New York City has a way of promptly unravelling the lives of many artists who relocate here.  It's an effective filter--it corners one into a series of questions typically ending with, "Do I stick it out and make my way here, or do I retreat to a life more manageable?"  The Silver State's Caleb Lindskoog was no exception.  Despite entering his first NYC winter cat sitting in exchange for an air mattress in a Brooklyn apartment with no heat, he was resolute in his choice of location, and he began writing.

The story of The Silver State starts far from New York City, though.  Caleb Lindskoog and guitarist Taylor Milne formed the project in Las Vegas, NV.  Soon after, percussionist Alex Stopa joined.  The trio spent some time playing shows in Nevada, Arizona and California with bands including Apples in Stereo, Ben Kweller, The Album Leaf, and Silversun Pickups.  However, Caleb decided there was too much truth in the slogan, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," so he drove his pursuits east.

He met Brendan Fitzpatrick (Clem Snide) that first winter at a Brooklyn coffee shop.  They began collaborating right away. A few months later, they met with Taylor and Alex in Caleb's hometown, Indianapolis, to record at Queensize Studios.  Over the course of a week in the vast windowless studio, a former indoor paint ball arena, they produced the tracks that became The Silver State's debut album, "Cut and Run."

The core of the record's conceptual vision is rooted in the darker side of transition.  It bears the weight of loss with tracks like "Cross Country" and "Lions' Den" and explores the frightful tendencies of one who has suffered it with "Did What I Did" and "My Neighbor's Basement," all the while maintaining a somber beauty and restrained urgency.  There is an undercurrent of troubled calm, spotlighted in "Faith, You Changed Your Name" and "Letdown," that connects the songs in a spiraling story of love, betrayal, loneliness and revenge.

A copy of the album was given to Young American Recordings by a mutual photographer friend who had been hired by the label to document South (UK) on their most recent US tour.  The new friendship between Young American and The Silver State that followed led to the release of "Cut and Run," on April 15th, 2008.