I have never been good about writing thank you letters. This does me little credit and zero favors as somebody who can be driven into a panic worrying about how I do not express my gratitude nearly enough. It is my hope that this volume, and the future volumes I intend, will exist as their own form of thank you letters to the writers of these songs, songs which I have grown to love nearly as much as their authors.
Thank you Matt Tillson, Cole Willson, Matt Puckett, and Andrew Stevens. Thank you Ben Clary, Ben Gerhards, Vonnie Kyle, David Badstuber, and Eliza Lutz for their contributions not only to making this EP a reality, but for their enduring support and friendship. And thank you to my loving partner, and the most talented artist I know, Charlotte Thurman.
credits
released November 26, 2020
Unwritten Thank You Letters, Volume I
...a short collection of songs written by folks whom I am proud to call my friends
Performed by Dylan Blanchard, Ben Clary, Ben Gerhards, Vonnie Kyle, and Cole Bee Wilson
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ben Clary at Ghost in Santa Fe, NM. Additional overdubs recorded by Dylan Blanchard, Cole Bee Wilson, and David Badstubner in their homes in New Mexico and Oregon. Album art by Charlotte Thurman.
“You”
Written by Matt Tillson, circa 2007
Performed by D. Blanchard (ARP SE-IV, bass guitar, voice) B. Clary (guitar) B. Gerhads (drums) and C. Wilson (voice)
“Night Drive”
Written by Matt Puckett, circa 2004
Performed by D. Blanchard (ARP SE-IV, bass guitar, drums, guitars, programming, voice) and V. Kyle (voice)
“Emaline”
Written by Andrew Stevens, circa 2005
Performed by D. Blanchard (bass guitar, Hammond T500, voice) B. Clary (guitar) B. Gerhads (drums) and V. Kyle (voice)
“Carry Me To The Mountain”
Written by Cole Bee Wilson, circa 2006
Performed by D. Blanchard (bass guitar, drums, guitars, Hammond T500, piano, voice)
Blanchard’s melody-forward rock borrows from several genres to bring a cohesive sound together that’s at once driving,
plaintive and heavy where it counts.
In recordings, Dylan works with a variety of collaborators, while the live band has solidified into the trio of Dylan on bass guitar and keys, Ben Clary on guitar, and Ben Gerhards on drums....more
This collection of Cole's songs will always be particularly close to my heart as I've heard many different iterations over the years. Here they feature tasteful, indie-rock/alt-country arrangements. Dylan Blanchard
Matt and the whole crew on this record bring a unique articulateness to this batch of tunes, as well as a special smoothness. Varied in approach and influences, it's Matt's finest work to date. Dylan Blanchard