Wow to the Deadness | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
EP by | ||||
Released | February 5, 2016 | |||
Recorded | June 8–11, 2015 | |||
Studio | Electrical Audio, Chicago, United States | |||
Genre | Punk rock | |||
Length | 15:13 | |||
Label | Splint, Sounds Familyre | |||
Producer | Steve Albini | |||
Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil chronology | ||||
| ||||
Danielson chronology | ||||
|
Wow to the Deadness is an EP by Steve Taylor &The Danielson Foil,a temporary collaboration between the supergroup Steve Taylor &The Perfect Foil and Daniel Smith of Danielson. Recorded in 2015 at Electrical Audio in Chicago,Illinois,and produced by Steve Albini,the EP was released on February 5,2016,through Steve Taylor's Splint Entertainment and Smith's Sounds Familyre Records.
During the promotional tour for the album Goliath in 2014,Steve Taylor &The Perfect foil were supported by Danielson. The idea of a collaboration between the two groups emerged,and in June 2015,when the tour came through Chicago,Daniel Smith of Danielson joined Steve Taylor &The Perfect Foil in a collaborative recording effort at Steve Albini's studio Electrical Audio. [1] [2] A Kickstarter was launched for the EP,raising $55,633 USD. [3]
Taylor stated that during the collaboration,the only rule was "If it sounds like something we’ve already done,we throw it out." [2] In an interview with Buddyhead Radio,Albini commented on the process:"Dan Smith just put together this ad hoc band with a singer named Steve Taylor... ...They play this really rowdy punk rock. And that record is fucked-up and great. I didn’t expect that kind of music out of them,and I certainly didn’t expect it to be as awesome as it was. I was expecting it to be charming or interesting,but it ended up being really raucous and really great." [2]
On December 10,2015,Guitar World premiered the title track from the EP,making it available for streaming. [2] On January 25,2016, Paste premiered the music video for the same song. Directed by Matthew Sterling,the video features the band members throwing water balloons at each other. Taylor said of the video that "It was a simple concept. Roll camera,pretend you’re on fire,and have your bandmates offscreen try and extinguish you with water balloons. Bonus points were awarded for direct hits to the face." [4] Mike Rimmer from Cross Rhythms likened the video to the output of Devo. [5] The EP was released on February 5,2016,through Splint,with vinyl records available through Sounds Familyre. [6] Steve Taylor &The Danielson Foil continued to tour as a collaborative act through February 12. [4] A second music video from the project,"Nonchalant",was released on April 3,2016. [7]
Critics described the overall sound of Wow to the Deadness as furious,chaotic punk rock. [2] [8] [9] Guitar World wrote that the music has no clear parallels,but resembles "Magazine covering the Godspell soundtrack or the Buzzcocks trading verses with the Free Design." [2] Mike Rimmer from Cross Rhythms likewise remarked that "This album really doesn't sound like anyone else",but it is "propelled by a punk aesthetic and Jimmy Abegg's excellent guitar work." [5] Popdose found the output similar to that of Touch and Go Records bands,opining that the group released a "good,old-fashioned kidney punch of 'rott’n roll'". [8] The Phantom Toolbooth considered the EP "an interesting mix of the bold,minimalist punk-pop we heard on Goliath and the staccato genre-defying primal child compositions of the Danielson Family albums. The over-all effect is more primal,more punk (or post-punk,if you want to sound trendy),and certainly more in your face." [10] Both Taylor and Smith shared lead vocal duties on the recording,singing lines in harmony on some tracks and in duet on others. [8] [10] Taylor's vocals are deep,with his delivery described as "sometimes sinister,sometimes raucous." [10] Smith performed in his familiar style of high-pitched,childlike vocals,but in a more restrained fashion then typical for his Danielson and Danielson Familie projects. [10] [8]
Jesus Freak Hideout described "The Dust Patrol" as "raw punk rock" and "Wow to the Deadness" as an "acoustic rock jam",with "Nonchalant" serving as the only ballad on the EP. [9] "The Dust Patrol" was described by The Phantom Tollbooth as beginning and ending as a boogie,but with a slowed down bridge in the middle accompanied by a Mariachi trumpet line. [10] Haydon Spenceley from Drowned in Sound described the brass interludes of "The Dust Patrol" as the only moments of calm on the album. [11] "Drats" alternates between a rolling 6
8 signature during the verses and a driving 4
4 time on the chorus. [11]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Cross Rhythms | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Drowned in Sound | 7/10 [11] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Phantom Tollbooth | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Wow to the Deadness was enthusiastically received by critics. Mike Rimmer from Cross Rhythms gave the EP a full ten-out-of-ten rating. He concluded that "On paper,you'd never have guessed that the marriage of Taylor and Danielson's music would produce something that works this well,but Wow!" [5] Drowned in Sound's Haydon Spenceley rated that EP seven-out-of-ten,describing the recording as "one of 2016's most beguiling and potentially intimidating musical debuts." [11] Lucas Munachen of Jesus Freak Hideout awarded the EP four-and-a-half stars out of five,finding the music fun and enjoyable and the lyricism impressive. [9] Though he felt that the EP was a little short,he concluded that it "will no doubt keep listeners riotously dancing until Taylor pulls out another surprise record from the shadows." [9] Michael Weaver of Jesus Freak Hideout also awarded the album four-and-a-half stars out of five,remarking that "This EP will likely end up being more of a niche project,but it's stellar nonetheless." [12] DW. Dunphy of Popdose was also highly favorable to the EP,praising the experimentation and diversity of the recording and opining that "I don't know if this collective would have worked nearly as effectively had this been a full album effort. Six relatively short,and shockingly punk,tunes go down remarkably well —a surprise kick to the shins and exit,stage right." [8] Bert Saraco of The Phantom Tollbooth rated Wow to the Deadness four-and-a-half stars out of five,finding that the EP should prove "a total delight for fans of the more extreme side of both Steve Taylor and Daniel Smith." [10]
NB "Drats" was named "Drat" in the download
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Drat" | 2:49 |
2. | "The Dust Patrol" | 1:59 |
3. | "A Muse" | 2:31 |
4. | "Nonchalant" | 3:00 |
5. | "Wait Up Downstep" | 2:28 |
6. | "Wow to the Deadness" | 2:33 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Wow to the Deadness" | 2:34 |
2. | "Wait Up Downstep" | 2:28 |
3. | "The Dust Patrol" | 2:00 |
4. | "Nonchalant" | 3:01 |
5. | "A Muse" | 2:17 |
6. | "Drats" | 2:53 |
Danielson is an American rock band from Clarksboro, New Jersey, that plays indie pop gospel music. The group consists of frontman Daniel Smith and a number of various artists with whom he collaborates. Smith has also released solo work as Brother Danielson.
Poor Old Lu was a pioneering Christian alternative rock band based in the American Northwest. The band experimented with a variety of sounds and genres, particularly grunge, funk and psychedelic rock. The band consisted of Scott Hunter (vocals), Jesse Sprinkle (drums), Aaron Sprinkle (guitar), and Nick Barber (bass). Hunter was the lyricist who wrote on philosophical, metaphorical, and spiritually oriented topics. Common themes in the lyrics include introspective struggles with identity and spirituality, struggles with a superficial, secular, and modern society, and hope for life abundant. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music calls the band "One of the most accomplished and creative Christian bands of the '90s".
Voices in Shadows is the first studio album by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1985.
Church Music is the fifth full-length studio album and ninth overall by David Crowder Band, released September 22, 2009 through sixstepsrecords. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
Sounds Familyre Records is an independent record label based in Clarksboro, New Jersey, started and managed by Danielson founder Daniel Smith, who created the label in 1999.
Jesus Culture is a Christian revivalist youth-oriented organization that was formed at the Bethel Church of Redding, California, in the United States. Jesus Culture Ministry hosts conferences and operates a record label, Jesus Culture Music. In 2013, Jesus Culture moved to plant a church in Sacramento. Meetings started on September 14, 2014.
Where Do We Go from Here is the third album by Christian rock band Pillar. The song "Bring Me Down" was featured on the 2005 Major League Baseball video game, MLB 2006, as well as the offroad racing game MX vs. ATV Unleashed. The songs "Frontline" and "Bring Me Down" reached No. 1 on the Christian rock charts., with the former of the two being certified gold by the RIAA on July 31, 2020. The album debuted at No. 74 on the Billboard 200.
Anthem Lights is the debut album by the American Christian pop band Anthem Lights. The album was released on May 10, 2011, on Reunion Records and contains all three tracks from their self-titled EP, which was released on February 1, 2011.
Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil is an American alternative rock supergroup formed in 2010 by singer Steve Taylor with drummer Peter Furler, guitarist Jimmy Abegg, and bassist John Mark Painter. Taylor formerly saw success as a new wave singer during the 1980s and early 1990s, and also fronted the short-lived band Chagall Guevara. However, by the mid-1990s he abandoned performing music and transitioned into work as a record producer, songwriter, and film-maker. In 2010 Taylor, who was frustrated at the slow pace of his fundraiser for his feature film Blue Like Jazz, collaborated with Furler, Abegg, and Painter to record the song "A Life Preserved" for the film's soundtrack, and began recording other material. Taylor, Abegg, and Painter then featured on the Peter Furler song "Closer", under the name "Steve Taylor & Some Other Band", on Furler's album On Fire. With those collaborations as a starting point, Taylor relaunched his career as a performing musician, and the lineup was branded as Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil. The group released a studio album entitled Goliath on November 18, 2014 to critical acclaim and modest commercial success. In 2015, Daniel Smith of Danielson, with whom the band had been touring, joined on in a collaboration touted as Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil. Under this incarnation, the group released the EP Wow to the Deadness on February 5, 2016, and toured until February 12. A live album under this incarnation of the band was also released, and the band also contributed to the soundtrack for the 2020 film Electric Jesus.
Goliath is the sixth studio album by alternative rock singer Steve Taylor, and his first with the group Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil, consisting of Taylor, Peter Furler, Jimmy Abegg and John Mark Painter. It was released by Splint Entertainment on November 18, 2014 and marks his first studio release since 1993's Squint.
Once Again is the second studio album by Fusebox. Elevate Records alongside Inpop Records released the album on June 15, 2004.
Cadet was an American Christian alternative rock band from Eugene, Oregon, and they formed in 2000 and disbanded in 2004, while their frontman was Ryan Smith. They released, Cadet, with BEC Recordings, in 2001. The same label released, The Observatory, in 2002.
Sweet Sweet Sound is the first extended play from Sarah Reeves. Sparrow Records released the EP on April 21, 2009. Reeves worked with Matt Bronleewe, Ed Cash, Ian Eskelin, in the production of this album.
Verra Cruz, are an English rock band trio originally from St Albans, England. They formed in 2003, and have since released two studio albums and one extended play.
Exhale is the eighth studio album by Thousand Foot Krutch. The Fuel Music released the album on June 17, 2016. The album debuted at number 34 on the US Billboard 200, selling 14,000 copies.
Haydon Spenceley is an English Christian musician and worship leader, who plays a Christian pop and EDM style of worship music. He has released three studio albums: Circles (2008), Heart Strings (2010), and Mirrors (2014).
Freeslave was an English Christian alternative rock band from Hampshire, England, formed in 2003 and disbanded in 2007, with the lead vocalist, Haydon Spenceley. The band released one studio album, Songs for the Dying (2005), and three extended plays, Project Freedom (2003), Remember the Day (2004) and Save My Day (2006).
Heel is the second studio album from Dogs of Peace. Suite 28 C Records released the album on April 22, 2016.