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Mark Nicks Vocals, Keys, Drums Official Website
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With humble beginnings in Tennessee, the history of Cool Hand Luke reads like a good fiction novel.Band forms in 1998 at Middle State University. Band signs to Floodgate Records in 2002. Band puts out two records. Band tours country with The Myriad, Norma Jean, Switchfoot, Anathallo, As Cities Burn (to name a few) and sells thousands of records. Band debuts at number 6 on the Billboard internet sales charts. Band takes hiatus. One member gets married and moves away; another goes off to college. Band reforms around single constant member, Mark Nicks, in 2006. Casey McBride and Joey Holman join band. Band tours more and has now played 46 states. Band releases The Balancing Act with Floodgate, fulfilling their contractual obligation. Floodgate folds during the release. Band is suddenly left with no label, no management, no booking agent. Band looses rehearsal space. Casey gets arms burned in grease accident. Band has no money and an almost finished record.
Time for the climax, right? Almost.
Cool Hand Luke signs to Lujo Records in 2008. They go back into the studio to finish their album which, they say, is the best sounding and best written album they've ever done. Casey's skin grafts take effect and he is able to play the bass again. They hit the road where they discover anew their loyal fanbase, desperate for a new recording. On October 14th the band answers, offering the world the true climax to this story, The Sleeping House.
The Sleeping House is band's stunning fifth studio LP. As is true with past releases, this record was born out of deep faith and convictions--something that immediately sets Cool Hand Luke apart from their colleagues. But the way this release differs from their past records far outweighs its similarties. The Sleeping House represents a breakaway from a label that marketed their music strictly to a Christian audience (which was never something the band wanted), to a label that believes personal convictions are a part of every musicians art, and that their scope of appeal should not be limited by that.
"We appreciate that Lujo is not confined to the Christian market. Christian music has become a genre instead of an indication of the content of music. Generally, being lumped into the Christian music industry means being marketed as a certain kind of music that we don't want to be associated with. Our faith is important to us, but we think it is implicit in our music without having to attach ourselves to a certain kind of record label that predominantly puts out music we wouldn't listen to."
Not only is faith implicit in the music, but listeners will also note a marked maturity that you would expect from a band that's been putting out records for 10 years. Songs are artfully constructed--piano-based and filled out with layered, shimmering guitars and bombastic hooks. Nicks' vocal delivery is powerful, his lyricism on par with what the band has become known, but here a relative darkness and intensity is expressed that has never before been seen in Cool Hand Luke's work. This quality sets The Sleeping House apart from past recordings and positions it to be their best release to date.
The Sleeping House was produced by Matt Goldman (Copeland, Underoath, Meg & Dia) and will be available worldwide via Lujo Records on October 14, 2008. Listen to Buy The Truth and Failing In Love.
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Buy the Truth (itunes) (lujo070)
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The Sleeping House (lujo062)
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