VIA PRESS RELEASE | “I had no idea that participating in the Explorer Tapes debut album would be such a refreshing opportunity to fall in love with modern music in a way that I hadn’t for a very long time. The highly original compositions of Max and Drew showed me firsthand that there were still contemporary pop artists out there that valued melody, wit, prowess, emotional conveyance and attention to detail as much as I…the perfect blend between the head and the heart.” —Roger Manning (Jellyfish, Beck, Cheap Trick)
The story of Explorer Tapes is a classic tale of popular music. Two guys from the Dallas/Fort Worth area with a lifelong friendship decide to start a band. They gather some additional talented musicians from the surrounding area, write some songs, play some shows, make some videos, then pack everyone in a van and drive to LA with the hope of getting signed to a publishing company, a record label, or even better, both.
This is, in fact, what happened to the group. Not long after reaching LA, Max Townsley and Drew Erickson, a.k.a. Explorer Tapes, signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music. After writing several songs with more established writers (David Baerwald, Dillon O’Brian, Steve Lindsey), the duo had the good fortune of having Keith Urban record their song “Texas Time.”
The group soon signed to Warner Records and were assigned hot producer Mike Elizondo, a protégé of Dr. Dre and known for his production of artists as varied as 50 Cent, Eminem, Carrie Underwood, Fiona Apple, and Twenty One Pilots. The songs and recordings came together quickly and the album was more or less done in three weeks in January 2015. After unforeseen circumstance, including a regime change at the label, the record stayed on the shelf at Warners for over six years, with no release in sight . . . until now.
Omnivore Recordings, in conjunction with Warner Records, is happy to finally announce the release of the debut album by Explorer Tapes. The eponymous collection contains 14 pop recordings on CD (12 on vinyl) including the original recording of “Texas Time.” The album will be available on CD and digital on August 13, 2021.
According to the band’s Townsley, “Our Explorer Tapes album will soon see the light of day after about five years, which is very exciting. Started in Denton, Texas and finished in Los Angeles, Calif., writing and making this album was for us quite a wild ride. Much love to everyone who helped and contributed to its creation and release, and I hope it will be enjoyed.”
The freshness of the songs and the sparkling production by Elizondo make this record seem like a long, lost friend and at the same time, something brand new. So, kick back, put the top down and crank up the tunes by Explorer Tapes . . . guaranteed to make you feel good all over!
Track listing:
1. All Depends On You
2. Texas Time
3. A Good Friend Is Hard To Find
4. Julia
5. Kids These Days
6. Washed Away
7. Change Looks Good On You
8. Radio
9. Everybody’s Crazy
10. More Than A Song Can Say
11. Easy To Love
12. Wouldn’t Change A Thing
CD-Only bonus tracks:
13. Sunset Strip
14. Still Love Lindsay
