On August 21, 2015, The White Buffalo (a.k.a. singer-songwriter Jake Smith) is making a mark with the release of his third studio LP on the Unison Music label, Love And The Death Of Damnation. The 11 tracks that comprise the album are already the subject of the Los Angeles Times who on June 28, 2015 published an above-the-fold front page feature in their Sunday A&E edition, capturing the mystique of The White Buffalo brilliantly. Writer Jeffrey Fleishman explains, "It's the voice that burrows into you. Devil's growl. Sinner's lament. Smith's baritone echoes with villains and misfits, drunks and philistines. It curls through loneliness, sets out on crooked highways. It is an American voice cured in recession, war and betrayal, a resonant map where the spectral bleeds into dreams. But in it, like mica in slate, is the glint of redemption, flashing just long enough to allow a man to keep a bead on whatever goodness might dwell in him."
Whether he's describing the events of a dark and deadly drug deal gone south, or waxing poetic in a bold anthem of love, Smith can strip the story down into a raw emotion that feels personally relevant. This year he joins the ranks of Emmy-nominated songwriters for his original track "Come Join the Murder". The song was featured as the season closer for FX's hit show Sons of Anarchy and is now in the running for a 2015 Emmy in the category of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
Love And The Death Of Damnation opens with a ball of fire, the fast driving "Dark Days", a story about revelation, moving forward and leaving the "Dark days behind me". The fourth track, "Radio With No Sound" molds the developed excitement like a ball of clay into a poignant waltz, reminiscent of Tom Waits' "Hold On". The album quickly picks up the pace with the exhilarating anthem "Modern Times" and ends on a fierce gospel number "Come On Love, Come On In" where Smith pours his soul into belting (and even screaming) the memorable melody.
Over the past decade , Jake has had several placements in shows including Sons of Anarchy andCalifornication and movies including Safe Haven and West of Memphis. He has also played with the likes of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Grace Potter, Steve Earl, and Dave Grohl. Currently he's in the middle of releasing a 10-part docuseries with leading guitar manufacturer Ernie Ball called "Capturing The White Buffalo: The Recording of an American Songwriter". The series documents the making ofLove And The Death Of Damnation in a alluring and cinematic way. It captures the raw struggles and successes of Smith's writing and recording process, gives each song a new narrative, and introduces you to the album in a way that's altogether haunting, uplifting, and unforgettable. You can watch the first 5 episodes of the Ernie Ball docuseries (with new episodes premiering every Friday until album release) here: http://www.ernieball.com/whitebuffalo
amazing release!