Cordalene Stumble and Fall It's your typical rock and roll story. Band forms. Plays gigs. Records album. Puts out album. Breaks up. Blah blah blah. The story thru Stumble and Fall for Cordalene: In early 2000 four musicians were brought together via a mutual love of the mythical perfect pop song and a million shared records: Replacements, Velvets, Big Star, Pavement, Wilco, etc. With three singer/songwriters (guitarist/vocalists Jamie Olson and James Clark, and bassist Jim McGuinn, plus drummer Robert Emmons), a set was quickly developed and the band commenced gigging. In short order they'd open for the likes of Beachwood Sparks, Pernice Brothers, Marah, Chamber Strings, Stroke 9, and others. The band began recording in earnest early in 2001, first at Philadelphia's Indre Studios, later at McGuinn's house. It was the prospect of a gig with heroes Teenage Fanclub that got Cordalene inspired to finish off the record and get it pressed. From there the story heads downhill. TFC failed to get into America in time for their own tour, so Cordalene embarked on a series of record release shows, only to have half the band quit just two gigs in. This left McGuinn and Olson with an album and no way to promote it. Stumble and Fall lived up to its title. Then a few months later, a chance mailing of one promo to record dealer in England led to an immediate order for 25 copies to be sent to the UK, and several more to other overseas retailers. Even if the lineup that made the album is no more, people who have heard Stumble and Fall liked it enough for Cordalene to believe it should be heard and judged on its merit. At least until the new lineup gets it's records out... Oh yeah, the band is back and stronger than ever. Lead singer / guitarist Mike Kiley joined in January 2002, followed by drummer Joe Boyle. While the name and basic idea is the same (great songs, played well), the vibe and sound have changed. Dropping much of the alt-country stylings, the new Cordalene is a rock and roll band. With 10 gigs in 3 months and a fresh batch of demos completed, Cordalene has come roaring back to life - opening for such diverse artists as My Morning Jacket, Ultimate Fakebook, Duvall, Schatzi, Spin Doctors, Marah, Sloan, the Clarks, and others. The new is gearing up for more live dates while preparing material for their first album. www.cordalene.com Press reviews: "The band's seven-song debut CD Stumble and Fall (Manic Pop Thrill) conects the dots quite nicely between the haze and jangle of late-'60s / early-'70s California rock and the stormy twang of alt-country's more raucous side. And it's certainly no small irony that half of the album's six originals were penned by either a "McGuinn" (Jim, who plays bass, lapsteel, keyboards, and sings) or a "Clark" (singer-guitarist-harpist James Clark, whose husky wheeze brings to mind Son Volt's Jay Farrar)." --- Patrick Berkery Philadelphia Weekly September 26, 2001 "It's a rocking week, too, for local CDs. Like Cordalene, who put out Stumble and Fall, their long-awaited mini-CD of Byrdsian C&W.folk/pop with lush harmonies, brushed drumming and bruised Velvets covers." --- A.D. Amorosi Philadelphia City Paper September 27, 2001 "Indie-rock, powerpop, alt-country, call it what you want - but know a great song when you hear one. Cordalene formed under the influence of classic pop bands like Big Star, Matthew Sweet, and Teenage Fanclub." ---The Cornerstone Player 026 / the Fader.com November 2001