The Microphones#Discography

Phil Elverum became involved in the Washington music scene while working at the Business, a record store in his home town of Anacortes, in the mid-1990s. Elverum began experimenting with recording equipment in the back of the store, which led to the store's owner Bret Lunsford releasing two cassettes (Microphone and Wires and Cords) on his label, KNW-YR-OWN.{{Cite web |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |year=n.d. |title=The Microphones Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-microphones-mn0000405732/biography |access-date=November 10, 2022 |website= |publisher=AllMusic}} Elverum also played drums in Lunsford's band, D+,{{Cite book |last=Baumgarten |first=Mark |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/755697720 |title=Love rock revolution : K Records and the rise of independent music |date=2012 |publisher=Sasquatch Books |isbn=978-1-57061-822-2 |location=Seattle |oclc=755697720}}{{Rp|page=228}} before moving to Olympia in 1997 to attend Evergreen State College.{{cite web|url=http://freewilliamsburg.com/july_2002/phil/philstory.html|title=A Conversation with Phil Elverum|work=freewilliamsburg.com|access-date=September 30, 2014|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608083539/http://freewilliamsburg.com/july_2002/phil/philstory.html|url-status=dead}}

While in Olympia, Elverum caught the attention of K Records owner and musician Calvin Johnson. After recording for some time at the Dub Narcotic studios, Elverum was able to complete his first full-length album, a CD entitled Tests, which was released in 1998 on Elsinor Records. Tests combined songs from his earlier cassette releases and the recently recorded Dub Narcotic recordings. At the same time, Elverum released his first 7" single, "Bass Drum Dream" on Up Records.

Elverum slowly gained recognition as a talented producer and recording engineer in the studio. While helping, often anonymously, with many of the area's artists, he began work on his second full-length, Don't Wake Me Up, released on K Records in 1999. Elverum toured for a few months following the release with fellow K Records artist Mirah, and, showcasing his talents on the road, was able to build a small but loyal fanbase and gain appreciation in the indie music scene. While performing in another K Records band, Old Time Relijun, Elverum began recording It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water. Released on K Records in 2000, the album was Elverum's most ambitious yet, featuring layers of harmonic guitars, noise, and Beach Boys-esque harmonies.

Elverum's next release, The Glow Pt. 2, was released by K Records in 2001. It was noted by critics for its production and songwriting. Probably his best-known album, it explored intensely personal themes, recalling lost loves and childhood memories. Sometimes sad, simple, and gentle ("I Felt Your Shape"), other times intense and layered with noise, guitars, and drums ("The Moon"). Pitchfork Media named The Glow Pt. 2 as the top album of 2001,{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5844-top-20-albums-of-2001/ |title=Staff Lists: Top 20 Albums of 2001 | Features |website=Pitchfork |date=January 1, 2002 |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922020129/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5844-top-20-albums-of-2001/ |url-status=dead }} and #73 on their 200 Top Albums of the 2000s.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7708-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-100-51/3/ |title=Staff Lists: The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 100-51 | Features |website=Pitchfork |date=September 30, 2009 |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-date=September 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927185546/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7708-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-100-51/3/ |url-status=dead }} Tiny Mix Tapes named it the 5th best album of the 2000s.{{cite web

| url = http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/favorite-100-albums-2000-2009-20-01 | publisher = Tiny Mix Tapes

| title = Favorite 100 Albums of the 2000s

| access-date = February 12, 2010}}

After a lengthy tour of Europe and North America (known as the "Paper Opera Tour"){{cite magazine|last=Gormley|first=Ian|date=November 5, 2018|title=Microphones, Mount Eerie and Melancholy: The Career of Phil Elverum|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/microphones_mount_eerie_and_melancholy_the_career_of_phil_elverum|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190608083338/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/microphones_mount_eerie_and_melancholy_the_career_of_phil_elverum|archive-date=June 8, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019|magazine=Exclaim!|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Eluding the "Corporate Ogre"|url=https://www.popmatters.com/050421-krecords-2496103272.html|last=Pompeo|first=Joseph|date=April 21, 2005|website=PopMatters|language=en|access-date=May 14, 2020}}, Elverum returned to Dub Narcotic to begin work on his follow-up to The Glow Pt.2. Released by K Records in 2003, Mount Eerie was named after the mountain on Fidalgo Island where Elverum spent much of his childhood. Containing five long songs, the album features a narrative arc, in which Elverum dies, is eaten by vultures, and discovers the face of the Universe. It represents a turning point and a realization period in Elverum's life. Like its predecessor, Mount Eerie was also praised by critics for its ambitious and imaginative production.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/mount-eerie/the-microphones|title=Reviews for Mount Eerie by The Microphones – Metacritic|work=Metacritic}}

Elverum toured North America and Europe again in 2002, playing mostly solo shows (billed as the "I Will Move Away Forever and Never Come Back Ever" tour) before settling in Finnkonevika, Kjerringøy, Norway, where he spent the winter living in a log cabin.{{Cite web |title=Notes and Transcript - the Microphones |url=https://lifeoftherecord.com/the-microphones-notes |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Life of the Record |language=en-US}} In February 2003, he toured Japan with Calvin Johnson, Kyle Field, and the Tokyo band Moools, which resulted in the album Live in Japan. Live In Japan was released by K Records in early 2004, by which time Elverum had already begun to perform shows under the name Mount Eerie.

In January 2007, a one-off 7" single was released under the Microphones moniker, titled Two Songs by the Microphones. In 2008, The Glow Pt. 2 was reissued by K Records with an additional disc of outtakes and rarities. In March 2011, Elv(e)rum re-recorded the Microphones' song "I Lost My Wind" for the compilation Collaborate With a 1940s Wire Recorder.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/42065-the-microphones-and-bishop-allen-release-7-single-recorded-on-ancient-wire-recorder/|title=The Microphones and Bishop Allen Release 7" Single Recorded on Ancient Wire Recorder|work=Pitchfork|date=March 31, 2011 }} In 2013, the Microphones' four studio albums (in addition to the singles compilation Song Islands) were remastered and reissued on Elverum's own label, P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/49719-mount-eeries-phil-elverum-to-reissue-five-albums-from-the-microphones/|title=Mount Eerie's Phil Elverum to Reissue Five Albums From the Microphones|work=Pitchfork|date=February 28, 2013 }} In 2016, a compilation of the Microphones' early cassette releases was released as Early Tapes: 1996–1998.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/69974-the-microphones-announce-new-album-of-old-songs-early-tapes-1996-1998-share-compressor-listen/|title=The Microphones Announce New Album of Old Songs, Early Tapes, 1996–1998, Share "Compressor": Listen|work=Pitchfork|date=November 20, 2016 }}

Elverum played a one-off concert in Anacortes, WA under the name the Microphones in June 2019, performing alongside D+, Black Belt Eagle Scout, and Little Wings.{{cite web |last1=Blais-Billie |first1=Braudie |title=Phil Elverum to Perform as the Microphones at Anacortes Concert |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/phil-elverum-to-perform-as-the-microphones-at-anacortes-concert/ |website=Pitchfork |date=June 10, 2019 |publisher=Conde Nast |access-date=June 11, 2019}}

On August 7, 2020, Elverum released a new Microphones album: Microphones in 2020. The album is a 44:44 single song about Elverum's own life and search of meaning.{{Cite web|title=Phil Elverum on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/pwelverum/status/1272907331601391617|access-date=June 16, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en}}

On January 13, 2022, Elverum announced a comprehensive retrospective box set, Completely Everything, 1996–2021 which contains the entire Microphones discography; Elverum also stated that it would be the final release from the Microphones.{{Cite web|title=Phil Elverum Details Microphones Vinyl Box Set|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/phil-elverum-details-microphones-vinyl-box-set/|access-date=January 13, 2022|website=Pitchfork (website)|language=en}}

According to Kyle Cochrun of PopMatters "The band shirked traditional song structures, buried melodies under dissonance, added or abandoned the rhythm section at unexpected moments, caked guitar distortion on soft-spoken campfire jingles, relished in a decidedly scattershot soundscape, and dismantled any forward momentum they worked to build".{{Cite web|last=Cochrun|first=Kyle|date=August 14, 2020|title=Phil Elverum Sings His Memoir on 'Microphones in 2020'|url=https://www.popmatters.com/microphones-in-2020-review-2646961146.html?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4?rebelltitem=4|access-date=December 27, 2020|website=PopMatters|language=en}}

{{main|The Microphones discography}}

• Don't Wake Me Up (1999)
• It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water (2000)
• The Glow Pt. 2 (2001)
• Mount Eerie (2003)
• Microphones in 2020 (2020)

• Window (2000)
• The Singing from Mt. Eerie (2003)
• The Drums from Mt. Eerie (2003)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.pwelverumandsun.com/ P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd.] (Elverum's label)
• [http://krecs.com/artists/the-microphones/ The Microphones at K Records]
• [http://www.discogs.com/artist/303929-Microphones-The The Microphones at Discogs]

{{The Microphones}}

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Category:Indie rock musical groups from Washington (state)

Category:K Records artists

Category:Lo-fi music groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1998

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2007

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2020

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2019

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2003

Category:Musical groups from Olympia, Washington

Category:American noise pop musical groups

Category:1996 establishments in Washington (state)