What Can We Expect From a New Starflyer 59 Album?

[UPDATE, January 23rd: Spirit Flyer from the sf59fans forums emailed Jason Martin this blog post. Jason replied: "Hey man, might be some new tunes this year...not sure yet."]

It is now January 2015, which means it's been 2 years since the release of Starflyer 59's 13th full-length record, IAMACEO. Going by the band's track record, this means we're due for an album soon - most likely (and hopefully) - sometime this year.

In the event that 2015 does not see the release of a new Starflyer record, this would mark the first time in the band's two-decade career that 3 full years have passed between albums (the time between The Changing of the Guard and IAMACEO was only 2-and-a-half years). This could be a stronger possibility now that Jason Martin is without a label. While I have no idea what kind of contract he was under with Tooth & Nail, it seems possible that the absence of such a contract would result in a longer period between albums.

The final result of IAMACEO's Kickstarter
campaign

Now, how would he fund this new album? He took to Kickstarter for IAMACEO, but will he choose to do so again? Fans would obviously be willing to donate once more, as evidenced by the large excess of money IAMACEO took in. But the question is - how long can Jason keep this up? Without a label, will he be forced to create Kickstarter projects for every new record? Or will he strip down his sound to release music on a budget? Or, as he has previously hinted at ("...every time I finish making a record there is so much time involved I will think this will be my last..."), could this be the end of Starflyer 59?

I highly, highly doubt that. Even when he mentioned that he had originally expected The Changing of the Guard to be the final Starflyer album, he went on to release IAMACEO independently. He's also said multiple times that his plan has always been to release 20 albums - meaning he's got 7 more to go.

In one of the Q&A sessions mentioned above, he considered releasing his then-new batch of songs - which would go on to become IAMACEO - as a solo record. Perhaps he's still open to the idea, and we'll receive a Jason Martin solo album in the future. Maybe this would cut down on costs and allow him to release music consistently without the need of constant funding.

Jason Martin in his studio

But what can we expect a new album to sound like?

Well, assuming he sticks with the Starflyer 59 name and produces another record in that style, we can make a few educated guesses.

All fans know that Mr. Martin loves changing up his sound with each record. It's been going on since 1995's Gold, when the band went into much darker territories than their debut. The biggest change-ups in sound would have to be the poppy Fashion Focus, the indie rock of Old, and the classic "rock 'n' roll" featured in I am the Portuguese Blues. All three of these albums, while still sounding like Starflyer, sounded almost nothing like the albums that came before them.

Now, Starflyer's sound has been pretty consistent since 2005's Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice. Of course, the records are all quite different from one another, but by Martin-standards, they're fairly consistent: they could all fall under the "indie rock" banner, none of them are very experimental, and most songs clock in at 3-minutes, and the albums themselves at 30-minutes. To compound these similarities, Starflyer's last two records - 2010's The Changing of the Guard and 2013's IAMACEO - are very alike, perhaps more so than any other albums in their discography.

So we can take this streak of albums as a map of what's ahead, or a sign that a change is coming.

IAMACEO

Jason could certainly continue his trend of releasing short, catchy, introspective indie rock albums without fans growing tired; he switches things up enough to keep his sound exciting. There is also the chance that he'll release another album like his last two, thus creating a kind of "trilogy."

Or he could surprise us and revamp his sound, as he seemed to do with every single one of the band's first 8 or so albums. Could he pull another I am the Portuguese Blues and release an album that sticks out like a sore thumb in the band's discography? I definitely wouldn't write that option off entirely (this is Starflyer), but it seems that with each release Jason is putting his days of experimentation farther and farther behind him.

I think these "safer" albums are due to both Jason's new musical taste and the lack of an outside producer. He's been producing every record himself since I am the Portuguese Blues, and it certainly shows: the tightness, the cleanliness, etc. With him being without a label, I imagine he will continue to produce any future albums.

So here's my opinion: I expect there to be a new Starflyer 59 record. I expect Jason Martin to produce it. I expect there to be a change in sound, but not a drastic one; maybe it will branch off from the last two records, but stay within the bounds the last 5 albums or so have set. I do think we can kiss the days of layered guitars and experimental song structures goodbye. But that's not a bad thing. I feel we are entering a new chapter in Starflyer's career: one that is simpler, sparser - more intimate, thoughtful, and reflective.

In any case, I am very excited and hopeful for future Starflyer releases.  I anxiously await news of a new record. I will happily donate money if another Kickstarter is made, and look forward to hearing a new album.

But what do you readers expect? What will the next record sound like? Will there be a next record?