Here are some of my favorite labels. Many are run by the artists themselves, so visit often and show your support for independent music.
 For over 25 years, Greg Shaw has
been at the helm of what may be
the oldest indie imprint around. His taste in music is impeccable and is
spread across a family of labels that includes AIP (the series of Pebbles
and Highs in the 60s garage/psych comps), Alive/Total Energy
(reissues of classics from The Deviants, Davie Allen, and the MC5),
The Committee To Keep Music Evil (the brain-frying Brian Jonestown
Massacre catalog), and Voxx (current garage/psych bands and the Battle
of the Garages comps). Not to mention his parent label that has
given us some of the greatest power pop, punk, and psych music for
over a quarter of a century. |
 Tony Dale's Australian imprint is
responsible for some of my favorite releases in the last
few years. Visit
his wonderful site for some of the best psychedelic,
independent music available today. |
 One
of my favorite experimental labels, Kranky specializes in ambient
guitar music from the likes of Roy Montgomery, Stars Of The Lid, Windy
& Carl, and Labradford, as well as the minimalist pop stylings of
Charalambides (see below) and Low. |
 Tony
Judge's site for my favorite label of all time is one of the most
loving tributes anyone could hope for. Their slogans
gave new meaning to the word "rude," their promotions threw
caution and good taste to the wind, and their roster of artists is a
virtual who's who of the cream of the crop of British punk, power pop,
and new wave: Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, The Damned
(first British punk LP), Motorhead, Wreckless Eric, Ian Dury, Madness,
The Go Go's, Gary Glitter, Girlschool, and even The Rolling Stones
have all released records on this incredible label. As Nick Lowe said,
"I Love My Label." |
 An
incredible new kid on the block, Portland, Oregon's Strange Attractors
Audio House is home to some of the best psychedelic instrumental music
on the planet from the likes of Cul De Sac, Kinski, Landing,
SubArachnoid Space, Surface of Eceyon, et. al. |
| Wholly Other - Tom & Christina Carter (aka Charalambides) have been recording some of the most passionate and emotional music to emerge from Texas in the last decade, much of it released on CDRs on their own imprint and available directly from them. In 2002, they signed to the marvelous Kranky imprint (see above), who will be releasing their next two records. |
 One
of my favorite artists from the past 15 years or so is
The Bevis Frond, headed by the ubiquitous Nick Saloman.
"Ade"ed and abetted by Frond bassist, Adrian
Shaw, his record label has released almost all of
his albums (over 25 and counting), as well as some great
music from Tom Rapp, Green Pajamas, Country Joe and a
whole host of others. This month also marks the label's
illustrious 50th release (more on that in next month's
reviews). Check 'em out. |
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