Out Today - Guided By Voices 'Alien Lanes' 25th Anniversary + Pavement 'Sensitive Euro Man' Shape Disc + Bob Nastanovich clip
Out today - the 25th Anniversary limited edition 'Alien Lanes' LP from Guided By Voices. This one was pressed on distinctive blue, red and green wax to mirror the patterned drumhead of the cover, also made available as a bundle with a true-to-the-original remanufacture of an 'Alien Lanes' bottle opener. Truly a merch piece par excellence.
Rumblings from the rumour mill say a scant few LP copies might still be available here
buy/stream 'Alien Lanes'
Guided By Voices Online :
Guided By Voices - website
Also now available - the striking new Pavement speech bubble shape disc featuring the never before committed to vinyl 'Sensitive Euro Man' b/w 'Brink of The Clouds / Candy Lad' - pressed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the band's third record 'Wowee Zowee'.
A bundle deal for the 'Sensitive Euro Man' shape disc plus 'Wowee Zowee' LP previously only available to US customers is now purchaseable via our UK & EU webstore as well. See here
Marking today's release, a full interview clip with Pavement's Bob Nastanovich - speaking on the recording of 'Wowee Zowee', the album's legacy today, and much more:
Buy / Stream 'Sensitive Euro Man'
Pavement Online :
Pavement - official site
Matador Revisionist History 2020 : Guided By Voices - 'Alien Lanes' 25th Anniversary
"Watch Me Jumpstart" - directed by Banks Tarver
(photo by Michael Lavine)“We were fearless at the time we recorded Alien Lanes. That's why it bristles with insane energy and confidence. We were still riding the high accolades of Bee Thousand and probably should have succumbed to the critical pressure of a worthy follow-up. Instead we had, in our megalomaniacal view, mastered the instant gratification machine known as the 4-track and began recording song after song with titles like "Cuddling Bozo's Octopus", "My Valuable Hunting Knife", "Pimple Zoo" and "After the Quake (Let's Bake a Cake)".
The door had been opened for us to throw out as many weird ass ideas as we were capable of and we did. We even thought we were starting to look cooler and decided cool enough to have the entire back cover be a photograph of us in the basement looking pseudo intellectually laid back and stoned with long hair, stars and stripe gym shoes and a box of Tide in the background.
Our friend Kim thought the album was too bombastic. Too frenetic and difficult to digest. I agreed. We were proud to be putting out our first album on Matador and cock strutted accordingly. It cost us $10 to make. It's worth a million. I personally think it's better than B-1000 (but not by much). There are two different camps of GBV fans to argue and debate.
God bless 1995 and open hearted record labels like Matador (and Scat before them) for allowing bands like us, with the preferred limited resources, to remove the constraints and pre-conceived notions of the more industry-minded constituents who would have much preferred we destroy the cassette master of Alien Lanes in the better interest of sound manufacturing and what's more agriculturally consumable. It's better to leave the farm than to continue plodding through the cow shit.”
--Robert Pollard 2020
As part of our ongoing (and occasionally confusing) Revisionist History Campaign) we're pleased to announce a 25th Anniversary vinyl edition of Guided By Voices’ 1995 landmark album 'Alien Lanes'. Inspired by the multicolored drumhead featured on the album’s artwork, this new edition is pressed on blue, green and red multicolored vinyl making it the first non-exclusive color vinyl edition of this release. A limited edition Guided By Voices keyring / bottle opener, based on an original 1995 design, will be available to bundle with copies of the 'Alien Lanes’ 25th Anniversary LP exclusively through the Matador webstores while stocks last. Limited to a one time press of 2,500 copies, pre-sale for this exclusive edition is available via the Matador store HERE.
Succumbing to incredible (well, modest) demand, we've also released a newly rendered version of the hard to find, 1996 documentary "Watch Me Jumpstart" directed by Banks Tarver (above)
Originally released on April 4, 1995, 'Alien Lanes' was the first Guided By Voices album on Matador. With 28 tracks spanning the course of 41 minutes, the album would fundamentally alter the concept of what a rock and roll record could be*. Bursting at the seams with classic rock bravado (“Game of Pricks”, “Closer You Are”), anthemic power pop (“My Valuable Hunting Knife”, “Motor Away”), punk (“Pimple Zoo”, “My Son Cool”), psychedelic experimentalism (“Ex-Supermodel”, “Alright”), and tape-warped ballads ( “King And Caroline”, “Blimps Go 90”, “Chicken Blows”) Alien Lanes dips and dives between genres and moods with breakneck efficiency and a remarkable amount of intellect and emotion bolstered by the abstract poetry of songwriter and frontman Bob Pollard.
(* - WE MIGHT NEED TO FACT CHECK THIS)
buy/stream 'Alien Lanes'
Guided By Voices Online :
Guided By Voices - website
Other Matador Revisionist History Catalog Features Coming in 2020
April 11, 1995 — Pavement Wowee Zowee — 25th anniversary
May 2, 1995 — Yo La Tengo Electr-O-Pura — 25th anniversary
Anniversary releases for Chavez's Gone Glimmering, Bailter Space’s Wammo, and Mary Timony's Mountains to follow later this year.
May 2, 1995 — Yo La Tengo Electr-O-Pura — 25th anniversary
Anniversary releases for Chavez's Gone Glimmering, Bailter Space’s Wammo, and Mary Timony's Mountains to follow later this year.
OUT TODAY: Guided By Voices "Half Smiles of the Decomposed" Red Vinyl Reissue
(Guided By Voices circa 2004. Photo: Jeremy Balderson)
Back in print for the first time in over 10 years, Guided By Voices' limited red vinyl reissue of Half Smiles of the Decomposed is available today.
"At the time of it’s 2004 release, ‘Half Smiles Of The Decomposed’ was meant to be Guided By Voices’ final album. As it turns out, Bob Pollard’s a better revisionist historian than the rest of us combined — it merely turned out to be the pause button being pressed on that particular incarnation of GBV, though given Doug Gillard’s contribution, one could argue this one sits pretty neatly alongside much of the 2010’s output. People will tell you “Girls Of Wild Strawberries” was the hit and since I’m not inclined to look up old CMJ charts (wasn’t very inclined in 2004, either) we can either presume that’s accurate or simply skip ahead to “Closets Of Henry”, which somehow didn’t make the greatest hits, ‘Human Amusements At Hourly Rates’ (sticklers for detail will claim that’s because the comp. came out in 2003, but just to put the subject to bed, let’s just say it was record company negligence).
After this, it would be another 8 years for a Guided By Voices studio album (and there were three of ‘em in 2012, OF COURSE)."
- Gerard Cosloy
Purchase Red Vinyl / Stream Half Smiles of the Decomposed HERE.
Guided By Voices Online
Website
John Peel - remembered
Today marks 10 years since the passing of John Peel, a man who opened the BBC radio airwaves for bands and artists outside the remit of the stations "regular" programming and opened the minds of thousands listening at home to sounds they otherwise may have never heard. One of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, throughout his 5-decade spanning career he never showed no signs of slowing down and his influence on (the good part) of modern music is immeasurable.
As a small tribute to the many Matador bands who recorded a Peel Session over the years, we've compiled a selection of some of the session that made it on to YouTube, (many - including The Fall, Wisdom Of Harry and Pretty Girls Make Graves - haven't) and there's a full archive of all the Peel sessions over at the BBC Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/.
Featuring: Cat Power, Interpol, Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Belle and Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Mogwai, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Solex, Unsane, Arab Strab, Unwound, Guided By Voices, Superchunk, Techno Animal and Boards Of Canada.
Enjoy.
Guided By Voices - new single by original lineup, The Unsinkable Fats Domino
The first recordings from the classic Guided By Voices lineup of Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos and Kevin Fennell hit the stores on November 22 with the Matador single from their upcoming self-released album "Let's go Eat The Factory." The single is called "The Unsinkable Fats Domino" b/w "We Won't Apologize," and you can download an MP3 of the A-side here:
The Unsinkable Fats Domino (192k MP3)
The single will be out on 7" vinyl and digital single formats NOVEMBER 22.
Preorder the 7"
robertpollard.net
Matador vinyl reissues are here!
We're excited to announce that a number of our favorite catalogue releases have been reissued on 120g vinyl and are now in stock.
The following titles are now available in the Matador Store, and will be on shelves at your favorite record shops on August 9.
OLE-295-0 Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister*
OLE-311-0 Belle and Sebastian - Boy With The Arab Strap*
OLE-361-0 Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk *
OLE-202-0 Cat Power - What Would The Community Think*
OLE-426-0 Cat Power - The Covers Record
OLE-754-0 Cat Power - Jukebox
OLE-123-0 Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes*
OLE-069-0 Yo La Tengo - Painful*
OLE-371-0 Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out* dbl LP
*includes free download of the entire album
Find these, and many other new and classic Matador, True Panther and distributed releases here. Spend over $50, and get free shipping AND while you're at it, pick up a new Matador tote bag (cuz let's be honest, who doesn't love a tote?
)
REVISED SCHEDULE : Matador At 21 : The Lost Weekend In Las Vegas, The Palms
First off, if these changes have left anyone disappointed or inconvenienced, we're truly sorry. I've been watching videos of the guys in the BP commercials all week trying to strike the right tone for this post, and wouldn't you know it, MY VIDEO CAMERA IS BROKEN. Bullet dodged.
On the bright side, hey, DEAD MEADOW are playing. The opening VIP gala is still happening at 4pm Friday in the Hardwood Suite with dj sets by Ted Leo and myself. Same room becomes a VIP lounge Friday and Saturday nights, plus late night dj action on Friday (James McNew, Dean Bein) and Saturday (Dave Martin, Robby Morris). Here's the live entertainment schedule of events. Much like real life, everything is subject to change.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st
THE PEARL
Pavement: 12:00am – 1:00am
Sonic Youth: 10:40pm – 11:30am
Fucked Up: 9:35pm – 10:15pm
Chavez: 8:30pm – 9:10pm
Guitar Wolf: 7:30pm – 8:10pm
Doors: 7:00pm
MC : Jeff Jensen
LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Fucked Up Vs. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 1:30am – 2:30am
(One stage. Two bands. At once. They're supposed to take turns, song by song...but who knows?)
Doors: 1:00am
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2nd
THE PEARL
Belle & Sebastian: 11:45pm – 1:00am
Spoon: 10:25pm – 11:15pm
Superchunk: 9:20pm – 10:00pm
Cat Power: 8:15pm – 8:55pm
Perfume Genius: 7:55pm – 8:15pm
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: 6:50pm – 7:30pm
Come: 5:45pm – 6:25pm
Girls: 4:40pm – 5:20pm
Doors 4:00pm
MC : Bob Nastanovich
MATINEE IN THE PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Dead Meadow: 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Harlem: 1:30pm – 2:05pm
Doors: 1:00pm
LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Cold Cave: 2:25am - 3:15am
Esben and The Witch: 1:30am – 2:00am
Doors: 1:00am
KARAOKE UNDERGROUND AT LITTLE BUDDHA:
STARTS AT 1:30am
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3rd
THE PEARL
Guided By Voices: 11:30pm – 1:00am
Yo La Tengo: 10:10pm – 11:05pm
Liz Phair: 9:50pm – 10:10pm
The New Pornographers: 8:40pm – 9:25pm
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 7:35pm – 8:15pm
Shearwater: 6:30pm – 7:10pm
Doors: 6:00pm
MC's : Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster
MATINEE IN THE PALMS BALLROOM
The Clean: 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Times New Viking: 3:30pm – 4:05pm
Kurt Vile: 2:30pm – 3:05pm
Doors: 2:00pm
General questions : [email protected]
This event is sponsored by MySpace Music, Altamont, Incase, Sailor Jerry and Yowie.
Austin Movienight (or) Popcorn Makes Me Wanna High-Kick
2 of the first documentaries ever made about music* are set to grace Austin's silver screen later this month when Alamo Drafthouse teams up with End Of An Ear and Matador to bring you Watch Me Jumpstart and Slow Century -- two films about esteemed Matador alums Guided By Voices and Pavement -- as part of the Alamo's Music Monday Series.$2 gets you admission along with some killer food and drink specials.
And be sure to catch the bands when they come to the Casual Victi.... er.... Live Music Capital.
Guided By Voices
Thursday September 30 @ East Side Drive
w/ Times New Viking
Pavement
Tuesday September 28 @ Stubb's Waller Creek
w/ Woven Bones
*well, not really.
Matador At 21 - The Lost Weekend : Final Bill, Schedule Info
First of all, we know you've been waiting patiently for the information below, and we sincerely apologize for the length of time it took to get it together. But if wanting to put together an even sicker bill than previously announced is a crime, PLEASE LOCK US UP.
1) 50 additional pairs of tickets priced at $250.00 per person (not including taxes and fees) will be available via a public lottery sometime next week. We'll announce the details here and on the 21 site beforehand.
2) Details regarding a limited number of room upgrades will be available at that time.
3) We regret to announce that at present, our supply of VIP tickets has been exhausted. If that situation changes, we'll let you know.
4) As rumored in a bunch of places (including this very blog), we're very happy to confirm the following additions to The Lost Weekend Bill ; Liz Phair, Times New Viking, Esben and the Witch, Perfume Genius, The Clean, MC's Jeff Jensen, Bob Nastanovich, Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster, and a late Friday evening presentation by Austin's Karaoke Underground. The rough schedule can be found below, and is very much subject to change :
Friday:
4 PM: Gala opening party, Hardwood Suite (VIP ticketholders, limited capacity)
MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):
doors open 6 PM, first band (Guitar Wolf) on at 7 PM
Pavement
Sonic Youth
Fucked Up
Chavez
Cold Cave
Guitar Wolf
MC : Jeff Jensen
2am onwards : Superchunk/Fucked Up/bands TBC, Hardwood Suite (VIP ticketholders only, capacity limited)
2am onwards : Karaoke Underground at Little Buddha (open to all ticketholders, space permitting)
Saturday:
MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):
Belle and Sebastian
Spoon
Superchunk
Cat Power
Perfume Genius
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Come
Girls
MC : Bob Nastanovich
2am : Esben and the Witch, Harlem, Key West Ballroom (open to all ticketholders, space permitting)
Sunday (MATINEE, in Key West Ballroom, open to all ticketholders, capacity limited):
The Clean
Times New Viking
Kurt Vile
Sunday evening :
MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):
Guided By Voices
Yo La Tengo
Liz Phair
The New Pornographers
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Shearwater
MC's : Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster
Matador at 21: The Lost Weekend takes place at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas from October 1-3, 2010. This event is sponsored by MySpace Music, Altamont and Incase.
Robert Pollard Art Show in NYC Aug 27-28
On August 27 & 28, New York will be graced with “The Public Hi-Fi Balloon,” an exhibit of more than 60 Robert Pollard collages at NYC’s The 45 Space (45 Bond Street, between Lafayette & Bowery), hosted by Vanity Fair’s Michael Hogan and visual artist Todd DiCiurcio.You know Bob’s work from his album covers (or the 2008 Fantagraphics book of his art), but these are phenomenal pieces that need to be seen in person to fully appreciate.
Opening night is Friday, August 27, from 6-11 PM, and the exhibit will also be open to visitors on the 28th from 2-11 PM. Check Pollard’s website for more info.
You should also know that Bob Pollard shares a Halloween birthday with Vermeer, Johnny Marr, Ad-Rock, Larry Mullen Jr., and Vanilla Ice.
"The Lost Weekend" - Matador 21 In Las Vegas, Tickets On Sale This Friday, July 9
Tickets for "The Lost Weekend" aka Matador's 21st birthday celebrations at The Palms will go on sale this Friday morning at 9am, PST. Here's the details you've been hassling all of us about over the last week (and don't think we don't appreciate it)
a) Tickets/Pricing : An initial quantity will be on sale Friday for $SOLD. .After the $SOLD tickets sell out, the price increases to $SOLD. A Ticketfly.com link will be posted on this site on Thursday, July 8th. Starting Friday, you'll have the opportunity to reserve standard rooms at the Palms for the discounted rate of $SOLD per night (the full 3 nights of the festival, only). The rooms feature two double bed and occupancy of up to 4 persons is allowed. The above rate is only available when purchasing tickets thru us. If you are interested in upgrading to a larger room or a suite you will be able to do so after purchasing the standard room. TICKETS FOR THE 3 NIGHTS + ROOMS are being sold jointly --- we're not selling tickets to the shows separately at this time, nor are we selling tickets for individual nights.
(ADDENDUM -i) A limited number of 3-day tickets priced at $SOLD---with no Palms reservation required --- will be available Friday morning at 9am PST via Ticketfly.com
ii) if, for example, you're buying 4 tickets to the shows, the $SOLD per night hotel fee can cover up to 4 people. $SOLD over 3 nights divided by 4 is hopefully not an crazy amount to charge for rooms in a world class resort).
B) VIP tickets. A limited number of VIP packages will be available at $SOLD --- details about what you'll get for the $SOLD are forthcoming. You'll have the ability to upgrade from the regular tickets, assuming the VIP tickets aren't sold out.
C) Venue. The room in question is the 2100 seat Pearl at the Palms.
D) MORE BANDS. OK, we're working on it. But in addition to the 19 artists confirmed on the above poster, we can confirm the original lineup of COME --- Thalia Zedek, Chris Brokaw, Sean O'Brien and Arthur Johnson --- will be participating. Actually, we already know who some of the other bands are, we're just trying to drag this out. MORE MATABLOG CONTENT between now and October!
E) Set times - we'll post these the week before the event.
F) These shows are open to all ages. However, access to the casino floor is limited to those 21 and over.
F) WHAT ABOUT LAS VEGAS HUMANS? Las Vegas' Zia Records is selling 50 tickets to "The Lost Weekend" starting Friday, July 9. You'll need a Nevada I.D. Reservations at the Palms are not required to purchase these tickets.
(ADDENDUM II :
INFORMATION FOR TICKETS AVAILABLE IN LAS VEGAS
Zia Records
4225 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119-5485
702-735-4942
Zia Records
4503 W. SAHARA
LAS VEGAS, NV 89102
702-233-4942
Tickets will go onsale at both stores at 10:00am on Friday, July 9th via lottery. By overwhelming demand by Nevada Residents we will be increasing the amount of tickets available (50 X 2 = 100) . There is a two ticket limit. Nevada state ID required for purchase. Any questions please email [email protected]
Matador 21 In Las Vegas, Oct. 1-3 : Let The Crazy Speculation Begin
As mentioned previously in this space, Matador will be celebrating the label's 21st anniversary this October and this much we can finally confirm : there will be 3 nights of shows starting Friday October 1, and concluding Sunday October 3 at the Palms Casino & Resort In Las Vegas, NV. We'll be dropping further hints about the amazing lineup in the days ahead, but a final announcement and information about how to purchase tickets will be made here at the trusty Matablog on July 5. Are you as psyched as we are? (hopefully yes, because we're getting in for free).
(ADDENDUM - there's been a bit of confusion so just to clear things up, tickets DO NOT GO ON SALE JULY 5. We'll merely be announcing the on sale date/time on July 5. thanks - GC)
Music Saves in Cleveland
Last night we played at the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland and we visited Music Saves - a very cool little record shop around the corner from the venue. I talked to owners, Kevin and Melanie. Here's a pic of us after the interview in front of their very cool neon signage.
JO'C: This is your store, right? How long have you been at it?
K&M : 4 years.
JO'C: What's the best thing about running this store?
Kevin: All the money you make from selling independent records.
JO'C: Ha! Right... I'm familiar with that perk as well.
Melanie: Seriously, we are fans and it is really awesome to be able to be in the unique position where we can really help bands out in a way we couldn't if we didn't have this store. If we love a record or a band we can really push them and turn people on to them.
JO'C: How does being in such close proximity to the Beachland Ballroom affect your business? I assume that's why you chose this location, right?
Melanie: Yes, that's why. We work together with Beachland. We sell tickets to the shows and help promote the bands that play there. We put on shows with them sometimes. We are all good friends and part of the same community.
JO'C: Do you stay open late on show nights?
Melanie: Yes, sometimes. We did recently for the Neko Case show.
Kevin: We once stayed open until 3:30 in the morning for a Guided By Voices show.
JO'C: That's awesome. I love the idea of being able to shop for records before, after or during a show.
Do you guys have a prized record in your own personal collection(s)?
Kevin: I'm not so much of a collector.
Melanie: Yeah, but we do have some stuff. We have like 6 copies of that first Menomena record where it folds out into a monster. There are only like 500 copies of those. We each got that for eachother for Christmas that year.
JO'C: Aw, that's sweet. You guys are married, right?
K&M: Yes.
JO'C: Ok, just a couple more questions. What's your favorite place to eat in Cleveland?
Kevin: Probably Melt.
Melanie: It's full name is Melt Bar & Grilled.
Kevin: Grilled cheese sandwiches.
JO'C: Yum! And its getting to be the time of year for this question....What's your favorite record of 2008?
Kevin: Bon Iver.
Melanie: We both love the Frightened Rabbit record too
JO'C: They just did an instore here today right?
K&M: Yup.
Kevin and Melanie also professed a love for the new Marnie Stern record but thought maybe it was too soon to add it to their favorites of the year list.
Jon Langmead got some used Willie Nelson vinyl and we went and played our set at the Tavern. Nick Lowe was playing the big room next door and I got to hear half of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" before we went on - which was pretty cool. I also met Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric who were in attendance. So, all in all, a pretty chockful day.
Love from Pontiac, MI where we will play with The New Year tonight,
Jennifer O'Connor
Visualizing The Possibility That A Christopher Moltisanti-Curated Pollard Exhibit Will Not Suck
(Thanks to Patrick for passing this along - GC)
STUDIO DANTE,New York City- "Do The Collage", the debut art exhibit featuring the noted collage works of Robert Pollard, will be held December 9th and 10th, 2007.
Pollard's exhibition will consist of more than 50 collages that date from 1990 through 2007. Using collage elements from 1930's - 60's era magazines, pamphlets and found obscure pictoral paperbacks as his primary tool, he portrays allegorical personas and mhallucinogenic-type environments to create small, almost random synapses of unmistakable compositions with sardonic titles, each serving as a story unto itself. The Artist's media utilizes the archetypes of the working class, becoming pawn deities and martyrs
found within the strata of near fantasy religion and the collective unconscious.
Do The Collage is being hosted by two close friends of Pollard: visual artist Todd DiCiurcio and actor Michael Imperioli, who, along with his wife Victoria, are the Artistic Directors of Studio Dante.
Pollard's art will be the subject of a 2008 Fantagraphic Books release, "Town of Mirrors : The
Reassembled Imagery of Robert Polllard."
Studio Dante is located at 257 29th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue) in Manhattan. Opening night is Sunday December 9th from 6 PM to 10 PM and the exhibit will continue thru Monday, December 10th from 12 Noon to 10 PM.