Rodan (band)
Encyclopedia
Rodan was an American
math
/post-hardcore
band in the early to mid 1990s. The best known lineup of the band consisted of Jeff Mueller (guitar/vocals), Jason Noble (guitar/vocals), Tara Jane O'Neil
(bass/vocals), and Kevin Coultas (drums).
in 1992. In 1993 they recorded their Aviary demo which saw limited release. Six of the songs on the Aviary demo were re-recorded by Bob "Rusty" Weston
(of Shellac
fame) and released in 1994 as the album Rusty
. The band makes an appearance in the 1994 cult
roadmovie Half-cocked. The band also had a John Peel
recording session in 1995. Rodan broke up in 1995 with the members pursuing other musical interests: O'Neil in Retsin
and in various solo works; Mueller in June of 44
; Coultas and Noble in Rachel's
; and Coultas and O'Neil in The Sonora Pine
. Mueller and Noble started Shipping News
in late 1996 and continue to perform with that band today.
Rodan is noted for being from the same music scene as Slint
, and many comparisons have been made between the two.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
math
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
/post-hardcore
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 in the early to mid 1990s. The best known lineup of the band consisted of Jeff Mueller (guitar/vocals), Jason Noble (guitar/vocals), Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio recording engineer, and visual artist based out of Portland, Oregon.-Biography:...
(bass/vocals), and Kevin Coultas (drums).
History
Rodan formed in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in 1992. In 1993 they recorded their Aviary demo which saw limited release. Six of the songs on the Aviary demo were re-recorded by Bob "Rusty" Weston
Bob Weston
Bob Weston is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason Ankeny declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over the American underground rock of the post-punk era, producing and engineering dates for a seemingly endless number of...
(of Shellac
Shellac (band)
Shellac is an American group composed of Steve Albini , Bob Weston and Todd Trainer...
fame) and released in 1994 as the album Rusty
Rusty (Rodan album)
Rusty is the first and only full-length album by American math rock band Rodan. It was engineered by Bob Weston. The album is named after Bob's nickname, "Rusty".-Track listing:# "Bible Silver Corner" - 6:52# "Shiner" - 2:38...
. The band makes an appearance in the 1994 cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
roadmovie Half-cocked. The band also had a John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
recording session in 1995. Rodan broke up in 1995 with the members pursuing other musical interests: O'Neil in Retsin
Retsin
Retsin was an American indie rock band founded by Tara Jane O'Neil and Cynthia Nelson.-History:Retsin was founded in 1993 by O'Neil, who had played with Rodan, and Nelson, a member of Ruby Falls...
and in various solo works; Mueller in June of 44
June of 44
June of 44 was an American rock band which was formed in 1994 from ex-members of Rodan, Lungfish, Rex, and Hoover. The band's music is often described as 'math rock'. The band's name refers the period during which erotic fiction writers Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin corresponded.The band toured...
; Coultas and Noble in Rachel's
Rachel's
Rachel's is an American chamber music group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1991. Former Rodan guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes...
; and Coultas and O'Neil in The Sonora Pine
The Sonora Pine
-History:O'Neil formed the band after the breakup of Rodan in 1994, in which she played bass. After moving to New York City, she began working with guitarist Sean Meadows, formerly of Lungfish, and added violinist Samara Lubelski for local shows...
. Mueller and Noble started Shipping News
Shipping News
Shipping News is an American post-rock/post-hardcore band. The group formed in the fall of 1996 when members Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who were both in Rodan, collaborated to create music for the Chicago-based syndicated National Public Radio program This American Life. Kyle Crabtree was later...
in late 1996 and continue to perform with that band today.
Music
The music of Rodan is dynamic and complex. Its extremes are well demonstrated within the first two tracks of the group's 1994 recording Rusty. The album introduces us to the band with the rich, chiming layers of "Bible Silver Corner", a neo-Classical guitar-and-bass piece that passes through several movements, never getting loud over its near-seven-minute duration and often employing dissonance. The next track is the sharply contrasting hardcore "Shiner", a two-and-a-half minute discharge of off-kilter rhythms and spastic vocal blasts. Many musical ideas are explored in each song, sometimes serene and other times violent and tense. The vocals are unique in that they are often spoken or whispered in places, punctuated by wails and shouts in others. The three guitarists handle vocal duties, some songs being sung/spoken by one person and others being done by all three musicians.Rodan is noted for being from the same music scene as Slint
Slint
Slint was an American rock band consisting of Brian McMahan , David Pajo , Britt Walford , Todd Brashear and Ethan Buckler...
, and many comparisons have been made between the two.
Discography
- Aviary (cassette demo, 1993)
- RustyRusty (Rodan album)Rusty is the first and only full-length album by American math rock band Rodan. It was engineered by Bob Weston. The album is named after Bob's nickname, "Rusty".-Track listing:# "Bible Silver Corner" - 6:52# "Shiner" - 2:38...
(LP/CD, 1994) - How the Winter Was Passed (EP, 1994)
- The Machines: Simple Machines 7"s (1990-1993) Simple Machines Records (1994)
- various compilations; see Southern Records page
Related bands
- June of 44June of 44June of 44 was an American rock band which was formed in 1994 from ex-members of Rodan, Lungfish, Rex, and Hoover. The band's music is often described as 'math rock'. The band's name refers the period during which erotic fiction writers Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin corresponded.The band toured...
- Jeff Mueller - The King Cobra - Tara Jane O'NeilTara Jane O'NeilTara Jane O'Neil is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio recording engineer, and visual artist based out of Portland, Oregon.-Biography:...
- The Naysayer - Tara Jane O'Neil
- Rachel'sRachel'sRachel's is an American chamber music group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1991. Former Rodan guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes...
- Jason Noble, occasional contributions from Kevin Coultas and Jeff Mueller - Per Mission - Jason Noble
- RetsinRetsinRetsin was an American indie rock band founded by Tara Jane O'Neil and Cynthia Nelson.-History:Retsin was founded in 1993 by O'Neil, who had played with Rodan, and Nelson, a member of Ruby Falls...
- Tara Jane O'Neil - Shipping NewsShipping NewsShipping News is an American post-rock/post-hardcore band. The group formed in the fall of 1996 when members Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who were both in Rodan, collaborated to create music for the Chicago-based syndicated National Public Radio program This American Life. Kyle Crabtree was later...
- Jason Noble, Jeff Mueller - The Sonora PineThe Sonora Pine-History:O'Neil formed the band after the breakup of Rodan in 1994, in which she played bass. After moving to New York City, she began working with guitarist Sean Meadows, formerly of Lungfish, and added violinist Samara Lubelski for local shows...
- Tara Jane O'Neil, Kevin Coultas - Sunspring - John Weiss