Eugene McGuinness
Eugene McGuinness | |
---|---|
Eugene performing | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Eugene Michael McGuinness |
Also known as | Eugene + the Lizards |
Born |
[1] Leytonstone, London, England | 11 August 1985
Genres | Indie rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instruments |
Guitar vocals |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels | Domino |
Associated acts | Miles Kane |
Website | Eugene McGuiness' Domino Minisite |
Notable instruments | |
Gibson J-160E Epiphone Casino Fender Mustang |
Eugene Michael McGuinness[1] (born 11 August 1985[1] in Leytonstone, London) is a British singer-songwriter and frontman of Eugene + the Lizards. He has lived in London,[2] and he is of Irish heritage.[3]
Music career
McGuinness's first release, The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness, was released on 6 August 2007[4] on Domino Records' sublabel Double Six Records.[5] Although the extended play was less than half an hour long, it received praise from critics. BBC reviewer Chris White called it "brimful with ideas" and stated that McGuinness's voice on the record "soars euphorically and coos playfully with equal aplomb".[4] Drowned in Sound gave the EP a rating of 9/10, saying "McGuinness has a way with words that's quite remarkable".[5] However, despite gaining the backing of its critics, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom.
Following the good response of Learnings, he went on to release his eponymous debut album, Eugene McGuinness, on the Domino label on 13 October 2008.[6] Unlike the last release, Eugene McGuinness is a full-length album with 12 tracks.[7] The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Drowned in Sound labelled it "a bold and confident piece of brilliance, equally off kilter as it is tenderly raw".[8] The BBC said that the album "runs the formative gamut of angsty, carefree, happy-sad, hormone-fuelled, late-teens emotions with a solipsistic disregard for any feelings but his own".[6] NME gave the album 8 out of 10, and The Times named it their album of the week. Meanwhile, an Observer journalist called the album "busily eclectic but... can make no great claims to originality".[9] Allmusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars, saying that "the arrival of Eugene McGuinness a true cause for celebration".[10]
McGuinness began playing as Eugene + the Lizards, along with his brother Dominic McGuinness, Malcolm Lunan and John Barrett. On 30 November 2009, they released their first album together, Glue. It was originally released as a 6-track limited edition 10" vinyl record, which then came with a digital code to download all 6 tracks plus the additional 4 tracks online for free, though the full album is now available on iTunes and AmazonMp3.
Alongside playing as a session and tour member for Miles Kane, Eugene finished the recording of his third album in London. The Invitation to the Voyage was released on 6 August 2012 [11] and contains the singles "Lion", "Thunderbolt", "Shotgun" and "Harlequinade".
Discography
Albums
- The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness EP (2007, Double Six)
- Eugene McGuinness (2008, Domino Records)
- Glue (as Eugene + the Lizards) (2009, Domino Records)
- The Invitation to the Voyage (2012, Domino Records)[12]
- Chroma (2014, Domino Records)
Singles
- "Monsters Under the Bed" (2007)
- "Bold Street" (2007)
- "Moscow State Circus" (2008)
- "Fonz" (2009)
- "Bugjuice" (2010)
- "Lion" (2011)
- "Thunderbolt" (2011)
- "Shotgun" (2012)
- "Harlequinade" (2012)
- "Sugarplum" (2012)
- "Fairlight" (2013)
Videography
- "Monsters Under The Bed" (2007)
- "Moscow State Circus" (2008)
- "Fonz" (2009)
- "Wendy Wonders" (2009)
- "Bugjuice" (2010)
- "Grogshop" (2010)
- "Lion" (2011)
- "Shotgun" (2012)
- "Blue Jeans" (2012)
- "Harlequinade" (2012)
- "Sugarplum" (2012)
- "Fairlight" (2013)
- "Godiva" (2014)
- "I Drink Your Milkshake" (2014)
References
- 1 2 3 Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths in England and Wales, 1984-2005.
- ↑ "Music Profiles - Eugene McGuinness". BBC. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ↑ "Eugene McGuinness - Review". Drowned in Sound. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- 1 2 "Eugene McGuinness - The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness". BBC. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- 1 2 "Eugene McGuinness - The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness". Drowned in Sound. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- 1 2 "Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness". BBC. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ↑ "Eugene McGuinness announces debut album details". NME. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ↑ "Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness". Drowned in Sound. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ↑ Carnwath, Ally (12 October 2008). "Rock review: Eugene Mcguinness, Eugene McGuinness". London: The Observer. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ↑ "Eugene McGuinness".
- ↑ http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/albums/06-03-12/the-invitation-to-the-voyage/
- ↑ [http://www.frostmagazine.com/2012/04/20/new-eugene-mcguinness-album-released-3rd-july-music-news/ New Eugene McGuinness album released 3 July at Frost Magazine