Codeine

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New York, United States (1989 – 1994)

American band formed in New York in 1989 by members Stephen Immerwahr (vocal, bass), Chris Brokaw (drums) and John Engle (guitar). Codeine pioneered the and subgenres of indie rock, but with a more experimental attitude than other bands in the genre, such as Low, Idaho and Red House Painters. The band’s original tone, marked by slow tempos, Immerwahr’s nasal and apathetic vocals, and Engle’s ringing Telecaster, did not evolve much during their career.

Codeine released their first album Frigid Stars on the German label Glitterhouse in 1990. The album was released on Sub Pop the following year.

Their second release, the Barely Real EP was issued in 1992. Immerwahr rejected several of the songs after the recording session. Some of these songs were re-recorded for the final album. The song W. is a solo performance on piano by David Grubbs (of Bastro, Squirrel Bait and Gastr Del Sol). A somewhat different full-band version of the song appears on Codeine’s next album, but titled Wird.

Brokaw left the band after the release of Barely Real to play full-time with his other band Come. He was replaced by Douglas Scharin of the band Rex.

Codeine’s next and final release was the full-length album The White Birch, released in 1994. David Grubbs also participated on the album. After this release the band broke up. Stephen Immerwahr has since then been playing with the band Raymond, while Douglas Scharin continued in June of 44 and later HIM.
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Top Albums

  • Barely Real
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  • Frigid Stars
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  • The White Birch
    Codeine
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  • White Birch
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Top Tracks

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Pea
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Sea
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  • rewinddude

    fuckkk, seeing them tommorow. so damn excited. and ordered the box set. yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

    Friday evening

  • schelyekhov

    I'm very envious to all you guys who can be at the shows. Please, don't miss them.

    Thursday morning

  • ThiDesRe

    Everytime I think Fridgid Stars is their best album I go and listen to The White Birch and go "fuck no this is definitely their best" and vice versa. And whenever I think I've got it figured out I listen to Barely Real and it ruins everything again.

    Wednesday evening

  • nicoinfurs

    “No weak new songs, no holographic Doug Scharin on drums, no guest vocals by Scarlett Johansson, no synched films: just the three of us playing these shows. And, I promise, what’s on our schedule now will be the only Codeine shows until the next century.”— Stephen Immerwahr http://numerogroup.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/codeine-speaks/

    Tuesday evening

  • MADVVILLAIN

    feel-core

    Sunday morning

  • superelitist

    I'm struggling to believe that there's no recordings or footage from the Seattle show... If anyone knows of something, please post it here?

    last month

  • expiry223

    I don't agree on the Sam Weir comment, however it is nice to see a fellow fan of both Codeine AND Freaks and Geeks!

    last month

  • peacelovesanti

    THISSSSS BAND. really can't wait for the boston show

    last month
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