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{{Short description|American indie rock band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist |

Namename = The Reputation |

Imgimage = ThereputationpromoElizabeth Elmore and The Reputation.jpg |

Img_captcaption = The Reputation inoutside athe promotional[[46th photo.Street (SEPTA Picturedstation)|46th onStreet]] thesubway farstation leftin is[[Philadelphia]] Root, no longer with thein band.2005 |

Backgroundbackground = group_or_band |

Years_activeyears_active = 2001-20062001–2006 |

Originorigin = [[Chicago, Illinois]], [[United States]] |

Genregenre = [[Indie rock]] |

Labellabel = [[Lookout! Records]]<br />[[Initial Records]] |

Current_memberscurrent_members = [[Elizabeth Elmore]]<br />Sean Hulet<br />Greg Mytych<br />Steve Van Horn |

Past_memberspast_members = Scott Rosenquist<br />Ben Kane<br />Chad Romanski<br />Matt Espy<br />Joel Root |

URLwebsite = [http://www.reputationmusic.com www.reputationmusic.com] |

}}

'''The Reputation''' werewas an [[indie rock]] band from [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]],. thatThe releasedband albumswas via [[Lookout! Records]]. Frontedfronted by former [[Sarge (band)|Sarge]] singer/-songwriter [[Elizabeth Elmore]], thewith bandother touredpositions thefilled [[United States]] and released records since their formation in 2001 through their eventual breakupby invarious 2006members.

The band, which formed while Elmore was attending law school, released two albums between the years of 2001 and 2006, both of which were met with generally positive reviews. The band toured extensively in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom.

==History==

Following the disbanding of her old band, [[Sarge (band)|Sarge]], Elmore enrolled in law school at [[Northwestern University]].<ref name=AversionSchild>Schild, Matt. "[http://www.aversion.com/bands/interviews.cfm?f_id=152 Aversion.com]: Making a New Reputation, by Matt Schild, accessed 19 June 2006</ref>. (Elmore was quoted as saying ]"I enrolled in law school in the fall of 1999Aversion. Sarge ended in Dec. 99com, afterMay I'd already begun law school11, and NOT by my choice, despite numerous reports to the contrary2007."<ref name=RepOffBio>[http://www.reputationmusic.com/reputation.htmlRetrieved Reputationmusic.com]:on BandAugust bio27, Elizabeth Elmore2007. Accessed 20 June 2006</ref>) She embarked on a series of solo tours between classes, withbut laterafter toursgrowing taking on the helptired of friendperforming Seansolo Hulet,Elmore arecruited Chicago guitarist formerly with [[Moreno (band)|Moreno]], Scott Rosenquist, aex-Sarge drummer inRuss Hulet's band,Horvath and Joelex-Chisel Root,bassist formerlyand thelaw bassistschool forclassmate theChris ChicagoNorborg jazzto bandtour [[Andiamo (band)|Andiamo]]with. ThisThe group oftoured musicianstogether wouldand tourrecorded asa Thefive Elizabethsong Elmore 4demo, andbut they completedafter a short,while not-too-seriousHorvath Eastand CoastNorborg tour.<refwere name=AversionSchild/><refno name=RepOffBio/>longer Theable groupto continuedtour due to recordschooling. someElmore demosrecruited friend and completeex-Moreno smallerguitarist/singer regionalSean toursHulet, underex-Moreno Elmore'sdrummer nameScott Rosenquist, and, learningex-Andiamo thatbassist Hulet andJoel Root. matchedThe upnew withgroup hercompleted wella musically,tour she began working more seriously onof the bandEast as a permanent projectCoast.<ref name=RepOffBioAversionSchild/>

Elmore ended up requestingrequested a [[leave of absence]] from Northwestern Law School in 2001 to focus on the band. After Theex-Nymb drummer Ben Kane replaced the unavailable Rosenquist, the group signed to [[Initial Records]],. andKane completedleft athe fallband, west coast tour withand former Sarge drummer Chad Romanski beforejoined recordingthe theirgroup debutafter album.<refseveral name=RepOffBio/>weeks of TheElmore bandbegging. tookThe onband thecompleted namea Thefall ReputationWest atCoast this time (although Hulettour and Rootbegan wererecording contenttheir todebut continuealbum aswith the Elizabeth Elmore 4Romanski.<ref name="RepOffBio/">), a reference, according to Elmore, intended to be a "personal[http://www.reputationmusic.com/reputation.html littleBand 'fuck you'Bio]". aimedreputationmusic.com. atRetrieved certainon membersAugust within27, the2007.</ref> indieThe musicband scenetook whoon promotedthe "endlessname speculation"The aboutReputation Elmore'sat sexthis lifetime.<ref>Draper, Jimmy. "[http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:sIxwPsYW4wsJ:www.sfbg.com/36/24/art_music_elmore.html+%22Elizabeth+ Elmore%22+%22Jimmy+Draper%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2's World]". ''[[San Francisco Bay Guardian]: Elmore]''s World, JimmyAugust Draper27, 2002. Received Googleon cache acceessedJune 20 June, 2006.</ref>

===Self-titled debut===

''The Reputation'', the band's self-titled debut album, was released in 2002 after the band spent much of the fall and winter of 2001 in the recording studio.<ref name=RepOffBio/> The majority of the album was recorded in Chicago at Atlas, with the exception of a cover of [[Elvis Costello]]'s song "Almost Blue," which was recorded with then-[[Wilco]] guitarist [[Jay Bennett]] on piano and production duties, as well as extra arrangements and recording on other tracks.<ref name=STLiners>''The Reputation'' liner notes.</ref> Elmore, as she did with her work in Sarge, wrote all of the original songs and lyrics, and assisted with the production along with Matt Allison.<ref name=STLiners/>

The album was well received critically. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' gave the album 3.5 out of 4 stars, with reviewer Kevin Bronson saying that "[Elmore's] streaming anecdotes give the listener the feeling of walking right into the middle of life-altering events."<ref>Bronson, Kevin. "[http://www.reputationmusic.com/reputation-latimes.html If This Rock Star Thing Fails, There's Always Law School]". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', KevinMarch Bronson Review17, unknown2002. dateRetrieved on August 27, 2007.</ref> The ''[[College Music Journal]]'''s Amy Wan called the album a "showcase for Elmore's powerfully biting lyrics and her passionate voice, dancing deftly between little-girl sweet and outright roar,"<ref>CMJ:Wan, Amy. Wan,"[http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=33962 unknownREPUTATION: The Reputation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181610/http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=33962 |date=September 30, 2007 }}". ''[[College Music Journal]]''. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.</ref> and The ''[[Village Voice]]'' gave the album an A-A−, with famed [[music journalist]] [[Robert Christgau]] praising the debut, saying that "Elmore left a great band to go to law school. Now she leaves a great law school to start a better band."<ref>Christgau, Robert. "[http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0416,christgau,52834,22.html TheWe Got A Lot]". ''[[Village Voice]:]'', AlbumApril review20, Robert2002. Christgau,Retrieved 20on AprilAugust 200427, accessed 20 June 20062007.</ref>

Along with the positive feedback for the album, the band was able to secure its first permanent drummer in Matt Espy.<ref name=RepOffBio/> The band would tour the [[United States]] and parts of [[Canada]] a number of times following the release of the album.<ref name=RepTourDates>"[http://www.reputationmusic.com/past_dates.html ReputationmusicPast tour dates]". reputationmusic.com]:. TourRetrieved dateon archiveAugust 28, accessed 20 June 20062007.</ref> Along with the performance agenda in 2003, Elmore balanced touring, songwriting for their next album, and a return to law school while the band suffered the loss of yet another drummer, as Espy was forced to leave after a tenure of nearly a year and a half for personal reasons.<ref name=RepOffBio/>

===''To Force a Fate''===

The band settled on their second permanent, and current, drummer, Steve Van Horn, shortly after Espy left following their round of touring. At the same time, the band began negotiations with [[Lookout! Records]] to release their follow-up. After a marathon run of shows and songwriting toward the end of 2003, the band recorded their second album.<ref name=RepOffBio/> The sessions were difficult, with 14 -hour recording days being balanced with Elmore attempting to finish remaining law school papers, combined with weekend tour jaunts to the East Coast.<ref>Bowker, Tom. "[http://www.reputationmusic.com/reputation.html SOUND CHECK / Above the law]". ''[[Miami Herald]]'':. SoundRetrieved Check:on AboveSeptember 2, 2007.</ref> The album was unique compared to other Elmore projects in that other members of the Law,band Tomassisted Bowker.in the Datesongwriting unspecifiedprocess.</ref>''To Force a Fate'' liner notes.</ref>

''To Force a Fate'' was ultimately released in April of 2004 on Lookout! Records.<ref>"[http://wwwlookout.lookoutrecordslittletype.com/catalog/itemgroup-detail.php3php?sditem_group_id=126108113&matrix_id=1013&bnd_id=378 Lookout! Records]: The4078 Reputation -– Toto Forceforce a Fate,fate] catalog{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819150329/http://lookout.littletype.com/group-detail.php?item_group_id=4078 |date=2007-08-19 URL}}". accessedLookout! 17Records. JulyRetrieved 2006on August 27, 2007.</ref> The album, likereceived its predecessor, receivedgenerally positive press, including favorable reviews in ''[[Spin Magazine]]'', which stated thatcalling the album "opens up with a bang of [[power- pop]] epiphany,."<ref name="press">''Spin''"[http://www.reputationmusic.com/reputation.html Press]"More. newreputationmusic.com. musicRetrieved toon hearSeptember now2," Jon Dolan. Date unspecified2007.</ref> ''[[Blender Magazine]]'', which gave the album four stars, stating that "Elizabeth Elmore, a law-school graduate with boy trouble to match her student loans, writes songs that are as much legal briefs as diary entries."<ref>Catucci, Nick. "[http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=2059 The Reputation: ''BlenderTo MagazineForce A Fate'':]". Review,''Blender''. NickRetrieved Catucci,on dateSeptember unspecified2, 2007.</ref> and ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', which called the album "muscular yet lush"," givingand itgave the album a B+.<ref>''Entertainment Weekly'':name="press" Issue #760, 16 April 2004</ref> The album would eventually reach #No.&nbsp;58 on the CMJ charts.<ref name=RepOffBio/>

The album was unique compared to the first album as well as other Elmore projects, in that other members of the band assisted in the songwriting process.<ref>''To Force a Fate'' liner notes</ref>

===Post-album touring===

The band spent 2004 and 2005 touring the United States for over nine months, including opening slots for [[Ted Leo and the Pharmacists]] and, [[Grammy]] nominees [[The Killers (band)|The Killers]]<ref name=RepTourDates/>, [[Modest Mouse]], [[Death Cab for Cutie]], and [[the Donnas]].<ref name=RepTourDates/> The band's performance at [[South by Southwest]] in particular was covered positively in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]].''<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070122005532/http://www.ew.com/ew/reportarticle/0,6115,604995_4%7C99713%7C%7C0_0_604995,00.html Entertainment Weekly]: "It's Gettingettin' Hothot at South by Southwest]",. 2''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', April 20042, URL2004. accessedRetrieved 17on JulyAugust 200627, 2007.</ref>

2005 took the band overseas to tour the [[United Kingdom]] for the first time, as well as two separate two-month United States tours. In June of 2005, bassist Joel Root left the band for personal reasons. They completed their summer tour with [[Stereo South]] bassist Greg Mytych,<ref name=RepTourDates/> and planned to record a new album in 2006, but came to a halt due to mitigating factors, including the issues with Lookout! Records.<ref>"[http://www.aversion.com/news/news_article.cfm?news_id=4772 Green Day Departure Hobbles Lookout]". Aversion.com], newsAugust article2, 2005. Retrieved URLon accessedAugust 13 October27, 20062007.</ref> In September 2005, the band performed at [[North East Sticks Together]]. Elmore, in November of 2006, posted a message to the band's official mailing list noting that the band had dissolved and no further plans had been announced.<ref>Elmore, Elizabeth. "[http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheReputation/message/11496 Elmore]: "the band is over.]{{dead link|date=December 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}". groups.yahoo.com, November 2006. Retrieved on September 2, 2007.</ref> Drummer Steve Van Horn has joined former Chicagoan and current Austin, TX based singer/-songwriter [[Che Arthur]]'s touring band.

==Musical and lyrical style==

[[Image:The reputation.jpg|thumb|The Reputation performing at Mary Jane's in 2005]]

The Reputation's music is influenced by that of Elmore's previous band, Sarge.<ref name="AMG Reputation">Draper, Jimmy. "[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r573756|pure_url=yes}} The Reputation]". [[Allmusic]]. Retrieved on September 2, 2007.</ref> The band also drew comparisons to the [[Fastbacks]], [[Liz Phair]], [[Neil Young]], and [[Elvis Costello]], the last of which the band [[Cover version|covered]] with their version of the song "Almost Blue".<ref name="press" /><ref name="AMG Reputation" /><ref name="AMG Fate" /> Elmore drew influence from a wide variety of music, including [[post-hardcore]], [[alternative country]], 1970s singer-songwriters, [[indie rock]], classical music, [[country music]], [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]], and 1980s pop music.<ref name="Lookout! bio">"[http://lookout.littletype.com/reputation-lkb-grpcat.php The Reputation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927173655/http://lookout.littletype.com/reputation-lkb-grpcat.php |date=2007-09-27 }}". Lookout! Records. Retrieved on September 6, 2007.</ref> While the band's first album used conventional [[punk rock]] instruments, ''To Force a Fate'' included more diverse instruments such as piano, [[String instrument|strings]], and [[French horn|horns]].<ref name="AMG Fate">Loftus, Johnny. "[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r685432|pure_url=yes}} To Force a Fate]". [[Allmusic]]. Retrieved on September 2, 2007.</ref> According to a review in [[Allmusic]], ''To Force a Fate''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s contains "thoughtful songwriting and dashes of indie rock anthemics".<ref name="AMG Fate" />

The subjects of the band's songs are frequently related to Elmore's relationships. She stated "as far as I can tell, I am too brutally honest and opinionated for most people."<ref name="Lookout! bio" />

==Members==

The Reputation's lineup changed numerous times during the band's existence.

===;Final members===

*Elizabeth Elmore -&nbsp;– vocals/ and guitar

*Sean Hulet -&nbsp;– guitar/ and vocals

*Greg Mytych -&nbsp;– bass guitar

*Steve Van Horn -&nbsp;– drums

*Greg Mytych - bass

===;Former members===

*ScottMatt Rosenquist - touringEspy&nbsp;– drummer

*Ben Kane -&nbsp;– touring drummer

*Chad Romanski -&nbsp;– recording drummer, debuton ''The albumReputation''

*Joel Root&nbsp;– bass guitar

*Matt Espy - drummer

*Scott Rosenquist&nbsp;– touring drummer

*Joel Root - bass

==Releases==

===;Albums===

*''[[The Reputation released(album)|The twoReputation]]'' albums.(2002)

*''[[To Force a Fate]]'' (CD) - [[Lookout! Records]] - 2004)

*''[[The Reputation (album)|The Reputation]]'' (CD) - [[Initial Records]] - 2002

*''[[To Force a Fate]]'' (CD) - [[Lookout! Records]] - 2004

===;Compilations===

{|class="wikitable"

The Reputation contributed tracks to a number of compilations:

! Year

*''Fields and Streams'' - [[Kill Rock Stars]] - One track: "For the Win (Demo)" - 2002

! Song

*''Don't Know When I'll Be Back Again: A Compilation Benefiting American Veterans of the Vietnam War'' -　[[Exotic Fever Records]] - One track: "For What It's Worth" - 2002

! Compilation

*''OIL'' - [[Thick Records]] - One track: "Some Senseless Day" - 2002

! Notes

*''That's My Bag'' - [[Lookout Records]] - One track: "Face It" - 2005

|-

|rowspan="3"| 2002

| "For the Win" (Demo)

| ''[[Fields and Streams]]''

| Re-recorded version appears on ''The Reputation''

|-

| "For What It's Worth"

*| ''Don't Know When I'll Be Back Again: A Compilation Benefiting American Veterans of the Vietnam War'' -　[[Exotic Fever Records]] - One track: "For What It's Worth" - 2002

|

|-

| "Some Senseless Day"

| ''OIL''

| Later appeared on ''Force a Fate''

|-

| 2005

| "Face It"

| ''That's My Bag''

| Also appeared on ''Force a Fate''

|-

|}

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{commons category}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050305153512/http://www.reputationmusic.com/ The Reputation's official site]

{{good article}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:ChicagoAmerican musical groupsquartets]]

[[Category:Indie rock musical groups from Illinois]]

[[Category:American musicalMusical groups from Chicago]]

[[Category:Illinois musicalMusical groups established in 2001]]

[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2006]]