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The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.

VIDEO : Thurston Moore Band in session at KEXP



This autumn, while crisscrossing America in support of 'The Best Day', the Thurston Moore Band (TM, James Sedwards, Deb Googe, Steve Shelley) stopped by Seattle's KEXP and recorded a 4-song session for the extremely well organized/popular broadcaster. Though I could provide you with links to all four of the individual songs, there's search engines for that kind of thing and besides, you wanna watch the whole thing.



(photo by Stuart Groves)

Order 'The Best Day' from The Matador Store
iTunes
Amazon

(in Japan, 'The Best Day' is available from Hostess)

Thurston Moore - Facebook, Twitter


VIDEO(S): INTERPOL HAS A BUSY NIGHT PERFORMING ON CONAN AND LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY



CONAN, "My Desire" 12/15/14 (clip courtesy tbs)

Last night, Interpol performed three songs for two different late night TV shows. For those who were not able to watch live, the internet is here to help you out, above and below.

Last Call with Carson Daly, "Breaker 1":


Last Call with Carson Daly, "My Blue Supreme":


Order ‘El Pintor’ from the following :
LP or CD from the Matador Store
Interpol store
iTunes
Amazon
Google Play
Best Buy - US only
Target – special edition with two bonus tracks,“Malfeasance” and “Slow Hands” (Live At Brixton Academy), US only

Our Annual Orgy of Self-Aggrandizement, Grandstanding & Overconsumption : Matador Artists & Staff Select Their 2014 Favorites



(above : coaches from "The Voice Of Italy" offer their congratulations to all of 2014's top contenders)

Around this time every year, your long-suffering dedicated editor attempts to coax a list of favorite recordings, books, television programs, life events, etc. out of the label's artist roster and our show business colleagues. In the past, the exercise has been an arduous process, fraught with nagging, teeth-gnashing and no shortage of reluctant participants, some of whom actually changed labels or places of employment to avoid the task. In more recent times, however, people can't wait to tell you everything. Too much, in fact. Why should the blitzkrieg of oversharing be limited to social media when we still have a label blog that attracts nearly a dozen readers a week?

For some historical perspective, here's last year's selections. Questions or comments about our predictable tastes and/or inexcuseable omissions are welcome (but not necessarily appreciated). And without further (Freddy) Adu, let the coronations of Protomartyr,Total Control, Sun Kil Moon and The War On Drugs begin :

Anthony Anzaldo, Ceremony

RECORDS
Lykke Li - I Never Learn
Total Control - Typical System
Prince - Art Official Age
Aphex Twin - Syro



Pharmakon - Bestial Burden

SONGS
Zola Jesus - Dangerous Days
Lykke Li - Just Like A Dream
Total Control - Flesh War
Chromeo - Jealous
Ariana Grande - Problem

SHOWS
Prince at the Fox Theatre in Oakland
NIN at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View
Gorilla Biscuits at Mohawk in Austin
Failure at the El Ray in Los Angeles
The Cure at Bottle Rock in Napa

James McNew, Yo La Tengo

Xetas, "The Knife" 7" (12XU)
Sloppy Heads, Do or Dangle cassette
Run The Jewels, RTJ2 (Fool's Gold)
Shintaro Sakamoto, Let's Dance Raw (Zelone/ OM)
Knyfe Hyts, K is for Knyfe (dropbox)
Spray Paint, Clean Blood Regular Acid (Monofonus Press)
Amps For Christ, Canyons Cars and Crows (Shrimper)
Salyu x Salyu, Bed Room Recordings CDR



$75 Bill, Olives In The Ears cassette
Rob Sonic, Alice in Thunderdome
(OK47)
Obnox, Louder Space (12XU)
Oneida/ People of The North "Brah Tapes" vol 1-4 cassettes
OOIOO, Gamel (Thrill Jockey)

Thurston Moore

1. Chloé Griffin  - EDGEWISE : A Picture Of COOKIE MUELLER (b_books)

This book is an astounding labor of love. The author, fascinated by who Cookie Mueller may have been after witnessing her in all the weirdo John Waters films, including Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, decided to travel the USA interviewing anyone still left alive who spent time with this person. All the insane characters of early 70s Baltimore, P-Town and NYC raise their sloshing glasses to this incredible lightning girl Cookie and all their stories are told in a way which creates a historical travelogue of counter culture avant insanity which is responsible for helping to light the fuse that becomes punk rock and beyond.



2. John Lydon at Rough Trade East 17th October 2014

The Rotten one was bopping around the UK promoting his new book Anger Is An Energy (Simon & Schuster) and we caught his last stop at RT and it was as good as any Sex Pistols or PiL show. He came out with his manager / right hand man and Arsenal accomplice Rambo and a shopping basket full of lager and proceeded to have a high energy back and forth with the audience. His mates from nearby Finsbury Park were there shouting back and forth and Lydon actually did a weird physical transformation into Tony Blair (he hates ‘im). Savage, infuriating – everything his book is – but with a kindness that is always burbling through. I got to meet him fleetingly, the one person I wanted to meet most in this nutso rock n roll world, and he was nice enuff (“Sonic Youth, what are you bloody doing here?”) - but I think he more interested in drowning beers with his pals, which is what he should be doing but damn I think making a record with him in trio with Irmin Schmidt with Can is what Matador should be investing in big time for 2015.

Andy Nelson, Ceremony

Long
Aphex Twin - SYRO
Eno & Hyde - High Life



Francis Harris - Minutes Of Sleep
Future - Honest
Good Throb - Fuck Off
Grouper - Ruins
Hank Wood And The Hammerheads - Stay Home!!
Protomartyr - Under Color Of Official Right
Total Control - Typical System
Vladislav Delay - Visa

Short
Big Zit - Electric Zit Vol. 1
Container - Adhesive
Flesh World - A Line In Wet Grass
Frau - Punk Is My Boyfriend
Golden Teacher - Party People
Pang - Young Professionals
Portable - Surrender
S.H.I. - Struggling Harsh Immortals
Sheer Mag - self titled
Watery Love - Sick People

Elias Ronnenfelt, Iceage


Dirty Beaches - Stateless
Pharmakon - Bestial Burden



Vessel - Punish, Honey
Hank Wood and the Hammerheads - Stay home
Puce Mary - Persona
Institute - Giddy Boys EP
Lower - Seek Warmer Climes
Total Control - Typical System

Anton Rothstein, Lower

What I definitely learned in 2014 is that money still  runs the world, that racism is alive and kicking, and that cops in every aspect of the term, be it professionals or amateurs, still are the scum of the earth.

A short best of-list:
Best drummers: Joe Boyd-Brent of Condominium and Adam Kjær Nielsen of Reverie.
Best live band: Hank Wood and the Hammerheads.
Best people: Boat and Speedboat

Adrian Toubro, Lower

I guess, 2014 taught me that life is what you make it.
That positive energy is the mightiest force. It is also the most difficult energy to achieve
That i love my hometown
That i love Lissabon, Portugal
i realized that Oasis still haven’t been beaten in being the greatest band that ever existed.
AND a thousand other things i can’t remember now…

Patrick Amory, Matador Records

The J.B.'s - These Are The J.B.'s (TEG)
- Scott Walker and Sunn O))) - Soused (4AD)



- Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather (Paradise of Bachelors)
- Hailu Mergia and the Walias - Tche Belew (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
- The Velvet Underground - Super Deluxe 45th Anniversary Edition (Polydor/Universal)
- Ed Askew & Josh Burkett - Live on WFMU (Okraina)
- Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit (Harbinger Sounds)
- Jef Gilson et Malagasy - Gilson et Malagasy (Jazzman)



- Death Wish - Death Wish (Disclaim Recordings)
- Sun Kil Moon - War On Drugs: Suck My Cock

Adam Bohl, Matador Direct
Personal highlights of 2014

Favorite Trip:



Ringing in the new year in Australia, so many great animals there.

Favorite Drink:
Inventing the best (double) mai tai recipe-
1oz Appleton Extra 12 year Jamaican rum
1oz Rhum Clement VSOP
1oz Rhum Barbancourt 8 year
1oz Smith and Cross Jamaican rum
1oz Pierre Ferrand Orange Curacao
2oz Lime juice
1oz Orgeat
Float of Lemon Hart 151
Shake with lots of crushed ice and serve with lime shell and mint bouquet

Favorite Meal:
Brooklyn Star mollasses brined pork chip

Favorite Art viewed:



Liesl Pfeffer - Asclepiadaceae, 2014

Favorite Sporting Moment:
Winning a third bowling league championship

Favorite Shows:
The xx at the Park Avenue Armory



Tyvek at DBA
Chain and the Gang at Union Pool/Babys Allright

Music I enjoyed throughout the year, big/small/new/old

Flesh Eaters - A Moment To Pray A Second To Die
Angel Olson - Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Perfume Genius - Too Bright
V/A - Anthology Of American Folk Music vinyl box
Kim Deal - 7" series
Reigning Sound - Shattered



Turn To Crime - Can't Love
David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights - End Times Undone
Apache Dropout - Heavy Window
Old Testament - Old Testament
Smoke Bellow - Blooming/Middling
Obliterations - Poison Everything
White Fence - For The Recently Found Innocent
Chain and the Gang - Minimum Rock and Roll
Songs: Ohia - Didn't It Rain reissue
Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather
Obnox - Louder Space
The Young - Chrome Cactus
Ty Segall - Manipulator

Dean Bein, True Panther

ALBUMS
Aby Ngana Diop - Liital (Awesome Tapes from Africa)
Adult Jazz-  Gist Is (Spare Thought)
Ariana Grande - My Everything (Republic)
Beyoncé - Beyoncé (Columbia) [I know this was last year, but it came out after lists last year and it seems sacrilegious to not include it somewhere]
DJ Dodger stadium - Friend of Mine (FOF/Wedidit)
DJ Spoko - War God (Lit City Tracks)
Flying Lotus - You're Dead! (Warp)
Future Islands- Singles (4AD)
Kassem Mosse- Workshop 19 (Workshop)
Leon Vynehall-  Music for the Uninvited (3024)
Lone - Reality Testing (R&S)
Mac Demarco - Salady Days (Captured Tracks)
Katie Pearl & Davinche – Unreleased Album (Self released)
Mica Levi – Under The Skin OST (Milan)
Objekt - Flatland (Pan)
Perfume Genius - Too Bright (Matador)



Popcaan – Where We Come From (Mixpak)
Real Estate -Atlas (Domino)
Rich Gang - Tha Tour Part 1 (Cash Money)
Schoolboy Q - Oxymoron (BDE)
SD Laika - That's Harakiri (Tri Angle)
Vessel - Punish Honey (Tri Angle)
War on Drugs – Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)
V/A - I’m Just Like You: Sly Stone’s Flower Power 1969-70 (Light In The Attic)
YG - My Krazy Life (Def Jam)

MIXTAPES
Bankroll Fresh- Life of a Hot Boy
Dej Loaf- Sell Sole
Ethereal - Blackli$t
Goldlink - God Complex
KevinGates - By Any Means
Lil Bibby - Free Crack 2
Lil Durk - Signed to the Streets 2
Sauce Twinz - In Sauce we Trust
Sicko Mobb – Super Saiyan Vol.1
The Stand4rd - The Stand4rd
Travis Scott - Days Before Rodeo

EP/12”s/LOOSIES
Barnt - Chappel (Hinge Finger)
Cashmere Cat - Wedding Bells EP (
Chief Keef Where's Waldo (self-released)
Dark0 - Fate (Gobstopper)
Evian Christ- Waterfall (Tri Angle)
Future “Hardly”
Gage- Telo (Crazylegs)
Heyqt - Heyqt (XL)
iloveMakonnen - Down So Long (Self-released)
Mumdance x Novelist “Take Time” (Rinse)
Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Herb “Chiraq”
OG Maco - U Guessed It (self-released)
Shura-  Touch
Spooky Black - Reason (self-released)
SZA- Sobriety  (BDE)
Tirzah - No Romance (Greco-Roman)
Fetty Wrap - Trap Queen

Steve Cross, Remote Control

20 Moments Of Pleasure



Amen Dunes - Lonely Richard
Ann Sorel - L'amour a Plusiers
Cher - A Woman's Story
Chris and Cosey - Dr John (Sleeping Stephen)
Copeland – Advice to Young Girls
Dean Blunt – Forever
Ernie Graham – Sebastian
Future Islands – Light House
G Wayne Thomas - Morning Of The Earth
Holly Herndon – Chorus 



Kevin Coyne – The World Is Full Of Fools
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Satan Speeds Up
Leslie Winer – John Says
Marie Davidson - Perte d'identité 
New Gods – Caravan Park
Pearls - Big Shot 
Perfume Genius – Fool 
Sunbeam Sound Machine - Sailing Away
The Liminanas - I Miei Occhi Sono i Tuoi Occhi 
The War On Drugs - An Ocean Between The Waves
Ty Segall - She Don't Care

Stuart Davie, Beggars Group

2014:



Ian William Craig - A Turn Of Breath
The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
Grouper - Ruins
Iceage - Plowing into the Field of Love
Total Control - Typical System
La Dispute - Rooms of the House
Alex G - DSU
Keaton Henson - Romantic Works
Sontag Shogun - Tale
Sun Kil Moon - Benji
Protomartyr - Under Color of Official Right
Caribou - Our Love
Tobias Jesso Jr in London
Ought @ The Old Blue Last
Belle and Sebastian @ Winfield House
Nils Frahm & Kurt Vile @ Village Underground
The War On Drugs @ Rickshaw Theatre
Queens of the Stone Age @ Reading Festival
The Goldfinch
Boyhood
The Imitation Game
Homeland season 4



Utopia (UK)

Rian Fossett, Matador Records

Music -
Amen Dunes - Love



Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers
Bedhead - 1992-1998
Bing & Ruth - Tomorrow Was the Golden Age
Caribou - Our Love
Cleaners From Venus - Living with Victoria Grey
Fennesz - Venice 10th Anniversary
Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy
Grouper - Ruins
MINKS - Memory Graffiti
Total Control - Typical System
Unwound - No Energy

Movies -
John Wick, Nightcrawler

TV -
Bron/Broen, Death Note, Les Revenants

Books -
Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel, My Misspent Youth - Meghan Daum,
Preacher: Book One - Garth Ennis

Animals-



This majestic chameleon,
Harlow & Sage,
This particular Russian fox

Matt Harmon (Beggars Group)

Steve Gunn - Way out Weather [Paradise of Bachelors]
Protomartyr - Under Color of Official Right [Hardly Art]



Ensemble - Economique Melt Into Nothing  [Denovali Records]
Ashley Paul - Heat Source [Important Recs]
Lee Gamble - KOCH [Pan]
Helena Hauff Meets Andreas Gehm EP [Solar One Music]
Jenny Hval & Susanna Meshes of Voice  [SusannaSonata]
Skull Defekts - Street Metal [Thrill Jockey]
Ought - More Than Any Other Day [Constellation]
Jon Mueller & Duane Pitre - Inverted Torch [Type]
Andy Stott -Faith in Strangers [Modern Love]
NHK’Koyxen - Dance Classics Vol III [Pan]
Grouper - Ruins  [Kranky]
William Tyler - Lost Colony EP [Merge]
Icepick - Hexane cassette [Astral Spirits]
Patrizia Oliva & Metabolismus - Noumenon cassette [self-released]

Natalie Judge, Matador Records

Stuff:



Viv Albertine - Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys.
20,000 Days on Earth - Directed by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard.
We Are The Best! - Directed by Lukas Moodysson (this actually came out last year, but i only saw it this year so i’m keeping it in.)
Protomartyr - Under Color Of Official Right.
Ariel Pink - Pom Pom.
Ought - More Than Any Other Day.
Caribou - Our Love.
The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream.
Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather.
Total Control - Typical System.
Lana Del Ray - Ultraviolence.
LCD Soundsystem - The Long Goodbye.
House of Cards.

Highs:



The American Ambassadors Reception.
Sleaford Mods @ 12 Bar, London.
Kate Bush @ Hammersmith Apollo, London.
New Office.
New Office Light.
Belle & Sebastian open the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Jabberwocky weekend being saved by Kurt Vile, Thee Oh Sees, Ought, Iceage and many more.

Lows:
The attendees of Coachella.
Being promised laser eye surgery, only to be told my eyes are too screwed to have it done.

Sonya Kolowrat, Beggars

Best things of 2014
1) Basilica Festival + Hudson, NY



2) John Darnielle's book Wolf In White Van
3) The Replacements at Forest Hills Stadium
5) Perfume Genius - "Too Bright"
6) Marchi's Restaurant NYC - they don't make them like this anymore.



7) Saltie's Scuttlebutt sandwich



8 John Lurie art opening at Cavin-Morris gallery
9) Dean Blunt
10) And of course, the Serial podcast

Annette Lee, 4AD

2014 's Highlights and Discoveries
Kate Bush @ Hammersmith Apollo
Getting an iPhone
Bitmoji app - the single greatest reason for having an iPhone
Liars @ Village Underground, London
Swans - To Be Kind
Cocktails In a snow-stormy NYC
Ultrabland by Lush
Berners Tavern, London
24 hours in Berlin with Future Islands
The Red Room bar at the Barbican, London (hooray for Barbican memberships)
Allpress Espresso Roastery, Shoreditch
Nakd bars (specifically Banana Bread and Cocoa Orange flavours)
Grayson Perry @ Royal Festival Hall, London
Julia Holter - Loud City Song
The sausage sandwiches from CWTCH aka Pig Vendor, Wandsworth (the hangover go-to place)
Bradford Cox - Teenage soundtrack (shit film, GREAT soundtrack)
The Plough, Clapton
Bounce balls (special shout out to the coconut academia and peanut butter versions)
Belfast weddings with eccentric parents (sadly not my own)
Tatu Ronkko + Efterklang @ giant asbestos-filled power station, Den Haag
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Ten-pin bowling with SOHN in Vienna
Kaosarn, Wandsworth
War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
A weekend of feasting and beer in Brussels
Klara Lewis - Ett
Dolly Parton @ Glastonbury
Dinner at Beagle, Hoxton



Finally snapping up a copy of this at the Indie Label Market
http://www.soundwayrecords.com/product/sndwcd016-ghana-special-modern-highlife-afro-sounds--ghanaian-blues-1968---1981-
Bijou Basket cocktails at Hoi Polloi @ Ace Hotel, London
Bohren & Der Club of Gore @ Grote Kerk, Den Haag
Elton John @ Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona (I'm actually going this weekend, so this is preemptive)
The beach at Formentera
Tobias Jesso Jr. @ some random place in London Fields
Liars - Mess

Dave Martin, Matador Direct

New Records:
1. Gotobeds - Poor People Are Revolting 12XU 
2. Nude Beach - 77 Don Giovanni
3. Sweet Apple - The Golden Age of Glitter TeePee
4. Reigning Sound - Shattered Merge



5. Elisa Ambrogio - The Immoralist Drag City  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3gRyyGZN9A
6. Mordecai - Neil’s Generator Richie Records
7. Cheater Slicks - Live Vol. 3 Columbus Discount Records



8. Connections - Into Sixes Anyway 
9. Brain F? - Empty Set Sorry State / Grave Mistake
10. Watery Love - Decorative Feeding In the Red
11. Protomartyr - Under Color Of Official Right Hardly Art
12. Lower Plenty - Life/Thrills Mexican Summer
13. David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights - End Times Undone Merge
14. Dark Matter - S/T Siltbreeze
15. Obnox - Louder Space 12XU
16. The Darling Downs - In The Days When The World Was Wide Beast Records
17. J Mascis - Tied To A Star Sup Pop
18. Run The Jewels - 2 Mass Appeal
19. Mike Rep & Friends - Darby Creek Drifter 540 Records
20. Xylouris White - Goats Other Music Recording Co.
21. Hamish Kilgour - All Of It and Nothing Ba Da Bing
22. Dark Blue - Pure Reality  Jade Tree
23. Eastlink - S/T In the Red
24. Ex Hex - Rips Merge
25. The Blind Shake - Breakfast of Failures Goner

Reissues or Archival Stuff:
1. Modey Lemon - House On the Hill &  S/T Omentum Records/Mind Cure
2. Penny Arkade - Not The Freeze Sundazed 
3. The Stroke Band - Green and Yellow Anthology Recordings



4. Savage Amused - Demo Mind Cure 
5. Jack Ruby - Hit And Run AKA the two S/T LPs St. Cecilia / Feeding Tube
6. LiveFastDie - Hit Stains Almost Ready
7. Death of Samantha - If Memory Serves Us Well St. Valentine
8. Don Caballero - Five Pairs of Crazy Pants… Chunklet Industries
9. The Bats - Demo:  5-26-84 Mind Cure
10. Axemen - Derry Legend Luxury Product
11. Fugazi - First Demo Dischord
12. Bored Youth - Are You Alive 1982 Alona's Dream
13. Terminals - Singles and Sundries Ba Da Bing
14. Bent Wind - Sussex Ugly Pop
15. Ngozi Family - Day Of Judgement Now Again
16. The Bats - The Law Of Things Flying Nun
17. Peter Jefferies - Electricity Superior Viaduct
18. Spies Battle of Bosworth Terrace Siltbreeze
19. Thor’s Hammer - If You Knew… Ugly Pop! 
20. X_____X - X__Sticky Fingers__X Ektro Recordings
21. X - Spurts: The 1977 Recordings & Aspirations Ugly Pop!
22. Dutch Masters - All In The Wires Spacecase Records
23. Breadwinner - Burner Merge
24. Necros - Live in ‘85 Jett Plastic Records
25. Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Music Dagger / Sony

7”s / 12”s / EPs
1. Gotobeds - New York’s Alright (If You Like Sex & Phones) b/w Prisoners Of Love Mind Cure 
2. Deathwish - S/T 12" Disclaim
3. Ukiah Drag - Dirt Trip b/w Poison Ivy Wharf Cat
4. Watery Love - Sick People b/w I Don’t Care In The Red
5. S.O.A. - First Demo Dischord
6. Shock - EP 3 Shock
7. Jon Wahl and the Amadans - The Angst Blues of… Elastic Records
8. Deaf Wish - St. Vincent +3 Sub Pop
9. Giorgio Murder - Primitive World Goner
10. Whatever Brains - SSR 63/64 Sorry State

Live music
Major Stars / The Broke Revue @ Union Pool / The Gotobeds @ The Wick Nov. 29th
Death of Samantha @ Baby’s All Right May 29th
Mordecai / Watery Love / Endless Boogie @ Union Pool May 25th
Protomartyr / Spray Paint @ Cake Shop April 13th
Lower Plenty @ Baby’s All Right / Life Stinks @ Death By Audio Sept. 18th
Dick Diver/ Dark Blue @ Death By Audio Sept. 26th
JSBX / Pampers @ Union Pool March 20th
Cobra Verde @ The Marlin Room @ Webster Hall Nov. 8th
Deaf Wish / Ausmuteants / Pampers / Degreaser @ Death By Audio Oct. 2nd
Xylouris White @ Union Pool October 16th

Hana Mogulescu, Beggars

In no particular order some of my favorite things from 2014:



Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire for No Witness
Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona
Finally watching Twin Peaks after years of being told to do so. WHO KILLED LAURA PALMER?!
Tobias Jesso Jr playing in an airbnb in London and "someone's kitchen" in Brooklyn
Ringing in the new year while listening to Koreless  and watching the sunrise over the ocean in Tulum
St Vincent - St Vincent. <3 you forever, Annie
Belle & Sebastian live at the American Ambassador's house in London, complete with an on-stage cameo from the one & only Gabe Spierer
Perfume Genius - Too Bright + all three incredible music videos that have come with it
Watching my best friend since I was 12 get married (cheesy, I know)
Sun Kil Moon - Benji

Hector Montes, Beggars Group

will this year just end already: the list



his name is alive - tecuciztecatl (london london)
the dead space - faker (12xu)
hookworms - the hum (weird world)
a winged victory for the sullen - atomos (kranky)
run the jewels - run the jewels 2 (mass appeal)
wild beasts - present tense (domino)
protomartyr - under cover of official right (hardly art)
total control - typical system (iron lung)
doss - the way i feel (acephale)
naomi punk - television man (captured tracks)



inventions - s/t (temporary residence)

Robby Morris, Matador Records

Gotobeds
Grouper
Steve Gunn
Ninos Du Brasil
Protomartyr
Run The Jewels
Schoolboy Q
Sleaford Mods
Total Control



Ukiah Drag
Vessel

Mark Ohe

Full-length Albums 2014 - A Sweet 16
Alice Gerrard, Follow the Music (Tompkins Square)



Joan Shelley, Electric Ursa (No Quarter)
Steve Gunn, Way Out Weather (Paradise of Bachelors)
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Wig Out at Jagbags (Matador)
Hiss Golden Messneger, Lateness of Dancers (Merge)
Laura Cantrell, No Way There From Here (Thriftshop Recordings)
Hans Chew, Life and Love (At The Helm)
V/A, Parchman Farm: Photographs & Recordings, 1947-1958 (Dust to Digital)
Doug Paisley, Strong Feelings (No Quarter)
Yo La Tengo, Extra Painful (Matador)
Robyn Hitchcock, The Man Upstairs (Yep Roc)
The Spies, The Battle of Bosworth Terrace (Siltbreeze)
Einstürzende Neubauten, Lament (Mute)
Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Intensity Ghost (No Quarter)
Tinariwen, Emmaar (PIAS)
V/A, When I Reach That Heavenly Shore: Unearthly Black Gospel (Tompkins Square)

Books

This Changes Everything, Naomi Klein
Corruption in America, Zepher Teachout
Our Daily Poison: From Pesticides to Packaging, How Chemicals Have Contaminated the Food Chain and Are Making Us Sick, Marie-Monique Robin
DIY or Die!, Johan Kugelberg
Extracted: How the Quest for Mineral Wealth Is Plundering the Planet, Ugo Bardi
Power Systems, Noam Chomsky
Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life, Graham Nash
Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, Adam Lerner

Miwa Okumura, Beggars Senior VP, West Coast Operations & Licensing

Big Boys (re-issue) - Where’s My Towel/ Industry Standard LP
Spoon - They Want My Soul
The Horrors - Luminous
David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights - End Times Undone
Future Islands - Singles
The Flesh Eaters (re-issue) - A Minute To Pray A Second To Die LP
Caribou - Our Love
Perfume Genius-Too Bright
The War on Drugs - Lost In The Dream
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers

Boyhood -Richard Linklater
The Leftovers
Transparent

Snaking my way to the front to see The Replacements at Coachella.
Shot a Springfield Arms DP40, 40 Smith and Wesson and a Magpull M4 in Sun Valley, Idaho
The Bar Method (check that off my list)



GBV’s last LA show



Bobby Womack and Teenie Hodges RIP



Reuben Cox’s (Old Style) custom silver foil guitar.

Gonzalo Schiaffino, Everlasting / Popstock

IT’S NOT ONLY ROCK’N ROLL (BUT I LIKE IT) – My favourite albums in no particular order
BECK – Morning Phase
VARIOUS – Warfaring Strangers: Darkscorch Canticles
CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD – Phosphorent Harvest



COLUMPIO ASESINO – Ballenas Muertas En San Sebastian
JOSEPH ARTHUR – Lou
JACK WHITE – Lazaretto
JOLLIE HOLLAND – Wine Dark Sea
THE APE – The Ape
TY SEGALL – Manipulator
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – Brill Bruisers
PETER HAMMILL / GARY LUCAS – Other World
PERFUME GENIUS – Too Bright
HOLY SONS – The Fact Facer
SLEAFORD MODS – Divide And Exit
ANGEL OLSEN – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
ELISA AMBROGIO – The Inmoralist
FOXYGEN – And Star Power
ARIEL PINK – Pom Pom


BEST CONCERTS (You should be there…)
SAVAGES – Shoko (Madrid 20/2)
ROLLING STONES – Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid 25-6) *with my kids!
QOTSA – Primavera Sound (Barcelona)
TY SEGALL – Sala But (Madrid 27/10)

Helen Rush, Matador Direct
Shows: Jan 2014 – Dec 2014
Bill Nace, Okkuyng Lee & Chris Corsano – Jack
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Other Music
Lee Ranaldo / Steve Gunn / Spectre Folk – The Bellhouse
Benefit For Letha Rodman Melchior: Endless Boogie, Crystal Stilts, Love As Laughter, The Rogers Sisters, August Wells, Rebecca Gaffney & Adrian Austin, Nurse & Soldier – Secret Project Robot
Tatsuya Nakatani: Nakantani Gong Orchestra – Jack
Ed Askew / Josephine Foster / Victor Herrero– Columbus Theatre – Providence RI
MV/EE – Baby’s All Right
Charlemagne Palestine (Solo Organ) - Plymouth Church/Issue Project Room
Ben Chasny – Baby’s All Right
Endless Boogie / Magik Markers – Union Pool
Kim Gordon & Okkung Lee – The Stone
Graham Lambkin / Devin DiSanto – Issue Project Room
Yoko Ono & Yo La Tengo  - Union Pool
Elisa Ambrogio  / Bill Nace / The Double – Union Pool
Jacco Gardner – Baby’s All Right
Prince Rupert’s Drops – Baby’s All Right
Heavy Blanket / Honey – Union Pool
Michael Chapman / Zachary Cale – Union Pool
Keijo Haino & Tony Conrad / Okkung Lee – Issue Project Room
Tim Barnes / Barry Weisblat – Silent Barn
Body/Head / Nate Young / Vanessa Rosetto – Union Pool
Holy Sons / Elisa Ambogio  – Union Pool
Kim Gordon & Loren Mazzacane Connors  / Gary War – Issue Project Room

Records: In No Particular Order (+ 2 from 2013)

Elisa Ambrogio - The Immoralist (Drag City)
Prince Rupert’s Drops – Climbing Light (Beyond Beyond is Beyond)
Mary Lattimore / Jeff Zeigler - Slant of Light (Thrill Jockey)
Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather (Paradise of Bachelors)
United Waters – Sunburner (Bathetic)



Tom Carter / Pat Murano - Four Infernal Rivers (MIE)
Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire for No Witness – (Jagjaguwar)
Tinariwen – Emmaar (Anti)
Vashti Bunyan – Heartleap (Fat Cat/DiCristina)
Fugazi – First Demo (Dischord)
Nathan Bowles – Nansemond (Paradise of Bachelors)
Ty Segall - Manipulator - (Drag City)
Jacco Gardner - Cabinet of Curiosities (Trouble In Mind) 2013
Nathan Salsburg – Hard For To Win And Can’t Be Won (No Quarter ) 2013
Body/Head - The Show Is Over 7” (Matador)
Hamish Kilgour -- All Of It And Nothing' (Ba Da Bing)

Chrissy Stuart, Beggars Music

Twigs at Trees
Paragliding over Lake Atitlan
Drake - "0 to 100 / The Catch Up"
Mica Levi's Under The Skin score
thefatjewish
The War On Drugs - Lost in the Dream
1st LA earthquake (5.1)
Kim Kardashian as bike rack
Star Wars
Busta Rhymes 2014 (in general)
Beck - "Turn Away"



Future - "Move That Dope"
NYE sunrise celebration in Tulum w/ the best of the best
Mac Demarco "Salad Days"
Popcaan

Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records



Sleaford Mods - Divide & Exit (Harbinger Sounds)
Mordecai - Neil’s Generator (Richie)
Califone - Stitches (Dead Oceans)
Ultimate Painting - s/t (Trouble In Mind)



Rat Columns - Leaf (RIP Society)
Watery Love - Decorative Feeding (In The Red)
Mark Kozelek - Live At Biko (Calo Verde)
Musk - s/t (Holy Mountain)
Swans - To Be Kind (Young God)



Golden Pelicans - s/t (Total Punk)
Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band - Intensity Ghost (No Quarter)
Good Throb - Fuck Off (White Denim)
Centro-matic - Take Pride In Your Long Odds (Navigational Transmissions)
Manateees - Sit n Spin (Pelican Pow Wow)
Spray Paint - Clean Blood, Regular Acid (Monofonus Press)



Exhaustion - Biker (Aarght)
OBN III’s- Third Time To Harm (Tic Tac Totally)
Low Life - Dogging (RIP Society)
Degreaser - Rougher Squalor (ever/never)



Wussy - Attica (Shake It)
John Schooley & His One Man Band - The Man Who Rode The Mule Around The World (Voodoo Rhythm)
Dark Blue - Pure Reality (Jade Tree)
Protomarytr - Under Color Of Official Light (Hardly Art)
Ausmuteants - Order Of Operation (Goner)
Kid Millions / Jim Sauter - Fountain (Family Vineyard)
Real Kids - Shake Outta Control (Ace Of Hearts)
Shellac - Dude Incredible (Touch & Go)


12" EP’s
Institute - Salt - (Sacred Bones)
Nazi Gold - Climbing The Tower (Super Secret)
Uniform - s/t (Beggar's Tomb)
Gary Wrong Group - Floods Of Fire (Jeth Row/Bat Shit)



Outer Spaces - Garbage Beach (Salinas)

7”'s

Mystic Inane - “Deep Creep” (Negative Jazz)



Breakout - “True Crime” (Grave Mistake)
Deaf Wish - St. Vincent’s EP (Sub/Pop)



Hysterics - “Can’t I Live” EP (M’Ladys)
Sick Thoughts - “Moral Sickness” (Blast Of Silence)
Sick Thoughts - “Coming Over” (Going Underground)
Sick Thoughts - “I Got Hands” b/w “I’m Tired Of You” (Hidden Volume)
Total Abuse - “Looking For Love” (Deranged)
Lumpy & The Dumpers - “Gnats In The Pisser” (Total Punk)

reissues / archival stuff :



Owen Maercks - Teenage Sex Therapist (Feeding Tube)
Flesh Eaters - A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die (Superior Viaduct)
The Sluts - 12" Of Sluts (Spread 'Em/Jeth Row/Race)
Bedhead - 1992-1998 (Numero)
Madrigal - s/t (Lysergia)
Jack Ruby - LP1 /Volume Two (Feeding Tube)
Medival - One Morbid (Buried By Time & Dust)
Shoes This High - Straight To Hell (Siltbreeze)

live shows :

Deaf Wish, Hi Tone, Memphis, Mohawk, Austin September



Counter Intuits, Now That’s Class, Cleveland, May
Swans, Lincoln Hall, Chicago, June
Wreckmeister Harmonies, Elysium, Austin, November
Midnight, Dirty Dog, Austin, August
Wreckless Eric, Hole In The Wall, Austin, October
Tom Carter, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, Austin, November
Radioactivity, Beerland, Austin, March, Hi Tone, Memphis, September
Mordecai, Now That’s Class, Cleveland, May
Life Stinks, Murphy’s, Memphis TN, Septmber
The Clean, Ace Of Cups, Columbus, July
eyehategod, North Door, Austin, November
Godflesh, Mohawk, Austin, April
Califone, someone’s house, Austin, April
Kraftwerk, Riveria Theatre, Chicago, March
The Rebel, Beerland Austin, March, Hotel Vegas, Austin, September
No Bails, Hotel Vegas, Austin, June
Devo, ACL LIve, July
Civil Union, The Grand, Austin, July

Iceage touring Australia and Asia in January



Iceage take their stunning Plowing into the Field of Love album further afield in 2015, touring Australia and Asia for the first time since its release for shows across China, Taiwan and Thailand before hitting Australia for only their second ever trip down under.

Friday January 9 - Yuyintang, Shanghai, China
Saturday January 10 - Club XP, Beijing, China
Wednesday January 14 - The Wall, Taipei, Taiwan
Saturday January 17 - Langsuan Castle, Bangkok, Thailand
-
Wednesday January 21 - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, Australia (Supports: Dead Farmers, M.O.B.)
Thursday January 22 - Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane, Australia (Supports:  Thee Hugs, Clever, Unpeople)
Friday January 23 - Ding Dong, Melbourne, Australia (Support: The UV Race)
Saturday January 24 - Sugar Mountain, Melbourne, Australia

The New Pornographers on Sirius XMU tonight/this week



Hot on the heels of their recently concluded US and European tour dates, The New Pornographers appear on Sirius XMU (channel 35 on your Sirius XM dial) tonight at 9pm EST, performing songs from their Album Of The Year contender, Brill Bruisers.

Can't listen tonight? Don't worry, XMU has you covered with multiple re-broadcasts. Full schedule as follows:

Weds at 9p EST
Thurs at 3pm EST
Thurs at 4p EST
Fri at 9a EST
Sun at noon EST

Tune in!

Shlohmo Signs to True Panther, Releases New Single Today on True Panther/WeDidIt + Live North American Tour Announced for Spring 2015



Another announcement from True Panther this afternoon, in Dean's words:

Waking up from a miraculous dream…pinching ourselves…only to realize that it’s true.

We’re somehow fortunate enough to welcome one of our favorite young producers in the entire world to True Panther Sounds : Shlohmo born Henry Laufer. We will be releasing his forthcoming music alongside our friends, Wedidit, Shlohmo’s homegrown imprint.

As a gentle introduction to this celestial coupling we’re happy to share the first new original solo music from Shlohmo in quite some time, a single called “Emerge From Smoke”.

We printed up 1000 copies on a 7? that features a physical-only b-side called “Ode 2 Tha Whip”.

Pre-order Emerge From Smoke 7? HERE
buy Emerge From Smoke on iTunes




Shlohmo’s sound has evolved in ways that are difficult to describe. His unique approach to production seems as steeped in sludge metal as it is in drum & bass, as much IDM as it is R&B. It is somewhere deep within this sonic collage that he has carved out a distinct and celebrated voice in the electronic music space. His production on BANKS’ 2014 single “Brain,” and his sought-after remixes and crossover style, as witnessed in this year’s collaborative release with Jeremih, are further evidence of his immense talent and wide scope of influence.

Next spring also signifies a return to the stage for Shlohmo with a massive headlining national tour, his first with a live band, with more details on its setup to emerge in the new year. With Shlohmo’s new approach to his live set, new label home and new single “Emerge From Smoke,” Shlohmo’s 2015 marks a very exciting and distinct musical direction with a big announcement to follow after the holidays.

Shlohmo 2015 Live Tour Dates.
Mar 31 – Casbah – San Diego, CA
Apr 1 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
Apr 2 – El Rey Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Apr 3 – The Parish – Austin, TX
Apr 4 – Fitzgerald – Houston, TX
Apr 5 – Trees – Dallas, TX
Apr 6 – Republic – New Orleans, LA
Apr 8 – U Street Music Hall – Washington, DC
Apr 9 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
Apr 11 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY
Apr 12 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
Apr 14 – Signal Kitchen – Burlington, VT
Apr 15 – SAT – Montreal, QC
Apr 16 – Hoxton – Toronto, ON
Apr 17 – Concorde Music Hall – Chicago, IL
Apr 18 – Plush – St. Louis, MO
Apr 22 – Bluebird Theatre – Denver, CO
Apr 24 – Neumos – Seattle, WA
Apr 26 – Branx – Portland, OR
Apri 29 – The Arcata Theatre – Arcata, CA
Apr 30 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
May 2 – The Catalyst Club – Santa Cruz, CA
May 3 – Velvet Jones – Santa Barbara, CA
May 7 – The Fonda – Los Angeles, CA


VIDEO : Belle and Sebastian - "Nobody's Empire"



above : "Nobody's Empire", the second video from the forthcoming Belle and Sebastian album, 'Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance', out January 19. The video was directed by Blair Young and Stuart Murdoch, with many thank and much love to all the fans who submitted their own video clips for this project. Additional clips come from the Scottish Screen Archive at the National Library of Scotland and from the Prelinger Archives.



photography by Søren Solkær

ALBUM PRE-ORDER:
Belle & Sebastian Store (UK)
The Matador Store (North America): http://smarturl.it/GirlsInPeacetime_LP
iTunes:
Amazon
Google Play (U.S. orders only)

Tour Dates

2015
Monday January 26 - Laneway Festival, Auckland, New Zealand
Wednesday January 28 - The Tivoli, Brisbane, Australia
Thursday January 29 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
Sunday February 1 - Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday February 3 - Astor Theatre, Perth, Australia
Thursday, February 12 - AX Club, Seoul, Korea
Monday, February 16 - Hostess Club Taipei @ Legacy, Taipei, Taiwan
Saturday February 21 - Hostess Club Weekender, Studio Coast, Tokyo, Japan
Monday March 30 -House Of Blues, Boston MA*
Wednesday April 1-Massey Hall, Toronto ONT*
Thursday April 2 - Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak MI*
Friday April 3 - Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL*
Saturday, April 4 - Overture Hall, Madison WI *
Sunday May 3 - St. David's, Cardiff, Wales
Monday May 4 - Colston Hall, Bristol England
Tuesday May 5 - Guildhall, Portsmouth, England
Thursday May 7 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge, England
Friday May 8 - Open, Norwich, England
Sunday May 10 - Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England
Monday May 11 - Westminster Central Hall, London (sold out)
Tuesday May 12 - Westminster Central Hall, London (sold out)
Thursday May 14 - Albert Hall, Manchester, England
Friday May 15 - Albert Hall, Manchester, England
Saturday May 16 - City Hall, Newcastle, England
Monday May 18 - Opera House, Buxton, England
Tuesday May 19 - City Hall, Leeds, England
Friday, May 22 - Hydro Arena, Glasgow (with the Scottish Festival Orchestra)
Sunday May 24 - Sound City, Liverpool, England
Wednesday, June 10 - Radio City Music Hall, New York NY
Thursday - Saturday, July 2-4 - ATP Iceland, Keflavik, Iceland

(* -Honeyblood supporting March 30 - April 4)

Belle and Sebastian - official site
'It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career' - official site
Belle and Sebastian - Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Tobias Jesso Jr. – GOON out March 17 + First US Tour



In Dean's words:

We are really besides ourselves with pride and joy to announce that True Panther Sounds will be releasing the debut album from Tobias Jesso Jr. \ March 17th, 2015. Want to tell you about it, but thought it’d be best for Tobias for put it into his own words…

In 2008 I moved to LA to play backup bass for a Pop singer. That job didn’t work out, but I ended staying in LA for four years. I returned to North Vancouver because my mother had been diagnosed with cancer (she’s better now). I wrote most of the songs on my album Goon about my time spent in LA. It was a reflection that included, like the most popular of love clichés, a tough break up.


In my haste returning to Vancouver, I had left all my instruments in a storage locker in LA. My sister had moved out and left her piano at my parent’s house, an instrument I had yet to explore. The first song I wrote on that piano was ‘Just A Dream.’ It was also one of my first attempts at singing. I have yet come to terms with my singing voice, but at the time I was left with no other option.



I recorded the demo, and then did a few more. Afterwards I sent the demos to JR White [Girls], someone who had produced one of my favorite records of the past few years (and was also signed to True Panther, the label I’m currently on). Soon after, he asked me to come down to San Francisco to record an album. After a series of visa issues and border complications, I finally met him and spent the next few months jumping from San Francisco to Los Angeles, recording in studios and bedrooms with friends.





After all that was said and done, I got offered to have a few more of my songs produced by Patrick Carney [The Black Keys] in Nashville, and Ariel Rechstaid in Los Angeles. I owe the sound of the record to the great effort of everyone involved, the producers and musicians doing and playing things I couldn’t and treating the production with the same reverence I treat my songwriting.
The writing will always be the most important to me; the production, playing and singing I am still figuring out. I still play a bit of guitar, but I’m mostly sticking to the piano these days.
- TJJR. December 2014


‘Goon’ was recorded over the last two years and features production from Chet “JR” White (formerly of Girls), Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, and Ariel Rechtshaid (Vampire Weekend, Haim, Sky Ferreira). Pitchfork recently gave album highlight “Hollywood” Best New Track, calling it “the film negative to Billy Joel’s ‘New York State of Mind’.” ‘Goon’ album art is pictured above.

Pre-orders from the True Panther store, will receive a limited flexi-disc containing an exclusive non-album demo track.

Pre-order links

TPS store: http://smarturl.it/TobiasGoon_LP - comes w/ a bonus flexi-disc

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TobiasGoon

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/Tobias_Goon

TRACKLIST:
1. Can’t Stop Thinking About You
2. How Could You Babe?
3. Without You
4. Can We Still Be Friends?
5. The Wait
6. Hollywood
7. For You
8. Crocodile Tears
9. Bad Words
10. Just A Dream
11. Leaving LA
12. Tell The Truth

In March, Tobias will also launch his first ever tour, headlining a run of East and West Coast dates. On January 2nd and 3rd, he’ll open for Foxygen at LA’s Roxy Theatre. Tobias recently hosted a series of intimate solo piano performances in NYC, LA, and London, and was met with tremendous praise… After hearing “Without You,” The a writer at the FADER was brought to tears: “A tremendous wave of pain and nostalgia came over me, and I started to cry.” Woah.

Tickets go on sale Thursday Dec 11 at 11am EST at tobiasjessojr.com

1/2/15 Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre (open for Foxygen)
1/3/15 Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre (open for Foxygen)
3/22/15 Sun Toronto, ON – The Drake
3/24/15 Tue Washington, DC – Sixth & I
3/25/15 Wed Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
3/26/15 Thu New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
3/27/15 Fri Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
3/28/15 Sat Boston, MA – Middle East Upstairs
3/30/15 Mon Vancouver, BC – Electric Owl
3/31/15 Tue Seattle, WA – Barboza
4/1/15 Wed Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
4/3/15 Fri San Francisco, CA – Brick + Mortar
4/4/15 Sat Los Angeles, CA – The Echo (early show)

Perfume Genius - "Fool" Video, Spring 2015 Dates



Earlier today, the third video from Perfume Genius' album of the year candidate 'Too Bright', "Fool" premiered via Urban Outfitters. The clip was directed by Charlotte Rutherford, who'd previously directed "Grid" from the same album.

The following Spring 2015 dates are confirmed and (most) are on sale now :

Monday, March, 16 - Wexner Center - Columbus, OH*
Tuesday, March, 17 - Black Cat - Washington, DC*
Thursday, March, 19 - Stage 48 - New York, NY*
Friday, March, 20 - The Sinclair - Cambridge MA*
Saturday, March, 21 - Columbus Theatre - Providence RI*
Mon March, 23 - The Outer Space - Hamden CT*
Tuesday, March, 24 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA*
Wednesday, March, 25 - BSP Kingston - Kingston, NY*
Friday, March, 27 - Andy Warhol Museum - Pittsburgh, PA*
Sunday, March, 29 - Big Ears Festival - Knoxville, TN*
Wednesday, June, 10 – Royal Festival Hall - London UK

order 'Too Bright' from the following :
The Matador Store (LP & CD)
iTunes
Perfume Genius.net
Amazon
Amazon MP3
Google Play

Perfume Genius online :

Perfume Genius.net

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
You Tube Channel

Out Today : Yo La Tengo's 'Extra Painful'

December 2, 2014 happens to mark the 30th anniversary of one of the planet's best bands making their official live debut --- it all went down on a cold Sunday evening at Hoboken's Maxwell's, and I feel pretty confident in saying the evening's headliners have left behind a devastating body of work in the 3 decades and lineup changes since. Not only that, but they've continue to record, perform and put the rest of the rock world on notice at every opportunity



But enough about Antietam, apparently this is also the 30th anniversary of Yo La Tengo's first show, too, and with that in mind, we're celebrating the historic moment with today's double LP / double CD release of 'Extra Painful', the expanded edition of the trio's very first album for Matador, 1993's 'Painful'. Earlier today, Pitchfork's Stuart Berman said of the reissue, "Yo La Tengo would go on to define '90s indie—and its evermore sophisticated post-millenial permutations—not by refining their sound, but by blowing it wide open. Painful was the moment of detonation." ("More so than any other band in recent memory, Yo La Tengo’s body of work hinges on the notion that no song is ever a completely finished, end-state product; what we hear on any given album is seemingly a function of what mood they were in the day it was recorded, what the weather was like on the day of mixing, or how much studio time was left before the budget was blown. There is no such thing as a permanent record; songs have many lives before they’re officially documented and continue to evolve long thereafter.")



Drowned In Sound's Benjamin Bland opined that 'Extra Painful' represents "a welcome reminder of an album that has never quite gained the classic status it deserves, but despite this the vital ingredient – the intimate feeling at the heart of Painful - remains agelessly undamaged by the passage of time." It's a little late in the day for us to opt for an "AGELESSLY UNDAMAGED" sticker quote, but it's a pretty good idea just the same.



you can order 'Extra Painful' on double vinyl or CD from the following :

The Matador Store
Amazon

a handful of tickets are still available for this week's 30th Anniversary shows in New York, Philly and DC :

12/03 Town Hall, NY NY w/ Antietam
12/04 Town Hall, NY NY w/ The Feelies
12/05 9:30 Club, Washington DC w/ Lambchop
12/06 Trocadero, Philadelphia PA w/ Antietam
____________________________________________________________________
Yo La Tengo : - band site
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