Slint: Spiderland (180g-dark blue) LP

Blue wax! Produced by Brian Paulson at River North Recorders in Chicago and released by Touch & Go Records in April of 1991, the six songs on "Spiderland" methodically mapped a shadowy new continent of sound. The music is taut, menacing, and haunting; its structure built largely on absence and restraint, on the echoing space between the notes, but punctuated by sudden thrilling blasts of unfettered fury. It is a sound that no one had heard before and that no one will ever forget. "Spiderland" spawned a whole new genre, frequently called post-rock, and came to be regarded as one of the most important and influential records of the past thirty years. The eerie, now-iconic black and white cover photo of the four band members' heads breaking the surface of the water was taken by their friend Will Oldham. Slint broke up shortly before "Spiderland" was released. Band members went on to play in Tortoise, The Breeders, Palace, The For Carnation, Papa M, Evergreen, Interpol, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Limited to 5000 copies.