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Imperial Teen premieres “Runaway” video at Spin.com

We have been counting down the days to the release of Imperial Teen‘s new record Feel the Sound, and the day has arrived! To celebrate, Jone, Roddy, Lynn & Will have premiered the video for “Runaway” at Spin.com. Watch Imperial Teen’s “Runaway” video now at Spin.com

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Also, Imperial Teen are the guest editors at MagnetMagazine.com this week. Read a Q&A with Will and bookmark the “Guest Editor” tag to read new entries from all four band members all week long.

Feel the Sound is available on CD, LP and digital download as well as a full album stream now in the Merge store.

Imperial Teen on tour:
Feb 24 San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord Noisepop Festival (SOLD OUT)
Feb 25 San Francisco, CA Amoeba Records Free in-store performance @ 2PM
Mar 14-18 SXSW Music Festival

Stream Imperial Teen’s Feel the Sound now at Spin.com

Imperial Teen‘s long-anticipated new album Feel the Sound will be released on January 31, but visit Spin.com now to hear the album in its entirety.

Of the new album, Spin.com says:

Feel the Sound is Imperial Teen’s first new album in five years, but you wouldn’t know it from the sterling collection of beautifully arranged, melody-rich pop songs on display. The San Francisco-based band led by former Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum shows no signs of rust on its fifth studio album, which we’ve got streaming for you in its entirety.

Stream Feel the Sound now at Spin.com

So many bands lose momentum and focus over time, but a little past its sweet sixteenth year of existence, Roddy Bottum, Lynn Perko Truell, Will Schwartz, and Jone Stebbins somehow grow both younger and wiser, connecting four characterful lives through creative friendship and deep trust, and forging a communal power that continues to grow stronger.

Imperial Teen have announced appearances at Noise Pop and SXSW with more to come!

Pre-order Feel the Sound now on CD and LP in the Merge store to receive a poster and a limited-edition key chain earplug case while supplies last.

Imperial Teen “Feel the Noise” with pre-order bonus!

Imperial Teen will return to the Merge active column with their new album, Feel the Sound on January 31! Pre-order the album now on CD or LP in the Merge store to receive limited-edition “Feel the Sound” ear plugs! Imperial Teen plays Noise Pop‘s 20th Anniversary at Cafe Du Nord on February 24, and stay tuned for more west coast dates!

Download “Runaway” from Feel the Sound now!

Follow Imperial Teen at twitter, Facebook and at their official website, ImperialTeen.com.

Track listing:
1. Runaway
2. No Matter What You Say
3. Last to Know
4. Over His Head
5. Hanging About
6. All the Same
7. Don’t Know How You Do It
8. Out From Inside
9. The Hibernates
10. It’s You
11. Overtaken

2011 Year End Lists: Roddy Bottum of Imperial Teen

Roddy’s Top 11 Shows of 2011:

1.   Portishead at the Shrine
2.   Psychic Friend & Sarah Silverman at Largo
3.   Thomas Ades’ Polaris at the Disney
4.   Arcade Fire in Big Sur and Ukrainian Culture Center and Coachella
5.   Zola Jesus at Spaceland
6.   Glasser and Twin Shadow and Tune Yards and James Blake at
that church in Austin
7.   Rob Zabrecky at the Magic Castle
8.   Bryan Ferry at the Greek
9.   Flaming Lips at Hollywood Forever
10. Robyn at the Hollywood Bowl
11. Faith No More in South America

Imperial Teen‘s long-awaited new album Feel the Sound will be in stores on January 31st. Pre-order yours now on CD or LP in the Merge store to receive a poster and a limited edition key-chain earplug case while supplies last.

Don’t forget – the Merge Holiday Code works on pre-orders, too!

New in the Merge store!

The holidays are right around the corner, and we want to make sure you know about some exciting new items in the Merge store!

Check out Tracey Thorn‘s new Night Time and You Are a Lover digital EPs. These EPs are also available limited-edition import vinyl. The Night Time 12-inch is even signed by Tracey and pressed on cool blue vinyl!

Merge is selling the limited-edition Wye Oak 7-inch of covers recorded as part of the AV Club Undercover series. “Strangers” b/w “Mother” is limited to only 1,000 copies and includes a cover of “Strangers” by the Kinks and “Mother” by Danzig. Also for Wye Oak fans, we have reissued their sophomore album The Knot on vinyl, and orders in the Merge store will include a signed poster!

Pre-orders are also available now for our January releases including Merge freshmen Hospitality and the return of Imperial Teen. Pre-order Hospitality’s self-titled debut album on CD or LP before its official release on January 31 to also receive via email their 6-song EP recorded in 2008 at their Red Hook apartment by Karl Blau. Imperial Teen’s fifth album Feel The Sound is also available for pre-order on CD and LP. Order now and your CD or LP will come with a cool poster. Hear tracks from both of these albums on our new Spotify “New Release” playlist!

Got your music fix but need new gear? Merge has you covered. She & Him Christmas winter accessories make a great addition to A Very She & Him Christmas and are available just in time for the holidays and winter season. Hats & mittens are going fast, so order yours today!

New additions to Merge Gear are Cranberry Merge Hoodies and Gray Track Jackets.  These American Apparel outerwear options have metallic gold and silver Merge logos screened on them.  They will keep you cozy while looking awesome. Not to mention, they are ridiculously comfortable!

Imperial Teen return with “Feel the Sound” in January!

Imperial Teen will return to the Merge active column with their new album, Feel the Sound on January 31!

Like the sharpest pop music, Feel the Sound gets you to keep coming back for more, but unlike so much music today, it rewards you for doing so, giving you the experience of a fulfilled and yet still yearning, lively potential, one that will be further realized when the songs are performed live. From the exhilarating, propulsive “Runaway,” which features the entire band on lead vocals (how many other groups can make that claim?), to the expansive final statement of “Overtaken,” Roddy Bottum, Lynn Perko Truell, Will Schwartz, and Jone Stebbins feel the sound themselves and, in turn, make the listener feel it in ways immediate and pleasurable but also lasting and haunting.

So many bands lose momentum and focus over time, but a little past its sweet sixteenth year of existence, Imperial Teen somehow grows both younger and wiser, connecting four characterful lives through creative friendship and deep trust, and forging a communal power that continues to grow stronger. Feel the sound of a one-of-a-kind group that’s never sounded more like itself.

Listen to “Runaway” from Feel the Sound now!

Pre-order Feel the Sound now on CD or LP in the Merge store and receive a poster and a limited-edition key-chain earplug case while supplies last.

Follow Imperial Teen at twitter, Facebook and at their official website, ImperialTeen.com.

Track listing:
1. Runaway
2. No Matter What You Say
3. Last to Know
4. Over His Head
5. Hanging About
6. All the Same
7. Don’t Know How You Do It
8. Out From Inside
9. The Hibernates
10. It’s You
11. Overtaken

XX Merge: Saturday (The Cradle)

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all photos by Brian Vetter

Imperial Teen at the Fader Sideshow!

Just in time for 2008′s SXSW, here’s video from 2007′s Fader Sideshow when Imperial Teen played!!

More video at Baeble Music.

For those of you traveling to Austin next week, be sure to hit the Merge showcase! Line-up HERE!

Imperial Teen hit the west coast!

Listen to Imperial Teen on KEXP!

The ‘Teen have a few more tour dates lined up, don’t miss them!
12.13.2007 * San Francisco CA @ The Independent
12.14.2007 * Los Angeles CA @ Troubadour
12.15.2007 * San Diego CA @ The Casbah

Stream the DC Spoon concert online!


(Spoon meet n’ greet at NYC show)

SPOON plays the 9:30 Club in DC tonight! For those of you not lucky enough to make it, the kind folks at NPR have scheduled a LIVE BROADCAST tonight! An interview with the band will air at 7:30, and the show goes live at 8pm! Tune in tonight for the entire concert!

If you’d rather park yourself in front of the TV tonight, Reaper will feature songs from two Merge artists: Spoon’s “The Underdog” and Imperial Teen‘s “Shim Sham”!

Another momentous TV event: SPOON on SNL re-airs THIS Saturday, October 27!

Spoon also visited KCMP recently. Click the link to hear the session!

They also gave a little shout out to Destroyer at their Boston show..

Awards, Imperial Teen & after-party insanity!


Tyler from KALX, Bekah from Suicide Squeeze, Doug from Pirate & Keli from KALX at the CMJ Awards.

Last year’s sexiest phone voice winners, Lindsey Merge & Omar CJLO present an award.

(CONTINUED: Click permalink below for more photos of CMJ fun!


Packed crowd at the Fader Lounge during Imperial Teen!

Hector from AAM represents at our after-party!

Ross from the Broken West and Matt Morseth.

Tobi from XM, Shiv from WOXY & Sue from Sub Pop rockin’ the after-party!

The Hair, The Baby & the Bands!


Imperial Teen wake up those still hungover from Tuesday night’s fun!

Luke “the baby,” at his first rock show!
(CONTINUED: Click permalink below for more photos of CMJ fun!


Pat from KVCU – clearly not “the hair” Imperial Teen were talking about!

Bon Iver at the Brooklyn Vegan party – doesn’t that drummer look familiar??

Lindsey, Julia & Kyle at Union Hall after the Ladybug Transistor played.

The Rosebuds!!

Mega dance Party at Union Hall!

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