You can now hear new Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6 contributions from Kim Gordon and J Mascis (“Abstract Blues” b/w “Slow Boy”), and BNH Deluxe (“Earth is Somewhere Out There” b/w “Turntable”), out today worldwide on all DSPs from Sub Pop.

Although Kim Gordon and J Mascis have been friends for decades and have performed live together a handful of times, they’ve never released music together. “Abstract Blues” marks the first recorded collaboration as a duo, and was originally written and performed in 2020 for SMooCH, a benefit for Seattle Children’s Hospital. In the video for the song, Fred Armisen plays bass, and Mascis’s son Rory plays drums (J played the drums on the recording). “Abstract Blues” is also being released in celebration of Mascis’s birthday today.
 
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Kim Gordon is one of the most prolific and visionary artists working today. A co-founder of the legendary Sonic Youth, Gordon has performed all over the world, collaborating with many of music’s most exciting figures including Tony Conrad, Ikue Mori, Julie Cafritz and Stephen Malkmus. Most recently, Gordon has been hitting the road with Body/Head, her spellbinding partnership with artist and musician Bill Nace. Despite the exhaustive nature of her résumé, the most reliable aspect of Gordon’s music may be its resistance to formula. Songs discover themselves as they unspool, each one performing a test of the medium’s possibilities and limits. Her command is astonishing, but Gordon’s artistic curiosity remains the guiding force behind her music.
 
Near the end of Reagan’s first term, the Western Massachusetts hardcore scene coughed up an insanely shaped chunk called Dinosaur. Comprised of WMHC vets, the trio was a miasmic tornado of guitar noise, bad attitude and near-subliminal pop-based-shape-shifting. The contours of their sound ebbed and flowed and mutated for 13 years - with the one constant being the scalp-fryingly loud guitar and deeply buried vocals of J Mascis - before the name was retired. Near the end of the band’s reign, J began releasing solo material, starting with the live, acoustic album Martin + Me. His solo work allowed the bones of J’s songs to be totally visible for the first time, surprising fans with how melodically elegant his compositions were, even if J still seemed interested in swallowing some of the words that most folks would have sung. While Dinosaur Jr reactivated in 2005, J maintained a concurrent focus on his solo work, resulting in four additional albums presented with a minimum of bombast and a surfeit of cool.
 
John Stephen RePass, professionally known as BNH Deluxe, is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He began producing ambient music/lo-fi hip-hop with nothing but a tablet and a headset, and over time his sound has expanded heavily, incorporating and experimenting with elements of alternative rock, indie pop, heavy metal, lofi, hip-hop, and avant-garde music.
 
Repass says of his Sub Pop single, “All I can say is that deep places within my heart and mind were the birthplaces of these two songs. I have grown, learned and have flipped many pages of my life since writing these, these songs hold immense value and memories to me. I’m so happy that this single is all of yours’ now. I recommend you listen with your mind wide open, and I recommend you feel along to it.”
 
The Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6 series includes twelve subscription-only 7” singles by an exciting array of artists, including John Waters, Jeff Tweedy, Duma, LIDS, Washed Out, Hand Habits, Porridge Radio, Sheltered Workshop Singers, TV Priest, and more. Only 1,000 subscriptions are available, and the series is nearly sold out. Hear music from the series via the Singles Club playlist, and subscribe here!

Kim Gordon and J Mascis
“Abstract Blues” b/w “Slow Boy”

BNH Deluxe
“Earth is Somewhere Out There” b/w “Turntable”
 

International tour dates include Japan (April) & Europe (May & July)

J Mascis has shared a cover of the classic Tom Petty song, “Don’t Do Me Like That” available today via all Digital Service Providers. This cover is chock-full of the classic Mascis shred that we’ve come to know and love. You can listen to this reconstructed ripper here above, and also on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Music. 

Featured throughout the month of April, J Mascis will be hosting the weekly “Artist in Residence” feature on the Australian Radio station, Double J. You can listen to J share his record collection with you each Sunday Night (AU)/Saturday (US) here. The first playlist features the likes of Discharge, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, America and, of course, some Neil Young. It’s going to be an exciting month of music, programmed by one of the truly great artists of our time.

[Photo Credit: Cara Totman]

J Mascis Tour Dates

Mascis has confirmed 2 headline shows on April 16th and 17th in Japan before crossing the pond in May, playing shows in Brighton, Leeds, Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester. He will then return to Europe in late June/early July with shows in Athens, Berlin, Paris, Geneva, and Rome.

Apr. 16 - Tokyo, Japan - Shibuya WWWX
Apr. 17 - Osaka, Japan - Drop
May. 09 - Brighton, United Kingdom - Concorde 2
May. 10 - London, United Kingdom - Islington Assembly Hall
May. 11- Leeds, UK - Belgrave Music Hall
May. 13 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - St. Luke’s [SOLD OUT]
May. 14 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy Oxford
May. 15 - Nottingham, United Kingdom - Rescue Rooms
May. 17 - Liverpool, United Kingdom - Arts Club
May. 18 - Bristol, United Kingdom - Thekla [SOLD OUT]
May. 19 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Manchester Gorilla
Jun. 15 - Provincetown, MA - Twenty Summers @ The Hawthorne Barn
Jun. 21 - Athens, GR - AN Club
Jul. 01 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust
Jul. 03 - Berlin, Germany - Festsaal Kreuzberg
Jul. 06 - Paris, France - La Maroquinerie
Jul. 08 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso Noord
Jul.  09 - Rotown - Rotterdam, Netherlands [SOLD OUT]
Jul. 11 - Genova, Italy - Giardini Luzzati
Jul. 12 - Prato, Italy - Festival Delle Colline
Jul. 14 - Rome Unplugged in Monti - Rome, Italy

Mascis’s international touring schedule for 2018/19 begins in North America November 7th

Drag icon Dina Martina appears in numerous guises, lip-synching against the moving background of blurry night time city streets in the new J Mascis video for the title track from Elastic Days, his forthcoming new album. Co-directors Shane Wahlund & Michael Anderson capture Dina’s uncannily contemplative and slightly melancholic mood, and her performance serves as the perfect visual for the song. 

J had this to say of the video, “I’ve been a big Dina Martina fan for a long time. I’ve seen her perform many times over the years. I’m glad that I got her to do this video before she becomes an untouchable superstar. I am amazed at how the video came out, I’m so psyched.”

J Mascis Tour Dates + Ticket Links

J Mascis’ North American tour dates for 2018 in support of Elastic Days begin on November 7th in Vancouver, BC at The Imperial and wrap up on December 15 in Portland, ME at Port City Music Hall. Then in early 2019, he’ll embark on UK tour which kicks off January 16th in Oxford at O2 Academy and ends on January 25th in Glasgow at St. Lukes. 

Nov. 07 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial 
Nov. 08 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Nov. 09 - Seattle, WA - Tractor
Nov. 10 - Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo
Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s 
Nov. 15 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
Nov. 16 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room
Nov. 17 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
Nov. 18 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington’s 
Nov. 20 - Chicago, IL - City Winery*
Nov. 21 - Chicago, IL - City Winery*
Nov. 27 - Atlanta, GA - City Winery*
Nov. 28 - Nashville, TN - City Winery*
Nov. 29 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar*
Nov. 30 - Detroit, MI - El Club*
Dec. 01 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall*
Dec. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe*
Dec. 05 - Washington, DC - City Winery*
Dec. 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade*
Dec. 08 - New York, NY - Public Arts*
Dec. 09 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom*
Dec. 12 - Providence, RI - The Met*
Dec. 13 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair*
Dec. 14 - Northampton, MA - The Academy of Music*
Dec. 15 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall*
Jan. 16 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
Jan. 17 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Jan. 18 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Jan. 19 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
Jan. 20 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
Jan. 22 - Liverpool, UK - Arts Club
Jan. 23 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla 
Jan. 24 - Leeds, UK - Belgrave Music Hall
Jan. 25 - Glasgow, UK - St. Lukes
* w/ Luluc

Elastic Days is available through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers and there is also a new t-shirt design available.

International touring schedule through January 25th, 2019 | North America, November 7th-December 15th | UK, January 16th-25th.

J Mascis has shared a new lyric video for the single “Web So Dense” the latest track off Elastic Days. Directed by Joe Salinas who filmed lyric videos for the previously shared singles, “See You at The Movies” and “Everything She Said”.

J Mascis Tour Dates + Ticket Links

As previously announced, J Mascis has extended his international tour schedule to support Elastic Days with UK dates for early 2019. The newly added dates begin January 16th in Oxford at O2 Academy and end January 25th in Glasgow at St. Luke’s. These dates follow J’s North American tour dates which run November 7th through December 16th.

Nov. 07 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial
Nov. 08 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Nov. 09 - Seattle, WA - Tractor
Nov. 10 - Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo
Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
Nov. 15 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
Nov. 16 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room
Nov. 17 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
Nov. 18 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington’s
Nov. 20 - Chicago, IL - City Winery*
Nov. 21 - Chicago, IL - City Winery*
Nov. 27 - Atlanta, GA - City Winery*
Nov. 28 - Nashville, TN - City Winery*
Nov. 29 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar*
Nov. 30 - Detroit, MI - El Club*
Dec. 01 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall*
Dec. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe*
Dec. 05 - Washington, DC - City Winery*
Dec. 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade*
Dec. 08 - New York, NY - Public Arts*
Dec. 09 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom*
Dec. 12 - Providence, RI - The Met*
Dec. 13 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair*
Dec. 14 - Northampton, MA - The Academy of Music*
Dec. 15 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall*
Jan. 16 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
Jan. 17 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Jan. 18 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Jan. 19 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
Jan. 20 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
Jan. 22 - Liverpool, UK - Arts Club
Jan. 23 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla
Jan. 24 - Leeds, UK - Belgrave Music Hall
Jan. 25 - Glasgow, UK - St. Lukes

* w/ Luluc

Pre-orders for Elastic Days through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on clear vinyl with purple swirl (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available with this release.

International touring schedule extended through January 25th, 2019 North America November 7th-December 15th UK January 16th-25th.

J Mascis Tour Dates + Ticket Links

North American tour dates begin November 7th in Vancouver, BC.

On November 9th, J Mascis will release Elastic Days, his third solo album for Sub Pop. “See You At The Movies,” the first song to be released from the album, has a fully evolved sense of identity and loss hanging over it, and features the classic couplet, “I don’t peak too early/I don’t peak at all.” You can listen to the debut offering here now, and also on Apple Music or Spotify.

J Mascis Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Shortly before the release of Elastic Days, Mascis will embark on a 23-date North American run, with Sub Pop labelmates Luluc opening a number of shows. The tour will kick off in Vancouver on November 7th with shows in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, and New York, among others, before ending December 15th in Portland, Maine. 
 
Nov. 07 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial 
Nov. 08 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Nov. 09 - Seattle, WA - Tractor
Nov. 10 - Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo
Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s 
Nov. 15 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
Nov. 16 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room
Nov. 17 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
Nov. 18 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington’s 
Nov. 20 - Chicago, IL - City Winery
Nov. 21 - Chicago, IL - City Winery
Nov. 27 - Atlanta, GA - City Winery
Nov. 28 - Nashville, TN - City Winery
Nov. 29 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
Nov. 30 - Detroit, MI - El Club
Dec. 01 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall
Dec. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe
Dec. 05 - Washington, DC - City Winery
Dec. 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade
Dec. 08 - New York, NY - Public Arts
Dec. 09 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom
Dec. 12 - Providence, RI - The Met
Dec. 13 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
Dec. 14 - Northampton, MA - The Academy of Music
Dec. 15 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall

[Album Cover Art by John Brattin]

Pre-orders for Elastic Days through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on clear w/purple swirl vinyl (while supplies last).

Elastic Days
Tracklisting:
1. See You At The Movies
2. Web So Dense
3. I Went Dust
4. Sky Is All We Had
5. Picking Out the Seeds
6. Give It Off
7. Drop Me
8. Cut Stranger
9. Elastic Days
10. Sometimes
11. Wanted You Around
12. Everything She Said

The time is now to follow J Mascis everywhere in the galaxy, starting with jmascis.com and also Spotify | Apple | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | and here on subpop.com.

[Photo Credit: Cara Totman] 

About Elastic Days:
Near the end of Reagan’s first term, the Western Massachusetts Hardcore scene coughed up an insanely shaped chunk called Dinosaur. Comprised of WMHC vets, the trio was a miasmic tornado of guitar noise, bad attitude and near-subliminal pop-based-shape-shifting. The contours of their sound ebbed and flowed and mutated for 13 years before the name was retired. And in the course of that time, Dinosaur (amended to Dinosaur Jr. for legal reasons) defined a very specific, very aggressive set of oblique song-based responses to what was going on. Their one constant was the scalp-fryingly loud guitar and deeply buried vocals of J Mascis. 
 
A couple of years before they ended their reign, J cut a solo album called Martin + Me. Recorded live and acoustic, the record allowed the bones of J’s songs to be totally visible for the first time. Fans were surprised to hear how melodically elegant these compositions were, even if J still seemed interested in swallowing some of the words that most folks would have sung. Since then, through the reformation of the original Dinosaur Jr lineup in 2005, J has recorded solo albums now and then, when he had songs that were suited to acoustic (or at least relatively toned-down) performance. And those album, Sings + Chant for AMMA (2005), Several Shades of Why (2011) and Tied to a Star(2014) all delivered incredible sets of songs presented with a minimum of bombast and a surfeit of cool. 
 
Like its predecessors, Elastic Dayswas recorded at J’s own Bisquiteen studio. Mascis does almost all his own stunts, although Ken Miauri (who also appeared on Tied to a Star) plays keyboards and there are a few guest vocal spots. These include old mates Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), and Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion, etc.), as well as the newly-added voice of Zoë Randell (Luluc), among others. But the show is mostly J’s and J’s alone.
 
He laughs when I tell him I’m surprised by how melodic his vocals seem to have gotten. Asked if that was intentional, he says, “No. I took some singing lessons and do vocal warm-ups now, but that was mostly just to keep from blowing out my vocal cords when Dino started touring again. The biggest difference with this record might have to do with the drums. I’d just got a new drum set I was really excited about. I don’t have too many drum outlets at the moment, so I played a lot more drums than I’d originally planned. I just kept playing. [laughs] I’d play the acoustic guitar parts then head right to the drums.”
 
There is plenty of drumming on the dozen songs on Elastic Days. But for those expecting the hallucinatory overload of Dinosaur Jr’s live attack, the gentleness of the approach here will draw easy comparisons to Neil Young’s binary approach to working solo versus working with Crazy Horse. This is a lazy man’s shorthand, but it still rings true.
 
J’s vocals have always leaned in a direction acknowledging the Bard of Toronto, but as early as Dinosaur Jr’s third single, the epoch-defining “Freak Scene,” J’s off-hand vocal delivery was instantly recognizable. On a track like “Sky Is All We Had,” the same dynamism is at work, but the evolution of technique is so massive as to lift the proceedings to a new level. The album is chock-full of similar nuggets. Built around acoustic guitar figures, often holding off electric flights of guitar backdrop until the third act, the tunes are massively seductive and satisfying. J’s fave track is “See You At The Movies,” which has a fully evolved sense of loss hanging over it, and features the classic couplet, “I don’t peak too early/I don’t peak at all.”  My own choice is “Picking Out the Seeds,” on which J pulls out his falsetto voice to great effect, and maintains a middlin’ pace that makes the tune one of the great Beard Rock readymades of the era. 
 
But Elastic Daysbrims with great moments: Epic hooks that snare you in surprisingly subtle ways, guitar textures that slide against each other like old lovers, and structures that range from a neo-power-ballad (“Web So Dense”) to jazzily-canted West Coasty post-psych (“Give It Off”) to a track that subliminally recalls the keyboard approach of Scott Thurston-era Stooges (“Drop Me”). The album plays out with a combination of holism and variety that is certain to set many brains ablaze.

J says he’ll be taking this album on the road later in the year. He’ll be playing by himself, but unlike other solo tours he says he’ll be standing up this time. “I used to just sit down and build a little fort around myself – amps, music stands, drinks stands, all that stuff. But I just realized it sounds better if the amps are higher up because I’m so used to playing with stacks. So I’ll stand this time.”
 
I ask if it’s not pretty weird to stand alone on a big stage. “Yeah,” he says. “But it’s weird sitting down too.” Ha. Good point. One needs to be elastic. In all things.
 
–Byron Coley