If Thousands
Encyclopedia
If Thousands is an American drone
band from Duluth
, Minnesota
. Since releasing their debut album "Candice Recorder" in 2001, the band has toured the U.S. with Low
. If Thousands' music has been featured on NPR
. Christian McShane also performed with Charlie Parr
in the band Devil's Flying Machine. Aaron Molina was previously part of the rock band Small Engine City.
In a Dreamland Recordings interview McShane explained the purpose and origin If Thousands, "The idea that we started with was to relax people. To relax them to a point where they are drooling.
If Thousands' ethic of relaxation found form in Slumber, a performance where audience members were encouraged to bring pillows and blankets for the purposes of sleep. Elegy, a 25-hour drone in honor of artist Michael Lenz, encouraged cathartic release through unyielding drone.
Drone music
Drone music is a minimalist musical style that emphasizes the use of sustained or repeated sounds, notes, or tone-clusters – called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy audio programs with relatively slight harmonic variations throughout each piece compared to other musics...
band from Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Since releasing their debut album "Candice Recorder" in 2001, the band has toured the U.S. with Low
Low (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
. If Thousands' music has been featured on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. Christian McShane also performed with Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr is an American country blues musician, born in Austin, Minnesota, United States. He started his music career in Duluth, Minnesota. His influences include Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary Davis, and Dave Van Ronk. He plays a National resonator guitar, a fretless open-back...
in the band Devil's Flying Machine. Aaron Molina was previously part of the rock band Small Engine City.
In a Dreamland Recordings interview McShane explained the purpose and origin If Thousands, "The idea that we started with was to relax people. To relax them to a point where they are drooling.
If Thousands' ethic of relaxation found form in Slumber, a performance where audience members were encouraged to bring pillows and blankets for the purposes of sleep. Elegy, a 25-hour drone in honor of artist Michael Lenz, encouraged cathartic release through unyielding drone.
Lineup
- Aaron Molina-- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Christian McShane-- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Studio albums
- Candice Recorder - (Sirsumcorda, 2001)
- Io - (Self-Released, 2002)
- Lullaby - (Silber Records, 2003)
- Yellowstone - (Chairkickers' Union Music, 2003)
- 2d (Collaboration with A Whisper in the NoiseA Whisper in the NoiseA Whisper in the Noise is a musical project of rock composer West Thordson. Centered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, the group is known for their dark sound and unique instrumentation, as well as their effective live performances...
) - (Co-Released, 2004) - I Have Nothing - (Silber Records, 2005)
Compilations
- "In Return" - (NotOnLabel Records, 2002)
- "Songs for the End of the World" - (Silber Records, 2002)
- Sunshine Comes Slowly Through My Window - (Finding Datura Records, 2003)
- Who Killed Cock Robin? - (ELF Films, 2004)
- Winter Wishes - (Silber Records, 2004)
- Drones, Loves, Honesties, Sounds - (Silber Records, 2006)
- Kaleidescopic #6 - (Ambolthue Records, 2007)
Films
- "Who Killed Cock Robin?" (film by Travis Wilkerson) - (Extreme Low Frequency, 2005)
- "Strange Nature" (film by Jim Ojala) - (Ojala Productions, 2009)