THE FOR CARNATION Marshmallows 1996

 

Discogs

 

The For Carnation Biography

by Steve Huey

The For Carnation was a low-key, mostly acoustic vehicle for ex-Slint/Squirrel Bait member Brian McMahan, whose previous projects had all made their impact through jagged, noisy art-punk. Mirroring his old bandmate David Grubbs' evolution with Gastr del Sol, McMahan continued to explore the complex, cerebral patterns that were his stock in trade, but with delicate arrangements and far subtler dynamics. Slint fans were taken aback by the For Carnation's low-key sparseness, and while it wasn't as groundbreaking as McMahan's earlier efforts, the quietly unsettling creepiness of its best moments was rooted firmly in the leader's trademark aesthetic. McMahan was the lone constant in the For Carnation, which shaped up as a revolving-door outfit with collaborators coming and going from other projects; the initial lineup featured several members of Tortoise, who gave way to a collection of Louisville and Chicago scenesters.

McMahan formed the For Carnation in 1994 as the latest in a series of high-profile indie outfits. Beginning his career in Louisville's seminal post-Hüsker Dü punkers Squirrel Bait, he next moved on to the groundbreaking math rock unit Slint; following their breakup, he moved to Chicago and played for a short time as a sideman in Will Oldham's Palace Brothers project, along with former Slint bandmate David Pajo. McMahan and Pajo started jamming on their own, along with ex-Slint/Squirrel Bait drummer Britt Walford, who stayed around only briefly. Pajo had begun playing with post-rock bigwigs Tortoise, and two of that band's members -- Doug McCombs (bass) and John Herndon (drums) -- came on board to fill things out, completing the first version of the For Carnation. This lineup recorded the three-song EP Fight Songs, which was released on Matador in 1995. Pajo subsequently left to concentrate on his other projects, which included Tortoise as well as the solo venture Aerial M and several sideman gigs.

McCombs and Herndon continued to play sporadically with the group, but their full-time commitment to Tortoise made things difficult. McMahan pieced together the next For Carnation record, 1996's relatively brief full-length Marshmallows, from contributions by McCombs and Herndon, and those of a new lineup featuring onetime Rodan drummer John Weiss, guitarists Tim Ruth (also of Slint offshoot) Evergreen) and Michael McMahan (Brian's brother), plus additional contributions by hotshot Chicago producer Brad Wood. The For Carnation subsequently embarked on its first national tour, with a lineup featuring the McMahan brothers and an all-Louisville supporting cast of guitarist Tim Furnish, bassist Todd Cook (both ex-Crain), and drummer Kip McCabe. By this time, the group's brand of post-rock was drawing comparisons to Gastr del Sol, as well as slowcore bands like Codeine and Low.

The For Carnation later split from Matador to sign with Touch & Go, and McMahan returned to Louisville and set about crafting new material with a lineup of Michael McMahan, Todd Cook, and the returning Britt Walford (then also in Evergreen). Meanwhile, Runt reissued the band's first two EPs together under the title Promised Works. Walford returned to his other commitments later in 1997, and was eventually replaced by Steve Goodfriend; guitarists/keyboardists Bobb Bruno and Rafe Mandel later came on board as well. Finally, in 2000, Touch & Go released The For Carnation, the band's most substantive and fully realized record to date. Boasting considerable involvement from Tortoise's John McEntire, the album also featured guest spots from the Breeders' Kim Deal and that dog.'s Rachel Haden.

Tracklist

1		On The Swing	2:06
2		Wear The Gold	5:27
3		Lmyr, Marshmallow	2:09
4		Winter Lair	5:39
5		Salo	6:45
6		Preparing To Receive You	8:51

THE FOR CARNATION Promised Works 1997

Discogs

The For Carnation are a post-rock band led by Brian McMahan, the group's only constant member. The roots of the band began when McMahan reunited with his ex-Slint bandmates David Pajo and Britt Walford in an attempt to resurrect their old group. The reunion didn't work out, but McMahan and Pajo eventually recruited some other musicians and The For Carnation was born. The band released an EP, 1995's "Fight Songs", and an LP, 1996" Marshamallows", on Matador Records. Both records were combined into one release, "Promised Works", in 1997 by Italy's Runt imprint. McMahan and company then jumped to Touch And Go for their second LP, a self-titled affair released in 2000.

Tracklist

1	Grace Beneath The Pines	7:44
2	How I Beat The Devil	1:36
3	Get And Stay Get March	5:58
4	On The Swing	2:06
5	I Wear The Gold	5:28
6	Lmyr, Marshmallow	2:09
7	Winter Lair	5:39
8	Salo	6:45
9	Preparing To Receive You	8:51

AERIAL M Post Global Music 1999

by request

 

Discogs 

 

Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny

 Aerial M was the alias of multi-instrumentalist David Pajo, a seminal figure in the development of the post-rock aesthetic whose tenures in bands including Slint and Tortoise set the stage for some of the most innovative and influential music of recent decades. He first surfaced in 1985 playing guitar in the legendary Louisville, KY, teen thrash band Squirrel Bait; following their 1987 breakup, Pajo joined Slint, a band whose revolutionary instrumental sound continues to resonate throughout the American underground scene. Slint proved short-lived as well, however, and after their 1991 dissolution, he joined the Palace Brothers, appearing on their early recordings; from there Pajo relocated to England, where he spent over a year studying at Norwich Arts College. Upon his return to the U.S. he rejoined the Palace Brothers, additionally playing guitar in the For Carnation and drumming in King Kong. Most important, however, was his tenure as one of two bassists in Tortoise, which began in 1996 with the landmark Millions Now Living Will Never Die; Pajo soon left the group, however, to focus on Aerial M, a solo project that he debuted with the single "Safeless." "Vol de Nuit," one half of a split single recorded with Monade, followed in late 1996, trailed a year later by Aerial M's self-titled debut LP, issued on the Drag City label. Post Global Music followed in 1999. Pajo also recorded and performed under the Papa M alias in the late '90s and early 2000s; performed as a member of Zwan; and used the Pajo moniker in the mid-2000s. 

Tracklist 

1	Wedding 3 Mix	9:06
2	Wedding Song Remix	4:20
3	Wedding Song No. 3 Remix	7:18
4	Attention Span Deficit Disorder Disruption	18:57

VARIOUS ARTISTS Ear Of The Dragon - 19 Asian American Bands 1995

By request

The track running order listed on the CD cover is incorrect-the list below shows the actual running order of the CD.  

 

Discogs

1. Signer's Strut - aMiniature
2. Losing My Cool - Yanti Arifin
3. Reveille - Versus
4. Tossing Pearls - Venus Cures All
5. Hey Latasha - Seam
6. Day into Night - Dolomite
7. Live for Yourself - Kicking Giant
8. Your King - Team Xiaoping
9. Secret Nothing - cub
10. The Naked City - Cartographers
11. Smooth Control - The Dambuilders
12. Perfect World - Mint Aundry
13. Heavens to Betsy - Chumley
14. I Would for You - J Church
15. Pabu Boy - Skankin' Pickle
16. Mr. Onion #2 - Slowpoke
17. It's About Time - Azure
18. She - Squash Blossom
19. Undiu - David Pajo Band

EVERGREEN self titled 1996

Featured the drummer from Slint, Louisville, Kentucky locals and not to be confused with a California band of the same name.

Discogs 

Tracklist

1	Fairlane
2	Petting The Beast
3	Solar Song
4	Whip Cream Bottle
5	Plastic Bag
6	Klark Kent
7	Sweet Jane
8	Glass Highway
9	Zoom Zoom
10	New York City
11	Coyote

KING KONG Funny Farm 1994

Thanks to Martin for King Kong!

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