Cotton Mather (band)
Encyclopedia
Legendary indie rock outfit Cotton Mather was founded by Robert Harrison of Austin, Texas in the early 1990s. What started as an experimental collaboration with cellist Nat Shelton had by 1993 evolved into a guitar driven pop quartet defined by accessible melodies, strong vocal harmonies and lyrical wit. They have drawn comparisons to the Beatles, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Squeeze, and Guided By Voices
. In his 2007 book, Shake Some Action, John Borack rated the Kon Tiki
album at number 26 of his Top 200 Power Pop Albums of all time, comparing the album to Revolver-era Beatles, Big Star, and Apples in Stereo. NME suggested Cotton Mather might just be "... the most exciting guitar pop band since Supergrass."
The group (with the lineup Robert Harrison- guitar and vocals, Whit Williams guitar and vocals, Matt Hovis- bass and Greg Thibeaux- drums) released their debut Cotton is King in 1994 on the short lived ELM label. The follow-up Kontiki, famously recorded on 4-track cassette and ADAT drew praise from critics and rock-stars alike. By this time George Reiff had assumed bass playing honors and Dana Myzer had taken over on drums.
The group's final lineup with Harrison, Williams, Myzer and Josh Gravelin (bass) released the 7 song mini-album Hotel Baltimore in 2000 and The Big Picture in 2002.
guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher got a copy of Cotton Mather's CD Kon Tiki, and was very impressed. Oasis helped promote Cotton Mather and asked them to tour with Oasis. The British psych-pop label Rainbow Quartz reissued Kon Tiki in the UK in late 1998, becoming a massive hit, with the song "My Before and After" even gaining a fair amount of radio airplay. The band's Lost My Motto was featured on Little Steven Van Zandt
's "Coolest Songs In The World Vol. 1".
After releasing four albums and a handful of singles, Cotton Mather quietly ended in 2003. In 2005, their song "Lily Dreams On," originally released on Kon Tiki, appeared on the soundtrack of the popular television show Veronica Mars
.
Cotton Mather's frontman and songwriter Robert Harrison has a band called Future Clouds and Radar
, with a self-titled CD released on the Star Apple Kingdom label.
Future Clouds and Radar was named by Harp Magazine in 2007 Debut Artist of the Year. Future and Clouds and Radar followed up their eponymous debut with the equally well received Peoria in 2009.
Whit Williams and Dana Myzer formed a new band, Stockton, and have released one album. Dana Myzer has relocated to London and joined British guitar pop band Farrah.
Josh Gravelin went on to play, record, and tour with a number of Austin bands and artists including Ian Moore, Alejandro Escovedo, Future Clouds and Radar, Guy Forsyth, Sparkwood, Beaver Nelson, Oxford Files, Nakia, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and many more. He currently resides in Chicago, IL.
Original Bassist Matt Hovis is CEO of the marketing and advertising firm Exoplolis and still lives in Austin. Hovis teamed with Kevin Whitley (drummer on The Crafty Flower Arranger) and 16 Deluxe vocalist Carrie Clark to form the Pretty Please in 2004. The group released one EP which Harrison produced. Bassist George Reiff who played with Cotton Mather from 1995-1997 is an Austin based musician/producer who has played with Chris Robinson, The Courtyard Hounds, The Dixie Chicks, Jakob Dylan, Future Clouds and Radar, and Bruce Robison among others. Founding member Nat Shelton now lives in Minneapolis.
preacher and author Cotton Mather
, a minister at Boston's North Church. He was famous for, among other things, supporting the executions of the so-called "witches" at the Salem witch trials
.
is the latest band for Cotton Mather's Robert Harrison, releasing a first CD in 2007 and a second in 2009.
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
. In his 2007 book, Shake Some Action, John Borack rated the Kon Tiki
Kon Tiki (album)
Kon Tiki is a 1997 album by Austin, Texas power pop band Cotton Mather and produced by Brad Jones.- Tracklisting :#"Camp Hill Rail Operator" #"Homefront Cameo"#"Spin My Wheels"#"My Before and After"#"Private Ruth"...
album at number 26 of his Top 200 Power Pop Albums of all time, comparing the album to Revolver-era Beatles, Big Star, and Apples in Stereo. NME suggested Cotton Mather might just be "... the most exciting guitar pop band since Supergrass."
The group (with the lineup Robert Harrison- guitar and vocals, Whit Williams guitar and vocals, Matt Hovis- bass and Greg Thibeaux- drums) released their debut Cotton is King in 1994 on the short lived ELM label. The follow-up Kontiki, famously recorded on 4-track cassette and ADAT drew praise from critics and rock-stars alike. By this time George Reiff had assumed bass playing honors and Dana Myzer had taken over on drums.
The group's final lineup with Harrison, Williams, Myzer and Josh Gravelin (bass) released the 7 song mini-album Hotel Baltimore in 2000 and The Big Picture in 2002.
Rise to Popularity
OasisOasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher got a copy of Cotton Mather's CD Kon Tiki, and was very impressed. Oasis helped promote Cotton Mather and asked them to tour with Oasis. The British psych-pop label Rainbow Quartz reissued Kon Tiki in the UK in late 1998, becoming a massive hit, with the song "My Before and After" even gaining a fair amount of radio airplay. The band's Lost My Motto was featured on Little Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
's "Coolest Songs In The World Vol. 1".
After releasing four albums and a handful of singles, Cotton Mather quietly ended in 2003. In 2005, their song "Lily Dreams On," originally released on Kon Tiki, appeared on the soundtrack of the popular television show Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
.
Cotton Mather's frontman and songwriter Robert Harrison has a band called Future Clouds and Radar
Future Clouds and Radar
Future Clouds and Radar is Robert Harrison’s follow-up to his band Cotton Mather. The first album, an eponymous double CD, was released in 2007. Their second release, entitled "Peoria" was released on the 4th of November, 2008 on the Star Apple Kingdom label....
, with a self-titled CD released on the Star Apple Kingdom label.
Future Clouds and Radar was named by Harp Magazine in 2007 Debut Artist of the Year. Future and Clouds and Radar followed up their eponymous debut with the equally well received Peoria in 2009.
Whit Williams and Dana Myzer formed a new band, Stockton, and have released one album. Dana Myzer has relocated to London and joined British guitar pop band Farrah.
Josh Gravelin went on to play, record, and tour with a number of Austin bands and artists including Ian Moore, Alejandro Escovedo, Future Clouds and Radar, Guy Forsyth, Sparkwood, Beaver Nelson, Oxford Files, Nakia, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and many more. He currently resides in Chicago, IL.
Original Bassist Matt Hovis is CEO of the marketing and advertising firm Exoplolis and still lives in Austin. Hovis teamed with Kevin Whitley (drummer on The Crafty Flower Arranger) and 16 Deluxe vocalist Carrie Clark to form the Pretty Please in 2004. The group released one EP which Harrison produced. Bassist George Reiff who played with Cotton Mather from 1995-1997 is an Austin based musician/producer who has played with Chris Robinson, The Courtyard Hounds, The Dixie Chicks, Jakob Dylan, Future Clouds and Radar, and Bruce Robison among others. Founding member Nat Shelton now lives in Minneapolis.
Name
The band gets its name from 17th century PuritanPuritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
preacher and author Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
, a minister at Boston's North Church. He was famous for, among other things, supporting the executions of the so-called "witches" at the Salem witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
.
Discography
- Crafty Flower Arranger (1992, demo-album)
- Cotton Is King (1994)
- Kon TikiKon Tiki (album)Kon Tiki is a 1997 album by Austin, Texas power pop band Cotton Mather and produced by Brad Jones.- Tracklisting :#"Camp Hill Rail Operator" #"Homefront Cameo"#"Spin My Wheels"#"My Before and After"#"Private Ruth"...
(1997) - Hotel Baltimore (EP) (1999)
- Password (CD Single) (1999)
- My Before & After (CD Single) (2000)
- The Big Picture (2001)
- 40 Watt Solution (EP) (2001)
Future Clouds and Radar
Future Clouds and RadarFuture Clouds and Radar
Future Clouds and Radar is Robert Harrison’s follow-up to his band Cotton Mather. The first album, an eponymous double CD, was released in 2007. Their second release, entitled "Peoria" was released on the 4th of November, 2008 on the Star Apple Kingdom label....
is the latest band for Cotton Mather's Robert Harrison, releasing a first CD in 2007 and a second in 2009.