Faq
From GentlemanLoser.org
[edit] Gentleman Loser & The Cognitive Dissidence
Frequently asked questions
Q: I find your music to be boring and repetitive.
A: I find chicken vegetable ramen to be exquisite.
Q: Do you have a singer?
A: No. Luke has been known, at times, to use a microphone. Some older tracks were even written with vocals ... but currently this happens very infrequently.
Q: Why don't you have any CDs?
A: We do. Our first CD, nicknamed "up", is available if you ask for it. An EP (Disco Tragic) has been written but not yet recorded. A second full-length CD is being written now, and a third is planned. The mp3s up on this site were recorded 4-track into a laptop with no overdubs and very little mixing.
Q: How do you feel about music downloading?
A: In general, we feel that any action in life involves risk and reward. Illegal music downloading is, well, illegal, so there's a risk involved in that. Whether or not its fair, we don't know. We certainly don't stand to gain anything by restricting access to our music, but respect others' right to do so.
Q: Who is the guy sampled in "Pissing in Hell"?
A: Someone Ed's mom used to know. Once, he was a rock star. Then, he chose Jesus as his personal lord and savior, and he's got some really funny things to say about it.
Q: Who is the guy sampled in "samedi"?
A: Alan Watts. He worked hard to bring Eastern philosophies into contexts that westerners could understand, and he had some really funny things to say about it.
Q: You sample a Christian minister in a seemingly negative way in "Pissing in Hell" and Alan Watts talking about Buddhism in a positive way in "samedi." Do you have an anti-Christian religious agenda?
A: We don't have any agenda besides making music that people find interesting. Yes, "Pissing in Hell" has some negative connotations, but we try to keep in mind the great degree of editing required to get him to say the things he did. We totally took his comments out of context. However, in moving through life the observation must be made that, "Pissing in Hell" aside, Fundamentalist Christians tend to be less open to our music than Buddhists. Whatever you want to take from that is up to you.
Q: Your music seems great to have on in the background, but it's so repetetive, I couldn't imagine seeing it live. Are you guys a concept or non-live band?
A: Not at all. We put a tremendous amount of energy into our music and use repetition to enhance the sensations of changing music. It might not be for you, but we do feel that we are "better" live.
Q: Do you guys like Mogwai?
A: No. Why, did they say anything about us? Wait, do you mean "like," or "'like' like?"
Q: No, really, do you like Mogwai?
A: Five words: Glasgow Mega Snake.
Q: What's your setup?
A: Luke plays various basses through a Trace Elliot V-Type head with a 4x15 Acoustic cabinet. When keyboarding, he plays a Korg Triton, Korg MS-2000, XV-88 (is this correct?), Chaos Pad, etc. Ed plays a Pearl five piece with Evans heads and Sabian cymbals. In the past, he played Roland V-drums that were sometimes hooked up to various effects. He has also been known to hit and/or fondle anything else that makes noise. Dave playes an aluminum neck Kramer through a combination of Sunn Model T Fender twin reverb and Accoustic head.
Q: What's your favorite vegetable?
A: Chicken Vegetable.
