Discogs
Artist Biography
by John Vallier
"Groove-oriented emprise brushed with shades of
Drive Like Jehu and grounded in a rocking emo sensibility" begins to characterize
Engine Down's
musical demeanor. The quartet met in Harrisonburg, VA, before embarking
on an eastward migration to the Virginia capital of Richmond. Comprised
of former members of
Sleepytime Trio, the Weak Link Breaks, and
Bughummer,
Engine Down
debuted at the showing of a murder mystery flick. They first released a
self-titled 7" through Lovitt in 1998; their full-length
Under the Pretense of Present Tense following later that year. After that, the band -- comprised of
Jonathan Fuller (guitar/vocals),
Jason Wood (bass/vocals),
Keeley Davis (vocals/guitar) and
Cornbread Compton (drums) -- put out 2000's
To Bury Within the Sound and 2001's
A Sign of Breath EP, touring with such acts as
400 Years,
Speedwell, and
Three Penny Opera. Also in 2001 came their third album, the moodier
Demure.
By way of their recordings and live performances,
Engine Down nurtured a bevy of adoring fans that helped them chart in CMJ's Top 20 for eight weeks.
Engine Down
were keen for rhythms in 6/8 time, not hesitating to augment their
bass, drum, guitar, and vocal setup with such instruments as cello,
vibraphone, and piano. Even without the addition of these acoustic
instruments,
Engine Down's
core sound -- propulsive triplet-ridden beats, weighty basslines,
pugnacious guitar salvos, and languorous vocals -- made the band worth
seeking out. By 2004, the group had jumped from Lovitt to Lookout
Records to release its fourth disk,
Enginedown.
Engine Down
toured Europe in early 2005 before announcing that they would be
breaking up (amicably) later that year. Following a fall U.S. farewell
tour supported by Bella Lea and
Des Ark, the bandmembers went their separate ways.
Tracklist
| 1 |
Castalia |
|
| 2 |
Dead Letter |
|
| 3 |
Colorado |
|
| 4 |
Nearsighted |
|
| 5 |
Slingshot |
|
| 6 |
Brushes |
|
| 7 |
The Offer Of Something |
|
| 8 |
Daredevil |
