The Wee Small Hours: B-Sides and Other Detritus 2011-2025

Indie rock mainstays Real Estate's new compilation album, consisting of rarities and B-sides spanning the band’s 14 years working with Domino Recording Co. The project is entitled The Wee Small Hours: B-Sides and Other Detritus 2011 - 2025. “This is something we’ve talked about doing for a while now: a compilation of non-album tracks with a title, subtitle, and maybe throw a span of years in there to make it official-sounding,” Martin Courtney said of the compilation. “The title comes from the lyrics to an unreleased song we recorded during the Atlas sessions at Wilco’s loft in Chicago back in 2013, which in turn references a great Frank Sinatra record. This feels to us like a worthy addition to the catalog and we hope you all love it.”

The compilation’s earliest track dates back to 2011, with a cover of The Strokes’ “Barely Legal” for a Stereogum Tribute album, and the B-side of the “It’s Real” / “Blue Lebaron” 7”. Other covers include “Paper Dolls” (The Nerves) from 2014, “Days” (Television) from 2021, and of course “Daniel” (Elton John) from 2024. It also includes “In My Car,” dating back to a Record Store Day fanzine flexi-disc from 2012, more b-sides including the tracks from the Atlas bonus 7” from 2013, and an unreleased track entitled “Two Part” from the Atlas sessions.

To preview the forthcoming compilation, Real Estate released a new song called “Pink Sky.” The compilation-opener, “Pink Sky” was recorded last autumn at Tiny Telephone Studios in Oakland, during the same one-day session as the band’s cover of Elton John’s classic “Daniel.” The “Pink Sky” video directed by Micah Welner was made in frontman Martin Courtney’s hometown of Beacon, NY in early April, and features him in full wizard regalia.

Released: September 2025
Cat: WIGLP563
Label: Domino