Thick Syrup Records is an independent record label from Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded by Travis McElroy in 2006, it specializes in indie rock and underground music. It has released the work of known acts such as Matt Cameron, Jad Fair from Half Japanese, Bob Bert of Sonic Youth, Penn Jillette, Don Fleming and Velvet Monkeys. The label also releases compilation albums with multiple artists.
History Thick Syrup Records (TSR) was founded by Travis McElroy in 2005, but the first year was spent on finances and promoting the imprint. The label's first release was 2005’s Gotta Get It Outta Here by Nathan Brown under the moniker Browningham. McElroy's friend Brian Lovell helped with the label early on, and the name was chosen in honor of Lovell swallowing ipecac on a dare from McElroy. Kevin Rogers later began working with the label in Lovell's place.
As of 2013, Thick Syrup has released about 60 albums that include genres as diverse as art punk, low-fi indie rock, experimental exercises, and rock. According to Arkansas Online, "Thick Syrup has helped blaze a proudly twisted musical path all from the humble confines of central Arkansas."
Artists The following is a partial list of artists, past and present, associated with the label:
The Alpha Ray Androids of Ex-Lovers Avondale Airforce Bald Mountain Ben Lee Bewitched (Bob Bert) Blag Dahlia (Dwarves) Bloodless Cooties BMX Bandits Bob Fay (Sebadoh) Boister The Book of Amy Brothers of the Sonic Cloth (TAD) Browningham Bryan Frazier Chicken Snake Chrome Cranks CooCooRockinTime Damien Jurado David Fair David Greenberger (The Duplex Planet) David Markey (film director) Don Fleming The Empty Boat People Everett True (The Legend!) Ezra Lbs Frown Pow'r Ginsu Wives Half Japanese Herding Kittens INT'L Shades Jad Fair Jam Messengers Julie Cafritz (Pussy Galore) Ken Stringfellow (Posies, Big Star, R.E.M.) Life Size Pizza Liquid Skulls Lucero Lurch and Holler Matt Cameron Mike Watt (The Stooges, Minutemen) Nine Lives Pussy Penn Jillette R. Stevie Moore The Reparations Rob Kennedy (Workdogs, Jam Messengers) The SEE Sit: Boy Girl Boy Girl Smoke Up Johnny Stella Fancy Stephen Egerton (The Descendents) Steve Turner (Mudhoney) Sweet Eagle The Tinklers To Live and Shave in L.A. Twelve Tone Elevator Velvet Monkeys Venture Lift Weird Paul Petroskey The Whistling Joy Jumpers (Jad Fair, Thollem McDonas, & Brian Chase of Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Yuri Landman Ensemble
Discography This incomplete list is organized by catalog number, a roughly chronological number system established by the label and assigned to each release.
No. Artist Title Year TSR The Tinklers Seven Ways to Sunday 2010 TSR0023 Velvet Monkeys Everything Is Right 2011 TSR0024 Don Fleming Don Fleming 4 2011 TSR Various (Damien Jurado, Matt Cameron, etc.) '78 LTD: Compilation CD 2011 TSR Bob Bert Bewitched - Bob Bert Presents: The Worst Poetry Of 1986 - 1993 2011 TSR0047 Weird Paul Petroskey 25 Lo-Fi Years 2012 TSR Yuri Landman Ensemble That's Right, Go Cats 2012 TSR0059 Weird Paul Petroskey Still Going Strong 2013 See also: List of available releases on Blue Collar Distro
References
External links Official Website Thick Syrup Records on MySpace (Official) Thick Syrup Records on Facebook (Official)