Press

Treasure Map review by Lee Zimmerman, 10-13-20
Shoebox Letters -- Treasure Map
13 October 2020

Over the course of their more than ten year collective career, the Portland Oregon-based band known as Shoebox Letters has creeped ever closer to wider recognition with each successive effort. This able quartet — anchored by guitarist, keyboard player and vocalist Dennis Winslow, along with singer Susan Lowerty, steel guitar player and vocalist Greg Paul and bassist Dave Strickler — hew to an Americana approach that allows for perky up-tempo romps as well as heartfelt, heroic ballads, all while managing to maintain a sound that’s become their own.

Shoebox Letters’ newly released EP Treasure Map maintains that sturdy standard, and while there’s no variance from their template to speak of, their songwriting skills and tightly knit delivery reaffirms both their posture and prowess. Having enlisted drummer, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Brian David Wills to supplement the sound, the six songs find the group on a steady roll with an acumen that’s obvious. It begins with the uptempo and down-home “Drinking More Without You,” notches things down — just a bit — with the title track, and then finds an easy groove with “Second Guessing,” before drifting into a mellower motif for the rest of the set. There’s a hint of melancholia evidenced on “First Step” (I pray for the strength..I pray for the courage…”), but it never slows the momentum entirely. “You’ve got to have faith.”

Winslow insists on the assertive song that follows, aptly titled “Wait and See.” “There something bigger out there, The universe still cares about you and me.” It’s a lesson in finding hope amidst the happenstance, making it advice well worth heeding. That leaves it to the last track, “I’m No Good at Walking Away,” to bring it all around, an anthem of reaffirmation that suggests even in these troubled times, perseverance is needed. The testimony may be directed towards a partner in a crumbling relationship, but the insistent stance offers indication that the singer is committed to the cause. For that reason alone, it serves as a reminder that while hard times can cause consternation, there’s reason to resist rather than retreat. Ultimately then, Treasure Map provides a wealth of musical riches, and a bounty of inspiration besides.

Review of Shoebox Letters "Treasure Map"
Shoebox Letter- Treasure Map
5 October 2020

Say what you will about 2020 (and there’s a lot to say about 2020), it’s been a prolific time for songwriters. The Dennis Winslow-led Pacific Northwest-based Americana/folk band have just released their second record of the year.

Their latest, the six-song EP Treasure Map, is an even more focused, consistently solid effort than I’m Into Now (which was hardly a mediocre record). The opening track, “Drinking More Without You,” easily the best song on the album is a pretty straight forward post-break up song complete with honky tonk guitars and driving drumbeat. Think, Hank Williams in 2020. The title track is also up there as one of the band’s best committed to tape with its organ/synth and backing vocals, sounding like a long-lost Tom Petty song. “First Step,” the slowest number on this EP seems little out of place here but quickly grows on you after a few listens.

While I’m Into Now, had a more experimental, even cinematic feel, Treasure Map is more straight forward rock, occasionally swerving into other genres, but for the most part keeping it simple, putting the vocals front and center. Like their last album, most of the tracks here were all written by Winslow, with Susan Lowery sharing a writing credit on “Treasure Map.”

The album was written and recorded during the COVID lockdowns and it should come as little surprise that themes of heartache, being apart and an unknown of what comes next can all be found weaved throughout the six songs here. Say what you will about 2020 - and god know there’s no shortage of things to say about this clusterfuck of a year – the forced global pandemic has given musicians plenty of time to write some impressive songs.

John B. Moore has been covering the seemingly disparate, but surprisingly complimentary genres of Americana and punk rock for the past 20 years.