Smashing Orange
Encyclopedia
Smashing Orange was an American
band formed in 1990. They released three albums before splitting up in the mid-1990s. Their early sound saw them classified as "shoegazing
".
played at The Marquee Club in London
, Smashing Orange provided the support, unfortunately Sara was unable to enter the UK as she was under 16, so the band played their European tour as a four piece. The band was signed by UK
label Native Records
, their first release being the single "My Deranged Heart" in April 1991, gaining comparisons with the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Galaxie 500
. Their sound has also been described as sounding "like Ride
would if they had any balls about them". This was followed a month later by a self-titled mini-album, and in November of that year by second single "Not Very Much To See".
Their gig at the Camden Rock Garden London
, was reviewed in the NME [www.nativerecords.co.uk/smashingorange]thus "Mudhoney meet My Bloody Valentine on a cold Thursday night in north London. Outside its raining, inside the crowd is drenched by a steam like mist, a stirring hum and crackle, as Rick Hodgson swaying gently over his low strung guitar peels out the opening chords of My Deranged Heart. its especially fine. Rob Montejo wails, a swirling vocal that build with the guitar to deliver a thundering finish - a tormented element beneath a veneer of tempered and serene melodies. zippi
And the gig at Couvent des Recollets, Paris
as "one of the best kept secrets the Americans have yet produced. Smashing Orange storm Europe. They cling to their napkin sized stage, helplessly bobbing along on the maelstrom they have unleashed and their set spontaneously combusts only after two hours when they have played every song the know. The French will remember their concert here for some time and Smashing Orange are unlikely to forget Paris, either. Zippi
While they were in the UK, Native arranged for them to record a session for the John Peel
BBC
radio show, which was broadcast in February 1992. Native released the mini albumAbove Ming Gardens in 1992.
Their first full-length album, The Glass Bead Game, was released in 1993, with Fourth album, 1994's No Return in the End seeing a shift in style towards a harder garage rock sound, and also a move to MCA Records
. Sara Montejo had left earlier and Supplee had been replaced on drums by Stroller White, but a disappointing response to the album saw the band split soon after its release.
An anthology of their early work, 1991 was issued by Elephant Stone Records
in 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band formed in 1990. They released three albums before splitting up in the mid-1990s. Their early sound saw them classified as "shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
".
History
The band was formed by siblings Rob and Sara Montejo, with Rick Hodgson, Steve Wagner, and Tim Supplee, all of whom worked together in a local record store, and had left or dropped out of college prior to forming the band. When LushLush (band)
Lush were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1998. They were one of the first bands to attract the "shoegazing" label...
played at The Marquee Club in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Smashing Orange provided the support, unfortunately Sara was unable to enter the UK as she was under 16, so the band played their European tour as a four piece. The band was signed by UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
label Native Records
Native Records
Native Records is a small independent record label formed in Sheffield, England.The label was founded by Kevin Donoghue in 1985, after he left RCA Records and during his time at the Music Factory studio, Rotherham , where he was a sound engineer.In January 1989, Native signed Nine Inch Nails but...
, their first release being the single "My Deranged Heart" in April 1991, gaining comparisons with the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
. Their sound has also been described as sounding "like Ride
Ride (band)
Ride were a British alternative rock band that formed in 1988 in Oxford, England, consisting of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence "Loz" Colbert, and Steve Queralt. The band were initially part of the "shoegazing" scene. Following the break-up of the band in 1996, members moved on to various other...
would if they had any balls about them". This was followed a month later by a self-titled mini-album, and in November of that year by second single "Not Very Much To See".
Their gig at the Camden Rock Garden London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, was reviewed in the NME [www.nativerecords.co.uk/smashingorange]thus "Mudhoney meet My Bloody Valentine on a cold Thursday night in north London. Outside its raining, inside the crowd is drenched by a steam like mist, a stirring hum and crackle, as Rick Hodgson swaying gently over his low strung guitar peels out the opening chords of My Deranged Heart. its especially fine. Rob Montejo wails, a swirling vocal that build with the guitar to deliver a thundering finish - a tormented element beneath a veneer of tempered and serene melodies. zippi
And the gig at Couvent des Recollets, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as "one of the best kept secrets the Americans have yet produced. Smashing Orange storm Europe. They cling to their napkin sized stage, helplessly bobbing along on the maelstrom they have unleashed and their set spontaneously combusts only after two hours when they have played every song the know. The French will remember their concert here for some time and Smashing Orange are unlikely to forget Paris, either. Zippi
While they were in the UK, Native arranged for them to record a session for the John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio show, which was broadcast in February 1992. Native released the mini albumAbove Ming Gardens in 1992.
Their first full-length album, The Glass Bead Game, was released in 1993, with Fourth album, 1994's No Return in the End seeing a shift in style towards a harder garage rock sound, and also a move to MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Sara Montejo had left earlier and Supplee had been replaced on drums by Stroller White, but a disappointing response to the album saw the band split soon after its release.
An anthology of their early work, 1991 was issued by Elephant Stone Records
Elephant Stone Records
Elephant Stone Records is a US record label formed in 2002 by music critic and former Dionysus Records publicist Ben Szporluk and his artist wife Arabella Proffer . Named after a song by The Stone Roses, the label focuses on new groups and reissue compilations influenced by the 60s psychedelic...
in 2005.
The Sky Drops
Rob Montejo went on to form Love American Style, releasing "Undo" on Oxygen Records. He then formed the short-lived, My Wig is On. They released an internet-only EP in 2002. In 2004, he released a self-titled internet-only full length. He is currently in the gaze-grunge duo The Sky Drops with Monika Bullette (drums/vocals). Their first EP Clouds of People was released in 2006. Their debut full length Bourgeois Beat was released in the Summer of 2009. The EP "Making Mountains" was released in June 2011. They performed at the 2011 Austin Psych Fest 4.Singles/EPs
- "My Deranged Heart" (NativeNative RecordsNative Records is a small independent record label formed in Sheffield, England.The label was founded by Kevin Donoghue in 1985, after he left RCA Records and during his time at the Music Factory studio, Rotherham , where he was a sound engineer.In January 1989, Native signed Nine Inch Nails but...
/Ringers Lactate) 1991 - "Not Very Much To See" (Native) 1991
- track" My Deranged Heart" included on album "Guitar and Drums" a native document (native)1991
Albums
- Smashing Orange (Native) 1991
- Above Ming Gardens (Native) 1992
- The Glass Bead Game (American Native) 1992
- No Return In The End (MCAMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
) 1994 - 1991 (Elephant Stone) 2005
External links
- The Sky Drops
- [ Allmusic entry for Smashing Orange]
- http://www.nativerecords.co.uk
- Press archive
- Smashing Orange at discogs.com