Clouds Forming Crowns
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Clouds Forming Crowns

| INDIE

| INDIE
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This band has not uploaded any videos

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The best kept secret in music

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"Vanguard: Clouds Forming Crowns - Self-titled"

The creative genius of Robert Pollard and Guided By Voices spills over into the Tim Tobias fronted “Clouds Forming Crowns”, a project delving into the familiar GBV formula, but expanding it by adding an almost classic rock sound the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and a sense of warm nostalgia thanks to Tim’s brother Todd, who produced the last three GBV albums.

Clouds Forming Crowns makes use of a more gentle approach to the melodies via a heavy dose of acoustic guitar and a gentle, weeping lyrical atmosphere where hushed, soothing riffs of the album closer “Night Playing Tricks” and the sugar-sweet “Collapsing The First String” are jolted out of their haunted existence by the deep-cutting guitars of “Wish-Hound” and stripped down to a shoe-gazer sound in “Minus Drivers”.

Long-time fans of GBV may be hesitant in listening to Clouds Forming Crowns sans one Robert Pollard. While there is no denying that Robert is a melodious mastermind, he is also hardly missed here. The Tobias brothers aren’t exactly highbrow slackers, and can convincingly pull their own weight.

Clouds Forming Crowns’ debut album has that lo-fi feel to it made popular by such indie pioneers as Pavement, Modest Mouse, and well, Guided By Voices themselves, something some first-time listeners may not welcome or appreciate upon first listen. However, Tim and Todd Tobias obviously know how to make brilliant music, and they put their near-best foot forward here on their self-titled effort. It will be exceedingly interesting to see where they go from here. If this record is any indication, and noting the track record of the Tobias brothers’ previous band, they’ll go far.
-Eric Bodrero - From: Rocknworld.com


"Clouds Forming Crowns -- Self-Titled"

The names Tim and Todd Tobias should elicit quick recognition from indie kids who take the time to actually read the liner notes of their favorite records. Tim has spent the last five years touring with Guided By Voices while brother Todd produced their last three albums. The brothers Tobias have teamed up here, with Tim in the musical pole-position and with Todd adding the sheen and filling in the blanks, to tread the timeless waters between White album-era Beatles and Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie. This album quickly shapes up to be one of many reasons Dayton, Ohio natives can hold their heads high amidst the uber hip uppercrust of any L.A., Chicago or New York.
-Tim Anderl - From: bettawreckonize.com


"Clouds Forming Crowns,"

Indie rock with a pop edge from the Tobias brothers. Tim and Todd grew up in Akron, Ohio. You know, Ohio, the State that gave us Devo and the Dead Boys. Tim was a former bassist for the band Guided By Voices, his brother Todd doesn’t tour with the band prefering to work only in the writing / recording end of it. The brothers have given you sixteen tracks on their debut full-length release. Clocking in at a fuzz over forty three minutes there’s plenty of music for your money here. - From: Ear Candy Magazine


"Clouds Forming Crowns"

Like many brothers, Tim and Todd Tobias are skilled at finishing one another's thoughts. They've collaborated on music since childhood, most notably in Guided by Voices -- Tim played bass and Todd produced a handful of the defunct indie-rock darling's recent records.

The duo's latest project takes its name from the title of last year's debut from Bloom, Tim's first gig post-GBV. Clouds Forming Crowns functions in much the same way that group did: Tim comes up with the framework of songs, Todd fills in any open spaces with all manner of chiming instrumentation and whirring sound effects. The result is busy, changeling pop, darkened by Tim's abstract lyrics ("And the birds give birth to falling split native tongues into dope scars rise to derive"). The band's debut features all manner of pretty, pristine songs ("Dreaming of Flying"), papier-mâché ballads ("Let's Bleed"), and even wayward disco ("Collapsing the First String"). Here, family ties are the only things that bind this duo's refreshingly formless rock and roll.
-Jason Bracelin - From: Cleveland Scene


"Clouds Forming Crowns"

Tim Tobias and his brother Todd, a couple of Bob Pollard’s many discards, parted ways with Guided By Voices on uneasy terms. Just the mention of their former affiliation might causes uneasiness on the Tobias’ part, but since the radio isn’t jumping at the chance to introduce you to Clouds Forming Crowns and since Morphius Records’ budget is probably just short of bankrupt, a little name dropping won’t hurt anyone.

Succinctly, Todd produced and Tim played bass on three of GBV’s best albums; Earthquake Glue (2003, Matador), Universal Truths and Cycles (2002, Matador) and Isolation Drills (2001, TVT). For Clouds Forming Crowns, the two combine their finely honed musical skills to craft 16 songs of which their former boss might be envious.

Tim wrote the music of Clouds Forming Crowns piece-meal, during breaks in his hectic touring schedule with you know who, so it’s not surprising that some of the material here resembles … you know who. Instrumentally and vocally, CFC unassumingly pay homage to the lo-fi pop-rock veterans that came before them, namely The Replacements and Sebadoh. Tim’s often smooth but sometimes strained vocals contain hints of Bob Dylan and strains of Paul Westerberg which easily justifies both the hard rockin’ and soft folkin’ sides of this album.

Depth is created through the blending of acoustic and electric guitars, arpeggios and strums are alternated masterfully. And Tim’s bass playing is phenomenal as always – he’s all over the place, leading one moment then wandering the next without losing time or key. And it’s Todd’s skillful production that allows for each layer to be heard unabated.

Overall, the unforced lo-fi sound and the absence of elaborate studio wizardry make for a very user-friendly affair. The result is an excellent combination of pop hooks, conflicted by strange lyrics (“soul trails and tails coughing knives up again…Out of your stations, then up to space…I’m dreaming of flying”), a hard/soft duality, and an overall brashness those of you already familiar with their work will find irresistible. It’s unlikely you’ll see any mic’ twirling or leg kicks at a CFC show, but the music on this album provide the proof that their shows will be just as fun.

These discards may not have ruined Pollard’s chances for the pot. Hell even his album of drunken stage banter sold out in two days, but musically these guys bring a lot to the table. Even if there were only 500 of his “comedy” albums pressed, the fear is that much more worthy material such as Clouds Forming Crowns may sell even less.

- Michael LeRay - From: Delusions of Adequacy


Discography

Clouds Forming Crowns "All The Pharmacies" (full-length debut on Viva Caramel Records)
Clouds Forming Crowns "Self-Titled" (Sophomore effort on Morphius Records)

Radio Stations currently spinning CFC:
STATION NAME CITY STATE
3RRR East Vic
4ZZZ 102.1 FM Fortitude Valley QLD
CFMQ 98.1 Hudson Bay SK
CFRC Kingston ON
CITR Vancouver BC
CKLN 88.1 FM Toronto ON
Drive 105 fm Londonberry
KAOS Olympia Community Radio OLYMPIA WA
KBUX COLUMBUS OH
KCR 98.9 FM SAN DIEGO CA
KDHX 88.1 FM ST.LOUIS MO
KDVS 90.3 FM DAVIS CA
KEUL 88.9 FM GIRDWOOD AK
KFSR 90.7 FM FRESNO CA
KIWR 89.7 Council Bluffs IA
KMSC Head of Staff MOORHEAD MN
KRUI 89.7 FM IOWA CITY IA
KSCR 104.7 Los Angeles CA
KSPB 91.9 FM PEBBLE BEACH CA
KSVR 91.7 FM MT.VERNON WA
KTUH 90.3 FM HONOLULU HI
KVCU, Radio 1190 BOULDER CO
KVRX 91.7 FM AUSTIN TX
RLC 90.3 FM PISCATAWAY NJ
SomaFM SAN FRANCISCO CA
WCNI 91.1 FM NEW LONDON CT
WCSB 89.3 CLEVELAND OH
WDIY 88.1 BetHLEHEM PA
WFMU 91.1 FM HOBOKEN NJ
WHFR 89.3 FM DEARBORN MI
WMBC/WUMD 560 AM BALTIMORE MD
WMSC 90.3 FM Upper Montclair NJ
WMUH 91.7 FM ALLENTOWN PA
WQCM Chambersburg PA
WRBC 91.5 FM LEWISTON ME
WRGW 22 CaFM WASHINGTON DC
WRSU 88.7 FM NEW BRUNSWICK NJ
WSAM 105.3 CC WEST HARTFORD CT
WTBU 89.3 FM BOSTON MA
WUNH 91.3 FM DURHAM NH
WWVU 91.7 FM MORGANTOWN WV

Web stations currently streaming CFC:
www.shreddingradio.com
www.bagelradio.com
www.live365.com

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Tim played bass in Guided by Voices 1999-2003. Prior to that he played guitar in Gem, Prisonshake and many other bands in the NE Ohio area. Todd produced GbV's final 3 records and continues to produce and play the instruments with Robert Pollard on his new solo work. These two are the 'band' that appears on record. The live band consists of Tim, Scott Pickering, and the Brians' Noga and Strazek. The influences are too numerous to mention, but it runs the gamut from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Can to Japanese noise bands to just about anything else with the exception of Grateful Dead style 'jam' bands.

Live, the band is heavily improvisational, relying on the years of experience the members have amassed. Todd prefers the studio and doesn't play with the live unit. The two exist peaceably side by side, with the live band expounding on the recordings, taking them to different places. What sets them apart are the aforementioned years of experience and a willingness to try and stretch the boundaries of what a band can do with songs that exist in another context- walks a line but playing it safe is not something rock and roll was ever supposed to be about.