The Bicycles
Encyclopedia
The Bicycles are an indie rock
quartet from Toronto
, Ontario
composed of Matt Beckett, Drew Smith, Dana Snell, and Andrew Scott (formerly of The Meligrove Band
).
. Recorded with Dan Bryk
, Robert Sledge
and José Miguel Contreras, the album features complex, lush arrangements with a lo-fi sound. The band supported the album with a tour of Canada and The United States, including a supporting slot with The Boy Least Likely To
in 2006. In 2007, they released an interactive board game based upon the album.
2008 saw Lee leave to play violin with The Hylozoists. The now four-piece rejoined Contreras to record and release their second album, Oh No, It's Love
. Featuring songwriting and lead vocals by all four members, the album spent six weeks at #1 on the Canadian campus radio charts.
Spin Magazine noted the band in their February 2008 issue in their City Guide to Toronto, claiming "If Wes Anderson
ever cottoned on to (The Bicycles) swooning chamber pop, which draws from the Kinks
and the Beach Boys
, he'd soak his scarf with tears of joy."
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...
quartet from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
composed of Matt Beckett, Drew Smith, Dana Snell, and Andrew Scott (formerly of The Meligrove Band
The Meligrove Band
The Meligrove Band is a Canadian indie rock band, based in Toronto, and consisting of Jason Nunes on vocals, guitar and piano, Darcy Rego on vocals and drums, Brian O'Reilly on guitar and synthesizer, and Michael Small on bass guitar.-History:...
).
History
Beckett and Smith recorded the acoustic EP As Is in 2000 before recruiting Scott, Snell, and Randy Lee to grow the band to a five-piece. Six years later they released The Good The Bad and The Cuddly in 2006 with Fuzzy Logic RecordingsFuzzy Logic Recordings
Fuzzy Logic Recordings is a Canadian independent record label, founded in 2002 and based out of Toronto, Ontario.Fuzzy Logic operates under the motto "Good Music, Good Friends, Good Times!"-Artists :*The Bicycles*Gravity Wave*The Midways*Peter Project...
. Recorded with Dan Bryk
Dan Bryk
Dan Waldemar Bryk is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter and recording artist. Originally from Toronto, Bryk is currently based in New York City...
, Robert Sledge
Robert Sledge
Robert Sledge is an American musician, best known for his work with Ben Folds Five.-Biography:Robert Sledge began playing bass guitar at the age of eleven. His brother was playing guitar at his house so he also learned how to play the guitar at the same time...
and José Miguel Contreras, the album features complex, lush arrangements with a lo-fi sound. The band supported the album with a tour of Canada and The United States, including a supporting slot with The Boy Least Likely To
The Boy Least Likely To
The Boy Least Likely To is an English indie pop duo, composed of composer/multi-instrumentalist Pete Hobbs and lyricist/singer Jof Owen.Owen and Hobbs both grew up in the village of Wendover in Buckinghamshire. They met when they were still in school and started writing songs together. They began...
in 2006. In 2007, they released an interactive board game based upon the album.
2008 saw Lee leave to play violin with The Hylozoists. The now four-piece rejoined Contreras to record and release their second album, Oh No, It's Love
Oh No, It's Love
Oh No, It's Love is the second album by Canadian pop band The Bicycles. It is the first album to feature The Bicycles as a quartet, following Randy Lee's departure....
. Featuring songwriting and lead vocals by all four members, the album spent six weeks at #1 on the Canadian campus radio charts.
Spin Magazine noted the band in their February 2008 issue in their City Guide to Toronto, claiming "If Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson
Wesley Wales Anderson is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer of features, short films and commercials....
ever cottoned on to (The Bicycles) swooning chamber pop, which draws from the Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, he'd soak his scarf with tears of joy."
See also
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of bands from Canada
- List of Canadian musicians
- :Category:Canadian musical groups