The School was a Norwegian indie rock and post-punk revival band from Trondheim, formed in 2004. After releasing two albums on the Oslo label Kong Tiki, they broke up in 2010. In 2019, they began collaborating with rapper as NSB.
History The School formed in 2004. It was named after an unpublished novel written by one of the guitarists. The five members sang at funerals, played in military bands, and sold advertisements, among other jobs.Marie Aubert, "Muntlig eksamen", Bergens Tidende, September 11, 2006, retrieved September 3, 2022 .
In January 2006, they released a self-produced EP titled Mädchen, recorded in a studio in Svartlamoen."'Det var en enorm romance og heftig krangling om hverandre'", Adresseavisen, November 25, 2016, retrieved September 3, 2022 . It contained four tracks and was only available locally. They were a surprise success at by:Larm in Tromsø in 2006,Geir Rakvaag, "Bylarm 2006: Larmer i skyggen av punken", Dagsavisen, February 12, 2006, archived from the original on May 25, 2006 . leading to other live performances, including at Øyafestivalen"Øya og Hydro med heite septemberkvelder", Øyafestivalen, September 4, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2022 . and Quartfestivalen, and their signing by Kong Tiki Records.Øystein Ronander, "Ti band feirer ti år med by:Larm", Ballade.no, January 26, 2007, retrieved September 3, 2022 .
Their first album, Espionage, was released by Kong Tiki in September 2006.Robin Olsen, "Intervju: The School", Musikknyheter, September 13, 2006, retrieved September 3, 2022 . It was produced at a Larsville studio in Stugudalen by John Fryer. To promote the album, a viral marketing attempt was made through a hidden page on their website that could be unlocked with a password printed in the album CD inlay and from which a bonus track called "Killing the Night" could be downloaded.http://www.theschoolrock.com/code.php, archived on September 28, 2007; website archived from the original on April 28, 2007 (required Adobe Flash). The album was nominated for Spellemannprisen in the rock category."Crack-rappere og creepy Michael Jackson", 730.no, September 18, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2022 ."Stem på Luttprisen 2008", NRK Vestland, November 23, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2022 .Archive, Spellemannprisen, retrieved September 3, 2022 .
The School recorded their second album, Destructive Sounds, in New York with Chris Ribando producing."Review. School: Destructive Sounds", Oz-Fanzine 81, December 2008 / January 2009, retrieved September 3, 2022 . It was released in September 2008Bernt Erik Pedersen, "Musikkhøsten 2008: Her er høydepunktene", Dagsavisen, August 19, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2022 . and was nominated for NRK Sogn og Fjordane's Luttprisen. The single "Radio Girl" was popular, and the band was described as "a blend of Franz Ferdinand and Queens Of The Stone Age", playing "good decadent dance rock","HULEN feirer 40 år", Eternal Terror, December 29, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2022 . and as having "evolved from post-punk to post-post-punk, with a stricter focus on pop melodies and catchy choruses. Just like most other bands in the same genre ... [w]hich doesn't mean it isn't good."Petter Lønningen, "Repriserock: The School", Bergens Tidende, September 8, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2022 .
After releasing "Minds Off" as a split single with Dog & Sky in 2010, The School broke up, with a farewell party held in November that year."Uteksaminert til laud", Musikkprat, November 26, 2010, retrieved September 3, 2022 .
The band held a reunion concert in November 2016 to mark the anniversary of Espionage. They made a joint appearance with rapper at 2019,Artister 2019, Trondheim Calling, retrieved September 4, 2022 ."Rapstjerne, stortalent og et uventet samarbeid er klare for Trondheim Calling", Adresseavisen, December 6, 2018 . and continued the collaboration as NSB, releasing a limited-edition four-song EP on cassettes in 2019 and an album, Kajsa Kajsa, in December 2020."June 19 NSB played release concert for their debut album Kajsa Kajsa at Verkstedhallen", IHappenToLikeNY.com, July 8, 2021, retrieved September 4, 2022.
Discography
EPs Mädchen (2006)
Studio albums Espionage (2006) Destructive Sounds (2008) Kajsa Kajsa (2020, as NSB)
Singles "Bad to the Bone" (2006) "Pick up the Phone" (2006) "Radio Girl" (2008) "Minds Off"(2010)
Members Stig Førde Aarskog - Vocals / guitar Thor-Inge Hoddevik - Lead Guitar Karl-Martin Hoddevik - Bass Andreas Elvenes - Keyboards / backing vocals Per Andreas "Puppy" Gulbrandsen - Drums
References
External links Official page on MySpace (archived on 7 February 2012) Band page at Kong Tiki records (archived from the original on 19 November 2010) The School on Norwegian Rockipedia NSB on Bandcamp