Finally here
The Minders - Psychedelic Blacktop
ON VINYL
Order your copy NOW
Psychedelic Blacktop was recorded over two years at our home studio in Portland, Oregon. The songs were written by Martyn Leaper and performed by The Minders. Mixes done by Mike Coykendall, Mastering by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering.
*Now in Archive*
"Hallowed Halls Presents: The Minders Live"
This live set was recorded in August 2021 in front of a limited audience at the beautiful Hallowed Halls Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon. This 1 hour long movie is a mix of performance, band interviews, and archival photos and clips.
I wrote the song “These Days”, after feeling isolated and hemmed in by the pandemic, and the political/social upheaval that has consumed society for the last several years. I think I was channeling a younger me. I thought about how I used to go dancing with my friends during my teens. We would dress up, spike our hair and go dance for hours at the local 3.2 bar (Colorado Springs, Co) to the B52’s, Thompson Twins, and whatever the college hits were. All our angst was exorcised - sweated out. The act of dancing with a sweetheart or a friend was so magical. I miss this feeling being swept away in the moment by something so carefree. I guess this song is a projection, a wish to be transported to another place in time. A better time, any time but these days.
The Minders recorded the track at Mike Coykendall’s home studio (Blue Rooms) here in Portland in June in the middle of the worst heatwave the city’s ever had. One of the unique aspects of “These Days” is the coda. The arrangement of the song was a collective effort, and the band really leaned in on the arrangement. The result is a short piece of music that starts with a slow waltz played on the piano. The music paints a brutalized landscape. There are no golden vistas here. I think this is us looking out on the wreckage of our city today. The carnage and fall out of thousands of people’s lives having been dislodged. Therefore I believe this song is true to these days.
Our Latest Single, THESE DAYS, Out Now
"Listen! the Bugle Calls" OUT NOW
“Listen! The Bugle calls.” Originally recorded for Norwegian label, Cara Records, in 2020 is the latest Minders single and Space Cassette release. This lo-fi sparkly treat brims with analog synths and echoey vocals. The lyrics acerbically hail our modern society’s preoccupation with the worship of the money god. “A sunrise on every door, no time to settle down”, refers to our industriousness and consumerism, and how it has consumed us. Even in these times of pandemic, we must agonize on the lucre treadmill. “we’ve got to keep pushing on!”
We hope you enjoy this new release, and keep your eyes peeled for The Minder’s LP release on September 3rd 2021.
An ode to our hometown, Portland, Oregon
These streets have lived a lot
this town has grown up all on its own
the loneliness is tough
but I still feel so tied to it all
Big river keep us together
flow on since days of old
Into the valley gold
Look down from Tabor’s top
straight down the boulevard to my home
I chose this place and stopped
hung up my hat and called it my home
Big river flow on forever
carries our worries, oh
out to the oceans cold
Big river keep us together
flow on since days of old
Into the valley gold
Big river go on forever
carry us over, oh
out to the sunset home
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Astoria (Live) & Andre the Giant
The “Astoria” live performance was recorded at Larry Crane’s beloved Jackpot! Recording Studio for a show we did with Elephant 6 impresario, Robert Schneider. This is an alternative version of a new song on off our upcoming LP, “Psychedelic Blacktop.”
"Andre the Giant" was also recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio for our 2016 LP, Into the River. We decided to not put the song on the record then but thought it would be fun to put it out now. This song has been a favorite of the bands for over a decade. NOTE: Larry Crane does an opening narration on the track. We hope you enjoy.
This musicians on this song are as follows, Martyn Leaper (guitar / vocal), Andy Naify (guitar), Mayhaw Hoons (bass), Jesse Sandoval (drums)
Salad Days
Now Streaming Everywhere
Salad days is one of The Minders earliest recordings and one of the first songs Martyn Leaper ever wrote. He composed and played the song in The Henrys which preceded The Minders. This track was recorded at the original Walk-in-Closet studio in Denver in 1996. Originally meant as a track for The Minders
debut full length, “Hooray for Tuesday,” the song ended up on a B-reel, forgotten for over 20 years.
Get ready to climb into the time machine and go back to the wonderful -fuzzy days of the mid-1990s. For these truly were the Salad Days.
Cul-de-Sacs & Dead Ends now on Cassette
featuring *Bonus Track, "Salad Days"
You can get volumes 1 & 2 in our shop.
The Girl from Oklahoma
The Minders second single from their forthcoming album. Recorded at Jackpot Studios -engineered by Larry crane. Mixed at the beginning of August at Blue Rooms Studios by Mike Coykendall. “The Girl from Oklahoma” is a nod to traditional country story -telling songs such as ,"”By the Time I get to Phoenix"” (written by Jimmy Webb) performed by Glenn Campbell, or “"Little Green Apples"” by Roger Miller. This is a song that some of you will already know in your hearts. Time to sing along to the chorus.
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The Minders, “Let’s Go Driving!."
Three years on from their 2016 release, “Into the River.” Portland, Oregon based Indie-Pop band, The Minders, are back with what promises to be a summer hit. “Let’s Go Driving!”, (inspired by bubblegum gems of the distant past), was engineered at the Space Cassette Records home studio and Mike Coykendall’s Blue Rooms. “Let’s Go Driving!” is the first Minder’s recording session on analog tape in over a decade. The last time the band recorded this way was for the “Bright Guilty World” sessions in 2005. The subsequent sound of the recording is reminiscent of much earlier work – something that the band recently explored with last year’s reissue of “Hooray for Tuesday”.
So, sit back at home, or climb into the car and drive along to The Minders latest nugget of love: “Let’s Go Driving!”
Don't forget to follow us on Spotify or your favorite streaming platform.
“Into The River” (September 2016 release on Space Cassette records) was recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon and Produced by Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, M.Ward, Go- Betweens and countless others) is a return to form after an 8 year absence. The first single, “It’s Gonna Breakout” (7" available to purchase in our store) is a bold, lush statement, laden with hooks and offers up a taste of the bands 10th release.
hooray for tuesday 20th Anniversary Vinyl
VINYL RELEASE
The Minders celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1998 release, "Hooray for Tuesday," their debut LP.
This obscure Indie pop gem produced and engineered by, Robert Schneider, (Pet Sounds studio impresario: Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah) has been reissued on vinyl with gate fold jacket, featuring: bonus tracks,including a 2018 version of the title track, "Hooray for Tuesday," the original demo recording from 1996 and rare photos of the band and recording sessions.
This collection of pop songs from the Minders serves as a lasting testament to their skillful pop sensibilities. Pick up a copy of this Elephant Six classic from the late 1990s. The pop recordings have withstood the test of time and are as catchy as the day were captured on wax.
Press:
bass, Rebecca Cole (Wild Flag) on drums, and Jeff
Almond on lead guitar; a follow- up single (Paper plane) was released later in 1996, where the band quickly gained popularity as a new member of the growing elephant six collective. The Minders would release four singles before delivering their first full-length album, Hooray for Tuesday, in 1998 on SpinArt records. The Minders sound has evolved over the years. From its simple garage origins,
the group has grown to incorporate complex arrangements that harken back to the heady days of 1960's and 70's baroque pop music. Since 1998, the Minders have resided in Portland, Oregon and have released six records, each of which has tackled different styles in pop and new wave.
Band links:
Twitter - @the_minders
Instagram - @the_minders
The indie pop group, The Minders, was formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 by Martyn Leaper and Robert Schneider (Apples in Stereo). The band started out as a recording project with Robert Schneider producing the first single (Build) which was released in early 1996 on the Elephant 6 imprint. The Minders quickly became a live act, with Joel Richardson on
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