Glass Eye (band)
Encyclopedia
Glass Eye were an influential art rock group based in Austin
, Texas
, and were primarily active from 1983 to 1993. Popular in Austin, and on the college radio and tour circuit, the band's unusual and unique musical style, blending melodic hooks with dissonance and occasional tendencies for the avant-garde
, delighted critics. Their commercial success never matched their critical acclaim. Through self-release, and being signed to Wrestler and Bar/None Records, they released four LPs, two EPs and one single, and when the band regrouped in 2006, they released their previously lost final LP, "Every Woman's Fantasy", on their own label, Glass Eye Records.
, Timbuk 3
, and the seminal singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston
) as examples of the so-called "New Sincerity
" musical movement. Johnston played his first public performance opening for Glass Eye. He had given his self-recorded tape, Hi, How Are You
to Glass Eye frontwoman Kathy McCarty, who didn't listen to it until after Johnston asked her what she thought of the record (she reportedly praised it, then went home and listened to it immediately afterwards). McCarty and Johnston later dated briefly; their relationship is documented in the 2006 Jeff Feuerzeig film, The Devil and Daniel Johnston
.
The original line-up of Glass Eye consisted of the following:
This lineup was featured on their first two records, "Marlo" (1985) and "Huge" (1986). In 1987 Marcus and Weir left the band. Sheri Lane played keyboards and guitar and Dave Cameron, now Lisa Cameron following a sex change, played drums on the 1988 album "Bent By Nature." Marcus and Weir rejoined the band in 1989 and the band released "Hello Young Lovers" that year and the "Satellite of Love/Rock of Hand" single in 1991.
Glass Eye's albums were produced primarily by Beattie and engineered by various contributors, including Mike Stewart, Stuart Sullivan, and Roy Taylor. Beattie had previously played bass in several bands including the Stamford, Ct. based punk bands Tapeworm (punk band) and Safety Patrol (band), as well as the initial line-up of the Californian punk band Fang (band)
. McCarty played with the Austin all-woman band "Buffalo Gals" as well as a Berkeley, California based band Sinequan with former Safety Patrol member Scott Fletcher before joining Glass Eye. Scott Marcus also was in Safety Patrol. Marcus, Stella Weir and Kathy McCarty all had cameo roles in the 1991 Richard Linklater
film, Slacker (film)
, and the Glass Eye song, "White Walls" featured on the film's soundtrack.
, Daniel Johnston
, and Okkervil River among others. The band reformed briefly in 2006 to celebrate the release of their final album, "Every Woman's Fantasy." They played several shows, including at SXSW, to publicize the album.
EPs/Singles
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and were primarily active from 1983 to 1993. Popular in Austin, and on the college radio and tour circuit, the band's unusual and unique musical style, blending melodic hooks with dissonance and occasional tendencies for the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
, delighted critics. Their commercial success never matched their critical acclaim. Through self-release, and being signed to Wrestler and Bar/None Records, they released four LPs, two EPs and one single, and when the band regrouped in 2006, they released their previously lost final LP, "Every Woman's Fantasy", on their own label, Glass Eye Records.
History
Glass Eye formed in 1983, and became regulars in the Texas music circuit, that was booming at the time. An episode of the MTV show "Cutting Edge" from 1985 featured Glass Eye (and other bands like the The Reivers (band)The Reivers (band)
The Reivers were a pop band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 1984 as Zeitgeist, they were forced to change their name before releasing their second album in 1987, due to another group claiming prior rights to the name...
, Timbuk 3
Timbuk 3
Timbuk3 was an American post-punk band which released six original studio albums between 1986 and 1995 that were produced by Derrick Vedrani. They are most well known for their Top 20 single "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"...
, and the seminal singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
) as examples of the so-called "New Sincerity
New Sincerity
New sincerity is a term that has been used in music, aesthetics, film criticism, poetry, literary criticism and philosophy, generally to describe art or concepts that run against prevailing modes of postmodernist irony or cynicism.-New sincerity in music:...
" musical movement. Johnston played his first public performance opening for Glass Eye. He had given his self-recorded tape, Hi, How Are You
Hi, How Are You
Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album is the sixth self-released music cassette album by singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston, recorded in September 1983. It is arguably his most popular album. Johnston claims he almost had a nervous breakdown recording it and calls this his "unfinished album."The...
to Glass Eye frontwoman Kathy McCarty, who didn't listen to it until after Johnston asked her what she thought of the record (she reportedly praised it, then went home and listened to it immediately afterwards). McCarty and Johnston later dated briefly; their relationship is documented in the 2006 Jeff Feuerzeig film, The Devil and Daniel Johnston
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a 2006 documentary film about the noted American artist Daniel Johnston. It chronicles Johnston's life from childhood up to the present, with an emphasis on his experiences with bipolar disorder, and how it manifested itself in demonic self-obsession. The film was...
.
The original line-up of Glass Eye consisted of the following:
- Kathy McCarty - vocals, guitar
- Brian Beattie - vocals, bass
- Scott Marcus - drums, vocals
- Stella Weir - keyboard, vocals
This lineup was featured on their first two records, "Marlo" (1985) and "Huge" (1986). In 1987 Marcus and Weir left the band. Sheri Lane played keyboards and guitar and Dave Cameron, now Lisa Cameron following a sex change, played drums on the 1988 album "Bent By Nature." Marcus and Weir rejoined the band in 1989 and the band released "Hello Young Lovers" that year and the "Satellite of Love/Rock of Hand" single in 1991.
Glass Eye's albums were produced primarily by Beattie and engineered by various contributors, including Mike Stewart, Stuart Sullivan, and Roy Taylor. Beattie had previously played bass in several bands including the Stamford, Ct. based punk bands Tapeworm (punk band) and Safety Patrol (band), as well as the initial line-up of the Californian punk band Fang (band)
Fang (band)
Fang is a punk rock band that originated in 1980. Fang was originally part of the punk rock scene in Berkeley, California in the 1980s. The band broke up in 1989 when key member Sam McBride was sent to prison for killing his girlfriend, Dixie Lee Carney...
. McCarty played with the Austin all-woman band "Buffalo Gals" as well as a Berkeley, California based band Sinequan with former Safety Patrol member Scott Fletcher before joining Glass Eye. Scott Marcus also was in Safety Patrol. Marcus, Stella Weir and Kathy McCarty all had cameo roles in the 1991 Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater
-Early life:Linklater was born in Houston, Texas. He studied at Sam Houston State University and left midway through his stint in college to work on an off-shore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. While working on the rig he read a lot of literature, but on land he developed a love of film through...
film, Slacker (film)
Slacker (film)
Slacker is an American independent film written and directed by Richard Linklater, who also appears in the film. Slacker was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991.-Plot summary:...
, and the Glass Eye song, "White Walls" featured on the film's soundtrack.
Breakup and Solo Careers
The band broke up in 1993 following some friction relating their attempts at signing to a major label. Kathy McCarty went on to make several solo records, including the acclaimed "Dead Dog's Eyeball", a cover album of Daniel Johnston songs, and its subsequent EP, "Sorry Entertainer". In 2005, she released her own record of original songs called "Another Day In The Sun". In 1987, Stella Weir and Scott Marcus played in the band Prohibition for one album, "Flophouse." Marcus has also played with The Asylum Street Spankers and Starfish. Brian Beattie has continued his career as a record producer, working with The Dead Milkmen, Ed Hall (band)Ed hall (band)
Ed Hall is an alternative rock band formed in Austin, Texas, USA in 1985.-Members:*Gary Chester - guitar, vocals*Larry Strub - bass guitar, vocals*Lyman Hardy - drums, vocals-History:...
, Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, and Okkervil River among others. The band reformed briefly in 2006 to celebrate the release of their final album, "Every Woman's Fantasy." They played several shows, including at SXSW, to publicize the album.
Discography
LPs- Huge (1986) (Wrestler Records)
- Bent By Nature (1988) (Bar/None Records)
- Time For A Change (1989) (Bar/None Records)
- Hello Young Lovers (1989) (Bar/None Records)
- Every Woman's Fantasy (2006) (Glass Eye Records)
EPs/Singles
- Marlo EP (1985) (Self-released)
- Christine EP (1989) (Bar/None Records)
- "Satellite Of Love"/"Rock Of Hand" single (1991) (Bar/None Records)