Califone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about a band. For the turntable manufacturer, see Califone International.
Califone is a critically-acclaimed experimental post-rock band from Chicago. The band is named after a popular manufacturer of turntables, tape recorders, and listening stations that were commonly found in public schools from the 1960s through the 1990s.
Contents |
[edit] History
After the breakup of his former band Red Red Meat, frontman Tim Rutili formed Califone as a solo project. Rutili's solo effort soon became a full-fledged musical project with a regular and rotating list of contributors, including many former members of Red Red Meat and some members of other Chicago bands.
From the music website Cokemachineglow.com: "When we started doing this, it was a home project. The statement of intent would have been “easy listening” compared to what we were doing with Red Red Meat. This was supposed to be making little pop songs out of found pieces. It was supposed to be just a little home project, and it slowly grew from there. Now it seems like just about anything goes"[1].
Califone's sound is a combination of Red Red Meat's blues-rock and experimental music, with inspiration drawn from early American folk music, pop, as well as electronic and unclassifiable acts like Psychic TV and Captain Beefheart, respectively.
At a glance, listeners familiar with Red Red Meat can quickly tell that Califone is not attempt to revive the old band; elements from a number of musical styles create their distinctive sound.
Califone's current lineup includes Joe Adamik (drums), Jim Becker (banjo, violin), Ben Massarella (percussion), and Tim Rutili (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Each member is a multi-instrumentalist.
[edit] Collaborations
In 1997, members of Red Red Meat collaborated with members of oRSo and Rex to record Loftus for Perishable Records.
In 2002, Tim Rutili collaborated with Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock and others to release the album Sharpen Your Teeth under the band name Ugly Casanova.
In 2005, Califone collaborated with Freakwater as a backing band to record the album Thinking of You.
In 2006, Tim Rutili teamed up with Wil Hendricks and Michael Krassner under the name The Unseen Hand to record the soundtrack for Rank, a documentary about bullriding.
[edit] Discography
- Califone (Flydaddy Records, 1998)
- Califone (Road Cone Records, 2000)
- Roomsound (Perishable Records, 2001)
- Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People (Perishable Records / Road Cone Records, 2002)
- Deceleration One (Perishable Records, 2002)
- Quicksand / Cradlesnakes (Thrill Jockey, 2003)
- Decleration Two (Perishable Records, 2003)
- Heron King Blues (Thrill Jockey, 2004)
- Roots & Crowns (Thrill Jockey, October 10, 2006)
[edit] External links
- Pastry Sharp - Official website contains lyrics, song downloads, and discussion
- Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
[edit] Album reviews
- Pitchfork Media - Roots & Crowns -
- "One of the most quintessentially American records imaginable." - Stylus Magazine - Roots & Crowns -
- Twisted Ear - Roots & Crowns -
 |
This article on a United States experimental music band is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
|
This article on a United States rock music band is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
