Kissers and Killers
Encyclopedia
Kissers and Killers is the seventh studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1993.
, The Choir decided to create their own record label, Glasshouse, through which they could release their future albums independently. At this point in the band's musical evolution, the twin strands of worship-minded compositions and confessional songs about love and loss had begun to diverge, so after Derri Daugherty
and Steve Hindalong
provided their first album of worship music, At the Foot of the Cross, Volume One: Clouds, Rain, Fire, to the Christian market, the band put together what essentially was a collection of demos intended to attract the interest of a mainstream record label. To that end, only 6300 copies were ever pressed, and the album is now difficult to find.
Far more aggressive than anything the band had ever released, Kissers and Killers is a non-stop collection of alternative rock songs that bluntly address the complexities of romantic love and obsession. The only breather in the set is "Let the Sky Fall," a roots-rock composition featuring Hindalong on only his second lead vocal for the band (the first being the somewhat goofy "Everybody in the Band" on Chase the Kangaroo
).
This is the last album that the band would record in California
, before Daugherty, Hindalong and Dan Michaels decided to uproot their families and move across the country to Nashville, Tennessee
in the latter part of 1993. At that time, all of the songs on this album were either re-recorded or remixed for release as part of the band's next album Speckled Bird
, with the exception of "Let the Sky Fall," as Hindalong was insecure about his vocals. However, it can be argued that the track order presented here is a more effective presentation of these eight songs than on the band's next record.
. All music by Derri Daugherty
unless otherwise noted.
Recording history
Rather than renew their recording contract with MyrrhMyrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
, The Choir decided to create their own record label, Glasshouse, through which they could release their future albums independently. At this point in the band's musical evolution, the twin strands of worship-minded compositions and confessional songs about love and loss had begun to diverge, so after Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
and Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
provided their first album of worship music, At the Foot of the Cross, Volume One: Clouds, Rain, Fire, to the Christian market, the band put together what essentially was a collection of demos intended to attract the interest of a mainstream record label. To that end, only 6300 copies were ever pressed, and the album is now difficult to find.
Far more aggressive than anything the band had ever released, Kissers and Killers is a non-stop collection of alternative rock songs that bluntly address the complexities of romantic love and obsession. The only breather in the set is "Let the Sky Fall," a roots-rock composition featuring Hindalong on only his second lead vocal for the band (the first being the somewhat goofy "Everybody in the Band" on Chase the Kangaroo
Chase the Kangaroo
Chase the Kangaroo is the fourth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1988.-Recording history:Chase the Kangaroo was a radical departure from the upbeat, alternative pop sounds of Diamonds and Rain, and quickly proved to be a seminal work—not only for The Choir,...
).
This is the last album that the band would record in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, before Daugherty, Hindalong and Dan Michaels decided to uproot their families and move across the country to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in the latter part of 1993. At that time, all of the songs on this album were either re-recorded or remixed for release as part of the band's next album Speckled Bird
Speckled Bird
Speckled Bird is the eighth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1994.-Recording history:Largely a remixed and reworked version of the independent Kissers and Killers project...
, with the exception of "Let the Sky Fall," as Hindalong was insecure about his vocals. However, it can be argued that the track order presented here is a more effective presentation of these eight songs than on the band's next record.
Track listing
All lyrics by Steve HindalongSteve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
. All music by Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
unless otherwise noted.
- "Gripped" – 4:20
- "Amazing" – 3:46
- "Kissers and Killers" (Lyrics by Hindalong, Tim ChandlerTim ChandlerTim Chandler is a bass guitar player, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies and The Choir....
; Music by Daugherty, Hindalong, Chandler) – 2:57 - "Weather Girl" (Music by Daugherty, Hindalong, Chandler, Dan Michaels) – 5:51
- "Yellow Skies" – 3:43
- "Grace" – 3:08
- "Let the Sky Fall" (Music by Hindalong) – 3:36
- "Love Your Mind" (Music by Daugherty, Chandler, Hindalong) – 5:12
The Choir
- Derri DaughertyDerri DaughertyDerri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
- Lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar - Steve HindalongSteve HindalongSteve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
- Drums, percussion, lead vocals on "Let the Sky Fall" - Tim ChandlerTim ChandlerTim Chandler is a bass guitar player, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies and The Choir....
- Bass guitar - Dan Michaels - Saxophone, lyriconLyriconThe Lyricon is an electronic wind instrument, the first wind controller to be constructed.Invented by Bill Bernardi , it was manufactured by a company called Computone Inc in Massachusetts...
Additional musicians
- Chris Colbert - Guitar ("Amazing," "Kissers and Killers")
- Mark HeardMark HeardJohn Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
- Accordion ("Let the Sky Fall")
Production
- Producers - Steve HindalongSteve HindalongSteve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
and Derri DaughertyDerri DaughertyDerri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir.... - Recording, mixing - Daugherty, Dave Hackbarth at Neverland StudiosNeverland StudiosNeverland Studios is an American recording studio owned and operated by musician and songwriter Derri Daugherty.Neverland was originally built in Los Alamitos, California, but eventually settled in Nashville, Tennessee when Daugherty relocated there in the early 1990s...
- Mixing ("Gripped," "Amazing") - Jr. McNeely at Pakaderm Studios, Los Alamitos, CaliforniaLos Alamitos, CaliforniaLos Alamitos is a small city in Orange County, California. The city was incorporated in March 1960. The population was 11,449 at the 2010 census, down from 11,536 at the 2000 census...
- Recording (accordion, harmonica, drums and acoustic guitars) - Fingerprint RecordersFingerprint RecordersFingerprint Recorders was a recording studio owned by Mark Heard, where he recorded most of his own records. The studio was located in Montrose, California....
, Montrose, California, 1990 - Recording (bass, electric guitars and vocals) - Fingerprint RecordersFingerprint RecordersFingerprint Recorders was a recording studio owned by Mark Heard, where he recorded most of his own records. The studio was located in Montrose, California....
, Montrose, California, 1993 - Mastering - Doug Doyle at Digital Brothers, Costa Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
- Art direction, photography - Leiza Schmidt
- Art layout, design assistance - Gene Ray George