On their third LP Lost & Found Portland, OR quintet The Noted deliver finely crafted, unpredictable pop rock that is both intellectually stimulating and eminently engaging. Started initially by primary songwriter Daniel Work, The Noted find inspiration throughout the last half-century of the FM landscape, lending their art an easy familiarity while still feeling very much of the moment. Featuring interwoven him and her vocals and a wonderful melodic rock band, Lost & Found offers honest songs set in a diverse, often cinematic, auditory environment.
In 2010, Work was inspired to create “a modern-day Fleetwood Mac”, with multiple writers and front people. “I found guitarist Jeff Koch, who really plays to the song” explains Work. “Next up was drummer Mike Snyder, and with the addition of John Dwyer on bass, The Noted was formed. Keeping true to my original band vision, Angela Baldino joined us to round out the group; and at once made this a cohesive musical project.”
In 2016 Work completed construction on a new recording studio, allowing the band the time to create something free from the typical constraints of schedule and budget. “We’ve spent the last four years tracking, retracing, listening and mixing this album,” says Work, “while playing live shows around the Pacific Northwest. It was the first time we’ve done the whole project (except mastering) in house.” Lost & Found is very much a “band” record – no studio musicians or outside guests; simply, The Noted.
Thematically, Lost & Found paints a broad portrait of life’s triumphs and tragedies – and sometimes wicked curve balls. “They are all true stories,” explains Work. “These songs are written from our own personal vantage point; yet I’m hopeful that they speak to the universal – we’re all in this together.” Buoyed by a pervasive sense of optimism, The Noted want listeners to “be yourself, don’t care what others think, and sing out loud!”
Glide is premiering “$USD (UpSideDown)” a hook filled power pop anthem with the biting guitars and vocals of Soul Asylum and the hooks of The Smithereens. The track combines poignant themes of political unrest and gives us an explosive narrative to hold onto during these catastrophic times.
“‘UpSideDown’ was written and recorded way before the pandemic and social upheaval our country is enduring began, dang,” says Work. “We thought things were pretty messed up politically and wanted to address it in a upbeat, rock the house positive way. The song addresses our dysfunctional political system, which is polarized to an extreme level and focused on self-interest instead of caring for the people (us).”
“We are represented by millionaires and billionaires; and while some really do care – most haven’t a clue what it is like to be a typical person living or just trying to survive in America,” adds Work. “So we recorded this song as shout out to power, and a warning to all of us “Hold on to your hats, it’s an upside down world” And we had no idea how much so…”
