Forgotten Songs of the '90s: Earth to Andy

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: Earth to Andy

You may have noticed by now that there are more forgotten songs from the ‘90s than in any other decade listed on this blog. That’s because, to me, the ‘90s were the best time for music and a time when the record labels released so many albums that more than a few were bound to be forgotten. In 1999, Giant Records signed Earth To Andy, out of Charlottesville, VA and positioned them to be one of the great white hopes for rock music. They definitely had their chance but the label didn’t push as hard as they should have so now I am trying to rectify that situation by trying to introduce people to the music.

“Still After You,” the first single from their major-label debut Chronicle Kings is one of the loudest and coolest rock songs of the last half of the decade. The song kicks off with one of the greatest guitar licks of the century and it just goes from there. When frontman Andy Waldeck comes in with a gravelly tone, you know it’s on. The rhythm section falls in line with Andy and guitarist Tony Lopacinski and together they all form a miraculous sonic collage that sounds better each time you listen to it.

Chronicle Kings is one of the loudest, most abrasive rock records of the ‘90s and it’s a damn shame it never got its fair share. The band signed to Giant the same time they also signed a Richmond, VA band, Pat McGee Band. They ended up getting more push from the label and ended up having a longer career. That’s not a slap to them but Earth To Andy should’ve gotten more of a push. The band ended up fighting their way through and ended up connecting a bit; “Still After You” managed one or two weeks at the bottom of Billboard’s national rock chart and they ended up touring with Stone Temple Pilots, who’s bassist, Robert DeLeo plays acoustic guitar on the intro to “Still After You.” But it wasn’t enough; with the label pushing Steely Dan and Disturbed, the band didn’t have much of a chance.

The label released a poorly chosen second single and then let the band wither away. They attempted to find another label, playing an industry showcase, on September 10, 2001. Needless to say, it didn’t happen and they ended up recording their final album, Sticks to Landing on their own. They ended up calling it quits in 2002 but the music still lives. So enjoy the creepy video for “Still After You” and just relax as the song leaves a memory that’ll never go away.

http://video.aol.com/show/earth-to-andy

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An Interview with Too Much Joy

Image
Back in the late 80s, goof-pop was everywhere, thanks to the likes of the Dead Milkmen, early Ween and New York's own Too Much Joy. Songs like "If I Was a Mekon," "Making Fun of Bums," "Take a Lot of Drugs" and the immortal "Clowns." Bands like this did not come around that often and when they did, they usually didn't stick around long. Fortunately for TMJ, their songs and legacy have endured because of their website, http://www.toomuchjoy.com/ and through the work of frontman Tim Quirk, who now works for Rhapsody. The following are two interviews conducted in about 2008 with Mr. Quirk as well as drummer/former NYC cop Tommy Vinton. Tim's Interview: What was it like when you guys got started? Depends what you mean by “it.” The business was radically different – it was a lot more difficult (and expensive) to record quality-sounding material, but since that meant there were fewer other releases to compete with, it was much easier than ...
Read more

The Wondertruck Crashed: The Tale of Mary's Danish and David King

Image
             Mary’s Danish were one of those bands that never made it. They were popular in the L.A. scene in which they were spawned but through a variety of reasons they never hit it big like their friends in Jane’s Addiction or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. What follows is a sad tale of unfortunate errors and mistakes that doomed a really great band to the dustbin of obscurity.              The band formed in the mid-‘80s by a group of friends: singers Julie Ritter and Gretchen Seager, guitarists Matt Colleran and David King and bassist Chris ‘Wag’ Wagner. The band were a little bit of everything including indie rock, alt rock, some surf influences and loads of funk to go around. They blended all of these together in a tasty stew that soon began to attract attention. After working with a series of drummers, Nick Ziegler was drafted in and the band began to attract a heavy fanbase throughout California. The band eventu...
Read more

In Rapture: A Conversation with Chadwick Salls (Seed/Color)

Image
Seed Discography: ling  (Mechanic/Giant, 1994) Color Discography: Are You With Me? (Melisma/Arista, 2001) Following-up with notable musicians I've chatted with previously has become a new favorite thing to do. Up next is Chadwick Salls, best known as the bassist/singer in two different bands, Seed and Color. While neither band lasted very long, caught in the wheels of major label indifference, they managed to carve out their path and establish notable fanbases. Salls has gone on to establish his own career on his own terms and was happy to take a fuller look back with me at both of his bands and where he is now. Pete Crigler: When did you first become interested in music? Chadwick Salls: As far back as I can remember! I was under 5-years-old and I remember reaching up as high as I could to hit the keys because I couldn't get up on the bench. The verse of "It's Only Love" by The Beatles was the first thing I picked out by ear and after teaching for so many years,...
Read more