Pitchfork: Silver Jews Album Saved From Studio Fire!

Silver Jews Album Saved From Studio Fire!

Memphis' famed Easley McCain recording studio was devastated by an electrical fire last week. Among the casualties was believed to be the destruction of the studio's masters and the forthcoming Silver Jews record, which had arrived at the studio on the morning of the fire. A complete assessment of the fire's damage has not yet been made, but despite early reports claiming the record-- due to be mastered last weekend-- was irrevocably missing, the tapes now appear unharmed.

There were no injuries reported, despite the speed with which the fire spread through the studio. "The inspector said that two fires broke out at the same time at opposite ends of the building, due to some electrical reason," Easley engineer Kevin Cubbins told Rolling Stone. "Within 15, 20 seconds, the whole place was engulfed."

Easley McCain was the first structure built in the famed music town for the sole purpose of being a recording studio. It initially housed producer and songwriter Chips Moman before becoming the home of the Bar-Kays. In recent years, albums such as the White Stripes' White Blood Cells, Pavement's Wowee Zowee, and Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose were recorded or mixed here, as well as works from Sonic Youth, Wilco, Cat Power, Guided By Voices, and Alex Chilton, among others. Jeff Buckley was recording his sophomore album at the studio when he took his fatal swim in the Mississippi River.

Former Pavement stars Stephen Malkmus, Steve West, and Bob Nastanovich are all scheduled to appear on the upcoming Silver Jews album, which is slated for release on Drag City later this year.

* Pitchfork News: Silver Jews Recording With Malkmus
* Drag City: <a

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