Artist description The indie rock-trio expand the bands sound in this foray back to the same studio where they started their recording career seven years ago as Neck. Equal parts sonic rock, post punk, and singable pop, Christiana push the limits of what can fit into a minute 1/2 pop song. Fast and frantic odd chord changes crash with chimey, then washed out distorted guitars. The band have tried to push their creativity with these songs, trying more harmonies as well as putting the tracks down with noisy energy.

Music Style Wound up fuzzed-out noise pop from Toronto.

Musical Influences Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Beach Boys

Similar Artists Wire, Mission of Burma, Wedding Present, Unrest

Artist History Upon first hearing Christiana (formerly Neck), most people comment on the shortness of their songs. In an age when radio hits are never less than four minutes long, a band whose compositions rarely pass the 2 minute mark must seem like an anachronism. But Christiana don't cut things short because they've run out of things to say, nor are they attempting some sort of 60's brevity-no, they'd rather not waste your time and get straight to the point. For Christiana, every part of the song is a hook. Once each hook has been stated, there is no need for unnecessary repetition. The song is over. More so than any other band I know, this band is defined by the songs and nothing else-okay maybe ear crushing volume. They don't jam. They play the songs. These guys don't have the patience for anything else. Since the band first started, it's always been a songwriters summit. Back in the summer of 1993, singer / guitarist Dave Rodgers, a precocious tune-smith ( with Joy Division soundalikes Development Site ) fresh out of high school who'd already written enough material to fill several albums, placed an musicians wanted ad with 37 diverse influences at record store Rotate This. This connected him with singer / bassist Alastair Macleod and drummer Paul Boddum, who'd been playing together (meeting as art students in mid 80's) in the Michael j. Fox Tribute Band, a band that over the years accumulated a box full of unreleased tapes. At first the split between Dave's sappy, pop friendly numbers and Alastair's angrier, post-punk screamers lent an interesting schizophrenia to the young band then known as Neck. But over the next few years, as the trio gigged more and began a steady stream of independent tape & vinyl releases-1994's 5 song seven inch " forty-five RPM", 1995's 17 song "Christiana", and 1996's 20 song "all september long" -these two opposing sounds crossed over and coalesced into something singular and unique. At the same time, Neck changed from underdogs to underground heroes. Then, in spring 1997, for various reasons, Alastair left the band, and an albums worth of material was left unrecorded. The band was now suddenly missing the force behind half it's repertoire. Rather than giving up though, Dave enlisted the help of Andrew McAllister, an old high school buddy of his who also played bass and was an accomplished singer / songwriter in his own right-while attending the university of Kingston, Andrew played in Wholesome and the Black Mission Figs. Though Andrew's playing and singing smoothed out the bands sound, his song writing aesthetic picked up where Alastair left off, and in the fall of 1998, released their first CD, the "Uncrated distant star" EP, which was the band's most powerful statement yet. CHRISTIANA's now sound employs a mathematical precision, yet their odd chord and time changes overlay a pure pop framework - all of which hit the listener in a rush of sound and speed. Few acts offer so much music in so little time. Fall 1999 saw the tight trio enter Chemical Sound studios to band out a 19 song album in a few days, to be released on their new label "high school champion". Though the record is dominated by the ever prolific Dave Rodgers - whose gems this time around include " I Counted Them All", " Numbered Company ", " If I Could Fly ", and the Gang of Four homage " At the Same Time", Andrew comes in strong with " Sub-Zero ", and the ass kicking prog-rock of " Divided Loyalties ".

Group Members Dave Rodgers (vocals, guitars)Paul Boddum (drums)Andrew McAllister (vocals, guitar) Jonathan Bunce (vocals, bass)

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals

Albums Hydrofield of Myth, Uncrated Distant Star

Press Reviews MUSIC CRITIC.COM 08/04/1999Mark Feldman Though their band name leaves much to be desired, Neck are an extremely promising 'power trio' recording on the Teenage USA label in Toronto, featuring Andrew McAllister on vocals and bass, Dave Rodgers on guitar, and Paul Boddum on drums. Their sound is very punk influenced, but very melodic at the same time. McAllister's surprisingly gentle voice offsetting the layers of guitar noise. This is somewhat reminiscent of the grittier side of the Replacements, or the less gritty side of early Husker Du. Fans of that particular sound will have a lot to get excited about with Neck. 'Uncrated Distant Star' is but a glimpse into what this band can be capable of. 'You Caught me Daydreaming' is a hard-driving look at the end of a relationship. 'You Are Not Alone' is psychedelic Monkees-gone-punk at breakneck speed. 'Today's Bride' is artier, it seems to be about directing a home movie, while 'Projector Lamp' weaves the prettiest melody of the album around some fairly abstract musings that are kind of difficult to understand. The last two tracks, 'Coup de Grace and 'So Much for Pathos' lean more towards the 'shoegazer' rock of the early '90's; think Ride, Lush, all those one-word bands, which of course puts Neck in fairly appropriate company. If there's a problem with this band, it's their apparent inability to stretch its fairly original ideas into full songs with any sort of lasting meaning. None of 'Uncrated Distant Stars' seven songs lasts more than 2:17, and the entire CD clocks in at just over twelve minutes. Maybe it isn't supposed to be a full length release, but even so, Neck should get some self-esteem, realize that they have something to say, and take a few risks. It'll be interesting to see what they can do with 45 minutes when and if it becomes time for an honest-to-goodness album.RFC (REQUEST FOR COMMENTS) ZINE-WHEELING WEST VIRGINIA04/16/99Steve KudlakFuck! There is a God! Is that reasonably punk! Who the bloody well did this Punk + Mid 1960's cheer?? This does blow me away in the manner I want to be blown away. How did they do this? Who is this Teenage USA and why is it in Canada? and why don't I care. In a world where Tranquility is marketed to 40-somethings and Intensity is marketed to teens and 20-somethings comes this. I mean this is a lot of fun. Trying to be less hyperbolic I am impressed, cheery punk? what a concept. And that odd bouncy cheery...like uh, I really do wanna say Mid-1960's... is real neat. It is hard to imagine how this was done as one would be nearly 50 in order to have heard both mid-1960's pleasantness music and punk, and have catholic musical tastes to appreciate both. Even more skill would be required to successfully combine them. But this has been done and sometimes life is miraculous. I hope they produce more. OK even more fun. You have heard the tale that such and such person read or listened to something and turned into a serial killer? Well if someone listened to Neck's Uncrated Distant Star repeatedly well what would happen? Perhaps a much more benevolent fate; a beautiful and desirable lover? A book or record contract? Whatever the new SG machine to one's door? Winning the lottery? Much more benevolent fates? Sounds better to me!LOLLIPOP MAGAZINENot to be confused with the New York band of the same name (a schizophrenic hybrid of Faith No More and V.O.D.), this Neck plays indie rock not unlike every other band in the genre. Gawky vocals sung with just enough cracking and off-keyness to satisfy the emo kids, and just enough dissonant guitar chords to attract fans of Sonic Youth. I guess you can say there's not much strikingly different at work here, just stuff that fans of this music will enjoy.LIVE REVIEW:CHART MAGAZINE, NORTH BY NORTHEAST JUNE 11 1999 el MOCOMBOTORONTOKeith CarmanBoasting an art-rock sound that mixes indie and punk elements with a strong taste for the Beach Boys, Neck put on one of the tightest sloppy sets of the festival, if that makes sense. A small, but appreciative crowd showed strong support for the band, who featured many of the shortest songs on record. It often took the crowd a moment to realize that songs were actually over, before applause began. If they continue to play sets like this, they will inevitably be one of the big fish in the little Toronto indie pond.GRIP YEARLY POLL-ATLANTA1998Fred Denny (Grips 'Hotlanta' Bureau Chief)Halo Benders-The Rebels Not In (K)Tortoise-TNT (Thrill Jockey)Stereolab-Aluminum Tunes (Drag City)Granger-Hammock Style (Merge)Jad Fair & Yo La Tengo (Matador)David Grubbs- The Thicket (Drag City)Blonde Redhead- In An Expression of the Inexpressible (Touch & Go)Flu Thirteen- In the Foul Key of V ( The Medicine Label)NECK-Uncrated Distant Star (Teenage USA)Solient Green-Sewn Mouth Secrets (Relapse)CHART MAGAZINE03/99Howard DruckmanAdd another name to the growing gang of Toronto indie- guitar bands doing cool, inventive thing (And to Teenage USA's dynamite roster, which also includes Lonnie James and Mean Red Spiders). Neck sound like the Spiders 14-year-old brothers, shoehorning their similarly discordant, noisy guitar strum into accessible pop shapes-as defined by the catchy melodies and almost Bacharach-ian vocal sighs. The songs rarely venture over the two-minute mark, and there are only seven here, but such brevity is refreshing. It increases digestibility and embraces the hook. Neck have inspired much comparison among my fellow listeners (early XTC, most-accessible Sonic Youth, various shoegazers) ;but the bio says they've been dubbed 'wound-up underground fuzz-pop' and that pretty much nails it.EXCLAIM MAGAZINE11/98Chris WodskouUnrepentant pop lovers whose sleeves are positively festooned with their hearts, Neck have always struck me as one of the most appealing of the legions of Toronto's noisy pop kids. As much as anything else, I think that's due to their candor and love of pop that's sufficient in its own right; they've never felt the need to dress up the music in the garb of a mission that's any more meaningful than playing tuneful songs with gleeful abandon simply because they love it. I'd never want to slag anyone with ambitions to make pop music a medium for serious poetry or serious commentary or debate, but it's amazing how light and frolicsome pop becomes when unencumbered with careerist motives or subject matter more complicated than the immediate state of one's heart. Neck have had those things going for them from the start, but what their latest, Uncrated Distant Star has going for it that its predecessors didn't is a production job worthy of their songs. Not to worry, Neck haven't varnished over their spiky noisiness with shiny, buffed finish, but their songs sparkle in a way they never have before, which makes their tugs on the heartstrings a little more insistent, while their abundant hooks make a more direct line for the ears. Just don't leave the room for any length of time after you put it on, or you'll miss half of it. True to their less is more than enough ethos, Neck pop seven songs into this mini-CD in the space of 12 minutes, using up less than one-sixth of the available time on a CD, which somehow is just more proof that Neck play pop the way they have to.

Location Toronto, Ontario - Canada

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