Miracles of Modern Science

Miracles of Modern Science

Miracles of Modern Science performing at The Haven in Charlottesville, VA
Background information
Origin Princeton, NJ, United States
Genres Indie rock, chamber pop
Years active 2005–present
Website miraclesofmodernscience.com
Members Evan Younger
Josh Hirshfeld
Kieran Ledwidge
Geoff McDonald
Serge Terentev
Past members Tyler Pines

Miracles of Modern Science (or MOMS) is an American independent band formed at Princeton University in 2005. The band is composed of Evan Younger (double bass, lead vocals), Josh Hirshfeld (mandolin, vocals), Kieran Ledwidge (violin), Geoff McDonald (cello), and Serge Terentev (drums). Their musical style stems from modern orchestrations for classical string instruments.

History

Origins (2004–2007)

Miracles of Modern Science was formed at Princeton University by Josh Hirshfeld and Evan Younger, after the two met on Facebook in 2004 [1][2] The duo experimented with a wide range of styles, from country to sea shanty, before arriving at their signature sound of indie rock blended with classical string quartet.[1] They were later joined by Ledwidge and McDonald, and finally by drummer Tyler Pines in 2005, completing the band's lineup.[1] Once assembled, the band played mostly at Princeton and in venues close by until they graduated.[1] During this time, the band became known for wearing silver space suits during performances, although they have since discontinued the trend.[1]

EP release (2008–2010)

After graduating from Princeton, MOMS moved to Brooklyn. In 2008, they released a self-titled EP, which they began recording while still in college and completed post-graduation.[2] This album was critically well-received, with The Wheel's Still in Spin calling it the fourth best EP of 2008,[3] Consequence of Sound giving a four and a half star review,[4] and Wired News writing that MOMS play "consummate major-key space-pop that sounds like something new".[5] Spin Magazine named the band one of the "25 Must-Hear Artists from the CMJ Festival" in October 2009.[6]

Album release (2011 – present)

The band began recording their debut LP Dog Year in early 2010.[7] WNYC premiered the lead single "Eating Me Alive" in August 2011,[8] and the band released the album independently on December 6, 2011. Dog Year received critical acclaim upon release, including favorable reviews from Paste,[9] Consequence of Sound,[10] and Beats Per Minute,[11] who also included Dog Year on their list of the top albums of 2011.[12] Wired News included the track "Eating Me Alive" on their "Top 100 Songs of 2011" playlist.[13] A live performance and interview with Audie Cornish on NPR's Weekend Edition the weekend after the album release earned the band national recognition.[14]

In January 2011, Miracles of Modern Science released the parody video "Bon Joviver" (a portmanteau of Bon Jovi and Bon Iver) on YouTube. The video, in which the band performs an excerpt from Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" in the visual and musical style of Bon Iver, received considerable viral attention after being shared by The Huffington Post,[15] Buzzfeed,[16] CollegeHumor,[17] and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon himself,[18] among others.

Miracles of Modern Science released their second EP, MEEMS, in February 2013. The Guardian's music blog said its six songs "highlight talents becoming rarer and rarer to find in modern music".[19] Younger wrote the lyrics to lead single "The Singularity" after becoming interested in Transhumanism and Artificial intelligence.[20] The band gained further notoriety for their eccentric cover versions of popular songs, accompanied by humorous music videos. Their version of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" received over 2 million views on YouTube and broadened the band's international fan base.

In August 2013, drummer Tyler Pines left the band, citing "other commitments and passions."[21] He was soon replaced by Serge Terentev, a recent immigrant from Saint Petersburg, Russia whom the band found on Craigslist.[22] Terentev accompanied MOMS on a tour supporting Norweigian recording artist Bernhoft [23] and a performance at the Elle Style Awards in Istanbul, Turkey in December 2013.[22]

Discography

Albums
EPs
Singles

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Interview with The Daily Princetonian http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2009/11/19/24486/
  2. 1 2 Interview with Groupee http://www.groupee.com/displaycontent/content/127240557044169651
  3. ↑ Wheel's Still in Spin Best EP of 2008 http://www.thewheelsstillinspin.com/2008/12/best-eps-of-2008.html
  4. ↑ Consequence of Sound Album Review http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/11/11/album-review-miracles-of-modern-science/
  5. ↑ Wired Miracles of Modern Science http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/07/band-stuns-list/
  6. ↑ Spin Magazine: "25 Must-Hear Artists from the CMJ Festival" http://www.spin.com/gallery/25-must-hear-artists-cmj-festival?image=22
  7. ↑ Miracles of Modern Science blog archive: "WE ARE GO FOR THE LP" http://www.miraclesofmodernscience.com/2010/03/11/we-are-go-for-the-lp/
  8. ↑ WNYC: "Gig Alert: Miracles of Modern Science" http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/articles/music-hub/2011/aug/25/gig-alert-miracles-modern-science/
  9. ↑ Paste: "Miracles of Modern Science: Dog Year" http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/12/miracles-of-modern-science-dog-year.html
  10. ↑ Consequence of Sound: "Album Review: Miracles of Modern Science – Dog Year" http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/12/album-review-miracles-of-modern-science-dog-year/
  11. ↑ Beats Per Minute: "Miracles of Modern Science – Dog Year" http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/album-review-miracles-of-modern-science-dog-year/
  12. ↑ Beats Per Minute: "The Top Albums of 2011: Honorable Mentions" http://beatsperminute.com/features/the-top-albums-of-2011-honorable-mentions/2/
  13. ↑ Wired: "Wired's Top 100 Songs of 2011 Spotify Playlist" http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/12/100-best-songs-of-2011/
  14. ↑ NPR Music: "Miracles of Modern Science: No Guitars Necessary" http://www.npr.org/2011/12/11/143395128/miracles-of-modern-science-no-guitars-necessary
  15. ↑ The Huffington Post: "Bon Joviver Mashup By Miracles Of Modern Science Is Perfect (VIDEO)" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/bon-joviver-miracles-of-modern-science_n_1228211.html
  16. ↑ Buzzfeed: “Bon Joviver” Is The Bon Jovi/Bon Iver Mashup You've Been Waiting For" http://www.buzzfeed.com/whitneyjefferson/bon-jovier-is-the-bon-jovibon-iver-mashup-you
  17. ↑ CollegeHumor: "Bon Joviver" http://www.collegehumor.com/embed/6698276/bon-joviver
  18. ↑ Twitter / @blobtower https://twitter.com/blobtower/status/161482237056008193
  19. ↑ The Guardian: March's best music from across the MAP" http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/apr/02/music-alliance-pact-march
  20. ↑ Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence: "Album MEEMS and track “The Singularity” by acoustic rock band Miracles of Modern Science" http://www.kurzweilai.net/album-meems-and-track-the-singularity-by-acoustic-rock-band-miracles-of-modern-science
  21. ↑ Miracles of Modern Science: "Sad News" http://www.miraclesofmodernscience.com/2013/08/28/sad-news/
  22. 1 2 Miracles of Modern Science: "What's Going On" http://www.miraclesofmodernscience.com/2014/04/08/whats-going-on/
  23. ↑ Miracles of Modern Science: "Announcing fall tour with Bernhoft" http://www.miraclesofmodernscience.com/2013/09/30/announcing-fall-tour-with-bernhoft/
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