CRAIN Speed 1992

by request

Discogs 

Tracklist

Car Crash Decisions
Monkeywrench
Proposed Production
Kneel
The Dead Town
King Octane
Skinminer Pastel
News From Warsaw
Ten Miles Of Fiction
Ribcage

CRAIN Heater 1994

by request

Discogs 
 

review[+] by Ned Raggett

That Crain comes from Louisville isn't necessarily immediately obvious; but then again, Steve Albini is the producer, listed under the guise of '80s hip-hop/R&B types Whodini. If anything, the first thing that will leap to mind when opening track "Foot Sanding" kicks in is Helmet because there's the same chunky, fierce brusqueness that characterizes the band's breakthrough Meantime. Soon enough, though, there are enough slower tempos and shifts, not to mention an appreciation of darker textures, to indicate that Crain has its own path to follow. While the member's names -- Jason Hayden, Jon Cook, and Tim Furnish -- are listed in the liner notes, what they exactly do isn't. From the general sound they're likely a power trio in the indie '90s vein, post-hardcore rather than post-Cream. Not quite emo in the original sense -- though the lead singer does let out more than a few unsettling screams -- the three do kick up a righteous din throughout. The varying time signatures, meanwhile, showcase at least a bit of a link to local types like Rodan and more math rock sorts elsewhere. Add in dollops of Helmet as mentioned, plus a generally crisper take on various grunge types from Seattle, and Heater is the result. While Crain wasn't per se a groundbreaker, when the three are on they don't hold back, while Albini's production makes everything sound just right, as is his wont. "The Waste Kings" is a highlight, a massive, brawling epic practically crackling with rage as things calm down just enough to suddenly amp up again. The bright surge of "Bricks" is another winner, while "Hey Cops!" and "Knock Yr Daylights Out" deserve a nod just for the titles alone. An interesting bit of trivia: the art throughout comes from a video, Toy Porno, created by underground legends the Frogs.

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Tracklist

1	Foot Sanding	5:04
2	Save Me Your Head	3:33
3	Valium And Alcohol	5:33
4	The Waste Kings	5:41
5	Blistering	2:07
6	Knock Yr Daylights Out	3:02
7	Hey Cops!	3:47
8	Bricks	2:53
9	One Who Hangs	6:35
10	Broken Heart Of A Neutron Star	7:30

CRAIN 7 inches

Crackhouse  1992

A1		Crackhouse
A2		Bricks
B		Hey Cops!

Monkeywrench 1991

by request

Tracklist ▼

A1		Monkeywrench
A2		Skinminer Pastel
B1		Painful Answer
B2		Nervous Woman, Nervous Man

RODAN Rusty 1994

biography

[+] by Steve Huey

A seminal influence on the avant-garde wing of indie rock, Rodan were habitually likened to fellow Louisville natives and math rock pioneers Slint. And it was true that Slint were a crystal-clear influence on the group's loud, angular art-punk -- easily heard in the extreme dynamic shifts, deliberate tempos, lengthy compositions, and half-spoken vocals. Yet Rodan put their own stamp on the basic blueprint, ratcheting up the energy and writing fuller, more complex arrangements. In doing so, they helped codify the pummeling yet intellectual aesthetic of what was soon dubbed math rock: textured, patterned soundscapes built on the controlled, precise use of abrasive noise and high volume. Although Rodan's existence was short, producing only one album, their impact on math rock and post-rock was far-reaching; what was more, most of the members moved on to new projects that were often just as challenging, whether they resembled Rodan's musical modus operandi or not.Rodan were formed in Louisville, KY, in 1992 by guitarists Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who'd been playing together since high school and had gone to art school before deciding to concentrate on music. They enlisted bassist Tara Jane O'Neil, and initially dubbed themselves Kinkhead International. With the arrival of drummer Jon Cook -- also a member of local stalwarts Crain -- they switched their name to Rodan, after the pterodactyl character in the Godzilla monster movies. Still committed to Crain as his primary gig, Cook didn't stick around for long; he was replaced briefly by Jon Weiss, then permanently by Kevin Coultas.

Rodan made their recorded debut as part of the four-song various-artists 7" Inclined Plane, on Tsunami's Simple Machines label (their track was "Darjeeling"). It was followed by a one-off single for Three Little Girls called How the Winter Was Passed, which featured two tracks, "Milk and Melancholy" and "Exoskeleton." With the help of that work and the self-released cassette Aviary, Rodan landed a deal with Touch & Go Records subsidiary Quarterstick. They issued their debut album, Rusty, in the spring of 1994, taking its title from engineer Bob "Rusty" Weston. It received highly positive reviews and fairly widespread press attention, quickly turning the group into a cult phenomenon. Surprisingly, they elected to disband by the end of 1994, perhaps overwhelmed by the response. They still managed to appear in the indie-themed film Half Cocked, with O'Neil playing one of the lead characters; Rodan also contributed one song, "Tron," to the soundtrack.Rodan's early breakup only served to enhance their cult reputation, as did the band members' subsequent projects. Jeff Mueller formed June of 44, which continued in a similar -- if more conventionally structured -- fashion as Rodan, and released several albums over the rest of the '90s. Tara Jane O'Neil teamed with Cynthia Nelson (ex-Ruby Falls) in the indie pop outfit Retsin, which also issued several albums. Jason Noble formed the post-rock chamber trio Rachel's, which enjoyed a level of acclaim that generally matched or exceeded that of Rodan. Kevin Coultas played with Rachel's for a short time, as well as Thalia Zedek's Come, before reuniting with O'Neil in the Sonora Pine (which also featured June of 44 guitarist Sean Meadows). O'Neil embarked on a solo career in 2000, while Mueller and Noble simultaneously reunited in the Shipping News.

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SHIPPING NEWS Save Everything 1997

Discogs

Tracklist  

1	Books On Trains	5:25
2	Steerage	10:53
3	The Photoelectric Effect	4:17
4	All By Electricity	4:28
5	At A Venture	3:57
6	A True Lover's Knot	10:11