Kicking Angels

4 songs • 19 minutes • Released 10.22
All songs written by Bill Price ©2022 Mr. Quill Music (BMI)

Song Samples

About the EP

In this, his ninth release, Kicking Angels expresses some of Price’s frustrations at the current state of affairs in the world, while keeping the music upbeat and energetic for the majority of the EP. Recorded at The Lodge Recording Studios in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kicking Angels represents both a look back and a continuation of the songwriting arc of Bill Price.

Musically, this EP is varied in style. The title track, “Kicking Angels” is country folk/rock. “50 Miles from No Place” has a rhythmic acoustic folk approach. “Be Nice or Get Out” harkens back to the 1960s and 70s while “Bringing Down the Sun” is more experimental in feel with its dreamy, atmospheric mood.

Tracklist

1. Kicking Angels
2. 50 Miles from No Place
3. Be Nice or Get Out
4. Bringing Down the Sun

About the Songs

The title track takes a critical look at the danger and hypocrisy of scapegoating. There are several historical references in the song, the most obvious being Abraham Lincoln’s use of the phrase “the better angels of our nature,” in his 1861 inaugural address. While the country faced a Civil War, Lincoln appealed to the nation not to see each other as enemies, but friends. “That message is just lost on so many of us now,” Price says. “And when people get angry and fearful, they tend to scapegoat groups of people. It’s dangerous as well as immoral.”

The second track, “50 Miles from No Place,” was written many years ago and was under consideration for Price’s With the Eye of a Skeptic… album. It was ultimately rejected because that particular record had a more hopeful and positive message to it. “That song was written in response to a particular person of great notoriety in my home state whose behavior was, by any rational assessment, unacceptable to say the least,” Price says. “Yet this person, due to their success and high public profile, not only got away with their behavior but also was idolized by so many people who continued to make excuses and rationalize this awful behavior. I found the whole phenomenon to be quite odd. Sadly, it’s not limited to this one person, nor is it new. It’s as old as humanity itself.”

Fortunately, most people are interested in a more respectful and civil society, and “Be Nice or Get Out” is about this very topic. You can have your opinions and strong disagreements, but in the public sphere, just be nice. If you don’t, be prepared to live with the consequences. Price explains, “I think sometimes that rational people just need to speak up and say, ‘Your behavior is not acceptable. If you want to be taken seriously, act like an adult.’”The last song, “Bringing Down the Sun,” is a lament on both scapegoating and those whose only goal seems to be to bring others down and to snuff out the light of hope and optimism.

The Sessions

Recording began in November of 2018. Michael Graham engineered, mixed and co-produced the recording. Overdubs continued throughout the pandemic, well into the middle of 2021. New ideas kept popping up. “We spent a lot of time on these four songs. I think we almost put the same amount of time into them as we might have a full album,” Price says. “There are a lot of parts, instruments and changes going on within these tracks. Even though I loved all the elements, at times I wondered if we had too much going on—whether Michael could even make the songs work, in terms of mixing,” Price recalls. “Well, he did an incredible job of making all of these parts not only sound great but work together in a way that makes the songs really fun to listen to.”

“Be Nice or Get Out” is a larger-than-normal production with several one-eighty turnarounds. The intro of the song initially had a raw, in-your-face drum beat with a full-out band coming in on the first verse. But all of that was eventually replaced by a quiet little string ensemble which then exploded into a driving power pop tune—only to take another complete change in direction into a country-style bridge, complete with pedal steel, compliments of Michael Clark. From there the song goes into a 1960ish vocal build up, giving way to the keyboard/guitar solo section before returning to the last verse and chorus. But wait, there’s more! As the final chords fade away, a dreamy vocal segue, provided by Sarah Grain, leads the listener into the final, atmospheric song, “Bringing Down the Sun.”

“It’s great fun to work with everyone to figure out all of these parts and arrangements,” Price says. “I felt the original beginning that we had for “Be Nice or Get Out” was a bit too obvious. So I thought that since the opening lyric is written slightly tongue-in-cheek to reflect a very formal invitation, why not have a very hoity-toity type of string part instead. A little, ‘tea time for the royal family,’ type of thing. Once we had that general idea, Grover came back in with his cello. Both he and Michael had ideas on how to structure that section, so together, they worked up that intro and backing part under the first verse. That completely changed the song and sent it off in a new and interesting way. It kind of opened the door and blew off the limitations.”

The Artwork

While Price has always designed the covers for his albums, he usually jobs out the photography or any illustrations, as his skill set is more design and layout versus illustration. This time was a little different. “The cover concept for this EP was pretty simple,” Price explains. “I wanted to have some image of an angel that was rendered in a raw and energetic way—to symbolize some degree of conflict or even violence. I thought, I should be able to do that. Although I’m not a painter, I do have some idea of what constitutes a good composition and I have a decent sense of color theory, etc. So I said what the heck. I’ll give this a try.

“I did several paintings that were just tests, really, but while they were acceptable, they didn’t really knock my socks off. I was thinking I could spend a lot of time on this, trying to get that perfect image. So I hit upon a simple solution. Since I was trying many different approaches, why not just use a series of little paintings instead of trying to get one perfect one? It actually made more sense in that the different styles came to represent the diversity of people in our world. All of us are different, but there’s an angel somewhere within all of us.”

Price ended up with 62 four-inch by four-inch paintings and selected 28 for the cover and inside of the CD jacket. He says, “I had a blast doing those. Maybe I’ll keep the series going. They were very small and so they had to be simple, which was actually good for me, since I’m not really a painter.”

Credits

Produced by Bill Price and Michael Graham
Recorded mixed and mastered at The Lodge by Michael Graham

Michael Clark: Pedal Steel, Mandolin, Electric Slide Guitar
Chase Cotten: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Background Vocals
Stasia Demos: Harmony Vocals
Sarah Grain: Harmony & Background Vocals
Paul Holdman: Electric Lead Guitar, Background Vocals
Bill Mallers: Hammond Organ, Accordion, Piano, Electric Piano, Harmony & Background Vocals
Grover Parido: Cello
Bill Price: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Cittern, Bouzouki, Mandotar, Cigar Box Guitar
Jamey Reid: Drums, Cajón
Jeff Stone: Electric Bass, Fretless Bass

Reviews

By Cary Allen Fields  02.02.23

Host, WICR FM Americana/roots format program, Redbud Radio

My first impression of Bill Price’s latest EP Kicking Angels came courtesy of the arresting graphics. An inspired collection of small paintings resting side by side, each one more engaging than the next.

Turns out the visual introduction to this 4-song collection provided the perfect compliment to the well-crafted songs within. Songs that artfully balance righteous anger and unapologetic optimism. Each an extension of the concerns and struggles we all find ourselves subjected to here on the periphery of the shared political upheaval coloring the present day.

No off-putting preachiness or clichéd protestation though, rest assured. What we have here is an articulation of the frustrations we’re all feeling with poignant reminders of the solutions, obvious and otherwise. As a result, you may just come away feeling inspired. Hopeful.

Within the framework provided by Bill Price’s acoustic guitar work and lead vocal, harmony vocals, electric guitar, bass, pedal steel, mandolin, cello, organ, accordion, drums and horns complete the picture. The backing ensemble listed reads like a “who’s who” of names familiar to Indiana music fans, and the quality of the recording deserves mention as well. This project sounds as good as anything I’ve heard emanating from Nashville or the coasts.

Bill Price has amassed an impressive body of work in years past, and he’s been our well-kept secret for far too long. Can say with confidence that Kicking Angels will make it into more ears on the strength of its artistry.

By Paul McGee  07.024.23

Lonesome Highway, Irish magazine/website

Bill Price, Kicking Angels • Grass Magoops Records

Four songs and nineteen minutes of music on this EP from a very talented singer songwriter based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is his most recent project and past releases have all celebrated the dedication that Price has to the creative process. He is also a successful graphic designer and creates all his own album cover artwork.

All four songs deal with the abuse of power and question the short-sighted focus on the need for self-promotion above all else. The welfare of the common man gets pushed down the line and in the overall order of things, counts for little. Produced at The Lodge Recording Studios in Indianapolis, the songs are very much alive and engaging. The vocal style of Price reminds me of Tom Petty and his righteous anger comes to the fore on the first song “Kicking Angels” with the observation that ‘Angels don’t dream small, We know wings trump walls.’  A nice lyrical segue. Political hubris and spin will not convince everyone of apparent sincerity and all that is false in the kingdom of the blind.

“50 Miles From No Place” follows the core theme with an attack on winning at all costs ‘They think that he’s made history by the wars that he has won, but a man’s name will be weighed by every deed he’s done.’ “Be Nice or Get Out” has a nice string introduction before electric guitars come into the arrangement and lay down a rocking groove that includes some nice slide guitar and harmony vocals in the middle eight section. Again, a message of the need for tolerance if we are all to progress as an enlightened race. The final song “Bringing Down the Sun” is a dreamy song with flugelhorn and cello mixed with some sweet electric guitar lines. A very interesting EP and one that will have me reaching out to other recordings from this accomplished artist.

By Valsam (rootstime.be)  01.08.23

American folk singer and songwriter Bill Price hails from Indianapolis, Indiana. He began his solo musical career in 2001 and in 2004 he debuted on record with the album Bones & Apples. Five years later in 2009, the acoustic folk rock record With The Eye Of A Skeptic followed. After that it became deafeningly quiet around Bill Price for seven long years, but in 2016 he resurfaced with a 33-song double album I Can’t Stop Looking At The Sky and in 2019 his five-song EP Digging Deeper Toward The Sky was released as the last “Sky” realization.

Now, however, we were sent his latest work in the form of a four-song EP called Kicking Angels, so named after the title song included at the very front of this disc. What immediately struck us about this mini album is that no fewer than ten musicians with a wide range of instruments collaborated in the studio to record these four songs written by Bill Price himself. It makes for a very beautifully orchestrated record that, in our opinion, is far too short, a feeling we often have with EPs.

So besides the title track “Kicking Angels,” we get to hear three other songs by Bill Price: the cajun-influenced number “50 Miles from No Place,” the gently rocking “Be Nice or Get Out” and the intimate folk ballad “Bringing Down the Sun.” Unlike his previous records that mostly featured hopeful songs, the lyrics of these four songs contain pent-up anger and frustration about everything that is wrong in American society, including the flawed president they had to experience from 2016 to 2020. So while we wait for a new full CD, we will have to make do with this mini album from Bill Price for a while in 2023.

By Micheles Kindh  12.19.22

Blaskan Swedish magazine/website

In January, this EP will be publicly released. But already I’ve seen it advertised on the artist’s own website. Four compositions that are both folk rock and a bit country gliding along with skilled co-musicians. An EP album that is promising and fully stylistic in composition as well as in spirit. Four great songs, plain and simple.

A perfect winter solstice album to listen to.

Musicbloggen 67  01.23

Swedish magazine/website

Equally Satisfied and Happy with a Very Good EP

Bill Price’s Kicking Angels arrived on 2023-01-13 and is an EP—his fourth. He has released four full-length albums previously, whereas I Can’t Stop Looking at the Sky is two CDs. Price says songwriting, recording and performing have always been important but creating something original is what drives him forward.

Kicking Angels is the third time I’ve reviewed Bill here at www.musikbloggen67.se Here I’ve been delighted with both the music and the lyrics. On Kicking Angels I am equally pleased and delighted with a very good EP. Songs to start with: All four!

Rated 4 out of 5

By Torbjörn Berlin

Berlin Calling  02.07.23

It’s not just the album cover that gets plus points on Bill Price’s recent EP. Tunes that are varied and at their best remind me a lot of Roger McGuinn’s better days when the Byrds performed in the 60s. Above all, I think of the title track “Kicking Angels,” which includes pedal steel and could be something from Sweetheart of The Rodeo, Byrd’s 6th album featuring country legend Gram Parsons.

Despite the opening title song, I’m a bit more stuck with “50 Miles from No Place” – a harmonious song in the same genre, but with a kind of resting humility about it.

The other two songs do not fall out of the frame either and will probably be a good foretaste if there is a new full-length record eventually. At least it’s about something well worth waiting for if you like restful and varied country with a flavor of American folk music. Music with some slightly unexpected musical twists and turns.

Bill Price, who hails from Indianapolis, has released four full-lengths prior to this EP and has also garnered quite a bit of attention on this side of the Atlantic. One of many relatively unknown American artists, who deserve to be more in the spotlight.

By Wolfgang Giese

musikansich.de  03.02.23

As far as I can tell, Indianapolis-based singer/songwriter Bill Price released his last LP in 2015, followed by three EPs, and Kicking Angels is the third, the current one to be released.

As before, the protagonist’s music is based on the singer/songwriter genre, combined with elements of folk, or on “Kicking Angels” with a dash of country. In addition, the whole thing is wrapped in a soft rock robe, so one can speak of a typical record with Americana.

And even with only four songs, each one has its own style of expression. So when Michael Clark lets his pedal steel ring out on the title track, I’m in the middle of a sound that takes me to the west coast of the USA and also breathes some country rock of the seventies. At the same time, it also reminds me a lot of Tom Petty’s music.

“50 Miles from No Place” is shaped by the sound of mandolin and accordion, and the use of bouzouki and cittern also lets a folkloric mood float through the song. At the same time it sounds a bit pop music oriented, maybe even a little bit makes me think of some Crowded House tunes.

”Be Nice or Get Out” is led by the cello supporting the vocals and a bit of baroque pop feeling creeps in until it transitions into a pop-rock song peppered with variety. And unfortunately it’s already over with “Bringing Down the Sun.” A calm, contemplative mood immerses the song in a dreamy atmosphere, a flugelhorn sounds and makes it even more festive, plus the harmonious background vocals in the background, which basically fits in my thesis that every song actually has a life of its own and that you immediately think about when a complete long-playing record might be released again.

By Paolo Baiotti

Late for the Sky,  Italian website  07.23.23

Bill Price is an ever-evolving Indianapolis area songwriter. He has released four albums, three EPs and two CD singles, with some pending projects. I Can’t Stop Looking At The Sky from 2015, consisting of two albums, a 120-page personal diary and a 160-page book of stories, poems and essays, with the addition of a booklet with lyrics, posters and stickers, all collected in a package designed by Price himself (who is also a graphic designer) is his most ambitious creation, inspired by a trip to the Western United States.

Kicking Angels is his most recent album, an EP with four original songs, recorded over a long period of time at the Lodge Recording Studios in Indianapolis with a large group of collaborators and a particular care for the arrangements. The title track is a country-rock in which Bill reflects on the risk of creating scapegoats, instead of trying to bring people together. This is followed by “50 Miles from No Place,” a folk/roots song written several years ago and revived for this album and “Be Nice or Get Out,” a lively and upbeat country/pop song about the opportunity to behave respectfully, at least in public. In closing the intimate ballad “Bringing Down the Sun” embellished with an expressive guitar solo, a criticism of people who seem to have only interest in harming others.

The main musicians who participated in the recordings are Michael Clark (mandolin, pedal steel slide), Paul Holdman (guitar), Bill Mallers (keyboards, accordion), Grover Parido (cello), Jamey Reid (drums) and Jeff Stone (bass).

By T.B.

Baretta, Swedish magazine/website  02.27.23

Bill Price from Indianapolis, Indiana has previously released four full-length albums and three EPs, now he has evened the score with his fourth EP, Kicking Angels.

The EP opens with the title song, which sounds very country. A big reason for this is the beautifully weeping pedal steel. Price is a talented songwriter, something he also proves on this EP.

The second track, “50 Miles from No Place” retreats a little more while the music remains in the Americana style.

“Be Nice or Get Out” is about the fact that you are most welcome, as long as you behave yourself and it’s all right to go. One wonders if Bill Price has someone like that among his friends. A person who has a little difficulty with socializing and contributing to a good atmosphere. The message is very clear.

The EP ends with “Bringing Down the Sun” ending on a slightly wistful note, beautiful, but not quite on par with the previous three songs.

By Branimir Lokner

TimeMachineMusic.org, Serbian website  01.23

Bill Price is well-experienced musician, whose interesting sphere touches many different artistic fields. He is singer/songwriter, who performs solo and also with a band in different formats. He is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and has released four full length albums, three EP’s and two CD singles to date, with several more projects in the works.

He has performed in USA, Canada, and his works were recognized and broadcast also on European radio stations. Kicking Angels is an EP, with four tracks in different in genres, but all of the songs possess roots music/Americana/folk/country/country rock elements, evident more or less from case to case, from song to song.

Mr. Price possesses a pleasant voice. His recordings also reflect different arrangement aspects, and we can hear in his music, influences found both in the 70’s, and in the present day. The songs possess unique potentials and similar quality, where all the time there is noticeably safe, precise musicianship, an emotional approach, but also a slight lack of energy.