11 Transistor

11 Transistor
Studio album by Lazlo Bane
Released	January 28, 1997
Recorded	1995-1996, Cheswick Studio, LA, CA
Genre	Alternative rock, Indie rock
Length	45:12
Label	Almo Sounds
Producer	Chad Fischer
Lazlo Bane chronology
Short Style (1996) 11 Transistor (1997) All the Time in the World (2002)
Singles from 11 Transistor
"Buttercup" Released: 1996 "Overkill" Released: 1998

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

11 Transistor is the debut album by the band Lazlo Bane, which was released on the Almo Sounds label in early 1997.^[2][3] The album was released on CD and cassette and is the only Lazlo Bane album that is currently not available in digital download format.

Overview

The album was recorded through 1995 and 1996. According to Lazlo Bane's frontman Chad Fischer most of the record was done on 16 tracks with very few effects with all the songwriting done on an acoustic guitar into a little dictaphone. He also said that the idea was to work with as little as possible and make it sound the best it could, just like old transistor radios.^[4][5]

11 Transistor features 12 songs, including all the songs from the band's debut release, Short Style EP. Several artists made guest appearances on the album, with the most notable being Colin Hay who provides guitar and vocals for Lazlo Bane's version of Men at Work's "Overkill".^[6]

Release and promotion

Lazlo Bane was initially signed to an indie label Fish of Death Records^[7] and released the song "Buttercup" as a single on vinyl backed with "Overkill".^[8]

After signing with Almo Sounds "Buttercup" was included in 1996 promo album titled Swagalicious,^[9] which was compiled of the tracks from artists signed to Almo Sounds, Geffen Records, DreamWorks Records and Outpost Recordings. The songs "Overkill" and "I'll Do Everything" were released as promo singles in 1996 and 1997 respectively with music video for "Overkill" featuring Colin Hay also being released.^[4][5][10]

The band went on tour in support of the album later in 1997.^[4][5]

"Overkill" was also released as a CD single in some territories in 1998.

Reception

In the review for the Miami New Times, Steven Almond described the album having "great hooks, slinky beats, quirky lyrics" noting, that "the band's playful spirit is best captured on the exuberant opener "I'll Do Everything"". He also called the ballads "dependably entrancing, built around Fischer's mournful melodies and spiced with just enough rhythmic muscle to keep the proceedings from turning maudlin".^[11]

Track listing

• On original 11 Transistor US CD "Midday Train" is followed by 57 silent tracks (tracks 11 to 68), with 4 seconds each, making "Prada Wallet" 69th track overall, which starts after 3:48 of silence.

Personnel

• Lazlo Bane – primary artist
• Jon Simon – guitar and bass on "I'll Do Everything"
• Kevin Hunter – guitar and bass on "Flea Market Girl"
• Princess Fresse – drums on "Buttercup" and "Prada Wallet"
• Lyle Workman – guitar and bass on "Buttercup" and "View From The Pavement"
• Colin Hay – guitar and vocals on "Overkill"
• David Dale – guitar on "Overkill"
• Dave Collins – mastering
• Tony Phillips – mixing
• Chad Fischer – engineer
• Jeff Robinson – assistant engineer

Additional personnel

• Jill Berliner – legal
• Keryn Kaplan – management
• Paul McGuinness – management
• Paul Kremen – artist & repertoire
• Mary Lynne Barbis – art direction, design
• Patrick Raske – art direction, design
• Mary Kocol – photography
• William Howard – photography
• Lauren Lambert – photography
• Molly Amanda Rubin – photography^[12]

References