Call it the miracle of evolution if you want. By accident or design, The Frames have always done what they wanted, and for every time one thing went right, three things went wrong.

Formed 1991 in Dublin, Ireland by Glen Hansard, the band managed to make a name for itself throughout Europe in the 90's with their powerful live shows and the release of a handful of records on Island and ZTT. However apathetic these labels were to their success or failures in the states, The Frames managed to tour the US a handful of times over the years, mostly on the East Coast. These tours proved fruitful as the crowds grew even though the band's records were widely unavailable in the U.S. Not surprising, with their latest release, For The Birds, many here will be hearing The Frames for the first time.

The Frames, first record, Another Love Song was released in 1992 on Island Records and brought instant gratification, which came at a price. The labels initial enthusiasm waned as another Irish act (The Cranberries)-signed at the same time as The Frames- began making waves. The Frames became a classic victim of the major label machinery but refused to be dissuaded by the apathy from their label and persevered-becoming one of the most talkedabout live draws in Europe. Then just as easily as they were signed they were let go in the great Island housecleaning ofthe 90s (which could count Tom Waits amongst its casualties). Band and record company parted ways.

Nevertheless, The Frames marched on and were rapidly maturing, writing songs like "Fitzcarrado" and "Revelate", which are still staples in their live shows. They began working on Fitzcarraldo, their second record with Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats, Tricky) and when finished signed with ZTT. Fitzcarraldo was released in 1994, and marked the bands first foray into America with a number of dates along the East Coast. But their tendency for tragic relations again began to manifest itself. In Ireland and throughout Europe the bands' prof~le growing, but ZTT failed to capitalize on The Frames, potential in the U.S. Fitzearraldo was virtually non-existent in the American market. However, one person in particular did manage to not only find a copy, but became one of the band's biggest fans, Steve Albini. Steve expressed a desire to work with the band, and although the collaboration never came to anything at the time, their paths would cross some six years later.                                                      NEXT>

Once again the band traversed on without the support of a label and maintained a rigorous schedule of touring Ireland, Europe and select dates in the US. Like their previous record, much of the touring was done independent of the label's help and was financed by the band's hometown gigs and other work efforts. This spirit shown through, perhaps most evidently, with the band's next record Dance The Devil. With Dance The Devil the band approached the studio with a looser outlook musically, but with no less an incendiary