This morning the heavens parted...
Shudder To Think announced today that they have officially reunited and are hitting the road, playing The Fillmore in San Francisco on November 2nd. I haven't been this excited in a long, long time. Anyone care to join me?
Shudder To Think occupy a space in my Top 10 All-Time Favorite Bands list. They formed in Washington, D.C. in the late 80's and released their first few albums on pioneering punk label Dischord, before glamming things up a notch or five, jumping ship to major label Epic Records and relocating to NYC in the early 90's. Things fell apart for STT at the close of the 20th century, with its members scattered to the wind amongst their own various musical projects in the years since.
One of the most truly unique and gifted group of musicians ever, they released the incredible "Pony Express Record" in 1994, an album that, upon first listen, frustrated and confounded me beyond belief, probably moreso than any other album I've ever heard. I stuck with it, however, and then, one day, I suddenly just got it.
I honestly can't remember what it was exactly that did it for me, except to say that suddenly everything made sense and I distinctly remember thinking to myself, "Oh my God..." It truly is one of the most amazing albums ever, and even after 14 years of enjoyment, it has never lost any of its appeal for me.
Like watching a Kubrick film for the 1000th time, I come away with something new each time I listen to it. And yet, describing their music is almost impossible, as it only serves to do them a gross injustice. Progressive punk? Math-glam? It's in moments like this that words fail me completely.
If you know and love this band as much as I do, then this is all academic, but if you know nothing about them, I would highly recommend that you seek out "Pony Express Record" immediately. Listen to it and let it grow on you, and then, once you've fallen under their spell like I did, go to the show with me.
3 comments:
Hopefully they will be announcing Seattle dates, or we might be trekking back down. Not that that would be a BAD thing, but its getting to the point that we may as well just move to CA.
Well if they don't play Seattle, you guys have a place to stay in SF as always if you come down for the show.
Somewhere at my parents' house I have a Shudder To Think flyer from some show they played in '87-88 or so. Oh, and your retarded. And things.
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