new radiant storm king
cd discography
THE STEADY HAND
2006
Darla Records
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizers
Matt Hunter: vocals, guitars, bass, fuzz probe
Caleb Wetmore: bass, backing vocals
Patrick Berkery: drums
On their newest offering New Radiant Storm King's songwriting and musicianship remain true to form yet polished and stronger than ever. Like other great alt-guitar pioneers, NRSK lay virgin gravel road; sometimes hard and angular, sometimes uniquely smooth and pastoral. Peyton and Matt's trademark vocal styles and guitar interplay are now refined to surprising precision and yet maintain the playful exuberance that people have come to expect from them over their sixteen year career. The Steady Hand is a testament to NRSK's ability to constantly push the envelope while maintaining a sound that defies any direct comparison. While their music still retains hints of their undeniable influences (Wire, Mission of Burma, My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver to only name a few) the NRSK soul is as unique as ever.
(more info)
LEFTOVER BLUES: 1991-2003
2004
Contraphonic
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar, bass, synths
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass, guitar
Sharp: drums (where noted)
Eli Miller: vocals, guitar (where noted), Garrett Fontes: drums (where noted), George Berz: drums (where noted), Caleb Wetmore: backing vocals and incidental guitar (where noted), Jeremy Smith: percussion
Although they were part of the same early 90s indie-rock explosion as Pavement, Sebadoh and Guided by Voices, New Radiant Storm King never enjoyed that level of success, instead enduring numerous lineup shifts, label snafus, and the death of one founding member. These days, the group's core keeps busy with other projects (Peyton Pinkerton plays guitar in the Pernice Brothers; Matt Hunter has played bass with and ), but NRSK lives on. Following their power pop comeback , LEFTOVER BLUES compiles singles, alternate takes and unreleased goodies into an impressive, cohesive album - a living piece of endless awe and musical force.
(more info)
WINTER's KILL
2002
Rainbow Quartz
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar, bass, synths
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass, guitar, rhodes piano
Garrett Fontes: drums
Their 6th album, and while the band has matured considerably, this ranks right up there with such definitive 'indie rock' albums as their 1994 hit . Here, Hunter and Pinkerton and crew have taken the production up several notches and crafted a lush pop masterpiece that still contains all the complexities, deadpan lyrics and yearning melodies that made us love this band in the first place. For fans of the Pernice Brothers, Sebadoh, Sonic Youth, Television, and Echo & the Bunnymen.
(more info)
SINGULAR, NO ARTICLE
1999
Rainbow Quartz
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar, bass, keys
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass, guitar, organ
Garrett Fontes: drums
This, their 5th album, was recorded in 1997 but finally saw domestic release in 1999 courtesy Poster Girl Records. NRSK take their tempo-shifting, guitar-strangling rock to new heights of pop sensibility on these 11 songs, with a new emphasis on vocal harmonies and instrumental flourishes.
(more info)
HURRICANE NECKLACE
1996
Grass Records
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass, guitar
Garrett Fontes: drums, Percussion
"...without a doubt, the most mature of New Radiant Storm King's releases to that point -- their slanted and dynamic indie-pop sound remains largely unchanged from the three preceding albums, but trades some of its punchy rock tendencies for a more textured and composed approach that's frequently more evocative than before. Tracks like "Combat Chair" remain, recalling some of the more direct pieces from previous records, but others, like "The Kind Ghost," have more ambitious sounds and constructions -- and rather than losing any of their focus with this comparatively sophisticated album, New Radiant Storm King take a huge step forward and wind up with their best record yet."
- All Music Guide
(more info)
AUGUST REVITAL
1994
Grass Records
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass, piano, guitar
Elizabeth Sharp: vocals, drums
"...the group has shaped and streamlined its snaky, enchanting style to a convincing peak. Hunter and Pinkerton work magic making hummable melodies from discordant riffs, while the whole band moves as one effortlessly from sweeping power to delicate fluidity. New Radiant Storm King's records all typify indie-rock ethics, embodying the struggle to make meaningful sound from a deeply personal vision."
- Trouser Press
(more info)
RIVAL TIME
1993
Homestead Records
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass, guitar
Elizabeth Sharp: drums
"...the three produce edgy lo-fi tension and swirling, nuanced noise-pop. The shadows of Mission of Burma, early Cure, Gang of Four and Sonic Youth (as well as Sleepyhead and Small Factory) loom large here, and while New Radiant Storm King occasionally substitutes geeky recklessness for strong dynamics, RIVAL TIME is just as often brooding and mysterious."
- Trouser Press
(more info)
MY LITTLE BASTARD SOUL
1992/1998
Axis Records/Wormco Records
Peyton Pinkerton: vocals, guitar
Matt Hunter: vocals, bass
Sharp: vocals, drums
Bastard Soul, the near-legendary debut, has been hopelessly rare for a number of years, but word-of-mouth enthusiasm pushed for an eventual reissue, thus this CD. Recorded in the late winter between blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. Faithfully re-mastered, near-original cover art, this timely release is bound to enliven those who were too young or too dense to appreciate it the first time around.
(more info)
THE STEADY HAND
