Tarnation (band)

Last updated
Tarnation
Tarnation.jpg
Tarnation (1997)
Background information
Origin San Francisco, California, United States
Genres
Years active1992–1997
Labels 4AD
Reprise/Warner Bros. Records
Nuf Said Records
Members Paula Frazer, Jacob Aranda, Sam Berman, David Cuetter
Past membersBrandan Kearney, Brent Johnson, Michelle Cernuto, Lincoln Allen, Matt Sullivan, Alex Oropeza, Bill Cuevas, Joe Byrnes, Jamie Meagan, John Wischmann [3]

Tarnation is an American gothic country band formed by Paula Frazer in late 1992, primarily recording on the 4AD label.

Contents

History

Tarnation originally consisted of Frazer on vocals and guitar. In 1993, she was soon joined by Brandan Kearney on lap steel guitar and Brent Johnson on guitar and vocals. Next, musicians Michelle Cernuto, Lincoln Allen and Matt Sullivan joined the band. This line-up then recorded the album I'll Give You Something to Cry About! in 1993 on Nuf Sed Records (Kearney's label).

Tarnation signed with 4AD Records and released Gentle Creatures in 1995. The album includes seven re-worked songs from I’ll Give You Something to Cry About [4] as well as new material. Cernuto, Allen and Sullivan left the band shortly after its release in September 1995.

Frazer reformed Tarnation with a new line-up including Alex Oropeza on guitar, Bill Cuevas on bass and lap steel guitar, and Joe Byrnes on drums. Jamie Meagan joined on bass in 1996, in time to take part in the recording sessions for the band's final album, Mirador .

The band split up after the release of Mirador in 1997. Frazer continues touring and recording under her own name and as Paula Frazer and Tarnation. Oropeza, Cuevas, and Byrnes continued with their own band, Broken Horse. Allen continues writing and recording music with the San Francisco - based band Scratchland.

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talking Heads</span> American rock band

Talking Heads was an American rock band that formed in 1975 in New York City. The band was composed of David Byrne, Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass) and Jerry Harrison. Described as "one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s", Talking Heads helped to pioneer new wave music by combining elements of punk, art rock, funk, and world music with an anxious, clean-cut image.

Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo, and chorus. It often overlaps with the related genre of shoegaze, and the two genre terms have at times been used interchangeably.

Frightwig is an all-female post-punk band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1982 by Deanna Ashley and Mia Levin. After many line-up changes, Frightwig retired in 1994.

<i>Mirador</i> (Tarnation album) 1997 studio album by Tarnation

Mirador is a 1997 album by the band Tarnation, which was led by Paula Frazer. It was released on 4AD in the UK and Europe, and on Reprise/Warner Bros. Records in the US. The American edition features a different album cover from the European version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornershop</span> English indie rock band

Cornershop are an English indie rock band best known for their single "Brimful of Asha", originally released in 1997 and, in a remixed version, topping the UK chart in 1998. The band was formed in 1991 by Wolverhampton-born Tjinder Singh, his brother Avtar Singh, David Chambers (drums) and Ben Ayres, the first three having previously been members of Preston-based band General Havoc, who released one single in 1991. The band name originated from a stereotype referring to British Asians often owning corner shops. Their music is a fusion of Indian music, indie rock, alternative and electronic dance music.

<i>Something New</i> (Beatles album) 1964 studio album by the Beatles

Something New is an album by English rock band the Beatles, released in 1964 for the North American market only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Cry Instead</span> 1964 song by the Beatles

"I'll Cry Instead" is a song written by John Lennon, and recorded by the English rock band the Beatles for their third studio album, A Hard Day's Night (1964), a part-studio and part-soundtrack album to their film of the same name (1964). The song was released as a single in the US and later appeared on the album Something New in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeping Sun</span> 1999 Nightwish song

"Sleeping Sun" is a power ballad and the fourth single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released as a maxi single with three other songs on 2 August 1999 to coincide with the total solar eclipse that would occur on 11 August.

Cryin' Heart Blues is a seventeen-track 2005 compilation of studio sessions and live recordings by Rick Danko, the late bassist of The Band. The album was taken from a wide variety of sources, dating from the sessions for Danko's eponymous first album through to other studio sessions recorded between about 1978 to 1988 and live recordings from 1979 and 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Manning</span> American musician

Barbara Manning is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist whose albums blend elements of rock, folk, pop and proto-punk. She's also known for her cover versions of often obscure pop songs. In addition to an acclaimed solo career, Manning has been active in a number of bands, including 28th Day, World of Pooh, SF Seals, and The Go-Luckys!.

<i>Pneumonia</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Whiskeytown

Pneumonia is the third and final studio album by the alternative country band Whiskeytown, released on May 22, 2001 on Lost Highway Records. The album is noted for its troubled history which saw the band lose its record deal in the midst of the merger between Polygram and Universal Music Group, and the already volatile band fell apart as a result. The album sat on the shelf for nearly two years and it was said that over 100 songs were recorded during the 3 years. It was bootlegged heavily and gained a reputation as a great "lost" record from fans, before getting released by Lost Highway Records as something of an appetizer for Ryan Adams' 2001 album Gold.

<i>If You Didnt Laugh, Youd Cry</i> 2005 studio album by Marah

If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry is an album by Marah, released on Yep Roc Records in the United States and Munich Records in Europe on October 18, 2005.

<i>Vértigo</i> (La Ley album) 1998 studio album by La Ley

Vértigo is La Ley's fifth album, released in 1998.

Paula A. Frazer is an American singer-songwriter. She grew up in Georgia and Arkansas and moved to San Francisco in 1981. Her music is frequently described as melancholic alternative country, but with an eclectic mix of folk, blues and pop, among other genres. She first came to notice by fronting the band Tarnation in the 1990s and has appeared on recordings and in concert with many bands and solo artists including Cornershop, Sean Lennon, Frightwig, Tindersticks, the Czars, and Handsome Boy Modeling School.

<i>Gentle Creatures</i> 1995 studio album by Tarnation

Gentle Creatures is a 1995 album by the band Tarnation. It was released on 4AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Gentle</span> Italian band

Jennifer Gentle is an Italian psychedelic rock band.

<i>Revolucion 13</i> 1998 studio album by Tribe of Gypsies

Revolucion 13 is the second full-length album by Tribe of Gypsies, a Latin rock band based in the San Fernando Valley, California, USA. It is the first recording with the Native American singer Gregg Analla on lead vocals.

The Riptide Movement are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin, Ireland in 2006 by songwriter and vocalist Malachy Tuohy, guitarist John Dalton, bassist and harmonica player Gerry McGarry and drummer Gar Byrne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frantic Jack</span>

Frantic Jack are an Irish rock band formed in Edenderry, County Offaly. Since its creation, the band's line-up has included Daragh Fitzgerald (vocals), Mark Kelly (guitar), Pauric Hurst (bass), and James Kearney (keys). The band's current drummer is Ricky Byrne, who has been with the band since April 2012.

"The Little Black Egg" is a song first performed by Daytona Beach, Florida garage band The Nightcrawlers in 1965. It was a minor hit in both the US and Canada, reaching number 85 on the US Billboard charts in 1967, while doing slightly better in Canada, where it hit number 74. The song has been since covered by multiple artists including Inner City Unit, The Lemonheads, Neighb'rhood Childr'n, Tarnation, The Primitives and The Cars. It was The Nightcrawlers' only hit.

References

  1. Ankeny, Jason. "Tarnation – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. Staff (December 1, 2003). "Paula Frazer – A Place Where I Know". Uncut. Retrieved 2023-07-19. The gothic country of Frazer's '90s band Tarnation
  3. Black, Johnny (May 1996). "Tarnation". MOJO. London: Emap Metro. p. 124.
  4. Paula Frazer Band Discography (offline)