The Smokey Pines

The Smokey Pines are easily one of my favorites! Jacob Sloan creates such breath taking songs. The Smokey Pines are from Brooklyn and many great bands like Au Revoir Simone come from the wonderful city. The bass, and the vocals stand out, They are the two best parts of The Smokey Pines! Very Rare to find a great band like this, I'm glad I heard about them! "Shoot Out" and "Bird in my Garden" are on Their Myspace Page two very great songs and he even includes a Saint Etienne cover, which is available for download! "A Fresh Waterfall" The Smokey Pines say. A Fresh Waterfall their music is!

here's an interview with The Smokey Pines!


Can you give us a short background of the The Smokey Pines?

The Smokey Pines formed in early 2007 and is based in Brooklyn. It's comprised of 23-year-old singer/songwriter Jacob Sloan and a rotating cast of supporting musicians. With its music, the band goes for the cinematic scope of 60s pop (The Beach Boys, Supremes, Mamas & Papas) injected with the jangle of the Smiths, the sleekness of New Order, and various twee-pop influences. The band is readying its debut E.P.


Is this your first music project?

No, I'm a member of the Brooklyn bands Levy (One Little Indian Records) and Surefire (Lizard King Records) among others groups here in the New York scene, but this is the first project I've fronted/written songs for.

Who were your biggest influences?

The Smiths, The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Phil Spector, The Supremes, New Order, The Field Mice


When did you start making music?

Listening to music in my room and learning the songs I love on guitar has been a big part of my life since early middle school.


Is there a record you love? which one?

I love Saint Etienne's 'So Tough.' The songs are gorgeous, there's walls of flute and harpsichord and strings all drenched in reverb, such a haunting sound. I also love Holly Beth Vicent's "Holly and the Italians"- it's kind of a lost great New Wave album that nobody knows about, it sounds like the Pretenders or Blondie with Phil Spector production and is absolutely fantastic.



Any current favorite things/bands/etc?

Swedish groups like El Perro Del Mar, Sally Shapiro, The Radio Dept, etc. Andy Gibb from the Bee Gees's solo material, Lesley Gore, the show 'Wifeswap,' really good hotdogs.


How do you spend your free time?

Living and loving in New York, I have a lowly day job at a publishing company, playing/writing/recording music with my friends/various people.



Your favorite songs of this year?

El Perro Del Mar - Dog
Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
Mary Weiss - My Heart Is Beating


Are you planning any releases?

We're in the process of recording our first E.P. at Newkirk Studios in Brooklyn. The E.P. will be comprised of a couple re-recorded songs from amongst our initial recordings, as well as a couple new ones.



Thanks a lot to The Smokey Pines

have a listen to Jacob's other bands Levy and Surefire

Also very poppy bands!