Cass McCombs

Cass McCombs is an American musician and songwriter. Since 2002 he has released ten albums, an EP and a B-sides compilation under his own name.[1] McCombs' music blends elements of many styles including American roots music, underground music, country, psychedelia and international music. His satirical lyrics, often the focal point, touch on the ambiguities between the personal, the political, mortality and nature.[2]

Cass McCombs
McCombs performing in 2017
McCombs performing in 2017
Background information
GenresRock, folk, psychedelic, punk, alt country
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, various
Years active2001–present
LabelsANTI-, Domino Records, 4AD, Monitor Records
Websitecassmccombs.com

In 2016, the New York Times referred to McCombs as "one of the great songwriters of his time."[3]

McCombs released his debut EP Not The Way (2002), debut album A (2003) and follow-up Prefection (2005) via Monitor Records and 4AD.[1] His early work was critically acclaimed and quickly earned him a devoted following. In 2007 McCombs signed to Domino Records and released Dropping the Writ. His fourth album Catacombs (2009), produced by Ariel Rechtshaid, significantly increased his exposure and was followed by a pair of well-received albums in 2011, Wit's End and Humor Risk.[4] Big Wheel and Others, a double album, was released in 2013. Spin called it "a towering achievement."[5] His final release on Domino was the b-sides and rarities collection A Folk Set Apart: Rarities, B-Sides & Space Junk, ETC. (2015). McCombs signed to ANTI- Records in 2016 and released Mangy Love, which NME referred to as "McCombs' richest ever recording."[6] In 2019 he released his ninth studio album, Tip of the Sphere, and published his debut poetry collection, Toy Fabels, with Spurl Editions.[7]

Career

Blending genres such as rock, folk, psychedelic, punk, and alt country, McCombs has played in numerous bands in the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest during the 1990s, often in DIY spaces, before relocating to New York City. He moved to San Francisco in 2001, where he recorded his debut E.P., entitled Not the Way E.P., released on Monitor Records in Baltimore. McCombs then recorded a Peel Session for John Peel in 2003, and that year released his first LP A, also touring with Baltimore's OXES as his backing band.[8] McCombs and his band spent much of 2003 and 2004 touring, performing everywhere from the All Tomorrow's Parties festival to house shows.[8] McCombs otherwise divided his time amongst the Pacific Northwest, England and Baltimore.[9]

In early 2005, he released PREfection on Monitor Records and 4AD,[9] and in support of the album he toured with Modest Mouse.[8] Later that year, he moved to Southern California to begin work on his third full-length, Dropping the Writ, which was released on October 9, 2007, by Domino Records. It was named one of Amazon.com's Best Albums of 2007.[10] Also in 2007 he toured with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti.[8] He signed a multiple-album deal with Domino Records, who released his following four records including Catacombs (2009), which was voted one of the "50 Top Albums on the Year" by Pitchfork.[11] It was followed by Wit's End (2011),[12] Humor Risk (2011),[13] and Big Wheel and Others (2013).[8]

He toured with John Cale in 2012, and also performed at the benefit concert Occupy Sandy.[8] Other bands he has performed or toured with include Ariel Pink, Cat Power, Band of Horses, Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Peter Bjorn and John, Papercuts, The Shins, Iron and Wine, Deerhoof, The Walkmen, Jana Hunter, Thurston Moore, Joe Russo and The War On Drugs.

McCombs in 2010

His single "Bradley Manning" premiered on the Democracy Now News Hour in 2012.[8] His songs have been featured in films including the surf film The Present (2009),[14] and Ralph Arlyck documentary Following Sean,[15] as well as notable skate videos featuring Jason Dill,[16] Jerry Hsu[17] Chima Ferguson and Dylan Rieder.[18] His song "Bobby, King of Boys Town" appeared in HBO show Girls (Season 2, Episode 9 – "On All Fours").[19]

In 2014, he did a co-headlining tour with the Meat Puppets.[20]

McCombs is a member of The Skiffle Players, who released their debut LP, Skifflin' on February 12, 2016.[21]

In June 2016, McCombs performed at the Primavera Sound and Field Day music festivals.[22]

McCombs ANTI- Records debut, Mangy Love was released on August 26, 2016.[23]

In 2020, Spurl Editions published McCombs' debut poetry collection Toy Fabels, with illustrations by McCombs.[24]

His tenth studio album, Heartmind, was released on Anti- on August 19, 2022.[25]

In 2023 McCombs and Mr Greg (Teacher Greg Gardner) released the album Mr Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children on Smithsonian Folkways.[26]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Compilations

References
  1. "Cass McCombs". Discogs. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. "For Cass McCombs, the truth is blowing in the apocalyptic breeze". The Washington Post. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  3. "Cass McCombs: Imagine Beckett as a Cranky Singer-Songwriter". New York Times. August 18, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  4. "Catacombs". Pitchfork. August 18, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  5. "Cass McCombs Lets It Roll With the Spooky, Overstuffed 'Big Wheel and Others'". Spin Magazine. August 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  6. "Cass McCombs – 'Mangy Love' Album Review". NME. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  7. "Toy Fabels by Cass McCombs". Spurl Editions. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  8. "CASS MCCOMBS & THE MEAT PUPPETS – Wednesday, November 5 – Vinyl". Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  9. RCRD LBL Archived March 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Best Music of 2007. Amazon.com.
  11. Pitchfork Staff (December 17, 2009). Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2009. Pitchfork.
  12. Domino USA (January 27, 2011). Cass McCombs Returns With a New Album. Press Release.
  13. Domino USA (August 17, 2011). Humor Risk. Press Release.
  14. JettyGirl Surf Movie Review – The Present, a film by Thomas Campbell. Retrieved 1-28-11.
  15. Following Sean – Production Credits. PBS. Retrieved 1-28-11.
  16. Dill, Jason (December 27, 2008). Jason Dill DVS Skate More. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  17. Hsu, Jerry (March 29, 2007). "Sacred Heart" by Cass McCombs. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  18. Rieder, Dylan (August 24, 2010). dylan. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  19. TV Movie Songs, Tvmoviesongs.com, Retrieved 3-31-13.
  20. "Cass McCombs Announces Tour with Meat Puppets". Pitchfork. August 14, 2014.
  21. "Skifflin', by The Skiffle Players". The Skiffle Players. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  22. "Cass McCombs". Primavera Sound Festival. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  23. "Cass McCombs announces new album, Mangy Love, shares "Opposite House" — listen". Consequence of Sound. May 24, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  24. "Toy Fabels by Cass McCombs". Spurl Editions. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  25. Strauss, Matthew (June 8, 2022). "Cass McCombs Announces New Album Heartmind, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  26. https://pitchfork.com/news/cass-mccombs-announces-childrens-music-album-with-mr-greg-shares-new-song-listen/
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