Barbara's Bloody Footprints from It's From the Sky

the story begins in 1950's or maybe 1960's america. a traveling salesman on his way to the next opportunity to earning that steak dinner. banging on a door, nobody comes to answer, but he hears the sounds of a woman singing. concerned, he opens the door and walks inside. turning the corner, he sees Barbara on the floor bleeding thru her dress and singing her prom night song. the salesman takes off his shirt and tries to contain the blood, but can tell that this girl is gonna die. he jumps in his car and takes off down the road. and thus, we are given the story of Barbara's Bloody Footprints, the new album from the Boston based band It's From the Sky. this 50's comic noir concept album hits all the right spots on it's way through a journey of ghosts, police, high school and a man on the run for a crime he didn't commit.

playing around with the idea of a poltergeist haunting the lives of people in a rollerskating rink, the band decided to take the idea a step further and create a full length album based on a girl who was murdered in a small town and the reaction her classmates have and the detective who is determined to find the man who did this horrible thing. talking over the album with bandmate Christopher O'Keeffe, i was intrigued to learn that the songs all were made as more of an "excavation of a story" and that they weren't merely creating a story, but telling the true story of a forgotten girl and her life.

It's From the Sky came out with their first EP in 2008. calling in favors and recording really wherever they could find the time and space to do so, they created that first effort with mostly some guitars and drums. the new album is such a dedication to a process of fulfilling the truthful telling of the story that the group devised a plan of using one large piece of parchment to notate the path of Barbara. they spent careful time, and it shows, interweaving various lines of various songs and allowing each word to have careful meaning to the story, whether it be straightforward, or thought-provoking.

and the work is evident. what the boys have accomplished is an archaeological dig on some great influences from indie kings such as lou barlow, pavement and the pixies while incorporating some pieces of rock superstars like r.e.m. and the smashing pumpkins. taking these influences into account you really are taken on a ride that is all their own. while listening to the album you get some tracks that run together seamless from one to another as witnessed on Class President and Bloody Footprints. quality songwriting and harmonies prevail as the aforementioned O'Keefe and David Lee provide fast paced vocals that keep the listener involved in what will happen next. a standout for me as well is the drumwork displayed by Chad Dravk especially on the first track Stranger's Blood which grabs you and makes you notice.

listening to this album, i thought of something that i hadn't thought of in awhile. that was that i hadn't listened to a full album straight through in a long time until i let this one go in my player. in the age of the ipod and one hit wonders, it felt real nice to give myself to an album from beginning to end and not wanting to skip ahead, or to start my playlists with a mixture of bands on them. if anything, i wanted to press repeat. i pressed play and i was in. from beginning to end. great songs with great hooks. smooth guitar playing with dynamite lyrics. i urge you to listen to this album and discover the tale of a girl with an untimely end.

Barbara's Bloody Footprints
by It's From the Sky
www.itsfromthesky.com

get snippets of the album here:
http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000037537