This Friday, September 27th, Naima Bock will release Below a Massive Dark Land worldwide through Sub Pop and Memorials of Distinction. Her second album, Below… is the follow-up to Giant Palm, one of 2022’s most critically acclaimed debuts.
Today, she shares Below a Massive Dark Land’s final prerelease offering, “Moving,” a sweet and sorrowful acoustic song with horns and brass. Watch the visualizer HERE.
The songs on Below a Massive Dark Land were written by Naima Bock. The album was predominantly produced by Jack Osborne (Bingo Fury) and Joe Jones, and recorded at The Crypt in north London, with additional production and arrangement by Oliver Hamilton (caroline, Shovel Dance Collective) and Naima herself. Six of the tracks on Below… were mixed by Jason Agel, with the remainder done by Osborne and Jones. The album was mastered by Kevin Tuffy.
Naima’s previously announced international tour dates for the summer and autumn of 2024 to support Below a Massive Dark Land resume Monday, Thursday, September 26th, with an instore performance at Portsmouth, UK’s Pie & Vinyl, and currently ends Friday, December 13th in Paris at La Boule Noire. She will return to the US for a short run of East Coast shows from October 21st to 26th, 2024. For the November and December dates, Naima will perform as a duo with Oliver Hamilton (November 6th) and a four-piece band (November 7th-December 13th). Please find a current list of dates below.
Thu. Sep 26th - Portsmouth, UK - Pie & Vinyl (instore) Mon. Sep 30th - London, UK - Rough Trade West (instore) Sat. 19th Oct - Birmingham, UK - Future Days Festival*
Mon. Oct. 21 - Boston, MA - Warehouse X1 Wed. Oct 23 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church Side Chapel Fri. Oct. 25 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool Sat. Oct. 26 - Washington, DC - Rhizome
Wed. Nov. 06 - London, UK - St. Pancras Old Church + Thu. Nov. 07 - Bristol, UK - Jam Jar * Fri. Nov. 08 - Liverpool, UK - Leaf * Sat. Nov. 09 - Newcastle, UK - Cumberland Arms * Sun. Nov. 10 - Glasgow, UK - McChuills * Tue. Nov. 12 - Leeds, UK - Hyde Park Book Club * Wed. Nov. 13 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute * Thu. Nov. 14 - Cambridge, UK - Storey’s Field Centre * Sat. Nov. 16 - Falmouth, UK - The Cornish Bank * Sun. Nov. 17 - Frome, UK - The Tree House * Mon. Nov. 18 - Exeter, UK - Cavern Club * Wed. Nov. 20 - Ipswich, UK - St Stephens Church * Thu. Nov. 21 - London, UK - The Ivy House *
Tue. Dec. 03 - Lille, FR - L ‘Aéronef * Wed. Dec. 04 - Brugge, BE - Cactus Café * Fri. Dec. 06 - Haldern, DE - Pop Bar * Sat. Dec. 07 - Hamburg, DE - Nachstasyl * Sun. Dec. 08 - Berlin, DE - Neu Zunkunft * Tue. Dec. 10 - Cologne, DE - Subway * Wed. Dec. 11 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso * Thu. Dec. 12 - Brussels, BE - Botanique * Fri. Dec. 13 - Paris, FR - La Boule Noire *
* Full band show + Duo with Oliver Hamilton
Below a Massive Dark Land is available for preorder on CD/LP/DSPs from Sub Pop/Memorials of Distinction. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com (North America), Mega Mart 2 (UK/EU), independent retailers worldwide, and Naima’s live shows will receive the limited Loser edition vinyl on Blue Jay (US) and the eco-friendly Yellow Bio (UK/EU) (All whilst stock lasts!). Naima also created the art for the Below… album cover.
What People Are Saying About Naima Bock: “What is abundantly clear is that Bock’s creative star is very much with her.” 8/10 - Uncut
★★★★ MOJO
“Amid a flurry of excellent new tracks ahead of Naima Bock’s second album, the romantic, timeless sweep of ‘Kaley’ is the pick of the bunch, that rich and resonant vocal playing magically off a melodic, punchy line of saxophone.” ‘Best of the Month’ - The Quietus
“A folky hymn to regret with a lovely, loping pace and sweetly lazy horn refrain” [“Feed My Release”] The Guardian
“…Features the kind of compelling vocal performance and lush, classy pop-rock orchestration we’ve come to expect from the British-Brazilian singer-songwriter.” [“Feed My Release”] STEREOGUM
“Marked by inner strength, the pervasive musicality of Naima’s work reaching fresh heights” [“Gentle”] CLASH
“Bock’s somnambulant vocals here bounding over a jubilant burst of fuzzy guitar and saxophone. It’s ace.” [“Kaley”] The New Cue
“Fans of Naima’s earlier work, and frankly that should be all of you, will be delighted with the familiar playful instrumentation, and swaying majesty of the choruses, while those looking for something new will be delighted by the subtle choppiness of the rhythms” [“Kaley”] For The Rabbits
“Horns blaze away, powering a glorious melody allowing Naima Bock the freedom to show off the potency of her vocal range. Make no mistake, it’s a cracker.” [Kaley] “Tracks of the Week” God Is In The TV
Naima Bock Below A Massive Dark Land
Tracklisting: 1. Gentle 2. Kaley 3. Feed My Release 4. My Sweet Body 5. Lines 6. Further Away 7. Takes One 8. Age 9. Moving 10. Star
Today, September 19th, Sub Pop is announcing the signing of Deep Sea Diver, the Seattle-based rock band led by guitarist and vocalist Jessica Dobson, to release their music to the world and beyond. You can now watch the official video for “Billboard Heart,” a new song from their forthcoming album, due in early 2025.
The video was directed by Dobson, her Deep Sea Diver bandmate and partner Peter Mansen, and cinematographer Tyler Kalberg.
The rapturous “Billboard Heart” is a stunning introduction to Deep Sea Diver’s universe. The song puts Dobson and her band in the company of St. Vincent, TV on the Radio, and Flock of Dimes, bands that have found ornate and magnetic ways to make indie rock by discarding notions of how it must sound or what it must say. Dobson punches through her past here with this new song and forthcoming album. As she howls during “Billboard Heart” she is “welcoming the future by letting go of it.”
Dobson offers this on the song, “‘Billboard Heart” is a song that felt like a strange transmission, a new emotion, and a spirit-filled dream when it came. It is my nod to the simplicity of my favorite Tom Petty songs and to my love for Wim Wenders’ film Paris, Texas. The feeling of standing in the lonesome desert, embracing every particle of yourself, even the ones that are hard to look at, and fighting for your spirit to move through this world without entanglement. It is about being present and embracing the future while wholeheartedly letting go of any amount of control that I think I have in this life. ‘Billboard Heart’ is both a longing for something that may not exist and a place where I can be free.”
“Billboard Heart” is Deep Sea Diver’s first new music since Impossible Weight, the band’s Billboard charting album from 2020. It includes the title track duet with Sharon Van Etten and “Stop Pretending,” which made “NPR Music’s “100 Best Songs of 2020.” Impossible Weight was also #1 on KEXP’s “Top 90.3 Albums of 2020” list.
In addition to her work as Deep Sea Diver, Dobson has logged time as a touring member for Beck and The Shins and has performed with numerous other musicians including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Spoon, Boeckner, and Dinosaur Jr. In addition to headline touring, they’ve supported the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and Wilco. Most recently, Deep Sea Diver played to the largest audiences of their career, supporting Pearl Jam twice within the last year — first with a handful of dates in the Fall of 2023 and, more recently, a lengthier run in May 2024.
Earlier this month, Deep Sea Diver covered Yo La Tengo’s “Stockholm Syndrome” for the Every Possible Way benefit compilation which is raising money and awareness for gun safety (see Rolling Stone news story, September 6th).
Deep Sea Diver is singer and multi-instrumentalist Jessica Dobson, drummer Peter Mansen, and keyboardist Elliot Jackson.
Today, Josh Tillman is sharing release details for his sixth Father John Misty album, Mahashmashana, produced by himself and Drew Erickson; executive produced by Jonathan Wilson.
Mahashmashana will be out Friday, November 22nd, 2024 worldwide from Sub Pop and in the UK and Europe from Bella Union.
Mahashmashana features 8 songs across 50 minutes and includes the singles “I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All,” “She Cleans Up,” “Screamland,” and “Josh Tillman and The Accidental Dose.” The latter two were mixed by BJ Burton.
To accompany the announcement Father John Misty has shared his new single “Screamland,” a 7-minute epic that features Alan Sparhawk from Low on guitar. Watch the official “Screamland” video directed by Estefania Kröl HERE.
Kröl says “The video is a visual journey through the depths of ‘Screamland,’ capturing the essence of both the music and the artists. Father John Misty blends seamlessly into the scene, becoming a part of the city, a living echo of ‘Screamland.’”
Mahāśmaśāna (महामशान)— great cremation ground, all things put going thither.
Father John Misty is also announcing new UK and EU tour dates for April 2025, which begin Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 in Oslo, Norway, at Sentrum Scene and conclude on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, with a London headline show at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. The Father John Misty Fan Presale starts next Tuesday, September 24th at 10 am (local), with the general on-sale on Friday, September 27th at 10 am (local).
His previously announced 2024 headline dates and support run with Kacey Musgraves on her “Deeper Well Tour” is currently underway. Father John Misty has a Sold Out show tonight, Tuesday, September 17th, in Bozeman, MT at The ELM. This segment of dates currently runs through October 4th at Inglewood, CA’s Kia Forum. Tickets are on sale now.
Fall 2024 Tour Dates Tue. Sep. 17 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM* [Sold Out] Wed. Sep. 18 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory* Thu. Sep. 19 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena ^ Fri. Sep. 20 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena ^ Mon. Sep. 23 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center ^ Tue. Sep. 24 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center ^ Wed. Sept 25 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy + Harriet’s* [Sold Out] Fri. Sep. 27 - Glendale, AZ - Desert Diamond Arena ^ Sat. Sep. 28 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena ^ Sun. Sep. 29 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Fremont Theater* [Sold Out] Tue. Oct. 01 - San Diego, CA - Pechanga Arena San Diego ^ Thu. Oct. 03 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum ^ Fri. Oct. 04 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum ^
*w/ Omar Velasco ^ w/ Kacey Musgraves, Nickel Creek
April 2025 Dates Thu. Apr. 03 - Oslo, NO - Sentrum Scene + Fri. Apr. 04 - Stockholm, SE - Fållan + Sat. Apr. 05 - Copenhagen, DK - Copenhagen Opera House + Sun. Apr. 06 - Berlin, DE - Huxley’s + Tue. Apr. 08 - Paris, FR - La Cigale + Wed. Apr. 09 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique + Thu. Apr. 10 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg + Sat. Apr. 12 - Edinburgh, UK - Usher Hall + Sun. Apr. 13 - Manchester, UK - O2 Apollo Manchester + Mon. Apr. 14 - Brighton, UK - Brighton Dome + Tue. Apr. 15 - London, UK - Royal Albert Hall +
LP preorders in North America from Sub Pop will receive the limited edition Loser edition on Blue Mashup vinyl. There is also a limited edition Purple Mashup vinyl available from Father John Misty’s merch stores (All limited color vinyl available while stock lasts!). Mahashmashana album cover artwork is from Joe Roberts (LSD World Peace).
Mashashmashana standout “I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All” was released last month with Father John Misty’s Greatish Hits… compilation and earned praise from Pitchfork (“26 Contenders for Song of the Summer”) and Esquire (“25 Best Songs of 2024, So Far”).
Father John Misty Mahashmashana
1. Mahashmashana 2. She Cleans Up 3. Josh Tillman and The Accidental Dose 4. Mental Health 5. Screamland 6. Being You 7. I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All 8. Summer’s Gone
Today, musician Suki Waterhouse releases her sophomore album, Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, “A sprawling 18-track release that never outstays its welcome and features plenty of shining moments” (Associated Press). The album, which features the Top 20AAAradio single “Supersad” and her EPIC, just-released video for “Model, Actress, Whatever,” along with highlights “To Love,” “OMG,” “My Fun,” and ‘Faded,” is available now on CD/2xLP/CS/DSPs worldwide from Sub Pop. Full track-listing is below.
The platinum-certified songstress asserts herself as a versatile, vibrant, and vital presence on Memoir of a Sparklemuffin. Suki brought this body of work to life with the album’s Executive Producer, Eli Hirsch, as well as Jonathan Rado (Weyes Blood, Father John Misty, Beyonce), Brad Cook (Bon Iver, War on Drugs, Snail Mail), Greg Gonzalez (Cigarettes After Sex), Rick Nowels (James Blake, Lana del Rey), and Natalie Findlay and Jules Apollinaire of the band Ttrruuces (with whom she co-wrote “Good Looking”).
All Music says Memoir of a Sparklemuffin is “A dramatic, double-length sophomore LP that puts the musician/actress in the company of artists like Lana Del Rey and Angel Olsen (4 Stars). The Line of Best Fit says, “Waterhouse offers an immersive journey through the corners of her mind. With stylings reminiscent of Lana Del Rey and Wolf Alice, it’s a messy yet beautiful array of diary-like confessions that weave between cutting balladry and defiant pop-rock.” As for her current radio single, Rolling Stone calls “Supersad” “A polished garage-rock anthem merging scuzzy guitars.”
Suki Waterhouse has also scheduled a performance with Amazon Music City Sessions, which will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 19th, from Los Angeles. Suki and her band will be playing a selection of cuts from Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, as well as her debut, I Can’t Let Go, and the Milk Teeth EP. Fans can watch the concert on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and Prime Video starting at 6 p.m. PDT.
Suki’s The Sparklemuffin Tour, her previously announced 25-city North American headlining jaunt in support of the album, begins September 28th in Denver, and will make stops in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, and more. Preceding the tour, Suki will support Mitski at Portland, OR’s Moda Theatre (September 21st). For more ticket information, please visit https://laylo.com/sukiwaterhouse/m/sparklemuffintour.
FALL 2024 Sat. Sep. 21 - Portland, OR - MODA Center +
“THE SPARKLEMUFFIN TOUR” FALL 2024 Sat. Sep. 28 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom * Thu. Oct. 17 - Houston, TX - House of Blues ^ Fri. Oct. 18 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater ^ Sat. Oct. 19 - Dallas, TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum ^ Mon. Oct. 21 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren ^ Tue. Oct. 22 - San Diego, CA - The Sound ^ Wed. Oct. 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre ^ Fri. Oct. 25 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield Mon. Oct. 28 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom ^ Tue. Oct. 30 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater ^ Mon. Dec. 02 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman ^ Tue. Dec. 03 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory ^ Wed. Dec. 04 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre ^ Fri. Dec. 06 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora ^ Sat. Dec. 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount ^ [Sold Out] Sun. Dec. 08 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount ^ Tue. Dec. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall ^ Wed. Dec. 11 - Washington, DC - The Anthem ^ Fri. Dec. 13 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner ^ Sat. Dec. 14 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS ^ Sun. Dec. 15 - Toronto, ON - HISTORY ^ Tue. Dec. 17 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre ^ Wed. Dec. 18 - Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed ^ Thu. Dec. 19 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium ^ Sat. Dec. 21 - Atlanta, GA - The Eastern ^
^ w/ Bully * w/ Debbii Dawson + w/ Mitski
Memoir of a Sparklemuffin LP orders from megamart.subpop.com (US), Mega Mart 2 (UK/EU), and your local record store will receive the limited Loser edition vinyl on Sparklemuffin Pearl (North America), and Sparkle Starlight (UK/Europe). There is also an Afterglow Purple vinyl and new Suki merch available from her Official Merch Store (All limited edition vinyl colors available whilst stock lasts!)
Suki Waterhouse Memoir of a Sparklemuffin
1. Gateway Drug 2. Supersad 3. Blackout Drunk 4. Faded 5. Nonchalant 6. My Fun 7. Model, Actress, Whatever 8. To Get You 9. Lullaby 10. Big Love 11. Lawsuit 12. OMG 13. Think Twice 14. Could’ve Been A Star 15. Legendary 16. Everybody Breaks Up Anyway 17. Helpless 18. To Love
There’s Nothing Wrong with Love is the classic second full-length album from Built to Spill, released by the Pacific Northwest indie label Up Records on September 13th, 1994. Now, a day before its 30th anniversary, you can secure a new pressing of the album on a limited edition “Up Records Blue” vinyl.
The enduring There’s Nothing Wrong with Love features the songs “In the Morning,” “Car,” “Distopian Dream Girl,” “Big Dipper,” and “Twin Falls.” The record features the lineup of Doug Martsch, bassist Brett Nelson, cello from John McMahon, and late drummer Andy Capps, with Phil Ek producing.
Built to Spill’s current lineup of Martsch, bassist Melanie Radford, drummer Teresa Esguerra, and cellist McMahon are on the road celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album by playing it in its entirety for adoring fans.
Those tour dates continue with a show tonight, September 12th, in Charleston, SC, at the Music Farm and run through September 29th in Sacramento, CA, at Harlow’s. Along the way, the band will see support from Miniaturized (September 12th -September 17th) and current Sub Pop (and former Up Records) labelmates Quasi, who are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of Featuring “Birds” (September 18th-September 29th). Please find a complete list of dates below.
Thu. Sep. 12 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm *
Fri. Sep. 13 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern * Sat. Sep. 14 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse * Mon. Sep. 16 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl * Tue. Sep. 17 - Memphis, TN - Growler’s * Wed. Sep. 18 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater ^ Thu. Sep. 19 - Austin, TX - Empire Control Room ^ Fri. Sep. 20 - Oklahoma, OK - Tower Theater ^ Sat. Sep. 21 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room ^ Sun. Sep. 22 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater ^ Tue. Sep. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom ^ Wed. Sep. 25 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up ^ Thu. Sep. 26 - Los Angeles, CA - The Bellwether ^ + Fri. Sep. 27 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore ^ Sat. Sep. 28 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore ^ Sun. Sep. 29 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s ^
* w/ Miniaturized ^ w/ Quasi + w/ Hasco Enjoyments
There’s Nothing Wrong with Love was wonderfully received by critics upon its release. It earned “Best Albums of 90’s” notices from outlets including Pitchfork, PASTE, SPIN, and Consequence of Sound.
You can also watch/listen to the There’s Nothing Wrong With Love playlist, featuring official videos for “In The Morning,” “Car,” “Fling,” and “Big Dipper” via theUp Records YouTube channel.
What people have said about There’s Nothing Wrong With Love:
“Built To Spill’s Doug Martsch put Boise, Idaho, on the musical map with sprawling guitars, nasally vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Before the group fleshed out their sound with the guitar bits, BTS won over listeners with these straightforward, poignant songs. It’s an intimate glimpse inside one of indie rock’s great songwriters before he found himself.” 90 Best Albums of the 90’s” - PASTE
“True or false: Doug Martsch is the Peter Frampton of 1990s indie? Sure, he might not have the hair, the tight pants, or the voice box, but it’s difficult to think of another soul more worthy of resident guitar god; maybe J Mascis, but he never brought the pop side like King Framp. That’s the side most in evidence on There’s Nothing Wrong With Love, before Martsch started bringing the sprawl in spades. Humble, wry song-tales about heads-up-seven-up, Albertson’s stir-fry, and Bowie-hating stepdads abound, while earnest tracks like “Twin Falls” and “Big Dipper” set the pace for the entire Northwestern indie-pop scene.” Top 100 Albums of the 1990’s” - Pitchfork
“…Their second full-length and first genuinely great record…There’s Nothing Wrong With Love is the sound of scrappy mountain manchildren toying with their powers, pushing the limits of their form, setting the table for future tours de force.” STEREOGUM
“The second album by Boise, Idaho’s Built to Spill was the cuddliest little guitar epic of the decade. Just as the luster was wearing off the grunge gold rush, singer guitarist Doug Martsch challenged slacker cynicism with basement-band symphonies that turned his own private Idaho into indie rock’s last unknown territory.” “Greatest Albums of the 90’s” - SPIN
“…Love is an absolute classic from the decade, setting the pace for the band in the way their debut just barely missed. Youthful stories combine with sweet melodies and sweeping guitars from Martsch. Really though, it’s the story of all our suburban lives. There’s something comforting in the record’s ability to be relatable on such a universal level…Listen and try it yourself, because not many records are capable of this.” “Dusting ‘Em Off” - Consequence of Sound
Tracklisting: 1. In the Morning 2. Reasons 3. Big Dipper 4. Car 5. Fling 6. Cleo 7. The Source 8. Twin Falls 9. Some 10. Distopian Dream Girl 11. Israel’s Song 12. Stab
