Straw (band)
Encyclopedia
Straw were an English
pop
band
that released one album, Shoplifting, in 1999.
by Mattie Bennett (vocals/guitar) and Roger Power (bass/guitar), formerly of The Blue Aeroplanes
. Later adding keyboardist
Mark "Duck" Blackwell, the group signed to Arista Records
under the moniker "Please" with a different lead vocalist. They recorded an album
in Boston with American
record producer
s Sean Slade
and Paul Q. Kolderie
. Unhappy with the results, however, the band were dropped by the label
after releasing a single
, "If I Was God..." (1995, Sugarscoop Records).
When Arista kept Please's singer under contract, Bennett stepped into the lead vocalist role, the band adding drummer
Andy Nixon and re-christening themselves Straw. This newly revitalised line-up was quickly signed to WEA
and issued its debut single "Weird Superman" in the summer of 1998. Two more singles and one EP were released: "The Aeroplane Song," (charting at no. 37 in the UK Singles Chart
on 6 February 1999), "Moving to California" (charting at no. 50 on 24 April 1999), and Soundtrack of the Summer (including "The World Is Not Enough" — a James Bond
theme attempt
) in 1999 before Straw released their first full-length effort, Shoplifting.
Throughout 1998 and 1999 the band toured extensively with Puressence
, Space
and Feeder
alongside emerging future stars Muse
and gigs with Supergrass
, Alanis Morissette
, Fountains of Wayne
and Reef
. The extensive touring and television appearances (including the O-Zone
and TFI Friday
) took their toll, and differences broke out in the band resulting in the dismissal of Power after the band's final appearance of 1999 at the Glastonbury Festival
. They were also subsequently dropped by WEA. They recruited new bassist Dan McKinna, and self-funded (and self-produced) the recording of several new tracks in the basement studio of Pete Thomas
' house. On the strength of this new material they were signed to Columbia
in 2000 and released the 4-track EP Home Work and the single "Sailing Off the Edge of the World" to critical acclaim. A second album, Keepsakes, was slated for release later that year but they were dropped by Columbia and went their separate ways shortly afterwards.
Andy Nixon and Dan McKinna went on to play in The Jeevas
with Crispian Mills
of Kula Shaker
and then onto The Magic Bullet Band. McKinna has been a session player for many bands including James Morrison
, Ben's Brother
, Stuart Staples (Tindersticks
), A Man Called Adam
and Farrah. Blackwell, after producing Straw
, The Jeevas
and The Magic Bullet Band, continues to work as a record producer. Bennett is currently an English and media teacher at Fowey Community College in Cornwall.
Although Keepsakes was never released, bar a 5-track sampler, the band could often be found giving away complete copies of the finished album on CD-R at gigs shortly before they split up.
Track listing is as follows:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
that released one album, Shoplifting, in 1999.
History
Straw was formed in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
by Mattie Bennett (vocals/guitar) and Roger Power (bass/guitar), formerly of The Blue Aeroplanes
The Blue Aeroplanes
The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from Bristol, the mainstays of which: Gerard Langley, brother John Langley and dancer Wojtek Dmochowski originate from the earlier New Wave “Art band” Art Objects .-History:...
. Later adding keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Mark "Duck" Blackwell, the group signed to Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
under the moniker "Please" with a different lead vocalist. They recorded an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in Boston with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record 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...
s Sean Slade
Sean Slade
Sean Slade is a record producer, engineer, and mixer. He has worked with artists including Hole, Radiohead, Warren Zevon, Juliana Hatfield, Dinosaur Jr., Uncle Tupelo, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Boo Radleys, Sebadoh, Lush, the Go-Go's, and The Dictators among others. In 2005 he produced The...
and Paul Q. Kolderie
Paul Q. Kolderie
Paul Q. Kolderie is a record producer, engineer, and mixer. He has worked with Pixies, Radiohead, Orangutang, Hole, Dinosaur Jr., Juliana Hatfield, Wax, Warren Zevon, Uncle Tupelo, Throwing Muses, Morphine, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Abandoned Pools, and The Go-Go's...
. Unhappy with the results, however, the band were dropped by the 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,...
after releasing a single
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...
, "If I Was God..." (1995, Sugarscoop Records).
When Arista kept Please's singer under contract, Bennett stepped into the lead vocalist role, the band adding 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...
Andy Nixon and re-christening themselves Straw. This newly revitalised line-up was quickly signed to WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
and issued its debut single "Weird Superman" in the summer of 1998. Two more singles and one EP were released: "The Aeroplane Song," (charting at no. 37 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on 6 February 1999), "Moving to California" (charting at no. 50 on 24 April 1999), and Soundtrack of the Summer (including "The World Is Not Enough" — a James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
theme attempt
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
) in 1999 before Straw released their first full-length effort, Shoplifting.
Throughout 1998 and 1999 the band toured extensively with Puressence
Puressence
Puressence are a British rock band from Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England, formed in May 1992.-Band membership:The band currently consists of:*James Mudriczki: Vocals*Lowell Killen: Guitar*Kevin Matthews: Bass guitar...
, Space
Space (band)
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:* 1997 Invasion of the Spiders * 2002 Greatest Hits* 2003 Greatest Hits & Unheard Bits* 2005 Greatest Hits: Collectors Edition-Singles:...
and Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
alongside emerging future stars Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
and gigs with Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
, Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
and Reef
Reef (band)
Reef are an English band from Glastonbury. The band members includes Gary Stringer on vocals, Kenwyn House on guitar, Jack Bessant on bass and Dominic Greensmith on drums.-Early days:...
. The extensive touring and television appearances (including the O-Zone
The O-Zone
The O-Zone was a weekly music magazine show broadcast on BBC Two from 1989-2000. Originally presented by Andy Crane until 1990 and originally only shown during school holidays and Sunday mornings during the winter months on CBBC...
and TFI Friday
TFI Friday
TFI Friday is an entertainment show broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2000. The show produced by Ginger Productions, written by Danny Baker and hosted by Chris Evans, for the first 5 series. The final series was hosted by a number of Guest Presenters. It was broadcast on...
) took their toll, and differences broke out in the band resulting in the dismissal of Power after the band's final appearance of 1999 at the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
. They were also subsequently dropped by WEA. They recruited new bassist Dan McKinna, and self-funded (and self-produced) the recording of several new tracks in the basement studio of Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
' house. On the strength of this new material they were signed to Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 2000 and released the 4-track EP Home Work and the single "Sailing Off the Edge of the World" to critical acclaim. A second album, Keepsakes, was slated for release later that year but they were dropped by Columbia and went their separate ways shortly afterwards.
Andy Nixon and Dan McKinna went on to play in The Jeevas
The Jeevas
The Jeevas were an English rock band. Its members were Crispian Mills , Andy Nixon , and Dan McKinna . Mills was previously the vocalist of Kula Shaker. Nixon and McKinna were previous members of Straw...
with Crispian Mills
Crispian Mills
Crispian Mills is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is the son of actress Hayley Mills and director Roy Boulting, the grandson of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell , nephew of Juliet Mills and Jonathan Mills, and half-brother to Jason "Ace" Lawson...
of Kula Shaker
Kula Shaker
Kula Shaker are an English psychedelic rock band. Led by outspoken frontman Crispian Mills, the band came to prominence during the Post-Britpop era of the late 1990s. The band enjoyed great commercial success in the UK between 1996 and 1999, notching up a number of Top 10 hits on the UK Singles...
and then onto The Magic Bullet Band. McKinna has been a session player for many bands including James Morrison
James Morrison (singer)
James Morrison is a BRIT Award-winning English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Rugby, Warwickshire. In 2006, his debut single "You Give Me Something" became a hit in Europe, Australia, and Japan, peaking in the top five in the UK and New Zealand. His debut album, Undiscovered, debuted at the...
, Ben's Brother
Ben's Brother
Ben's Brother is a five-piece band from the UK, headed by founder Jamie Hartman. Their band was named after Jamie's big brother Ben, in whose shadow he lived as a teenager...
, Stuart Staples (Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
), A Man Called Adam
A Man Called Adam
A Man Called Adam are the British electronic music artists Sally Rodgers and Steve Jones.Recording for DJ Gilles Peterson’s fledgling Acid Jazz Records label, A Man Called Adam found that it was the remixed B-sides, "Techno Powers" and "Amoeba" - electronic versions of the A-side tracks, that...
and Farrah. Blackwell, after producing Straw
Straw
Straw is an agricultural by-product, the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has many uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and...
, The Jeevas
The Jeevas
The Jeevas were an English rock band. Its members were Crispian Mills , Andy Nixon , and Dan McKinna . Mills was previously the vocalist of Kula Shaker. Nixon and McKinna were previous members of Straw...
and The Magic Bullet Band, continues to work as a record producer. Bennett is currently an English and media teacher at Fowey Community College in Cornwall.
Singles
- "Weird Superman" (CD & 7" vinyl) (1998)
- "The Aeroplane Song" (CD, 7" vinyl) (1999)
- "Soundtrack of the Summer (CD, 7" vinyl)(1999)
- "Moving to California" (2CDs, 7" & 10" vinyl) (1999)
- "Sailing Off the Edge of the World" (CD, 7" vinyl & cassette) (2001)
Albums and EPs
- 4 Songs by Straw (CD) (1998)
- Shoplifting (CD & 12" vinyl) (1999)
- Soundtrack of the Summer EP (CD) (1999)
- Homework E.P. (CD & double 7" vinyl) (2000)
- Keepsakes (CD sampler only) (2001)
Although Keepsakes was never released, bar a 5-track sampler, the band could often be found giving away complete copies of the finished album on CD-R at gigs shortly before they split up.
Track listing is as follows:
- "Tomorrow is Promised To No One"
- "Sailing Off the Edge of the World"
- "No Encores"
- "Watching You Sleep"
- "Be Careful"
- "Temporary"
- "Flowers On a Lampost"
- "Pop Music is not Complicated"
- "I Saw Her First"
- "This is the Future"
- "In & Out"
- "Negative of Love"
- "Dracula (I Will Survive)"
External links
- Allmusic [ entry]
- StrawOnline - fan site