The Shondes dramatic debut receives early praise from Spin, CMJ, Amplifier and more, Brooklyn based politically charged quartet compared to Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith and Rasputina.
“…radical politics, inspired riffs, textured harmonies and pure sex appeal” – Curve Magazine
“Seamlessly fusing art and politics” – Punk Planet
“Hard-driving, politically savvy rock ‘n roll” – Flavorpill
“A powerful new sound” – Heeb Magazine
The Shondes, a Brooklyn, NY quartet taking its name from the Yiddish word for “shame” or “disgrace” has already earned considerable praise (contrary to the group’s self-deprecating moniker) for its recently released debut album, The Red Sea. The disc, produced by Pere Ubu bassist and producer Tony Maimone (They Might Be Giants, Book Of Knots) was released in mid-January and met with a wellspring of enthusiastic press.
Spin.com recently featured The Shondes as its “Artist of The Day”. The band’s NYC album release party was glowingly reviewed by CMJ. New York Press featured The Shondes in an in-depth article . Likewise, reputable outlets like Alternative Press and Amplifier have taken interest in the band.
The Shondes’ dramatic rock has been compared to Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith and Rasputina, due to the group’s clever merging of classical music, traditional Jewish folk and punk rock into a compelling whole. The Shondes — Temim Fruchter (drums/vocals), Louisa Solomon (bass/vocals), Ian Brannigan (guitar) and Elijah Oberman (violin/vocals) — quickly gained popularity in its native city thanks to its complex melodic song structures combined with rich, intertwined vocals. Despite the apparent fixation on an erroneous quantifier relating to the band members’ identities (falsely describing them as “3/4 trans,” perhaps because it makes a catchy press hook, when paired with the factually correct “3/4 Jewish”), The Shondes have been receiving acclaim for their seamless fusion of fierce political conviction and serious musicianship. “We’re proud to continue the tradition of political, queer and feminist punk,” says drummer Temim Fruchter.
The Shondes’ songwriting fuses the various musical traditions of feminist punk, classical, Jewish and queercore, while the band’s vocal melodies move effortlessly from anthemic to haunting — textured by the distinct qualities of each of their voices. The result is a unique sound that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The high energy of its live shows bring audiences along for the ride, with audience members often singing along and swaying to the punchy rhythms and soaring melodies.
From its formation, The Shondes has maintained a rigorous tour schedule including two national tours, a midwest mini-tour, regular east coast dates, and festivals such as North by Northeast and Homo A Go Go. The group has shared the stage with indie luminaries Electrelane, Erase Errata, Amy Ray, Mecca Normal, Joe Lally of Fugazi and Lesbians on Ecstasy, among others. The band also organizes events, often in partnership with local activist organizations, such as the Jews Against the Occupation Chanukah Ball and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project’s Valentine’s Day Party.
The Red Sea Album Tracklisting:
Stream The Album HERE
01. Don’t Look Down (MP3)
02. Your Monster
03. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (MP3)
04. Winter
05. Let’s Go (MP3)
06. I Watched the Temple Fall
07. At the Water
08. What Love Is
09. The Mother and the Colony
10. Don’t Whisper
11. The Start of Everything
