On changing tastes and record labels.
Lately I’ve been finding that my regular new music sources (Stereogum, Gorilla vs. Bear, and yes, Pitchfork) have been largely churning out duds. Whether I’m losing touch or they’re getting too wrapped up in specific fads or sounds remains to be scene (hiyo!), but I’ve been finding my tastes have been getting weirder and more specific.
I can say part of this is due to my change in lifestyle; working ten and twelve hour days and being hyper caffeinated all the time makes me less inclined to listen to party music. Hell, even having switched from headphones to speakers has made a difference.
The end result is that I’ve started looking to record labels’ websites for new music. Thrill Jockey, Constellation, Warp, Nonesuch… there’s tons of labels out there that consistently release stuff worth listening to. But it’s really only something I just started paying attention to (and tagging in my iTunes; the “grouping” box finally has a purpose!) so my “Record Labels” bookmarks list is woefully short.
So help me out, The Scrab. What are some of your favorite record labels?
Comments
XL, Domino and Secretly Canadian are pretty great, but I am sure you have those listed already. Make sure you update this with any good indie labels you find, part of my job is looking for new labels to send in content.
I don’t! There’s a lot of labels I have albums from and have heard before, but when I started making my bookmarks list just totally slipped my mind. So please, don’t be afraid to list ones that seem obvious.
Ipecac and Touch and Go are the only other labels in my folder right now.
i would just download the entire elephant 6 discography if i were you. www.elephant6.com will give you everything you need. it even keeps tabs on albums of former elephant 6 members like miles from beulah’s new disc.
they are in the middle of updating their website so all of it isn’t accessible just yet.
you’ll be toe-tappin all day!
i wasn’t aware it was still 1996
oh did i miss he wanted new music? overrated. go mid-90s.
i would agree with the go mid-90’s! but not with new music being overrated
I like mid-90’s rock well enough, but it’s really not what I’m looking for. I’m looking for things that sound new.