Buzz Blog
Sunset Beach is named after the parcel of lakefront land on the Great Salt Lake. “[The title] is sort of an homage to where we are from and where the album was recorded,” Michael Gross says. The album was recorded in Salt Lake City by Andy Patterson, who who also drummed on the album.
Michael Gross & the Statuettes is:
Michael Gross: Vocals, Guitar
Ben Johnson: Bass, Keys, Vocals
Jimmy Kelly: Guitar
Andy Patterson: Drums (album only; not a full-time member)
Sunset Beach was released yesterday, August 14, and can be purchased at the band’s Bandcamp site. An official CD release show is yet to be announced, but check out the band’s Facebook page for upcoming shows and news.
Gross (pictured above, second from right) talks about the album and a few select tracks:
The songs on this record have a common theme throughout. It's basically about getting older and starting to face the fact that maybe rock &roll isn't going to pay the bills; about wondering if all the time and effort you've put into being in bands for the last 10 or more years was worth it and if it even matters to anyone; about how it affects your relationships with those around you, etc. I think it's a feeling that a lot of artists experience at one time or another.
“Waiting For Nothing”:
For this song, I thought about what those around me, those who are close to me, might be thinking about me and the decisions I've made -- my pursuit of being in a successful band, etc. I imagine them waiting for me to grow up and get a real job. That hasn't really happened yet, so, essentially, they've been "waiting for nothing."
“Come Together/Fall Apart”:
This song is about the constant roller-coaster ride of life. Sometimes things seem to be going great, and you think you've got this great opportunity or something, and then, all of the sudden, it completely falls apart. Does that happen to anyone else?
“Somebody Loves Me”:
I don't want it to seem like every track on this album is depressing, so here is one that is a little more hopeful. It's basically about being flawed, immature, unsuccessful, hard to work with and having someone who loves you anyway.
“Black Is Black”:
Enough of that sappy stuff, let's get back to more of the bleak. "Black Is Black" is probably my favorite track off of this record. I don't know if it's OK to be a fan of your own work, but in this case I'll make an exception. We call this "The Bruce Springsteen Song", because to me it sounds like just that. It's about change taking place whether you like it or not and about wishing that a higher power would smile upon you and deliver you from the darkness and insignificance that we sometimes feel as humans. Is that too deep? If it is, we can just say that it's a love song about some chick.
