Watershed

Submitted by nonesuch on
Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

The first self-produced album from k.d. lang, Watershed contains 11 new, original songs; The Times (UK) describes it as "a masterpiece that holds its place next to, maybe even slightly above, her 1992 hit, Ingénue."

Description

“Few singers command such perfection of pitch. Her voice, at once beautiful and unadorned and softened with a veil of smoke, invariably hits the middle of a note and remains there.” —New York Times
 

k.d. lang's new album, Watershed, was released by Nonesuch Records in February 2008. Recorded in California this year, Watershed is the first album of newly written material from the four-time Grammy winner since 2000’s Invincible Summer and her first studio album since 2004's acclaimed Canadian songbook, Hymns of the 49th Parallel. A fourteen-city US tour followed February 23 and included a rare three-night stand at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room as part of the American Songbook series.

As the title suggests, Watershed represents a milestone in k.d. lang’s groundbreaking 25-year career. For the first time she has assumed the role of produceras well as writer, singer, and multi-instrumentalistfor this album of eleven new songs. lang reunited with longtime collaborators from both the studio and the road on the album: pianist Teddy Borowiecki, bassist David Piltch, steel player Greg Leisz, and guitarist Ben Mink. Jon Hassell makes a guest appearance on trumpet, as does new Nonesuch labelmate Noam Pikelny, banjo player for the Punch Brothers.

In contrast to lang’s usual organization of albums around a particular sound (such as the clear-eyed country of Absolute Torch and Twang) or concept (as with the elegant smoking songs of Drag), the unifying theme of her present work is a much more personal look at k.d. lang and where she finds herself right now.  Featuring plenty of musical and lyrical intimations of how she got here, lang explains that “Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve donethere’s a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue.  I didn’t feel the need to be genre-specific because this experience felt so wide open.”

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by k.d. lang
Additional production on tracks 1, 3-5, 9 by David Piltch
Additional production on track 6, 7, 10 by Teddy Borowiecki
Lynne Earls: recording engineer, pro-tools editing, drum programming, GPS
Strings arranged and conducted by Teddy Borowiecki
Mixed by David Leonard
Assited by Kennie Takahashi
Recorded at: Art Kitchen, The Hut, Jungle Room
Strings recorded and mixed at glenwood studios by david leonard and kennie takahashi

Track 4 composed by k.d. lang; tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 by lang/piltch; tracks 2, 8 by lang/mink; track 6 by lang/piltch/leisz/borowiecki; track 7 by lang/borowiecki; track 10 by lang/borowiecki/meredith

Photography: Jeri Heiden
Art Direction: Jeri Heiden
Design: smog design, inc., John Heiden and Nick Steinhardt

Nonesuch Selection Number

110460

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
205
ns_album_id
697
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
kd lang
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
k.d. lang, vocals (1-11), guitars (1, 3-5, 9), keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), drum programming (9), harp (10), piano (11), banjo (11)
David Piltch, bass (1-10), guitars (1 3), drum programming (1, 4, 7), drums (3, 5), programming (6), percussion (9)
Teddy Borowiecki, organ (1, 2), vibraphone (2, 7, 9), guitar (6), keyboards (6-10), programming (6), drum programming (7), piano (8)
Greg Leisz, steel guitar (1, 3, 4), guitar (1, 6), electric guitar (8, 9)
Danny Frankel, drums (1, 2, 4, 6-9), percussion (2)
Ben Mink, guitar (2, 8)
Lynne Earls, programming (2, 6, 7)
Noam Pikelny, banjo (3)
Bryan Sutton, guitar (4)
Grecco Buratto, guitar (5)
Jon Hassel, trumpet (9)

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597999075
Label
LP+MP3
Price
17.00
UPC
075597919608
  • 110460

News & Reviews

  • k.d. lang's recording of the song that was Tony Bennett’s first no. 1 hit, “Because of You,” for CBS News Sunday Morning, in memory of her longtime friend, teacher, and musical collaborator, is now available to stream and download. lang is donating her proceeds from the single to the Tony Bennett Legacy Fund of Exploring the Arts, the nonprofit he and his wife Susan Benedetto founded. “‘Because of You’ was the last song Tony sang, just two days before he passed,” Benedetto said. “Hearing k.d.’s beautiful rendition of the song she and Tony sang together brings back wonderful memories and pays tribute to their friendship. As I mentioned to k.d., ‘If Tony were here, he would say only one word after hearing you sing that song, ‘Perfect.’”

  • Congratulations to k.d. lang, who received the 2023 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts, from Governor General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. The award recognizes artists for having made an indelible contribution to cultural life in Canada and around the world. The six 2023 laureates were honored again at the Awards Gala at the National Arts Centre last night. "I can’t even actually fathom being placed in the same company as the people, the artists who have influenced me so tremendously,” lang said. "Canada has such an embarrassment of riches, so many tremendous artists, and to be bestowed with this honor is unthinkable really ... So, thank you."

  • About This Album

    “Few singers command such perfection of pitch. Her voice, at once beautiful and unadorned and softened with a veil of smoke, invariably hits the middle of a note and remains there.” —New York Times
     

    k.d. lang's new album, Watershed, was released by Nonesuch Records in February 2008. Recorded in California this year, Watershed is the first album of newly written material from the four-time Grammy winner since 2000’s Invincible Summer and her first studio album since 2004's acclaimed Canadian songbook, Hymns of the 49th Parallel. A fourteen-city US tour followed February 23 and included a rare three-night stand at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room as part of the American Songbook series.

    As the title suggests, Watershed represents a milestone in k.d. lang’s groundbreaking 25-year career. For the first time she has assumed the role of produceras well as writer, singer, and multi-instrumentalistfor this album of eleven new songs. lang reunited with longtime collaborators from both the studio and the road on the album: pianist Teddy Borowiecki, bassist David Piltch, steel player Greg Leisz, and guitarist Ben Mink. Jon Hassell makes a guest appearance on trumpet, as does new Nonesuch labelmate Noam Pikelny, banjo player for the Punch Brothers.

    In contrast to lang’s usual organization of albums around a particular sound (such as the clear-eyed country of Absolute Torch and Twang) or concept (as with the elegant smoking songs of Drag), the unifying theme of her present work is a much more personal look at k.d. lang and where she finds herself right now.  Featuring plenty of musical and lyrical intimations of how she got here, lang explains that “Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve donethere’s a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue.  I didn’t feel the need to be genre-specific because this experience felt so wide open.”

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    k.d. lang, vocals (1-11), guitars (1, 3-5, 9), keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), drum programming (9), harp (10), piano (11), banjo (11)
    David Piltch, bass (1-10), guitars (1 3), drum programming (1, 4, 7), drums (3, 5), programming (6), percussion (9)
    Teddy Borowiecki, organ (1, 2), vibraphone (2, 7, 9), guitar (6), keyboards (6-10), programming (6), drum programming (7), piano (8)
    Greg Leisz, steel guitar (1, 3, 4), guitar (1, 6), electric guitar (8, 9)
    Danny Frankel, drums (1, 2, 4, 6-9), percussion (2)
    Ben Mink, guitar (2, 8)
    Lynne Earls, programming (2, 6, 7)
    Noam Pikelny, banjo (3)
    Bryan Sutton, guitar (4)
    Grecco Buratto, guitar (5)
    Jon Hassel, trumpet (9)

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by k.d. lang
    Additional production on tracks 1, 3-5, 9 by David Piltch
    Additional production on track 6, 7, 10 by Teddy Borowiecki
    Lynne Earls: recording engineer, pro-tools editing, drum programming, GPS
    Strings arranged and conducted by Teddy Borowiecki
    Mixed by David Leonard
    Assited by Kennie Takahashi
    Recorded at: Art Kitchen, The Hut, Jungle Room
    Strings recorded and mixed at glenwood studios by david leonard and kennie takahashi

    Track 4 composed by k.d. lang; tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 by lang/piltch; tracks 2, 8 by lang/mink; track 6 by lang/piltch/leisz/borowiecki; track 7 by lang/borowiecki; track 10 by lang/borowiecki/meredith

    Photography: Jeri Heiden
    Art Direction: Jeri Heiden
    Design: smog design, inc., John Heiden and Nick Steinhardt