From: Wisconsin, USA
Find out more: www.newblindnation.com/nbn
What we said about them: ''03/04/02. Michael injures his lungs. 03/04/02. Bass's nut broken in sword fight. 20/04/02. Michael blows the output tubes on his amp.' Wisconsin's New Blind Nationals don't have photos or a list of influences on their website like mimsy indie rock hopefuls. Theirs is a list of damage - and what's more, ROCK damage. Onstage lung wounds notwithstanding, opening track 'Used Up' proclaims 'rock 'n' roll is pretty lame' with the conviction of an English oak wardrobe being dropped onto the Hives' collection of IKEA fake pinewood furniture, to labour the metaphor. In fact, by the time I've finished typing said metaphor, 'Sturtevant By Night' (Sturtevant? Free copy of the album to anyone who tells me what this means) has already pissed on my shoes and run away laughing. Four of the tracks here are terrific and make The Vines sound like the sub-GCSE Nirvana covers band they are, swelling and cracking their way out of the speakers as if they were recorded through blown amps using instruments nicked from the skip outside ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead's house (which they may have been, given the band's apparent propensity for BREAKING STUFF). Vaguely grungey, and garagey in neither the Strokes nor the Genius Kru sense, the nearest reference points that fling themselves from the shelves of HMV are Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge-era Mudhoney and the much-touted second coming of grunge, The Catheters. Unfortunately for the New Blind Nationals, calling a song 'End Of The Good Songs' only works if it's a storming rock anthem direct from the toilet bowl where AC/DC got rid of their last curry, rather than actually being the end of the good songs. To be fair, it's not that bad, but the final three plod along with a few inconsequential keyboard sounds, as if the band are being (slowly) pursued up the road by a lame Moog, until the screaming finale of 'In Armed Decision' sticks a few drumsticks where the sun doesn't shine and reminds me why this would be the demo of the month, were such a spurious award to exist.'
(Freedom from excessive noise music column, July 2002)

2002: A year in the life of the New Blind Nationals

Who we talked to:
Dan: drums

1. What's been the best thing the band has done this year?

Well, we've played a lot of fun shows. In fact, I think that we have had more shows than band practices lately. We also just finished a 5 song EP, which we will be releasing soon enough. That turned out really well. It's been a good year.

2. What are your plans for next year, realistically and ideally speaking?

We hope to record a full length towards the end of January. We have about half of the songs figured out, so we still have a lot of work ahead of us. We will be self releasing it (not on CD-R this time, a real pressing) and we hope to have a big CD release show soon after. Following that, we are going to try to play as many shows as we can between February and May. In June, we hope to go on a tour of the east coast.

Now for the ideal plans. It would be nice if Touch And Go records picked us up and released our CD for us, with the recording done by Steve Albini. Then they pay for it to be mastered at Abbey Road. Then maybe a tour with some Touch And Go bands. But that's not going to happen.

3. What has been the low point of the year for you?

Well, all the recent shows have either been hit or miss. We either play super well, or we suck beyond belief. The normal reasons that we end up sucking are usually due to me because I can't hear any other instruments. Also, our lead guitar player got his guitar stolen when we were playing at a place out of town - that was terrible.

4. What are your top albums of 2002?

Brick Layer Cake - Whatyamaclit: Excellent album, exactly what I would expect from Todd Trainer (drummer of Shellac). It's brutally raw and completely embodies Trainer.
The Breeders - Title TK: It was awesome that The Breeders finally released something after so long, and the wait was worth it. The record rocks. It's hard to find a record this good.
Karate - Some Boots: I just recently purchased this and I was shocked to hear how much jazz and blues I could hear in the CD. It's not really what I'm used to listening to, but it has really grown on me. It was a great purchase.

5. What's the best live band you've seen this year?

Without a doubt, it is Shellac. When I heard that they were coming to town, I bought my ticket the next day. When the night of the show finally arrived, I had very high expectations, and they were met. Shellac put on the best show I have ever seen. They played so incredibly, but the most memorable thing was the demonic drummer who I had heard so much about before the show. He was just like everybody said. He salivated all over his kit, play all hunched over, and was truly incredible. After the show, I got the whole band to sign a 1/2" reel to reel, and had a conversation with Steve Albini about stalkers. Fun.

6. Who would you tip as your favourite new band(s) for 2003?

Ifihadahifi from Milwaukee, WI. They are absolutely rocking, the most original band that I have heard in a long time. I believe that if a label picked them up, they would do very well. It's such great music.

7. What are you band's New Year resolutions?

No stolen equipment, better shows, and a better CD.

8. What are your views on the plans for cloning a human in the early part of 2003?

Let the cloning begin!

9. Sing us a Christmas carol…

'I am Santa Claus...' ('Iron Man' - Black Sabbath)

10. If diskant could buy your band one thing for Christmas, what would it be? Go on, we're feeling generous.

A lot of prostitutes. Heh.

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