Cymbals Eat Guitars were an indie rock band from Staten Island, New York,[2] founded by high school friends Joseph D'Agostino and Matthew Miller. The band's name comes from a Lou Reed quote describing the sound of The Velvet Underground.[3]
Cymbals Eat Guitars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | CEG |
| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | Indie rock, punk rock,[1] shoegazing, emo |
| Years active | 2007–2017 |
| Labels | Barsuk Records, Sinderlyn |
| Members | Joseph D'Agostino Anne Dole Matt Whipple Brian Hamilton |
| Past members | Neil Berenholz Daniel Baer Matthew Cohen Jon Levine Matthew Miller |
| Website | Band website |
History
editCymbals Eat Guitars was founded in 2007 by guitarist Joseph D’Agostino and drummer Matthew Miller, who both graduated from Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin in 2006.[4] Neil Berenholz, guitarist Matt Cohen, and keyboardist Daniel Baer joined the band after responding to an ad D'Agostino posted on Craigslist.[4][5] 90's alternative bands such as Pavement heavily influenced the band's sound.[1] An early version of the song "Share" was released on the Indiecater Vol. 1 compilation in June 2008.[6]
The band first gained buzz in 2009 when their self-released debut album Why There Are Mountains was included in Pitchfork Media's "Best New Music", earning 8.3/10 in the website's review.[7] Later that year, Cymbals Eat Guitars went on tour with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and opened a couple of shows for The Flaming Lips.[1] In addition, the band played at the 2009 College Music Journal festival and the Pitchfork Music Festival.[8][9] In late 2009, the band was chosen as of one Beyond Race Magazine's "50 Emerging Artists," resulting in a spot in the publication's No. 11 issue (with Bodega Girls and J. Cole on the cover), as well as an exclusive Q&A for the magazine's site.[10]
2009 also saw a change in Cymbals Eat Guitar's lineup. Dan Baer, the band's original keyboardist, left the band due to an illness, while the band's original bassist, Neil Berenholz, left due to his dislike of touring.[1][11] Baer and Berenholz were replaced by Brian Hamilton and Matthew Whipple respectively.[5][11]
In March 2011, Cymbals Eat Guitars signed with Barsuk Records to produce a follow-up to Why There Are Mountains.[12] The band released their second album Lenses Alien on August 30, 2011.[13] In May 2014, the band announced that their third studio album LOSE will be released on August 26, 2014.[14]
The band opened for Brand New in 2014, and D'Agostino credited the Brand New tour for exposing them to a larger fanbase that would not have occurred on their own.[15][16]
In October 2015, the band released the song "Aerobed", produced by Brand New lead singer Jesse Lacey, in Kevin Devine’s Devinyl Split series.[17] SPIN gave the song a favorable review, noting its juxtaposition of a quiet acoustic melody and vigorous guitar lines.[18]
The band released their fourth studio album Pretty Years on September 16, 2016.
The band quietly disbanded in late 2017. [19] D'Agostino would form a solo project called Empty Country following the band's breakup.[20]
Band members
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Timeline
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Discography
edit- Albums
- Why There Are Mountains (2009)
- Lenses Alien (2011)
- LOSE (2014)
- Pretty Years (2016)
- Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "...And the Hazy Sea/Tunguska"[22] | PureGroove.co.uk exclusive w/slap bracelet |
| 2012 | "Hawk Highway" | Masters From Their Day |
| 2014 | "Jackson" | LOSE |
| 2014 | "Warning" | LOSE |
| 2014 | "Chambers" | LOSE |
| 2016 | "Wish" | Pretty Years |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Lello, Michael. Crash and Jangle: An Interview with Joseph D'Agostino of Cymbals Eat Guitars. Popmatters. 7 January 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ CD Reviews | Cymbals Eat Guitars. Jerseybeat.com. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ Lawrenson, James. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountain Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Drowned in Sound. October 28, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ a b RockFeedback – Artist – Cymbals Eat Guitars. Rockfeedback. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ a b May, E.N. Interview: Joseph Ferocious (of Cymbals Eat Guitars). Consequence of Sound. September 8, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ "Indiecater Volume One". Indiecator Records. June 27, 2008.
- ^ Cohen, Ian (March 16, 2009). "Cymbals Eat Guitars: Why There Are Mountains". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen. CMJ: Friday Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bear in Heaven Archived August 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. October 24, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ Pitchfork Staff. 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival Two-Day Passes Sold Out!. Pitchfork Media. June 12, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ Stevens, Naqeeb. Cymbals Eat Guitars[permanent dead link]. Beyond Race Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ a b Breihan, Tom. Cymbals Eat Guitars Get New Bassist. Pitchfork Media. October 27, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ^ Studarus, Laura. Cymbals Eat Guitars Sign to Barsuk New Album This Fall. Under the Radar. March 7, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ^ Cymbals Eat Guitars: lenses alien. Barsuk Records. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
- ^ "Cymbals Eat Guitars Announce New Album LOSE, Share "Jackson"". Pitchfork. May 13, 2014.
- ^ "Cloakroom 'Time Well' Stream & Interview". Stereogum. August 17, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "Interviews: A Q&A with Cymbals Eat Guitars". tastemakers. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "Cymbals Eat Guitars – "Aerobed"". Stereogum. October 29, 2015.
- ^ "Cymbals Eat Guitars' New Single Is as Quietly Comforting as an 'Aerobed'". Spin. October 29, 2015.
- ^ Schonfeld, Zach (October 29, 2019). "The End of Cymbals Eat Guitars, The Beginning of Empty Country, and Everything That Happened In Between". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ "The End of Cymbals Eat Guitars, the Beginning of Empty Country, and Everything That Happened in Between". Billboard.
- ^ Cymbals Eat Guitars. Myspace. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ Cymbals Eat Guitars ...and the hazy sea / Tunguska (Plus Free Bracelet) – Pure Groove Exclusive. PureGroove.co.uk. Retrieved August 5, 2011.