Jennifer Stein (guitar)
Alyson MacLeod (drums)
Laura Pierce (bass)
Eve Hartling (guitar, vocals)
Mike Belitzky (drums; replaced MacLeod)
Halifax's JALE (an acronym for the members first initials of their first names), was formed in 1992 and was signed to Sub-Pop Records in 1993 hot on the heels of the Maritimes grunge revolution (which included Sloan, Eric's Trip and Hardship Post).
JALE emerged in 1994 with their debut girl-pop album 'Dream Cake' indicating a group barely able play their instruments, the album did sell 40,000 copies in markets such as Europe and North America.
As the band learned to play and write better, they released the EP 'Closed' (1995) on Murderecords. MacLeod left soon after and was replaced by Mike Belitzky (Jellyfishbabies, Maker's Mark, Cheticamp) who helped nail down the coffin of 'the all-girl' label they'd been painted with.
JALE followed up with 'So Wound' (1996) which was co-produced by Brad Wood (Veruca Salt, Liz Phair), and received major accolades in all the right magazines including Billboard. It was even nominated for a East Coast Music Award.
And yet, it still did not sell due to SubPop's failure to properly promote the record effecting both sales and crowd turnouts during the band's tour. Upon their return they discovered that Hartling was pregnant and took a sufficient break to rethink their next strategy. In the end, Hartling quit the band. In March of 1997 SubPop dropped the band.
JALE played a farewell 'Get Out Of Jale Free Tour' in 1997 and Stein, Pierce and Belitzky, along with new guitarist Michael Begine (The Rome Plows), have re-emerged as The Vees - releasing an eponymous debut on Murderecords/Universal.
Singles
1992 Aunt Betty (Cinnamon Toast) [I Lied/Twisted//Sweetness]
1993 Sort Of Gray (Derivative) [Emma/Brother]
1993 Gold Leather With Heel Detail (Genius) [Steppin' Out/River (acoustic)]
1994 Cut (SubPop) [Promise/3 Days]
1994 Not Happy (SubPop)
1994 Nebulous (SubPop)
1994 Promise (SubPop)
1994 14 08 93 (SubPop) [Not Happy/Love Letter]
1995 Double Edge (Murderecords)
1995 Jesus Loves Me (Murderecords)
1995 Long Way Home (Murderecords)
1996 Ali (SubPop)
1996 All Ready (SubPop)
1997 True What You Say/From A Sill (Sealed Fate)
Albums
1994 Dream Cake (SubPop)
1995 Closed (Murderecords)
1996 Hey Hey [EP] (SubPop - UK) [Hey Hey/All Ready/Leave It Alone/Coincidence/Bluestreak]
1996 So Wound (SubPop)
Video
1994 Not Happy
1994 Nebulous
1994 Promise
1995 Double Edge
1995 Jesus Loves Me
1995 Long Way Home
1996 Ali
1996 All Ready
Compilation Tracks
1993 "Lung" on 'Never Mind the Molluscs' (SubPop)
1994 "Brother" and "Twisted" on 'Trim Crusts If Desired' (Cinnamon Toast)
1994 "Steppin' Out" on 'Volume 11' (independent - UK)
1996 "Traditional" on 'Pet-Kout-Koy-ek: Songs For A River' (independent)
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