Damien Jurado
Encyclopedia
Damien Jurado is an American
indie rock
singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington
. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian
.
singer Jeremy Enigk
. After two 7" releases (Motorbike and Trampoline) Sub Pop
issued his first full album, Waters Ave S. in 1997. His second album Rehearsals for Departure, released in 1999, was a relative breakthrough. Produced by Ken Stringfellow
(The Posies
, Big Star), Jurado's second album established him as both a singer and songwriter of great ability.
He often makes use of found sound and field recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David
, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs (2002) was produced by long time friend, Pedro the Lion
's David Bazan
. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair. After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian
, Damien Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing four more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way to Absence
, (2005) And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006) and the rockier Caught in the Trees
(2008).
In 2009, Damien teamed with his brother Drake to issue an LP under the moniker Hoquiam, released on February 23, 2010. The album preceded Damien's next solo release, dubbed Saint Bartlett
, which was released May 25, 2010 and was produced by label mate Richard Swift. After touring the album with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
, Jurado is set to release his 10th studio album, his 6th for Secretly Canadian. The album is the second straight collaboration with Richard Swift producing and is titled Maraqopa and will be available February 21, 2012.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
.
Music career
Damien Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings. Gaining a local cult following in Seattle, he was brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records by Sunny Day Real EstateSunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. In the 1990s, the group expanded upon the grunge style that was popular in the local scene to make a more melodic sound. While not the first band to be classified as emo, they were instrumental in establishing the genre. In...
singer Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy Enigk is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for being the front man of the Seattle band Sunny Day Real Estate.-Biography:...
. After two 7" releases (Motorbike and Trampoline) Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
issued his first full album, Waters Ave S. in 1997. His second album Rehearsals for Departure, released in 1999, was a relative breakthrough. Produced by Ken Stringfellow
Ken Stringfellow
Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow is an American musician, best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star.-Musical career:...
(The Posies
The Posies
The Posies are an alternative rock/power pop group. The band was formed in 1987 in Bellingham, Washington by primary songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. They are best known for their radio hits "Golden Blunders" , as well as "Dream All Day", "Solar Sister" and "Flavor of the Month"...
, Big Star), Jurado's second album established him as both a singer and songwriter of great ability.
He often makes use of found sound and field recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David
Ghost of David
Ghost of David is an album by the singer-songwriter Damien Jurado, released in 2000 on Sub Pop records. The David of the title is Jurado's friend and former bandmate in Coolidge, David Bazan, who is most famously Pedro the Lion's frontman. In tone, Ghost of David is bleak, spare, and depressing...
, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs (2002) was produced by long time friend, Pedro the Lion
Pedro the Lion
Pedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Singer-songwriter David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. T. W. Walsh is considered to be the sole official band member besides Bazan. In...
's David Bazan
David Bazan
David Bazan is an indie rock singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Bazan was the lead singer and creative force behind the now-defunct band Pedro the Lion and was the lead singer of Headphones, a band he formed out of his interest in synthesizers...
. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair. After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
, Damien Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing four more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way to Absence
On My Way to Absence
On My Way to Absence is Damien Jurado's sixth full-length album. It was released in 2005 and was Jurado's second release on Secretly Canadian records. The album was produced by his frequent collaborator Eric Fisher...
, (2005) And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006) and the rockier Caught in the Trees
Caught in the Trees
Caught in the Trees is a 2008 album released by Indie rock musician Damien Jurado. It is his eighth full length album release.Pitchfork Media gave the album a favorable review, calling it "a rock solid outing from backing bandmates Jenna Conrad and Eric Fisher supporting some of Jurado's best...
(2008).
In 2009, Damien teamed with his brother Drake to issue an LP under the moniker Hoquiam, released on February 23, 2010. The album preceded Damien's next solo release, dubbed Saint Bartlett
Saint Bartlett
Saint Bartlett is Damien Jurado's ninth studio album. It was released in May 2010 on the Secretly Canadian label.- Track listing :# "Cloudy Shoes"# "Arkansas"# "Rachel & Cali"# "Throwing Your Voice"# "Wallingford"# "Pear"# "Kansas City"...
, which was released May 25, 2010 and was produced by label mate Richard Swift. After touring the album with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground is an indie band started by Kirk Huffman and Kyle O'Quin of Gatsbys American Dream. Like Gatsbys, the band draws influence from a wide variety of musical genres...
, Jurado is set to release his 10th studio album, his 6th for Secretly Canadian. The album is the second straight collaboration with Richard Swift producing and is titled Maraqopa and will be available February 21, 2012.
Discography
- Waters Ave SWaters Ave SWaters Ave S is Damien Jurado's first full-length album, released on Sub Pop Records on 21 January 1997.The Boston Herald described the songs as "wispy but not wimpy ballads" and compared his work to Neil Young...
(Sub PopSub PopSub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
- January 1997) - Rehearsals for DepartureRehearsals for DepartureRehearsals for Departure is Damien Jurado's second album. It was released in March 1999 on the Sub Pop label. Joe Heim of Salon gave the album a very favorable review, praising its melancholy themes.- Track listing :# "Ohio"# "The Tragedy"...
(Sub Pop — March 1999) - Ghost of DavidGhost of DavidGhost of David is an album by the singer-songwriter Damien Jurado, released in 2000 on Sub Pop records. The David of the title is Jurado's friend and former bandmate in Coolidge, David Bazan, who is most famously Pedro the Lion's frontman. In tone, Ghost of David is bleak, spare, and depressing...
(Sub Pop — September 2000) - I Break ChairsI Break ChairsI Break Chairs is Damien Jurado's fourth album, and first with his backing band, Gathered in Song. The album was produced by the former lead singer of Pedro the Lion and Headphones, David Bazan.- Tracklisting :...
(Sub Pop — February 2002) - Where Shall You Take Me?Where Shall You Take Me?Where Shall You Take Me? is a 2003 album from Indie rock musician Damien Jurado.It was released on March 18, 2003 and was produced by Eric Fisher...
(Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
- March 2003) - This Fabulous Century (Burnt Toast - October 2004)
- On My Way to AbsenceOn My Way to AbsenceOn My Way to Absence is Damien Jurado's sixth full-length album. It was released in 2005 and was Jurado's second release on Secretly Canadian records. The album was produced by his frequent collaborator Eric Fisher...
(Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
- April 2005) - And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
- October 2006) - Caught in the TreesCaught in the TreesCaught in the Trees is a 2008 album released by Indie rock musician Damien Jurado. It is his eighth full length album release.Pitchfork Media gave the album a favorable review, calling it "a rock solid outing from backing bandmates Jenna Conrad and Eric Fisher supporting some of Jurado's best...
(Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
– September 2008) - Saint BartlettSaint BartlettSaint Bartlett is Damien Jurado's ninth studio album. It was released in May 2010 on the Secretly Canadian label.- Track listing :# "Cloudy Shoes"# "Arkansas"# "Rachel & Cali"# "Throwing Your Voice"# "Wallingford"# "Pear"# "Kansas City"...
(Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
– May 2010) - Live At Landlocked (Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
– April 16, 2011)
EPs and singles
- 1995 Motorbike (Sup Pop)
- 1996 Trampoline (Sub Pop)
- 1997 Halo Friendly (Summershine)
- 1997 Vary (Tooth & Nail)
- 1998 Chevrolet (UK-only, Snowstorm)
- 1998 Gathered in Song (Made in Mexico)
- 1999 Letters & Drawings (UK-only, Ryko)
- 2000 Postcards and Audio Letters (Made in Mexico)
- 2001 Four Songs (Burnt Toast Vinyl)
- 2002 Big Let Down (Secretly Canadian)
- 2003 Holding His Breath (Acuarela)
- 2004 Just in Time for Something (Secretly Canadian)
- 2006 'Traded for Fire/Ghost of David' Split with Dolorean (Secretly Canadian)
- 2006 Gathered in Song (Made in Mexico, Re-Release with bonus tracks)
Tour-only Releases
- 2004 Walk along the Fence
- 2006 untitled 6 Song EP
- 2007 the trees tour EP
- 2009 European Tour CDR
Compilation appearances
- "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - Bifrost ArtsBifrost ArtsBifrost Arts is an ecumenical religious organization closely linked to the Presbyterian Church in America that produces written and recorded religious music, and frequently performs at Christian Universities and conferences....
' Come O Spirit (Sounds Familyre 2009)