Pretty good review! But honestly we don't get the Goo Goo Dolls reference at all. haha...
Anyways, thanks to Adam Pearson for the review and to KZSU for the airplay!


Album Review
The Old Hopeful Trail by Slings
By Adam Pearson
Reviewed 2009-01-27

Bob Dylan meets Neutral Milk Hotel. The style most overtly borrows from influence NMH, but the music remains refreshing enough. Vocals sound like Bob mixed with Jeff Mangum and Isaac Brock. There are light touches of horns and other eclectic instrumentation layering behind the folksy core of harmonica and acoustic guitar. The production is fantastic and definitely does not take away from the songs. While The Slings are not reinventing the wheel, this combination of styles is incredibly refreshing and well done. The Slings are out of Orange County/Los Angeles and this is their debut. Recommended. No FCCs noted.

1. Opens with minimalistic harmonica, and slowly finds itself in the company of fuzz bass, percussion, guitars, singer sounds kind of like the guy from the Goo Goo Dolls on this sound (3:42)
2. Twangy, drenched guitars back up the normal frame, vocals sound very Bob here, (4:08)
3. Jangly rhythm guitar augmented by lush orchestration and prominent percussion, organ, electric guitars (3:16)
4. An affecting chord progression with melodious vocals, primary hook sounds like an accordion, fades into 5 (3:29)
5. Title track, slow number centered on acoustic guitars with noodling in the background, harmonica solo at crescendo/bridge/outro(4:06)
6. Subdued guitar builds to fuzz bass, bells, tambourine, shakers, Mangum-esqu backing vocals, horns (3:19)
7. Tense horns open track with intense acoustic guitar, drums, middle of track breaks down and gets sort of alt-country, outro features what seems to be a mandolin part and guitar solo (3:34)
8. Electric guitar wanders and song picks up to a Western, cowboy romp, vocals are low and smooth, picks up again for last bit (4:06)
9. Folksy intro, glockenspiel and drums add to chorus, vocals have a Western snarl (3:07)
10. Organ, drums are featured layered on top of simple acoustic number (2:59)
11. Warm, jangly guitar, builds up on some interesting instrumentation, including some electronic riff, handclaps, electric guitar solo
12. Folksy intro develops into more folk-pop, synths, tambourines add to this slower number, some Mangum ‘yee dee dee’s cover the pretty outro (5:40)
13. Lyrics are religious in nature, folky guitar, bells, light percussion, a warm song with a nice harmonica appearance (4:28)
14. Percussion opens the track, song is a bit surreal in its repetition, lush instrumentation of bells, fuzzy stuff, horns, accordions, and more Mangum borrowing (5:49)

See the review on their website here

we have sent our new album​,​​ "the old hopef​ul trail​"​​ to all of the follo​wing stati​ons with a note askin​g prett​y pleas​e,​​ can they give us some airti​me.​​ if you'​​re a fan and liste​ner of any of the follo​wing stati​ons,​​ it would​ defin​itely​ help for them to get some reque​sts for us!
if you hear us getti​ng playe​d,​​ pleas​e let us know.​​.​​.​​
and also,​​ if you know of a good stati​on that isn'​​t liste​d here we shoul​d send to, by all means​,​​ tell us!
thank​ you all for your suppo​rt!​​!​​!​​


Arizona

1260 AM KASC - Arizona State University
www.theblaze1260.com


Colorado

88.1 FM KAFM - Grand Junction
kafmradio.org

90.3 FM KBUT - Crested Butte
www.kbut.org

91.9 FM KDUR - Fort Lewis College
www.kdur.org


Georgia

90.5 FM WUOG - University of Georgia
www.wuog.org


Idaho

91.1 FM KISU - Idaho State University
www.isu.edu/kisufm


Louisiana

91.5 FM WTUL - Tulane University
www.wtulneworleans.com/v08


New Mexico

89.9 FM KUNM
kunm.org

91.5 FM KRUX - New Mexico State University
www.kruxradio.com


New York

88.9 FM WSIA - CUNY/College of Staten Island
wsia.csi.cuny.edu

89.1 FM WNYU - New York University
wnyu.org

90.7 FM WFUV - Fordham University
www.wfuv.org

93.9 FM WNYC
www.wnyc.org


Oregon

88.7 FM KBVR - Oregon State University
oregonstate.edu/dept/kbvr/fmradio

98.1 FM KPSU - Portland State University
kpsu.org

88.1 FM KWVA - University of Oregon
kwva.uoregon.edu


Texas

91.7 FM KTRU - Rice University
bang.rice.edu

89.9 FM KTSW - Texas State University, San Marcos
ktsw.txstate.edu

91.7 FM KVRX - University of Texas, Austin
www.kvrx.org

Radio UTD - University of Texas, Dallas
radio.utdallas.edu


Washington

88.1 FM KCWU - Central Washington University
www.881theburg.com

KSUB - Seattle University
www.seattleu.edu/ksub/index.shtml

90.7 FM KZUU - Washington State University
kzuu.wsu.edu/kzuu.aspx

90.3 FM KWRS - Whitworth College
www.kwrs.fm

Review by the wonderful and talented Ellen Griley!

Slings - The Old Hopeful Trail
(Kazu Records)
On debut The Old Hopeful Trail, Slings take old, old American sounds and tote them down dirty, dusty paths into your earbuds, where the acoustic guitars, harmonicas, kick drums and shakers settle with broken wagon wheels and tattered Bibles for a nice night around the fire pit ("Gold Teeth," "Salty Breeze"). And yet this is a traditional folk sound repurposed by modern hands for modern minds, so sometimes things head to town down that loose gravel road in search of an outlet for both the amp and the fun that follows ("The Son," spaghetti rocker "This Ain't No Last Dance," "Holy Ghost"). Consistently one of the best bands to catch live around these parts—two man band David Pope and Dustin Poulton joined by ex-Sendaero Charlie Breneman and a party of other guests—with Trail, Slings are ready to finally join you on travels down your own road.


See the review on The District Weekly website here: Slings - The Old Hopeful Trail

we have sent our new album​,​​ "the old hopef​ul trail​"​​ to all of the follo​wing stati​ons in calif​ornia​ with a note askin​g prett​y pleas​e,​​ can they give us some airti​me.​​ if you'​​re a fan and liste​ner of any of the follo​wing stati​ons,​​ it would​ defin​itely​ help for them to get some reque​sts for us!
if you hear us getti​ng playe​d,​​ pleas​e let us know.​​.​​.​​
and also,​​ if you know of a good stati​on that isn'​​t liste​d here we shoul​d send to, by all means​,​​ tell us!
thank​ you all for your suppo​rt!​​!​​!​​


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Indie 103.1 FM - Los Angeles and Orange County
www.indie1031.fm
online song request

KCRW 88.9 FM - Santa Monica College
www.kcrw.com

KXLU 88.9 FM - Loyola Marymount University
www.kxlu.com

KUCI 88.9 FM - University of California, Irvine
www.kuci.uci.edu

UCLA Radio - University of California, Los Angeles
www.uclaradio.com

KSCR 1560 AM - University of Southern California
www.kscr.org

CHAPMAN RADIO - Chapman University, Orange
www.chapmanradio.com

KBEACH - Cal State University Long Beach
www.asicsulb.org/kbeach

KPFK 90.7 FM - Pacifica Radio, Los Angeles
www.kpfk.org

KUCR 88.3 FM - University of California, Riverside
www.kucr.org

KLBC - Long Beach City College
www.klbc.org

KCSN 88.5 FM - Cal State University Northridge
www.kcsn.org

KSPC 88.7 FM - Pomona College
www.kspc.org

KCR 1620 AM - San Diego State University
kcr.sdsu.edu

KCSC - Cal State University Chico
www.kcscradio.com

KCPR 91.3 FM - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
www.kcpr.org

KSBR 88.5 FM - Saddleback College
www.ksbr.net

KCSB 91.9 FM - University of California, Santa Barbara
www.kcsb.org


NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

90.7 FM KALX - University of California, Berkeley
kalx.berkeley.edu

94.1 FM KPFA - Berkeley, CA
www.kpfa.org

90.3 FM KUSF - University of San Francisco
kusf.org

90.9 FM KCSF - City College of San Francisco
www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Broadcast/KCSF

90.3 FM KDVS - University of California, Davis
www.kdvs.org

90.1 FM KZSU - Stanford University
kzsu.stanford.edu

91.5 FM KKUP - Cupertino, CA
www.kkup.com

91.1 FM KMUD - Redwood Community Radio
kmud.org

89.5 FM KVMR - Nevada City, CA
www.kvmr.org

KSSU - Cal State University Sacramento
www.kssu.com

90.7 FM KFSR - Cal State University Fresno
www.csufresno.edu/kfsr

KFJC 89.7 FM - Foothill College, Los Altos Hills
www.kfjc.org

[LOCALS ONLY] SLINGS, 'THE OLD HOPEFUL TRAIL'
BY ERIN DEWITT

The Orange-based duo of Dustin Poulton and David Pope have, with their band Slings, created a fanciful world in which songs are stories and the harmonica is a totally serious instrument. On the band's newest ethereal collab, The Old Hopeful Trail, an innovative balance has been established that allows both natural and mechanical elements to coexist. The harsh industrial-grind slashing doesn't ruin the organic textures here, but rather complements them, helping Slings to diversify an otherwise granola-crunching persona. Listen to the team take a combo of acoustic guitars and undiluted country vocals and make it fresh with heavy distortion and grit. The album's opener, a sleepy western titled "Gold Teeth," melts together monosyllabic onomatopoeia with a line of shocking fuzz that recalls the similar hum-worthiness of Ohio band the Sun. "Christmas Carol" veers away slightly with a higher tempo and filtered, almost transparent vocals. (Far as I can tell, the song isn't holiday-themed—more of a lonely love song—but it'd sure be a welcome change from the constant drone of ear-numbing traditional carols.) Taking a cue from M. Ward and Iron and Wine, Slings also find the beauty in eloquent songwriting, but add touches of adventurous quirk. "This Ain't No Last Dance" wraps around a Dick Dale-inspired guitar riff and leans into some Nick Cave-esque ominous brooding before exploding into a cyclonic crescendo of clashing. Not only an escape from the mundane, the world of Slings is one where an imagination is free to streak naked through the woods. Like a verse from their track "The Songbird," "The harder the work, the more lovely the dream."

to see the article along with a pretty picture of us in the snow, click here:
locals only by erin dewitt

if you're a musician or band looking to record your music, we would like to enthusiastically recommend BLAKE CARVER for your engineering and mixing needs. blake is the recording genius behind our recently released debut album, "the old hopeful trail." he also served as a co-producer on the album.
working in a less than ideal recording environment (a simple bedroom) and with limited equipment, blake was able to use his knowledge and skills to produce a quality recording that not only satisfied and surpassed our expectations, but in our opinion, easily stands alongside most major releases out there in quality and sound.
we were constantly amazed by his ability to improvise and deal with unexpected issues and we were impressed by his professionalism and creativity during the recording and mixing process. he made it so easy for us and helped create an environment in which we could just focus on playing the music. he mixed our entire album and again, we were impressed by his enthusiasm, skill, patience and creativity during that process. he was more than willing to provide multiple suggestions and solutions for various concerns we had and he put forth an extremely dedicated effort to make sure we were happy with the final product.
as if all that contribution wasn't enough, he also played many of the parts on the album! blake is an experienced and very accomplished musician who has been playing in bands and on his own for many years. obviously that experience and perspective is extremely useful for recording purposes. we have even taken advantage of his talent as a musician by having him play as a current member of our live band when he's not too busy with recording.
we couldn't be more happy with our album and we owe so much to blake for his contribution to the project. we have the highest respect for blake not only as a talented recording engineer, but also and more importantly, as a good friend. this guy is the full package - impressive talent, unstoppable drive, tireless effort and wonderful personality.
if you're serious about recording your music, please get in touch with him! he can help ensure that you get a quality recording at a great price.

to contact blake, write him through his myspace profile here: BLAKE CARVER MUSIC

or email him at: blakecarvermusic@gmail.com

The Slings

By Erin Sierchio
This article was published on 08.02.07

Dustin Poulton and David Pope are the Slings, a Southern California-based indie-folk duo that delivers melodic tunes capable of producing a dream-like effect. There's an intimacy in the combination of hushed vocals and acoustic guitar that makes it hard not to romanticize that they're performing solely for you. After narrowing their Playlist down, the band chose five songs that "always make us feel happier when we hear them." The Slings perform at the Press Club this Sunday.

1. "A Summer Wasting"
by Belle & Sebastian (from The Boy with the Arab Strap)

2. "Engine"
by Jeff Mangum (from Live at Jittery Joe's)

3. "Jewel Box"
by Jeff Buckley (from Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk))

4. "Window"
by Damien Jurado (from Where Shall You Take Me?)

5. "Poison Cup"
by M. Ward (from Post-War)

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/All?oid=46745

The Sounds When They Move
Welcome to the world of Slings
By ELLEN GRILEY

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Somewhere out there - tucked inside the daydreams of a whimsical and weird 14-year-old, maybe - exists the world of Slings: a world where puppy-eyed bull skulls skip down a floating xylophone and a giant red octopus slow dances with tree stumps (one for each arm) to a soaring melodica melody. In this world, everyone and everything - the bull skulls, the xylophone, the octopus, trees and melodica, plus a few canary-yellow baby chicks and also an old guitar and salt shaker - is a friend, a comrade, a partner in song and life and the jubilee you get when you combine them all together. The world of Slings, the music created by David Pope and Dustin Poulton, isn't for hard hearts and cynics, but rather for lovers and dreamers and lonely lost cowboys. It's more than music for a particular mood or even a season - it is, as anyone remotely involved with the band knows, a way of life.

"There are a million bands out there, and they're all just worried about themselves," explains Pope. "I don't want to be the first to the top. I want to do our part to pull everyone out of the woodwork."

To step inside the world of Slings, you must begin in Gainesville, Florida, where Pope and former band mate Andy Blaire first collaborated 11 years ago. As big thinkers living in a relatively small college town, Pope, Blaire and their band mates spent years collecting - as opposed to, say, amassing - a following of like-minded musicians and artists, people who supported them as well as their own selves. And people who, in turn, the band supported.

"We really like the notion of family," says Pope. "Not a scene where you have to earn your way in. The most important thing to us is 'How supportive are you?'"

It's a sensibility tailor-made for smaller towns like Gainesville - and Nashville and Louisville - where bars and venues fall next to one another, where people are friendly and it's easy to say hi to someone after a show. But when Pope and Blaire moved to Orange County four years ago, finding a community like the one they had back home wasn't quite so easy.

"Out here, you're always on a mini-tour," observes Pope. "It's hard to develop things without a hang-out spot."

With the help of Poulton, his sister and their friends, Blaire and Pope re-introduced the world of Slings - which goes down like Neutral Milk Hotel, Yo La Tengo, Grandaddy and Belle and Sebastian; see the country-fied "Walk With Me" and check the surf guitar on "What..s That" for a better idea - to Orange County. By the beginning of this year, they were prepared to - some might say officially - debut their new community.

Titled The Sounds When We Move, Slings' self-released compilation CD features two tracks each ("There's no way you can make a band pick just one song," says Pope) from 10 bands, including such locals as Sendaero and Ann Lynn, ex-pats the Blank Tapes, LA bands Satellite Class and the World Record, and also bands such as Ohio's Bears and New York's Spider. The world of Slings is in everything from the album's cover art (illustrated by Carly Pope, David's wife and Poulton's sister, who designs the band's posters and merch, including a button featuring the puppy-eyed bull skull) to the track list, "written," as Pope calls it, like the band "writes" a show: "You want to create an atmosphere, to write it in a way that's going to keep the whole night fun." And of course, there was a release show: a true, spirited jubilee featuring Ann Lynn jamming with Slings, Slings jamming with Sendaero, everyone onstage and signing, if not for the people in the crowd, then for one another.

That show, held in April, also marked a new era for Blaire, Pope and Poulton: the final show by Slings as a three-piece. Blaire, who married in May (followed by Pope in June), decided to leave the band and focus on other things - his new family, namely. Which now leaves Pope and Poulton: two men with lush, atmospheric melodies and only four limbs each with which to play them. But chances are they'll have more than enough help getting back on their feet. "I believe there's a point to life in every aspect," Pope says. "I see the benefit of being involved, not just 'Help me.' That way, we're not swimming alone..we'll always be able to stay afloat and hang on to each other."

Instead of maintaining a blog here, we have set up an online journal over at livejournal.com. Click on the link below to check it out. You can bookmark it and check back from time to time for updates on what's going on in the world of Slings. If you are a livejournal user yourself, please add us as a friend! Thank you!

Also online at Slings Online Journal