| The Magic City | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 9, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, alternative rock, post-punk, noise pop | |||
| Length | 51:40 | |||
| Label | Matador Records [1] | |||
| Producer | Mitch Easter [2] Helium | |||
| Helium chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Magic City is the second and final studio album from American indie rock band Helium. [2] [3] It was released in 1997 on Matador Records. [4] [5]
The album was produced at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium studio, in North Carolina. [6] It was recorded in six weeks. [7] Its sound was influenced by psychedelic and progressive rock, [8] notably King Crimson. [9]
AllMusic called the album "a rich, colorful array of sounds ... that blends lo-fi indie-rock with '70s prog rock." [10] Magnet wrote: "The album is a Pet Sounds chamber-pop-meets-progressive-rock indie masterpiece, created long before any lo-fi-loving cretin would ever admit to loving Yes’ Close To The Edge, Genesis’ Nursery Cryme or watching Keith Emerson throw daggers into his eight-foot-high synthesizer." [6] New York Magazine praised Timony's "loopy, pensive guitar lines, deceptively offbeat song structures, and quirky vocal style." [11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vibrations" | 2:46 |
| 2. | "Leon's Space Song" | 2:59 |
| 3. | "Ocean of Wine" | 4:04 |
| 4. | "Aging Astronauts" | 3:08 |
| 5. | "Medieval People" | 4:08 |
| 6. | "Lady of the Fire" | 2:19 |
| 7. | "Lullaby of the Moths" | 3:09 |
| 8. | "Revolution of Hearts, Pt. 1 & 2" | 8:01 |
| 9. | "Ancient Cryme" | 3:55 |
| 10. | "Cosmic Rays" | 3:58 |
| 11. | "Devil's Tear" | 2:46 |
| 12. | "Clementine" | 2:31 |
| 13. | "Blue Rain Soda" | 1:50 |
| 14. | "Walk Away" | 5:59 |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A− [13] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.5/10 [14] |
| Spin | 8/10 [15] |
Guided by Voices (GBV) is an American indie rock band formed in 1983 in Dayton, Ohio. It has made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. The most well-known lineup of the band consisted of Pollard, his brother Jim, Mitch Mitchell, Tobin Sprout, Kevin Fennell (drums), and bassist Greg Demos. Noted at first for its lo-fi aesthetic and Portastudio four-tracks-to-cassette production methods, Guided by Voices' music was influenced by early post–British Invasion garage rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, punk rock and post-punk. The band has had a prolific output, releasing 35+ full-length albums along with many other releases, and has garnered a dedicated cult following. Their songs are known for their frequent brevity and for ending abruptly or intertwining with homemade sound effects.
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of mainly indie rock, but also punk rock, experimental rock, alternative rock, and electronic acts.
Brighten the Corners is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released on February 11, 1997, by Matador Records. The album received very positive reviews from critics.
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Alien Lanes is the eighth full-length album by American lo-fi band Guided by Voices, released on April 4, 1995.
Mitchell Blake Easter is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. Frequently associated with the jangle pop style of guitar music, he is known as producer of R.E.M.'s early albums from 1981 through 1984, and as frontman of the 1980s band Let's Active.
Mary Bozana Timony is an American independent singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, and violist. She has been a member of the bands Helium, Autoclave and Wild Flag, and currently fronts Ex Hex.
Helium was an American alternative rock band fronted by Mary Timony. The band formed during the summer of 1992. Between 1992 and 1997, they released two full-length albums, three EPs and several singles.
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Ride the Fader is the second and last studio album by American indie rock band Chavez. It was released on Matador Records on November 5, 1996. The album is considered by most fans and critics to be the band's best work.
Wammo is an album by New Zealand band Bailter Space, released in 1995. It reached number 31 in New Zealand upon original release. Matador Records reissued the album on vinyl in 2021 for its 25th anniversary, after which it reached a new peak of number 23 in New Zealand.
The Dirt of Luck is the first full-length album from American indie rock band Helium. It was released in April 1995 on Matador Records and was produced by Adam Lasus.
Pirate Prude is the debut EP from American indie rock band Helium. It was released March 8, 1994, on Matador Records. Its subject matter concerns prostitution.
Superball+ is an EP by American indie rock band Helium. It was released on September 19, 1995, on Matador Records.
No Guitars is an EP by the alternative rock band Helium. It was released in April 1997 on Matador Records.
Mountains is the debut solo album by the American indie rock musician Mary Timony, released in 2000.
The Golden Dove is the second solo album by Mary Timony. It was released on May 21, 2002, on Matador Records.
Wild Flag was an American four-piece indie rock supergroup based in Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C. The group consisted of Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss, who were ex-members of the groups Sleater-Kinney, Helium and the Minders.
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Every Dog Has His Day is an album by the American band Let's Active, released in 1988. It was the band's final album.
