David Steinhart

David Steinhart is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, best known for the bands Pop Art, Smart Brown Handbag, and the Furious Seasons.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} He has been active in the Los Angeles pop scene since the 1980s.^[6]

Career

Steinhart has been a staple of the Los Angeles indie pop scene since the 1980s. His career spans 30 years and over 20 releases.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

He founded the band Pop Art in 1984 with his brothers, Jeff and Richard, bassist Tony Ortega, Other players such as keyboardist Lyn Norton, drummers Steven Weisburd and his cousin, Steve LePatner, contributed to the band’s albums over the years.^{[7][9][11][12]} Pop Art was active for 6 years and released 5 records.^[7][9]

Steinhart also founded Stonegarden Records in 1984 to publish and release his own music.^{[7][12][13][14]} Since then, Stonegarden Records has released over 50 albums featuring Steinhart and other indie pop musicians.^{[9][12][14][15]}

After Pop Art disbanded, Steinhart released two solo albums before starting Smart Brown Handbag in 1993. Smart Brown Handbag included Norton, Cindy Albon, Steinhart’s brother Jeff on bass, and John ‘Slim’ Glogovac on drums and percussion.^[16][17] SBH was active until 2006 and released 10 full length albums.^[7][9][18]

Steinhart has been active in the Furious Seasons since 2008.^[7][19][20] Band members include Jeff Steinhart (bass), Paul Nelson (guitar/vocals), Bob Gannon (drums/percussion) and Eric Marin (keyboards). Nate Steinhart (guitars) and Ray Chang (violin/guitar/vocals) have also contributed to the band.^{[19][20][21][22]} The Furious Seasons have released 4 full length albums and are still active and continue to record.^[7][8][23]

The Furious Seasons continue to play shows around Los Angeles. With the 2015 release of My Love is Strong, they have played with the John Hiatt, David LIndley and Eleni Mandell.

Steinhart's music has also been used in television and films.

Musical style and reception

Music magazine the Big Takeover describes Steinhart’s musical style as “soft, finely crafted, windswept pop,” commenting that Steinhart sings and writes, “warm, literate, sober, preoccupied folk pop, always well-crafted, and full of small, conspicuous, workmanlike extras (pacific strings, mellotron, piano, guitar tweets, a southern blues harmonica), [with an] aptitude for unpretentious, poppy hooks.”^[19][20]

Steinhart’s music is often understated and driven by his distinct vocals, which critics have called a “privilege of craftsmanship”.^{[19][20][21][24][25]} His voice is noted for its range and has been called “soaring... redemptive... at once world-weary and angelic”,^[25] “cynical and charming at the same time.” The Arizona Daily Star labeled Steinhart’s vocals in Pop Art, “clear, crisp, and angst-driven.”^[13]

Steinhart composes songs about relationships and heartbreak, earning him a reputation as “especially adept at chronicling complicated reunions with faded flames.”^[26] LA Weekly wrote that, “For anyone who needs a little reassurance about that thing called love (or has had it with whiny dirges on the radio), Smart Brown Handbag's ouch-that-hurts anti-luv songs, harmonies, bouncy bass lines, and-peppy rock-style riffing are just what the therapist ordered,” praising Steinhart’s honesty in his lyrics.^[27]

BAM described Pop Art’s Long Walk to Nowhere as “punchy acoustic rock [which is] at once bracing and powerful.”^[25]

Rolling Stone commended Smart Brown Handbag’s The Big Sigh, writing that "Smart Brown Handbags catchy guitar pop has been rumored to be on the edge of greatness for a long time and we believe the hype."^[28] The Orange County Register defined SBH’s sound as, “early R.E.M jangle-pop with Johnny Marr guitars and slightly, off-kilter Paul Weller-influenced vocals.”^[18]

PopMatters reviewed the album, My Analog Face, by saying: “At times the band brings an acoustic, folksy leaning Elvis Costello to mind... But throughout it all, the Furious Seasons are adept at crafting timeless melodic pop.”

"This is one of those types of bands who makes refreshing music by having a broad palette in musical, lyrical, genre, and influential tastes, and manages to weave it into a mosaic that is undeniably, uniquely their own sound." – MW Powerpopholic^[29]

Discography

Solo

Pop Art

Smart Brown Handbag

Furious Seasons

References