Features

A Form of Paying Attention November 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:33:06 -0800

This month marks the 20th Anniversary of Nirvana’s “Bleach”. I first heard this record in 1990. My friend Jeremy turned me on to it and we’d hang out as his house and play Super Mario and take acid and listen to Bleach and a lot of Lee Harvey Oswald Band and then later all the dudes would dare each other to jump off the train trestles off Memorial Drive in Houston. I had a super good time all the time, and this record was totally the soundtrack. I don’t have a ton more to say about it that you can’t find in an article somewhere/everywhere else, but I wouldn’t mind hearing about the first time you guys heard the record. Do it up in the comments section, grungers, and one lucky commenter will win a copy of Bleach Deluxe.

A Form Of Paying Attention October 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:52:10 -0700

Hello, Friends! I love October, and this October is especially special because on October 6th a lot of cool junk is coming out on Sub Pop and Hardly Art and then Halloween happens 25 days later and Halloween is obvs the best holiday of all the holidays. Anyhow, back to the 6th…. On that day we’ll be releasing these special items: the No Age Losing Feeling EP on vinyl (Have you heard that song “You’re a Target”?!), Eugene Mirman’s new comedy album God Is a 12-Year-Old Boy with Asperger’s (you get a free Eugene Mirman tote bag while supplies last!!), Blitzen Trapper’s Black River Killer EP will be available on vinyl finally (Vinyl!! Finally!!), and Hardly Art will be releasing the sophomore record from The Dutchess & the Duke Sunset/Sunrise (I love it!!). The Flight of the Conchords record I Told You I Was Freaky comes out on October 20th, and you’ll get $2 off if you pre-order here on the magnificent subpop.com. Hey, the Nirvana Bleach deluxe re-issue is all ready to go for pre-order as well, ($2 off also), so get thee to ordering! Just to let you know, the vinyl on this piece is heavy as it’s a double 180-gram white vinyl package with a booklet, so be prepared for increased shipping rates on that one—it’s worth it, I promise. Okay, so, if you dress up as any Sub Pop or Hardly Art artist and you send me a photo I’ll put together a nice surprise package for you. I bet no one does this, so that’ll make my job way easier.

Oh geez, I almost forgot! Sub Pop and Hardly Art are teaming together to bring you the CMJ showcase of 2009. We’ve got Unnatural Helpers, Dum Dum Girls, Moondoggies, Dutchess & the Duke, Golden Triangle, Pissed Jeans, Obits, and Male Bonding all playing at the Mercury Lounge in NYC on October 24th, and I shouldn’t have to tell you that this is a show not to be missed.

Happy October, dudes!

*Dutchess and the Duke original photo courtesy of Kirstie Shanley

A Form of Paying Attention September 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:33:02 -0700

Welcome, September, you lovely month, you! September 15th is a big day here at HQ. On that day we’ll be releasing the new Grand Archives album Keep In Mind Frankenstein on CD/LP/MP3, and if you pre-order the album you can get this totally amazing Grand Archives bandana! Cool, right? Order here.

Also on the 15th is the re-release of Sunny Day Real Estate’s Diary and LP2 (aka the Pink Album) on CD/LP. Both of these albums are re-mastered and include bonus tracks, as well as newly written liner notes. Get these things here.

In continuing with our re-release fever, on September 22nd we’ll re-release three Mudhoney classics on LP. Some might call this a re-re-re-release of some of these songs, but hey, who’s counting? We’re redoing Superfuzz Bigmuff on grey/off-black vinyl, Mudhoney on magenta/purple-y vinyl, and Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge on salmon-y orange vinyl. All of these come with mp3 download codes, and some of these records haven’t been available on vinyl for ages/a couple of years. Get them all here.

The “little buddies” to our Skippers, aka Hardly Art, are releasing their eighth (!) record on the 22nd as well! Go check out the Hardly Art website and see about ordering Le Loup’s Family.

As always, please check out our handy dandy Tour Page to see if any Sub Pop artists are coming your way, and make sure to have a wonderful September.

A Form of Paying Attention August 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:36:54 -0700

We’ve been experiencing record breaking heat this summer (103 degrees!) and we’re all puffy and sweaty and stinky, but we still have some very fine (and not at all puffy or stinky) albums from some of our faves coming out this month. First up, Fruit Bats are back with their third LP entitled The Ruminant Band_, available on CD and LP, and I whole heartedly believe that this is the record Eric D. Johnson was born to make. It’s beautiful and fun and perfect for summer. Get it here or be sorry, and be sure to see them at the KEXP Mural Concert Series on 8/21 if you’re in the Seattle area. We are also releasing a 7” by Joe Pernice (as The Young Accuser) on the very same day, and it’s kind of a complicated story, so you might want to look hereaccuser/singles/unsound to read more about it. I am a little confused, but the music is rad, so whatevs. (Don’t you just hate whatevs?!)

August 18th is the release date for the highly anticipated second Sub Pop LP from Pissed Jeans, entitled King of Jeans. This record will, I assure you, tear you a new hole of some sort, wherever you see fit. It’s loud and fun and killer, and you will be listening to it shirtless at a late summer bbq while you are shotgunning beers and grabbing asses no matter what your gender. I am shirtless and drunk at my desk right now, as a matter of fact. Fuck you.

Blitzen Trapper is releasing a new EP called Black River Killer on August 25th and it features the song “Black River Killer” from their full length Furr as well as 6 more songs that have been, up to now, only available as a CDR that they’ve been selling at their live performances for the past year or so. Get it and make sure to check out the Black River Killer video by Daniel Elkayam that came out earlier this year.

All these folks are touring so make sure to see if Fruit Bats, Pissed Jeans, and Blitzen Trapper are coming to your town. Happy August.

A Form of Paying Attention July 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:41:25 -0700

July is jam packed with all sorts of happenings, both on the internet and in real life. Real life is the actual bummer that we deal with every day—the place where bills are due and you are not attractive enough to get laid. Let’s talk about the good stuff that might ease that pain, especially now that scientists have discovered that pain pills are bad for you. First up is the new album from Tiny Vipers called Life on Earth that comes out July 7th. If you pre-order Life on Earth from us at subpop.com anytime before July 7th, you’ll also receive a truly limited Tiny Vipers home-recorded ambient piece on CDR called Blades of Grass. Sweet. On July 21st we’re releasing a 7” by Zak Sally of Low fame called “Why We Hide”. This single is one song from a full length album (to be released this summer by La Mano 21 as a handmade and signed, limited-edition CD) and another that’s not. And they’re both great. On the 21st our buddies at Hardly Art are also releasing the debut album from Seattle’s own Talbot Tagora called Lessons in the Woods or a City on CD and LP. Get ‘em all—you won’t be sorry.

Sub Pop will be headed out to Chicago July 17th – 19th for our 4th annual trip to the Pitchfork Music Festival. We’ll be manning a booth at the CHiRP Record Fair with all sorts of Sub Pop merch and a new limited tee. Stop by and meet Sam, Richard, and Alissa and make sure to get right up front for Blitzen Trapper and The Dutchess & the Duke and be sure to yell “Free bird” as much as possible. Bands live for that.

Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes will be headlining the grand finale of the VERA Project’s annual Drink for the Kids benefit this year on July 11th at Neumo’s. This fundraiser is a local favorite because it mostly involves buying booze in the name of the city’s coolest all ages venue, and it takes place at many bars all over Seattle from July 5th – 11th. Click here for participating bars and more info, and click here to get tickets for the Grand Finale show at Neumo’s.

Last year Seattle’s beloved roots-music magazine No Depression had to shut its doors, an all too common trend in print publications over the last few years. This year they’re saying fuck it and partying their asses off at Marymoor Park (the same place and same date as the SP20 Fest, coincidentally) with the first ever No Depression Festival featuring our very own Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. Get thee to the Eastside, y’all. Tickets and info available here.

So, last month I pointed out some of our new web junk, including our new blog format and our widely beloved Cybersex Sampler, which is still available for download btw; and I promised that we’d become more interesting and post more content. Well, we only lie sometimes around here, and this time we’ve really stuck to our word. Behold the new Tuesday Sales Program, invented by our very own Welshy dreamboat Dick Laing and his trusty Aryan sidekick Sam Sawyer! It’s kinda hard to explain, but basically we’re running little sales on t-shirts and staff picks on most Tuesdays when we do not have a new release, which, if you’ve been paying attention, has been most of the time in 2009. Just click here and here to see what I’m talking about, and make sure to check back often to see what we’re doing next.

And finally, we’d like to give a big congratulations to Spencer Moody and Coco Howard who will be gettin’ hitched on July 12th! You guys are the best!

A Form of Paying Attention June 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:01:21 -0700

Hello, Friends of Sub Pop on the Internet! We’d like to take this opportunity to give back a little something to you, the Sub Pop fan and lover of music. We’ve just recently put together a little sampler of our upcoming releases and we’re giving them away for free in the hopes that you might like what you hear and then buy these releases for actual dollars. Click this sexy link to see what we’ve got for you. And, since you’re here on the internet already we thought you might want to check out our other web goings-on on wildly popular sites such as Facebook and Twitter. We give away free tickets and post dumb videos on these sites sometimes so it might be worth your while to friend and/or follow us. Plus, this way you can stay on top of all our new releases and other important mumbo jumbo. Come on, do it. We have a Youtube channel, too, with all our videos and a Myspace, too, but who uses that anymore? Also, Dean and Stuart just restructured our blog so that it looks more like a blog and less like whatever it looked like before. It’s easier to read now, and we’ll promise to update it more often with good stuff if you promise to read it.

Speaking of reading, the deadline for the Sub Pop Loser Scholarship is rapidly approaching. We’re giving away $13,000 in scholarship money to eligible high school seniors in the Pacific Northwest who are interested in the arts, so make sure to get in on this action or to spread the word, whichever applies. Look here for a more info about the great folks that won last year. Come to think of it, maybe we should check in with them and make sure they haven’t squandered their winnings on Ramen and mini-thins….

Every June Seattle is host to the world’s longest film festival, aka the Seattle International Film Festival. This year our boys No Age are performing an original live score in accompaniment to Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Césár winning film, The Bear (France, 1988). The debut of this never before seen or heard work takes place on Friday, June 12, at the Triple Door at 7:00pm (all-ages) and 9:30pm (21+). Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 day of show. Tickets available here. These things are always a good time—I highly recommend checking this out if you’re in Seattle that day. Have a lovely June, dudes.

A Form of Paying Attention May 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:49:13 -0700

Well, here we are, back in action after a highly successful second annual Record Store Day! Thanks to all of you who purchased our limited edition goods at your finer local independent record shoppes. Your patronage means that we can keep paying the rent on the Sub Pop flag that flies continuously on the Space Needle and that my husband can continue bringing home his share of the proverbial bacon.

We’re releasing several great records this month, starting May 5 with Enter the Vaselines – the new and improved and deluxed version of The Way of the Vaselines. This new guy contains remixed and remastered versions of all the old songs, a new title, new cover art from the band, and a whole lot of new material (the entirety of the 17-song second CD/third LP has been added + never-before-heard demos, and live recordings from 1986 in Bristol and 1988 in London.). The Vaselines are Kurt Cobain’s favorite band so you should definitely check this out; unless of course you don’t like K. Cobain, in which case you might want to steer clear of the newly remodeled McDonald’s in Aberdeen which, rumor has it, features a huge portrait of the man himself inside the dining area. The Vaselines are doing some US touring as well, and it would behoof you to go see them if’n they’re in your area.

May 5 is also the day we release the Mykonos 7” by Fleet Foxes. You know them—they were on SNL, for chrissakes. Sheesh. This li’l record comes in a gatefold sleeve and is backed with a previously unreleased (here in the US) cover of the traditional folk ballad “False Knight on the Road” made popular by Steeleye Span and Richard Thompson. Oh, Steeleye Span and Richard Thompson—I LOVE those guys. (No, I don’t know who they are either, but the song is killer.)

On May 19th we’re releasing Around the Well by Iron and Wine. This is essentially a collection of never before released tracks, b sides, and covers. It’s got those jams from the movie In Good Company, and it’s a must for any serious Iron and Wine fan. (I have always wanted to say that!) Order before street date to get $2 off. That’s a deal, man!

And finally, we are all fucking ecstatic to have new mom/online publicist Alissa Gallivan back in the office after her maternity leave. The office has been deadly boring (sorry, other co-workers!) since she’s been away and the Rainier beer in the soda machine is in desperate need of re-stocking. Please leave Alissa a congratulatory comment of some sort—she’d love to hear from you.

A Form Of Paying Attention April 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:42:49 -0700

Hey, guess what? We’re putting out nothing but singles this month, none of which you can purchase here at subpop.com! This month is nothing but Singles Club (it’s a good one) and Record Store Day singles, so we’re going to check in with the Sub Pop staff on their feelings about RSD in its second year. Check back next month when we actually put out full lengths again. I would also like to point out that Dean W, our mom & pop record store sales guy, refused to answer these questions because “they’re dumb”.

What’s your take on Record Store Day?

Tony Kiewel: I’m for it. then again I’m also for Roadside Attraction Day, Exotic Animal Day, and No Pants Friday.

Andy Kotowicz: Record Store Day is a made up holiday like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, in order to sell crap. Hopefully RSD will really take off like the other two.

Chris Jacobs: I prefer it to Fabric Store Day, but it’s a little less fun than Liquor Store Day.

Sarah Moody: I think it’s great! I’ve participated for the past two years and it’s always been a really encouraging experience to see tons of people out at local stores instead of plopped in front of their computers. Plus all of the bonus CDs, 7”s, in-store performances, and store discounts are typically pretty rad.

Sasha Morgan: I have a very unoriginal answer for that: I think Record Store Day is a great way to get people out to their local record stores. WOOOooowoOOOo!

Richard Laing: I’m into it. It’s a great opportunity for stores to connect with their community and remind people of their value. Next year, they should try and convince people that they need to buy their friends gifts and cards for Record Store Day

Rosie Torrance: I think RSD rules, unless you’re a Sub Pop intern.

Would you participate in a RSD dunking booth? Pie eating contest?

TK:It doesn’t take much to get me to participate in any eating contest.

AK: Hot Dog eating contest? I’m listenin’…

CJ: Yes dunking booth, no competitive eating of any sort. Streaking, napping, snacking, loafing – I’d do any of those things for a good cause like this.

SM: Dunking booth no. Pie eating yes!

SMor: Yes I’d participate in a RSD dunking booth or pie eating contest.

RL: Absolutely not, this shit is serious.

RT: Dunk Tank= Fuck Ya! I’ve always wanted to do that!

If you could go to any record store anywhere in the world which one you go to on RSD?

TK: I would probably pick Joe’s Garage in Kyoto. I have no idea if it’s actually that great of a shop but who the fuck cares!? It’s in Kyoto!

AK: I’m gonna go with Shake It in fabulous Cincinatti Ohio since it is supposed to be awesome and I’ve never been there. Mississippi Records in Portland and Double Decker in Allentown for the same reason. Prior to last month, the answer would probably have been Grimey’s in Nashville, but I had the good fortune to pay them a visit recently. Lemme tell ya. Grimey’s is all it’s cracked up to be and more. I’d drop in on good ol’ Wazoo in Ann Arbor too. Can’t forget Used Kids. Great store that I haven’t been to in forever. If I could magically visit record stores that are no longer with us, my Hall of Fame All-Star tour would include the great Play It Again in Royal Oak, MI, Fallout of Seattle, and Lucy’s formerly of Nashville.

CJ: Is there a good one in Hawaii? ‘Cause, man, I am READY for some better weather right now. Or, maybe Tower Records in the University District here in Seattle, sometime in 1993, so I could visit myself, maybe take me out for a nice lunch.

SM: Outside of local stores it’d be a toss-up between Mississippi Records in Portland, Treehouse Records in Minneapolis, or Academy Records in New York. Or I would finally make the trek to Amoeba. But really just being able to get to the Seattle stores does enough damage to my paycheck.

SMor: If I could go to any record store in the world, I’d go to Mississippi Records in Portland, OR. It’s super close but I still haven’t made it down there for some reason. Apparently they have a bunch of rare vinyl AND they’re the dudes that run the Mississippi Records mostly vinyl label, which is fucking amazing. They just released Michael Hurley “Armchair Boogie” and I couldn’t be more stoked!

RL: Sounds of the Universe in London.

RT: Distortion Records in Amsterdam. Would love to have some morning coffee and happen upon this shop. ( I think this is a weed reference. –Ed.)

Photo by Jay Cox

A Form of Paying Attention March 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:49:00 -0800

Alright, guys, fuck yeah! Two thousand nine is really picking up speed here at HQ and we’ve got some (dare I say) great stuff for you in the lovely month of March. On March 10 we will release the new HANDSOME FURS record on CD & LP. If you order FACE CONTROL before 3/10 we will include a CDR with 4 live album tracks recorded in Seattle. Buttons, stickers, blah blah blah, yes, you get that, too! Also, we’re doing a thing now that lets you stream the whole album once you purchase from subpop.com. That’s cool, right? March 10 is also the release date for the MARK SULTAN (the BBQ half of the King Khan & BBQ show) seven inch “Hold On” b/w “I Hear a New World”. The songs are great and so is the art/packaging. Get with it.

The OBITS record I BLAME YOU comes out on March 24th and I couldn’t be more excited—this is my record of the year. (No other records need apply.) We’ll give you a lenticular (Google it) postcard designed by the band if you pre-order, plus butts and sticks, AND the ability to stream! All this and nothing more if you order before March 23! That same day is the day we release BUNNY GETS PAID by RED RED MEAT in deluxe form including a 7-song 2nd disc of alternate, demo and single versions of album tracks, plus b-sides, covers and a previously unreleased song from the same era (“St. Anthony’s Jawbone”), all put together by the band. GET IT!

March is also the month of SXSW in Austin, TX. As has become our custom, we will be having a little Sub Pop showcase on two stages on Thursday, March 19 at the Radio Room. Here’s the sitch:
8:00 No Age (outside)
9:00 Red Red Meat (outside)
9:30 Mark Sultan (inside)
10:00 Obits (outside)
10:30 Daniel Martin Moore (inside)
11:00 Vetiver (outside)
11:30 Tiny Vipers (inside)
12:00 Blitzen Trapper (outside)
12:30 Pretty & Nice (inside)
1:00 Handsome Furs (outside)

A Form of Paying Attention FEBRUARY 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:14:03 -0800

Today is/was Groundhog Day and apparently there are six more years of winter or some crap, but that’s not stopping Sub Pop from putting out some quality records this month. February 17th is the release date for Tight Knit (CD/LP), the first ever Vetiver album on Sub Pop, but the fourth one for the band. If you pre-order Tight Knit we’ll throw in the “Hey Baby Doll” / “Miles Apart” 7” which came out on Gnomonsong last year, but act fast as supplies are limited. (If you are too slow you might end up with a Sham-Wow*.) They’re touring around Europe this month and they’ll be back on the East Coast in March. Plus, along with about 2,500 other bands on the label, they will be playing our SxSW show in March! Look at this and this for more info about Vetiver.

February 17th is also the day we will reissue all the Murder City Devils’ studio albums on vinyl. Yes, that’s right: The Murder City Devils, Empty Bottles Broken Hearts, In Name and Blood, and Thelema will all be reissued on rich, delicious marbled vinyl (First run only! Hop to it!). The Devils will be touring the West Coast as well so make sure to check them out while you can. Hopefully it will be something like the live scenes in this.

Hey, also, so Flight of the Conchords Season 2 is in full swing right now and we’re trying a new thing where you can buy a song from each episode on iTunes the day after the show. Every Monday throughout the season, we will be posting a new song on iTunes from the previous night’s show. Later, all of these songs, plus several more (probably around 15 songs total) will be on the next Flight of the Conchords full-length album, which we will be releasing in the more traditional “album format.” It’s what we’re calling our “See It on Sunday, Buy It on Monday (Please)” promotional ploy. And, we really think it’s possible you might like it. Go do that, okay?

*We will not be sending out any Sham-Wows. Get serious.

A form of paying attention January 2009

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:17:04 -0800

2009 is here and we’re starting off the year real slow like, so there are no new records on which to report this month. There’s nothing like looking backward to see how you’re moving forward (?!), so let’s take a walk down Sub Pop employee memory lane via facebook. Thanks for uploading these unwanted embarrassing photos, friends of my coworkers! Keep ‘em coming and I’ll keep sharing! The first person to correctly identify all of these awkward teenagers will receive a prize of my choosing.

A Form of Paying Attention December 2008

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:24:03 -0800

Oh, God, it pains me to do this but it must be done and I’m the one that has to do it. Here we go, y’all—it’s time for the Big Big Year End Wrap-Up Spectacular for 2008! In the interest of time and/or not boring you to death I’m just going to list the full lengths and I’m not even going to do it in order, just for fun.

If my math is good, we put out 18 long players this year and only one of them begins with the letter H. Here’s to you, Helio Sequence “Keep Your Eyes Ahead”; and a big congratulations to Brandon and Pavlina on their new baby girl. The letter F had a pretty banner year around here with Fleet Foxes “Fleet Foxes” (which is MOJO’s album of 2008, by the by), Flight of the Conchords “Flight of the Conchords” (Grammy Winners, duh.), and Foals “Antidotes” (Your equipment is still in the hallway, dudes).

Next up are the singer/songwriters of 2008, featuring the likes of Sera Cahoone “Only as the Day is Long”, Kelley Stoltz “Circular Sounds”, Chad VanGaalen “Soft Airplane” and Daniel Martin Moore “Stray Age”. Daniel played our conference room, Chad had a baby girl, Kelley went on tour all over the world (with our very own Dean Whitmore on drums occasionally), and Sera had a song on ‘One Tree Hill’.

Sub Pop started out with a pretty regional roster but these days we like to grab the cream of the crop from all over the fucking place, so it only makes sense that we’d go to the birthplace of killer jams—you know, Canada, New Zealand, and Brazil. Wolf Parade released “At Mt Zoomer” this year, and yes, I know that Chad VanGaalen is Canadian also, but Foals are from the UK and Flight of the Conchords are from New Zealand and I’m not sweatin’ it so neither should you. Speaking of New Zealand, The Ruby Suns put out “Sea Lion” this year and their song “Oh Mojave” was used in a Microsoft commercial that never quits. Hooray and congratulations! Oxford Collapse released “BITS” this year, and while they are not international per se, New York is super far away from Seattle and Oxford is where Foals are from so maybe it all evens out. Maybe? The second CSS album “Donkey” came out this year, too. Lovefoxxx is still on the NME Cool List, so all is well in the world.

2008 was Sub Pop’s 20th Anniversary (observed) and we had a big two day fest that we may have made mention of here on the site and elsewhere, and loads of our bands with 2008 releases, many of them previously mentioned, helped us celebrate. Mudhoney put out a new one (“The Lucky Ones”) and a beefed up old one (“Superfuzz Bigmuff Deluxe Reissue”) and The Gutter Twins got all down and dirty with “Saturnalia”. Death Vessel played hits from “Nothing Is Precious Enough for Us” at our party at the Space Needle, and Blitzen Trapper played some choice cuts from “Furr” at the festival proper along with "Grand Archives (“The Grand Archives”) ":http://www.subpop.com/artists/grand_archives and "No Age (“Nouns”) ":http://www.subpop.com/artists/no_age. The No Age boys even got to premiere their video for “Eraser” on an MTV show hosted by Pete Wentz. (See picture above for absolute proof.)

The anniversary celebration was truly magical and a great time for bands and employees past and present. We give a heartfelt thanks for all who attended from near and far and we hope to do it again next year on our 25th. Thanks, everyone—see you next year when we say “Sub Pop’s Fine in 2009!” (Lame, sorry.)

A Form Of Paying Attention November 2008

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:25:22 -0800

Well, well, it’s November already and I’m sure I probably don’t need to mention it, but if you don’t vote on November 4th then you are a total asshole. Moving on…

In a somewhat unprecedented but sure to be financially viable move, Sub Pop will only release vinyl singles for the remainder of 2008 or until gay marriage is legal in Washington state, whichever comes first. In celebration of Obama’s win tomorrow we are letting loose onto the earth three singles by three of our faves: CSS, Low, and No Age.

CSS has Cut Copy, Metronomy, and Frankmusik all remix “Move” from their latest long player Donkey_. It’s a 12 inch and you can use it for the DJing. No Age put out a brand new seven inch with “Teen Creeps” plus a new track called “Intimate Descriptions” and it’s a keeper for sure. Finally, we have a pretty fantastic new Christmas seven inchover by Low called “Santa’s Coming Over” and it’s my favorite Low Christmas stuff to date and it comes with a punch out ornament.

So, yeah, that’s it. I mean we’ve got another Singles Club 3.0 coming out this month as well, but it’s all singles all the time til 2009. Oh, and it’s also Thanksgiving this month which means I can post that great photo of Mudhoney with the turkey again.

For real, don’t forget to vote. Please and thank you.

A Form Of Paying Attention October 2008

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:46:44 -0700

Whoa. It’s October already? Time sure flies when the world is going to hell in a handbucket…

What better way to bailout Wall St. fat cats than by releasing some records??

First up this month: Daniel Martin Moore’s record album debut Stray Age! Daniel is new around here and we are head over heels for this new, quietly powerful record of his. Normally, in this space, I’d go on and on about the many ways in which Daniel’s record is amazing, what we find so striking about it, and why you should take a chance and buy it. Or, rather, Lacey would do that, normally. Instead of either of those things, we’ve somehow managed to set up a stream of Daniel’s entire record and invite you to listen to it and make up your own mind. You can listen to Daniel Martin Moore’s Stray Age in full here. (You’ll have to log-in to subpop.com to access the stream, but if you don’t already have one, signing up for an account takes about 20 seconds…)

Also this month! Our friends, neighbors, and the people who we suspect of using up the last of our creamer over at Hardly Art are releasing Get Young by Boston’s Pretty & Nice. And, the good people over at Aquarius Records (who really, genuinely are good people) had some very nice things to say about it. Nice things like: “There’s just something so amazing about pop music like this, the sounds and the songs, the hooks and the vibe, the energy, it’s pretty rare for all of those things to just fall perfectly into place, but when they do, it’s total fucking magic.”

Total Fucking Magic. ’Nuff said.

Lastly, as you’ve no doubt noticed by now (and, consequently, have probably not even read this far…), our usual correspondent in this space, Lacey Swain, is currently unavailable for any and all job-related activities. This is for a decidedly good reason: she and her longtime companion/live-in lover/fellow Coconut Coolout finally tied the knot and they’re off honeymoonin’ it up! So, altogether now: Congratulations Stacey and Roman!! We’re very, very happy for you crazy kids! Now get back to work!

A Form of Paying Attention September '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:25:38 -0700

Chad VanGaalen, our favorite very-tall Canadian, releases his third Sub Pop record on September 9th and it’s called Soft Airplane_. Chad was once a guest on David Letterman. He and his small (not freakishly small, but smaller than Chad) friend performed a stupid human trick that involves said small friend climbing all over tall Chad. There’s a pretty hilarious story on Paper Thin Walls about it along with a clip of the trick. Go see it! Wait! Don’t go see it—stay here and pre-order Soft Airplaneairplane so that you’ll be sure to receive the limited edition CD with one unreleased track and two live Soft Airplane tracks. Chad’s as great as ever on this record and he’s made some incredible videos—think lots of tits and a kid skateboarding over Jesus’ swollen penis—for a few tracks already that should be floating around soon. Dude’s a genius.

Also this month, we have Furr by Blitzen Trapper, out September 23rd. Furr is available on CD and LP and it includes lots and lots of good timey jams. This is Blitzen Trapper’s fourth album, but their first for Sub Pop, and I must say it’s quite good. This record reminds me of when I was living in Austin doing a ton of drugs and listening to T Rex/Bowie/The Sweet all the time, but in a fond way, instead of the shameful self-loathing way I usually remember that period of my life. Anyhow, we’re making some iron-on embroidered Blitzen Trapper logo patches to give away to celebrate the release of the record. You can get this sure-to-be-a-collector’s-item with your online purchase here at subpop.com and maybe at select indie retailers. You subpop.com shoppers will also receive an exclusive downloadable bonus jam. Dudes are on tour for the rest of the year, practically, so go see ’em!

Hardly Art is going full steam ahead these days, releasing their third album in three months. This time around we have Beating Back the Claws of the Cold by Seattle’s Pica Beats. It’s weird and pleasant and I recommend it highly. Singles Club Three, Part Two will be delivered to your mailbox some time this month as well. We’re just getting our carrier pigeons back into top form and we should be on time from here on out. Ha.

A Form Of Paying Attention August '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:11:37 -0700

Hello, friends! This column is late so we’re just going to deal with the facts this month. Fact One: The new album by CSS entitled Donkey will finally be released on LP on August 5th—summer can officially begin! CSS is on tour—click here to see if they’re coming to your neck. Fact Two: Oxford Collapse is also releasing a new record on the 5th. Theirs is called BITS and you can get it here. They’ve been making all these crazy videos for this record that you can see here and they’re going to tour like crazy. Fact Three: The first installment of the Singles Club will be released on August 15th. I’ll go ahead and tell you what it is this time but from here on out it’ll be a surprise. This is it. Fact Four: I am tired of this Fact Format. Death Vessel finally release their first Sub Pop full length on August 19th. It’s called Nothing is Precious Enough For Us and you can get it here! Our buds over at Hardly Art will be putting out their fourth release on the same day called Don’t Be a Stranger by the Moondoggies. If you’re a fan of the Fleet Foxes or Blitzen Trapper you will probably like them as well. Don’t be shy—give it a listen. Hey, speaking of Fleet Foxes, those dudes are playing on David Letterman tonight (Monday 8/4)! Hey, speaking of David Letterman, our longtime publicist Steve Manning has moved on to bigger and better things (eg. traveling around the world and not working) and we will miss him dearly. Be safe, Steve, and don’t forget to pack those magic underwear that you never need to wash. Happy August, everyone!

A Form Of Paying Attention July 2008

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:32:58 -0700

We are less than ten days away from our big self-congratulatory anniversary extravaganza at Marymoor Park and tempers are flaring here in the office. In fact, it seems that I hear the phrase, “No, why don’t YOU shut the fuck up and try planning this goddamn festival!” at least six to seven times a day, with those numbers steadily ramping up as we get closer to the big weekend. Despite the yelling and the door slamming everyone here is unbelievably excited for this to happen and there is a ton of cool shit going down in celebration of Sub Pop.

For starters, and personally I am secretly the most excited about this over almost everything else that’s happening, the people in charge are letting us fly a giant Sub Pop flag on the fucking Space Needle! And, they’re painting the top of it to look like a record! If you happen to be flying in for the Fest make sure to keep an eye out for this and get a photo if you can. The festivities kick off July 10th at the EMP with their Oral History Live! series featuring Sub Pop founders Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt at 7pm. It’s only $5 and maybe some grunge superstars will be in attendance.

Friday night is our Comedy Show at the Moore Theatre with Todd Barry, David Cross, Eugene Mirman, Patton Oswalt, and Kristen Schaal. After laughing your guts out you might want to check out Obits at the Funhouse, Death Vessel & Les Thugs at Neumo’s, or Retribution Gospel Choir at the High Dive. Don’t wear yourself out, though, because the real fun begins on Saturday at noon at Marymoor Park with Day One of SP20 Fest featuring Obits, Constantines, Eric’s Trip, Seaweed, The Helio Sequence, Pissed Jeans, Fleet Foxes, The Fluid, Low, Mudhoney, The Vaselines, Iron and Wine, and Flight of the Conchords. Bring money for fair food and a small supply of amphetamines so you keep the party going for The Gutter Twins and Tad’s new band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth at the Showbox afterward. Day Two’s festivities also begin at noon, and you want to make sure not to miss The Ruby Suns, Grand Archives, Kinski, Foals, Les Thugs, No Age, Red Red Meat, Comets on Fire, Beachwood Sparks, Green River, Wolf Parade and one, maybe two bands we’re not allowed to announce. The world is an uncertain place, however, those unannounced bands may fall through. Please don’t count on anything we haven’t actually said is happening, and don’t make a big thing out of it if this is it.

Also, since we’re a record company, we’re going to put out a record this month as well. On July 22 we will release Donkey upon the world. Donkey, besides being one of the top 3 funny animals known to man, is the new album from those crazy Brazilians known as CSS and it seems like a good way to keep the party going after all the hubbub, you know like that last warm beer at 7am or something, but in a positive way. Our pals at Hardly Art are releasing She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke by Dutchess and the Duke on July 8th and I can hardly wait. I can wholeheartedly endorse both these albums, but I suspect the minute I start wholeheartedly un-endorsing albums I will no longer be writing this column, so….

Oh hey, do you live in Seattle? Do you like baseball? Well, lucky for you our fearless leader Jonathan Poneman will be throwing out the first pitch at the Mariners v. Tigers at Safeco on Sunday July 6th. Please, please, please come down and make him feel more uncomfortable than he already does!

And finally, the news you’ve all (well some of you, maybe) been waiting for—"SINGLES CLUB 3.0 IS FINALLY HERE!":http://www.subpop.com/releases/sub_pop/misc/sub_pop_singles_club_3_0 If you subscribe to the Singles Club we’ll send you a seven inch a month from bands like Om, Mika Miko, Notwist, Black Lips, Unnatural Helpers, etc. This edition of the Singles Club is limited to 1500 and once we’re out, we’re out. We are selling subscriptions here for $75 in North America and $90 for the rest of the world so get to gettin’ before they’re all gone.

Happy July, everyone! (Oh, and Happy Birthday America.)

A Form of Paying Attention June '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:23:47 -0700

The Fleet Foxes record comes out on June 3rd and the LP—and it’s a gate-fold LP, mind you—comes with a digital download code, AND includes the Sun Giant EP on a second piece of vinyl! This is currently the only way to get Sun Giant on vinyl so it seems crazy not to buy it. Oh, this record is coming out on CD, too, if you’re into that. Buy it here. Want to know all about Fleet Foxes? Look here for tour info and here for myspace informations.

The new Wolf Parade record comes out June 17th, and it’ll be on CD and LP (w/ download code) as well. Buy it! We’re giving away a poster of the Wolfers’ heads on animal bodies, painted by Spencer’s sister Zoe Krug Sather. You can see it here. Click here for more Wolf Newz.

So, 20th Anniversary festivities continue to roll along quite nicely. We’ve got the big fest weekend coming up in just over a month and we’ve added The Vaselines and Les Thugs to the rock line-up and David Cross to the comedy line-up. Singles Club is not quite ready yet but we (I mean “they”) are working hard on getting it all lined up in a timely fashion—please be on the look out for it in 2012. Kidding!

Have a good June, and see you in July at Marymoor!

A Form of Paying Attention May '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:11:16 -0700

May has arrived and here at HQ we are all ready for the best summer we’ve ever known, what with all the good records coming out and the hot shit SP20 Festival right around the corner. In fact, the SP20 Fest was voted Best Summer Music Fest in an informal poll I quietly held here at my desk. Want more info? Read this, bub.

The highly anticipated new No Age record Nouns comes out May 6th and will be available on CD and LP and MP3 and maybe even Blueray and/or Cassette if I finally get my way around this fucking place! Seriously though, if you order this fantastical album from subpop.com we’ll throw in a cool poster designed by a Mr. Templeton. A Mr. Ed Templeton. (Google it.) We’re throwing in something else but I want to save my dignity and not type the phrase “buttons and stickers” ever again, so… Wait, I just… Dammit! The No Age dudes just shot their first video (for “Eraser”) and although it’s still in post-production it looks really amazing—there are balloons, a giant skull, the LA River, and…Dean Spunt and Randy Randall from No Age! See? That’s them up above. Please keep an eye out for it—it would be the right thing to do. Click here to get the record. Click here to find out more about No Age.

On May 20th Mudhoney will be releasing their 37th full-length album, The Lucky Ones. Mark Arm sits out on guitar on this one, presumably so he can dance more at their shows. He is a re-mark-able dancer. (Get it?) The Lucky Ones LP will come stuffed with a 7” single of Mudhoney covering Pere Ubu’s “Street Waves” and “Gonna Make You Mine” by the Troggs. We’ll have 200 of these 7”s to give away with pre-orders of the CD so you better hurry. They’re going to try to sign some stuff as well but don’t hold your breath. (I suggested that they might want to go ahead and let their wives/girlfriends sign this one just to mix it up a bit but I was met with a stony silence so I doubt that’s happening.) On the 20th we will also release the first in what will presumably be a not un-long line of reissues for Sub Pop’s 20th, Superfuzz Bigmuff Deluxe_! This is a remastered double-CD with an expanded booklet and a ton of live tracks and way too much stuff for me to type so read (then order!) this hereedition. You don’t get anything extra with this because it is full of extras and when did you start expecting so much stuff anyway?

We’re all pretty puffed up around here (chuffed?) about how well this Flight of the Conchords thing is going. We just followed-up their (ahem…) FUCKING GRAMMY-AWARD-WINNING EP, The Distant Future with their self-titled debut full-length, and man, is that thing ever shifting units. So much so that none other than Yahoo! (Google it.) was prompted to comment: “Ashlee Simpson’s new album sold so poorly, it was beaten by a comedy album." Our comedy album! (Hat Tip to good ol’ Matt “Epsonality/Domino’s Pizza” Olsen for this one.) Flight of the Conchords and many other Sub Pop bands are on tour right now so make sure you use our new and improved tour-search-filter to see if someone’s coming to your town.

So, yeah, this 20th Anniversary thing is really starting to happen! We’re not to a point where we feel comfortable announcing too much more (read: we don’t know yet) but we guarantee at least one to one-and-a-half more great things are on the way. We at Sub Pop value your opinion, even if we don’t always agree with it. So, if you were The Deciderer, what would you do to celebrate?

A Form of Paying Attention April '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:55:00 -0700

Today, and this is no April Fools joke, is Sub Pop Records’ 20th Anniversary. When I asked Jon Poneman, aka The Jonald, how it feels to turn 20 he responded, “The company maintains bowel movements at regular intervals so we’re not nearly as grouchy as some other labels our age.” I couldn’t put it better myself, but this is coming from a man who has never once used the bathroom in the office.

April is packed full of highly anticipated releases, starting first with the US release of Foals Antidotes on CD/LP (w/ download code). This is out on April 8th and if you pre-order you’ll get a bonus CDR with B-sides! April 8th is also the release date for the new seven-inch from No Age. It features “Eraser” from the upcoming album plus three covers. April 8th is also the official release date for the Fleet Foxes EP, but you’ve been able to buy that on subpop.com for practically forever so who cares?

On April 22nd we’ll be releasing Flight of the Conchords by Flight of the Conchords and then I’ll get to hear all the world sing “Business Time” wherever I go. The album is on CD and LP (w/download code) and both come with a killer little poster. Also, we’ll go ahead and give you $2 off until street date. Don’t say we never did nothing for you. We almost never stop doing nothing for you.

The first of our anniversary celebrations is tonight (April 1st) at Chop Suey, where The Ruby Suns are playing. Tomorrow (that’s April 2nd) we intend to buy all of Seattle a drink at Hattie’s Hat from 9pm on. You better show up early as the place will surely reach capacity within seconds. Keep your eye out for details on our summertime anniversary show and maybe a little something called the Singles Club. Uh oh—cat’s out of the bag.

A Form of Paying Attention March '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:22:40 -0800

On March 4th we’ll be releasing Saturnalia by The Gutter Twins, aka Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli, as well as Sea Lion by The Ruby Suns, aka a band from New Zealand. Both of these records are worth the price of admission so just step up to the plate and buy them, bub. We’re giving $2 off Sea Lion and Saturnalia through release date along with our patented, highly effective sticker/button combo for each band. Want to know more about these fine bands? Look at this and this and this and this. Both The Gutter Twins and The Ruby Suns are on tour—click their names to see if they’re coming to your town!

Sera Cahoone’s new record Only as the Day is Long comes out March 18th and it’s available for pre-order here. Find out all you wanted to know about Sera by looking here and make sure to check her out at her record release show at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle on March 29th and/or her Easy Street Records show on March 18th.

And finally, we have the Fleet Foxes ep available right now. Read this Pitchfork review and then snatch it up—this isn’t available everywhere.

March is also the month of everyone’s favorite music fest—the amazingly brutal SXSW in Austin. We’re having a showcase at Bourbon Rocks on Friday the 14th with Love as Laughter, Sera Cahoone, Grand Archives, Kelley Stoltz, Fleet Foxes, and Blitzen Trapper on one stage and The Ruby Suns, Pissed Jeans, Handsome Furs, The Helio Sequence, and No Age on another stage. All these bands will be playing parties all over the place but I’ll tell you about that on Monday. Let’s do it to it, March.

A Form Of Paying Attention February '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:37:02 -0800

Welcome to the first installment of “A Form of Paying Attention”—a monthly column by me, for you, containing information about Sub Pop and Sub Pop related goings-on, which will be remarkably similar to the column that was here before but with a new and improved title. I’d like to congratulate Matt ‘Epsonality’ Olsen of Los Angeles, CA for coming up with the winning entry in my “name this column” contest!* As the winner he will receive many fabulous prizes, all of which come from the very nearly warehouse-sized Sub Pop warehouse and do not include cash, Turtle Wax, the Ts in Q, or, regrettably, Ski-doos or personal watercrafts of any type.

February is here, and it’s a LEAP YEAR! This is exciting as it only happens once every 72 years or something. And we are celebrating this rare and marvelous 29-day anomaly by releasing two incredible records this month—"Kelley Stoltz’s Circular Sounds_":http://www.subpop.com/artists/kelley_stoltz and "_The Grand Archives by Grand Archives.":http://www.subpop.com/artists/grand_archives Kelley’s record comes out February 5th and I vigorously suggest that you purchase it as it’s his best to date. If you buy it from us directly we’ll throw in a bonus disc with four songs that you can’t get anywhere else and some buttons and stickers. If you live in Australia, the US, or Canada make sure to go see Kelley on tour. You won’t be sorry. Go here for more Kelley business.

The Grand Archives is the highly anticipated first release from Grand Archives, the new project of Mat Brooke of Carissa’s Wierd and Band of Horses fame. These dudes went from opening some local mid-week show to opening for Modest Mouse in a single bound, so I suggest you check this out immediately. The LP version of the album comes with a bonus 7” single, but we’ll include said 7” single with ALL orders if you pre-order before February 19th. If you order the vinyl version you’ll get free mp3s of the album as well as buttons and stickers. Woah! Grand Archives will be touring the US—click here to see if they’re coming to your town.

Sub Pop turns 20 this year and I’ve heard rumors of lots of surprises this year including, but not limited to, a crazy huge show in the summer sometime and a limited-time-only rebirth of the somewhat legendary Singles Club. Stay tuned for more.

Honorable Mention goes to Chris Jacobs for his entry “Going Through Your Purse”.

Pandering to the Locals January '08

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:37:39 -0800

So my boss just comes over to my desk and says to me, “Lacey, are you going to do a new Pandering? It’s a new year and we need a new Pandering, right?” You know what I say? It’s time for a new name for this piece of shit column and I need some serious help coming up with something clever/not dumb. I know some people read this thing from time to time so please help me out and I will reward the winning name with some Sub Pop junk such as a tshirt or a tote bag or something.

Speaking of Sub Pop, the new Helio Sequence record is so good that it’s the only thing we’re putting out this month. Seriously. Go here to check it out and purchase it. I’m pretty sure we’re giving away a bonus disc with some outtakes, etc., but one of my resolutions for 2008 was to not remember anything, so, you know, I’m not sure.

Hey, Sub Pop is going to the Sundance Film Festival in a few weeks and we’re having a party at the Star Bar on the 18th so come by if you’re in town. There will be performances from The Helio Sequence, Kelley Stoltz, and Daniel Martin Moore plus loads and loads of celebrities and snow. See you on the slopes, suckers.

Grunge Panda by Derek Erdman

Pandering to the Locals December '07

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:05:14 -0800

I kinda hate year the end round-ups and trite “best of” lists that will make up the rest of the journalistic year, but I think it’s a practice steeped in deep tradition and I guess it’s somewhat helpful, so here’s a little bit about what went down at Sub Pop in the past months. 2007 brought us follow up records from old faves The Shins, Low, Jennifer Gentle, Iron and Wine, Band of Horses, Kinski, and Mudhoney as well as a whole bunch of new or new-to-us bands such as Loney Dear, Dntel, Patton Oswalt, Handsome Furs, Pissed Jeans, Tiny Vipers, flight of the conchords, and The Go! Team. We put out some seven inch singles, too, from bands like Wooden Shjips, Kelley Stoltz, and The Thermals. Our little buds at Hardly Art have successfully made it through their first year with releases from Arthur & Yu and Le Loup and we couldn’t be prouder. More proud. Whatever.
You know what, though? Next year is going to be totally insane as it will be Sub Pop’s Twentieth Anniversary(!) and we’re going to go totally nuts celebrating. Keep your eyes peeled for special releases, collector junk, and worldwide partying in the streets.

Pandering to the Locals November '07

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:25:18 -0700

November is the month in which you are supposed to harvest the fruits of your labor and give thanks for nature’s great bounty and all that crap so that’s what we’re gonna do. Since I don’t really feel like going over each and every musical fruit that we’ve produced in 2007, (after all, what will I write about next month?), I am going to go ahead and give thanks for the the fact that the two releases that we’ve got for November are both a) awesome, and b) on vinyl only! November 6th is the official release day for both the new 7 incher by Kelley Stoltz which is “Your Reverie” b/w “Owl Service” as well as the live Mudhoney LP appropriately entitled “Live Mud”. Take that, Digital Age! Speaking of, we’ve recently started selling mp3s of some of your favorite Sub Pop artists and we’ll be adding more and more in the months to come. You can read lots more about that HERE!

Speaking of being thankful, I have conducted a short, informal poll of the Sub Pop staff to find out what people around here are going to be appreciative of this holiday season: Mark Arm says “I don’t have time for this.”, Chris Jacobs says “Uh…hmmmm. Coffee?”, Kate Jackson says “Oooh, that’s a lot of pressure. Are you asking everyone?! Okay, my Jack Russel Terrier.”, Andy Kotowicz says, “This is so lame. How about my family? My little family?”, Jaimi Chapelle says “On Halloween? I don’t know, what?”, Carly Starr says “Oh, does everybody have to do this? SHIT.”, Dick Lang says “(complete silence)”, Steve Manning wouldn’t answer his phone, Jeff Kleinsmith says “Do I need to tell you that right now? My kids!”, Stuart Fletcher says “Jesus! Right now? I guess Jesus. And Seattle has great films. I love the cinema.”, Alissa Gallivan could not be reached for comment, nor could Sasha Morgan, Tony Kiewel, Jen Czeisler, Eric Brown, Megan Jasper, Andrew Sullivan, Sam Sawyer, or Jonathan Poneman, but Sue Busch says “What? Why? I’m thankful that my dog sleeps through the night.”, Angelina Saez says “No.”, Dean Whitmore says “Oh God. No, I can’t really right now.”, Dusty Summers says “My baby!”, Stuart Meyer says “Oh Lordy—Davey? Is that too gay?”, Dean Hudson says “Oh, which holiday? Tofurkey.” Me? I am glad this is over. Happy Turkey Day, turkeys.

Pandering to the Locals October '07

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:01:44 -0700

Alright, let’s get straight to the point here—Sub Pop is releasing Cease to Begin, the second long player from Band of Horses, on October 9th and we’d really like to sit around and shoot the shit but we’ve got a lot of work to do what with a) work and b) Halloween costume planning. We’re giving you TWO BUCKS OFF the low price through street date + sticker and button, and you also get free mp3s of the tracks if you buy the LP version. Check out all this crazy Band of Horses stuff here and watch an (old) video or two here. Keep your eyes peeled for the new video for “Is There a Ghost” coming everywhere very soon. (Yuck!)

The only other Sub Pop release for the month of October is a killer 7" from San Francisco’s Wooden Shjips featuring “Loose Lips” b/w “Start to Dreaming” out October 23rd. I asked Andrew Sullivan about it and here’s what he said, “It rules. They’re playing CMJ. They’re doing an Amoeba instore. All of the proceeds from the last one they self released went to Food Not Bombs SF. They have a full length out on Holy Mountain.” Seriously, they are awesome and only a foolish person would not buy this and you couldn’t possibly be foolish if you are reading this so click here to get it.

One more thing! We are also distributing a new De Stijl release this month—"Little Eyes by Ed Askew.":http://www.subpop.com/releases/ed_askew/full_lengths/little_eyes I’d be lying if I said I knew a lot about this, but after I came across his All Music Guide entry I didn’t feel so bad:” “An enigma even by the ultra-obscure standards of ESP-Disk Records, next to nothing is known about outsider folksinger Ed Askew.” Look at the De Stijl page for way more information. God, I feel uncool.

Alright, back to trying to figure out how to make a realistic looking buffalo wing costume. While I’m papier maicheing please enjoy these photos of Vice President Megan Jasper as Shrek, Online Sales Sam as a Sailor, GM Chris J as a wacky clown, and Tony K as a small wizard! Check back next week for even more photos because Dean is a party pooper and says that I make the internet too slow when I put them all up at once.

Pandering to the Locals September '07

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:53:53 -0700

On September 11th we let loose the party beast that is the new Go! Team album Proof of Youth, available on CD and LP, and sure to make an appearance on best of 2007 lists all over the world. This record is all about hand claps, double dutch good times, and it features guest appearances by Chuck D, the Rapper’s Delight Club, and that crazy broad from "Bonde de Role ":http://www.myspace.com/bondedorolewho sings about eating dick cheese on a cracker for breakfast. (HINT: If possible, only watch Brazilian bands with a member of CSS serving as translator. Those Bonde kids are nasty!) Anyhoo, did I mention that it’s got Chuck D on it? Chuck D! We are giving you $2 off the already low, low price of $14 if you pre-order it on subpop.com by street date and we’ll also throw in some pins (that’s ‘badges’ to you anglophiles and/or members of The Go! Team) and stickers and junk along with it. I’d like to point out, for anyone who is paying attention, that we will not be giving away free mp3s with the LP version of this particular record and I blame Al Qaeda. Should you happen to want to learn more about The Go! Team band I would suggest you check out their myspace here and some videos here and also this thing here.

Next stop on this party train is the long awaited new release from Iron and Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog, which will also be available on CD and LP. I really like Sam’s increased hair growth, both on the face and the head, and I think he’s really going to turn the heads of quite a few ladies with these new photos. (Is anybody even reading this?!). Think of Sam’s longer hair as a metaphor for The Shepherd’s Dog — it’s just like the old Sam but with more, and by “more” I mean instrumentation! This record has a lot more going on than previous Iron and Wine records but it’s still the good ol’ Sam you’ve come to know and love. Personally I think that this new one is a little more Fleetwood Mac-ish than the others, or am I the only one who thinks Sam Beam sounds like Lindsey Buckingham every once in a while? The Shepherd’s Dog comes with a bonus CD of two b-side tracks “Serpent Charmer” and “Arms of a Thief” as well as $1 off on subpop.com through street date as well as a generous helping of button and sticker.

Also making their debuts during the bitter sweet month of September are two titles from our pals at Hardly Art and DeStijl. Le Loup from Washington DC are Hardly Art’s second release, and you should buy it because a) the band is good and you will like to smoke some doob and listen to this, and b) Nick and Sarah from Hardly Art are just cute as little buttons! I asked Nick what he liked about Le Loup and he said “it is well thought out, intelligent music and it’s not pretentious. I have definitely smoked a doobie and listened to it.” Also be sure to check out the new (old) Michael Yonkers record out on DeStijl and available through Sub Pop. I can’t really do the ol’ Yonks justice by describing his jam to you, but you should look here and here and note that he counts the Hunches, the Hot Snakes, and all of us at the Sub Pop office as his fans.

You know what else is happening in September? Bumbershoot. That’s right, Seattle’s own summer music festival takes place this weekend and The Shins and Grand Archives are playing so you should maybe stop by if you are in town. We literally have a million bands on tour right now (that’s right, literally) so check here to see if one of them is coming to your town. Stay tuned ’til next month when I bring you HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FROM DAYS OF YORE, featuring photos and stories from as many of our bands and employees as I can convince to do this!

Pandering to the Locals August '07

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:35:55 -0700

August is practically (I said ‘practically’, sheesh!) New Zealand month here at Sub Pop HQ as we go ahead and give 2 of our 3 precious release spots to way, way out of towners from down under, (kinda). August 7th will see the release of Structure and Cosmetics by The Brunettes and The Distant Future by Flight of the Conchords, both of whom are from New Zealand. Which is located near Australia. On the bottom of your globe. The Brunettes have built up quite a following after touring the US and New Zealand with The Shins, and the Conchords dudes aren’t doing too shabby themselves what with their hit show on HBO and all. We at Sub Pop are known for our unparalleled generosity, especially when it comes to trying to move our new releases, so if you pre-order the Brunettes album we’ll be throwing in a copy of the band’s 2003 Boyracer EP while supplies last so get on to gettin’, folks. The Distant Future features, in audio form, all the hilarious songs you’ve come to know and love from HBO’s hit tv show Flight of the Conchords starring Flight of the the Conchords as Flight of the Conchords. All your favorites are there—“Business Time”, “If You’re Into It”, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room” and more. As an added bonus, you’ll get absolutely nothing for free when you order the Flight of the Conchords’ ep because we’re saving up all our free goods for the full length in January. Late August, the 21st to be exact, brings us Down Below It’s Chaos from Seattle locals Kinski, and this one’s an ass kicker in three different colored packaging variations. These folks just got to tour around the US of A with Tool and everyone was all like “Tool who?” by the time Kinski was done blowing the, uh, dome off the stadium. Also owing to that whole generosity thing I mentioned earlier, it is my pleasure to announce that we’re giving away a limited edition Kinski CD from a live recording in June of 2007. For this performance, Kinski played live accompaniment with the 1927 silent film, Berlin, Symphony of a City by Walter Ruttmann for the Seattle International Film Festival. This CD contains a portion of the recordings from their two performances. It’s all live; no overdubs, and the clinking you hear occasionally is people eating dinner! Actual dinner! Summer is also what we call “tour season” in the Biz, and many of our fine artistes are making their way around the country before settling in for the winter and now is the time for you to catch live and in person shows from the likes of Tiny Vipers, The Brunettes, Low, and even our favorite Italian Sub Pop band Jennifer Gentle who desperately need to be taken to the Olive Garden when they come to your town. Hospitaliano, y’all.

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS JULY '07

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:12:01 -0700

What’s hotter’n a flaming, flag-decoupaged bucket of firecrackers on fiery fire? Us. We are literally, figuratively, hormonally, and metaphysically firing on all eight cylinders (or however many it is that we’ve got) here at World HQ this July. For starters, on July 10th, we release Patton Oswalt’s WEREWOLVES AND LOLLIPOPS (for a little while there, we thought that Patton was an Arabian psych-metal band, which is why we signed him, but then we realized that he’s a comedian, so whatever). Iron and Wine’s Boy With A Coin + 2 CD-single, aka the teaser of all teasers for the upcoming fall release of his next full-length, THE SHEPHERD’S DOG, comes out on the 10th, too. But that’s not all, turd burglars! On July 24th, we’re releasing Tiny Vipers’ full-length debut with us, a spare, mesmerizing epic called HANDS ACROSS THE VOID. Tiny Vipers is Seattle’s own Jesy Fortino, and although she is indeed tiny in stature, she’s got crazy strong pipes. On top of the excitement of releasing all these zany records, a gaggle of Sub Pop bands — including Band of Horses, The Album Leaf, Handsome Furs and Tiny Vipers — are on tour summer! It’s the ginchiest summer ever; hotter’n Buster Poindexter making out with Annette Funicello. Or, hotter than that is gross!

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS JUNE '07

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:37:57 -0700

The Seattle Times said in 2004 that “Few things say summer in the Northwest like the image of downy youngsters with laptops chaining themselves to old-growth trees.” Salty’s Seafood Restaurant’s website proclaims that “Summer in the Northwest brings sunny, warm weather and long days with star-studded evenings.” While neither of these generalized statements speak the whole truth about how awesome June is here, it goes without saying that we’re all so psyched, we’re practically crapping our pants. Allentown, PA’s Pissed Jeans know all about being psyched—their monumental new full-length, Hope for Men, is out on June 5th. The Austin Chronicle’s right-on description:

“Over massive Jesus Lizard-y guitar riffs, oft-shirtless singer Matt Korvette shouts about his “fantasy world,” where he’s a “special guy” who eats pizza and watches videos.”

Jennifer Gentle know about being psyched, too, but in a different, psychedelic sort of way. Their intense opus The Midnight Room is out June 19th, and multi-instrumentalist Marco Fasolo created the whole thing in his creepy (aka famous for its previous owner’s suicide by rifle) Ectoplasmic Studio, which is a house situated in the foggy plains of Northern Italy. It’s got distinctively Italian melodies, a primitive rock influence, and heaps of bizarro color.

Also, new in ye olde Sub Poppe Shoppe: a new Thermals 7" for A Pillar of Salt!

Basically, get ready for a sweet, sweet summer, losers!

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS MAY '07

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:13:17 -0700

Who’s handsome and furry all over? Not your mom, silly, the Handsome Furs! About-to-be-married couple Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and Alexei Perry formed the band in the winter of 2005, and toured Europe before they even had a record out. Their debut album, called Plague Park (lovingly referred to in World HQ as Plaque Park_, which I guess would be a park in Candy Land, or possibly an amusement park designed by dentists to frighten children into a consistent dental care regimen…) is out May 22nd. It is dark and minimal and catchy as shit, and is the perfect foil for the impending pesky, sunny summer, what with its “cheeriness” and “positivity." You can pre-order it now-ish, right here. With the help of the Mighty Canadian Government, Dan and Alexei made a wicked scary, Twin Peaks-y video for the song “Dumb Animals”, which you can view HERE0wutqc.

Also, F your I, the word for Sub Pop Summer ’07 is BANANAS. Why? Because we’ll have new full-lengths from not just the H. Furs, but also from Pissed Jeans, Jennifer Gentle, Patton Oswalt, Tiny Vipers, The Brunettes, and Kinski. And (!), there will be new singles from The Thermals, CSS, and Iron & Wine. Thankfully, during summertime in the Pacific Northwest, the sun rises early and doesn’t set until around 9:30 PM, which means we have nearly double the daylight hours, so getting out of the office at seven won’t be as harsh as it is when it’s pitch black outside. You’ll want to keep checking Sub Pop Dot Com for More Exciting News!

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS: APR. '07

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:27:14 -0700

We here at World HQ are using a combination of Guinness, Jameson, espresso (together, known as The Trifecta) and the new Dntel record to get us through this month’s schizophrenic weather, as we’re all actually, medically sick of it being rainy and shitty. Dumb Luck is out April 24th, and as you likely know, Dntel is the moniker of our buddy Jimmy Tamborello who you may know from The Postal Service! The album’s full of Jimmy’s genius beat placement, and features members of Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, Grizzly Bear, Fog, Mystic Chords of Memory, and more, and you can buy it here.

If you think you’re a better mixmaster than Jimmy, you are wrong. However, we will entertain your remixing ideas via the DNTEL REMIX CONTEST. You’ll either win $500 or feel ashamed for being a loser. And since that’s already the case, may as well enter, right? Right!

There are two chances to win this month on Sub Pop Dot Com, actually. Enter the BEST WORST BAND NAMES CONTEST to win sampler CDs, stickers, buttons and more!

Whether you win or lose or are too apathetic to even enter anything, you can look smashing in one of our brand new Sub Pop Sweatshirts, which are finally here just in time to be largely weather-inappropriate. Except, as noted above, if you live here…

Oh! And also! We have a tremendous new video from the upcoming Handsome Furs record! Said record is called Plague Park, comes out on May 22nd, and the video is for the track “Dumb Animals." Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade and Alexei Perry (together, aka Handsome Furs) both totally die in it, and it’s Lynch-style creepy. Watch it here!

Chew on that, stinker!

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS: MAR. '07

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:26:58 -0800

March is full of all sorts of things. There’s St. Patricks Day, of course, and the beginning of spring, amongst ‘em. And, after the unusually harsh and seemingly unending winter we weather-pussies here in the Northwest have endured, we’ll seize any opportunity to drink green beer.

Speaking of opportunities to drink anything and everything, for days on end, and to have the same conversation 4,000 times in 4 days…

Sub Pop will be heading to the lovely shire that is Austin, Texas to unleash our beasts (er, bands) on an entirely unsuspecting public. Actually, this public will most likely be fairly unsurprised as we are planning this trip to coincide with the 2007 SXSW Music Conference and they put our name in the schedule and all. Come check out our showcase at Emo’s IV Lounge (at 601 Red River) on Wednesday March 14th featuring…
Kinski (12:45am)
Oxford Collapse (11:30pm)
Loney, dear (10:30pm)
Tiny Vipers (9:30pm)
And then, the band Maps & Atlases, who are not actually on the label, but who several people here think quite a great deal of, will be playing at 8:30.

We tried and sadly seemed to have failed to convince this guy to attend the show. Should still be a whole lot of fun though!

Also in March, from what we hope is one of your top 8 or so favorite medium-sized record labels in the 98121 zip code… A new Low record! On March 20th, we’ll be releasing Drums and Guns, the phenomenal new Low album. You can check out the song Breaker from Drums and Guns here. The album is available for pre-order now. And, if you order this record before March 20th (and because, when it comes right down to it, we’re pretty solid people), we will include a 7" vinyl single of Hatchet (Optimimi Version) b/w Breaker (Dub Plate) for FREE! These are totally different, completely re-worked versions of the songs found on the album. Plus, they’re good!

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS: FEB. '07

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 17:43:54 -0800

“Sub Pop: The new thing; the God thing; a mighty multinational entertainment conglomerate based in the Pacific Northwest”

This quote is printed along the spine of the compilation pictured above, Sub Pop 100_. The other day Sub Pop’s long-departed founder Bruce Pavitt came by and, with the help of Green River’sriver Mark Arm and the tremendously amiable and funny Tad, chatted us all up on the label’s beginnings. He brought some records with him to pass around, and Sub Pop 100 was one of them. It was really fun; grunge was pretty bitchen’.

Also of note around the HQ of our multinational entertainment conglomerate this month: the upcoming, February 6th, release of our first record with Sweden’s Loney, Dear! The record is called Loney, Noir, and it’s been aptly described as “soulful indie folk with a powerful mini orchestra.” If you’d like to read/learn more, there’s a Loney, Dear “Track Marks” feature on Idolator, a new Pitchfork review of the record, and a Stereogum piece on the video for the song I Am John. They were also the ‘Band of the Day’ for Feb. 6 on Spin.com. And, AND! If you order the record by February 6th, we will throw in, free of charge one copy of the UK import 7" single “The City, The Airport” b/w “Ignorant Boy, Beautiful Girl”! “Skiv-Slapp” means “Record Release” in Swedish! We think!

We faced some “challenges” in the production and assembly of the Loney, Noir record that you can read more about here, if you enjoy making fun of us as much as we seem to.

Also, welcome to the new website.

S>P: we love you.

PANDERING TO THE LOCALS: JAN. '07

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:05:25 -0800

’07 is going to be bazonkers here at Sub Pop World HQ, and that’s the way we like it. You know what you like? We fervently hope? The Shins! January 23rd brings the long-awaited, much-yammered-on-about-by-us release of James Mercer & Co.’s brilliant follow-up to 2003’s Chutes Too Narrow, Wincing the Night Away on CD, LP and invisible MP3. The band will be touring extensively all year long domestically and abroad, so keep your li’l loser eyeballs peeled for updates, all of which can be found here at subpop.com.

Speaking of, on January 28th, we’re launching a WHOLE NEW BANANAS CRAZY INTERNET WEBSITE complete with a sweet new look, increased “functionality”, “user-friendliness”, and an oft-updated set of “blogs” written by us ourselves. We will sometimes write about The Shins, and we will sometimes write about the plethora of culinary delights that can be concocted using Twinkies brand snacks. This new website promises a grab-bag of unasked-for, self-involved/satisfied “content,” friends! Anticipate it now!

SUB POP STAFF; WE HAVE OPINIONS

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:55:07 -0800

Fluffy holiday greetings, Losers! Guess fucking what? Just like the bajillion other critics and industry peeps who sometimes mistakenly believe their opinions on The Year 2006 are of vital interest to you, we’ve all made Top Ten Lists. By “we all”, I mean most of the Sub Pop Staff. Now, you can get a smoother picture of our innermost preferences! It’ll be almost like we’re REALLY FRIENDS IN REAL LIFE, instead of just virtually! Hope your year was as full of it as ours!

JOAN H.
My top 13 full-lengths in order, excluding Sub Pop releases which all tie for #1:
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
Jolie Holland, Springtime Can Kill You (Anti)
Frida Hyvonen, Until Death Comes (Secretly Canadian)
Beyoncé “B’Day” (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)
Viva Voce, Get Yr Blood Sucked Out (Barsuk)
Thom Yorke, The Eraser (XL)
Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury (Re-up/Zomba)
Joanna Newsom, Ys (Drag City)
F.S. Blumm, Summer Kling (Morr Music)
Electric President, S/T (Morr Music)
Justin Timberlake “FutureSex/LoveSounds” (Jive)
The Mountain Goats “Get Lonely” (4AD)
Cat Power, The Greatest (Matador)

LACEY S.:
Wooden Shjips “Shrinking Moon For You”
King Khan and BBQ Show ‘What’s For Dinner’
Liars “Drums Not Dead”
Gnarls Barkley “St Elsewhere”
Old Haunts “Fuel on Fire”
Comets on Fire “Avatar”
Black Garfield Comp
Unnatural Helpers “S/T”
2006 was too lame on a personal level for me to finish this Top 10 List so I am deducting two entries.

S. FLETCHER:
1. Chris Brokaw “Incredible Love”
2. Scratch Acid @ the Showbox in Seattle
3. HiM “Peoples” (on the label Bubblecore)
4. Excite Truck on the Nintendo Wii (redefining video games for the 21st century)
5. Mice Parade “Bem-Vinda Vontade” (Bubblecore also)
6. My patented ZZ Top mix (2 CDs worth, from the first 6 LPs)
7. Dave Douglas “Meaning and Mystery” (“jazz”)
8. Deerhoof “The Runners Four” (though I’m almost positive it came out in 2005)
9. Jeff Parker “The Relatives” (& by association Marvin Gaye’s “Here, My Dear”)
10. comedy, up to & including Longmont Potion Castle and Scharpling & Wurster (“The Best Show on WFMU”)

GABE C.
Tom Verlaine “Around”
Yo La Tengo “I’m Not Afraid of You And I will Beat Your Ass”
Pharaoh Overlord “#4”
Juana Molina “Son”
Califone “Roots and Crowns”
Flaming Lips “At War With the Mystics”
What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1977)
Tom Waits Orphans
Tortoise A Lazarus Taxon
Comets On Fire ”Avatar”

DEEN GULLBERRY:
TOP 10 7”s (In No Order)
Homostupids “The Glow” EP (My Minds Eye Records)
Sex Vid EP (Kill Test)
Pissed Jeans “Don’t Need Smoke To Make Myself Disappear” (Sub Pop)
Nothing People EP (SS Records)
Home Blitz EP (Self Released?)
Wooden Shjips “Dance California” (Sick Thirst Records)
The Go “Invisible Friends” (Cass Records)
Spider & The Webs EP (K Records)
Tall Birds “Internalize” (Sub Pop)
Cause Co-Motion “Which Way Is Up” (What’s Your Rupture)

TONY K (excluding anything that came out on Sub Pop):
Vetiver-To Find Me Gone
Karen Dalton-In My Own Time
Spank Rock-Yoyoyo
Pop Levi-Blue Honey EP
Cat Power- The Greatest
Love is All-Nine Times That Same Song
Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
Grizzly Bear-Yellow House
Flying canyon-Flying Canyon
Wooden Shjips-Shrinking Moon for You

S. SAWYER’S ten most favorite records of the year:
Tyde – Three’s Co.
Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
Band Of Horsies – Everything All The Time
Coments of Fire – Avatar
YLT – Beat your ass
Ghostface – Fish Scale
Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Outttta this Cuntry
Thermals – Body Blood Machine
Tapes AND Tapes – The Loon
Barb Dylan – Modern Times

DUSTY S’s movies of ‘06:
Harsh Times
Half Nelson
The Departed
Babel
Devil’s Miner
Rocky Balboa
Beerfest
LIttle Miss Sunshine
Inside Man
District B13

ANDY K:
10. Emerging technologies—Observe…
Freewave!
PS—you can skip the Sting part.
9. Om—Conference of the Birds
Fantastic second record. It’s weird—the whole record reminds me of “Set Your Controls for the Heart of the Sun” on Percocet or something.
8. Various ’70s Country/Folk Rock
For some reason the records that I went back to over and over this year were by Chris Smither, Doug Sahm & Bobby Charles. Thanks to Other Music for unearthing a bunch of cut-outs of Smither’s Don’t It Drag On and I’m A Stranger Too_. Bobby Charles’ “I Must Be In A Good Place Now” is an all-time stunner and a beautiful love song. When Vetiver played it live, my jaw almost hit the floor. Bringing me to…
7. Vetiver live
You’d be hard pressed to find a better songwriter than Andy Cabic these days and his band is a bunch of ringers. Go see ‘em!
6. Wine Picks
I took a lot of shit from co-workers for taking a wine class this year, but the joke is on those knuckle-draggers. For my money the best red I had this year was Mollydooker’s “The Boxer” Shiraz. Shalit would call it a “knock-out” (hiyo!) And now that it’s made Wine Expectorator’s Top 100, it might be a little tough to find. I shoulda bought a case. For whites, the best I had was Caves De Saumur’s “Lieu Dit Les Pouches”. 100% Chenin Blanc from the Loire. At 8 bucks a pop, you can’t afford NOT to drink it by the truckload!
5. Ba Da Bing Records, did they ever put out great records this year. Colossal Yes, Beirut, Th’ Faithealers Peel Sessions and that amazing Dead C double disc? Waytago gang!
4. Scratch Acid live—
A very rare, life-affirming reunion show. Couldn’t have asked for anything more. Rey Washam still destroys.
3. Comets on Fire and their related projects, which may or may not also be on fire—
Avatar is hands down the album of the year. Howlin’ Rain, Six Organs, Colossal Yes and NVH also put out amazing work in their own right. Best band in the galaxy. ‘Nuff said.
2a. You Tube will surely receive no shortage of year-end press and here I am jumpin’ on the bandwagon, but gimme a break. Forget Edison, Ford and that Dyson vacuum guy. The guy who invented You Tube is the smartest genius of all. Come on…
Stay with Me
and
Sky
and
Evolucion Reggae
and
Silver Machine
and
Baby Come Back
and
Roxette=jmIYyskDM8
and
Seasick

2b. Michigan Football—Yeah, I’m getting pretty sick of them losing to Ohio State and yeah, I’m disappointed that we don’t get another pop at those guys, but if the Rose Bowl is the booby prize, I’m not losing any sleep over it. We’ll miss you Bo! The Tigers getting to the World Series was pretty great too, despite their performance in said series.
1. Baby fever ’07! Catch it!

CHRIS J (w/o any of the fine records released this year under the Sub Pop guarantee of moderate quality):
Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador)
Beirut – Gulag Orkestar (Ba Da Bing!)
Cat Power – The Greatest (Matador)
The Gossip – Standing in the Way of Control (KRS)
Eric Bachmann – To the Races (Saddle Creek)
The Lights – Diamonds and Dirt (Wantage USA)
The Black Angels – Passover (Light in the Attic)
Mission of Burma – The Obliterati (Matador)
Califone – Roots and Crowns (Thrill Jockey)
Howlin’ Rain – Howlin’ Rain (Birdman)
Other people have already mentioned it here, but that Scratch Acid show in Sept. at the Showbox was far and away the best show I saw this year.

HARRY HUDSON:
1. Photo Booth on my new MacBook. This is seriously the best shit ever.
2. Nintendo Wii. Maybe this should be number 1.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Maybe this is what I meant in number 2. The rest are in no particular order.
The Black Garfield Comp (on Haunted Horse Records).
Summer. (Remember how rad that was?)
Sangria + Bocce Ball in the aforementioned season.
Scratch Acid at the Showbox.
New Super Mario Brothers.
Crawl Space Gallery.
Tiny Vipers.

SUE B.’s:
Vetiver-To Find Me Gone
Beach House-S/T
Oxford Collapse-Remember the Night Parties
Camera Obscura-Let’s Get Out of This Country
Comets on Fire-Avatar
Black Angels-Passover
Love Is All-Nine Times That Same Song
Neko Case-Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Peter, Bjorn & John-Writers Block
Band of Horses-Everything All the Time

SEAN K.
Touch & Go 25th Anniversary
Rediscovering Spacemen 3
Hometown San Diego Chargers- 11-2 as we speak
Henry Darger exhibit
Orcas Island snowball fight
Black Angels
Skateboarding again- till I broke my arm
Tapes n’ Tapes
Melvins w/Jared and Coady
Bourbon (making it’s 25th straight appearance in the top 10)

ANDREW S:
top 10 things that existed in a world this year:
The radikiller taco carts of Mexicali mexico
Belize, in general
The Black Lips
24/7 tapes records
the dude from Thunderbirds Are Now! trying to fight me at CMJ
Shi Shi Beach
Sccreen printing, jamming, partying, sippin’ on hyphy, eatin waffles in the mornings and hot link sandwiches at night at the Ghosttown Gallery in Oakland, CA
Quintron live at the sunset tavern
Trashed Kickball Association of Seattle
Migas from Tamale house #3 in Austin, TX

SUB POP RETREATS!

chrisj@subpop.com (Chris Jacobs) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:42:48 -0800

By their nature, “company retreats” are generally the major bummers of the vacation family; they hold limp-dicked promises of petty conversation, fruitless, laborious meetings and, if you’re lucky, trust falls. Fortunately, Sub Pop isn’t a normal workplace, so our yearly retreats are kind of the opposite deal (I only say “kind of” because there are laborious meetings, but they’re far from fruitless.) We are extremely fortunate at the World HQ in that we are all actually, in real life, buddies. Which means that at these things, we end up drinking a lot and saying what we mean in discussions in order to better ourselves as a label. Novel concept, eh?

This year, the whole World HQ piled into four vehicles and made an extremely slippery, icy drive to Orcas Island, in the gorgeous San Juans. It’s a few hours to the north and west of Seattle, and the place is nuts—think a cross between the set of 1974’s “Land of the Lost” and, like, the Scottish coast at dusk. Since our region had just seen a massive winter storm, everything was ice and snow-covered, totally shithouse insane. We all talked on the way up about what would happen if the entire staff got stuck and froze to death (would Pavitt take over? He met us on the island and got to our hotel via snowshoe, no joke). We got there safe, but some injuries did end up occurring on the first night as a result of the wickedest snowball fight evs—I broke my arm, Sam got a bloody ear and Andrew acquired a busted mouth. It’s cool, though. We drank it off. GM Megan Jasper even rang The Bell at the bar we all trudged into, signaling that a round of drinks for all the poor locals in there was on us. It was the least we could do for fully taking over their neighborhood.

The rest of the retreat was super fun and fruitful, and although we ain’t pretty, we’re sharing photos with you. We hope you have a super sweet holiday time, friends!

WHAT THE HAIL!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:24 -0700

While we’re sure that you’ve already read & heard about ninety billion accounts of this year’s hail-peppered Sasquatch! Festival at The Gorge in the best-named small town of our state (George, Washington), you totally haven’t yet heard ours! We’ll keep it short and sweet, as photos speak a billion paragraphs or whatevs. Below, you will enjoy several photos taken by the effervescent Sarah Moody, Internet Weblicist, of several of the wonderous bands we’re so lucky to work with. Perhaps you will note that The Shins & Iron and Wine look nice and dry! Perhaps you will also note that The Constantines do not! That’s because, as you may have heard, the apocalyptic heavens opened up and rain-hailed a shitstorm the likes of which I haven’t seen since my days experiencing the aftermath of Hurricane Alicia in 1983 in Katy, Texas. In fact, this hailstorm was worse, and not just because upwards of 20,000 kids were trapped outside in it…it lasted for like half an hour. Then stopped for ten. Then re-started up for fifteen. The only thing in the world that could kick the storm’s ass was, indeed, The Constantines. And they did! And the entire attendant staff of Sub Pop Records became drenched and freezing! Enjoy the photos!

CSS IS EXCITED AS SHIT!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:24 -0700

CSS are coming to America this summer to bring the party with their new album Cansei De Ser Sexy and apparently they are excited as shit to be working with Sub Pop and to come dance across the states; check out this wonderfully shitty letter that they sent us at Sub Pop HQ:- – - – - – - – - – We are so so so excited, it’s been hard to sleep. Yeah, but to illustrate it better for you, read this short story:

Eduardo he’s our international manager and huge friend, he introduced us a Wolf Eyes’s slang “Shit a Brick”. So every time he’d shout us an exciting news he’d say “I SHITTED A BRICK” or “You’ll shit a brick”, then since things started to grow he’d say “That person will shit a stadium”. Then we couldn’t get enough, news got bigger and bigger, so as our poop.

Here are some stuff we shitted during this special period of our lives of signing with Sub Pop and throwing a summer tour…
Check it out:
“I shitted an one meter subway sandwich with my brother’s ex-wife and my two cats”
“I shitted Copacabana beach with the 2 million people watching the free Rolling Stones gig”
“I shitted A LOCA club when it’s Placebo give away cd’s @ the Grind night!”
“I shitted one stadium in a salmon temaki shape without mayonnaise that fits five million good lookin’ people”
“I shitted the pink dolphin and XUXA (you should google her!)”
“I shitted the Coliseum”
“I shitted the world when it was only one continent.”

So… as you can see… we are very excited

THE EARLY BUZZ ON PISSED JEANS = SUBSTANTIAL!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:24 -0700

It’s admittedly still early days, but we at Sub Pop are very encouraged by the early “buzz” that Pissed Jeans have been generating. We don’t want to go overboard here (that sort of exaggeration is just not our style), but we’ve seen some recent photos from some Pissed Jeans shows and “the kids” are really responding in a significant way. Just take a look at the irrefutable photographic evidence below! The crowd is freaking out, some were even so moved as to make out with one another! We’re predicting that, one day, an awful lot of people will claim to have been at this show…

JENNIFER GENTLE AND MUDHONEY DO EUROPE!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:23 -0700

Sometimes, the wonderful bands we’re so lucky to work with are themselves lucky enough to tour that crazy continent over the briny seas, EUROPE! Recently, both Mudhoney and Jennifer Gentle played a show together at the Rainbow Club in Milan, Italy. Mudhoney was on tour, but Jennifer Gentle was not! Because they LIVE IN ITALY! We here at the World HQ weren’t there to throw pasta at the ceiling to see if it would stick, nor were we there for the show unfortunately. Fortunately, foxy Italian photographer Gianni Versace (buddy, if you’re related to ol’ Donatella, ship us some GOODS so we can hawk that shit!) took some lovely shots of both bands. Enjoy! Or, as the Italians would say, Enjoy-o!

SWEET BAND OF HORSES PHOTOS!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:23 -0700

It’s been forever since we here at Pandering to the Locals have posted, but never fear! We promise to be more faithful and persistent about it, just like Joey Joe Joe Jr. was when you dated him in sixth grade.

Check out these super-great photos of Band of Horses from photographer Jason Quigley! (www.photojq.com) He took them whilst seeing the dudes on tour—and you, too, can and should go see yourself a Band of Horses show! They are touring the U.S. this summer in support of Everything All The Time. They just made a killer new video for “The Funeral” that you can see here and also you can check out their tour dates, as well as dates from CSS, The Elected, Fruit Bats and more by clicking HERE!

BAND OF HORSES + A BEAR SUIT = FUN

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:23 -0700

Thanks to all of the people with the semi-humorous Horse jokes who made the guy in the bear suit laugh during our Band of Horses ticket giveaway. For all of those who didn’t get to be there, we have video and pictures that you can see by clicking on the respective thingies below. Sometimes we are maybe funnier than not funny people… maybe. You decide. Click Here to see the pictures

EUGENE MIRMAN PROTESTS HIMSELF?

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:23 -0700

Goodness, GARDEness!! On the afternoon of May 8th, 2006, nearly 100 enemies and fans of Eugene Mirman (including Eugene himself) proved at least one thing by gathering with signs and loudspeakers in NYC’s Union Square: America is nothing if not protesty. Whether or not protesters viewed the May 9th release of EN GARDE, SOCIETY! (Eugene’s second full-length solo comedy album with DVD supplement and his first for Sub Pop) as an affront to freedom as we know it, it was clear that they were there to fight the good fight forgainst Eugene.

If you live in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC, you’re probably no stranger to using your voice to promote both liberty and to act out against things that are comedy-larious. On May 14th, you’ll have your chance to speak out and Protest Eugene Mirman Yourself! Anti-Eugene protesters and Eugene himself will be meeting and organizing at 5 PM at the Renwick Art Gallery on the corner of 17th & Pennsylvania, by the glorious and giant painting of “American Gothic.” The assembled will then be marching on the White House! Contact andrews@subpop.com for more D.C. protest info.

Later that night, Eugene will be performing live at the Black Cat with Michael Showalter and Leo Allen.
Check out some ideas for protest signs here: http://www.subpop.com/features/images/eugeneprotestposters.jpg

ALSO! Just to spite and praise Eugene simultaneously, we here at Sub Pop World HQ are also teaming up with America’s Finest News Source, The Onion, to present a number of screenings of the En Garde, Society! DVD. What’s more, to sweeten the deal, we’ll also be screening our new DVD video comp. Acquired Taste!

May 09 – The Knockout , San Francisco, CA (En Garde, Society! + Acquired Taste screening/party 7-9pm)
May 09 – The Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA (En Garde, Society! + Acquired Taste screening/party 7PM- 9PM)
May 10 – Subterranean, Chicago, IL (En Garde, Society! + Acquired Taste screening/party @ 9pm)
May 11 – The Hi Hat Garage, Milwaukee, WI (En Garde, Society! + Acquired Taste screening/party at 8PM)
May 11 – The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO (En Garde, Society! + Acquired Taste screening/party @ 7pm)
May 18 – The Dubliner, Minneapolis, MN (En Garde, Society! + Acquired Taste screening/party 7-9pm)

Together, we are fomenting important societal change and also hopefully encouraging the sale of CDs here, people! And, while the journalistic establishment may be ignoring the revolution, the blogoverse is exploding all over itself with anti/pro Eugene blather:

On Comedy Central’s site, about the NY protest:

http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/cc_insider/2006/05/eugene_mirman_p_1.html

More photos here (Tu No Puedes, Eugene!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/
Which side are YOU EN?”

JONATHAN PONEMAN IS OLD!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:21 -0700

Holy poop, Sub Pop is filled with geezers! There is no doubt that our president, a man who is old enough to be my dad, JP is no exception! To celebrate his birthday, the year of which I won’t disclose as not to embarrass, we decided to fill his office with balloons and dead hookers! Well, Megan Jaspers planning skills fell through and the dead hookers didn’t show up in time, which is a real bummer as you can imagine. However, we did all rally together to inflate around 2786 bigass balloons, which made for a fun work day and a good interoffice bonding experience, if you’re into that sappy crap. We took some photos of the event for all of you curious folks out there who wonder what working at Sub Pop is really like in a day to day sense, so take a look below and you will get a gander. If you want to wish Jon a happy birthday, send your kind, or not so kind, regards and ribs to info@subpop.com

HOW MANY BALLOONS DOES IT TAKE TO FILL STEVE MANNING

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:21 -0700

After Friday’s balloon extravaganza we’ve had a ridiculous amount of balloons floating around our office. So, we all thought of something debaucherous we could do with this rubbery refuse, and came up with a damn good plan. Steve Manning, Sub Pop’s head of publicity and marketing was unfortunate enough to leave the doors of his VW bus unlocked, and that is a bummer for him. Fortunately though for you the reader this means opportunity! If you can guess how many balloons it took us to fill Steve’s van, we will send you a Sub Pop t-shirt and sampler. Sorry Steve, but don’t worry, there is a thumb tack taped to your steering wheel so you can pop your way out!The contest is over. The winner is Patrick Drzemiecki, Patrick guessed 336 and the actual number was 347! Good guess work Patrick, tell people you are smart!

THAT TICKET GIVEAWAY WAS AWESOME!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:21 -0700

So, all of the punk suckers who were too cool to come down to get free tickets missed out. I know you all really wanted to look at your ex-girlfriends fallout boy lovin’ boyfriend on myspace while listening to your new Fiery Furnaces record, but let me tell ya that you not only missed free tickets but you missed FUN. We gave away 6 free tickets to the sold out Iron and Wine show in Seattle today, and it was a blast! Good work to the winners, it just goes to show that we aren’t total bullshit artists and sometimes can even be nice… stay tuned in for more fun junk like this in the near future. Love Sub Pop.

LEST WE NOT FORGET...

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:21 -0700

LEST WE NOT FORGET…

SUB POP'S NEW WORLD HEADQUARTERS IS GO

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:20 -0700

Hello loyal subpop.com readers, I am sorry that it has been so long since we’ve last corresponded. But! As you may or may not know, we’ve recently moved offices from our old hoborific joint to 5 blocks up the beautiful Seattle streets. Our new offices have the luxury of an interoffice bathroom, not to be used by wino’s, grifters, vagrants, or the like. We also now come equipped with air hockey, a dishwasher, and a big fucking tv. But not everything has been gravy around here, we’re all catching up with all of the work we’ve not been doing in preparation for the move. In other bad news, our front desk lady Alissa got her car broken into in the new lot and her gym clothes stolen (crackheads apparently love to wear sports bras and spandex?) and I got kicked out of an A Frames show for being far too drunk. My cantankerous blacked out behavior was not appreciated at that show near as much as I thought it would be. Luckily this time when I blacked out though I didn’t try to ride my bike, and I made it home just fine, sans brokenface. Whilst all of this tom foolery has been going on around us we’ve also been planning a monumental CMJ event for you, our loyal fans. This year we are presenting to you Constantines, Fruit Bats, Rogue Wave, Chad VanGaalen, Wolf Parade, Holopaw, and Kinski. So if you haven’t heard yet, check out this fancy postcard and get over there to try and get in… And if you are unfortunate enough to not be in the New York area for this event, you might still be able to catch Chad VanGaalen, Rogue Wave, and Fruit Bats on tour around the nation together, so look at the tour section for the date nearest to you. Good Luck and stay tuned for more info. in the coming weeks.

-andrew

Gary "Gorillaman" Davis Presents Sub Pop Records with the Prestigious Recording Academy Honors Award

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:20 -0700

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for staying.

Plexi. The Blue Rags. Green Magnet School. The Evil Tambourines. The Yo-Yo’s.
These names and many others like them seem now inextricably synonymous with Sub Pop Records. It is, however, not solely a history written in forgotten failures. For there has also been a handful of almost-was-es, one or two kind-of-closes, and an occasional bonafide barely-profitables. It is for this legacy of small percentages that, tonight, Sub Pop Records is being honored by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy.

Sub Pop began sometime in the late 1980s by two gentlemen who met each other somewhere and did something that eventually led to them releasing some records. The early years of Sub Pop were marked by a clarity of vision and an unwavering sense of integrity: two qualities that co-founder Bruce Pavitt seemingly took with him when he left in 1990-something.

It was during this period that remaining co-founder, and tonight’s honoree, Jonathan Poneman earned the still popular inter-office nickname, The Impotent Wizard.

During the next several years, as Sub Pop’s status, credibility and cultural significance waned, Mr. Poneman took an unorthodox approach to resuscitating his company by embarking on an increasing number of lengthy overseas vacations to some the world’s most sacred spiritual centers in an attempt to add some glint of meaning to an otherwise empty existence.

It was during this period that he earned the still popular inter-office nickname, The Absent Ghost.

Recently, Fortune’s Bird of Pity seems to have found a friendly perch on Sub Pop’s fetid hovel as, over the last four years, they have enjoyed an unlikely string of critical and commercial successes that can only be attributed to two factors: luck & institutionalized racism. In an accidental misplacement of funds that has been mistakenly heralded by some as charity, Sub Pop has also been a key contributor to such worthwhile institutions as The Service Board and The Vera Project. Never mind that Mr. Poneman still believes the both of these to be code names for two of his many phony tax shelters and offshore accounts.

It has been during this most recent period that he has earned the still popular inter-office nickname, The Clueless Detective.

In reciting this history, perhaps you are like me in wondering why Sub Pop and Jonathan Poneman should be deemed worthy of receiving this otherwise well-merited award when I can’t even find a girlfriend. The answer, I’m afraid, is “I Don’t Know.”