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SMC- The Wrens - "The Meadowlands"

StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
edited June 2006 in Other Music
Hey guys my pick is up in the gmail account....

I don't know if anyone here is familiar with this band...I searched the forum and found nothing. This record came out in 2003 and was hailed as a masterpiece by fans and critics. It only took the wrens 7 years to make it. The band had put out two records for an indie label called Grass Records in the early nineties, and they were eventually dropped from the label in 1996 for a little known band named Creed. After they were dropped, they began work on a follow up to Secaucus, which also came out in 96. Fast forward 7 years, and the record was finally finished. They signed with Absolutely Kosher records in 2003 and released their magnum opus.

The Meadowlands is one of my all time favorite records. It deals with everything from love and relationships to the trials and tribulations of being a working band in the music industry today. It encompasses everything from hard, guitar driven rock (Everyone Chooses Sides) to mellow, acoustic numbers like "Thirteen Grand". It's truly a dense, masterful record. I hope you guys like it.

Here's a link to the Pitchfork review:

http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/w/wrens/meadowlands.shtml
"What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 5,903
    this is one of those albums where after repeated and repeated and repeated listenings, i have not been able to click with it.

    i love the song Happy though

    i dont know, maybe i'll give it another listen this week.
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
  • alobaralobar Posts: 310
    stoneg82,

    you make me happy. I've been wanting to hear this one for awhile. Thanks for the opportunity. I hope it's as good as you say it is.
    "I wanna believe in the mercy of the world again."

    WAR + MAGIC BEANS = PEACE
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    alobar wrote:
    stoneg82,

    you make me happy. I've been wanting to hear this one for awhile. Thanks for the opportunity. I hope it's as good as you say it is.

    it's a wonderful record.

    I hope you can get into it mookey. give it some time....it's worth it.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    Well, I think I can give this a shot. I know a dude who likes them very much
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • viggs20viggs20 Posts: 1,296
    Ok, I just finished downloading this. Bump for the others.
    "Reality continues to ruin my life." - Calvin & Hobbes.

    www.stopglobalaids.com www.indymedia.org www.ecologyfund.com www.thehungersite.com www.amnesty.org www.pratham.org www.icbl.org www.care2.com/click2donate
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    bump
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • transplanttransplant Posts: 1,088
    I have downloaded it and I really hope to get some fair listens in. This week is sorta nuts. I'll put something out but it may be another week or so.
  • transplanttransplant Posts: 1,088
    Ok, spent a great part of the day today watching World Cup and in the backround listening to the Wrens. everytime a catchy hook kicked in, I took notice. It happened often. It ain't gonna take me 12 years to figure out like Bee Thousand apparently did.

    Fine, fine CD. I see that review put the Wrens up with the big indie-pop hitters. I like this better than most they speak of. There isn't any bullshit on here, no experimentation to speak of. Great bunch of pop songs here. This is a great intro CD for anyone who wants to break off the beaten path a little.

    Vocals are weak but I don't think that is exactly a focal point. (nor is it with most from this genre I suppose) I will not have time to dive into the lyrics but I think I will in this case later.

    The tunes between She Sends Kisses and the Faster Gun kept my attention more than say Thirteen Grand however even that sounds like a nice heartfelt number.
  • viggs20viggs20 Posts: 1,296
    This is a fairly decent album...like transplant said there is no great experimentation to speak of which is not necessarily a bad thing. It seems the guys know what works for them and they have stuck to that. This probably won't get regular rotation on my playlist but She Sends Kisses, Faster Gun, Ex-Girl Collection and Per Second Second definitely won't be skipped when they come on.
    "Reality continues to ruin my life." - Calvin & Hobbes.

    www.stopglobalaids.com www.indymedia.org www.ecologyfund.com www.thehungersite.com www.amnesty.org www.pratham.org www.icbl.org www.care2.com/click2donate
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    comments from me later, I'll listen to it more whil I am at work tomorrow - I've only listened to a few songs but it some good guitar poprock that I can enjoy.
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    I love this man. Great album thanks. It has quite a few different sides.
    One moment they remind me of Polvo the next they bring The Decemberists to mind. I love it that they use sucks a large veriaty of instruments.
    I have never heard of them before, great band. The singer's voice reminds me of someone, who is he? Where are they from?
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    karma defect wrote:
    I love this man. Great album thanks. It has quite a few different sides.
    One moment they remind me of Polvo the next they bring The Decemberists to mind. I love it that they use sucks a large veriaty of instruments.
    I have never heard of them before, great band. The singer's voice reminds me of someone, who is he? Where are they from?

    I'm glad you enjoy it.

    they are from secaucus in new jersey...and it's not just the same guy singing every song. I believe they have a total of three guys who rotate singing duties.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • clydefroclydefro Posts: 18
    This is one of my favorite albums as well. I was lucky enough to see the Wrens at NYC's Knitting Factory in '04 with a then-unknown band named The Arcade Fire opening. That was one of my favorite concerts I've seen and the Wrens really open up things to a new level live. Lots of energy and passion in the songs and much more rocking.
  • mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 5,903
    clydefro wrote:
    This is one of my favorite albums as well. I was lucky enough to see the Wrens at NYC's Knitting Factory in '04 with a then-unknown band named The Arcade Fire opening. That was one of my favorite concerts I've seen and the Wrens really open up things to a new level live. Lots of energy and passion in the songs and much more rocking.

    Arcade Fire unknown in '04? I totally thought they released that album in 03.

    time flies i guess it feels like they've been around a lot longer
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
  • clydefroclydefro Posts: 18
    mookeywrench wrote:
    Arcade Fire unknown in '04? I totally thought they released that album in 03.

    time flies i guess it feels like they've been around a lot longer


    Funeral came out in September of '04 and I saw them open for the Wrens in March. The funny thing was that they were apparently a last minute replacement for another band so I feel doubly fortunate to have seen them then. I know it's a little silly but I've passed up the opportunity to see the Wrens again since that show because of how great the show was. I'm afraid seeing them again will detract from it.
  • psycosmicpsycosmic Posts: 504
    i listened to this album three times in a row today...
    and i really liked it!

    i'm a bit pressed for time since i have to prepare for a festival i'm going to tomorrow... some good bands on the bill http://www.southside.de/

    i'm going to listen to this album some more, that's for sure...
    my beef with lots of so-called indie bands is that their lo-fi experimentation sounds so "forced"... not in this case...
    it's a nice collection of good songs...
    ~~~
    Some days you wake up and sit on a park bench next to an eighty year old Russian architect, and some days you don't. I think this is my new life philosophy.

    http://epplehausradio.blogspot.com/

    pearl jam @ the astoria, london, 20/04/06
  • StellyStelly Posts: 170
    Got this album not long after it came out. I LOVE this CD.

    They are fantastic live as well...tons of energy and passion! Great band!

    Download "Seacaucus" as well. Another very good album by The Wrens.
    8/22/98 - Toronto
    8/26/98 - Cleveland
    10/7/00 - Detroit
    4/25/03 - Cleveland
    6/23/06 - Pittsburgh
  • alobaralobar Posts: 310
    I found myself listening to meadowlands over and over without even knowing it. It really is a great record all the way through. I really like "Faster Gun" and Per Second Seconds" and also parts of "Boys You Won't" are amazing.
    The singing is certainly not the strong point....it's the one thing that really pegs this band as "emo," and is possibly why it sounds so familiar. At times I heard some New Pornographers in their sound, but a lot more lo-fi. I applaud these guys for sticking with an album for 7 years, however, I'd like to see exactly how much their style and music has changed.
    Thanks for the great album stoneg, I'm sure I'll pass this a long to some friends of mine who would appreciate this.
    "I wanna believe in the mercy of the world again."

    WAR + MAGIC BEANS = PEACE
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    alobar wrote:
    I found myself listening to meadowlands over and over without even knowing it. It really is a great record all the way through. I really like "Faster Gun" and Per Second Seconds" and also parts of "Boys You Won't" are amazing.
    The singing is certainly not the strong point....it's the one thing that really pegs this band as "emo," and is possibly why it sounds so familiar. At times I heard some New Pornographers in their sound, but a lot more lo-fi. I applaud these guys for sticking with an album for 7 years, however, I'd like to see exactly how much their style and music has changed.
    Thanks for the great album stoneg, I'm sure I'll pass this a long to some friends of mine who would appreciate this.

    I'm glad you liked it :)

    their older stuff is faster and more "punk" if you know what I mean.

    I'd be happy to upload their other record "Secaucus" if anyone is interested.

    lemme know
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
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