Eyeland Explained

eyeland
Type:	studio
Artist:	The Low Anthem
Cover:	Eyeland-by-The-Low-Anthem.jpg
Released:	June 17, 2016
Studio:	Eyeland Recording Studio and Columbus Theatre, Providence, Rhode Island
Genre:	indie folk
Length:	42:20
Label:	Washington Square Records
Producer:	The Low Anthem
Prev Title:	Smart Flesh
Prev Year:	2011
Next Title:	The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea
Next Year:	2018

eyeland is the fourth full-length studio concept album by American indie folk band The Low Anthem, released on June 17, 2016 on Washington Square Records - an imprint of Razor & Tie, of Concord Bicycle Music.

Recording

The album was recorded in Providence, Rhode Island's Columbus Theatre, over a four-year time span, in the band's own recording studio which they built during the recording and eventually named after the album, Eyeland Recording Studio.^[1] eyeland is a cerebral psych-kidnapping noir for Jorge Luis Borges, and features dense sound collage elements in the arrangements. Mastering engineer Bob Ludwig worked on the album.^[2] During the recording of Eyeland, The Low Anthem became involved with the plans to re-open the theater in 2012. The band were founding members of the Columbus Cooperative, which runs the theater's programming, such as concerts and film screenings.^[3]

Tour and van accident

In July 2016, The Low Anthem were involved in a traffic accident after their tour van was run off the road outside of Washington D.C..^[4] Band members Ben Knox Miller, Florence Wallis, and Bryan Minto and the band's sound engineer and tour documentarian received minor injuries from the accident, while Jeff Prystowsky had a severe concussion and was hospitalized.^{[4] [5]} The van and most of the band's instruments and gear were destroyed in the accident.^[4] The remainder of the tour was canceled following the accident.^[6]

The album was commissioned into a script for a play by Trinity Repertory Company that is currently in workshop for full-production in 2018.^[7]

Reception

The review aggregator website Metacritic gave eyeland a generally favorable rating of 67 out of 100 based on 11 independent music critic reviews.^[8]

The Line of Best Fit, a prominent UK blogger, rated it 8.5 and said, "The Low Anthem's eyeland is a triumph of forward thinking."^[9]

Track listing

1. "in eyeland" : 4:42
2. "her little cosmos" : 3:21
3. "the pepsi moon" : 3:41
4. "ozzie": 3:27
5. "waved the neon seaweed" : 4:35
6. "behind the airport mirror": 2:52
7. in the air hockey fire" : 4:54
8. "wzgddrmtnwrdz" : 4:10
9. "am i the dream or am i the dreamer" : 5:59
10. "dream killer": 2:57
11. "the circular ruins in euphio" : 2:14

Personnel

The Low Anthem

• Ben Knox Miller
• Jeff Prystowsky
• Florence Grace Wallis
• Bryan Minto

Guest artists

• Tyler Osborne
• Jocie Adams
• Mike Irwin
• Andy Davis
• Chris Erway

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Columbus Theatre's Folk Revival. NY Times.
2. Web site: The Low Anthem: Eyeland & Columbus Theatre. tapeop.com. en. August 9, 2017.
3. Web site: It Takes A Theatre: The Low Anthem reflect a rebuilt arts hub on new LP 'Eyeland' . Vanyaland . 2 May 2021 . 17 June 2016.
4. Web site: Smith . Andy . Out of crisis, Low Anthem focuses on the quiet . The Providence Journal . 23 June 2022.
5. Web site: 'The event brought us closer': Providence's The Low Anthem suspend tour after van accident . Vanyaland . 23 June 2022 . 28 June 2016.
6. Web site: Live Sessions: The Low Anthem . NPR Live Sessions . 23 June 2022.
7. Web site: Trinity Rep announces new play commissions, including stage version of 'Prince of Providence' . Cranston Herald . 23 June 2022 . en.
8. Web site: Eyeland by The Low Anthem. metacritic.com. August 8, 2017.
9. News: The Low Anthem's Eyeland is a triumph of forward thinking. The Line of Best Fit. August 9, 2017. en.