The Oaks has the most fantastic biography I’ve ever read…I hardly ever bother to read bands biographies, except from a quick glance when I’m writing about them. This band has a really good story which kind of intrigued me. Two years after 9/11, The Oaks’ Ryan Costello sold everything he owned, joined a humanitarian organization and moved to Afghanistan. He lived there for two years, spending his time working with returned refugees, teaching them agricultural techniques and becoming fluent in their native language. He documented his experiences with a series of portraits which can be seen here.

When he returned to the United States, he joined back with his songwriting partner, Matthew Antolick. The result was “Our Father and The Things They Left Behind”, an album influences by roots-folk and jazzy melodic layers.

I won’t give you the whole story about the band and the process making of this about-to-be-released album “Songs for waiting”, but I’d like to encourage you to read it, because it really says a lot about their music. The jazzy character is still a huge part of the Oaks’ music, and I think Costello’s experiences from his years in Afghanistan really left marks on the bands lyrics and music. In this new album they’ve been quite inventive with selection of instruments, and they’ve used, among others, trumpet, trombone, synths, classic and acoustic guitars, shakers, tambourines, handdrums, and electric piano. In addition to this, the vocals are just fantastic.

“Songs for Waiting” is a soothing album, with lots of feeling and history. The changing beats fit perfectly with the composition of the instruments, and the vocals really move me.

I also want to mention another fact that makes this band worth taking a closer look at. Throughout the mixing process the band was mentored and guided by Alan Douches, whose hand has been on great recordings from Paul Simon’s “Graceland” to Sufjan Steven’s “Illinois”.

This is music made for LISTENING, and the songs really ARE songs for waiting. ENJOY… The album will be out in stores the 3rd of May

The Oaks ecard

The OaKs - Masood