Merge Records

A Guide to 2010 Merge Digital releases

It’s easy to miss out on some of the digital-only releases we throw your way—the Internet is a pretty crowded place these days! Here’s a quick summary of what you may have missed:

The limited-edition Destroyer 12-inch “Archer on the Beach” is out-of-print in the Merge store, but you can now buy the songs via digital download!

Don’t miss out on Swim RemixesCaribou’s answer to what happens when you put one of the year’s hottest dance records in the hands of some of the world’s best DJs! With reworks of some of Swim’s hottest cuts by Junior Boys, Fuck Buttons, Nite Jewel, DJ Koze, Walls, Gold Panda, Gavin Russom, and more, Swim Remixes contains over an hour-and-a-half of new, fresh takes on Caribou’s latest opus.

Let’s Wrestle bring us a tasty piece of next year’s sophomore record with the “Getting Rest”/“When I Was In Hospital” digital single. Be warned: these young Londoners are not to be missed.

Shout Out LoudsFall Hard EP expands upon Work’s catchy first single with non-album cuts “Fall Hard Pt. 2” and “Can’t Explain.”

Lou Barlow + the missingmen’s = Sentridoh III is Lou’s first recorded output with new backing band the missingmen. Described by the band as “an almost live representation of the Lou Barlow + the missingmen live show,” this mini-album breathes new, rocking life into Sebadoh and Sentridoh classics, Lou’s solo material, and even a haunting cover of the timeless Skip James song “I’m So Glad.”

Tracey Thorn followed up this year’s gorgeous Love and Its Opposite with a pair of digital EPs, Why Does the Wind? and Opposites, that offer up wildly creative remixes of some of the album’s most-loved songs. Why Does the Wind? pairs the album track of the same name with remixes by Morgan Geist, Michel Clies, and André Lodemann, along with a radio edit and dub version. As for the Opposites EP, Tracey herself probably says it best: “If the remixes for the last single ‘Why Does the Wind?’ were aimed at the dancefloor, these are perhaps aimed more at the head.” Visionquest (“Swimming”), Walls (“Kentish Town”), and Blue Daisy (“Late in the Afternoon”) provide penetrating new takes presented alongside the originals.

Let’s also revisit Lambchop’s magnetic Live at XX Merge performance; Portastatic’s Make It Sound In Tune EP; digital reissues of Richard Buckner’s landmark albums Impasse, The Hill, and Bloomed; and The Ladybug Transistor’s fantastic Here Comes the Rain covers EP.

Our Holiday Coupon applies to digital releases, too, so download away!



Let’s Wrestle play “I’m So Lazy” at MFNW

“I’m So Lazy” can be found on the limited-edition split 7-inch with The Love Language in the Merge store along with the new digital single “Getting Rest.” Go see Let’s Wrestle who are on tour now in the US!

Let’s Wrestle on tour:
Sept 15 Chapel Hill, NC Nightlight w/ Elf Power
Sept 17 Washington, DC 9:30 Club w/ Superchunk
Sept 18 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ Superchunk (SOLD OUT)

Let’s Wrestle release new digital single today!

Today, Let’s Wrestle present a new digital single featuring two brand new songs: “Getting Rest” and “When I Was In Hospital.”

“‘Getting Rest’ is about our first trip to the states when we were completely unknown here (apart from NYC and Austin),” says Wesley Patrick Gonzalez. “Me and Mike Lightning went for a stroll in Baltimore and were being idiots, taking photos of ourselves doing Kung Fu moves, and a homeless guy asked us for a cigarette. He said, ‘Welcome to Baltimore!’ and Mike said he was welcome in London anytime. The man started crying and asked us to get him out of there. This song is about being ignorant to the messed-up stuff that goes on around you.”

“‘When I Was In Hospital’ is a song I wrote when I started thinking about how I’d cope with being terminally ill,” Wesley continued. “It’s more about what I’d say to a friend than actually being ill myself. I’m afraid both of these songs are quite morbid, but get used to it! You are looking at the new Radiohead! Proggy sobbing!”

Let’s Wrestle’s “Getting Rest” digital single is available today at iTunes and in the Merge store. Mike, Wesley and Darkus are on tour in the US now with Man Man and will head east for dates with Superchunk later this month. Follow their tour adventures at their blog.

Let’s Wrestle on tour:
Sep 8 Seattle, WA Neumo’s w/ Man Man
Sep 9 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre w/ Man Man
Sep 10 Portland, OR MusicFestNW w/ Man Man
Sep 17 Washington, DC 9:30 Club w/ Superchunk & Tommy Keene
Sep 18 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom    w/ Superchunk

Let’s Wrestle “I’m So Lazy” video

This song is from a limited-edition split 7-inch with The Love Language available now in the Merge store!

“Face time” with Let’s Wrestle on Noisevox!

Let’s Wrestle met up with John Norris at a beer garden in New York City on their recent tour with Quasi to talk about the challenges of touring in the US and how they are never ever “goofy.”

Watch the full interview at noisevox.org and visit the Merge store to get your copy of In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s and the limited-edition split 7-inch with The Love Language now.

Let’s Wrestle premiere video for “I’m So Lazy” & announce US tour dates

Let’s Wrestle premiered their new video for “I’m So Lazy” today at Pitchfork.tv. “I’m So Lazy” can be found on the limited-edition split 7-inch with The Love Language featuring art by Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Patrick Gonzalez.

Let’s Wrestle will return to the US in September for dates with Man Man including MusicfestNW in Portland in support of their Merge Records debut, In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s available now on CD and digital download in the Merge store.

Let’s Wrestle on tour with Man Man:
9/05 Santa Barbara, CA SOhO Restaurant and Music
9/06 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
9/08 Seattle, WA Neumos
9/09 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
9/10 Portland, OR MusicfestNW

Free Merge sampler at Amazon.com!

Spring has sprung and it is time for a new free Merge sampler! Featuring hit songs from the latest albums of Radar Brothers, Spoon, Let’s Wrestle, She & Him and more, visit amazon.com now to download all fourteen free songs with special cover art by Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Patrick Gonzalez!

As always, you can find new albums from all of these artists and more in our handy Merge store.

Free Merge 2010 digital sampler track listing:
1. Radar Brothers – Horses Warriors (from The Illustrated Garden)
2. Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You (from In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s)
3. Destroyer – The Very Modern Dance (from Streethawk: A Seduction)
4. Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (from Work)
5. Spoon – Written in Reverse (from Transference)
6. Lou Barlow – Don’t Apologize (from Goodnight Unknown)
7. She & Him – Thieves (from Volume Two)
8. Superchunk – Learned to Surf (from Leaves in the Gutter)
9. Alec Bathgate – Glide (from Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox)
10. The Clientele – I Wonder Who We Are (from Bonfires on the Heath)
11. Caribou – Odessa (from Swim)
12. The Clean – In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul (from Mister Pop)
13. Wye Oak – I Hope You Die (from My Neighbor / My Creator)
14. Lambchop – Give It (from Live at XX Merge)

Let’s Wrestle “Best of What’s Next” at Paste Magazine

Let’s Wrestle were deemed “Best of What’s Next” by Paste Magazine.  Watch the adorable video below of Wesley Patrick Gonzalez & Mike Lightning performing an acoustic version “I Won’t Lie to You.”

In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s is available on CD and digital download in the Merge store.

Let’s Wrestle have just two shows left of their US tour with Quasi:
4/30 – Newport, KY – Southgate House
5/1 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall

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Telekinesis and The Love Language & Let’s Wrestle split 7-inches available in the Merge store

Missed out on Record Store Day? Never fear! Two limited edition 7-inches with brand new songs from Telekinesis, The Love Language, and Let’s Wrestle are available now exclusively on 7-inch vinyl in the Merge store!

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.”

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”

With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language!

Thank you for helping to make Record Store Day a rousing success!

Exclusive Record Store Day releases from Telekinesis, The Love Language & Let’s Wrestle, and an autographed Superchunk picture disc!

Merge will join in the celebration of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 17, with the release of three exclusive 7-inches from Telekinesis, Superchunk, and a split 7-inch from The Love Language & Let’s Wrestle.

Superchunk – “Misfits and Mistakes” b/w “Misfits and Mistakes” (Meatwad Version)
Originally released in 2007 in extremely limited quantity, “Misfits and Mistakes” is the first and only picture disc we have ever produced. Recorded for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, “Misfits and Mistakes” is performed by Superchunk and covered on side B by Meatwad himself!  Each 7-inch picture disc arrives in stores autographed by all four members of Superchunk and is available at a special price exclusively for Record Store Day!

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.” These three tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”
With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language! Featuring brand new songs from both bands, these tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Record Store Day is a yearly celebration in which independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.

For more information on Record Store Day and where you can find a store near you, visit recordstoreday.com.

Let’s Wrestle intern at Merge HQ

A few spilled water glasses, and some very impressive “International First Class” stamping earned Let’s Wrestle their first Merge gear! They are currently touring the US in support of their debut album, In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s- go see them!

Let’s Wrestle chats with Urban Outfitters at SXSW

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See them on tour! In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s in stores tomorrow, but you can pre-order it now in the Merge store!

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