Parables for Wooden Ears
Encyclopedia
Parables for Wooden Ears was the debut studio album
released by the Australian band
Powderfinger
. It was released on 18 July 1994 by Polydor Records
, after recording at Melbourne
's Metropolis Studios in February 1994.
The album was received poorly, and failed to chart or improve Powderfinger's platform despite the respectable success of its predecessor, Transfusion
. Critics complained about its poor imitation of Americana
and grunge
, as well as its overuse of complex riff
s. In a 2004 interview, Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning
said "God knows what we were on then" in reference to the album. Three singles
were released from the album, all of which failed to chart.
described Parables for Wooden Ears as "big and presumptuous", and stated that it had "a pretty massive sort of sound". He said that the band somewhat regretted this, and didn't intend to do so again on future releases.
On Parables for Wooden Ears, Powderfinger worked with producer
Tony Cohen
, whom Fanning described as having a huge reputation, and thus being expensive to work with. However, due to the "lack of an obvious single", the album sold poorly, despite the effort put into production. The album was recorded at Melbourne
's Metropolis Studios in February 1994. Parables for Wooden Ears contained references by Powderfinger to Aboriginal rights
, with a song written by drummer
Jon Coghill
discussing the idea that the band's generation was the first to reach out to the concept of reconciliation.
In 1998, guitarist
Ian Haug
described Internationalist
as a moderation between the band's last two albums, calling Parables for Wooden Ears a "complicated beast". In a 1999 interview, Fanning said that the band "were sorting out our sound" on the album, and that despite it not working well they still thought it was "a good record". Juice commentator Simon Wooldridge noted in 2000 that Parables for Wooden Ears contained "million"s of riff
s, and thus the band were not able to produce a simple sound on the album.
In a November 2004 interview with Melbourne
newspaper The Age
, Fanning recalled that the head of Polydor Records had described the album as "awful", and remarked that "God knows what we were on then". He also said that in making Parables for Wooden Ears, Powderfinger "went through this weird stage of trying to be something [they] weren't." Fanning also told Australian Musician that the album, a "spectacular failure", was a result of the band feeling "forced" to play like other bands that were popular in Brisbane at the time.
label
. Three singles
were released from Parables for Wooden Ears; "Tail
", released on 14 June 1994, "Grave Concern
", released on 22 August 1994, and "Save Your Skin
", released on 22 July 1995. Due to the minimal promotion and reputation of the band, the album and singles failed to chart.
Critics generally agreed with Powderfinger's assessment of the album, with some describing it as "a thundering rock album" and noting the similarity to Americana
. Fanning also noting that the album had a lot less "balance" than the album that would follow it, Double Allergic
. Other critics noted that Parables for Wooden Ears had a "dark, overly complex metal sound", and complained of the album's "distorted guitars", but put this down the album being a learning experience for the band.
Parables for Wooden Ears received a moderate response from reviewers. Juice reviewer John Encarnacao enjoyed the rock elements of the album, drawing comparisons to Pearl Jam
, Soundgarden
and Alice In Chains
. He thanked producer Tony Cohen
for the "big sound" of the album, and said that the musicians on the album "not only know about power and restraint, but also play tastefully". Encarnacao stated that Fanning "lays the emotion on thick and usually more than gets away with it." The review was summarised by stating that the album may have been "a bit like the retro-rock that the big corporations want you to buy", but that nonetheless it was a good album.
Jackson G. Marx was similarly conflicted in Australian Rolling Stone, writing, "They create painstaking technical 'works' of art. This is not necessarily a compliment. Sometimes it's a certified jerk-off." Despite describing some songs as, "tragically clever," and, "grooveless monstrosities," he scored the album three stars from five, and wrote of the pleasure of repeated listens. "'Jail', for example, is tangled and inert and teeters precariously on the brink of disappearing up its own arsehole, but a determined listener will find its hooks more infecting with each spin."
Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop gave the album a score of 2.5 (average), summarising his review with the statement "Get Double Allergic
instead." Bishop stated that the album contained too much imitation, and that the album is "pretty much forgotten by even the most hardcoriest of music fans" because of the poor imitation in it - described as "a simple case of "monkey see, monkey not do very well"." Bishop praised some aspects of the album, stating that "Hurried Bloom" contained "a raw song-writing ability" and that "Sink Low" was "a hidden gem". However, he said that the majority of songs contained Powderfinger trying too hard with their riff
s, noting "Bridle You" and "Father's Pyramid" as specific examples. Bishop also criticised the lyrics in most songs, stating that "Walking Stick" contained "some horrendously bad lyrics". The highlight of the album for Bishop was "Save Your Skin", which he called "a gorgeous addition to their collection", despite calling the overall album "a pretty dark and depressing experience".
, John Collins
, Ian Haug
, Darren Middleton
, Jon Coghill
. Lyrics by Fanning unless otherwise noted.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
released by the Australian band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Powderfinger
Powderfinger
Powderfinger was an Australian rock band that formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their breakup the band lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill....
. It was released on 18 July 1994 by Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, after recording at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's Metropolis Studios in February 1994.
The album was received poorly, and failed to chart or improve Powderfinger's platform despite the respectable success of its predecessor, Transfusion
Transfusion (EP)
Transfusion is the second EP by Australian rock group Powderfinger. It was released on 27 September 1993 by Polydor. The album was the group's first recording with Polydor, as the group had signed with the label due to the success of the prior EP by the band, the eponymous Powderfinger.The EP's...
. Critics complained about its poor imitation of Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
and grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, as well as its overuse of complex riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
s. In a 2004 interview, Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning
Bernard Fanning
Bernard Joseph Fanning is a musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989 to its dissolution in 2010....
said "God knows what we were on then" in reference to the album. Three singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
were released from the album, all of which failed to chart.
History
In a 1996 interview, lead singer Bernard FanningBernard Fanning
Bernard Joseph Fanning is a musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989 to its dissolution in 2010....
described Parables for Wooden Ears as "big and presumptuous", and stated that it had "a pretty massive sort of sound". He said that the band somewhat regretted this, and didn't intend to do so again on future releases.
On Parables for Wooden Ears, Powderfinger worked with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
, whom Fanning described as having a huge reputation, and thus being expensive to work with. However, due to the "lack of an obvious single", the album sold poorly, despite the effort put into production. The album was recorded at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's Metropolis Studios in February 1994. Parables for Wooden Ears contained references by Powderfinger to Aboriginal rights
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
, with a song written by drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Jon Coghill
Jon Coghill
Jon Coghill is an Australian drummer best known for his work with Australian rock band, Powderfinger, although he has also toured with Regurgitator. Coghill replaced Powderfinger's original drummer Steven Bishop in 1991 when Bishop wanted to pursue further studies...
discussing the idea that the band's generation was the first to reach out to the concept of reconciliation.
In 1998, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Ian Haug
Ian Haug
Ian David Haug is a lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the Australian rock band Powderfinger. Mainstays Haug and bass guitarist John Collins formed the band in Brisbane in 1989. During a hiatus in Powderfinger's career, Haug worked on a side project, The Predators, with Collins and original...
described Internationalist
Internationalist (album)
Internationalist is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band, Powderfinger. The album was released on 7 September 1998 and was often labelled Powderfinger's most adventurous work, with greater experimentation than in previous works....
as a moderation between the band's last two albums, calling Parables for Wooden Ears a "complicated beast". In a 1999 interview, Fanning said that the band "were sorting out our sound" on the album, and that despite it not working well they still thought it was "a good record". Juice commentator Simon Wooldridge noted in 2000 that Parables for Wooden Ears contained "million"s of riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
s, and thus the band were not able to produce a simple sound on the album.
In a November 2004 interview with Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
newspaper The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, Fanning recalled that the head of Polydor Records had described the album as "awful", and remarked that "God knows what we were on then". He also said that in making Parables for Wooden Ears, Powderfinger "went through this weird stage of trying to be something [they] weren't." Fanning also told Australian Musician that the album, a "spectacular failure", was a result of the band feeling "forced" to play like other bands that were popular in Brisbane at the time.
Release and response
Parables for Wooden Ears was released on 18 July 1994 on the Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Three singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
were released from Parables for Wooden Ears; "Tail
Tail (song)
"Tail" is the first single by Powderfinger from their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears. The music video for "Tail" appeared on the bonus DVD of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. The version used in the video is shorter and slightly different in instrumentation.-Track listing:All songs composed...
", released on 14 June 1994, "Grave Concern
Grave Concern
"Grave Concern" is the second single by Powderfinger from their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears.-Track listing:"Grave Concern" and "Blind to Reason" music by Powderfinger. Lyrics by Bernard Fanning. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" lyrics and music by George Harrison.# "Grave Concern"# "Blind to...
", released on 22 August 1994, and "Save Your Skin
Save Your Skin
"Save Your Skin" is the third single by Powderfinger from their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears. The song is the also the only song from Parables for Wooden Ears to have been previously released on an EP, with a much shorter version at 1:50 appearing on the group's debut EP Powderfinger, also...
", released on 22 July 1995. Due to the minimal promotion and reputation of the band, the album and singles failed to chart.
Critics generally agreed with Powderfinger's assessment of the album, with some describing it as "a thundering rock album" and noting the similarity to Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
. Fanning also noting that the album had a lot less "balance" than the album that would follow it, Double Allergic
Double Allergic
Double Allergic is the second studio album by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger. Released in Australia on 2 September 1996 Polydor, the album was produced by Tim Whitten and widely considered Powderfinger's mainstream breakthrough....
. Other critics noted that Parables for Wooden Ears had a "dark, overly complex metal sound", and complained of the album's "distorted guitars", but put this down the album being a learning experience for the band.
Parables for Wooden Ears received a moderate response from reviewers. Juice reviewer John Encarnacao enjoyed the rock elements of the album, drawing comparisons to Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
and Alice In Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
. He thanked producer Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
for the "big sound" of the album, and said that the musicians on the album "not only know about power and restraint, but also play tastefully". Encarnacao stated that Fanning "lays the emotion on thick and usually more than gets away with it." The review was summarised by stating that the album may have been "a bit like the retro-rock that the big corporations want you to buy", but that nonetheless it was a good album.
Jackson G. Marx was similarly conflicted in Australian Rolling Stone, writing, "They create painstaking technical 'works' of art. This is not necessarily a compliment. Sometimes it's a certified jerk-off." Despite describing some songs as, "tragically clever," and, "grooveless monstrosities," he scored the album three stars from five, and wrote of the pleasure of repeated listens. "'Jail', for example, is tangled and inert and teeters precariously on the brink of disappearing up its own arsehole, but a determined listener will find its hooks more infecting with each spin."
Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop gave the album a score of 2.5 (average), summarising his review with the statement "Get Double Allergic
Double Allergic
Double Allergic is the second studio album by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger. Released in Australia on 2 September 1996 Polydor, the album was produced by Tim Whitten and widely considered Powderfinger's mainstream breakthrough....
instead." Bishop stated that the album contained too much imitation, and that the album is "pretty much forgotten by even the most hardcoriest of music fans" because of the poor imitation in it - described as "a simple case of "monkey see, monkey not do very well"." Bishop praised some aspects of the album, stating that "Hurried Bloom" contained "a raw song-writing ability" and that "Sink Low" was "a hidden gem". However, he said that the majority of songs contained Powderfinger trying too hard with their riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
s, noting "Bridle You" and "Father's Pyramid" as specific examples. Bishop also criticised the lyrics in most songs, stating that "Walking Stick" contained "some horrendously bad lyrics". The highlight of the album for Bishop was "Save Your Skin", which he called "a gorgeous addition to their collection", despite calling the overall album "a pretty dark and depressing experience".
Track listing
All music written by Bernard FanningBernard Fanning
Bernard Joseph Fanning is a musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989 to its dissolution in 2010....
, John Collins
John Collins (Australian musician)
John Andrew Collins is the mainstay bass guitarst for Australian rock band Powderfinger since 1989. He is one of the founding members of the band, along with guitarist Ian Haug, forming at their high school, Brisbane Grammar School as a three piece. Powderfinger has released seven studio albums, a...
, Ian Haug
Ian Haug
Ian David Haug is a lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the Australian rock band Powderfinger. Mainstays Haug and bass guitarist John Collins formed the band in Brisbane in 1989. During a hiatus in Powderfinger's career, Haug worked on a side project, The Predators, with Collins and original...
, Darren Middleton
Darren Middleton
Darren Stuart Middleton is an Australian lead guitarist for alternative rock band Powderfinger. He is also the lead singer for Drag....
, Jon Coghill
Jon Coghill
Jon Coghill is an Australian drummer best known for his work with Australian rock band, Powderfinger, although he has also toured with Regurgitator. Coghill replaced Powderfinger's original drummer Steven Bishop in 1991 when Bishop wanted to pursue further studies...
. Lyrics by Fanning unless otherwise noted.
- "Walking Stick" – 4:06
- "TailTail (song)"Tail" is the first single by Powderfinger from their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears. The music video for "Tail" appeared on the bonus DVD of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. The version used in the video is shorter and slightly different in instrumentation.-Track listing:All songs composed...
" – 5:27 - "Hurried Bloom" – 3:34
- "Fathers' Pyramid" – 4:38 (Fanning, Coghill)
- "Bridle You" – 3:56
- "Citadel" – 3:23
- "Sink Low" – 2:12
- "Grave ConcernGrave Concern"Grave Concern" is the second single by Powderfinger from their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears.-Track listing:"Grave Concern" and "Blind to Reason" music by Powderfinger. Lyrics by Bernard Fanning. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" lyrics and music by George Harrison.# "Grave Concern"# "Blind to...
" – 4:46 - "Solution" – 3:50
- "This Syrup to Exchange" – 4:31 (Fanning, Coghill)
- "Namaste" – 2:21
- "Blanket" – 3:39
- "Save Your SkinSave Your Skin"Save Your Skin" is the third single by Powderfinger from their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears. The song is the also the only song from Parables for Wooden Ears to have been previously released on an EP, with a much shorter version at 1:50 appearing on the group's debut EP Powderfinger, also...
" – 3:36