We’re shocked and heartbroken at the news about Chris Cornell. Our thoughts are with his family and the Soundgarden team.

[Photo by Lance Mercer]

The time has come for us to celebrate another revolution around this flaming coil of molten garbage for our number one favorite corporate sell-out, the Sub Pop Airport Store. This May marks 3 years in Sea-Tac’s heavily populated Central Terminal. Come for the Qdoba, stay for the moderately priced vinyl records (sorry, they’re not calendars).

In simultaneous celebration of our anniversary and this month’s obscure internet holiday, World Goth Day, I’ve created a Special Bonus Zine Page highlighting some of the “Dark Music” of Sub Pop. As a dedicated night shift worker and self-deprecating-20-something-nightcrawler (using this in place of “goth” to avoid hate mail), I’ve forever been a fan of all things Sub Pop. However, I wanted to specifically bring forth some of the label’s dark music of present and past. 

From Sub Pop 100’s track list including Skinny Puppy’s “Church in Hell” and Scratch Acid’s “Greatest Gift” (drummer Rey Washam went on to play with Ministry and Jello Biafra and Al Jourgensen’s Lard) to Birthday Party-influenced bands like The U-Men (infamous for setting the moat surrounding Seattle Center’s Mural Amphitheater on fire during a concert), there is a clear lineage of darker influences spanning genres from post-punk to industrial and dark wave. There is still a vein of significant contemporaries in bands like Hardly Art’s Grave Babies, Sub Pop alums A Frames, Italian band His Electro Blue Voice, and dark electronic duo Handsome Furs. 

If you see me at the airport store, please do ask me to discuss your favorite Clock DVA album, please don’t lecture me on the bands I didn’t include in this blog post (I know, I wasn’t born when you saw Nirvana play in your friend’s basement).
 
Also, in lieu of apologizing profusely for not selling bottled water or newspapers, please accept some Top 3 lists from the Airport Staff:

Top 3 Albums to Clear Out the Store
1. Earth, Earth 2

2. Eugene Mirman, I’m Sorry You’re Welcome

3. Comets on Fire, Blue Cathedral

Top 3 Albums to Lure Hippie Moms from Vashon Island

1. Rose Windows, Rose Windows

2. Jesca Hoop, Memories Are Now

3. Beachwood Sparks (any)

Top 3 Instant Play-n-Sell Albums
1. Chad Vangaalen, Shrink Dust

2. Handsome Furs, Plague Park

3. Shabazz Palaces, Lese Majesty

Top 3 Free Things in the Airport

1. Classic Logo stickers at Sub Pop Records (Central Terminal)

2. Cheese samples at Beecher’s (C Gates)

3. A “massage” from TSA (Security Checkpoint of Your Choice)

Now listen to previously unreleased track. “Chariot”.

[Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill]

Cry those tears of joy, because on Friday, June 30th, Beach House will release the B-Sides and Rarities album (pre-order here!), a 14-track compilation of songs from throughout their career. The album features 2 previously unreleased tracks “Chariot” (as seen above) and “Baseball Diamond,” which were recorded during the Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions (both Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars were released, 2 months apart, in 2015)
 
Beach House says of the release, “When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, ‘B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.’ This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the ‘best’ or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.”
 
“The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total.” 

Beach House’s B-Sides and Rarities will be released on CD / LP / CASS / DL and is available for pre-order now here. LP pre-orders in North America through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last), and a new T-shirt design will also be available to bundle with the album. 

B-Sides and Rarities
Tracklisting:
1. Chariot
2. Baby
3. Equal Mind
4. Used to Be (2008 Single Version)
5. White Moon (iTunes Session Remix)
6. Baseball Diamond
7. Norway (iTunes Session Remix)
8. Play the Game
9. The Arrangement
10. Saturn Song
11. Rain in Numbers
12. I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun
13. 10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix)
14. Wherever You Go

About the B Sides and Rarities album: 

When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, “B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.” This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the “best” or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making. 

The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total. 

The oldest song is “Rain in Numbers” and was recorded in 2005, during the summer we formed the band. We didn’t have a piano, so we asked our friend if we could use his, which was pretty out of tune. We used the mic that was on the four-track machine to record the piano and vocals. It was originally the secret song on our self-titled debut. 

Sequentially, the next couple of songs are from late 2008. We were so excited about “Used to Be,” that we recorded it right after writing it so that we could have it as a 7” single for our fall tour with the Baltimore Round Robin. We recorded our cover of Queen’s “Play the Game” in the same session. It was for a charity compilation benefiting AIDS research and we will continue to donate all profits from the song to that charity. As fans of Queen, we thought it would be fun and ridiculous to try to adapt their high-powered pop song into our realm. These songs were recorded at the same studio where we made Devotion.

There are a bunch of songs written and recorded in the 2009-2010 window. This period of time, as well as 2014, was our most prolific to date. “Baby” was written and recorded in October 2009 with our friend Jason Quever. “10 Mile Stereo” was recorded during the Teen Dream session in July 2009. Since we used tape, we often slowed the tape way down to create effects while recording. When we were doing that for “10 Mile Stereo” we decided we wanted to make an alternate version where the whole song was slowed down, hence the “10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix).”

“White Moon” and “The Arrangement” were both songs that we didn’t believe fit on Teen Dream. “White Moon” originally appeared on our iTunes live session. Since that was recorded and mixed very hastily, we have remixed it to better match our current aesthetics. We have also remixed and included the version of “Norway” we did at that same session. The main reason we wanted to include “Norway” is that it features a very different bridge from the original version. 

After the insane year of touring we had in 2010, we felt incredibly grateful to our fans for all that had happened. We wrote and recorded “I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun” during a break between tours and released it on the internet for free, unmastered. Well, it’s finally been mastered…

“Wherever You Go” Is another song from that era.  We always loved this song but thought it sounded too much like our old music. We paused writing it and didn’t finish it until 2011 during the Bloom recording session. It appeared originally as a secret song on Bloom. 
 
“Equal Mind” was also recorded during the Bloom session. We really like this song, but pulled it from the record when we realized it had the exact same tempo as “Other People.” They are like twins. 

The Bloom sessions led to “Saturn Song” as well. This song is built on a piano loop we wrote while recording Bloom. It also contains sounds recorded in deep space. It originally appeared on a compilation of songs incorporating space sounds that was released in 2014.

Finally, there are two previously unreleased songs from the Depression Cherry/Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions. They are called “Chariot” and “Baseball Diamond.”

Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Beach House has also added new dates to their 2017 international headlining and festival tour schedule. Highlights include: August 13th in Castelbuono, IT at Ypsigrock, August 16th in Sestri Levante, IT for an appearance at Mojotic Festival, and a string of September dates with friends and former labelmates Fleet Foxes (with stops at the Hollywood Bowl and Red Rocks Amphitheatre among those).

Beach House will also appear at New York’s Governor’s Ball the weekend of June 2nd-4th.  
 
May 24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre        
May 26 - Orlando, FL - Beacham Theatre
May 27 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Revolution
May 28 - Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall          
May 30 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
May 31 - Knoxville, TN - Mill & Mine    
Jun. 02 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball
Jun. 03 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball
Jun. 04 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball
Aug. 11 - Copenhagen, DK - Haven
Aug. 13 - Castelbuono, IT - Ypsigrock
Aug. 16 - Sestri Levante, IT - Mojotic Festival
Aug. 18 - Parades de Coura, PT - Parades de Coura Festival
Sep. 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl*
Sep. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre*
Sep. 25 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Opera*
Sep. 27 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
*w/ Fleet Foxes

Watch a live performance of “Violet” direct from Marika’s bedroom, right over here.

Marika Hackman’s “Violet” is a provocative new track from I’m Not Your Man, her forthcoming album, and Sub Pop Debut, preceded last week by her a romantic (and creepy) new video for “My Lover Cindy,” another standout track from I’m Not Your Man. The video was directed by Sam Bailey, and stars Marika as a butler working in the home of a young couple who begin a fencing match. As the match progresses, the masks come off and the sword fighting intensifies and things get…weird. Watch it here and see through thine own eyes.

 
Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Marika Hackman’s previously announced co-headlining tour with The Big Moon begins July 29th in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theatre and ends August 16th in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right.  The Big Moon, will act as her backing band for this trek (and are the studio musicians with whom she recorded I’m Not Your Man).  The 14-city tour will also visit  Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Denver, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more.  The Big Moon are currently supporting Love in the 4th Dimension, out now on Columbia Records.
 
Jul. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg*
Jul. 31 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club*
Aug. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios*
Aug. 03 -  Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret*
Aug. 04 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern*
Aug. 06 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court*
Aug. 07 - Denver, CO  -  Lost Lake*
Aug. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry*
Aug. 10 - Milwaukee, WI  - Back Room at Collectivo*
Aug. 11 - Chicago, IL - Schubas*
Aug. 13 - Toronto, ON - The Drake*
Aug. 14 - Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo*
Aug. 15 - Boston, MA -  Great Scott*
Aug. 16 - Brooklyn, NY -  Baby’s All Right*
*w/ The Big Moon

I’m Not Your Man will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and is now available to preorder (please) in North and South America from Sub Pop. and Marika Hackman’s official website here. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on green and orange swirled vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available. I’m Not Your Man is also available in rest of the world via from AMF Records.

Sub Pop Records is seeking a full-time Receptionist at our world headquarters in Seattle, WA. The candidate must be:

• able to multi-task
• able to work as part of a team, sharing common goals
• self-motivated and goal-oriented
• detailed and organized
• in possession of strong communication and writing skills
• comfortable using MS Office suite and be internet savvy
• accommodating and outgoing with office visitors

The closing date to apply for this position is Friday, May 26th, 2017.

Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities

The Receptionist at Sub Pop has a variety of responsibilities, including attending to visitors and phone calls. In addition, our receptionist provides information regarding the company to the general public and the people we work with, and serves as a general facilities manager and marketing assistant, whose main focus within marketing is tour promotions.

• answer telephone; screen and direct calls; take and relay messages
• provide basic company policies, Sub Pop history, and information to the public
• keep track of employee schedules and in/out calendars
• receive and sort mail and deliveries daily
• oversee general cleanliness and organization of common areas/kitchen/conference room
• order and maintain stock of office and kitchen supplies
• oversee office maintenance and act as liaison to building management
• provide venues and promoters promotional tour supplies for Sub Pop bands
• update listings for tour merchandise accounting system AtVenu
• assist Marketing Director in preparing for meetings with artists and their managers; assist with project report distribution as nec.
• receive, sort, and provide intern applications for employees, specifically the marketing staff
• manage special projects
• provide administrative support as needed
• provide Sub Pop materials as set dressing for television and motion pictures
• update and maintain front desk operator’s manual\

Please send resume and cover letter to Derek Erdman (dereke@subpop.com).