The International Tweexcore Underground
Encyclopedia
"The International Tweexcore Underground" is a song by UK
indie pop
band Los Campesinos!
. It was released on 15 October 2007 on iTunes
, and was released physically on 22 October 2007 on Wichita
.
The title of the track is a parody of a series of 7"
singles
on K Records
entitled The International Pop Underground. K Records
is home to Calvin Johnson, who originally appeared on one of the B-sides of the single - covers of songs by Heavenly
and Black Flag
. Both Amelia Fletcher
and Henry Rollins
are namechecked in the single. K Records
are further referenced by Los Campesinos!
in the lyrics of "Knee Deep at ATP", a song which appears on their debut album.
This track is not featured on the band's debut album. The video for the single was recorded at The Opera House
in Toronto
– a venue that Los Campesinos! would return to on April 1, 2009 as part of their North American tour.
fan (played by Aleks). In the verses both stick up for their culture's ideals by pointing out the flaws they find in the other. Examples of this are how Gareth says that Aleks could never listen to an album of her music and read fiction at the same time and how Aleks believes that the only reason Gareth listens to this music is that he is scared to be alone. The chorus features the naming of several prominent twee and punk figures (Amelia Fletcher
, Calvin Johnson, Ian Mckaye and Henry Rollins
). However, they use these names so that the listener knows that Gareth never cared for Fugazi and Black Flag
and Aleks never cared for Heavenly
or Beat Happening
/K Records
. Immediately following this however, is the exclamation that the International Tweexcore underground (a reference to the International Pop Underground, an integral part of twee history) will save them all. The international tweexcore underground is the ultimate joining of both groups, with the twee and hardcore genres forming together and learning to coexist peacefully.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos! are a seven piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. Although the band formed in Wales, none of its members are Welsh. They released their debut album, Hold on Now, Youngster..., in February 2008 and followed this up by releasing a record...
. It was released on 15 October 2007 on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, and was released physically on 22 October 2007 on Wichita
Wichita Recordings
Wichita Recordings is an independent record label located in London, founded in 2000 by Mark Bowen and Dick Green. Its most notable signees are Bloc Party, The Cribs, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Her Space Holiday, Los Campesinos! and Peter Bjorn and John...
.
The title of the track is a parody of a series of 7"
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
entitled The International Pop Underground. K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
is home to Calvin Johnson, who originally appeared on one of the B-sides of the single - covers of songs by Heavenly
Heavenly (British band)
Heavenly were a 1990s twee pop band, originally forming in Oxford, England in 1989. Amelia Fletcher , Mathew Fletcher , Peter Momtchiloff and Robert Pursey had all been members of Talulah Gosh, a key member of the C86 scene.-History:Heavenly debuted with the 7" single "I Fell in Love Last...
and Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
. Both Amelia Fletcher
Amelia Fletcher
Amelia Fletcher is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, and economist. She has been the frontwoman of an evolving series of pop groups from the 1980s to the present...
and Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
are namechecked in the single. K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
are further referenced by Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos! are a seven piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. Although the band formed in Wales, none of its members are Welsh. They released their debut album, Hold on Now, Youngster..., in February 2008 and followed this up by releasing a record...
in the lyrics of "Knee Deep at ATP", a song which appears on their debut album.
This track is not featured on the band's debut album. The video for the single was recorded at The Opera House
The Opera House (Toronto)
The Opera House is a music venue in Toronto, Canada. It is one of the city's most historic performing venues, opening in 1909. It has also been a cinema and a live theatre venue. It is located at 735 Queen Street East, east of downtown in the Riverdale neighbourhood.-History:It opened in 1909 as a...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
– a venue that Los Campesinos! would return to on April 1, 2009 as part of their North American tour.
Meaning
The song is an argument between a twee fan (played by Gareth) and a punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
fan (played by Aleks). In the verses both stick up for their culture's ideals by pointing out the flaws they find in the other. Examples of this are how Gareth says that Aleks could never listen to an album of her music and read fiction at the same time and how Aleks believes that the only reason Gareth listens to this music is that he is scared to be alone. The chorus features the naming of several prominent twee and punk figures (Amelia Fletcher
Amelia Fletcher
Amelia Fletcher is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, and economist. She has been the frontwoman of an evolving series of pop groups from the 1980s to the present...
, Calvin Johnson, Ian Mckaye and Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
). However, they use these names so that the listener knows that Gareth never cared for Fugazi and Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and Aleks never cared for Heavenly
Heavenly
Heavenly may refer to:In music:* Heavenly , a twee pop band from Oxford, England* Heavenly , a power metal band from Paris, France* Heavenly , released in 1959....
or Beat Happening
Beat Happening
Beat Happening is an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members...
/K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
. Immediately following this however, is the exclamation that the International Tweexcore underground (a reference to the International Pop Underground, an integral part of twee history) will save them all. The international tweexcore underground is the ultimate joining of both groups, with the twee and hardcore genres forming together and learning to coexist peacefully.
Track listing
Personnel
- Aleksandra – vocals, keyboard
- Ellen – bass guitar
- Gareth – vocals, glockenspiel
- Harriet – violin, keyboard
- Neil – guitar
- Ollie – drums
- Tom – lead guitar
- David Newfeld – producer