Eleven gloriously infectious tunes that cruise through the classic American soundscape from roots rock to bluesy jazz with a hint of 70's disco. “Roses & Clover being the intersection of passion and luck,” say the American band ALO and they may be describing the inspiration for their forthcoming release Roses & Clover, however it best surmises the band’s newfound approach to their music. For a band accustomed to performing songs live for years, crafting and shaping hundreds of times over before entering the studio, the age-old process of recording an album first was, well… liberating.

On Roses & Clover, ALO explored new methods of collaborating, finding a richer, more mature sound built on their individual songwriting strengths. Recorded in a turn-of-the-century barn in the hills overlooking colonial Santa Barbara, the four musicians holed themselves up for two weeks with little more than their favourite instruments and 40 songs in various stages – 80% of which had never been performed on stage.
Born from a childhood friendship and nurtured on the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara, the four-piece collective of Zach Gill (keyboards/vocals), Steve Adams (bass/vocals), Dan Lebowitz (guitars/vocals) and Dave Brogan (drums/vocals), more commonly known as ALO, found their musical roots in the feel-good vibe of the breezy California town. After being reunited with collegiate cohort Jack Johnson - who not only invited the band to be the support act on his world tour, but also signed them to his label Brushfire Records - ALO made waves with the successful release of Fly Between Falls in 2006. Adding to their accomplishments, the guys had the pivotal opening slot on one of the year’s highest-grossing tours with Dave Matthews Band.
The album’s first track “Maria”, is an anthemic and unabashed pledge of love. From the infectious keyboard hook to the passionate lyrics, “Maria” is instantly catchy and uplifting. “Zach played ‘Maria’ a year ago,” remembers Dave. “I loved it as soon as I heard it and knew that it had to be on the next album.” Or take the album’s title track, “Roses & Clover” - a lyrical gem combining a funk heavy back beat and fiery guitar solos depicting a safe haven where all can meet. In many ways, the sound of the band can be summed up in the playful imagery of “Roses & Clover.”
For Roses & Clover, the members of ALO shared much of the producing duties, though enlisted the help of veteran producer Robert Carranza (Beck, Los Lobos, Ozomatli) and Dave Simon-Baker. “This is our favourite record we’ve made so far,” Steve says. “Making it was an incredible experience and it’s got us more excited about the band than ever before.”