The Society of Rockets - Tough Trip Through Paradise

The latest from the Rockets is finally here, and I’m pretty late in posting this. Maybe that’s a good thing? Press has been fantastic, and as the band just celebrated the release last night, why not post now?

We recorded this album at the legendary Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, CA. Maybe some of you are familiar with the space? If not, teleport here. Roughly 80% of this LP was recorded live in the studio; horns and strings came at a later date. This one was particularly special as I got to record the lush sounds of the Agarita strings in San Antonio, and tracked them at my good dude Brant Sankey’s spot, Studio E. We eventually returned to Hyde Street to mix the LP, and did so with no automation - all hands on deck for this one! Not too common these days, and it felt incredible to fall back into my formative 2” tape days during the mix session. We mixed 10 songs in 4 days, and were able to get a couple of extra passes in at times.

Reviews have been incredibly positive right out of the gates. Rob Hughes had this to say about the LP in Uncut Magazine, “At heart they’re an unfailingly melodic pop band, employing horns, strings, mandolin, lap steel and Hammond organ to realise frontman Joshua Babcock’s Elysian visions”. I Don’t Hear A Single also mentioned the arrangements saying, “After the pacer listen that was Unearthed, Tough Trip On Paradise reveals the band's mellower side a bit more. The arrangements are superb and reveal them to be at ease with any direction. They master all that they do easily.”, and in another mention placed the LP on their shortlist for album of the year!

That’s it for this one. I’ll be posting more reviews as they pop up. Click on the review link in the sidebar if you have some time.