Magnapop (album)

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Magnapop
Magnapop - Magnapop.jpg
Cover of the album
Demo album by
ReleasedOctober 16, 1992 (1992-10-16)
RecordedDecember 1990 (John Keane Studio) and March 1992 (Furies Studio)
Studio
Genre Pop punk, pop rock, power pop
Length24:07
LanguageEnglish
Label Caroline
Producer
Compiler Magnapop
Magnapop chronology
Sugarland
(1992)
Magnapop
(1992)
Hot Boxing
(1994)
Singles from Magnapop
  1. "Merry"/"Complicated"
    Released: 1992

Magnapop is the debut album by Magnapop, released in 1992 and re-released with bonus tracks on July 29, 1997.

Contents

Recording and release

Four of the tracks—"Favorite Writer", "Chemical", "Complicated", and "Merry"—were recorded in John Keane Studio, Athens, Georgia in December 1990 with Linda Hopper's friend Michael Stipe producing. [1] (The band also recorded the song "Texas", but subsequently re-recorded it for their first proper studio album, Hot Boxing .) The rest were self-recorded through March 1992 at Furies Studio in Atlanta suburb Marietta. The album produced one single—"Merry"/"Complicated"—released as a 7" on Solid Records (catalogue number 527.9013.40); a music video for the song was created in 1992.

The song "Favorite Writer" would later be covered by R.E.M. for their 2003 single "Bad Day" and during their 2003 tour to support In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 . On September 13, 2011, Creative Loafing announced that Mulvaney had attempted to re-form the original line-up of Magnapop to perform a benefit concert for local independent music store Criminal Records. [2] The benefit was later scheduled for October 15, and the band announced that they would be performing their self-titled debut album in its entirety. [3]

Two songs from this session would end up on the 2019 release The Circle Is Round .

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Pitchfork Media 6.4/10 [5]

The album received a positive review from Allmusic, [4] with reviewer Heather Phares labeling their cover version of Big Star's "Thirteen" "a welcome addition to this good beginning." Pitchfork Media's review was more ambivalent, [5] characterizing the album as "some impressive work for so early in their career" but hampered by minimal production and the price of a full-length album for only 25 minutes of music.

Track listing

All songs written by Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris, except where noted.

Side one
  1. "Garden" – 2:21
  2. "Guess" – 2:53
  3. "Ear" (Ernest Noyes Brookings, Linda Hopper, and Ruthie Morris) – 2:21
  4. "13" (Chris Bell and Alex Chilton of Big Star) – 2:42
  5. "Spill It" – 2:48
Side two
  1. "Chemical" – 3:31
  2. "Favorite Writer" – 2:56
  3. "Complicated" – 1:52
  4. "Merry" – 3:04
Re-release bonus tracks
  1. "Snake" (Demo) (Hopper, Morris, Shannon Mulvaney) – 5:45
  2. "Skinburns" (Demo) – 4:03

Personnel

Magnapop
Technical staff

Release history

The album was initially released on Caroline Records in the United States and Play It Again Sam/Priority Records in the United Kingdom, with later editions published by Solid (The Netherlands) and King (Japan); the re-release with bonus tracks was published in the United States by Never.

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United StatesOctober 16, 1992 Caroline Compact Disc BIAS 220-2
United Kingdom Play It Again Sam/Priority Records Compact Disc450.0220.21 - BIAS 220 CD
cassette tape 450.0220.53 - BIAS 220 MC
The Netherlands LP 450.0220.11 - BIAS 220
Solid Compact Disc527.9017.20
Japan1992 King Compact DiscKICP-407
United States1997 Never Compact DiscNR2202†

†Re-release with bonus tracks

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnapop</span> American pop punk band formed in 1989

Magnapop is an American rock band based in Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989, the band has consistently included songwriting duo Linda Hopper as vocalist and Ruthie Morris on guitar. Magnapop first achieved recognition in the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through the festival circuit and have remained popular in Europe throughout their career. After modest success in the United States in the mid-1990s with the singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door" and a series of albums produced by Michael Stipe, Bob Mould, and Geza X, the band went on an extended hiatus due to the dissolution of their record label. They returned with a new rhythm section in 2005 on the Daemon Records release Mouthfeel. The band has continued to perform and record since this reunion and have self-released two more albums. Magnapop's musical style is noted for blending the pop vocals and melodies of Hopper with the aggressive, punk-influenced guitar-playing of Morris and her back-up vocal harmonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruthie Morris</span> Guitarist and songwriter for alternative rock band Magnapop

Ruth Mary "Ruthie" Morris is the guitarist for the rock band Magnapop. Her pop punk/power pop guitar style helped to define the band's sound and she has co-written their minor hit singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door".

Oh-OK was an American musical group from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1981 with singer/lyricist Linda Hopper, bassist/vocalist/lyricist Lynda Stipe, and drummer David Pierce. Other members later included drummer David McNair and guitarist Matthew Sweet. The trio began practicing together at parties in the college community in the spring of 1981. Their first club performance break came when Stipe's brother, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., needed an opening band for a show at the 40 Watt Club.

<i>Hot Boxing</i> 1994 studio album by Magnapop

Hot Boxing is the second studio album by Magnapop, released in 1994. "Lay It Down" and "Slowly, Slowly" were released as singles. Music videos were created for "Lay It Down", "Slowly, Slowly", and "Texas". Having Priority release the album was a radical departure from the label's earlier emphasis on rap.

<i>Rubbing Doesnt Help</i> 1996 studio album by Magnapop

Rubbing Doesn't Help is the third album by Magnapop, released in 1996.

<i>Mouthfeel</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Magnapop

Mouthfeel is the fourth studio album by the pop band Magnapop. It was released in 2005 through Daemon Records, with European distribution through DevilDuck Records. The album is the band's first release since their last record in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnapop discography</span>

The discography of Magnapop—an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia—consists of five studio albums, one live album, four extended plays, and six singles.

<i>Kiss My Mouth</i> 1993 EP by Magnapop

Kiss My Mouth is a 1993 EP by Magnapop released in Europe by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 12" gramophone record Two of these tracks would later be re-recorded for their 1994 studio album Hot Boxing.

<i>Big Bright Cherry</i> 1994 EP by Magnapop

Big Bright Cherry is a 1994 EP by Magnapop released promotionally in the United States by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 10" gramophone record red vinyl Several of these songs also appear on the studio album Hot Boxing.

<i>Fire All Your Guns at Once</i> 1996 EP by Magnapop

Fire All Your Guns at Once is a 1996 EP by Magnapop released in the United Kingdom by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 7" gramophone record In the United States, it was issued by SideOneDummy Records on purple vinyl (603967000979) on April 1, 1998, and as a promotional Compact Disc by Priority Records in 1996. Two of these tracks are also featured on their studio album Rubbing Doesn't Help.

<i>Magnapop Live at Maxwells 03/09/2005</i> 2005 live album by Magnapop

Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005 is a 2005 live album by Magnapop, released through online music providers including eMusic, the iTunes Store, and Rhapsody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slowly, Slowly (Magnapop song)</span> 1994 song by Magnapop

"Slowly, Slowly" is a 1994 single by Magnapop from the album Hot Boxing, released by Play It Again Sam Records on CD and 12" gramophone record, as well as a limited-edition white vinyl version A promo CD edition was released by Priority Records as DPRO 50804. A recording of the song is also featured on the live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005. A music video was created for the song in 1994 and it was featured on the 1995 soundtrack to the film Mad Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lay It Down (Magnapop song)</span> Single by Magnapop

"Lay It Down" is a 1994 single by Magnapop from the album Hot Boxing, released by Play It Again Sam Records on CD and 12" gramophone record A promo CD edition was released by Priority Records as DPRO 50820. A live recording of the song appears on the German edition of 2005's Mouthfeel and the song also appears on 1993's Kiss My Mouth. A music video was created for the song in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open the Door (Magnapop song)</span> 1996 single by Magnapop

"Open the Door" is a 1996 single by Magnapop released by Play It Again Sam Records as a CD maxi-single, two-track CD and 7" on red viny. A promotional CD and 10" were released by Priority Records. Live recordings of the song appear on the German edition of 2005's Mouthfeel and the live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005. A music video was created for the song in 1996.

<i>Sugarland</i> (EP) 1992 EP by Magnapop

Sugarland is a 1992 EP by Magnapop released in Europe by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 12" gramophone record The former two of these tracks are also featured on their debut album Magnapop and the latter two were added on to the 1997 re-release of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merry (song)</span>

"Merry" is a song by American power pop band Magnapop. It was initially released in 1990 as the B-side to a 7" through Safety Net Records under the band's original name of Homemade Sister. The song was re-recorded and released again on the EP Sugarland as well as the band's self-titled debut album in 1992 on Solid Records (527.9013.40.)

<i>Chase Park</i> 2009 studio album by Magnapop

Chase Park is the fifth studio album from Magnapop, released on September 4, 2009. The recording is the first from the band released independently on the vanity label The Kraft Records. Lead songwriters Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris began writing for the album after they ceased touring for Mouthfeel in 2006 and the track "Future Forward" debuted on the 2005 live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Hopper</span> Singer and songwriter for alternative rock band Magnapop

Linda Elizabeth Hopper is the vocalist for the Atlanta, Georgia-based rock group Magnapop. Her pop punk/power pop vocal style helped to define the band's sound and she has co-written their minor hit singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door". Prior to the formation of Magnapop, Hopper was a member of the Athens, Georgia music scene in the early 1980s, which included R.E.M., The B-52s, and her own band Oh-OK.

<i>The Circle Is Round</i> 2019 studio album by Magnapop

The Circle Is Round is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock/pop punk band Magnapop.

References

  1. Gray, Marcus (1997). It Crawled from the South (Paperback) (2nd ed.). Da Capo Press. p. 190. ISBN   0-306-80751-3.
  2. Radford, Chad (2011-09-13). "Countdown for Criminal Records". Creative Loafing . Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  3. Kane, Tyler (2011-09-21). "Benefit Announced For Atlanta's Criminal Records". Paste . Retrieved 2011-09-21.
  4. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "Magnapop on Allmusic". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  5. 1 2 Wisdom, James P. (1999-12-31). "Album Review - Magnapop: Magnapop". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 2009-06-17.