Happy New Year! We are tabulating the results of our year-end fanclub poll and will reveal the winners just after a short trip to Washington DC next week. In the meantime, The Lucksmiths finished off 2008 atop the Matinée hit parade. Here are the top sellers for December:

10. Math and Physics Club – Baby I’m Yours CDEP
9. Bubblegum Lemonade – Susan’s In The Sky CDEP
8. Would-Be-Goods – Eventyr CD
7. The Hermit Crabs – Correspondence Course CDEP
6. The Lucksmiths – Spring A Leak 2xCD
5. Northern Portrait – The Fallen Aristocracy CDEP
4. Northern Portrait – Napoleon Sweetheart CDEP
3. The Guild League – Speak Up CD
2. Bubblegum Lemonade – Doubleplusgood CD
1. The Lucksmiths – First Frost CD

Hurrah…it’s time for the seventh annual Matinée fanclub poll! Once a year we survey our devoted fanbase to see which of the smashing new Matinée releases made you smile the most and reward lucky fans with a selection of free records in the process. This year, album of the year contenders include ‘Eventyr’ (matcd047) from Would-Be-Goods, ‘Doubleplusgood’ (matcd048) from Bubblegum Lemonade, ‘First Frost’ (matcd049) from The Lucksmiths, and ‘Speak Up’ (matcd051) from The Guild League. Wow, indeed.

Single of the year contenders include the ‘Sunrise’ EP (matinée 067) from The Electric Pop Group, ‘The Fallen Aristocracy’ EP (matinée 068) from Northern Portrait, ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ EP (matinée 069) from Bubblegum Lemonade, ‘Napoleon Sweetheart’ EP (matinée 070) from Northern Portrait, and ‘Correspondence Course’ EP (matinée 071) from The Hermit Crabs. An impressive run, don’t you think?

In addition to the favorite album and single categories, we are also collecting votes for song of the year, favorite Matinée artists, and favorite Matinée albums and singles of all time. Please take a moment to share your thoughts. As with prior polls, simply entering earns you a chance to win five free CDs of your choice and with selections like these what do you have to lose? In addition, every entry this year will receive a special 20 percent discount coupon good towards your first 2009 website order. The poll closes January 5th so go here to complete your entry today and best of luck in the prize draw!

Our December warehouse clearance sale continues at the mailorder so check the order page for fantastic savings on nearly everything in the catalog. All remaining 7” singles are priced at just $1, CD singles start at just $2 and CD albums from $5 and there is still plenty of time to get presents under your tree. We are happy to ship directly to a gift recipient too so give us the information and we’ll even send a card with your order. Stock is low on some titles so get there quickly to make sure you get what you want.

If you are decorating your tree this week, a few of our Matinée 45 holiday ornaments might be good to fill in those empty spots. We’ve only a handful left so get going if you want one. Happy holidays!

Our final two releases of the year are in American shops this week and en route to various international destinations too. Have we saved the best for last? The Guild League and The Hermit Crabs say of course! Here’s all you need to know:

matcd051
THE GUILD LEAGUE – SPEAK UP

Tracklisting:
1. Mouse vs. Mountain
2. If Not Now…
3. Dead Hour
4. Suit Fits
5. The Idea
6. Where’s The Colour?
7. Brains
8. Limited Express
9. 17 Summer
10. Incandescent

Long-awaited third album from Australian pop collective The Guild League, comprised of frontman Tali White (also of The Lucksmiths), lead-cellist/bassist Cressida Griffith, sax prodigy Gus Rigby, drummer about town Phil Collings, trumpet from Roger Clark, and guitar magic from Basic Shape’s Gerry Eeman.

The follow-up to the celebrated ‘Inner North’ album (matcd034) in 2004, new album ‘Speak Up’ is the sound of a band full of optimism and new ideas. There’s a little bit for everyone, from the insanely catchy guitar pop of ‘Suit Fits’ and ‘If Not Now…’ to ska-tinged swingers ‘Mouse vs. Mountain’ and ‘Where’s The Colour?’ to stunningly beautiful and poignant vocal showcases ‘Dead Hour’ and ‘Incandescent.’ The album mixes guitars with strings, keyboards, bursts of trumpet and saxophone, wonderful female backing vocals, and handclaps, all complemented by Tali’s crystal clear and perfectly pitched vocals.

Imagine the younger brothers of Australia’s legendary Summershine Records roster (The Rainyard, The Sugargliders, Tender Engines) mixed with early 80s British pop staples (The Jam, Madness) and you’re nearly there. A refreshingly diverse and confident set from a band that only gets better with time.

For band information, soundclips, and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and The Guild League pages on Myspace.

You can hear four songs on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the album rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. It’s available now in the Matinée shop and from select record emporiums across the globe.

matinée 071
THE HERMIT CRABS – CORRESPONDENCE COURSE EP

Tracklisting:
1. About You Before
2. Correspondence Course
3. Turn The Clock Back
4. I Don’t Know How

Splendid new EP from heralded Scottish band The Hermit Crabs! Following impressive debut single ‘Feel Good Factor’ (matinée 063) and album ‘Saw You Dancing’ (matcd046) last year, the Glasgow band spent a year sharpening its live set with shows across the UK plus an appearance at the New York City popfest. The four new songs on this EP accentuate the rich instrumentation present on earlier recordings with a diverse mix of acoustic and electric guitars occasionally embellished with distortion and present a more upbeat, poppy side to their sound.

Lead track ‘About You Before’ is a swinging number about summer relationships that boasts melodic vocals, nice orchestration, a soaring chorus and great bursts of percussion. ‘Correspondence Course’, driven by superb violin arrangements and distorted guitar bits, is another tale about the china girl mentioned on their debut single. ‘Turn The Clock Back’ is a beautifully pensive one about a breakup and the little things you miss when you’re not going out with someone, while ‘I Don’t Know How’ is a classic case of saving the best for last—an upbeat hit with a sixties vibe, surf guitars and a great singalong chorus. It’ll even have the indie hipsters dancing by the end so don’t fight it, feel it!

Well written and perfectly produced, ‘Correspondence Course’ pops and crackles in all the right places and is a fantastic step forward for the band. Limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket sleeve.

For band information, soundclips, and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and The Hermit Crabs pages on Myspace.

You can hear current favorite ‘I Don’t Know How’ on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the EP rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. It’s available now in the Matinée shop and from top quality stores elsewhere too. You’ll love it!

Newsflash! The new releases from The Guild League and The Hermit Crabs are available to order from the Matinée shop and should be showing up in shops next week. Both ace, naturally…

In other news, we’re having a huge clearance sale this month so see the order page for mad deals on nearly everything in the catalog. All 7″ singles are priced at just $1 which should cause a few more to go out of print forever. CD singles start at just $2 and CD albums at $5 so some of these will be deleted by the end of the month too. Get ’em now!

Meanwhile, The Lucksmiths rule the hit parade for a second month. Here are the top sellers for November:

10. Strawberry Whiplash – Who’s In Your Dreams CDEP
9. The Electric Pop Group – Sunrise CDEP
8. Northern Portrait – The Fallen Aristocracy CDEP
7. Bubblegum Lemonade – Susan’s In The Sky CDEP
6. Northern Portrait – Napoleon Sweetheart CDEP
5. Would-Be-Goods – Eventyr CD
4. The Hermit Crabs – Correspondence Course CDEP
3. The Guild League – Speak Up CD
2. Bubblegum Lemonade – Doubleplusgood CD
1. The Lucksmiths – First Frost CD

More news, including the annual Matinée fanclub poll, in a few days!

We are now accepting preorders for the brilliant new ‘Correspondence Course’ EP (matinée 071) from Glasgow, Scotland’s The Hermit Crabs! Their third release for Matinée following the well received ‘Feel Good Factor’ EP (matinée 063) in 2006 and last year’s ‘Saw You Dancing’ album (matcd046), the EP features four fantastic new songs: 1. About You Before; 2. Correspondence Course; 3. Turn The Clock Back; 4. I Don’t Know How. They’re all winners so we had a tough time deciding which to use as a preview track. ‘I Don’t Know How’ is the current pick on the Matinée sounds page, while we have ‘About You Before’ playing on the Matinée MySpace. Meanwhile the band has ‘Correspondence Course’ featured on their website and MySpace. The EP is scheduled for release on December 2nd, but we are taking advance orders RIGHT NOW exclusively on the Matinée website and will have copies ready to ship by the 20th of this month which is just a few days away!

In other new release news, the third album ‘Speak Up’ (matcd051) from The Guild League is available now exclusively from the Matinée website and will be in shops from December 2nd as well. The album features 10 new Guild League classics including: 1. Mouse vs. Mountain; 2. If Not Now…; 3. Dead Hour; 4. Suit Fits; 5. The Idea; 6. Where’s The Colour?; 7. Brains; 8. Limited Express; 9. 17 Summer; 10. Incandescent. We are showcasing four album tracks on the Matinée catalog page and rotating songs on the sounds page and on MySpace. You can also watch great video clips for ‘Mouse vs. Mountain’ and ‘Suit Fits’ on the band MySpace. Pick up a copy today!

Finally, some upcoming live dates for your calendar if you happen to be in the right place or fancy some last minute international travel:

14 November: The Lucksmiths at Karova Lounge, Ballarat, Australia
15 November: The Lucksmiths at Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney, Australia
15 November: Would-Be-Goods at the Bull & Gate, London, England
16 November: The Lucksmiths at Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney, Australia
16 November: Gregory Webster at Lee Rosy’s Tea Shop, Nottingham, England
22 November: The Lucksmiths at Tilley’s, Canberra, Australia
13 December: The Electric Pop Group at On Our Honeymoon, Gothenburg, Sweden

Please see the respective band sites for more details.

Another Tuesday, another new release! We really are spoiling you. This week it’s the debut album ‘Doubleplusgood’ from Scottish favorites Bubblegum Lemonade and here are the enticing details:

matcd048
BUBBLEGUM LEMONADE – DOUBLEPLUSGOOD

Tracklisting:
1. A Billion Heartbeats
2. Beautiful Friends
3. I’ll Never Be Yours
4. Tired Of Sleeping
5. Last Time I Saw Andrew
6. Susan’s In The Sky
7. Penny Fountain
8. My Dreams Of You
9. Lost Summer Days
10. Here They Come
11. Tyler
12. Last Weekend

Fantastic debut album from Scottish pop favorites Bubblegum Lemonade! Following smash singles ‘Ten Years Younger’ (matinée 064) and ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ (matinée 069) earlier this year, the band delivers its all-important debut album just in time for holiday shopping and it’s a grand one of course!

‘A Billion Heartbeats’ kicks the album off with a 150 bpm adrenalin rush—if the Jesus and Mary Chain had studied anthropology they may have written something like this. Meanwhile, ‘Beautiful Friends’ is a paper thin celebration of surface beauty sort of like The Byrds’ ‘Lady Friend’ re-written by the Valentines, and ‘I’ll Never Be Yours’ is big chorus pop featuring Sandra from fellow Glasgow pop outfit Strawberry Whiplash on backing vocals. Think The Only Ones meets The Primitives with the recommended daily dosage of tambourines and you’re nearly there.

‘Tired Of Sleeping’ is a jangledelic ode to sleeping with the radio on, complete with multi-tracked 12-string Rickenbacker action straight from the early days of Creation or Cherry Red. ‘Last Time I Saw Andrew’ moves us into the ‘90’s with a lazy, looping, slow burning nostalgia somewhat like a cross between Slowdive and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. It’s dream pop-tastic. ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ is the title track from Bubblegum Lemonade’s second single. An everyday tale of an air hostess and her slacker boyfriend caught up in a Romeo and Juliet type scenario, it’s a sunshine wall of pop with Rickenbacker guitars, tambourines and nice organ bits. A classic!

‘Penny Fountain’ opens side two of the album with some Paisley Underground inspired bittersweet guitar pop. It’s a swinging mini epic that should have been another single. ‘My Dreams Of You’ contains Rickenbacker riffs, harmony vocals and portamento keyboards. Catchier than Byrd flu, it’s west coast indie pop art and the perfect prelude to the sixties come down sunshine guitar pop with guitar freak out ending that follows in ‘Lost Summer Days’.

Subliminally suggested by Vance Packard, ‘Here They Come’ masks criticism of the morally corrupt elements of the advertising industry behind jangling guitars and rich harmonies, while ‘Tyler’ is Rickenbacker pop about a cat. You don’t get many pop songs about cats these days, do you? Finally, ‘Last Weekend’ is some eighties sounding, major seventh acoustic strumming with strings and tambourine about the breakup of a long distance relationship. The band was going for Felt meets The Field Mice but ended up with Prefab Sprout instead. Ha!

With an educated nod to its influences, remarkably catchy songs, and stunning pop melodies, Bubblegum Lemonade remind us that old school indie is always in style. ‘Doubleplusgood’ is a superb example of the vibrant new music coming out of Glasgow and another modern classic from Matinée!

For band photos, soundclips, and more information please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Bubblegum Lemonade pages on Myspace.

You can listen to four songs on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the album rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. As always, we have a copy reserved just for you on the Matinée order page or in your favorite record shop today. An essential purchase, don’t you think?

Historic day here in the States you know. Oh, there’s a small matter of an election of course but the big news is today also marks the official release of the new album ‘First Frost’ from Australian favorites The Lucksmiths! Here’s all you need to know to support your favorite (pop) candidates:

matcd049
THE LUCKSMITHS – FIRST FROST

Tracklisting:
1. The Town and the Hills
2. Good Light
3. A Sobering Thought (Just When One Was Needed)
4. California in Popular Song
5. South-East Coastal Rendezvous
6. The National Mitten Registry
7. Day Three of Five
8. Never and Always
9. Lament of the Chiming Wedgebill
10. How We Met
11. Song of the Undersea
12. Up With the Sun
13. Pines
14. Who Turned On the Lights?

Over the course of 15 years and almost as many albums and international tours, Australian popstars The Lucksmiths have penned some of the most adored songs this side of the pop underground and built up a massive international fanbase in the process.

Most recent studio album ‘Warmer Corners’ received considerable praise, with Pitchfork calling it “idiosyncratic but accessible, literate but unpretentious, gentle but not weak, sincere not so much in presentation as in presence”. Two singles lifted from the album — “A Hiccup in Your Happiness” and “The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco” — both received heavy rotation across the globe. The latter also found its way onto Qantas Airlines in-flight playlist in 2006 — an achievement not celebrated lightly by a band with an enduring penchant for the somewhat ridiculous and irrelevant.

More recently, 2007 saw the release of a b-sides, rarities, and live compilation entitled ‘Spring a Leak’ with an accompanying set of US tour dates. At 45 songs in length, this exhaustive double-CD was well received and hearty enough to sate even the most impoverished Lucksmiths fan whilst awaiting a new batch of songs. In reviewing the album, Time Out Chicago declared “If a band can be this good on its cast-offs, imagine what the albums are like”.

A trip to Tasmania has yielded ‘First Frost’—the finest and most dynamic Lucksmiths album to date. Camped out in the wilderness, the band was free to explore and expand the musical palette, and with all four members contributing songs, the end result is a 14-song masterpiece bound to surprise anyone who thought they had The Lucksmiths pegged as sounding too much like The Lucksmiths.

On the album, the bands’ trademark lyrical hooks shine warmer than ever. Opening cut “The Town and the Hills” sets out some of the album’s central themes, examining the distance (geographical and metaphorical) between city and country. Meanwhile, “California in Popular Song” is a sweet slice of sun-kissed pastoral pop that combines sweeping strings, a throaty low-down guitar, some gentle fingerpicking and Tali White’s pensive vocal to become your new favorite Lucksmiths song.

Recent live hits, the jangly “Good Light” and the surprisingly glam-rockin’ “A Sobering Thought (Just When One Was Needed)” —the latter concerning a late-night drunken escapade at a public swimming pool ¬—both receive a fine rendering on ‘First Frost’. Elsewhere on the album, The Lucksmiths’ familiar strum is traded in for brief dalliances with a disorderly fuzz pedal, a choir of misplaced mittens, and a bird that just wants to know why you got drunk. Intrigued?

For band photos, soundclips, and more information please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Lucksmiths pages on Myspace.

You can listen to four songs on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the album rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. Of course, we have a copy reserved just for you over on the Matinée order page or in your favorite record shop today. You know you need this one…

Four new releases = big shakeup on the Matinée Hit Parade. Here are the top sellers for October:

10. Strawberry Whiplash – Who’s In Your Dreams CDEP
9. Bubblegum Lemonade – Ten Years Younger CDEP
8. The Lucksmiths – Spring A Leak 2xCD
7. Northern Portrait – The Fallen Aristocracy CDEP
6. Bubblegum Lemonade – Susan’s In The Sky CDEP
5. Northern Portrait – Napoleon Sweetheart CDEP
4. Bubblegum Lemonade – Doubleplusgood CD
3. Would-Be-Goods – Eventyr CD
2. The Guild League – Speak Up CD
1. The Lucksmiths – First Frost CD

Greetings! We have a classic new album out today from Would-Be-Goods and here are the complete release details:

matcd047
WOULD-BE-GOODS – EVENTYR

Tracklisting:
1. Sad Stories
2. The Ghost Of Mr. Minton
3. In Bohemia
4. The Girl At No. 7
5. Venusberg
6. Melusine
7. Heart of Tin
8. Pleasure Island
9. Temporary Best Friend
10. Baby Romaine
11. Subtle Charm
12. Enemies of Promise
13. A Professor Momtchiloff Mystery

Highly anticipated fifth album ‘Eventyr’ from revered London quartet Would-Be-Goods is released 20 years after the classic debut album ‘The Camera Loves Me’ on ‘80s cult label él Records. It is their third album for Matinée Recordings, after the well received ‘Brief Lives’ (2002) and ‘The Morning After’ (2004).

“Sad stories are more beautiful” sings Jessica Griffin on the opening track, and those words could be the motto for the album as most of its songs are inspired by folk tales—timeless archetypal stories composed in northern Europe in the 19th century. ‘Eventyr’, meaning ‘adventures’ or ‘fairy tales’, was the title of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic collection of stories, and in songs such as ‘Melusine’ and ‘Heart of Tin’, the Would-Be-Goods show that tales of imagination can evoke the joys and sorrows of life more vividly than dreary realism. Some of the songs stay closer to home: ‘In Bohemia’, ‘The Girl at No. 7’ and ‘The Ghost of Mr. Minton’ depict the arty low life of midcentury London to magnificent effect. Musically, though, ‘Eventyr’ is not a folk album: the songs distill ‘50s and ‘60s styles into something entirely new, traveling through baroque pop, bossanova and rockabilly.

The album was developed slowly over two years and sees Andy Warren—formerly of Adam and the Ants and The Monochrome Set and bass player on the first two Would-Be-Goods albums—return to join Debbie Green on drums and backing vocals, Peter Momtchiloff on lead guitar, and Jessica on lead vocals and guitar.

Another classic album from a band that never goes out of style!

For band photos, soundclips, and more information please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Would-Be-Goods pages on Myspace.

You can listen to four songs on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the album rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. As always, there is a copy reserved just for you on the Matinée order page or in your favorite record shop today. Enjoy!

Quick update on the new releases: The albums from Would-Be-Goods, The Lucksmiths and Bubblegum Lemonade are all in stock and all advance orders have now shipped. The Guild League album arrives from the pressing plant on Wednesday, October 29 so if your order included one of those too it will mail on the 29th. Thanks again and hope you are enjoying the new albums! More new release news in a few days…

Greetings comrades! With six singles under our belt for the year it’s about time for some new Matinée POP! albums don’t you think? Alas, we have you covered with a pretty impressive lot too…

The splendid fifth album from incomparable London quartet Would-Be-Goods is ready for release later this month. Entitled ‘Eventyr’ (matcd047), it’s the first Would-Be-Goods album since the 2004 smash ‘The Morning After’ (matcd032) and so worth the wait. The album features 13 new recordings including a new version of ‘Temporary Best Friend’ which surfaced last year on the ‘Matinée Hit Parade’ compilation (matcd045). The full album tracklisting is: 1. Sad Stories; 2. The Ghost Of Mr. Minton; 3. In Bohemia; 4. The Girl At No. 7; 5. Venusberg; 6. Melusine; 7. Heart of Tin; 8. Pleasure Island; 9. Temporary Best Friend; 10. Baby Romaine; 11. Subtle Charm; 12. Enemies of Promise; 13. A Professor Momtchiloff Mystery.

We are previewing four tracks on the Matinée catalog page and rotating songs on the sounds page and also over on MySpace. The album is scheduled for official release October 28th, but we are taking preorders RIGHT NOW exclusively on the Matinée website and will ship copies beginning mid month. We’ll be sharing more about the album very soon but for now, enjoy the preview tracks and reserve a copy of your very own on the order page.

Following massively popular singles ‘Ten Years Younger’ (matinée 064) and ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ (matinée 069), Scotland’s Bubblegum Lemonade have completed work on the all-important debut album ‘Doubleplusgood’ (matcd048). The album includes 12 new bubblegum classics: 1. A Billion Heartbeats; 2. Beautiful Friends; 3. I’ll Never Be Yours; 4. Tired Of Sleeping; 5. Last Time I Saw Andrew; 6. Susan’s In The Sky; 7. Penny Fountain; 8. My Dreams Of You; 9. Lost Summer Days; 10. Here They Come; 11. Tyler; 12. Last Weekend.

We are featuring four tracks on the Matinée catalog page and rotating songs on the sounds page and also over on MySpace. The album is scheduled for release November 11th but we are taking preorders RIGHT NOW exclusively on the Matinée website and will ship copies around the middle of the month. In the meantime, enjoy the preview tracks and reserve your copy now on the order page.

A new album from Australia’s The Lucksmiths is always reason to celebrate, but as it’s been nearly four years since ‘Warmer Corners’ (matcd039) was released, their new one ‘First Frost’ (matcd049) has us jumping for joy! Released in conjunction with the fine people at the Lost and Lonesome Recording Company in Australia and Fortuna POP! in the UK, it’s another classic Lucksmiths album for your collection. The album features a few songs previewed by the band during live dates last year and a whole lot of new ones, including: 1. The Town and The Hills; 2. Good Light; 3. A Sobering Thought (Just When One Was Needed); 4. California In Popular Song; 5. South-East Coastal Rendezvous; 6. The National Mitten Registry; 7. Day Three of Five; 8. Never and Always; 9. Lament of the Chiming Wedgebill; 10. How We Met; 11. Song of the Undersea; 12. Up With The Sun; 13. Pines; 14. Who Turned on the Lights?

Four key album tracks are featured on the Matinée catalog page and we’re rotating songs on the sounds page and on MySpace as well. The album is scheduled for release November 4th but we are accepting preorders RIGHT NOW exclusively on the Matinée website and will ship copies beginning mid month. Reserve your very own copy now on the order page.

As if those three weren’t enough, we also await copies of the brand new third album ‘Speak Up’ (matcd051) from Australian collective The Guild League! Last gracing the Matinée discography with the ‘Inner North’ (matcd034) set in 2004, the band has played a whole lot of live dates in the meantime and recorded 10 new classics for this album, including: 1. Mouse vs. Mountain; 2. If Not Now…; 3. Dead Hour; 4. Suit Fits; 5. The Idea; 6. Where’s The Colour?; 7. Brains; 8. Limited Express; 9. 17 Summer; 10. Incandescent.

The Guild League launch ‘Speak Up’ with a live date October 12 for the lucky people of Melbourne. The rest of us mortals will have to settle for the CD until we convince them to take the show on the road outside Australia. We’re showcasing four album tracks on the Matinée catalog page and rotating songs on the sounds page and on MySpace. The album will be officially released next month but we are taking preorders RIGHT NOW exclusively on the Matinée website and will ship copies from October 27th. Yep, it’s on the order page as well so what exactly are you still doing here?