In the midst of an alternative music scene that was beginning to attract nationwide attention during the 1980s, the Reivers (than known as Zeitgeist) was the Austin band that seemed most likely to succeed. The group's debut album on independent label DB Records was a college radio hit, and the melodic accessibility of the group's material suggested potential for a much wider audience.
But after signing with Capitol Records in 1986 and recording two albums with the label, the band was dropped in September 1989 in the wake of several personnel changes at the label (the band's A&R representative was dismissed a couple of weeks later). Though both albums received favorable reviews and the Reivers toured frequently to support them, the sales figures never grew significantly.
So what happens when
the next rung in the career ladder is suddenly removed from your grasp?
For the Reivers - guitarist/leader John Croslin, singer/guitarist Kim
Longacre, drummer Garrett Williams and bassist Cindy Toth - it led them
ultimately to decide that they still wanted to play music together, regardless
of the circumstances. Their determination to continue comes to fruition
this week as they celebrate the release of their fourth album, Pop Beloved,
Friday night at the Texas Tavern.
Deciding
to make another record meant setting their sights for commercial success
lower and returning to DB Records, the label that issued their first album
in 1985. It meant working with a smaller budget and giving up the option
of hiring an outside producer (Croslin produced the record himself). It
meant a return to balancing band schedules with day jobs, at a time when
some band members have more demanding family lives than they did in their
early days.
Yet, while times are tougher in many ways, "there's a whol new attitude in the band that I'm very happy about," Croslin said. "And I'm not exactly sure why it sprang up. But we're all getting to a point in our lives where we're not kids anymore, and we realize it. Some of us have kids now."
Indeed, Croslin seems older and wiser but still optimistic as he speaks about the new record. He realizes a likely sales figure on DB would be a modest 20,000 units, but he's encouraged by the appearance of "adult alternative" radio stations such as Austin's KGSR-FM, which he says has helped revive the Reivers' local following in recent months. He laments the little time he has to spend with his family but remains confident that all the extra hours eventiually will pay off. Most of all, he simply seems pleased with the outcome of the new record, both in his bandmates' performances and in his own efforts as producer.
The Austin American-Statesman asked Croslin to keep a diary of the band's experiences in making it's new album. His account begins shortly after the Reivers were dropped by Capitol and continues through the end of the recording process.