Music history is filled with stories about great albums that never see the light of day. This is usually due to changes at the record labels, which leads to a slew of completed albums sit finished inside vaults across the globe. Rarely do they ever get released. The Explorer Tapes, though, are one of the rare examples of a happy ending.
Explorer Tapes was founded by two friends living just outside of Dallas – Max Townsley and Drew Erickson – who started a band, collected an album’s worth of songs and then headed to LA to make an album. In California the two sign a publishing deal and other more established artists realize how great this duo is at writing catchy songs. Keith Urban even steps in and records their song “Texas Time.” They eventually sign to Warner Records and are paired with in-demand producer Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Carrie Underwood, 50 Cent) to complete their record.
In 2015 the record is recorded…then goes to sit on a shelf due to personnel changes at the label. Six years later, Explorer Tapes get the sequel most bands in their situation usually never get. Omnivore Recordings (the savior of many lost recordings) agreed to release that self-titled debut. The result is a remarkably catchy album, and aside from one or two tracks is nearly a flawless debut. The opening song, “All Depends On You,” a breezy pop number that brings to mind groups like The Raspberries and Jellyfish, perfectly heralds a band that excels at gorgeous harmonies and addictive choruses. The song transitions into the album’s obvious first single and the track that would have introduced them to the masses, “Texas Time,” a laid-back summer vibe song that worms into your head and won’t let go. Seconds into the track, as soon as the guitar comes in, it’s obvious why Urban wanted to record this one. What follows is one amazingly solid track after another, with a couple of exceptions. Inexplicably, the songs “Laura” and “Radio” sound unlike anything else found here. Both have a late ‘70s/early ‘80s easy listening feel that just don’t fit with the rest of the album’s tone (to be fair, lyrically, both songs have sweet sentiments, but there is a strong Toto/Little River Band feel to music).
But those moments are brief and hardly enough to dampen the brilliance of the rest of the album. Songs like the endearing “Kids These Days,” “More Than A Song Can Say” or the stellar “Easy to Love” deserve a massive audience. And while both Townsley and Erickson have kept themselves busy as go-to musicians for other artists since Warner decided to deny the record buying public this gem, if there is any justice in the world this won’t be the last Explorer Tapes album.
