The Places Recruit Death Cab, Thermals, Norfolk & Western Folks For Next Album
What's a nice place like you doing in a girl like this?

[Posted Tuesday, January 13th, 2004 01:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Like the Jenny Toomey of the West Coast, Amy Annelle of The Places (and of herself) seems to gather talent around her like Woody Allen on some indie-rock casting couch. Okay, so I'm not so good with the analogies-- it doesn't change the fact that over the last few years, Annelle has made some very compelling music both under The Places moniker and as a solo artist (just check the review archives for proof).

And the cycle is starting all over again. First off, she's been busy recording her solo follow-up to 2001's A School of Secret Dangers, which has yet to be named or scheduled, but should be out sometime in 2004. Then there's The Places, which mainly serves as a band name for a loose collective of mostly Portland-based musicians, bringing Annelle's songs to life. They've recently signed with Portland's Hush Records, and completed their second album.

Featuring members of (among many others) Death Cab for Cutie, Norfolk & Western, and The Thermals, the album, entitled Call it Sleep, will be out March 16th. According to the folks at Hush, "The traditional song foundations are there, but [the] arrangements delve into darker palates of psychedelia, improvisation and found sounds." So there you go, but don't be all antsy and get in line at Amoeba now, or your fingers will be all cold by March. And, um, you'll starve. The tracklist:

01 Dead Reckoning
02 Birds Are Waking
03 What I Wouldn't Do For You
04 Travel Light
05 Clean Starts
06 Ruined New Life
07 Program Ten
08 'Til The Death

.: Pitchfork Review: Amy Annelle: A School of Secret Dangers

The Places: http://www.dawnwalker.net
Hush: http://www.hushrecords.com