We only became aware of Often The Thinker with the release of this year’s magnificent Better Part Of Vice but 1st December 2017 marks the 10th anniversary since the release of their first album History. To mark the occasion they’ve set their entire catalogue to Pay What You Like on Bandcamp.
We thought this was an ideal time to chat to their main man, Drew Lundberg, to find out the three records that set him on this epic musical journey.
Do Make Say Think – & Yet & Yet
By far the biggest influence on Often the Thinker. I remember hearing tracks from this record and feeling emotions that I hadn’t felt before. The way that they were able to convey such beauty through repetition, patience and overall composition was, and still is, something that I’ll always cherish. It was a moment of blossoming that allowed myself to open an entire new pallet of creations.
Planes Mistaken for Stars – Fuck with Fire
A nonstop, perfected style of aggressive rock that rids all of its anxiety and sheds its skin of any hesitation. I’ve never heard an album where I wanted to head bang so hard and weep so heavily. This is an absolute masterpiece by a group who are some of the sweetest, most heartfelt people I’ve ever come across. Seeing them live still gives me goose bumps and, to this day, Planes have meant more to me than any other band.
At the Drive-In – In/Casino/Out
Have you ever gone to a show and haven’t listened to the opener and then they play and you turn to friends saying ‘what just happened?’ That’s what I experienced when I saw At the Drive-In, in the Fall of ’99, opening up for The Get Up Kids. It was 45 minutes of the most infectious, chaotic performance I’ve seen. Cedric would use any prop he could, including a bullhorn attached to the wall, to push their show even further. It was a reminder that music has no boundaries, and how important openness is when you’re creating art.
