Velocity Girl’s UltraCopacetic (Copacetic Remixed and Expanded), the definitive reissue of the beloved indie-rock band’s long out-of-print 1993 debut album.
Velocity Girl were one of the leading lights of 1990s indie-pop, fusing the hooks of Britpop with the fuzzy guitars of shoegaze. This updated edition of the album features a new, band-approved mix, plus a full bonus album with singles, outtakes, and the band’s 1993 Peel Session. All of the music has been freshly mastered by Golden Mastering, and the package includes extensive liner notes from the band.
Velocity Girl’s UltraCopacetic (Copacetic Remixed and Expanded) is available on CD/2xLP/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP orders are available in North America at the Sub Pop Mega Mart, in the UK and Europe at Mega Mart 2, and at your local record store. The first vinyl pressing is on opaque red vinyl, limited to 2,000 copies worldwide.
Velocity Girl’s previously announced shows in support of UltraCopacetic for the fall of 2024 include Friday, October 25th in Los Angeles at The Teragram Ballroom and Saturday, November 23rd in Washington, DC at Black Cat.
Velocity Girl formed in 1989 or so at the University of Maryland outside Washington DC, and shortly thereafter settled on the lasting lineup of guitarist Archie Moore (Black Tambourine), guitarist Brian Nelson (Black Tambourine), drummer Jim Spellman (Starry Eyes, Foxhall Stacks, High Back Chairs, Julie Ocean, Piper Club), bassist Kelly Riles (Starry Eyes), and singer Sarah Shannon (Starry Eyes, The Not Its). The band combined English-inspired noisy shoegaze fuzz with scrappy US indie rock and classic ‘60s-style pop songwriting. A killer single on Slumberland and non-stop touring grabbed the attention of the indie-rock cognoscenti of the day, and, following a heated courtship involving both dinner AND dessert, Velocity Girl signed a contract on a car hood in Hoboken, New Jersey, making Sub Pop their home.
In 1992, the band began work on their debut album, Copacetic, at Easley Studios - once home base to the Bar-Kays and other classic soul bands - in Memphis with Bob Weston (Volcano Suns, Shellac) at the helm, and then mixed the album with Weston in Chicago. While the album had strong songs - pop tunes like “Audrey’s Eyes,” “Pop Loser,” and “Living Well” alongside ambitious explorations like “Pretty Sister” and “Here Comes” - the band had little experience with production and lacked the skills to “drive the boat” in the studio. As a result, the album turned out to be a rather stripped-down affair, lacking the lushness of their prior recordings. To the band’s ear it was jarring, and they soon realized this wasn’t the record they hoped to make. Bob Weston had done exactly what was asked of him and captured the sounds, but the band didn’t do its part to articulate a clear vision. But the band’s slot in the studio was over, and Polvo had just showed up to work on their album, so off Velocity Girl went to shoot the video for “Audrey’s Eyes.” Copacetic came out in 1993 and people seemed to like it just fine, but within the band there was a sense of disappointment to the point where most members couldn’t stand to hear the record.
Between then and now, the band learned a lot about recording, and Archie Moore developed a career in audio work, and the band finally decided to revisit Copacetic. After extensive digging, the 2” tape reels appeared in Jim’s ex-wife’s mother’s house, and in the spring of 2023, Archie began working on a remix.
Song by song the new mixes emerged just as the band envisioned them. Soaring vocals from Sarah (who studied opera in college), chiming lead guitar, juicy fuzzed-out rhythm guitars, and clear pounding drums. The pop songs are much poppier. The sonic blasts are more powerful, and the record hangs together as a cohesive document that flows from song to song. The approach was not to make a 2024-sounding record but rather to go back to the 1992 mindset and create the record the band should have made then. The result, UltraCopacetic (Copacetic Remixed and Expanded), is an exciting alternate history of Copacetic.
And, while they were at it, the band dug up and refreshed the rest of their studio material from the era: Ultraopacetic includes “Warm/Crawl” from the Velocity Girl/Tsunami split 7”, “Creepy” from the Crazy Town 7”, “Stupid Thing” from the Audrey’s Eyes 7”, and the unreleased album outtake “Even Die.” Topping it all off is the band’s complete five-song 1993 John Peel session, including two tracks that haven’t been heard since the original broadcast. UltraCopacetic is truly the definitive version of Velocity Girl’s first record.
Today, August 19th, Bandcamp Dailymade Ultracopacetic its “Album of the Day”and said,“It isn’t your run-of-the-mill re-release with an addendum of cutting-room-floor finds. It’s how this album deserves to sound: copacetic. That goes for all the elements, which juxtapose more richly. The guitars may well be stroked with plectrums made of feathers one minute and attacked with razors the next.”
Velocity Girl UltraCopacetic (Copactic Remixed and Expanded)
Tracklisting: 1. Pretty Sister 2. Crazy Town 3. Copacetic 4. Here Comes 5. Pop Loser 6. Living Well 7. A Chang 8. Audrey’s Eyes 9. Lisa Librarian 10. 57 Waltz 11. Candy Apples 12. Catching Squirrels 13. Warm/Crawl 14. Creepy 15. Stupid Thing 16. Even Die 17. Here Comes (Peel Session version) 18. Always (Peel Session version) 19. Crazy Town (Peel Session version) 20. 57 Waltz (Peel Session version)
Last week, Sub Pop shared details on behalf of Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil’s bold new effort, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film…The Jazz Daredevil and its lead single, “I Want You.”
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film…The Jazz Daredevil is out today, August 15th, worldwide from Sub Pop. It features guest appearances from Therese Plaehn-Mirman, Wyatt Cenac, Alexis Kesselman, Larry Murphy, Ana Silvia Daniel, Leo Allen, Brendon Small, Ronnell Johnson, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The soundtrack was produced and mixed by Zachary Seman and mastered by Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering.
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the (Unproduced) Film… The Jazz Daredevil follows his landmark 2015 debut Well I Should Have… Learned How to Play Piano, which garnered coverage from people like Stephen Colbert and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” blew through two vinyl pressings, and is now a sought-after collectible; and the 2020 follow-up The Soundtrack Collection, arguably the first truly great collection of movie theme songs performed poorly with a Moog synthesizer and expertly by an orchestra at the same time.
Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film…The Jazz Daredevil
1. They All Say… (The Jazz Daredevil Theme) 2. The Proposition (Dialogue) 3. Apartment Fire (Instrumental) 4. Limo Ride (Dialogue) 5. Limo Ride (Instrumental) 6. Balcony (Dialogue) 7. I Want You 8. Truth or Dare (Dialogue) 9. Sex Scene Song (Instrumental) 10. Do You Want Half a Sandwich? (Dialogue) 11. I Got My Hook in You 12. Meeting Ray (Dialogue) 13. The Man in the Mask (Rich’s Theme) 14. Rita’s Plea (Dialogue) 15. Walk Through the Woods (Instrumental) 16. Don’t Go Through the Woods (Dialogue) 17. Murder Plot (The Caretaker’s Theme) 18. Who’s Rich? (Dialogue) 19. I Shoplift Even Though I’m Rich 20. How Do I Know You’re Telling the Truth (Dialogue) 21. The Twist (Instrumental) 22. Lorraine, No… (Dialogue) 23. They All Say… (Reprise)
On August 15th, 2024, Sub Pop will release Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil’s bold, forthcoming third album, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film, The Jazz Daredevil Movie.
The Jazz Daredevil sets the scene: Through ribbons of smoke, Jazz Daredevil walks across the small stage. He takes his place at the piano. Looking out, he clocks his small audience, most of whom talk amongst themselves. “This is my life,” he thinks to himself. It’s not a happy thought. At one table, a woman in sunglasses sits alone. “Is she as lost as I?” He counts in the trio, “one, two, one, two, three…” The Jazz Daredevil plays. He can’t play, though. It’s complicated. It’s the same feeling. That feeling of both freedom and failure. “There’s never nothing to lose” is the thought that crosses his mind, as he mindlessly hits random notes on the baby grand. He glances at the woman alone. ‘Can she change everything?’”
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack… includes guest appearances from Therese Plaehn-Mirman, Wyatt Cenac, Alexis Kesselman, Larry Murphy, Ana Silvia Daniel, Leo Allen, Brendon Small, Ronnell Johnson, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The soundtrack was produced and mixed by Zachary Seman, and mastered by Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering. Watch today’s first offering, the official video for “I Want You,” which stars Marin Ireland and is directed by Jason Woliner.
The album will be available on LP and all DSPs, and can be pre-ordered now from Sub Pop Mega Mart (North America), Bandcamp, and independent retailers in North America. LP preorders will receive the Loser Edition on silver vinyl, which is limited to 1,500 copies.
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the (Unproduced) Film, The Jazz Daredevil Movie follows his landmark 2015 debut Well I Should Have… Learned How to Play Piano, which garnered gushing coverage from people like Stephen Colbert and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” blew through two vinyl pressings, and is now a sought-after collectible; and the 2020 follow-up The Soundtrack Collection, arguably the first truly great collection of movie theme songs performed poorly with a Moog synthesizer and expertly by an orchestra at the same time.
Jon Benjamin: Jazz Daredevil The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of The (Unproduced) Film, The Jazz Daredevil Movie
1. They All Say… (The Jazz Daredevil Theme) 2. The Proposition (Dialogue) 3. Apartment Fire (Instrumental) 4. Limo Ride (Dialogue) 5. Limo Ride (Instrumental) 6. Balcony (Dialogue) 7. I Want You 8. Truth or Dare (Dialogue) 9. Sex Scene Song (Instrumental) 10. Do You Want Half a Sandwich? (Dialogue) 11. I Got My Hook in You 12. Meeting Ray (Dialogue) 13. The Man in the Mask (Rich’s Theme) 14. Rita’s Plea (Dialogue) 15. Walk Through the Woods (Instrumental) 16. Don’t Go Through the Woods (Dialogue) 17. Murder Plot (The Caretaker’s Theme) 18. Who’s Rich? (Dialogue) 19. I Shoplift Even Though I’m Rich 20. How Do I Know You’re Telling the Truth (Dialogue) 21. The Twist (Instrumental) 22. Lorraine, No… (Dialogue) 23. They All Say… (Reprise)
Today, The Bug Club is sharing “A Bit Like James Bond,” an exciting, debonair new song about everyone’s favorite British spy. The song is from On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System, their forthcoming album.
Last week, The Bug Club also announced the addition of US shows to their 2024 tour schedule in support of On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System. These new dates will begin Tuesday, October 15th in Brooklyn, NY at Baby’s All Right and run through Thursday, October 24th in Seattle, WA at The Black Lodge. Their previously announced UK tour dates, which bookend the US dates, continue on Thursday, August 29, with an instore at Brighton, UK’s Resident Records. Please see a current list of tour dates below.
Thu. Aug. 29 - Brighton, Resident Records (instore) Fri. Aug. 30 - Brighton, UK - Brighton Psych Fest Sat. Aug 31 - Hull, UK - The Adelphi Sun. Sep. 01 - Edinburgh, UK - Edinburgh Psych Fest Mon. Sep. 02 - Riley & Coe Session, BBC Radio 6 Music Tue. Sep. 03 - Liverpool, UK - Rough Trade (instore) Wed. Sep. 04 - Nottingham, UK - Rough Trade (instore) Thu. Sep. 05 - London, UK - Rough Trade East (instore) Tue. Oct. 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right Sat. Oct. 19 - San Diego, CA - Whistle Stop (5pm show) Sun. Oct. 20 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo Mon. Oct. 21 - San Francisco, CA - Kilowatt Wed. Oct. 23 - Portland, OR - Showbar Thu. Oct. 24 - Seattle, WA - Black Lodge Thu. Nov. 07 - Bournemouth, UK - Bear Cave Fri. Nov. 08 - Margate, UK - Lido Sat. Nov. 09 - Bedford, UK - Esquires Wed. Nov. 13 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny Thu. Nov. 14 - Hebden Bridge, UK - The Trades Club Fri. Nov. 15 - Leicester, UK - The SoundHouse Sat. Nov. 16 - Norwich, UK - Norwich Arts Centre
Last month, The Bug Club announced release details for On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System, which will be released worldwide on Friday, August 30th, 2024. The album features the aforementioned “A Bit Like James Bond,” and previously released highlights “Quality Pints,” and “Lonsdale Slipons,” along with other feel-good ditties like “War Movies,” and “We Don’t Care About That.”
On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System sees the band serve up a beefy slab of their signature Modern-Lovers-meets-Nuggets garage rock, featuring B-52’s call-and-response fun mixed with AC/DC power chord grunt (read more at Sub Pop).
The Bug Club’s On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System is available to preorder on CD/LP/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com (North America), Mega Mart 2 (UK/EU), and independent retailers worldwide will receive the limited Loser edition vinyl on Transparent Grey Smoke (US) and Orange/Red Marble (UK/EU) (whilst stock lasts!). On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System’s album cover artwork is from UK illustrator and comic book artist Willem Hampson.
What people are saying about The Bug Club:
“On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System… is lean and mean. Recorded with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard’s Tom Rees at his Rat Trap studio in Cardiff, its 11 songs crackle with incisive melodies and funny pop culture-addled lyrics – they reference The Great Escape’s Virgil Hilts one minute, and move on to the horror of Lonsdale slip on daps the next – but they’re in and out in under 26 minutes. Zero fat.” - NME
“The full title of scrappy Welsh duo The Bug Club’s first album for Sub Pop is On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System By Means of Popular Music Or the Contemplation Of Pretty Faces, Tinned Bubbles and Strife which, as they note, is ‘long as fuck’ even it it doesn’t quite approach Fiona Apple length. It’s definitely the longest thing about the album which, like previous records, delivers two-minute DIY-punk blasts about mundane subjects (this time topics include beer and ‘the worst shoes in the UK.’).” 64 Albums We’re Anticipating For Summer 2024 - BROOKLYN VEGAN
“Throw back a few (and then a few more) to this great record of Modern Lovers meets Nuggets-garage rock…” [On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System] Bandcamp
“‘Quality Pints’ is a wild two-minute rager that reminds me of the Buzzcocks and the Vaselines. It’s all about something the band has surely experienced during all that touring: the search for a decent beer in various cities around the world. In addition to the explosive punk-rock energy, the song has a hip-shaking rock ‘n’ roll element, manifested in a rattling tambourine and occasional outbursts of electric-shock lead guitar” STEREOGUM
“The amped-up punk track is a blast of shout-along energy, and vicious guitar solos following the pair’s journey to secure a solid pint of beer… It’s as ridiculous as it is fun, and Harris and Willmett are bringing their particular flavor of absurdity to Sub Pop’s legendary roster. Cheers, indeed.” [“Quality Pints”] “Best New Songs” - PASTE
“’Quality Pints’ vigorously extols the anticipatory pleasures of searching for good alcohol, but even a teetotaler like your blogger can get inebriated on its speed-demon rock. This is faster, punkier, and more immediately catchy than anything else in the Bug Club’s discography, with manic guitar solos that’ll make you spit out your lager in admiration. One senses that, if he were alive, another BBC DJ, John Peel, would love the Bug Club as much as he did the Fall. Let’s hope an album’s in the works.” The Stranger
“Lonsdale Slipons” is a post-punk supernova with an infectious bassline, satisfying dual vocals, and a great climax as Sam Willmett declares: “These drugs are tasty as hell! I think I’ll have another!” Listen below and slip on your Lonsdale slip ons and sway.” STEREOGUM
“This song is a ridiculous amount of fun and blends art rock and fun in a way that they rarely are. Personally, I hear a little more Strokes style guitar than AC/DC, but regardless ‘Lonsdale Slipons’ is going to insert itself into your brain and singing along to “These drugs are tasty as hell / I think I’ll have another” for days to come.” If It’s Too Loud
“’Lonsdale Slipons’” is a throbbing container of mechanical riffs ready to erupt into chaos. “These drugs are tasty as hell!” Sam Willmett cries out. “I think I’ll have another!” Tilly Harris flicks a bassline that leaps out of the speakers after trading punches with Willmett’s guitar. It’s call-and-response soul music reconfigured into crooked-mouthed English post-punk.” “Best New Songs” - PASTE
The Bug Club On The Intricate Inner Workings of the System
Tracklisting: 1. War Movies 2. Quality Pints 3. Pop Single 4. Best Looking Strangers in the Cemetery 5. A Bit Like James Bond 6. We Don’t Care About That 7. Lonsdale Slipons 8. Better Than Good 9. Actual Pain 10. Cold. Hard. Love. 11. The Intricate Inner Workings of the System
Today, August 2nd, J.R.C.G. has released Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra), the second album and Sub Pop debut from the Tacoma, WA-based artist Justin R. Cruz Gallego. Conceived and executed primarily in Gallego’s home studio, Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) was co-produced by Gallego and Seth Manchester (The Body, Battles, and Mdou Moctar). Together, they retained the intimacy of Gallego’s home recordings while taking advantage of the hi-fi stylings of Manchester’s Machines With Magnets Studio in Rhode Island.
Driven by opposing forces, Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) weds scouring electronics to hooky, powerful beats in a way that feels visceral and new. Its nine tracks feature the standout singles “Dogear,”“34,”“Drummy,” and “Cholla Beat,” the latter of which has a brand new video directed by Mitch Wells of New Orleans metal band Thou. (Wells also directed the video for “Drummy.”)
J.R.C.G. will begin a 17-date headline tour on August 2nd in Portland, OR, with shows in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Nashville. This initial run of dates ends August 30th in Providence, RI. Another leg of shows begins September 25th in Brooklyn, NY, with shows in Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles. See below for a full list of shows.
