Stereogum x Amazon MP3 Friendly Deals #2: The Wrens' The Meadowlands
Today we present the second installment in a series that brings you classic indie rock albums at hugely discounted prices. Every week, Amazon.com is letting us select one album from its MP3 store to go on super sale (up to 75% off normal prices). Hopefully you'll be able to add these must-own LPs to your library without breaking your budget. Today's deal: The Wrens' The Meadowlands.
To know The Meadowlands is to know its associated lore. The Wrens' previous release, the excellent Secaucus LP, was one of 1996's most lauded indie rock albums. This gave their label, Grass Records, a springboard to cajole the band into a big money contract aimed at morphing the Wrens into a radio-ready suck-machine. Thankfully the band balked, the label later accomplished their ends by changing their name and unleashing Creed upon us all, and the Wrens were left in music industry purgatory for years. To sit. And to write. And in finally returning with an album that included "13 Months In 6 Minutes," the New Jersey outfit delivered something exponentially greater: 7 years in 13 songs. Years that had them -- by their tracklist's admission -- hopeless, exhausted, dealing with situations unplanned, trying to choose the right sides, ultimately yielding a graceful, diverse, near perfect rock set.
As plaintive and confused as the The Meadowlands-era Wrens were, these tracks are cocksure and spilling over with hooks, veering from power-pop to Pixies rock, sitting gut-wrenching piano-and-accordian ballads next to horizon-busting fuzz-guitar burners. There's a workman's edge throughout the album (they are the quintessential Quit Your Day Jobbers), ideas packed into each corner, frustrations in every dejected strum built for corner bars and sorrowful, bottomless beers. The Meadowlands are in Jersey, after all.
For all its depth and jagged finesse, though, the Wrens' third album is a major work that's been cast for minor dominion. For the next week, you can pick it up at Amazon MP3 for $1.99, down from the regular price of $7.99.
Help us make great albums available at low prices by suggesting future Friendly Deal selections in the comments.
Posted at 12:55 PM in Friendly Deals
Tags: The Wrens
great pick. now they just need to put out a new album....
i suggest you do the notwist - neon golden or a microphones album next (glow pt.2 or it was hot would be good choices.
Score = 2
I just put this on my "CDs to buy" list on Saturday. Thank you, Stereogum.
Score = 4
You're preaching to the converted here, eh... but anyway, so what's the wrens' holdup now?
Also, wouldn't lowering the price on physical cd's save the music industry? For $20 I'm thinking my guilty conscience be damned; for $5 everybody's happy!
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I'm not here to complain this week. In fact, I fully endorse this selection (especially for $1.99. Damn...)
This album is superb and a great pick. One question, though. Can anyone tell me where this version of "This Boy Is Exausted" comes from? I like how this one rocks a lot harder than the one found on "Meadowlands.":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrge4IHvdTw
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i might be making this up but i think there were alternate versions of the meadowlands songs, some of which i acquired around the time of its release. maybe this is one of them.
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This version of This Boy Is Exhausted is off a Drive-Thru records comp, You'll Never Eat Fast Food Again. http://tinyurl.com/6reqx2
The mp3 was posted on Good Hodgkins a couple years ago maybe? I'll see if i can find it when I get home.
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The vinyl mix is different.
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That album is better than puppies eating ice cream.
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$2.00?? Done.
I'd buy any suggested album sound-unheard for $2.00.
My suggestion: Slowreader: S/T
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Do you mean Slowreader, as in the band made up of one of the ex-members of The Impossibles? I don't hear their name thrown around on a casual basis, so that would be awesome.
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Yes sir. Their first (and only) album is fantastic, unlike anything else on Fueled by Ramen (thank god) and sadly out of print.
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Wow, I totally forgot that was put out on Fueled by Ramen when the label could actually vouch for being something more than a radio pop punk stable. Also, The Impossibles "Enter/Return" was the best Weezer album to come out during the absence of Weezer post-Pinkerton and pre-Green album.
Score = 3
Great album. Gabe from Slowreader/The Impossibles has been posting some really fantastic acoustic demos on his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/gabehascall
Every month or so he switches them up. Some of his best work to date.
Score = 1
either cocteau twins or sonic youth are next, i'm betting
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Sounds great, I love this idea that you guys are pushing. Keep up the good work! And you should definitely have Supergrass "I Should Coco" next.
Score = 1
Putting "Happy" and "She Sends Kisses" back-to-back on this record is a cruel joke. Turns me into a puddle of sentimentality every time.
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2 for 2 Stereogum. How about "American Water" or "I See A Darkness" next? You know, for the lame-o's who don't already have them.
Score = 4
The Meadowlands is the greatest album I've ever heard. It is rock 'n roll at its blistering best, as well as pure elegance. This record changes everything. And The Wrens live?! Nothing better.
Score = 1
This album was an awesome choice!
I would really like to see the Glow Pt. 2 up there because I actually don't own that one...
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fantastic choice
also- i know absolutepunk is also hooking up with amazon every week, I just got Lydia's new album for $2, so check that business out
as for next week, how about Dear Science or Spiderman of the Rings?
Score = 1
truly an unbelievable album. I take this to mean that stereogum will let me know when they finally put out their next, instead of having to check their neglected website every few weeks?
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How about Modest Mouse's "Lonesome Crowded West"?
Score = 1
Here's that early version of This Boy Is Exhausted:
http://www.mediafire.com/?4w2o9xmdty2
And, may I suggest Built to Spill's There's Nothing Wrong With Love for the next Friendly Deal?
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Thanks, len! Did anyone ever confirm that this track was also released on a Drive-Thru compilation? If so, it's pretty outrageous how both that label and Fueled by Ramen were spoken about on the comment board, but for all the right reasons.
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I think this is an excellent pick, but it doesn't feel like the 2nd pick (as if there was some sort of ranking for these things!)
Still, tremendous album, and cannot wait for their next.
I suggest The Pixies Doolittle, or possibly Built To Spill's Keep It LIke A Secret.
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great choices so far.. some (obvious) suggestions:
olivia tremor control - dusk at cubist castle
yo la tengo - i can hear the heart beating as one
slint - spiderland
tortoise - millions now living will never die
young marble giants - colossal youth
i also second nominations for..
modest mouse - the lonesome crowded west
built to spill - there's nothing wrong with love
bonnie 'prince' billy - i see a darkness
Score = 1
Many of you probably already have these, but here are my recommendations for future picks:
Spoon - Girls Can Tell
Madlib - Shades of Blue
The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone
The Books - Lost and Safe
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A few suggestions for future deals:
Built to Spill- Perfect from Now On
Dinosaur Jr.- You're Living All Over Me
Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin
The Jesus and Mary Chain- Psychocandy
Wilco- Summerteeth
Score = 2
I just bought this and am listening to it for the first time. It's nice.
We should pick things that aren't on emusic though. I'm looking at you, Subpop.
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-Appleseed Cast - Mare Vitalis and also any of the above built to spill suggestions.. these bands transitioned me away from the bad music i listened to the 1st half of high school
-Neutral Milk Hotel - Aeroplane Over the Sea
-i second Lonesome Crowded West
-mmmmm there are so many great suggestions on here! way to go, guys!
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ed Cast - Mare Vitalis and also any of the above built to spill suggestions.. these bands transitioned me away from the bad music i listened to the 1st half of high school
-Neutral Milk Hotel - Aeroplane Over the Sea
-i second Lonesome Crowded West
-mmmmm there are so many great suggestions on here! way to go, guys!
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Wow, thanks for this so much. I always really wanted this album.
And I would second the Psychocandy suggestion.
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just bought it. love it. Sounds like Get up kids if they weren't so embarrassing. I love it. I suggest something from the Drive By Truckers next.
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Best album of the decade. Next subject please.
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