Papercuts

This article is about the American indie pop band. For the injury, see Papercut. For the art of cutting paper designs, see Papercutting.

Papercuts
Papercuts performing in New York
Background information
Origin	San Francisco, California
Genres	Indie Pop
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Gnomonsong, Antenna Farm, Memphis Industries, Sub Pop
Associated acts	Cass McCombs, Beach House, Deerhoof, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, The Skygreen Leopards, Vetiver
Members
Jason Robert Quever
Past members
Malcolm Pullinger Jeremey Brown Matt Stromberg Alex deLanda David Enos Kelly Nyland Trevor Montgomery

Papercuts is an American indie pop project centered around Jason Robert Quever.

History

Papercuts is the musical project of San Francisco songwriter/producer Jason Quever. Quever had been making home recordings since high school, but the first official release as Papercuts was 2004's Mockingbird (on Oaklands Antenna Farm Records). 2007's Can't Go Back (8.3 Pitchfork) and 2009's you Can Have What You Want (4 stars/MOJO) were released on Gnomonsong records, the in-house label of San Francisco's Revolver distribution. In 2010 Papercuts signed with Sub Pop records, who will be releasing the next Papercuts album in spring 2011. Quever is the only permanent member of Papercuts, early on playing with whoever of his friends were available. Bay area artist/filmmaker Davis Enos has been the longest standing collaborator (keys), while Frankie Koeller (bass) and Graham Hill (drums) have been regular members of the group since 2008, when the band started touring more regularly. The bands that Papercuts have toured with include Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Camera Obscura and Vetiver.

Quever was born in Arcata, California and moved to the bay area during grade school, living in various places until settling in San Francisco. Quever's first work as a engineer/producer was Cass Mccomb's Not The Way ep (4AD). Since then he has recorded bands at his own studio including Mccombs, Port O'Brien, Beach House, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, The Skygreen Leopards, Still Flyin' and others as well as Papercuts albums.

Quever has his own home studio, which he calls the "Pan American Recording Studio", where he has recorded or mixed work by local artists including Vetiver, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, the Skygreen Leopards, the Finches, the Moore Brothers, and Still Flyin'.

He cites among his influences and inspirations Django Reinhardt, Nirvana and the original The Twilight Zone TV series.

Papercuts recently covered Don Henley's "Boys Of Summer" for American Laundromat Records charity CD "Sing Me To Sleep - Indie Lullabies" The CD will be released worldwide on May 18, 2010.

Musical style

The Papercuts sound is generally classified as indie pop, with comparisons also being made to freak folk artists such as Devendra Banhart. the song 'chills' is a direct homage to the new zealand band of that name.

In a 2007 live review in the New York Times, Jon Pareles described the band: "Melding sustained organ chords with slow fingerpicked guitar, the Papercuts’ music merged Velvet Underground ballads with touches of the Byrds, while Jason Quever sang in a high, diffident voice about elusive love." A PopMatters review described Papercuts as "a marching band on Quaaludes" and "part atmospheric, part dream pop rock, always melodic, and never boring". A Houston Press review of Can't Go Back described the album as having a "warm, sunny sound, recalling northern California circa 1968", going on to describe the band as "a lo-fi version of The Byrds".

Discography

Albums

• 2000 - Rejoicing Songs (Cassingle USA)
• 2004 - Mockingbird (Antenna Farm)
• 2007 - Can't Go Back (Gnomonsong)
• 2009 - You Can Have What You Want (Gnomonsong)
• 2011 - Fading Parade (Sub Pop)

External links

• Papercuts on Myspace