Ten Shekel Shirt (INO / EPIC Records) merges melodic college rock with Brit pop/rock.
Their acoustic driven 2001 debut album Much sold 130 000 units and featured the #1 hit Ocean. The new project Risk is a “radio-ready” rock album with a soul, featuring solid organic grooves, electric complexity and haunting melodies.
“Risk is one of the most creatively satisfying albums of the year.” CM Central
"With an astonishing maturity, Risk is certainly a statement of Ten Shekel Shirt's talent and staying power." Relevant Magazine
“The brutal honesty of every line in every song makes this a powerful disc.” 13:40mag
Lyrically thought provoking and spiritual Ten SS tenders imagery as far-flung as:
-a sky full of stars, waiting breathless ...for static humans to shine. (Cheer Up)
-an adolescent sex slave risking a smile ...stepping out of brothel imprisonment…blinking through the bright Thai sunlight. (Over The Room)
-a chill winter...risking the acute memory ...of those dissonant Valentine's flowers laid over a fresh gravesite. (February)
Ten Shekel Shirt hails from New Haven, Connecticut and includes Austin Morrison (drums), Jake Carey (guitar), Lamont Hiebert (lead vocals), David Benedetti (bass.) Their discography has become a subtle description of the elements that characterize their lives off stage – they are willing to Risk Much. After Lamont returned from a visit to South East Asia in 2002, he and the guys helped launch Justice for Children International. JFCI raises awareness and resources for the prevention, rescue and after-care of sexually exploited children. “I was shocked to find out that girls and boys, some as young as five years of age, are trafficked into the sex industry,” says Hiebert.
Without support from their record company, management or booking agency Ten Shekel Shirt has decided to launch Benefit / Awareness tours across the North America. “We are just a small part of a growing movement towards justice for children. And although it’s challenging trying to make it as a band and pioneer a foundation at the same time we wouldn’t trade in our involvement for anything,” adds Morrison.
If the new album's alpha is risk, its omega is certainly hope. The marrow of this collection of songs is infused with hope… because risk and hope are immutably joined. Whether in bereavement, celebration, confusion, despair, worship, or boredom, Risk says, “There is more”.
Source: http://www.tenshekelshirt.com/
