The Lodger - Life Is Sweet

News, updated July 8, 2008

Latest & greatest…

Not a moment too soon, two new Searching For The Now singles. Now.

Slumberland's summer 2008 campaign continues with the long-awaited installments 3 and 4 in our Searching For The Now split single series. What took so long, you ask? Hey, you can't rush perfection, and we think that when you wrap your ears around these two little beauties you will agree that they were worth the wait.

Searching For The Now

First up is Searching For The Now 3, featuring the unique shoegaze stylings of A Sunny Day In Glasgow going head-to-head with the sombre Trembling Blue Stars-meets-Brighter strum of The Sunny Street. ASDIG chip in with a unique take of The Pastels' "Sometimes I Think About You," while The Sunny Street grace us with the melodic gem that is "Pottery & Glass." Aces.

Searching For The Now 4 also delivers the goods. One side is held down in fine fashion by NYC's masters of fuzz-pop, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. There's been a lot of talk about the greatness of The POBPAH lately, and "Come Saturday" should further cement their already sterling reputation. And finally, we end this set of singles with the distorted, driving "Let's Go!" from Australian kids of the moment Summer Cats. A raving pop blast that is 100% guaranteed to get you pogoing around your sitting room.

So there you have it, two essential new singles. Both pressed on color vinyl and smartly-dressed in spiffy letterpress sleeves courtesy of our friends at ferdinand. Yes, they are quite limited so you will no doubt want to act fast. The singles are $4.00 each plus postage, and you can use these handy buttons to buy them right now via PayPal:

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Out now: The Lodger Life Is Sweet

Man oh man are we excited about this album! Following up a great debut album like Grown-Ups is no mean task, but The Lodger come up trumps with their fabulous new album Life Is Sweet.

The Lodger - Life Is Sweet

If you've heard the lead-off single The Good Old Days, you have some idea of how great this record is. Synthesizing all that we love about great pop bands like Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Go-Betweens, The Lodger have crafted a set of songs that pay respects to classics of the past but still burst with fresh invention. Focussing on song-writing and arranging, the group have expanded their sonic palette with judicious use of pedal steel, violin and 12-string and in doing so have put together what is surely one of the top pop albums of the year.

But don't take our word for it; mosey on over to the album page for more information, reviews and sample mp3s and dig the greatness that is Life Is Sweet. When ordering (and of course you will want to order this record!), please note that we are offering package deals: for a limited time you can buy both Lodger albums on either vinyl or CD for only $16 plus postage. Also, you can add on a fine Lodger t-shirt for just an additional $6. Sizes available are: girl's M/L and adult S/M/L/XL. Act fast before we wake up and realize what a mad deal this is!

Sarandon say: Kill Twee Pop!

Sarandon have always impressed us with their passion, talent for crafting brief, shoutable anthems and wicked sense of humor. Taking their cues from the "other" side of C86, Sarandon pick up where bands like Big Flame, The Wolfhounds and Bogshed left off. Their tense, abrasive sound cross-breeds pop with the urgency and noise-loving aesthetic of punk. The results are catchy, bristly and totally distinctive.

Saranon - Kill Twee Pop!

Now we're quite proud to announce the release of Sarandon's debut album Kill Twee Pop!. With main man Crayola now ably aided by Alan Brown (Big Flame, Great Leap Forward) on bass and Tom Greenhalgh on drums, Sarandon have solidified into a frighteningly powerful trio, and Kill Twee Pop! appropriately overflows with confidence, humor and wit. With some tunes creeping towards the three minute limit the band are now letting things develop a bit more, and the variety of songs and sound on offer mark this as a proper album.

Kill Twee Pop! is out now on compact disc and 10" blue vinyl. Order now and get a free full-colour poster and nifty Sarandon badge while supplies last. You can go to the album page for more information, reviews and sample mp3s.

Coming soon

Out in a few short weeks is a classy double 7" EP from the legendary Phil Wilson. As the creative force behind seminal 80s English pop titans The June Brides Phil should require no introduction, and we're awfully pleased to be able to bring you some of his first new recordings in years. It's a rather interesting record too, featuring acoustic drone-folk covers of Faust, Throbbing Gristle, S/T and Kraftwerk. Titled Industrial Strength, this record is a brilliant and mesmerizing treat that has hardly left our CD player since we got the masters. Welcome back, Mr. Wilson. Phil will be playing some show on the west coast in July, keep an eye on his MySpace for more info.

Could there be even more?

Yes indeed. Still in the works are amazing 7"s from Glasgow's glamorous Sexy Kids (ex-Royal We -- if you don't know get to know!) and Brooklyn crash-pop geniuses caUSE co-MOTION! And a little further down the line, Slumberland continues the Brooklyn theme with debut albums from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Crystal Stilts. Both of these records are shaping up to be mind-blowers of the first degree, so keep an eye on this page for more info and preview MP3 as they become available.