CLUB NASTY BOOTS Various Artists 1996

Discogs
 

 
Compilation on K Records that came with the Spanish magazine, Factory No. 12.

Tracklist

1	Timothy Brock & The Olympia Chamber Orchestra–	Industrial March	2:06
2	Satisfact–	Life Aboard	2:04
3	Lois (3) & Dub Narcotic Sound System–	Rougher	5:58
4	The Halo Benders–	Halo Bender	4:31
5	The Crabs–	Spilt Milk	2:44
6	Karp–	Connect Five	3:26
7	Wandering Lucy–	I Have No Love	1:59
8	The Softies–	Alaska	2:28
9	Black Anger–	No Commercial	3:23
10	Fitz Of Depression–	I Can't	2:21
11	Lois (3)–	Sunrise Semester	3:48
12	Love As Laughter–	Uninvited Trumpets	5:00
13	Plastique Sc*–	Xandax Baby	4:13
14	Dub Narcotic Sound System–	Monkey Hips And Rice	4:18
15	Nikki McClure–	No More Talk Talk Talk	2:35
16	Some Velvet Sidewalk–	I Blame You	2:12
17	Mecca Normal–	Paris In April	2:14
18	Timothy Brock & The Olympia Strings–	Holstenwall Fair	2:35
19	Heavenly–	Trophy Girlfriend	3:06
20	Glo-Worm–	Wishing Well	1:48

 

ROSE MELBERG Portola 1998

 

 

Discogs 

 

Artist Biography by Tim Sendra

Rose Melberg is indie pop royalty. Beginning in 1992, the diminutive singer/songwriter began a streak of classic bands and recordings. First was the riot pop band Tiger Trap, formed in Sacramento, CA, in 1992 by Melberg, singer/guitarist Angela Loy, bassist Jen Braun, and drummer Heather Dunn. They released two singles, an EP, and an influential self-titled LP before splitting in December of 1993. Melberg picked up the pieces and, after relocating to Portland, teamed up with Crimpshrine guitarist Paul Curran and Henry's Dress drummer (and future leader of the excellent Aislers Set) Amy Linton to form Go Sailor. They released three singles and a couple of compilation tracks (helpfully compiled on Go Sailor) before dissolving. While she was playing with Go Sailor, Melberg also began playing with Jen Sbragia in the Softies. Beginning in 1994, they recorded singles for K and Slumberland (two apiece) and three albums for K, including two absolute must-haves for indie pop lovers, 1995's It's Love and 2000's Holiday in Rhode Island. After 1998's Winter Pageant, Melberg married Mint Records owner Bill Baker and moved to British Columbia, where she began playing drums for Vancouver indie pop group Gaze. They lasted for two acclaimed albums, 1998's Mitsumeru and 1999's Shake the Pounce, before splitting.

Melberg began working on solo material again around this time (she had previously released "My Day" on K's international pop underground convention collection in 1992 and "Cupid" on a 1993 split flexi single for Slumberland), the results of which were collected on 1998's Portola for Double Agent Records. After the release of Holiday in Rhode Island in 2000, the Softies disbanded and Melberg left the world of music to raise her son. She returned in 2005 with a brief tour of the Pacific Northwest and an MP3 giveaway (through Double Agent) cover of Anne Briggs' "The Time Has Come." She seemingly took that sentiment to heart and in early 2006 released possibly the best record of her career, the enchanting Cast Away the Clouds. After three long years between records, her second full-length under her own name, Homemade Ship, was released in autumn of 2009 by K.

 

Tracklist 

1	Deep Purple	2:40
2	Golden Gate Bridge	2:33
3	Happy Birthday To Me	1:41
4	Devoted To You	2:11
5	Loose Talk	2:53
6	Another Cup Of Coffee	2:53
7	Stitch	2:57
8	I Will	1:49
9	My Heaven, My Sky	1:28
10	Mr. Spaceman	3:29
11	The Love We Could Have Had	2:08

KISSING BOOK Lines & Color 1999

 

Discogs

 

Artist Biography by Stephen Cramer

Kissng Book formed in the late '90s in Portland, OR. Led by singer/guitarist Andrew Kaffer, the tender and charismatic indie pop group released the startling debut Lines & Color in 1999 on Magic Marker Records. Jen Sbragia of the Softies provided support on vocals and guitar, while drummer Mike Kaffer and bassist Phil Kim rounded out the band's early lineup. Recorded with the Minders' Martyn Leaper, the album was an instant hit on American college radio, and garnered the band worldwide acclaim. Its colorful sound included clarinet, saxophone, keyboards, shakers, and handclaps, proving that the indie pop scene was more than guitar, bass, drums, and quirky lyrics.

The follow-up, 2001's (s), found a band in transition, as the album was markedly softer and darker than its predecessor. The disc also represented the band's second era, as the lineup changed dramatically. Ex-Mooney Suzuki/I Live the Life of a Movie Star Secret Hideout drummer/singer Adam Bayer was added to the group along with bassist Drew Cramer; this lineup change and the use of a jazzy Wurlitzer organ throughout the disc created a radically different album. Recorded with Rocketship's Dustin Reske, (s) was a pleasant surprise for listeners who had grown accustomed to the otherwise predictable fare of indie rock at the time. 

 

Tracklist

1	On The Third Time	2:52
2	Should've Seen Us Yesterday	1:33
3	Everyday Is Valentine's Day	1:56
4	Some Girls Don't Speak	4:28
5	Sad City	3:49
6	This One Could	2:53
7	Hold Your Head Up	1:28
8	Superman Vs. Lloyd	2:49
9	Oh, Oh, Oh	2:04
10	Melbourne, Au	3:51
11	Much Too Much	2:55

 

 

THE SOFTIES It's Love 1995

by request

 

Discogs

Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny

Borrowing their name from a British new wave group, the Softies were formed in 1994 by singer/guitarist Rose Melberg following the dissolution of her previous band, Tiger Trap. Upon relocating from Sacramento, CA, to Portland, OR, Melberg first established the trio Go Sailor, still a going concern when she teamed with Pretty Face alum (and publisher of the fanzine Sparkly Kitty Sticker) Jen Sbragia to found the Softies. The indie pop duo debuted in early 1995 with "Loveseat," a single issued on the Slumberland label; their gorgeous debut LP It's Love followed later in the year on Calvin Johnson's K label. After a self-titled 1996 Softies Self Titled 10", the Softies returned to K in early 1997 to issue their sophomore effort, Winter Pageant; at the same time, both Melberg and Sbragia also teamed with Class' Peter Green in the Three Peeps. Fall 2000 saw the release of their third album, Holiday in Rhode Island.

 Tracklist  

1	Hello Rain	3:39
2	I Love You More	2:48
3	Charms Around Your Wrist	3:08
4	Could I	2:16
5	Until You Tell	3:16
6	An Awful Mess	3:08
7	This House	2:41
8	It's Love	1:28
9	Alaska	2:26
10	Fragile, Don't Crush	3:06
11	Heart Condition	2:22
12	Follow Me	2:14
13	I Can't Get No Satisfaction, Thank God	2:59
14	Perfect Afternoon	2:52

GAZE Shake the Pounce 1999

by request

  

Discogs

Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny

Vancouver, British Columbia-based indie-popsters Gaze comprised singer/guitarist Miko Hoffman, singer/bassist Megan Mallett and drummer Rose Melberg (of Tiger Trap/Softies fame). After signing to the famed K Records label, the trio debuted in 1997 with the single "Seedless; " the full-length Mitsumeru followed a year later, trailed soon after by the seven-inch "So Sad (to watch good love go bad)."

Tracklist

1	So Early To Tell
2	The Snake Song
3	From The Inside
4	Detail Queen
5	Tea Or Coffee
6	Mr. Oh So Suave & Debonaire
7	Nine Lives To Rigel Five
8	He Makes All The Girls Smile (With His Smile)
9	Sunday Night Waterworks
10	Noticed Me
11	A New Home
12	Static
13	I Wonder
14	In The Midst

GO SAILOR self titled 1996

Discogs

Go Sailor

Real Name:

Rose Melberg, Amy Linton & Paul Curran

Profile:

Rose Melberg - Vocals, Guitar
Amy Linton - Drums, Vocals
Paul Curran - Bass, Vocals

Started in San Francisco, CA in 1995, Go Sailor was mainly a side project for Rose (The Softies, Tiger Trap, Gaze), Amy (Henry's Dress) and Paul (Crimpshrine). After 3 great singles and 2 tracks on compilations, Go Sailor called it quits in 1996, much to the chagrin of twee-popsters everywhere, in order for the members to focus on other projects. Later that year Lookout! Records released all their songs on one CD.

Tracklist

1	Last Year	2:24
2	Fine Day For Sailing	2:26
3	I'm Still Crying	2:32
4	I Just Do	3:15
5	Bigger Than An Ocean	2:19
6	Silly	2:10
7	Long Distance	2:26
8	Windy	1:52
9	Blue Sky	1:41
10	The Boy Who Sailed Around The World	2:49
11	Don't Go	2:05
12	Ray Of Sunshine	1:30
13	Together Forever In Love	2:24
14	Every Day	2:10