The Wheel by Andrew Vladeck

If you ask him, New York Native Andrew Vladeck will tell you it's all about the words, but in a quest to escape his folky comfort zone, Andrew hotwired old-time instruments to develop a bigger, stranger sound.  This is captured on the End Up Records release THE WHEEL, recorded in a log cabin over a frozen winter in Orange County, NY.


The Wheel tries to capture the resilience of the spirit when faced with adversity, where extremes coexist.  Andrew's sparkling, sharp-edged approach sets his deft lyrics over sparse instrumentation.  In the rollicking "The Wheel," Andrew admits, "the wheel came full circle and ran me over."  In "The Songs You Inspire," he bluntly offers, "I'm not a gambling man but I've made a running bet, the songs you don't deserve you don't deserve yet."  "Chinatown" starts with a haunting slide-banjo that becomes psychedelic as Andrew asks, "How can the sun rise and set at the same time?"

Produced & Engineered - Kyle Fischer
Mixed - Dave Schiffman
Mastered - Gene Paul
Cover photo - Lisa Kramer

Musicians:
Andrew Vladeck - Banjo, Guitar, Uke, AutoHarp, Harmonica
Bill Malchow - Accordian 10, Organ 1,3,5,7,11
Brad Gunyon - Drums 1,5,7,10,11
Caithlin De Marrais - Bass 4, Organ 12
Chris Buckridge - Bass 5,8
Henry Byron - Drums 8
Kyle Fischer - Various instrumentation
Lara Meyerratken - Vox 3,10; Drums 12

Special thanks to the musicians - Lara, Caithlin, Kyle, Bill, Chris, Henry, and Brad.

Penny Black Music (UK)
His first release since 2006, ‘The Wheel’ is stuffed to the gorgeous gills with epiphanies of urban squalor, at times, delivered through unrelenting lyrical tirades. His edgy albeit steadfast vocals are often edged with humour...  Enjoy comparing ‘The Wheel’ to standout recordings by other American legends; Gritty, albeit poignant images creep-out and often rush out of this old- soul, New York singer-songwriter’s prolific pores.
Imagine if the best of American folk music had been frozen in time. Then imagine if the fossilized remains had been excavated by a troubadour with a contemporary facelift. Imagine that this troubadour added his own unique vision of the current political climate, his own interpretations of urban squalor and once- kindred souls that had mournfully drifted apart.  What if the word play this troubadour manufactured cut through pretentiousness with deft wit? And that, at his bequest, every-day items, like crackers, became storied super-stars surrounded by stark strums?  Andrew Vladeck has a way with words, alright, and it’s a way that’s uniquely respectful to the human condition and irreverent to complacency, yet insanely believable.

Maverick (UK)
I simply love it when a young artist takes an old musical genre and blows the dust off; fiddles about with the mechanics and makes it their own. Andrew Vladeck wears his influences on his sleeve and regular Maverick readers will easily spot Dylan, Van Zandt, Cohen and even 'Nebraska'-era Springsteen in the mix on THE WHEEL but Andrew Vladeck has thrown all of these ingredients into the air and added a good dose of cayenne pepper to come up with his own intriguing fusion of modern and classic folk music.

Troublezine (Italy)
[Thanks to W and her mom for translating this in Germany from Italian to English!]  It seems a simple task to compare an American singer-songwriter to all those storytellers who have made history in this genre and have put the lives of generations into music. This genre requires continuity, the ability to lull the listener with comforting sounds, and spontaneity. Andrew Vladeck argues that “it’s all about the words”, but knows it actually has to come from the heart. If the twenty-first century is aging, he says, there will still be something in the music stemming from the core, and that is what we like. 
[i am not sure about this last sentence, have tried to make the most sense of it, does it...?]

A man, his legs and his guitar, a banjo, a harmonica. Andrew Vladeck returns with a new album, the first since 2006. Vladeck makes tradition his own by combining and simmering it down. The beginning of the CD in particular is very fresh, very catchy, but without slipping too much into pop. Suddenly there are the unmistakable influences of Bob Dylan, along with echoes in the vein of Springsteen, and hints of Beatles and Death Cab For Cutie. Opening track Hold me Back perfectly represents Vladeck’s style. 3min 30sec, and you know whom you're dealing with. Or maybe not: With the second piece the songwriter shows another side of himself, gloomy and aching, and clearly indebted to classic American folk music. Like the beautiful The 21st Century, also You Can’t Kill Time and The Magnet would make the perfect soundtrack for a quintessential American movie. Neither songs which have the credentials to become Vladeck classics like The Wheel and I Want You Near are missing, nor poisoned atmospheres like in Avenue. U

The lyrics are brilliant and often rich in humor, some images affect more with (apparent) ease than profundity. Even those displeased with too apparent concessions to tradition... will enjoy being carried away by a river of heat, almost hypnotized by Vladeck, all the way to the acoustic version of The 21st Century, to be captured even more by his voice, which this time sounds... particularly authentic. Imagine yourself in a film set in Brooklyn, or walking the streets of Central Park. Playing "The Wheel" evokes a feeling of freedom, at least for a few minutes.  View article »

SLAM (Germany)
Der Mann weiß ganz genau was er tut und beherrscht sein Fach wie kaum ein anderer Musiker, der mir in letzter Zeit aus dieser Ecke untergekommen ist. Peter Hanzl 8.5
(This guy knows exactly what he's doing and commands his subject like few other musicians I've encountered from his corner of late. [Thanks Kyle for the translation]).  View article »

Grimey Goods (Los Angeles)
His very real lyrics tell a story. With similar traits of some of the greatest American folk singers, Vladeck is cleary on his way to something golden. I don’ think I’ve ever heard a banjo sound so damn cool! He stays true to that emotion-evoking traditional sound, but morphs it into his own innovative style. A style that resonates a hip indie vibe which is amplified even more so coming from Brooklyn.  View article »

Lucid Culture (Brooklyn)
Talented, popular Brooklyn multi-instrumentalist... shows off a fervently lyrical style over sparse, tasteful, mostly acoustic instrumentation. Andrew Vladeck packs a lot of words into a phrase in an almost hip-hop vein, with more than a little nod of the head to Dylan (specifically the fun, freewheeling, early Dylan). The five tracks here range from fast and fierce to slower and more contemplative... Magnet follows, a dexterously fingerpicked acoustic ballad and then the cd's best cut, Chinatown. It starts off slow, eerily plinking banjo intro over slide guitar and eventually gets marvelously intricate, even psychedelic, with something of a Blonde on Blonde lyrical feel... Uncompromising as this album may be, it's a very accessible cd: a stealthy victory for smart songwriting.  View article »

New York native Andrew Vladeck makes beautiful music with his banjo, Dylan-esque voice, and phrases loaded with lyrics, especially the title track of his new record, “The Wheel.’’ The indie/folk alt-rocker slows things down a bit on the delicious tune, “Picking Apples in Orange Country.’’ Fascinated with the relationship between nature and New York City, the songwriter is a former Urban Park Ranger.


LYRICS
 
HOLD ME BACK

Too mad to run, too proud to plead
Men don’t cry, they bleed
Something they need steadily
Missiles whistle, bullets sing
Church bells toll and my head rings
With the same-old, age-old medley
 
Too dim to read to learn the facts
Men don’t think, they act
Their track record isn’t very good
Speeches preached to the converted,
Dialogue averted,
They deserted as soon as they could
 
I can’t fight the urge to fight
But two wrongs won’t make it right
Before I do something I’ll regret
Before I throw a brick through my TV Set
It’s hard to sit here and let them run us off the track
Somebody better hold me back
Hold me, hold me back
Hold me, hold me back
 
Too late to turn back the clock
The ball’s rolled over half the block -
A shock to see so much wasted,
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth
Might take you closer to the truth
But what’s the use, you won’t see or taste it
 
Patched up with duct tape
Gonna get this puppy ship shape
Bust outta the gates of this old garage
Make a change, damn the cost
The sooner we move the less is lost
The sooner we’re tossed from their mirage


THE SONGS YOU INSPIRE
 
They say up in heaven the angels play harps,
But at times they’re known to play lawn darts
As a result I’m very much in debt
To you, it’s true you’re hard to forget
Every day is buried in words
 
I can tell you’re really not with me at all
My picture keeps falling off of your wall
My bluebird doesn’t sing - it coughs
As my tattoo of you peels off
I hear music and it sounds absurd
 
The songs you inspire - you don’t deserve
Turn it up higher - so you get the words
They’re my gift - they’re my curse
The songs you inspire
 
I dared to dream, was blind to begin
Broke the rules and I jumped right in
If I knew now what I knew then
I know I’d still sleep in that lion’s den
‘Cause songs will soothe that beast I’ve heard
 
The songs you inspire - you don’t deserve
Turn it up higher - so you get the words
They’re my gift - they’re my curse
The songs you inspire
 
I realize not a moment too soon,
Metropolitan Avenue leads to the moon
And the sun is a giant typewriter
 
I’m tearing out a page, I’m slipping you a note
So for once the words won’t get stuck in my throat
I’m not a gambling man but I’ve had a running bet
That the songs you don’t deserve you don’t deserve…yet
But time will take me round that turn…
 
WAITING FOR THE COFFEE TO KICK IN
 
Last night I got hammered,
But today I woke up nailed,
Baby, I don’t want to fail you
What can I do, my whole world’s in spin
I’m just waiting for the coffee to kick in
 
Last night I got ripped,
But today I woke up torn,
Baby I don’t want to mourn for you
I am through, but you got a very thick skin
I’m just waiting for the coffee to kick in
 
The river’s wide the water’s too cold
I can’t stand there’s nothing to hold
Times like these are sink or swim
I’m just waiting for the coffee to kick in
 
Last night I got toasted,
But today I woke up burned,
Baby I don’t want to yearn for you
I am true, and that’s where I’ll begin,
I’m just waiting for the coffee to kick in
 
Yes, I’m waiting, oh, I’m waiting
My head, it’s aching
Naw, it won’t be long
I’m just waiting for the coffee to kick in
 
THE WHEEL
 
It wasn't the heat or the humidity, there was nothing in the water, no acidity, it was all my fault, half a ton of salt over my shoulder, if I was bolder I woulda told her, got guilt though the spilt milk's dried up, curled up and died but, I locked myself right into a lie, when I figure out the reason you’ll be the first to know why
 
Oh, the wheel, oh the wheel
Came full circle, ran me over
Oh, the wheel,
Knocked me out, and made me sober
 
I've been paying dues so long I can't remember why I ever wanted to be a dues-paying member. If it all happened sooner wouldn't have been a late bloomer, blooming late, a cheap date, not finishing everything on my plate, but blinded by fear I couldn't steer clear of the mess, hardly a success, instead of settling down I was settling for a lesson, when you know the truth there's no use in guessin'
 
Oh, the wheel, oh the wheel
Came full circle, ran me over
Oh, the wheel,
Came full circle, what a disaster
What I sent around just came back faster
 
It wasn't the heat or the humidity, there was nothing in the air, no acidity, it was all my fault, half a ton of salt over my shoulder, if I was bolder I woulda told her, got guilt though the spilt milk's dried up, curled up and died but, I locked myself right into a lie, when I figure out the reason you’ll be the first to know why
 
Oh, the wheel, oh the wheel
Came full circle, ran me over
Oh, the wheel,
Came full circle, ran me over
Knocked me out, and made me sober
Wheel came full circle, ran right through me
I made one mistake, but what a doozy!
 
THESE STREETS
 
Can’t tell if I’m dreaming or the cold is kickin’ in
The winter wind is whippin’ me up the street again
Past where Dylan Thomas passed out in the gutter
Steam escapes like a ghost and I shudder
 
All these streets we’re walking
These streets are talking
If you listen right
Oh, it never fails
Their countless tales
Are told in the night
 
Footsteps of the angel-headed hipsters
Beatniks and their hippie younger sisters
Punks, squatters, playing chess in the park
Nothing’s square in the Thompkins Square after dark
 
Chorus
 
Walls whisper, streets shout
Don’t let ‘em drown you out!
 
I have listened, I have learned
It’s my time, it’s my turn
I’ve paid my dues, waited in line
All for a chance to shine
 
Fish wrapped in wrinkled newspaper
Pickles in barrels on the street
Awnings, Louis Zuflacht
This street’s been paved over!
 
Chorus
 
Every time I got something to say
One of these ghosts gets in my way
 
PICKING APPLES IN ORANGE COUNTY
 
We’re picking apples in Orange County
But they’re hanging just out of reach
You’re out of reach and I am hanging
On every word you speak
 
Oh don’t, don’t, don’t look down
We don’t need to touch the ground
From the top of this old apple tree
I pick you and you pick me
 
We’re picking apples in Orange County
Baby you are such a peach!
The sweat is beading on your body
Oh my, you sure taste sweet
 
Oh don’t, don’t, don’t look down
We don’t need to touch the ground
From the top of this old apple tree
I pick you and you pick me
 
It’s heaven, indeed
We’re redeemed
 
We’re picking apples in Orange County
Sitting in an apple tree
With everything that you’re found me
I got everything I’ll ever need
 
Oh don’t, don’t, don’t look down
We don’t need to touch the ground
From the top of this old apple tree
Oh, don’t, don’t, don’t look down
We don’t need to touch the ground
From the top of this old apple tree
I pick you and you pick me
 
I WANT YOU NEAR

I stroll along the promenade
Take in the sunset and the smog
And I know it ain’t true if it’s never been tried
It’s the kind of thing that makes me realize
My thoughts have never been so clear
I want you near, I want you near
 
Always longing to be someplace else
Storefront reflections of myself
I’m wearing such a thin disguise
It’s the kind of thing that makes me realize
My thoughts have never been so clear
I want you near, I want you near

Have you watched the ocean at the end of day
Has it made all your troubles melt away
Have you felt all those feelings and feared them cliché
But felt them anyway
 
So I sing this song right off my chest,
And I pray that it comes down to rest
Upon your heart and moves you deep inside,
It’s the kind of thing that makes you realize
Your thoughts have never been so clear
You want me near, You want me near,
You want me near, You want me near
 
AVENUE U

Once you had it made but now you are so jaded
I once was blue but like my jeans that too has faded
The place where I was raised had become dilapidated
So I re-created, call me self-edumicated
Seek and you shall see all that’s yours for the taking
Take a look at the world that you’ve been making
 
Crackers and Wine
We got out just in time
Before your world spiraled into the blue
We’re tripping over Avenue U
Avenue U
 
Said crackers and wine, thought you meant the beverage
You’re crackers ‘bout a girl, but you got no leverage
Listening to you, how your record skips
Trying to shanghai us for your sinking ship
But it’s going under far greater scrutiny
You got this crew thinking mutiny
 
Crackers and Wine
We got out just in time
Before your world reeled into the blue
We’re cutting ‘cross Avenue U
Avenue U
 
Well I’ve been in your shoes before
But I can’t help you any more
And I can’t help you
Escape from yourself
 
If you’re gonna go there, please don’t take us with you
We wish you were here but would rather just miss you
Cause we’d all be dancing round the bend
If we didn’t have to wait for you to lecture us again
Come on, we’re busy reaching for the top shelf
You’ve got to please, get over yourself
 
Crackers and Wine
We got out just in time
Before your world sunk into the blue
We are flying over Avenue U
Avenue U
 
CHINATOWN
 
Could be a riddle, sounds like a rhyme,
How can the sun rise and set at the same time?
When it’s a long way to China from Chinatown
 
Days half-empty, nights half-full
Some days I let go, but mostly I just pull
It’s such a long way to China from Chinatown
 
The crescent moon is grinning, just like a Siamese cat
While underneath I’m spinning, wondering where you’re at
 
You can go to China or wherever you think will do
But you’re not gonna find happiness unless you bring it with you
You got a long way to China, and I got Chinatown

THE MAGNET
 
Fistfuls of sand, splinters in my hand
From the handle of a silver spade
Dirt in my boots, sweating though my suit
As our respects are paid, we won’t let a stranger fill your grave
 
You are the magnet, you are the glue
My compass points to you
Together you brought us ‘round
Remove the magnet from the center and we break down
 
It’s hard and it’s tough, heavy pieces to pick up
Memories laid in a pile
We try and make ‘em fit, to carry on, not quit
Quitting was never your style, Joanna’s singing “Honey, Baby Chile”
 
You are the magnet, the glue
My compass points to you
Together you brought us all
Remove the magnet from the center and we all stall
 
You said the church was beneath you
Your mama raised you upstairs
You sang at that alter, boy
Now you got us gathered there
 
Sitting on my bed I got your song in my head
Who should crawl in my window but you
You shake your head and smile, man it’s been a while
We sit together and laugh, oh how I wish that dream could last
 
You are the magnet, you are the glue
My compass points to you
Together you brought us all
 
You are the magnet, you are the glue
My compass points to you
Together you brought us all
Remove the magnet from the center and we all stall

YOU CAN'T KILL TIME
 
We were goin’ downriver in an ol’ canoe
When we hit the rocks and broke in two
You pulled me out as I was tossed by
I laid my clothes on the banks to dry
 
But before I could thank you I fell in again
Over the falls end over end,
Woke up in a pool of my own sweat
Another dream about regret
I did not foresee
 
You can’t kill time and plead insanity
Time doesn’t lie only your vanity
 
We were driving through the desert when the hose blew
The engine was meltin’ and we were too
All I could find was a dried-up creek
‘Til you found a water bottle under the back seat
 
But before I could thank you, I knocked it out of your hands
We watched as it spilled out into the sand
Another mirage vanished from view
Another dream about being through
I did not foresee
 
You can’t kill time and plead insanity
Time doesn’t lie only your vanity
 
You wanted me to tell the truth and so did I
I know it’s buried some somewhere inside
I tried to uncover it but I made a mess
You were listening to a crazy man guess
‘Cause I never could understand my gut
I wish I kept my trap shut
So many things I never did mention
I only had the best intentions
I did not foresee
 
You can’t kill time and plead insanity
Time doesn’t lie only your vanity