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Redlands CA, United States (1983 – 1990, 2004 – present)
Camper Van Beethoven is an alternative rock band that was founded in 1983 in Redlands, California, though the band soon moved to Santa Cruz, California. Camper Van Beethoven mixed elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk, country, and acid rock into an eclectic, catchy and sometimes mysterious ensemble, years before the so-called alternative rock moniker came to mainstream attention.
The group’s trademark violin-coated melodies and their ironic take on American culture put them one step away from being a novelty act in the eyes of many critics. But as the band would move from irreverently playful to experimental with their intricate, psychedelic pop meanderings they carved out their own niche in the music world. CVB consciously played with building a mystique about the band, using articles, liner notes and press interviews to weave a bizarre mythology about the band, to the point where it is still often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
CVB had roots in the earlier projects Sitting Duck and Estonian Gauchos, proto-CVB projects from which some of the earliest CVB songs originated. Original bandmembers from CVB’s early recordings, including ‘Telephone Free Landslide Victory,’ included David Lowery, Chris Molla, and Anthony Guess, all of whom also did time in Eric Curkendall’s project Box O’Laffs.
The group’s trademark violin-coated melodies and their ironic take on American culture put them one step away from being a novelty act in the eyes of many critics. But as the band would move from irreverently playful to experimental with their intricate, psychedelic pop meanderings they carved out their own niche in the music world. CVB consciously played with building a mystique about the band, using articles, liner notes and press interviews to weave a bizarre mythology about the band, to the point where it is still often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
CVB had roots in the earlier projects Sitting Duck and Estonian Gauchos, proto-CVB projects from which some of the earliest CVB songs originated. Original bandmembers from CVB’s early recordings, including ‘Telephone Free Landslide Victory,’ included David Lowery, Chris Molla, and Anthony Guess, all of whom also did time in Eric Curkendall’s project Box O’Laffs.
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Top Albums
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Telephone Free Landslide Victory
Camper Van Beethoven
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Key Lime Pie
Camper Van Beethoven Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
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Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van BeethovenBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $8.99
- Juno $15.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.00
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
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Dani_Gabarrot wrote:
virus_installer.exe
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I_HATE_COPS wrote:
COME TO MEXICO PLEASE MOTHERFUCKERS!
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skeptic_ wrote:
and cowboys on acid are like egyptian cartoons.
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jeffreywithonef wrote:
Glorious. Most of the songs off Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart are fantastic. Must get their other work.
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-S4m- wrote:
this band is so much fun.
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foreignlawns wrote:
their version of "i love her all the time" is the best sonic youth cover EVER
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pinkpressthreat wrote:
Not hugely familiar with them..got one L.P. I've been missing out-just heard the most amazing cover of F/wood Mac's "Tusk"...staggeringly good ;)
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scupperjunior wrote:
best of the best
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jjarichardson wrote:
I'm in love.
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maribeiro wrote:
Brilliant, yet underrated!
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DZRTsurfer88 wrote:
such a cool&vibrant band to catch live ~OhYeah~
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ChaosUkDk wrote:
COME TO MEXICO
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epulcini wrote:
Are you a fan of The Replacements?! Did you know COLOR ME OBSESSED is a documentary on the band? Come check them out! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1542689813/color-me-obsessed-the-potentially-true-story-of-th-0 You can use this link to pre-order the DVD and check out the exclusive new rewards! Or visit us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Avenue-Matsoua/143454829005917?ref=ts#!/ColorMeObsessedMOVIE?ref=ts
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vargas_girl wrote:
OH, and the vinyl I'm most proud of owning is a NM copy of Telephone Free Landslide Victory from the original pressing. I'm almost scared to get it out and play it:) Well, not really, but it sounds really great on vinyl.
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vargas_girl wrote:
I always seem to gravitate towards this band in the summertime for some reason. The definitely deserve way more listeners and fans on here! Probably tied with the replacements as my favorite band to come out of the 1980's.
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Tumbletron wrote:
Camper Van Beethoven's song good guys & bad guys was featured in the April 11th episode of This American Life!
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Sunzy wrote:
Great!
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DerekBowie wrote:
Not only is this band fast becoming an absolute favourite of mine, I'm finding all kinds of great music through them too. Key Lime Pie is a masterpiece.
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straineryou wrote:
border ska much love.
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radiohoofdnz wrote:
When will they come to Holland? Years ago i bought tickets buth they never came.
Videos
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Events
- Feb 10 Camper Van Beethoven Harlow’s Nightclub, Sacramento, United States
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Mar
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Camper Van Beethoven
40 Watt, Athens GA, United States
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Recent Activity
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tacozzrgood, junkybabeluba, GunmanHell47 and 2 other people added Camper Van Beethoven to their libraries. yesterday evening
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cyberkode added Camper Van Beethoven to the lineup of Camper Van Beethoven at 40 Watt. Sunday evening
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Yogatiger, leticiatiemg, dkjcmay1 and 2 other people added Camper Van Beethoven to their libraries. Sunday morning
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derekdavalos added Camper Van Beethoven to the lineup of Camper Van Beethoven at Harlow’s Nightclub. last week
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derekdavalos tagged Camper Van Beethoven with rustic rock, rustic indie, alternative and one other tag. last week
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feemonterey, m4rolli, Flynnglish and 14 other people added Camper Van Beethoven to their libraries. last week
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lone_hunter tagged Camper Van Beethoven with ‘indie rock’. last month
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le-Cog, jwatson000, marklandf and 17 other people added Camper Van Beethoven to their libraries. last month
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Seederman tagged Camper Van Beethoven with 80's, garage rock, jangle pop and 4 other tags. last month
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RPLastFM tagged Camper Van Beethoven with radio paradise and radioparadise. last month
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