ARCHERS OF LOAF

'Archers of Loaf' was an American indie-rock band originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Contents

History

Discography

References

External links

History

Singer/guitarist Eric Bachmann, guitarist Eric Johnson, bassist Matt Gentling, and drummer Mark Price, all originally from Asheville, NC, formed Archers of Loaf in the early 1990s. Following the success of their independently released single "Wrong", the band signed with Alias records and released their second single "Web in Front", which garnered moderate college radio airplay. They released their debut full-length album, ''Icky Mettle'', in 1994. "Icky Mettle" was critically well received^[1], and is considered one of the landmark albums of 1990s alternative rock^[2].
In 1994, the Archers released the EP ''Vs. The Greatest of All Time''. They released their second full-length, ''Vee Vee'' in 1995. ''Vee Vee'' followed a similar template to their previous recordings and featured the track ''Harnessed in Slums'', which became popular on college radio. The album also garnered significant attention outside the independent music scene, culminating in the band being courted by Maverick Records, a division of Warner Music Group, which the band rejected^[3]
In 1996 the band released ''The Speed of Cattle'', a collection of B-sides, singles, and John Peel session tracks.
Their third studio album, 1996's ''All the Nation's Airports'', was considered far more accessible than their previous releases, and was their first to be distributed by a major label, Elektra Records (the band was still signed to Alias Records though). The band toured extensively in support of the record, to limited mass commercial success.
Their final LP, ''White Trash Heroes'', was released in 1998. The album deviated drastically from their first three albums, and received mixed reviews from critics^[4][5]. During the tour supporting White Trash Heroes, Eric Johnson missed several dates due to his day job's work schedule. Brian Causey, guitarist for Man or Astro-man? and friend of the band, filled in for the missing Johnson.
The band amicably split in late 1998, with Bachmann moving on to multiple solo projects and the band Crooked Fingers. Gentling went on to provide extra instrumentation on tour with another North Carolina-bred band, Superchunk. He has also continued to work with Bachmann as a contributor to Crooked Fingers.
In 2000, Alias released ''Seconds Before the Accident.'' This project was the band's first official live album and was recorded during their final tour. It was the last album released by the band.

Discography

★ 'Albums'

★
★ ''Icky Mettle'' (Alias, 1994)

★
★ ''Vee Vee'' (Alias, 1995)

★
★ ''All the Nations Airports'' (Alias, 1996)

★
★ ''The Speed of Cattle'' (Alias, 1996)

★
★ ''White Trash Heroes'' (Alias, 1998)

★
★ ''Seconds Before the Accident'' (Alias, 2000)

★ 'EPs and other collections'

★
★ ''Vs the Greatest of All Time'' (Alias, 1994)

★
★ ''Vitus Tinnitus'' (Alias, 1997)

★ 'Singles'

★
★ ''Web in Front/Bathroom/Tatyana'' (Alias, 1993)

★
★ ''The Results After the Loafs Revenge'': ''What Did You Expect/Ethel Merman'' (Merge, 1994)

★
★ ''Funnelhead/Quinnbeast'' split with Treepeople, (Sonic Bubblegum, 1994)

★
★ ''Harnessed in Slums'' (Alias, 1995)

★
★ ''Mutes in the Steeple/Smoking Pot in the Hot City'' (Esther, 1995)

★
★ ''Vocal Shrapnel/Density'' (Alias, 1996)

★
★ ''Jive Kata'' (Alias, 1997)

References

1. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=143
2. http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2003/09/25/TheStatement/A.Decade.Later.Icky.Mettle.Still.An.IndieRock.Milestone-1418817.shtml
3. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/archersofloaf/articles/story/5925134/last_of_the_independents
4. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv998-98.php
5. http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/cutoutbin/3-archersofloaf.shtml

External links

★ Alias Records' Archers of Loaf Site

★

★ Icky Mettle Review