depicts the life Block once led as a stalwart – and now survivor -- of New York’s anti-folk scene, through 13 songs that recall Lou Reed’s seamy-side lyrics and wry, deadpan delivery.
Block’ wondrously unconventional music combines an underpinning of acoustic guitar with electronic effects and combinations of live instruments, and sampling and vocal effects. ‘The Last Single Guy’ achieved great notice when it was released locally in New York late last year, grabbing a prestigious “album of the week” slot on tastemaker radio station WFUV, where host Claudia Marshall called it a “remarkable record.” ‘The Last Single Guy’ is set for national release through sonaBLAST! on June 12.
On the lament “Christine’s Loft” a minimalist piano arrangement showcases Block’s wry vocals. He sings of the limitless possibilities and freedom of his youth during the metamorphosis of Alphabet City into a “punk theme park” on the song “Ave A” and on “You Know The Way,” Block describes a night of errant debauchery at one of the many after-hours clubs he frequented. ‘The Last Single Guy’ opens with “Color of Heaven” – a mission statement of sorts describing a search for the “power and the glory.”
Block and his longtime cohort Mark Hutchens (Blondie, Dave Matthews Band, Alice Cooper) experimented with many instruments and sounds, whether it’s a banjo played in the shower on the rousing mash-up of jug-band instruments and funky old school beats on “Sweet Potato Pie” or the penny whistle on his curious and compelling rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Show Business.”
Block is a survivor of the anti-folk scene, which flourished in New York’s Lower East Side, and counted Michelle Shocked as one of its major success stories and Beck as part of its broader orbit. After an indie debut, he was signed to Java/Capital Records for 1998’s ‘Timing Is Everything,’ but soon soured on the music business. While continuing to record and perform intermittently, he retreated to a series of financial industry jobs in New York City.
sonaBLAST! Records was founded by Gill Holland in the summer of 2002 in New York City, NY. Other releases on the label include Mark Geary, Kelley McRae and The Old Ceremony.
For more information on Block, please contact Carrie Tolles [ctolles@shorefire.com] at Shore Fire Media: 718.522.7171.