Merge Records: First 20 Years box set on the way
Preorders opened today at mergerecords.com for SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years, a deluxe subscription-only box set with special artwork and packaging. Quantities will be limited to the number of subscribers who enroll between the Sept. 8 start date and the Jan. ‘09 delivery of the first two volumes.
The box set includes 14 curated Merge compilations, two more discs: an entire album of non-Merge artists such as The National, Death Cab For Cutie and Ryan Adams covering their favorite tracks from the Merge catalog, and a remix collection featuring reinterpretations of Merge classics by the likes of Battles, Jason Forrest, Four Tet and more.
The 14 discs span Merge’s history and feature handpicked selections as well as exclusively commissioned original artwork. The first two volumes are compiled by Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Phil Morrison, director of Junebug, “The Upright Citizens Brigade” and numerous music videos. The full list of curators for the next 12 volumes includes : Amy Poehler, David Byrne, Miranda July, Jonathan Lethem, Marcel Dzama, Momofuku chef David Chang, Georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo, Zach Galifianakis, New Yorker critic/The Rest Is Noise author Alex Ross, Persepolis author Marjane Satrapi, and artists Andrea Zittel and Kara Walker. Proceeds from SCORE! will go to benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by these curators.
Orders placed between today (Mon., Sept. 8) and Nov. 8 will receive the entire collection for $179, after which the price will be $199 until orders close.