The Starlings: Press

Wow. This is huge. The Starlings are one of the most talented and engaging groups in the Northwest, and their previous releases (including Joy Mills' solo album) were certainly high on the "Best Of..." lists when they came out, but Marveling the While has the group moving to a new level. Call it their Revolver, their Big Pink: they display a maturity and facility whereby the songwriting, the musicianship, and the arrangements strike deep at the emotional and musical subconscious. They use the themes and shards of generations of roots subgenres and an armload of contemporary acoustic music niches to spin a platter that is at once ecstatically new and resonantly recognizable. The opening cut, "Love and War," is simply a work of genius that causes heart palpitations even if listened to twenty times in row. Joy Mills, a great vocalist, turns to the sweet end of her range on this and many of the songs on this album, where before she got more attention when she was hard-nosed; this brightness has the perverse effect of making the songs even edgier, as her usual harrowing tales arrive so innocently. Her "Wild Child" stands out, as does her roiling expatriate's melancholy and uncertain nostalgia on "Iowa." Mills' partner, guitarist Tom Parker, takes the lead on some of the songs, and he finds power in a more relaxed approach, too. These are his best songs yet. The music on the album is gorgeous, with the right touches in the right places. Aimee Zoe Tubbs' percussion work is particularly notable, be it on the skins or, as on "Favorite Song," hubcaps. Figuring heavily in the overall "feel" is some scrumptious pedal steel from Mike Grigoni on several cuts; there's also a nice guest appearance by Truckstop Souvenir's Lauryn Shapter, and producer Chad Hinman pops in a little electric guitar to put a Bakersfield kick in "If I'd Ever Change." So, friends, it's 2008, and here's your "must have." Wow.

Marvellous second album of folk-plus-country from Seattle stars...

Seattle’s Starlings second album is that ava raris, a work has the musical development so beloved of critics and reviewers while retaining the sound and style of their debut to keep fans who know what they like happy. That said, “Marveling The While” is older music, with more of a sense of time passing and regret and the opening song, the philosophically musing and world weary “Love and War”, may come as something of a surprise as it sounds unlike anything they’ve recorded before. The band move quickly on to more familiar territory with the desolate “Empty Boxcar” (“My heart’s an outlaw that beats a narrow beat”) before hitting the superlative narrative tale of searching and disappearance that is “Geraldine”.

Driven along by songwriter-in-chief Joy Mills regretful vocals (with guitarist Tom Parker taking the odd song for variety) all the band harmonise and swing with effortless ease and grace and create a beautiful blend of folk and classic rural country. The sweetly swinging “Sliver Thread” belies its lyrics, they manage to make the endless mid-western plains sound exotic in “Iowa” and they keep the spirit of Hank and The Carter Family alive in the back porch “Back To The Land.” There’s even the occasional hint of Australia’s finest The Waifs, notably on Ghost Town where Mills’ feisty vocals recall Vikki Thorn. Their “musician” song “If I’d Ever Change” is also one of the better ones, recognising as it does the inevitably transient nature of their work (“All profound and pointless things I say/Will simultaneously slip away”).

They end with the unrequited longing and regret of “Darkest Hour Of Night” but the only regret “Marveling The While” inspires is the absence of a few gigs on this side of the water as it is truly marvellous music.

Reviewer: Jeremy Searle
Reviewers Rating: 8 out of 10

The Starlings stylishly mesh bluegrass, country, folk and blues in service of that everlasting tune...
Marveling the While is a catchy record; producer Chad Hinman has left almost no room for improvement on the compelling arrangements and crystal-clear production. There is no wandering without purpose and no silence without grace. Joy Mills’ vocals have the lovely timbre of a brass bell, at their best ringing clear to the bone. Tom Parker’s rural affect grounds the harmonies in duet and lead vocals as well. “Geraldine,” with its touching lyrics and perfectly entwined chorus, stands out as a classic American story for the ages...A variety of moods throughout Marveling showcases the band’s creative approach to songwriting. “Bluebird” is an arresting dirge, demanding the listener’s attention with a chord progression like quicksand. Juxtaposed with singalongs like “Back to the Land,” and much appreciated humor, as in “If I’d Ever Change,” Marveling leaves a person feeling thoughtful and relaxed; seriously happy.

“The Starlings were one of the 5 best in-store performances we have ever had. Wherever you are, whomever is reading this, go see this band. They are the real thing.”

“The Starlings hark back to an earlier, simpler time, when folks gathered on front porches with mandolins and harmonicas, singing away the day in dusty twilight. That simple beauty pervades the band’s stellar debut album, “Songbook,” and that easygoing camaraderie personifies the Starlings’ live performances, which find them equally at home playing barnburners and ballads and have made them favorites among Seattle’s twang community.”

"The Starlings' gentle banjo, mandolin, and acoustic guitar raise lilting melodies that evoke the traditional charm of country and folk, and the Seattle outfit finds plenty worth repeating in its throwback tendencies. Joy Mills' voice is just a little refined and just a little twangy, contributing to the band's convincing yet familiar sound on its 2006 album, 'Songbook.'"

“The spirits of Mother Maybelle Carter, Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck are alive and well in 'Songbook,' a spectacular Americana album by The Starlings. So rich are the harmonies, so honest is the songwriting, so organic is lead singer Joy Mills' timbre that you can practically feel the heat from the wood burning stove and smell the coffee brewing on top of it. Mills, a graduate of Dowling High School and the University of Iowa, formed The Starlings in Seattle, but her soul lies in carrying on the tradition of sparse, melodic Dust Bowl ballads and Appalachian-tinged country-folk music on tunes like 'Bones to Ashes' and 'Take Me to the Fire.' Tom Parker's vocals on 'Workin' Man Blues' and 'Acorn,' and a cover of 'Long Black Veil' also impresses.”

“Organic country…both delicate and edgy… For the lo-fi country enthusiast, the Starlings’ natural charm and raw potential, like the Starlings themselves, are a winning combination. Highly recommended.”

Upon first consideration, naming your band after a bird best known for loud, early-morning chatter outside suburban bedrooms, carrying disease and generally having the personality profile of a pest might seem like a dubious decision. However, starlings are also fond of taking to the sky in large flocks that twist and weave, perfectly in tune, rippling across the sky lik a silk scarf. And they've also developed a system of complex songs and birdcalls, unmatched in pitch and tone. Perhaps the wee bird is an inspired mascot for a musical undertaking, after all.

Who knows if Americana folksters the Starlings considered all these things before determining a moniker, but they do have a couple of things in common with their avian counterparts. They too are defined by their strong vocals, anchored by singer Joy Mills, and inventive harmonies. They also, after playing all over the Northwest, have developed a musical give-and-take that is both seamless and seemingly effortless. The Seattle band, which melds roots, Americana, folk and country music into a sound that's at once traditional and fresh, has been busy touring to support their recent release, [Songbook].

"...an impassioned debut...an engaging set of American roots music...soulful, introspective vocals...those with an ear for an eclectic union and substantive songwriting should delve into the Starlings’ Songbook."

It's a Cracker!
“The nucleus of this folksy, bluegrass infused Americana combo is the duo of Joy Mills (guitar, mandolin) and Tom Parker (guitar, harmonica). The engaging Mills sounds a bit like Kelly Willis on a folk binge, while Parker`s plaintive, mellow voice warms the many harmonies with a most pleasing effect. The supporting players tastefully add Dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, etc., keeping a lively feel throughout. Songbook offers 12 earnest and organic original tunes - most of which penned by Mills - and a straight version of the classic "Long Black Veil", on which the two duet. Capturing the ageless quality of The Carter Family, as in the two Parker penned duets, "Working Man Blues" and "Acorn", The Starlings clearly have a deep appreciation for the classics but are by no means a retro act. Simply a terrific one.”

Although they’re a brand new band, all the members of the Starlings have been around for a while, and it shows in the craft and skill they bring to their debut album. Reminiscent of a lighter, more rural Union Station, they major on the playing of Mick Chegwidden (mandolin, banjo,dobro) and the singing and writing of Joy Mills. Mills has a clear, light voice that can swing as sweetly as a nut, but also take on heavier, more intense songs like “Alaskan Fire”. She has a way with arresting images, whether it’s “the darkness and the tiny little lights/where all the holy ghosts are born” (Alaskan Fire) or a more personal line like “Well, both my hands start trembling when I lose my grace” (Roll On Down). Mainly though she brings a fresh and unaided take to classic subjects, and in a world overpopulated with the world-weary, been there, done that, wrote the song school that’s a blessed relief.”

“For the follow up to her outstanding solo album, Joy Mills was looking for a bigger sound, and so gathered more friends and session help. Things clicked so well that the resulting CD also produced a band, the Starlings. The Starlings are Mills’ longtime collaborator Tom Parker, drummer Aimee Zoe Tubbs, string wizard Mark Chegwidden, and bassist Ryan Farris. Their sound is terrific, a thoughtful mix of strummy folk, chuggin’ blues, and Mills’ trademark daring tinkerings with conventional forms that helped make her last album so exciting. The musicianship is fresh and full of brio, and the CD moves right along. Mills, one of the best songwriters in the Northwest (or anywhere), is contemplating more elemental themes: Death, Freedom, Work, Commitment. The lyrics are wintery, full of clouds and darkness, cold and rain, sleep and silence. There are few mysteries, but much originality: “My true self said to me the other day/Why don’t you let me shelter you?” Mills sings on “Angel to Rise.” On the epic “Bones to Ashes,” she “works the night shift/and breaks sleep in two little pieces of dreams.” It may sound gloomy, but Mills’ songs have a core of strength from which a brave, if challenged, optimism can arise. So too are Parker’s two contributions, the best of which, “Workin’ Man Blues,” harks back to Merle Travis and Bruce Springsteen: the light at the end of the mineshaft is redemption, but it’s a long dusty crawl. Overall, Songbook is an excellent, vital record.”

"If you’re a fan of Neko Case’s clear voice and Americana-tinged folk-pop, you won’t want to miss the Starlings.

This Seattle four-piece revolves around the gorgeous vocals of lead singer Joy Mills, who conveys the same clear, soaring emotion and heart-tugging talent of Ms. Case.

While Case has traded twangst in favor of pop over the past few years, the Starlings continue to flourish in heartland-inspired, banjo-inflected territory."

“Seattle roots-country outfit releases authentic, inventive debut. The music perpetrated by the Starlings on their fine debut Songbook is played and sung honestly enough to qualify as authentic roots or alt-country (whatever the hell that means). The lack of extended solos and the quality of the writing give the dozen original songs a pop accessibility that should expand Joy Mills and company’s audience far beyond their native Seattle.

On the opening track, “Hand to Mouth,” Mills describes a bad situation while adding a note of hope. The up tempo song features some excellent harmonica work by Tom Parker. Overtly poetic lyrics are evident in “Bones to Ashes” — “Do you want to sleep in the cold ground?” — but the tune works thanks to some tasty harmony singing. The dark lyrics of “Alaskan Fire” are offset by Mills’s pleasant voice.”

“Simply put, fans of the Americana genre will be interested in hearing The Starlings debut Songbook. Based out of Seattle, this five-piece expertly blends folk and country, displaying top-notch musicianship at every turn. Songbook is filled with harmonies, flourishes of dobro and mandolin, rolling banjo's, and a nice mix of front-porch foot stomping and back-room balladry.

"Tell me a story..." are the words that open the CD, and indeed main vocalist and primary songwriter Joy Mills has a way of offering a tale that is often poetic, but in an accessible way, steeped in language and subject matter that is familiar to the genre. Vocalist/guitarist Tom Parker contributes two of his songs as well.”

Rarely will Seattlest agree to drive out of town for anything other than a sunny hike or a day on the slopes. Not with so much to do and so many bands to see right here in Seattle. So when Mrs. Seattlest brought up the idea to drive out to Monroe with a friend to see The Starlings, our initial response was something like, Did you just say Monroe? Really? It's not that we have anything against "The largest City in East Snohomish County" -- it's just that it was, well, Friday night and couldn't we just go to The Croc or something?
We're so happy we made the trip. The Starlings were amazing (we've been wanting to see them for quite a while) and we actually had a wonderful time in little 'ole Monroe. The show was at a place called Eddie's Trackside Bar & Grill. A real small-town destination where the locals come to play pool, eat tater-tots and eyeball each other from the bar. And the name ain't some silly gimmick because of a somewhat-close railroad. At Eddie's the trains scream by not but a few feet outside the windows of the joint. It was totally surreal to be drinking a beer, listening to some great country/americana and have a train whistle suddenly going off right outside. The band plays through, sings louder. We just smile and keep tapping our feet.
Prior to The Starlings taking the stage, Chad Hinman & the Never Was warmed the crowd with their inimitable brand of folk/rock/americana. Chad's a charming fella, full of smiles and light-hearted conversation and the guy knows his way around a song and a guitar. Between Chad and bandmate Jack Quick (who's probably one of the best slide-guitarists we've seen in a while), we were actually kind of sad to see them leave the stage. It was time, however, to finally see The Starlings.
Led by Joy Mills and Tom Parker, The Starlings are that kind of music which takes us back to a time of narrow, winding roads at night, in the mountains of Wyoming. Our dad is at the wheel and we're straining our eyes, trying to peer down into some dark river valley. The radio's on and it's all harmony and mournful strings and a beat that hearkens images of being on a train. Or being a train. It represents something. A mood. Anticipation. The feeling like we were on our way toward something fantastic in its simplicity. Setting up camp in the dark. Waking to the smell of eggs and sausage over a smokey campfire. The Starlings, for us, were something like that. And we can't wait to see them again.

"...one of the most widely respected and touted local musicians on the Americana and roots scene - Joy Mills and Tom Parker of The Starlings."

The Brilliant West Coast Starlings are heading for Europe!

Though the Starlings are a relatively new act on the burgeoning Americana music scene, the various members have been making music, either together or separately for a number of years...the band plays a lo-fi, authentically old-fashioned style of country music.

It all began some five or six years ago when Joy and Tom formed an acoustic duo in Seattle and played the local club scene. Gradually it evolved into a band set-up, though when the economics demand it, they still perform duo gigs. With like-minded musicians Chad Hinman, Jack Quick, David Dressel, Mick Chegwidden, and Aimee Zoe Tubbs they recorded their critically-acclaimed debut album Songbook. A somewhat dark and foreboding record, the songs lyrically are a throwback to the mountain song tradition of the Appalachians. Death, longing for a departed lover, thoughts of home and unrequited love run like mountain streams through the lyrics that are married to timeless melodies.

Joy, who was born and raised in Iowa, is responsible for the darkest lyrics, though she readily admits that she is not really a dark or miserable person, "I'm also a fiction writer, " she explains. "If there's not tension then there's really not a lot to hold the readers. So I kind of translate that into songwriting, to have some sort of trial or situation that you overcome or have overcome. I suppose I will always have some sort of the sadness of life. Sadness is our way to see beauty..."

Joy has matured in leaps and bounds with her songwriting since those beginnings as she shows on such songs as "Roll on Down," "Gold Dust," and "Alaskan Fire" - three of the finest songs on Songbook. Steeped in the country tradition, they are closer to the Anglo-Saxon influenced mountain song tradition prevalent in the country music of the 1920s and 1930s rather than the homogenised version of today's country mainstream..."