The incredible Pussycat tour poster by Nicole Anguish is available for purchase now at Daykamp Creative's Etsy store.
You can also see previous work at the site, including some equally fabulous posters for The Juliana Hatfield Three, Blake Babies and Minor Alps.
Juliana, on the new album's title, from an interview with Jeff Niesel for Cleveland Scene:
“Sometimes, someone will talk about a person who appears to be gruff or harsh and say, ‘He’s just a pussycat,’” she says. “I was thinking about the duality of that and how cats can be soft and sweet, but if they don’t like you, their claws will come out. [The title] goes along with my image as well. I think some people hear my sweet little girl voice and think I’m a nice little pop singer, but I’ve always had these protest songs and these angry songs. People don’t always notice it or when they do notice it, they’re surprised and confused by it.”
Juliana appears on episode 218 of Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast, titled "March 10 - 16, 1979":
Ken and Juliana discuss suburban potholes, garbage collection, the TV room, Six Million Dollar Cliff Hangers, James at 15, market research, Lance Kerwin, After School Specials, Dukes of Hazard, “Southern” TV, Love Boat, Mary Tyler Moore, The Comforting ritual of television, the revelation of the sexy librarian, Vietnam, Law and Order, Iraq War vets, loving Donny & Marie, Coma, The Rockford Files, Father/Son relationships, different actors playing the same character, soap opera understudies, Dirk Benedict, Battlestar Gallactica, dreamy Richard Hatch, In Search Of, Starsky & Hutch, goofy pimps, why the Six Million Dollar man is infinitely boring, The Bionic Woman’s superiority, revisiting your childhood, McMillan and Wife, Rock Hudson, real couples on camera, the Night Stalker, why TV is better when pretty people aren’t on it, Miami Vice, store brand generic music on TV, Bugsy Malone, Foxes, Over the Edge, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, One Day at a Time, the wonders of television hair, Eight is Enough, the Facts of Life theme, The Jeffersons, Farah Fawcett, Charlie’s Angels, Mork & Mindy, Jonathan Winters, Quincy M.E., mustache free Dads, Magnum P.I., The Day My Kid Went Punk, Donna Reed, The Incredible Hulk, shredded indestructible pants, Dallas, aspirational television, and the ritual of Dr. Phil.
You can listen at libsyn.
The podcast is also available at iTunes or via your preferred podcast client, including Overcast .
I was gonna quit music this weekend. From day 1 it was clear i was an accidental pop star. I loved the idea of it, i mean who doesn't? Still the wear of staying polished with how im presented and how my music was presented took a huge toll on me mentally. I started to hate music, the thing i loved the most! When i would listen to immaculate recordings with my friends their praise over the quality of the art as opposed to the art itself made me feel really sad for music as a medium in general. My music only feels exciting for me if its in the moment, and thats what this album is. I made this album this past weekend stuck in my room with just a 4 track feeling hopeless about my love for music. Im not gonna lie, this album is hard to listen to, but it was even harder for me to share. I love pop music, i love outsider music, and i love lofi music, this is my way of combining all 3. Anyway I played, wrote, produced, and mixed everything and big thanks to Kieran Ferris for Mastering an album with an hours notice! its free! Enjoy! Love Yall! Still more 2 come!!!!!!! Tracklist: Hope What Else Ignore Everything Tom Kelly Easier Like A Bird One More Time Won't Kill You I Fucking Hate You Rain (Blake Babies Cover) Bleed It Out Album download: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/u0wwrkud56vad/HOPE+MP3S
Dan Weiss, writing for Stereogum:
Shamir Bailey, the 22-year-old Philly-via-Vegas polymath who goes only by his first name, made one of 2015’s best and brightest albums — and possibly its best debut — with the electro-disco revelation Ratchet. It was released via XL, home to Adele and Radiohead among others, and from his country covers and hip-house rapping, we always knew that the album was merely the tip of the iceberg for Shamir’s considerable talent and wide-ranging taste. That prophecy came true this morning as Shamir self-released a surprise follow-up, Hope, all on his own via SoundCloud.
STEREOGUM: So are you a huge Blake Babies fan, or was the cover [“Rain”] something you were planning to do for a while?
SHAMIR: No, I actually discovered them this weekend. I’ve been listening to a lot of ’90s [music] all weekend, trying to find related artists to Velocity Girl. The [Blake Babies] singer, I think her name’s Julie…Juliana… [Hatfield], I think we kind of sound the same! Which is kind of crazy to me, I heard so much of myself in her. This is my first, full, fleshed-out cover I think! Because even my Lindi Ortega cover [“Lived And Died Alone” from my first EP [2014’s Northtown] was just stripped down and kind of a look into my soul coming out.
STEREOGUM: I know you’re getting blown up all day but has any particular reaction to Hope stuck out to you today so far?
SHAMIR: Just the fact that the guitarist and songwriter of “Rain,” from Blake Babies [John Strohm] tweeted at me today and I got to thank him, and he was so sweet. It’s only been a few hours! And he heard it already somehow! The internet is crazy!
Rain is at 27:38 on the SoundCloud embed above.
You can download the album at https://www.mediafire.com/folder/u0wwrkud56vad/HOPE+MP3S
Shamir covers Rain on his new album, a @blakebabies song I wrote...actually the first real song I wrote when I was 18. Cool version too! https://t.co/JBXJGVfHeD
— John P. Strohm (@johnpstrohm) April 17, 2017
John P Strohm has selected a number of songs from Boston related artists of the late 80s / early 90s in an article for Louder Than Words.
Here's what he says about his selection of Buffalo Tom:
There was a girl who used to crash with Blake Babies sometimes who came in from the suburbs. She knew these guys Buffalo Tom and she said she was managing them. She had a bunch of demo tapes that we ignored. It just didn’t occur to us that she could be cooler than us. Then when people around town started talking about Buffalo Tom I made the connection: “Oh, that band that we have, like, 100 tapes of.” J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. took them under wing and produced their first album, so obviously they’ve got my attention at that point. We became great friends – and fans of each other’s bands. For the final Blake Babies tour, we actually chose to open for Buffalo Tom in Europe over a competing offer to open for Nirvana on the Nevermind tour. And that was before Nevermind was out. And….I don’t really want to think about that anymore. We had a great time with our friends overseas while we were in the process of breaking up.
Juliana's official site has had a makeover in time for the new album.
Among the updates there, you can now view the lyrics for Pussycat, or you can wait for the music. You will not be judged whichever you choose.
An updated collection of Juliana's art including images inspired by the US presidential election is now on auction at ebay for the next week:
ebay.com/cln/hatf_juli/Original-artwork-by-Juliana-Hatfield-April-2017/395662134013
#springcleaning #lettinggo if anyone is interested, i'm auctioning off some of my artwork (made by me): https://t.co/cMwdqKwK4M
— Juliana Hatfield (@julianahatfield) April 10, 2017
A new video as premiered today at Stereogum, where Juliana has given a couple of quotes.
The new album's not far away now.
In addition to the previously announced pre-orders for various physical formats at American Laundromat Records, Pussycat is now listed at iTunes, where the track Wonder Why is available immediately.
Also, with shipping costs in mind, Europeans may wish to note that the vinyl version is available from UK distributor Cargo Records.
Photo: David Young
Updates as of April 3:
New dates have been added at New Haven, CT on April 22, Lakewood, OH on April 29, Columbus, OH on April 30, and Chicago, IL on May 1.
Any more will be updated here.
The full list of announced dates is now:
April 21 Newport, RI - The Cafe at Parlor
April 22 New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
April 23 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair
April 24 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
April 25 Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
April 26 NYC, NY – Mercury Lounge
April 27 NYC, NY - Mercury Lounge
April 29 Lakewood, OH - Mahall's
April 30 Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
May 1 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
(*thanks to Andrew on the This is The Sound forum for spotting that the Newport show is no longer listed on Juliana's agent's site)
Juliana was part of the bill at Paradise Rock Club last night, appearing with Nada Surf, Belly, Bill Janovitz, and more, in a benefit show for the ACLU.
Her set featured tracks from next month's Pussycat album. The night also saw the first ever electric performance of Minor Alps.
Maura Johnston has reviewed the show for The Boston Globe, there are photos at Daykamp Music, and inevitably there are bits on YouTube including new song Short-Fingered Man, plus the Minor Alps electric version (yay!) of I Don't Know What To Do With My Hands.
See also Stacee Sledge's compilation of short clips from the entire show including bits of the other artists. Here's Stacee's alternative view of the Minor Alps track:
Thanks to regular contributor David Young for these great photos:
Ahead of this weekend's ACLU benefit show in Boston, David Brusie for the The Boston Globe has spoken to a number of the artists performing including Matthew Caws and Tanya Donelly. Juliana is quoted and mentions Trump, her pride of the city and also the themes of the new album:
[‘Pussycat’] is pro-America, it’s pro-freedom, it’s anti-hatred, anti-lies. That’s what I would say. It’s standing up for the important things that the majority of the people around the world value. That’s what the ACLU is also trying to protect.
American Laundromat Records on Instagram:
A post shared by American Laundromat Records (@americanlaundromat) on
Lorde, responding to Juliana's words at Talkhouse.
Juliana is back with 14 brand new songs on her new album "Pussycat" out April 28th on American Laundromat Records. Available on CD, LP and Cassette. Limited Edition Peach and Pink vinyl bundles available exclusively at www.alr-music.com
Wonder Why is the second track to be revealed from next month's Pussycat album.
It premiered today at Consequence of Sound, where there's also an interview by Ben Kaye including Juliana's comments on this new song:
(CoS) Can you talk a bit about “Wonder Why”? Specifically, what was the songwriting process for this one like in particular, and what was the message you wanted to get across?
(JH) “Wonder Why” is different than the rest of the songs on the album in terms of its subject matter. It is very nostalgic. It is memories from the 1970’s when I was a child. Colors and furniture and TV shows and movies and events specific to my experience of that era soothe me, somehow. It’s escapism and lately escapism is more important to me than ever. In my mind I go back there to my childhood and it comforts me. And even the melody is reminiscent of the great AM radio pop hits of the 1970’s. It’s a little bit ELO or something. Not intentionally but just because that era and its music and feeling is really ingrained in my psyche. Some of the details in the song are factually incorrect because I needed certain words to fit and to rhyme. My childhood kitchen, for example, was light blue and not avocado green.
Juliana, writing for Talkhouse on Lorde's excellent new single Green Light:
I always want music to be a tangible thing that I can wrap my actual arms around (I have hugged my boom box before), but it isn’t. I want what I can’t have. I want to sink my teeth into the sound of that rich, strong, honest voice. I want to drink and drink and gulp it down; that is the magic of a well-built and -performed and -recorded pop song. You get filled up, and sometimes you overflow with cleansing tears and cathartic shouting-along — if only temporarily — until the song is over, and then you play it again. It’s like a drug or a sugar rush. “Green Light” is ear candy.
It's a great read.
talkhouse.com/lordes-green-light-sated-juliana-hatfields-undying-sweet-tooth/
blown away and thankful this week that after 3 years of quiet you guys still hear me and understand me like this - thanks @julianahatfield 💚 https://t.co/t9ZhlpY1dd
— Lorde (@lorde) March 8, 2017
@Talkhouse @julianahatfield this is so beautiful i could cry - thankyou so much for your words 💚
— Lorde (@lorde) March 8, 2017
UPDATE Lorde's comments:
Juliana is back with 14 brand new songs on her new album "Pussycat" out April 28th on American Laundromat Records. Available on CD, LP and Cassette. Limited Edition Peach and Pink vinyl bundles available exclusively at www.alr-music.com
Impossible Song is the first track to be released from the upcoming album Pussycat.
It premiered today at PopMatters.
There's also a short article at The Boston Globe where Juliana talks about the album:
“I’m definitely not a time waster. I try to do everything as quickly and thiftily as I can,”...“But this was especially quick. I guess cathartic is the word. It was kind of like an electric flash of creativity. For better or worse, it just happened.”
The new album details are here!
It's called Pussycat and is due for release on April 21, 2017 now April 28, 2017.
“I wasn’t planning on making a record,” says Juliana Hatfield, of her new “Pussycat” album. In fact, she thought her songwriting career was on hiatus, and that she had nothing left to say in song form; that she had finally said it all after two decades as a recording artist.
But then the presidential election happened. “All of these songs just started pouring out of me. And I felt an urgency to record them, to get them down, and get them out there.” She booked some time at Q Division studios in Somerville, Massachusetts near her home in Cambridge and went in with a drummer (Pete Caldes), an engineer (Pat DiCenso) and fourteen brand-new songs. Hatfield produced and played every instrument other than drums—bass, keyboards, guitars, vocals. From start to finish—recording through mixing—the whole thing took a total of just twelve and a half days to complete.
“It was a blur. It was cathartic,” says Hatfield. “I almost don’t even understand what happened in there, or how it came together so smoothly, so quickly. I was there, directing it all, managing it, getting it all done, but I was being swept along by some force that was driving me. The songs had a will, they forced themselves on me, or out of me, and I did what they told me to do. Even my hands—it felt like they were not my hands. I played bass differently-- looser, more confident, better.”
“Pussycat” comes on the heels of last year’s Hatfield collaboration with Paul Westerberg, the I Don’t Cares’ “Wild Stab” album, and before that, 2015’s Juliana Hatfield Three (“My Sister”, “Spin The Bottle”) reunion/reformation album, “Whatever, My Love”.
“I’ve always been prolific and productive and I have a good solid work ethic but this one happened so fast, I didn’t have time to think or plan,” says Hatfield. “I just went with it, rode the wave. And now it is out of my hands. It feels a little scary.”
”Pussycat” is being released into a very tense, divided and inflamed America. The songs are reflective of that atmosphere—angry (“When You’re A Star”), defiant (“Touch You Again”), disgusted (“Rhinoceros”), but also funny (“Short-Fingered Man”), reflective (“Wonder Why”), righteous (“Heartless”) and even hopeful (“Impossible Song”, with its chorus of ‘What if we tried to get along/and sing an impossible song’).
Orders are being taken now for Vinyl, CD and Cassette(!) at American Laundromat Records: alr-music.com/collections/catalog/products/juliana-hatfield-pussycat.
April 21 Newport, RI - The Café at Parlor
April 22 New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
April 23 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair
April 24 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
April 25 Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
April 26 NYC, NY – Mercury Lounge
April 27 NYC, NY - Mercury Lounge
April 29 Lakewood, OH - Mahall's
April 30 Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
May 1 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
This page will update if any further shows are announced.
