For Cave States, patience truly is a virtue. Band members Chris Grabau, Danny Kathriner and Todd Schnitzer had played in a variety of St. Louis groups for over 20 years before finally coming together to release their debut album, The Great Divide, in 2013. Now, Cave States is gearing up to release their second album, True Life. Get an exclusive first listen to the album below, a week before it officially drops on Apr. 29.
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True Life – which features nine original songs and a cover of Badfinger’s “Take It All” – sees the band moving away from the folkier sound present on their debut. Album opener “Commuter” is a Wilco-esque Americana number, infused with simple harmonies and light slide-guitar. The song is followed by the uptempo and drum-heavy “No Words,” providing juxtaposition of sound and genre that sets the tone for a record made with a greater focus on collaboration between the band members.
“We started recording demos while finishing mixes for our first record,” says Grabau. “The three of us were just having fun trying out new songs, playing with arrangements, and experimenting with different instruments. Most of the demos ended up as the core for the final versions, once we fleshed out the surrounding arrangements. It wasn’t until we stepped back and listened to the songs together that we discovered they felt like an album in both tone and theme. It quickly became apparent to us that the songs seem to reflect the ‘rush hour of life’ the three of us are living in.”
