The New Year (band)

Last updated
The New Year
The New Year Matt Kadane2.jpg
Matt Kadane of the New Year in 2007, one of two vocalists in the six-member band
Background information
Origin United States
Genres
Years active1999–present
Labels
Spinoff of Bedhead
Members Matt Kadane
Bubba Kadane
Mike Donofrio
Chris Brokaw
Past membersPeter Schmidt
Josh McKay
Website www.thenewyear.net

The New Year is an American indie rock band that formed in 1999. The band was started by former Bedhead members Matt and Bubba Kadane. [1] They released their first album in 2001, Newness Ends , which like their following albums was recorded with Steve Albini. The End Is Near (2004) and The New Year (2008) followed, with both being received positively by music critics at Pitchfork Media and AllMusic. In February 2017, the band announced their first album in nine years, Snow , which was released on April 28, 2017. [2]

Contents

History

Background

The band was formed in 1999, a year after the demise of the band Bedhead by former Bedhead members Matt and Bubba Kadane. The New Year was originally intended to be a two-person project made up of only the Kadane brothers. Four musicians, all longtime friends of the Kadanes, were slowly recruited for live performances and the lineup solidified. [1]

Like Bedhead in its later years, The New Year started with no real base of operations. [1] Early on Matt and Bubba Kadane were located respectively in Boston and Dallas. The band soon added bassist Mike Donofrio (of the band Saturnine, located in New York City), drummer Chris Brokaw (in Boston, formerly of the bands Codeine and Come), and guitarist Peter Schmidt (located in Dallas, formerly of the bands Three on a Hill, Funland, Legendary Crystal Chandelier, and part-time member of Bedhead). [3] [1]

Recording and touring

Newness Ends (2001)

In 2000, The New Year recorded their first album, Newness Ends , in Chicago, with Steve Albini. Albini had previously recorded the final Bedhead album Transaction De Novo. Newness Ends was released in February 2001 on Touch & Go Records. [3] Because the lineup wasn't complete at the time of its recording, not everyone credited on the album (namely Schmidt) actually played on it. [4] The album garnered critical praise and comparison to the Kadanes' previous work. [5] The Kadanes said in interviews at the time that they felt the only real difference between Bedhead and The New Year was the name, and that if Bedhead had not disbanded that their next album would have sounded very similar to Newness Ends. [3]

For a time in 2003 their friend Josh McKay (of the Athens, Georgia band Macha) joined on keyboards, guitar, and random percussion. [6] the members separated again with most working on other projects. The Kadanes recorded a score for the documentary film Hell House, the soundtrack of which wasn't released until 2004, though the film first appeared in 2001. [3] Brokaw released solo recordings, played on recordings by Evan Dando and Consonant and collaborated on a project with playwright Rinde Eckert. [7] Peter Schmidt played with the Legendary Crystal Chandelier, whose second and final album, Beyond Indifference, was released at about the same time as Newness Ends. [8]

The End Is Near (2004)

In 2003 the members regrouped as The New Year to record the material that would become their album The End Is Near . [9] The album, released by Touch & Go Records in May 2004, was again recorded by Steve Albini. [10] Positively received in publications such as the Dusted Magazine, [11] the band filmed a music video (a first for the Kadanes) for the song "Disease" to accompany the album. [12] The album yielded the band's most popular single, "The End's Not Near," which quickly garnered over two hundred thousand views on YouTube. [13]

The New Year (2008)

A third album by The New Year, The New Year , was released on September 9, 2008. The material is described by Touch and Go Records in a press release stating, "Lyrically, these ten songs address the interlocked themes of lost time, frustrated desire, and the need for others." Like with their other albums, the songs have three guitars. The New Year, however, was new in that almost half the songs are built around the piano. [14]

The album was well-received, earning 4.5/5 stars from Allmusic [15] and 7.5 from Pitchfork Media. A generally positive review by Pitchfork praised the album's more cheerful melodies and hopeful lyrics, while noting the melancholy sound of the band's previous releases was intact on many of the songs. [16]

Will Johnson from the band Centro-matic accompanied the band on the US leg of its autumn 2008 tour. [17]

Overseas and Snow (2017)

In June 2012 drummer Chris Brokaw posted on his website that "The New Year has begun work on a new LP in Chicago, again with Mr. Steve Albini at the controls." [18]

In early 2012 Bubba and Matt Kadane formed Overseas [19] with David Bazan of Pedro The Lion and Will Johnson of Centro-matic. [20] Their debut album was officially announced on April 4, 2013 and was released on June 11, 2013. [21]

The New Year announced in early 2017 that their fourth album, titled Snow , would be released through the Undertow Music Collective. Snow is the first album by the group to not be issued through Touch and Go Records, and the first album by them since their 9-year absence. Four videos were released for the songs "Myths," "Snow," "The Last Fall," and "The Beast."

Members

Current
Rotating/past

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio and live albums by The New Year
YearAlbum titleRelease details
2001 Newness Ends
2004 The End Is Near
  • Released: May 18, 2004
  • Label: Touch & Go
  • Format: LP, CD, digital
2008 The New Year
  • Released: Sept 9, 2008
  • Label: Touch & Go
  • Format: LP, CD, digital
2017 Snow

Singles

Incomplete list of songs by
YearTitleAlbumNotes
2003"Sinking Ship" (demo version)Single only Esopus Magazine
2004"The End's Not Near" The End Is Near

Covers

The New Year songs have been covered by the following artists:

Further reading

Interviews
Reviews

See also

Related Research Articles

Slowcore, also known as sadcore, is a subgenre of indie rock characterised by subdued tempos with typically minimalist instrumentation alongside solemn and melancholic lyrical performances.

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

Slint was an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 1986. The band consisted of Brian McMahan, David Pajo (guitar), Britt Walford, Todd Brashear, and Ethan Buckler. Slint's first album, Tweez, was recorded by engineer Steve Albini in 1987 and released in obscurity on the Jennifer Hartman Records label in 1989. It was followed two years later by the critically acclaimed Spiderland, released on the independent label Touch and Go Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedro the Lion</span> American indie rock band

Pedro the Lion is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, United States. David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. In 2006 Pedro the Lion was dissolved as Bazan went solo; Bazan reformed the band and resumed performing under the Pedro the Lion moniker in late 2017. Releasing five full-length albums and five EPs over 11 years, the band is known for its first person narrative lyrics with political and religious themes.

Bedhead was an American indie rock band, active from 1991 to 1998, based in Dallas, Texas. Members consisted of Matt and Bubba Kadane, Tench Coxe (guitar), Kris Wheat (bass), and Trini Martinez (drums). The band released several EPs and three LPs on Trance Syndicate, touring intermittently. Bedhead's music was generally subdued, with three electric guitars and one electric bass guitar over sung or spoken vocals. Allmusic dubbed the group "the quintessential indie rock band," and Tiny Mix Tapes gave their final album Transaction de Novo a perfect 5/5 score.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Bazan</span> American singer-songwriter

David Shannon Bazan is an American indie rock singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona who now resides in Seattle, Washington. Bazan is the lead singer and creative force behind the band Pedro the Lion and was the lead singer of Headphones. In early 2006, he began performing and recording under his own name. In late 2017 he returned to playing under the Pedro the Lion name.

Silkworm was an American indie rock band active from 1987 to 2005 whose core members were Tim Midyett, Andy Cohen, and Michael Dahlquist.

<i>Newness Ends</i> 2001 studio album by The New Year

Newness Ends is the debut album by The New Year, released on February 20, 2001, through Touch & Go Records. The New Year is led by former Bedhead co-founders Matt and Bubba Kadane. The album received very positive reviews and has been compared to their work in Bedhead.

Consonant is an alternative rock group formed by singer/guitarist Clint Conley in 2001.

<i>The End Is Near</i> (The New Year album) 2004 studio album by The New Year

The End Is Near is the second studio album by The New Year, released on May 18, 2004, through Touch & Go Records. The album's recording spanned across three sessions in 2003 with the help of Steve Albini, and the album was mixed between October and November that same year at The Echo Lab. To promote the album, a music video was produced for the track "Disease".

<i>The New Year</i> (album) 2008 studio album by The New Year

The New Year is the third studio album by indie rock band The New Year, released September 9, 2008 through Touch & Go Records.

<i>Italian Platinum</i> 2002 studio album by Silkworm

Italian Platinum is the eighth full-length album released by American indie rock band Silkworm. It is the band's third album released on Touch and Go Records. Like their previous album Lifestyle, Steve Albini and his girlfriend Heather Whinna recorded and produced the album respectively. Matt Kadane from Bedhead and The New Year played keyboards on this album.

<i>Itll Be Cool</i> 2004 studio album by Silkworm

It'll Be Cool is the ninth and last full-length album released by indie rock band Silkworm before drummer Michael Dahlquist was killed in a car wreck. Released on September 14, 2004, it was the band's fourth album on Touch and Go Records. The album was recorded by Steve Albini. Matt Kadane from Bedhead and The New Year played keyboards on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overseas (band)</span> American indie rock band

Overseas is an American indie rock band, that includes David Bazan of Pedro The Lion, Headphones and Lo Tom; Will Johnson of Centro-matic and South San Gabriel; plus Bubba & Matt Kadane of Bedhead and The New Year.

<i>Incredible Love</i> 2005 studio album by Chris Brokaw

Incredible Love is Chris Brokaw's third solo album, the follow-up to 2003's Wandering As Water.

<i>Transaction de Novo</i> 1998 studio album by Bedhead

Transaction de Novo is the third studio album by Bedhead, an American indie rock band. It was released on February 10, 1998, on Trance Syndicate Records, and was the band's only record engineered by Steve Albini. It met with positive reviews.

Matt and Bubba Kadane is an American musical duo that consists of two brothers, Matt Kadane and Bubba Kadane. They have founded three indie rock bands, serving as producers, songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists in all of them. The first, Bedhead, released three well-received studio LPs before it was disbanded. The brothers reformed as The New Year in 2001, and in 2012 they formed the group Overseas with David Bazan and Will Johnson.

<i>1992–1998</i> 2014 compilation album by Bedhead

1992–1998 is a compilation boxed set by the American band Bedhead containing all three of their studio albums as well as early singles and extended plays. It was released on November 11, 2014, by the Numero Group. The boxset was released on compact disc and vinyl formats, with the LP edition being limited to 2,000 copies. Along with the release of this boxset, all three Bedhead albums were also released separately on LP formats; however, this set's fourth disc, Singles/EPs/B-Sides, is exclusive to this release only.

Josh McKay is an American musician. He is best known as the bass guitarist for the indie rock band Deerhunter, with whom he has recorded three studio albums. McKay started his career in 1987 playing bass in Aleka's Attic, performing alongside friends and bandmates River Phoenix and Rain Phoenix.

<i>Snow</i> (The New Year album) 2017 studio album by The New Year

Snow is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band The New Year. Released on April 28, 2017 through the Undertow Music Collective, it is the first album released by the group since their 2008 self-titled album. It is also the first full-length work by the group to not be issued through Touch & Go Records.

<i>Beheaded</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Bedhead

Beheaded is the second studio album by Texas-based indie rock band Bedhead, released 1996 through Trance Syndicate. The album was released in the United Kingdom through Rough Trade, and was reissued on compact disc format through Touch & Go Records on February 20, 2001, along with the band's other two albums WhatFunLifeWas and Transaction de Novo. The album was included in the Numero Group's 2014 boxset 1992–1998 and was also released separately on LP format.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "What Fun Life Is". Dallas Observer . February 15, 2001. Archived from the original on January 25, 2005. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  2. ↑ Anthony, David (2017-02-09) (9 February 2017). "The New Year announces Snow, its first album in 9 years". Music.avclub.com. The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2018-01-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Interview: The New Year (Matt and Bubba Kadane) by Stephen Raywood". Cwas.hinah.com.
  4. ↑ "Newness Ends - The New Year | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  5. ↑ New Year Newness Ends Pitchfork Media
  6. ↑ "Interview with The New Year's Matt Kadane". Deathrockstar.club. 4 July 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  7. ↑ Seida, Linda. "Chris Brokaw". Allmusic . Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  8. ↑ "Legendary Crystal Chandelier". Allmusic . Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  9. ↑ "Pitchfork Media review for The End is Near". Archived from the original on June 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ Allmusic review for The End is Near
  11. ↑ The End Is Near Review by Dusted Magazine (2004)
  12. ↑ ""Disease" Music Video by The New Year". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22.
  13. ↑ ""The End's Not Near" by The New Year". The New Year (YouTube). Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  14. ↑ "The New Year Prep New Album, Hit the Road". Exclaim.ca.
  15. ↑ The New Year at Allmusic
  16. ↑ "Matt & Bubba Kadane: The New Year". Pitchfork.com.
  17. ↑ Freedman, Pete (June 29, 2008). "Last Night: Centro-matic, The Kadane Brothers and The Theater Fire at the Granada Theater". Dallas Observer . Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  18. ↑ "chris brokaw". Chrisbrokaw.com.
  19. ↑ Simmons, Abbey (2012-02-21). "Dave Bazan Has a New Band: Overseas | Sound On The Sound – A Seattle Music Blog". Soundonthesound.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  20. ↑ "David Bazan & Kadane Brothers Form Indie Super-Group". Violent Success. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  21. ↑ Thomas, Fred (2013-06-11). "Overseas - Overseas : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  22. ↑ Thee, Marcel (July 4, 2003). "Matt Kadane Interview". Deathrockstar. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
Member sites
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.