2009
Glorytellers Atone CD/LP
Southern Records
9 unclassifiable gems from Farina’s post-Karate band.
Glorytellers Atone CD
Afterhours Records
Japanese release of the Glorytellers’ second recording.
Ardecore Chimera CD
Il Manifesto
Even darker murder ballads on the 2nd release from Gianpaolo Felici’s Roman folkies!
Farina/Pupillo/Zerang Still Life with Commercials CD
From Scratch Records
Lovable electric noise from Farina, Zu bassist Massimo Pupillo, and Brotzman Tentet drummer Michael Zerang!
2008
Glorytellers Eponymous CD/LP
Southern Records
9 beautiful, abstract ballads by Farina’s new band!
Glorytellers Eponymous CD
Afterhours
Japanese release of Glorytellers first disc.
2007
Karate 595 CD/2xLP
Southern Records
An energetic live set recorded in Belgium at the end of the band’s 2003 Europe tour. Karate’s 595th show!
Various Artists Guilt by Association CD
Engine Room Recordings
80s covers by Farina, Mike Watt, Devendra Banhart, Porter Block, Will Oldham, Petra Haden, and more!
Ardecore Chimera CD
Il Manifesto
2nd full-length of revamped Roman folk songs featuring Farina, members of Zu, and fronted by Giampaolo Felici.
2006
Geoff Farina/Luther Gray/Nate McBride Almanac CD
Atavistic
10 abstract soundscapes for the 4th enstallment of Atavistic’s Out Trios series.
Geoff Farina Already Told You CD/EP
Southern Records
Three new songs and an updated Secret Stars classic.
Geoff Farina 5 Songs CD/EP
Dotlinecircle
5 more for voice and guitar, including yet another version of Shoe In,.
2005
Ardecore Eponymous CD
Il Manifesto
Tragic Roman Folk songs reinvented by the talented Giampaolo Felici, Valerio Borgianelli, Geoff Farina, the Roman jazz-punk-noise trio Zu, and other Roman musicians.
Karate In the Fishtank CD/LP
Konkurrent
For this celebrated Dutch series, Karate covers their favorite critiques of Amercia, including Dylan’s “Tears of Rage” the Minutemen’s “Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs”.
Geoff Farina / Luther Gray / Dan Littleton New Salt CD
Xeng
This trio came together for the Schermo Sonoro festival at Cinemazero in Pordenone Italy, where they performed original music to Beckett’s Film, Genet’s Un Chan
2004
Karate Pockets CD/LP
Southern Records 8 new songs recorded by Andy Hong in his new studio in Cambridge. “Concrete” and “Cacophony” feature Chris Brokaw on guitar.
Various Artists Angel Hall CD
Last Affair Records
Tracks from The Secret Stars, Low, Ida, and His Name is Alive recorded live at Angel Hall in
Manhattan. Both the show and the CD benefit the South Brooklyn Legal Services HIV Project.
Various Artists Trane Into Extremes CD
Exile on Mainstream
Contributed solo guitar version of Frank Loesser’s Inchworm to this awkwardly-named German tribute compilation.
2003
Karate Some Boots CD/LP
Southern Records
CD version’s bonus track is a misnomer implying that the 50-minute+ LP is somehow deficient.
Karate Concerto Al Barchessone Veccio Live CD
Fooltribe Records
Recorded live in a beautiful old building somewhere in Finale Emilia in Northern Italy. Captures a tour-weary band revitalized by an enthusiastic crowd and home-made pumpkin tortellini. “Number Six” features Luca Mai on baritone.
2002
Karate Cancel/Sing CD/EP
Southern Records
Recorded by Andy Hong in Somerville. Contains two 15-minute+ songs.
Geoff Farina Blobscape CD
Kimchee Records
16 guitar improvisations culled from 100 recorded at the Narragansett Grange Hall.
2001
Karate Unsolved 2xLP
Southern Records
Unsolved was originally too long to fit on an LP without degradation of sound quality, so after a year of protest from vinyl-hungry fans Southern had the idea of releasing Unsolved on 3 sides and a fourth with songs from out-of-print singles. Karate has consistently sold thousands of copies of vinyl with each release and continues to make every effort to produce vinyl.
2000
Geoff Farina Reverse Eclipse CD
Southern Records
Recorded by Andy Hong in Somerville. Josh Lerue plays on Pordenone Plaster and One Percent.
Karate Unsolved CD
Southern Records
Recorded by Andy Hong at Small Church in Boston. Took about 2 years to write. The Roots and the Ruins is a great chord progression stolen from a Ronnie Earl song.
1999
Geoff Farina Steely Dan 7″ single
Southern Records
Recorded with Andy Hong in Somerville. Bright yellow artwork hated by most.
Various Artists In My Living Room CD
Kimchee Records
Andy Hong’s living room, that is. Tracks from Geoff, Karate, Jodi Buonanno, Richard Davies, 27, Mary Timony, Chris Colbourn, Ida, and more.
1998
Karate The Bed is in the Ocean CD/LP
Southern Records
Recorded by Andy Hong at the late Salad Days somewhere in MA. Lots of big room sounds and a turn toward Karate’s slower, more contemplative music.
Karate Operation: Sand 7″ single
Southern Records
Karate’s first session with Andy Hong recorded during a rainy afternoon in Somerville. Andy’s irate neighbor can be heard yelling from a distance at the end of the masters.
The Secret Stars 14 Days in Belpease 7″ single
Green Records
Released in Italy to support our Italian Tour.
1997
Geoff Farina Usonian Dream Sequence CD
Southern Records
Recorded on a Teac 2340 in various bedrooms and apartments. First proper collection of sparse guitar songs.
Karate In Place of Real Insight CD/LP
Southern Records
Considered by many adolescent boys to be Karate’s finest. Hastily written and recorded over a span of a few months. Early evidence of copious guitar solos.
The Secret Stars/Ida split 7″ single
RW Records
Contains previously-released songs by both bands.
The Secret Stars Genealogies CD/LP
Shrimper Records
The second and final (?) full-length. Recorded on a Teac 2340 at 15 ips somewhere in Allston.
1996
Karate Eponymous CD/LP
Southern Records
Recorded by Wally Gagel at the old Fort Apache in Boston, and mastered by John Loder at Abbey Road in London. Most fans got to know Karate through Gasoline and other slow rockers.
Karate/Lune split 7″ single
Lonesome Pine Records
One of the two releases on Eamonn Vitt’s label with Jeff Goddard’s previous band. Notoriously difficult-to-open packaging.
The Secret Stars Nightingale/RPMs 7″ single
Atlas Records
Recorded in DC’s Pirate House by Juan Carerra. Nightingale includes vocal performances by Amy Farina, Amy Pickering, Kim Thompson, and Jennifer Ballard.
1995
Secret Stars Wait/Riot Kill 7″ single
Simple Machines Records
Seen on Ebay for over $100! Who knew.
Secret Stars Eponymous CD/LP
Shrimper Records
First proper full length. Drones and love songs for late nights.
Karate/Crownhate Ruin split 7″ single
Art Monk Construction
Recorded by Juan Carerra and Guy Picciotto at the Pirate House. Contains Cherry Coke. Crownhate Ruin members went on to play in Him, June of 44, the Boom, Hoover, and other great bands.
1994
The Secret Stars Eponymous Cassette
Shrimper Records
One of Dennis Callaci’s famous home-dubbed cassettes. Artwork by Dennis himself.
Karate Death Kit 7″ single
Self Starter Foundation
Recorded in Allston on 16-tracks.
1993
The Secret Stars Eponymous Cassette
The Fi-Style
Love songs and sounds recorded on a 4-track in Jodi’s North End apartment. Copies of this cassette with the original Xerox artwork and hand-labeled tapes have sold for over $50 on Ebay!
