Oh boy! To celebrate 20 years of Mint Records, for the entire month of November, our entire catalogue is on sale. Visit maplemusic.com for 20% off your next mailorder, zunior.com for cheap digital downloads, or your favourite local record shop to get your Mint fix. Not bad!
News
Mint Records' newest signing, Hot Panda, are set to release their debut full length album Volcano... Bloody Volcano on February 10th, 2009. Hailing from Edmonton Alberta, Hot Panda formed during the particularly chilly winter of 2006 and have already become an experienced touring act, playing well over a hundred shows in a very short time (including CMJ and PopMontreal this past October).
Volcano... Bloody Volcano is a collection of collaborative songs chock-full of the band's spastic energy. Comparisons to luminaries such as Daniel Johnson and The Talking Heads have been swirling about and while it is always nice to be compared to such bands, Hot Panda have certainly found their own sound. Leaving behind the frozen garage jam sessions in which their musical explorations began, Hot Panda have been taking their unique blend of Brit Pop, Glam & Lo-fi Indie back and forth across the expansiveness of Canada and the USA winning new friends and fans.
The Pack a.d.'s new album we kill computers is out on April 27th and the band is going on the road ...again. Their van, the Falcon, doesn't like the iPod hook up though. Maybe because it's 13 years old. Or maybe because 13 year old's, who are vans, seem to really like cassette tapes. Either way though, the band needs new music to listen to when they hit the road. So they are excited to announce The Pack a.d. Mix Tape Contest!
Here are the contest particulars and rules according to the band:
“Do you have an old mixed tape you would like to send us? Or the capability to make a new mixed cassette tape? We are down with all sorts of music and would love to listen to music you think we should listen to. If you have a burning desire to sit around for hours pouring your blood, sweat and tears into the Ultimate Mix Tape, just for us... or at least the desire to throw your old mix tapes into an envelope and mail them then we would be forever grateful. And you, in turn, can win some great prizes! However, we only want homemade tapes OK? So, no copies of Much Dance 2000 or the like, please... those jokes are really old... and only 99 cents at Value Village... and we already have those.”
Here is what you can win:
1st prize – a signed poster and CD, a signed cymbal, a vinyl copy of we kill computers as well as a Pack AD shirt and beverage cozy in a Mint tote bag.
2nd prize – a signed poster and CD in a Mint tote bag and a vinyl copy of we kill computers
3rd prize – a signed poster and CD and a vinyl copy ofwe kill computers
Here is how you enter:
Simply send a cassette entry to the address below to arrive no later than May 21st. Then after the The Pack a.d get back from their European tour with NoMeansNo, they will take it on the road with them, pop it into the Falcon’s cassette deck and turn up the volume as they head across western Canada with The Sadies. The band will decide the winners and notify them at the end of the tour.
The Pack a.d.
c/o Mint Records
P.O. Box 3613, M.P.O.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
V6B 3Y6
Click here for a complete list of the Pack a.d.'s tour dates!
Brace yourselves, the man in plaid is busy and preparing to unveil his latest project. This time, Nardwuar and The Evapotators have invited their friends, Franz Ferdinand, Andrew WK, Kate Nash, Sage Francis, The Cribs and Faud and The Feztones AND MORE to join them on their upcoming white-splattered LP titled Busy Doing Nothing. It will be in record shops on March 6th and comes with a free 2012/2013/2014 Punk Rock Calendar filled with vintage punk rock images from Vancouver's iconic Bev Davies. Oh boy!
Nardwuar has posted more information on his creation here.
We are pleased as punch to announce it, Miss Carolyn Mark is ready to show off her latest country fair creation. Nothing is Free shall be out July 3rd in Canada and a little later, September 18th, everywhere lse.
Like those delicious Frosted Mini Wheats, there are two sides to Miss Carolyn Mark. At a recent Railway Club performance, Carolyn compared her fifth record (sixth when you count our Party Girl's gig with Neko Case in The Corn Sisters) on Mint Records to that tasty bipolar breakfast cereal. And she's right, Nothing is Free has a funny frosted side, but is also packed with healthy goodness, psyllium fiber and will make your heart ache (but in a good way).
Hungry? Well, you're in luck. On July 3rd, Carolyn Mark's Nothing is Free, is ready for your rapid consumption.
And, Keep your eyes peeled, for the sassy Victoria songstress may be visiting a folk festival near you.
Check here for more of our favorite Terrible Hostess’ party dates!!!
It started innocently enough with plans of having a night out to celebrate mintrecs.com's recent renovations. Then, our talented friends, Cloudsplitter (Ida Nelson and Dave Gowans), Shane Nelken (of The Awkward Stage), Veda Hille, Paul and Lucy (of Young and Sexy) and Victoria's dark lord of the squeezebox, David P. Smith stepped in. Now, we've got ourselves a special acoustic evening booked. So come visit us on August 16th at The Main (4210 Main St.), and visit our Fancy New Website at www.mintrecs.com. It'll be fun. We promise.
Who: Cloudsplitter, Veda Hille, Shane Nelken, Paul and Lucy and David P. Smith.
What: Friends of Mint, unplugged!
Where: The Main (4210 Main St.)
When: 10:00pm on Aug 16th, 2007
Why: Because mintrecs.com is here and out of control! Or, because Dave Gowans had a plan that evolved into a big acoustic evening of fun. You choose.
Phew, this year’s Mint Records Just in Time for Xmas parties are over. And, after two action-packed nights at the Railway club, we’ve managed to raise $4,343 for our neighbours at The PHS Community Services Society, who provide sustainable housing and services to high-risk individuals in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side.
Thanks to The Awkward Stage, Bella, The Buttless Chaps, Carolyn Mark, The Choir Practice, Hot Panda, Immaculate Machine, Kellarissa, The Pack A.D., The Ramblin’ Ambassadors, Vancougar and Young and Sexy for making these events such a success! A special thank-you goes out to our generous prize sponsors, and of course to everyone who came out to the Railway on those nights!
Photo copyright Adam PW Smith - www.adampwsmith.com
Have you gotten a Fresh Breath of Mint this summer? Well, once you do, you'll learn the secret to Carolyn Mark's Ultimate Salad, get some sound advice from our resident rocktologist/cremationist, Shane Nelken, of the Awkward Stage, giggle over Nardwuar's interviews and oogle some comics created by our friends in Immaculate Machine. And, it gets better. Our little Fresh Breath of Mint zine is not only awesome, it's free! If you can't find one at your local record store, we'll send you one. Just send a nice note here. We'll help you out.
And, if you're really really keen. We're always on the lookout for Minty allies to help spread the freshness around their one-horse towns. Yup. That's right people, we love our Minty correspondents. Interested? Ask Shena how you can help.
Holey smokes! They’ve passed the test!
Yes, it was originally a 1993 release, but, cub’s cuddlecore classic, Betti-Cola is back on the college charts! This week, Betti-Cola is sitting pretty at #89 on the CMJ Top 200. Neat!
We’re still crazy about Lisa M, Lisa G, Robynn and Valeria’s catchy songs about chinchillas, Motel 6 and flaming red bobsleds. We’ve even re-mastered added bonus tracks and re-released Betti-Cola and Come Out Come Out into the world. Catch 'em if you can!
Click on the songs below for your free MP3 download:
The Choir Practice The Choir Practice - Red Fox
Nick Krgovich 7" - One Woman Show
Young and Sexy/Awkward Stage" Double A Side Series Volume 1 7" - Hello Sonny
Immaculate Machine Fables - C'Mon Sea Legs
Carolyn Mark Nothing Is Free - The 1 That Got Away With it
Bella No One Will Know - Camelot
The Evaporators Gassy Jack and Other Tales - You Got Me Into This, Now You Get Me Out
Nardwuar the Human Serviette Welcome To My Castle DVD