| Subject: Re: The Cusp |
| From: "Barrett Brown" <barriticus@gmail.com> |
| Date: 5/5/08, 15:05 |
| To: "Melissa Delaney - Editor" <editor@austinmonthly.com> |
Do you live in NY? I thought you were here in town.Melissa DelaneyEditor in chiefAustin Monthly and Austin Monthly Home11612 Bee Caves RoadSte. 125, Bldg. IIAustin, TX 78738512-263-9133 Ext 226
On May 1, 2008, at 12:29 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:Oops, it would probably help if I attach it.On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 1:08 PM, Melissa Delaney - Editor <editor@austinmonthly.com> wrote:
Hi Barrett,I don't see the attachment. Can you resend?Melissa DelaneyEditor in chiefAustin Monthly and Austin Monthly Home11612 Bee Caves RoadSte. 125, Bldg. IIAustin, TX 78738512-263-9133 Ext 226
On May 1, 2008, at 11:45 AM, Barrett Brown wrote:Hi, Melissa-
Here's an invoice for the Corto Maltese piece. Let me know that you received it.
Thanks,
Barrett BrownOn Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 10:05 AM, Melissa Delaney - Editor <editor@austinmonthly.com> wrote:
Excellent. Thanks.Melissa DelaneyEditor in chiefAustin Monthly and Austin Monthly Home11612 Bee Caves RoadSte. 125, Bldg. IIAustin, TX 78738512-263-9133 Ext 226
On Apr 25, 2008, at 5:06 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:Okay, got in toucher with Turner and filled in further explanation in the final paragraph. Let me know if this works.
It's probably safe to describe a band as being on the upswing when its tracks have been selected for use in not one, but two films. It's even safer to describe a band as versatile when one of the films in question is a sweet boy-meets-girl romance (I'll Come Running, which was filmed in Austin and employs the track Man Alive) and another is an upcoming documentary on the subject of transsexuals (Best Kept Secret, which will feature the song Providence).
That's not to say that Corto Maltese's playlist is so diverse as to defy description. Critics have consistently compared the two-year-old group to Canadian bands Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. But the guys in Corto Maltese don't quite agree with the prevailing view. "Wolf Parade I'm not that familiar with," says vocalist/guitarist Ben Maddox. "Arcade Fire I know ofit's a flattering comparison, but I don't see it, and no one in the band really sees it." The occasional comparison to David Bowie may be more accurate; several members are big fans of the glam-rock pioneer.
Besides, Corto Maltese is probably too much of a distinctly Austin band to bear much serious comparison to Canadian indie rock. Four of its five members hail from Texas (Maddox, bassist Wes Turner, guitarists Tyler Thompson and Justin Roberts, and drummer Eric Loftis all knew each other socially in Austin before forming Corto), and the outfit has remained centered in the capital despite its increasing success. The band has barely ventured beyond Manor, and this emphasis on all things local seems to have paid off; aside from the two film scores and a showcase performance at the most recent SXSW, the group recently landed appearances on KVRX's Local Live and 101X's Next Big Thing. Meanwhile, Maltese has become a staple of the increasingly integral venue Mohawk.
Perhaps most impressive is that Maltese has managed to achieve all that without even cutting an album, having released only three singles on iTunes and other distribution networks and having landed one of their film score selection in part by virtue of their rented practice space being located behind the home Best Keep Secret director P.J. Raval (Running director Spencer Parsons, meanwhile, got wind of the band through Turner, who also works as a cameraman for local commercial projects). The group's first EP is still in production; its eventual release may very well push yet another local favorite into well-deserved national prominence.
On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 5:43 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
I can try to find out more specifics, but I'd have to talk to band member Wes Turner, who knows more about all that. I'll try to get in touch with him today if you don't mind waiting a bit.On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 3:10 PM, Melissa Delaney - Editor <editor@austinmonthly.com> wrote:Cool. Just a few more things: At the end, where you say they got one of the movies because they were next door to one of the directors -- which one? What's the director's name? And how did they get the other movie?Thanks,MelissaMelissa DelaneyEditor in chiefAustin Monthly and Austin Monthly Home11612 Bee Caves RoadSte. 125, Bldg. IIAustin, TX 78738512-263-9133 Ext 226
On Apr 25, 2008, at 12:41 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:Let me know if this address everything; also, turns out that the band's tracks are featured in only two films, as the third ended up not being produced or something:
It's probably safe to describe a band as being on the upswing when its tracks have been selected for use in not one, but two films. It's even safer to describe a band as versatile when one of the films in question is a sweet boy-meets-girl romance (I'll Come Running, which was filmed in Austin and employs the track Man Alive) and another is an upcoming documentary on the subject of transsexuals (Best Kept Secret, which will feature the song Providence).
That's not to say that Corto Maltese's playlist is so diverse as to defy description. Critics have consistently compared the two-year-old group to Canadian bands Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. But the guys in Corto Maltese don't quite agree with the prevailing view. "Wolf Parade I'm not that familiar with," says vocalist/guitarist Ben Maddox. "Arcade Fire I know ofit's a flattering comparison, but I don't see it, and no one in the band really sees it." The occasional comparison to David Bowie may be more accurate; several members are big fans of the glam-rock pioneer.
Besides, Corto Maltese is probably too much of a distinctly Austin band to bear much serious comparison to Canadian indie rock. Four of its five members hail from Texas (Maddox, bassist Wes Turner, guitarists Tyler Thompson and Justin Roberts, and drummer Eric Loftis all knew each other socially in Austin before forming Corto), and the outfit has remained centered in the capital despite its increasing success. The band has barely ventured beyond Manor, and this emphasis on all things local seems to have paid off; aside from the two film scores and a showcase performance at the most recent SXSW, the group recently landed appearances on KVRX's Local Live and 101X's Next Big Thing. Meanwhile, Maltese has become a staple of the increasingly integral venue Mohawk.
Perhaps most impressive is that Maltese has managed to achieve all that without even cutting an album, having released only three singles on iTunes and other distribution networks and having landed one of their film score selection in part by virtue of their rented practice space being located behind the home of one of the directors. The group's first EP is still in production; its eventual release may very well push yet another local favorite into well-deserved national prominence.
On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 1:03 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
Just called the lead singer again; he said he'll find out about the films and call me back in a few minutes.
On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 12:24 AM, Melissa Delaney - Editor <editor@austinmonthly.com> wrote:
Hey Barrett,Great job on The Cusp. I just had a few questions. Any chance you can get it back to me by end of day Friday?Thanks,MelissaMelissa DelaneyEditor in chiefAustin Monthly and Austin Monthly Home11612 Bee Caves RoadSte. 125, Bldg. IIAustin, TX 78738512-263-9133 Ext 226
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