Shake the Baron
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
Shake the Baron interview conducted by the Deli Magazine (NYC) - The Deli Magazine - NYC
Shake the Baron interview conducted by the Deli Magazine (NYC) - The Deli Magazine - NYC
"I have to say this is the best music video I've seen in years" - By The Light of the Stereo
"Sometimes we'll write lyrics that are centered around surreal imagery, sometimes we'll write lyrics that are based on simpler places or moments, like an apartment or a conversation".
Shake The Baron is a rock band originally from the United States for its proposal surprising refreshing and good sound level.
By Marcelo Basaure.
marcelobasaureonline@gmail.com
What are the influences of the group?
We have a pretty wide slew of musical influences. I think we always have the guitar rock legends of Pavement and Built to Spill in mind, as well as more filled-out rock arrangers like Broken Social Scene and The Flaming Lips. Dirty Projectors have really thrown me for a loop this year too-- I don't think anyone can make music the same way after what that band has done to popular music.
What inspires them to compose?
We've always been inspired by each other-- we'll be hanging out together listening to music then feel the uncontrollable urge to lock ourselves in a room with a case of beer and jam for six hours. That's how all of our songs come together, by feeding off of each other's energy and excitement.
About that talk lyrics Shake The Baron?
Our lyrics try to describe a feeling or a mood, be that in a direct or indirect way. Sometimes we'll write lyrics that are centered around surreal imagery, sometimes we'll write lyrics that are based on simpler places or moments, like an apartment or a conversation. In any case, we try to write lyrics that are easily understood and internalized-- my favorite lyrics are those that are simple and easy to relate to.
What do you think of the American rock scene today?
I know it's cool to say that there's no "real" rock music coming out of America and that everything's controlled by corporate puppetry or something, but there's an unbelievable wealth of really great independent music crawling out of the woodwork right now. So I think rock music is hitting a pretty sweet high-- it's just a matter of who's curious enough to hear it and how it's made available.
The singles group Sinkin Sailor and Tree House is the progress of their debut album What can you say about these songs?
"Tree House" and "Sinking Sailor" are two tracks off our upcoming debut album. I think these tracks demonstrate the energy of the album, and what kind of vibe we have as a band. "Sinking Sailor" is interesting because it's about 50% heartfelt songwriting about being in college, and 50% self-indulgent masturbatory Rock&Roll ... I guess all our songs are sort of like that.
How would you define your debut album?
It's got a lot of twists and turns, but it stays pretty high energy-- it's rock music. It's a singalong record and a four-on-the-floor Thumpfest, but it's also got a lot of rhythmic and melodic intrigue that keep it pretty exciting ... at least, I like to think so.
Why the name referred to the group?
The name is whatever you want it to be. We came up with it by pooling together a list of words that we liked over the course of a year. Most people think it's genitalia-related, but I'll say now that that's not what we had in mind ...
How difficult is to get places to play in the U.S.?
Not hard at all! The best shows are the ones that aren't difficult to book-- namely shows that our friends coordinate or that we put together ourselves in some random spot. The best venues are the ones that come recommended by friends or are booked by friends.
Moved up in its official site to download songs freely Do you agree with that music can download via the Internet without any ban?
Yeah, I don't think anything should be on iTunes for more than $4, and I love it when bands put up songs for free. That said, certain people have to make money, bands have to recoup advances, and it's a lot of hard work to make an album! I dunno, I hate buying mp3's, I think that's really lame. I definitely feel comfortable spending money on CDs or records though-- I think it's cool to attach some value to the actual artifact and to the experience of listening to music in a higher quality format. - Mute Rock
"Sometimes we'll write lyrics that are centered around surreal imagery, sometimes we'll write lyrics that are based on simpler places or moments, like an apartment or a conversation".
Shake The Baron is a rock band originally from the United States for its proposal surprising refreshing and good sound level.
By Marcelo Basaure.
marcelobasaureonline@gmail.com
What are the influences of the group?
We have a pretty wide slew of musical influences. I think we always have the guitar rock legends of Pavement and Built to Spill in mind, as well as more filled-out rock arrangers like Broken Social Scene and The Flaming Lips. Dirty Projectors have really thrown me for a loop this year too-- I don't think anyone can make music the same way after what that band has done to popular music.
What inspires them to compose?
We've always been inspired by each other-- we'll be hanging out together listening to music then feel the uncontrollable urge to lock ourselves in a room with a case of beer and jam for six hours. That's how all of our songs come together, by feeding off of each other's energy and excitement.
About that talk lyrics Shake The Baron?
Our lyrics try to describe a feeling or a mood, be that in a direct or indirect way. Sometimes we'll write lyrics that are centered around surreal imagery, sometimes we'll write lyrics that are based on simpler places or moments, like an apartment or a conversation. In any case, we try to write lyrics that are easily understood and internalized-- my favorite lyrics are those that are simple and easy to relate to.
What do you think of the American rock scene today?
I know it's cool to say that there's no "real" rock music coming out of America and that everything's controlled by corporate puppetry or something, but there's an unbelievable wealth of really great independent music crawling out of the woodwork right now. So I think rock music is hitting a pretty sweet high-- it's just a matter of who's curious enough to hear it and how it's made available.
The singles group Sinkin Sailor and Tree House is the progress of their debut album What can you say about these songs?
"Tree House" and "Sinking Sailor" are two tracks off our upcoming debut album. I think these tracks demonstrate the energy of the album, and what kind of vibe we have as a band. "Sinking Sailor" is interesting because it's about 50% heartfelt songwriting about being in college, and 50% self-indulgent masturbatory Rock&Roll ... I guess all our songs are sort of like that.
How would you define your debut album?
It's got a lot of twists and turns, but it stays pretty high energy-- it's rock music. It's a singalong record and a four-on-the-floor Thumpfest, but it's also got a lot of rhythmic and melodic intrigue that keep it pretty exciting ... at least, I like to think so.
Why the name referred to the group?
The name is whatever you want it to be. We came up with it by pooling together a list of words that we liked over the course of a year. Most people think it's genitalia-related, but I'll say now that that's not what we had in mind ...
How difficult is to get places to play in the U.S.?
Not hard at all! The best shows are the ones that aren't difficult to book-- namely shows that our friends coordinate or that we put together ourselves in some random spot. The best venues are the ones that come recommended by friends or are booked by friends.
Moved up in its official site to download songs freely Do you agree with that music can download via the Internet without any ban?
Yeah, I don't think anything should be on iTunes for more than $4, and I love it when bands put up songs for free. That said, certain people have to make money, bands have to recoup advances, and it's a lot of hard work to make an album! I dunno, I hate buying mp3's, I think that's really lame. I definitely feel comfortable spending money on CDs or records though-- I think it's cool to attach some value to the actual artifact and to the experience of listening to music in a higher quality format. - Mute Rock
Discography
Shake the Baron - Shake the Baron (2010)
Shake the Baron - Ghost Hits (2012)
Photos
Bio
Shake the Baron—the most rowdy, floor-stomping songsmiths ever to emerge from Connecticut—released their self-titled debut on October 26th. The album’s 10 overdriven, propulsive tracks were produced by the band and mixed by engineer extraordinaire Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, Weezer) at the venerable Avatar Studios in New York. This collaboration yielded the sound of Shake the Baron: rabblerousing guitar pop that pins soaring vocal hooks atop a wash of chorus-infused guitars and enormous rock beats.
Having met on the first day of college in the fall of 2007, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Oedel, drummer Matt Addison, and bassist Max Currier bonded over their common love of good music and bad beer. Acoustic jam sessions and impromptu sing-alongs soon became collaborative songwriting sit-downs and electrified noisefests. When second guitarist Jon Markson joined the band in 2010, Shake the Baron refined their sound palette and pooled resources to produce a full-length album in their college’s small recording studio. After building local hype in the burgeoning music scene of New London, Connecticut, Shake the Baron signed with super duper records and took their album to Gerrish at Avatar, who lent his bold, crisp production style to the songs. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, the band is continuing to write and record new music.
Combining the driving riffage of post-millennial Sonic Youth and the jangling simplicity of Pavement’s Brighten the Corners with a brash barroom rambunctiousness, Shake the Baron’s take on guitar rock feels both fresh and familiar. Oedel’s lyrics lightheartedly spin narrative from his struggles with romance and adulthood, conveyed with a pure yet colorful delivery akin to Ezra Koenig or Ben Bridwell. Shake the Baron’s rhythmic acrobatics trick its listeners into dancing—a side effect unique to the feel-good energy of its creators.
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