'UNCLE BOB' KEEPS ON SPREADING THE HAPPINESS!!!

October 9th 2006 sees the release of the fantabulous new album 'Normal Happiness' by Robert Pollard. We could go on forever about how fantastic it is... but we're lazy, so instead we just adapted what Merge said (they're smarter than us, so what's the point of us even trying to out-do 'em?) ;

Get a preview here with Supernatural Car lover in MP3 goodness.

ROBERT POLLARD - Normal Happiness

There’s just something about a great power pop song – the chiming guitars,the beat that you feel in your gut, and the hooks that grab you and won’t let go. Robert Pollard has assembled a tour de force with 'Normal Happiness' that will single-handedly reestablish the 2 minute pop song as one of the truly American art forms of this new century.

When Pollard disbanded his legendary band, Guided By Voices, on New Years Eve 2004, he grabbed his new-found freedom under his own terms. Normal Happiness is the second solo release from Pollard on Must Destroy / Merge Records inside of one calendar year. This man is a brilliant pop song waiting to happen.

From A Compound Eye (January 2006) was sprawling with epic grandeur and scope, from punk to prog to pop. Normal Happiness on the other hand is concise and razor sharp, 16 songs in just over 35 minutes, with brilliant melodies that will be stuck in your head for days.

Is there nothing this man cannot do within the context of a pop song?

Most bands would be content with releasing one brilliant album every few years. With Normal Happiness, Robert Pollard has upped the ante once again.

so there you go!

actually, whilst we're her e and on the subject of Bobby, why not get yerself over to our MySpace, where we've got up there a video clip of Bob onstage with Pearl Jam performing The Who anthem 'Baba O'Reilly'!! (Robert Pollard & The Ascended Masters opened for P.J on a couple shows... arenarocktastic!!!)

If you are foolish enough to not already own a copy, you can get yourself Robert Pollard's debut Must Destroy release 'From A Compound Eye' (as well as the single 'I'm A Strong Lion' if y'like). if you'd rather hear it IN ITS ENTIRETY first... then the good folks at Merge have fixed that for you (see, told you they was smarter than us. only way you can here it via us is either by buying it, or coming round one of our flats one night. that's not an invite, by the way. lovely as you are, a man's home is his castle etc etc).

lots to download and see at www.robertpollard.net

that is all.

:( summer tour dates / free downloads / remixes / new single / merch

:( - or colonopenbracket for ease - are 4 young folks who hail from Aberdeen. they describe themselves as 'Str8-Bit' (though we also like Drowned In Sound's description 'emoticore') they count amongst their influences the likes of Minor Threat, Atari Teenage Riot, Suicide and The Postal Service (which will all make a lot more sense when you hear them).

the first :( release was a split 7" picture disc with Glasgow's dataPanik (the artists formerly known as Bis). it contained the :( track 'Twin Chevron Action Flash' and was limited to 500 copies. These are all sold out at our distributor now, but we have a small handful left in the office if you want to grab one mailorder while they're still available.

because we like you so much, here is a lovely MP3 for you to download of the song 'Cute' (to be honest kids, the track's not *actually* called 'Cute', its really called '-->-->-@', but that's not quite so easy to say) feel free to take it, burn it to CD, send it to your friends... do whatever the hell you like with it. as long as you love it, that's enough for us there's a bunch more tracks available to hear and download at the band's MySpace page; (including - for those of you already familiar with :( - a BRAND NEW song in the form of 'Fake Blood (demo)' which kicks ass. there's also some videos for you to download.

:( have a selection of shows in the UK over the summer. right now, the dates look like THIS;

JULY

• Sat 22 - TRUCK FESTIVAL - Oxford (-ish)
• Fri 28 - BARFLY - London Drowned In Sound night.
  

The next :( release will appear in Aug / Sept in the form of a 4-track EP on CD / 7". Tracklist tbc. In the meantime, more new demos / videos etc will be made available for free download via here / the band's site and their MySpace.

:( have also been keeping busy by remixing tracks for their friends - Forward Russia, Funeral For A Friend, Computerman - that will all hopefully be making an appearance throughout the summer months... so plenty of things to keep you occupied until the next proper release.

lastly (but certainly not leastly) a range of smart new :( clothing will be available very soon!! starting with some very neato tshirts. go check the band's MySpace page for more details!!