Drop Nineteens

All Music Guide:

Boston, MA's the Drop Nineteens were one of America's contributions to England's shoegazer movement. In the late '80s and early '90s, the U.K. fell under the spell of young bands that stared blankly at the ground while they played layers of blurry, dissonant riffs with timid vocals that faded in and out of the mix. Taking inspiration from the genre's most celebrated icons, My Bloody Valentine and Lush, the Drop Nineteens immediately penetrated college-radio airwaves with their 1992 debut album, Delaware. Formed by Greg Ackell (vocals, guitar), Paula Kelley (vocals, guitar), Steve Zimmerman (bass), and Motohiro Yasue (guitar), the Drop Nineteens were also informed by the loud-soft formula of fellow Bostonians the Pixies. The group was initially welcomed with a critical buzz that elevated them to next-big-thing status, but it was another band on Caroline Records, the Smashing Pumpkins, that ended up at the top of the pops. (Not surprisingly, the Drop Nineteens had a larger following in shoegazer-loving England.) Unhappy with the group, Kelley left the Drop Nineteens in 1993, and she was replaced by Megan Gilbert (vocals, guitar). Shortly thereafter, the Drop Nineteens released their second full-length, National Coma, and then broke up in 1994. Kelley later led Hot Rod and Boy Wonder.

Wikipedia:

Drop Nineteens were a Boston-based indie rock band active from 1991 to 1995. They were one of a few U.S.-based bands who styled themselves on England's distinctive shoegazing sound, taking their inspiration from bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Th' Faith Healers, and Bleach. The band was formed by former classmates Greg Ackell (vocals, guitar) and Chris Roof (drums), who recruited Paula Kelley (vocals, guitar), Steve Zimmerman (bass), and Motohiro Yasue (guitar).

Overview

Much like Boston's Pixies who came before them, Drop Nineteens were better known in the UK, where, as an unsigned band, they first gained attention from the British music press with two 8-track demos. The band ultimately reached the UK's Indie Album and Indie Singles charts with formal releases after signing a record deal.

Signing to Caroline Records (Hut Records in the UK), Drop Nineteens immediately garnered college radio airplay with their 1992 debut album, Delaware.

Because of artistic differences, several member changes occurred between the first and second full length releases. Paula Kelley, Chris Roof, and Motohiro Yasue went on to pursue other interests, and Megan Gilbert (vocals, guitar), Pete Koeplin (drums, now drummer for the band Kahoots) and Justin Crosby (guitar) were added to the lineup in 1993.

Shortly thereafter, Drop Nineteens released their second full-length album, National Coma. National Coma's original cover design was a photograph of a reclining nude woman, painted entirely white, wearing a white ski mask, in front of a white background. Most CD copies have a jumbled (censored) version of this photo, while LPs have the original cover. (The Japanese version of the album had two bonus tracks: "Tempest" and "Sea Rock.")

The band made three music videos, and toured on the success of their first album; they headlined/ co-headlined/opened tours in England, Europe, and North America, and recorded BBC radio sessions for John Peel and Mark Goodier. They played on some summer music festivals, including England's Reading Festival and North America's Lollapalooza. Further artistic differences ensued, however, and the band broke up for good in 1995.

After Drop Nineteens, Ackell and Koeplin recorded an album under the band name Fidel in the late nineties, which was never formally released. Kelley went on to front the bands Hot Rod and Boy Wonder, and is currently a solo artist with the Paula Kelley Orchestra. Rumors of a third Drop Nineteens album have circulated over the past decade, but no release date has ever been announced.