David Vibert
(Iron Pier)
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SPB: What was your favorite release of your label in 2006 (including anything that will be released by the end of the year)? Why?
I think that a labels first full-length release is really the true measure of it as a productive, art endorsing and releasing enterprise. Many small labels produce a 7" or two and then disappear, the true test is whether they can put out that first full length, make it count, then stay viable. If we hold Iron Pier to that standard then my favorite release of 2006 would have to be the first full-length release we have done; United States Divorce Songs. This album really is a diamond in the rough and holds a lot of emotional and sentimental value for me, both as an artistic statement and as the validation of Iron Pier as a viable pursuit.
SPB: How will you remember 2006? (in terms of music)
Theres not really a whole lot that stuck out for me. Indeed a lot of 2006s output has blended into 2005s in my mind. To me 2006 was a muddle of sameness punctuated by brief and startling spikes of greatness and originality.
SPB: What do you see as the role of labels in 2007 and beyond?
I believe the true role of labels is to get bands music out to an audience. It isnt to pander or to try and get rich. To make money or a living off of music and art is by no means an immoral goal or one Im opposed to pursuing, but when you set out to create a product rather than facilitate an artistic expression you demean and debase what has the potential to be an incredibly fulfilling calling.
SPB: Top five releases of 2006? (not on your label)
- End Of A Years Sincerely was by far my most anticipated release of 2006. Ive known these guys for a long time, back since they first produced their incredibly rough demo Warm. Sincerely is nearly the end result of everything theyve been working towards since that demo and the following 7" and debut LP. I say nearly because I think they can produce something even better with their next release. What I like about EOAY is their catchy, layered and clever songwriting and the intelligent and starkly honest lyric writing.
- The Hold Steadys album Boys and Girls in America is an album that nearly flew under my radar and thank god it didnt because its amazing. These guys from Brooklyn merge the catchy beer soaked poignancy of The Replacements with the subtle grandiosity and storytelling of the best Bruce Springsteen material and infuse it with Beat era inspired literary leanings.
- Dividers EP At Twilight on Shock Value Records is a great mix of tech-metal, vocal venom as well as Isis-like atmospherics.
- David Bazans first solo release, the EP Fewer Moving Parts was also really really good. Its his first foray into directly topical songwriting, ("Selling Advertising" about Pitchforks founder Ryan Schreiber and the title track, about breaking up Pedro The Lion) which is a slightly odd leap thematically but it seems to work.
Im writing this off the top of my head at my Parents house after Christmas dinner and I find it hard to think of a definitive fifth choice for music that really stuck in my rotation. So instead Im going to devote the fifth slot to a list of albums that I really like but so far havent gotten into enough to call them my favorites: Crime In Stereos The Troubled Stateside, Cat Powers The Greatest, TV on the Radios Return To Cookie Mountain, Band Of Horses Everything All At Once, Verses From Anger and Rage, Brand News The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me, Converges No Heroes, and Sufjan Stevens The Avalanche. I think thats it but I probably forgot something and will be kicking myself later.
SPB: Any previews/hints/facts of what you will be releasing in 2007?
I used to be considerably more secretive about what were releasing. A year ago I think I used to believe that premature announcements did something to spoil the surprise of a release. Now when asked this question Im like an expectant father who cant wait for the opportunity to talk about his burgeoning offspring. It looks like were going to be releasing the third release by Long Islands Dearly Departed. Theyre like Codeseven meets Mineral. Were also doing a 7" by a band from both Brooklyn and San Francisco called Dirty Looks who sound like The Vaselines and early Replacements. In other 7" plans is a long-planned release by End Of A Year. Well also be working with Gracer on something, but what exactly it is has yet to be determined. Well also hopefully be putting out some more stuff by Agent and Thieves and Assassins. We also hope to release some side releases by Capital now that theyre on Revelation. Wed also like to release the Agent and Capital releases on vinyl, depending on demand and time/money.
SPB: Whats your main goal of 2007 (labelwise)?
To grow to a level where a release on Iron Pier is not a negligible event. To find more bands whose music we love and who wed like to work with and build friendships with. To retain friendships and working relationships with everyone in and involved with all the bands weve already put out.
SPB: Predictions of trends in 2007 (music related (and more if you want))?
In the way that CDs revolutionized the music market previously dominated by LPs and cassettes, iPods, mp3s, soulseek and iTunes have changed the way labels, bands and listeners think of music as a physical manifestation. Im excited to see where this is going to take us, both as producers and consumers, listeners, artists and as a culture.
Iron Pier releases of 2006
- Thieves and Assassins - Thieves and Assassins EP
- United States - Divorce Songs
- Capital - Signal Corps
- Agent - I Wouldnt Trade That For Anything
