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Marijuana Deathsquads

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Marijuana Deathsquads
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsTotally Gross National Product
Members
  • Ryan Olson
  • Isaac Gale
  • Stef Alexander
  • Ben Ivascu
  • Mark McGee
  • Jeremy Nutzman
Websitemarijuanadeathsquads.com

Marijuana Deathsquads is an American music group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group's sound has been described by City Pages as "ear-bending improv/dance grooves that defied listener expectations and spit in the face of easy categorization."[1] NPR described the group as "a thrilling, relentless bombardment of sight and sound."[2]

History

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Formed in 2009,[3] the band consists of Ryan Olson of Gayngs, Isaac Gale, Stef Alexander (a.k.a. P.O.S), Ben Ivascu of Poliça, Mark McGee of To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie, and Jeremy Nutzman (a.k.a. Velvet Negroni).[4] Frequent collaborators include Channy Leaneagh and Drew Christopherson of Poliça, Har Mar Superstar, and Jim Eno.[5]

In 2011, the group released its first studio album, Crazy Master.[6] In 2011, singer Isaac Gale won the City Pages Best Male Vocalist award, his singing described as "a poltergeist creeping out of a snowy, crackling television screen, Gale's tortured, throaty hollering is the stuff of zombie nightmares, simultaneously gut-wrenching and enthralling."[7]

In 2012, the group released the Tamper Disable Destroy mixtape.[8]

In 2013, the group released Music Rocks I & II, two EPs featuring Ryan Olson, Isaac Gale, Jason Power, Ben Ivascu, Channy Leaneagh, Mark McGee, Jeremy Nutzman, Stefon Alexander, and Madden.[9]

In that year, the group released Oh My Sexy Lord, a studio album that Spin called "ferocious" and described as fusing "jagged grooves, scratchy analog effects, and robo-warped vocals into a full-length, experimental freakout."[10] The album features guest appearances from Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon, Poliça frontwoman Channy Leaneagh, and Har Mar Superstar.[11]

In 2016, the group contributed a cover of the song "Truckin'" to Day of the Dead, a Grateful Dead tribute album.

In 2018, the group released Tuff Guy Electronics, which was recorded at Pioneer Works (Brooklyn) and Funkhaus (Berlin).[12]

Style and influences

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Chris Reiemenschneider of Star Tribune stated that "Marijuana Deathsquads has been steadily blowing eardrums, breaking drum heads and tearing at the seams of conventional music-making since its semi-mysterious inception."[13]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Crazy Master (2011)
  • Oh My Sexy Lord (2013)
  • Tuff Guy Electronics (2018)
  • MDS Sports (2024)

Mixtapes

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  • Tamper Disable Destroy (2012)

EPs

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  • Music Rocks I & II (2013)

Singles

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  • "The River" (2013)[14]
  • "The World Beyond" (2019)[15]

References

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  1. ^ Lunney, Tigger (November 2, 2011). "Marijuana Deathsquads (record-release)". City Pages. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011.
  2. ^ "Marijuana Deathsquads, Live in Concert". NPR.org.
  3. ^ Tillery, Grant (February 27, 2014). "Music to make you high - Marijuana Deathsquads makes party music for party people". Minnesota Daily.
  4. ^ Bolton, Aaron (December 9, 2013). "Weekly Release Spotlight - Marijuana Deathsquads". Radio K.
  5. ^ RiemenSchneider, Chris (November 24, 2013). "Marijuana Deathsquads come into the light". Star Tribune.
  6. ^ Gage, Jeff (November 4, 2011). "Marijuana Deathsquads release Crazy Master tonight at Nick and Eddie". City Pages. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "Minneapolis Best Vocalist (Male)". City Pages. 2011. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011.
  8. ^ Coplan, Chris (September 13, 2012). "Download: Marijuana Deathsquads – Tamper. Disable. Destroy. mixtape". Consequence of Sound.
  9. ^ Keller, Josh (May 31, 2013). "Review & Free Download: Marijuana Deathsquads "Music Rocks I & II"". Reviler.
  10. ^ McGovern, Kyle (October 14, 2013). "Stream Marijuana Deathsquads' Ferocious New Album 'Oh My Sexy Lord'". Spin.
  11. ^ Fischer, Reed (October 9, 2013). "Marijuana Deathsquads: Everyone's got that fucking crazy animal in them". City Pages. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013.
  12. ^ "Pioneer Works launching record label w/ Releases by Miho Hatori & Marijuana Deathsquads".
  13. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (December 30, 2010). "The Big Gigs". Star Tribune.
  14. ^ "The River - Single by Marijuana Deathsquads". Apple Music. 29 October 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "The World Beyond". Bandcamp. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
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