Blacklist (band)

Blacklist was a band from Brooklyn, New York composed of Joshua Strawn (vocals, guitar), Ryan Rayhill (bass), Glenn Maryansky (drums) and James Minor (guitar). They were one of the flagship bands of painter Pieter Schoolwerth's Wierd Records imprint. The band's atmospheric modern rock music was described as "anthemic";^[1] "darkly erotic, strangely sensual";^[2] and "a much-needed anomaly in NYC's music scene".^[3] They were sometimes classified as part of the post-punk revival, though their sound was generally more dense, incorporating elements of shoegaze and heavy metal with coldwave. The members often cited influences like My Bloody Valentine, Motörhead^[4] and Black Sabbath^[5] as influences alongside bands like the Comsat Angels, Killing Joke and the Sound.

The band's last live performance was in April 2011 with Locrian and labelmate Martial Canterel, co-presented by Wierd Records and Stereogum.

Releases

Blacklist's eponymous first EP was self-released in 2006, but subsequently went out of print. Released by Wierd in 2007, the Solidaire EP included a cover of seminal French coldwave band Asylum Party's song "Pure Joy in My Heart." The band's debut LP, Midnight of the Century, mixed by Ed Buller and mastered by Howie Weinberg, was released digitally on May 26, 2009 and on CD on July 28, 2009. The album title referenced revolutionary Victor Serge's book, Midnight in the Century.

Lyrics

Blacklist's lyrics often contained references to various authors, philosophers, and historical events. The song "Shock in the Hotel Falcon" was inspired by George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, while "Language of the Living Dead" referenced the work of Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek. The album's liner notes quoted Jacques Lacan, Don Delillo, Rumi and Salman Rushdie. While many bands who play similar music often traffic in imagery relating to the supernatural, Strawn himself identified his message as "militantly humanistic",^[6] combining Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne's more politically charged lyrics like "Children of the Grave", "Electric Funeral" and "Killer of Giants" with the cerebral work of Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers.

Discography

Studio albums

• Midnight of the Century (2009, Wierd Records)

EPs

• Blacklist (2006, self-released)
• Solidaire (2007, Wierd Records)

Compilations

• "Interiors" featured on P.E.A.C.E. (2010, Buffet Libre/Amnesty International, Spain)

External links

• Official website
• Myspace
• Wierd Records
• P.E.A.C.E. compilation

References

1. Pattison, Louis. The Guardian. "Scene and heard: Cold wave." http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/jul/13/cold-wave-wierd-records
2. Garrett, Jonathan. The Village Voice. "The Wierd Records Social Club." http://www.bigtakeover.com/reviews/blacklist-midnight-of-the-century-wierd-records
3. Other Music Official Website
4. Deathrock Magazine. http://www.deathrockmagazine.com/current-page/blacklist-editors-pick-issue-1-interview-by-pieter-schoolwerth-of-wierd-records/
5. Vice Magazine. "New York - Happy Birthday Wierd." http://vice.typepad.com/vice_magazine/2008/11/new-york---happ.html
6. Sollee, Kristen. The Big Takeover. http://www.bigtakeover.com/reviews/blacklist-midnight-of-the-century-wierd-records

Notes