 A contradiction by definition, New York's Certain General was the only post-punk/pop
band to emerge from No New York's ashes. With short angular pop songs they
slashed their way across the dance floors for the cool. Over their 25 year career, all of their recordings and releases are the only contradictions to this band's invisible status. From before the first vinyl EP HOLIDAY OF LOVE (1982 Labor Records) to their present CD release INVISIBLE NEW YORK (2006 Easy Action Records), Certain General has continued to write and perform important songs.
Formed in New York's East Village in 1980 the band was immediately hailed by press and music fans as an original and provocative new band, and quickly built a very large word-of-mouth reputation as their following grew and word spread of their incredible live shows and tours. After extensive performing in the U.S. and Canada the band toured England in 1984 with fellow NYC compatriots, The Band of Outsiders. That year also saw the self-release of the FAR AWAY IN AMERICA LP, (also with The Band of Outsiders) and Certain General soon reached an agreement with French label Invitation au Suicide to license new recordings. In 1984 Invitation Au Suicide released the LP NOVEMBER'S HEAT to rave reviews in the press, winning album and band of the year accolades in France. The French public were fascinated by the rhythms and poems of Certain General and the band has been based in both New York and Paris since. From 1985 until 1991, the band released three 5 star albums in France: THESE ARE THE DAYS, CABIN FEVER and JACKLIGHTER (the latter two for the prestigious French Barclay Label). The collaboration of original singer Parker Dulany and guitarist Phil Gammage since the late 90s have resulted in many new Certain General projects. In 1998 CBGB's Records released SIGNALS FROM THE SOURCE a collection of songs written between 1980 and 1982, as a mix of old and new recordings in America; and Stereo Fantastica Records re-released the "notorious bootleg" THESE ARE THE DAYS. In January 2000 NOVEMBER'S HEAT was finally released in the U.S. on Alive!/Bomp Records. The overdue American debut of this recording has given the rest of the world more exposure to this landmark record. "It is time for Certain General to come in from the obscure" writes Twisterella Magazine in Sweden. Other recent CD releases include a 2001's LIVE AT THE PUBLIC THEATRE -- a recording of the spring '01 Public Theatre show (the band's first documented live album) and a double CD documenting the years 1980-1984, called AN INTRODUCTION TO WAR. From the band's first performance opening for DNA in 1980 to now, Certain General's public performances have been events, concerts, and parties. The band is the contradiction. Brutally beautiful. Certain General. |
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'Desperately beautiful' Liberation 1984 'The bridge between Television and Radiohead' Rolk&Folk Magazine 1999 'One of the greatest voices of this young century' Guitar Parts Magazine 2001 'Faulkner's and Jarmusch's America' Telerama 2000 'Excellent new album (Closer to the Sun)' Village Voice 2001 'A revved-up dance engine with juggernaut possibilities' Melody Maker 1985 'The haunted crooner' Time Out Magazine 2001 'Certain General is a great, lost treasure of the New York post-punk scene of the early 80s. If you like Bush Tetras, Gun Club, and The Cramps, you'll be made strangely happy by these wandering legionnaires.' Professor Jef - Debutante Dinner June 2002 'For all the teenage devils of the world' Trouser Press 1983 'The American Brel and matinee Iggy!' Figaro 1998 5 Star Albums (November's Heat) NME 1984, Sounds 1984, Liberation 1984 'The Cult Group' Le Monde 2000 France's Band of the year and Album (November's Heat) of the year 1984 Liberation November's Heat is one of the 100 most important albums made between 1965-1995 Rock and Folk Magazine 'Lose Myself' one of 10 best singles of the year 1988 Liberation 1988, Le Monde 1988 |
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| Read the July '05 Certain General article "The Invisible band of NY" from trakmarx.com (U.K.) Glorious News review April 11, 2002 Liberation Twisterella Magazine April 2001 review of November's Heat |
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"La voix de Parker Dulany...une splendeur..." Rocksound (Janvier 2001) "Le nouvel album d'un groupe culte" Le Nouvel Observateur (Décembre 2000) "Groupe culte qui a su adapter avec brio les climats ombrageux de la cold wave à une forme d'écriture et à des références typiquement américaines" Le Monde / Aden (Décembre 2000) "L'Amérique de Faulkner et Jarmusch" Télérama (Décembre 2000) "Un genre unique de post-country urbaine, littéraire et quasi gothique, soutenue d'une sombre tension digne d'un axe majeur qu'on dresserait du Nick Cave le plus spirituellement illuminé à REM jusqu'à Ian Curtis ." Nova Magazine (Décembre 2000) "Ne les manquez pas" L'Evénement (Décembre 2000) "Un groupe insubmersible" Libération (Décembre 2000). |