The Obvious

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The OBViOUS is a pop rock band started in the late 1990s by mr christopher with the goal of creating American/UK pop rock for the Asian market, specifically China and Japan. Their first CD was released in China in 1998, followed by a promotional radio station/university tour.

The planned full band tour in 1999 was cut short by the political consequences of the accidental NATO bombing of The Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia.

Returning to the US in 1999, The OBViOUS recorded a number of live performances in the United States supporting a second release, 2OBViOUS!. These live recordings were later released as a double live CD called OBViOUS-ly LiVE! in May 2000.

In January 2001, The OBViOUS were invited to perform at Abbey Road Studios in London.

These sessions produced a video and three B-Sides for their Summer 2001 single called "hEY yOU!"

In Spring of 2001, mr christopher opened a branch of The Digital Banana Recording Studio in Tokyo, Japan where The OBViOUS finished recording, mixing, and finally released their fourth album, 4OBViOUS rEASONS, in November 2001.

Winter 2001/2002 began with renewed writing activity in Tokyo for mr christopher, writing songs for what would be come the obliVious album two years later. The OBViOUS briefly reconvened in Florida for a recording session in January 2002, laying down the first 4 songs for the new album.

Back in Tokyo, mr christopher had his first collaboration with traditional Japanese musicians on what would be come the Gagaku-Pop song, "Kiriko".

In late summer of 2002, mr christopher was introduced to drummer Takashi and jazz/slap bassist, Gaku, who became the foundation of the Japanese branch of The OBViOUS (The J-OBViOUS). This group was put together to perform OBViOUS songs with mr christopher in Japan for showcases while Brad and Tim were back in the States.

From September to December 2002, Takashi, mr christopher, and Gaku began recording additional tracks for the new "obliVious" album as well as preparing for The J-OBViOUS's debut at the John Lennon Museum just outside of Tokyo on December 6, 2002.

With things now moving very quickly, mr christopher returned to the USA to finish recording the last few songs carefully chosen for Brad and Tim.

Back in Japan, however, Takashi left the band which scrapped the live schedule plans for Spring 2003, leaving mr christopher and Gaku to focus on getting the album done.

In Summer, mr christopher gave a revealing radio interview at the pre-release "obliVious" CD party and worked with artists to design the new CD jacket.

Overcoming many creative, mechanical and personal obstacles, ("triumphs" which some say give the album its resonating depth) the ...obliVious album was finally completed in the July 7, 2004, a full two years after it was started.

The following year saw the release of The OBViOUS best, a collection of songs from the first 5 studio albums.

A string of Tokyo performances are scheduled for The OBViOUS in late summer 2006. Production continues for on an upcoming seventh album from the band expected in Summer 2007.