The Microphones discography

The Microphones discography
Phil Elverum performing in 2008
Studio albums5
Live albums1
Compilation albums5
EPs3
Singles8
Demo albums4
Other albums3

The Microphones were an American indie folk, indie rock, and experimental band, founded and fronted by Phil Elverum. The band has released 5 studio albums, 13 miscellaneous albums,[a] 3 extended plays, and 8 singles. Elverum began the Microphones initially as a solo project, releasing cassette demos of tests and experiments.[1] Between 1996 and 1998, Elverum released four demos,[b] mostly on Bret Lunsford's label Knw-Yr-Own.[3] The CD Tests, released in June 1998, was a compilation album comprising tracks from previous cassettes.[c] The same year, the band released the 7" single "Bass Drum Dream".[4] The band's first studio album, Don't Wake Me Up, was released on K Records in August 1999 and gave the band a small following.[5] Two more 7-inches were released in 1999: "Feedback (Life, Love, Loop)" and "Moon Moon".[6]

The extended play Window: was released in February 2000.[7] In September 2000, the studio album It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water was released on K, solidifying Don't Wake Me Up's sound.[8] The Glow Pt. 2 was released on K in September 2001; it went on to become a cult classic and Elverum's most critically acclaimed album.[9][10] The same month, Blood was released, a limited-copy compilation album.[11] Two 7-inches were released in 2001: "The Moon" and "I Can't Believe You Actually Died", the former included on The Glow Pt. 2.[12]

The single compilation album Song Islands was released in August 2002, and the limited-copy album Little Bird Flies Into A Big Black Cloud was released in September 2002.[13] The 7-inch "Lanterns/Antlers" was also released in 2002, and was included on Song Islands.[13] In 2003, the studio album Mount Eerie was released, along with two extended plays consisting of stems from the album: The Singing from Mt. Eerie and The Drums from Mt. Eerie.[14] Mount Eerie is a concept album that portrays a linear storyline.[15][16] After the release of Mount Eerie, Elverum retired the Microphones pseudonym and opted to release his music under Mount Eerie instead, as the themes of his music had changed.[17]

There were some sparse releases during the Microphones' hiatus: the live album Live in Japan in 2004; the B-sides album The Glow Pt. 2 (Other Songs & Destroyed Versions) in 2007; the 7-inch "Don’t Smoke/Get Off the Internet" in 2007; an appearance on a collaborative single in 2011; and the 2016 compilation album Early Tapes, 1996-1998, made of selections from the early demos. In August 2020, Elverum returned to the Microphones name with the studio album Microphones in 2020, an autobiographical concept album consisting of one 44-minute song.[18] The limited-copy album Foghorn Tape was released in March 2021, consisting of an ambient foghorn recording. In February 2022, Completely Everything, 1996 - 2021 was released, a compilation box set of the five Microphones studio albums, Early Tapes, and Song Islands.[19] Elverum has stated that the box set is the end of the Microphones, which makes Microphones in 2020 the band's final studio album.[20][21]


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  1. ^ Baumgarten 2012, p. 231.
  2. ^ Douglas, Martin (October 1, 2020). "Throwaway Style: What If I Called This Piece Microphones in 2020?". KEXP. Retrieved November 24, 2022. X-Ray Means Woman and Mostly Clouds and Trees made way for Elverum to begin naming his project the Microphones after developing an interpersonal relationship with his recording equipment and a deep reward in putting songs to tape.
  3. ^ Ankeny n.d., "the Microphones' first two cassettes, 1997's Microphone and Wires & Cords, appeared on Lunsford's Knw-Yr-Own label.".
  4. ^ Gormely 2018, "Up Records, early home to fellow Pacific Northwest groups Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, releases Bass Drum Dream on seven-inch".
  5. ^ Gormely 2018, "This is the first time Elverum is able to connect with an audience, and he builds a small following".
  6. ^ Gormely 2018, "Elverum releases a further two Microphones seven-inches: Moon Moon on K Records, and Feedback (Life, Love, Loop) on the Bedtime Records.".
  7. ^ Gormely 2018, "The Microphones also release the EP Window on YoYo Records".
  8. ^ Lyons, Patrick (September 25, 2020). "The Microphones' It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water Was Phil Elverum's First Masterpiece". Stereogum. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  9. ^ Moreland, Quinn (July 31, 2018). "Love Is Real: On Phil Elverum Marrying Michelle Williams". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Stosuy, Brandon (July 1, 2009). "An interview with Phil Elverum". Believer Magazine. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Gormely 2018, "The Moon seven-inch, credited to the Micro Phones, appears on Instatone Brand, while the Microphones' Singers I Can't Believe You Actually Died, a seven-inch, [...] comes out on Comin in Second".
  13. ^ a b Ankeny n.d., "while the singles collection Song Islands and single "Lanterns/Antlers" appeared on K".
  14. ^ Gormely 2018, "K also releases The Singing from Mount Eerie and The Drums from Mount Eerie; each features the singing and drums from the Mount Eerie album in isolation, plus one bonus track not included on the original album.".
  15. ^ Lee, Lavina (2003). "The Microphones – Mount Eerie Review". Flak Magazine. Archived from the original on June 5, 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Carr, Eric (January 20, 2003). "The Microphones: Mount Eerie". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  17. ^ Howe, Brian (May 13, 2008). "Microphones". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Phil Elverum's announces first new Microphones album in 17 years". The A.V. Club. June 16, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ "Microphones box set – P.W. Elverum & Sun". P.W. Elverum & Sun. January 14, 2022. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  21. ^ Bloom, Madison (January 14, 2022). "Phil Elverum Details Microphones Vinyl Box Set". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 19, 2022.