Hey there beautiful.
The last couple weeks have been pretty stellar for Grand & Noble. A charmed epoch to be sure. No intention of being boastful lovelies, just wanted to keep any and all interested parties abreast of our big happenings.
Album Release: Today (1/10/2012) was the formal release date of our self-titled debut. Previously we had sent the album out to music blogs, publicists, labels, friends, family, and … anyone else interested but today was the big formal release day. There was a handful of balloons, they were released, and now we’re open to the world. Also, physical CDs are now purchasable at our bandcamp page should you desire as such. Remember when media was physical? Good times.
Featured on Television: ”This Light” was feature on the CBC drama “Being Erika” last month. Click this link to hear Mr. Elling’s sultry voice warming the great white north. Little known fact: Canada has government imposed Canadian content rules that limit non-Canadian influences in their television, radio, etc. Grand & Noble is all American baby. They couldn’t resist. We’re that damn good.
iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Rhapsody: Similarly, as of today you and yours can find our music on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon AND Rhapsody. Feel free to listen in whatever format you prefer. We want you to feel comfortable. Do you want a drink?
Promotion, publicity, and distribution: We’ve been blessed to have excellent support from aol.com, Green Light Go publicity and Tinderbox Music distribution. Through them Grand & Noble is the featured album of the week on Spinner and poised to be exposed to 300+ college radio stations.
Reviews: The reviews continue to pour in:
“We stumble across a lot of great music but we were absolutely floored when we heard this album. In fact, there’s not a single song that we would skip. “
- TheKnifeFight.com
“This is an album which is immediately revealing of a major artistic force, while the music reveals intricate original touches that will challenge any self-respecting music fan to listen repeatedly long into the new year. I’ll go out on a limb and say you won’t find many more adventurous debuts in 2012 or any other year. Put succinctly, Grand & Noble is a keeper.”
- HearHearMusic.com
“It is hard to find ways to describe a song like ‘This Light’ that do it justice. Saying something like ‘It’s a great rock song,’ isn’t going to cut it, even if it’s true. It’ll have to be good enough for me to say it has a very timeless feel”
- ThoseWhoDig.Net
Release Notes: Rollingstone MEXICO! / largehearted boy / ELECTRIC MUSTACHE / The Wheel’s Still In Spin /The Music Slut / Clearly the John / Musicbloglist / elbo.ws / Podcast Party / more
Anywho darlings, that’s it for now. Here’s to the past’s blessings and the future’s good fortunes. If you have just a moment, be a doll and reblog this post. Your support would mean the world to a few hard working Midwestern boys.
Cheers you wonderful people you,
Grand & Noble
9:56 pm • 10 January 2012 • 91 notes
An impossibly kind review from HearHearmusic.com. Truly generous. If you want to hear some really smart people review really great music, check their site out NOW.
ALBUM REVIEW: Grand & Noble – “Grand & Noble”
Year of the Album — #086
Grand & Noble – “Grand & Noble” (2012, Independent)
I’m really getting excited about the music coming in 2012, and Grand & Noble’s self-titled debut (out January 10, 2012, or right now as a name your price download via the band’s website) is right at the front of the pack. Fronted by Jon Elling’s emblematic vocals, which resonate immediately and provide a real sense of depth to the music, the band rocks out with touches of Wilco-inspired alt-country and more than a bit of modern piano blues-rock thrown in for good measure. “This Light” gets the album going in the right direction with a touch of Ryan Adams guitar melded with a bassline which brings to mind Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. Lyrically it’s right up Kellogg’s alley: “Call me up and say what’s there left to do but save our money for some ordinary shoes? I don’t believe the fun must end so soon …” Elling queries, raising his plaintive vocals to the sky as he wails the chorus: “Don’t say it’s over! Don’t say it’s over! Don’t say it’s over ’til you’re through.” By the time the song reaches its zenith you’ll be hoping this song won’t have to be over anytime soon.
“Paris (and Danielle)” picks up the reins from there with a touch of bass-heavy blues melded with a throughline of piano which pushes the song into the territory of top 40 music too good for top 40 to ever dare to play. “Feel the heat now, feel the friction – living life without permission,” Ellis sings forcefully, as the song takes its own motives to heart, the guitars crunching with wild abandon as the band breaks it all down and makes this seem so damned easy. But the band really brings it home on the soulful, introspective “Episcopal,” which features excellent harmonies over acoustic guitar and piano: “Somewhere in my shattered faith the chance I want is waiting there,” Elling sings as the band provides him wth a backdrop so filled with measured yearning it’s impossible not to keep the faith in what this band’s offering.
The rest of the album lives up to the challenge these songs set for Grand & Noble, crafting a debut of self-assured daring and willingness to build on what’s come before while forging their own identity. This is an album which is immediately revealing of a major artistic force, while the music reveals intricate original touches that will challenge any self-respecting music fan to listen repeatedly long into the new year. I’ll go out on a limb and say you won’t find many more adventurous debuts in 2012 or any other year. Put succinctly, Grand & Noble is a keeper.
12:46 pm • 10 January 2012 • 6 notes
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Grand & Noble - Bone Church
boy you’d better learn about the smallest of things
12:38 pm • 10 January 2012 • 2 notes
ataxiwardance:
Grand & Noble is playing a show with the INSANELY talented K. Serra and Greatest Lakes at Cole’s on the 21st. Click here for a little taste of magic.
The astute reader will remember that Rachel Sarah Thomas (formerly of Chicago’s own Automata) collaborated with Jon and I for the closing track of our album: “Send Me On My Way”. She’s releasing solo-material under the alias K-Serra and it unbelievably good. LIKE SUPER FOR SERIOUS GOOD. Y’ALL NEED TO BE CLICKIN’.
1:25 pm • 10 October 2011 • 11 notes
Grand & Noble Makes Top 10 in Flavorwire’s “A Band Apart” Competition
Named after a busy Chicago intersection, Grand & Noble is actually two guys named Jonathan Elling and Scott Kane Stukel. Incorporating piano, strings, and thoughtful arrangements into their country-tinged indie rock, the duo recall everyone from Cold War Kids to a more serious Weezer on their self-titled album, which you can download for free (or name your own price) on Bandcamp.
I’m not sure who submitted Grand & Noble for this contest (no one in the band has confessed) but it’s an absolute honor to be showcased the top 10! Feels really great to be listed along side such great talent as Amy Kuney, Blue Kid, Dominant Legs, Intake, Music Stockholm, Stoli, The David Mayfield Parade, and The Rap Pack.
9:45 am • 26 September 2011 • 7 notes
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Grand & Noble - Effigy
good at everything but modesty
12:43 pm • 7 August 2011 • 3 notes
jamesandevander:
New mix from the fellaz over at Music That Isn’t Bad
- “One Shot”/GOODTIME
- “Risk Of Change”/Holcombe Waller
- “The Gaudy Side of Town”/Gayngs
- “Clutching Stems”/The Ladybug Transistor
- “Golden Revolver”/San Cisco
- “Constellating”/James & Evander
- “Cinemetropolis”/Blue Scholars
- “Jona Vark”/Gypsy & the Cat
- “Happy Banjo”/Dark Mean
- “Where Not to Look for Freedom”/The Belle Brigade
- “Come Home”/The Pear Traps
- “This Light”/Grand & Noble
- “Holiday Heart”/Ki:Theory
- “Worker”/Rubblebucket
- “Confused”/Dieter Schaaf
hey check it out! Grand & Noble has been included alongside some great talent on Music That Isn’t Bad’s “Dang!! That’s What I Call Music Volume 18”.
woo!
also, just listened to some stuff by James & Evander. not bad. check it out.
9:31 pm • 3 August 2011 • 10 notes
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Grand & Noble - Episcopal
smarter than she could forget
12:38 pm • 2 August 2011 • 17 notes
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escapology:
Grand & Noble is probably about as classy as the name makes you think. Rocking ampersands and some smooth guitar, you clearly can’t argue with the appeal of these guys. The music has a pretty rich selection of instrumentation, and some pretty impressive variety on the EP as a whole. The vocals are something I’ve really enjoyed the more I listen to it, just because it’s got a masculine, soulful twinge. Probably the main reason I keep coming back for more. This Light is from their self-titled EP, up at Bandcamp.
another wonderful mini-review!
many thanks to the excellent men who run escapology!
(Source: escapology)
1:09 pm • 3 July 2011 • 25 notes
Mini review of “This Light” from the handsome and classy men at ThoseWhoDig.net!
Grand & Noble are a band out of Chicago and they have released their self-titled debut album recently. It is hard to find ways to describe a song like “This Light” that do it justice. Saying something like “It’s a great rock song,” isn’t going to cut it, even if it’s true. It’ll have to be good enough for me to say it has a very timeless feel, driven by clean guitar, piano, a shuffling drumbeat, and strong vocals. Overall, it’s a really great listen, you can see what I mean by streaming the track below. The album is available here.
11:48 am • 24 June 2011 • 1 note
