Today marks the release and reissue of The Helio Sequence’s landmark Sub Pop album Keep Your Eyes Ahead: Deluxe Edition. The newly remastered set is available now on CD/2xLP/DL and includes the original 10-song effort along with a second album of demos, alternate versions, and outtakes from the same era. Keep Your Eyes Ahead: Deluxe Edition was mastered by The Helio Sequence at Helio Sound studio in their hometown of Portland, Oregon.
LP purchases of Keep Your Eyes Ahead: Deluxe Edition through Sub Pop and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on blue vinyl (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt available at this time.
The Helio Sequence will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Keep Your Eyes Ahead playing the album in its entirety on tour, beginning November 14th in San Francisco at the Chapel and ending December 14th in Portland at the Doug Fir. Tickets for these dates are on sale now.
Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel Nov. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Nov. 16 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Nov. 17 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah Nov. 18 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s Nov. 28 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle Nov. 30 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s Dec. 01- Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere Dec. 02 - Allston, MA - Great Scott Dec. 04 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd Record Cafe and Music House Dec. 05 - Atlanta, GA - The Drunken Unicorn Dec. 07 - Austin, TX - Barracuda Dec. 08 - Plano, TX - Legacy Hall Dec. 11 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall Dec. 12 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge Dec. 13 - Boise, ID - Neurolux Dec. 14 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
Upon its release in 2008, the record was warmly received from critics and fans alike. MAGNET named it one of the “Top 25 Albums of 2008,” and raved, “Keep Your Eyes Ahead is a shining example of how to go retro while still moving forward.” Washington Post offered this, “Trading its former album’s dense keyboard compositions for a more expansive and organic sound, Keep Your Eyes Ahead is the work of a band commanding its audience’s attention. Stand out tracks like “Hallelujah” and “Can’t Say No” show the band flexing its melodic muscles, branching out into grandiose guitar rock territory without sacrificing the nuance and keyboard flourishes of its early work.” And Drowned in Sound, in its 8/10 review of the album, had this to say, “And now, at last, the protracted silence is broken by the surging scream of Keep Your Eyes Ahead, an album that feels as vital as the first, gulping breath of the near drowned. What this record means to Summers and partner Benjamin Weikel is apparent in the intense force of feeling.”
On November 23rd, Sub Pop gets into the Christmas spirit / fires the latest salvo in the war on Christmas by releasing Green River’s “Away in a Manger” and the U-Men’s “Blue Christmas” as a split 7” single for Record Store Day’s Black Friday. The exclusive single is limited to 2,000 copies, will be pressed on red/green vinyl, and features front and back cover art from cartoonist Peter Bagge.
Green River’s sick & unholy rendition of the classic Christmas tune “Away in a Manger,” was originally released on the C/Z Records compilation entitled Another Pyrrhic Victory: The Only Compilation of Dead Seattle God Bands.
U-Men’s slurring, lurching, belly crawling, pisstake on “Blue Christmas” was originally available on the Christmas ‘84 cassette compilation.
Two ugly orphans, brought together to live as one grinning, writhing glump of career-capping, Christmas gak! Happy birthday baby Jesus!
Green River / U-Men Tracklisting:
A. Green River “Away in a Manger” B. U-Men “Blue Christmas”
Sub Pop is currently accepting resumes from energetic, responsible, detail-oriented, and dependable candidates for a full-time Sales Clerk position at our really-pretty-highly-regarded-if-we-do-say-so-ourselves store at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This guy.
Responsibilities include:
• Greeting and assisting customers in a friendly manner. • Full compliance with Sea-Tac operation rules and strict TSA regulations and restrictions. • Efficient handling of cash and credit card transactions. • Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. • Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays. • Assisting in organizing and restocking the store. • Maintaining the general appearance of the store. • Contributing to the team retail effort by accomplishing related tasks as needed.
Qualified candidates will have:
• Previous experience in a retail environment. • Knowledge of the Sub Pop catalog, Pacific Northwest music, the Seattle music community, and the City of Seattle. • A friendly and enthusiastic disposition with customers and staff. • Strong and clear communication skills. • A general understanding of retail Point of Sale systems. • Flexibility in schedule and willingness to work early or late hours.
Key Note: In-State applicants only please.
The Sub Pop Airport Store at Sea-Tac is open unusually long hours, generally 6am - 10pm, and 365 days a year.
“…It is extraordinary that Low is doing such challenging, relevant work 25 years into their career.” [Best New Music, 8.7/10] - Pitchfork
Low’s international tour schedule for 2018/2019 resumes tomorrow October 5th in Milan, Italy. See dates below.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed new album, Double Negative, Low’s Alan Sparhawk gets a makeover in the official video for “Poor Sucker,” directed by Karlos Rene Ayala.
Double Negative is available worldwide now on CD/LP/DL/CS from Sub Pop [link here]. The album cover for Double Negative was created by longtime collaborator, English artist, Peter Liversidge.
Low’s international tour dates resume tomorrow, October 5th, 2018 with a show at Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, Italy and currently end March 23rd, 2019 at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo, UT.
2018 Tour Dates Oct. 05 - Milan, IT - Teatro Dal Verme Oct. 06 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Oct. 08 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz Oct. 09 - Berlin, DE - Festsaal Kreuzberg Oct. 10- Bochum, DE - Christuskirche Bochum Oct. 11 - Brussels, BE - Orangerie (at Botanique) Oct. 12 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Oct. 13 - Paris, FR - La Gaîté Lyrique Oct. 15 - Bristol, UK - Trinity Oct. 16 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Cathedral Oct. 17 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street Nov. 02 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitz Nov. 05 - Detroit, MI - El Club Nov. 06 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall Nov. 08 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa Nov. 09 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Nov. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts Nov. 12 - Washington, DCU Street Music Hall Nov. 13 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Funhouse Nov. 14 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop Nov. 15 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme Nov. 16 - Chicago, IL - Rockefeller Chapel Nov. 17 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
2019 Tour Dates Jan. 29 - Glasgow, UK - Tramway Jan. 30 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Town Hall Jan. 31 - Brighton, UK - St. George’s Church Brighton Feb. 01 - London, UK - Barbican Feb. 02 - Kortrijk, BE - De Kreun Feb. 04 - Groningen, NL - Vera Feb. 05 - Erlangen, DE - E-Werk (Erlangen) Feb. 06 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche Köln Feb. 07 - Frankfurt, DE - Sankt Peter Feb. 08 - Hamburg, DE - Uebel & Gefährlich Feb. 09 - Aarhus, DK - Voxhall Feb. 11 - København, DK - The Koncerthuset - Studie 2 Feb. 12 - Gothenburg, SE - Pustervik Feb. 13 - Oslo - Norway - Parkteatret Feb. 14 - Stockholm, SE - Kagelbanan (Small Room) Mar. 08 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall Mar. 09 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf Mar. 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Mar. 12 - Tustin, CA - Marty’s On Newport Mar. 13 - Tijuana, MX - Moustache Mar. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Mar. 16 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Mar. 18 - Portland, OR - Star Theater Mar. 19 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial Mar. 20 - Seattle, WA - Neumos Mar. 23 - Provo, UT - Velour Live Music Gallery
Fleet Foxes recently announced a special limited-edition collection to mark the 10th anniversary of their debut album. Entitled First Collection 2006 – 2009, it will be released on November 9. Today, the band have shared “Isles,” originally released in 2008 as the b-side to the UK 7” single for “White Winter Hymnal.” As-yet-unreleased in any form outside of the UK and Europe, “Isles” is included on the B-Sides and Rarities 10” or CD.
Listen to “Isles” here and watch the trailer for the special edition featuring archival footage here.
First Collection 2006 – 2009 features content spanning the early days of Fleet Foxes’ career, including the self-titled full-length debut album on 12” vinyl, as well as the Sun Giant EP on 10” vinyl and the first vinyl releases of both the very limited-edition, previously only self-released The Fleet Foxes EP on 10” and B-sides & Rarities on 10”. See full tracklisting below. In addition the release will feature a 32-page booklet including show flyers, lyrics, and artwork from the period. The special edition will also be released on CD and on all digital platforms. Pre-order the collection here.