Chicago’s Algren is announcing a release date of April 2009 for their first full-length album, A Wayward Sound Floods the Streets. A double whammy, this album is accompanied by a graphic novel, something I haven’t seen done by a local band since North Carolina’s The Never released Antartica. The album and book will be sold together at their shows and various independent music and book stores in the Chicago area.
Short but sweet, the graphic novel is an abstract work about one characters struggle to fight corruption amidst the destruction of his city. The story shares the views of Algren, many of whose songs reflect on the consumerism and cultural decay of societal resignation.
Algren brought the graphic novel idea to Chicago writer Jason Hissong and Wisconsin based artist Brian Defferding of Deftoons Comics and Illustration (www.deftoons.com) Where it took life thanks to their careful skill and the influence of Wayward Sound’s eleven tracks. If fans read closely they’ll see song titles and lyrics incorporated into the story, and are sure to feel the connection between Defferdings illustrations and Algren’s music.
The album itself was recorded at Gremlen Studios by Sam Beckley, who has previously worked with Algren on demos and single session recordings. The tentative release date for A Wayward Sound Floods the Streets is Saturday, April 4th at Reggie’s Rock Club (www.reggieslive.com)
Listen to Algren here
Algren will also be playing at The Elbo Room this Friday, February 27th
