The Jane Anchor

Fade into black? it could be the best thing I ever had. With the November '04 release of their first full-length album, Second Wave (Lark Lane Records), Philly rockers, The Jane Anchor, led by singer / guitarist Kara Lafty, is primed to make an ocean-sized splash onto the national scene. The eleven-song follow-up to TJA's 2003 Just Wait EP didn't come together in one night, or in one year, but developed over a course of life lessons," says Lafty.

From the opening track "Crawl," with its wall of guitars washing over vulnerable lyrics, to the sparsely beautiful "Summer," showcasing Lafty's earthy guitar and wistful voice, Second Wave showcases a songwriter and band with an impressive palette of musical colors and moods. Lafty is currently joined by bassist Joann Schmidt, guitarist / vocalist John Faye, guitarist Brian Wilkinson and drummer Ned Sonstein.

Racing down the freeway, make this car go faster.
The process of bringing Second Wave to completion was not easy. The sessions, recorded and co-produced by Cliff Hillis, were spread out over six months, as the band found small windows of time within their busy schedules to journey down to Target Studios in Maryland and Hillis' home studio, Better Living Through Compression, located in Wilmington, DE. It was within those closed quarters, however, that Lafty delivered the strongest vocal performances of her career. "I think Kara sang so incredibly because the material demands it," states Faye, whose own impassioned back-up singing provides the girl-boy vocal dynamic that defines TJA. And it's true - the 11 songs on the record are a testimony to what Lafty has endured, overcome, and been challenged by over the past several years. "Skyline" showcases Lafty's empathetic side as she sings, "Flying fists and bleeding hearts / I wonder why there's a hole in the skyline / It's come to this / Flying fists beating straight through," seeking understanding in a post 9/11 world. "Give Me A Reason" and the rocker "Anniversary" are Lafty at her lyrical best as she dissects personal relationships with brutal honesty. "The Rays" and the aforementioned "Summer" highlight Lafty's softer side, offering glowing pop daydreams reminiscent of The Innocence Mission.

Away we go, carry this weight on your back.
The Jane Anchor is ready to ride Second Wave to new audiences in Philadelphia and far beyond the city limits, delivering on the promise and considerable buzz generated by Just Wait. The band has already become a familiar name on many college play lists and has shared stages with such notable acts as Fountains of Wayne, Juliana Hatfield, Shonen Knife, The Damnwells, The Butchies, Bettie Serveert, Mates of State, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In a review of Just Wait, M.J. Fine of the Philadelphia City Paper stated, "A great song can blow your mind and wrest control of your body. Most bands would be lucky to write one in their career." With Second Wave,The Jane Anchor prove themselves lucky and much, much more.