Swamp Dogg: Love, Loss, And Auto-tune [Album Review]

Swamp Dogg Love, Loss, And Auto-Tune Joyful Noise Recordings [2018] Who: Jerry Williams Jr. a.k.a Swamp Dogg has been making music since the 1960’s. The Swamp Dogg moniker appeared in 1970 after Williams reinvented his sound with Total Destruction To Your Mind Sound: Swamp Dogg has alway presented a unique sound. Williams core will always … Read more

Swamp Dogg – “Lonely” [Video]

Swamp Dogg’s new album Love, Loss, and Auto-Tune from Joyful Noise Recordings debuted this week at #7 on Billboard’s ‘Heatseekers’ chart — Swamp Dogg’s first chart debut since his debut album Total Destruction To Your Mind in 1970. To celebrate, Swamp released an this music video for album single “Lonely,” alongside the announcement of a rare show at London’s Rich Mix on Nov. 13th and a performance at Le Guess Who? Festival.

The “Lonely” video, directed by the “I’ll Pretend” team Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson, co-stars Robyne Robinson (the first African-American primetime news anchor in Minnesota and soon to be Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee).

Richard Edwards: Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset [Album Review]

Richard Edwards Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Pain, torment and anguish turn Richard Edwards’ near demise into a biographical rebirth. Album Review: Through my musical journey, Margot and the Nuclear So and So‘s is a band that‘s meant quite a lot to me. Not only have they shaped what … Read more

Tall Tall Trees: Freedays [Album Review]

Tall Tall Trees Freedays Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Tall Tall Trees emerges with a thoughtful, joyful record. Album Review: Mike Savino is Tall Tall Trees; he has also moonlighted as the electric banjo player for Kishi Bashi. Seeing this description intrigued me to check out what he is about. Freedays is Savino’s … Read more

Why?: Moh Lhean [Album Review]

Why? Moh Lhean Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Well worth the 4 year wait, Moh Lhean is a beautifully-produced, introspective concept LP that begs to be listened to in its entirety, multiple times. Album Review: Brothers Yoni and Josiah Wolf, well known in fringe and art rock circles of Cincinnati, are heavy hitters … Read more

Surfer Blood: Snowdonia [Album Review]

Surfer Blood Snowdonia Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood stay true to their roots after their loss. Album Review: Surfer Blood lost Thomas Fekete, their original drummer, to cancer in 2016. He had left the band a year earlier to receive medical treatment; the band raised funds for his treatment in 2015 … Read more

Kishi Bashi: Sonderlust [Album Review]

Kishi Bashi Sonderlust Joyful Noise Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: Kishi Bashi takes some chances and expands on his sound three albums in. Album Review: Kishi Bashi (Kaoru Ishibashi) has released his third full-length album and it’s quite a departure for the artist. Kishi Bashi’s first two albums have been hybrids of chamber pop and … Read more

Kishi Bashi: String Quartet Live! [Album Review]

Kishi Bashi String Quartet Live! Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Several years ago you would have never heard me go on and on about a violin player but K. Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) changed all of that with his genre changing debut 151a (2012). String Quartet Live! features reimagined versions from not … Read more

Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s – The Bride On The Boxcar Rarities 5LP Box

If you are a Margot fan then this set from Joyful Noise Recordings should be a no-brainer. Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s “The Bride On The Boxcar – A Decade Of Margot Rarities: 2004-2014” is an elaborate 5xLP vinyl box set, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the band. The one-time pressing of 1000 … Read more

Melvins & Teri Gender Bender: “Rebel Girl”

Joyful Noise recently announced its new “Almost Live from Joyful Noise” series, which features limited edition singles from some of their favorite artists, recorded at the label’s Indianapolis-based performance space. Tracked live in the empty space (hence almost live), each release in the series is cut on the spot using a 1940s record lathe and is limited to just 100 copies on hand-made 7″ records with screen-printed jackets.

The semi-regular series kicked off with a special performance by the Melvins. With the help of Teri from Le Butcherettes, the band recorded a cover the the Bikini Kill classic “Rebel Girl,” which you can watch right now. Simply put – it rocks!

Kishi Bashi “String Quartet Live!” / LTD 500 Signed Copies

We just reminded you about Joyful Noise Recordings in our Indie Label feature yesterday and today JNR once again proves why! Kishi Bashi has a new album titled String Quartet Live! out November 13 and there is a great looking VIP edition to pick up. The limited VIP Edition is pressed on Cyan & Red … Read more

Indie Does It Best: Five Labels You Should Be Supporting

Who buys music anymore? Do you? I hope you said yes! While anybody can create a record label, it doesn’t necessarily translate into success. There are tons of indie labels out there but to do it right it takes some wits. I believe the five labels below not only have a strong foundation but have … Read more

Surfer Blood: “Grand Inquisitor”

Following the release of their third LP, 1000 Palms, earlier this year on Joyful Noise, Surfer Blood has shared the new animated video for album track “Grand Inquisitor.” Surfer Blood has also announced a fall tour in support of 1000 Palms that includes dates across both Europe and North America — see below for a full list of upcoming shows.

Tour Dates:
9/19: Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix*
9/20: Tilburg, Netherlands @ Incubate Festival
9/21: Köln, Germany @ Blue Shell*
9/22: Paris, France @ L’Espace B*
9/24: Birmingham, UK @ Hare & Hounds*
9/25: Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast*
9/26: Hull, UK @ Adelphi*
9/27: Newcastle Upon Tyne @ The Cluny*
9/28: Norwich, UK @ Norwich Arts Center*
9/30: London, UK @ Tufnell Park Dome*
10/1: Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute*
10/2: Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club*
10/3: Southampton, UK @ The Joiners*
10/4: Bristol, UK @ Thekla*
10/5: Brighton, UK @ The Hope*
11/6: Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
11/9: Washington, DC @ TBC
11/10: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
11/11: Hamden, CT @ The Space
11/12: Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Nightclub
11/13: Providence, RI @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel^
11/14: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom^
11/15: Portland, ME @ State Theatre^
11/17: Montreal, QC @ Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre^
11/18: Ottawa, ON @ TBC
11/19: South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground^
11/20: Rochester, NY @ Anthology^
11/21: Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom^
11/22: Toronto, ON @ The Drake
11/23: Kingston, NY @ BSP Kingston
11/24: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
11/25: Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
11/27: Baltimore, MD @ TBC
11/28: Raleigh, NC @ TBC
* w/ Eternal Summers
^ w/ Nate Ruess

The Friday Fire Track: Yonatan Gat & Gal Lazer – “0”

Typically you will always grab me when you say – “recorded by Steve Albini.” He has such a stellar history in the recording/producer world that his name alone can sell records. So what happens when you put the eclectic Monotonix frontman Yonatan Gat and drummer Gal Lazer together with the legend for an almost 7 … Read more

Lou Barlow: Brace The Wave [Album Review]

Lou Barlow Brace The Wave Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Lou gives you plenty of acoustic intensity on his first solo LP in six years. Album Review: Having seen Lou Barlow last month with the very loud Dinosaur Jr., I was ready for some more alt rock from the veteran when I put … Read more

Dumb Numbers Split Series w/ David Lynch, Melvins, David Yow

Dumb Numbers is back with a triple 10″ box set and they brought friends. The split series features new music from Dumb Numbers along with David Lynch, Melvins, and David Yow (Jesus Lizard). The release is limited to a one-time pressing of 975 hand-numbered copies, packaged within a custom wooden box set, with screen-printed art … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Lou Barlow – “Moving”

“Moving” marks the return of Lou Barlow to the solo album world as his new LP, Brace The Wave, will be his first in six years. Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh have kept him busy on the indie rock side of things so if you are familiar with his earlier solo efforts, the mid-tempo pace and … Read more

Lou Barlow Brace The Wave / 500 Hand-Numbered Color Copies

Lou Barlow (Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr., Folk Implosion) will release his first solo album in six years on Joyful Noise Recordings. Like other JNR releases there are several cool vinyl variants to choose from. Brace The Wave is now available for pre-order with a VIP Exclusive vinyl edition, limited to just 500 hand-numbered copies on marbled … Read more

Yonatan Gat: Director [Album Review]

Yonatan Gat Director Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The follow-up to the Israeli-born guitarist’s promising 2014 record Iberian Passage, Yonatan Gat’s Director is largely more of the same—not that that’s a bad thing. Relying heavily on free improvisation and drawing influence from a variety of 60s and 70s acts (think Jimi Hendrix … Read more

Surfer Blood: 1000 Palms [Album Review]

Surfer Blood 1000 Palms Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood rides the middle with their latest release. Album Review: Surfer Blood splashed onto the scene six years ago with a great debut album, Astro Coast. Their 2012 follow-up saw the band adopt a more polished sound that didn’t resonate quite the same … Read more

Sufjan Stevens: No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross [7-Inch Review]

It has been five years since Sufjan Stevens released The Age of Adz (2010), so it is no surprise that there is some hype for his latest full length, Carrie & Lowell, which is due out next week via Asthmatic Kitty. The album is a return to Stevens’ earlier sounding work, which was more intimate … Read more

Victor Villarreal: Sleep Talk [Album Review]

Victor Villarreal Sleep Talk Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Sleep Talk is the perfect record for a late night of socializing with spirits or just putting on the headphones and drifting off. Album Review: Victor Villarreal has quietly become one of the most respected guitarists on the indie rock scene with his work … Read more