09 MARCH 2010
>Acrassicauda - Only The Dead See The End Of The World CD (Vice)
This Iraqi heavy metal band was the subject of the internationally acclaimed, award-winning documentary, Heavy Metal In Baghdad.
>Gary Allen - Get Off On The Pain CD (MCA Nashville)
Gary Allan, named "country music's mainstream maverick" by Rolling Stone magazine, has become one of the hottest artists in modern country music.
>Aloha - Home Acres CD/2xLP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Pushes the tempos and dials up the guitars, with the band's slow-burn intensity sometimes overflowing into huge amounts. But even as the energy surges, the group casts an otherworldly glow, serving up ambience and attach with equal measure.
>Before Their Eyes - Untouchable CD (Rise)
Whether you love sing-a-long choruses, hardcore breakdowns, or pop dance beats, this Christian five-piece has it all.
>Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night CD/LP (Jagjaguwar)
Dark bliss-out that folds the eerie guitar epics of the Montreal band's breakthrough into a wall of affected drones and atmospherics, but with a toughened immediacy and grit that gives the form a much-needed shove over the cliffs, making for a haunting, provocative swan dive into the crushing tide.
>Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil’s Tattoo CD/2xLP (Vagrant)
The band wrote and recorded most of their new album at The Basement Studio in Philadelphia -- the same room where they wrote and recorded Howl as well as some work in their hometown of L.A. Beat The Devil's Tattoo also marks the first album with drummer Leah Shapiro.
>Bled - Heat Fetish CD (Rise)
The Arizona desert dwellers return with their fourth studio project.
>Anthony Braxton - News From The ‘70s CD (Felmay)
Consists of recordings from Anthony Braxton's private archive made between 1972 and 1976, which is considered to be the early peak period of his career and features a fine array of sidemen, including: Barry Altschul, Dave Holland, George Lewis, and Kenny Wheeler.
>Broken Bells - Broken Bells CD/LP+MP3 (Columbia)
Broken Bells is The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse. Featuring "The High Road" and "The Ghost Inside," Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Danger Mouse plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. Available in regular and deluxe editions. Deluxe version features special packaging and includes a 44-page pocket notebook, glow in the dark stickers, a poster and oversized postcards.
>Bundles - Bundles CD (K)
Mix the tragic-comic folk narratives of Jeffery Lewis with Kimya Dawson’s friendly calls for bravery, with the daffy, multi-instrumentations of Karl Blau, Jack Lewis and Anders Griffen, and the result is an album that is able to be both snarky and tender, and vulnerable and confident -- all at the same time.
>Burning Star Core - Papercuts Theatre CD/LP (No Quarter)
Inspired by these singular instances (Grayfolded, The Grateful Dead; Sonic Death, Sonic Youth; In Search of Spaces, Flying Saucer Attack) C. Spencer Yeh, the lone constant of the long-running Burning Star Core project, conceptualized Papercuts Theater: one long piece (broken into four movements) culled from over sixty live performances, spanning years and continents.
>Burzum - Belus CD (Candlelight)
Highly anticipated new release from the Norwegian black metal legends -- their first album in 11 years.
>Can - Delay [Reissue] CD (Mute)
Although recorded in the late-'60s, the material here did not appear commercially until 1981. A collection of cuts featuring early vocalist Malcolm Mooney.
>Can - Unlimited Edition [Reissue] CD (Mute)
Expanding upon 1974's Limited Edition, the release contains previously unreleased tracks from 1968 through 1976.
>The Chieftains (Featuring Ry Cooder) - San Patricio CD/2xCD (Hear Music)
The leading practitioners of Irish traditional music team up with multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer Ry Cooder.
>Coconuts - Coconuts CD/LP (No Quarter)
A sound rooted in inherent darkness, influenced by early-‘80s post-punk, no wave (fellow Australians The Birthday Party come to mind) and the bleakest of world-views. It's an almost disorienting experience, created by homemade guitars that seem to leak feedback.
>Jason Collett - Rat A Tat Tat CD/LP (Arts & Crafts)
Follow up to his widely praised 2008 release, Here's To Being Here.
>Dark Tranquillity - We Are The Void CD (Century Media)
New album from the Swedish death metal pioneers encompasses all of the elements on which they’ve built their reputation: thought-provoking lyrics, shredding guitar work, captivating melodies and sheer brutality.
>Darkthrone - Frostland Tapes 3xCD (Peaceville)
Triple-disc set featuring rare recordings from the lords of darkness. This is a fascinating trip into the earliest years of the band and the first official release to contain all four of Darkthrone’s demos.
>Daughters - Daughters CD (Hydra Head)
People were pissed when Hell Songs' 10 tracks broke the 20 minutes, now they are going to have to deal with this 8-song opus nearly reaching the 30-minute mark. Impossible to place into any one genre, Daughters have paved quite the career trajectory.
>Demon Hunter - The World Is A Thorn CD/CD+DVD (Tooth & Nail)
New release from the Christian metal band. Special CD+DVD edition includes two bonus audio tracks plus a DVD featuring the “making of the album” documentary and four acoustic performances.
>Deru - Say Goodbye To Useless CD (Mush)
While you will find similar aesthetics to his previous releases -- moody, atmospheric sounds, haunting melodies and organic textures -- they are augmented by his most mature song-writing and cutting-edge beats to date. The album pays homage to classic genres and structures while cultivating a 22nd century smart-party ethic that will snatch the ear of the snobbiest beat head.
>Errol Dixon - Blues In The Pot / That’s How You Get Killed Before [Reissue] CD (BGO)
Digitally remastered twofer containing a pair of original late '60s albums by the Jamaican-born songwriter.
>Eluveitie - Everything Remains: As It Never Was CD (Nuclear Blast)
Eluveitie belong to the fast-growing Pagan metal scene, alongside with similar acts such as Finntroll, Ensiferum, and Turisas.
>Ethiopiques - Vol. 24 CD (Buda Musique)
A selection of powerful pieces from the historical Amha Records catalog includes two pieces by a young Mulatu Astatqé, well known for his work on the Broken Flowers soundtrack.
>Finntroll - Nifelvind CD (Century Media)
Musical themes range from powerful death metal riffs to dark soundtracks, from pounding black metal to groovy 80's pop-music.
>Fleshtones - It’s Super Rock Time! The IRS Years 1980-1985 CD (Raven)
Superb 26-track collection from one of America's original, and longest-running, garage-rock bands.
>Four Year Strong - Enemy Of The World CD (Motown)
A fluid mix of everything from pop/punk to hardcore to indie rock.
>Frightened Rabbit - Winter Of Mixed Drinks CD/LP (Fatcat)
The follow up to 2008’s Midnight Morning Fight, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks a collection of ambitious, moving, and gloriously accomplished songs.
>Garaj Mahal - More Mr. Nice Guy CD (Owl Studios)
A musical mixture of jazz, fusion, world music, and pop.
>Gonjasufi - A Sufi And A Killer CD/2xLP (Warp)
Gonjasufi stands just outside the spotlight cast on his friends and collaborators Flying Lotus and The Gaslamp Killer, but the sonic brotherhood that exists is implicit rather than as similarities in sound. Drawing from unearthed strains of global psychedelia and merging it with a rejuvenated sense of hip-hop clarity currently distinct to the West Coast, Gonjasufi is more than just a songwriter, MC, or performer.
>Gorillaz - Plastic Beach CD/CD+DVD (Virgin)
Five years on from the release of Demon Days, Murdoc Niccals and company return with Plastic Beach. The band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a “Plastic Beach HQ,” made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. This “Plastic Beach” is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet. Also available in a deluxe edition, which adds a 45-minute "making of" documentary DVD that provides online access to extra music, games and video.
>Ben Harper And Relentless 7 - Live From The Montreal Jazz Festival CD+DVD (Virgin)
Urgent. Infectious. Energized. That's how Ben Harper And Relentless 7 have been characterized and this special CD/DVD combo filmed during the Montreal International Jazz Festival captures their blistering artistry in the summer of 2009.
>Jimi Hendrix - First Rays Of The New Rising Sun [Reissue] CD+DVD/LP (Sony/Legacy)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced [Reissue] CD/LP (Sony/Legacy)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love [Reissue] CD+DVD/LP (Sony/Legacy)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland [Reissue] CD+DVD/LP (Sony/Legacy)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Smash Hits [Reissue] CD+DVD/LP (Sony/Legacy)
Deluxe CD+DVD editions of Jimi’s classic studio albums. Newly remastered, all titles are packaged in lavish 6-panel digipaks featuring detailed booklets that include session info, liner notes, photos and memorabilia. The added DVDs contain exclusive “making of” mini documentaries. Gatefold HQ-180 vinyl versions also available.
>Jimi Hendrix Experience - Valley’s Of Neptune CD (Sony/Legacy)
12 previously unreleased studio recordings -- over 60 minutes of unheard Hendrix. Ten of these recordings were made between February and May 1969, as the Jimi Hendrix Experience set out to create the sequel to Electric Ladyland. Free lithograph with purchase -- while supplies last!
>Immolation - Majesty & Decay CD (Nuclear Blast)
Since the release of their debut album Dawn Of Possession in 1991, Immolation has been a driving force in the extreme metal scene that they helped define.
>Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Greatest Hits 2xCD/2xLP (Blackheart)
Best-of compilation also features seven songs featured in the film The Runaways including one previously unreleased track. Collects both remastered and re-recorded material, including two new tracks.
>JJ - No. 3 CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
JJ creates R&B and Balearic dub from the ghosts of lost lovers; pop as delicate as a fawn's nose across blades of frosted grass. Vinyl edition includes a bonus track. “It's a gorgeous ode to chemically-assisted euphoria, or an effective, shimmering simulation for those who keep their intoxications on the legal side.” -- Pitchfork
>Rolf Julius - Music For The Ears CD (Western Vinyl)
Comprised of two long tracks of gently weaving tones exploring the possibilities of spatial experience. The cover image depicts his sound installation in a bamboo forest in Kyoto, Japan where his music is played through speakers hanging freely from the branches of the trees.
>The Knife With Mt. Sims - Tomorrow, In A Year 2xCD (Mute)
90 minutes of music by The Knife and their collaborators Mt. Sims and PlanningToRock, recorded for the Danish theater experimentalists Hotel Pro Forma for their modern opera Tomorrow, In A Year.
>Miles Kurosky - The Desert Of Shallow Effects CD (Shout! Factory)
Kurosky's first solo effort since dissolving Beulah five years ago, and, happily, his singular gift for melody-rich pop hasn't deserted him.
>Patty Larkin - 25 2xCD (Signature Sounds)
2010 marks Patty Larkin's 25th year of recording music. Follow her musical journey as she reworks 25 love songs from 1985-2010 with the help of 25 very special guests including Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Bruce Cockburn, Rosanne Cash, Martin Sexton, Dar Williams and many more.
>Lawrence Arabia - Chant Darling CD (Bella Union)
Delicate guitar-pop numbers infused with ‘60s nostalgia and dashes of wry humor.
>Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks CD/LP+MP3 (Matador)
This extraordinarily assured, wide ranging album explores new ground for Ted, showcasing his singer/songwriter side while remaining emotionally and energetically true to his punk roots.
>Liars - Sisterworld CD/2xCD (Mute)
A back-to-basics art-pop thrill from start to finish. Limited edition deluxe version adds a bonus CD of remixes and reinterpretations of all 11 tracks from artists including: Thom Yorke, Tunde Adebimpe, Bradford Cox, Melvins, Devendra Banhart, Alan Vega, Chris & Cosey and Blonde Redhead.
>Ludacris - Battle Of The Sexes CD/2xLP (DTP Recordings)
New album features guests Ne-Yo, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Ciara, Trey Songz, Lil'Kim, Eve, Trina, and Plies.
>Manegarm - Nattvasen CD (Regain)
The band started from the ideas of Svenne Rosendal, Jonas Almquist, and Pierre Wilhelmsson in 1995. They began concentrating on Viking metal but later began to incorporate folk metal including violins and female vocals.
>The Method Actors - This Is Still It CD (Acute)
The Method Actors were among the earliest bands to emerge from the Athens punk/new wave scene that produced The B-52s, R.E.M., Pylon, and many others. This Is Still It -- which R.E.M.'s Peter Buck describes in his liner notes as "a kind of secret history of the Athens scene" -- revisits the early years of the legendary duo.
>Mimicking Birds - Mimicking Birds CD (Glacial Pace)
Thick ethereal melodies by way of cosmic folk. Lachrymose songs that synchronously evoke warm-heartedness and an overall compassion for life without coming off dilettante or sending you an invitation to a pity party.
>Mind.In.A.Box - R.E.T.R.O. CD (Metropolis)
An homage to the era of the Commodore 64 and 1980s video games, R.E.T.R.O. includes a few cover versions of cult classics -- all done in MIAB’s signature style.
>Anaïs Mitchell - Hadestown CD (Righteous Babe)
Based upon the ancient Greek myth of the poet Orpheus and his doomed quest to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld, Anaïs Mitchell's new album Hadestown evokes our Depression-era past, the current financial disaster (though it was written before the stock market collapse), and a post-apocalyptic future.
>The Morning Benders - Big Echo CD/LP (Rough Trade)
The Morning Benders have been dubbed retro-pop and they’ve received more than a few Shins comparisons, but their expansive and expressive sound is their own. Produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Chu and Chris Taylor.
>Mortemia - Misere Mortem CD (Napalm)
The latest work by gothic metal giant Morten Veland.
>Paul Motian /Chris Potter/Jason Moran - Lost In A Dream CD (ECM)
New Motian tunes are juxtaposed with older ones, and a free exploration of Irving Berlin's "Be Careful It's My Heart" completes a program distinguished by gloriously supple playing from all three participants who are in tune at a high level.
>Of Mice And Men - Of Mice And Men CD (Rise)
New from ex-Attack Attack! frontman Austin Carlile.
>Ortolan - Time On A String CD (Sounds Familyre)
Luxuriating within the lustrous musical harbor of the Ortolan sisterhood is the great strength of Stephanie Cottingham's lyrics. She talks of space and place, street corners, trees, and "sitting here reading this all on the ground." We are able to explore these rooms with her, dream alongside her.
>Pavement - Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement CD/2xLP+MP3 (Matador)
This remastered mid-priced, 23-track greatest hits collection, chosen by the band, ranges from their hit "Cut Your Hair" to nearly all their singles, some underrated album tracks, three choice pre-Matador cuts and one obscure compilation track.
>Lee Perry - Mad Alien Dub CD (The Great American Music Co.)
Mad Alien Dub includes a few frequently collected classics (Perry's own "Stay Red," and The Upsetters' "Thanks We Get"), but most of the program is less familiar -- future Third World vocalist Bunny Ruggs covers "I Am I Said," and there's the repatriation anthem "Ethiopia," just to name two obscurities. Everything partakes of the signature Black Ark ambience: the splashy echo, the eerie, slightly distant vocal mix, and that slight edge of utter madness that characterizes every session over which the mighty Upsetter presides.
>PFM - River of Life: Manticore Years Anthology 1973-1977 CD (Manticore)
Double-disc collection from the Italian prog rock band featuring tracks released during their years on ELP's Manticore label.
>Louis Prima & His Orchestra - The Best Of CD (Varese Sarabande)
Career retrospective featuring rare, out of print material.
>Josh Rouse - El Turista CD (Yep Roc)
Simple, Spanish-influenced street rhythms unfurl into epic versions of Guaraldi-like jazz numbers, resulting in yet another career defining touchstone and a genre-blending album that is as sophisticated as it is infectious.
>Savath Y Savalas - The Predicate (Dub Version) CD (Stone’s Throw)
La Llama's neo-psych-folk re-imagined as heavy dub by new production entity known as The Predicate.
>Speed Caravan - Kalashnik Love CD (RealWorld)
This Paris-based North African/French quartet are led by Mehdi Haddab's electrified, amplified oud, blazing toward a psychedelic horizon while slaloming through rock, electro, hip-hop and world music with raised fists and a sharp spray of desert sand. Guests include rai rebel Rachid Taha, Asian Dub Foundation alumni, and remixer Sidestepper.
>The Splinters - Kick CD (Double Negative)
Their ramshackle rock & roll sound and multipart vocal harmonies have earned them comparisons to ‘60s girl groups like the Shangri-Las, artsy post-punk outfits like the Raincoats and the lo-fi grrl-pop stylings of early-‘90s K Records bands.
>Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead Symphony CD/CD+DVD/2xLP (WB)
Grammy award winning rock maestro Serj Tankian’s first live album featuring a full orchestral performance of his critically-acclaimed debut album Elect The Dead which showcased the writing and arranging prowess of a man best known for his inimitable vocals, incisive lyrics, and unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes. Also available in a deluxe edition which adds a DVD of the live performance and more.
>Titus Andronicus - The Monitor CD/LP (XL)
The Monitor is a concept album about the Civil War, "sort of", says singer Patrick Stickles. Features contributions by members of Ponytail, Wye Oak, Vivian Girls, and the Hold Steady.
>Ulaan Khol - III CD (Soft Abuse)
III is as immediate as a truck with failed brakes crashing through your living room wall. The third and final installment of a trilogy entitled Ceremony, its opening moments rage and wail, with distorted guitars pulling out in front of the drums like hellhounds that have slipped their master's leash.
>Various Artists - Bluegrass Special CD (Rounder)
Here are many of the biggest names in bluegrass, including Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs and Dailey & Vincent, playing a set of America's most beloved songs, including "Cotton-Eyed Joe," "Little Maggie," and "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms."
>Vas Canto - Tribe Of Force CD/CD+DVD (Napalm)
Van Canto's virtuous a cappella vocals build upon the rhythmic foundation of a mere drummer to create original compositions that will bring metal fans enthusiastically to their knees. Deluxe edition adds a DVD of their 45-minute performance at Wacken Open Air 2008, as well as interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
>Violent Soho - Violent Soho CD (Ecstatic Peace)
Violent Soho's punk-splattered debut delivers a splintering battery of two-and-a-half-minute rock missives, leaving reviewers scrambling for appropriate descriptions of the combustible band's trademark treads. Is it grunge? Is it thrash? Or a revelatory reinvention of both?
>David S. Ware - Saturnian Solo Saxophones V.1 CD (Aum Fidelity)
Recorded live in concert at the Abrons Arts Center, NYC on October 15, 2009, Saturnian documents master saxophonist David S. Ware's triumphant return to performance following his kidney transplant in May 2009.
>Andrew Lloyd Webber - Love Never Dies (Original Cast Recording) 2xCD/2xCD+DVD
Original cast recording of Love Never Dies, which continues the story of “The Phantom,” who has moved from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of Coney Island, far across the Atlantic. Also available: Special Deluxe Limited Edition featuring the complete cast recording, a bonus DVD with interviews and filmed footage, and a nicely bound 40-page booklet.
>White Hinterland - Kairos CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
Explores the edges of minimal pop, accomplishing a delicate but lively seduction through deep, patient bass throbs, prismatic synth textures, and direct, intimate songs sung with an empowered gravitas.
>Year Long Disaster - Black Magic; All Disasters Revealed CD/LP+CD (Volcom)
Since their formation in late 2004, Year Long Disaster have channeled the bastardized muddy blues stomps of their forefathers and overlaid them with their own flash and drama.
>Yoshida Brothers - Ibuki CD (Domo)
The album features mostly traditional tsugaru-shamisen songs, though hints of the brothers' signature style were starting to emerge. From the very beginning, it was clear that the group was bringing this ancient three-stringed instrument into modern times, interpreting its sound for a contemporary audience.
>Zola Jesus - Stridulum CDEP/12” (Sacred Bones)
New EP released in advance of her next full length (due 2011). Recording her vocals for the first time with professional instruments, Nika's voice is brought to the powerful forefront of the mix, unleashing emotions that previous work only hinted at. It's a siren song for the apocalypse.
DVDs:
>The Heart Is A Drum Machine - DVD (Lightyear Entertainment)
What is music? Today's top artists, actors, and scholars grapple with the question in this cinematic look at a uniquely human obsession. The Heart is A Drum Machine is a new feature documentary film project from the producers of Moog.
>Jimi Hendrix - Live At Woodstock 2xDVD (Sony Legacy)
This deluxe set features all of the existing film footage from Jimi's unforgettable August 1969 Woodstock concert newly re-edited and presented uninterrupted and in its original performance sequence.
Vinyl:
>Diamond Rings - Wait & See 7” (Tomlab)
Gated snares, distorted guitars, and a catchy chorus featuring backing vocals from Toronto based indie-pop star Gentleman Reg. The B-side is an unlikely cover of Sebadoh's "On Fire" that trades the mid-90's acoustic aesthetic of the original for nightclub-ready MIDI beats and shimmering analog synth flourishes.
>Jatune - Blanket Of Ash LP (Other Electricities)
Vinyl-only collection of metallic drone and space junk beats for the truly frequency-dependent.
>Javelin - 2 LP (Thrill Jockey)
A kind of mix tape fantasy, where R&B impresarios, amateur booty bass producers, and Andean flautists hold equal sway. Each record comes in a unique vintage jacket with silk-screened cover and hand pasted track listing.
>Mary Onettes - Islands LP (Labrador)
Imagine a Swedish equivalent of The National on a diet of speed, Planet Earth DVDs and ‘80s guitar pop singles and you'll have a vague idea of how amazing this is.
>Still Flyin’ - Runaway 7”+MP3 (Ernest Jenning)
The first in a series of releases showing off some new sounds, new ideas and all the incredible joy you have already come to expect from fun rock sensations.
>Pavement - Brighten The Corners LP+MP3 (Matador)
>Pavement - Crooked Rain Crooked Rain LP+MP3 (Matador)
>Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted LP+MP3 (Matador)
>Pavement - Watery Domestic LP+MP3 (Matador)
>Pavement - Wowee Zowee LP+MP3 (Matador)
Specially-priced vinyl reissues now available.
>Pomegranates - Everything Is Alive LP (Broken Circles)
Art pop drawing on influences like The Beach Boys and The Kinks. As timeless as it is fresh.
>Various Artists - Si, Para Usted Volume 2: The Funky Beats Of Revolutionary Cuba LP (Light In The Attic)
An unprecedented combination of socialism and artistic freedom flourished during the mid-years of Castro's Cuba, enabling musicians to create an innovative body of music based on traditional styles like those made famous by the Buena Vista Social Club. Si, Para Usted Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off with another a fully licensed compilation of Cuban funk, jazz, psych, son, and soul from the last four decades.
>Whitefield Brothers - The Gift 7” (Now Again)
A Side contains Oh No's Ethiopium Remix of "The Gift," the lead off single from Earthology. The B-side features the instrumental of the remix.
>Alberta Cross - Broken Side Of Time LP+CD (ATO)
>Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain’t No Grave LP (American Recordings)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
02 MARCH 2010
>4Hero/DJ Marky - Kings Of Drum + Bass CD/3xLP (BBE)
The innovative 4Hero takes control of one half of this compilation with a mixture of classic hardcore era drum and bass to upfront monster jams. The amazing DJ Marky provides the sounds of the second half.
>A Weather - Everday Balloons CD (Team Love)
Two years after the critically acclaimed Cove, A Weather release another collection of scrupulously crafted indie-rock songs, rife with intricate vocal and instrumental beauty. It is an album of fleeting moments, words and sounds, as elevated by glimpses of euphoric unison as it is grounded in studied specificity.
>Benny Andersson Band - Story Of A Heart CD (Decca)
For the past 20 years, Abba’s Benny Andersson has been leading The Benny Andersson Band, a group of 16 exceptional musicians and singers who share his passion for the Swedish folk tradition, not to mention big band, Bach, polka, waltzes, Celtic folk, ‘50s standards, and straight-ahead pop music.
>Anima - Enter The Killzone CD (Metal Blade)
New from German deathcore band.
>Architect - Consume, Adapt, Create CD (Hymen)
A unique blend of atmospheric IDM, cinematic samples, powerfully distorted sequences, driving electro grooves, razor-sharp breakbeats, and haunting ambience.
>Artist Vs Poet - Favorite Fix CD (Fearless)
Debut album from Dallas pop punk quintet.
>Athlete - Black Swan CD (Original Signal)
Another release of spirited, electro tinged indie-pop from the London quartet.
>Black 47 - Bankers And Gangsters CD (United For Opportunity)
Black 47 is recognized as the premier Irish-American rock group, having paved the way for the explosion of bands such as Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys.
>Bomb The Bass - Back To Light CD/LP (!K7)
The dusky atmosphere of 2008’s Future Chaos has given way to a more radiant sound, buoyed by waves of synthesizers and propelled by clean-lined grooves. Raising the tempo, Simenon takes inspiration from classic techno.
>Borknagar - Universal [Reissue] 2xCD (Indie Recordings)
Reissue of the 2005 opus from France's leading symphonic extreme art-metal band. Includes a second CD full of outtakes, extras and alternate versions.
>Dee Dee Bridgewater - Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billy With Love From Dee Dee Bridgewater CD (Emarcy)
Over the course of a multifaceted career that has spanned four decades, Dee Dee Bridgewater has risen to the top tier of today's jazz vocalists, putting her own unique spin on standards as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. For her latest recording, Bridgewater honors Billie Holiday.
>Citizen Cope - Rainwater CD (MRI)
The long awaited follow up to 2006’s Every Waking Moment.
>Clogs - The Creatures In The Garden Of Lady Walton CD (Brassland)
Clogs use sounds and textures from across the musical spectrum -- the immediacy of folk and rock, twisted Americana, the complexity of modern composition. Features guest contributions by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Sufjan Stevens, Aaron Dessner and Matt Berninger of The National.
>Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit CD/CD+DVD/2xLP (Verve)
New album from the multi-talented British jazzman, vocalist, pianist and songwriter spans pop, hip-hop and jazz genres.
>Raheem DeVaughn - The Love And War MasterPeace CD (Jive)
On the heels of 2008’s Grammy nominated The Love Behind The Melody, The Love & War MasterPeace is a tale of two tales though love and war. Features guest appearance by Ludacris.
>Jason Derulo - Jason Derulo CD (WB)
New from the Miami-bred 20-year-old singer, dancer and songwriter.
>B. Dolan - Fallen House, Sunken City CD (Strange Famous)
Dolan has already established himself as a master storyteller, but this time he crafts an unabashed, full-throttle, boom-bap hip-hop record.
>Dust From 1000 Years - Marble Memo CD (Moon Jaw)
“Don't worry that you've never heard this band before... give some new music a shot. You never know where the next Pavement or Elliott Smith might be hiding out.” - Coke Machine Glow
>Eleh - Location Momentum CD (Touch)
Eleh began as long ago as 1999 as an exploration of analog synthesis, emphasizing low frequency oscillation and resonant acoustic phenomena.
>Engines - Wire And Brass CD (Okka Disk)
Recorded live in April 2008 at the Hungry Brain in Chicago by the group comprised of trombonist Jeb Bishop, saxophonist Dave Rempis, bassist Nate McBride and drummer Tim Daisy.
>Fenn O’Berg - In Stereo CD/2xLP (Editions Mego)
The trio of Christian Fennesz, Jim O’Rourke and Peter Rehberg return after a hiatus of almost 9 years. Whereas previously the emphasis was on a chaotic blend of found samples mangled through their mobile computing systems to create a humorous, oddball sound, this implements a more wider instrumental palette of analog and digital synthesis, guitar, piano, bass, and percussion. Double-vinyl version features an extra track not on the CD.
>Flogging Molly - Live At The Greek Theatre 2xCD+DVD (Side One Dummy)
This three-disc set captures Flogging Molly’s epic performance at the Greek Theatre on September 12, 2009, featuring over 90 minutes of music spanning the band’s entire catalog, from Swagger to Float.
>Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back CD/2xCD (RealWorld/EMI)
Gabriel describes this as a very personal covers album with twelve songs performed only with orchestral instruments and voice. He made the choice not to include guitar or drums. The album’s richly diverse sounds include the sparse romance of Lou Reed’s “The Power Of The Heart,” the powerful musical journey of David Bowie’s “Heroes,” and an epic arrangement of Arcade Fire’s “My Body Is A Cage.” Also available as a deluxe edition which adds a disc of alternate versions and remixes.
>Danny Gokey - My Best Days CD (RCA)
Debut country album from the 8th season finalist of American Idol.
>Golden Triangle - Double Jointer CD/LP+MP3 (Hardly Art)
Golden Triangle play music that's loud with the speed and catchiness of the current garage/weird-punk/lo-fi with some profoundly goth undercurrents and some no-wave sensibility. The instruments have that good/bad blown out quality and the spectral lady singers are commanding.
>Great American Taxi - Reckless Habits CD (Great American Music Co.)
Great American Taxi, fronted by Leftover Salmon's Vince Herman, have an uninhibited sound that is a swinging concoction of swampy blues, progressive bluegrass, funky New Orleans strut, southern boogie, honky tonk, gospel, and good old fashioned rock & roll.
>Groove Armada - Black Light CD (Om)
New album is a collision of alt and electronic genres featuring vocalist Bryan Ferry.
>Guitar Shorty - Bare Knuckle CD (Alligator)
“If you love to hear stinging blues guitar in the tradition of Albert King, Lonnie Mack, or Stevie Ray Vaughan, you can hardly do better... He’s called Guitar Shorty for a reason. He’s a guitar god, and he simply unleashes one great solo after another.'' -- Paste
>John Hiatt - The Open Road CD (New West)
Hiatt and his touring band have recorded a set that gives garage rock a new meaning.
>Holmes Brothers - Feed My Soul CD (Alligator)
New from the roots trio. A joyous, triumphant celebration of love, family and faith sparked by member Wendell Holmes' recent victory over cancer. Produced by Joan Osborne. ''They cover the gamut of real life, and they do so with honesty, pathos, and humor. Utterly uncategorizable except for the honesty and the heart, it's best to simply call Feed My Soul great.'' -- Paste
>Scott Hull - Audiofilm II (Crucial Blast)
Hull is best known for his amazing thrash/grind riffage in the bands Pig Destroyer and Agoraphobic Nosebleed. Audiofilm II is the second installment in the Crucial Blast series of limited edition three-inch CDs.
>Jaguar Love - Hologram Jams CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Blood Brothers may have betrayed their blood oath by breaking up, but the spirit of that raucous Seattle act lives on in Jaguar Love.
>Japanther - Rock N Roll Ice Cream CD/LP+MP3 (Menlo Park)
The story behind Rock N Roll Ice Cream is an adventure tale of exploring harmonies, writing together and a little bit of that West Coast surf vibe whilst lurking a bit towards Japanther's salad days in Brooklyn to draw on pop hooks and simple drum parts that make skating seem easier and bikes move faster. Also available on limited edition color vinyl with MP3 download.
>Shooter Jennings & Hierophant - Black Ribbons CD (Rocket Science)
Black Ribbons features a unique collaboration between Jennings and best-selling author Stephen King. The 70-minute concept album sees King provide the voice of Will O' The Wisp, a late-night talk show radio host who is in the last hour of his final broadcast before the airwaves is overtaken by “government-approved and regulated transmissions.”
>Kammerflimmer Kollektief - Wildling CD (Staubgold)
Wildling is the trio's strongest and most vulnerable album to date, floating solitary in its own space, somewhere between the orbits of jazz, Krautrock, pop and hell.
>Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors CD/2xCD (Geffen)
Fifth album by American alternative rock band features a more upbeat tone than previous albums, incorporating more classic and modern rock styles.
>Little Boots - Hands CD/LP (New Elektra)
An album with well-crafted pop songs and diverse production, Hands primarily features songs about love, relationships, and heartbreak, and takes influence from a variety of music styles such as disco, 1980's pop, and Eurodance.
>Loscil - Endless Falls CD/2xLP (Kranky)
Endless Falls begins and ends with the sound of rain recorded by Scott in his back yard, precipitation being a constant presence in his home city of Vancouver. Many of the other sounds on the album are derived from these same recordings, processed and combined with other harmonic sounds to create the textures and drones. Vinyl version contains two extra tracks not on the CD.
>Marley’s Ghost - Ghost Town CD (Sage Arts)
Their collective old-time approach glides with deadpan sincerity through sea chanteys, perverted mountain gospel, country-rock, vintage pre-WWII jazz and pop.
>Mavis - Mavis CD (!K7)
It began with an instrumental track recorded by Ashley Beedle and musical partner Darren Morris sparked by a night listening to Mavis Staples and the Staple Singers three years ago. It ends with this record, 12 interpretations of that track from some of the finest known and yet to be discovered vocal talent the world has to offer. Revered artists such as Lambchop's Kurt Wagner, Candi Staton, Ed Harcourt, Edwyn Collins, Cerys Matthews, and Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell have thrown themselves heart and soul in the Mavis mix.
>David Max - Simple Psychedelic Pleasures CD (Mind Expansion)
David Max, guitar player of legendary freak-out band Psychic TV, has completed his first solo record comprised of 13 sonic half-dreams and adventures. Simple Psychedelic Pleasures explores the nature of mind-revealing sounds and words.
>Motorpsycho - Heavy Metal Fruit CD/LP (Rune Grammofon)
“More likely to be named after the Russ Meyer film than the Bob Dylan song of the same name, Motorpsycho’s latest album finds the Norwegian trio on drastically effective form. Clocking in at just over an hour, five of the six tracks presented here are expansive prog freak outs sitting around a comparatively brief piano ballad.” -- Thelineofbestfit.com
>Overnight Lows - City Of Rotten Eyes CD/LP+MP3 (Goner)
Debut album from the Jackson, MS band. Overnight Lows mix a sick and sickened attitude with a classic Angry Samoans/Queers aesthetic: establish a blazing guitar riff, yell some memorable antisocial blather over it, hit a chorus, and get out.
>Polar Bear - Peepers CD/LP (Leaf)
Fourth album from this outfit led by percussionist Sebastian Rochford. Categorizing Rochford poses problems. Jazz is at the heart of his work, yet his understanding of and engagement with a wide range of genres are such that it's impossible to shoehorn his recordings into neat and tidy boxes.
>Ramleh - Hole In The Heart [Reissue] 2xCD (Dirter Promotions)
Remastered and expanded version of UK noise/industrial/power electronics wizard’s 1987 cassette-only release.
>Rogue Wave - Permalight CD/LP (Brushfire)
A punchy, deceptively effervescent set of multi-instrumental pop tunes. Rogue Wave has a reputation for crafting classic, inward-looking pop songs highlighted with psychedelic guitars, pastoral sound effects and intricate rhythms. On Permalight, however, Rogue Wave steps away from expectations with synthesizers that simultaneously sound brittle and blissful.
>Ruby Suns - Fight Softly CD/LP (Sub Pop)
Head-spinning combo of big-picture vision and sumptuous detail veers from the path set by 2008's spectacular Sea Lion. Thematically, it's not as wide-eyed or lighthearted, picking apart the relationships faced as we pass through the world -- with our surroundings, each other, and ourselves. Sonically it remains as beat-centric though these beats are deliciously artificial -- stretched and compacted and distorted beyond recognition.
>Blake Shelton - Hillbilly Bone CD (Reprise)
Six brand new tracks from country/rock chart topper.
>Sarah Silverman - Songs Of The Sarah Silverman Program CD (Comedy Central)
Soundtrack to the Sarah Silverman Program, packed with fan favorites, from "Cookie Party" to "Stepped on a Homeless Man" to "Baby Penis In Your Mind."
>Soundtrack - Alice In Wonderland [Music By Danny Elfman] CD (Walt Disney)
Original soundtrack to Tim Burton’s forthcoming adaptation.
>Sticks - Sticks CD/2x7” (Upset The Rhythm)
Stripped down garage party band from Brighton bashes drums, sways on bass, and claws at guitar -- often swapping instruments live within songs. RIYL: Black Lips, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Oblivians.
>Strange Boys - Be Brave CD (In The Red)
Highly anticipated sophomore album from roots-garage band, features contributions from members of Darker My Love and Mika Miko. An infectious mix of ramshackle garage rock, polished Village Green-era Kinks melodies, and vocals that suggest a young Bob Dylan had he spent more of his formative years in juvie halls than coffeehouses.
>Texas Tornadoes - Esta Bueno CD (Bismeaux)
New from the Tex-Mex super group. Augie Meyers and Flaco Jimenez reunite with the late Doug Sahm’s son, Shawn Sahm, in a new recording that includes five previously unreleased vocal performances from the late Grammy award winner Freddy Fender.
>These New Puritans - Hidden CD/LP (Domino)
An album which pulls together a host of unlikely influences: the later, more developed work of Steve Reich, Britney Spears, Japanese percussion and, in particular, the great British composer Benjamin Britten.
>Andrew Thomas - Between Buildings And Trees CD (Kompakt)
Represents a process of uniting new music with remnants of old cassette/4-track recordings and early digital recordings. RIYL: Wolfgang Voigt/Gas, Fennesz, Vladislav Delay, William Basinski.
>Seth Troxler - Boogy Bytes Vol. 05 CD (Bpitch Control)
Latest installment in BPitch Control’s Boogy Bytes DJ/remix series.
>Various Artists - Almost Alice CD (Walt Disney)
Companion piece to Danny Elfman's soundtrack score featuring Robert Smith, Franz Ferdinand, Wolf Mother, Owl City, All-American Rejects, Grace Potter, Motion City Soundtrack, Avril Lavigne, and others.
>Various Artists - Next Stop... Soweto: Township Sound From The Golden Age Of Mbaqanga CD (Strut)
Strut follow their recent forays into Nigerian and Ethio grooves with a brand new wide-ranging series exploring underground South African music during the late '60s and '70s. Next Stop... Soweto explores the vibrant energy of the township jive sound.
>Various Artists - Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound In 1970’s Nigeria CD/3xLP (Soundway)
Focusing on the big-band sound dominated by wailing saxophones, brass solos and relentless poly-rhythmic grooves, Nigeria Afrobeat Special delivers a no-nonsense collection of tracks that (bar one) have never been reissued outside of Nigeria. Vinyl version features 5 bonus tracks not available on the CD.
>Various Artists - Nigeria Special Volume 2: Modern Highlife CD/3xLP (Soundway)
Subtitled: Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6. The range of styles vary from highlife to Juju and Nigerian blues in the languages of Yoruba, Igbo, Bini and Ijaw. Vinyl version contains 3 tracks not available on the CD.
>Various Artists - Rounder Records 40th Anniversary Concert CD (Rounder)
To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Rounder held a concert on October 12th, 2009 at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bela Fleck and Irma Thomas performed at this momentous celebration along with musical host, Minnie Driver.
>Josiah Wolf - Jet Lag CD/LP (Anticon)
Debut album from WHY? multi-instrumentalist. An autumnal mix of warm folk and easy psychedelia played out (by Wolf alone) on guitar, vibes, kalimba, Hammond organ, bells, bass, and drums.
>Yellow Swans - Going Places CD/LP+CD (Type)
The group's conclusion as an entity and their most introspective work to date. The resulting collection is distilled and reflective, retaining the grit and damage of their earlier work but adding layers of harmony and, maybe more surprisingly, pulsing rhythms.
DVDs:
>Where The Wild Things Are - DVD (Warner Home Video)
Spike Jonze’s moody and masterful adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book -- now available on DVD.
Vinyl:
>Arriver - Simon Mann EP 7” (Bec Rec)
"The 3 songs are terrifyingly focused, even as they shift nonchalantly between robotic Mushuggoid thrash, proggy riffing, stoner-rock swagger, techy death metal, and bursts of nasty grind -- they're like floodlights cutting through the fog of war." - Chicago Reader
>Bardo Pond - Bufo Alvarius [Reissue] LP (Fire)
Deluxe remastered vinyl reissue of their 1st album, originally released on Drunken Fish in 1995. Includes a previously unreleased bonus track.
>JC Brooks & Uptown Sound - Get It Together b/w I Am Trying To Break Your Heart 7” (Rabbit Factory)
Brooks & Co. finished off 2009 with a bang, playing to ecstatic crowds throughout the Northeast as part of Numero Group’s critically acclaimed Eccentric Soul Revue. Funky new single featuring a Wilco cover on the B-side.
>Catburglers - Catburglers LP+CD (Criminal IQ)
Follows up their first 2 singles with this no frills LP of pure brute power and force with a monolithic chainsaw buzz guitar sound reminiscent of earl Angry Samoans, Dictators, or even Turbonegro.
>Clawtoe - Ingrown Ego 7” (Hardly Art)
Scary looking guys doing creepy sounding metronomic dub-punk with a slightly gothic feel to it. Hand-numbered limited edition (300).
>Dire Straits - Communiqué [Reissue] LP (WB)
1979 album, digitally remastered, pressed on HQ-180 vinyl.
>Hellvete - De Gek LP (Kraak)
Spans from folk-inspired guitar drones to minimalist keyboard esoterica.
>Indignant Senility - Plays Wagner, Part One LP (Type)
Using a handful of dusty Wagner pieces, Indignant Senility stretches and distorts his hallowed tones into something indescribably dark and beautiful. Like David Lynch's Eraserhead soundtrack, this is music that sounds as if you are being dragged through rusted pipes and hearing the distant swell of broken gramophones playing in unison.
>Orkustra - New Adventures In Experimental Electronic Orchestra From The San Francisco Psychedelic Underground LP (Mexican Summer)
Uncommon recordings from Bobby Beausoleil’s past band.
>Pill Wonder - Jungle/Surf LP (Underwater Peoples)
A fuzzy, untamed pop miracle.
>Privacy - Songs LP (Marriage)
Bare, simple, original folk music sung in a breathy, pitch perfect, deep female voice.
>Prince Far I - Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3 LP (Pressure Sounds)
Features super-heavy deliveries by the Prince, pre-ambient doodlings and quirky noises from David Toop and Steve Beresford, and backing vocals from the Slit axis of Ari Up together with Viv Goldman and Elizabeth Archer.
>Shearwater - Golden Archipelago LP+MP3 (Matador)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl. Features bonus tracks not on the CD plus MP3 download.
>A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Nitetime Rainbows 12” (Miss Ojos Discos)
Some of their brightest sounding songs to date. Includes three remixes by The Buddy System, Benoit Pioulard and Ezekiel Honig.
>Sun Ra - Space Is The Place 2xLP (Sutro Park)
Available on vinyl for the first time.
>Frank Turner - Love, Ire & Song LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
2009 album now available on vinyl. Turner is an English folk singer-songwriter and former vocalist of legendary UK punk band Million Dead.
>Various Artists - Wolf’s At The Door: Lost Recordings From The Spirit Of The South LP (Sutro Park)
A robust slice of haunting blues and gospel that would have otherwise been completely forgotten. Wolf’s At The Door is eerie, celebratory, dark and redemptive, fragile, lonely and scandalous. It is about drunken revelers at a bootleggers house telling dirty jokes while teaching each other a four-part harmony to a gospel standard.
>Bill Wells, Annie Whitehead, Barbara Morgenstern & Stefan Schneider - Paper Of Pins LP+CD (Karaoke Kalk)
To the uninitiated, these four are all notable practitioners in their own right: Scottish composer Wells is a serial collaborator, arguably best known for his ongoing works with Maher Shalal Hash Baz, while Stefan Schneider is renowned for his recordings with To Rococo Rot and Mapstation.
>Young Governors - Call Me When The Cat Dies 7” (Criminal IQ)
Races along with a tense and sinister vibe immediately reminiscent of Lost Sounds with guitars tweaked to sound like synths. Side project of current F##ked Up and Bitters member.
>Editors - In This Light And On This Evening LP (One Label)
>Guns & Roses - Chinese Democracy LP (Geffen)
>Lightspeed Champion - Live Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You LP (Domino)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
23 FEBRUARY 2010
>A Certain Ratio - Force [Reissue] CD (LTM)
Expanded re-release of the classic 5th album by the iconic post-punk funk outfit, originally released by Factory Records in 1986.
>Alkaline Trio - This Addiction CD/CD+DVD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Their seventh album and first for Epitaph, the Chicago rockers are heading back to their roots. Deluxe Edition adds a DVD of Alkaline Trio live at the House Of Blues, Las Vegas 2008, and 6 additional bonus tracks.
>All Time High - Friends In High Places CD (Small Stone)
Seattle rocker’s debut long-player was recorded in an unadulterated 5-day session with legendary Seattle producer Jack Endino and features more than a few surprise guests.
>Balmorhea - Constellations CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
The disarming simplicity of these tracks proves that the group doesn't need dense arrangements full of 180-degree turns to craft deeply affecting compositions.
>Big Brother And The Holding Company (Featuring Janis Joplin) - Lost Tapes 2xCD (Fuel 2000)
Features 12 previously unreleased tracks and includes an 11 minute rendition of ”Amazing Grace.”
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Who Killed Sgt. Pepper CD/2xLP (A Records)
13 tracks ranging from ambient bhangra beats, to rock, to shoegaze, to gypsy influences of Eastern Europe music.
>David Broza - Night Dawn: The Unpublished Poetry Of Townes Van Zandt CD (S-Curve)
12-song set features 10 previously unreleased lyrics and poems written by the late Townes Van Zandt -- one cover of the last song Van Zandt wrote for David and one instrumental Broza wrote for Van Zandt.
>Sarah Buxton - Sarah Buxton CD (Lyric Street)
New album from the country singer/songwriter. Sarah Buxton has charted four singles on the Billboard Country charts as well co-writing Keith Urban's 2007 single. USA Today has declared Sarah Buxton to have “one of the most immediately arresting voices we've heard in awhile.”
>Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain’t No Grave CD (American Recordings)
American VI is deeply elegiac and spiritual, with each song its own piece of the puzzle of life's mysteries and challenges -- the pursuit of salvation, the importance of friendships, the dream of peace, the power of faith, and the joys and adversities that entail simple survival. It is an achingly personal and intimate statement, as, from the end of the line, Johnny Cash looks back on a most extraordinary life.
>Guy Clark - Guy Clark [Reissue] CD (American Beat)
Guy Clark s 1978 debut for Warner Bros. marked a career turning point for the songwriter who s been touted and/or covered by everybody from Bob Dylan to Johnny Cash to George Strait to David Allan Coe.
>Classix Nouveaux - Liberty Singles Collection CD (Cherry Red)
New collection from the British '80s new romantic band led by vocalist/songwriter Sal Solo. Classix Nouveaux formed from the ashes of X-Ray Spex when the band auditioned for a new front person in Melody Maker after the sudden departure of their wild wailer Poly Styrene.
>Clem Snide - The Meat Of Life CD (429 Records)
The Meat Of Life contains twelve songs that further showcase the wry, intimate, sometimes angst-filled observations of songwriter Eef Barzeley. As the weighty title would suggest, there s a depth of lyrical subject matter that Barzelay deftly presents alongside his streamlined band.
>Crime In Stereo - I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone CD (Bridge Nine)
New album from the melodic hardcore band is another collaboration with producer extraordinaire Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday).
>Hayaino Daisuki - Invincible Gate Mind Of The Infernal Fire Hell, Or Did You Mean Hawaii Daisuki? CD (Hydra Head)
New album from the influential power-thrash outfit.
>Deadstring Brothers - Sao Paulo CD/LP (Bloodshot)
Built on the ample shoulders of masterful forebears, Deadstring Brothers delve into the grit and sweat of dirty blues scooped from the fields of the Delta and polish it in the toxic waters of the Detroit River; the smell of their motor oil, strong coffee and whiskey-stained beards narcotic.
>Drudkh - The Swan Road [Reissue] CD (Season Of Mist)
Remastered reissue of their 3rd album, originally released in 2005. Digipak with new artwork.
>Efterklang - Magic Chairs CD/LP (4AD)
Magic Chairs is the third full-length album by Copenhagen, Denmark's Efterklang. The album finds the band expanding on their already expansive sound, while diving into the core of their ever-evolving music.
>Eluvium - Similes CD (Temporary Residence)
Beautiful new album features three key musical elements previously uncharted by the artist: percussion, a verse-chorus song structure, and singing. This marries his trademark dream-like aura with his unique, laconic vocals, akin to an especially contemplative Ian Curtis with trace reflections of Magnetic Fields and Brian Eno.
>Fan Death - A Coin For The Well CDEP/12” (Last Gang)
Vancouver, BC-based group Fan Death is an elegiac revision of classic electronic pop that recalls the darkest elements of early OMD, Depeche Mode and Human League.
>Fang Island - Fang Island CD (Sargent House)
The group describes its sound as "everyone high-fiving everyone." The quintet's anthemic and soaring songs make it quite possibly one of the few bands befitting such description.
>Flatt & Scruggs And The Stanley Brothers - 1952-1959 4xCD (JSP)
In the period covered here, both bluegrass and country were under threat, first from R&B and then from the first wave of rock & roll. Only the best would survive -- and it is a testament to both groups featured here that they flourished.
>Gentle Giant - The Missing Piece [Reissue] CD (Alucard)
>Gentle Giant - Giant For A Day [Reissue] CD (Alucard)
Remastered reissues of the band’s 1977 and 1978 albums, respectively.
>God Module - Magic In My Heart Is Dead CDEP (Metropolis)
Eerie synth lines, crushing beats, and vocals that change from a whisper to a subdued growl at the blink of an eye are just a few things that describe all things God Module. Four new tracks and six remixes -- also contains a cover of Gary Numan's "Me, I Disconnect From You."
>Robin Guthrie - Sunflower Stories CDEP (Darla)
3rd in a trilogy of EPs from the Cocteau Twins' master soundscaper. This follows Songs To Help My Children Sleep, and Angel Falls.
>Stafraenn Hakon - Sanitas CD (Darla)
6th album of post-rock, lo-fi, ambient guitar and electronica.
>High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine CD/2xLP (E1 Music)
One of the most highly anticipated releases of 2010, "guaranteed to alter heart rhythms and weaken building infrastructures...as powerful and gargantuan a threesome as metal has produced." -- Pitchfork
>Human Skab - Thunder Hips & Saddle Bags CD/LP (Family Vineyard)
Reissue of 1986 recordings from this 10-year old boy who played African music with buckets and spoons. An orchestration of pots n' pans, 3 string guitar, poorly-tuned upright piano, broken bottles, toy guns, a garden rake, and a "Snake Mountain" microphone. He captures the fervor of do-it yourself ethos, punk energy and the rawness of early American folk by acting on his wild child imagination and enigmatic sense of song.
>Jaga Jazzist - One Armed Bandit CD (Ninja Tune)
All galloping rhythms, arpeggiated harpsichord and grandiloquent reach, self-described as "Wagner meets Fela Kuti."
>Carole King - Writer [Reissue] CD (Friday Music)
40th Anniversary Edition comes complete with rare photos and the original LP artwork, packaged in a beautiful digipak.
>John King - 10 Mysteries CD (Tzadik)
King embraces rock, jazz, blues and other popular styles in an energetic and colorful program for string quartet. Featuring passionate and inspiring performances by the remarkable quartet Crucible with King himself on viola.
>K-os - Yes! CD (Last Gang)
New from the Canadian singer and rapper. K-os, born Kevin Brereton, is a genuine neo-crossover artist, proud to not fit perfectly into any genre.
>Alan Licht & Loren Connors - Into The Night Sky CD (Family Vineyard)
An instrumental dialogue merging shades of electric blues and minimalism. These 2 epic pieces -- recorded live in concert clearly show how far their desolate sound world grew over a decade of collaboration while the core of layered guitar complexities and alien melodies remain.
>Giuseppi Logan Quintet - Giuseppi Logan Quintet CD (Tomkin's Square)
Legendary saxophonist Giusippi Logan returns with his first album in 45 years. This record reunites Logan with two of his closest collaborators from the ‘60s pianist Dave Burrell and drummer Warren Smith. The album features five brand new original Logan compositions and several standards.
>Lobisomem - Brightest Solids CD/LP (Tall Corn)
Electronic music, but neither dance nor raw experimental noise. It is instead a hybrid of more subtle influences referencing African, South American, and Jamaican music as well as more native forces such as hip-hop and jazz.
>LoneLady - Nerve Up CD/LP (Warp)
Invokes the ghosts of Joy Division, ESG, Wire, Grace Jones, The Fall, Suicide, and PiL. Co-produced by Guy Fixxsen (My Bloody Valentine, The Breeders, Stereolab).
>Madlib - Electro Acoustic Space, Jazz & Percussion Ensemble CD (Stones Throw)
1st album in Madlib's Yesterdays Universe deep-jazz series.
>Madlib - Medicine Show No. 2: Fight To Brazil CD (Madlib Music)
2nd release from Madlib's new once-a-month series. An 80-minute guided tour through 5 decades of Brazilian funk, bossa nova, jazz, psychedelic and progressive rock.
>Kouhei Matsunaga - A Self V A CD (Important)
3rd release in a 4-album series on the work of enigmatic Japanese artist Kouhei Matsunaga. Collaborators include Leif Elggren, NHK, Sensational (Jungle Brothers), and RLW.
>Daniel Merriweather - Love & War CD/2xLP (J Records)
The 27-year-old Melbourne native firmly establishes himself as a solo artist in his own right on Love & War which pulses with '60s soul keyboards and horns, warm textures of acoustic and electric guitar, and cinematic string arrangements, all anchored by Merriweather's combustible vocals.
>Holly Miranda - The Magician’s Private Library CD/2xLP (XL)
Debut full-length album features contributions from Kyp Malone and Jaleel Bunton (TV On The Radio), Eric Biondo and Stuart Bogie (Antibalas), and Holly's long-time violinist, Marques Toliver.
>Moreland & Arbuckle - Flood CD (Telarc)
Moreland & Arbuckle are traditionalists and innovators at the same time, merging old school Chicago and Delta blues with garage rock sensibilities. While Arbuckle was mostly influenced by Mississippi blues, traditional country music and bluegrass, Moreland grew up listening to everyone from Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath to Charlie Patton and Muddy Waters.
>Mutiny Within - Mutiny Within CD (Roadrunner)
Mutiny Within play with astonishing technical skill with a forward-thinking songwriting style that can be viewed as modernly progressive, but “definitely not prog.”
>Carrie Newcomer - Before & After CD (Rounder)
Focusing on change and transformation, this layered work is on one level an exploration of life with a progressive spiritual sensibility. On a second level, the listener is exposed to Newcomer's adept guitar work, soulful voice, and unique musicianship, which stays true to her folk roots, while at the same time allowing Appalachian and classical music to influence her body of work.
>Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me 3xCD/3xLP (Drag City)
125 minutes-worth of songs in deluxe packaging. Through the course of the 18 songs, Joanna visits ditties, weepies, court dances, rump-bumpers, epics and moments of Panavision fantasia upon us.
>Laura Nyro & Labelle - Gonna Take A Miracle CD (Rev-ola)
Gonna Take A Miracle can be looked at in so many different ways. It can be seen as a prime example of the little known genre of ”girls together singing crazy” and by the way the witchiest record since Iko Iko. It can be seen as an exploration of Nyro’s pop roots and a wistful look back at her love for early New York soul and Motown and it can also be seen as a surprise collaboration with Labelle, caught between their ‘60s girl group heyday and their soon-come hit-making odyssey into sci-fi soul/disco with Allan Toussaint.
>Økapi - Love Him CD (Illegal Art)
On Love Him, Italian turntablist and sampling artist, Økapi (Filippo Paolini), masterfully conducts a plundered symphony of more than 100 elements to celebrate the notorious Kyrgyz composer Aldo Kapi (1896- 1952). Somewhere in between record digging, electro-acoustic tomfoolery and slot- machine soundcards, lies the break-NOT-core, bubble-gum experimental turntablism of this new full-length from Italy's own "Daft Giraffe."
>Morgan Page - Believe CD (Nettwerk)
A powerful, captivating album that makes good on Page’s International Dance Music Awards nomination as Best Breakthrough Artist, and typifies his journey from bootleg remixer to award-winning producer and renowned DJ.
>Past Lives - Tapestry Of Webs CD/LP (Suicide Squeeze)
Guitars alternate between glistening pop tones, ethereal bliss out and raw rhythmic ruin. Throughout, each song delves deep into the blank gaze, the experience of everyday living as viewed through the tired eyes of uncertainty and doubt. It's all kinda "vibey."
>Pinhead Gunpowder - Carry The Banner CD (Recess)
>Pinhead Gunpowder - Compulsive Disclosure CD (Recess)
>Pinhead Gunpowder - Goodbye Ellston Avenue CD (Recess)
>Pinhead Gunpowder - Jump Salty CD (Recess)
>Pinhead Gunpowder - Shoot The Moon CD (Recess)
Digitally remastered reissues from the punk side-project/supergroup featuring Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Aaron Cometbus (Crimpshrine), Bill Schneider (Monsula) and Mike Kirsch (Fuel).
>John Pizzarelli - Rockin’ In Rhythm: A Tribute To Duke Ellington CD (Telarc)
Singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli, a master in the art of reinventing jazz classics, celebrates the music of Duke Ellington.
>Plimsouls - Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal: October 31, 1981 Whisky A Go Go CD/LP (Alive) Previously unreleased 17-song live album.
>Quasi - American Gong CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)
Eighth album from the indie-rock mainstays. They've switched labels, from the Chicago-based Touch and Go to Kill Rock Stars, which is based right in their back yard in Portland, OR. Mixed by the impressive line-up of Steve Fisk, Tucker Martine and Dave Fridmann.
>Don Rigsby & Midnight Call - The Voice Of God CD (Rebel)
Don Rigsby has been a forceful presence on the bluegrass scene for more than two decades. The Voice Of God features suspenseful storytelling and discomfiting truth telling, and is woven by Anglo-Celtic-Appalachian and African-American influences.
>Rocket Summer - Of Men And Angels CD/LP+MP3 (Island)
"We're not talking simple acoustic solo stuff here." The music Bryce (Avary) makes as the Rocket Summer is lust, explosively catchy and artful power pop that hints at a new Brian Wilson or Prince." -- Austin City Limits
>Jack Rose - Luck In The Valley CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
3rd in the set of recordings that the late Rose jokingly referred to as his "Ditch Trilogy." Features Black Twig Pickers, Glenn Jones, Harmonica Dan and Hans Chew.
>Rotting Christ - Aealo CD+DVD (Season Of Mist)
Veteran metal band’s eleventh album, recorded interestingly enough, on Mt. Olympus, the seat of Zeus and the ancient gods.
>Scorn - Evanescence/Ellipsis [Reissue] 2xCD (Earache)
Remastered reissues of a pair of long out of print releases from the ambient dub project led by Napalm Death’s Mick Harris and Nic Bullen.
>Shearwater - Golden Archipelago CD/LP+MP3 (Matador)
Third album in a triptych of beautiful, dense and ambitious excursions about man's impact on the natural world. This time singer/songwriter Jonathan Meiburg turns his attention to life on islands -- a world of lushness and austerity, silence and sudden cataclysms. Initial pressing includes a 50-page booklet of dossier of records, photos, regulations, and images on islands, displaced peoples, immigration records and more.
>Shout Out Louds - Work CD/LP (Merge)
Realizing that there really is no need to multilayer and fill all the spaces in their songs, the group are keeping it simple now, trusting in the power of bare skin over panache.
>Larry Stephenson - 20th Anniversary CD (Pinecastle)
20-year anniversary celebration of the Larry Stephenson Band features guest appearances by Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Dailey and Vincent, Kristin Scott Benson, Dale Ann Bradley, Dudley Connell, Sonny Osborne, David Parmley, Ronnie Reno, Connie Smith, and more.
>Sun Dial - Processed For DNA ’90-’10 2xCD (Shrunken Head)
Compilation from the British psychedelic rockers boasts a number of previously unreleased recordings including alternative mixes and rare non-album tracks.
>Testament - The Formation Of Damnation [Deluxe] CD+DVD (Nuclear Blast)
Deluxe Edition of their 2008 album includes a bonus DVD that contains three live performances from Alcatraz plus the “More Than Meets The Eye” video.
>Nick Thune -Thick Noon CD (Comedy Central)
Skewed and hilarious observations and stories (some set to music) from comedian/actor/writer/ and bird owner Nick Thune. Includes a DVD including his acclaimed Comedy Central Presents special and more.
>Title Tracks - It's Not Easy CD (Ernest Jennings)
New project from John Davis (Georgie James, Q And Not U). RIYL: New Pornographers, Ted Leo, Joe Jackson, The Jam.
>Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Ali & Toumani CD (Nonesuch)
Second and final album pairing the late Malian guitar virtuoso Ali Farka Touré and kora master Toumani Diabaté. Includes contributions from the late Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez (Buena Vista Social Club) on bass.
>Various Artists - Black Man's Cry: Inspiration Of Fela Kuti CD/4x10" (Now Again)
Covers and music inspired by the godfather of Afrobeat. Includes rare and previously unreleased music from Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia and Trinidad.
>Various Artists - Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas: Tropicalista Psychedelic Masterpieces, 1967-1976 CD/2xLP (World Psychedelic Funk Classics)
The heaviest, rarest, best fuzz-funk-psych singles from Brazil, compiled on one CD. Vinyl version includes 3D glasses.
>Various Artists (Martyn) - Fabric 50 CD (Fabric)
26 track mix from the master remixer.
>Various Artists - Westbound Detroit Northern Soul CD (Kent UK)
Import-only compilation of rare, late-‘60s, early-‘70s crossover soul.
>Various Artists - Stroke: Songs For Chris Knox 2xCD (Merge)
In June 2009 Chris Knox (Tall Dwarfs, Toy Love) suffered a life-altering stroke. This album is a celebration of Chris and his music. Artists include Jeff Magnum, Yo La Tengo, Mountain Goats, Will Oldham, Bill Callahan, Lou Barlow, Jay Reatard, The Bats, The Verlaines, and The Chills.
>Veil Veil Vanish - Change In The Neon Night CD (Metropolis)
"The most creative guitarists on the planet, using pedals and gadgets to build sonic structures that could make Phil Spector cream." -- SF Weekly
>Rocky Votolato - True Devotion CD (Barsuk)
Walking the line between autobiographical fact and fiction, True Devotion is deceptively simple, peppering impressionistic narratives with moments of lyrical wisdom that can knock the wind out of you.
>Butch Walker - I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart CD/LP+CD (One Haven)
New from the songwriter and producer for artists ranging from Fall Out Boy to Weezer to Pink to Dashboard Confessional.
>We Are Wolves - Invisible Violence CD (Dare To Care)
The group's trademark irreverent dance/rock/electro mix is more melodic and refined than ever.
>White Hills - White Hills CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
Still heavy and would certainly be labeled "space rock" but it finds the band employing a more open and free flowing style of playing. Focus was not so much on precision but on capturing the emotion in the playing, they wanted to "let things fly". There's a certain intimacy to it, a toughness and brutality. Vinyl-version has 2 exclusive tracks and MP3 download.
>Josh Williams - Down Home CD (Pinecastle)
New album from the bluegrass guitarist features a stellar lineup of musicians including Tony Rice, Rhonda Vincent, Dailey & Vincent, Aaron McDaris, Kenny Ingram, Randy Kohrs, Stuart Duncan, and Greg Cahill among others.
>Xasthur - 2005 Demo CD (Hydra Head)
Burzum-esque lo-fi black metal.
>Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)
The two biggest constants throughout Xiu Xiu's catalog are honesty and evolution. This
remains true with Dear God, I Hate Myself as it delivers a look at responsibility, fear, healing, and societal roles wrapped in rich gothic pop music.
>Zeus - Say Us CD (Arts & Crafts)
Draws upon classic influences to craft timeless songs, complete with fuzzed-out guitars and shimmering harmonies. Purveyors of a sound that cross-references the British Invasion with '70s-era Southern rock.
>John Zorn - In Search Of The Miraculous CD (Tzadik)
Inspired by esoteric spiritual practices, white magic, ritual, traditional myths and ancient legends, Zorn brings together a life long interest in mysticism with powerful lyricism to fashion this dynamic and evocative series of Odes for the new millennium.
DVDs:
>Death Metal: Are We Watching You Die? DVD (Grimoire)
In this two-hour documentary, many exalted artists, including Marduk, Mayhem Attila, Cradle of Filth, Krisiun, Amon Amarth, Theatre Of Tragedy, and Atrocity, expound on a variety of subjects.
>Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Blank Generation DVD (MVD)
This long lost film is like a time capsule from pre-Disneynification New York City: sleazy, dirty and most importantly, real. Includes a lengthy new interview with Hell about the film and more.
>Al Jarnow - Celestial Navigation: The Short Films Of Al Jarnow DVD (Numero)
First collection of work by renowned public television filmmaker Al Jarnow. His films have been seen by tens of millions of people of the last 40 years on PBS. Here 45 individual films are restored and color corrected in HD and lovingly packaged with a 60 page full color book and 30 minute documentary. Al Jarnow captured life's scientific minutia and boiled it down for easy consumption between cookie eating monsters and counting vampires. Coupling time-lapse, stop motion and cel animation with simple objections found in every day life, Jarnow deconstructed the world for an entire generation.
>Local H - 68 Angry Minutes DVD (King Of Hearts)
Contains a full performance of 2008’s 12 Angry Months, and features song-by-song commentary by frontman Scott Lucas and drummer Brian St. Clair.
>Rage Against The Machine - Revolution In The Head DVD (Sexy Intellectual)
A superb look at RATM’s career -- plenty of rare footage.
Vinyl:
>Aloonaluna/Starry Crowns - Split 7" (Concertina)
Aloonaluna's music reflects a fascination with both the beauty and the grotesque of North Florida's natural environment through explorations in field recording and form. Aloonaluna's haunted and fecund mantra gets sucked into a maelstrom of bass feedback, only to arrive in some rural French nursery rhyme. On "Whiskey Braid," Starry Crowns delivers a nuanced transition. In two stages, the performance unveils honeyed visions of anxiety. The tone is set with channeled melodies sewn around a pulse; two fingers to the neck of a frightened hare. Grounded instrumentation sleepwalks a distant plain, summoning dust, ice water and falling dreams. Clear vinyl.
>Arling & Cameron - Present Music For Imaginary Films [Reissue] 2xLP (Rykodisc)
Vinyl reissue of their 2000 album. Arling and Cameron create elevated camp music (their delicious songs are too sincere and well constructed to be dismissed as kitsch). The concept behind this release is a perfect vehicle for the pair to display their seemingly limitless proficiency in any number of musical styles.
>Blind Man's Colour - Wooden Blankets LP (Kanine)
"The album's blend of sonic gauze, earnest keening, electronic blooping, analog clatter, ethnic flavor, and nostalgic '60s pop emits a rainbow glow that's as comforting as it is comfortable." - Spin
>Cotton Candy - Top Notch & First Rate LP+MP3 (Teenbeat)
Cotton Candy is Mark Robinson (Unrest, Air Miami, Flin Flon) and Evelyn Hurley (Balst Off Country Style). 27 tracks ranging from indie-pop to electronic-pop to hard rock. They also show off their advertising jingle chops with covers of rare radio and TV commercials.
>Crispy Ambulance - Plateau Phase [Reissue] LP (Drastic Plastic)
Originally released in 1982. Full of complex, yet minimalistic strings of music that surprise with intricacy and force. One can hear the influences of Brian Eno, Popol Vuh, and Joy Division pressing through their strumming and crooning on this utterly original work.
>Cromagnon - Cave Rock [Reissue] LP (Jackpot)
Originally released in 1969, Cave Rock strings together a patchwork of untamed sounds and mental images which perfectly articulate the boundary-breaking psychedelic revolution that was occurring at the time -- musically and socially. Widely heralded as the best freak-out record of all time, the album surpassed even the most out-there psych of its day, predicting the disjointed aural landscapes of Faust and the violent scuzz of Throbbing Gristle.
>The Ex - Our Leaky Homes b/w Maybe I Was The Pilot 7" (The Ex)
The title "Our Leaky Homes" comes from the title of a chapter of a book called HEAT (How To Stop The Planet From Burning) by English journalist George Monbiot. The main riff of "Maybe I Was The Pilot" was borrowed and adapted from the song "Elosi Aberu Akipore Imaniti Abide" by Ugandan singer and adedeu (harp) player Iganitiyo Ekacholi.
>The Exploited - Punk’s Not Dead [Reissue] LP (Drastic Plastic)
Originally released in 1981. This seminal debut helped spearhead the 2nd wave of British punk. Limited edition red vinyl.
>Gonjasufi - Kowboys & Indians 7” (Warp)
Second limited-edition single from their forthcoming album A Sufi And A Killer (due March 9th).
>Grant Hart - Intolerance [Reissue] LP (Con D'Or)
Long overdue re-issue of this debut from the former Husker Du drummer. The first member of the band to strike out alone, this was originally released back in 1989 on SST, with a killer collection of structured pop-punk.
>Hoquiam - Hoquiam LP (St. Ives)
Hoquiam is Damien Jurado (guitar and voice) and his brother Drake Jurado (percussion and keyboard). Gothic folk, personal narratives, and simple strong percussive elements define the music.
>Meat Puppets - II [Reissue] LP (Rykodisc)
Vinyl reissue of their 1990 album. The Meat Puppets conjured a distinct, hybrid style -- dubbed country punk -- and throughout the ‘90s made some of the decades most freethinking, vital music.
>Mr. Chop - For Pete's Sake LP (Five Day Weekend)
Psychedelic funk, jazz and rock covers of Pete Rock's greatest tracks from MF Doom's go-to instrumentalist.
>NHK - Special LP (Important)
Final release in the 4-album series featuring the work of enigmatic Japanese artist Kouhei Matsunaga. These experimental electro-rhythmic compositions incorporate beats, noise, and a modern aesthetic.
>Osborne - Ghostly Remixes 12" (Ghostly International)
Remixes of tracks from Osborne's self-titled album on Ghostly subsidiary Spectral Sound.
>Phantogram - Eyelid Movies LP+MP3 (Ghostly International)
Now available on vinyl. Phantogram's music sounds like it is created by a band from the city. Electronic loops, hip-hop beats, shoegaze, soul, and pop each find their way into their songs.
>Sambassadeur - European LP (Labrador)
The band has flirted with lo-fi indie pop, Velvet Underground and The Jesus & Mary Chain in the past.
>She & Him - In The Sun b/w I Can Hear Music 7" (Merge)
Features guest vocals by Tillly & The Wall. B-side is a cover of The Beach Boys' "I Can Hear Music."
>Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand The Weather [Reissue] LP (Sundazed)
The Lone Star guitar god and his Double Trouble band mates Tommy Shannon (bass) and Chris Layton (drums) hit their stride with this 1984 sophomore release.
>Stevie Ray Vaughan - Soul To Soul [Reissue] LP (Sundazed)
On his 3rd album, SRV expanded Double Trouble to include Reese Wynans (keyboards) and Joe Sublett (sax). He also extended his electric blues style, seamlessly incorporating elements of soul, R&B, & jazz into his approach.
>Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood [Reissue] LP (Sundazed)
Vaughan already had a decade of performing experience under his belt when he burst into the mass consciousness with his landmark 1983 debut LP.
>Ween - The Pod [Reissue] 2xLP (Schnitzel)
Reissue of the band's "challenging album," originally released in 1990.
>Wolf People - Tidings LP (Jagjaguwar)
Stitched together in a style reminiscent of early Faust or early Mothers Of Invention, the songs lay nestled in snatches of field recordings, winding tapes, squealing feedback, studio outtakes and the voices of dead relatives. The tunes themselves are full of hissing guitars, distorted blues harmonica, acid rock, mystical flutes and crackling tape.
>Youngbloods - Youngbloods [Reissue] LP (Sundazed)
Reissue of their debut LP, originally released in 1967. Includes the band's best-known song, "Get Together," which became a hit single.
>Youngbloods - Earth Music [Reissue] LP (Sundazed)
Reissue of their sophomore album. Customized covers of Tim Hardin's "Reason To Believe," Holy Modal Rounders' "Euphoria," and Chuck Berry's "Monkey Business" demonstrate their talent for seamlessly integrating a broad array of influences.
>Hot Chip - One Life Stand 2xLP (Astralwerks)
>Sade - Soldier Of Love LP (Epic)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
16 FEBRUARY 2010
>Aeternam - Deciples Of The Unseen CD (Metal Blade)
Crushing riffs, pounding bass lines, and brutal growls pave the way for epic solos, acoustic melodies ambient keyboards, and large vocal harmonies.
>Amanaz - Africa [Reissue] CD (QDK Media)
Reissue of 1975 album from these Zambian heavy psych rockers.
>Art Museums - Rough Frame CD/LP (Woodsist)
New release from the cult new wave band. The Art Museums are into: art, poetry, Whaam! Records, and films about Mods. The Art Museums are not into: flared trousers, drip coffee, or dirty sneakers.
>Backyard Tire Fire - Good To Be CD (Kelsey Street)
A rich, ever-expanding palette of aural rock & roll colors and textures that tap into bouncy, Kinks-meet-Squeeze Brit pop/rock, Tom Petty-styled Southern rock, Beatles-esque majesty, intimate balladry, chiming folk-rock and heartland/populist chest-pounders.
>Barn Burner - Bangers CD (Metal Blade)
From the metal loving city of Montreal comes one of the most killer riff machines this side of the three headed love child of Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, and Fu Manchu.
>Bastard Noise / The Endless Blocka - Red List CD (20 Buck Spin)
Split release from noisemakers Bastard Noise and The Endless Blockade.
>Dan Black - ((Un)) CD (The Hours Entertainment)
Debut release from the Paris-based Englishman. ((Un)) melds the musical attributes of Paul's Boutique, Hatful Of Hollow and Supa Dupa Fly with a lost ‘80s sci-fi soundtrack.
>Blackalicious - Nia [Reissue] CD (Quannum Projectss)
Reissue of the 2000 full-length debut from the hip-hop supergroup featuring Lateef, Lyrics Born of Latyrx and DJ Shadow.
>Blackalicious - A2G [Reissue] CDEP (Quannum Projects)
Reissue of their 1999 7-song mini-album that's packed with thunderous beats and hypnotically off-kilter rhyme schemes.
>Carnifex - Hell Choose Me CD (Victory)
New album from the American death metal band.
>The Carolina Chocolate Drops - Genuine Negro Jig CD (Nonesuch)
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are as much about revelation as revival. On their Nonesuch debut, the trio brings exuberance, humor, virtuosity and an infectious acoustic groove to its exploration of a near-forgotten brand of banjo-driven string band music originating more than a century ago in the foothills of North Carolina.
>Carta - An Index Of Birds CD (Silber)
Combines ‘90s moody pop, slowcore, and post rock sounds into modern indie pop.
>Close Your Eyes - We Will Overcome CD (Victory)
New addition to the Victory roster blends a bombastic mix of monstrous riffs, powerful drums, and powerhouse vocals.
>Jamie Cullum - Devil May Care CD (Candid)
Jamie Cullum's Pointless Nostalgic album was a worldwide hit when it was released in 2002 and he is now recognized as one of the top stars in the jazz/mainstream scene.
>Dakota Suite - Night Just Keeps Coming In CD/LP (Karaoke Kalk)
Collection of adaptations and remixes of the seminal record The End Of Trying, featuring mostly subdued sound animations, flowing piano harmonies and smooth cello arrangements. Artists include: Peter Broderick, Hannu, Tape, Swod, The Boats, Loscil, Nick Hawley and more.
>Eagle Scout - New Hands CD (Cavity)
“With comparisons to Tokyo Police Club, Say Anything and Bloc Party, there is something for everyone on this new record.” -- Smartpunk.com
>Everybody Was In The French Resistance...Now! - Fixin’ The Charts Volume One CD (Cooking Vinyl)
Side project from Art Brut’s Eddie Argos. “Eddie's teamed with Dyan Valdes of L.A.'s the Blood Arm on 12 tracks which respond to better known hits: ‘My Way (Is Not Always The Best Way)’ dialogues with Sinatra's ‘My Way;’ ‘Billie's Genes’ talks to ‘Billie Jean;’ ‘Coal Digger’ is in rebuff to Kanye.” -- Stereogum
>Excepter - Presidence 2xCD (Paw Tracks)
Presidence is the eighth LP in as many years by Excepter. A double compact disc, the album explores the long-format side of the band, focusing on continuous live performance and extended compositions.
>Field Music - Field Music (Measure) CD/LP (Memphis Industries)
Following a self-imposed three-year hiatus, Field Music return with 20-tracks of artful English pop.
>Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package CD (Rhymesayers)
Produced entirely by veteran G-Unit producer Jake One, The Stimulus Package showcases some of Freeway's most dynamic and engaging work to date. Since his breakout Roc-A-Fella debut Philadelphia Freeway in 2003, Freeway has been regarded as "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper."
>Gentle Friendly - Ride Slow CD/LP (Upset The Rhythm)
Rounds of echo drench and repetitive rapture glide seamlessly between songs of euphoric warmth to broken stammering rhythms to crushing walls of atmosphere.
>Giant Drag - Swan Song CDEP (MRI)
Giant Drag's sound has been described by several music publications as "nu-grunge." They have also been compared to My Bloody Valentine, The Breeders, PJ Harvey, and Mazzy Star.
>Johnny Gimble - Celebrating With Friends CD (CMH Records)
When it comes to the fiddle, Johnny Gimble is the go-to talent when music needs a warm breeze of Texas authenticity. His credits read like the roster of the Country Music Hall Of Fame: Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, and George Strait.
>Adam Green - Minor Love CD (Fat Possum)
Recorded with long time producer/friend Noah Georgeson in a luxurious pool house in L.A., Minor Love finds Green enlisting the talents of Rodrigo from Little Joy and other hangers-on, like his brother Joel (and look-a-likes Joe Steinbrick and Greg from Megapuss). The album showcases a tender side of the often arrogant and emotionally unavailable bully/singer.
>Chelsea Grin - Desolation Of Eden CD (Razor & Tie)
New from the Salt Lake City metal band.
>Juliana Hatfield - Peace & Love CD (Ye Olde Record)
A new (mostly acoustic) release from Hatfield.
>Hellbound Glory - Old Highs And New Lows CD (Gearhead)
The self-proclaimed scumbag country quartet delves into classic mid-‘70s style outlaw country music.
>Jamie’s Elsewhere - They Said A Storm Was Coming CD (Victory)
A mixture of Underoath’s hardcore riffs and Taking Back Sunday’s pop/metal hooks.
>John Jorgenson Quintet - One Stolen Night CD (Pharoah)
New from the founding member of the Desert Rose Band, The Hellecasters, and six-year member of Elton John's band.
>Sarah June - In Black Robes CD (Silber)
Attic core spooky Americana with a sweet child like voice singing stories of love, cowboys, and death.
>Karen Page - Karen Page CD (Rotten)
Runs the gamut from dirty metal riffs to grinding breakdowns to dance breaks with hand clapping and sing-alongs.
>Ali Akbar Khan - Vol. 5 - Signature Series (Rag Darbari Kanada) 2xCD (Ammp)
Ali Akbar Khan (1922-2009) is one of this generation's most legendary Indian classical musicians. Considered a "national living treasure" in India, he was admired by both Eastern and Western musicians for his brilliant compositions and his mastery of the sarode (a beautiful 25-stringed Indian instrument).
>Fela Kuti - Gentleman/Confusion [Reissue] 2xCD (Knitting Factory)
>Fela Kuti - Koola Lobitos/The ’69 L.A. Sessions [Reissue] 2xCD (Knitting Factory)
>Fela Kuti - Live With Ginger Baker [Reissue] CD (Knitting Factory)
>Fela Kuti - Open & Close/Afrodisiac [Reissue] 2xCD (Knitting Factory)
>Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight + 2 Singles [Reissue] CD (Knitting Factory)
Knitting Factory resurrects several rare albums from the prolific Afrobeat legend.
>Laurie Lewis - Blossoms CD (Spruce And Maple Music)
Blossoms blends sophisticated lyrics, unexpected folk hybrids, twangy country, traditional and contemporary bluegrass and a cappella harmonies topped off with melded tinges of jazz join to create a joyful compilation of songs.
>Lightspeed Champion - Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You CD (Domino)
New from Test Icicles’ guitarist Dev Hynes. Hynes draws on baroque ‘60s pop, girl group harmonies, classical music, jolting ‘70s guitar and synth sounds, classical piano, Serge Gainsbourg, Greek choruses, Todd Rundgren, and even musical theatre.
>Local Natives - Gorilla Manor CD/LP (French Kiss)
Drawing a line from the vocal stylings of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and The Zombies through the more esoteric edges of post punk and Afrobeat, this California five piece have communally crafted a brand of indie rock all their own.
>Scott Lucas & The Married Men - George Lassos The Moon CD (G&P)
Scott Lucas is best known as half of the Chicago-based, rock duo Local H; but, on his debut solo album he explores the softer side of things -- adding horns, violin and even accordion -- and proves that quiet and sad can be just as powerful as loud and angry.
>Charlie Alex March - Home/Hidden CD (Lo Recordings)
Charlie Alex March excels in the use of lush strings and delicate vocals. Conjuring images of a soft collision between Aphex Twin and Nick Drake, or perhaps a hybrid of Steve Reich and Syd Barrett scoring a Tim Burton movie, March's music has a lingering, delicate beauty that lasts long after the final note rings out.
>Miracle Condition - Miracle Condition CD (Tizona)
Formed in 2006 by Mark Shippy (Shorty, US Maple), Pat Samson (US Maple) and Matt Carson the group has carved out it's own genre of powerful, cinematic soundscapes reminiscent of the early-‘90s shoegaze.
>Moon Duo - Escape CD/LP (Woodsist)
Debut album from the San Francisco duo comprised of Sanae Yamada and Erik Johnson (Wooden Shjips). Inspired initially by the legendary John Coltrane and Rashied Ali, Moon Duo counts such variant groups as Silver Apples, Royal Trux, Moolah, Suicide, and Cluster as touchstones.
>Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More CD (Glass Note)
This West London indie rock quartet, have created a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills & Nash with the might of Kings of Leon and the harmonies of Fleet Foxes.
>Name - Internet Killed The Audio Star CD (Lifeforce)
Calculus-inspired collections of ravaging vocals intertwined with brutally vicious riffs, jazz and blues accompaniments and mind-expanding beats.
>Overnight Lows - City Of Rotten Eyes CD/LP (Goner)
Overnight Lows mix a sick and sickened attitude with a classic Angry Samoans/Queers aesthetic: establish a blazing guitar riff, yell some memorable antisocial blather over it, hit a chorus, and get out.
>Various Artists - The Pitch Gusman Records Story 3xCD (Fat Possum)
Waymon "Gusman" Jones loved gospel music. Especially, he loved the rich stirring sounds of the quartets he heard as a farm boy in rural Georgia, then in his adopted hometown of Savannah, where he set up his Gusman Record Shop. Between 1961 and 1978, Jones recorded and issued a stream of essential Southern gospel recordings by the Golden Stars, The White Family Singers, The Six Voices Of Zion, The Flying Clouds and many others.
>Robert Pollard - We All Got Out Of The Army CD/LP (GBV Inc.)
Another month, another new album from the prolific singer/songwriter and former leader of Guided By Voices.
>Dan Reeder - This New Century CD (Oh Boy)
Sonically, This New Century is Dan's most polished effort, complete with his signature style of multi-tracked harmonies with himself and homemade instruments, but Reeder paid a little more attention to detail with the recording technique and his lyrical craftsmanship.
>Ike Reilly - Hard Lucky Stories CD (Rock Ridge Music)
A groove oriented, melodic album, Hard Luck Stories is full of corroded R&B, furious punk-blues, lounge-pop and classic rock. Features a duet with Shooter Jennings "The War On The Terror And The Drugs." David Lowery of the band Cracker also joined Reilly in the studio.
>Roedelius - Wenn Der Sudwind Weht [Reissue] CD/LP (Bureau B)
Reissue of the 7th solo album by Hans-Joachim Roedelius, originally released on Sky Records in 1981.
>Matthew Ryan - Dear Lover CD (Dear Future)
An alt-country singer/songwriter in the vein of Josh Rouse and Ryan Adams, Matthew Ryan funnels his rasped vocals and passionate lyrics into a steady stream of somber, melancholic albums. The Nashville Americana songsmith’s self produced 2009 album Dear Lover was previously only available digitally, but is now available on CD.
>Scanners - Submarine CD (Downtown/Dim Mak)
Venerable UK rock outfit return with their sophomore full length. Produced by Stephen Hague who has worked with New Order, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Peter Gabriel.
>The Seven Fields Of Aphelion - Periphery CD (Graveface)
The Seven Fields Of Aphelion may be a member of Black Moth Super Rainbow, but with her debut solo outing, she’s left the tweaked dance floor glitches in the black forest, and wandered into a hazy sun-dappled meadow. Swirling vintage synthesizers and piano dwell amongst the grasses, flowers and ruins of abandoned factories in this forgotten place.
>Tony Sly - 12 Song Program CD (Fat Wreck Chords)
Solo album from No Use For Name’s Tony Sly. Abandoning the signature electric guitar and aggressive rhythms of NUFAN, Tony sets out armed with only his soothing and captivating melodies, guided by acoustic guitar and a smattering of various other classical instruments.
>Smoking Popes - It's Been A Long Day CD/LP (Asian Man)
Smoking Popes have been a staple in the punk and indie rock scenes since the 1990s, playing a unique blend of up-tempo rock with punk guitars and Brit-pop influenced vocals. They helped shape an entire generation of music fans and wrote the book for Chicago's indie rock scene. Here is a collection of 20 songs from 1991-1998. Previously released on out of print 7”’s and various compilations.
>Solas - The Turning Tide CD (Compass)
The Turning Tide offers well-conceived set of tunes and songs that share an underlying theme of social commentary. Includes renditions of Josh Ritter's “Girl The War,” Bruce Springsteen's “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” and Richard Thompson's “Poor Ditching Boy.”
>Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore - Dear Companion CD (Sub Pop)
Dear Companion is a collaboration between three Kentucky musicians; the songs were written and performed by Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore, produced by and featuring Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket.
>Story Of The Year - Constant CD (Epitaph)
Known for their kinetic live shows and ridiculously catchy songs, Story Of The Year have always been famously ballsy in their mixing of glossy production, big rock hooks and honeyed melodies with searing metal riffs and intense screaming.
>Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Kollaps Tradixionales CD/Deluxe CD+Book/2x10”+CD (Constellation)
The band has lost none of its raw and frazzled anthemic power and continues to forge bold new ground in its search for a unique hybrid of punk, blues, psych, folk and modern orchestral idioms. Also available as a deluxe package that includes a CD copy of the album, a special 16-page art book of found image collages by Efrim Menuck and filmmaker/photographer Jem Cohen with a foil-embossed cover, and a limited edition silkscreen poster.
>Tindersticks - Falling Down A Mountain CD/LP+CD (Constellation)
Picks up where the band's wonderful return to form on The Hungry Saw left off, delivering a follow up that brims with similar texture, swinging from exuberance to melancholy and back, with healthy tinges of Northern Soul and Stuart Staples' inimitable deadpan voice anchoring the album throughout.
>Jason Urick- Husbands CD/LP (Thrill Jockey)
Jason Urick is highly regarded in the Baltimore music and arts scene through his work in WZT Hearts and also his work at the Floristree space where he has curated many shows and also co-curated the Once, Twice: Festival Of Electronic Music And Art.
>Various Artists - Classic Appalachian Blues From Smithsonian Folkways CD (Smithsonian Folkways)
This compilation features musicians from the southern Appalachian region. It includes artists from deep in the mountains as well as from the foothills leading up to them.
21 tracks.
>Various Artists - More Psychedelic Guitars/Psychedelic Visions CD (Gear Fab)
More Psychedelic Guitars/Psychedelic Visions are extremely rare 1960's exploitation albums recorded by unknown studio musicians. These albums show the mainstream music industry's attempt at cashing in on the then new psychedelic sounds coming from the east and west coasts.
>Various Artists - Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program CD (Preservation)
The complete roster of artists includes: Louis Armstrong, Andrew Bird, Terence Blanchard, Pete Seeger, Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama, Brandi Carlile, Cory Chisel, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Richie Havens, Jason Isbell, Jim James, Angelique Kidjo, Amy LaVere, Anita Briem, Del McCoury, Buddy Miller, Paolo Nutini, and Tom Waits.
>Various Artists (Ewan Pearson) - We Are Proud Of Our Choices [Mix] CD (Kompakt)
Neville Watson, Lusine, John Talabot, Hot Natured, Taron Trekka and Wah Chu Ku are all featured on this mix, which strays from the more popular club tracks of the year and instead focuses on the secret weapons that Pearson has been utilizing in his sets of late.
>Vasaeleth - Crypt Born & Tethered To Ruin CD (Profound Lore)
Vasaeleth are a new group featuring members from Legions Of Astaroth and Dagon. Conjuring the specters of the legendary Incantation, Autopsy, and Mortician, they deliver a bracing reminder of the old-school glory days when raw, guttural death metal ruled supreme.
>Joyo Velarde - Love And Understanding CD (Quannum Projects)
Debut album from the Quannum soulstress.
>Witch - Lazy Bones [Reissue] CD (QDK Media)
Another out-of-nowhere African ‘70s rock discovery in the Blo mold. Completely unknown band from Zambia, privately pressed on a small local label, this five-piece electric band plays a strong electric African underground style. Originally released in 1975.
>Wold - Working Together For Our Privacy CD (Profound Lore)
New from the Canadian black metal band. At only three extended tracks, Working Together For Our Privacy is their first completely instrumental release -- looping noise fragments pieced together into a flurry of blizzard-like sonic fury.
>Wu-Tang Clan - Return Of The Wu And Friends CD (Gold Dust)
A collection of various Wu-Tang Clan songs and unreleased Wu-Tang remixes all produced by Mathematics. Features vocals from the entire Clan including Ghostface, Raekwon, RZA, GZA, ODB, Method Man, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and U-God.
Vinyl:
>Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La 7” (Sub Pop)
First single from the Dum Dum Girls’ forthcoming debut I Will Be (due March 30th).
>Maco Sika - Dual Horizon LP (LaSocieteExpedionnaire)
"Mako Sica" is a translation of what many Native American tribes called "land bad;" hence the moniker of dusty mazes, buttes and spires created by millions of years of erosion in poisoned deserts. Chicago's rich jazz history and punk ideals, however, give them complete freedom to create music which reflects the spirit of their chosen name. Features 2 ex-members of avant/experimental band Rope.
>Map - Fever Dream 2xLP (Taiga)
Vinyl-only release of high-temperature improvisations that elicit abstract thought. 200 gram double vinyl featuring D-side etching.
>Pixies - Pixies (Purple Album) LP (Vinyl Lovers)
Features early versions of “Here Comes Your Man,” “Down The Well” and “Build High,” as well as the hidden gem “Rock A My Soul.” Hear the Pixies at their humble beginnings, before they were influenced by Steve Albini. Limited edition HQ-180 colored vinyl.
>Raffertie - 7th Dimension 12” (Planet Mu)
Planet Mu kicks off 2010 with an energetic blast from one of the UK's most original producers.
>Lou Reed - Satellite Of Love 7” (RCA)
Back in print for the first time in more than 30 years! Features "Satellite of Love" -- one of Reed's best known songs -- originally recorded by The Velvet Underground during the Loaded sessions (though not released), and later included on Reed's 1972 Transformer album. It also features backing vocals by David Bowie, who also co-produced the record. The B-side is "Vicious," the riff heavy opening track from Transformer.
>Reverend Douglas Bell & The Stage Crusaders - Nuclear Blast LP (Fat Possum)
This is black gospel down with true heart and soul.
>Slugabed - Ultra Head Treated 12” (Planet Mu)
12” vinyl EP from the hotly tipped British producer.
>The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack LP (Kemado)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
>Sonic Youth - The Eternal 2xLP+MP3 (Matador)
120 gram vinlyl version. Also available as super deluxe HQ-180 package.
>Thou / Leech - We Pass Like Night From Land To Land LP (Gilead Media)
Thou offer 2 incredibly heavy and melodic doom tracks sandwiched between an intro/outro pair of complete beauty. Leech is an unreal mix of true Cascadian grey metal and unbelievable proggy song structure, with scathing vocals over a lo-fi recording that still remains decipherable. White vinyl.
>U.S. Girls - Go Grey LP+MP3 (Siltbreeze)
Conjures up ambient aerosols while luminous kaleidoscopes of sound sizzle, peak, and explode. A journey of lush vistas, warm currents, and complex beauties.
>Wreckmeister Harmonies - Pittsburgh LP (Tizona)
On Pittsburgh, Chicago-based sound artist J.R. Robinson collaborates with some like-minded heavy hitters including: David Yow (Jesus Lizard), Mark Shippy and Pat Samson (US Maple), Azita Youssefi, John Herndon and Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Keefe Jackson, Fred Lonberg-Holm and Ken Vandermark.
08 FEBRUARY 2010
>A Broken Consort - Crow Autumn CD/LP (Tompkins Square)
English composer Richard Skelton expertly builds on the achievements of last year's Box Of Birch, creating a dense-yet-delicate weave of textures from a broad palette of acoustic instruments, including guitar, mandolin, piano, violin and accordion.
>African Head Charge - Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa CD (On-U Sound)
“Alongside core percussionist Bonjo Lyabinghi Noah, Adrian Sherwood has been running African Head Charge as an outlet for his most esoteric and often-eccentric explorations of dub music. Originally issued as a Japan-only disc in 2005, Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa relies heavily upon the hypnotic drumming of Bonjo, accompanied by members of Tackhead and The Maffia.” -- Boomkat
>Luther Allison - Songs From The Road CD+DVD (Ruf Records)
The late Luther Allison’s boundless energy and fierce guitar attack combined to make him a blues superstar who reached rock fans like no bluesmen since Freddie King and Albert Collins. With Songs From The Road Allison lives on, as he tears through the songs with the single-minded desire to give everything he has to his audience.
>ALO - Man Of The World CD/LP (Brushfire)
Recorded almost entirely live, Man Of The World is the sound of four players who have truly found their groove together. This is ALO at their most natural, their most organic and their most pure.
>Annotations Of An Autopsy - Reign Of Darkness CD (Nuclear Blast)
New album from the British death metal band.
>Arsis - Starve For The Devil CD (Nuclear Blast)
A fusion of modern tech and death metal.
>Aidan Baker - Luminoid/Lifeforms CD (Alien8)
Another solo release from the man behind ambient doom project Nadja.
>Ben + Vesper - LuvInIdleness CDEP (Sounds Familyre)
The outcome of this effort is easy to convey: go out and find a low-budget production of Midsummer Night's Dream, and then go home and Netflix Olivia Newton John's Xanadu. Go to sleep and the music in your fabled dreams will undoubtedly be all five songs in order as they appear here.
>Blessure Grave - Judged By Twelve, Carried By Six CD (Alien8)
Blurs the lines between goth, post-punk, and neo-folk genres. Citing Killing Joke, Death In June, March Violets and The Cure as influences, Blessure Grave inject a pop sensibility into songs otherwise doomed to dreariness and create an interesting mix of old and new but dark all around.
>Kath Bloom - Thin Thin Line CD (Caldo Verde)
Recorded several albums in the late '70s but was largely unknown by 1995. Her rediscovery since then with reissues and tribute album contributions by artists such as Devendra Banhart and Mark Kozelek is reminiscent of Vashti Bunyan's.
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Bravery, Repetition & Noise [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Give It Back [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Methodrone [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Spacegirl And Other Favorites [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Take It From The Man [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Thank God For Mental Illness [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Their Satanic Majesties Second Request [Reissue] CD (A Records)
>Brian Jonestown Massacre - Zero [Reissue] CDEP (A Records)
Reissued with new artwork on Anton Newcomb’s A Records imprint.
>Buzzcocks - Another Music In A Different Kitchen [Reissue] 2xCD (Mute)
>Buzzcocks - Different Kind Of Tension [Reissue] 2xCD (Mute)
>Buzzcocks - Love Bites 2xCD [Reissue] (Mute)
Special deluxe double-disc packages containing unreleased tracks, Peel sessions, associated singles, demos, backing tracks, and live versions.
>The Chapmans - Grown Up CD (Compass)
Emphasizes the vocal blend of brothers John, Jeremy, and Jason Chapman over instrumentation that includes their banjoist father Bill, with support from fiddler Stuart Duncan, banjoist Noam Pikelny, dobroist Rob Ickes and Rhonda Vincent on duet/harmony vocals.
>The Cottars - Feast CD (Rounder)
Blends American folk music with Celtic overtones.
>Creature With The Atom Brain - Transylvania CD (The End)
One-man home recording project by Belgian Aldo Struyf in between stints touring with Mark Lanegan and his own band, The Millionaires.
>Neil Diamond - Hot August Night NYC: Live From Madison Square Garden [Reissue] 2xCD (Columbia Legacy)
Showcases 32 career-spanning hits including the entire show from his phenomenal four-night sold-out run at New York's Madison Square Garden. Also includes 6 additional live performances from his 2008-2009 world tour.
>Durutti Column - 2001-2009 5xCD (Artful)
5-disc box set from guitar genius Vini Reilly catalogs his output in the 21st century, including every album he has released in this period plus unheard exclusive bonus tracks and art prints of each cover.
>Enigma - Platinum Collection 3xCD (Virgin)
3-disc box set features 17 career-spanning hits, 12 remixes, and 11 previously unreleased tracks.
>Fair - Disappearing World CD (Tooth & Nail)
New album from the Christian rock band featuring notable musician and record producer Aaron Sprinkle.
>Fear Factory - Mechanize CD (Candlelight)
First new album in five years -- featuring original guitarist Dino Cazares. Also available as a deluxe limited double-disc edition with four bonus tracks.
>Galactic - Ya-Ka-May CD/LP (Anti)
Galactic have made what may be the definitive New Orleans tribute by recognizing the fundamental truth that the city’s seemingly disparate styles (jazz, brass bands and funk -- as well as newer bounce/hip-hop) are intrinsically linked.
>Gigi - Maintenant CD/LP (Tomlab)
Singing contributions from Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), Mirah, Zac Pennington (Parenthetical Girls) Katie Eastburn (Young People), Rose Melberg and Karl Blau.
>HIM - Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice CD/2xCD (Sire)
HIM's seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2007's Venus Doom. Available in two editions: regular and limited deluxe, which features special packaging and bonus acoustic tracks.
>Hot Chip - One Life Stand CD/CD+DVD (Astralwerks)
The band's most boldly accomplished record yet, at once offbeat and anthemic, cerebral and danceable. Special CD+DVD version includes a “making of” documentary and Live From Brixton 2008.
>Jaheim - Another Round CD (Atlantic)
With his smooth, sonorous tone, Jaheim is the forerunner and torch-carrier of today's soul-originated R&B.
>k.d. lang - Recollection 2xCD/3xCD+DVD (Nonesuch)
Retrospective includes favorites like “Constant Craving”” and “Smoke Rings,” 10 previously unreleased tracks, and interpretations of classics like Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah” and The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe.” In addition to the standard version's 2 CDs, the deluxe version includes a third disc featuring rare live tracks and the previously unreleased “The Right To Love,” as well as a DVD of rare video footage.
>John Martyn - I’d Rather Be The Devil 6xCD+2xDVD (Artful)
8-disc box set from the British singer/songwriter includes: The Apprentice (1990), Cooltide (1991), Classics and Classics Live plus the DVDs The Apprentice and Live With Danny Thompson.
>Massive Attack - Heligoland CD (Virgin)
Fifth studio album from legendary trip-hop duo and the first new studio album since 2003's 100th Window features an all-star cast of guest vocals from Damon Albarn, Hope Sandoval, Martina Topley-Bird, Guy Garvey and Tunde Adebimpe.
>Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live In Las Vegas 2xCD (RCA)
The duo's first set of acoustic shows since the release last year’s Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux Kings.
>Allison Moorer - Crows CD (Rykodisc)
On Crows, Moorer combines an astonishing vocal performance with new material primarily written on piano, rather than guitar.
>Georgia Anne Muldrow - Kings Ballad CD/LP (Ubiquity)
Slicing pop ‘n' lock-friendly funk with gospel and gracious soul, Georgia’s Anne Muldrow is a true West Coast original who has been called a modern day Nina Simone.
>Michael Martin Murphey - Buckaroo Blue Grass II: Riding Song CD (Rural Rhythm)
Reprises many of his classic songs performed with a stellar cast of top musicians and singers that includes; Carrie Hassler ("Wildfire"), Audie Blaylock ("Running Gun"), Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Andy Hall, Ronnie McCoury, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman, and Andy Leftwich.
>Overkill - Ironbound CD/LP (E1 Music)
Long considered the founding fathers of thrash metal, Overkill return with their heaviest record to date as they celebrate their 25th anniversary.
>Pantha Du Prince - Black Noise CD/2xLP (Rough Trade)
Fuses house, techno, shoegazy electronica and psychedelic electro-acoustic soundscapes into music that is at once both beautiful and bewitching.
>Phantogram - Eyelid Movies CD (Barsuk)
Phantograms’ music utilizes electronic loops and hip-hop beats with shoegaze, soul and pop stylings.
>Pretenders - Live In London CD+DVD (E1 Entertainment)
Electrifying performances from their 2009 world tour. Includes a 24-track DVD.
>Reckless Kelly - Somewhere In Time CD (Yep Roc)
“This record truly took us back to our roots and reminded us how cool ‘true country music’ can be. It is a tip of our hats to Pinto Bennett and The Famous Motel Cowboys for teaching us to be true to our music and ourselves.” -- Reckless Kelly
>Sade - Soldier Of Love CD/LP (Sony)
Sixth studio album in Sade’s 25-year career, and the first since 2000’s Lover's Rock.
>Scanners - Submarine CD (Dim Mak)
UK's most venerable rock outfit is back with their sophomore release. "Since the days of Joy Division and the like, nobody has really grabbed the Moog and run with it as well as these guys..." -- L.A. Weekly
>Gil Scott-Heron - I’m New Here CD (XL)
His first new album in over 15 years. Without doubt one of the most important voices in 20th century music, Gil Scott-Heron has been called a Vietnam-era Langston Hughes, a proto-rap pioneer, and -- offensively but not inaccurately -- the black Bob Dylan, someone whose unfailingly sharp and ironic eye spared neither black-power phonies or scheming presidents.
>Smile Smile - Truth On Tape CD (Kirtland)
Dallas duo’s music details their personal lives as a couple: all of the initial attraction, butterflies, compromises, and eventual upheaval, betrayal, and romantic despair. Despite the failure of their personal relationship, they make happy-go-lucky countrified pop music.
>Angelo Spencer Et Les Hauts Sommets - Angelo Spencer Et Les Hauts Sommets CD/LP (K)
Blanketed in the unconscious, the album invokes the archetypal images of a spaghetti western. Similar to works by such instrumental groups as The Shadows and The Ventures.
>Josh Turner - Haywire CD (MCA Nashville)
Since earning a standing ovation as an unknown singer on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 2001 with his impressive delivery of "Long Black Train," Turner has established himself as one of the most identifiable male vocalists in country music.
>Uncle Funkenstein - Together Again [Reissue] CD (Jazzman)
Reissue of one of the most coveted soul, funk and jazz LPs ever released.
>Various Artists - Pomegranates CD (B-Music)_Compilation of ‘60s/’70s Iranian psych, rock and folk.
>Various Artists - Take Action! Volume 9 2xCD (Sub City)
Features unreleased and exclusive tracks from Cobra Starship, We The Kings, All Time Low, 3oh!3, Taking Back Sunday, and many more.
>Various Artists - Grind Madness At The BBC: The Earache Peel Sessions 3xCD (Earache)
118 Peel sessions from Napalm Death, Carcass, Bolt Thrower, Extreme Noise Terror, Godflesh, Heresy, Unseen Terror and Intense Degree.
>The Watson Twins - Talking To You Talking To Me CD/LP (Vanguard)
New album finds The Watson Twins taking a soulful turn à la Carole King, but with a distinct pop edge reminiscent of Feist.
>The Whiskey Daredevils - Introducing The Whiskey Daredevils CD (Knock-Out)
On their sixth release, The Whiskey Daredevils have re-embraced the country punk roots of The Cowslingers with the kind of record that takes all the good stuff from country music and Link Wray, and leaves out all the crap that somehow makes it onto commercial radio.
>Yeasayer - Odd Blood CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
If All Hour Cymbals was Yeasayer's attempt at global and ambient cultural mash-up, then their new album, Odd Blood, takes place in an off-world colony sometime after the Singularity. Glimmering reverb haze is eschewed and replaced by a cavalcade of disorienting pitch effects and flickering ectoplasmic wisps.
>You Say Party! We Say Die - Xxxx - The X Album CD/LP (Paper Bag)
A slick, new wave inspired record that still holds true to their original sound.
DVDs:
>R.L. Burnside With Johnny Woods - Live 1984/1986 DVD (Felmay)
Chronicles Burnside’s two live shows with fellow Mississippian and harmonica legend, Johnny Woods.
>Meshuggah - Alive DVD (Nuclear Blast)
Live performances from the Swedish metal band filmed during their 2008 world tour.
Vinyl:
>Agent Orange - Living In Darkness LP (Drastic Plastic)
Seminal 1981 hardcore/skate punk album on collectible orange vinyl.
>The Besnard Lakes - Albatross 12” (Jagjaguwar)
First single from the upcoming LP The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night (due March 9). Has all the swagger of a Stevie Nicks-led Fleetwood Mac classic or Roy Orbison re-imagined as a rollicking, snakeskin-booted Mazzy Star -- dousing it all in gas and throwing the match as we hear its tale of Vancouver's skid row and its inhabitants.
>Deep Purple - Fireball [Reissue] LP (Friday Music)
HQ-180 vinyl reissue of their 1971 album.
>Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune b/w Cat Talking To Me 7” (Sony)
Two previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix studio recordings. "Valleys Of Neptune" is also the title track of the forthcoming Jimi Hendrix album (due March 9).
>Jay Dee - F##k The Police [Reissue] 12” (Up Above)
Jay Dee blasts over a no holds barred track with concise powerful lyrics to create one of the most potent singles released in this current era.
>Jurassic 5 - Influence [Reissue] 12” (Up Above)
Reissue of the breakout single from their debut LP Quality Control.
>Meatmen - War Of The Superbikes LP (Drastic Plastic)
Originally released in 1985, this teamed the shameless and poignantly hysterical Tesco Vee with Minor Threat’s legendary guitar duo Brian Barker and Lyle Preslar. Limited edition on clear vinyl.
>Nurse With Wound - Space Music LP (Beta-Lactum Ring)
Vinyl LP pressing of the 2009 release from the avant-garde experimentalists.
>Writer’s Block - Poetry Explains [Reissue] 12” (Up Above)
Writer's Block follows up the success of their first single with a 3 song 12”, rich with a diverse sound with the production of KeyKool, Omid, Mum's The Word, and scratches by DJ Rhettmatic.
>Visionaries - Reach b/w DJ’s & MC’s [Reissue] 12” (Up Above)
Reissue of the lead single from the Visionaries second album Sophomore Jinx (2004).
>Zeus - Say Us LP (Arts & Crafts)
Vinyl now, CD due 2/23. Draws upon classic influences to craft timeless songs, complete with fuzzed-out guitars and shimmering harmonies.
>Black Cobra - Chonomega LP (Southern Lord)
>Four Tet - There Is Love In You 2xLP (Domino)
>Magnetic Fields - Realism 2xLP+CD (Nonesuch)
>Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
>OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky LP (Capitol)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
01 FEBRUARY 2010
>Christina Aguilera - Keeps Gettin’ Better: A Decade Of Hits [Reissue] CD (RCA)
Best-of collection featuring 10 of her most popular, chart-topping hits, two brand new tracks, (“Keeps Gettin' Better” and “Dynamit”) and two re-recorded remixes of the classic hits, “Genie In A Bottle” and “Beautiful.”
>The Album Leaf - A Chorus Of Storytellers CD (Sub Pop)
For the first time in five albums, The Album Leaf recorded as a whole band. In the past, almost every instrument was performed by principal songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle.
CD now -- double-vinyl available next week.
>Ólafur Arnalds - Dyad 1909 CD/LP (Erased Tapes)
Latest release from Icelandic modern classical luminary is a score penned for the award-winning British choreographer Wayne McGregor.
>Bardo Pond - Bufo Alvarius [Reissue] CD (Fire)
Reissue of the Philadelphia space-rock/psych band’s first full length LP, recorded in 1993 and 1994.
>Brown Vs Brown - Odd And Unevens CD (Cuneiform)
Brown Vs Brown is an intense and stunningly tight “rehearsal-intensive” avant-garde rock band from Amsterdam. Seemingly contrasting elements clash and recombine: meticulous composition vs. improvisation, complexity vs. raw energy and breakneck stumble rhythms vs. swing.
>The Brunettes - Paper Dolls CD (Lil' Chief)
The Brunettes have a meticulous craft in the studio. Writing pop songs, that most fickle of forms, requires a precision that comes naturally to the band, and their records ring perfection in every note. Their sense of fun firmly intact, The Brunettes inject their new batch of songs with a sense of modernity on Paper Dolls.
>BT - These Hopeful Machines 2xCD (Nettwerk)
With his latest two-hour, double-disc opus, BT weaves both the technical prowess and compositional mastery that reminds us all why he's the composer others study. As with previous albums, These Hopeful Machines is rife with vocal collaborations that expose his influences and bend them toward his unique perceptions of song structure and sonic parity.
>Ceephax Acid Crew - United Acid Emirates CD/2xLP (Planet Mu)
New album from British acid house/drum 'n' bass musician Andy Jenkinson, brother of Tom Jenkinson (aka Squarepusher). An epic release with a strong '80s feel and a sound influenced by computer game music, Italo disco, synth pop, techno, and house -- all handmade on Jenkinson's ancient analog synths.
>Charred Walls Of The Damned - Charred Walls Of The Damned CD+DVD (Metal Blade)
Debut from this all-star metal project led by Richard Christy, formerly the drummer for Death and Iced Earth.
>Nils Frahm - Wintermusik CD/LP (Erased Tapes)
Already a recognized figure in musical circles, Nils Frahm is now gaining access to a wider audience. Wintermusik showcases the man’s exquisite talent and his perfect command of his art. “Hamburg-born pianist Nils Frahm spent the last few years creating wondrous, haunting music.” – Mojo
>Glossary - Feral Fire CD (Liberty And Lament)
The first release by Lucero's Liberty And Lament label (Glossary's Todd Beene also plays in Lucero) is marked by a testifying batch of R&B and country tinged rock songs that explore the band's dysfunctional relationship with time, religion, materialism, the universe and Southern ideals.
>Hadouken! - For The Masses CD (Nettwerk)
“Leeds five-piece’s second release is an inscrutable hybrid of grime and dance punk that relieves both genres of all redeeming qualities, leaving behind remnants that sound like a modern, British version of nu metal.” -- Prefixmag.com
>Nick Jonas & The Administration - Who I Am CD (Hollywood)
Solo album from one third of the Jonas Brothers.
>Dave King - Indelicate CD (Sunnyside)
New from the Minneapolis-based drum wizard and founding member of the boundary pushing trios The Bad Plus and Happy Apple.
>Knock Em Dead - Endless Struggle CD (Eulogy)
Debut album inspired by Sepultura, Slayer, All Out War, 100 Demons, and Napalm Death.
>Bassekou Kouyate - Ba - I Speak Fela CD (Next Ambience)
Malian maestro is a virtuoso picker and musical visionary whose work blurs the lines between West African and American roots music. Bassekou's instrument, the ngoni, is a spike lute, an ancestor of the banjo.
>Bruce Kulick - BK3 (Rocket Science)
Although Ace Frehley is considered the quintessential Kiss guitarist by most fans, it was Bruce Kulick who occupied Kiss' guitarist position for the longest amount of time -- 11 years, from 1984-1995. BK3, Kulick’s third solo album, features Gene Simmons on vocals.
>Late Night Alumni - Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc. CD (Ultra)
Late Night Alumni tend towards dance/house music including string arrangements from John Hancock, the soft trance-like vocals of Becky Jean Williams, and the prodigious production duo of Finn Bjarnson and Ryan Raddon (Kaskade).
>Lil Wayne - Rebirth CD (Cash Money)
Crossover rock album from the self-proclaimed “greatest rapper of all time.” Features a guest appearance by Eminem. Also available as a deluxe edition which adds two bonus tracks.
>Madlib - Medicine Show # 1: Before The Verdict CD (Madlib Medicine)
First installment in a 12 CD series from the rapper/producer -- a full 17-track hip-hop album featuring "the OJ Simpson remixes" with Guilty Simpson.
>Ninca Leece - There Is No One Else When I Lay Down And Dream CD/LP (Bureau B)
Ninca mixes a resolute pop approach to an experimental sound process witch glitch, clicks and cuts, dreamlike melodies and fairy elements, using voices and acoustic instruments along with electronic sounds/devices and field recordings.
>Malachai - Ugly Side Of Love CD (Domino)
Ugly Side Of Love sounds like a Jamaican garage rock band. At other times it sounds like Merseybeat if the beats were supplied by RZA. Or like Dick Dale surfing the River Severn.
>Yo-Yo Ma - Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Op 49 Op 66 CD (Sony)
To commemorate the Mendelssohn bicentennial in 2009, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Emanuel Ax, and violinist Itzhak Perlman collaborated together for the first time.
>Daniel Menche - Odradek CD (Beta-Lactum Ring)
New release from the Portland-based experimental artist. As in all Kafka's work, this creature and its description can be read from different points of view. It is not possible to define exactly what Odradek is, not even what Kafka thought it was when he was writing the story. One possible direct interpretation is that Odradek represents any useless, harmless object which is kept around for no obvious reason. However, many other levels of meaning can be extracted from this story including the musical interpretation by Daniel Menche and Markus Wolff.
>Midlake - Courage Of Others CD/LP+MP3 (Bella Union)
Existing outside the plane of trends and even time, Midlake has once again conjured a novel world, but one that seems to have existed forever. Looms of intricately textured keyboards, flute, guitars and voice are woven into broad cloaks of sound, all riding the wave of songwriter Tim Smith’s sweeping vocals.
>Phil Miller/In Cahoots - All That [Reissue] CD (Cuneiform)
Supergroup of English jazz and rock players including Phil Miller (Delivery) and members from Soft Machine.
>Monolake - Silence CD/2xLP (Monolake)
New album from the German minimal techno/producer/software engineer extraordinaire. Mastered with only analog technology.
>New York Art Quartet - Old Stuff CD (Cuneiform)
Formed in the summer of 1964, the New York Art Quartet existed for barely a year and a half, yet great interest still remains in their work. Consisting of John Tchicai (alto sax), who participated in John Coltrane's groundbreaking Ascension album and Roswell Rudd (trombone), considered to be the first free-jazz trombonist.
>One Starving Day - Atlas Coelestis CD (Beta-Lactum Ring)
Almost a sort of metal-in-opposition, OSD's progressive/avant-garde tactics pit the glottal plosives of black metal against cosmic atmospherics. Exhibits some characteristics of the martial brutality of early Swans, with the cinematics of Mogwai, suspended in an Arcturus/Isis matrix.
>Pawel - Pawel CD/LP (Dial)
Dial cofounder Paul Kominek aka Turner just finished his debut album -- inspired by almost two decades of Detroit’s Planet E – Era.
>Pierced Arrows - Descending Shadows CD/LP (VIce)
New from Portland-based trio comprised of legendary members Fred and Toody Cole of the seminal punk band Dead Moon.
>Priestess - Prior To The Fire CD/2xLP (Tee Pee)
If you've ever seen Priestess in concert, you've probably noticed that the songs from the band's debut album Hello Master have a lot more energy live than on the actual record. In contrast, Prior To The Fire is rowdier sounding, with a more progressive and jamming atmosphere closer to the Priestess live experience.
>Rhinoceros - They Are Coming For Me CD (Eulogy)
Rhinoceros are a Buffalo, NY straightedge band formed in May 2006 from the ashes of local Buffalo hardcore favorites Infamous and Xtothisdayx.
>Santana Salvador - Keyboard City CD (Quannum)
Keyboard City marks Salvador’s departure into solo territory but features a collaboration with studio wizard Money Mark (Beastie Boys) and for the first in a series of remixes, GZA of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, rallied support around the album by featuring himself on remix of the title track.
>Joe Satriani - Live In Paris: I Just Wanna Rock 2xCD (Epic)
Double-disc live set from the veteran guitarist depicts Satriani's stirring May 2008 performance in Paris, France. Some of his most memorable songs, "Surfing With The Alien", "Flying in a Blue Dream", are matched with recent hits like "Super Colossal" and "I Just Wanna Rock."
>Skullflower - Strange Keys To Untune God’s Firmament 2xCD (Neurot)
New release from the British industrial/experimental band evokes Wagnerian sonic bombast, a Nietzchean worldview, and a warlike cry of rebellion against the false, encased in a whirlwind both psychotropic and psychoacoustic.
>The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack CD/LP (Kemado)
A duo writing songs in California at the dawn of 2008 goes on to supporting The Breeders, Last Of The Shadow Puppets and Bloc Party as a quartet, and release two attention-grabbing singles that same year. They were the toast of CMJ in 2008 and South By Southwest in 2009, and then toured alongside Franz Ferdinand, Phoenix, White Lies and Black Lips in 2009.
>Soundtrack - Dear John OST CD (Relativity)
Features tracks by Joshua Radin/Schuyler Fisk, The Swell Season, Donovan Frankenreiter, Amanda Seyfried, Dan Wilson/Racheael Yamagata, Snow Patrol, Ozomatli, The Donkeys and more.
>Spy From Cairo - Secretly Famous CD (Wonderwheel)
The Spy From Cairo consolidates as much Middle Eastern music as possible -- every track focuses on a particular style of music from the Arab countries, all with signature Oud playing and dubbed-out electronic stylings.
>Styles P & DJ Green Lantern - Green Ghost Project CD (Invasion Music)
New from NY rapper and founding member of The Lox and D-Block on DJ Green Lantern's label. Features guest appearances from fellow D-Block emcees Jadakiss, and Sheek Louch, plus M.O.P, N.O.R.E, Uncle Murda, Junior Reid.
>Through The Eyes Of The Dead - Skepsis CD (Prosthetic)
New release by one of the groups that pioneered the heavy and abrasive mixture of metal and hardcore.
>Toro Y Moi - Causers Of This CD (Carpark)
This multi-cultural juggernaut gathers up the best musical elements from around the globe: R&B, indie rock, electronic dance and psychedelia. Imagine Ulrich Schnauss meets Animal Collective on a mirror balled dancefloor.
>Various Artists - Pop Ambient 2010 CD/2xLP+CD (Kompakt)
Landmark installment in Kompakt’s annual tour through the freshest facets of blisstronica. Features tracks by The Orb, Wolfgang Voigt, Thomas Fehlmann, Dettinger and more.
>Various Artists - Under The Weight Of Light CD (Projekt)
This budget-priced compilation opens the pandora's box of Projekt founder Sam Rosenthal's current eclectic music obsessions diving into neo-folk, dark-pop and shoegazer territory.
>Vedera - Stages CD (Epic)
A stunning collection of dreamy pop/rock melodies which address such themes as loss, devotion, betrayal and love.
>VoicesVoices - Origins CD (Manimal Vinyl)
Six-track concept album recorded by Guillermo Scott Herren (Prefuse 73). Herren pushes the signature guitar drone, percussive beats, and vocal looping of Nico Turner and Jenean Farris to a whole new level.
>Whitefield Brothers - Earthology CD/LP (Now Again)
“The Whitefield Brothers are a down-and-dirty funk group that makes raw, organic funk using nothing but instruments and an Afro-Caribbean sense of rhythm.” -- Allmusic.com
>Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe 2 CD/LP (Roadrunner)
Picks up where 1998’s Hellbilly Deluxe left off.
Vinyl:
>Kevin Barker - You & Me LP (Gnomonsong)
Vinyl version now available. Debut from favored collaborator and sideman for Vashti Bunyan, Devendra Banhart, Vetiver, and Antony & The Johnsons.
>Black Belles - What Can I Do b/w Lies 7" (Third Man)
They're from Nashville, have four members and like hats. Third Man categorizes the band's debut release as "a modern twist to a sound heavily rooted in the soul and garage rock of the ‘60s."
>Dadfag - Scenic Abuse LP (Broken Rekids)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
>Eat Skull - Jerusalem Mall 7" (Woodsist)
New track backed with two Sick To Death outtakes. Limited edition pressing.
>Einsturzende Neubauten - Alles Wieder Offen 2xLP (Potomik)
Double vinyl LP pressing of their long awaited 10th studio album.
>Gay Against You - Righteous Signal/Sour LP (Upset The Rhythm)
Album finds progressive rock working alongside synth-pop and Afrobeat, whilst disco bumps into hardcore, before transcending tropically.
>Pepi Ginsberg - East Is East LP (Park The Van)
In East Is East, Pepi Ginsberg and her collaborators step into the golden hour of the day and embrace "The most ephemeral of seasons." A mood and a time where we "know that change is coming in the form of a cool wind; we hold on until we let go."
>Wanda Jackson - You Know I'm No Good v/w Shakin' All Over 7" (Third Man)
The highly anticipated Jack White-produced single by rock & roll and country singing legend.
>Mavis - Gangs Of Rome 10” (!K7)
An ambitious project -- named after their shared reverence for the spiritual and soulful sounds of Mavis Staples and The Staple Singers -- in which the the duo uses a Staples or Staples inspired track and craft their own grooves with a diverse roster of guest vocalists including Kurt Wagner (Lampchop), John Turrel., and Ed Harcourt.
>MV & EE - Home Comfort LP (Woodsist)
First ever all live LP of MV & EE material -- limited to 550 copies.
>Ninjasonik - Tight Pants 12"+MP3 (Marriage)
Debut release by the Brooklyn crunk/punk duo.
>Seabear - The Ghost That Carried Us Away LP+7" (A Number Of Small Things/Morr Music)
Vinyl reissue of 2007 debut now available. “Lovers of Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine and classic skewed folk/pop really owe it to themselves to check this amazing album out without delay.” -- Boomkat
>Sea Bear - Lion Face Boy b/w Cold Summer 7” (A Number Of Small Things)
First single from their forthcoming sophomore album, We Built A Fire. While "Lion Face Boy" features their classic indie-folk-virtues, the flipside "Cold Summer" surprises with an intense and unsettling ballad that breaks new territory.
>Vibracathedral Orchestra - Joka Baya LP (VHF)
>Vibracathedral Orchestra - The Secret Base LP (VHF)
>Vibracathedral Orchestra - Smoke Songs LP (VHF)
The ever-mysterious Vibracathedral Orchestra returns from another relatively quiet period with an uncompromising set of outré jams on a trio of limited-edition vinyl-only LPs. Slightly reorganized around a line-up of stalwarts Mick Flower and Adam Davenport with frequent collaborators John Godbert (Total) and John Moloney (Sunburned Hand of the Man), the band here stretches way, way out over these six sides.
>Xiu Xiu/Parenthetical Girls - Smiths/Morrissey Split 7” (Upset The Rhythm)
Two like-minded experimental pop groups share a great deal of personal history and an unhealthy, often frustrating obsession with the works of one Steven Patrick Morrissey.
26 JANUARY 2010
>Alesana - Emptiness CD (Fearless)
Third album from the Raleigh, NC band.
>Algernon - Ghost Surveillance CD (Cuneiform)
“Algernon draws inspiration from the jazz-tinged post-rock machinations of Tortoise but veers into the louder and noisier elements of rock music. They use two guitars, bass, drums and a vibraphone to combine gorgeous melodies with psychedelic effects and rock beats.” -- Center Stage Chicago
>Animal Collective - Campfire Songs [Reissue] CD (Pawtracks)
An idea originally thought up by Dave Portner and Noah Lennox while in college, Campfire Songs is not a record of songs sung around a campfire but a record that hints at songs emerging from the fire itself: "We wanted to give the music the feeling and atmosphere of the outdoors and the warmth of a fire, so people could bring it indoors." 2003.
>Beach House - Teen Dream CD+DVD/LP+DVD (Sub Pop)
Third album from the Baltimore-based duo. Companion DVD features a video for each song on the album, each by a different director.
>Beat Farmers - Tales Of The New West [Reissue] CD (American Beat)
Roof-raising collection of drinking songs, jangle-pop gems and wildman blues.
>Bei Bei And Shawn Lee - Into The Wild CD/LP+MP3 (Ubiquity)
This uplifting, genre-bending sound clash recalls the Afro-centric harping of Dorothy Ashby and hypnotic spiritual jazz of Alice Coltrane.
>Eric Bibb - Booker’s Guitar CD (Telarc)
New album inspired and recorded with a 1930s vintage Resophonic National steel-body guitar that had belonged to Delta blues legend Booker White.
>Blue Rodeo - The Things We Left Behind 2xCD (Telesoul)
New double-disc release from the Canadian roots/rock outfit.
>David Bowie - A Reality Tour 2xCD (Columbia)
Features over 30 classic Bowie songs spanning from The Man Who Sold The World through to Reality, along with collaborations such as “Sister Midnight” (with Iggy Pop) and "Under Pressure" (with Queen), and snippets and teasers of Bowie classics such as "Space Oddity" and "Golden Years."
>Basia Bulat - Heart Of My Own CD/LP+MP3 (Rough Trade)
Nearly all the songs on Heart Of My Own were written while on the road: traveling between cities, crossing the Canadian prairies, searching for a place to stop in the Nevada desert, trailing through the Smoky Mountains, standing in the bright dusk of a summer night in the Yukon.
>Cave In - Planets Of Old CDEP+DVD (Hydra Head)
The insurmountable Hydra Head all-star traveling team has... yep, you guessed it... officially un-disbanded! 4 brand new tracks with DVD.
>Rhys Chatham - Bern Project CD (Hinterzimmer)
In the summer of 2008, Rhys Chatham visited Bern, Switzerland for a guitar trio performance with local musicians that the club had recruited for him. Rhys was blown away by the skills of the drummer and bass player and talked about plans to form a trio -- half a year later he was back in Bern and introduced Julian Sartorius (drums) and Mago Flueck (bass) to new compositions he brought along.
>Chicago Underground Duo - Boca Negra CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
Contains both composed and improvised music, powerful grooves along with ambient sound structures, folk song simplicity and polyrhythmic bursts of energy with lyrical melodic vignettes.
>Citay - Dream Get Together CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
Expansive third album from the cosmic wanderers. Flourishes of Led Zeppelin, Eno/Fripp, Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd, Popul Vuh and ELO can be heard throughout.
>Clipd Beaks - To Realize CD/LP (Lovepump United)
Recalls the societal hangover depicted in the great California rock records of the early ‘70s, while sitting firmly in the noisy, chaotic present day.
>Noah Creshevsky - Twilight Of The Gods CD (Tzadik)
Active in electronic composition since 1971, Creshevsky delights in presenting extreme and unpredictable juxtapositions in which the integration of electronic and acoustic sources and processes creates virtual "superperformers" by using the sounds of traditional instruments pushed past human capacities.
>Dark Funeral - Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus CD+DVD (Regain)
Musically, it’s the Swedish black metallers most technical and varied album to date. The live DVD offers 55 minutes of previously unreleased material, professionally filmed with 6 cameras during the band’s 15th anniversary show at P&L Festival in Sweden 2008.
>Day Of Fire - Losing All CD (Razor & Tie)
Nashville based hard rockers’ new album features 12 ambitious, high-energy rock songs.
>Mark Feldman & Sylvie Courvoissier - Oblivia CD (Tzadik)
Two of the most spectacular composer-performers working today. Virtuosos on their respective instruments and sensitive, telepathic improvisers, their quest for perfection results in breathtaking new music that seamlessly blends classical composition with the exciting edge of improvisation. Redefines the format of violin-piano recitals.
>Joe Firstman - El Porto CD (Rock Ridge)
Joe Firstman kicked off his career with an $18 Greyhound ticket from his home in North Carolina to Los Angeles. It all happened quickly: big Hollywood gigs, industry buzz, the deal with Atlantic Records and national tours with the likes Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Willie Nelson.
>Four Tet - There Is Love In You CD/2xLP (Domino)
Four Tet's first full-length album in over four years and is his fifth album to date.
>Fozzy - Chasing The Grail CD (Riot Entertainment)
Fozzy is the band featuring WWE Wrestling Superstar Chris Jericho and Stuck Mojo mastermind Rich “The Duke” Ward.
>Fredrik - Trilogi CD (Kora)
Sophomore release from this Swedish outfit. Fredrik started out in late 2006 as the songwriter/sound artist duo of Fredrik and Lindefelt. The idea was to attempt narrative structures in music through the combination of electro-acoustic composition and folk-infused musical form.
>Free Reign - Tragedy CDEP (Riot)
Metal band composed of Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen, Marc Colombo, Cory Procter and Leonard Davis.
>F##ked Up - Couple Tracks: Singles 02-09 2xCD/2xLP (Matador)
Compilation of 25 songs from F##ked Up's many, many hard-to-find, uncollected 7"s and 12"s. Couple Tracks spans an extraordinarily varied (and extraordinarily collectible) musical career that has mainly been documented on 7" singles released around the world on many labels in many countries. Includes 5 unreleased tracks.
>Full Blast (Brotzmann/Pliakas/Wertmuller) - Black Hole & Live In Tampere 2xCD (Atavistic)
Full Blast is German saxophonist Peter Brotzmann's trio with Marin Pliakas on bass and Michael Wertmueller on drums. This is the final tour stock of the limited edition double-disc collection.
>Charotte Gainsbourg - IRM CD/2xLP (Elektra)
What started as a brief recording session between Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck ended up to be the body of work that is IRM. Over the course of a year and a half of writing and recording together, Beck's role grew to encompass all aspects of the creative process. He worked seamlessly with Charlotte, co writing the lyrics and produced and mixed the recording.
>Patty Griffin - Downtown Church CD (CMG)
A collection of Gospel-infused songs produced by longtime friend, bandmate and acclaimed producer Buddy Miller at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN.
>Happy Hollows - Spells CD (Autumn Tone)
The Happy Hollows’ catchy yet dissonant sound is influenced by genres as disparate as ‘90s college rock, garage punk, art rock, and ‘80s pop.
>Harvey Milk - Harvey Milk CD (Hydra Head)
This limited “tour edition” is the first time this record has been made available on a physical format with remastered audio.
>Yuka Honda - Heart Chamber Phantoms CD (Tzadik)
Versatile composer/performer who has worked with Cibo Matto, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Mike Watt, etc. Mixing funky beats, hip samples, and instruments both acoustic and electric, Yuka's dramatic sense of sound and color creates a hypnotic groove for young moderns.
>Ihsahn - After CD+DVD (Candlelight)
Third solo effort from Ihsahn, the former vocalist/guitarist from Emperor. Includes a bonus DVD containing candid studio footage, interviews and more.
>Infinite Body - Carve out The Face Of My God CD (Post Present Media)
Swells, peaks, and valleys of ethereal noise and field recordings.
>I See Hawks In L.A. - Best Of CD (American Beat)
Part of the new wave of American bands like the Jayhawks, Wilco and My Morning Jacket whose psychedelically tinged country-rock sound recalls that of the Byrds or Buffalo Springfield.
>Joan Of Arc - Presents: Don’t Mind Control CD/2xLP (Polyvinyl)
41+ members strong the Joan of Arc extended family comes together for 18 exclusive songs curated by frontman Tim Kinsella. Double LP version limited to 500 on orange vinyl.
>Lady Antibellum - Need You Now CD (Capitol Nashville)
The critically acclaimed trio co-wrote and produced songs together with veteran producer Paul Worley and some of Music Row's most awarded songwriters. The lead single spent five consecutive weeks on the US Country singles charts.
>Little Esther - The Early Hits 1949-54 2xCD (JSP)
Little Esther Jones was discovered by bandleader Johnny Otis at a talent contest. Thirteen when she first entered a studio, she was drawn into a world that used her ruthlessly, acquiring habits that threatened and diminished her life. Here, though, is Little Esther in her prime – when making hits came as naturally as singing itself.
>Living Sacrifice - The Infinite Order CD (Tooth & Nail)
Former and current members of the Christian metal band went on to play in Evanescence, P.O.D. and Norma Jean.
>Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring CD (Arts & Crafts)
Romance Is Boring is an ambitious record that’s bigger, deeper, more complex and direct than anything Los Campesinos! have recorded. Produced by John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, Wu-Tang Clan), it’s filled with added brass, strings, drum machines and electronics, plus guesting from Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Zac Pennington of Parenthetical Girls and Jherek Bischoff of the Dead Science. Romance Is Boring feels like a band that’s not so much grown up, but “fully realized.”
>Magnetic Fields - Realism CD (Nonesuch)
Realism was cut in the distortion-free environs of a Los Angeles studio, and its sound is as pristine as a plein-air painting. There are no drum kits to be heard, and the fascinatingly varied instrumentation - guitars, accordions, violins, cellos, tablas, banjos, tuba, even a smattering of mellifluous falling leaves -- did not need to be plugged in. And, as with Distortion, the album credits emphasize: No synths.
>Major Stars - Return To Form CD/LP (Drag City)
Seventh album from the Boston-based band. When you've got a love for music, there's no time to spare. Major Stars all got other gigs that take them from place to place without room to converse much. That's okay, because they're about playing music, not small talkin'!
>Matsunaga/Vainio/Booth - 3 Telepathics Meh In-Sect Connection CD (Important)
Important Records’ second release in a four-album series, each featuring the work of the enigmatic Japanese artist Kouhei Matsunaga.
>Maysa - A Woman In Love CD (Shanachie)
Maysa embraces some of the great jazz repertoire made famous by such greats as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
>MC5 - Anthology 1965-1971 2xCD (Cleopatra)
An outstanding double-disc compilation spanning the critical early years of Detriot’s own massively influential and totally unforgettable proto-punk quintet.
>Pat Metheny - Orchestrion CD (Nonesuch)
Metheny works with an extraordinary set-up of acoustic instruments, assembled for him by a visionary team of inventors. What they have created is a veritable made-to-order solenoid orchestra that includes, among other things, bass, pianos, percussion, marimbas, guitar-bots, and a mellifluous cabinet of carefully tuned bottles.
>Mighty Clouds Of Joy - At The Revival CD (EMI Gospel)
New album from the Gospel mainstays, primarily produced by R&B aficionado Raphael Saadiq.
>Mondo Drag - New Rituals CD/LP (Alive)
From deep in the cosmos of Iowa, and from the same interstellar scene that gave you Radio Moscow, comes Mondo Drag, orbiting the planet’s garage, psych, space, sludge and stoner rock.
>Motor -Hyper Machine CD (Downtown)
Abrasive metallic music, combines tough techno beats and raw rock riffs.
>My Brightest Diamond - Shark Remixes 2xCD (Asthmatic Kitty)
A cohesive and conceptual project as opposed to a mere remix album. Four remixers (Alfred Brown, DM Stith, Son Lux and Roberto Carlos Lange) were commissioned to each create a separate EP of remixed material.
>Mycale/John Zorn - Mycale: Book Of Angels V.13 CD (Tzadik)
A whole new approach to Masada music: Intimate a cappella interpretations of 12 songs from Zorn's remarkable Book Of Angels. Dynamic and evocative new Jewish music.
>Youssou N’Dour - Music From The Motion Picture I Bring What I Love (Nonesuch)
Soundtrack from the critically acclaimed documentary about African superstar Youssou N'Dour. The album features all-new recordings of music from throughout N'Dour's career as well as two new songs, including the documentary's title theme.
>New Found Glory - New Found Glory [Reissue] CD+DVD (MCA)
Tenth anniversary edition. Added DVD includes the documentary "The Story So Far," featuring band history, live performances, and videos.
>Scout Niblett - Calcination Of Scout Niblett CD/LP (Drag City)
Her most tightly coiled long-player yet, a heavy handful of songs that are reaching for the ripe and the light. An intense devotional, a determined spirit journey and a collection of great slow-dance songs.
>Number One Gun - To The Secrets & Knowledge CD (Tooth & Nail)
New album from Jeff Schneeweis of Hawthorne Heights fame.
>Oh No Ono - Eggs CD (Friendly Fire)
Oh No Ono creates bewitching pop symphonies that unfold themselves more with each successive listen. Reaching beyond traditional guitar/bass/drum textures, the band weaves myriad environmental sounds, samples, and nonstandard instrumentation into the mix.
>Owl City - Ocean Eyes [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD (Universal)
Features 7 additional tracks -- 6 new songs and 1 remix.
>Patrick & Eugene - Altogether Now (Birds Bees Flowers Trees) CD (Tummy Touch)
Patrick Dawes (percussist for Groove Armada and Richie Havens) and Eugene Bezodis are two talented originals. Their sound is whistles, bells and bongos combined with banjos, ukuleles and sunshine pop vocals to produce a unique but accessible music for postmodern vaudeville, with a nod to Monty Python, Derek & Clive and even Woody Allen.
>Pit Er Pat - Flexible Entertainer CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
Writing for a live show, Pit Er Pat wanted the energy to stay consistently strong and high throughout the set. It was an experiment in simplicity: MPC, guitar, voice. They added a kick and snare drum for physicality.
>Postdata - Postdata CD (Silly Old Songs)
Postdata is Paul Murphy of Wintersleep’s first solo effort. Recorded at home in Nova Scotia with his brother Michael, spliced together from ”thirty or forty pieces of songs in a series of dreams.”
>Radio Massacre International - Time & Motion 2xCD (Cuneiform)
Takes musical cues from the classic 1970s ”Berlin electronic sound” of Klaus Schulze, Ash Ra and Tangerine Dream.
>Corine Bailey Rae - The Sea CD (Capitol)
Bringing together a new band of musicians, Bailey Rae recorded the album mainly in Leeds and Manchester, England. Her voice, always an expressive and soulful instrument, resonates with a poignant and newfound depth.
>Red Krayola - Five American Portraits CD/LP (Drag City)
The five subjects in sequence of appearance are: Wile E. Coyote; George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter; John Wayne; and artist Ad Reinhardt. Their portraits in words and music will hang in the halls of your mind, taking shape as their features are described against backdrops of familiar and characteristic music performed by Red Krayola.
>Retribution Gospel Choir - 2 CD/LP (Sub Pop)
New album from the band fronted by Low’s Alan Sparhawk.
>Steve Roach - Truth & Beauty [Reissue] CD (Projekt)
Budget-priced reissue of this out-of-print 1999 collection of unreleased and compilation tracks.
>Royal Trux - Untitled (Third Album) [Reissue] CD/LP (Drag City)
Digitally remastered reissue of this 1992 release from the veteran noisemakers, who were born from the ashes of alt-rock favorites Pussy Galore.
>David Sanborn - Only Everything CD (Decca Crossover)
The second of Sanborn's homage to the aesthetic of Ray Charles.
>Neil Sedaka - The Music Of My Life CD (Razor & Tie)
First new studio album in over 10 years from the legendary singer/songwriter.
>Shurman - Still Waiting For The Sunset CD (Sustain)
There is an elusive sweet spot at the crossroads where soul music, country, and rock & roll intersect, and Austin, TX-based Shurman hits it dead on.
>Slow Six - Tomorrow Becomes You CD (Western Vinyl)
The group returns to their experimental rock roots with an emotionally unrestrained full-length infused with taught rhythms, unraveling melodies, and detailed ambiences that owe as much to Tortoise and The Dirty Three as Steve Reich and Brian Eno.
>Leigh Stephens - Red Weather LP (Sundazed)
After leaving Blue Cheer in 1969, guitarist Leigh Stephens, whose pulverizing roar was an essential element of the band's original sound, made his solo debut with Red Weather.
>Strong Arm Steady - In Search Of Stoney Jackson CD (Stones Throw)
In Search of Stoney Jackson was produced entirely by Madlib. The album’s conception owes a great deal to World Famous Beat Junkie, J.Rocc, who provided the trio with close to 200 of the prolific beatsmith’s tracks to choose from. It’s a hip-hop jam session, with the group acting as the rhythm section for an all-star cast of guest vocalists such as Talib Kweli, Planet Asia, Guilty Simpson, Evidence, Chase Infinite, and Phonte of Little Brother.
>Suicide Commando - Implements Of Hell CD/2xCD (Metropolis)
Unrelenting, hook-laden, and darker than Hell… this is the way evil electro is supposed to sound.
Available in two editions: Regular and Special limited edition, which includes a bonus disc featuring remixes by Komor Kommando, Modulate, JH from Centhron, Schattenschlag, Fïx8Sëd8, and more.
>Bob Thompson - The Sound Of Speed LP (Sundazed)
In the days of Esquivel's Space Age Bachelor Pad Music prime, orchestra leader/composer/arranger Bob Thompson (a long-admired Hollywood music figure who worked with Rosemary Clooney, Judy Garland, Duane Eddy, and Bing Crosby, among others) was his stylistic counterpart.
>Univers Zero - Clivages CD (Cuneiform)
A founding member of the original "Rock In Opposition" (R.I.O.) movement, and the inventors of "chamber rock", Univers Zero are considered to be one of the greatest avant-garde rock bands of the last 30 years. Clivages is their first new album in 5 years.
>Armand Van Helden - New York: Mix Odyssey Pt. 2 CD (Downtown)
American record producer, DJ and remixer has been topping the UK charts with hits, such as “Professional Widow” and “You Don’t Know Me.”
>Various Artists - Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010 CD/LP+MP3 (Matador)
“Casual Victim Pile is an anagram of ‘Live Music Capital.’ You can safely assume that with all due respect to the City of Austin's attempts to promote itself as such. This compilation is only meant to reflect what I like in Austin circa 2008-2010. But there's something to be said for a highly arbitrary take on things... Whether or not there's a genuine tie to the region's musical history is up for debate.” -- Gerard Cosloy (Matador founder/CEO)
>Various Artists - Good God! Born Again Funk CD/2xLP (Numero)
Born Again Funk lends new ears to a joyful strain of American composers and performers unafraid of expressing their devotion with both inspiration and invention. They were faithful to a spirit, not an ordained sound.
>Various Artists - Minimal Wave Tapes V.1 CD (Stones Throw)
Stone Throw Founder Peanut Butter Wolf has always had a love affair with ‘80s new wave, post punk and DIY. Here he scours the archives of New York's own Minimal Wave, a small indie label dedicated to reissuing lost and rare gems from around the World.
>Kim Waters - Love Stories CD (Shanachie)
New album from the smooth jazz superstar. Vocalist Kenny Lattimore joins Kim on the title track "Love Story."
DVDs:
>Michael Jackson - This Is It DVD (Sony)
Edited down from hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage for his would-have-been 2009 world tour, Michael performs material that spans his career, from a Motown medley to multi-platinum hits from Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad.
>Soul Power DVD (Sony)
Featuring musical legends James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz and a host of others, Soul Power documents three-night Zaire '74 music festival planned to coincide with the now-legendary and epic "Rumble in the Jungle" between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman.
>Suicidal Tendencies - Live At The Olympic DVD (Suicidal Records)
Since their beginnings in Venice, CA in the early ‘80s, Suicidal Tendencies have led the charge in the skatepunk/metal movement, influencing an entire generation of bands along the way.
Vinyl:
>AFCGT - AFCGT LP+7”+MP3 (Sub Pop)
AFCGT (a convenient vernacular for A Frames and Climax Golden Twins) descends from a decrepit longhouse on the shores of a dark lake where the self-inflicted wounds from a windy forest of flailing, whipping branches gave birth to the white heat oddities from this their self-titled new album. Vinyl only.
>Blue Cheer - Outside Inside [Reissue] LP (Sundazed)
Blue Cheer looms large in the annals of hard rock, laying down the sonic foundations of heavy metal, and serving as a crucial influence on the birth of punk, grunge and stoner rock.
>Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum (Mono Edition) LP (Sundazed)
Blue Cheer’s landmark 1968 debut is widely regarded as Ground Zero of the heavy metal explosion.
>Darker My Love/Audacity - Under The Covers Vol. 1 Split 7” (I Hate Rock & Roll)
DML's version of "Mr. Alvarez" is a departure from their usual psych territory, leaning more towards a bubble-gum covered beach beatle. Audacity's version of "Summer Is Here" is somewhere between Todd Rundgren's "You Need Your Head", Black Flag, and a nursery rhyme. Less psych barnburner, more avante-garde, OC punk feel. Limited edition of 300.
>Gang Gang Dance - God’s Money LP (Social Registry)
Their 2005 album -- now available on vinyl. Lending hypnotic rhythms into a highly structured compositional style or soaring in the lofty heights of practiced improvisation, God’s Money follows in the footsteps of their other output marking new ground for the band.
>Jailbreak - The Rocker LP (Family Vinyard)
Featuring the world’s wildest free drummer, Chris Corsano (Cold Bleak Heat, Björk, Mick Flower Duo), and the world’s wildest free steal pedal guitarist, Heather Leigh (Charalambides, Dream Aktion Unit, Jandek), The Rocker pits two of the landscape’s most intense pyromaniacs against each other in a blast-furnace of blisteringly joyous witch-howling assaults.
>Robert A.A Lowe & Rose Lazar - Eclipses LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
Eclipses pushes out beyond natural terrestrial landscapes into those slightly more cosmic or alien in scope. Recorded at home utilizing semi-modular and polyphonic analogue synthesizers. Vinyl-only release.
>Mouthus/Bulbs - Split LP (Important)
Mouthus: drum and guitar explosion through tape manipulation and a total synth bath. Collided through a number of recording sessions and strings of modulation to elevate the particle riffage to a heightened state of plate tectonic rock. Bulbs: Like tuning your radio slowly between far off new age stations in the most serene way possible. The marriage of muted melodies existing below feedback skwerls and electronic swirls.
>Muse - Resistance 2xLP (WB)
Now available on HQ-180 vinyl.
>Tape & Bill Wells - Fugue LP+MP3 (Immune)
First recording to featuring Swedish trio Tape and legendary Scottish musician Bill Wells. With the use of piano, organ, Fender Rhodes, guitar, bass, electronics, drums, and synth, Fugue is truly a unique and timeless recording from these legendary and prolific artists.
>J Tillman - Wild Honey Never Stolen 7” (Western Vinyl)
Limited edition. Includes the B-side “Borne Away On A Black Barge."
>John Vanderslice - D.I.A.L.O. 7” (Dead Oceans)
Limited edition 7” featuring the single from Romanian Names and an exclusive B-side track "Do What You Want."
>Volcano, I’m Still Excited - Volcano, I’m Still Excited LP (Polyvinyl)
First time on vinyl. Often sounding like a much more excited Spoon (with a Casio), these are loveably unconventional short pop songs.
19 JANUARY 2010
>A Hero A Fake - Let Oceans Lie CD (Victory)
An organic mix of tech-metal and forward thinking rock that fans of Opeth, King Crimson and Between The Buried And Me can embrace.
>The Terry Adams Rock & Roll Quartet - Crazy 8’s CD (Clang!)
NRBQ pianist Terry Adams unveils his new band with ten tracks recorded live in the spring of 2009.
>Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening CD (Comedy Central)
You may know Aziz Ansari from his work on Parks And Recreation, Human Giant, or Flight Of The Conchords. Intimate Moments... is his debut stand-up comedy album.
>Kevin Barker - You & Me CD/LP (Gnomonsong)
Full of sunny, rural country rock, You & Me recalls the rustic grooves of The Band and The Grateful Dead, the heady melancholy of Roy Harper, and the golden harmonies of CSNY. You & Me features Pat Sansone (Wilco), Joanna Newsom, Jonathan Wilson (Elvis Costello, Jenny Lewis), Eric Johnson (Shins, Fruit Bats), and Otto Hauser (Vetiver, Espers).
>Danny Barnes - Pizza Box CD (ATO)
On Pizza Box, Barnes (known for his work with the seminal Austin alt-country band The Bad Livers) spins tales of American life like a latter-day John Steinbeck, wielding banjo and pen with equal effect, and the character of his voice as the perfect mouthpiece to truly bring the album to life.
>Blue Highway - Some Day: Fifteenth Anniversary Collection CD (Rounder)
Compilation of the bluegrass band's best work from their fifteen years together._
Barton Carroll - Together You And I CD/LP (Skybucket)
A cynical narrative runs through the album for sure, but Carroll’s sardonic wit is coupled with lightly shuffling horns, making for happy sounding songs instead of a somber ones. His tone and sleight-of-hand songwriting skill gained him critical acclaim for his previous release, The Lost One from Pitchfork, Harp, American Songwriter and more.
>The Coal Porters - Durango (April 17- April 30) CD (Prima)
New album by ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin contains a bluegrass cover of Neil Young's “Like A Hurricane” and musical contributions from Tim O'Brien and Peter Rowan.
>Cold War Kids - Behave Yourself CDEP/12” (Downtown)
New EP from the Southern California-based indie pop rockers contains four brand new tracks: “Audience,” “Coffee Spoon,” “Santa Ana Winds” and “Sermons.”
>Convulse - World Without God [Reissue] CD (Relapse)
Remastered and expanded edition of the Finnish death metal band's 1992 debut album.
>Adrian Crowley - Season Of Sparks CD (Chemikal Underground)
As its emotive title may suggest, Adrian Crowley's fifth album is one of bristling, tactile atmospheres. Season Of Sparks represents a point after ten years of recording music, where his words, his music and the influence of his collaborators all meet in a perfect, joyous place.
>Keb Darge & Paul Weller - Present Lost & Found: Real R’n’B & Soul CD (!K7)
Keb Darge's Lost & Found series sets out to expose lesser known or forgotten lights of soul music from the ‘50s and ‘60s. This collection has Keb teaming up with Paul Weller for a selection of R&B and soul classics, including hits by Big Mama Thornton, The Tempos, The Creations, The Flirtations, The Intruders, Tammi Terrell, The Dells, Albert King, Slim Harpo and more.
>Dinowalrus - % CD/LP (Kanine)
Three-person drum ‘n' drone band out of Brooklyn relies heavily on the use of self-sustaining electronic devices to push their sound into cosmic brain-melting freak outs, lush atmospheric haze, and twee-skronk.
>Weber Eberhard - Colours 3xCD (ECM)
Collects all of the music recorded for ECM by Eberhard’s innovative group Colours. All three discs have been out of print for some time. Box includes extensive liner notes by Michael Tucker, based on interviews with the musicians, and rare archive photos.
>Editors - In This Light And On This Evening CD (Fader)
2009 album from the British quartet. US pressing featuring bonus material.
>Eels - End Times CD/LP+7” (Vagrant)
Largely self-recorded on an old four-track tape machine by E in his Los Angeles basement, End Times a “divorce album” with a modern twist: the artist equates his personal loss with the world he lives in losing its integrity. Vinyl LP includes a bonus four track 7”.
>Bill Fay - Still Some Light 2xCD (Coptic Cat)
Double-disc collection from the British singer/songwriter contains both old and new material. The first CD, Piano, Guitar, Bass & Drums, consists of studio recordings, sourced from archival tapes. The second CD, Still Some Light, is a home-recorded studio album from 2009.
>Josephine Foster - Graphic As A Star CD/LP (Fire)
New release from the Colorado-based folk/rock singer/songwriter. Graphic As A Star is based upon the poems of the 19th century American poet Emily Dickenson. Josephine lays stair-steppy melodies beneath a collection of Dickenson gems and sings them with a burnished soulfulness like the purple sunsets so often described in the poems.
>Freya - All Hail The End CD (Victory)
New album from the hardcore band fronted by Earth Crisis/Path Of Resistance vocalist Karl Buechner.
>Good For Cows - Audumla CD (Web Of Mimicry)
Audumla finds the formerly acoustic, instrumental bass and drums duo starting afresh. The constraints of flying with an upright bass, increasing volumes, and a steady listening diet of black metal and harsh noise music have inspired a reinvention of their sound with electric bass, large drums, and electronics.
>The Hotrats - Turn Ons CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey of Supergrass have teamed up with producer extraordinaire Nigel Godrich to bring you the must-have party record of 2010.
>Lindstrom & Christabelle - Real Life Is No Cool CD/LP (Smalltown Supersound)
Norwegian electronic pioneer Lindstrom teams up with vocalist Christabelle (AKA Solale) to create an edgy pop album of structured chaos and hypnotic beats.
>Major Stars - Return To Form CD/LP (Drag City)
“Major Stars continue to be bent on the steady demolition of the soul via grimy metal riffs, blue collar garage rock hooks, guitar solos seemingly akin with the swirling heroics of area-rockers yet so transmogrified by those ear-piercing distortions and vocals dipped into the soul of blues balladeers.” -- Deepcutzmusic.blogspot.com
>John Morales - M&M Mixes 2xCD (BBE)
If you grew up in the '80s and had even the smallest of passing interest in music, particularly club music, chances are you were very familiar, albeit unwittingly, with the work of John Morales. On the radio, in the record racks and most importantly on the dancefloor John’s work (predominately with studio partner Sergio Munzibai) helped define an era and influence future generations of DJs, producers and artists.
>Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life CD/LP (Columbia)
My Dinosaur Life marks the band's major label debut and finds them reuniting with producer and friend Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. 12 new songs.
>Nervous Wrecklords - Nailbiter CD/LP (Hi-Speed Soul)
New from the duo comprised of Brian Karscig (Louix XIV) and Anthony Saffery (producer and member of UK band Cornershop).
>BJ Nilsen - The Invisible City CD (Touch)
Using unrecognizably tweaked field recordings of cats, crows, bees, wasps, boat ramps, and dead trees, the ever-reliable BJ Nilsen has crafted yet another complex and desolately beautiful suite of droning ambiance that subtly crackles and buzzes with life.
>Nurse With Wound - Chance Meeting On A Dissecting Table Of A Sewing Machine An Umbrella [Reissue] CD (United Jnana)
Reissue of the legendary debut album from Nurse With Wound, originally released on United Dairies in 1979. Includes bonus material.
>Old Crow Medicine Show - Greetings From Wawa [Reissue] CD (Blood Donor)
Limited edition reissue of OCMS’s obscure debut album -- originally released in 2000.
>Pearl - Little Immaculate White Fox CD (MRI)
With a ragged, yet accessible sound and a deeply personal aesthetic, Pearl is a refreshing alternative to the predictable, cookie-cutter rockers who play it safe to build their audience. She prefers to develop her following through sincerity, conviction and energetic live shows.
>RJD2 - Colossus CD/2xLP (RJ Electric)
Fourth studio album from “one of the few DJs who seems like an artist rather than just a record collector” -- Rolling Stone. Features contributions from Phonte Coleman (Little Brother), and Kenna.
>Sigh - Scenes From Hell CD (The End)
Since their birth in 1990, this Japanese metal band continues to be inspired by various styles of ‘80s thrash, classical jazz, ‘60s/’70s rock and other more obscure genres.
>Six Feet Under - Graveyard Classics III CD (Metal Blade)
Third installment in their series of covers from death metal band led by former Cannibal Corpse member Christ Barnes.
>Richard Skelton - Landings CD/2xLP (Type)
Richard Skelton occupies an unusual stylistic niche somewhere between classical music and drone, as Landings is largely the product of a violin and a looping pedal.
>Son Of Azreal - Scouting The Boneyard CD (Metal Blade)
Son Of Azreal explores the deep organic sounds of early death and black metal while treading in new waters with paralyzing lyrics and a dynamic rhythm and percussion approach.
>Soundtrack - Crazy Heart OST CD (New West)
Includes “The Weary Kind” -- performed by Ryan Bingham (the theme song heard in the film's trailer and closing credits) -- and other music featured in the film, including tracks by” Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Sam Phillips and many more. Co-produced by T Bone Burnett.
>South Memphis String Band - Home Sweet Home (Dickins On Luth...) CD (Big Stink Research)
Regional roots music supergroup featuring Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, The Black Crowes), Alvin Youngblood Hart (the Grammy winner who is as equally adept at thrash rock as he is at country blues) and Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers).
>Spoon - Transferenc CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Follow up to 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. 11 new gems that honor the Spoon tradition while pushing the envelope of the band's sound ever further. We’ll even throw it in a cool Spoon plastic record bag.
>Super 8 Bit Brothers - Brawl CD (The End)
When it comes to melding the worlds of video games and music, no one does it better than Chicago's Super 8 Bit Brothers. Combining danceable indie pop with lyrics ripe with for people who'd rather stay in or do a basement boogie, Brawl is the post-Postal Service, pre-Tron soundtrack of the indie generation.
>Valkyrja - Contamination CD (Metal Blade)
Sophomore album from the Swedish metal band.
>Various Artists - Dirty Feeling CD (Buffalo Bop)
28 obscure rockabilly tunes from The Creep, The Valiants, Danny Ezba, Doc Martin, Freddy Fender and many others.
>Virulence - If This Isn’t A Dream... 1985-1989 CD (Southern Lord)
Late ‘80s, Black Flag-style punk rock from the band that went on to become Fu Manchu.
>Whourkr - Concrete CD (Crucial Blast)
Sophomore release from French deathtronix duo, Concrete is a whirlwind of electronically processed and treated avant-death/grind that is as violent and brutal as it is complex and obsessively constructed, relying as much on samplers and sound-editing software as it does on bone crushing technical riffs, vicious screaming and hyperspeed mechanized blastbeats.
>Lee “Shot” Williams - I’m The Man For The Job CD (CDS Record)
Vocalist Lee "Shot" Williams sings a style of Southern soul-blues in keeping with the tradition of vocalists like Bobby "Blue" Bland, Johnnie Taylor and Albert King.
>Gretchen Wilson - Greatest Hits CD (Columbia Nashville)
Hits collection from the country star who exploded onto the music scene in 2004 with her smash hit “Redneck Woman.”
>Worm Ouroboros - Worm Ouroboros CD (Coptic Cat)
Featuring members that have honed their craft in such bands as The Gault, Amber Asylum and World Eater, Worm Ouroboros is a delicate, serene, yet ultimately crushing and devastating act which subtly and seamlessly combines several genres such as doom metal, neo-classical, chamber music, dark ambient, and prog rock.
>Wylie And The Wild West - Unwired: Western Jubilee Warehouse Live CD (Western Jubilee)
Wylie Gustafson, along with Ray Doyle, Scot Wilburn and Rick Bryceson, present a stirring 60-minute concert recorded live at the Western Jubilee Warehouse in Colorado Springs.
>Zoey Van Goey - Cage Was Unlocked CD (Chemikal Underground)
A work of charming ambition loaded with full-blooded sing-along choruses, understated keyboards, close harmonies and irresistible melodies -- all underpinned by various musical ephemera including vintage Super Mario sound effects.
DVDs:
>Fela Kuti - Music Is The Weapon DVD (Knitting Factory)
Shot in Lagos at the peak of his career in 1982, this documentary contains interviews with Fela detailing his thoughts on politics, panafricanism, music and religion, alongside unpublished versions of songs like “ITT,” “Army Arrangement” and “Power Show.”
Vinyl:
>Avengers - Avengers LP (4 Men With Beards)
HQ-180 vinyl reissue of their 1983 album.
>The Black Keys - Rubber Factory [Reissue] LP (Fat Possum)
HQ-180 picture disc in a clear plastic sleeve.
>Blind Pilot - Three Rounds And A Sound LP (Expunged)
Portland band exploded onto scene (NPR's Best New Band of 2008) on the strength of this record, which is now finally available remastered on limited HQ-180 vinyl.
>Doc Boggs - When My Worldly Trials LP (Monk)
A blend of Appalachian old-time music and early blues. This record is comprised of some extremely rare alternate takes (recorded between 1927-1929) of some of his greatest songs.
>Broken Bells - High Road 7” (Columbia)
New collaboration between Shins’ frontman James Mercer and Danger Mouse. Features the non-album B-side “An Easy Life.”
>City Center - Cops Don’t Care b/w Heat Isn’t The Word 7” (M’Lady’s)
New single -- mostly electronic, ranging from atmospheric soundscapes to noisy pop.
>Heartless Bastards - Stairs And Elevators LP (Fat Possum)
Their 2005 album -- first time available on vinyl.
>Thee Oh Sees - Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In LP (In The Red)
2008 album -- now available on vinyl. "A simulacrum of 1960s Bay Area psychedelics without the marathon solos, in its own way, Master's Bedroom can be as hypnotic and mesmeric as any drone album." -- Pitchfork
>Charlie Patton - Moon Going Down LP (Monk)
Yellow vinyl. The father of Delta blues, accompanied by another giant of the Delta blues: Willie Brown.
>Ween - 12 Country Golden Greats LP (Plain)
>Ween - Mollusk LP (Plain)
>Ween - White Pepper LP (Plain)
Out of print for years, now repressed on HQ-180 vinyl.
>Geoff Muldaur - And The Texas Sheiks LP (Tradition & Moderne)
>Jay Reatard - Blood Visions LP (Fat Possum)
>Ringo Starr - Y Not LP (Ringo Starr)
>Various Artists - Funky Frauleins: Female Beat, Groove, Disco, Funk in Germany 1968-1978 LP (Bureau B)
Recently released on CD -- these titles now available on vinyl.
12 JANUARY 2010
>African Head Charge - Songs Of Praise [Reissue] CD (On-U Sound)
Adrian Sherwood's 1990 album as African Head Charge is reissued for all those who missed out the first time around. Mixing samples and live drumming with effects, pianos and psyched out guitars wails, Sherwood immerses himself in an indulgent new age dub vibe with a turn-of-the-decade post-rave mystique.
>All Time Low - MTV Unplugged CD+DVD (Hopeless)
6-track Uplugged concert recorded in New York City during the summer of 2009. Includes a DVD featuring two additional tracks.
>Aiden Baker - Liminoid/Lifeforms CD (Alien8)
New album of ambient-doom from the prolific Nadja frontman.
>Blockhead - Music Scene CD/LP (Ninja Tune)
Blockhead has worked with some of the key figures in independent hip-hop: Slug (Atmosphere), Murs, Mike Ladd, Cage and Aesop Rock. On his third album he takes his emotive, melancholic hip-hop "stories without words" to another level.
>Bouncing Souls - Ghosts On The Boardwalk CD (Chunksaah)
In 2009 the Bouncing Souls celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing a new song on the first of each month throughout the year, via digital download. They also pressed these songs onto a series of tour-only 7"’s. Now available on CD.
>Peter Bruntnell - Peter And The Murder Of Crows CD (New Folk)
"In a more accommodating world, Peter Bruntnell would be a big deal. By the third play of his ace seventh album, you're left marveling at the subtle shifts in dynamics: terrific arrangements, meticulous strings, and killer desert guitar." -- Uncut
>Nick Cave/Warren Ellis - The Road OST CD (Mute)
Soundtrack for the film based on Cormac McCarthy's novel. An evocative score featuring violin and piano with beautiful fleeting melodies and eerie sound loops filled with terror and suspense.
>Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Live At Hollywood High: The Costello Show 2 CD (Hip-O Select)
First time on CD for this historic 1978 performance -- the second installment in The Costello Show live series. Features 20 tracks, 11 of them previously unreleased.
>Bill Emerson And Sweet Dixie - Southern CD (Rural Rhythm)
New album from the banjo/bluegrass legend.
>Final Fantasy - Heartland CD/2xLP (Domino)
Final Fantasy’s third album is the product of nine months work in four countries. Heartland is a fully orchestral record, designed to exist simultaneously as an album, a 45-minute piece of orchestral music and a set of songs for looped violin and voice.
>Grendel - Chemicals + Circuitry CD (Metropolis)
Seamlessly blending brutally harsh electronics and highly danceable EBM, Grendel has successfully emerged as a dark and chaotic force in the underground electronic scene.
>Ray Wylie Hubbard - A: Enlightenment B: Endarkment (Hint: There Is No C) CD (Bordello)
With a keen eye for observation and a wise man's knowledge, Ray Wylie Hubbard composes and performs a dozen songs that couldn't spring from anywhere else but out of his fertile rock & roll bluesy poet-in-the-blistering-heat Southern noggin.
>Freedy Johnston - Rain On The City CD (Bar/None)
New album from the gifted singer/songwriter whose lyrics paint sometimes witty, often poignant portraits of characters often unaware of how their lives have gone wrong.
>Chris Joss - Monomaniacs Volume 1 CD (ESL Music)
Like a long lost vintage LP plucked from a time capsule buried sometime in the 1970s, Monomaniacs brings Joss back to a distinctly traditional and dusty funk groove. Recalling the iconic blaxploitation and grindhouse film soundtracks of that era, the album is filled with ricocheting breakbeats, whirlwinds of wah-wah, rubber-band basslines, cosmic organs, and even a few shredding rock guitars.
>King Crimson - Lizard [Reissue] CD+DVA (Discipline)
Continuing with the 40th Anniversary Series, this remastered version of Lizard contains an audio CD with 5.1 Surround Sound mix from the original studio masters, as well as three extra tracks and a new stereo album mix by Robert Fripp and Steven Wilson.
>Lady GaGa - Bad Romance (Remixes) CDEP (Interscope)
Remixes by Hercules And Love Affair, Kaskade, Richard Vision, and more.
>Liquid Divine - Autophobia CD (Metropolis)
The duo of Christian Fritzsche and Guido Stoye has been releasing intelligent electronic music since 2000. Combining influences from bands such as Tangerine Dream, Haujobb, New Order, and Kraftwerk with modern and unique elements, Liquid Divine manages to create a highly original, danceable album full of introspection.
>Van Morrison - T.B. Sheets [Reissue] CD (Friday Music)
Recorded in 1967, T.B. Sheets was the precursor to Astral Weeks, and included the original hit version of “Brown Eyed Girl.”
>Nana Grizol - Ruth CD/LP (Orange Twin)
Sophomore release from Nana Grizol, part of the famous Elephant 6 collective (Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, and many other terrific bands). Ruth smoothes out a lot of the street punk, live sound of the first album, and refines the whimsy and cleverness of the substantial lyrics.
>O.A.R. - Rain Or Shine 4xCD (Everfine)
4-disc live set recorded over two nights at Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago. 37 tracks.
>OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky CD (Capitol)
“OK Go was a respected major label power-pop band from Chicago well before their legacy was sealed by one of the most memorable YouTube videos of all time. In fact, the "Here It Goes Again" video has proven to be such a burden that it's taken OK Go the rest of the decade to follow up 2005's Oh No with Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky.” - Prefixmag
>Omarion - Ollusion CD (Music Works)
Third album from the triple threat known for his vocal, dancing and acting abilities -- features guest appearances by Gucci Mane and Fabolous.
>Polysics - Absolute Polysics CD (Myspace)
Eighth album from the forward-thinking Japanese electronica/avant garde group.
>Rorschach - Remain Sedate/Protestant [Reissue] CD/LP (Gern Blandsten)
2-on-1 reissue from the late-‘80s/early-‘90s New Jersey band. Fast, heavy hardcore with a metal slant and raspy hardcore vocals.
>John Scofield - Shinola [Reissue] CD (Enja)
"Shortly before joining Miles Davis' group, guitarist John Scofield recorded this passionate trio set with electric bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Much of Scofield's playing here is quite rock-ish although he does show off his jazz chops... the frequently intense music... has plenty of fiery moments." -- All Music
>Sharon Shannon - Saints & Scoundrels CD (Compass)
New album from Ireland's multi-platinum selling and award-winning accordion player. Saints & Scoundrels includes a plethora of special guests: Shane MacGowan, Imelda May, Jerry Fish, Carol Keogh, Justin Adams and the Cartoon Thieves.
>Mord Skanska - Last Supper CD (Small Stone)
Stoner-rock band serves up a fresh serving of big riffs and hooks.
>Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2 [Reissue] CD (Rocket Science)
“Rising from the rugged streets and rich musical tapestry of Detroit, Slum Village was poised to carry on the old-school, funk, and soul-filled hip-hop torch of genre pioneers A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and the Pharcyde. Growing up in the Conant Garden neighborhood of Detroit and forming during high-school days at Detroit's Pershing High School, MCs Baatin, Jay Dee, and T3 quickly garnered praise and recognition in the local underground scene.” -- All Music
>Ringo Starr - Y Not CD (Ringo Starr)
New album features contributions by Paul McCartney, Ben Harper, Joss Stone, Richard Marx, Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart, Steve Dudas, Benmont Tench, Don Was, and Mike Bradford.
>T-Model Ford - The Ladies Man CD/LP (Alive)
Recorded at Planet Sound Studios in Wichita, KS, The Ladies Man is the product of a live, one-take afternoon session with no overdubs and minimal mixing.
>The Twilight Garden - A World We Pretend CD (Projekt)
The Twilight Garden mixes atmospheric synths and catchy melodies and fuses them with hypnotic drumbeats, lush guitar work, and elegantly powerful vocals.
>Vampire Weekend - Contra 2xCD+LP (XL)
Like the first album, Contra was produced by keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij and is the realization of a whole and unique musical vision that sees the band stretching out and adding new textures, instrumentation, and rhythms into their sound. Primarily recorded in New York with a springtime sojourn to Mexico, Contra feels altogether fresh, joyous, and like nothing else but is immediately recognizable as the sound of Vampire Weekend. Extra disc has the single version of “Cousin's” along with two remixes.
>Various Artists (Dengue Fever) - Presents Electric Cambodia CD/LP (Minky Records)
14 newly remastered 1960s surf garage psychedelic rockers never released outside Cambodia, chosen by the members of Dengue Fever from their collection of rare Cambodian cassettes.
>Various Artists - BYG Deal CD/2xLP (Finders Keepers)
Between 1968 and 1974 the combination of B, Y and G might not have been the surefire code to financial fulfillment but the indelible contribution to experimental pop, free jazz, spiritual prog rock and total space music would continue to send positive vibrations through future generations of progressive pop. Includes rare tracks from Vangelis, Gong, Brigitte Fontaine and many others. 22 tracks.
>Various Artists - Unpiecing The Jigsaw: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground 4xCD (Ozit)
Collects all the tribute tracks originally released on the three legendary Immagi-nary Records tribute albums in the early '90s and combines them with the excellent incisive John Tobler audio interviews with Lou Reed and rare 1980's live tracks of Nico performing Velvet's material. Features Nirvana, Echo & The Bunnymen, Swervedriver, Screaming Trees and more.
>Laura Veirs - July Flame CD/LP (Raven Marching Band)
“For July Flame, Laura Veirs reverts to the simpler mode of her earlier records after the folk-jazz band arrangements of Year Of Meteors and Saltbreakers, the producer Tucker Martine keeping extraneous instrumental detail to a minimum -- just the occasional textural tint of organ, horns or strings -- in order to focus more closely on her fingerstyle guitar technique.” - The Independent
>Ween - The Pod [Reissue] CD (Rounder)
Remastered reissue of Ween’s Scotch Guard inspired debut album.
>Katt Williams - American Hustle CD (WB)
Soundtrack to Katt William’s 2007 film.
>Johnny Winter - Live Bootleg Series Vol. 6 CD (Friday Music)
Latest handpicked collection of super rarities from the legendary blues rocker's personal archives.
>XP8 - Drop The Mask CD (Metropolis)
Italian act composes an airy blend of EBM, electronica, techno, and trance, bringing various visions and talents to life with synthetic vibrancy and danceable beats aimed at the heart of the dancefloor.
DVDs:
>Buena Vista Social Club: Music Makers DVD (Lion’s Gate)
Guitarist/composer Ry Cooder teams up with acclaimed director Wim Wenders to bring to life the Grammy Award-winning album featuring the rediscovered talents of Cuba’s foremost folk musicians. 1998.
Vinyl:
>Kria Brekkan - Uterus Water 7” (Paw Tracks)
“Early this year I was sick for weeks coughing bad air out of my lungs cause of all the smoke from the fire cumulating in the old electricity. The waters of our insides had already dried up in the heat and would not become of much use to bring the flames braking out down. That night outside wind blew unruly. I was staying in an apartment of a friend who was gone and had a song to make for children to go to sleep to. I crawled onto the floor and created “Uterus Water” with the instruments I found around me like shelter. - Kría Brekkan
>Glass Rock - Tall Firs Meet Soft Location LP (Ecstatic Peace)
“This ain't reference rock. This is the half-man/half shark/half alligator sung of in days of yore, with inflatable Sasquatch feet and one popsicle arm. This thing will get bestial with you on the dancefloor, and will hold you tight on a pre-dawn canoe ride; staring at the stars crying at the wonder and terror of it all."
>Etienne Jaumet - Night Music LP (Domino)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
>Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates Remix 12” (Angel)
5-track EP includes remixes by Santigold and Ad Rock & Mike D.
>The Jukebox Ghost - Let Live And Let Ghosts LP (Rebel Group)
2008 album now available on vinyl. Instantly catchy, piano-driven indie pop from Washington, DC.
>Ben Kweller - Sawdust Man b/w Send Me Down The Road 7” (Bloodshot)
Limited edition 7” includes the single "Sawdust Man" from his recent album Changing Horses, and a brand new exclusive B-side "Send Me Down the Road."
>Rural Alberta Advantage - Drain The Blood b/w Eye Of The Tiger 7” (Saddle Creek)
Rural Alberta Advantage cover Survivor’s “Eye Of The Tiger.”
>Spoon - Written In Reverse b/w Mean 7” (Merge)
First single from their forthcoming album Transference (January 19th). Includes the non-album B-side “Mean.” Limited edition pink vinyl.
>Sunburned Hand Of The Man - 2 LP (Ecstatic Peace)
Second album with producer Kieran Hebden (aka Fourtet). Sunburned has taken off the bandana smokestage of their previous collaboration Fire Escape and put onto a sweat-soaked 4AM lysergic dancefloor.
>Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne LP (Rhino)
HQ-180 vinyl reissue of the seminal alt-country group’s 1993 album.
05 JANUARY 2010
>Findlay Brown - Love Will Find You CD (Verve Forecast)
Sophomore release from the former bare-knuckle boxer from Yorkshire, England. Produced by Bernard Butler (Suede), the album features songs that are lush and intimate, influenced as much by Phil Spector and Ennio Morricone as by Roy Orbison or The Beatles.
>Buzzoven - Violence From The Vault CD/LP (Relapse)
Collection of previously unreleased recordings from the sludge metal band.
>The Cranberries - Bualadh Bos: The Cranberries Live CD (Island)
Bualadh Bos (pronounced "boola bahs") means "clap your hands" and this is The Cranberries’ first official live album.
>Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine CD/LP (Motown)
>Jackson 5 - Get It Together CD/LP (Motown)
>Jackson 5 - Goin’ Back To Indiana CD/LP (Motown)
>Jackson 5 - Lookin’ Through The Windows CD/LP (Motown)
>Jackson 5 - Moving Violation CD/LP (Motown)
>Jackson 5 - Skywriter CD/LP (Motown)
Out of print for several years -- newly remastered with restored artwork.
>JPLS - The Depths CD (Minus)
Fusing classic minimal techno with industrial electronica, JPLS has created a brooding, deep-space opera that needs to be experienced in its epic entirety before individual aspects can be extracted to exploit their dancefloor potential.
>Ke$ha - Animal CD (RCA)
Debut album from the American singer/songwriter who achieved fame as featured vocalist on Flo Rida's hit single “Right Round.”
>Kenny Larkin - The Chronicles 2xCD (Rush Hour)
Techno artist Kenny Larkin is the member of a new school of Detroit-based musicians taking the city's famous brand of hard-edged musical futurism into new and innovative areas. This double-disc set collects all of the material from his Chronicles 12” series.
>Katherine McPhee - Unbroken CD (Verve Forecast)
American pop singer who found fame as a runner-up in the fifth series of American Idol in 2006.
>Moebius - Tonspuren [Reissue] CD/LP (Bureau B)
Reissue of the first solo album from Harmonia/Cluster member, originally released in 1983.
>Elvis Presley - Elvis 75 CD (RCA)
Single-disc, 25-track hits collection released to coincide with what would have been his 75th birthday.
>Martin Rev - Stigmata CD (Blast First Petite)
Solo album from avant keyboard half of NYC punk pioneers Suicide. 14 tracks that heave with glitched-out, digitally-distorted, synthetic orchestral sounds.
>Saving Grace - Unbreakable CD (Strike First)
Sophomore album from the hardcore/metal band.
>Serart - Serart [Deluxe Edition] CD>DVD (Rocket Science)
Reissue of the original album from Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) and multi-instrumentalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan. This version features two bonus remix tracks from Bill Laswell and Mindless Self Indulgence vocalist Jimmy Urine.
>Sugaree - The American Dream CD (Leon Russell Records)
Sugaree is the daughter of the legendary Leon Russell and toured with Leon's band for over six years playing percussion and singing background vocals.
>Toxic Holocaust - Evil Never Dies [Reissue] CD (Relapse)
Toxic Holocaust - Hell On Earth [Reissue] CD (Relapse)
Digitally remastered editions of the 2003 debut album and 2005 follow-up from the Portland, OR death metal band.
>Various Artists - Perfumed Garden: 82 Rare Flowerings 1965-‘73 5xCD (Past & Present UK)
This is full-on UK garage rock and psychedelia -- 82 tracks over 5 CDs. Limited 1000 copies.
>Kanye West - VH1 Storytellers CD>DVD (Roc-a-fella)
CD>DVD with over 70 minutes of live performance footage. Includes the hits "Heartless," "Flashing Lights," "Touch The Sky," "Good Life," "Stronger," and more. Plus three never-before-seen performances and special Q&A interview with Kanye.
>Steve Earle - Copperhead Road [Rarities Edition] CD (Geffen)
>Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On [Rarities Edition] CD (Motown)
>Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience [Rarities Edition] CD (A&M)
>Rick James - Street Songs CD [Rarities Edition] CD (Motown)
>Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors [Rarities Edition] CD (Geffen)
>Diana Ross - Diana [Rarities Edition] CD (Motown)
>Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album) [Rarities Edition] CD (Geffen)
>Howlin’ Wolf - London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions [Rarities Edition] CD (Geffen)
Stand-alone single-disc releases that contain all the bonus tracks featured on the second disc of their corresponding Deluxe Editions. Does NOT contain the original album, only the rarities associated with each release.
Vinyl:
>Matias Aquayo - Rollerskate 12” (Kompakt)
It's easy to get drawn into the organic earthiness of Aguayo's musicianship -- his voice is the source of the song, ingeniously layered and contextualized into what seems like an endless mantra.
>Crayon Fields - All The Pleasures Of The World LP (Chapter Music)
Delirious, UK rainy-day melancholy psychedelic indie, with some Blue Oyster Cult, Stone Roses, Belle & Sebastian and Zombies thrown in for good measure, with its loping bass lines, swooning strings and eerie, hypnotic harmonies.
>The Field - Yesterday & Today Remix 12” (Kompakt)
Remixes by Rainbow Arabia, Gold Panda, and Walls.
>Michael Jackson - Ben LP (Motown)
>Michael Jackson - Forever Michael LP (Motown)
>Michael Jackson - Got To Be There LP (Motown)
>Michael Jackson - Music And Me LP (Motown)
Out of print for several years -- newly remastered with restored artwork.
>Jóhann Jóhannsson - & In The Endless Pause There Came Sound Of Bees LP (Type)
An accompaniment to Marc Craste's animated film Varmints, this is a collection of achingly beautiful orchestral work balanced on a bed of Jóhannsson’s patented electronics.
>Joker - City Hopper/Output 1-2 12” (Tectonic)
"City Hopper" once again shows us Joker's unequalled ability to make luminous, catchy melodies with his Timbaland-quality crunked production skills. "Output 1-2" is a more stripped-down affair that steams ahead with mangled synth production lines.
>Spacemen 3 - Perfect Prescription LP (Fire)
>Spacemen 3 - Performance LP (Fire)
>Spacemen 3 - Sound Of Confusion LP (Fire)
HQ-180 vinyl reissues of quintessential space-rock.
22 DECEMBER 09
+Tony Allen - Here Comes The Night Owl CD (Ace UK)
A long overdue and very welcome salute to one of the more colorful characters and most prolific West Coast R&B acts of the 1950s and early '60s. Features Allen's complete Kent and Specialty recordings -- including the all time doo wop classic "Nite Owl" -- as well as the best of his Dig and Ebb sides, some of which are previously unissued.
+Mary J. Blige - Stronger With Each Tear CD (Geffen)
New release from the R&B diva, her ninth studio album overall. Features musical contributions from T.I., Rodney Jenkins, Drake, Darkchild, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett, Polow Da Don, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Stargate and Ne-Yo.
+Eminem - Relapse: Refill 2xCD (Aftermath/Interscope)
Relapse gets an upgrade with a second disc featuring seven new songs.
+Grinder Switch - Redwing CD (Wounded Bird)
Grinder Switch was a Southern rock group from Macon, GA. They released a number of fine albums on various labels, but the only one to chart was 1977's Redwing.
+Keb' Mo' - Live & Mo' CD (Yolabelle)
Comprised of six live performances harvested from pinnacle moments on the road and four new studio recordings.
+Mudvayne - Mudvayne CD/LP (Epic)
New album available in three editions: Regular single CD; Deluxe edition featuring a black light and booklet; and glow in the dark vinyl.
+Various Artists - Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 CD (Big Beat)
25-track collection of Japanese '60s pop.
+The Who - Greatest Hits CD (MCA)
19-track single disc career-spanning compilation.
+Young Money - We Are Young Money CD (Cash Money)
Led by Lil Wayne and fairly fluid in membership, the group includes Drake, Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Mack Maine, Nicki Minaj, Lil Chuckee, and Lil' Twist, among others.
DVDs:
+It Might Get Loud - DVD (Sony Pictures)
Three generations of rock guitarists (Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White) come together on this documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth).
Vinyl:
+Madonna - Celebration 4xLP (WB)
+Nirvana - Live At Reading 2xLP (Geffen)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
15 DECEMBER 09
+Anberlin - New Surrender [Deluxe Edition] CD+DVD (Republic)
Deluxe edition of their 2008 album adds a DVD that documents their Australian tour and performance and the video for “Feel Good Drag.”
+Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind CDEP/LP (Domino)
Five brand new studio tracks that are every bit as lush and beautiful as those found on this year’s stellar Merriweather Post Pavilion.
+Chicane - The Best Of Chicane CD (Ultra)
Includes collaborations with Natasha Bedingfield (”Bruised Water”), Bryan Adams (”Don’t Give Up”), and Jewel (”Spirit”), as well as the worldwide hit ”Saltwater.”
+George Benson - Songs And Stories [Deluxe Edition] CD+DVD (Concord)
Specially priced double-disc set consisting of Songs And Stories on CD mixed in traditional stereo and a bonus DVD containing high definition and surround mixes.
+Elis - Catharsis CD/CD+DVD (Napalm)
Heavy guitar riffs and catchy, yet unexpected compositions unite with detailed vocal melodies in a charming symbiosis. Available in two editions: Regular and Deluxe. Deluxe Edition adds two bonus tracks and an 8-song live DVD.
+Alicia Keys - The Element Of Freedom CD (J-Records)
12 time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys returns with her fourth studio album.
+Julian Lennon And James Scott Cook - Lucy CDEP (Therevolution)
First Julian Lennon recording in almost a decade.
+Mance Lipscomb - Best Of Mance Lipscomb CD (Arhoolie)
Mance was in his own words primarily ''a sharecropper and songster'' who, after a week of hard work in the fields, would supply the music for both blacks and whites at weekend social gatherings in and around his hometown of Navasota, TX.
+Messy Marv & Berner - Blow CD (Smc)
New album includes guest appearances from C-Bo, B-Legit, Yukmouth, Husalah & Fed-X of the Mob Figaz, Killa Tay, J-Stalin, Ampichino and others.
+Shiny Toy Guns - Girls Le Disko CD (Ultra)
An album of their top hits remixed by some of the world's top DJ's.
+Soundtrack - Avatar: Music From The Motion Picture CD (Atlantic)
Features music composed and conducted by Academy Award-winner James Horner (Titanic, A Beautiful Mind, An American Tail).
+Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Ad Explorata (1320) CD
Self-described as post-rock dance music, STS9 mixes standard live rock instrumentation with electronics, favoring group rhythm over individual solos.
+Robin Thicke - Sex Therapy: The Session CD (Interscope)
Fourth album from the Grammy Award-winning R&B/pop singer, songwriter and producer.
+The Vandals - Peace Through Vandalism CDEP/12” (Chi-Com)
Long-overdue reissue for the band’s debut 1982 EP.
+The Vandals - When In Rome Do As The Vandals CD/LP (Chi-Com)
First time in years that this 1984 debut full-length (after their EP Peace Thru Vandalism) has been available.
+Various Artists - Goner Fest 4 CD+DVD (Goner)
Audio/visual chronicle of the 2007 Goner Fest. Music from Jay Reatard, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Mr. Airplane Man, Marked Men, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Gentleman Jesse, and Greg Cartwright.
+Phil Vassar - Traveling Circus CD (Universal South)
Contemporary country singer Phil Vassar made his name as a chart-topping songwriter before landing a record deal and becoming a hit-making artist in his own right.
+Paul Weller - Paul Weller [Reissue] 2xCD (Island/Mercury)
Remastered edition of Weller’s 1992 debut features an extra disc containing 25 bonus tracks, demos, B-sides, mixes, alternative versions and unreleased songs.
+Willowz - Everyone CD (Dim Mak)
Fourth album from Orange County rock quartet -- full of strongly crafted pop hooks, utter guitar fuzz mayhem and beat to death rhythm section.
DVDs:
+Karma To Burn - Live 2009 Reunion Tour DVD (Napalm)
Stoner rock legends Karma To Burn celebrate their rebirth with this brand new DVD. The Reunion Tour, shot at three different locations, takes center stage with the experience further enhanced by the extensive bonus material which includes extra footage of the Reunion Tour, the Dynamo Open Air 1997 show, and much more.
+Robot Chicken - Season 4 2xDVD (Adult Swim)
All 20 episodes from the fourth season including “Help Me, I’m Trapped,” “Love, Maurice,” “We Are A Humble Factory” and “President Hu Forbids It” are included in a two disc set.
+Taking Woodstock - DVD (Universal)
Director Ang Lee’s poignant dramedy tells the true story of Elliot Tiber Demetri Martin, a struggling interior designer who played a pivotal role in the staging of 1969s Woodstock Festival.
Vinyl:
+Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Picket Line - Funtown Comedown LP (Seanote)
Vinyl only pressing. 2009 intimate live recording by Will Oldham and young bluegrass band The Picket Line.
+Eskimo - Let Them Sing 12” (Planet Mu)
San Francisco-based producer whose dubstep and grime influenced music takes a pop sensibility and adds a strange "X" factor.
+Gemmy - Johnny 5 12” (Planet Mu)
Four tracks of bouncy, day-glo dubstep with elements of grime and warm electronics.
+Lisa Gerrard - The Mirror Pool 2xLP (Vinyl 180)
Limited edition HQ-180 reissue with a new gatefold sleeve printed on heavyweight board and newly designed inner bag.
+Green Day - Bullet In A Bible 2xLP (Reprise)
Live album (American Idiot tour) -- now available on HQ-140 vinyl.
+Bert Jansch - L.A. Turnaround LP (Drag City)
+Bert Jansch - Rare Conundrum LP (Drag City)
+Bert Jansch - Santa Barbara Honeymoon LP (Drag City)
Classic albums from the British folk musician -- lovingly repressed on vinyl.
+Vampire Weekend - Cousins b/w California English 7” (XL)
The first single from their forthcoming album Contra (due January 12, 2010).
+Dire Straits - Dire Straits LP (Reprise)
+Nirvana - In Utero LP (Geffen)
+Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York LP (Geffen)
+Iggy Pop - Lust For Life LP (4 Men With Beards)
+Iggy Pop - The Idiot LP (4 Men With Beards)
+TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain 2xLP (Original Recordings Group)
Audiophile HQ-180 vinyl reissues -- now available.
+The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life And Death 2xLP (Triple Crown)
+Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster [Picture Disc] LP (Interscope)
+Madonna - Celebration 4xLP (WB)
Recently released on CD -- these titles are now available on vinyl.
08 DECEMBER 09
+30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War CD/LP (Virgin)
New album from the band fronted by Jered Leto. Produced by Flood (U2, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins) and Steve Lillywhite (The Rolling Stones, U2).
+B.G. - Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood CD (E1 Music)
Features a star-studded lineup including Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Young Jeezy, T.I., Lil Boosie and Trey Songz.
+Chris Brown - Graffiti CD/2xCD (Jive)
New album from the R&B star. Available in two editions: Regular and Deluxe (which adds a second CD containing six additional tracks).
+Jimmy Buffett - Buffett Hotel CD (Mailboat)
Guest artists checking into Buffet Hotel include Sonny Landreth, Jake Shimabukuro, Cedric Burnside, Steve Lightnin' Malcolm and Toumani Diabate.
+Camera Obcura - My Maudlin Career [Holiday Edition] 2xCD (4AD)
The holiday edition of Camera Obscura's 2009 album My Maudlin Career includes a CD single of their non-album track, "The Blizzard."
+Manu Chao - Baionarena 2xCD+DVD (Nacional)
Double live album plus DVD -- recorded in France in 2008. 33 tracks.
+Clipse - Til The Casket Drops CD (Columbia)
New from the Virginia-based hip-hop duo formed by brothers Malice and Pusha T.
+Cluster - Curiousum CD/LP (Bureau B)
Reissue of Cluster’s sixth album, originally released on Sky Records in 1981.
+Robert Crumb - Hot Women: Women Singers From The Torrid Regions Of The World [Reissue] CD (Kein & Aber)
Features obscure recordings of femail singers from around the world, recorded during the ‘20s and ‘30s, from places like Africa, India, Mexico, Spain, Greece, South America, et al.
+Dub Tractor - Sorry CD/LP (City Centre Offices)
Formerly a member of Danish supergroups Future 3 and System together with Thomas Knak (aka Opiate) and Jesper Skaaning (aka Acustic), his previous albums More Or Less Mono and Hideout marked a crossroad for Anders, increasingly focusing more and more on his guitar, bass and vocals. As a result, Sorry is a veritable full-blown, one-piece indie band.
+The Farm Band - The Farm Band [Reissue] CD (Riverman)
Remastered reissue of The Farm Band’s communistic classic from 1972. They fall somewhere between the Grateful Dead and Jethro Tull, performing long, psycho blues suites with good guitar solos, flute and violin.
+Bruce Gilbert - This Way CD (Editions Mego)
Were his pioneering art punk work as the most experimentally inclined member of Wire (Bruce Gilbert's main claim to fame) he would still be an important figure in the avant-pop world. Gilbert's work outside of that group is just as intriguing
+Gucci Mane - The State Vs. Radric Davis CD (Asylum)
The State Vs. Radric Davis comes after a slew of independent releases, mixtapes and features over the past few years. It brings together some of the best production work from Polow Da Don, Drumma Boy, Sean Garrett, Mannie Fresh and others.
+Helen Money - In Tune CD (Table Of The Elements)
After lending her talents to the recordings of Mono, Anthrax, Bob Mould and Broken Social Scene, among others, Alison Chesley presents her explosive solo project, Helen Money. With In Tune she channels an aggressive rock & roll agenda through "classical" instrumentation.
+Hellmouth - Destroy Everything, Worship Nothing CD (Ferret)
Takes cues from bands like Celtic Frost, Black Flag, Venom, Black Sabbath and Disfear.
+King Midas Sound - Waiting For You CD (Hyperdub)
After two singles on Hyperdub, and a release on Soul Jazz, King Midas Sound’s Waiting For You is the debut album from Roger Robinson and Kevin Martin’s new group.
+Yngwie Malmsteen - High Impact CD (Rising Force)
A compilation of Yngwie's most masterful instrumental performances since 1993. Containing one Yngwie vocal track, this collection also includes a rare live performance of “Far Beyond The Sun” and a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”
+Daniel Menche - Kataract CD (Editions Mego)
Limited edition new release by the Portland, OR sound artist comprised of waterfall field recordings captured around the Pacific Northwest.
+Nuearz - Saturation Point CD (Skam)
Nuearz is a solo project. He started composing music about ten years ago, and the main feature of his music is twisted grooves and elements of various transformed music genres that lead listeners to a new sound-space.
+James Pants - Seven Seals CD (Stones Throw)
James Pants is a one-man band whose humorous dance-funk music style is informed by early-'80s R&B/soul and old-school hip-hop as well as whatever thrift-store gear he comes across in his sleepy hometown of Spokane, WA.
+Pixies - Minotaur 5xCD+6xDVD+6xBlu-ray (Artist In Residence)
Available in both Deluxe and Limited editions. Minotaur is curated by legendary graphic designer Vaughan Oliver with photographer Simon Larbalestier. Includes all five Pixies' studio albums (Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, and Trompe le Monde) in the following formats: 24k gold plated CDs; Blu-ray audio mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/192; DVD mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/96. Unreleased Pixies 1991 live performance from Brixton, on both Blu-ray and DVD, mastered for 5.1 surround sound at 24/192 and 24/96, respectively. All discs are housed in a custom designed folio. Also includes a 54-page book. The Limited edition features adds a 96-page book of Oliver's and Larbalestier's extensive work. Also included is a 12" x 19.5" print of the duo's work, and two double-sided fold-out posters measuring 48" x 36." Each copy of the Limited Edition is individually numbered, and hand-signed by every member of the Pixies and Vaughan Oliver. Additionally, at random, 25 of the 3000 Limited Edition sets will include test pressings of the vinyl albums.
+Elvis Presley - Elvis 75: Good Rockin' Tonight 4xCD (RCA)
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the birth of The King, Elvis 75: Good Rockin' Tonight is the definitive retrospective, a remastered Hot 100 of Elvis classics in one beautifully-packaged four-CD boxed set.
+Puddle Of Mudd - Volume 4: Songs In The Key Of Love & Hate CD/2xCD (Geffen)
Fourth album from the multi-platinum alt-rock band. Available in both Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe Edition features bonus CD containing four tracks including acoustic versions.
+Seal - Hits CD/CD+DVD (WB)
Spanning his nearly 20 years on record, from 1990's Seal to 2008's Soul, Hits offers all of his major pop hits and all seven of his Top 20 Adult Contemporary charters plus two new recordings, led by the single “I Am Your Man.”
+Snoop Dogg - Malice N Wonderland CD/LP (Priority)
The rap icon and multi-media superstar returns with his tenth solo studio album. Contributors include The Dream, Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Danja and R. Kelly to name a few.
+Soundtrack - Glee: The Music Volume 2 CD (Sony)
17 more songs from the hit show including "Imagine," "Jump," and "My Life Would Suck Without You."
+Soundtrack - The People Speak CD (Hip-O)
Features exclusive, new live performances from Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, John Legend, P!nk, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and more.
+Sun Ra - Interplanetary Melodies CD/LP (Norton)
+Sun Ra - Rocket Ship Rock CD/LP (Norton)
+Sun Ra - Second Stop Is Jupiter CD/LP (Norton)
A mother lode of unissued early R&B, doo wop, soul and general weirdness featuring Sun Ra and his Arkestra backing a variety of artists.
+Timbaland - Shock Value 2 CD/2xCD/LP (Blackground)
New album features guest appearances from Justin Timberlake, Daughtry, The Fray, Gucci Mane, Nickelback, Drake, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, T-Pain, Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, All American Rejects and Brandy.
+Tricky - Maxinquaye [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD (Island)
Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe double CD edition of the classic 1995 trip-hop masterpiece including a bonus 13 track CD featuring B-sides, outtakes and seven previously unreleased versions including some new mixes.
+Various Artists - Drumpoems Verse 2 CD (Compost)
Second full length for the Swiss Drumpoet Community imprint. Deep techno and house at its best.
+Various Artists (David Waxman) - Ultra Electro 3 CD (Ultra)
Latest installment in the hugely popular series promoting the some world’s best electro mixes.
+Neil Young - Dreaming Man: Live 1992 CD (Reprise)
Live versions of every song from his Harvest Moon release, recorded at different shows during his 1992 tour for that album.
DVDs:
+AC/DC - No Bull - The Director’s Cut DVD (Columbia)
Live concert, shot in a Madrid bullfighting arena. Angus and the boys let it rip with performances of “Back In Black,” “Shot Down In Flames,” “Shoot To Thrill,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Highway To Hell” and many more.
+Beautiful Losers - Beautiful Losers DVD (Oscilloscope)
Beautiful Losers celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip-hop and graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led.
+Creed - Live CD (DC3)
This is the first DVD live recording of Creed, and features all of their hits.
+Various Artists - Pagan Metal: A Documentary DVD (Grimoire)
Documentary about pagan folk metal that has ever been made, and it features the best bands from the genre Korpiklaani, Primordial, Finntroll, Ensiferum, Leaves Eyes, Turisas, and Tyr. Enjoy live performances, learn about the subcultures, and gain insight into the music. The artists give cordial and informative interviews you will feel like you have made new friends. Two hours of metal await you From the twisted mind of Bill Zebub Grimoire of Exalted Deeds magazine, Meta
+Wesley Willis - Wesley Willis’ Joy Rides DVD (MVD)
Documentary on the schizophrenic artist’s life as street-scene sketcher, keyboard preset rocker, and joy/hell rider.
Vinyl:
+Anarchist Republic Of Bzzz - Anarchist Republic Of Bzzz CD (Sub Rosa)
Anarchist Republic Of Bzzz is the exceptional and ephemeral reunion of two cult guitarists, Marc Ribot and Arto Lindsay and two inspired and engaged rappers, Sensational and Mike Ladd.
+Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone 10" (Domino)
1989 Show performed in Santa Barbara, CA and features special guest Oleta Adams. 12 tracks.
+Avi Buffalo - What's In It For? 7" (Sub Pop)
Avi Buffalo is the adopted name of Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, an 18 year-old singer/songwriter and guitarist from Long Beach, CA.
+Bauhaus - This For When Live 1981 2xLP (Vinyl 180)
Remastered and remixed from the original analogue tapes from the bands concert at the Hammersmith Odeon November 9,1981.
+Camera Obscura - The Blizzard b/w Swans 7" (4AD)
On the heels of what has been both an extremely busy and fulfilling year, Camera Obscura release a double A-side holiday 7".
+Darkstar - Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer 12" (Hyperdub)
“Forever keeping listeners on their proverbial toes, the hugely anticipated Darkstar cut “Aidy's Girl Is A Computer” comes backed with a remarkably deep remix from Detroit house prodigy Kyle Hall.” -- Boomkat
+Dinosaur Jr - Pieces b/w Houses 7" (Jagjaguwar)
The second single from Farm includes an exclusive B-side of Dinosaur Jr's cover of “Houses,” originally written and recorded by Elyse in 1968.
+Eleh / Nana April Jun - Ovservations & Momentum LP (Touch)
The Touch label presents the Observations & Momentum split LP as a great opportunity to hear noise minimalist Eleh and Swedish visual/sound artist Christofer Lämgren aka Nana April Jun at their finest.
+Four Tet - Love Cry 12" (Domino)
“Love Cry” is an epic song of propulsive drums and hypnotic melodies that highlights Four Tet's turn towards dance music that 2008’s Ringer EP foreshadowed. Also includes the new non-album B-side “Our Bells.”
+Girl Talk - Night Ripper 2xLP (Illegal Art)
First pressing limited to 3000 copies on HQ-180 vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
+Gus Gus - Thin Ice 12" (Kompakt)
Gus Gus presents the second 12" from their 24/7 full-length, with "Thin Ice" being revisited for dancefloor purposes.
+Harmonia & Eno - ‘76 Remixes 12" (Amazing Sounds)
In the late summer of 1976, Krautrock and electronic music pioneers Harmonia collaborated with Brian Eno to create the seminal Tracks And Traces release. Now, Allez-Allez have commissioned two fresh re-interpretations by modern day innovators Shackleton and Appleblim with Komonazmuk for a tripped-out 21st century dancefloor. Limited edition white vinyl.
+Kraftwerk - Autobahn LP (Caroline)
+Kraftwerk - Man Machine 2xLP (Caroline)
+Kraftwerk - Radioactivity 2xLP (Caroline)
+Kraftwerk - Tour De France 2xLP (Caroline)
+Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express 2xLP (Caroline)
Remastered HQ-180 represses now available.
+Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly LP (Plain)
Reissue of the band’s stellar 1991 debut. Mazzy Star, essentially the duo of David Roback (Rain Parade) and Hope Sandoval, formed in 1989 out of the ashes of Opal, Roback's previous band with former Dream Syndicate member Kendra Smith.
+Mi Ami - Cut Men 12” (Thrill Jockey)
Cut Men is Mi Ami's Thrill Jockey debut and will be followed by a brand new full length in early 2010. The 12'' is limited to 750 copies worldwide and comes in a custom jacket that is silk-screened and fabricated by Crosshair in Chicago.
+Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy 2xLP (Jagjaguwar)
This is the definitive double-disc set which brings together Okkervil River's ground-breaking Black Sheep Boy project in its entirety, including the original album, the seven-song Black Sheep Boy Appendix EP, the song ''The Next Four Months'' (originally released on the ''For Real'' CD single) and other rarities.
+Chuck Ragan - Live From Rock Island: Daytrotter Series 10” (Side One Dummy)
10" version of Chuck Ragan's Daytrotter Session.
+Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook 12" (Kompakt)
"Gobbledigook" is the spectacular opener on Sigur Rós' album Me_ Su_ Í Eyrum Vi_ Spilum Endalaust - and is one of the most hymn-like songs they've written thus far. Fellow Icelanders Stephen Stephenson aka President Bongo (Gus Gus) and Jack Schidt transform the complex, polyrhythmic original into an exceptionally ethereal club track.
+Spacemen 3 - Perfect Prescription LP (Fire)
+Spacemen 3 - Performance LP (Fire)
+Spacemen 3 - Sound Of Confusion LP (Fire)
Remastered HQ-180 vinyl reissues now available. Quintessential space rock courtesy of J Spaceman, Sonic Boom and company.
+Various Artists (Phil Spector) - A Christmas Gift For You LP (Sundazed)
Now available on vinyl!
+Trans Am - What Day Is It Tonight 2xLP+DVD+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
Includes over 70 minutes of professional live recordings spread out on two LPs and a full length DVD all presented in a gatefold LP jacket. The DVD contains 7 edited videos each composed of several different live shows and incidental tour footage. New album due in 2010.
+Tom Waits - Orphans 7xLP (Anti)
Originally released in 2006 on CD, this is the seven disc vinyl version.
+Coalesce - OX EP 12”+MP3 (Relapse)
+Felt - 3: Tribute To Rosie Perez LP (Rhymesayers)
+The Flaming Lips - Embryonic 2xLP+CD (WB)
+Gogol Bordello - Live From Axis Mundi 2xLP+DVD (Side One Dummy)
+Sea Wolf - Leaves In The River LP (Dangerbird)
+Tom Waits - Glitter & Doom 2xLP (Anti)
Recently released on CD -- these titles now available on vinyl.
01 DECEMBER 09
+The Bravery - Stir The Blood CD/LP+CD (Island)
Featurng John Hill (who has previously worked with Santogold and M.I.A.). They supported Green Day on their 21st Century Breakdown Tour in Summer 2009.
+Blakroc - Blakroc CD/LP (Blakroc)
Blakroc is the Black Keys collaborating with A-list rappers (Mos Def, Q-Tip, Jim Jones, RZA, ODB, Ludacris).
+Enya - The Very Best Of CD/CD+DVD (WB)
New compilation spans Enya's entire 20-year career. Available in both single disc and Deluxe edition which adds a DVD of Enya’s music videos.
+Homostupids - Load CD/LP (Load)
A tunnel ride through a reverb soaked youth hall that spreads confusion like manure in the spring soil. Fast, noisy garage rock.
+Impaler - Cryptozoology (Creatures Of God?) CD (Vlad Productions)
Impaler’s first concept CD celebrates creatures from the study of Cryptozoology (Bigfoot, Loch Ness, etc.).
+Allison Iraheta - Just Like You CD (Jive)
Debut album from the American Idol finalist.
+Juvenile - Cocky And Confident CD (Atlantic)
Widely recognized as one of New Orleans finest, Juvenile is a founding member of the Hot Boyz and was a member of the Cash Money army.
+R. Kelly - Untitled CD (Jive)
Ninth album from the R&B superstar.
+Soundtrack - Up In The Air CD (Rhino)
Features Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, CSNY, Elliott Smith and Dan Auerbach, Charles Atlas and more.
+Britney Spears - The Singles Collection [Special Edition] CD+DVD (Sony)
International pressing includes a bonus track on the first disc “I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman” along with a bonus DVD featuring all of her music videos to date, in chronological order
DVDs:
+2 Turntables And A Microphone: The Life And Death Of Jam Master Jay - DVD (Image)
Documents the investigation of the unsolved murder of Jam Master Jay, RUN-DMC's groundbreaking DJ and producer, deftly revealing the history of hip-hop and mainstream rap along the way. Exclusive, candid interviews with 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Russell Simmons, RUN-DMC, LL Cool J, The Game, and more offer insight into Jam Master Jay's life.
+Bill Frisell - Blue Dreams DVD (Image)
Live DVD from the legendary jazz guitarist.
+Vinyl:
+John Mayer - Battle Studies LP (Sony)
Recently released on CD -- now available on vinyl.
+Whip It! - OST 2xLP (Rhino)
Now available on limited edition color vinyl.
24 NOVEMBER 09
+50 Cent - Before I Self-Destruct CD+DVD (Aftermath)
New album featuring production and guest appearances by Dr. Dre and Eminem.
+Oren Ambarchi - Intermission 2000-2008 CD (Touch)
Brings together a range of material from compilations and limited-edition vinyl releases.
+April & May - Best CD (Riverman Music)
Stellar Korean psych/pop masterpiece by the duo best described as the Korean Everly Brothers or Simon And Garfunkel on acid. Amazing harmonies, killer bass lines, string arrangements, spaced out organs, guitar jangle and fuzz, and hippie-fied acoustic psych-folk.
+Beyonce - I Am Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition] CD (Sony)
Reissued with the bonus tracks "Video Phone" featuring Lady Gaga and "Poison."
+Beyonce - I Am...Yours. An Intimate Performance At Wynn Las Vegas 2xCD+DVD (Sony)
Deluxe three-disc edition of the R&B diva's live album featuring a bonus DVD.
+Birdman - Priceless CD/CD+DVD (Cash Money)
New album from the Cash Money co-CEO and mainstream rapper.
+Black Diamond Heavies - Alive As F##k: Live At The Covington Masonic Lodge CD/LP (Alive)
Recorded live on July 24th, 2009 at Dr. Johnny Walker’s (Soledad Brothers/Cut In the Hill Gang) flat in Covington, KY, this is the Black Diamond Heavies absolutely live and kicking out the jams Southern style.
+Blakroc - Blakroc CD/LP (Blakroc)
Blakroc is the Black Keys collaborating with a bunch of badass rappers (Mos Def, Q-Tip, Jim Jones, RZA, ODB, Ludacris). Special "Black Friday" November 27 Street Date!!!
+Bon Jovi - The Circle CD (Mercury)
As its title suggests, The Circle marks a powerful reassertion of Bon Jovi's commitment to the hard-hitting, uplifting rock & roll.
+Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream CD (Columbia)
New album from the Britain’s Got Talent finalist and global YouTube phenomenon.
+Brian Jonestown Massacre - One [Reissue] CDEP/12" (A Records)
Originally released on vinyl in 1997, this six-track EP is now available for the first time on CD and reissued on vinyl.
+Brimstone Howl - Big Deal (What's He Done Lately?) CD/LP (Alive)
Brand new album from Lincoln, NE’s favorite garage sons (the title references a quote from Johnny Ramone about Phil Spector).
+Shirley Caesar - A City Called Heaven CD (Light Records)
Shirley Caesar is an iconic gospel artist who has traveled the world spreading the gospel and breaking down barriers for similar artists.
+Can - Soon Over Babaluna [Reissue] CD (Mute)
Originally released in 1974, Can’s fifth album has Schmidt and Karoli taking over vocal duties after the departure of Kenji Suzuki. While a little less intense than previous material, this displays beautiful, lighter and jazzier rhythms.
+Can - Soundtracks [Reissue] CD (Mute)
Malcolm Mooney passes the baton to Damo Suzuki for Soundtracks, a collection of film music featuring contributions from both vocalists. The dichotomy between the two singers is readily apparent: Suzuki’s odd, strangulated vocals fit far more comfortably into the group’s increasingly intricate and subtle sound, allowing for greater variation than that allowed by Mooney’s stream-of-consciousness discourse.
+Curse Ov Dialect - Crisis Tales CD (Staubgold)
A dizzying, multi-dimensional carnival of social-conscious hip-hop from the Aussie rap duo.
+Ben Davis - Charge It Up CD (Lovitt)
Third solo full-length, packed to the gills with the kind of frenetic, danceable, shoutable, undeniably beyond catchy hard pop that has flowed like a river of hot lava through his entire catalog. Everything's there: Davis' crunchy, fuzzed-out, sun-bright riffage, the unstoppable percussive energy, and the soaring rock melodies.
+Chris Duarte - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, All Things Blue CD (Blues Bureau)
Duarte's first best-of collection, culled from some of the finest moments of released and previously unreleased performances from this highly revered guitar hero.
+Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away: Complete Studio Recordings And More 6xCD (Hip-O Select)
Six-disc box set from the rock & roll legend contains all of his official studio recordings. The 203 tracks range from his earliest recordings to demos with Bob Montgomery; from his earliest recordings with The Crickets and a set of garage recordings to his first studio recordings for Decca in Nashville; from the Coral and Brunswick recordings and hits that made him famous to his heralded apartment tapes.
+John Lee Hooker - Live At Soledad Prison/Never Get Out Of The Blues Alive [Reissue] 2xCD (BGO)
Digitally remastered twofer from the late blues great features a pair of his original albums on one CD: Live At Soledad Prison and Never Get Out Of The Blues Alive, both released in 1972.
+Sir Charles Jones - A Tribute To The Legends CD (Mardi Gras)
Jones pays tribute to the legends of soul music with hits such as "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone."
+Lady Gaga - Fame Monster [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD (Streamline)
Deluxe edition adds a disc featuring eight bonus tracks.
+Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment CD (RCA)
New album from the first runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol.
+Lovvers - Think CDEP (Wichita)
Over the past year this garage revival group have toured with many of the bands of similar style: including Butthole Surfers, No Age, Jay Reatard, Black Lips and many, more.
+Jose Maceda - Ugnayan CD (Tzadik)
The original 1974 recording of a Maceda masterpiece. Recorded as 20 channels broadcast simultaneously on all of Manila's radio stations to the population gathered in public spaces with hand-held transistor radios, Ugnayan was a massive production supported by the Marcos regime intended to meld the values of indigenous Filipino culture with modernist aesthetics.
+Medeski, Martin & Wood - Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set 5xCD+2xLP+DVD (Indirecto)
Includes: Radiolarians I, II and III complete with bonus tracks, a 10-track disc of remixed music, a previously unreleased 70-minute live album, a double vinyl LP set consisting of highlights from the three Radiolarians albums, plus a DVD feature film entitled Fly In A Bottle directed by Billy Martin.
+Megasus - Megasus CD (20 Buck Spin)
Riding forth like thunderbolts cast from the hammer of Thor, the eight hooves of the Megasus burn a trail of ice across the winter sky. Combining elements of heavy metal titans like High On Fire, Slayer, Pentagram, and Karp, Megasus delivers a debut of amazing power and volume with riff after riff of neck breaking metal fury.
+Mercury Program - Chez Viking CD/12” (Lovitt)
Formed in 1997, Mercury Program has re-emerged with a bracing mix of angular guitars, rhythmic bass lines, jazz-influenced drumming, and ethereal vibraphones.
+Evan Miller - Beeswax Ephemera CD (Preservation)
Abstract, experimental-leaning guitar compositions for fans of James Blackshaw, John Fahey and Leo Kottke.
+Moby - Wait For Me [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD+DVD (Mute)
Deluxe three disc edition contains two bonus tracks on the main disc (including the new single “One Time We Lived”), a bonus CD that features an ambient mix of the Wait For Me album plus a DVD that contains live performances, music videos and much more.
+Morbid Angel - Blessed Are The Sick [Reissue] CD (Earache)
Classic 1991 album from one of death metal’s most important bands.
+Necks - Silverwater CD (ReR)
Their first studio CD in three years -- named after an industrial suburb in Sydney famous mainly for its correctional facility -- Silverwater ranges further and wider than the Necks’ former releases, exploring a more sectional structure that counter poses extremes and contrasts, and possesses a greater sense of forward motion than we are accustomed to with this most economical of bands though it still retains the long, hypnotic single-track iterative form for which they have been praised.
+NOFX - Cokie The Clown CDEP (Fat Wreck)
New five-song EP culled from the Coaster sessions.
+Evan Parker - House Of Flowers CD (Tzadik)
Evan Parker is one of the world’s greatest saxophone virtuosos, a revolutionary innovator who has almost single handedly changed the language of the instrument.
+Parties - Cryin’ Shame CDEP (Rainbow Quartz)
Inspired by ‘60s bands like the Who, Kinks, and the Velvet Underground and modern bands inspired by the ‘60s like Teenage Fanclub, the High Dials, and Luna. For fans of the Charlatans, Ride, Spirea X, Outrageous Cherry and the Red Button.
+Les Paul & Friends - How High The Moon: Hits & Rarities From The Wizard Of Waukesha 3xCD (Fantastic Voyage)
New collection by the late guitar legend showcasing his fret board wizardry and groundbreaking studio work. How High The Moon spans 20 years of recordings including his ‘50s hits, lesser-heard rarities, early material plus a few live performances from 1944. Guests include Helen Forrest, Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters and Nat King Cole. 76 tracks.
+Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Live Anthology 4xCD/7xLP (Reprise)
A sprawling set of recordings drawn from thirty years of live performances. The collection brings together material from 1978-2007 culled from hundreds of hours of live concert recordings covering every era of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ tours.
+Jay Reatard - Blood Visions [Reissue] CD (Fat Possum)
Reissue of Jay's first title under the solo "Jay Reatard" moniker, originally released in early 2006.
+Rihanna - Rated R CD (Def Jam)
New (fourth) album from the R&B queen.
+Sajjanu - Pechiku CD (Tzadik)
Performed with an intensity and power that is absolutely staggering, this Tokyo trio of two guitars and drums sounds like a full orchestra and is one of the most exciting young bands in Japan today.
+Jay Sean - All Or Nothing CD (Cash Money)
New album from the globetrotting British singer/songwriter -- on Lil Wayne’s Cash Money label.
+Shakira - She Wolf CD (Epic)
She Wolf is an up-tempo pop album, all about synthesizers and electronic concepts, all mixed with the world sounds we’ve come to expect from Shakira -- sounds from India, the Middle East and her home country of Colombia.
+Sky Larkin - Golden Spike CD (Wichita)
Deftly wonderful Yorkshire, England trio has been busy translating all the goodwill and affection they have garnered since 2007 into a solid uplifting indie rock.
+Sonic Youth - Silver Session [Reissue] CD (SYR)
Inspired by the suicide of devoted fan Jason Knuth (and with all of the profits originally going to San Francisco’s suicide hotline), Silver Sessions’ eight tracks consist entirely of guitar feedback with occasional drum machine.
+Soundtrack - Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire CD (Matriarch)
Original soundtrack to the critically acclaimed 2009 motion picture directed by Lee Daniels and starring Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe. Features “I Can See In Color” by Mary J. Blige.
+Angie Stone - Unexpected CD (Stax)
New album encompasses a diversity of styles and influences Stone has distilled over the years -- rap, R&B, soul, funk and more -- woven together in a narrative that addresses life's ups and downs.
+Sun Ra - Antique Blacks CD (ReR)
Another much sought after and long unavailable title recorded in 1974 with a smallish ensemble consisting (probably) of stalwarts Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Danny David, James Jackson, Akh Tal Ebah, Clifford Jarvis, Artakatune, and a new electric guitarist, Sly.
+Tahiti 80 - Activity Center CD (Human Sounds)
Tahiti 80 is sunshine pop from Rouen France; sumptuous symphonic pop, carried by the falsetto vocals of Xavier Boyer.
+Telepathic Butterflies - Wow & Flutter CD (Rainbow Quartz)
Citing influences spanning several decades -- from The Beatles, The Kinks, Syd Barrett, Velvet Underground to The Buzzcocks, Wire, Modern Lovers, The Replacements and Sloan -- Telepathic Butterflies create pristine pop with psychedelic flourishes as well as crunchy harmonic rock with cleverly textured guitar work.
+Tennessee Bolt Smokers - Vintage All American Dream CD (Madjack)
The Tennessee Bolt Smokers continue in their direction left of the bluegrass center on their new album.
+Townes Van Zandt - In The Beginning [Reissue] CD (Fat Possum)
A collection of ten recordings produced by Jack Clement (Johnny Cash, U2, Waylon Jennings) in 1966. Recorded almost two years before the original release of For Sake Of The Song, this is Townes in his original element and already writing about drifters, losers and gamblers.
+Underworld Vs. The Misterons - Athens CD (!K7)
Totalling 12 tracks, this is Underworld at their very best. Jazz and tech jazz inspired, it sees them fuse their favorite tunes together with their own trademark sound.
+Various Artists - A Very Special Christmas Volume 7 CD (A&M)
Latest installment in the ongoing Special Olympics benefit series features holiday standards performed by Colbie Caillat, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Sean Kingston, Carrie Underwood, Gloriana and others.
+Various Artists - Daptone Gold CD/2xLP+MP3 (Daptone)
A collection of hits and out-of-print obscurities, album favorites and unheard exclusives from the Daptone Records catalogue.
+Various Artists - Ghostly International Presents Moodgadget 2xCD (Ghostly International)
Ghostly affiliate Moodgadget Records exclusively releases music by up-and-coming artists; with the Nocturnal Suite, Moodgadget not only "exposes the diversity in electronic music," it unites dazzlingly talented, like-minded artists working in wildly divergent stylistic fields into a grand, unified whole. Like its predecessor, the Moodgadget-curated Rorschach Suite and Synchronicity Suite, the Nocturnal Suite plays like a lovingly assembled mixture, compiling brief, catchy, electronic-minded pop songs built for obsessive repeat listening. The Nocturnal Suite encompasses dance music, indie rock, synth-pop, experimental instrumentals -- and, yes, electronic music -- but its emotional core is its biggest asset.
+Various Artists - Wrecktrospective 3xCD (Fat Wreck)
The first disc is a sampling of the label’s greatest hits. The second disc contains an array of all unreleased demos and rarities. The third disc is the limited release Fat Club 7” Series in its entirety. Finally, the booklet provides an oral history of sorts, chock full of stories from band members, as well as a timeline of all Fat’s releases.
+Tom Waits - Glitter And Doom Live 2xCD (Anti)
In 2008, Tom Waits launched a sold out national tour, garnering intense critical praise Paste magazine called it the best live show of 2008 and thrilling fans across the country and the world, some in cities where Waits had never played before. Glitter And Doom is the document of those concerts -- 17 performances hand picked by Waits from along the tour. Also includes Tom’s Tales -- a disc of Tom’s mad genius spoken word observations of life, delivered from behind a piano.
+Waumiss - Waumiss CD (Odessa)
Spanning and amalgamating dub, psych, break beat, drone, musique concrete, hip-hop, jangle-pop and sound collage. Includes remixes by Mike Jorgensen (Wilco), Eric Morrison (Home), Ajay Saggar (Bent Mustache) and the ever-amazing PFFR -- experimental recording artists, creators of Wonder Showzen.
DVDs:
+The Black Crowes - Cabin Fever DVD (Silver Arrow)
Cabin Fever was an innovative recording session where Before The Frost... Until The Freeze was recorded over a series of five nights at Levon Helm Studios. The sessions were filmed in front of an intimate live audience and allows the viewer into the recording studio with the band. Songwriting sessions are revealed and lots of never before seen banter and behind-the-scenes footage is shown.
+Sting - A Winter's Night... Live From Durham Cathedral 2xDVD (Deutsche Grammophone)
Places the artist in the unique setting of England’s most famous cathedral. This majestic live performance captures the mood and spirit of the season with a diverse collection of songs, carols
and lullabies spanning the centuries. Includes a disc of rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage.
Vinyl:
+Abrasive Wheels - When The Punks Go Marching In LP (Re-Amp)
Reissue of the 1982 album, originally on the classic UK punk label, Riot City.
+Black Jaspers - Black Jaspers LP (In The Red)
Features King Khan (of The King Khan & BBQ Show, Shrines, etc.) and Jasper Hood (of Moorat Fingers) getting together for an exercise in the lowest-common-denominator, lowest-fidelity punk stupidity imaginable.
+The Blues Project - Projections LP (Sundazed)
The Blues Project was one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 1960. Rising from the vibrant Greenwich Village music scene, the New York quintet created a visionary fusion of electric blues, folk rock, jazz, and psychedelia.
+Les Claypool - Of Whales And Woe LP (Prawnsong)
Les Claypool & The Frog Brigade - Purple Onion LP (Prawnsong)
Now available on vinyl.
+Greg Dulli - Dangerous Highway Vol. 1: A Tribute To The Songs Of Eddie Hinton 7" (Shake It)
Drive By Truckers - Dangerous Highway Vol. 2: A Tribute To The Songs Of Eddie Hinton 7" (Shake It)
The first two volumes in a new series brought to you by Shake-It Records. Vol. 1 features Greg Dulli performing “Cover Me” and “Hard Luck Guy,” while Vol. 2 features Drive-By Truckers covering “Everybody Needs Love” and “Where’s Eddie.”
+Fever Tree - Fever Tree LP (Sundazed)
Fever Tree’s lone hit single, the haunting 1968 tribal anthem ”San Franciso Girls (Return Of The Native),” perfectly the spirit of the psychedelic era. The song is also the centerpiece of Fever Tree’s self titled first album, one of the period’s most distinctive debut efforts. As the album demonstrates, the quintet was adept at incorporating jazz and classical influences, ambitious song structure and resourceful production touches.
+Fin Fang Foom - Monomyth 12” (Lovitt)
Legions of bands play slow-burning post-rock that embraces the human struggle, but few can do so from such an authoritative, authentic position.
+Gray Matter - Take It Back + 4 Songs LP (Dischord)
Originally released in September 1986. Take It Back was recorded in the immediate afterglow of Revolution Summer and features that era's raw melodic energy contained only by Gray Matter's impeccable song craft. This edition has been expanded into a full-length LP with the addition of the four songs from the band's 1991 double 7”.
+Roscoe Holcomb - The High Lonesome Ground LP (Folkways)
Originally released in 1965, this is Holcomb’s first full album for Folkways. The man for whom the term The High Lonesome Sound was coined certainly shows why here. This is Appalachian folk music both beautiful and harsh, harrowing and tender. Essential recordings from this Kentucky native lovingly reissued in a perfect replica of the original Folkways jacket and including a reproduction of the original information booklet.
+Loney Dear - Citadel Band LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Limited edition of 1000. Never before released on vinyl.
+Primus - Frizzle Fry LP (Prawn Song)
Classic Primus -- now available on vinyl.
+Skinny Puppy - Last Rights 2xLP (Nettwerk)
HQ-180 45 RPM double vinyl issue of their best-selling album.
+Mark Sultan - I Am The End 7” (In The Red)
Two brand new songs from Sultan (aka BBQ) that draw liberally from R&B, doo wop, psychedelia, punk, and soul.
+Tycho - Coastal Break 12” (Ghostly International)
A sweet slice of dream-beat that glides over the ocean surface like a high-speed waverider. Coastal Brake's vintage synthesizers set the pointillistic scene, blipping and popping around a near-Balearic rhythm like melancholy drops in a river, rising and falling and building to a shimmering climax.
+Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne LP (Rhino)
Seminal alt-country group’s 1993 album -- now available on vinyl.
+White Fang - Whatever LP+MP3 (Marriage)
On Whatever White Fang reveals itself to be something more than just stage dives, broken noses and noise complaints. Somewhere in their haze of tie-dyed public annihilation, are genuine displays of compassion and sympathy towards the crumbling world that is underground youth music.
+Baroness - Blue Record 2xLP+MP3 (Relapse)
+Belle Orchestre - As Seen Through Windows 2xLP (Arts & Crafts)
+Coalesce - Ox EP 12" (Relapse)
+Bob Dylan - Christmas In The Heart LP (Columbia)
+Gov't Mule - By A Thread 2xLP (Evil Teen)
+Matt & Kim - Matt & Kim LP (IHeartComix)
+Meanderthals - Desire Lines LP (Smalltown Supersound)
+Paramore - Brand New Eyes LP (Fueled By Ramen)
+Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer Of Fear LP (Saddle Creek)
+Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Xenophanes LP (Rodriguez Lopez)
+Tegan & Sara - Sainthood LP+CD (Sire)
+Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures 2xLP (DGC)
Recently released on CD -- these titles are now available on vinyl.
17 NOVEMBER 09
+Agnostic Front - Victim In Pain [Reissue] CD (Bridge Nine)
Digitally remastered and expanded 25th Anniversary edition of the hardcore/punk band's 1984 album featuring their United Blood EP added as bonus tracks.
+All Smiles - Oh For the Getting And Not Letting Go CD/LP (Small Aisles)
All Smiles is Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy, Modest Mouse). Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go is thick with bright, smart chord progressions that undercut with damning lyrics, all sung with gently assertive aplomb.
+Anberlin - Blueprints For City Friendships: The Anberlin Anthology 3xCD (Tooth & Nail)
Triple-disc release features 33 songs including all the songs from their three albums: Blueprints For The Black Market (2003), Never Take Friendship Personal (2005) and Cities (2007).
+Basshunter - Bass Generation 2xCD (Ultra)
This special version of Bass Generation includes exclusive content and new remixes of his most popular songs.
+Justin Bieber - My World CD (Island)
Debut from the young multi-talented singer, musician and Usher's teen protégé.
+The Blood Brothers - Burn Piano Island Burn [Reissue] CD+DVD (Epitaph)
+The Blood Brothers - Crimes [Reissue] 2xCD (Epitaph)
+The Blood Brothers - March On Electric Children [Reissue] CD (Epitaph)
+The Blood Brothers - Young Machetes [Reissue] 2xCD (Epitaph)
American post-hardcore band formed in the suburbs of Seattle in 1997. The quintet released five albums in 10 years, officially breaking up in 2007 and spawning the bands Jaguar Love and Past Lives. Now Epitaph reissues these four seminal albums offered in radically enhanced versions with bonus studio and live tracks and videos.
+Murali Coryell - Sugar Lips CD (Murali's Music)
The son of jazz guitar legend Larry Coryell and author/actress Julie Coryell and grandson of TV, film and stage actress Carol Bruce, Murali is a natural born entertainer. Murali is blessed with a voice that has been called soothing and soulful and has a guitar style to match.
+Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club [Reissue] 2xCD+DVD (A&M)
Along with the original 1993 album, the package adds a second CD containing B-sides, rarities and out-takes, as well as a bonus DVD featuring the album's videos.
+The Crucified - The Pillars Of Humanity [Reissue] CD (Tooth & Nail)
Long out of print, The Pillars Of Humanity has been remixed, remastered, and repackaged. Now available for the first time since it's original release in 1992.
+Dark Tranquillity - Where Death Is Most Alive 2xCD (Century Media)
Double-disc live release from the Swedish death/metal band, released to coincide with and celebrate their 20th Anniversary.
+Face Value - Rode Hard, Put Away Wet CD+DVD (Smog Veil)
Just about every great Cleveland hardcore band from 1988 onward revolved around Tony Erba or Dwid. Prior to stints in H-100's and 9 Shocks Terror, Erba delivered the goods with Face Value. This career spanning retrospective contains 26 songs plus a DVD of live performances, photos and lots of other goodies.
+Fall Out Boy - Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits CD+DVD (Island)
18-track best-of contains unreleased rarities and includes a DVD of 14 videos with exclusive band commentary.
+The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour [Reissue] 2xCD (Sanctuary)
Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe double-disc edition of the post-punk band's 1982 album including a second disc of bonus tracks including Peel Sessions, non-album singles and live recordings.
+Luc Ferrari - Les Arythmiques CD (Blue Chopsticks)
One of the final works created by electro/acoustic composer Ferrari. A starting point for the piece was the challenge to represent in sound the jolt of electricity that had been sent across his heart to treat his arrhythmia.
+Tim Finn - Anthology: North, South, East, West 2xCD (EMI UK)
Anthology from the Australian singer/songwriter, formerly of Split Enz and, for a brief time, Crowded House.
+Forever The Sickest Kids - Weekend: Friday CD (Motown)
The first of a three-album “weekend” trilogy.
+David Grubbs - Hybrid Song Box 4 CD (Blue Chopstics)
David Grubbs's 26-minute soundtrack to Angela Bulloch's Hybrid Song Box. Grubbs brings his thick, solid-body electric guitar tone to the most relaxed of tempos, the most spacious of handlings.
+Hall & Oates - Private Eyes: Best Of 2xCD (Camden)
Import-only best-of collection from the pop/soul duo.
+Janet Jackson - Number Ones 2xCD (A&M)
33 global number ones -- features the new single “Make Me.”
+Keane - Hopes And Fears [Reissue] 2xCD (Interscope)
Deluxe edition features unreleased and rare material including early demos, B-sides and more.
+Tim Krekel & The Sluggers - Out Of The Corner CD (Appaloosa)
Out Of The Corner shows the different faces of a performer and a great rock songwriter. This album is the culmination of playing more than ten years with the