Style : LO-FI/Folk
Brands : 80H
Issue : 2005.11.5
Link: http://ppp32.blogbus.com/index.html
[this has been roughly translated - it sounds weird - plus, I think it's negative]
The Constitution Project, Pine is james diotte individuals. This EP is the song in his album of the same name three songs. This sounds very meticulous folk total some absentminded, do not know from where unrest. Cover is very bad short and not as bright as the album cover.June 26th, 2006 in new music http://yerbird.com/blog
So, Sunny Day Real Estate always got on my nerves, but have you guys heard Jeremy Enigkís solo album, Return of the Frog Queen? Itís pretty awesome, and i have been hoping heíd do another record like it sometime. That doensít seem to be in the cards (unless yu count his contributions to the United States of Leland soundtrack) but these guys (this guy?), Between the Pine, capture that great touch of nuanced melody and spacious arrangment that made the Enigk album really work for me - that sort of subtle epic folk song thing, I guess. Check it out:June 15th, 2006 :: http://basementsongs.blogspot.com
For those who love rainy days, this is the perfect track. Another true homegrown BASEMENT SONG! from the depths of a Rhode Island home, Jim Diotte and Robin Toste bring us straight-up sweet folk-rock under the name Between the Pine. And to think, they call themselves "boring." lulling is not necessarily boring.Donnerstag, Februar 02, 2006 :: http://itstoolong.blogspot.com/
Aus Rhode Island kommen Between the Pine und f¸r mich schon einer der groþen Titelanw”rter f¸r 2006. Was gibt es noch? Sie schenken uns eine Gratis (Gratis!) EP mit 3 Liedern.Please sit down I'll carry on my father's joke We awoke
Bitte mal anh–ren! posted by itstoolong at 12:19 PM 01.27.06 :: http://www.fishcomcollective.net
Between the Pine immerses the listener instantly in a gentle wind, a softly psychedelic summer afternoon of lazy melancholia and quiet beauty. A slight smirk informs the proceedings, obliquely, but there's plenty of heart in this engaging indie soft pop that embraces modern indie ethics, folk and a bit of classic rock's laid back side. Lush. - http://www.fishcomcollective.net01.26.06 :: http://camerondeyhle.blogspot.com/
Hot Rod Porta hit me up with some serious love today! I reviewed Between The Pine's 3 Song EP last year and immediately fell in love with James Diotte's sweet sweet sound. The free online EP consists of 3 songs from the full length album and does an absolutely wonderful job of making you go completely insane until you can hear the whole thing. And the whole thing doesn't let down! Most of the tracks have a stripped down sound consisting of James singing and playing his acoustic guitar, but before you get too comfortable he hits you with some catchy pop rock numbers for good measure. On top of all of this, there is wonderful production with the albums warm feel and subtle background touches. I was working that EP to death and this album came to me just in time. - http://camerondeyhle.blogspot.com/ - Monday, January 16Between The Pine: Between The Pine: Review
*Sixeyes Score: 7.9 out of 10
This one man band from Rhode Island, Between The Pine [a.k.a. Jim Diotte], is without a doubt my favourite artist of 2006. What? What's that? The year 2006 is hardly two weeks old? All right... so far, Between The Pine is my favourite and will most certainly be my 'Discovery of the Year'. And I truly hope he is one of yours as well. I stumbled upon the fantastic songs of Between The Pine a short time ago and have previously written about the music and artist here and here. One of these pieces was a brief review of the FREE downloadable EP available at 80H Records, but those songs have grown more pleasing as time passed(the three tracks you can grab can be found on the full length album as well). When I heard another song from the full length, "Bronze Shoes", it just further confused me as to why I hadn't heard of this artist, because it's another strong track--one with a chorus that will corkscrew into you and swell until you're singing and swaying along. "Bronze Shoes" has, as many of these songs do, been given an indie folkiness by the addition of an accordion--an instrument which finds itself somewhere between a Hammond organ's atmospheric power and a harmonica's French film soundtrack playfulness--this song also, due to it's strong melody line and the accordion, stirs up welcome echoes of The Arcade Fire... if they were playing for you and you alone in the back of a mini van or in a dark corner at a noisy party. The song also boasts the pleasant surprise of backing vocals from Diotte's wife, Robin Toste.
The album opener, the feathery "Sit down, Shut Up", melds the familiar feel of a Beatles-like rhythm guitar and a much less familiar, but pleasing, vocal which resembles Baxter Dury (son of Brit legend, Ian Dury). While the song, "We Awoke", enters, or draws us into, the unique universe of Sufjan Stevens, if he lived in a art house film shot in France, or another of those 'old country' countries with a laissez-faire attitude. It's the vibraphone, or xylophone, that lends a European air to the melody and which always stirs images of foreign films and sub-titles in my mind. "We Awoke" starts sadly and beautifully and stays that way--only adding more layers of blue over the waltzing alabaster melody. A standout track which has been granted a precious fold of gray matter in my skull, an area labeled 'permanent memory", smack up against the 'feel good' center. Other highpoints include "I'll Carry On My Father's Joke", "We All Know Where You Are", and "Shoot Me In The Spine".
A dash of Sufjan Stevens, a little lo-fi indie, an eccentric mix of instrumentation, and a timelessness that evades reasoning is what the debut album from Between The Pine is all about. If I can turn just a few people onto this great music then the songs themselves will do the rest. You should give Jim Diotte and the DIY gems he cuts in his Rhode Island basement studio a little time, but no effort... oh no, it's no effort at all to listen to imagination and talent.
01.08.06 :: http://lobster.blogspot.com/
I've loved all of the songs I've heard on Between the Pine's myspace page. I found them through one of the dozens of blogs I visited today, and maybe through hypnotherapy I could remember which site, but until then it will be a mystery. I'm just happy that I found them. The four songs featured here are all awesome in their own right, but I'll push "This Ocean's Too Big". Go ahead and listen to them all, though. - http://lobster.blogspot.com/12.30.05 :: http://sixeyes.blogspot.com/
BETWEEN THE PINE: Interview
I came across the solo project of Jim Diotte, Between The Pine, not very long ago. And as usual I can't for the life of me recall how... oh, wait, I remember, I'm on 80H Records mailing list and this tiny internet label had recently offered a 3 track EP for free download by Between The Pine. Anyway I hadn't heard, or heard of Between The Pine and when I saw the name it appealed to me. Now the music appeals to me and I thought I'd try to get in touch with Jim Diotte to ask a few questions. *Sixeyes previous post on BTP is here.
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*Sixeyes: Is the music you record as Between The Pine any different from what you've been writing all along? I mean, since you began writing songs?
Between The Pine: Well I recently just under went a name change. I used to call my solo junk "These Dungarees". It was a bit more upbeat and pretty raw. Not like Eddie Murphy's "Raw". More like 'one try' takes and bad recordings. I'm not sure I'm much further away from that still, but I've been taking this a bit more serious than I used to. So, I felt I should retire that name. So, to answer your question, yes and no. I've been learning a few more instruments and I think each one brings a different feel to the songs.
*S: Are your influences obvious to others, do you think? Or would listeners be surprised if they knew what music inspires you? What are your influences?
BTP: My major influences come from my friends. There are some outside classic bands and recent bands that inspire me but I'm not sure if it changes what i'm doing too much. Maybe it does though. Probably does...I don't work in a cave. But the hugest impact on me in my writing has probably got to be my best friend Aj Pyatak (Gannon). I've been learning from him since I met him in college in NY. We played in a few pick up bands together, but where I really picked up tricks were from watching him record and listening to his albums. He's too good. He's one of those guys that just loves music for the sake of music.
*S: I believe that you record in your basement at home... is that right? So, is Between The Pine a one man show? Do you play all the instruments and mix the tracks?
BTP: Yes, I record in a small basement studio I built and in my apartment at times. Yes, I'm a 'one man' guy. I play all the instruments, but when it comes time to mastering I send all my tracks to AJ Pyatak, mixed as close to what I want as possible and then have him remix and master. And I'll ask him to add vocals in the background and play bass on a few tracks. I've also been getting my wife to lend her voice. She's got this amazing voice and I need to use it more. She helps cover up my shrill voice.
*S: Will your solo project be getting more attention, or will you be splitting solo time with band time? How many bands are you in right now... just the one?
BTP: I am always writing songs and it used to be that it would all go to my solo project. But now that I play with these amazing guys, I have pretty much been bringing those songs to them. But some songs fit the "number 1, i love you" sound more while some are better suited for "Between The Pine".
I'm currently in 3 bands. "Between The Pine" (my solo), "Number 1, I Love You" (full band), and "The Horse's Mouth" (my father-in-law's band, I play the drums and ukulele). I also get together with a few other guys and we goof around. But I just show up with a ukulele or guitar and just play along.
*S: You're located in Rhode Island, do you play many shows in the area? Are there places to play, or do you as a solo act, or with the band, have to go on the road?
BTP: Yeah Lil' Rhodey... I honestly havn't played many solo shows as "Between The Pine". Actually I think only one, and it was on a local college radio show (90.3 wuri - guerrilla rock) at 12am - 3am. So I'm not sure if that counts. I wasn't really in front of anyone but maybe 2 people. And I think those are the only 2 people that would show up anyways.
My full band has been playing out more recently. I've been dedicating more time to that. It's still growing and evolving so it's been pretty fun.
RI actually does have a bunch of places to play and we've been playing anything that comes our way. we don't have any plans on going on the road right now but i guess we would if we were offered something. but I doubt it...
*S: What does 2006 hold for you? Recording, performing?
BTP: I am currently in the middle of recording with all 3 bands. I am trying to get a few small shows for "Between The Pine" and have a few shows already lined up for "Number 1, I Love You". We're playing at the AS220 in Providence on January 28th, 2006. We're hoping to add a few more people to the roster for that. My father-in-law's band also has a few shows lined up as well. So it's starting to get pretty busy, but I enjoy that.
12.21.05 :: http://rarosyfelices.blogspot.com/ Para terminar, un EP que escuchÈ recientemente y que me agradÛ bastante, Between the Pine, disco solista de Jim Diotte junto a su esposa Robin Toste. El EP tiene tres temas y lo pueden bajar en 80H Rercords. - http://rarosyfelices.blogspot.com/
12.21.05 :: http://camerondeyhle.blogspot.com
Mini Review of Between The Pine - 3 Song E.P.
James Diotte of Number 1, I Love You has branched out for his solo project Between The Pine. (Sorry I couldn't resist saying "branched") He has a new self titled release out at Hot Rod Porta Records but has also made an online-only 3 Song E.P. available for assisting you in becoming familiar with his work. The songs listed below are linked back to 80H Records where his E.P. and many other online-only albums can be had. If you find yourself having trouble getting these three songs out of your head, make your way to his site for details on how you can purchase the full L.P. - http://camerondeyhle.blogspot.com/
12.20.05 :: http://bibabidiboo.blogspot.com/
Between the Pine is pretty lo-fi, yeah, but the gasping vocals and 60s-psych-pop drumming and xylophone on one song and the ukulele strumming on another make the band far more eclectic and engaging than any power-pop groups from this year. They've just posted a three-song EP on their website (Please Sit Down, I'll Carry On My Father's Joke, and We Awoke), which I think is pretty interesting! - http://bibabidiboo.blogspot.com/
12.19.05 :: http://mhayhurst.blogspot.com/
I was searching a few labels this afternoon and checked up on 80H, a primarily web based label with most releases available for direct download. On the front page is a beautiful record cover of two pine trees, two mountains and it looks to belong to an artist I may like. I am a sucker for great album art and when checking out new music, an album cover is all I have to go by. Nine out of ten times I find a winner when the artwork sticks out to me and this time is no exception.
Between the Pines is Jim Diotte and I have to say I don't know much about this band other than he is from Road Island, but when I heard the tracks from 80H's free 3 track s/t ep, I was hooked. We Awoke draws Sufjan refrences, but stripped down to it's purest form. Please Sit Down, is deuted with his wife and their vocals blend so well together against an acoustic backdrop. I'll Carry My Father's Joke, plays more with instrumentation, but don't get me wrong, Diotte's vocals are still dancing in the foreground.
This EP is great, and that I just discovered it is even better, and that it's free blows my mind. Download Between the Pines now. Check out Jim's website here and purchase is new LP from Hot Rod Porta. Check out We Awoke from the Between the Pines EP.
- http://mhayhurst.blogspot.com/
12.14.05 :: http://sixeyes.blogspot.com/
Between The Pine is the solo work of Rhode Island's Jim Diotte and it's surprising work. It's always surprising to stumble across such well crafted and marvellously performed songs by someone you've never heard of... surprising and inspiring. Diotte has just released a three track EP on Brooklyn's 80H Records and it's free, a free download on the 80H site. The music bubbles and simmers over and around the soft vocals of Diotte and, in places, the lovely backing vocals of his wife, Robin Toste.
This track, "I'll Carry On My Father's Joke", is Sufjan Stevens and Iron and Wine meet Bright Eyes in a Rhode Island basement. - http://sixeyes.blogspot.com
12.09.05 :: http://lupatarkastaja.samizdat.info/
(It's in Finnish... i can't speak Finnish but i'm hoping this is good... God, i hope this is good! )
T”n” vuonna jo useita mielenkiintoisia levyj” julkaissut nettilafka 80H on laittanut jakoon Between The Pine -yhtyeen ensimm”isen EP:n. Yhtyeen nime” kantava kolmen biisin julkaisu sis”lt”” jokseenkin alakuloista, mutta silti l”mminhenkist” populaarimusiikkia. Minimalistisen mahtipontista ja jotain muita mit””nsanomattomia m””reit”. - http://lupatarkastaja.samizdat.info/
Mini Review of Between The Pine - 3 Song E.P.