(Translated from my original Italian text by ChatGPT and Piero Scaruffi)

The Knapsack were formed in Davis, California, by a group of university students. Silver Sweepstakes (Alias, 1995) presents them as an erudite blend of Pavement and Jane's Addiction. Blair Shehan earned fame with the tumultuous, screeching performance of the singles Trainwrecker (Goldenrod) and True To Form (Alias), and the reputation for equally visceral live concerts. The apocalyptic presence of the leader is truly what holds Cellophane and Makeshift together. The last two songs, Addressee and the title track, hint at a different band, one that uses that intensity for more subtle purposes, but the insight is not explored further.

Day Three of My New Life (Alias, 1997) brings to the surface influences of Midwest punk rock, such as that of Soul Asylum, for example. More robust and fierce, the sound of Thursday's Side of the Street, Diamond Mine, Heart Carved Tree, Sleeper Than We Thought abandons punk-pop aspirations in favor of visceral documentary-style storytelling.

This Conversation Is Ending Starting Right Now (Alias, 1998) was their last album.

Blair Shehan formed Jealous Sound and released Kill Them With Kindness (Better Looking, 2003).