Lex Records

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Lex Records
Founded2001
FounderTom Brown
GenreAlternative hip hop, electronic, alternative rock
Country of originEngland
LocationCamden, London
Official websitelexrecords.com

Lex Records is a British independent record label. Most releases on the label are alternative hip hop, alternative rock or electronic music.[1][2][3] Dazed described Lex as a label "...whose wildly creative output spans over a decade of landmark releases that have changed the music industry no end."[4]

History[edit]

2001–2011[edit]

Lex, founded in 2001, was originally an imprint of Warp.[5] By the end of 2003, Lex had released several albums including debuts by Boom Bip, Non-Prophets and Danger Mouse and the success of these albums allowed Lex to expand.[6]

In 2004, Lex managed The Grey Album campaign, establishing Danger Mouse as a critically successful artist.[7] Damon Albarn got a copy of The Grey Album and this led to Danger Mouse being approached to produce Gorillaz's second album Demon Days.[4][8] Demon Days was released by Parlophone in May 2005 and sold millions of copies[9][10] establishing Danger Mouse as a commercially successful producer by the summer of 2005.[11][12]

In September 2005, Brown bought Warp's share of the label.[13] The next release was Danger Doom The Mouse and the Mask. It was Lex's best selling release to date.[14] Gnarls Barkley's multi platinum debut St. Elsewhere followed in 2006, released on Warner with Lex branding.

In March 2008, Gnarls Barkley's second album The Odd Couple was released on Warner with Lex branding. In the same month, Lex released Neon Neon Stainless Style which was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2008.

In 2009, Lex released MF Doom's Born Like This.

In July 2010, Lex released an audiobook of Alan Moore & Mitch Jenkins' Unearthing, narrated iby Moore and scored by Crook & Flail. They performed it live at the Old Vic Tunnels.[15] Also in July, Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse & David Lynch's Dark Night of the Soul was released on Parlophone with Lex branding.

In May 2011, Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi's album Rome featuring Jack White and Norah Jones was released on Parlophone with Lex branding.

On 5 November 2011, Lex marked its tenth anniversary with a show at The Roundhouse in Camden featuring performances by Ghostface Killah, MF Doom and Jneiro Jarel,[16] and released Complex, a compilation album.[17][18]

2012–2021[edit]

In August 2012 Lex released JJ Doom's Key to the Kuffs.[19] Later in 2012 Lex launched Charlie White and Boom Bip's art project Music For Sleeping Children which includes photographic, electronic music and spoken word recordings.[20] Lex's first two short films, written by Alan Moore and directed by Mitch Jenkins were previewed online in November 2012.[21][22]

In 2013, Lex released Neon Neon's second album Praxis Makes Perfect.[23] The album was presented live as an immersive theatre performance with National Theatre Wales.[24]

In November 2013, Lex and ATP co-promoted a show with MF Doom, BadBadNotGood and Bishop Nehru at the Kentish Town Forum.[25] MF Doom went on to collaborate with BadBadNotGood and Bishop Nehru on Lex. BadBadNotGood remixed the JJ Doom track "Guv'nor"; MF Doom produced the Bishop Nehru mini-album NehruvianDoom; and MF Doom appeared on BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah's album Sour Soul.

Eyedress released his first single on Lex in 2016.[26] His debut studio album, Manila Ice, was released on Lex in May 2017, followed by Sensitive G in November 2018.[27][28]

Lex released singles from Eyedress’ third album Let's Skip to the Wedding, including "Jealous" on 19 December 2019 and “Romantic Lover” on 12 January 2020.[29] “Jealous” and “Romantic Lover” became viral hits after the release of the album.[30] “Jealous” was certified gold in Australia, Canada, Poland and the US in 2021, and 3x platinum in the US in March 2024. "Romantic Lover" was certified platinum in the US in March 2023.[31][32][33][34]

Lex's first feature film, The Show, written by Alan Moore and directed by Mitch Jenkins was an official selection for SXSW 2020.[35] Following SXSW's cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic film had a world premiere at Sitges Film Festival 2020,[36] and was licensed to Starz.[37]

On 31 December 2020, MF Doom's death was announced on social media.[38]

In August 2021 Lex released Eyedress’ fourth studio album Mulholland Drive.[39] The first single from the album, “Something About You” became a viral hit in the US with Rolling Stone citing the track as the fastest-rising song on American streaming services for the week ending 23 September 2021.[40] "Something About You" was certified gold in the USA in May 2022, and platinum in October 2023.[32]

During 2021, Lex marked its twentieth anniversary by releasing a series of remixes of recordings in its catalogue under the project title Lex-XX.[41]

Artists past and present[edit]

Awards and certifications[edit]

RIAA certification (USA)

A2IM Libera Awards (USA)

Grammy Awards (USA)

  • 2012, Danger Mouse, Rome - Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (nominated)
  • 2011, Danger Mouse, Dark Night of the Soul - Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (won)
  • 2009, Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" - Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated)
  • 2009, Gnarls Barkley, The Odd Couple - Best Alternative Music Album (nominated)
  • 2009, Danger Mouse, The Odd Couple - Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (nominated)
  • 2009, Gnarls Barkley, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" - Best Short Form Music Video (nominated)
  • 2008, Gnarls Barkley, "Gone Daddy Gone" - Best Short Form Music Video (nominated)
  • 2007, Danger Mouse, St. Elsewhere - Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (nominated)
  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere - Best Alternative Music Album (won)
  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere - Album of the Year (nominated)
  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy" - Record of the Year (nominated)
  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy" - Best Urban/Alternative Performance (won)
  • 2006, Danger Mouse, The Mouse And The Mask - Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (nominated)[45]

Plug Independent Music Awards (USA)

Music Canada certification (Canada)

  • Eyedress, "Romantic Lover" - Platinum single
  • Eyedress, "Something About You" - Platinum single
  • Eyedress, "Jealous" - 2x Platinum single[47]
  • Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere - Platinum album
  • Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy" - Double Platinum ringtone[48]

Juno Music Prize (Canada)

Polaris Music Prize (Canada)

  • 2015, BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah Sour Soul (shortlisted)[50]

Brit Certified (UK)

  • Eyedress "Jealous" - Silver single[51]
  • Neon Neon, Stainless Style - Bronze / Breakthrough album
  • Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere - 3× Platinum album[52]
  • Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy" - 3× Platinum single[53]

Mercury Prize (UK)

Brit Awards (UK)

  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley – Best International Group (nominated)
  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley – International Breakthrough Act (nominated)
  • 2007, Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere – International Album (nominated)[56]

British Animation Awards (UK)

  • 2006, Director SSSR, Subtle "Swan Meat" video - Best Music Video (won)[57]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Griffiths, Rhys (10 July 2010). "Ten Records I Wish I'd Released by Lex Records' Tom Brown, Introduction". Culture Critic.
  2. ^ Nicola Slade, "Life Blood: Lex Records," (Record Of The Day, 11 June 2009)
  3. ^ Mirza, Imran (10 July 2010). "Lex Records: Hip-hop that won't stop!". Liberation Frequency.
  4. ^ a b Teh, Terence (18 May 2012). "Lex Records: Through the Years in Video". Dazed Digital.
  5. ^ Clarke, Paul (30 April 2004). "Llex records label profile". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2004.
  6. ^ Young, Rob, Labels Unlimited: Warp, (Black Dog Publishing, 2005) (ISBN 1-904772-32-3), pp. 134–135
  7. ^ "Lex Records London, UK". Redbull Music Academy Radio. 2 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Danger Mouse". Good Bad Queen. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013.
  9. ^ Murray, Noel (9 March 2010). "Gorillaz: Plastic Beach". The A.V. Club.
  10. ^ "Gorillaz RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  11. ^ "Steve Lamacq "Dangermouse and the strange tale of Gnarls Barkley"". BBC Radio One. 3 April 2006.
  12. ^ "Lex Records at 20: 'I'm still running off those old rules of thumb - sign artists you believe in and invest in long-term deals'". Independent Music Insider. 30 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Lex Records". Remix Magazine. 1 December 2007. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Declarations of independents". Music Week. 15 September 2007.
  15. ^ Muggs, Joe (30 July 2010). "Alan Moore's Unearthing, Old Vic Tunnels". The Arts Desk.
  16. ^ Battanon, Carrie (7 November 2011). "Video: MF Doom and Ghostface Killah Perform Together in London". Pitchfork Media.
  17. ^ Murray, Robin (27 October 2011). "Doom Collaborates With Thom Yorke". Clash Magazine.
  18. ^ Pelly, Jenn (2 November 2011). "Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Doom: "Retarded Fren"". Pitchfork Media.
  19. ^ "BBC Website Key to the Kuffs Review". Bbc.co.uk.
  20. ^ Roberts, Randall (17 November 2012). "'Music for Sleeping Children' turns teen angst into song". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015.
  21. ^ Tuffrey, Laurie (27 November 2012). "Watch: More Alan Moore Film". The Quietus.
  22. ^ Lamont, Tom (15 December 2012). "Alan Moore: why I turned my back on Hollywood". The Observer.
  23. ^ "Neon Neon: Praxis Makes Perfect Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Praxis Makes Perfect".
  25. ^ "Doom + BadBadNotGood + Bishop Nehru + Jon 1st - All Tomorrow's Parties". All Tomorrow's Parties. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  26. ^ "Halloween Freak - Single by Eyedress". Retrieved 2 September 2021 – via Apple Music.
  27. ^ Seshadri, Pooja (30 March 2017). "Eyedress Made An Album About Love And Survival In Manila". The Fader. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  28. ^ Kochhar, Nazuk (26 October 2018). "Eyedress is bleeding and fed up in "No Fun"". The Fader. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Let's Skip to the Wedding by Eyedress". 7 August 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via Apple Music.
  30. ^ "Eyedress shares two new songs "Spit on Your Grave" and "Something About You" featuring Dent May". The Fader. 3 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Canadian certifications – Eyedress". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  32. ^ a b "American certifications – Eyedress". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  33. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 March 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Jealous in the search box.
  34. ^ a b "American certifications – Eyedress". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  35. ^ "SXSW Schedule". South by Southwest. 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  36. ^ Puchko, Kirsty (8 October 2021). "The Show Review". IGN. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Watch The Show Online". Retrieved 27 March 2022 – via Starz.com.
  38. ^ Atkinson, Katie (31 December 2020). "Masked Rapper MF Doom Dies at 49". Billboard. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Mulholland Drive by Eyedress". 27 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021 – via Apple Music.
  40. ^ "Trending 25 The fastest-rising songs of the week". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  41. ^ Krups, Daniel (12 August 2021). "Hear Thom Yorke's 'Man on Fire' Remix of MF Doom's 'Gazzillion Ear'". RollingStone.com.
  42. ^ "American certifications – Gnarls Barkley". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  43. ^ Aswad, Jem (20 March 2024). "Killer Mike, Mitski, Caroline Polachek Among Top Nominees for 2024 Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  44. ^ Grein, Paul (23 March 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  45. ^ "Danger Mouse". Grammy Awards. 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  46. ^ "I stayed for the National". BrooklynVegan. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  47. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  48. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  49. ^ "Past Nominees + Winners". The JUNO Awards. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  50. ^ "2015 Nominees". Polaris Music Prize. 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  51. ^ "British single certifications – Eyedress – Jealous". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  52. ^ "British album certifications – Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  53. ^ "British single certifications – Gnarls Barkley – Crazy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  54. ^ Savage, Mark (27 July 2017). "Mercury Prize 2017: The nominees". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  55. ^ Swash, Rosie (22 July 2008). "Mercury Music Prize 2008 nominations announced". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  56. ^ "Brit Awards Announce 2007 Nominees". Broadcast Music, Inc. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  57. ^ "Corpse Bride is top animated film". BBC. 9 March 2006.

External links[edit]

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