|
 Firmly believing that the old school recording approaches rock bands
took in the early 70s kicks it over the “overly digitized pitch
corrected emo stuff that passes for rock recording today,” Cusimano
recorded everything live to analog on a classic Neve 8068 board.
The back cover photo of Scratch The Surface, the DIY debut CD by New York based alt rockers The Cringe, shows figurine astronauts watching the fiery launch of a rocket. The image is a perfect metaphor for the band’s raw and aggressive mix of power pop and punk-influenced garage band rock, an increasingly frenetic schedule of high powered club and festival dates and its success at radio formats across the board.
The band features songs from critically acclaimed 2007 follow-up sophomore CD Tipping Point including “And Then I’m Gone,” the second single from the album, which has earned significant airplay at Active Rock, CHR and AAA formats, and is currently at #36 on Radio & Records’ Indicator Chart—a remarkable breakthrough for an indie band these days.
Driven by the powerful lead vocals and incisive, edgy, yet accessible songwriting of band founder John Cusimano, The Cringe—whose members include lead guitarist Roto, bassist Matt Powers and longtime Saturday Night Live band drummer Shawn Pelton—don’t need fluffy hype when the critics say it best.
The All Music Guide review of Tipping Point says: “Cusimano’s infectious and insightful songwriting is the foundation for the band’s dynamic mix of artful, harmonic power pop and raw aggressive punk garage band energy. While (the disc) has the perfect mix of blistering energy and thoughtful contemplation for these troubled times –a dichotomy perfectly captured on key tracks like the brooding anti-war anthem “Freedom Ban” and the wild, spirited punk party jam “Undone” –The Cringe was also committed to the old-school truth of analog recording here.”
Firmly believing that the old school recording approaches rock bands took in the early 70s kicks it over the “overly digitized pitch corrected emo stuff that passes for rock recording today,” Cusimano recorded everything live to analog on a classic Neve 8068 board. Tipping Point also features vintage instrumentation, including a Hammond B-3 organ, a Wurlitzer electric piano and vintage guitars played by Roto on some tracks and former Cringe guitarist Rob Levin on others.
In a nod to classic rock, Cusimano also added live strings to “And Then I’m Gone” and a haunting cello on “Chosen One.” On “Coming Home,” The Cringe even adds the one component that is indispensable on any rock record – a cowbell!
“Our goal when making Tipping Point,” says Cusimano, “was that the album sound like a live band playing right in front of you. Ideally, we want the listener to be able to hear not only the individual members in the band doing their thing, but also the space between the instruments and the size of the room we recorded in, rather than a loud wash of digitized, compressed and dead sounds. Warts and all, this is what we sound like when you hear us live.”
When discussing the content of the album Cusimano adds, “half the songs on Tipping Point are politically driven, expressing general anger with what’s going on in the world, while some are more insular and emotional.
“As a songwriter, I’m usually striving to craft a perfect 3 or 4 minute pop song and wrap it in the edgy hard rock punkish package that defines The Cringe’s sound,” he adds. “The real test comes on the road, when people we’ve never met are out there singing the words to the songs we’re playing. Those are really the ultimate moments, when we are connecting with the crowd on all levels.”
#####
CONTACT: ROGERS & COWAN
LORI LOUSARARIAN @ 310/854-8104
|
