Local record label 80/20 has been on a roll lately. The label signed Future Loves Past, PALMS, and Captain Squeegee last month, and announced the acquisition of local electro fuzz poppers Zero Zero yesterday. Zero Zero, like the other three bands, is set to release a new album this year.
See also:
-The Top 10 Phoenix Albums of 2012 -80/20 Records Snags Future Loves Past, PALMS, and Captain Squeegee
80/20 Records is reaping the benefits of an expanding clientele, which is likely flocking to the label thanks to its deal. As the name suggests, 80% of the profits stay with the bands, which is great compared to the 40 to 50% most artists get on the standard indie label.
"I feel that the artists are putting so much of themselves into their music and working so hard to create these works that they deserve the majority it reaps. The reason why we can sustain giving 80 percent royalties to our artists is being efficient within the label," said label co-founder Mike Zimmerlich in an interview with Christina Caldwell last year.
Zero Zero's self-produced debut album MAYDAY has already received its share of critical acclaim, landing a spot on our top 10 local records of 2012 list.
Glenn Burnsilver describes the mix of garage-rock guitars and "float-y" vocals as follows--"[the] sounds are thick and lush, but also sparkly and poppy on top, though the rhythms feel mesmerizingly primitive. The lyrics are a little dark, personal, and occasionally biting. "Drug" offers a raw edge in a pop-infused melody over Laurenne's breathy femme fatale vocals, while "Tear It Up" is a starker, gritty experience of fuzz and fur and sinister undertone, like a soundtrack for a '60s cop show, but one where the cops take acid for mystical mind-tripping revelations."
