It’s that magical time of the year. You can smell the hot grease of overworked vinyl presses in the air. The cooling fans of online auction servers are humming in your ear. The seasonal change of record colors is upon us. Standard black vinyl disappears and the neon, splatters, and picture discs appear in full splendor. Friends: Record Store Day is here.
April 22, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the indie record store holiday. We’ve come a long way since the original ten Record Store Day releases hit the shelves back in 2007. And, it’s hard to believe it’s now been a decade of grown men and women trampling each other for limited-edition releases without any major arrests. This year, y’all should come on down to Sea-Tac and avoid any of that trampling nonsense. Trust us, TSA doesn’t take very kindly to pushing and shoving. Once again, the Sub Pop Airport Store will be carrying a selection of this year’s Record Store Day releases. We have met all the requirements. We double-checked with this year’s ambassador: St. Vincent. Judging by this video, she’s taking the role very seriously.
Sure, yes, you have to buy a plane ticket to get to our store. Do yourself a favor and get that ticket to see your grandmother in Milwaukee. We won’t tell her that the only reason you finally broke down and and sprung for a visit was to have first dibs on a sweet seven-inch single. Or better yet, pack your shades and book a flight to Hawaii. You can hit up our store when we open the gates at 6 AM (we open earlier than any other participating store, so far as we are aware) and then quickly hop on a jetliner to Honolulu. If you manage to arrive around 10-10:30 AM island time, you might even have enough time to get to your favorite Hawaiian record store before it has been picked through.
While neither Sub Pop nor Hardly Art are putting out any exclusive Record Store Day releases this year, please consider an alternative: Father John Misty’s eagerly anticipated new album Pure Comedy comes out mere weeks before, on April 7th! And, if you’re lucky, we may have some remaining copies of the Deluxe 2xLP editions left at the airport on Record Store Day.
This truly DELUXE 2xLP version of Pure Comedy arrives on two pieces of colored vinyl, one of which is referred to as “aluminum,” the other “copper” (as evidenced by this not-to-be-missed Pure Unboxing video). These two opulent record albums are housed in a die-cut, customize-able jacket, with 4 interactive “backgrounds” on the 2 full-color dust sleeves within (four different sky color schemes to choose from!) all sheathed in an outer plastic slip-cover. Also included are a tri-fold poster and holographic HA card. If that doesn’t scratch your collectible itch, I don’t know what will. You can also order Pure Comedyon the Sub Pop Mega Mart right G-D now.
The Sub Pop Airport Store will (most likely*) be carrying the below-referenced Record Store Day exclusive titles.
*No guarantees we’ll get them all, but here is what we ordered:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit-Live from Welcome To 1979
Pink Floyd- London 1966-1967
R.L. Burnside-Long Distance Call: Europe Recordings, 1982
The Districts-Ordinary day/Lover,Lover,Lover
The Pretty Things-The French EP’s 1964-69
V/A-Stories For Ways & Means
V/A-We’re Gonna Have A Party! The Sound Of Wand Records
Pearl Jam-“State Of Love and Trust” B/W “Breath” (7”)
Alice In Chains-What The Hell Have I/Get Born Again (Double 7” Single)
Dave Matthews Band-Live at Red Rocks 9.15.95 (4LP Silver vinyl set)
Moondog-Moondog
Dennis Wilson- Bambu The Caribou Sessions (2LP green vinyl set)
Santana-Woodstock Saturday August 16, 1969
Curtis Knight featuring Jimi Hendrix-Live at George’s Club 20
Robert Johnson- The Centennial Collection: The Complete Recordings (3LP)
David Bowie-Cracked Actor Live in Los Angeles, ’74 (3LP set)
David Bowie-BOWPROMO (GEM Promo LP)
The Cure-Greatest Hits Acoustic (2LP Picture Disc)
The Cure-Greatest Hits (2LP Picture Disc)
The Grateful Dead- P.N.E. Garden Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/29/66 (2LP)
The Doors- Live At The Matrix ‘67
Flaming Lips-The Flaming Lips Onboard the International Space Station Concert For Peace (Yellow Vinyl)
The Head and the Heart-Stinson Beach Sessions
Notorious B.I.G.-Born Again (2LP Gold Vinyl)
Prince-Batdance (12” Single)
Prince-I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (12” Single)
Prince-I Wish U Heaven (12” Single)
Prince-Little Red Corvette/1999 (7” Picture Disc)
Prince-Partyman (12” Single)
Prince-Pop Life (12” Single)
Prince- Sign O’ The Times (12” Single)
Vangelis-Blade Runner Original Soundtrack (Picture Disc)
V/A-Nuggets: Come To The Sunshine (2LP Orange/Yellow Marble Vinyl)
Neil Young-Decade (3LP)
Hawkwind-Best of the United Artist Years 1971-1974 (Swirl Color Vinyl)
Black Angels- Death Song RSD Exclusive (2LP Set)
Sun Ra-Janus (Yellow & Black Swirl Vinyl)
Balkans-Pedro Four-Way ft. Mike Watt (Green Vinyl)
Motörhead-Clean Your Clock (2LP Picture Disc)
Iron and Wine-Archives Series Volume No. 3 (Translucent Blue Vinyl)
Patti Smith-Hey Joe (Version)/Piss Factory (7” Single)
The Smiths- The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (7” Single)
Spoon-Hot Thoughts
Lumineers-Song Seeds
Animal Collective- Meeting The Waters
Blondie-Long Time
Big Thief-Mythological Beauty
Noise Addict-10,000 Kids With Guitars (2LP)
Blitzen Trapper-Waking Bullets At Breakneck Speed (Recorded Circa 2006)
Wipers-Better Off Dead (7” EP)
Pickin’ On Series- Pickin’ On Nirvana: The Bluegrass Tribute (ft. Iron Horse)
Pete Krebs-Western Electric (Produced by Elliot Smith)
Julian Cope-Drunken Songs
The Raincoats-Fairytale in the Supermarket EP (7”)
The Stooges-Heavy Liquid/The Album (2LP)
T. Rex-Rock N Roll (7” EP)
Sun Ra-Discipline 27-11
Danny Brown-Ain’t It Funny (10” Picture Disc)\
Black Lips- Black Lips (4xCS Box)
Policia-Lipstick Stains/Still Counts (7” Single)
Evan Dando-Baby I’m Bored (2LP+book)
Stay safe out there. If you are crazy enough to listen to me and end up going to Hawaii, say hello to our old co-worker Josh.
BEHOLD: Jesca Hoop made her US TV debut on Charlie Rose last night [Watch here], sitting for an interview with guest host Anthony Mason (of CBS News). She also delivered stellar performances of “Pegasi” and “Songs of Old” from Memories Are Now, her acclaimed new album.
Hoop’s international tour in support of Memories Are Now is currently underway. The U.S. leg continues tonight, Friday, March 17th, with a show in Seattle at Fremont Abbey and ends on March 21st in Los Angeles, CA at the Roxy. The EU shows now begin March 24th in Glasgow at 6 Music Festival and run through May 25th in Rome, IT at Unplugged at Monti. Additionally, there is a festival appearance on July 21st in Thirsk, UK at the Deer Shed Festival.
Hoop has also confirmed her largest London show to date at the Union Chapel on December 1st.
Mar. 17 - Seattle, WA - Fremont Abbey Arts Center Mar. 18 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater Mar. 20 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Mar. 21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Mar. 24-26 - Glasgow, UK - 6 Music Festival Mar. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Mar. 29 - London, UK - The Lexington [Sold Out] Mar. 30 - Bristol, UK - Exchange Mar. 31- Leicester, UK- The Musician Apr. 01 - Brighton, UK - Patterns Apr. 02 - Norwich, UK - Epic Studios Apr. 03 - Cambridge, UK - Portland Arms Apr. 05 - Liverpool, UK - The Magnet Apr. 06 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla May 12 - Brussels, BE - Botanique May 13 - Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet May 14 - Hamburg, DE - Nochwache May 16 - Aarhus, DK - Atlas May 17 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega Musikkens Hus (Main hall) May 20 - Graz, AT - ForumStadpark May 21 - Vienna, AT - Chelsea May 23 - Zagreb, HR - TBA May 24 - Genoa, IT - TeatroBloser May 25 - Rome, IT - Unplugged in Monti Jul. 21 - Thirsk, UK - Deer Shed Festival Dec. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel
Memories Are Now, featuring highlights “The Lost Sky”, “Pegasi” and the title track, is available on CD / LP / DL from Sub Pop right over here. LP orders through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited Loser Edition on Robin’s Egg Blue-colored vinyl (while supplies last).
The album is Hoop’s best reviewed to date. Drowned in Sound gave the album a 10 out 10 rating, and said, “Past, present, and future rest patiently before Hoop, and she’s weaved them all into her most endearing album yet.” The Skinny also gave the album a perfect score (5/5), calling it a “gorgeously delivered elegy to heartbreak and loss; powerful, perfectly executed songs to bring comfort and strength to the weary, broken and scorned.”
Meanwhile, Loud & Quiet named Memories Are Now it’s “Album of the Week,” and raved, “One of the most engagingly idiosyncratic and refreshingly broad collections of solo singer songwriting in recent memory.” And NPR Music added, “In both content and construction, Jesca Hoop’s songs practically burst with ideas: They’re as strange and smart and heartfelt as they are gorgeous, and that’s saying something.”
Sub Pop recording artists Downtown Boys (Providence, RI), Marika Hackman (London, UK), LVL UP (New York, NY), Porter Ray (Seattle, WA), and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Melbourne, AU) will all make appearances at the 2017 edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Links to artists pages, tunes (video or audio) and daily schedule are below…
MARCH 14 5:45pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Hotel Vegas - Spring Break Boogie! Heaven or Hot Burrito Location: Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702) ------------------------------ 9:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: I OH YOU / Transgressive Records Showcase Location: 21st Co-Op (707 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78705) ------------------------------ 9:30pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show:Paradyse x Sportsday Showcase Location: Pearl Street Co-Op (2000 Pearl St, Austin, TX 78705)
MARCH 15 4:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: The FADER Fort Location: Volcom Garden (1209 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 10:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: BBC Radio 2 SXSW Official Showcase. Location: Latitude 30 (512 San Jacinto Boulevard) ----------------------------- 10:00-10:40pm PORTER RAY Show/Location: Swan Dive (615 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 1:15am DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Ground Control Touring Showcase Location: The Sidewinder (715 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701)
MARCH 16 12:00pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Pitchfork Day Party Location: French Legation Museum (802 San Marcos St, Austin, TX 78702) Time: 12:00pm --------------------------- 12:15pm LVL UP Show: Sound on Sound & Brooklyn Vegan’s Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78701) --------------------------- 2:15pm LVL UP Show: The FADER Fort Location: Volcom Garden (1209 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 3:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Another Planet Showcase Location: The Sidewinder - Indoor (715 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ---------------------------- 3:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ---------------------------- 6:35-7:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Aussie BBQ Showcase Location: Brush Square Park (409 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701) Time: ----------------------------- 9:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show:Transgressive Records SXSW Showcase Location: The Blackheart (86 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 11pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Paradigm Official Showcase Location: The Parish (214 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701)
MARCH 17 12:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 12:45pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlies (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 1:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: SXSW Showcase Location: The Mohawk (912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) --------------------------- 5:35pm LVL UP Show: Austin Oasis 2017 Location: Hole in the Wall (2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705) ----------------------------- 6:00pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: South By San Jose Location: Hotel San Jose (1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704) ----------------------------- 10:10-10:45pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Panache Bookings Party Location: Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 11:00pm LVL UP Show: Ad Hoc Showcase Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 12:35-12:50am PORTER RAY Show Kosher Dillz Showcase Location: Dozen Street (1808 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702)
MARCH 18 1:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: Space 24 Twenty Location: Urban Outfitters (2406 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705)
On the eve of his debut album release on Sub Pop, rising Seattle rapper Porter Ray drops a dream-like video for previously unheard track, Past Life.
Filmed in Porter’s hometown of Seattle, the visual is directed by Patrick O’Brien-Smith. The bittersweet PastLife - featuring Cashtro and Black - finds Ray reflecting on his eventful teenage years, lost family and friends, highs, lows, misadventures and more. The rapper’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Porter Ray signed to Sub Pop after catching the attention of Shabazz Palaces founder and label A&R Ishmael Butler, his debut album Watercolor drops tomorrow AND he plays at SXSW next week.
Porter Ray’s current live dates include multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. Additional live dates will be announced soon.
Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Swan Dive Patio Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Dozen Street - Kosher Dillz Show May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
Watercolor is out tomorrow, March 10th, on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop right over here and in finer independent record stores the world over. LP orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. Guest appearances include Cashtro, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] – MOJO
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor] - Crack Magazine
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring ShabazzPalaces, Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] –Stereogum
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great StasThee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER
Watch video for “Demon In Profile” (directed by longtime Whigs collaborator Phil Harder), and/or listen on Spotify.
European Tour Begins May 26th In Manchester, UK!
We at Sub Pop are supremely thrilled to announce that The Afghan Whigs In Spades, the group’s spellbinding new album, will be available on CD / 180 gram-LP / CS / DL worldwide on May 5th from Sub Pop. The album, led by the single “Demon In Profile,” and standouts “Oriole,” “Copernicus,” “Arabian Heights” and “Toy Automatic,” is the follow-up the band’s internationally acclaimed Do to the Beast. In Spades, written and produced by Greg Dulli, was recorded in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Memphis and Joshua Tree.
The album is a searing and soulful rock effort that emphasizes its pop instincts while contrasting with the seductive themes found throughout. From its evocative cover art to the troubled spirits haunting its halls, In Spades casts a spell that challenges the listener to unpack its dark metaphors and spectral imagery. “It’s a spooky record,” notes Greg Dulli, Afghan Whigs’ songwriter and frontman. “I like that it’s veiled. It’s not a concept album per se, but as I began to assemble it, I saw an arc and followed it. To me it’s about memory – in particular, how quickly life and memory can blur together.”
Earlier today, The Afghan Whigs’ Dulli sat for an interview with BBC 6Music to premiere “Demon In Profile” and discuss In Spades.
[Photo credit: Chris Cuffaro] The band have also announced their first set of EU dates supporting In Spades. They’ll visit 14 countries this summer including performances at Primavera Sound and Northside Festival. Ed Harcourt will be supporting on all headline shows.
May 26 - Manchester, UK - Cathedral May 27 - Glasgow, UK - ABC May 28 - Dublin, IE - Academy May 30 - London, UK - Koko Jun. 01 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound Festival Jun. 03 - Bologna, IT - Zona Roveri Jun. 04 - Zagreb, HR - Tvornica Kulture Jun. 06 - Warsaw, PL - Palladium Jun. 07 - Berlin, DE - Kesselhaus Jun. 09 - Aarhus, DK - Northside Festival Jun.10 - Oslo, NO - Vulkan Jun.12 - Hamburg, DE - Gruenspan Jun.13 - Frankfurt, DE - Batchkapp Jun.14 - Antwerp, BE - Trix Jun.15 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique Aug. 04 - Vienna, AT - WUK Aug. 05 - Prague, CZ - Lucerna Music Bar Aug. 06 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte Aug. 08 - Munich, DE - Backstage Halle Aug. 09 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
In Spades is now available for preorder from Sub Pop, The Afghan Whigs official website, and select independent retailers.LP pre-orders will receive the “Loser” edition on 180-gram, white-chocolate vinyl (while supplies last). A new T-shirt design, along with cassette versions of The Afghan Whigs classic Sub Pop albums Up In It and Congregation, will also be available.
Tracklisting: 1. Birdland 2. Arabian Heights 3. Demon in Profile 4. Toy Automatic 5. Oriole 6. Copernicus 7. The Spell 8. Light as a Feather 9. I Got Lost 10. Into the Floor
