Rank and File

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Rank and File
Background information
Genre(s)	Alternative Cowpunk Post-Punk New Wave
Years active	1981—1987
Associated acts	The Dils The Nuns Wire Train
Former members
Chip Kinman Tony Kinman Alejandro Escovedo Slim Evans

Formed by brothers Chip and Tony Kinman after they split up their hardcore punk band the Dils, Rank and File were a roots rock post-punk band. The Kinmans' singing was distinctive; they weren't traditional harmony singers à la the Everly Brothers, but rather sang synchronized upper and lower octaves. The songwriting was wry, heartfelt, and cliché-free. They were so into cowpunk and so far from their hardcore punk beginnings that they even landed a spot on PBS's revered country music showcase Austin City Limits. ^[1]

[edit] Post-breakup

The Kinmans' next project was the synthpop, guitar and drum-machine based, Blackbird. Former guitarist Alejandro Escovedo formed the short-lived True Believers with his brother Javier, and recorded a number of solo records.

[edit] Discography

• Sundown (1982)
• Long Gone Dead (1984)
• Rank and File (1987)

[edit] References