Artist description Soul Serching Alternative Americana

Music Style American Mood Rock Americana

Musical Influences EmmyLou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, U2

Similar Artists EmmyLou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, U2

Artist History The Southern California group 1991 - Acoustic Shack founded by Michael and Laura Misiuk in Southern California. Debut album released on Blonde Vinyl Records. First single It's Good To Know charts in CCM Top 25. 1993 - Second album Fret Buzz released on Broken Records. After a nation wide tour and critical acclaim, Fret Buzz ranks no. 6 on Billboards' The critics choice top 10 records of the year - tying with Sixpence None The Richer’s debut of that year. 1998 - A Distant Bell released on Red Moon Records. This long awaited third album was a collection of songs written primarily by Laura and produced by Michael at his personal studio (The Bell). The albums overriding theme is an expression of hope, despair and the need for grace. Musically, the album mixes modern sounds & the acoustic roots found on previous releases. 2001 - Acoustic Shack releases their fourth album entitled Redeeming The Time after 7 months of recording - once again - at The Bell. Redeeming The Time opens the bands range beginning where A Distant Bell left off and stretching into Alternative Americana. Borrowing the musical structure born from the culturally American Church over a hundred years before, the Shack dug deep into these roots to bring out the sound of American Music and with it the passion and zeal of very legendary Hymns. Records and toured coast to coast for a year. The album charted no.6 on Billboards' "The critics choice" top 10 records of the year.In 1994, Acoustic Shack took some time off. And Michael started a solo project called The Kreepdowns. Acoustic Shack released their long awaited third album entitled A Distant Bell in 1998 on Red Moon Records. The album was recorded at Michael 's studio and contains songs written by Laura during their hiatus. (with the exception of one by Michael) The lyrics are an expression of hope, despair and the need for grace. Musically, the album mixes modern sounds & acoustic roots.As we enter the new millennium Acoustic Shack will release the Fourth album in November 2000. The band is again recording at Michael's studio (The Bell). Ed Benrock on drums and Steve R playing additional guitars and Lap Steel. On the upright bass is Robert Nance. The sound of the new album has been compared with the likes of Emmy Lou Harris, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams. Borrowing the chord changes that came out of the Church 200 years ago the band dug deep into their roots to bring out the sound of American Music. On the new album Acoustic Shack capture the emotion and sound of the legendary Hymns. (the real country music)

Group Members Laura Misiuk Michael Misiuk

Instruments Most

Albums 4

Press Reviews Worship music is making the joyful noise of cash registersringing and coins a-jingling almost everywhere within Christendom thesedays, so one can't help but cast a skeptical eye upon each new piece ofpraise product offered. But you needn't worry about how "Redeeming The Time" byAcoustic Shack stands up to the Refiner's fire, since it is clearly an unpretentious, sincere and aesthetically beautiful work. This album applies Laura Misiuk's devout vocals and husbandMichael Misiuk's multi-instrumental touches to both familiar andunfamiliar songs of worship. Acoustic Shack will win your respect from the starting line with itsunderstated and pure reading of the traditional "How Great Thou Art." Let'sface it, this hymn has been pissed upon and butchered by everytwo-bit lounge singer that ever weathered the smoke-filled environmentalhazard of a cocktail lounge. But with its jangle-y guitar underpinning andempathetic percussion, this version fills the speakers with a hushedadmiration for the Almighty. This recording's other time-tested worship offerings include "Just ACloser Walk With Thee" (which has also suffered a sad fate similar to thatof "How Great Thou Art" in some corners), "I Have Decided," and "Away In AManger," which, by the way, proves not to be just for Christmasanymore here. Michael Misiuk also reveals himself to be quite the praisechorus writer with "Fire In My Soul," "It's A Miracle," "Santo Dios"and "Gloria" emanating from his own pen. Without even trying, Acoustic Shack infuses many of theseselections with an unintentional alternative rock feel. For example, itstake on the Maranatha Music classic "Peace Give I To Thee," sounds like theVelvet Underground, lost on a lonely highway in the middle of nowhere,but with a newfound appreciation for the spiritual. Acoustic Shack invariably makes almost every outside songinto its own. When Andrae Crouch performs his "Soon And Very Soon," youhalf-expect the rapture to take place before he even arrives at its finalchorus. It's powerful stuff. But in Acoustic Shack's hands, it sounds closerto what one imagines the Cowboy Junkies would sound like, after gettingreligion. A sonic flood of delirium may not overwhelm you afterlistening to this disc, but hopefully you will walk away from it restingassured that art and worship are not always mutually exclusive terms. -Dan Macintosh 03.09.01 http://www.tangzine.com/reviews/shack.htm

Additional Info DearA19

Location Tustin, CA - USA

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