Amazing Baby
Encyclopedia
Amazing Baby is an American indie rock
band based in Brooklyn, New York in 2008. The band began as an after-work collaboration between Will Roan, Will Berman and Simon O'Connor, who had known one another from the Brooklyn music scene, and who were working at the same ringtone company.
The band's debut album Rewild
was released in June, 2009.
O'Connor, Berman, and Roan wrote new material for their forthcoming album in 2010, tentatively titled "Ice Water", and are currently recording with the band and producer/engineer Emery Dobyns.
reviewer wrote, "Channeling glam, metal, punk, power pop
, and experimental noise, Rewild is like a tour through a psychedelic fantasyland, featuring visions, hallucinations, and glimpses of death. Roan coaxes with an almost deliriously euphoric art-rock swagger (see reggae jam "Roverfrenz" and infectious chant-along "Smoke Bros"), while O'Connor infuses every track with hedonistic energy. Amazing Baby are desperate to dazzle." Rolling Stone
was ambivalent. Kevin O'Donnell, in the magazine's Rock & Roll Daily, called Rewild, "stunning," while reviewer Christian Hoard wrote, "On their debut, the quintet spread the arty Cheez Whiz like MGMT
and Yeasayer
while bringing a stronger Sixties-pop influence, specifically with swirling keyboards with melodies that recall Love
and the Dave Clark Five. "Roverfrenz," an airy synth fantasia with Animal Collective
-ish percussion, gets by on neato textures instead of sharp tunes. In general, Rewild could use a little more of the latter, but who has time for that when you're knee-deep in giant guitars and weird ambient vocalizations?"
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band based in Brooklyn, New York in 2008. The band began as an after-work collaboration between Will Roan, Will Berman and Simon O'Connor, who had known one another from the Brooklyn music scene, and who were working at the same ringtone company.
The band's debut album Rewild
Rewild
Rewild is the debut album by Amazing Baby and it was released on June 22, 2009. The album received a varied response from critics, and did not chart in either Europe or the United States.-Track listing:#"Bayonets"#"Invisible Palace"#"Kankra"...
was released in June, 2009.
O'Connor, Berman, and Roan wrote new material for their forthcoming album in 2010, tentatively titled "Ice Water", and are currently recording with the band and producer/engineer Emery Dobyns.
Critical reception
Before Roan, Berman and O'Connor had formed a true band, they and some of the friends who had performed on their self-produced songs were being called a "hippie cliché" by such journals as NME. The band's debut LP Rewild received a varied response from critics, and has failed to chart. They have been criticized for being known more for their sense of fashion and connections to popular bands than for their musical talent, The SpinSpin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
reviewer wrote, "Channeling glam, metal, punk, power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
, and experimental noise, Rewild is like a tour through a psychedelic fantasyland, featuring visions, hallucinations, and glimpses of death. Roan coaxes with an almost deliriously euphoric art-rock swagger (see reggae jam "Roverfrenz" and infectious chant-along "Smoke Bros"), while O'Connor infuses every track with hedonistic energy. Amazing Baby are desperate to dazzle." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
was ambivalent. Kevin O'Donnell, in the magazine's Rock & Roll Daily, called Rewild, "stunning," while reviewer Christian Hoard wrote, "On their debut, the quintet spread the arty Cheez Whiz like MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
and Yeasayer
Yeasayer
-History:The band's three core members, Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder, first came to attention after appearing at the SXSW festival in early 2007. Their first single consisted of a double A-side of the tracks "Sunrise" and "2080"...
while bringing a stronger Sixties-pop influence, specifically with swirling keyboards with melodies that recall Love
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
and the Dave Clark Five. "Roverfrenz," an airy synth fantasia with Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
-ish percussion, gets by on neato textures instead of sharp tunes. In general, Rewild could use a little more of the latter, but who has time for that when you're knee-deep in giant guitars and weird ambient vocalizations?"
Singles
- "Pump yr Brakes" (2008)
- "Bayonets" (2009)
- "Headdress" (2009)
- "Supreme Being" (2009)