Catholics I Suppose
by Righ Ex
Ryan: I really don't know how a band begins to make a song. Is it the weather, the seasons, or simply a way of celebration? Maybe it's to prove "Hey, we're together, just playing music." Obviously music keeps people wondering and wandering out somewhere, whether it's having fun or waging war against someone, somebody, some species, some existence, some fool, some lover, some folk, or simply for one's own satisfaction. But here's a band called Catherine. It is straight up Alternative Rock. I have my own select picks, though I must say, I don't like all their stuff.
However, considering the scene that existed with bands in Chicago, it comes as no surprise that D'Arcy Wretzky and Billy Corgan participated in the production of this band. I'm just awfully aghast why I only get to discover them wholly today or in part! Thanks for the ear candy, Catherine.
Here are some highlights from a Facebook conversation Jake had with singer/guitarist, Neil Jendon...
J: [I] really like that single "Sparkle/Charmed", it has the vibe of the Sleepy EP.
N: Yes, we were much more awash in reverb and less under the influence of the Pumpkins then. Things changed with TVT and "Sorry!". Not that I'm ashamed of that record, but I like the earlier stuff better.
J: Did you still just kind of do your thing with "Sorry!", or were you told to sound a certain way?
N: Good question. There was a lot of positive reinforcement given to us when we tilted towards what everyone considered the sound of the day. The more we sounded like Pumpkins or Soundgarden the more slaps on the back we got. After a certain point we were doing it to ourselves.
J: How do you feel seeing your old music videos?
N: Ugh. I hate them. What a waste of money. We could have toured for months on what one video cost. We were making them right around the time MTV stopped playing vids and started doing more reality shows.
Neil also provided links to his current projects, German Explaining Station and Kwaidan:
http://germanexplainingstation.bandcamp.com/
The following day, this happened...
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| Yup. Neil shared Jake's cover! |
Jake: I was certain this band had something unique to offer when I first heard "Idiot", off their Sleepy EP. It was like molding the white noise of Shoegaze with the robust thickness of Metal! I remember vividly downloading the DRM protected files on a trial version of Rhapsody--not exactly the ideal experience, but that's how it happened!
I was blown away, despite the EP's inherently rough Corgan production values (Thank God I had a decent sound system!). Sonically, imagine Smashing Pumpkins but on a smaller budget. Come to think of it, a similar model was the precedent already for a myriad of 90s underground acts. But don't think Catherine stays confined to the norm--they have a personal-panned, pleasant brand of noise that will somehow keep you entranced and focused at the same time. All 5 tracks have a lot going for them. Especially that fifth one. Listen to the very end...
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