''Hard Times are in Fashion'' is the third studio album by the American

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

band Koufax.

Background

When Koufax began recording their third album, this happened without a valid record deal. As a result, the band had to pre-finance the recording costs from their own pockets. They worked in six different studios. The band was also currently undergoing a line-up change. From the now disbanding but friendly band

The Get Up Kids The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Olathe, Kansas. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the " second wave" of emo music. Their second album ''Something to Write Home About' ...

, the brothers Rob and

Ryan Pope Ryan Pope is an American musician who lives in Lawrence, Kansas. History Ryan Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Rob and future The Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic. After ...

joined the band for the drums and bass section. No Koufax album features as many guest musicians as this one. For example, the album was recorded with three different drummers. Guitar and piano work was also added from outside. For the first time on a Koufax album a pedal steel guitar can be heard. Finally, the finished album was handed over to

Doghouse A doghouse, also known as a kennel, is an outbuilding to provide shelter for a dog from various weather conditions. Background Humans and domesticated dogs have been companions for more than 15,000 years, beginning with the wolf and hunter–ga ...

(distribution in the USA) and to Motormusic (distribution in Europe).

Track listing

Reception

The album received mainly positive reviews: "''Hard Times are in Fashion'' ratcheted up the energy a bit, while also expanding their sonic palate with some pedal-steel. ..The recorddeserves to be heard by more ears, so seek it out if you like your pop music smart, clever and infectious." - Waxing Nostalgic "While Jared Rosenberg's piano is omnipresent, it isn't abused in

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fashion or used as an overly sappy device à la Keane or

Coldplay Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University Col ...

. Instead, it's merely another instrument, sometimes battling Suchan and Ben Force's guitars point for point, other times blending deftly into the background. The album is infused with subtle political and social commentary, relating mostly to the war in Iraq, the Bush presidency, and foreigners' apparent increasing disgust with The American Way. But Koufax don't pound a listener over the head with their politics." - Allmusic "They, too, don't wanna be to be American idiots. It may not be fair to call ''Hard Times Are in Fashion'' a political album. While its nervy pop songs are very much products of the current post-election depression, Koufax is more concerned with confronting a nation's mass apathy than outlining a revolution." - Popmatters

Personnel

The Band

*Robert Suchan – vocals, guitar, piano *Jared Rosenberg – piano, organ, keyboards *Ben Force – guitars, bass, background vocals *

Rob Pope Robert Pope is an American musician, best known as the bassist for Spoon and The Get Up Kids. History Rob Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Ryan and future Get Up Kids band ...

– bass, guitars, background vocals *

– drums, percussion

Additional musicians

*Matthew Casebeer - organ, piano on "Isabelle", "Blind Faith" and "Get Us Sober" *John Anderson – drums on "Get Us Sober" and "A Sad Man's Face" *Davey Latter – drums on "Her Laughter" *Eric Heywood – pedal-steel-guitar * Michael Krassner – guitars, production (see below)

Technical

*Michael Krassner – production, recording, mixing *Ken Sluiter – mixing

References

{{Authority control 2005 albums Koufax (band) albums Doghouse Records albums