2:30 Publicity

Hater the 2nd


HATER"The 2nd" care of Seattle's Burn Burn Burn Records is the long awaited follow-up to the classic underground Sound Garden Side project, HATER which debuted in 1994 on A&M. The 2nd exemplifies a barrage of dark, psychedelic rock songs that expands on the sounds of the debut using studio experimentation reminiscent of Arthur Lee, The Pretty Things and Eno.

A decade in wait, HATER The 2nd was, for the most part, recorded as a series of demos in 1995 at Avast! Recording Company in Seattle, WA with Producer Stuart Hellerman. The musical foundation includes, Ben Shepherd (Sound Garden, Brotherhood of The Electric, Wellwater Conspiracy) on vocals, guitar, piano, Matt Cameron (Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, Well Water Conspiracy) on drums, moog, backing vox, and Alan Davis (Mark Lanegan Band) on bass and backing vocals. John Mcbain (Monster Magnet, Well Water Conspiracy) and Brian Wood (Devil Head), original members of Hater, make guest appearances on the record. Bill Rieflin (Ministry, The Black Outs, REM) and Greg Keplinger (Red Dress and Matt Cameron's drum tech) also appear on The 2nd adding odd noises and a vocal debut on the almost instrumental Zombie Hand .

HATER The 2nd restores the seminal player's slots in sonic history and marks the return of Ben Shepherd's inimitable songs to record and stage. Ben Shepherd has been adding to the catalogue of his musical expertise ever since Sound Garden disbanded in 1996, both live and in the studio. Recording, writing and performing with his own projects as well as collaborating with consonant heavyweights and compatriots like Mark Lanegan (Ill Take Care of You, Field Songs, Sub Pop.)

Ben Shepherd tells the story of Hater The 2nd in his own words;

"It was pre-preproduction for Sound Garden so it seemed wise to use our time at Avast! Some of them culled from 4 track tapes, some, somewhat figured out in the studio. It wasn't until we took home a listen back cassette that said 'Hater Session II' on it that we knew that that's what we were doing. Basically that's how slack this record was recorded, with no intention, with no 'this is how it is' or 'we're like this.' None of that. Hater was meant to be a never ending recording project. Absent of goals, just working on songs as they come. With whoever, however, whenever, and hoping that someone will dig it someday. We already had our own 'bands' and 'jobs' to do so we didn't want to ruin the weird thing that Hater was.

I always felt drag as about this stuff because it seemed mired in trouble. I'm not lazy, I'm actually shy, and I never thought I'd mixed it well enough, had the lyrics close to being done enough, and various other insecurities. After a while and no one seems to notice and somehow time comes in and puts its hands over the mouths of the discontent to awaken curiosity and bitch-slap shame. In this, shall we say, blanching time of our lives- and don't fuckin' lie- maybe its time to learn how to turn up your music again. Get off someone else's back and get into your own face for a change. Maybe 'The 2nd' will help something out there. It didn't help anyone or anything just sitting there. I've had this morbid vision of a dead but aging child tugging at my jacket, trying to interrupt, trying to be heard, for too long now. Its like - don't look up! - That stork with the new deliveries will rot right before your eyes and land on you as an albatross.

As luck would have it I have two friends (Drew Church and Kwab Copland) who have their own label. With their help and insight they are making the phoenix that was Hater Burn Burn Burn. Their work was done but now it's just begun. I'd like to thank everyone who used to go to our shows, bought our 1st record and had it stolen (I've heard of that a lot), the people who stole the record for someone else, the people who didn't send death threats, hitchhikers, people who hang up the phone when you answer and our honeys."


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