SOURMASH: A LOUISVILLE COMPILATION Various Artists 1996

 

Discogs

 

 Tracklist

1	The Palace Brothers*–	Little Blue Eyes (alt.version)
2	Nod (6)–	The Gift
3	Starbilly–	Unmistakable Tic
4	Cherub Scourge–	Brain Hemorrhage
5	Hula Hoop–	Spider
6	Crab Nebula–	Avenger
7	King Kong (3)–	Foggy Night Blues
8	Chicken Hawk (3)–	Aces And Eights
9	Driftin' Luke–	The Tempest
10	Bodeco–	Wicked, Mean, And Evil
11	Juanita (3)–	Thunderbirds Are Go / Crotch Rocket
12	Drinking Women–	Housewives / Pots And Pans
13	The Web (4)–	The Pentagon
14	Grayson Hall–	That's All
15	Retsin–	Duck Out
16	The Barton Boys–	Untitled
17	Matthew O'Bannon*–	Havin' Fun
18	Britt Walford–	Phone Call

RETSIN Salt Lick EP 1995

 

Discogs

Tracklist 

1	Hybrid Ice Princess	2:40
2	Mary B.	2:15
3	Hitched & Caught	4:11
4	Pulp	3:22
5	Unsavory	3:53
6	Country Style Spoonin'	5:42
7	Valerium	3:56
8	Pink River	3:47

 

RUBY FALLS Heroines 1996

by request

 

 

Discogs 

 

 

Artist Biography by Steve Huey

Ruby Falls was a math rock quartet from New York that was composed mostly (or, later in their history, entirely) of female musicians. In keeping with the punk and riot grrrl spirit, most of their lyrics had a distinct feminist subtext, and they wove elements of punk into their volatile yet complex music as well, not to mention more straightforward rock and pop. Formed in 1992, the band originally consisted of bassist/lead vocalist Cynthia Nelson, guitarist/vocalists Jennifer Rogers and Letha Rodman, and drummer Andrew Bordwin. Over 1992-1994, the band issued three self-released, cassette-only EPs and toured extensively behind them; they also issued several 7" singles on small indie labels like Spartadisc and Villa Villakula and appeared on several compilations. Drummer Bordwin left in 1994 to pursue a career in photography, and was replaced by Rogers' sister Laura. Also that year, Nelson appeared in the cult indie rock film Half Cocked alongside Rodan bassist Tara Jane O'Neil; the two had met on tour late in 1993 and became lovers not long after. Meanwhile, Ruby Falls contributed the track "Dusty" to the soundtrack.
When Rodan broke up in late 1994, Nelson and O'Neil began collaborating in the rootsy indie pop duo Retsin, and Nelson took a hiatus from Ruby Falls to move to Louisville. She returned to New York in 1996 to rejoin Ruby Falls, who'd kept playing together in the meantime. The group first issued the EP What She Does on the Personal Favorite label, then followed it not long after with their full-length debut, Heroines, on Silver Girl. Nelson subsequently took another break to focus on both Retsin and the alt-country project the Naysayer, in which she played drums. Ruby Falls reconvened in 2000 for their second album, For the New Crop, which was released by Heartcore Records; following its release, they officially disbanded. The Rogers Sisters reteamed under exactly that name, and released an album in 2002.

Tracklist  

1	Heroines
2	Extracts
3	The Guest
4	Pretty Feet
5	Pennies
6	Drawn To
7	I Knew You When
8	Amended
9	Thirst
10	20 Mile Bridge
11	Out Of Town

 

 

 

RETSIN Egg Fusion 1996

Discogs

Artist Biography by Bryan Carroll

Tara Jane O'Neil met Cynthia Nelson in 1993, when their respective bands (Rodan, Ruby Falls) were embarking on their first sets of extended national tours. Sharing a love of simple home recording techniques and melodic indie rock, the two became romantically and musically involved in 1994, collaborating as Retsin while retaining membership in their other bands, as well as participating in a number of varied projects and acting in the independent feature film Half-Cocked. The following year, the duo signed to the staunchly independent Simple Machines label, on which they released their debut full-length, Egg Fusion. Constantly involving themselves in innumerable bands recordings, O'Neil began working with her chamber folk outfit the Sonora Pine, while Nelson set about recording the first Ruby Falls LP. For the next two years, Retsin toured extensively, both with and without a rhythm section, as they increased their aptitude for playing acoustic-based music in a live setting. On one of those tours, opening for New York City's Ida led to a folky collaboration that was recorded in one day, called Ida Retsin Family. After Simple Machines folded in 1998, Retsin found kindred spirits in the proprietors of the Chicago-based Carrot Top label. Over the band's following two records, 1998's Sweet Luck of Amaryllis and 2001's Cabin in the Woods, Retsin blossomed into a capable neo-folk outfit, all but abandoning the electric guitar and standard instrumentation of indie rock for banjo, accordion, and violin. 

 

Tracklist  

1	Fly South
2	Hottie Titmouse
3	Loon
4	Foul
5	Kangaroo
6	BB
7	Tamale
8	Duck Out
9	The Pitter Patter
10	Barefoot & Stoned
11	Red Wing
12	A Duplex For Sidewinders
13	Guilford
14	Bodega

 

RODAN Rusty 1994

biography

[+] by Steve Huey

A seminal influence on the avant-garde wing of indie rock, Rodan were habitually likened to fellow Louisville natives and math rock pioneers Slint. And it was true that Slint were a crystal-clear influence on the group's loud, angular art-punk -- easily heard in the extreme dynamic shifts, deliberate tempos, lengthy compositions, and half-spoken vocals. Yet Rodan put their own stamp on the basic blueprint, ratcheting up the energy and writing fuller, more complex arrangements. In doing so, they helped codify the pummeling yet intellectual aesthetic of what was soon dubbed math rock: textured, patterned soundscapes built on the controlled, precise use of abrasive noise and high volume. Although Rodan's existence was short, producing only one album, their impact on math rock and post-rock was far-reaching; what was more, most of the members moved on to new projects that were often just as challenging, whether they resembled Rodan's musical modus operandi or not.Rodan were formed in Louisville, KY, in 1992 by guitarists Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who'd been playing together since high school and had gone to art school before deciding to concentrate on music. They enlisted bassist Tara Jane O'Neil, and initially dubbed themselves Kinkhead International. With the arrival of drummer Jon Cook -- also a member of local stalwarts Crain -- they switched their name to Rodan, after the pterodactyl character in the Godzilla monster movies. Still committed to Crain as his primary gig, Cook didn't stick around for long; he was replaced briefly by Jon Weiss, then permanently by Kevin Coultas.

Rodan made their recorded debut as part of the four-song various-artists 7" Inclined Plane, on Tsunami's Simple Machines label (their track was "Darjeeling"). It was followed by a one-off single for Three Little Girls called How the Winter Was Passed, which featured two tracks, "Milk and Melancholy" and "Exoskeleton." With the help of that work and the self-released cassette Aviary, Rodan landed a deal with Touch & Go Records subsidiary Quarterstick. They issued their debut album, Rusty, in the spring of 1994, taking its title from engineer Bob "Rusty" Weston. It received highly positive reviews and fairly widespread press attention, quickly turning the group into a cult phenomenon. Surprisingly, they elected to disband by the end of 1994, perhaps overwhelmed by the response. They still managed to appear in the indie-themed film Half Cocked, with O'Neil playing one of the lead characters; Rodan also contributed one song, "Tron," to the soundtrack.Rodan's early breakup only served to enhance their cult reputation, as did the band members' subsequent projects. Jeff Mueller formed June of 44, which continued in a similar -- if more conventionally structured -- fashion as Rodan, and released several albums over the rest of the '90s. Tara Jane O'Neil teamed with Cynthia Nelson (ex-Ruby Falls) in the indie pop outfit Retsin, which also issued several albums. Jason Noble formed the post-rock chamber trio Rachel's, which enjoyed a level of acclaim that generally matched or exceeded that of Rodan. Kevin Coultas played with Rachel's for a short time, as well as Thalia Zedek's Come, before reuniting with O'Neil in the Sonora Pine (which also featured June of 44 guitarist Sean Meadows). O'Neil embarked on a solo career in 2000, while Mueller and Noble simultaneously reunited in the Shipping News.

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