NDK006 features two of Chicago's best hard rock/metal/fantasy/minimalist/whatever bands, Arriver and The Swan King. Arriver's side is cleansing and encompassing. The Swan King is focused and relentless. Rah!

Arriver - Center Down

The Swan King - The Approach

Our fifth split is between Olympia, Washington's own The Old Haunts (KillRockStars), and Red Eyed Legends of Chicago, Illinois. This garagy punk record is filled with a sense of urgency that makes you want to jump up on your desk, kick the papers off, and shake your fists in the air (if you're stuck at a desk that is). All of the Nodak splits have some link between them, but you could easily say this is our best matched pairing to date, musically speaking.

The Old Haunts - Out of Sight

Red Eyed Legends - Monsters

This is easily our “most fun” record. Mark Mallman's In Love Witcha is the kind of tounge in cheek pop that makes you wonder, “How serious is Mr. Serious?” The Coke Dares are simply a riot. It's what the men do when they're not backing Scout Niblett, Jens Lekman, or busy with their other bands Magnolia Electric Co. and the Impossible Shapes. Seeing Mallman and The Coke Dares together live would possibly melt brains.

Mark Mallman - In Love Witcha

The Coke Dares - The Coke Dares Theme 4 / The Whiskey Chose Us / Jesus Speed Freak

We’re excited to offer you a new song from Gary Burger. Gary is the singer / guitarist from 60’s legends The Monks, and he has given us a song that is sure to please enthusiasts. He’s splitting his record with accomplished bluesman and friend Jim Miller, from up der in nordern Minnesoda. Together they have fashioned a record with a river theme.

Gary Burger - Walk Down To The River

Jim Miller - Blues Came Up The River

North Dakota pop rocker Stanley Ross gives us Sycamore Song. “Mr. Ross's music is bleak and dreary, with a touch of '60s pop thrown in for good measure.” (Splendidezine) Love Story in Blood Red gives us a droned out guilt fantasy. "Please, Why? is a dark, moody and moving piece, juxtaposing drone with a splash of pop. A chiming guitar clashes with the dissonant, downtrodden rhythm, yielding a strange mixture that could be labeled pessimistic pop." (Splendidezine) Both sides of this record were recorded at the L@b East by Kris Poulin [Will Oldham, Jim O'Rourke, Pinback]. Kris also plays guitar in LSiBR.

Stanley Ross - Sycamore Song

Love Story In Blood Red - Please, Why?

Now broken up, The Means left a small Midwest legacy in their wake. With releases on Reptilian Records and DoublePlusGood Records, they're best described as having the “gift-bearing capacity of a piñata brimming with nails.” (Reptilian) These two songs are their last release, ever. They give their B-side up for two debut songs by a group from Minneapolis called STNNNG (pronounced Stunning ). “Singer Chris Besinger's histrionics are enhanced by a couple of caterwauling guitars so deeply entwined you'd need a crowbar to pry them apart.” (KS - City Pages) STNNNG also released Dignified Sissy in '05 on Minneapolis based Modern Radio. Punk Planet called our split, “Awesome!” (MG - #64)

The Means - 4U / Campaign Blvd.

STNNNG-I held it; for an instant, I knew it was...and then it was vanished./We Keep it Dark

Nodak switches jacket printers every three records. The first three were done by Jason Frederick at Stiff Upper Press in Chicago. Records 4 through 6 are being done by Dan MacAdam and Crosshair Printing in Chicago. We provide the printers with a hard copy of the nodak stripe, from there they are free to design and hand silk screen the jackets as they see fit.

Order by adding to cart or by sending check, money order, or concealed cash to:

Nodak Records
4218 N. Whipple 1W
Chicago, IL 60618

Records including shipping are $5.