Black Eyes
Encyclopedia
Black Eyes was a post-hardcore
band from Washington, D.C.
that existed from August 2001 to March 2004, disbanding two months prior to the release of its second album, Cough. Its members included Dan Caldas, Jacob Long, Mike Kanin, Daniel Martin-McCormick and Hugh McElroy.
and a split EPof "Someone Has His Fingers Broken" entitled "Have Been Murdered Again." Black Eyes' eponymous debut album was released on April 15, 2003 through Dischord Records
. Most tracks featured the band's trademark dual vocals, from bass guitarist Hugh McElroy and guitarist Daniel McCormick, as well as two full drum kits and the occasional horn blast or synth noise.
After extensive touring with Q and Not U
, the band broke up just before its second album, Cough, was released on June 1, 2004, also through Dischord Records. For this batch of songs, the band incorporated frenzied brass instrument
s into its sound, pushing further into free-jazz territory.
Black Eyes disbanded after a final show at The Black Cat
in Washington, D.C. All of the band's former members have since moved on to pursue other projects, such as Earthen Sea, Hand Fed Babies, Sentai
and Mi Ami. Hugh McElroy has become fully immersed in his DIY record label, Ruffian Records.
As of 2008 Daniel Martin-McCormick has been recording and touring as his solo project Sex Worker, an electronics/vocals based project that utilizes a TR-707 step sequencer as a rhythmic foundation for noise laden, dreamlike ambient synth passages with distinct shoegaze sensibilities.
Cough (2004) – Tracklisting
Shut Up, I Never - Tracklisting
Reviews
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
that existed from August 2001 to March 2004, disbanding two months prior to the release of its second album, Cough. Its members included Dan Caldas, Jacob Long, Mike Kanin, Daniel Martin-McCormick and Hugh McElroy.
History
Prior to releasing the first album, Black Eyes released a 2 song 7" EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and a split EPof "Someone Has His Fingers Broken" entitled "Have Been Murdered Again." Black Eyes' eponymous debut album was released on April 15, 2003 through Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
. Most tracks featured the band's trademark dual vocals, from bass guitarist Hugh McElroy and guitarist Daniel McCormick, as well as two full drum kits and the occasional horn blast or synth noise.
After extensive touring with Q and Not U
Q and Not U
Q and Not U was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C., signed to Dischord Records. Members John Davis, Harris Klahr, Christopher Richards, and Matt Borlik formed the band in 1998...
, the band broke up just before its second album, Cough, was released on June 1, 2004, also through Dischord Records. For this batch of songs, the band incorporated frenzied brass instrument
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s into its sound, pushing further into free-jazz territory.
Black Eyes disbanded after a final show at The Black Cat
The Black Cat (nightclub)
Black Cat is a nightclub in Washington, D.C., located on 14th Street Northwest in the Shaw/U Street neighborhood. The club was founded in 1993 and quickly established itself as a venue for independent music...
in Washington, D.C. All of the band's former members have since moved on to pursue other projects, such as Earthen Sea, Hand Fed Babies, Sentai
Sentai
in Japanese language is a word for a military unit and may be literally translated as "squadron", "task force", "group" or "wing". The terms "regiment" and "flotilla", while sometimes used as translations of Sentai, are also used to refer to larger formations....
and Mi Ami. Hugh McElroy has become fully immersed in his DIY record label, Ruffian Records.
As of 2008 Daniel Martin-McCormick has been recording and touring as his solo project Sex Worker, an electronics/vocals based project that utilizes a TR-707 step sequencer as a rhythmic foundation for noise laden, dreamlike ambient synth passages with distinct shoegaze sensibilities.
Black Eyes discography
Black Eyes (2003) – Tracklisting- "Someone Has His Fingers Broken"
- "A Pack of Wolves"
- "Yes, I Confess"
- "On the Sacred Side"
- "Nine"
- "Speaking in Tongues"
- "Deformative"
- "King's Dominion"
- "Day Turns Night"
- "Letter to Raoul Peck"
Cough (2004) – Tracklisting
- "Cough, Cough"
- "Eternal Life"
- "False Positive"
- "Drums"
- "Scrapes and Scratches"
- "Fathers of Daughters"
- "Holy of Holies"
- "Commencement"
- "Spring Into Winter"
- "Another Country"
- "Meditation"
Shut Up, I Never - Tracklisting
- "Some Boys"
- "Shut Up, I Never"
- "Have Been Murdered Again"
External links
Reviews
- Review of Black Eyes at Pitchfork MediaPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
- Review of Cough at Pitchfork MediaPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
- Review of Black Eyes at Dusted Reviews
- Review of Cough at Dusted Reviews