THE FOR CARNATION Marshmallows 1996

 

Discogs

 

The For Carnation Biography

by Steve Huey

The For Carnation was a low-key, mostly acoustic vehicle for ex-Slint/Squirrel Bait member Brian McMahan, whose previous projects had all made their impact through jagged, noisy art-punk. Mirroring his old bandmate David Grubbs' evolution with Gastr del Sol, McMahan continued to explore the complex, cerebral patterns that were his stock in trade, but with delicate arrangements and far subtler dynamics. Slint fans were taken aback by the For Carnation's low-key sparseness, and while it wasn't as groundbreaking as McMahan's earlier efforts, the quietly unsettling creepiness of its best moments was rooted firmly in the leader's trademark aesthetic. McMahan was the lone constant in the For Carnation, which shaped up as a revolving-door outfit with collaborators coming and going from other projects; the initial lineup featured several members of Tortoise, who gave way to a collection of Louisville and Chicago scenesters.

McMahan formed the For Carnation in 1994 as the latest in a series of high-profile indie outfits. Beginning his career in Louisville's seminal post-Hüsker Dü punkers Squirrel Bait, he next moved on to the groundbreaking math rock unit Slint; following their breakup, he moved to Chicago and played for a short time as a sideman in Will Oldham's Palace Brothers project, along with former Slint bandmate David Pajo. McMahan and Pajo started jamming on their own, along with ex-Slint/Squirrel Bait drummer Britt Walford, who stayed around only briefly. Pajo had begun playing with post-rock bigwigs Tortoise, and two of that band's members -- Doug McCombs (bass) and John Herndon (drums) -- came on board to fill things out, completing the first version of the For Carnation. This lineup recorded the three-song EP Fight Songs, which was released on Matador in 1995. Pajo subsequently left to concentrate on his other projects, which included Tortoise as well as the solo venture Aerial M and several sideman gigs.

McCombs and Herndon continued to play sporadically with the group, but their full-time commitment to Tortoise made things difficult. McMahan pieced together the next For Carnation record, 1996's relatively brief full-length Marshmallows, from contributions by McCombs and Herndon, and those of a new lineup featuring onetime Rodan drummer John Weiss, guitarists Tim Ruth (also of Slint offshoot) Evergreen) and Michael McMahan (Brian's brother), plus additional contributions by hotshot Chicago producer Brad Wood. The For Carnation subsequently embarked on its first national tour, with a lineup featuring the McMahan brothers and an all-Louisville supporting cast of guitarist Tim Furnish, bassist Todd Cook (both ex-Crain), and drummer Kip McCabe. By this time, the group's brand of post-rock was drawing comparisons to Gastr del Sol, as well as slowcore bands like Codeine and Low.

The For Carnation later split from Matador to sign with Touch & Go, and McMahan returned to Louisville and set about crafting new material with a lineup of Michael McMahan, Todd Cook, and the returning Britt Walford (then also in Evergreen). Meanwhile, Runt reissued the band's first two EPs together under the title Promised Works. Walford returned to his other commitments later in 1997, and was eventually replaced by Steve Goodfriend; guitarists/keyboardists Bobb Bruno and Rafe Mandel later came on board as well. Finally, in 2000, Touch & Go released The For Carnation, the band's most substantive and fully realized record to date. Boasting considerable involvement from Tortoise's John McEntire, the album also featured guest spots from the Breeders' Kim Deal and that dog.'s Rachel Haden.

Tracklist

1		On The Swing	2:06
2		Wear The Gold	5:27
3		Lmyr, Marshmallow	2:09
4		Winter Lair	5:39
5		Salo	6:45
6		Preparing To Receive You	8:51

WORKING HOLIDAY PARTY CD (LIVE!) Various Artists 1994

 

Discogs

 

Indie rock compilation on Simple Machines record label

Tracklist

1	Various–	Introduction
2	Danielle Howle–	Big Puffy Girl Handwriting
3	The Tinklers–	Fun Fun Fun In The Sun Sun Sun
4	David Greenberger–	Not Coe
5	The Coctails–	Whoopsy Daisy
6	Crain (2)–	Broken Heart Of A Neutron Star
7	Pitchblende–	Flax
8	Eggs–	Why Am I So Tired All The Time?
9	Archers Of Loaf–	Might
10	Superchunk–	From The Curve
11	Tsunami (6)–	Newspaper
12	Jonny Cohen–	Rubberman
13	Bricks–	Girl With The Carrot Skin
14	Caterpillar (3)–	Lady Putney
15	Rodan (3)–	Big Things, Little Things
16	Franklin Bruno–	Sleeping Through The Jane Pratt Show
17	Versus–	Hacienda
18	Various–	Thank You

RETSIN Salt Lick EP 1995

 

Discogs

Tracklist 

1	Hybrid Ice Princess	2:40
2	Mary B.	2:15
3	Hitched & Caught	4:11
4	Pulp	3:22
5	Unsavory	3:53
6	Country Style Spoonin'	5:42
7	Valerium	3:56
8	Pink River	3:47

 

RUBY FALLS Heroines 1996

by request

 

 

Discogs 

 

 

Artist Biography by Steve Huey

Ruby Falls was a math rock quartet from New York that was composed mostly (or, later in their history, entirely) of female musicians. In keeping with the punk and riot grrrl spirit, most of their lyrics had a distinct feminist subtext, and they wove elements of punk into their volatile yet complex music as well, not to mention more straightforward rock and pop. Formed in 1992, the band originally consisted of bassist/lead vocalist Cynthia Nelson, guitarist/vocalists Jennifer Rogers and Letha Rodman, and drummer Andrew Bordwin. Over 1992-1994, the band issued three self-released, cassette-only EPs and toured extensively behind them; they also issued several 7" singles on small indie labels like Spartadisc and Villa Villakula and appeared on several compilations. Drummer Bordwin left in 1994 to pursue a career in photography, and was replaced by Rogers' sister Laura. Also that year, Nelson appeared in the cult indie rock film Half Cocked alongside Rodan bassist Tara Jane O'Neil; the two had met on tour late in 1993 and became lovers not long after. Meanwhile, Ruby Falls contributed the track "Dusty" to the soundtrack.
When Rodan broke up in late 1994, Nelson and O'Neil began collaborating in the rootsy indie pop duo Retsin, and Nelson took a hiatus from Ruby Falls to move to Louisville. She returned to New York in 1996 to rejoin Ruby Falls, who'd kept playing together in the meantime. The group first issued the EP What She Does on the Personal Favorite label, then followed it not long after with their full-length debut, Heroines, on Silver Girl. Nelson subsequently took another break to focus on both Retsin and the alt-country project the Naysayer, in which she played drums. Ruby Falls reconvened in 2000 for their second album, For the New Crop, which was released by Heartcore Records; following its release, they officially disbanded. The Rogers Sisters reteamed under exactly that name, and released an album in 2002.

Tracklist  

1	Heroines
2	Extracts
3	The Guest
4	Pretty Feet
5	Pennies
6	Drawn To
7	I Knew You When
8	Amended
9	Thirst
10	20 Mile Bridge
11	Out Of Town

 

 

 

INCLINED PLANE Various Artists 7 inch 1993

7 inch compilation on the Simple Machines label

Discogs

Tracklist 

A1	–Tsunami (6)	Beauty Pt. II
A2	–Superchunk	Baxter
B1	–Rodan (3)	Darjeeling
B2	–Unrest (2)	Winona Ryder

THE MACHINES 1990 - 1993 Various Artists 1993

compilation on the Simple Machines record label

 

Discogs

Tracklist

1	–Hated*	I Am A Rock	2:33
2	–Lungfish	Nothing Is Easy	4:59
3	–Edsel	Feeder	3:01
4	–Geek (2)	Herasure	4:10
5	–Juliana*	So Fuckin' Perfec'	2:37
6	–Holy Rollers	Swallowing My Swallow	3:22
7	–Juliana*	The Chase	1:29
8	–Holy Rollers	Moment Before Impact	3:57
9	–Bricks	Spy Kitty	4:28
10	–My New Boyfriend	Thurston Dance	2:53
11	–Nation Of Ulysses*	Diptheria	3:57
12	–Mommyheads*	At The Mall	2:44
13	–Candy Machine	My Old Man	4:06
14	–Jawbox	Footbinder	1:52
15	–Geek (2)	Hemingway Shotgun	3:51
16	–Velocity Girl	What You Say	3:41
17	–Severin	Me & You	3:59
18	–Scrawl	Reuters	2:09
19	–Autoclave (2)	Summer	2:13
20	–Circus Lupus	Pacifier	3:48
21	–Tsunami (6)	Beauty Pt. II	2:56
22	–Superchunk	Baxter	3:51
23	–Rodan (3)	Darjeeling	4:04
24	–Unrest (2)	Winona Ryder	2:23

RETSIN Egg Fusion 1996

Discogs

Artist Biography by Bryan Carroll

Tara Jane O'Neil met Cynthia Nelson in 1993, when their respective bands (Rodan, Ruby Falls) were embarking on their first sets of extended national tours. Sharing a love of simple home recording techniques and melodic indie rock, the two became romantically and musically involved in 1994, collaborating as Retsin while retaining membership in their other bands, as well as participating in a number of varied projects and acting in the independent feature film Half-Cocked. The following year, the duo signed to the staunchly independent Simple Machines label, on which they released their debut full-length, Egg Fusion. Constantly involving themselves in innumerable bands recordings, O'Neil began working with her chamber folk outfit the Sonora Pine, while Nelson set about recording the first Ruby Falls LP. For the next two years, Retsin toured extensively, both with and without a rhythm section, as they increased their aptitude for playing acoustic-based music in a live setting. On one of those tours, opening for New York City's Ida led to a folky collaboration that was recorded in one day, called Ida Retsin Family. After Simple Machines folded in 1998, Retsin found kindred spirits in the proprietors of the Chicago-based Carrot Top label. Over the band's following two records, 1998's Sweet Luck of Amaryllis and 2001's Cabin in the Woods, Retsin blossomed into a capable neo-folk outfit, all but abandoning the electric guitar and standard instrumentation of indie rock for banjo, accordion, and violin. 

 

Tracklist  

1	Fly South
2	Hottie Titmouse
3	Loon
4	Foul
5	Kangaroo
6	BB
7	Tamale
8	Duck Out
9	The Pitter Patter
10	Barefoot & Stoned
11	Red Wing
12	A Duplex For Sidewinders
13	Guilford
14	Bodega

 

HALF COCKED Soundtrack 1995

by request

 

 

Discogs 

 

 

 

 

Tracklist 

1	–Unknown Artist	Snoopy	0:43
2	–Unwound	Dragnalus	3:30
3	–Slant 6	Time Expired	2:26
4	–Truckstop	No Space	0:27
5	–Rodan (3)	Tron	2:28
6	–Sleepyhead	CB	2:43
7	–Ruby Falls	Dusty	4:07
8	–Freakwater	Drunk Friend	3:15
9	–Salmon Skin	Untitled	1:17
10	–Versus	B-9	4:30
11	–Polvo	Can I Ride	4:03
12	–Retsin	Untitled	0:33
13	–Big Heifer	Flowers In Our Hair	3:17
14	–Boondoggle	Invertabrate	4:39
15	–Truckstop	All-Nighter	0:43
16	–Crain (2)	Hey Cops	3:49
17	–Helium (3)	Magic Box	4:54
18	–Dungbeetle	The Man Went Out	2:44
19	–Truckstop	Truckstop Theme	3:00
20	–Grifters, The*	The Want	6:33

THE FOR CARNATION Promised Works 1997

Discogs

The For Carnation are a post-rock band led by Brian McMahan, the group's only constant member. The roots of the band began when McMahan reunited with his ex-Slint bandmates David Pajo and Britt Walford in an attempt to resurrect their old group. The reunion didn't work out, but McMahan and Pajo eventually recruited some other musicians and The For Carnation was born. The band released an EP, 1995's "Fight Songs", and an LP, 1996" Marshamallows", on Matador Records. Both records were combined into one release, "Promised Works", in 1997 by Italy's Runt imprint. McMahan and company then jumped to Touch And Go for their second LP, a self-titled affair released in 2000.

Tracklist

1	Grace Beneath The Pines	7:44
2	How I Beat The Devil	1:36
3	Get And Stay Get March	5:58
4	On The Swing	2:06
5	I Wear The Gold	5:28
6	Lmyr, Marshmallow	2:09
7	Winter Lair	5:39
8	Salo	6:45
9	Preparing To Receive You	8:51