Marijuana Deathsquads

Marijuana Deathsquads is an American music group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group's sound has been described by City Pages as "ear-bending improv/dance grooves that defied listener expectations and spit in the face of easy categorization."[1] NPR described the group as "a thrilling, relentless bombardment of sight and sound."[2]

Marijuana Deathsquads
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsTotally Gross National Product
Members
  • Ryan Olson
  • Isaac Gale
  • Stef Alexander
  • Ben Ivascu
  • Mark McGee
  • Jeremy Nutzman
Websitemarijuanadeathsquads.com

History

Formed in 2009,[3] the band consists of Ryan Olson of Gayngs, Isaac Gale, Stef Alexander (a.k.a. P.O.S), Ben Ivascu of Poliça, Mark McGee of To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie, and Jeremy Nutzman (a.k.a. Velvet Negroni).[4] Frequent collaborators include Channy Leaneagh and Drew Christopherson of Poliça, Har Mar Superstar, and Jim Eno.[5]

In 2011, the group released its first studio album, Crazy Master.[6] In 2011, singer Isaac Gale won the City Pages Best Male Vocalist award, his singing described as "a poltergeist creeping out of a snowy, crackling television screen, Gale's tortured, throaty hollering is the stuff of zombie nightmares, simultaneously gut-wrenching and enthralling."[7]

In 2012, the group released the Tamper Disable Destroy mixtape.[8]

In 2013, the group released Music Rocks I & II, two EPs featuring Ryan Olson, Isaac Gale, Jason Power, Ben Ivascu, Channy Leaneagh, Mark McGee, Jeremy Nutzman, Stefon Alexander, and Madden.[9]

In that year, the group released Oh My Sexy Lord, a studio album that Spin called "ferocious" and described as fusing "jagged grooves, scratchy analog effects, and robo-warped vocals into a full-length, experimental freakout."[10] The album features guest appearances from Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon, Poliça frontwoman Channy Leaneagh, and Har Mar Superstar.[11]

In 2016, the group contributed a cover of the song "Truckin'" to Day of the Dead, a Grateful Dead tribute album.

In 2018, the group released Tuff Guy Electronics, which was recorded at Pioneer Works (Brooklyn) and Funkhaus (Berlin).[12]

Style and influences

Chris Reiemenschneider of Star Tribune stated that "Marijuana Deathsquads has been steadily blowing eardrums, breaking drum heads and tearing at the seams of conventional music-making since its semi-mysterious inception."[13]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Crazy Master (2011)
  • Oh My Sexy Lord (2013)
  • Tuff Guy Electronics (2018)

Mixtapes
  • Tamper Disable Destroy (2012)

EPs
  • Music Rocks I & II (2013)

Singles
  • "The River" (2013)[14]
  • "The World Beyond" (2019)[15]

References
  1. Lunney, Tigger (November 2, 2011). "Marijuana Deathsquads (record-release)". City Pages. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011.
  2. "Marijuana Deathsquads, Live in Concert". NPR.org.
  3. Tillery, Grant (February 27, 2014). "Music to make you high - Marijuana Deathsquads makes party music for party people". Minnesota Daily.
  4. Bolton, Aaron (December 9, 2013). "Weekly Release Spotlight - Marijuana Deathsquads". Radio K.
  5. RiemenSchneider, Chris (November 24, 2013). "Marijuana Deathsquads come into the light". Star Tribune.
  6. Gage, Jeff (November 4, 2011). "Marijuana Deathsquads release Crazy Master tonight at Nick and Eddie". City Pages. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012.
  7. "Minneapolis Best Vocalist (Male)". City Pages. 2011. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011.
  8. Coplan, Chris (September 13, 2012). "Download: Marijuana Deathsquads – Tamper. Disable. Destroy. mixtape". Consequence of Sound.
  9. Keller, Josh (May 31, 2013). "Review & Free Download: Marijuana Deathsquads "Music Rocks I & II"". Reviler.
  10. McGovern, Kyle (October 14, 2013). "Stream Marijuana Deathsquads' Ferocious New Album 'Oh My Sexy Lord'". Spin.
  11. Fischer, Reed (October 9, 2013). "Marijuana Deathsquads: Everyone's got that fucking crazy animal in them". City Pages. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013.
  12. "Pioneer Works launching record label w/ Releases by Miho Hatori & Marijuana Deathsquads".
  13. Riemenschneider, Chris (December 30, 2010). "The Big Gigs". Star Tribune.
  14. "The River - Single by Marijuana Deathsquads". Apple Music. 29 October 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  15. "The World Beyond". Bandcamp. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.