Damon & Naomi - The Sub Pop Years

Compiling the best of Damon & Naomi s records over the course of four albumson the venerable Sub Pop label, The Sub Pop Years commemorates agrand chapter in the career of a band who never planned an existence in the firstplace. After More Sad Hits (just reissued last year on 20/20/20), the duo wasready to call it a day and concentrate on their book company. However, theywere convinced to continue onward by Sub Pop poobah Jonathan Poneman,who saw great potential in their continued collaboration. It was not the first time(nor last) his hunch proved right. For the next ten years, Damon & Naomi developedfrom a simple recording project to a fully fleshed-out band, with a knackfor articulating sounds and accumulating collaborators that continues today.Every early Damon & Naomi release was an event by virtue of its very existence,and Wondrous World of Damon & Naomi was no exception. It was not thefinal signature to an abridged letter, like More Sad Hits was, but rather markednew forays down future pathways. An eagerness to experiment with folk musicformats from around the world, combined with the developing abilities of twotrue artists, plays out on this compilation, displaying the duo s growing sound.Each album is indeed a leap, the most notable being With Ghost, where a friendshipwith the Japanese psych band Ghost led to one of the great cross-culturalcollaborations in the history of independent music. For a couple of musicianswho prided themselves on a minimal delivery, their goals went up against theopportunity of having a large ensemble at their disposal. This, along with theirgrowing comfort as band leaders, becomes clear upon a full listen to Sub PopYears. What emerges is something real and human, with both foibles and innovations,resulting in a unique honesty both awe-striking and endearing to witness.Damon & Naomi continue recording and performing today, ever more focusedon pushing themselves toward new challenges within humble settings.The specially priced Sub Pop Years captures an important part of that journeywith a conciseness and breadth that will enrich both a longtime fan and the firsttimelistener. As the CD is being released simultaneously with a DVD compilinglive performances and videos, as well as a special reissue of all three Galaxie500 albums (the first reissues ever of the vinyl), The Sub Pop Years is part of alarger look back before the band finishes up their new record, slated for releasein 2010.

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