It’s safe to say, The Robe had a busy 2024. New music was released throughout the year – monthly singles, an EP, collaborations with J.B. Bennett, holiday songs and more.
To commemorate all that fantastic music, today we’re happy to announce two new compilations: MMXXIV and MRYUCK (2024 BEEZ); a gathering of the A-sides and B-sides (respectively) from the whole year. They’ve been sequenced in a new order by Rollum himself and are now available all over.
There’s always been an ebb and flow to the quantity of yk Records releases. Some years are an avalanche of releases, some are hardly a trickle. I think it’s fair to say that 2024 fell into Avalanche territory. By my count we unveiled 29 distinct releases with 123 tracks across 4+ hours of play time. Not too shabby!
Below you’ll find a little bit of insight and reflection on each release from the year. Hopefully my ruminations are entertaining but there’s no better way to experience any of this than just listening to it. And in some cases, watching it. And in one case, trying to find a USB drive so you can do anything at all.
Roger Moutenot has been producing records for decades. Records you know and love. But he’s never released his own solo work because, in his words, it never felt right. Fortunately, he decided this batch of songs was the right feeling and shared it with the world.
As the album title implies, each track is a world in and of itself. A tiny self-contained soundtrack. Headphones and walking around are a delightful way to take it in.
Roger shot and edited this video himself, providing a delightful look into his Haptown studio and pulling back the curtain a little bit on how diverse of a player he is. He may be most well known for his production work but I’m excited that yk is playing a part in letting folks know he is a magically creative musician as well.
At the start of the year, The Robe (Rollum Haas) told me he had plans to release new music throughout the year. The ideas were all mapped out, he just had to record them as he envisioned.
You’ll quickly note that he made good on his promise; delivering a fantastic batch of songs all year long. They are streaming everywhere but best experienced as a gathering. Here’s a handy playlist on Youtube and one on Spotify.
Rollum never provides any insight into what a song is about. While this can make writing about any given song a bit tricky, it is highly appreciated because it ensures the meaning of the song is personal, not prescribed. In other words, any insights you read about these songs are my own, not The Robe’s.
This inaugural single bridges the gap perfectly from his 2019 debut album; giving a little sonic hint back in time but unfurling into a dance-y blast.
Truth be told, the timpani drums at the start of “Destroyer” grab me every time. My attention is rapt as the title song takes you on a helluva journey.
I’ll take a page from Rollum’s book and not reveal what I think the b-side, “The Handbook,” is about but I will say that paying attention to the lyrics is a treat.
If the first two singles were a gentle easing in, “I Could Stay” is a bold re-introduction to The Robe. It’s not that the production changed from previous releases but this one struck me as a new confidence to sonically explore. And a willingness to add a little swagger to those dance-y vibes.
This cover is the first appearance of Valentine the cat but not the last.
Tower Defense, similar to The Robe, has been releasing their own series of singles since they released “Sea Ranch” back in March of 2023. The singles are recorded and mixed at the band’s own Tanglewood Compound recording studio.
The band wanted more autonomy in the recording process and less downtime between releases. They’ve achieved both and have given themselves more room to grow creatively as there is less pressure to write & release 10 songs at once.
Drummer Jereme Frey also happens to enjoy a bit of filming and editing on the video front, so they’ve been diving into releasing videos for each song as well. They look great!
It’s great to hear the band embrace lavish harmonies and spill out memorable choruses while still being an angular post-punk band to a degree. Nobody does it like they do.
Can a song be both sweet and ominous at the same time? For me, “The Beat” provides a resounding Yes to that question. “Dark Circles” feels like it emerged from a progressive discoteque that understood that songs could be danceable, angular and a bit dirty.
A four song EP spilling out during a year of constant releases is incredibly impressive. The bouncy bass on “Passerby” and wild guitar tones on “Lactic Rock” were both surprising contributions to this endeavor but entirely welcomed.
The release of Visitor was a bit of reinvention for Annie Williams. She moved to Nashville a decade ago through the invitation of a Christian hip-hop group,* released a few EPs but became disillusioned with it all. Over time, she found her people and cultivated these songs.
Visitor is often vulnerable and melancholy but I find there’s an undercurrent of optimism that finds its way through. Williams voice is powerful, full stop.
The vinyl run was a very limited run and I’m incredibly happy with how it turned out (at the time of this writing, I believe there is exactly one copy left in the first pressing). The release show at Soft Junk was a magical night.
I’ve always struggled to categorize the music of The Robe and this single is a good example of why it’s a fools errand. Maybe genres are a waste of time in general but they do provide a broad overview of the style of a given work.
We’ve landed on “Art Pop” as the genre signifier for The Robe but that’s a broad term itself. These songs are wildly diverse in their instrumentation and in their song arrangements but always memorable. Personally, I found these two songs to be incredibly good examples of What The Robe Does™ – one dance-y, one quite contemplative track.
Jay Leo Phillips coldwave project General Trust has been rolling out singles since Feb 2023. I’d love to say they are evolving and gaining confidence in their direction but, honestly, the project seemed fully formed from the beginning.
Where the prior single opened up General Trust’s pop tendencies, this one leans further into the more gothic side of things. Somehow every single one of these releases has found the perfect balance between the two, although the ratios may change between each release.
The Nashville Scene provided a nice writeup for The Foam Alone and in doing so, spilled the beans on what exactly is going on with this album.
There’s an entry for the LP on Bandcamp, but it’s not the actual album: You won’t hear “The Magnolia” here, but rather a recording of Eve Maret playing her clarinet in reaction to the song, and so on. To get your hands on the real Foam, you must “follow the crumbs.” Start by asking someone who you can guess might have heard it — perhaps send a DM to someone who recorded one of those clips for Bandcamp, or check the Meadownoise Instagram to find out when Glassmeyer is playing and approach him after a show. Are there upsides to frictionless listening? Sure. But Foam is a reminder that music is artistic expression, not just content to be consumed.
So, yes, what you hear on Bandcamp and streaming is not the actual album but, rather, a series of reactions to the album. If you become a subscriber to the Meadownoise Bandcamp, you will be given a copy of the actual album. Or you can just ask Matt Glassmeyer at a show for a copy – he’ll have one.
Both the primary record and the reaction record are fascinating bits of work. I hope the former makes it way online one day and I hope you give the latter a proper shake, despite the duplicity.
Shoutout to G. Seth West for being a real creative partner on this one a well.
I overuse the word “dance-y” or “danceable” to describe the works of The Robe but it’s always the immediate feeling that grabs me. “Lights” has a deep groove to it, a dose of funk and an undeniable call to movement.
“River in the Ocean” does not fall under the same umbrella of sound but it does serve as yet another expansion of The Robe palette. Without giving anything away, I’ll also say it’s always a good idea to read the liner notes.
When Tower Defense first approached me about releasing a series of singles instead of EPs or LPs, they outlined that they had four releases in mind. With “Repeat,” that cycle is now complete. Looking back at “Sea Ranch”, “Running Out” and “Friendly Factions” it is clear how much the band evolved in that short time. Not to mention how much their video production work grew as well (I mean, look at this video! Remarkable!)
“Repeat” is a song about an earworm of a song that is itself an earworm of a song. Once again, the band’s embrace of soaring harmonies while still maintaining their post-punk vibes is an absolute pleasure. With that in mind, the Devo cover is particularly perfect for them – another band that understood combining pop with progressive musical ideas.
The band has one more release in 2024 with the Holiday Sampler but I look forward to whatever the next era of Tower Defense contains. I suspect it’ll be right up my alley.
The debut Fetching Pails album, Telekinesis for Beginners, came out in 2019! Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking five years between releases but I was overjoyed when Jill Townsend let me know she had new music to share.
“Shattery” is the first single featuring Fetching Pails as a trio. Guitarist Dillon Smith and drummer Andrew Core have joined in on the recording and performing process, bringing a new perspective to the sound but not an altogether seismic shift. It’s a nice, gradual, change into new territories.
There’s more Fetching Pails in store for 2024 and for 2025.
This one is a doozie to discuss! The Privates were a beloved band in the Nashville music scene from 2004 to 2009. They had a handful of releases and live shows before each member slowly sprawled out into different projects. Not a breakup per se, just not an active focus.
Singer Dave Paulson informed me that in 2023, the band had recorded two brand new songs and were looking to release a Best Of record to commemorate the occasion. I jumped at the opportunity and we started in on the process of compiling, remastering, making artwork, pressing vinyl and coming up with a promotion plan.
The YouTube playlist above contains the announcement trailer, the two new songs and two of the remastered songs. It’s a nice introduction to the band if you’re unfamiliar and a great re-introduction if you are.
The artwork is a collage of the prior releases. Paulson was kind enough to supply a large amount of ephemera from the bands past to create it and the easter egg laden inner gatefold. I think it turned out quite nicely.
The band played a reunion show at The Basement to a fully packed room. The Scene wrote up a nice review of the undertaking and the photos really send home just how enjoyable of a night it was.
Will there be more new music from The Privates? Only time will tell! Dave jokes that they are “like cicadas.” Maybe we’ll see them again in 13 years.
I have been a fan of Eve Maret since I first happened to encounter the track “No More Running” back in 2017. Given the opportunity to help spread the good word about her music was not something I could turn down!
“Mantra” is a trip-hop dancefloor anthem promoting immense positivity. I love how self-reflective and confidence boosting it is while also serving as a tool for others to do the same. “Miracle” is just a downright sweet ode to a partner, whomever they may be.
I am particularly proud of the videos for this release. The “Mantra” video was shot and directed by Jereme Frey (of Tower Defense) and required a great deal of editing to create that cyberpunk world; a perfect fit for the song. I collaborated with Maret on the “Miracle” video create a moving version of autostereograms (aka Magic Eye). I documented the process over here but the TLDR is, I got to learn a lot about depth maps, PHP image processing and video editing. I’m thankful to Eve for trusting me to make the dang thing.
Throughout the year, The Robe continued to surprise me with each new offering he passed my way. Maybe I should have learned to expect the unexpected but I did not!
“Animal” is an absolute explosion of a song. In fact, I’d venture to say that even if you’ve heard it, you have yet to fully appreciate the unfurling that takes place. Give it a listen again, absolutely crank the volume and really embrace the layering of sound that is coming forward.
“Suddenly Last Summer” features the return of J.B. Bennett from The Jason EP! Bennett has such a unique voice and it, clearly, pairs quite well with the musical inclinations of The Robe. We’ll hear more from him again later on in 2024.
GT1 is a compilation of every General Trust song available at that time – plus one song exclusive to the cassette release. It is a commemoration of the first phase of the new project. It’s not a stopping point but it does provide an opportunity to explore new directions, should that be desired.
Along with the cassette (more on that below), we released the official music video for “If I Could Change Your Mind” – directed by Casey Pierce and edited by Jane Fitzsimmons. It’s a conceptually simple video but the end result has such a great vibe to it, apropos for General Trust.
We made cassettes and had Risology Club print the j-cards. It’s hard to tell online but the printing texture is unique with every tape. It looks great. I believe the only way to obtain one at this time is to see General Trust live. Keep an eye on his website for upcoming dates.
Another massive project that is incredibly difficult to give its proper due in a summary of the year. Talking with Hands released his third full-length album Organic Machine machine in late October. It was preceded by three singles – each with multiple remixes and a music video.
The YouTube playlist embedded above has all of the videos, including those that were released after the album was available.
It was a massive undertaking that involved a lot of incredibly creative people lending their skills via video editing or remixing or mastering to make it happen. We did a similar thing for sugar sk*-*lls album Star Time and I can confidently say that the amount of work involved is worth it.
The album is a conceptual look at AI, creativity, the music industry and how they all intertwine. It manages to do that while still providing memorable bangers. It’s a dense but rewarding album.
I’m particularly proud that we landed on some artwork that could be animated and fit with the theme of the album. Most platforms can’t support GIF for cover art but if you’re reading this, you know that the official cover is moving.
I’ve been a fan of Alex Mojaverian since the first moment I heard Sad Baxter. I don’t know exactly when that was but I’d place it around 2018. The Trash Man project has been on my radar since 2020 and I was quite curious what would become of it after hearing a number of powerful singles.
Moment of Bleakness is exactly what I’d hope to hear from a full-length release from Trash Man and I’m overjoyed to have played a part in releasing it. The production is a step above the prior singles but not so polished that its unrecognizable. The songs are a hair longer than the prior releases but still embrace a kind of punk ethos of stopping well before they’ve overstayed their welcome. The songs are also introspective and melancholy while being explosive and catchy.
Alex made this lyric video for “Ruin It” that simply shows him cooking a pizza at home. Conceptually he told me he just wanted to make a video that would be something that he would watch, music video or not. May we all be so brilliant in our ideas!
I am confident there is more Trash Man in the future, tho specifics are nebulous. Whenever it happens, I’m on board.
The debut single from Matt Pelham (of The Features) new project Matt & The Watt Gives is a real joy to share with the world. Hearing Pelham’s distinctive vocals again is not something I take for granted.
Within the first six seconds, you get a touch of that Pelham vocal holler and then a taste of what he’s been up to since The Features went dormant in 2016. There’s a lot more of this music to share in 2025 but I’m so happy we got to break the seal in 2024. It’s a familiar sound thanks to Pelham’s voice but, musically, he’s exploring new territory.
As an added bonus of delight I’d like to note that Rollum Haas plays drums on this track, Edith Pelham (one of Matt’s daughters) did the artwork and the band played their first Nashville show opening for The Privates.
At this point in the year, I’m completely flabbergasted that The Robe has kept the pace of new releases as promised. I’m not surprised that the well is deep but it can’t be overstated how impressed I am with everything.
As with every prior release, I’ve no idea what either song is about or what inspired them. I know that they continue to explore new aural territory while still feeling cohesively united in some impossible-to-articulate way.
The second single from Jill Townsend, Dillon Smith and Andrew Core; the new trio of Fetching Pails. Townsend penned this track about the bewildering time of night when inspiration may strike the hottest.
It’s an appropriately ominous song to be released in October and, lyrically, incredibly spot-on. The track is moody but still kicks in some dancey goth vibes; a combo that (in my opinion) is undeniable.
As previously noted, J.B. Bennett returns for another collaboration with The Robe; taking lead vocals on both tracks and co-writing credit.
Bennett and Haas are a fantastic pair and, as with the solo Robe work, continue to expand their palette. When “N as in Nina” takes a turn about halfway through, it’s a surprising delight. “In Panorama” finds the duo stretching out into vast expanses.
This is not the final track from The Robe for 2024 but it is the final standalone release. If prior write-ups did not make it clear, my adoration for the work of The Robe is immeasurable. These songs were not crafted at one time but hearing them together is as rewarding of an experience as hearing them as they emerged into the world.
Back in December of 2023, Tower Defense told me they had penned a new Christmas song. In January of 2024, they nudged me to think about a compilation. I put out some feelers and over the course of the year, put together these twenty tracks.
I can’t begin to express how happy I am with the results. There are original holiday songs, beautiful covers of classics and surprising contributions. The feedback as been overwhelmingly positive and I am so proud of all involved.
We used the compilation as an opportunity to raise money for the non-profit CASA Nashville and came up with over $1,500 in contributions. That may not seem significant to a full-sized operation like CASA but every bit helps; I’m proud of that.
I built a little mini-site for the release showcasing the music, the three music videos that came with it and all of the original art I put together to promote it. Start to finish, top to bottom, a total success.
In the process of putting together the holiday sampler, it came to my attention that there was an unreleased Birdcloud recording of “Silent Night.” This was an opportunity to correct one of history’s wrongs!
That’s obviously being a bit extreme but I always felt that “Cool Christmas” deserved its due. Birdcloud had released a 2xLP called Singles Only in 2016 but it omitted one of my favorite songs, albeit an outlier in their catalog. Pairing “Silent Night” with “Cool Christmas” was the perfect opportunity to get the classic track on vinyl and get a new recording out into the world.
The 7″ is pressed to a “Honeybaked Ham Picture Disc in a Hologram package” – an audacious description that is also entirely accurate!
Along with the 29 releases outlined above, we also redesigned our logo. After 15 years of having a mark that said “yewknee records,” it was time to have one that finally says “yk records.”
If you’ve made it here to the end, thank you! That’s a tome of a blog post and a helluva year for the label.
My gratitude is immense. 2025 already has a hefty lineup of surprises I can’t wait to share with the world. Thanks for your continued attention.
If you haven’t already heard the YK Records Holiday Sampler 2024, take a moment to go give that a spin. We made a whole mini-site for it where you can listen, watch the videos, read all the credits and see all the delightful promo images we conjured up.
What you don’t see are photos from the Dec 19th party we had at The 5 Spot. Eight bands from the compilation performed and it was, truly, a magnificent time. Hopefully additional media will reveal itself from the evening but, in the meantime, here’s a handful of images to commemorate the good time.
Huge thanks to everyone that attended, all the bands that played and the kindness of the venue to let me put up my little decorations. It really turned out better than I could have imagined.
The holiday season is in full gear! To add to that good cheer, Birdcloud has released “Cool Christmas” with the previously unreleased “Silent Night” to all streaming platforms. It’s on Bandcamp and Ampwall for those of you that like to own a copy of your music. It’s on Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer, et al, you name it for those of you that like to stream! Why not both? Get it into your ears however you like to listen.
I absolutely love hearing their slightly unhinged take on “Silent Night.” It’s instantly Classic Birdcloud™ but there’s also a genuine sweetness to it.
There was a slight glimmer of a chance that the Honeybaked Ham 7″ vinyl was going to arrive in full before the holidays but a packaging snafu has delayed things until the new year. Many thanks to everyone for their patience on this matter – I promise both songs will sound just as good on your turntable next year as they do this year.
As not to end on a down note, Birdcloud will be putting all of their material on Bandcamp and we’re going to have an fundraiser auction early in 2025. Be sure to sign the yk Records mailing list and follow @birdcloudusa to be notified when it starts.
There’s a lot of hype building up to Christmas Day (and/or Hanukkah or whatever holiday you enjoy embracing) but it can be stressful! So much preparation it can be exhausting.
Shaboi has emerged from his musical hibernation to release “The Day After Christmas” on our holiday sampler. It serves as a reminder to treat yourself after the big day has passed. You earned it. He has even graced us with a delightful music video combining stop motion and modern animation.. along with a surprise treat at the end.
Pick up the sampler over on Bandcamp or Ampwall… or maybe stream it on your favorite streamer. It’s available everywhere to enjoy. If you have the ability, consider buying it on Bandcamp or Ampwall – we’ll donate 100% of the proceeds to CASA Nashville.
The contribution from New Man for our Holiday Sampler 2024 is a bombastic, enthusiastic, rumination on Christmas. Is it a happy day? Is it a melancholy day of reflection? Is it a pain in the ass or the one day of the year with no hang ups? The truth lies somewhere in between.
New Man, aka Cody Newman, did a stellar job creating an animated video for the track which you can now watch in full!
New Man will be playing at The 5 Spot on December 19th as part of the YK Records Holiday Party Extravaganza! Doors are at 6pm and I have it on good authority that they’ll be playing this track. Come hang out!
At the end of November we announced the YK Records Holiday Sampler 2024, a compilation of classic Christmas compositions, more modern jams and plenty of originals. Today, we’re as excited as a kid blasting open a wrapped gift to present the full creation:
All proceeds from the release will be donated to CASA Nashville; a non-profit helping foster kids all year round. We’ve managed to raise several hundred dollars already and I’m hopeful we can raise even more.
To that end, the release is exclusive to Bandcamp and Ampwall until December 13th. For the next week, you’ll need to point your browser at those locations to hear the phenomenal gathering of songs.
To preserve the compilation properly (like a Christmas cookie left in the tin), I’ve created this mini-site. Over there you’ll find all the links to buy the sampler, links to stream (when it’s available) and all of the Rankin/Bass style renderings of the artists.
On a personal note, I just wanna say how excited and proud I am of this one. It took a year to come together and the final results are extremely pleasing. Holiday music can be a real bore but the yk roster really brought their A game here, start to finish. Very happy to be a part of releasing it into the world.
Back in September, Eve Maret released the single “Mantra” / “Miracle” – a pair of songs that evoke embracing positivity while calling you to the dance floor. Director Jereme Frey took on the task of creating a video for “Mantra” and today we’re extremely excited to share those results with you.
The results are a futuristic, cyberpunk landscape with Eve Maret literally transforming into alternate versions. We all contain multitudes and it’s on display here.
In the fall of 2016, a grave mistake was made. A mistake so grotesque that the world has not yet recovered from the repercussions of its impact. A mistake that must be corrected… starting now.
You see, on September 30th, 2016, Birdcloud released their double-LP Singles Only. A twenty-eight track compilation that brought together every single song that the satirical country duo had released upon the world from all their prior releases. Singles Only serves as a Best Of and the authoritative tome of Birdcloud songs. Except, one very important song was missing.*
“Cool Christmas” is the most fully produced track by the normally acoustic pair and an absolute gem in their body of work. It has a video that doesn’t feature either Makenzie Green or Jasmin Kaset. It has drums. It has deep bass. It has addictive lyrics and an unbelievably charming, occasionally unhinged, performance. The title would go on to be the name of the reoccurring live holiday extravaganza and is, inarguably, completely unforgettable start to finish.
To properly commemorate the track, and to fix this historical oversight, we’ve put together an extremely special 7″ that is available for preorder now.
First, we sourced the original session files from producer Jordan Lehning. While digging through some ancient hard drive backups, we also found recordings of a never-before-released rendition of “Silent Night.” Engineering wizard Patrick Damphier remastered both tracks for optimal sonic fidelity.
Next, the packaging came together as the most extravagant affair. The jacket is printed on special hologram paper, giving it an iridescent that only the holidays could bring you. The record itself is a honey baked ham picture disc. A finer creation, there is not.
This beast is in production now and has been an absolute pleasure to bring together. Finally, peace can come to the tumultuous waves of history.
*Note that “Wild Turkey 101” / “Fiasco” is also not included on Singles Only but was released afterwards, so it was not a part of history’s greatest mistake.
The end of the year is on the horizon but YK Records has MANY new treats for you still left to be unveiled. Just last week you got two brand new songs from The Robe! Hope you’re devouring those.
Today, we’re excited to announce the YK Records Holiday Sampler 2024. This has been in the works for the entire year and we finally get to unveil it to the world. Twenty tracks from twenty YK artists of original and classic holiday songs. We are biased but you are going to love it.
This compilation of goodies won’t be released until December 6th but you can preorder it today. By doing so, I’ll ensure you get to hear 2 of the songs before it’s officially released. And that’s not even the best news!
The proceeds of the compilation will donated to CASA Nashville, a non-profit organization that ensures foster children have safe homes. Paying for music may seem archaic in 2024 but helping kids have safe and happy holidays is timeless.
The Tracks!
Roger Moutenot – Letter to Santa Tower Defense – What Do You Want For Christmas? Matt & The Watt Gives – No Child (Wants Their Picture Made With Santa) The Robe – Gloria In Excelsis Deo (Calceamentum Vultus) Coupler – Christmas Time Is Here New Man – Christmas is a Mirror of the Mind Trash Man – Wire Christmas Tree Birdcloud – Cool Christmas Telefone – Toys Little Bandit – (Have Yourself) A Merry Little Christmas Talking with Hands – Christmas Time Fetching Pails – Where the Santas Meet Stone Jack Jones – Away in a Manger Annie Williams – Ave Maria The Myrrhmen – Ding Dong Merrily On High Shaboi – The Day After Christmas Mac Burrus & Tiffany Topol – With You (This Christmas) The Features – The New Christmas Wish Book sugar sk*–*lls – Last Christmas Black Bra – Just Like Christmas (Ode to Mimi)
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