Switchfoot- The Legend of Chin
Re:Think
1997
Switchfoot has become a fairly popular and mainstream band here recently. They're more popular than Extol and The Residents combined, despite The Residents' 30 plus years of existance (and insistance to release music). This is the first Switchfoot cd and the one that most drastically differs from "The Beautiful Letdown." It's kind of an edgy alternative with some indie influences. Most mainstream fans will probably find this less enjoyable than "The Beautiful Letdown" because of the production. It's kind of crusty feeling, despite the well crafted and performed songs. However, I think that also adds character to the cd. Some standout songs include, "Chem6A", "Underwater", and "Concrete Girl."
Enjoy.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Excellent, but no need to apologize - ALL of recorded history is fair game. About the only caveat to that would be it should be available somewhere or people might get frustrated.
I think the all-itals might be a bit hard on the eyes, if that's okay.
Also, it's entirely up to you, but these are long enough to be their own posts, if you'd like to do it that way.
Thanks!
2 - The Theory
but these are short for me. mwahahaha.
nothing but half a heart-beat.
3 - Eric Olsen
I was just saying if you WANT to do them individually, that's fine too.
4 - Mark Saleski
i'm embarassed to say that i own no Residents records.
is this a good place to start?
5 - The Theory
I'd start with Duck Stab if I were you. I only own six of their massive collection, but that's the most accessable of the ones I own and others say the same.
6 - Mark Saleski
i don't need accessible...what's really weird?!
7 - Eric Olsen
all of them
8 - Eric Olsen
check this out
9 - Tom Johnson
They're really weird, Mark. The Residents were a big influence on Primus, if that gives you any indication - and Primus is nowhere near as weird as the Residents. I highly suggest starting with The Commercial Album, which is a bunch (literally - 40) of songs that had the limit of one minute's length placed on them. They wanted to force themselves to make music that would get the point across quickly and function almost like a jingle (hence the name.) Of course, any commercial that would feature music this, frankly, fucked up would be for some seriously odd products.
You would also not go wrong checking out the 2-disc anthology, Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses.
Gingerbread Man was one of their more disappointing releases - for me at least. The punch there just didn't connect with me.
10 - The Theory
speaking of The Commercial Album... they took each song off of that and, on San Francisco's #1 Top 40 radio station, bought 40 one minute time slots and in the span of 3 days had all of the songs played.
11 - Tom Johnson
Theory, now THAT is cool. Buncha freaks they are, but smart, funny freaks. We need a lot more like that.
12 - Mark Saleski
i don't consider Primus to be especially weird...certainly more so than, say, Creed...or somethin'.
i got to see Primus once in boston (opener was Fishbone...great show)...and there were some kids right behind me who knew nothing about the whole "Primus Sucks" thing. they kept saying stuff like "i don't know why everybody hates 'em, they're really good".
maybe i shoulda told them what was going on?
13 - Eric Olsen
My son is a bass player and loves Les - we're working on him intervewing him when Primus plays Cleveland.
The Residents interview I linked in #8 is a pretty good primer
14 - The Theory
Mark, I stick with my reccomendation of Duck Stab... however, just picked up Fingerprince used yesterday. I doubt if it's available new anywhere, but if you find that PICK IT UP. Quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Now on to something different, I had a fun experience at work yesterday...
I work at a bookstore, usually in the music department, however they needed someone at the cash register so I was up there. I see two guys walk in the store and they were brousing around. The one guy turned around and smack dab on his t-shirt was the tell-tale The Residents' eye. I about crapped my pants. Did he get it at Goodwill and had no clue what it was, or was he actually a fan? So when he checked out I was like, "Is that a Residents' shirt?" and he was like, "Yeah!"
Turns out he was a huge fan and I was the first person to comment on the shirt.
15 - Mark Saleski
it must be a sign.
i will go out and look for both Duck Stab and The Commercial Album this afternoon.
16 - The Theory
online is probably the only place you can get them. Some cool music stores might stock their latest one (which I believe is Demons Dance Alone), but I doubt if any would carry, new, either of those.
Your best bet might be to try and find it used if you have any nice used music stores in your area.
*The Theory... has 3 used music stores and have found Residents albums at each*