Tweaker (music)
Encyclopedia
Tweaker is an American
alternative rock
collaboration founded by Chris Vrenna in the late 1990s. Tweaker's musical style incorporates synthpop
, progressive rock
, modern jazz
and electronica
genres, and is characterized by a generally melancholy and sombre sound with distinctive artwork to match.
The album The Attraction to All Things Uncertain
was Vrenna's "solo" debut and it was not until the follow-up album, 2 a.m. Wakeup Call
, that Clint Walsh was announced as a permanent fixture to the band. While Vrenna and Walsh supply most instruments and electronics, many other famous musicians have lent their voices and talents to Tweaker, including Robert Smith
, David Sylvian
, Burton C. Bell
, Will Oldham
, Hamilton Leithauser, Buzz Osborne
, Jonathan Bates and Johnny Marr
.
The albums that have been released follow a central theme that was planned out and this was given to the collaborators. Both albums' cover art were paintings by Joe Sorren
.
Tweaker wrote and performed the title theme to Doom 3
, which was released via the band's website.
As Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh, Tweaker did music for the animated television show Xiaolin Showdown
.
While the Doom 3 theme was heavy metal
-oriented (to the point of often being misattributed to Tool
), most of Tweaker's music presents a unique combination of synthpop
, shoegaze, modern jazz
, and industrial
.
It was rumored for a while that Tweaker would release a new album in 2008, although no new material surfaced, possibly due to Vrenna's duties towards Marilyn Manson
, as he worked with Manson on his 2009 album The High End of Low
.
In recent interviews, Chris Vrenna has not spoken of the status of Tweaker or whether he wishes to continue with the project, but the official Tweaker web site now says "Tweaker - returns 2011", suggesting that the band is about to be reactivated.
on select dates with a full live band, consisting of Chris Vrenna (drums, percussion and keyboard), Clint Walsh (guitar and keyboard), Paul Ill (bass guitar and keyboards) and Nick Young
(vocals). They performed everything completely live (i.e., no pre-recorded tape), although they did have to alter some of their songs to fit the live format — the most extreme case being a completely revamped rock version of "Microsize Boy". The final performance on the tour was at QuakeCon 2005 in Dallas, TX.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
collaboration founded by Chris Vrenna in the late 1990s. Tweaker's musical style incorporates synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, 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...
, modern jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and 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...
genres, and is characterized by a generally melancholy and sombre sound with distinctive artwork to match.
The album The Attraction to All Things Uncertain
The Attraction to All Things Uncertain
-Personnel:All songs written by Chris Vrenna except "Linoleum" written by Chris Vrenna & David Sylvian, "Swamp" written by Chris Vrenna & Buzz Osborne, "Happy Child" written by Chris Vrenna & Will Oldham, "Take Me Alive" written by Chris Vrenna & Craig Wedren and "After All" written by Chris Vrenna...
was Vrenna's "solo" debut and it was not until the follow-up album, 2 a.m. Wakeup Call
2 a.m. Wakeup Call
-Personnel:*Chris Vrenna: producer and performer*Clint Walsh: producer and performer*Jeff Antebi: executive producer*Johnny Marr: guitar on track 11*Paul Ill: bass on track 3; fretless bass on track 12*Rick Mouser: additional live drums on tracks 1 and 10...
, that Clint Walsh was announced as a permanent fixture to the band. While Vrenna and Walsh supply most instruments and electronics, many other famous musicians have lent their voices and talents to Tweaker, including Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
, David Sylvian
David Sylvian
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
, Burton C. Bell
Burton C. Bell
Burton Christopher Bell is an American musician. Bell is best known as the frontman of the metal band Fear Factory where he is the only consistent member. His singing style mixes clean vocals with death growls.-Fear Factory:...
, Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
, Hamilton Leithauser, Buzz Osborne
Buzz Osborne
Roger "Buzz" Osborne , also known as King Buzzo, is the guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and technically the only remaining founding member of the Melvins...
, Jonathan Bates and Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
.
The albums that have been released follow a central theme that was planned out and this was given to the collaborators. Both albums' cover art were paintings by Joe Sorren
Joe Sorren
Joe Sorren is an American conceptualist lowbrow artist.Sorren grew up in Arizona and began painting in 1991. Two years later he earned a BFA from Northern Arizona University. His artwork has appeared in various publications, including The New Yorker, Time and Rolling Stone. Warner Bros...
.
Tweaker wrote and performed the title theme to Doom 3
Doom 3
Doom 3 is a science fiction horror video game developed by id Software and published by Activision. An example of the first-person shooter genre, Doom 3 was first released for Microsoft Windows on August 3, 2004. The game was later adapted for Linux, as well as being ported by Aspyr Media for Mac...
, which was released via the band's website.
As Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh, Tweaker did music for the animated television show Xiaolin Showdown
Xiaolin Showdown
Xiaolin Showdown is an American animated television series that aired on Kids WB and was created by Christy Hui. Set in a world where martial arts battles and Eastern magic are commonplace, the series follows four young warriors in training that battle the forces of evil...
.
While the Doom 3 theme was heavy 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...
-oriented (to the point of often being misattributed to Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
), most of Tweaker's music presents a unique combination of synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, shoegaze, modern jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
.
It was rumored for a while that Tweaker would release a new album in 2008, although no new material surfaced, possibly due to Vrenna's duties towards Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, as he worked with Manson on his 2009 album The High End of Low
The High End of Low
The High End of Low is the seventh full-length studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. Sean Beavan, who mixed Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Eat Me, Drink Me, is co-producer of the album along with Chris Vrenna...
.
In recent interviews, Chris Vrenna has not spoken of the status of Tweaker or whether he wishes to continue with the project, but the official Tweaker web site now says "Tweaker - returns 2011", suggesting that the band is about to be reactivated.
Live performance
In 2004, Tweaker opened for Skinny PuppySkinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
on select dates with a full live band, consisting of Chris Vrenna (drums, percussion and keyboard), Clint Walsh (guitar and keyboard), Paul Ill (bass guitar and keyboards) and Nick Young
Nick Young
Nick Young is an American broadcast journalist now retired from CBS News. Young is former anchor of the morning World News Roundup on the CBS Radio Network. He was born Nicholas Yeazel in Princeton, Illinois December 12, 1948....
(vocals). They performed everything completely live (i.e., no pre-recorded tape), although they did have to alter some of their songs to fit the live format — the most extreme case being a completely revamped rock version of "Microsize Boy". The final performance on the tour was at QuakeCon 2005 in Dallas, TX.
Discography
- Linoleum (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) (August 21, 2001) - The Attraction to All Things UncertainThe Attraction to All Things Uncertain-Personnel:All songs written by Chris Vrenna except "Linoleum" written by Chris Vrenna & David Sylvian, "Swamp" written by Chris Vrenna & Buzz Osborne, "Happy Child" written by Chris Vrenna & Will Oldham, "Take Me Alive" written by Chris Vrenna & Craig Wedren and "After All" written by Chris Vrenna...
(Studio album) (September 18, 2001) - Xiaolin Showdown (7") (2003)
- 2 a.m. Wakeup Call2 a.m. Wakeup Call-Personnel:*Chris Vrenna: producer and performer*Clint Walsh: producer and performer*Jeff Antebi: executive producer*Johnny Marr: guitar on track 11*Paul Ill: bass on track 3; fretless bass on track 12*Rick Mouser: additional live drums on tracks 1 and 10...
(Studio album) (April 20, 2004) - Doom 3 Theme Song (7") (2004)
- TBA (2011)
External links
- Official tweaker Website
- Waxploitation: Tweaker's record label
- Tweaker discography at Discogs.com
- Tweaker at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
- Tweaker at Myspace.com