Wonderlick Explained

Wonderlick should not be confused with Wonderlic test.

Wonderlick
Origin:Los Angeles
Genre:Indie rock, folk rock, pop rock
Years Active:–present
Label:Future Farmer Records, Rock Ridge Music
Associated Acts:Too Much Joy
Current Members:Tim Quirk and Jay Blumenfield
Past Members:Penn Jillette (bass)[1]
Wendy Allen
of The Court & Spark (vocals),[2]
Steve Michener
of Big Dipper (bass)

Wonderlick is a Los Angeles–based indie rock band established in 2001 by former Too Much Joy members Tim Quirk and Jay Blumenfield.[3]

History

Quirk and Blumenfield originally formed the band in December 2000 to record free music for a website, entitled "Susquehanna Hat Company", which they had set up to sell Too Much Joy merchandise.[4] Quirk and Blumenfield recorded Wonderlick's music using Pro Tools in Oakland, California.[5]

Wonderlick (2002) recording and release

After releasing the song "I Disappear" for free on their website and noticing the overwhelmingly positive response it garnered from their fans, including the more than $12,000 they eventually made from songs posted on that website,[6] Quirk and Blumenfield decided to record 12 more songs, release each one monthly via their website, and call the project "Wonderlick."[7] The recording of these songs was funded by a presale the band set up on the Susquehanna Hat Company website, which allowed fans to choose whatever price they wanted to pay for the album, and promised that fans who paid more than the average would have their names printed in the album's liner notes. The presale was a complete success, with fans paying $32 for the album on average.[8] They released these songs first only through their website, but later re-released them as their eponymous debut album in 2002 on Future Farmer Records at the label's behest.[7]

Topless at the Arco Arena

They released a sophomore album, "Topless at the Arco Arena", in 2009 on Rock Ridge Music.[9] This album's title was based on an essay Quirk wrote in 2004 comparing an AC/DC concert in 2001 at the Arco Arena, where a woman went topless, to the dot-com boom and eventual bust.[10]

In 2013, the band released a song entitled "Sixteenyearoldgirl," their first release in several years, which received a favorable review from PopMatters.[11]

Media appearances

Their music has been featured in MTV's Sex in the '90's series and in the HBO documentary Small Town Ecstasy.[12]

Discography

Notes and References

  1. News: Penn Jillette . . 31 January 2001 . 8 May 2014.
  2. Web site: Wonderlick . . 17 April 2002 . 10 May 2014 . Shea, Eric.
  3. Web site: Too Much Joy . . 8 May 2014.
  4. Web site: Wonderlick Biography . . 8 May 2014 . Torreano, Bradley.
  5. Web site: Musicians are getting into the mix . . 4 November 2004 . 9 May 2014 . Chmielewski, Dawn.
  6. Web site: Joy to the New World . . 27 March 2002 . 9 May 2014 . Strickman, Andrew.
  7. Web site: Wonderlick . . 7 August 2002 . 8 May 2014 . Schabe, Patrick.
  8. Web site: In Music, the Money Is Made Around the Edges . . 27 January 2014 . 10 May 2014 . Karp, Hannah.
  9. Web site: Topless at the Arco Arena Releases . . 8 May 2014.
  10. Web site: Wonderlick Topless at the Arco Arena . . 25 November 2009 . 9 May 2014 . Popke, Michael.
  11. Web site: Wonderlick - "Sixteenyearoldgirl (Rough Mix)" (MP3) . PopMatters . 25 April 2013 . 8 May 2014 . Hiltunen, Lauri.
  12. Web site: Free MP3s pushed electro-pop rock duo Wonderlick from behind the scenes . . 5 May 2002 . 8 May 2014 . Chonin, Neva.

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