The Jigsaw label
Before the mailorder, Jigsaw was a label! We released a number of 7"s, cassettes and even a cd during the '90s, before calling it quits (sorta) in 1999. The '00s saw a couple scattered releases, but in 2010, we officially re-opened as both a label and a mailorder!
As always, our goals are quite simple: release music that we like, with no regard to the rigid rules of the current indie label system. As long as it's good and fun - that's all that matters! Below, you'll find a complete list of everything we've released. Most releases are available digitally on Bandcamp.
If you're interested in joining the Jigsaw "roster" (no contracts or anything are involved, of course), feel free to send a link/mp3/whatever along with a friendly note to chris@jigsaw-records.com. Please just remember that we're more geared towards smaller bands: bands/projects that are in it for fun and don't care much about making money are preferred; bands that are looking to be the "next big thing" might want to look elsewhere...
 PZL032: Musical Chairs - Retraced: 1992-1999 cd
$10.00 that it took this long to compile all of Musical Chairs' non-album tracks is criminal enough, but we're proud to have finally done it! This disc is literally packed with pop goodness (32 tracks in nearly 80 minutes!), containing songs from their 7"s on Krebstar, Somersault and Pillarbox Red, compilation tracks from labels all over the world, and even a handful of songs that never got released the first time around. Settle in and get acquainted with this delightful '90s US jangle-pop band!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Musical Chairs, except track 16 by Galaxie 500, track 17 by the Field Mice and track 23 by Rosemary's Children. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL031: Plastic Bubble - Treble Treasure Chest cd
$10.00 this Louisville, KY band initially wrote me to distribute their debut cassette release (on Carpathian Cassettes), which I gladly agreed to. I hinted at putting it out on Jigsaw, and after the cassette went out of print (quickly), they said it was my turn to release it! This is one of those records that's filled with all sorts of instruments (and non-instruments) and ideas, bringing to mind the Galactic Heroes, early Boat and Elephant 6's more coherent moments. A colorful album, indeed!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Plastic Bubble. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL030: Standard Unit - The Art Of Falling Apart cd
$10.00 several years ago, a friend of mine turned me on to a band called the Maybes, who I featured as a Demo of the Week on IndiePages. Recently, I tracked the band down (albeit under a new moniker), and convinced them to release an album with me, and they went and recorded a whole new batch of songs! Twelve songs in 32 minutes, these are catchy and lively tunes with nimble guitar melodies and bouncy organ parts that remind me of fellow Swedes/Jigsaw act, Pillow.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Standard Unit. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL029: Punky's Dilemma - Remote Sensing cd
$10.00 I was introduced to this Swedish band via a very limited cd-r release on Shelflife, and loved their gentle, pastoral sound. They had a couple other small-scale releases and compilation appearances in the mid '00s, but have been quiet until now. This disc here is a culmination of their work: a revisiting of past songs, recorded the way they were meant to be but never were, with a lush sound, string sections and crisp production.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Punky's Dilemma. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL028: Birds Of California - One And Only cd
$10.00 after teasing us with a split 7" on 555 Recordings a few years back, Birds Of California have finally given us a full album! If the name doesn't sound familiar, that's because they used to be known as Lunchbox, who released a truly amazing record, "The Magic Of Sound", which ranks up there with anything space-pop masters like Rocketship or Stereolab ever did. This album follows in the tradition of their earlier masterpiece, adding a bit more rock in the mix, achieving a sound that's a perfect hybrid of Rocketship and vintage Built To Spill. Listen to this record with headphones and you'll hear different nuances every time!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Birds Of California. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL027: Anthony Rochesters - The Anthony Rochesters cdep
$6.00 no, you're not reading it wrong - there is indeed an 's' on the end of Anthony Rochesters. While his first four albums were performed mostly by Anthony himself, this time around, he has enlisted the help of a full band to create a rich, organic sound. And his trajectory is still rising, with this mini-masterpiece being his best work to date! Fans of Australian indiepop groups like Bart & Friends, the Steinbecks and Mid-State Orange will find a new favorite to add to their collection!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by The Anthony Rochesters. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 when I restarted the label back in 2010, Bulldozer Crash were one of the first bands I approached about doing a retrospective disc, and they were quite enthusiastic. But you know how these things go: life gets in the way and things get pushed aside, but in the end, it was definitely worth the wait! This 19-track disc collects all of the band's singles on Sunday and Heaven Records, along with compilation tracks, and even a couple previously unreleased demos! If you haven't heard this band, they were a perfect example of the sound of British indiepop in the early '90s: lots of jangling guitars, drum machine and lyrics about love and longing sung so earnestly. Recommended for any fan of indiepop, really...
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Bulldozer Crash. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL025: Spinning Wheels - When The Music's Over cd
$10.00 this band existed briefly during the early '90s, and released a single 7" and a very scarce cassette on Teatime Records (which remains that way, at the band's request!). They were slated to do a follow-up single, but when the label ran out of money, the band ran out of steam. This disc collects the eight unreleased demos they recorded around this time, and tacks on the three 7" tracks for good measure. Though the band's leader, Dick Preece, found greater fame with the more elegant Lovejoy a decade later, this album recalls the days of pure and simple indiepop championed by Another Sunny Day or St. Christopher.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by The Spinning Wheels. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL024: Razorblade Smile - Razorblade Smile cd
$10.00 this band from Newcastle, UK was around briefly during the early '90s, but they left behind a killer discography (with singles on Chocolate Narcotic, Sugarfrost and Scooter Swing Records) before disbanding in 1993. Members of the band went on to be in Meredith (and later, Jigsaw faves, Spraydog!), but the most notable alumni (in our eyes, at least) was Pete Dale, who went on to form Slampt Records, Avocado Baby and Milky Wimpshake. Razorblade Smile's sound was a little more musically aggressive - think of Versus, Silkworm, Bitch Magnet and other late '80s/early '90s US indie rock bands, and you'll get an idea of where this band was coming from.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Razorblade Smile, except track 5 by McCarthy. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL023: High Water Marks - Pretending To Be Loud cd
$10.00 I've been a fan of the High Water Marks from the very beginning, loving both of their records on Eenie Meenie and Happy Happy Birthday To Me. So when I found out that they didn't know what to do with their third album, I jumped at the chance to release it! A duo of Per Ole Bratset and Hilarie Sidney, their sound is quite similar to vintage Apples In Stereo (which I'd say even if Hilarie wasn't an original member of that band!), playing fuzzy pop songs with memorable melodies that will stick with you long after the record is over.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by The High Water Marks. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL022: Amida - My Life As A Trashcan cd
$8.00 this band first showed on my radar five years back with their impressive submission to the C06 compilation. From there, they've released three EPs on Plastilina, Wee Pop! and Fika - all winners. This marks their fourth release, and with eight songs in 18½ minutes, their longest to date, making this their debut album of sorts! Think of the Wolfhounds, early Wedding Present and maybe a bit of early Hefner, and you're already itching to hear this great band!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Amida. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL021: Lycka Till - Rakt Över Munnen cd
$10.00 I fell in love with this Swedish band after hearing their debut album on Plan-It-X Records, and knowing my affections for the band, they asked me to release their follow-up album! What we have here is revved up activist-punk, but with major pop mannerisms (loads of ba-ba-bas and trumpets!) - think Defiance Ohio meets Brilliant Corners! Plenty for both the popkids and the punks to love. All sung in Swedish, but you get an English lyric sheet to follow along.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Lycka Till, except track 2 by Kommunen. Also available on vinyl (self-released) and digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL020: Earth Earth - Matador Is Dead cd
$6.00 this truly sweet quartet from northern Japan sent me a demo out of the blue, and I was blown away by their songs! Since the early '90s, there have been countless bands following in My Bloody Valentine's deep footprints, and though you can count the Earth Earth among them, this band stands out as one of the very few that have captured the spirit as well as the sound. Take the energy and ferocity of "Isn't Anything" and the sheer beauty of "Loveless", and you can get an idea of where these guys are coming from.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by the Earth Earth. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL019: Rochester, Anthony - Hot Hits '96 cd
$10.00 hailing from Hobart, Tasmania, Anthony Rochester has been making solo recordings for over a decade, and his fourth album finds him in top form! He's got the wit and charm of Jens Lekman, Darren Hanlon and the Lucksmiths, and a knack for writing catchy, breezy pop tunes, tinged with hints of AM pop, bossa nova and electronica.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Anthony Rochester. Available digitally on iTunes. |
 PZL018: Peru - Across Blue Skies cd
$10.00 a regular in the early/mid '90s UK cassette scene, Peru appeared on nearly a dozen tape comps, as well as two split cassettes and a split 7". This disc collects sixteen of their best songs (many of them taken from the original master tapes and digitally remastered), with all but one of them appearing on cd for the first time. Any fan of the Windmills, Harper Lee and the '90s British janglepop sound would do well to pick this one up!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Peru. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL017: Pillow - Learning To Labour cd
$10.00 this band from Sweden may have existed for several years during the '90s, but their output was very small. They started strong in 1995 with a cdep on a small Swedish label, and just continued to get better; but apart from a 7" single and one compilation track on Firestation Tower Records, their recordings never saw a proper release. This 22-track collection posthumously compiles the best songs from the band's treasure trove of unreleased material, and will please fans of Puffin, Eggstone and the sound of Swedish indie music, circa 1993-1998.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Pillow. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL016: Gazetteers - We Are Here cd
$10.00 I've been a fan of Frank Boscoe's work pretty much for as long as I've been into indiepop, thanks to the inclusion of a Wimp Factor 14 track on one of my gateway records, the "One Last Kiss" compilation cd. From that band to the Vehicle Flips to the Gazetteers (not to mention the lesser-known Frank Boscoes), his songwriting has never ceased to amaze. This record (the band's third) was actually completed a couple years ago, but never saw release until now. Another ten examples of charming and clever vignettes disguised as pop songs!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by the Gazetteers. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 one of the flagship bands on the Popgun label, the Casino Ashtrays consisted of Laura Watling and Popgun honcho, Raoul de la Cruz. Formed as more a way to pass the time than any sort of grand plan, the duo released a few cassettes on Popgun, as well as a cdep on Twee Kitten and a couple other compilation appearances. This disc collects almost all of their output, most of it available here for the first time on cd! Sometimes melancholic, sometimes upbeat but always sweet!
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Casino Ashtrays, except track 9 by the Beautiful South, track 10 by Herman's Hermits and track 14 by the Cat's Miaow. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  PZL014V: Goblin Universe - True To Nothing lp
Goblin Universe released a pair of great records during their brief lifetime in 2000/2001: a rare self-released cd-r and a 7" co-released between their own Grande Barbe label and the Rocket Number Nine label. This disc collects both of those, and adds an extra comp track and two previously unreleased ones, as well! Recommended for fans of the lackadaisical days of Pavement and the sheer noise/fuzz of Tall Dwarfs. Note: you may recognize Sam from his solo band, The State Of Samuel...
Tracklisting:
Limited to 25 lathe-cut lps. All songs written by Goblin Universe. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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PZL014: Goblin Universe - True To Nothing cd
$10.00 Goblin Universe released a pair of great records during their brief lifetime in 2000/2001: a rare self-released cd-r and a 7" co-released between their own Grande Barbe label and the Rocket Number Nine label. This disc collects both of those, and adds an extra comp track and two previously unreleased ones, as well! Recommended for fans of the lackadaisical days of Pavement and the sheer noise/fuzz of Tall Dwarfs. Note: you may recognize Sam from his solo band, The State Of Samuel...
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Goblin Universe. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL013: Spraydog - Impress And Defend cd
$5.00 after a whole decade of raving about this brilliant Newcastle group (they were even the subject of one of the very first reviews on IndiePages!), we finally get to release an album from the mighty Spraydog! This may unfortunately be the band's final studio album, but it finds them as strong as ever and still cranking out dynamic and thoughtful indie rock in the vein of Tse Tse Fly, Versus, early Bear Quartet with hints of vintage Dinosaur Jr.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Spraydog. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL012: Premise Beach - At Promise Beach cd
$5.00 this trio from Tacoma/Seattle led a brief but full life during the summer of 2009, playing as many shows as they could before disbanding and scattering across the country. The nimble guitar melodies and frantic vocals give the songs a sound reminiscent of the Feelies or the Embarrassment, had they been on K Records in the '90s.
Tracklisting:
Not limited. All songs written by Premise Beach. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL011V: Patience Please - Parallel Plots 12”
$5.00 though seemingly doomed from the start by a volatile relationship (which did eventually implode), Patience Please were a highly ambitious band, influenced by the music of Elvis Costello, the Magnetic Fields, the Weakerthans and Superchunk, as well as the essence and spirit of indiepop itself. This was our first release, recorded in a cold garage in February 2006, and released in time for a cross-country tour that summer. The vinyl version comes in a spraypainted/screened sleeve.
Tracklisting:
300 pressed. All songs written by Patience Please. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL011: Patience Please - Parallel Plots cdep
$3.00 though seemingly doomed from the start by a volatile relationship (which did eventually implode), Patience Please were a highly ambitious band, influenced by the music of Elvis Costello, the Magnetic Fields, the Weakerthans and Superchunk, as well as the essence and spirit of indiepop itself. This was our first release, recorded in a cold garage in February 2006, and released in time for a cross-country tour that summer.
Tracklisting:
1000 pressed. All songs written by Patience Please. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL010: Dutch Elms - Music For Happiness cd
$5.00 this band was composed of friends (and ex-bandmates) of mine from bands such as Revolutionary Hydra, Slomo Rabbit Kick and Five Gears In Reverse, so when I found out that they were unsure of what to do with this record, I had to interfere and release it to the world! These eleven tunes are perfect little nuggets of pop that combine the sunny-yet-offbeat feel of bands like the Minders, the Salteens and the New Pornographers with the unrelenting catchiness of the Beatles - don't expect them to leave your short-term memory any time soon...
Tracklisting:
1000 pressed. All songs written by Dutch Elms. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL009: Leslies - Of Today - For Today cd
$5.00 the second album from this delightful Swedish band who never quite achieved the fame they deserved, and the only album to be released in America (and with a few bonus tracks, to boot!). Perfect for fans of Eggstone, the Honeymoons and all of the great pop music that came from the Tambourine Studio throughout the '90s.
Tracklisting:
1000 pressed. All songs written by Leslies, except track 13 written by Marshall Crenshaw and track 14 by Ed Cobb. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL008: Suretoss - Quiet Christmas 7”
$1.00 this second Suretoss single was recorded by myself, while living bandmate-less in Santa Cruz. Written and recorded while Arianne was out of town for the holidays, these three brief songs have a holiday/winter/loneliness theme that recalls Track Star and Elevator To Hell (with a cover of the latter). Hand-stamped snowflake labels, of course.
Tracklisting:
500 pressed on white vinyl. All songs written by Suretoss, except track 3 written by Elevator To Hell. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 PZL007: Poconos - Days Are Getting Shorter 7”
$1.00 a short-lived duo (this single was their only release) consisting of good friends Mike Appelstein (of Caught In Flux zine fame) and Tami Heaton, these six songs perfectly capture the spirit and innocence of bands like Beat Happening, the Pastels and the Marine Girls, complete with songs about love lost, found and/or longed for.
Tracklisting:
1000 pressed on blue vinyl. All songs written by the Poconos, except track 4 written by Trixie's Big Red Motorbike. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  PZL006: Cessna - Holiday On Ice EP 7”
I first heard this band while snowed in at a friend's house, and couldn't stop listening to their demo, so naturally wanted to release a record from them! This was their first appearance on vinyl, and the start of Cessna-fever that spread to labels like Fantastic and Radio Khartoum, as well as compilation compilers worldwide!
Tracklisting:
500 pressed on white vinyl with a green sleeve. 500 re-pressed in April '98 on white vinyl with a yellow sleeve. All songs written by Cessna. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  Dustin's first release after leaving Slumberland Records, this single finds him in the much more blissed-out experimental mood he would explore on his later releases, though the A-side is still a bona fide dance floor hit! The double-length b-side is probably one of the only songs ever to span two sides of a record - but you'll spend all that time lost in the single's fantastic artwork...
Tracklisting:
1000 pressed on gold vinyl. 800 re-pressed in April '98. All songs written by Rocketship. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  PZL004: Pillowcase - Dine-n-Dash EP cs
this band happened purely by accident when my friend Mike discovered that I could play drums, but remains one of the favorites I've ever been in. We only lasted for a month or so and never had a chance to play live, and these five songs (which were recorded in a single afternoon in my tiny Denton bedroom) remain the only document of our existence...
Tracklisting:
50 were "pressed" on blue cassettes. All songs written by Pillowcase. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  I distinctly remember nervously asking Stew (after an already strange evening in Bristol in 1995) to release a single from his band, and feeling elated when he said "yeah, sure, maybe". This was recorded at the very start of their 1996 US tour, and released by the end of it... now, that's service! These two acoustic songs find the band at their silliest...
Tracklisting:
700 pressed on red vinyl. All songs written by Boyracer. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  PZL002: Charms - Happen To Lull cs
I obtained the rights to this cassette after the label that originally released it ceased to exist (only to find out much later that the band had never actually given permission initially - whoops!), and kept it in print for another year or so, until the master tape started to wear out. Under better circumstances, this band (with a sound that mixed the jangle of mid-'80s UK pop and the power of late-'80s UK shoegaze) could've been much, much bigger, but for now they remain woefully obscure...
Tracklisting:
About 75 were "pressed" in total. All songs written by Charms. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
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SOLD OUT  PZL001: Suretoss - ...like the sun 7”
the very first release and impetus for the Jigsaw label was a 7" from my own band back in 1995, which took influence from '80s/'90s US indie rock, including (but not limited to) Husker Du, Superchunk, Jawbox and Lync. Taking DIY to the extreme, I did everything from the sleeve to the hand-written/stickered labels to the hand-numbered puzzle piece.
Tracklisting:
500 pressed on green vinyl, with hand-numbered puzzle piece. All songs written by Suretoss. Available digitally on Bandcamp. |
 the classic Jigsaw Records logo on a 1" magnet!
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