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Teen-Beat 323.

+/- {Plus/Minus}

Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album

All I Do
Crestfallen
The Queen of Detroit
Beverley Road
Manifest Destiny (in General)
The Declaration of Independence
Setting Your Head on Fire
The Industrial Revolution
Yo Yo Yo (Please Don't Fall in Love)
I Sleep Forever

All I Have to Do is Make You
Ill Advised
The Separation of Church and State

Compact Disc (CD) ($13,33)

Orange slip-cover, 4-page folder,
in jewel case with clear tray.

Download (FLAC/MP3) ($9,90)

Listen and purchase FLAC or MP3 files from our friends at Midheaven.

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LINER NOTES

PLAYERS

James Baluyut, vocals, all instruments

GUEST PLAYERS

Pat Ramos, additional drums

RECORDED BY

James Baluyut,

at Beverley Manor, Brooklyn, New York, USA
and Union Square, New York, New York, USA

MASTERED BY

James Baluyut

MUSIC COMPOSITION

James Baluyut,

© 2001

COVER DESIGN

Mark Robinson, Teen-Beat Graphica

ET CETERA

The song "If I am Charming" was originally supposed to be the fourteenth track on the album, but was dropped at the last minute. It was to have been track number 13, between "Ill Advised" and "The Separation of Church and State."

Gratitude=

Mark Robinson,
Margaret McCartney,
Jeff Gillam,
Ed Baluyut,
Richard Baluyut,
Fontaine Toups,
Ian James,
Alexandra Wolf,
Anne Venditti,
Christine Lee,
Jon Kontuly, Paul Phillips, James Tritten / Candy Gram Booking,
True Love Always,
Madison Battery,
The Lines,
Versus

REVIEWS

Pitchfork Rating: 8.4
I swear, some days it's like I can't even mention the name James Baluyut without hearing something about Versus. But now, Baluyut's ready to shut everyone up in fine style and just maybe get you to stop reminiscing about his full-time band for five goddamn minutes. Now listen closely, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once: Baluyut sets out solo for this effort as +/-, and if you were expecting pop, you got it, but this ain't exactly your daddy's Secret Swingers. Instead, Baluyut marries deliciously hott digital manipulation and Mille Plateaux beats to the upbeat, joyous pop songwriting that made him such a staple of the 90s college-rock circuit.

Baluyut's recipe here is straightforward enough: take simple acoustic pop sensibilities with warm electronic swells and undertones; add tight, complex percussion and distant vocal arrangements. But it's the small changes of focus between seemingly disparate elements that make Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album exceptionally varied. Each song is a subtle shift from the previous one as new elements continually rise to the fore and old ones are subdued or eliminated. And of course, it's all occasionally punctuated by startling bursts of white noise and alien effects. Yet despite its experimental nature, the pop song always remains the focus, drenched in perfect melody.

Even at its most jarring (which, to be fair, isn't very), Debut Album has a nice underlying tranquility. Synth chords mimic strings and sweep in over the opener, "All I Do," constantly building but never finally breaking, over Baluyut's lone, plaintive refrain. "Manifest Destiny (In General)" instantly distinguishes itself with a cascading, slightly dissonant piano melody and bouts of invading instrumentation before Baluyut is brought so close it feels as though he's singing from within the deepest recesses of your brain. In fact, it's at this moment that you realize Baluyut's vocals are Debut Album's single greatest asset. The thread that ties the record together, his lilting tenor is part lullaby, part lament, mournful and sleepy, conveying a genuine sense of conviction.

This record fits nicely into the canon of so-called "digipop," amongst releases like Notwist's Neon Golden and Hood's Cold House, but its artistic debts are owed to the Magnetic Fields' synth-crazy oeuvre. And while not perfect-- the vocal loop on "Yo Yo Yo (Please Don't Fall in Love)" is pretty upsetting-- its missteps are few and far between. The only real issue I take with Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album, is that it's a bit too removed at times. Some of these songs could benefit from a little intimacy, which is admittedly difficult to pull off in this kind of setting. But all told, this is an interesting direction for Baluyut that pays off more than it flounders. And with the advances recently made by digital editing software, his self-titled long-playing sophomore album stands to be just as rewarding.

- Eric Carr, Pitchfork

James Baluyut, formerly of Versus, collaborated with musician friends in 2002 on the self-titled +/-. Produced by Baluyut, the 13-track effort is a stunning debut from the leader of one of the 1990s' most influential indie rock bands. The music is remarkably more subdued than Versus, starting with the radiant "All I Do." Baluyut's vocals are more focused and subdued than his work in Versus, resulting in a powerful and disarming set of songs. The mix of guitars and electronics blend to result in an inventive and refreshing sound on songs like "Crestfallen" and "Setting Your Head on Fire." "Queen of Detroit" serves as an ode to Baluyut's mother, while the graceful guitar work on "Beverly Road" offers him an opportunity to experiment with hypnotic acoustic chords. "Yo Yo Yo (Please Don't Fall in Love)" serves as another remarkably inventive transformation for Baluyut. His evolution from hard indie rock virtuoso to experimental indie artist is similar to Yo La Tengo's James McNew's alter-ego in Dump. In the end, it's the unusual beats, electronic sample loops, and heartfelt vocals that make the debut from +/- so impressive and unique. Margaret McCartney, formerly of Tuscadero, and Pat Ramos, ex-Versus, also appear on the disc. The album was recorded in 2001 at Beverly Manor and Union Square studios and released in early 2002 on Teenbeat Records.

- Stephen Cramer, All Music

LAWSUIT

On November 10th, 2010, Teen-Beat and +/- {Plus/Minus} filed suit against Rhino Records U.K., Warner Music, and Peter Saville Associates in the High Court of Justice, London (U.K.) due to similarities in logo and design of the 2010 Joy Division box set "+-" to +/- {Plus/Minus}' "Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album".

RELEASE DATE

March 18, 2002

FORMAT

compact disc

LENGTH

39 minutes, 1 second

13 tracks

CATALOGUE No.

Teen-Beat 323

DETAILS

FIRST PRESSING

Not released.

1,575 pressed.

PACKAGE:
CD O-card. Outside: metallic silver with orange 021 and black ink.

INSERT:
two one-page inserts printed on transparent vellum. First page has a "+" in metllic silver ink, second page has a slash in orange ink, tray card has a minus in metallic silver ink and spine information in orange and metallic silver.

JEWEL CASE:
with clear tray.

LABEL:
inner ring in opaque white ink, outer ring design in orange ink.

STICKER:
black ink on yellow paper.

Two audio gllitches on track number 13. Retail copies destroyed. 500 copies had hold punch on barcode and were used for promotion.

SECOND PRESSING

Not released.

1,050 pressed.

PACKAGE:
CD O-card. Outside: metallic silver with orange 021 and black ink.

INSERT:
two one-page inserts printed on transparent vellum. First page has a "+" in metllic silver ink, second page has a slash in orange ink, tray card has a minus in metallic silver ink and spine information in orange and metallic silver.

JEWEL CASE:
with clear tray.

LABEL:
inner ring in orange ink, outer ring design in opaque white ink.

STICKER:
black ink on yellow paper.

Two audio gllitches on track number 13. Destroyed.

THIRD PRESSING

March 18, 2002

1,839 pressed.

PACKAGE:
CD O-card. Outside: metallic silver with orange 021 and black ink.

INSERT:
two one-page inserts printed on transparent vellum. First page has a "+" in metllic silver ink, second page has a slash in orange ink, tray card has a minus in metallic silver ink and spine information in orange and metallic silver.

JEWEL CASE:
with clear tray.

LABEL:
inner ring in opaque white ink, outer ring design in metallic silver ink.

STICKER:
black ink on metallic silver foil.

FOURTH PRESSING

April 28, 2002

1,185 pressed.

PACKAGE:
CD O-card. Outside: metallic silver with orange 021 and black ink.

INSERT:
two one-page inserts printed on transparent vellum. First page has a "+" in metllic silver ink, second page has a slash in orange ink, tray card has a minus in metallic silver ink and spine information in orange and metallic silver.

JEWEL CASE:
with clear tray.

LABEL:
inner ring in black ink, outer ring design in metallic silver ink.

STICKER:
black ink on metallic gold foil.

First through fourth pressings:

Pressed by
Media Services, Omaha, Nebraska.

Printed by
Riddle Press, Beaverton, Oregon.

Sticker printed by
Interstate Label, Freeland, Washington.

FIFTH PRESSING

February 5, 2003

500 pressed.

PACKAGE:
CD O-card. Outside: red with cyan, beige, orange, blue, and black ink.

INSERT:
standard full-colour four-page folder and tray card printed on standard semi-gloss stock.

JEWEL CASE:
with clear tray.

LABEL:
inner ring in opaque white ink, outer ring design in black and Pantone 200 (red) ink.

STICKER:
red ink on white paper.

Pressed by
Bellwether Manufacturing, Bloomington, Indiana.

Printed by
Riddle Press, Beaverton, Oregon.

SIXTH PRESSING

March 19, 2004

497 pressed.

Identical to fifth pressing.

SEVENTH PRESSING

June 28, 2005

994 pressed.

PACKAGE:
CD O-card. Outside: orange with metallic silver and black ink.

INSERT:
standard full-colour four-page folder and tray card printed on standard semi-gloss stock.

JEWEL CASE:
with clear tray.

LABEL:
inner ring in opaque white ink, outer ring design in pink and light blue ink.

STICKER:
green ink on white paper.

Printed and pressed by
Bellwether Manufacturing, Bloomington, Indiana.

POSTCARD <

1,000 printed.

one side colour and one side black and white.

Printed by
Modern Postcard, California.

DISCOGRAPHY

SINGLES

split single with Whysall Lane

ALBUMS

Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album
Holding Patterns
You Are Here
As Seen on Television
+/- {Plus/Minus} vs. Bloodthirsty Butchers
Let's Build a Fire
You Are Here (Extended)
Xs on Your Eyes
Thrown into the Fire
Pulled Punches
Jumping the Tracks

SHORT FILM COLLECTIONS

Self-Titled Debut Digital Video Disc

COMPILATIONS

2002 Teenbeat Sampler
2003 Teenbeat Sampler
Teen-Beat Subscribers' CD, 2003
Teen-Beat Subscribers' CD, 2004
2004 Teenbeat Sampler
Teen-Beat 20th Commemorative
Teen-Beat Subscribers' CD, 2005
Teen-Beat No.1 Record Label
2010 Teen-Beat / Other Music Sampler
Teen-Beat Holiday Card 2010/2011

SOUNTRACKS

Wicker Park

ALSO

Teen-Beat 18th Anniversary Celebrations
+/- {Plus/Minus} tee-shirt
"All I Do" appears in the film "Wicker Park"
You Are Here [Promotional Edition]
Teen-Beat 20th Anniversary Celebrations
+/- {Plus/Minus} Pocket Catalog Postcard
Pocket Catalog Set of Four
Teen-Beat Graphica Exhibition

RELATED

Versus

SONGS

A Million Pieces on the Ground
All Dead, All Dead
All I Do
All I Ever Knew
All I Have to Do is Make You
All the Things She Does
Back and Forth
Banging the Drum
Beverley Road
The Bitterest Pill
Camouflage Fades Into Trust
Catch The Wind
Chromatic
Crestfallen
Cutting Out
The Declaration of Independence
Everything I See Makes It Feel Wrong
Exorcising Your Ghost
Fadeout
Far Into the Fields
Flight Data Recorder
For You
For You (Alternate)
Gokigen Ikaga
Halos
Hellkite
Here We Are (Again)
The Hours You Keep
I Sleep Forever
I'm a Little Teapot
I've Been Lost
If I Am Charming
Ignoring All the Detours
Ill Advised
The Important Thing is to Love
The Industrial Revolution
Iru Iranai
It's Not What You Think
Jack Nicolson
Jumping the Tracks
Knead (2010)
Leap Year
Let's Build a Fire
Making the Horse Drink
Manifest Destiny (in General)
Marina
Megalomaniac
No One Can Touch You Now
No One Sees You Like I Do
One Day You'll Be There
Pencil Me In
Profession
The Queen of Detroit
The Queen of Nothing
Reeling in the Years
Rewrite the Story
Running the Distance
Scarecrow
The Separation of Church and State
Setting Your Head on Fire
She's Got Your Eyes
She's So Lost
Snowblind
The Space Between Us
Steal the Blueprints
Subdued
Summer Dress 1 (All Her Winter Clothes)
Summer Dress 2 (Iodine)
Summerlong
Summerlong (Boy Version)
Surprise!
There Goes My Love
This is All (I Have Left)
Thrown into the Fire
Time and Space
Tired Eyes
Toe the Line
Trapped Under Ice Floes
Trapped Under Ice Floes (Redux)
Underfoot
Unsung
Ventriloquist
Walk in a Straight Line
Waking Up Is Hard To Do
What Lies Ahead
Xs on Your Eyes
Yamaha-1
Yo Yo Yo (Please Don't Fall in Love)
You Are Here
Young Once
You'll Catch Your Death
You've Just Got it All