As previously noted, Yeasayer guitarist Anand Wilder and friend/composer Maxwell Kardon spent the last decade intermittently crafting their very own musical. Entitled Break Line, it’s the story of a “labor conflict in a Western Pennsylvania coal town that (Wilder and Kardon’s) fathers had learned about from an old folk song taught in Quaker schools in the 1950s.” Inspired by “early ’70s Kinks and The Byrds”, the duo forged “their own version of a classic story of betrayal, pride and lost love.”
Already we’ve heard the ’60s folk-pop of “Wedding Day”, and today Wilder and Kardon have unveiled “I’m To Blame”. After starting off on a more whimsical note, the duo’s now turned up both the volume and the theatricality. A slow waltzing bit of jazz (strummy guitars, staccato horns) instantly builds in emotion and intensity, reach the epic and churning levels normally associated with ’70s arena rock. Assisting the pair is MGMT’s own James Richardson, who stokes the musical flames with a truly sweltering guitar solo.
Listen in below:
Break Line is due out July 15th through Secretly Canadian. In addition to Richardson, the 11-track album features contributions from Yeasayer’s Chris Keating and Ira Wolf Tuton, Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, Dirty Projectors’ Haley Dekle, Man Man’s Ryan Kattner, Quinn Walker and Austin Fisher of Suckers, Britt Myers (Charlift, Passing Strange), and many more.
Break Line The Musical Tracklist:
01. Coal Into Diamonds
02. Wedding Day
03. Opportunity
04. Hold You Tight
05. They’re Stealing Our Coal
06. 4th Of July
07. Better To Die
08. It Doesn’t Seem Right
09. Fathers and Brothers
10. I’m To Blame
11. Hang Your Head High
