Top tracks
Listeners also bought
Other Country Folk albums
Other Americana albums
Put your hands on the remote! browse music »Songbook by The Starlings
view larger image
fave it Country Folk | Americana
13 tracks | 43 minutes
Released Apr 2006
on The Starlings
Click
for a 30-second preview. All tracks are 192kbps high fidelity sound quality. Protected WMA $0.77 or unprotected MP3 $0.88.
listen album 30sec. shuffle buy CD review album promote album
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:07 Hand to Mouth lyrics BUY MP3 03:07 Hand to Mouth lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:07 Hand to Mouth
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:34 Bones to Ashes lyrics BUY MP3 03:34 Bones to Ashes lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:34 Bones to Ashes
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:25 Alaskan Fire lyrics BUY MP3 04:25 Alaskan Fire lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:25 Alaskan Fire
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:32 Workin' Man Blues lyrics BUY MP3 02:32 Workin' Man Blues lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:32 Workin' Man Blues
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:03 Gold Dust lyrics BUY MP3 03:03 Gold Dust lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:03 Gold Dust
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:18 Take Me to the Fire lyrics BUY MP3 03:18 Take Me to the Fire lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:18 Take Me to the Fire
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:16 Sinner's Glory lyrics BUY MP3 03:16 Sinner's Glory lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:16 Sinner's Glory
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:23 Roll On Down lyrics BUY MP3 03:23 Roll On Down lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:23 Roll On Down
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:20 Rosie lyrics BUY MP3 03:20 Rosie lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:20 Rosie
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:56 Angel to Rise lyrics BUY MP3 03:56 Angel to Rise lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:56 Angel to Rise
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:56 Long Black Veil lyrics BUY MP3 03:56 Long Black Veil lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:56 Long Black Veil
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:41 Travelin' lyrics BUY MP3 02:41 Travelin' lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:41 Travelin'
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:48 Acorn lyrics BUY MP3 02:48 Acorn lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:48 Acorn
“Organic country...both delicate and edgy...For the lo-fi country enthusiast...a winning combination" – Maverick Magazine
Bio / Background
"The Starlings vocal harmonies, acoustic goodness and sweet blend of folk and country set the stage for the band's storied original songwriting and the compelling presence of vocalist Joy Mills.” -KEXP.org, 90.3 FM
“...melodies galore, choruses you can sing and a great vibe throughout...an excellent album.” - Americana UK
“Organic country...both delicate and edgy...For the lo-fi country enthusiast, the Starlings’ natural charm and raw potential, like the Starlings themselves, are a winning combination. Highly recommended.” – Maverick Magazine
“The Starlings hark back to an earlier, simpler time, when folks gathered on front porches with mandolins and harmonicas, singing away the day in dusty twilight.
↓ more ↓That simple beauty pervades the band’s stellar debut album, “Songbook,” and that easygoing camaraderie personifies the Starlings’ live performances, which find them equally at home playing barnburners and ballads and have made them favorites among Seattle’s twang community.” - Portland Tribune
"...a band buoyed by shimmering vocalist Joy Mills."
-Seattle P.I.
“...fresh and full of brio...(Joy) Mills, one of the best songwriters in the Northwest (or anywhere)...an excellent, vital record.” – Victory Review
"...expertly blends folk and country, displaying top-notch musicianship at every turn...a nice mix of front-porch foot stomping and back-room balladry." - Muses Muse
"Seattle roots-country outfit releases authentic, inventive debut...a classic sound — good playing by all in the service of first-rate songs." - CDReviews.com
"The nucleus of this folksy, bluegrass infused Americana combo is the duo of Joy Mills (guitar, mandolin) and Tom Parker (guitar, harmonica). The engaging Mills sounds a bit like Kelly Willis on a folk binge, while Parker`s plaintive, mellow voice warms the many harmonies with a most pleasing effect. The supporting players tastefully add Dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, etc., keeping a lively feel throughout. Songbook offers 12 earnest and organic original tunes - most of which penned by Mills - and a straight version of the classic "Long Black Veil", on which the two duet. Capturing the ageless quality of The Carter Family, as in the two Parker penned duets, "Working Man Blues" and "Acorn", The Starlings clearly have a deep appreciation for the classics but are by no means a retro act. Simply a terrific one. - Miles Of Music
The Starlings have captured the ears of fans both in the Northwest and beyond following their 2006 release of debut album “Songbook”. Based out of Seattle, The Starlings have had a successful year: accolades from notable sources as Maverick Magazine and Americana UK; a live appearance on renowned radio station KEXP's Audioasis; eight weeks on John Richards’ (KEXP) “Top Ten Northwest Bands”; prominent performances shared with the likes of Todd Snider, The Avett Brothers, Michelle Malone, The Radio Nationals, The Paperboys and numerous NW artists. Featured in Maverick Magazine’s March 2007 issue, The Starlings are bringing their blend of country, Americana and roots music to an ever broader stage.
“Songbook” covers a wide terrain of folk and Americana landscapes including the homage paid to elders in the opening track, “Hand to Mouth,” and the wanderer’s story in “Alaskan Fire”. Other stand-outs include the minor-key foot-stompers “Bones to Ashes” and “Rosie,” as well as the elegantly-orchestrated “Sinner’s Glory,” and the old-time-flavored sweetness of “Acorn”.
Led by the magnetic harmonies and melodic songwriting of Joy Mills and Tom Parker, this murmuration combines lyrics and vocals that are all at once wistful and fierce, haunting and soothing. Tasteful lines of guitar, banjo, dobro and mandolin trace the ambiance of the songs. Lucid and elemental themes create The Starlings' solid repertoire, suffused with images of wanderlust, solitude, trains, death, love and an underlying wonder at the mystery of it all. Taking explorations of the deep roots and modern flavors of Americana roots, folk and country, they are hailed for their striking performances and engaging musicianship. With one eye to the keyhole of deeper meaning, they remain dynamic in nature and happy to take the road less traveled.
↑ less ↑





