Earthology Records

History

Earthology Records was established in 1997 by Craig Minowa on his organic farm, which is powered by geothermal energy and built partly from reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. The label operates as a nonprofit, using only recycled materials and directing all profits to environmental charities. Cloud Cult, the band Minowa leads, tours in a biodiesel van, reflecting the label's environmental ethos. The label was formed after Cloud Cult rejected multiple offers from other record labels in favor of self-publishing.

Earthology Records has released Cloud Cult's albums, including "They Live on the Sun" (2003), which reached number one on college radio station charts nationwide, and "Aurora Borealis" (2004), nominated for Album of the Year by the Minnesota Music Awards alongside Prince and Paul Westerberg. The label also issued "Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus" (2005), which Pitchfork Media rated 8.3 and called "insane genius," and "The Meaning of 8" (2007), ranked by The Denver Post as one of the top ten albums of the past decade.

In 2008, Cloud Cult was featured in an Esurance commercial, and in 2009, the documentary "No One Said It Would Be Easy" was released on DVD. The band took a break in late 2008 and into 2009 to focus on family.

Discography

Earthology Records has released several Cloud Cult albums and EPs, including "Running With the Wolves – EP" (2010), "Unplug" (April 2014), "Lost Songs from the Lost Years" (2002), and a limited re-release of that album in 2009. The label also contributed to compilations such as "Think Out Loud: Music Serving The Homeless In The Twin Cities" (2010), "Minnesota Beatle Project, Vol. 3" (2011), and "MN Music 4 MN Kids: A Benefit For Children's Hospitals And Clinics Of Minnesota, Vol. 1" (2011). A studio cut of "Mr. Tambourine Man" (a Bob Dylan cover) appears on "Spinout Record's Duluth Does Dylan Revisited" and on the 2009 re-release of "Lost Songs from the Lost Years," as well as on the EP "Running with the Wolves." A live version of that cover is on "Live at KEXP, Volume III." A live recording of "Pretty Voice" appears on "Live Current Volume 3" and on 89.3 The Current's YouTube channel.