Paul Curreri, the thirty-one-year-old guitarist and songwriter from Charlottesville, Virginia, unveils his fifth album, The Velvet Rut, this NOVEMBER on England’s Tin Angel Records & Brooklyn’s City Salvage Records.
“The beer fall empty and I fill up with fire. I’m walking toward your mouth repeating my mantra.” Goddamn. The Velvet Rut is off and running; and the sheer volume, guitar drive, & tangible had-it-up-to-here contained in this first track sounds nothing short of intimidating.
Internationally acclaimed as a songwriter, guitarist, and spirited live performer (“Curreri brings a renewed eloquence to the medium,” – The New Yorker) he now adds producer to the credits. The Velvet Rut is a sonic eruption, and Curreri played every note on every instrument.
The record is certainly unruly – boots stamp, telecasters telecast, acoustics pick so quietly they border on aggressive, and pianos make noises weirder than they were ever supposed to. As a guitar player, Curreri is renowned (“Spontaneous and poetic” – The Independent-UK / “You half-expect tears to appear on the face of his instrument.” – Oxford Town / “Furrowing a sonic field few musicians would be admitted to.” – Americana-UK). Here, in the layering – or in the choices to not layer – his playing twists & extends itself, revealing further meaning in these dynamically badass narratives.
Lyrically, he goes. Climbing from the bath, an ugly angel’s natty wings splash water against the window, “flooding dead mosquitoes and worse things.” Of the dream-murdering sloth in “Fat Killer At Dawn,” Curreri venomously barks: “[you] shoulda thought at church… skipped some class… smoked up in the bathroom stall… kicked that asshole’s ass.” Even in the calm, there’s movement – from “A Song On Robbing:” “This afternoon is like the others. / Nothing’ll blow up or collapse. / Between waking up and lying down, / that’s a nasty gap.” Characters seem to jump between songs. Pearls of insight emerge and then dive back into the fold. Everything snarls. “It was an odd year,” he says. At times a veritable rotisserie of anger, jealousy, loneliness, and cursing regret, The Velvet Rut wouldn’t be the background music of choice for a dinner with mom.
Raised in Richmond, Virginia, Paul now makes his home in Charlottesville with songwriter / guitarist Devon Sproule (the two were married in May of 2005). Curreri grew up playing music but ended up enrolling at Rhode Island School of Design to pursue painting and film. “My movies were okay, I guess,” he said. By the time Paul graduated from RISD, he'd composed over 200 songs on guitar and piano. Turning down an editing job at MTV he set to work carving out a life as a musician.
His acclaimed debut for City Salvage Records, From Long Gones To Hawkmoth, was released in 2002 (“Curreri is full of taste and truth, poetic jewels.” – 9X Magazine). A triumphant follow-up, 2003’s Songs For Devon Sproule – produced by Kelly Joe Phelps – was hailed by Vintage Guitar Magazine as “one of the very finest records in awhile. And, I don’t mean just in this genre. I mean, any genre.” 2004’s The Spirit of the Staircase found Curreri continuing to shoulder into new lyrical and musical terrain (“Curreri has sculpted a direction of his own. Dexterous guitar work and hushed insight, full of soul and originality. " – Americana-UK). With clarity of vision, & astoundingly visceral playing & singing, 2006’s Are You Going To Paul Curreri captured him stretching out in front of a live audience, electric and rocking.
UK PR CONTACT: rich@thetinangel.co.uk 07817437210
US PR CONTACT: info@paulcurreri.com 434-249-9898
Cuz-by-law! Your lovely wife just bought me breakfast, and I shared my admiration for the "California" video. Several of my friends have admitted that they'll keep youtube open just to hear that song over and over, and several more have shared frustration that they can't play like you. So maybe quit bringing my friends down, huh?
What? You smoked one INSIDE your own house?!!? You rebel, you ; ) Well, you are still a true HEAVYWEIGHT on the Axe and indeed on the Word also - to me anyway. One question. how did you get the guitar sound on "The Wasp"?? Sounds wicked... Peace and Love and Prehumous Respect to ya - parkbench.
Glad to see you'll be back in September Paul :-) a perfect birthday gift in fact! And with some friends too, that'll be a first for us Limeys huh?? :-)
I hope you keep the beard so we can compare, textures an' all LOL
Hey Paul! It's been a while since you added me and I didn't say thank you for that and for your PM. So: "Thank You" :-) Hope to see you again in concert, maybe in Germany or even in Leipzig like this year. Bye!
Hey there Mr C, any idea when you'll be hitting up these UK shores again for a tour (and preferably frequenting Birmingham), the UK needs you, like Pop-Eye needs spinnach Yes Amit
I am VERY excited to see you're playing in London on the 26th September - that's the day after my birthday! I will be there to spread the love! Hope you and mrs are well and the recording is going smoothly.
Man, I was watching some of those new youtube videos of your recent live shows and all I can say is... COME BACK UP TO PORTLAND this year! Or Seattle, or somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. We miss you man. Hope to see you.
Just wanted to say thanks for posting "Why I Turned My Light Off" on your player. Now I can put it on my page... and I just got a big whiff of deja vu, so if I've already said this, forget about it... or tally it for another thumbs up to this tune. Take care Paul
hey hey, meant to write sooner. caught your dublin sugar club show-good times :0) what a outstanding show! so glad devon could make it too, what a treat.anyway, thanks for the music and come see us again soon, ya hear? both of you stay happy and healthy and get home safe :0) love, dee. x
Hey Paul, hope the journey is a good one. Can you squeeze in some more UK dates soon? I need to get my fix man! Haven't seen you since your last London Troubador gig. I've been singin your praises and playin your records to very willing Curreri converts. It aint exactly tough when all I need to do is press play and wait for the inevitable "Who is this and why don't I know it?" Much love to ya bud, hope to see you soon.
Just found my way back to your myspace and wanted to say hello. I guess you won't know me but I've been along to a heap of your gigs at Taylor John's (I'm Roisin's boyfriend). Anyway, just wanted to say how much I was digging Spirit of the Staicase, Are You Going To... and Velvet Rut recently when I had to meet a deadline. Have you guys ever seen the Thin Man movies? As an ol' married man, I think you'd dig 'em. Take care, Paul.
