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Sing-Sing (band)

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Sing-Sing
OriginLondon, England
GenresIndie pop, dream pop
Years active1997 (1997)–2007 (2007)
LabelsAerial, Sanctuary, Poptones, Manifesto
Past members

Sing-Sing were an English indie pop/dream pop band formed in 1997 in London, comprising vocalist Lisa O'Neill (who had previously worked with Locust, Mad Professor, and Kid Loco) and guitarist/vocalist Emma Anderson (formerly of Lush).[1][2] They worked with a variety of musicians to create a sound which nodded to 1960s girl groups, electronica and folk.[2] They disbanded in 2007.

History

Lisa O'Neill and Emma Anderson met via a mutual friend in mid-1997,[3] and in early 1998 record their first demo as Sing-Sing, with Justin Welch of Elastica on drums.[4] A second demo prompted Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie to release "Feels Like Summer" as a single on their Bella Union label in October 1998.[5]

After having a track on a split single in 1999, they started their own label, Aerial, through which they released their next two singles, "I'll Be" and a re-recorded "Feels Like Summer", in 2000.[4] They signed with Alan McGee's Poptones label for the release of their debut album, The Joy of Sing-Sing, in October 2001.[4][6] It was described as a "divine first album" by Allmusic and a "strong debut album" by PopMatters.[2][6] Pitchfork Media gave it a 7.4 rating, with Nitsuh Abebe calling it a "tight, interesting, and great-sounding pop record".[5] CMJ New Music Monthly called it "a perfect soundtrack to a lazy afternoon in the countryside".[7] It was released in the US in 2002 by Manifesto Records.[5]

They toured the United States twice in 2002 taking in both SXSW in Austin and CMJ in New York.[4] To raise funds to record a second album they sold the Madame Sing-Sing EP via their website.[4][8] Second album Sing-Sing and I followed in 2005, and was again well received by critics.[8][9][10][11] Caroline Sullivan, reviewing it for The Guardian gave it 3 stars out of 5, while PopMatters gave it 6 out of 10.[9][12]

Both the band's albums were produced by O'Neill's former colleague in Locust, Mark Van Hoen, but they also collaborated with the Mad Professor (remixed "I'll Be" in a lovers rock style), Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, cellist and string-arranger Audrey Riley, Tim Keegan (Departure Lounge vocalist) and 4AD artist Vinny Miller. Live musicians for touring included 'Shifty' aka Michael Scrivens (bass), Poppy Gonzalez (keyboards), Miguel Morland (drums 1998-2000), Jenny Jones (trumpet and keyboards), Darren Groucutt (drums 2000-2002), and Dominic del Torto (guitarist and backing vocalist 2005-2006).[4]

At the end of December 2007, they announced via their mailing list and website that they had decided to disband.

Discography

Albums

  • The Joy of Sing-Sing (2001), Poptones
  • Sing-Sing and I (2005), Aerial/Reincarnate - CD includes video for "Lover"

Singles and EPs

  • "Feels Like Summer" (1998), Bella Union
  • "I Can See You" (1999), Fierce Panda - a double A-side with Linoleum
  • "I'll Be" (2000), Aerial/Sanctuary
  • "Feels Like Summer" (remix) (2000), Aerial/Sanctuary
  • "Tegan" (2001), Poptones
  • "Panda Eyes" (2001), Elefant
  • Madame Sing-Sing EP (2004), Aerial
  • "Lover" (2005), Aerial
  • "Come, Sing Me A Song" (2006), Aerial

Other appearances

  • "Feels Like Summer" appears on the 1999 Polish compilation Now To Jest Twoja Muzyka 06 (Now That's What I Call Music 06) (Universal Music Polska 1999)
  • "Feels Like Summer" appears in the 2005 film Shelf Life directed by Tamar Halpern.
  • "Lover" was used in Episode 4 ("Fog") of the 2006 US TV series Saved.
  • "Come, Sing Me A Song" appears in Season 2, Episode 20 ("Band Aid Covers The Bullet Hole") of the TV Series, Grey's Anatomy. It then appeared on Volume 2 of the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack as an iTunes exclusive.
  • "A Modern Girl" was used by The Body Shop in their 2006 'Make Me Fabulous' make-up campaign (online and in-store).
  • "Sunbathing" appeared on Never Lose That Feeling Volume 2 on Club AC30 Records in 2005. This was a cover of the Lush song, written by Emma in 1990.
  • "When I Was Made" appears in the 2007 movie, Numb.
  • "Come, Sing Me A Song" appears in the 2012 film Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, written and directed by Tamar Halpern.

References

  1. ^ Vera, Marc (2006) "Download This: Sing-Sing", Entertainment Weekly, 11 January 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  2. ^ a b c Wilson, MacKenzie "The Joy of Sing-Sing Review", Allmusic. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  3. ^ Redfern, Mark (2003) "Sing Sing: Bonus Quotes from Sing-Sing’s Lisa O’Neill and Emma Anderson", Under The Radar, 1 March 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  4. ^ a b c d e f Kellman, Andy "Sing-Sing Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  5. ^ a b c Abebe, Nitsuh (2002) "Sing-Sing The Joy of Sing-Sing", Pitchfork Media, 4 November 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  6. ^ a b Begrand, Adrian (2002) "Sing-Sing The Joy of Sing-Sing", PopMatters, 22 August 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  7. ^ Phillips, Amy (2002) "Sing-Sing The Joy of Sing-Sing", CMJ New Music Monthly, September 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  8. ^ a b Wilson, MacKenzie "Sing-Sing and I Review", Allmusic. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  9. ^ a b Begrand, Adrian (2006) "Sing-Sing Sing-Sing and I", PopMatters, 27 April 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  10. ^ Miller, Andrew (2006) "Sing-Sing Sing-Sing and I", Riverfront Times, 22 February 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  11. ^ Murray, Noel (2006) "Sing-Sing: Sing-Sing And I", The A.V. Club, 15 February 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  12. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (2006) "Sing-Sing, Sing-Sing and I", The Guardian, 13 January 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2015
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