Jeremy Messersmith EPK

JEREMY MESSERSMITH EPK

BIO

To call Jeremy Messersmith a musician is half-truth: He’s also a storyteller, who has carefully crafted a trilogy of songs that narrate life. His first full-length release The Alcatraz Kid is a moving collection of acoustic-driven lullabies with titles like “Novocain” and “Beautiful Children” that innocently question the purpose of things to come. The integrity of these delicate songs immediately struck a cord with critics and fans alike, and captured the attention of Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, who offered to produce Messersmith’s follow-up album, The Silver City.

The Silver City was a natural progression in sound and reflection: the compositions grew fuller and more dynamic with a classic-pop feel inspired by the Beach Boys and Beatles: While the topics focused on midlife struggles with tracks like “Dead End Job” and “Miracles.” Local and national attention soon followed with NPR and college stations around the country, followed by U.S. tours and sold-out shows in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis.

The Reluctant Graveyard (out May 4) bookends this trilogy of lifelong (ahem, literary) observations with songs like “Lazy Bones” and “Organ Donor,” and sonically continues on the’60 chamber pop path Messersmith set out with his sophomore release. He continues to share stages with notables such as Sondre Lechre and The Watson Twins, and has been featured on MTV and Ugly Betty. And while this collection of songs comes to an end, it’s no doubt that the stories will live on.

PRESS CLIPPINGS

Top 10 Albums of 2010, NPR

Top 25 Videos of 2010, Paste

Best Local Album of 2010, Star Tribune

Other National Press: BoingBoing, Yahoo Main Page for one week, NY Times, WSJ, Wired Magazine, Nylon, Gizmodo, Interview Magazine, New York Magazine, Spinner, Washington Post, amongst others.

Synchs on: Chuck, United States of Tara, Ugly Betty, MTV

"The phrase "worthy heir to the power-pop throne long held by Fountains of Wayne" and the phrase "concept album about death" don't usually appear in the same sentence, but here we are"
-Stephen Thompson, NPR

"He's deservedly being discovered all over the media map this year, having songs featured on TV shows and making smart videos that get the YouTube buzz going. He even opened for President Obama on his recent visit to the Twin Cities."
-Mark Wheat, NPR (The Current)

"Messersmith’s knack for melody and his skill as a songwriter are evident throughout, from the breezy, hook-laden pop of “Lazy Bones” and “Dillinger Eyes” to the almost Belle & Sebastian-esque vulnerable folk of "A Girl, A Boy and A Graveyard."
-Paste Magazine

"literate, languid but warm acoustic ditties with traces of Elliott Smith."
-Star Tribune

"Simon and Garfunkel, with a 21st century twist."
-Performing Songwriter

"Messersmith excels at one thing that can't be taught: Songwriting."
-Time Out Chicago

"The lyrics of his songs also suggest that he's a little on the glum side of things, although those dark lyrics all come supported by a musical spoonful of sugar: beautiful, catchy melodies."
-KCMP 89.3 The Current

"Imagine Elliott Smith driving in a convertible, the wind flying through his hair, singing about sadness and somehow creating joy enough to forget his troubles for a while."
-The Onion

"Jeremy Messersmith has that certain je ne sais quoi. His sad lyrics/happy melody coupling isn't brand-new, but it's done in a way that conjures images of a still-upright Elliott Smith performing songs intended for Brian Wilson or A.C. Newman,not a bad spot to be in, all told."
-City Pages (Village Voice)

"Remember the way you felt the first time you heard the amazing harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel? That subdued, magical sound lives once more on Jeremy Messersmith’s The Alcatraz Kid, but this time with a 21st-century twist. Messersmith lulls with his gentle voice and overdubbed harmonies, easing the shock of his sometimes-harsh lyrics. Quirky? Certainly. Will you like it? No doubt."
-Performing Songwriter