Criterion International is a record label based in Winter Park, Florida. Our goal is to produce quality music in the Nu Jazz, Industrial, and dance music genres. We are poised to launch our fifth release in 2008.
Criterion International To Release Early Ministry Side Project By The Band Eight And One Half.
On the heels of the Ministry 25th year anniversary, and tour, the albums "Rantology" and "Rio Grande Blood" have set the tone for reflection. In the spirit of this retrospective climate Criterion International is set to release a project by the band Eight and One Half entitled "The Jourgensen Sessions" produced by Al Jourgensen in 1983, the legendary Craig Leon (Blondie, Ramones, Front242) was on board as Executive Producer. This collection spans a tapestry of sounds, from funk inspired dance grooves in the vein of ABC, to dark electro synths reminecent of early Ministry, Xymox, or Depeche Mode. This previously unreleased record is a "moment in time", captured and frozen for over 20 years. For serious Ministry collectors, or fans curious about the "early years" of Ministry and the Chicago Industrial movement, this album is a time capsule and sure to please any fan of music of this era.
Eight and One Half, is fronted by brothers David Floodstrand, and R. Lewis Floodstrand. "The Jourgensen Sessions" is meant to be a pre-cursor to the new Eight and One Half record due to be released in early 2009.
Eight and One Half have toured extensively throughout the midwest, and have headlined in Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, and other major cities. Eight and One Half was managed for a number of years by The Firm's Peter Katsis, who presently manages Korn, and Limp Bizkit amoung others.
Other releases on Criterion include the critically acclaimed E.P. "Travel" by the band Eight and One Half, the self titled album by the Alternative band Deep Blue Dream, the debut album by Jazz Trumpet player Rex Richardson entitled "The Powers That Be", and a 12" by the Chicago House music group Barnhouse, and the debut album by Deep Blue Dream. Wayne Wells, the primary songwriter, lead singer, guitarist, A.K.A. Wayne Static. Wayne later changed the name of the band to Static X. Static X is now a multi-platinum group, tour interationally, and are presently signed to the Warner Bros label.
Criterion International will initially release Eight and One Half "The Jourgensen Sessions" as a digital download exclusively on Soundclick.com, and then !Tunes, Rhapsody, Yahoo!Music, MusicNet, Loudeye, and RealNetwork.
