Alternative rock
Experimental rock
USA
Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack.
Morphine combined blues and jazz elements with more traditional rock arrangements, giving the band a very unusual sound. Sandman's distinctive singing was described as a "deep, laid-back croon" and his songwriting featured a prominent beat influence. When asked by reporters to describe their music, the band created the label "low rock". One critical appraisal suggests that "Morphine immediately established a minimalist, low-end sound that could have easily become a gimmick: a 'power trio' not built around the sound of an electric guitar. Instead, with sly intelligence, Morphine expanded its offbeat vocabulary on each album."
Although Morphine was critically lauded throughout their career, it is difficult to measure their success commercially. In the United States the band was embraced and promoted by the indie rock community, including public and college radio stations and MTV's 120 Minutes (which the band once guest-hosted), but received little support from commercial rock radio and other music television programs. This limited their mainstream exposure and success in their home country, while internationally they enjoyed mainstream success and support, especially inBelgium, Portugal, France and Australia.
ALBUMS:
1992 - GOOD
Members:
Mark Sandman - 2-string slide bass, vocals, organ, guitar, tritar
Dana Colley - baritone sax, tenor sax, double sax, triangle
Jerome Dupree - percussion
Billy Conway - percussion (tracks 5 & 6)
Dana Colley - baritone sax, tenor sax, double sax, triangle
Jerome Dupree - percussion
Billy Conway - percussion (tracks 5 & 6)
"Good" - 2:36
"The Saddest Song" - 2:50
"Claire" - 3:07
"Have A Lucky Day" - 3:24
"You Speak My Language" - 3:25
"You Look Like Rain" - 3:42
"Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave" - 3:21
"Lisa" (Dana Colley) - 0:43
"The Only One" - 2:42
"Test-Tube Baby/Shoot'm Down" - 3:11
"The Other Side" (Sandman, Colley) - 3:50
"I Know You (Part I)" - 2:17
"I Know You (Part II)" - 2:45
Look!!
1995 - YES
"Honey White" – 3:06
"Scratch" – 3:13
"Radar" – 3:28
"Whisper" – 3:28
"Yes" – 2:00
"All Your Way" – 3:04
"Super Sex" – 3:53
"I Had My Chance" – 3:05
"The Jury" (Sandman, Swart) – 2:07
"Sharks" – 2:22
"Free Love" – 4:14
"Gone for Good" – 2:52
Look!!
1997 - Like Swimming
"Lilah" – 0:59
"Potion" – 2:00
"I Know You (Pt. III)" – 3:31
"Early To Bed" – 2:57
"Wishing Well" – 3:32
"Like Swimming" – 4:00
"Murder For The Money" – 3:34
"French Fries with Pepper" – 2:53
"Empty Box" – 3:54
"Eleven O'Clock" – 3:19
"Hanging On A Curtain" – 3:48
"Swing It Low" – 3:16
"Have a Lucky Day"
"All Wrong"
"I Know You-Part Two"
"Bo's Veranda"
"Mile High"
"Shame"
"Down Love's Tributaries"
"Kerouac"
"Pulled Over the Car"
"Sundayafternoonweightlessness"
"Mail"
"My Brain"
"Virgin Bride"
Look!!
