Podcast Episode 12 - January 19, 2014

Episode 12: Darren and Jason talk about the sad news of the passing of Windian Records founder, Travis Jackson. If you can donate to his family, the link is here. We also cover the latest 3rd man vault package, Flaming Lips RSD news, Suicide Squeeze's forever singles comp, The Merge Records singles club and a Bowie picture disc.

Jason's pick of the week is a Lee Fields single "Faithful Man" on Truth and Soul Records.
Darren picked The Babies latest Our House on the Hill from Woodsist Records.

Next week we talk to Justin from CQ Records.

Subscribe or download/stream over at itunes.

Superchunk - Crossed Wires on Merge

Doug Mosurock wrote a great history of Merge on their 20th anniversary...how they've managed to succeed for so long, the history behind starting up the label, how Superchunk recognized something special about their Chapel Hill scene...everything, really amazing. Check out the subsequent articles in indyweek.com.
The label is insanely impressive... I just noticed this single from Superchunk in an email from Merge and decided to give them a listen.
I missed them in my indie rock high school education apparently, I don't think I ever came across these guys and it's impossible to give them a objective shot at this point...it sounds pretty hard rocking, guitar dueling with crunchy rhythms. I'm sure they inspired a million bands, it rocks pretty hard and would be perfect loud.
The vocals sound a little dated ...over-emo vocals, but they're back after 8 years, and I don't think anything on their myspace is from their upcoming release. It will be interesting to see how this evolved in the last 8 years. It's not really my thing but I totally respect what they did with the label and their band. There's a lesson to be learned from bands these days on how to make the most of your talent and not whore it all away.
Anyway, their new single is on Merge of course and the download coupon includes both tracks and a demo version, another good move...

Bright eyes - souled out 7"

Connor has a new album out on Merge in the US and wichita in the UK...and of course the Brits get the one-sided 7" from Mr. Oberst come September 1st.
I've been listening to the streaming album and it's more of Cassadega...kind of very traditional rock/alt-country or something. He's still an amazing songwriter, but I guess I'm just not as wowed by these tracks musically. He's a force of songwriting...like Dylan, I'm sure history will compare the two in indie rock circles for sure.
Am I changing with him?....no. I know you can't/don't want to do the 4-track sloppy noise forever....or that's what it seems like. You don't want to be pigeonholed into anything I would hope. But is this really his direction or is there some kind of outside pressure/influence to go more mainstream in sound/production? I'm always reading about that jump for a band...into the next level of sales/exposure, the label wants it for sure.
The Nirvana effect or something...but it has to always hurt the artist.
There should be a relationship where the artist just streams tracks to the label and they just release it...but then there's always touring, they have to promote the record in the first place....oh fuck, I don't know what it is.
I just think this latest is ok...but I want new, innovation, surprise.
It's just not here.

Then to top it off, the 7" has an etching on the other side, not even a b-side track.

Of course it's all overseas...From Norman records:

This recording was made in Tepoztlán, Morelos, México during the months of January and February 2008. In Tepoztlán, a place known for Aztec Magic and Extra-Terrestrial Sightings, a temporary studio was created in a mountain villa called Valle Místico at the outskirts of town. It was produced by Conor Oberst with much help from engineer and long time associate Andy LeMaster. A special band was assembled for the recording, known amongst themselves and to friends as The Mystic Valley Band. It was there at Valle Místico that Conor and the band lived and worked for that time in near perfect harmony, often unaware of the hour or the day. The result is his first solo album in thirteen years, following Water (1993), Here’s To Special Treatment (1994) and Soundtrack To My Movie (1995). In that time he has recorded and preformed in many bands and musical projects including Commander Venus, Park Ave., Desaparecidos, and most notably Bright Eyes, his main musical vehicle for the past decade.
The self-titled album will be released on Wichita Recordings.

The Single comes as a one sided 7” complete with artwork etching on side B and is limited to 700 copies

or from hotstuff:

Podcast Episode 20: Special Sonic Youth edition (with Matt of course)! We play some old sonic youth, a peel session blank label 7" from 88, we talk about art school fostering bands in general, and the general history of SY....

Record Store Day? It's Tomorrow. Yay!

I didn't really hear anything about record store day until this email from Merge yesterday:

On Saturday, April 19, 2008, hundreds of independently owned music stores across the country will celebrate Record Store Day. Merge will be doing our part to help these great cultural institutions celebrate by giving away a FREE limited edition split seven-inch record featuring new unreleased songs by Destroyer and Wye Oak.
Track listing:
A. Destroyer, "Madame Butterflies"
B. Wye Oak, "Prodigy"

The only way to get one of these seven-inches is to visit a participating independent music store on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 19, and see if they have one on hand. Check out the list of participating stores HERE.

The only place surprisingly in brooklyn on this list was a place I've never heard of in downtown brooklyn, Basement Mix?

I don't know destroyer too well... it might be hard to get behind that voice...wye oak is playing that quiet to explosion card pretty well, acoustic to wall of sound, very put together, male female layered vocals that send it into a hushed place for a minute, but I'm waiting for the windows to shake. Then they bring it down with another acoustic number...weird.

This is a great idea, even if they have like one copy, I can get behind any excuse to go to the record store and buy records and maybe it helps these places stay around. These are the stores from high fidelity, a bunch of fucking characters, guys that organize the local shows, all play in bands, and can recommend stuff to not douche's who are honestly looing for something. Sure they can be elitist pricks, or look down on finding a white stripes 7 inch in their shit bin, but at the end of the day when I want to get something after work, come home sit in the easy chair by the record player and rock out, these are the places I want to go. Free seven inch? Great, I'll take it.

Episode 12: Mika Miko - yellow hairdryer single A side, yo la tengo - mr tough, architecture in helsinki - maybe you can owe me,
lot's of academy records finds, and why I don't get yo la tengo.