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Shellac

MUSIC

Math rock band from Chicago, IL, formed 1992. See also Big Black, Rapeman.

  • Steve Albini -- Vocals, guitar
  • Bob Weston -- Vocals, bass
  • Todd Trainer -- Drums

NameOccupationBirthDeathKnown for
Steve Albini
Music Producer
22-Jul-1962   Big Black, Rapeman, Shellac

DISCOGRAPHY

The Rude Gesture: A Pictorial History (1993, Touch & Go)
A1The Guy Who Invented Fire
A2Rambler Song
BBilliard Player Song

Seven-inch. Bass parts are played by Camilo Gonzalez, original bassist for Chicago punk band Naked Raygun. Each seven-inch cover has been hand-assembled, stamped, and smeared with a gooey brown substance -- allegedly actual Shellac, but in reality, root beer syrup.

Uranus (1993, Touch & Go)
ADoris
BWingwalker

Seven-inch. Doris is the name of the mother of David Yow, singer for Chicago punk band The Jesus Lizard.

The Bird is the Most Popular Finger (1994, Drag City)
AThe Admiral
BXVI

Seven-inch. "The Admiral" is a track from the subsequent album At Action Park. "XVI" is later titled "Pull the Cup" on the same album. Title refers to the Six Finger Satellite album The Pigeon is the Most Popular Bird (1993).

At Action Park (1994, Touch & Go)
A1My Black Ass
A2Pull the Cup
A3The Admiral
A4Crow
A5Song of the Minerals
B1A Minute
B2The Idea of the North
B3Dog and Pony Show
B4Boche's Dick
B5Il Porno Star

Their first full-length album. "Boche's Dick" is a reference to Chicago promoter Boche Billions (David T. Viecelli). "The Admiral" is the name of a Chicago strip club.

Shellac Live in Tokyo (1994, NUX Organization)
1The Guy Who Invented Fire
2Rambler Song
3The Admiral
4My Black Ass
5Song of the Minerals
6Billiard Player Song
7Dog & Pony Show
8Il Porno Star
9Doris
10Wingwalker
11Boche's Dick
12Crow

Live album released only in Japan by NUX, record label of K.K. Null (guitarist for Japanese noise-rock band Zeni Geva). Recorded live on November 20, 1993.

Billiardspielerlied (1995, Self-released)
ABilliardspielerlied
BMantel

Free seven-inch released on August 24, 1995 at a festival in Bremen, Germany. The record notes are all in German, and in fact the band is listed as SHELLACK. "Billiardspielerlied" is a live version of "Billiard Player Song" recorded at Fallout Comedy Club, Chicago on July 2, 1995. "Mantel" ("coat") is a cut-up live track of the band asked an Amsterdam festival audience to help Bob Weston locate his girlfriend's stolen coat.

Sides 1-4 (1995, Skin Graft/Gasoline Boost)
AJailbreak (Shellac)
BT.N.T. (Big'n)
CAngus Dei Aus Licht (Brise-Glace)
DSin City (U.S. Maple)

Double split seven-inch release, an AC/DC tribute. Accompanies the comic book "Skin Graft Stupid War".

Soul Sound Single (1997, Touch & Go)
AThe Rambler Song (Shellac)
BBeauteous (Mule)

Split seven-inch with Mule. "The Rambler Song" is a slowed down, soul version of the song.

The Futurist (1997, Self-released)
ASide A
BSide B

Vinyl-only album of music composed for LA LA HUMAN STEPS, a Montreal dance company. The band pressed copies of this record and gave them out to their friends. The cover of the album lists 779 friends' names. Each friend who received a copy of this album had their name circled on the cover, ostensibly to track fan-trading. The music consists of ambient math rock soundscapes without vocals (or they might be mixed too low).

Terraform (1998, Touch & Go)
A1Didn't We Deserve a Look at You the Way You Really Are
A2This is a Picture
A3Disgrace
B1Mouthpiece
B2Canada
B3Rush Job
B4House Full of Garbage
B5Copper

Futuristic cover art by Chesley Bonestell. The first track is 12 minutes long.

1000 Hurts (2000, Touch & Go)
A1Prayer to God
A2Squirrel Song
A3Mama Gina
A4QRJ
A5Ghosts
B1Song Against Itself
B2Canaveral
B3New Number Order
B4Shoe Song
B5Watch Song

The vinyl edition includes a copy of the album on CD. Todd sings on this one.

Agostino (2000, Self-released)
AAgostino (Shellac)
BThe Safeword (Caesar)

Split seven-inch with Dutch noise-rock band Caesar. 1250 copies included with the comic book Barbaraal, issue #4, "Sex, Drugs and Strips" by Dutch cartoonist Barbara Stok. The title refers to Agostino Tilotta, guitarist for Uzeda.

Excellent Italian Greyhound (2007, Touch & Go)
1The End Of Radio
2Steady As She Goes
3Be Prepared
4Elephant
5Genuine Lullabelle
6Kittypants
7Boycott
8Paco
9Spoke

Album named for Todd's dog: "Uffizi is an Italian greyhound and 'excellent Italian greyhound' is a phrase I use to praise him. It caught on and we use it for everything, for instance if a hotel room is luxurious we may say, 'excellent Italian greyhound.'"

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