Wow to the Deadness
Wow to the Deadness | ||||
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Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil | ||||
Released | February 5, 2016 | |||
Recorded | June 8–11, 2015 | |||
Studio | Electrical Audio, Chicago, United States | |||
Genre | Punk rock | |||
Length | 15:13 | |||
Label | Splint, Sounds Familyre | |||
Producer | Steve Albini | |||
Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil chronology | ||||
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Danielson chronology | ||||
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Wow to the Deadness is an EP by Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil, a temporary collaboration between the supergroup Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil and Daniel Smith of Danielson. Recorded in 2015 at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois, and produced by Steve Albini, the EP was released on February 5, 2016, through Steve Taylor's Splint Entertainment and Smith's Sounds Familyre Records.
Background and recording
During the promotional tour for the album Goliath in 2014, Steve Taylor & The Perfect foil were supported by Danielson. The idea of a collaboration between the two groups emerged, and in June 2015, when the tour came through Chicago, Daniel Smith of Danielson joined Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil in a collaborative recording effort at Steve Albini's studio Electrical Audio.[1][2] A Kickstarter was launched for the EP, raising $55,633 USD.[3]
Taylor stated that during the collaboration, the only rule was "If it sounds like something we’ve already done, we throw it out."[2] In an interview with Buddyhead Radio, Albini commented on the process: "Dan Smith just put together this ad hoc band with a singer named Steve Taylor... ...They play this really rowdy punk rock. And that record is fucked-up and great. I didn’t expect that kind of music out of them, and I certainly didn’t expect it to be as awesome as it was. I was expecting it to be charming or interesting, but it ended up being really raucous and really great."[2]
Promotion and release
On December 10, 2015, Guitar World premiered the title track from the EP, making it available for streaming.
Music style
Critics described the overall sound of Wow to the Deadness as furious, chaotic punk rock.
Jesus Freak Hideout described "The Dust Patrol" as "raw punk rock" and "Wow to the Deadness" as an "acoustic rock jam", with "Nonchalant" serving as the only
8 signature during the verses and a driving 4
4 time on the chorus.[11]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Cross Rhythms | [5] |
Drowned in Sound | 7/10[11] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [9] [12] |
The Phantom Tollbooth | [10] [13] |
Wow to the Deadness was enthusiastically received by critics. Mike Rimmer from Cross Rhythms gave the EP a full ten-out-of-ten rating. He concluded that "On paper, you'd never have guessed that the marriage of Taylor and Danielson's music would produce something that works this well, but Wow!"[5] Drowned in Sound's Haydon Spenceley rated that EP seven-out-of-ten, describing the recording as "one of 2016's most beguiling and potentially intimidating musical debuts."[11] Lucas Munachen of Jesus Freak Hideout awarded the EP four-and-a-half stars out of five, finding the music fun and enjoyable and the lyricism impressive.[9] Though he felt that the EP was a little short, he concluded that it "will no doubt keep listeners riotously dancing until Taylor pulls out another surprise record from the shadows."[9] Michael Weaver of Jesus Freak Hideout also awarded the album four-and-a-half stars out of five, remarking that "This EP will likely end up being more of a niche project, but it's stellar nonetheless."[12] DW. Dunphy of Popdose was also highly favorable to the EP, praising the experimentation and diversity of the recording and opining that "I don't know if this collective would have worked nearly as effectively had this been a full album effort. Six relatively short, and shockingly punk, tunes go down remarkably well — a surprise kick to the shins and exit, stage right."[8] Bert Saraco of The Phantom Tollbooth rated Wow to the Deadness four-and-a-half stars out of five, finding that the EP should prove "a total delight for fans of the more extreme side of both Steve Taylor and Daniel Smith."[10]
Track listing
Pre-order download
NB "Drats" was named "Drat" in the download
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Drat" | 2:49 |
2. | "The Dust Patrol" | 1:59 |
3. | "A Muse" | 2:31 |
4. | "Nonchalant" | 3:00 |
5. | "Wait Up Downstep" | 2:28 |
6. | "Wow to the Deadness" | 2:33 |
Release version
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Wow to the Deadness" | 2:34 |
2. | "Wait Up Downstep" | 2:28 |
3. | "The Dust Patrol" | 2:00 |
4. | "Nonchalant" | 3:01 |
5. | "A Muse" | 2:17 |
6. | "Drats" | 2:53 |
References
- Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Damian, Fanelli (December 10, 2015). "Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil Premiere New Song, "Wow to the Deadness" — Exclusive". Guitar World. NewBay Media. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Steve. "Steve Taylor & the Danielson Foil "Wow to the Deadness" EP". Kickstarter. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ Wolfgang's Vault. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Rimmer, Mike (August 16, 2016). "Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil - Wow To The Deadness". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- ^ "Wow to the Deadness by Steve Taylor & the Perfect Foil". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil (2016-04-03), "Nonchalant" - Steve Taylor & the Danielson Foil, retrieved 2016-04-20
- ^ a b c d e Dunphy, Dw. (February 3, 2016). "CD Review: Steve Taylor And The Danielson Foil, "Wow To The Deadness E.P."". Popdose. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Munachen, Lucas (February 1, 2016). "Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil, "Wow To The Deadness EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Saraco, Bert (February 8, 2016). "Steve Taylor and The Danielson Foil – Wow To The Deadness". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Spenceley, Haydon (April 25, 2016). "Ep Review: Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil - Wow to the Deadness". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- ^ a b Weaver, Michael (February 11, 2016). "Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil, "Wow To The Deadness EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ Smith, Brian A. (April 11, 2016). "Steve Taylor and The Danielson Foil – Wow To The Deadness (EP) (Smith)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved April 13, 2016.