The Paper Chase (stylized as "the pAper chAse") was an American alternative rock band formed in 1998 by producer/engineer John Congleton in Dallas, Texas, who were signed to Kill Rock Stars and Southern Records. Their albums God Bless Your Black Heart and Now You Are One of Us have been released on vinyl by the Austrian label Trost Records. The Paper Chase produced a combination of discordant melody and jagged noise pop, described by Allmusic as "a jagged structure of avant-garde jazz, noise, indie, and punk".DaRonco, Mike "[ The Paper Chase Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
History Congleton wrote and produced all of the material, with a few exceptions: Bobby Weaver co-wrote "A Face That Could Launch a Thousand Ships" and "Off with Their Heads" from the album Young Bodies Heal Quickly, You Know. Mike Sanger co-wrote "Throw Your Body on the Apparatus", and Elliot Figg co-wrote "When You Least Expect It," both from the aforementioned album.
Their next project would have been a two-part album centered on natural disasters. The first half, entitled Someday This Could All Be Yours Vol. 1 was released on May 26, 2009, through Kill Rock Stars Records, though the second part has remained unreleased since the band's dissolution.
Members
Former members John Congleton – vocals, guitar, programming Sean Kirkpatrick – synthesizer, piano Bobby Weaver – bass guitar Jason Garner – drums
Session musicians Kris Youmans – cello Becki Phares – violin Elliot Figg – piano Danna Berger – viola Tony Scholl – horns
Previous members Aryn Dalton – drums Matt Armstrong – piano
Discography
Albums Young Bodies Heal Quickly, You Know (2000) Hide the Kitchen Knives (2002) God Bless Your Black Heart (2004) Now You Are One of Us (2006) Someday This Could All Be Yours Vol. 1 (2009)
Singles and EPs Essays on Frantic Desperation (split with E-Class and Lugsole) (1999) ...And the Machines Are Winning (1999) Cntrl-Alt-Delete-U (2001) What Big Teeth You Have (2004) Split with Red Worms Farm (2004) Split with Will Johnson (2004) Split with Xiu Xiu (2005)
References
External links The official Paper Chase website The Paper Chase on Southern Records' website [ The Paper Chase] on Allmusic Acoustic session with 'They Shoot Music - Don't They'
Interviews Welcome to Flavor Country interview with John Congleton from 2002 SHZine interview with John Congleton (April 2002) Joe Wallace interviews John Congleton for Gearwire.com McMahan, Tim (2001) "don't be afraid of the paper chase", Lazy-I
Reviews Johnson, Zac "[ Young Bodies Heal Quickly, You Know Review]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation Morris, Kurt "[ Hide the Kitchen Knives Review]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation Brown Marisa "[ Now You Are One of Us Review]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation Marshalek, Russ (2006) "The Paper Chase Now You Are One of Us", Stylus Magazine