Encendedor
| Encendedor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | East West | |||
| Producer | Eric Masunaga, the Dambuilders | |||
| The Dambuilders chronology | ||||
| ||||
Encendedor is an album by the American band the Dambuilders, released in 1994.[1][2] Its title comes from the Spanish word for cigarette lighter.[3] The band supported the album with a North American tour and an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[4][5] "Smell" was released as a single, with the narrative of the accompanying music video based on the Chappaquiddick incident.[6] Another single, "Shrine", was a modest Modern Rock chart success.[7] The album was nominated for a Boston Music Award for "Debut Album of the Year".[8]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by the Dambuilders' guitarist, Eric Masunaga, with assistance from the rest of the band.[9] All four members contributed to the songwriting, although most of the tracks are rerecorded versions of older songs.[10][11] Joan Wasser's violin served as the rhythm guitar on some tracks; on others it was processed or run through effects.[12] Some songs touch on the band's roots in Hawaii: "Slo-Mo Kikaida" refers to the 1970s adaptation of Kikaider; "Kill Haole Day" is about the practice of hazing Caucasian students at the end of the Hawaiian school year.[13] "Shrine" is about a man who pines for a woman who loves L7.[14] "Idaho" and "Delaware" were among the 20 songs the band had written about states in the USA.[15]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Robert Christgau |  [16] |
The Washington Post noted that the Dambuilders "don't have a groove to hold their fragmentary compositions together; the album provides gusts of appealing songcraft, but is frequently becalmed between them."[17] The Record said that on half the album "the jagged-edge arrangements and surprising violin flourishes come off as unsuccessful attempts to divert attention from David Derby's dry vocals and the Dambuilders' lacklustre songwriting."[18] Rolling Stone stated that "the quartet creates a clash of melodic bass, edgy violin, dashing guitar and shifting drums that suggests a more rustic version of the Pixies."[13]
The Wisconsin State Journal called the album "a pulsating, often dazzling concoction, its songs both urgent and accessible."[19] Robert Christgau praised "Idaho" and "Copsucker".[16] Spin said that "Wasser's wailing, symphonic swaths are all over... She's painterly and prickly".[20] The Daily Press included Encendedor on its list of the best albums of 1994, calling the Dambuilders "the new rock band of the year."[21] The Boston Herald considered Encendedor to be the second best "local" rock album of the year.[22]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Copsucker" | |
| 2. | "Smell" | |
| 3. | "Kill Haole Day" | |
| 4. | "Slo-Mo Kikaida" | |
| 5. | "Idaho" | |
| 6. | "Colin's Heroes" | |
| 7. | "Collective" | |
| 8. | "Shrine" | |
| 9. | "Delaware" | |
| 10. | "Fur" |
References
[edit]- ^ Earles, Andrew (2014). Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996. Voyageur Press. p. 75.
- ^ Ferguson, Jon (April 8, 1994). "Another band that has the backing of a major label...". Intelligencer Journal. p. Z8.
- ^ Shuster, Fred (October 28, 1994). "Weekend's Best". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L3.
- ^ Stahl, Sandy (July 30, 1994). "Grifters Leave Negative Impression at Lupo's". The Morning Call. p. A34.
- ^ Chun, Gary C. W. (August 24, 2007). "Isle-born singer-songwriter Dave Derby finds success on dual fronts". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
- ^ McLennan, Scott (November 3, 1994). "And from the politics-makes-strange-bedfellows file...". Telegram & Gazette. p. C5.
- ^ Brinn, David (November 22, 2011). "Under the radar". Arts. The Jerusalem Post. p. 24.
- ^ Morse, Steve (September 8, 1995). "Younger bands grab top award nominations". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 105.
- ^ "Album reviews". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 27. July 2, 1994. p. 85.
- ^ Sculley, Alan (November 10, 1994). "Dambuilders: Set to Flood Market". Calendar. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7.
- ^ Schulps, Dave. "Dambuilders". Trouser Press. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ McLennan, Scott (September 7, 1995). "Dambuilders Make Case for Rock Violin". Telegram & Gazette. p. C4.
- ^ a b Robicheau, Paul (October 20, 1994). "New faces: Dambuilders". Rolling Stone. No. 693. p. 49.
- ^ Townsend, Bob (August 12, 1994). "Threesome forms Variety Playhouse's air-conditioned version of Lollapalooza". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. P15.
- ^ Beebe, Elaine (October 20, 1994). "State of the Union". The Albuquerque Tribune. p. D3.
- ^ a b "Dambuilders". Robert Christgau. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (July 22, 1994). "Loose Dambuilders; Tuneful Seals". The Washington Post. p. N15.
- ^ Weiler, Derek (September 22, 1994). "Encendedor". The Record. p. D8.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen (November 10, 1994). "Clubs Stock Up on Solid Bands". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 8.
- ^ Aaron, Charles (June 1994). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 10, no. 3. p. 96.
- ^ Harrison, Don (December 30, 1994). "This List of Discs Can't Really Be Beat". InRoads. Daily Press. p. 12.
- ^ Lozaw, Tristram (December 25, 1994). "Instrumental year for 'alternative' rockers". Boston Herald. p. 53.