New Website & Samothrace "Life's Trade" Out Now

Lots of news today folks.

First up, our new websites have been launched. 20buckspin.com has received a full makeover. It’s more organized and easy to look at now. At the same time it’s more stripped down. The homepage is now our news/blog page, and is RSS enabled, as are the other pages on the site. This blog will replace 20buckspin.blogspot.com so please update your news feeds.

You’ll notice when you click on the store link you are taken to a separate, but similar looking website now, Phantomcityrecords.net. This site is still run and maintained by 20 Buck Spin. We wanted to give our physical store in Olympia a web presence and it made the most sense to just combine the stores into one. So going forward Phantomcityrecords.net is the official online store for 20 Buck Spin releases and mailorder distro as well as our new spin off label Actual Noise. Additionally we’ll be selling online some stuff through Phantom City that we normally wouldn’t have via 20 Buck Spin.

The store itself is an easy to use storefront based on the OScommerce system. You only have to register once and the site will store your address info so you don’t have to do it everytime. You’ll notice prices have been lowered, this is because previously we were using postage paid prices, and now the system calculates exact postage so we’ve taken the postage out of the prices. We still use the US postal system. When your package ships you will now receive a notification of shipment as some of you that have ordered recently have noticed. All domestic packages are now shipped with delivery confirmation.

TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW STOREFRONT AND WEBSITE WE ARE HAVING A 20% OFF SALE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. In order to get 20% off your order you will need to enter the following coupon code during checkout: PY6DFT. The discount will automatically be applied to your pre-shipping total. Again the 20% off sale is good for orders placed now through Wednesday October 15th.

If you notice any problems with the new site or have any questions please email: orders@phantomcityrecords.net.

The other big news this week is that the Samothrace debut album “Life’s Trade” is now available. The Gatefold 2xLP is available both on black, and on limited edition gold vinyl (150 copies). It is cut at 45 RPM. All copies include a poster the same A2 size as was included with the Coffins and The Endless Blockade LPs. All vinyl also includes a coupon for a free download of the entire album. The direct mailorder version also comes with an embroidered Samothrace logo patch and a sticker of the amazing artwork by David D’Andrea. The CD version is also available now.

Be sure to catch Samothrace on tour right now through mid-November. Check their site, myspace.com/samothraceproject for dates all over the US. Here’s a description of the album:

20 Buck Spin first heard Samothrace at a party in Austin during SXSW 2007. A crude rehearsal recording, but instantly we recognized how amazing these songs were gonna be. After inquiring about who it was we immediately got in touch with the Lawrence, Kansas band and offered to release their debut record.

Fast forward to the present and the album, Life’s Trade, has finally materialized. Samothrace plays ultra heavy doom with harsh alcohol-soaked vocals. And yet a somber melodic sense also permeates the 4 long tracks on Life’s Trade. Not in the overused, weepy Euro-doom tradition, but distinctly Midwestern, soulful and blues inflected. The songs shimmer with desperation, hopelessness and pain. “Awkward Hearts” is both world weary for the plight of the oppressed and also intensely personal. The melodic interplay of guitarist Bryan Spinks and Renata Castagna is distinct in doom played this heavy and each song is meticulously crafted for maximum emotional impact.

With several US tours under their belts, Samothrace have already familiarized themselves and won over doom fanatics across the country. With a planned 70 date fall tour, the band will be out in heavy support of Life’s Trade during 2008, with more US and Europe touring planned for early 2009. Recorded and mixed by Sanford Parker (Buried At Sea, Pelican, Nachtmystium) Life’s Trade rates as a stunning debut by a band soon to be on top of the doom genre.

Boise, Idaho’s Pussygutt has a new album coming out on 20 Buck Spin on November 18th called “She Hid Behind Her Veil”. The digipak CD features a single 46 minute track falling somewhere between Black Boned Angel, Phillip Glass and Corrupted. Look for it in our store prior to that date.

The new Hammers of Misfortune double album Fields / Church Of Broken Glass will be released in late November. A gatefold 2xLP with separate and distinct album artwork for each album (The artwork will be inverted on one side, both inside and out, to further distinguish the two separate LPs). The album will have printed inner sleeves and will include a coupon for a free download of both albums. 100 colored vinyl LPs will be available for mailorder – separate colors for each LP of course. The CD version of the album is being handled by Profound Lore.

Much more news to come soon regarding Actual Noise and upcoming 20 Buck Spin releases for 2009. In the meantime let us know what you think of the new websites.