Thing One

Artist Information

Biography

***Thing One Selected for CMJ Spotlight Band of the Week, Oct. 1 - 7, 2007***


*** October, 2007, Dan Berkman of The Deli Magazine wrote:

Rising out of the swamps of New Jersey, this group of childhood best friends are dead set on changing how you see dance-rock. From the first second of "Ridiculous Speed EP," which comes in the form of the explosive "Move It!" (CMJ Song of the Week in October '07), Thing One grabs a hold of your collar and drags your ass out on the dance floor. But unlike hardcore bootyshakers like !!! and The Rapture, Thing One mixes their dance-rock with interesting lyrics and vocal melodies that pack a powerful emotional punch, and have much more in common with acts like The Dismemberment Plan.

Thing One and their all too brief five track EP are not just an alcohol soaked party, although I feel if asked they wouldn't mind it now and again, it is more complex than that. Deep as the Grand Canyon and as fun as any dance party, Thing One are simply dynamite. A required listen.


*** July 9th, 2007, Rich Quinlan of Jersey Beat Magazine wrote:

THING-ONE - 4 Song EP 2007

I still do not understand why these guys are not signed and nationally revered geniuses. As I have said each time I have had the pleasure to review this band, what Thing-One does is normally a million miles away from my usual musical selections, but something about this act is hypnotic. They only continue to refine and improve their skills with these four tracks, starting with the bass-heavy "930". With a subtle disco beat that ebbs and flows throughout the song and nimbly wraps itself around a slick guitar riff, the track demonstrates a new level of sophistication for this band. Not relying as heavily on tales from childhood, Thing-One's members are maturing as people and performers, and are allowing themselves to take more chances.

The dance floor-ready beat of "Pointy Shoes" is another illustration of the increased intricacy of the playing. These four efforts do not retain as much of the trip-hop elements as the band's earlier work, moving instead into a denser, more substantial realm. These songs feel tighter and fleshed out, as if not a second is unaccounted for by any of the players. The jazz underpinnings that made the earlier work so mesmerizing is still present in each of the tracks, as heard with the beautiful piano neatly nestled in the mix of "Bedford Falls". "Bedford Falls" is the third track on the new EP, but is the first time that a traditional hip-hop delivery is used, and it is integrated with a more conventional singing style that dominated the first two efforts. The closing "Goodnight Jenn" begins as a heartbreaking track shrouded in more mystery than the other works, with understated vocals entwined with a thick bass line and a stunningly atmospheric soundscape that eventually surrenders to a transcendental groove.

It is rare to listen to a band develop over time and still remain true to their initial ideas. Thing-One has the atypical ability to challenge themselves and their listeners without alienating what original fans loved about the band. Someone with more money than I needs to get this band on a label and have them tour the world, for this talent is too good to keep to ourselves on the East Coast.

Instrumentation

Joey Palestina
Spencer Miles
Tim Alworth
Adam Arcano

Discography

THING ONE's music has been featured on MTV's True Life, WOXY Cincinnati, NBC's Today Show, WFUV 90.7 New York City, XM Satellite Radio, WSOU Seton Hall University Radio, National Public Radio, WERW Syracuse University Radio, WOCM Maryland, etherbeat.com, ThePeriodicLabel.com, Thedelimagazine.com, among others...

"You'll Be Fine" - September 2008 - LP
"The Thief" - April 2008 - Single
"Ridiculous Speed" - July 2007 - EP
"ghettoskylinesuburbanfarmland" - June 2006 - LP
"...miles from the road" - March 2005 - LP
"thing-one" - April 2004 - EP

Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/thingone

Audio

• the thief
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• move it!
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• the kid with pointy shoes
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• bedford falls
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• 930
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• goodnight jenn
  Listen   Download

Video

"Move It" Live from Maxwell's

Photo Gallery

Press

• Bowery Ballroom Show [+ Show ]
  

  "From the first torso gyrations to the last guitar lick, New Jersey's Thing-One was tons of fun. The..."From the first torso gyrations to the last guitar lick, New Jersey's Thing-One was tons of fun. The band opened with the self explanatory "Move It," which featured a thumping beat and an equally effective title shout. The next song's broke up its catchy chorus - "I'm living the American Dream" - with a stream of consciousness spoken interlude describing the equally red-white-and-blue corporate experience. The band wasn't all dance-punk; they were just as stirring when they slowed things down, as on "The Kid With The Pointy Shoes," which really showed off the singer's croon. This was one of the strongest openers I've seen."
  -- UBERDRIVEL blog

• Harmonies Galour [+ Show ]
  

  "...slinky dance beats, Beach Boys-like group-vocal harmonies, and touches of many styles..." ..."...slinky dance beats, Beach Boys-like group-vocal harmonies, and touches of many styles..."
  -- Jay Lustig
  The Star Ledger

• CMJ Spotlight! [+ Show ]
  

  "Jersey's own five-piece experimental dance-rock band Thing One are the winner of this week's CMJ So..."Jersey's own five-piece experimental dance-rock band Thing One are the winner of this week's CMJ Sonicbids Spotlight. The April release of their four-song EP, 930, will be showcased October 19 at Maxwell's during the CMJ Music Marathon, as well as several times around Brooklyn in the next month. The unsigned act's latest single, "Move It," has helped them secure airtime on WOXY, WSOU, WERW, WOCM, as well as MTV's True Life."
  

• What's Hot in NYC [+ Show ]
  

  "Rising out of the swamps of New Jersey, this group of childhood best friends are dead set on changi..."Rising out of the swamps of New Jersey, this group of childhood best friends are dead set on changing how you see dance-rock. From the first second of "Ridiculous Speed EP," which comes in the form of the explosive "Move It!" (CMJ Song of the Week in October '07), Thing One grabs a hold of your collar and drags your ass out on the dance floor. But unlike hardcore bootyshakers like !!! and The Rapture, Thing One mixes their dance-rock with interesting lyrics and vocal melodies that pack a powerful emotional punch, and have much more in common with acts like The Dismemberment Plan. Thing One and their all too brief five track EP are not just an alcohol soaked party, although I feel if asked they wouldn't mind it now and again, it is more complex than that. Deep as the Grand Canyon and as fun as any dance party, Thing One are simply dynamite. A required listen."
  -- DB, The Deli Magazine

• EP Review [+ Show ]
  

  "It is rare to listen to a band develop over time and still remain true to their initial ideas. Thin..."It is rare to listen to a band develop over time and still remain true to their initial ideas. Thing-One has the atypical ability to challenge themselves and their listeners without alienating what original fans loved about the band. Someone with more money than I needs to get this band on a label and have them tour the world, for this talent is too good to keep to ourselves on the East Coast."
  -- Rich Quinlan
  Jersey Beat Magazine

• Just Dance
  

  "...infectious dance rock..." -- The Deli Magazine

• Spotlight Review
  

  "...experimental electronic geniuses..." -- The Aquarian Magazine

• Soulful Indie-Pop [+ Show ]
  

  "...a young 5 piece band with a certain flair for the dance-matic... this is soulful indie-pop with ..."...a young 5 piece band with a certain flair for the dance-matic... this is soulful indie-pop with some zip on it..."
  -- Oh My Rockness

• Dance-Fighting
  

  "...these guys are dance-fighting their way into the next galaxy." -- The Periodic Label

• NJPAC/Sounds of the City Festival [+ Show ]
  

  "...a contemporary sound tempered with a layer of 70's fusion..." -- NJ Performing Arts Center..."...a contemporary sound tempered with a layer of 70's fusion..."
  -- NJ Performing Arts Center
  (Thing One was selected as one of only 30 bands out of 1000 applicants to perform in the festival)

Setlist

50-70 minutes of music. 98.6% originals.

Basic Requirements

Calendar