Merge Recs w/SCORE! Sub-only Box Sets

Countdown to the 20^th anniversary of highly-regarded label commences next month.

By Blurt Staff

Mark your calendars for September 8: that's when Merge Records (www.mergerecords.com) starts precorders for SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years, a deluxe subscription-only box set with special artwork and packaging.  Quantities will be limited to the number of subscribers who enroll between the September 8 start date and the January 2009 delivery of the first two volumes.

The first two volumes will kick off a series of 14 custom-curated compilations spanning the Merge Records catalogue, each featuring the curators' handpicked Merge selections as well as exclusively commissioned original artwork. These compilations and additional exclusive content will be delivered only to SCORE! subscribers throughout Merge's 20th anniversary year of 2009.

The curators of the first volumes will be Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Phil Morrison, director of Junebug, The Upright Citizens Brigade and numerous music videos. Curators for future volumes will include Amy Poehler, David Byrne, author Jonathan Lethem, artist Marcel Dzama,  Momofuku chef David Chang and many more to be announced.

Additionally, the entire SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years project will benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by the curators. Various SCORE!-related projects and special events commemorating the first two decades of the label will also be announced through the run-down to the official anniversary bash next year.