| You Turn Me On | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:29 | |||
| Label | K/Sub Pop [2] | |||
| Producer | Stuart Moxham/Steve Fisk | |||
| Beat Happening chronology | ||||
| ||||
You Turn Me On is the fifth and final album by the American band Beat Happening, released in 1992. [3] [4] [5] [6] The band supported the album with a North American tour. [7]
Beat Happening released their fifth studio album Dreamy in 1991; as their popularity rose, the members seemed less interested in the band. Following this, their own label, K Records, was thriving; frontman Calvin Johnson became an important figure in the International Pop Underground Festival, held for the first time in their hometown of Olympia, Washington. In addition, Johnson formed the Halo Benders, with their producer Steve Fisk, and Dub Narcotic Sound System. Beat Happening issued the "Seahunt" single in 1991 prior to their next album. [8]
You Turn Me On was produced by Stuart Moxham of Young Marble Giants and Fisk. [9] [10] As with every Beat Happening album, it was Calvin Johnson's goal to write the perfect pop song. [11] The band employed multitrack recording and extended many of the songs. [12] [13]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Alternative Rock | 7/10 [8] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10 [1] |
Rolling Stone wrote that, "as with any truly good rock band, it's vision—not mere chops—that drives their engine... The group's songs combine the spooky-sparse quality of early rockabilly with the naive sound of Sixties teen-beat pop." [5] The Washington Post stated that the "do-it-yourself tunes combine the irresistible hummability of bubblegum with the stripped-down dirges of punk." [14]
AllMusic deemed the album "a mature record of tremendous breadth and complexity" and "a masterpiece." [6] Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that it sounded "still determinedly minimalistic, Turn is indeed a turning point, as Beat Happening exhibit a maturity and sound quality never dreamt of in the past." [8]
All tracks written by Beat Happening.
Beat Happening was an American indie pop band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis, and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members. Beat Happening were early leaders in the American indie pop and lo-fi movements, noted for their use of primitive recording techniques, disregard for the technical aspects of musicianship, and songs with subject matters of a carefree or coy nature.
Calvin Johnson is an American guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, music producer, and disc jockey. Known for his uniquely deep and droning singing voice, Johnson was a founding member of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, The Go Team and The Halo Benders.
Bratmobile is an American punk band from Olympia, Washington, formed in 1991. They are known for being one of the first-generation "riot grrrl" bands. The band was influenced by several eclectic musical styles, including elements of pop, surf, and garage rock.
Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, the band was forced to change their name due to legal issues.
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington founded in 1982. Artists on the label included early releases by Beck, Modest Mouse and Built to Spill. The record label has been called "key to the development of independent music" since the 1980s.
The Halo Benders was a band formed in 1994 as a side project by Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and Doug Martsch of Built to Spill. They released their first album, God Don't Make No Junk, in 1994. They followed up in 1996 with Don't Tell Me Now and in 1998 with The Rebels Not In.
Indie pop is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and subsequently generated a thriving fanzine, label, and club and gig circuit. Compared to its counterpart, indie rock, the genre is more melodic, less abrasive, and relatively angst-free. In later years, the definition of indie pop has bifurcated to also mean bands from unrelated DIY scenes/movements with pop leanings. Subgenres include chamber pop and twee pop.
"Sliver" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic.
Cool Rays was a rock band formed by five Evergreen State College students in late 1980. The band is especially notable as Calvin Johnson's first ensemble and one of the earlier expressions of the Olympia music scene that developed in the 1980s and 1990s.
"Been a Son" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It was originally released on the Blew EP in November 1989, which charted at number 15 on the UK Indie Singles chart.
Beat Happening is the debut album by Beat Happening, released in 1985 through K Records. It was produced by Greg Sage, singer and guitarist for post-punk band Wipers.
Jamboree is the second album by American indie rock band Beat Happening, released in 1988 through K Records and Rough Trade Records. All songs were produced by Steve Fisk with assistance from Screaming Trees members Mark Lanegan and Gary Lee Conner, except "Cat Walk," produced by Patrick Maley, and "The This Many Boyfriends Club," recorded live by Rich Jensen.
Some Velvet Sidewalk was an experimental lo-fi rock band from Olympia, Washington on the independent label K Records.
Black Candy is the third album by indie pop band Beat Happening.
Dreamy is an album by the indie pop band Beat Happening, released in 1991. The band recorded the tracks in a living room and in a professional recording studio.
Tiger Trap is the only album released by the band Tiger Trap. It was released in 1993 on K Records and was produced by Calvin Johnson. With about 10,000 copies sold, it was K Records' best-selling album until they released Beck's One Foot in the Grave the following year.
International Pop Underground Convention is a live compilation LP/CD/cassette which documents the 1991 music festival of the same name. Various recordings from the festival were compiled by K Records and released as a double album and CD, featuring music by twenty-one different bands.
The Shield Around the K: The Story of K Records is a 2000 documentary produced and directed by Heather Rose Dominic about the independent record label, K Records. The film profiles the birth and growth of the punk rock DIY label based in Olympia, Washington.
Heather Lewis is an American multi-instrumentalist and founding member of Beat Happening. Prior to her work with Beat Happening, Lewis was a member of the Supreme Cool Beings, who are notable for having the first ever release on K Records, 1982's Survival of the Coolest. She appeared as a guest vocalist on several songs from Land of the Loops, as well as the Wedding Present's album Watusi.
Candice Pedersen co-owned of the Olympia, Washington-based independent record label K Records from 1986 to 1999, along with Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening. In 1999, she sold her half of the label to Johnson.
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