Coming October 20 : Spiral Stairs’ ‘The Real Feel’
June 24th, 2009 at 8:20 am by Gerard
After a pair of albums under the group nom de plume Preston School Of Industry, Pavement co-founder Scott Kannberg, aka Spiral Stairs, makes his bona fide solo debut with an October 20 LP/CD/digital album release of ‘The Real Feel’ (OLE 858). Following an extended sojourn in Melbourne, Spiral returned to Seattle rejuvenated at the end of ’08, and commenced recording with a collection of pals including members of PSOI, the Posies, guitarist Ian Moore, Gersey, and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew. Mixed by the Posies’ Jon Auer, this album is by far the most crafted and introspective of Spiral’s post-Pavement works.
In the words of associate Parker Gibbs, ‘The Real Feel’, “has a vibe similar to classic 70′s albums by Fleetwood Mac (‘Then Play On’), Captain Beefhart (‘Safe As Milk’), and guitar god Richard Thompson, not to mention Aussie psych rock icons Died Pretty. Comparisons aside, this is 100% Spiral Stairs rock, the same rock that made Pavement the most influential band of the 90″s (take that Hoobastank!) and the same strange, dischordant, playful and melodic Spiral Stairs rock that your parents loved.”
“This is indie rock at its best and brightest,” continues Gibbs, “with Spiral Stairs getting back to the basics that have made him a legend in his own mind and to all of the children willing to enter his home.” And on that somewhat troubling note, we’ll add the vinyl edition of ‘The Real Feel’ features a different running order and a limited edition bonus 7″. Live activity throughout the continent of North America is planned for this Autumn, and we’ll surely be letting you know more about that in the days and weeks ahead.
The first track we’ve seen fit to leak from ‘The Real Feel’ is “Maltese Terrier” (MP3). Please note no raccoons were harmed during the making of the album artwork. Not by us, anyway.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Not digging the album cover but the track “Maltese Terrier” isn’t bad. Reminds me of the Clean.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
have you no respect for the dead? even this shite out and put a dead baby on an SM + Jicks cover.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
He’s not dead. He’s resting comfortably.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:24 am
The special edition vinyl will be pressed at RTI, have 8 special varnishes on the cover printed at Stoughton, and will retail for $709 plus tax.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:32 am
awesome, way to go stairs!
June 25th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Good to have you back Spiral. Please visit Europe on your next tour. see you then.
June 25th, 2009 at 5:33 am
love spiral!!!!!! hate cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 25th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
the real crime is the typography
But I like the picture.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
The cover is hilarious, some people need to get a sense of humor. As long as the animal was not killed who cares?
June 26th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I like the new song reminds me of early post-stooge iggy pop.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
That raccoon loves to party!
June 27th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Great stuff Mr Stairs. Good to have you back!
June 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I’m pretty sure that animal is dead. I would assume it was roadkill that they used as a prop, putting the pills next to it. I think it is moderately funny.
Can’t wait to hear the album.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Sounds good but the album title is awful close to garage band The Pattern’s debut album “Real Feelness.”
July 4th, 2009 at 7:23 am
sounds good
July 9th, 2009 at 2:27 am
The same thing is playing on Domino Records. Which one is it being released upon? or is it a UK import on Domino?
July 20th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Domino will release in UK/Europe, Matador in the rest of the world.
August 9th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Getting Cooler, Killer Tracks, see you in Melbourne….Bring me a bottle of Fireball
August 24th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I dunno….
August 24th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I am eagerly awaiting news of a US tour….Any hints? ? ?
September 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Great song! Hope you’ll come in Montreal!
September 20th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
That was a really wack track. Cover’s funny though!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Dude, that cover is f*cking awesome.
October 11th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Love the new track! but I’m afraid I won’t purchase the physical CD due to the cover art, real or not, it’s f*cking depressing!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Love the cover…there are consequences…even for raccoons. the hateful hippies just don’t want to look in the mirror wilst in their chemical stupor.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
The cover is great, I’m surprised at all the complaints. Anyhow, just wrapping up the first listen and sounds good so far. Surprisingly, a good bit of it reminded me of R.E.M.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Sounds good ! I’m very glad Pavement is reuniting and that Spiral is still making solid tunes. I listen to Preston School of Industry more than Stephen Malkmus solo albums these days.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Spiral and Pavement, great news! I’m so happy!
(I confirm: That raccoon loves to party!)
November 25th, 2009 at 2:05 am
the cover is fucking tactless. i can\\\’t listen to spiral stairs or pavement after i\\\’ve seen this. too bad, but it\\\’s been ruined.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:46 pm
The cover’s awesome. STFU. It could be a greased, naked woman on all fours with a dog collar around her neck and a leash, and a man’s arm extended out…holding on to the leash and pushing a black glove in her face to sniff it.