Cloud Nothings
Cloud Nothings | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 2009[1] | –present
Labels |
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Members |
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Past members |
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Website | cloudnothings |
Cloud Nothings is an American indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio, United States, founded by singer-songwriter Dylan Baldi. It currently consists of lead singer and guitarist Dylan Baldi, drummer Jayson Gerycz, and bassist Chris Brown.
Beginning in 2009, the band originally started as a solo project, with Baldi recording both vocals and instrumentals in his parents' basement, although he performed live with a full band.[3] The band was signed to Washington, D.C.-based Carpark Records. They are now signed to Pure Noise Records. Their breakthrough album, Attack on Memory, was released on Carpark in 2012. Their next LP, Here and Nowhere Else, was released on April 1, 2014. Cloud Nothings' album Life Without Sound was released on January 27, 2017. This was followed by Last Building Burning, released on October 19, 2018, the Bandcamp exclusive The Black Hole Understands on July 3, 2020, and The Shadow I Remember on February 26, 2021.
Baldi has cited numerous bands and artists as influences, including Wipers,[4][5] the Lemonheads,[6] the Forms, Life Without Buildings, Women, No Age, Deerhunter,[7] Black Sabbath, Nina Hagen, Killdozer, Zounds, Thin Lizzy, Swell Maps.[8]
History
Formation (2009)
In 2009, Baldi spent his first semester as a freshman at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, with a major in music/audio recording technology. During weekends, Baldi returned to his parents' basement in Westlake, Ohio, to record music using GarageBand.[9] He later created several fake bands, each with their own Myspace page on which Baldi featured his original music. Baldi created the music "for personal enjoyment, to see if I could write a song that was better than the last song I wrote."[1] One of the fake bands Baldi created was Cloud Nothings. Underground rock promoter Todd Patrick, from New York City, invited the band to perform at Market Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, opening for the bands Woods and Real Estate. The invitation prompted Baldi to gather a band for the performance in December 2009. Realizing the potential success of the band, Baldi dropped out of college. He wrote an e-mail to his parents that explained his decision to work in music full-time. "They were cool with it," explained Baldi. "They trusted me. They've been supportive of me."[10]
Turning On (2010)
Cloud Nothings' music caught the attention of Kevin Greenspan at Bridgetown Records who offered to release the 8 song EP Turning On featuring the single "Hey Cool Kid". A month later Speaker Tree Records released a vinyl edition of Turning On with an additional track (Strummin'). Carpark Records signed Cloud Nothings as a one-man band in 2010 and released an expanded Turning On now featuring 13 songs. Uncut's John Robinson awarded Turning On 4 stars saying the music was "tuneful, witty and sounds fantastic". Spin's Josh Modell wrote that "Baldi has a melodic knack that approaches Guided By Voices at their prime". The single "Didn't You" was featured in the 2013 film "Chlorine".
Cloud Nothings (2011)
Following American and European tours Baldi worked with producer Chester Gwazda in his Baltimore studio and released Cloud Nothings in January 2011.
Attack on Memory (2012–2013)
The band's third album,
Here And Nowhere Else and No Life for Me (2014–2015)
Their fourth album, Here and Nowhere Else was recorded with producer John Congleton at Water Music Studios and released April 1, 2014 on Carpark Records. The same day, they released the album's first single, "I'm Not Part of Me." and its accompanying video. The album was given an 8.7 out of 10 on Pitchfork and titled "Best New Music". Here and Nowhere Else reached No. 2 on the CMJ Radio charts and was favorably reviewed in a wide variety of music publications including Rolling Stone (3 1/2 stars) and Spin (8/10). Cloud Nothings again toured Europe, Australia, Japan and performed at a number of festivals including Bonnaroo, Pitchfork and the 2015 Coachella Music Festival. The single "I'm Not Part of Me" is featured on the 2015 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 soundtrack and in the 2016 film Almost Friends.
No Life for Me an album by Wavves and Cloud Nothings was released in Europe on June 28, 2015, and worldwide on June 29, 2015.[17]
Life Without Sound (2016–2017)
Their fifth album,
Last Building Burning (2018–2019)
Their sixth studio album, entitled
The Black Hole Understands (2020)
About a month into quarantine, Dylan Baldi and Jayson Gerycz started sending files back and forth, with guitars, bass and vocals recorded in Philadelphia while drums and mixing happened in Cleveland. The Black Hole Understands was self-released July 3, 2020 on Bandcamp. Pitchfork rated it 7.5/10, stating: "Despite being recorded in an era of unthinkable instability, it is the most assuredly melodic Cloud Nothings has sounded in years" and "Backed by gleaming harmonies, Cloud Nothings make the dulled ennui of everyday life sound like an escapist fantasy".[22] NME awarded the album four stars, saying "It might be this sense of willing a better situation into existence that makes The Black Hole Understands such a vibrant, melody-packed joy".[23]
The Shadow I Remember and Final Summer (2021–present)
In October 2020, the band announced a new studio album, The Shadow I Remember. The announcement was accompanied by a new single, "Am I Something."
On November 1, 2023, it was announced that Cloud Nothings had signed to
Members
Current
- Dylan Baldi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2009–present), lead guitar (2009–2010, 2013–2016, 2023–present), bass, drums (2009–2010)
- Jayson Gerycz – drums (2010–present)
- Chris Brown – bass (2023–present), backing vocals (2016–present), lead guitar, keyboards (2016–2023)
Former
- Joe Boyer – lead guitar, backing vocals (2010–2013)
- TJ Duke – bass, backing vocals (2010–2022)
- Noah Depew – bass (2022–2023)
Timeline
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [32] |
US Alt. [33] |
US Indie [34] |
US Rock [35] |
AUS Hit. [36] |
BEL (FL) [37] |
BEL (WA) [38] |
UK Indie [39] |
UK Rec. [39] |
|||||
Cloud Nothings |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Attack on Memory |
|
121 | 25 | 21 | 37 | — | — | — | 41 | — | — | ||
Here and Nowhere Else |
|
50 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 80 | — | 30 | 26 | — | ||
Life Without Sound |
|
—[A] | — | 15 | — | — | — | 103 | 48 | 18 | 19 | ||
Last Building Burning |
|
—[B] | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | —[C] | — | — | ||
The Black Hole Understands |
|
—[D] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
The Shadow I Remember |
|
—[E] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | ||
Final Summer |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Live albums
- Live at the Grog Shop (2012)
- live at red palace (2022)
Bandcamp bootleg series
- Live @ Webster Hall, NYC 1/2/17 (2020)
- Live @ WFMU 12/1/18 (2020)
- Live @ Underground, Cologne 5/17/14 (2020)
- Live @ The Social, Orlando 4/21/14 (2020)
- Live @ The Riot Room, Kansas City4/29/14 (2020)
- Live @ The Grog Shop, Cleveland4/5/12 (2020)
- Live @ The Button Factory, Dublin 5/24/14 (2020)
- Live @ Scala, London 5/27/14 (2020)
- Live @ Mohawk, Austin 4/26/14 (2020)
- Live @ Melkweg, Amsterdam 5/19/14 (2020)
- Live @ Lowlands Festival, Holland8/17/12 (2020)
- Live @ Loppen, Copenhagen 5/15/14 (2020)
- Live @ Les Nuits Botanique, Brussels 5/18/14 (2020)
- Live @ Landmark, Bergen 5/12/14 (2020)
- Live @ La Fleche d'Or, Paris 5/20/14 (2020)
- Live @ Knitting Factory, NYC 6/24/10 (2020)
- Live @ KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic 2/22/17 (2020)
- Live @ John Dee, Oslo 5/13/14 (2020)
- Live @ Gasa Gasa, NOLA4/24/14 (2020)
- Live @ Fitzgeralds, Houston4/25/14 (2020)
- Live @ Daytrotter 8/5/10 (2020)
- Live @ Cypress Avenue, Cork 5/28/14 (2020)
- Live @ Crowbar, Tampa 4/22/14 (2020)
- Live @ Cat's Cradle, Carrboro4/17/14 (2020)
- Live @ Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 5/26/14 (2020)
- Live @ Bells Brewery, Kalamazoo1/15/15 (2020)
Collaborative albums
- No Life for Me (with Wavves) (2015)
Bandcamp exclusive albums
- Life is Only One Event (2020)
EPs
- Turning On (2009; re-released 2010 and 2021)
Bandcamp exclusive EPs
- August 2020 (2020)
- September 2020 (2020)
- October 2020 (2020)
- November 2020 (2020)
- December 2020 (2020)
- January 2021 (2021)
- February 2021 (2021)
- March 2021 (2021)
- April 2021 (2021)
- May 2021 (2021)
- June 2021 (2021)
- July 2021 (2021)
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEX Air. [43] |
|||||||
"Hey Cool Kid"[45] | 2010 | — | 87 | Turning On | |||
"Didn't You"[46] | — | — | non-album single | ||||
"Should Have"[47] | 2011 | — | 51 | Cloud Nothings | |||
"Understand At All"[48] | — | — | |||||
"Nothing's Wrong"[49] | — | — | |||||
"Forget You All the Time"[50] | — | — | |||||
"For No Reason"[51] | — | — | non-album single | ||||
"No Future/No Past"[52] | 2012 | — | — | Attack on Memory | |||
"Stay Useless"[53] | — | — | |||||
"Fall In"[54] | — | — | |||||
"I'm Not Part of Me" | 2014 | 50 | — | Here and Nowhere Else | |||
"Now Hear In"[55] | 42 | — | |||||
"Psychic Trauma"[56] | — | — | |||||
"Modern Act"[57] | 2016 | — | — | Life Without Sound | |||
"Internal World"[58] | 2017 | — | — | ||||
"Up To the Surface"[59] | — | — | |||||
"The Echo of the World"[60] | 2018 | — | — | Last Building Burning | |||
"Leave Him Now"[61] | — | — | |||||
"So Right So Clean"[62] | — | — | |||||
"Am I Something"[63] | 2020 | — | — | The Shadow I Remember | |||
"The Spirit Of"[64] | — | — | |||||
"Nothing Without You"[65] | 2021 | — | — | ||||
"Final Summer"[66] | 2023 | — | — | Final Summer | |||
"Running Through The Campus"[67] | 2024 | — | — | ||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Notes
- ^ Life Without Sound did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 60 on the US Album Sales Chart.[41]
- ^ Last Building Burning did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 98 on the US Top Current Album Sales Chart.[42]
- ^ Last Building Burning did not enter the UK Independent Albums chart, but peaked at number 14 on the UK Independent Album Breakers chart.[39]
- ^ The Black Hole Understands did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 78 on the US Top Current Album Sales Chart.[42]
- ^ The Shadow I Remember did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 65 on the US Album Sales Chart.[41]
See also
References
- ^ a b Soeder, John (January 23, 2011). "Dylan Baldi's Cloud Nothings Take Cyberspace by Storm with Lo-Fi, Highly Catchy Indie rock". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ Christgau, Robert (March 29, 2012). "Cloud Nothings: Touched by Grace". MSN Music. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- A.V. Club. Archivedfrom the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
I did, for the first time, listen to The Wipers, about a year ago, and they've since become one of my favorite bands. They were a huge influence on this record, and they have some heavier moments. And I guess I've always listened to music that is heavier, but I've never chosen to be influenced by it in what I'm writing. (...) [T]hey've influenced the songwriting, just in that I really structured those songs exactly in the way Greg Sage structures his songs. The way it flows from one part to the next is really Wipers-y. And also I got really into his guitar tone, and the way he plays guitar, and I think I may have picked up some of that. That's on our record, too.
- ^ Terich, Jeff (February 21, 2021). "Dylan Baldi picks the 10 best Cloud Nothings songs". treblezine.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
It reminds me of, during that time, I was basically trying to be The Wipers. That was my goal as a human—to make Wipers albums. And I wasn't really capable of doing that, but this is our take on that. It has that darkness to it, but the chorus is this big celebratory thing. To me it is a single, or could have been but isn't as obviously melodic I guess. (...) Because like I said, I was just trying to rip off the Wipers for two years of my life. I even went as far as buying guitars and amps that I saw photos of Greg Sage using in the '70s and '80s. And this was kind of like me saying I can have these influences but I can make something where someone says "that sounds like Cloud Nothings" rather than just trying to copy another band.
- ^ Gourlay, Dom (February 14, 2014). ""Lyrically the new album is very much about me": DiS meets Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Daly, Andrew (October 20, 2020). "An Interview with Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings". vwmusicrocks.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
Recently I've been going back to the music I used to listen to 10 or so years ago and seeing which stuff I still really enjoy. I feel like those albums are the ones that really stuck with me and influenced me, whether I was really aware of it or not. Some of them are The Forms – The Forms, Life Without Buildings – Any Other City, Women – Public Strain, No Age – Weirdo Rippers, and Deerhunter – Cryptograms.
- ^ "MIXTAPE: Cloud Nothings: featuring Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy & Swell Maps". godisinthetvzine.co.uk. 2011. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (January 2011). "Cloud Nothings at the Basement". Columbus Alive. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Duffel, Kevin (April 12, 2012). "Reverb: Cloud Nothings". Transworld Skateboarding. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Case, Wesley (March 29, 2012). "Indie Band Cloud Nothings Opts for a Cleaner, Clearer Sound – Singer Dylan Baldi Won Fans with Bedroom Recordings, and Then Ditched the Lo-Fi Reputation". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Ward A. (January 24, 2011). "Album Review: Cloud Nothings – Cloud Nothings (Wichita) – Dylan Baldi Matures from His Scuzzy Lo-Fi Origins with Pop Nous and Fizzy Hooks Intact". NME. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Lillis, Peter (February 9, 2012). "Time to Stay Useless: A Review of Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory". Frontpsych.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Coughlan, Jamie (June 29, 2015). "Cloud Nothings + Wavves Release Collab LP 'No Life For Me'". Overblown.co.uk. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings – Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (October 12, 2016). "Cloud Nothings Announce Album Life Without Sound, Share New Song "Modern Act": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings may have created one of the punk albums of the year". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings: Last Building Burning". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings: The Black Hole Understands". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings - 'The Black Hole Understands' review". Nme.com. July 7, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (October 13, 2020). "Cloud Nothings Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings Return Lean and Introspective on The Shadow I Remember: Review". consequence.net. February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings - The Shadow I Remember | Reviews". Diymag.com. February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings: The Shadow I Remember". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "'The Shadow I Remember' Is the Quintessential Cloud Nothings Album". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings announce 'Attack on Memory' 10th anniversary vinyl & tour". July 11, 2022.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings Signs to Pure Noise". November 6, 2023.
- ^ Cocoran, Nina. "Cloud Nothings Announce New Album Final Summer, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Report: Issue 1260" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Belgian Positions (Vlaanderen)". Ultratop.be. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "Belgian Positions (Wallonie)". Ultratop.be. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Cloud Nothings songs and albums - full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music (US). Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Current Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "Cloud Nothings – Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ Peaks in UK Physical Singles Chart:
- "Hey Cool Kid": "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 – 24 October 2010 – 30 October 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- "Should Have": "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 – 23 January 2011 – 29 January 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ "Hey Cool Kid by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Didn't You - Single by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Should Have - Single by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Understand At All by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Nothing's Wrong by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Forget You All the Time by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "I Will Talk to You / For No Reason - Single by Toro y Moi & Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "No Future / No Past by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Stay Useless by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Fall In by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Now Hear In by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Psychic Trauma by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Modern Act by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Internal World by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Up To the Surface by Cloud Nothings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ Kim, Michelle (August 13, 2018). "Cloud Nothings Announce New Album Last Building Burning, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork.com.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (September 18, 2018). "Cloud Nothings - "Leave Him Now"". Stereogum.com. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Aviles, Gwen. "Cloud Nothings - "So Right So Clean"". SPIN.com. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (October 13, 2020). "Cloud Nothings Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork.com.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 17, 2020). "Cloud Nothings - "The Spirit Of"". Stereogum.com.
- ^ Aviles, Gwen (February 2, 2021). "Cloud Nothings - "So Right So Clean"". Stereogum.com.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (November 1, 2023). "Cloud Nothings - "Final Summer"". BrooklynVegan.com.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (February 28, 2024). "Cloud Nothings - "Running Through The Campus"". Stereogum.com.