Tarnation (band)
Encyclopedia
Tarnation is an alt-country-goth band, formed by Paula Frazer
in late 1992, primarily recording on the 4AD
label.
Tarnation signed with 4AD Records and released Gentle Creatures
in 1995. The album includes seven re-worked songs from I’ll Give You Something to Cry About as well as new material. Cernuto, Allen and Sullivan left the band shortly after its release in September 1995.
Frazer reformed Tarnation with a new line-up including Alex Oropeza on guitar, Bill Cuevas on bass and lap steel guitar
, and Joe Byrnes on drums. Jamie Meagan joined on bass in 1996, in time to take part in the recording sessions for the band's final album, Mirador.
The band split up after the release of Mirador in 1997. Frazer continues touring and recording under her own name, while Oropeza, Cuevas, and Byrnes continued with their own band, Broken Horse.
Paula Frazer
Paula Frazer is an American singer-songwriter. She grew up in Georgia and Arkansas and moved to San Francisco in 1981. Her music is frequently described as melancholic alternative country, but with an eclectic mix of folk, blues and pop, among other genres...
in late 1992, primarily recording on the 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
label.
History
Tarnation originally consisted of Frazer on vocals and guitar. In 1993, she was soon joined by Brandan Kearney on lap steel guitar and Brent Johnson on guitar and vocals. Next, musicians Michelle Cernuto, Lincoln Allen and Matt Sullivan joined the band. This line-up then recorded the album I’ll Give You Something to Cry About! in 1993 on Nuf Sed Records (Kearney's label).Tarnation signed with 4AD Records and released Gentle Creatures
Gentle Creatures
Gentle Creatures is a 1995 album by the band Tarnation . It was released on 4AD.-Track listing:All songs written by Paula Frazer except where indicated.#Game of Broken Hearts...
in 1995. The album includes seven re-worked songs from I’ll Give You Something to Cry About as well as new material. Cernuto, Allen and Sullivan left the band shortly after its release in September 1995.
Frazer reformed Tarnation with a new line-up including Alex Oropeza on guitar, Bill Cuevas on bass and lap steel guitar
Lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
, and Joe Byrnes on drums. Jamie Meagan joined on bass in 1996, in time to take part in the recording sessions for the band's final album, Mirador.
The band split up after the release of Mirador in 1997. Frazer continues touring and recording under her own name, while Oropeza, Cuevas, and Byrnes continued with their own band, Broken Horse.
Discography
- I’ll Give You Something to Cry About! (album, Nuf Sed Records, 1993)
- Gentle CreaturesGentle CreaturesGentle Creatures is a 1995 album by the band Tarnation . It was released on 4AD.-Track listing:All songs written by Paula Frazer except where indicated.#Game of Broken Hearts...
(album, 4AD4AD4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
, 1995) - Mirador (album, RepriseReprise RecordsReprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
/Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, 1997)