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+--- Thread: California Wives - Art History (/showthread.php?tid=7479)
California Wives - Art History - Music Head - 04-09-2012
online listen
thought it was some girl group
jangly guitar alt
Connells came to mind
soft vocals
liked a couple
another close call
1.5 from me and a converted 2.2 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Blood Red Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C_r5unyXnY
released Sept 4th, 2012
![[Image: 41jvx%2BKVgsL._SL500_AA280_.jpg]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41jvx%2BKVgsL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
Bio - from allmusic
Chicago quartet California Wives were formed in 2009 by multi-instrumentalists Dan Zima and Hans Michel along with
drummer Joe O'Connor. These three musicians were quickly rounded out by Jayson Kramer, another multi-
instrumentalist, with a focus on guitar and keyboards. The band developed a sound based on a strong '80s new wave
and pop influence, blending the dancey bounce of Prince, the Police, and Culture Club with more electronic synth pop
nods toward New Order or Human League. Early in its existence, the band set about recording its debut EP, No. 8,
settling on the solid instrumentation of Kramer on lead vocals, keyboard, and guitar; Zima on bass; O'Connor on
drums; and Michel on lead guitar. The group played often and regularly released new tracks online. A second EP,
Affair, followed, and in 2012 Michel was replaced by Graham Masell on lead guitar. Later that year, California Wives
signed a deal with Vagrant Records and began working with producer Claudius Mittendorfer on their debut album, Art
History.
Album Review - from allmusic
Not that they're actually from said state, of course, but California Wives are very much the descendants of a
certain kind of Chicago band, namely the new wave/post-punk/shoegaze worshipers that summed up everything that
wasn't metal and classic rock about the Smashing Pumpkins, in this case to their huge credit; Art History is the
kind of derivative debut album that's a treat worth enjoying rather than a tedious collection of spot-the-
influences. If anything, the quartet at points calls to mind the pioneering Midwesterners For Against when it comes
to going big and bold, with "Los Angeles" -- not an X cover -- being a prime example, and "Tokyo" and the slow and
stately "The New Process" not far behind. Like For Against, California Wives also find beauty in a particular kind
of restraint that derives from mid-'80s New Order if anything, making songs like "Blood Red Youth" and the chiming
skip of "Purple" also worth treasuring. If still very much finding their feet, California Wives nonetheless have a
very good thing going that could really set them apart with whatever they go for next.
Track Listing
1. Blood Red Youth
2. Tokyo
3. Marianne
4. The Fisher King
5. Los Angeles
6. Photolights
7. Purple
8. Better Home
9. Twenty Three
10. The New Process
11. Light Year
California Wives - Art History - CRAZY-HORSE - 04-09-2012
'not available...', same crap,diff'rent day!
California Wives - Art History - Music Head - 04-09-2012
CRAZY-HORSE Wrote:'not available...', same crap,diff'rent day!that's not even a Vevo clip
I thought it was just vevo clips
sorry man
California Wives - Art History - CRAZY-HORSE - 05-09-2012
yeh, thats the first non-vevo i havent been able to watch...so not sure what the heck happened there???