For those unaware, The End of America [TEOA] is a band of friends, more so brothers, that have been releasing music for over a decade.

The Philadelphia, Connecticut and New Hampshire based trio consist of band members Trevor Leonard, James Downes and Brendon Thomas.

Through their years of being a band and road dogs (who credit their name to Kerouac’s On The Road, traveling “across the groaning continent” in search of inspiration and reaching “the end of America, no more land, and now there was nowhere to go but back”), they have garnered many fans and have become recognized for their live performances, harmonies and songwriting.

Most recently gaining attention on Spotify’s Folk Pop editorial playlist for their song Wait No More. After their recent release Push Back, they are now anticipating their next single drop Empty Sea (Reprise) due out on October 22nd, 2021.

This track will be their final single release before they deliver their fourth LP Night is Alive (reviewed below) out on November 12th, 2021.

1. Not The End
2. Canyon
3. A Million Miles of Low Road
4. Push Back
5. Holy Shit
6. Wait No More
7. Are We Alright
8. I.F.H.
9. Empty Sea (Reprise)
10. Can’t Do This Alone

This quite mesmerizingly opulent album opens on the pleasingly free-flowing Not The End and the gently rhythmic Americana of Canyon and backs those up seamlessly with the amiable folk flow of A Million Miles of Low Road, the divinely orchestrated essence of Push Back and then brings us the melodically harmonized Holy Shit.

Next up is one of my own personal favorites, the contextually mid-tempo, folk-Americana of Wait No More which is itself followed by the inquisitively euphoric Are We Alright, the softly sculptured storytelling pf I.F.H. (I F*cking Hate), the album rounding out with the lavish gossamer of Empty Sea (Reprise), closing on the pleasingly luxuriant melodies of Can’t Do This Alone.

Empty Sea was originally recorded for TEOA’s 2016 self-titled LP. They wrote it as a gentle anthem for staking everything on what you feel you were born to do, and pursuing it in the face of so much uncertainty.

TEOA describes the feeling as, “the higher you climb the mountain, the steeper it gets, all the while howling out across what feels like an empty sea below. You have to maintain faith in yourself and keep pushing to reach the summit. And maybe you can’t do it alone. For us, this song has been our anthem for being in a band.”

Over the years, Empty Sea has been a staple of TEOA’s live shows and it’s their one song that they’ve always felt a deep connection with their audience.

The track has evolved with the band over time and now it’s turned into something greater. They recall from most of their shows there being, “an audible sigh from the audience when we hold and release that last note. The feeling is mutual.”

Ergo, Empty Sea the reprised adaptation is just as breathtaking.

It was during the pandemic that TEOA (The End of America) reimagined a version of the song with piano accompaniment and designated the guitar to a secondary role.

After performing it over a livestream at Caffe Lena last March, it became clear that they needed to capture this song in its evolved state … and added some cello, too.

Inspired by the piano/cello/harmony production on Brandi Carlile’s most recent albums, as well as Chris Walla era production of Death Cab For Cutie’s Transatlanticism & Plans album.

The band was fortunately graced by their friend Katie Weissman’s cello arrangement, which can be heard all over their new album Night is Alive. Katie had already performed the song with TEOA live at a few shows, so she came in knowing exactly what to do.

Furthermore, this new version of Empty Sea was virtually recorded at their home studios in New Hampshire, Philadelphia, and at the time, Bronx - by way of passing tracks around - and mixed by Brendon Thomas.

Official Website

Official The End of America [TEOA] CD Purchase Links

The End of America [TEOA] @ Facebook

The End of America [TEOA] @ Twitter

The End of America [TEOA] @ Instagram

The End of America [TEOA] @ YouTube