About the band:
There's an element of surprise that follows this Brooklyn brain-punk band wherever it goes, probably because it is a band that exists almost entirely by accident. At its simplest, the States are three friends who found each other through Craigslist. Chris Snyder (vocals and guitar) started the band in 2002 in his Harvard dorm room after spending his childhood playing violin and singing in Hollywood movies. Joe Stroll joined as the drummer in 2004, bringing with him a considerable amount of blind ambition, as well as a lot of sheer volume. In 2007, the band enlisted Pete Connors, a seasoned session player and veteran of countless national tours, as their new bassist. Together, the trio tours in large and noisy church van known affectionately as the Blue Whale.
Since moving to Brooklyn in 2004, they have played hundreds of shows in cities near and far, including appearances at SXSW, CMJ, and other regional festivals. They have also released two records. They were grand prize winners in the 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Competition for "Black Jack." In early 2008, Q104.3's Jonathan Clarke included the band in his list of New York´s top 10 bands of 2007. The band was also recently named a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for "All the Salt in the Sea." The States continue to tour and write incessantly while they support their current release, The Path of Least Resistance (2007).
There's an element of surprise that follows this Brooklyn brain-punk band wherever it goes, probably because it is a band that exists almost entirely by accident. At its simplest, the States are three friends who found each other through Craigslist. Chris Snyder (vocals and guitar) started the band in 2002 in his Harvard dorm room after spending his childhood playing violin and singing in Hollywood movies. Joe Stroll joined as the drummer in 2004, bringing with him a considerable amount of blind ambition, as well as a lot of sheer volume. In 2007, the band enlisted Pete Connors, a seasoned session player and veteran of countless national tours, as their new bassist. Together, the trio tours in large and noisy church van known affectionately as the Blue Whale.
Since moving to Brooklyn in 2004, they have played hundreds of shows in cities near and far, including appearances at SXSW, CMJ, and other regional festivals. They have also released two records. They were grand prize winners in the 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Competition for "Black Jack." In early 2008, Q104.3's Jonathan Clarke included the band in his list of New York´s top 10 bands of 2007. The band was also recently named a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for "All the Salt in the Sea." The States continue to tour and write incessantly while they support their current release, The Path of Least Resistance (2007).
About the records:
Press for The Path of Least Resistance:
It´s not a natural way to build a career in rock music, [but The States'] workmanlike approach to music-making has its rewards: solid songwriting..., tight arrangements, and a sound that´s been solidified rather than diluted by the additional studio tools.
* Popmatters Review (8/27/07)
Finding the 'Path'
*Boston Metro feature (8/21/07)
[The States combine] an indie-kid guitarist, a metalhead bassist, and a noise-merchant drummer... But Snyder not only accepts the tensions which that generates, he sees it as vital to the band's mission.
* Boston Globe feature (7/20/07)
Leave it to a couple of Harvard graduates to create one of the most creative and political rock albums of the year...
* Boston Tab feature (6/20/07)
Press for Multiply Not Divide:
Taking cues from neo-post-punk bands like Interpol, this Brooklyn trio gets their rock on by way of high-pitched guitar static coupled with ambling bass lines. But what separates them from the other 10,000 Brooklyn bands doing the exact same thing is the manic drumming of stickman Joe Stroll, who takes this decent track and transports it to another level of manic mayhem.
* Entertainment Weekly / EW.com "Download This" (5/16/06)
...atmospheric, delay pedal guitar-driven self-released debut....
* Boston Phoenix (6/1/06)
...a surprisingly tight, yet varied indie pop rock album with the right touch of emo and the right blend of 90s nostalgia.
* Blogcritics.com (5/26/06)
...an aggressive, melodic indie-rock record.
* Time Out NY (5/16/06)
...the stars here are the lyrics and the voice of vocalist Chris Snyder...judging by this near perfect gem, The States shouldn't remain unsigned for very long.
* Siddharth Watal, The Knight News (Queens College, NY, 5/11/06)
[The States] separate themselves from the pack with intelligent poetic songs...The States are clearly a talented eloquent outfit and their self-produced debut album outshines much that has recently been released...
* Earvolution feature (4/12/06)
...catchy...powerful and moving...
* Aquarian (NJ) preview (4/5/06)
Skilled scatter drumming, stinging guitar, plaintive warm vocals, lyrics that evoke the younger days of rock n'roll...
* Doc Martian's Lounge review of Multiply Not Divide (3/11/06)
A refreshing, melodic brand of geek-rock...
* PopMatters Short Takes review of Multiply Not Divide (3/5/06)
One listen to The States' debut album, Multiply Not Divide, and you'll recognize how polished this young act already sounds...the fact that the band is unsigned [is] the most surprising thing about this release...
* Amp Camp (formerly Neighborhoodies) (1/31/06)
Indie rock at its best...The States have created an album that defines what rock and roll should be.
* Epinions review of Multiply Not Divide (10/18/05)
The possibilities are endless for this Brooklyn-based rock outfit...
* The Daily Titan (Fullterton, CA 11/10/05)
Older articles:
* Review in Northeast In-Tune Magazine (July, 2005)
* Harvard Crimson (5/5/05)
* Harvard Crimson (12/10/04)
 | The Path of Least Resistance (2007) The States´ second record is both more political (its songs address gentrification, the war on terror, and civil liberties) and more carefully produced (thanks in large part to the band´s collaboration with producer Evan Moore) than Multiply Not Divide. It was recorded during the winter of 2006 and 2007 in New York City. |
Press for The Path of Least Resistance:
It´s not a natural way to build a career in rock music, [but The States'] workmanlike approach to music-making has its rewards: solid songwriting..., tight arrangements, and a sound that´s been solidified rather than diluted by the additional studio tools.
* Popmatters Review (8/27/07)
Finding the 'Path'
*Boston Metro feature (8/21/07)
[The States combine] an indie-kid guitarist, a metalhead bassist, and a noise-merchant drummer... But Snyder not only accepts the tensions which that generates, he sees it as vital to the band's mission.
* Boston Globe feature (7/20/07)
Leave it to a couple of Harvard graduates to create one of the most creative and political rock albums of the year...
* Boston Tab feature (6/20/07)
 | Multiply Not Divide (2005) The band´s self-produced debut, recorded over the course of 3 sleepless days and nights at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, CT in 2005. |
Press for Multiply Not Divide:
Taking cues from neo-post-punk bands like Interpol, this Brooklyn trio gets their rock on by way of high-pitched guitar static coupled with ambling bass lines. But what separates them from the other 10,000 Brooklyn bands doing the exact same thing is the manic drumming of stickman Joe Stroll, who takes this decent track and transports it to another level of manic mayhem.
* Entertainment Weekly / EW.com "Download This" (5/16/06)
...atmospheric, delay pedal guitar-driven self-released debut....
* Boston Phoenix (6/1/06)
...a surprisingly tight, yet varied indie pop rock album with the right touch of emo and the right blend of 90s nostalgia.
* Blogcritics.com (5/26/06)
...an aggressive, melodic indie-rock record.
* Time Out NY (5/16/06)
...the stars here are the lyrics and the voice of vocalist Chris Snyder...judging by this near perfect gem, The States shouldn't remain unsigned for very long.
* Siddharth Watal, The Knight News (Queens College, NY, 5/11/06)
[The States] separate themselves from the pack with intelligent poetic songs...The States are clearly a talented eloquent outfit and their self-produced debut album outshines much that has recently been released...
* Earvolution feature (4/12/06)
...catchy...powerful and moving...
* Aquarian (NJ) preview (4/5/06)
Skilled scatter drumming, stinging guitar, plaintive warm vocals, lyrics that evoke the younger days of rock n'roll...
* Doc Martian's Lounge review of Multiply Not Divide (3/11/06)
A refreshing, melodic brand of geek-rock...
* PopMatters Short Takes review of Multiply Not Divide (3/5/06)
One listen to The States' debut album, Multiply Not Divide, and you'll recognize how polished this young act already sounds...the fact that the band is unsigned [is] the most surprising thing about this release...
* Amp Camp (formerly Neighborhoodies) (1/31/06)
Indie rock at its best...The States have created an album that defines what rock and roll should be.
* Epinions review of Multiply Not Divide (10/18/05)
The possibilities are endless for this Brooklyn-based rock outfit...
* The Daily Titan (Fullterton, CA 11/10/05)
Older articles:
* Review in Northeast In-Tune Magazine (July, 2005)
* Harvard Crimson (5/5/05)
* Harvard Crimson (12/10/04)
(c) 2008 The States. All rights reserved. Have a nice day.
