Slint

Formed in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Slint were formed in 1985 and originally comprised former members of local legends Squirrel Bait - Brian McMahan (b. Louisville, Kentucky, USA; vocals/guitar), Ethan Buckler (bass) and Britt Walford (drums) - plus David Pajo (b. Texas, USA; guitar). Informed by a typically brutal Steve Albini production, the band's 1989 debut (later re-released on Touch & Go Records) featured loud guitar-playing and muted vocals, each track named after band members' parents and pets. The abrasive edge was toned down somewhat for 1991's Spiderland, which saw a number of changes. Buckler had left to form King Kong and was replaced by Todd Brashear, and producer Brian Paulson engendered a more sympathetic sound while maintaining the twin-guitar bite of the earlier recording. Rather than simple noise, Spiderland incorporated fully developed songwriting that made the album a popular and highly influential item within the American alternative rock scene. However, afterwards progress stalled, and only one further desultory single was issued in 1994. By this time Walford and McMahan had joined the Palace Brothers, an interesting development as the memorable cover photo on Spiderland was taken by that unit's guiding force Will Oldham. Walford later played with the Breeders, McMahan further explored the Slint muse in The For Carnation, and Pajo recorded his own music under a variety of pseudonyms in addition to playing with Tortoise, Stereolab and Zwan. The trio reunited in late 2004 to announce a number of Slint live dates.