Mail Bag

Sub Pop Vinyl Means No Compromises

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:56:51 -0800

To Whom it May Concern,
I’m writing to say how much I appreciate including a digital download with your packaged vinyl. LP records have long been my preferred format for a multitude of reasons. On the other hand, I lack the components to transcribe my analog collection to a compressed digital format. So, for all recently purchased music, this meant making sacrifices when buying on my preferred medium. Sub Pop vinyl means no compromises Now, I always check the vinyl section of the store (Amoeba Hollywood) when I’m about to purchase new music. In the last few weeks I’ve purchased at least two albums (Wolf Parade & Blitzen Trapper) from sub
pop because of the included digital download . Keep it up, and
thanks again.

T. Buns

Tell It Like It Is, Sister!

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:40:57 -0700

From: Victoria
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 5:57 PM
To: info
Subject: Vinyl is awesome

Hey Sub Pop!
I wasn’t sure where to send this so I just picked an e-mail I found on your site. I just wanted you to know that you hold the distinction of releasing the only CD I have bought all year, the Fleet Foxes EP Sun Giant. This week I have bought two more new albums, The Grand Archives and Fleet Foxes’ full length, both of which I bought on vinyl.
I like music a lot but never listen to CDs; I don’t even have CD player so I only but new music if it is from a small band. Because you released Grand Archives and Fleet Foxes on vinyl with a digital download I was compelled to actually buy the albums, rather than acquire them illegally like might tend to otherwise do.
So thanks so much! I love listening to records and am so glad that it is possible to get new bands on vinyl. CDs are just stupid, and now with the digital downloads I will defiantly but the records.
Thanks,
Victoria

Our First Mailbag on the new site!

laceys@subpop.com (Lacey Swain) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:11:43 -0700

[Hey Philly Kid—Send me your address and I’ll send you a treat! -ed.]

From: thephiladelphiakid@XXXX
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:34 AM
To: info
Subject: How is this? Re: Mail Bag Back in Action – L. Swain

Too Sober Right Now For Anything Too Interesting

I’ll write something better after I’ve had a few. Saw Mudhoney in Lancaster, PA last weekend. I wish I would have had a chance to talk with them, because I would have asked, “WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ALL THE HELL THE WAY OUT HERE?!” I had to make the trek back to Philly [big town in PA, look it up on a map, bigger then Lancaster even] through dark of night and construction lanes that reminded me of a driver’s ed nightmare. But I did it for Mudhoney. They hold the record for band-that-I’ve-seen-in-the-most-number-of-towns, and it is not because they tour too much. Anyway, Steve Turner was my hero during most of my twenties, and the only interaction I remember having with Sub Pop was when I sent a cassette copy of “Bleach” back for replacement around 1992. When I wrote to inquire about my replacement, someone sent a rather sharp note back saying that Sub Pop wasn’t in the habit of replacing cassettes that had been tossed around the floorboard of someone’s car. I don’t know how that person knew, but I didn’t put it there, it was this undesirable female who ripped out the tape and threw it there in an unprovoked rage. In closing I will also mention our dog, named Mudhoney. She is a four-legged dog, but she walks with a gimp. No joke there, just plain fact in mention.

Dope Smoker.

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

Original Message——-
From: andy
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 11:37 AM
To: info
Subject: thanks

hey guys
my names andy, and i order off your website at least once a month and i
just figured it was about time i got off my lazy stoned ass and say thanks
for all the great music, clever t-shirts, delivery so fucking prompt most
old folk’d say your gettin fresh , oh and all the bonus stuff you guys have
given me over the orders. that i gotta say is what i apreciate most anyways
gotta smoke a bowl b’fore work so thanks again .

your forever loyal customer andy

p.s : why is it, on the back of the “red red meat – idiot son” 10" your
guys’ adress is writen as beverungan germany just curious ( also new wolf
parade rocked my fuckin face off)

Oh Francis, you got me again!

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

From: Francis
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 10:43 PM
To: info
Subject: This is a Huge Complaint!!

Thanks again for handling my order in the polite manner you did. I spoke with one
of the people at Sub Pop (Lacey) and she was awesome. I gave you guys the wrong
address and she managed to fix my problem and get the records to me very quickly.
I really appreciate how well Sub Pop treated me.

Thanks again,
Francis

Record Reviews by One of My Favorite Customers

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:19 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 5:25 PM
To: Lacey S
Subject: RE: Sleater-Kinney Order

Thank you so much! You are without a doubt the coolest mailorder person I’ve ever dealt
with, ever…..evar. I should draw a picture for you like I did for Bekah…..course, then Bekah
won’t feel special and she will have no need to give me stuff and talk nicely to me….

Which do I like more…..the LAL…..or the SK?
Well….

I think I would have to go with Sleater-Kinney. HOWEVER::::

I love Love as Laughter. Love. This album is without a doubt my second favorite album
of theirs ever. Here’s the thing:

I also love Sleater-Kinney, and I think they rock very hard. Their last album was very good,
I thought, but upon further listening it was more tribal than straight up rock. All the tomahawk
beats and choppy guitars. THE WOODS sounds like Sleater-Kinney drunk and listening to fucking
Led Zeppelin and making their own brand of scuzzy, bloated hobbit rock with shrieking and
distortion and jamming straight out of the darkest depths of Mordor.

Laughter’s Fifth is like the most catchy album LAL has ever made, I think. BUT, I like Sea
to Shining Sea more. Possibly my favorite song of theirs is “Temptation Island” which is funny
because that’s the most indie poppy version of Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown”
I have ever heard, and for that it is AMAZING!!

The thing is, I am totally OVER Led Zeppelin!! I have like 5 of their records, but I don’t bust
them out that often. When I do, I’m into them, but I never put it in the CD player to listen to
over and over again. HOWEVER, I seem to love band’s approximations of Led Zeppelin in
settings that the ZEP would never touch.

Sea to Shining Sea is all druggy and scratchy and pretty all at once. Laughter’s Fifth
is not QUITE that good.

Both albums are not as good as Comets on Fire’s “Blue Cathedral”, or, for that matter, the
live album you gave away during the pre-order for “Blue Cathedral” (got any of those around?
Check that out NOW) Those were unbelievable.

Hope that answers any questions you had!! Sorta…

Eric

SOMEONE SLIPPED THIS POOR KID ACID AT WARPED TOUR.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:19 -0700

…or maybe he’s been frequenting poetry slams?
From: dj kingsbury
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 9:31 AM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: DEARESTBruce, John and THE SUB POP CREW

i got NOFx, bad Religion, Bane, Gorilla Biscuits, Dead Kennedys, Sonic youth, Bad brains, Motley Crue, Bikini Kill,Le Tigre, Crass, Velvet Underground, Interpol, The cure, The Smiths,Screeching Weasal, The germs, X, Youth of Today, Shelter, NIrvana, The Queers, Born Agaisnt, Gohnorea, Skintree, Propaghandi, Mnor Threat, Minch, Jane’s Addiction, Psi Com, All, Black Flag, Mission of Burma, SST, FAT WRECKCHORDS,EPITAPH,A.T. etc, so on and so forth
laying in posters on my wall-
shirts in my closet
stickers on my guitars, drums, books,lockers,car
and I tattooed “Kill all the Whit Men” on my head
with my Mohawk-
I’m just sick at what I am seeing
and hearing about- I am
sick of what i am seeing-
Jello Biafra prolly does work for the C.I.A
the bloated rock star him and his Cronies have become!
Fat Mike sits like an aging psuedo Buddha
nubbing his dog with his hand,
his eyes out of angst- cause
EVERY SONG IS THE SAME!
he talk about George Bush Jr.(his friend?)
and takes the money to his condo
and laughs when he plays poker with his elitist friends-
PUNK IS DULLED
“punk is dead” once wrote crass
though they disbanded
and now make a living out of thier ashjes
brandon cruz replaced Jello in a reformed
DK- i just don’t get that-
all the label i mentioned
are by men
so why can’t katheleen hate men-
most of the punk HITS
talk of how they hate women anyway-
so why do we stay where we don’t belong?
punk is dulled
Mr. brett sold epitaph to the majors-
and all the sub’s make thier profit
BUT DOES ANYONE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE KIDS-
WHEN THEY ARE LOST ADULTS THEMSELFS-
THOUGH GOTTA MAKE THAT PROFIT,
AND HAVE YER OWN SHITTY SCENE-
but desperation gone,
and people still look up ta ya
just the same-
what about our hero’s?
‘KILL YR IDOLS’ screamed
thurston back in 85
though bane is doin the same thing
gorilla biscuits and YOT did back then
as well-
PUNK IS DULLED-
it has become another stale cartoon
as once lamented J.Biafra- occupant- Eric Boucher
where once we wanted to destroy now we only destroy our selfs
maybe that was it from the begining-
just as SID fell through the glass window
then being blamed for nancy O’d
then O’d himself….
and so many are tied to that LOCK
that suffocates them around
thier kneck-
and the needle that bleeds chance into
thier arms
“Kill YR IDOLS…SONIC DEATH, IT”S THE END OF THE WORLD, CONFUSION IS IS SEX?NEXT’ screamed sonic youth
through loud guitars- playing as distortion and noise-
BUT WHAT IS NEXT? AFTER CONFUSION? cause confusion
has only come to dull us-
and are we connected-
or just misaligned/misinformed/led the wrong way
because just as THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT own SPENCERS/HOT TOPIC
do the foces we “rebel” agaisnt own
what we so dearly love-
whether it be PETA or FAT WRECK CHORDS/ EPITAPH
or just punk it self-
there have been band named “BLATZ”
maybe we should have seen
it’s been coming all along-
it’s coming all undone
Early to finish, late to start
We don’t care.
We’ll steel your money.
We’ll steel your show.
“I got your money and I feel fine.”
i guess thats just the way it is
maybe i never understood now
maybe i’m to blame-
i’ll go fart, but i drink coffee
maybe as Kelly said i’m just naive
cause i thought we all belived
in something real and good-
i’m not apart of any elitist group
thats the problem with “punk”
now a days
it’s all classist-
look the same
dress the same
as long as you buy the same shit to
maybe Jello does work for the F.B.I
and Fat Mike does work for the C.I.A
I can see fat mike saying now-
“We don’t need this creativity!”
punk is dulled
i’m telling FAT MIKE!
i’m sick of seeing
the one thing i have loved
since i was a child
die before my eyes-
punk needs to stop being a system
and WAKE THE FUCK UP!

THE BAD TRIP BLUES

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

Original Message——-
From: Jeff/Ninja Tune
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 2:33 PM
To: press@subpop.com
Subject: Wolf Eyes at CoachellaHey,This is totally random and I’m sending here because I couldn’t find a contact for Wolf Eyes, so feel free to pass it along, have a laugh, whatever.Big fan of Wolf Eyes. Wolf Eyes at Coachella…Possibly the most out of context thing I’ve seen in awhile. Watching them perform with 5 brightly lit palm trees swaying in the background…sure. But awesome nonetheless.Anyway, so I’m watching them play. Prodigy is playing 2 tents over so a lot of people are coming in the tent and realizing it’s not Prodigy then moving on. This young clubbed out/raver girl comes in and stands beside me. Her eyes are all bugged out, clearly fucked out of her head, and she looks terrified. She’s staring at the stage, hands clasped to her chest, looking like she’s having trouble breathing. After about 15 minutes of this I decide to ask her if she’s okay, and was going to suggest that if she’s that fucked up she may not want to be in the way of the noise assault coming from stage. She turns to me and in the most cautious and terrified voice I’ve ever heard she asks “Is this The Prodigy?”. After directing her to the proper tent she set off. But I laughed for hours at what those 15 minutes were in her head. Was she trying to figure out if that was actually Firestarter under all that noise? Was she wondering where the guy with the funny hair do had gotten to. And how terrifying would Wolf Eyes sound if you were that fucked and didn’t know what you stumbled onto. Hell I remember seeing Diamanda Galas do Plague Mass highon acid and I thought I knew what I was getting into.Anyway, that was a great way to end the weekend.Jeff

I LOVE Mondays

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:17 -0700

Dear Sub Pop Records,

My name is Brian XXXX and I’m 14. I’m from Othello, WA and I play

guitar. I am a self- taught guitarist. I play on my boombox in my room
with Styx, Journey, Green Day, Nickelback, Metallica and music like
that.

I was wondering what does it take to get a record deal. I have met Styx, Mark Wills, Joe Nichols and I just love music. I just know that I can become a GREAT guitarist in a band. What does it take to get a record deal? I also have made my own song up. It has a cool guitar riff throughout the whole song.

Please Write Back Soon,

Brian

THIS IS OUR NEW FAVORITE DUDE, EVER.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:16 -0700

From: ben greenberg[mailto:XXXXXXX]
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 8:42 AM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: wolf eyes

hey..hi,

so i go to jazz school in new york city, and i’m writing an arrangement of “stabbed in the face” for my ensemble (2 drums, bass, 2 guitars, piano, 2 tenor sax). i’ve scoured as far as i canscour, and i can’t find lyrics anywhere. i read yr FAQ and i’m sorry to bug you with this crap, but it’d be really, really helpful if you could point me somewhere specific. maybe a way to get in touch with theband? perhaps the lyrics are tacked on the wall somewhere?

thanks

SEE? PEOPLE DO CARE....

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:16 -0700

From: XXXXXXX@XXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 6:48 PM
To: laceys@subpop.com
Subject: thank you Sub Pop

Hey Sub Pop!
I just wanted to give you a big ‘ol thank you for the extra stickers and button that I recieved with my order. I’ve been ordering a lot of Iron and Wine stuff from you (for Samuel Beam is amazing), anyways, my recent order was the “Woman King” EP…andwith that you so graciously gave me a Sub Pop sticker, and Iron and Wine sticker and an Iron and Wine pin. Thank you so much! I love you guys!

Love,
Meghan Dvorak

Shop with the Best

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:15 -0700

From: Tim P
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 8:32 PM
To: info
Subject: You guys freakin’ rock!

Dear Purveyors of SubPop,

So here I am, a guy from the greater Seattle area, who adores Rogue Wave. I go online
to SubPop.com, order 10:1 and Descended Like Vultures, and in a few short days they
arrive. But not just those two CD’s – no, you’ve gone and included a bonus CD that looks
like it was hand ripped by some poorly intern who had time between getting coffee for
the execs and stapling press flyers. Sweet!

I’m pretty sure I was told when I ordered that I was getting the bonus CD, but I
just wanted to tell you that SubPop kicks ass for offering it. Despite being one of, if
not THE most well-known indie label in America, you’re still giving up the goods
whenever/however you can. On behalf of us little people, thank you!

Now I’m gonna go have a Zach fest with my six pack of Heineken, some kick ass cough
syrup with codeine that I obtained legally from my doctor, and my THREE new Rogue
Wave CD’s!

Thanks for kicking ass,
Tim in Redmond

David Cross' Its Not Funny Is Not Worth Stealing.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:14 -0700

Dear friends,

My name is Bryan Stroud. I work at CD101 (WWCD FM) in Columbus, Ohio. We play
a bunch of your bands, both on our Independent Playground specialty show and on
our Ordinary Everyday Airwaves. We do not play David Cross’ material.

Judging by the tastes of one particular thief, this is in our best interests.

I live and work downtown. Our station and studios are just a seven-minute walk from
my humble apartment. I have to park my car on the street outside my house because
the dumbass Germans who built my neighborhood in the early 19th century didn’t
leave room for driveways. This means that my car is out there for everyone to see as
they stumble down the street from the bars on High Street to their free parking spots
a few blocks from the activity, which means that I need to be careful and vigilant
about locking up my shit when I park it for the night.

I must have forgotten to check last Friday night because someone broke into my car
(or, slightly less dramatically, just opened the unlocked door) and made off with a
bunch of my stuff. The thief must have had good taste because most of my prized
things were taken. I had a tool kit and $6 worth of change, which is worth something
to even the least cultured car thief, but he also took the following:

Beth Gibbons/Rustin Man – Out Of Season
Gomez – Split the Difference, Liquid Skin AND Bring It On
Secret Machines – Now Here Is Nowhere
The Postal Service – Give Up
Andrew WK – I Get Wet (shut up)
Super Furry Animals – Phantom Power
Propellerheads – Decksanddrumsandrockandroll
Lo-Fidelity All-Stars – How To Operate With A Blown Mind
Charlatans UK – Us And Us Only
and a few other CD’s I haven’t been able to determine yet.

He also took a kilt I had in my trunk. A genuine Scottish kilt, made to fit someone
exactly my size (33 waist, 25 drop) and the matching sporran. Bummer – those things
are like $350, but I don’t know how the pawn/consignment market is for something
like that. It’s not exactly an anonymous item – there probably aren’t a lot of
blackwatch plaid kilts with the word “Maxwell” written inside being bandied about
the second-hand clothing market. But it’s gone, and now I get to busy myself with
calling pawn shops and the like, seeing if they have my stuff.

The thief conspicuously spared four things in my car. He (I assume the thief is a
male) left my cell phone charger, a pair of sunglasses, a burned CD my friend Scott
made for me, and he left my copy of It’s Not Funny by David Cross. It had the digi-pak
and everything, the disc is in good condition, it doesn’t have any distinguishing marks.
The thief just couldn’t be bothered to take it, which I would take as an insult if I were
David Cross.

The perpetrator had already crossed moral lines by entering my car, pilfering my
recorded music and ethnic costume and stealing the change from the center armrest
console. It’s not like taking the Cross CD would have put him over the top in the eyes
of the law, so I can only assume that the thief took what he did because he liked it and
he left what he did because he didn’t like it.

The cell phone charger? Understandable. Those things are built to be as incompatible
as possible.

The sunglasses? They aren’t particularly fashionable anymore, so fine.

There isn’t much of a market for “Dr. Scott’s Best of 2003 Mix,” even at the least picky
of record stores, so I can see leaving that behind.

But a near-mint copy of It’s Not Funny? It makes me think a particular thief was making
some kind of statement.

“I’ll take these two melted Snickers bars from the glove box (I forgot to mention the
melted Snickers bars) and I’ll take an odd garment that probably won’t fit anyone
I know, and I’ll even take is ridiculous Andrew WK CD, but I’m not about to lower
myself to David Cross’ level,” I bet he thought as he picked up the CD, read the
(admittedly misleading) track listing on the inside cover, and put it back where
he found it.

Whatever. At least I still have something to listen to in the car, and having this
backstory now makes the CD even funnier. If you see David, please tell him about it.

Sincerely,
Bryan

Best Record of the Year!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:14 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Matt
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 12:54 PM
To: ‘info@subpop.com’
Subject: Comets on Fire

Just wanted to give you folks a MIGHTY THANK YOU!!! Blue Cathedral is hands down
the best record of the year so far (and yes, record…sure soundz nice on 180G vinyl)!!!
And thanks a LOT for throwing in the live CD…I have been terrorizing my office mate
for the past couple with that one…

Comets on Fire just keep getting better…adding Chasny as a full time was a great idea
(and that’s from a Six Organs fan too!).

I’m gonna be paying a lot more attention to your label now…Between Comets on Fire
& Kinski, you folks have two of my current fave bands on yer label…

MattG

Hmmm, intriguing....

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:14 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Leatherneck56dl@xxx.com
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 8:29 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Question

So, if not for Nirvana would anybody really care about you?

He Said DOOBIE!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:13 -0700

Original Message——-

Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 5:23 PM
To: ironandwine@comcast.net
Subject: woah

hey my names daniel and woah, this music is awesome. i’m listening
to “free until they cut me down” and its really good. im a new fan
(via “such great heights” cover) and have just bought your 2 latest
albums. i live in waco texas and sometimes its hard to hear about
good new music here, this stuff is as refreshing as a fat doobie on
a cool morning. im gonna try to come out to cali for some of your
shows. you guys should think about coming to texas, austin would
love yall. keep on truckin.

WOLF EYES IS THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:12 -0700

From: XXXX
Date: July 25, 2004 6:45:15 PM EDT
To: XXXX
Subject: Total hater

Thursday, July 15, 2004

Me Bleedin’ Ears

Sonic Youth, Showbox 7/14/2004

The timing for a headache couldn’t be any worse.

I’d never seen Sonic Youth live in concert, but by reputation I knew the
band was loud, and its sound often times is experimental. Lisa and I got to
the Showbox pretty late — about an hour and a half after the show was
supposed to start. We should have waited another hour before going inside.
When we got there, we were “treated” to the experience that is Wolf Eyes,
a band that I’d never heard of before. When they started playing, it was
obvious why Sonic Youth chose to bring them on the tour. For over half
an hour, the band gave us an onslaught, or assault, of high pitched
feedback, distortion, screaming, and new ways of using noise makers.
Most bands that actually are worth listening to use the noise to introduce
a song, or bring it to an exciting close. Not Wolf Eyes. Entire “songs”
were devoted to the ear splitting crap. And it was every shit eating song in their
set. You know, they even broke out a foley artist’s tool for emulating thunder,
a piece of sheet metal. It was so bad, you couldn’t make out what people
were yelling five feet away. Through it all, these guys played, bobbing and
head banging to a beat only they could hear. I thought to myself, if that’s
all it takes for me to be noticed as a musician, Sonic Youth could take
me on tour. I could just go on stage taking a shit on a miked toilet, playing
a one stringed guitar blasting feedback through a five dollar amp. I’d never
felt such animosity towards a band like this in my life. I wanted to beat them
with their instruments until I blacked out from rage. I wanted to go to a gun
range, and shoot a .57 right next to their unplugged ears while I shoved
bamboo under their nails, just so they would know what they had made me
go through. If you think I’m belaboring the point or exaggerating, I wasn’t
alone. I noticed that a lot of folks in the audience, with years of rock
clubbing under their belts, had facial expressions that switched between
scowls and cringes. One of the security guys walked buy and remarked
(amazingly audible at the time), “They suck so bad, it makes me sweat!!”
True, it was really hot in the room, but my body seemed to only notice the
one of its five senses that was dying a horrible death. If my ears had
undergone this kind of treatment early in my concert-going life, I would
have stayed home every night of the rest of my life. When they finally ended
their set, there was a fifty-fifty mix between cheering (I’m still astounded at
these poser fans) and booing. I had no energy to boo. My head was pounding,
and I was just relieved to have the calm of a room full of people jabbering.

When Sonic Youth finally took the stage, I was to exhausted to care.
As I write this, I’m pissed that I couldn’t fully take on the experience of
this legendary band and give them an enthusiastic listen. I was agitated
and ready for the night to be over. I’m pissed that I’m devoting less time
and words to the Sonic Youth set. I mean, I enjoyed their set. Especially
when we retreated to the back of the room. For as noisy as this band is,
at least they know how to make music. They have a mix of tones to their
songs, ranging from the moaning, purring, and screeching of Kim Gordon,
to the frantic, sarcastic whine of Thurston Moore. Most of it is definitive
pop noise punk, and by all accounts not much has changed in their
songwriting since they formed in the 1970s. Sonic Youth is probably the
best at changing tempo in the middle of their songs, going from beautifully
layered guitar to speaker breaking noise, and back again. This, folks, is
how you’re supposed to use noise.

But I wasn’t able to make it through the set. My head continue to hurt, and
I was really hungry. We traveled up to Capitol Hill to enjoy a couple of
Dick’s burgers. And it was so quiet, I nearly wept. Headache abated, we
went home, and I fell asleep, grateful for once for living in the quiet
suburbs.

posted by Rod E at 4:56 PM

1 Comments:
L said…

Hon, you had me laughing so hard I nearly peed right here in the office!
Your description was absolutely correct. I enjoyed Sonic Youth, but
certainly not as much as I would have without sitting through Wolf Eyes.
Man, they were bad. Really. Bad! Categorically the worst show I’ve ever
had the misfortune of attending.

For those of you reading, these guys tried to play one of those Christmas
ornament horns (like the fake brass ones you buy at Michael’s to hot glue
to a wreath). Painful.

The biggest disappointment of the evening was when newly-created Wolf-

heads descended upon the lead “singer” when he walked over to the
merch table. These girls were too young to know that just because
something is different doesn’t mean it’s good. Sigh. I weep for our future.

Praise for Our Incredible Service

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:12 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Pål
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 5:00 AM
To: laceys
Subject: Re: Order number: 33639

Hi
Just wanted to thank you for fantastic service !
I received the records today incl. one free sub pop
sample cd. I love you !

I will recommend you to all the people i know.

thank you again and lots of love

paul

Nice Try...

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:12 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Benny
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 3:07 PM
To: laceys@subpop.com
Subject: Most likely rejected proposal

Damnit, I sent this email, an error erased, and now I cannot think to
write it again properly, so I’ll be direct about it…

So, I download, because I think music should be 10 dollars postage-
paid. I do make one exception for www.fatwreck.com, because they make
it up, in my opinion.

However, I love the Postal Service!!! I also love low prices, but I
still wont shop at Wal-Mart. Anyways, I wanna purpose that you sell
me their album 10 dollars postage-paid, or else you’ll just get
nothing, unless I decide to mail PS a couple bills. So, the point
is, you do this, and I’ll love you forever, and be sooo loyal to
you, like I am with Fatwreck. I’m always making people listen to
their artists, and my friends really love them now. So, the point is,
I will give ya’ll mad props among the downloaders, not download your
artists without buying the albums (10 bucks, of course), and talk
it up way big with my buds. This is my proposal.

Thanks for listening,
Jonesb

Do Not Shop for Records at Hot Topic

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:12 -0700

Original Message——-
From: dan
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 12:26 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: im really pissed off at you guys

hello,
my name is chris, i live in racine wisconsin. i have bought three copies of
Nirvana’s Bleach lp {twp at a hot topic store at the regency mall and one
in downtown chicago} and all three of them do not play properly on any
of my record players. What the fuck? im pissed and i want a copy of bleach
that actually plays on vinyl. two of the lps play like this: i put the needle down
at the beginning of the record “blew” and it scratches all the way across to the
end of the side “paper cuts” same goes for the other side of the lp. my other copy
just continually skips on every single song. and i know its not my record player
because every single other lp i have plays perfectly fine. this is totally not cool.
what kind of label manufactures defected merchandise? all i want is to be able to
listen to bleach and i can’t. i’m really pissed at your label i will never buy anything
from you guys again.

a very unhappy customer
-chris kee

No way in Hell.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

Original Message——-
From: *
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 10:59 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Listen to me, damnit

I obsessively haunt your website and half of your bands, so I just thought I’d tell you…
labrets. Labrets! You can put your logo on labrets… and then you can send me one because
you love me…

Order Labrets. Gimmie.

Peace, Love, Out
Katie

Sometimes People LIke Us....

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

Original Message——-
From: KC Williams
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:56 PM
To: laceys@subpop.com
Subject: my order

Hey! KC here, I ordered a couple things from your online store
(A Postal Service single and a Shins t-shirt and a Shins Poster to be specific)
and when it arrived it had a bunch of bonus stuff in it:
3 Stickers, 2 posters. AWESOME! I just wanted to thank you! You guys
kick so much ass, I want to be you!

Bring back the Grunge!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Brett Y.
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 10:09 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Grunge era music

Dear Sub Pop,

You guys need to bring back the Grunge era! All that I listen to is grunge rock,
and I’ve recently become interested in obtaining as many of the old albums as I could.
Even Tad, MotherLoveBone, L7. Yes, that far back in time. And also as recent as
Bush’s 2001 album, “Golden State.” Frankly, I’m finding that many of the albums I am
looking for are out-of-print and unobtainable. I think it would nice of you guys to start
signing bands who sound the way Nirvana used to. Now that was good music. The only albums I
listen to in the car are Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and SoundGarden.
And maybe the Stone Temple Pilots. My point across to you again: Bring back the Grunge sound!
There are still plenty of people who are interested in it. I don’t mean Creed and Nickelback.
People call them Grunge and “Post-Grunge,” (Whatever the hell Post-Grunge is supposed
to be), but these bands are not grunge and they suck like a Hoover. Thank you, Sir or Madam,
for taking the time to look over this email.

David Cross Needs a Nice NIght Out on the Town

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

Original Message——-
From: *
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 12:29 AM
To: laceys@subpop.com
Subject: david cross donation

Hi. See, I’ve downloaded about everything David
Has performed off of the Internet. I am quite
entertained, yet am feeling very guilty about not
contributing financially. The guy has made me laugh
a lot, which I think is worth something. So, I think
I’d like to forward some money his way, if it’s possible.
I don’t even need a pressed copy of his CD, since it’s
all out there anyway. I am a poor student—does $20 matter?
$50? That’s a pretty good night on the town, isn’t it?
Should I just send buy off of Amazon.com?

My worst fear isn’t being beaten up by some bully
At my local Denver, CO dive bar. It’s being skewered
By Cross and having that image beamed across the world,
which I think could possibly happen if I continued to
download his stuff without even paying for it.
I’m much less afraid of Lars Ulrich.

So help me out, Sub Pop, and you probably deserve a cut too,
although I don’t really understand the record label business.

Best,
Anonymous Fan
(yikes, those lawyers get hungry now and then)

Smartest Cutomer Yet...

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Gonzalo M
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 2:00 PM
To: laceys@subpop.com
Subject: MY greatness!!!

Dear friends,

just a few days ago the requested Michael Yonkers cd MICHRO……, was delivered
without incovenience. Fantastic music!!!!. This is the true psychedelia. Amazing guitar sound.
thanx for the fast and reliable onlline service.

Regards from Spain.
Gonzalo

Seems like YOU are powdering YOUR nose...

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

From: daniel b
Date: June 7, 2004 3:41:05 AM PDT
To: list@subpop.com
Subject: subpop rules.
You have been subscribed to the mailing list, thanks. Dudes and dudettes gee
thanx I mean I don’t know what to say I am speechless really. I mean all my life
I stuck with you guys. I am from the midwest, St. louis. But like one time I even
went to seattle to visit with my girlfriend we stayed a couple of weeks, and then
we went to spokane washington and cheney college, they so rocked up there man
do you guys know how to parteeee, and I’ll always miss the ferry boat rides up
there in seattle. We even went and visited the boyhood hometown of my rock
heroes and grunge legends “the MELVINS>” and it was cool to see were the king
B is from ya know. I even met The King B in st.louis once during there stag tour
with helmet and got buzzo to sign all my cd’s!! Dale grover was not there at the
time he was “POWDERING his nose” as the great king b himself so put it. But it
was cool he circled the tracks that Kobain played guitar in on the houdini album.
it would of been cool to meet dale to, he played drums on the bleach album. I still
rock out all the old greenriver and tad cd’s. and seaweed and the afghan whigs.
And right now as you read this there is still a subpop bumper sticker stuck to a
stopsign 10 feet from my house which has been there for about 11 years now and
even after 11 years of rain, snow , sleet and sun it still looks pretty damn good.
You guys take care now, yours truly “spacecowboy”

This Kid Rules!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

Original Message——-
From: George C
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 6:14 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Why?

Dear Sub Pop Records,

I have a respect for Nirvana and all of its members, but I want to know: why
the hell are so many dumbasses obsessively asking questions about Nirvana when
only one of their four albums was released on Sub Pop? By the way, Sub Pop kicks
ass and I hope I can be on your label instead of some corporate cocksucking assholes’
label when I get a band together.

Your fan,

George Cruickshank, starting a band called Day of the Dead

P.S: I am not using this letter as an excuse to try to get a tape sent in, since I live in
Illinois, the hell of alternative rock, and since I am in middle school and don’t have a
band together yet.

Oh, Mommy! I am scared.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:11 -0700

To: info@subpop.com
Subject: A challenge!

Give me five reasons you are better than Kill Rock Stars.

Love,
Eryn

(One of them better be that you carried the Murder City Devils on your label.)
(Or I will not purchase an album on your label ever again.)
(Ever.)

(This is not a joke.)
(Take it very, VERY seriously.)

I Hate Your Art, Too.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:10 -0700

Original Message——-

From: Che Brooks/Mordam Records

Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 3:21 PM

To: info@subpop.com

Subject: thermals

What did the Thermals do to piss you guys off?
Their new album has one of the worst album covers
I’ve seen this year! Is that a construction paper sun?
And a guy with a football jumping out of nuclear power
plant? What the hell!

I don’t know which first grade class you gave this
to as a project but it screams “don’t pick me up!”
And the title is stupid as well. No gold stars for
Mrs. Crabtree’s class.

I like the cd. Good tunes, the singers vocals seem
more nasaly then the last album, but cool anyways.
It’s just too bad they equated being a punk rock band
with having shitty art.

Winston Smith they are not.

-che

Telling It Like It Is!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:10 -0700

Original Message——-
From: Candubuki@aol.com [mailto:Candubuki@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 2:42 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: (no subject)

you will never have a chance to accept my demo recording.
your web site makes you all sound like a bunch of cock-assess.
i can’t believe that steve albeni would even let you mention his
f**king name.
gutshot & thirsty.

We Did Good!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:10 -0700

Original Message——-
From: M
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 4:00 PM
To: laceys@subpop.com
Subject: Fantastic Service

Hello,
I recently pre-ordered the new Catheters album from you
wonderful people this past week and it arrived today, a day
before the album came out. A great job on that, not to mention
the stickers you sent and the .45 of I Fall Easy. That was just a
fantastically wonderful job. And I would like to thank you for
having David Cross on the roster. Goddamn he is a funny man.
Again, thank you wonderful people for your excellent service.
And I appreciate the humore when it comes to the little things on
the website and the such.

-Michael L

Size matters, we want to be hipsters, etc.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:10 -0700

Original Message——-

From: (anonymous)
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:37 AM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Shins concert-read THIS one

The Shins played in Denver for 45 minutes, then left the stage.
They made the crowd cheer them back to stage (as if they deserved
applause for playing a 45-minute show), and they came back for
another 20. Now I LOVE their music, but that is LAME.

Everyone I was near in the audience was very disappointed in the
length of their show. I had driven four hours (from Aspen to Denver)
to see that concert. I have introduced a multitude of friends to
their music and have talked them up incessantly for two and a half
years now. I dragged two friends across the state of Colorado to
see this band that I had been preaching about, and that’s what they
saw. I tried to find an e-mail address on their website, and there
was none. So, naturally, I called the label, you guys, to see if
they do have a general e-mail address that people can use. Jed,
who returned my call, quite self-righteously told me he only called
me back because the folks over at Sub Pop thought it was “weird” that
I would call them to get the Shins’ e-mail address and share my comments.

Way to go guys— the band and the label. Sub Pop, you are not Virgin
Records—had you been, I wouldn’t have bothered even calling. The Shins,
this is Independent Rock, and in Indie music, what you’ve got that most
important is your fan base. If you stand your fans up at a show, you suck.
If you play a meak hour-and-ten-minute concert, you’re going to piss
your fans off. I would think that a band like the Shins would treat
their audience well, and that its label, SubPop, wouldn’t be a bunch
of wannabe hipster pricks who think they are way too cool for their
own good and could give a shit about the bands they represent and its fans.

We Did Good.

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:09 -0700

From: J. Daman Hoffman
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004
Subject: Re: Sub Pop Records

Hey, I justed wanted to let y’all know how uncommonly pleased as
punch I am with the quality & efficiency of your SUBPOP
Shop’s service & products. I ordered 2 vinyl LPs by Eric Matthews &
not only are they of the highest possible calibre of music,
but the bumper stickers are like triple icing on the cake. I was expecting
maybe 2 or 3 weeks for them to be delivered to me here in Little Rock, AR.

However, I recieved them today…BARELY 3 DAYS AFTER I
PLACED THE ORDER!! It hasn’t even registered in my brain yet that
I ordered them at all. You cats are fantastic! I will shop at SUBPOP
much more often in the future.

Much thanks,

J. Daman Hoffman

Fast as lightning!

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:09 -0700

From: Flyingbroccoli
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Mail order?

I just ordered from sub pop on friday and my records got here on
monday….i have been doing mailorder for a long time and you are by far the
fastest and the best! but I do have one complaint I ordered two 7" records
and both of them were warped…It’s ok I happen to work at a record store and
we have a heat press so i was able to fix it, but I just wanted give you a
heads up. This is not going to stop me from ordering from you, but i was
a little disappointed. I just wanted to let you know….i will be ordering the
new Iron and Wine probably next week!

Thanks for being so fast…..lots of love
TOm

Maybe Ben Gibbard Will Make It After All...

deanh@subpop.com (Harry Dean Hudson) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:24:09 -0700

From: Nathan
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 3:08 AM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: In regards to the Postal Service and Death cab for cutie

I want you first of all to know that this is the only way I new
how to contact anyone in order to contaact Ben gibbard. I feel
that The Postal Service has great potential to be such a great
band. I am from Chicago(the midwest) and I feel that I can make
a great impact on the band. I have a friend that currently lives in LA
and i will be out there soon. I am meant o to be involved in the music
industry. I am currently majoring in sound production at Northern
Iliinois University. I have been playing guitar since I was 13 or 14
(currently 21) and I feel that I could have a great contribution to the band
The Postal Service. I don’t want this to sound like a resume but I think
that the band can go places. I would greatly appreciate it if Ben would
reply and tell me if he was interested in making a band with more emotion
and more feeling because his voacals our outstanding. I have only recently
been enlightened to the Postal Service and his vocals make the cd. I think that with
the right band he could make an outstanding revolution in the music industry.
Not trying to take anything away from Death Cab for Cutie
but I think he can make some rock. If Ben is interested in trying a modrrn
rock group with a twist contact me at XX@XXXX . Again I’m sorry that
I couldn’t contact in any other way but any reply will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nathan

Pure Genius.

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

From: “Timothy SPENCER”
Date: April 19, 2004 12:00:55 PM PDT

ok, so you dont want unsolicited demo’s etc etc just like the other
40,000 record labels dont, but i’ve got this really rad idea, im gonna create
a band.. with me, and like.. i guess 3 chicks, so i can be the only guy in this
all chick band and people will be like, wow.. there’s that guy who’s in a band
with those hot chicks and he gets to see them naked and shit.. but yeah i
think it’d really work because the alternative music scene loves hot chicks in
bands ( courtney lo… wait a sec scrub that one, brody armstrong, those sluts
from the halo friendly’s etc… ) So, it WOULD sell, i’d like to give you this
advanced opportunity to take on this project and i know you havnt pressed
" send to junk mail " yet, so THERE… unless you saw the words unsolicited
and junk mail before you started reading this.. anywho..

give to me the thoughts of your possesion on the matter, and i look
forward to not receiving an email from you.

from Jim.

Jed Helps Shape the Music of the Future

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

From: Mark M
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 6:51 PM
To: info@subpop.com
Subject: Jed Mayhew

Hey Jed i’m probably waisting my time i don’t no if you work
at sub-pop anymore but i remember when i pissed you off a few
years ago sending you a song threw the net, if you remember i
sing like kurt cobain and i left a message on your answering
machine, anyways i took your advice and went away and made my
own style like you said, i thought if its okay you might give me
another chance to send you something decent, i do accept that that
song was crap and yer i was sorta copying Kurt Cobain, but hey
if you could sing like him why waste that talent?, and i was trying
any means i could to get a record deal, surely you can understand?,
but as i said i have tried to create something new, all i’m asking
for is a slow yes instead of a fast no, maybe you will delete me
from your email list again, or maybe you will give me another chance,
pretty please, in any case it takes alot of confidence to ring up a
big studio like you and sing and then get shut down like i did by
you, but still try again even though i’m worried your gonna put my
music down, but i figure somewere in there you have to be nice
person "i no you must be! to have a band like nirvana means that
you have some sincerity in you, and maybe you were really trying
to help and not just cranky at me?

i don’t no if i every appologised “so sorry for that dude”

and no i’m not beggin for a record deal, i don’t care about the money
all i’m askin for is distribution, i am fairly confident with this new
music that i will make it because we are very good, i simply don’t give
up, maybe i will mention you won day when i’m up on the mtv stand
lol, and you will say shit he did take my advice lol, in anycase thank
you for steering me in the right direction it stung a bit but now i am
happy you told me i was just a copyier because i was,

i belive everythign happens for a reason
and if you don’t read this or answer me
i guess its not ment to be,

and happy easter lol
after all that
well i really needed to get it out
you changed my way of music jed
and i thank you dude
good luck with all your bands
maybe if you ever read this i will have already made it
and i will rock up at sub pop and say “remember me” lol
and we will both laugh about it,
maybe i will do a nirvana cover for you
or u no some sort of reunion like acca dacca lol
but i don’t think kurt would have liked that lol,
okay better go now

yours sincerly
Mark