You Should Know: MAdM – Melissa Auf der Maur
I’ve categorized this as “You Should Know:” but really, if you haven’t heard of Montreal fireball Melissa Auf der Maur then you need a serious lesson in Alt Rock history. After Kristen Pfaff’s overdose, Melissa became her replacement as bassist of Hole and in 2000 MAdM would replace D’Arcy Wretzky in Smashing Pumpkins until it’s initial dissolution. Her 2004 solo album titled simply Auf der Maur would go on to sell over 180,000 copies worldwide.
Now that you know who she is you should know that her latest SELF-RELEASED solo album Out Of Our Minds is a vibrant, layered work with touches of Kate Bush with newer hints of artists like A Perfect Circle, Azure Ray and Blonde Redhead. Her electro-rock orchestrations have a very epic swing and play into the delicate blasts of her voice. And it could be my stubbornly approaching 30 yrs-old ears but in songs like “Meet Me On The Dark Side” I still hear a bit of that 20th century “alternative rock” sound remaining in the songs structure which might actually be a welcome appeal to people of my generation and the Gen X’ers just before us. Of the 5 tracks I have been given to preview the standout is still the title track but a close 2nd is “The Key” which almost has a Queens of the Stone Age vibe, not so coincidentally. MAdM has also worked with them in the past. Album guests include Jordon Zadorozny (Sam Roberts), Chris Goss (QOTSA, UNKLE), Alan Molder (Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins), Mike Frazer (Franz Ferdinand, ACDC) with a special duet with Glenn Danzig.
Out Of Our Minds is following the modern trend to remonitize music by appealing to hardcore fans by offering the solo record along with various other media in cost escalating tiers. Along with the solo record there is also an accompanying Graphic Novel by Brooklyn artist Jack Forbes as well as a 28-minute HD film, directed by Tony Stone which premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in 2009 and a vinyl picture disc (among other standard merch). All of this is set for release this March 23rd.
A free MP3 of the title track is available at xmadmx.com when you sign up for updates. Warning for sensitive listeners: In title track Out Of Our Minds, “Fire” and “Desire” lyrically interchange. But because she is a redhead, I think we can make an exception.
Official Press Release:
Born and raised in Montreal Canada with a Fine Arts education, Melissa Auf der Maur (MAdM) spent 1994-1999 as a member, songwriter and bass player of Hole, culminating in the Grammy and Billboard nominated album “Celebrity Skin” (Geffen Records). In 2000 she joined the Smashing Pumpkins for their farewell world tour. In 2004, MAdM released her debut solo album, “Auf der Maur”, on Capitol Records / EMI. She toured Europe and North America for over a year in support of the self-titled album and sold over 180,000 copies worldwide.
MAdM’s artistic journey has taken her through various art forms. Her photography has been published in Spin, Elle, Nylon and American Photo among others, and exhibited internationally. She has toured and collaborated with bands and members of QOTSA, Marilyn Manson, The Cure, Indochine, NIN, Muse, Ryan Adams, Ric Ocasek and more. In addition to her passion for collaborating, she has remained consistently dedicated to pursuing her solo work and has maintained her position as an influential, passionate, relevant and indefinable artist over the last 15 years.
“OUT OF OUR MINDS”
(OOOM ) is MAdM’s upcoming solo album and is the key component of her independently produced 21st century concept album – a multi-media experience that beyond the rock album, includes a short film with an original score and a comic book. All these elements will come together in an elaborate website that explores the multi-layered MAdM/OOOM adventure. The film portion premiered at Sundance film festival 2009, and the rest is set to unfold throughout 2010.
OOOM ALBUM:
12 track follow-up solo album. Guest Stars: Glenn Danzig, members of NIN, Helmet / Battles and Priestess.
OOOM Film:
Film: 28min, H-D.
Color, Fueled on Solar Power, directed by Tony Stone (“Severed Ways”).
Original score to the film by MAdM and the Entrance Band.
OOOM COMIC:
Illustrated by the young and exceptionally talented Jack Forbes from Brooklyn, NY.
Tags: Azure Ray, Canada, Glenn Danzig, Hole, Kate Bush, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Out Of Our Minds, Queens of the Stone Age, Smashing Pumpkins
