You’d have to have been living under a pretty huge rock to not be aware of the fact that the record industry has been pretty fiscally challenged this century. However, several awesome independent labels have bucked the odds, one of them being Carpark Records. Over the last 16 years, the Washington, D.C.-based label has delivered to the world modern classics from artists like Beach House, Dan Deacon, Toro Y Moi, and Speedy Ortiz.
To celebrate its 16th anniversary of existence, Carpark is offering the following:
1. A limited-edition racecar USB pre-loaded with digital copies of the first 100 releases from the label and other rarities, bundled with a pair of sweatpants1.
2. Discounts on all Carpark albums at New York record store Other Music2.
3. A mixtape of some of the label’s better-known songs, titled The Best Carpark Compilation In The World…Ever!, with actual cassettes of the compilation available at certain indie stores3.
4. A limited-edition picture-disc 12-inch that combines a handful of tunes along with a bigger handful of locked-groove loops taken from recordings the label has released4.
Now your only dilemma is figuring out which part of this insanity you’re going to partake in.
1. So after years of big labels bemoaning the fact that digital music and its ease of sharing is killing them, Carpark is embracing the technology with decidedly open arms.
2. Factoring in inflation and GDP over the past 16 years, that’s Manson-level lunacy.
3. You can also download the mixtape via the generally accepted enemy of independent music, Amazon.
4. It’s a crazy idea, but they’re doing it, and you can pre-order it now. I’ll go ahead and murder Donald Trump, so you can watch him roll over in his grave when I tell you that sales from this record will be donated to the Little Kids Rock charity.
The Best Carpark Compilation In The World…Ever! Tracklisting
01. Toro Y Moi - “Empty Nesters”
02. Speedy Ortiz - “Raising the Skate”
03. Cloud Nothings “I’m Not Part of Me”
04. Dan Deacon - “The Crystal Cat”
05. Beach House - “Master OF None”
06. TEEN - “Tied Up Tied Down”
07. Memory Tapes - “Sheila”
08. Skylar Spence - “Fiona Coyne”
09. GRMLN - “Jaded”
10. Young Magic - “Sparkly”
11. Montag - “True Love”
12. Class Actress - “Weekend”
13. Dog Bite - “Forever, Until”
14. Chandos - “Cobra Points”
15. Greys - “Guy Picciotto”
16. Popstrangers - “Country Kills”
17. Casino Versus Japan - “Aquarium”
18. Marumari - “Baby M”
19. So Takahashi - “Pms 185c (M72, Y43)”
20. Adventure - “Feels Like Heaven”
21. Signer - “Building Memories Without You”
22. Greg Davis - “Curling Pond Woods”
23. EAR PWR - “Super Animal Bros. III”
• Carpark Records: http://carparkrecords.com
