Scott Weber
12/10/04, 12:11 PM
Interview with Jordan (vocalist) of The Blood Brothers (TBB) conducted by Scott Weber on Nov 12, 2004. Posted December 10, 2004.
Scott: How was the recording process different this time around than from your last album?
TBB: First off, we recorded it in Seattle rather than going down to L.A. for two months. That alone put us in a completely different head space—being at home, sleeping in our own beds, etc. John Goodmanson also has a different approach than Ross Robinson. To a certain extent, Ross played the role of motivator in the studio. John was more laid back. He’d give great feedback, he’d get great performances, sounds, etc., but there was never that push that Ross likes to give.
Scott: Is there a specific reason Crimes is more toned down than your other three releases?
TBB: Not especially. It wasn’t a contrived decision on our parts by any means. It was just what came out when we were writing. I’m much happier with the songs we wrote for this album compared with Burn. I feel like it’s much more dynamic. The softer stuff makes the abrasive stuff feel that much more chaotic. The song writing’s much more tasteful.
Scott: Do you have a favorite song on Crimes? (mine is Trash-Flavored Trash)
TBB: I like Crimes. Just the way it came about, so spontaneously--we wrote the vast majority of it in the studio in one sitting.
Scott: How did you guys end up on V2 records? Were there any other labels you were considering?
TBB: They wanted to do a record with us, and they were willing to make it a split release with Artist Direct (and vice versa), who changed their name to Radar. The two of them pretty much figured everything out. It was really the only option presented to us. We originally wanted to do the record with Matador, but Artist Direct wouldn’t go for it. I would’ve liked to have done that, be on an indie again. But we’re happy with V2. They’ve shown a lot of respect for the things we want to do/don’t want to do. We get along with the staff. All very nice people.
Scott: Have you concidered making another concept album like March On Electric Children?
TBB: No. It’s been done, you know? It’d be weird to do it again.
Scott: What is your lyric writing inspiration?
TBB: For the new record, a lot of the songs were direct reactions, observations, criticisms of Bush Jr.& Co.’s war against Iraq and Afghanistan and the mass hysteria perpetuated by corporate media (mouth pieces of the administration). That’s where Devastator and Celebrator came from. Teen Heat was about our record label, Artist Direct, who was causing us quite a bit of grief. Trash Flavored Trash was about the emptiness of news media. Feed Me to the Forest was just a picture of the hyper-industrialized times we live in. Those are a few examples, but it’s kind of where our heads were at.
Scott: How do you feel about the Seattle hardcore scene? It seems like it's fading off a bit as pop-rock bands have been getting a lot of attention (aka Acceptance, Gatsby's American Dream). Do you think it's still alive and well, or has it gotten smaller?
TBB: I don’t know. When I think of Seattle hardcore as a term to describe a certain scene, I automatically associated it with a specific time period. I think of what was going on when I was 15, 16. That’s the point in my life when I felt most connected to hardcore, when hardcore was having an influence on me. So I don’t know if it’s faded out or if I’ve just moved on, or both. Everyone from those hardcore bands from 96 or 97 seems to be doing interesting things now. I think people’s tastes just evolve as they get older. As for pop-rock bands, I don’t really pay attention to that, so I wouldn’t know.
Scott: Is Waxwing are planning on doing anything in the future?
TBB: I’m not sure. I can’t imagine it happening, though.
Scott: There are rumors floating around about Johnny starting a side project. Is there any truth to this?
TBB: Yeah, he’s working on a bunch of songs he’s been writing and recording himself. Mark’s playing drums on some of his stuff, too. I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m sure it’s great. I think Dim Mak’s gonna put it out when he’s done. We’re in the middle of some time off right now, so all of us have stuff we’re working on.
Scott: What albums are you guys all listening to right now?
TBB: Sonic Youth, Sister
Unicorns, Who will cut our hair when we’re gone?
The Thermals, More Parts per Million
Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientel
Talking Heads, 77
King Geedorah, Take me to your Leader
Liars, They were wrong so we drowned
Scott: What is the best show you ever played?
TBB: That’s hard to say. The Sound Virus showcases at the Troubador and the Glasshouse a couple years ago were highlights. The last time we played Philadelphia (w/Against Me! And True North) was a lot of fun.
Scott: What would your dream tour lineup be (including yourself)?
TBB: Liars, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gossip, Some Girls, Kill Me Tomorrow
Scott: What's your all time favorite song to play live?
TBB: It’s hard to have a favorite. Certain songs fulfill certain needs, moods, etc. You know? Like I get something completely different from Crimes than I do from Birth Skin. As a song that I’ll always have fun playing, though—probably Trash.
Scott: On your site, you used to have a link that said "video" to a website called 'cauchemars.com' that had a video for 'ambulance vs. ambulance' that was pretty impressive, but it also had a link that said 'cecilia and the sihouette saloon - coming soon' but it never came, and now the link is gone! Will we ever be able to see this mysterious dissapearing video? (user submitted question)
TBB: I thought it was on the Strictly Amateur Films site. Maybe we’ll put links to all our videos sometime.
Thanks to Jordan for taking the time to answer these questions.
Scott: How was the recording process different this time around than from your last album?
TBB: First off, we recorded it in Seattle rather than going down to L.A. for two months. That alone put us in a completely different head space—being at home, sleeping in our own beds, etc. John Goodmanson also has a different approach than Ross Robinson. To a certain extent, Ross played the role of motivator in the studio. John was more laid back. He’d give great feedback, he’d get great performances, sounds, etc., but there was never that push that Ross likes to give.
Scott: Is there a specific reason Crimes is more toned down than your other three releases?
TBB: Not especially. It wasn’t a contrived decision on our parts by any means. It was just what came out when we were writing. I’m much happier with the songs we wrote for this album compared with Burn. I feel like it’s much more dynamic. The softer stuff makes the abrasive stuff feel that much more chaotic. The song writing’s much more tasteful.
Scott: Do you have a favorite song on Crimes? (mine is Trash-Flavored Trash)
TBB: I like Crimes. Just the way it came about, so spontaneously--we wrote the vast majority of it in the studio in one sitting.
Scott: How did you guys end up on V2 records? Were there any other labels you were considering?
TBB: They wanted to do a record with us, and they were willing to make it a split release with Artist Direct (and vice versa), who changed their name to Radar. The two of them pretty much figured everything out. It was really the only option presented to us. We originally wanted to do the record with Matador, but Artist Direct wouldn’t go for it. I would’ve liked to have done that, be on an indie again. But we’re happy with V2. They’ve shown a lot of respect for the things we want to do/don’t want to do. We get along with the staff. All very nice people.
Scott: Have you concidered making another concept album like March On Electric Children?
TBB: No. It’s been done, you know? It’d be weird to do it again.
Scott: What is your lyric writing inspiration?
TBB: For the new record, a lot of the songs were direct reactions, observations, criticisms of Bush Jr.& Co.’s war against Iraq and Afghanistan and the mass hysteria perpetuated by corporate media (mouth pieces of the administration). That’s where Devastator and Celebrator came from. Teen Heat was about our record label, Artist Direct, who was causing us quite a bit of grief. Trash Flavored Trash was about the emptiness of news media. Feed Me to the Forest was just a picture of the hyper-industrialized times we live in. Those are a few examples, but it’s kind of where our heads were at.
Scott: How do you feel about the Seattle hardcore scene? It seems like it's fading off a bit as pop-rock bands have been getting a lot of attention (aka Acceptance, Gatsby's American Dream). Do you think it's still alive and well, or has it gotten smaller?
TBB: I don’t know. When I think of Seattle hardcore as a term to describe a certain scene, I automatically associated it with a specific time period. I think of what was going on when I was 15, 16. That’s the point in my life when I felt most connected to hardcore, when hardcore was having an influence on me. So I don’t know if it’s faded out or if I’ve just moved on, or both. Everyone from those hardcore bands from 96 or 97 seems to be doing interesting things now. I think people’s tastes just evolve as they get older. As for pop-rock bands, I don’t really pay attention to that, so I wouldn’t know.
Scott: Is Waxwing are planning on doing anything in the future?
TBB: I’m not sure. I can’t imagine it happening, though.
Scott: There are rumors floating around about Johnny starting a side project. Is there any truth to this?
TBB: Yeah, he’s working on a bunch of songs he’s been writing and recording himself. Mark’s playing drums on some of his stuff, too. I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m sure it’s great. I think Dim Mak’s gonna put it out when he’s done. We’re in the middle of some time off right now, so all of us have stuff we’re working on.
Scott: What albums are you guys all listening to right now?
TBB: Sonic Youth, Sister
Unicorns, Who will cut our hair when we’re gone?
The Thermals, More Parts per Million
Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientel
Talking Heads, 77
King Geedorah, Take me to your Leader
Liars, They were wrong so we drowned
Scott: What is the best show you ever played?
TBB: That’s hard to say. The Sound Virus showcases at the Troubador and the Glasshouse a couple years ago were highlights. The last time we played Philadelphia (w/Against Me! And True North) was a lot of fun.
Scott: What would your dream tour lineup be (including yourself)?
TBB: Liars, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gossip, Some Girls, Kill Me Tomorrow
Scott: What's your all time favorite song to play live?
TBB: It’s hard to have a favorite. Certain songs fulfill certain needs, moods, etc. You know? Like I get something completely different from Crimes than I do from Birth Skin. As a song that I’ll always have fun playing, though—probably Trash.
Scott: On your site, you used to have a link that said "video" to a website called 'cauchemars.com' that had a video for 'ambulance vs. ambulance' that was pretty impressive, but it also had a link that said 'cecilia and the sihouette saloon - coming soon' but it never came, and now the link is gone! Will we ever be able to see this mysterious dissapearing video? (user submitted question)
TBB: I thought it was on the Strictly Amateur Films site. Maybe we’ll put links to all our videos sometime.
Thanks to Jordan for taking the time to answer these questions.