A few days notice: New solo album from Stereophonics' Kelly Jones

According to a blog post on the Stereophonics' site last week, Wales' favorite son Kelly Jones has stealthily recorded a solo album which will be released January 29th.

Kelly writes:

It's been a good Christmas break. Went back to Wales and caught up with the old mob, the place is fucking mental!

I've got a bit of news you may be interested in. In between takes of making the new album I began recording some new songs with just an electric guitar. It began as something very off the cuff then within a couple of days, in the early hours, an album consisting of ten songs was finished. Every song is a girl's name and the album is gonna be called 'Only The Names Have Been Changed.'

It's pretty dark, filmic, story based, very mellow and in no means a reflection on the new Stereophonics album. It's sparse, some songs with string arrangements and the voice is way up front in the mix.

The record will be online under my name from Monday 29th January followed by a very limited hard copy release in March. Not enough copies for charts or reviews, it's purely being released as spontaneously as it was recorded.

I've never wanted to do a solo record or go solo, this is far from a vanity project. I just wanted to do something that would break the cycle of a Stereophonics record and do something that had nothing to do with commercial success, radio playlists, marketing etc etc. Something purely about expressing music and releasing it as quickly as its made..as apposed to waiting a year as usual.

I wanted it out there quickly for fans only with no chance of going anywhere near a chart show. I'm going to do a small tour in March to play the songs live and am very much looking forward to making a completely mellow, filmic stage environment to do so.

So keep ya eyes peeled if ya interested and I will see you on the road!

Love and colours
Kelly x


Updated: The album will be available digitally from Monday 29th January from major online services, with a limited edition hard copy release on the 26th March. The limited edition release will include a bonus DVD of a live studio performance of 5 songs recorded at SARM studios in London.

These songs won't be on there, but go to show that gravel-voiced Jones already has a head start on the subject matter of what sounds like a fascinating concept for an album:

Lolita - Stereophonics

Madame Helga - Stereophonics

Angie (Rolling Stones cover) - Stereophonics


Thanks to my favorite tipster!

[rad photo credit]