Ty Segall – Manipulator

The Ty Segall Manipulator vinyl on Drag City (catalog DC 600) is one of the most ambitious full-lengths in Segall’s prolific output, a 17-track double LP that finds him reaching well beyond his garage rock foundation into something considerably more layered and deliberate.

Ty Segall: Prolific, Restless, Consistently Interesting

Ty Segall has spent years building one of the most substantial catalogs in contemporary underground rock, releasing records at a pace that would burn out most artists while somehow maintaining quality and forward momentum. He works across a range of moods and textures, from raw and abrasive to surprisingly melodic and ornate, often within the same album. Manipulator sits on the more expansive end of his output, a record that shows what happens when he slows down enough to let arrangements breathe.

What Makes the Ty Segall Manipulator Vinyl Worth Your Attention

Seventeen tracks is a statement of intent, and Segall backs it up with a cast that adds real depth to the material. Chris Woodhouse contributes piano, synth and percussion. Sean Paul Presley and Brit Lauren Manor both add vocals. Steve Nutting plays drums on select songs. Then there is a string section: Irene Salzer on violin, Jessica Ivry on cello, Matthias McEntire on viola, with Mikal Cronin handling the string arrangements. The Ty Segall band, Mikal Cronin, Charles Mootheart and Emily Rose Epstein, rounds out the ensemble. That is a lot of moving parts, and it shows in the record’s texture. Songs like “The Singer,” “The Crawler” and “Who’s Producing You?” benefit from the added orchestration in ways that a more stripped-down approach simply could not deliver.

Pressing and Format Details

This is the Drag City pressing, catalog number DC 600. Drag City has been Segall’s primary label home for a significant stretch of his career, and their pressings are generally well-regarded for quality and consistency. The double LP format suits the material here: spread across four sides, the record has room to move through its range without feeling cramped. For collectors focused on Segall’s discography, the Drag City catalog number places this clearly within the official run of his releases on the label. If you are building out a complete Segall shelf or simply want the record in the format it deserves, this pressing delivers on both counts.

Tracklist

1. MANIPULATOR
2. TALL MAN SKINNY LADY
3. THE SINGER
4. IT'S OVER
5. FEEL
6. THE FAKER
7. THE CLOCK
8. GREEN BELLY
9. THE CONNECTION MAN
10. MISTER MAIN
11. THE HAND
12. SUSIE THUMB
13. DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW? (SUE)
14. THE CRAWLER
15. WHO'S PRODUCING YOU?
16. THE FEELS
17. STICK AROUND