Cursive (band)

Cursive is an American indie rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. Stylistically described as emo and post-hardcore,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cursive came to prominence with 2000's Domestica and found commercial and critical success with 2003's The Ugly Organ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band has released eight studio albums, a compilations album, and a mix of singles and EPs since 1997. They have released recordings on several labels, including 15 Passenger Records, Saddle Creek Records, and Big Scary Monsters (UK).

History

Early years and breakup (1995–98)

Cursive formed in the spring of 1995, shortly after Slowdown Virginia broke up. Slowdown Virginia members Tim Kasher (lead vocals, guitar), Matt Maginn (bass), and Steve Pedersen (guitar) had parted ways, along with their drummer, a month prior. The three members decided that they were not ready to give up making music, and wanted to give music a serious try, with Kasher saying, "[we] decided with Cursive we would write the best we could, believe in it, and if everyone ended up hating it – well, we would deal with it."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Clint Schnase, who played with Pedersen in a band called Smashmouth, joined as the drummer. Kasher has said that the band's name was inspired by a passage in a book by V. S. Naipaul, in which the British were forcing subjugated Indians to learn how to write English in cursive penmanship, symbolic of a pointless exercise with no value, and Kasher compares this to the band forcing music as a discipline, taking it seriously.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

With an initial sound characterized by one reviewer as similar to At the Drive-In,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in 1996 Cursive recorded and released The Disruption EP on Lumberjack Records, followed in 1997 by the Sucker and Dry EP on Zero Hour Records and their debut album, Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes, on Crank! Records. A follow-up EP, The Icebreaker, was released in early 1998. The Katz brothers of Sputnik Music summarize Such Blinding Stars and Cursive's sound at the time as "11 distortion soaked, emotion ridden songs, comes off as a younger, worse, version of the band's breakthrough Domestica"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while AllMusic's Peter D'Angelo said the album "lays down the framework for the Cursive method: delicate guitars that erupt into frenzied explosions, a rhythm section that consistently keeps each track barreling forward, and the harrowing vocal contributions of Tim Kasher."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In late spring of 1998, after a couple years of touring, Cursive announced that they were breaking up. The primary cause was Kasher's marriage and move with his wife to Portland, Oregon, though guitarist Pedersen was planning on also leaving the band and Omaha to attend law school in North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cursive recorded The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song as a swan song in the spring of '98 before disbanding, and released the album post-breakup in the fall of that year on Saddle Creek Records. The Storms of Early Summer was Kasher and Cursive's first foray into writing and recording a concept album, with the first half of the album being themed "Man vs. Nature" and the second half "Man vs. Self". The album was noted for its intricate guitar work, deeply thoughtful lyrics, and the beginnings of a math-rock/pop song structure, all of which would develop more on further Cursive albums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reformation: Domestica and Burst and Bloom (1999–2002)

A little over a year later, in the summer of 1999, the band re-formed when Kasher got divorced and returned to Omaha. With Pedersen gone to law school, Ted Stevens (formerly of Lullaby for the Working Class) joined the band on guitar and vocals. Within a year Cursive recorded and released their third full-length album, Domestica, in 2000. A concept album about the dissolution of a marriage, Domestica gained Cursive critical success for the first time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> While not a straightforward autobiographical account of his marriage, Kasher has acknowledged that it heavily influenced the album, though some of the relationship dynamics – such as infidelity – were not autobiographical.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reviewing Domestica, Pitchfork's Taylor Clark gave the album an 8.0/10.0, calling Tim Kasher's style as "the perfect inflection and expression from the far-from-perfect vocal chords, the brains evident behind the guitar brawn" and that the band's sound had evolved since The Storms of Early Summer, saying that Cursive "retained their razor edge, creating pulsing, rapidly evolving guitar-based music, yet they're now fueled and guided by the meaning behind the music".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cursive added Gretta Cohn as a cellist in 2001, as Kasher felt the addition would help the band evolve its sound. They recorded and released 2001's Burst and Bloom EP on Saddle Creek Records, and split an album with Japanese band Eastern Youth in 2002 called 8 Teeth to Eat You on Better Looking Records. Burst and Bloom's lead-off track, "Sink to the Beat", is a lyrically meta-concept song about the process of recording the EP itself and the effect it has on the music and the listener.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cursive toured extensively throughout 2001 and 2002, to the point of exhaustion and Kasher suffering a collapsed lung. The band had to cancel the rest of the tour and returned to writing new material.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Ugly Organ and hiatus (2003–05)

Cursive released The Ugly Organ, their fourth album, in 2003 on Saddle Creek Records to critical and commercial success. Music magazine Rolling Stone gave the album a 4-star rating,<ref name="rolling-stone-ugly-organ">Template:Cite magazine</ref> while alternative music magazine Alternative Press rated the album a perfect 5 out of 5.<ref name="alt-press-ugly-organ">Template:Cite journal</ref> At the time of The Ugly Organ's tenth anniversary reissue in 2014, the album had sold over 170,000 records.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Ugly Organ is a loose concept album about the ideas of what art and music are, how the song, singer, and audience all relate and influence each other, and the emotional effects of the songwriting process on the writer.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Kasher stated in an interview with Alternative Press in 2014 that the songs he wrote were not written to be tight conceptually, and credits guitarist and sometimes-vocalist Ted Stevens with finding the theme to the album, saying, "Really, Ted [Stevens, guitar] had a large role in laying the songs out and considering what they all meant and how they related to each other and creating a higher concept from the artwork, of the theatrical layout."<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> The addition of Cohn's cello to the music was noted by Adam Finley of Pop Matters as helping to give songs a "sense of epic scale" and "threatening edge", and that the songs overall sounded as though "all roads led through a haunted house of grotesque situations and twisted characters, each a reflection through a broken carnival mirror of Kasher converting pounds of flesh into something saleable."<ref name=":1" />

After extensive touring to support The Ugly Organ in 2003 and early 2004, Kasher surprised fans and critics by announcing an indefinite hiatus for Cursive in the fall of 2004 once they finished their tour with The Cure.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lead singer and songwriter Tim Kasher took time to focus on his other band, The Good Life, which he had formed in 2000 and whose third release, 2004's Album of the Year, was enjoying critical success.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> Ted Stevens worked on his other band, Mayday, along with bassist Matt Maginn, releasing their third album, Bushido Karaoke, in 2005.<ref name=":2" /> Drummer Clint Schnase along with bassist Matt Maginn toured with Bright Eyes, including 2004's Vote for Change<ref name=":2" /> Cellist Gretta Cohn decided to depart the band permanently, relocating to New York City.<ref name="gretta-leaves">Template:Cite web</ref>

Saddle Creek Records put out a Cursive compilation album, The Difference Between Houses and Homes, on August 9, 2005. These songs were collected from The Disruption, Sucker and Dry and The Icebreaker EPs, as well as some b-sides and unreleased material recorded between 1995 and 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Happy Hollow and Mama, I'm Swollen (2006–11)

Cursive's hiatus ceased in 2006 when Saddle Creek announced that Kasher had temporarily stopped his work on his side project, The Good Life, to start recording Cursive's fifth studio album. Happy Hollow was released on August 22, 2006. Its first single was "Dorothy at Forty", released on July 11, 2006. Named for the Dundee-Happy Hollow Historic District in Omaha, Nebraska, where Warren Buffett lives,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with this album Kasher turned his focus away from self-reflective lyrics to concentrate on what he thought were corrupt politics, bland and empty suburban lives, and Christian hypocrisy.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> The album received generally favorable reviews.<ref name=":4" /> Music magazines Spin, URB, Time Out New York, and Blender gave the record a 4 star rating, and Rolling Stone gave the album a 3.5-star rating,<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> while alternative music magazine Alternative Press rated the album a perfect 5 out of 5,<ref name="alt-press-happy-hollow">Template:Cite journal</ref> saying "Cursive haven't just redefined their sound—they've transcended it." Happy Hollow features a five-piece horn section, adding new texture and redefining the band's sound in place of Cohn's departed cello.<ref name=":3" />

Cursive's sixth album, Mama, I'm Swollen was released on March 10, 2009 on Saddle Creek Records. Three days later, the band made their network television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman, playing "From The Hips".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was the first recorded without drummer Clint Schnase, who departed the band in October of 2007. Schnase was replaced on drums with Matt "Cornbread" Compton, who had previously been touring with the band.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Retaining the horns used on Happy Hollow, Mama, I'm Swollen has a more straightforward rock sound mixed with shifts in keys and time signatures to break up the potential for monotony.<ref name=":5" /> Thematically, Mama, I'm Swollen returns to much of the "romantic narcissism"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> found in Domestica and loses most of the political focus of Happy Hollow, instead concentrating on the futility of adult life and the "worthlessness of humanity, and the Peter Pan Syndrome of adults who want to 'live life duty free' or fuck away their fears."<ref name=":5" /> Mama, I'm Swollen failed to garner the critical success of the past few Cursive albums, with a "weighted average" score of 65 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

I Am Gemini (2012–2014)

The follow-up to Mama, I'm Swollen, called I Am Gemini, was released on February 21, 2012 on Saddle Creek Records. Cornbread Compton was replaced by Cully Symington prior to recording the album. With a lyric sheet described by Ian Cohen of Pitchfork Media as a "full-blown libretto", I Am Gemini is presented as a play, telling the story of "twin brothers separated at birth, one good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album has been characterized as difficult to access musically, with Paste Magazine's Tyler Kain saying "[Cursive's] signature parts are still there with those gnarled, winding guitar parts and Matt Maginn's melodic, grounded bass lines. But the exploration of off-kilter changes, funny time signatures and near-metal breakdowns can make Gemini a hard first listen." I Am Gemini received a similar critical evaluation as Mama, I'm Swollen, scoring a measure of 63 on "weighted average" from Metacritic, or generally favorable reviews.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Ugly Organ was reissued by Cursive and Saddle Creek in 2014, featuring four additional tracks originally released on 8 Teeth to Eat You and four songs from singles and compilations. Cursive went on a brief tour in the spring of 2014 to support the reissue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

15 Passenger, Vitriola, and Get Fixed (2017–present)

Cursive launched their own record label in early 2017, 15 Passenger. The debut release for the label was a new solo album from Kasher, No Resolution.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band reissued their first two albums through 15 Passenger in the fall of 2017,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with plans to continue reissuing all of their releases through the label as well as new material. In addition to Cursive's and Kasher's work, 15 Passenger releases material from other artists as well.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2018, Cursive announced their eighth studio album Vitriola. It was also announced that Clint Schnase would be returning to the band in order for previous drummer Symington to focus on recording and touring with Sparta. The album also features contributions from cellist Megan Siebe, who had previously toured alongside Kasher in an acoustic duo mode. This marks the first Cursive album to feature cello since The Ugly Organ. The album's lead single, "Life Savings", was released on the same day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Get Fixed, the band's ninth studio album, was announced alongside the release of the song "Stranded Satellite" on October 1, 2019. Get Fixed was released digitally on October 11, 2019. Vinyl and compact disc versions were released on January 17, 2020. Songs from the album were primarily written and recorded during the sessions for Vitriola with the intent of releasing a double album. The band ended up planning the songs for a second album, and wrote some new material to accompany the songs recorded during Vitriola.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's announcement was preceded by the release of the songs "Barricades", "Black Hole Town", and "Marigolds" in September 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musical style and influences

Cursive's music has been described as indie rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> post-hardcore,<ref name=":7" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> emo,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and punk rock.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cursive's formative influences include such bands as Fugazi,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> Shudder to Think, Archers of Loaf, Brainiac,<ref name=":0" /> and Superchunk.<ref name=":6" /> In recent years, the band has also drawn on such influences as the Kinks and Queen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Band members

Current

• Tim Kasher – lead vocals, guitars, organ (1995–1998, 1999–present)
• Matt Maginn – bass, backing vocals (1995–1998, 1999–present)
• Clint Schnase – drums, percussion (1995–1998, 1999–2008, 2018–present)
• Ted Stevens – guitars, backing vocals (1999–present)
• Patrick Newbery – trumpet, percussion, organ, piano, mini moog, keyboards, synthesizers, other instruments (2006–present)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Megan Siebe – cello (2018–present)

Former

• Steve Pedersen – guitars, backing vocals (1995–1998)
• Gretta Cohn – cello (2001–2005)
• Matt "Cornbread" Compton – drums, percussion (2008–2009)
• Cully Symington – drums, percussion (2009–2018)

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:95 top:0 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1995 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1995 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1995 Legend = position:bottom orientation:vertical columns:3

Colors =

 id:Vocals     value:red        legend:Lead_vocals,_organ
 id:bvocals    value:pink       legend:Backing_vocals
 id:Guitar     value:green      legend:Guitars
 id:Bass       value:blue       legend:Bass
 id:Cello      value:darkblue   legend:Cello
 id:Keys       value:purple     legend:Keyboards,_trumpet,_multiple_instruments
 id:Drums      value:orange     legend:Drums,_percussion
 id:Lines      value:black      legend:Studio_album
 id:lines2     value:gray(0.7)  legend:EP

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 at:09/09/1997 color:black  layer:back
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 at:02/21/2012 color:black  layer:back
 at:10/05/2018 color:black  layer:back
 at:10/11/2019 color:black  layer:back
 at:09/13/2024 color:black  layer:back

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BarData =

 bar:Kasher       text:"Tim Kasher"
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 bar:Siebe        text:"Megan Siebe"
 bar:Newbury      text:"Patrick Newbery"
 bar:Schnase      text:"Clint Schnase"
 bar:Compton      text:"Matt Compton"
 bar:Symington    text:"Cully Symington"

PlotData=

width:3  textcolor:black  align:left  anchor:from  shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Kasher     from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:Guitar
 bar:Kasher     from:04/01/1999 till:end         color:Guitar
 bar:Maginn     from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:bvocals
 bar:Maginn     from:04/01/1999 till:end         color:bVocals
 bar:Stevens    from:04/01/1999 till:end         color:bVocals
 bar:Pedersen   from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:bVocals

width:11   textcolor:black  align:left  anchor:from  shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Kasher     from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:Vocals
 bar:Kasher     from:04/01/1999 till:end         color:Vocals
 bar:Pedersen   from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:Guitar
 bar:Stevens    from:04/01/1999 till:end         color:Guitar
 bar:Maginn     from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:Bass
 bar:Maginn     from:04/01/1999 till:end         color:Bass
 bar:Cohn       from:03/01/2001 till:06/01/2005  color:Cello
 bar:Schnase    from:01/01/1995 till:05/01/1998  color:Drums
 bar:Schnase    from:04/01/1999 till:01/01/2008  color:Drums
 bar:Schnase    from:08/08/2018 till:end         color:Drums
 bar:Compton    from:01/01/2008 till:09/01/2009  color:Drums
 bar:Symington  from:09/01/2009 till:08/08/2018  color:Drums
 bar:Newbury    from:01/01/2006 till:end         color:Keys
 bar:Siebe      from:08/08/2018 till:end         color:Cello

</timeline>

Discography

• Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes (1997)
• The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song (1998)
• Domestica (2000)
• The Ugly Organ (2003)
• Happy Hollow (2006)
• Mama, I'm Swollen (2009)
• I Am Gemini (2012)
• Vitriola (2018)
• Get Fixed (2019)
• Devourer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (2024)

External links

• Template:Official website