Halfway Houses by Dylan Rysstad
Halfway Houses is Dylan's fifth release for Sakamano Records. It was recorded in two separate sessions: Vancouver, BC's Little Red Sounds and Welland, ON's Tapes and Plates. Musicians on the album include Polaris Prize nominee Daniel Romano, members of Chains of Love and Mode Moderne, John Sponarski of Portage & Main. The album was mastered by Dave Williams (Mean Jeans, Needles//Pins) in Toronto, ON.
Having toured Canada extensively over the years both with bands (The Jolts) and as a solo artist, Dylan has returned to his northern BC hometown of Prince Rupert. The move prompted him to retire the name Dylan Thomas (Thomas being his middle name) which he had been going by since 2005. Dylan's prior work has received national airplay, placement in film and television, a featured video on APTN's First Tracks, a "Best of" feature in Vancouver's Georgia Straight, and $1800 of Bob Dylan's money.
With a little help from his friends, Halfway Houses captures the country ballads (Send 'em to Jasper) and folk leanings (The Other Only Tried, Lennon Etc.) that Dylan's been perfecting since his early releases. This isn't to say there ain't no "rockin'" moments. Tracks like "If Only for Tonight" and "When in Rome" are welcome nods to his punk rock past.
Tracklist
| 1. | The Great Wall | 3:28 |
| 2. | Send 'em to Jasper | 3:49 |
| 3. | It's a Shame | 3:23 |
| 4. | Constant Pain | 3:07 |
| 5. | Tender Love (Turns Tough) | 2:27 |
| 6. | Lennon Etc. | 4:05 |
| 7. | When in Rome | 2:51 |
| 8. | If Only for Tonight | 2:27 |
| 9. | The Other Only Tried | 3:19 |
| 10. | The Last Time You Looked | 4:05 |
| 11. | Screaming Bloody Murder | 2:51 |
| 12. | Born Dyin' | 4:53 |
Credits
Dylan Rysstad - guitars, vocals, harmonica
Mercedes Taylor - backing vocals
Daniel Romano - pedal steel (4), organ/piano (4, 5, 6,7,8), bass (4,9)
Ian Romano - drums (4,6, 9)
John Sponarski - lead guitar (1,3) pedal steel (2,10,12), bass (1,2,3,10,12)
Henry Beckwith - organ/piano (1,2,3,10,12)
Sean Gilhooly - drums (1,2,3,10,12)
Kenny Meehan - bass (5)
Ross Miller - bass (7)
TJ Charlton - bass (6)
Ryan Stack - drums (5,7,8)
Burger - harmonica (5,8)
Tom Rysstad - banjo (2), mandolin (12)
Additional backup vocals by John Sponarski, Rebecca Law Marie Gray, Ian Romano, TJ Charlton & Burger
Tracks 1, 2, 3, 10, 12 recorded and mixed at Little Red Sounds in Vancouver, BC by Felix Fung (December 22/23 2011)
Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 recorded and mixed at Tapes & Plates in Welland, ON by Ian Romano and Kenny Meehan (May 20/21/22 2011)
Screaming Bloody Murder is a home demo from when Dylan was living in Hamilton, ON.
All songs written by Dylan Thomas Rysstad Socan 2012
