Crimesterdam
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | July 2010 |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Yerevan , Armenia |
| Products | Rock music |
Crimesterdam was a rock ensemble originating from Yerevan, Armenia, recognized for their blend of psychedelic and rock and roll styles, drawing inspiration from groups like Oasis, Blur, and The Beatles. The band ceased activities in 2014.
Formation
Crimesterdam was established in July 2010 by lead singer Arthur Solakhyan along with guitarists Sarkis Shirinian and George Hovhannisyan. Their initial performances took place in local venues, supported by Dave Geodakian, formerly the bassist for The North Avenues, who became an official member in November 2010. Guitarist Yura Khachatryan joined the lineup in March 2011, and the group was finalized in June 2011 with the addition of Vladimir Hovhannisyan from Scream of Silence.
Early Releases
The band signed with Indie Libertines Records in December 2010. Their first single, Yeah Pappa I'm Smoking, was launched on 14 December 2010. This was followed by the acoustic EP Acoustic for Indie Libertines on 31 January 2011, which included three tracks later re-recorded in studio versions for their subsequent EP.
On 28 April 2011, Crimesterdam released their inaugural EP Mary Wants To Marry, which was recorded and mixed at Dave Geodakian's home studio.
Their second EP, titled Your Russian Wife, came out on 3 September 2011 and was supported by a music video sharing the same name.
Debut Album
In October 2011, work commenced on their first full-length album. The band's sole LP, Obsolete Modern Retro, was officially released on 18 June 2012.
Second Album Attempts and Dissolution
Following the release of Obsolete Modern Retro and a series of concerts within Armenia, Crimesterdam began recording new material intended for a second album. In November 2012, they issued two singles—An English Breakfast and Bring it On—as leading tracks from the tentative album titled Yerevan Beat. Despite these efforts, the group amicably parted ways due to personal reasons during these sessions.
In 2022, a compilation named OMR was released, encompassing 17 tracks drawn from their EPs as well as Obsolete Modern Retro. There are no announced plans for the band to reunite or produce new music.
Albums
- Obsolete Modern Retro (18 June 2012)
EPs
- Mary Wants To Marry (28 April 2011)
- Your Russian Wife (3 September 2011)
Singles
- Underground Glory (26 March 2012)
- Friday (As It Starts) / It Is Not Dying (7 May 2012)
- Bring It On (6 November 2012)
- An English Breakfast (6 November 2012)
Compilations and Others
- Acoustic For Indie Libertines (31 January 2011)
- OMR (22 July 2022) – a collection featuring selections from their EPs alongside tracks from Obsolete Modern Retro.