Jack Stoughton, who founded California-based Stoughton Printing Company, which since its inception in 1965 has worked closely with the music and entertainment industries (Light in the Attic is a client), died Tuesday night. He was 84.
Stoughton retired from the company in 1990, and his sons, Jack Jr. and Clay, took over operations from their father.
The manufacturing side of the music business is hardly glamorous, and for many, fans and insiders alike, rarely thought of. But it takes skill to craft a well-designed record sleeve or ensure a final package is eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing. LITA's Matt Sullivan had the following to say about the work produced at Stoughton:
"Stoughton is one of the best printers on the planet. They manufacture those gorgeous old school 'tip on' vinyl LP jackets that are heavier than a Monopoly board - The Free Design, Rodriguez, Wheedle's Groove, The Monks, Black Angels' Directions To See A Ghost, Serge Gainsbourg, etc. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail and endless quality of these guys is unmatched. They're the best."
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jack Stoughton, and everyone at Stoughton Printing.
BIO
Sex has always sold, but presented with a landmark musical backdrop, the combination is rare as finding the elusive “G Spot”. Quite often, attempts fall flaccid, missing the titillating mark by a mile. But French icon and national treasure Serge Gainsbourg is no stranger to sexual proclivities, and with his 1971 Histoire De Melody Nelson he shared an erotic tale as seductive today as the day it was released. With help from actress, amour, and insp… READ MORE >
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February 19, 2010 at 06:45 AM
In Memory of Jack Stoughton
Jack Stoughton, who founded California-based Stoughton Printing Company, which since its inception in 1965 has worked closely with the music and entertainment industries (Light in the Attic is a client), died Tuesday night. He was 84.
Stoughton retired from the company in 1990, and his sons, Jack Jr. and Clay, took over operations from their father.
The manufacturing side of the music business is hardly glamorous, and for many, fans and insiders alike, rarely thought of. But it takes skill to craft a well-designed record sleeve or ensure a final package is eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing. LITA's Matt Sullivan had the following to say about the work produced at Stoughton:
"Stoughton is one of the best printers on the planet. They manufacture those gorgeous old school 'tip on' vinyl LP jackets that are heavier than a Monopoly board - The Free Design, Rodriguez, Wheedle's Groove, The Monks, Black Angels' Directions To See A Ghost, Serge Gainsbourg, etc. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail and endless quality of these guys is unmatched. They're the best."
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jack Stoughton, and everyone at Stoughton Printing.
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December 31, 2009 at 02:58 AM
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC 3RD ANNUAL YEAR END EXTRAVAGANZA!
It's happened again, the year, slow and ponderous, has churned to an inevitable conclusion. It's been a year of vast changes in the world and right here in the underground liar of Light In The Attic. And so much change has occurred - from the death of pop stars to the election of an African-American president - we knew that our little lists couldn't do it justice. Thus, as we've done now two years running we've reached out the good folk that we love the world over and asked them for their top ten lists. And we've deemed it, again,:
We've got lists from musicians, writers, editors, bloggers, co-owners of certain record labels, Spanish music curators, and on and on and on and on ... there's a staggering pile of information below and we implore you, dig in, it'll be well worth your while.
This year we'd like to thank our main man Strath Shepard for bringing together that fantastic image above. You're a gem Strath Shepard, a goddamn holiday gem.
So please, order some pizza, cracked three or four beers and get ready ...
IT'S THE 3RD ANNUAL LIGHT IN THE ATTIC YEAR END EXTRAVAGANZA!
Our Light In The Attic Brethren: Robbie Hill, Black On White Affair, Robbie Hill’s Family Affair, Wheedle’s Groove
Favorite Things of 2009 All Time Entertainer/Performer - Michael Jackson Movie - a. Wheedle's Groove, the Movie b. The Temptations Food - Mexican Club to Perform In - The Triple Door Holiday - Christmas Music - ANYTHING by Michael Jackson Candy - Butterfingers TV Show - America's Most Wanted Stephen John Kalinich, Poet
5 Favorite Poets… Walt Whitman Rainer Maria Rilke T.S.Eliot Shakespeare Edwin Markham... 5 Favorite LA Restaurants Spago Peppones Le Votre Sante Pacific Dining Car Saketini 5 favorite Home Run Hitters Ted Kluszewski Mickey Mantle Hank Aaron Babe Ruth Willie Mays Ever Kipp, Tiny Human Publicity 1 The Sheng: It’s a bowl of flutes! 2 Chipotle peppers: Still awesome despite media oversaturation. 3 Milt Jackson: So vibey! 4 Eggs over easy 5 Pre-verbal toddler-speak: language of the nitrous-huffing wood elves. 6 Owen Roe 7 Starting your own company: terrifying, and terrifyingly gratifying. Eddie Shaw, Bass, Monks
Happy New Year, Light in the Attic. Having had my first fifteen minutes of fame and now my second fifteen minutes, to be a Monk does not feel all that bad. The group survived because the Monks are a “we” group, not an “I” group. There was no “I” until there was a “we.” Let’s face it. I’m a monk. You’re a monk. We’re all monks – just like the people monking around, above. For 2010, I am finishing a new book PASSING THROUGH MINNESODA AND OTHER ALTERED STATES (732 pages). There are a couple of chapters about the monks in it, but basically it’s about a trumpet player who thinks he’s a pigeon. Even as I do a lot of text writing, music is still the defining activity for me. I don’t like to listen to old music because the moment of its relevance is normally past. I’m always looking for the new. I’m looking for salvation. I’m looking for an answer. FAVORITES FOR 2009 Favorite places to hear new music: Austin, TX (naturally) and Buffalo, NY Favorite new groups: (changing all the time) Here’s a couple – 1. Ghostland Observatory – Two zany/weird guys prove that the smallest group possible, is not a trio. They’re way out there – probably causing a lot of people to scratch their heads and say, “Huh?” 2. Phoenix – There are a couple of different versions of them.. When they test the limits they go somewhere. 3. And there are my friends: The Nuns – Them Bird Things – Kelley Stolz – Grave Brothers Deluxe – 5,6,7,8s – Mike and The Ravens. - Nista Niji Nista – The Raincoats - I have forgotten a few, I know. Favorite older groups: 1. Nine Inch Nails – I saw Trent Reznor live in Reno. It was my favorite live performance; better than Charles Aznavour who I saw in L.A. (even through I did like his performance). Who says French Chanson singers are not interesting? NIN was over the top. “I want to Fuck You Like An Animal” made me hide underneath my seat. 2. Radiohead – Their pop music always sounds new, even as the singer often sounds like he’s whining. That’s a compliment because there is a lot to cry about. 3. Faust – Klangbad never gets old - so perhaps the context from which it came was ahead of its time. 4. Masserati – A group of guitar players who know how to arrange and play. Great guitar music. 5. Propelerhead – for hip hop, of course – as well as Chemical Brothers - and Eminem – don’t tell anyone. 6. And there are my friends: Henry Rollins – Wayne Kramer - Mark E Smith – Genesis P’Orridge - I have forgotten a few, I know. Favorite jazz: For me, jazz lasts longer than pop-rock-country-folk. At one time or another almost all the jazz musicians were my favorites. My favorites change from day to day. For today they are: 1. Flatland – interesting arrangements 2. Brad Mehldau – jazz piano – rock drums – rough on purpose. 3. Mathias Eick – German trumpet player who plays sparse long notes. On a long rough airplane ride from Warsaw to NYC, he kept me totally in one piece (meditating). Favorite Country: I haven’t been near a cow or a pig in a long time. 1. Charlie Haden’s new release, Rambling Boy - Charlie is also a great jazz bass player - best known as working with Ornette Coleman. Favorite Classical: 1. Still it’s Henryk Góki – perhaps classical music has a longer shelf life. Favorite Light in the Attic Recordings: I haven’t heard all the Light in the Attic artists. 1. Karen Dalton – LITA’s Billie Holiday. My wife listens to it constantly. 2. Wheedle’s Groove – reminds me of a group I used to work in. “Jesus Christ Pose” got my attention. 3. Black Angels – Rough, raw – in your face. I could get in a barroom fight with this music in the background. 4. Oz Mutantes – a lot different than Milton Nasciemento (one of my favorite Brazilian singer/songwriters. These songs make me think because they have so many different influences. 5. Free Design – They were too good to make it in NYC – part jazz, part Hi-Lo’s, part ABBA; good singers. Some groups sound better live. Free Design is one of them. They have great back-up musicians. One of my favorite cuts is an old Duke Ellington tune, “I Like The Sunrise.” I first heard this song, many years ago, sung by Mahalia Jackson. Yes, they are too good to be pop/rock stars. Noah Sanders, Mr. Blog, Criterion Quest
It's been a hell of a year folks. Big moves, upheavals aplenty on the emotional front, and hell, I moved in with a lady. Along the way I've listened to a whole lotta tunes, eaten a whole lotta good food, and seen a whole lotta good shit on various sized boob-tubes. It's been a challenging one, but let me agree with Matthew Sullivan when I say, one of the best. Hope it was just as hard and just as rewarding for you. Top of the Pops - 2009 1. Justin Vernon. The man does nothing wrong. Call me a softy, call me a sell-out, this man makes my heart swell and my pants short. You, you're a cold-hearted grinch. 2. San Francisco. Fuck bread bowls and rice-a-roni, this is the wackiest city in the U.S. of A. Nicknamed the "City of the Perpetual Teenager" and for all the right reasons. 3. The Sandwitches. A late entry to my playlist, but this trio manages to ride the line between 50s doo-wop, Neko Case and oh, I'll say it, Dolly Parton. Matt Sullivan poo-pooed this, but I poo-poo him. 4. Discovering the ones I previously spited. My brother used to try and push his twangy country crap on me and I rebuked him at every turn ... turns out the dirty bastard was correcto and now I'm swimming in the seas of Cohen, Waits, and Bill Callahan. Justin, you're not so much a wanker after all. 5. Garage rock's gritty revival. Perhaps I'm a little deeper 'cause of the SF scene, but Jesus I dipped myself baptismal style in to modern garage rock this year, and for every cigarette burn, I found a gem or four. Call it hipster music, I call it rock 'n' roll. 6. Upheaval - emotional, locational, whatever - it's good for the soul. 7. Alex Healy. Strath Shepard Art Director/Graphic Designer, Pacific Standard
Eirik Johnson at the Henry (up through the end of January). No Age playing a live score to L'Ours (The Bear), the 1989 film by Jean-Jacques Annaud at the Triple Door. The early-'70s d.i.y. architecture influences in this Hussein Chalayan ad campaign, the color in this Miu Miu campaign, and the vast minimalism of this Jil Sander campaign. Richard Avedon at ICP. The opening of the Highline.
Isabel Toledo at FIT. This Miranda July and Roe Ethridge photo series for Vice Magazine. RIP, Irving Penn, Dash Snow, Sam Haskins, et al. Jake One "Home" video (directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi). Lil' Bacon. Sipreano, DJ, writer, producer, Light In The Attic, beyond
1) The Sadies featuring The Mighty Pope - Wow! Late addition y'all. From the ashes of Jamaica to Toronto comes Canada's #1 soul brother with holy musical backing from cosmic country/rock/garage/R&B brothers, The Sadies. LIVE on this year's The Hour Christmas Special (CBC, airing late December 2009, check your listings for local airtimes)! More history in the making! 2) Vancouver - Returned to the coast after 3 years living in Toronto. Loving the beach (Third), ocean (Pacific), mountains (North Shore), Power River (Haslam Lake), friends (you know who you are), family (ditto), food (Chinese, Japanese mostly), and nuff music (Sports, Lightning Dust, and Pink Mountaintops all released new albums in 2009!) 3) Sweet Grass Music - Was stoked to lay down a new 2009 mix ("Sweet Grass Music") for long time homies, Sandinista/2Step from Tokyo, Japan. All-Canadian folk, rock, and psych from the archives. 4) Rodriguez in Vancouver - June saw Vancouver's first taste of Detroit-singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez at the dearly departed Richard's On Richards. Was lucky enough to play vinyl at this event (which also included a solo set from Stephen McBean's Pink Mountaintops and more than able backing from SF's The Fresh & Only's). 5) Vinyl recap - Well, my passion for vinyl has ebbed and flowed quite a bit over the past year. Blogs and Ebay have killed many musical mysteries for us. At this point, I'm looking for the unknown. All genres. Listening with open ears. Biggest find of 2009 is easily Art Snider's Corny Songs I Play On My Organ (Sound Canada). Here's to more... Matt Sullivan, Co-Owner, Light In The Attic
No question the best year of my life… Tying the knot When the economy hits bottom build a bar in your garage Leaving South By Southwest at 8 AM to visit Snow’s BBQ The year of Sixto Rodriguez – seeing the man play at the Barbican in the UK, then having the honor to tour manage the West Coast jaunt Wheedle’s Groove film wraps. Soon after wins Audience Award at Indie Memphis Film Festival A Great Day In Seattle, Garfield High School, September 27, 2009 Kris Kristofferson & Merle Haggard at The Paramount Theater, Seattle Visiting Stax Museum and meeting Stax alum Lou Bond, Deanie Parker and Al Bell, along with Communications Director Tim Sampson. 2009 Light In The Attic Road Trip – once again we embarked on a fruitful journey. 3,000 miles, 10 days, 50 record stores. Sandy, Cody, Troy & Tyson: THANK YOU! Deep Water – Film Documentary Eating the best meal of my life at Table, Asheville, NC followed by good times with the crew from Harvest Records Leonard Cohen at WAMU Theater, Seattle Big S Bar, Memphis, TN with the one and only Andria Lisle The Story of Anvil Big Star – Keep An Eye On The Sky WFMU Record Convention – every record you’ve ever wanted under one roof “Song of a Sinner” by Top Drawer from the compilation Forge Your Own Chains (Now Again) – highly recommended when cruising the Los Angeles highways. Put on repeat and float away New sounds… Bill Callahan, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, Soundcarriers, Naomi Shelton, The Amazing, Heartless Bastards, Fruit Bats, Animal Collective, The Fresh & Onlys, Phosphorescent, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Malakai - Snowflake 12", El Perro del Mar, Strange Boys… Best Blog – Pacific Standard Still Bill – I could sit and listen to Bill Withers talk for hours. Seeing the premiere of Twilight: New Moon in Houston, Texas with my wife, her two girlfriends, and thousands of fanatical teenagers and forty year old ladies. 8 sold-out screens in one theater all at 12:01 am. Could this be the end of the world as we know it? And working on our 2010 release schedule. Thanks for making this far and away the greatest year at Light In The Attic. All of us here at the label are incredibly grateful for your continued support! The Mighty Pope, Jamaica to Toronto
Calgary Folkfest. working and meeting great people/artists Working with Jason Wilson and friends Road trip to Montreal in the summer Hanging with the Mighty Sip CBC The Hour Discovering a new way to cook salmon Grateful for good friends and family Pat Thomas Top 5 releases of 2009: Big Star - Keep An Eye On The Sky - Rhino Neil Young - Archives (Volume 1) 1963-1972 - Warner/Reprise Rolling Stones - Get Your Ya-Ya's Out! (3 CD box & DVD) - Abkco John Martyn - Solid Air(2 CD deluxe edition) - Island McCabe & Mrs. Miller - Time For Leaving - Magnetic Sandy Wilson, Film & Television Guru, Light In The Attic I had a lot of things to be grateful for in 2009, here are a few of them in no particular order; The Monks "Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice" on Californication The Black Angels "Bloodhounds On My Trail" in the Harley Davidson Iron 883 commercial The Black Angels "Manipulation" in Drew Barrymore's Whip It starring Ellen Page The Black Angels "Sniper At The Gates Of Heaven" on CBS' Numb3rs Finally getting to see The Black Angels "Black Grease" in the film No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos air on PBS' Independent Lens. I'm a HUGE fan of both of those guys, and it was awesome that our music was a part of that film. The Free Design "Love You" again rocking the global ad world in 2009 with a Toyota spot that spanned the EU The Free Design "Love You", in addition to being the closing song for the WEEDS season 4 finale, also appeared on the 2009 soundtrack release along side The Soul Swingers "Brighter Tomorrow" (Wheedle's Groove). So yeah, that's two of our songs on the WEEDS soundtrack release. Damn. Patrinell Staton's"I Let A Good Man Go" (Wheedle's Groove) appeared in film Fighting starring Terrance Howard (Hustle & Flow) Sleepy Sun "Lord" (for ATP Recordings) on Showtime's Californication, also appearing on the soundtrack release. The Blakes "Don't Bother Me" appearing on 90210 The successful completion and release of 3 films that I worked on this year, True Adolescents (Mark Duplass, Melissa Leo) which premiered at SXSW this year, The Wheedle's Groove documentary that won the Audience Choice Award at the Indie Memphis premiere, and Funky Prairie Boy which is still tearing up the festival circuit. The LITA 2009 Road Trip with Black Daisy. From what I remember (i.e. whatever was filmed) we had one hell of a good time. How could you not have a good time with that crew while spreading the gospel according to LITA. Hallelujah! And last but not least, another wonderful year with my amazing girlfriend Leigh. I'm grateful for every day that she puts up with me. Thanks baby! => end transmission, Kirk out <= And the rest of you beautiful people ... John Ballon, Must Hear, liner notes writer for Betty Davis’ Nasty Gal 10. The Beatles Box 9. Barack Obama 8. The L.A. Food Truck Scene 7. Lacoste Red! Collection 6. Green Shoots In The Economy 5. 3 weeks in France 4. David Weidman's art 3. Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression by Stud Turkel 2. Elizabeth Vitanza (and her pizzas) 1. My dad, William Ballon, my he rest in peace Brian James Barr
1) My Cameras: Nikon F2 and Canon AE60. This is gonna sound dramatic, but taking pictures literally changed my way of thinking and, more so, changed the way I see everything. 2) Visiting Ernest Hemingway's Birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois: According to Hemingway himself, Oak Park was a place of "wide lawns and narrow minds." He had no great love for the Chicago suburb as he did for Paris, Key West, Venice, and Idaho, but standing there in the very room in which he was born, everything about the man made sense. 3) Bob Dylan @ WaMu Theatre 10.5.09: The man was on fucking fire this night. Hunched like a vulture over his keyboard, oggling the ladies as he traded licks with Charlie Sexton on "Lay Lady Lay", striking Bobby Darin poses during "Beyond Here Lies Nothing", and that voice...it's not about delivering words anymore, but about pure raw energy and emotion, siphoned up from his charred lungs through a rusty tailpipe of a throat. 4) Duke Ellington - Indigos: Coming home from work one night, my wife said, "Life would be so much nicer if I could walk through the door and hear this every night." From 1957, Indigos is music that lowers the blood pressure and relaxes the shoulders. And like all Ellington's work, it is smooth and utterly cool. Though not considered a high water mark in Ellington's catalog, I think that criticism is unfair and lazy. Anybody who listens to this record and comes to that conclusion must despise beauty. Indigos is as lovely as autumn leaves falling. 5) White Center and Richard Hugo: Middle of this year, I learned my wife and I live two blocks from where the writer Richard Hugo was born and raised, in the South Seattle neighborhood of White Center. Seattle loves to claim Hugo for itself, but he is a White Center boy through and through and I am very proud to live in his hometown. The house was torn down in the 80s, the New Nick is now the Triangle Tavern, the grassy boulevard on 16th Ave SW ripped out and paved over, but much of Hugo's White Center remains intact. 6) William Eggleston: I never would have considered photography had I not seen the work of Bill Eggleston. Pure fucking art, period. 7) Mushrooms: My wife brought home a pocket guidebook called All That The Rain Promises And More and a massive shroomopedia called Mushrooms Demystified. Walking in the woods became a whole different experience thanks to these books. 8) The Interrogative Mood by Padgett Powell: The most important writer in the country right now, Padgett Powell actually brings something new, awe-inspiring, and, most importantly, fun, to the stale fiction market. The Interrogative Mood is a wild ride driven by Powell's own impulses. It's a prose work of nothing but questions, each one telling multiple stories. Do you miss Tab and do you fully understand its disappearance? Do you regard yourself as a connoisseur of anything? Do you anticipate having sex again? Assuming you might have as a child, could you eat Chef Boyardee canned noodles today? Are you lazy? 9) Glacier National Park: We hiked to the tops of mountains where Bighorn sheep looked at us, blankly. We drank beer as we drove. We stood with an Australian couple peering at a mother grizzly and her cubs in the valley below. We ventured to Polebridge, the end of the line. We ate dinner alongside Blackfeet Indians. We did not see any buffalo. 10) Turning 30: For whatever reason, this one felt important-feeling in a way that I cannot quite describe but don't really need to. Bill Bentley, Sonic Boomers Best of 2009 Mayer Hawthorne, A Strange Arrangement (Stone’s Throw) Wilco, Wilco (The Album) (Nonesuch) Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics, Inspiration and Information (Srut) Dawes, North Hills (ATO) Staff Benda Bilili, Tres Tres Fort (Crammed Discs) John Fogerty, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again (Verve-Forecast) James Hand, Shadow on the Ground (Rounder) Jesse Winchester, Love’s Filling Station (Appleseed) The Avett Brothers, I And Love And You (American) Long John Hunter, Looking for a Party (Blues Express) Peter Blecha, Author, Sonic Boom Top-5 Fresh Local Artists: 1. The Fabulous Hammers: A band that has captured the old-school "Northwest Sound" with their all-original instrumental tunes. In a day & age when the sound of this region's first strains of rockin' R&B are essentially extinct on the live-music scene, this quintet suddenly appears & brings the form back to life with a vengeance. 2. Lion's Ambition: A hip-hop group whose original tunes boast endless pop hooks, & whose blend of raps & melodic vocalizing are simply magic. It was my pleasure to serve on the judging panel that awarded them top prize at last summer's exhilarating Battle of the Tech Bands event produced by the Washington Technology Industry Association. 3. Out From Underneath: Far from being just another same 'ol everyday rap-metal band, OFU brings it all to the table: pounding rhythms, punishing riffs, excellent musicianship, great vocals, & memorable melodic hooks. Did I mention scary lyrical themes? Great rock (with some addictive hip-hop inspired beats) -- & nice guys too! 4. Gameboy: I'm no hip-hop expert -- only been studying the music since I first stumbled across KNHC back in 1982 -- but I do know what I like. Met Gameboy at the U District Street Fair last May, got his brand new It's Already A Classic CD, & was immediately impressed by his pop sensabilities. You wanna hear hooks? Try spinnin'' Gameboy. In my mind, he's already a Northwest classic. 5. The Flanagan Precept: It would be forgivable to presume -- based on their name alone -- that these guys are an Irish band. However, this rock crew are a Seattle-based group whose collective musicianship, winning vocals, & superior songwriting skills should see them in the town's top ranks before, I predict, next St. Patrick's Day. Zach Cowie, DJ Turquoise Wisdom
1. california 2. fitzy's DOODcast. follow these instructions: go to your itunes at the top click ADVANCED - select subscribe to podcast - copy paste this URL and get ready to party! 3. the first showing of STAR TREK at the arclight dome in los angeles. best vibes ever. 4. selected DJ'ing highlights: the weddings of kevin & amy and ben & zooey. touring with animal collective and then the fleet foxes. every guest spot i jammed at DR WHO. the animal collective big sur after party with me, all the a/c dudes, fitzy, braddax, and cabic all throwing tunes (and getting wasted enough to play the moonshake 45 twice!). the dublab 10 closing party. hearing votel & sheep at hollywood forever. the bobb trimble show in brooklyn. 5. must plays: darrow fletcher - now's the time for love pt 2 45 philwit & pegasus - elephant song 45 chico magnetic band - my sorrow 45 affinity - s/t LP brigitte fontaine & areski - ca va faire un hit 45 u.s. warren & the genghis pea - hard headed woman 45 pentangle - i saw an angel 45 shoes - black vinyl shoes reissue LP larry sanders - child of december 45 circuit rider - s/t reissue LP raekwom - only built 4 cuban linx II LP fairfield parlor - bordeaux rose 45 forever amber - love cycle reissue LP lifetones - for a reason DIGITAL john kongos - he's gonna step on your again 45 mario ft gucci mane - break up DIGITAL cold sun - dark shadows reissue LP amon duul II - archangels thunderbird 45 jay-z - the blueprint 3 DIGITAL alasdair roberts - spoils LP elephant's memory - mongoose 45 3 hur el - hurel arsivi reissue LP the sweet - juicer 45 both the b-music/finders keepers well hung and drive in, turn on, freak out double LP's alessi bros - seabird 45 breakout - na drugim brzegu teczy LP stones throw's forge your own chains double LP anything j dilla anything brian eno anything kanye (still!) Chris Daly, Les Enfants Terribles Top Ten Lessons for New Zombies 1. Braaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiins. (Actually, that's pretty much it.) Kyla Fairchild, No Depression Favorite Albums of 2009 Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers - S/T Vandaveer - Divide and Conquer Gregory Alan Isakov - This Empty Northern Hemisphere Amanda Shires - West Cross Timbers Sam Baker - Cotton Andrew Bird - Noble Beast Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy Neko Case - Middle Cyclone Cave Singers - Welcome Joy Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk Andy Fischer, Vinyl Films Top Five U.S. Craft Beers of the year (in no particular order): Duck Duck Gooze - The Lost Abbey Brewing Company, San Marcos, CA. A Belgian-style sour, this is one of the greatest summer beers ever. Crisp, tart, refreshing and delicious. Nelson - Alpine Beer Company, Alpine, CA. They call it a Golden Rye IPA, I call it the hoppiest loaf of Rye bread you'll ever drink. Insanely great and probably my beer of the year. Theobroma - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. I may be cheating on this selection since it may have come out in 2008, but it is by far the most complex, incredible beverage I've ever tasted. Hints of cocoa, chilies... it simply has to be tasted to be believed. Consecration - Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, CA. This Cabernet barrel-aged monstrosity is another genius addition to the Russian River slate of Belgian-style Ales, this one brewed with Currants. Complex, complicated and amazing - and for me definitely a sipping beer at 10% abv. Sculpin - Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA. As tasty as an IPA gets, this limited edition single is happy with hops - do whatever you can to get your hands on a few of these. Matt Grady, Factory Twenty Five
Julian Cope - POSTPUNKSAMPLER...A streaming album of the month on Cope's Head Heritage site. Stone Roses 20th Anniversary Limited Collector's Edition...One of the best Box sets of all time w/Vinyl, Prints, CDs, a lemon shaped usb, and a DVD. 92nd Street Y in Tribeca...It may be a pain to get to but has turned into the film venue with the best curation in NYC. Food at the Brooklyn Flea...Papusas, Fish Tacos, Brick oven pizza (from a home made portable oven) and so much more...best food and deal in town...I've waited 45 minutes for a Papusa-and it was worth it. WFMU's Free Music Archive...So many discoveries made on this site (which did lead to many vinyl purchases) FAVORITES OF 2009 Currin Grayson, Independent Weekly The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Team Edward forever, y'all.) The bands in my particular area of North Carolina (So crazy right now, y'all.) Andrew WK (His thoughts alone are worth the soul-evaporating cost of signing up for Twitter, y'all.) Touring with The Avett Brothers for some magazine (Nicest dudes, y'all. Greatest live band at the moment, y'all?) Inauguration Day (Snow in North Carolina. No work. Outdoor hot tub party? Barry O)))bama, y'all) The prolificacy of Tiger Woods' "one-iron" (Hopefully he'll be on Season 8 of VH1's terr(ific/ible) Sex Addicts, y'all.) Big Ears (Knoxville, Tenn., experimental festival with P. Glass, Antony, Matmos, The Necks? Fuck yeah, y'all. KNOXVILLE!) Counter Culture's Ethiopia Idido Misty Valley (Blueberries-n-coffee via Ethiopia via Durham, y'all.) Barista (Revolutionary Portland coffeeshop, y'all.) Meeting Neil Young (at a gas station in Texas, y'all.) Hometapes (This label's killing it, y'all. Best SXSW party people, too.) The Jazz Loft Project (And we thought we knew jazz, y'all.) Alice (the name of my dog, the name of the remarkable finale on Sunn O)))'s new record, and the hottest Twilight character, y'all! ) Cable "Five Inches of Pain" Griffith
Top 5 Things with "5" in the Title (in no particular order): The Jackson 5 (1964 - 1976) Full Fathom Five, Jackson Pollock (1947) Take Five, Dave Brubek Quartet (1959) Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut (1969) Five Fingers of Death, Chang-hwa Jeong (1972) Nancy Guppy, Art Zone TOP TEN THINGS FROM 2009 Herb & Dorothy, a documentary film about a librarian and postal worker from New York who amassed a world-class art collection The awesome SuttonBeresCuller exhibit at Lawrimore Project Working with Greg Pecknold, the phenomenally talented creative director of SHOUT, on a new open for ArtZone Breaking a King Size Nestle Crunch Bar into approximately 32 equal sized pieces, placing them into a small blue bowl, and savoring each chunk while watching old episodes of Perry Mason Local actress Amy Thone in absolutely anything Eric Elbogen's new record Oohs and Aahs Attending the first annual Theatre Puget Sound Gregory Awards Serving Cafe Lago lasagne at my husbands 54th birthday party The debut of Humpday from the wonderful writer/director, Lynn Shelton The seriously talented Reggie Watts & Tommy Smith in Transition @ On the Boards Iñ, Vampi Soul
Music wise. Stuff that keeps repeated again and always. In no special order: 1- BIG STAR BOX SET . The due is paid, and the set is awesome. None can ever get tired of that stuff, listening to that thousands of times. 2- KAREN DALTON VINYL. The first album delivers so many THINGS that is priceless. You can just play that over and over and get hit harder and harder 3- FRED NEIL - ELEKTRA LP on Sundazed. Released a long time ago but still gets played over and over again. No folk revival gets any better than THIS. 4- JONATHAN RICHMAN LIVE. Nowdays hes giving much better shows than in the past 20 years. He's even playing Modern Lovers songs 5- THE RATIONALS REISSUE. One of the best groups of the 60’s finally reissued properly. All you would expect from white kids from Detroit loving the Kinks and Motown. NOW its time for a BOB SEGER plan. 6- WAU Y LOS ARGGGHS LIVE. Not so many bands deliver so mucho on stage these days. Imagine Jello Biafra fronting We The People. 7- 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS - SIGN OF THE 3 EYED MEN. The Box set 8- STRANGE BOYS LP. From Austin Texas, same as the 3 Eyed Men. Very good debut album with all the elements that a juvenile rock & roll combo must have. 9- FATAI ROLLING DOLLAR. A master of African music that must be reissued no later. 10- PLASTIC PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE. From Prague. The definition of Underground . You got to learn the lesson. Michael Jaworski, Mt. Fuji Records
Favorite 10 records of 2009 (that I can remember, and in no particular order) The Intelligence - Fake Surfers - I really wish I could have played guitar on their fall tour. Amazing record. How does Lars do it? Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another - Best live band going today. Best live show of the year x 2. Great record. I miss Mclusky less now. Box Elders - Alice and Friends - One of the funnest records of the year. Great songs, super catchy rock n' roll. Pains of Being Pure at Heart - S/T - horrible live band, but this record kills me. Blissed out pop gems that are so infectious. The Dutchess and The Duke - Sunset / Sunrise - someone called them campfire punk. I just call it great folk, rock n' roll. Obits - I Blame You - I am such a sucker for Rick Froberg's songs. Great record but I still miss the Hot Snakes Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - Like a lot of folks, I couldn't wait for this one. Greg Cartwright and crew delivered again. Great rock n' roll album. Cass McCombs - Catacombs - Beautiful record that got a million spins on my turntable. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug - I never knew I liked the Arctic Monkeys. Maybe it has something to do with Josh Homme producing. Killer record. Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Arguably the most important band of my generation makes yet another classic record. Lauren, Music Snitch Favorite Albums of 2009: (No particular order) Passion Pit – Manners Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Freelance Whales – Weathervanes Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest Say Hi – Oohs & Aahs Flaming Lips – Embryonic The Xx – Xx We All Have Hooks For Hands – Made Up Of Tiny Lights Noah and the Whale – The First Days Of Spring Favorite Artists/Bands of 2009: Sunbears, Princeton, The Middle East, Animal Collective, Micachu & The Shapes , Girls, Cold Cave, Mumford And Sons , Spiral Stairs, Lost In The Trees, The Avett Brothers, Yacht, Nurses, Dirty Projectors, Florence And The Machine, The Drums, Port O’Brien, Fever Ray, The Antlers, Sunset Rubdown, Tempo No Tempo, The Cave Singers, Winter Gloves, Electric Tickle Machine, Free Energy, Neon Indian, Banjo or Freakout, Washed Out, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Cribs, New Ruins, Matt & Kim, Cursive, Hot Panda, Memory Tapes… DaVe Lipp, Short and Sweet NYC Top Singles of 09 Solid Gold – Get Over It Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms Papercuts – Future Primitive Hockey – Too Fake Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll Yeasayer - Ambling Alp Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch St. Vincent - Actor Out Of Work Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls Brent Locke, Universal Music Vegas Faves My business travels this year took me to Las Vegas 5 or 6 times (lost count…go figure). Here are the top places I enjoyed (or remembered). There is “another” list but I can’t post it in public XS Nightclub at Encore Lavo Nightclub at The Palazzo The Foundation Room at House of Blues Mandalay Bay N9NE Steakhouse at The Palms Koi Restaurant at Planet Hollywood Mon Ami Gabi Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas Pho Kim Long (Vietnamese restaurant in a strip mall away from the main strip) Mairead Case 1. The Megabus – Get most anywhere in the Midwest, for cheap. Sometimes the bus is late and sometimes you get stuck in a corner and can’t open the windows, but it’s always cheap. Why argue with cheap? 2. Seeing Your Friends Dress Up – So we used to dress all punk whatever, right? But a couple of times this year – weddings, funerals, elections, etc. – we’ve dressed for reasons other than Immediate Self-Expression. Other than Getting Laid. It’s not selling out! It’s getting better at listening and lasting and coming home. Plus it’s not like we got rid of the combat boots or anything. I’m really proud of us 3. This poem, again 4. The Public Collectors Tumblr 5. Kate Greenstreet reading her poetry – holy shit, man. If she was a band and I was sixteen, I’d wait in a block-long line and buy the t-shirt, too 6. The Martians Meet the Clock – as my sister pointed out, it would be nice if we could hide our eyeballs in our lips every time we got scared 7. At Random – There’s this bar in Milwaukee and it has mirrors and mood lighting and waitresses who say “Sweetie” and a chandelier and statues of naked people and ice cream drinks with liquor in them. Amazing! 8. Steel Shavings, a journal publishing oral histories from Calumet, IN 9. Kristine McKenna, asking Iggy Pop which songs make him cry. "Dionne Warwick's," he says. 10. John Ashbery on A Wave. Molotiu on Blogspot. Woodring on Youtube. My So Called Life on Hulu (“Life of Brian” especially). Beth Ditto and Lady Gaga, owning weird on national television. Asterios Polyp. Wave Books. The Raincoats! You. And the bells in Los Jaivas’ “Foto de la Primavera Comunion” Steven Matrick, Kepler Music 1. The Decemberists- Hazards of Love 2. God Help the Girl- God Help the Girl 3. A Place to Bury Strangers- Exploding Head 4. Sharon Van Etten- Because I Was In Love 5. Au Revoir Simone- Still Night, Still Light Michael McDonald, Music Lover, Vinyl Junkie 1. Famous as The Flying Sweet Angel of Joy LP. 2. Sensational Brown Brothers - Stand By Me: A Tribute To Mother 3. Carol Kleyn - Love Has Made Me Stronger LP 4. Guitar Ensemble - The You-N-You LP 5. Ronaye Shandler - Affinity LP 6. Ed Hartman - The River LP 7. Gabrielle - Time Journey 7" 8. Alice Baze - The Gift 7" 9. Daniel Schell & Dick Annegarn - Egmont and The ff Boom LP 10. Little Ann - Deep Shadows Jon Naito, Furloughed writer/bar stool pundit Random things I generally enjoyed about 2009 1 - Weddings. I'm not a romantic by nature, but the three weddings I attended this year were soirees of the highest caliber. A tip of the hat to each party, ace gents and fine dames all. 2 - Old Overholt. Economical and Don Draper approved. I take mine in an Old Fashioned. 3 - Mad Men. The finale was worth watching the entire season alone. Wow. 4 - Tacos El Asadero. LITA co-jefe Matt Sullivan will beg to differ, but my vote for best taco truck (it's actually a school bus painted white) in the city. 5 - The French Onion soup at Cafe Presse. Nothing hits the spot better on a fall evening in Seattle. 6 - The 69 series at Northwest Film Forum. Great idea, perfect execution. 7 - Wallace Stegner. Can't believe it took so long for me to discover him. A true Western writer (in the best sense), and criminally unappreciated. 8 - The Roanoke Tavern. For being the quintessential neighborhood bar (in the best sense), and also within two blocks of my house. 9 - Girls, Album. I don't know if this was the best record I heard all year, but I listened to it more than any other. I'm listening to it right now. 10. Kanye West. Pop stars don't act like stars anymore. Kanye, I love you for your unabashed narcissism, rampant egotism, and doing your damnedest to personally embody all the excesses and untoward behavior of pop stars past. Adam Perry, Boulder Weekly, Westword, Alibi Favorite albums of 2009: 1. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (Deluxe Edition) 2. Alela Diane - To Be Still 3. Cotton Jones - Paranoid Cocoon 4. British Sea Power - Man of Aran 5. Flaming Lips - Embryonic 6. Heartless Bastards - The Mountain 7. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest 8. Phosphorescent - To Willie 9. Dodos - Time to Die 10. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion Megan Petty, Les Enfants Terribles 1. Alabama football: As an Alabama alum, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the season my beloved Tide has had. Undefeated and gunning for a national title (#13?), and the school’s first Heisman winner to boot (yay Mark Ingram). 2009 was a great year to be Crimson.
2. SXSW 2009: For a first-timer it was daunting, but a thrill. I loved my introduction to Austin's biggest fest, from the numerous Bang! Bang! Eche! sightings to the crazy intimate and amazing Ringo Deathstarr gig at Headhunter's, to the walking all over downtown Austin in not-yet-broken in cowboy boots. Visting Waterloo Records was an added bonus. 3. Records: Records make my list for the second year in a row. I've accumulated several hundred over the past year, and am still convinced vinyl is just better. I'm obsessively collecting Rolling Stones records, and seem to keep buying Leon Russell. Send recommendations, please. 4. Netflix: I tend to be behind the curve on things, but this year I signed up for Netflix and have been constantly glad I did so. My queue always hovers around 400 things, so I'm probably way behind the curve seeing movies, too. 5. Turning 30: It's the new 20, I hear. 6. Living on Richmond's Monument Avenue: Sure, my apartment leaks and the heat doesn't really work, and I don't have many mod cons, but living on THE poshest (and very historic) street in Richmond makes me really happy. 7. The Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction Tour: Seeing both of these bands together in June (in Maryland) was so very special. Definitely one of the best shows of all of 2009. And of course, meeting one Mr. Reznor, didn't hurt either. 8. Trysts: probably shouldn't require explanation. 9. Music Trivia at Cous Cous: One of my favorite activities in Richmond happens every Tuesday night, at my favorite Richmond watering hole. Music trivia, not for the faint-of-heart (or light of knowledge) at its most unfailingly entertaining, especially when my former team, David Bowie's Nipple Antennae, was constantly emerging as champs. Chris Porter, One Reel, Bumbershoot Festival TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS IN SEATTLE Leonard Cohen - WAMU Theater (one of my Top 5 for the decade!) Raphael Saadiq - Bumbershoot Festival Paul Weller - Moore Theatre Motorhead - Showbox SoDo Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Tractor Tavern TOP 5 CD RELEASES The Clientele - Bonfires on the Heat Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement Shawn Lee - Soul in the Hole Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Tell 'Em What Your Name Is Various Artists "Where The Action Is! - Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968 Honorable mentions to Atlas Sound, Devendra Banhart, The Heavy, and The New Mastersounds Steve Quenell
Top 21 list of the best psyched-out, sitar-laden, organ jams and library sounds I stumbled upon in 2009: 1) Affinity "Night Flight" (1970)/Brainticket "Radagacuca" (1972)/Julian's Treatment "6th Chapter: Altarra, Princess Of The Blue Women" (1970) I'm a sucker for any psych with floating, sometimes Leslie-soaked, female vocals and these three tunes are prime examples. They're what you'd expect to hear while going down the rabbit hole. 2) Al Stewart - "Turn To Earth" (1966) Yes, THAT Al Stewart. Mr. Year-of-the-Cat started as a psychedelic goof ball. Regardless (or because of that), this Yardbirds cover eclipses the original with its haunting vocals and jazzy instrumentation. Broadcast (who I love) totally ripped this song off! 3) Annie Girardot "La femme faux cils" (1968)/Delphine "La fermeture éair" (1966)/France Gall "Laisse Tomber Les Filles" (1964) I thought I'd had my fill of the French pop ladies, but there are still a few nuggets out there that ruled my world this year. Each one of these sends me into fits of yééages. 4) Aphrodite's Child "The Four Horsemen" (1972)/"Altamont" (1972) If The Who were a Greek proto-prog band that did Kenneth Anger soundtracks? Yes! Both songs are off the album "666." Yes! 5) Roger Roger "Safari Park" (1972) Library music master "Roger Roger" wrote countless songs, background music and themes for the BBC and Chappell studio. Not all of them are great, but this sleek, dirty and downright funky song may be his finest moment. 6) David Axelrod "The Smile" (1968)/The Electric Prunes "Holy Are You" (1968) Axelrod's production always floors me and these two songs of his are at the top of this year's most-played list. 7) Ennio Morricone - "Svolta definitiva" (1970)/"Fruscio di Foglie Verdi" (1968) In my constant search for more of his work, El Maestro never ceases to astound me with his output from the 60's & 70's. "Svolta definitiva" grooves hard ala Vampyros Lesbos and "Fruscio di Foglie Verdi" with its haunting mix of Italian choir vocals atop a go-go beat shakes the senses. 8) Los Bravos - "Getting Nowhere" (1967) Los "Black Is Black" Bravos top their more famous hit with this sweet, fuzzed-out rave up. Imagine Gene Pitney doing "My Little Red Book" or just see for yourself. 9) John Cameron - "Swamp Fever" (1973) All around amazing British studio composer, arranger and musician, Cameron did it all including this brooding, flute-filled solid groover. One of the best library tracks ever written. 10) Ozdemir Erdogan Ve Orkestrasi - "Uzun Ince Bir Yoldayim" (late 60's/early 70's) If Procol Harum were Selda's back up band you'd have something closely resembling this sun-soaked, Turkish instrumental delight. Thank-you Ozdemir Erdogan Ve Orkestrasi! 11) Piero Umiliani - "Nostalgia" (1975)/"A New Experience" (late 60's/early 70's) Like fellow composer Morricone, Umiliani was also cranking out some of the sweetest soundtracks and library jams back in his day. These songs both represent what Piero did best: his own brand of hazy, mellow early 70's synth sounds. 12) Marc Moulin/Placebo - "Humpty Dumpty" (1974) Sounding like the theme to a gritty 70's crime drama, Moulin (with his band Placebo) laid down some serious Herbie Hancock-style, punchy horn/smooth rhodes jazz with this mind-blowing track. 13) Serge Gainsbourg - "La Horse" (1969 with Jean-Claude Vannier) I really can't believe how fantastic this Serge instrumental is. It starts off sounding a bit like a John Barry espionage thriller until the beat drops around the 30 second mark and then it's all over. It grooves so hard (fleshed out by a sweet bass line and Vannier's string section) and then, when you think it can't get any better, the drums break it down, followed by a moment of silence, a BANJO SOLO(!), and then it kicks right back into the original jam. My favorite song of the year. Pat Riley, Domino Records That Petrol Emotion live at The Bellhouse, Brooklyn, NY- the band rocked, jumped, wailed and thumped like it was 20 yrs ago. There was kicking of ass AND fun! Animal Collective live at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY- I got to work their merch booth with my pal Adam and give away posters to fans on a perfect summer night. Dirty Projectors live with guests The Roots and David Byrne at Bowery Ballroom, Manhattan, NY- It just felt like a special night even without the guests. Jesus Lizard live at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza, Manhattan, NY- 15 or so years since I last saw them and Yow is still in your face incredible while being quietly funny. Tour Managing Max Tundra at SXSW and meeting his Japanese superfan. He spoke to her in Japanese sending her into an ecstatic laughing fit where all she could say was "Oh, Max Tundra! Oh, Max Tundra!" then ran away. Rainbow Bridge - Big Wave Rider Atlas Sound - Walkabout Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Jay Z - Empire State of Mind The Big Pink - Dominos Stuff that I can't exclude Guest spinning with DJ Mona D on East Village Radio The Beastie Boys reissues Nirvana - Bleach reissue Stuff I came to late Q-Tip - The Renaissance Various - Born Bad Vol 1-7 Robert Wyatt - The EPs I will deeply miss Jim Carroll and Lux Interior Kevin Serra, Writer, Kevchino.com Top 13 Albums of 2009 001 | Natureboy - Natureboy Self Released 002 | Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse Self Released 003 | Masterface - Freedom Tower Self Released 004 | Real Estate - Real Estate Woodist 005 | Cass McCombs - Catacombs Domino 006 | The Antlers - Hospice French Kiss 007 | Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was In Love Language of Stone 008 | Beat The Devil - Idiot’s Guide Self Released 009 | Grizzly Bear - Vecktimest Warp 010 | Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers - A Fish Hook An Open Eye Self Released 011 | The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - S/T Slumberland 012 | Volcano Choir - Unmap Jagjaguwar 013 | Wildbird & Peacedrums - The Snake The Control Group Steven Severin, Neumos / Wake Up Productions (in no particular order) The Avett Brothers Bourbon and Ginger The Wire Matts in the Market Vacation NBA season Matthew Smith, Outrageous Cherry 1. Dennis Coffey every Wednesday night at Northern Lights Lounge in Detroit...jamming from 7 to 11 PM...four hours of funk and fuzzbox freakout. 2. Amboy Dukes reunion...4/17/09 in Detroit...Ted Nugent's feedback-drenched solos blaze like an expression of anarchistic hippie idealism that threatens to undermine Ted's weird political notions...especially on "Baby Please Don't Go"! 3. Rhys Chatham's "A Crimson Grail", performed at Lincoln Center, NYC, 8/8/09 with 200 electric guitars...an incredible experience...and Liquid Liquid was on the bill too! 4. Throbbing Gristle in Chicago 4/26/09...the "hits" set was cool, but the film/improvisation set was T.G. in full flight. 5. Flower Travellin' Band live at SXSW...the guitarist plays an instrument that looks like a giant cinnamon roll. The Soundcarriers
Records: There’s been a fare few releases, re-releases, re-visits and purchases this year, which have given The Soundcarriers camp a tilt in their kilts. Well worth mentioning include:
Pish – Inner Space LP (Akarma/Wah Wah Spain LPS061)/ Various Artists, The Sound Of Wonder (Finders Keepers FKR023LP) Martin – Sly Stone, Rock Dirge 45 (Woodstock Records WOO001) / Serge Gainsbourg, Historie De Melody Nelson LP (Light In The Attic LITA040) Leonore – Mazzy Star, Among My Swan CD (Capitol 7243 8 27224 2 7) favourite track: "Rhymes Of An Hour" Hazel – Rodriguez, Coming From Reality Fashion:
Since 1784, John Smedley have been producing the finest quality knitwear in the beautiful setting of Lea Mills, Matlock, not far from the breathtaking Peak District, Derbyshire - And in 2009 have been keeping The Soundcarriers warm in winter and cool in summer. John Smedley knitwear is truly sublime, the finest 30 gauge knit is fully-fashioned and hand-linked in the most luxurious Merino wool and Sea-Island cotton. Pish wears - Hepworth in muscovado Adam wears - Elliot in pine needle Dorian wears - Tarquin Cardigan in navy Leonore wears - Dolly in charcoal and Gabo gloves Bands: Adam - Fraser King – The Witch and Mr. Woo Nightclubs: Two fantastic nights we’d like to mention: Martin - A good few beers were sunk, and some great 45s spun at Rock’n’Roll Soul. Downstairs at the deliciously loungey club The Phoenix, Cavendish Square, just off London’s glittering Oxford St, there’s a great night happening once a month; previous guest DJs include Acid Jazz legend Eddie Piller, Jazzman Gerald, The Bees, Andy Lewis and a couple of drunk cats who go under the tag The Soundcarriers DJs. Reputed to have ‘More Soul Than A Shoe Shop’ – and endorsed by the late Arthur Lee – this is a top night! London Pride served on draught in proper mugs, too. Expect to hear: Johnny Jones & The King Casuals – ‘Purple Haze’; The Faces – ‘Stay With Me’; Pigmeat Markham – ‘Here Comes The Judge’
Pish – Raw Rockabilly, Blues Stompers, Surf Instros, Garage & Frat, New Orleans R&B and anything Titty Shaker related... all on 45. Not a compact disc insight? Then, that’ll be Nottingham’s strictly dancefloor rock ‘n roll night The Rubber Room Heavyweight collectors Martin Lawrie and Nick Smith spin the wild sounds up at The Maze, creating a soundtrack made for nipple tassels and leopard print. Books/Publications: Martin – It’s been a real honour to have been featured in some brilliant magazines this year, and none more so great than the fab and happening Shindig!. Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills and crew have a really good thing going on here. In-depth and informative articles on everything great in this musical world of ours. Highlight – Julie Driscoll feature. Fab! Leonore – Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer Adam – Black Snow by Mikhail Bulgakov Pish - Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley Novels Exhibitions/Galleries: Pish – The Museum Of Brands, Packaging and Advertising. Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London Martin – I really drew the short straw here! I couldn’t handle the 30 minute queue at The Royal Academy Of Arts, so left George to enjoy the magical delights of Anish Kapoor on his own, whilst I spent 30 minutes on the tube, and 20 mins in heavy rain to get to the Tate Modern to view Pop Life: Art In A Material World, which I’m not going to even say one word about in case I’m mistakenly accused of promoting this travesty of an exhibition. Whereas George had a time of his life! The towering pile of large chrome balls (Tall tree and the eye) reaching for the sky in the museum’s courtyard: reflecting buildings, people, sky, is breathtaking alone, and sets the standard for a fantastic exhibition of modern, ingenious and challenging sculpture.
Hazel - Passion for Fashion & Fine Textiles including an Important Audrey Hepburn Collection – Kerry Taylor Auctions - Fantastic pre-Auction viewing of Audrey Hepburn’s infamous wardrobe. Blog: Martin – Paul Smith. Love this man’s blog! It’s just hard not to feel lazy when you read how much he gets up to! Film: Adam- A Serious Man – The Coen Brothers Event:
Martin - Got to be really self-indulgent here, but the event of my year has to be my wedding to my beautiful new wife Hazel. It was an unbelievably special, emotional day. Set in the home where Hazel grew up in Braunston, a historic canal-side village, we were so touched by how many people dear to us traveled great distances to share our special day (cheers Jules for coming all the way over from Japan), eat fresh North Sea lobster, dance to some of the greatest records and drink some of the finest ale. And huge thanks to The Soundcarriers for rocking the World War II marquee! Pish - This time last year, we were still celebrating the continued success of legendary independent record store, Selectadisc, Nottingham. Sadly, but with dignity still in-tact, Selectadisc ceased trading earlier this year. Ex-staff from all over the shop’s 43 years of supplying records to the residents of Notts and further afield, came along on its last day and leant their services in what can only be described as a wake. As the shutters came down for the last time on this much loved shop, tears in many people’s eyes, the partying continued into the small hours, with many of the staff DJing their record collections purchased over the years from one of Nottingham’s institutions, Selectadisc. Much missed. Gigs/Festivals: We all had a fantastic time at the superbly organised, super friendly festival The Green Man. It was a real treat to open the main stage on the Saturday. Other highlights include: Leonore – “The Dirty Three live was one of the best things I’ve seen in years”; Joe Boyd reading and expanding on extracts from his book White Bicycles; having a ‘Gong Bath’; Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve slick DJ set... A brilliant festival set in the beautiful Welsh Brecon Beacons
Martin - The Godfathers Of Groove, Jazz Cafe, London. Rueben Wilson, Bernard Purdie and Grant Green Jr. The line-up and title says it all. Legends! Pure Hammond and guitar groove from the originators. Witnessing Wilson’s effortless B3 style was worth the ticket price alone, whilst Purdie’s a complete all round entertainer. Just a shame Purdie’s kit has lost that baggy Blue Note sound and raspy snare – instead a bit flat and Rock School sounding. Apart from that minor gripe, a night in groove heaven. Sookie Sookie People: And finally, we’d like to mention a few names who have helped to make 2009 a year to remember in the Soundcarriers world: Dave Cooper at Melodic, Will Lawrence at In House Press, Matt Sullivan at Light In The Attic, Chris Dedrick, White Denim, Justin 'The Professor' Spear, Jon 'Mojo' Mills, George Vedmore, Jim Cooke, Jo and Danny at The Green Man, Charlotte Foy at John Smedley, Jon Matthews, Keith Haworth, and Kieron Tyler for voting Harmonium as album of the year Gabe Spierer, Beggar's Group Five things I liked this year (not the definitive year-end list, but a LITA exclusive): an album: The Horrors - Primary Colours a dog: one specific Dachshund named Dorothy a country: Brazil a rookie: Brandon Jennings (got to watch him for the first time last night on my just-purchased NBA League Pass. Milwaukee, who's psyched?) a concert: Nine Inch Nails live at Bowery Ballroom Jeff Terich Editor, Treblezine.com Top 10 events/albums/songs, etc. of 2009 1. Getting married 2. Dining on Octopus, tuna and patatas bravas at Inopia in Barcelona 3. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest 4. Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" (but not so much the rest of Blueprint 3) 5. covering Fugazi's "Waiting Room" with a tuba player for Musical Pursuit at the Whistle Stop 6. Baroness at The Casbah 7. Baroness' - Blue Record 8. Raekwon's - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II 9. 30 Rock 10. Grizzly Bear at The Belly Up, incorporating mason jars as lights into their stage setup Kieron Tyler, Writer Top Eleven Albums Of The Year The Soundcarriers - Harmonium (Melodic) 1. The Amazing – S/T (Subliminal Sounds) 2. Benjamin Biolay - La Superbe (Naï) 3. Shogun Kunitoki - Vinonaamakasio (Fonal Records) 4. Blk Jks - After Robots (Secretly Canadian) 5. Oh No Ono – Eggs (Morningside) 6. Soap & Skin - Lovetune For Vacuum (PIAS Recordings) 7. Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want (Memphis Industries) 8. Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw) 9. Pierre Lapointe - Sentiments Humains (Audigram) 10. MúSing Along To Songs You Don’t Know (Morr Music) Top Eleven Reissues Of The Year 1. Various - Where The Action Is (Rhino) 2. Harmonia & Eno ’76 - Tracks and Traces reissue (Grönd) 3. Various - Clap Your Hands Stamp Your Feet (Excelsior Recordings) 4. 13th Floor Elevators - Sign Of The 3 Eyed Men (Charly) 5. The Inner Space (i.e. Can) - Agilok & Blubbo (Wah Wah) 6. Various – Saint Etienne Present Songs For The Dog & Duck (Ace) 7. The Master’s Apprentices – S/T (Aztec Music) 8. Various – Britain Learns To Rock (Fantastic Voyage) 9. Jacques Dutronc – Et Moi Et Moi Et Moi (RPM International) – I know it’s one of mine, but it’s great, so there. 10. Heldon – S/T (Wah Wah) Pari Zangeneh – The Series Of Music For Young Adults Iranian Folk Songs (Institute For The Intellectual Development Of Children And Young Adults) – ok, it’s a bootleg, but how else are you going to get an Iranian album for 1976? Greg Vandy, Host, KEXP - The Roadhouse Pickathon (in Portland): the heat! the dust! the music! Cliff Lee trade to M's: solid one-two in the rotation! Frank Fairfield LIVE In The Roadhouse: time travelin'! Mad Men: the set designs alone.... Rodriguez @ Triple Door (& party at Sully's pad): sugarman! No Depression Fest @ Marymoore Park: rapping with the stars! The Roadhouse Summer Sell-Out Radio Show: cuz it's summer and it feels good... Breaking Bad: tuco! ring! Wheedle's Groove Documentary: bold soul sister! Alela Diane: #2 album- super sweet Fire In My Bones Compilation: #1 album- old rare raw black gospel! My Wedding @ Sodo Park: featuring performances by Michael Vermillion, Mark Pickerel, Shane Tutmarc, & Zoe Muth! thank you!! Adam Voith, Billions Top 5 Cheats While Trying to Lose 25 lbs: 5: Entire package of Pinwheel Chocolate Covered Marshmallow cookies 4: Large Double Chocolate Fudge milkshake from Steak n Shake 3: Twelve 100 Calorie Packs of Chips Deluxe cookies in one less than one hour 2: Two Limited Edition Fudge Snickers candy bars in less than twenty minutes 1: Wendy's Double w/ Cheese for lunch, Steak n Shake Double w/ Cheese for dinner Geoffrey Weiss, Hollywood Records Some highlights of 2009: The Hunches - Exit Dreams. Oddly emotional, completely vicious, the Hunches were a unique band, and this swan song is worthy of the titanic legacy that will grow up around them. Cold Sun - Dark Shadows - I don't know when the fancy new version actually came out (the '80's version on Rockadelic was awesome, but this is even better), but I played it a lot in 2009, and it really is that rarest of things, a lost psychedelic masterpiece. If it had come out when it was recorded, there would be bad tribute albums to it. Get the vinyl, get the CD, download it, or sing it to yourself. Francis Harold & the Holograms - Who Said These Were Happy Times? An illustration of the subjectivity of the listening experience. I play this, and feel waves of bliss like when Loveless was new, I play it for other people and they cover their ears and run away. Folks compare FHH to other things and I just don't know what they're talking about. Lost Abbey - 10 Commandments Ale - Event Beer. If I've got one in the fridge, II look forward to opening it all day. I should also mention Golden State on Fairfax, because Jason there has real enthusiasm for what he does, and he always has great beers on tap. The Thomas Function - I love "In the Valley of Sickness." The words that come out of Josh Macero's mouth surprise me every time. Lucky Luke - Traveling for a Living- As mossy and flinty as the best UK folk, with real forward momentum. This album has been a few years coming, but when you play it it's whenever you want it to be. Harvest, Vertigo, Trailer, Transatlantic, Mexican Summer. Ed Solo- Watch Your Eyes - Maybe there is lots of electronic music this odd and immediate, if so please tell me. At my house, this is a game ender. Scrotum Poles- Auchmithie Forever - I haven't actually played the vinyl yet, but just the idea that this came out in 2009 makes me happy. And I have all the songs, and they're all great, so it's not a complete abstraction. Where the Wild Things Are - (the movie). Beautiful, odd, soulful. A great, insightful film. I don't know if it's for kids, but it's for me. John Wenzel, The Denver Post National albums: 1. Metric – Fantasies (PIAS/Metric) 2. Smug Brothers – Fortune Rumors (self-released EPs) 3. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic (Warner Bros.) 4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Glass Note) 5. Siriusmo – The Uninvited Guest (Monkeytown Records) 6. Tortoise – Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey) 7. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career (Merge) 8. Telekinesis – Telekinesis (Merge) 9. Kings of Convenience – Declaration of Dependence (Astralwerks) 10. The Mountain – Heartless Bastards (Fat Possum) Runners-up: Jawbox – For Your Own Special Sweetheart Headlights – Wildlife Boston Spaceships – Zero to 99 David Bazan – Curse Your Branches The Thermals – Now We Can See The Appleseed Cast – Sagarmatha The Cribs – Ignore the Ignorant Albums from Denver bands: 1. The Jim Jims – Bottom of the City EP 2. Everything Absent or Distorted – The Great Collapse 4. Houses - Summer EP 3. Wentworth Kersey – (O) EP 5. Bad Weather California – Young Punks 6. d. biddle – Beds and Monsters 7. Aakash Mittal – Videsh 8. Pacific Pride – Pacific Pride 9. Meese – Broadcast 10. Pretty Lights – Passing Behind Your Eyes 11. Everything Absent or Distorted – The Lucky One 12. Gregory Alan Isakov – This Empty Northern Hemisphere 13. Houses – Spring EP 14. Paper Bird – A Sky Underground 15. Churchill – Churchill Michelle Witten, Editor/producer, Wheedle’s Groove, Editor, Scout’s Honor Favorite meats I have eaten this year after 18 years of vegetarianism: 1. roasted duck with creme de foie gras 2. oxtail stew 3: lamb birra tacos 4. wild boar sloppy joe 5. uncured applewood smoked bacon Andy Zax Top 11 Experiences of 2009: Getting yelled at on the phone--twice!--by Country Joe McDonald (who later apologized) Flying 3000 miles to see Van Der Graaf Generator "Take Me Round Again" by The Fiery Furnaces Everything that has ever been--or will ever be--released on Ghost Box The Experience Music Project Pop Conference Being nominated for a Grammy The Tuscan Vegetarian sandwich at Columbine in Tribeca Stumbling across Noveller's "Brilliant Colors" on a rental car radio while driving through the middle of nowhere Tearing the shrink wrap off of a sealed original of David Axelrod's Earth Rot The ceeFrenzy iPhone app Ommegang Rouge sour ale Jonathan Zwickel, Freelance Writer Ed. Jonathan Zwickel threw together a list for you and yours this holiday season. All you need to do to download it is send an email to zwickelicous@gmail.com. Well worth the small bit of effort. We promise.
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December 07, 2009 at 03:00 PM
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC SUBSCRIPTION 2010 HAS ARRIVED!
It's nearing the end of 2009 for you, our amazing customers, and for us, Light In The Attic and that means a couple things. First, we've been downing brandy soaked egg nog like it's our job for the last six days and co-owner Matt Sullivan has already put on his "naughty" reindeer outfit more than enough times. Second, we're about ready to start signing up folk for the 2010 Light In The Attic Subscription. What might you ask is that? Starting last year we, the good folk of Light In The Attic, allowed you, again amazing customers, the opportunity to pay us a flat rate, and in return for that flat rate, you'd receive each and all of our releases, plus a slew of exclusive goodies. And oh what a package we presented: Rodriguez, Serge, The Monks, Karen Dalton, and much, much more. All of these, in your hands (plus exclusive goodies), snug and cozy, ripe to keep you warm through this daunting winter season. Now, as the holidays swoop down upon us like carrion birds of prey we present to you the Light In The Attic 2010 Subscription Service. Perhaps you're sweating bullets as we speak, wondering what to ply your family with this year. The tins of stale popcorn and two-person body condoms just didn't cut it last year and now your struggling to make amends. You folk who've already blown your Yuletide Budget on inflatable Rod Stewart dolls and life size wax sculptures, we're sorry, but for the rest of you, pockets still bulging with holiday dough, this is the gift for you. A selection of our releases (explained below) in a variety of formats (CD/LP/Digital) featuring, for you our most devoted fans a plethora of bonus exclusives (hand numbered, limited edition posters, wisps of Serge's beloved hair, etc.) all delivered prior to the release date. We've been tweaking and turning the final deets of our brand new, absolutely mind-bending new website, thus we gush with apologies for the late arrival of this, our epic subscription service. Apologies aside thought, here's a few hints on just what we're cooking up for the big 2010: Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin - Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus) Recorded as a series of duets and solo performances with lover, actress, and model Birkin, the pairs chemistry-enhanced collaboration was thrust upon the record buying public to much shock and horror, but indeed found global sales. The disc quickly shot its cigarette brandishing author and fresh-faced vocalist into the international spotlight; and although leadoff single "Je t'aime" and its seductive purrs reached top slot in the UK charts, none other than the Pope branded the tune offensive and blasphemous. Ever the conversationalist, Gainsbourg wittily replied, "we couldn’t have gotten a better PR man!" Lou Bond - S/T 1974's self-titled Lou Bond – released on the groovy yet little-known Stax imprint We Produce – was left to languish in cutout bins and vinyl graveyards across the US. Still, the soulful troubadour, acoustic guitar slung over his lanky frame, kept on trucking, rocking and rolling though life's many ups and downs. Once you hear Lou's 10-minute plus "To The Establishment," with it's hypnotic strings, rocksteady backbeat, and "tell it to the people" lyrics, you may find insight into the world in which we live. Kris Kristofferson - Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends Over 5 years in the making, and with the attention to detail and elaborate packaging the label is known for, LITA 050 is none other than the never-before-released 1968-1972 demos of Texas-born Renaissance man and maverick songwriting pioneer, Kris Kristofferson. With the outlaw Highwayman's full blessing, Light In The Attic is honored to present Kristofferson’s honest and upfront formative takes on the tunes that would eventually become part of the great American songbook. And that's just the start ... Purchase the 2010 Light In The Attic CD Subscription HERE! Purchase the 2010 Light In The Attic Vinyl Subscription HERE! Purchase the 2010 Light In The Attic Digital Subscription HERE! Full on sale details after the jump. So what are the details and how much are we charging for 'em:
8 CD'sUS Orders - $100Canada Orders - $120International Orders - $1508 LP'sUS Orders - $130Canada Orders - $150International Orders - $2005 Digital Albums$40 plus free 2010 Light In The Attic Digital CompilationThere we have it, a dump truck full of amazing releases, parachuted to your front door. Does life get any better than this? No. -
November 19, 2009 at 03:00 PM
WATCH THIS: A NEW FRENCH SERGE MOVIE TRAILER!
The Film: Serge Gainsbourg: Vie Heroique The Director: Joann Sfar Our thoughts: Looks suitably sexy to fit the mood of the French national icon, Serge Gainsbourg. Sadly, we can't understand a damn thing said in this NSFW trailer (breasts, aplenty) but Jesus if it doesn't showcase Monsieur Gainsbourg's love of ladies, cigs, boozing, and causing trouble. We're sold. -
November 18, 2009 at 04:46 AM
WATCH THIS: CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG/BECK - "HEAVEN CAN WAIT"
This video has three amazing things going for it: 1. Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of the late, great Serge Gainsbourg whom we have reissued in the past, and will reissue again in the future, and whom has ventured out beneath the enormous shadow of her father to become quite the actress/musician in her own right. Not-An-Intern Noah is still a bit flush over her performance in Michel Gondry's amazing Science of Sleep. 2. Beck. Haters please step away. Beck, though rife with missteps in his lengthy career, is a consummate musician who has completely won us back over with his recent return to form with his amazing Record Club. He covered The Velvet Underground and we smiled and that's saying a lot. 3. Lunacy. Absolute fucking lunacy. Axes chasing people. Giant walnuts. Fat shirtless children and guitars. And that's the first ten seconds. Enjoy. -
October 30, 2009 at 02:38 AM
HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM LIGHT IN THE ATTIC AND DREW CHRISTIE!
Drew Christie is an amazing, talented artist who's done some seriously fantastic work for us (see our inaugural zine [more coming on that front], our Light In The Attic CD sampler, the Serge Gainsbourg liner upcoming Michael Hurley film he's working on) has decided to celebrate the great holiday that is All Hallow's Eve with a self-described "Spooky Radio Show". It's pretty f'n awesome. Download the whole damn thing right HERE. Have a Happy Halloween you devils and demons out there. Just remember, don't eat the apples, throw away already opened candy, slutty costumes are played out, and drinking and driving is for fools. Be safe, Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah-HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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August 24, 2009 at 04:00 PM
WHAT'S BREWING AT LIGHT IN THE ATTIC?
Matt Sullivan speaks!
We’ve been meaning to update the blog more often with news on what we’re working on, listening to, loving, hating, and all that. Raise your glasses, here’s to round number one… Working on the release schedule for 2010, which is coming together very nicely. Not sure we’ll ever top Cold Fact but we’ll try in ’10. What’s in store? Well, we can’t spill the beans just yet though. Sit down, sit down, more news coming soon. Small hints… gems from Memphis and Nashvile; another glimpse into the world of all things Gainsbourg and once again a glorious re-mastering by Dave Cooley at Bionic in Los Angeles. I only wish Dave could have re-mastered Serge’s entire catalog. Serge certainly deserves it. Oh, and a project that’s been in the works for five lonnnnng years – close to the life of the label – will FINALLY see the light in 2010. Thank the heavens b/c I don’t know how much longer we could have kept quiet. We’re deep in the midst of a major site redesign. One day soon you won’t have to experience our ancient, clunky site. A friend said it best – your site looks like the nineties. The new site will give us the freedom to quickly update the site with news of what’s going on, video, exclusive mix tapes, limited edition goodies. Thanks for sticking with us.
It’s been a wonderful week - the mailman delivered the goods and our arms got weak carrying it all in… Sometimes we forget the significance of exercise. Must pull away from the office more often or invest in an elliptical machine and Light In The Attic headbands. Anyways, outside our office door we discovered boxes and boxes piled high. Tucked inside were finished copies of our upcoming releases: Wheedle’s Groove – Kearney Barton (LITA 043), along with the long overdue reprint of our seminal 2004 comp Wheedle’s Groove: Seattle’s Finest in Funk & Soul 1965-75 (LITA 009). A few years back local DJ and collector Mr. Supreme opened our eyes to a long forgotten Seattle soul scene of the 60s and 70s. Yes, Seattle had an incredibly vibrant funk and soul scene, which birthed notables like Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones, but loads of others who sadly went forgotten. Soon after we spent a solid year tracking down the bands, musicians, engineers, and labels who brilliantly produced these wicked and rare 45s back in the day. Licenses ensued, then a deluxe compilation, followed by much acclaim around the globe and a handful of sold-out shows. The times were too good to disappear once again so we put the musicians back in the studio. Not just any ordinary studio though. We shot for the stars and came close… recording for three solid days at Kearney Barton’s legendary Audio Recording Studios in Seattle. Kearney Barton is the Pacific Northwest sound engineer who recorded many of the original tracks on the 2004 release, including songs by Black On White Affair and the Soul Swingers. Well, the man – nearing 80 – was still hard at it – with his studio doors still open, still using the same archaic analog gear as he had with the aforementioned bands and other Northwest staples that he recorded since his sound design days launched in the late ‘50s – The Sonics, Ventures, Wailers, Don & The Good Times, The Frantics. And loads of national acts from Cal Tjader to Les McCann. You could say he’s the George Martin of the NW sound. Kearney kindly opened his doors to our Seattle soul supergroup who cut one hell of a record, all straight to analog. We’re completely honored to be releasing this record. Album producer Dynomite D. and music director Johnny Horn were the glue that made this one happen. The album art was the genius of Jamaica to Toronto series photographer Chris Gergley, who kindly took the bus down from Vancouver on a number of occasions, snapping pics at Kearney’s studio. I may have drove him to the brink but fortunately he still picks up the phone. Expect deluxe hand-numbered vinyl on new album - LITA 043. We’ll also be reprinting wax for LITA 009. CDs will drop on September 8th. Vinyl soon after. We’ve gone through 4 test pressings and I think the bastards may have finally got it right. IT MUST SOUND PERFECT! Too much love has gone into the project to have anything less than absolutely mind-numbingly magical. WOW! As I’m sitting here writing this on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Seattle, the phone rings – it’s Rodriguez and his daughter Regan calling from half away around the globe. The man is in Cardiff, Wales having just walked off stage at the Green Man Festival. Things went very well – fantastic new back-up band, enthusiastic reception, and what sounded like his favorite UK performance to date. He was sad to have missed reconnecting with Animal Collective, but caught Wilco. Seeing the man finally get his due is such a high. I can’t think of anything we’re more proud of over the last six plus years. All of us here feel so lucky to have met the man and his music. Good people don’t come around too often, at least not often enough. Next up… in September he’ll be touring South Africa for the first time in a few years, followed by an early October date at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Recent office favorites – The return of free summer concerts at the Mural Amphitheater at the Seattle Center. Does anyone remember the glory of Pain In The Grass? Fruit Bats – Ruminant (2009, Sub Pop) – none of us expected this to be so damn good. Madmen, Madmen, Madmen – Joan Holloway, please be our intern. ???
Ernie Hines – Electrified (1972, We Produce)
The bar in the Moondoggies’ garage. Watch out for the homemade Moonshine.
Blogs like Waxidermy and Aquarium Drunkard. Thank the heavens for these two sites delivering the goods day in and day out. Consistency is a beautiful thing.
Beck – One Foot In The Grave 2xLP reissue (2009, Iliad/K) – Miss the old Beck like One Foot, Midnite Vultures, and Mellow Gold. Why’d he have to start taking himself all serious? Must hand it to him for his site though – digging the web features Record Club and Irrelevant Topics.
Pacific Standard – designers of our upcoming Betty Davis reissues (more info TBA). Best design firm on the planet. We are lucky bastards to be graced by their presence.
Soundcarriers - Harmonium (2009, Melodic)
Paseo Caribbean Restaurant – it never gets old. Best sandwiches on the planet hands down. Two blocks away from our office and the scent percolates through our walls.
Duane Eddy - Does Bob Dylan (1965, Colpix)
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July 17, 2009 at 01:57 AM
ROAD TRIP VIDEO #4: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DAVE COOLEY!
The 2009 Light In The Attic Road Trip (3,000 miles, 50 stores, in 10 days) is over, and still we shed tears of salty grief, but thanks to Cody Hurd, one half of the trouble-making duo of Black Daisy, the magic lives on. In his fourth video of Road Trip madness, the boys, nearly 8 days in to this hocking-records-from-their-trunk adventure down the West Coast sit down with producer and remastering genius Dave Cooley (all of our Betty Davis work, Serge Gainsbourg, Rodriguez, as well as production for Silversun Pickups and many more) to do a little music nerd chatting with a modern great. We swooned, just a little, but if you were looking you would've seen. Enjoy! -
July 14, 2009 at 01:13 AM
BOSTON TAKE NOTE: SERGE + FAMILY TOGETHER ... TONIGHT!
Today is Bastille Day! The French celebration of the 1790 storming of the Bastille, and in many's minds the creation of the French nation as we know it today. We here at Light In The Attic are quite partial to French things - crepes, fries, poutine, the Eiffel Tower - you know, French stuff. Especially our man, Serge Gainsbourg. Well tonight, in honor of Bastille Day and all things Serge, Boston, Mass has quite an event taking place. Serge's son (with Bambou Gainsbourg) Lucien will be celebrating the day by, and please take a deep breath, this might just blow your mind, performing (for the first time in public) his father's works on stage at the Bee Hive. He's referring to the show as Gainsbourg Etcetera and get this, his mother, the aforementioned Bambou, is going to be singing along as well. And that's not all, for the first time in two decades, Serge's backing band will be playing as well. You read correctly friends, Lucien Gainsbourg, son of the late, great Serge, will be performing his father's classic songs tonight with his father's original band and mother, at The Beehive in Boston, Massachusetts. This is the closet thing you'll ever see to Serge performing, well at least until they reanimate his corpse and have perform at the half time of the World Cup finals. All the information right HERE. -
June 26, 2009 at 01:45 AM
MATT SULLIVAN TOURS THE WEST COAST WITH RODRIGUEZ - DAY 2: Seattle to Vancouver and back again ...
Matt Sullivan, co-owner and ticking brain of Light In The Attic, is on the road playing tour manager with the best there is, Rodriguez himself. He's in a mess of excited blogging and we're here, ready and willing to continue to broadcast his adventures.
Today: Rodriguez journeys to the seedy holy ground that is LITA Headquarters.
Sirs, please take it away.
Wake up early in Seattle, Rodriguez and Marc grab some tea, and we're quickly off to the office to pick up the tour merch. Rodriguez at the LITA HQ on Aurora Avenue?! Another beautifully surreal moment. We all geek out, grab some photos, and we're soon on the road, heading north for Vancouver to kick off the West Coast Tour. This marks Rodriguez's first ever Canadian show in his entire life. The man never even played Toronto or Montreal in the 60s/70s. We stop by Avalon Records in Bellingham to say hello and meet Chris and Nils. Good people and store. Rodriguez loves meeting the people. Another reason why he's a truly special soul. Fairly smooth sailing into the Canadian border (surprisingly much stricter and less friendly than the U.S. side). We scan through the radio but don't find much. I remember that Stefan at PIAS France, our fine French distributor told Rodriguez all about Serge Gainsbourg's "Historie de Melody Nelson" LP during Rodriguez's recent trip to Paris. We put on the disc and wig out over the brilliant arrangements and production. Roll into Vancouver and hit the club Richard On Richards. A family reunion ensues... Rodriguez and I reunite with San Francisco band The Fresh & Only's. I love these guys! They're Rodriguez's band for the West Coast dates + the almighty Marc Capelle. The only other time they've been together was during Rodriguez's 36 hour magical trip to San Francisco last November - performing at the Great American Music Hall and an in-store at Amoeba. Bless their hearts. Guitarist Wymond Miles and his wife just had their first son last month but the man is here! Soon in walks Kevin "Sipreano" Howes - liner notes writer for Cold Fact, Coming From Reality, the Monks, and the mastermind behind the Jamaica to Toronto series. Another man that I must say, bless his heart! After a few years in Toronto, Kevin just moved back to Vancouver last month. It's good to see the man. And Kevin brings Stunt Man, mastering wizard behind the Summer Records Anthology and "Innocent Youths" by Earth, Roots & Water. I finally meet the Stunt Man. He is for real.
Sound check goes well and we roll over to Zulu Records for a signing. Good crowd and the staff at Zulu were super cool as always. We grab a quick bite at a diner up the street. Rodriguez scarfs down his favorite meal of choice - soup, soup, soup - while the rest of us grab some sandwiches and tacos. Head back to venue and meet Stephen McBean (Black Mountain/Pink Moutaintops), another man that can do no wrong. I geek out again while meeting Stephen and then once more hanging out with both Rodriguez and Stephen. It's Bushmills, red wine, and smoke. Everyone is all smiles in anticipation for showtime. You can feel it in the air. Side note - pick up Black Mountain's "In The Future" LP if you don't already have it. The world's tightest band and my favorite LP of 2008. This is truly the greatest Canadian welcome - McBean as Pink Mountaintops (Solo) opens the show and Sipreano spins endless 45 gems - psych (Painted Ship), soul (Eddie Spencer), and various other recent finds.
Rodriguez backed by the Fresh & Only's hit the stage around 10:45 with "Inner City Blues" - such a wicked opener. The crowd loved every minute of it, especially the South Africans in the house. And bless their hearts! "Crucify Your Mind" was a personal highlight. I never tire of hearing the tune. Continue to get goosebumps and teary eyed throughout the set and having a hard time comprehending this is reeeeaaaaaliteeee. A big thank you to Rob at Neptoon Records for holding down the fort on the merch table. After the show, Rodriguez came out to say hello and thank everyone that saw the show. Serious class. It quickly turned into a beautiful mob scene, endless autographs and photos. The highlight - a lovely South African family got to meet their hero ("You don't understand, you changed our country. I have listened to Cold Fact every day in my car for over 19 years."). These moments can bring you to tears. And the man is so humble about all the adoration. The next day is a special KEXP radio session in Seattle, so we drive back after the madness dies down. Head out by 2 AM, listening to AM loony toons talk radio (Coast to Coast AM. We need Art Bell back though!). U.S. border guard looks at our passports and asks Rodriguez, "What's your music sound like? Why do you go to South Africa so often?") Good times continue. On the other side, hit the first gas station which happens to be in Blaine, WA. Not a soul in sight and 1920's jazz playing on the gas station speakers. Surreal. An hour later, eyes are getting heavy so we stop at McDonald's for a big ass cup of joe. Who ever told me that McDonald's had good coffee may need a lobotomy (Yes, I can't believe I believed them either). Quite possibly the worst coffee on the planet. But... it got us home. Pull into Seattle at 4:30 AM and we slept like a rock. The next day IS-THE-DAY! Follow the whole thing live on Twitter
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June 12, 2009 at 07:44 AM
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT SEATTLE FOLKS?
These things! 1. Seeing Drew Christie, the esteemed animator and longtime friend of Light In The Attic (have you seen our Serge Gainsbourg reissue? Those are all Drew's drawings) is having an art opening at Victrola in Capitol Hill (on 15th) on Friday. Stop on by you'll be impressed. Check out Drew's work right HERE. 2. On Saturday Old Intern Ralph, sweet sweet Ralph, is playing a show with his band, People Within, at the Tiger Lounge in Georgetown. It is well worth your time not spent Tweeting. Check out the venue HERE. So there you go, don't go whining to us about being bored this weekend. -
June 01, 2009 at 03:52 PM
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC ROAD TRIP - THE FINAL POST!
Well, this is it people. Our final day, our final blog. WE MADE IT!!! Ten days of hauling vinyl crates. Ten days of being cramped in a van. Ten days of not always knowing what town or city we were in. Ten days of virtually no internet connection. Ten days of following directions and getting lost. Ten nights of drinking in hotel rooms. Ten days of meeting up with friends in each city. And ten days of letting people know how committed we are to this catalog of music we are carrying with us from Seattle to San Diego and back.
Seeing all the record stores' employees faces light up when we walked in was so cool, they too have been following this blog awaiting our arrival. Seeing all these different record stores has been exciting and most of all, informative. These people care about music as much as we do, and it's nice to know that these stores exist in these times. Vinyl is the future, again. That may sound strange, but it was proven through and through. In this age of digital domination, true music lovers still want to have a physical product in their hands. They still care about album artwork. They still care about fidelity. And most importantly, they still care about that sound that comes out of the speakers when they set that needle down. We had our last stops in Sacramento today with the sun blasting down on us harder than it has this whole trip. As I'm writing this, I can feel my sunburn slowly starting to make it''s presence known.
We stopped at R5 Records first thing after breakfast. This store was way bigger than I imagined, and the employees were extremely friendly and excited. They took about one of everything! Thanks R5! Stop one was definitely not a bust. We headed over to Time Tested Books, which is a book store AND they sold some vinyl there. They were happy to re-stock their Serge Gainsbourg and Monks vinyl, and we were happy to do that for them. Man, Sacramento is a pretty cool city. There's cool art everywhere, whether it be graffiti or modern art. Cool little clothing stores, coffee shops, and record stores.
The sun was blasting our asses so hard, we had to cover up the vinyl in the van with our heat resistant blankets that we bought way back in Seattle. We all looked like we walked through 45 miles of desert. It doesn't help that none of us have done anything remotely close to working out since 5th grade, aside from lifting these damn boxes! Sacramento was a great ending to this journey. They bought stuff, they appreciated what we were doing, and we ended on such a great note. It felt strange to know that our next drive in the van was going to be the one that would lead us home to Seattle. We would love to stay out here and keep bring records to the people, but I guess we have to get back to our day jobs. Thank you all so much for following our progress, and thank you to all of the AMAZING record stores for your hospitality. You give us hope. Also, thanks to all the great people we've met along the way, this trip would not have been half as fun if we did not run into you. Most of all, thanks to Light in the Attic for making this happen. Great idea, great label, and great people with endless integrity and love for music. We hope we done you right. And hey, we didn't end up in jail. Well, we're still 6 hours from Seattle, so you never know. Much love to you all. The boys,
Troy, Cody, Sandy and Tyson
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May 25, 2009 at 02:56 PM
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC ROAD TRIP - MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN CALIFORNIA PT. 1
Oh boy, this has been amazing so far, but now we're really getting into the thick of it. Today we hit 2 stores in El Cerrito and off to San Francisco!! Stop one is Mod Lang. We pulled into the ally and fell right into our usual routine. Get out of the van and start unloading and displaying the crates and boxes of wax. They came out and started sifting through, pulled out their favorites, wrote a check and BAM, we're off. Total stop time, 20 minutes. Our fasted stop yet! This was good because we have allot to do today. Next stop, Down Home Records. We were hoping that this stop would be as fast as the first, but these guys wanted to REALLY look at everything we had, and we were more than happy to show them. They grabbed a bit of everything making this stop one of our most successful. Since we were in such a hurry to get to the big city, we had to eat Jack in the Box for brunch. And yes, it sounds strange to call it brunch when you're eating at Jack in the Box (or as we call it, Jack in the crack) but hey, we're on the road and ya gots to eat like this sometimes.
We jumped in the van, blasted that catchy ass MGMT record, and we are almost to San Francisco. Pulling into the city was amazing. All of us haven't been here in a long time, so to see the amazing skyline, bridges and architecture was fabulous. We pick up our friend Matt, who lives here, and he leads us to Aquarius Records! These guys (as well as many of these record store dudes) love the Monks and Serge Gainsbourg vinyl, so the grabbed a bunch of that. This stop was fast because they had already called ahead and let us know what they wanted, so we had some pre-packaged boxes for them put together before we pulled up. This stop was also particularly awesome because we finally got to meet Noah, the guy who is putting together these blogs! We've been in touch with Noah this whole trip, and we were excited to run into him (he lives in San Francisco) and he was just as cool as we thought he would be. So yes,this stop was nice and easy, and now we have to go to Groove Merchant Records.
We pulled up to a place called Grooves Records, thinking that this must be Groove Merchant for some reason, and we went in and said, "hey, we're from Light in the Attic", and they looked at us confused. We immediately realized that we were in the wrong store, and before we could apologize, the owner, Kelley, said, "I'll take a look at what you've got." Yes! He started grabbing our vinyl when we were informed that the guy that was grabbing these vinyl was none other than Sub Pop Recording artist Kelley Stoltz!! This is amazing because Troy and Cody are HUGE Kelley Stoltz fans and have been for years!!!! So he bought a bunch of stuff, and of course Troy had him sign a vinyl and grabbed Cody to take a picture with him. He was so cool, he invited us to his show and said he's put us on the guest list tonight! Take a wild guess what we'll be doing our first night in San Francisco.
We hauled ass over to the original destination we were supposed to be at, Groove Merchant, but they wanted us to come back the following day so that they could spend more time looking through the product since they were going to close fairly soon. No problem, we've got some time tomorrow. So now we're parking the van for the night, finding a place to eat, and getting ready to see Kelley Stoltz tonight. In other words, can't complain. Troy, Cody, and Sandy Follow the whole damn rodeo on Twitter.
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May 20, 2009 at 04:43 AM
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC ROAD TRIP - PORTLAND, CORVALLIS, SALEM, EUGENE!
Well well well, day 2 was extremely productive. Our vinyl train rode around Portland, OR, stopping first at a place we were at the day before, The CD and Game Exchange. This wasn't on the itinerary, but they called us and said they wanted us to come back! They wanted to spend more time going through our boxes and boxes of records and cd's, so of course we obliged. They have one of the best back rooms of a record store we have seen. A huge room with cool sweet posters, full on kitchen, and according to the guys, they have Friday night poker there which Troy wanted to join since he loves Texas Hold 'em. But, this wasn't Friday, it was Tuesday and we had to haul ass over to Jackpot Records. Jackpot has been around for a while, and for good reason. Sandy went in and immediately they were picking out what everyone starts right in on, Monks and Serge Gainsbourg. We had a suspicion they would since they had Monks and Serge displays in the store. We were in and out since we now are locking into a routine and getting this system down like champions.
Over to Exiled Records, a cool little shop with lots of great vinyl. They wanted a ton, and they grabbed a ton! After that, we noticed that we were next to a liquor store. As we were carousing the liquor store isles for the evenings beverage, one of the dudes from Exiled Records came in there and said, "hey guys, any chance I can get more Monks cd's? "Of course man", Sandy replied. We may have left without stocking up on booze, but we left Exiled stocked with Monks!! We stopped at Craig Moerer's place (Records By Mail), which is a mail order joint that sends records out to people all over the world. We pulled up and opened the back of the van to reveal our endless crates and boxes of records. Instead of having a look of excitement, he had the look of determination. He wanted to see EVERYTHING. So Tyson took a deep breath, flexed his tattooed arms, and jumped in the back of the van and was hauling these crates and boxes out at lightning speed. We have so many different titles from so many different labels from Light in the Attic to Munster to Vampi Soul to many others. We displayed them all and he went through it, pulling vinyl out from every box. So much so, that Troy thought we should've just parked our van in his living room. He was happy, we were happy, and we were off to Albany, OR, near Corvalis. We pulled up to Ranch Records right on time where Kit, the owner, was eagerly awaiting our arrival. This store not only had cd's and vinyl, but had amazing rock memorabilia from The Beatles, Elvis, Stones, Nirvana, etc. He knew exactly what he wanted from us and he was FAST. Troy found a Joy Division AND a Leaving Trains vinyl that he'd been searching out for ages. As he was debating what to buy (these hard to find beauties are rare and not cheap) Troy just purchased the Joy Division and Kit said, "hey, that Leaving Trains vinyl is yours, no charge." Yes! This guy is top notch. Great store, great guy, off to Eugene we go!
It was starting to get dark, so this was our first night drive in the vinyl train. We'd better get used to it, we've got a long way to go till San Diego, not to mention about 40 more record stores to hit. So here we are in Eugene in our hotel, thinking about our adventurous 2nd day, thinking about free continental breakfast in the morning, and thinking about the California Sun. First things first though, Eugene record stores. Then California, be prepared, these four dudes are coming prepared and armed to the teeth. With records, of course. Troy, Cody, Sandy and Tyson Follow this whole damn Light In The Attic Road Trip LIVE on Twitter
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May 12, 2009 at 07:26 AM
SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED MORE SERGE VIDEOS
Sometimes when we're bored and we don't have any pressing news stories or amazing things to discuss, we just tell Not-An-Intern Noah, "Not-An-Intern-Noah find us a video that features Serge Gainsbourg dancing amongst a box of letters while Jane Birkin does, er, something else in a box of letters" and voila, the little man does just so. Seemingly Serge put together a shit ton of music videos for our recently reissued Histoire de Melody Nelson and this one, for the song "Ah! Melody", though grainy, is bizarrely sexy in a way only Serge could be. Enjoy. -
April 22, 2009 at 01:40 AM
RECORD STORE WEEK AFTERMATH: EUCLID RECORDS, ST. LOUIS, MI
This is the last one, the final cherry on this impressive sunday of record store mania. We're exhausted. Showing this much love will certainly drain the normal human being. We chose one of our favorite record stores to close out the festivities, Euclid Records in St. Louis, Missouri. We'd muster up a sizable ode, in couplet form of course, to this wonderful store, but our arms are tired from typing, our hearts spent from giving love. We can only say this, these guys fucking rule. Euclid Squadron roll out. STORE OF THE DAY: Euclid Records, St. Louis, MI
1. Store Description, history...etc- Funny that you ask that. We have a long store profile that we did for our in-store newsletter. Scroll down a little and you'll see it. 2. What is your favorite record right now? My obsessions right now: Fitness Forever - Personal Train The Hard Lessons - Arms Forest Terry Adams - Holy Tweet Also Monks and Serge
3. What is your favorite LITA release? Original LITA The Blakes EP Reissue LITA Serge Gainsbourg 4. Favorite record to play in the shop? Rodriguez - Cold Fact Starling Electric - Clouded Staircase Future Clouds and Radar - S/T Anything by Puffy Ami Yumi 5. What is the best in-store performance? Terry Adams Rock and Roll Quartet with The Whole Wheat Horns 45 from that in-store out on RSD:
6. Funniest story about the shop? Maybe Gregg Allman hitting up customers for blow. Or my childhood hero Orlando Cepeda telling us about Doris Day's affinity for dark meat.
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April 19, 2009 at 04:24 PM
RECORD STORE WEEK AFTERMATH: END OF AN EAR, AUSTIN, TX
Well the festivities have died. The bands have slunk back to their dark holes. The rare 7"s and cassette tapes have been tucked away in the humidors of record geeks the world over. Yes, Record Store Day has come and gone. But we here at Light In The Attic, angels that we are, still have a handful of our favorite record stores to shower our unconditional love upon. Thus, let us recover from the hangover of music gluttony hair-of-the-dog style. End of the Ear has been doing Light In The Attic quite the solid for a good many years now, and we've develope a love for them, and for Austin in general that evokes rainbows and garter belts. It's sultry and delightful. We'll leave the details to your imagination, gentleman take it away. STORE OF THE WEEK: End Of An Ear, Austin, Texas
1. Store Description, history...etc- We opened in May 2005 with the goal of being our own favorite record store. We're an independently owned and operated store specializing in new and used LP's and CD's. We provide all genres, but specialize in more obscure titles and underground music in general. We also carry music and movie DVD's, t-shirt's, accessories, books, magazines, and collectible VHS tapes. We feature a different art show in our store every month and host in-store performances of local and touring bands. Genres we maybe focus on more than other stores: Experimental, Psychedelic, Progressive, Reggae, Avant Jazz, etc. We want to be the record store that would make us do back flips. 2. What is your favorite record right now? Too many to mention - but some that come to mind instantly are: UFO "Phenomena", Destruction "Sentence Of Death", Ranking Dread "In Dub", Death "For the Whole World To See", Ofege "Try And Love" and the new Alley Cats compilation album.
3. What is your favorite LITA release? Both Betty Davis records, Noel Ellis, Summer Records Anthology 1974-1988, and the new Serge Gainsbourg "Histoire De Melody Nelson" reissue is getting much love. 4. Favorite record to play in the shop? Mrs. Miller's "Greatest Hits" / Melvin Van Peebles "What The #@&! You Mean I Can't Sing..." 5. What is the best in-store performance? We've had a lot of good ones. But the best so far this year have definitely been The Homosexuals, and Powell St. John performing with his band and half of Cold Sun.
6. Funniest story about the shop? One of our regular customers had a total meltdown when she saw Legendary Pink Dots shopping at our store. She cornered Edward Ka-Spel ranting and raving to him for like an hour and basically forced him to let her do video projections for their show that night at Stubb's. Then she was using our phone to call a "film crew" which turned out to be some friend to whom she was screaming over the line-"Be there at 8:00 sharp! Don't fuck this up man, this is the opportunity of a lifetime!!!" They left looking bewildered with her in tow telling her-"You know there's no money in this for you, right?".
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April 05, 2009 at 11:08 AM
WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF SERGE.
It's Monday (right?) and we know you're plodding your way in to the work week, angry, confused, hungry, dreading that first hour sitting next to Fat Kristin from Accounting. We know. Oh, how we know. Thus we thought we'd cheer you up, get your mind of the rotting basil plant F. Kristen has had festering on her desk for the last three weeks. We thought we'd cheer you up with one thing that makes every one bear a shit-eater from ear to ear: Serge motherfucking Gainsbourg. The album is reissued and you should own it. But if you don't, watch this video, realize your absolute error, feel uncomfortable with the kinky sex noises and then go HERE and buy it. We're not kidding. -
March 27, 2009 at 01:52 AM
SERGE MAKES A MOVIE!
In the days and months after Serge Gainsbourg had put together his amazing Histoire de Melody Nelson (ed. did we mention that Pitchfork gave it a 10 out of possible 10 AND awarded it the coveted Best New Music? because they did) he decided that this narrative story about his love for the younger sect of ladies needed some visual imagery. Thus he put together a series of images that he felt captured what his music was trying to say. We found the first part on Youtube for you and if you do a little digging, you can find the rest. Enjoy! -
March 26, 2009 at 01:30 AM
SERGE GETS A TEN ON PITCHFORK, AWARDED "BEST NEW MUSIC"
It's almost hard to type right now. Our collective mouths are dragging on the floor, our hands are shaky, and quite honestly our minds are just blown. Pitchfork gave new reissue of Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson a perfect "10", and even saw fit to adorn it with a glowing red "Best New Music" stamp. From what we can recall this could be the first reissue to be awarded Best New Music and one of the few albums in Pitchfork's short, but prolific, reviewing history to be given a complete ten. The smiles on our face reach from sea to fucking sea.
Listen & Buy
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Serge Gainsbourg
Histoire de Melody Nelson (CD,LP)
LITA 040
French icon and national treasure Serge Gainsbourg is no stranger to sexual proclivities, and with his 1971 Histoire De Melody Nelson he shared an erotic tale as seductive today as the day it was released. With help from actress, amour, and inspiration Jane Birkin, arranger/conductor and co-conspirator Jean-Claude Vannier ("L’Enfant Assassins Des Mouches), not to mention a tight hand picked crew of top shelf UK session musicians, Nelson is often cited as Gainsbourg’s master work, an essential album for the discerning music lover.
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Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin Comic (Zine)
LITACOMIC
SOIXANTE-NEUF: a comic inspired by Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin
Illustrated by David Lasky, written by Mairead Case. B&W w/ color coverSerge and Jane wander Paris, looking for each other on the métro, during a film, in a riot. Features original words and images, plus collaged lyrics, riffs on movie posters, and a surprise in the middle. RIYL masquerade, liquorice, cinema, and Chopin.
