Stanley Odd

Last updated

Stanley Odd
Stanley Odd at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.jpg
Solareye of Stanley Odd performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2012
Background information
Origin Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Years active2009-present
LabelsCircular Records; Handsome Tramp Records; A Modern Way Records
MembersSolareye
Veronika Electronika
AdMack
Scruff Lee
T Lo
Samson
Website stanleyodd.com

Stanley Odd is an alternative hip-hop group based in Scotland combining live instrumentation with samples and loops. [1] [2] Formed in 2009, the band have supported acts such as Arrested Development, Sage Francis and The View, and played at major Scottish festivals T in the Park and Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party. Their first album was released in May 2010 on Circular Records. Their self-released follow-up, Reject, was shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year Award 2013, with their third A Thing Brand New coming in 2014.

Contents

Career

The group's debut album, Oddio, was released in May 2010. It was met with favourable reviews, Scotland on Sunday stating "These Scottish hip-hop standard bearers sound much more relevant than the mighty Eminem, rapping stories that are social realism with a sense of humour and dance shoes". [3]

The first EP of three released within 2011, Pure Antihero Material, was released in February. Building on the concepts of outsider-dom, awkwardness and social observation, the EP covers subjects from the UK coalition government to a games console addict who controls the other people living in his building. With continued local radio and podcast interest, in addition to support from national BBC Radio One Introducing [4] and Amazing Radio stations, The Skinny Magazine observed "In a sane world, Stanley Odd would be way more popular than Snow Patrol". [5] [6]

The second of three 2011 EPs, The Day I Went Deaf, was released on Circular Records in late October; showcasing a darker, more direct sound that reflects their creative production methods involving writing and recording as a live band, re-sampling their own recordings and then sequencing and rebuilding the sampled material. An ongoing project, The Remix 11, is a series of tracks that Stanley Odd have had remixed by producers that the band themselves are fans of. New remixes were made available for free download on the group's Bandcamp page.

In their element live, Stanley Odd have been touring Scotland and the UK since 2010. Their 2011 performance at Insider Festival was described in The Scotsman as "dazzlingly eloquent... a performance that had the crowd baying delightedly for more". [7] In 2012, the band continued their work ethic of extensive touring, playing summer festivals including, Knockengorroch, Belladrum, Wickerman and Greenbelt.

Released in September 2012, their second full-length album Reject revealed a further developed and more complete view of the band, both musically and lyrically. Covering topics from voter apathy and Scottish independence to issues of a more personal nature and social references, the album was ranked 4th in The Herald's Top 50 Albums of the Year, with group arts editor Alan Morrison observing: "The Edinburgh collective raises hip hop's game, speaking with the voice of a generation". [8]

At the end of 2012, Stanley Odd won the Nordoff Robbins Tartan Clef Big Apple Award, ensuring that they would support The View at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in April 2013. This grew into a mini-US tour, playing Central Park and The Webster Hall as well as venues in Brooklyn and Boston. [9]

A new 12" EP titled Chase Yirsel, featuring a cover illustrated by Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison, was released in April 2014 for Record Store Day. [10] The group's third album, A Thing Brand New, was released in November 2014. Thereafter they had been relatively quiet in terms of releases but did perform sporadically, including headlining the Stowed Out festival in Scotland in 2016.

Solareye (Dave Hook) released his debut solo album, All These People Are Me, in 2018. [11] He also features on the duet "Waves that Fall" from Carla J. Easton's 2020 album, Weirdo.

In January 2020, the band released a "comeback" single, the unmistakably political "Where They Lie", [12] and performed several gigs, their first after a few years' hiatus. They then announced a full tour, with singles stacked up for release every six weeks throughout the second half of 2020 in the run-up to a new album, scheduled for February 2021. [13] However, the tour was re-scheduled and later postponed indefinitely following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Discography

Studio albums/EPs

YearAlbum detailsPeak positions
UK
2010Oddio
  • Release date: 17 May 2010
  • Label: Circular Records
2011Pure Antihero Material
  • Release date: 21 February 2011
  • Label: Circular Records
2011The Day I Went Deaf
  • Release date: 24 October 2011
  • Label: Circular Records
2012Reject
  • Release date: 21 September 2012
  • Label: Handsome Tramp Records
2014Chase Yirsel
  • Release date: 28 April 2014
  • Label: A Modern Way Records
2014A Thing Brand New
  • Release date: 10 November 2014
  • Label: A Modern Way Records

Singles

YearSinglePeak positions
UK
2009"The Numbness"
  • Release date: 14 October 2009
2010"Think of a Number"
  • Release date: 23 August 2010
2012"Get Out Ma Headspace"
  • Release date: 7 June 2012
2012"Killergram"
  • Release date: 10 September 2012
2013"Carry Me Home"
  • Release date: 21 January 2013
2014"Son I Voted Yes"
  • Release date: 5 September 2014
2020"Where They Lie"
  • Release date: 24 January 2020
2020"FUWSH"
  • Release date: 3 July 2020
2020"Night Rip"
  • Release date: 14 August 2020
2020"Killswitch"
  • Release date: 25 September 2020

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De La Soul</span> American hip hop group

De La Soul is an American hip hop group formed in 1988 in the village of Amityville on Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, eccentric lyrics, and contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, and Vincent "Maseo" Mason formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'".

Download is a Canadian electronic music group formed by Dwayne Goettel and Kevin Crompton of Skinny Puppy in 1994. The initial lineup also included Off & Gone's Phil Western and Mark Spybey of Dead Voices on Air, but has since been particularly fluid, with Key and Western being the only constant members following Goettel's death. Download's music has been described as post-industrial, drawing from the band's genesis as part of Skinny Puppy but also sharing common stylistic ground with such artists as Aphex Twin and Autechre. The primary instrumentation common throughout their albums is a blend of synthesizers and sampled instruments; the music is particularly centered on elements of percussion and rhythm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Herd (Australian band)</span> Australian hip hop group

The Herd is an Australian hip hop group formed in Sydney. The group employs a "full band" format and is recognised for its live shows. The Herd is composed of Ozi Batla, Urthboy, Berzerkatron (MCs), Unkle Ho (beats), Traksewt, Sulo, Toe-Fu (guitar), Rok Poshtya (bass) and singer Jane Tyrrell. The band's songs often feature politically oriented lyrics. The group has been largely inactive since 2013, reuniting for select performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fünf Sterne deluxe</span> German hip-hop band

Fünf Sterne deluxe is a German-language hip-hop band from Hamburg, Germany, founded in mid-1997, consisting of the rappers Das Bo and Tobi Tobsen, the graphic designer Marcnesium, and the disc jockey DJ Coolmann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign Beggars</span> English hip hop and dubstep group

Foreign Beggars were an English hip hop and dubstep group. Since their formation in 2002, the group's trajectory had seen them evolve from an underground hip hop group to an electronic crossover act. The group consisted of four artists individually known as Orifice Vulgatron, Metropolis Graham, DJ Nonames, and Dag Nabbit. Vulgatron and Metropolis combined with Noisia to make the side project and supergroup "I Am Legion". They released their collaborative album I Am Legion on 2 September 2013.

Scottish hip hop is the regional manifestation of the British hip hop culture in Scotland, comprising the five elements of MCing, DJing, beatboxing, graffiti and b-boying.

Steven Gilfoyle is a Scottish hip hop music producer, radio presenter and recording artist. His involvement with Scottish hip-hop culture began with a pioneering role in the early to mid '90s, and he is still involved twenty years later. He is the founder and current CEO of Powercut Productions, a hip hop label based in Glasgow, Scotland.

<i>Messiah</i> (EP) 0000 EP by Godflesh

Messiah is the fifth EP by English industrial metal band Godflesh. The EP was originally recorded and mixed during 1994, and was released independently to members of the band's fan club on 5 December 2000 along with four remixes, which were created in 1995. After Justin Broadrick disbanded Godflesh, he reissued the material through Relapse Records on 1 April 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trash Talk (band)</span> American hardcore punk band

Trash Talk is an American hardcore punk band from Sacramento, California, formed in 2005. They have toured all around the world including Japan and Europe, as well as performed in many festivals in support of their releases which helped give the band recognition from publications including Rolling Stone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparrow and the Workshop</span> Scottish rock band

Sparrow and the Workshop were an indie three-piece based in Glasgow, consisting of the Belfast-born, Chicago-raised Jill O'Sullivan, Welshman Nick Packer and Scotsman Gregor Donaldson. The band's debut album Crystals Fall was released by Distiller Records in 2010 to critical acclaim, with the likes of Drowned in Sound and Clash Magazine awarding the album 9/10. The band was notable for their use of harmonies and bastardized instruments/FX pedals and they have been compared to bands as varied as Jefferson Airplane, Talking Heads and Black Sabbath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odd Future Records</span> American record label division owned by Sony Music Entertainment

Odd Future Records was an American record label founded by rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator of Odd Future in 2011. It operated as a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

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

Cults is an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2010. The band first rose to prominence upon releasing their debut extended play, Cults 7" (2010), on their Bandcamp page. They subsequently signed to English singer Lily Allen's record label In the Name Of, an imprint of Sony Music to release their eponymous debut album (2011). A song from the album, "Bad Things" was sampled by American rapper J. Cole for his 2013 single "She Knows", on which they were credited as featured artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BadBadNotGood</span> Canadian instrumental group

BadBadNotGood is a Canadian instrumental band and production team from Toronto, Canada. The group was founded in 2010 by bassist Chester Hansen, keyboardist Matthew Tavares, and drummer Alexander Sowinski. In 2016, they were joined by frequent collaborator Leland Whitty. Among other projects, the group has released five solo studio albums, with the latest, Talk Memory, released in October 2021. They have had critical and crossover success, finding audiences in the hip hop, jazz, and alternative music communities.

Hector Bizerk were an experimental hip-hop group from Glasgow, Scotland, featuring drummer Audrey Tait and rapper Louie. Formed in 2011, they were initially a duo. However later recordings saw them add Jennifer Muir and Fraser Sneddon (Bass). They have released five EPs and three albums, and their 2014 EP The Bird That Never Flew features guest vocals from Scotland's Makar Liz Lochhead.

Silibil N' Brains are a Scottish hip-hop duo consisting of Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd. They are best known for masquerading as American rappers from California to secure a record deal, a story which formed the basis of Bain's 2010 memoir California Schemin' and was adapted into the documentary film The Great Hip Hop Hoax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miaoux Miaoux</span> Musical artist

Julian Victor Corrie, better known by his stage name Miaoux Miaoux, is an English producer, musician and songwriter based in Glasgow, Scotland. He is signed to Chemikal Underground Records, who have released his albums Light of the North and School of Velocity. Prior to his solo career Corrie was a member of the Glasgow-based band Maple Leaves.

Catching Flies is an English musician, DJ and record producer from London, England. His sound has been described as sitting on the "smooth, mellow side of electronic music" somewhere "between Flying Lotus and Bonobo" and "contains shades of everything from hip hop to house, from soul to jazz." He has self-released three EPs and numerous remixes for artists like Kwabs and Wilkinson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clipping (band)</span> American hip hop trio

Clipping is an American experimental hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group consists of rapper Daveed Diggs and producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes.

Hal Donell Williams Jr., known professionally as Pyramid Vritra, is an American rapper and record producer. Aside from his solo career, he is also a member of Los Angeles–based hip hop collective Odd Future via the sub-group The Jet Age of Tomorrow alongside Matt Martians, and Atlanta-based hip hop collective NRK. He has released music under Stones Throw Records, Alpha Pup's The Order Label, and Bad Taste Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasty P</span> Musical artist

Nasty P is a hip hop Producer/DJ from Edinburgh, Scotland. As an artist and producer he has worked with Akil from Jurassic 5, Skinnyman and Ed O.G.

References

  1. "Wrap Up And Watch Out: Stanley Odd | MTV UK". MTV. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  2. Meek, Thomas (28 August 2009). "Exposure: Stanley Odd". The List. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  3. "Album review: Stanley Odd - Oddio". Scotland on Sunday . 20 June 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  4. "Music - Stanley Odd". BBC. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  5. "Stanley Odd – Pure Anti-hero Material EP". The Skinny. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. Gieben, Bram (9 March 2011). "New Blood: Stanley Odd". The Skinny. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  7. "Local Buzz: Stanley Odd". The Scotsman. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  8. "2012 REVIEW: TOP 50 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR". Herald Scotland. 30 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  9. "Stanley Odd set to wow American audiences" (Press release). Creative Scotland. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  10. "Music Video Premiere: Stanley Odd – 'Chase Yirsel'". The Skinny. 21 April 2014.
  11. Jonathan Rimmer (23 April 2018). "Hip Hop Academic: Dave Hook on Solareye's new album". The Skinny.
  12. "New Music - Stanley Odd: 'Where They Lie'". Podcart. 23 January 2020.
  13. Jessie Wilson (10 July 2020). "Stanley Odd celebrate the joys of being loudly and unapologetically yourself in new single, FUWSH (F**k You We're Still Here)". Glasgow Standard.