Line Out Music & the City at Night

Sub Pop / Hardly Art

Monday, May 20, 2013

Shannon & the Clams' Newish* Single "Into a Dream" Is Dreamy

Posted by on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 9:13 AM

The Oakland trio (vocalist-bassist Shannon Shaw, guitarist Cody Blanchard, and drummer Ian Amberson) have outdone themselves with this finger-snapping, Technicolor torch song that re-imagines Roy Orbison as a Shangri-Las singer.

Stream the whole thing at the AV Club through tomorrow. You can also watch a short documentary here. Hardly Art releases Dreams in the Rat House on May 21. Then, on June 7, Shannon & the Clams play the Tractor Tavern with Mikal Cronin.

* "Into a Dream" hit my inbox on May 1, but I didn't get the chance to listen until yesterday.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Colleen Green Makes Pure Pop for Now People

Posted by on Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 10:03 AM

Photo by Eric Penna
  • Hardly Art
  • Photo by Eric Penna
Colleen Green
Sock It to Me
(Hardly Art)

On the basis of "Time in the World," which plays like "Lucky Star"-era Madonna gone shoegaze, I expected good things from Colleen Green's full-length debut, and she delivered (and she really should cover "Lucky Star"). That first single sets the template as Green sings in an inviting voice over hot-rod guitars, rickety drum-machine beats, and the odd synthesizer flourish.

Sock It to Me also brings femme-fronted '90s outfits like Lush and the Breeders to mind, but that may have more to do with the way she sings than the music she makes, and I don't recall that's she's cited either of those acts as influences. Instead, she's mentioned the Descendents, who inspired the 2010 cassette Milo Goes to Compton, but punk doesn't come to mind when I listen to this record.

Continue reading »

Advertisement

Sub Pop Announces Silver Jubilee Line-Up!

Posted by on Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 7:46 AM

sp25.jpg
Well, they've announced SOME of the line-up, anyway. The initial line-up for the FREE July 13th party in Georgetown will feature:

Mudhoney, Greg Dulli, J Mascis, Father John Misty, Shabazz Palaces with THEESatisfaction, Pissed Jeans, Shearwater, the Baptist Generals, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth (feat. Tad Doyle), and Endino’s Earthworm.

More bands, food, and fun to be announced soon.

And as we already know, that Brothers of the Sonic Cloth performance will be a partial TAD reunion. Rad!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Members of TAD Reunite for Sub Pop's Upcoming Silver Jubilee

Posted by on Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 2:33 PM

The band TAD just posted this update to their Facebook:

To clarify; Tad Doyle and Gary Thorstensen (two original members of TAD) will be joining Brothers of the Sonic Cloth to play a set of songs from the band TAD's God's Balls, Salt Lick and 8-Way Santa record at the Sub Pop Records 25th Jubilee in Seattle's Georgetown in July 2013. Details to follow. #SP25

THIS WILL BE AWESOME. And this is the first public information I've seen regarding the festival's line-up. Not a bad start.

Keep an eye on silverjubilee.subpop.com for updates.

Now that we know a TAD/Brothers of the Sonic Cloth mash-up is happening, who else are you hoping to see there?

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hey Losers! Sub Pop Wants to Give You Some Money

Posted by on Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 5:47 PM

12968.jpg
Sub Pop's annual Loser scholarship is now accepting applicants! If you're a high school senior graduating in Washington or Oregon, and are involved and/or interested in music and/or creative arts, you just might snag one of the $3,000, $4,000, or $6,000 scholarships!

Applications are due May 6th, 2013, and all the specifics are right here.

Good luck!

Advertisement

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Sub Pop Signs Rose Windows

Posted by on Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 10:40 AM

Seattle folk-psych septet Rose Windows have signed to Sub Pop. The band, whose first media exposure came via a live review of a 2011 Black Lodge performance on Line Out, will release their debut album, The Sun Dogs (produced by Randall Dunn), on June 25. You can download the first single, "Native Dreams," here. One of Rose Window's most powerful, heavy, and majestic songs, "Native Dreams" is a bold choice for a lead single.

Check for the group's tour dates after the jump.

Continue reading »

Thursday, January 24, 2013

On Her New Single, Colleen Green Has All the "Time in the World"

Posted by on Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 11:29 AM

Sock It to Me
  • Hardly Art
  • Sock It to Me cover art
Built around one of the crudest drum-machine beats I've ever heard, Colleen Green's "Time in the World" turns what might be a deficit in anyone else's hands into a fuzzy-buzzy pop triumph. With her multi-tracked sugar-sweet tough-girl vocals, it's like a micro-budget cross between "Chewing Gum"-era Annie and "Lucky Star"-era Madonna.

I mean those as positive reference points, though your mileage may vary (seriously, "Chewing Gum" is one of the best things ever).
I swear I hear Wreckless Eric
and the Waitresses, too, which means she covers a lot of
'80s territory in one little song.

Continue reading »

Advertisement

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

HOLY SHIT: The New Metz Record

Posted by on Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 12:44 PM

Sub Pop released the first LP by Toronto's Metz yesterday. Everybody I've played it for has been blown away, it's a calculated noisy mess that values repetition enough to make it stick in your head.

During a conversation about how to get away from describing music without referencing other music, somebody tossed in a comparison of instruments being dragged on a highway behind a truck. It also sounds somewhat like band members falling down a really long flight of stairs. Wait, what am I even talking about?

Crowdsourced opinions below, or just listen to the track and come up with your own.

Jon Harthun: I love it. But that's not very quote worthy. You know when bands get a little too into the closing number of a live set, smashing guitars and kicking over the drum set? The album is a half hour of that.

James Burns: They have some jams, for sure. At least Sub Pop didn't sign another band that sounds like Soft Hits Of The 70's.

Kelly O'Neil: Troy Nelson said on Saturday, on KEXP that they were "like Nirvana on steroids"

Cameron Elliott: Better than the Damn Yankees.

Greg Franklin: I thought Canadians were supposed to be friendly.

Ethan Kirschner: IS ANYONE ELSE NAKED?

Nick Buriča: This album is now the darling of p4k; watch out America, underground domination imminent.

Metz will play at Barboza on 11/02 with the Unwound-related Survival Knife.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Breaking News: Sub Pop Records For Sale?!

Posted by on Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 12:37 PM

Not too much is known about what's going on at the Sub Pop offices at the time of this posting. A press release has yet to be issued, I've placed a few calls to the office and was directed to an answering service. Christopher Swenson, husband of grunge-insider Susie Tennant, has leaked the first information about Sub Pop records being for sale via Facebook, though no other details were given.

There is no public word yet if there is a buyer for Sub Pop records or anything more about the future of this transaction. The sale of Sub Pop records could cause a major change in the city of Seattle's cultural landscape and the music industry as a whole.

sub-pop-logo.jpg

More information can be found here.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

UPDATE: Daughn Gibson & Lori Goldston at Hollow Earth Radio Tomorrow

Posted by on Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 1:49 PM

This was posted yesterday, before Stranger Genius Award nominee Lori Goldston was added to the bill. Also added: Cap Lori, who is the wonderful Tennessee Rose.

I saw Daughn Gibson last week at the Neptune Theatre. While the Neptune reminded me of a giant old movie theatre mixed with a rural elementary school gymnasium, Gibson evoked thoughts of 1950's crooner Bobby Darin mixed with Whitehouse or Throbbing Gristle. He's sweet, weird, scary and endearing. Not to mention, quite a hunk!

GIBSON.jpg

Gibson was recently signed to Sub Pop, here's a good bio from their website. He'll be playing live at Hollow Earth Radio this Sunday. I scoured the interknot for a show time but came up empty handed. It's probably 7pm or 8pm or something. I just asked Hollow Earth's Garrett Kelly when the show was. His response: "Hella early. Like 7."

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Fergus & Geronimo Video Premiere - "Roman Tick"

Posted by on Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 9:06 AM

Pomeranians! Office hijinx! Young love! Tim Cook!

Here is a brand new video from Brooklyn's Fergus & Geronimo's 2nd album, Funky was the State of Affairs. This music vid is an ode to the triumph of irresponsibility over making photocopies for some jerk boss. Quit your job! Get some new sunglasses!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Adventures From the Front Desk #2

Posted by on Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 3:35 PM

There are little things that are odd about working in an office. There's a garbage can and a recycling bin by the front desk, the garbage can has a bin liner. I remember that yesterday I threw only a plastic cup into the garbage can and today it's totally empty! In total fear that somebody emptied the can with the bag and just one cup, I've decided to never use either of these bins again. Also, the dishwasher is out of soap packets and I have no idea how I'm going to run the load of dishes at the end of the day. On top of that, somebody emptied the dishwasher this morning and that's my job! The anxiety is heaping onto more anxiety, thank God it's Tuesday.

Three Is Company.
  • Three Is Company.

Spencer Moody came by earlier to drop off some things for James Bertram. He was with a guy who I'd never seen before, but I nodded and he nodded back. After chatting with Spencer, he wandered down the hall to say hello to somebody. The guy with him stayed behind, looking at the walls. Eventually I said hello and discovered that he wasn't with Spencer at all, he was just some guy who found the address and snuck his way in! His name is Kevin and he lives in Japan, but he's originally from North Carolina. Our small talk revolved around boiled peanuts because that's usually what I talk about with people from the South. We also talked about Earth and Six finger Satellite for a little bit and then he left to find food. I gave him directions to Chipotle, that place is pretty good.

Continue reading »

Friday, August 3, 2012

Adventures From the Front Desk #1

Posted by on Fri, Aug 3, 2012 at 4:38 PM

After a short job hunt, I recently managed to fulfill a lifelong dream of working as a fill-in receptionist. Drawing ducks and making telephone raps all day at home can begin to drive a person mad, so I'd always imagined that part time phone greetings would be a nice break from the isolation. I somehow wrangled a receptionist job at Sub Pop! All of the people who work there are wonderfully nice. Interesting people come in all of the time. Last week I was filmed for an Australian TV show highlighting Seattle. When the interviewer asked me if they ever made me clean the toilet, I replied, "Yes, I'm cleaning the toilet right now!" Then I frowned. Then we both laughed! Also, 4/10ths of my hourly wage goes to a parking meter because I'm too lazy to ride my bike.

Hello, how I may can help you?
  • "Hello, how I may can help you?"

Most of my day today was spent numbering the last 975 Macklemore 7"s covers for the picture disc single "Same Love." I'd numbered the first 1,025 at the beginning of the week. Ruben from Hardly Art walked by and asked me if I was autographing them as Macklemore, which was such a good idea that I promptly made 15 copies that said #1/2000. I didn't really do that! I did have a hibiscus Refresher from Starbucks and listened to Killing Joke on YouTube the whole time. YouTube is the best record store in Seattle!

SUB PUPS
  • SUB PUPS

The highlight of my day is phone calls, for sure. I spent a half hour on the phone today with a woman who claimed to currently be involved with Robert Plant in a "federal lawsuit." She claimed that he had been using radar and music to stalk her for years. She also claimed that Kurt Cobain wrote an article about her in 1988 when she opened a Patagonia store in downtown Seattle and that he later wrote the song "Lithium" about a mirror that she had in her house. She also noted that she was working with Fort Lewis to get a metal roof installed on her "barn-style Craftsman" to deflect satellite beams. She seemed like a particularly nice person and I hope to interview her about things from the future, in the future.

Adventures From the Front Desk will probably be a regular dispatch. Let me know if you have suggestions. When I find a box of "Love Buzz" singles, we'll have a party at Than Bros and I'll pass them out to everybody.

 

Want great deals and a chance to win tickets to the best shows in Seattle? Join The Stranger Presents email list!


All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Takedown Policy