4AD - Selected Discography

Selected Discography

1980

1. Bauhaus, "Dark Entries" (AD 3); the only AXIS single to be re-issued under the 4AD name
2. Modern English, Swans on Glass (AD 6);
3. Rema-Rema, Wheel in the Roses (BAD 5); the first release bearing the 4AD logo
4. Bauhaus, In the Flat Field (CAD 13); the first full-length LP on 4AD
5. Modern English, Gathering Dust (AD 15); later the inspiration for This Mortal Coil's first record

1981

1. The Birthday Party, Prayers on Fire (CAD 105); first full-length from revered post-punk band
2. Dif Juz, Huremics (BAD 109); debut EP from proto-"post rock" outfit
3. Natures Mortes (Still Lives) (CAD 117); definitive summary of the label's post-punk years, originally only available in Japan

1982

1. Colin Newman, Not To (CAD 201); Third solo LP from Wire frontman, featuring several previously unreleased Wire tracks
2. Modern English, After the Snow (CAD 206); LP contains 4AD's first mainstream hit, the New Wave classic "I Melt with You"
3. Cocteau Twins, Garlands (CAD 211); debut LP from band who would come to define the label's aesthetic

1983

1. The Wolfgang Press, The Burden of Mules (CAD 308); debut LP from long-time 4AD mainstay, including former Rema-Rema members
2. This Mortal Coil, Sixteen Days/Gathering Dust (BAD 310); debut EP from Ivo's house band, including popular cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren"
3. Cocteau Twins, Head over Heels (CAD 313); the band's second LP begins to define the band and label's sound

1984

1. Dead Can Dance, Dead Can Dance (CAD 404); debut from the band who would become the label's biggest-selling act
2. Cocteau Twins, The Spangle Maker (BAD 405); first release with new bassist Simon Raymonde crystallizes the band's sound
3. This Mortal Coil, It'll End in Tears (CAD 411); debut LP was an international underground success
4. Cocteau Twins, Treasure (CAD 412); a fan favourite, but one of the band's least favourite albums

1985

1. Clan of Xymox, Clan of Xymox (CAD 503); debut LP from classic goth band
2. Dif Juz, Extractions (CAD 505); only full-length from the band, which is very much in-line with the classic 4AD sound
3. Colourbox, Colourbox (CAD 508); debut LP from pop-collage artists, considered ahead of its time today
4. Dead Can Dance, Spleen and Ideal (CAD 512); second LP that advanced the band's sound considerably
5. Cocteau Twins, The Pink Opaque (CAD 513CD); compilation of 1982-1985 material intended for US release; released only on CD in the UK, the label's first release on the medium

1986

1. Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (CAD 603); reissue of songs by the internationally renowned Bulgarian folk ensemble
2. Throwing Muses, Throwing Muses (CAD 607); debut LP from the first American band signed to 4AD
3. This Mortal Coil, Filigree & Shadow (DAD 609); second album from Ivo's project is the label's first double album

1987

1. M|A|R|R|S, Pump up the Volume (AD 707); the label's only single to reach number one in the UK charts, generally regarded as a significant milestone in the development of British house music and music sampling
2. Lonely Is an Eyesore (CAD 703); compilation album released in many formats, showcasing the label's diverse lineup
3. Dead Can Dance, Within the Realm of a Dying Sun (CAD 705); another classic LP typical of the label's output of the era
4. Pixies, Come on Pilgrim (MAD 709); debut mini-album culled from the band's demo tape
5. Pieter Nooten/Michael Brook, Sleeps with the Fishes (CAD 710); atmospheric album from former Clan of Xymox member Nooten and noted guitarist/producer Brook

1988

1. Throwing Muses, House Tornado (CAD 802); the band's second LP is their first to be released in the USA
2. Pixies, Surfer Rosa (CAD 803); Steve Albini-produced album that proved to be massively influential on nearly all alternative rock to follow
3. Cocteau Twins, Blue Bell Knoll (CAD 807); the band's most successful LP to date received major-label distribution in the USA by Capitol Records

1989

1. Pixies, Doolittle (CAD 809); another extremely influential LP that now routinely ranks high in lists of all-time best albums
2. Lush, Scar (JAD 911); debut EP by English quartet that straddled the line between airy, melodic pop and shoegaze

1990s

1. The Breeders, Pod (CAD 0006); debut of Pixie Kim Deal's side project that eventually became her main band
2. His Name Is Alive, Livonia (CAD 0008); American band begins a long run at 4AD with a debut that carries on in the tradition of the label's 1980s heyday
3. Cocteau Twins, Heaven or Las Vegas (CAD 0012); the band's final album on 4AD; was said by Ivo to be "the best record 4AD ever released."
4. Belly, Star (CAD 3002); debut album of the side-project by Throwing Muses' Tanya Donelly
5. Red House Painters, Red House Painters, a.k.a. Rollercoaster (DAD 3008); acclaimed, sprawling double album from the pioneering slowcore band
6. Unrest, Perfect Teeth (CAD 3012); jointly-released with TeenBeat Records
7. Lush, Split (CAD 4011); the band's critically acclaimed second album
8. Mojave 3, Ask Me Tomorrow (CAD 5013); debut album from former members of shoegaze band Slowdive
9. Thievery Corporation, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi (CAD 8006); an unlikely and short-lived foray into the electronic, downtempo world for 4AD

2002

1. The Breeders, Title TK (CAD 2205); strangely intimate, feminine garage rock and an admirably honest portrait of the band

2004

1. Blonde Redhead, Misery Is a Butterfly (CAD 2409); a creative leap forward for the band
2. TV on the Radio, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes (CAD 2420); otherworldly debut album from feted Brooklyn band

2005

1. Cocteau Twins, Lullabies to Violaine (CTBOX 2); compilation of all Cocteau Twins' EPs, singles, and B-sides spread over four compact discs; remastered by Robin Guthrie and released to coincide with the label's 25th anniversary
2. TV on the Radio, Dry Drunk Emperor (n/a); a free download track, never formally released, gifted to fans and to remember those affected by Hurricane Katrina

2006

1. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain (CAD 2607); "the best album of 2006" according to many critics' end-of-year lists
2. Scott Walker, The Drift (CAD 2603); the first album from the reclusive Scott Walker in over a decade
3. Beirut Gulag Orkestar (CAD 2619); accomplished debut album from the then 19-year old Zach Condon
4. Plague Songs (CAD 2616); an album of songs by various artists (including Rufus Wainwright, Brian Eno & Robert Wyatt, and Scott Walker) about the ten Plagues of Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus

2007

1. Blonde Redhead, 23 (CAD 2717); second album for 4AD from the New York trio
2. Scott Walker, And Who Shall Go to the Ball? And What Shall Go to the Ball? (CAD 2731); original score for a modern dance performance by CandoCo; limited to just 2,500 copies
3. Beirut, The Flying Club Cup (CAD 2732)

2008

1. The Breeders, Mountain Battles (CAD 2803); the band's first new material for nearly six years
2. Atlas Sound, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel (CAD 2811 CD); expanded version of the debut album by Bradford Cox
3. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (CAD 2809)
4. Stereolab, Chemical Chords (CAD 2815); first 4AD release from the band; released almost a year before announcing their hiatus
5. TV on the Radio, Dear Science (CAD 2821)

2009

1. Dark Was the Night (DAD 2835); a compilation album with proceeds going to the Red Hot Organization
2. Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career (CAD 2907); fourth studio record from Glasgow-based indie pop act
3. St. Vincent, Actor (CAD 2919)
4. The Big Pink, A Brief History of Love (CAD 2916)
5. Atlas Sound, Logos (CAD 2930); second album from Bradford Cox; features collaborations with Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) of Animal Collective and Lætitia Sadier of Stereolab

2010

1. Tindersticks, Falling Down a Mountain (CAD 3X02); first release of 2010 for 4AD using the new catalog numbering scheme 3X--
2. The National, High Violet (CAD 3X03)
3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Before Today (CAD 3X15)
4. Fragments from Work in Progress (BAD 3X17); a Record Store Day exclusive 12" vinyl EP featuring unreleased tracks from Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Tune-Yards, Blonde Redhead, Gang Gang Dance, and The Big Pink
5. Stornoway, Beachcomber's Windowsill (CAD 3X20); debut long-player from Oxford based indie folk four piece
6. Blonde Redhead, Penny Sparkle (CAD 3X27)
7. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest (CAD 3X38)

2011

1. Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean (CAD 3103)
2. tUnE-yArDs, w h o k i l l (CAD 3106)
3. Bon Iver, Bon Iver (CAD 3117)
4. St. Vincent, Strange Mercy (CAD 3123)
5. Atlas Sound, Parallax (CAD 3130)

2012

1. Mark Lanegan Band, Blues Funeral (CAD 3202)
2. Grimes, Visions (CAD 3208)
3. Purity Ring, Shrines (CAD 3218)
4. David Byrne & St. Vincent, Love This Giant (CAD 3231)
5. Scott Walker, Bish Bosch (CAD 3220)