Smackmelon - Blue Hour (Relativity, 1995)

Boston's Smackmelon was formed by Duke Roth after the dissolution of his previous band Bullet LaVolta, a band which also included guitarist Clay Tarver, who would go on to play with the mighty Chavez (as well as direct the "Got Milk" commercials, and the "Jimmy the Cabdriver" clips for MTV). After recruiting Eric Jarmon (Voodoo Dolls) and Robert Brazier (Orangutang) the band was quickly signed to Cherrydisc records, a Boston-based indie label. Cherrydisc released the band's self-titled debut EP in 1994, which spawned the single "Space Shot" (video included below). When the band's manager was hired as an A&R rep for Clive Davis' Sony/Red imprint label, Relativity Records, the band found themselves with a major label deal. The band's lone full-length, Blue Hour, was released on Relativity the following year in 1995. The album, which was recorded with Tim O'heir (Sebadoh, Buffalo Tom) at the legendary Fort Apache studio in their hometown of Boston, saw the band continuing the Bob Mould-esque approach established on the EP. These days, Duke Roth is serving as the sideman to 80s rocker chick Patty Smyth.