Labels

Mahogany


Formed: 1995
Location: Michigan, USA
Genre: Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
Years Active: 1997 -
Meaning of the Name: Named after a tree described as 'proud & beautiful' by band leader Andrew Prinz
Core Members: Andrew Prinz, Jaclyn Slimm
Way of Working: Led by Andrew Prinz

Essential Releases

Mahogany - The Dream of a Modern Day

The Dream of a
Modern Day (2000)

Debut album. Hypnotic dream pop with a strong shoegaze influence.

Mahogany - Connectivity!

Connectivity! (2006)

More experimental and abstract. Frozen dream pop.


Mahogany present themselves as not merely a band but a multimedia performance collective who happen to create albums. Their music is atmospheric, meditative dream pop that dares to update the genre and had Robin Guthrie, of the Cocteau Twins, on production duties. He contributed several songs to their second full-length, Connectivity!, and as one of the founding fathers of the genre, his seal of approval carried significant weight; but it was band leader Andrew Prinz who was responsible for the lion's share.

Inspired by his love of classical music, Prinz grew the band to resemble a small orchestra. At one point, they ballooned to eight full-time members, and more when performing live. However, instead of descending into a disorganised rabble, their highly structured work was played with extreme precision. While some bands operate in a free-flowing jam, Mahogany are composed — every bit in its right place.

For example, their song 'Renovo' is a meticulously crafted glacial soundscape. Without percussion or bass to provide a rhythm section, its tempo comes from brass accompanied by desolate, bowed strings. Its undulating horns and high-pitched vocals are what it must sound like inside a snow globe. The townspeople below, their breath visible in the frigid air, lift their heads to greet a voice echoing down from the wintry mountains. This refreshing approach reimagines dream pop as frost, as crisp morning air instead of the traditional warm haze.

By daring to do something different, Mahogany perhaps failed to connect with the core dream pop audience but valiantly moved the genre forward in a way that hadn't been done for decades, laying the path for bands such as Beach House to take the sound into the mainstream.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
65

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
70

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
80

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
35

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
70

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
90

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
85

Singing

i Technical attributes.
70

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
55

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
40

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
75

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
70

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
65

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
40


Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications

Charts

Critics


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