popwreckoning

Today marks the final deadline to sign up for the SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years subscription. The collection includes 14 CDs curated by celebrities from David Byrne to Miranda July to Amy Poehler, a Merge remix CD, a Merge covers album, a 350+ page book of Merge cover art, a comedic CD by Scharpling & Wurster, a custom designed storage box and surprise goodies throughout 2009 all for just $199.00. This subscription offer is not available in stores or through other digital retailers: you  must subscribe through Merge.

The Shins are the latest contributors to hand in their track for the Merge covers album featured in the SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years subscription-only box set, joining a line-up featuring Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Death Cab For Cutie, The National, the New Pornographers and many others. SCORE! subscribers will receive the covers collection a month ahead of its April retail release.

Merges’ 20th Anniversary festivities continue with the announcement of XX MERGE, five days of live music from Merge artists past and present taking place in the label’s native North Carolina July 22-26. Lineup and ticket information will be announced shortly. If it’s half as fun as the last 20th birthday party we attended for a record label, we can’t wait!

XX Merge will be commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Merge label, which began in 1989 in Chapel Hill NC, with a handful of 4-track recordings, a couple of cassette tapes, and some hand-stuffed 7″ vinyl. Literally hundreds of singles, albums, and late nights later, Merge will be celebrating its past, present and future throughout 2009. XX Merge will be the label’s party to mark this anniversary: five days of music by Merge artists past and present in the summer heat of sunny North Carolina.

All proceeds from SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years project will benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by the curators.

Merge Records: website | myspace | SCORE!

Merge Records will celebrate its upcoming 20th anniversary in operation with SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years. Preorders for this deluxe subscription-only box set, which includes special artwork and packaging, begin September 8th and quantities will be limited to the number of subscribers enrolled between Sept. 8th and the January 2009 delivery of the first two volumes.

A total of 14 custom compilations will each feature the curators’ handpicked Merge selections as well as exclusively commissioned original artwork. These compilations and additional exclusive content will be delivered only to SCORE! subscribers throughout Merge’s 20th anniversary year of 2009.

The curators of the first volumes will be Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Phil Morrison, director of Junebug, “The Upright Citizens Brigade” and numerous music videos. Curators for future volumes will include Amy Poehler, David Byrne, author Jonathan Lethem, artist Marcel Dzama, Momofuku chef David Chang and many more to be announced.

Additionally, the entire SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years project will benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by the curators.

Watch for future announcements regarding SCORE!-related projects and special events commemorating the first two decades of the label that has brought us the likes of Arcade Fire, Spoon, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, She & Him, Neutral Milk Hotel, Superchunk and so many more.

Merge Records: website