The Carnations

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Carnations


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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Toronto, Ontario
Canada Flagicon|CAN
Genre = Indie rock
Years_active = 1995–2004
Label = MapleNationWide
Universal
Alphabetty Records
Ductape Records
Sycamore
Associated_acts = All Systems Go!
Andy Stochansky
Small Sins
URL = http://www.thecarnations.com/
Current_members = Thomas D'Arcy (1995—2004)
Nathan Rekker (1996—2004)
Stephen Krecklo (1995—2004)
Patrick Conan (2001-2004)
Past_members = Ian LeFeuvre

The Carnations were a Canadian indie rock band started in 1995 by Thomas D'Arcy on lead vocals and bass, and Steve Krecklo on vocals and guitar. It expanded in 1996 to include Nathan Rekker on guitar and vocals, and later Patrick Conan on drums. Their sound has been likened to other Canadian bands of the indie rock persuasion such as Thrush Hermit [cite web
title = EYE Magazine's "In Good Time" review 2003-09-29
publisher = Thomas D'Arcy
url = http://www.thecarnations.com/newsitem.php?id=26
accessdate = 2007-09-28] and Sloan [cite web
title = Toronto Star's Review of "In Good Time" 2003-10-03
publisher = Thomas D'Arcy
url = http://www.thecarnations.com/newsitem.php?id=27
accessdate = 2007-09-28] .

History

The first album, Superluminal, was released in 1997 and received favourable reviews in [http://www.eyeweekly.net Toronto's Eye Magazine] and the Toronto Star. One song, Bald Avenger, was selected for the CFNY New Rock Search CD in Toronto. D'Arcy was just sixteen years old, and Krecklo seventeen, not even old enough to play in a bar at the time, as the Canadian legal drinking age is at least 18.

In 1998, the band released a split seven inch single on Sycamore Records in Barrie, Ontario. The single was named one of the top ten of the year by NOW Magazine.

The Carnations' self-titled 2001 mini-CD was produced by Ian Blurton (producer of The Weakerthans). A small deal with a UK label called Alphabetty Records saw the release of the single, Scream & Yell. Record Collector Magazine called it "Single Of The Month", and the entire limited run of 1000 sold out in one year, almost entirely at live shows and through mail order.

At the time, new drummer Ian LeFeuvre kept his day job, D’Arcy joined All Systems Go! (Bad Taste Records), sharing singing and song writing responsibilities with John Kastner (ex-Doughboys), and Krecklo became a member of Andy Stochansky’s band (RCA Records). The self-titled album was completed a few months later and ready for release on Toronto’s Ductape Records, whose roster at the time included The Meligrove Band, Four Square, Dead Letter Dept., and The Moops.

D'Arcy has stated: "Although I don't consider [ Elvis Costello or The Pixies] to be direct influences on our music, I can definitely see how one might draw that comparison. For what it's worth, my favourite band is the Beatles." [cite web
title = The Carnations
publisher = Thomas D'Arcy
url = http://www.thecarnations.com/bio.htm
accessdate = 2007-09-28]

D'Arcy went on to form Small Sins in 2000, another indie rock act, which includes Stephen Krecklo in its live incarnation.

In early February 2004, the band announced via their website that they would be dissolving, thanking their fans and stating that "unfortunately, all good things must come to an end eventually, so, this is the end." [cite web
title = The Final Show
publisher = Thomas D'Arcy
url = http://www.thecarnations.com/newsitem.php?id=36
accessdate = 2007-09-28] The band performed one last show on February 28th, 2004 at Toronto's legendary Horseshoe Tavern, along with The I-Spies and The Cardiacs.

Discography

Albums

* 1997: "Superluminal"
* 1999: "A Return to Melody"
* 2001: "The Carnations"
* 2003: "In Good Time"

7" Singles

* 1998: "The Carnations / The Persuasion Split single"
* 2000: "The Carnations / Nero Split single"

External links

* [http://www.thecarnations.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/car/default.asp The Carnations on MapleMusic]

Media

* [http://www.thecarnations.com/stuff/Carnations-ScreamYell.mov "Scream & Yell" music video (2001)]
* [http://www.thecarnations.com/stuff/Carnations-Spies.mov "I've Got Spies" music video (2003)]

References