Self Help Serenade is the debut album by indie rock

Indie rock

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...

 band Marjorie Fair

Marjorie Fair

Marjorie Fair is an indie rock/shoegaze American band formed in New Jersey by musician Evan Slamka, and based in Los Angeles, California. Their sound is somewhat reminiscent of The Doves or The Beatles, however, with a more psychedelic rock sound...

, first released in the United Kingdom and Europe on May 31, 2004, and in the United States on July 19, 2005. The album was produced and mixed by Rob Schnapf

Rob Schnapf

Rob Schnapf is an American record producer and musician. He was the co-producer of Elliott Smith's albums Either/Or, XO , Figure 8 and From a Basement on the Hill, for which he was recruited by Smith's family to complete after Smith's death.Schnapf, along with Rothrock and partner...

, "Empty Room" was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge

Tom Lord-Alge

Tom Lord-Alge is a four-time Grammy Award–winning record producer and mixer. He is the youngest of Vivian Lord's five children, Mark Lord-Alge, Lisa Lord-Alge, Chris Lord-Alge, Jeff Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge...

, and the album features guest contributions from Jon Brion

Jon Brion

Jon Brion is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer.-Early life:...

 and Joey Waronker

Joey Waronker

Joseph "Joey" Waronker is an American drummer and music producer. He is the son of record producer Lenny Waronker and singer/actress Donna Loren; his younger sister is musician Anna Waronker; and his grandfather is record executive and professional violinist Simon Waronker. He has three other...

. "Empty Room" was not included on the UK pressings of the album.

The band were dropped from Capitol Records

Capitol Records

Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...

after the album's release.

Track listing

All tracks written by Evan Slamka.

1. "Don't Believe" – 4:18
2. "Halfway House" – 5:13
3. "Empty Room" – 3:43
4. "Stare" – 4:20
5. "How Can You Laugh" – 5:07
6. "Waves" – 4:13
7. "Please Don't" – 4:04
8. "Cracks in the Wall" – 4:06
9. "Stand in the World" – 5:01
10. "Hold on to You" – 2:39
11. "Silver Gun" – 5:14
12. "My Sun Is Setting Over Her Magic" – 6:28

Singles

"Stare" (May 17, 2004)

1. "Stare" - 4:20
2. "How Can You Laugh" - 5:07
3. "Science of Your Mind" - 4:35
4. "Timmy" - 4:36

"Waves" (October 18, 2004)

1. "Waves" - 4:13
2. "What I Said" - 1:51
3. "True Lovers" - 4:36

External links

• Official album site
• Capitol Records artist site