Amen Dunes – the project of New York City-based Damon McMahon – will release his new album, Death Jokes, on May 10th via Sub Pop Records. In conjunction, he presents the first single, “Purple Land,” and announces concerts in select cities in the US, UK and Europe (full list is below). With Death Jokes, for the first time since the project’s incarnation in 2006, the spiritual reflections and meditations of Amen Dunes are turned away from himself and out sharply towards the world. Through samples and lyrics, the album plays like a scathing electronic essay on America’s culture of violence, dominance, and destructive individualism.
Death Jokes marks Amen Dunes’ first record since 2018’s Freedom, named a “best album of the decade” by Pitchfork who called it “his euphoric breakthrough… silvery and romantic, like a hallucination of the classic-rock songbook.” While McMahon has always worked with an outsider’s verve, he approached his seventh album in fall 2019 as an outsider to his own history. Instead of embarking on the eerie, modern blend of folk and blues for which he’s known for, McMahon decided to become a beginner again, immersing himself in the fundamentals of both piano and the electronic music he’d grown up with at raves and clubs but never imagined himself able to make.
As he worked, McMahon fought intense illness for most of 2020, first with Covid, then with lingering respiratory issues, and thirty lost pounds. Throughout this depleted state, two years and twenty-one failed collaborations passed. He was unable to find those who understood his unorthodox methods, this “loose, wild, self-propelled approach” that signaled a new direction for Amen Dunes. As he kept working, McMahon saw the birth of his first child, moved cross country from Los Angeles to Woodstock, NY, and dove repeatedly into the uncertain states of learning and losing. He knew he had to go it mostly alone this time, but not everything from that year was a wash. However small, the collaborations that worked proved to be profound. The jazz bassist Sam Wilkes appears on a trio of songs, producers Christoffer Berg (Fever Ray) and Kwake Bass (Tirzah, Dean Blunt) provided tracks on several others; sessions with Panoram and Money Mark also ended up in the final version of Death Jokes. On most songs, McMahon incorporated sounds, talking, and music pilfered from YouTube. The vast collage of samples include an interview with J Dilla, recordings from Type O Negative and Coil, a lyre performance of the oldest written song in human history, protest chants, a grunting powerlifter, and bits of stand-up from Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and others, as “thought provocation and irritant.”
The songs on Death Jokes almost seem to foresee the pandemic, but they’re more about the lingering effects those years have had on all of us, spiritually and emotionally. Their meaning morphed as the pandemic went on: at first they were reflections on our attachment to form, and to ourselves, and then they shifted into solemn indictments of our culture’s blind spots as we misjudge and attack, our veiled self-centeredness and self-importance masquerading as morality.
“Purple Land” started as a campfire country song before shifting throughout its production to incorporate polyrhythms, 909s, reggae guitar, backwards bass, and a drum break. The song speaks to the fragility of life, first in childhood and then as we age. Throughout, an omniscient angel figure presides over the ballad — “You’ll be all grown / I’ll be long gone / You’ll be living on the sun / If you ain’t careful, you’re gonna forget it.” McMahon explains, “Purple Land is one of the album’s interstitial character portraits: first of a child, then the narrator, and then of an empowered figure as they all navigate and find liberation from the disconnection and disenchantment of an uncertain world. It begins first as a song to my daughter about life on earth, offering platitudes, warnings, and guidance through its various stages, until it becomes a reflection on the narrator’s own uncertainties as he moves through the world, ending finally with a character Rhea Anne who exemplifies liberation from it all in a moment of simple reckless freedom, as the beat drops in the final minute of the song.”
Seen as an essay, Death Jokes reaches a thesis in the last two tracks. These songs mourn “the soul atrophy and separation between us” but they mourn with hope that we might be able to move past the coldness of holding passing convictions above the more complicated truths inherent in this life. These are gospel songs. They’re spirituals that have clawed their way out of a culture dead-set on smothering the boldness that a spiritual life fosters.
Many portions of the above press release are pulled from the Death Jokes bio by Catherine Lacey.
Today, February 15th, Boeckner is announcing North American headlining touring plans for Spring and Summer 2024 to support his forthcoming self-titled Sub Pop debut. He is also sharing new album highlight “Euphoria,” a song that dips into that off-kilter darkness, dashes of vibraphone tossed against woozy waves of synth. “It’s too late/ Time accelerates/ From the cradle to the grave,” Boeckner calls like some nuclear fallout Ziggy Stardust, glitching electronics dripping off the mix. The track’s percussive thrum comes courtesy of Matt Chamberlain and serves to bolster Boeckner’s potent guitar throughout the record.
Boeckner will perform material from the new album along with deep cuts and highlights from Operators, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits, and Wolf Parade catalog. The tours will also feature different lineups for the April and June dates. For the west coast shows, the live band will include Sam Brown (Operators, Divine Fits, New Bomb Turks) on drums, Alex Fischel (Spoon, Divine Fits) on keys, and Brad Laner (Medicine, Savage Republic) on guitar. The east coast band line up will be announced soon. Tickets for these shows go on sale tomorrow at 10 am (local).
Wed. Apr. 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Thu. Apr. 25 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent Sun. Apr. 28 - Portland, OR - Polaris Hall Mon. Apr. 29 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile Tue. Apr. 30 - Vancouver, BC - The Pearl on Granville Wed. Jun. 05 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle Thu. Jun. 06 - Detroit, MI - El Club Fri. Jun. 07 - Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe Tavern Sat. Jun. 08 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz Mon. Jun. 10 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Wed. Jun. 12 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg Thu. Jun. 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s Fri. Jun. 14 - Washington, DC - The Atlantis
Boeckner! is an eight-song, thirty-two-minute collection that includes the aforementioned “Euphoria,” “Dead Tourists,” and “Lose.”
Boeckner was produced, engineered, and mixed by Randall Dunn at Circular Ruin in New York City and mastered by Heba Kadry in Brooklyn.
Boeckner! is now available to preorder from Sub Pop. LP preorders of the album from megamart.subpop.com, Mega Mart 2 (the new, UK-based sibling site to the world-famous Sub Pop Mega Mart), and select independent retailers in North America and the UK and Europe will receive the limited Loser Edition on Orange vinyl. A special Jalapeno Green vinyl edition will also be available from select retailers in Canada.
This coming Friday, February 16th, Atlanta trio Omni will release their latest and greatest album, Souvenirfor Sub Pop. To kick off release week, the band has shared an official new video for their single “Compliment,” which was directed by Zach Pyles & AJ Holder.
The band shares about the song/video: “The last song on Souvenir explores uncharted territory for the band, which features some of the most bodacious guitar work and twists in an Omni song. It describes sparring with post-modernism in a post-postmodern world.”
Souvenir finds Guitarist Frankie Broyles, singer/bassist Philip Frobos, and drummer Chris Yonker converting their creative fuel into sharp, driving songs that land immediately, sporting chopping riffs, staccato beats, and wiry melodies. Each track is a compact unit that stands on its own, reflecting the time and place in which it was created.
Omni has added additional North American dates for June and July to their previously announced headline shows supporting Souvenir. Their North American East Coast run is from February 28th - March 15th, UK and Ireland dates from April 10th- April 20th, with the newly announced West Coast, South West & Mountain dates running from June 14th- July 01. The band is also confirmed to perform at this year’s SXSW music festival in Austin, TX (March 11-16) and at Dog Days Festival in Savannah, GA, on June 08th. See below for a full list of shows.
Sat. Feb. 24 - Atlanta, GA - The EARL ^ Tue. Feb. 27 - Richmond, VA - The Camel ^ Wed. Feb. 28 - Washington, DC - Songbryd ^ Thu. Feb. 29 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA Fri. Mar. 01 - Kingston, NY - Tubby’s Sat. Mar. 02 - Queens, NY - TV Eye*! Mon. Mar. 04 - Boston, MA - The Rockwell* Tue. Mar. 05 - Winooski, VT - Monkey House* Wed. Mar. 06 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa* Thu. Mar. 07 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison* Fri. Mar. 08 - Cleveland, OH - Happy Dog* Sat. Mar. 09- Chicago, IL - Schuba’s* Mon. Mar. 15 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia* Wed. Apr. 10 - Brighton, UK - The Green Door Store Thu. Apr. 11 - Bristol, UK - Strange Brew Fri. Apr. 12 - Falmouth, UK - Cornish Bank Sun. Apr. 14 - Dublin, IE - Workman’s Cellar Mon. Apr. 15 - Glasgow, UK - Hug & Pint Tue. Apr. 16 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Wed. Apr. 17 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute Thu. Apr. 18 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds Fri. Apr. 19 - Margate, UK - Where Else? Sat. Apr. 20 - London, UK - Moth Club Sat. Jun.08 - Savannah, GA - Dog Days Festival Fri. Jun.14 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister Bar Sat. Jun. 15 - Phoenix, AZ - Linger Longer Lounge Sun. Jun. 16 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar Tue. Jun.18 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Thu. Jun. 20 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop Sun. Jun. 23 - Vancouver, BC - Wise Hall Mon. Jun. 24 - Seattle, WA - High Dive Wed. Jun. 26 - Boise, ID - Shrine Social Club Thu. Jun.27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Sat. Jun.29 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive Mon. Jul. 01 - Oklahoma City, OK - Resonant Head
*This Is Lorelei ^ = Olivia O. != Vessel
Souvenir can now be pre-ordered worldwide from Sub Pop. LP orders in North America from the Sub Pop Mega Mart and the UK and Europe from Mega Mart 2 (the new European sibling to the Sub Pop Mega Mart) will receive the limited Loser Edition on Transparent Silver Souvenir Swirl (while supplies last).
What people are saying about Omni: “An exhilarating fairground ride you won’t want to disembark.” - MOJO
“An irresistible fourth (album)… it’s a charmer with fearsome chops all the way.” - Uncut
“Lauded by many as a band that completely transformed rock music, their latest contribution is a celebration of their skill as musicians. If there’s one thing that Omni excel at, it’s making technically complex, fast-paced precision slick, exciting, and look easy.” - Loud & Quiet
“‘Exacto’ boasts a stiff-necked riff and a jolting rhythm section, one that builds an unrelenting drive at the core of the track.” - So Young Magazine
“Exacto,” features their precision, angular sound, but everything feels punched-up, from the drums to the big hooks” - Brooklyn Vegan
“There’s a pleasant kind of straightforward attitude toward ‘Exacto,’ one that welcomes an easy indie rock sound outside of the discordant guitar lines.” - Far Out
”Souvenir finds Guitarist Frankie Broyles, singer/bassist Philip Frobos, and drummer Chris Yonker converting their creative fuel into sharp, driving songs that land immediately, sporting chopping riffs, staccato beats, and wiry melodies.” - Kool Rock Radio
Omni Souvenir
Tracklisting: 1. Exacto 2. Plastic Pyramid 3. Common Mistakes 4. INTL Waters 5. Double Negative 6. PG 7. Granite Kiss 8. Verdict 9. F1 10. To Be Rude 11. Compliment
On April 12th, METZ will release Up On Gravity Hill, their first album in 4 years, on Sub Pop for the world ex-Canada and in Canada on Dine Alone. The album was engineered by Seth Manchester (Mdou Moctar, Lingua Ignota, Battles, The Body) and features guest performances from Amber Webber of Black Mountain and composer/string arranger Owen Pallett.
METZ, a band once known for blowing out eardrums with songs of joyous rage, have, over their past few records, begun exploring ways to turn abrasiveness into atmospherics, the evolution of their sound not only a reflection of the maturing of the band themselves but also of a changed world that demands nuance and compassion to comprehend and to survive. This is so on their latest effort, Up On Gravity Hill, which finds the band continuing to bend the raw power of rock music to its most delicate, intricate ends. Delivering a deep, detailed, and unyieldingly personal collection of songs that are fused together to form not only METZ’s most powerful record to date but also their most beautiful.
To spotlight this evolution, the band has shared two new contrasting singles: the stomping motorik “99,” and the charging and deeply melodic, “Entwined (Street Light Buzz)”, that offers a dreamier Swervedriver-esque guitar sheen never before utilized by the Canadian trio.
METZ frontman Alex Edkins says, “These two songs couldn’t be more stylistically and thematically dissimilar. ‘Entwined (Street Light Buzz)’ is a song about the deep connection humans can foster with one another and how we carry people with us forever, even after death. ‘99’ is about the scourge of corporate greed and bottom-line thinking that runs rampant in modern society. Anything for a buck is the message being sent to younger generations.”
METZ is also announcing headlining international tour dates supporting Up On Gravity Hill, with dates in North America from April 17th to May 17th and a run of UK and EU dates in the fall from November 3rd through November 29th. The band also has a series of UK and EU festival performances in August, including stops at The Green Man Festival in the UK, La Route Du Rock and Cabaret Vert Festival in France, and the Canela Party in Spain. See below for a full list of shows.
North America Wed. Apr. 17 - Boston, MA - Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre $ Fri. Apr. 19 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom $ Sat. Apr. 20 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts $ * Sun. Apr. 21 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar $ Tue. Apr. 23 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl $ Thu. Apr. 24 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn $ Fri. Apr. 25 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge $ Sat. Apr. 26 - Austin, TX - The Parish (Austin Psych Fest) $ Sun. Apr. 27 - Dallas, TX - Sons of Hermann Hall $ Mon. Apr. 29 - Sante Fe, NM - Meow Wolf $ Tues. Apr. 30 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar $ Wed. - May 01 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah $ Tue. May 02 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Theatre $ Wed. May 03 - San Jose, CA - The Ritz $ Thu. May 04 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel $ Mon. May 06 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom $ Tue. May 07 - Seattle, WA - Neumos $ Fri. May 10 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club $ Sat. May 11 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge $ Thu. May 16 -Montreal, QE - Theatre Fairmount $ Sat. May 17 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall $
$ w/ Gouge Away * w/ Rid of Me
UK/EU Thu. Aug. 15 - Crickhowell, UK - Green Man Festival Fri. Aug. 16 - St Malo, FR La Route Du Rock Sat. Aug. 17 - Charleville-Mezières, FR - Cabaret Vert Festival Fri. Aug. 23 - Malaga, ES - Canela Party Sat. Nov. 02 - Rennes, FR – L’Antipode Sun. Nov. 03 - La Rochelle, FR - La Sirène Mon. Nov. 04 - Paris, FR - La Maroquinerie Tue. Nov. 05 - Clermont-Ferrand, FR - La Coopérative de Mai Wed. Nov. 06 - Lyon, FR - Le Transbordeur Thu. Nov. 07 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Sat. Nov. 09 - Prague, CZ - Futurum Sun. Nov. 10 - Budapest, HU - Turbina Tue. Nov. 12 - Krakow, PL - Klub Zascianek Wed. Nov. 13 - Warsaw, PL - Klub Hydrozagadka Sat. Nov. 16 - Berlin, DE - Hole44 Mon. Nov. 18 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen Tue. Nov. 19 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang Wed. Nov. 20 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Thu. Nov. 21 - Groningen, NL - Vera Fri. Nov. 22- Antwerp, BE - Trix Sat. Nov. 23 - Lille, FR - L’Aéronef Mon. Nov. 25 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds Tue. Nov. 26 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Wed. Nov. 27 - Birkenhead, UK - Future Yard Thu. Nov. 28 - Bristol, UK - Strange Brew Fri. Nov. 29 - London, UK - Village Underground
Up On Gravity Hill is available to preorder now on CD/LP/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders in North America from megamart.subpop.com, and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on clear w/ red splatter vinyl. LP orders from independent retail stores & Mega Mart 2 (the new, UK-based sibling site to the world-famous Sub Pop Mega Mart) in the UK and Europe will receive the Loser Edition on Opaque Yellow vinyl. All colored vinyl versions are available while stock lasts.
Tracklisting: 1. No Reservation / Love Comes Crashing 2. Glass Eye 3. Entwined (Street Light Buzz) 4. 99 5. Superior Mirage 6. Wound Tight 7. Never Still Again 8. Light Your Way Home
Watch Father John Misty’s “Real Love Baby” Official Video Directed by Eggs Tyrone here.
Father John Misty is singer-songwriter Josh Tillman, who has released five widely acclaimed albums, including Fear Fun (2012), I Love You, Honeybear (2015), the Grammy-nominated Pure Comedy (2017), God’s Favorite Customer (2018), and his latest, Chloë and The Next 20th Century (2022).
TIME said of Chloë and The Next 20th Century, “He takes a surprising and delightful departure from his usual form for a project that’s grandiose in its ambition, theatrical in its presentation, and thrilling in its execution.” Variety offered this, “What it all adds up to is as gorgeously arranged an orchestral-pop record as we’ve gotten in years. And its brilliance isn’t purely stylistic.”
Father John Misty has sold over 1.6 million albums and seen over one billion streams worldwide. He has earned accolades from the likes of The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, and Pitchfork, and performed on Saturday Night Live, Austin City Limits, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Father John Misty and his incredible live band have headlined The Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, and Radio City Music Hall and have appeared at Coachella, Roskilde, Primavera, and Lollapalooza festivals. He’s also contributed to hit songs for artists like Beyonce, Post Malone, Lady Gaga, and Khalid.
“…There’s a humbleness and honesty to the song. Like any real love, it’s about learning to surrender such power to the other person.” “Best New Track” - PITCHFORK
“Equal parts schmaltzy and sincere, it’s a folk-rock rumination on love that’s bound to be a hipster wedding staple for years to come.” “10 Best Songs of 2016” - USA TODAY
Sometimes music seems to come from an undefinable source, appearing in your mind as though sent from a place outside of yourself. Other times it comes from your friend’s brain while you are sitting right next to them, and it still somehow feels like your own.
haha same, the new project from Greta Kline of Frankie Cosmos and Cody Fitzgerald of Stolen Jars, is an effortless collaboration between friends. Filled with warmth, energy, and just a tinge of darkness, their singles “Guess What To Do” and “Calling It A Night” are a true mix of their distinct musical styles. Fitzgerald’s indie-pop production style marries perfectly with Kline’s particular lyrical sensibility, grasping for an understanding of the world at large by focusing in on the smallest moments. It all comes together to give haha same a sound all their own.
“A word that kept coming up when we talked about collaborating was ‘easy’,” says Kline of the songwriting process, “we bounced sonic ideas around and got excited about little details. Sometimes Cody would be laying down a part in the song and I’d be sitting on the floor with his dog Moon, writing lyrics. Then we kind of unfolded the stories behind the songs together, asking questions and clarifying the meanings behind each line.”
“Yeah exactly,” notes Fitzgerald, “over the course of a couple hours these songs felt like they had fallen out of our brains fully formed. At the end of the day, these songs are about extremely particular, but very relatable moments in life. So just like we did when we were writing them, we hope that everyone who listens to them will have that same moment of recognition and maybe even find themselves saying the words ‘haha same.’”
En Attendant Ana is a Paris-based indie pop band formed in 2014 and known for their jangly guitars, catchy hooks, layered melodies and poetic lyrics that gravitate around Margaux Bouchaudon’s vocals. They burst onto the international scene with their debut album Lost and Found on Chicago’s Trouble in Mind label, which led to a U.S. tour in 2018.
Their second album Juillet has a similar energy, but sees the band make an artistic shift from the lo-fi references of their debut to more sophisticated songwriting. Released just before the lock-down, the album was critically acclaimed but never got the chance to be fully presented live by the band, who are known for their raw, emotional, captivating, and honest live performances.
In 2023, En Attendant Ana (Margaux Bouchaudon, Camille Fréchou, Maxence Tomasso, Vincent Hivert et Adrien Pollin) returned with a third album entitled Principia, widely considered their best work to date, which saw them travel the world on an impressive world tour. The album, said to nod to ’90s British indie, jazz, Krautrock and French pop, has been very well received, both by the media, who have placed Principia on numerous year-end lists (here’s TIME…), and by the band’s ever-growing audience. Here at Sub Pop we’re altogether crazy about them.
En Attendant Ana’s UK tour schedule for 2024 begins Tuesday, April 2nd in Kalsruhe, DE at Kohl, and runs through June 14th in Southend, UK at Twenty-One Arts. A full list of dates are below.
Tue. Apr. 02 - Kalsruhe, DE - Kohl Wed. Apr. 03 - Stuttgart, DE - Merlin Thu. Apr. 04 - Nuremberg, DE - Soft Spot Fri. Apr. 05 - Berlin, DE - Schokoladen Sat. Apr. 06 - Hannover, DE - Feinkost Lampe Sun. Apr. 07 - Hambourg, DE - Nachtasyl Mon. Apr. 09 - Amsterdam, NL - Toekomstmuziek Wed. Apr. 11 - Liège, BE - Kultura Fri. May 17 - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape (One Church) Sat. May 18 - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape (Patterns) Sun. May 19 - Coventry, UK -Just Dropped In Records Mon. May 20 - Newcastle, UK - Cumberland Arms Tue. May 21 - Hull, UK - Polar Bear Music Club Wed. May 22 - Glasgow, UK - Mono Thu. May 23 - Liverpool, UK - Kazimier Stockroom Fri. May 24 - London, UK - Dot to Dot Party (Oslo) Sat. May 25 - Bristol, UK - Dot to Dot festival Sun. May 26 - Nottingham, UK - Dot to Dot festival Fri. Jun. 14 - Southend, UK - Twenty-One Arts
You can still subscribe to the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 8 to get all twelve super-limited 7” vinyl records featuring exclusive music by today’s finest musicians! It’s limited to a mere 835 subscriptions because it’s volume 8, and 2023 marked Sub Pop’s 35th birthday! You’ll get the aforementioned 7”s from En Attendant Ana and haha same, along with singles from Mary Jane Dunphe, Vanishing Twin, SUNN O))), Telehealth, Thrash Palace (feat. EMA, Vice Cooler, Sarah Register), Gaye Su Akyol, Jessica Winter & Jonathan Snipes, Margaritas Podridas, Brontez Purnell, and Suki Waterhouse (which includes her collaboration with Belle & Sebastian).
Computer users: fear not! You will also get digital downloads of the tracks through your Sub Pop Mega Mart account. Hear music from the series via the Singles Club playlist, and subscribe here.
