RT for the opportunity to win tkts to see @minoralps in NYC tonight
@RockwoodNYC. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8pm. 21+ only. pic.twitter.com/Pj7VLqKlYH
— MINOR ALPS (@minoralps) November 21, 2013I don't think this was previously announced.
You can hear a live session with Minor Alps at The Current.
Juliana and Matthew are interviewed and perform Maxon, If I Wanted Trouble and I Don't Know What To Do With My Hands.
More reviews. Hope you're keeping up.
Think Jim Reid and Hope Sandoval on The Jesus And Mary Chain’s ‘Sometimes Always’ – sugar-sweet voices destined to be together. As Minor Alps, Hatfield and Caws have made a gorgeous debut that sounds as if they’ve recorded it in each other’s pockets, their tones exquisitely matched, the songs intimate. 7/10
Matthew Horton, NME
For the most part, Get There tries to find center ground between the worlds of Bon Iver and Death Cab For Cutie. Every so often, as on “Mixed Feelings,” the pair let loose and indulge themselves in the fuzzy, energetic punk-pop of the early 2000’s.
Angel J Melendez, fuzzyheadphones
Ultimately, there is a bulging gap left via a distinct lack of, well, songs, and there are moments that are uncomfortably dull and so ordinary it just becomes tiresome. 5/10
Daniel Dylan Wray, Loud and Quiet
Although it has been available on iTunes and in limited numbers elsewhere since the US release date, Get There by Minor Alps is being officially released this week in the UK and other places in Europe via Juliana's Ye Olde Records.
The album is now showing on all of the main UK download sites (iTunes, 7 Digital and Amazon mp3). The issue of European streaming services (Spotify, Rdio etc) having the curiosity of tracks being limited to 30 seconds now seems to be resolved too.
It was awarded 'Album of the Week' in today's Sunday Times (UK). There's no link as it's behind a paywall but it's fair to assume that republishing the text will not destroy Murdoch's revenue from the issue. So, and with thanks to liveontomorrow reader John who sent the info, here's Mark Edwards' review:
Many years ago, Juliana Hatfield – maybe for a bet, maybe because she was bored, or may because she hated me on sight – opted to go through an entire interview answering only “yes”, then “no”, then “yes” again, then “no” again, and so on. Even questions that couldn’t possibly be answered with a yes/no answer were dispatched with a “yes” or – if it was no’s turn – “no”. I swore to use all my power to sabotage her career and bury her talent. There were only three problems. One, I don’t have any power. Two, she has done an effective job of sabotaging her own career, due to a lengthy battle with depression. Three, I suppose I could bury her talent a little bit by not bringing this wonderful album to your attention – but, really, who wins from that? So .... Hatfield has teamed up with Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws as Minor Alps, and they’ve made an album that thrills and delights, whether exploring the classic 1990s scuzzy alt-rock guitar sound (I Just Don’t Know What to Do with My Hands), reinventing it (If I Wanted Trouble) or ignoring it (Away Again). So go on, buy it, knock yourself out, make her all rich and successful. See if I care.
A rather bizarre review, which says more about the 'chief music critic' than the artist he's reviewing, and the line about depression in that context is just scummy. It's also bullshit. Anyway, yay for album of the week!
Some more reviews to mark the occasion:
Adventurous it’s not but there’s no denying the fizzy, thrash-about appeal of Mixed Feelings, the compellingly simple pull exerted by Waiting For You or the finger-picked charms of Maxon, which joins the dots between Crosby, Stills & Nash and Bon Iver., 3/5
In contrast to the cover of the album, which is rather bleak and foreboding, ‘Get There’ is a collection of eleven lushly produced songs from the duo.
Philip Soanes, Folk Radio UK
The voices blend magically, while the guitars of "I Don't Know What to Do with My Hands" and "Far from the Roses" employ a pleasing mix of Neil Young grunge and REM arpeggios. 4/5
Andy Gill, The Independent
It is very rare that we see a musician(s) fashion an album like Get There with such an echelon of calm reassurance. This record is not for the faint hearted, harshly depicted themes and cynical imagery of segregation, pining, and restiveness direct the flow. Not surprisingly, somewhat reinforcing this point, the record kicks with the utterance: “such a loner”. One can’t help but suspect that the band may have purposely decided to kick off proceedings with “Buried Plans”. 6.9/10
John Glynn, When The Gramophone Rings
More from the Echoplex show earlier this week.
There's a short review at LA Record, which includes photos by Leslie Kalohi that are also available (and best viewed) at Flickr.
Matthew Caws:
We might do more, but Nada Surf is my priority. [Minor Alps] was a special treat because this is [Nada Surf's] first real break in 20 years.
In an interview with Rip It Up, Matthew confirms that he views his work with Juliana as a side project.
Although there may be more to come from Minor Alps, he says that work with Nada Surf will recommence in early 2014.
Blake Babies FTW.
12 songs from the LA show in a YouTube playlist courtesy of spiketop.
There's some photos at Pink is the New Blog and a Caws-heavy set by vertouiseau at Flickr, and from the previous night in San Francisco by Bryan Gordon.
Charlie reports that the list for last night's LA show was the much the same.
See also - Fruit Fly
KEXP have posted a review of the show. See also their photos at Flickr.
Kitchen table rehearsal, late summer 2013. "I Want To Take You Home." http://t.co/Z39aYXUkjZ
— MINOR ALPS (@minoralps) November 12, 2013
Just to underline, @minoralps is now a thing.
Another set of reviews:
Basically, they did everything right here. Get There is an intelligent, authentic alternative rock album that sounds as enjoyable to live in as it probably was to make. 4/5
Michael Roffman, Consequence Of Sound
Usually when experienced music veterans join forces, the result is a mixed bag wherein it’s blatantly obvious where one party took the songwriting into his or her own hands. But on their first project as a duo, Juliana Hatfield and Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws have a synergy that makes you wonder why they didn’t collaborate sooner., 74%
Daniel Kahn, Filter
The overall mood of Minor Alps’ first outing is somewhat downbeat and yet wistful. Two rockers who really hit their stride during the Clinton years are now in middle age and I think the subject matter here (relationships won and lost, self-reflection, “mixed feelings) is mirroring that.
Andrew W Griffin Red Dirt Report
There is so much to love in all of the songs here, and hearing Hatfield and Caws together makes you wonder why it couldn't have happened sooner, but then again; there is a season for all things, and this is so obviously theirs.
Theres a nice photo set by David Lee at Flickr.
The first Minor Alps show ever. #Barsuk15 pic.twitter.com/q6StXMQEcy
— Seth Sommerfeld (@sethsommerfeld) November 9, 2013
Minor Alps set list Nov 8, 2013 pic.twitter.com/DhL1mHfRvl
— matthew caws (@nadasurf) November 9, 2013
After a radio session earlier in the day, Minor Alps debut live appearance took place last night at the Neptune Theater, Seattle as part of the Barsuk Records 15th anniversary.
They both played acoustic guitar with Juliana also on keyboards, while Matthew ran the effects and drum loops.
Notable setlist moments:
Live On Tomorrow, baby! Live On Tomorrow with special Juliana guitar solo no less.
Candy Wrappers with Matthew on lead vocal.
Thanks to Charlie for the info.
There's a brief Q&A with Juliana at the San Francisco Examiner.
Also, more Get There reviews:
The pairing of these two accomplished musicians has found its place in history. It's well worth hoping that we Get There more often, 8.1/10
Richard Becker, Liquid [Hip]
Caws and Hatfield may have matured, but if Get There shows anything it’s that those youthful feelings of loneliness never completely fade. 4/5
Sarah Edmonds, The Upcoming
There’s something about the wistful melancholy of the songs—in both the lyrics and the sweetly downbeat music—that makes the whole album seem like faintly remembered dispatches of twentysomething angst. There are details throughout—or, to be accurate, maybe just a tone—that feel more appropriate for songwriters still of the age of post-collegiate confused emotions than a couple music biz veterans closer to 50 than 40. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, but it does sap some of the urgency from the album, which becomes a bit more of an issue when the vocals are calibrated to Hatfield’s trademark adorable disaffectedness.3/5
Dan Seeger Spectrum Culture
There’s nothing groundbreaking or vital in the 11 songs collected here. It’s adult alternative lifestyle music that will offend no one, and it should make a pleasantly unobtrusive soundtrack for sipping frothy lattes or perusing the Pottery Barn catalog for new drapes.
Mike Kalil, Las Vegas CityLife
Thanks to Carlos for many of the recent links.
Minor Alps will play an in-store acoustic set at Main Street Music, Manayunk, Philadelphia at 6pm on November 22.
This is ahead of their previously announced World Café Live appearance later that evening.
OK so this is tenuous Juliana news. I know.
Comedian Rob Delaney's autobiography (Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.) is published today in the US. It comes out in the UK on December 12.
It begins with a single line quotation from Juliana - the finest Juliana lyric of them all. If you disagree you are wrong.
If you can't guess what it is, you can do the 'Look Inside' thing at the publishers' site and go to page 7.
Moar:
Get There is an accomplished debut album, not that we would expect any less from these two. With a collection of solid tunes under their belt, Hatfield and Caws are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what this new musical relationship has to offer.
Clare Povey, Planet Notion
Supergroups can sometimes be a letdown, but with Minor Alps, Caws and Hatfield bring to the table and combine their best individual qualities into a highly appealing cohesive unit. "Get There" is the work of two of indie rock's most undersung masters.
Allan Raible, ABC News
They wrote, sang and played everything (except drums) on the album, meshing individual styles where they comfortably overlap, in a zone of graceful, grown-up folk-rock.
Jon Parales, New York Times