Introducing...

by Aaron Frazer

Overview

As the falsetto-voiced crooner behind the drum kit of Midwestern soul revival outfit Durand Jones & the Indications, Aaron Frazer won a lot of hearts with "Is It Any Wonder?," a honeyed R&B ballad that represented his sole turn as lead vocalist on the band's 2016 debut. Summoning the sweet and lonesome tones of icons like Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield, he acted as a foil to frontman Jones' lower, more conventional soul power. As a producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Frazer played an even greater role on the Indications' sophomore set, American Love Call, making a solo effort seem almost inevitable. A Baltimore native who found his calling as a soul man in the college town of Bloomington, Indiana, Frazer now calls Brooklyn home, though he headed back to the Midwest to work with like-minded retroist Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys) on Introducing..., his solo debut co-released by Dead Oceans and Auerbach's own Easy Eye Sound imprint. Impeccably produced in rich analog glory, the 12-song set dials in on Frazer's strengths as a vocalist, propped up on a platform of horn-assisted, rhythmically pleasing classic soul, R&B, and light funk. Having already proven with the Indications that he can nail a vintage sound and feel, he wisely sets his sights on songcraft, populating his debut with a host of memorable, well-written songs that fit the '60/'70s vibe while adding some personality to the mix. Dark-hued cuts like "Can't Leave It Alone" and "Love Is" offer plenty of punch and even approach modern pop sensibilities, while more vintage-inspired standouts like the excellent "Done Lyin'" and the gospel-infused "Leanin' on Your Everlasting Love" reveal a deep knowledge of structure and penchant for memorable melodies. All too often, this type of record can become bogged down by its own reverence for the period it seeks to re-create, but on Introducing..., Frazer manages to overcome the vintage doldrums with good songwriting and top-notch arrangements. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	01/08/2021
Label:	DEAD OCEANS
UPC:	0656605152028

Tracks

1. You Don't Wanna Be My Baby
2. If I Got It (Your Love Brought It)
3. Can't Leave It Alone
4. Bad News
5. Have Mercy
6. Done Lyin¿¿¿
7. Lover Girl
8. Ride with Me
9. Girl on the Phone
10. Love Is
11. Over You
12. Leanin' on Your Everlasting Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Aaron Frazer   Primary Artist,Vocals,Drums
Pat McLaughlin   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Tom Bukovac   Guitar (Electric)
Dan Auerbach   Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Russ Pahl   Guitar (Electric)
Matt DeMerritt   Flute,Saxophone
Matt Combs   Strings
Ray Mason   Trumpet,Trombone
Mike Rojas   Piano,Clavinet,Vibraphone,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel
Ray Jacildo   Piano,Keyboards,Mellotron,Vibraphone,Harpsichord,Glockenspiel
Gil Scott-Heron   Flute
Sam Bacco   Percussion,Vibraphone,Tubular Bells
Bobby Wood   Piano
Billy Sanford   Guitar (Electric)
Jeff Coffin   Saxophone
Nick Movshon   Bass
Todd Simon   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Ashley Wilcoxson   Vocals (Background)
Allen Branstetter   Trumpet
Fabio Santana De Souza   Trombone

Technical Credits

Mickey Smay   Assistant
Joe Allen   Composer
Pat McLaughlin   Composer
Dan Auerbach   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Roger Cook   Composer
Paul Overstreet   Composer
Bobby Wood   Composer
Ryan Smith   Mastering
Trey Keller   Engineer
David Ferguson   Composer
Lawrence Russell Brown   Composer
Alysse Gafkjen   Photography
Perry Shall   Design
M. Allen Parker   Mixing,Engineer
Josh Ditty   Engineer
Aaron Frazer   Arranger,Composer
Michael Deano   Assistant
Caleb VanBuskirk   Engineer