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The High Violets new album "To Where You Are" was just recently released nationwide in North America. The album was produced, engineered and mixed by Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith, Tahiti 80) and Jeff Saltzman (Sleater Kinney, Stephen Malkamus) and took over three years to create. We here at Reverb HQ are biased, but this album was absolutely well worth the wait. Kaitlyn's voice has never, ever sounded better and Clint Sargent's guitar sounds like it's been in a very melodic part of outerspace for the last two years. So good! It looks like the press think so too. Check below for some recent reviews and quotes.
The High Violets have had a busy year so far with a successful nationwide tour that took them through the Midwest, the Southwest and to the East coast. They’ve also completed a few other mid-sized tours and they’ll be heading out again a couple more times before the end of the year. Watch the band’s website for updated tour dates. In the meantime, check out the KEXP Podcast of the band’s live appearance at the station before their CD release.
Reverb Records will be releasing a limited edition EP with various re-mixes from 'To Where You Are' in the next couple of months. On it will be re-mixes and new interpretations of songs from their new album 'To Where You Are' from Carmen Rizzo (Coldplay, BT, Paul Oakenfold, Delirium), Nomadic Noize (duPage Mafia) and maybe another guest or two. Stay tuned here for more details. |
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The High Violets formed after the demise
of legendary Portland favorite the Bella Low, a band that played
regulary with Elliot Smith's Heatmiser and The Dandy Warhols. Lead
guitarist Clint Sargent picked up the pieces from that band's crash
and put together an amazing group of musicians to form the High Violets.
Influenced heavily by the amazing sounds of MBV, Ride, Spaceman 3, Lush and the
Cocteau Twins, the band soon developed a huge following. After a few early
line-up changes they drafted in one of Portland's most amazing voices, Kaitlyn
ni Donavan. Having an extremely succssful solo career of her own, Kaitlyn
immediately added the lush vocals and beautiful melodies the band needed. One
self-released EP later and the band were in the studio recording their debut
album 44 Down. The album definitely paved the way for a resurgence in the
shoegazer sound and those that followed. Under the Radar Magazine and Magnet
Magazine singled out the band and this album with full page feature articles
after its release, noting its influence.
fter a few more line-up changes the band are nearly back to their original line-up
with Luke "The Duke" Strahota rejoining the band after an extended
absence. Original bass player Alan Davis has gone on to form the SF based band
Every Move A Picture, recently signed to the V2 label, but has aptly been replaced
by long-time mate Aaron Overstreet.
An early out-take of the song "Invitation" from the new album was released
on the Fuzzy Ball compilation last year. It sounded good then, but now with a
significant re-work by Tony Lash, this song is without a doubt one of the stand-out
tracks on the album. It appears as if everyone has a different favorite track
from the new release; Magnet Magazine checks the song "Invitation," while
Gustav of 94.7 KNRK likes the "very catchy" song "Cool Green" as
does John Richards of KEXP. Amplifier Magazine is adding "Love Is Blinding" to
their website Jukebox, while PM Media Review tips "X-Tasy" and "Nocturnal" as
ones to check out. Radio
Indie Pop likes "Sun
Baby," "Nocturnal" and "X-tasy." Ultimately 'To Where
You Are' is an exceptional album that just demands repeat listens and will simply
be hard to take off of your stereo.
The High Violets will be performing at the SXSW Music Festival in 2006 and will
be hitting the road hard this year. Please check out the band
website for full
tour updates. |
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SATELLITE REMIXES
2007 Reverb Records
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STRANDED IN STEREO Vol. 3
Various Artists
2006 Planetary Group
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MUSICFEST NW 06’
Various Artists
2006 Willamette Week/Cravedog
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TO WHERE YOU ARE
2006 Reverb Records
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THE FUZZY BALL
Various Artists
2004 Reverb Records
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MAGNET
New Music Sampler
2003 Magnet
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IN A DIFFERENT PLACE
Various Artists
2003 Reverb Records |
44 DOWN
2002 Reverb Records |
NW SHOEGAZERBLISS
Various Artists
2002 Reverb Records |
REVERB COMPILATION
Various Artists
2001 Reverb Records |
DIGITAL T
Various Artists
2002 Creeping Herb |
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PM MEDIA REVIEW
"The High Violets seem poised to
make indie/pop crossover history... With two well-crafted releases
behind them, and the positive buzz growing around them, The High
Violets could find themselves on many playlists in the coming
year."
MAGNET MAGAZINE
"Kaitlyn ni Donavan has a voice that would melt the Jesus And
Mary Chain's heart, and ballad 'Invitation' proves the Violets
are capable of writing a great tune."
GRAVE CONCERNS
"To Where You Are is an exceptionally solid affair, an album
that's consistently great from start to finish. With both accessibility
and depth, it's an immaculately produced and energetic-yet-emotive
outing that's likely to draw quite a bit of attention, and deservedly
so. Highly recommended."
WILLAMETTE WEEK
"To Where You Are, an album imbued with an affecting, undeniable
sensuality that will alternately start and end many relationships
come Valentine's Day."
CMJ NEW MUSIC WEEKLY
"When shoegazer comes in vogue again look to the High Violets to be the
band that signaled its return. The ethereal voice of Kaitlyn Ni Donovan and the
dreamy twin guitars are reminiscent of a gentle My Bloody Valentine or early
Lush. “Chinese Letter” is as breezy as it is dense—even when
the guitars are a wall of sound it is never over powering."
Songs from '44
Down' have been regularly featured on these shows: THE REAL WORLD, ROAD RULES, SORORITY
LIFE and FRATERNITY LIFE.
MAGNET MAGAZINE
"The Year In Music" Issue features The High Violets song "44 Down" on
their "New Music Sampler" (Vol. 27).
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
"The High Violets - Shimmering, Starry-eyed ethereality."
ALTERNATIVE PRESS
"Dreamy, melodious songs fueled by Kaitlyn ni Donovan's wispy vocals and
Clint Sargent's fluidly gorgeous guitar figures. '44 Down' should make
you wobbly-legged..."
THE OREGONIAN
" 44 Down - Seven tracks of shimmering sonic sensuality."
TIME OUT NY
"Recorded over a period of three years, 'To Where You Are' is worth the wait, especially for its well crafted songs... The set's strongest track, "Cool Green," combines all the best traits of the High Violets's sound. At once mild and forthright, the song's scrambled synths, menacing riffs and floating melodies add up to a perfect pop ditty and a distorted dream in one shot."
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Kaitlyn ni Donovan : Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Clint Sargent : Lead Guitar, Vocals
The Duke : Percussion/Drums
Colin Sheridan : Bass |
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