Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta Master Conceptual Album by Punk Band Fucked Up

Toronto's one-of-a-kind experimental punk band Fucked Up are set to release their conceptual sophomore LP "David Comes To Life" June 7th, via Matador Records. The album was mastered earlier this Spring by Chief Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar and Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta.

As their name might imply, Fucked Up is a lyrically and musically confrontational hardcore six-piece who use their art to narrate stories of modern day plights. Unlike most bands in their genre, Fucked Up have become known for meshing their classic punk antics with a sense of theatrics- clearly exemplified in their latest work, the epic 18-song rock opera "David Comes To Life." Produced by Shane Stoneback (who also worked on the Lodge-mastered Cults' and Sleigh Bells' debuts), the songs are dense with layers and layers of roaring electric guitar, pummeling drums, bass and the growls of singer Damian Abraham as he weaves the tragic story of a man named David, accused of murdering the love of his life. A perfect marriage of studio tricks and raw, live energy, "David Comes To Life" is an album you won't want to miss.

Catch Fucked Up on their East coast tour this summer, including one show in their native Toronto opening for the Foo Fighters (who also mastered their chart-topping "Wasting Light" with The Lodge)!

Watch the trailer for "David Comes To Life" below:

Watch Sleigh Bells' Eerie New Video now!

Putting visuals to sound is something we all marvel at, often leaving us asking "where did they come up with that?" Sleigh Bells' latest video, "Rill Rill" may leave you contemplating that same question. Directed by Jon Watts (TV On the Radio, Fatboy Slim), it's an eerie and pleasantly morbid interpretation of one of their standout tracks. We're fans! 
Sleigh Bells' album "Treats" was mastered by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta last year at The Lodge and is available everywhere now. Check out the video below or on Stereogum here!

The Lodge on Rolling Stone's 2010 "Best Of" Lists

Continuing our year-end wrap up of the internet's "Best Of" lists, we're happy to report some Lodge-mastered bands made their way onto some more big countdowns: the Rolling Stone Top 50 Songs of 2010, and Top 30 Albums of 2010.

Gaining even more accolades, Vampire Weekend's "Contra" earned the #6 ranking on the Top 30 Albums of 2010. Mastered by Emily Lazar and assisted by Joe LaPorta at The Lodge, the album has found itself onto many of this year's "Best Of" lists.

The always lively Sleigh Bells clocked in at #21 on the Top 50 Songs of 2010 with "Infinity Guitars," while Vampire Weekend earned another impressive appearance at #7 with "White Sky."

Congrats, guys!

Lodge-Mastered Bands Among Pitchfork's Best of 2010

Pitchfork Media staff have been busy compiling their annual favorites for 2010 and, as usual, it looks like they have good taste! Check out all the Lodge-mastered bands who made it on their radar below and click here to view the complete Pitchfork staff lists!

"Top 50 Albums of 2010"

06. Vampire Weekend - "Giving Up the Gun" [XL]

16. Sleigh Bells - "Rill Rill" [N.E.E.T. / Mom & Pop]

26. Twin Shadow - "Forget" [4AD / Terrible]

(Honorable Mention) Dum Dum Girls - "I Will Be" [Sub Pop]

"Top 100 Tracks of 2010"

14. Sleigh Bells - "Rill Rill" [N.E.E.T. / Mom & Pop]

23. Vampire Weekend - "Giving Up the Gun" [XL]

24. Teengirl Fantasy - "Cheaters" [Merok / True Panther]

51. Smith Westerns - "Weekend" [Fat Possum]

54. Vampire Weekend - "White Sky" [XL]

65. Dum Dum Girls - "Jail La La" [Sub Pop]

"Top Music Videos of 2010"

The Morning Benders - "Promises" [+1] (view here)

Vampire Weekend - "Giving Up The Gun" [XL] (view here)

"Best of Pitchfork News 2010"

Dum Dum Girls Interview (view here)

5-10-15-20 Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend (view here)

Director's Cut: Vampire Weekend: "Holiday" and "Giving Up The Gun" (view here)

Lodge-Mastered Bands Featured On Stereogum's Best of 2010!

December is the time of year for lists: lists to Santa, gift lists for relatives/friends and, if you're on the internet with any regularity, a lot of 2010 favorites lists. As the new year fast approaches, we've noticed a few Lodge projects have made their way onto some pretty awesome "best of" lists!

Popular music publication Stereogum recently compiled a "Top 50 Albums of 2010" as well as a "40 Best New Bands of 2010" list, both featuring Lodge alumn! Check out our hightlights below!

Stereogum Top 50 Albums of 2010 view here!

Lower Dens - Twin Hand Movement - #42

The Morning Benders - Big Echo - #36

Twin Shadow - Forget - #33

Tamaryn - The Waves - #24

Vampire Weekend - Contra - #07

Sleigh Bells - Treats - #06

Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands of 2010 view here!

Givers

Lower Dens

Tamaryn

Tanlines

Teengirl Fantasy

Lodge-Mastered Bands At Pitchfork Music Fest!

Indie music's favorite media publication, Pitchfork, is counting down the days till Friday, July 16, the first day of their annual summer music fest! This year, nearly 50 incredible acts are scheduled to rock the three-day event set in Brooklyn's Union Park.

Here at The Lodge, we're extra excited because bands we have recently mastered material for are joining the party:

Saturday:

Bear in Heaven

Sunday:

Neon Indian

Sleigh Bells

Beach House

If you haven't already bought tickets for the sold-out show, Pitchfork has just announced that there will be extra passes available to purchase in-person on Thursday, July 15!

Click here to go to the Pitchfork Music Festival 2010 official website for more information about the artists and events.

Hope to see you all there!

Window Shopping

Passing by Other Music today, I saw this...


Sleigh Bell's "Treats" & Suckers' "Wild Smile" are 2 debut albums by 2 Brooklyn bands that are gaining quite a bit of attention right now. Both albums were mastered at The Lodge and are on their way to being the soundtrack to your summer. Loving the window display!

Summer Headliners Mastered at The Lodge

The Lodge Mastering invites New York to celebrate summer as some of the hottest bands on the scene gear up for their seasonal tours. In support of recent releases, all of which were mastered at The Lodge, Vampire Weekend, Minus the Bear, Sleigh Bells, Dum Dum Girls, The Morning Benders and many more will be performing in and around the New York City area. See below for a complete listing of upcoming shows, and be sure to pick up a copy of the artists' latest albums!

Against Me! -- June 24 @ Wellmont Theatre

Chief -- June 2 @ The Mercury Lounge

Future Islands/Lower Dens -- June 12 @ Bowery Ballroom

Maps & Atlases -- August 12 @ The Mercury Lounge

Matt Pond PA -- June 27 @ The Bowery Ballroom

Minus the Bear -- July 8 @ Webster Hall

The Morning Benders -- June 5 @ The Fillmore, July 27, 28 @ Central park Summerstage

The Postelles -- July 28 @ The Bowery Ballroom

Suckers -- June 18 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Vampire Weekend w/ Beach House & Dum Dum Girls -- September 15 thru 17 @ Radio City Music Hall

Sleigh Bells Brings "Treats" To The Lodge

Brooklyn’s blitz-pop power-duo Sleigh Bells will be releasing their debut “Treats” (N.E.E.T. / Mom+Pop) on May 11, 2010. The album was mastered at The Lodge, by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.

Since their chance-meeting in 2008, Sleigh Bells' vocalist Alexis Kraus (public school teacher/former member of teen pop group Rubyblue), and guitarist/electronic drum producer Derek Miller (former member of post-hardcore band Poison The Well) have been taking the music scene by storm with a unique, high-powered blend of catchy vocal hooks, crushing drums, and driving distorted guitars. Developing quite a buzz with some free demo releases and raunchy, energetic live performances, it didn't take long before the band caught the attention of British pop star M.I.A. and signed on to her record label N.E.E.T.

Two years later, Sleigh Bells are finally ready to reveal their epic debut album to the world! Mixed by Shane Stoneback, (Vampire Weekend, Discovery), "Treats" is slated to be one of the most anticipated albums of 2010.

Watch Sleigh Bells perform one of their slammin' singles "Crown On The Ground" here: