Soundgarden is reuniting?!?

Soundgarden. Just the name itself evokes memories of high school and college. The high school I graduated from is a typical suburban high school in Washington state. While people in my high school were searching out the latest Garth Brooks, or Chris Gaines (WTF is that about anyway) song about friends in low places, or trying to relive prior graduating classes experience with AC/DC, I kept myself down in the indie rock scene.

And when these fellow classmates of mine would see me, the would usually try and make some lame comment about the fact that I liked bands ranging from Joy Division, Depeche Mode and northwest startups Mudhoney or anything that Sub Pop threw out.

I distinctly remember sitting in a drafting class listening to the radio as there were only three of us in the particular class, me, a Columbian exchange student with the fashion sense of George Clooney and the same taste in music, and this other friend, a grade above who would become my guiding knight to the Soundtable. By the way drafting class was one of those requirements to graduate and something while it is sort of a fun distraction at the time it is completely useless in my present positio. But I digress. We were waiting for a new AM radio station 970 "The Beat" to come on the air. It was to be my station. And it was AM. How cool. Everyday we kept listening and everyday they kept playing the same thing over and over. La Tour's--People Are Still Having Sex with an countdown of how many days until 970 would be live.

The day came. We turned on the 970 and I remember hearing Hands All Over by Soundgarden. What on earth were these unworldly screams and guitars sounding like they were smashing a hole in the wall and being doused with sludge. Instantly hooked.

I immediately went home and began filing away all of my old British alternative albums, bye bye The Cure Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me. So long Echo's Crocidiles. No more The Charlatans. I became a full on NW rock listener.

When new bands starting popping up out of the Seattle, other than Mudhoney who I actually listened too before, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Screaming Trees (although technically Ellensburg), Sunny Day Real Estate, whoever I needed it. I would take the trek, no pilgrimage to Dudley's, Crocidile or 2nd Avenue records to get the latest. And would bring it back home content to listen to it with a few friends who got it.

Meanwhile, everyone else was still jamming out to Boyz to Men, TLC or whatever Hair Band of the moment was out. I still remember riding in the my Jetta in about October 1991 with Gish playing and somebody asking me whether this was an underground Guns and Roses record. When I responded with no, it is Smashing Pumpkins, this girl in my car said is that some sort of Halloween band. I about ran off the road. I said politely, no this is a great new band from Chicago. And I followed up with "and they will be one of the biggest bands in the world someday." The people looked at me in the car dismissively and sarcastically.

Soundgarden became my favorite though. Badmotorfinger epic. Superunknown, I probably listened to this album more than any other in my life. Down on the Upside, I was so excited when this came out, but somewhat disappointed. Still have it on vinyl though.

Any event, when I learned that Soundgarden had reunited, my first thought was money. Second thought is awesome. Third thought, God I hope they Play Sasquatch. Fourth, makes that autographed Spin Magazine cover I have more relevant than just some piece of history. Fifth, I couldn't wait to run to my IPOD, my have times changed, to push play repeat on their entire catlogue. And guess what I discovered. It rocks! In an age where everything seems to have a keyboard and pop undertones, sometimes you just want to feel like you live in the Northwest. And Soundgarden is it for me.

Hey Check It Out!

To celebrate the new year, we have lowered the prices on many of our awesome releases as a rock n roll stimulus! Check it out at: theunionrecords.net

My Top 50 Songs 2009

Ah, 2009. I am going to remember this year not so much for albums. While I will post a little later on the top 25 albums that you should own from this year, I consider it a rather below average year for full albums. I am more excited about this post which is 60 Songs that should be in your IPOD from 2009. I think all of the songs were released this year. Maybe a couple of stragglers from 08. But they were all new to me this year.

Mind you I placed this in really no particular order except the last ten or so.

60. Crown on the Ground by Sleigh Bells--I have been hearing this song a lot the last thirty days or so. It has a ton of distortion. I mean a ton. It will have you checking your speakers for a bad connection.

59. Stacks by Bon Iver--Love myself some Bon.

58. Pa Pa Power by Dead Man's Bones --Sounds like an old Lou Barlow record on steroids mixing with singers from "the Wall".

57. Acts of Man by Midlake--I cannot wait for this album.

55. Megachills by Futurebirds--Straight out of the sixties. I think they should tour with Fleet Foxes.

54. Beach Comber by Real Estate--I think a lot of these bands have been listening to early Beach Boys this year.

53. The Darkest Side by Middle East--Sort of like a mellower Midlake.

52. Lindsay Brohan by Javelin--I like to dance.

51. Silver Tremlbing Hands by The Flaming Lips--kinda disappointed with album.

50. Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero---This song is really unique.

49. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Hot Chip and Peter Gabriel --This is a cover of Vampire Weekend with Peter Gabriel awkwardly singing about himself. Awesome.

48. Warm Heart of Africa--The Very Best (feat Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend) why not go with a Vampire Weekend theme here for a bit. Listened to this song a lot this summer.

47. Ready, Able by Grizzly Bear --I really like the changes in this song. Sort of shifts to a Damon Albarn sounding Good Bad and the Queen thing midway through it.

46. Lasso (2 Door Cinema Club Remix) by Phoneix---I cannot get enough of this album. Always liked Phoenix, but the remixes are sooooo much more amazing.

45. Nikkorette by Conor Oberst & Mystic Valley Band--My neighbor dreams big because his house is small says all he needs now is a little capital. Never has the banking crisis been so aptly explained.

44. One Life Stand by Hot Chip--Looking forward to new album.

43. Wilco by Wilco--Only Tweedy could write a song about....well himself.

42. See You by Dinosaur Jr--Green Mind is one of my top fifty albums ever. Glad to see J, Lou and Murph return to form.

41. Sleephead by Passion Pit--Other than this song being on a ton of commercials now...still dig it.

40. Deadbeat Summer by Neon Indian --Another song I listened to a lot this summer. So of a song for the slackers of summer.

39. Shoes by Tiga--I like this song more for the video. Check it out.

38. Rome (Neighbors) by Phoenix (with Devendra Banhart) number two from this album.

37. Feel It All Around by Washed Out--I kept hearing this song on Sirius XM U and finally starting liking it.

36. Ambling Amp by Yeasayer--Ok, this song has grown on me. I still think it sounds like it belongs on a Yaz or Erasure record. I think people are putting too much hype in their forthcoming album.

35. Satellite Skin by Modest Mouse--"Well Happy Fucking Congratulations" my third favorite band made this list.

34. Got Nuffin by Spoon--I got nuffin'. This is just a good rock song.

33. You've Got the Love (The XX Remix) by Florence and the Machine--A truly must have song.

32. Bowling Green by Alela Diane (featuring Alina Hardin) probably the most mellow song I chose this year.

31. Dominos by The Big Pink --ok this song, I have a friend who lives the lyrics to this song. I told him and he agreed. It is sort of a running joke around our circle of friends.

30. 1901 Bo Flex'd (Passion Pit Remix) by Phoenix--Passion Pit and Phoenix together what more can you ask for.

29. Heart Skipped a Beat by The XX --another great song of a truly magnificent album.

28. Happy Up Here by Royksopp--I love to ski to this song. Perfect.

27. Little Secrets by Passion Pit--Another great song to ski or run to.

26. Blood by Middle East--This song is really probably my number 11 favorite of the year. So much emotion.

25. Quick Canal by Atlas (featuring Laetita Sadier from Stereolab)--Holy shit, the first time I heard this I thought I was listening to some kind of future Stereolab song complete with...well Stereolab...but was surprised to find this great song and great album.

24. Please, Baby, Please by David Bazan-- I am a sucker for Pedro the Lion, Headphones and Bazan. "Now three days sober...."

23. Laura by Girls--There is a high school sort of innocence lyrically to this song.

22. Oh! by We Have Band--GO DUCKS!!! You will understand if you know about the O!

21. To Clean by Woods--For some reason this song makes me think about cults.

20. What's It In For by Avi Buffalo--I think this song gets in here just for the title along. I have pondered it....you should too.

19. Dirty D by Futurebirds --An amazing little EP from these guys. This song sounds like a cowboy riding the range with the Beach Boys or CSNY. Then it turns into this Love and Rockets Seventh Dream of a Teenage Heaven ending. Boy, I am really dating myself with some of the references.

18. Crimewave by Crystal Castles v. Health--Reminds me of missle command from Atari. Or maybe Centipede.

17. Sun Hands by Local Natives--A song that so wants to be the Akron Family but is bound in by it's poppyness.

16. Watch the Waves by Taken by Trees--A love them Scandanavians.

15. Talamak by Toro y Moi--Interesting beats, mixes it up, stops starts, stop starts.

14. Regina Holding Hands by White Denim--Austin just keeps coming up with bands. Portland is still better. I am not in love with the first part of this song. But there about three changes and the third just crushes. Sort of a sexual chocolate surprise. Trust me on this one.

13. Stillness is the Move by Dirty Projectors--from one of favorite albums this year.

12. Up Up and Way by Kid Cudi--Ok I know, Kanye protege, but this guy really did a great album and this one of favorties.

11. Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap--Although another one I just heard on a commercial recently. So they get deducted points because every idiot will start liking them too.

10. Bicycle by Memory Tapes--How many you remember when Technique by New Order came out? This is what it should have sounded like.

9. Northern Lights by Bowerbirds---Lyrically I just love this song. Makes a lot of sense if you ever seen em.

8. Basic Space by The XX--First song I heard by this band. An exception to great albums from this year.

7. What Would I Want, Sky? by Animal Collective---I cannot get over the fact that from the middle to the end of this song it really sounds like it should be coming off of The Verve's Urban Hymns. I swear I keep hearing Richard Ashcroft in Panda's voice. Amazing song with Greatful Dead samples.

6. When I Grow Up by Fever Ray--I am a sucker for Scandinavian bands.

5. Dreamer by Tiny Vipers--This song is incredible. Her voice is really haunting. Like no other song I have heard.

4. I Got the Reason #2 by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band--I love this song. Any song that just goes and goes and goes. I like taking road trips. And this song is defintely on heavy rotation because it is like a road trip.

3. Something In Common by Free Energy--Now sometimes you just need a good pop pick me up song. And this is it.

2. Yours Is A Small Still Voice by No Go Know--This song really grabs you midway through and does not let go with it's attitude.

1. Blue Skies by Noah and the Whale--I cannot get enough. I love Joy Division and New Order. They were my favorite bands growing up. I keep thinking Ian Curtis came back to sing this one.

We Love No Go Know...And So Does Ron!

Check this out NGK fans. A very prestigious honor for seriously the best album of the year: http://tartproductions.blogspot.com/2009/12/top-37-12-albums-of-2009.html

No Go Know: Is It Getting Better? Yeah, actually it is

Thanks to our fantastic publicist, Kay-Tea from XO Publicity, the reviews are still coming in for No Go Know's monolithic double disc. This new review makes the second independent reviewer to put this masterpiece up for best album of the year (http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/albums92nov09.htm#NoGoKnow).

I couldn't agree more. Sure, they have been compared to Akron/Family, Pink Flloyd, Built to Spill, Radiohead (early stuff), and My Morning Jacket. And sure, I can see some of those influences in there.

But here's the thing. As the record label, we live and breath our records. From songwriting to preproduction recording, to rough cuts, rough mixes, mastered mixes, promo copies, live shows--well, needless to say that if you ever see me at any of our band's shows I will be the one singing along and knowing every single word. Kind of goes with the territory.

A lot of the time, I gotta be honest, I get a little worn out from our records.

Not the case with Time Has Nothing to Do With It.

I have been rocking it and it alone everyday to and from work for months. Sometimes, when James isn't looking, I will steal his headphones and rock out while working at the home office.

And on those rare parties, its always in heavy rotation on the ipod.

Its just gotten better, and better, and better.

I think some reviewer's were frightened of it for that very reason; its dense and not light and fluffy like so many intro-hook-chorus-repeat albums. Its chock full of those kind of songs where you suddenly crank it midway through and turn to your passenger and say "Here's where it gets REALLY good."

And like any album that borders on personal perfection, every song eventually takes a spin on the top of my personal charts of favorites.

The dense layers are what makes it totally hard to describe, to categorize, and to do anything but (I suppose) rely on our one sheet. That's what makes this new review from the UK so awesome. The self-described critical reviewer just emotes without comparisons, the album almost baptizing him again with the love of music.

Well, hello and hallelujah. This album deserves that kind of recognition.

'Cause people, its that freakin' good.

And you know what? It only gets better.

Rock n Shop Coming Soon!

No Go Know will be playing a set, and we will be set up with lots of freebies and special event prices on all our releases!

Rebuilding the Website

Tired of spamy scammy stuff, I upgraded the website which, le sigh, means I need to rebuild it.

Therefore, excuse the virtual dust over the next few days as I re-enter the slow and painful process of repopulating our www

xoxoxo