In Heaven is already the seventh album by the US rock project Strand of Oaks. I received the album from a promotion company and simply loved its style – here are my thoughts about the eleven tracks, which have been released on 1st October 2021.
Strand Of Oaks – About The Artists
The mastermind behind Strand of Oaks is Timothy Showalter. He was born on 20th July 1982 in Goshen, Indiana, East of Chicago. Nowadays Tim, how he is typically called, is living in Austin, Texas. Some of the first songs he released were experiences from a detrimental marriage, which finally lead to his house being burned down. The first Strand of Oaks album was Leave Ruin in 2009. From then on, he quite regularly released new Strand of Oaks songs. The last album was Eraserland in 2019. Some of the musicians featured on the album are Bo Koster (Roger Waters) and Cedric LeMoyne (Alanis Morissette).
Strand Of Oaks – In Heaven – Track by Track
The eleven song album lasts 43 minutes.
1. Galacticana
I believe that ecstasy happens when we all get together
Standing right in front of me feeding off the energy together
Looking for identity freaking out a little bit together
Just like when we were kids all the bad things we did together
In Heaven is a very emotional album reflecting about different kinds of experiences and feelings. Thereby, Galacticana was the first single which Showalter released. A typical Strand of Oaks track – at lot of rock, but always a touch of folk music as well.
2. Easter
Easter has a touch of The Killers to me. Rock sounds mixed with electronic elements. It takes a while to get into it (glad that the track is four minutes) – but finally, you have to say that it works out.
3. Hurry
But you’re fooling me
I think you’re fooling me
I’m moving to the city in my dreams
Despite the title, this song is not hurrying at all. The third song on the album is rather slow. A song with very impressive, a touch of ironic lyrics.
This world’s not meant for me
Till our bodies go back to the water
4. Horses at Night
The fourth song is another rather slow one. It is not as present as the songs before, even though it is creating a nice atmosphere with a lot of echo and acoustic guitars. Nice vocal performance as well.
5. Somewhere in Chicago
Especially in the verses, this song has a strong folk and Americana touch – the song itself has its very repetitive parts – which on the one hand makes it stay in your mind very well – on the other hand, it is also boring me a bit.
6. Jimi & Stan
Jimi and Stan in heaven
Making friends going to shows
In my dreams, I just hope they’re having a blast
Jimi found Stan in heaven sitting in a sun-filled room
All the galaxy in view
Jimi and Stan
Okay, that’s the weirdest one of the album. The story of the song: Jimi Hendrix and Stan meet in heaven and enjoy concerts. Which might not be that weird – if you wouldn’t know that Stan has been a cat. The song has a lot of power – and the more I listen to it, the more I love it.
7. Sunbathers
Is Bono around? If Strand of Oaks would play this one as an opener of an U2 show, people might think they are a tribute band. Quite a similar style. Well produced – but I still feel, there is a bit of touch missing to make it a really good song.
8. Carbon
The first thing which caught me about Carbon is the fiddle played by Scott Moore. Not too much more Americana sound there, though – the song has a classic 1990’s rock feeling – but the fiddle is ceaselessly creating a special touch in this song.
9. Sister Saturn
Sister Saturn comes with a nice groove. The song is powerfully driven my hammering guitar riffs. Cool sound, which is again introducing quite some electronic features as well.
10. Slipstream
I wouldn’t say that there are good and bad songs on the album, but there are songs like Slipstream: somehow well-written and produced, but they just don’t add too much touch to the album. Not a track for the skip button, but a bit of less fascination and love for this one.
11. Under Heaven
The album closes with its title track. Less than two minutes, just the piano and Showalter – a personal message at the end of this release
Strand Of Oaks – In Heaven – Spotify
Here is In Heaven on Spotify
Strand Of Oaks – In Heaven – My View
In Heaven is a good listen with some really great songs. Others tend to be more in the average and upper average region. Thus, this 2021 edition of Strand Of Oaks music is a good companion if you like rock with an electronic and folk touch – but not a must-buy if you are not a fan.
Folk Rock postings
Here are all my postings related to folk music and rock music:

The Wood Brothers – Puff Of Smoke

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25th July 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11th July 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27th June 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13th June 2025)

Songs Of My Life: Benjamin Rajani – Á Sigursferð

Robert Forster – Strawberries

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 23rd May 2025)

Kupfergold – Fasan Alarm

Anne Haigis (30th April 2025, Erftstadt)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25th April 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11th April 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21st March 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14th March 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21st February 2025)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14th February 2025)

The Ocelots – Everything, When Said Slowly

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 31st January 2025)

Melissa Naschenweng – Alpenbarbie

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10th January 2025)

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2024

Subway To Sally – Post Mortem

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 20th December 2024)

The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats – Coming Home

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 22nd November 2024)

Madison Cunningham & Andrew Bird – Cunningham Bird

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18th October 2024)

Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon – In These Dying Times

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 6th September 2024)

Ray LaMontagne – Long Way Home

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 9th August 2024)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 26th July 2024)

Color Green – Fool’s Parade

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – South of Here

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21st June 2024)

Richard Thompson – Ship To Shore

The Avett Brothers – The Avett Brothers

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10th May 2024)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 26th April 2024)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 19th April 2024)

Phosphorescent – Revelator

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 29th March 2024)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 22nd March 2024)

Brokof – Blind Spot On The Bright Side Of Life

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 1st March 2024)

Vanessa Peters – Flying On Instruments

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 2nd February 2024)

Backstrom – The Carousel

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 29th December 2023)

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2023

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2023

Fiddler’s Green – The Green Machine

Ticket To Happiness – Aufbruch EP

Santa’s Soundtrack 2023? Some Christmas Releases This Season

Electric Horseman – Lies to Love for

Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed

D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings – Sophomore

Robert Finley – Black Bayou

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13th October 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 29 September 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 22 September 2023)

Manntra – War of the Heathens

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 08 September 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 01 September 2023)

The Paper Kites – At The Roadhouse

Heart to Heart – Semmel Concerts Introduces the Songwriters Round to Germany

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 July 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 July 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 July 2023)

Kezia Gill – Misfit

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 07 July 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 June 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 23 June 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 June 2023)

Hannah Aldridge – Dream of America

Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 09 June 2023)

Tenhi – Valkama

Milky Chance – Living In A Haze

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 June 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 26 May 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 April 2023)

Storm Seeker – Nautic Force

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 April 2023)

The Wood Brothers – Heart is the Hero

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 17 March 2023)

The Nude Party – Rides On

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 17 February 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 January 2023)

Keimzeit Akustik Quintett – Schon gar nicht Proust

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 December 2022)

Some 2022 new Christmas Song Releases – Good Ones and Weird Ones

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25 November 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11 November 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 November 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 October 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 7 October 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 September 2022)

Melissa Naschenweng – Glück

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 September 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 05 August 2022)

Manntra – Kreatura

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 22 July 2022)

Dawes – Misadventures Of Doomscroller

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 24 June 2022)

Museum at Bethel Woods – The Original Site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival

VoixxBradler – Blast

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 22 April 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 01 April 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11 March 2022)

Klaus Lage – Je wahrer die Liebe

Amos Lee – Dreamland

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 Feb 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 Jan 2022)

Jamestown Revival – Young Man

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2021

Ian Tray Band – Electricity

Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021

Lisa Wanloo – Shadows

Michael Patrick Kelly – B.O.A.T.S

Houndmouth – Good For You

Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened

Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love

Dave Hause – Blood Harmony

Santiano – Wenn die Kälte Kommt

Saint City Orchestra – Unified

Martha Wainwright – Love Will Be Reborn

James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds

Willy Mason – Already Dead

Rivers Of England – Eight In The Evening In Spring EP

Richie Necker – New Songs and Untold Stories

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Linda Mar (11th May 2021)

Watershed – Elephant In The Room

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert Vol. 8

Van Morrison – Latest Record Project Volume 1

Robert John Hope – Plasticine Heart

Vanessa Peters – Modern Age

Manntra – Monster Mind Consuming

Blackmore’s Night – Nature’s Light

Tim Hart – Winning Hand

Jack McBannon – True Stories

Sonor Teutonicus – Morgenrot

Darlingside – Fish Pond Fish

Dawes – Good Luck With Whatever

Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia
Chicago Postings
Here is all Flyctory.com contents about Greater Chicago:

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18th July 2025)

Six US States And Nashville (Day 11/12 – 9th/10th June 2025) – Going Home

Six US States And Nashville (Day 1 – 30th May 2025) – My First Flight To Indiana

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30th May 2025)

Laura Sawosko – Not What I Do

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 24th January 2025)

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Tyler Sjöström (September 2024)

Brigitte Calls Me Baby – The Future Is Our Way Out

NHL Schedule 2024-25 – My Suggested Trips

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 July 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 June 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 April 2023)

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2022

L.S. Dunes – Past Lives

Richard Marx – Songwriter

Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 23 September 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 September 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 12 August 2022)

NHL Schedule 2022-23 released – Some suggested Icehopping Itineraries

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 01 July 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10 June 2022)

Bernard Allison – Highs & Lows

Urge Overkill – Oui

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

Chicago River & Lake Michigan with Mercury Cruises

Spotlight – Flyctory.com Meets Frances Luke Accord (21st January 2021)

Carly and Martina – Are You Listening?

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

John Gurney – Remind You EP

Skydeck at Willis Tower by Night (Chicago)

Richard Marx – Limitless

360 Chicago and TILT!

Hampton Inn & Suites Schererville

LOT 787 Business Class

Mascot Hall of Fame (Whiting, IN)
