Veteran SF indie rock outfit returns with a sumptuous set of spiritual pop hymnals, in the tradition of George Harrison, Richard Hawley, Spiritualized, and Gene Clark. Painstakingly assembled from over two years worth of recording sessions and augmented by a heavenly host of horns, strings, analog keys, chiming guitars and a makeshift choir. Recorded and mixed in the historic Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. Mixed by hand (no automation) on a vintage Neve 8038, while utilizing vintage outboard gear, an echo chamber, plate reverbs, and tape delays for processing. The 10 songs on Tough Trip Through Paradise explore hope for the future, lessons learned in the past, the importance of relationships, and well, humanity as a whole.
Press for Tough Trip Through Paradise
Audiophiles and gear nerds will perk up at the vintage gear used to record this fantastic record, but you don't need to care about that stuff to love "Tough Trip Through Paradise" - you just need to have a healthy appreciation for full-bodied arrangements, tight performances, and hooks so sharp you'll be picking them out of your limbs, clothes, and noggin long after the final track ends (temporarily, because this is a record that cries out for another listen). A flawless distillation of top-shelf influences. I'd never heard of this band prior to listening to this album, but I'm all in now. Hell yes.
Jeff Giles - Harmonic.fm
At heart they're an unfailingly melodic pop band, employing horns, strings, mandolin, lap steel and Hammond organ to realise frontman Joshua Babcock's dreamy Elysian visions.
Uncut Magazine
A reminder of how adaptable The Society Of Rockets are. With such variety, it can be hard to hold listener's attention. There's not a bit of that here, you excitedly wait for what's next which is all that any album can do and Tough Trip Through Paradise underlines the benefit of albums. Save those playlists for mix tapes and lose yourself in quality.
I Don't Hear A Single
The vocals, hymnal melody & gentle acoustic guitar with melancholy overtones on "Amen" - it's what Nick Drake may have sounded like if he allowed a full-tilt band to back him up.
