Autumn Defense Circles CD

The Autumn Defense let down their guard on Circles, their second album, to reveal the blue-green beauty trembling beneath. Less ambitious and far more intuitive, it's a mellow stretch of earthy folk-pop, where horns and strings are used because they sound nice, not out of a self-appointed duty to past musical idols. Between John Stirratt's busy touring schedule with Wilco and Pat Sansone's multitude of production engagements, Circles exudes the ameliorative qualities of an escape record that was made during downtime, for downtime -- while mentally liberated from the pressures of the daily world, where the two writers could reflect upon the geyser of circles that is life. Sunny acoustics and vintage keys over lazy brushes set the character throughout Circles. "The Answer" rolls out a strata of guitars that suddenly reminds the listener of an old Gordon Lightfoot album, only to have the notion reinforced by the wave of strings and gentle background shakers that follow. "Some Kind of Fool" steals into brief moments of Pet Sound drama, with its bass-and-percussion breaks, but more often rides a '70s groove of vibes, Rhodes, and Bread-like guitar effects. Though comfortably stoic on their second album, the Autumn Defense maintain the charm of a perennial explorer, for whom Europe is still far away, and the California sun could still bring love back. ~ Lisa M. Smith

The Autumn Defense is a collaboration between John Stirratt (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo) and musical compatriot Pat Sansone (Joseph Arthur Band). Digipak. The Arena Rock Recording Co. 2003.

Recorded at Lij Hall, Nashville, Tennessee, Ernest Hemingway Studio, New York, New York, 2123 Recording and Engine Studios, Chicago, Illinois, between February 2002 & January 2003.

Personnel: Pat Sansone (vocals, guitar, keyboards); John Stirratt (vocals, guitar); Jeff Tweedy (electric guitar); Brad Jones (12-string guitar, organ); Andrew Bird (violin); Steve Tyska (horns); Greg Wiz (drums, percussion); Ryan Rapsys (drums).

Audio Mixer: Pat Sansone.

Recording information: 2123 Recording, Chicago, IL (02/2002-01/2003); Engine Studios, Chicago, IL (02/2002-01/2003); Ernest Hemingway, New York, NY (02/2002-01/2003); Lij Hall, Nashville, TN (02/2002-01/2003).

Photographer: Pat Sansone.

The Autumn Defense: Pat Sansone (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass); John Stirratt (vocals, guitar, bass); Brad Jones (12-string guitar, organ, bass); Greg Wiz (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Jeff Tweedy (electric guitar); John Pirruccello (pedal steel guitar); Andrew Bird (violin); Ryan Rapsys (drums).

Mojo (Publisher) (2/04, p.100) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[W]insome, harmony pop-Americana and lovely summer's-almost-over songs."