Boy Crisis

Boy Crisis
OriginBrooklyn, New York, United States
GenresIndie electronic, alternative
Years active2005–2010
LabelsB-Unique
MembersVictor Vazquez
Tal Rozen
Lee Pender
Alex Kestner
Owen Roberts
Websitewww.BoyCrisis.net

Boy Crisis was an American band that was influenced by the post-disco–post-punk sound of the early 1980s.[1]

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Boy Crisis consisted of members Tal Rozen, Alex Kestner, Victor Vazquez, Lee Pender, and Owen Roberts. Victor Vazquez is now an MC and was formerly part of the rap group Das Racist.[2]

History

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Boy Crisis formed initially as a project between Victor Vazquez, Tal Rozen and Alex Kestner at Wesleyan University in 2005, but they did not start playing shows until Lee Pender joined in 2007.[3] Owen Roberts joined later that year.[3] At Wesleyan, they met MGMT's Andrew VanWyngarden, and they later played shows supporting MGMT live and remixed one of their singles.[4]

In November, 2008, Boy Crisis signed a record deal with B-Unique Records.[5] Their first album was scheduled to be released in October, 2009, with the name Tulipomania;[6] however, due to legal issues with a band by the same name, the album name had to be changed.[7] Due to problems with the record label, the album was never released.[8] Nevertheless, three official music videos were produced: "Dressed to Digress" (directed by Ray Tintori),[9] "The Fountain of Youth" (directed by Jordan Fish),[10] and "L'Homme" (directed by Jovan Todorovic).[11]

Critical reception

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While Boy Crisis were the subject of much hype and praise, they also faced strong criticism, including from Richard Hell who declared, "Boy Crisis fucking suck."[12] Amy Phillips of Pitchfork Media also had harsh words for Boy Crisis, calling them "the absolute worst band in the world right now. Seriously."[13] Similarly, Camille Dodero of The Village Voice referred to Boy Crisis as "everything that's wrong about the Lower East Side."[14]

However, Sophie Eggleton of Disappear Here Magazine asserted, "I personally find them a welcome antidote to the dark, bleak realism of some of my current favourite bands."[15] Similarly, Paul Lester of The Guardian wrote that Boy Crisis was "the hottest electronic pop group to emerge from America since, ooh, MGMT at least."[12]

Their album was praised as "spastically seductive"[16] with "all of the tracks [being] bangers"[17] and described as "flawless" with hooks that are "subtle yet stay for a long time" and "plenty of melody."[18]

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic: Boy Crisis > Overview. Retrieved on 12-28-2009.
  2. ^ Rob Harvilla (June 15, 2009)."A Chat with Das Racist, the Geniuses Behind "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" Archived 2009-10-05 at the Wayback Machine, The Village Voice. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  3. ^ a b Stefan Golangco (October 10, 2008). "Boy Crisis Interview". The Wesleyan Argus. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  4. ^ Paul Lester (November 21, 2008). "'You can't be too smart to make pop'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  5. ^ "SIGNED: Boy Crisis + Rox + Golden Silvers + Blue Ray". Music Week. November 14, 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  6. ^ Matt Gardner (October 2, 2009). "Boy Crisis: Tulipomania". inthenews.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  7. ^ Boy Crisis (September 10, 2009). "Goodbye, Tulipomania". Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  8. ^ Dap. "Boy Crisis - Tulipomania". Das Racist Tumblr. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  9. ^ Cristina Black (August 4, 2009). "The Wesleyan Mafia: MGMT, Boy Crisis, Amazing Baby". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  10. ^ Camille Dodero (September 28, 2009). "Boy Crisis Eat Hotdogs, Inhabit McCarren Pool for "The Fountain of Youth" Video". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  11. ^ Pajama (April 5, 2012). "Boy Crisis – L'Homme {Music Video}". Movements and Nonsense. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  12. ^ a b Paul Lester (July 28, 2008). "New Band of the Day No 357: Boy Crisis". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  13. ^ Amy Phillips (October 24, 2008)."Iceland Airwaves Festival", Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  14. ^ Camille Dodero (December 2, 2008). "On Boy Crisis' "L'homme"". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  15. ^ Sophie Eggleton (May 6, 2009). "Boy Crisis: Live" Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Disappear Here Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  16. ^ Jon Caramanica (September 2, 2009). "So Many Boys and Girls, as Well as Some Men". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  17. ^ Drew (August 10, 2009). "Jam of the Day – Boy Crisis Finds the Fountain of Youth, Gives it to Monkeys". East Village to Brooklyn. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  18. ^ Conrad Hughes. "Review of Tulipomania Album by Boy Crisis". contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
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