New Name: Sound Houses

[lou2ser]

From myspace:

We, The New Sound of Numbers are officially changing our name to Sound Houses. This change is coming about because our next recording project will sound quite a bit different from The New Sound of Number's "Liberty Seeds" album - which was recorded for the most part by Hannah Jones in her home studio. "Liberty Seeds" was recorded a track at a time, each track building on the next. The New Sound of Numbers feels as though it started as a solo project that expanded and evolved into a band whose members each contribute to the song-forming process.

And there is a new myspace profile to go along with this new band.

http://www.myspace.com/soundhousesmyspace

[wilson]

The page mentions a different sound from the first record (not that the live show ever had similar arrangements to the record, but beside the point); does anyone who saw the shows in the past couple months where new material was debuted have any thoughts on the songs?

It does make sense that tNSON would finally get an e6townhall page, and immediately Hannah decides to change the name. ;)

[pinocchio]

i must make known my theory


there is no need for bands to keep changing names simply because of new steps in recording, a slightly different sound, or an unfamiliar line up

if you want to ever stick around in peoples' brains, stick with the formulation in your own

let's, for a moment, have a look at the three most popular bands on this forum -

the apples in stereo, of montreal, and neutral milk hotel. i think the secret is sticking it out.

for instance, when somebody in their 20s or 30s or something (who maybe has been away from their favorite music for a while) might stumble upon a single like requiem for OMM2 or energy only to be told "this is of montreal" or WHOEVER, they would be surprised to learn that maybe it's the same music being made by the band who wrote penelope which was what they remember from the last time they heard of montreal. phew.

sure it can be fun... marbles, ulysses, american revolution... but really does anybody appreciate any of that anywhere near as much as they do the apples in stereo? no don't lie


i can say personally, that all of this just makes everything more confusing and unattractive. i like the new sound of numbers a lot, but this is just frustrating. it's like oh? andy from denver? i give a fuck? no.

if a NEW new sound of numbers comes out, i am there. but chances are i will forget about "sound houses" and end up never hearing any of it. same goes with faster circuits and all the other confusion. even my old friends from highschool and college and all... all those kinds of bands would always be changing names. here's a hint. it does nothing for you.

you are killing me, smallz

[wilson]

for instance, when somebody in their 20s or 30s or something (who maybe has been away from their favorite music for a while) might stumble upon a single like requiem for OMM2 or energy only to be told "this is of montreal" or WHOEVER, they would be surprised to learn that maybe it's the same music being made by the band who wrote penelope which was what they remember from the last time they heard of montreal. phew.


I would almost rather new Of Montreal be released under a different band name, than the one that released "Penelope". It is a fundamentally different song-writing method, arrangement style, and even basic genre to a degree.

That said, commercial music--music sales, not, like, top 40--is moving in a direction where blind purchases aren't nearly so large a market share. Music can be easily previewed, bands easily biographized (which I'm told is not a word), and music information in general is so much easier for consumers to access. Hell, Will Oldham has made a career out of giving the middle finger to the idea of branding a band through bandname. I'm pretty sure we couldn't count the number of names he's put out releases under on two hands.

[wilson]

i must make known my theory
sure it can be fun... marbles, ulysses, american revolution... but really does anybody appreciate any of that anywhere near as much as they do the apples in stereo? no don't lie


It's an excellent point that the perception of the name-change is critical. I think that, so long as the Apples are still together, those are viewed (for better or for worse, probably the latter) more as Robert's side-projects. You want more the Circulatory System-style break from the old name.

A similar case in my mind would be Portastatic, which was essentially Mac from Superchunk's side project for years and years. After the last Superchunk record in 2001 and with no more Superchunk in the immediate picture, Mac wanted Portastatic to be viewed as his main band, less of a side project. It felt like it took a few great records--Summer of the Shark, Autumn was a Lark, Bright Ideas--before the outside perception shifted in that direction. Then when Be Still Please came out at the end of '06, people seemed happy for new material from Mac, and Portastatic as Mac's band. Naturally, Superchunk then put out a 7" last year.

Again, Will Oldham gives all this the finger. It's certainly not an exact science.

[radiowires]

Hell, Will Oldham has made a career out of giving the middle finger to the idea of branding a band through bandname. I'm pretty sure we couldn't count the number of names he's put out releases under on two hands.
Robert Pollard too LOL

[lou2ser]

Robert Pollard too LOL

True, but I think he realizes that using so many names might not have been the best plan. He almost went back to GBV for the upcoming album but instead decided to just call his new record label "Guided by Voices, Inc."

[wilson]

True, but I think he realizes that using so many names might not have been the best plan. He almost went back to GBV for the upcoming album but instead decided to just call his new record label "Guided by Voices, Inc."

Did you get the new one yesterday in the mail? My roommate, who I believe posts on a different message board that you also post on, got it yesterday and was very excited.

[lou2ser]

Did you get the new one yesterday in the mail? My roommate, who I believe posts on a different message board that you also post on, got it yesterday and was very excited.

I never know when I'm gonna get something from him. I order whatever comes available and it just shows up. Literally, a new 7", EP, or LP every month. The exact opposite of what we have going on here.

And yeah, I'm Lou2ser everywhere you go, even the GBV message board.

[Harnk]

a change for the worse....Wicked Lester becoming KISS.