Tadpoles Far Out CD

For their second album, Hoboken psych rockers Tadpoles lost a member (third guitarist Andrew Jackson) and gained another pair of songwriters; where singer Todd Parker had written the entire first album save one Glen Campbell cover, on Far Out his partners Nick Kramer and David Max add their own imprimaturs. Kramer's two solo compositions, "4D" and "Clea," are atmospheric space rock very much in the Spacemen 3 tradition, while Max's three co-compositions with Parker bring a downright poppy sensibility more akin to the Bevis Frond's more hummable tunes. In fact, the one-two punch of the shuffling, wah-wah-heavy "Race You to the Mustard Patch" and the almost Syd Barrett-like "At Least I'm Not Like Jonathan Carver," which pulls the "Astronomy Domine" trick of shifting from a delicate, floating intro into a heavy-riffing climax, opens the album so strongly that the other seven songs suffer a bit in comparison. Varied and richly textured psychedelia that isn't content with merely parroting the clichés of the style, Far Out shows Tadpoles to be one of the most intriguing psychedelic outfits of their time. ~ Stewart Mason

Tadpoles, based in Hoboken, NJ, disbanded in 2000 after releasing 4 critically acclaimed studio albums, 1 live album and 1 E.P. all on their own Bakery Records label (except for their last studio album, Whirlaway, which was released on Australia's Camera Obscura Records.) The group was formed by vocalist/guitarist, Todd Parker and original drummer, Michael Kite Audino in New York City in 1990.Members of the New York group, HIT, bassist David Max & guitarist/vocalist Nick Kramer joined in 1992 and Adam Boyette became the full time drummer in 1996.Career highlights include a four-star review in Rolling Stone magazine (May 1996) for their second studio album, Far Out, which like all of their studio albums (except Whirlaway) was produced by Shimmy Disc/Bongwater mogul, Kramer.The group was also featured in the first Terrastock festival in Providence, Rhode Island in 1997 and their performance was captured on their live album "Destroy Terrastock-Live." Although Tadpoles rarely performed live, their shows were always a multi-media sensory overload experience with films, videos, strobe lights, and other homemade visual effects.The band toured the West Coast in 1997 with Boston's Cul de Sac and Windy & Carl (as well as the late legendary John Fahey on one date.) Since Tadpoles disbanded, David, Nick & Adam have reformed HIT and Todd Parker continues to operate Bakery Records in Hoboken.For complete bio, reviews and more information, check out the Tadpoles web site at www.tadpoles.com or check out their entry on www.allmusic.comFAR OUT: DescriptionThe album that made Tadpoles "famous." A prime example of 1990's style psychedelic rock. Produced by Kramer (Shimmy Disc / Bongwater / Butthole Surfers / Ween) FAR OUT REVIEWS:Rolling Stone, May 30, 1996"4 STARS- Taking the approach of all great psychedelic rockers, Tadpoles & producer, Kramer, treat the studio like a playground, crafting mini symphonies from layers of weird guitars, six-string fuzz bass and impressionistic vocals. Its a heady mix that deserves to disorient a much wider audience." DISCOGRAPHY: 1994 He Fell Into The Sky (Bakery) 1996 Far Out (Bakery) 1997 Know Your Ghosts E.P.(Bakery) 1998 Smoke Ghost (Bakery) 1998 Destroy Terrastock Live (Bakery) 1999 Whirlaway (Camera Obscura/Bakery) 2001 Use With Headphones Late At Night-Best of 1990-2000 (Bakery)Rolling Stone (5/30/96, p.50) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...less interested in careerism than in following their own quirky muse....treat the studio like a playground, crafting minisymphonies from layers of weird guitars, six-string fuzz bass and impressionistic vocals..."