13 Engines
13 Engines | |
---|---|
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Alternative rock |
Years active | 1985–1997[1] |
Labels | SBK Atlantic |
Past members | John Critchley Grant Ethier Jim Hughes Mike Robbins |
13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1990s.
Overview[edit]
Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students—vocalist John Critchley, guitarist Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier. They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986 before changing their name to 13 Engines. This name was a reference to the automobile industry in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, which were the first two markets to embrace the band.[2]
They released two independent albums, Before Our Time in 1987 and Byram Lake Blues in 1989, before signing to SBK Records in the United States and EMI in Canada.[2]
Their major label debut, 1991's A Blur to Me Now, gave the band airplay for the singles "King of Saturday Night" and "Big Surprise". However, SBK dropped them soon afterward.[2]
1993's Perpetual Motion Machine, produced by Critchley,[3] was the band's breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles "More", "Bred in the Bone" and "Smoke & Ashes", and led to a spot on The Tragically Hip's Another Roadside Attraction tour.[2]
They followed up with Conquistador in 1995, which gave them another hit with "Beneath My Hand".[2] While the album is generally hailed as 13 Engines' finest work, it did not do well commercially[4] and two members subsequently left the band. Critchley contemplated carrying on under the 13 Engines name, but ultimately elected to retire the band.
Post-breakup[edit]
Following the breakup of 13 Engines, Critchley continued as a solo artist and recorded an album with ex-13 Engines guitarist Scott Stevenson entitled Crooked Mile in 2000. He currently focuses his attention on producing and engineering at Toronto's Green Door Studios, which he owns.[5] He also scores film and television projects.
Discography[edit]
- Before Our Time (1987)
- Come Back Lover
- It's Easy To See
- The End of Your Chain
- Annabel Lee
- The Reunion
- Mothra
- Cold Pennies
- No More Flowers
- Byram Lake Blues (1989)
- Revenge
- Beached
- Gimme Now
- Rest In Between
- My Time
- Blue Funk
- Love Blooze
- Making Love Alone
- Wish Upon A Star
- Memory
- Blue Smoke Curl
- A Blur to Me Now (1991)
- Big Surprise
- Suffocate
- King of Saturday Night
- Another Toss of the Coin
- You're Nothing If You're Not Strong
- Abandoned
- Hurry
- Clear
- Gathered Safely In
- Rolling Home Again
- Elephant Song
- Throttle Open Wide
- Night of the Shooting Star
- Perpetual Motion Machine (1993)
- Bred in the Bone
- Saviour
- More
- Unconscience
- The Golden Age
- Smoke and Ashes
- What If We Don't Get What We Want?
- Unbound
- Perpetual Motion Machine
- Moment of Clarity
- Dirty Little Rat
- The Estrangement
- Going Under
- Lift You Up
- Conquistador (1995)
- Beneath My Hand
- Reptile Boy
- Menefreghista
- Slow
- Naked
- Vermilion
- Tailpipe Blues
- Satellite
- Bird of Prey
- Cootie Girl
- Zone
- Even the Sailors
- The Listener
References[edit]
- ^ cfrb.com[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "13 Engines". Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. Canoe Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
- ^ "ArtistDirect" review of Perpetual Motion Machine
- ^ "ArtistDirect" review of Conquistador
- ^ Green Door Studios' Official Website
|