The Six Parts Seven is an American

post-rock Post-rock is a form of experimental rock characterized by a focus on exploring textures and timbre over traditional rock song structures, chords, or riffs. Post-rock artists are often instrumental, typically combining rock instrumentation with ...

band formerly based in Kent, Ohio. The band was founded in 1995 by brothers Allen and Jay Karpinski (playing guitar and drums, respectively), who had earlier played with Old Hearts Club, a band of similar style including vocals. In 1998, Tim Gerak was added to the core member line-up, playing guitar and also credited with additional engineering on the band's later recordings. Most of the group's music is instrumental, featuring multiple "clean" ( undistorted) electric guitars, with electric bass and

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, as well as electric lap steel guitar, viola, and occasionally piano, vibraphone, or trumpet. Rather than relying primarily on strummed chords, songs are generally built by combining single-note melodic lines. The band has been through a plethora of line-up changes, and minor positions in the band have proved to be a revolving chair, while retaining the core force of the Karpinski brothers and Tim Gerak. Former vibraphonist Eric Koltnow left the band after the release of ''Everywhere and Right Here'', as well as former lap steel player Ben Vaughan after the birth of his first child. Minor positions, such as the newly-added trumpet, have been filled by members of other bands from the Akron, Ohio area. The Six Parts Seven's name is based on a quote from

Virginia Governor The governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia serves as the head of government of Virginia for a four-year term. The incumbent, Glenn Youngkin, was sworn in on January 15, 2022. Oath of office On inauguration day, the Governor-elect takes th ...

William Berkeley in 1676, "How miserable that man is that governs a people where six parts of seven at least are poor, indebted, discontented and armed." A recent interview with another band member claims the name derives from a childhood game between brothers Jay and Allen. Although its name is similar, The Six Parts Seven should not be confused with the British band

Six by Seven Six by Seven (also written as SIX.BY SEVEN or six.by seven or six.byseven) are an English indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Nottingham. The classic lineup of the band featured singer/guitarist Chris Olley, guitarist Sam Hempton, drummer Chri ...

. The group has toured the United States several times and performed in March 2006 at the

South by Southwest South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and Convention (meeting), conferences organized jointly that take place in m ...

festival in Austin, Texas. Since the early 21st century its music has been used frequently by National Public Radio's '' All Things Considered'' news program as transition music. Group leader Allen Karpinski was interviewed about the group's music on the same program in September 2004.

Members

Current

*Allen Karpinski - guitar, electric bass, keyboards *Jay Karpinski - drums *Tim Gerak - guitar, banjo, lap steel, samples *Mike Tolan - electric bass guitar, guitar, organ, banjo *Steve Clements - grand piano, keyboards *Jake Trombetta - electric lap steel guitar, guitar, piano *Jennifer Court - clarinet

Former

*Brad Visker - electric bass *Ben Vaughan - electric lap steel guitar *Eric Koltnow - vibraphone *Matt Haas - electric lap steel guitar *Mary Mazzer - electric lap steel guitar *Heather Wiker - viola

Discography

Studio albums

*1998 - ''In Lines and Patterns...'' CD (Donut Friends) *2000 - '' Silence Magnifies Sound'' CD (

Troubleman Unlimited Troubleman Unlimited Records was a record label specializing in indie rock and similar genres. Founded in 1993, the label was based in Bayonne, New Jersey and owned by Mike Simonetti. History The label started as an offshoot of a fanzine called ...

) *2002 - '' Things Shaped in Passing'' CD & 2xLP ( Suicide Squeeze) *2004 - '' Everywhere, and Right Here'' CD & LP ( Suicide Squeeze) *2007 - '' Casually Smashed to Pieces'' CD & LP ( Suicide Squeeze)

EPs

*2003 - '' The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys EP'' CD-EP ( Suicide Squeeze) *2003 - ''Attitudes of Collapse'' One-Sided LP (

Burnt Toast Vinyl Burnt Toast Vinyl is an independent record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. History Burnt Toast Vinyl was founded by Scott Hatch, a Drexel University student who had initially been involved with concert promotion at the school. The la ...

)

Remix albums

*2003 - ''Lost Notes from Forgotten Songs'' CD (Suicide Squeeze)

Unofficial releases

*1995 - ''The Six Parts Seven'' Cassette *2001 - ''Untitled EP (Solo Singles Series)'' CD (

)

Compilations

*2000 - ''Slightest Indication of Change'' CD & LP (Slowdance Records), SLOW-007 *2001 - ''Troubleman Mix-Tape'' 2xCD (

, 2001, TMU-050) *2002 - ''Devil In the Woods 52'' 7" vinyl ( Devil in the Woods records), DIW-52

References

External links

BettaWreckonize interview

Reviews

Review of ''Silence Magnifies Sound''
by John Dark, Pitchfork Media
Short story review of ''Casually Smashed To Pieces''
he Wheel's Still In Spinbr>Review of ''Casually Smashed to Pieces''
by Thomas Lloyd
The Silent Ballet

Listening

"Six Parts Seven's Harmonic Rock" from NPR ''All Things Considered'' program, 16 September 2004
{{DEFAULTSORT:Six Parts Seven Suicide Squeeze Records artists American post-rock groups Indie rock musical groups from Ohio Musical groups established in 1995 Musical groups disestablished in 2008 Musical groups from Kent, Ohio