On June 19, Drag City Records will release Silver Jews’ Early Times, an album comprised of recordings made when David Berman, Stephen Malkmus and Bob Natasnovich were self-described “muppet-baby versions of themselves, young post-collegiates who were footloose and fancy-free, to say the least.” Recorded by the three musicians in a room, the archival release was captured, in their own words, “so incredibly imperfectly,” the songs lodged on Early Times are tracks from the original 7” EP, Dime Map of the Reef , and the 12” EP, The Arizona Record, documenting the musicians’ earliest work. Both Malkmus and Natasnovich went on to perform in the seminal indie band Pavement.

As another nod to the band’s early years, the album will be released on cassette as well as CD and LP. Fans can preview the album on Drag City’s website.