Label Love: Let's Talk About Record Labels

[tragabigzanda]

[surfndestroy]

I'm going to add Nyhla Records to the list. A small Vancouver, BC based label that had the foresight to sign my kid's band. They give artists a really good cut of the money and are almost as interested in bands long term (which is not with them) as they are in their own short term. Having a label that is willing to work with artists that haven't even played a single show has been a boon for most of the people on their roster.

Supercool that you're able to witness some indie label machinations first-hand. They are labors of love more often than not!

They work Spotify very well for their artists and that's the main income stream they get for a band. They are learning that the real money is in playing live and are getting better at that. They are mostly hip-hop and acoustic based solo artists. My kid's band is the only band and pop artists on their label I am aware of.
The guys running the label are young, passionate and idealistic. They literally can't wait for my kid's band to get picked up by a major label. To them, that's a win for all. They're nice guys to talk to. Aren't afraid to tell you when they're in over their heads and just swimming hard which is refreshing. Plus, I have a soft spot for anyone who posts on their personal account that Sam The Astronaut is best live band they've ever seen. On a good night, they achieve liftoff.
Vancouver has a pretty good scene perculating. I think a couple bands will make some noise and the charts.

[surfndestroy]

I've always found that browsing label rosters has been one of the bigger music discovery vehicles for me in the past. I love latching onto a label and just weaving my way through their lineups.

Agreed. And I'll add that when I was younger and more concerned with my perceived identity, pledging allegiance to a certain label helped me feel like I belonged somewhere. But these days label rosters are just an excellent way for me to discover new music.

This. Side One Dummy was a big eye opener for me. Secretly Canadian and HW&W as well.

[bune]

I was a fan of Mammoth back in the day.

Machines of Loving Grace, Juliana Hatfield, The Bats, Victoria Williams, Seven Mary Three, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Fu Manchu, Melvins, lots of great stuff.

Also Volcano. Let's see, there's Tool....and, uh, Tool. Oh, Dogstar! and Weird Al. Let's see, who else. ah, Tool! 311? Really? Oh hey, Cake. Ah, Canadian distro. Lusk was interesting for the time.

[kreng]

When I get my shit together, I will be posting in this.

[whygodeepaz]

I've always found that browsing label rosters has been one of the bigger music discovery vehicles for me in the past. I love latching onto a label and just weaving my way through their lineups.

100% agree with this. I stumbled on quite a few bands just paroozing through different label roster.

As for some of my favorites, Sub Pop, Matador, Merge, and Dead Oceans are some of my favorite indies right now. SST has a great catalog, as well, even though most of it has been released on other labels because Greg? Ginn can't get his shit together with it in terms of paying royalties decently. In terms of majors, I've always been a fan of Warner Bros. (in particular Nonesuch, Sire and Reprise) because of the fact that they seem to take more chances signing quirky, left of field artists than some of the others. When it comes to crate digging, I'm always a fan of finding Elektra and Asylum albums, because they've released a lot of great music throughout the '60s and '70s that time's forgotten about and can only be found on vinyl.

Also as bodysnatcher said, labels like Light in the Attic, Paradise of Bachelors and Numero Group have been killing it lately in terms of uncovering and releasing rarely-heard gems. I highly recommend browsing their catalog if you want a good alternate history of folk rock, R&B/soul, alt-country, '60s/psychedelic rock, yacht rock, alt/punk rock, classic rock, gospel and everything in-between. Sundazed also has some good catalog releases, although they focus more on '60s rock and reissues from the classics.

[tragabigzanda]

[whygodeepaz]

Dead Oceans?

http://www.deadoceans.com/

The people that run Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar co-run this label, as well. If you like indie rock and folk/folk rock, this is the label for you.

[tragabigzanda]

[Brett]

Re: browsing label rosters...

Several years ago, when I was a more active user of Pandora radio, I made a bunch of label-centric stations for imprints that I knew a few artists from, but wanted to find more good stuff. So, Temporary Residence, Kranky, Thrill Jockey, Alien8, etc. I haven't kept up with updating the rosters, but it led to some interesting discoveries, especially Temporary Residence.

[bodysnatcher]

i used to work for a label back in college while living in memphis. tiny label for memphis artists that was run out of a shack in the owner's backyard. got paid minimum wage, but probably the best job i ever had.

[Jammer XCI]

Hydra Head, Earache and Death Wish

[Simple Torture]

Drag City just put a bunch of old releases on Apple Music; hopefully other streaming services aren't far behind.

[bodysnatcher]

Drag City just put a bunch of old releases on Apple Music; hopefully other streaming services aren't far behind.

oh man i hope so, i've been wanting to listen to Jim ORourke albums at work for a while now

[tragabigzanda]

[bodysnatcher]

Drag City just put a bunch of old releases on Apple Music; hopefully other streaming services aren't far behind.

oh man i hope so, i've been wanting to listen to Jim ORourke albums at work for a while now

Dammit I will get these to you

it's all good, i can probably download them from somewhere, i've just been too lazy

[Brett]

My newest obsession is a little Toronto imprint called All-Set! Editions (http://all-set.org). It's run as a joint venture by Mike Smith, Ali Berkok, and Pete Johnston, all jazz-trained musicians and composers who "don't want to make jazz music" and have worked together for years before starting the label in 2016. The label's seven releases so far are all projects featuring at least one of the three, ranging from Berkok's album of solo piano tunes to Aurochs, a pattern-based improv quartet made up of all three founders along with drummer Jake Oelrichs.

In between, there's Johnston's See Through 5 (chamber-prog influenced by minimalism and electronic dance music) and See Through Two (a string bass duo with Rob Clutton), Smith's Transcombobulation project (synth duets on debut), and The Mike Smith Company, sort of a continuation of Smith's defunct Muskox group that expands the prog rock/chamber folk mixture with a heady dose of samba and lounge exotica.

[tragabigzanda]

[tragabigzanda]

[liebzz]

Easy Eye Sound is one I enjoy. I mean, it’s Dan Auerbach’s label but there are some cool bands on there: Shannon and the Clams, Robert Finley, and Yola come to mind.