Being an 18 year old seems a lot easier now than it did in 1999. Hell, it seems like every other day we’re hearing about another crop of adolescents getting signed by a really sweet indie label, who will make their dreams of being indie rock stars a bona fide reality. Or, at least they’ll probably get to meet some cool dudes. Avi Buffalo, a project led by Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, is the latest to make the transition from High School band to a member of the Sub Pop roster. Avi Buffalo, which is fleshed out by Sheridan Riley, Arin Fazio and Rebecca Coleman, make lucid pop in a similar vein to fellow Sub Pop signee Chad Van Gaalen, if Van Gaalen were to leave the electro-leanings to the side and focus on bedroom pop and home recorded lullabies. It’s innocent and honest and pure, and unlike most 18 year olds currently making songs in their bedroom, isn’t wrapped in layers of unconditioned fuzz. Or pink ribbon. Avi Buffalo will release their first single on Sub Pop, “What’s in It For?” b/w “Jessica” on December 8th 2009. Sub Pop will also release the band’s full length debut sometime in 2010.

When Kurt Cobain signed with Sub Pop over a decade and a half ago and together they released the definitive rock album of the 90s, he was probably thinking locally. The money probably helped a bit, but ultimately dude was thinking “I really just want to be at a label that’s going to enter into a joint-venture with the largest shoe corporation in the world!” Alright, so maybe this wasn’t the direction Kurt or co-founder Bruce Pavitt saw the label going, but all kidding aside these things look kind of sweet. And hey, skateboarders listen to early Shins albums too. After all, what good does it do to be half-owned by Warner Brothers if you can’t get a skate shoe or two out of the deal. Sure, the two SP logos are a bit excessive. Sure, generic statement about indie rock being officially over and nothing being sacred anymore. We live in hard times. Cash is cash, folks.

(Via: Hypebeast via Daily Swarm)

Their performance at this past weekend’s Woodsist festival must have caused quite a stir- just after their debut live show, Los Angeles’ Dum Dum Girls (the brainchild of one girl, Dee Dee, fleshed out by members of Crystal Stilts, Crocodiles, and Blank Dogs at the festival) have been signed to Sub Pop. The full length is rumored to be released at the beginning of 2010, but those intrigued by Dee Dee’s fuzzy pop can check out the Longhair 7” on Hozac and the Yours Alone 12” EP out on Captured Tracks. Dee Dee’s MySpace also promises more releases in the near future, including a split 7” with Crocodiles, so it sounds like we’ll be hearing from her on a regular basis leading up to the release of her debut album.

Their song writing chops may have been over looked until Kurt Cobain gave The Vaselines some much needed praise and recognition back in the 90s (yeah, remember the days of MTV Unplugged?). But Sub Pop is dusting off some of the band’s best work, remastering it and will be releasing The Vaselines’ complete collection as a deluxe CD and LP set early this May.
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They’ve been with Sub Pop Records for almost a decade now, but it looks like after months of speculation the Shins are actually parting ways with the label that helped bring them their momentous success on the indie circuit.Does this mean a major label signing for the veteran indie-rockers is imminent? 
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