$9.99
John Ames Cross release Living Art narrows the focus down to one man’s journey, but in the process captures a slice of the universal struggle. 14 Tracks
This is the story of a lost album resurrected after a decade of neglect. Originally tracked in the mid 90’s during the down time between sessions with his primary band Scary Rides Home (while recording their magnum opus, Subfitti Grafliminal), singer and songwriter John Cross was hoping to capture some of the turmoil coursing through his life at the time and to showcase his newly-found instrumental prowess that hadn’t been allowed much blossom in his role as lead singer and frontman of SRH.
This set of songs wasn’t drawn from the same lyrical thread that had always driven Scary’s themes; Political and societal chicanery, deception and psychobabble – this was much more personal and visceral. Divorce, an estranged child, distance, lust, longing and recrimination bleeds from the seemingly simple and direct words and much less tangled arrangements than those of his main band. From intimate guitar and voice soliloquies to full band hard rock shouts the tape became ersatz therapist. The catharsis thus complete, the album was tucked away and forgotten during the subsequent Scary promo tour. Recently, the tapes were rediscovered and mixed. Straight forward, lo-fi and unadorned, Living Art narrows the focus down to one man’s journey, but in the process captures a slice of the universal struggle. Highly recommended.
All songs written by John Ames Cross © 2010 BMI
Recorded at Stealth Studios 1 and 2 by Spook and JC
Produced by Spook and JC
Living Art — 14 Tracks
1. Fine Audition
2. Live 4 2day
3. Breaking My Rules
4. Amused
5. Hailey Song
6. Dark Past
7. Funhouse
8. Circuit Girls
9. One Voice
10. Destiny
11. HDVT
12. Red Velvet Room
13. Living Up
14. Struggles
John Cross
vox – all tracks
acoustic guitar – 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14
electric guitar – 2, 4, 9, 11, 13
bass – 2, 6, 10, 12
piano – 8, 10
blues harp – 7
Spook
drums – 1,2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12
loops, drum sequences – 6, 13
electric guitar – 1, 3, 7, 10, 13
bass – 1, 3, 7, 9, 11,
keyboards – 1,13
nylon string acoustic – 3
Bruno
bass – 4
Chris Cardenas
drums – 10
Joe Castro
lead guitar – 4
Hailey Cross
phone messages – 5, 14
Chad Cross
guitar – 12
John Dawe
lead guitar – 6