Click here to view the embedded video.

Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store.

Visit iTunes to download Merge Records Spring Sampler 2012 now

Visit the Merge store to find full-length albums from these artists, and bookmark our SoundCloud page where we are adding new songs all the time!

Track list:
1.  The Magnetic Fields “Andrew in Drag”
2.  Sugar “A Good Idea”
3.  Times New Viking “Try Harder”
4.  Eleanor Friedberger “Heaven”
5.  The Rosebuds “Second Bird of Paradise”
6.  Archers of Loaf “Dead Red Eyes”
7.  Wild Flag “Electric Band”
8.  Imperial Teen “Out from Inside”
9.  Hospitality “Friends of Friends”
10.  M. Ward “The First Time I Ran Away”
11.  Stephin Merritt “Forever and a Day”
12.  Lambchop “Gone Tomorrow”
13.  Crooked Fingers “Heavy Hours”

Wild Flag on tour:
May 27 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
Jun 14 Chicago, IL Pitchfork Music Festival
Aug 03 Brooklyn, NY Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park Bandshell

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Don’t forget to tune in to Coachella’s YouTube feed this weekend! Destroyer plays on Saturday at 2:30 Pacific, and Wild Flag on Sunday at 5:30 Pacific.

Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! is the weekly NPR News quiz show. Carrie played their “Not My Job” game in which she was asked questions about Singapore by host Peter Sagal. Stream or download Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! to listen.

Also, Carrie visited comedian Marc Maron’s infamous “cat ranch” for an interview that airs on today’s episode of his WTF podcast. Merge sponsored the episode, so listen for a code to save 20% in the Merge store. Download WTF with Marc Maron to listen.

Wild Flag are on tour now and their debut album Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store. Keep up with Carrie and Wild Flag on twitter.

Wild Flag on tour:
* = w/ Hospitality
Apr 02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club*
Apr 03 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero*
Apr 05 Chicago, IL Metro*
Apr 07 Mexico City, MX Indie-O Fest
Apr 15 Indio, CA Coachella
Apr 18 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Apr 19 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
Apr 22 Indio, CA Coachella
May 04 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
May 27 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival

They recently became Paul Schaffer’s favorite band when they visited The Late Show with David Letterman. Watch their performance of “Romance” from Letterman and set your DVR for tonight’s performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon!

Wild Flag are heading back out on the road this spring and season two of Carrie Brownstein’s television show Portlandia premieres tonight on IFC.

Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
Mar 30 New Haven, CT Toads Place
Mar 31 Boston, MA Paradise
Apr 01 New York, NY Webster Hall
Apr 02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Apr 03 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
Apr 05 Chicago, IL Metro
Apr 18 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

Watch Carrie, Janet, Rebecca & Mary on CNN, too!

Check your local listing for airings in your city. On January 6, the band will ring in the new year with an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon! Don’t miss these two special performances by one of the year’s best new bands.

The band recently stopped by Sound Opinions and offered up a new song, called “Nothing.” You can watch the band play the set live at the WBEZ studios.

Wild Flag have also announced new tour dates for spring of 2012! Get your tickets early!

Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
Mar 30 New Haven, CT Toads Place
Mar 31 Boston, MA Paradise
Apr 01 New York, NY Webster Hall
Apr 02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Apr 03 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
Apr 05 Chicago, IL Metro
Apr 18 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

Beginning tomorrow, Wild Flag’s performance and interview with Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis on Sound Opinions will air on your local public radio station and stream online at SoundOpinions.org.

Wild Flag have also announced new tour dates for spring of 2012! Get your tickets early!

Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
Nov 10 Portland, OR Doug Fir ***SOLD OUT***
Nov 11 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
Nov 12 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
Mar 07 Perth, AUS The Bakery
Mar 09 Melbourne, AUS Corner Hotel
Mar 10 Victoria, AUS Golden Plains Festival
Mar 11 Brisbane, AUS The Zoo
Mar 13 Sydney, AUS Manning Bar
Mar 30 New Haven, CT Toads Place
Mar 31 Boston, MA Paradise
Apr 01 New York, NY Webster Hall
Apr 02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Apr 03 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
Apr 05 Chicago, IL Metro

Watch the interview now at Noisevox.org

Wild Flag are now on tour and their debut album Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
Nov 01 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Nov 02 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 03 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 04 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 05 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 07 Arcata, CA – Humboldt State
Nov 09 Portland, OR – Jackpot Records (in-store performance at 3pm)
Nov 09 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 10 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 11 Seattle, WA – Neumos
Nov 12 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Dec 08 London, UK – The Lexington
Dec 09 Minehead, UK – Butlin’s Holiday Center (ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas)
Mar 10 Victoria, Australia – Golden Plains Festival

Wild Flag is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store.

See Jackpot Records featured in Wild Flag’s video for “Romance” below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wild Flag are in the midst of their US tour. Pitchfork reviewed their NYC show saying, “Gloriously loud, compact, no-frills show that affirms this supergroup’s existence as a victory lap rather than an afterthought.” Popmatters declared, “By the time Wild Flag finished their scorching set, every band labeled as “chillwave” had burst into flames, forever.” .

Click to stream an archive of Wild Flag’s show at the Black Cat in DC

See Wild Flag on tour this fall, and find Wild Flag on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
# w/ Eleanor Friedberger
Oct 24 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree #
Oct 26 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks #
Oct 27 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Oct 28 Dallas, TX – The Loft
Oct 29 Austin, TX – Emo’s
Oct 31 Tempe, AZ – Rhythm Room
Nov 01 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Nov 02 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 03 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 04 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 05 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 07 Arcata, CA – Humboldt State
Nov 09 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 10 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 11 Seattle, WA – Neumos
Nov 12 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Dec 08 London, UK – The Lexington

Mary, Rebecca, Janet & Carrie stopped by Oregon Public Broadcasting for a very special set in front of a live audience. The session is now available at OPBmusic.org, with live video! Don’t miss Wild Flag on tour, and pick up a copy of their self-titled debut in stores now.

Wild Flag on tour:
Oct 19 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
Oct 20 Washington, DC Black Cat
Oct 21 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Oct 22 Athens, GA 40 Watt
Oct 24 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree
Oct 26 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
Oct 27 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Oct 28 Dallas, TX The Loft
Oct 29 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
Oct 31 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
Nov 01 San Diego, CA Casbah
Nov 02 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Nov 03 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Nov 04 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Nov 05 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Nov 07 Arcata, CA Humboldt State University
Nov 09 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Nov 10 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Nov 11 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
Nov 12 Vancouver, The Biltmore Cabaret
Dec 08 London, UK The Lexington
Dec 09 Minehead, UK Butlin’s Holiday Center – ATP’s “Nightmare Before Christmas

Our new signees Hospitality get a big welcome to Merge on Tuesday, October 18 opening for Eleanor Friedberger & Wild Flag at the Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are sold out, but a limited amount of CMJ passes will be admitted to the show.

Eleanor Friedberger & co. also play the Under the Radar CMJ party on Wednesday, October 19 at Public Assembly in Brooklyn. The party starts at 12:30pm and is open to the public (21+).

And Hospitality returns to the stage on Saturday, October 22 at Rockwood Music Hall for the SPIN Magazine party!

Listen to “Friends of Friends” below, and pre-order Hospitality’s self-titled debut now in the Merge store!

Wild Flag is available on CD and LP in stores now.

To celebrate the release of Wild Flag, we’re giving away a trip for two to New York City! Enter the contest at the Merge Facebook page!

Gail O’Hara interviewed the entire band for Salon.com. Read it HERE.

And Rolling Stone reviews the album, saying “There are no wasted moments here – these are lifers who know exactly what they’re doing.”

Pitchfork has just premiered the Tom Scharpling-directed video for “Romance.” Watch it at Pitchfork, or on Vimeo below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Order the album on CD or LP in the Merge store, or buy it from your favorite retail outlet today!

Wild Flag on tour:
# w/ Eleanor Friedberger
Oct 03 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theatre
Oct 04 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
Oct 05 Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
Oct 07 Champaign, IL – High Dive
Oct 08 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Oct 09 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Oct 10 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Oct 11 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
Oct 14 Boston, MA – Paradise #
Oct 15 Brooklyn, NY – Bell House
Oct 16 Hoboken NJ – Maxwell’s #
Oct 18 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom # w/ Hospitality
Oct 19 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer #
Oct 20 Washington, DC – Black Cat #
Oct 21 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle #
Oct 22 Athens, GA – 40 Watt #
Oct 24 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree #
Oct 26 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks #
Oct 27 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Oct 28 Dallas, TX – The Loft
Oct 29 Austin, TX – Emo’s
Oct 31 Tempe, AZ – Rhythm Room
Nov 01 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Nov 02 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 03 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 04 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 05 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 07 Arcata, CA – Humboldt State
Nov 09 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 10 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 11 Seattle, WA – Neumos
Nov 12 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Dec 08 London, UK – The Lexington
Dec 09 Minehead, UK – ATP Nightmare Before Christmas

Thursday, Sep. 8 @ 11 pm:
The Love Language – The Lincoln Theatre

Friday, Sep. 9 @ 12:30 am (Saturday morning):
Hospitality – The Union

Saturday, Sep. 10 @ 6:45 pm:
Superchunk – City Plaza w/ The Flaming Lips and Dreamers of the Ghetto [tickets]

Saturday, Sep. 10 @ 12:30 am (Sunday morning):
Times New Viking – The Union

Saturday, Sep. 10 @ 12:30 am (Sunday morning):
KORT (Kurt Wagner of Lambchop and Cortney Tidwell) – Kings Barcade

In addition, there will be a few FREE Merge-related daytime activities:

Friday, Sep. 9, 2-4 pm: Foundation will host a Wild Flag listening party. Come by for great music, drink specials, and door prizes.

Friday, Sep. 9, 3-5 pm: Stuart McLamb of The Love Language will participate in an artist-and-author discussion panel called “Simple Words: The Power of Narrative Songs” at the Raleigh City Museum. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday, Sep. 10, 11 am-5:30 pm: Hopscotch presents The Rosebuds & Friends, a block party outside the Lincoln Theatre. The seven-band lineup concludes with a performance by The Rosebuds at 4 pm. Food will be provided by Ashley Christensen and AC Restaurants, the proceeds from which will benefit the Frankie Lemmon Foundation.

And finally, SHOPscotch, a temporary pop-up store, will be open in Raleigh’s historic City Market every day during Hopscotch and on Sunday the 11th. This is the place to get Merge releases as well as records, t-shirts, and other merchandise from some of the festival’s participating bands. Business hours and more details can be found here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The group is touring North America throughout the fall including dates with Eleanor Friedberger in October.

Wild Flag is in stores on September 13, and you can pre-order it now on CD or LP in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
# w/ Eleanor Friedberger
12 Aug Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront w/ Sonic Youth
03 Oct Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
04 Oct Omaha, NE Waiting Room
05 Oct Kansas City, MO Record Bar
07 Oct Champaign, IL High Dive
08 Oct Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
09 Oct Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
10 Oct Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
11 Oct Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
14 Oct Boston, MA Paradise #
19 Oct Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer #
20 Oct Washington, DC Black Cat #
21 Oct Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle #
22 Oct Athens, GA 40 Watt #
24 Oct Birmingham, AL Bottletree #
26 Oct New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks #
28 Oct Dallas, TX The Loft
29 Oct Austin, TX Emo’s
31 Oct Tempe, AZ Rhythm Room
01 Nov San Diego, CA Casbah
02 Nov Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
03 Nov Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
04 Nov San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
05 Nov San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
07 Nov Arcata, CA Humboldt State
09 Nov Portland, OR Doug Fir
10 Nov Portland, OR Doug Fir
11 Nov Seattle, WA Neumo’s
12 Nov Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
09 Dec Minehead, UK ATP Nightmare Before Christmas

Eleanor recently stopped by BrightestYoungThings in DC and played two songs, including a brand new tune called “Stare at the Sun.” Watch the session online now.

Order Last Summer on CD, LP, and digital download in the Merge store.

Eleanor Friedberger on tour:
* – w/ The Kills
# – w/ Wild Flag
28 Jul Los Angeles, CA – Wombleton Records @ 8 p.m.
29 Jul Los Angeles, CA – Origami Vinyl @ 7 p.m.
22 Aug New York, NY – Webster Hall w/ Deerhunter
23 Aug New York, NY – Webster Hall w/ Deerhunter
05 Sep Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *
07 Sep Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *
09 Sep Oakland, CA – Fox Theater *
10 Sep Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theatre *
11 Sep San Diego, CA – House of Blues *
14 Oct Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club #
19 Oct Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer #
20 Oct Washington, DC – Black Cat #
21 Oct Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle #
22 Oct Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club #
24 Oct Birmingham, AL – Bottletree #
26 Oct New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks #
27 Oct Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
28 Oct St. Louis, MO – The Luminary Center for the Arts
29 Oct Chicago, IL – Subterranean
30 Oct Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop

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.

DJ Terre T premiered “Romance” the first single from Wild Flag’s new record on her show “The Cherry Blossom Clinic” Saturday on New Jersey’s independent freeform radio station WFMU.

Stream “Romance” from Wild Flag:

“Romance” is also available for free download and for sale at iTunes. Pre-order Wild Flag’s self-titled debut album now on CD and LP in the Merge store.

The group is touring North America throughout the summer and fall including a date opening for Sonic Youth at Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Waterfront on August 12. 

While all the members have known each other and played together in various projects for well over a decade, Wild Flag first came together in 2009 to write and perform the score for the critically acclaimed Lynn Hershman Leeson documentary !Women Art Revolution. After working together with such ease in the studio, the quartet decided to continue writing and recording as a working unit. The group spent months playing together, figuring out dynamics and working the songs out in a live context, before finally recording their debut album at Sacramento’s The Hangar with engineer Chris Woodhouse in April of 2011. All of the songs were performed live save for the vocal tracks.

Wild Flag are Carrie Brownstein, Rebecca Cole, Mary Timony and Janet Weiss. You can find Wild Flag on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

Pre-order Wild Flag now on CD or LP in the Merge store.

Wild Flag on tour:
June 24 Calgary, AL Sled Island
June 25 Calgary, AL Sled Island
July 22  Chicago, IL Subterranean
July 23  Chicago, IL Wicker Park Festival
Aug 12  Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront w/ Sonic Youth
Oct 3  Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
Oct 4  Omaha, NE Waiting Room
Oct 5  Kansas City, MO Record Bar
Oct 7  Champaign, IL High Dive
Oct 9  Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Oct 10 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
Oct 11 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
Oct 14  Boston, MA Paradise
Oct 19 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
Oct 20 Washington, DC Black Cat
Oct 21 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Oct 22 Athens, GA 40 Watt
Oct 24 Birmingham, AL Bottletree
Oct 26 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
Oct 29 Austin, TX Emo’s
Oct 31 Tempe, AZ Rhythm Room
Nov 1 San Diego, CA Casbah
Nov 2 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Nov 3 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Nov 4 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Nov 5 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Nov 7 Arcata, CA Humboldt State
Nov 9 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Nov 10 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Nov 11 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
Nov 12 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret

On Saturday, June 18, Terre T and WFMU will debut the first track from Wild Flag’s self-titled debut album! Tune in to the Cherry Blossom Clinic on WFMU between 3-6pm Eastern to hear the worldwide premiere of “Romance” in its entirety.

You can listen to the Cherry Blossom Clinic live online at WFMU.org or the show’s archive at any point after Saturday at 3pm. If you’re in the New York area, you can listen on the radio at 91.1FM, and at 90.1FM in the Hudson Valley.

Wild Flag is available for pre-order in the Merge Store now on CD & LP.

WILD FLAG‘s hotly anticipated “Future Crimes” b/w “Glass Tambourine” 7-inch is now available in the Merge digital store and from your favorite digital provider.

The remastered version of Superchunk’s Here’s Where the Strings Come In is available now on LP, CD, and digital download. The LP & CD versions come with bonus demo tracks and a download of The Clambakes Vol. 5: Cup of Clams.

Visit the Merge store for all of these releases as well as our new April releases from Jonny, David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights & Times New Viking.

Don’t forget the Merge titles added to the long list of exclusive releases and other fun events happening at your local independent record stores tomorrow! To find a participating store in your area, visit RecordsStoreDay.com!

WILD FLAG – “Future Crimes” b/w “Glass Tambourine” 7-inch
The hotly anticipated debut release from the new musical partnership between Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss, and Rebecca Cole will be released exclusively in 7-inch form on Record Store Day! Produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel, these tracks have already become viral hits through widely circulated videos taken during the band’s recent tour. Maybe this 7-inch will answer the question posed by WILD FLAG: What do you get when you cross a hamburger with a hot dog? Listen to “Glass Tambourine” now at NPR Music!

Superchunk – Here’s Where the Strings Come In CD/LP reissue
Out of print for years, Here’s Where the Strings Come In has been remastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering Company from the original 1/2” reels and will be available for the first time on 180-gram vinyl (with download coupon) and on CD newly packaged in LP-style cardboard sleeves. The heavy-duty vinyl jackets were reprinted by Stoughton Printing Co., the same plant that produced them for the original 1995 release. Both formats will also come with bonus downloads of The Clambakes Vol. 5, a live Superchunk recording from 2003, and several exclusive demos of songs that appear on the album.

Caribou – Swim Remixes 12-inch
Originally released as a digital-only companion to Swim, Caribou’s acclaimed 2010 release, the Swim Remixes double A-side 12-inch features “Leave House (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)” b/w “Jamelia (Gold Panda Remix),” as well as a code to download the entire 14-track release. Limited to 1,000 and packaged in a European-style black sleeve, this 12-inch is a must for DJs and Caribou fans alike!

Polvo – Celebrate the New Dark Age 12-inch, autographed by original line-up!
Originally released in 2008, this re-issue of Polvo’s guitar-twisting seven-song EP on limited-edition 180-gram vinyl is a Merge hallmark. It comes complete with great sleeve design by Independent Project Press and a free download coupon. A limited number of this 12-inch EP have been autographed by the original 1994 Polvo line-up exclusively for Record Store Day!

Superchunk / Coliseum – “Horror Business” b/w “Bullet” split 7-inch
Merge Records and Temporary Residence Limited have partnered to co-release “Horror Business” b/w “Bullet,” a limited-edition 7-inch of Misfits covers by Superchunk and Coliseum for Record Store Day. Limited to 1,500 copies and available exclusively in record stores, the 7-inch cover was designed by Coliseum singer/guitarist Ryan Patterson, with a nod to the artwork from the Misfits’ Three Hits From Hell single. The 7-inch will be issued on three different colors of vinyl (500 copies of each): yellow w/ black splatter, magenta w/ black splatter, and standard black.

WILD FLAG – “Future Crimes” b/w “Glass Tambourine” 7-inch
The hotly anticipated debut release from the new musical partnership between Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss and Rebecca Cole will be released exclusively in 7-inch form on Record Store Day! Produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel, these tracks have already become viral hits through widely circulated videos taken during the band’s recent tour dates. Maybe this 7-inch will answer the question posed by WILD FLAG: What do you get when you cross a hamburger with a hot dog?

Listen to “Glass Tambourine” now at NPR Music!

Superchunk – Here’s Where the Strings Come In CD/LP reissue
Out of print for years, Here’s Where the Strings Come In has been remastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering Company from the original 1/2″ reels, and will be available for the first time on 180 gram vinyl (with download coupon), and on CD newly packaged in LP-style cardboard sleeves. The heavy-duty vinyl jackets were re-printed at the original printing plant, Stoughton Printing Co, from the 1995 release. Both formats will also come with a download of exclusive bonus materials from the Superchunk vaults.

Caribou - Swim (Remixes) 12-inch
Originally released as a digital-only companion to Caribou’s acclaimed 2010 release Swim, the Swim (Remixes) double A-side 12-inch features “Leave House (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)” b/w “Jamelia (Gold Panda Remix)” as well as a code to download the entire 14-track release. Limited to 1000 and packaged in a European-style black sleeve, this 12-inch is a must for DJs and Caribou fans alike!

Polvo – Celebrate the New Dark Age 12-inch – Autographed by original line-up!
Originally released in 2008, this re-issue of Polvo’s guitar-twisting seven-song EP on limited-edition 180-gram vinyl is a Merge hallmark. Complete with great sleeve design by Independent Project Press, and a free download coupon. Exclusively for Record Store Day, a limited number of this vinyl EP have been autographed by the original 1994 Polvo line-up!

Superchunk / Coliseum – “Horror Business” b/w “Bullet” split 7-inch
Merge Records and Temporary Residence Limited have partnered to co-release “Horror Business” b/w “Bullet,” a limited-edition 7-inch of Misfits covers from Superchunk and Coliseum for April 16 – Record Store Day. Limited to 1,500 copies and available exclusively in record stores, the 7-inch cover was designed by Coliseum singer/guitarist Ryan Patterson, with a nod to the artwork from the Misfits’ Three Hits From Hell single. The 7-inch will be issued on three different colors of vinyl: Yellow w/ Black Splatter; Magenta w/ Black Splatter; and standard Black (500 copies of each).

Visit the Merge store to sample the most recent albums from all seven bands, and to pre-order their upcoming releases!

Merge @ SXSW 2011
Friday, March 18
The Parish (214 E. 6th Street)
Austin, TX
Doors at 7p

WILD FLAG 12:45a
Wye Oak 11:45p
Versus 10:45p
American Music Club 9:45p
Telekinesis 9p
Apex Manor 8:15p
Times New Viking 7:30p

Also, we are joining forces with the Home Slice Pizza “Music by the Slice” party again!

Home Slice Pizza
MXTS Party
1415 South Congress
Austin, TX

Thursday, March 17
Apex Manor 3:30 p
American Music Club 5p

Friday, March 18
Versus 1p

Saturday, March 19
Times New Viking 2:20 p
Wye Oak 3:30 p

Be sure to follow Merge on twitter and check back for more opportunities to see our bands at SXSW!

Click to view the Merge Madness poster in full!

To celebrate “Merge Madness,” local record stores (listed below) will be giving away these collectible 12″ x 18″ screenprinted posters designed by our very own Maggie Fost, with the purchase of any full-length release from Merge.

Visit the Merge store for new albums from Superchunk, Wye Oak, Telekinesis & The Love Language!

Get your limited-edition Merge Madness poster at the following stores beginning Tuesday, Feb 22:
Schoolkids in Raleigh
Offbeat Records in Durham
Bull City Records in Durham
CD Alley in Chapel Hill
All Day Records in Carrboro

Merge Madness shows!
Mar 4 Superchunk @ Cat’s Cradle
Mar 11 WILD FLAG @ Local 506
Mar 12 Wye Oak @ Local 506
Mar 13 Telekinesis & The Love Language @ Local 506 *SOLD OUT*

Superchunk kicks off the madness on March 4 with their first show at the Cat’s Cradle since before the release of Majesty Shredding. Next, WILD FLAG will play Local 506 on March 11. WILD FLAG is the new “supergroup” featuring Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss and Rebecca Cole. On March 12, Wye Oak will celebrate the release of their third album Civilian at Local 506. Telekinesis and The Love Language will wrap up Merge Madness on March 13 with an already sold out show at Local 506.

To celebrate, local record stores (listed below) will be giving away these collectible 12″ x 18″ screenprinted posters designed by our very own Maggie Fost, with the purchase of any full-length release from Merge.

Tickets are already gone for the Telekinesis / Love Language show and are going fast for the other three, so don’t waste any time getting your tickets to Superchunk, WILD FLAG & Wye Oak!

Visit the Merge store for new albums from Superchunk, Wye Oak, Telekinesis & The Love Language!

Merge Madness shows!
Mar 4 Superchunk @ Cat’s Cradle
Mar 11 WILD FLAG @ Local 506
Mar 12 Wye Oak @ Local 506
Mar 13 Telekinesis & The Love Language @ Local 506 *SOLD OUT*

Get your limited-edition Merge Madness poster at the following stores beginning Tuesday, Feb 22:
Schoolkids in Raleigh
Offbeat Records in Durham
Bull City Records in Durham
CD Alley in Chapel Hill
All Day Records in Carrboro

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Spin.com reviewed the first ever WILD FLAG show last week in Olympia, WA, and Portland’s Willamette Week was at the Portland show. Pitchfork posted the above videos, and have an interview with Janet Weiss, too.

WILD FLAG on tour:
Nov 16 Grass Valley, CA – Off Center Stage
Nov 17 Sacramento, CA – The Hub SOLD OUT
Nov 18 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill SOLD OUT
Nov 19 Los Angeles, CA – Spaceland SOLD OUT
Nov 20 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Nov 21 Pomona, CA – Aladdin Jr 2
Nov 22 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern
Mar 09 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Mar 10 Washington, DC – Black Cat
Mar 11 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
Mar 12 Atlanta, GA – The Earl

WILD FLAG is a Portland, OR- and Washington, DC-based quartet consisting of Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole, and Janet Weiss.

You can find WILD FLAG on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace!

WILD FLAG on tour:
Nov 10 Olympia, WA – The Northern
Nov 11 Bellingham, WA – The Green Frog
Nov 12 Seattle, WA – High Dive SOLD OUT
Nov 13 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
Nov 17 Sacramento, CA – The Hub SOLD OUT
Nov 18 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
Nov 19 Los Angeles, CA – Spaceland
Nov 20 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Nov 21 Pomona, CA – Aladdin Jr 2

WILD FLAG is a Portland, OR and Washington, DC based quartet consisting of Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole, and Janet Weiss. The members of WILD FLAG have played in numerous and notable bands, including but not limited to: Helium, The Minders, Croissant Cocktail, Feeble Knees, Quasi, Dogz, Sleater-Kinney, @@@, Asia, The Consortium, and Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.

Brownstein and Weiss were in Sleater-Kinney, and toured with Timony’s band Helium on numerous occasions. Brownstein and Timony played in a side project called The Spells. Rebecca Cole’s Portland-based band The Minders was a frequent opener for Sleater-Kinney. Weiss and Cole play together in The Shadow Mortons.

If someone drew a visual representation illustrating the ways in which all indie bands are interconnected, the four musicians who make up WILD FLAG would be in the same, tiny sphere. Eventually, they figured it out; it’s more exciting to simply join musical forces than it is to make sense of this paragraph. Apt adjectives for describing the band’s music: wild. Also: flaggy. WILD FLAG is planning on recording their first album in early 2011 for Merge Records.

Carrie Brownstein talked about Wild Flag on the All Songs Considered blog, and you can find Wild Flag on Twitter, Facebook & MySpace!

Wild Flag on tour:
Nov 10 Olympia, WA The Northern
Nov 12 Seattle, WA High Dive
Nov 13 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Nov 17 Sacaramento, CA The Hub
Nov 18 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
Nov 19 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland
Nov 20 San Diego, CA Casbah
Nov 21 Pomona, CA Aladdins