Steve Holtje: February 22, 2009

Top Ten Touch and Go/Quarterstick Albums

This week brought the sad news that Touch and Go will shut down its pressing and distribution of other labels and cease issuing new material. The distribution slack will presumably be picked up by other companies, but the impeccable taste of founder Corey Rusk will be missed. He’s left the door open for future resumption of new releases; here’s hoping that happens.

My top ten tribute to Touch and Go and its imprint Quarterstick focuses on artists who have spent a significant portion of their careers there. It’s really, I guess, a top ten artists list with the top album recommendation for each act.

1. Pegboy – Strong Reaction (Quarterstick, 1991)
2. Slint – Spiderland (Touch and Go, 1991)
3. Butthole Surfers – Psychic … Powerless … Another Man’s Sac (Touch and Go, 1985)
4. Polvo – Shapes (Touch and Go, 1997)
5. Jesus Lizard – Goat (Touch and Go, 1991)
6. The Ex – Dizzy Spells (Touch & Go, 2001)
7. CocoRosie – The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn (Touch & Go, 2007)
8. Tar – Clincher (Touch and Go, 1993)
9. Calexico – The Black Light (Quarterstick, 1998)
10. Big Black – Songs About Fucking (Touch and Go, 1987)