Cass McCombs

Cass McCombs
Cass McCombs
	McCombs performing in 2017
Background information
Born	November 13, 1977 (age 46); Concord, California, U.S.
Genres	Indie folk; indie rock; art pop; alt-country;
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals; guitar; keyboards;
Years active	1990s–present
Labels	Monitor; 4AD; Domino; Anti-;
Member of	The Skiffle Players
Website	cassmccombs.com

Cass McCombs (born November 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter.^[5]

Career

McCombs has played in numerous bands in the Bay Area during the 1990s before relocating to New York City. He released his debut EP Not the Way E.P. (2002), debut album A (2003), and follow-up PREfection (2005) via Monitor Records and 4AD.^[6] In 2007, McCombs signed to Domino Records and released Dropping the Writ (2007). Domino Records released his following four records including Catacombs (2009), which was voted one of the "50 Top Albums on the Year" by Pitchfork.^[7] It was followed by Wit's End (2011),^[8] Humor Risk (2011),^[9] and Big Wheel and Others (2013).^[10] He toured with John Cale in 2012.

His single "Bradley Manning" premiered on the Democracy Now News Hour in 2012.^[10] His songs have been featured in films including the surf film The Present (2009),^[11] and Ralph Arlyck documentary Following Sean,^[12] as well as notable skate videos featuring Jason Dill,^[13] Jerry Hsu,^[14] Chima Ferguson and Dylan Rieder.^[15]

In 2014, he did a co-headlining tour with the Meat Puppets.^[16] In June 2016, McCombs performed at the Primavera Sound and Field Day music festivals.^[17]

McCombs ANTI- Records debut, Mangy Love was released on August 26, 2016,^[18] which NME referred to as "McCombs' richest ever recording."^[19] On February 8, 2019 he released Tip of the Sphere on ANTI- Records.^[20] In 2020, Spurl Editions published McCombs' debut poetry collection Toy Fabels.^[21] His tenth studio album, Heartmind, was released on ANTI- Records on August 19, 2022.^[22]

In 2023, McCombs and San Francisco school teacher, Mr Greg, released the album Mr Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children on Smithsonian Folkways.^[23]

Discography

Studio albums

A (2003)
PREfection (2005)
Dropping the Writ (2007)
Catacombs (2009)
Wit's End (2011)
Humor Risk (2011)
Big Wheel and Others (2013)
Mangy Love (2016)
Tip of the Sphere (2019)
Heartmind (2022)
Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children (With Mr Greg) (2023)
Seed Cake On Leap Year (2024)

EPs

Not the Way E.P. (2002)

Compilations

A Folk Set Apart (2015)

References

^ Richards, Chris (April 22, 2011). "Pop CD review: 'Wit's End,' by Cass McCombs". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^ Hermes, Will (February 8, 2019). "Review: Cass McCombs' Trippy, Guitar-Charged 'Tip of The Sphere'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^ Dye, David (December 19, 2007). "Cass McCombs: Enigmatic and Complicated". NPR. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^ Meighan, Nicola (March 30, 2022). "Profile: Cass McCombs". The List. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^ Sendra, Tim. Cass McCombs at AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^ RCRD LBL Archived March 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Pitchfork Staff (December 17, 2009). Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2009 Archived July 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork.
^ Domino USA (January 27, 2011). Cass McCombs Returns With a New Album. Press Release.
^ Domino USA (August 17, 2011). Humor Risk. Press Release.
^ ^a ^b "CASS MCCOMBS & THE MEAT PUPPETS – Wednesday, November 5 – Vinyl". Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
^ JettyGirl Surf Movie Review – The Present, a film by Thomas Campbell. Retrieved 1-28-11.
^ Following Sean – Production Credits. PBS. Retrieved 1-28-11.
^ Dill, Jason (December 27, 2008). Jason Dill DVS Skate More. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
^ Hsu, Jerry (March 29, 2007). "Sacred Heart" by Cass McCombs. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
^ Rieder, Dylan (August 24, 2010). dylan. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
^ "Cass McCombs Announces Tour with Meat Puppets". Pitchfork. August 14, 2014.
^ "Cass McCombs". Primavera Sound Festival. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
^ "Cass McCombs announces new album, Mangy Love, shares "Opposite House" — listen". Consequence of Sound. May 24, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
^ "Cass McCombs – 'Mangy Love' Album Review". NME. August 18, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
^ "Cass McCombs: Tip of the Sphere". Pitchfork. February 9, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
^ "Toy Fabels by Cass McCombs". Spurl Editions. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ Strauss, Matthew (June 8, 2022). "Cass McCombs Announces New Album Heartmind, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
^ https://pitchfork.com/news/cass-mccombs-announces-childrens-music-album-with-mr-greg-shares-new-song-listen/ ^{[bare URL]}

External links

CassMcCombs.com
Mystery Man – Interview w/ Vice Magazine
Review of Tip of the Sphere by Pitchfork
Review of PREfection by Pitchfork
Transcript of interview on National Public Radio's World Cafe show
Portland Mercury article by Zac Pennington

[1] Richards, Chris (April 22, 2011). "Pop CD review: 'Wit's End,' by Cass McCombs". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

[2] Hermes, Will (February 8, 2019). "Review: Cass McCombs' Trippy, Guitar-Charged 'Tip of The Sphere'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

[3] Dye, David (December 19, 2007). "Cass McCombs: Enigmatic and Complicated". NPR. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

[4] Meighan, Nicola (March 30, 2022). "Profile: Cass McCombs". The List. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

[5] Sendra, Tim. Cass McCombs at AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

[rcrda-6] RCRD LBL Archived March 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

[pitchforkstaff-7] Pitchfork Staff (December 17, 2009). Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2009 Archived July 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork.

[dominwithsend-8] Domino USA (January 27, 2011). Cass McCombs Returns With a New Album. Press Release.

[dominotwo-9] Domino USA (August 17, 2011). Humor Risk. Press Release.

[centera-10] "CASS MCCOMBS & THE MEAT PUPPETS – Wednesday, November 5 – Vinyl". Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2014.

[jettygirl-11] JettyGirl Surf Movie Review – The Present, a film by Thomas Campbell. Retrieved 1-28-11.

[pbsfo-12] Following Sean – Production Credits. PBS. Retrieved 1-28-11.

[dilljason-13] Dill, Jason (December 27, 2008). Jason Dill DVS Skate More. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

[hsu-14] Hsu, Jerry (March 29, 2007). "Sacred Heart" by Cass McCombs. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

[duland-15] Rieder, Dylan (August 24, 2010). dylan. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

[16] "Cass McCombs Announces Tour with Meat Puppets". Pitchfork. August 14, 2014.

[17] "Cass McCombs". Primavera Sound Festival. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.

[18] "Cass McCombs announces new album, Mangy Love, shares "Opposite House" — listen". Consequence of Sound. May 24, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.

[19] "Cass McCombs – 'Mangy Love' Album Review". NME. August 18, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

[20] "Cass McCombs: Tip of the Sphere". Pitchfork. February 9, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

[21] "Toy Fabels by Cass McCombs". Spurl Editions. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[22] Strauss, Matthew (June 8, 2022). "Cass McCombs Announces New Album Heartmind, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2022.

[23] ttps://pitchfork.com/news/cass-mccombs-announces-childrens-music-album-with-mr-greg-shares-new-song-listen/ ^{[bare URL]}

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