Stagnant Pools’ sophomore album is out on Polyvinyl Records. Geist is available now on CD, LP, digitally and cassette and can be ordered now in the Polyvinyl online store. Last week, The AV Club published an exclusive album stream and said Geist should be of interest to fans of Joy Division, Sonic Youth, and The Jesus And Mary Chain.”
Earlier, this spring Stereogum premiered “You Whir” from Geist and said the track “sounds something like Swans on an MBV kick.” The Aquarian Weekly recently said, “From beginning to end, this full-length continues to raise the bar higher and higher from each transition. And by the time you reach the end of this celestial record, it is guaranteed that you want to listen to Geist over and over again on constant repeat.” Stagnant Pools is currently on tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. All upcoming shows are listed below.
“A revitalized take on noise-rock that honors the originating genre while eschewing its occasionally stifling boundaries.” – Consequence Of Sound“A tar-thick mix of Joy Division moroseness and Sonic Youth squall” – Pitchfork
Following the release of their debut full-length Temporary Room in the fall of 2012, Stagnant Pools embarked on several high profile tours supporting the likes of David Bazan, Maximo Park, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Japandroids and more.
All that time spent on the road exposed brothers Bryan (guitar/vocals) and Douglass Enas (drums) to a world outside their Indiana-based upbringing and introduced them to a slew of like-minded people. The experience of playing so many shows also gave the sibling duo a fresh perspective on their strengths and weaknesses as a band, feedback the pair took to heart while spending last year working on new material.
Listen: “You Whir” via Stereogum
Stream: Geist at The AV Club
In January the siblings traveled two hours from their hometown of Indianapolis to the Champaign, IL-based studio run by Hum guitarist/vocalist Matt Talbott — a short trip that quickly grew hazardous when a blizzard blanketed the region with snow, temperatures dipped further below zero than they had in decades, and roadsides became littered with stranded vehicles. After braving this grueling display of nature to arrive intact, the band hunkered down to finish their sophomore release, Geist. Four days later, they emerged having spent two days recording and two days mixing the record — all completely analog.
The result is ten songs that refine and expand on a shoegaze-meets-noise pop sound that has previously drawn comparisons to Joy Divison, Sonic Youth, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Lead single “Intentions” continues in this tradition of pushing droning guitars barely over the edge into melody and amping up the fuzz and distortion without becoming submerged in it. Geist is anchored by “Filed Down,” a track that showcases increased vocal variety and spastic drumming, and highlighted by “Dots and Lines,” where a sunny guitar line shines brightly on a soaring chorus and persistent drum beat.
Recording the album live to tape will surely prove to have been good practice, because now that the album’s complete all that’s left to do is pile back in the van and hit the road again. “There’s something affirming about touring a lot,” says Douglass. “It’s kind of a concrete way of knowing that you are in forward motion.”
Track List
1. You Whirr
2. To Begin
3. Geist
4. Intentions
5. Filed Down
6. Ever So
7. His Head Was Warm
8. Dots And Lines
9. Decoder
10. Brute
7. His Head Was Warm
8. Dots And Lines
9. Decoder
10. Brute
Stagnant Pools Tour Dates
06.10 Iowa City, IA @ The Mill *
06.11 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club *
06.12 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater *
06.13 Chicago, IL @ Taste of Randolph *
06.14 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *
06.16 Toronto, Ontario @ Horseshoe Tavern *
06.17 Montreal, Quebec @ Il Motore *
06.18 Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
06.21 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
06.22 Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
06.12 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater *
06.13 Chicago, IL @ Taste of Randolph *
06.14 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *
06.16 Toronto, Ontario @ Horseshoe Tavern *
06.17 Montreal, Quebec @ Il Motore *
06.18 Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
06.21 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
06.22 Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
06.23 Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
06.24 Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
06.25 New Haven, CT @ Bar
06.26 Kingston, NY @ BSP Kingston *
06.24 Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
06.25 New Haven, CT @ Bar
06.26 Kingston, NY @ BSP Kingston *
06.27 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
06.28 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
06.28 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
07.26 St. Louis, MO @ The Old Rock House *
07.27 Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room *
07.28 Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater *
07.28 Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater *
07.29 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Urban Lounge
07.30 Bosie, ID @ Neurolux *
07.30 Bosie, ID @ Neurolux *
08.01 Vancouver, BC @ Bilmore Cabaret *
08.02 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
08.03 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
08.05 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
08.07 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour *
08.08 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah *
08.09 Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock Live *
08.13 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks *
08.14 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree *
08.16 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle *
08.17 Richmond, VA @ The Camel *
08.02 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
08.03 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
08.05 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
08.07 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour *
08.08 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah *
08.09 Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock Live *
08.13 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks *
08.14 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree *
08.16 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle *
08.17 Richmond, VA @ The Camel *
* with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
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[…] Stagnant Pools’ sophomore album is out on Polyvinyl Records. Geist is available now on CD, LP, digitally and cassette and can be ordered now in the Polyvinyl online store. Last week, The AV Club published an exclusive album stream and said Geist should be of interest to fans of Joy Division, Sonic Youth, and The Jesus And Mary Chain.” Earlier, this spring Stereogum premiered “You Whir” from Geist and said the track “sounds something like Swans on an MBV kick.” The Aquarian Weekly recently said, “From beginning to end, this full-length continues to raise the bar higher and higher from each transition. And by the time you reach the end of this celestial record, it is guaranteed that you want to listen to Geist over and over again on constant repeat.” Stagnant Pools is currently on tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. SBR […]