***Real Lessons in Cynicism is the second full-length album by Washington, DC’s SOCCER TEAM. It arrives 9 years after the band’s debut, "Volunteered" Civility and Professionalism. Why did it take so long? Moves. Jobs. Skateboarding. Friendly scuffles between those who would favor analog over digital recording styles. Look, don’t worry about it. They have crossed the finish line and that’s what matters. RYAN NELSON (BEAUTY PILL, MINUTES) and MELISSA QUINLEY formed Soccer Team in 2005. They are long-time friends who have both, at various times in the past two decades, been employees of Dischord Records. He played drums and guitar and she played bass. Each contributed vocals. In 2006, Soccer Team released “Volunteered” Civility and Professionalism, which was recorded at Nelson’s home in Southeast DC. Not long afterward, he decided to relocate to Kalamazoo, MI and the band began a multi-year hiatus. Though the project was largely dormant throughout this time, the pair was able to reunite briefly to record a three-song single, which was released on Lovitt Records in 2011. Upon Nelson’s return to the DC-area in 2012, Soccer Team reconvened and expanded to include drummer DENNIS KANE and guitarist/keyboardist JASON HUTTO (AQUARIUM, WARM SUN). The group began recording the following summer and wrapped up late last year. The record includes 14 songs that were tracked live in a basement using a Tascam 388 tape machine and then ported into a computer, where they were further tweaked and embellished. The artwork comes courtesy of Nelson, whose drawings have graced...
LP $17.75
10/27/2015
***SOCCER TEAM is comprised of RYAN NELSON and MELISSA QUINLEY, friends who met years ago when working together at Dischord Records in Washington, DC. Slowly discovering numerous shared tastes in music, art and popular culture, the two would occasionally retreat to Ryan’s house in southeast DC to record sounds on Ryan’s 4-track, and then, a 1/4” 8-track machine that Ryan acquired in 2004. Slowly, a collection of songs that Ryan recorded both on his own and with Melissa was amassed, and Ryan proposed the notion of putting them out as a record. Dischord was kind enough to facilitate the idea, and in 2006, Volunteered Civility & Professionalism was released to rave reviews worldwide. in 2006 Soccer Team retreated into Ryan’s basement once again (now called “The Studio”) and laid to tape the framework for three sizzling tracks that would lie dormant for the ensuing four years. In 2010, in a fit of nostalgia, the two reunited and Soccer Team magic prevailed once again: together, they finally completed the earlier recordings with Melissa’s husband Dennis Kane.
7" $7.75
11/22/2011
***A new release from the duo of RYAN NELSON (ROUTINEERS, MOST SECRET METHOD, BEAUTY PILL) and MELISSA QUINLEY. Fourteen tracks featuring Ryan’s gifted, unfailing profusion of ideas and sounds.
CD $11.00
08/28/2006