Ships

"Ships is the best explosion of greatness yet from one of our most unique voices.”
- Filter

"None of Smith's previous records - and in fact, very few indie releases this year - have flat-out rocked like this one, with blaring trumpets signaling snares to exact their force beneath sweeping multi-tracked vocal choruses that simply won't stop crescendoing… staggeringly triumphant.”
- Pitchfork (9.1 out of 10)

There's no avoiding that what began as a senior thesis project a decade ago has evolved into a world so rich with musicality and merry-making that the first 6 albums and 10yrs of touring pomp alone could nourish the most scrutinizing of thrill-seekers.

Some argue they find Danielson to be as deeply rewarding - in a literary-visual-musical way - as canonical acts such as Sun Ra, Parliament and David Bowie. Confused? Well, Danielson has returned with 'Ships', an album to resolve all things past.

Hailing from New Jersey, Daniel Smith, the eldest of 5 closely-knit siblings, has released music under a handful of different monikers since '95. Originally creating Danielson as an art school project for his senior thesis, the idea quickly grew into the aptly named Danielson Famile, incorporating his 4 younger siblings along with a few friends from childhood.

Opening his arms wider than ever in '06, Daniel made a list of all the artists who have worked with him over the years. To that list, he added other folks whom he had made plans to work with at some point. His plan was to bring everyone together, to add to his new album, 'Ships'. Not surprisingly, the album became a massive project. Luckily, it is musically massive also.

Featuring the likes of Deerhoof, Sufjan Stevens, Why?, Serena-Maneesh, Leopulde, Half-Handed Cloud and others, 'Ships' sees the guests bringing his or her own skills and ideas to Daniel's songs and voice, resulting in this crowning achievement.

"The hooks are nearly endless, each catchier than the last, and each song features a Technicolor array of instruments that create a perfect sonic version of the mildly psychedelic album art that comes with every Danielson release.”
- Dusted

"Ships is a brilliant collaboration of the finest indie minds backed only by the best intentions.”
- Tiny Mix Tapes