Thomas Deater - Linkage (1992)

"Well" by Thomas Deater

In the late nineties, Bill Groot and Brent Gutzeit founded BOXmedia and focused on releasing albums from Chicago's experimental and improv music scenes. Gutzeit had been a presence in the scene for a few years but started performing in Kalamazoo as a student at Western Michigan, playing with his college friend Thomas Deater. Thomas Deater self-released his debut album Linkage in 1992 on his own Gentle Giant Records.

The first three songs each uniquely set the tone for the cassette. The first "Violins" is Deater on guitar that's then run through tape manipulation (speed changes, reversing) to evoke the sonic feel of the title instrument. The second,"Ugly Bell Suite," is a live performance with Blaine Townsend also on guitar and Gutzeit on instruments of his own making (credited as "woodstrings" and "metalstrings" by Deater.) The song's title also evokes another instrument to the same effect, achieved this time through Gutzeit's arhythmic percussion and controlled noise. The third song, "Linkage," is a post-rock improvisation with another guitarist Kirk Decker. All three songs produce a common ambient sound despite the differences in means, and all three means of production end up being layered to different effects on the rest of the album in addition to finding a greater structure through more rhythmic foundations.

The album is available for purchase here. Special thanks to Brent Gutzeit for his generosity in sharing these albums and answering my questions.

Here is the discography surrounding Thomas Deater's debut album:

Linkage

Linkage (2018 album re-release by JMY)

"Linkage" by Thomas Deater

"Ugly Bell Suite" by Thomas Deater

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Jazz Express - The Songs of Diana Ross (1992)

So, Jay Leno returned to The Tonight Show, as did Kevin Eubanks but only for a couple of months. After the drama surrounding the Tonight Show shuffle and a desire to spend more time with family, Kevin stepped down as Jay's bandleader. Industry veteran Rickey Minor and his TV Band (hired away from their gig as the American Idol band) took the stage in May 2010. Minor brought with him his television professionalism and complemented Jay by playing energetic pop songs and classics that would reinvigorate the audience during breaks in the recording. He started his career as a bassist, playing in groups and in sessions, and notably joined Whitney Houston's band before becoming her musical director. That job title would become his career as he worked with artists across the pop landscape and on shows like American Idol and The Oscars. In the middle of working for Whitney, he recorded with Jazz Express on their debut album The Songs of Diana Ross released in 1992 by the Japanese label Sound Design Records.

There's not much information out there about Jazz Express—probably because there's not much history. They were a studio band that recorded a series of smooth jazz albums with each album focusing on covering hits by a particular artist. They released five albums in 1992 alone and the "first" release I chose—I couldn't find exact release dates—is only based on the earliest catalogue number (SDCH-1016.) Rather than a band with a vision, Jazz Express looks like and sounds like and jazzes like a session job.

The first three songs are dominated by the soothing sax sounds of Michael Paulo. His saxophone's velvet texture is pillowed with organ chords, shimmering cymbals and a touch of chimes in the opening seconds of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" and creates that cozy sound perfect for when you're contemplating the wonderful end to a romantic date (in the 80s,) enjoying a bubblebath surrounded by scented candles (in a cheeky Old Spice commercial,) or on hold waiting for your doggy daycare's customer service representative (still.) But then the album of Diana Ross covers drops a couple players favoring a smaller combo. Michael Paulo isn't on the rest of the album and neither is guitarist Buzzy Feiten. The main players left are Rickey Minor, drummer Ricky Lawson and pianist Neil Larsen. Neil Larsen punches up the remaining songs by speeding up the tempo, introducing tension, and allowing the two Rick(e)y's larger roles including a nifty drum solo on "Stop! In the Name of Love" and more melodic and prominent lines from Minor. These tracks veer away from the programmed smooth jazz, though still smooth and perfect for background at a convenience store, to a style with a little more forward motion...though not quite enough to be invigorating.

Here is the discography surrounding Jazz Express's debut album:

The Songs of Diana Ross

The Tonight Show Theme

Kevin Eubanks Discusses His Decision to Leave The Tonight Show

Rickey Minor Leaves American Idol

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The Verve Pipe - I've Suffered a Brain Injury (1992)

"Even the Score" by The Verve Pipe


Marzuki were local favorites in Holland, Michigan (and the Hope College, Calvin College, Grand Valley State University area) that also heralded another, more successful nineties band.  Building off the framework of a cleaner mix of alternative rock with a grunge aesthetic, The Verve Pipe was headed by retired Army man Brian Vander Ark (lead songwriter, guitar, vocals) with his brother Brad (bass, vocals), other Brian Stout (lead guitar, vocals), and Donny Brown (percussion, vocals).  They toured the university circuit in Michigan in 1992 on a grassroots campaign for their independently released debut album I've Suffered a Head Injury.  The album, and particularly the acoustic cut of The Freshmen, was enough to garner the attention record labels and a potential wider audience for their music.  After getting the big record deal with RCA, their debut would be re-released as an EP (minus a couple tracks) to cash in on the success of their subsequent recordings.

Here is the discography surrounding The Verve Pipe's debut album:

I've Suffered a Brain Injury
I've Suffered a Brain Injury (1992 EP)

"The Freshmen" by The Verve Pipe


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Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (1992)

"If I Had $1,000,000" by Barenaked Ladies


Steven Page and Ed Robertson were schoolmates but only acquaintances until both discovered the other loved Peter Gabriel.  They worked as counselors, went to concerts, and played music together.  Eventually, they performed together but would do so without without rehearsing.   After it became a habit, this led to a unique live style founded on their comedic banter, fresh set lists, and improvised raps and cover songs.  They eventually invited friends and brothers Andy (percussion, keyboards) and Jim Creegan (bass) to join the band.  Drummer Tyler Stewart would join as a second percussionist while Andy studied abroad and stayed on after Andy returned.

The band recorded several demos together and then a professionally (and expensively) put together demo, The Yellow Tape, intended for recording labels.  Turned down by all, the band resorted to selling the tape at their live shows.  Yellow was so popular that it sold over 100,000 copies; good enough for platinum status on the Canadian charts.  They released their debut album Gordon with Reprise Records in 1992 to big success in Canada, partially because it contained a number of the band's most popular songs known from their live sets.  Their songs were highlighted by beautiful harmonies, witty lyrics, and an outstanding number music references.  One of these namedrop songs is "Be My Yoko Ono" which turned out to be Canada's first independently released, chart-topping single (that would soon be followed by Moxy Früvous's "King of Spain").

Here is the discography surrounding Barenaked Ladies's debut album:

Buck Naked (1989 demo)
Barenaked Lunch (1990 demo)
Barenaked Recess (1990 demo)
The Yellow Tape (1991 demo)
Variety Recordings: Barenaked Ladies (1991 radio promo)
Be My Yoko Ono (1992 single)
Lovers in a Dangerous Time (1992 compilation song)
Gordon
Enid (1992 single)
Grade 9 (1992 single)
If I Had $1,000,000 (1992 single)
Brian Wilson (1993 single)
What a Good Boy (1993 single)

"Be My Yoko Ono" by Barenaked Ladies


"Brian Wilson" and Interview with Conan O'Brien by Barenaked Ladies


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hHead - Fireman (1992)

"Collide" by hHead


Where Harris Newman mastered The Dears's first studio recording, Noah Mintz mastered their second (an EP).  While The Dears were an exemplary band of the second wave of Canadian indie music, Mintz himself got his start on the first major wave with his band hHead.  He sang lead and played guitar and co-founded the group with bassist Brendan Canning.  They'd be supported by a rotating series of drummers.  hHead played alternative rock (a kind of metal/grunge pop) that was extremely popular on college radio and was successful enough as a group to "earn a modest living for four years" while touring for most of it.  They formed in 1991 and quickly released an EP and their debut, self-released Fireman the next.  Catching a loyal local fan base, hHead signed with I.R.S. Records to re-release the album two years later with bonus tracks for more than a limited run.

Here is the discography surrounding hHead's debut album:

Potato (1991 EP)
Fireman
Fireman (1994 re-release)

"Flower" by hHead


"Fireman" by hHead


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Sophie B. Hawkins - Tongues and Tails (1992)

"We Are One Body" by Sophie B. Hawkins


Sophie B. Hawkins's musical education started at a young age in her study of African percussion.  She'd branch out to jazz percussion and her own songwriting while attending the Manhattan School of Music.  Still, she made her rounds as a drummer before her first big break when her demo got her a touring job with Bryan Ferry.  She'd move on to writing jingles for commercials before she caught the attention of Columbia Records.  Her first album Tongues and Tails came out in 1992 and became a surprising worldwide hit thanks to the effort of her hit single (#5 on the charts) "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover".  Critics dubbed her the spiritual heir of the likes of Patti Smith and heralded her emotionally naked lyrics and inventive pop compositions.  Her amazing rise to stardom would culminate with her Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

(She worked with Gary Lucas who was an early collaborator of Jeff Buckley's.)

Here is the discography surrounding Sophie B. Hawkins's debut album:

Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover (1992 single)
Tongues and Tails
California Here I Come (1992 single)
I Want You (1992 single)

"Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" by Sophie B. Hawkins


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Catherine Wheel - Ferment (1992)

"Black Metallic" by Catherine Wheel


Cathrine Wheel is a shoegaze/alternative rock band from England formed in 1990.  Alongside their debut album Ferment which saw a well-received release in 1992, they release a half-dozen or so EPs and singles.  One of these was a limited edition EP (for the holidays) that featured one original song and three covers.  The third track on the EP was a cover of Mission of Burma's classic "That's When I Reach for My Revolver".

Here is the discography surrounding Catherine Wheel's debut album:

She's My Friend (1991 EP)
Peel Session (1991 Peel Sessions)
Painful Thing (1991 EP)
Black Metallic (1991 single)
Balloon (1992 single)
I Want to Touch You (1991 single)
Ferment
Shallow (1992 live EP)
30 Century Man (1992 limited EP)

"Texture" by Catherine Wheel


"Shallow" by Catherine Wheel


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