Elliott (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Elliott
Background = group_or_band
Origin =
Genre = Emo, Indie rock
Years_active = 1995 – 2003
Label = Revelation Records
Associated_acts = Falling Forward
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/elliottmusic Myspace]
Current_members = Chris Higdon: Vocals, guitar
Benny Clark: Guitar
Jay Palumbo: Guitar
Jason Skaggs: Bass
Jonathan Mobley: Bass
Billy Bisig: Bass
Kevin Ratterman: Drums
Ben Lord: Drums
Past_members =

Elliott was a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. They released four albums and several 7"s in their eight-year existence, and were signed to Revelation Records.

The band formed in 1995 after the demise of lauded Louisville hardcore outfit Falling Forward. FF drummer Ben Lord soon left the group, so Chris Higdon (vocals/guitar), Jay Palumbo (guitar), and Jonathan Mobley (bass) were joined by new drummer Kevin Ratterman. A producer and engineer as well as a drummer, Ratterman would go on to play a large part in writing and producing Elliott's music.

In 1997, Elliott released their debut 7", "In Transit". Their first full-length, "US Songs", followed in 1998.

2000's "False Cathedrals" was a more polished affair than its predecessor, featuring vocal harmonies and more piano than "US Songs". Shortly after the album's completion, Palumbo and Mobley left the band to pursue other musical interests. Jason Skaggs took over on bass, and Falling Forward's Benny Clark was enlisted to play guitar. Clark's ethereal, effects-heavy sound would go on to have a significant impact on Elliott's music.

"False Cathedrals" is Elliott's most popular release. According to Revelation Records, it is amongst the highest selling albums in the label's back-catalogue.

Elliott's third album, "Song in the Air", was released in 2003. It marked another stylistic shift for the band, incorporating more post-rock influences, as well as live string arrangements by the Louisville group Rachel's. Pitchfork Media called "Song in the Air" "a far more dynamic and internally cohesive record than any of the band's previous efforts." [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17436-elliott-song-in-the-air Pitchfork review of "Song In The Air"] ]

Skaggs left the band shortly after the completion of "Song in the Air". He was replaced by Billy Bisig.

Shortly after "Song in the Air"'s release, Elliott announced their intention to break up. They completed final tours of Europe and the US, before disbanding in November 2003.

A posthumous release, "Photorecording", featured two discs: a CD with live tracks and a collection of demos/b-sides, and a DVD with live footage and a documentary about their final US tour.

Members of Elliott have been busy since the band's demise. Singer/Guitarist Chris Higdon is now fronting the band Frontier(s) alongside members of Automatic, Mouthpiece, Enkindels, Stay Gold and others. Benny Clark is playing bass in a group named Parlour. Kevin Ratterman has continued to establish himself as an in-demand producer -- he also played bass in Your Black Star (2004-2005) and is currently part of the trio Wax Fang.

Discography

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/elliottmusic Elliott] on MySpace