The Verlaines
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The origins of New Zealand’s Verlaines can be traced back as early as 1979, with the group’s founder Graeme Downes took direct inspiration from fellow Dunedin group, the Clean to form a band of his own.
It wasn’t until 1981 that the group made their first public appearance with their initial five-piece line-up.
The band have so far released seven full-length albums on three different labels, one mini album, three singles and two compilations.
Their most recent album after a 17 year hiatus from the Flying Nun stable is 2007’s Pot Boiler. In 2008, the group released a free online-downloadable single, Yanghtze Cod & Chips.
The Verlaines were noted for their angular, “difficult” song structures, wordy and downbeat lyrics, unusual subject matter all contained in often frantic up-tempo playing. The Verlaines were led by songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Graeme Downes although many other New Zealand musicians played guitar, bass, drums and brass instruments during the different stages of the band.
These members came from or later joined the likes of the Chills, Snapper, the Same, the Dead C, Trash, the Able Tasmans and Sooty & Sweep to name but seven.
Their signature songs included Death And The Maiden, C.D. Jimmy Jazz & Me, Bird-dog and Ballad of Harry Noryb.
The band’s recorded debut was on the seminal Dunedin Double EP released by Flying Nun Records to debut several bands who would go on to be central to the mythology of the Dunedin Sound.
Downes is an academic at the University of Otago teaching contemporary music and with research interests in Mahler and Shostakovich and has released one solo album, Hammers and Anvils, released on Matador Records in 2001.
It wasn’t until 1981 that the group made their first public appearance with their initial five-piece line-up.
The band have so far released seven full-length albums on three different labels, one mini album, three singles and two compilations.
Their most recent album after a 17 year hiatus from the Flying Nun stable is 2007’s Pot Boiler. In 2008, the group released a free online-downloadable single, Yanghtze Cod & Chips.
The Verlaines were noted for their angular, “difficult” song structures, wordy and downbeat lyrics, unusual subject matter all contained in often frantic up-tempo playing. The Verlaines were led by songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Graeme Downes although many other New Zealand musicians played guitar, bass, drums and brass instruments during the different stages of the band.
These members came from or later joined the likes of the Chills, Snapper, the Same, the Dead C, Trash, the Able Tasmans and Sooty & Sweep to name but seven.
Their signature songs included Death And The Maiden, C.D. Jimmy Jazz & Me, Bird-dog and Ballad of Harry Noryb.
The band’s recorded debut was on the seminal Dunedin Double EP released by Flying Nun Records to debut several bands who would go on to be central to the mythology of the Dunedin Sound.
Downes is an academic at the University of Otago teaching contemporary music and with research interests in Mahler and Shostakovich and has released one solo album, Hammers and Anvils, released on Matador Records in 2001.
Shouts:
39 shouts
Top Albums
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Bird Dog
The Verlaines
Buy- Download Album
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Juvenilia
The VerlainesBuy- Download Album
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- Buy Album
- Amazon $28.63
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Pot Boiler
The VerlainesBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $15.99
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Hallelujah All the Way Home
The Verlaines Buy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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munted wrote:
Sweet gig on sat.
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karlarks wrote:
vote this "new" pic up? http://www.last.fm/music/The+Verlaines/+images/69321974
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Xenopus wrote:
now that flying nun has been repurchased atleast juvenilia + the first 3 albums are back in print on cd finally.
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Bockop wrote:
They're just too obscure for me.
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xdan wrote:
awesome band. Bird Dog fucking rules.
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_KevMusic_ wrote:
They are very, very, very good.
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opioidreceptors wrote:
Does anyone know what the story behind "Damn Shame" is? That song stings.
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Fuming_Hume wrote:
мне очень нравится этот птицепёс
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stonerfx wrote:
what Dihnekis said.
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RubberrrBandMan wrote:
Does anyone else think the vocalist sounds similar to the vocalist of Echo and the Bunnymen?
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Dihnekis wrote:
fucking great band
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LunchMeat88 wrote:
Bird Dog is seriously one of the best albums i've ever listened to.
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nativewaiter wrote:
Dippy likes smoking cigarettes
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damnrealb wrote:
tell me about records from dunedin that are better than bird dog (as if there are any)
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Gibbey wrote:
i love this imported german beer, they know how to make it over there! [2]
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LunchMeat88 wrote:
The Verlaines are good people.
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NikoKranjcar wrote:
fuckimg brilliant, i feel honoured to have found such a hidden gem
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girlexplosion wrote:
love love love this band
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A_Tamzarian wrote:
i love this imported german beer, they know how to make it over there!
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mandapops wrote:
I just discovered these guys tonight, think I've fallen in love.
Videos
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Play
Verlaines - Bird Dog
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Play
Verlaines - Crisis After Crisis…
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Play
18 - The Verlaines - Doomsday
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Play
perform "Only Dream Left"
Top Listeners
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Recent Activity
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MadcapsGirl, guarana44, livens and 1 other person added The Verlaines to their libraries. Tuesday morning
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RadialRecords tagged The Verlaines with indie pop, flying nun and new zealand. last month
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RadialRecords and babybuds88 added The Verlaines to their libraries. last month
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exocentrical tagged The Verlaines with kiwi, flying nun, indie pop and one other tag. last month
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penspenspens, neonlights13, MrPooFromPoo and 1 other person added The Verlaines to their libraries. last month
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AloneInTheSky tagged The Verlaines with jangle pop, indie rock and alternative rock. last month
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kittykatisland, rocococola, atheist- and 16 other people added The Verlaines to their libraries. last month
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rm508 uploaded The Verlaines and dog to The Verlaines’s images. November 2011
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rm508 linked The Verlaines to The Verlaines and dog. November 2011
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slowpulse-girl, roguetimeguy, demetra_boo and 2 other people added The Verlaines to their libraries. November 2011
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