Barsuk Records

{{Short description|American independent record label}} {{redirect|Barsuk}} {{Infobox record label  | name = Barsuk Records | image = Barsuk-rcdbr-sm.png | founded = {{start date|1998}} | founder = Christopher Possanza<br />Josh Rosenfeld | distributor = Redeye Worldwide<ref name= "Redeye">{{cite news |last=Hodge |first=Blake |url=https://chapelboro.com/news/business/redeye-moving-global-headquarters-to-hillsborough |title=Redeye Moving Global Headquarters to Hillsborough |work=WCHL (AM) |date=March 23, 2016 |access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref> | genre = Pop, indie rock | country = U.S. | location = Seattle, Washington | website = {{url|barsuk.com}} }}

'''Barsuk Records''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɑr|ˈ|s|uː|k}} {{respell|bar|SOOK|'}}) is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington which was founded in 1998 by Christopher Possanza and Josh Rosenfeld, the members of the band This Busy Monster, to release their band's material.<ref name= "top10">{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Josh |url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/12/the-10-best-barsuk-albums-from-the-first-20-years.html |title=The 10 Best Barsuk Albums from the First 20 Years |work=Paste |date=December 18, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref> Its logo is a drawing of a dog holding a vinyl record in its mouth.

Barsuk played a key role in shaping the mainstream view of indie rock in its early years, with albums like Nada Surf's ''Let Go'', The Long Winters' ''When I Pretend to Fall'', and Death Cab for Cutie's influential fourth album, ''Transatlanticism''. The label also became a platform for Seattle-based singer-songwriters such as Rocky Votolato, Jesse Sykes, and David Bazan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barsuk Records celebrates 15 years of indie influence |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-culture/2013/10/barsuk-records-celebrates-15-years-of-indie-influence-october-2013 |website=Seattle Met |date=2013-10-28 |author=Seth Sommerfeld |access-date=2025-02-26}}</ref>

The name of the label comes from the Russian word ''барсук'' {{IPA|[barˈsuk]}}, "badger".<ref name="Cox">{{cite book |last=Cox |first=David |title=Close Protection: The Politics of Guarding Russia's Rulers |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group p. 47 |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-2759-6688-1}}</ref> However, the label is named after Possanza and Jason Avinger's dog, a black Labrador.<ref name= "creative">{{cite news |last=de Barros |first=Paul |url= http://blogs.seattletimes.com/soundposts/2013/11/01/15-years-of-creativity-and-contrarianism-barsuk-records/ |title=15 years of creativity and contrarianism : Barsuk Records |work=The Seattle Times |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref> The dog can be heard barking in two This Busy Monster tracks: "Song 69" and "Time to Sleep".

==Artists== {{Div col}} * Active Bird Community * ¡All-Time Quarterback! * The American Analog Set * Aqueduct * Aveo * Babes * David Bazan * Big Scary * Charly Bliss * Blunt Mechanic * Common Holly * Cymbals Eat Guitars * Death Cab for Cutie * The Dismemberment Plan * Benjamin Gibbard * Laura Gibson * The Globes * Abigail Grush * Harvey Danger * Hibou * Jessamine * Kind of Like Spitting * Lackthereof * Little Champions * Lo Tom * The Long Winters * Maps & Atlases * Mates of State * Menomena * Minor Alps * Travis Morrison (of the Dismemberment Plan) * Nada Surf * Jim Noir * Pacific Air * Phantogram * Pea Soup * Pearly Gate Music * The Prom * Ra Ra Riot * Ramona Falls * The Revolutionary Hydra * Rilo Kiley * Ruler * Mathieu Santos * Say Hi * Small Feet * Smoosh * Chris Staples * Starlight Mints * Steady Holiday * Sunset Valley * Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter * They Might Be Giants * This Busy Monster * Trails and Ways * John Vanderslice * Viva Voce * Rocky Votolato * Chris Walla * What Made Milwaukee Famous * The Wooden Birds * Yellow Ostrich {{Div col end}} <gallery> File:Death Cab for Cutie at Manchester Academy, 4 July 2011.jpg|Death Cab for Cutie performs at Manchester Academy, 2011 </gallery>

==See also== * Barsuk Records discography

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.barsuk.com/ Official site]

Category:Record labels established in 1998 Category:American independent record labels Category:Companies based in Seattle Category:Indie pop record labels Category:Rock record labels Category:Pop record labels Category:Mass media in Seattle