let's get it ~ another year/decade in the books! In 2019 Polyvinyl shared a grand total of 35 releases, 62 new singles, 33 music videos, and 1 completely necessary billboard. We also celebrated our Jordan Birthday, otherwise known as 23 years of our glorious Midwest existence! We launched some crazy fun merch, including collaborations with Stay Home Club, Intelligentsia, Elusive Society, Miir, and Last Straw. Our brand new Compass Collection features everything from shoelaces to sweaters - for our practical fans!
The year began with the return of Pedro The Lion's first new music in 15 years. We, along with everyone else, (including Lana Del Rey) were crushed by Julia Jacklin. American Football's guest-heavy LP3 arrived featuring vocal contributions from Paramore's Hayley Williams, Slowdive's Rachel Goswell, and Land of Talk's Elizabeth Powell. Vivian Girls reunited and released their first album in 8 years. Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson collaborated on a Neil Young covers EP. Stellar records from Xiu Xiu, Jay Som, and Palehound all landed on various 'Best of' lists continuing to cement their legacy as vanguard artists. Our family grew with the addition of Yumi Zouma, Anamanaguchi – who shared their long-awaited [USA], Chris Farren, Diane Coffee, and Squirrel Flower.
We were graced by some major anniversaries – 25 years of Deerhoof resulted in remastered versions of their first three albums. American Football's influential debut turned 20 years old and led to the discovery of previously unreleased instrumental demos. We shared additional reissues from Generationals and Vivian Girls. STRFKR closed out the year with a 3xLP, Live From Brooklyn Steel.
- Pedro The Lion - Phoenix : watch 'quietly crushing' Tiny Desk performance
- Xiu Xiu - Girl with Basket of Fruit : read Jamie Stewart's guide to GWBOF via Talkhouse
- Julia Jacklin - Crushing : watch Julia's KEXP performance that moved Cheryl Waters to tears
- American Football - American Football (LP3) : Mike & Nate cracked up on Pitchfork's Over/Under
- Diane Coffee - Internet Arms : Shaun Fleming chatted Flaunt about his ever changing sound
- The Get Up Kids - Problems : TGUK made their peace with being emo via Kerrang
- Kero Kero Bonito - Swimming/The Open Road : the band chatted with MTV about their Coachella debut & Marilyn Manson
- Palehound - Black Friday : "...their best album yet" - Paste
- Generationals - Reader As Detective : Ted & Grant continued to "craft meticulous pop arrangements"
- Jay Som - Anak Ko : Rolling Stone dubbed Melina "one of indie-rock’s most inventive young voices"
- Vivian Girls - Memory : read their NYLON interview about picking up where they left off
- Chris Farren - Born Hot : Chris got real with MTV about confidence & self-loathing
- Anamanaguchi - [USA] : dive deep with PAPER's The Long Road to Anamanaguchi's '[USA]'
- STRFKR - Live From Brooklyn Steel : watch a full-length concert film from your fav live band
- American Football - Year One Demos : rescued by Steve Lamos (and recorded by his dad in his childhood basement)
- Psychic Twin - "Geek"
- Shy Boys - Dim The Light / Brick By Brick
- Jay Som - "Simple"
- The Dodos - "The Surface"
- Jacco Gardner - Fading Cosmos
- Julia Jacklin - "Someday" (triple j Like A Version)
- STRFKR - "Fantasy"
- Kero Kero Bonito - Civilisation I
- The Dodos - "The Atlantic"
- Palehound - Your Boyfriend’s Gun
- Post Animal - "Safe Or Not - Extended Mix"
- Hazel English - "Shaking"
- Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson - Still Young
- Yumi Zouma - "Right Track / Wrong Man"
- Generationals - Con Law
- Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
- Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls
- Generationals - Actor-Caster
- Generationals - Trust/Lucky Numbers
- Deerhoof - The Man, The King, The Girl : Greg & Satomi talk to FLOOD about challenging their own narrative