Four Cornered Night | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 11, 2000 | |||
Recorded | March–May 2000 | |||
Studio | Inner Ear | |||
Genre | Emo, post-punk | |||
Length | 54:04 | |||
Label | Jade Tree | |||
Jets to Brazil chronology | ||||
|
Four Cornered Night is the second studio album by American rock band Jets to Brazil, released on September 11, 2000, through Jade Tree. In late 1999 and early 2000, while touring in support of their debut studio album Orange Rhyming Dictionary (1998), the band debuted new material. Between March and May, they recorded at Inner Ear Studios with J. Robbins. The emo and post-punk album featured the inclusion of cello and piano instrumentation, with lyrics sung from the first-person perspective of frontman Blake Schwarzenbach.
Four Cornered Night received a favourable response from music critics, many of whom found it superior to Orange Rhyming Dictionary. It reached number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, later going on to sell over 48,000 copies in the US. Three of the album's songs appeared on Jade Tree's website prior to the release of Four Cornered Night. The band supported it with two tours of the United States – one following its release, with Cave In and Shiner, and the other in early 2001, with the Love Scene – as well as a stint in Japan.
With the addition of former the Van Pelt guitarist Brian Maryansky, [1] Orange Rhyming Dictionary was released in October 1998; [2] multiple tours of the US, Europe and Japan followed. [3] [4] [5] By April 1999, frontman Blake Schwarzenbach had stockpiled a handful of new songs that the band were in the process of fleshing out. [6] In September 1999, the group performed at the Jade Tree/CMJ showcase in New York City, and a handful of east coast dates around this. At these shows, the group debuted new material. [5] Schwarzenbach spent some time between his apartment in New York City and his mother's farm in Nova Scotia, Canada. He played her upright piano – a change from his Roland digital keyboard when working on songs – and viewed it as a different way of playing. [7]
In February 2000, the group went on an east coast tour; following the stint's conclusion, the band finished working on material for their next album. They began recording it in March at Inner Ear Studios with J. Robbins, [8] and finished in May. [9] Robbins was "not afraid of the theatricality that the album seemed headed toward. Instead of ducking that, we kind of embraced it", according to Schwarzenbach. [7] Robbins mixed the recordings with engineer Geoff Sanoff at Water Music; Alan Douches mastered the album at West West Side, New Jersey. [10]
Musically, the sound of Four Cornered Night has been described as a post-punk iteration of the Beach Boys' album Pet Sounds (1966), as well as emo in the vein of the Juliana Theory, with softer tracks recalling the work of Elvis Costello. [11] [12] The title is taken from the poem A Rabbit as King of the Ghosts by Wallace Stevens, as Schwarzenbach explained: "It’s all four of us, the room, a night, and subjects I'm always going back to". [13] The majority of the album featured him playing a piano, which he had been using for a year and half. Schwarzenbach theorised the instrument "changed a lot … I think it ended up affecting the songs and making them a little more orchestral, or a little more involved." [7] As a result, it is heard on four of the album's tracks; [14] the inclusion of the instrument drew a comparison to Summerteeth (1999)-era Wilco. [15] Accompanied by strings, piano and acoustic guitar, Four Cornered Night is a more midtempo affair, then the aggressive guitarwork of Orange Rhyming Dictionary. [12] [16] [17] As Schwarzenbach had shared guitar roles with Maryansky, it allowed him to spend more time working on vocals and keyboard. [17]
Schwarzenbach's vocals were reminiscent of Cracker frontman David Lowery, and the Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler. [18] [19] [20] Session musician Amy Domingues played cello on "Pale New Dawn", "In the Summer's When You Really Know", and "All Things Good and Nice". [10] The members spent time listening to albums that were influential to them; for Schwarzenbach: Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969) by the Kinks. [7] While some of Orange Rhyming Dictionary was sung in third-person, a lot of Four Cornered Night is done in first-person. Schwarzenbach explained that "felt ready, I felt a growing confidence in myself to tell my story." [1] Schwarzenbach referred to it as a "local record", with a "failed romance" at the center of it. The majority of the songs on the album were written while he was in Canada, which contrasted to the material on Orange Rhyming Dictionary, where it was written over a period of a few years. [17]
"You're Having the Time of My Life" incorporated arpeggios and chord progressions that recalled new wave, while its intro section evoked "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (1975) by Pink Floyd. [7] [21] Schwarzenbach wrote "One Summer Last Fall" as an open letter of fans that were still clinging to Jawbreaker. [22] The guitar pop track "Air Traffic Control" was compared to the Byrds [7] and Fountains of Wayne. The song discusses a fear of flying, [23] and utilizes the guitar riff heard in "Ticket to Ride" by the Beatles. [24] "Pale New Dawn", "In the Summer's When You Really Know" and "Empty Picture Frame" were reminiscent of 52nd Street (1978)-era Billy Joel, Running on Empty (1977)-era Jackson Browne and Night Moves (1976)-era Bob Seger, respectively. [22] "Pale New Dawn", as with "You're Having the Time of My Life", is about a failed relationship, and includes a piano part in the style of Joel. [23] [25] The piano-driven track "In the Summer's When You Really Know" tackles the theme of love and innocence, while "Empty Picture Frame" is about being lonely and smoking dope. [23] [26] [27]
The acoustic-based mid-tempo track "Little Light", which drew comparison to Costello, discusses life while touring. [11] [17] ""Your X-Rays Have Just Come Back from the Lab and We Think We Know What Your Problem Is"" is initially a guitar-and-vocal only effort until the full-band comes in; its guitar parts were reminiscent of Duran Duran. [7] [18] The glam-lite "Milk and Apples" showcases the rock-centric side of the band's sound, with a comparison to AC/DC. [11] [17] [18] "Mid-Day Anonymous" mixed the work of Pavement, a church organ, and Steve Malkmus-esque lyrics about a murder. [7] [17] [25] "*******" is an acoustic track that uses biblical imagery, and is done in the vein of the Who guitarist Pete Townshend. [7] [28] "Orange Rhyming Dictionary" included Smithes-esque guitar effects. [18] With its sparse piano arrangement, the closing track "All Things Good and Nice" was compared to "Mother" (1970) by John Lennon; [24] the track sees Schwarzenbach offer couplets on his fellow band members, as well as family. [16]
In May 2000, Four Cornered Night was planned for release in three months' time; [9] the following month, the band went on a short Midwestern and East Coast tour. [29] On June 8, 2000, "You're Having the Time of My Life", "Pale New Dawn", and "Little Light" were posted on Jade Tree's website. [30] In July, the album was pushed back to late August due to a manufacturing delay; [31] and by early August, it was delayed again due to a manufacturing error. [32] Four Cornered Night was eventually released on September 11, through Jade Tree. [33] The CD label is designed to resemble older albums release by Decca Records. [34] It reached number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, eventually going on to sell over 48,000 copies in the US. [35] Throughout September and October, the group toured across the US, and played a showcase for CMJ. [32] The band were supported by Cave In, Shiner, J Majesty, [36] Hey Mercedes and Turing Machine. [37] Jets to Brazil spent some time recuperating, [38] before on a US tour in April and May 2001 with the Love Scene and New End Original. [39] Following this, they embarked on a Japanese tour in June with Robbins' band Burning Airlines. [40]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
North County Times | C+ [18] |
Nude as the News | 4.5/10 [34] |
The Phantom Tollbooth | 4.5/5 [11] |
Four Cornered Night was met with favorable reviews from music critics. Ox-Fanzine reviewer Joachim Hiller said the album was "even better than expected", calling it a "masterpiece." [42] CMJ New Music Report 's Tad Hendrickson viewed it as a "remarkable follow-up" to Orange Rhyming Dictionary, adding that it will "surprise many with its honesty and directness." [43] Peter Buchberger of Seattle Weekly said the record "challenges the listener", leaving "no apologies" with its "sincere, piano-infused anthems that are catchy and raspy at the same time." [44] Rolling Stone reviewer James Hunter said Schwarzenbach's emotions "adds up to extremely circular music, bold enough to drive some rock fans mad and to enthrall others." [45] Exclaim! writer Stuart Green said that while the album was "a far cry from the aggressive" Orange Rhyming Dictionary, it ultimately beats it, "at least in terms of songwriting and cohesiveness." [22]
Ink 19's Marcel Feldmar said it took a few more plays for the album to capture his attention "within its brilliance" than Orange Rhyming Dictionary. The minimal nature of the album "threw me off at first", though thankfully, "the intensity is still there, the voice is still there, almost breaking at times, stronger than steel at times." [46] AllMusic reviewer Adam Bregman said Schwarzenbach "indulges in the sort of over-the-top sentimentality that is more reminiscent of a lengthy novel by Proust than anything you'd expect from a rock band." [41] Modern Fix found the guitars not as "grating" as on Orange Rhyming Dictionary, and noted that the "tempos are slowed, and Schwarzenbach’s angst" is partially swapped for a cello and a piano. [47] The staff at Impact Press said the a few of the songs "capture the intensity that made Jets so great," while a number of others lacked "that energy, ending up somewhat unremarkable". [48] In a brief review for The Stranger , Kris Adams said it was a "decent, if disappointing follow-up to a good debut." [49] Nude as the News' Mark Donohue said that Schwarzenbach is shown to be the "empty-headed lousy poet I always took him for", adding that the band "lack the sort of charismatic, essential tunesmith needed to give the band’s rude gestures transcendence". [34]
Track listing per booklet. [10]
Personnel per booklet. [10]
Jets to Brazil
Additional musicians
| Production and design
|
Strike Anywhere is an American punk rock band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1999 after the demise of frontman Thomas Barnett's previous band, Inquisition, they took their name from the Inquisition song "Strike Anywhere". Their music is characterized by fast tempos, catchy melodies, and emotionally charged vocals delivered via shouting and singing.
Jets to Brazil was an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, US. They formed in 1997 and were active until 2003.
Jawbreaker is an American punk rock band that was active from 1986 to 1996, and again since 2017. The band is considered to be extremely influential to the 1990s emo and punk genre with their "poetic take on hardcore." Their influence on the punk scene has led some critics to label Jawbreaker as the best punk rock band of the 1990s.
The Promise Ring was an American rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that is recognized as part of the second wave of emo. Among various other EPs and singles, the band released four studio albums during their initial run: 30° Everywhere (1996), Nothing Feels Good (1997), Very Emergency (1999), and Wood/Water (2002). Their first two albums solidified their place among the emo scene; their third effort shifted toward pop music, while their final record was much more experimental in nature. The band initially broke up in 2002 and has reunited sporadically since then to perform live, but no new material from the band has since been released. They were last active for a live performance in 2016.
Texas Is the Reason was an American post-hardcore band, founded by former Shelter guitarist Norman Brannon and 108 drummer Chris Daly in 1994. They disbanded in 1997, and held brief reunions in 2006 and 2012–2013.
Orange Rhyming Dictionary is the debut studio album by American rock band Jets to Brazil, released October 27, 1998 on Jade Tree. Following the break up of Jawbreaker, frontman Blake Schwarzenbach moved to New York City, and formed Jets to Brazil with bassist Jeremy Chatelain and drummer Chris Daly. J. Robbins was drafted in to produce the band's debut album at Easley Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. With Orange Rhyming Dictionary, Schwarzenbach moved away from the punk rock sound of Jawbreaker into indie rock and post-hardcore.
Alexander Blake Schwarzenbach is an American musician. He is the singer and guitarist of the San Francisco based band Jawbreaker, and was also a member of Jets to Brazil (1997–2003), The Thorns of Life (2008–2009), and forgetters (2009–2013). Although experiencing little mainstream success himself, Schwarzenbach and groups he has been a member of have influenced a variety of musical groups.
These Arms Are Snakes was an American post-hardcore band that formed in 2002 and featured former members of Botch and Kill Sadie. Before disbanding in 2009, they released three studio albums: Oxeneers or the Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (2004), Easter (2006) and Tail Swallower and Dove (2008). Former members of These Arms Are Snakes currently play in Russian Circles, Narrows, Minus the Bear, Crypts, Dust Moth, and Hooves.
Nothing Feels Good is the second studio album by American rock band the Promise Ring, released on October 14, 1997. The album has gained a cult following, and is frequently regarded as one of the most influential records of the emo genre. The title of the album was used as the name of the book Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo by Andy Greenwald. Original bass player Scott Beschta is credited with writing and playing all the bass parts for the album, although he had been fired by the time the album was released.
Very Emergency is the third studio album by American rock band the Promise Ring, released on September 28, 1999 through the label Jade Tree. Following the release of their second studio album Nothing Feels Good (1997), bassist Scott Beschta was replaced by Tim Burton. After a van accident, which resulted in a six-week break, Burton was replaced by Scott Schoenbeck. The band recorded their next album at Inner Ear Studios in Washington, D.C., co-producing it with J. Robbins. Very Emergency is a power pop and pop rock album that moves away from the emo style of their earlier works. It continued the sound of the Boys + Girls (1998) EP, and was compared to the work of the Lemonheads, the Pixies, Soul Asylum and the Wedding Present.
Wood/Water is the fourth and final studio album by American rock band the Promise Ring. It was released by Anti- on April 23, 2002. While touring in support of their third studio album, Very Emergency (1999), the Promise Ring were due to leave for a European tour; frontman Davey von Bohlen was diagnosed with meningioma on the day of departure. As a result of a post-surgical infection, the band could not tour for the remainder of 2000. In early 2001, the Promise Ring made demos with Kristian Riley, and then recorded a track with producer Mario Caldato Jr. in Los Angeles, California. The Promise Ring flew to the UK for six weeks of recording with Stephen Street, before returning to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for further recording. The album moved away from the emo sound of the band's past works into alternative country, indie rock, and pop territory.
Perfecting Loneliness is the third and final studio album by American rock band Jets to Brazil. Vocalist/guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach spent six weeks at his mother's farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he worked on new material. In early 2002, the group recorded their next album with J. Robbins. The band went on a pre-release US tour in June and July, leading up to the release of Perfecting Loneliness on October 15 through independent label Jade Tree. The group had planned to promote it with a tour, however, due to an illness, the tour was delayed until mid-2003. By this point, a music video had been filmed for "Cat Heaven" and drummer Chris Daly was replaced by Matt Torrey.
Jeremy Chatelain is a musician originally from Utah. He formed the Utah-based bands Insight and Iceburn, and went on to sing in NYC band Handsome and later formed Jets to Brazil with singer Blake Schwarzenbach. In 2005 Jeremy joined the band Helmet to play bass, but left in September 2006. Since 2000 he has written and performed with Cub Country.
Dear You is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Jawbreaker, released on September 12, 1995, through DGC Records.
Unfun is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Jawbreaker, released in May 1990 through Shredder Records. After going through several names and a line-up change, Jawbreaker sent a copy of "Shield Your Eyes" to punk publication Maximum Rocknroll, which would later catch the attention of Shredder Records founder Mel Cheplowitz. Following the release of the Whack & Blite EP and the "Busy" single, members of the band returned to education. While this was occurring, they wrote material that would appear on their debut album, which was then recorded with producer Richard Andrews.
Bivouac is the second studio album by American punk rock band Jawbreaker, released through Tupelo Recording Company and The Communion Label on December 1, 1992. While promoting their debut album Unfun (1990) on a ten-week tour of the United States, the band had new material that they wished to work on through their shows. They ended up breaking up after the tour's conclusion, though later regrouped in 1991 to write new songs. From June 1991, they wrote material and practiced several times a week, in the lead up to recording sessions in October 1991. Sessions were held at Razor's Edge in San Francisco, California with producers Billy Anderson and Jonathan Burnside. Categorized as an emo, punk rock, and pop-punk release, it had elements of the work of Helmet, Naked Raygun and early Smashing Pumpkins, and took influence from the Midwestern and Washington, D.C. post-punk scenes.
Owls is the debut studio album by American rock band Owls, which was released on July 31, 2001, through Jade Tree. After the disbandment of Joan of Arc, frontman Tim Kinsella reunited with the former members of Cap'n Jazz to form Owls. They recorded with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois, in April 2001. The album is an emo and indie rock record that has been compared with the works of Ghosts and Vodka, Pavement, and Captain Beefheart.
Cub Country is a solo indie rock project created by Jets To Brazil bassist Jeremy Chatelain. Throughout its history Cub Country has been a collaborative effort involving a huge assortment of musicians, various record labels and located in various regions of the United States.
The Thorns of Life were a punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York. In October 2008, Blake Schwarzenbach, formerly of Jets to Brazil and Jawbreaker, revealed that he had started writing music for an "as-yet-unnamed group" with the drummer Aaron Cometbus and the bass guitarist Daniela Sea, formerly of the Gr'ups and Cypher in the Snow, but best known for a recurring role on television's The L Word. The name may come from Percy Bysshe Shelly whose poem Ode to the West Wind has the line "I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!".
Forgetters are a punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York. In August 2009, shortly after the breakup of the Thorns of Life, Blake Schwarzenbach announced his involvement in a new band, forgetters, with original Against Me! drummer Kevin Mahon and Caroline Paquita.
Citations
Sources