Foreign Legion (album)
Encyclopedia
Foreign Legion was the third studio album by Murfreesboro, TN band Fluid Ounces
.
The album marked a turning point for Fluid Ounces. The band had separated from Spongebath Records
, and both founding members Brian Rogers and Ben Morton had left in 1999 to pursue other interests. (The album was in fact named in honor of Morton, who at the time was considering joining the elite French Foreign Legion
.) However, while Rogers and Morton both contributed guitar and bass to several tracks respectively, the album also featured Doug Payne on guitar, Jason Dietz on bass, and Justin Meyer on drums.
The album was recorded at County Q Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
and was engineered by Chuck Pfaff.
Although Foreign Legion finally received a proper release by Japanese label Cutting Edge in March 2002, the album sadly shared a similar fate as Big Notebook for Easy Piano
and In the New Old-Fashioned Way
, receiving only minimal distribution and promotion domestically.
While the album has received some criticism for its slicker, polished sound, Foreign Legion continued to widen the band's fanbase and featured the trademark Fluid Ounces variety of eclectic musical styles, ranging from playful boogie-woogie ("Poet Tree") and lush balladry ("The Last Thing") to hints of Latin ("Encyclopedia Brown") and psychedelia ("Stark Raving Mad").
2 Poet Tree (2:24)
3 Metaphor (3:47)
4 Expect the Worst (4:14)
5 Sugar Mama (4:46)
6 The Last Thing (5:18)
7 Smitten (3:36)
8 Encyclopedia Brown (2:17)
9 So far, So Good (4:32)
10 Stark Raving Mad (5:31)
11 She Blinded Me with Science (3:45) [Thomas Dolby cover]
12 Thinking Cap (Demo) (3:09)
13 Invincible Boy (Demo) (2:44)
14 City Lights (Demo) (3:13)
Brian Rogers (guitar, vocals)
Ben Morton (bass)
Justin Meyer (drums)
Doug Payne (guitar)
Jason Dietz (bass)
Chuck Pfaff (engineer)
Fluid Ounces
Fluid Ounces were a piano-based, power pop band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee that garnered a cult following for their critically acclaimed records, which featured a distinctive blend of hooks, varied musical styles, clever wordplay, and intricate, complex arrangements.-Inception:Seth Timbs had...
.
The album marked a turning point for Fluid Ounces. The band had separated from Spongebath Records
Spongebath Records
Spongebath Records was an independent record label based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee during the mid-nineties. During its heyday, Spongebath was often viewed as the vibrant epicenter of Murfreesboro/Nashville's music scene with a robust artist roster of critically acclaimed bands, singers, and...
, and both founding members Brian Rogers and Ben Morton had left in 1999 to pursue other interests. (The album was in fact named in honor of Morton, who at the time was considering joining the elite French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
.) However, while Rogers and Morton both contributed guitar and bass to several tracks respectively, the album also featured Doug Payne on guitar, Jason Dietz on bass, and Justin Meyer on drums.
The album was recorded at County Q Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and was engineered by Chuck Pfaff.
Although Foreign Legion finally received a proper release by Japanese label Cutting Edge in March 2002, the album sadly shared a similar fate as Big Notebook for Easy Piano
Big Notebook for Easy Piano
Big Notebook for Easy Piano was the debut release by Murfreesboro, Tennessee band Fluid Ounces. It was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee with producer Ross Rice...
and In the New Old-Fashioned Way
In the New Old-Fashioned Way
In the New Old-Fashioned Way was the highly-anticipated second album from Spongebath Records artists Fluid Ounces. The album was recorded in a marathon two week session with producer Richard Dortch in Jackson, Mississippi. All tracks were recorded live, with minimal overdubs...
, receiving only minimal distribution and promotion domestically.
While the album has received some criticism for its slicker, polished sound, Foreign Legion continued to widen the band's fanbase and featured the trademark Fluid Ounces variety of eclectic musical styles, ranging from playful boogie-woogie ("Poet Tree") and lush balladry ("The Last Thing") to hints of Latin ("Encyclopedia Brown") and psychedelia ("Stark Raving Mad").
Track listing
1 Show On The Road (4:30)2 Poet Tree (2:24)
3 Metaphor (3:47)
4 Expect the Worst (4:14)
5 Sugar Mama (4:46)
6 The Last Thing (5:18)
7 Smitten (3:36)
8 Encyclopedia Brown (2:17)
9 So far, So Good (4:32)
10 Stark Raving Mad (5:31)
11 She Blinded Me with Science (3:45) [Thomas Dolby cover]
12 Thinking Cap (Demo) (3:09)
13 Invincible Boy (Demo) (2:44)
14 City Lights (Demo) (3:13)
Credits
Seth Timbs (piano, vocals, songwriter)Brian Rogers (guitar, vocals)
Ben Morton (bass)
Justin Meyer (drums)
Doug Payne (guitar)
Jason Dietz (bass)
Chuck Pfaff (engineer)