Important Records is an American

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

based in

Groveland, Massachusetts Groveland is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is thirty-four miles north of Boston. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 6,752. The town is divided into two precincts, Groveland and South Groveland. History Grovelan ...

. The idea behind the label is to be like a good record store, with releases from diverse artists and genres.

History

John Brien started Important Records in 2001 out of his

Newbury, Massachusetts Newbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 6,716 at the 2020 census. Newbury includes the villages of Old Town (Newbury Center), Plum Island and Byfield. Each village is a precinct with its own voting district, ...

apartment, initially as an online store. Brien had been the assistant manager of a

record shop A record shop or record store is a retail outlet that sells Sound recording and reproduction, recorded music. In the late 19th century and the early 20th century, record shops only sold gramophone records, but over the 20th century, record sho ...

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on the Piscataqua River bordering the state of Maine, Portsmou ...

, but he quit when the manager of the store was fired. Important's first two releases were ''Impossible Love'' by the American songwriter

Daniel Johnston Daniel Dale Johnston (January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019) was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consisted of cassettes recorded a ...

and '' Amlux'' by the Japanese noise musician

Merzbow is a Japanese noise project started in 1979 by , best known for a style of harsh, confrontational noise. Since 1980, Akita has released over 400 recordings and has collaborated with various artists. The name Merzbow comes from the German dada ...

. In 2003, Important released ''

A Is for Accident ''A Is for Accident'' is the debut live album by American dark cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, a collection of live and studio recordings from 2001–2003, which was released on May 27, 2003 by Important Records. Future pressings were handled b ...

'', the debut album of

The Dresden Dolls The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer (lead vocals and piano; additional: keyboards, harmonica, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums and backing vocals; ad ...

. Important also operates two sublabels: Cassauna, started in 2011, which releases cassettes in

letterpress Letterpress printing is a technique of relief printing. Using a printing press, the process allows many copies to be produced by repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against sheets or a continuous roll of paper. A worker comp ...

packaging; and Saltern, started in September 2014, curated by

Tashi Wada Tashi, also spelled Trashi (), is a Tibetan word meaning "good fortune" or "auspiciousness". Tashi or Trashi may refer to: People *Dagpo Tashi Namgyal, 16th-century Tibetan scholar *Guru Tashi, legendary ancestor of the Sikkimese royal family * N ...

Partial roster of artists

References

External links

* {{Authority control Record labels established in 2001 American independent record labels Experimental music record labels Companies based in Essex County, Massachusetts 2001 establishments in Massachusetts American companies established in 2001 Groveland, Massachusetts

History

Partial roster of artists

See also

References

External links