Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016)
Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) | 00:37:39 | 216 Mb
Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock, Indie | Label: Thirty Tigers, Family Hour Records
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) | 00:37:39 | 216 Mb
Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock, Indie | Label: Thirty Tigers, Family Hour Records
Sean Watkins has had a prolific couple of years. In addition to Nickel Creek’s long-awaited comeback album A Dotted Line in 2014, Watkins also released a solo record, All I Do Is Lie in the summer of 2014 and the collaborative covers album The Watkins Family Hour in 2015. Plus he toured with all three acts in between. Now he’s back with another solo album, and What to Fear continues his streak of strong releases.Tracklist:
There’s a little bit of everything on What to Fear, but a thread of strong songwriting runs through the album, regardless of whether the track is a bluegrass instrumental or a satirical folk-rock song. The confessional “Last Time for Everything” finds Watkins examining his past behavior over quietly picked guitar. The song’s second verse, where Watkins recounts an incident of drinking and driving that ended with a police officer letting him and his girlfriend go, lands particularly hard because of its specificity. The lush “Everything” finds a guarded Watkins laying out how he never fully commits to a relationship in the verses, before concluding “I would give everything to you” in the chorus. The rock solid rhythm section of Sebastian Steinberg on bass and Barbara Gruska on drums nudges the song along, with subtle flourishes from Steinberg adding a thick harmonic layer on the low end. Watkins himself adds quiet mellotron accompaniment and vocal harmonies to his usual acoustic guitar and singing, giving the song a robust, full-bodied feel.
“Keep Your Promises II” revisits the theme and some of the lyrics of “Keep Your Promises”, from Watkins’ previous solo album. Watkins is still telling a lover not to lie and insisting “Keep your promises / Don’t let them leave your lips.” Musically, however, the songs are completely different. The original was a bluesy country song, while “II” is a stomping acoustic rocker, a big sing along featuring nice organ backing from Benmont Tench. It’s a fun song, but one wonders what happened in the relationship before the song(s) to warrant Watkins’ suspicion involving her promises.
Sean’s sister Sara shows up with her fiddle a couple of times on the record, as she did on the previous one. She’s featured most prominently on “Local Honey”, an enjoyable bluegrass instrumental where she handles most of the melody. Sean and Steinberg fill out the song on guitar and bass, mostly staying out of the way aside from a brief guitar solo about halfway through. “I Am What You Want” is slow and subdued, showing off Sean’s falsetto with atmospheric accompaniment from Sara. It also shows his penchant for creepy lyrical points of view, with lines like, “But I swear you’ll learn to love me / Darling would I lie?” It’s also an unsettling inversion to the already mildly unsettling viewpoint of “Keep Your Promises II”.
But Watkins saves the best for his first and last songs. The album closes with “Back on My Feet”, an upbeat track with a positive lyrical viewpoint. Watkins accompanies himself with simple major key guitar chords and mellotron, while insisting that “I’ll be back up on my feet before too long” in the wake of a breakup. It’s a cathartic finish to an album with a lot of shades of grey. On the front end of the record is the razor sharp, catchy “What to Fear”. Watkins sings from the viewpoint of fear-mongering conservative talk radio hosts openly showing their disdain for their audience. “We’re telling you what to fear / There’s just so much / ‘Cause there’s no one in this dark world you can trust / Except for us,” goes the refrain. It’s a bracing opener, but it’s also the only time Watkins gets so nakedly satirical. Putting it in the opening position was probably a good call because it might have been awkward trying to slot it in anywhere else on the record.
What to Fear finds Watkins opening up his style a bit, and it puts a more energetic spin on his music. He uses bass and drums on most of these songs and it feels like his quieter folk tendencies have been given the widescreen treatment. It just seems like he’s having more fun on this record. When it comes to his sometimes discomforting lyrical point of view, particularly on relationship songs, fun may not seem like an accurate term. But a case can be made for Watkins mostly playing characters, although your mileage may vary. Despite that, this is an album that musically, at least, finds Watkins asserting himself very successfully.
1 What To Fear
2 Last Time For Everything
3 I Am What You Want
4 Keep Your Promises II
5 Everything
6 Where You Were Living
7 Too Little Too Late
8 Local Honey
9 Tribulations
10 Back On My Feet
Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015
EAC extraction logfile from 25. August 2017, 19:17
Sean Watkins / What to Fear
Used drive : TSSTcorpDVD+-RW TS-H653G Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 896 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -8 -e -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:57.68 | 0 | 22342
2 | 4:57.68 | 3:20.71 | 22343 | 37413
3 | 8:18.64 | 3:40.53 | 37414 | 53966
4 | 11:59.42 | 3:02.14 | 53967 | 67630
5 | 15:01.56 | 4:45.19 | 67631 | 89024
6 | 19:47.00 | 3:17.42 | 89025 | 103841
7 | 23:04.42 | 3:21.66 | 103842 | 118982
8 | 26:26.33 | 2:44.26 | 118983 | 131308
9 | 29:10.59 | 4:37.74 | 131309 | 152157
10 | 33:48.58 | 3:51.03 | 152158 | 169485
Track 1
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\01 - What to Fear.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D5C6342E
Copy CRC D5C6342E
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [19613CF6] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\02 - Last Time for Everything.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FB7CB0AF
Copy CRC FB7CB0AF
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [B7EE68B0] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\03 - I Am What You Want.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 73A30722
Copy CRC 73A30722
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [6A102481] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\04 - Keep Your Promises II.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5BCBE763
Copy CRC 5BCBE763
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [3BF93A45] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\05 - Everything.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3AE80718
Copy CRC 3AE80718
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [522BF865] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 6
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\06 - Where You Were Living.wav
Peak level 88.1 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 1F970195
Copy CRC 1F970195
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [23532A2E] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\07 - Too Little Too Late.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 2.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC A42E5150
Copy CRC A42E5150
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [E03F5115] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 8
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\08 - Local Honey.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 4B234156
Copy CRC 4B234156
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [1850136E] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 9
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\09 - Tribulations.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 72CC65B0
Copy CRC 72CC65B0
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [748C10CB] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 10
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\10 - Back on My Feet.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5F82E29A
Copy CRC 5F82E29A
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [BA4208EE] (AR v2)
Copy OK
All tracks accurately ripped
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: sbyBp8DVXxXxZ2GNduOZPJ9gQfw-] found
Submit result: sbyBp8DVXxXxZ2GNduOZPJ9gQfw- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
2 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
3 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
4 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
5 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
6 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
7 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
8 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
9 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
10 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum DAB3D80DA2E1F3D8DBF5D028EB9E850FA6D1B2A07536048B6D798C88AF3FB8ED ====
EAC extraction logfile from 25. August 2017, 19:17
Sean Watkins / What to Fear
Used drive : TSSTcorpDVD+-RW TS-H653G Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 896 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -8 -e -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:57.68 | 0 | 22342
2 | 4:57.68 | 3:20.71 | 22343 | 37413
3 | 8:18.64 | 3:40.53 | 37414 | 53966
4 | 11:59.42 | 3:02.14 | 53967 | 67630
5 | 15:01.56 | 4:45.19 | 67631 | 89024
6 | 19:47.00 | 3:17.42 | 89025 | 103841
7 | 23:04.42 | 3:21.66 | 103842 | 118982
8 | 26:26.33 | 2:44.26 | 118983 | 131308
9 | 29:10.59 | 4:37.74 | 131309 | 152157
10 | 33:48.58 | 3:51.03 | 152158 | 169485
Track 1
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\01 - What to Fear.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 1.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D5C6342E
Copy CRC D5C6342E
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [19613CF6] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\02 - Last Time for Everything.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FB7CB0AF
Copy CRC FB7CB0AF
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [B7EE68B0] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\03 - I Am What You Want.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 73A30722
Copy CRC 73A30722
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [6A102481] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\04 - Keep Your Promises II.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5BCBE763
Copy CRC 5BCBE763
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [3BF93A45] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\05 - Everything.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3AE80718
Copy CRC 3AE80718
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [522BF865] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 6
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\06 - Where You Were Living.wav
Peak level 88.1 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 1F970195
Copy CRC 1F970195
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [23532A2E] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\07 - Too Little Too Late.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 2.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC A42E5150
Copy CRC A42E5150
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [E03F5115] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 8
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\08 - Local Honey.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 4B234156
Copy CRC 4B234156
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [1850136E] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 9
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\09 - Tribulations.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 72CC65B0
Copy CRC 72CC65B0
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [748C10CB] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 10
Filename C:\audio_files\EACRIPS\Sean Watkins - What to Fear (2016) [FLAC] {Thirty Tigers}\10 - Back on My Feet.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 2.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5F82E29A
Copy CRC 5F82E29A
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [BA4208EE] (AR v2)
Copy OK
All tracks accurately ripped
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: sbyBp8DVXxXxZ2GNduOZPJ9gQfw-] found
Submit result: sbyBp8DVXxXxZ2GNduOZPJ9gQfw- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
2 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
3 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
4 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
5 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
6 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
7 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
8 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
9 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
10 | (5/5) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum DAB3D80DA2E1F3D8DBF5D028EB9E850FA6D1B2A07536048B6D798C88AF3FB8ED ====
Thanks to the Original ripper Healthybrand !