Those Transatlantics
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Those Transatlantics

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This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Those Transatlantics: Briskly Appealing Pop"

The five members of Those Transatlantics claim The Beatles, The Cardigans and The New Pornographers as the shared influences that brought them together, so it should come as no surprise that their music is the sonic equivalent of an ice-cold glass of lemonade on a summer day.

The band came together when singer Kathleen Bracken and guitarist Michael Spence began writing what would become their first EP, You're Seated in the Back. Adding drummer Trevor Waldron, bassist Brian Siers and keyboardist Chris Hatfield, Those Transatlantics was complete. Their full-length debut, Knocked Out, is a brisk, immensely appealing pop gem.
- NPR World Cafe


"Knocked Out one of this year's richest pop records"

Following in the acid twee tradition of Architecture in Helsinki, Those Transatlantics combine pop sensibilities, intricate, often tortuous song structures, and superior musicianship into songs which capture your attention readily and then retain it by drawing it toward a sea of fascinating details. Peppered with lyrical snippets like "you always talk dirty when I only want to talk" and loaded with phenomenal guitar riffs that show up once and are never repeated, Knocked Out is one of this year's richest pop records, and the most engaging release to come out of the state of Michigan in 2006.
- Celestial Biscuit (celestialbiscuit.com)


"Bust Magazine Reviews Knocked Out"

"...If 'Knocked Out' isn't the best pop album of the year, its at least a close second."
- Bust Magazine


"4 stars"

"4 stars...America's answer to the New Pornographers..."
- Paste Magazine


"A Knockout"

"A Knockout...The 13-track album is sparkling fresh, a sweet and ripe collection of summer pop that stays just on the good side of twee."
- Detroit Free Press


Discography

1. Self-Titled EP (2004)

2. You're Seated In The Back EP (2005)
- received college and commercial airplay, re-released in 2006 as a part of the Suburban Sprawl Music Mini CD Series.

3. We Will Embark EP (2006)

4. Knocked Out (2006, Suburban Sprawl Music)
- received college/commercial radio airplay, featured on NPR

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Those Transatlantics was born in central Michigan in the late summer of 2003, when singer Kathleen Bracken and guitarist/vocalist Michael Spence decided to manifest their common musical interests and form a group. Shortly thereafter, they were joined by bassist Joe Clark, drummer Trevor Waldron and keyboardist/vocalist Chris Hatfield.

Since then, Those Transatlantics have released Three EPs: Self-titled (2004), You're Seated in the Back (2005), and We Will Embark (2006). The second of these was re-released in 2006 as a part of the Suburban Sprawl Music Mini CD Series and even received some local and national college radio play.

In 2006, the band signed with Suburban Sprawl Music and released their first full-length, Knocked Out. Generally speaking, people really liked the album, were quite happy to listen to it more than a few times, and as a result, had very nice things to say about it. For example, Paste Magazine said "4 stars...America's answer to the New Pornographers." Bust Magazine agreed and said "If 'Knocked Out' isn't the best pop record of the year, it's at least a close second." The record was also reviewed in the broadcast media, in fact, NPR's "The World Cafe" said that Knocked Out is "the sonic equivalent of an ice-cold glass of lemonade on a summer day...a brisk and immensely appealing pop gem." Pretty nice, huh?

The same year, Those Transatlantics' video for the Knocked Out cut, "In Your Neighborhood," was among 11 national finalists in the Toyota Scion XPress Fest, a music video contest that united independent bands and filmmakers from across the country. Shot by local director Tim Marklevitz, it chronicles the story of a lone girl traversing a wintery landscape to bring cupcakes to all the sad people of the world. We like to think this serves as a visual metaphor for the band's mission statement.

The band's infectious live show (killer hooks! winning harmonies! instrumentation that is alternately powerful and delicate!) has energized crowds throughout the East Coast and Midwest. In cities like Detroit, New York, Indianapolis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Atlanta Those Transatlantics have been fortunate to play for some wonderful audiences and share the stage with some incredible acts. Highlights include: Thunderbirds are Now!, Headlights, Canada, The Hard Lessons, Page France, The Static Age, Under Oath, Aimee Mann, Bear vs. Shark, Anathallo, Scout Niblett, Rainer Maria and Everthus the Deadbeats.

In early 2007, the band bid a fond and bittersweet farewell to two of their members: founding vocalist Kathleen Bracken and keyboardist/vocalist Chris Hatfield. In April the band recruited singer/songwriter Annie Palmer and regrouped as a four-piece. They have since been writing and recording the follow-up to their debut record, planning a tour for later in the year and watching a lot of Beatles movies.