News
Of Montreal: Almost Live from Joyful Noise
Announcing: of Montreal "Almost Live from Joyful Noise"! This exclusive recording is released on screen-printed white vinyl as part of our VIP Singles Series.
On October 22, 2015 we invited our friends of Montreal to participate in this "Almost Live" series. The oM boys were trying to fit this session in between sound check and doors of their show, happening down the street at the Murat in Indianapolis. As a result, JNR was helping to cart the band back and forth. We arrived at the venue in time to catch a bit of their soundcheck, and had a few hugs (Davy and Dobby had just been at our space a few weeks earlier with Yip Deceiver).
When we arrived at the venue, it didn't seem that Kevin had yet decided what song to do for their session. He had toyed with the idea of doing a new unreleased song, but apparently the bass part was far to complicated for Davy to be able to nail live. They ended up deciding on "Empyrean Abattoir", which was awesome not only because it's an awesome song, but because just about a year prior Kevin had played an early version of this song on acoustic guitar in my basement for his WARMfest lathe-cut. And we were now able to hear the fully-realized, fleshed out final song as part of our Almost Live session.
The band nailed it in one take. No bullshit with these guys. They just played through once, and it was magical. We asked if they wanted to try another take, and they just looked at us like "why?"...
A few donuts and PBRs later, we were driving the band back to the show just in time to see Diane Coffee.
Tiny Mix Tapes premieres Half Japanese's video for "It's Called Love"

Jad Fair of Half Japanese delivers yet another whimsical and wondrous cinematic experience with the video for "It's Called Love". A huge thanks to Tiny Mix Tapes for debuting it for them. Check it out!
2016 Winter/Spring Internship

There is a place where ignorance meets wisdom. There is a time where youth meets experience. There is an ocean where the ship of curiosity sets sail to find the island of knowledge. There is beer.
Now you have a chance to come behind the scenes to see how we waste away the precious hours of our lives running an indie record label. It can be very rewarding. It can be frustrating. It is always interesting.

Come join us for a marketing internship this winter and spring! We are currently accepting applications for a 14 week unpaid, volunteer internship starting the week of January 25th. You are required to come to our Indianapolis offices 8 hours per week split into two shifts. The shift options are Mondays 11:30am to 3:30pm, Wednesdays 12:00pm to 4pm, and Fridays 12:30 to 4:30.
Here are some of the potential benefits:
- first hand experience working in the music industry
- in many cases, you can get college credit
- you get to work one-on-one with with our staff, who are just as obsessed with music as you are
- you get free new releases, shirts, etc.
- in most instances, you'll be on the guest list for shows by JNR artists
- you get us as a reference for future job opportunities
- touch Lil Bub
Fill out the application below!
2016 Flexi-Series Announced
We are pleased to announce our roster to the 2016 Flexi-Disc Series!
In case you are unaware, the Joyful Noise Flexi-Disc Series is a platform for some of our favorite artists to release never-before-heard recordings on a fleeting analog format. Artists are encouraged to be as adventurous as possible for the duration of one single-sided flexi disc (which is essentially a square, flexible 7" record). These are unique and ephemeral tracks from some of the best bands in the world.
Each release is strictly limited to a one-time pressing of 1000 copies on clear, single-sided, square Flexi Disc (w/ full cover art chosen by the band). These songs will not be released digitally or on any other format. That is to say, the total existence of each recording is limited to just 1000 copies, on an increasingly-degrading analog format.
2016 will be our 5th and FINAL YEAR of the Flexi-Disc Series - which I know... it's sad. But all good things must come to an end.
This year will feature the following amazing artists:
Ava Luna
Briana Marela
Chris Cohen
Don Caballero
Julianna Barwick
Le Butcherettes
Lil BUB feat. the Uncluded (Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson)
Ought
Prince Rama
Sondre Lerche
Swirlies
Thurston Moore


Cost to subscribe is $8 / month, with free shipping worldwide (or $22 / month if you wanna combine with our VIP Membership and 7" subscription).
If you choose sign up for the yearly option, you'll also receive the wooden, screen-printed box pictured here (feat. the art of Tyler Keeton Robbins).

Announcing: 2016 VIP Membership
Greetings JNR friends:
We are pleased to announce our 2016 VIP Membership! In case you're unfamiliar, our VIP program is a special membership that includes exclusive limited vinyl, free downloads of all new releases, free shipping, and much more.
What are you supporting when you sign up? In the age of free digital music, JNR survives because of your VIP membership. We use these funds to pay for fundamental operating costs so the artists ultimately don't have to chip in for things like utilities, rent, packing materials, humble staff wages and other things. This gives us the freedom to treat our artists fairly, and release amazing music with less of an eye on financial viability.
In addition to the usual perks, we have some very exciting changes going into effect in 2016. Most significantly, we have a new singles series, featuring screen-printed, pressed 7" records (and the first one is the Melvins!), plus every VIP will now receive free shipping on all orders anywhere in North America, UK, or Europe.
Here are the details:
VIP Singles Series!
We have a brand new VIP-exclusive 7" series beginning in 2016! Throughout the year we will be releasing monthly singles, pressed on white or clear 7" vinyl w/ screen-printed artwork (and unique screen-printed design on side B). VIP singles feature our "Almost Live" sessions, as well as unreleased "Mystery Singles" from our roster.
And we're very happy to announce that the January installment comes from the Melvins! This is a much-requested, proper vinyl pressing of our Melvins "Almost Live" session in which they covered Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl" featuring Teri Gender Bender (Le Butcherettes)... now pressed on white vinyl w/ screen-printed art on Side B designed by Mackie Osborne, packaged in a screen-printed jacket. Check it:
FREE SHIPPING!

FINAL YEAR of the Flexi-Disc Series!
All good things must come to an end… 2016 will mark the fifth and final year for our annual flexi-disc series. And we’re going out with a bang. Lots of amazing artists lined up, who will be announced very soon.
NOTE: The custom-built, screen-printed wooden box will only be available to those who sign up for the yearly option.
2015 Fall Internship

It’s time once again to welcome curious and passionate music lovers deep into the mysterious world of Joyful Noise Recordings. Wanna know what goes on behind the screen of this website? Wanna know what it takes to get your music heard by thousands, nay, millions of people who just listen to the first ten seconds then skip? Wanna know how to pay your rent and utility bills with a career in music and have another job on the side?
If the answer is “WTF?” to any of the above questions then you are a perfect fit to come help us out this fall!
Reptar//Stranger Cat Live Indianapolis 7.23.2015

Announcing: Lou Barlow "Brace the Wave"

We are extremely excited to announce that the legendary Lou Barlow will release his first solo album in six years on JNR! Barlow's extensive and celebrated discography includes releases from Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Folk Implosion, and his new solo album will mark the third release under his own name.
