Chicago's 90 Day Men developed into a notably singular presence among math rock acts during the early 2000s, folding in strands of psychedelia, '70s prog rock, and new wave alongside the jagged, dissonant intricacy that defined the style. At the outset their approach drew from ragged post-hardcore art-punk shaped by Slint and assorted Louisville peers including Rodan and June of 44, together with D.C.'s Dischord roster. Once keyboards gained greater prominence in their method, however, the group moved toward a more approachable, improvisation-oriented mode that enclosed strong piano lines inside sustained, echo-laden textures. After a decade of continuous change 90 Day Men disbanded, their trajectory having laid groundwork for later experimental groups, while the members turned to separate endeavors. In 2024 the anthology We Blame Chicago gathered the trio's three studio albums along with singles, EP tracks, and additional material.
The band originated in St. Louis during 1995 as a three-piece centered on guitarist/vocalist Brian Case, bassist/vocalist Chandler McWilliams, and drummer Cayce Key. Their moniker referenced police terminology for inmates scheduled for mental assessment. Multi-instrumentalist Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe joined in 1996, contributing keyboards and coronet before assuming bass duties upon McWilliams's exit in 1997. The ensemble then shifted base to Chicago, the city that would host the remainder of their activity and recordings. They put out the 7" single "If You Can Bake a Cake, You Can Build a Bomb" on Actionboy Records in 1997. Temporary Residence followed with the 1998 EP 1975-1977-1998; later that same year the group signed to Southern Records and issued the 7" "She's a Salt Shaker" b/w "Activate the Borders." A split with San Diego art-punkers Gogogo Airheart appeared in 2000 alongside the band's debut full-length, the perplexingly named (It (Is) It) Critical Band. Occasional piano and keyboard parts on that album came from Andy Lansangan, who soon joined as the fourth member.
Lansangan asserted a stronger melodic role on the 2002 album To Everybody. John Congleton's production highlighted the quartet's progressive inclinations while also refining Brian Case's vocals, previously employed chiefly as texture. Those refinements extended to the late-2003 EP Too Late or Too Dead, which preceded the early-2004 full-length Panda Park. Already enjoying a dedicated indie following, Panda Park drew some of the band's strongest notices yet by deepening their psychedelic interests and invoking the avant glam of David Bowie, Roxy Music, and early Brian Eno. Several months after the release, however, 90 Day Men dissolved, each member immediately pursuing separate paths. Brian Case entered Chicago garage rockers the Ponys before later stints in Disappears and FACS; Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe launched solo electronics as Lichens and later recorded modular synthesizer work and film scores under his own name; Cayce Key eventually joined metal outfit Bloodiest.
Numero Group issued the 2024 retrospective We Blame Chicago. The multi-disc package contained remastered editions of all three studio albums, a 2001 Peel Session, unreleased material, and assorted other recordings. Its vinyl edition featured a 68-page oral history assembled by Joan of Arc's Tim Kinsella.
