154:. The group consisted of Charles Bissell (guitar/vocals), brothers Greg Whelan (guitar/vocals) and Kevin Whelan (bass/vocals), and Jerry MacDonald (drums). They released three albums; a fourth album was recorded and mastered for a planned 2013 release, but was subsequently retracted. After reworking his contributions, Bissell teased a 2021 release for the new album, but the band broke up shortly after following disagreements over business arrangements. The band had a reputation for their intense live shows – following a gig at the
293:, run by their friend Cory Brown. The album was more varied than their first two records, containing longer and more downbeat songs than their previous records (a fact noted by several critics), dealing with the problems they had experienced with record labels and the concerns of a more grown-up band, such as family life and jobs. The album received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the music press, in publications such as
268:, in order to secure a record contract, none of the talks resulted in a deal. With no contract and their financial lifeline cut off, the members of the Wrens took full-time jobs while they began work on their third album in 1999. By this point drummer MacDonald was married with a young family and had moved out, but the other three members were still living together in the same house in
391:
presence online and in the music industry. Whelan said that he "was never against that, but when we started talking about how to do it, it got very drawn out and complicated” and that he was done waiting, which led to the creation of Aeon
Station to release his songs. Bissell subsequently indicated "that the Wrens were dead" and that he was planning his own album to release his songs.
328:, the band were unable to start work quickly on a follow-up album due to financial and personal constraints: Bissell had left his job in advertising to earn his living as a guitar teacher but the other three members remain in full-time employment (the Whelan brothers work for a multinational pharmaceutical company in
390:
for release in 2013 before being retracted at
Bissell's request so he could further develop his songs. In 2019, Bissell completed his contributions, then approached the rest of the band seeking a new business arrangement that reflected both his work as a songwriter and his work maintaining the Wrens'
272:, where MacDonald would join them to record new material when he was able to. The problems with the record labels are usually cited as the reason for the slow progress on the album, although in a 2004 interview Charles Bissell conceded that a far bigger problem had been the combination of exhaustion,
354:
On May 1, 2014, the Wrens' Twitter account said that the band had finished recording its fourth album. No release date was announced. In late
November 2015, the band released an alternate version of a song from the album, "Three Types of Reading Ambiguity", which was made available to premium
372:, Bissell stated that the fourth album was finished in June 2019, and that the band had signed to an unspecified record label years earlier who would hopefully release the album in 2021. Bissell noted that "we had some band stuff to work out, to get everyone back on board again".
231:
sound. Fearing loss of independence and a watering down of their music, the band refused to sign the contract. As a result, they were not offered another record deal and all production and promotion of their previous two albums was stopped. Meltzer changed Grass
Records' name to
394:
In
October 2023, Bissell announced that tracks he had initially composed for The Wrens' fourth album would be released in early 2024 under the name Car Colors via Absolutely Kosher Records. A single from the album, "Old Death," was released on November 17, 2023.
336:), and the band no longer had a single house where the members could demo ideas and record songs, as both Bissell and Greg Whelan had gotten married and moved out. In 2006, the Wrens recorded a cover of the song "They'll Need A Crane" for the tribute album
263:
was circulated, featuring early demo versions of songs that would appear on their third album, although to date this cassette has never been officially released. Despite spending more than a year in discussions with various major labels, notably
385:
with support from Greg Whelan and Jerry MacDonald, and that Kevin Whelan and
Bissell were no longer speaking. The report indicated that the fourth Wrens album had been completed, mastered, and given to
176:
Brothers Greg and Kevin Whelan formed their band in the late 1980s, recruiting former high school classmate
Charles Bissell in 1989 as a guitarist for a proposed gig supporting
244:. The Wrens battled for years afterwards to try to regain the rights to the albums in order to make them available again – in 2006 Wind-Up finally relented and re-released
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259:, was released in 1997 on Ten23 Records (the label run by the people who had originally signed the Wrens to Grass Records). The same year a cassette titled
980:
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180:, which was cancelled in the end. Jerry MacDonald replaced the band's original drummer in 1990 and the quartet moved into a house together in the town of
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Split EP with The Five Mod Four – The Wrens tracks: "Was There Ever", "Bus Dance", "45'er" (No Karma, 2002 – reissued on
Contraphonic, 2005)
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963:"just finished my last vocal, so um..hope you're sitting down...record's done. One week mixing then handed all to mastering BY Mothers' Day"
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the band was offered a new long-term contract for over a million dollars, on condition that in the future they tailor their songs to a more
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as a "nearly universally acclaimed disc of bright literate pop". It took a further two years before the album was released in Europe on
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188:, to concentrate on their music career. After a number of name changes the group settled on the name Low, and in 1993 they recorded a
219:(1996). Both arrived to critical acclaim and gained a following of fans. In summer 1995 Grass Records was bought out by businessman
523:
EP (self-released limited-edition CD-R EP sold at their 20th anniversary shows at
Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey, December 2009)
361:. The song was released on a limited edition audio cassette, which also included another version of the song performed by artist
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reported that Kevin Whelan would be releasing some of his contributions to the unreleased fourth Wrens album under the name
681:
529:
cassette (self-released limited edition audio cassette available to premium subscribers of Esopus
Magazine, November 2015)
409:, was released by Sub Pop Records on December 10, 2021. It was previewed by the singles "Queens", "Leaves" and "Fade".
898:
285:, was finally completed in early 2003. The Wrens had received an offer a few years previously to release the album on
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223:, who wanted to refocus the label on scoring more mainstream popularity and hit songs. During their 1996 tour for
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and lack of confidence in the new material which caused them to extensively re-write or scrap many songs.
196:, signed the band almost immediately on hearing the record. However, on learning that there was already a
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1006:"The Wrens Are Releasing New Song "Three Types Of Reading Ambiguity" On Limited Edition Cassette"
925:"Hello Radio: The Songs of They Might Be Giants - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
444:
281:
20:
1080:"The Wrens' Charles Bissell Releases First New Music In 20 Years: Hear Car Colors' "Old Death""
1055:"The Wrens' Charles Bissell Says Band Is Over, Announces Song From New Solo Project Car Colors"
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362:
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1222:"The Wrens/The Five Mod Four [Split CD] - The Wrens | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
981:"The Wrens Release New Song "Three Types of Reading Ambiguity" on Limited Edition Cassette"
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declared that "on this form the Wrens are surely one of the best live bands in the world".
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single with the same name which they sent out to various record companies – one of them,
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on November 14 of that year, although the label retained the rights to the records.
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945:"Music Marketing and Promotion | Digital Distribution | #1 Music Agency"
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Following the termination of their contract with Grass Records, a six-track EP,
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and MacDonald works in the sales division of a financial services company in
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584:"An Update From The Wrens On The Most Delayed Indie Album In History"
1104:"'It's repulsive to me': the bitter feud of indie-rockers the Wrens"
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468:"Life Stories from the Union" (Sonic Bubblegum Records, 1995)
1202:"Park Ave./Wrens - Park Ave. | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
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485:"Hopeless" (digital download only, LO-MAX Records, 2006)
207:
By 1996, the Wrens had released two full-length albums,
554:"The 18-Year Wait for New Wrens Music Is Over. Sort Of"
478:– The Wrens track: "Fireworks"/"James, I Wanna" (
343:. The band also contributed a new song, "Crescent", to
135:
733:
Phillips, Amy; Solarski, Matthew (December 12, 2006).
508:
204:, the band changed their name to the Wrens in 1994.
1260:Personal account of The Wrens live, with pictures
488:"Pulled Fences" (Absolutely Kosher Records, 2009)
1266:
1159:"Aeon Station Share Video for New Single "Fade""
732:
873:"MUSIC; Once More to the Abyss For the Wrens"
462:"Low" (Dow Boy Records (self-released), 1993)
279:It took four years before the record, titled
1275:Indie rock musical groups from New Jersey
1184:"The Wrens - Life Stories From The Union"
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517:(self-released 10-track demo album, 1998)
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682:"Wrens' First Two Albums To Be Reissued"
639:"Home Made: An Interview with the Wrens"
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711:Schreiber, Ryan (September 30, 2003).
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471:"Rest Your Head" (Grass Records, 1996)
452:, 2003/LO-MAX Records/BB*Island, 2005)
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552:Lindgren, Hugo (September 20, 2021).
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829:"The Wrens: The Meadowlands Review"
797:Garrett, Jon (September 19, 2003).
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509:Self-released unofficial recordings
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1285:Musical groups established in 1994
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321:label, to similarly rave reviews.
14:
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1280:Absolutely Kosher Records artists
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851:"Robert Christgau: CG: The Wrens"
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368:In a January 2021 interview with
289:, but decided instead to sign to
527:Three Types of Reading Ambiguity
324:Despite the critical success of
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871:La Gorce, Tammy (May 7, 2006).
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761:McMahan, Tim (March 10, 2004).
735:"The Year in News 2006: Part 2"
609:Hann, Michael (March 9, 2006).
465:"Napiers" (Grass Records, 1994)
398:
899:"Quit Your Day Job: The Wrens"
754:
726:
659:
630:
582:Hyden, Steven (Jan 21, 2021).
412:
307:. The album was described by
1:
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763:"Songs from the Meadowlands"
7:
403:Aeon Station’s debut album
19:For the doo-wop group, see
10:
1301:
1245:The Wrens official website
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338:Hello Radio: The Songs of
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156:University of London Union
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647:(3). New York City: 43–55
450:Absolutely Kosher Records
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291:Absolutely Kosher Records
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94:Absolutely Kosher Records
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63:
49:
39:
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637:Lippy, Tod (Fall 2004).
21:The Wrens (R&B band)
16:American indie rock band
1132:"Aeon Station - "Fade""
611:"The Wrens ULU, London"
375:On September 20, 2021,
303:and praise from critic
1255:LO-MAX Records website
1250:The Wrens Myspace site
492:
23:. For other uses, see
853:. Robertchristgau.com
521:20 Years of Juvenilia
440:(Grass Records, 1996)
25:Wren (disambiguation)
1163:Undertheradarmag.com
480:Saddle Creek Records
340:They Might Be Giants
270:Fort Lee, New Jersey
905:. February 21, 2007
849:Christgau, Robert.
666:The Wrens Biography
1138:. 16 November 2021
1112:. 24 November 2021
878:The New York Times
688:. October 10, 2006
559:The New York Times
474:Split single with
378:The New York Times
317:and on the German
310:The New York Times
287:Drive-Thru Records
266:Interscope Records
69:1989–present
1012:. 10 October 2015
987:. 10 October 2015
827:Phares, Heather.
713:"The Meadowlands"
619:. London, England
515:Overnight Success
349:Hurricane Katrina
261:Overnight Success
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355:subscribers of
326:The Meadowlands
282:The Meadowlands
234:Wind-Up Records
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162:in March 2006,
123:Jerry MacDonald
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200:group named
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165:The Guardian
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143:
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121:Kevin Whelan
113:Past members
86:Saddle Creek
65:Years active
1188:Discogs.com
1168:10 December
1142:10 December
1116:10 December
967:Twitter.com
812:November 6,
746:November 6,
499:Abbott 1135
413:Discography
406:Observatory
257:Abbott 1135
242:Evanescence
213:(1994) and
119:Greg Whelan
1269:Categories
1089:2023-11-17
1065:2023-10-06
1040:2016-04-22
1035:Esopus.org
1016:2016-04-22
991:2016-04-22
884:2009-01-05
857:2009-01-05
835:2009-01-05
831:. Allmusic
807:PopMatters
768:The Reader
692:2009-01-05
668:, Allmusic
623:2009-01-05
595:2021-09-21
565:2021-09-21
534:References
351:disaster.
186:New Jersey
152:New Jersey
150:band from
148:indie rock
54:Indie rock
44:New Jersey
903:Stereogum
799:"Review:
740:Pitchfork
476:Park Ave.
319:BB*Island
300:Pitchfork
144:The Wrens
102:BB*Island
34:The Wrens
1227:AllMusic
1207:AllMusic
930:AllMusic
777:Nebraska
437:Secaucus
295:AllMusic
250:Secaucus
225:Secaucus
216:Secaucus
198:slowcore
182:Secaucus
178:The Fixx
91:No Karma
1190:. 1995.
482:, 1997)
457:Singles
432:, 1994)
388:Sub Pop
172:History
132:Website
78:Sub Pop
651:May 3,
644:Esopus
589:Uproxx
425:Silver
418:Albums
370:Uproxx
246:Silver
210:Silver
190:7-inch
160:London
89:Ten 23
74:Labels
50:Genres
40:Origin
773:Omaha
238:Creed
1170:2021
1144:2021
1118:2021
911:2011
814:2011
784:2011
748:2011
720:2011
653:2014
248:and
240:and
493:EPs
202:Low
158:in
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