Jonny, the new musical partnership between Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub and Euros Childs of the now-defunct Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, will bring their charming live show to the United States beginning June 3 in Toronto, with a second leg of dates planned for later this fall.

Intertwining the musical DNA of Blake and Childs, two of Britain’s most gifted songwriters, Jonny’s self-titled debut album proclaims the advent of an irresistibly infectious new strain of psychedelic pop. They’ve pooled their resources to create a record bursting with exactly the kind of instantly memorable melodies their admirers have come to expect but translated into a fresh and vibrant new setting.

Too modest to be a supergroup, too whole-hearted to be a side project, “Here’s Jonny….”

Jonny is now available from your favorite digital outlets including iTunes, Amazon, and the Merge digital store, as well as your local record stores! The CD version includes the 4-song Free EP and is in stores now. You can stream the whole Jonny album in the Merge store, and be sure to check out the video for “Candyfloss” too!

“Jonny is a good-natured, light-hearted collection of bubblegum pop, with one foot in the garage.” ~The Guardian

Jonny on tour:
(all shows with Apex Manor)

Jun 03 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel
Jun 04 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel
Jun 07 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
Jun 08 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
Jun 09 New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
Jun 10 Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House
Jun 11 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live Upstairs
Jun 12 Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
Jun 14 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Jun 15 Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Jun 16 Nashville, TN – The Bluebird Cafe
Jun 17 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
Jun 18 Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall

Superchunk’s Here’s Where the Strings Come In has been out of print for years, and in celebration of Record Store Day, we are reissuing it on CD and LP. Remastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering Company from the original 1/2” reels, the album 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.

The new and improved version of Here’s Where the Strings Come In will include exclusive acoustic demos of songs from the Strings sessions, as well as a free download of The Clambakes Vol. 5: Cup of Clams. Recorded on October 16, 2003, at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC, by an unknown recordist, this live Superchunk performance was edited and mastered by Mac with additional editing by Brian Paulson.

Mac offers this description of the event: “This show took place as part of the small tour we did in 2003 in support of the Cup of Sand 2-CD singles and rarities compilation. Hence the setlist now appears kind of bizarre as it’s stocked with B-sides we’ve hardly ever played live (“White Noise”) and then-unreleased songs like ‘Knock Knock Knock,’ among more familiar numbers. Sure, there are a few haphazard moves, but it wouldn’t be a clambake otherwise… Hope you enjoy.”

Superchunk –
The Clambakes Vol. 5: Cup of Clams
Live at the Cat’s Cradle, October 2003

1. Tiny Bombs
2. The Majestic
3. New Low
4. Watery Hands
5. Becoming a Speck
6. Knock Knock Knock
7. Hello Hawk
8. Cast Iron
9. White Noise
10. Nu Bruises
11. Screw It Up
12. The First Part
13. 100,000 Fireflies
14. Like a Fool
15. Freaks in Charge
16. Package Thief
17. Throwing Things

Record Store Day is nearly here! Visit your local independent record stores this Saturday, April 16, and pick up these special Merge goodies to add to the celebration!

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.

Jared, Adam, and Beth will hit the road beginning May 26 in Boston in support of Times New Viking’s Merge Records debut, Dancer Equired. Pitchfork premiered “Ever Falling in Love,” which you can download now.

Listen to the full album beginning Monday, April 18, as part of NPR’s First Listen series, and pre-order Dancer Equired now on CD or LP in the Merge store to get a sweet temporary tattoo!

Times New Viking on tour:

May 26 Boston, MA – Great Scott
May 27 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
May 28 Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s
May 29 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
May 30 Washington, DC – Black Cat
Jun 02 Carrboro, NC – Local 506
Jun 03 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
Jun 06 Dallas, TX – Club Dada
Jun 07 Austin, TX – Mohawk
Jun 11 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Jun 12 Los Angeles, CA – The Satellite
Jun 14 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
Jun 16 Portland, OR – Bunk Bar
Jun 21 Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
Jun 22 Vancouver, BC – Media Club
Jun 24 Calgary, AB – Sled Island
Jun 25 Calgary, AB – Sled Island
Jun 28 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
Jun 29 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Jun 30 Bloomington, IN – The Bishop

David Kilgour and The Heavy Eights are trying to plan out their US tour for later this spring in support of their upcoming album Left by Soft. In the meantime, please check out this session at The Current in Minneapolis. David performed “Diamond Mine” as well as songs from The Far Now, and talked about the process of making music and art.

And speaking of art, check out Kilgour’s paintings at his website. Obviously inspired by nature, both David’s music and artwork will only fuel the wanderlust that comes over us all this time of year!

David Kilgour is a guitar god for guitar atheists. He’s worthy of worship, but his style neither demands nor expects it, all of which only serves to increase his otherworldly cool. Left by Soft, his first album in four years with The Heavy Eights, comes on the heels of The Clean’s excellent 2009 outing, Mister Pop.

Download and share “Diamond Mine” and visit PasteMagazine.com on Wednesday, April 13, to stream Left by Soft in its entirety! The CD is available for pre-order now in the Merge store.

“Kilgour has been delivering nothing but first-rate music for almost 30 years with the Clean and on his own” ~All Music Guide

Congratulations to the Mountain Goats! All Eternals Deck was released on March 29 and appeared at #69 on the Billboard Top 200!

The band performed an intimate set for WNYC’s Greene Space while they were in New York last month as well as an acoustic session for SPIN magazine!

The Mountain Goats will head out on the road with Bright Eyes this summer, beginning in Maine on July 27. All Eternals Deck is available on CD, LP, and digital download in the Merge store now.

The Mountain Goats on tour:

Apr 12 Millvale, PA – Mr. Small’s Theatre *
Apr 15 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts *
June 25 Bloomington, IN – Plan-It-X Records
July 27 Lewiston, NY – Art Park %
July 28 Belknap, NH – Meadowbrook Pavilion %
July 29 Shelburne, VT – Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green %
July 31 Baldwinsville, NY – Paper Mill Island Amphitheater %
Aug 03 Grand Rapids, MI – Meijer Gardens %
Aug 04 Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room %

* w/ Megafaun
% w/ Bright Eyes

From the opening bassline of the first song, “In Dreams Part II,” you will be hooked by the constant hit parade that is Let’s Wrestle’s new album, Nursing Home. Despite the bleak title, the album is filled with the always tongue-in-cheek yet often razor-sharp wit of singer/lyricist Wesley Patrick Gonzalez and songs of the laziness and dreams that make youth so much fun! The occasional note of introspection (“For My Mother” and “I Will Not Give In”) mixed with a little bile (“Dear John” and “Bad Mammaries”) also adds to the more mature sound of this album.

Produced by Steve Albini, Nursing Home is sure to charm anyone who missed their Merge debut, In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s.

Download “Dear John” from Nursing Home now, and pre-order the album on CD and LP in the Merge store.

Since the 1990s, The Ladybug Transistor have created formalist pop-rock albums with a dreamy, articulate sound that spans decades and genres. Anchored by Gary Olson’s organizing vision and restrained baritone, their music boasts intricate arrangements and soaring melodies that are at once modern and timeless.

This band’s narrative holds a rich history of heartfelt collaboration, tireless devotion, quiet and outspoken romance, new arrivals, unexpected departures, achy break-ups, and unspeakable loss. They have become agile at adjustment.

In 2007, the untimely passing of their beloved drummer San Fadyl left members Olson, Kyle Forester, and Julia Rydholm at an unimaginable loss, struggling with a prevailing sense of “What now?” At a time where moving forward felt possibly impossible, the band quietly gathered new recruits (Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O’Neill) and embarked on writing a new album with the memory of San squarely in mind.

The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems—a lush collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one’s-knees ballads. Set to an invigorated soundtrack of wave-pop arrangements, the songs detail stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings. Olson’s lyrics express an overarching search to find one’s voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person.

This new line-up has found a distinct voice that honors diverse influences and the band’s own precedent sound. Clutching Stems assuredly underlines that while love can tear things apart, it can also capably mend them back together once again.

Bradley’s Almanac premiered the news and a free MP3 of the title track. Download “Clutching Stems” now!

The Ladybug Transistor are:
Gary Olson – vocals
Kyle Forester – keyboards
Julia Rydholm – bass
Michael O’Neill – guitar
Eric Farber – drums
Mark Dzula – guitar

The Rosebuds will release their new album, Loud Planes Fly Low, on CD, LP, and digital download on June 7.

After The Rosebuds released Life Like, their fourth album for Merge Records, the marriage that inspired the band ended. Ivan and Kelly were done, and The Rosebuds—Merge’s buoyant pop-rock couple who’d youthfully named their first album The Rosebuds Make Out—were in limbo.

But Loud Planes Fly Low, The Rosebuds’ fifth and most inventive album to date, is a sad-eyed and bright new start for Kelly and Ivan, beautifully born of the struggle to define their relationship as bandmates—and more importantly, friends—outside of the context of marriage. It wasn’t easy. Written and rewritten, recorded and re-recorded in fits and starts, Loud Planes Fly Low allowed Kelly and Ivan to have the very conversations about their relationship that they’d long avoided.

Despite the hard times now behind them, for The Rosebuds, the present is what’s most remarkable: These ten tunes are not only some of their riskiest and most rewarding to date, but they also reveal a band eager to push its own limits, a couple of musicians who have come to cope with their complicated story for this blessed moment of restart.

Proudly mature, genuinely reflective, Loud Planes Fly Low is the most honest Rosebuds record since Ivan and Kelly made their way out of the gates in 2003.

Visit TheRosebuds.com to download “Second Bird of Paradise” from Loud Planes Fly Low now! Watch this great “trailer” for the album, and pre-order Loud Planes Fly Low on CD and LP now in the Merge store!

The Rosebuds on tour:

Apr 21 Raleigh, NC – Tir Na Nog (Hopscotch 2011 Launch Party)
Jun 10 Wilmington, NC – Brooklyn Arts Center
Jun 11 Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
Jun 15 Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
Jun 16 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
Jun 17 Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
Jun 18 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree
Jun 19 Little Rock, AR – Stickyz Chicken Shack
Jun 21 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
Jun 23 Dallas, TX – Club DaDa
Jun 24 Austin, TX – The Parish
Jun 25 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Jun 28 Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Brewing Company
Jun 29 Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture
Jun 30 San Diego, CA – The Casbah
July 01 Los Angeles, CA – The Satellite
July 02 Visalia, CA – Cellar Door
July 05 Santa Barbara, CA – SOHO Music Club
July 06 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
July 08 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
July 09 Seattle, WA – The Tractor Tavern
July 10 Bellingham, WA – The Shakedown
July 12 Vancouver, BC – Media Club
July 14 Boise, ID – The Neurolux
July 15 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
July 16 Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
July 19 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
July 20 Eau Claire, WI – House of Rock
July 21 Madison, WI – UW Union Terrace

Amor de Días—Alasdair MacLean, front man for UK group The Clientele, and Lupe Núñez-Fernández of indie-pop duo Pipas—have announced a North American tour with dream-pop duo Damon & Naomi in support of their debut album, Street of the Love of Days.

This springtime jaunt across the country will be the first tour in which Alasdair and Lupe perform as the act Amor de Días (Spanish for “love of days”), though it isn’t the first time the two have shared the same stage. Lupe would often appear onstage at Clientele performances reciting the storybook lyrics of the Clientele song “Losing Haringey.”

With the help of nearby friend Louis Philippe as well as Damon & Naomi, Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor), Danny Manners, and Howard Monk (who’s played drums on several Clientele songs), Street of the Love of Days took form with intelligent arrangements, vocal harmonies, strings, recorders, and bass. Be sure to catch Amor de Días in a town near you as they share their stories through beautiful chamber-pop and Spanish guitars.

Listen to “Bunhill Fields” from Street of the Love of Days and pre-order the album on CD or LP now in the Merge store.

Amor de Días on tour:

(all dates w/ Damon & Naomi):
May 18 Washington, DC – Red Palace
May 19 Carrboro, NC – The ArtsCenter
May 20 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
May 21 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church Chapel
May 22 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
May 23 Allston, MA – Great Scott
May 25 Toronto, ON – Horseshoe
May 26 Pontiac, MI – Pike Room at Crofoot
May 27 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
May 28 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock
May 31 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
Jun 01 Portland, OR – Bunk Bar
Jun 03 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
Jun 04 Los Angeles, CA – The Satellite
Jun 05 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar

Jenn and Andy of Wye Oak collaborated with Baltimore artist Katherine Fahey and photographer Michael O’Leary to make a lovely video for “Fish,” a song from their new album, Civilian. Elaborate paper cuttings come to life to illustrate the story, and both Katherine and the band shared their thoughts about the video with NPR. Watch the video for “Fish” now at NPR.org and see more great “behind-the-scenes” photos on our blog.

Wye Oak have been touring in support of Civilian and recording some sessions along the way. You can now watch one of those sessions at Oregon Public Broadcasting, stream their entire set from the Black Cat in DC via NPR Music, and listen to their in-studio set from KEXP Seattle online now. The tour ends in Baltimore on April 16, which happens to be Jenn’s birthday!

Civilian is available in the Merge store on CD, LP, and digital download.

Wye Oak on tour:

Apr 12 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Upstairs
Apr 14 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Apr 15 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Apr 16 Baltimore, MD – 2640 Space
May 22 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (Our Band Could Be Your Life show)
May 28 George, WA – Sasquatch Music Festival
Aug 14 San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Music & Arts

Telekinesis premiered the new video for “Please Ask for Help” last week at VEVO. It was directed by Spencer Gentz and features papier-mâché heads that accentuate the awkwardness of a relationship gone wrong. The video also includes live footage of the fantastic Telekinesis band who just finished their first US tour in support of 12 Desperate Straight Lines.

Watch the video for “Please Ask for Help” now!

12 Desperate Straight Lines is available on CD, LP, and digital download in the Merge store.

Telekinesis will join Portugal. The Man on tour beginning April 29 in Portland and ending June 3 in New York City. Don’t miss them!

Telekinesis on tour:
(all shows with Portugal. The Man)

Apr 29 Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Apr 30 Seattle, WA – The Showbox
May 05 Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
May 06 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
May 07 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
May 08 Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch
May 11 Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
May 12 Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
May 13 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
May 14 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
May 17 Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
May 19 Little Rock, AR – Revolution
May 20 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
May 21 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
May 25 Columbus, OH – Outland on Liberty
May 26 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues (Cambridge Room)
May 27 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
May 28 Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater
May 30 South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom
June 3 New York, NY – Webster Hall

The Love Language are heading out west for Coachella, and their trip home will include a show in Santa Fe opening for Arcade Fire!

Libraries is available now on CD, LP, and digital download in the Merge store. Watch this video of Telekinesis joining The Love Language on stage for “Brittany’s Back” during the last show of their co-headlining tour!

The Love Language on tour:

Apr 12 Austin, TX – Stubb’s Jr.
Apr 14 Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture Gallery
Apr 16 Indio, CA – Coachella
Apr 18 Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Convention Center w/ Arcade Fire
Apr 19 Norman, OK – The Opolis
Apr 20 Little Rock, AR – Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack
Apr 21 Nashville, TN – The End
Apr 22 Knoxville, TN – The Pilot Light
Apr 23 Greensboro, NC – Blind Tiger
May 3 Raleigh, NC – Slim’s Downtown
May 4 Raleigh, NC – Slim’s Downtown
May 5 Raleigh, NC – Slim’s Downtown
May 6 Raleigh, NC – Slim’s Downtown
May 10 Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle
May 11 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
May 13 Birmingham, AL – Secret Stages Fest
May 14 Athens, GA – Caledonia Lounge
May 17 Ybor City, FL – New World Brewery
May 18 Orlando, FL – Will’s Pub
May 19 St. Augustine, FL – Café Eleven
May 20 Charleston, SC – Tin Roof
May 21 Columbia, SC – The Art Bar
May 27 Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom
May 29 Wilmington, NC – Soapbox Laundro-lounge

Apex Manor will join Jonny on their recently announced US tour!

Watch John Norris chat with Ross and Adam from Apex Manor for Noisevox, and read an interview China Shop did with them over drinks in Austin.

The Year of Magical Drinking is available on CD and digital download now in the Merge store.

Apex Manor on tour:
(* w/ Jonny)

Mar 26 New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
Mar 28 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s Tavern
Mar 29 Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar
Jun 03 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel *
Jun 04 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel *
Jun 07 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall *
Jun 08 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall *
Jun 09 New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge *
Jun 10 Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House *
Jun 11 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live Upstairs *
Jun 12 Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java *
Jun 14 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle *
Jun 15 Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic *
Jun 16 Nashville, TN – The Bluebird Cafe *
Jun 17 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar *
Jun 18 Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall *

In addition to the many, many new tour dates we announced above, you can also see Arcade Fire playing festivals and some towns in between in support of their award-winning album The Suburbs. Destroyer is returning to Canada to finish up the triumphant Kaputt mega-tour, while Radar Brothers are doing a couple of dates later this month in the southwest. M. Ward has announced a special three-night Portland residency and a few dates opening for Alison Krauss. WILD FLAG are slowly announcing July dates, so as always, stay tuned to the tour section of our website for updates!