The band, hailing from Kent, Ohio, was a critical darling for a few Andy Warholian moments in 2000-2001 when Spin Magazine ranked its 'Abracadaver' debut inthe Top 10 releases of the year.
Although it seemed that the band never received critical praise on par with this, their music only got better as time went on, and I still play the double album 'Space and How Sweet It Was' and the band's swansong 'Please Believe It' which came out in 2003 on the doomed Velocette label, frequently.
The band took postcore and shoegazing tendencies but added in enough loud riffs and an active rhythm section that metal types took notice. In fact, One of the many labels hawking products of Helicopters said at the time by way of explanation, “Although the band does enjoy My Bloody Valentine and Iron Maiden, please stop referencing them.”
Their singer was a polarizing figure who would roll into a fetal ball on stage, hold the mic limp-wristed while adapting ridiculous falsettos. In fact, this led to the lyrics on 'The Good Punk' which led off 'Please Believe It"...
this ain't punk rock enough for my ears, I'm outta here,
they got a baby unicorn on the record cover, who's this cowboy think that he is,
I probably could take him but the fear of him fondling keeps me kinda weak, it kind of freaks me out,
unimpressed and crazy over beer'd, i think i've been a good punk,
I don't care let a-holes think i'm weird, i think i've been a good punk,
if only i could i'd make 'em eat the record cover, i think we should all feel cheap and gross,
i'm so totally out of here you i mean it.
Some visual moments:
The Video for the song 'The Toucer'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krxjNS9uC50
A homemade video for the song 'Slowdance'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXIURMwHq0
The band at a reunion show doing 'The Good Punk'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuLjcXvjdgI
Title track from debut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHJkAqA4lkI
My favorite track from them 'Bastard Motherfucker' live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7mNvsDeYU
Since the band split up, they do occassional reunions around Ohio. The drummer played guitar in the (also gone and also great) Teeth Of The Hyrda (one amazing album on Tee Pee Records) and also is the tour manager for Black Keys. Don't know what the others are up to.
Needless to say, I say huge fucking classic. Wonder if anyone else remembers the band as fondly as I do...
― NYCNative, Tuesday, 1 February 2011 05:51 (fourteen years ago)