On February 1st, Oakdale CA, band Built Like Alaska releases the remarkable Autumnland, their first album for California Central Valley spawned labels Future Farmer Recordings and Grandaddy's own Sweat Of The Alps Music Products (a collaboration which hopes to bear more musical fruit in the near future). Another milestone in the band's already illustrious career is the debut of the film "Ellie Parker" (the first feature from writer/director Scott Coffey) at The Sundance Film Festival. The film was scored by and features two tracks from Built Like Alaska. It stars Naomi Watts and Chevy Chase and promises to be BLA's first real break from the shadows of their home state.

The isolation of the Central Valley has provided Built Like Alaska (Neil Jackson-vocals/guitar, Matt Candelario-bass, David Burtch-drums, Susane Reis-keyboards/vocals, Sean Norman- guitars) with the physical and mental space to develop into a creative force. Their new album contains vivid pictures of rural life with all the beauty and struggle that comes with it. Autumnland was recorded in Oakdale CA, near Modesto, by band member Neil Jackson with additional help from friend Lucky Lew, who has also helped on many of Grandaddy's recordings in the past. Autumnland as Neil puts it, "is like smelling the air full of chimney smoke from the first fire of the year or making a homemade Halloween costume when you were a kid, comforting feelings a person hopes they never lose." From the airy keyboards of "Train Wreck" to themes of small-town ennui that permeate "Does Your Mother Feel Sick?" and "Happy Home", Built Like Alaska is able to transcend the open isolation of the Central Valley with majestic, melancholic, music. (bio)

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