Barsuk is excited to present a new pressing of Yellow Ostrich’s The Mistress, available now on standard black vinyl. Each copy is prominently stickered touting its download code containing the original 10-track album and 18 bonus tracks, including the 2011 Barsuk bonus material, four previously unreleased b-sides, an early alternate version of the hit “WHALE”, plus 10 covers (recorded in 2010) of songs that inspired founder Alex Schaaf during the writing and recording of The Mistress: songs by Beach House, Jon Brion, Dirty Projectors, The National, Joanna Newsom, The Replacements, The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Tallest Man on Earth, Sharon Van Etten, and Yeasayer. Since songwriter and band-leader Alex Schaaf first uploaded The Mistress (at age 22) to Bandcamp as a free download at the beginning of the last decade, it has captivated listeners: the team at Barsuk (who reissued it within a few months of Schaaf’s initial self-release); fans who fell under the hypnotic spell of standout track “WHALE”; and a host of fellow musicians (notably including Moses Sumney, who included it on his short list of favorite albums of the 2010s, not to mention future Yellow Ostrich members Michael Tapper [Bishop Allen] and the great indie sideman and composer Jon Natchez [Beirut/The War on Drugs/David Byrne/St. Vincent/etc]). The 10th anniversary reissue of The Mistress at the start of the pandemic heralded something of a rebirth of the Yellow Ostrich moniker as the band went on to release a slew of new music over the past few years including their latest album Soft in 2021; Like a Bird: An Alex Schaaf Anthology (2010-2021), a compilation spanning the career (so far) of the quietly brilliant songwriter/producer Schaaf; and Make It Make Sense EP, released earlier this spring
Release date:
June 9, 2023
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Gush
Nettwerk Records
August 22, 2025 -
Incite Savage New Times
Reigning Phoenix Music America, LLC
August 15, 2025 -
World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid Dreams of Being Dust
Epitaph
October 17, 2025 -
Dean Wareham That's the Price of Loving Me (Desert Haze Tan)
Carpark Records
August 15, 2025 -
Gwenifer Raymond Last Night I Heard The Dog Star Bark
We Are Busy Bodies
September 5, 2025 -
David Byrne Who Is The Sky? (Lemon Yellow)
Matador
September 5, 2025 -
Jade Bird Who Wants to Talk About Love
Glassnote Music
July 18, 2025 -
Feeder Comfort In Sound 2025 (Transparent Blue Curacao)
Bmg
September 12, 2025 -
Lebanon Hanover Asylum Lullabies
Fabrika Records
September 12, 2025 -
Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi Whispers of Rain
Tru Thoughts
July 11, 2025 -
Wednesday Bleeds - Eco Mix
Dead Oceans
September 19, 2025 -
Zoh Amba Sun
Smalltown Supersound
August 22, 2025 -
Scorpions From The First Sting [2xLP]
Bmg
September 26, 2025 -
Weakened Friends Feels Like Hell (Nuclear Splatter)
Don Giovanni
October 10, 2025