for (2013)
Marriage, babies, new beginnings, growth & change. Funny how fast 8 years goes by. It had been a long, long, long time since we recorded an album, so we finally found some time to do it. Recorded live on several occasions by Jakob Larson at his home studio, and Sacred Heart Music Center – Duluth, MN.
(both in Duluth, MN). Mixed & mastered by Jakob.
Aaron Molina: All guitars
Christian McShane: erhu, accordion, cello, pipe organ, Ensoniq Mirage, Moog, Roland Juno-6.
Special guests: Marc Gartman (bouzouki), Jeff Hall (drums), Andy Kadlec (trumpet)
No computers were used to make any sounds on this album. No overdubs. All songs recorded in one take.
Digital download only on Bandcamp
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i have nothing (2005)
silber records
if thousands’ 7th, and oddly enough, most famous recording. “Odd”, because after this album, if thousands nearly went on permanent hiatus. Recorded in two days at Crazy Beast Studio by Ben Durrant and released on Silber Records, i have nothing sees if thousands further pushing the boundaries of their music into new directions. No song is longer than 6 minutes: quite a feat for a band well-known for it’s extended landscapes (see lullaby, below). Moreover, their customary use of Hammond organ as foundation drone is temporarily cast aside for such “unconventional” drone instruments as accordion, banjo, cello and a horn section. The album features guest appearances by Paul Metzger of TVBC (on modified banjo and Peruvian lute), as well as jazz impressarios 2i & GST (on horns). Includes the song “crispin glover,” which was featured on NPR’s This American Life. Many other selections have since been used for a myriad of independent films. Available only through the label, Silber Records.
Art by Joe Cunningham.
TRACKS: push • wisconsin bombs • providence • marianas • cymbol • walking otis • caterwaul • children with horns • trout • shaitan • eventide • 2i.gst • crispin glover • alpha • stella and me
SAMPLES CAN BE HEARD AT LASTFM.COM
AVAILABLE FROM SILBER RECORDS
ALSO AVAILABLE ON I-TUNES
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if thousands’ song Crispin Glover from “I Have Nothing” was featured on NPR’s This American Life. The episode aired on Dec 2, 2005. The song plays during the very entertaining “Act 3: Adventures on Poo Corner“.
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extreme low frequency films (2005)
if thousands was asked by award-winning film director Travis Wilkerson to provide a few songs for An Injury to One, and a full soundtrack for his as-yet final film, He Who Hits First, Hits Twice: The Urgent Cinema Of Santiago Alvarez. We were honored.
Most of the songs for He Who Hits First… were recorded with a mobile recording lab by Jakob Larson. The songs for An Injury to One were recorded by Tim Anderson, using a single DAT recorder. Only one song is from a previous if thousands album; Santiago, which was recorded specifically for this film, but was also featured on 2d because if thousands liked the song so much (see below).
From Other Cinema:
“The films of Cuban Director Santiago Alvarez exist as a kind of fractured mirror on the last 40 years of American history – a subversive alternate history. In a film career that began only with the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and continued until his death in 1998, Alvarez created 700 films.
Lacking formal training of any sort, Alvarez was appointed head of the fledgling Cuban Film Institute now legendary newsreel division, Noticerio ICAIC. Under his command for the next thirty years, the banal and utilitarian newsreel was transformed into a veritable laboratory of radical innovation.
The first disc in this Double-DVD set includes eight incredible films from Alvarez, including his legendary “Now!”, “79 Springtimes”, and “LBJ”. The second disc is Travis Wilkerson’s acclaimed documentary on Santiago Alvarez, ‘Accelerated Underdevelopment’”.
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AVAILABLE FOR RENT OR DOWNLOAD ON VUDU
HE WHO HITS FIRST… IS AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.COM
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Who Killed Cock Robin?
extreme low frequency (elf) films
A rare & hard to find soundtrack album for Travis Wilkerson’s film, Who Killed Cock Robin? Features music by if thousands, Alan Sparhawk & Mimi Parker (of Low), Charlie Parr and others. Only one if thousands track is new (fool’s gold), the rest are from 2d and i.o. All other tracks (Alan & Mimi, Charlie & others) are previously unreleased and cannot be found anywhere else. Most of the songs on this soundtrack were recorded during the summer of 2003 in Butte, Montana in a makeshift studio while the film was being shot. The film was in the Dramatic Competition category at Sundance 2005 and has never been (and most definitely never will be) released for sale to the general public, nor is it probable that you will ever see it on t.v. or at your hometown theater. Art by Thomas Metcalf.
TRACKS: preamble • who killed cock robin (charlie parr) • santiago (i.t. – from 2d) • eviction (alan sparhawk & mimi parker) • io (i.t. – from i.o.) • fool’s gold (i.t.) • solus (i.t. – from 2d) • copper king (alan sparhawk & mimi parker) • russian doll (jukeboxer) • before the fall (alan sparhawk & mimi parker) • someone (alan sparhawk & mimi parker) • i dreamed i saw joe hill (b. miller) • someone v.2 (alan sparhawk & mimi parker) • ain’t no grace (alan sparhawk & mimi parker) • 1917 (Charlie Parr)
THIS ALBUM IS NOT FOR SALE ANYWHERE ELSE, NOT EVEN I-TUNES.
THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GET IS IS HERE.
AVAILABLE
ONLY FROM
IF THOUSANDS
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yellowstone (2003)chairkickers’ music (ckm007)
if thousands 2nd full-length album. The intention was to create an album that embodied the grandiosity and majesty of Yellowstone Park itself. It’s the only if thousands album thus far to actually feature singing. (!) Recorded at Sacred Heart Church in Duluth, MN by Eric Swanson & Alan Sparhawk. Mixed by Alan, mastered by Tom Herbers at Third Ear. Released on Alan’s label, Chairkickers’ Music. Art by Ryan Amundson.This recording contains intentional extreme distortion and low end on some tracks so please be careful with your speakers. We’re not joking.
TRACKS: yellowstone • isolation (joy division) • with all the saints • the heat, the hot • we sent h.l.r.e. • your weight • age of violence • radio is fine • in our time • your covers • lost christmas
SAMPLES CAN BE HEARD AT LASTFM.COM ________________________________
AVAILABLE FROM
IF THOUSANDS
ALSO AVAILABLE
ON I-TUNES
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lullaby (2003)
silber music
One song, one hour, in one take, recorded with no overdubs. lullaby is if thousands attempt to aid listeners in slumber. So far the record is 20 minutes before falling asleep while listening to this album, so apparently they were succesful. Recorded by Tim Anderson using 12 microphones plugged into a single DAT recorder. Mastered by Ben Durrant at Crazy Beast Studio. Art by David Everett.
TRACKS: a beautiful night sky • the daylight and the sun • to shine on him one last time • he had the smell of wyoming sagebrush • and the scent of the pine trees • from the snowy range • our lives will never be the same • we miss matt terribly • we think of him all the time • we miss matt terribly (reprise)
SAMPLES CAN BE HEARD AT LASTFM.COM
AVAILABLE FROM
IF THOUSANDS
ALSO AVAILABLE
ON I-TUNES
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GREYSTONE AT SEA (2005)
if thousands recorded 4 lo-fi songs as a project for an Australian label, Dreamland Recordings. Please visit Dreamland for more info which also includes a wealth of music by many, many great bands from around the world. Recorded with mobile lab by Jakob Larson.
AVAILABLE FROM DREAMLAND RECORDINGS
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io (2002)
self released project
if thousands first project recording. While shopping candice recorder around, if thousands wanted to make another recording and had a very limited budget. They also wanted to do something handmade. Case made by Christian & a handful of friends literally at the kitchen table – card stock cardboard & stamped galvanized steel. Each case is number-stamped by hand. While making these, Christian repeatedly and accidentally smashed his fingers while hammering the slippery metal punches. As such, a little bit of his blood can be found somewhere on every case. Contains two tracks from the soundtrack to Travis Wilkerson’s acclaimed film An Injury to One. Recorded by Tim Anderson & Ben Durrant. Mastered by Ben Durrant at Crazy Beast Studio. Art by Jason Huntzinger.
TRACKS: your candle shines • io • demand more from your ears • yellowstone (live)
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candice recorder (2001)
self released
if thousands full-length debut album. Within 6 months it was in a 13-week rotation on a radio station in Vancouver, BC. Initially released on the now defunct label, Sursumcorda, it was recorded in two days by Ben Durrant at Crazy Beast Studio. A very clean-sounding recording with some unbelievably strange sounds. The beginning of the sonic emotional rollercoster that is if thousands. Art by Amy Burkett.
TRACKS: things in symbols • with a voice as big as a tree • last noise in 3 part 1 • atrocious • candice recorder • last noise in 3 part 2 • paint the night • i can close my eyes for you • last noise in 3 part 3 • you were found under water • kasio
SAMPLES CAN BE HEARD AT LASTFM.COM
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AWARDS
2004 – Best album of 2003, City Pages (yellowstone)
2004 – Best album of 2003, Pop Matters Music (yellowstone)
2003 – Sundance Film Festival (An Injury To One)
2002 – Best New Electronic Album, Minnesota Music Academy (candice recorder)
2002 – MPR
2001 & 2003 – “Picked to Click”, City Pages
2001 – Top 20 for 13 consecutive weeks, CJSF Vancouver (candice recorder)