Over the course of some sixteen years and six remarkable albums, The Ladybug Transistor have confirmed their standing as the preeminent exponents of lush, formalist pop music. With a superlative new record, Clutching Stems, at the ready, their pursuit of a singular musical vision remains as true as ever.
Formed in the mid-1990s around Brooklyn native Gary Olson's collaborations with friends, they released Marlborough Farms (1995)?named for their now-renowned Flatbush headquarters?and Beverley Atonale (1997). From these somewhat ad hoc beginnings, The Ladybug Transistor soon developed into a full-fledged outfit, Olson's distinctive measured baritone augmented by the multi-instrumental talents of San Fadyl, Julia Rydholm, Sasha Bell, and siblings Jeff and Jennifer Baron.
The group's growing confidence and ambition can be traced through their subsequent three albums: The Albemarle Sound (1999), which was hailed as "the last great pop album of the century"; Argyle Heir (2001); and The Ladybug Transistor (2003). Their penchant for classic pop remained, but the band had gradually forsaken their baroque, even psychedelic origins for a more expansive, timeless sound.
By this time, Jennifer Baron had left the band and Bell soon followed. For Can't Wait Another Day (2007), welcomed into the fold in their stead were Kyle Forester and Ben Crum. The result was a fuller sound and an occasionally darker edge to The Ladybug Transistor.
Shortly after the completion of Can't Wait Another Day, however-before the album was released-the band was confronted with the tragic loss of longtime drummer San Fadyl, who died suddenly as the result of an asthma attack. For a time, the idea of continuing without their beloved friend seemed unthinkable. Eventually, though, the band quietly gathered new recruits (Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O'Neill) and embarked on writing a new album with Fadyl's memory squarely in mind.
The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems, a stunning collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one's-knees ballads. As ever, Olson is in fine form; here, his lyrics compel, detailing an overarching search to find one's voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person. These are stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings-all set to invigorated pop arrangements featuring backing vocals by Frida Eklund. The new Ladybug line-up has found its own distinct vernacular that honors diverse influences and the band's own precedent sound.
Clutching Stems assuredly underlines that while love can tear things apart, it can also capably mend them together once more. And, in doing so, it reminds us again of the band's magic: The Ladybug Transistor make music that is somehow both modern and timeless, universal and yet theirs alone.
The Ladybug Transistor are:
Gary Olson - vocals
Kyle Forester - keyboards
Julia Rydholm - bass
Michael O'Neill - guitar
Eric Farber - drums
Mark Dzula - guitar
www.theladybugtransistor.com
Formed in the mid-1990s around Brooklyn native Gary Olson's collaborations with friends, they released Marlborough Farms (1995)?named for their now-renowned Flatbush headquarters?and Beverley Atonale (1997). From these somewhat ad hoc beginnings, The Ladybug Transistor soon developed into a full-fledged outfit, Olson's distinctive measured baritone augmented by the multi-instrumental talents of San Fadyl, Julia Rydholm, Sasha Bell, and siblings Jeff and Jennifer Baron.
The group's growing confidence and ambition can be traced through their subsequent three albums: The Albemarle Sound (1999), which was hailed as "the last great pop album of the century"; Argyle Heir (2001); and The Ladybug Transistor (2003). Their penchant for classic pop remained, but the band had gradually forsaken their baroque, even psychedelic origins for a more expansive, timeless sound.
By this time, Jennifer Baron had left the band and Bell soon followed. For Can't Wait Another Day (2007), welcomed into the fold in their stead were Kyle Forester and Ben Crum. The result was a fuller sound and an occasionally darker edge to The Ladybug Transistor.
Shortly after the completion of Can't Wait Another Day, however-before the album was released-the band was confronted with the tragic loss of longtime drummer San Fadyl, who died suddenly as the result of an asthma attack. For a time, the idea of continuing without their beloved friend seemed unthinkable. Eventually, though, the band quietly gathered new recruits (Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O'Neill) and embarked on writing a new album with Fadyl's memory squarely in mind.
The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems, a stunning collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one's-knees ballads. As ever, Olson is in fine form; here, his lyrics compel, detailing an overarching search to find one's voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person. These are stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings-all set to invigorated pop arrangements featuring backing vocals by Frida Eklund. The new Ladybug line-up has found its own distinct vernacular that honors diverse influences and the band's own precedent sound.
Clutching Stems assuredly underlines that while love can tear things apart, it can also capably mend them together once more. And, in doing so, it reminds us again of the band's magic: The Ladybug Transistor make music that is somehow both modern and timeless, universal and yet theirs alone.
The Ladybug Transistor are:
Gary Olson - vocals
Kyle Forester - keyboards
Julia Rydholm - bass
Michael O'Neill - guitar
Eric Farber - drums
Mark Dzula - guitar
www.theladybugtransistor.com
06/28/11
The Ladybug Transistor’s new album Clutching Stems is now in stores, and the band will bring their new songs on the road this week!
Prefix Media reviewed the new album saying “Clutching Stems is the band’s finest record since The Albemarle Sound, and the kind of pop record that may break your heart, may even tear you apart, but it’s also generous and complex enough to put you back together in the end.”
Blurt‘s Lee Zimmerman says Clutching Stems is “as intoxicating as ever, it conveys a jubilant first impression that lingers long after.”
Order Clutching Stems now on CD in the Merge store, and don’t miss The Ladybug Transistor on tour beginning June 28 including special west coast dates!
The Ladybug Transistor on tour:
Jun 28 Hudson, NY – Spotty Dog Bookes & Ale
Jun 29 New Haven, CT – BAR (FREE SHOW!)
Jun 30 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s
July 06 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
July 07 Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Museum of Art Sculpture Court
July 08 Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt
July 09 Madison, WI – UW Madison Union Terrace
July 10 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
July 11 North Manchester, IN – The Firehouse (FREE SHOW!)
July 12 Cincinnati, OH – Mayday (FREE SHOW!)
July 15 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
July 16 Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
July 17 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
Sept 06 Los Angeles, CA – Satellite
Sept 07 Santa Barbara, CA – Muddy Waters
Sept 08 San Francisco – the Hemlock Tavern
Sept 09 Portland, OR – Musicfest NW
Sept 10 Seattle, WA – The Comet Tavern
Prefix Media reviewed the new album saying “Clutching Stems is the band’s finest record since The Albemarle Sound, and the kind of pop record that may break your heart, may even tear you apart, but it’s also generous and complex enough to put you back together in the end.”
Blurt‘s Lee Zimmerman says Clutching Stems is “as intoxicating as ever, it conveys a jubilant first impression that lingers long after.”
Order Clutching Stems now on CD in the Merge store, and don’t miss The Ladybug Transistor on tour beginning June 28 including special west coast dates!
The Ladybug Transistor on tour:
Jun 28 Hudson, NY – Spotty Dog Bookes & Ale
Jun 29 New Haven, CT – BAR (FREE SHOW!)
Jun 30 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s
July 06 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
July 07 Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Museum of Art Sculpture Court
July 08 Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt
July 09 Madison, WI – UW Madison Union Terrace
July 10 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
July 11 North Manchester, IN – The Firehouse (FREE SHOW!)
July 12 Cincinnati, OH – Mayday (FREE SHOW!)
July 15 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
July 16 Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
July 17 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
Sept 06 Los Angeles, CA – Satellite
Sept 07 Santa Barbara, CA – Muddy Waters
Sept 08 San Francisco – the Hemlock Tavern
Sept 09 Portland, OR – Musicfest NW
Sept 10 Seattle, WA – The Comet Tavern
05/19/11
RCRDLBL posted a remix by the Ladybug Transistor’s own Michael O’Neill (aka DJ LGBT) today!
Listen to the remix at RCRDLBL.com
The Ladybug Transistor on tour:
May 31 Madrid, Spain – El Sol
Jun 01 Huesca, Spain – CC Matadero
Jun 02 Barcelona, Spain – Catwalk
Jun 03 Valencia, Spain - Matisse
Jun 04 Zaragoza, Spain – CAI Independencia
Jun 29 New Haven, CT – BAR (FREE SHOW!)
Jun 30 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s
July 06 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
July 07 Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Museum of Art Sculpture Court
July 08 Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt
July 09 Madison, WI – UW Madison Union Terrace
July 10 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
July 11 North Manchester, IN – The Firehouse (FREE SHOW!)
July 12 Cincinnati, OH – Mayday (FREE SHOW!)
July 15 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
July 16 Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
July 17 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
Listen to the remix at RCRDLBL.com
DJ LGBT—Michael O’Neill of both Men as well as the band in question—transforms The Ladybug Transistor’s “Clutching Stems” from a pretty anthem in the vein of Arcade Fire into an intensely percussion-driven epic that just barely carries the suggestion of club music. O’Neill raises the stakes by excavating the song’s darkness, latent in the lyrics. “It’s all coming apart,” Gary Olson sings and instead of a delay-drenched guitar sounding off, the song’s melody cuts out, leaving only the rhythm of the ominously clanging thump of the drums.Clutching Stems is in stores on June 7. Pre-order in the Merge store now!
The Ladybug Transistor on tour:
May 31 Madrid, Spain – El Sol
Jun 01 Huesca, Spain – CC Matadero
Jun 02 Barcelona, Spain – Catwalk
Jun 03 Valencia, Spain - Matisse
Jun 04 Zaragoza, Spain – CAI Independencia
Jun 29 New Haven, CT – BAR (FREE SHOW!)
Jun 30 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s
July 06 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
July 07 Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Museum of Art Sculpture Court
July 08 Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt
July 09 Madison, WI – UW Madison Union Terrace
July 10 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
July 11 North Manchester, IN – The Firehouse (FREE SHOW!)
July 12 Cincinnati, OH – Mayday (FREE SHOW!)
July 15 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
July 16 Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
July 17 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
03/25/11
Since the 1990s, the Ladybug Transistor has created formalist pop-rock albums with a dreamy, articulate sound that spans decades and genres. Anchored by Gary Olson’s organizing vision and restrained baritone, their music boasts intricate arrangements and soaring melodies that are at once modern and timeless.
This band’s narrative holds a rich history of heartfelt collaboration, tireless devotion, quiet and outspoken romance, new arrivals, unexpected departures, achy break-ups, and unspeakable loss. They have become agile at adjustment.
In 2007, the untimely passing of their beloved drummer San Fadyl left members Olson, Kyle Forester, and Julia Rydholm at an unimaginable loss, struggling with a prevailing sense of “What now?” At a time where moving forward felt possibly impossible, the band quietly gathered new recruits (Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O’Neill) and embarked on writing a new album with the memory of San squarely in mind.
The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems—a lush collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one’s-knees ballads. Set to an invigorated soundtrack of wave-pop arrangements, the songs detail stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings. Olson’s lyrics express an overarching search to find one’s voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person.
This new line-up has found a distinct voice that honors diverse influences and the band’s own precedent sound. Clutching Stems assuredly underlines that while love can tear things apart, it can also capably mend them back together once again.
Bradley’s Almanac premiered the news and a free MP3 of the title track. Download “Clutching Stems” now!
The Ladybug Transistor are:
Gary Olson – vocals
Kyle Forester – keyboards
Julia Rydholm – bass
Michael O’Neill – guitar
Eric Farber – drums
Mark Dzula – guitar
This band’s narrative holds a rich history of heartfelt collaboration, tireless devotion, quiet and outspoken romance, new arrivals, unexpected departures, achy break-ups, and unspeakable loss. They have become agile at adjustment.
In 2007, the untimely passing of their beloved drummer San Fadyl left members Olson, Kyle Forester, and Julia Rydholm at an unimaginable loss, struggling with a prevailing sense of “What now?” At a time where moving forward felt possibly impossible, the band quietly gathered new recruits (Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O’Neill) and embarked on writing a new album with the memory of San squarely in mind.
The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems—a lush collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one’s-knees ballads. Set to an invigorated soundtrack of wave-pop arrangements, the songs detail stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings. Olson’s lyrics express an overarching search to find one’s voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person.
This new line-up has found a distinct voice that honors diverse influences and the band’s own precedent sound. Clutching Stems assuredly underlines that while love can tear things apart, it can also capably mend them back together once again.
Bradley’s Almanac premiered the news and a free MP3 of the title track. Download “Clutching Stems” now!
The Ladybug Transistor are:
Gary Olson – vocals
Kyle Forester – keyboards
Julia Rydholm – bass
Michael O’Neill – guitar
Eric Farber – drums
Mark Dzula – guitar
Marlborough Farms :: CD (Sit N Spin) 1995
Beverly Atonale :: CD/LP (Merge) 1997
split 7" w/ Portastatic & Land of the Loops :: 7" (After Hours) 1997
"Today Knows" b/w "Massachusetts" :: 7" (Merge) 1998
The Albemarle Sound :: CD/LP (Merge) 1999
Argyle Heir :: CD/LP (Merge) 2001
Live at the Amigo :: CD (Amigo) 2001
The Ladybug Transistor :: CD (Merge) 2003
Here Comes the Rain :: digital EP (Merge) 2006
Can't Wait Another Day :: CD (Merge) 2007
Clutching Stems :: CD (Merge) 2011
Beverly Atonale :: CD/LP (Merge) 1997
split 7" w/ Portastatic & Land of the Loops :: 7" (After Hours) 1997
"Today Knows" b/w "Massachusetts" :: 7" (Merge) 1998
The Albemarle Sound :: CD/LP (Merge) 1999
Argyle Heir :: CD/LP (Merge) 2001
Live at the Amigo :: CD (Amigo) 2001
The Ladybug Transistor :: CD (Merge) 2003
Here Comes the Rain :: digital EP (Merge) 2006
Can't Wait Another Day :: CD (Merge) 2007
Clutching Stems :: CD (Merge) 2011
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