The Berries
Based in Seattle, the Berries are a jangling indie pop project with low-key country-rock and psychedelic aspirations, led by singer/songwriter Matt Berry. Over back-to-back full-lengths in 2018 and 2019 -- the sturdy pop-centric debut Start All Over Again, and sophomore effort Berryland, that found Berry exploring more ambitious arrangements and production -- and a subsequent rarities compilation (2021's Throne of Ivory [Singles and B-Sides]), Berry honed a sound based on earthy harmonies, wistful melodicism, and classic guitar tones, usually working solo and overdubbing himself into a full band. On 2022's High Flying Man, Berry aimed for a richer sound, recording with his road band in a proper studio and exploring darker lyrical themes.
Best known for his work in West Coast underground bands like Happy Diving and Big Bite, Matt Berry began shifting toward a less aggressive sound, recording demos inspired by the more country-driven elements of Neil Young and Gram Parsons, as well as '90s Brit-pop and power pop. He casually issued a couple of cassette demos in 2017 under the Berries name before making it official in 2018 with the full-length Start All Over Again, which Berry recorded in his home studio, playing all the instruments himself. A sophomore set called Berryland appeared a year later via Run for Cover Records; Berry once again handled all the instrumentation, except for flute and pedal steel overdubs. To spread the word about the Berries, he put together a touring version of the group, featuring bassist Lance Umble, drummer Dan Paul, and backing vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Emma Danner. During his downtime from the Berries, he also served as a sideman, working as a touring member of the groups Dark Tea and Angel Dust. 2021's Throne of Ivory (Singles & B-Sides) collected a scattering of singles released over the previous year as well as several alternate takes and rarities from 2019's Berryland sessions.
For the third Berries album, Berry wanted to work in the studio with his road band, and to give the recordings a fuller and more satisfying sound that would match his latest set of songs, which dealt in large part with the unfortunate state of the world. Instead of recording at home, he took Umble, Paul, Danner, and a few guest musicians into Kingsize Sound Labs in Los Angeles (where Berry had relocated), and they spent nine days working with co-producer Todd Berndt and engineer Jimmy Dixon. Rob Schnapf, who had previously worked with Beck, Kurt Vile, and Guided by Voices, mixed the album, and High Flying Man was released by Run for Cover in August of 2022.
© Timothy Monger & Mark Deming /TiVo
Discography
12 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Priceless
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 23 mrt. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
High Flying Man
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 19 aug. 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Berryland
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 20 sep. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Hymn That Only I Know
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 25 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Start All Over Again
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 26 okt. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cry of Love
Alternative en Indie - Released by iM The Berries on 18 jan. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saturday Music
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 23 apr. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sci-Fi Racer
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 1 jun. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
High Noon On The Gold Plain
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 29 okt. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Throne of Ivory (Singles and B-Sides)
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 23 apr. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ancient Steel
Alternative en Indie - Released by Run For Cover Records on 6 mei 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Going Down
Alternative en Indie - Released by LA CLINICA DISCHI on 27 nov. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo