Following recent represses of Lambchop and Superchunk LPs as part of Merge Records' 25th anniversary celebrations, the label will next issue the first-ever vinyl pressing of the Rock*A*Teens' 2000 swan song Sweet Bird of Youth.
The Atlanta outfit's last album comes out as a double LP on June 3, with the platter also being packaged with a bonus download of one of their final shows before breaking up in 2002.
As for the album proper, a press sheet explains that guitarist Chris Lopez recorded the basic tracks on keyboards and guitar on his own before the rest of the group convened at their rehearsal space in Cabbagetown, GA, to finish the set. Guest appearances from members of Ultrababyfat gave "If I Wanted to Be Famous (I'd Have Shot Someone)" a '60s-era Phil Spector flavour, while a duet between Shannon Wright and Lopez on "It's Destiny" is described as "achingly spare."
Down below, you'll find the tracklisting info for the repress and its accompanying live set.
The Rock*A*Teens have also announced that they'll be participating in this spring's Merge 25 Festival in Carrboro, NC, along with other roster vets, which will be part of a small East Coast tour. You'll find that info at the bottom of the page as well.
Sweet Bird of Youth:
1. Car and Driver
2. If I Wanted to Be Famous (I'd Have Shot Someone)
3. Please Don't Go Downtown Tonight
4. Betwixt or Between
5. Make It New Again
6. Sun's Up
7. It's Destiny
8. Hwy R
9. If You Only Knew
10. I Hope You'll Never See Me Like This
11. That Day Is Today
12. Ma, Look What the City Did To Me
13. Our Future Was Then
14. Lee Knows Every Raindrop
15. Put It Right Out of Your Mind
16. No Books About It
17. Pretty Thoughts Strike Down the Band
Live at The Caledonia Lounge, Athens, GA, 12/30/02:
1. I Could've Just Died
2. Tuesday's Just as Bad
3. If You Only Knew
4. Lady Ben
5. Cherry Red Compilation
6. Car and Driver
7. Stranger Coming
8. Don't Destroy This Night
9. Inseparable
10. Black Metal Stars
11. It's Too Bad Luv He's a Sad One
12. Betwixt or Between
13. I'm Your Puppet
14. These Starving Heartists
15. Arm in Arm, In the Golden Twilite, We Loitered On
16. Please Don't Go Downtown Tonight
Tour dates:
05/16 Charleston, SC - Royal American
05/17 Charleston, SC - Tin Roof
06/06 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
06/07 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
07/12 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
07/24 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle (Merge 25 Festival)
08/07 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
08/08 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs
08/09 Brooklyn, NY - Glasslands
08/10 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
The Atlanta outfit's last album comes out as a double LP on June 3, with the platter also being packaged with a bonus download of one of their final shows before breaking up in 2002.
As for the album proper, a press sheet explains that guitarist Chris Lopez recorded the basic tracks on keyboards and guitar on his own before the rest of the group convened at their rehearsal space in Cabbagetown, GA, to finish the set. Guest appearances from members of Ultrababyfat gave "If I Wanted to Be Famous (I'd Have Shot Someone)" a '60s-era Phil Spector flavour, while a duet between Shannon Wright and Lopez on "It's Destiny" is described as "achingly spare."
Down below, you'll find the tracklisting info for the repress and its accompanying live set.
The Rock*A*Teens have also announced that they'll be participating in this spring's Merge 25 Festival in Carrboro, NC, along with other roster vets, which will be part of a small East Coast tour. You'll find that info at the bottom of the page as well.
Sweet Bird of Youth:
1. Car and Driver
2. If I Wanted to Be Famous (I'd Have Shot Someone)
3. Please Don't Go Downtown Tonight
4. Betwixt or Between
5. Make It New Again
6. Sun's Up
7. It's Destiny
8. Hwy R
9. If You Only Knew
10. I Hope You'll Never See Me Like This
11. That Day Is Today
12. Ma, Look What the City Did To Me
13. Our Future Was Then
14. Lee Knows Every Raindrop
15. Put It Right Out of Your Mind
16. No Books About It
17. Pretty Thoughts Strike Down the Band
Live at The Caledonia Lounge, Athens, GA, 12/30/02:
1. I Could've Just Died
2. Tuesday's Just as Bad
3. If You Only Knew
4. Lady Ben
5. Cherry Red Compilation
6. Car and Driver
7. Stranger Coming
8. Don't Destroy This Night
9. Inseparable
10. Black Metal Stars
11. It's Too Bad Luv He's a Sad One
12. Betwixt or Between
13. I'm Your Puppet
14. These Starving Heartists
15. Arm in Arm, In the Golden Twilite, We Loitered On
16. Please Don't Go Downtown Tonight
Tour dates:
05/16 Charleston, SC - Royal American
05/17 Charleston, SC - Tin Roof
06/06 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
06/07 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
07/12 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
07/24 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle (Merge 25 Festival)
08/07 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
08/08 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs
08/09 Brooklyn, NY - Glasslands
08/10 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
