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Centro-matic

Named for a model of an Italian accordion, Centro-matic began as little more than a home-recording outlet for Will Johnson’s unstoppable muse. Redo the Stacks (1997) was primarily the work of Johnson, with soon-to-be Centro-matic members Scott Danbom on violin and Matt Pence in the recording engineer’s seat. The band soon grew to become a more collaborative effort, with Danbom (“the pride of Ponca City, Oklahoma”) on keyboards, bass, and vocals, as well as the occasional violin, Pence on drums and production/engineering duties, and Mark Hedman on bass and guitar.

The head wound may have been a setback (as the name of Johnson’s music-publishing company implies), but it was by no means the expiration of Will Johnson’s songwriting prowess. Far from it. Over the past decade, we have been treated to—I hope I get the count right (or that somebody who hasn’t been drinking the tequila Will brought over fact-checks this thing)—nine Centro-matic albums, four EPs, five singles, two South San Gabriel albums, two Johnson solo efforts (as well as a tour-only release)—every one a Maserati. Some bands focus on quality; others on quantity. With Dual Hawks, the respective bands prove once again that they are one of the rare breeds who can do both. Catchy hooks, wiry guitars, harmonies and handclaps, splendid string and horn arrangements, and songs so well written and produced they will make indie-rockers of lesser mettle go home and cry.

From Lastfm:

Centro-matic falls within the vanguard of post-alt-country indie rock that Jeff Tweedy began to define with Wilco, after Uncle Tupelo's demise. Centro-matic's music, though reliant on poppy hooks, also contains a fair amount of experimentation. Not quite as alt-country-ish as Ryan Adams or Okkervil River, Centro-matic blends warm, often plucked, acoustic guitars and the occasional kicked-in distortion pedal with the multi-layered falsetto of former Funland drummer, Will Johnson. Some of Centro-matic's members cross over into the side project: South San Gabriel.

After a dispute with early label Steve Records over the rights to the album Redo the Stacks in 1997 in which the label wouldn't let them re-release it, Centro-matic began releasing a slew of recordings from the late 90s to the beginning of the millennium. They received a boost when the album Love You Just the Same was mentioned in mainsteam musical media outlets. Eventually the dispute over their early album was settled when the contract over its rights ran out. The album is now available on other labels.

From Wikipedia:

Centro-Matic is a rock band based in Denton, Texas. It started in 1995 as a side-project for Will Johnson. It released a few singles that year and grew into a full-fledged group in 1997. The initial 60 songs recorded in a Millstadt, Illinois studio supplied the material for the quieter, more emotional Navigational on Idol Records and the louder, lo-fi The Static vs. the Strings, Vol. 1 on Quality Park Records.