Performer Notes

The New Year: Matt Kadane, Bubba Kadane (vocals, guitar); Peter Schmidt (guitar); Mike Donofrio (bass); Chris Brokaw (drums).
Recorded on July 12 & 16, 2000.
When the Kadane brothers -- Matt and Bubba -- disbanded Bedhead, it was at the height of that band's creativity and excellence. Wherever they went, well-deserved critical acclaim seemed to follow, and for good reason: Their music was intricate, touching, and emotional to a degree few bands ever reach. Bedhead's final album, Transaction de Novo was particularly affecting. The New Year is led (and all its songs are written) by the Kadane brothers, who were apparently less taking a break from each other than from the project they had created. The New Year's debut album, Newness Ends, comes after the band had played only a handful of shows, and while it has obvious similarities to Bedhead, the reason for the name change is also apparent. The most blatant difference is the tempos on Newness Ends. Whereas Bedhead records rarely made it past a crawl, these new songs take a similar songwriting approach and hit the gas a bit. The first track, "Half a Day," announces the difference with a bouncing rhythm, something heretofore not seen by the Kadanes. The true test of Newness Ends' greatness, though, is whether it would stand on its own as a debut album by a group of unknowns, without having to live up -- or down -- to die-hard fans' expectations. Clearly it does, blending the brilliant writing and playing of these two slow rock pioneers' past an present. It's a step sideways into amazing, only partially discovered territory. ~ Josh Modell

Professional Reviews

Alternative Press (4/01, p.83) - 4 out of 5 - "...Superb....Elements of indie-rock energy are injected into the albums Versus-style vibe against a late-80s Sonic Youth cruch..."

Magnet (4-5/01, p.85) - "...A mood that falls somewhere between beautiful and menacing, evoking the obsessive tone of a gothic romance..."

CMJ (2/19/01, p.17) - "...From song structures to guitar riffs and drum patterns, NEWNESS ENDS is more direct and aggressive than almost anything found in the Bedhead catalogue..."

Mojo (Publisher) (5/01, p.103) - "...Catchy and darkly quirky, the songs stumble along like Lou Reed covering Pavement....taking the slo-core of BEdhead to the next level, with a subtlety that's hard to resist."

NME (Magazine) (5/12/01, p.40) - 8 out of 10 - "...A sweet and doleful record peppered with wry couplets..."

Album: Newness Ends
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Half a Day	More Info...	0:04
2)	Reconstruction	More Info...	0:03
3)	Gasoline	More Info...	0:03
4)	Great Expectations	More Info...	0:02
5)	Simple Life	More Info...	0:03
6)	One Plus One Minus One Equals One	More Info...	0:04
7)	Alter Ego	More Info...	0:02
8)	The Block That Doesn't Exist	More Info...	0:02
9)	Carne Levare	More Info...	0:02
10)	Newness Ends	More Info...	0:03

Album: Newness Ends
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Half a Day	More Info...	0:04
2)	Reconstruction	More Info...	0:03
3)	Gasoline	More Info...	0:03
4)	Great Expectations	More Info...	0:02
5)	Simple Life	More Info...	0:03
6)	One Plus One Minus One Equals One	More Info...	0:04
7)	Alter Ego	More Info...	0:02
8)	The Block That Doesn't Exist	More Info...	0:02
9)	Carne Levare	More Info...	0:02
10)	Newness Ends	More Info...	0:03