November 12 street date. Typically, a band's big indie label debut doesn’t come 15 albums into its career, but with Constant Smile's "Paragons", here we are. Primary songwriter and sole “constant” member Ben Jones—who considers Constant Smiles a collective—sees its impressive output as a way to document the group’s evolution. Since its live debut as a noise duo on Ben’s home of Martha’s Vineyard in 2009, Constant Smiles has grown to include contributions from 50 other members, all of whom have personal connections to the group’s extended family. And while the collective has indulged an array of musical whims along the way - including Ben’s penchant for penning a new set’s worth of material for each live performance - Constant Smiles’ sound has tightened up considerably over their past couple of albums, in large part as a result of Ben’s working relationship with Mike Mackey, who has become his main creative partner. This increased focus manifests on Paragons in the band’s most cohesive batch of songs to date, ranging from shimmering psych-pop excursions to bittersweet, piano and string-accented strummers, and an execution that feels like a massive step forward for the band. Through its recent forays into dream pop and shoegaze (Control) and synth-pop (John Waters), Constant Smiles has learned how to incorporate its experimental inclinations more fluidly into the mix. Artists like Yo La Tengo, and the more recent Rat Columns, are good touchstones for Constant Smiles’ musical approach - tethering to an indie-pop core while perennially mining genres, always finding new ways to intrigue listeners and pursue a unique vision. Paragons was produced and engineered by Ben Greenberg in the last two weeks of December 2020 at Gary’s Electric, with additional recording done by Ben Jones at his home studio, The Void, and his Aunt Leanne’s house. The album was mixed at Circular Ruin Studio and mastered by Josh Bonati. The band on Paragons consists of Jai Berger (who performed “Introduction”), Spike Currier (bass and synth), Matthew Addison (drums), Emma Conley(violin), Nicky Wetherell (cello), Adam Lipsky (piano), and Ben Greenberg (guitar and Mellotron).
November 12 street date. Typically, a band's big indie label debut doesn’t come 15 albums into its career, but with Constant Smile's "Paragons", here we are. Primary songwriter and sole “constant” member Ben Jones—who considers Constant Smiles a collective—sees its impressive output as a way to document the group’s evolution. Since its live debut as a noise duo on Ben’s home of Martha’s Vineyard in 2009, Constant Smiles has grown to include contributions from 50 other members, all of whom have personal connections to the group’s extended family. And while the collective has indulged an array of musical whims along the way - including Ben’s penchant for penning a new set’s worth of material for each live performance - Constant Smiles’ sound has tightened up considerably over their past couple of albums, in large part as a result of Ben’s working relationship with Mike Mackey, who has become his main creative partner. This increased focus manifests on Paragons in the band’s most cohesive batch of songs to date, ranging from shimmering psych-pop excursions to bittersweet, piano and string-accented strummers, and an execution that feels like a massive step forward for the band. Through its recent forays into dream pop and shoegaze (Control) and synth-pop (John Waters), Constant Smiles has learned how to incorporate its experimental inclinations more fluidly into the mix. Artists like Yo La Tengo, and the more recent Rat Columns, are good touchstones for Constant Smiles’ musical approach - tethering to an indie-pop core while perennially mining genres, always finding new ways to intrigue listeners and pursue a unique vision. Paragons was produced and engineered by Ben Greenberg in the last two weeks of December 2020 at Gary’s Electric, with additional recording done by Ben Jones at his home studio, The Void, and his Aunt Leanne’s house. The album was mixed at Circular Ruin Studio and mastered by Josh Bonati. The band on Paragons consists of Jai Berger (who performed “Introduction”), Spike Currier (bass and synth), Matthew Addison (drums), Emma Conley(violin), Nicky Wetherell (cello), Adam Lipsky (piano), and Ben Greenberg (guitar and Mellotron).
November 12 street date. Typically, a band's big indie label debut doesn’t come 15 albums into its career, but with Constant Smiles' "Paragons", here we are. Primary songwriter and sole "constant" member Ben Jones - who considers Constant Smiles a collective - sees its impressive output as a way to document the group's evolution. Since its live debut as a noise duo on Ben's home of Martha's Vineyard in 2009, Constant Smiles has grown to include contributions from 50 other members, all of whom have personal connections to the group's extended family. And while the collective has indulged an array of musical whims along the way, Constant Smiles' sound has tightened up considerably over their past couple of albums, in large part as a result of Ben's working relationship with Mike Mackey, who has become his main creative partner. This increased focus manifests on "Paragons" in the band's most cohesive batch of songs to date, ranging from shimmering psych-pop excursions to bittersweet, piano and string-accented strummers, and an execution that feels like a massive step forward for the band.
March 3 street date. The musical collective Constant Smiles is known for being prolific. Their debut album for Sacred Bones, "Paragons", was the third and final album in a trilogy of indie folk masterpieces that all confronted the internal ways we process our struggles with intimacies, addiction and humanity. Over the last half decade the collective has been simultaneously working on a synth music trilogy and their forthcoming record "Kenneth Anger" is the third and final record in the series, masterfully brought to life by engineer Jonathan Schenke (Parquet Courts, Liars, Dougie Poole).
March 3 street date. The musical collective Constant Smiles is known for being prolific. Their debut album for Sacred Bones, "Paragons", was the third and final album in a trilogy of indie folk masterpieces that all confronted the internal ways we process our struggles with intimacies, addiction and humanity. Over the last half decade the collective has been simultaneously working on a synth music trilogy and their forthcoming record "Kenneth Anger" is the third and final record in the series, masterfully brought to life by engineer Jonathan Schenke (Parquet Courts, Liars, Dougie Poole).
August 10 street date. Jasmine continues their ever growing blues series with this excellent collection of recordings by the great New Orleans singer, Smiley Lewis and covers all his As & Bs for the Imperial label from 1950 to 1961. Features his hit songs, “The Bells Are Ringing”, “I Hear You Knocking” (later covered by Dave Edmonds), “One Night” (later covered by Elvis Presley) and “Please Listen To Me”. With 61 tracks across 2 discs you would be hard pushed to find a better collection of the sounds of New Orleans than these offerings from Smiley. Fully detailed liner notes.
May 4 street date. This four-disc set compiles the seminal bluegrass duo's recordings for King Records--eight years' worth of smooth harmonies, consistently inventive songwriting, and Don Reno's electrifying musicianship on the five-string banjo. The Early Years includes some beautiful gospel numbers from their first King LP, including "The Lord's Last Supper" and the well-known "I'm Using My Bible for a Road Map." Other highlights are classic Reno and Smiley numbers like "I'm the Talk of the Town," "Dixie Breakdown," and "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)." A comprehensive document of one of the genre's most influential groups captured at the height of their powers, this album is a must for anyone interested in the formative early years of bluegrass.
Available now. This 4-CD Box Set is a compilation of bluegrass classics that the great Don Reno and Red Smiley recorded for the King label between the years 1959-1963. Comes with a 32 page booklet.
June 17 street date. "A Light For Attracting Attention" is the debut from The Smile, but they're "not The Smile as in ha-ha-ha, more The Smile as in the guy who lies to you every day"... speaks Thom Yorke on the inspiration behind the supergroup that consists of his Radiohead bandmate Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner of UK jazz outfit Sons of Kemet. The description was borne out of The Smile's acerbic first single "You Will Never Work In Television Again," a 2:48 blast of ragged, pulsing raw energy familiar to "The Bends" era Radiohead. Additional singles "The Smoke", "Skrting the Surface", "Pana-Vision" - which epically closed the series finale of hit show "Peaky Blinders" - and "Free In The Knowledge" each encapsulate different aspects and dynamics of the project. All are collected on The Smile's double LP, "A Light For Attracting Attention", produced by Nigel Godrich and featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra and a full brass section of UK jazz players.
June 17 street date. "A Light For Attracting Attention" is the debut from The Smile, but they're "not The Smile as in ha-ha-ha, more The Smile as in the guy who lies to you every day"... speaks Thom Yorke on the inspiration behind the supergroup that consists of his Radiohead bandmate Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner of UK jazz outfit Sons of Kemet. The description was borne out of The Smile's acerbic first single "You Will Never Work In Television Again," a 2:48 blast of ragged, pulsing raw energy familiar to "The Bends" era Radiohead. Additional singles "The Smoke", "Skrting the Surface", "Pana-Vision" - which epically closed the series finale of hit show "Peaky Blinders" - and "Free In The Knowledge" each encapsulate different aspects and dynamics of the project. All are collected on The Smile's double LP, "A Light For Attracting Attention", produced by Nigel Godrich and featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra and a full brass section of UK jazz players.
June 17 street date. "A Light For Attracting Attention" is the debut from The Smile, but they're "not The Smile as in ha-ha-ha, more The Smile as in the guy who lies to you every day"... speaks Thom Yorke on the inspiration behind the supergroup that consists of his Radiohead bandmate Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner of UK jazz outfit Sons of Kemet. The description was borne out of The Smile's acerbic first single "You Will Never Work In Television Again," a 2:48 blast of ragged, pulsing raw energy familiar to "The Bends" era Radiohead. Additional singles "The Smoke", "Skrting the Surface", "Pana-Vision" - which epically closed the series finale of hit show "Peaky Blinders" - and "Free In The Knowledge" each encapsulate different aspects and dynamics of the project. All are collected on The Smile's double LP, "A Light For Attracting Attention", produced by Nigel Godrich and featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra and a full brass section of UK jazz players. The limited edition yellow indie vinyl includes a gatefold with lyrics printed inside.
Available now. SMILEY THE GHETTO CHILD is a Gangstarr Foundation and DITC member/affiliate. He was featured on the
classic Group Home album 'Living Proof' which was produced entirely by platinum producer DJ Premier.
December 10 street date. For every David Bowie, Brian Ferry or Marc Bolan, there were scores of glam divas-in-waiting like Jobriath and BRETT SMILEY. At least Jobriath, the world's first openly-gay rock star, got a chance to release two monstrously campy and epic LPs before public backlash silenced him forever. The winsome and sinewy Brett Smiley did not fare as well, recording Breathlessly Brett during a flurry of interest by the international music press, only to have the album cruelly pushed aside by an uncaring record industry and shelved permanently. Smiley was the willowy, blonde personification of glam, discovered and promoted like a classic Hollywood ingenue by Rolling Stones producer ANDREW LOOG OLDHAM. Oldham's vision for Smiley was to elevate the young man to the rarefied status of untouchable superstar before his first single was out. This single, originally released in 1974 on the UK Anchor label stands as one of the best glam rock 45's of the era, Reissued for the first time in it's original, very hard to find picture sleeve.
Available now. Double LP, in a single 5mm spine sleeve. Anhedonia is Oxford band Undersmile’s second album, and their sixth release since forming in 2009. Never ones to repeat themselves, Undersmile have continued to evolve from their grunge-inspired debut 2010 EP A Sea of Dead Snakes, to the nightmarish doom of their debut album Narwhal, and their epic 23 minute track Titanaboa from their split with Nottingham noise-merchants Bismuth. Ever restless, they even released a split LP with their own acoustic band, Coma Wall in 2013. Clocking in at over 70 minutes, Anhedonia is the spiritual successor to 2012’s Narwhal, and an elegant synthesis of the band’s entire back-catalogue. Anhedonia finds the band experimenting with a wider sonic palette and dynamic range, utilising clean guitars and cellos as much as Skyhammer Studio’s collection of vintage amps and fuzz boxes. As a result, Anhedonia is an album that leads you down labyrinthine paths of harmony and discord, amplification and acoustics.
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2022/06/17
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