Boy in Static

Alexander Chen's recording career began when he sent a demo to Markus Acher of The Notwist, who had recently started his own record label Alien Transistor. A few months later, he received an email from Acher. They met at The Notwist show in Boston. They decided to release his debut album, Newborn. Chen mastered the album at Abbey Road Studios and it was released in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/boy-in-static-mn0000641173|title=Boy in Static|website=Allmusic|first=Marisa|last=Brown}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/interview/boy-in-static.htm|title=Boy in Static - Interview|magazine=Stylus Magazine|first=Keith|last=Wallace|date=May 31, 2006}}

In 2005, Boy in Static supported 13 & God, an alternative hip hop group composed of Themselves and The Notwist, opening for their European and US tours. For their Irving Plaza show, Jon Pareles of The New York Times said, "amid the echoes of 1980's bands like New Order, Mr. Chen revealed a strong sense of melody and his own blend of diffidence, longing and tenacity."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/21/arts/music/21notw.html|title=German Rock Meets Underground Hip-Hop|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Jon|last=Pareles|date=September 21, 2005}}

Boy in Static's second album Violet was released on Mush Records in May 2007.{{cite web|url=http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6306:boy-in-static-qvioletq&catid=13:albums-and-singles&Itemid=133|title=Boy In Static, "Violet"|publisher=Brainwashed|first=Gary|last=Suarez|date=July 8, 2007}} It was described as "an impressive one-man symphony" by The Boston Globe{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2007/06/05/one_man_many_moods/|newspaper=Boston Globe|title=One Man, Many Moods|date=June 5, 2007}} and "a ballad of electronic snaps and true dream-pop vocals" by URB.{{cite web|url=http://www.urb.com/2007/05/01/boy-in-static-violet/|title=Boy in Static – Violet (Review)|publisher=URB|date=May 1, 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129140455/http://www.urb.com/2007/05/01/boy-in-static-violet/|archivedate=January 29, 2013}} Many magazines noted its influences by 1990s shoegaze bands such as Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, with its "Loveless fascination" (Remix).{{cite web|url=http://www.remixmag.com/artists/remix_cd_reviews_52/ |title=Remix magazine review |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313063733/http://remixmag.com/artists/remix_cd_reviews_52/ |archivedate=March 13, 2009 }}

In 2007 and 2008, Boy in Static toured with the band Freezepop. Both Chen and Ross also performed as members of Freezepop on this tour.{{cite magazine|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/10/interview-liz-enthusiasm-of-freezepop/|title=Interview: Liz Enthusiasm (of Freezepop)|magazine=Consequence of Sound|first=Allison|last=Franks|date=October 20, 2008}}

Boy in Static released the third album, Candy Cigarette, on Fake Four Inc and Circle Into Square in 2009.{{cite magazine|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/PopAndRock/boy_in_static-candy_cigarettes|title=Boy in Static - Candy Cigarettes|magazine=Exclaim!|first=Brock|last=Thiessen|date=May 2009}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/94170-boy-in-static-candy-cigarette/|title=Boy in Static: Candy Cigarette|magazine=PopMatters|first=Dominic|last=Umile|date=July 6, 2009}}

In 2010, Alexander Chen released an album under the name The Consulate General, which included guests such as Antoine Bédard of Montag and Simon Scott of Slowdive.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaybridged.com/2010/04/02/boy-in-static-goes-solo-as-the-consulate-general-album-out-tuesday/|title=Boy In Static goes solo as the 'Consulate General,' album out Tuesday|publisher=The Bay Bridged|first=Nicole L.|last=Browner|date=April 2, 2010}}

Alexander Chen has collaborated with Blue Sky Black Death.{{cite web|url=http://blog.azltron.com/a-conversation-with-consulate-general-alex-chen-of-boy-in-static|title=A Conversation with The Consulate General (Alex Chen of Boy in Static)|publisher=AZLTRON|date=March 22, 2010|access-date=2010-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707202427/http://blog.azltron.com/a-conversation-with-consulate-general-alex-chen-of-boy-in-static#|archive-date=2011-07-07|url-status=dead}} Their collaborative album, Third Party, was released on Fake Four Inc in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.urb.com/2010/10/15/blue-sky-black-death-third-party/|title=Blue Sky Black Death – Third Party (Review)|publisher=URB|first=Trav|last=Glave|date=October 15, 2010|access-date=2012-08-12|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919143004/http://www.urb.com/2010/10/15/blue-sky-black-death-third-party/#|archive-date=2012-09-19|url-status=dead}}

• Newborn (2004)
• Violet (2007)
• Candy Cigarette (2009)

• "Lifetime Achievement Award" (2005)
• "Where It Ends" (2008)
• "Young San Francisco" (2009)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.mushrecords.com/artist/BoyInStatic.php Boy in Static] on Mush Records
• [http://www.alientransistor.de/index.php?level=2&CatID=101.126&inhalt_id=124 Boy in Static] on Alien Transistor

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Category:Indie rock musical groups from California

Category:Musical groups from San Francisco