Zumpano
11 Shouts - 97,887 Scrobbles
Biography
Although they only lasted for two albums, Vancouver, British Columbia-based indie power-poppers Zumpano were a fresh and unpretentious act whose mixture of '60s pop influences and hard-candy rock made them a pivotal part of the Sub Pop label's image change from early '90s grunge central to a poppier and more eclectic imprint.
Read More...Zumpano formed in 1992 when drummer Jason Zumpano and guitarist and keyboardist Michael Ledwidge broke up their band Glee Cast on the verge of signing a large major-label deal, claiming that the band was "artistically impure." Zumpano and Ledwidge recruited singer and guitarist Carl Newman and bassist Stefan Niemann from the ranks of local cover bands. With inspirations drawn primarily from '60s pop icons like Brian Wilson, The Zombies, and The 5th Dimension, the group was in deliberate contrast to the then-prevailing grunge culture, although like their fellow Canadians Sloan, they weren't averse to adding a bit of crunchy guitar to their sweet-natured pop songs. After a short stint under the name The Wayward Boys, the group decided on a whim to change their name to honor their drummer, for not much more reason than the fact that it's a cool name.
The rechristened quartet played several showcases in post-grunge Seattle and signed with Sub Pop Records in 1994. Their debut album, 1995's Look What The Rookie Did, featured a cover of Jimmy Webb's "Rosecrans Boulevard," at the time (prior to the late-'90s rock revival) a rather daring cover choice. Though it did not sell particularly well, Look What The Rookie Did was enthusiastically reviewed and Zumpano became favorites of the pop community; the debut's "The Party Rages On" was on the scene-defining Poptopia series released by Rhino in 1997. 1996's Goin' Through Changes was an even better album that emphasized their Burt Bacharach and Jimmy Webb influences even more. Zumpano then seemingly disappeared for a number of years, although no official announcement of the band's breakup ever came. It was not until Carl Newman reappeared as the leader of The New Pornographers in 2000 that he confirmed that Zumpano had in fact broken up shortly after the release of Goin' Through Changes. That same year, Michael Ledwidge reappeared as the lo-fi one-man band Near Castlegar. ~ Stewart Mason, Rovi
Top Tracks
Total plays on Last.fm over the last 6 months- The Party Rages On - (3:23) - 516 plays
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- Behind the Beehive - (3:55) - 255 plays
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- Let's Fight - (2:52) - 258 plays
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- Oh That Atkinson Girl - (3:23) - 211 plays
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- Here's the Plan - (3:48) - 203 plays
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- I Dig You - (3:23) - 192 plays
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- Throwing Stars - (3:49) - 193 plays
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- Platinum is Best Served Cold - (3:41) - 172 plays
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- The Only Reason Under the Sun - (3:36) - 183 plays
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- The Millionaire Poets - (3:15) - 177 plays
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- Evil Black Magic - (3:32) - 164 plays
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- The Sylvia Hotel - (3:43) - 169 plays
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- Rosecrans Boulevard - (2:36) - 147 plays
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- Wraparound Shades - (3:47) - 149 plays
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- Temptation Summary - (3:13) - 162 plays
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- Momentum - (2:38) - 155 plays
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- Some Sun - (4:16) - 157 plays
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- It Doesn't Take a Genius - (3:28) - 153 plays
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- The Angel With the Good News - (4:50) - 138 plays
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- Broca's Ways - (3:33) - 135 plays
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