Artist bio
Craig Wedren's flailing operatic tenor, Nathan Larson's big rock riffing, and the group's surreal, often incomprehensible songs all helped make Shudder To Think a love-it-or-hate-it proposition throughout the '90s. But for those willing to indulge the Washington, D.C.-originated band's many quirks, the sonic rewards were plentiful. One of the strangest acts ever signed to Dischord Records (and one of only two, with Jawbox, to later leave for a major label), Shudder To Think almost dared you to take its music seriously. On mind-blowing albums such as 1992's Get Your Goat and its stupendous centerpiece, "Pebbles," the band sounds like Queen one second and Fugazi the next. Both the hard rock and artiness quotients were off the chart by 1994's Pony Express Record, released by Epic at the zenith of the we’ll-sign-anything period in major-labeldom (Shudder had toured with and been championed by such acts as Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Foo Fighters). Unsurprisingly, the group was simply too weird to make much commercial headway, and its 1997 swan song, 50,000 B.C., traded all the distinctive traits for an inferior, overly polished sound. Still, it did little to tarnish Shudder To Think's legacy as one of the most original rock bands of its generation.
Albums by this artist
50,000 B.C. (1997)
Pony Express Record (Recommended) (1994)
Your Choice Live Series (1993)
Get Your Goat (Recommended) (1992)
Shudder To Think
50,000 B.C.
» GREG PEREZ | NATN ART DIRECTOR
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Shudder To Think
50,000 B.C.
Epic, 1997
RiYL: Dismemberment Plan, Elvis Costello, Jeff Buckley |
You can either love or loathe Shudder To Think.
The awkward combination of Craig Wedren's sinewy operatic vocals and the band's insistence on screwy, dissonant songwriting could send you screaming out of the room or leave you transfixed in a giddy, confused way.
With its fifth album, Shudder To Think whittles down the complexity and general scariness of its previous and best album,
Pony Express Record. The result is
50,000 B.C., a beautifully warped pop record which breathes with optimism and spirit while churning out stabbing melodies.
There's a wink of nostalgia and tenderness throughout. Songs like "The Saddest Day Of My Life," "All Eyes Are Different" and "Resident Wine" are pure rock candy, with tinges of girl-group cheese and Elvis Costello melodrama.
But "The Man Who Rolls," with its looping Mobius Strip chorus, and the glorious "Hop On One Foot" are near-perfect Shudder anthems, proving that the band still wants to challenge listeners, as well as themselves.
As it turned out though, the album stiffed with fans and at retail, and after scoring two films, Shudder disbanded for good.
GREG PEREZ | Those that know this man -- as friend, NATN designer and/or Asian Millionaire -- love him. You can check out his site or email him and give him thoughts on our site's design. 