― unknown or illegal user, Saturday, 17 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
fuck hipgnosis & roger dean yeah!
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 18 August 2002 22:58 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Jess Harvell (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 18 August 2002 23:13 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Jess Harvell (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 18 August 2002 23:14 (twenty-two years ago) link
hoorah to drag city for getting my pre-ordered vinyl copy of the excellent new bill callahan album to me a week before the scheduled release date
boo to drag city for not providing digital downloads with vinyl purchases. i don't understand why labels wouldn't do this as standard these days
― congratulations (n/a), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 11:29 (fifteen years ago) link
you make me wish i'd pre-ordered. i'm seeing him in a week or two in a record store and thought about buying it to get signed. i don't do that or anything, just, how else will i have stories for my grandchildren involving someone so laconic?
lp is slow burningly lovely anyway. i think all thoughts are prey to some beast is good enough to sit in the distance/the well/truth serum spot each record seems to have.
― corps of discovery (schlump), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 13:30 (fifteen years ago) link
oh they also sent me a nice poster promoting the album, though i don't really know what to do with it
― congratulations (n/a), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 13:31 (fifteen years ago) link
i think they do supply digital copies for those purchasing vinyl in some cases. i believe they call it "ultraload" or something.
i decided a minute ago that i like drag city, not just because of all the music but because they actually have a mystique.
― by another name (amateurist), Wednesday, 10 March 2010 03:54 (fourteen years ago) link
I don't know if they still do it, but they used to have really neat alternate artwork on their promo cd's. I contemplated collecting it at one point...
― dlp9001, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:10 (fourteen years ago) link
There was an early comp they (or maybe Ajax?) was going to put out called "Hey Dan K." which after a quick googling shows had Cannanes and M0unt@1n G0@ts songs on it.
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:19 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.amazon.com/Hey-Dan-Koretzky-Various-Artists/dp/B000005NGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1268195446&sr=1-1
― Stormy Davis, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:31 (fourteen years ago) link
Like the random ESP Summer biography that appears below it.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:32 (fourteen years ago) link
I don't know if they still do it, but they used to have really neat alternate artwork on their promo cd's.
The posters too -- Smog's Knock Knock:
http://i9.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/3c/89/1242_12.JPG
― city worker, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:34 (fourteen years ago) link
ha, never seen that before but that's Dan Osborn of DC in the Dr's uni
― Stormy Davis, Wednesday, 10 March 2010 04:53 (fourteen years ago) link
They still don't do this, which seems insane to me. Is it some kind of principle thing with them?
― She Got the Shakes, Thursday, 10 November 2011 11:36 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, it does seem kind of stubborn. i'd be more likely to buy a record w/ mp3 downloads.
― tylerw, Thursday, 10 November 2011 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
i don't thnik it's principle since they sell mp3s.love going over to the drag city site to see what they're up to: right now a portuguese guitar player and pete shelley electronic records. such a cool label.
― mizzell, Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:07 (twelve years ago) link
and a new collection of alan lomax scottish field recordings!
― one dis leads to another (ian), Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:25 (twelve years ago) link
the carlos parreda thing is pretty great, wasn't familiar w/ that dude before.
― tylerw, Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:26 (twelve years ago) link
aren't those scottish recordings kinda 'lomax-esque'? i thought they were new, collected by ali roberts, sorta following in the footsteps. may be wrong
― Abattoir Educator / Slaughterman (schlump), Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
nah, they're actually Lomax recordings, complied by Alasdair Roberts, I believe.
― tylerw, Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
*compiled*
aw okay, that's neat, i misunderstood. really had roberts down for the roam around scotland recording strangers type.
― Abattoir Educator / Slaughterman (schlump), Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
He (Ali Roberts) asked me if I knew of any good swimming holes when he was in town playing a show. Charming guy. I really should pick up one of his records. Recommendations? I had the first Appendix Out ages ago.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
Amber Gatherers might be the best intro? Really wonderful record.
― tylerw, Thursday, 10 November 2011 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks! I spotted some of his records at a shop in the newly acquired used bins.My list is getting long again.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 10 November 2011 17:04 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.dragcity.com/news/499
why are drag city calling things gay, is it bc they are a label for the ironic youth
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 22:54 (twelve years ago) link
bc of the rainbow colored ribbon iirc
― Gonjasufjanstephen O'Malley (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 22:56 (twelve years ago) link
lol @ them apologizing for having an artist performing at lincoln center: "No this thing is actually cool, really, let me explain it to you in vaguely grad-studentesque terms so you'll see why."
I thought about buying tickets to that show but it sold out. My first thought when I saw it was "I guess we're getting old."
― happiness is the new productivity (Hurting 2), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 23:03 (twelve years ago) link
it is v poor you are meant to just do the thing you do without making the world a tiny amount shittier, why ironically say gay or make a (i guess innocuous but guess what they forefit critical restraint) hiv joke in yr copy
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 23:28 (twelve years ago) link
the bill callahan letter is great though
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 23:29 (twelve years ago) link
Do you think that Dan & Dan were lucky or talented to identify their core roster talent like Neil, Jennifer, Malkmus, Callahan, Berman, Oldham, Jim O, etc. fairly early in their infancy and (for the most part) these artists are still kicking strong 20-25 years later?
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 04:15 (nine years ago) link
it's always a bit of both isn't it
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 04:50 (nine years ago) link
i think the fact that the drag city folks have pretty unerring taste has something to do with it
― I dunno. (amateurist), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 11:51 (nine years ago) link
almost unerring, i should say
back in the mid 1990s i would have had no idea this label would last so long and put out so much great stuff, both new music and reissues
― I dunno. (amateurist), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 11:52 (nine years ago) link
has a lot to do with their ethos too, they just seem really respectful of their artists and they are competent and even-keeled. i'm speaking a little out of ignorance but anytime i read an interview with one of their musicians they all seem pretty happy to have DC as their label. i mean bill callahan sings "DC 450" at the end of apocalypse and if he hated the label i doubt he'd do that.
― marcos, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:10 (nine years ago) link
i think they have really varied and solid taste, and choose artists who have room to grow -- beyond that, keeping their scope pretty small and not doing anything financially stupid/risky has led to long-term success. i <3 drag city!
― La Lechera, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:22 (nine years ago) link
they are so reliable. but also never boring.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:24 (nine years ago) link
I forget way too easily that a large number of my favorite albums released since the inception of Drag City were released by Drag City. Like probably half of my top 20 from the past 25 years.
― It's A Living! (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:29 (nine years ago) link
There should be a gallery show of their albums and ephemera.
― forbodingly titled It's True! It's True! (Eazy), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:33 (nine years ago) link
At the risk of sounding a little crass, it has built among the strongest "brands" of any indie label, and I think that's because they're really clear-eyed about both their taste and their purpose. You never get the sense that they're thinking "We're releasing this because we took the cultural temperature and the kids will like it"
― my jaw left (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:42 (nine years ago) link
Yeah. Them and like Merge
― i blow goat farts, aka garts for a living (waterface), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 15:45 (nine years ago) link
Merge a little less so obv.
merge is a great label, but i'd say they rely a little more on bands that have proven themselves on even smaller labels (i read a lot more "x signs to merge" than "x signs to drag city" stories), and the breadth of their signings is a little less diverse than drag city.
― I dunno. (amateurist), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 21:03 (nine years ago) link
Drag city bitch, drag drag city bitch
― my jaw left (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 21:03 (nine years ago) link
The Drag City Supersession album doesn't get nearly enough props. "Nothing Rises To Meet Me" is one of Callahan's best.
― It's A Living! (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 21:08 (nine years ago) link
good Hagerty tracks on that also
There's a great 20-minute early Royal Trux track buried in the middle of the "Drag City Hour" CD
― sleeve, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 21:10 (nine years ago) link
Do you think that Dan & Dan were lucky or talented to identify their core roster talent like Neil, Jennifer, Malkmus, Callahan, Berman, Oldham, Jim O, etc. fairly early in their infancy and (for the most part) these artists are still kicking strong 20-25 years later?― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, November 18, 2014 8:15 PM (2 days ago)it's always a bit of both isn't it― call all destroyer, Tuesday, November 18, 2014 8:50 PM (2 days ago)
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, November 18, 2014 8:15 PM (2 days ago)
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, November 18, 2014 8:50 PM (2 days ago)
"I'll be the first one to admit luck has played a huge role in the Drag City story..."Dan Koretsky, 1993 (!!!!)
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VuuGvMBRrYAC&lpg=PA101&dq=%22drag%20city%22&pg=PA101#v=onepage&q=%22drag%20city%22&f=false
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Friday, 21 November 2014 02:32 (nine years ago) link
They got in right before the IPO!
― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Tuesday, 3 April 2018 04:25 (six years ago) link
So, uh, I'm guessing these guys are about to give up on the CD format completely. It's been tapering as an option on their releases for the past couple years, but now it seems like a CD release is the exception rather than the rule. The New Bums album is vinyl only and the just announced Peacers album is vinyl and cassette only. Not surprised, I guess, just bummed. Weird that cassettes must be hitting higher sales numbers for them though.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 January 2021 17:00 (three years ago) link
yeah that’s a drag (hahah). Kinda surprised they’ve held out this long. I still think CDs might be cool again in 20 years or something if we still have an energy grid and stuff.
― brimstead, Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:26 (three years ago) link
I mean, I think it depends on the genre and labels, really. Seems like a lot of jazz and prog stuff is still getting heavily released in the CD format and it still seems to be strong for the deluxe reissue world, but who knows. I don't think it'll ever go away completely, just become more of a niche thing. I mean, I know Numero Group gave up on them (which makes me extra sad knowing that Husker Du may now never see a decent, proper release on that format).
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:35 (three years ago) link
It bums me out... don’t people listen to albums in the car (and want better sound than an streaming over Bluetooth)?
― one of the only artist who is genuine (morrisp), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:39 (three years ago) link
I do! I mean, I still buy CDs all the time. I have some vinyl, but it's expensive as shit for a lot of titles compared to CDs, a lot of labels stopped giving download codes, pressing issues, pressing delays meaning the vinyl can sometimes come months later, I spend a lot of time away from a record player, etc. I like vinyl, but CD is still the most functional for me.
I'm really curious about the economics regarding cassettes these days though, is there really that much of a market that labels would pick that over CD as lower quantity second physical media option?
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:43 (three years ago) link
And, lol, at the risk of this becoming my own personal physical format blog, I would be curious to know if it would ever be possible/economically feasible to expand that Bandcamp vinyl pressing on demand thing to CDs as well.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:48 (three years ago) link
cassette sales doubled in 2020 fwiw:
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-55476419
― Überschadenfreude (sleeve), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:48 (three years ago) link
Amazing that Drag City avoided streaming for so long only to abandon CDs shortly after embracing streaming.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:49 (three years ago) link
Thanks sleeve, wonder how the US figures compare. I know cassettes keep a pretty decent following for metal, experimental and noise bands, but it just seems so weird for cassettes to be where manufacturing dollars are spent at this point in time. But, I guess that's why I don't run a label.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 January 2021 20:54 (three years ago) link
Is there a corresponding jump in sales of tape-decks?
― ringworm, Friday, 22 January 2021 05:40 (three years ago) link
Haha. Yes! I have a huge number of Drag City CDs precisely because they were shunning streaming. It was an effective strategy. No more Drag City CDs would mean 100.00% streaming their new releases here. I'm not about to become an olde worlde analogue format fetishist.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Friday, 22 January 2021 06:13 (three years ago) link
It bums me out... don’t people listen to albums in the car (and want better sound than an streaming over Bluetooth)?― one of the only artist who is genuine (morrisp), Thursday, January 21, 2021 3:39 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― one of the only artist who is genuine (morrisp), Thursday, January 21, 2021 3:39 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
finding a new car these days with a CD player factory installed is turning non-existent. cars are turning to that point where you need a discman to hook into the AUX to get that satisfaction, a sorta pre-CD players in cars era.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Friday, 22 January 2021 06:48 (three years ago) link
That’s interesting, it’s been standard in our last few leased vehicles (most recent is a 2019).
― one of the only artist who is genuine (morrisp), Friday, 22 January 2021 07:17 (three years ago) link
my 2018 subaru doesn't have a cd player, i only even thought to look a couple weeks ago!
― Clay, Friday, 22 January 2021 07:19 (three years ago) link
It would skip like crazy careening over all those rugged trails and dry stream beds!
― one of the only artist who is genuine (morrisp), Friday, 22 January 2021 07:47 (three years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/fkwePBI.jpg
― pplains, Friday, 22 January 2021 14:15 (three years ago) link
Those sun visors were great... if you wanted to scratch the shit out of your CDs.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 22 January 2021 14:36 (three years ago) link
What is God? Records about – curated by someone in particular? (I tried searching for info, but just found some similarly-named labels.)
― “Lawman,” Slick (Grunt) (morrisp), Sunday, 17 July 2022 04:48 (two years ago) link
Ty Segall I think?
― made entirely of styrofoam (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 17 July 2022 09:10 (two years ago) link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Segall#GOD?_Records
― made entirely of styrofoam (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 17 July 2022 09:11 (two years ago) link
Don't seem to have a thread on them so I'll toss it in here, but the new Wand live album is fantastic. In a more just world, they'd have at least half of that rabid King Gizz fanbase.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 15 November 2022 17:58 (one year ago) link