Down by the Old Mainstream

Last updated
Down by the Old Mainstream
Down by the Old Mainstream.jpg
Studio album by
Golden Smog
Released1995
RecordedPachyderm Studio
The Terrarium and
Triclops Recording
Genre Alternative country
Length50:17
Label Rykodisc
Producer Golden Smog, Sir James Bunchberry
Golden Smog chronology
On Golden Smog
(1992)		Down by the Old Mainstream
(1995)		 Weird Tales
(1998)

Down by the Old Mainstream was American Alternative country band Golden Smog's first full-length album, released in 1995. Its title is from a line in both the Wilco song, "Someday Soon" from the album, Being There, and from "Radio King," the last track on this album.

Alternative country, or alternative country rock is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and rock music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream country music and pop country music. Alternative country artists are often influenced by alternative rock. However, the term has been used to describe country music bands and artists that have incorporated influences from alternative rock, indie rock, roots rock, bluegrass, neotraditional country, punk rock, rockabilly, punkabilly, honky-tonk, outlaw country, folk rock, indie folk, folk revival, hard rock, R&B, country rock, heartland rock, and Southern rock.

Golden Smog is an alternative country-rock supergroup of loosely connected musicians mostly from the Minneapolis area. At various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star have worked with Golden Smog. Given the fluid collaborative nature of Golden Smog the lineup has often changed, but relative constants who appear on all the recordings are guitarists Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy and Gary Louris, along with bassist Marc Perlman.

Wilco American alternative rock band

Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently during its first decade, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt remaining from the original incarnation. Since early 2004, the lineup has been unchanged, consisting of Tweedy, Stirratt, guitarist Nels Cline, multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, keyboard player Mikael Jorgensen, and drummer Glenn Kotche. Wilco has released eleven studio albums, a live double album, and four collaborations: three with Billy Bragg and one with The Minus 5.

Contents

Background

Golden Smog was a loosely connected group of musicians comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, but relative constants who appear on all the recordings are guitarists Kraig Johnson (Run Westy Run), Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), along with bassist Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks). [1]

Soul Asylum Rock band

Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, best known for the Grammy-winning 1993 hit "Runaway Train".

The Replacements (band) American rock band

The Replacements were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979. Initially a punk rock band, they are considered one of the pioneers of alternative rock. The band was composed of the guitarist and vocalist Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bass guitarist Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars for most of its career. Following several acclaimed albums, including Let It Be and Tim, Bob Stinson was kicked out of the band in 1986, and Slim Dunlap joined as lead guitarist. Steve Foley replaced Mars in 1990. Towards the end of the band's career, Westerberg exerted more control over the creative output. The group disbanded in 1991, with the members eventually pursuing various projects. A reunion was announced on October 3, 2012. The band is referred to by their nickname "The 'Mats" by fans, which originated as a truncation of "The Placemats," a mispronunciation of their name.

The Jayhawks American country and rock band

The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene during the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists, guitarists and songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s like Uncle Tupelo, the Gear Daddies and the Honeydogs. They have released ten studio albums with and without Olson who left the band in 1995, including five on the American Recordings label. On hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the 1994–1995 lineup of the band reunited, releasing the album, Mockingbird Time, in September 2011. After the tour, Mark Olson again left the band. After another hiatus in 2013, the 1997 lineup led by Louris reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums released between 1997 and 2003. The band has remained active touring and recording since, including the release of the albums Live at The Belly Up in 2015, Paging Mr. Proust, produced by Peter Buck in 2016 and Back Roads and Abandoned Motels in 2018.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Rating-Christgau-neither.png [3]
Entertainment Weekly B [4]

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "a loose, relaxed affair that sounds like it was a lot of fun to record...it has an offhand, relaxed charm that is sometimes lacking from Jayhawks and Soul Asylum albums. Not all of the songs are first rate—'Pecan Pie' and 'Red Headed Stepchild' are a bit too cute to be effective—but the performances are full of grit and fire, which is what makes Down By the Mainstream such an engaging listen." [1] Jeff Gordinier of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Golden Smog’s comfort food cries out for a little spice, but it warms you up, nonetheless." [4]

<i>Entertainment Weekly</i> American entertainment magazine published by Meredith Corporation

Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by Meredith Corporation, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books and popular culture.

Track listing

  1. "V" (Gary Louris, Kraig Johnson)
  2. "Ill Fated" (Dan Murphy)
  3. "Pecan Pie" (Jeff Tweedy)
  4. "Yesterday Cried" (Johnson)
  5. "Glad & Sorry" (Ronnie Lane)
  6. "Won't Be Coming Home" (Louris, Mark Olson)
  7. "He's a Dick" (Johnson)
  8. "Walk Where He Walked" (Tweedy)
  9. "Nowhere Bound" (Marc Perlman, Murphy, Johnson)
  10. "Friend" (Johnson)
  11. "She Don't Have to See You" (Bobby Patterson, Strickland)
  12. "Red Headed Stepchild" (Murphy, Perlman)
  13. "Williamton Angel" (Johnson)
  14. "Radio King" (Tweedy, Louris)

Personnel

The band members of Golden Smog used pseudonyms in the credits.

Joseph Rodney Huffman is an American musician. Primarily known as a keyboard and organ player, Huffman has performed with many artists, both in the studio and live. He was a member of Witness, Drivin N Cryin and the Georgia Satellites. Joey has recorded on over 125 records as a musician and producer/engineer during his career including Bowling for Soup's A Hangover You Don't Deserve, Skinny Molly's Here For A Good Time, Miranda Lambert's Kerosene, Soul Asylum's Let Your Dim Light Shine, After the Flood: Live from Grand Forks Prom, Black Gold: The Best of Soul Asylum and Silver Lining, Meat Puppets' No Joke, Matchbox Twenty's Live From Down Under DVD, Butch Walker's Letters, CeeLo Green's Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, Collective Soul's Youth, Izzy Stradlin's Miami, Blackberry Smoke's New Honky Tonk Bootlegs to name a few. He has also toured with Isaac Hayes (1989), Michelle Malone and Drag the River (1990-1991), The Georgia Satellites (1992-2004), Drivin N Cryin (1994-2006), Izzy Stradlin (1993), Matchbox Twenty (1998) and Soul Asylum (1993–1997). in 2008, he performed live with Lynyrd Skynyrd, filling-in for Billy Powell. He is currently a member of Hank Williams Jr.'s touring band.

Dave Pirner American songwriter, singer, and producer

David Anthony Pirner is an American songwriter, singer, and producer best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative rock band Soul Asylum.

Gary Louris American musician

Gary Louris is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the departure of Mark Olson. Louris is often credited with the band's subsequent move from folk-country toward a more progressive, pop sound.

Production notes

Chart positions

YearChartPosition
1996Billboard Heatseekers Albums14

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Down by the Old Mainstream > Review". Allmusic . Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ Kot, Greg (1996-02-01). "Golden Smog Omits The Frills On `Mainstream'". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2000-10-15). "Golden Smog". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. p. 119. ISBN   9780312245603.
  4. 1 2 Gordinier, Jeff (1996-01-19). "Down by the Old Mainstream". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 2017-07-15.
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