Jeromes Dream
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Jeromes Dream | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Connecticut, United States |
| Genres | Screamo, emoviolence, noise rock, math rock |
| Years active | 1997–2001 |
| Labels | Witching Hour, Old Glory Records, Clean Plate Records, Alone Records |
| Past members | Jeff Smith Eric Ratensperger Nick Antonopulous |
| Website | http://www.cleanplate.com/jeromesdream |
Jeromes Dream were a screamo band from Connecticut, who were active from 1997 to 2001.
History
Jeromes Dream began on September 13, 1997[1] after a short jam session between bassist Jeff Smith, guitarist Nick Antonopulous, and drummer Erik Ratensperger that was held in the basement of Antonopulus' mother's house. According to Erik Ratensperger, their first recorded material was intended to be used for a demo release, however it caught the attention of Rice Control Records, resulting in the intended demo material being released as a split album with Amalgamation.[2]
Most of the band's music was released as splits with other artists, including other notable screamo acts such as Usurp Synapse. Their most well known split release would be their split with Orchid, a 10" record shaped of a skull, which is sought after by both collecters and fans alike, and is considered as definitive text for the genre. They toured the United States frequently, and their first proper full-length album, titled Seeing Means More Than Safety, was released in January 2000.
Their second full-length, Presents, was released on July 9, 2001, which featured a significant change in sound for the band. They would eventually break up in August that same year. Jeff Smith would later begin a career in experimental drone music by creating the band The Wind-Up Bird with Joseph Grimm.[3] Erik Ratensperger eventually became the drummer for The Virgins, a dance punk band from New York.[4]
Along with artists such as Orchid and Pg. 99, they are considered as one of the most influential bands of the late 1990s screamo movement. Their music has influenced many bands, such as Brighter Arrows.[5]
In mid-2016 a person representing the band (believed to be Ratensperger) posted a previously unreleased video on the new official Jeromes Dream youtube page.[6]
Style and live performances
The band had a unique style that set them out from other bands of their type from the time. Vocalist and bassist Jeff Smith would scream from the top of his lungs during live performances without the use of a microphone. During live shows, both Smith and Antonopulous would perform with their backs facing the audience. They always performed on the floor, and would refuse to play on stage.
Their music has been categorized as screamo,[7] emoviolence, grindcore, spazz rock,[8] noise rock, and math rock[9] in the past. When asked about what genre they sounded like, Ratensperger described them as "just a hardcore band". Their first full length, Seeing Means More Than Safety, was very violent and destructive musically, and included many noise interludes composed of guitar feedback and radio samples. Their second full length, Presents, however, was much more angular musically. The vocal style also changed dramatically, having "a more traditional hardcore-shout kind of approach", as described in a review.[10] Rumors involving vocal chord damage from relentless screaming begun to circulate, however the band has denied them in the past.
Band members
- Jeff Smith - Vocals, Bass
- Nick Antonopulous - Guitar
- Erik Ratensperger - Drums
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Seeing Means More Than Safety
|
First pressing consisted of 1000 black colored copies. Second press consisted of 600 black copies and 400 white copies. First press was released through Old Glory, second press was released through Clean Plate |
| 2001 | Presents
|
Final studio recording |
Split releases
| Year | Album Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Amalgamation/Jeromes Dream
|
About three pressings made. The first press consisted of 200 black copies and 100 pink, and its cover was blue/white cardboard. The second press consisted of 300 blue copies, and was packaged in a manilla envelope. A third pressing was made, 100 black copies that came in a blank white cover with a letter written by the two band glued to it. Split with Amalgamation. |
| 1999 | Jeromes Dream/July
|
Consisted of 500 black copies, 250 with green colored covers, 250 with brown colored covers. Split with July. |
| 1999 | Jerome's Dream/The Book Of Dead Names
|
853 copies made, 750 black, 112 red. Jeromes Dream is mistakenly credited as Jerome's Dream, even though there is not supposed to be an apostrophe in Jeromes. Split with The Book Of Dead Names. |
| 2000 | Jeromes Dream/Orchid
|
Single sided 10" record that's shaped as a skull. The back side of the record had two grooves, one that contained Jeromes Dream's tracks, and one that contained Orchid's tracks. 1000 copies were pressed with black ink, 1000 copies were pressed with glow-in-the-dark ink, and 197 were pressed with red ink. According to the insert, the red pressing was an accident. Split with Orchid |
| 2000 | An Aspirin, An X-Ray
|
1300 white copies, 200 black. Some came with tour pins. Split with Usurp Synapse. |
| 2000 | Jeromes Dream/The One AM Radio
|
2000 black copies pressed. Split with The One AM Radio |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Completed: 1997 - 2001
|
Discography compilation that includes every single song Jeromes Dream recorded throughout their lifespan, included live recordings and previously unreleased material |
Compilation appearances
| Year | Album Details | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Antipodes
|
"How Staggering Is This Realization?" |
| 2001 | Ghost in the Gears
|
"Everyday at 3:06" |
References
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20070614035247/http://www.alonerecords.com/bands/
- ^ "Interview with Erik Ratensperger". forallmasters.com. For All Masters. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ^ Burnns, Todd. "Stylus Interview with The Wind-Up Bird". Stylus.com. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2004.
- ^ Durbin, Johnathan. "Interview with The Virgins". interviewmagazine.com. Interview Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ^ Obenschan, Phillip. "Four Unsigned Bands You Should Hear This Month". Altpress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "JEROMES DREAM". Youtube. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ Rogowski, Jordan. "Jeromes Dream - Presents Review [Punk News]". punknews.org. Punk News. Retrieved January 7, 2005.
- ^ Dillion, Jared. "Jeromes Dream - Completed Review". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
- ^ "Jeromes Dream - Completed Review". aversionline.com. Aversionline. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ^ Nixion, Brandon. "Jeromes Dream - Presents Review [Sputnikmusic]". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
