Texan, emo pioneers Mineral have signed a worldwide deal (excluding North America) with Xtra Mile Recordings, who will reissue their two seminal albumsThe Power of Failing and Endserenading, each on double 45 RPM vinyl, on 20 October 2014.
Xtra Mile will also release Mineral – 1994-1998 a 2x CD compilation of both The Power of Failing and EndSerenading with bonus material and previously unreleased tracks to get the uninitiated up to speed in time for some live performances. Full tracklisting for all releases below.
To celebrate this incredibly influential band signing to their natural, UK-based home, Xtra Mile are offering preorder ticket and vinyl/CD bundles which you can view here from Wednesday, 23 July.
Mineral are also set to play a selection of dates in February 2015, visiting Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Confirmed dates are below.
Check out the video heralding their return:
European live dates 2015:
JANUARY 2015
31 Milan, IT @ Live Forum
FEBRUARY 2015
1 Rimini, IT @ Velvet Club
3 Berlin, GER @ Privat Club
4 Cologne, GER @ Gerbaude
6 Southampton, UK @ Joiners
7 Bristol, UK @ The Exchange
9 Nottingham, UK @ Bodega Social Club
10 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
11 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
12 Manchester, UK @ Ruby Lounge
13 London, UK @ The Underworld
Mineral formed in 1994 and disbanded in 1997 just before the release of their second album Endserenading. Despite a surprisingly small amount of time together, they’ve been cited as inspiration by a host of bands and artists, including Xtra Mile’s very own Frank Turner.
Taking the baton from mid-nineties emo band Sunny Day Real Estate, they crystallised the slow, melodic loud/quiet dynamic that wax sealed the genre, crafting an eternally distinctive and beloved sound. Their debut album The Power of Failing is a passionate paen to spirituality and love, bathed in crescendos of hollered guitar, while posthumous follow-up Endserenading – finished after the official split of the group - broods and simmers with patience, pain and redemption. Both albums are recognised as essential, packed with trailblazing cuts which have since informed plenty of peers and imitators, while never being bettered.
The band reunited in April this year - 20 years after the original formation – and will play their first dates in 17 years this autumn, starting in New York City.
“The empyreal finger-picking crescendos, the punch-to-the-gut octave note explosions, the not-quite-in-key vocals issuing soft-then-screamed confessions about the shortcomings of self - it’s all gorgeously imperfect, from opening notes of ‘5, 8, and 10’ to the harrowing chorus of ‘Parking Lot’””
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be in my room yelling, ‘Cause I just want to be / Something more than the mud in your eyes / I want to be the clay in your hands.’ You know, for practice.”
Tracklistings:
Mineral – 1994 – 1998 The Complete Collection (2 x CD)
Disc 1: The Power of Failing
1. Five, Eight and Ten
2. Gloria
3. Slower
4. Dolorosa
5. 80 – 37
6. If I Could
7. July
8. Silver
9. Take The Picture Now
10. Parking Lot
BONUS TRACKS
1. Sadder Star
2. Five, Eight and Ten (alternate take)
3. Parking Lot (alternate version *)
4. Gloria (alternate take *)
5. If I Could (alternate mix *)
* - previously unreleased
Disc 2: EndSerenading
1. Lovelettertypewriter
2. Palisade
3. Gjs
4. Unfinished
5. ForIvadel
6. Wakingtowinter
7. Aletter
8. Soundslikesunday
9. &serenading
10. Thelastwordisrejoice
BONUS TRACKS
1. Rubber Legs
2. February
3. M.D.
4. Love My Way
5. Crazy
The Power of Failing on 45RPM coloured double vinyl
1. Five, Eight and Ten
2. Gloria
3. Slower
4. Dolorosa
5. 80 – 37
6. If I Could
7. July
8. Silver
9. Take The Picture Now
10. Parking Lot
EndSerenading on 45RPM coloured double vinyl
1. Lovelettertypewriter
2. Palisade
3. Gjs
4. Unfinished
5. ForIvadel
6. Wakingtowinter
7. Aletter
8. Soundslikesunday
9. &serenading
10. Thelastwordisrejoice