Critical Listening: Rooney

In my exploration of quality, artistic music played and produced with excellence, I thought it might be nice to share some findings. Here, the second in a series of critical-listening posts features the band, Rooney. I was first introduced to their work by a co-worker’s recommendation about six years ago. I have two of their albums (see link).

You all, as musicians, writers, vocalists and technicians may enjoy Rooney’s work. Whenever you find the time, hit the link to read their bio and audition both albums. Try to listen with full-range speakers or headphones if available.

• Like their work? Don’t like it? Why?
• Thoughts on vocals, band, production, etc.?

Rooney (2003)

Calling The World (2007)

Rooney first formed as Ed Rooney back in 1999. The original line up consisted of Teddy Briggs on drums and Matt Star on guitar. Ned Brower replaced Briggs as drummer, Matt Star left, and Louie Stephens was added as keyboardist. They released a series of independent EPs called Deli Meats (2000), Plug It In (2001), and Mastedonia (2002).

The band played multiple shows a month around Los Angeles and Anaheim and built up a strong following. Schwartzman moved to New York City to attend the Eugene Lang College at the New School. Instead of writing papers, he spent his dorm room nights writing new Rooney songs. Schwartzman sent his latest material to his bandmates in LA and flew home every month to perform. They recorded another demo CD with producers Keith Forsey and Brian Reeves. It consisted of the songs “Popstars,” “If It Were Up To Me,” and “Losing All Control.” The demo made its way around LA and created some buzz for the band at the major labels and management companies. Schwartzman decided to leave school and pursue the band full time. Rooney played a show at the Roxy in early 2002 packed with Rooney fans and A&R people. Immediately after the show, the president of Geffen Records approached the band. After meeting all interested parties, the band went to Interscope to meet with Jimmy Iovine. Iovine loved the demo and said he would produce a couple of tracks himself if they signed with them. Based on their roster, Rooney signed the deal with Geffen/Interscope in 2002. The band was interested in having Ric Ocasek produce the album. Ocasek got his hands on the demo CD and immediately contacted Schwartzman. They spent a lot of time talking about the songs and Ocasek wanted to use the demo songs on the album, feeling they were finished. Rooney flew out to NYC for a show with Phantom Planet at CBGB’s. Schwartzman loved Ocasek’s pink Jazzmaster, the one he used in The Cars. Ocasek said he could use it for the show, but Schwartzman took it back to LA and held onto to it for quite a while. The label liked the idea of Ocasek producing the album, but since he loved the demos so much, everyone thought that Keith Forsey and Brian Reeves, who recorded the demos, should be given the opportunity.

Once the band and producers decided on the material and Taylor and Louie graduated from high school, they started recording at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, CA. Most of basic tracking was done at NRG. They moved to The Jungle Room in Burbank to finish the album.

The label wasn’t happy with the way “I’m Shakin’” was sounding. The band tried it different ways, but it just wasn’t right. Something had to change. So the band asked Iovine, who had agreed to produce 2 tracks, to produce the song. Iovine hired engineer Adam Kasper to run the session. They recorded at Village Studios in West Los Angeles. Tension was running high, and the session took over three weeks. Iovine felt the song came out great and approved Andy Wallace to mix the album. Wallace allegedly broke down in tears when he was asked.

The band hit the road with Weezer shortly after they finished recording. Then their friends The Strokes asked Rooney to open for them on their fall headline tour in 2002. At the end of the year, still no album out, they sold out a show at the Palace Theater (now the Avalon) in Hollywood. The band was frustrated that the album wasn’t released, but the label assured them it would be out the summer of 2003. The band toured with The Donnas and OK Go, followed by a tour with Pete Yorn and Grandaddy. Finally the album was released May 20, 2003. The band hit the road on Lollapalooza 2003, its first year back as a national tour. The acts included The Namedroppers, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Jurassic 5, Incubus, The Donnas, Jane’s Addiction, and Rooney (on the main stage).

“Blueside” was the lead-off single, which gained lots of play on alternative radio. The band was over the moon when they heard their song on their hometown radio station KROQ. The song was also featured in the video game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004.

Album sales were slow until in 2004, when they had a cameo appearance in an episode of The O.C., “The Third Wheel,” where they sang the songs “Sorry Sorry,” “I’m Shakin’,” “Popstars,” and “I’m a Terrible Person.” The latter was used in the commercial of Carolina Herrera’s fragance CH, in 2007. “Blueside” was featured on the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 soundtrack and “I’m Shakin’” was featured on an episode of the daytime soap opera, All My Children.

On November 16, 2004, the band issued their first DVD, Spit & Sweat. The hour-long documentary features interviews with the band and live performances from Los Angeles. The DVD also includes the videos for “Blueside” and “I’m Shakin’.”

Following their summer tour, the band began their third sessions for a second album. Only three songs from the previous sessions (“Don’t Come Around Again,” “Paralyzed,” and “Tell Me Soon”), were kept for their new album, Calling the World. On March 6, 2007, the single “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” was released on their official MySpace. The single also was used in commercials of the TV show Beauty and the Geek. It was also used in an episode of Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County, in the Gossip Girl season 1 episode “Wild Brunch” and in the movie, Nancy Drew. The album was released to stores July 17, 2007 and debuted #42 on The Billboard Top 100 Albums chart.

Between the release of the first album and Calling the World, Rooney recorded, produced, and mastered two complete albums that were subsequently scrapped. Schwartzman has stated his desire to re-record these two albums for release in 2011.

Rooney was the opening act for the Jonas Brothers on the Look Me In The Eyes Tour from January 31 to March 22, 2008, for a total of 39 shows.

Rooney headed out on a headlining tour dubbed “The Calling the World Tour” in May 2008 in the United States, which was scheduled to run through August. The band said during live shows that they planned to record a new album upon after the tour ended.

Rooney worked on the theme for the show Iron Man: Armored Adventures on the Nicktoons network. The song premiered online on March 29, 2009, and the show launched on April 24, 2009.
credit: Wikipedia.org

rooney-band.com