The Rutabega join CMO! Debut SAVAK Lp out next month! Eleventh Dream Day repress! PRF Distro adds! More!
We are delighted to let you know that South Bend, Indiana duo The Rutabega has joined the Comedy Minus One roster.
Due out on June 24, their new record, “Unreliable Narrator” (cmo036), is available for pre-order right now.
Listen to the song “Nosy Neighbors”:
All advance orders include a digital collection of solo acoustic living room demos titled “Unreliable Sketches.”
The album is housed in a tip-on Stoughton sleeve with gorgeous full-color Jay Ryan cover art, with the first 250 copies pressed on clear vinyl with streaks of black “smoke.”
More on The Rutabega and “Unreliable Narrator”:
South Bend, Indiana‘s The Rutabega – singer-songwriter-guitarist Josh Hensley and drummer Garth Mason – make some of the fullest, brightest sounds ever generated by just two people, weaving punchy, short pop songs and sweeping, ten-minute epics together seamlessly. The first time I saw The Rutabega they were feeling every note of every song, and the crowd was right there with them — teary-eyed from the emotional weight of the material, yet smiling from the joy with which Hensley and Mason delivered it. This is music with serious healing qualities; fitting, then, that one of the highlights of that set — and the pair’s monumental 2013 full-band debut Brother the Lights Don’t Work — was a song called “The Shaman.”
Hensley started the Rutabega as a solo project almost 15 years ago, learning his way around a four-track while listening to a lot of Neutral Milk Hotel, Guided by Voices and Jeremy Enigk from Sunny Day Real Estate’s Return of the Frog Queen. He gained exposure from a split 12” EP with Owen, Mike Kinsella from American Football’s singer-songwriter project, on venerable Midwest emo clearinghouse Polyvinyl Records. But it wasn’t until Hensley hooked up with Mason in 2011 – a jack-of-all-trades who besides playing drums, plays auxiliary keys, records all the songs at home and runs live sound at the shows – that the Rutabega as we now know it came to be.
An eight-song cycle written for a wayward friend, Brother garnered comparisons to Built to Spill for its guitar heroics, Elliott Smith for its unfiltered emotion and Big Star for its pop sensibility. They have since sold out of three pressings of the self-released LP and toured to both the East and West Coasts, sharing bills with a range of household names from Low to Kurt Vile and Ben Folds.
The Rutabega’s Comedy Minus One debut Unreliable Narrator reprises the track-sequencing strategy that worked so well on Brother — short songs leading off both sides, longer ones ending them — and there are callbacks, lyrically and sonically. The ultra-catchy “Problem Solving Skills” finds Hensley continuing to ponder the changing nature of friendships over time; album centerpiece “Lip” showcases Mason’s thoughtful heavy hitting, a soaring major-key triumph in the vein of fan favorite “Turn on the Summer”; the string-laden “A Willow Strong,” on the album’s back end, has a similarly mournful feel as the last record’s “Through the Holes in the Floor.”
Yet one can hear the Rutabega’s increased confidence from having found its voice and audience with Brother in Unreliable Narrator’s more live-sounding execution, the natural by-product of having played countless shows in the years between the two records. From “Shiny Destination” (also the A-side of a seven-inch released in the spring of 2015) and “Settle Down,” the double-shot of power-pop perfection that opens the record, to “I’ve Been the Armour,” the sparse, melancholic slow burn that closes it — which, in its final minutes, turns on a dime to screaming catharsis, an unhinged side of Hensley we’d never heard before now — this is the sound of an already-great band, in their prime, turning yet another corner. – CZ
I like the excitement and energy of “Shiny Destination,” but the reflective tone on “Ladder” gets me every time. Both are winners for entirely different reasons, but it’s a great example of the diversity of The Rutabega’s sound. Whatever way this Indiana duo goes in the future, I can’t wait to hear it.” – Kurt Morris, Razorcake
“[The Rutabega]…feels timeless and fresh at the same time.” – Independent Clauses
“Singlehandedly states the case for sincerity in such a clear way the only reaction is to softly smile, bob your head a little bit and give in to the tidal wave of sad, simple, beauty that issues forth.” – Conan Neutron, Collapse Board
“The songs are heavy, not instrumentally, but with the weight of the experiences and raw feelings of their writer. The arrangements seem pretty sparse, yet I’m hearing an orchestra. Joshua Wayne Hensley’s voice backed by an emotion and sincerity so poignant, it translates louder and clearer than a marching band ever could crammed into my tiny bathroom.” – Mila Matveeva, UNRECORDED
“Hensley’s singing sounds favorably like Elliott Smith from the grave, and he doesn’t play trad folk, either; strumming an acoustic under his darkly angelic voice, he sometimes inserts distorted six-string squalls, fogging the background like black clouds and lightning lurk in the distance.” – Jack Rabid, Big Takeover
For TV / Film licensing, please contact Lyle Hysen at Bank Robber Music – [email protected]
For press / promotional copies, please contact Jon Solomon at Comedy Minus One – [email protected]
Comedy Minus One is thrilled to announce the release of “Best of Luck in Future Endeavors” (cmo035), the debut album by Brooklyn sextet SAVAK.
Due out in late May, the record is available for pre-order now with a limited edition t-shirt also available to celebrate the occasion. Bundle with the LP here and save a couple bucks in the process.
Listen to the song “Reaction”:
Listen to the song “Drop The Pieces” here, and stream the group’s WFMU session here.
SAVAK (pronounced “sah-vawk”) was formed in 2015 by members of The Obits, Holy Fuck, Nation of Ulysses, and The Cops. Their influences range from ’60s Texas psychedelia to British pub rock to early-’80s American hardcore, with some Zamrock and Chicha thrown in for good measure. SAVAK connect the dots from The Adverts to Bubble Puppy to The 101ers to MDC, making stops at Chrissy Zebby Tembo and Los Mirlos along the route.
Photo: Jon von Pamer
SAVAK introduces themselves:
Dr. Action calls. He’s coming over in a heartbeat and wants to know if you have the sounds to wiggle his stethoscope.
You didn’t, but now you do.
Let’s call them SAVAK. That’s what they call themselves, and it would be rude to make up a different name for them. A six-piece rock unit elegant enough for entertaining, but sturdy enough for everyday use. From the hooky self-loathing of the Buzzcocks to early Funkadelic brain lint to the lithe guitar interplay of the Ventures and/or Television, these men stir up songs you can dance to. And think about. Or just think about dancing to.
And don’t worry, SAVAK brings years of experience to the job. Collectively about 150 years, to be somewhat more specific. Michael “Jaws” Jaworski and Sohrab Habibion sing and play guitar – at the same time! Sohrab learned that particular parlor trick in The Obits and Edsel. Jaws cut his teeth in Seattle with The Cops and Virgin Islands. Holding the bass guitar, but never slapping or popping it, is fellow Obit Greg Simpson. Keyboardist James Canty’s secret? He knows which keys control which notes. When it’s his turn to play, he simply presses them and – boop! He’s done this before with Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and The Make -Up. Okay, pop quiz: name another band with two drumm ers. The Doobie Brothers?! Ugh. Fine, we’ll give you Boredoms and the NEU! ’75 LP. Anyway, SAVAK toggles between a pair of ace rhythm men. Benjamin Van Dyke, known to many in South Brooklyn for his elementary school teaching skills and to ex-Long Island hardcore kids for keeping time in Silent Majority. And Matt Schulz, an enthusiastic snacker and the self-winding clock behind Canadian electronic maniacs Holy Fuck. But while one performs onstage with SAVAK, is the other at home, helplessly flailing his arms and legs to the unheard music? We’re not sure.
At this juncture, you may be wondering: Where can I get some? My local Ford dealer? The produce aisle of the Park Slope Food Coop? SAVAK’s debut LP, Best of Luck in Future Endeavors, is being released in unwholesome stereo by Comedy Minus One. Whether you’re making angry love to America or sticking up an Edible Arrangements with a banana, this is your new soundtrack.
Ça va? SAVAK!
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SAVAK are Sohrab Habibion, Michael Jaworski, Greg Simpson, James Canty, Matt Schulz and Benjamin Van Dyke with Johnny Sangster (percussion), Geoff Sanoff (guitar & keyboards), Josh Sinton (saxophone) and Greg Vegas (saxophone).
Their record was produced by Geoff Sanoff and SAVAK with album artwork and photography by Rick Froberg.
For TV / Film licensing, please contact Lyle Hysen at Bank Robber Music – [email protected]
For press / promotional copies, please contact Carina Contreras at Grandstand Media – [email protected]
Photo: Joe Kirschling
Upcoming The Rutabega shows:
Thursday, May 5
River Lights Music Festival
South Bend, IN
Saturday, May 7
Mike & Molly’s
Champaign, IL
with Motes, Iska Dhaff
Monday, June 13
Louie’s Back Room
Kalamazoo, MI
with Out, Nonagon, Pariah
Upcoming SAVAK shows:
Wednesday, May 11
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY
with Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds
Friday, May 27
Shea Stadium (RECORD RELEASE)
Brooklyn, NY
with Sunwolf, Puff Pieces & Super Silver Haze
Saturday, June 11
Union Pool (Northside Festival)
Brooklyn, NY
with Honey Radar and Big Quiet
Saturday, June 25
Cafe Nine
New Haven, CT
with Hamish Kilgour and guests
For full details on the above shows, click here.
Eleventh Dream Day “New Moodio” repress!
Due to popular demand, we’ve run off 300 additional copies of “New Moodio,” Eleventh Dream Day’s “lost record,” a parallel world version of 1993’s “El Moodio.” It is a snapshot of a band at its peak. Recorded and mixed in just a few days, there is an urgency and excitement that courses through these songs played by a band empowered by freedom and possibility.
Learn the complete history of “New Moodio” here and pick up a copy here.
As an aside, if you have not heard Eleventh Dream Day’s most recent album “Works For Tomorrow,” do yourself a favor. Our 2015 Record of the Year!
Shirts! Shirts! Shirts!
Do you love New Jersey?
Do you love punk rock?
This garment combines both of those interests!
Black ink on a Heather Red unisex shirt from Bell + Canvas.
52% cotton / 48% polyester with shoulder taping and side seam.
Available in all sizes from YS to XXL.
Printed by Commonwealth Press.
Order here.
Thank you for your ongoing support of PRF Distro.
Here are five recent catalogue additions. Click on each album for more on each record.
Knife The Symphony / Smoke Signals… Split 12″ (Phratry)
Maple Stave “V” Lp (Phratry)
Polonium “Seraphim” Cd (Controlled Burn)
Small Awesome “SONGER” Lp (Sickroom)
Terminal Orchestra “The Seasons” Cd (Phratry)
All new PRF Distro titles can be viewed here.
Comedy Minus One has launched a new, improved version of our web site at comedyminusone.com!
Please look it over and let us know any issues you might have navigating our particular corner of the internet.
This long-overdue re-design could never have occurred without the tireless, detail-oriented work of Jake McKelvie, whom we would strongly recommend and endorse for your own design projects.
Comedy Minus One has a Facebook page, an Instagram page and a Twitter handle for those of you who dig such things. More frequent bursts of news can be found there or on the Comedy Minus One blog.
Stores and distributors are welcome to contact us about stocking these titles. Comedy Minus One is distributed directly in North America through Carrot Top, Matador Direct and Revolver.
Canadian, European and Australian distribution sought.
Thank you.
Jon Solomon
Comedy Minus One
comedyminusone.com