Today—which is just another day and also, somehow, the edge of a dark precipice—Nap Eyes release their beautiful new record Snapshot of a Beginner into the world. It’s a record that asks deceptively big questions in deceptively small ways, which is a scale we need now.
In which the homie Brad Loughead, distinguished Nap Eyes shredder and lovely guy, discusses his favorite guitar solos, among which is mentor/producer/colleague James Elkington’s solo from “Late Jim’s Lament:
“His solo here is probably the best acoustic guitar solo I’ve ever heard. He’s an endlessly inspiring musician/person and I’m honored to have him as a mentor. You can also catch him ripping it up live in the Jeff Tweedy band.”
The mesmerizing video, directed by Antoine Lahaie, was inspired by films like Blade Runner and Under The Skin. Following their current dates with Destroyer, Nap Eyes will tour across Europe and North America in support of Snapshot of a Beginner.
In the proud tradition of improvisatory, languidly unfolding self-interrogative Nap Eyes songs—like Socratic dialogues between Nigel and Nigel—comes “So Tired,” the opening track on Snapshot of a Beginner. Check out the lyric video and tour dates with Destroyer and Itasca.
That’s right: both Jake Xerxes Fussell and Itasca are setting out on European tours. You can even catch both of them at the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, UK this summer, Sept. 3–6. What a party!
Nap Eyes will release their new album Snapshot of a Beginner, their most concentrated and hi-fi effort to date (produced by Jonathan Low and James Elkington), on March 27th via Jagjaguwar / Royal Mountain, in partnership with PoB. This one’s for the procrastinators and the slow learners. This one’s for the bungled and the botched, for the fumbled and humbled. This one’s for the late bloomers. (Get 20% off the Naps catalog with coupon SNAPSHOT.)
This one’s for the procrastinators and the slow learners. This one’s for the bungled and the botched, for the fumbled and humbled. This one’s for the late bloomers, and ultimately, Nap Eyes’ latest full-length Snapshot of a Beginner—their boldest, most concentrated, and most hi-fi album to date (produced by Jonathan Low and James Elkington)—is proof that sometimes, the late bloomers bloom brightest.
As 2018 comes to a close, we are proud to look back on a year of seven new PoB releases and feel honored to have worked with so many inspiring artists. Proud sensations! Several releases from our 2018 catalog were highlighted on notable Best of 2018 lists, so we’d like to say thanks to the authors for their consideration and kind words. Also, check out our “MMXVIII End Times” Playlist.
In their first recordings released since the critically acclaimed long-player I’m Bad Now, Haligonian heroes Nap Eyes sail an autumnal wind of regret and longing. “Have You Seen the Light” exposes an inscape of illumination and revelation all too rare today. Hate begets hate, and light begets light. Too Bad? “I’ve Always Known You Care” evinces the affections we do not reveal, as the fall leaves fall. Nigel ends the song with a promise for the future: “Oh yeah, you can count on me.”
Haligonian heroes Nap Eyes have shared two new tracks, honest and deeply resonant, available worldwide today to stream or purchase as a digital single. In these first recordings released since the critically acclaimed long-player I’m Bad Now, the group sails an autumnal wind of regret and longing, Nigel Chapman’s signature existential lyrics guiding each track as the leaves fall.
