Radar Bros.

The Radar Brothers are a band from Los Angeles, CA. Jim Putnam (vocals, guitars, keys), Senon Gaius Williams (bass, percussion) and Steve Goodfriend (drums, percussion) have been playing together for over 10 years now. The Fallen Leaf Pages is their fourth full length recording, their first since 2002’s critically acclaimed And The Surrounding Mountains. In 1994, Jim Putnam had a backlog of songs written and enlisted the help of his college buddy Steve Goodfriend to do some recording. They were introduced to bassist Senon Williams through mutual friends, and suddenly a band was born. These early recording sessions produced their self titled debut EP, on Fingerpaint records. Soon after, the Brothers found themselves back in Jim’s home studio recording tracks for their debut album, also eponymous, to be released on Restless Records. Through touring and critical response the band quickly drew a loyal fan base. However, their label floundered in the unstable music industry climate of the day, and the band seemed back at square one after a most auspicious debut.

Still, as Jim continued to make improvements and renovations in his studio, now dubbed Skylab, the band continued to write and record at their own pace, further refining their sound as well as their chemistry as a band. In 1999, the band found a new home—See-Thru Broadcasting (US)/ Chemikal Underground (UK) - and The Singing Hatchet was released to universal acclaim. Both in the U.S. and Europe the Radar Brothers were lauded for their subtle yet powerful songwriting. Much touring ensued, taking the band all across the North America, the UK and Europe. After all the touring was over, the band once again returned to the studio, working diligently and patiently on their next opus, And The Surrounding Mountains, which would be unleashed on the world in the spring of 2002 on a new label, Merge Records. Once again the band hit the road, gaining new converts in every stop along the way, including a much coveted tour with Modest Mouse in the summer of 2002. The critics swooned, and the fans rejoiced. The band even managed to garner a coveted nomination for the Short List Prize in 2002.

Never ones to rush their collective muse, it’s now been 3 years since the van was parked and the crowds dispersed. But as usual with the Radar Brothers, the results prove to have been well worth the wait. Recorded exclusively at Jim’s own Skylab Phase III studios in the Atwater section of L.A., The Fallen Leaf Pages is a warm, inviting album with new variations on the classic Pink Floyd-meets Crazy Horse-meets the Beach Boys vibe that the Radar Brothers have become known for. Their music evokes the laid back, sun drenched desert nuance of Southern California, as opposed to the glitzy glamour and synthetic sheen of Hollywood. More of walk through Joshua Tree as opposed to a stroll down Rodeo Drive. Layers of guitar and keyboards wash over beautiful harmonies to create a sonic blueprint for reflection and wistful daydreams. Lyrically, Putnam’s twisted tales and somber ruminations are often at odds with the dreamy melodies, but it is in these dichotomies that you will find the Radar Bros.’ true genius.

The L.A.-based Radar Bros. -- originally comprised of guitarist Jim Putnam (Medicine, Maids of Gravity), bassist Senon Williams (Dengue Fever), and drummer Steve Goodfriend -- debuted with a self-titled EP (Fingerpaint Records) and quickly garnered themselves a following in the U.K. By 1996, the band had signed to Restless Records and issued a self-titled LP that combined sonic guitarscapes and smoky melodies, earning Radar Bros. a slowcore/sadcore tag and aligning them with peers Acetone and Low (while evoking memories of Neil Young, Brian Wilson, and Pink Floyd). Singing Hatchet followed in 1999, and the band supported its release with tours across North America, the U.K., and Europe. Three years went by before their sun-drenched follow-up was released, but And the Surrounding Mountains was a Crazy Horse-meets-Pink Floyd record that brightened the Merge Records release schedule in the spring of 2002. The band subsequently chose to stick with Merge, releasing The Fallen Leaf Pages in 2005 and Auditorium (their first album with guitarist/keyboardist Jeff Palmer) in 2008. ~ Denise Sullivan, All Music Guide