So Long, Scarecrow is the second and final studio album by the rock band Scarling. Written and recorded in early 2005, and released on October 25, 2005.[2] It is Scarling.'s only album to feature drummer Beth Gordon. Its title is a reference to The Wizard of Oz: in lead vocalist Jessicka's view, the film's Scarecrow is a metaphor for the band itself; the character's initial lack of and search for a brain, she explains, parallels Scarling.'s search for new territory in a predictable and monotonous musical environment.
| So Long, Scarecrow | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | Early 2005 | |||
| Studio | Figment Sounds, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 52:32 | |||
| Label | Sympathy for the Record Industry SFTRI 758 CD | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Scarling. chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Sympathy For The Record Industry vinyl edition cover by Mark Ryden | ||||
| Singles from So Long, Scarecrow | ||||
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The album was preceded by the single "We Are the Music Makers," a split 7-inch with The Willowz, and has been reissued on vinyl by Sympathy for the Record Industry with alternative cover artwork by Mark Ryden.
Production and composition
editNearly twice as long as the band's debut, Sweet Heart Dealer, So Long, Scarecrow differs from its predecessor not only in length but also in terms of musical atmosphere. This is largely due to the switch in producers between the two albums — from former Nine Inch Nails member Chris Vrenna, whose abrasive, industrial-style production appeared on Sweet Heart Dealer; to Rob Campanella, of the psychedelic rock group The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Scarling. guitarist Christian Hejnal, himself influenced by noise rock and No Wave. The album was recorded at Campanella's studio, the Committee to Keep Music Evil Headquarters/Figment Sounds.
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [3] |
| Alternative Press | [4] |
| Filter Magazine | 85%[5] |
| Bust (magazine) | Favourable[6] |
| Spin | Favourable[6] |
| ROCKRGRL | Favourable[6] |
| ScenePointBlank.com | Favourable[7] |
| Venus Magazine | Favourable[8] |
So Long, Scarecrow received several favourable reviews: Alternative Press gave the album a 5 out of 5 rating [9] and described Hejnal as a "guitar physicist who holds court over these atmospheric rockers’ second album, approximating everything from space-station climates to sperm whales rollin’ on E, all while delivering solid songs."[10] The Independent noted “Scarling. work up a wonderfully hazy guitar swirl, reminiscent of post-My Bloody Valentine noise-pop from the Britain of the early nineties.”[11] and Bust described the album as "the musical equivalent of an Edward Gorey illustration: ominous and shadowy, but not without a certain sense of morbid joy. Sly lyrics and sarcastic insights pepper Scarecrow’s dystopian soundscape, proving that Scarling has picked up more than just wardrobe inspiration from vets like the Cure." While Jon Wiederhorn said, "guitarist Christian Hejnal, Scarling provide the much-needed element of violence and sexuality other modern shoegazers lack."[12]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Jessicka and Christian Hejnal
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hello London" | 5:50 |
| 2. | "City Noise" | 3:17 |
| 3. | "Broken Record" | 4:38 |
| 4. | "(Northbound On) Cahuenga" | 6:08 |
| 5. | "Teenage Party Letdown" | 0:35 |
| 6. | "Bummer" | 3:56 |
| 7. | "Manorexic" | 4:24 |
| 8. | "In the Pretend World" | 4:14 |
| 9. | "Stapled to the Mattress" | 5:41 |
| 10. | "Like a Killer" | 2:55 |
| 11. | "Caribou and Cake" | 3:25 |
| 12. | "We Are the Music Makers" | 3:27 |
| 13. | "So Long, Scarecrow" | 4:02 |
| Total length: | 52:32 | |
Personnel
edit- Jessicka — vocals
- Christian Hejnal — guitar, bass, producer, mixing
- Rickey Lime — guitar
- Beth Gordon — drums
- Rob Campanella — producer, engineer
- Erik Colvin — producer, vocal tracking
- Richard Mouser — mixing
- John Vestman — mastering, mixing
- Piper Ferguson — photography, cover art
- Mark Ryden — alternate LP cover art
References
edit- ^ Brown, Marissa. Allmusic Review Staring to the Sun, Scarling.
- ^ Vernon, Rebecca (2005-02-02). "(Don't) Abandage Hope: Scarling. Lick Their Wounds and Overcome". SLUG Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ Scarling - So Long, Scarecrow Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-11-21
- ^ Heisel, Scott (2006-01-31). "Less screamy, more dreamy". Altpress.com. Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 2006-02-24. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ Tucker, Carrie. "Scarling So Long, Scarecrow". Filter. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ a b c "Scarling. Current Press". scarling.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16.
- ^ Kristin (2005-11-25). "Review Scarling So Long, Scarecrow". ScenePointBlank.com.
- ^ Morrissey, Callye (December 1, 2005). "Scarling". Venus Magazine.
- ^ Pettigrew, Jason."Less screamy, more dreamy." Alternative Press Magazine Jan. 31, 2006
- ^ Pettigrew, Jason (September 2005). "Scarling. Current Press". Alternative Press Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31.
- ^ Price, Simon. The Independent on Sunday (London, England) September 4, 2005
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon.Modern Shoegazers and Pedal Pushers The emusic Dozen