Merge Records

SIGNED DINOSAUR JR LP JACKETS / New in the Merge Web Store

June 20, 2011 – 3:09 pm

Greetings internet,

Please consider this your first update from Jay and Madonna in the Merge Records basement! We’re happy to be serving you wonderful people.

First things first: to celebrate Dinosaur Jr’s Bug tour, we’re giving away five signed, Bug LP jackets. Comment on this post with your favorite song from the album or your favorite Dinosaur Jr show moment and retweet this blog post with the hashtag #mergebuggiveaway to win! Five winners will be chosen by a panel of experts and contacted by 6/30 when the tour is over.

In addition to the Wild Flag preorder that just went live (oh lawd there are so many of you people that want this album), we’ve got Stephin Merritt’s Obscurities (also, 69 Love Songs, its 33 1/3 book, and the Strange Powers documentary about Stephin himself), an Archers of Loaf re-issue of Icky Mettle, from Arcade Fire, The Suburbs Deluxe, and a brand new full-length record from long time Merger, Richard Buckner. Our Blood is the first time he’s ever released vinyl!

Just because a band has graduated from Merge doesn’t mean that we’re not interested in helping them sell more records; we’ve got The Cakekitchen’s Kangaroos in my Top Paddock LPs for sale, but only a few (less than 10). Merge staffers have snapped the first few of these up, so get yours from us before we don’t have any more!

In case you missed them…we’ve got wonderfully soft and lightweight Merge Records tee shirts back in stock, in light blue. Printed on 50/50 Royal Apparel heather tees, these will keep you cool in more ways than one this summer. Be sure to admire Reed, our model / intern.

That’s gonna wrap it up!

~Jay & Madonna, your Merge Records Web store customer service team. Keepers of the flame.

Also posted in Archers of Loaf, Dinosaur Jr, Stephin Merritt, The Magnetic Fields, Wild Flag | Comments (34)

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Arcade Fire perform new arrangements of “We Used to Wait” and “Sprawl II” on Sound Opinions

June 16, 2011 – 5:40 pm

Sound Opinions will air the full acoustic session from Arcade Fire beginning tomorrow. Visit SoundOpinions.org for more information.

The Suburbs Deluxe is available for preorder on CD + DVD in the Merge store, and The Suburbs is available now on CD, LP and digital download.

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Listen to a rare acoustic set from Arcade Fire on Sound Opinions

June 16, 2011 – 2:02 pm

Arcade Fire visited Sound Opinions in Chicago for a rare acoustic performance. See photos from the visit and hear the whole session beginning Friday, June 17 at SoundOpinions.org.

Sound Opinions is the world’s only rock and roll talk show. Hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, Sound Opinions airs on radio stations around the country, is downloadable as a weekly podcast, and can be streamed at their website. Visit SoundOpinions.org for more information on how to listen.

Also, watch a 30-minute documentary on Arcade Fire hosted by Fucked Up’s Damian Abraham for Canada’s MuchMusic.

The Suburbs Deluxe will be in stores on August 2 and will include two new Arcade Fire songs. Visit iTunes to purchase both new Arcade Fire songs via digital download, or pre-order The Suburbs Deluxe Edition on CD + DVD in the Merge store to receive a download code for both songs.

The expanded CD version of The Suburbs sees the original album augmented by a longer version of the track “Wasted Hours (A Life That We Can Live),” as well as the previously unreleased “Culture War” and “Speaking in Tongues,” the latter of which features David Byrne on additional vocals. Highlights of the DVD portion include the complete half-hour short film Scenes From The Suburbs, directed by Spike Jonze; the companion documentary Behind The Scenes From The Suburbs; and the music video for the track “The Suburbs.” The package is rounded out by an exclusive booklet featuring lyrics and 80 pages of photos taken during the Scenes From The Suburbs film shoot.

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Arcade Fire @ Bonnaroo

June 13, 2011 – 3:56 pm

More videos at YouTube.com/ArcadeFireTube3

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Listen and buy two new Arcade Fire songs now!

May 24, 2011 – 2:09 pm

Yesterday, UK DJ Zane Lowe premiered two new Arcade Fire songs – “Culture War” and “Speaking in Tongues (feat. David Byrne)” – on his radio show. You can now hear official streams of both songs and download the MP3s at iTunes and in the Merge store with your pre-order of The Suburbs Deluxe Edition. All pre-orders (past & future) for The Suburbs Deluxe Edition from the Merge store will receive an email with a code to download both songs.

Visit iTunes to purchase both new Arcade Fire songs via digital download, or pre-order The Suburbs Deluxe Edition on CD + DVD in the Merge store to receive a download code for both songs.

The expanded CD version of The Suburbs sees the original album augmented by a longer version of the track “Wasted Hours (A Life That We Can Live),” as well as the previously unreleased “Culture War” and “Speaking In Tongues,” the latter of which features David Byrne on additional vocals. Highlights of the DVD portion include the complete half-hour short film Scenes From The Suburbs, directed by Spike Jonze, the companion documentary Behind The Scenes From The Suburbs, and the music video for the track “The Suburbs.” The package is rounded out by an exclusive booklet featuring lyrics and 80 pages of photos taken during the Scenes From The Suburbs film shoot.

Click to listen to official streams of both songs:

Arcade Fire – Speaking in Tongues (feat. David Byrne) by Merge Records

Arcade Fire – Culture War by Merge Records

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Arcade Fire to release The Suburbs Deluxe CD + DVD on August 2

May 10, 2011 – 1:14 pm

Arcade Fire will release a deluxe CD/DVD version of its Album of the Year Grammy Award-winning third album The Suburbs August 2nd. Pre-order the CD + DVD Scenes from the Suburbs now in the Merge store.

The expanded CD version of The Suburbs sees the original album augmented by a longer version of the track “Wasted Hours (A Life That We Can Live),” as well as the previously unreleased “Culture War” and “Speaking In Tongues,” the latter of which features David Byrne on additional vocals.

Highlights of the DVD portion include the complete half-hour short film Scenes From The Suburbs, directed by Spike Jonze and hailed as “absolutely f–king gorgeous” by INDIEWIRE at its U.S. premiere at this year’s SXSW festival, the companion documentary Behind The Scenes From The Suburbs, and the music video for the track “The Suburbs.”

The package is rounded out by an exclusive booklet featuring lyrics and 80 pages of photos taken during the Scenes From The Suburbs film shoot.

Arcade Fire have more US dates this summer including a newly announced show on June 8 in Charlottesville, VA.

Arcade Fire on tour:
Jun 8 Charlottesville, VA nTelos Wireless Pavilion
Jun 10 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival
July 30 Moncton, NB Magnetic Hill Music Festival
Aug 14 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival

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The Wilderness Downtown wins a Webby!

May 3, 2011 – 5:04 pm

Congratulations to Google & Radical Media for winning the award for Best Use of Video or Moving Image at this year’s Webby Awards for The Wilderness Downtown! The project also won the “People’s Award” for Net Art. The Wilderness Downtown features the song “We Used to Wait” from Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs.

Open Google Chrome and experience The Wilderness Downtown!

The Suburbs is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

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Will & Marika of Arcade Fire sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field!

April 25, 2011 – 11:08 am

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The story behind Arcade Fire “Coachella Balls”

April 18, 2011 – 4:20 pm

photo by Peter Sutherland

From TheCreatorsProject.com:

I never expected to be watching Arcade Fire play from backstage, but when the production team called for “all hands on deck,” no one could argue. There to assist with the grand finale—launching some 2,000 LED-enhanced blow-up beach balls into the crowd—we were all giddy at the prospect of taking part in their performance. The idea for the visual spectacle, developed by director Chris Milk (who the band previously worked with on “The Wilderness Downtown”), was to release these balls in time for Arcade Fire’s encore and use the embedded LEDs and IR transmitters to light paint all over the audience.

A crane positioned at the top of the stage was set up to let the balls drop during the band’s last song, “Wake Up,” and our job was to throw them into the crowd and make sure they stayed there. There was also a giant cage to the right of the stage filled with hundreds more that we were responsible for tossing into the audience, which proved to be no easy task given that they were an unwieldy two or three feet in diameter. When the the balls finally did drop, the entire place turned into an epic ball pit, with these giant balls flying all over the place, changing colors all the while from red to blue to orange to pink. (My apologies to the people in the front who may have been pummeled in the face with a beach ball or two—my bad!). Standing on stage and taking it all in, it certainly was a sight to behold.

The interactive visual performance, entitled Summer Into Dust continues online. Those lucky few who managed to catch a ball can log on to the accompanying website and continue the experience. Each ball comes with a URL where fans can locate a user manual online and connect their ball to a greater community

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Arcade Fire US tour now in progress!

April 12, 2011 – 1:12 pm

Album of the Year Grammy winners Arcade Fire are on the road now in support of The Suburbs.

The shows kicked off April 9 in Denver and include previously announced sold out appearances headlining Coachella this weekend as well as an April 22, 24, 25 three-night stand at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion. The band’s headlining appearance on May 6 at Jazz Fest in New Orleans will be the tour’s final date.

The Suburbs is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store and all of your favorite music stores!

For further information, check arcadefire.com and follow them on twitter!

Arcade Fire on tour!
April 13 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre *
April 14 Las Vegas, NV The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel *
April 16 Indio, CA Coachella (Sold out)
April 18 Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Convention Center*****
April 20 Kansas City, MO Starlight Amphitheatre **
April 22 Chicago, IL UIC Pavilion (Sold out) **
April 24 Chicago, IL UIC Pavilion (Sold out) **
April 25 Chicago, IL UIC Pavilion (Sold out) **
April 27 Indianapolis, IN The Lawn at White River State Park **
April 28 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
April 30 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion ***
May 3 Austin, TX The Backyard ****
May 4 The Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion ****
May 6 New Orleans, LA Jazz and Heritage Festival
* Local Natives Support
** The National Support
*** Okkervil River Support
**** Explosions in the Sky Support
***** The Love Language Support

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Arcade Fire “Rococo” Live at the Juno Awards!

March 29, 2011 – 4:15 pm

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Caribou & Arcade Fire win Juno awards!

March 28, 2011 – 12:16 pm

Caribou and Arcade Fire took home Juno awards at Saturday’s ceremony in Toronto. Caribou’s Swim won “Electronic Album of the Year” in the inaugural year for the category. Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs took home four awards including Album of the Year, Alternative Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Group of the Year.

Caribou’s Swim and Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs are both available now on CD, dbl-LP and digital download in the Merge store.

Congratulations to Caribou & Arcade Fire on their wins!

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February
25	San Francisco, CA	Great American Music Hall
26	Los Angeles, CA	Troubadour
April
26	New York, NY	Bowery Ballroom
27	Cambridge, MA	Middle East - Downstairs
28	Cambridge, MA	Middle East - Downstairs
[see all]

February
22	New Haven, CT	BAR
24	Lexington, KY	Cosmic Charlie's
25	Atlanta, GA	Highland Inn Ballroom
27	Easton, MD	The NightCat
March
02	Bayport, NY	The Grey Horse Tavern
[see all]

April
17	Mexico City	Foro Sol
18	Mexico City	Foro Sol

February
29	Los Angeles, CA	Hotel Cafe

February
25	San Francisco, CA	Great American Music Hall
26	Los Angeles, CA	Troubadour
29	Toronto, ON	Horseshoe Tavern
March
02	Boston, MA	Brighton Music Hall
03	New York, NY	Bowery Ballroom
[see all]

Merge Records

SIGNED DINOSAUR JR LP JACKETS / New in the Merge Web Store

Arcade Fire perform new arrangements of “We Used to Wait” and “Sprawl II” on Sound Opinions

Listen to a rare acoustic set from Arcade Fire on Sound Opinions

Arcade Fire @ Bonnaroo

Listen and buy two new Arcade Fire songs now!

Arcade Fire to release The Suburbs Deluxe CD + DVD on August 2

The Wilderness Downtown wins a Webby!

Will & Marika of Arcade Fire sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field!

The story behind Arcade Fire “Coachella Balls”

Arcade Fire US tour now in progress!

Arcade Fire “Rococo” Live at the Juno Awards!

Caribou & Arcade Fire win Juno awards!

Archers of Loaf [+]

Richard Buckner [+]

Caribou [+]

Crooked Fingers [+]

Destroyer [+]

Hospitality [+]

Imperial Teen [+]

Lambchop [+]

The Love Language [+]

The Magnetic Fields [+]

Jeff Mangum [+]

the Mountain Goats [+]

Portastatic [+]

Superchunk [+]

Versus [+]

M. Ward [+]

Wild Flag [+]

Wye Oak [+]

February
24	San Francisco, CA	Cafe Du Nord
25	San Francisco, CA	Amoeba Records

February
23	Berlin	Babylon
24	Berlin	Babylon
25	Dresden	Beatpol
26	Leipzig	Werk II
27	Vienna	Konzerthaus
[see all]

March
09	Charlotte, NC	Visulite Theatre
10	Savannah, GA	Savannah Stopover at Ships of the Sea Museum
11	Atlanta, GA	Variety Playhouse
12	Baton Rouge, LA	Red Star Bar
20	Birmingham, AL	The Bottletree
[see all]

March
06	Hudson, NY	Helsinki Hudson
07	Philadelphia, PA	Union Transfer
10	Minehead	All Tomorrow's Parties curated by Jeff Mangum
18	Vancouver	The Vogue
19	Seattle, WA	Neptune Theatre
[see all]

February
10	Athens, GA	40 Watt
11	Athens, GA	40 Watt
March
07	Dublin	Vicar Street
09	Minehead	ATP curated by Jeff Mangum
10	Minehead	ATP curated by Jeff Mangum
[see all]

March
09	Denton, TX	35 Denton
13	New York, NY	Carnegie Hall
24	New York, NY	Merkin Hall

February
11	Chapel Hill, NC	The Cave
18	Durham, NC	Duke Coffeehouse
23	San Francisco, CA	Swedish American Hall

March
20	London	Leicester Square Theatre
21	Paris	Le Zenith
22	Lyon	Transbordeur
23	Lille	Theatre Sebastopol
25	London	Royal Albert Hall
[see all]

March
07	Perth	The Bakery
09	Melbourne	Corner Hotel
10	Victoria	Golden Plains Festival
11	Brisbane	The Zoo
13	Sydney	Manning Bar
[see all]