The Wrens
Encyclopedia
The Wrens are an indie rock
band that formed in the late 1980s in New Jersey
. The group consists of Charles Bissell, Greg Whelan, Kevin Whelan, and Jerry MacDonald. Their debut album Silver was released in 1994. The band was plagued by label problems throughout the 1990s, leaving them unable to release an album for many years after 1996's Secaucus
. The band's third offering, The Meadowlands, finally surfaced in late 2003. Following a gig at University of London Union
in London
in March 2006, The Guardian
declared: "On this form the Wrens are surely one of the best live bands in the world."
. By 1996, The Wrens had released two albums, Silver (1994) and Secaucus
(1996). Both arrived to critical acclaim and a fair following of fans. Meanwhile, Grass Records was bought by Alan Meltzer, who wanted to focus more on popularity and hit songs. He tried to force the Wrens to sign a new, bigger contract, as well as to make more radio-friendly
music, but the band refused. As a result, they were dropped from the label and production of their previous two releases was halted. Meltzer ended up changing Grass Records' name to Wind-up Records
and signing the band Creed
.
The Wrens continued to make music quietly. With the exception of MacDonald, all of the band's members lived in the same house. Together they continued to write and record songs while also maintaining daytime jobs. Over the next seven years, the band was in limbo, searching for a new home while still trying to put a new album together. Finally, in 2003, the band released its third full-length album, The Meadowlands. The new album was a resounding success for The Wrens, achieving positive reviews in publications such as AllMusic, Pitchfork and praise from critic Robert Christgau
. The album was described by The New York Times
as a "nearly universally acclaimed disc of bright literate pop".
In late 2006, Wind-Up records reissued the band's first two albums.
Also in 2006, The Wrens recorded a cover of the song "They'll Need A Crane" for Hello Radio, a tribute album to They Might Be Giants
.
The Wrens are currently working on a follow-up album to The Meadowlands.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band that formed in the late 1980s in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The group consists of Charles Bissell, Greg Whelan, Kevin Whelan, and Jerry MacDonald. Their debut album Silver was released in 1994. The band was plagued by label problems throughout the 1990s, leaving them unable to release an album for many years after 1996's Secaucus
Secaucus (album)
Secaucus is a 1996 album by The Wrens, an American rock band from New Jersey. Secaucus is named for the city in which it was recorded, Secaucus, New Jersey. The Wrens were signed to major label Grass Records at the time of their tour supporting this album...
. The band's third offering, The Meadowlands, finally surfaced in late 2003. Following a gig at University of London Union
University of London Union
The University of London Union is the university-wide students' union for the University of London...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in March 2006, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
declared: "On this form the Wrens are surely one of the best live bands in the world."
History
Charles Bissell, Greg Whelan, Kevin Whelan, and Jerry MacDonald formed a band in the late '80s under the name Low. They eventually released a 7" under this name. They were signed to the label Grass Records soon after, but changed their name to The Wrens after learning about the popular slowcore group that was also named LowLow (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
. By 1996, The Wrens had released two albums, Silver (1994) and Secaucus
Secaucus (album)
Secaucus is a 1996 album by The Wrens, an American rock band from New Jersey. Secaucus is named for the city in which it was recorded, Secaucus, New Jersey. The Wrens were signed to major label Grass Records at the time of their tour supporting this album...
(1996). Both arrived to critical acclaim and a fair following of fans. Meanwhile, Grass Records was bought by Alan Meltzer, who wanted to focus more on popularity and hit songs. He tried to force the Wrens to sign a new, bigger contract, as well as to make more radio-friendly
Radio edit
In music, a radio edit is a modification to make a song more suitable for airplay, whether it be adjusted for length, profanity, subject matter, instrumentation, or form...
music, but the band refused. As a result, they were dropped from the label and production of their previous two releases was halted. Meltzer ended up changing Grass Records' name to Wind-up Records
Wind-Up Records
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...
and signing the band Creed
Creed (band)
Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
.
The Wrens continued to make music quietly. With the exception of MacDonald, all of the band's members lived in the same house. Together they continued to write and record songs while also maintaining daytime jobs. Over the next seven years, the band was in limbo, searching for a new home while still trying to put a new album together. Finally, in 2003, the band released its third full-length album, The Meadowlands. The new album was a resounding success for The Wrens, achieving positive reviews in publications such as AllMusic, Pitchfork and praise from critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
. The album was described by 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...
as a "nearly universally acclaimed disc of bright literate pop".
In late 2006, Wind-Up records reissued the band's first two albums.
Also in 2006, The Wrens recorded a cover of the song "They'll Need A Crane" for Hello Radio, a tribute album to They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
.
The Wrens are currently working on a follow-up album to The Meadowlands.
Albums
- Silver (1994)
- SecaucusSecaucus (album)Secaucus is a 1996 album by The Wrens, an American rock band from New Jersey. Secaucus is named for the city in which it was recorded, Secaucus, New Jersey. The Wrens were signed to major label Grass Records at the time of their tour supporting this album...
(1996) - The Meadowlands (2003)
- Untitled (2012)
Singles/EPs
- Low (7") (1993)
- Napiers (7") (1994)
- Life Stories From The Union 7" (1995)
- Split w/ Park Ave. (7") (1995)
- Rest Your Head (7") (1996)
- Abbott 1135 (1997)
- Overnight SuccessOvernight Success"Overnight Success" the title of a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and recorded by country music artist George Strait. It was released in November 1989 as the fourth and final single from his album, Beyond the Blue Neon.-Chart performance:...
(1998) - Split w/ The Five Mod Four (2002)