More from the Echoplex show earlier this week.
There's a short review at LA Record, which includes photos by Leslie Kalohi that are also available (and best viewed) at Flickr.
Matthew Caws:
We might do more, but Nada Surf is my priority. [Minor Alps] was a special treat because this is [Nada Surf's] first real break in 20 years.
In an interview with Rip It Up, Matthew confirms that he views his work with Juliana as a side project.
Although there may be more to come from Minor Alps, he says that work with Nada Surf will recommence in early 2014.
Blake Babies FTW.
12 songs from the LA show in a YouTube playlist courtesy of spiketop.
There's some photos at Pink is the New Blog and a Caws-heavy set by vertouiseau at Flickr, and from the previous night in San Francisco by Bryan Gordon.
Charlie reports that the list for last night's LA show was the much the same.
See also - Fruit Fly
KEXP have posted a review of the show. See also their photos at Flickr.
Kitchen table rehearsal, late summer 2013. "I Want To Take You Home." http://t.co/Z39aYXUkjZ
— MINOR ALPS (@minoralps) November 12, 2013
Just to underline, @minoralps is now a thing.
Another set of reviews:
Basically, they did everything right here. Get There is an intelligent, authentic alternative rock album that sounds as enjoyable to live in as it probably was to make. 4/5
Michael Roffman, Consequence Of Sound
Usually when experienced music veterans join forces, the result is a mixed bag wherein it’s blatantly obvious where one party took the songwriting into his or her own hands. But on their first project as a duo, Juliana Hatfield and Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws have a synergy that makes you wonder why they didn’t collaborate sooner., 74%
Daniel Kahn, Filter
The overall mood of Minor Alps’ first outing is somewhat downbeat and yet wistful. Two rockers who really hit their stride during the Clinton years are now in middle age and I think the subject matter here (relationships won and lost, self-reflection, “mixed feelings) is mirroring that.
Andrew W Griffin Red Dirt Report
There is so much to love in all of the songs here, and hearing Hatfield and Caws together makes you wonder why it couldn't have happened sooner, but then again; there is a season for all things, and this is so obviously theirs.
Theres a nice photo set by David Lee at Flickr.
The first Minor Alps show ever. #Barsuk15 pic.twitter.com/q6StXMQEcy
— Seth Sommerfeld (@sethsommerfeld) November 9, 2013
Minor Alps set list Nov 8, 2013 pic.twitter.com/DhL1mHfRvl
— matthew caws (@nadasurf) November 9, 2013
After a radio session earlier in the day, Minor Alps debut live appearance took place last night at the Neptune Theater, Seattle as part of the Barsuk Records 15th anniversary.
They both played acoustic guitar with Juliana also on keyboards, while Matthew ran the effects and drum loops.
Notable setlist moments:
Live On Tomorrow, baby! Live On Tomorrow with special Juliana guitar solo no less.
Candy Wrappers with Matthew on lead vocal.
Thanks to Charlie for the info.
There's a brief Q&A with Juliana at the San Francisco Examiner.
Also, more Get There reviews:
The pairing of these two accomplished musicians has found its place in history. It's well worth hoping that we Get There more often, 8.1/10
Richard Becker, Liquid [Hip]
Caws and Hatfield may have matured, but if Get There shows anything it’s that those youthful feelings of loneliness never completely fade. 4/5
Sarah Edmonds, The Upcoming
There’s something about the wistful melancholy of the songs—in both the lyrics and the sweetly downbeat music—that makes the whole album seem like faintly remembered dispatches of twentysomething angst. There are details throughout—or, to be accurate, maybe just a tone—that feel more appropriate for songwriters still of the age of post-collegiate confused emotions than a couple music biz veterans closer to 50 than 40. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, but it does sap some of the urgency from the album, which becomes a bit more of an issue when the vocals are calibrated to Hatfield’s trademark adorable disaffectedness.3/5
Dan Seeger Spectrum Culture
There’s nothing groundbreaking or vital in the 11 songs collected here. It’s adult alternative lifestyle music that will offend no one, and it should make a pleasantly unobtrusive soundtrack for sipping frothy lattes or perusing the Pottery Barn catalog for new drapes.
Mike Kalil, Las Vegas CityLife
Thanks to Carlos for many of the recent links.
Minor Alps will play an in-store acoustic set at Main Street Music, Manayunk, Philadelphia at 6pm on November 22.
This is ahead of their previously announced World Café Live appearance later that evening.
OK so this is tenuous Juliana news. I know.
Comedian Rob Delaney's autobiography (Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.) is published today in the US. It comes out in the UK on December 12.
It begins with a single line quotation from Juliana - the finest Juliana lyric of them all. If you disagree you are wrong.
If you can't guess what it is, you can do the 'Look Inside' thing at the publishers' site and go to page 7.
Moar:
Get There is an accomplished debut album, not that we would expect any less from these two. With a collection of solid tunes under their belt, Hatfield and Caws are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what this new musical relationship has to offer.
Clare Povey, Planet Notion
Supergroups can sometimes be a letdown, but with Minor Alps, Caws and Hatfield bring to the table and combine their best individual qualities into a highly appealing cohesive unit. "Get There" is the work of two of indie rock's most undersung masters.
Allan Raible, ABC News
They wrote, sang and played everything (except drums) on the album, meshing individual styles where they comfortably overlap, in a zone of graceful, grown-up folk-rock.
Jon Parales, New York Times
Fans of shitty ruined photography cool filters may wish to note that Juliana is now on Instagram.
Minor Alps are scheduled for a radio session on KEXP next week (Friday, November 8) at 1pm Seattle time. This is ahead of their debut live appearance in the city later that day as part of the Barsuk Records 15th anniversary.
Further reviews of the new Minor Alps album:
The Minor Alps have arrived, and Get There is a worthy story of their journey.
Justin Weller, mxdwn.com
And while the current hipster generation might be unfamiliar with these veteran alt-rockers, fans of contemporary indie pop and electro-folk (Bon Iver springs to mind) will definitely find enjoyment in songs like the gorgeously rustic Maxon, the poignant Waiting For You and thoughtful Buried Plans., 4/5
Kevin Mathews, Today
Hopefully this isn't a one-off, since Get There is as pleasurable as anything Hatfield or Nada Surf have offered listeners in recent years.
Mark Deming, AllMusic
There's an audio interview with Juliana at WYEP, where she discusses Minor Alps.