A new album consisting entirely of covers to be released on a record label that usually caters to the heavy metal side of things? At first look, it sounds like the future endeavors of Crooked X, or the next hop, skip, and a jump from Less Than Jake, but in fact, the above actually describes what The Lemonheads are doing these days. Let us explain…
The Boston outfit has left longtime label Vagrant Records in favor of Brooklyn based The End Records, where it will share a home with such acts as Australian goth rockers Virgin Black, German metal band Enemy of the Sun, and Japan’s favorite masters of darkness and sorrow, Dir en grey. To celebrate the joyous occasion, The Lemonheads will release what is described as the band’s long-awaited covers collection – key word: long-awaited – on June 23rd.
Entitled Varshons, the 11-track endeavor, which marks the first full-length release since 2006’s self-titled 
effort, is billed as a “a mix tape slipped to you by a music-obsessed friend anxious.” You know, the type of mix tape that features Lemonheads takes on Leonard Cohen, Wire, Gram Parsons, and Townes Van Zandt? Per The End Records:
AdvertisementFilled with obscure nuggets, the tracks on Varshons cut a wide swath, jumping from early British psychedelic to Dutch electronica and like all good mix tapes, you never know what is coming next.
Yeah, seriously. After Varshons and their signing with The End Records, The Lemonheads could make their ninth album of original material – also expected this year – featuring entirely autotune and banjo and I wouldn’t be surprised.
Varshons Tracklist:
01. I Just Can’t Take It Anymore (Gram Parsons)
02. Fragile (Wire)
03. Layin’ Up With Linda (G.G. Allin)
04. Waiting Around To Die (Townes Van Zandt)
05. Green Fuz (Randy Alvey & Green Fuz)
06. Yesterlove (Sam Gopal)
07. Dirty Robot (w/ Kate Moss) (Arling & Cameron)
08. Dandelion Seeds (July)
09. Mexico (Fuckemos)
10. Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye (feat. Liv Tyler) (Leonard Cohen)
11. Beautiful (Linda Perry)
The Lemonheads 2009 Tour Dates:
04/01 – Brisbane, AU @ The Zoo
04/02 – Byron Bay, AU @ The Great Northern Hotel
04/03 – Melbourne, AU @ The Corner Hotel
04/04 – Hobart, AU @ The Republic Bar
04/05 – Sydney, AU @ The Annandale Hotel
