Chimp rock
Encyclopedia
Chimp rock is a term coined in the early 1990s by members of the Boston
-based band Kudgel, and "popularly" applied to (or co-opted by) various bands (e.g., Sebadoh
, Swirlies
) at a time when lo-fi recording was gaining credibility in the independent music industry.
The word "Chimp" implies a primitive or unschooled approach. The mid to late 1990s were a time when deliberately childlike approaches to music were cultivated in many parts of the world. The British "Shambling"
scene and Twee pop were perhaps precursors. Chimp rock rejected the deliberately cute aspects of these styles and developed a more chaotic, unkempt attitude. Chimp rock as a self-conscious style flourished in the Boston area, where childlike sounds, lo-fi recording techniques, the use of toy instruments, and even child musicians were popular. Recording artists such as Hasil Adkins
, the Shaggs
, and Daniel Johnston
were championed as some of Chimp Rock's chief progenitors, although these pioneers were certainly not aware of the term.
A prominent band associated with Chimp Rock is Fat Day
.
The paradigmatic Chimp Rock band in the eyes of many is Trollin Withdrawal
, a band which rarely performed live but whose recordings have attained legendary status. Their songwriting was a sophisticated blend of folk and hip-hop, but the spirit was spontaneous and unstructured, as were the recording techniques. For example, their Magazine Apocalypso album was recorded in the back seat of a Volkswagen Golf automobile, which the singer was living in at the time.
The Japanese recording artists Yximalloo and Dum Dum TV have a chimp-like sound which probably evolved independently based on similar social forces.
The "death" of chimp rock was proclaimed in 1994 on the Kudgel track "Chimp Is Dead (Guess Who Killed It?)", released on their 10" record Sea Monkee, and subsequent compilation Chimp is Dead (2000). The song features numerous Swirlies samples over a squalling "chimp rock" instrumental, a seemingly clear gesture towards the guilty party. However, the liner notes feature an alternate name for the song—"Chimp Is Dead (Mark E. Killed It)"—perhaps identifying band leader Mark Erdody as the murderer.
Nonetheless, a label called Chimp Records issued a series of singles after the supposed death, including three by Trollin Withdrawal. An LP compilation, Sonic Chimp Vol.1, was issued in 1997. In fact Chimp Rock was alive and well in the late 1990s, and its demise as a coherent artistic movement was probably due to the change in social mores brought about by the September 11, 2001 attacks
.
As of the mid-2000s, a retrospective appreciation for Chimp rock is developing in the city that spawned it.
An example of the social conditions that led to chimp rock can be found in the movie High Fidelity
, when a jaded record-store owner (played by John Cusack) finds renewal by promoting a group of two teenage skate punks who are attempting to make rap music.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
-based band Kudgel, and "popularly" applied to (or co-opted by) various bands (e.g., Sebadoh
Sebadoh
Sebadoh is an American indie rock band, formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts by Eric Gaffney and Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided by Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi music, a style of indie rock characterized by low-fidelity recording...
, Swirlies
Swirlies
Swirlies is an shoegaze band from Boston that formed in 1990. They have often been compared to My Bloody Valentine.-Formation and early career:...
) at a time when lo-fi recording was gaining credibility in the independent music industry.
The word "Chimp" implies a primitive or unschooled approach. The mid to late 1990s were a time when deliberately childlike approaches to music were cultivated in many parts of the world. The British "Shambling"
Talulah Gosh
Talulah Gosh were a guitar-pop group from Oxford, England and one of the leading bands of the twee pop movement, taking their name from the headline of an NME interview with Clare Grogan. They supposedly formed when Amelia Fletcher and Elizabeth Price, both wearing Pastels badges, met at a club in...
scene and Twee pop were perhaps precursors. Chimp rock rejected the deliberately cute aspects of these styles and developed a more chaotic, unkempt attitude. Chimp rock as a self-conscious style flourished in the Boston area, where childlike sounds, lo-fi recording techniques, the use of toy instruments, and even child musicians were popular. Recording artists such as Hasil Adkins
Hasil Adkins
Hasil Adkins was an Appalachian country, rock and roll, and blues musician, though he was frequently considered rockabilly and sometimes primitive jazz...
, the Shaggs
The Shaggs
The Shaggs were an American all-female rock group formed in Fremont, New Hampshire in 1968. The band was composed of sisters Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin , Betty Wiggin , Helen Wiggin , and later Rachel Wiggin ....
, and Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
were championed as some of Chimp Rock's chief progenitors, although these pioneers were certainly not aware of the term.
A prominent band associated with Chimp Rock is Fat Day
Fat Day
Fat Day is a Boston-based noisecore band. Formed in Cambridge, MA in 1992 , they were associated with bands like Swirlies, Kudgel, and Trollin Withdrawal who formed the core of the Boston chimp rock scene. Fat Day released three LPs and several EPs on their own 100% Breakfast! label, as well as an...
.
The paradigmatic Chimp Rock band in the eyes of many is Trollin Withdrawal
Trollin Withdrawal
Trollin Withdrawal were a band from Boston, Massachusetts that existed between 1992 and 1995, whose lo-fi musical style had its roots in indie rock, classic rock and hip hop music...
, a band which rarely performed live but whose recordings have attained legendary status. Their songwriting was a sophisticated blend of folk and hip-hop, but the spirit was spontaneous and unstructured, as were the recording techniques. For example, their Magazine Apocalypso album was recorded in the back seat of a Volkswagen Golf automobile, which the singer was living in at the time.
The Japanese recording artists Yximalloo and Dum Dum TV have a chimp-like sound which probably evolved independently based on similar social forces.
The "death" of chimp rock was proclaimed in 1994 on the Kudgel track "Chimp Is Dead (Guess Who Killed It?)", released on their 10" record Sea Monkee, and subsequent compilation Chimp is Dead (2000). The song features numerous Swirlies samples over a squalling "chimp rock" instrumental, a seemingly clear gesture towards the guilty party. However, the liner notes feature an alternate name for the song—"Chimp Is Dead (Mark E. Killed It)"—perhaps identifying band leader Mark Erdody as the murderer.
Nonetheless, a label called Chimp Records issued a series of singles after the supposed death, including three by Trollin Withdrawal. An LP compilation, Sonic Chimp Vol.1, was issued in 1997. In fact Chimp Rock was alive and well in the late 1990s, and its demise as a coherent artistic movement was probably due to the change in social mores brought about by the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
As of the mid-2000s, a retrospective appreciation for Chimp rock is developing in the city that spawned it.
An example of the social conditions that led to chimp rock can be found in the movie High Fidelity
High Fidelity (film)
High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
, when a jaded record-store owner (played by John Cusack) finds renewal by promoting a group of two teenage skate punks who are attempting to make rap music.
See also
- Trollin WithdrawalTrollin WithdrawalTrollin Withdrawal were a band from Boston, Massachusetts that existed between 1992 and 1995, whose lo-fi musical style had its roots in indie rock, classic rock and hip hop music...
- Fat DayFat DayFat Day is a Boston-based noisecore band. Formed in Cambridge, MA in 1992 , they were associated with bands like Swirlies, Kudgel, and Trollin Withdrawal who formed the core of the Boston chimp rock scene. Fat Day released three LPs and several EPs on their own 100% Breakfast! label, as well as an...
- Silver apples
- Red Crayola
- Cromagnon (band)Cromagnon (band)Cromagnon was an American experimental band that was active during the late-1960s. Led by multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriters Austin Grasmere and Brian Elliot, the band released Orgasm in 1969 which was later reissued as Cave Rock. They are said to have foreshadowed the rise of noise rock, no...
External links
- Yximalloo
- Chimpy artwork from PShaw
- Rozi Plain's delightful cover of "The Lang Toun"
- Trouser Press article on the Swirlies and Trollin Withdrawal