Journal

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Another week, and two more fresh Slumberland releases for you! Vacations? We don't need no vacations!


||||| The Pains of Being Pure At Heart release new four-song EP |||||
Not content to rest on the laurels of having one of the best and most talked-about albums of 2009, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are back with "Higher Than The Stars," four brand-new songs that do what the band does best – breathe fresh life into indie-pop with exuberance, charm and of course quality tunes.

From the New Wave-flavored bliss of "Higher Than The Stars" to the crashing power-pop of new live favorite "Twins," this EP is both a perfect summation of what The Pains are all about and a signpost to the future. Fizzy noise-pop is present and correct in the form of "103," and the band switches gears a bit for the brooding 80s-esque "Falling Over." Capping things off we have a series of remixes from Saint Etienne, DJ Downfall, Skanfrom and Others In Conversation. …

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As summer draws to a close, we here at Slumberland have not been on vacation. Not even close! We've got three great new releases to tell you about, and even more coming soon. Read on!

||||| The Pains of Being Pure At Heart drop limited 7" for "Come Saturday" |||||
2009 was been a whirlwind year for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Since releasing their self-titled debut album in February, they've become one of the most talked-about new bands in years. They've toured the world to rapturous welcome, been featured in magazines like Spin, Rolling Stone and the NME, received the Best New Music accolade from Pitchfork and even made their debut television appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly.

"Come Saturday" is taken from their smash album and shows exactly why so many people are excited about the Pains. A breathless rush of guitar married to a classic tune, "Come Saturday" is pure Pains - timeless noisy pop played with energy and enthusiasm. …

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Even though our ears are still buzzing from the recent SF visits of Summer Cats and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, we're not planning on resting on our laurels any time soon. Another week, another classic Slumberland 7" single!

||||| The Champagne Socialists release debut single |||||
Formed by Jihae from The Royal We and Wallace from Bricolage, The Champagne Socialists are one of the freshest sounding groups we've heard in ages. Coming on like Sparks produced by Joe Meek and Phil Spector, the band has a flair for echoey three minute symphonies, marrying classic pop melodies with punk-informed crunch and glam-infused 70s stomp. Blue Genes is their first release and it's a pretty flawless statement of intent for this sharp new band. Sparked by a catchy guitar riff and rama-lama drums, "Blue Genes" jumps from the speakers and heads straight for your feet, sure to pack the dancefloor and get you hand-clapping along with the chorus. …

hello all-
What time is it? It's time for some new Slumberland records! In our efforts to make our twentieth year our biggest ever, we're happy to announce these two new releases.

||||| Cause Co-Motion! release new 12" EP |||||
Hot on the heels of their critically-lauded singles compilation, It's Time!, Cause Co-Motion! have hit the studio to bring you their latest installment of earnest DIY pop, this time in the form of this fab six song 12" EP entitled Because Because Because. Cause Co-Motion! have made quite a name for themselves as purveyors of crash-pop of the finest quality, blending 60s garage-pop impulses with Messthetic-inflected post-punk and the scrappy end of the 80s indie scene, and this ace vinyl-only EP continues that tradition. All copies come in really nice jacket: hand-painted with silkscreen overlay. Each one totally unique!
more info and mp3s: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/110


||||| Bricolage's debut album out now! |||||
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Two great new 7" singles are available to order and shipping now:

||||| Crystal Stilts release two all-new songs on limited 7" |||||
Crystal Stilts burst out of Brooklyn in 2008 to become one of the most talked about bands in years. Perfecting a sound that ably mixes post-punk gloom with classic 60s pop & garage, Suicide-ish 50s buzz/twang and a dash of 80s jangle, Crystal Stilts capped the year with the release of their amazing debut album, Alight of Night. We’re thrilled to be able to bring you this ace single, featuring two brand-new songs not to be found on their album. "Love Is A Wave" is a firm favorite of the band’s live show, a perfect two-minute pop nugget in the best punk rock tradition. Fired by an insistent fast-strummed riff, an eager beat and barely-contained feedback, "Love Is A Wave" is an instant classic that stands tall with tunes like “Never Understand” and “I Heard Her Call My Name” in the noise-pop pantheon. …

hello all-
Just when you thought it was going quiet in Slumberland, we launch our Autumn release bonanza. I hope you've all been saving your pennies, because we sure haven't.

Leading things off is Cause Co-Motion!'s "I Lie Awake" three-song 7" EP. Following a series of increasingly rad singles on labels like What's Yr Rupture? and the band's own Can't Cope, Cause Co-Motion! bring their patented reverb-happy pop to Slumberland and it just fits like a glove. A blazing chaos of jangle, clatter, and thump - busted strings and broken hearts. Hummable tunes to scratch that TVPs/Pastels/Comet Gain itch, with more than a dash of 14 Iced Bears and Desperate Bicycles in there too. Sounding for all the world like dispatches from a future Messthetics comp, there are three doses of pure DIY pop pleasure, straight from the garage to your ears, feet and heart. If you liked previous classics like "This Time Next Year" and "Take A Look" then you will love the "I Lie Awake" EP.
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NY pop kids extraordinaire The Pains of Being Pure At Heart take their brilliant noise pop to Sweden in a few weeks. Wish I could be there!

24 Sept - Stockholm
Venue: Café String
All ages. Acoustic in-store
Link: http://www.cafestring.com/

25 Sept - Gothenburg
Club: Svanen
Venue: Jazzhuset
Link: http://www.myspace.com/klubbsvanen

26 Sept - Stockholm
Club: Svenska Musikklubben
Venue: Debaser Slussen
Link: www.svenskamusikklubben.se

27 Sept - Malmö
Club: Don't Die on My Doorestep
Venue: På Besök
Link: www.myspace.com/dontdieonmydoorstepclub


In addition to previewing songs off their upcoming debut album, the band will also be selling copies of their brand-new single "Everything With You," a full month before the official release. Now there's a reason to book that flight...

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It finally felt a little like Spring in the Bay Area this weekend, lovely and warm. Perfect weather for new records!

Sarandon - Kill Twee Pop! out now!
Sarandon have always impressed us with their passion, talent for crafting brief, shoutable anthems and wicked sense of humor. Taking their cues from the other side of C86, Sarandon pick up where bands like Big Flame, The Wolfhounds and Bogshed left off. Their tense, abrasive sound cross-breeds pop with the urgency and noise-loving aesthetic of punk.

Kill Twee Pop! is Sarandon's debut proper album and it's a wonderful slice of catchy, bristly post-punk. A wild twelve song journey that will have you shouting along and pogoing in your living room in no time. We're silly excited to be able to bring this album to you, on CD and lovely blue vinyl 10. More info and MP3 samples here:
http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/sarandon/kill-twee-pop?src=email


I Smiled Yesterday Podcast #2
The I Smiled Yesterday team has been hard at work and are proud to bring you their second podcast…