Pitchfork

The money grubbing folks over at Merge Records have this crazy idea in their head that if you, the unsuspecting indie-rock loving consumer, buy their new compilation CD you may want to hear more music from the likes of M. Ward, the Buzzcocks, and Destroyer. While this sounds like a consciousness-raising endeavor, don't be fooled! All these bands fall under the Merge aegis; it's really just a chance for Merge Records to sell more records, promote their stable, and just perhaps, make more money! Capitalism, we salute you. USA! USA!

Still, is there anything wrong with hearing previously unreleased music from Portastatic, Superchunk and Crooked Fingers? That's a decision that you and your higher power need to arrive at before February 18, the shelf date for Survive and Advance, Volume 2, Merge Records' latest attempt to separate you from your money. (We kid, by the way, please no nasty emails regarding our friends at Merge.) Following in the tradition of other Merge compilations such as MRG100, Rows of Teeth, and Knitting On The Roof, Survive and Advance, Volume 2 shines the spotlight on a handful of luminaries from the Chapel Hill stable. Their musical pimphand is strong. Don't believe us? Check out the tracklist:

01 Shark Quest - La La (previously unreleased)
02 M. Ward - Radio Campaign (previously unreleased)
03 The Clean - Drawing to A Whole (from the album Anthology)
04 Lambchop - The Gusher (live, previously unreleased)
05 Buzzcocks - Friends (from the untitled album)
06 The Clientele - Fear Of Falling (b-side from the "Haunted Melody" 7")
07 Crooked Fingers - Red Devil Dawn (previously unreleased version)
08 Spoon - Don't Let It Get You Down (alternate mix, previously unreleased)
09 Annie Hayden - Starring In The Movies (previously unreleased)
10 Portastatic - Gray Robbins (previously unreleased)
11 East River Pipe - Hey, Ma, What's The Point? (previously unreleased)
12 Destroyer - Don't Become The Thing You Hated (previously unreleased)
13 Pram - The Pawnbroker (from the album Dark Island)
14 Matt Suggs - Tehachapi Girl (previously unreleased)
15 Superchunk - Anything Could Happen (previously unreleased)

Amazingly, Merge is offering the album for the unheard price of $6.98. If my TI calculator with the red LED readout is working right, that works out to a mere 46 cents a song! Which is only 46 cents more than if you downloaded it off the internet for free... but perhaps we've said too much. Go buy the damn album, already!

While we're busy shilling for Merge, we might as well take the time to note that some of these bands are hitting the road. Cram this additional info into your brain. Tour dates:

Crooked Fingers:
02-11 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
02-12 Victoria, BC - Thursdays 02-13 Vancouver, BC - Picadilly Pub
02-14 TBA
02-15 Portland, OR - Blackbird
02-16 Eugene, OR - Sam Bonds Garage
02-19 San Francisco, CA - Cafe' Du Nord (w/ John Doe)
02-20 TBA
02-21 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
02-22 Sacramento, CA - Capitol Garage

Portastatic:
02-26 Chapel Hill, NC - The Cave
03-05 Chapel Hill, NC - The Cave
03-12 Chapel Hill, NC - The Cave
03-22 Chapel Hill, NC - The Cave

M. Ward:
02-27 San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord (Noisepop Festival)
03-01 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
03-02 Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music (w/ John Doe Trio)