Headphones (band)

Headphones, a project led by David Bazan, formed in 2005 and released one album shortly before the dissolution of Bazan's primary creative outlet, Pedro the Lion. The band's sound is marked by the use of synthesizers paired with live drums and percussion, and sometimes drew comparisons to other indie rock electronic groups such as The Postal Service.{{cite web | title=Slate Wiped Clean: Pedro the Lion Goes Secular with Headphones | work=Portland Mercury | url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=33825&category=22153 | accessdate=26 July 2006 }} Bazan drew a distinction between Headphones and electronic pop, however, and has said that he had no interest in paying homage to either 1980s music or dance-pop, such as the Postal Service attempted, instead aiming for a simple synthesizer and drums setup that "live(d) and breathe(d) like rock 'n' roll."

The band is also unique to Bazan in terms of the lyrical style. Bazan often included religious references in his work with Pedro the Lion, but Headphones was considered a more secular band in comparison.

The band toured extensively in support of its debut album, Headphones,{{cite web | title=Headphones Head Out on Tour | work=Pitchfork Media | url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-04/13.shtml | accessdate=26 July 2006 | archive-date=19 May 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519074016/http://pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-04/13.shtml | url-status=dead }} which received positive critical reception.{{cite web | title=Crank up the Headphones | work=Today.com | date=7 July 2005 | url=https://www.today.com/popculture/crank-headphones-wbna8500126 | accessdate=26 July 2006 }}{{cite web | title=Headphones: Pitchfork Record Review | work=Pitchfork Media | url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18633/Headphones_Headphones | accessdate=14 February 2007 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116183924/http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18633/Headphones_Headphones | archivedate=16 November 2006 }}

T.W. Walsh, who joined Bazan during the final two years of Pedro the Lion's tenure, was originally a member of the group, but later left both bands for personal reasons.{{cite web | title=TW Walsh: Frequently Asked Questions | work=T.W. Walsh | url=http://twwalsh.com/blog/?page_id=2l | accessdate=26 July 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074057/http://twwalsh.com/blog/?page_id=2l |archivedate=2007-09-28}}

David Bazan said during Q&A at a show in Little Rock, AR that he planned on recording another album under the Headphones moniker. However, on March 5, 2011, Bazan's manager, Bob Andrews (artist manager) wrote that Headphones would not release another album.{{cite web|url=http://pedrothelion.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11388|title=Any new shirts/records coming out soon? - Pedro the Lion|publisher=}}

During his September 2011 living room shows David mentioned that he plans on recording another 'Headphones style' album, but not under the name Headphones. Citing low sales and turn outs to live shows David added, "I wouldn't do that to my wife again."

{{See also|Pedro the Lion#Discography|David Bazan#Discography}}

• Headphones (2005)

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.headphonesmusic.com/ Official site]
• [http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2005/05/05162005_the_headphones_1/ Spin.com] Band of the Day page.
• [https://www.today.com/popculture/crank-headphones-wbna8500126 MSNBC:] Independent Study.

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Category:Indie rock musical groups from Washington (state)

Category:Musical groups from Seattle

Category:Suicide Squeeze Records artists