Jigsaw Records

Hoop - Super Genuine cd

$10.00

recorded a couple years ago in Anacortes (with Nich Wilbur at the Unknown), but finally seeing the light of day now, this is the debut album from Hoop, a lovely all-girl quartet from Seattle led by Caitlin Roberts. It's a deeply personal album about a toxic relationship, and with its sparse yet beautiful delivery, you really can't help feeling moved by the end of it. Musically, the band reminds me of Unrest and Lake, sharing those bands' knack for muted, naked beauty, but also their affinity for expanding the sound when needed (as in the droney outro to "Baseboard" or the overdriven but still subdued "Drawn To You"). This is a haunting and timeless classic designed to help anyone get through their worst times. 

Not limited. All songs written by Hoop. Available digitally soon on Bandcamp.

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Cattle - Slow Sailor EP cdep

$5.00

following up on their powerful debut from a couple years back, Tokyo's Cattle have given us another winner with their second EP, "Slow Sailor". It starts off deceptively gentle with the lovely midtempo "Sherbet", but then kicks it into high gear with a trio of instant hits, including a very spirited rendition of Ride's classic, "Twisterella", before closing off with the midtempo (but still punchy) title track. Musically, they remind me a lot of Ringo Deathstarr and the noisier side of Pia Fraus, with confident female vocals over crunchy guitars, and a whole lot of melody ringing throughout. This is seriously some of the best dreampop I've heard in a while!

Not limited. All songs written by Cattle, except track 3 by Ride. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Hush Machine - Hush Machine cd

$10.00

Hush Machine is the blissful, glassy guitar pop of Kansas-born Sam Boatright, a 21 year-old Lawrence native who has created music under this moniker for several years; however, he has only just recently started sharing his music with a grander listening audience. The songs on this self-titled debut album were all written and recorded during Boatright’s junior and senior year of high school in 2013 and echo winter nights driving around lonesome as well as muggy summer days, lounging around with friends. Musically, the sound is not unlike the first Strokes record - that is, catchy and gritty and poppy and memorable - only without a single ounce of pretense. A promising start for this young musician!

Not limited. All songs written by Hush Machine. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Cherries - Self Titled 2 cd

$10.00

this is the second album from this San Francisco quartet (with ex-members of Grandma's Boyfriend, Permanent Collection and the Broonies), and it's a 17-track, 32-minute whirlwind of exciting crash pop! Packed with an array of catchy songs and quirky song fragments that flow into one another, this album is on par with anything by Kleenex Girl Wonder and Guided By Voices (the 4-track years). Sure, the recording quality is pretty lo-fi (and that's being kind), but the songs are certainly top quality, and that's all that really matters anyways, right?

Not limited. All songs written by the Cherries, except track 5 by the Imperfections. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Secret Meadow - Same Old Fear EP cdep

$5.00

this is the debut release from Secret Meadow, a new band from Jakarta, Indonesia, and it's a good case of being able to judge a book by its cover. Much like the sleeve, the songs contained within are simple and catchy, but are also shrouded in a haze (of ambient synths). Imagine the sound and atmosphere of the Cure or Slowdive, but with melodies that rival anything the Radio Dept. have ever written, and mostly upbeat songs with driving rhythms and vocals that are soft yet confident. And the guitars! Oh, the wonderful, jangly guitars... Yes, this is the start of something really big, and we're glad to be able to introduce you to this delightful band!

Not limited. All songs written by Secret Meadow. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Heavenly Creatures - This Summer Will Kill Us All EP cdep

$5.00

We have here the debut release from Cleveland's Heavenly Creatures, and it's a lovely five-song gem! Though current, the band sounds like they were plucked from the Harriet Records '90s catalog, wedged in nicely between similarly female-led bands such as Twig, Pest 5000 and Prickly. That is, this EP is full of catchy pop songs with a bit of an edge both musically and lyrically (see the ode to so-called self-help books in "Blah Blah Blah Amen" and the response to guys' backhanded compliments to female musicians in the opening "Unsolicited Advice"). Last summer may have nearly killed the band (when their drummer moved cross-country and the band almost split up), but this year - and this EP - finds them starting again on a high note.

Not limited. All songs written by Heavenly Creatures. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Gentle Brent - Just Dandy cd

$10.00

after a couple albums under his own name and as the Pinecones, Brent Randall of Toronto is now using the moniker Gentle Brent, but he's still playing many of the instruments on his own (with help from a few friends here and there). A little less orchestral this time around, Brent is leaning more toward jangly powerpop territory - think Harry Nilsson or Paul McCartney meets the Heavy Blinkers, Flashing Lights or even Jigsaw's own Michael Knight. This album has friendly, bouncy AM-styled hits galore, and with eleven of 'em in under half an hour, you'll find lots of wonderful vocal harmonies and the catchiest songs you've heard in a while!

Not limited. All songs written by Gentle Brent. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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31Ø8 - 31Ø8 (BLU) cd

$10.00

having a band with a special character in its name is always tricky - unless you're from northern Europe (which 31Ø8 isn't - they're from London), you're gonna have a hard time typing out their name, much less saying it. It's 3-1-zero-8 in case you were wondering... Anyways, following their self-titled debut on Trouble In Mind Records from 2014, here we have their second self-titled album - differentiated by a change in ink color, hence the suffix '(BLU)'. Oh, and now's a good time to mention that this isn't even a full band, but rather the solo project of a fellow named Kyle, who used to go by 'Tyler'. Now that I've fully confused you, let's discuss the music: at its core, it's rock music with keen pop sensibilities. That is, these are basically simple pop songs, but everything - guitars, vocals, synth-bass and electronic drums - is covered in a layer of fuzz, sounding like some hybrid of Loop and mid-period Jesus And Mary Chain, while more modern-ish references include Honeyrider and Jigsaw's own American Culture & Super Paradise. Not an easy record to describe, but very easy to get into.

Not limited. All songs written by 31Ø8. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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nearr - History Repeats Itself cd

$10.00

after a few digital releases on the Beko label, we have the first "proper" album from nearr, a one-man recording project led by Eduard Tokuyev from Ukraine. And it's a beautiful example of lo-fi bedroom pop, that combines acoustic and electric guitars with keyboards and drum machines. Take the distant vocals of the Radio Dept., the stark but melodic guitar sound of "Seventeen Seconds"-era Cure and the overall feel of a Famous Boyfriend record, and you'll get an idea of what to expect here. The songs themselves have a theme of loneliness and longing, as is seemingly typical with bedroom pop of this type, but they aren't at all mopey. Eduard has dubbed this record the "closing release of his lo-fi era", so let's all look forward to what the band produces next!

Not limited. All songs written by nearr. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Ghost Thoughts - Purple Period cdep

$5.00

this is the new project from Davina Shell (of Thee Ahs) and friends, and truth be told, it's really not too different from her previous band. And that's a good thing, because I LOVED Thee Ahs and their brand of pure and simple indiepop with the sweetest vocals - as much as I loved the Fat Tulips back when Sunday Records reigned supreme. Not to insinuate that these songs are all flowers and butterflies - in fact, they're rather darker in tone. Davina wrote all of the songs, but each track on this EP has a different vocalist (including Davina and Sarah, also from Thee Ahs), but they all have a similarly sweet delivery, so it flows together quite well. An all-around beautiful little collection of songs!

Not limited. All songs written by Ghost Thoughts. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Galants - Galants EP cdep

$5.00

the best thing about EPs (when they're done right) is that it gives bands a chance to put their best songs right up front, with no filler. Don't get me wrong, I love albums as much as the next guy, but a very good EP can be just as strong - if not stronger - than a decent album. Take this one, for example, the first for these four Irish fellows: it's only got four songs, but all of them are complete winners. It's seriously hard to pick out a single favorite on this disc, as each one is a perfect example of hard-hitting shoegaze/noise-pop in the vein of Ride, Swervedriver or the Brother Kite (particularly the latter, who have also perfected the blend of shoegaze and noise-pop). Not bad for a first outing, eh?

Not limited. All songs written by Galants. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Lures - There's No Pressure cd

$10.00

I've been a fan of Lures (a local Seattle band), ever since I caught them live by chance a couple years back. Sadly, they're pretty much inactive now, but they had this album in the can and no means to release it, so I jumped at the chance! Following up on their debut lp on Fin Records from a few years ago, this is another solid batch of songs that blur the lines between the past and the present. That is, they have a classic surfy rock sound, steeped in reverb and all that, only with songs that sound modern, in a similar style as someone like Chris Cohen and Tele Novella. But in between, they'll go and do a surf instrumental or cover Del Shannon's "Runaway". A nicely varied and rich album, let's just hope that it's not really their last...

Not limited. All songs written by Lures, except track 8 by Del Shannon. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Rentiers - Bring Me The Finest World Map Shower Curtain In All The Land cd

$10.00

the Rentiers have been around for a few years now, existing as a project for Joel Tannenbaum (Plow United, Snow Fairies, Skywriters, etc.) and whoever he ropes into recording with him (and that's a pretty long cast of characters!). His musical roots are indiepop and DIY punk, but with the Rentiers, he doesn't limit himself to just one genre. No, you'll find a wide variety of styles from indiepop to electropop to reggae, though his forte (and thus, the majority of the songs on this collection) is catchy indie rock with a particular knack for descriptive storytelling, usually co-sung by himself and a female vocalist. Just listen to songs like "Jessica And Dan And A Cat Named Bolt Thrower" and "The Third Floor", for example, and you'll find real depth in there. Dive into the fun and diverse world of the Rentiers! 

Not limited. All songs written by the Rentiers. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Super Paradise - Quençebo cd

$8.00

originally from Milan, Italy but now based in London, this is the first outing for the enigmatic Super Paradise. The album starts off with the infectious "The F.C.", a great opener, if there ever was one, with its classic synth arpeggios and driving rhythm, that propels it forward for an exciting three minutes. From there, we have the one-two punch of "Ties" and "Dawn", a pair of anthemic noise-pop hits that actually remind me a lot of Jigsaw's own American Culture. After a brief interstitial piece, we're treated to a guitar-based version of LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" (not knowing the original, I checked it out, and can safely say that Super Paradise have very much made it their own!), followed by a couple more noise-pop tunes, finally closing out with "Tonight", a slow-building mini-epic. Barely over 20 minutes in length, you'll have no problem hitting repeat on this rousing mini-album!

Not limited. All songs written by Super Paradise, except track 5 by LCD Soundsystem. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Scooterbabe - The Sorrow You've Been Toting Around cd

$10.00

last year, Jigsaw compiled Scooterbabe's two cassette EPs onto one disc, entitled "The Scooterbabe Companion"; this year, we're proud to present their first proper full length, "The Sorrow You've Been Toting Around". The band has undergone a couple line-up changes in the time leading up to this album, and their sound has matured quite a bit in that time, as well. The band they most closely resemble is the Ropers, a vintage Slumberland band that excelled in refined pop, rife with jangling guitars and solid melodies - qualities all found within these eleven songs. Add in guest vocals/violin from Jianna Justice, and you have a well-rounded and thoughtful batch of songs that together, comprise a stellar and very rewarding album. 

Not limited. All songs written by Scooterbabe. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Le SuperHomard - MapleKey cd

$8.00

two releases on the label from two brilliant French artists in one year? Ouh la la! Le SuperHomard is the work of a French fellow named Christophe, with help from his brother, Olivier on drums and Pandora Burgess on vocals (for the songs that actually have vocals), and this is their debut album. The music here is delightfully classy and elegant, with lots of jazzy chords, muted basslines and vintage synths, drawing obvious comparisons to Stereolab and St. Etienne (though I would also add Broadcast and Fugu to the list). A gorgeous listen from start to finish on this brief, yet rewarding glimpse into the mind of Le SuperHomard!

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As Ondas - Marés cd

$10.00

after a couple very limited cassette EPs, this is the much-anticipated debut album for As Ondas, a tri-lingual trio from London, who split their lyrics between English, Spanish and Portuguese, the latter language being where their name comes from (As Ondas means "the waves", if you're curious). Their sound is very simple: a sparse guitar/bass/drum line-up, with boy/girl vocals and very few layers of instrumentation. In fact, Moema barely even plays any chords on the guitar, generally opting more for singular note melodies, which just adds to the sparseness (which is frequently filled with Andrew's bass - the liveliest instrument on the record). Their sound is very reminiscent of some of the mid-period Unrest stuff (think Imperial FFRR-era), but the two bands they really remind me of are Yellow Fever and Orca Team, two bands who also excelled in simple yet powerful songs. This is a very interesting and intriguing album that improves on each listen.

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Blue Jeans - Songs Are Easy cd

$10.00

once known as Santa Monica Swim And Dive Club, Blue Jeans are led by Tim Sendra, who elder indiepoppers will recognize as the one of the forces behind Veronica Lake in the early 90s. Whereas that band was known for their songs being shrouded in layers of fuzz, Blue Jeans are a much cleaner affair, with relatively straightforward pop songs that occasionally border on bubblegum. In addition to the songwriting of Tim, we also have the production and general hands-on-ness of Fred Thomas from the very like-minded Saturday Looks Good To Me, giving things a perfect pop polish. These ten exciting songs may only last about half an hour, but they will likely fuel your entire summer!

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Popincourt - A New Dimension To Modern Love cd/lp

$10.00

the first ten seconds of the album's opening track, "I Found Out", were enough to convince me that I needed to release this record. A simply beautiful and pure janglepop song in the vein of Choo Choo Train or the first Posies album may start off the record, but soon afterwards you realize that this French band's sound is much more varied than that. Popincourt is not only the name of the band, but also the pseudonym of its leader, who receives assistance from Hervé Bouétard (Bertrand Burgalat's drummer) and (perhaps not coincidentally) Ken Stringfellow on bass, among others. Popincourt himself is admittedly very influenced by the Style Council (though my ears also hear a close similarity to Eggstone), with his songs exhibiting a classy sound filled with trumpets, subtle organs, female backing vocals and jazzy guitar chords. With twelve quality pop songs clocking in at nearly 35 minutes, this is a surefire hit for the much-anticipated summer!

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A Novel Resort - Island Of Atlas EP cdep

$5.00

there's something about Scandinavia and icy pop music - we've heard it in so many of their bands, including Azure Blue, the Mary Onettes, Sambassadeur (and lots of other Labrador Records artists, for that matter) -and now we can hear it in Denmark's A Novel Resort. A one man show, starring Michael Kornbeck (also of Northern Portrait), these four songs are cold and dense - but that's not to say they are uninviting. Rather, they each are filled with many memorable melodies found in both the distant vocals and the softly jangled guitars, all of which are nicely nestled in warm blankets of synths and keyboards. Four songs that make for a fine snapshot of winters past and winters to come.

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So Cow - Lisa Marie Airplane Tour cd/lp

$10.00

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Aerosol Burns - Afraid Of The Phone 7"

$6.00

this one's an interesting story: this UK band self-released their debut single last year and it sold out ...or so they thought! They found a box of 25 records left over with no sleeves, so they approached me with the offer to send me the singles and have Jigsaw make its own sleeve design. This was not far from Record Store Day 2016, so I thought why not make it a special limited release for the day - and after all, it was also the day of the Jigsaw Records physical shop's grand opening party! So here you have it, probably the rarest Jigsaw release (even the early tapes had more than 25 made!): a terrific pair of insanely catchy powerpop hits from this little known band!

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Marlovers - Waves cd

$10.00

we were happy to introduce the world to the Marlovers' debut album back in 2014, and now in 2016, we proudly present their fabulous follow-up, "Waves". This album is like a beautiful ray of sunshine (or, if you're solar-challenged like me up in Seattle, the sun lamp equivalent), which makes sense, given that the band hails from the gorgeous Palma De Mallorca off the coast of Spain. Everything on here shimmers and glows, and rivals anything the Cardigans or Cinnamon ever gave us. And even when Marina sings a simple 'I hate you' in the chorus of "I Hate", her voice still sounds simply delightful. A real sparkly gem, this record, and not one to be missed!

Not limited. All songs written by Marlovers. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Les Autres - Backwards cd

$10.00

Les Autres existed for the first half of the '90s, and in their time, gave us an album and a couple singles, as well as numerous compilation tracks (back when the European comp tape scene was going strong). This is not a collection of those works. No, instead, we have a disc full of alternate versions from the album, re-edits of a couple 7" tracks, and a whole bunch of unreleased songs, including demos and even a live track. Presented in mostly reverse chronological order (a few tweaks were made to the timeline to improve the album's flow), this disc captures a rawer side of the band than you've (probably never) heard before. They didn't get much recognition outside of France, but if they had, they would've fit perfectly alongside contemporaries such as Lorelei, Bugskull and Hood (circa early/mid '90s), as well as the Lavender Faction before them. The sound quality varies as the disc goes on, from the re-mixes of studio tracks from their album and unreleased EP to a number of 4-track demo recordings, but remains relatively decent throughout. Overall, this is an interesting artifact of top-quality French '90s indie rock.

Not limited. All songs written by Les Autres. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Various - Jigsaw 100 usb drive

$100.00

if Jigsaw 50 (a two-disc collection involving every band from our first 49 releases) was our most ambitious project, then Jigsaw 100 is surely our most audacious! Get this: our 100th release is our first 99 releases. Seriously! For a hundred bucks, you get a custom flash drive emblazoned with the Jigsaw logo (tucked inside a small silk-screened cloth pouch), which contains high-quality mp3s for PZL001-PZL099 (with cover artwork and even a few extras). That's 1322 songs in all, for an average cost of 7.5¢ per track!

That's not all, either; if you are already a loyal Jigsaw fan (or even just have a few of our releases), all you have to do is take a picture of all of your Jigsaw cds and records collected together and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag it with #jigsawrecords (on Facebook, tag Jigsaw Records) and we'll send you a discount code taking a dollar off for however many physical Jigsaw releases you already own! So, for example, if you've already got 20 Jigsaw cds or records in your collection, then you'd get Jigsaw 100 for only $80. This discount also applies to any Jigsaw release (pre-100) that you buy in the same order, so, if you buy 5 Jigsaw cds along with the drive, I'll knock $5 off the order. (If you're a regular on the Jigsaw Bandcamp, send me a note and we'll work something out!) This drive will only be sold on the Jigsaw site, and is strictly limited to 100 pieces, so don't delay!

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Chandler Estate - Infrastructure EP cdep

$5.00

reading like a who's who of the Long Island, NY indiepop scene, the Chandler Estate features Darren Amadio, Todbot Karasik and Andrea Vaughn - all original members of the infamous My Favorite - as well as Tara Emelye Needham of the under-appreciated Mad Planets, and Bryce Edwards of Boycrazy (who were actually from Portland). With that pedigree, this band's debut EP sounds just as you would expect: lofty indie rock that is both intelligent and dramatic. The production style is very similar to My Favorite, with layers of effected guitars and spot-on vocal harmonies. This all-too-brief disc is a perfect start for a promising band.

Not limited. All songs written by the Chandler Estate. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Persian Rugs - This Is OK For Now cd

$10.00

this is the first album from Toronto, Canada's Persian Rugs (distantly following their debut 7" on Cloudberry back in 2011), and it almost slipped through the cracks into obscurity! I found it purely by chance on Bandcamp a few months back and instantly wrote the band requesting that they let me give it the Jigsaw treatment, and lucky for me, they were into it! Have a listen to this band's brand of classic indiepop infused with some dreampop influences - it's as if you melded Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes with Poundsign, adding a bit of Velocity Girl for good measure. Lots of jangly guitars, but with a fair amount of synths involved, as well. It's also a record of many moods, from the ferocity of the opener "Bedhead" to the easy-going pace of "I Wanted Something More" to the gentle "Cotton Candy", with many points in between (and there are only eight songs!). A truly multi-dimensional record and we're proud to have it in our catalog!

Not limited. All songs written by Persian Rugs. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Animal Daydream - Citrus EP 7"

$5.00

last year, Animal Daydream appeared on the scene and took the indiepop world by storm, garnering positive press from all around the globe - pretty impressive for a new, enigmatic duo from Gothenburg, Sweden. Now, just over one year after the release of their debut single, we are proud to present another small batch of songs that will just melt away in your ears. Not too far off from what they gave us the first time, these songs are reminiscent of later Teenage Fanclub and Fleet Foxes, but also borrow liberally from the sound of '70s soft rock, particularly Fleetwood Mac and CSNY, with their strong vocal harmonies and overall smooth, almost slick production. And once again, all four tracks are pure gold, solid gold.

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Arch Menaces - Primitive Germs cd

$10.00

the Arch Menaces of Adelaide, Australia recorded this album (their debut) back in 2012, but ran into trouble after trouble finding a suitable outlet for it, with artwork snafus and two label deals falling through. After a couple of frustrating years, the band just kinda lost steam and fizzled out. Fast forward to late 2015 and with a simple email to Jigsaw HQ, this excellent record has found a home! Lucky for the band, I've long held a soft spot in my heart for Aussie powerpop, which this found its way straight to. Any fan of the Sunnyboys, the Stems or DM3 (or their US counterparts, such as Paul Collins' Beat and the Plimsouls) will love this record, with its instantly catchy songs, big sound and general attitude and confidence befitting a veteran rock band - even though this is only their first record. Let's just hope that this album's belated release will revive the band and get them back into gear!

Not limited. All songs written by the Arch Menaces. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Evripidis And His Tragedies - Futile Games In Space And Time dbl cd/lp

$12.00

this is the third album from modern day troubadour, Evripidis Sabatis, who hails from Barcelona via Athens, Greece. Recorded in both cities, as well as New York City (with members of the Magnetic Fields and Keep Shelly In Athens), this 48-minute opus is easily his strongest to date. The characteristic style of Evripidis is as always distinguished with melodic pop romance, black humor lyrics and influences from old musicals, films and pop music from the 50s through today. This is his first album outside of Europe, and with a magical sound that's somewhere between Jens Lekman and Belle & Sebastian, it will surely not be his last. Available on vinyl or double cd (with a bonus disc that's an instrumental version of the entire album).

CD not limited. 300 lps pressed; co-released with Snap! Clap! Records and Inner Ear Records with Jigsaw getting 100 copies. All songs written by Evripidis And His Tragedies. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Halfsour - Tuesday Night Live cd/lp

$10.00

as the legend goes, Halfsour started out as a Guided By Voices cover band. Well, I can sort of hear it when I squint my ears, but this coed trio from Boston actually reminds me a lot of the harder-edged indiepop bands of the late '90s/early '00s, specifically New Grenada (of whom they are a dead-ringer, at times) and Wolfie (and its many off-shoots, such as the Like Young and National Splits). Their songs are generally short and punchy - only a few times do they pass the three-minute mark, blasting you with catchy guitar melodies and bratty boy/girl vocals. Following up a short-run demo tape and a split 12" EP with Reports on Ride The Snake Records, this is Halfsour's debut album, and it certainly shows a lot of promise - definitely a band to watch out for!

CD not limited. 300 lps pressed with silk-screened sleeves. All songs written by Halfsour. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Michael Knight - Physics Is Out To Get Me cd/lp

$10.00

this is the third album from Michael Knight, a German (by way of Ireland) band that does not actually contain a person with the name Michael Knight. And this is also the best album from said band, which is saying something as their previous records were already pretty great. The core of the band is just two fellows, but they receive a lot of help from friends, making for a nice overall orchestral sound, with strings, horns and backing vocals galore. One band they really remind me of is Walker Kong, but I suppose a more recognizable name would be Explorers Club or a clean Hidden Cameras. But they also harken back to the simpler time of bands like the Left Banke, the Zombies and the Millennium, with bits of whimsy scattered across the album's 13 tracks, which makes for a very pleasant and easy listen.

CD not limited. 300 lps pressed; co-released with the band with Jigsaw getting 100 copies. All songs written by Michael Knight. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Cozy Catastrophes - Have You Ever Heard Of Cozy Catastrophes? cd

$10.00

This is the cd debut for Bloomington's Cozy Catastrophes (after a digital-only album and a cassette on February Records), and it is quite possibly the best bedroom indiepop album I've heard all year, and the year's nearly finished! This one-man project reminds me a lot of the highly underrated James And The Express (whose album we released last year) - I mean, you know it's just one guy, but the sound and production are so full that you could easily mistake it for a full band. Plus Greg exhibits enough charm and general friendliness to give Colin Clary a run for his money! The songs and lyrics are innocent and endearing (just pick out "Go Steady With Me" and "Every Girl Deserves A Song" for perfect examples), but not overly twee. This album is sure to brighten your day, as you'd sure have a hard time not smiling and tapping along to it!

Not limited. All songs written by Cozy Catastrophes. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Knife Pleats - Hat Bark Beach cd

$10.00

this new band from Rose Melberg (Tiger Trap, Softies, Brave Irene, etc) was formed because Rose had a new batch of songs that she felt really needed a full band treatment; and with her friends Tracey and Kaity (both from Love Cuts) and Gregor, she has certainly found the perfect outlet! Any fan of Rose's previous bands will adore this, of course, but in case you're not already familiar with her work, just look to any of the countless bands that have followed in her footsteps, such as Brilliant Colors, Grass Widow or Vivian Girls. And this new album of hers stands just as tall (and deserves as much attention) as any of those bands, and any of her previous records, for that matter. Simply put, this is yet another masterpiece from one of the leaders of indiepop today!

Not limited. Released in conjunction with Lost Sound Tapes. All songs written by Knife Pleats. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Lame Drivers - Chosen Era cd

$10.00

this band has been around for quite a while, hailing from New Jersey, then Providence and now New York City, and though they have many assorted releases under their belt (some homemade cds, a few cassettes and a really cool flexi-book!) this is actually their proper debut album. Their sound is hard to pin down, but the easiest/laziest comparison is Guided By Voices, with an emphasis on short, punchy songs. But there's so much more to them than that; listen for nods to early(ish) XTC, the Buzzcocks, '60s psych pop and some straight-up "Yellow Pills"-styled powerpop - it's all in there. Released on lp by Bleeding Gold Records, this cd version contains three bonus tracks - one exclusive track and a couple from past releases - which add a nice coda to an already solid album.

Not limited. All songs written by Lame Drivers. Available digitally soon on Bandcamp.

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Postal Blue - Of Love & Other Affections cd

$10.00

this is the second album from Brazil's Postal Blue, who have been around (though not very actively) for nearly 18 years now, with previous releases on Drive-In, Shelflife and Cloudberry Records. One listen and anyone could easily be convinced that this was a lost Sarah Records release, with its songs echoing the Orchids and Field Mice (in both their exuberant AND melancholic moments) at some times, a less fragile Blueboy at others, and even Secret Shine at their dreamiest in a few spots. The production is crystal clear and shimmers brightly throughout the entire 35 minutes of this album, making it easy to see how it took so long to complete (you just can't rush perfection!). Overall, this is a very beautiful batch of songs that will make you wistful for the indiepop days of old and elated that the torch is still being carried on...

Not limited. All songs written by Postal Blue. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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San Martin, Brad - Tell Someone cd

$10.00

Brad San Martin has been crafting indiepop classics for several years with his group, One Happy Island, but did you know he also had a solo project called Secret Charisma, who released a pair of excellent cds? Well, Brad's dropped that moniker, and is now going by his own name, as he branches out into further territories than before. Oh, there's still plenty of good old-fashioned twee pop that you'd expect from him, but you'll also find that he's taking more chances, and sounding great in the process! Imagine a vintage Harry Nilsson or Van Dyke Parks album, but on Elephant 6: catchy pop songs with added noises and little instrumental flourishes. And ukuleles - do we ever have ukuleles! This is a gorgeous half-hour ray of sunshine that is sure to perk up any lover of light-hearted pop music!

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Magic Crayon - Patchwork cd

$10.00

I go way back with this Brazilian band, having made and hosted their website over ten years ago, so it's nice to get to join forces with them again - this time to release their debut album! The band formed in 2000, and released a couple cdeps before going on a long hiatus. A few of these songs date back to the early days, but most were recorded over the last four years. Yet even though the recordings span over a decade, they manage to fit together well to form a cohesive album - or at least as cohesive an album made by people with a wide range of musical tastes can be! If I had to pick one band to liken Magic Crayon to, it would have to be the Cannanes: quirky and catchy songs that shamble and jangle along, with a combination of male and female vocals. But then there are times when they change it up a little, from the straightforward bossa nova of the opening track to the droney "Human Species" (which could've been taken straight off an early Flying Nun single) to the mock country of "Farmer San's Ranch". Over a decade in the making, this is a fitting introduction to the sound of Magic Crayon!

Not limited. All songs written by Magic Crayon. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Restless Hearts - Restless Hearts cd

$10.00

you know that feeling when you hear something and it has this magic that draws you in and causes you to hit the repeat button over and over? That's what happened when I first heard this band's music. This is perfect, timeless powerpop in the vein of the Records, Shoes and the Plimsouls (whose "Now" gets covered on this disc), and I'd even go as far to say that this rivals anything that Ric Menck and Paul Chastain have given us over the last two decades in Choo Choo Train, the Springfields and Velvet Crush. This has all of the markings of a classic powerpop record - chiming guitars, soaring harmonies, smooth basslines and songs about love and girls. I have so much to say about the band and this record (a near-complete collection of their work, omitting only alternate recordings), but on the other hand, I kinda don't want to tell you anything about them - I want them to be this special thing that you can discover on your own. If you've ever loved pop music - truly loved it - then this band needs to find their way to your heart...

Not limited. All songs written by Restless Hearts except track 16 by the Plimsouls. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Makeout Vertigo - Can't Always Be There cd

$10.00

hailing from rural New Jersey, this boy/girl four-piece existed for only a few years, but in that time managed to release two EPs and more than half a dozen compilation tracks, the majority of which appeared on their own Beta Snake Records. Though they never strayed too far from home, the band made their way to our mailbox a couple years back (with their debut EP), and subsequently into the Jigsaw mailorder, and finally, to the label's roster. Their music fits in the same vein of '90s indiepoppers, the Maybellines, Gritty Kitty and vintage Bunnygrunt - cute but not overwhelmingly so, and with an equal mix of peppy and moody pop songs. In fact, I'm convinced this could've been released on Kindercore, were it not recorded 15 years too late. Clocking in at about 35 minutes, this 16-track disc collects everything the band released, from their first compilation appearance in 2012 to their last in 2014, ending on an exclusive unreleased track the band recorded before dissolving. A fitting end to the band's all-too-brief career!

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Glow Cats - Cat Bits cd

$10.00

I first heard this Danish band earlier this year thanks to their debut (physical) release on Beta Snake Records, and instantly loved them, as they encapsulated everything that was good about the Swedish indiepop explosion of the mid '00s (think Nixon, Funday Mornings, Dorotea...). Their songs were concise, they were filled with jangly guitars and/or simple keyboards, and most importantly, they were just pure, innocent fun. They sound like they don't take much seriously, singing about things like being a cat, playing air guitar, procrastination and even the Quirky Girl Crafter (look her up!). The disc starts out with four brand new songs, recorded by the band's current line-up, followed by a couple dozen songs from throughout their existence, with a variety of personnel, instrumentation and recording locations/qualities. Put 'em all together, though, and you've got yourself a fun hour ahead of you!

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Rightovers - Blue Blood cd/lp

$10.00

as you can tell from just about half of the past year's releases (from the Zebras to Ocean Party to Animal Daydream), I have a soft spot for soft and jangly indiepop. So when the Rightovers (a mostly one-man project based in Hawaii) wrote me about distributing their self-released debut lp, I eagerly suggested the possibility of Jigsaw doing the cd version, to which the band responded yes! Sounding like the afore-mentioned Jigsaw artists, as well as other notable bands like Ladybug Transistor, Elf Power (later period) and Citified (okay, not famous, but I love 'em, so they count), the Rightovers' songs all gently flow by, sustaining a state of calmness over the course of just over half an hour. Sure, the guitars will get a bit louder from time to time, but rarely in a jarring fashion ("Floating Near The Sun" is the odd one out, but in a good way), while the lyrics have a bit of a wry sense of humor to them, enhanced by an occasional sound bite here and there. A perfect album to close out the summer!

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Strawberry Story - Gravy dbl cd

$12.00

Strawberry Story were a favorite of the extremely fertile late '80s/early '90s British indiepop scene, putting their Talulah Gosh-inspired twee-crash-pop out on a variety of 7"s, flexis and cassettes on influential labels such as Woosh, Vinyl Japan and Heaven as well as their own Dasiychain Records. A few years back, the band began stirring again, even releasing a pair of EPs on Cloudberry and Anorak, and last year, they compiled pretty much EVERYTHING they had ever released (as well as over a dozen previously unreleased live tracks and demos both old and recent) onto a double-disc set. They only made 100 copies of this and it sold out pretty quickly, so while in discussion with the band about getting more copies for the Jigsaw mailorder, I half-joked that I should bootleg it since they were out. Well, one thing led to another, and voila! The comp is back in print! And as an added bonus, we have included a newly-discovered demo from 1988 (taken from an mp3 of a long-lost cassette; yeah, a bunch of these songs are really lo-fi, coming from decades-old cassettes...), AND slightly more informational liner notes (which the original issue lacked). With 54 tracks in over 2½ hours, there's a lot to take in here, but at least you have the band's entire output at your disposal - and what a lot of fun it is!

Not limited. All songs written by Strawberry Story, except track 14 by Another Sunny Day, track 35 by the Dells, track 38 by Elizabeth Cotten, track 46 by the Stone Roses and track 48 by Rodgers/Hammerstein. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Marianela, Sol - Hasta Nunca cd

$10.00

I love getting unsolicited demos and emails. There, I said it. Sure, the odds are not always in favor of the band being good (the world is filled with mediocrity and worse), but sometimes, you get lucky. And boy, did Argentina's Sol Marianela ever get it right the first time! Within the first ten seconds of the lead track on this album, "Los Novios", I was hooked, and things only got better from there! Imagine the twee-pop joy of All Girl Summer Fun Band or Heavenly, but with a little touch of That Dog or Juliana Hatfield-inspired grittiness on top, only sung in Spanish. Originally released last year in a short-run of cd-rs and cassettes in her home country, this is Sol's debut album under her own name, but she has recently recruited a band and is already planning her follow-up album (using the new moniker of Amor en la isla). Until then, though, please enjoy this little gem from the southern hemisphere...

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Sleuth - Out Of The Blue Period cd/lp

$10.00

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Cattle - Somehow Hear Songs cdep

$6.00

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Concubines - I've Tried Subtlety cd

$10.00

I knew of the Concubines because they were once an IndiePage (you know, back when that was a thing), and this album was actually recorded over a decade ago, but the band never found a suitable outlet to release it. A couple months ago, I came across the mp3 files for a cd-r of this album that I lost long ago, and immediately looked up the chief songwriter, Jeff Whiteaker, and asked him if he'd like to release the record posthumously on Jigsaw, and he went for it! One mastering session later, and here we have this, the "lost" album from a band that just never made it. What does it sound like, you ask? Well, this would've fit absolutely perfectly on Shelflife Records the first time around, among bands like Sushi, the Autocollants, the Arrogants and the Castaway Stones. Classy indiepop with Rachel's strong voice (think Sarah Cracknell or Tracey Thorn) and a cool, breezy jangle throughout. No idea why this pearl was overlooked back then, but it's certainly a welcome addition to our catalog now!

Not limited. All songs written by The Concubines. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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Lunchbox - Smash Hits EP 7"

$5.00

Lunchbox's comeback album, "Lunchbox Loves You", was very highly praised when it came out last year, and now we're pleased to present an EP of six new songs! Taking their special brand of bubblegum pop a step further, these songs have a bit of a punkier edge, sounding a bit like Boyracer, classic Beatnik Filmstars or our beloved Faintest Ideas. In just over 13 minutes, these songs speed by, leaving behind a trail of memorable melodies and hummable hooks! You can either call this a really long EP or a really short LP, but irregardless, this is a very strong batch of songs from one of the best noise-pop bands around today!

300 copies pressed. All songs written by Lunchbox. Available digitally on Bandcamp.

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