LISTEN: Rosetta’s The Anaesthete

As many notable websites have pointed out this week (Grantland and HitFix to name two), it’s been ten years since The O.C.–and one of the best first seasons of television ever made–premiered on August 5, 2003. While I would have loved to come up with a post that actually related to Sandy Cohen and company, something a little more relevant for our purposes also happened that same month and year, at least if Wikipedia is to be believed. You see, Philadelphia’s own Rosetta played its first show on August 20, 2003, an anniversary rendered even more topical as the band self-released its fourth full-length, The Anaesthete, early this morning (though too early for me to give any immediate thoughts).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrAlS5M7xAs

Music aside, what’s interesting about The Anaesthete is that it marks a business experiment of sorts for the band. After having seen its first three full-lengths released by Translation Loss, Rosetta financed the record entirely on its own, so each download purchased will go towards helping them get out of the red and, once in the black, possibly allow them press the record in North America. As the band wrote last month on its blog (which you should definitely check out as the group will sometimes answer fan submitted questions), “This is a big risk for us, but we feel that our listeners are a trustworthy bunch on the whole. Moreover, we want to find out whether releasing music completely independently is a sustainable way for a small band to operate. You get to decide what the album is worth to you, and pay that amount.”

So take a listen above and then name your price to pick up a digital copy of The Anaesthete here. If you can, also be sure to catch our hometown heroes this month supporting KEN Mode. They don’t play live all that often, so see ’em while you can (and guys, feel free to play “Au Pays Natal” on Friday).

8/8 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter (w/ Weedeater)
8/9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus
8/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
8/11 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
8/12 – Syracuse, NY @ Gorham Brothers Music
8/13 – Portland, ME @ Geno’s
8/14 – Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
8/15 – Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
8/16 – Newark, DE @ Mojo Main
8/17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose
8/18 – Columbus, OH @ Kobo Live
8/19 – Royal Oak, MI @ Genesis
8/20 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class
8/21 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
8/22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
8/23 – Joliet, IL @ Mojoes (w/ Grace the Damned, no Ken Mode)