These Arms Are Snakes Sign to Suicide Squeeze
Ed note: This post was originally attributed to Seth Werkheiser, but it was actually written by Matthew DeBenedictis. Sorry for any confusion.
The Seattle post-hardcore juggernauts These Arms Are Snakes have left their home of Jade Tree Records to join the ever-growing family of Suicide Squeeze. This news has of course been confirmed in the only suitable manner today by the changing of details of a profile on myspace. This signing is great news for Suicide Squeeze, but bad news for Jade Tree as These Arms Are Snakes were the flagship of the label, which now puts a question into play: with no heavy selling band is Jade Tree about to go into a hibernation of low activity or sadly is another great label about to bite the dust?
Jade Tree Records was born in 1991, and has been a pivotal independent label, which is more than a moniker for them, as they are still owned by their own damn selves. Jade Tree has always been known as an artist friendly label with their rage against the industry business model of splitting all sales with the artist 50/50 rather than the “well send you a check if you make platinum” approach. Jade Tree has had a history of putting out a varied style of bands such as The Promise Ring, Life Time, Pedro The Lion, Avail, Jets To Brazil, and Joan of Arc. But in the past year Jade Tree has had more than half of their roster move onto other labels:
- David Bazan broke up Pedro The Lion and then moved his future solo recordings to Barsuk. You can listen to a 2007 solo show bootleg where he gives his reasons for the label switch during a Q and A session in between songs here.
- Young Widows left back in March for the land of encouraged experimentation and post-rock pastures of Temporary Residence.
- At this years SXSXW Fucked Up started a riot and then signed with Fat Wreck Chords.
- Lords found out Jade Tree could only release their new album digitally so they found a label to buy them out of their recording debt and release the album the old fashioned way – on plastic.
- Ester Drang is reaching the point of inactivity where it’s a safe bet to call them broken up.
In a recent interview Lords singer/guitarist Chris Owens made mention of financial problems at Jade Tree that were going to be taken care of by the hope of sales of the new These Arms Are Snakes record.
With These Arms Are Snakes no longer on Jade Tree that hoped for cash flow is going to be going to Suicide Squeeze now. Jade Tree still currently has four active bands, but none of them have the selling possibility and history as These Arms Are Snakes meaning Jade Tree could go the way of the buffalo or they could go into a time of digital and small releases. I personally hope it’s the latter.
6 Responses to “These Arms Are Snakes Sign to Suicide Squeeze”
-
On 05/9/08 3:09 PM, Goody said:
sadly, Jade Tree will be another label to bite the dust, which is a bummer
-
On 05/9/08 4:54 PM, dake said:
I think the real issue is twofold. 1) Jade Tree’s roster is pretty weak, like you mentioned. 2) Don’t quote me on this, but I think fewer and fewer people are buying punk/hardcore records (at least the kind that Jade Tree puts out) each year, and instead of adapting and moving on, has sort of just stuck to this really loud hardcore thing. That’s cool to stick to what you’re into and all, but, man, you’re a record COMPANY, so if you’re not making ends meet, no matter how awesome your roster is, you’re failing.
-
On 05/9/08 7:33 PM, thewake said:
Great label, but it’s been years since I myself have purchased anything from them. People don’t buy music anymore… they download it.
-
On 05/9/08 11:59 PM, The 1/3 said:
I didn’t know Jade Tree had so few active bands. Then again, I’ve mostly been checking out old stuff from the label lately.
-
On 05/13/08 10:03 AM, HAHA said:
Fucked Up didn’t start a riot and aren’t on Fat
don’t you get jokes
-
On 05/13/08 4:41 PM, Re:Generator Magazine said:
What’s wrong with releasing your album digitally? Isn’t there a number like 50% of teens didn’t even buy one CD last year floating around the interwebs? Yet everyone downloaded their asses off…
Plastic is made from petroleum so if you buy CDs you’re just letting the terrorists win.
