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Beat Happening
Beat Happening is an American indie pop band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis, and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members. Beat Happening were early leaders in the American indie pop and lo-fi movements, noted for their use of primitive recording techniques, disregard for the technical aspects of musicianship, and songs with subject matters of a childish or coy nature. History Formation Beat Happening met while attending The Evergreen State College and began recording in 1983. The band took its name from a student art film, ''Beatnik Happening'', made by Bret's girlfriend. The band's basic line-up was drums, guitar and vocals, though when they formed their only instruments were a pair of maracas and a Sears Silvertone guitar purchased at a thrift shop. Heather once joked in an interview that the history of the band could be told through a list of the various people whose drums they'd borrowed. Heather and Calvin had been members o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous county in Oregon. Portland had a population of 652,503, making it the 26th-most populated city in the United States, the sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle. Approximately 2.5 million people live in the Portland metropolitan statistical area (MSA), making it the 25th most populous in the United States. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area. Named after Portland, Maine, the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1840s, near the end of the Oregon Trail. Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods, and the timber industry was a major force in the city's early economy. At the turn of the 20th century, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indie Pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and subsequently generated a thriving fanzine, Independent record label, label, and club and gig circuit. Compared to its counterpart, indie rock, the genre is more melodic, less abrasive, and relatively angst-free. In later years, the definition of ''indie pop'' has bifurcated to also mean bands from unrelated DIY scenes/movements with pop leanings. Subgenres include chamber pop and twee pop. Development and characteristics Origins and etymology Both ''indie'' and ''indie pop'' had originally referred to the same thing during the late 1970s. Inspired more by punk rock's DIY ethos than its style, guitar bands were formed on the then-novel premise that one could record and release their own music instead of having to procure a record contra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Our Band Could Be Your Life
''Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981–1991'' is a book by Michael Azerrad. It chronicles the careers of several underground rock bands who, while finding little or no mainstream success, were hugely influential in establishing American alternative and indie rock, mostly through nearly constant touring and records released on small, regional independent record labels. Azerrad conducted many interviews with band members, and also conducted extensive research of old fanzines, as well as more mainstream newspapers and books. Content The inspiration for the book occurred when Azerrad was watching a miniseries about rock music history. According to Azerrad after exploring the punk era "it skipped and went straight from Talking Heads to Nirvana. "I thought, This is insane. Did I black out for 10 minutes? I thought that someone should do something about this. And I had, appropriately enough, a DIY moment and I thought, Maybe I should do it." ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Look Around (Beat Happening Album)
''Look Around'' is a compilation album by indie rock band Beat Happening, released on 20 November 2015. The album is touted as a "career-spanning double album anthology", with track selections picked by the band. Background The album was released as a double LP, CD, cassette, and a deluxe LP version with a bonus 7" of "Indian Summer" and "Foggy Eyes" on yellow vinyl. Reception In a review for AllMusic, Tim Sendra wrote, "between Johnson's deadpan vocal delivery, his lovingly crafted persona, and his creepy and humorous lyrics, Lewis' less theatrical, open-hearted singing and writing, and Lunsford's steady musicianship, the band formed the kind of complementary bond most bands would kill to have. Their pieces fit together perfectly and their songs are short bursts of pop music that at their best come as close to perfection as anybody's ever have". ''Pitchfork''s Brandon Stosuy called the curation "perfect" and "a great primer" with "no major oversights or head-scratching inclusion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lois Maffeo
Lois Maffeo (professionally known for much of her career as Lois) is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. She has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 1990s-era Olympia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. music scenes. Early life Maffeo was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated in 1981 from Xavier College Preparatory, an all-female private Catholic high school. She moved to Olympia, Washington to attend The Evergreen State College. Discography As Lois Maffeo ;albums *''The Union Themes'' (with Brendan Canty of Fugazi), 2000, Kill Rock Stars (Japanese release contains five bonus tracks) ;compilations and other collaborations/appearances * ntitled a cappella track ''Dangerous Business International cassette'', 1985, K Records *"My Head Hurts" (with The Go Team), ''Archer Come Sparrow cassette'', 1988/1989, K Records *"Cup to the Wall" (with Satisfact), ''Life Abroad 7" single'', 1996, K Records *"Thick ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Vaselines
The Vaselines are a Scottish alternative rock band. Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, but later added James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. McKee had formerly been a member of a band named The Pretty Flowers with Duglas T. Stewart, Norman Blake, Janice McBride and Sean Dickson. Eugene Kelly had formerly played in The Famous Monsters. History The band formed in 1986, initially as a duo backed by a drum machine. Originally intending to create a fanzine, Kelly and McKee decided to form a band instead. Stephen Pastel of The Pastels is credited with coming up with their name. After playing their first gigs, they signed to Pastel's 53rd and 3rd label and recorded the ''Son of a Gun'' EP with him producing, released in summer 1987. The EP featured a cover of Divine's "You Think You're a Man" on its B-side. By late 1987, Eugene's br ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crashing Through (album)
''Crashing Through'' is a box set with 7 discs containing every studio album, oddities, and rare tracks by the indie rock band, Beat Happening. It was released through K Records on May 7, 2002 but is now out of print. The box set comes complete with a booklet which includes a lengthy essay of the history, importance and impact of the band by Lois Maffeo, as well as rare photos of members Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis, and Bret Lunsford, and a photo of Calvin with artist, musician and director G.B. Jones. Track listing Disc one: '' Beat Happening'' (1985) # "Our Secret" # "What's Important" # "Down at the Sea" # "I Love You" # "Fourteen" # "Fun Down Stairs" # "Bad Seeds" (live) # "In My Memory" # "Honey Pot" # "The Fall" # "Youth" # "Don't Mix the Colors" # "Foggy Eyes" # "Bad Seeds" # "Let Him Get to Me" # "I Spy" # "Run Down the Stairs" # "Christmas" # "Fourteen" # "Let's Kiss" Bonus tracks #"1, 2, 3" # "In Love with You Thing" # "Look Around" # "Bonus Track 1" Disc two: '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Multitrack Recording
Multitrack recording (MTR), also known as multitracking or tracking, is a method of sound recording developed in 1955 that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources or of sound sources recorded at different times to create a cohesive whole. Multitracking became possible in the mid-1950s when the idea of simultaneously recording different audio channels to separate discrete "tracks" on the same reel-to-reel tape was developed. A "track" was simply a different channel recorded to its own discrete area on the tape whereby their relative sequence of recorded events would be preserved, and playback would be simultaneous or synchronized. A multitrack recorder allows one or more sound sources to different tracks to be simultaneously recorded, which may subsequently be processed and mixed separately. Take, for example, a band with vocals, guitars, a keyboard, bass, and drums that are to be recorded. The singer's microphone, the output of the guitars and keys, and eac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You Turn Me On
''You Turn Me On'' is the sixth and final album by the American band Beat Happening, released in 1992. The band supported the album with a North American tour. Production The album was produced by Stuart Moxham, of Young Marble Giants, and Steve Fisk. As with every Beat Happening album, it was Calvin Johnson (musician), Calvin Johnson's goal to write the perfect pop song. The band employed multitrack recording and extended many of the songs. Critical reception ''Rolling Stone'' wrote that, "as with any truly good rock band, it's vision—not mere chops—that drives their engine... The group's songs combine the spooky-sparse quality of early rockabilly with the naive sound of Sixties teen-beat pop." ''The Washington Post'' stated that the "do-it-yourself tunes combine the irresistible hummability of bubblegum with the stripped-down dirges of punk." AllMusic deemed the album "a mature record of tremendous breadth and complexity" and "a masterpiece." Track listing All tracks writ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anti-corporatism
Anti-corporate activism refers to the idea of activism that is directed against the private sector, and specifically against larger corporations. It stems from the idea that the activities and impacts of big business are detrimental to the public good and democratic process, and is often a tool to reframe corporate activities in the public eye. Disagreements with corporations Activists argue that corporate globalization has caused a displacement in the shift from an industrial economy to one where international trade and globalization has spurred financial deregulation. As an increasing number of economies have embraced a free-market approach, regulation has been rolled back and corporations have grown in power and autonomy. Opponents of corporate globalization believe that the government needs greater powers to control the market, that income inequality is rising, and that corporations have gained too much power. Typically coming from the political left, activists again ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dreamy (Beat Happening Album)
''Dreamy'' is an album by the indie pop band Beat Happening, released in 1991. The band recorded the tracks in a living room and in a professional recording studio. Critical reception The ''Chicago Tribune'' wrote: "It's a stripped-of-conventions, anti-pop stance that could sound just as calculated and empty as some elaborate pop productions, but Beat Happening imparts both quirky charm and a sense of immediacy to its material." The ''St. Petersburg Times The ''Tampa Bay Times'', previously named the ''St. Petersburg Times'' until 2011, is an American newspaper published in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It has won fourteen Pulitzer Prizes since 1964, and in 2009, won two in a single ...'' deemed "Collide" "one of the eeriest songs to come along in a while... It's eerie in a playful, sickly pretty way." Track listing All tracks written by Beat Happening. # "Me Untamed" – 3:46 # "Left Behind" – 2:53 # "Hot Chocolate Boy" – 2:21 # "I've Lost You" – 2:48 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jamboree (Beat Happening Album)
''Jamboree'' is the second album by American indie rock band Beat Happening, released in 1988 through K Records and Rough Trade Records. All songs were produced by Steve Fisk with assistance from Screaming Trees members Mark Lanegan and Gary Lee Conner (who plays a brief guitar solo on "Midnight a Go-Go"), except "Cat Walk," produced by Patrick Maley, and "The This Many Boyfriends Club," recorded live by Rich Jensen. Content The album marks a darker approach to the twee pop for which the band is known, due largely to a thicker production than is present on the group's earlier recordings and the dominance of tracks written by Calvin Johnson, while Heather Lewis only provides vocals on two songs, the uncharacteristically brash "In Between" and the more typically understated "Ask Me." At the time of the album's release, Johnson described ''Jamboree''s sound as "dark and sexy." Still, the band retained their emphasis on exuberance over musicianship, as Bret Lunsford stated in an in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
