Tops (band)
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TOPS | |
|---|---|
 (L–R) David Carriere, Jane Penny, Marta Cikojevic, and Riley Fleck in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Arbutus Records, Musique TOPS |
| Members | Jane Penny David Carriere Riley Fleck Marta Cikojevic |
| Past members | Thom Gillies Madeline Glowicki Jenni Roberts Alana DeVito Jackson MacIntosh |
Tops (stylized in all capital letters as TOPS) is a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, which currently consists of Jane Penny, David Carriere, Riley Fleck, and Marta Cikojevic. They were formed in 2011 following the disbandment of synthpop group Silly Kissers, of which Carriere, Penny, and Gillies were members, along with Arbutus Records recording artist Sean Nicholas Savage.[1] TOPS are prominent within the Arbutus Records and Canadian indie music scenes.[2] Their debut album, Tender Opposites, was released on February 28, 2012, in Canada and the United States, and October 1, 2012, in the rest of the world, to generally positive reviews. The album was named the eighth best album of 2012 by Gorilla vs. Bear.[3] Their second studio album, Picture You Staring, was released in 2014 on Arbutus Records and featured artwork from LA-based artist Jessica Dean Harrison.
History
[edit]TOPS was founded in 2011 by childhood friends Jane Penny and David Carriere from Edmonton, Alberta. Penny and Carriere met drummer Riley Fleck at La Brique, the loft venue where they rehearsed for shows with their former band, Silly Kissers with Sean Nicholas Savage.[4]
In 2012, TOPS released their debut album, Tender Opposites, which received critical acclaim for its nostalgic yet refreshing approach to pop music. The album features former bassist Thom Gillies.
The band followed up with the release of Picture You Staring in 2014,[5] further solidifying their reputation for creating infectious tunes layered with intricate instrumentation and Penny's emotive singing.
Marta Cikojevic joined as keyboardist in 2017.[6]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- 2012: Tender Opposites (Arbutus Records / Atelier Ciseaux)
- 2014: Picture You Staring (Arbutus Records)
- 2017: Sugar at the Gate (Arbutus Records)
- 2020: I Feel Alive (Musique TOPS)
Singles and EPs
[edit]- 2012: "Diamond Look" / "Easy Friends" (Arbutus Records / Atelier Ciseaux)
- 2014: "Change of Heart" / "Sleeptalker" (Arbutus Records)
- 2015: "Anything" (Arbutus Records)
- 2015: "The Hollow Sound of the Morning Chimes" (Arbutus Records)
- 2019: "Echo of Dawn" / "Seven Minutes" (Musique TOPS)
- 2022: "Empty Seats" (Musique TOPS)
Videos
[edit]| Year | Video | Director | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | "Janet Planet" | Anthony Martino Maurice | YouTube |
| 2020 | "Colder & Closer" | Mashie Alam | YouTube |
| 2020 | "I Feel Alive" | Mashie Alam | YouTube |
| 2019 | "Topless" | Jane Penny | YouTube |
| 2017 | "Marigold & Gray" | Laura-Lynn Petrick | YouTube |
| 2017 | "Further" | Jane Penny | YouTube |
| 2017 | "Petals" | Jane Penny | YouTube |
| 2015 | "Anything" | Tommy Keith | YouTube |
| 2015 | "Sleeptalker" | Sadie Holliday | YouTube |
| 2015 | "Driverless Passenger" | Jason Harvey | YouTube |
| 2014 | "Outside" | Fantavious Fritz | YouTube |
| 2014 | "Way To Be Loved" | Fantavious Fritz | YouTube |
| 2014 | "Change of Heart" | David Carriere & Jane Penny | YouTube |
| 2012 | "Turn Your Love Around" | Graham Foy | YouTube |
| 2012 | "Double Vision" | David Carriere | YouTube |
| 2012 | "Diamond Look" | Marilis Cardinal | Vimeo |
| 2012 | "Rings Of Saturn" | Jasper Baydala | YouTube |
Band members
[edit]- Current members
- Jane Penny (vocals, keyboard) (2011–present)
- David Carriere (guitar) (2011–present)
- Riley Fleck (drums) (2011–present)
- Marta Cikojevic (keyboard) (2017–present)
- Former members
- Thom Gillies (bass) (2011–2013)
- Madeline Glowicki (bass) (2013–2014)
- Jenni Roberts (bass) (2014–2015)
- Alana Marta DeVito (bass) (2015)
- Jackson Macintosh (bass) (2016-2019)
References
[edit]- ^ "TOPS Announce Debut Full-length 'Tender Opposites'". Exclaim!. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
- ^ "The Warehouse Pop Of Arbutus Records". Dazed Digital. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
- ^ "gorilla vs. bear's albums of 2012". Gorilla Vs. Bear. 2012-12-02. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
- ^ "TOPS of the Pops – Impose Magazine". imposemagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
- ^ "TOPS: Picture You Staring". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
- ^ "Marci (TOPS' Marta Cikojevic) – "Entertainment"". Stereogum. 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
