We’ve got another video Crate Digging, this time with The Head and the Heart naming their favorite self-produced albums. We’ll add one to the list, as the band’s own self-produced LP, Aperture, is out now.
After over 15 years in the music industry, it’s understandable The Head and the Heart wanted to return to their roots. Their last three albums were released by a major label, and the recording process for those efforts have left them feeling disjointed as a group. They needed to get back to making music like they did in their earlier days, and that meant one thing in particular: self-producing.
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For the first time since their self-titled debut, the band decided to take the reins of production fully into their own hands. The result is the group’s sixth studio full-length, Aperture (out now via their own Every Shade of Music and Verve).
To emphasize why it was so important to take on production duties as a group, The Head and the Heart joined us at Gold-Diggers in LA to go Crate Digging for six essential self-produced records. From classics by Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney, to beloved modern releases by Tame Impala and Dr. Dog, the group’s picks demonstrate how artists in complete control of their work often create some of their best work.
Read the full list below, and watch the band make their picks in the video above (or via YouTube). You can also see The Head and the Heart live throughout the summer by snagging tickets here.
The Head and the Heart also recently helped Consequence kick off Season 6 of the Going There with Dr. Mike podcast, where band members Kenny Hensley and Charity Rose Thielen openly discussed their mental health journeys within the band. Check that out wherever you get your podcasts.
Bruce Springsteen — Nebraska
Tyler Williams: I’m gonna start and kick it off with Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska record. It’s one of my favorite records of all time. I think the rawness of it — you know, I think he went in there and tried to produce the record with the full band. And I think there are some demos floating out there that nobody’s ever heard that we need to hear. Bruce, get them out there, Bruce.
But my favorite song on that record is a song called “Mansion on the Hill.” A band called the National covered it probably back in like 2008 or something, and it found its way to me as [The Head and the Heart] was starting. I would just listen to it on repeat in our van, and it just gave me comfort away from home. But Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska are the best records of all time.
Stream Nebraska on Apple Music or Amazon Music | Buy on Vinyl/CD
Elliott Smith — Roman Candle
Matt Gervais: I was just looking into this because somebody asked me a question on Reddit about their favorite last song of a record. I was just listening to one of my favorite records of my college years, like early 2000s: Roman Candle by Elliott Smith. And that is like a definitive self-produced record, just a voice and a guitar and just so raw and so bare and emotions are just right there in front of you. That record has always been just a standard bearer for me in terms of songwriting and just simplicity. So that record to me is extremely important in that regard, and one of the best self-produced records ever.
Stream Roman Candle on Apple Music or Amazon Music | Buy on Vinyl/CD
Content shared from consequence.net.