Still-ill's Guide to Record Labels and their very best releases...

[Still-ill]

Alright. I cooked up this idea awhile ago (before the Greatest bands/Greatest solo artists deal). I decided to wait for that cool down a little before I started this up. It's similar to the "Young'uns guide" thread, but deals particularly with just Record Labels (obviously). Here's a rundown:

• I am King. Whatever I say stands. If you don't like it too bad. You can keep lobbying but I probably wont change my mind.
• Whoever has a label in mind that they would like to do, just PM me or just post your intent straight into the thread.
• Duplicate Label posts are not completely out of the question. If you have an interesting idea on how to do it differently, or it's a massive label with tons of material to cover, then by all means go for it. Just ask first.
• Regardless of interest I'll keep posting label features. It's a fantastic way to hear music you normally would never ever hear.
• Posts about labels will be known as features
• Do NOT just post a feature without consulting me first.
• Some will refuse to follow the rules. There is little I can do to punish them except insult their intelligence. So please dont be a dick. If you ask, most likely I will let you do what you want. I'm fair.
• Any label is up for grabs.
• If an artist has a release that was distributed by more than one label (a UK release, US release, a reissued release, etc), you can count that release for all the labels it was ever distributed on.
  1. For example: Jimi Tenor released Organism, which was first released by Warp, and then Sire records. If there was a write-up on Sire records and another on Warp, they can both use that particular album.
  2. Deerhunter are 4ad in Europe, Kranky in the US. They qualify for both.
• A feature on the topic of just a specific era in a labels history is acceptable is acceptable.
  1. i.e. Sub Pop from 1988-1992.
  • This may make it possible to narrow down some very large catalogues.
• As said above (just hammering it home here) a Feature can be anything. It doesn't have to be a list, it doesn't have to be an essay. Be creative!
• ...More rules to be added as things come up.

If you are unsure on how the format for each feature should be, I will start by doing a very simple one on Warp records. Creativity and discretion is encouraged. If you don't want to simply do a top ten list... fine! Write an essay breaking down notable releases and the history of the label (important producers, artists, etc.). It's up to you...

Record Label Features
I'll add more as people bring them up.

4AD

1. none

Astralwerks

1. none

Creation

1. Still-ill Presents to you... Creation Records: Through the Years 1986-1994 (Before the fall)
   

Drag City

1. None

Elephant 6

1. None

Epitaph

1. none

Harvest

1. Still-ill

Ipecac

1. Stinkbutt

Matador

1. none

Merge

1. PassiveTheory

Morr

1. none

Sire

1. none

Sub Pop

1. none

Touch

1. Wmgaretjax

Touch and Go

1. none

Warp

1. Still-ill's top 15 Warp releases

Wax Trax

1. Msparks

[wmgaretjax]

I will probably do a Touch one at some point.

[PassiveTheory]

I can do a top 15 for Astralwerks unless anybody objects to this.

EDIT: Forgot that Astralwerks is owned by Virgin/EMI. I'll do Merge Records instead.

[bleep]

i'd like to see someone tackle Drag City. i have no intent in doing so though, too damn lazy.

[Boourns]

No Psychopathic?

[Pixiessp]

I am a huge 4AD fan circa This Mortal Coil, Pixies, Xmal Deutschland.

[Still-ill]

You guys can do anything you want.

I will probably do a Touch one at some point.

I'm assuming you don't mean touch and go.

[TallGuyCM]

^ HA if you look back and forth between Boourns' and Pixiessp' avatars really fast if looks like Annie's face is moving, kinda like a cartoon.

[Still-ill]

I am a huge 4AD fan circa This Mortal Coil, Pixies, Xmal Deutschland.

Yeah 4ad would be quite an undertaking...

[Pixiessp]

I am not a writer so the 4AD essay will not be written by me.

[Pixiessp]

^ HA if you look back and forth between Boourns' and Pixiessp' avatars really fast if looks like Annie's face is moving, kinda like a cartoon.

We planned that. Welcome to our St. Vincent lair.

[PassiveTheory]

Still-Ill, I think Jared meant Touch and Go, and I've switched over to doing Merge.

[JebusLives]

someone should do Wax Trax, unless we're staying contemporary.

[wmgaretjax]

I'm assuming you don't mean touch and go.

You assumed right.

[Still-ill]

I am not a writer so the 4AD essay will not be written by me.

Who said it had to be an essay?

The feature can be anything you want.

[Still-ill]

someone should do Wax Trax, unless we're staying contemporary.

Nope... whatever. You can do any label, even one that is now defunct.

[bug on your lip]

i hope someone does Morr..

i don't have enough Nerd Power to do it myself

[PassiveTheory]

You assumed right.

Curses.

[Still-ill]

Disclaimer: I haven't heard every single thing Warp has ever released.

Still-ill's top 15 Warp releases

15.

I'll start with something Warp themselves started with.

Genre:techno, rock, idm, pop, electronic, acid, dance, tech house, house

14.

Jimi Tenor is very interesting. A little jazz, a little electronic, a little soul... and he's from Finland. I probably should listen to Organism someday.

Genre:Future Jazz, Electronic, Soul, funk, downtempo

13.

Yeah, this is Aphex Twin... this is also my thread. I'll double post Richard d. James if I want.

Genre: ambient, electronic, idm

12.

Yeah "Herzog" is great, but the rest of this album is just as fun to listen to.

Genre:Electronic, downtempo, ambient

11.

My Biggest problem with Squarepusher is I always say "What a fucking great track!" and never "Damn that's a great album!" Either way this is my favorite of his. Just consider this submission a culmination of all of his best tracks.

Genre:Fusion, Jazz, Drums n' Bass, electronic, performance jazz

10.

(REQ's Sketchbook)

This is the beauty of doing this thread, to me. I never would have found this in a million years if I had otherwise not done this and researched the Warp back catalogue. A few other submissions were similar cases (#8 and #15).

electronic, triphop, idm

9.

(Tortoise's Standards)

You were probably expecting this to be a bit higher... well, I have been cooling slowly on this record the last 2-3 years. It just doesn't hold the same relevance it used to when I listened. (still a great album nonetheless)

Genre:Electro, Post-Rock, (slight)Math Rock

8.

I was just looking for a straight Hip Hop record to include and stumbled upon this a couple days ago. Slightly overlooked, it received pretty good to lukewarm reviews. Especially average reviews among the hip-hop community who pointed out the production. The production may not be great, but the rhymes are. They're extremely good. The wordplay is excellent enough for me to catapult this up the list.

Genre:hip-hop, rap

7.

I remain very slightly underwhelmed.

genre: you know what this is.

6.

Autechre's Confield

My knowledge and list of albums by Autechre is very limited but this is certainly my favorite out of what I have.

genre:Jazz, hiphop, funk, blues, big band, elevator music, black metal, actually it's noise

5.

Wow. I forgot how much I love this one. There is a slight bit of grizzle on it but "7th message" is still mind blowing in the context of the album and as a standalone track.

genre:hiphop, electronic

4.

(Two Lone Swordsmen's Stay Down)

I have a friend who is obsessed with Jacques Cousteau, who wanted me to hear this. This is a concept album that can double as the soundtrack to any of his oceanography films. Oh and it's fucking brilliant.

Genre: Scuba diving electronic ambience.

3.

No bio necessary.

genre: ..., ..., ..., ..., ...

2.

Eh... you choose.

Genre:d'nb, ambient, industrial, downtempo, electronic

1.

Yeah this is my favorite Warp release. It blows my mind every time I listen to it. But who fucking cares? Everyone already knows it. This list isn't about albums 1,2,3, or 7 it is about everything else that appears on the list. The deep picks.

Genre: Math-rock, experimental

[Still-ill]

If any one is interested but cant locate a link to any of the albums just pm me.

[Still-ill]

EDIT: Forgot that Astralwerks is owned by Virgin/EMI. I'll do Merge Records instead.

I see nothing wrong with doing one on Astralwerks just because it is owned by Virgin. But so be it, I'll put you down for Merge

[M Sparks]

someone should do Wax Trax, unless we're staying contemporary.

I can do Wax Trax, but I don't have time right now. I won't care if someone else wants to do it, but I'm the old guy with, like, every KMFDM single. (Though sadly, still no physical copy of the original Naive.)

[Still-ill]

I'll just put you down for it.

[M Sparks]

I'm actually a third done, though I will be paying for it now as I have to go do my real work. Maybe next week sometime.

[Still-ill]

Oh wow... very cool. I wasn't expecting anything that quick.

I'm gonna undertake another soon... I'm not sure which label I'd wanna do though. There is a lot I like from Touch and Go, but not enough to compile a decent list.

[wmgaretjax]

i'm about half way done with Touch... but I want to do it real justice so I'll probably sit on it for a wee bit.

[Still-ill]

I'm looking forward to that because I don't really know much of their line-up.

[liquidsnake28]

I'm the old guy with, like, every KMFDM single.

Nice! They got me into industrial music back in high school. That's the first time I've seen anyone mention them here.

[M Sparks]

Nice! They got me into industrial music back in high school. That's the first time I've seen anyone mention them here.

They were in the rumor mill last year. I actually think Pig might be an interesting fit for Coach.

[Still-ill]

Elephant 6 collective... anyone interested? It isn't really a straight up record label but I'd count it.