06/12/2001
The (late) listening pile, from Graeme Downes
Ron Sexsmith is growing on me. Cool lyricist. "Lebanon Tenessee" is exquisite.
Shihad - General Electric. NZ band, heavy rock with pop inflections. Some very cool tracks, maybe they should be famous.
Soundgarden - Superunknown, just refreshing my memory. Not my cup of whatever but good to teach from re changing time signatures and the like.
Sonic Youth - Goo, yes I’m terrible, we supported them once in Auckland but I just never got round to checking out the albums.

"Finally the Verlaines other guitarist Paul Winders in conjunction with sister Kiri and drummer Jeff Harford (Bored Games, Shayne Carter’s first band) collectively known as Valve have just released their debut album. Darkmoody and downright beautiful. Not pluggin it cos its Paul’s record (if I didn’t like it I would have kept my trap shut). Anyway anyone interested in checking it out email Valve at jeffchanel@extra.co.nz. The record’s called E minor. Haven’t got hold of Shayne Carter’s new album yet (the band is called Dimmer) but there’s been clips shown here for two songs that are very strong. Very cool videos (and I hate videos as a rule no matter how good they are) good enough that maybe they will turn up on MTV or somesuch in the coming months."

Graeme’s solo debut, ‘Hammers & Anvils’ is coming on Matador later this summer.

01/11/2001
We are very thrilled and honored to announce that Graeme Downes, the guitarist/vocalist behind The Verlaines (easily of the greatest bands of out lifetimes) has signed a new deal with Matador. Graeme’s solo debut, Hammers & Anvils will be available later in 2001, and when we have more information and art to show you, well, that’s just what we’ll be doing.