LIGHTNING DUST Plan Tour With The Cave Singers, Share MP3 Of Never Seen from Forthcoming Infinite Light LP
Are you prepared to cross into the Infinite Light? With each passing day, the sophomore release from Vancouver's Lightning Dust draws ever more near, ready to envelop you in its lush arrangements and cosmic wash. With Infintie Light (Released August 4), Amber Webber and Josh Wells (core members of Black Mountain) have crafted a psych-pop journey about losing and rediscovering "the light of inspiration." Now, as they prepare to give Infinite Light unto the world and ready for a September/October tour with spiritual brethren The Cave Singers, Lightning Dust share with you the mp3 for "Never Seen," a moody deep cut from the album, that brings to mind a dark, electro "Hounds of Love."
"Never Seen" recently premiered on Stereogum, which said of the track: "...taking it in a gothy, more theatrical direction, Amber Webber chews into the scenery for 'Never Seen'...and it's last couple minutes are worthy of Siouxsie Sioux (at least in spirit). 'Never Seen' goes in a different, aesthetically linked direction than the Suicide/synth-pop/country anthem overlap of 'I Knew,' which bodes well for the collection on a whole."
In June, Lightning Dust was featured on NPR's tastemaking All Songs Considered, where host Bob Boilen played Infinite Light's closing track "Take It Home," of which Boilen said: "A good number of the songs on the record are piano based, recorded when the duo spent 5 days in a studio with a Steinway; though the arrangements are more lush than their first record. The track I love best is the CDs closing cut, this one feels more like an outtake from an early King Crimson record." Listen to "Take It Home" on All Songs Considered HERE.
And check out the upcoming tour with The Cave Singers HERE.
06/30/09
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS Song Featured On Beck's DJ Mix
It turns out that Beck featured "Can You Do That Dance?" from PINK MOUNTAINTOPS' self titled debut on his "Planned Obsolescence" DJ mix series.
Beck describes the mix, entitled "Autobahn Hologram," in total Beck fashion: "[Autobahn Hologram is] a laminated miasma colliding on the bavarian trans expressway with american analog and voicemail emeritus... alabama nukes, rhineland jukes, pony tailed arch dukes, and the anatomically correct scapegoat..."
DINOSAUR JR. Performs On The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon
DINOSAUR JR. performed on The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon, playing the lead track, "Pieces," from this week's Jagjaguwar release Farm. Also on the show were guests Tiger Woods and Evan Rachel Wood. Find all the info you'll need on the Fallon site HERE.
06/24/09
Introducing VOLCANO CHOIR, The Collaboration Between Collection Of Colonies Of Bees And Justin Vernon of BON IVER
VOLCANO CHOIR is the assembly of Wisconsinites Jon Mueller, Chris Rosenau, Jim Schoenecker, Daniel Spack, Justin Vernon, and Thomas Wincek.
One might find these old friends also frequenting records and stages under the monikers Collections of Colonies of Bees and Bon Iver. The Volcano Choir collaboration predates the meteoric rise of Justin Vernon's Bon Iver project, with original songwriting dating back to the summer of 2005 - right around the time the Bees first toured with Vernon's previous band DeYarmond Edison.
Jagjaguwar will release the first project by Volcano Choir, Unmap, on September 22nd (21st in the UK), worldwide.
While entirely a studio record, the collection doesn't suffer from a digital pile up or over-thinking. Rather, it breathes and convulses in equal measure, radiating an inherent dynamism found only in the voluntary bondage of intimacy. With influences ranging from David Sylvian and Steve Reich to Mahalia Jackson and Tom Waits, it might be more accurate to say the group's influence is music itself. You can hear it in the care and real love generously applied to each moment of Unmap. With the vibe of some intimate backwoods gospel, plus a spirit of patience and thoughtful repetition, the music of Volcano Choir is as dynamic as it is lovely.
Unmap ultimately came together over a weekend in November 2008 in Fall Creek, Wisconsin, at Justin and brother Nate Vernon's recording studio. And while it is at its heart a record about the allure of being with people you need and making something with them, it is also a document created by musicians with rare gifts getting together to exorcise their ideas about beauty. This scaffolding of loops and off grid tempos for choral style vocals offers a state of continual surprise, call it unexpectation.
06/23/09
Spinner Hosts Release Day Listening Party For SUNSET RUBDOWN'S Dragonslayer
Spinner is celebrating today's release of SUNSET RUBDOWN'S Dragonslayer by hosting a listening party for the album. Listen to Dragonslayer in its entirety HERE.
Sunset Rubdown is currently on an exhaustive North American tour, for which all dates can be found right HERE.
06/17/09
Stream DINOSAUR JR.'s Farm Right Now
That's right. You read that correctly. DINOSAUR JR.'S swaggering Jagjaguwar debut, Farm, is now streaming on the band's Myspace page. Keep the stream pumping until the album officially drops June 23. Pull that air guitar out from under your workspace desk and go here HERE.
And keep in mind all those Farm pre-order options that lay before you HERE.
06/16/09
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS And WOMEN Nominated For Polaris Music Prize
Each year The Polaris Music Prize nominates 40 Canadian bands who they believe have released one of the years best records. This year, we're pleased to announce that PINK MOUNTAINTOPS' third full length, Outside Love, and WOMEN's self titled debut have both been nominated in the initial long list. They are joined by the likes of Fucked Up, Handsome Furs, Junior Boys, & Leonard Cohen.
The long list of 40 will be whittled down to 10 bands by a panel of over 180 jurors from the music industry on July 7th. Those bands will then be up to win the $20,000 prize.
For more information, and a full list of nominees, head over to the Polaris site HERE.
06/09/09
NPR Offers Exclusive First Listen Of SUNSET RUBDOWN'S Dragonslayer
National Public Radio is now offering an Exclusive First Listen of SUNSET RUBDOWN'S Dragonslayer leading up to the June 23 release of the album from Krug and crew. Go to the NPR site to hear the album.
NPR's Bob Boilen writes of Dragonslayer: "While so much pop music is full of sweet sound, Sunset Rubdown makes bitter pop music. Nothing goes down easy, but the songs are still contagious. I'd call Dragonslayer a series of vignettes — small stories that sometimes feel like a cross between a whacked-out circus and a fairy tale. It may take a while to sort out the characters and stories in the songs, but they're all so much fun, you'll have plenty of chances to do it."
06/09/09
DINOSAUR JR. Featured On Daytrotter, Premiere Totally Gnarly Video For "Over It"
DINOSAUR JR. made their Daytrotter debut today in what is quite possibly the best headline ever crafted for the Daytrotter site: Ears Still Bleed In The Nosebleed Section.
J, Lou and Murph dipped back into the Dino catalogue for the session, saving back the gems found on the new longplayer Farm (Released June 23). Of Dinosaur Jr. and Farm, Daytrotter's Sean Moeller had these kind words to say: "They have honed their paradise settings and the band’s new album “Farm,” is another installation of the paralyzing ability of the group’s sheer magnitude, a devastating display of rumbling and hissing, of blaring and burning. It’s an example of three guys once again finding themselves getting most interested in making a loud and meaningful racket, something that will send the skin wobbling like the most overwhelming shivers. And it’s all that they can bother themselves to care about – this continuing yearning for loud grandiosity, their kind of beauty. Everything else is just scenery passing them by, flitting by like silence and who gives a shit about silence, they’d ask bluntly. And who gives a shit about keeping anything tame?"
Recently, the band premiered the "extreme" video for Farm cut "Over It," which finds the trio shredding on BMX bikes and skateboards through the streets of American cities included on their Spring tour. Check out the video below:
06/04/09
LIGHTNING DUST Jams Infinite Light Cuts For Radio K In-Studio Performance
During a recent visit to Minneapolis, Lightning Dust visited the Radio K (KUOM) for an in-studio session, during which they premiered tunes from forthcoming album Infinite Light (released Aug. 4). Core members Amber Webber and Joshua Wells (of Black Mountain) were joined in the studio and on tour by Ashley Webber (Amber's sister) singing and playing the bass and Ryan Peters (of Ladyhawk) on drums. Listen to in-studio versions of Infinite Light tracks "I Knew" and "History" on the Radio K site HERE, and ready yourself for a cosmic adventure in the light come Aug. 4.
The good people at Pitchfork did a nice post of the Radio K session on the site's Forkast HERE.
06/01/09
Pre-Order DINOSAUR JR.'S Farm Now, Get Free Poster (First 200 Of Which Are Signed By Band), And Also Get Free Downloads Immediately
DINOSAUR JR.'s Farm is now available for pre-order through Jagjaguwar mailorder. If you're one of the first 200 people to buy it from the Jagjaguwar mailorder page, you receive a SIGNED poster. But that's not all: Every pre-order will include a digital download code for the tour only 7-inch tracks "I Don't Want To Go There" and "Tarpit." All orders following the first 200 will also receive an unsigned Dinosaur Jr. poster.
Also available is the Farm (Deluxe Edition) which features a bonus disc containing four new Dinosaur Jr. tracks, "House," "Whenever You're Ready," "Creepies," and "Show." Only a limited number of the deluxe edition exist, so get it while the getting is good.
Pre-order the album in one (or more!) of three different formats HERE.
05/27/09
LIGHTNING DUST Announce Sophomore LP For Jagjaguwar, Offer Up MP3
We are extremely pleased to present the first glimpse of Lightning Dust's sophomore album for Jagjaguwar, Infinite Light (Released Aug. 4 in the US and Aug. 3 in the UK), an album that ups the ante of the band's minimalist, self-titled debut and lays to waste any "side project" chatter. There is a light on the other side of the black mountain, and it glows in the hearts of Vancouver duo Amber Webber and Joshua Wells. As Lightning Dust, the pair harness a gentler sound than as founding members of Black Mountain, though this sound is no less loaded with tension and an enviable fluency in the most classic of psych-rock.
While Infinite Light is definitely more layered and lush than previous efforts, Lightning Dust's minimal aesthetic works well in the economy of musical theater, an influence for the record, wherein each song's movements aim to be more inspiring than the one before it. And this is suiting in that Infinite Light is a nod to "the light of inspiration" that inspires us to keep dancing, creating and loving in spite of an encroaching darkness. It's a reminder that what makes the mountains so very, very black is a distant light somewhere on the other side.
First mp3 "I Knew" is a shining example of the fuller, charging sounds of Infinite Light. The song is absolutely shot out of a cannon, driven by the ping/thud pulse and crusty keyboards of Suicide and taken to flight by the Fleetwood Mac chorus your heart belts on the drive home after that first, anxious make-out session. It's a blazing, triumph of a song that permanently cauterizes any notion of Lightning Dust as a side project.
The band are at the tail-end of a North American tour, which included some opening dates with Bonnie Prince Billy. Check out the remaining dates HERE.
And be on the lookout for upcoming Lightning Dust tours of North America and Europe in support of Infinite Light.
05/20/09
SUNSET RUBDOWN Offers Pre-Order With Benefits, Plots Coast-to-Coast Summer Tour
The wait is finally over for fans of Sunset Rubdown: starting today, May 20th, Jagjgauwar is offering the upcoming record, Dragonslayer, for pre-order. All pre-orders will be sent a digital download starting tomorrow, May 21st. This download comes more than a month in advance of the June 23rd (22nd in the UK) release date to record stores and online retailers. Click HERE to pre-order Dragonslayer.
No other Jagjaguwar band has fans like Sunset Rubdown. They organize forums, facebook pages, and comment all over blogs shouting the praises of Spencer Krug and his band. After we released the mp3 for the first single from Dragonslayer, "Idiot Heart", we were most impressed by the fan criticism online. Some of our favorites:
"I am literally shitting my pants with excitement. Be glad you're not here." - Armyofwires, Stereogum
"Spencer has matured as a songwriter. For the "fans of Sunset Rubdown's first record [who] might be a little confused/let down," why don't you STFU, because as great as the early stuff was, he's not going back. Shut up and listen." - IA, You Ain't No Picasso
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and did I say yes? How about hell yes?! You can really hear the "live" vibe that Spencer is talking about going for in the new album. I can't believe he is dissatisfied with RSL though, it is a freaking masterpiece! Can't wait to hear the rest!" - Kelly, Oceans Never Listen
Sunset Rubdown will hit both coasts and drive-over states this summer. Go HERE to see the full list of dates.
05/20/09
BON IVER'S For Emma, Forever Ago Goes Gold In The UK
Right now at Jagjaguwar headquarters, we're all gathered around in a love huddle celebrating the official word that BON IVER'S For Emma, Forever Ago has gone gold in the UK. Nice work, brother. Here's to working your tail off, constantly touring, always being available, and making a record for the ages.
05/19/09
OKKERVIL RIVER Tour With Wilco, Plan Taping Of First Austin City Limits Performance
Just off an Australian tour, Okkervil River head home in the midst of the summer festival season to tape their first Austin City Limits performance on June 18. Also in store for this summer is a performance at this year's Bonnaroo Festival, the Ottawa Bluesfest and a number of dates with starry-eyed up-and-comers Wilco, including a performance at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
New DINOSAUR JR. Single, I Want You To Know, Now Available On Itunes
As the ear plug factories of the world are working double-time in preparation for the eruption of sound that will happen on June 23 when DINOSAUR JR.'S latest album Farm is released on Jagjaguwar, the band has offered a new single, "I Want You To Know," for purchase on Itunes. The track was recently given a coveted "Best New Track" tag by Pitchfork, in which the reviewer said of the song: " Whatever Mascis is going on about underneath this cocksure mess is secondary. The confidence these guys exude sounds so fantastic, it's almost a shame when the solo begins. In this song, the group's got nothing to apologize for."
To purchase "I Want To Know" for just $0.99, go HERE.
And check out all of Dinosaur Jr.'s upcoming tour dates HERE.
05/19/09
ONEIDA Announce Rated O, The Triplest Album Of All Time
Welcome to Rated O, the triple album and second installment of Oneida’s much-anticipated Thank Your Parents triptych of releases. In August of 2008, Oneida released the first installment, Preteen Weaponry, and now, Rated O, the centerpiece of the Thank Your Parents trilogy, has been bestowed upon us. Rated O will be released on Jagjaguwar on July 7th, 2009 (July 13th in the UK).
Today we are not only proud to announce this triple album, but also to share a new podcast in which members of Oneida provide commentary, insight, and explanations into the inner-workings of the O. This podcast, produced by Alex Goldman, contains three songs, "What's Up, Jackal?", "I Will Haunt You", and "Saturday". We know Jagjaguwar hasn't updated ye olde podcaste in a while, but we are making up for it!!! Discover why Rated O is like drinking a 50 gallon drum of molé sauce, how you can figure out when something is "rated O" (hint: you only realize something is "rated O" until "way later"), and under what circumstances Showtime (Shahin Motia of Ex-Models) joined the band.
JULIE DOIRON plays open bar Fader TV at Heather's in NYC
On a recent visit to New York City, JULIE DOIRON dipped mid-afternoon into uber-hip watering hole Heather's as part of Fader's Open Bar feature. Julie performed "Blue" from her latest Jagjaguwar release, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, with drummer Fred Squire. Quoth Fader: "It was something between her old lo-fi power pop and her new heartbreakingly stoic electric folk, and a perfect accompaniment for that glass of red wine just chilling on the bar." See it at the Fader site HERE and watch the video below.
05/07/09
DINOSAUR JR Film Extreme Sports Music Video In Augusta, Ga.
Using body doubles to perform the more complex and limb-risking BMX and skateboard maneuvers, DINOSAUR JR. recently cut across Augusta, Ga., filming a video for "Over It," a tune from the forthcoming album Farm. The Augusta Chronicle was on-hand to report the scene and film a making-of video, which provides solid proof that J Mascis totally knows his way around a rad stick.
Read The Augusta Chronicle news item HERE, and check out the making-of footage below.
05/04/09
Video Premiere: PINK MOUNTAINTOPS "While We Were Dreaming"
04/30/09
DINOSAUR JR. Offers First Glimpse Of New Album With Free MP3 Download
Something wicked awesome this way comes. It's name is Farm, the latest from Massachusetts' rawk goliaths DINOSAUR JR. As those about to rock await Farm's June 23rd release date, the band and Jagaguwar are offering a free digital download of album cut "I Want You To Know." Give the volume dial a couple extra twists to the right and grab the mp3 HERE.
04/28/09
BON IVER Takes Artist Of The Year At The Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards, Joins Austin City Limits Line Up
As of late BON IVER'S Justin Vernon has been bringing it all back home. On the heels of a magical performance with his former high school's jazz band, Justin was named Artist of the Year on Monday by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry awards - also known as a WAMI.
Over the next few months, Justin will be on the road both stateside and abroad, playing shows with the likes of Jenny Lewis, Elvis Perkins in Dearland and The Indigo Girls. Most recently, Bon Iver was added to the stellar line up at Austin City Limits. Check out the full roster HERE.
JULIE DOIRON Featured On NPR'S Song Of The Day
JULIE DOIRON'S stirring song "Consolation Prize" from the recent release I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day was recently featured as NPR's Song of the Day.
NPR had these wonderful things to say about how Julie effectively rips the listener's heart out with the tune: "In 'Consolation Prize,' Doiron addresses a man, living in the aftermath of a breakup, who finds that his friends won't let him leave it behind. 'People insisted on telling you what a great couple you had been / They insisted on telling you over again,' she sings over a rumbling bassline. By bringing up the pain wrought from sympathy, she's effectively doing the same thing, but Doiron isn't going for a palliative here. For two short, bruising minutes, she wants listeners to live in the ache of loss."
Holy Triple PINK MOUNTAINTOPS Events: Myspace Streaming Premiere Of New Album, Pitchfork Premiere Of New Song "While We Were Dreaming", And Pre-Order Special (Free MP3s Of The Full Album Available Immediately)
Myspace is now streaming Pink Mountaintops' upcoming release, "Outside Love," in it's entirety on the band's Myspace page.
Head to the Myspace Music page (HERE) or straight to the band's Myspace page (HERE) to give it a listen.
Also, Pitchfork has been kind to premiere a second free mp3 from "Outside Love". The new song is called "While We Were Dreaming", and it features the beautiful vocals of Ashley Webber, also known for her duet with Bonnie Prince Billy on his acclaimed 2008 album "Lie Down In The Light". You can download it HERE.
If you prefer downloading over streaming, good news. You can now pre-order "Outside Love" HERE. After placing your order, the internet gods will grant you with your very own download code to enjoy immediately.
04/20/09
BON IVER Joins Lollapalooza Line-Up, Performs With Alma Mater High School's Jazz Band
For the last year and a half, BON IVER'S Justin Vernon has been on a musical tear across the planet. And this summer finds Bon Iver still blazing that trail, most recently adding Bon Iver's own batch of awesome to an already stellar Lollapalooza 2009 line-up. Find nearly everything you need to know about Lollapalooza HERE.
Through the summer, Justin Vernon and Bon Iver will perform at festivals both European and stateside. A full list of Bon Iver and Justin Vernon tour dates can be found HERE.
Meanwhile, this past weekend, Justin performed a set of Bon Iver jammers and jazz standards with the Eau Claire Memorial High School Jazz Band - of which he was once a member not all that long ago. It's an amazing thing to think about and read about, yes. But watching these young musicians solidly back Justin in an amazing rendition of "For Emma, Forever Ago," is its own magic altogether. Please enjoy.
04/17/09
SUNSET RUBDOWN Provide First Aural Peak Into New Album, Announce North American Tour Dates, Embark On European Tour
The first aural peek into SUNSET RUBDOWN's new album, Dragonslayer, is the dynamic "Idiot Heart". It is now available for download and posting. Dragonslayer, their most cohesive and natural sounding album to date, will be released by Jagjaguwar on June 23rd (June 22nd in the U.K.).
The band's European tour begins tomorrow night in Paris and will carry through the end of April. Shortly after they will embark on a full US tour in support of Dragonslayer.
For a full list of Sunset Rubdown dates, head HERE.
04/14/09
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS Hang Up Their Robes And Tour Europe and North America; Free Download Of The Song "Vampire" Offers First Glimpse Of New Album
Oh hello, internet. It's us, Jagjaguwar. We've been hanging out down by the fire, sipping brandy and anticipating sharing some Outside Love with you. The new song is called "Vampire", and we think it'll send shivers under your dress. Just don't take our word for it. Download here and post at your leisure. We love leisure.
You can't kill the heart of Steve McBean's love, and you can't stop him from touring. Creatures of the night, come out! Come out to the show!
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS, AKA Stephen McBean, will be touring Europe starting on May 5, and then will hit the roads of North America in early June. For the North American tour, the band will include Black Mountain bandmate Matthew Camirand as well as Sophie Trudeau, Sar Friedman, Chad Ross, and Mike Maxymuik.
See a listing of Pink Mountaintops tour dates HERE.
Outside Love hits shelves May 5th. (May 4 in the UK).
04/07/09
Justin Vernon Of BON IVER To Play With High School Jazz Band
Justin Vernon and the rest of the guys in BON IVER had quite a busy year in 2008, so they've been taking a well deserved break as of recently. To gear up for a summer full of festival dates, Justin will play with his alma mater's Jazz Ensemble at Memorial High School on April 19th.
The night will be Duke Ellington themed, with Justin singing jazz standards and the ensemble playing back up on a few Bon Iver songs.
All proceeds from the show will help the jazz band attend this year's "Essentially Ellington" competition in New York, which Justin attended with the ensemble back in 1999.
For more information on the show, head HERE. For a full list of Spring & Summer shows, head HERE.
04/05/09
ODAWAS Plots West Coast Tour, Talks Shop With MOKB and Premieres Video For Harmless Lovers Discourse
Very patiently, ODAWAS' ethereal and sexy The Blue Depths has been winning over a good many serious fans of music. As Odawas plots several live dates up and down the West Coast, some influential music sites have recently been singing the praises of the San Francisco duo.
First, My Old Kentucky Blog's John Moulder did an in-depth interview with Odawas' Michael Tapscott and Isaac Edwards, who discuss their mutual love for film scores and Phil Collins. Introducing the band, Moulder wrote that with the release of The Blue Depths, Odawas "have given us yet another subtle masterpiece that's as creepy as it is beautiful. Full disclosure warning: it's the best record I've heard that's been released this year." Read the full interview HERE.
And last week, our good friends at Stereogum premiered the video for "Harmless Lovers Discourse," which Stereogum called "the set's signature piece, pathos and nostalgia deep in Michael Tapscott's voice as he sings "this could be the last day on earth," bottling up a Big Moment in a touching four-minute pop elegy." See the video produced by the team at Elephant below.
See a full listing of Odawas' upcoming tour dates HERE.
03/30/09
OKKERVIL RIVER'S Will Sheff Teaches Songwriting At Austin Non-Profit
Following some rollicking appearances at SXSW, OKKERVIL RIVER'S Will Sheff recently gave a lesson in songcraft to the young minds of Austin's The Bat Cave, a non-profit writing and tutoring center. laid down an intimate performance of "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" with fellow Okkervil members Travis Nelsen and Lauren Gurgiolo. Watch the performance below.
SUNSET RUBDOWN Ready Dragonslayer For June 23 Release
SUNSET RUBDOWN was once the moniker under which Spencer Krug released low fidelity solo recordings. The project has long since evolved into a full band, and Dragonslayer is the third full-length recorded by the whole group.
Dragonslayer was recorded in the fall of 2008. Sunset Rubdown hope that the true strength of this new album is a hidden complexity that emerges slowly from within the straight production and raw musicianship, and from what sounds at first to be an only slightly skewed approach to pop. They hope it's like that one friend of yours who looks unassuming and normal, but once you get to know him it's obvious he's basically crazy.
Sunset Rubdown embark shortly on a brief European tour. To see a complete listing of live dates, go HERE.
03/26/09
DINOSAUR JR To Release New Album Farm On June 23
The worry about the reunion of the original Dinosaur Jr. line-up, more than 20 years after their formation and legendary dissolution, was that these guys were just flogging the back catalog as a marketing gimmick. With the release of Beyond, in 2007, the band gave a hearty Marshall-driven "F**K YOU!" answer to those inquiring ears. Restoring the sound established by the opening hat-trick gambit of Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me, and Bug, the Beyond record continued the band's march into rock greatness by making old ears smile and new ears bleed afresh. And now comes Farm, the fifth full length record by the original line-up-J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph--set to release on their new label home Jagjaguwar on June 23rd.
If Beyond was Dinosaur Jr.'s return to form, Farm is proof that this band continues to deliver that which makes rock worth cranking to 11. At times wholly 70's guitar-epic, at times perfect for sitting by a babbling brook with Joni and Neil, Farm encompasses Dinosaur Jr.'s signature palette - soaring and distorted guitar, unshakable hooks, honey-rich melodies - songs that get into your head and, bouncing around happily, stay there. The ear-catching "Plans" is nearly 7 minutes of classic whipped-topping rock dessert, while "I Don't Wanna Go There" is a meat-and-potatoes main dish, mixing unapologetic lead guitar with straight-ahead delivery a la James Gang or Humble Pie. These two tunes round out twelve tracks propelled by the unique energy of one of America's greatest living rock bands hitting their stride.
Farm was recorded in J Mascis' Bisquiteen studio in Amherst, Massachusetts, and was produced by Mascis.
After some air-guitar-inspiring gigs at SXSW, Dino will soon embark in a full-on tour in support of Farm, supported by the likes of Mike Watt and Awesome Color. To see a complete listing of live dates, go HERE.
03/24/09
JAGJAGUWAR Teams With YouTube To Capture SXSW Magic
At SXSW 2009, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans and Secretly Canadian partnered with YouTube to capture the many stunning performances at their Thursday showcase blowout at The Mohawk. To peep all the videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/sxsw and click on the "Musical Performances" option. Check back daily as new performances are posted
03/23/09
SUNSET RUBDOWN Announce European Tour Dates.
SUNSET RUBDOWN will be heading overseas for a string of dates. Europe, be prepared to hear some old favorites as well as some newer material. Most of the dates are as below:
04/18/09 Paris, France - La Maronquinerie 04/20/09 Haarlem, NL - Patronaat 04/21/09 Wetzlar, Germany - KuZ 04/22/09 Stuttgart, Germany - Manufaktur 04/23/09 Prague, CZ - 007 04/24/09 Krems, AT - Danube Festival 04/25/09 Moscow, Russia - Avant Festival 04/27/09 Zagreb, HR - Teatar & TD 04/29/09 Krakow, PL - Manggha 04/30/09 Warsaw, PL - Hydrozagadka 05/02/09 Aarhus, Denmark - Pop Revo Festival
For up-to-date tour-dates (including any last minute additions), check HERE.
03/17/09
JAGJAGUWAR Plots SXSW Showcase Mind-blower
For the past two years, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans and Secretly Canadian have kept Thursday night at the Mohawk the best music showcase of the SXSW Festival. So, in keeping with our tradition of quantities of quality, we are proud to announce that we will be doing it again in 2009.
This year we are going to be a tiny bit skimpy on the details. Festival-goers are going to need a little help keeping their minds alert now that all the caffeine and taurine have been taken out of the free Sparks: WHO WILL THE SPECIAL GUEST BE? Did The Curious Digit decide it's time to stage a comeback? Is it Dead Oceans' latest signing? Have we booked The Texas Centaur for the party? Only time will tell, and that time is specifically 12:45 on the night of Thursday, March 19th. Don't bother asking us for hints because SXSW-surprise-torture is our favorite kind of torture!
Once again, we will be running two stages at the Mohawk. Please come early, stay late, grab a refreshing beverage, hug the taxidermied bear who lives in the hallway and enjoy the following musical stylings:
See all our artists' SXSW appearances by going HERE.
03/06/09
OKKERVIL RIVER Guests On Merge Records' 20-Year Celebration Compilation
As part of Merge Records' 20th Anniversary celebration, the legendary label is releasing a compilation, SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Covers, which features some of today's best artists coving favorites from the Merge catalogue. Jagjaguwar's own OKKERVIL RIVER appears, performing a cover of East River Pipe's "All You Little Suckers." The album is up for pre-order on the Merge Records site, and will be available at your local records stores on April 7.
02/26/09
DINOSAUR JR Sign With Jagjaguwar, Announces April Tour And Exclusive 7-inch
We're elated to announce that DINOSAUR JR has signed with Jagjaguwar.
It's not often that the shiny reveries of our younger, more formative years get to coincide with the psyche of our professional lives. Let's call it castle building, start making plans for a new tower, muse on it in our quieter moments, then move on. WE'RE STOKED!
Now in the Jagjaguwar family, Dinosaur Jr. will be hitting the road in April to road test new material in a town near you in cozier environs than you might expect. For the fortunate fans who score tickets to these select shows, they will also receive either a limited edition, tour-only 7" or a digital download code with the purchase of a ticket. The songs on this release were recorded live during a Pitchfork.tv feature at J Mascis' own Bisquiteen Studios. The feature is currently running on Pitchfork.tv.
The A-Side is a new track entitled "I Don't Want To Go There" and is slated to appear on their forthcoming full length, while the B-Side is a revisited classic "Tarpit" from "You're Living All Over Me."
Watch in-studio performances of "I Don't Want To Go There" and "Tarpit" HERE and HERE.
And see the full listing of Dinosaur Jr. tour dates HERE.
02/23/09
SWAN LAKE releases mp3s, offers pre-order downloads of Enemy Mine
The beloved musical group from Canada, Swan Lake, is releasing their newest album Enemy Mine on Jagjaguwar on March 24th, world wide. Those who purchase Enemy Mine through a pre-order program with their local record store or Jagjaguwar will be given a digital download of the album for immediate listening. Try and beat that with a stick!
Pre-orders and the download dissemination will begin tomorrow, February 24th, via SC Distribution HERE.
Last week Pitchforkmedia.com, Stereogum.com and Spin.com unleashed the first audio glimpses into the world of Enemy Mine, and we would like to share those with you today. Each song represents what band members Carey Mercer, Spencer Krug and Daniel Bejar bring to Swan Lake on this beautiful collaboration.
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS Ready New Album, "Outside Love" CD/LP
Jagjaguwar is proud to announce the upcoming release of "Outside Love" by PINK MOUNTAINTOPS, ten songs of love and hate that read like a Danielle Steele romance novel, but that would probably make for bad television.
"Outside Love" is the third album by Pink Mountaintops, AKA Stephen McBean, who has slowly emerged as a distinctive voice and a very special contributor to the North American songbook. A veteran of the Vancouver/Victoria punk rock scene, McBean is best known for his contributions to acclaimed rock band Black Mountain, as principal songwriter, guitarist and co-vocalist.
The ten songs on "Outside Love" are about or influenced by weddings in Montreal, winter, Pink Floyd's The Final Cut, Christmas albums, that one Exile song and that one Echo and the Bunnymen song, the Bermuda Triangle, being depressed in the sunshine, people who haven't made out yet but will in the future, The Everly Brothers, clowns in the ceilings, and bedrooms where skinheads used to live.
Pink Mountaintops has one planned live engagement on May 8 at the ATP Vs. The Fans weekend at Butlins Holiday Resort in Minehead, England. Tickets are going fast, so don't hesitate on this one. Joining Pink Mountaintops will be The Jesus Lizard, Devo, Spiritualized, Shearwater, and a boat load of more bands.
02/06/09
WOMEN Tour With Abe Vigoda, Crystal Stilts And Chad Van Gaalen
This past fall we fell for the music made by the men from Calgary called WOMEN despite their inevitably ungoogleable band name. Their great pop sensibility channeled through a rough and ready experimental lo-fi sound leaves enough surprises that we continually find it lodged in nooks and crannies in my head. Like a teenage boy, we just can't seem to get WOMEN off our collective mind! Now you too will have a chance to hear what the buzz is all about. On March 8 WOMEN embark on a coast to coast tour of the United States including three days at South By Southwest, and shows with Crystal Stilts, Abe Vigoda, and the producer of their self-titled debut album, Mr. Chad Van Gaalen. Come hear what the glorious ruckus is all about.
BLACK MOUNTAIN Nominated For A Juno Award
We're very pleased to announce that BLACK MOUNTAIN's most recent album, In The Future, has been nominated for a Juno in the category of "Best Alternative Album". For more info on the Juno Awards and the nominees, head over to their site HERE. Winners will be announced March 29th, 2009.
In other Black Mountain award news: The band recently won the Bucky Award on CBC Radio 3 for "Best Hook of 2008" for the song "Stormy High". For a little more info, check HERE.
02/02/09
ODAWAS Featured On KEXP's Live From San Francisco Broadcast
Last week, the good people at Seattle's KEXP made a San Francisco field trip to feature performances and interviews from some of the Bay Area's finest artists. And Jagjaguwar's recent Berkeley-via-Chicago transplant ODAWAS were selected to bring their synth spirituals to the KEXP airwaves. The band premiered the live incarnations of two songs from the soon-to-be released THE BLUE DEPTHS, while also dipping deep into its catalogue.
In KEXP's Live in San Francisco blog, the following kind words were written about Odawas' performance: "With his guitar speaking heartbreaking volumes of emotion before he even whispers a sound, singer Michael Tapscott is a double headed snake, a precise weapon in two forms. Whereas his guitar is gentle and cautious his voice is chilling and brave. Isaac Edwards is a wizard of electronic sound, presiding over vintage keyboards and eerie waves of movement that wash from one edge of the song into the next leaving the listener feeling refreshed and alive...Stumbling into the opening months of 2009 the Odawas represent the best of what a new year can provide us with: inspiration, hope and joy."
By going to http://www.kexp.org/streamarchive/streamarchive.asp and entering the time (11 a.m.) and day (Jan. 30) of the program, listeners can enjoy Odawas' performance and interview for the next couple of weeks.
01/29/09
BLACK MOUNTAIN To Headline West Coast Tour With The Sadies
We at Jagjaguwar, looking back at 2008, have pride-swollen hearts when it comes to the outstanding band BLACK MOUNTAIN. Last year the band released their critically-acclaimed album "In the Future", hailed by The Onion, Uncut, Q, The Wire, Exclaim! and Popmatters as one of the best of 2008. "In the Future" was shortlisted for the prestigious Polaris Prize - an award for the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit. BLACK MOUNTAIN performed "Stormy High" for the tall red-haired gentleman Conan O'Brien and his audience in February during their "Friendship Tour Two Thousand and Great" with Bon Iver.
2008 saw some significant travel: SXSW, Coachella, All Tomorrow's Parties, The Glastonbury Festival, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and many more festivals and countries. Much of it was chronicled in bassist Matt Camirand's excellent blog HERE.
BLACK MOUNTAINS's friends and brothers in Canuck-dom, The Sadies, will be joining the band on a West Coast tour in late March following BLACK MOUNTAIN's tour in Australia.
BON IVER Covers Feist On Australian Radio
As Bon Iver wraps up an Australian tour this weekend, a recent appearance on Australia's government-funded radio session, Triple J, included Justin Vernon's take on Feist's "The Park," to which he brings his haunting - and comforting - falsetto. Stream the entire interview with Triple J HERE.
Stereogum is also offering a download of Bon Iver's cover of "The Park" HERE.
Both Bon Iver and Feist recently appeared on the Dark Was The Night compilation, to which Bon Iver contributed the track "Brackett, WI." The compilation benefits the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS.
01/19/09
WOMEN On Pitchfork.tv Live
WOMEN played a boat load of CMJ showcases this past year and the fine folks over at Pitchfork.tv were kind enough to film one of their performances at The Cake Shop. See for yourself below:
Women's self titled debut is out now in both the US and UK.
01/19/09
JULIE DOIRON To Release I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day This March
Since her Polaris Prize-nominated album "Woke Myself Up", everything has come together in JULIE DOIRON's world.
On her upcoming record "I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day", DOIRON has embraced her electric past and made an album which showcases thick distortion and melodic pop not heard since her days with indie heroes Eric's Trip in the '90s. It’s part of a desire to get back to her electric days. The past couple of years have seen Eric’s Trip regroup for triumphant reunion tours, and a rekindling of her work with Trip mainstay Rick White. "I Can Wonder..." was recorded at White’s isolated home studio, just northwest of Toronto. DOIRON handled the electric and acoustic guitar parts, White played all the bass and keyboards, and Fred Squire performed all the drums and some lead guitar.
"I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day" — which arrives on the heels of the album "Lost Wisdom", DOIRON and her bandmate Fred Squire’s recent critically-acclaimed collaboration with Mt. Eerie — presents listeners with an album that reflects both her continued growth as an artist and a renewed optimism as a songwriter as well. As has often been the case, DOIRON’s songwriting is rooted in what’s happening around her.
"I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day" will be released on March 10th by Jagjaguwar in the United States (March 9th in the UK). JULIE DOIRON will be performing at the SXSW Festival this March (details forthcoming).
Listen to "Consolation Prize" from the new record, HERE.
01/15/09
ODAWAS Announces The Release Of The Blue Depths
On ODAWAS’ third Jagjaguwar release “The Blue Depths,” due Feb. 17 (Feb. 16 in the UK), the Berkeley, CA-via-Chicago band makes a warmer, more sensual turn in sound – leaning heavier on its cinematic influences. Recorded during one of the worst Chicago winters in three decades, the mood of the album seems to foretell of Odawas’ recent relocation to Berkeley’s more lush, coastal environment. It’s as if the band warmed itself with blankets of synth and soft, bionic heartbeats.
At first glimpse of the album art - details from Helen Maurene Cooper’s Birds Of Appetite series - it becomes apparent that a certain surreal quality will mark the contents within The Blue Depths. A sense of longing and desire is buried within the dizzying layers. Odawas heighten the more subtle components of previous efforts, unashamedly giving into their love of Vangelis' romanticism, Eric Serra's dusky mysticism, and the sweeping, Southwestern strings of Jack Nitzsche. They demonstrate their mastery of nudging to the edge of the over the top with enchanting results.
The Blue Depths is an album for warmer places, a balmy haze habitat for headphone meanderings. This is a dream world where Neil Young and Jimmy Webb float in the reverb-saturated summer breeze. The solemn harmonies of “Moonlight/Twilight” drift between sheets of stirring bowed bass murmur as shimmering guitar notes ebb and flow underneath. Bursts of yearning harmonica arc over ethereal soundscapes in “The Case Of The Great Irish Elk.” The jubilant piano of “Harmless Lover’s Discourse” gives way to the most startling pop moment of the album, a soaring bed of synth propelled by a driving bass line and vibrant rhythms.
Pulses of light extend towards the murky crevasse of the subconscious: these depths never looked so enticing. – Joel Beeman
A free MP3 download of “Harmless Lover’s Discourse” can be obtained HERE.
My Old Kentucky Blog recently featured "The Blue Depths" in its Under the Radar section, stating that with the new album Odawas has "created some of the most beautiful music you're likely to hear all year." MOKB featured "Harmless Lover's Discourse," as well as a 2007 demo of lead track "The Case of the Great Irish Elk." See what MOKB had to say about the record HERE
In the weeks surrounding the release, Odawas will perform at San Francisiso’s Noise Pop Festival, and appear on Seattle’s KEXP for a remote broadcast performance and interview.
Tracklisting:
The Case of the Great Irish Elk Swan Song for the Humpback Our Gentle Life Together The Sound of Lies Secrets of the Fall Moonlight/Twilight Harmless Lover’s Discourse Boy in the Yard
01/12/09
BON IVER Releases MP3 For Blood Bank EP
Jagjaguwar is proud to release the first high quality MP3 (nice try with all those crappy vinyl rips!) from the much anticipated BON IVER "Blood Bank" EP.
Leave it to BON IVER to make blood donation sound sexy. Have we ever found love at a blood bank? No. Have we ever made out in a car after donating blood? No. This song certainly brings us there, though, munching on cookies and drinking juice boxes in order to keep from fainting in that snowy parking lot. Red and white. Blood and snow.
Pitchfork was one of the firsts to weigh in on the title song: "You can feel him stretching a bit, playing around with different ways to tell stories in his songs. 'Blood Bank' doesn't really have a proper chorus-- a leap up to a weary high note is as close at it gets-- and there's no bridge, either. Instead, it's just a steady funeral march trailing behind one repeating chord progression, a lean and stark structure to match the song's blown-out world."
The EP will be released in digital, cd and vinyl formats on January 20th (19th in the UK) by Jagjaguwar, worldwide. No promotional copies will be available until that time.
Please enjoy the song "Blood Bank" http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/bloodbank.mp3
Australians can catch BON IVER live later this month: 01/15/09 Perth, Australia - Fly By Night 01/17/09 Brisbane, Australia - The Tivoli 01/18/09 Melbourne, Australia - The Hi-Fi 01/19/09 Melbourne, Australia - Forum Theatre 01/20/09 Sydney, Australia - The Famous Spiegeltent 01/21/09 Angel Place, Australia - City Recital Hall 01/22/09 Sydney, Australia - The Famous Spiegeltent 01/23/09 Sydney, Australia - The Famous Spiegeltent 01/24/09 Angel Place, Australia - City Recital Hall
01/06/09
SWAN LAKE Announce New Record, Enemy Mine
The release of SWAN LAKE's new album is imminent! It is called "Enemy Mine", to be released on Jagjaguwar on March 24th, 2009 (March 23rd in the UK).
For those unfamiliar, SWAN LAKE is the musical group featuring celebrated songwriter-mystics Daniel Bejar (of Destroyer and New Pornographers), Spencer Krug (of Sunset Rubdown and Wolf Parade) and Carey Mercer (of Frog Eyes and Blackout Beach).
Together they recorded Enemy Mine, their nine-song second album, in Victoria, British Columbia, in early 2008, a little more than a year after the release of their well-received debut collaboration, "Beast Moans", also on Jagjaguwar.
While their debut album was a beautifully-weaved mash-up of their disparate song-writing styles, often with layer upon layer of various melodies and stylistics thrown into a collaborative cauldron to magical, and at times discordant effect, their second album "Enemy Mine" reflects a more stripped-down, more deliberate approach to collaboration. It's as if they really tried to just make nice songs together. To quote Krug, "There's architecture here." Not that the lyric is about collaboration--it fits nicely though.
It is the band's contention that this is the first known use of a "court painting" as a record cover used in popular music. As a result of this enthusiasm, the band had planned on calling the album "Before the Law", a beloved Kafka parable and a reference to this court painting. However, the band is tired of being tagged as "literary", so they dubbed the record "Enemy Mine", a beloved movie from Bejar's youth, and a good metaphor for collaboration.
Tracklisting:
Spanish Gold, 2044 Paper Lace Heartswarm Settle On Your Skin Ballad Of A Swan Lake, Or, Daniel's Song Peace Spider A Hand At Dusk Warlock Psychologist
An MP3 will be forthcoming, so please stay tuned to your Jagjaguwar news feeders. SWAN LAKE does not currently have any tour plans but is easily swayed by gold doubloons and/or enthusiastic mobs. No promotional copies of "Enemy Mine" will be available until late February.
01/05/09
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS Play ATP Vs. The Fans
This May, PINK MOUNTAINTOPS will be playing the ATP Vs. The Fans weekend at Butlins Holiday Resort in Minehead, England. Tickets are going fast, so don't hesitate on this one.
Also joining Pink Mountaintops will be The Jesus Lizard, Devo, Spiritualized, Shearwater, and a boat load of more bands.
Head over HERE for a full list of bands and information on how to get tickets.
12/22/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Play The Late Show With David Letterman
We are pleased to announce that OKKERVIL RIVER will be playing The Late Show With David Letterman. The guys will be gracing the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater on January 7th, 2009.
Also, the night before, they will be playing a show at The Bell House. Get your tickets HERE before they're gone!
12/19/08
BON IVER's World Cafe To Be Rebroadcast
BON IVER's episode of the NPR staple World Cafe will be rebroadcast on their special 'Best of 2008' series. The episode will run 12/30/2008 to help close out an amazing year for the band.
You can find your local station by heading HEREand clicking on "Find A Program Broadcast Time" at the bottom.
12/17/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Announce Australian Tour
BLACK MOUNTAIN are heading to Australia in February/March 2009 to take us on a ride of monster riffs, swirling Hammond and cosmic rock. Black Mountain play summer festival dates at the Perth Festival and Golden Plains in Victoria but will headline their own club shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
BON IVER Headlines The Eau Claire Evening News
BON IVER's Justin Vernon has been charming his native town of Eau Claire now for 27 years, but he has finally charmed the news team of ABC 18. They have named him a "rising star" and gave him a two minute segment amongst other holiday favorite stories like wind chill forecasts and Toys For Tots. We know that all friends and family were glued to the tube down at The Joynt, and we're raising our glass to y'all! Congrats and welcome home (soon), Justin!
12/10/08
MONROE MUSTANG Digitally Reissue First And Third Records
Somehow ahead of and behind the times all at once, Monroe Mustang’s debut album “Plain Sweeping Themes For The Unprepared”, has been reincarnated for the digital age by Jagjaguwar. One of the most underrated albums released by Austin’s Trance Syndicate/Emperor Jones recording conglomerate, the original home of the Mustang’s slo-fi sympathizers Bedhead and American Analog Set. Monroe Mustang uses home recordings to evoke a timeless brand of melodic songsmithery that’s as easy to imbibe then as it is now. The band that time forgot: Brian Barry, Taylor Holland, Christopher Linnen, Michael Linnen, and Jason Stout, share singing and songwriting duties while rotating instruments – both onstage and in their backyard studio. This is headphone music for aficionados of adventurous, woozy, classic rock and the space where pop veers toward the strange. An excellent antidote for hurting heads. Best administered when somnambulant sounds are most desired.
Also reissued is Monroe's Iced-over and left for dead second release on Austin’s Trance Syndicate/Emperor Jones recording conglomerate. All five members, Brian Barry, Taylor Holland, Christopher Linnen, Michael Linnen, and Jason Stout, share singing and songwriting duties while rotating instruments -- both onstage and in their home studio. Originally conceived as a concept album, each band member wrote, recorded, and produced their own song for this 5 song E.P. An odd collection that highlights the propensities of each of the Mustangs, veering from lo-fi-new-wave, to acoustic dirge, to sublime pop.
12/09/08
JAGJAGUWAR Is The Cutest Label Of 2008
In addition to being the best label in all of the land, JAGJAGUWAR has received word, via our favorite music blog Stereogum that we are also the most attractive. You see, Jagjaguwar has two artists in the top 10 Gummy Awards for 2008 Indie Rock Crushes!*
It wasn't a huge surprise about Spencer Krug. He's been dreamboating into our lives for a while now with his soft voice and deep brown eyes. Just a quick googling of "Spencer Krug" and "crush" yields the following results:
I think Spencer Krug has ruined my ability to ever have a crush on anyone in real life again. - Something Obscene
I am madly in love with Spencer Krug. He's just the most perfect looking boy out there - Doll Sneer Piece
My man crush on Spencer Krug just keeps on growing - Warrens Wren
Per’s got a crush on Spencer Krug and why not? He is the total package- Brothers root
So I've developed an extra-marital crush on Spencer Krug. I talked to my husband about it and he's ok with that. - Pirate Tianna
Yesterday, I woke up with the realization that I have a crush on Spencer Krug. The boyfriend wasn't very happy about this, but I just can't stop thinking of what a genius this man is. Random Spirit Lover is so good. - Hail Sleepy Eyes
The past few weeks I've been ignoring you, attempting to focus my attention of the new man-crush in my life, Spencer Krug. - Walking Shoe
Never have we seen the phrase "Man-crush" used so much to describe humans as with Spencer Krug and Bon Iver (aka Justin Vernon).
While Spencer Krug was holding down the tail of the list at #9, Bon Iver was thrust into top 5 territory, beating out such handsomes as Ryan Adams and Thom Yorke but also getting his ass handed to him by Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend. We'll see you next year, Ezra!!!
*Bon Iver also won #3 album of the year, and Okkervil River's The Stands Ins was deemed as the #21 album of the year as well.
12/08/08
PARTS & LABOR On NPR's Weekend Edition, Play Oneida Fest
PARTS & LABOR were interviewed on NPR's Weekend Edition on Sunday, December 7th. Head over to NPR's site, HERE, to listen to the band answer the questions they asked fans last fall while recording their stellar new album, Receivers.
Also, if you haven't had the chance to see the band live on this tour, they'll be stopping by the Knitting Factory on 12/13/08 with their good friends, and label mates, Oneida for 'Oneida Fest'. Also, playing will be Sightings, Oakley Hall, Knyfe Hyts, Dirty Faces, Cave, Pterodactyl, Neptune, & Brava Spectre.
Good luck walking out of that show with your face unmelted.
12/05/08
BON IVER's Blood Bank Up For Pre-order
Jagjaguwar is pleased to announce that BON IVER's newest release, Blood Bank, is available now for pre-order.
Your pre order copy will ship the second week of January, and the record will be available in stores January 20 in the US, January 19 in the UK.
ONEIDA Contributes Rare Track To Compilation
People have been harassing us about the upcoming, soon-to-be-stuff-of-legend, triple album by ONEIDA called Rated O. The truth is we can only reveal our secrets ONE BY ONE.
Good news for you: ONEIDA has contributed an exclusive track to Party Store Records latest cassette only comp: The Coldest Beer in Town. The song they contribute is called "Rated O", an outtake from the upcoming album of the same name! One version of the tape has the instrumental version and one version has the vocal version!
Additionally, the band listed as "The Bible" features Baby Hanoi Jane and Kid Millions with Michael Awesome from Awesome Color.
Brooklyn's finest underground noise-makers and party animals have formed like Voltron for this compilation, so take a trip to Kent Avenue for a few cold ones from the party store.
Track listing!
A-Side: Blues Control "Frankie's Problem" Red Dawn II "Cat in the Brain" Weirding Module featuring Canopic Lidz Oneida "Rated O" Golden Triangle "Annette's Got the Hits" Talk Normal "River's Edge"
B-Side: The Bible "Summertime" Tall Firs "Slaughterhouse" Tunnels "Trachiotemy" Big-K "Bonus Track" Awesome Color "Early Eldert Jam"
These are some stores where you can find this or go to Party Store's Myspace for more info!
Academy Records 96 North 6th St Brooklyn, NY Cinders Gallery 103 Havemeyer St Brooklyn, NY Happy Fun Industries (inside Secret Project Robot) 210 Kent Ave Brooklyn, NY Passout Records 131 Grand St Brooklyn, NY Other Music 15 E. 4th St NYC, NY Cake Shop 152 Ludlow St NYC, NY Zulu Records 1972 W. 4th Ave Vancouver, BC Volcanic Tongue 1129 Argyle St Glasgow
11/25/08
BON IVER Takes Part In The Yellow Bird Project For Charity
BON IVER has joined the likes of Broken Social Scene, The Shins, and Rilo Kiley by designing a shirt for the Yellow Bird Project. If you aren't familiar with the Yellow Bird Project, they are a non for profit group that enlists artists to design t-shirts for charity.
100% of the profits from each t-shirt sold go to the charity chosen by the artist. Justin and the guys have decided to donate their profits to the Interval House, a women's shelter in Toronto.
For more information, and to purchase a shirt, head HERE
11/24/08
RICHARD YOUNGS Summer Wanderer LP Out Now On Gypsy Sphinx
RICHARD YOUNGS has released his a cappella full length, originally released on CD-R via his No Fans label, on Gypsy Sphinx.
MINUS STORY's Jordan Geiger Releases Solo Full Length
Jordan Geiger of MINUS STORY has released a record under the moniker Hospital Ships. The full length, entitled Oh, Ramona, is out now on Graveface records.
To find more information and/or purchase the album, head HERE.
11/14/08
LADYHAWK is the best live act in Canada!
Holy moly, y'all: a Ladyhawk show is fun. They are rollicking and beer-soaked, heart-aching and most certainly ROCKING. We get misty-eyed just thinking about it.
The CBC has their finger on the PULSE of Canadian music fans, nominating Ladyhawk for BEST LIVE ACT. Someone over there must have seen or heard of Ladyhawk's coolest/newest Canadian tour with Shotgun Jimmie and Attack in Black and picked up a 7" emblazoned with puppies.
If you love Ladyhawk, get on over to the CBC website and vote. Voting starts today and ends November 28th. Winners will be announced in special live broadcast on December 17.
Lead singer of Ladyhawk, Duffy Driediger, has been practicing his piano on this tour quite a bit in those precious extra moments he finds to himself:
11/14/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN's Polaris Prize Gala Performance + babysitting tips!
Every year Canada's Polaris Prize has a very lovely Gala to honor the nominees of the award. This year, Black Mountain's "In the Future" was nominated, so the band attended the award ceremony and played their song "Tyrants" to a venue full of industry professionals eating dinner at tables and sippin' on sparkly stuff.
Canada's CBC also nominated the band in two categories for their annual Bucky awards.
1. Best Advice From an Artist: Steve McBean on "babysitting tips" 2. Best Hook: "Stormy High"
If you've used any of Steve's babysitting advice in any of your endeavors OR love the hook in "Stormy High", get on over to the CBC website and VOTE! Voting begins today and ends November 28th. Winners will be announced in special live broadcast on December 17.
11/13/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Host Subterranean On MTV2 Tonight
Tonight’s episode of Subterranean with guests OKKERVIL RIVER might be the most special Subterranean ever. The band decided to sing their answers to all of the questions that were sent their way.
Click HERE for a little teaser that won’t make it to air tonight.
Tune in tonight on MTV2 at 1AM ET/midnight CT for much, much more.
11/13/08
BON IVER To Release New 12", Tours Through Winter, Performs On David Letterman
Just in time for winter, BON IVER have announced a new 4 song 12"/cdep entitled Blood Bank. From the title track's remembrance of the winter warmth we seek, to the summer love tribute of b-side gem "Babys", Bon Iver's snow-blanketed harmonies live across the seasons. Still, there is a reverence for sabbatical, solitude and the winding down of time. As much as "For Emma, Forever Ago" is about the cold, the Blood Bank collection is about the warmth that gets you through it.
Blood Bank will be released in the US on 1/20/09 and in the UK on 1/19/09. If you can't wait until then, head out to one of the bands shows stretching through the end of December hitting the East coast and parts of the Midwest where they will be selling the vinyl version.
If "Blood Bank" wasn't exciting enough, Justin Vernon and friends will be meeting Jagjaguwar's home state hero, David Letterman on December 11th when they tape a performance for The Late Show to be aired on or around that day. If, in your delight about "Blood Bank", you glossed over the previous sentence, let me say it one more time: Bon Iver's performing on The Late Show With David Letterman! Uhhhhhh, you got any gum?
11/11/08
ONEIDA's Kid Millions On New Limited Edition White Hills LP
ONEIDA's Kid Millions appears on the new White Hills LP entitled A Little Bliss Forever. The LP is limited to a mere 333 copies that come in white sleeves with paste on art and a red vellum insert.
Get your hands on this NOW. They're bound to go fast.
11/06/08
WILL SHEFF Releases Split 7" With Charles Bissell, Tours
WILL SHEFF of Okkervil River will be releasing a split 7" with found member of the Wrens, Charles Bissell. The release finds both men covering each others tunes. Will offers up a version of the Wrens' "Ex-Girl Collection" while Charles gives us his rendition of Okkervil's "It Ends With A Fall."
The 7" will be released 12/09/2008 to select retailers, mailorder, and at shows.
Speaking of shows, Will is heading out for a few solo dates starting 12/11/2008. See below for a full list of dates:
12/11/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Charles Bissell + Bird of Youth 12/17/08 San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theatre - A Conversation with Will Sheff 12/19/08 San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord w/ Bird of Youth 12/20/08 Los Angeles, CA - Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever w/ Tallest Man on Earth + Bird of Youth
10/29/08
LADYHAWK And BON IVER Nominated For Best Art Vinyl 2008
LADYHAWK's most recent release, Shots, has been nominated for best album artwork of 2008 by Art Vinyl. Also garnering an nomination is BON IVER's For Emma, Forever Ago.
Head over to Art Vinyl's site, HERE, to vote and see the rest of the nominees.
10/29/08
OKKERVIL RIVER On NPR's World Cafe Tomorrow
OKKERVIL RIVER will be appearing on National Public Radio's World Cafe, with host David Dye, tomorrow, October 30th.
Listen from 2p - 4p HERE. You can also head over HERE to find a local listing of when the show will broadcast.
10/22/08
Pre-Order WILDERNESS' New Album (k)no(w)here And THE DEAD C Reissues
With the upcoming release of (k)no(w)here, the third full-length from WILDERNESS, Jagjaguwar continues to be profoundly inspired. The unconventional band from Baltimore, Maryland have seemed to eschew the more standard paths to releasing and promoting music, but their focus has always been on the creation and performance of their musical works. More than most, Wilderness hold true to the idealistic notion that sometimes music and art can stand for itself.
New Zealand's THE DEAD C (Michael Morley, Bruce Russell and Robbie Yeats) have continually made the most crushing, expansive and intelligent rock noise ever to be heard. Just a glance at their peers who are fans (Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Comets On Fire, Black Dice) shows the league in which they play. Jagjaguwar and Ba Da Bing Records are proud to be reissuing DR503 and The Sunstabbed EP together as one double LP, as well as Eusa Kills and Helen Said This as one double LP. Both double LPs are packaged in a gorgeous, litho-wrapped gatefold jacket.
These new releases are due out on 11/04, but you can pre-order them now HERE
10/17/08
PARTS & LABOR Announce Tour In Support Of Receivers, Set Up Toll Free Number To Solicit Samples For Live Show
PARTS & LABOR will be heading out on tour this month in support of their much-talked-about new album, Receivers.
With the same idea they had while recording the record, the band have set up a special toll-free telephone number where you can call in, leave an audio recording of anything you like. They'll then take the recordings and incorporate them into their live shows on the tour.
Call (888) 317-5596 and leave a message and then head out to one of the shows to hear it!
Dates: 10/21/08 Brooklyn, NY - Death By Audio w/ Rahim, Double Dagger, Flying Dinowalrus, Fiasco, Pictureplane 10/23/08 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop w/ Tanked, National Suicide Day 10/24/08 Chicago, IL - The Hideout w/ Black Ladies, David Dannell/Doug McCombs, Bus Master, Touch 10/25/08 St. Louis, MO - The Billiken Club (FREE) 10/27/08 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive w/ The Natural Selection, Pictureplane 10/28/08 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge w/ Trouble On The Prairie, Pierced Arrows 10/29/08 Boise, ID - Neurolux w/ Pierced Arrows 10/30/08 Seattle, WA - The Vera Project w/ Gowns 10/31/08 Portland, OR - Backspace w/ Gowns 11/01/08 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern w/ Gowns 11/03/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Smell w/ Gowns 11/04/08 Irvine, CA - UC Irvine w/ Gowns, White Fang/Adrian Orange 11/05/08 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture 11/07/08 Houston, TX - Walters On Washington w/ Black Congress, Ume 11/08/08 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest 11/09/08 Dallas, TX - The Lounge w/ True Widow, Lipstick Terror 11/10/08 Hot Springs, AR - The Exchange w/ Church of the Snake 11/11/08 Shreveport, LA - Artspace 11/12/08 Tallahassee, FL - Engine Room w/ Seepeople, Powerplant, Unwed Sailor, Lotus 11/13/08 Tampa, FL - Crowbar w/ Lush Progress, Flexxehawk 11/14/08 Atlanta, GA - Star Bar w/ Tenth To The Moon, The Selmanaries 11/16/08 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone 11/17/08 Richmond, VA - Triple 11/19/08 Bloomington, IN - Jake's w/ Push Pull + Prizzy Prizzy Please 11/20/08 Detroit, MI - Lager House 11/21/08 Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dees w/ Romo Roto, Black Feelings 11/22/08 Montreal, QC - Zoobizarre w/ Special Noise 11/23/08 New Haven, CT - Sundazed @ Bar w/ Bottle Up & Go 12/13/08 New York, NY - Knitting Factory w/ Oneida, Sightings, Oakley Hall, Neptune, Pterodactyl, Dirty Faces, Knyfe Hyts, Brava Spectre
Receivers is out 10/21/07
10/17/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Video Interview On SPIN.com
OKKERVIL RIVER'S Will Sheff was interviewed by SPIN.com about their track "Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979" from 'The Stand Ins.' You can watch the video below.
10/08/08
WILDERNESS To Tour U.S., Release Free MP3 From Upcoming (k)no(w)here CD/LP
WILDERNESS, the unconventional rock band from Baltimore, Maryland, will embark on a tour of the U.S. in November, in support of the release of their third full-length album "(k)no(w)here" (out on Jagjaguwar in the CD, LP and digital formats in the U.S. and throughout the world on Nov. 4.; UK release date of Nov. 3).
The music of Wilderness was acclaimed from the start. Their debut self-titled album (released July 5, 2005) garnered wide and special praise. Pitchfork called Wilderness "a shift back to the cerebral end of the rock spectrum", and designated their debut record with the prestigious Best New Music tag. Skyscraper sagely remarked on how the band's relatively low profile since then is actually a special boon: "Wilderness is creating their own music, taking advantage of their relative isolation to create a Walden in the wilds of today's music." Following up with an equally impressive second album called "Vessel States" (April 11, 2006) and shortly thereafter with the "Living Through / Part Ways" 7-inch (August 22, 2006), Wilderness have been consistent and prolific creators of music that is every bit for the soul as it is for the body and the mind.
Almost two years after their previous works, their newest album "(k)no(w)here" was inspired from a collaboration with renowned visual artist Charles Long, which was exhibited at the Whitney Museum's Biennial celebration earlier this year. The individual parts of "(k)no(w)here" weave in and out of each other, showing how the album was originally conceived as one large piece.
All dates on the upcoming tour will be supported by Boston's San Serac.
TOUR DATES:
11/19 New York, NY @ Cake Shop 11/23 Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox 11/24 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern 11/25 Chicago, IL @ Schubas 11/26 Bloomington, IN @ Jake's 11/29 Asheville, NC @ Harvest Records 11/30 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl 12/1 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree 12/3 Houston, TX @ The Mink 12/4 Austin, TX @ Emo's
More dates to come. An up-to-date tour listing is HERE.
10/08/08
THE SKYGREEN LEOPARDS' Donovan Quinn Releases New Album On Soft Abuse
Our good friends at Soft Abuse released a new album by THE SKYGREEN LEOPARDS' Donovan Quinn. The band is called Donovan Quinn & The 13th Month. Their self-titled release comes hot on the heels of the "Sister Alchemy"/"The Rabbit Tracks" 7" that Soft Abuse put out recently as well.
Also, visit Donovan Quinn & The 13th Month's Myspace HERE.
10/06/08
Lost Wisdom Featuring JULIE DOIRON Out Now
The album Lost Wisdom by Mount Eerie with JULIE DOIRON & Fred Squire is available in all good record stores now, thanks to our friends at P.W. Elverum & Sun. You can find more information about this album and/or purchase it HERE.
Also, they are touring the USA for the month of October in support of the album:
10/12/08 Montreal, QC - Il Motore w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/13/08 Ottawa, ON - SAW Gallery w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/14/08 Toronto, ON - Church of the Redeemer w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/15/08 East Lansing, MI - Scene Metrospace w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/16/08 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom w/ Mt. Eerie and NO KIDS and Mirah 10/17/08 Cincinnati, OH - Art Damage Lodge w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/18/08 Gambier, OH - Kenyon College w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/19/08 Delaware, OH - Ohio Wesleyan University w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/20/08 Chicago, IL - Av-aerie w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/21/08 Madison, WI - Gates of Heaven w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/22/08 Louisville, KY - Skull Alley w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/23/08 Bloomington, IN - The Cinemat w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/24/08 St. Louis, MO - Lemp Arts Center w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/25/08 Springfield, MO - Randy Bacon Gallery w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/26/08 Norman, OK - Opolis w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/27/08 Santa Fe, NM - Warehouse 21 w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/28/08 Phoenix, AZ - Modified w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/29/08 Irvine, CA - Cross Cultural Center at UC Irvine (3:00 PM) w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday 10/29/08 Los Angeles, CA - SiteLA (Evening Show) w/ Mt. Eerie and Calm Down, It's Monday
10/01/08
OKKERVIL RIVER's Lost Coastlines Video Premiere On MTV
OKKERVIL RIVER's video for their song "Lost Coastlines" debuted on MTV's Subterranean on Sept. 25th and on mtvU on Sept. 26th, which you can view below.
Kanye West also posted the Lost Coastlines video on his blog recently, which you can check out HERE.
Catch Okkervil River on one of the remaining dates of their US/Canadian tour:
10/01/08 Birmingham, AL - Workplay Theater 10/02/08 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club 10/03/08 Wilmington, NC - The Soapbox Laundro Lounge 10/04/08 Richmond, VA - The National 10/06/08 New York, NY - Webster Hall 10/07/08 New York, NY - Webster Hall 10/08/08 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street Nightclub 10/09/08 Millvale, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre 10/10/08 Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall 10/11/08 Montreal, QC - Les Saints 10/12/08 Toronto, ON - Phoenix 10/14/08 Chicago, IL - Metro
09/30/08
WOMEN Debut Up For Pre-Order, Announce Tour
You can now pre-order the debut album from newest Jagjaguwar family members, WOMEN. Order your CD or LP of their stellar self titled debut HERE.
The guys will also be heading out on tour in support of the new record. Dates below:
10/01/08 Quebec City, QC - Antenne-A w/ Chad Vangaalen 10/02/08 Ottawa, ON - Zaphod Beeblebrox w/ Chad Vangaalen 10/03/08 Montreal, QC - Pop Montreal: Ukranian Federation w/ Chad Vangaalen + Julie Doiron 10/04/08 Toronto, ON - El Mocambo w/ Chad Vangaalen 10/09/08 Hamilton, ON - Casbah Lounge w/ Chad Vangaalen 10/10/08 London, ON - Call The Office 10/11/08 Brantford, ON - Ford Plant 10/16/08 Princeton, NJ - Terrace Club 10/18/08 Burlington, VT - Radiator 10/19/08 New York, NY - Cake Shop w/ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart 10/26/08 Allegheny, PA - Allegheny College 10/27/08 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 10/29/08 Oberlin, OH - Oberlin College w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 10/30/08 Gambier, OH - Kenyon College w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 10/31/08 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 11/01/08 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 11/02/08 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 11/03/08 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 11/04/08 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge w/ King Khan And BBQ Show 11/07/08 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey w/ Dungen 11/08/08 Portland, OR - Doug Fir w/ Dungen 11/10/08 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill w/ Dungen 11/11/08 Visalia, CA - Cellar door w/ Dungen 11/12/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo w/ Dungen 11/20/08 Groningen, NL - Vera w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/21/08 Den Haag, NL - Crossing Borders Festival 11/22/08 Antwerp, Belgium - Trix w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/24/08 Paris, France - La Fleche D'or w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/25/08 London, UK - The Borderline w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/27/08 Glasgow, UK - The Captain's Rest w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/28/08 Belfast, UK - Limelight w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/29/08 Galway, Ireland - Rodin Dubh w/ Chad Vangaalen 11/30/08 Dublin, Ireland - Crawdaddy w/ Chad Vangaalen 12/02/08 Manchester, UK - Night And Day Cafe w/ Chad Vangaalen 12/03/08 London, UK - The Windmill 12/04/08 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
Women's debut will be released 10/7/2008
09/22/08
OKKERVIL RIVER'S The Stand Ins Debuts On The Billboard Charts
We are pleased to announce that OKKERVIL RIVER'S "The Stand Ins" debuted at #42 on the Billboard Charts.
Also, in response to the band's "Stand Ins Project" on youtube, fans from the Okkervil River message board compiled a video of their own cover versions of "Lost Coastlines", which you can see below:
BON IVER Releases 7" In The UK
BON IVER recently released a 7" single of "For Emma" in the UK via 4AD. The release also contains a non album track, "Wisconsin," on the b-side.
Or pick a copy up at one of the bands remaining UK/European dates, listed below:
09/23/08 Stockholm, Sweden - Berns 09/24/08 Gothenburg, Sweden - Pusterviksbaren 09/25/08 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega-Small Hall 09/26/08 Hamburg, Germany - Theater @ Reeperbahn Festival 09/28/08 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof 09/29/08 Munich, Germany - Ampere 09/30/08 Koln, Germany - Gebaude 9 10/02/08 Paris, France - Maroquinerie 10/03/08 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique 10/04/08 Groningen, Netherlands - Take Root Festival Osterpoort 10/05/08 Tourcoing, France - Grand Mix 10/07/08 Dublin, Ireland - Tripod 12/07/08 London, UK - Apollo Victoria Theatre
09/12/08
LADYHAWK Tour Subject Of New Photo Book
Photographer Jeremy R. Jansen has just released a collection of photographs to chronicle nine days together with LADYHAWK and Constantines as they travelled from Winnipeg to Vancouver while on tour in Summer of 2008. To see "the way things look when you are laughing all time," go here
09/10/08
BON IVER Performs For Myspace's Transmissions
BON IVER have been all over the place recently. Not long ago they finished up a US tour, made their US television debut with Conan (see below), and are about to head overseas for yet another tour. Somewhere in between there, the guys found some time to stop by Myspace's "Transmissions" series and record a few songs.
The band performed "Flume," "Lump Sum," and "Blindsided," as well as a stirring rendition of "For Emma" which you can see below.
OKKERVIL RIVER Aim To Make Tour Carbon Neutral
OKKERVIL RIVER will be heading out on the road soon for quiet a haul in support of their newest release, The Stand Ins. In an effort to make this tour as environmentally friendly as possible, the band is encouraging fans to ride bikes, carpool, or take public transit to the shows.
To help get the word out they've teamed up with local bike advocacy groups, to organize group rides to their shows, as well as PickupPal, a site that allows fans to contact each other to organize carpools.
For more information, head to the bands site HERE.
The Stand Ins is out now.
09/09/08
BON IVER On Conan
Last night BON IVER made their US television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The guys performed "Flume" from For Emma, Forever Ago. Conan and the crowd seemed to enjoy themselves.
To see the episode with Bon Iver performing at the end click HERE
09/05/08
WILDERNESS Return With Third Album, "(k)no(w)here" CD/LP
It has been more than two years since Wilderness's last album, and until just recently, the ground-breaking band from Baltimore, Maryland, has been largely inactive on the live scene as well. All that is about to change, as Jagjaguwar is proud to announce that the Wilderness cycle begins anew with the release of "(k)no(w)here", Wilderness's third full-length album, on November 4. Championed in the press as fertile traversers of "the more cerebral end of the rock spectrum" (by Pitchfork) and more simply as "just short of invincible" (by The Village Voice), Wilderness will also be touring North America in November and December. A more comprehensive announcement of tour dates will be made soon.
Wilderness's third full-length album entitled "(k)no(w)here" was conceived as one musical piece, and the impetus for this composition came from an invitation to collaborate with renowned visual artist Charles Long at Long's exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in Spring of 2008. The eight identifiable parts of "(k)no(w)here" are not readily separated from each other, such is the flow from and into each part. Created in ways different than the previous Wilderness self-titled album (2005) and the Wilderness "Vessel States" album (2006), "(k)no(w)here" still retains the Wilderness sound, with some evolution. On the new album, James Johnson is sometimes joined vocally by Colin McCann (aka THE LORD DOG BIRD, whose self-titled debut was released by Jagjaguwar in the Summer of 2008). And, as on previous albums, McCann performs on guitar, Brian Gossman on bass, and William Goode on drums, but the resulting community of all these parts comes across as more dynamic, and the perceived space they inhabit seems more vast.
Please check out a clip of Wilderness' collaboration with Charles Long at the Whitney Biennial here:
Stay tuned for more Wilderness news, and the announcement of a tour this fall.
ALBUM TRACK LISTING: 1. High Nero 2. Strand the Test of Time 3. (p)ablum 4. Silver Gene 5. Own Anything 6. Chinese Whisperers 7. Soft Cage 8. <....^....>
08/28/08
ONEIDA Appears On New WFMU Compilation
ONEIDA will be appearing on a WFMU, of New Jersey, compilation in celebration of the freeform radio station announcing their new Free Music Archive. The comp, entitled Selected Sounds From the Free Music Archive Vol. 1 closes with a live recording of "Rocket USA" with Oneida backing for Alan Vega, of Suicide. You can download the album for free here!
08/26/08
OKKERVIL RIVER And BON IVER Team Up For The Stand Ins Project
OKKERVIL RIVER added another cover to the video project for their upcoming release The Stand Ins. Providing a cover of "Blue Tulip" are label mates BON IVER. Watch their rendition of the song below:
Keep checking Okkervil River's youtube page HERE, as they will be uploading more videos soon.
Also, don't forget to pre-order your copy of "The Stand Ins," which includes a poster set and an early download code, HERE.
08/21/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Add Second Video To The Stand Ins Project
OKKERVIL RIVER have added the second video to "The Stand Ins Project" on YouTube. This time around we find David Vandervelde covering "Singer Songwriter." Check it out below:
The band will be adding two videos a week, and are encouraging fans to upload their own covers. So stay tuned HERE.
Don't forget to pre-order your copy of "The Stand Ins," which includes a poster set and an early download code, HERE.
08/19/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Launches Youtube Channel With Carl Newman And Will Sheff Duet
In celebration of OKKERVIL RIVER’s September 9 release of the The Stand Ins YouTube will premiere video footage of Will Sheff and Carl Newman of The New Pornographers performing an acoustic version of the song “Lost Coastlines.” The video will be the first in an 8-video series in which friends of the band act as “Stand Ins” to perform cover songs from the upcoming album. Other performances include covers from Bon Iver and David Vandervelde. Videos for the songs will be released twice a week for the next four weeks. The band is also inviting fans to upload cover songs from The Stand Ins. Videos will be featured on the OKKERVIL RIVER You Tube channel, www.youtube.com/okkervilriver.
Don't forget to preorder your copy of the record to receive an early download and poster set HERE
08/15/08
ONEIDA featured by Bloomington's WFIU - listen to the podcast!
Oneida was featured by Bloomington's NPR affiliate WFIU and Josephine McRobbie. You can check out a great interview with Kid Millions in the podcast here.
08/13/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Release New Video Of "Wucan", Announce North American Tour Dates
From BLACK MOUNTAIN's second full-length album "In The Future" (which was just recently short-listed for Canada's prestigious Polaris Prize), the song "Wucan" is now in video form, featuring footage of all five members of the modern heavy psych outfit performing in the desert. Largely filmed by the band itself, and then put together with the assistance of Shira Blustein and Jon West, this video conjures up both a haunted and an expansive vibe. Check it out: http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/bmwucan.mov
Or here:
In addition to a handful of European festival dates (Green Man, Pukkelpop and the Lowlands Festival), Black Mountain will also be performing throughout North America in August and September. Highlights include being a part of the NEW PORNOGRAPHER's Stanley Park Singing Exhibition, performing at the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival and the Pygmalion Music Festival, and touring a string of dates (including two in New York City) with JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER. Also, Black Mountain will make their maiden voyage to South America, and will perform two dates in Brazil, one as part of the Goiania Noise Festival on November 22.
BLACK MOUNTAIN tour-dates:
08/15/08 Brecon Beacons, UK - Green Man Festival 08/16/08 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival 08/17/08 Biddinghuizen, Netherland - Lowlands Festival 08/22/08 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival 08/29/08 Victoria, BC - The Royal Theatre 09/01/08 Vancouver, BC - The Stanley Park Singing Exhibition 09/19/08 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club - Pygmalion Music Festival 09/20/08 Chicago, IL - Hideout Block Party 09/21/08 Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room at The Crofoot w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/23/08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/24/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/26/08 Montreal, QC - Le National w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/27/08 Toronto, ON - The Opera House w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 11/22/08 Goiania, Brazil - Goiania Noise Festival
08/12/08
BON IVER Add Second Night at Town Hall In NYC!
If you weren't able to get tickets to BON IVER at Town Hall on December 11th before they sold out, no worries! The band has added a second night at Town Hall on December 10th! Accompanying them again will be The Tallest Man on Earth.
Tickets are sure to go fast this time as well so don't miss your chance when they go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday 8/13!
08/07/08
BON IVER To Play Town Hall In NYC This December!
Even though the year will be winding down, BON IVER will still be going strong. On December 11th, Justin, Mike, & Sean will be playing New York City again, this time at Town Hall. Joining them for the show will be The Tallest Man on Earth.
Tickets will go fast, so grab them quick when they go on sale this Saturday (August 9th) at noon!
08/04/08
ONEIDA On WFIU's "Artworks"
ONEIDA will be featured on WFIU's program, "Artworks," on 8/5/08 and 8/12/08 from 7-8pm. The podcast of the show will be up starting tomorrow morning.
BON IVER And The Bowerbirds Perform Stirring Cover On Tour
Justin, Mike, & Sean of BON IVER along with Phil, Elizabeth, and Mark of The Bowerbirds perform an astonishingly beautiful version of Sarah Siskind's "Lovin's For Fools." This version is from the show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York.
Simply put, these people can sing. Please enjoy:
07/29/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Launch First Single From The Stand Ins to iTunes
We are pleased to announce that today you can get your first glimpse of OKKERVIL RIVER's new album The Stand Ins. The first single, "Lost Coastlines" is available now on iTunes in the US.
Or, if you go to the iTunes store, and check out "What's Hot," you'll find it there.
OKKERVIL RIVER's new full-length album The Stand Ins is the sequel to 2007's critically acclaimed The Stage Names, which Pitchfork praised as "...one of the year's best," with The New York Times proclaiming, "This band's musical arsenal keeps getting fuller."
07/26/08
WOMEN Join The Jagjaguwar Family. Women's Self-titled Debut To Come Out On Oct. 7.
Jagjaguwar will release Women's self-titled debut full length on October 7th, 2008 throughout the world (January, 2009 release in the UK, and Canadian label Flemish Eye is releasing the record in Canada.) The band will tour the U.S., Canada and Europe in support of the album throughout 2008, and tour dates will be announced soon.
The band's debut was recorded by Sub Pop and Flemish Eye artist Chad VanGaalen over 4 months on ghettoblasters and old tape machines in his basement, an outdoor culvert and a crawlspace. Sometimes light and spacious, at other times eerie and dense with an ominous weight, Women hint at the Velvet Underground, Swell Maps or This Heat; a lo-fi masterpiece cloaked in layers of vibrato and guitar wash.
Friends since childhood - two of them brothers - the band has an intuitive rapport that seems to transcend speech from years of playing together. The members of Women have collectively toured North America and Europe in various projects. Members have played and toured as part of Chad VanGaalen's band, and two members moonlight with Absolutely Kosher artists Azeda Booth.
"Calgary's Women, like Columbus' Times New Viking, give tape hiss a place of honor more often reserved for instruments, or at least computers. The ensuing noisy jangle straddles the 1960s' divide between the Warhol crowd's speed-addled New York cynicism and the echoes of psychedelic San Francisco that bubbled up across the pond in the fey, catchy pop of UK groups like the Zombies."--PITCHFORK
"This is freak-rock, nursed on psychedelia and prog, but without pretense."--VUE Weekly
07/25/08
JULIE DOIRON Collaborates With Phil Elverum On New Mt. Eerie Album
While in Washington State recording, JULIE DOIRON took some time out of her schedule to hook up with Elverum to contribute vocals to the upcoming Mt. Eerie album “Lost Wisdom” due out October 7th on P.W. Elverum & Sun. Elverum had this to say about the opportunity to collaborate with Doiron, "I've been a huge fan of [Julie's] music for many years, 'cause she played in Eric's Trip and that's my favorite band, ever. I mean, they're kind of the reason why I got into playing music."
New SUNSET RUBDOWN tour in September and October
You were missing Krug and the gang, but no more. No more...
09/15/08 Cambridge, MA - The Middle East 09/16/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg 09/24/08 Atlanta, GA - The Earl 09/27/08 Austin, TX - Mohawk 09/29/08 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre 10/01/08 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot 10/02/08 Iowa City, IA - The Picador 10/03/08 Madison, WI - The Annex 10/04/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07/23/08
ONEIDA "Preteen Weaponry" CD/LP And THE LORD DOG BIRD CD/LP Now Available For Pre-order
THE LORD DOG BIRD is the solo recording project of Colin McCann, guitarist for Jagjaguwar artists, Wilderness. While the band was on extended hiatus, McCann kept at it, documenting his feelings about life and music at home on his four track. The result is a gritty, tactile document of a time spent in self-exploration and flux.
ONEIDA presents us with Preteen Weaponry. This is part one of the "Thank Your Parents" triptych of Oneida releases. Preteen Weaponry, itself, has three parts and is meant to be listened to at once (in order). It is almost entirely instrumental. Each part was recorded at different times and in different states of mind, but all on the same day. Oneida members past, present and future all contributed to this project. It reminds Oneida of what a live performance might sound like. It contains captured improvisational moments married with craft.
OKKERVIL RIVER Featured On The Insound 20
Insound has teamed up with designer Jason Munn of acclaimed design studio The Small Stakes to develop an exclusive music merchandise & design project, aptly titled the “Insound 20.” The project features iconic designs for twenty of Insound’s favorite bands, silk-screened onto American Apparel t-shirts & hoodies as well as on hand-numbered and signed silk-screened posters. All product editions are limited. Insound plans on launching a new series each year, featuring a new designer or studio and twenty bands.
JULIE DOIRON “Loneliest In The Morning” CD Reissue Available Now
We’re pleased to announce the reissue JULIE DOIRON’s “Loneliest In The Morning”. Originally released by Sub Pop in 1997 “Loneliest In The Morning” was Doiron’s second solo release.
BON IVER Performs For Daytrotter
BON IVER stopped by the Daytrotter studios in the midst of a hectic touring schedule this spring to demonstrate some alternate versions of "For Emma, Forever Ago." Justin's story with the making of this record has been well-documented. What occasionally gets lost is what is happening to these songs with the addition of Mike Noyce and Sean Carey to the band. While it is obvious that they are gifted musicians, it is the trio's togetherness that has really sprung a new life into the music.
Bon Iver is currently on tour in the US with the addition of Mark Paulson of Bowerbirds to the live band. They will go from coast to coast over the course of the next month, playing with Wilco for select dates. Be sure to check them out!
PARTS & LABOR Announce New Album, "Receivers"
We're proud to announce that PARTS & LABOR will be releasing their new album, "Receivers," on 10/21/08 here in the US and 11/03/08 in the UK. More below:
Brooklyn noisepunk outfit Parts & Labor has dramatically altered their wall-of-sound: Their fourth album, Receivers, finds P&L focusing on open spaces, longer movements, expansive arrangements and loftier goals. On eight epic tracks, Receivers showcases the band's catchiest and darkest moods to date, reveling in a growing dynamic sensibility only hinted at in their previous work. Though they've maintained their love affair with glitchy oscillations and anthemic vocals, they are now utilizing the full possibilities of a band that was once a scrappy punk trio, and now a mature art-rock quartet. It's a heady mix of psych, noise, and pop influenced by the arty minimalism of Wire, the surreal pop of early Eno, and even the spaced out psychedelia of Dark Side-era Pink Floyd.
To flesh out the roar of Receivers, P&L's founding members Dan Friel (vocals, electronics) and BJ Warshaw (vocals, bass) recruited drummer Joe Wong and guitarist Sarah Lipstate. Wong's motorik style perfectly complements the band's bombastic drone with uniquely repetitive rhythms augmented by jaw-dropping, furious fills. Lipstate implements a noisy-yet-folky guitar technique tinged with experimental electronics, cassette tape manipulations, and bowed double-neck guitar. The addition of a full time guitarist allowed Friel to focus on his signature keyboard effects -- a unique 8-bit clarion call that remains the most recognizable element of this constantly evolving band -- and allowed the band to compose their most complex arrangements thus far. With the new lineup solidified, P&L wasted no time, heading straight to Wong's Milwaukee studio mere months after playing their first show as a quartet.
In April, Parts & Labor had an open call on their websites, looking for audio samples and field recordings submitted by friends and fans. The band posed a selection of questions to spur inspiration: "What do your parents sound like?" "What are you afraid of?" They received hundreds of sounds in return -- all manner of bleeps, conversations and crashes. In a gesture of inclusion, every sound received is used in some degree on the album, either within the chattering satellites whirring by in the aptly titled "Satellites" or during the final cacophony of noise that swallows the band during Receivers' final moments. The band's favorite sounds, however, were given special prominence as source material for the ambient interludes and collages that bridge the eight songs. It's a unique project that comments on information overload while also championing the democratic nature of working in a increasingly digital music business.
Lyrically, Receivers continues Parts & Labor's obsessions with technology gone sinister, post-industrial paranoia, and cultural divides. "Satellites" envisions surveillance machines growing bored watching humans and then hurling themselves into the sun. "Nowheres Nigh" and "Solemn Show World" meditate upon the seemingly endless homogeny of exurban American highways. However, the band's questions this time point more inwardly; these are less calls to arms than they are calls to self-improvement. For every pessimistic observation comes a positive declaration. Whether cheerleading the celebration of choice in "The Ceasing Now" or pronouncing a declaration of love during an apocalypse in "Wedding In A Wasteland", Parts & Labor's lyrics, like their music, seek stability within the chaos.
07/08/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Shortlisted For Canada's Polaris Prize
A 178 member jury of extremely cool Canadians have shortlisted our very own Black Mountain for the prestigious Polaris Prize, the annual award for a full-length Canadian album judged solely on artistic merit with no regard for genre or sales. Congratulations to the Black Mountain army!
MINUS STORY's Jordan Geiger Is A "Band To Watch"
When Jordan Geiger isn't doing amazing things with MINUS STORY he's doing amazing things with his side project, Hospital Ships. The dude just can't turn it off.
Stereogum recently listed Hospital Ships as a "Band To Watch." Read the full story HERE.
Hospital Ships will be releasing "Oh, Ramona" on 10/21/2008 via Graveface.
07/07/08
THE BESNARD LAKES New Video "Devastation" On Pitchfork.tv
The Besnard Lakes have finished a new video for the track "Devastation" from the album "The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse". The album, released in February of 2007, continues to spawn new and inspired content, and we couldn't be happier. Kara Blake, who also directed the video for "Agent 13", once again blows our minds. Enjoy!
