The Negatones
Encyclopedia
The Negatones is a Brooklyn
, New York
based band, founded by siblings Jay Braun (vocals, guitar, synthesizers) and Justin Braun (vocals, bass, synthesizers) with Jun Takeshta (guitar, synthesizers, vocals, mallet instruments) and Jesse Wallace (drums, electronic drums, percussion, vocals).
, progressive rock
, electronica
, glitch
, blaxploitation
, metal
, and punk
. In step with their stylistic dichotomies, they are known for both championing analog gear such as Moog
synthesizers and magnetic tape recorders, as well as forging unmistakably digital mixes using the nonlinear computer recording platform Pro Tools
. Using the benefits of combined analog and digital recording techniques, their songs often feature dense and busy orchestrations of traditional rock instruments performing live, layered with synthesizers, Beatle-esque harmonies, electronics, percussion, and occasionally a horn section.
Jay Braun credits Latin-style Big Band
, Electronica
, and The Beatles as strong influences on the Negatones' busy and frenetic mixes. This heavily-edited and densely layered style is also used on production and mixes by Jay for other artists (see releases with other artists).
A noted anomaly amongst the Music of New York City
, they have remained largely independent and defiant of local band trends yet maintain a loyal following, receive substantial broadcasts (both radio and podcasts) and enjoy regular press mention ranging from Spin Magazine and The Village Voice
to a front page feature in The New York Times
. The final episode of Dr. Katz features an animated thug wearing a Negatones T-shirt.
After releasing several self-recorded CDs, the Negatones have collectively or individually recorded and/or mixed works for many major label and independent artists and have sporadically toured and/or played with a broad range of local performers including Adam Green
, Band of Susans
, and Mooney Suzuki. Most recently the Braun brothers were recruited by ex Fiery Furnace
Toshi Yano
to work on his new project, Kapow. Additionally, the Braun Brothers have also separately worked with Fiery Furnace
siblings Matt and Eleanor Friedberger on two covers for Clash
and Junior Kimbrough
compilations.
Avid Rush
fans, the Negatone's eponymous debut full-length CD featured cover art by Paul Weldon
, who did the cover art for Rush's self titled debut album 30 years prior. Their new prog
approach and staunch longevity despite the tendency for NYC indie bands to gravitate toward fleeting hipster
trends has been cited in interviews to make varyingly sarcastic comparisons between the bands.
with other artists:
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
based band, founded by siblings Jay Braun (vocals, guitar, synthesizers) and Justin Braun (vocals, bass, synthesizers) with Jun Takeshta (guitar, synthesizers, vocals, mallet instruments) and Jesse Wallace (drums, electronic drums, percussion, vocals).
Sound
The Negatones have developed a unique, genre-crossing style that often features frenetic performances and recordings. Their sound combines elements of rock and rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, glitch
Glitch (music)
Glitch is a term used to describe a genre of electronic music that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The glitch aesthetic is characterized by a deliberate use of glitch based sonic artifacts that would normally be viewed as unwanted disturbances reducing the overall sound quality and are thus...
, blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, and punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
. In step with their stylistic dichotomies, they are known for both championing analog gear such as Moog
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
synthesizers and magnetic tape recorders, as well as forging unmistakably digital mixes using the nonlinear computer recording platform Pro Tools
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
. Using the benefits of combined analog and digital recording techniques, their songs often feature dense and busy orchestrations of traditional rock instruments performing live, layered with synthesizers, Beatle-esque harmonies, electronics, percussion, and occasionally a horn section.
Jay Braun credits Latin-style Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
, Electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, and The Beatles as strong influences on the Negatones' busy and frenetic mixes. This heavily-edited and densely layered style is also used on production and mixes by Jay for other artists (see releases with other artists).
History
The Brauns formed the Negatones in 1997 following stints playing local shows and touring internationally in several other NYC bands. Former high school classmate Jun Takeshta moved from Tokyo to New York City to join the Negatones after receiving a demo tape from the Brauns in the mail.A noted anomaly amongst the Music of New York City
Music of New York City
The music of New York City is a diverse and important field in the world of music. It has long been a thriving home for jazz, rock and the blues...
, they have remained largely independent and defiant of local band trends yet maintain a loyal following, receive substantial broadcasts (both radio and podcasts) and enjoy regular press mention ranging from Spin Magazine and The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
to a front page feature in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. The final episode of Dr. Katz features an animated thug wearing a Negatones T-shirt.
After releasing several self-recorded CDs, the Negatones have collectively or individually recorded and/or mixed works for many major label and independent artists and have sporadically toured and/or played with a broad range of local performers including Adam Green
Adam Green (musician)
Adam Green is an American singer-songwriter.Green's off-kilter style has achieved a moderate college radio following in the United States, and enjoys increasing popularity in a number of European countries, particularly Germany.-Career:Green attended Emerson College for one semester in 1998 before...
, Band of Susans
Band of Susans
Band of Susans was a noise rock band formed in New York City in 1986. It originally consisted of Robert Poss , Susan Stenger , Ron Spitzer , with Susan Lyall , Susan Tallman , and Alva Rogers . However, the band would undergo several permutations over the years, usually involving guitarists...
, and Mooney Suzuki. Most recently the Braun brothers were recruited by ex Fiery Furnace
Fiery furnace
Fiery furnace may refer to:* The fiery furnace in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into in Daniel 3* Fiery Furnace , a region of Utah's Arches National Park* The Fiery Furnaces, a rock band...
Toshi Yano
Toshi Yano
Toshi Yano was a founding member of the DC hardcore band Battery, a touring member of The Fiery Furnaces from 2003–2005, playing bass and keyboards on world tours with the band, and a temporary bass player for Franz Ferdinand....
to work on his new project, Kapow. Additionally, the Braun Brothers have also separately worked with Fiery Furnace
Fiery furnace
Fiery furnace may refer to:* The fiery furnace in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into in Daniel 3* Fiery Furnace , a region of Utah's Arches National Park* The Fiery Furnaces, a rock band...
siblings Matt and Eleanor Friedberger on two covers for Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and Junior Kimbrough
Junior Kimbrough
David "Junior" Kimbrough was an American blues musician. His best known work included "Keep Your Hands Off Her" and "All Night Long". Music journalist Tony Russell stated "his raw, repetitive style suggests an archaic forebear of John Lee Hooker, a character his music shares with that of fellow...
compilations.
Avid Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
fans, the Negatone's eponymous debut full-length CD featured cover art by Paul Weldon
Paul Weldon
Paul Weldon is a graphic artist from Toronto, Canada, who designed a large percentage of the album covers released in Canada between 1971 and 1974. He was a founding member of Edward Bear and was also trained as an architect....
, who did the cover art for Rush's self titled debut album 30 years prior. Their new prog
New prog
New prog is a term used to describe a number of recent alternative rock/experimental bands who incorporate elements from progressive rock.Most notable bands described as new prog include:...
approach and staunch longevity despite the tendency for NYC indie bands to gravitate toward fleeting hipster
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipsters are a subculture of young, recently settled urban middle class adults and older teenagers with musical interests mainly in alternative rock that appeared in the 1990s...
trends has been cited in interviews to make varyingly sarcastic comparisons between the bands.
Releases
- The Heavy E.P. (2002)
- Snacktronica E.P. (2003) reprinted (2004)
- The Negatones (2005) -editor's pick: #8 Best Album of 2005 - Time Out New York
with other artists:
- Logic Will Break Your Heart the StillsThe StillsThe Stills were a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 2000. The band consists of Tim Fletcher , Dave Hamelin , Olivier Corbeil , and Liam O'Neil , Gregory Paquet .-History:The band members have known each other since the age of...
(2003) Featuring the single 'Still In Love Song' recorded by Jay Braun in the Negatones rehearsal studio. Conceived as a demo, the Stills liked the vibe of the track so much they released it as their first single on their Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
debut.
- Damage the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (2004) Featuring the instrumental track 'Rivals' produced and mixed by Jay Braun with performances by Jay Braun synthesizers and string samples, Jesse Wallace congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
- Snack Cracker the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (2005) JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-only release featuring 'Hot Gossip J Braun Remix' a low-fi remix of a song from 'Damage' featuring Chuck DChuck DCarlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
produced and mixed by Jay Braun and featuring performances by the entire Negatones: Jay Braun MoogMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, Justin Braun bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Jun Takeshta vibraphoneVibraphoneThe vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
, Jesse Wallace percussion
- Men Without Pants Dan the AutomatorDan the AutomatorDaniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
, Russell Simins (2006) Jay Braun contributed mixing, writing, and several instruments, Justin Braun and Jesse Wallace play bass and percussion respectively on several tracks.
- The Walking Hellos The Walking Hellos, (2006) Jay Braun recorded, mixed, and co-produced several tracks on this debut ep. He is currently working with the band on their follow-up full-length.