SUBSTATION 7
Independent Music Link Archive
Rubbernekkerz
Artist Name: Rubbernekkerz Album:
Email address:
rubbernekkerz@sympatico.ca
Hometown: Newmarket, ON, Canada
Website:
http://www.rubbernekkerz.com
Style of music:
Alternative
MySpace:
http://myspace.com/rubbernekkerz
CDBaby:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/rubbernekkerz
SonicBids:
SoundClick:
Video:
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Description: With vocals reminiscent of Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), and textures
that range from lush 12-string guitar sweeps to analog synths, the focus of
Rubbernekkerz is creating mood & a sonic texture. Refer to: Bowie, Peter
Murphy, Morrissey, Depeche Mode.
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Bio: The debut CD from Rubbernekkerz, "33 1/3rd" (Thirty Three and a Third),
delivers an introspective range of alt-pop songs that create an emotional
mood from a layering of sounds. Acoustic and synthetic textures blend to
create a spacey backdrop for lyrics that circle around the reflective and
often melancholy themes of time, youth, and aging.
Rubbernekkerz is the creation of Toronto area musician Mark Harrington, who
is joined by a second guitarist (Clay Phillips of Funhouse) on three tracks,
and an occasional extra voice. Harrington released a number of independent
solo recordings in the late 80s, and 2 CDs in the 90s: 1993's Capricorn
Flakes, and 1999's Trash Icon. Rubbernekkerz music is different in feel from
most of Harrington's previous music, hence the new name.
Vocal similarities to Peter Murphy (Bauhuas) and Tom Verlaine (Television)
have been noted in Harrington’s music (see reviews, below). Past comparisons
to early Bowie led to the inclusion of a cover of David Bowie’s classic
Changes on the new CD, with a faster tempo than the original. Tracks being
presented to radio include the up-tempo rhythm-section-driven Where You
Really Are, the lush acoustic-guitar sweeps of the down-tempo Awfully, and
the synth-pop electronica of Never Be The Same Again and Mood Swinger.
REVIEWS
[the] songs are lot more interesting arrangement-wise than... dark-synth
bands like Joy Division or Depeche Mode.
"Awfully" is a great song.
-- Jaimie Vernon, President, Bullseye Records / Author, Canadian Pop Music
Encyclopedia, Aug. 2006
I have to say that the "Trash Icon" CD is great. I've been playing it on my
show.... It reminds me quite a bit of Folk Implosion.
-- Bryan Bruchman (WNYU-AM, New York), Nov. 1999
...Harrington still enjoys a certain Peter Murphy/Tom Verlaine affinity as
vocalist with a self-effacing twisted perspective. ...the wacked version of
Gary Numan's "Cars" [is] worth the price of admission alone!
-- Jaimie Vernon, Bullseye Records, Nov. 1999
Unique.... somewhere between early Bowie, Peter Murhpy 'n more ... as the
critics helplessly say... Mark does his very own thing !!
-- Lord Litter, Radio Marabu (Europe), Oct. 1999
...Harrington's humour needs several listens to be appreciated.
-- Matt Mernagh, Exclaim (!*@#). Aug. 1999
If I were to combine NEIL YOUNG'S chunkiness with TOM VERLAINE'S oddball-pop
vocal stylizing I might get something like Mr. Harrington. His wise-guy
lyrics, use of accents and well developed song writing talents make me enjoy
his music over and over.
-- Don Campau (KKUP FM, Cupertino, Calif.) Feb. 1999
[Harrington] performs in a spare, electric-folk sort of style spawned from a
wide variety of influences, and has penned some clever lyrics to go with it.
-- Pulse Niagara. Feb. 1994
Peter Murphy planted his tongue firmly in cheek, borrowed a bit of Frank
Zappa's sharp wit, changed his name to Mark Harrington, and released
Capricorn Flakes.
-- Chaos Review (Niagara). Feb. 1994
Q: Who the he_ _ is Mark Harrington and why the hell do I want to write an
entire article on him?
A: Because of "Message", the last cut on his new, self financed, indie CD
Capricorn Flakes (as well as the rest of the album).
-- Jim English, Exclaim (!*@#). June 1993
Harrington is a strong songwriter... [and] clever, dry lyricist.
Credit to him for designing his own tongue-in-cheek CD packaging and for
successfully self-producing his work.
-- Chart. June 1993
...a song called Wear Black from the Capricorn Flakes CD. I must say that's
a song that, lyrically, I wish I would have written years ago.
-- CKLN DJ Kevin Press. Summer 1993
Guitarist Mark Harrington plays with a spare elegance that manages to imply
as much as it actually delivers.
-- Now. March 1989
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Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
e-mail: harrington1 @ sympatico.ca
RUBBERNEKKERZ CD TAKES SEVEN YEARS TO FINISH
Toronto, ON - August 21, 2006 - The debut CD from Rubbernekkerz, "33 1/3rd"
(Thirty Three and a Third), delivers an introspective range of alt-pop songs
that create an emotional mood from a layering of sounds. Rubbernekkerz is
the creation of Toronto area musician Mark Harrington, whose work on this CD
began in 1999. He was working on the music at 33 1/3rd years of age, so a
reference to the long-playing vinyl record is not the only one made in the
title. Many more songs in-progress exist unreleased aside from these 11
originals.
The August '06 release to cyberspace will be complemented by the delivery of
the CD in September to (mostly Canadian) college radio outlets. Songs being
presented to radio include the up-tempo rhythm-section-driven Where You
Really Are, the lush acoustic-guitar sweeps of the down-tempo Awfully, and
the synth-pop electronica of Never Be The Same Again and Mood Swinger. A
cover of David Bowie’s classic Changes on the new CD, with a faster tempo
than the original.
The usual tongue-in-cheek humour in Harrington's work takes an even more
subtle form here, with the track Mood Swinger comically looking at the
widespread need for anti-depressants and mood-altering chemicals, and the
track Amnesty on Sorrow tapping into the more serious side of these
emotions.
www.rubbernekkerz.com
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