http://www.audiblediversiongroup.com/TheAlmost

"It was actually a friend of ours idea," recalls Aaron Gillespie, The Almost's founder and lead singer. "She said 'why don't you guys put out an EP with a Christmas song on it?' I said, 'That's a really great idea - it would be a good way to get some cool things out that don't really fit within the context of a full-length album."

No Gift To Bring was produced by Tim McTague, lead guitarist for Gillespie's other band, Underoath. It was McTague's idea to re-imagine Southern Weather's country-leaning "Dirty And Left Out," imbuing this raw reflection on the baffling nature of unconditional love with a sparse, electronic vibe.

"Tim did all the sequencing on the song, then had me sing over it," says Gillespie. "We wanted to strip it way down - it's a complete and utter departure."

Southern Weather, The Almost's debut album, entered The Billboard 200 at No. 39 in April of 2007. The band scored a Top 10 hit at Modern Rock radio ("Say This Sooner"), was selected as an MTV/MTV2/mtvU "Discover & Download" artist and went out on the 2007 Vans Warped tour as well as tours with Paramore, The Starting Line, Say Anything and, most recently, Emery, Envy on the Coast and Army Of Me. Alternative Press tapped Gillespie for a cover story and Spin gave Southern Weather a three-and-a-half star review, noting: "Gillespie wails on the sort of hard-charging anthems that will probably make Switchfoot seethe with jealousy,"

Gillespie, who's currently touring with Underoath in support of its new Top 10 album, Lost in the Sound of Separation, has already begun writing songs for The Almost's next full-length album. The band will begin recording next spring.

 

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