The Anomoanon showed quite a diversity of sound in 1998, their first year of life. Their debut album was a dark but creative rendition of classic Mother Goose fairy tales, appropriately titled
Mother Goose; a creative endeavor with its country-rock twist, but perhaps too dark for children. With
The Summer Never Ends,
Ned Oldham and his bandmates have compiled the results of a few days' worth of recording in Alabama and Kentucky. Following in fine Southern fashion, the album feeds its listeners a family-style buffet of Southern ballads. Each song paints a picture of love and lust in imaginary rural lands. "Around the Road" features an attractive singalong chorus and rambling prose that are seemingly inspired by
Bob Dylan. "The Summer Never Ends" is an epic song that stirs up
Neil Young memories, winding in and out of all of those long-forgotten, sun-soaked dreams of juvenile freedom. Throughout the album, guitar player
Aram Stith plays sprawling country chords with conviction and subtle grace. The band is comprised of
Ned Oldham (songwriting, vocals, guitar),
Aram Stith (lead guitar),
Jason Stith (keyboards, some bass),
Jack Carneal (drums), and
Willy MacLean (bass guitar, background singing), with additional and unmistakable background singing by
Will Oldham.
Paul Oldham engineered the album.