American Steel - music group - Brief Article

Thrasher Magazine, Nov, 2001 by Christopher Appelgren

AMERICAN STEEL FORMED IN 1995 AROUND THE CLOSE FRIENDSHIP of Ruairi, Ryan, and John, taking their name from the giant warehouse across from their rehearsal space in West Oakland. Since their inception, as documented on their demo tape and first (now out of print) seven inch single, American Steel has twisted the conventions of punk in order to accommodate their own distinct vision and voice. Over the course of three albums, American Steel has cultivated a sound that cuts like a razor, roars and lurches, but can be alternately delicate, romantic, and even back-alley sweet. Adventurous interpretations of ska and reggae rhythms are an important part of their formula. That kind of exploration and the return of founding drummer Jamie has meant more interesting and compelling sounds and beats in their music. Like all great punk rock and rock 'n' roll, you have to wrestle the beast to make it speak your words, sing your song. American Steel definitely do that. On the occasion of the release of their newest album, J agged Thoughts on Lookout! Records, I had the opportunity to ask them about the band, their records, and the recording process itself...

What is your favorite thing about the first album? How did you feel when you finished and what do you think about it now?

John: I remember hearing a few of the songs, once we'd finished basic tracking, and being impressed by how dense they sounded, even before mixing and mastering. I could distinctly hear the parts we'd each been playing, but underneath it all was this subtle Phil Spector wall-of-sound rumble that was very exciting. When I listen to that album now it sounds pretty raw, but I think a good number of the songs still stand up with our current stuff.

Ryan: At the time, I felt lucky to get to make a record, and I partly expected it to be the only one we would ever make. Listening to it now, I am reminded of Ruairi and I living together in one bedroom of a house that had 10 disgusting punkers living in it. Endless cases of beer. Hope when there was little cause for it.

What did you do differently with recording and writing Rogue's March?

Ruairi: Well, those songs were just miles beyond the fun, punchy songs I had written in my basement when I was 15, which is what the first record consists mostly of. The writing process was a sort of extension of the subject matter and our emotions at the time. It was isolated, and inspirations came about at the most inopportune times. It was not very collaborative. During the months leading up to recording Ryan was diagnosed with Leukemia, which was very depressing for all his friends and I'll never know all that he went through. Sessions were scheduled around his chemotherapy.

Ryan: For my part, I didn't expect to be hanging out for much, longer, so my entire focus became finishing that record and sinking every last bit of energy I had into it. We were still working with a pretty tight budget, but we had a much better idea of how to get the sounds we were looking for in the studio.

Do you feel that the last song "Parting Glass" was a prelude to your new album?

Ruairi: "Parting Glass" was the first song written, but that song and "Optimist" and "Got a Backbeat" could make sense on our new record. I was starting to feel scared of a typecast setting in, so in a very real sense they were preludes or warnings as to what would follow. Songwriting is something that we're getting better at, so if you look for a timeline you'll find one.

"HOPE WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE CAUSE FOR IT ..."

Speaking of your new album, are you satisfied with Jagged Thoughts?

John: Though it's our most recent record, it paradoxically reveals our oldest influences. Sounds and genres that were only implied in the first two records--Motown, soul, folk, and so on--really came to the fore in this recording, as if we finally just started playing what we'd been thinking all along.

Ryan: I'm very happy with Jagged Thought, but it was a pain in the ass to record. I was really excited to have more time to get the sounds on tape that we were hearing in our heads; frankly, we would have spent another month on it had we the budget.

Ruairi: We're all very proud of the record. It has a good weight, and nice symmetry. Its title is lyrically thematic--but a little more abstractly speaking its feel is very balanced.