Suicide Squeeze Records

Suicide Squeeze Records
Founded1996 (1996)
FounderDavid Dickenson
Distributor(s)Secretly Distribution[1]
GenreRock (punk, indie, grunge, alt, experimental), postrock, metal (drone, sludge), pop (experimental, indie), performance art, standup comedy
Country of originUnited States
LocationSeattle, Washington
Official websitesuicidesqueeze.net

Suicide Squeeze Records is a Seattle, Washington-based independent record label that releases rock, pop, and metal music. Suicide Squeeze releases content on vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital.[2] The label has also released comedy and performance art CD and DVDs.[2]

Founded in 1996 by David Dickenson, it got its start releasing singles by artists such as Elliott Smith and Modest Mouse. Current artists include The Coathangers, L.A. Witch, Nü Sensae, This Will Destroy You, Audacity, Guantanamo Baywatch, White Woods, and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan.[3]

In the spring of 2014, Oregon-based Fort George Brewery and Suicide Squeeze created the craft beer "Suicide Squeeze IPA."[4]

In recent years, Suicide Squeeze has released music by L.A. Witch, Ty Segall, This Will Destroy You, cumgirl8, Minus the Bear, Michael Nau (of Cotton Jones), and The Coathangers.

History

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Founding, early releases

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Suicide Squeeze Records was started in August 1996 in Seattle, Washington by owner David Dickenson. After the initial release of a 7" single from Seattle band 764-Hero, the label quickly grew from Dickenson's full-time hobby to a cottage industry by the late-1990s.[5] By 1997 the label had released singles by popular Northwest artists Modest Mouse and Elliott Smith.[2] The label has also released comedy and performance art CD and DVDs, and continues to press a significant number of releases on vinyl.[2]

In an interview with The Stranger, Dickenson said "A highlight of those early days for me was our first 746-HERO release under my belt. Getting to work with David Bazan. And Modest Mouse was a big one. Isaac [Brock, singer/guitarist of Modest Mouse] used to come into Hot Lips, a pizza place that I worked at on the Ave, and he’d be selling these dial-a-song cassettes. He basically was just going to the dumpsters behind the Muzak office, pulling the discarded tapes, making his own artwork, and selling them."[6]

2000–2009

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In August 2003, Suicide Squeeze put out a limited-edition vinyl single for "Pretty (Ugly Before)", a song that Elliott Smith had been playing since his Figure 8 tour.[7] Shortly afterwards in 2004, the label released a spoken CD by Eugene Mirman, a Russian-born American comedian and writer. The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman was also released on DVD, and was voted one of the Best Albums of 2004 by both The A.V. Club and Time Out New York.[8][9]

Goon Moon, an American rock band composed of Jeordie White (also known as Twiggy Ramirez from Marilyn Manson) and Chris Goss, released a mini-LP on Suicide Squeeze called I Got a Brand New Egg Layin' Machine in 2005.[10] Chin Up Chin Up was an American indie pop band from Chicago, who released This Harness Can't Ride Anything on October 10, 2006 on Suicide Squeeze. Also in 2006, Canadian rock band Black Mountain released their "Stormy High" single and EP on Suicide Squeeze.

In 2006, to celebrate their tenth anniversary, the label released the compilation album Suicide Squeeze Records: Slaying Since 1996.[11]

Minus the Bear performing in 2008, shortly after the release of their full-length Planet of Ice on Suicide Squeeze

Minus the Bear is an indie rock band from Seattle,[12] whose sound has been described as "Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophisticated time signature composition."[13] Interpretaciones del Oso, an album of remixed songs from their second full-length album Menos el Oso, was released on February 20, 2007 through Suicide Squeeze,[14] who also released the band's third full-length album, titled Planet of Ice, on August 21, 2007. In 2017, Minus the Bear released their sixth-studio album VOIDS on Suicide Squeeze.

Page France was an American indie folk-pop music band that played melodic and emotional music. Their last record deal was with Suicide Squeeze, before the disbandment in 2008. Their second album, Hello, Dear Wind, was re-released by Suicide Squeeze. Page France's last album and third full-length, …and the Family Telephone, was released May 8, 2007 on Suicide Squeeze.

For their third studio album, These Arms Are Snakes signed to Suicide Squeeze. Tail Swallower and Dove was released in October 2008.[15] The album was seen as a departure from their more hardcore-sounding songs and took a more experimental approach, and also more traditional song structures.[15][16]

On January 27, 2009, The Cotton Jones Basket Ride released their second LP, and their debut for Suicide Squeeze Records, Paranoid Cocoon. It was described as a "weepy, reverb-drenched blend of Pacific Northwest, 1960s folk-pop, and heartland rock."[17] On August 24, 2010, the band released their third LP, Tall Hours in the Glowstream. It was described as "classic country music filtered through a dream-pop haze."[18]

2009–present

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This Will Destroy You in 2009, shortly before their signing to the label

This Will Destroy You released the albums Tunnel Blanket on Suicide Squeeze,[19] as well as the "Black Dunes" 7" single.[20] Tunnel Blanket was released in May 2011, and it entered the Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart at number 25.[21]

The Coathangers in 2017

The Coathangers are a punk group from Atlanta, Georgia. After putting out a 7" on Suicide Squeeze in 2011,[22] they released their third album, Larceny and Old Lace for Suicide Squeeze,[22] to generally positive reviews.[23] In 2012, Julia Kugel of The Coathangers released a 7" record on Suicide Squeeze, under the name "White Woods.".[24] Other releases by The Coathangers on Suicide Squeeze include Suck My Shirt (2014), Nosebleed Weekend (2016), Perfume/Watch Your Back 7" (2016), Parasite EP (2017).

Nü Sensae is a Vancouver, British Columbia, punk and grunge trio.[25] Their second album, "Sundowning", was released on August 7, 2012 via Suicide Squeeze[26] and was given an 8.0 rating by Pitchfork Media.[27]

UZU by performing art collective Yamantaka // Sonic Titan was released on Suicide Squeeze in 2013.[28]

In 2015, Suicide Squeeze released Portland-based punk trio Guantanamo Baywatch's third studio album Darling...It's Too Late.

In 2016, Suicide Squeeze celebrated its 20th anniversary by releasing a digital compilation Suicide Squeeze: 20 Years including Elliott Smith, Minus the Bear, La Luz, King Tuff and more.

In 2017, Suicide Squeeze released music by Ty Segall, This Will Destroy You, Minus the Bear, Michael Nau (of Cotton Jones), and The Coathangers. The label also signed Los Angeles-based trio L.A. Witch for the release of their debut album out September 8, 2017.

Partnerships

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In the spring of 2014, the label worked with Oregon-based Fort George Brewery to create the craft beer "Suicide Squeeze IPA."[4]

Artists

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Current

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Past

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Discography

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Main article: Suicide Squeeze Records discography
Incomplete list of releases by Suicide Squeeze Records
Yr Cat Release title Primary artist(s) Format
1996 S-001 Now You’re Swimming 764-HERO 7"
1996 S-002 The Epilogue Fits B/W l.g.a The Scenic Vermont 7" single
1996 S-003 A Life of Arctic Sounds Modest Mouse 7" single
1997 S-004 Worse Further South The Scenic Vermont 12" EP
1997 S-005 Division Day Elliott Smith 7"/CD single
1998 S-007 Removable Parts Track Star 7"
1998 S-008 Whenever You See Fit Modest Mouse/ 764-HERO 7"
2000 S-011 Progress Pedro the Lion CDEP /7"
2000 S-012 Naima Red Stars Theory 7"
2000 S-015 Attraction Action Reaction The Aislers Set 7"
2001 S-016 Between the Machines The Black Heart Procession 7"
2001 S-017 This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic Minus the Bear CDEP
2002 S-018 Things Shaped in Passing The Six Parts Seven CD
2002 S-019 Bird's Fly Aspera CDEP
2002 S-020 The Modern Sinner Nervous Man EP The Constantines CDEP
2002 S-021 Highly Refined Pirates Minus the Bear CD
2002 S-023 Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them Minus the Bear CD/EP
2003 S-026 Bitches Ain't Shit but Good People Hella CDEP
2003 S-027 S/T The Magic Magicians CD
2003 S-028 Pretty (Ugly Before) Elliott Smith 7" single
2003 S-029 The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys EP The Six Parts Seven / The Black Keys CDEP
2004 S-031 The Devil Isn't Red Hella LP
2003 S-032 Revolve Melvins 7"
2004 S-037 The Unicorns: 2014 The Unicorns CDEP
2004 S-039 Puking and Crying S CD
2004 S-040 Everywhere, and Right Here The Six Parts Seven CD
2004 S-041 Masculine Drugs Zach Hill and Holy Smokes CD/Book
2004 S-042 The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of… Eugene Mirman CD/DVD
2005 S-043 Blocked Numbers Crystal Skulls CD
2005 S-044 Church Gone Wild/Chirpin Hard Hella CD
2005 S-045 Headphones Headphones CD/LP
2005 S-046 I Got a Brand New Egg Layin' Machine Goon Moon CD/LP
2005 S-047 Menos El Oso Minus the Bear CD/LP
2006 S-050 Slaying Since 1996 Various CD[11]
2006 S-052 Casually Smashed to Pieces The Six Parts Seven CD/LP
2006 S-053 Voltaic Crusher/Undrum to Muted Da Of Montreal 7" single
2006 S-055 Stormy High Black Mountain 7" single
2006 S-056 Answers and Questions Earlimart 7" single
2006 S-057 This Harness Can't Ride Anything Chin Up Chin Up CD
2006 S-058 Upper Ninety Russian Circles single
2006 S-059 Hello, Dear Wind Page France CD
2007 S-062 Interpretaciones del Oso Minus the Bear CD
2007 S-063 …and the Family Telephone Page France CD/LP
2007 S-064 Tomato Morning Page France CD/EP
2007 S-065 Planet of Ice Minus the Bear CD
2008 S-068 Perfect Skin HEALTH 7" single
2008 S-070 Station Russian Circles CD
2008 S-071 Strange Symmetry Past Lives CD/LP
2008 S-072 Zodiac Girls Black Moth Super Rainbow 7"
2008 S-073 Silent Grips School of Seven Bells 7"
2008 S-075 sBACH sBACH CD
2008 S-076 Moody Motorcycle Human Highway CD/LP
2008 S-078 Tail Swallower and Dove These Arms are Snakes CD/LP[16]
2009 S-079 Paranoid Cocoon Cotton Jones CD/LP[17]
2009 S-082 Geneva Russian Circles CD
2010 S-085 Tapestry of Webs Past Lives CD/LP
2010 S-086 Tall Hours in the Glowstream Cotton Jones CD/LP[18]
2010 S-088 Mellow Out b/w Heavy Days JEFF the Brotherhood 7" single
2010 S-090 Caregiver b/w Heirloom Memoryhouse 7"
2011 S-093 Tunnel Blanket This Will Destroy You CD/2xLP[19]
2011 S-094 La La La La Love You Nobunny 7"
2014 S-100 Suicide Squeeze Records Presents: Forever Singles Various Artists LP
2012 S-101 Wild Desire King Tuff 7"
2012 S-102 Where Did You Go White Woods 7" [24]
2012 S-105 One More Try Iron and Wine 7" single
2012 S-107 Sundowning Nu Sensae CD/LP
2013 S-111 Pacing Julianna Barwick 7" single
2013 S-117 Dying in the Pussy Antwon 7"
2013 S-124 UZU Yamantaka // Sonic Titan LP/digital
2013 S-127 Burn Eating Out 7" single
2014 S-128 Suck My Shirt The Coathangers CD/LP/Digital
2014 S-129 Mama b/w Love Kin Shannon and the Clams
/ Guantanamo Baywatch		 7" single
2014 S-130 Fort George EP Various Artists 7"
2015 S-137 Darling...It's Too Late Guantanamo Baywatch CD/LP/Digital
2015 S-138 Oh Man, Cover the Ground Shana Cleveland & The Sandcastles CD/LP/Digital
2015 S-139 Freedom Fries Black Lips/The Coathangers 7"/Digital
2015 S-140 Women's Rights Childbirth LP/CD/Digital
2016 S-078 Tail, Swallower and Dove These Arms Are Snakes LP/Digital (Reissue)
2016 S-150 Wild Desire King Tuff 7"/Digital
2016 S-150 Nosebleed Weekend The Coathangers LP/CD/Digital
2016 S-011 Progress Pedro the Lion 7"/Digital (Reissue)
2016 S-141 Mowing Michael Nau CD/LP/Digital
2016 S-142 Hyper Vessels Audacity CD/LP/Digital
2016 S-144 Shytown Elliott Smith/Pete Krebs 7"/Digital
2016 S-145 Gift of Life VHS CD/LP/Digital
2017 S-146 - 7" The Puritan (Julianna Barwick Remix) This Will Destroy You EP/Digital
2017 S-148 - 7" Sentimental Goblin Ty Segall EP/Digital
2016 S-149 Dark Sacred Night David Bazan LP/Digital
2016 S-150 Christmas Bonus David Bazan LP/Digital
2017 S-152 VOIDS Minus the Bear CD/LP/Digital
2017 S-153 Some Twist Michael Nau CD/LP/Digital
2017 S-156 Parasite The Coathangers EP/Digital

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Label Focus: Suicide Squeeze Records". TIDAL Magazine.
  2. ^ a b c d Michael, Troy (April 5, 2013). "Suicide Squeeze Records Announce 2013 7-Inch Series; Listen To New Single from The Numerators". Innocent Words. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  3. ^ "Artists". Suicide Squeeze Records. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Brownstein, Charles (March 18, 2014). "Suicide Squeeze is passionate about Beer". Northern Transmissions.
  5. ^ Reighley, Kurt B. (June 29, 2006). "Killer Indie Rock, Dude – Suicide Squeeze's Lively Decade". The Stranger. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  6. ^ "Suicide Squeeze Records at 20: An Oral History".
  7. ^ D'Angelo, Joe; Perez, Rodrigo. "mtvnews.com: Elliott Smith". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Russian: Евгений Борис Мирман, Yevgeniĭ Boris Mirman; born July 24, 1974.
  9. ^ Jackson, Todd (2009). Eugene Mirman. Retrieved on May 13, 2009 from http://www.dead-frog.com/comedians/comic/eugene_mirman/.
  10. ^ Queens Of The Stone Age Producer Readies Side Project, NME.com, April 18, 2007
  11. ^ a b Motley, John (July 5, 2006). "Suicide Squeeze Records: Slaying Since 1996". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  12. ^ Ambrose, Anthony. "inTuneMusic Online: Minus the Bear / Tim Kasher / Twin Tigers @ NYC 12/4/2010". Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  13. ^ "Minus the Bear". Suicide Squeeze Records. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  14. ^ "MTB prep new album, remix CD out Feb. 20". Minus the Bear News Page. Archived from the original on January 21, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2007.
  15. ^ a b D'Auria, Jonathan. "This Is Meant to Hurt You". The Grixer. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Schild, Matt (February 22, 2009). "These Arms Are Snakes: The progressive punk band stands up to Jello Biafra". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  17. ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/album/paranoid-cocoon-mw0000806706 Allmusic review
  18. ^ a b http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14747-tall-hours-in-the-glowstream/ Pitchfork review
  19. ^ a b Paul, Aubin (February 23, 2011). "This Will Destroy You to Release 'Tunnel Blanket' in May". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012.
  20. ^ iTunes Preview - Live in Reykjavik, Iceland
  21. ^ "This Will Destroy You: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  22. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (June 29, 2011). "On a Hot Night, Intense Frenzied Punk". The New York Times.
  23. ^ "The Coathangers: Larceny & Old Lace | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Where Did You Go | Suicide Squeeze Records". Suicidesqueeze.bandcamp.com. April 3, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  25. ^ "Suicide Squeeze Records – Nu Sensae". Suicide Squeeze Records. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  26. ^ "Nu sensae announce sundowning lp + tour". Suicide Squeeze Records. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  27. ^ "Nu sensae pitchfork review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  28. ^ Alex Hudson (August 8, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Announce 'UZU,' Stream New Track". Exclaim!.

Further reading

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