Tamaryn Brings "The Waves" To The Lodge

Shoegaze duo Tamaryn are slated to release their debut album, "The Waves," (Mexican Summer) September 14, 2010. The album was mastered at The Lodge by Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta.

Based out of San Francisco, Tamaryn is composed of one-name lead singer Tamaryn and producer/multi-instrumentalist Rex Shelverton. Since their formation in 2008, the duo have been causing quite a stir in the independent music scene with their brand of atmospheric and haunting rock. Their highly anticipated debut full length, appropriately titled "The Waves," is an ocean of texture featuring soaring electric guitars, entrancing, patient rhythms, and Tamaryn's mournful vocal melodies. Recorded at Shelverton's home studio over the course of 16 months, the album will finally be available on CD/Vinyl September 14, via Mexican Summer.

Read an interview Tamaryn did for Pitchfork Media here!

Click here to download Tamaryn's single "Sandstone"!

Lodge-Mastered Bands Play Jelly's Pool Parties 2010!

It's summer in New York and what better way to enjoy the season than by soaking up the sun at a free concert right on the East River waterfront!

Jelly Productions' fifth annual Pool Parties series offers 8 Sundays of free shows at East River Park, with a diverse lineup of all your favorite artists!

This year, The Lodge is especially excited to see bands we have recently mastered on the bill:

Restless People - August 8, 2010

Future Islands - August 15, 2010

Chromeo - August 22, 2010

The Suzan - August 22, 2010

Don't miss out the on action!

For news and more information on the events, visit Jelly Pool Parties official website.

See you all there!

The Lodge Meets Twin Shadow

George Lewis Jr., aka Twin Shadow, is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, currently based in Brooklyn, New York. His debut full length, "Forget," is an intimate collection of songs, drawing atmospheric inspiration from his personal nostalgia. Lush arrangements of analog synthesizers, drum machines, and swelling guitars support Lewis' pop vocals as they wander through colorful melodies and vivid lyrical imagery. The album was beautifully produced and mixed by Chris Taylor (Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Dirty Projectors), bassist/engineer of Grizzly Bear and co-founder of Terrible Records which Twin Shadow is currently signed to. Chris Taylor has also recently produced The Morning Benders' debut album, "Big Echo," which was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.

Twin Shadow is scheduled to play several shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn this July and August, so be sure to stop by for some great music. If you can't make the show, keep an eye out for his debut album, "Forget," available on CD and vinyl September 28, via Terrible Records.

Twin Shadow 'Slow' (NSFW) from Twin Shadow on Vimeo.

Magic Kids Bring Memphis To The Lodge

Indie pop's latest crush, Magic Kids, are counting down the days till their summery debut album "Memphis" (True Panther) is released on August 24, 2010. The album was mastered at The Lodge by Chief Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar and Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta.

Magic Kids are a joyfully talented and incredibly charming sextext from Memphis, Tennessee. The band, composed of childhood friends Will, Ben, Michael, Alice, Al and Bennett, is gaining a reputation for their endearing, lighthearted lyrics and colorful '60s pop inspired arrangements. Reminiscent of early Beach Boys and Electric Light Orchestra, Magic Kids' singles "Hey Boy" and "Summer," featured on the upcoming debut, have already caught the attention of recent buzzbands The Morning Benders and Ariel Pink, and have even earned them an interview by the popular indie-centric magazine Nylon. The band's shimmering debut "Memphis," to be released on True Panther, was produced and mixed by Shane Stoneback who recently collaborated with The Lodge on Vampire Weekend's "Contra" and Sleigh Bells' "Treats." Previous True Panther albums mastered at The Lodge by mastering engineer Joe LaPorta include: Lemonade's "Pure Moods," Tanlines' "Settings," Teengirl Fantasy's upcoming full length "7AM," and (former True Panther artist) Tamaryn's "The Waves."

Magic Kids are currently on a cross-country summer tour with Ariel Pink through the months of July and August. Stop by a venue near you and let their sunny music remind you what the season is all about!

mp3: Magic Kids - "Summer"

mp3: Magic Kids - "Superball"

Watch Nylon magazine's interview of the Magic Kids:

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!

Indie All Stars Present "All Summer"

Popular indie artists Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), Best Coast, and Kid Cudi teamed up to write the breezy "All Summer," for a Converse exclusive release. Part of Converse's music-collaboration series "Three Artists, One Song," the seasonal track features Batmanglij's smooth pop production, signature glassy vocals by surfer-rock songstress Bethany Consentino (Best Coast) and carefree rhymes by rapper Kid Cudi. The song was recorded by Justin Gerrish (John Mayer, Weezer, Muse, Vampire Weekend) and mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.

Watch SPIN Magazine's behind-the-scenes video coverage here.

And click here to download the summer jam for free from Converse's website.

Chromeo Turns The Lights Out At The Lodge

Montreal's electro-funk duo Chromeo released their latest single "Don't Turn The Lights On" (Vice Records/Atlantic) on June 29, 2010. The track was mastered at The Lodge, by Chief Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar and Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta.

Chromeo have been garnering fans world-wide since the pop duo first formed in Montreal in 2001. The band is composed of two long-time friends David "Dave 1" Macklovitch on guitar and lead vocals and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel on talk box, keys and synths. Notorious for their infectious 80's-retro dance beats and lyrical hooks, it is no surprise that their latest single, "Don't Turn The Lights On," is full of catchy vocal hooks, funky electric guitars, and analog synths galore. A masterfully crafted pop song, the song is the first collaboration between The Lodge Mastering and Chromeo, as well as engineer/producer extraordinaire Phillippe Zdar (Cassius, Phoenix, The Rapture, MC Solaar) who mixed the track.

Chromeo are also planning a cross-country summer tour through the months of July and August and are even teaming up with Neon Indian (also mastered at The Lodge) for a few shows- don't miss the chance to get your dance on!

Click here to check out Stereogum's Premier of Chromeo's "Don't Turn The Lights On"

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!

Lodge-Mastered Bands Join 2010 Bonnaroo Bill!

This past weekend (June 10-13), over 250,000 music-lovers gathered in Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee to experience one of the most widely-celebrated annual arts festivals of this generation. Superfly Productions' "Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival" is a glorious, round-the-clock, four-day venture, featuring bands of all genres including rock, hip hop, country, electronica, and more. This year, Neon Indian, Against Me!, and The Postelles, joined the lineup, performing songs from their latest Lodge-mastered releases.

(Above) The "That" Tent, Thursday, June 10:
Manhattan's pop-rock band The Postelles played a set of their signature jangly, love-struck tunes for new and familiar fans alike. Their self-titled debut full length is due out July 27th on Astralwerks/Capitol Records, and was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.

(Above) The "This" tent, Sunday, June 13:
Punk rock all-stars Against Me! put on an explosive show for a full house of raucous fans. Their set list mostly consisted of songs from their newest album "White Crosses," (Sire) which was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.

(Below) The "That" Tent, Thursday, June 10:
Acid-infused electropop group Neon Indian performed songs from their debut album "Psychic Chasms" for screaming fans, including some who dressed in feathered headdresses and neon-paint. Originally released in 2009, "Psychic Chasms" was re-mastered at The Lodge by Joe LaPorta and re-released on New York's FADER Label/Cornerstone Promotions on June 8, 2010. Check out the video below of Neon Indian performing "Ephemeral Artery", live at Bonnaroo.

Summer Blockbuster Mastered at The Lodge!

Universal Picture's "Get Him to the Greek", a hilarious spin-off of 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, hit U.S. theaters last Friday, June 4. The soundtrack was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta, and includes songs written by Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) and performed by the movie's fictional artists Infant Sorrow and Jackie Q. The comic album was produced by Jonathan Karp and Lyle Workman and mixed by Billy Bush (Garbage, The Subways).

Written/directed by Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Yes Man) and produced by Judd Apatow, the film follows the outrageous story of British rock star Aldous Snow (played by Russell Brand) and his record label's awe-struck intern (Jonah Hill) as they hustle from London to L.A. for a 10th anniversary show at The Greek Theater.

Cameo appearances include Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Sean "P.Diddy" Combs, who plays the head of Infant Sorrow's record label.

"Get Him to the Greek" is a total riot, and is now playing at a theater near you!

Suckers drop "Wild Smile" TODAY!

Suckers have been ruling the Brooklyn music scene for quite some time now and they have finally released their debut album "Wild Smile" (Frenchkiss Records) TODAY! The album was mastered at The Lodge by Joe LaPorta and produced by Chris Zane (Passion Pit, The Walkmen, Asobi Seksu) earlier this year.

Preorder the album on iTunes H E R E

They are currently on tour with label mates Local Natives so try not to miss these guys live- each band member plays at least 3 instruments (sometimes even simultaneously!)

06-10 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06-13 Isle of Wight, England – Isle of Wight Festival
06-15 London, England – Shepherds Bush Empire
06-24 Glastonbury, England – Glastonbury Old Queen’s Head
06-25 Glastonbury, England – Glastonbury Festival
06-27 Paris, France – Solidays Festival
07-02 Hérouville-Saint-Clair, France – Beauregard Festival
07-04 Rosklide, Denmark – Rosklide Festival
07-18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Festival
08-05 Boston, MA – The Middle East
08-06 Philadelphia, PA – The First Unitarian Church Sanctuary
08-07 New York, NY – Governors Island
08-11 Cannes, France – Pantiero Festival
08-12 Haldern, Germany – Haldern Festival
08-13 Gothenburg, Sweden – Way Out West Festival
08-14 Oslo, Norway – Oya Festival
08-15 Leicester, England – Summer Sundae Festival

Lower Dens To Release "Twin Hand Movement"

Baltimore-based rock quartet Lower Dens will be celebrating the release of their debut full-length "Twin Hand Movement" (Gnomonsong) on July 20, 2010. The album was mastered at The Lodge by Sarah Register.

Drawing inspiration from new-wave, post-rock heroes Sonic Youth, Joy Division and The Cure, Lower Dens' "Twin Hand Movements" is a wash of swelling electric guitars, overdriven bass, rich, textured drums, and front-woman Jana Hunter's smoky melodies. The resulting sonic soundscape is incredibly captivating. "Twin Hand Movements" was recorded at Beat Babies studio by Chris Freeland (former Oxes' drummer) and mixed in NY by producer/engineer Chris Coady (TV On The Radio, Beach House, Grizzly Bear, Yeah Yeah Yeah's).

Lower Dens will be joining hometown friends Future Islands (who also mastered their latest release, "In Evening Air," with Heba Kadry at The Lodge) for a cross-country summer tour blitz. Don't miss out on an awesome show!

Listen to Lower Dens' "Hospice Gates" here!

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

Three Lodge-Mastered Bands Tour Together

This fall will grant three big wishes to millions of fans throughout Canada and the U.S. as indie rock powerhouses Vampire Weekend, Beach House, and Dum Dum Girls team up to create somewhat of a super-tour. Coincidentally, this trio of groups have each mastered releases right here at The Lodge: Vampire Weekend's "Contra", Dum Dum Girls' "I Will Be" and Beach Houses' "Zebra EP".

The tour, headlined by Vampire Weekend, will begin on August 28th at Vancouver's Malkin Bowl and end off with a three-day stay in Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall, stopping in nearly 10 major North American cities along the way. This tour is guaranteed to be emblematic of 2010 and we are excited for the musical possibilities that could come from cramming these three bands together on a bus.

Check out all the dates and venues the tour will hit here!

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:

The National Rocks An Abandoned Castle!

Brooklyn indie-rockers, The National, have released a gorgeous live Pitchfork performance, mastered at The Lodge by Joe LaPorta. The performance is part of a Pitchfork.tv "Special Presentation" series that includes 4 new tracks from the band's highly anticipated fifth studio album "High Violet" (4AD)- out May 11, 2010. The performance was recorded and mixed by producer/engineer David Tolomei.

Truly cinematic, the video features an epic live performance of the band rocking out in an eerie abandoned castle on the Hudson River. It's quite amazing!

Talk Normal making waves!

Lodge mastering engineer and total badass Sarah Register's band Talk Normal has been making some serious waves in the NY indie music scene. They just landed a cover spot on The Deli Magazine and recently opened up for Sonic Youth in late 2009 (gasp)!! Kim Gordon is apparently such a devoted fan, she has a Talk Normal painting as part "The Noise Paintings" exhibition held at an Upper East Side bookstore. Here's a link: http://70.32.78.35/sonicnews/?p=747

Click H E R E to check out The Deli magazine cover

And here's the video for their insanely awesome single "In A Strangeland". Yeaaah!

The Morning Benders Bring "Big Echo" to The Lodge

It seems as though nothing can stop this talented quartet as they continue to cause quite the stir in the indie blog music world. Their recently released sophomore album, "Big Echo," (Rough Trade) was co-produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor and has established this group of young men as one of the most popular and sought after bands out there. "Big Echo" was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe Laporta.

The band was founded by frontman Chris Chu, who began by releasing a few EPs on his own. By late 2006 the band filled out with Julian Harmon on drums, Tim Or on bass, and the multi-instrumentalist, Joe Ferrel switching between organ and guitar. With the complete band in place, they released a full length album, "Talking Through Tin Cans," (Brown Bottle) in 2008, which was mastered by The Lodge's Sarah Register.

With "Big Echo", Chu and the group have proved themselves to be thoughtful, sophisticated songwriters while maintaining their incredible pop sensibility. With sweet, looping singles like "Excuses" and the thundering drums and gentle vocals of "Mason Jar", this album sucks you into their lush Spector-esque "wall of sound" and exemplifies the kind of growth and musical maturity that makes a perfect second album. We're all really excited about this one!

Check out the first video from "Big Echo," "Promises":

Against Me! Masters "White Crosses" at The Lodge

Gainesville's Against Me! has returned to The Lodge to master their second major label record, "White Crosses" (Sire), with Chief Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar and Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta. The latest project, produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage), will be released on June 7th and 8th this summer .

Against Me!, which started off with just Tom Gabel and an acoustic guitar, has evolved over the past thirteen years through different permutations of band members and record labels to become the internationally-loved punk rockers they are today. The band currently consists of front man and guitarist, Tom Gabel, guitarist James Bowman, bassist Andrew Seward, and drummer George Rebello and has found a home at Sire Records.

For the latest, "White Crosses," the band has returned to Nevermind producer, and the man responsible for their 2007, "New Wave," Butch Vig. Aside from his production fame, Vig is also known for his work as drummer of the Post-Grunge, alternative rock group Garbage, whose 2005 Bleed Like Me and 2007 Absolute Garbage were mastered at The Lodge.

As a preview to "White Crosses," Against Me! has already released a video for "Rapid Decompression" and as well as an EP, "I Was A Teenage Anarchist," featuring two songs from the album and two bonus b-side tracks. The band begins their summer tour of North America in Orlando, Florida on June 15th, so be sure to check them out!

Check out their new video for "Rapid Decompression" off of "White Crosses":

New Ravi Shankar!

Ravi Shankar celebrated his 90th birthday last week with the launch of his new record label, East Meets West, and a sneak preview of his new album, Nine Decades: Volume 1 (1967 - 1968), mastered by Joe LaPorta at The Lodge.

Shankar, world-reknown for his work in incorporating traditional Indian Sitar music into the West's mainstream culture, has released nearly fifty albums over his sixty year career, collaborating with artists like George Harrison and Phillip Glass. His new album, the first of what will most likely be a series of releases on his new label, will officially hit stores tomorrow, April 13th. It is a look back at a never-before mastered concert from 1967, and contains some cool extras as well.

Though Shankar has now entered his ninth decade of life, he shows no signs of slowing down. With the new album, the new record label, and a recently completed tour through New Zealand and Australia, it seems as though we may have another ninety years to look forward to from this musical visionary.

Check out this video of Ravi Shankar playing live at the Monterey Pop Festival as a young man. It is explosive!