Ariel Pink

While his older music was being re-released, Pink concentrated on touring. By 2008, he had solidified his backing band to multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Kenny Gilmore, drummer/vocalist/guitarist Hey (who was later replaced by Aaron Sperske), and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill. That year, Pink also released Unusual Animals, Vol. 3 with Half-Handed Cloud, a collaboration that was part of Asthmatic Kitty's limited-edition series. Late in 2009, he signed with 4AD to make his first album with a producer in a professional studio. Arriving in June 2010, Before Today built on Pink's critical acclaim and peaked at 163 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. In 2011, Pink released a new recording of the 16-minute "Witchhunt Suite for WWIII," a song previously featured on 2007's tour-only album YAS DuDette, as a single to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11. He also reunited with R. Stevie Moore on the double album Ku Klux Glam, which appeared early in 2012. In August of that year, Pink's second 4AD album -- and final Haunted Graffiti release -- Mature Themes appeared. Boasting a more eclectic approach that spanned '60s bubblegum homages and a cover of Donnie and Joe Emerson's 1979 soul-pop song "Baby," the album reached 136 on the Billboard 200. In May 2013, Human Ear Music reissued Thrash & Burn, a collection of musique concrète pieces Pink recorded in 1998 (the label had issued the set as a cassette-only release in 2006). Early Live Recordings appeared on the label late that year.