So, remember back when Boston rock was vital, electric, edgy, and, well, just really damn good? At the helm of that era was the indy pop outfit known then as The 360s, a tight, loose, poppy, noisy, low key yet high energy quartet who garnered critical acclaim and became the darlings of a burgeoning indy pop scene. Despite a series of consistently amazing albums and formidable live shows, the band eventually had to split, and yet another great local band went tragically under-appreciated outside its native Boston (save for a list of music-scene hipsters that reads like a who's-who of influential indy rock superstars).
Fast forward to 2009. Original 360s members Audrey and Eric teamed up with long-time producer/collaborator Sean Slade (Radiohead, Hole, The Dresden Dolls) to record a series of lo/mid-fi material in an empty schoolhouse on a Tascam Portastudio. That material made its way into my hands at Mad Oak, where Slade, the band, and myself added a few "hi-fi" (whatever that means...) overdubs and pulled together some great-sounding mixes.
The band walked away with five incredible tunes; at once a nod to the era in which the 360s reigned supreme, and yet with a number of new twists that lend a sense of freshness and new beauty to the material. It's evident that this music has been percolating within Audrey and Eric for all these years; they've created an EP of extremely strong and well-conceived material that's gonna teach all you youngster kiddy indie-types exactly how the big kids play.
At the moment, it's looking the like the releases will be in the form of a couple of 45 RPM singles, and a vinyl EP. Cool! For a variety of reasons, the band will be performing and releasing under the moniker
The Flakes, and I for one cannot wait to see them hit the club circuit. Their performances on record are devastating, I can only imagine what kind of energy they'll bring to the stage.
Great people, great music, and a great time! I can't wait to see where this record goes. It was an honor working with such an important piece of Boston rock history, and I'm extremely proud of what we came up with.