Old Hearts Club - Old Hearts Club (1997) Self-Titled EP

0:00 - Someone You Love Is Far Away but Near a Telephone 2:51 - Stamped From the Dough of Suffering With a Heart Shaped Cookie Knife 5:22 - Blue Racer If you are the artist and would like this removed off of YouTube, please reach out to me by contacting via e-mail (found in the 'about' section of my channel). In no way did I intend any harm, just wanting to share the incredible music. Old Hearts Club was an emo band from Cleveland, Ohio. They existed for a short stint between 1995 and 1996, dissolving after releasing a very short (albeit amazing) discography. Brothers Allen Karpinski and Jay Karpinski later went on to form the post-rock outfit The Six Parts Seven. As of now, their public discography includes the three songs contained on this single, as well as two other tracks on the compilations "Israfel" and "Taking a Chance on Chances". The band also has a currently unreleased EP that shares the same self-titled name as this one, which unfortunately does not have an upload anywhere on the internet. Sonically, this single is a bittersweet and sprawling release, outfitted by gorgeous steel guitar lines and melodic whispers. The opening track "Someone You Love Is Far Away but Near a Telephone" starts with a watery and plucky riff, immediately thrusting the listener in to the nostalgic bliss the release has to offer. It's my favorite track on the EP, and serves as a good "flagship" song for the band. Something about the production combined with the songwriting creates such an emotional atmosphere. It reminds me of when I was in the between period of middle school and high school, my friends and I spending the summer at each other's houses with zero concern for any of the difficulties to be found in our futures. Suburban nights spent stargazing out at local parks, cherishing company and entertainment. As of writing this, we've currently been stuck in quarantine due to the coronavirus for about five months. I haven't been able to see any of my friends in person for the entire duration of this situation due to family safety concerns, and all the time spent away from one another has given me the ability to reminisce on the past frequently. Releases like this really make me miss the simpler times we had all used to live in. We've grown older now, and distanced ourselves both physically and mentally. It seems to be that this EP was written by those in the same head-space, remembering their times as simpler minds and fretting dearly about the uncertain future. It's comforting, in a way, to listen to archives of emotional maturation as one gets older themselves. This release is exactly that to me. I cannot understate how essential this recording is. Artwork – Christa Donner Bass – Allen Karpinski Guitar – Kyle T. Lap Steel Guitar – Mary Mazzer Percussion – Jay Karpinski, Matt E. Recorded By – Ralph Houseman, Steve Schindler Sampler – Allen Karpinski Vocals – Kyle T. Recorded At – Speak In Tongues, Cleveland, OH Printed By – I Heart Rubber Cement Graphics