Jeromes Dream

Jeromes Dream
Origin Connecticut, United States
Genres Screamo, emoviolence, noise rock, math rock
Years active 1997–2001
Labels Witching Hour, Old Glory Records, Clean Plate Records, Alone Records
Associated acts The Wind-Up Bird, The Virgins
Website http://www.cleanplate.com/jeromesdream
Past members Jeff Smith
Eric Ratensperger
Nick Antonopulous

Jeromes Dream were a screamo band from Connecticut, who were active from 1997 to 2001.

History

Jeromes Dream began on September 13, 1997[1] after a short jam session between bassist Jeff Smith, guitarist Nick Antonopulous, and drummer Erik Ratensperger that was held in the basement of Antonopulus' mother's house. According to Erik Ratensperger, their first recorded material was intended to be used for a demo release, however it caught the attention of Rice Control Records, resulting in the intended demo material being released as a split album with Amalgamation.[2]

Most of the band's music was released as splits with other artists, including other notable screamo acts such as Usurp Synapse. Their most well known split release would be their split with Orchid, a 10" record shaped of a skull, which is sought after by both collecters and fans alike, and is considered as definitive text for the genre. They toured the United States frequently, and their first proper full-length album, titled Seeing Means More Than Safety, was released in January 2000.

Their second full-length, Presents, was released on July 9, 2001, which featured a significant change in sound for the band. They would eventually break up in August that same year. Jeff Smith would later begin a career in experimental drone music by creating the band The Wind-Up Bird with Joseph Grimm.[3] Erik Ratensperger eventually became the drummer for The Virgins, a dance punk band from New York.[4]

Along with artists such as Orchid and Pg. 99, they are considered as one of the most influential bands of the late 1990s screamo movement. Their music has influenced many bands, such as Brighter Arrows.[5]

In mid-2016 a person representing the band (believed to be Ratensperger) posted a previously unreleased video on the new official Jeromes Dream youtube page.[6]

Style and live performances

The band had a unique style that set them out from other bands of their type from the time. Vocalist and bassist Jeff Smith would scream from the top of his lungs during live performances without the use of a microphone. During live shows, both Smith and Antonopulous would perform with their backs facing the audience. They always performed on the floor, and would refuse to play on stage.

Their music has been categorized as screamo,[7] emoviolence, grindcore, spazz rock,[8] noise rock, and math rock[9] in the past. When asked about what genre they sounded like, Ratensperger described them as "just a hardcore band". Their first full length, Seeing Means More Than Safety, was very violent and destructive musically, and included many noise interludes composed of guitar feedback and radio samples. Their second full length, Presents, however, was much more angular musically. The vocal style also changed dramatically, having "a more traditional hardcore-shout kind of approach", as described in a review.[10] Rumors involving vocal chord damage from relentless screaming begun to circulate, however the band has denied them in the past.

Band members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Details Notes
2000 Seeing Means More Than Safety
  • Released: May 2000
  • Label: Old Glory Records
    Clean Plate Records
  • Format: 10"
 First pressing consisted of 1000 black colored copies. Second press consisted of 600 black copies and 400 white copies. First press was released through Old Glory, second press was released through Clean Plate
2001 Presents
  • Released: June 9, 2001
  • Label: Alone Records
  • Format: CD
 Final studio recording

Split releases

Year Album Details Notes
1998 Amalgamation/Jeromes Dream
  • Released: December 1998
  • Label: Rice Control Records
  • Format: 7"
 About three pressings made. The first press consisted of 200 black copies and 100 pink, and its cover was blue/white cardboard. The second press consisted of 300 blue copies, and was packaged in a manilla envelope. A third pressing was made, 100 black copies that came in a blank white cover with a letter written by the two band glued to it. Split with Amalgamation.
1999 Jeromes Dream/July
  • Released: Spring 1999
  • Label: Hit The Ground Running
  • Format: 7"
 Consisted of 500 black copies, 250 with green colored covers, 250 with brown colored covers. Split with July.
1999 Jerome's Dream/The Book Of Dead Names
  • Released: September 1999
  • Label: Witching Hour Records
  • Format: 5"
 853 copies made, 750 black, 112 red. Jeromes Dream is mistakenly credited as Jerome's Dream, even though there is not supposed to be an apostrophe in Jeromes. Split with The Book Of Dead Names.
2000 Jeromes Dream/Orchid
  • Released: May 2000
  • Label: Witching Hour Records
  • Format: 10"
 Single sided 10" record that's shaped as a skull. The back side of the record had two grooves, one that contained Jeromes Dream's tracks, and one that contained Orchid's tracks. 1000 copies were pressed with black ink, 1000 copies were pressed with glow-in-the-dark ink, and 197 were pressed with red ink. According to the insert, the red pressing was an accident. Split with Orchid
2000 An Aspirin, An X-Ray 1300 white copies, 200 black. Some came with tour pins. Split with Usurp Synapse.
2000 Jeromes Dream/The One AM Radio
  • Released: December 2000
  • Label: Garbage Czar
  • Format: 7"
 2000 black copies pressed. Split with The One AM Radio

Compilation albums

Year Album Details Notes
2005 Completed: 1997 - 2001
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Alone Records
  • Format: 2xCD
 Discography compilation that includes every single song Jeromes Dream recorded throughout their lifespan, included live recordings and previously unreleased material

Compilation appearances

Year Album Details Song
2000 Antipodes "How Staggering Is This Realization?"
2001 Ghost in the Gears "Everyday at 3:06"

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070614035247/http://www.alonerecords.com/bands/
  2. ↑ "Interview with Erik Ratensperger". forallmasters.com. For All Masters. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Burnns, Todd. "Stylus Interview with The Wind-Up Bird". Stylus.com. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2004.
  4. ↑ Durbin, Johnathan. "Interview with The Virgins". interviewmagazine.com. Interview Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  5. ↑ Obenschan, Phillip. "Four Unsigned Bands You Should Hear This Month". Altpress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "JEROMES DREAM". Youtube. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Rogowski, Jordan. "Jeromes Dream - Presents Review [Punk News]". punknews.org. Punk News. Retrieved January 7, 2005.
  8. ↑ Dillion, Jared. "Jeromes Dream - Completed Review". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Jeromes Dream - Completed Review". aversionline.com. Aversionline. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  10. ↑ Nixion, Brandon. "Jeromes Dream - Presents Review [Sputnikmusic]". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 4, 2014.

External links

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