Artist: Merchandise
Album: Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth CS
Album: Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth CS
Release: 2010
Label: Cult Maternal
Label: Cult Maternal
Tracklist:
1. [Untitled Track]
2. Schoolyard
3. Everyman
4. Age 23 (Dave Sings)
5. In The Dark [Demo]
6. Locked In The Dark (Boulders Meets Merch Rockers Uptown)
7. Graveyard
8. Wage Dub
9. Aldo's Theme
10. Nite Job
At the risk of coming off as self-serving, here is the digital version of the new Merchandise tape, Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth. This is the newest material from the Tampa pop band and acts as a nice foil to their debut LP, (Strange Songs) In The Dark. While (Strange Songs) was methodically-paced and masterfully crafted, this new tape is much more free form and, well, fun.
Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth sees the band stretching out and experimenting far more than on the LP, which makes sense seeing as this is a tape and all! The band incorporates its members' obsession with dub ("Wage Dub" and "Locked In The Dark (Boulders Meets Merch Rockers Uptown)") and sound collage, which all successfully tie together the more "proper" pop songs on the record.
Still, this is Merchandise, and the main draw of this release is the more pop-oriented tracks. Included is the aforementioned minimal reworking of "I Locked The Door" from the LP, with various guitar and vocal tracks removed, as well as an excellent demo version of the LP closer "In The Dark." However, my favorite songs from this tape also happen to be newer jams. "Schoolyard" is one of the best noise pop songs the band has recorded thus far and the delicate "Graveyard" is absolutely stunning.
If (for some reason) it wasn't apparent, I'm obsessed with Merchandise. Whether or not you want to take my fan boy level of love seriously or not, you should still give this cassette a go, because it's incredible. One of my favorite tapes of the year, for sure.
Download Here
Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth sees the band stretching out and experimenting far more than on the LP, which makes sense seeing as this is a tape and all! The band incorporates its members' obsession with dub ("Wage Dub" and "Locked In The Dark (Boulders Meets Merch Rockers Uptown)") and sound collage, which all successfully tie together the more "proper" pop songs on the record.
Still, this is Merchandise, and the main draw of this release is the more pop-oriented tracks. Included is the aforementioned minimal reworking of "I Locked The Door" from the LP, with various guitar and vocal tracks removed, as well as an excellent demo version of the LP closer "In The Dark." However, my favorite songs from this tape also happen to be newer jams. "Schoolyard" is one of the best noise pop songs the band has recorded thus far and the delicate "Graveyard" is absolutely stunning.
If (for some reason) it wasn't apparent, I'm obsessed with Merchandise. Whether or not you want to take my fan boy level of love seriously or not, you should still give this cassette a go, because it's incredible. One of my favorite tapes of the year, for sure.
Download Here
Buy Here or get it from the band or Neon Blud on their current tour.
-Adam
30 comments:
Stoked to jam this.
This band needs to go on tour already.
Can't wait to listen to this tomorrow.
RIP OF THE HOAX DEMO CASSETTE?
Did Merchandise choose that name on purpose to make themselves fucking impossible to google? I know they probably named themselves after that Fugazi song but COME ON.
Once Merchandise reaches GaGa-status, then it will be easier.
I 've already written about Strange Songs... Here: http://killingindiemusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/merchandise-strange-songs-in-dark.html
It's in greek, but, well, what it actually says is that this band rules...
Merchandise is multicultural!
looking forward to hearing this. these guys NEEEEEEED to make a vinyl press of their S/T!
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e'yo we gonna see that neon blud 12'' posted here/around soon? that thing rules hard, but not all of us have record players in our cars.
Probably. I have mp3s of it, but not the final mix, so I gotta wait.
-Adam
young marble giants!
good ear! took me like ten listens to pick up on that sample.
-Adam
this band seems incredibly overrated. i guess i just don't see the allure. neon blud on the other hand, still ruling.
the insert for this tape is such a piece of crap. not that it makes the actual music bad...
Is it the image itself that makes it crap or is it the paper quality? If it's the latter, then it's probably my fault...
-Adam
this is irrelevant to the post, but if memory serves, you posted an incredible band with weirdo dual vocals. is that right? if so what were they called? i think it was two dudes singing.
Hmm, maybe I did? Or someone else? I can't think of anything at the moment. Any other descriptors that might help me?
-Adam
Itchin' for that new Neon Blud.
no, i mean the actual tape insert, not the cover. it's basically the track listing, but it has black stains all over it and you can't really read anything. i don't know, maybe it's just mine.
OK good, haha. All of them are like that, actually. I like it, but I can see that.
-Adam
yeah like this:
oi53.tinypic.com/idugk9.jpg
how did you manage to figure out the song titles?
Carson wrote them down on a piece of paper for me, haha.
This tape is awesome. And I agree about repressing that ST!
Glad you like the tape! Who knows, maybe that CD-R will be repressed one day. Colman and I probably won't be the ones to do it, but I'm sure someone else will want to.
New Merchandise 7" should be out soon, FYI.
-Adam
By the way, is there a chance to get the lyrics? I just got the LP and tape but its just too hard to read haha. Im not too familiar with english so i would really appreciate it.
i would say your best bet is to email the band. it's on their website
what do you think is the possibility of me being able to marry you all collectively? Just so I can gloat about how my husband/wife(s) have the best music taste/collection imaginable? if interested, lets discuss this: jatheophilos@gmail.com.
Unfortunately, I think Asa might be the only one down for that, as the rest of us are unavailable in one form or another. But please, propose to him ASAP!
-Adam
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