The River Empires - The River Empires (2010)

4/16/10 4:17AM

this album is really fucking good. Some kind of detailed review is close to coming, but for now, I can say even at 88minutes, it's a top 5 album right now for 2010. Production and careful composition.

Casey Crescenzo's fingerprints are all over this, even without his presence as a lead singer or not even a ton of harmonies.

However, frustration and expectation for this to be a buzz album/band that it should be, I just know the effort isn't worth going through. In other words, i'll love it, praise it, but the logical demographics won't give a shit or even ever hear it. Their fucking loss of course.

The same goes for The Gloomcatcher.

3/25/10 12:14AM

Whoa, 29 tracks! lol.

facebook link



1 The River Empires Theme I
2 Overture In Thales Summer
3 Our Neighbor, The Earth
4 The Coventry
5 Galloping Through Day Blooms
6 The Harbourland
7 From Faye To Astral
8 A Toast To The Snake King
9 The First Message
10 Catacombs And Orchards
11 Three Tigers
12 Stag Hollow Fair
13 Lull Of Celeste
14 From Outside The Cellar
15 Vcias In The Pines
16 A Dimmer Lux
17 Lillius
18 Witches Blossom
19 The Curse Of Maybel Cains
20 Wildbriar
21 The Motorbike
22 The Pelican
23 The Backyard In Sparkles
24 Land Of Canoes
25 Theon, The Fox
26 An Elliptic Figure From Borelli
27 The Marching Of The Clocks
28 The Woods Of Northland
29 The River Empires Theme II

now seeing that, I'm wondering if this could be a feast or famine deal. Casey was involved with that melodramatic rock opera "Razia's Shadow" from Forgive Durden a few years back, and I really had a hard time listening to it.

29 bloody tracks, jeezus. Perhaps many of those are little movements. And the songs I've heard are more like The Dear Hunter style of story telling
rather than like some of the musical style/dialogue emphasized songs on Gavin Castleton's "Home" from 2009.

April 6th is rather soon, but I really didn't expect a track list that extensive. But maybe it's a false alarm, and the more the better. Assuming this project is very focused on *themes* and the music. Although this new interview with Jessy might not entirely suggest that.

He talks some about the films there and more on the origin of the project.

But if this works, I hate to compare again, but this may rival TDH in interest in a larger concept/story arc.

3/21/10 2:12PM
this is apparently the cover art
(see above)

3/3/10 12:41AM

new live song
link



"This Oregon based five piece outfit is full of talented multi-instrumentalists that give their music a wide range of feel and emotion. They bounce from track to track, sometimes with simple acoustic arrangements, and others with full on production including a full choir. It should be a great night in SODO, and a rare treat for those bold enough to stay out late on a school night."


2/26/10 11:56PM

7 albums, 3 films. That's a lot to live up to. And the Coheed/The Dear Hunter comparisons are probably impossible to ignore.

That being said, the ambition level on this whole thing went up a couple of notches.

http://www.theriverempires.com/

A Very Important Message
February 24th, 2010 by Jessy | 10 Comments

The River Empires (band) is the soundtrack for a trilogy that will soon be told in film format- The River Empires I,II, & III (movies). The trilogy will tell the story of two children who, during one particular summer, find a glass bottle with a message in it that changes their lives forever. As the trilogy will tell the story from the beginning to end, the band soundtracks the films from end to beginning. Now this is one of seven records that will soundtrack the films, but because the films have yet to be revealed, there was need for an introduction to the story. Since the soundtrack is from end to beginning, that just wasn’t possible. So the idea was decided that the debut record put out by The River Empires (band) would be the epilogue to the trilogy. Hence the reason why this record is self titled (the following soundtracks will be clear which parts in the films they are scoring). This debut record is a musical journey that sums up thematic ideas weaved throughout the entire tale. The story will not make sense to you after listening to this record, nor will you gain any insight as to the mysteries following the first film of the trilogy. The story hasn’t even begun. This is simply a conclusive presentation to a world of perplexity, oddity, mystery and detail that, after the film trilogy and the other six soundtracks are finished, will be a nostalgic look back on the beginning of a strange and terrifying idea called The River Empires.

Brace yourselves for April 6, 2010.

The River Empires - The River Empires (2010)

Bump 1/15/10 9:56PM
"Three Tigers" is up on their myspace

sounds good!



BUMP. 12/11/09 10:55PM , 12/12/09 5:08PM & 7:20PM

teaster/trailer clip on their myspace



edit: and I just realized Casey produced Falling Up's album "Fangs"..no wonder.


The River Empires - The River Empires
The Gloomcatcher - Slow Chorale

Casey did some writing on this among other things I guess.



well, here's a new band, that hopefully will not fall into the same fate as some others I'm a supporter-of, of late.



summary: On April 6, 2010 we get the debut album and a 2nd album from a different band called "The Gloom Catcher" for our patience. This guy Jessy Ribordy is from a band called "Falling Up" who of course I've never heard-of; but I suppose is somewhat well-known in the alt/post-hardcore/alt-press scene just to guess. He must be a fan of The Dear Hunter and Casey anyway. But maybe MOST importantly, if Casey didn't do a ton of writing on this (maybe production, mixing kind of stuff and perhaps sang and played some instruments like piano or guitar?), this guy Jessy Ribordy and whoever else did the actual WRITING is going to make-or-break how I feel about this. Regardless, it's good to get some hard-information about it and the bonus of this 2nd band and album.

Being from Oregon, I wonder if Jessy knows Kaddisfly and/or Water & Bodies. Perhaps TRE and W&Bs could do a show together there (if they haven't already?).


new blog posting

Friday, December 11, 2009

Another Update
Current mood:Struthering
We have noticed some confusion and frustration from some of you regarding what is going on with the release of our debut record and it is totally understandable. Yes, it has been quite some time since we actually tracked our record, not to mention all the talking up I have done in the years prior. So there is an update that I believe will make most of you very pleased to hear, but first I want to say a few things...

One, thank you, thank you thank you for still visiting the myspace in support. I know I have said that before, but I can't say it enough, thank you. All of you who are supporting our vision deserve to be treated with the utmost respect. I tend to be a bit sheepish when it comes to the internet. We aren't into the whole twitter thing, or facebook so I understand that it may be hard for some of you to hear updates about us. We hope that is the romantic side to our project though: the simple fact that we aren't selling ourselves too much. But, with that being said, I am pleased to announce a website that will be opening up soon that will have more updates, news, journals, etc. than you can handle. Minus the whoring world of social networking sites, we are hoping to create our own little community online. A place where everyone can come together and share our experiences as a group. This will be taking place at theriverempires.com

Now as for the details most of you probably care way more about: the music. As you know, this project has been a lot of work. It's not easy to self fund an entire project (and I mean entire) with my own personal savings. So this record has been extremely difficult as a group and as for me personally. When you are your only investor, it literally consumes your entire life. I am going to be so happy when things are finally released, but it comes with a price: the slow ebbing away of my sanity and health, ha! If TRE were part of a corporate label or some big wig pencil pushers in an office, yes it would have came out all packaged nicely a few months after we tracked it. BUT it would have been so boring and lame as hell.

Yet I still admit that it has been abnormally long for us to come out with this record. And some of you may even ask why we haven't put just another song up on the myspace and the truth is I am going to put a few up as soon as we set a release date for the album.

One more thing before I get to the main announcement (as you may have noticed, I am trying to gain your pardon before I announce the main update. Not that it's a bad update, but I feel like I need to explain myself first so that there are no misunderstandings as to why we are doing what we are doing). We are hoping to present the release of our album as an event. It won't be just a day, it will be the day that the world of TRE will begin to reveal itself. I know that sounds incredibly self-centered, but I don't mean for it to come off that way. I am just hoping to create an environment that is fitting for our journey, that is why I am hoping to build our release date as an event.

Now, I will declare the release date of TRE. BUT, and this is a very very very huuuuuge BUT, there's a reason for it's insanely late release date. And here is why:

I decided to give all of you a reward for waiting around so long. The reward will be another full length record that you will get for FREE. This other record follows in the footsteps of TRE, yet has it's own separate characteristics. So separate in fact, that it is going by another band name (if you are lost hang on for just a bit longer). I decided to write a few more songs as part of a "sister" record to the TRE album. Essentially it's another band, yet because it is still my songwriting and voice, it pairs nicely along with TRE. It's not cinematic bluegrass like TRE, it's a bit more rock, yet it has a nice little classic folk edge to it. The band is called The Gloomcatcher and I am currently recording the album this December and January. And to up the ante, you will get an almost daily up to date look at the inside process of recording this album. When the TRE website drops soon (as I mentioned above) this project will share the web page, split right down the middle.

So let's just review for a second. The River Empires is a project years in the making that has required the utmost of patience and understanding from all of you. Because I feel bad about the delay of this record and of all things good, I am recording another record that all of you will get for free when the TRE record comes out. This separate band is called The Gloomcatcher. It pairs nicely with TRE. They will be sharing a website and you will be hearing almost daily updates and studio videos from the project as I record it in the next two months.

So there you have it. There will be the myspace makeover for TRE and most likely a myspace will be made for The Gloomcatcher. Once I announce the date of the release below, as far as it seems away, you will understand why and be exited for the compromise I have made with all of you, capice? And it will allow me to update even more as the date of the EVENT will be written in stone.

I am so excited to finally share the debut record of The River Empires. 24 tracks of our blood sweat and tears for the last two years will be available for you. AND another bonus record from a cool little side project called The Gloomcatcher.

The release date is April 6th, 2010.

Love all of you, Jessy Ribordy.

P.S. Email me and let's talk: orionsmusic@mac.com

I am going to post a slew of links below. A few of the top ones are still under construction so don't get mad when they lead to nowhere for right now, but the bottom half are actual sites.

www.theriverempires.com
www.thegloomcatcher.com
myspace.com/thegloomcatcher
myspace.com/jessyribordy
myspace.com/joshuashroy
thecastlehouse.com
myspace.com/wildblueskystudios


original 7/28/09 10:29AM
a new project/band based out of Oregon, that should have a debut album out soon according to their myspace blog.
The River Empires

The biggest note about them tho is Casey Crescenzo of The Dear Hunter also is involved in this project. Although it's not as much of his original work, as some of the other members, Jesse Ribordy, and Josh Shroy I guess. I could add more about that, but no time, nor do I have time at the moment to mention a slew of other new names, but in due time I will hopefully. Perhaps even later today.

Fair to Midland new song on 93X on Monday 10/5/09

bumped 10/5/09 1:24PM

fans forum link

If you haven't heard already, Pablo from 93x in Minneapolis will be featuring our demo recording of Musical Chairs in their cagematch monday night (oct 5th) at 9pm central time.

for those that don't live there the link to listen online is here:
http://93x.com/Article.asp?id=160974

afterword, to vote on the cagematch go here:
http://www.93x.com/cagematch.asp

pretty easy right? hope everybody enjoys it!
brett.

9PM Central.

(and then each night after that if they win. People need to hear it to know about THE CONCERT next Monday October 12th at THE ROCK NIGHTCLUB)



Vikes/Pack will have to have the sound down around then.

Missing Adrian Belew and Mono tonight as well, lol.

original 10/1/09 2:07AM
ftm's twitter: will debut a BRAND NEW SONG on 93x in Minneapolis on Monday! (Listen online worldwide!) Details soon!

that dj from 93X, it is cool having him from Minnesota and pimping 1of MY bands.

And the 7th show coming up in 30 months or whatever doesn't hurt either.

So, on Monday, Packers/Vikings and a new FTM song. When it'll be, who knows. But I may tell a friend of mine, I'll pass on going to bar for the game if I haven't heard it yet on 93X. Although hopefully someone over on one of the boards will rip the stream when it happens. I just hope 93x's server doesn't crash. May not be a bad idea to test it out soon just to get an idea about how to stream their station ahead of time.

The Dear Hunter: I probably should hold-off and write a more appropriate review including my 5:15-6:30pm 4hour-free parking dilemma. I'm kind of tired now.

But if there's one thing to get down is the metaphor that crossed my mind about TDH, Casey, and music that kind of goes with my repeated feelings when I'm around my brother and his kids, and with my parents too.

They got the American-Dream: career + kids etc. Success.

I have, well what I have. Work that pays my bills and isn't exactly boring (or as boring as it sounds/is stereotyped as), but isn't a career for me. And I have no marriage or gf and no kids.

So what DO I have? I have my entertainment, lol. My music, movies, television and other things. Trivial, right? Limited, trivial hobbies, or even addictions.

Casey Crescenzo, while he's humble and modest about his talents as a musician/entertainer, etc. He is significant to me, and possibly others. He's an icon. His talents are just too much to not be thankful for them each time we experience his music. And he's an icon. When I have been able to talk to him, yeah he's a normal person like anyone, but I'd be lying if it doesn't mean something a bit more to me.

I think it's almost like a line I or others might say to a beautiful woman. "You don't know how much pleasure you give me. I wish I could allow you to feel as much joy as I do from you."

It's true, I really wish Casey could fathom what it's like for me, and fans that can't truly put into words, their appreciation for his music. I'm sure he has, with others that he's met before. Like if he met Terry Gilliam I suppose, Minnesota's own I might add.

So trivial to others, and I guess cds, tv, etc are trivial things, but it goes back to the idea of, what else do I got? No career, no lovelife, music is all I got, so it thus becomes more than trivial to me.