White Fence

As mentioned, White Fence's new album, Cyclops Reap, is out this week on John Dwyer's Castle Face label. Tim Presley doesn't seem to be running out of songs and this is another quality batch of paisley-scented psychedelia. You can stream "To The Boy I Jumped In The Hemlock Alley" below and hear the whole record over at Pitchfork.

White Fence will be in Brooklyn for the Northside Festival in June, playing two shows: the Panache showcase at Brooklyn Bowl on June 13 and then a late show at Knitting Factory on June 14. Tickets to the Knitting Factory show are on sale now; no word on Brooklyn Bowl tickets just yet.

The whole Panache showcase line-up is still forthcoming but we do know its being headlined by Mac DeMarco and we have updated dates for him below as well.

These are just a couple of the additions to the 2013 Northside line-up that includes that free Walkmen show in McCarren Park. Other new additions, Kylesa, Torche, Sonny & the Sunsets, Nü Sensae, Kisses, The Luyas and more. Northside line-up as it stands now is below.

Continue reading "White Fence streaming new LP, added to Northside Fest line-up (Mac DeMarco, Nu Sensae, Kylesa, Torche & more too)"

by Andrew Sacher

William Tyler, who has played guitar in Silver Jews and Lambchop, recently signed to Merge, and the label will release his new solo album, Impossible Truth, on March 19. The first single, "Cadillac Desert," is a shimmering cut of instrumental guitar with post-rock arpeggios meeting the twang of Americana slide. You can stream that song below. That's the album art above.

William will be supporting the new record with a tour that kicks off at Savannah Stopover, continues through Austin for SXSW and eventually hits NYC for an early show at Mercury Lounge on April 16. Tickets for that show go on sale today at noon.

A list of all dates, song stream, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Lambchop/Silver Jews guitarist William Tyler on Merge, touring"

Today Pitchfork posted the first half (well, first 30 albums) of their Top 50 Albums of 2012 list. There are some surprises on it, like Peaking Lights and Sharon Van Etten, who seemed more likely to end up on their Honorable Mentions list due to their relatively lower scores and the fact that most of the albums on this list were awarded Best New Music throughout the year. Cat Power and Hot Chip also make it, both of whose new albums seemed to have received less love from Pitchfork than previous releases by those artists. A Rustie Essential Mix also makes the list even though his actual album which came out last year didn't make their 2011 list. And of course the expected ones end up there too like Purity Ring, Julia Holter, Schoolboy Q, Miguel, and more. The remaining 20 will be revealed tomorrow (Friday, 12/21).

Check out their 50-30 picks below...

Continue reading "30 of Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2012"

Yo La Tengo + Fred Armisen @ Maxwell's, 12/9/2012 (via @j_maxed)

Sunday night was the second night of Yo La Tengo's annual Hanukkah Week residency at Maxwell's with surprise openers Fred Armisen and Sun Ra Arkestra. (Lambchop's Kurt Wagner made the night's mix CD.) Fred actually pulled double duty, playing drums for YLT's entire set (!) making for a double percussion evening that included covers of the Velvet Underground's "Who Loves the Sun?" and the Ramones' "Can't Make it On Time." The whole Sunday setlist is below (and check out Saturday's HERE.).

Any guesses as to who will open for Yo La Tengo tonight? UPDATE: It's The Feelies!

While Fred was laying down the beat, his voice could be heard on last night's episode of The Simpsons where he and Carrie Brownstein played a Portland couple who moved next door to Homer and Marge. The episode also featured Patton Oswalt and The Decemberists. In a strange coincidence, Portlandia returns with a new episode this Friday night (12/14) before the IFC sketch show comes back in earnest on January 4 (there's a private premiere party at a museum in NYC tonight).

Fred was also on this week's Jamie Foxx-hosted SNL, but just barely.

Fred also recently sat in with Dinosaur Jr. at their You're Living All Over Me 25th Anniversary show at Terminal 5 and will be hosting the Snow Ball Ball at The Bell House this Sunday (12/16) which is now sold out.

Last but not least, Fred recently gave us his Top 10 LPs of 2012. Check that out, and take a look at Blonde Redhead's too (theirs contains Yo La Tengo opener Sun Ra Arkestra).

Yo La Tengo's Hanukkah Night 2 setlist is below.

Continue reading "Fred Armisen joined Yo La Tengo & Sun Ra Arkestra for Hanukkah (setlist), was on the Simpsons w/ The Decemberists; The Feelies open tonight"

Reigning Sound

Merge Records have added two new artists to their roster: Memphis, TN's long-running garage greats Reigning Sound (previously on In the Red), and Lambchop guitarist William Tyler whose 2011 instrumental solo album, Behold the Spirit, was well-received (stream it at Spotify). Neither act have specific release news but look for albums from both in 2013.

Meanwhile both Tyler and Reigning Sound will be part of Merge Records' official CMJ showcase which will be at Mercury Lounge on October 18 with Telekenesis, Eleanor Friedberger, Mount Moriah and Superchunk frontman/label domo Mac McCaughan also on the bill. It's the first CMJ showcase Merge has had since 2008. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 21 at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (9/19) at noon.

The only artist on the Merge CMJ showcase that has any other upcoming tour dates listed is Telekinesis, though none in NYC. Those are listed below.

Continue reading "Reigning Sound and William Tyler sign to Merge, playing label's CMJ showcase w/ Telekinesis, Eleanor Friedberger and more"

Charlie Horse opens for Lambchop tonight at Le Poisson Rouge. The show is sold out, but tickets are still available for Lambchop's Brooklyn show Friday at the Bell House (which has no opener). All dates HERE.

UPDATE: It was in fact Yo La Tengo!

Continue reading "Lambchop on tour... but who is Charlie Horse???"

As mentioned, Lambchop are releasing their new album, Mr. M, on February 21 via Merge, and touring in support of it. When we first announced that they'll play NYC on April 19 at Le Poisson Rouge, it was one of a few North American dates scheduled at the moment. They've since revealed the entire tour and it also includes a Brooklyn show happening one day later at The Bell House on 4/20. Tickets for the LPR show and the Bell House show are on sale now. All dates are listed with new song "Gone Tomorrow", below...

Continue reading "updated Lambchop tour dates, Brooklyn show included"

DOWNLOAD: Lambchop - "Gone Tomorrow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lambchop - "If Not I'll Just Die" (MP3)

Kurt Wagner's Nashville-based alt-country band Lambchop are set to release their first album since 2008's OH (Ohio); Mr. M, on February 21 via Merge. The album is dedicated to Vic Chestnutt, who passed away in 2009, and whose 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette was recorded with Lambchop as his backing band. It includes the tracks "If Not I'll Just Die" and "Gone Tomorrow," which you can download above and stream below, along with a trailer video and the artwork and tracklist. You can pre-order the album at the Merge webstore as a CD or double LP, the latter of which includes 4 vinyl-only bonus tracks, one of which is a cover of Glen Campbell's "Guess I'm Dumb," co-written and produced by Brian Wilson. According to Merge, "While supplies last, preorders will include a poster (the first 150 of which will be signed!) featuring Kurt Wagner's original paintings used in Mr. M's liner notes and a Lambchop Mr. M coin purse."

Lambchop have a number of European dates scheduled in support of the release from February to April and are beginning to announce North American dates, including a NYC show happening on April 19 at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets for the LPR show are on sale now.

All currently known dates, video, streams, and album info below...

Continue reading "Lambchop releasing new LP, scheduing shows (dates & MP3)"

Yo La Tengo @ the Bell House in September (more by David Andrako)

All eight Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows are sold out, and frankly, even catching a free Yo La Tengo show during CMJ can't compensate for missing one of those shows, so I won't pretend this is good news for those that got shut out of Maxwell's, but this is good news nonetheless. Yo La Tengo will play a free Mog-sponsored CMJ opening night show at Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday, October 19th (M.I.A. style). And it gets better. Screaming Females, also from NJ, will open the free Brooklyn bowling alley show. It kicks off at 8pm (doors at 6).... and UPDATE: Dom is playing it too!

Don't want to wait in line to maybe catch Screaming Females for free when you can guarantee your way in the door to see the same band two nights later? Want to see them twice? Hate bowling alleys? Don't go out on Tuesdays? You're in luck, because as previously-mentioned, Screaming Females are also playing the official BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 21st with the stellar lineup of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Blow, Yuck, and Young Man. Some tickets are still available (and we'll be letting in a whole bunch of people with CMJ badges).

Yo La Tengo recently got back from Vegas where they helped Matador celebrate 21 years in legendary fashion, but before that they took part in a Brooklyn show that may be remembered as a legendary show for alternative NYC comedy (though not necessarily for nice reasons).

In November, City Slang is having a 20th birthday party in Berlin. Yo La Tengo are playing that anniversary celebration too. Full lineup, including The Notwist playing "Neon Golden" from start to finish, below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo playing a free NYC show w/ Screaming Females, 20 Years of City Slang in Berlin"

As previously mentioned, My Morning Jacket landed some opening slots on the current Tom Petty tour including August 24th in NJ (though not MSG). Tickets for the tour are currently on sale (some with no service fee).

My Morning Jacket now has new dates that include Canandaigua, NY (outside Rochester) on August 28th (tickets on sale Friday at noon) and Philly on August 29th. On those headlining dates "the guys will be donating $1 from each ticket to a local charity." All dates and the list of charities are below.

Before those, Jim James will be a part of the Appalachain Voices tour with Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore in July. That includes a July 30th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets are on sale Friday.

You can also catch Yim Yames on May 26th performing with John Prine on Letterman. MMJ is among those who contributed to a new Prine tribute album entitled Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Gayngs, Deer Tick, Josh Ritter, Conor Oberst, Drive By Truckers, Those Darlins and others have tracks on the CD too.

The full tribute tracklist, a video of J Vernon covering Prine at the Haiti benefit @ MHOW, and all MMJ tour dates, below...

Continue reading "My Morning Jacket announce more tour dates, contribute to John Prine tribute CD"

The Blind Boys of Alabama will curate a three-night series at Lincoln Center on July 12, 14 & 16. The events start with an opening night concert featuring rock artists Yo La Tengo, Lambchop, Exene Cervenka of X and Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket [plus Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Horns]. On July 14 the focus shifts to country music, with performances by Yonder Mountain String Band, Ralph Stanley, Alison Moorer and Randy Travis, plus Ray Benson and Jason Roberts of Asleep at the Wheel. The final evening, The Blind Boys' Family Revival, will feature songs from all of the group's Grammy Award-winning albums and includes collaborations with Aaron Neville, Joan Osborne, Hot 8 Brass Band, Dan Zanes, John Hammond, and Charlie Musselwhite, among others.

More details on the gospel group's Lincoln Center shows, their full upcoming schedule, a video of their performance on Letterman earlier this year with Lou Reed (they also visited Daytrotter in March) and more are below...

Continue reading "Blind Boys of Alabama touring, curated 3 shows @ Lincoln Center w/ many guests (Yo La Tengo, Jim James, more)"

DOWNLOAD: Portastatic - Foam Hands (Destroyer cover) (MP3)

The idea for a whole EP of Merge covers stemmed from both listening to the SCORE! Merge covers compilation and from doing bookstore events to promote the Our Noise book, wherein we'd play some acoustic covers of songs that came out on Merge. Time permitting, this really could have been a much longer record, but in the spirit of quitting while I was ahead and also turning this in before the end of the year, I stopped at seven songs. Obviously, the Merge catalog is full of hundreds-thousands, actually-of songs I love, so I picked ones I either knew well or thought I could re-create without defiling too harshly. It wasn't easy to narrow down, so I just tried not to think about it too much, and then time constraints set in... -Mac McCaughan

Continue reading "Portastatic cover Merge bands for EP (MP3)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Matador announced that Fucked Up's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' charity single "should be available" from iTunes today (December 8th) (still waiting it is). As previously reported, the song is packed with guests, including Yo La Tengo, GZA, Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend), Bob Mould (Husker Du), Tegan & Sara, Andrew W.K., Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio), David Cross and Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene). In February, it'll be released as 7" single. The record is for charity, and you can read what Fucked Up singer Pink Eyes has to say about the causes, below. The band is also putting out a rarities compilation, Couple Tracks, in January and touring with Kurt Vile in Feb. (with 2 NYC area shows).

Another benefit record, Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox, is out today on Merge (in digital form, CDs come February 23rd). The proceeds go to New Zealand musician Chris Knox (Tall Dwarfs, Toy Love) who suffered a stroke last June. The two-disc collection is all covers of Knox's songs done by acts that include Yo La Tengo, Mountain Goats, Will Oldham, Stephin Merritt, Bill Callahan and...Jeff Mangum (doing "Sign The Dotted Line" by Tall Dwarfs). You can preview songs at Merge. The full track list below.

Don't forget, Bob Dylan's Christmas album is also for charity, benefiting Feeding America. His new video for "Little Drummer Boy" (animated and less jokey than "Must Be Santa") is below...

Continue reading "Jeff Mangum, Fucked Up, Bob Dylan, Bill Callahan, Will Oldham, Yo La Tengo & others release songs for charity"

DOWNLOAD: Yo La Tengo - Here to Fall (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Yo La Tengo - Periodically Double Or Triple (MP3)

Black Lips @ Williamsburg Waterfront in July (more by Bao Nguyen)

NY Times. As an experiment I put your name into Pandora, the Internet radio service, to see if any of these other bands came up as references, and they didn't. But Lambchop and My Bloody Valentine are two bands I'm not surprised are on your list.

MS. HUBLEY of YLT: Lambchop is a band that has meant so much to us, musically and personally as well. We've become very good friends with them. I'm not sure how much we overlap, although I think we do some.

MR. KAPLAN of YLT: I think we overlap a lot with them actually. I hear their music in things we've done; I hear our music in things they've done. I first heard them [15 years ago] at the Merge Records five-year anniversary. I was just completely blown away. It may not have been until the Black Lips that I saw another band onstage that I'd never heard and thought, "Wow, that's amazing."

Check out the rest of that NY Times article for more on what Yo La Tengo are listening to (including their Matador labelmate Kurt Vile). Yo La Tengo's Popular Songs will be out September 8th on Matador. "Here to Fall" and "Periodically Double Or Triple" from the record are re-posted above.

Not mentioned in the New York Times article, are Times New Viking, who are also YLT's labelmate, have opened for then on Hanukkah, and who star in YLT's new new video for the song "Nothing To Hide" (re-posted below).

The Roseland show is part of an extensive fall tour in support of Popular Songs. Those dates, along with a series of videos all from the new album (they've been releasing one each week), are posted in full below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo likes bands (NYTimes) like Kurt Vile & the Black Lips ++ MP3's & 4 new videos (1 w/ Times New Viking)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Mac and Britt embrace (Triangle Music)

The much anticipated XX Merge Festival took place last week in North Carolina with a five-day (July 22-July 26), Wednesday to Sunday run of shows. Last night (Sunday)'s show with She & Him, American Music Club and Wye Oak was the only fully announced lineup. The other four nights (and one day) were a grab bag of any number of Merge bands past and present. Did you go? What were the highlights?

Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, who recently played a pair of big NY shows, headlined the fest's first night (which also included Magnetic Fields). Superchunk, which features Merge founders Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, topped the bill of the second night. The third night included the reformed/reunited lineups of Spent, Polvo and Pipe.

Mac McCaughan came out on stage before [Pipe] instead of the night's emcee and announced that there was a lone protester outside. He invited him up on stage and it was Jon Wurster decked out in Phillies gear as Philly Boy Roy. He was holding a sign that said "Boycot MERGE." He complained that Merge didn't have any Philly bands on their roster and Mac said that they have bands from Jersey, which is close to Philly. You never compare Jersey to Philly in front of Philly Boy Roy. It was hilarious.

All of this led to the introduction of New Jersey punks Pipe. As soon as they kicked into their first song, beer cans and plastic bottles started flying. Frontman Ron Liberti ate it up and even put himself in the line of fire, headbutting some of the cans while kicking some back into the crowd. Liberti bounded around the stage, essentially taunting the crowd. The crowd loved the band's antics as did I (but that may have been different if I hadn't managed to stay dry). [triangle music]

In addition to the Cat's Cradle shows (the venue for 4/5 of the night shows), Saturday featured a day show that included Julian Koster solo as Music Tapes and Mac McCaughan with violin accompaniment as Portastatic. A few videos from that set, below.

M. Ward, who's playing the Central Park Summerstage this Saturday (August 1st), played at the fest's Saturday night showcase. Zooey Deschanel joined him for a cover of the Beatles' "Birthday." Not too big of a surprise considering She & Him headlined the Sunday night show.

Other XX Merge artists who recently stopped in NYC include The Clientele and Richard Buckner (they played Music Hall of Williamsburg last Sunday), Versus and Superchunk (they played South Street Seaport last Friday), and Spent (they played Coco 66). Spoon didn't play a NYC show, but they were spotted in the audience of Paul McCartney's third of three shows at Citi Field in Queens. Destroyer is on his way up. He plays Bowery Ballroom on Thursday. Mark Eitzel (as American Music Club) played Le Poisson Rouge and Maxwell's before XX Merge, and now he's on his way back for a show at The Bell House.

Lineups for each night of XX Merge, with videos, and a bunch of setlists, below...

Continue reading "Merge celebrated their 20th w/ 5 days of shows in North Carolina (lineups, reviews, pics, video setlists...)"

1349 @ Nokia Theatre in 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* 1349 @ BB King's
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Red Fang & Early Man @ Maxwell's
* Jason Anderson @ Pete's Candy Store
* Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers @ Santos Party House
* Pwrfl Power, The Silent League & others @ Glasslands
* Leo Allen, Reggie Watts & other comedians @ Lolita Bar (8pm, free)
* Janeane Garofalo, Eugene Mirman & other comedians @ UCB (11pm, free)
* Dan Auerbach, Hacienda & Those Darlins @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Cloud Room, Maps & Atlases, Pattern is Movement & So Many Dynamos @ Mercury Lounge

It snowed a lot!

Fresh off their appearance at the Scion Rock Fest in Atlanta this past weekend, Norway's 1349 bring their metal (and makeup) to BB King's tonight.

Look for My Morning Jacket's drummer in Dan Auerbach's band.

Congrats to the winners to today's U2 Letterman tapings. U2 is playing Fordham Friday.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon premieres tonight with Van Morrison who just played two shows at the Theater at MSG over the weekend. Fallon's house band the Roots have a bunch of shows coming up at Highline Ballroom.

Lambchop played a secret show for the CIMS / AIMS convention in Nashville, TN on February 27th. Video below...

Antony Hegarty talked about his involvement in Lou Reed's "Berlin: Live at St. Ann's Warehouse", in the video below...

Diplo talks about Telepathe, in the video below...

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (snow!)"

Twi getting crazy with Jose Gonzalez

Twi the Humble Feather open for Lambchop tonight (2/12) at Bowery Ballroom. They're also playing Glasslands with Rings on March 4th, Music Hall of Williamsburg with Stars Like Fleas on March 5th, and the Living Room with She Keeps Bees on March 17th. Those exact dates repeated below...

Continue reading "upcoming shows Twi the Humble Feather are playing"

The Bad Plus are playing a show at Bowery Ballroom on February 17th. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

If there are any left, tickets go on sale (again) (@ noon) for the Cold War Kids show at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the recently added Lykke Li show happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Lambchop show happening at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Lucero show happening at Mercury Lounge. Lucero is also opening two Black Keys shows at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale (@ noon) for the two NYC Demetri Martin shows.

Tickets are now on presale (@ noon) for both of the Levon Helm shows happening at the newly renovated Beacon Theatre (password = bowramble).

Tickets are still on sale for the Primal Scream show happening at Webster Hall.

For more, check out the ticket post from earlier in the day.

Lambchop w/ James McNew on bass @ Maxwell's - 12/26/08 (Dawn Sutter Madell)

"Having Lambchop on hand to open [Hanukkah] night 6 [at Maxwell's] was like having a holiday family reunion, minus the drama. There are multiple reasons why we've made record after record in Nashville, and one of them is certainly the chance to eat hot chicken with those guys. Their set was gorgeous, mixing songs from OH (ohio) with a few covers, some more aptly chosen (Bob Dylan's "You're a Big Girl Now") than others (Kurt's What State Is Hoboken In topical shoutout to Caroline with the Wedding Present's "Kennedy"). Were it not for the music stand in front of him, you would never have guessed that James was a fill-in on bass."
[Yo La Tengo]

Continue reading "Lambchop opened for YLT, playing more 2009 shows (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: The Broken West - Aucioneer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Rosebuds - Life Like (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lambchop - Slipped Dissolved and Loosed (MP3)

Three more MP3's from three of those new Merge releases just mentioned in that super-sized Merge post.

photos by Chris Graham

DOWNLOAD: Portastatic - Some Small History (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Julian Koster - Jingle Bells (MP3)

Superchunk @ Bumbershoot - Sept 1, 2008

Saturday 10/25/2008
Merge Records CMJ Showcase @ Mercury Lounge, NYC w/
* The Music Tapes
* Wye Oak
* Portastatic
* The Broken West
* The Rosebuds
* Oakley Hall

The Music Tapes (Julian Koster)'s new album is out on Merge this week. The Singing Saw At Christmastime (from whence the above Chrismas MP3 came) is out October 7th. He/they'll also be touring before CMJ as part of Elephant 6's Holiday Surprise Tour. One day Elephant 6, the next Merge - lots of sleeping around, kind of like...

...Conor Oberst whose new self-titled album is out now on Merge (and not on Saddle Creek or Team Love- two labels he founded). Conor's tour dates are HERE.

Wye Oak, another band that recently came out with an album on Merge (and is playing the showcase) are on tour as we speak. They're next Brooklyn show happens before September is over.

The Rosebuds will be playing at least one more show during CMJ, probably with the Ladybug Transistor who aren't on the Merge showcase, but could be. The Rosebuds' new album Life Like is out October 7th and some of the new songs are streaming at MySpace.

The Broken West, in addition to October 25th, are also playing Mercury Lounge on September 21st. That earlier show has them opening for Bobby Bare Jr. Tickets are on sale. Their new album Now or Heaven is out this week. All tour dates below.

The Broken West will also bid a fond farewell to drummer, Rob McCorkindale. A new baby and other family commitments have made Rob's departure necessary, but everyone will miss him! Sean McDonald will take over the skins and join Dan, Brian, Ross and Jeff on the road this fall.

Though not playing the CMJ show, Lambchop shares that MErge affiliation. Kurt Wagner (Mr Lambchop) plays Joe's Pub on October 8th. OH (Ohio) is out October 10th.

You can now subsribe to SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years.

And last but not least you'll notice that one of Mac (Mr. Merge himself)'s bands is on this Mercury Lounge CMJ bill too. Portastatic has a 2-CD compilation of singles (covers included) coming out this week. The entire "Some Small History" tracklist is below.... right under the rest of the pictures (and a rough setlist) from Superchunk's set at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on Labor Day.....

Continue reading "Merge's CMJ Showcase, Broken West tour dates, new Portastatic, Superchunk Bumbershoot pics & more"

Preorders will begin September 8 at mergerecords.com for SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years, a deluxe subscription-only box set with special artwork and packaging. Quantities will be limited to the number of subscribers who enroll between the September 8 start date and the January 2009 delivery of the first two volumes.

The first two volumes will kick off a series of 14 custom-curated compilations spanning the Merge Records catalogue, each featuring the curators' handpicked Merge selections as well as exclusively commissioned original artwork. These compilations and additional exclusive content will be delivered only to SCORE! subscribers throughout Merge's 20th anniversary year of 2009.

The curators of the first volumes will be Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Phil Morrison, director of Junebug, The Upright Citizens Brigade and numerous music videos. Curators for future volumes will include Amy Poehler, David Byrne, author Jonathan Lethem, artist Marcel Dzama, Momofuku chef David Chang and many more to be announced.

Additionally, the entire SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years project will benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by the curators.

Watch for future announcements regarding SCORE!-related projects and special events commemorating the first two decades of the label that has brought us the likes of Arcade Fire, Spoon, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, She & Him, Lambchop, Superchunk and so many more.

DOWNLOAD: Big Dipper - Shes Fetching (MP3)

$493??? Well, it is for charity, so that's good. For a more affordable donation, the David Kilgour autographed poster is still available for less than $50. David Kilgour plays Cake Shop tonight, tomorrow and the next day. Keep checking Merge's auctions through Christmas - they'll also be selling posters autographed by Robert Pollard, M. Ward, Oakley Hall, Spoon, The Rosebuds, Superchunk, Portastatic, and Destroyer. Or just screw charity, and check out Merge's holiday sale.

Robert Pollard is having an art show at Studio Dante in Manhattan in December. Listen to Spoon on NPR. Big Dipper is releasing an anthology. Polvo are reuniting for ATP. Every single Merge tour date, below...

Continue reading "signed Arcade Fire poster @ $493, Robert Pollard art"