Califone


After the breakup of his former band Red Red Meat, frontman Tim Rutili formed Califone as a solo project. Rutili's solo effort soon became a full-fledged musical project with a regular and rotating list of contributors, including many former members of Red Red Meat and some members of other Chicago bands. According to Rutili, Califone started as a home project: "The statement of intent would have been 'easy listening' compared to what we were doing with Red Red Meat. This was supposed to be making little pop songs out of found pieces. It was supposed to be just a little home project, and it slowly grew from there. Now it seems like just about anything goes."

Califone's sound is a combination of Red Red Meat's blues-rock and experimental music, with inspiration drawn from early American folk music, pop, as well as electronic and groups like Psychic TV. Listeners familiar with Red Red Meat can quickly tell that Califone is not an attempt to revive the old band; elements from a number of musical styles contribute to their distinctive sound. Califone's current lineup includes Joe Adamik (drums), Jim Becker (banjo, violin), Ben Massarella (percussion), and Tim Rutili (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Each member is a multi-instrumentalist.

- Wiki











Discography:




Califone (1998)




Roomsound (2001)




Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People (2002)




Quicksand/Cradlesnakes (2003)




Heron King Blues (2004)




Roots & Crowns (2006)




All My Friends Are Funeral Singers (2009)








 


 





You guys ever go through one of those phases where all you want to do is chill out and listen to mellow tunes all month? No? Well I think I'm going through one of those phases right now. I downloa- er, bought Roots & Crowns a few years ago, but never started seriously listening to it until this summer. I was personally never good at taking life slow and relaxed in years prior, and now it seems I can't do anything but take life slow and relaxed. And this is where Califone comes in. I don't think they have one single happy catchy song in their entire discography, so stay away if you're looking for something you can slam dance to at your next house party. Roots & Crown is a terribly beautiful album, and Califone slipped another album release under my radar this autumn (seriously, is anyone else this far removed from current events in music, or is it just me?) All My Friends Are Funeral Singers is a solid release, but not quite up to par with albums of years past; there's a little too much banjo for my liking. Califone sound the best when they stay away from a country music sound, but I guess there are always a few turds in every gold mine. Anyway, they still have a few albums I haven't even had a chance to get around to, but if anyone's reading this I'd recommend you check out Roots & Crowns. Pitchfork liked it. So will you.


They also made a sweet collaboration band/album with Isaac Brock back in 2001 under the name of "Ugly Casanova". Check it out.

[size=1][color=#666666]This message was edited by VulcanRaven on Nov 08 2009.

Listend to the First song and the Vampiring again one

Loved them both

very chill song

Makes we want to just sit back and not worry about shit...TBH I Cant cause of stupid school...Damn Know this band got me waiting for summer again

I'm lollin' because look who's discography I just downloaded like literally a few days ago...



We just seem to be so hivemind Phil it's really *bleep*ing scary sometimes. Anyway I haven't actually gotten to listen to these guys much so maybe I'll get back to you in a few days on what I think of them since I know you guys all hang on my every word.