Guster
Biography
Guster became one of the most successful bands to hit the East Coast scene in the late '90s. Through relentless touring and humorous stage banter with the crowd, the band developed a strong, grassroots fan base that spread rapidly with a strong presence on the Internet. The Boston trio developed a unique sound with two acoustic guitars and a bongo set, successfully defying the typical industry pigeonholing. They wrote short, infectiously catchy tunes about love, suicide, and absurdist rock star lifestyles. Through word of mouth alone, the band sold over 40,000 copies of independent debut Parachute and their second effort, Goldfly.
Ryan Miller (guitar, vocals), Adam Gardner (guitar, vocals), and Brian Rosenworcel (percussion) met in 1992 at Tufts University, and played around the Boston area during college. Originally named Gus, the band adopted the appended Guster moniker after discovering several other national touring acts playing under the same name. In 1994 they recruited producer Mike Denneen for their debut album, Parachute, which The Boston Globe named Best Local Debut Album in 1995. Guster also appeared on Aware Compilation, Vol. 3 the same year. Within a couple of years from their inception, Guster became one of the most popular bands in the area. Named the Best Live Act at the Boston Music Awards in 1997, Guster was hailed as one of the greatest independent successes of the 1990s, achieving a reputation as one of the most reputable unpromoted bands of the decade.
After releasing a second album, Goldfly, in March 1997, Guster continued a relentless touring schedule and sold out small clubs across the country. In 1998, Guster signed the first contract under an agreement between Sire Records Group and Hybrid Recordings. The group re-released Goldfly in April 1998 under the major-label contract and returned the following year with Lost and Gone Forever, which positioned the band for greater exposure, especially on the college level. Producer Roger Moutenot (Joseph Arthur, Sleater-Kinney, Yo La Tengo) assisted Guster in the studio for their fourth album; however, Sire folded and Guster shopped for another label before signing with Reprise's Palm Pictures in early 2003. Keep It Together appeared in June. The band spent the next year touring America several times over. Their CD/DVD set Guster on Ice: Live from Portland, Maine appeared May 2004. Two years later, Guster issued their fifth album, Ganging Up on the Sun. The sunny 12-song set also marked the proper debut of multi-instrumentalist Joe Pisapia as a permanent member of the group. ~ Arabella Clauson & MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
another band I would never would have known of- thanks to Pandora--the y ' v e got a good sound
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I own all of Guster's albums and have seen them in concert 5 times. They are far and away my favorite artist - not only because they put on a fantastic live show you can really sink your teeth into, but because their songwriting is exquisite and continually evolving and improving. Contrary to fans who are upset that they've gradually abandoned the raw sound of their early work, I applaud them for continuing to experiment with the studio while maintaining their signature sound onstage.
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Oh yeah, Parachute. That's the name of it. I knew that, when I think of the cover I just think Happy Frappy haha. Anyway yeah, I don't much like that album but I like everything I've heard aside from it.
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I'm so excited to see you guys in Denver at the Mile High Music Festival in July!!! I just got my tickets today!!
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XxFiDdLeSxX: Happy Frappy is a song name, not an album. Happy Frappy is a song on the album Parachute, their debut. I think that album is underrated (at least, I recently realized I like it more than I use to).
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Lol, except Guster has been around just as long as coldplay and Jack Johnson, you could say that coldplay and Jack Johnson sound like Guster
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I've liked every single song I've heard by them except for every single song on the only full CD of theirs I've heard, Happy Frappy. What's with that?
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So-so. Sounds like a mix between Coldplay & Jack Johnson.
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I like these guys. I heard them about 5 years ago when my daughter put "Careful" on a mix CD for me. What a great song, very appropo to the times back then. It is great having kids in college. That's the only way I stayed hip to new music before Pandora.
I was kind of shocked to see that they are from the east coast, they sound very southwestern . |
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Yay for Guster! Probably the greatest band ever! (Next to Train, Keane, and Matchbox 20 of course!)
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AWESOMENESSA W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O
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AWESOMENESSA W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O M E N E S S A W E S O
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Guster is my by far my favorite band ever! I started by listening to their newer stuff and then they slowly grew on me and I started listening to their older stuff! Nowadays I try to find every Guster song ever made. And the worst part is trying to decide what I like the most! Their instrumenati o n has more depth and added layers with each new album they produce. Their lyrics are heart warming- they bring out the joy in a person when you sing out loud (in the car). I now have to restrict myself f
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If you like these guys, you'll like Dispatch (probably more). They are defunct now, but have some timeless music - Seems as though Guster is heavily influenced by Dispatch, but that is just an arm chair music critic's opinion. Honestly, Dispatch is better (comparitive l y speaking of course) certainly hear a lot of similarities (mostly in Guster's older music). To give Guster credit, their newer tunes seem to show that they're developing their own sound.
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Why is it that every band on Pandora is the most influentual/ s u c c e s s f u l band to come out of......????
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Really don't get the "wanna be brits" comment. The British scene is presently filled with bands still wanting to be The Strokes and that sound is certainly not what Guster is about.
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It's supposed to be Güster.
Little known fact, Miller loves ümläts. |
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I wish they'd add 'Parachute' to the list of albums played on here. I love so many of the songs on that disc.
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I have loved Guster since Goldfly came out. I was so excited to find an old Gus sticker in my college's student lounge from a show they played there back in the day.
Once saw Matt Nathanson open for them and I was instantly hooked. I would highly recommend him as well. |
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Guster is a new love for me. I saw Yukon Cornelius in Killington and started listening to Guster after that. Two other greats are John Butler Trio and Jack Johnson... both wonderful live
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Guster is by far one of my top three favorite bands ever. BNL, Ben Folds and Guster. The holy trinity of my mp3 player.
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Probably my favorite band hands down. They have great instrumental use (particularl y with their love of bongos and banjos), are incredibly nice guys, and have really good lyrics. In concert they are fantastic and on-key. The only thing thats slightly upsetting from their latest album, Ganging Up On The Sun, is that Ryan sings most of the songs. Bring Adam back!
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love to see a local band do this well! they are refreshing and timeless.
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Guster plays amazing music and has an amazing stage presence. Best band I've seen live, though State Radio and Dispatch are up there. Hard to compare those three.
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I saw them live at NCSU; they were pretty kickass. Huge thumbs-up to these guys!
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