Secaucus (album)

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Secaucus
Studio album by
Released1996
Recorded1995–1996
GenreIndie rock, power pop
Length54:02
LabelGrass Records
ProducerPedal Boy
The Wrens chronology
Silver
(1994)
Secaucus
(1996)
The Meadowlands
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Dayton Daily News[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Pitchfork8.6/10[4]

Secaucus is the second album by the American rock band The Wrens, released in 1996.[5][6] Secaucus is named for the city in which it was recorded, Secaucus, New Jersey.[7] The Wrens were signed to major label Grass Records for the album; Grass dropped the band after they refused to be forced into a new contract.[8][9] The Wrens' follow-up to Secaucus, The Meadowlands, was released seven years later, in 2003.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Spin deemed Secaucus a "Pixies-lovin’ garage-pop grab-bag."[11] Trouser Press wrote: "The album displays the Wrens’ newly impressive range, from the racing shamble of the opening 'Yellow Number Three' and the glammy, vamping 'Built in Girls' to 'I’ll Mind You', which is an ambient, spacey instrumental."[7] Robert Christgau, in The Village Voice, wrote that "the sonic turf is far broader than most indie bands ever dare, and there's a relationship sequence in the middle that lays on the hurt--'I've Made Enough Friends', killer."[12] The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that the album "combines artful '60s pop and razor-sharp, late-'70s new wave."[13]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Yellow Number Three"1:04
2."Built in Girls"3:00
3."Surprise, Honeycomb"3:58
4."Rest Your Head"3:24
5."Won't Get Too Far"3:02
6."Joneses Rule of Sport"3:46
7."Dance the Midwest"2:20
8."Still Complaining"2:43
9."Hats off to Marriage, Baby"2:37
10."Jane Fakes a Hug"5:05
11."Counted on Sweetness"2:54
12."I've Made Enough Friends"2:48
13."Luxury"2:35
14."Indie 500"3:08
15."Safe and Comfortable"3:27
16."Destruction/Drawn"1:28
17."I Married Sonja"2:43
18."I'll Mind You"1:25
19."It's Not Getting Any Good"2:25
Total length:54:02

References[edit]

  1. ^ Abebe, Nitsuh. "Secaucus – The Wrens | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "RECORDINGS IN BRIEF". Dayton Daily News: 17. 26 Apr 1996.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 777.
  4. ^ Crock, Jason (December 12, 2006). "The Wrens: Silver / Secaucus | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "The Wrens | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  6. ^ Roberts, Michael (January 27, 2005). "The Wrens". Westword.
  7. ^ a b "Wrens". Trouser Press. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  8. ^ "The Wrens' Charles Bissell takes some time off from taking time off". Music. 2 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Old Albums Being Revived Before New Wrens Disc". Billboard.
  10. ^ Machkovech, sam (August 19, 2004). "Learning to Fly". Dallas Observer.
  11. ^ "The Wrens' 'The Meadowlands' Turned Indie Rock Into Dad Rock, 10 Years Ago Today". Spin. September 9, 2013.
  12. ^ "Robert Christgau: An Alternative Universe". www.robertchristgau.com.
  13. ^ "WRENS, YIPS". The Philadelphia Inquirer: 15. 2 Aug 1996.

External links[edit]