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 | Merge Records Official Website: http://www.mergerecords.com/ About:
Merge Records was started in the summer of 1989, by Laura Ballance & Mac McCaughan, the same summer they formed the band Superchunk in Chapel Hill, NC. Merge also forged a relationship with Touch and Go Records of Chicago, who are responsible for manufacturing and distributing the bulk of Merge's full-length releases since then.
Artists with releases on this label: Recent ReviewsRecent NewsSpoon Austin, Texas' Spoon will be going out on the road for a handful of dates this summer. The small, yellow robot enthusiasts will be truckin' out for some festivals and big theatre dates, including a three night run at the Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco. The band released the hard to pronounce Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga last year via…Conor Oberst signs with Merge Billboard is reporting that Bright Eyes principle Conor Oberst has signed to Merge Records with plans to release his first solo album in nearly 12 years this summer. The self-titled release was recorded in January and February in Tepoztlan, Mexico and is due in stores on August 5th. Oberst is backed on the record by the Mystic Valley Band; the lineup of that group has not yet been named. Oberst produced the recording with…Destroyer (North America) Vancouver's Destroyer have announced a tour this April in support of their 2008 album, Trouble in Dreams. Joining the band on the tour will be Devon Williams, Colossal Yes and Andre Ethier of Deadly…Arcade Fire detail new album, set release date The Arcade Fire have announced the release of their second album this spring. Titled Neon Bible, the album will serve as the follow-up to their breakthrough debut, 2004's Funeral, and is slotted for a March 6 release date on Merge Records The album's title references the 1990 book by Pulizer Prize-winning author John Kennedy Toole, which chronicles the story of a young boy growing up in a small Southern town in the 1940s, where the highly religious…The Brokedown becomes the Broken West Recently signed signed Merge act The Brokedown has been forced to change their name to The Broken West. The label explained: In a way, the cease and desist request was exciting. I mean, you are starting to break into the big time when someone threatens to sue you over your name, right? I guess that is one way to look at it. In any case, Merge Records recording artists formerly known as The Brokedown, who’s debut album “I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On”, will hit the stores in January 2007, will from this point…M. Ward signs to 4AD 4AD Records have announced a partnership with songwriter M. Ward. The label had this to say about the partnership: M Ward is one of the finest songwriters (and guitarists) in America, and albums like The Transfiguration Of Vincent and Transistor Radio - released by Merge in the USA and Matador in the UK - already have the status of timeless classics. Ward just released his new album Post-War yesterday in Europe through the label and late last month through…Merge signs the Brokedown Merge Records has signed The Brokedown. Described as heavily influenced by classic power pop and rock like The Kinks, Big Star, The Byrds and The Beatles, as well as more contemporary favorites such as Spoon, New Pornographers and Teenage Fanclub, the band will be releasing I Can't Go On. The album was recorded with producer Raymond Richards and the record is due out January 23rd, 2007. For a taste of the band's material, you can visit their…Dinosaur Jr. announces more dates Dinosaur Jr. have announced a spring tour, again with the original lineup of J. Mascis, Emmett Jefferson Murphy III and Lou Barlow. The band recently recorded their first live DVD. Their two night performance at the Irving Plaza in New York City was taped for the disc, and was directed by Gold In Berlin, which is run by Mascis' own brother in-law, German filmmaker Phillip Virus. The band reunited with a first set of dates which took place in the UK this past June, followed by the recent US dates. You can…Independent Labels weigh in on chain stores and Best Buy's $7.99 promotion Some prominent indie labels, including Merge Records have shared their thoughts on a recent promotion by Best Buy which aims to sell independent releases at, or below wholesale cost. The promotion has led some to contend that Best Buy is making a strong play to eat into independent record store's market share by undercutting them so dramatically. One independent…Merge Records charity projects, exclusive EP, signed posters Merge has announced two charity initiatives to celebrate the holidays. First, is a series of auctions designed to benefit Oxfam and the North Carolina Food Bank. The label will be auctioning off silk-screened posters from artists all over the country signed by many Merge bands including Arcade Fire, Destroyer, Spoon, American Music Club, M. Ward, Portastatic, Lou Barlow, Crooked Fingers. The auctions can be found… |
