Vehicle (The Clean album)

Last updated

Vehicle
Vehicle Cover Artwork.jpg
Studio album by
the Clean
Released1990
Recorded18–21 July 1989
Studio Blackwing, London, England
Genre Indie rock, alternative rock
Length28:30
Label Flying Nun, Rough Trade
Producer The Clean
The Clean chronology
Compilation
(1986)		Vehicle
(1990)		 Modern Rock
(1994)

Vehicle is the first studio album by New Zealand rock group the Clean. It was released in 1990 by Flying Nun and Rough Trade Records. [1] Much of the material was written for the band's reunion tour in the late 1980s. Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis offered to record The Clean after seeing them play in London, after which Vehicle was produced during a three-day session. The album was engineered by Ken Kennedy and notable producer Alan Moulder, who was suggested by Travis. [2]

Contents

The front cover artwork is a painting by band member David Kilgour.

Background

The Clean formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978, consisting of vocalist and bassist Peter Gutteridge, guitarist David Kilgour and drummer Hamish Kilgour. They made their live debut that year supporting the Enemy. Sometime later, Gutteridge left to form the Chills, being replaced by Robert Scott; the Chills temporarily broke-up in June 1981, and their guitarist Martin Phillipps joined the Clean on keyboards. They issued their debut single "Tally Ho!" (1981) through independent label Flying Nun Records, followed by the Boodle Boodle Boodle (1981) and Great Sounds Great, Good Sounds Good, So-so Sounds So-so, Bad Sounds Bad, Rotten Sounds Rotten (1982) EPs. By the time the "Getting Older" single was released, the band had broken up, spurred on by the pressures of fame. Over the ensuing years, the members would form other acts and the Odditties (1983) and Odditties 2 (1988) compilations would be issued. [3]

The Clean, with a line-up of Kilgour, Kilgour, and Scott, eventually reunited on 13 July 1988 for a one-off show at the Fulham Greyhound pub in London, England. After this was issued as the In-a-Live EP, Flying Nun said the reunion would be permanent. Following some touring, they made their debut album Vehicle, prior to breaking up again. [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Alternative Rock5/10 [4]
Robert Christgau A− [6]
Pitchfork Media 8.4/10 [7]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 5/10 [8]

The New York Times wrote that "the guitar chords still tumble out with the grace of falling bricks, and the songs have an endearing buoyancy that results from the band's conscious rejection of precision." [9] Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that the album has "little in the way of songs ... but a lot of texture and attitude. Not worth waiting for, but it sure feels nice." [4]

Track listing

All songs written by David Kilgour, Hamish Kilgour, and Robert Scott.

No.TitleLength
1."Draw(in)g to a (W)hole"2:03
2."I Wait Around"2:42
3."Bye Bye"2:15
4."The Blue"1:45
5."Dunes"3:01
6."Some One"1:51
7."Home"2:01
8."Diamond Shine"3:13
9."Getting to You"1:46
10."Big Soft Punch"2:32
11."Big Cat"1:41
12."I Can See"2:33
13."Gem"1:07

Charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [10] 35

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying Nun Records</span> New Zealand independent record label

Flying Nun Records is a New Zealand independent record label formed in Christchurch in 1981 by music store manager Roger Shepherd. Described by The Guardian as "one of the world's great independent labels", Flying Nun is notable for bringing global attention to the Dunedin sound, a cultural and musical movement in early 1980s Dunedin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bailter Space</span>

Bailter Space is a New Zealand shoegaze and noise rock band that formed in Christchurch, in 1987 as Nelsh Bailter Space; they had previously recorded as The Gordons. Its members are Alister Parker, John Halvorsen, and Brent McLachlan. After releasing seven studio albums, numerous EPs/singles and a career retrospective compilation, Bailter Space went on an extended hiatus in 2004. They returned in August 2008 to play the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan.

<i>Against the Grain</i> (Bad Religion album) 1990 studio album by Bad Religion

Against the Grain is the fifth album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on November 23, 1990. It was the last album recorded with drummer Pete Finestone, who left in 1991 to concentrate with his new project The Fishermen. Following his departure, the band's music would take a different direction on their next album, 1992's Generator. Against the Grain was also the first Bad Religion album not to feature a lineup change from the previous two albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clean</span> New Zealand indie rock band

The Clean was a New Zealand indie rock band formed in Dunedin in 1978. They have been described as the most influential band to come from the Flying Nun label, which recorded many artists associated with the "Dunedin sound", and one of the first bands to be described as "indie rock".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chills</span> New Zealand rock band

The Chills are a New Zealand indie rock band that formed in Dunedin in 1980. The band were fronted by founding mainstay singer-songwriter, guitarist Martin Phillipps. During the mid-1990s they were billed as Martin Phillipps & the Chills. Their top ten studio albums in their homeland are Submarine Bells (1990), Soft Bomb (1992), Snow Bound (2018) and Scatterbrain (2021). The Chills were a cult band in other parts of the world as one of the earliest proponents of the Dunedin sound. Their top 20 singles are "Pink Frost", "Doledrums", "I Love My Leather Jacket" (1986), "Heavenly Pop Hit" (1990) and "Male Monster from the Id" (1992).

David Auld Kilgour is a New Zealand songwriter, musician and recording artist from Dunedin. He first started playing guitar as a teenager in the late 1970s. With brother Hamish he formed The Clean, a group that went on to become one of the principal acts of the Dunedin Sound.

<i>Everythings Alright Forever</i> 1992 studio album by the Boo Radleys

Everything's Alright Forever is the second album by English indie rock band the Boo Radleys, released in 1992. The title is taken from The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.

<i>Modern Rock</i> (album) 1994 studio album by The Clean

Modern Rock is the second studio album by New Zealand group The Clean, released in 1994.

<i>Soft Bomb</i> 1992 studio album by The Chills

Soft Bomb is an album by New Zealand group The Chills, released in 1992. It was the follow-up to Submarine Bells, which had hit number 1 in New Zealand in 1990.

<i>Dunedin Double</i> (EP) 1982 EP (Double) by Flying Nun Records

The Dunedin Double EP is a 1982 compilation EP by The Chills, Sneaky Feelings, The Stones, and The Verlaines, released on the Christchurch label Flying Nun. An unusual format, it contain two 45rpm 12" discs. At nearly 50 minutes length, it was longer than many compilations of the time period. The EP's release publicised Flying Nun as a major alternative record label for the first time. It has become regarded as one of the earliest seminal works of the Dunedin sound, which heavily influenced the development of indie rock.

<i>Submarine Bells</i> 1990 studio album by The Chills

Submarine Bells is an album by New Zealand group the Chills, released in 1990. This was the band's first album on a major label, as Martin Phillipps signed to Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Slash Records, to release the album in the U.S. The album reached #1 on the New Zealand album charts and had significant support from American college radio. The album was awarded gold status in New Zealand and represents the peak of the Chills' popularity at home. It is considered to be one of the defining albums of the Dunedin sound. The supporting tour for Submarine Bells culminated in a triumphant home-coming concert in Dunedin Town Hall.

<i>Brave Words</i> 1987 studio album by the Chills

Brave Words is the debut studio album by New Zealand band the Chills, released in 1987. It was produced by Mayo Thompson.

<i>Sunburnt</i> 1996 studio album by Martin Phillipps & the Chills

Sunburnt is an album by Martin Phillipps & the Chills, though more correctly by Martin Phillipps alone. Owing to visa problems, the usual Chills line-up were not able to take part in the recording sessions, and session musicians Dave Gregory and Dave Mattacks appeared on all tracks, with Phillipps handling vocal, keyboard, and guitar parts, as well as some of the percussion. Craig Leon, the album's producer, also appeared on several of the tracks.

<i>Boodle Boodle Boodle</i> 1981 EP by The Clean

Boodle Boodle Boodle is a 12" EP by New Zealand band The Clean. Released by Flying Nun Records in 1981, it is one of the more important releases in the Dunedin sound genre. The EP reached number five in the New Zealand music charts, despite being listed in the singles chart, and stayed in the top 20 for nearly six months.

<i>Abbasalutely</i> 1995 compilation album by Various artists

Abbasalutely is a compilation album released in 1995 by New Zealand recording label Flying Nun Records as a tribute album to ABBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamish Kilgour</span> New Zealand musician (1957–2022)

Hamish Kilgour was a New Zealand musician who co-founded the indie rock band The Clean with his brother David in 1978. Kilgour also co-founded the band Bailter Space in 1987 as well as the band The Mad Scene in the 1990s. He later recorded as a solo artist.

Peter Gutteridge was a New Zealand musician, credited with pioneering the Dunedin sound with The Clean and The Chills.

<i>Compilation</i> (The Clean album) 1986 compilation album by The Clean

Compilation is a compilation cassette by New Zealand group The Clean. It was released in 1986 by Flying Nun Records. The album consists of early recordings, as well as songs from their 2 EPs, "Boodle Boodle Boodle" and "Great Sounds Great, Good Sounds Good, So-so Sounds So-so, Bad Sounds Bad, Rotten Sounds Rotten". The CD version also contains 6 additional live tracks.

<i>Nelsh Bailter Space</i> 1987 EP by Bailter Space

Nelsh Bailter Space is an EP by New Zealand band Bailter Space, released in 1987. It peaked at number 39 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

<i>The Boys</i> (English band The Boys album) 1977 studio album by the Boys

The Boys is the debut studio album by English punk rock band the Boys, released in 1977.

References

  1. ↑ "TrouserPress.com :: Clean".
  2. ↑ "Acetone Magazine:::6:::The Clean:::Page 1".
  3. ↑ Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion. San Francisco, California: Miller Freeman Books. p. 273. ISBN   0-87930-607-6.
  4. 1 2 3 Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion. San Francisco, California: Miller Freeman Books. p. 274. ISBN   0-87930-607-6.
  5. ↑ AllMusic review
  6. ↑ Robert Christgau review
  7. ↑ Pitchfork review
  8. ↑ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 85, 86.
  9. ↑ Schoemer, Karen (13 May 1990). "Rock From New Zealand Inhabits Its Own Hemisphere". The New York Times. p. A29.
  10. ↑ "Charts.nz – The Clean – Vehicle". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
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.