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Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later in 2008.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003708939 Billboard Bits: Nikka Costa, Ne-Yo, The Format.] Billboard Online. Accessed [[July 28]], [[2008]].</ref>
Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later in 2008.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003708939 Billboard Bits: Nikka Costa, Ne-Yo, The Format.] Billboard Online. Accessed [[July 28]], [[2008]].</ref>


On [[August 11th, 2008]] music resource [[AbsolutePunk.net]] announced the introduction of Ruess' new band, [[Fun (band)|fun]] Taken from the band's [[myspace]]:
On [[August 11, 2008]] music resource [[AbsolutePunk.net]] announced the introduction of Ruess' new band, [[Fun (band)|fun]] Taken from the band's [[myspace]]:


{{quote|fun is Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff. Formed during the winter of 2008, the band will begin recording their debut album this September with producer Steven McDonald, arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr and a cast of characters. They will release a single in November and their debut album will be available in February, 2009.<ref>http://www.myspace.com/fun</ref>}}
{{quote|fun is Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff. Formed during the winter of 2008, the band will begin recording their debut album this September with producer Steven McDonald, arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr and a cast of characters. They will release a single in November and their debut album will be available in February, 2009.<ref>http://www.myspace.com/fun</ref>}}

Revision as of 16:40, 12 August 2008

For the AZ album, see The Format (album).

Template:Infobox musical artist 2 The Format was an indie pop band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. They went into a hiatus on February 4, 2008.[1] Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk, and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music.[2] Though Means and Ruess are the foremost members of the band, they have toured and recorded with Mike Schey, Mark Buzard, Don Raymond, and—for the DVD recording and summer 2007 tour—The Honorary Title's current drummer and The Format alumnus Adam Boyd. The Format chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit.

History

Before forming The Format in 2001,[3] Means and Ruess, who have been friends since grade school,[4] had been part of the band Nevergonnascore and released the EP "The Byron Sessions" as well as the band This Past Year, which had generated some record label interest but not a deal.[5]

Despite some critique from the mainstream music industry, the duo's first single, aptly titled "The First Single" from their five song demo, EP, became locally popular on Phoenix radio station KEDJ and led to the duo signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first studio album, Interventions + Lullabies, was released in October 2003 and was very successful around the Phoenix area. Despite no marketing by the record company (no video, no major promotions, no push for radio play outside of Phoenix), the band's fan base grew due to word of mouth, the Internet, and extensive touring, and the album sold over 100,000 copies in the US.[5]

By the end of 2004 and its intensive tour schedule, Means settled back to life in Arizona, marrying his longtime girlfriend, Anita. Ruess, in contrast, had relationship problems and was drinking alcohol excessively. Returning to the recording studio the following year helped him to recover.[5] He used the stormy relationship as a basis for much of the songwriting for The Format's second album, Dog Problems. (The couple got dogs at one point during their on-again-off-again relationship, and when it was ultimately over, Ruess had three dogs to look after.)[6]

After Elektra folded, The Format released a second EP, Snails with sister label Atlantic Records in April 2005. As they began to work on their second full-length album, they drew on the influences of 1970s pop music, including Harry Nilsson, ELO and The Beach Boys, and decided to collaborate with Redd Kross founder Steven Shane McDonald whom they brought on as record producer.[5] But Atlantic Records executives were not impressed by the 1970s-pop-influenced demos and released The Format from its contract. Upon completing the album, Dog Problems, Ruess and Means, with help from their management company decided to release it themselves through their newly established imprint label: The Vanity Label.[7] Two months prior to the album's release, an MP3 version was leaked to the internet. In response, The Format decided to make the album immediately available digitally for only $7.99 via the Nettwerk Music Store, which led to the sale of over 2,000 digital copies prior to the album's official release.[5] Dog Problems was released in stores on July 11, 2006. The day the album was released, an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet 16 featuring The Format aired, on which they performed at a birthday-graduation party for Priya and Divya Kothapalli.

Following the release of Dog Problems, The Format gained more national attention than ever before in the band's history. Their second release received high marks from various publications, even topping some Best of 2006 lists.

In 2006 The Format toured near constantly, supporting their own album Dog Problems as well as supporting The All American Rejects in September in the UK.

In 2007, The Format played a show in Tokyo, Japan, was featured on Last Call with Carson Daly twice, co-headlined with Guster on their Campus Consciousness tour,[3] and toured with Reubens Accomplice, Piebald, Limbeck, Steel Train, and The Honorary Title.

The Japanese edition of Dog Problems, featuring a cover of Jellyfish's "Glutton of Sympathy" as a bonus track, was released on January 24, 2007.

On June 25, 2007, celebrating the one year anniversary of Dog Problems, The Format offered the album in its entirety, including the liner notes in PDF form, for free on their official website. The offer was valid from June 25 to July 16, 2007. As of July 10, 2007, 36,000 people had downloaded the album.

On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will putting the band on hiatus, with Nate Ruess posting the following message on the band's website:

We have just put out word that we will not be making a new Format album. Please understand this was a tough decision and we're both upset about it. While we accept there will be false speculation as to why, understand that Sam and I remain extremely close and in fact are still passing the Twin Peaks box set back and forth in an attempt to figure out who REALLY killed Laura Palmer. We also want to thank everyone with and within the Format, particularly Mike, Don, and Marko, whom without, none of this would have ever even been fully realized. We both suggest you support their musical talents and whatever they decide to do. And lastly we want to thank the fans who made this the best 5 years of our lives.[8]

Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later in 2008.[9]

On August 11, 2008 music resource AbsolutePunk.net announced the introduction of Ruess' new band, fun Taken from the band's myspace:

fun is Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff. Formed during the winter of 2008, the band will begin recording their debut album this September with producer Steven McDonald, arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr and a cast of characters. They will release a single in November and their debut album will be available in February, 2009.[10]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

EPs

DVD

Singles

  • "The First Single" (Elektra, 2003)
  • "The Compromise" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "Time Bomb" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "Apeman" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "She Doesn't Get It" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "Dog Problems" (The Vanity Label, 2006)

Soundtracks

  • "The First Single" was featured in the second season of One Tree Hill.
  • "Inches And Falling" was used as the main soundtrack for the 2007 movie Wedding Daze.
  • "Let's Make This Moment A Crime" appeared in the soundtrack of Laguna Beach Episode 10: The First To Go.

Various Artists compilations

References

  1. ^ "News Roundup: Arcade Fire, Gang of Four, Radiohead, the Format". Spin. 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-04-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Iwasaki, Scott (2003-11-07). "The Format refuses to stick to a musical format". Deseret News. p. W11. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b McLennan, Scott (2007-04-10). "The Format not just another emo band". Telegram & Gazette. p. E3. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Band of the day: The Format". Spin. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2008-02-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Laudig, Michele (2006-07-06). "Format Busters". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2008-02-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Nguyen, Ann (2006-11-21). "Bouncing back: The Format is more than just puppy chow: Duo thumbs its nose at the record industry and takes a walk with Dog Problems". Houston Chronicle. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Ferrucci, Patrick (2006-10-27). "Label 'Problems' not a big deal for The Format". New Haven Register. p. W23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ News post, titled "Important." The Format's official website. Accessed February 4, 2008.
  9. ^ Billboard Bits: Nikka Costa, Ne-Yo, The Format. Billboard Online. Accessed July 28, 2008.
  10. ^ http://www.myspace.com/fun

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Format&oldid=231481538"