Childballads – Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life) [Promo] (CD, UK)

The band name is written as ‘Childballads’ on the promo edition and as ‘The Child Ballads’ on the commercial release.

This edition ommits ‘The’ from the band name, ‘EP’ from the title and ‘(Pop. 1/2 Life)’ from the opening track title but does include run times which are not featured on the commerical release. Released on CD in the US by Gypsy Eyes Records.

In July 2007 The Stool Pigeon magazine featured a cover story and extensive interview with Stuart Lupton which mentions this EP and his work with Judah Bauer.

Prior to it’s UK release there were alternate titles and running order announced on various websites. The changes are as detailed below.

01. Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life)
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar: Stewart Lupton
Wurlitzer/Farfisa/Viola/Vocals: Betsy Wright
Drums: Hugh McIntosh
Lead Guitar: Judah Bauer
Engineered: Steve Killey
Run Time: 4:53

02. They Hunt We Run
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar: Stewart Lupton
Wurlitzer/Farfisa/Viola/Vocals: Betsy Wright
Drums: Hugh McIntosh
Engineered: Milan Macalevey
Run Time: 4:53

03. Old Man October
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar: Stewart Lupton
Wurlitzer/Farfisa/Viola/Vocals: Betsy Wright
Drums: Hugh McIntosh
Engineered: Steve Killey
Run Time: 5:38

04. Green Jewelry
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar: Stewart Lupton
Wurlitzer/Farfisa/Viola/Vocals: Betsy Wright
Drums: Hugh McIntosh
Engineered: Steve Killey
Run Time: 3:42

05. Blackbird Trax
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar: Stewart Lupton
Wurlitzer/Farfisa/Viola/Vocals: Betsy Wright
Drums: Hugh McIntosh
Lead Guitar: Judah Bauer
Engineered: Steve Killey
Run Time: 3:50

06. Laughter From The Rafters
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar: Stewart Lupton
Wurlitzer/Farfisa/Viola/Vocals: Betsy Wright
Drums: Hugh McIntosh
Lead Guitar: Milan Macalevey
Engineered: Steve Killey
Run Time: 4:40

SLEEVE TEXT:

COVER:
“Childballads, Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life)
1. Cheekbone Hollows 4:53
2. They Hunt We Run 4:53
3. Old Man October 5:38
4. Green Jewelry 3:42
5. Blackbird Trax 3:50
6. Laughter From The Rafters 4:40
Loog
For Promotional Use Only – Not For Sale”

DISC: “Childballads, Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life), 6 Tracks, For Promotional Use Only – Not For Sale, Loog.”

PRESS RELEASE: “This childballads mini-album is the first recording singer stewart lupton has made since the demise of cult band jonathan fire*eater. originally from washington dc, but based in new york, in the late ’90s jonathan fire*eater were the new york band inspiring groups as diverse as interpol, the yeah yeah yeahs and the strokes. when they split in 1998, lupton disappeared, while the remaining band members went on to form the walkmen. lupton was occasionally sighted, but more often presumed dead. actually, he’d moved back to washington dc to study, as well as forming the childballads with his then girlfriend betsy wright and drummer hugh mcintosh. loog tracked him down via a walkmen message board and offered to release his record, which (after being mixed and augmented with guitar work from blues explosion guitarist judah bauer) is finally seeing the light of day. stewart lupton is a lost hero and a legendary figure – and this new record shows he’s lost none of his talent as both a brilliant lyricist and singer. reminiscent of the likes of bobby charles and johnny cash, but with a hint of the more street savvy lou reed, lupton’s new songs are a reminder of why people like the kills (who have covered their songs) and interpol (who have taken their sartorial cue from them) hold jonathan fire*eater and stewart in particular in such high regard.”

LABEL INFORMATION: “It’s rare that someone gets another shot at becoming the next big thing – especially when people aren’t quite sure whether you’re still alive. In the late 1990s, Stewart Lupton was poised to be the biggest rock star to emerge from the burgeoning New York rock scene that his band, Jonathan Fire*Eater, had helped revive.

The sonic and spiritual forerunners of acts like Arcade Fire and Interpol, they were the ultimate elegant Lower East Side wastrels, purveyors of noirish, organ-laden rock and sunken-eyed, dishabille glamour.”

The Childballads’ look and sound is deliberately far removed from Jonathan Fire*Eater’s. The new music is influenced by country and folk, with lyrics steeped in old-fashioned storytelling. The stories and sound of the South hide under the alt-rock underpinnings of the band. Stewart Lupton describes the music as “sounding like doilies, like your grandmother’s living room. There’s a certain hollowness there; it’s a roomy sound.”

“Stewart’s in his prime to leave the mark he didn’t leave with Jonathan Fire*Eater,” says Erin Norris. “That kid is never gonna fall from grace any further than he already has. He’s a lifer.”

BARCODE: n/a

MATRIX: “80 PG7436” [This is a generic CDR Matrix No.]