THE BESNARD LAKES Share New Single, "Albatross"
THE BESNARD LAKES are offering a preview of their much-anticipated album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night, the standout single, "Albatross." The single will also be made available on February 9th (8th in the UK) as a vinyl 12" with the exclusive b-side "Four Long Lines." Download "Albatross" HERE.
The Besnard Lakes' official tour of North America will begin in late April (stay tuned for updates), but the band will be appearing at SXSW this March. Those fans who make the trek to Austin will be handsomely rewarded with Lone Star, sunburns, and Besnard Lakes performances that are the stuff of legend. Back in 2007 The Besnard Lakes wowed audiences and passers by, even bowling over people in line. This year there will not be an official Jagjaguwar showcase, but the Besnard Lakes will be making several appearances that will be listed on our site in the coming weeks.
Confirmed dates for North America and Europe: 3/11/10 Toronto, ON The Horseshoe 3/12/10 Montreal, QC Il Motore 3/25/10 Dublin, IRE Crawdaddy 3/26/10 Bristol, UK Arnoifini 3/27/10 Manchester, UK Deaf Institute 3/28/10 Glasgow, UK Stereo 3/29/10 Leeds, UK Brundell Social Club 3/30/10 Birmingham, UK Hare and Hounds 3/31/10 London, UK Cargo 4/1/10 Brussells, BE Bonatique 4/2/10 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso 4/3/10 Utrecht, NL Ekko 4/19/10 Paris, FR Le Point Emphmere
12/23/09
Enter to Win Tickets to See OKKERVIL RIVER With Levon Helm
On January 7, OKKERVIL RIVER will share the stage with the legendary Levon Helm at New York's Terminal 5. The Village Voice is giving away tickets to the show, and now is your chance to win a pair. Enter the ticket giveaway contest HERE, or go for the sure thing and just buy your tickets HERE.
12/21/09
New Album From the Members of MANISHEVITZ and THE CURIOUS DIGIT
Members of MANISHEVITZ and THE CURIOUS DIGIT have resurfaced under a new name in Adam Busch's latest project, Sonoi. Starting as a collaborative recording project in late 2006 between Busch and Pierce Doerr, the unnamed group was joined by Ryan Hembrey a little less than a year later. Sonoi made its live debut in February 2008 at the Hideout (Chicago). Despite only operating as a live band for a little over a year, Sonoi have already shared the stage with The New Year, Destroyer, avant-folk leading lights MV & EE and legendary Czech rockers The Plastic People of the Universe. Sonoi's self-titled alt./jazz/pop release will be out March 2, 2010 from Low Transit Industries. Read more about the album and order HERE.
12/17/09
Download MOONFACE's Dreamland EP: marimba and shit-drums Now
Spencer Krug, will be releasing his new one-track EP under the moniker of Moonface come January 26th. The release will be available in the vinyl format as well as through digital distribution outlets.
For those who can't wait, Spencer has created a website where you can download the 20 minute track. If you head over to www.moonface.ca you can get a FLAC or MP3 of the Dreamland EP: marimba and shit-drums. While you're there, feel free to make a donation. You can also scratch that voyeuristic itch and read a selection of Spencer's dreams, on which the music was based, or get all exhibitionist up in this shit and post your own dreams.
12/10/09
THE BESNARD LAKES Are the Roaring Night
THE BESNARD LAKES, the Montreal collective fronted by husband-and-wife duo Olga Goreas and Jace Lasek, has returned, crafting a majestic, sprawling vision of guitar bombast and captivating pop experiments. On March 9th of 2010 (March 8th in the UK), Jagjaguwar will release The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night, a twisting chronicle of spies, double agents, novelists and aspiring rock gods turned violent. Loyalty, dishonor, love, and hatred are all seen through the eyes of two spies, communicating through short wave in code and fighting a war that may or may not be real.
The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night was recorded at Lasek's Breakglass Studios with a vintage 1968 Neve germanium mixing console used to record portions of Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti. The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night is a dark bliss-out that folds the eerie guitar epics of the band’s breakthrough, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, into a wall of affected drones and atmospherics. The toughened immediacy and grit that gives the form a much-needed shove over the cliffs makes for a haunting, provocative swan dive into the crushing tide.
February 9th (February 8th in the UK), a standout song from the new LP, "Albatross," will be released on a vinyl 12" with the gentle and ghostly exclusive b-side, "Four Long Lines." “Albatross” has all the swagger of a Stevie Nicks-led Fleetwood Mac classic or Roy Orbison reimagined as a rollicking, snakeskin-booted Mazzy Star — dousing it all in gas and throwing the match as we hear its tale of Vancouver’s skid row and its inhabitants.
ONEIDA Tops UK Best of 2009 Lists, Releases Cassette Tape
Congratulations to ONEIDA, who seem to be dominating a slew of "best of" lists in the UK as 2009 comes to a close. The Quietus gave Rated O the number six spot on their best of 2009 list, with the following to say about the album: "This is precisely what music in the 21st century should be sounding like, the aural equivalent of the silver suits and food pills that we should be wearing and consuming by now." See the full entry HERE. The album came in at 44 in NME's best of 2009 list (see the full list HERE) and topped the charts as an Album of the Year at Road Records in Dublin. Read more about Road Records staff picks HERE.
And, for the Oneida fan who has everything this holiday? How about a slick new cassette tape featuring a pair of monster improv jams recorded on a European tour in 2003. Scotch Tapes is releasing Oneida's "Fine European Food And Wine" in a limited edition of 100 cassettes, so you better grab one of these while you can. Find more info and order HERE.
12/09/09
LIGHTNING DUST Share Tiny Desk Concert and Holiday Song
LIGHTNING DUST's Tiny Desk Concert surfaced this week on NPR.org, with a performance at host Bob Boilen's desk that featured album tracks "Antonia Jane," "History," and "I Knew." Watch the Tiny Desk Concert below or read the full entry at NPR.org HERE.
In more seasonal news, the band has released a new track, "Ho Ho Ho," for Mental Beast's "Eggnog Experience" holiday compilation CD. Listen to the tune at Pitchfork and read more about the compilation HERE.
12/08/09
Eau Claire Memorial Jazz I Releases Live Concert CD Featuring Justin Vernon of BON IVER
Just in time for the holiday season, Eau Claire Memorial Jazz I is proud to announce the CD release of their A Decade With Duke concert featuring Justin Vernon of BON IVER.
CDs are available for purchase in Eau Claire, Wisconsin only at Brick House Music, Morgan Music, and the offices of Volume One.
A digital version which includes only the second set, featuring Vernon, is also available digitally worldwide at most online music retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, etc.
All proceeds from the local CD sales and digital sales will be donated directly to Eau Claire Memorial High School's band and jazz band programs.
The concert was recorded on April 19, 2009, was held as a fund-raider for the jazz band, and was dubbed A Decade With Duke to commemorate Eau Claire Memorial Jazz I's ten-years of involvement in The Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival. Vernon was the guitar player in the first Eau Claire Memorial Jazz Ensemble I to attend the competition, back in 1999.
The 2009 Eau Claire Memorial Jazz Ensemble I went on to be named “One of America’s Best Jazz Bands” by ranking third at Essentially Ellington.
Track list:
First Set 1. Wind Machine 2. Symphony in Riffs 3. Moon Over Cuba 4. Happy Go Lucky Local 5. Portrait Of Louie Armstrong (featuring Bruce Hering) 6. Bye Bye Blackbird
Second Set 1. Lump Sum 2. Rocks In My Bed (featuring Addie Strei) 3. Bewitched 4. Miss Otis Regrets 5. For Emma 6. Lady Is A Tramp 7. Since I Fell For You (featuring Mike Noyce) 8. Satisfied Mind
12/07/09
WOLF PEOPLE Contribute To Monsterism Island Psych Compilation
Jagjaguwar's most recent family members, UK's WOLF PEOPLE, have contributed a jam to a great psych compilation, A Psychedelic Guide to Monsterism Island. The tune, called "Village Strollin'," was posted on the great Aquarium Drunkard site today and has a lovely psych-chooglin' vibe. But, in the words of the great Lamar Burton, you don't have to take my word for it. Check AD's post HERE.
Wolf People's vinyl/digital-only Tidings will be released Feb. 23 on Jagjaguwar. Read about it HERE.
12/04/09
VOLCANO CHOIR Nominated for Best Art Vinyl
Volcano Choir's Unmap has been nominated as one of the best album covers of 2009! Cast your vote in the Best Art Vinyl awards and see the full list of nominated album covers HERE.
12/03/09
OKKERVIL RIVER Release Black Sheep Boy (Definitive Edition) LP
We are happy to announce the Black Sheep Boy (Definitive Edition) is now available as DOUBLE VINYL for the first time, and will be out December 8 on Jagjaguwar. This is the definitive double-album set which brings together OKKERVIL RIVER's ground-breaking Black Sheep Boy project in its entirety - including the original album, the 7-song Black Sheep Boy Appendix EP, and the song "The Next Four Months" (originally released on the "For Real" CD single). Enjoy this panoramic perspective of a modern masterpiece and one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the new millennium.
To celebrate the release, longtime Okkervil River album cover artist Will Schaff (not to be confused with Will Sheff), talked with Pitchfork about his work for the band in the latest edition of Take Cover. Read all about how Schaff helped define the band's visual aesthetic HERE.
The Black Sheep Boy (Definitive Edition) LP is available for order HERE.
12/01/09
Fender Giving Away J MASCIS Custom Built Guitar
Dinosaur Jr. founder J Mascis is considered the modern ambassador of the Fender Jazzmaster, having given new life to the classic instrument with his feedback-drenched and distortion-laden alternative rock. Now, it's your chance to see what you can wrench out of a custom built J Mascis Jazzmaster guitar, autographed by the influential alternative rock power trio. Fender is giving away one guitar, and throwing in Dinosaur Jr.'s latest CD Farm, which Pitchfork deems "energetic, confident and catchy," for 5 second-place finishers.
Take a look at J's custom creation and enter to win HERE.
11/30/09
Jagjaguwar Holiday CD Sale
We're pleased to offer a holiday season CD sale on all of our 2009 full length releases. The sale is running now through Thursday, December 31. For a list of participating independent record stores, click HERE.
11/25/09
LADYHAWK Members Issue LP-Only Release as Sports
Fans of LADYHAWK, take note— band members Ryan Peters and Darcy Hancock have released a new album as the band Sports. Drumheller is out now on Canada's Triple Crown Audio Recordings, with more info available HERE. The Drumheller LP comes with an mp3 download of the entire album, plus a bonus track featuring Jagjaguwar recording artist Amber Webber of LIGHTNING DUST and BLACK MOUNTAIN.
11/17/09
Jagjaguwar Insiders Discuss The Role of the Record Label
Earlier this week Jagjaguwar's own Chris Swanson and Darius Van Arman weighed in on The Role of the Record Label in a roundtable discussion with NPR's Carrie Brownstein. Chris and Darius joined representatives from Matador, Merge, Saddle Creek, and Kill Rock Stars to talk about a record label's role in the changing music industry. Read the conversation HERE.
11/17/09
BON IVER Among 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade
Congratulations to BON IVER for landing a spot on NPR's 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade list. All Songs Considered had this to say about For Emma, Forever Ago:
"Bon Iver's Justin Vernon isn't the first heartsick singer-songwriter to chuck it all, disappear into the woods and pour his pain into songs. But Vernon poured his pain into incredible songs -- they're mysterious, evocative, beautiful and surprisingly catchy -- and demonstrated that humble and idiosyncratic bedroom recordings can more than hold their own against the slickest rock ringers. Both influential and great, 2008's For Emma, Forever Ago doesn't seem to age, either, so it's likely to endure long after the next decade ends."
Jagjaguwar Welcomes UK's WOLF PEOPLE, Announces Tidings LP For February Release
Despite its many and varied benefits for we music obsessives, the digital age of music has also made it fairly difficult to merely stumble upon those best-kept-secrets or have a personal experience with as-yet-undiscovered music, even just for a moment. Everything feels discovered, blogged upon and the only thing new about it is you finding out. So, imagine our delight in finding — and now, presenting unto you — UK's WOLF PEOPLE. The music of Wolf People comes direct to you with no precedent or connotation other than the volumes of psych-rock history it illuminates, scrambles and refracts in these mysterious songs.
Tidings (Released Feb. 23 in the US and Feb. 22 in the UK) is the first dark and frenzied offering from London's Wolf People — an alchemistic compendium of English classic rock that has been doused in wine, its pages left red-stained, blurred and melded in the most interesting ways. Listen to album cut "October Fires" HERE.
Tidings serves as an index of possibilities, whetting the appetite for the band's debut LP, which is due for release on Jagjaguwar later in 2010.
11/03/09
DINOSAUR JR. Co-Host Satellite Radio Morning Show
All week long DINOSAUR JR. will be commandeering the satellite airwaves as co-hosts of SIRIUS XMU Mornings. The band will appear on the radio show each day this week from 10 am - 11 am ET to perform live in studio and talk about their recent Jagjaguwar release "Farm" with host Jake Fogelnest. Subscribers and those looking to try a free online trial can listen HERE.
10/21/09
BON IVER on Pitchfork.tv's Daytripping
Pitchfork.tv's Daytripping captured a day in the life of BON IVER at the recent Oya Festival in Oslo, Norway. Watch the band's backstage antics, a clip of "Skinny Love" from their performance at the festival and explore Oslo with the band in this 12 minute feature.
10/20/09
RICHARD YOUNGS' Under Stellar Stream Out Today
RICHARD YOUNGS' Under Stellar Stream is out today on Jagjaguwar. The release is a collection of neodruid hymns and chants for the minutiae of homelife and fatherhood -- poetic transcendance through repetition and a focus on the (seemingly) micro. For more than 20 years, the UK's Richard Youngs has been at the forefront of progressive minimalism, through solo home recording projects; through collaborations with the likes of Simon Wickham-Smith and Makoto Kawabata (of Acid Mothers Temple); and in special live performances playing bass with Jandek. Leaving a very human fingerprint on even the most far-reaching experimentations, Youngs has built a extensive, intriguing catalogue that just begs one to go deep.
Pick up Under Stellar Stream at your local record store or order online HERE.
10/16/09
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS Perform Acoustic Session For They Shoot Music Don't They
When PINK MOUNTAINTOPS were in Vienna, Austria last May they played this acoustic session in the bar before their show at Arena. Viennese blog They Shoot Music Don't They was on hand to record the impromptu performance that included “Vampire," “Plastic Man, You’re The Devil” and “Leslie.”
Pink Mountaintops are long since back from Europe and are apparently well rested. On top of just completing their second US tour behind "Outside Love," the band will be heading out yet again on a stateside tour that includes select dates with label mates Dinosaur Jr.
11/10/09 Vancouver, BC - The Commodore Ballroom w/ Dinosaur Jr. 11/11/09 Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclub w/ Dinosaur Jr. 11/13/09 Edmonton, AB, CA - Starlite Room w/ Dinosaur Jr. 11/14/09 Calgary, AB, CA - MacEwan Ballroom w/ Dinosaur Jr. 11/16/09 Saskatoon, SK, CA - The Odeon Events Centre w/ Dinosaur Jr. 11/17/09 Winnipeg, MB, CA - Pyramid Cabaret w/ Dinosaur Jr. 11/18/09 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium 11/19/09 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club 11/20/09 Omaha, NE - Slowdown Jr. 11/21/09 Denver, CO - Hi Dive 11/23/09 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
10/14/09
Listen to Rosyln, BON IVER's Contribution to the New Moon Soundtrack
You can now stream the entire New Moon Soundtrack on Myspace.com, including BON IVER's collaboration with St. Vincent, entitled Rosyln.
DINOSAUR JR DC Show Streaming at NPR
NPR caught up with DINOSAUR JR. for their recent show at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. The result? A complete recording of the concert including an opening solo set from Lou Barlow. The set includes selections from the band's latest release, Farm, and a few old favorites. Crank up the speakers and have a listen HERE.
10/13/09
BON IVER Plays Last Show For the Foreseeable Future, Stream It Now
Wrapping up a meteor is a difficult proposition. BON IVER turned the page on this chapter of the story by heading home to Wisconsin, acting as honorary chair for AIDS WALK Wisconsin, and playing one more show before taking a well-deserved break from public performance. You can stream Sunday's performance from Riverside Theatre in Milwaukee HERE.
Stay warm, fellas.
10/07/09
RICHARD YOUNGS' Under Stellar Stream Available for Pre-Order
RICHARD YOUNGS' Under Stellar Stream is now available for pre-order online. The forthcoming release is a collection of neodruid hymns and chants for the minutiae of homelife and fatherhood -- poetic transcendance through repetition and a focus on the (seemingly) micro. For more than 20 years, the UK's Richard Youngs has been at the forefront of progressive minimalism, through solo home recording projects; through collaborations with the likes of Simon Wickham-Smith and Makoto Kawabata (of Acid Mothers Temple); and in special live performances playing bass with Jandek. Leaving a very human fingerprint on even the most far-reaching experimentations, Youngs has built a extensive, intriguing catalogue that just begs one to go deep.
Under Stellar Stream is out on Jagjaguwar October 20. Pre-order the album HERE.
10/07/09
BON IVER's Landmark Jools Holland Performance Featured on New Compilation
BON IVER is among a slew of artists to be featured on an upcoming compilation of live BBC performances. Later Live 2 with Jools Holland includes two discs of 34 tracks, all live takes from the British TV show "Later With Jools Holland". Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" made the album, along with songs from artists like Keane, Muse, MGMT, Radiohead, The Raconteurs, Goldfrapp, and more. See the full track listing HERE. The compilation is out October 12 on Rhino Records.
10/06/09
DINOSAUR JR To Release 7" Single
Those who are going to see DINOSAUR JR. live this fall will be in for a treat. On October 13 the band will release "Pieces" from this summer's Farm album as a 7" single, available on tour only. The single's b-side is "Houses," a cover of Elyse Weinberg's 1968 track that originally featured Neil Young on guitar. (The cover was also included on the deluxe edition of Farm.) Even if you won't catch up with Dino Jr. on the road this fall, not to worry- the single will also be available in digital form to order online. Meanwhile, you can hear the band's cover of "Houses" HERE.
09/30/09
VOLCANO CHOIR Island, IS Video Premiere
Here is the new video for VOLCANO CHOIR'S Island, IS. Hypnotic squares projected onto a bridge sync up beautifully with this track from Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Wisconsin band Collections of Colonies of Bees aka Volcano Choir. Directed by Michinori Saigo of the Contrarede label.
09/22/09
LIGHTNING DUST Premieres Video for New Single
Yesterday Stereogum premiered the video for "Never Seen," the second single off LIGHTNING DUST'S Infinite Light. Check out the video directed by Zac Rothman below, or read what Stereogum had to say HERE.
09/22/09
VOLCANO CHOIR'S Unmap Out Today, Named Best New Music
VOLCANO CHOIR'S Unmap hits record store shelves today. The album marks the debut full-length from Volcano Choir, the collaboration between Collections of Colonies of Bees and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Pick up Unmap in CD or LP format at your local record shop or order HERE.
Fresh out of the gate, Unmap has already garnered a nod from Pitchfork this week with an 8.3 rating and a Best New Music stamp. The album is also streaming on Spinner all week. Have a free listen HERE.
09/21/09
BON IVER's Justin Vernon to Appear at the New Yorker Festival
On October 17, BON IVER's Justin Vernon will appear at the New Yorker Festival where he will talk with pop music critic Sasha Frere-Jones and perform a short set of songs . Frere-Jones, who wrote about Bon Iver earlier this year, will interview Justin about the singer's home state of Wisconsin where he recorded For Emma, Forever Ago in 2007. Tickets to the New Yorker Festival are $25 and available HERE.
09/21/09
DINOSAUR JR's J Mascis Produces New Hush Arbors LP
J Mascis of DINOSAUR JR. produces and guests on Yankee Reality, the new release from Hush Arbors due next month. Mascis contributes to four of the songs, offering up drums, guitar and mellotron. The album comes out October 6 on Ecstatic Peace. Read more about the project and watch the video for first single "The Devil Made You High" HERE.
09/15/09
VOLCANO CHOIR featured on NPR's All Songs Considered
Take a listen to NPR's All Songs Considered, now streaming "Seeplymouth" from VOLCANO CHOIR'S forthcoming album Unmap. In this edition of the program Volcano Choir is featured alongside Cymbals Eat Guitars, Taken By Trees, Headless Heroes, and more. Listen to just the Volcano Choir segment in the player below, or stream the full program of All Songs Considered HERE.
09/15/09
New SIMON JOYNER Album Out Today
Congrats to Jagjaguwar alum SIMON JOYNER, whose twelfth record is out today on Team Love Records. Joyner's latest release, Out Into The Snow, is another challenging and rewarding song-cycle which grows richer from repeated listening. The album includes appearances by Alex McManus (Lambchop, Bright Eyes, The Bruces), Ryan Kennedy, Mike Friedman, Michael Krassner (Boxhead Ensemble), and Chris Deden, as well as background vocals by Sarah Gleason and Pearl Lovejoy Boyd and string arrangements by violinist, Laraine Kaizer. For more info or to order click HERE.
09/11/09
RICHARD YOUNGS Co-headlines Full of Noises Festival in the UK
In October music fans will have the chance to experience RICHARD YOUNGS' sonic artwork when he performs as a headliner at the Full of Noises festival among the shipyards of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The festival, billed as a new international festival of contemporary music and sound art, is about new work, new audiences and new creative partnerships. The festival site in the heart of Barrow’s shipyard offers an ideal setting for site–specific sonic artwork, with the unique layout of the building leading to a blurring of the distinction between workspace and performance space. Youngs headlines on Friday, October 23, but sonic exhibits, art installations and other performances will round out the week. For festival tickets and more information visit the F.O.N. festival site HERE.
09/10/09
Premiere of SUNSET RUBDOWN'S Black Swan Video
We proudly present the video for "Black Swan" by SUNSET RUBDOWN from their release Dragonslayer. Video directed by Throneboogie. Enjoy!
09/10/09
THE BESNARD LAKES Score Mark Ruffalo Directorial Debut, Prep New LP, Play Select Tour Dates
THE BESNARD LAKES came to Mark Ruffalo one night over his headphones during a flu-induced fever dream, and "Because Tonight" gave him a welcomed chill. "It was a perfect piece of music. It has longing and hope and melancholy; a love story gone well and then badly and then lived out...I could see whole films in their songs."
Ruffalo then snatched up all the music from The Besnard Lakes that he could find and asked them to score his new film and directorial debut, Sympathy for Delicious. The film stars both Ruffalo and Orlando Bloom and follows a paralyzed DJ named Delicious's attempts at healing.
"Sympathy For Delicious is a Magic and Agnostic Rock and Roll Revival, and I wanted a score to the film that felt questioning and cinematic. The Besnard Lakes is a perfect match to what we have been trying to achieve with the movie; something rough and not overproduced, not devoid of guts, full of humanity and messy around the edges. Their music is not just a clutch of songs but a cinematic experience that evolves dramatically and carries poetry in the tidy complexity of it's parts. I am very proud to have them. They bring a living, breathing and vibrant quality to the existing story that is rare to find in film scores."
Early in 2010 Jagjaguwar will release the follow-up to the Polaris Prize-nominated The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse. Check out their east coast dates for a preview of the new music:
10/2/09: Cambridge, MA - TT The Bears 10/3/09: New York, NY - Mercury Lounge w/Acrylics + Cinnamon Band
