Craw (band)

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This article is about the math rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. For other uses, see Craw.

Craw is an independent band from Cleveland, Ohio. They belong to the harder-edged branch of the math rock or post rock movement, in the same category as bands such as Colossamite, Keelhaul, Zeni Geva, Dazzling Killmen, and Ruins.

1 History
2 Discography
3 External links
4 Listening

[edit] History

Craw has been together for over 13 years. The group originally consisted of one vocalist, two electric guitarists, one electric bassist, and one drum set player, but eventually one of the guitarists moved away, leaving the group a four-piece outfit. In earlier albums and performances the group sometimes also featured saxophones.

Craw's music is superficially similar in sound to that of metal groups such as Helmet, with the distinction that its compositions feature almost unimaginably complex rhythmic shifts, which are executed in perfect synchronization. While many earlier rock groups favoring mixed or compound meters, such as Rush, tended to remain in a single meter (such as 5/4 or 7/4) for long stretches, Craw songs typically change meter every few seconds, making the group's music closer rhythmically to much contemporary classical music than most rock. Rather than being sung conventionally (using melodic pitches) or "growled" in the manner of Metallica's James Hetfield, vocals are generally declaimed in a forceful sing-song manner that is nonetheless usually synchronized with the instrumental parts. Lyrics are usually obscure, focusing on esoteric scientific subjects and themes of industrial breakdown.

The group's first three full length recordings were recorded with the help of Steve Albini. The newest one, entitled Bodies for Strontium 90, was engineered by Bill Korecky at Mars studios, and is available on Hydra Head Records.

As of 2004 Craw is still a semi-functional four-piece outfit, but does not tour.

[edit] Discography

Elliot b/w My Sister's Living Room 7" - Hit&Run Records
405 b/w Stomp 7" - Choke, Inc.
Hotel Cleveland Vol. 3 Comp. - Scat Records
craw s/t CD/Cass - Choke, Inc.
3128 Seconds Over Cleveland Comp. - WUJC/Scat Records
Lost Nation Road CD/LP - Choke, Inc.
Cancerman comic book 7" - Supermodel Records
Butterflies b/w $10000 Reward split 7" w/ Primitive - No Lie Records
Ballyhoo Guns Records Comp. - Ballyhoo Guns Records (?)
Digging Out The Switch Again - Tribute to The Dazzling Killmen (covering "My Lacerations") - The Subversive Workshop
CLE Magazine Comp. - CLE Magazine
Map, Monitor, Surge CD - Cambodia Recordings
Decline of the Midwestern Civilization Comp. - Ant Records
Space is the Place split 7" w/ Sicbay - Obtuse Mule Records
Bodies for Strontium 90 CD - Hydra Head Records