New Releases for September 14, 2018
CDs + Vinyl:
>Aphex Twin – Collapse CDEP/12”+MP3 (Warp)
Mythical electronic producer Richard D James aka Aphex Twin returns with the new 4-track EP Collapse which follows-up his 2016 Cheetah EP and 2014 full-length Syro. The cryptic release is introduced by the pummeling lead cut, “T69 Collapse” whose mind-bending video premiere was pulled from Adult Swim at the last minute for failing the Harding epilepsy test.
>Asleep At The Wheel – New Routes CD/LP (Bismeaux)
New Routes serves as Asleep At The Wheel’s first new material in over a decade, a new chapter in the group's forty-eight-year history with a fresh group of musicians and nimble musical palette. The eleven-track collection of both new and familiar country, jazz, jump blues, rockabilly, Western swing and folk, offers a blend of originals, vibrant covers, superior musicianship, and a guest vocal appearance by Seth and Scott Avett of The Avett Brothers. New Routes travels down myriad musical byways from the sly “viper” jazz groove of opener, “Jack, I’m Mellow” to the languid original ballad, “Call It A Day Tonight”; the Cajun romp of “Pass The Bottle Around” to the Americana-tinged acoustic cover of Guy Clark’s “Dublin Blues”; and the pedal-to-the-metal covers of Paolo Nutini’s “Pencil Full Of Lead” and Moon Mullican’s “Seven Nights To Rock”.
>Tony Bennett & Diana Krall – Love Is Here To Stay CD/LP (Verve)
Tony Bennett and Diana Krall celebrate their shared love of the music of George and Ira Gershwin on their new collaborative album, Love Is Here To Stay. Bennett, who just turned 92, has been friends with Krall for over 20 years. The two toured together in 2000 and recorded duets for two of Bennett’s albums (Duets and Playin’ With My Friends), but this marks their first full album project together. Love Is Here To Stay also marks the 120th Anniversary of George Gershwin's birthday which takes place on September 26, 2018. The album was recorded with the Grammy award winning Bill Charlap Trio and the stunning result is a subtle, sophisticated and beautifully rendered love letter to The Gershwins’ music and their status as one of the premiere songwriters of the American popular standard. It is a masterclass in vocal delivery and phrasing and the command that Bennett and Krall display of the material in both their duets and solo tracks makes it appear effortless, belying the honed skill of the vocalists.
>Black Belt Eagle Scout – Mother Of My Children CD/LP (Saddle Creek)
Katherine Paul is Black Belt Eagle Scout, and Mother Of My Children is her debut album. Recorded in the middle of winter near her hometown in Northwest Washington, Paul’s connection to the landscape's eerie beauty are palpable throughout as the album traces the full spectrum of confronting buried feelings and the loss of what life was supposed to look like. Heavy and heartbroken from the loss of her mentor and the breakdown of a relationship, Paul found respite in the creation of these songs that “are about grief and love for people, but also about being a native person in what is the United States today.” On Mother Of My Children, the songs weave together to capture both the enduring and fleeting experiences of loss, frustration, and dreaming. The structures are traditional, but the lyrics don't adhere to any format other than what feels right in the moment. It begins with lead single “Soft Stud”’ which Paul describes as her “queer anthem” and is followed by “Indians Never Die”, a call out to colonizers and those who don't respect the Earth.
>Blitzen Trapper – Furr [Reissue/2008] CD/2xLP+MP3/Cassette (Sub Pop)
Portland, OR-based experimental country/folk rock band Blitzen Trapper offers up a deluxe edition of their breakthrough 2008 album Furr. For this expanded release, the band has compiled over two LPs worth of material: the original album and 12 rare and previously unreleased tunes. The added songs are from the same recordings that become Furr, with the exception of the “Live At KCRW” tracks, which were recorded during the Furr tour. The songs “War Is Placebo”, “Booksmart Baby”, and “Maybe Baby” appeared as limited-edition singles in 2009 and 2011. Around three albums’ worth of material was recorded during the sessions for Furr, and it’s a selection of those that comprise the remaining bonus material for this anniversary edition of the record.
>Cedric Burnside – Benton County Relic CD/LP (Single Lock)
Cedric Burnside (grandson of R.L. Burnside) was literally born to the blues, more specifically, the “rhythmically unorthodox” hill country variant which emerged from Mississippi where he grew up surrounded (and influenced) by Junior Kimbrough, Jessie May Hemphill and Otha Turner, as well as delta musicians T-Model Ford and Paul “Wine” Jones. Grammy-nominated in 2015 for Best Blues Album for the Cedric Burnside Project’s Descendants Of Hill Country, as well as the recipient of the Blues Music Awards honor as Drummer of the Year for four consecutive years, Cedric’s latest album offers a showcase for his electric and acoustic guitar, recording 26 tracks in just two days with drummer/slide guitarist Brian Jay in the latter's Brooklyn home studio in a rush of creativity.
>Dilly Dally – Heaven CD/LP+MP3 (Partisan)
Heaven highlights Dilly Dally’s rough edges in all their ragged glory, drawing every potent ounce of energy from the foursome’s swampy tones, raspy vocals, and volatile rhythm section. While the music is undeniably ferocious, there’s uplift woven into the fabric of every track. The album opens with the dreamy “I Feel Free”, which begins as a floating, untethered soundscape before transforming into a soaring anthem for a world that's ready to finally turn the page on all the darkness and disillusion the last few years have wrought. The inexorable “Believe” insists on self-confidence, while the driving “Sober Motel” celebrates the lucidity a clear mind, and the lilting “Sorry Ur Mad” makes a case for releasing yourself from the prisons of anger and resentment. Heaven carves out its own atheistic religion to get through the day, a faith that validates our pain as real but responds with a beaming light of hope. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Alejandro Escovedo with Don Antonio – The Crossing CD/2xLP+MP3 (Yep Roc)
Alejandro Escovedo’s scorching and cinematic The Crossing follows the story of two young immigrants, one from Mexico and one from Italy, as they come to the US to pursue the American dream and search out their punk rock idols. He co-wrote and performed it with Italian band Don Antonio from Mogdilana led by guitarist and composer Antonio Gramentieri who has a rich musical history of his own in Italy with his cult band Sacri Cuori. The Crossing also features a host of guest musicians, including The Stooges’ James Williamson on “Teenage Luggage” and Wayne Kramer from the MC5 on “Sonica USA” (both bands are also name checked in the album’s lyrics). “Waiting For Me” features Peter Perrett and John Perry from The Only Ones, recording together for the first time since 1980. Joe Ely appears on his own track, “Silver City”. “Rio Navidad”, a spoken word song about a Texas ranger, was written by novelist and Richmond Fontaine/The Delines’ bandleader Willy Vlautin and read by his bandmate Freddy Trujillo.
>Fit For A King – Dark Skies CD (Solid State)
Christian metalcore band Fit For A King use the tools of heavy music and melodic hooks to honestly explore the dark side of the human experience, ultimately wrenching timeless hope from the jaws of anxiety, depression, and seemingly certain despair. Like trailblazing metalcore giants Underoath and As I Lay Dying before them, they skillfully mine the varying extremes of heavy music. “Dark Skies is far from happy. It’s about personal struggles,” explains lyricist and singer Ryan Kirby. “It touches on many subjects relevant to all of our daily lives.” Fit For A King’s music and message is a battle cry against the darkness. They stand in defiance of the mounting pressure of modern life, not through dismissiveness or easy answers, but with earnest struggle. [Vinyl edition due October 26.]
>The Goon Sax – We’re Not Talking CD/LP+MP3 (Wichita Recordings)
Delivering brilliantly human and brutally honest vignettes of adolescent angst, The Goon Sax brim with personality, charm and heart-wrenching honesty. We’re Not Talking is a record made by restless young artists, defying expectations as if hardly noticing, and its complexity makes it even more of a marvel. Strings, horns, even castanets sneak their way onto the album – this isn't glossy throwaway pop. Sounds stick out at surprising angles (on the frenetic “She Knows”), cowbells become lead instruments (in stunning album opener “Make Time For Love”), brief home-recorded fragments appear unexpectedly, and “Losing Myself” is like the Young Marble Giants go hip-hop.
>Knife Knights – 1 Time Mirage CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Knife Knights was born of the love of mystery. From the start of Shabazz Palaces – the groundbreaking project launched in 2009 by former-Digable Planets leader Ishmael Butler – confidentiality seemed essential: Butler wanted Shabazz Palaces to stand on its own strength, not his outsized reputation, so he adopted a nom de plume for himself. As the project’s network expanded, though, he needed new monikers for his partnerships. Knife Knights is the name he gave to his work with Seattle engineer, producer, songwriter, and film composer Erik Blood, a vital force in the Shabazz Palaces universe. Now, after more than a decade of collaboration and the development of a rich friendship, Butler and Blood have made a proper full-length record together. 1 Time Mirage is an eleven-track odyssey that finds the pair and a cast of their friends weaving together a singular world of soul and shoegaze, hip-hop and lush noise, bass and bedlam.
>Low – Double Negative CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
This year Low turns 25. Since 1993, Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker – the married couple whose heaven-and-earth harmonies have always held the band's center – have pioneered a subgenre, shrugged off its strictures, recorded a Christmas classic, become a magnetic onstage force, and emerged as one of music’s most steadfast and vital vehicles for pulling light from our darkest emotional recesses. But Low will not commemorate its first quarter-century with mawkish nostalgia or safe runs through songbook favorites. Instead, in faithfully defiant fashion, Low release their most brazen, abrasive (and, paradoxically, most empowering) album ever: Double Negative, an unflinching 11-song quest through snarling static and shattering beats that somehow culminates in the brightest pop song of Low's career.
>Sandro Perri – In Another Life CD/LP+MP3 (Constellation)
Sandro Perri returns with his first new solo effort since 2011’s acclaimed Impossible Spaces. It’s what Perri describes as “an experiment in ‘infinite' songwriting.” The title cut is a 24-minute pop mantra for sequenced synth, piano, guitar and voice, progressing sideways rather than forward. A relaxed three-chord vamp runs the length of Side One, peppered with Sandro’s languid, lilting vocal and adorned with continually developing musical details – massaging the listener with the joys of repetition while defying stasis and monotony. Like the longer-form work of fellow-travelers Bill Callahan, Destroyer or Arthur Russell, Perri extends the notion of the meditative minimalist pop song to its literal maximum, flouting ‘commercial' concerns in our streamingly short-attention-span era – and perhaps implicitly calling for a politics of slow consumption?
>Pyrexia – Unholy Requiem CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Long standing New York death metal legends Pyrexia return with their new album, Unholy Requiem. The LP, which was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Subsonic Audio by guitarist Chris Basile, shows the band revisiting their filthy, pulverizing, classic sound. Basile said of the album, “This album is definitely the band returning to its roots. It’s dirty. It’s raw. It’s punishing. It’s us. It’s a hungry album and we fed it a strict diet of pain, sweat, and blast beats.” However, these nine slabs of blistering, pulverizing menace also find the band pushing themselves forward, determined to continue raising the bar for extreme music. Unholy Requiem, with all of its pummeling groove and signature riff laden violence is nothing less than pure sonic vitriol.
>Jorge Santana – Love The Way: The Solo ‘70s Recordings CD (Omnivore)
Latin rock pioneer Jorge Santana’s musical journey began right after high school when he joined the popular San Francisco nine-piece, horn-driven band, the Malibus. The Malibus added the 17-year-old guitarist and morphed into Malo by 1971. Their self-titled debut album was issued in 1972, yielding the Top Twenty hit, “Sauvecito”. In 1978, the first Jorge Santana solo album emerged as a self-titled affair with most of the songs co-written with Malo-alum, Richard Bean who also handled lead vocal duties. The song “Love The Way” was the breakout single, and the album made it onto the Black Album charts. The following year the Allen Toussaint-produced, It’s All About Love was released and featured songs mostly from the pen of either Toussaint or Santana. Now for the first time, the two Jorge Santana albums are combined on a single disc, remastered, with liners notes by Bill Kopp featuring new interviews with both Jorge Santana and Richard Bean about these post-Malo solo efforts.
>Shim – Shim CD (BFD)
Debut solo album from former Sick Puppies singer Shimon “Shim” Moore. “When you have a bankable band and mass popularity via hit songs like the band Sick Puppies has had in their career, it’s hard to step aside and start over. That is exactly what Shimon “SHIM” Moore did when he left that band in 2014. But his story was just beginning, as he has plotted a return. Now he is back in the spotlight as a bandleader and a true solo artist in every sense. He released the incredible, rocking new song ‘Hallelujah’ this past spring, with its hilarious accompanying music video. The new song definitely reminded people that Shim is an artist to watch with a lot more to say, armed with a D.I.Y. spirit harkening back to his early days in bands.” – Ghost Cult
>Slothrust – The Pact CD/LP (Dangerbird)
Slothrust is principal songwriter, guitar player and unrepentant aesthete Leah Wellbaum, with drummer Will Gorin and bassist Kyle Bann. On their fourth full-length album The Pact, Slothrust constructs a luscious, ethereal cosmos perforated with wormy portals and magic wardrobes, demonstrating more clearly than ever the band's deft shaping of contrasting sonic elements to forge a muscular sound that's uniquely their own. Bizarre and mundane, tender and confident. The awkward duality of the forever outsider, rightly reclaimed as power. Produced and engineered by Billy Bush in Los Angeles, The Pact is a confident journey across 12 songs that oscillate between a quietly reflective tenderness and a slick, sleek confidence; balancing playful innocence with ballsy swagger. Bush brought a rugged-lush sensibility to the proceedings, assuredly guiding the band into new territory.
>Richard Thompson – 13 Rivers CD/2xLP+MP3 (New West)
Richard Thompson's new album is his first self-produced record in over a decade. It’s a minimal and spacious recording which, according to Thompson, is a projection of current events in his life.
“This has been an intense year for myself and my family, getting older doesn't mean that life gets easier! There are surprises around every bend. I think this reflects in the immediacy of the stories, and the passion in the songs. Sometimes I am speaking directly about events, at other times songs are an imaginative spin on what life throws at you. The music is just a mirror to life, but we try to polish that mirror as brightly as possible.” 13 Rivers spans thirteen tracks. It is an album as much about growth as it is about reflection. Says Thompson, “I don't know how the creative process works - I suppose it is some kind of bizarre parallel existence to my own life. I often look at a finished song and wonder what the hell is going on inside me. We sequenced the weird stuff at the front of the record, and the tracks to grind your soul into submission at the back.” [Limited black and cream colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty CD/LP (Capitol Nashville)
Seven-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood follows-up 2015’s Storyteller, her fifth consecutive platinum album, with her Capitol Records Nashville debut Cry Pretty. The collection is introduced by the moving title track which the singer says, “refers to when emotions take over and you just can't hold them back. It really speaks to a lot of things that have happened in the past year and I hope when you hear it, you can relate those feelings to those times in your life. It’s emotional. It's real. And it rocks!” In addition to co-writing the single with Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose (aka The Love Junkies), Carrie co-produced Cry Pretty with fellow writer/producer David Garcia. Underwood adds, “At this point in my career, I feel stronger and more creative than ever. I think you can hear that in this new album. It’s emotional, it’s soulful, it’s real, and we also have some fun on there too. I hope everyone loves it as much as I have loved making it.” [Limited pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Active Bird Community – Amends CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Barsuk)
New York indie rock quartet Active Bird Community rose from their scrappy suburban teenage garage band roots to become a successful national touring act and Brooklyn scene fixture with a '90s-influenced slacker-garage-grunge-pop sound and a handful of well-crafted records to their credit. "I think in the simplest of terms, Amends is a record about forgiveness," says Tom D'Agustino, one of the singers and primary songwriters of Brooklyn-based band, Active Bird Community. "Forgiving your parents for splitting up, forgiving your friends for not always understanding you, learning to forgive yourself." A contemplation on loss and forgiveness, the band's debut for Barsuk volleys between the perspectives of D'Agustino and co-songwriter/lead guitarist Andrew Wolfson. The 11 tracks deal with universal themes including the tension of family, loss, and learning to move on without resentment ("Amends," "Lighthouse"), breakups ("Unwind With Me"), anxieties ("Downstairs"), and hope for the future ("Silver Screen").
>Angel – The Casablanca Years 7xCD (Mercury)
This set is the first to bring all hard rock/prog rock/glam band’s Casablanca albums together in one set complete with a disc of rare edits and alternate versions. Angel expert Dave Reynolds has supplied a new set of sleeve notes giving a great insight into the history of the band in a 28-booklet loaded with rare photos and memorabilia.
>Archgoat – The Luciferian Crown CD/LP (Debemur Morti Prod.)
With grim reliability, Archgoat discharge yet more pustulant diabolic foulness into a world increasing molded in their image. The Luciferian Crown is a frighteningly-focused vision of hellish corruption, unsentimental, morally abhorrent and steeped in a violent horror all too real. Contemporaneous with the uncanny classics of Finnish death and black metal – Archgoat share the same penchant for mind-altering atmospherics, blurring the mystical song-craft of first wave black metal with guttural punk, primitive thrash, the sonorous barbarism of vintage death metal and grindcore that reeks of putrefaction.
>Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band – The Serpent’s Mouth CD/LP (Big Crown)
Named after the eight-mile strait between the island of Trinidad and the coast of Venezuela, The Serpent's Mouth is a journey through both originals and covers, combining classic elements that wide-eared music fans already know, and mashing them up in new and unique ways. “It seems like a new era for steel drum music is upon us, and Bacao is firmly leading the way into the hearts of music fans around the world.”
>The Band Of Heathens – A Message From The People Revisited CD (Bosh)
Americana stalwarts The Band Of Heathens recently went into their hometown studio in Austin, TX and recorded their own version of the classic Ray Charles album A Message From The People. In a time where the downtrodden need a voice again, the Heathens have delivered the message paying homage to one of the most important voices in American song history. [Vinyl edition due October 12.]
>Blind Guardian – Battalions Of Fear [Reissue/1988] CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Blind Guardian – Follow The Blind [Reissue/1989] CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Blind Guardian – Tales From The Twilight World [Reissue/1990] CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Blind Guardian – Somewhere Far Beyond [Reissue/1992] CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
With a steady evolution from their early days as a speed metal band to their current, renowned musical alchemy of glory, drama, and grandiosity, Germany's Blind Guardian have long since made their mark as the world's definitive melodic/progressive rock band. Their first four albums have been remastered and are back in-print on CD and on limited colored vinyl.
>Bob Moses – Battle Lines CD/2xLP+MP3 (Domino)
Battle Lines follows Grammy-winning duo Bob Moses' acclaimed debut album, Days Gone By, featuring their worldwide hit "Tearing Me Up". The Canadian duo, who met in Vancouver, BC but now live in NYC, have seen their profile steadily rise, finding acclaim for their smoky, R&B-infused, deep house sounds. The band recorded the new album in Los Angeles, after writing and testing out new material on the road. Inspired by their time playing raves and rock clubs all over the globe since the release of Days Gone By, Battle Lines takes a harder look at the world in which they find themselves.
>Bosse-de-Nage – Further Still CD (The Flenser)
Fifth album from the San Francisco-based post-black metal act. [Vinyl edition due October 12.]
>Dennis Brown – King Jammy Presents: Dennis Brown Tracks Of Life CD/LP (VP)
A collection of remixed and remastered Dennis Brown hits from the Jammys catalogue of reggae classics, featuring an A-list selection of vocalists including Damian ‘Jr. Gong' Marley, Protoje, Dre Island, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, and Agent Sasco.
>The Chills – Snow Bound CD/LP (Fire)
The latest postcard from The Chills' epic journey is an album about "consolidation, re-grouping, acceptance and mortality," claims chief songwriter Martin Phillipps. "Hopefully a kind of Carole King Tapestry for ageing punks." On Snow Bound lost heroes are lamented, relationships are re-evaluated, atonement is sought, mortality is mulled over and fake news is undercut. It's serious stuff, the thoughts of a dysfunctional 50-something wrestling with maturity and discovering that their post-punk DIY beliefs still have a real voice that resonates between the fans of their early years and which can now pass down to the next generation.
>Brandon Coleman – Resistance CD/2xLP+MP3 (Brainfeeder)
Resistance is a 2018 funk odyssey by keyboard maestro, vocalist, composer, producer, arranger and astral traveler Brandon Coleman. A regular fixture in the Kamasi Washington band, wylin' out on the keys or wielding his keytar, he is introduced onstage at gigs as "Professor Boogie" by his longtime friend and collaborator. Resistance represents a new chapter in the funk dynasty that spans George Clinton / Parliament Funkadelic and Zapp through to Dr. Dre, DJ Quik and Dam Funk as the Los Angeles resident salutes his musical heroes – Herbie Hancock, Peter Frampton, Roger Troutman – and honors their ethos of freedom and experimentation in his search for funk's future.
>Conan – Existential Void Guardian CD/2xLP (Napalm)
If troglodytes could have gotten their paws on a Fuzzthrone or other fuzz pedals...they would have probably bashed each other's skulls in. Conan on the other hand use these beautiful tools to wrench the maximum out of their legendary caveman battle doom
>The Count Basie Orchestra – All About That Basie CD (Concord)
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra celebrates their 80th anniversary as the premiere big band in jazz with a collection of classic material a twist on a few modern hits (Adele, Leonard Cohen, Stevie Wonder, and others). Special guests include: Stevie Wonder, Carmen Bradford, Kurt Elling, Take 6, Jamie Davis, Jon Faddis, Wycliffe Gordon, Joey DeFrancesco, Eric Reed, Rickey Woodard, and Gregg Field.
>Cold War Kids – Cold War Kids CD (Downtown)
Beloved blues drenched Long Beach, California indie rockers Cold War Kids offer up an eponymous 14-track compilation of the 'Best Of' their Downtown Records years which saw them release the five stellar albums Robbers & Cowards (2006), Loyalty To Loyalty (2008), Mine Is Yours (2011), Dear Miss Lonelyhearts (2013) and Hold My Home (2014). Cold War Kids collects the prime catalog cuts "Louder Than Ever", "First", "Miracle Mile,", "All This Could Be Yours", "I've Seen Enough", "Hospital Beds" and "Royal Blue".
>Crippled Black Phoenix – Great Escape CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
The follow-up to 2016's towering full-length Bronze, Great Escape sees the international collective blend passion and purpose with their dark and dreamy post-rock in an altogether different way. Their beauty is deceptive; the vast, sweeping songs weave sophistication and grandeur with dire warnings about a world spinning out of control.
>Crossfaith – Ex_Machina CD (UNFD)
Fifth full-length album from Crossfaith the Osaka, Japan-based heavy metal band [Vinyl edition due October 19.]
>Deicide – Overtures Of Blasphemy CD/LP (Century Media)
The godfathers of US death metal return with their twelfth studio album. [180gm bloodshot translucent vinyl pressing also available.]
>Sarah Davachi – Gave In Rest CD/LP (Ba Da Bing)
By infusing her compositional style within a predilection for medieval and Renaissance music, Davachi unearths a new realm of musical reverence, creating works both contemplative and beatific, eerie yet essentially human. Gave In Rest is a modern reading of early music, reforming sacred and secular sentiments to fit her purview and provide an exciting new way to hear the sounds that exist around us.
>The Dirty Nil – Master Volume CD (Dine Alone Music Inc.)
“For those who still pray at the altar of rock music, The Dirty Nil might feel like a second coming. …this trio from Dundas, ON has thrived on their unabashed devotion to rock 'n' roll in its purest, loudest and most electrifying form. And Master Volume is a defining sermon, distilling decades of guitar-charged power and wisdom into 10 succinct commandments.” – Exclaim [Vinyl edition due October 19.]
>The Doors – Waiting For The Sun [Reissue/1968] 2xCD/LP (Elektra)
50th Anniversary reissue. This double-CD and single-LP collection features a new version of the album's original stereo mix on both CD and 180-gram vinyl LP, which has been newly remastered from the original master tapes by Bruce Botnick, the Doors' longtime engineer/mixer. The CD set also includes a second disc of 14 completely unreleased tracks: nine recently discovered "rough mixes" from the album recording sessions and five live songs from a 1968 Copenhagen show.
>Dreams – No One Defeats Us CD/LP (Astralwerks)
Dreams is the realization of a long-time friendship and musical kinship between two iconic Australian artists – Luke Steele (aka Miracle), the enigmatic front man of Empire Of The Sun and The Sleepy Jackson, and Daniel Johns (aka Dr Dreams), best known as the front man of Silverchair. The duo's debut album No One Defeats Us is introduced by the explosive war cry of the title track and follow-up "Silence" which reveals a darker side and pulse to the project.
>Eyelids – Maybe More CD/LP (Jealous Butcher)
A perfect combination of the lilting, powerful hooks of their recent Peter Buck produced album "or" alongside the spookier, more meditative moments from their debut album 854.
>Eyes Of Love – End Of The Game CD/LP (Wharf Cat)
End Of The Game is the anticipated debut full length by Eyes Of Love, a band helmed by Brooklyn songwriter Andrea Schiavelli. Assembling a crew of some of the most skilled musicians in New York’s underground; Lily Konigsberg (Palberta, Lily and Horn Horse), Sammy Weissberg (The Cradle, Sweet Baby Jesus), Paco Cathcart (The Cradle, Shimmer), Schiavelli has cultivated a long player that is obedient to feeling and pulsates with urgent, anxious beauty.
>Amanda Fish – Free CD (VizzTone)
For this all-original album Amanda has refined her focus to blues-flavored rock, while still showing influences ranging from R.L. Burnside to Nirvana. Her songs show mature songwriting, and express her victories over forces beyond her control and those within herself. Amanda’s remarkable singing is stronger and more expressive than ever, and she plays a wide range of instruments including all bass tracks, acoustic guitar, electric and 12-string guitar, mandolin and piano.
>Steve Forbert – The Magic Tree CD/LP (Blue Rose Music)
New release from the veteran singer/songwriter - a series of songs gleaned from previously recorded acoustic demos, augmented with new backing tracks.
>Future Generations – Landscape CD/LP (French Kiss)
Landscape, the second full-length from Future Generations, emerged from the kind of playful creativity only possible among the closest collaborators. Five friends who all live together in Brooklyn, Future Generations brought Landscape to life by balancing their pop-minded songcraft with bursts of free-form experimentation: recording guitar riffs from the receiving end of a phone call, messing with a vintage synthesizer called the Fun Machine, and building percussion tracks by sampling a batch of drum-circle recordings.
>Giant Sand – Returns To The Valley Of Rain CD/LP (Fire)
A new re-recording of the Tucson band’s 1985 debut. Valley Of Rain was Tucson's Giant Sand's debut album recorded in 1983, and eventually released by 1985. It included Howe Gelb on vocals, guitar and Winston Watson on drums for most of it, Tommy Larkins on drums for some of it and Scott Garber on fretless bass for all of it. 30 some years later, now that the band had been put to sleep indefinitely, those very first songs had begun creeping into the last Giant Sand tours. It somehow seemed appropriate to give them another shot with the proper amp just to see what they could've been.
>Good Charlotte – Generation Rx CD/LP+MP3 (BMG Rights Management)
The quintet offers up intricate, infectious anthems of hope for a generation under the shadow of the opioid epidemic, icons gone too soon, mass tragedy, loneliness, and confusion. Powered by punk spirit, rock songcraft, and cinematic ambition, Good Charlotte retain the signature vitality and vulnerability of their formative years, while delivering an urgent, unafraid, and undeniable message befitting of two decades in the game. [Limited edition yellow-colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Grave Digger – The Living Dead CD/LP (Napalm)
When you think of pure and unadulterated traditional metal, you will at some point stumble over these German. The five-piece has survived trends, many ups and downs and continues to deliver solid material. The Living Dead serves as the old schoolers' 20th studio long-player.
>Guerilla Toss – Twisted Crystal CD/LP (DFA)
Analog synthesizers give tangible life to the works of Guerilla Toss. Whether it be the sound of a rocket ship, a kitten-with-a-wah, distorted dolphins, or a clavichord made out of honey-baked ham, the band consistently finds new ways to bring together the many ideas that combine to shape each new batch of art-rock puzzle pieces. This collection of pop songs pulls influence from powerful groups like The Slits, ESG, Gina X, and early Madonna, with sing-speak vocals from Kassie Carlson nodding to legendary artists like Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, and Lizzy Mercier Descloux – combining this all into a twisted, crystalline concoction.
>The Guess Who – The Future Is What Used To Be CD/LP (Cleopatra)
The classic rock giants are back with their first studio album of new material in over 30 years.
>Harmony Rockets with Special Guest Peter Walker - Lachesis/Clotho/Atropos CD/LP (Tompkins Square)
Longtime Woodstock resident, guitarist Peter Walker recorded two albums for the Vanguard label in the late '60s in a style best described as American folk-raga. He studied with Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, and was Dr. Timothy Leary's musical director, organizing music for the LSD advocate's "celebrations." Rediscovered by Tompkins Square in 2006 after decades out of sight, Walker has remained active into his eighth decade, recording for Jack White's Third Man label, and now, collaborating anew with fellow Upstaters, Harmony Rockets. Joined in a mighty super-session with Harmony Rockets (Mercury Rev), Martin Keith, Nels Cline (Wilco), and Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Lachesis/Clotho/Atropos is a mind-melting inter-generational collaboration that could only have coalesced around the wool sweaters, warm teacups and moldering bookstores of "Old Old Woodstock," both the real and mythologized versions.
>Lee Hazlewood – Cruisin’ For Surf Bunnies CD/LP (Light In The Attic)
LITA is proud to continue its Lee Hazlewood archive series with this very special release. Not a reissue, but rather a brand new, never before released time capsule from the surf era. Woodchucks: Crusin' For Surf Bunnies is the perfect soundtrack for sun-baked skin and salty waves, hot rods and summer love. It's the soundtrack to the American dream in the early- ‘60s and it comes from California.
>I’ll Be Damned – Road To Disorder CD/LP (Drakkar)
With their highly explosive mix they easily exist between bands like Danko Jones and Clutch and cover a considerable range of styles. [Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>The Intelligence – Live in San Francisco CD/LP (Castleface)
“For folks who dig A Frames, Country Teasers, Wire, Gang of Four, pita chips and dad's boozy breath, may we present The Intelligence, captured live in a truly subterranean underground show space below SF vintage clothier Vacation.” – John Dwyer
>Irreversible Mechanism – Immersion CD/2xLP (Blood Music)
A masterful contender amongst the best of today's progressive death metal.
>Jungle – For Ever CD/LP (XL)
The core duo of Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland describe their long awaited second album For Ever as "a post-apocalyptic radio station playing break up songs." If Jungle's first effort was their imaginary soundtrack to the places they had never been, their new record captures the landscapes they had so often dreamed of.
>Tori Kelly – Hiding Place CD (Capitol)
Singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Kelly first gained recognition after posting videos on YouTube at the age of 14. When she was 16, she auditioned for the singing competition television series American Idol. After being eliminated from the show, Kelly began to work on her own music. Hiding Place is her sophomore album.
>The Lemon Twigs – Go To School CD/2xLP+MP3 (4AD)
A conceptual musical conceived by brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario, the 15-track opus was written, recorded, produced and mixed by the pair at their home in Long Island. Go To School tells the heartbreaking coming of age story of Shane, a pure of heart chimpanzee raised as a human boy as he comes to terms with the obstacles of life. Todd Rundgren and their real life mother Susan Hall play Shane’s parents. The album features contributions from Jody Stephens (Big Star), Natalie Mering (Weyes Blood) and their father Ronnie D’Addario.
>Less Bells – Solifuge CD/LP (Kranky)
The full-length debut by Julie Carpenter's Joshua Tree, California, ambient orchestral project Less Bells emerged from the drama and desolation of its high desert origins. She cites certain compositions as being "specifically inspired by August monsoons rolling in over the mountains, others by clear, starry nights." Utilizing an array of electronic and acoustic instruments, including cello, Optigan, violin, voice, and modular synth, Solifuge conflates not only the solitude and refuge of it's title but also intimacy and grandeur, fragility and force, "building from austerity to wild overgrowth." She speaks of a creative process involving cut-ups and rearranging, mapping a melody for strings only to transpose it to synth, or refashioning a rigid classical piece as stream of consciousness soundscape.
>Lyrics Born – Quite A Life CD/2xLP (Real People)
A new record of funk and soul woven into classic, boom-bap hip-hop featuring a legendary line-up of guest musicians, including the heavily buzzing artist Aloe Blacc ('Brooklyn In the Summer', 'I Need a Dollar', Avicii's “Wake Me Up”), Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious), Galactic, and Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5).
>Mogwai – Rock Action [Reissue/2001] CD/LP (PIAS America)
Mogwai – Happy Songs For Happy People [Reissue/2003] CD/LP (PIAS America)
Mogwai – Mr. Beast [Reissue/2006] CD/2xLP (PIAS America
Mogwai – Zidane - A 21st Century Portrait - An Original Soundtrack By Mogwai [Reissue/2006] CD/2xLP (PIAS America)
Mogwai – The Hawk Is Howling [Reissue/2008] CD/2xLP (PIAS America)
Remastered CD and vinyl reissues of five of the Glaswegian post-rockers’ albums are now available.
>Monster Truck – True Rockers CD/LP (Mascot)
Canadian outfit Monster Truck follows up the mighty Sittin' Heavy (2015) with True Rockers. Produced by Dan Weller (SiKth, Young Guns, Enter Shikari), it's the sound of a band letting loose and having fun, personified in the title track opener which features a passionate speech about the virtues of rock by Mr. "I Wanna Rock" himself, the one and only Dee Snider of Twisted Sister. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing now available.]
>Mr. T Experience – Shards Volumes One & Two: Pieces Of The Mr. T Experience 1985-1999 2xCD/LP (Sounds Rad)
A two-volume collection of rarities, live tracks and outtakes-versions of songs previously scattered on any numerous of B-sides, and compilations. [Shards Volume Two is available this week on vinyl.]
>Willie Nelson – My Way CD/LP (Sony Legacy)
My Way is Willie Nelson's second new studio album of 2018, following the release of his critically-acclaimed Last Man Standing in April. An album of standards and classics made famous by Frank Sinatra, My Way finds Willie (who's written a few standards himself) swinging his way through some of the most beloved songs in the Great American Songbook.
>Orbital – Monsters Exist CD/2xCD (ACP Recordings Ltd.)
First new album in five years from the British electronic outfit. Monsters Exist is a more classically structured Orbital album than their previous release Wonky, drawing inspiration from the international political landscape all the way back from brothers Paul and Phil's pre-rave squat-punk roots right up to the volatile tensions and erratic rhetoric of today. [Deluxe double-CD edition also available. Vinyl edition due September 28.]
>Orions Belte – Mint CD/LP (Jansen)
Is it blues? Is it world music? Is it underground pop? You can choose whichever you want, it's not important for Orions Belte to be pigeonholed. They're playing eclectic and unique instrumental music inspired by Nigerian ‘70s rock, postcards from the French Riviera, Formula One races at the Monza track in Italy, and when Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali in the ‘Fight of the Century' in 1971.
>Putridity – Mental Prolapse Induced Necrophilism [Reissue/2007] CD/LP (Willowtip)
Italy's Putridity has been creating some of the fastest, hardest, and crushing brutal death metal of the past decade.
>The Rad Trads – On Tap CD (Hornblow)
On Tap serves as the world's introduction to the diverse possibilities The Rad Trads have to offer from the studio. Revered for their live shows, On Tap sees the five songwriters pull back the curtain on their passion for arrangement and orchestration, introducing a sea of horns, harmonies, gritty grooves, and psychedelic guitar textures. [Vinyl edition due October 12.]
>REKS & ShortFyuz – Order In Chaos CD (Bullies Music)
New collaborative effort from Lawrence, Massachusetts emcee/producer duo Reks & ShortFyuz. The 14 track release combines REKS' signature high energy & thought provoking lyricism over gritty, hardcore instrumentals from up and coming producer ShortFyuz.
>Mark Ribot – Songs of Resistance 1942 - 2018 CD (Epitaph)
With his new album Songs of Resistance 1948 - 2018, Ribot—one of the world’s most accomplished and acclaimed guitar players—set out to assemble a set of songs that spoke to this political moment with appropriate ambition, passion, and fury. The eleven songs on the record are drawn from the World War II anti-Fascist Italian partisans, the U.S. civil rights movement, and Mexican protest ballads, as well as original compositions, and feature a wide range of guest vocalists, including Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Meshell Ndegeocello, Justin Vivian Bond, Fay Victor, Sam Amidon, and Ohene Cornelius. [Vinyl edition due September 21.]
>Emma Ruth Rundle – On Dark Horses CD/LP+MP3 (Sargent House)
With On Dark Horses, Rundle doesn't shy away from uncomfortable realities or retreat into a private world, but it does capture an artist who has survived their personal nadir and come out stronger on the other side. The album’s eight tracks capture the evolution of Rundle as an artist, with vestigial traces of the savvy guitar work of her 2011 debut, Electric Guitar, the siren song beauty of 2014’s Some Heavy Ocean, and the amplified urgency of 2016’s Marked For Death all factoring into the album's rich tapestry. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Serpents Of Dawn – Into The Garden CD/LP (Doom Stew)
New release from the doom metal band. [Limited gold colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Wayne Shorter – Emanon 3xCD/3xLP+3xCD (Blue Note)
Featuring a double-album and its companion piece - a self-penned, 84-page graphic novel - Wayne Shorter’s Emanon is the definitive look into his artistic multiverse. The standard three-CD set includes four studio tracks performed by Shorter’s quartet (pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade) and the expansive, 34-piece Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, in addition to a six-track live album featuring the quartet itself.
>Sleaford Mods – Sleaford Mods CDEP/12” (Rough Trade)
British hip-hop/punk act Sleaford Mods' eponymous EP follows-up 2017's critically acclaimed English Tapas and features five brand new tracks including lead single, "Stick In A Five & Go". Jason Williamson on the new material: "The lead tracks are mostly full of violent tendencies that only transpire through imagination. People are powerless under the political monster and the intense anger and frustration morphs into illusions of attacking each other through the bravado of social media, depression and paranoia."
>Spirit Of The Beehive – Hypnic Jerks CD/LP/Cassette (Tiny Engines)
Hypnic Jerks, the Philly quintet's third full-length and second for Tiny Engines, sounds like, as frontman Zack Schwartz puts it, "the state between wakefulness and sleep." It's named after the involuntary muscle spasms that can happen right as someone begins dozing off, a perfect feeling to compare the album's drowsy yet restless character to. Unlike the spiraling momentum of Pleasure Suck, Spirit Of The Beehive took a more grounded approach with Hypnic Jerks, though the ground they're standing on is equally otherworldly. Dreamy is a fitting adjective, but the songs never fully slip into the peaceful yet backgrounded character of dream-pop.
>Fred Thomas – Aftering CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Modeled loosely after Neil Young's On The Beach, the 9-song Aftering moves from jumpy two minute blasts into a suite of four protracted and moody interconnected pieces. It burns through a first act of speedy, hook-heavy guitar rock before taking a sharp, brutal dive into an abyss on the album's second half. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Thrice – Palms CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Thrice created Palms with a free-form and fluid approach to the album's sonic element. The result is their most expansive work to date, encompassing everything from viscerally charged post-hardcore to piano-driven balladry. [Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Throbbing Gristle – Heathen Earth: The Live Sound of Throbbing Gristle [Reissue/1980] CD/LP (Mute)
Throbbing Gristle – Mission Of Dead Souls [Reissue/1981] CD/LP (Mute)
Throbbing Gristle – Journey Through A Body [Reissue/1982] CD/2xLP (Mute)
Heathen Earth is a crucial 1980 live document of industrial pioneers Throbbing Gristle. Mission Of Dead Souls documents TG’s last live performance in San Francisco in 1981. It's a given that the band's studio work was noisy and abstract, but more was left to chance during gigs like this, with primitive synthesizers and other electronics pitted against a group trying to keep some semblance of control. Widely referred to as their most haunting work, Journey Through A Body was recorded as a piece of radio art for Italian National Radio RAI, Rome in March 1981. [Limited colored vinyl pressings also available.]
>The Trews – Civilianaires CD (Cadence Music)
The Nova Scotia-bred, Hamilton, ON-based combo of singer/guitarist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Chris Gormley – songwriters all – has won universal acclaim for both their dazzling live performances and wildly accessible songs. With two Gold albums, 17 Top-10 singles on Canadian rock radio and over 25 music industry awards and nominations The Trews have earned their place as one of Canada's most iconic rock bands. [Vinyl edition due October 5.]
>Twisted Sister – You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll [Reissue/1983] 2xCD (Atlantic)
Digitally remastered and expanded two CD edition of Twisted Sister's massively successful 1983 album.
>Uriah Heep – Living The Dream CD/CD+DVD/LP (Frontiers)
British classic rock royalty Uriah Heep offer up their twenty-fifth studio album.
>Various Artists – Basement Beehive: The Girl Group Underground CD/2xLP (Numero)
Who do we become when we live our dreams? It’s all here— the high hairdos, the dreams and schemes, the tender camp, the wedding bell fantasias and chaste tragedies. Sister acts, studio receptionists, classmates, angelic voices of the 1960s; some legendary, many hidden in the basement of expired rainbows. Gathered on this deluxe double-LP (or CD) are 28 (56 on the compact disc) foiled escape attempts, now free to soar in girl group heaven.
>Various Artists - Studio One: Freedom Sounds: Studio One in the 1960s CD/2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
A new collection from Soul Jazz/Studio One focusing on the intense period in the second half of the 1960s when Studio One's vast and unbeatable output of ska, soul, rock steady and reggae made it literally one of the hottest musical empires in the world. During this highly successful period, Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd released hundreds and hundreds of superlative singles seemingly on an almost daily basis, in the process making huge stars out of Jamaican singers such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, the Wailers, Slim Smith, Jackie Opel and many more.
>Loudon Wainwright III – Years In The Making 2xCD (Storysound)
Loudon Wainwright III’s Years In The Making compiles 45 years of off-beaten tracks into over two hours of rare and unissued Loudoniana along with a few brand new songs (“Birthday Boy” and “Rosin the Bow”) for good measure. It’s a double-CD audio-biography, full of orphaned album cuts, live recordings, radio appearances, home demos, and more.
>Marcin Wasilewski Trio – Live CD/2xLP (ECM)
As UK magazine Jazz Journal has noted, "Wasilewski's music celebrates a vast dynamic range, from the most deftly struck pianistic delicacies to gloriously intense emotional exuberance, the chords pounded with unrestrained joy, yet always within a marvelously melodic concept."
>Paul Weller – True Meanings CD/2xLP (WB/Parlophone)
To put it simply, True Meanings, the fourteenth Paul Weller solo album and the 26th studio album of his entire career, is a record unlike any he has ever made before. It's characterized by grandiose-yet-delicate, lush orchestration: an aesthetic to which Weller's better-than-ever voice, singing some of his most nakedly honest words, is perfectly suited. A dreamy, peaceful, pastoral set of songs to get lost in, it's both an album that his faithful audience has been wanting him to make for a long time, and an album that many new people outside of that audience will relate to.
>Ann Wilson – Immortal CD/2xLP (BMG Rights Management)
New solo release from the former vocalist from classic rock band Heart. 10 musically diverse tracks that pay tribute to some of Ann's influences and friends who've recently passed and whose music poignantly lives on.
>Yellowjackets – Raising Our Voice CD (Mack Avenue)
While the Los Angeles-based Yellowjackets have been a creative force on the jazz scene since 1981 when they recorded their eponymous debut, their fourth Mack Avenue Records album, Raising Our Voice, once again ups the ante with bold new strides by inviting vocalist extraordinaire Luciana Souza to collaborate with the group for seven of its thirteen tunes as well as subtly taking a resistant stand against the status quo of the cultural and political undercurrent of our times.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
>Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now: Live at The Isle of Wight Festival 1970 DVD/Blu-ray (Eagle Vision)
Directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Murray Lerner, Both Sides Now: Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 features new interviews with Joni, discussing her recollections of the event intercut with festival footage, both onstage and behind the scenes, offering a fascinating insight into a now legendary concert from the artists point of view and putting the events of the day into context.
>Rolling Stone: Stories From The Edge – 50 Years of Defining Culture DVD/Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)
Directed by Oscar-winner Alex Gibney (HBO’s Taxi To The Dark Side and Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief) and Emmy winner Blair Foster (HBO’s George Harrison: Living In The Material World), and narrated by Jeff Daniels, Rolling Stone: Stories From The Edge chronicles the last 50 years of American music, politics and popular culture. This special documentary offers the unique perspective of a celebrated magazine that always understood that rock ‘n’ roll was more than just music: it was a cultural force that helped shape America and defined generations. An exhilarating visual and musical experience of the magazine’s history, the film features performances by an of artists, including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash and Ice-T, and music from some of the cultural icons it heralded, including Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Fleetwood Mac and Chance The Rapper.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>1939 Ensemble – New Cinema LP (Jealous Butcher)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. If experiencing casually, the listener might catch moments of rhythmic guitar-and-hi-hat symbiosis akin to Battles, reverberating trumpet calls harkening to Miles Davis, effects-heavy swells that could have graced Jaga Jazzist's mighty A Livingroom Hush or head-turning beat drops as deep as Amon Tobin's Supermodified. But this album refuses to be shoehorned within a Venn Diagram of genres and artists any more than the unique artists compared here.
>Dorothy Ashby – Afro-Harping [Reissue/1968] LP (Geffen)
Afro-Harping is an excellent late 60's soulful jazz harp album from Dorothy Ashby recorded for Chess Records' Cadet subsidiary with arrangements by Richard Evans. From the opening funky groove with Theremin to the reverb heavy harp solos Ashby stretches the capabilities of the harp throughout and proved that the instrument was way more than just an exotic orchestral color. Ashby's harmonic selections are as up to date now as they were then; Freddy Hubbard's "Sunflower" becomes a mind blowing mix of jazz, percussion and rock.
>Marc Bolan - There Was A Time: Home Demos Volume 1 LP (Easy Action)
Marc Bolan - Slight Thigh Be-Bop (And Old Gumbo Jill) Home Demos Volume 3 LP (Easy Action)
The first and third installments in the series of home demos restored and remastered for vinyl from recently acquired materials returned to the estate of Marc Bolan. Featured here are embryonic recordings of songs, some of which would find their way on to T. Rex's beloved Tanx album, while many remained unreleased.
>Peabo Bryson – Stand For Love LP (Caroline)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Stand For Love showcases legendary recording artist, Peabo Bryson's broad vocal range and musical skill. Counted among the world's most dynamic and gifted vocal talents, Peabo is a world-renowned balladeer with a career that includes two Grammys, two Oscars, multiple gold albums, multiple No. 1 songs and chart-topping singles in R&B, pop and contemporary jazz.
>Eric Burdon & The Animals – Winds Of Change [Reissue/1967] LP (Sundazed)
Mono pressing. Reeling from poor management decisions and inter-band strife, The Animals fell apart toward the end of 1966. Seeking a rebirth, lead vocalist Eric Burdon relocated from London to California. There, Burdon assembled a new lineup, retaining only drummer Barry Jenkins from the previous incarnation. Now known as Eric Burdon and The Animals, the group immersed themselves in the psychedelic culture of San Francisco and their sound followed suit. Informed by his inaugural acid trip, Burdon led his bandmates through a fresh, decidedly lysergic interpretation of American blues. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Camila Cabello – Camila LP (Epic)
Limited red colored vinyl LP pressing. Debut studio album from Camila Cabello, the Cuban-born pop singer who recently broke away from her girl group Fifth Harmony to focus on her solo career. Primarily a pop record, the album incorporates elements of Latin music and R&B.
>Terry Callier – What Color Is Love [Reissue/1972] LP (GRP)
Terry Callier was an American jazz, soul, and folk guitarist and singer-songwriter. His 1972 release What Color Is Love mixes the Chicago soul sound from Chess/Cadet records of the modern soul of Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler. He opened for George Benson and Gil Scott-Heron. His creamy, soulful tenor floats atop the groove that he creates. After gaining custody of his daughter he became a full-time father and drifted away from music and in to computer science
>Jean Cohen-Solal – Flutes Libres [Reissue/1972] LP (SouffleContinu)
Jean Cohen-Solal studied flute from all angles, and became one of the great French virtuosi, along with Michel Edelin who at the time was with Triode. This was a period (1972) when flutists were very popular with the public, most of whom had been influenced by Roland Kirk, including Ian Anderson in Jethro Tull. Whereas Jean Cohen-Solal tells a different story, richer and centered on the instrument itself, using the magic of overdubs.
>Dick Dale and His Del-Tones – Singles Collection ’61 - 65 2xLP (Sundazed)
28 wild ‘n’ killer single sides from the Deltone and Capitol labels. These powerhouse As & Bs offer testament to the undiminished power of Dale's work, as well as his continuing status as one of rock's preeminent guitar innovators.
>Dorian Concept – The Nature of Imitation LP+MP3 (Brainfeeder)
Taking inspiration from multi-generational eclecticism (‘60s jazz, ‘70s fusion, ‘80s neo prog-rock, ‘90s electronica), Dorian Concept replicates "modern" music elements with old-fashioned methods, live-playing and hand-recording deceptively digital sounds in service of a tongue-in-cheek "parody of nostalgia."
>First Aid Kit – Tender Offerings 10” (Sony)
“Technically, Tender Offerings are the four songs that did not make it onto Ruins. For these ladies, these precious songs did not fit the bombastic folk-nature of the album. Instead, they truly felt like tender offerings; too sweet and soft in scope to be fluidly aligned with their other tracks. Once, you hear such gorgeous tracks like, “I’ve Wanted You” and “All That We Get” you will understand their point. Instrumentally, you feel every hook, melody, and chorus was precisely and clearly made as a cloud creates a raindrop. This duo turn their guitar melodies into field of amber strings dancing in the suns of their voices like grains move with daylight.” – Diandra Reviews It All
>The Flaming Lips – In A Priest Driven Ambulance [Reissue/1990] LP (Rhino)
The Flaming Lips - Death Trippin' At Sunrise: Rarities, B-Sides & Flexi-Discs 1986-1990 2xLP (Rhino)
Vinyl reissue of The Flaming Lips’ fourth studio album and a new rarities/B-sides collection.
>Girlschool – Demolition [Reissue/1980] LP (Dissonance)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. As The Runaways are to American rock 'n' roll, Girlschool is to UK rock 'n' roll, the most famous all-female British hard rock export. The group first emerged in the late ‘70s as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement and are closely associated with Motörhead. In Spring 1980 they released their debut Demolition which was produced by the legendary Vic Maile (who worked on the Who's Live at Leeds and Motorhead's Ace of Spades) and featured their stellar cover of The Gun's "Race with the Devil".
>Tord Gustavsen Trio – The Other Side LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Over the last decade, Tord Gustavsen has experimented with other ensemble forms and formats, but on The Other Side - recorded at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio in January 2018, he returns decisively to the piano trio with faithful drummer Jarle Vespestad and excellent new bassist Sigurd Hole. Hole’s approach to his instrument, drawing on folk influences as well as modern jazz, is ideally suited to Gustavsen’s slowly-developing, deeply melodic pieces. Produced by Manfred Eicher.
>The Heptones – Book Of Rules [Reissue/1973] LP (Get On Down)
Once again available as first issued in Jamaica in 1973, this is a landmark roots reggae recording that's not to be overlooked.
>Kansas – Point Of No Return [Reissue/1977] LP+MP3 (Epic)
Vinyl reissue of the classic rock band’s fifth album. Includes the hit single “Dust In The Wind”.
>King Diamond – The Puppet Master [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – Deadly Lullabyes (Live) [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – Give Me Your Soul…Please [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Metal Blade)
Latest round of picture disc vinyl reissues of the metal band’s entire catalogue.
>Lola Kirke – Heart Head West LP (Downtown)
At sixteen, Lola Kirke discovered Gram Parsons and the Cosmic American genre he defined. In spite of being a New Yorker by the way of London, Kirke felt a strong connection to his country-rock sound.
>L’Rain – L’Rain LP (Astro Nautica)
Debut release by L'Rain (Taja Cheek), a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, tape manipulator and vocalist from Brooklyn. Rising on a wave of synths and breathy sax, the album unfolds with electric guitar arpeggios and undulating vocal swells, unwrapping a dense psychedelic arrangement grounded by clattering acoustic drum patterns and the ephemeral soars of Cheek's voice.
>Korpiklaani – Kulkija 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. The Finnish folk metallers return with their 10th studio album.
>Gary Louris – Vagabonds [Reissue/2008] 2xLP (Run Out Groove)
Expanded 180gm double-LP edition includes bonus disc of outtakes, demos and acoustic tracks, with many making their vinyl debut as well as several never having been released on any physical format. To fans of alt-country and melodic songwriting, the name Gary Louris is an important one. As founding member of the Jayhawks and intermittent member of Golden Smog, the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter is largely responsible for moving the former from folk-country towards a more progressive, pop sound. In 2008, Louris released his debut solo album, Vagabonds, produced by Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson and recorded in Laurel Canyon; famous for being the epicenter of the 1970s singer-songwriter scene.
>Medeski, Martin, & Wood and Alarm Will Sound – Omnisphere LP (Indirecto)
Medeski, Martin, Wood's new album, Omnisphere was recorded with the inimitable Alarm Will Sound orchestra live at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts in Denver, CO in February 2015. The results are both expected, in the peerless level of the musicianship, and stunning, in the sweeping stylistic range of the program.
>Mr. T Experience – Shards Volume Two: Pieces Of The Mr. T Experience 1985-1999 2xCD/LP (Sounds Rad)
the second of a two-volume collection of rarities, live tracks and outtakes-versions of songs previously scattered on any numerous of B-sides, and compilations.
>Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge – The Midnight Hour (Instrumental) 2xLP Linear Labs)
The Midnight Hour is sophisticated hip-hop that fans will enjoy, capturing their jazz rhythm section, and full orchestra, to analog tape. It is now available as full instrumentals on vinyl.
>Night Shop – In The Break LP (Woodsist)
Night Shop is the songwriting project of Justin Sullivan who has worked as a touring drummer for the past 20 years with a half dozen DIY punk bands, including Ringers and an early incarnation of Worriers. Like most of Sullivan's projects, In The Break is a family affair. His former touring and recording partner in the Kevin Morby band, Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) plays bass on several of the songs and sings backup vocals on a few as well. Flat Worms cohort Will Ivy plays lead guitar on some, while Mare labelmate and soon-to-be touring partner Anna St. Louis sings backup on two songs.
>Robert Pollard – Waved Out [Reissue/1995] LP (GBV Inc.)
Robert Pollard's Waved Out gets the 20th anniversary reissue treatment with newly remastered audio and a beautiful colored vinyl pressing. The Guided By Voices captain's second solo album from 1998 captures the more eclectic side of his songwriting and finds him brilliantly compressing prog, psych, and post-punk ideas into magnificent two-minute pop songs. Wire, early Genesis, Nilsson Schmilsson, Lennon's White Album songs, Blue Öyster Cult, XTC, and Captain Beefheart.
>Raven – Live At The Inferno [Reissue/1984] 2xLP (Back On Black)
1984's Live At The Inferno is the Raven's final album for Neat Records before signing with Atlantic. "In order to preempt our old record company putting out the inevitable ‘greatest hits’, we basically did this album live and was part of our deal in getting away from Neat Records," explains John Gallagher. "A great snapshot of what we sounded like on our second USA tour. Back cover shot is from the Roseland NYC show we did with Anthrax and Metallica.”
>Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes – N°2 [Reissue/1970] LP (Anthology Recordings)
Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes – Âme Debout [Reissue/1971] LP (Anthology Recordings)
Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes – Paix [Reissue/1972] LP (Anthology Recordings)
Vinyl reissues of the long out of print – and never before officially issued in the US – trilogy of albums by Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes. These foundational LPs are arguably the group's finest hours on wax, fills in a crucial missing link in the canon of psychedelic and experimental music of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
>Rivers Of Nihil – Monarchy [Reissue/2015] LP (Metal Blade)
Formed in 2009 by guitarist Brody Uttley, bassist/lyricist Adam Biggs, and vocalist Jake Dieffenbach, Rivers of Nihil quickly made a name for themselves in the death metal scene. Their second album, Monarchy, is available for the first time on vinyl. Limited cream colored pressing also available.
>Pharoah Sanders – Thembi [Reissue/1971] LP (Impulse!)
The exceptionally diverse Thembi finds the musical explorer (on tenor & soprano saxophone and alto flute among other instruments) incorporating many different emotional landscapes and equally compelling moments of serenity and tension. Alongside Pharoah here are keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith (who uses a Fender Rhodes electric piano for the first time), violinist Michael White, bassist Cecil McBee, drummer Roy Haynes, and percussionists Chief Bey, Majid Shabbaz, and Nat Bettis.
>Siouxsie & The Banshees – The Scream [Reissue/1978] LP (Geffen)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – A Kiss In The Dreamhouse [Reissue/1982] LP (Geffen)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Superstition [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Geffen)
180gm vinyl reissues of the British post-punk band’s first, fifth and tenth albums.
>Soundtrack – Batman Forever: Music From The Motion Picture [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Atlantic)
Originally released in 1995, Batman Forever: Music From The Motion Picture features 14-tracks of prime '90s pop, rock, punk, and R&B. In advance of its release, there was no doubt as to which song was considered to be the MVP of the bunch, and that's U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me".
>Steve'n'Seagulls – Grainsville LP (Spinefarm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Steve'n'Seagulls is a Finnish band playing bluegrass versions of classic rock tracks, such as their viral hit of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”, with an arsenal of instruments ranging from accordion, banjo, Cajon, double bass and so forth.
>Matthew Sweet – Altered Beast [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Intervention)
Limited double 180gm vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. Includes bonus tracks. The middle entry in Matthew Sweet's holy '90s power pop trilogy, Altered Beast is a sprawling, multi-dimensional power-pop trip.
>The Temperance Movement – A Deeper Cut LP (Spinefarm)
Third studio album by the British blues rock band.
>Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Blood Lust [Reissue/2011] LP (Rise Above)
Uncle Acid – Mind Control [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Rise Above)
Limited import-only splatter colored vinyl reissues of the English psych/acid band’s second and third albums.
>Tom Waits – Heartattack And Vine [Reissue/1980] LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Released in 1980, Heartattack And Vine was Waits' final album on Elektra Asylum and it built on the raw blues approach of Blue Valentine with the incendiary title track, the funky, organ driven "Downtown" and the stomping NOLA blues of "Mr. Siegal". This album also contains some of Waits' most popular ballads, including "Jersey Girl" which was famously a hit for Bruce Springsteen. "On The Nickle" is a moving song about the homeless people who lived on 5th street in downtown LA, and "Ruby's Arms" is a beautiful song with a lovely Bach-like melody. [180gm pressing also available.]
>Weeknd – Kiss Land [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Republic)
Double seaglass-colored vinyl LP pressing. Kiss Land followed up The Weeknd's unanimously celebrated double-platinum selling 2012 debut, Trilogy. Tapping into that same signature mystique, this second effort is an elegant pastiche of love, longing, and lust set to a futuristic soundtrack of shimmering keys, disruptive synths, and airy atmospherics.
New Releases for September 7, 2018
CDs + Vinyl:
>Ghostland Observatory – See You Later Simulator CD/LP (Trashy Moped)
“It's called See You Later Simulator,” Aaron Behrens says of Ghostland Observatory’s first new album in eight years. “I've always been on the sci-fi edge of things, which is just a reflection of being a child of the ‘80s and growing up with video games and computers, but also remembering a time before those things were common. I think all of that comes into play on this record. It’s a real comment on what's going on right now, and on trying to figure out what's reality and what’s a simulation.” See You Later Simulator finds Behrens and longtime partner Thomas Ross Turner bouncing back from an extended hiatus to create music that ranks with their most ambitious and timely work with tracks like “Paradise Lost”, “Permanent Vacation” and “Miss Abyss” delivering both uplifting electro-dance-rock and a loose but absorbing storyline.
>Paul McCartney – Egypt Station CD/2xLP (Capitol)
Sharing a title with one of Paul McCartney's own paintings, Egypt Station is the first full album of all-new McCartney music since 2013’s NEW. True to the inspiration behind its title, Egypt Station’s 14 songs combine to convey a unique travelogue vibe. Between the opening and closing instrumentals “Station I” and “Station II”, each song finds Paul capturing a place or moment before transporting the listener seamlessly to the next destination. Stops along the way include an acoustic meditation on present day contentedness (“Happy With You”), a timeless anthem that would fit on virtually any album of any McCartney era (“People Want Peace”), and an epic multi-movement closer clocking in at seven minutes with a song suite structure harkening back to the days of Paul's previous combos (“Despite Repeated Warnings”). The result is a kaleidoscopic journey through myriad musical locales and eras, yet firmly rooted in the here and now - with Paul's singular unmistakable melodic and lyrical sensibility serving as a guide. [Deluxe 180gm vinyl pressing with concertina trifold six-panel gatefold packaging also available.]
>Pig Destroyer – Head Cage CD/LP (Relapse)
After six long, harsh years of absence, the mighty Pig Destroyer has reassembled to eradicate eardrums and split skulls with their highly anticipated sixth full-length opus, Head Cage (named after a grisly medieval torture device). A visceral vortex of animalistic rage and extreme sonic brilliance, Head Cage is a true work of extreme metal art, that with the addition of a bass player, is one their most dynamic and heaviest recordings. Across 12 tracks, Pig Destroyer weave together harrowing tales of philosophical dualities, touching on mortality and depression, fear and violence, and the darkest complexities of the human condition, all told through the distorted lens of delightfully transgressive vocalist/lyricist JR Hayes. Musically, the band continues to push the boundaries of metal, grindcore, noise and punk, ramping up the intensity and leaving you bludgeoned in a state of utter shock, all in less than 33 minutes.
>The Posies – Frosting On The Beater [Reissue/1993] 2xCD (Omnivore)
Double-CD reissue remastered from original tapes and expanded with 31 bonus tracks—15 previously unissued. “We began our career exactly 30-years prior by releasing a home-recorded cassette called Failure, which to our complete surprise became an instant favorite around the Northwest, earning us critical accolades, radio airplay, and major label interest, all in a very short time. We were lucky to find ourselves living just a few doors down the road in Seattle from Arthur “Rick” Roberts and Mike Musburger, who agreed to join our band on bass and drums, respectively. Signed to Geffen Records, we recorded three releases, 1990’s Dear 23, Frosting On The Beater in 1993, and Amazing Disgrace in 1996. The trio of albums remain beloved by our fans; our most popular, most often cited, most requested works. However, over the years, they have either been long out of print or not issued at all depending on the territory. [Vinyl edition due October 5.]
>Paul Simon – In The Blue Light CD/LP (Legacy/Sony)
Legendary songwriter, recording artist and performer Paul Simon returns with his fourteenth studio album, In The Blue Light. The album features a talented cast of musicians who have joined Simon to lend fresh perspectives on 10 of the artist’s favorite (though perhaps less-familiar) songs, drawn from his unparalleled body of work. Revisiting his repertoire, Simon has selected songs originally appearing on There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), One-Trick Pony (1980), Hearts And Bones (1983), The Rhythm Of The Saints (1990), You're The One (2000) and So Beautiful Or So What (2011), refreshing and transforming the compositions through new arrangements and collaborations. Among the many musicians joining Simon on the album are trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, guitarist Bill Frisell, and drummers Jack DeJohnette and Steve Gadd.
>Spiritualized – And Nothing Hurt CD/LP+MP3 (Fat Possum)
From the opening lullaby of “A Perfect Miracle” through to the Morse Code fadeout at the close of “Sail On Through”, on And Nothing Hurt Spiritualized wrap layer upon layer of gloriously transcendent sound together to create a mesmerizing and cinematic collection of songs. There are points where the waves of blissful noise are almost overwhelming – the thunderous climax of “On The Sunshine”; the spectral waltz of “The Prize”; the towering guitar solo on “I'm Your Man” – where one can imagine the studio's speakers vibrating themselves off of the walls. Which is an incredible feat when you discover that the album was conceived and recorded almost entirely by one man – Jason Pierce aka J.Spaceman – in an upstairs room in his east London home. With no grounding in digital recording, Jason had to learn everything from scratch. [Deluxe white colored vinyl pressing with 24-page booklet and custom two-piece outer box packaging also available.]
>Swamp Dogg – Love, Loss, And Auto-Tune CD/LP (Joyful Noise)
In 1970, the Southern soul music maverick Jerry Williams, Jr. made the most radical move of his career. Frustrated with music business politics Williams reinvented himself as Swamp Dogg, an irreverent anti-hero smashing the conventions of commercial R&B music. Swamp Dogg’s debut release Total Destruction To Your Mind featured a post-apocalyptic take on the Muscle Shoals’ sound, with lyrics inspired by the revolutionary politics and psychedelic drugs of the late ‘60s. The music on Total Destruction To Your Mind stood worlds apart from the formulaic pop tunes Williams started cutting in 1954 under the name Little Jerry, and Swamp Dogg hasn’t looked back since. Now, nearly fifty years after his debut release, Swamp Dogg stands on the precipice of another radical reinvention. His latest creation, Love, Loss, and Auto-Tune, is a nine song collection that finds Swamp Dogg's bluesy southern soul colliding head-on with 21st Century electronic music production techniques.
>Idles – Joy As An Act Of Resistance CD/LP (Partisan)
Joy As An Act of Resistance is the follow up to Bristol, UK five-piece Idles’ debut album Brutalism, self-released in 2017. Produced by Space and mixed by Adam Greenspan and Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Kate Bush, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), the 12-track collection takes aim at everything from toxic masculinity, nationalism, immigration, and class inequality - all while maintaining a visceral, infectious positivity. Singer Joe Talbot summarizes: “This album is an attempt to be vulnerable to our audience and to encourage vulnerability; a brave naked smile in this shitty new world. We have stripped back the songs and lyrics to our bare flesh to allow each other to breathe, to celebrate our differences, and act as an ode to communities and the individuals that forge them. Because without our community, we'd be nothing.” [Limited pink colored vinyl edition also available.]
>Ruston Kelly – Dying Star CD/2xLP (Rounder)
The release of Dying Star follows a breakout year for the Nashville-based artist, whose debut EP, Halloween, was released in April 2017 to widespread acclaim. Of the music, Rolling Stone praised that it “...shows a powerful grasp on storytelling gleaned from his love of the Carter Family and Townes Van Zandt, but also a more ragged rock & roll soul: it's Americana, if your Americana is Bruce Springsteen with an acoustic guitar, sung by someone who spins a little heavy metal too.” Of Dying Star, Kelly comments, “A lot of my music is focused on suffering, or trying to understand the human condition through the lens of suffering...which probably sounds totally depressing, but it's actually the flipside of that. Sometimes you’ve gotta go into that darkness – you need to get lost and then figure out for yourself how to find your way back. That’s the only way we can find pure joy, and really be thankful for the life we've been given.”
>Donna Missal – This Time CD (Harvest)
Rising New Jersey singer/songwriter Donna Missal's mighty set of pipes fit somewhere between the smoky pop softness of Lana Del Rey, the soulful strength and grit of Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard and the retro rocker howl of Janis Joplin. The songstress’ trifecta appeal carries her with a lighted torch to the forefront of today's crowded musical landscape. Her striking debut single, “Keep Lying”, blew up after it premiered on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1. About the Tim Anderson (Solange, BANKS, Halsey) produced follow-up “Girl”, Lowe said, “I love the modern production, the feel of it. But it also has like a timeless, latter-day Prince vibe to it.”
[Vinyl edition due September 28.]
>Bob Seger & The Last Heard – Heavy Music: The Complete Cameo Recordings 1966-1967 CD/LP (Abkco)
Rare material from the Detroit rocker’s pre-stardom band The Last Heard, available for the first time since their origination as 45rpm singles newly mastered. Bob Seger contributed to several local Detroit groups leading up to his breakthrough success with Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man (1969) and Night Moves (1976). While serving as keyboard player and occasional singer in Doug Brown & The Omens, Seger met his future manager Edward “Punch” Andrews who co-owned the Hideout Records label. After The Omens split up, Seger formed his own group and while writing for The Underdogs, another band on Hideout, co-authoring their single “Get Down On Your Knees”. After a failed attempt by The Underdogs to record the Seger-penned “East Side Story”, Seger was encouraged to record it himself and it was released by Hideout in June of 1966 under the name Bob Seger. The fantastic single was quickly reissued by Cameo Records just six months later, with Bob Seger & The Last Heard on the label, cementing the band's name. Stylistically, Bob Seger & The Last Heard went beyond the simple garage rock stomp and stammer formula and spread their wings lyrically and sonically in a few short years.
>St. Paul & The Broken Bones – Young Sick Camellia CD/LP+MP3 (Records LLC/Red Music)
With Young Sick Camellia, Paul Janeway has created an album based on a concept all-too familiar to him: family, and how we love them despite our differences. Originally envisioning the project as a trio of EPs, each from the perspective of the three generations of Janeway men, he realized he had enough material in the first volume – written from his own vantage – to make a full-length record. Assigning himself the image of a camellia, the Alabama state flower, Janeway uses his lyrics as a conduit for interpersonal conversation and excision, in addition to pieces of an actual conversation with his grandfather he recorded months before his unexpected death. From the opening space-opus of “Convex” to the snappy, buoyant charm of “Apollo” and the intensely personal bent of “LivWithoutU” and the album-ending “Bruised Fruit,” it’s clear that this is a dark, cerebral affair. Young Sick Camellia embraces a variety of sonic experiments and blurs boundary lines, but its focus remains sharply on the titular frontman and his bold, intensely personal and brave examination of his own family tree and how it has shaped him. [Limited brown colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>$uicideboy$ - I Want To Die In New Orleans CD/LP (G59)
“In a time where rap skills have become synonymous with clout goggles and laptop mics, cousins Scott “$crim” Arceneaux Jr. and Aristos “Ruby da Cherry” Pertrou have risen above the silliness by becoming one of the most influential voices of the melancholic rap community...As $uicideboy$ have gained substantial ground, their ability to tour all over the map is indebted to their open-mindedness towards influences near and far. Starting off with a love of New Orleans legends from 5th Ward Weebie to Lil Wayne, Ruby and $crim have also cited Southern rap icons Three 6 Mafia for their flavor, and of course, in terms of their delivery, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Meanwhile, local crust and vast vaporwave scenes play their hand at both sound and aesthetics. These countless factors have, in turn, produced countless mixtapes and EPs. Anticipation of first full-length I Want to Die In New Orleans thrives...” – CLVT Nation [Limited opaque grey colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>William Elliott Whitmore – Kilonova CD/LP+MP3 (Bloodshot)
Alt-country/folk/blues singer/songwriter William Elliott Whitmore follows up his 2015 album Radium Death with a collection of 10 select cover songs that have influenced his 15+ year career. From The Magnetic Fields, Bad Religion, ZZ Top, Johnny Cash, Bill Withers, Captain Beefheart, Dock Boggs, to Bill Withers and more, each song offers a glimpse into how his attitude and aesthetic were formed, like a series of tattoos and scars.
>Idles – Joy As An Act Of Resistance CD/LP (Partisan)
Joy As An Act of Resistance is the follow up to Bristol, UK five-piece Idles’ debut album Brutalism, self-released in 2017. Produced by Space and mixed by Adam Greenspan and Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Kate Bush, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), the 12-track collection takes aim at everything from toxic masculinity, nationalism, immigration, and class inequality - all while maintaining a visceral, infectious positivity. Singer Joe Talbot summarizes: “This album is an attempt to be vulnerable to our audience and to encourage vulnerability; a brave naked smile in this shitty new world. We have stripped back the songs and lyrics to our bare flesh to allow each other to breathe, to celebrate our differences, and act as an ode to communities and the individuals that forge them. Because without our community, we'd be nothing.” [Limited pink colored vinyl edition also available.]
>Ruston Kelly – Dying Star CD/2xLP (Rounder)
The release of Dying Star follows a breakout year for the Nashville-based artist, whose debut EP, Halloween, was released in April 2017 to widespread acclaim. Of the music, Rolling Stone praised that it “...shows a powerful grasp on storytelling gleaned from his love of the Carter Family and Townes Van Zandt, but also a more ragged rock & roll soul: it's Americana, if your Americana is Bruce Springsteen with an acoustic guitar, sung by someone who spins a little heavy metal too.” Of Dying Star, Kelly comments, “A lot of my music is focused on suffering, or trying to understand the human condition through the lens of suffering...which probably sounds totally depressing, but it's actually the flipside of that. Sometimes you’ve gotta go into that darkness – you need to get lost and then figure out for yourself how to find your way back. That’s the only way we can find pure joy, and really be thankful for the life we've been given.”
>Donna Missal – This Time CD (Harvest)
Rising New Jersey singer/songwriter Donna Missal's mighty set of pipes fit somewhere between the smoky pop softness of Lana Del Rey, the soulful strength and grit of Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard and the retro rocker howl of Janis Joplin. The songstress’ trifecta appeal carries her with a lighted torch to the forefront of today's crowded musical landscape. Her striking debut single, “Keep Lying”, blew up after it premiered on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1. About the Tim Anderson (Solange, BANKS, Halsey) produced follow-up “Girl”, Lowe said, “I love the modern production, the feel of it. But it also has like a timeless, latter-day Prince vibe to it.”
[Vinyl edition due September 28.]
>Bob Seger & The Last Heard – Heavy Music: The Complete Cameo Recordings 1966-1967 CD/LP (Abkco)
Rare material from the Detroit rocker’s pre-stardom band The Last Heard, available for the first time since their origination as 45rpm singles newly mastered. Bob Seger contributed to several local Detroit groups leading up to his breakthrough success with Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man (1969) and Night Moves (1976). While serving as keyboard player and occasional singer in Doug Brown & The Omens, Seger met his future manager Edward “Punch” Andrews who co-owned the Hideout Records label. After The Omens split up, Seger formed his own group and while writing for The Underdogs, another band on Hideout, co-authoring their single “Get Down On Your Knees”. After a failed attempt by The Underdogs to record the Seger-penned “East Side Story”, Seger was encouraged to record it himself and it was released by Hideout in June of 1966 under the name Bob Seger. The fantastic single was quickly reissued by Cameo Records just six months later, with Bob Seger & The Last Heard on the label, cementing the band's name. Stylistically, Bob Seger & The Last Heard went beyond the simple garage rock stomp and stammer formula and spread their wings lyrically and sonically in a few short years.
>St. Paul & The Broken Bones – Young Sick Camellia CD/LP+MP3 (Records LLC/Red Music)
With Young Sick Camellia, Paul Janeway has created an album based on a concept all-too familiar to him: family, and how we love them despite our differences. Originally envisioning the project as a trio of EPs, each from the perspective of the three generations of Janeway men, he realized he had enough material in the first volume – written from his own vantage – to make a full-length record. Assigning himself the image of a camellia, the Alabama state flower, Janeway uses his lyrics as a conduit for interpersonal conversation and excision, in addition to pieces of an actual conversation with his grandfather he recorded months before his unexpected death. From the opening space-opus of “Convex” to the snappy, buoyant charm of “Apollo” and the intensely personal bent of “LivWithoutU” and the album-ending “Bruised Fruit,” it’s clear that this is a dark, cerebral affair. Young Sick Camellia embraces a variety of sonic experiments and blurs boundary lines, but its focus remains sharply on the titular frontman and his bold, intensely personal and brave examination of his own family tree and how it has shaped him. [Limited brown colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>$uicideboy$ - I Want To Die In New Orleans CD/LP (G59)
“In a time where rap skills have become synonymous with clout goggles and laptop mics, cousins Scott “$crim” Arceneaux Jr. and Aristos “Ruby da Cherry” Pertrou have risen above the silliness by becoming one of the most influential voices of the melancholic rap community...As $uicideboy$ have gained substantial ground, their ability to tour all over the map is indebted to their open-mindedness towards influences near and far. Starting off with a love of New Orleans legends from 5th Ward Weebie to Lil Wayne, Ruby and $crim have also cited Southern rap icons Three 6 Mafia for their flavor, and of course, in terms of their delivery, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Meanwhile, local crust and vast vaporwave scenes play their hand at both sound and aesthetics. These countless factors have, in turn, produced countless mixtapes and EPs. Anticipation of first full-length I Want to Die In New Orleans thrives...” – CLVT Nation [Limited opaque grey colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>William Elliott Whitmore – Kilonova CD/LP+MP3 (Bloodshot)
Alt-country/folk/blues singer/songwriter William Elliott Whitmore follows up his 2015 album Radium Death with a collection of 10 select cover songs that have influenced his 15+ year career. From The Magnetic Fields, Bad Religion, ZZ Top, Johnny Cash, Bill Withers, Captain Beefheart, Dock Boggs, to Bill Withers and more, each song offers a glimpse into how his attitude and aesthetic were formed, like a series of tattoos and scars.
>AHI – We Made It Through The Wreckage CD/LP (22nd Sentry)
With a voice like "gravel on silk," Canadian songwriter and independent recording artist AHI (pronounced "eye") blends folk, soul and rock.
>Alter Bridge featuring The Parallax Orchestra – Live At The Royal Albert Hall 2xCD/3xLP (Napalm)
Live release from the hard rockers recorded at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London. [Limited vinyl pressing features an etching on the D-side. Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
>Eric Bachmann – No Recover CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
There was something sinister about Crooked Fingers, both the name of the project and the music that Eric Bachmann wrote at the helm of its ever-shifting lineups over 15 years. He retired the moniker a couple of years ago, but with his third album under his own name, the transformation feels gorgeous and final and irreversible: No Recover. The drunken louts and red devil dawns are a thing of the past now, monuments to a different time. Bachmann, husband and recent father, has some new lenses through which to view the world. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Alina Baraz – The Color Of You CD/LP (Mom + Pop Music)
Using color as a metaphor and a means of describing the discovery of new emotions, The Color Of You sees Alina thrive with her trademark vocal effervescence while exploring new sensual and striking production directions. The album thematically explores young love and musically captivates with an allover bigger sound, reflective of today's updated pop genre, a mix of R&B and electronic styles.
>Boston Manor – Welcome To The Neighbourhood CD/LP (Pure Noise)
Produced by Mike Sapone (Taking Back Sunday, Mayday Parade, Public Enemy), Welcome To The Neighbourhood is a soundtrack to disenfranchisement set in a fictionalized version of the band's hometown.
>Apollo Brown & Locksmith – No Question CD/LP+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
Released in July on vinyl – now available on CD. West Coast Berkeley grad, battle rapper and musician Locksmith has hammered out a reputation as one of hip-hop's most enlightened no punch pulling emcees, always bringing cutting lyricism that not only questions the status quo but offers deep truths for reflection. Meanwhile Detroit's Apollo Brown has built his illustrious career on emotive productions that draw the best out of already legendary mic kings. From his work with Ras Kass and OC, Skyzoo to Ghostface Killah, Apollo repeatedly creates eyes shut, head nodding, soul stirring perfection for our greatest storytellers to lay their truth bare.
>Kirby Brown – Uncommon Prayer CD (Kirby Brown)
Kirby Brown is somewhat new to the Nashville scene and has been making himself known through gigging around town. His new album, Uncommon Prayer, was recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL.
>Chris Butler & Ralph Carney – Songs For Unsung Holidays CD/LP+MP3 (Smog Veil)
Smog Veil Records is honored to release this last record from Ralph Carney, a celebration of the ridiculous and sublime. Celebrate your individuality on the most insane, inane, and irrelevant holidays imaginable. If it's Tuesday it must be Bubble Wrap Day or Penguin Awareness Day so throw a party with Chris Butler (Tin Huey, The Waitresses) and Ralph Carney ("The King of the New Wave Horns"). [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Cauldron – New Gods CD/LP (The End)
Born from the ashes of genre-defining, critically-lauded Goat Horn - known for being heavily influenced by Black Sabbath, Venom, and Judas Priest - which called it a day in 2006, frontman Jason Decay wasted no time in putting together Cauldron to continue with his heavy metal vision. Cut to 2018 and the recovery from a near-fatal crash, the Toronto-based band unleashes their fifth studio effort, New Gods.
>Steven A. Clark – Where Neon Goes To Die CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
Where Neon Goes To Die explores a complex relationship full of highs and lows. From sultry pop to heart aching ballads, the album retells Clark's travels through the city's nocturnal fantasy land through hooky, R&B-infused synth pop-file it alongside Prince and Frank Ocean - that (maybe ironically) could fill the floors at the same clubs he's singing about.
>Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions CD/LP (Weathermaker Music)
Clutch's twelfth studio album was recorded over three weeks at Sputnik Studios in Nashville, TN with four-time Grammy winning producer Vance Powell (Seasick Steve, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys). No stranger to the road, Powell spent three days on tour with the band in order to get a feel for what they do best, watching first from the front of house and then from the stage, checking out the live sound and how Clutch connect with their audience. With each band member contributing riffs to the album there was no shortage of material, each song road-tested long before it reached the studio. [Deluxe edition CD features a 24-page hardcover Clutch art-book package. Limited picture disc vinyl pressing also available.]
>Alice Coltrane - Spiritual Eternal--The Complete Warner Bros. Studio Recordings 2xCD (Real Gone Music)
After the death of John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane embarked upon a solo career that was marked with the same uncompromising vision, spiritual probing, and formal innovation as that of her husband. Her first seven solo albums were recorded for the Impulse! label, home to John during the latter part of his career; those records saw her branch out in unexpected ways, introducing new instruments (harp, Wurlitzer organ), new styles (raga, modern classical), and new approaches to recording, even incorporating classical string sections into a “free” musical environment. By the mid-‘70s, however, the Warner Bros. label was aggressively pursuing a number of Impulse! artists, with Alice at the top of the list.
>The Coral – Move Through The Dawn CD/LP (Ignition)
New studio album from British indie legends, recorded at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool and produced by band and Rich Turvey. The 11-track collection is the influential Hoylake five-piece's follow-up to 2016's critically acclaimed Distance Inbetween. The band cites Phil Spector's '70s albums with The Ramones and Dion as a key influence on Move Through The Dawn, music which brought “a big sound" whilst holding onto a sense of innocence.”
>Julee Cruise – The Voice Of Love [Reissue/1993] CD/2xLP (Sacred Bones)
Julee Cruise – Three Demos [Reissue/1993] CDEP/12” (Sacred Bones)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Twenty-five years after its initial release, Julee Cruise's sophomore album The Voice Of Love is being reissued on CD and pressed for the first time on vinyl. It would mark the final full-length collaboration between Cruise, David Lynch, and Angelo Badalamenti. [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
>The Durutti Column – M24J (Anthology) CD/2xLP+MP3 (Factory Benelux)
The Durutti Column – Without Mercy [Reissue/1984] CD/2xLP+MP3 (Factory Benelux)
2018’s M24J (Anthology) is a collection of valuable passages recorded by The Durutti Column between 1979 and 2011 for various iterations of Factory Records, including poignant tributes to manager/mentor Anthony H. Wilson. Without Mercy was originally issued in 1984 and widely regarded as Vini Reilly's most ambitious album. It has been digitally remastered and expanded.
>Eartheater – Irisiri CD/LP (Pan)
Eartheater (aka Queens based artist Alexandra Drewchin) distills foley-filled digital production, a three-octave vocal range, and classical composition into works suspended between obsessively detailed sonic tapestries and almost recklessly romantic and gestural electronica. Modular synth staccato plucks hammer out in arrhythmic spirals over a carefully muzzled grid of pumping kicks -- unleashed in unpredictable disruptions. Technoid stabs mingle with crushed black metal.
>Einstürzende Neubauten – Grundstück [Reissue/2005] CD+DVD/LP+DVD (Potomak)
Originally issued in 2005 as a small limited edition, the much sought-after Grundstück is now officially available as a CD and also for the first time ever as an LP, each including a DVD with previously unpublished film recordings of the project and an extensive booklet. With their noise-laden anti-pop, Einstürzende Neubauten has established itself as one of the most radical, unpredictable and unconventional avant-garde bands in the popular music scene.
>Escape-ism – The Lost Record CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
“A classic, destined to bewitch the minds, hearts, and dancing shoes of any rock 'n' roll fan who happens to discover it, for as long as such creatures exist. Without the high-octane hype machine of the mind-control minstrels who hypnotize the hapless through the mass media, The Lost Record is bound for inevitable obscurity, but – with its timeless tunes, poignant message, and innovative sound – rediscovery and immortal status is equally assured!” [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Estelle – Lover’s Rock CD (VP)
Born in West London to a Senegalese/Grenadian family, as a child, Estelle was exposed to African music, Gospel, reggae and dub. With Lovers Rock, her fifth album, the inspiration goes back to some of her earliest musical influences. The album features new productions from Supa Dups (“Come Over”) and guest vocals from stars in reggae, African and R&B genres.
>Everlast – Whitey Ford’s House Of Pain CD (Martyr Inc.)
Platinum-selling artist Everlast returns with his first full-length studio album of original material since 2011's Songs of the Ungrateful Living. Whitey Ford's House Of Pain is his seventh solo studio effort overall and offers an eclectic stylistic sampling from throughout Everlast's nearly-three-decade-long journey.
>Mike Farris – Silver & Stone CD/2xLP (Compass)
Farris’ voice, widely known for its power and range, becomes a vessel for something more subtle but infinitely more rare and challenging to capture-the pure, authentic nature of returning to your roots. Musically, Silver & Stone delves deep into Farris' background with a wide range of influences, drawing as much from Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers as from Bon Scott and Steve Marriott.
>Thomas Fehlmann – Los Lagos CD/2xLP (Kompakt)
At 61, Fehlmann is a longstanding member of The Orb, a multi-talented composer and a boundless experimentalist. In the twilight of his collaboration with Alex Paterson, he was eager to taste the flavors of the unknown again. As goes with that essential love of his for the free-flowing
nature of electronic music, this is a fascination born out of its "lack of borders", capable of "inventing, changing the emphasis, and experimenting with an unpredictable outcome"; Los Lagos "freely connects disparate extremes. Art, disco, minimalism, schmalz, jazz and funk; as he likes to say, Fehlmann's head functions as a sampler, capturing elements and re-assembling them under his own embracing perspective.
>Gold Star – Uppers And Downers CD/LP (Autumn Tone)
Marlon Rabenreither began his solo project as Gold Star in 2013 and now releases his third album, Uppers And Downers. "What artists do is reactionary to what they did before," he reasons. "I wanted to do the opposite of my previous LP, Big Blue, and make this record a collection of songs." Hence the title, which isn't a strictly literal reference to different mental states, or even medication, but rather to the diversity of song styles. The idea was to achieve a deeper scope, a more dynamic range: slow songs, fast songs, less genre specific, capturing all the moods."
>Grateful Dead - Pacific Northwest '73-'74: Believe It If You Need It 3xCD (Grateful Dead Production)
Triple-CD live archive release.
>Haunt – Burst Into Flame CD/LP (Shadow Kingdom)
Haunt began as the work of modern renaissance man Trevor William Church. Son of Montrose/Sammy Hagar solo bassist Bill "The Electric" Church, the California native came to prominence as the vocalist/guitarist of doom-lords Beastmaker. However, as Haunt, Church went solo and created a bewitching brew of classic, turn-of-the-'80s heavy metal, drawing deeply from the momentous NWOBHM movement.
>Hobo Johnson – The Rise Of Hobo Johnson CD (WB)
Real name Frank Lopes, Hobo Johnson plays what he describes as a kind of “Sad Boi Hip-Hop”, which is an accurate descriptor. From his slam-poet-rapped vocals, emo influences, hip-hop production, minimal and ambient instrumentation, overly dramatic themes, and bluntly honest lyrics.
>Infera Bruo – Cerement CD/LP (Prosthetic)
Featuring members of Trap Them, Cul de Sac, and Pillory, New England black metal quartet Infera Bruo take discordant riffs, blast beat drums and moving harmonies and takes the listener on a journey who doesn't realize his or her whereabouts until after the album is over. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.”
>Ital Tek – Bodied CD (Planet Mu)
As on his last album, the sounds on Bodied are highly designed, but this time barely a whisper of dance music remains. Instead it's built around acoustic elements and ghostly choral arrangements, refracted and transformed into atmospheric, alien forms which are given the time to settle and transform. Rhythm is used only as a tool to give his world a sense of dark, mechanical momentum. [Vinyl edition due September 21.]
>Jeff The Brotherhood – Magick Songs CD (Dine Alone)
Magick Songs marks a departure from Jeff The Brotherhood’s previous sound. Elements of ‘80s Japanese experimental music meld with Indonesian Gamelan forms, clever improvisation and abundant hand percussion, and synthesizer. Later, it's dreamy and ethereal, evoking psychedelic rock and ‘90s indie styles. [Vinyl edition due October 12.]
>Ruston Kelly – Dying Star CD/2xLP (Rounder)
Ruston Kelly's highly anticipated full-length debut, Dying Star, was co-produced with Jarrad K (Kate Nash, Weezer) and recorded at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX. It includes 14 songs written/co-written by Kelly and features Kelly (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, xylophone, harmonica), Jarrad K (12-string guitar, background vocals, electric guitar, Rhodes), Tim Kelly (pedal steel), Ian Fitchuk (piano, organ, drums, percussion), Eli Beaird (bass) and Kyle Ryan (banjo) as well as background vocals from Jon Green, Natalie Hemby, Kacey Musgraves, Kate York, Abby Sevigny and Joy Williams.
>Kingcrow – The Persistence CD/2xLP (Sensory)
New release from the Italian rockers. Kingcrow is influenced by progressive rock, alternative rock, ambient music, metal, and more are all present in the band's songs.
>Korpiklaani – Kulkija CD/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
The Finnish folk metallers return with their 10th studio album.
>Lenny Kravitz – Raise Vibration CD/2xLP+CD (BMG Rights)
With his eleventh studio album Lenny Kravitz continues to transcended genre and it promises to be one of the most eclectic of the multi-Grammy winner's nearly 30-year career. "Low", the song that got the whole process started, developed into a smooth funk showcase; what Kravitz calls "my Quincy Jones school" complete with horns and a string arrangement. The title track is lean power-trio rock, while the ballad "Here To Love" features Kravitz backed only by his piano and a string section. "Johnny Cash", inspired by an encounter with the late legend, is what Kravitz calls "psychedelic funk meets country." As usual, Kravitz plays most of the instruments himself, with longtime guitarist Craig Ross. [Deluxe CD and colored and picture disc vinyl editions in special packaging also available.]
>Krisiun – Scourge Of The Enthroned CD/2xLP+CD (Century Media)
Brazilian death metal brothers Krisiun return with their eleventh studio album. [Limited silver colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains The Same [Reissue/1976] 2xCD/4xLP/2xCD+4xLP+3xDVD (Atlantic)
Multi-format reissue of the soundtrack to the legendary concert film of the same name, which
was originally released in 1976. The performances in the film were recorded July 27-29, 1973 at Madison Square Garden during the band's tour for its then-current studio album, Houses Of The Holy. [Along with the double-CD and 4xLP reissues, a Super Deluxe edition is also available which adds a double-DVD of the full theatrical version of the film plus bonus content plus another DVD of the entire album in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and PCM Stereo.]
>Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – The Difference Between Me & You CD (Black Joe Lewis)
[Vinyl edition due October 12.]
Sonically inspired by the hill country blues of Junior Kimbrough, cowpunk style of The Gun Club, and the southern soul of Stax, The Difference Between Me & You charts new territory with a heavy stream of lyrical consciousness. Mining his first decade of experience on the road, the record is influenced by a deep repertoire of sounds: the heavy grooves of Albert King, punked-up blues of R.L. Burnside, the storytelling of Bobby "Blue" Bland, and the soulfully layered horns of the Stones, are all omnipresent throughout.
>Chris Liebing – Burn Slow CD/2xLP (Mute)
Burn Slow features vocal contributions from a diverse range of artists including Miles Cooper Seaton (Akron / Family), labelmate Polly Scattergood (On Dead Waves), Cold Cave, Aleen and Gary Numan. Burn Slow is a minimalist electronic epic and the start of a new chapter for one of techno's leading authorities. It might not be what you expect for a DJ synonymous with fast, hard, and heavy techno, but according to Liebing, he's always been something of a slow starter. "I've wanted to do something like Burn Slow all my life," he says.
>Eric Lindell – Revolution In Your Heart CD (Alligator)
With his raspy, soulful voice and instantly memorable original songs, roots-rocking multi-instrumentalist Eric Lindell is a true one-of-a-kind talent. Mixing West Coast rock and swampy New Orleans R&B with honky tonk country and Memphis soul, Lindell creates American roots music that is both surprisingly fresh and sweetly familiar.
>Manimal – Purgatorio CD/LP (AFM)
Modern and trend-setting power metal. [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
>Maribou State – Kingdoms In Colour CD/LP (Counter)
Maribou State’s first full-length since 2015’s breakthrough debut album Portraits features new single “Feel Good” - a collaboration born of their friendship with Houston-based trio Khruangbin and a shared love of breakbeats, vintage surf riffs and a common desire to explore worldwide music cultures. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Kathy Mattea – Pretty Bird CD (Captain Potato)
From a playful take on Oliver Wood's "Chocolate On My Tongue" to a tender rendition of Mary Gauthier's "Mercy Now," from a British traditional to a Bobbie Gentry classic, these are the songs that helped Mattea reclaim her voice, and she inhabits each as fully as if it were her own.
>¡Mayday! – South Of 5th CD (Strange Music)
With a reggae tinged vibe, the fellas in ¡Mayday! once again immerse you in the sonic landscape of their city, Miami.
>Metal Allegiance – Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Built around the core group of David Ellefson (Megadeth), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Mike Portnoy (Winery Dogs), and principal partner Mark Menghi, all-star metal outfit Metal Allegiance was formed in 2011 with the intention to "unite a collection of hard rock and heavy metal’s most notable musicians in a setting born under one ideal, a love of music and performing." Their second album An adrenaline-soaked, thrash-worshipping, groove-driven affair. [Limited black and orange colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Milo Greene – Adult Contemporary CD/LP (Nettwerk)
The genre of “adult contemporary” is characterized by its exceptional euphony. In skill, it effortlessly mingles sounds. In intent, it envelops itself in harmonies. In spirit, it has the beguiling ability to disarm listeners. That’s why L.A.’s Milo Greene, the always-evolving indie-pop band, chose the genre as its muse and namesake for their third album.
>Mirah – Understanding CD/LP (K Records)
Mirah's sixth full length solo record is a conscious return to her early unconventional recording process – an embrace of spirited imperfection and rawness inclusive of rough takes, natural room sounds and a fair amount of broken equipment. Bathed it he sparkles of disco ball light, Mirah recorded demos with vocals, guitar, organ and percussion in a former army barracks gymnasium at The Headlands Center for the Arts where she spent four weeks as an artist in residence. Once home in Brooklyn, Mirah teamed up with her frequent co-producer Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs, The Julie Ruin, Son Lux) and invited Deerhoof's Greg Saunier to join them in the studio. The collaboration sparked new textures and ideas. Building on top of Mirah's vibrant original tracks they used MIDI to transform a marimba into a distorted farfisa melody, drastically lowered the pitch of vocals until they morphed into sub-bass lines and added layers of distinct timbres from Crews' extensive vintage synth collection, a mellotron and an ‘80s era Soviet drum machine.
>The Molochs – Flowers In The Spring CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Innovative Leisure)
Clear, concise, immediate, undeniable, simple, direct pop songs.
>Monstrosity – The Passage Of Existence CD/LP (Metal Blade)
2018 sees the return of Florida death/tech metal pioneers Monstrosity with their first new music in almost ten years. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Shannen Moser – I’ll Sing CD/LP (Lame-O)
Hailing from Berks County Pennsylvania, Shannen Moser grew up steeped in folk and country music. Influenced by the historically rich area, stretching farmland, and local folkers, Shannen credits the area with giving her the tools to write the music she does today.
>Mothers – Render Another Ugly Method CD/2xLP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Sophomore album from the indie rock band. They describe their new record as “an assemblage of personal vignettes and imagine scenarios that examines consent, escape of the body, power & powerlessness, and the act of making.” [Limited yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>The Munsters – The Munsters [Reissue/1964] CD/LP (Real Gone Music)
Did you know Herman, Grandpa, Lily, Marilyn and Eddie Munster doubled as a rock and roll band? Despite the subhead on the album proclaiming them as “The Newest Teen-Age Singing Group,” they weren’t a real band, but that didn’t stop the label execs at Decca Records from trying to cash in on the then-new CBS hit TV show. Veteran producers Joe Hooven and Hal Winn had the good sense to hire the Wrecking Crew (most notably Glen Campbell and Leon Russell) to play this surf-tinged set of songs. [Limited green colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>New Reveille – The Keep CD (Loud & Proud)
On The Keep, New Reveille’s distinctive talents find common ground in traditions that stretch back to and beyond early America. On that foundation, through their varied gifts, they build a unique sound that encompasses the virtues of music that came before and the promise of what it might yet become. Their sound: Amy Kamm on lead vocals, Daniel Cook on banjo and guitar, George Hage on guitar, Autumn Brand on violin — an Americana lineup so far. But there’s also Kaitlin Grady on cello, adding a classical element, combining with Autumn in mini-orchestral textures and melodies. Cook’s banjo avoids flashy patterns, instead harks back to a pre-bluegrass era.
>Brett Newski – Lift Upside Down CD/LP (AFM/Backseat)
Growing up on Pixies, Cake, Beck, Weezer, and
Violent Femmes (who Newski has toured with on several occasions), Life Upside Down channels a raw '90s sound that brings you back to an era where guitars were king and MacBooks didn't count as a live instrument.
>Night Demon – Live Darkness CD/3xLP (Shadow Kingdom)
An exhaustive survey of Night Demon's iron-clad canon of traditional style metal.
>The Night Game – The Night Game CD/LP (Interscope)
The Night Game is the next musical chapter of Boston born/Los Angeles based Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and producer Martin Johnson (previously of Boys Like Girls fame as well as writing credits for pop stars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Kygo, Avril Lavigne, Jason Derulo, Christina Perri, Gavin Degraw, Elle King, Mike Posner).
>Ocoeur – Inner CD/LP+MP3 (N5Md)
“Diving into fragile synthesizer-based ambient plateaus and cascading atmospheric streams, Bordeaux-based Franck Zaragoza takes his music to another level on his 5th inner outing. Continuing to radiate light, each slice offered on this release is a breath of fresh air, a dreamlike soundtrack that seems to have always been there for us with each orbit around the Sun.” – Igloo
>Bernard Parmegiani - Les Soleils de l'Île de Pâques [1972] / La Brûlure de Mille Soleils Brulure Mille Soleils [1965] CD/2xLP (We Released Whatever The F**k We Want)
WRWTFWW Records issue two never-released-before soundtracks by French award-winning composer, audio experimenter, electroacoustic, and musique concrète magician, and all-around sound visionary Bernard Parmegiani, sourced from the original reels, and with English and French liner notes.
>Barre Phillips – End To End CD/LP (ECM)
A solo bass album by one of the great pioneers of the idiom. Over the last 50 years Barre Phillips, California-born but long a resident of France, has periodically issued solo recordings, considering them the musical equivalent of diary entries (the first one, in 1968, was called Journal Violone), updates on his ever-evolving relationship to his chosen instrument.
>Russ – Zoo CD (Columbia)
During the 2010s, Russ Vitale -- a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer -- emerged from the Atlanta-area underground with dozens of independent singles and albums, all of which were made freely available as downloads. Inspired by 50 Cent and Eminem, as well as the classic rock he absorbed as a youngster, the New Jersey-born Vitale gradually learned to play several instruments, including guitar, which was taught to him by his father. “Russ, an Atlanta MC, shows off his R&B chops on his new song, ‘Serious,’ from his new album, Zoo. ‘Serious’ is a lovelorn jam built around a mid-tempo drum grove and a delicate mix of piano and guitar.” – Rolling Stone
>Satan – Cruel Magic CD/LP (Metal Blade)
10 tracks of searing metal. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Saxon – Thunderbolt CD (Militia Guard)
Special Tour Edition of the British metal band’s latest album.
>Say Hi – Caterpillar Centipede CD/LP (Euphobia)
Caterpillar Centipede is the twelfth record by the indie-pop solo project of multi-instrumentalist Eric Elbogen. Since 2002, the songwriter's knack for hooky melodies, quirky lyricism and crunchy production has garnered a devoted cult following and critical acclaim. This new full-length, inspired by a vivid dream about a centaur named David Bowie, is his most focused and catchy album yet, with ten rock gems that will worm their way into your heart in whatever way possible (hence: the title of the record).
>Danny Seiwell Trio – Boomerang CD/LP (Quarto Valley)
Master drummer Denny Seiwell, best known for his work as founding member, alongside Paul McCartney in Wings, quickly became a legend in the jazz genre that make up the Denny Seiwell Trio. He is joined by Joe Bagg, who has been called "a masterful organist" by the Los Angeles Times, and John Chiodini, best known for his guitar work on Natalie Coles "Unforgettable" Tour.
>The Skull – The Endless Road Turns Dark CD/LP (Tee Pee)
Featuring vocalist Eric Wagner and bassist Ron Holzner, formerly of metal legends Trouble, The Skull creates classic Sabbathian doom with a psych-tinged metal vision.
>Skyharbor – Sunshine Dust CD/2xLP (E1)
Skyharbor bridge the gap between the postmodern prog-metal movement and the broader rock world, both literally and figuratively, crossing over creatively with dedicated skill and composure without sacrificing their identity. Sunshine Dust, the band's first release in nearly four years and first full-length album in a decade, delivers on the atmospheric and emotional promise of their earlier material, with breathtaking tectonic shifts between wall of sound ambience and groove.
>Kandice Springs – Indigo CD/LP (Blue Note)
Simple while funky. Classic but contemporary. Straightforward in the way it breaks down complex ideas and genres. And, at the end of the day, undeniably human. That said, Springs isn't quite a rebirth for the Nashville-born artist, who after stints living in New York and Los Angeles has returned back home to Music City. She's long had that lithe and smoky voice and an intensely expressive mastery over the piano.
>Stoned Jesus – Pilgrims CD/LP (Napalm)
The fourth album from Ukranian stoner rock trio Pilgrims is a rather multi-faceted affair mixing groove with noise rock elements infused with prog.
>The Stray Birds – Let It Pass CD (Yep Roc)
Let It Pass charts the trio’s tumultuous emotional journey in the years since the release of their 2016 album Magic Fire, a period which saw de Vitry and fiddler/guitarist/mandolinist/ ocalist Oliver Craven end their romantic relationship while choosing to continue their musical one. Along with bassist/banjoist/vocalist Charlie Muench, the pair had to face down an uncertain future and reevaluate what it meant to create art together.
>Stryker Brothers – Burn Band CD/2xLP (Scriptorium Rex)
There's a mythical, fraternal pair known only as the Stryker Brothers whose ghostly chords and verses have haunted the desolate Texas prairies for decades. There isn't much known about the brothers. No legal records of the two exist. It was only a year ago that a set of original, reel-to-reel tapes were discovered.
>Suicidal Tendencies – Still Cyco Punk After All These Years CD/LP (Suicidal)
“This is not a nostalgia act. This will be a full on Cyco Punk set taken to a whole new level with the legendary drummer Dave Lombardo (of Slayer fame) brutally beating the songs and sound that is made to get your slam on!” [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
>Taj Mahal – Sounder [Reissue/1972] CD (Varèse Sarabande)
Sounder is the 1972 Grammy-nominated soundtrack composed and performed by Taj Mahal, one of the most accomplished blues singers and multi-instrumentalists of our time. He also co-starred in the film as “Ike,” friend and neighbor of the Morgan family. The CD has been out of print since 1997.
>Tamia – Passion Like Fire CD (E1)
Three years after releasing her No. 1-debuting R&B album Love Life, Tamia is back with her sizzling seventh studio album.
>Mark Turner/ Ethan Iverson – Temporary Kings CD (ECM)
The initial musical connection between saxophonist Mark Turner and pianist Ethan Iverson was made in 1990s jam sessions in New York City, with both going on to individual success Iverson in hit trio The Bad Plus and Turner as a solo leader and in such groups as the trio Fly (recording in both capacities for ECM). A decade after their first meeting, the saxophonist and pianist began an association in the Billy Hart Quartet, the two players featuring sympathetically on two widely lauded ECM albums by that band. Now with Temporary Kings, their debut on record as a duo, Turner and Iverson explore aesthetic common ground that encompasses the cool-toned intricacies of the Lennie Tristano/Warne Marsh school, as well as the heightened intimacy of modernist chamber music. [Vinyl edition due November 2.]
>Various Artists –Beatfreak 9: Rare & Obscure British Beat 1965-1968 CD (Particles)
A sonic showdown of rare British beat pop pleasures delivered with a whiff of R&B, twenty tracks recorded between April 1965 and June 1968.
>Various Artists - Dustin E Presents... Cornflake Zoo: Episode Fourteen "Il Sogno Psichedelico Originale" CD (Particles)
The tribe of diggers and scribes at Cornflake Castle have painstakingly scoured the Roman landscape for plastic matter, not an easy task, considering that pasta, pizza and a bottle of the finest Barolo offer daily distractions. Italy has been notably absent from previous chapters in the series and Volume Fourteen aims to restore an air of equality to the occasion. While an Italian flake may evoke visions of a 99 for some, it is in fact, Dustin E's ode to psychedelic spaghetti.
>Various Artists – Future Sounds Of Jazz 14 2xCD/4xLP (Compost)
Compiled by Permanent Vacation's Benjamin Fröhlich and Tom Bioly -28 tracks by Move D, Roman Flügel, Slowdive, Isolée, Cobblestone Jazz, Luke Abbott, remixes by Avalon Emerson, Russ Gabriel, Kassem Mosse, I: Cube, among others, including three exclusive and previously unreleased tracks.
>Waxahatchee – Great Thunder CDEP/12”+MP3 (Merge)
Katie Crutchfield's ever-shifting musical project Waxahatchee returns with the Great Thunder EP. Featuring a collection of songs written with now-dormant experimental recording group Great Thunder while Crutchfield was also writing the Waxahatchee albums Cerulean Salt and Ivy Tripp, the original recordings have mostly faded into obscurity. Unearthing and re-imagining them with producer Brad Cook at Justin Vernon's April Base studio in Wisconsin was a cathartic experience. On the heels of 2017's critically acclaimed Out In The Storm, Crutchfield found herself looking to take a sharp turn away from the more rock-oriented influences of her recent records towards her more folk and country roots. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman – Live At The Apollo 2xCD/3xLP (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
In 2016, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman brought together their incredible talents and long experience of working in Yes to take to the road for a series of concerts celebrating Yes’ musical legacy of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. This performance, captured at the Manchester Apollo, includes classic tracks such as “Roundabout”, “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, “And You And I”, “Hold On”, “Heart Of The Sunrise”, “Rhythm Of Love”, “I’ve Seen All Good People” and many more. [Opaque orange 180gm vinyl pressing and stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions are also available.]
DVDs + Blu-ray:
>Alter Bridge featuring The Parallax Orchestra – Live At The Royal Albert Hall 2xCD/3xLP (Napalm)
Live release from the hard rockers recorded at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London.
>The Church – Future Past Perfect (Live At The Enmore Australia) 3xDVD (Unorthodox)
Triple DVD set with bonus eight-page tour program.
>Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman – Live At The Apollo DVD/Blu-ray (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
In 2016, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman brought together their incredible talents and long experience of working in Yes to take to the road for a series of concerts celebrating Yes’ musical legacy of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. This performance, captured at the Manchester Apollo, includes classic tracks such as “Roundabout”, “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, “And You And I”, “Hold On”, “Heart Of The Sunrise”, “Rhythm Of Love”, “I’ve Seen All Good People” and many more.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Bitter Funeral Beer Band with Don Cherry and K. Sridhar – Live In Frankfurt 82 LP (Black Sweat)
The marriage between this Afro-polyrhythmic roots, with the spiritual jazz of the eternal Don Cherry, and the Ondian sarod of K. Sridhar, it is in the direction to a pan-internationalism of profound spirituality, which blends different geographical traditions in a single contemplative gaze. It is the convergence towards a music without boundaries, where every instrumental voice shines and is well fermented and integrated.
>Kurtis Blow – Kurtis Blow [Reissue/1980] LP (Island)
Kurtis Blow's self-titled debut remastered from the original analog tape and reissued on gold vinyl. The LP features the classic "The Breaks" and was the first hip-hop record to be certified Gold.
>Marc Bolan – Misfortune Gatehouse: Home Demos Volume 4 LP (Easy Action)
Misfortune Gatehouse is the fourth installment in a series of LPs of home demos restored and remastered for vinyl from recently acquired materials returned to the estate of Marc Bolan. Featured here are embryonic recordings of songs, some of which would find their way on to T. Rex's 1974 album, Zinc Alloy while many remained unreleased.
>David Bowie – Zeroes (Radio Edit) b/w Beat Of Your Drum 7” (Rhino/Parlophone)
In anticipation of the David Bowie Loving The Alien box set, Parlophone issues a special 7” vinyl picture disc of “Zeroes” from the newly 're-produced' version of 1987's Never Let Me Down which is included in the box set.
>Bruise – Chief Ritual LP (Unbeaten)
Debut album from the Indiana hardcore band - "a five-piece wrecking crew who traffic sludgy, depressive jams that split the difference between fiery, pit-ready metalcore and depressive sludge metal" (Revolver). [CD version due October 5.]
>Ned Collette – Old Chestnut 2xLP (Feeding Tube)
“A haunting prog-folk song cycle for the ages. Ned's approach to voice and guitar resemble various models at various times. You'll hear smatterings of Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Pip Proud in lyrics and phrasing, but these are always just spices, added to the beautifully melancholic vistas Ned arrays before our ears.” – Byron Coley
>Editors – The Black Room [Reissue/2005] LP (PIAS America/Kitchenware)
Vinyl reissue of the debut album from the Birmingham based indie-rock outfit.
>Emerald Web – The Stargate Tapes1979-1982 [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Finders Keepers)
Sharing social circles and spiritual ideologies with artists such as Iasos, Connie Demby and Deuter, whilst splitting label release schedules with Laraaji, Laurie Spiegel and Wendy Carlos, the unique Florida-raised soul mate duo known as Emerald Web released their privately pressed debut LP at an axis where post-prog rock met proto-new age and ambient electronic music. his compilation album comprises early tracks from Emerald Web's debut vinyl release and the four rare cassette-only albums on Stargate Records from 1979-1982. Taken from original master tapes and recorded using revolutionary and prototypal music technology.
>ESG – Come Away With ESG [Reissue/1983] LP (Fire)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Reissue of the classic 1983 genre-busting debut album by the Bronx sisters ESG. So the story goes Anthony H. hooked up with Ed Bahaman and the band's landmark first effort, Come Away With ESG was born. In the intervening years, it's been sampled to death. Those in the know have hailed ESG as innovators who helped fashion hip-hop and house music and rewrote post punk, yet somehow remain something of a secret.
>The Gaslight Anthem – Sink Or Swim [Reissue/2007] LP (XOXO)
Starting with their auspicious 2007 debut Sink Or Swim, New Jersey-based quartet The Gaslight Anthem joyfully injected aspects of rock's most universal languages – arena rock and barroom blues, folk and pure pop – into punk's round hole, ultimately forging its own powerful, populist sound. Frontman Brian Fallon's penchant for evocative heart on sleeve lyrics and catchy melodies already appeared fully formed here and saw him anointed punk-rock's Bruce Springsteen while the band's ability to construct contrasting up-tempo numbers, folk sing-alongs and acoustic ballads with aplomb proved that they weren't interested in being defined or limited by genre or their heroes.
>David Gilmour – On An Island [Reissue/2006] LP (Sony Legacy)
2006's On An Island is the third David Gilmour album and his first studio recording since Pink Floyd's 1994 album The Division Bell. Here he reveals a personal vision and a breadth of styles – folk, jazz, orchestral and rock – brought together as a unified piece by his lyrical guitar playing and instantly recognizable voice.
>Grateful Dead – Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR – 5/19/74 6xLP (Grateful Dead Production)
The complete Portland Memorial Coliseum show from 5/19/74 presented on six-LP, 180gm vinyl.
>Colleen Green – Casey’s Tape / Harmontown Loops LP (Infinity Cat)
Many moons ago, Infinity Cat released an EP from L.A.'s own Colleen Green. Referred to by Green as Ramones-Core, this concise collection evoked the spirit of old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll, applying a heavy layer of classic punk influence to the songwriter’s well-known pop confections. The limited edition tape sold out immediately, and after years of emails, tweets, and letters, Infinity Cat is proud to present Casey’s Tape on vinyl for the first time. Featuring newly recorded versions of the OG cassette on side A and never-before-released tracks created for feral audios Harmontown podcast on side B. Allow yourself to be taken back to a simpler time when the Brill Building bustled and teen punks hustled; when pop music was more about craft than commercialism.
>Catherine Christer Hennix – Selected Early Keyboard Works 2xLP (Blank Forms)
The first in a series of planned archival records of the unheard music of Swedish composer, philosopher, poet, mathematician, and visual artist.
>Kristin Hersh – Wyatt At The Coyote Palace LP (HHBTM)
Wyatt At The Coyote Palace is the 10th solo album from Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses/50 Foot Wave) since her debut Hips & Makers. WATCP is a 24 track double LP that was written over five years during a turbulent period of her life while also being inspired by her son Wyatt and his fascination with an abandoned apartment building that was inhabited by coyotes. The deluxe comes on pink colored vinyl with a slipmat.
>House Of Krazies – Home Sweet Home [Reissue/1993] LP (Majik Ninja)
HOK (House Of Krazees) was the original name of the Detroit hip hop band that became Twiztid. After 25 years, HOK is re-releasing their albums on vinyl. The first is Home Sweet Home. This LP is standard weight, translucent yellow vinyl.
>Gabriel Kahane – Book Of Travelers LP (Nonesuch)
The genesis for Gabriel Kahane's Book Of Travelers began on the day after the 2016 presidential election, when Kahane embarked – with no cell phone or other internet-connected device – on a looping, 8,980-mile railway journey through the United States. Over the course of two weeks, he broke bread with dozens of strangers whose stories were woven into the song cycle. Book Of Travelers is a personal yet expansive meditation on the idiosyncrasies and anachronisms of train travel, which simultaneously grapples with the wrenching reality of a divided country.
>Roland Kayn – Simultan 3xLP (Die Schachtel)
First in the series of LP boxsets documenting the birth of Roland Kayn's cybernetic music. One of the great pioneers of electronic, computer, and instrumental avant-garde music, for the majority of his life, the German composer Roland Kayn remained almost entirely unknown, a founding member of the legendary ensemble, Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, heralded as a singular genius by a small number of figures like Jim O'Rourke.
>Hiro Kone – Pure Expenditure LP (Dais)
Since assuming the recording moniker Hiro Kone in 2011, New York City-based electronic artist Nicky Mao has personalized a space predicated on dark layers interacting with rhythm.
Pure Expenditure plunges into meditation and throbs in and out of a lucid consciousness orchestrated by Mao, but never veering into vanity.
>Konstrukt & Keiji Haino - A Philosophy Warping Little By Little That Way Lies A Quagmire LP (Karlrecords)
Second album by Turkish free jazzers Konstrukt and the Japanese avant-garde/noise icon Keiji Haino, this time recorded live in concert.
>Korn – Follow The Leader [Reissue/1998] LP (Epic)
20th Anniversary vinyl reissue of the third studio album by nu metal band.
>La Force – La Force LP (Arts & Crafts)
La Force is Ariel Engle, vocalist and newest member of Broken Social Scene. Balancing grace and ferocity, she creates a dusky universe of godless devotional music that comes straight from the beating heart. Produced with Warren Spicer (Plants & Animals), and featuring members of Broken Social Scene, SUUNS, Patrick Watson, and more fellow Montreal musicians, La Force is orbital soul music, with Engle's magnetic voice at its core.
>Marnie – Crystal World [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Crepuscule)
Clear vinyl reissue of the debut album by Marnie, the moniker adopted by Ladytron lead singer Helen Marnie for her solo recordings. Crystal World remains a stylish, slow-burn bestseller praised as an "ice-cool selection of shimmering nouveau synth-pop and frosty ballads" by The List, and "gorgeous and delectably glacial" by The Electricity Club. Expanded with a side of remixes.
>Mark McGuire – Vision Upon Purpose LP (Amethyst Sunset)
Warm electric soul rainbow songs for the Elders - past, present, and future. Mastered by the incredible James Plotkin.
>Mocky – Music Save Me (One More Time) LP (Heavy Sheet)
Compilation of so far digital only/unreleased or Japan-only tracks by the Canadian producer Mocky, who co-produced/co-wrote Feist's Pleasure (2017), Joey Dosik's Inside Voice (2018), and Kelela's Take Me Apart (2017). Featuring guests Jamie Lidell, Chilly Gonzales, Joey Dosik, Pegasus Warning, and Moses Sumney.
>Ian Moore – Toronto LP (Last Chance)
Ian Moore offers a new release of bright, blazing rock-n-roll that combines his legendary guitar prowess with radio-friendly songs that showcase his elastic, soul-inflected vocals. Toronto represents his initial blues-oriented guitar sound, touching on graceful pop songs and the psychedelic as well as British pub rock and deep Americana.
>Nightmare Air – Fade Out LP (Nevado Music)
Nightmare Air – Dave Dupuis [guitar, vocals], Swaan Miller [bass, vocals], and Jimmy Lucido [drums] – emit swaths of analog synth transmissions punctuated by distorted guitars before succumbing to hummable hooks befitting of the big screen.
>Owl – Nights In Distortion LP (Temple Of Torturous)
New album from the German doom metallers.
>Charlemagne Palestine – Interrvallissphereeee LP (Moog Recordings)
Charlemagne Palestine – Ttuunneesszz Duh Rruunneesszz LP (Moog Recordings)
These two releases come from Moog Recordings Library second UK lab session and is the first Charlemagne Palestine Moog Sound Lab. All electronic long-form drone works from an archive of
six recordings.
>The Pentangle – Sweet Child [Reissue/1968] 2xLP (Real Gone Music)
Limited sky-blue colored 50th Anniversary vinyl reissue. Pentangle has a style that seamlessly straddles jazz, traditional British folk, rock, blues, and even classical.
>Punch Brothers – All Ashore LP (Nonesuch)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Punch Brothers' first self-produced album, All Ashore, includes nine original songs written by the contemporary bluegrass quintet featuring guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjo player Noam Pikelny, mandolinist/lead singer Chris Thile, and fiddler Gabe Witcher. As Thile says, the album is “a meditation on committed relationships in the present day, particularly in the present political climate. We were hoping to create something that would be convincing as a complete thought, in this case as a nine-movement, or nine-piece, thought. Though it’s rangy in what it's talking about, and in the characters who are doing the talking...” Punch Brothers returned to the same room at United Recording Studios in Hollywood (formerly Ocean Way) where they had recorded both 2015’s The Phosphorescent Blues and their 2010 Jon Brion-produced Antifogmatic. Thile says they felt they had “established a rapport” with the space; the same “level of trust and love that breeds confidence” also led them to produce the album themselves, for the first time.
>Screaming Trees – Sweet Oblivion [Reissue/1992] LP (Sony)
Vinyl reissue of the 1992 album from the alt-rock band considered to be one of the godfathers of grunge. Although they were one of the best Seattle bands of the early '90s, they never achieved the commercial success of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. Lead singer Mark Lanegan started a very successful solo career after the Screaming Trees, working with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Greg Dulli (Afghan Wigs), Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian) and UNKLE.
>Shades – In Praise Of Darkness 2xLP (Caroline)
As pioneers of the half-time bass music sound, Shades has grown to become one of the more influential artists in bass heavy dance music. The duo has developed into something akin to a cult in the four years since their inception with music that's not only a legitimate full-frontal assault in the same vein as tunes from the golden era of gluttonous bass and synths, but that embraces that ethos while giving it a more polished feel.
>Archie Shepp meets Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio – Conversations 2xLP (Black Sweat)
If Conversations celebrates the memory, the artistic and spiritual heritage of bassist Fred Hopkins -- a historical member of the revolutionary Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians of Chicago -- who died in January 1999, it also marks the amazing collaboration between the Ritual Trio of Kahil El'Zabar (with Ari Brown and Malachi Favors) and the intrepid veteran Archie Shepp, the great voice of the '70s Afro-free-jazz.
>Soundtrack – Go [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Real Gone Music)
Doug Liman's breakthrough film Swingers showed he had a real ear for music; for his next film, 1999's Go, he traded neo swing nostalgia for rave culture, but the beats-heavy score still took center stage. Limited red and limited ‘Gopaque’ colored vinyl pressings available.
>Soundtrack – True Romance [Reissue/1993] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited 25th Anniversary clear with white splatter vinyl edition.
>Sun Ra – Disco 3000 [Reissue/1978] LP (Art Yard)
Originally released in 1978 on El Saturn Records. Disco 3000 is one of Sun Ra's greatest from the '70s. Recorded in Italy in 1978, it features some incredibly otherworldly keyboards that are some of his most enigmatic on record. Original tracks from the album include "Disco 3000", an incredible workout on synthesizer, with a tiny bit of drum machine, a little "Space Is The Place" breakdown, and all of the wild sound you'd expect from a Sun Ra album -- plus more long tracks -- the sweetly soulful "Friendly Galaxy", a great soul jazz number, and "Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens", which has spooky organ, frenetic bass, and somber percussion.
>Theatre Of Tragedy – Storm 2xLP (AFM)
Sixth studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band. [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
>Third Eye Blind – Thanks For Everything LP (Mega Collider)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New seven-track covers EP featuring songs originally by Tim Buckley, Queens Of The Stone Age, Bon Iver, Santigold, Chastity Belt, Happy Diving and Babyshambles.
>Tuomo & Markus – Dead Circles LP+CD (Schoolkids)
Finnish soul wizard Tuomo Prättälä and Americana/folk singer-songwriter Markus Nordenstreng joined forces, headed to Tuczon, Arizona and made an album.
>The Vintage Caravan – Gateways 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Fourth album the Icelandic heavy rockers.
>James White And The Blacks – Sax Maniac [Reissue/1982] LP+MP3 (Futurismo)
Limited 180gm colored vinyl LP pressing including bonus track. This fantastic Redux version of one of James' most revered records showcase his anarchic saxophone and deconstructionist approach to rock 'n' roll through avant-garde arrangements and a blending of contemporary jazz with a true punk ethos.
>Womack & Womack – Conscience [Reissue/1988] LP (Island)
Womack & Womack's fourth album is back in-print on vinyl. Features their successful hit single "Teardrops".
>Stevie Wonder – Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants [Reissue/1979] 2xLP (Motown)
Vinyl reissue of Stevie Wonder’s soundtrack to the documentary The Secret Life Of Plants, directed by Walon Green, which was based on the book of the same name by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. Wonder created the film score by having Michael Braun, the film's producer, describe each visual image in detail, while the sound engineer, Gary Olazabal, specified the length of a passage. This information was processed to a four-track tape, leaving Wonder space to add his own musical accompaniment. Wonder attempted to translate the complex information of the book and film into song lyrics.
>Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Interscope)
Limited edition Deluxe box set, signed, numbered and wrapped in red fishnet. Contains the original album newly remastered on two LPs, with nine unreleased demos, eight B-sides and rarities, and five newspaper lyric posters. Also includes a 164-page book of Nick Zinner’s photos with pages from Karen O’s personal diary, an iron-on patch, sticker, one photo card from Nick Zinner, and signed by the band, a cork USB with over 90 minutes of video and the 29 audio tracks included on the vinyl.
>Zero 7 – Simple Things [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (New State Ent.)
Childhood friends Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns began their musical career as sound engineers before teaming up as Zero 7 to produce remixes for the likes of Radiohead, N.E.R.D., Sneaker Pimps and Lambchop. In 2001 they captured the attention of music lovers around the world with their now-classic era-defining debut, Simple Things. Singers Sia, Mozez and Sophie Barker brought new layers of soul to the duo's jazz-funk roots, resulting in the million-selling, Mercury-nominated collection.
>Rob Zombie – Vinyl Box 15xLP (Geffen)
Foil stamp-numbered 180gm 15-LP box set featuring 11 albums, creeper robot mask, five lithographs, turntable mat and 8GB USB stick. Each copy signed by Rob Zombie himself. includes the albums: Hellbilly Deluxe, American Made Music To Strip By, The Sinister Urge, Educated Horses, Zombie Live, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Mondo Sex Head, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor, Spookshow International Live, The Electric Warlord Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser and Astro-Creep: 2000 Live.
New Releases for August 31, 2018
>September Program Titles Released This Week:
>Alice Cooper – A Paranormal Evening At The Olympia Paris 2xCD/2xLP (earMUSIC)
Alice Cooper is known as one of rock’s greatest entertainers with a career spanning over 40 years. A Paranormal Evening At The Olympia Paris - recorded during Alice's recent 2017 European Tour - gives listeners the chance to witness one of these fine and legendary theatrical performances on record. Supported by his outstanding band, the ‘master of shock rock' takes the audience on a thrilling journey through the darkness, performing big hits like “Poison”, “School’s Out” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” as well as the new classic “Paranoiac Personality” off of his latest studio album Paranormal. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Idles – Joy As An Act Of Resistance CD/LP (Partisan)
Joy As An Act of Resistance is the follow up to Bristol, UK five-piece Idles’ debut album Brutalism, self-released in 2017. Produced by Space and mixed by Adam Greenspan and Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Kate Bush, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), the 12-track collection takes aim at everything from toxic masculinity, nationalism, immigration, and class inequality - all while maintaining a visceral, infectious positivity. Singer Joe Talbot summarizes: “This album is an attempt to be vulnerable to our audience and to encourage vulnerability; a brave naked smile in this shitty new world. We have stripped back the songs and lyrics to our bare flesh to allow each other to breathe, to celebrate our differences, and act as an ode to communities and the individuals that forge them. Because without our community, we'd be nothing.” [Limited pink colored vinyl edition also available.]
>Iron And Wine – The Weed Garden CDEP/12”+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Iron & Wine follow up their 2018 Grammy-nominated full-length Beast Epic with Weed Garden, a collection of material that began about three years ago. The six-song EP features songs that were part of the writing phase for Beast Epic but went unfinished. They were part of a larger narrative for principal songwriter Sam Beam, who ran out of time to get them where they needed to be for inclusion on Beast Epic. Weed Garden also includes the fan favorite “Waves Of Galveston”. While on tour last fall, the final pieces of material took shape and a sense of urgency prevailed in bringing these characters full circle. To resolution. To completion. In January, Beam and company hunkered down in Chicago at The Loft recording studio to capture these six songs. No more, no less.
>The Kooks – Let’s Go Sunshine CD/2xLP (Lonely Cat/Awal Recordings)
The Kooks bold new long-player Let's Go Sunshine distills their timeless sound into its purest form while pushing it forward into a more expansive and mature space. It’s a moving, energizing and timelessly melodic record that's incisive in its portrait of modern British urban life. The heart and soul of the album lies in its hymns of lost innocence, fading relationships and the process of break-up and recovery. It's the sound of an ambitious, confident band stepping out and making a statement with their definitive album. Let’s Go Sunshine sees the band cement their status as true bastions of British guitar pop and take their rightful place at the table next to the celebrated bands that influenced them in their infancy, over a decade ago. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Amos Lee – My New Moon CD/LP (Dualtone)
Singer/songwriter Amos Lee says his seventh studio album My New Moon is “a dedication…it’s an offering - an altar of sorts to those who have shared their sorrows with me.” It is a product of profound human experiences; loss, grief, hope, healing, love, sorrow, and rejuvenation. Each track on My New Moon takes a journey through these intense and personal experiences. Opening track “No More Darkness, No More Light” was rewritten entirely after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and speaks to the hope for change that lies in amongst tragic situations and challenges. “Little Light”, written for a young girl who beat cancer, is a positive message of spreading light for the world to see, even if you’re facing hardship. “Hang On, Hang On” reflects the helplessness that comes after the loss of a loved one, “Crooked” brings to light the difficult and confusing times we’ve faced throughout history in America, and “I Get Weak” is a beautifully dark love song to something that might kill you, but you need it to go on living. The album reflects the darkness and the light that we all both experience and bring into the world, and how through these personal experiences and hard times, we grow more connected to one another.
>Mass Gothic – I’ve Touted You Long Enough CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Sub Pop)
I’ve Tortured You Long Enough is the tongue-in-cheek title of Mass Gothic’s second album. Husband/wife duo Noel Heroux and Jessica Zambri have always dipped in and out of each other's creative spaces, advising on their respective outputs and supporting one another. But, until this record, they had never completely committed to doing an entire album as a duo, sharing an equal load. The result is a record packed with the tension, chaos and beauty of a fluid and cathartic two-way conversation. In a universe that increasingly threatens our abilities to communicate and coexist, their creative union isn't just inspired but important. The final product recalls the frantic energy of Animal Collective and the celestial torch-bearing of Bat For Lashes and reveals a remarkable arc. It begins from a place of uncertainty, disquiet, and self-doubt, and concludes with the comfort in knowing that you can be both independent and successful in a relationship.
>Troye Silvan – Bloom CD/LP (Capitol)
Bloom is an incomparably sweet and intimate work, and yet it’s so well-named because from that base unfurls something grand and universal. It's also full of bops—a dizzy swirl of ‘80s synth-pop, crisp modern production, timeless balladry, and joyous dance—whose bold streaks and subtle shades effortlessly bridge arty to accessible. Sivan executed his vision with care, first writing with trusty collaborator-confidants Bram Inscore, Allie X, and Leland, then taking those songs to producer Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM, Usher, Kelela) and starting another batch in Sweden with Max Martin's MXM crew. He worked from a sonic moodboard—everyone from Madonna to This Mortal Coil, Phil Collins to Perfume Genius, Drake to Sky Ferreira—and emerged with a sound distinctly his own, but broad enough to span the liberating pulse of “My My My!”, the epic stadium-rock of “Animal”, and the cozy feel of Ariana Grande duet “Dance To This”. [Deluxe vinyl edition also available.]
>Aaron Lee Tasjan – Karma For Cheap CD/LP (New West)
Karma For Cheap is Aaron Lee Tasjan's third LP. While the stylistic shift from his palpably stoned ‘70s-country-channeling 2015 debut, In The Blazes, to his more sophisticated, introspective and lushly produced 2016 follow-up, Silver Tears, was relatively incremental, Karma’s rocked-up Brit-pop-influenced Beatles-Bowie-Badfinger vibes underscore a significant departure. The album boldly re-imagines these vintage sounds, pushing the boundary of what can be considered Americana. The roots of the new album stretch deep, drinking up the sounds of a Southern California childhood spent listening to The Beatles – back to the very first pre-teen year he picked up a six-string and started figuring out all the pretty little chords in those Lennon-McCartney tunes. Back to the pure, blissful unfiltered innocence of falling in love with music for the first time. [Indie-store exclusive red/orange colored vinyl version also available.]
>Various Artists – King Of The Road: A Tribute To Roger Miller 2xCD (BMG)
This 37-track, double-CD set includes artists from all genres paying tribute to one of the greatest songwriters/performers of all time. Miller was a singer-songwriter, musician, and actor, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping country and pop hits “King Of The Road”, “Dang Me”, and “England Swings”, all from the mid-1960s Nashville sound era. Miller died in 1992 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame three years later. Guest artists on this tribute include Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Kacey Musgraves, Cake, John Goodman, Brad Paisley and many more.
CDs + Vinyl:
>1939 Ensemble – New Cinema CD/LP (Jealous Butcher)
It is common, when describing an album, to reference the stylings of similar groups, thereby assuring the purchaser of a compatible listening experience. And yet, such a common task arrives at truly uncommon results when attempting to define and compare the multi-dimensional experience of 1939 Ensemble's fourth release, New Cinema. If experiencing casually, the listener might catch moments of rhythmic guitar-and-hi-hat symbiosis akin to Battles, reverberating trumpet calls harkening to Miles Davis, effects-heavy swells that could have graced Jaga Jazzist's mighty A Livingroom Hush or head-turning beat drops as deep as Amon Tobin's Supermodified.
>Alkaline Trio – Is This Thing Cursed? CD (Epitaph)
According to Alkaline Trio, new album Is This Thing Cursed? is a cousin or sibling to 1999’s Maybe I'll Catch Fire. Dan Andriano explains, “the songwriting process is almost like what it was back in the day. We would just kind of write a song, be excited about it, then move on. We wrote in that spirit in the studio. I really feel like we made a record that the old school fans are going to dig.” [Vinyl edition due October 19.]
>Anemone – Silver Star CD/LP (Butler)
Debut album from the Rotterdam-based psychedelic Britpop band. Raw and psychedelic soundscapes, Madchester grooves and ‘90s pop songs. [Limited 180gm green and white colored vinyl LP pressing also available.]
>The Band – Music From Big Pink [Reissue/1968] CD/2xLP/CD+Blu-ray Audio+2xLP+7” (Capitol)
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Band’s landmark debut album, Music From Big Pink has been digitally remastered and reissued on CD and vinyl featuring a new stereo mix of the album, produced by Bob Clearmountain from the original four-track analog master. This new mix achieves a striking clarity and incorporates some previously unreleased chatter from the studio sessions. For the LP, Chris Bellman cut the vinyl lacquers for the album’s new stereo mix at 45rpm at Bernie Grundman Mastering, expanding the album’s vinyl footprint from one LP to two. [Super deluxe edition includes the CD, Blu-ray Audio, double-vinyl LP and a 7” single with a hardbound book.]
>Beanpole – All My Kin CD/LP (Chimera Music)
All My Kin is the strange and somewhat unbelievable album collecting the music of an artist by the name of Beanpole. "Starving artist" must have been their mode of recording as stories of farming, eating, and disfigured animal-human hybrids course throughout the record. Very little is known about Beanpole, but it is widely recognized by collectors that most of the music originated from the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some sources maintain Beanpole is still active, although evidence remains unsubstantiated. Primus' Les Claypool claims he attempted to release a decade's worth of Beanpole recordings on his Prawn Song label in the '90s.
>Beyond The Black – Heart Of A Hurricane CD/2xLP (Napalm)
Energetic, straight forward, uncompromising, symphonic metal.
>Big Red Machine – Big Red Machine CD/LP/Cassette (Jagjaguwar)
New collaboration between Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and The National's Aaron Dessner. Each song includes a large number of collaborators via the PEOPLE platform. PEOPLE is a steadily growing group of international artists who have come together to create and share their work freely, with each other and everyone. It was born out of a wish to establish an independent and nurturing space in which to make work (generally around music) that is collaborative, spontaneous and expressive in nature and where all unnecessary distractions or obstacles that get in the way are removed.
>Black Mirrors – Look Into The Black Mirror CD/LP (Napalm)
A prime example of all the wonderful stuff that can happen when you sell your soul to snotty garage rock, blues, psychedelia and stoner rock.
>The Brutalists – The Brutalists CD/LP (Cleopatra)
Debut album from the brand-new project featuring founding L.A. Guns member Mick Cripps and London Quireboys founder Nigel Mogg. The Brutalists is a mix of the members' influences from the dirty, leering blues of pub rock to the urgency of street punk and the synthesized dance ennui of post-punk.
>Anna Calvi – Hunter CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
The third album from Anna Calvi, is the embodiment of the feeling of truly letting go. For the experimental, art-rock singer-songwriter it was a catharsis, and an opportunity to be more truthful than she ever had been before. It was time to stop holding back. Unapologetic and no prisoners spared, Hunter is an album of harder percussion, darker lyricism, and more thrashing guitars than Calvi has used before, walking us through a journey exploring power within femininity, transcending sexual taboos and breaking the laws of gender conformity.
>Chicago – Chicago II [Reissue/1970] 2xCD+2xLP+DVD (Rhino)
Limited Collector's Edition containing two CDs, two vinyl LP pressings and a DVD. Features the Soundstage performance on CD and DVD, as well as the original Chicago II album remixed by acclaimed producer Steven Wilson on both CD and double-LP.
>Circles – The Last One CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Australian progressive powerhouse Circles combines djent influences with extreme metal, stadium-like riffs and soaring vocals.
>Deaf Poets – Change & Bloom CDEP/12” (Waxromantix)
Deaf Poets is a garage/alternative rock duo formed in Miami Beach, FL and currently reside in Brooklyn, NY. Their music is the embodiment of hard-hitting drums with distortion-soaked guitars. Childhood influences such as Jimmy Page and Kurt Cobain led the duo to combine elements of '70s rock, with the aggressiveness of '80s punk, and an added aspect of '90s grunge to define their sound.
>Darwin Deez – 10 Songs That Happened When You Left Me With My Stupid Heart CD/LP (Lucky Number)
An equal mix of indie, wacky, Beck, and Fleetwood Mac, Brooklyn’s Darwin Deez is skilled at mixing sunshine pop with some indie attitude and lo-fi dissonance, but he’s been known to drive audiences crazy with his offbeat, Napoleon Dynamite-like dance routines.
>Delgrès – Mo Jodi CD/LP (Jazz Village)
Born in Paris to Caribbean parents, Delgrès's vocalist/guitarist Danae Pascal has long searched for the link between his love of the blues and the music of his ancestral home of Guadeloupe. This captivating trio gives voice to the slaves from the French Caribbean island who found refuge in New Orleans. Their name honors Louis Delgrès, a leader and hero who gave his life fighting against Napoleon's reinstatement of slavery in Guadeloupe in 1802. The group's blend of Mississippi Delta blues, Caribbean rhythms and Big Easy funk is injected with a dose of caustic trance rock that calls to mind Touareg soul, John Lee Hooker and the Black Keys.
>Jim Ford – Harlan County [Reissue/1969] CD (Varèse Sarabande)
Jim Ford was an American singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack and the Temptations among others. Nick Lowe has cited Jim Ford as his biggest musical influence, and Sly Stone once called him the baddest white man on the planet. His 1969 album Harlan County features Dr. John on piano and keyboards, James Burton on guitar (Elvis Presley, Gram Parsons, Elvis Costello, Roy Orbison), and Jim Keltner, (Traveling Wilburys), on drums.
>Slim Gaillard - Groove Juice: The Norman Granz Recordings + More 2xCD (Verve)
A multilinguistic singer, songwriter, performer and comedian, Gaillard swung in every genre with a uniquely funny, yet seriously musical, style. More than a crazy cult figure, he’s a hero to kids for his ditty “Down by the Station”, and his “Oronee” songs pepper the soundtrack of the FX series, Better Things. This collection presents every track he cut for Norman Granz’s pre-Verve labels, plus 16 rare singles recorded for MGM, and 10 previously unreleased alternate tracks.
>Great Peacock – Gran Pavo Real CD/LP (Ropeadope)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Call it rock, call it alt-country, call it the blues, or call it pop - an important element of this music is its self-reflection. While the songs transform the human condition to a positive assimilation of sounds, the lyrics speak of real life and feelings with a certain lament about the destiny of it all.
>Grant Green – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Blue Note)
Guitar icon Grant Green is represented by five of his most famous Blue Note albums, including Idle Moments featuring Joe Henderson on tenor and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and I Want To Hold Your Hand which showcases all-star backing from drummer Elvin Jones and organist Larry Young. Also includes Street of Dreams, The Latin Bit, and Grant's First Stand.
>Tord Gustavsen Trio – The Other Side CD (ECM)
Over the last decade Tord Gustavsen has experimented with other ensemble forms and formats, but on The Other Side - recorded at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio in January 2018, he returns decisively to the piano trio with faithful drummer Jarle Vespestad and excellent new bassist Sigurd Hole. Hole’s approach to his instrument, drawing on folk influences as well as modern jazz, is ideally suited to Gustavsen’s slowly-developing, deeply melodic pieces. Produced by Manfred Eicher. [Vinyl edition due September 14.]
>Charlie Haden – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Verve)
Legendary Keith Jarrett/Ornette Coleman bassist Charlie Haden presents five classic solo albums recorded between 1991 and 2001, featuring a superb array of guests including guitarist Pat Metheny, saxophonist Ernie Watts and pianists Kenny Barron, Hank Jones and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Includes Haunted Heart, Steal Away, Night And The City, The Art Of The Song, and Nocturne, each remastered from the original audio tapes.
>Hyro The Hero – Flagged Man CD (Century Media)
On his new album the rap/rock artist gets assists from Korn’s Munky and more.
>Bob James Trio – Espresso CD/LP (Evosound)
Bob James, the Grammy Award-winning jazz keyboardist, arranger, record producer, record executive, and founding member of Fourplay, returns with his first solo-led project in 12 years. Album tunes, penned by James, reflect the same inventiveness and musical fluency that persuaded Quincy Jones to become his mentor and champion back in 1963.
>Mari Kalkun – Ilmamõtsan CD/LP (Nordic Notes)
In the Võro language of Southern Estonia, Ilmamõtsan means "in the wood of the world". It's also the title of the third album from Estonian singer Mari Kalkun, and a step sideways from her previous band-led offering, 2015's Tii Ilo. Throughout Ilmamõtsan, Kalkun reconfigures the traditional to fit a vision of music which reflects its milieu. She plays the accordion, harmonium, kannel (the Estonian zither), chimes, bells and the luuvuur - the bone spinner.
>KEN Mode – Loved CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
KEN (Kill Everyone Now) Mode unleash a caustic new album. Loved sees the Juno-winning power-trio (in the most literal sense of the term) return to their noise-rock roots in the most thunderous of ways.
>Ali Akbar Khan – The Rough Guide To Ali Akbar Khan CD (World Music Network)
The foremost virtuoso of the sarod in modern times, Ali Akbar Khan was instrumental in popularizing Indian classical music in the west. This Rough Guide showcases his sublime talent and intuitive command of melody and rhythm which led violin legend Yehudi Menuhin to dub him "the greatest musician in the world."
>Jacques Loussier – Plays Bach: 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Decca)
Five classic jazz albums in one artist-themed budget-priced box. Pianist Jacques Loussier showcases his world-renowned fusion of jazz and classical music on five classic Plays Bach collections on Decca.
>Nick Mason – Unattended Luggage 3xCD/3xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
A co-founding member of Pink Floyd, Nick Mason is the only constant member of the group, performing on all their albums as well as all of their live shows. Unattended Luggage is a further celebration of his undeniably significant contribution to music. The set contains the albums Fictitious Sports, Profiles and White Of The Eye. Fictitious Sports is Nick's debut solo album which was originally released in 1981 and saw him collaborate with a variety of different musicians including Robert Wyatt and Carla Bley. Profiles is a collaboration with 10cc guitarist Rick Fenn - it was Nick's second album outside of Pink Floyd and was released in 1985 as Mason + Fenn. White Of The Eye is a soundtrack for a British thriller movie of the same name, Nick once again collaborated with Rick Fenn. Originally released in 1987, in conjunction with the film's release, this is the first time the record has been made available for over 20 years, and the first time it will appear on CD.
>Jackie McLean – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Blue Note)
Five classic jazz albums in one artist-themed budget-priced box. Includes Capuchin Swing, Bluesnick, Let Freedom Ring, Demon's Dance, and Jacknife.
>Hank Mobley – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Blue Note)
Five classic jazz albums in one artist-themed budget-priced box. Tenor titan Hank Mobley demonstrates his hard bop and soul jazz credentials on five classic 1960s Blue Note albums: No Room For Squares, Roll Call, Peckin' Time, Reach Out! and Another Workout which features Miles Davis’s rhythm section: Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.
>Mogwai – KIN [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Music] CD/LP+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
The staggeringly prolific force that is Mogwai return less than a year after their standout new album, Every Country's Sun, to provide the soundtrack to the anticipated, acclaimed new sci-fi major motion picture, KIN. Like their beloved soundtracks to Atomic and Les Revenants, KIN uses the band's original score as the genesis and point of departure for an expanded, fully developed album of new songs. KIN is cinematic maximalism and synth-rock minimalism delivered with the signature introspective grace that has defined and refined Mogwai's decades-long reputation. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Lee Morgan – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Blue Note)
Five classic jazz albums in one artist-themed budget-priced box. Includes Delightfulee, The Cooker, Leeway, The Rumproller, and Search For The New Land.
>Morrissey – This Is Morrissey CD/LP (WB)
New best-of collection from the former Smiths frontman and controversial solo artist. Contains studio classics, live tracks and the alternative Mael mix of the ever-popular “Suedehead”.
>The Oakland Elementary School Arkestra – The Saga Of Padani CD/LP (Modern Harmonic)
Avant jazz from Marshall Allen, Fred Frith, Terry Riley, & schoolkids. The Saga Of Padani presents the odyssey of 4th, 5th & 6th grade students from novice musicians into an avant-garde ensemble. An ensemble that engenders an array of sonic textures which never remain static or stagnant, but flow in a way that it's always surprising, often starling and astonishing. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Omnium Gatherum – Burning Cold CD/2xLP (Century Media)
A dark, heavy and vivid adventure through the troubled human psyche and the turbulent world around us, but it's also an exhilarating and big-hearted celebration of the rejuvenating power of gloriously bombastic heavy music. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Passenger – Runaway CD/2xCD/LP (Nettwerk)
Passenger is Mike Rosenberg, the Brighton-born singer/songwriter known for busking his way to the global hit "Let Her Go" which topped the charts in 19 countries. Produced by Rosenberg, along with longtime collaborator Chris Vallejo, his tenth studio album Runaway is largely inspired by the North American landscape and geography, both musically and lyrically, and taps into Rosenberg's family roots in New Jersey. [Deluxe double-CD edition also available.]
>Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour: Further Listening 1990-1991 2xCD/LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Pet Shop Boys – Very: Further Listening 1992-1994 2xCD/LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Pet Shop Boys – Bilingual: Further Listening 1995-1997 2xCD/LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Digitally remastered and expanded double-CD set and single-disc vinyl reissues. The expanded CD editions feature Further Listening bonus tracks.
>Madeline Peyroux – Anthem CD/2xLP (Verve)
Eight albums and 22 years since her debut Dreamland, Madeleine Peyroux continues to challenge the confines of jazz, venturing into the fertile fields of contemporary music with unfading curiosity. Peyroux’s new album, Anthem, finds the singer-songwriter collaborating with writers/musicians Patrick Warren (Bonnie Raitt, JD Souther, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Lana Del Rey, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Brian MacLeod (Sara Bareilles, Leonard Cohen, Tina Turner, Ziggy Marley) and David Baerwald (Joni Mitchell, David and David, Sheryl Crow), who are also the basic rhythm section players on the album. Together, they cast a sober, poetic, and at times philosophical eye on the current state of the world.
>The Pineapple Thief – Dissolution CD/LP (Kscope)
Dissolution is the follow-up album to 2016's Your Wilderness and The Pineapple Thief's second album to feature King Crimson and Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison. The new material establishes the band's intent to elevate themselves to new heights, with a desire to develop their songwriting and technical capabilities.
>Gilberto Y Los Intocables Rodriguez - Sabor Maracuya Desnuda CD/LP (Empty Cellar)
This is modern Chicano soul creased down the middle of Bay Area Guanguanco street rhythms, accompanied by overdriven bass and expressionist trumpet lines in full color. Groove-laden tracks bring the cruise to life and steal a kiss on the tropics of an eternal brown-eyed summer.
>Saintseneca – Pillar Of Na CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Saintseneca's Zac Little has been thinking a lot about memory. Not necessarily his memories, though they creep in often, too. Rather, he mulls over the idea of memory itself: its resilience, its haziness, how it slips away as we try to hang on, the way it resurfaces despite our best efforts to forget. Memory is the common thread running throughout the Columbus, OH folk-punk band's fourth album, Pillar Of Na.
>Trygve Seim – Helsinki Songs CD (ECM)
Norwegian saxophonist Trygve Seim’s new album, Helsinki Songs, is a set of tunes that reference Igor Stravinsky and Jimmy Webb, and includes pieces dedicated to each of Seim’s gifted bandmates. It also tips the hat, obliquely, to Ornette Coleman and Bill Evans. The quartet plays superbly throughout, with outstanding solos from leader Seim and pianist Kristjan Randalu.
>Archie Shepp – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Impulse!)
Tenor sax firebrand and avant-garde hero Archie Shepp presents a collection of his most famous Impulse! albums of the 1960s: Four For Trane, On This Night, Fire Music, Mama Too Tight and The Way Ahead.
>Jake Shimabukuro – The Greatest Day CD (JS Productions/Mailboat)
Jake Shimabukuro is well known in Hawaii and Japan due to his early solo career in the early 2000's and his international fame that happened in 2006 when a video of him went viral, playing a rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was posted on YouTube without his knowledge. He returns with a new album, The Greatest Day.
>Horace Silver – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Blue Note)
Groundbreaking pianist/composer/arranger and soul-jazz/hard bop hero Horace Silver is captured on five classic Blue Note albums of the early 1960s, including the famous Doin’ The Thing recorded live at New York City’s Village Gate by Rudy Van Gelder.
>Jimmy Smith – 5 Original Albums 5xCD (Blue Note)
Hammond B-3 Organ maestro Jimmy Smith is represented here by his legendary Blue Note debut album, The Champ, and four subsequent albums for the label: Live At The Club Baby Grand Vols. 1 & 2, House Party and Plays Fats Waller.
>Sungjae Son/Yuhlee Kim/Suwuk Chung/Soojin Suh – Near East Quartet CD (ECM)
The Near East Quartet has been a force in Korean music since 2010, juxtaposing elements of contemporary jazz and traditional Korean music with pure sound exploration to create new forms. Saxophonist/clarinetist Sungjae Son and guitarist Suwuk Chung have been members from the outset and the group has been strengthened with the integration of pansori singer Yulhee Kim and highly creative drummer Soojin Suh. On their ECM debut the NEQ plays five compositions by Sungjae Son and three Korean traditionals.
>Son Volt – Okemah And The Melody Of Riot CD/2xLP (Transmit Sound)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Anchored by Jay Farrar's songwriting and propelled by a renewed rock and roll aesthetic catalyzed by a cast of new players, Son Volt's Okemah And The Melody Of Riot was produced by Farrar himself. Originally released in 2005, this reissue includes bonus content - unreleased studio recordings and live versions of album tracks.
>Status Quo – Down Down & Dignified At The Royal Albert Hall CD/2xLP (earMUSIC)
Status Quo – Down Down & Dirty At Wacken CD/2xLP+DVD/Blu-ray Audio (earMUSIC)
Status Quo's pair of new ‘twin' live albums capture the legendary band delivering two sets, each full of hits, energy and passion, while each offering a radically different tone and style of delivery.
>Steve'n'Seagulls – Grainsville CD (Spinefarm)
Steve'n'Seagulls is a Finnish band playing bluegrass versions of classic rock tracks, such as their viral hit of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”, with an arsenal of instruments ranging from accordion, banjo, Cajon, double bass and so forth. [Vinyl edition due September 14.]
>Stillbirth – Annihilation Of Mankind CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Classic hooks, top notch production and exciting new elements help solidify the sound that has placed the group among the elite of extreme music. Explosive, unrelentingly, and massively heavy, the aptly titled Annihilation Of Mankind is a must have for all brutal death metal and slam enthusiasts.
>Still Corners – Slow Air CD/LP (Wrecking Light)
Evoking the atmospheric sounds Still Corners are known for, Slow Air continues the band's journey with an album full of tension and brooding all the while wrapped in a reverb laden dream.
>Stone Sour – Hydrograd [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD (Roadrunner)
Special double-CD edition of the hard rockers' 2017 album. This Deluxe Edition adds rare and unreleased tracks from the Hydrograd recording sessions and more.
>Tash Sultana – Flow State CD/LP+MP3 (Mom + Pop)
Tash Sultana is a young, dynamic Melbourne artist. Her vocals shine with a magical quality, she has a natural gift for melody and her instrumental dexterity is from another planet. Sultana enjoys eschewing musical boundaries, including the very notion of what a solo multi-instrumentalist can do. This fearless DIY ethos comes through now more than ever in the 15 instruments used to create her highly-anticipated album Flow State. [Limited deluxe colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Swingin’ Utters – Peace And Love CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
The rebellious spirit of the Swingin' Utters is as present as ever on Peace And Love, although the band looks and sounds a little bit different this time around, thanks to their new rhythm section of Tony Teixeira on bass and Luke Ray on drums. It's also been four years since the Utters' last full-length, so all three songwriters in the band had a stockpile of material when they headed into the studio. "This is, by far, our absolutely most political record we've ever done. We don't generally write very pointedly political songs. We tend to be a little more vague and abstract. But this one is pretty pointedly disgusted and pissed off and really directly attacking these fuckin' people in office."
>Szun Waves – New Hymn To Freedom CD/LP (The Leaf Label)
Sometimes in improvised music there can be a distance between listener and players, a sense you're sitting back and admiring their interplay and abstraction – but with Szun Waves' second album, New Hymn To Freedom, you're right in there with them, inside the playing, experiencing the absolute joy the three musicians feel as they circle around each other, exploring the spaces they've opened up. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Joanne Shaw Taylor – The Dirty Truth [Reissue/2014] CD (Sony)
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Wild [Reissue/2014] CD (Sony)
British singer/guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor is a bona fide star with famous fans across the guitar world, including Joe Bonamassa, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Wilko Johnson, Glenn Hughes and John Mayall. [Vinyl edition due September 28.]
>Thou – Magus CD/LP (Sacred Bones)
While sonically Magus may be a continuation of 2014’s Heathen, thematically it stands as a stark rebuttal, a journey beyond the principles of pleasure and pain. FFO alienation, absurdity, boredom, futility, decay, the tyranny of history, the vulgarities of change, awareness as agony, reason as disease.
>Various Artists – Putumayo Presents Ska Around The World CD (Putumayo World Music)
From Kingston to St. Petersburg, ska, the forerunner to reggae, continues to inspire musicians and fans in all corners of the planet. Features Akatz, Chris Murray, The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, Orquestra Brasileira de Música Jamaicana, The Pepper Pots, Sarazino, The Skatalites, The St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review, Tula and Zazí.
>Various Artists - The Soul Of Baltimore: The Ru-Jac Records Story 1963-1980 4xCD (Omnivore)
Rare singles and previously unissued ’60s/’70s soul/R&B. he Baltimore soul/R&B label Ru-Jac Records was founded in 1963 by local promoter Rufus Mitchell and investor partner Jack Bennett (their names forming the Ru-Jac name). The label primarily released regional soul/R&B singles from 1963 until the mid- 1970s, when Mitchell stepped away to focus on another business venture.
>The Vintage Caravan – Gateways CD/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
4th studio album from the Icelandic classic rock trio.
>Warm Drag – Warm Drag CD/LP (In The Red)
Warm Drag are a musical two piece, a two-sided conversation, two devils on your shoulders, one of them telling you to take that drug, sleep with that person and steal that car, the other devil whispering to hit the reverb pedal and turn the volume all the way up. The band listens to both devils, and they are bringing their samplers-and-switchblade post-noir noise disco to audiences with their self-titled debut. The two people in the band do specific things: Vashti Windish sings, the way Siouxsie sang power, the way Nico sang allure, the way Patti sang sex, while Paul Quattrone makes the noise with two Akai MPC 1000 samplers. These beats pummel or seduce, usually simultaneously, with synths that soar like Morricone or pump like DAF, and with gloriously twangy guitars that clang and echo like Duane Eddy spiraling down a k-hole.
>We The Kings – Six CD (S-Curve)
We The Kings return with their new album to celebrate the band's appearance all summer long on the final run of the Vans Warped Tour.
>Why Don’t We – 8 Letters CD (Atlantic)
Debut full-length album from the boy band.
>Wild Nothing – Indigo CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
From the opening drum beat, chiming guitar, and sweeping synth of "Letting Go" to the Bryan Ferry vocal turn on "Oscillation" to the '80s-heavy blips, clicks, and strut of "Partners in Motion," it's clear that Indigo is at once vintage Wild Nothing and a bold, new leap into a bigger arena. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Wstr – Identity Crisis CD/LP (Hopeless)
Sophomore album by English pop punk band Wstr (pronounced “waster”).
>YG – Stay Dangerous CD (Def Jam)
The rapper’s third studio album features guest appearances from 2 Chainz, ASAP Rocky, Ty Dolla Sign, Quavo, Mozzy, Jay 305, Big Sean, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Nicki Minaj. [Vinyl edition due September 21.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Amebox – Slovenia 86 LP (Amebix)
UK hardcore punks Amebix live in Slovenia in 1986 playing songs off of their first two albums Arise! (1985) and Monolith (1987). Originally issued as a limited pressing CD in the 1990s, this fully authorized first time (colored) vinyl pressing finds the audio cleaned up and remastered and adorned with new artwork.
>AnastasiaMax – The Haunt 12” (Waxromantix)
AnastasiaMax is a sibling fronted duo from Boca Raton, Florida. Merging genres of alternative indie, rock and roll garage, and blues. 15-year-old Anastasia has been playing at local venues since the age of 9, complimented by older brother Maxamillion, now 18. Their four piece live set up sound is strong and full with deeply rooted influences such as Jack white, Billie Holiday, The Kills, Ray Charles, Royal Blood and Nina Simone.
>David Bazan – Care LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
As much of a follow-up to 2005's synth-heavy Headphones album as it is to 2016's Blanco, Care (2017) also finds David Bazan getting back to the calm minimalism of early Pedro The Lion. Produced, recorded, and mixed by Bazan and legendary Oregon-based producer Richard Swift, bare synthesizers dominate the tracks, giving Care an intimate, personal sound. The vocals are close, mirroring the experience from the front seat at a house show. Steady, sparse beats tie the ten tracks together, thrumming a boom-tap, boom-tap like a thread.
>Marc Bolan – Babe Shadow 7” (Easy Action)
Four demo tracks recorded in 1972; three songs ("Broken Hearted Blues", "Tenement Lady", "The Street & Babe Shadow") feature Marc at home on an acoustic guitar whilst "Darling" is bolstered by the presence of T. Rex bassist Steve Currie and French musician Andre Herve.
>Boogarins - Lá Vem a Morte Smoke LP+MP3 (OAR)
Deluxe pressing of acclaimed Lá Vem a Morte Smoke release from Brazilian psych masters Boogarins. Originally released as a surprise drop last summer, this dark and hypnotic set carried the group to recent appearances at Coachella, and Rock In Rio. Features three bonus tracks including a trippy version of The Kinks’ classic “No Return” originally recorded for MOJO Magazine. 180gm smoky clear vinyl.
>The Byrds – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde [Reissue/1969] LP (Sundazed)
A key transitional touchstone in The Byrds' fabled canon, 1969's Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde was the next stop in the band's pioneering country-rock trajectory and the first album by the post-Gram Parsons lineup. With leader Roger McGuinn at the helm of a stellar new edition of the band featuring guitar god Clarence White, drummer Gene Parsons and bassist John York, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde sees The Byrds bridging the gap between the psychedelic flights of the group's mid-'60s albums and the down-home, country-based style developed only months earlier with Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. Limited clear vinyl pressing.
>Deaf Poets – Lost In Magic City LP (Waxromantix)
Deaf Poets is a garage/alternative rock duo formed in Miami Beach, FL and currently reside in Brooklyn, NY. Their music is the embodiment of hard-hitting drums with distortion-soaked guitars. Childhood influences such as Jimmy Page and Kurt Cobain led the duo to combine elements of '70s rock, with the aggressiveness of '80s punk, and an added aspect of '90s grunge to define their sound.
>Depeche Mode – A Broken Frame: The 12” Singles Collection 3x12”+MP3 (Rhino)
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell: The 12” Singles Collection 3x12”+Flexi Disc+MP3 (Rhino)
The Depeche Mode 12" singles collector's edition box set series launches with the release of Speak & Spell: The 12" Singles Collection and A Broken Frame: The 12" Singles Collection. Each set in the series will contain the singles from the corresponding Depeche Mode album on audiophile-quality 12" vinyl, with audio remastered from the original tapes and cut at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
>Erasy – The Doom b/w Under The Moonlight 7” (Doom Stew)
Erasy is a Brazilian band that sails through doom/sludge and stoner rock-metal. Able to satisfy the hunger for good sludge/stoner rock everywhere with an audacious sonorous overlook of their own.
>Faust – The Faust Tapes [Reissue/1973] LP (Superior Viaduct)
Faust stand among the most influential creative forces to have emerged from Germany in the late '60s and early '70s. Along with Can, Agitation Free, Neu! And others, Faust rejected the Anglo-American norms of rock 'n' roll to start a back-to-basics and uniquely Teutonic revolution in sound-later dubbed by the UK press with the semi-derogatory term "krautrock".
>Stan Getz – Café Montmartre [Reissue/2002] LP (Verve)
The famous Café Montmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark was the site of these live recordings, made between 1987 and 1997. Bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ben Riley join Barron and Getz in the earlier sessions, Victor Lewis takes over for Riley in the later sessions. A wonderful survey of Getz’ late, live performances.
>Hildur Guðnadóttir - Sicario: Day Of The Soldado LP (Varese Sarabande)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Score to the sequel to the globally successful film, Sicario, which earned composer, Johann Johannson an Oscar nomination. Day Of The Soldado was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, a collaborator on Johannson’s score, and a well-respected classically trained cello player who has recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with The Knife, Animal Collective, Hauschka, and Fever Ray.
>Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny – Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories) [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (Verve)
Vinyl reissue of the 1997 Grammy winning collaboration between Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny. It contains original Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny compositions as well as some undiscovered gems by Jimmy Webb and Johnny Mandel. Also included are covers of music by Roy Acuff, Henry Mancini, and Haden’s son Josh.
>Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson – Highwayman [Reissue/1985] LP (Sundazed)
Frequently Referred To As "The Mount Rushmore Of Country Music," The Highwaymen were country music's first bona fide supergroup. The majority of their singles were not credited to "The Highwaymen" but to 'Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson.
>Chase Huglin – Will The Sun Ever Come Back LP (InVogue)
Will The Sun Ever Come Back illustrates that Huglin has advanced the acoustic singer/songwriter genre in a positive way, carrying the torch forward from such luminaries as The Rocket Summer, The Lyndsay Diaries and even Dashboard Confessional.
>Jethro Tull – 50th Anniversary Collection LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
A 10-track single-disc retrospective that gathers key tracks from Jethro Tull’s 21 albums.
>Bettye LeVette – The 1972 Muscle Shoals Sessions LP (Run Out Groove)
Bettye Lavette may not be a household name like Aretha or Otis, but her talent as a soul singer is just as mercurial. She has cultivated a 55+ year career that led to three Grammy nominations, a W.C. Handy Award for Comeback of the Year, 2008's Best Contemporary Female Blues Singer, all of which tell the story of perseverance personified. The music on this record is from her 1972 sessions at Muscle Shoals Sound, backed by the famous house band of Barry Beckett, Jimmy Johnson, David Hood and Roger Hawkins. These tracks were never released at the time of recording and this brand-new collection includes all of her Muscle Shoals recordings plus two bonus tracks recorded the same year in Detroit, all making their debut on vinyl after 46 years.
>Raul Lovisoni / Francesco Messina – Prati Bagnati Del Monte Analogo [Reissue/1979] LP (Superior Viaduct)
Of all the releases on Italy's legendary Cramps Records, Raul Lovisoni and Francesco Messina's seminal LP from 1979 has long remained among the most beloved. Prati Bagnati Del Monte Analogo not only introduced the world to the work of two gifted composers, but also is notable for being produced by electronic pioneer Franco Battiato. A sister album to Prati Bagnati would be Giusto Pio's breathtaking Motore Immobile, likewise graced with the maestro's gentle hand around the same time.
>Mamaleek – Out Of Time 2xLP (The Flenser)
Fifth album from the San Francisco Bay Area-based black metal weirdos.
>Steve Marriott – Get Down To It 2xLP (Wapping Wharf)
A 22-track double-LP career-spanning rarities anthology of vocalist/guitarist Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie) with loads of unreleased material including recently discovered live '60s tracks and on through two more decades to the 1991 reunion with old Humble Pie pal Peter Frampton.
>John McLaughlin/Al Di Meola/Paco De Lucía – The Guitar Trio [Reissue/1996] LP (Verve)
The Guitar Trio is a reunion album by celebrated acoustic guitar virtuosos Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin, released in 1996 after 13 years without playing together.
>Moonspell – Wolfheart [Reissue/1995] 2xLP+CD (Century Media)
Vinyl reissue of the debut studio album by the Portuguese gothic metal band. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Graham Nash – Over The Years… 2xLP (Atlantic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Over The Years… highlights songs from the iconic CSN 1969 debut and its successor, 1970’s Déjà Vu, for which Neil Young joined the group. Also includes 15 demo recordings, 12 of which have never been released.
>Nonpoint – X LP (Spinefarm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On Nonpoint’s tenth album, signature grooves hit with haymaker force bolstered by hip-hop cadences, thrashed-out six-string precision, and unshakable melodies.
>Obituary – Obituary LP (Relapse)
Obituary – Ten Thousand Ways To Die [Reissue/2016] LP (Relapse)
Limited double green colored vinyl LP pressing of the legendary metal band’s recent 2017 album and first-official vinyl pressing of their eleven-track live set Ten Thousand Ways To Die.
>Iggy Pop – Bookies Club 870, Detroit 1980 LP (Easy Action)
Issued legally for the first time with restored and speed corrected audio - licensed from Iggy Pop himself - this local radio recorded September 1980 hometown gig captures the Godfather of Punk during a string of dates in small U.S clubs after the lengthy Soldier World Tour. [CD edition due September 28.]
>Prong – Cleansing [Reissue/1994] LP (Century Media)
Vinyl reissue of fourth album by heavy metal band. [Limited red colored pressing also available.]
>Rejoicer – Energy Dreams LP (Stones Throw)
Rejoicer (Yuvi Havkin) is a producer from Tel-Aviv, who splices together funk, hip-hop, breakbeats and jazz.
>Paul Simon – One-Trick Pony [Reissue/1980] LP+MP3 (Sony)
Paul Simon – The Rhythm Of The Saints [Reissue/1990] LP+MP3 (Sony)
Vinyl reissues of Simon’s fifth and eighth albums. Paul Simon's musical career has spanned seven decades, with his fame and commercial success beginning as half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with Art Garfunkel. The duo split up in 1970 at the height of their popularity and Simon began a successful solo career.
>Soundgarden – A-Sides [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (A&M)
Available for the first time on vinyl as a 180gm double-LP-set, A-Sides is a 1997 compilation album spanning Soundgarden's career up that point and last official release until 2010's Telephantasm. The 17-track collection gathers classic material from Ultramega OK (1988), Louder Than Love (1989), Badmotorfinger (1991), Superunknown (1994) and Down On the Upside (1996) like "Loud Love", "Jesus Christ Pose", "Outshined", "Rusty Cage", "Spoonman", "Black Hole Sun", "The Day I Tried to Live", "Fell On Black Days" and "Blow Up The Outside World" plus "Bleed Together" which appeared on import copies of the "Burden In My Hand" single.
>Soundtrack - Even More Dazed And Confused: Music From The Motion Picture [Reissue/1993] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited purple with pink splatter vinyl edition.
>Soundtrack - Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase Original Soundtrack 3xLP (Demon/Edsel)
Limited triple 180gm pink vinyl LP set and housed in a beautiful 12" x 12" hardback book featuring newly commissioned sleeve notes and including an exclusive note from author Neil Gaiman (American Gods, Coraline, Stardust).
>Soundtrack – Manhunter [Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack] 2xLP (Waxromantix)
Double 180gm blue vinyl LP pressing in die-cut gatefold jackets shattered mirror board inner sleeves, and all new artwork by Midnight Maurader. Available for the very first time in any format, the complete Manhunter soundtrack and film score have been remastered. “Michael Mann’s 1986 film was a critical and commercial flop, but its soundtrack has proved a major inspiration for the music supervision on projects like Drive and Stranger Things.” [8.0] – Pitchfork
>Sufjan Stevens – The Avalanche: Outtakes And Extras From The Illinois Album! [Reissue/2006] 2xLP (Asthmatic Kitty)
First-time on vinyl. Limited “hatchback orange and avalanche white” colored pressing.
>Suicidal Tendencies – Lights… Camera… Revolution! [Reissue/1990] LP (Century Media)
180gm vinyl reissue of the fifth studio album by crossover thrash band. [Limited green colored pressing also available.]
>Swervedriver – Ejector Seat Reservation [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Music On Vinyl)
The Oxford based alternative rock band released their third studio album Ejector Seat Reservation in 1995. Despite the little promotion and disappointing sales the album is widely considered as one of their strongest records.
>The Trongone Band – Keys To The House LP (Harmonized)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Trongone Band’s sound falls perfectly between southern rock 'n' soul and Americana jam [Limited colored pressing also available.]
>Umphrey’s McGee – Hall Of Fame: Class Of 2017 2xLP (Nothing Too Fancy)
A robust collection of the best of the best live tracks Umphrey’s McGee performed in 2017 as voted on by the fans. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Various Artists – Rough Guide To Hokum Blues LP (World Music Network)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This Rough Guide presents classic recordings from the heyday of the hokum craze – a collection of humorous songs which show a fun and racy side to the blues. Featuring many legendary country bluesmen including Blind Lemon Jefferson, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Willie McTell and Charley Patton, plus by blues divas Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Memphis Minnie.
>Watain – Sworn To The Dark [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Vinyl reissue of an immense discharge of magic and death that stands as the band's ultimate black metal monolith [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
New Releases for August 3, 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>MC Paul Barman – (((Echo Chamber))) CD/LP+7”+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. “MC Paul Barman is the most ambitious type of rapper. He is rhyming art. If your ears are open, MCPM is gonna plug your brain in at voltages to which you are unaccustomed. He's a social critic with a searing conscience that makes your comfortable bourgeois house of lies tremble with each jagged line on the PB Richter scale. His rhymes are original in the sense of ‘no one has ever used that word like that before...but we will now.’ Not that (((Echo Chamber))) is hard work. It is perfectly pleasurable to bop your head along to great tracks laid down by ?uestlove (six tracks), James Poyser, Mark Ronson, Prince Paul, Kenny Segal, Memory Man, and MF Doom. Not to mention scratches by DJ Yoda and features from Masta Ace and Open Mike Eagle to boot.”
>Big Big Train – Merchants Of Light 2xCD/3xLP (Plane Groovy)
New live release from the acclaimed modern prog rock outfit.
>Apollo Brown & Locksmith – No Question CD/LP+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. West Coast Berkeley grad, battle rapper and musician Locksmith has hammered out a reputation as one of hip-hop's most enlightened no punch pulling emcees, always bringing cutting lyricism that not only questions the status quo but offers deep truths for reflection. Meanwhile Detroit's Apollo Brown has built his illustrious career on emotive productions that draw the best out of already legendary mic kings. From his work with Ras Kass and OC, Skyzoo to Ghostface Killah, Apollo repeatedly creates eyes shut, head nodding, soul stirring perfection for our greatest storytellers to lay their truth bare.
>Kev Brown – Homework CD/LP+7” (Redefinition)
Hailing from Palmer Park in Landover, Maryland specifically, after a 13-year hiatus, the producer/MC has finally prepared the sophomore sequel to 2005's influential cult classic, I Do What I Do. Though Brown is known as one of hip-hop's elite producers from heavyweights like Diamond D, Pete Rock, Busta Rhymes, Peter Rosenberg, 9th Wonder and Jazzy Jeff, he is a man of many hats. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Peabo Bryson – Stand For Love CD (Caroline)
Stand For Love showcases legendary recording artist, Peabo Bryson's broad vocal range and musical skill. Counted among the world's most dynamic and gifted vocal talents, Peabo is a world-renowned balladeer with a career that includes two Grammys, two Oscars, multiple gold albums, multiple No. 1 songs and chart-topping singles in R&B, pop and contemporary jazz. [Vinyl edition due September 14.]
>Campdogzz – In Rounds CD/LP (15 Passenger)
Campdogzz is a 5-piece band from Chicago - propelled by pile-driving rhythms, insistent dual guitars, and the haunting, evocative voice of Jess Price.
>Chanti Darling – RnB Vol. 1 CD/LP (Tender Loving Empire)
Chanticleer Trü would like you to know that “RNB ain’t no joke.” As frontman of Portland, OR retro-futurist electro-soul adepts Chanti Darling, Trü drinks deeply from the sacred founts of disco, boogie funk, and the dizzying universe of house music.
>Commanche Moon – Country Music Deathstar CD (Edgewater Music Group)
Rooted in tradition but willing to push the limits, folk-rock and Americana band Comanche Moon is known for delivering expansive soundscapes that convey the desolation and toughness of the band's native Texas Panhandle and often slip effortlessly into upbeat rock and roll.
>Convictions – Hope For The Broken CD/LP (Invogue)
New album from the Christian metalcore quintet. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Shemekia Copeland – America’s Child CD (Alligator)
“On her eighth album, America's Child, produced by Will Kimbrough, a Nashvillian with quite the resume, who's played guitar in Emmylou Harris' band in recent years, Copeland offers a true hybrid of simmering, real-talking spirit and emphatic, folkie- and soul-style statement-making. The array of guest performers convened by Kimbrough and Copeland — including Harris, John Prine, Mary Gauthier and Rhiannon Giddens — signal Copeland's belonging within their rootsy ranks.” – NPR
>Ronnie Davis and Idren – Come Straight [Reissue/1996] CD (Omnivore)
Remastered roots reggae classic featuring two bonus tracks – part of Omnivore’s ongoing Nighthawk Records reissue campaign.
>Down By Law – All In CD/LP (Kung Fu)
From the newly revitalized punk rock label Kung Fu Records comes the 2018 album from influential punk band Down By Law, the outfit founded by Dave Smalley (Dag Nasty, All).
>Earth Girl Helen Brown Center For Planetary Intelligence Band – Four Satelittes Vol.1 CD/2xLP (In The Red)
The Earth Girl Helen Brown Center For Planetary Intelligence Band (E.G.H.B.C.F.P.I.B.) present the first vinyl release of their proto-lanetary series Four Satellites Vol. 1. -- a compilation of Heidi Alexander's (The Sandwitches) space psychedelic folk project's cassette releases that features a huge cast of guests, including Ty Segall, John Dwyer, Kelley Stoltz, Mikey Young, Lars Finberg, Tim Presley, Mikal Cronin, and many, many more.
>Forma – Semblance CD/LP (Kranky)
New release from the Brooklyn electronica trio. Semblence continues Forma's mission to "broaden the idea of what an electronic music ensemble can sound like."
>Gabe Gurnsey – Physical CD/LP (PIAS America)
If you want to know what Gabe Gurnsey's debut LP sounds like, the first thing you should do is put aside Factory Floor, the group he co-founded 13 years ago. Gone are the cold, lengthy, stripped back deconstructions of no wave electronica and industrial techno, abandoned in favor of something altogether warmer, torrid and succinct.
>Helena Hauff – Qualm CD/2xLP (Ninja Tune)
A former resident of the Golden Pudel club in her hometown Hamburg, Helena's profile and global standing has grown exponentially since the release of Discreet Desires in 2015, purely on the strength of her authenticity and her expertly curated DJ sets spanning acid, electro, EBM, techno and post punk. Gigging incessantly (and still lugging a box of records across the world) Helena's reputation earned her an invitation to join the BBC Radio 1 Residency, she was the subject of cover features for Crack Magazine and DJ Mag, she played headline sets at Sonar and Dekmantel, and at the end of 2017 Crack Magazine declared Helena "The Most Exciting DJ In The World (Right Now)" and her ballistic BBC Essential Mix was voted the best of 2017.
>Steve Hauschildt – Dissolvi CD/LP+MP3 (Ghostly International)
In search of the sublime, contemporary electronic musician Steve Hauschildt has designed grids and panoramas of sound across multiple releases through the rise and dissolution of his former band, Emeralds, an American touchstone of 2000s home-recorded psychedelic noise music. Consistent with his solo work is Hauschildt’s ability to coil his craft in precise, varied, and distinctly physical forms. Gently spinning arpeggios converse with post-industrial decay. Sonic fibers sway like pendulums from static melancholy to motorik bliss.
>Ted Hawkins – Watch Your Step CD/LP (Craft Recordings)
With his rough-edged soul/country voice and simple acoustic guitar, Hawkins brings you into his moody world, full with the life of a street singer. His dark and often quirky songs, rooted in the firmament of American country music and rhythm and blues, are balanced with a surprisingly upbeat sense of humor.
>Monk Higgins – Extra Soul Perception [Reissue/1968] CD/LP (Real Gone Music)
ax session man on records by Bobby "Blue" Bland, Barbara Acklin, the 5 Dutones, Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band, Alvin Cash, Otis Clay, and just about any soul artist who cut for Chess in the mid-‘60s, Milt Bland aka Monk Higgins is not what you would call a household name, but hip hop crate diggers know him well. Higgins recorded as a bandleader for the Dunhill, United Artists, and Buddah labels, but without a doubt the most hotly sought after album he ever made was Extra Soul Perception, the one-off record he cut in 1968. Backed by a crack band consisting of guitarist Arthur Adams and drummer John Guerin (probably best known for his work on Joni Mitchell's Court And Spark) among other accomplished session cats, Higgins' warm, earthy tenor tackles a mixture of originals and funk-infused covers. [Limited edition translucent blue vinyl pressing also available.]
>Houndmouth – Golden Age CD (Reprise)
New Albany, Indiana-based rock band Houndmouth, famous for their heartfelt, introspective storytelling and rich instrumentality, make their welcome return with a new record.
>Immortal – Sons Of Northern Darkness [Reissue/2002] CD/2xLP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
On the heels of their recently released new album Northern Chaos Gods, the pioneering Bergen, Norway black metal outfit reissues their seventh album on CD, vinyl and cassette. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Integrity / Krieg – Integrity / Krieg [Split] CD/LP (Relapse)
Metallic horror trailblazers Integrity join forces with cult US black metal horde Krieg for an unearthly split recording.
>James – Living In Extraordinary Times CD/2xLP (BMG)
Mancunian outfit James returned in May 2018 with the Better Than That EP and follow it up with their fifteenth studio album, Living In Extraordinary Times. The sessions were overseen by Mercury Prize-winning producer Charlie Andrew and rising star Beni Giles. “Hank”, which appeared on the EP and opens the record, is further evidence that James have no inclination to shy away from politics. Tim Booth is an Englishman in America, and that particular perspective on Donald Trump's American carnage couldn't help but have an impact on the record. As well as biting social commentary, Living In Extraordinary Times also sees Booth speak frankly about deeply personal issues. On “Coming Home (Pt. 2)” (featuring long-time collaborator Brian Eno), he writes about the pain of being a father on tour away from a young child. It also features EP title cut “Better Than That”’ where Booth urges the universe to do its worst, like a man squaring up to life itself.
>Winston Jarrett and The Righteous Flames – Jonestown [Reissue/1989] CD (Omnivore)
Remastered roots reggae classic – part of Omnivore’s ongoing Nighthawk Records reissue campaign.
>Kissin’ Dynamite – Ecstasy CD/LP (Metal Blade)
Pure, no-frills rock & roll from Germany.
>Lambchop – What Another Man Spills [Reissue/1998] CD/2xLP+MP3 (Merge)
What Another Man Spills (1998) represented a milestone in Lambchop's career, but not in the modern sense of a ‘landmark' release. Building on foundations that had once sounded almost literally creaky, it expands upon the tentative maneuvers they'd undertaken with the previous year's Thriller (1997) and gestures confidently towards its brassy successor, Nixon, which would arrive in 2000 to wild acclaim and previously unimaginable commercial success. Indeed, it sits at a crossroads between the band that Lambchop first emerged as, and the band that they would later become. [Limited deluxe colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Jim Lauderdale – Time Flies CD/LP+MP3 (Yep Roc)
Classic Americana distinctively infused with striking notes of country and soul.
>LFZ – Name Plus Focus CD/LP (Castle Face)
New release from the deep improvisational and experimental band, with guitar at its heart, manipulated by electronics. For fans of JD Emanuel, Edgar Froese, Syrinx, Michael Rother, and Wendy Carlos.
>Lovelytheband – Finding It Hard To Smile CD/2xLP (Century Media)
Following-up their promising 2017 EP, Everything I Could Never Say..., Finding It Hard To Smile is the catchy, synth-driven full-length debut effort from sleek L.A.-based indie-pop trio Lovelytheband featuring vocalist/guitarist Mitchy Collins, guitarist/keyboardist Jordan Greenwald and drummer Sam Price. The inviting 16-track, double-LP collection is ushered in by the infectious MGMT-esque hit single "Broken". [Limited autographed vinyl copies also available.]
>Lucero – Among The Ghosts CD/LP (Liberty & Lament)
Lucero’s ninth studio album, Among The Ghosts, was recorded at the historic Sam Phillips Recording Service, the studio built by the legendary producer after outgrowing his Memphis Recording Service/Sun Studio. Captured primarily live, it eschews the Stax-inspired horns and Jerry Lee Lewis-style boogie piano featured on some of the band’s past recordings for a streamlined rock & roll sound that pays homage to their seminal influences as it seeks to push that legacy into the future. For a band who carried the torch of the alt-country movement back in the ‘90s and helped pave the way for what is now called Americana, Lucero have re-discovered what inspired them in the first place. The ten-song LP’s title is both a tribute to the spirits which roam the streets of their fabled city of Memphis, as well as the hard road the determinedly independent band set out on 20 years ago. Among The Ghosts has a dark palette that includes tales of a haunting (“Among The Ghosts”), a drowning (“Bottom Of The Sea), a reckoning with the devil (“Everything Has Changed”), a divorce (“Always Been You”), and a shootout (“Cover Me”). And that's just Side A.
>Tunde Mabadu – Viva Disco [Reissue/1980] CD/LP (Mondo)
CD and vinyl reissue of an ultra-rare Nigerian disco-boogie album from 1980. Tunde Mabadu recorded two albums in the 70's - Viva Disco and Bisu - as Tunde Mabadu & His Sunrise. Perfect examples of golden-era Nigerian disco and boogie, that still hold their own today.
>Marlowe – Marlowe CD/LP+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. A triumph of ambition, Marlowe is a rap bricolage blending prohibition and civil rights-era samples with Asian psychedelic rock flourishes.
>Mac Miller – Swimming CD (WB)
Introduced by the sonically laid-back and funk/R&B-heavy tracks "Self Care," "Small Worlds" and "What's The Use?", Swimming is the latest exploratory offering from shape-shifting rapper/singer/producer Mac Miller and follow-up to 2016's The Divine Feminine. Serving as his fifth full-length studio effort overall, it includes contributions from fellow rapper/producer J. Cole, British singer/songwriter Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange) and composer/instrumentalist John Brion. Miller told Zane Lowe that the album is focused on space and "what it means to be inside of a record." [Vinyl edition tentatively scheduled for October 26.]
>Michael Nesmith & The First National Band Redux – Live At The Troubadour CD/2xLP (7A)
live release from the veteran singer/songwriter and former Monkee. [Limited opaque gold colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Nigeria Fuji Machine - Syncho Sound System & Power CD/2xLP (Soul Jazz)
Syncho Sound System & Power features the music of Nigeria Fuji Machine, which includes some of the country's finest Fuji master drummers and singers, and is newly recorded by Soul Jazz Records in Lagos, Nigeria. Fuji is the heavily percussive and improvisational style of Nigerian popular music, at once modern and yet deeply rooted in the traditional Islamic Yoruba culture of Nigeria, a hi-energy street music which evolved out of the Islamic celebration of Ramadan.
>NOFX – Ribbed: Live In A Dive CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
The eighth edition of Fat Wreck Chord’s Live In A Dive series features the legendary L.A. punk band NOFX’s performance of their 1991 classic Ribbed.
>Amanda Shires – To The Sunset CD/LP (Silver Knife)
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter/violinist Amanda Shires' follows up her critically acclaimed 2016 release My Piece Of Land with her highly anticipated fifth album, To The Sunset. It serves as Shires' second album with Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb and represents an adventurous move with an edgier sound and attitude. Shires continues to push herself artistically and sonically, but the spotlight always shines brightly on her unmistakable songwriting style and emotive and distinctive vocals. To The Sunset is a compelling collection of narratives often told from a female perspective. The themes range from grappling with self-esteem in “Mirror, Mirror” to mental illness and addiction in standout track “Wasn't I Paying Attention?” and the power of a changed perspective with a dash of her signature wit in “Break Out The Champagne”. Shires has a penchant for delivering her stories in ways that are intelligent and poetic yet thoughtful and warm, feeling as if coming from a good friend. One of the boldest and most honest traits about Shires is her fearless way of approaching subjects and plots within her songs. Features special guest Jason Isbell on guitar.
>Sims x Air Credits x ICETEP – Arteria Verité CD/LP (Doomtree)
Rap music from the near and bleak future; or more aptly, from next week’s dystopia. Artería Verité is a concept album that ended up being more future-realist than conceptual.
>Spider Bags – Someday Everything Will Be Fine CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Recorded in Memphis at Bunker Audio by Andrew McCalla (who also engineered Spider Bags' seminal 2012 rock and roll party record Shake My Head), Someday Everything Will Be Fine leverages the limitations and glory of the Tascam 388, a vintage recording/mixing device that's acquired a mythos via its association with legendary records by Dinosaur Jr., East River Pipe, the Black Keys, Ty Segall, and Thee Oh Sees to name a few. [Deluxe colored vinyl pressing also availbable.]
>Spirit Animal –Born Yesterday CD (Atlantic)
On Spirit Animal's 2018 full-length debut, Born Yesterday, the band not only proves 808s and guitars can coexist in harmony, they also craft airtight songs that would delight in any era.
>The Temperance Movement – A Deeper Cut CD (Spinefarm)
Third studio album by the British blues rock band. [Vinyl edition due September 14.]
>Trophy Eyes – The American Dream CD/LP+MP3 (Hopeless)
This Australian quintet blends punk influence with mainstream rock.
>Ultraphonix – Original Human Music CD/LP (earMUSIC)
Ultraphonix is the new creation of Corey Glover (Living Colour) and George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob) alongside the great rhythm section of drummer Chris Moore and bassist Pancho Tomaselli. The core and value of Ultraphonix lies in the songwriting and the quality of the songs. Original Human Music is an album where Glover’s profound and thoughtful lyrics sound loud, together with the warm and heavy wall of sound created by Lynch. To quote Lynch, “The album sounds like a fusion of early Chili Peppers meets King Crimson meets Judas Priest! It's a super fun band.” Drawing on (very heavy) rock, funk and jazz influences, Ultraphonix celebrates social consciousness through great rock songs.
>White Ring – Gate Of Grief CD (Rocket Girl)
Blending heavy, distorted electronics with eerie, unsettling vocals, Gate Of Grief, created over the course of seven years, pushes the boundaries even further, subverting genre ideas and mashing them all together, with industrial, metal, rave, chopped and screwed, rap, grunge, neo folk, post punk and new wave all in the mix. [Vinyl edition due August 10.]
>YG – Stay Dangerous CD (Def Jam)
Third album from the Compton rapper. Includes "Big Bank", YG's summer banger featuring Nicki Minaj, 2 Chains and Big Sean. [Vinyl edition due August 17.]
DVDs + Blu-ray:
>Alan Parsons Project – Eye In The Sky [Reissue/1982] Blu-ray Audio (Real Gone Music)
35th Anniversary reissue featuring 5.1 Surround Sound Mix (2017) and stereo HD version.
>Midnight Oil – 1984 DVD (Madman Films)
the story of the sweat soaked, hard-working rock n roll band whose music galvanized a generation of young Australians.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>A.G. – The Taste Of AMBrosia LP (Slice Of Spice)
“A full meal serving for mature rap devotees who've grown tired of contemporary rhymesayer laziness.” [Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Daniel Avery – Song For Alpha Remixes – One 12” (Mute)
On the first remix EP born of Daniel Avery’s transcendent sophomore album, Song For Alpha, three contemporaries of modern techno offer diverse interpretations.
>Blockhead – The Art Of The Sample LP (Young Heavy Souls)
New York hip-hop producer Blockhead was given access to sample de Wolfe's music library and create his own library record. In his own words "These are not typical Blockhead songs. They're more stripped down and focused for the purpose of being used in TV and film. For those who are unfamiliar with de Wolfe, they are a music library that has been doing music for film, radio and television for nearly 100 years. They make original music that gets plugged into all sorts of things and has been heard around the world. If you're a producer, you have very likely sampled them and not even realized it. I was fortunate enough for them to allow me to make an album entirely out of their back catalogue.”
>Blu & Shafiq Husayn – The Blueprint 2xLP (Nature Sounds)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. In recent years, Los Angeles rapper Blu has become one of hip-hop's most prolific artists, releasing more than a dozen acclaimed projects. The gifted lyricist often joins forces with a single producer for an entire collection, leading to classic collaborative releases with Exile, Nottz, Madlib, and more. The Blueprint is a new mixtape produced by Shafiq Husayn, known as one third of visionary production team Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Shafiq has produced for the likes of Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Andre 3000, John Legend, Anderson Paak, Thundercat, Bilal, Ty Dolla $ign, Ice T, and many more
>Bluestaeb - Everything Is Always A Process LP (Jakarta)
A smooth neo soul-induced epic with guest appearances by Noah Slee, Harleighblu and Melodiesinfonie.
>Jeff Buckley – Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk [Reissue/1998] 3xLP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Jeff Buckley – Mystery White Boy: Live '95 - '96 [Reissue/2000] 2xLP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Vinyl reissues now available. Buckley was dissatisfied with material recorded in the summer of 1996 and early in 1997 and continued working on demo recordings to refine his sound. The album was to be titled My Sweetheart, The Drunk, but was never finished, as the rest of the band were traveling to meet Buckley at the time of his death on May 29th 1997.
>The Byrds – Sweetheart Of The Rodeo [Reissue/1968] LP (Friday Music)
Limited audiophile 180gm translucent green and blue swirl colored vinyl pressing.
>The Cranberries – Something Else LP (The End)
Released last year on CD – now available on limited green colored vinyl. “Something Else by The Cranberries is a strange sort of greatest hits compilation. On one hand, it does collect the Irish band’s most popular songs, dutifully released to mark the 25 years since their first formal musical release: the ethereal, fresh-faced 1992 single ‘Dreams.’ But Something Else isn’t a mercenary cash grab, bloodlessly assembled to fulfill a contractual obligation. For one, it features three brand-new songs. Every old song on it was also re-recorded in 2016 acoustically and with string accompaniment (provided by the Irish Chamber Orchestra). Rather, Something Else is a veteran band’s attempt to celebrate their own canon by reimagining and extending it. While The Cranberries’ previous and only conventional greatest hits album, Stars: The Best of 1992-2002, showcases the band’s rockier side, the only heavy song on this project is (obviously) ‘Zombie.’ Here, the swooping strings and finger-plucked guitars supply ‘Zombie’ a somber gravitas that the grungy, stricken, and occasionally grating original never offered. It’s a mood that feels apt for reflection on the Troubles in Ireland, two decades on.” – Mr. Bill Brazil
>The Doobie Brothers – Southbound [Reissue/2014] LP (Friday Music)
Limited 180gm translucent gold swirl vinyl LP pressing of The Doobie Brothers’ star-studded 2014 album comprised re-recorded versions of their biggest hits. Includes contributions by Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Casey James, Charlie Worsham, Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann, Johnnyswim's Amanda Sudano Ramirez, Love and Theft, Sara Evans, Toby Keith, Tyler Farr, and the Zac Brown Band.
>Deli & Blue In Green – Flowers b/w Rainy Streets (Emapea Re-Works) 7” (Cold Busted)
The mix-and-match methodology goes into overdrive at Cold Busted HQ as this single combines universally lauded beat maker Emapea with fiery tunes from Blue In Green and The Deli.
>The Doors – Hello, I Love You b/w Love Street 7” (Elektra)
"Hello, I Love You" became The Doors’ second #1 hit when it topped the Billboard singles chart for two weeks beginning on August 3, 1968. Now, exactly 50 years later, Rhino releases a new 7" version of the single with its B-side "Love Street". For this anniversary release, Rhino used mono radio mixes of the songs that were given exclusively to radio stations for airplay in 1968.
>Earth – The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull [Reissue/2008] 2xLP (Southern Lord)
This new 2018 reissue contains the exclusive bonus track "Junkyard Priest" (featuring Milky Burgess on slide guitar). The audio was specifically mastered for vinyl, the lacquers were cut by Bob Weston (Shellac) and the double-LP set comes housed in a beautiful "old style" Stoughton gatefold jacket.
>Electric Light Orchestra – Time [Reissue/1981] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Electric Light Orchestra – Secret Messages [Reissue/1983] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Vinyl reissues of ELO’s ninth and tenth albums.
>Free Cake For Every Creature – The Bluest Star LP (Double Double Whammy)
Free Cake For Every Creature is a soft pop band currently based in Philadelphia, PA. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Fugees (Refugee Camp) – Bootleg Versions [Reissue/1996] LP (Sony Legacy)
Vinyl reissue of the R&B and reggae fusion group’s 1996 remix album.
>Marvin Gaye – Midnight Love [Reissue/1982] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Vinyl reissue of the 17th and final studio album by the R&B/soul legend.
>Hampton Grease Band – Music To Eat [Reissue/1971] 2xLP (Real Gone Music)
In the 47-some years since its release, the Hampton Grease Band's Music To Eat has steadily ascended the list of Greatest Cult Records of All Time so that now it resides at the tippety-top. Indeed, modern-day jam bands genuflect at the sight of the trippy cover art alone (Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit was an early ‘90s fixture in the movement), as the jazz/prog/psych guitar licks of Glenn Phillips and Harold Kelling gives such famous duos as Betts/Allman, Verlaine/Lloyd, and Bloomfield/Bishop a run for their money. Add a generous dollop of Pop Art surrealism delivered by Hampton's dada-ist, Beefheart-ian roar and you're left with an album that inhabits a rarefied realm somewhere between Trout Mask Replica, Anthem Of The Sun, Hot Rats, Happy Trails, and maybe The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East. Limited peach colored vinyl pressing.
>Have Mercy – The Earth Pushed Back [Reissue/2013] LP (Topshelf)
Five years old and now in its seventh pressing, The Earth Pushed Back has aged beautifully, sounding every bit as timeless as it did when it came out, while still remaining in step with contemporary acts within the genre. To celebrate the album's anniversary, Have Mercy will be hitting the road for a full US tour all summer 2018 and Topshelf put together this one-time deluxe edition pressing that comes in a gatefold jacket with new and expanded artwork.
>King Diamond – The Spider’s Lullabye [Reissue/1995] LP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – The Graveyard [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Metal Blade)
Picture disc vinyl reissues of the heavy metal band’s sixth and seventh albums.
>The Koreatown Oddity – A Beat At The Table LP (The Koreatown Oddity)
A Beat At The Table is an instrumental project by Koreatown Oddity conceptualized from Solange's A Seat At The Table album. A deep dive into the black sounds and messages reinterpreted into 19-mins of raw beat energy as heard through the ear of KtownOdd. Limited Coke bottle clear vinyl LP pressing.
>La Coka Nostra – A Brand You Can Trust [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Suburban Noize)
Making its vinyl debut in 2018, A Brand You Can Trust is the 2009 debut album from hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra comprised of an all-star cast of House of Pain alumni (Everlast, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal) along with Ill Bill (Non Phixion) and Slaine (Special Teamz). Additional contributions come from such hip hop elite as Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Immortal Technique, Bun B and The Alchemist.
>L’Rain – L’Rain LP (Astro Nautico)
Time is twisted on L'Rain's (Brooklyn multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, tape manipulator and vocalist Taja Cheek) eponymous debut. Rising on a wave of synths and breathy sax, the album unfolds with electric guitar arpeggios and undulating vocal swells, unwrapping a dense psychedelic arrangement grounded by clattering acoustic drum patterns and the ephemeral soars of Cheek's voice.
>Lykke Li – So Sad So Sexy LP (RCA)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “It’s rare that an album title can summarize the essence of a musician, but ‘so sad so sexy’ has been Lykke Li’s MO since the release of her debut album Youth Novels in 2008. However, this time round, instead of dinky indie songs that contain a twee frailty, Li dives right into a pool of Tumblr-stylised depression that echoes within a spacious electronic soundscape, leaving us with nothing else to do but doggy-paddle behind her in support. In the sad pop and R&B era of Drake, The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey and SZA, Lykke Li has long worn the crown, and her fourth album plays into the self-inflicted misery of dead-end relationships and blind devotion, all the while owning the title of a Bad Woman.” – The Irish Times
>Little Ugly Girls – Little Ugly Girls LP (Chapter Music)
Legendary Australian punk band Little Ugly Girls formed in Hobart, Tasmania in the very early ‘90s, but have never released a record until now.
>The Love Language – Baby Grand LP+MP3 (Merge)
You may not be able to see the gorgeous landscapes behind Baby Grand, Stuart McLamb's fourth record as The Love Language, but they're so essential to the picture you'll feel them in every note. Yet so much lies in the shadows behind these tracks: other states, other lives, other dreams, other relationships – fogged over, perhaps, but there nonetheless. Yes, Baby Grand has its share of breakup songs – nobody writes those better than McLamb – but this time, even as something is being mourned, something else is being worked through; as lovers have been left behind, so have places and a time in life. Listen as the heartbreak and yearning of “New Amsterdam” come crashing down into the beautiful stasis of “Southern Doldrums” (the former was inspired by Cyndi Lauper and Joy Division, McLamb claims, while the latter draws upon John Cale's meditative solo records), or as the beautiful lift of the startling sequence of songs that make up Baby Grand's propulsive midsection gives way to a moody instrumental called “Rain/Delay”, a collection of distant plinks and plonks struggling to assemble themselves into melody. The song “Juiceboxx” is what you'd get if Mick Jagger crooned his “Emotional Rescue” falsetto over a backing track by the Style Council, and “Let Your Hair Down” impressively suggests what “Caroline, No” might have sounded like if only it had been written by George Michael. [Deluxe colored vinyl pressing also available. CD edition due August 10.]
>Nas – Nastradamus [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Since the release of the landmark Illmatic in 1994, Nas has proven himself to be one of hip-hop's most potent, durable, and abiding forces. 1999's Nastradamus served as the rapper's fourth of eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums. Issued on the cusp of the millennium, it finds him waxing poetic about the future and spirituality bolstered by beats from the likes of DJ Premier, Havoc, Timbaland, L.E.S., Dame Grease and Rich Nice.
>Otis – Eyes Of The Sun LP (Purple Pyramid)
Released last year on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from southern blues rock champions. The band has earned accolades from ZZ Top guitarist Billy F. Gibbons who hailed the band's "fine singing, authentically talented harp work, sweet guitar tones... all around enjoyable listening!"
>Augustus Pablo – Live At The Greek Theater, Berkeley, 1984 LP (Cleopatra)
Spectacular live performance by the melodica master featuring his greatest hits including "East Of The River Nile," "Cassava Piece," "Earth's Rightful Ruler (Java)" and more. Limited yellow colored vinyl pressing.
>Elvis Presley – His Hand In Mine [Reissue/1960] LP (Friday Music)
Limited white and silver swirl colored vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.
>The Rationals – The Rationals [Reissue/1969] LP (Rouge)
A cornerstone band in Detroit's ever-storied rock history, The Rationals have been cited as an influence by the likes of Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and Brownsville Station. Coming out of Ann Arbor in 1964, the group put an authentic R&B twist on the new rock ‘n’ roll styles of the British Invasion.
>Rosalie – Trouble Anyway LP (Scissor Tail)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Philly-based musician Rosali (Long Hots, Wandering Shade) wrote the songs for her second album, Trouble Anyway, seeking empowerment by sharing openly on love, power, aging, suffering, confusion, self-doubt, and anger. The result is a full-bodied record that is at once sweeping and intimate - a vulnerable and powerful exploration of emotional narratives and a cohesive collection of lush, intimate rock songs, featuring Rosali's warm, natural vocals and powerful riffing and rhythm guitar.
>Soundtrack – Le Cercle Rouge [Reissue/1970] LP (We Release Jazz)
Vinyl reissue of Eric Demarsan's jazzy hypnotic original soundtrack to Jean-Pierre Melville 's 1970 film noir classic Le Cercle Rouge.
>Sweet – Level Headed Tour Rehearsals 1977 LP (Rouge)
In 1977 Sweet signed a new recording deal with Polydor and were on the cusp of touring the U.K. and Europe in support of their sixth album Level Headed. Released in January of 1978, it was the last album the band would record as the original four piece that had achieved so many Top 20 hits. [Limited translucent blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Sweet Valley – Eternal Champ LP (Ghost Ramp)
Sweet Valley – Eternal Champ II LP (Ghost Ramp)
“Sweet Valley is a Bermuda Triangle-like place, where cannabis crumbs, spilt beer, record dust and that mysterious sh*t you had to blow out of game cartridges all collect as if pulled by some gigantic junkyard magnet. Sweet Valley is a blood pact between two brothers, Nathan (WAVVES) & Joel Williams (Spirit Club), gone awesomely off the rails. Ghost Ramp is proud to present the reissue of 2012's incredible record Eternal Champ for the first time on any physical format. The album is a benchmark for the duo and an absolute fan favorite. Sample-heavy, tripped out beats pull the listener into a psychedelic, 16-bit wonderland. Floating somewhere between video game nostalgia, cutting edge hip-hop obsession and sludged out California stoner-ism, Eternal Champ sets the standard for instrumental beat records.
>Swing Out Sister – Almost Persuaded LP (Miso)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Swing Out Sister is back with a self-assured swagger to their signature cinematic jazz sound. Dipping in and out of their influences from hip-hop and neo soul to Blue Note and Motown with underlying scores that touch on blaxploitation and half remembered French films, Corinne Drewery and Andrew Connell show how their songwriting versatility has developed over the three decades since they first hit the charts.
>The Way We Live – A Candle For Judith [Reissue/1971] LP (Ozit)
Tractor – Tractor [Reissue/1972] LP (Ozit)
Limited colored vinyl reissues. Tractor is a band founded in Rochdale, Lancashire, England by guitarist/vocalist Jim Milne and drummer Steve Clayton in 1971. Both had been members of a beat group, The Way We Live since 1966. They are notable for their appreciation by John Peel and Julian Cope. John Peel bought the band recording equipment and a stereo PA system.
>Various Artists – Lotta Love: Sounds California 2xLP (WB)
Warner Bros. Records is celebrating 60 glorious years with a series of double vinyl compilations highlighting the greatest hits of six decades. The first collection is Lotta Love: Sounds California. The album features 21 singer-songwriter classics including hits by Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, Gram Parsons, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and Brian Wilson.
>X Ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents [Reissue/1978] LP (Real Gone Music)
Clear vinyl repressing of one of the signature albums of the early British punk movement.
New Releases for July 20, 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>The Agony Scene – Tormentor CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
The metalcore veterans return with their first album since 2007.
>Alborosie – Unbreakable: Alborosie Meets The Wailers United CD (Greensleeves)
Enlisting The Wailers United (former members of Bob Marley and The Wailers with the addition of Aston Barrett Jr.) for instrumental backing, Unbreakable upholds the tradition of roots-rock reggae. While honoring traditional reggae sounds, the inclusion of Alborosie’s re-visioning of the Metallica classic “The Unforgiven” featuring Raging Fyah adds an edge to the album that addresses contemporary issues with a thoroughly modern feel. [Vinyl edition due August 24.]
>The Apocalypse Blues Revue – The Shape Of Blues To Come CD/LP (Provogue)
While The Apocalypse Blues Revue’s sophomore album may be the latest project for a couple of guys from Godsmack, it’s also much more than that. There is a grand tradition in the pantheon of blues rock greats, that of the second album that literally defines a band: Led Zeppelin II, Beck-Ola, and Nantucket Sleighride, to name but a few.
>Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul CD (Strut)
Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul [Volume 1] LP (Strut)
Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul [Volume 2] LP (Strut)
Strut continue their essential work with the godfather Of Ethio jazz, Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics Afro Latin Soul Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatke's life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, MA the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms.
>Rick Astley – Beautiful Life CD/LP/Cassette (BMG)
Rick Astley follows-up his comeback album 50 (2016), which found the '80s icon topping the UK chart for the first time in almost 30 years. Similar to that platinum certified album, Rick wrote, produced, and played all of the instruments on Beautiful Life which is ushered in by the shimmering title track. “In the midst of all this madness, I just went back into my little home studio because that's what I love to do,” Astley notes. “It’s my refuge really. I was tinkering about with bits and pieces and before you know it, I was making a new record.” [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions.]
>Boy Azooga – (One) (Two) (Kung Fu) CD/LP (PIAS America)
Debut album from Boy Azooga, the psych-flecked musical vehicle for Cardiff's Davey Newington. This multifarious musical mission takes inspiration from the likes of Sly & The Family Stone, Caribou, Black Sabbath, Outkast, Van McCoy, Ty Segall and The Beastie Boys. Boy Azooga is a reverent ensemble churning out rave-tinged rock that hints at a progeny of both Can and the Happy Mondays. Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>George Benson – In Flight [Reissue/1977] CD (Friday Music)
In Flight successfully consisted of six soul/jazz workouts with an array of funk. Check out his amazing delivery on the Nat Cole classic "Nature Boy" which opens this masterwork. His vocal prowess & intricate guitar tones are second to none, as he continues the soulful trek with the much sampled and much revered War classic “The World Is A Ghetto”. Includes two bonus tracks.
>Chicago – Hot Streets [Expanded & Remastered/Reissue/1978] CD (Friday Music)
Remastered impeccably by Joe Reagoso from the original Chicago Records tapes with the supervision of the legendary Lee Loughnane of Chicago, Hot Streets is a truly one of the most important albums in their highly enduring catalog of classic rock releases. Filled with smash singles like "Alive Again", "No Tell Lover", "Hot Streets", and "Little Miss Lovin'" which features The Bee Gees.
>Covet – Effloresce CDEP/12” (Triple Crown)
Debut EP from the Bay-area post-rock project.
>Dentist – Night Swimming CD (Cleopatra)
New album from New Jersey's buzziest indie surf rock band named one of the top 10 bands at this year's SXSW by Mercury News and a darling of critics at NPR, Stereogum, Flood Magazine and more.
>Al DiMeola – Elegant Gypsy & More (Live) CD (earMUSIC)
Last fall, jazz fusion guitarist Al DiMeola went out with his electric group for a 40th anniversary tour celebrating his explosive 1977 sophomore outing, Elegant Gypsy. “Mr. Di Meola has managed to age very gracefully. His guitar playing is just as breathtakingly fluid and brilliant as ever. And given the scope of the performance, it seems as though he is just getting warmed up as an artist” (IndieMusic.co). A bona fide guitar hero, Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as virtuoso of the highest order. A prolific composer, he has amassed over 20 albums as a leader while collaborating on more than a dozen others with the likes of the fusion super group Return To Forever, the celebrated acoustic guitar trio featuring John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, and the Rite of Strings trio with bassist Stanley Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.
>DJ Seinfeld – DJ-Kicks CD/2xLP (!K7)
Armand Jakobsson aka DJ Seinfeld approached his DJ-Kicks with the intention of representing all the things that made him fall in love with dance music more than a decade ago, as well as showing some of the progression that has occurred in that time and "reflecting the simultaneous fear of leaving something safe behind as well as the excitement of venturing into unknown territories, musically and emotionally." In order to make it as personal as possible, he called upon the many talented people around him making music.
>Epica – Vs Attack On Titan Songs CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Featuring eight tracks from the popular anime show Attack On Titan, the new EP from the symphonic metal masters is a fresh take on some of the show’s most popular tracks.
>Finnr’s Cane – Elegy CD (Prophecy)
Third album from the Canadian atmospheric black metal stalwarts.
>Frontline Assembly – WarMech CD (Artoffact)
The veteran industrial band present their soundtrack for Carbon Games’ latest creation, WarMech, which ranges from industrial to ambient to techno.
>The Internet – Hive Mind CD/2xLP+MP3 (Columbia)
The Internet follow-up their breakthrough Grammy-nominated third album, Ego Death (2015) with Hive Mind. After a lengthy world tour, the band members encouraged each other to explore their identities as solo artists; incredible albums from all five members emerged to rapturous response throughout 2017. Feeling the unity of coming back together, however, created the foundation for what became Hive Mind. Syd (vocalist/songwriter), Matt Martians (producer), Steve Lacy (guitarist/vocalist/songwriter), Patrick Paige II (songwriter/bassist), and Christopher Smith (songwriter/drummer) present kaleidoscopic, neo-soul, future sounds here that reveal the growth in their creative chemistry. It's light years beyond their previous output, and even in its slower moments, the LP is both intricate and minimal, giving each member's contributions the space to shine.
>Jungle Rot – Jungle Rot CD/LP (Victory)
Tenth album by the death metal band from Kenosha, WI.
>Khôrada – Salt Black CD/2xLP (Prophecy)
Rising from the ashes of Agalloch and Giant Squid, Khôrada create colossal, textured, and emotionally powerful music. At once atmospheric, aggressive and apocalyptic, the album's emotion is driven by the band members' view of today's world. [Limited edition clear cvinyl pressing also available. Limited box set edition due August 10.]
>Kyle – Light Of Mine CD (Atlantic/Independently Popular)
“The carefree California rapper’s debut is an exceedingly joyous and self-aware slice of pop rap.” – Pitchfork
>Liars – Original Soundtrack To The Film 1/1 CD (Mute)
Originally recorded in 2015, Original Soundtrack To The Film 1/1 marks the last recording of Liars’ core team of Angus Andrews and Aaron Hemphill. The film submerges the audience into the mind of Lissa, a twenty-year-old girl trapped in rural Pennsylvania, who grapples with sex, drugs, love and loss. Liar’s daring soundtrack follows the release of 2017’s acclaimed TFCF (Theme From Crying Fountain), an album Pitchfork said “couldn’t be a more appropriate marker of the irrepressible project’s evolution, nor a more fitting testament to Liars’ legacy.” [Vinyl edition due August 10.]
>The Lion’s Daughter – Future Cult CD (Season Of Mist)
This is what the most frightening, violent, and disturbing scenes from a good midnight movie might sound like. Future Cult, the harrowing second album from St. Louis, MO's The Lion's Daughter, is the epitome of horror put to sound. It compellingly blends harsh and unforgiving modern metal with creeping synths inspired by ‘70s and ‘80s horror and sci-fi scores.
>Lori McKenna – The Tree CD/LP (CN)
The sing-songwriter’s previous album, 2016’s The Bird And The Rifle, netted three Grammy nominations, along with Americana Music Association nods - all firsts for McKenna as an artist. Produced by Dave Cobb, The Tree takes one of McKenna’s signature themes family and builds a tapestry of experiences she has lived and overheard, been told and dreamed up, to create a stunning ode to life’s defining relationships.
>Meg Myers – Take Me To The Disco CD/LP (300 Entertainment)
Take Me To The Disco is a relentless and brutally honest record, and the raw result of Meg Myers' own personal journey. She co-wrote most of the songs on the album with producer/collaborator Christian “Leggy” Langdon, and enlisted the help of Victor Indrizzo, who has played with Depeche Mode, to play drums on the record. Meg also used a live string section for the first time - The Section Quartet appears on six songs. On lead single “Numb”, a haunting look at the pressures of the music business and life in general, Meg's “mysteriously shape-shifting” (Entertainment Weekly) vocal acrobatics are in full force as she alternates between seductive verses and a no-holds-barred chorus. Other album highlights include the dreamy, atmospheric title track and the driving “Tourniquet”, an eerie yet poignant song that details the trials of being trapped in an unhealthy relationship. The thunderous rocker “Jealous Sea” is “a walk on the darker side,” says Meg, “but it also shows the beauty in the darkness.” With each song on Take Me To The Disco, Meg fearlessly bares her soul with an intensity only she can convey.
>Nav – Reckless CD (XO)
Debut studio album by the Canadian rapper. features guest appearances from Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott, and Gunna, and features production from Nav himself, Wheezy, Ben Billions, Rex Kudo, Charlie Handsome, and Foreign Teck, among others.
>Obtained Enslavement – Soulblight CD/LP (Soulseller)
CD and vinyl reissue of Obtained Enslavement's 1998 Norwegian death/black metal classic – the band’s fifth release overall.
>Izaak Opatz – Mariachi Static CD/LP (Mama Bird)
As leader of Missoula, MT band the Best Westerns, Opatz dabbles in off-kilter country and roadhouse rock. Mariachi Static is Opatz's solo debut, buoyed by wry tunes that bring twangy, back-porch pop into the 21st century.
>Mike Patton – 1922: Original Score CD/2xLP (Ipecac)
1922 is based on Stephen King's 2010 novella of the same name, from his horror anthology Full Dark, No Stars, which tells the story of a man's confession of his wife's murder. The tale is told from from the perspective of Wilfred James, the story's unreliable narrator who admits to killing his wife, Arlette, with his son in Nebraska. But after he buries her body, he finds himself terrorized by rats and, as his life begins to unravel, becomes convinced his wife is haunting him. Presented on CD and double-vinyl, Mike Patton's (Faith No More, Dead Cross, Tomahawk) heavily orchestral original score follows his acclaimed work on the 2012 film The Place Beyond The Pines and is equally haunting and dissonant.
>Powerwolf – The Sacrament Of Sin CD/2xCD/LP (Napalm)
One of Germany's most successful metal band is back with their bold and adventurous seventh manifesto. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions.]
>Public Image Limited - The Public Image Is Rotten (Songs From The Heart) 5xCD+2xDVD/6xLP (Virgin)
New boxset released to coincide with the career-spanning documentary film about Public Image Ltd. titled The Public Image Is Rotten. The set includes a PiL singles collection, B-sides, rarities and radio sessions, 12” mixes, unreleased mixes and tracks + a live concert from New York Ritz in July 1989. The DVD includes PiL promo videos + some live footage from the BBC’s Top Of The Pops and Old Grey Whistle Test as well as the first Tallinn Rock Summer Festival in Estonia 1988 and the 2013’s Enmore Theatre in Australia.
>Punch Brothers – All Ashore CD (Nonesuch)
Punch Brothers' first self-produced album, All Ashore, includes nine original songs written by the contemporary bluegrass quintet featuring guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjo player Noam Pikelny, mandolinist/lead singer Chris Thile, and fiddler Gabe Witcher. As Thile says, the album is “a meditation on committed relationships in the present day, particularly in the present political climate. We were hoping to create something that would be convincing as a complete thought, in this case as a nine-movement, or nine-piece, thought. Though it’s rangy in what it's talking about, and in the characters who are doing the talking...” Punch Brothers returned to the same room at United Recording Studios in Hollywood (formerly Ocean Way) where they had recorded both 2015’s The Phosphorescent Blues and their 2010 Jon Brion-produced Antifogmatic. Thile says they felt they had “established a rapport” with the space; the same “level of trust and love that breeds confidence” also led them to produce the album themselves, for the first time. [Vinyl edition due September 7.]
>Ranger Doug with Riders In The Sky – Sings… Songs Of The Frontier CD (Rural Rhythm)
Eleven traditional Americana roots classics performed by Ranger Doug lead vocals and rhythm guitar with plenty of help from Riders In The Sky: Too Slim vocals and string bass; Woody Paul vocals and fiddle and Joey The Cowpolka King vocals and accordion.
>Nathan Salsburg – “Third” CD/LP (No Quarter)
Third album by one of his generation’s most gifted and idiosyncratic acoustic guitarists – his first strictly solo guitar record—no singing, no guests. The songs, as others have before them, distill a love of old-time dance music and rural ragtime; the melody-centric compositions of American guitarists Peter Lang and William Ackerman; and the work of Scottish and English folk-revivalists like Dick Gaughan, Dolly Collins, and especially Nic Jones, whose monumental arrangement of the pipe tune Planxty Davis has been adapted here in turn.
>Ty Segall & White Fence – Joy CD/LP/Cassette (Drag City)
“Ty Segall and White Fence are AS ONE again. Six years after their fun favorite Hair collaboration, and jeez, almost four years after Ty produced the last White Fence record For The Recently Found Innocent, they're back at it. But the second time around, it's no Hair 2 - Joy is its own reward. Tim Presley and Ty take it up a notch, with 15 wild tracks that share space in an effortless fashion, dispersing doses of the fabled vintage obsessions, but threading them together instead with their own sound of today. Joy, indeed!”
>Skeletonwitch – Devouring Radiant Light CD/LP (Prosthetic)
The fifth full length and first to feature vocalist Adam Clemans, who debuted on the band's 2016 EP The Apothic Gloom, picks right up where the EP ended, mixing their classic blackened thrash attack with atmospheric, post rock soaring melodies [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Soul Asylum – Say What You Will…Everything Can Happen [Reissue/1984] CD (Omnivore)
Soul Asylum – Made To Be Broken [Reissue/1986] CD (Omnivore)
Soul Asylum first hit the Minneapolis music scene in early 1981. Core members Dave Pirner, Dan Murphy, and Karl Mueller met at local punk rock shows. Coming up in the shadow of formidable bands like Hüsker Dü and The Replacements, who they were all big fans of, was daunting but, ultimately, it inspired them to make a name for themselves. Soul Asylum stood out immediately because of their work ethic and smart, punky hard rock sound. These expanded reissues feature a wealth of bonus tracks, new art, liner notes, plus rare ephemera.
>Thy Feeble Savior – And Darkness Fell CD/LP (Hells Headbangers)
14 tracks of utterly blasphemous black/death metal.
>Trash Boat – Crown Shyness CD/LP (Hopeless)
New album from the UK-based post-hardcore band.
>Trouble In The Wind – Lefty [Reissue/2016] CD/LP (In Your Neighborhood)
Trouble In The Wind – Hammer On CD/LP (In Your Neighborhood)
Trouble In The Wind has been labeled as folk, Americana, alternative, country, surf rock, etc., but the Southern California quartet likes to call themselves "rock and roll". The band's stripped-down organic sound is a multi-instrumental collective fronted by songwriter Robby Gira, whose staggering powerful voice creates the center of attention of their songs.
>Ume – Other Nature CD/LP (Modern Outsider)
Meshing guitar-based hard rock with the raw passion of punk rock and the melodic sophistication of pop, Ume is an Austin, Texas-based trio who've earned a growing following for their relentless touring schedule, explosive performances, and clever but unpretentious music. [Limited edition green colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Vokonis – Old One Ascending CD/LP (Ripple Music)
Ethereal yet punishing new album from the Swedish stoner/doom metal band.
>Kanye West – ye CD/LP (Def Jam)
Kanye’s eighth album, Ye, features guest vocals by Ty Dolla Sign, PartyNextDoor, Kid Cudi,
Jeremih and 070 Shake, among others. It is the second of five seven-track albums produced by West in what have been referred to as the "Wyoming Sessions". West explained the album title, which is a diminutive of his own name commonly used in his songs, by stating: "I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible it means ‘you’. So, I'm you, I'm us, it's us. It went from Kanye, which means "the only one," to just Ye - just being a reflection of
our good, our bad, our confused, everything. The album is more of a reflection of who we are."
>While She Sleeps – You Are We 2xCD (Sharptone)
Special double-disc edition of the British metalcore band’s 2017 album, expanded with eight tracks consisting of demos and album outtakes.
>Wild Pink – Yolk In The Fur CD/LP+MP3 (Tiny Engines)
On their new album, Yolk In The Fur, Wild Pink again take themselves and their listeners to a place of sonic placidity. Songwriter John Ross and his bandmates trade what sparing crunch they did use on their debut album Wild Pink for lush, balmy synths that lift their sound upwards and out, rather than forward and down. Any traces of slowcore and grunge are gone here, replaced by the angelic airiness of Cocteau Twins and Red House Painters, but with the modern crispness of Lake or Japanese Breakfast. Sporadic splashes of electronic drums and emphasized basslines add fascinating new dimensions to their already-diverse palette, but no instrument or tone ever feels shoehorned in.
>Marty Wilde - Abergavenny: The Philips Pop Years 1966-1971 CD (Teensville)
Expanded reissue of the ‘60s British pop sensation’s 1969 album Diversions.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Amorphis – The Karelian Isthmus [Reissue/1992] LP (Relapse)
Amorphis – Tales From The Thousand Lakes [Reissue/1994] LP (Relapse)
Animating elements of modern metal, '70s progressive rock and fusing them with a superb sense of melody and structure, Finland's Amorphis have dared to defy preconceptions with every groundbreaking release. Formed at the height of the European death metal explosion of the early-90s, the creative core of Amorphis was, from the very beginning, distinctly different. Their first two albums are now back in print on vinyl. A perfect combination of heavy metal, doom, death metal and progressive rock.
>Anti Cimex – Scandinavian Jawbreaker [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Back On Black)
1993's Scandinavian Jawbreaker is Anti Cimex's raw and raging swan song which finds the pioneering group entering metallic d-beat territory. Anti Cimex "always regarded themselves as raw punk, even when they found the laurels of Scandinavian hardcore heroes thrust upon them...[They] made an indelible mark on the language and legacy of punk's nastier permutations (and, in a way, on extreme metal's as well – the band veered down a more metallic path in its later material)." – Noisey [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>MC Paul Barman – (((Echo Chamber))) LP+7”+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
“MC Paul Barman is the most ambitious type of rapper. He is rhyming art. If your ears are open, MCPM is gonna plug your brain in at voltages to which you are unaccustomed. He's a social critic with a searing conscience that makes your comfortable bourgeois house of lies tremble with each jagged line on the PB Richter scale. His rhymes are original in the sense of ‘no one has ever used that word like that before...but we will now.’ Not that (((Echo Chamber))) is hard work. It is perfectly pleasurable to bop your head along to great tracks laid down by ?uestlove (six tracks), James Poyser, Mark Ronson, Prince Paul, Kenny Segal, Memory Man, and MF Doom. Not to mention scratches by DJ Yoda and features from Masta Ace and Open Mike Eagle to boot.”
>Chuck Berry – Berry Is On Top [Reissue/1959] LP (Friday Music)
Limited audiophile 180gm translucent red colored vinyl reissue; gatefold sleeve.
>Big Pun – Capital Punishment [Reissue/1998] LP (Sony Legacy)
Limited vinyl picture disc reissue of the late thug rapper’s debut (and only) album.
>Boston – Boston [Reissue/1976] LP (Friday Music)
Limited audiophile 180gm red colored vinyl reissue; gatefold sleeve.
>Apollo Brown & Locksmith – No Question LP+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
West Coast Berkeley grad, battle rapper and musician Locksmith has hammered out a reputation as one of hip-hop's most enlightened no punch pulling emcees, always bringing cutting lyricism that not only questions the status quo but offers deep truths for reflection. Meanwhile Detroit's Apollo Brown has built his illustrious career on emotive productions that draw the best out of already legendary mic kings. From his work with Ras Kass and OC, Skyzoo to Ghostface Killah, Apollo repeatedly creates eyes shut, head nodding, soul stirring perfection for our greatest storytellers to lay their truth bare.
>Byla + Jarboe – Viscera [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Translation Loss)
Kevin Hufnagel and Colin Marston (both of Dysrhythmia and Gorguts), collectively known as the New York ambient noise outfit Byla, teamed up with ex-Swans siren Jarboe for 2007's Viscera, an album of noise and acoustic soundscapes utilizing epic guitar work as its main sound source while complemented perfectly by Jarboe's stunning vocal accents.
>Eric Clapton – Life In 12 Bars 4xLP (UMe)
Recently released on CD, the official soundtrack to the new Eric Clapton documentary, Life In 12 Bars (also available on DVD and Blu-ray), is now available on vinyl. The documentary about the legendary 18-time Grammy winner premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before Showtime bought the US TV rights. The 32-track double CD features four previously unreleased songs, and includes tracks by Clapton, Yardbirds, Derek & The Dominoes, Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Muddy Waters.
>Jonathan Davis – Black Labyrinth LP (Sumerian)
Recently released on CD, the debut album from the KoЯn frontman. is now available on vinyl. “I've always got to be different,” he notes. “Once again, I’m doing something I haven't heard before. This is my swan song. It's my f**king masterpiece up to this point.” [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Death – Leprosy [Reissue/1988] 2xLP (Relapse)
Death – Individual Thought Patterns [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Relapse)
Death – The Sound Of Perseverance [Reissue/1998] 3xLP (Relapse)
Limited anniversary-themed colored vinyl reissues (milky clear, silver, and emerald/olive green, respectively) of the death metal band’s second, fifth and seventh albums.
>Dens – No Small Tempest LP (Facedown)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Dens have found a perfect niche in the space between energetic rock and contemplative ambience. They create an experience that drowns the listener in guitar-driven post-rock and vocal hooks while leaving plenty of room for lyrical exploration. From a wide view Dens is a rock band, although the nuances in their sound send tendrils out into shoegaze, ambient, post-rock, and indie rock concepts.
>Diamond D – Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop [Reissue/1992] 2xLP (Mercury)
Vinyl reissue of the debut album from the hip-hop producer/emcee. Features some of the earliest appearances from future rap legends Big L and Fat Joe.
>Dorothy – 28 Days In The Valley LP (Roc Nation)
Released last March on CD – now available on limited edition white colored vinyl. Rolling Stone deemed L.A.-based band Dorothy “a [band] you need to know,” and named them #14 on their 50 Best New Artists of 2014 list.
>Eisley – I’m Only Dreaming…Of Days Long Past LP (Equal Vision)
A collection of the indie rock band’s acoustic and re-depicted versions of tracks from their 2017 album I'm Only Dreaming.
>The Essex Green – The Long Goodbye [Reissue/2003] LP+MP3 (Merge)
The Essex Green – Cannibal Sea [Reissue/2006] LP+MP3 (Merge)
The Essex Green is a neo-psychedelic pop outfit from Brooklyn, NY via Burlington, VT. The band specializes in a classic sound inspired by '60s/'70s pop and folk in the tradition of bands like The Left Banke and Fairport Convention. On the heels of their recently released new album Hardly Electronic, their second and third albums are both available for the first time on vinyl. [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
>Five Finger Death Punch – And Justice For None 2xLP (Prospect Park)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The seventh full length studio album from Five Finger Death Punch, And Justice For None, features their smash cover of The Offspring's “Gone Away” alongside such rock radio staples as “Sham-Pain,” “When The Seasons Change,” “Blue On Black” and “I Refuse.” One of the most successful groove metal bands of the 2010s, Five Finger Death Punch have been a staple of the Billboard charts since their formation in 2005. The Los Angeles-based outfit formed around the talents of former U.P.O. guitar player Zoltan Bathory, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Darrell Roberts, vocalist Ivan Moody (Motograter/Ghost Machine), bass player Matt Snell (Anubis Rising), and former W.A.S.P. drummer Jeremy Spencer.
>John Fogerty – Eye Of The Zombie [Reissue/1986] LP (BMG Rights Management)
John Fogerty – Deja Vu All Over Again [Reissue/2004] LP (BMG Rights Management)
Singer/songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty has signed a deal with BMG to release a new solo album and reissue his solo catalog. Only his second solo release in an 18-year span, Deja Vu (All Over Again) finds Fogerty offering up a low key yet assorted jukebox which touches on all of his signature influences from rockabilly and swamp rock to old school rock 'n' roll and country. Eye Of The Zombie is Fogerty's fourth solo effort and was his last studio release for nearly a decade. An apocalyptic departure from his swamp rock glory days buoyed by its menacing cover art, the album leans on a more synthesized production and finds an indignant Fogerty coming down on consumerism and the music business.
>Dana Fuchs – Love Live On LP (Get A Long)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Dana Fuchs is a Jagger blues-jammer, Otis soul-sister, juke-joint Janis and Sexy Sadie all rolled into one passionate performer and compassionate world class singer-songwriter.
>Hecate Enthroned – The Slaughter Of Innocence, A Requiem For The Mighty/Upon Promeathean Shores (Unscriptured Waters) [Reissue/1995/1997] LP+12” (Back On Black)
Back in 1993, Jon (vocals), Marc (guitars) and Nigel formed a death metal band known as Daemonium. The band played a mixture of styles, crossing the styles of both death and black metal. After some extensive touring played both locally and non, the British act saw the departure of Jon as he joined the more notorious band Cradle Of Filth. The remaining members found new recruits and eventually successfully renamed themselves to Hecathe Enthroned. This vinyl reissue combines the band’s 1997 sophomore album with their 1995 debut 12”.
>Dave Holland – Uncharted Territories 3xLP (Dare2)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Uncharted Territories brings together a quartet of some of the best players in forward-thinking jazz. Joining Holland on this recording are saxophonist Evan Parker, drummer Ches Smith and pianist Craig Taborn. The epic-length album finds the group breaking off into various permutations and coming back together again for quartet performances.
>Hypnos – GBG Sessions LP (The Sign)
Eight-track live session from one of the strongest live acts from the contemporary Swedish rock scene.
>J.K. & Co. – Suddenly One Summer [Reissue/1968] LP (BeatRocket)
Taking cues from the best of the late '60s rock scene, with a special nod to the Beatles, Suddenly One Summer is a mature work seemingly years beyond its young creator, 15-year-old Jay Kaye. With a vocal style very similar to George Harrison, Kaye is in command from the start, guiding the listener through the album's rich sonic journey. Limited edition translucent orange colored vinyl pressing.
>Wilko Johnson – Blow Your Mind LP+MP3 (Chess)
Recently released on CD – now available on 180gm vinyl. Wilko’s first album of new material in 30 + years was recorded at Rockfield Studios, where Wilko and the Feelgoods famously parted company back in ’77. Guests include Mick Talbot on keyboards and Steve Weston on harmonica, both of whom were featured on Wilko’s last recorded with Roger Daltrey.
>Knxwledge – Gladwemet 7” (Stones Throw)
Knxwledge (pronounced “knowledge”) is a beat maker raised in central New Jersey and Philadelphia, now in Los Angeles. Standing out in a sea of producers rising from the L.A. beat scene, the prolific artist and record collector produces his sound by creating a pastiche of soul, jazz and hip-hop that melts together in a style uniquely his own. He has produced for hip-hop powerhouse Kendrick Lamar on To Pimp a Butterfly, for Joey Badass on 1999, and has released dozens of remix and beat tape collections.
>The Left Banke – Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina [Reissue/1967] LP (Sundazed)
The Left Banke's 1967 album Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina is widely regarded as one of the greatest debuts of the '60s, thanks to frontman Steve Martin's evocative lead vocals, the haunting harmonies of band members Tom Finn and George Cameron, the ambitious songwriting of keyboardist Michael Brown, and exquisite, classically-influenced arrangements that were unlike anything else in popular music at the time. Limited edition gold colored vinyl pressing.
>Lurker Of Chalice – Lurker Of Chalice [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Nuclear War Now)
Like Leviathan, Lurker Of Chalice is a project conceived of and executed by multi-instrumentalist and visual artist Jef Whitehead, who is generally referred to as Wrest in the context of his music. For nearly 20 years, through his work with Leviathan, Lurker Of Chalice, and many other projects, Whitehead has consistently recorded and released music that has unquestionably left permanent scars on the face of the USBM scene.
>LWW – 3PE LP (Leaf)
3PE is the first in a series of releases by Portland, OR, based Luke Wyland under his new LWW moniker. In contrast to his previous work as AU, these are spontaneous, otherworldly explorations in repetition, alternate tuning systems and, for the most part, tempered minimalism.
>Masta Ace Incorporated – SlaughtaHouse [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Masta Ace Incorporated – Sittin' On Chrome [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Vinyl reissues of the only two albums from the hip-hop group comprised of Ace, Lord Digga, Paula Perry and Leschea.
>Thelonious Monk – Nutty 7” (Gearbox)
From the forthcoming, previously unreleased Monk LP (due September). To many people this is the definitive Thelonious Monk Quartet line up, recorded at their peak, for a Danish radio broadcast in 1963. Charlie Rouse (sax) Frankie Dunlop (drums) and John Ore (bass) deliver a truly outstanding version of “Nutty”. Ore and Dunlop really dig in and swing. Simultaneously driving and laid back, Monk's masterful use of space and melody in Charlie Rouse’s solo is a clear demonstration as to why Monk is considered by many to be the best accompanist in jazz history.
>Mouse On The Keys – Tres LP (Topshelf)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Tres is, you guessed it, the third album from Mouse On The Keys – a singular Japanese act known for blurring genres. The album traverses dark and avant-garde electronica, minimalist neo-classical, whilst also continuing to develop on their math-rock tendencies with rapid-fire time signature changes, angular rhythms and melodic yet frenetic piano work.
>Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor [Reissue/2005] 2xLP+MP3 (Century Media)
Limited silver colored and standard black vinyl reissues of the prog/thrash titan’s sixth studio opus.
>The Oak Ridge Boys – Boys Night Out [Reissue/2014] LP (Cleopatra)
Limited 180gm vinyl LP reissue of the crossover country music legend’s live hits album, recorded on their 2013 tour.
>ODESZA – Summer’s Gone [Reissue/2013] LP (Foreign Family Collective)
ODESZA – My Friends Never Die [Reissue/2013] 12” (Foreign Family Collective)
Seattle-based production duo ODESZA (Harrison Mills & Clayton Knight) began their meteoric journey in 2012 with Summer's Gone. The following spring, they released the five-song EP My Friends Never Die - a harder-hitting complement to the lush sounds of their debut - and began to build their reputation as a ground-breaking live act.
>Ovlov – Tru LP (Exploding In Sound)
Newtown, CT based band Ovlov is a glimmer of hope for all that is pure in rock and have become one of the East Coast’s more beloved indie bands.
>Gram Parsons – Another Side Of This Life [Reissue/2000] LP (Sundazed)
13 demo recordings of Gram Parsons, country-rock pioneer and former member of the Byrds and founding member of the Flying Burrito Brothers – repressed on colored vinyl.
>Pedro The Lion – Winners Never Quit [Reissue/2000] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Following a critically acclaimed debut album for Made In Mexico, singer-songwriter David Bazan returned to his Seattle home studio to craft the bulk of 2000's Winners Never Quit (remastered and reissued on vinyl for the first time in over half a decade) – a haunted collection of material that traces the fictional story of a man who vows to maintain his good name despite a slew of devious activity and malicious intent. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Pendulum – The Reworks 2xLP (Earstorm)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. New remixes of Pendulum classics by Skrillex, Moby, Devin Townsend, Noisia, Knife Party, DJ Seinfeld, ATTLAS and others.
>The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Vinyl reissue of the hip-hop group’s second album. Labcabincalifornia was produced by The Pharcyde themselves and Jay Dee, with additional help from Diamond D and M- Walk.
>Powerman 5000 – Copies, Clones & Replicants [Reissue/2011] LP (Cleopatra)
Limited edition vinyl repress of the covers project by platinum-selling electro-metal superheroes. Features electrified versions of Devo's "Whip It", Van Halen's "Jump", David Bowies' "Space Oddity", T Rex's "20th Century Boy", INXS's "Devil Inside" and more.
>R+R=Now – Collagically Speaking 2xLP (Blue Note)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. R+R=Now is a collective of like-minded boundary-breakers featuring Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin and Justin Tyson. The R+R in the band's name stands for Reflect+Respond and was inspired by Nina Simone who said an artist's duty is to reflect the times. With Collagically Speaking, the band presents an urgent musical hybrid that is distinctly of the now.
>Sonic’s Rendezvous Band – Live ’78 LP (Easy Action)
Originally released on limited transparent blue colored vinyl for RSD 2018 – standard black vinyl edition now available. Archival live set from the band made up of members of legendary Detroit bands such as MC5, Rationals, and The Stooges.
>Tone-Lōc – Lōc'ed After Dark [Reissue/1989] LP (Craft Recordings)
The debut album by West Coast emcee features two collaborations with a pre-fame Young MC that would rocket the artist to the top of the pop charts: “Wild Thing”, the first Top 10 Pop hit for a black rapper, and the follow-up smash, “Funky Cold Medina”. The net result was a #1 album, making it only the second rap album to top the charts at the time (the Beastie Boys’ License To Ill was the first).
>Uniting Of Opposites – Ancient Lights LP (Tru Thoughts)
Debut album from the new musical venture from Tim Liken, Clem Alford and Ben Hazleton, bringing to life a melting pot of cultures and inspiration; using new technology as an opportunity to explore and merge aspects of jazz, electronica and traditional Indian musical styles.
>Seth Walker – Live At Mauch Chunk Opera House LP (The Royal Potato Family)
Released last February on CD – now available on vinyl. Live set from the revered roots music troubadour, recorded in May 2017 at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe, PA.
>Wire – Pink Flag [Reissue/1977] LP (Pink Flag)
Wire – Chairs Missing [Reissue/1978] LP (Pink Flag)
Wire – 154 [Reissue/1979] LP (Pink Flag)
Released last May on expanded double-CD, deluxe audiophile single-disc editions of the highly influential art-punk band’s first three albums are now available on vinyl.
>Yardbirds – 1966: Live & Rare LP (Repertoire)
Yardbirds – Live In Stockholm & Offenbach 1967 LP (Repertoire)
Archival live recordings on orange colored vinyl.
>Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin' [Reissue/1989] LP (Craft Recordings)
Latest in Craft Recordings recent spate of reissues of Delicious Vinyl’s early pioneering hip-hop releases. Stone Cold Rhymin’ features Young M.C.’s chart-topping “Bust A Move”.
>Frank Zappa – Chunga’s Revenge [Reissue/1970] LP (Zappa Music)
Zappa's first effort of the 1970s marks the first appearance of former Turtles members Flo & Eddie on a Zappa record, and signals the dawn of a controversial epoch in Zappa's history. Chunga's Revenge represents a shift from both the satirical political commentary of his 1960s work with The Mothers of Invention, and the jazz fusion of Hot Rats.
>Zephyr – Zephyr [Reissue/1969] LP (Purple Pyramid)
Remastered vinyl reissue of the 1969 recorded debut of guitar legend Tommy Bolin performing with his first major act, blues rock outfit Zephyr. Includes four bonus tracks of rare live material and studio improvisations.
15 JUNE 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood CD/LP (Capitol)
On their third studio album Youngblood, Australian band 5 Seconds Of Summer (hailed as the “biggest new rock act in the world” by Rolling Stone) expands its musical parameters while retaining the hooks and trademark DNA that's always been a massive part of the group's appeal. Vocalist/guitarist Luke Hemmings explains, “Growing up is what we had to do on Youngblood. Seven years as a band may seem like a long time, but we were teenagers when we started. We had to look at each other and say, ‘Are we going to stop now, or do this forever? Because if we continue, then we have to go farther than we ever have before.’” On lead single “Want You Back”, Hemmings' passionate yearning for lost love finds him breaking into a searing falsetto on the infectious chorus. The soaring production and upfront bass line, meanwhile, finds the band exploring grooves and emotions in fresh new ways.
>Actress x London Contemporary Orchestra – Lageos CD/2xLP (Ninja Tune)
Producer Darren Cunningham aka Actress, joined by the London Contemporary Orchestra, premiere new material as well as expanded arrangements of their dark and brooding electronica. On this new collaboration, commissioned and curated by Boiler Room and the London Contemporary Orchestra with support from Arts Council England, the London Contemporary Orchestra bring a new dimension to Cunningham's choice of sounds. With the producer in effect using them as a new instrument, matching his electronic loops with precise manipulation of their acoustic instruments, together they form a heightened kind of chamber music.
>Christina Aguilera – Liberation CD (RCA)
The eighth studio album by pop/R&B vocalist and her first in six years. Liberation finds her having her way with R&B and hip-hop (Kanye West produced two tracks). The first single "Accelerate" features Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz. The album's second single "Fall in Line" features Pop vocalist Demi Lovato.
>The Allman Brother’s Band – Cream Of The Crop 2003 4xCD (Peach)
Four-disc collection features 36 tracks in all, culled from live performances recorded between July 25 and August 10, 2003 in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Darien Center, NY, Hartford, CT, Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh, NC. The 2003 lineup of the group included founding members Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, plus Warren Haynes, Marc Quiñones, Oteil Burbridge and Derek Trucks.
>Ammar 808 – Maghreb United CD/LP (Glitterbeat)
Deep TR-808 bass meets pan-Maghreb beats, timeless voices, and futurist visions.
>Marissa Anderson – Cloud Corner CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
On her Thrill Jockey debut, acclaimed guitarist Marisa Anderson’s music is boundless. Anderson is undeniably a master of the North American traditions of country, folk, and blues on guitar. On Cloud Corner, Anderson expands on those styles as well as instrumentation. Written and recorded in a period of political and personal upheaval, the album is intended as a refuge, an ode to stillness in an era of ceaseless noise. The results are an album of remarkably intimate beauty.
>Apostille – Choose Life CD/LP (Upset The Rhythm)
Alongside running his own acclaimed DIY record label Night School Records, Glasgow native Michael Kasparis has spent the last few years making forays into the realm of hardcore punk with his groups Anxiety and The Lowest Form. Throughout all this, his solo electronic venture, Apostille has continued to evolve with each twist and turn of the world.
>Arthur Buck – Arthur Buck CD/LP+MP3 (New West)
Sometimes the catalyst for creating great art is simply being in the right place at the right time. For Arthur Buck, the new collaboration between singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur and guitarist Peter Buck, that place was Mexico, and that time was the fall of 2017. Specifically, a little town off the Baja coast named Todos Santos, with the Sierra de la Laguna mountains to the east and the bright blue Pacific stretching out infinitely to the west. It is here that Buck has, for the last several years, held the Todos Santos Music Festival, which he created with his wife in 2012, shortly after R.E.M. called it a day. Among the many artists who have played the festival is Arthur, who also happened to leave behind a guitar – a Dobro, specifically – after his last appearance there. And so last year he made the trek down to Todos Santos to pick up the instrument. Which is where he ran into Buck. That was the beginning of Arthur Buck. The creative result of this relationship is a vibrant 11-song collection that captures the spontaneity at the heart of the project – right down to the 1-2-3-4 count off from Buck that opens the record – with sounds and styles meshed together in an easy, almost playful manner.
>ASG – Survive Sunrise CD/2xLP (Relapse)
North Carolina riff-rockers re-emerge with their sixth full-length and first new album in five years. Survive Sunrise further expands upon ASG's trademark blend of heavy, southern-fried, alt-rock fury and infectious, hook-centric accessibility.
>Derek Bailey & Company – Klinker 2xCD (Confront Recordings)
“In publishing the entire performance from start to finish, this release allows us to experience these much-missed artists at work with a degree of intimacy and familiarity absent from (for example) prestigious festival performances. Of course, any new addition to the Bailey discography is an exciting development, but I feel I must also mention just how well Will Gaines plays on this gig. For those who might be unsure why Derek was always so happy to play with Will, listen to how Will uses his strongly idiosyncratic technique with invention, flexibility and imperturbability in the Company context.” – Mark Fell
>Jan Bang/Sidsel Endresen – Hum CD (Confront Recordings)
Electronics whizz, studio producer and Punkt co-director Jan Bang teams-up with vocalist Sidsel Endresen on Hum, an album released as part of Confront Recordings' Core Series. Recorded live in Oslo in 2016, Hum focuses on atomized gestures quarried from mutant combinations of voice and corrupted circuitry. Personnel: Sidsel Endresen - voice; Jan Bang - sampler, Dictaphone. Composed by Sidsel Endresen and Jan Bang. Copyright control (TONO). Recorded by Asle Karstad at Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo.
>The Beat – Here We Go Love! CD/LP (Here We Go)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. The English Beat starring Dave Wakeling return with their first studio album since 1982. Wakeling's ability to create a nagging pop hook is undimmed, as too is his political edge. Blending wit and wisdom, and of course ska, punk, soul, reggae, pop and anything else that came to hand in the melting pot that was late ‘70s Birmingham, The English Beat were ahead of the time and creating a hybrid sound that came in part to define their times.
>Big Blood – Operate Spaceship Earth Properly CD/LP (Feeding Tube)
With Operate Spaceship Earth Properly, Big Blood return to the vast universe of strangeness they explore inside their own skin. Now fully incorporating the vocals and guitar of their daughter Quinnisa (previously a “secret weapon” unveiled mostly at live shows, as the Dictators once did with Handsome Dick Manitoba), Big Blood sound nutsier and wilder than ever.
>Black Rainbows – Supermotherfuzzalicious!! [Reissue/2011] CD (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Black Rainbows – Holy Moon [Reissue/2013] CDEP (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Black Rainbows – Hawkdope [Reissue/2015] CD (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Black Rainbows' sound has oozed between classic '90s-style stoner fuzz and deep-cosmos psychedelia, drawing on the best of hard-driving space rock to conjure a vibe totally tripped-out and all its own. All include bonus tracks.
>Carl Bley - Armadillo World Headquarters Austin Texas March 27 1978 CD (Hi Hat)
As a founder and leading light of the Jazz Composers' Orchestra, as well as being a superb keyboardist, Carla Bley was at the cutting-edge of American jazz in the 1970s. Originally broadcast on WBUR 90.9 FM, this remarkable performance is a vital document of her band on its first North American tour and features renowned players such as Mike Mantler and Gary Windo. The entire broadcast is presented here, digitally remastered, together with background notes and images.
>Gui Boratto – Pentagram CD/2xLP (Kompakt)
Gui Boratto's breakthrough full-length debut Chromophobia was released in 2007. As to what its title suggests, he shook up the techno game with a contrast of lushly colored minimal grooves and melody. Four albums in and countless EPs and remixes under his belt, the Brazilian producer's unique savoir-faire in carving out a functional album out of diversely routed singles and features is back at it on his fifth studio album, Pentagram.
>Calpurnia – Scout CDEP/12” (Royal Mountain)
Calpurnia is a Vancouver, Canada-based quartet led by singer/guitarist Finn Wolfhard, best known for his breakout performances in Stranger Things and It, and also including lead guitarist Ayla Tesler-Mabe, bassist Jack Anderson and drummer Malcolm Craig. “It's like a four-way Venn diagram,” Anderson says of the band's coalescing musical tastes that seamlessly come together on their six-song debut EP, Scout, a giddy rock riot that sits comfortably at the intersection of classic rock, punk and angsty blues. It takes no more than 25 minutes, or roughly one spin though the EP to understand just exactly how well their sophisticated, diverse taste congeals into something so effortlessly powerful. From “Greyhound,” a slacker anthem recalling vintage Pavement to “Louie,” all Exile On Main Street-style country-blues slide guitar and choirboy harmonies, to the spaced-out closing opus “Waves,” Calpurnia's songwriting craft belies not only their age but their experience as a collective unit.
>Ben Caplan – Old Stock CD/LP (Rhyme & Reason)
Combining timeless melodies with a contemporary folk-rock twist, singer-songwriter Ben Caplan explores the immigrant experience with profound understanding and wry humor on his latest album, Old Stock. Adapted from the New York Times' Critic's Pick music-theater piece Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, the captivating, genre-warping concept album reflects on modern issues from immigration, loss, and darkness to love, sex, and God through his "darkly funny and moving" songs (The New Yorker). The sound is rooted in Caplan's resonant baritone voice, at times sounding like a lamb's wool blanket, and in another moment like a steel wool scouring pad. Caplan's voice is supported with the sounds of piano, accordion, organ, clarinet, saxophone, violin, drums, and the occasional acoustic guitar.
>Olivia Chaney – Shelter CD/LP (Nonesuch)
London-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Olivia Chaney follows-up her 2015 Nonesuch debut, The Longest River, with Shelter. The album was produced by Thomas Bartlett (David Byrne, Nico Muhly, The Magnetic Fields, Sufjan Stevens, The National, St. Vincent, Father John Misty) and features eight original songs, along with Chaney's interpretations of Purcell’s “O Solitude” and Frank Harford and Tex Ritter’s “Long Time Gone,” first recorded by the Everly Brothers. Chaney describes her time writing songs for Shelter: “I had been on the road a lot and was struggling with the grit and loneliness of urban life. I think I’d been questioning what home, belonging, a sense of purpose, and my own culture even meant. I’d been craving wilderness and a return to essentials for a long time. Then, while touring in the US, I realized the place I needed was already in my life. It was ancient, barely habitable, and remote. Thus, a crumbling 18th-century cottage in the austere but magical hills of the North Yorkshire Moors – a family retreat since my teens, with no electricity or plumbing, where the only water comes from a spring – became the home for my work on Shelter. We brought out an Arts and Crafts Bechstein piano and an old wood burner to the house; and as summer’s end turned to autumn’s shorter, colder days, the room with the upright and stove fueled my stay.”
>Don Cherry – Home Boy, Sister Out [Reissue/1985] CD/LP (Wewantsounds)
A unique soundbite of Paris in the early '80s at its coolest when funk, jazz, and new wave were mingling with sounds from Africa, Jamaica, and Latin America.
>Chromeo – Head Over Heels CD/Cassette (Atlantic)
Chromeo is an electro-funk duo from Montreal, Quebec. Formed in 2002 by childhood friends Dave 1 and P-Thugg, the widely-renowned Funklordz grooved their way to fame after the release of their sophomore album Fancy Footwork, which was nominated for a JUNO in 2008. A decade later, the inseparable drops their fifth record, Head Over Heels. “It’s our most collaborative and funk-centric album to date,” explains Dave 1, born David Macklovitch, the singer and guitarist of the group. “It has the most muscular, concept-driven songwriting. At the same time, we hear other voices and other musicians. In a way, it’s doubling down on the funk thing but also expanding the collaboration thing.” The album’s collaborators include an eclectic mix of modern day pop artists as well as some admired stars from the era of 1970s funk, including: Jesse Johnson, guitarist of The Time, as well as Pino Palladino, who has offered bass duties for artists such as D’Angelo, John Mayer, Elton John, and the Who. Modern day stars who appear on the album include D.R.A.M., French Montana, and the-Dream.
>Gene Clark – Gene Clark Sings For You CD/2xLP (Omnivore)
Gene Clark's musical legacy is most certainly assured as a singer, songwriter and member of some exclusive company as an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a founder of The Byrds, and collaborator in groups such as Dillard & Clark, Gene Clark and the Gosdin Brothers, McGuinn Clark & Hillman and later as the duet partner of Carla Olson (The Textones). As well documented as Clark's career has been, there have been remarkable discoveries over the years, but now the holy grail of Clark's post-Byrds career sees the light of day with this archival collection, Gene Clark Sings For You. Since word first spread in the 1980s about the discovery of these 1967 recordings on a rare acetate in Liberty Records' vaults, fans have come to regard Gene Clark Sings For You as nothing less than the Holy Grail of the singer/songwriter’s extraordinary body of work. In addition to the eight tracks from the Gene Clark Sings For You acetate, recorded in 1967 after he famously left The Byrds, the set includes five previously unknown tracks from a further 1967 acetate given to the band, The Rose Garden, for recording consideration. This new compilation also includes a previously unissued demo rescued from a tape in the collection of John Noreen, member of The Rose Garden.
>Brent Cowles – How To Be Okay Alone CD (Dine Alone)
In the midst of intense change and a series of hardships, Brent Cowles went through a period of self-examination that resulted in his solo debut How To Be Okay Alone - a raucous yet reflective 10-song collection that deals with love, loneliness and community. [Vinyl edition due July 6.]
>Culture Abuse – Bay Dream CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Jimmy Eat World, M83), Bay Dream follows Culture Abuse's 2016 debut Peach and elevates the band's melody-heavy garage punk to new levels, while drawing inspiration from artists as eclectic as Sly and the Family Stone, Paul Simon, and reggae legend Billy Boyo. [Limited edition yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>The Cure – Mixed Up [Reissue/1990] CD/3xCD/2xLP (Elektra)
The Cure – Torn Down 2xLP (Elektra)
Digitally remastered single disc and expanded three CD editions. Triple-CD includes additional remixes circa 1982-90 as well as Torn Down which is comprised of16 new remixes by Robert Smith. [Stand-alone vinyl edition of Torn Down is also available.]
>Rhodri Davies/David Sylvian/Mark Wastell – There Is No Love CD (Confront Recordings)
Additional contribution from Toshimaru Nakamura (no-input mixer) recorded by Steve Bates and David Sylvian, Montreal. Tubular bell and concert bass drum recorded by Matthew Sansom, Surrey University, 2006. Original text by Bernard Marie Koltès. Compositional structure by Mark Wastell. Mixed and mastered by Rupert Clervaux. Personnel: Rhodri Davies -- lap harp, table harp, vibraphone, radio; David Sylvian -- voice, vocal treatments, electronics; Mark Wastell -- tam tam, cracked ride cymbal, chimes, Indian temple bells, singing bowls, metal chain, tubular bell, concert bass drum. Voice recorded by David Sylvian, Los Angeles, USA. Instrumental parts recorded by Rupert Clervaux at Studio 3, London.
>Dead Girls Academy – Alchemy CD/LP (Victory)
Los Angeles, CA dark rockers Dead Girls Academy is the new band from Vampires Everywhere’s Michael Orlando. Signed to Victory Records, their debut Alchemy was written and produced by Ronnie Radke (Falling In Reverse) and mixed by Elvis Baskette (Slash, Sevendust, Trivium). Orlando explains, “Split personalities, fake friends, hangers-on, social-climbing and attention-hunting whores are all ingredients I wanted to exploit with this project.” Emotionally driven pop/punk single “I’ll Find A Way” is about conquering your inner demons. Recommended for fans of Falling In Reverse, Black Veil Brides, Bring Me The Horizon, and Motionless In White.
>DJ Richard – Dies Iræ Xerox CD/2xLP (Dial)
With the chaos of the Berlin club scene an increasingly distant memory, DJ Richard’s sophomore album is enriched with a contemplative, brittle tone, equally informed by film soundtracks and literature as the pulse of city living. On Dies Iræ Xerox, the artist finds the space to write "the records I really want to play", and each suggests a template for genuine dancefloor transcendence.
>Eartheater – Irisiri CD/LP (Pan)
Eartheater (aka Queens based artist Alexandra Drewchin) distills foley-filled digital production, a three-octave vocal range, and classical composition into works suspended between obsessively detailed sonic tapestries and almost recklessly romantic and gestural electronica. Modular synth staccato plucks hammer out in arrhythmic spirals over a carefully muzzled grid of pumping kicks -- unleashed in unpredictable disruptions. Technoid stabs mingle with crushed black metal.
>Eligh – Last House On The Block CD/LP (Eligh Music)
Eligh, one of the founding members of the Living Legends crew, returns with his first official solo record since 2010's Grey Crow. During the eight-year gap he has put out three collaborative albums as well as a triple-disc album with his Living Legends counterpart, The Grouch. On Last House On The Block, Eligh taps into some sounds and textures from his past and sat behind the boards for the majority of the album. He also tapped contributions from The Grouch, Zion I, Reverie, Evidence, R.A. The Rugged Man, and more.
>Emanative – Earth CD/2xLP (Jazzman)
Orbiting somewhere between the interplanetary funk of Sun Ra and the cinematic experimentation of Floating Points lies the new album from spiritually awakened Brit-jazz collective Emanative.
>Fantastic Negrito – Please Don’t Be Dead CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
There is desperation and urgency in Fantastic Negrito’s new album Please Don't Be Dead. The record sees the Devil around the corner, and each song is a plea to make you aware of what's waiting for you. The artist is screaming at you because he knows what comes next. The album art features a real-life photograph of Fantastic Negrito (real name Xavier Dphrepaulezz) waking up from a three-week coma. His body is shattered, his eyes are staring past you. They're staring at the darkness that awaits. But with his new album we hear the voice of an artist who put that darkness in the rearview. Now he's asking America to do the same. Like Negrito in that photograph, our country is driving off a cliff. We’re letting our worst inclinations lead us: hate, division, greed, superficiality. It is going to be a fight to pull ourselves from this toxic mire, and this album is a roadmap by an artist who survived the same journey...battered, scarred, but determined to wake us all up. Please Don't Be Dead is a man standing over something wounded. Something he cares about. He's looking around, and he's saying: “do something.”
>Fink, Marcher & Gleaves – Shout & Shine CD (Community Music)
Grammy winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer join forces with Appalachian artist Sam Gleaves in a roots music hoot & holler celebrating diversity, moonshine, mentors, trad sounds and contemporary issues.
>John Foxx – Metamatic [Reissue/1980] 3xCD (Metamatic)
Expanded Deluxe edition of the former Ultravox singer’s debut solo album. Includes the 2014 remastered version of the album, sourced from analogue tapes, as well as every B-side, outtake and unreleased track from the era.
>Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound Sessions CD (SideOneDummy)
The Gaslight Anthem celebrates 10 years of their seminal album, The '59 Sound, with this collection of rare, unreleased, and alternate takes recorded during the album’s sessions. [Vinyl edition due July 13.]
>Buddy Guy – The Blues Is Alive And Well CD/2xLP+MP3 (RCA)
The first album in three years from the blues legend. Features guest appearances from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck and James Bay.
>Hatchie – Sugar & Spice CD/LP (Double Double Whammy)
Hatchie is the world of Harriette Pilbeam. To hear her music is to step inside her mind; a dreamy landscape where cascading synths, jangling guitars, propulsive rhythms and white noise undulate beneath undeniable and irresistible pop melodies. Rather than focusing on the external world of her daily life in Brisbane, Pilbeam instead turns her gaze inwards, making a soundtrack out of her daydreams, setting her emotional life to song. [LP pressed on one-sided vinyl with a B-side etching.]
>Here Lies Man – You Will Know Nothing CD/LP (Riding Easy)
The L.A. band comprised of Antibalas members follow their auspicious debut. You Will Know Nothing expands upon the band’s exploration of heavy riff-based rock and psych within the ancient rhythmic formula of the clave.
>Jackson Sisters – Jackson Sisters [Reissue/1976] CD/LP (Mondo)
CD and vinyl reissue of an album considered by many to be a genuine 'holy grail' of soul and funk. Features “Miracles” as sampled by Public Enemy, Basement Jaxx, Arrested Development and many more. Originally from Compton, Los Angeles, the Jackson Sisters were one-hit wonders who briefly shone and made some noise in the early 1970s before quickly fading into obscurity.
>Andy Jenkins – Sweet Bunch CD/LP (Spacebomb)
“For many years Richmond-based Andy Jenkins toiled behind the scenes of Spacebomb, the powerhouse indie folk studio and label that has helped launch Matthew E. White, Bedouine, and Natalie Prass among others. Now Jenkins shares his own homespun melodies. [Title track] ‘Sweet Bunch’ was produced by Spacebomb founder Matthew E. White; its intermittent sing-talking and indie twang somewhat resemble a stripped-down Beck.” – Stereogum
>Wilko Johnson – Blow Your Mind CD (Chess)
Wilko’s first album of new material in 30 + years was recorded at Rockfield Studios, where Wilko and the Feelgoods famously parted company back in ’77. Guests include Mick Talbot on keyboards and Steve Weston on harmonica, both of whom were featured on Wilko’s last recorded with Roger Daltrey. [Vinyl edition due July 20.]
>Konrad Kraft – Antarctica [Reissue/1987] CD/LP (Tal)
Pioneering production from the Düsseldorf mid- '80s electronic underground world, transferred for the first ever time from the original cassette to vinyl and CD. Konrad Kraft (Detlef Funder) is one of the still overlooked producers of Düsseldorf's fertile electronic music scene.
>Lizzy Borden – My Midnight Things CD (Metal Blade)
Lizzy Borden, one of theatrical rock's top front-men, issues his first album in 11 years. [Vinyl edition due June 29th.]
>The Love Unlimited Orchestra – The 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1979) 2xCD/3xLP (Mercury)
Love Unlimited – The UNI, MCA And 20th Century Records Singles 1972-1975 CD/2xLP (Mercury)
The Love Unlimited Orchestra can be seen as the bold gesture of Barry White’s grand vision of love. The Orchestra’s singles between 1973 and 1979 are a joyous complement to White’s work as a solo artist, and as the producer behind Love Unlimited. Featuring all 14 of Love Unlimited Orchestra’s US 7” singles released between 1973-1979, as well as the 12” single disco versions of a further 7 tracks, The 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1979) is the first compilation to pull together all the group’s A- and B-sides. The UNI, MCA And 20th Century Records Singles 1972-1975 features all 10 of Love Unlimited’s US 7” singles released between 1972-1975.
>Lunatic Soul – Under The Fragmented Sky CD/LP (Kscope)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Following on from 2017's Fractured, which covered content about grieving, hope and a fractured society, companion release Under the Fragmented Sky rebuilds Lunatic Soul as we know it, with dark and haunting atmospheres coming to the forefront, taking its name from the lyrics of the 12-minute epic "A Thousand Shards of Heaven" from Fractured. [Limited 180gm colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Madball – For The Cause CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Madball’s ninth album – a signature collection of lionhearted, groove-laden, street-level New York hardcore.
>Mad Caddies – Punk Rocksteady CD (Fat Wreck Chords)
Over the past 20 years, the Mad Caddies have made music that slipped between genre lines, and with Punk Rocksteady, they offer up a record of punk covers that shows the band is more than capable of taking all that piss and vinegar and turning it into something beautiful. [Vinyl edition due July 13.]
>Mansun – Attack Of The Grey Lanten [Reissue/1997] CD/2xLP (Kscope)
Mansun is regarded as one of the most innovative British bands of the late 1990s and released three classic albums - Attack Of The Grey Lantern (1997), Six (1998), Little Kix (2000), a retrospective compilation, Kleptomania, and a popular series of EPs during its existence. The Kscope label has acquired the band's impressive catalogue and are creating a deluxe reissue series that delves into a treasure trove of previously unreleased audio and visual material. [Limited purple colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Johnny Marr – Call The Comet CD (New Voodoo)
Recorded with his band in Manchester at Johnny Marr's Crazy Face studios, Call The Comet is the third solo record from the Smiths guitarist and follows 2013's critically acclaimed The Messenger and 2014's Playland. "Call The Comet is set in the not-too-distant future" says Marr, "and is mostly concerned with the idea of an alternative society. It's my own magic realism." [Vinyl edition due July 6.]
>Mayday Parade – Sunnyland CD/LP (Rise)
Sixth full-length effort from the Tallahassee, FL-based emo pop/rock outfit. [Limited bone colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Buck Meek – Buck Meek CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Keeled Scales)
Buck Meek's songs are for the lost dogs of honest mechanics, good guys and girls born into a life of crime, runaways, snow spirits, the ghosts of Central Park, unsung diving-board stars, the affection shared through gambling, and so on. Bred in Texas, more bread in New York City, Meek spins outlaw ballads and quotidian fairy tales into a yarn, with Adam Brisbin on guitar (Jolie Holland, Sam Evian, Katie Von Schleicher), Mt. Davidson on bass (Twain, The Low Anthem, Spirit Family Reunion), and Austin Vaughn on drums (Here We Go Magic, Luke Temple, Sam Evian).
>Melodies Echo Chamber – Bon Voyage CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Made up of seven expansive tracks, Melody's Echo Chamber’s second album marries Melody Prochet's breathless soprano to the wildest sonic excursions, always pinned to an emphatic, clattering groove as she delivers her fables of spiritual search and emotional healing in multiple tongues (French, English and Swedish). Bon Voyage is a collaborative record between Prochet and Dungen's Reine Fiske and The Amazing's Fredrik Swahn with Melody sculpting and producing the sessions as well as encouraging the players around her to experiment, often with instruments that might be less familiar to them. It also features special guests Gustav Esjtes and Johan Holmegaard (both from Dungen) and Nicholas Allbrook (Pond). The album arrives more than five years after Melody's Echo Chamber's debut, and it is the soundtrack to a trip back from the brink, the sound of spiritual renewal, and a pilgrimage to the sonic outer limits.
>The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – While We’re At It CD/LP (Big Rig)
Boston’s ambassadors of ska return with their tenth album of unique brass-infused punk rock. While We’re At It is the final part of a musical trilogy that began with Pin Points And Gin Joints in 2009 followed by The Magic Of Youth in 2011.
>Jason Charles Miller – In The Wasteland CD (Century Media)
11 tracks that blur the line between Southern rock, classic country, and the outlaw attitude.
>MOURN - Sorpresa Familia CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
Catalonian quartet MOURN stormed onto the scene with their 2014 self-titled debut - a work of angular indie rock and pointed lyricism delivered with confidence well beyond their teenage years. Chock full of tension and pent up frustration, their new third album, Sorpresa Familia, feels tonally right at home within MOURN's catalog. But it also feels distinctly separate - more refined, more intentional. Railing against greedy businesses, exploitation, fake friends, dishonest figures of authority, and ever complicated global politics, it's an album of decidedly higher stakes than their past outputs, delivered with the newfound poetic grace of a band rising up out of the ashes of those who stood in their way.
>Mystic Bowie – Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads CD (BFD)
Reggae artist Mystic Bowie (real name Fitzroy Campbell) releases his debut album which features classic Talking Heads songs, and more, reggae-style. As a former member of the Tom Tom Club, a band that included former Talking Heads founders Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Mystic Bowie infuses fresh life into Talking Heads’ classic catalog with his high octane mix of roots reggae, ska and lover's rock. The Talking Dreads album features a lineup of legendary reggae figures including singer Freddie McGregor; ska guitar master Ernest Ranglin (Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Monty Alexander); Soul Train Award nominated Tarrus Riley (“Start Anew,” “Good Girl Gone Bad”); and saxophone great Dean Fraser. The album also features drummer Kirk Bennett and Lincoln Thomas, McGregor's longtime guitarist. Cindy Wilson of the B-52s special guests on a duet with Mystic for “Heaven.” [Vinyl edition due June 29.]
>nobigdyl. – SOLAR. CD (Capitol)
Debut album from the Christian rapper with a distinctive flow that's laid-back but committed. With 12 tracks and several guest features from artists such as WHATUPRG, John Givez, and Sarah Juers, SOLAR is an introspective dialogue that attempts to navigate the challenging obstacles of pursuing healthy relationships; both with others and with the world.
>Onyx Collective - Lower East Suite: Part Three CD/LP (Big Dada)
New York City’s Onyx Collective present their debut studio album. The record features de-facto band leader Isaiah Barr on alto and tenor saxophone, Austin Williamson on drums, Walter Stinson on upright bass, Spencer Murphy on bass, and Roy Nathanson as guest saxophone on four tracks. Whereas previous Onyx Collective projects capture NYC's more romantic facets, Lower East Suite Part Three has a much more ominous sound, reflective of the dissonance that accompanies life in the city.
>Orange Goblin – The Wolf Bites Back CD/LP (Candlelight)
Orange Goblin – Frequencies From Planet Ten [Reissue/1997] CD (Rise)
Orange Goblin – Thieving From The House Of God [Reissue/2003] CD (Rise)
Diehard exponents of the noble art of heavy metal since 1995, the London-based quartet have spent the last two decades steadily but surely establishing themselves as one of the UK's most loved and respected bands. Emerging from the stoner rock explosion of the mid ‘90s, the group led the way for that scene on British shores, kicking off with classic debut album Frequencies From Planet Ten in 1997 and continuing with a steady stream of critically acclaimed albums that boldly and gleefully blurred the lines between stoner, doom, black, crust and southern rock, while always fervently saluting the old school heavy metal flag and the sacred Sabbathian code. The Wolf Bites Back is a flat-out triumph for a band that refuses to deviate from their stated mission of bring joyous, blood 'n' thunder metal to the masses. [Limited edition translucent blue colored vinyl pressing of The Wolf Bites Back also available.]
>John Parish – Bird Dog Dante CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
The twice Ensor nominated composer and Mercury Prize winning producer delivers a new collection of songs which includes a duet with his longtime musical partner, PJ Harvey. Parish records songs as they come to him, often with the intent of just capturing the idea. "Like all of my records, Bird Dog Dante was recorded all over the place in odd situations, because I'll have an idea somewhere and want to record it, then I actually end up liking the sound of that specific recording and want to incorporate it," says Parish. While a few of the tracks began with the band in Toybox in Bristol, often they were then deconstructed in Parish's home studio. John's producer's ear can focus on a small detail that captures his imagination, which then becomes the foundation to build the song around.
>William Parker – Voices Fall From The Sky 3xCD (Aum Fidelity)
Currently deep into his fifth exceptionally active decade as an essential jazz artist, William Parker needs no introduction. However, one of the intrinsic aspects of his oeuvre that bears repeated mention is the vast range thereof. From era-defining statements of free music to soul-jazz organ quartet; from his seamless incorporation of indigenous folk forms to his exhilarating work for jazz orchestra; from the joyous accessibility of his Quartet to his nuanced scoring for dance and film. A treasure box abounding with gems, Voices Fall From The Sky is an expansive triple-CD box set comprising three distinct and complementary albums whose focus is on the voice: the singers, 17 of whom are featured herein, and the songs, all composed (and produced) by William Parker.
>Petal – Magic Gone CD/LP (Run For Cover)
Pennsylvania’s Petal release Magic Gone, a 10-song declaration of personal liberation and a look into the mind and soul of singer/songwriter Kiley Lotz. “Magic Gone is the physical and sonic representation of me fighting for my right not only to survive but live all while coming to terms with encroaching adulthood,” says Lotz. “I was a closeted queer person struggling with chronic mental health disorders; terrified that if I tried to deal with these two major issues in my life I would lose everyone and everything I loved. Coming out was the beginning of a long and continuing process of self-actualization, of taking a hard look at myself and the problems I had and how I could fix them. This record is the result of being the most honest I have ever been in my life, and the constant battle of overcoming the thought that, ‘maybe if I were just someone else completely, everything would be better.’ Magic Gone is about letting go of the anger induced by all the paranoia, anxiety, guilt and pain, and embracing the magic of your own endurance and hoping for the best.”
>Prefuse 73 – Sacrifices CD (Lex)
Following his detour into fractured, kaleidoscopic hip-hop with Fudge, electronic music pioneer Prefuse 73 has become progressively interested in injecting a sense of space into his characteristically complex productions. The resultant 17-track collection, Sacrifices, is akin to watching an old photograph deteriorate in one's hands, as otherwise dense beats disintegrate into airy expanses of emotionally resonant electronics. Its effect is not unlike attempting to recall a murky memory of a dream of Guillermo Scott Herren's earliest works, imbibed with an increased interest in the subtlety of contemporary minimalism. [Vinyl edition due July 6.]
>Billy Price – Reckoning CD (VizzTone Music Group)
Acclaimed soul singer Billy Price teamed with award-winning guitarist and producer Kid Andersen to create Reckoning, Prices first solo studio recording in five years. For the sessions at Andersens Greaseland studio in San José, California. they brought together an all-star collection of West Coast musicians and singers to back Prices vocals. The album features Price originals along with songs previously recorded by such artists as Bobby Bland, Otis Redding, J.J. Cale, and Swamp Dogg.
>Protomartyr – Consolation CDEP/12”+MP3 (Domino)
An EP of brand new material recorded in collaboration with Kelley Deal (The Breeders) and Mike Montgomery (R. Ring, Ampline), Consolation’s four songs capture the breadth of mood and stylistic variety of a full-length Protomartyr album: from the short sharp shock of the opener “Wait”, through the mutant pop of “Same Face In A Different Mirror”, the epic “Wheel of Fortune”, to the beautiful closer “You Always Win”. [Limited yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>R+R=Now – Collagically Speaking CD (Blue Note)
R+R=Now is a collective of like-minded boundary-breakers featuring Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin and Justin Tyson. The R+R in the band's name stands for Reflect+Respond and was inspired by Nina Simone who said an artist's duty is to reflect the times. With Collagically Speaking, the band presents an urgent musical hybrid that is distinctly of the now. [Vinyl edition due July 20.]
>Rebelution – Free Rein CD/LP (Easy Star)
While still rooted in the Jamaican inspiration that Rebelution's songs and sounds have always paid homage to, Rebelution’s sixth studio album Free Rein takes experimental leaps and new adventures too. The musicians collaborated with Jamaican artists on three of the twelve new tracks: Don Corleon (Sean Paul, Rihanna) produced “Rise On Top”, a pointed reflection on celebrity and ambition; and Winta James, producer for Damian Marley and Chronixx, worked with the band on “Settle Down Easy” and “City Life,” two songs that reflect a more confessional perspective. Opener “Celebrate” nods to the classic Rebelution sound. It has special meaning for the band too. In their long months on the road they’ve met fans with health struggles who've said that their music has helped them get through tough times. “Patience”, a reggae-R&B hybrid, is another hymn to human connection, a haunting message from the well of romantic love. Other tracks take a wider perspective including the uptempo “City Life” which speaks on the solitude and beauty of mother nature while “Take On Anything” notes that being different is actually a beautiful thing.
>Steve Reich – Drumming [Reissue/1971] 2xCD (Superior Viaduct)
Steve Reich's Drumming is regarded as one of the most important musical works of the last century. Distilled through his studies of African percussion in Ghana during 1970 and Balinese gamelan music, Reich revolutionized our understanding of polyrhythms, sculpting a new sonic territory to illuminate the radical potential of minimalism. Divided into four sections, performed without pause, Drumming is written for eight small tuned drums, three marimbas, three glockenspiels, piccolo and voice. [Vinyl edition due July 6.]
>Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
It’s rare that a band's debut album sounds as confident and self-assured as Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever's Hope Downs. To say that the first full-length from the Melbourne quintet improves on their buzz-building EPs from the last few years would be an understatement: the promise those early releases hinted at is fully realized here, with ten songs of urgent, passionate guitar pop that elicit warm memories of bands past, from the Go-Betweens' jangle to the charmingly lo-fi trappings of New Zealand's Flying Nun label. But don't mistake Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever for nostalgists: Hope Downs is the sound of a band finding its own collective voice. The album is as much about the people that populate the world around us – their stories, perspectives, and hopes in the face of disillusionment – as it is about the state of things at large. It’s a record that focuses on finding the bright spots at a time when cynicism all too often feels like the natural state. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are here to remind us to keep our feet on the ground – and Hope Downs is as delicious a taste of terra firma as you're going to get from a rock band right now.
>The Rose Garden – A Trip Through The Garden: The Rose Garden Collection CD (Omnivore)
Expanded for the very first time, The Rose Garden’s sole eponymous album gets the deep-dive examination it deserves with A Trip Through The Garden: The Rose Garden Collection. Beyond the original album’s twelve tracks released in 1967, this newly restored and remastered CD adds 14 previously unissued tracks. They include five live tracks recorded in August of 1967 at Chaminade High School in Canoga Park plus studio outtakes, acetate tracks, and a special rehearsal. This collection is released at the same time as Gene Clark Sings For You, which serves as a companion piece (Clark was involved with The Rose Garden after leaving The Byrds and furnished them with an acetate of songs to choose from for their self-titled album).
>Sango – In The Comfort Of CD/2xLP (Last Gang)
“Sango makes beats. At least, that's how he sees it. The rest of us know the truth: the 26-year-old Seattle DJ/producer conducts symphonies. And not just in the way he conjures a singularly fluid sound out of all manner of ancient rhythms, worldly strains, and progressive notions – from heady jazz to heartfelt gospel, jittery club music to combustible baile funk, uncanny future-bass to mellow trap-soul.”
>Sepultura – Arise [Reissue/1991] 2xCD/2xLP (Atlantic)
Newly remastered reissue of the fourth studio album by the Brazilian heavy metal band. The double-CD edition includes the original album along with 28 bonus tracks; the double-vinyl LP version includes the original album plus ten bonus tracks.
>Mike Shinoda – Post Traumatic CD (WB)
In the months since the passing of Linkin Park vocalist and bandmate Chester Bennington, Mike Shinoda has immersed himself in art as a way of processing his grief. With no agenda, Shinoda hunkered down alone in his Los Angeles home and began writing, recording, and painting. In January, he released a teaser EP consisting of three deeply personal songs - each one a powerful, stream-of-consciousness expression of unvarnished grief - accompanied by homemade visuals that Shinoda filmed, painted and edited himself. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with New York Times stating, “The tracks are reverberant electronic dirges; the rhymes, heading into sung choruses, testify to bewilderment, mourning, resentment, self-pity and questions about what to do.” Following the EP release, Shinoda continued to create, and the result is a transparent and intensely personal album that, despite its title, isn't entirely about grief, though it does start there. [Vinyl edition due August 10.]
>Slaughter & The Dogs – The Slaughterhouse Tapes CD/LP (Cleopatra)
A compilation of rare tracks from one of the UK's most legendary punk acts. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Soundtrack – Uncle Drew CD (RCA)
Features tracks by G-Eazy, Yo Gotti, YBN Nahmir, A$AP Rocky, Gucci Mane, 21 Savage, London On Da Track, Khalid, A$AP Ferg, Tone Stith, 2 Chainz, GoldLink, Logic, French Montana, Remy Ma, Wiz Khalifa, Leikeli47, Grace and others.
>Spock’s Beard – Noise Floor CD (Inside Out U.S.)
13th studio album from the progressive rock band.
>Stuart A. Staples – Arrhythmia CD/LP+MP3 (City Slang)
Staples first solo album in thirteen years, Arrhythmia is immersive and experimental, both recognizably the work of the Tindersticks frontman and simultaneously a stand-alone, unique piece of work. It is a provocative album where electronic experimentations and rare multi-instrumentations interweave, wrapping themselves around unconventional but utterly spellbinding song structures Written when he describes as a lost year, Arrhythmia began on Christmas day 2016 when he was drawn to the studio to record the beginnings of “A New Real”, the album’s hypnotic opener of glitchy electronic loops with a sly nod to disco. The second track, “Memories Of Love”, is indicative of Arrhythmia’s time-less experimentation and musical exploration.
>State Champs – Living Proof CD/LP (Pure Noise)
Third album from the NY-based pop-punks.
>Syclops – Pink Eye CD/2x12” (Running Back)
Written and produced by Maurice Fulton. "An Original Dr. Scratch Mix'" Published by Buttrubb Music. Players: Karo Brandi, leader of all of what you see, plus all of the artwork; Hanna Sarkari, all guitars; Mim Suleiman, all drums and percussion; Maurice Fulton, all keyboards, bass, and drum programming. Recorded and mixed at BubbleTease Communications Sheffield UK.
>Talos – Wild Alee CD (BMG Rights Management)
Blending elements of electronic pop and soulful R&B with hypnotizing synthscapes and haunting vocals, each track on Talos’ 2017 album, Wild Alee, offers its own vivid sense of space, conjuring up an immersive journey that blurs the lines between dreaming and waking, between reality and fantasy, between the ordinary and the extraordinary. This expanded version includes a new four-track bonus EP Then There Was War. [Vinyl edition due June 29.]
>Tangents – New Bodies CD/LP (Temporary Residence)
New Bodies continues Tangents' rummage through countless varieties of electronics, rock, dub, noise, and free improv jazz that defines the group's acclaimed aesthetic. The spacious dub of a plucked cello gives way to a minimalist breakbeat tableau resting over rhythmic prepared piano; a staid electronic groove is gradually absorbed into washes of frenzied improv; staccato synths are woven into tumbling avant-rock; and shimmering free drums phase over static loops of piano, guitar and cello. To quote FACT Magazine, "The quintet are so comfortable working with jazz, folk music, post-rock and electronic music that it comfortably hangs in a space between them all."
>The Thing – Again CD/LP (The Thing/Trost)
“If you count The Thing’s collaborations with Joe McPhee, James Blood Ulmer, Ken Vandermark, Neneh Cherry, Barry Guy, Otomo Yoshihide, Jim O’Rourke, Thurston Moore and DKV Trio too, Again is their 20th album (including the compilation Now and Forever and the split album The Music of Norman Howard with School Days, another Gustafsson project). Literally speaking, The Thing have done it again. After 17 years in the same line-up (Mats Gustafsson on saxes, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten on acoustic and electric bass and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums) you might think that the band’s music has become predictable, that their mélange of free jazz, blues, rock and noise is actually a cul-de-sac because the musical options are exhausted. However, it isn’t.” – The Free Jazz Collective
>Julie Tippetts/Mark Wastell – Unravelling The Waterfall CD (Confront Recordings)
Strikingly sparse and meditative percussive duo from esteemed vocalist Julie Tippetts and Mark Wastell. Both equipped with a wealth of percussion but perfectly restrained, the pair are near-still, bright and clear at first, until the surface of their glistening sound begins to prickle and rush with an unseen current. Tippett's voice effortlessly matches the bellows of the Wastell's shruti box, and its gentle drone highlights her natural vocal warmth. Intimate, explorative and intuitive, each note struck or sung is turned over gently, explored, and put back down to rest -- like a rare find in a rock pool.
>Hugh Tracey – Listen All Around: The Golden Age Of Central And East African Music 2xCD (Dust-To-Digital)
Legendary ethnomusicologist and field-recording pioneer Hugh Tracey founded the International Library of African Music (ILAM) in 1954. Today, ILAM preserves thousands of historical recordings and has become the greatest repository of African music in the world. Dust-To-Digital partner with ILAM to present Listen All Around: The Golden Age of Central and East African Music -- a compilation of newly-transferred and remastered recordings that Hugh Tracey made between 1950-1958. The recordings presented here were made in central and eastern Africa -- specifically, the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Kenya, Tanganyika, and Zanzibar (now Tanzania).
>Mika Vainio – Lydspor One & Two CD/LP (Moog Recordings Library)
Mika Vainio visited the Moog Sound-Lab in April 2015. He made one his last known solo studio recordings in the form of two vinyl-sized, side-long pieces entitled Lydspor, Danish for "soundtrack". Mika worked almost exclusively with the lab's Moog Modular System 55. This UK sound-lab instrument is the sole prototype model (containing several golden filters) of Moog's sold-out reverse-engineered edition (only 55 units) recreating the 1970s classic. On completion of his sessions Mika announced: "I could work with this machine for the rest of my life... I would need nothing else." A second Moog session was planned but tragically Mika died in an accident in April 2017, shortly after he had approved the vinyl mastering.
>Various Artists – Chébran- Volume 2: French Boogie CD/2xLP (Born Bad)
The French in the '80s were not faint-hearted: as some threw themselves heart and soul into music or business, others wouldn't mind going bottomless to get themselves noticed. While Bernard Tapie soon realized his own fortune was rather to be found in business, many music-loving dreamers already imagined themselves in the sun, in an enchanting world made of funky rhythms and synthesizers. Features Phil Barney, JM Black, Ettika, Sammy Massamba, Shams Dinn, Alfio Scandurra,Philippe Chany, Nordine Staiffi, Brigitte Et Michot, Alec Mansion, Marie Jose Fa, Hamidou, Ganawa, Creole Star, Manu, Ethnie, and Joel Ferrati.
>Various Artists - Interferencias Vol. 2: Spanish Synth Wave 1980-1989 CD/2xLP (Munster)
In the early '80s, futuristic music existed that triumphantly anticipated another musical era for a number of groups that worked on alternative circuits in Spain. Tradition, trajectory and future: these three words sum up a movement that was castrated at birth and sought to bring plurality and nuance to a monolithic cultural scene that was too predictable, commercial and stale. The musical texture of synth pop, experimental electronic music, and the incipient primitivist industrial sound of groups like Esplendor Geométrico or Orfeón Gagarin came up against a lack of social participation that supports a popular and broad-based culture. Both volumes of Interferencias seek to do their bit in the odyssey to disseminate rarities from the Spanish musical heritage dating from the '80s, when the dictatorship was over.
>Various Artists - King Size Dub Special: Dubmatix CD (Echo Beach)
Canada: this is where the genre's busiest, most talented and possibly cleverest producer hails from: Dubmatix. Not only a studio virtuoso, but also an incredibly profound artist and perfectionist whose sure-fire instinct for the ultimate groove productions defines the current state of the art in the genre. Heavy bass for heavy dancing. Features Tenor Fly, Linval Thompson, Tippa Irie, Cornell Campbell, U Roy, S'Kaya, Horace Andy, Ranking Joe, Mykal Rose, Kulcha Ites, Eek-A-Mouse, Earl 16, and Micah Shemiah.
>Various Artists – Remembering Joseph Hill CD (VPAL)
Remembering Joseph Hill is a tribute album to the influential lead singer of Culture - 40 years after the group created a stir with the song “Two Sevens Clash”. Featured artists include Queen Ifrica, Buju Banton, Etana, Richie Spice, Marcia Griffiths, Tarrus Riley, Gyptian, Duane Stephenson and more.
>Various Artists – Tribute: Delmark’s 65th Anniversary CD (Delmark)
Delmark's current roster of artists pay tribute to founder Bob Koester and the blues artists that he recorded for the label in the 1960s & ‘70s. Jimmy Johnson & Dave Specter pay tribute to Magic Sam, Omar Coleman to Junior Wells, Lil' Ed to J. B. Hutto, Corey Dennison to Sleepy John Estes, Jimmy Burns to Big Joe Williams, and Ken Saydak to Roosevelt Sykes. Lurrie Bell & The Bell Dynasty pay tribute to their dad Carey Bell. Linsey Alexander & Billy Flynn pay tribute to Jimmy Dawkins.
>Leon Vynehall – Nothing Is Still CD/LP+MP3 (Ninja Tune)
Leon Vynehall's debut sees him digging deeper into the family history that has always inspired his most iconic tracks, whilst returning to his own musical roots. Nothing Still is defiantly atmospheric and textural and finds him harnessing his passion for early contemporary minimalist composers such as Gavin Bryars as well as records like Philip Glass' Koyaanisqatsi and Terry Riley's A Rainbow In Curved Air. [Deluxe vinyl edition includes a novella and poster.]
>Waak Waak Djungi - Waak Waak Ga Min Min CD/LP (Efficient Space)
Little-heard recordings of three Yolngu songmen from Northeast Arnhem Land -- Bobby Bunnungurr, Jimmy Djamunba, and Peter Milaynga (d. 2007) -- working in collaboration with Victorian musician Peter Mumme.
>Tom Waits – Bastards CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Tom Waits – Brawlers CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Tom Waits – Bawlers CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Previously released in 2006 as a triple-CD/seven-LP set entitled Orphans: Bastards, Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, each volume of that collection has been remastered and is now available separately. Taken as a whole, the collection of 56 songs went far beyond a simple career retrospective. It dipped back as far as 1984 with the bulk of its songs hailing from the mid-nineties onward. Over 2/3 of the material had never been heard when originally released in 2006 and had 30 newly recorded songs.
>Buster Williams – Audacity CD/2xLP (Smoke Sessions)
New album from intrepid bassist Buster Williams. Whether supplying eminently tasteful but strong-as-steel backing for singers like Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughan or venturing into uncharted new territory as a member of Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking Mwandishi band, Williams' playing has always evidenced that fearless willingness to leap without hesitation into the unknown. With his new recording, Audacity, Williams marks another chapter in that ongoing history. Audacity finds Williams stepping into the studio as a leader for the first time since 2004's Griot Liberte, leading his long-running all-star quartet Something More with saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist George Colligan and drummer Lenny White.
>Yuno – Moodie CDEP/12”+MP3/Cassette (Sub Pop)
Sub Pop found Yuno via Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces and Digable Planets fame, who’s on the A&R staff for the label. He stumbled upon Yuno on Soundcloud and kept a close eye on him. Similar to Butler, Yuno is encouraged by the genre-bending age of melody we’re living through, citing Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug as sources of influence. The multiple flavors of sound also reflect the breadth of feeling that he’s chasing in the writing. “With such soothing reverb and balmy guitars, ‘Why For’—the first single from producer/songwriter Yuno’s debut EP, Moodie—seems to flirt with chillwave. But unlike Small Black or Washed Out, Yuno’s honeyed delivery has a neurotic edge that is refreshingly unchill. ‘It’s been a year/I'm still stuck in this hole,’ he sings, his voice melting like surf wax in the sun. ‘It’s not your fault you found another home.’ With a backbone of pop-metal guitars and dream pop drums, Yuno’s wide and weird influences on “Why For” range from skate video soundtracks and Weezer's radio-friendly harmonies to left-field hip-hop like Digable Planets and Shabazz Palaces.” – Pitchfork
>Frank Zappa – Live In Sweden 1967 CD (Keyhole)
Live at the Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden on September 30th, 1967. In the last week of September 1967, Frank Zappa and the Mothers played a week of shows in Europe. This remarkable performance, broadcast from the Konserthuset in Stockholm, Sweden on national FM radio, features favorites such as "It Can't Happen Here" from Freak Out! (1966), "Big Leg Emma" (which had recently appeared as a 45 in Sweden), and an epic rendition of "King Kong" (in its first known live recording), as well as a couple of Elvis classics.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
>Grace Jones – Bloodlight & Bami DVD/Blu-ray (Umbrella Entertainment)
A journey through the performance, private and public worlds of a pop cultural icon. Larger than life, fierce and androgynous - Grace Jones plays all these parts. Yet here we discover her as lover, daughter, mother, sister and even grandmother, as she submits herself to our gaze and allows us to understand what constitutes her mask. Australian/Region Free pressing.
>Norah Jones – Live At Ronnie Scott’s DVD/Blu-ray (Eagle Vision)
Norah Jones plays an exclusive sold-out show at the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London accompanied on stage by drummer Brian Blade and bassist Chris Thomas to form a classic jazz trio.
>The Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream Live In Tilburg 2017 2xDVD+2xCD/Blu-ray (Metal Blade)
The Neal Morse Band's triumphant double-album, The Similitude of A Dream, is the most acclaimed release that Morse has helmed to date. The 2017 tour was their largest, and at the O13 in Tilburg, Holland, the stars aligned for the most commanding performance of the run, captured for live release.
>Sleaford Mods - Bunch Of Kunst: A Film About Sleaford Mods by Christine Franz DVD+CD (F&F Production)
“Excellent documentary portrait of the band who are the voice of zero-hours Britain. We know about British bands making it big in their 20s – but what about in their 40s? Christine Franz’s excellent documentary about Sleaford Mods shows us three middle-aged men whose dedication, creativity, productivity and relative lack of success helped them keep it real until they blew up – as they say – in the last few years. Refreshingly, even gloriously, they’ve got the maturity and sense of humor to get a handle on it all.” – The Guardian
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Joshua Abrams – Excavations I LP (Feeding Tube)
“The Chicago-based string genius Joshua Abrams first talked to us about the idea of this album a while back. It took a couple of years to get together, but in a way, it's cool that it's being released in 2018 -- the 50th anniversary of the recording of the first free bass solo LP, Barre Phillips' Journal Violone. Abrams' work here is about pushing against accepted precepts of melody and rhythm, freeing the bass from its accepted role, and allowing it to scream for real." -- Byron Coley
>Acid Mothers Temple & Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Hallelujah Mystic Garden Part One LP (Important)
Two long sides of blissed-out, super tight Acid Mothers Temple jams that somehow stretch into the future while staying strongly rooted in the group's celebrated psychedelic history.
>Bernard Allison – Let It Go LP (Ruf)
Released in February on CD – now available on vinyl. Let It Go was recorded at Bessie Blue Studio, Stantonville, Tennessee, with legendary music producer Jim Gaines. Recalls Bernard, "we made the decision to not flood the CD with keyboards or horns, to go back to the true basic rhythm section sound - and to show more mature songwriting."
>Oren Ambarchi/Kassel Jaeger/James Rushford – Face Time LP (Black Truffle)
The second release from the trio of Oren Ambarchi, Kassel Jaeger, and James Rushford, following on from their 2016 debut Pale Calling. Recorded at the GRM studios in Paris in June 2017, the record immediately returns to the idiosyncratic sound-world of the trio's first release, a simmering stew of electronic smears, pitched-down animal moans, and mysteriously emotive microtonal organ chords.
>Brendon Anderegg – June LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
The music of Brendon Anderegg is a hall of mirrors, multilayered and self-obscuring. Largely filtered through Mountains, his pioneering electronic project with Koen Holtkamp, Anderegg emerged as a solo artist in the late ‘90s. He returns now with June, a vinyl-exclusive release. The music on June is a complex network of layers, paradoxically a calm and soothing listen. Collapsing history into its own contemporary sonic movements, Andregg’s methodically created work falls in the lineage of electronic pioneers like Bernard Parmegiani, early ambient projects like Tangerine Dream, Popul Vuh, and Cluster, and puts his solo work in the realm of new age figures like Michael Stearns and JD Emmanuel.
>Aquabats – The Fury Of The Aquabats [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (Kings Road)
Limited red vinyl colored vinyl LP pressing, expanded with four additional tracks and an etching on the D-side. One-part punk, one-part ska, one-part Devo.
>Tim Armstrong – A Poet’s Life LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
First-time vinyl edition. Tim Armstrong, guitarist and frontman of Rancid, took a different path on his 2007 solo debut, A Poet’s Life. With able backing from L.A. reggae revivalists the Aggrolites, Armstrong crafted a grooving, fun-filled modern reggae album, influenced by ska, rock steady, roots reggae, and dancehall and filtered through a modern pop-punk attitude.
>At The Gates – Slaughter Of The Soul [Reissue/1995] LP (Earache)
Originally issued in 1995, Swedish death metal dealers At The Gates' Slaughter Of The Soul is universally regarded as one of the most important and influential metal albums of all time ranking aside landmark efforts by the likes of Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden. Limited red colored pressing.
>Daniel Avery – Projector 12” (Phantasy/Mute)
Leaning further towards the rhythmic and propulsive intent behind his recent, marathon DJ sets, Avery’s new EP serves to delve further still into his unfolding, ever-deepening sound. Expanding on the delicate core ideas at the center of his creative ethos, Projector invites listeners on a further excursion of transient, psychedelic bliss.
>Bad Religion – No Substance [Reissue/1998] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Remastered vinyl reissue. Seen as a return to form for the band after the transitional The Gray Race, No Substance offers up tight and heady punk which touches on societal ills and world politics and still remains catchy as hell.
>BELP – Hippopotamus LP (SVS)
Born in Munich, Sebastian Schnitzenbaumer, aka BELP, partially grew up on the Seychelles Islands off the coast of East Africa. Blending jazz, dub, and noise, an emphasis on darkness in his broken beat-oriented works evolved as a reaction to a rather hedonistic society preferring warm and uplifting sounds.
>Big Black – Headache [Reissue/1987] 12”+MP3 (Touch & Go)
Originally released in 1987, this 4-song EP is the fourth Big Black vinyl title to be remastered by Steve Albini and Bob Weston. We liked to think we were ahead of our time," says Albini. "Now that time has caught up with us – well, this isn't such a swell place, and having gotten here first doesn't make it any nicer."
>Blue Heaven – Volume One LP (No Sleep)
Limited edition colored vinyl pressing. Growing is a running theme for Blue Heaven. Not only is it the powerful first single from the debut LP Volume One, it also represents a state of mind for the indie rock quartet hailing from Maryland. Volume One is a 12-track journey through frontman Levi Miller's mind as he deals with heartache, regret, and passion.
>Blue Öyster Cult – Fire Of Unknown Origin [Reissue/1981] LP (Culture Factory)
Limited translucent blue vinyl LP pressing. The album, which included the Top 40 hit "Burnin' for You" represented a resurgence of the group's commercial standing after two albums with disappointing sales.
>Bolt Thrower – Realm Of Chaos [Reissue/1989] LP+MP3 (Earache)
Originally released in 1989, Bolt Thrower's Realm Of Chaos immediately took up residency as a death metal/grind masterpiece, mixing an incredibly heavy sound with war-based themes and imagery that the band still employ to this day. Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.
>Peter Brötzmann Octet – Machine Gun [Reissue/1968] LP (Cien Fuegos)
Peter Brötzmann Octet – Machine Gun – Alternate Takes [Reissue/1968] LP (Cien Fuegos)
Vinyl reissue of of the most important albums of European free jazz along with a version of alternate takes.
>Donald Byrd – Byrd In Hand [Reissue/1959] LP (Jeanne Dielman)
Recorded in 1959 at the legendary Van Gelder Studios in Hackensack, New Jersey, Byrd In Hand is considered one of Donald Byrd's finest LPs. The then 27-year-old trumpeter had many LPs under his belt already, but this was his second on Blue Note, where he would stay for decades and release the best music of his career. Byrd had a fruitful run in the late '50s with the great baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams and here they are joined by long-time Thelonious Monk Quartet tenor-man Charlie Rouse, and a great rhythm section. After a rousing take on Sinatra's "Witchcraft" the record features three strong Byrd originals and two compositions from the group's pianist, Walter Davis, Jr. A hard bop classic from one of the strongest players of the era.
>Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Kings: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP (Milan)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. In recent years Cave and Ellis have become a force to be reckoned with in the world of soundtracks, thanks to their impressive work on films like Hell Or High Water, Wind River, and the National Geographic series Mars. Cave and Ellis pull from their rich history in the music world to deliver an unexpected score that immediately transports the listener to the hot, angry streets of Los Angeles in the summer of 1992.
>Johnny Clarke – Don’t Stay Out late [Reissue/1977] LP (Kingston Sounds)
Kingston Sounds present a reissue of Johnny Clarke's Don't Stay Out Late, originally released in 1977. Johnny Clarke stands tall as one of the great vocalists that ruled the Jamaican reggae scene from the mid- ‘70s to the early ‘80s dancehall period.
>Clem Beatz – Wabi Sabi LP (Diggers Factory)
New album from the French beatmaker and musician. From the oriental exotic vibes of "Wabi Sabi" to the hazy and soulful Afro vibe of "Hymne", he shows there is plenty of variety in his sonic repertoire with the smooth R&B vibe of "Out Your Mind" featuring the spectacular rhyming of Mr J Medeiros. Evidence of his influential trip to Asia is evident on the ethereal and seductive closer "Arashiyama" featuring other worldly vocals, pan-pipes and evocative string arrangements over his incredibly crafted beats. Limited edition white colored vinyl pressing.
>The Ornette Coleman Quartet – This Is Our Music [Reissue/1961] LP (Jeanne Dielman)
The fifth album from the brilliant free-jazz saxophonist, Ornette Coleman, was released in 1961, a mere three years after his first title as a leader. Coleman burst on the scene with his fiery playing and strong compositional statements. This Is Our Music is a brilliant statement of purpose, a youthful declaration of power and innovation, and one of the cornerstones of early American free-jazz.
>Alice Cooper – Trash [Reissue/1989] LP (Friday Music)
Limited 180gm red colored vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve. His first hit album in years, Trash yielded the signature singles "Poison" and "Bed of Nails", and includes guest performances from Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Steve Lukather.
>Buck Curran – Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas LP (ESP-Disk’)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Side A, all solo acoustic instrumentals, seems to have fallen out of a wormhole emanating from Takoma Records in the 1970s. There's some of that on Side B as well, but there are also vocals and other instruments, sometimes overdubbed, and the dedication of "Taurus" to Peter Green, guitarist extraordinaire of the original lineup of Fleetwood Mac (when they were a blues band), hinting at the breadth of Curran's influences.
>Karen Dalton – The Karen Dalton Archives Box 3xLP+4xCD+DVD (Megaphone UK)
Includes for the first-time ever on vinyl: the 1962 double live album Cotton Eyed Joe remastered (on two LPs) and the 1963 home recordings album Green Rocky Road, also remastered. The set includes three CDs of the same material along with a disc of unreleased home recordings, a 52-page book with scans of Karen Dalton Personal Archives (writings, photographs, memos) disclosed here for the first time, and a double-sided DVD (NTSC and PAL formats) of a film interview of Greenwich Village Folklore Center founder (1957-1973) Izzy Young.
>Def Leppard - Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980-1995) [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Mercury)
Vinyl reissue of Def Leppard’s first greatest hits album.
>Don Broco – Technology LP (Sharptone)
Released in February on CD – now available on vinyl. The English band’s sophomore album filters their charismatic ‘80s pop-inflected rock seamlessly, almost restlessly, through metal, funk and electronics.
>Disciples – Almighty Dub b/w Zion Rock Dub 10” (Mania Dub)
Produced in 1988 by The Disciples, “Almighty Dub” is one of the most distinctive instrumental dubs produced in that era. The Disciples were formed in 1986 by brothers Russ and Lol. They were given the name by Jah Shaka, after producing exclusively for him.
>Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things 1 2xLP (Lakeshore)
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things 2 2xLP (Lakeshore)
Limited double interdimensional blue colored vinyl LP pressings.
>Driftmachine – Shunter LP (Umor Rex)
The new album by the Berlin-based duo features their trademark kosmische and avant-garde sounds and presents a new journey into abstract and hallucinatory worlds. Filled with eerie textures, their electronic visions are darker and more vaporous than ever.
>Dusk – Dusk LP (Don Giovanni)
New album from the Appleton, WI rock & roll ensemble, informed by soul music, country, jazz, and beyond.
>Eric’s Trip – Forever Again [Reissue/1994] LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Eric’s Trip – Purple Blue [Reissue/1995] LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Hailing from Moncton, New Brunswick, indie rockers Eric's Trip formed in 1990 when musicians Rick White and Christopher Thompson of The Forest joined Julie Doiron and Ed Vaughan (who was later replaced by Mark Gaudet of Purple Knight). The first Canadian band signed to Sub Pop Records, White described their sound as "sappy melodic pop music on top of thick distortion." Their second and third albums are back in-print on vinyl.
>Serge Gainsbourg – Théâtre Des Capucines 1963 [Reissue/2001] LP (Jeanne Dielman)
Vinyl reissue of one of the earliest live documents of the legendary French singer. Recorded in a brilliant small group setting, featuring only the instrumentation of the fantastic Hungarian guitarist Elek Bacsik and French journeyman bassist, Michel Gaudry, this is Gainsbourg at his cool and minimalist best.
>Garotas Suecas - Futuro Do Pretérito LP (Vampisoul)
On their third album, Futuro Do Pretérito, Garotas Suecas begin a new phase as a four-piece where the four musicians also share the lead vocals: Irina Bertolucci (vocals, keyboards), Tomaz Paoliello (vocals, guitar), Fernando Perdido (vocals, bass), and Nico Paoliello (vocals, drums). The album deals with a wide range of issues, from thorny political matters to sentimental troubles and even tropical fruits.
>Hawkwind - Victim Of Sonic Attack! - London, December 30th,1972 2xLP (Cleopatra)
Double vinyl LP pressing in a gatefold jacket with full-color inner sleeves and a commemorative silkscreen 12"x12" flat (hand-numbered for authenticity) all housed in a special linen bag. A limited edition pressing of Hawkwind’s complete legendary 1972 London concert.
>Igorrr – Savage Sinusoid LP (Metal Blade)
Electronic manipulations, accordion, saxophone, sitar, harpsichord, mandolin and strings sit comfortably alongside ruthless blastbeats, chunky riffs, death grunts and soaring operatic vocals. Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.
>Inchindown – Inchindown LP (Blank Editions)
A powerfully mournful and beautifully stark work, the soundtrack to walking through a storm of ash only to realize that the city is on fire whilst viewing this incredible spectacle from afar.
>Mat Kearney – Crazytalk LP (Tomorrow Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On his fifth album, Crazytalk, Mat Kearney mixes his most timeless songwriting to date with a wide, genre-bending set of interests. There are organic instruments, electronic samples, chill house grooves, tropical sounds, and collaborations with DJs like AFSHeeN, Filous, and RAC all glued together by an emphasis on ageless hooks and thought-provoking lyrics. The result is one of the most adventurous, nuanced albums of his acclaimed career, filled with EDM drops one minute and acoustic guitars the next. It's a sound that nods to Kearney's history as a melody-driven songwriter, even as it pushes him into new territory.
>The Killers – Career Box 10xLP (Island)
Vegas rockers The Killers' nearly 15 year-long discography is celebrated in one place with this seven-volume, ten 180gm disc box set complete with a slip mat featuring the "K" from the band's logo and inspired by the vintage lights of the Las Vegas Strip. This career retrospective marks the first time that all seven of the band's albums have been collected in one complete box set including: Hot Fuss (2004), Sam's Town (2006), Sawdust (2007), Day & Age (2008), Battle Born (2012) and Wonderful Wonderful (2017), plus Live From The Royal Albert Hall (2009) which makes its vinyl debut.
>King Coya – Tierra De King Coya LP (ZZK)
“Gaby Kerpel has spent nearly two decades pushing traditional music forms from South American toward electronic music, recontextualizing styles like Colombian cumbia and Andean huayno with inventive club rhythms. It makes sense that the Argentine musician, who makes club work under the name King Coya, was embraced by the electro-cumbia adherents behind Buenos Aires’s ZZK label. Unlike many of his labelmates, Kerpel has steadfastly retained the sound of traditional music in his creations, making prominent use of sweet-toned native string instruments like the charango and ronroco as well as plaintive wooden flutes such as the tarka. At the same time, his deft production skills extend beyond the beats of South America to include heavy infusions of Jamaican dancehall and Angolan kuduro.” – The Chicago Reader
>King Diamond – The Dark Sides [Reissue/1988] LP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – Conspiracy [Reissue/1989] LP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – The Eye [Reissue/1990] LP (Metal Blade)
Three picture disc vinyl reissues from the Danish heavy metal band’s back catalog.
>The Legendary Tigerman – Misfit LP (Munster)
The Legendary Tigerman is all about roots, the essence of things, always keeping it real, gritty and true. From 2001 to 2006 he recorded three records that established him as one of Europe's best kept secrets, playing festivals from Japan to Brazil. Touring extensively across Europe, Brazil, Mexico, or China, The Legendary Tigerman took on the rock & roll ride full on, no more a one-man-band, now touring as an amazingly powerful trio with drums and baritone sax. The story of The Legendary Tigerman's awaited sixth album, Misfit, starts with a road movie, How To Become Nothing, a three-head project by Paulo Furtado, Rita Lino, and Pedro Maia. In May 2016, the trio landed in LAX to film a psychedelic adventure in the form of a road movie between Los Angeles and Death Valley, about the philosophically disturbed journey of a man searching to become nothing.
>Nick Lowe – Tokyo Bay/Crying Inside 2x7” (Yep Roc)
Nick Lowe is back and has re-discovered his rockin' side on his first new release in half a decade. Tokyo Bay/Crying Inside is a four song EP featuring two Nick originals, the ship-rockin' "Tokyo Bay" and introspective "Crying Inside", plus covers of the Bee Gees' "Heartbreaker" and Cliff Richard's "Travellin' Light". Nick's recent tour mates, Los Straitjackets, are his backing band on this record, contributing to the sounds of Nick rocking his hardest in decades.
>Thurston Moore – MX Liberty b/w Panik 7”+MP3 (Blank Editions)
Limited edition 7” with A4 xerox insert and download code. Risograoph printed 170gsm card covers, 25mm MX Liberty pin badge.
>Muslimgauze – Maroon [1995] LP (Staalplaat)
First-time vinyl pressing. Separated from both its reputation and its sleeve art, the music of Muslimgauze explores the relationship of visual sensations - space, color, depth, illusion - to the listening experience. The music on 1995’s Maroon is dub-like inspired techno music, laidback with voices appearing randomly in the mix. The thick drums and rich found sounds that densely populate the soundscapes on Maroon give materiality to the warm presence of the synth washes.
>Nevermore – Enemies Of Reality [Reissue/2003] LP+CD (Century Media)
Nevermore – The Godless Endeavor [Reissue/2005] 2xLP+CD (Century Media)
180gm vinyl reissues of the fifth and sixth studio albums by Seattle-based progressive metal band. Limited silver colored pressing of The Godless Endeavor also available.
>Nilüfer Yanya – Do You Like Pain? 12” (ATO)
Nilufer Yanya, London’s 22 year-old effortlessly smooth new soul star, releases a new EP Do You Like Pain?. It features “Baby Luv” (number 18 in Pitchfork’s 100 Best Songs of 2017) – and its psychedelic remix by ALASKALASKA plus current jazz pop cut “Thanks 4 Nothing” and the Jazzi Bobbi Remix. “Thanks 4 Nothing” details the darker thoughts surrounding a break up, a poignant look at a crumbling relationship that can’t be fixed.
>Palberta – Roach Goin’ Down LP (Wharf Cat)
Roach Goin’ Down’s twenty-two tracks combine Palberta’s signature frenetic instrumentation with a thoroughly developed pop sensibility that fans merely glimpsed on previous releases. A brilliantly constructed work of beauty and bile.
>Charlemagne Palestine - Aa Sschmmettrroossppecctivve LP (audioMER.)
Composer, musician, visual artist, and performer, Charlemagne Palestine is a legendary figure in the New York underground scene. At the piano or on his electronic oscillators, this outsider of skillful music experiments with the principles of resonance and repetition in a quest for the "golden sound": the ultimate harmonic vibration. Published on the occasion of Charlemagne’s Aa Sschmmettrroossppecctivve exhibition, audioMER. present historical piano recordings dating from circa 1974.
>Paul Panhuysen – Long String Installations 3xLP (Edition Telemark)
After two LPs in 2014 and 2017, Edition Telemark now turns to the group of works that is probably the most well-known within the vast oeuvre of Dutch sound and visual artist Paul Panhuysen (1934-2015): his long string installations. Unlike other artists working with long strings around the same time, e.g. Ellen Fullman and Terry Fox, Panhuysen's strings were instruments or performative material only secondarily. Rather, his installations can be considered sculptural and sounding events in space, operating in between two lines of tradition, constructivism and situationism, that are evident also in many other parts of his oeuvre.
>Papa Lord God – The Sheik Of Downfall Creek LP (Feeding Tube)
“Debut LP by Brisbane's brilliant Greg Hilleard, who we first heard when he was part of the incredible Lost Domain. The Sheik is a solo album that makes us think of a summit between the Gibson Bros and Parachute-era Eugene Chadbourne (or something equally far-fetched). Pretty amazing by any yardstick.” – Byron Coley
>Pennywise – Never Gonna Die LP (Epitaph)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Never Gonna Die is the twelfth full-length effort from Pennywise and the legendary Southern California punk institution's first of new songs with singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin, and bassist Randy Bradbury in over a decade.
>The Rolling Stones – Studio Albums Vinyl Collection 1971-2016 20xLP+MP3 (UMe)
Limited individually numbered vinyl box set containing 15 albums across 20 vinyl LPs. Every album has been painstakingly remastered and cut at revelatory half-speed at Abbey Road Studios, from vinyl specific original tape transfers designed to get the very best possibly sound from the format. Includes the albums Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile On Main Street (1972), It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1974), Black And Blue (1976), Some Girls (1978), Emotional Rescue (1980), Tattoo You (1981), Undercover (1983), Dirty Work (1986), Steel Wheels (1989), Voodoo Lounge (1994), Bridges To Babylon (1997), A Bigger Bang (2005) and Blue & Lonesome (2016).
>Sir Rosevelt – Sir Rosevelt LP+MP3 (Elektra)
Released last year on CD – now available on vinyl. Sir Rosevelt sees Zac Brown, Niko Moon and Ben Simonetti uniting to create a thoroughly original new sound marrying pop, dance, acoustic instrumentation, and a distinctive Southern sensibility.
>Slayer – Repentless [Reissue/2015] 6x6.66” (Nuclear Blast)
Celebrate the International Day Of Slayer with this limited six-disc (each 6.66”) gold vinyl box set version of the legendary California thrash metal band’s 2015 album.
>Soundtrack – Napoleon Dynamite [Reissue/2015] 2xLP (Lakeshore)
Laden with sound bites of inimitable movie dialogue and pieces of John Swihart's score, this album also offers the movie's smart choice of pop tunes.
>The Space Lady – The Space Lady’s Greatest Hits LP (Mississippi)
The Space Lady began her odyssey on the streets of San Francisco in the late ‘70s, playing versions of contemporary pop music an accordion and dressed flamboyantly, transmitting messages of peace and harmony. Following the theft of her accordion, The Space Lady invested in a then-new Casio keyboard, birthing an otherworldly new dimension to popular song that has captured the imaginations of the underground and its lead exponents ever since, with the likes of John Maus, Erol Alkan and Kutmah being devotees.
>Spacemen 3 – For All The F**ked-Up Children Of The World We Give You The Spacemen 3 [Reissue/1995] LP (Superior Viaduct)
In 1984, Spacemen 3 made their first-ever recording session and sold a few cassettes at now-legendary, incendiary gigs. Growing out of the dual guitar attack of Jason Pierce and Pete Kember, the band’s three-piece line up with Natty Brooker on drums offered a liturgical take on ’60s psychedelia, bare-knuckle blues and stunning feedback. For All The F**ked-Up Children remains the perfect introduction to Spacemen 3. Not only do these demos reveal the auspicious beginnings of two teenagers born on the same day in Rugby, England, but also compelling clues that point toward the exploration and eventual refining of their signature sound.
>Spotlights – Hanging By Faith 12” (Ipecac)
The Brooklyn-based trio who released their Ipecac debut, Seismic, late last year, return with a five-song EP featuring remixes from Void Manes and ISIS/Palms’ Aaron Harris.
>¡Súbelo Cuba! - Havana Cultura: ¡Súbelo, Cuba! LP (Brownswood)
This new project, led by Gilles Peterson and rum maker Havana Club, shines a light on Cuba's fast-mutating, rhythmically-adventurous underground. It's a scene where old ideas are transplanted into new contexts, and like-minded scenes are brought together in new dialogues. Havana Cultura: ¡Súbelo, Cuba! Showcases an extended network of like-minded, forward-thinking musicians driving Cuba's music forward. Following repeated trips to connect with venues, collectives and DJs, Peterson and Will LV - one half of LV, who've released on Hyperdub and Keysound amongst others - linked up with DJ Jigüe, a much-respected producer and DJ, whose Guampara label has charted new directions for Cuban music. It was recorded across two weeks in Havana in early 2018. It features leading musicians on the scene: Yissy García, Yasek Manzano, Negro WadPro, Kamerum, and Sigrid. The album speaks to the unique circumstances shaping music-making in Cuba, combining traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms with influences ranging from hip-hop, to kuduro, UK funky and the Caribbean's ubiquitous dembow beat.
>Matthew Sweet – Tomorrow’s Daughter LP (MRI)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Seasoned singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Matthew Sweet is currently in the midst of a personal musical renaissance that's seen him produce some of the most compelling and ambitious music of his three-decade career. That certainly applies to Tomorrow's Daughter, on which such instantly memorable new tunes as “Belong,” “Run Away,” “Lady Frankenstein” and "Out of My Misery" demonstrate his uncanny ability to tap into a bottomless well of pop history to craft music that's effortlessly catchy yet deeply personal. The follow-up to the artist's acclaimed 2017 set Tomorrow Forever is a persuasive testament to the enduring qualities of Sweet's adventurous, emotion-charged songcraft. The 12 new songs abound with the punchy melodic sensibility, playful sonic experimentalism and introspective lyrical insight that have been constants in his expansive catalog.
>Thee Hypnotics – Righteously Recharged 4xLP (Beggars Arkive)
Four LPs including the debut album Come Down Heavy (1990, on violet colored vinyl), follow-up Soul, Glitter & Sin (1991, on red colored vinyl) and the Chris Robinson, Black Crowes-produced third album The Very Special Speed Machine which was never released in the UK (1994, on clear vinyl). A fourth disc, In A Trance (on white vinyl), features their very first single “Love In A Different Vein” plus early demos and Peel Sessions.
>Tiamat – A Deeper Kind Of Slumber [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (Century Media)
Swedish experimentalists Tiamat's A Deeper Kind Of Slumber is back in-print on vinyl after nearly a decade. It found band mastermind Johan Edlund largely working solo and moving further away from traditional heavy metal with synthesizer-based arrangements and crooning vocals. Limited edition gold colored vinyl pressing also available. Both pressings are 180gm and feature an etching on Side-D.
>Trentemøller – The Last Resort: The Complete Album 3xLP (Poker Flat)
Special vinyl reissue of Trentemøller's groundbreaking debut album. Includes all of the 13 songs on vinyl for the first time. The Last Resort remains one of the few genre-defining and groundbreaking albums in many regards. It's still being praised for its composition and sound design alike and sounds as fresh and breathtaking today as it did when it was originally released in 2006. The album’s 13 instrumental tracks form a wordless musical story, almost like the soundtrack of a movie. It manages to capture a whole range of emotions in subtle melodic miniatures, dreamy ambiences, dusty beats, deep dub-tracks, and driving groove-excursions.
>Frank Turner – Love Ire & Song: Tenth Anniversary Edition 2xLP (Xtra Mile)
First-time vinyl LP pressing of the second solo album by British singer-songwriter Frank Turner, originally released in 2008.
>Various Artists [Michael Cooper] – Balance 030 2xLP+MP3 (Balance)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Max Cooper’s blend of the artistic and scientific schools of thought have steadily built him up to become one of the standout electronic musicians of his generation. His left-of-center approach makes for a truly timeless mix for the 30th edition of the Balance series.
>Various Artists [James Zabiela] – Balance 029 2xLP +MP3 (Balance)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This abridged vinyl edition features a handpicked selection of Zabiela's favorite tracks from the CD version. Includes his own acid-charged "X-Ray", alongside a re-work of "Vines", his other original track from the mix, as well as tracks from Earlham Mystics, Pye Corner Audio, Lanark Artefax, James Zabiela, HOLOVR, Eco Foul, John Beltran, Davis, Grandbrothers, and Sine Sleeper. Includes a download of the full-CD edition.
>Various Artists – The Best Place To Go! Go! Go! Vol. 2 2xLP (Sonic Rendezvous)
An outstanding, two record-set presenting the very best bands and artists that performed at Amsterdam BeatClub from 2003-2018. You'll find the best in garage, rock ‘n’ roll, surf, beat, etc. ever to be combined on one record.
>Various Artists - The Emotional, Cosmic & Occult World Of Joe Meek LP (Mississippi)
A trip through the productions of pioneering genius Joe Meek. Here we have a mix of hits that have appeared on comps before and real out-there obscurities. Never a dull moment amongst these songs that cover subjects close to Joes' heart such as Vampires, Love (and the lack of it), Death, Outer space, the Human soul, Buddy Holly, and more.
>Various Artists - The Graveyard Tramps Eat The Forbidden City Dog Food 2x10” (Stag-O-Lee)
In the late '80s, a now legendary LP by the name of Forbidden City Dogfood was unleashed on an unsuspecting public. What few folks knew was that Forbidden City Dogfood was actually less than half of the compilation made by Cramps frontman Lux Interior. Here, for the very first time, the entire recording is now available. Features J Buck & The Blazers, The Kingpins, Florence Pepper, Jack Costanzo, Rick McGuire, Homer Denison Jr., Rod McKuen,The Dynamos, The Phantoms, The Sliders, Wes Dakus & The Rebels, The Rivingtons, The Sparkles, The Merced Blue Notes, Grady O'Neal, Andre Williams, The Crystals, Kenny Henkle's Friends, The Invictas, Buddy Miller, and J.J. Jackson.
>Various Artists – Looking Back LP (Cairo/Mississippi)
Compilation of Sam Cooke’s great production work for his independent SAR label. This compilation features Gospel side by side with soul and R&B songs. Classics by RH Harris, The Simms Twins, The Womack Brothers, The Valentinos, The Soul Stirrers, and more.
>Various Artists – Prince In Jazz: A Jazz Tribute To Prince LP (Wagram)
A collection of some of jazz music's most beloved luminaries at their purplest, covering some of Prince's most iconic songs. Includes Nina Simone, Bob Belden Project, Clotilde Rullaud, Angela Galuppo, Ray Lema & Laurent de Wilde, Herbie Hancock, Bob Belden Project featuring Cassandra Wilson & Dianne Reeves, Heath Brandon, Viktoria Tolstoy featuring Lars Danielsson & Jacob Karlzon, and Osunlade.
>Various Artists – S&S Presents: Dreams 2xLP+MP3 (Cascine)
Featuring an array of important contemporary artists like Bing & Ruth, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Julie Byrne, Yumi Zouma, Mutual Benefit and more, this new compilation assembled by Stadiums & Shrines collects 18 original ambient, experimental and electronic tracks across a beautiful double LP. The vinyl is packaged in a premium gatefold jacket, with a 20-page booklet of original collage (by visual artist Nathaniel Whitcomb) and prose (by writers Dave Sutton and Matthew Sage) stitched to the interior.
>VNV Nation – Empires [1999] LP (Metropolis)
First-time vinyl pressing of the third studio album by the alternative electronic band. Aggressive and driving with an absolutely huge electronic sound, Empires combines trance, dark wave, synthpop and EBM. [Limited edition clear vinyl pressing also available.]
>Wintersleep – Wintersleep [Reissue/2003] LP+7” (Dine Alone)
Wintersleep – Untitled [Reissue/2005] LP+7” (Dine Alone)
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky [Reissue/2008] LP+7” (Dine Alone)
180gm vinyl reissues of Halifax-raised, Montreal-based modern rock band Wintersleep's highly sought after and critically-acclaimed first three albums. These new reissues have updated and expanded artwork include a bonus 7" featuring previously unreleased demos, B-sides or bonus tracks from the album's recording sessions.
>Dustin Wong + Takako Minekawa + Good Willsmith – Exit Future Heart LP (Umor Rex)
Recorded live at home in Chicago over the course of one night when Wong and Minekawa passed through on tour, Exit Future Heart showcases a program of spontaneous compositions that flow through mutated tropes of rock music, focused ambient/kosmische synthesis, and expanses of raw textural sculpting. The singular performance styles and improvisatory gestures of each member of the quintet fuse into a delicate interplay charged more by open spaces and deep listening than by overload or abandon.
>X-Altera – X-Altera LP+MP3 (Ghostly International)
Across two decades, Tadd Mullinix has amassed himself a veritable arsenal of aliases, exploring nearly as many styles and sounds from the willfully weird EBM he makes as Charles Manier, to the acid-inclined house and techno of JTC, or the freeform electronics released under his given name, Mullinix carves a distinctive niche with his music. But inspiration comes in waves, and the creative surge resurrected Mullinix's acclaimed hip-hop project, Dabrye, and, as might be expected from such a multifaceted producer, it also gave life to the latest alias in his arsenal: X-Altera. Detroit meets London, deep techno meets drum & bass, old meets new.
New Releases for June 1, 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>Shantel Acda & Bill Frisell - Live At Jazz Middelheim CD (Glitterhouse)
Dutch/Belgian chanteuse Chantal Acda in a duo-setting with Grammy award winning guitarist extraordinaire Bill Frisell.
>Alien Weaponry – Tū CD/LP+7” (Napalm)
This trio of teenagers from a tiny town in New Zealand serve a unique blend of thrash metal in their native language of Te Reo Māori.
>Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Downey To Lubbock CD/LP+MP3 (Yep Roc)
A collection that takes on a diverse range of American music spanning nearly one hundred years. Along with ten covers, Alvin wrote two originals for the record: the autobiographical title cut and the fantastical "Billy The Kid and Geronimo." The latter sees the duo trade verses as their folk heroes have a prescient bar room debate on morality, oppression and injustice. Elsewhere, they explore the musical pipeline between their home states, taking on the work of Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee and Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
>Âme – Dream House CD/2xLP (Innervisions)
In the world of electronic dance music, Âme stand apart. Since 2003, the duo of Frank Wiedemann and Kristian Beyer have cut a singular path through techno, house, minimal, ambient, and more with their anthemic singles and mixes. Features Matthew Herbert, Gudrun Gut, Planningtorock, Jens Kuross (ex-drummer for RyX), and Roedelius.
>American Aquarium – Things Change CD/LP (New West)
In the lush tobacco fields of North Carolina where BJ Barham was raised, people work hard. Families stay nearby, toiling and growing together. BJ loves those farms and his tiny Reidsville hometown, but he had to spread his wings. He couldn't stay, but he couldn't really leave, either: he's still singing about the lessons, stories, and lives that define rural America. Recorded at 3CG Records in Tulsa, OK, American Aquarium's seventh album, Things Change was produced by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Fullbright and features cameos from John Moreland and Jamie Lin Wilson. Stacked with BJ's signature storytelling – always deeply personal but also instantly relatable, it questions and curses current events, shares one man's intimate evolution, and leaves listeners with a priceless gift: hope.
>Stef Animal – Top Gear CD (Occultation)
Even if you didn't grow up with Atari video games and have no idea either what Acorn and Commodore computers are or what acronyms like PCM and MIDI stand for, you'll still appreciate Top Gear's intricate universe of sound, full of adventure, wonder, human emotion, and melancholic heft. Yet there's a playfulness here too, and not just in the title. An electronic duck caller is hacked to produce one track and elsewhere children's Casio keyboards and entry-level MIDI synth modules deliver darkly sophisticated, progressively experimental dream-pop mini-symphonies.
>Areski – Un Beau Matin [Reissue/1970] CD/LP (Souffle Continu)
Only those who read all the credits on record liner notes will know the full details: Areski is of course Brigitte Fontaine's partner in life, but also her creative alter ego, and the composer of the music of most of her songs. Even though it was his wife Brigitte and not him who wrote the lyrics, Areski is a poet in his own right. Furthermore, he is polyvalent: composing, arranging, singing, improvising, playing every possible instrument, and even acting. Areski, to sum up, is the perfect mix of the tradition of Munir Bashir with the European "sophistication" of someone like Jean-Claude Vannier, one foot permanently in Versailles (where he was born) and the maghreb. Areski, is left bank French songs without the stylistic effects, revised and updated through contact with Arab-Andalusian music. He is a Living Theatre style happening with a dose of cosmic free jazz; surrealist poetry viewed through the prism of Kabyle culture.
>The Beginning Of The End – Funky Nassau: The Complete Recordings CD (Strut)
The Beginning Of The End – Funky Nassau [Reissue/1971] LP (Strut)
The Beginning Of The End – Beginning Of The End [Reissue/1976] LP (Strut)
Definitive reissues of two all-time classic Caribbean soul and funk albums: Funky Nassau (1971) and Beginning Of The End (1976).
>The Black Dog – Post-Truth CD/LP (Dust Science)
The Black Dog – Black Daisy Wheel CD/LP (Dust Science)
The Black Dog's two new albums translate their growing horror into some of their most accessible and impactful music, translating our manufactured reality into high-energy dancefloor constructions on Post-Truth, and reflective ambient excursions on Black Daisy Wheel.
>Nicki Bluhm – To Rise You Gotta Fall CD/LP (Compass)
After nearly a decade spent with the Gramblers, recent high-profile collaborations (Phil Lesh, Infamous StringDusters, Ryan Adams), and a split from her husband and musical mentor, vocalist and songwriter Nicki Bluhm is stepping out on her own with her new album. Recorded in Memphis, TN at legendary Sam Phillips Recording, Bluhm brought in producer Matt Ross-Spang (Margo Price, Jason Isbell), for these live band, analog sessions.
>Blutengel - Live Im Wasserschloss Klaffenbach 2xCD (Out Of Line)
The German goth-pop band performs a 2-hour-plus set comprised of hits and fan-favorites. [Stand-alone Blu-ray edition also available.]
>The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Something Else CD/LP (A. Recordings)
Something Else is the first full-length offering from The Brian Jonestown Massacre in 2018. A self-titled full-length album is to follow in the fall of 2018. The style is less experimental and returns to a more traditional sound of the band. [White colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>James Brown - You've Got The Power: Federal & King Hits 1956-1962 3xCD/LP (New Continent)
Early singles - both A & B sides - James Brown made for the Federal and King labels between 1956 and 1962.
>Neko Case – Hell-On CD/2xLP (ANTI-)
An indelible collection of colorful, enigmatic storytelling that features some of her most daring, through-composed arrangements to date, Hell-On is rife with withering self-critique, muted reflection, anthemic affirmation and the beloved singer/songwriter's unique poetic sensibility. Neko enlisted Bjorn Yttling of (Peter Bjorn & John) to co-produce six tracks with her in Stockholm, Sweden where she mixed the twelve-track album with Lasse Mårtén. Hell-On features performances by Beth Ditto, Mark Lanegan, k.d. Lang, AC Newman, Eric Bachmann, Kelly Hogan, Doug Gillard, Laura Veirs, Joey Burns and many more. “Neko Case’s eighth solo album is her most conceptually diverse... The Lynchian atmospherics are at an all-time high, as is her creative ambition. Following a tragic house fire and some deeply disturbing personal legal dramas, Case’s first self-produced album is one of her finest.” – The Line Of Best Fit
>Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick: The Epic Archive Vol. 2 1980-1983 CD (Real Gone Music)
16 more lost tracks from Rockford, Illinois’ finest.
>Luke Combs – This One’s For You Too CD (Sony)
Deluxe expanded edition of the Asheville, NC country musician’s 2017 album featuring five new tracks. With gritty, grizzled vocals, brazen songwriting talent and one hell of a live show, Combs stormed onto the country music scene with his debut single "Hurricane" quickly became a staple anthem for country fans.
>Phil Cook – People Are My Drug CD (Southland Sounds)
Transforming pain and injustice into love and compassion is a rendering that has been universal to poets and prophets for centuries. In present times, choosing to amplify community and positivity through art can seem like a radical act. With the arrival of People Are My Drug, Phil Cook is taking the spark from lights left on by musical heroes and offering a torch for listeners as they navigate their own dark corners. [Vinyl edition due June 22.]
>Cowboy – Boyer & Talton [Reissue/1974] CD (Real Gone Music)
Cowboy – Cowboy [Reissue/1977] CD (Real Gone Music)
Cowboy was a country/southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida who released four albums through legendary Capricorn Records label in 1970s. They are probably best remembered from the song “Please Be With Me” which Eric Clapton covered in his 461 Ocean Boulevard album. With the recent passing of producer Johnny Sandlin and the even more recent passing of Scott Boyer himself, now is a good time to circle back to the last two Cowboy records.
>Cuasares – Afro-Progresivo [Reissue/1973] CD/LP+MP3 (Pharaway Sounds)
A wild, esoteric mix of psychedelic funk, Afro-Latin grooves, jazz, and Italian/French-styled library sounds courtesy of Cuasares, an enigmatic studio project created by pianist/arranger/visionary Waldo Belloso. Acid fuzz guitar, cosmic synth splashes, distorted organ, flute, vibraphone, and trippy studio effects.
>Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar - Ragas Abhogi & Vardhani CD/2xLP (Ideologic Organ)
Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar - Ragas Yaman CD/2xLP (Ideologic Organ)
"Around ten years ago, deep into a cozy and hazy night following a concert with my sound brothers Daniel O'Sullivan and Kristoffer Rygg in London (as Æthenor), they graciously introduced me to a recording of rudra veena (a kind of noble deeper bass relative to the sitar, in a way) as performed by dhrupad master Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. Dhrupad, for those who do not know, is a branch of Hindustani classical music said to 'show the raga in its clearest and purest form.' It's pacing concentrates heavily on the slow, contemplative alap section and works with specific microtonal gestures and deep characteristics of resonance…” – Stephen O’Malley
>Roger Daltrey – As Long As I Have You CD (Republic)
New release from the legendary front man of The Who -- Roger Daltrey’s first solo album since 1992. As Long As I Have You features new tracks and covers of songs originally by Steve Stills, Parliament, Nick Cave, Stevie Wonder and Dusty Springfield. Additionally, Pete Townshend makes a cameo on guitar.
>Eddie Daniels – Heart Of Brazil CD (Resonance)
Clarinet icon Eddie Daniels pays tribute to the world-renowned Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist, Egberto Gismonti. Heart Of Brazil features Daniels with the top-shelf trio of pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Kevin Axt and drummer Mauricio Zottarelli, plus the Grammy Award-winning Harlem Quartet. Includes new arrangements by Ted Nash, Kuno Schmidt and Josh Nelson.
>David Davis & The Warrior River Boys - Didn't He Ramble: Songs Of Charlie Poole CD (Rounder)
There is a rich and varied Charlie Poole legacy, and David Davis and the Warrior River Boys are taking that legacy another step further. Didn't He Ramble is eagerly anticipated in traditional bluegrass circles, but also more widely among fans of folk and acoustic music.
>Death And The Maiden – Wisteria CD/LP (Occulation)
Dunedin trio Death And The Maiden return with a second album of hypnotic post-punk dream-pop.
>Def Leppard – CD Collection Volume One 7xCD/8xLP+7” (Caroline)
This initial volume of the band's complete recorded output comes features Def Leppard's first four studio albums along with some choice bonus live and studio material. [The vinyl box set includes a replica 7” of the The Def Leppard E.P.]
>Detroit Swindle – High Life CD/2xLP (Heist Recordings)
This Amsterdam duo’s sound merges references from multiple decades into one smooth aesthetic -- quickly rose to popularity for its careful blend of soul and rhythm, taking cues from their passion for obscure records, with influences ranging from house and funk to Afrobeat and soul.
>DJ Sprinkles & Hardrock Striker – Skylax House Explosion 2xCD (Skylax)
New mix from DJ Sprinkles and Hardrock Striker – a 28-track double-CD comprised of productions released on Skylax Records and its associated sub-labels, which Hardrock Striker founded in 2004. Artists such as Lady Blacktronika, Octo Octa and Chez Damier feature alongside a suite of soon-to-be-released productions curated by DJ Sprinkles and Hardrock Striker under the alias S.H.E., a reference to Sprinkles's K-S.H.E. alias.
>Richard Edwards – Verdugo CD/LP (Joyful Noise)
Richard Edwards felt almost human when he returned to Los Angeles to record songs for what became Verdugo. It's the follow-up to the Indiana singer's 2017 album Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset, a beautiful, personal release that was deeply unpleasant to make. Not only was he afflicted at the time by an intestinal ailment that often left him unable to stand, let alone sing, his marriage fell apart midway through making the album. If Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset ended up being a record about letting go, Verdugo is the album where Edwards pulls himself up. Also, it showcases his new way of singing: Edwards’ chronic pain meant finding a vocal approach that didn't make him feel sick. His new style deepens the air of melancholy on the atmospheric “Strange,” takes on a wistful cast on “Beekeeper” over subtle drums and distinctive guitar and is lifted aloft on a soaring blend of guitars, drums and backing vocals on “Minefield.” “They kind of disappear in this weird sky sonically now, because of this range,” he says. “They don't feel rooted anymore, they fly all over, and that falsetto – if you're looking at it as a picture, it goes higher up in the room than it used to.”
>Sam Evian – You, Forever CD/LP+MP3 (Saddle Creek)
You, Forever is the second studio album from Sam Evian, the project of New York-based musician, songwriter, and producer Sam Owens. Fueled by a desire to escape from the glow of screens and to embrace a sense of limitation, Owens developed a new set of instrumental songs written and recorded on a four-track cassette recorder in his parents' house in North Carolina. Inspired by these limiting techniques, Owens borrowed an eight-track reel-to-reel tape recorder from a friend, rented a house in Upstate New York, and took his band there to record the new album in July of 2017. That sensibility is both practice and theory on You, Forever. Dreamy album opener “IDGAF” provides suitable exposition with its notion of embracing one's passions and pursuing one's goals no matter the impositions in their path. “Health Machine” is a crunchy, slow-burning but deliberate stomper glowing with warm electric guitar noodling, saxophone wailing, and Owens’ reverb-laden lyrics that he says detail an abstract version of how he relates to his own physical form. The song was the last recorded in the summer session, with Owens playing acoustic guitar through a heavily distorted microphone.
>Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Written largely in New York between the summer of 2016 and winter of 2017, Josh Tillman's fourth Father John Misty LP, God's Favorite Customer reflects on the experience of being caught between the vertigo of heartbreak and the manic throes of freedom. The album reveals a bittersweetness and directness in Tillman's songwriting, without sacrificing any of his wit or taste for the absurd. From “Mr. Tillman,” where he trains his lens on his own misadventure, to the cavernous pain of estrangement in “Please Don't Die,” Tillman plays with perspective throughout to alternatingly hilarious and devastating effect. “We're Only People (And There's Not Much Anyone Can Do About That)” is a meditation on our inner lives and the limitations we experience in our attempts to give and receive love. It stands in solidarity with the title track, which examines the ironic relationship between forgiveness and sin. Together, these are songs that demand to know either real love or what comes after, and as the album progresses, that entreaty leads to discovering the latter’s true stakes.
>Faze Action - Under the Influence Volume Six: A Collection of Rare Soul and Disco CD/2xLP (Z Records)
Robin and Simon Lee, aka Faze Action, were championing disco and all its Afro off-shoots back in the mid- '90s when it certainly wasn't the latest trend to do so.
>Marcus Fischer & Simon Scott – Shape Of Memory CD (12k)
Shape Memory is the first full-length recording made through a collaboration between 12k label mates and friends Marcus Fischer and Simon Scott. In the fall of 2017, on a free day between US tour dates for Slowdive (for which Simon is the drummer), the pair managed to conceptualize and record an album at S1/Synth Library in Portland, OR. Shape Memory unfolds as a 36-minute piece (divided into three movements) rich in texture and deep connections. Fans of both artists' solo works will recognize shadows of their unique aesthetics, but the beauty lies in the new direction they chose to take it together.
>The Flaming Lips – Greatest Hits 1 3xCD (WB)
This is the first time The Lips have presented singles from Transmissions From The Satellite Heart (1993), Clouds Taste Metallic (1995), The Soft Bulletin (1999), Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002), At War With The Mystics (2006), Embryonic (2009) and their current album Oczy Mlody (2017). [Single-disc vinyl edition is comprised of eleven tracks. The triple-CD version significantly expands the concept of their "hits" and gathers some of their best-loved album tracks from the aforementioned albums plus deep cuts from their WBR album debut, Hit To Death In The Future Head (1992), along with music from, Zaireeka (1997), The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends (2012) and The Terror (2013). Also includes a generous hatful of international single B-sides, studio outtakes and several previously unreleased tracks.]
>Ryo Fukui – Scenery [Reissue/1976] CD (We Release Jazz)
Ryo Fukui – Mellow Dream [Reissue/1977] CD (We Release Jazz)
Unquestionably one of the most important Japanese jazz albums ever recorded, Scenery reveals Ryo Fukui as a miraculously brilliant self-taught pianist fusing modal, bop, and cool jazz influences for a very personal, dexterous, and game-changing take on classic standards made famous by Bing Crosby and John Coltrane among others. As its title suggests, 1977 follow-up Mellow Dream ventures into slightly mellower, more soulful, and sometimes more contemplative territories.
>Gatherers – We Are Alive Beyond Repair CD (Equal Vision)
Gatherers' third studio album is a bleak, brutal, nihilistic record that's shrouded in despair and anguish. "We wanted this album to be as ugly and as horribly truthful as possible," explains vocalist Rich Weinberger. "It has this very human but flawed connotation to it. It's very pessimistic. I was reading a lot of Sylvia Plath at the time we were writing this record and I just like that the fabric of our existence is very meek and it's dull and, no matter what, nothing will ever get better. That was the angle I wanted to explore with this record. It's the idea of just being completely unfulfilled, that no matter how much time we put into this band it'll never be self-fulfilling."
>Ghost – Prequelle CD/LP/LP+7” (Loma Vista/Concord)
Grammy Award-winning rock band Ghost unleash their highly anticipated fourth sacred psalm, Prequelle. Previous efforts have dealt with broad themes like impending doom (Opus Eponymous, 2010), the antichrist and the Inquisition (Infesstimum, 2013), humanism and avarice (Meliora, 2015), Prequelle delves into the plague, the apocalypse, and dark ages. It’s a snapshot of the world in which we currently live, brought to life through an emotive, enlightening, and riveting body of songs. In an interesting twist in the Ghost saga, Cardinal Copia takes over vocal duties here, introduced by the epic lead single “Rats.” [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe includes lenticular cover and two bonus tracks. Limited clear vinyl pressing with a bonus 7” featuring covers of the Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s A Sin” and Leonard Cohen’s “Avalanche” also available.]
>Golden Dawn Orchestra – Children Of The Sun CD/LP+MP3 (Nine Mile)
"Ever wish Sun Ra, Sergio Mendes, Os Mutantes, Sly Stone, Sweden’s GOAT, and Up With People were all in a band together? Texas collective Golden Dawn Arkestra fill that niche pretty well." – Brooklyn Vegan
>Goodnight Moonshine – I’m The Only One Will Tell You, You’re Bad CD/LP (Keep The Spark)
On Goodnight Moonshine's I'm The Only One Who Will Tell You, You're Bad, the duo delivers a funny, smart, explicit, raw, honest, mature, witty collection of folk-pop songs that reflect the messiness of 'partnership' (in its many forms), parenthood and growing up, while evoking the emotionally resonant aesthetic of Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin.
>Grateful Dead - Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 2: April Fools' '88 [Reissue/2011] 3xCD (Real Gone Music)
Recorded live at Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ March 31st and April 1st, 1988. Originally released in 2011 as part of Grateful Dead’s Road Trips four-volume series (which 17 live archival releases total). Unlike Dick's Picks, which mostly featured complete or near-complete single concerts, Road Trips was billed as a series in which two-CD releases would each survey tours or periods in the band's performing career that had not been previously well-represented in archival releases.
>Gruesome – Twisted Prayers CD/LP (Relapse)
Less than four short years into their career, death metal defenders of the old Gruesome (featuring current and former members of Exhumed, Possessed, Malevolent Creation) return with their second full-length sermon, Twisted Prayers - eight songs and 40+ minutes of unholy hymns with lurid melodies and vulgar atmospheres. The album follows Death’s paradigm shift during the Spiritual Healing era, incorporating more cerebral, melodic instrumentation with elements of thrash and thought-provoking, socially conscious lyrics. The band once again teamed up with the legendary Ed Repka (Death, Atheist, Massacre) for Twisted Prayers’ blasphemous cover art, in addition to legendary Death guitarist James Murphy (Death, Obituary, Testament) for a pair of special guest guitar solos.
>David Hillyard and The Rocksteady 7 – The Giver CD/LP (ORG Music)
Based out of New York but relying on a global cast of musicians, David has been directing The Rocksteady 7’s mix of Jamaican roots music with American jazz, soul, and R&B since 1997. [Limited edition white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Ben Howard – Noonday Dreams CD (Republic)
New album from British singer-songwriter. Thus far in his career, Howard has earned an Ivor Novello Award nomination, the UK's most prestigious songwriting accolade, in addition to two Brit Awards in 2012 for British Breakthrough and British Solo Male Artist.
>Jethro Tull – 50 For 50 3xCD (Rhino/Parlophone)
Jethro Tull – 50th Anniversary Collection CD (Rhino/Parlophone)
50 For 50 is a triple-CD career-spanning set that features 50 songs - chosen by Ian Anderson - from all 21 of the band's studio albums. 50th Anniversary Collection is a pared-down, 21-track single-disc version that gathers key tracks from all 21 albums. [Vinyl edition of 50th Anniversary Collection due August 31.]
>Karen Jonas – Butter CD/LP (Yellow Brick)
As rich as its name suggests, Butter mixes the textured twang of Karen Jonas's folk and country roots with the diverse influences of ragtime, blues, jazz and barroom soul.
>JPattersson – Folks & Fanfare CD/LP (Acker)
It's been around three years since JPattersson opened up a whole new horizon of formerly unheard possibilities between the worlds of dub and techno with PROGaDUB (2015). A lot has been happening ever since, and that's very noticeable on his second album, Folks & Fanfare. It still has all the signature elements of JPattersson: There's his dreamy, virtuous trumpet play and his witty vocals, there's his dubby delays and heavyweight beats which often line up in a downbeat rhythm.
>Kataklysm – Meditations CD+DVD/LP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
13th album from the Montréal based melodic death metallers. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Inigo Kennedy – Strata CD/2xLP+CD (Token)
The new album from the techno pioneer delves into a thoughtful series of classically-inspired electronica suites. His classic rock style is apparent not only in his delivery, but his songwriting and self-taught musicianship.
>Jesse Kinch – I’m Not Like Everybody Else CD/LP (Curb)
At just 23, Jesse claims as influences unique vocal stylists the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl.
>Joan Of Arc – 1984 CD/LP (Joyful Noise)
Remarkably, so much of the cluttered sound of earlier Joan of Arc LPs has largely fallen away on 1984, as has Tim Kinsella’s voice. At first it’s genuinely shocking. But the songs here are a revelation, as profound and plainspoken as parables. (Just caught your eyeroll.)
>King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (Fuzz Club Version) CD (Fuzz Club)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Features alternate cover art.
>Lump – Lump CD (Dead Oceans)
Lump was born of good timing and predestined compatibility. It began one night in mid-June 2016, when Mike Lindsay – founding member of Tunng and Throws, and a prolific, Mercury prize-winning producer – was introduced to Grammy-nominated, Brit award-winning singer-songwriter Laura Marling. On meeting, Lindsay and Marling discovered they had long been admirers of each other's work. Lindsay had been busy for some months composing an intricate, ambitious new sound cycle. His compositional style had evolved over the course of years of musical experimentation with Tunng, and during his time spent producing other people's records while living in Iceland. He had arrived at a remarkably visual, colorful sound – a heady blend of wonked-out guitars, Moog synths and pattering drums, set against droning, coiling clouds of flutes and voices. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Maps and Atlases – Lightlessness Is Nothing New CD/LP (Barsuk)
The title of Maps and Atlases' new album serves to foreshadow an emotionally and musically dynamic collection of songs that contemplates the jolt of loss and the strain of longing to music that, against our better judgment, makes us want to dance. In the brooding yet playful vein of The Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel, Maps and Atlases embrace the paradox of what it is to be human - constantly searching and, forever un-satiated, returning again and again with everlasting hope to the ever-darkening fray.
>Albin Lee Meldau – About You CD/LP (Astralwerks)
When you distill the 13 songs on Albin Lee Meldau's debut About You down to their essence, you'll arrive at the Swedish singer/songwriter's motivation: "Storytelling," he says. His voice connects a rich history of rhythm and blues – Al Green, Van Morrison – to contemporary innovators like James Blake, Sam Smith and Hozier. The music does that too, swelling from spare guitar or piano-backed ballads, to Ronson-like mashups of hip-hop beats and sweeping strings, to hands-in-the-air soul-soaked dance-pop.
>Morcheeba – Blaze Away CD/LP (Fly Agaric)
The British trip-hop pioneers return with their first new album in over five years.
>Near Future – Ideal Home CD/LP (Blanc Check)
Near Future is the collaboration between Blancmange's Neil Arthur and solo electronic artist Bernholz. Files were swapped, sounds, and lyrics re-wired, and Ideal Home is the gloriously minimal result. The album is icy and detached; beautiful and otherworldly; Bernholz's spoken word monolog on "Dawn" sounding like a warning signal from the subconscious, while digitized electronics usher in some of Neil Arthur's most intimate vocals.
>The Nectars – Sci-Fi Television CD/LP (7hz Productions)
Born in the shadow of New York City in late 2016, New Jersey alternative-rockers The Nectars release their debut album – a ferocious, euphoric, sarcastic, brilliant slice of sleazy pop genius. A nine-song collection of short, sharp bangers, each with their own individual sound delving into art-rock debauchery.
>Tami Neilson – Sassafrass! CD/LP+MP3 (Outside Music)
For the past decade, Canadian-born, New Zealand-based singer/songwriter Tami Neilson has been the queen of her adopted homeland's country and roots music scenes. On this 11-track knock-out, she places a heavier emphasis on soul music without abandoning her country and rockabilly roots. Neilson conjures up a wonderfully retro style that sounds like it could be a lost gem from the late '50s or early '60s; however, beneath the classic veneer are frank, highly relevant lyrics. [Colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Nervosa – Downfall Of Mankind CD/LP (Napalm)
Brazilian all-female thrash commando unit Nervosa is synonymous with raw aggression and untamed power!
>Pieter Nooten – Stem CD/LP+MP3 (Rocket Girl)
Rumored to be one of the most intriguing collaborations of 2018, Rocket Girl presents Pieter Nooten's fourth solo album Stem as Nooten teams up with legendary producer/mixer/sound-artist Stephen W. Tayler (Kate Bush, Underworld) at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios
>Nurse With Wound – Sinister Whimsey For The Wretched 2xCD (Dirter Promotions)
Sinister Whimsy For The Wretched contains the long out-of-print albums, Sugar Fish Drink (1992) and Large Ladies With Cake In The Oven (1993). Both discs are remastered by Andrew Liles.
>Oneohtrix Point Never – Age Of CD/LP+MP3 (Warp)
A tapestry of disparate musical histories - early music, country and folk balladry, melodic pop, computer music and much, much more.
>Oiseaux-Tempête And The Bunny Tylers - The True History Of The Tortoise & The Hare According To Lord Dunsany CD (Ruptured)
The Bunny Tylers is a duo from Lebanon whose core consists of two prominent musicians from the Beirut scene: singer-songwriter and guitarist Charbel Haber and multi-instrumentalist and producer Fadi Tabbal. The music of French free-rock collective Oiseaux-Tempête is bred from places in turmoil. Embracing the freedom of improvisation, theirs is a secular music that crosses boundaries and cultures, embodying an intersection where post-rock, jazz, Arabic music, punk, and experimental electronic music find common ground and refuge.
>Petyr – Smoyk CD/LP (Outer Battery)
Coming hot the heels of last year’s debut LP, Smolyk continues the band’s mash up of heavy psych and skate sensibilities.
>Michelle Phillips – Victim Of Romance [Reissue/1977] CD (Real Gone Music)
During the 1960s as an original member of The Mamas & The Papas, the lovely Michelle Phillips enjoyed singing lead vocal on that supergroup's smash rendition of "Dedicated to The One I Love." In 1976 Michelle took a brief break from her rising acting career (Dillinger, Valentino, Knots Landing, and a beloved Manwich commercial) to return to the recording studio as a solo performer following a pair of singles produced by her ex-husband and Mamas & Papas leader John Philips and A&M Records co-owner Jerry Moss. Working with legendary producer-arranger Jack Nitzsche (Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, and many others), Michelle enjoyed collaborating on an album that evoked the Phil Spector sound which Nitzsche helped to invent while also creating a modern '70s pop sound.
>Natalie Prass – The Future And The Past CD (ATO)
Natalie Prass had her new album written, her band ready, the recording studio booked. Then the 2016 election happened, and out of her despair and disappointment in those results came an impulse she could not ignore: she rewrote the album to reflect these swirling emotions. The result is The Future And The Past, a stunning snapshot of a musician in a state of personal rediscovery and surging femininity. The celebratory and defiant collection also signals a significant artistic leap for Prass on the heels of her 2015 breakthrough debut. It finds Prass tapping into deep, dancey grooves that glisten with ‘80s pop and ‘90s R&B, nestled alongside quivering, lushly orchestrated ballads. “Short Court Style” dials the tempo into the aforementioned ‘90s R&B territory, punctuated by handclaps, sampled “woos,” and a Dr. Dre-esque whistling synth line. Lyrically she wields a sharp knife as well on the love torn “Lost” and the empowering feminist anthem “Sisters”. [Vinyl edition due July 8.]
>Purgatory – Cold Side Of Reality CD/LP (Unbeaten)
The metallic hardcore wrecking crew deliver one of the year's heaviest beatdowns.
>Pyramid – Pyramid CD/LP+MP3 (Mental Experience)
33 minutes of pure, unadulterated, psychedelic krautrock courtesy of Pyramid, an obscure studio project produced by Toby Robinson, aka The Mad Twiddler, recorded circa 1975-76 in Cologne for the underground Pyramid label.
>The Quick – Mondo Deco [Reissue/1976] CD (Real Gone Music)
The Quick were the crucial link between the glam and punk eras in Los Angeles. Like The Runaways, they were brought to the Mercury label by local impresario Kim Fowley, but The Quick proved much less pliant than their distaff peers, resisting Fowley's demands for "more boogie" on their 1976 debut album and instead pursuing a power pop sound influenced by Sparks (ex-Sparks guitarist Earle Mankey engineered). The Quick's intricate harmonies, heavy guitar solos, sophisticated/sardonic lyrics and hooky melodies (both courtesy of songwriter Steven Hufsteter) deserved a much wider audience than they got
>Michael Ray – Amos CD (Warner Music Nashville)
New album from the country music singer-songwriter. Amos is named after Ray's grandfather, Amos, who was a huge influence on him not just musically - also in fueling his love for country music. In fact, Ray first began singing and performing in his grandfather's band when he was only nine years old. To this day he still plays Amos' hand-me-down guitar, a 1978 Les Paul, as a reminder of the time they spent together sharing stories, learning songs and making memories.
>Steve Roach – Molecules Of Motion CD (Projekt)
On his first studio album since his recent Grammy nomination, Roach calls upon an expansive 35-year legacy at the forefront of electronic music creation. Molecules Of Motion is a masterful album with roots in the Berlin School and a foot in the transcendent unknown of the future flowing into now.
>Ruen Brothers – All My Shades Of Blue CD (Ramseur)
Whether it's their collaboration with the legendary producer Rick Rubin, kudos from the likes of Zane Lowe and the BBC, or a string of memorable performances from the hills of Glastonbury to the deserts of Coachella, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter siblings Henry and Rupert Stansall, known by their amalgam-created moniker Ruen Brothers, are making a mark with throwback rock and roll sound that intersects the early days of the genre with a dynamic present-day act. [Vinyl edition due June 22.]
>Craig Safan – Sirens (Music Inspired By Homer’s Odyssey) CD (Varese Sarabande)
Acclaimed composer Craig Safan’s newest album was inspired by the classic tales of Homer’s The Odyssey. The tracks that make up Sirens were enhanced by live players as well as sonic elements Safan recorded while exploring the mythical landmarks of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, and environs.
>Pharoah Sanders - Juan Les Pin Jazz Festival '68 CD (Hi Hat)
Live radio broadcast from the Juan Les Pins Jazz Festival, Antibes, France on July 20th, 1968. Having made his name playing with John Coltrane as of 1965, Pharoah Sanders soon came to be recognized as one of the most innovative jazz players of his generation.
>Pierre Sandwidi - Le Troubadour De La Savane - 1978/1982 CD/LP (Born Bad)
Nicknamed "the troubadour from the bush", Pierre Sandwidi stands as one of the finest Voltaic artists from the 1970s. He belonged to an unsung elite of Francophone artists such as Francis Bebey, G.G. Vickey, André-Marie Tala, or Mamo Lagbema. His entire released output consists of less than ten 7"s, two LPs, and a bunch of cassettes. Along with his friends Jean-Bernard Samboué, Abdoulaye Cissé, Oger Kaboré, Joseph Salambéré, or Richard Seydou Traoré, he was part of the "vedettes en herbe" movement.
>The Saxophones – Songs Of The Saxophones CD/LP (Full Time Hobby)
The Saxophones’ debut album was inspired by 1950s exotica and Hawaiian albums (Edhen Abhez, Buddy Fo, and Martin Denny), 1970s Italian songwriter Vittorio Impiglia, and a host of third-stream and West coast jazz records.
>Kyriakos Sfetsas – Greek Fusion Orchestra Vol. 1 CD/LP+MP3 (Teranga Beat)
A progressive-jazz fusion masterpiece comprising complex and intriguing compositions, and performed by Athens's best musicians of the day.
>Paul Simon – Graceland: The Remixes CD/LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Paul Simon's iconic 1986 album receives a reworking from the likes of MK, Richy Ahmed, Paul Oakenfold, and Groove Armada, all spinning their own unique interpretations across the release - the first time a classic album has been reimagined in its entirety.
>Slapshot – Make America Hate Again CD/LP (Bridge Nine)
The Boston hardcore veterans Slapshot return with a new album. [Vinyl reissue of Digital Warfare also released this week.]
>Keely Smith – Sings The John Lennon - Paul McCartney Songbook [Reissue/1964] CD (Real Gone Music)
Lots of pop vocalists have tackled the vaunted Lennon-McCartney songbook, but this 1964 release from the late, great Keely Smith was the first album by an artist of her ilk devoted to the lads from Liverpool. with sparkling arrangements by Ernie Freeman and Benny Carter, and production from Keely's soon-to-be husband Jimmy Bowen, the record alternately seduces and swings, and Keely's voice-with its bluesy phrasing and lilt patented on The Strip-is the perfect instrument to interpret these Fab tunes.
>Strafe F.R. – The Bird Was Stolen CD (Touch)
Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, Strafe Für Rebellion, or Strafe F.R., is a long-term collaboration between the artists Bernd Kastner and Siegfried M. Syniuga, which started in 1979. After a long period of hibernation, The Bird Was Stolen marks their return to Touch following four previous releases in the '80s and early '90s. From their early connection with the local scene, centered around the Ratinger Hof in Düsseldorf, Strafe went on to develop a unique and influential form of sound sculpture that pioneered the use of field recordings alongside home-made instruments and the use of the studio as a performance space.
>Surgeon – Luminosity Device CD/2xLP (Dynamic Tension)
Surgeon's new full-length takes Bardo Thödol -- the Tibetan Book of the Dead -- as a starting point for a rhythmic journey into those interstitial spaces where body, mind, and soul no longer seem like distinct categories.
>Foster Sylvers – Foster Sylvers [Reissue/1973] CD/LP (Mr. Bongo)
The Sylvers – II [Reissue/1973] CD/LP (Mr. Bongo)
The Sylvers were a family from Los Angeles who were very successful during the '70s and into the early '80s with chart hits - deep into pop-disco territory by then.
>Samba Touré – Wande CD/LP (Glitterbeat)
Wande is just as direct and powerful as Touré's previous work, but everything moves with a bright, danceable sensibility. Gone are the intense guitar and ngoni duels, replaced with short, incisive guitar solos and a solid, laid-back groove.
>Tower Of Power – Soul Side Of Town CD/LP (Artistry Music)
One of the most dynamic and distinctive bands in soul music roars into its 50th anniversary with an LP of all new material.
>TWINS – That Which Is Not Said CD/LP (2MR)
TWINS (the acronym from which the album derives its title, if one's curious about the order of origin) is the mutant machine-pop project of Atlanta producer, label operator, and all-around aesthete-visionary Matt Weiner. Having spent the better part of a decade reveling in a moody murk that intersects seductive synth-pop with Featureless Ghost and grotesque industrial-dance grooves in his own right as TWINS, Weiner has more than proved his sincerely sinister and auspiciously artful finesse of synth-based music.
>Conway Twitty – Icon LP (MCA Nashville)
11 hits from the country singer.
>Various Artists – African Screams Contest CD/2xLP (Analog Africa)
Gut-busting yelps, lethal horn sections, and irresistibly insistent rhythms add up to a record that takes you into its own space with the same electrifying sureness of your favorite blues, soul, funk or punk samplers.
>Various Artists – Chébran- Volume 2: French Boogie CD/2xLP (Born Bad)
The French in the '80s were not faint-hearted: as some threw themselves heart and soul into music or business, others wouldn't mind going bottomless to get themselves noticed. While Bernard Tapie soon realized his own fortune was rather to be found in business, many music-loving dreamers already imagined themselves in the sun, in an enchanting world made of funky rhythms and synthesizers. Features Phil Barney, JM Black, Ettika, Sammy Massamba, Shams Dinn, Alfio Scandurra,Philippe Chany, Nordine Staiffi, Brigitte Et Michot, Alec Mansion, Marie Jose Fa, Hamidou, Ganawa, Creole Star, Manu, Ethnie, and Joel Ferrati.
>Various Artists - Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris 3xCD+DVD+Book (Dust-To-Digital)
This watershed release represents the life's work of William Ferris, an audio recordist, filmmaker, folklorist, and teacher with an unwavering commitment to establish and to expand the study of the American South. It includes a 120-page hardcover book in full color edited by William Ferris Writings by Scott Barretta, David Evans, and Tom Rankin; three CDs -- two of the CDs feature blues and gospel recordings (1966-1978), and the final CD features interviews and storytelling (1968-1994); and one DVD featuring documentary films (1972-1980). Transcriptions and annotations are provided for each track. Comes in a cigar box.
>Wheel – The Divide CDEP (7hz Productions)
Second EP release from Finnish Prog rockers.
>Kamaal Williams – The Return CD/LP (Black Focus)
Whether re-defining experimental fusion sounds with the hugely acclaimed Yussef Kamaal, or his catalogue of 12”s for imprints such as MCDE, Eglo, and Rhythm Section as Henry Wu, South London’s Kamaal Williams has been a key figure in his thriving international scene for the past few years. The Return is a natural evolution from the Yussef Kamaal project, mining the influence of visionary jazz but blended with all kinds of texture, sounds and signals from the over-saturated London streets. At times the keyboard work evokes the classic 70s fusion work of Lonnie Liston Smith or Roy Ayers, but underpinned by rhythms more reminiscent of blunted hip-hop and arrangements subliminally laced with the cut-ups of pirate radio. Progressive, funky, cosmic, exploratory and effortlessly musical, this is the sound of a musician honing their craft into thrilling new shapes.
>Witchskull – Coven’s Will CD/LP (Rise Above)
Channeling the spirit of the metal gods and injecting every last moment of their rampaging anthems with a jolting dose of lysergic menace, Witchskull is the unstoppable real deal.
>XXXTentacion - ? CD (Caroline)
Controversial rapper Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (aka XXXTentacion) plays fast and loose when it comes to genres, often incorporating elements of punk rock, hip-hop, R&B, and heavy metal. His sophomore album, XXX, includes guest appearances from PnB Rock, Travis Barker and Joey Badass, among others. [Vinyl edition due July 20.]
>Pete Yorn/Scarlett Johansson – Apart CDEP/12” (Capitol)
The Apart EP marks the duo of Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson's first collaboration since their 2009 album, Break Up. Ushered in by the shimmering lead single "Bad Dreams," the EP features four brand new recordings and a new version of "Tomorrow," a song that originally appeared on Yorn's last album, 2016's Arranging Time.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
>Blutengel - Live Im Wasserschloss Klaffenbach Blu-ray (Out Of Line)
The German goth-pop band performs a 2-hour-plus set comprised of hits and fan-favorites.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>The Album Leaf - Torey's Distraction: Original Soundtrack [Reissue/2012] LP (Eastern Glow)
Vinyl release of The Album Leaf's original score to the 2009 documentary, performed by Jimmy LaValle (The Album Leaf). Filmmaker Tisha Blood follows three girls with a rare craniofacial anomaly called Apert Syndrome over the course of 10 years providing an intimate glimpse into the transforming powers of science, family, humor, hope and compassion. Standard weight “starburst cream & burnt orange” marbled vinyl in a custom die-cut jacket.
>Amorphous – Silent Waters [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Vinyl reissue of the prog metal band’s 2007 album.
>Azambuja & Cia - Azambuja & Cia [Reissue/1975] LP (Far Out)
A reissue of Azambuja & Cia's self-titled album, originally released in 1975. In 1975. Azambuja & Cia was the prolific and multi-talented Brazilian comedians Chico Anysio and Arnaud Rodrigues. Each side ends with a comedy monolog, complete with live audience laughter, but before that you get seven tracks of weird and wonderfully emotive Brazilian groove music.
>Baiano & Os Novos Caetanos - Baiano & Os Novos Caetanos [Reissue/1974] LP (Far Out)
Baiano & Os Novos Caetanos was a band formed by prolific and multi-talented Brazilian comedians Chico Anysio and Arnaud Rodrigues. Satirizing Brazil's tropicalia movement in the 1970s, the duo took a friendly crack at the likes of Caetano Veloso and psychedelic rockers Novos Baianos, with their righteous tropicalista alter-egos "Baiano" and "Paulinho Boca de Profeta" poetically denouncing the dictatorship while simultaneously mocking those who took themselves too seriously.
>Beach Skulls – Las Dunas LP (Pnkslm Recordings)
Manchester trio Beach Skulls are back with their second album, the follow-up to their acclaimed 2016 debut Slow Grind. Summery garage pop mixed with psych and dream pop influences.
>The Beat – Here We Go Love! LP (Here We Go)
The English Beat starring Dave Wakeling return with their first studio album since 1982. Wakeling's ability to create a nagging pop hook is undimmed, as too is his political edge. Blending wit and wisdom, and of course ska, punk, soul, reggae, pop and anything else that came to hand in the melting pot that was late ‘70s Birmingham, The English Beat were ahead of the time and creating a hybrid sound that came in part to define their times. [CD version due June 15.]
>Behemoth – Messe Noire 2xLP (Metal Blade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New live collection from the Polish black/death metal overlords recorded at Progresja in Warsaw, Poland on August 8, 2016.
>Biffy Clyro - MTV Unplugged Live At Roundhouse, London 2xLP+CD+DVD (WB)
Deluxe heavyweight black vinyl edition. Includes a 12” double-sided art print featuring setlist, signed by the band, a DVD featuring the MTV Unplugged set, a CD album of the set, an LP-size 6-panel booklet, all packaged in a custom gatefold sleeve. Although their live shows are best known for their electrifying and explosive energy, Biffy Clyro have often demonstrated that their songs possess an added poignancy when stripped back to their essence.
>Blind Melon – Nico [1995] LP (Analog Sparks)
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold jacket. Blind Melon’s third album, Nico, was released after lead singer Shannon Hoon's cocaine overdose that resulted in his death in 1995. This marks the firs-time the release has been available on vinyl. [Limited clear pressing also available.]
>Mary Chapin Carpenter – Sometimes Just The Sky LP (Lambent Light)
Released last March on CD – now available on vinyl. Sometimes Just The Sky is not a greatest hits endeavor or a remastered compilation. It's not a celebration or a souvenir. It is a reimagining of a most unusual nature. It is a collection of songs written across the decades, recorded in bucolic western England at Real World Studios with the great producer Ethan Johns. Carpenter sat with new and old friends who circled together in a wooden room and made music, in real time. What we hear is precisely what was played and sung, all at once. There's a song originally recorded for each of Carpenter's original studio records, and then there's a new song, which was aided and abetted by hillside contemplation and a punk poet's advice.
>Catch Up – Vol. 1 [Reissue/1975] LP (Sommor)
Vinyl reissue of one of the best jazz-funk-fusion albums from the '70s Euro scene
>Guigou Chenevier and Sophie Jausserand - A l'Abri Des Micro-Climats [Reissue/1984] LP (Megaphone/Knock ‘Em Dead)
Vinyl reissue of a concept-album based on a series of non-conventional "songs", composed by Guigou Chenevier (drummer for French prog-rock band Etron Fou Leloublan) and his wife Sophie Jausserand.
>Ché-SHIZU – A Journey [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Black Editions)
Ché-SHIZU is one of the most original and mystifying groups to ever emerge from the Tokyo underground. Founded by master improviser Chie Mukai in 1981 the group has been guided by her singular vision for nearly 40 years. Throughout its history Ché-SHIZU has challenged traditional notions of song structure and improvisation.
>The Coathangers – Live LP (Suicide Squeeze)
In their thirteen years of existence, Atlanta, GA's garage punks The Coathangers have cranked out five full-lengths and over a dozen singles, splits, and EPs. And while every Coathangers record has captured their buoyant turbulence and jagged euphoria, there's always some degree of magic that gets lost when bands go into the studio. Whatever the source of that magic, The Coathangers have always wrangled a replication of that sweaty and sticky live feeling, but the time had come to properly document it. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Control Denied – The Fragile Sound Of Existence [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Relapse)
Control Denied was started by Chuck Schuldiner to create a European-style power metal/progressive metal band mixed with elements of death metal recognizable in his earlier band, Death, but combined with a slightly more melodic style. Schuldiner died in 2001.
>Digable Planets – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Modern Classics)
At a time when hip-hop was determined to snap your neck, a young, hip trio from Brooklyn (by way of Seattle, Philly, and Brazil) conspired on an uncommonly smooth new sound and freaky way of speak, a titanically chill expression of Black bohemia loaded with jazz idiom and a subversive Marxist bent-and pushed it worldwide via an undeniable crossover hit. Digable Planets' 1993 debut, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), unexpected to all involved, produced a massive radio hit in "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)".
>Dissection – The Past Is Alive: The Early Mischief [Reissue/1997] LP (Hammerheart)
Vinyl reissue of the esteemed Swedish melodic black metal band’s first two demos, Into Infinite Obscurity and The Grief Prophecy, along with other rare tracks.
>Luc Ferrari - Atelier de Libération de la Musique LP (Alpha Marghen)
Improvisations recorded in February and March 1975 during the rehearsals for the Concerts Électrovisuels at Cesi Pont F and Musée Galiera in Paris.
>Five Finger Death Punch – A Decade Of Destruction 2xLP (Prospect Park)
Released last December on CD – now available on vinyl. A compilation of the band's biggest radio singles from the past ten years along with two newly recorded songs.
>Miguel Flores – Primitivo LP (Buh)
Miguel Flores is a self-made musician, composer and producer born in 1951 in Lima, Perú.
He began by playing drums at 13 in a school band: The Loop's (1965-1968). He moved onto Thee Image (1968-1970) and then jumped to fame as drummer for PAX (1971-1975).
Then he founded Ave Acústica (1975-1978) and La Orquesta Integral del Sol (1979) to fuse Peruvian folk music and modern concepts. He has composed music for theatre, dance, ballet and movies.
>Foom & Foam – Foom & Foam LP (Feeding Tube)
“By using previously recorded sounds as source, the artists eradicate both the ability and the necessity of trying to identify the instruments or objects producing the noise here. These are just sounds, freed from their original sonic context by the initial act of recording, now existing as naught-but-signals, to be interpreted by our brains as they see fit to interpret them. And it allows them to manipulate the surface representations of previously-captured events in ways that recall Dennis Duck Goes Disco (1977), Steve Fisk's 448 Deathless Days (1987) and even Orchid Spangiafora's Flee Past's Ape Elf (1979).” -- Byron Coley
>Jerry Garcia – Run For The Roses [Reissue/1982] LP (ATO)
Recently released as a limited pressing for RSD 2018 – now available as a standard vinyl reissue. Originally released in 1982, Run For The Roses is Garcia's fourth and final solo studio album.
>Margaret Glaspy – Born Yesterday 12” (ATO)
Written on the road, in her hotel, on the plane and at soundcheck, these songs were the product of the little time she had to herself – three songs about different sides of love: love gone wrong, love gone right, and love at a distance.
>Johnny Griffin – The Man I Love [Reissue/1967] LP (ORG Music)
Teamed up with pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath for a club date at Copenhagen's Montmartre in 1967, the great tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin really stretches out on The Man I Love. Remastered for vinyl from original analog tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed on audiophile-grade vinyl at Pallas Group in Germany. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Mickey Hart – Ramu LP (Verve)
Released last November on CD – now available on vinyl. While most albums function as a snapshot of a place and time, Ramu is more like a photo album, containing samples and recordings from around the globe, originating between 1944 and 2017. Mickey’s life ambition has always been to record and preserve the music of the world using the most innovative and high-quality equipment possible. Through the making of the album, that goal has grown to be something more. It’s about creation through collaboration, through combination, and through inclusion. Ramu acts as a reunion of like-minds, of a musical family torn apart by time, expanding to include the sounds and influences of the modern era.
>Mel Henke – 77 Sunset Strip-per [Reissue/1977] LP (Modern Harmonic)
Mel Henke was a guerrilla in the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Think Ward Cleaver meets Hugh Hefner: an upstanding, tax-paying, white collar, tie-and-sports coat-wearing middle class, middle aged guy with the heart and mind of a horny 17-year-old.
>Vance Joy – Nation Of Two LP+MP3 (Atlantic)
Released last February on CD – now available on vinyl. Nation Of Two is the keenly awaited second album from Melbourne-turned global folk-pop superstar, Vance Joy (James Gabriel Wanderson Keogh). Following on from his ARIA #1 debut Dream Your Life Away, Nation Of Two carries the listener on an exquisite 13 track journey across new terrain.
>Jeffrey Lee/Cypress Groove Pierce – Anarchic Blues 2xLP (Bang!)
Extended version of vinyl edition of this magnificent recording from Jeffrey Lee Pierce & Cypress Grove, all pure acoustic blues, recorded in Slovenia in 1994 for a radio show. Here Jeffrey Lee Pierce took a break from The Gun Club in order to focus on his passion for traditional blues.
>Living Colour – Stain [Reissue/1993] LP (Megaforce)
Like it’s predecessors (platinum 1988 debut Vivid and gold 1990 sophomore effort Time's Up), Stain exhibits Living Colour's high-temperature mix of hard rock energy and funkinflected rhythm, social conscience and unfettered emotion.
>Seán Mac Erlaine – Music For Empty Ears LP (Ergodos)
Seán Mac Erlaine is a Dublin-based woodwind instrumentalist, composer and music producer, recognized as one of Ireland's most forward-thinking creative musicians. Mac Erlaine works in a variety of settings from free improvisation, contemporary jazz, folk music and experimental theatre.
>Dave Matthews – Under The Table And Dreaming [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (RCA)
Dave Matthews Band's 1994 major label debut Under The Table And Dreaming introduced the Virginia-based quintet to a national audience with an alternative, folk-tinged approach to pop/rock music that resonated in a post-grunge world. Back in-print on vinyl.
>Mazozma – Stark Joy LP (Feeding Tube/Mystra)
New project from Kentucky ex-pat Mike Turner aka Mikey T. (Warmer Milks). “There is something very special about the sound of a bummed-out smart person alone in a room somewhere (studio or not) with just their guitar for solace. Many killer examples of the form exist -- Skip Spence's Oar (1969), Pip Proud's Adrenaline And Richard (1968), Roy Montgomery's 324 E. 13th Street #7 (1999), and so on. All of these records shine with very special darkness. To this list, I submit the new Mazozma LP, Stark Joy.” -- Byron Coley
>Mazzy Star – Still 12” (Rhymes Of An Hour)
Mazzy Star, the ethereal co-writing duopoly of guitarist David Roback and husky-voiced Hope Sandoval, returns with a new EP, their first release since 2013's Seasons of Your Day and the death of longtime drummer Keith Mitchell.
>Mette Rasmussen/Tashi Dorji - Mette Rasmussen/Tashi Dorji LP (Feeding Tube)
Mette Rasmussen is a Danish saxophonist, based in Norway, who has recorded with Chris Corsano, Alan Silva, Mats Gustafsson, Ace Farren Ford, etc. Here she performs with Asheville-based guitarist, Tashi Dorji.
>Mobb Deep – Murda Muzik [Reissue/1999] 2xLP+MP3 (Sony)
Mobb Deep – Infamy [Reissue/2001] 2xLP+MP3 (Sony)
Vinyl reissue of the hip-hop duo’s fourth and fifth albums. Infamy was released after Jay-Z dissed Prodigy and Nas on his song "Takeover," from Jay-Z's 2001 album, The Blueprint, which caused Prodigy to strike back on the track "Crawlin".
>Modeselektor - Modeselektion Vol. 4 #1 12” (Monkeytown)
Modeselektor - Modeselektion Vol. 4 #2 12” (Monkeytown)
Modeselektor - Modeselektion Vol. 4 #3 12” (Monkeytown)
Modeselektor - Modeselektion Vol. 4 #4 12” (Monkeytown)
A collection of free-thinking and boundary-pushing tracks from exciting upstarts such as rRoxymore, Skee Mask and Sarah Farina to exalted visionaries Peder Mannerfelt, Vatican Shadow and Modeselektor themselves who present their first new track since 2015. (Total artists/tracks spread across four EPs.)
>The Neighborhood – The Neighborhood 2xLP+MP3 (Sony)
Released last March on CD – now available on vinyl. Eponymous third album from the critically acclaimed L.A. based alternative rock band.
>New Parents – Transient Response LP (Feeding Tube)
Debut album by this Turners Falls-based quartet led by Adam Langellotti of Sore Eros and widely hailed for his engineering work. The sound on Transient Response is languid ruralist prog-pop, with help from Gary War, Ma Turner, Shannon & Beverly Ketch, and other Valley travelers.
>Now, Now – Saved LP (Trans)
Minneapolis duo Now, Now return with their long awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2012 album Threads. Boasting the most direct songwriting and transparent lyrics the band have ever written by a mile, the record comes preceded by a pair of well received singles including "SGL", which landed at No. 1 and No. 7 on "Best Songs of 2017" lists for Idolator and NPR Music respectively, and "Yours", on which Pitchfork say Now, Now accomplished "a hallmark of a great pop song," on account of "its ability to inflate the most unassuming feelings into towering sound."
>The O’Jays – Ship Ahoy [Reissue/1973] LP (Sony Legacy)
Conceived as a theme album built around the title track, Ship Ahoy includes socially relevant tracks and love songs under a cover that is itself notable for its serious subject matter. Ship Ahoy was the highest selling R&B album on the Billboard Year-End chart for 1974.
>Augustus Pablo – Live At The Greek Theatre, Berkley, 1984 LP (Radiation Roots)
Standard vinyl pressing of the 2018 RSD release. Electrifyingly atmospheric live recording of the melodic maverick.
>PMS & The Mood Swings – PMS & The Mood Swings LP+MP3/Cassette (Burger)
“Hold on to your rumps, chumps! It’s time for PMS and the Moodswings! The new gang on the block serve up sticky pop candy with a classic Bowery punk beat, Coney Island surf guitars, and that uptown sax sound!”
>Damien Rice – O [2002] 2xLP (WB)
An expanded double-LP version of Damien Rice's 2002 album. This is the first time O will be available on vinyl and this extended 16-track edition includes four additional recordings: "The Professor & La Fille Danse" and "Moody Mooday," which were both originally B-sides to the "The Blower's Daughter"; "Lonelily," which appeared also appeared alongside the track "Moody Mooday" as a limited edition 7" single in 2004; and "Woman Like A Man," which was recorded live in a session at Galway Bay FM and was the lead track for the song's single release.
>Günter Schickert – Labyrinth LP (Marmo)
Günter Schickert, four decades of multi-instrumental cosmic explorations, under Berlin's sky, above genres, and compromises. Marmo present on his seventh album to date.
>Silverstein – When Broken Is Easily Fixed [Reissue/2003] LP (Victory)
Vinyl reissue of the debut studio album by Canadian post-hardcore band.
>Slapshot – Digital Warfare [Reissue/2003] LP (I Scream)
Digital Warfare served as the first full-length release in over seven years from Boston, MA's longest running hardcore band.
>Spacemen 3 - Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To [Reissue/1990] 2xLP (Superior Viaduct)
Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To casts Spacemen 3 alongside the mid-80s cadre of UK front-line rockers, contributing a distinct variation of high pop shining through layered noisy guitars. Ultimately, this collection serves to exalt the strength of Spacemen 3's songwriting over the atmospherics and production assemblage that would permeate their later efforts.
>t.e.s.o. - Construzione 04 LP (Aperature)
Italian duo t.e.s.o. present their second full-length album. As the title suggests, Construzione 04 centers around an underlying theme of construction, inspired by radical architecture, brutalism, and collages from Superstudio. The concept and title evolved from the nature of the album and the process of building up tracks from a number of separate samples, much like the singular elemental materials used to assemble a structure.
>Jacques Thollot - More Intra Musique 2xLP (Alga Marghen)
Produced in collaboration with the legendary Jac Berrocal's label d'Avantage, More Intra Musique is the second LP in Alga Marghen's series dedicated to previously unreleased recording by the drummer and experimentalist Jacques Thollot.
>Various Artists – Kerrang Legends 2xLP (Rhino)
Bringing together some of the most legendary Kerrang! bands from all ends of the rock spectrum, Kerrang! Legends features 40 tracks: from the pop punk of Fall Out Boy and Sum 41, to emotional anthems from My Chemical Romance and Funeral For A Friend, to the heaviness of Slipknot and Machine Head, together with the chart smashing crossover hits of Nickelback and Biffy Clyro.
>The Word Alive – Violent Noise LP (Fearless)
Limited clear vinyl LP pressing. Violent Noise is The Word Alive's fifth studio album and the follow up to 2016's Dark Matter, hitting #1 on the iTunes Metal Chart, and 2013's REAL., debuting at #4 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart.
>ZZ Top – Cinco No. 2: The Second Five LPs 5xLP (Rhino)
Five studio albums pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl, presented in a box the design of which has been inspired by the custom suits made for guitarist Billy F Gibbons' by Hollywood's Jaime Castaneda AKA "Jaime The Tailor."
18 may 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>3MA – Anarouz CD (Six Degrees)
3MA is the meeting of three string-instrument virtuosi, emblematic of their countries in Africa, but also of generous artists who share a musical passion, a reciprocal dialogue and a beautiful friendship. The group is comprised of Ballaké Sissoko (kora), Driss El Maloumi (oud), and Rajery (valiha).
>Alkaloid – Liquid Anatomy CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
With a pedigree including current and former members of Blotted Science, Obscura, Necrophagist and more, Alkaloid have spent decades advancing extreme, forward-thinking metal.
>Amorphous – Queen Of Time CD/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
13th album from the Finnish metal band. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Joan Armatrading – Not Too Far Away CD (BMG Rights Management)
19th album from the British singer-songwriter and Ivor Novello award winner. For fans of Rickie Lee Jones, Janis Ian, Suzanne Vega and Joni Mitchell. [Vinyl edition due May 23.]
>Armored Saint – Symbol Of Salvation [Reissue/1991] CD/LP (Metal Blade)
CD and Colored vinyl reissue - part of the Metal Blade Originals series. In July/August 2018, Armored Saint will embark on a North American tour, commemorating this 1991 classic. On this special run, the band will perform Symbol Of Salvation in its entirety, with select shows to be recorded for a live DVD.
>Ash – Islands CD/LP (Liberator Music/Infectious Music)
Islands is Ash's seventh studio album since their inception in 1992. The title of the album alludes to the unique environments in which its constituent songs were birthed. In the spring of 2016, following a whirlwind Japanese tour to close out the touring cycle for 2015’s Kablammo! album, Ash frontman Tim Wheeler undertook a visit to the picturesque island of Naoshima, renowned worldwide for its modern art installations, architecture and sculptures. Wheeler found the island’s tranquil, meditative atmosphere conducive to both reflection and creativity, and as he immersed himself in his craft, new song ideas began to ferment and flow. Islands is a cathartic collection for the singer, inspired, says Wheeler, ‘by me trying to get my head around a break up that didn’t make any sense to me.’ Self-produced, and recorded at the band’s own Atomic Heart Studio, where every Ash release since Twilight Of The Innocents has been committed to tape, the album cycles through the full Kübler-Ross grief model – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – with Wheeler laying bare his emotions in unflinching detail.” – Vinyl Radar
>At The Gates – To Drink From The Night Itself CD/LP (Century Media)
The Swedish melodic death metal pioneers unleash their indomitable spirit, ceaseless ingenuity, and raw power on their sixth full-length effort. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>David Axelrod – Song Of Innocence [Reissue/1968] CD (Now-Again)
Celebrated as psychedelic, the birth of jazz-fusion, the harbinger of hip-hop, Song Of Innocence is a hybrid that no one, not even Axelrod himself, could describe. Grounded by Wrecking Crew vets Earl Palmer and Carol Kaye’s funk, torn between the juxtaposition of musical elements, put at ease, Axelrod’s sweeping arrangements, which utilize brass and strings in a way that no one of his era did. It’s both violent and sublime.
>The Kurt Baker Trio – Let’s Go Wild! CD/LP (Wicked Cool)
While continuing in the tradition of the power pop sound Baker has been known for, the Combo also brings in elements of pub rock, garage and no holds bar wild rock 'n' roll a la The MC5, The Remains, Eddie and the Hotrods and Redd Kross.
>Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Mom + Pop Music)
The Grammy and Brit nominated Courtney Barnett returns with her second album. Tell Me How You Really Feel follows her critically acclaimed 2015 debut album Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit and recent collaborative record, Lotta Sea Lice, with Kurt Vile. One of the most distinctive voices in music, Courtney is known for mixing witty observations with unflinching self-assessment - fast forward to now and although all of the cleaver turns of phrase and an eye for story telling are still there; this new collection of songs sees a more serious and outwardly tone capturing the current social landscape yet still retaining moments of intimacy and warmth. [Deluxe CD edition with expanded booklet and red colored vinyl pressing also available. All formats include digital download.]
>Thomas Bartlett & Nico Muhly - Peter Pears: Balinese Ceremonial Music CD (Nonesuch)
Nine songs written by Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman) and Nico Muhly plus three gamelan transcriptions by ethnomusicologist Colin McPhee, which inspired the new songs. Bartlett and Muhly play pianos and keyboards on the album, and Bartlett sings, joined by other musicians on strings and metallic pitched percussion. McPhee recorded a suite of Balinese ceremonial music with Benjamin Britten in 1941. Muhly says: "The project is named after Peter Pears, who was Britten's partner and also an observer and collaborator of a larger community of musicians, writers, and thinkers."
>James Bay – Electric Light CD/LP (Republic)
A singer/songwriter with a penchant for crafting moving and evocative folk-pop, James Bay hails from the North Hertfordshire market town of Hitchin in England.
>Bombino – Deran CD/LP (Partisan)
On his new album, Deran, Bombino and crew have conjured up a roving mystery tour of contemporary Saharan sounds across10 songs of rare maturity and power that mark a turning point in the career of a guitarist and songwriter who was born in the shade of an acacia tree about 80 miles north west of the ancient town of Agadez, and has since risen to forefront of the new Tuareg guitar generation. Highlights include the raw diesel rock of the opener “Imajghane” (‘The Tuareg’), the camel gait lope of “Tenesse” (‘Idleness’), the tender lilt of “Midiwan” (‘My Friends’) and the ‘Tuareggae’ style that is Bombino’s unique contribution to desert music on the song “Tehigren.” All the desert is there, harsh and gentle, tragic and playful. But more than anything Deran had to be honest and true. The pressure to be the authentic voice of his culture and his home on the world stage weighs heavy on Bombino. “You have to begin with the question of who you are,” he says. “You're a Tuareg. With all the travels, all the experience of world, it’s as if I'm making myself remember where I come from. Where I come from will always be my home, my memory.” Simple, raw, true, that was the brief. “We wanted him to take a deliberate step out of the shadow of the celebrity producer,” says Bombino’s manager, and Deran producer, Eric Herman. “Apart from that, the idea was to take this raw, spontaneous, unadulterated approach to capturing his songs.”
>Joe Bonamassa – British Blues Explosion Live 2xCD/3xLP (J&R Adventures)
Guitarist extraordinaire Joe Bonamassa’s salute to the icons of British blues features the music of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Joe recently paid tribute to his heroes during a short but very sweet tour of Britain – five performances only. This show, presented across a variety of formats, was recorded at Greenwich Music Time at The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London on July 7, 2016. As one of the world's leading guitarists and a passionate devotee to the sacred form of art that is the British Blues, there is no person more qualified to preach this music than Bonamassa. For the first time, with this unforgettable performance, he was able to give special homage to the British guitarists who inspired him the most. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
>The Brokedowns – Sick Of Space CD/LP (Red Scare Industries)
This foursome is a little weirder, a little smarter, and a little heavier-sounding than your average punk band.
>BTS – Love Yourself: Tear CD (Bright Entertainment)
New release from South Korean seven-piece pop boyband BTS (aka The Bangtan Boys).
>Burn The Priest – Legion: XX CD/LP (Epic)
A full-length covers album that reflects on the greatness of classic punk, hardcore, crossover and noise – rock subgenres by the Lamb Of God side-band. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Matt Costa – Santa Rosa Fangs CD/LP (Dangerbird)
Santa Rosa Fangs is a stirring, stunning, and cinematic look and listen into the sometimes autobiographical, sometimes fictional journey of the venerable California musician Matt Costa through the tangled groves and grapevines of his home state. Produced by Peter Matthew Bauer (The Walkmen) and Nick Stumpf (French Kicks), the songs on Santa Rosa Fangs center around a fictional young woman named Sharon, her two brothers Ritchie and Tony, and their story of love, loss and coming of age in California, replete with long distance love affairs and nostalgic romances. Rather than setting out to create a specific narrative, Costa began noticing a theme in the new songs as he wrote them: an unconscious embodiment of the surroundings in which he himself had grown up. “I’ve interwoven my own stories into a fictional idea of what Santa Rosa Fangs is, from my own time spent living in Northern and Southern California and years driving up and down the coast, seeing the landscape and where life can pull you within one state,” Costa explains. “It’s the characters’ story and my story, too, contemporary but still tortured by the past. It’s a window into a time period but spoken as if it’s the present. The beauty of love and loss doesn’t have a date on it; it’s timeless.”
>The Dark Red Seed – Becomes Awake CD/LP (Prophecy)
The Dark Red Seed is the musical outlet of Tosten Larson, guitarist for Seattle dark folk musician King Dude. Larson notes that the three albums that most inspired Becomes Awake are Spiritualized's Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded.
>Elder Brother – Stay Inside CD/LP (Pure Noise)
Sophomore album from the indie-rock duo. “Considering that Elder Brother by themselves are very much small fries within an enormous emo pond, you certainly won’t be able to tell. Dan Rose and Kevin Geyer’s experiences in Daybreaker and The Story So Far respectively might have laid down the foundations, but on its own, this is the sort of side project that could go blow for blow with any number of established acts.” – The Soundborard
>Elina Duni – Partir CD (ECM)
After two highly acclaimed albums with her jazz quartet, Elina Duni issues an intimate recording of love, loss and leaving. An entirely solo affair, Partir features the Tirana-born vocalist accompanied by her own piano, guitar and frame drum, interpreting songs from very diverse sources, from folk songs and chansons to songs of singer-songwriters.
>Eternal Summers – Every Day It Feels Like I’m Dying… CD (Kanine)
Fifth album from the Roanoke, VA based indie rock band. Specializing in anthemic dream pop and post punk, with colors of new wave and 90's guitar fuzz, the band has broken their release-a-year clip to take some time to live a little. With a tempered songwriting process that has spanned over two years, the group finds themselves documenting the many ways that one can cope with disappointment, fear, loss of control, loneliness and depression. The result is Every Day It Feels Like I'm Dying... [Vinyl edition due June 29.]
>Family Of The Year – Goodbye Sunshine, Hello Nighttime CD/LP (WB)
Goodbye Sunshine, Hello Nighttime represents a turning point for L.A.-based indie rockers Family Of The Year as the last few years have proved to be simultaneously maddening, marvelous, and ultimately majestic. Led by siblings Joe and Sebastian Keefe, the group made writing retreats to Mount Washington and Bear Valley Springs in order to craft the new music during 2016. However, pressure increased, communication eroded, a once defined creative identity became obscured, and Joe and Sebastian endured the passing of their mom. However, the turmoil led to a breakthrough for the band; Reinvigorated and re-inspired, they rebuilt their friendships and finished writing and recording with a new creative clarity, going deeper than ever before. Produced by Greg Wells (Adele, Dua Lipa, The Greatest Showman), the 12-song set is earmarked by heartfelt introspective storytelling and rich instrumentality, re-emerging with their most hypnotic and heartfelt body of work to date, awash in dreamy hummable harmonies and robust percussion.
>Fister – No Spirit Within CD/LP (Listenable)
New release from the St. Louis, MO-based doom metal band.
>Five Finger Death Punch – And Justice For None CD (Prospect Park)
The seventh full length studio album from Five Finger Death Punch, And Justice For None, features their smash cover of The Offspring's “Gone Away” alongside such rock radio staples as “Sham-Pain,” “When The Seasons Change,” “Blue On Black” and “I Refuse.” One of the most successful groove metal bands of the 2010s, Five Finger Death Punch have been a staple of the Billboard charts since their formation in 2005. The Los Angeles-based outfit formed around the talents of former U.P.O. guitar player Zoltan Bathory, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Darrell Roberts, vocalist Ivan Moody (Motograter/Ghost Machine), bass player Matt Snell (Anubis Rising), and former W.A.S.P. drummer Jeremy Spencer. [Limited deluxe autographed CD in a digipak sleeve with three bonus tracks also available. Vinyl edition due June 15.]
>Forest Swords – DJ-Kicks CD/2xLP (!K7)
Like much of his own output, Forest Swords' DJ-Kicks dances around pristine electronics to embrace more organic textures: 80s post punk (Anna Domino, Dead Can Dance), classic 90s British electronica (Orbital, Disjecta), and smokey digi-dub (Rhythm & Sound), all rub up alongside some of the most forward-facing producers working today (Demdike Stare, Laurel Halo) and avant garde explorers (David Toop, Kara-Lis Coverdale). The compilation shifts through rhythms and emotions: from pop icon Neneh Cherry's primal thudding to the zombified throb of exclusive Forest Swords track "Crow."
>Frog Eyes – Violet Psalms CD/LP (Paper Bag)
Seventeen years after their teetering debut, Vancouver band Frog Eyes unveil their eighth and final album Violet Psalms - a giddy lament; a gnashing jubilee; a rain-drenched allocution on hope vs. horror, paradise vs. pride, Marx and Brexit and bad acid trips. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Gas – Rausch CD/2xLP+MP3 (Kompakt)
Wolfgang Voigt’s sixth album under his Gas moniker, Rausch, starts almost how we’d expect it to. Following last year’s Narkopop, Voigt continues down a similar path with a rich, cinematic effort of blooming ambient music. Voigt masterfully plays with textures and sound on Rausch and incorporates them precisely, which is one of the fascinating things about his new music as Gas. His earlier work is relatively static: unchanging, hypnotic loops that begin how they end. On Rausch, Voigt gingerly adds bits and pieces that temporarily change that idea that can break the listener’s concentration. In its brief seven tracks, Rausch barely makes it over an hour mark, but in that time frame, Voigt gives his listener a lot to unpack and offers the idea that he still has a lot more to say.” – The Line Of Best Fit
>Gomez – Bring It On [Reissue/1998] CD/4xCD/2xLP (Virgin)
20th Anniversary Edition of the Mercury Prize winning debut album by Gomez. Bring It On has been re-mastered and reissued as a single CD and as a Super-Deluxe four-CD set which contains the original, classic album and 35 previously unreleased tracks including 25 demos (recorded between January 1996 and August 1997) - 13 of which are appearing on an official Gomez release for the first time.
>Tim Green – Her Future Ghost CD (Cocoon)
Her Future Ghost is effectively composed similar to an electronic romantic film soundtrack: “My concept and direction for Her Future Ghost was to write a film score for a film that doesn't actually exist.” says Tim. “As an avid film score lover, I wanted to create a body of work that took certain traits from common film score practices. For example, different themes that repeat throughout, like character themes that evolve and mutate. As well as a narrative and story that develops through the music.”
>Jonny Greenwood – Bodysong [Reissue/2003] CD/LP (XL)
Greenwood's first original score for a film, back in-print on CD and vinyl. Simon Pummell's BAFTA winning 2003 documentary Bodysong tells the story of an archetypal human life using images taken from all around the world and the last 100 years of cinema. The images span the microcosm (inside the body), through the individual (the first cry of a new-born baby), to the macrocosm (accumulated archive footage of ritual celebration and the carnage of war). The editing, music, and the mythic narrative arc of the material is designed to take the viewer on a roller coaster tour of the human body and life cycle. Every possible depiction of the human life from microscopic medical to portraits and newsreels, from births to deaths, are cut to a music track by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood to create a mythic narrative of the arc of a single life.
>John Wesley Harding – Greatest Other People’s Hits CD (Omnivore)
First hitting the scene in the late ’80s, Wesley Stace, professionally known then as the singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding, scored some early musical success, especially on the college radio airwaves with songs like “Here Comes The Groom,” “The Devil In Me” and an unlikely cover of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer.” Over 20 albums and collections later, he tends a multi-faceted career as a novelist, singer-songwriter, festival curator, University teacher, and variety show host. Greatest Other People’s Hits is a collection of covers of songs by artists as varied as Bruce Springsteen, George Harrison, Roky Erickson, Madonna, Pete Seeger, and Serge Gainsbourg among others. In addition to Harding’s renditions of songs by those great composers, the new version adds tracks originally recorded by The Velvet Underground and Conway Twitty as well as performances with Lou Reed and Rob Wasserman, Kelly Hogan, Rick Moody, and Elizabeth Barraclough joining the LP’s collaborations with The Minus Five, Fastball, Eric Bazilian, The Universal Thump, and Bruce Springsteen. [Vinyl edition was released on Record Store Day 2018.]
>Trent Harmon – You Got ‘Em All CD (Big Machine)
Debut album from the American Idol champion and country music singer-songwriter.
>Hekate – Totentanz CD/LP (Prophecy)
Hekate was formed in 1991 and is one of the foremost protagonists of German neofolk. Over the course of five albums, the group has combined folk, medieval and classical music with striking percussion and electronic elements to create a distinctly individual style, which reaches its temporary climax on their sixth record Totentanz ("dance of death").
>Mayuko Hino – Lunisolar CD (Cold Spring)
The second solo album from the “Queen Of Japanese Noise.”
>Hunee – Hunchin’ All Night CD/3xLP (Rush Hour)
Hunee, aka Hun Choi, is a Korean Berliner who has been drawn in music since a very young age. Hunchin’ is a collection of his favorite dancefloor cuts from the '70s to modern times. Features Carlos Maria & Nuno Canavarro, Aby Ngana Diop, Michael Ozone, Stanislas Tohon, Raphael Top-Secret, Don Laka, Ron Trent, Villa Abo, and Hunee.
>Sean Khan - Palmares Fantasy Feat. Hermeto Pascoal CD (Far Out)
For his new album, Palmares, London-based multi-instrumentalist and one of Europe's finest saxophonists Sean Khan ventures to Rio de Janeiro to collaborate with iconic Brazilian polymath Hermeto Pascoal. Taking its title from the escaped slave settlement Palmares in the Northeast of Brazil during the 1600s, Palmares Fantasy is Khan's utopian jazz message for the world, and it features Azymuth drummer Ivan “Mamao” Conti, bassist Paulo Russo, guitarist Jim Mullen, and guest vocals from Brazilian chanteuse Sabrina Malheiros, and Cinematic Orchestra frontwoman Heidi Vogel.
>Ray LaMontagne – Part Of The Light CD/LP+MP3 (Columbia)
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne returns with his seventh studio effort, Part Of The Light, which was wholly written and produced by the artist. With a voice that recalls a huskier, sandpapery version of Van Morrison and Tim Buckley, Ray LaMontagne joins such artists as Iron & Wine in creating folk songs that are alternately lush and intimately earthy. Each release from his catalogue over the last 13 years carries its own character and feel. Having worked with producers Ethan Johns, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Ray’s vast sonic catalogue has been called everything from “a perfect throwback to the lost art of the album-length format,” from Entertainment Weekly to “epic and magical,” from Rolling Stone and “gorgeous and ambitious,” from Esquire. NPR’s All Things Considered said that Ray throughout the course of his career “has continued to push himself in different directions,” while People called Ray a “marvel of nature.” [Limited clear vinyl pressing also available.]
>Landing – Bells In New Towns CD/LP (El Paraiso)
Landing’s sound has always been multi-textured, alluding to many different genres at once. There's the heavy oscillating drones and the fuzzy, motoric psychedelia, the lush ambient soundscapes and shimmering, dreamy vibes -- all tied together by that characteristic sense of fluid progression. On this record the ethereal components of their sound are firmly anchored by a tight, steady low-end.
>Meyhem Lauren – Glass CD (Srfschl)
A staple of the modern underground hip-hop scene, Queens rapper Meyhem Lauren owes much of his sound to that of the halcyon days of the 90s East Coast scene. Over the years Meyhem Lauren has worked alongside veterans and revered figures as DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, Madlib, Freddie Gibbs, Czarface, Sean Price, Roc Marciano, J-Love, and his childhood friend Action Bronson, with whom he frequently appears in the Vice TV program F**k, That's Delicious. Now he and producer and frequent collaborator Harry Fraud have teamed up to release Glass, their nine-track collaboration which includes guest appearances by Action Bronson, Westside Gunn, Conway, Big Body Bes, and Hologram.
>Okkyung Lee – Cheol-Kkot-Sae Steel.Flower.Bird CD (Tzadik)
Okkyung Lee's newest project has her delving deep into her Korean roots to create an amazing long-form piece combining electronics, improvisation, composed melodies and noise with Korean traditional music. The piece unfolds like a ritual, making these disparate and unusual pairings seem totally organic and natural. Performed by an all-star international ensemble of musicians from Korea, Norway, Britain and the United States (Song-Hee Kwon, Jae-Hyo Chang, John Butcher, John Edwards, Ches Smith, Lasse Marhaug), this is one of the most compelling fusions of Korean traditional and contemporary music ever created. Shamanistic, primal and astonishing.
>Fenne Lily – On Hold CD/LP (INgrooves)
Debut album from the UK singer-songwriter. Raised in the wilds of rural Dorset to punk and Queen-loving parents, Fenne Lily first picked up the guitar aged 15. Just one year later and she'd written the delicate but powerful "Top To Toe," which deftly tackled social anxiety over softly picked guitar; a song about bleak adolescence that almost everyone could relate to. Self-released, it saw the young unknown attract global attention for her sublime songwriting ability and sharp emotional intelligence, as well as her gifted way with melody, drawing comparisons to the likes of Laura Marling as well as the swooning sounds of Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and underground 1960s psychedelic greats like Linda Perhacs.
>Lords Of Acid – Pretty In Kink CD/2xLP (Metropolis)
New album Pretty In Kink features all the best attributes of Lords Of Acid: the raw techno-carnality of their debut Lust to the experiments and electro-thrash later albums like Voodoo-U and Farstucker. New singer Marieke Bresseleer joins LOA mastermind Praga Khan and longtime collaborator Erhan Kurkun.
>Low Cut Connie – Dirty Pictures (Part 2) CD/LP (Contender)
This little act from South Philly continues to dig in their corner of the sandbox, looking for something useful and real to offer their fans. Low Cut Connie is the hardest-working band in show business -- no matter what the pay, what size the venue, no matter what definition of success is applied, Adam Weiner and the rest of the crew try to light the fire at every show and with every record. Dirty Pictures (Part 2) reminds all of us, all the little people, to keep our fires lit at any cost.
>Colin Macleod – Bloodlines CD (BMG)
The debut album from the Scottish singer-songwriter, Bloodlines is a heartfelt assortment of songs that delve deep into his ancestry, background and lifestyle from the rugged landscapes, to the fishing villages and remote Gaelic-speaking communities that go back 600 years - a land full of mystery and magic tucked away in the Hebrides ‘Isle of Lewis’ which is home for this multi-faceted artist and renaissance man. It’s the perfect backdrop and setting for stories to be whisked up, imagination provoked running wild, thus creating a massive amount of inspiration. Comprised of eleven gorgeously woven songs that bear many emotions from dreamy, to moody and exhibit a wide range in musicality that’s both modern and epic, Bloodlines was produced by the revered Ethan Johns (Kings If Leon, Ryan Adams). It’s folk music in one aspect of Scottish folklore with the makeup and appeal for a wide audience. Close your eyes and you see the landscapes, rolling hills, wide open space and cinematic settings.
>Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks – Sparkle Hard CD/LP+MP3 (Matador)
Sparkle Hard is light ’n’ breezy, head-down heavy, audacious, melancholic and reflective, goodtime and bodacious, and it pulls off the smartest trick: it’s both unmistakeably The Jicks and – due to the streamlining of their trademark tics and turns, plus the introduction of some unexpected flourishes (Auto-Tune! A fiddle! Guest vocalist Kim Gordon! One seven-minute song with an acoustic folk intro!) – The Jicks refashioned.
>Ziggy Marley – Rebellion Rises CD/Cassette/LP (Tuff Gong)
Eight-time Grammy award winning musician and reggae icon Ziggy Marley releases his seventh full-length solo studio album, Rebellion Rises. Fully written, recorded and produced by Marley, this passionate and indelible collection of music encourages people to stand together in activism through love. “The rebellion begins in the mind, the melody, and the music,” assures Ziggy. “We are a conduit of that. The rebellion is consciousness. Now the consciousness starts spreading, we become aware and we rise”" No track embodies this message better than the album's title track and official first single “Rebellion Rises.” A manifesto with a chant-like chorus, the song emboldens its listeners to use the power we all have as instruments of positive change around the world. “The better side of humanity, cannot let the side of humanity that push negativity and hatred be more willing,” Marley explained in a recent interview. “It cannot happen. It's a battle of wills. We've got to have more will.”
>Paul McCartney – Thrillington [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (Capitol)
Wings – Greatest [Reissue/1978] CD/LP (Capitol)
Paul McCartney – Chaos And Creation In The Backyard [Reissue/2005] CD/LP (Capitol)
Paul McCartney – New [Reissue/2005] CD/LP (Capitol)
Digipak CD and 180gm vinyl reissues now available.
>Nellie McKay – Sister Orchid CD/LP (Palmetto)
Conjuring the image of a lonely all-night truck stop along Highway 1 on the California coast, all but lost in the fog that comes creeping along the shoreline...Sister Orchid speaks of the night, the outsider, the plaintive wail of those lost at sea. The album was conceived in solitude, executed in darkness. It comes from a place of quiet, a world of low lights and cool drinks, up against a hard wall. An oasis of hungry eyes and easy promises, warm as a biscuit, the kind of place your mother warned you against.
>Dave McMurray – Music Is Life CD (Blue Note)
On Dave McMurray's Blue Note-debut, the Detroit native delivers a cohesive program of modern jazz that bristles with unalloyed soul.
>Brad Mehldau Trio – Seymour Reads The Constitution! CD/LP (Nonesuch)
Seymour Reads the Constitution! finds pianist Brad Mehldau and his longtime trio, which includes drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier, performing three Mehldau originals combined with interpretations of pop songs (Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson), jazz tunes (Elmo Hope, Sam Rivers), and one work from the American songbook (Frederick Loewe's "Almost Like Being in Love").
>Alice Merton – No Roots CD (Mom + Pop Music)
At the age of five English/Canadian singer-songwriter Alice Merton started taking classical piano lessons, four years later she was introduced to vocal training. After spending many years being classically trained, Alice discovered the art of songwriting through one of her high school courses in Germany. She then went on to study songwriting and pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer/songwriter. During her studies she started working with various producers. Finding the right producer is like finding a missing puzzle piece, you know it's there somewhere, but it takes a really long time to find. However, after being introduced to Nicolas Rebscher, a Berlin-based producer, she knew she had found her match. Creating a very analog and organic pop sound, going back to the basics of drum and bass driven music, they combined their individual styles to develop a style of their own. Nicolas Rebscher's arrangements were the perfect addition to Alice's melodies, combining the depth and softness in her voice, with his energetic and charismatic sounds. [Vinyl edition due June 8.]
>Mos Generator – Shadowlands CD/LP (Listenable)
Mos Generator formed during the Winter of 2000 in Port Orchard, Washington from the ashes of a decade-long on-again-off-again collaboration between its three members, all of which are long time veterans of the road and studio. The need to strip down to the basics of hard rock was apparent from the start and continues to be the foundation for the band's recent material.
>NDE – United (Through Iron And Blood) CD (Cold Spring)
Deranged black metal vocals over uncompromising, blood-soaked death industrial, rhythmic power noise, and claustrophobic power electronics.
>Nocturnal Graves – Titan CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Australian war machine Nocturnal Graves make their long awaited return with the vicious, Titan. Their first new album in five years, Titan sees the veteran band (featuring current and former members of Destroyer 666 and Denouncement Pyre) unleash hell once again with their brutish take on razor-wire, Satanic death metal.
>Nytt Land – Ođal CD (Cold Spring)
Ođal is inspired by the traditional music of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, the Old Icelandic epic and the atmosphere of classic Norwegian black metal.
>Obliterate – Impending Death CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Pushing the Canadian death metallers abilities to new levels and creating a sound that explores a greater level of extremity, Impending Death maintains Obliterate’s deathcore roots while bringing a more intense and crushing death metal approach.
>oOoOO and Islamiq Grrrls – Faminine Mystique CD/2xLP (Nihjgt Feelings)
Faminine Mystique is an allusion to the Betty Friedan book Feminine Mystique (1963) that inspired the second wave feminist movement in the US. The album’s 13 songs are framed by fragments of lost, forgotten, or discredited 20th century artists and genres: the well-crafted guitar solos of '80s metal; jazz guitarist Barney Kessel; the "Ashley's Roachclip" drum break; Milli Vanilli; a Kool DJ Red Alert radio show barely audible on some bedside clock radio in some blue collar town on the outskirts of Manhattan; a freeform saxophone solo over a two minute, feminist juke-punk anthem; The elusively simple but dreamy vocals of a France Gall or Astrud Gilberto. All blended into the compressed sounds of modern pop and RnB.
>Overkill – Live In Overhausen 2xCD+Blu-ray/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Recorded and filmed in the German town of Oberhausen, Germany, Overkill performed two of their classic records live. The first half of the release contains the band performing their entire 1991 classic, Horrorscope; the second half contains the band performing their 1985 debut, Feel The Fire. [Limited orange with green & yellow splatter colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Parquet Courts – Wide Awake CD (Rough Trade)
Parquet Courts’ fifth record since their formation eight years ago is about independence and individuality but also about collectivity and communitarianism. Love is at its center. There’s also a freshness here, a breaking of new territory that’s testament to the group’s restless spirit. In part, this may be attributed to the fact that it’s produced by Brian Burton, better known as Danger Mouse, but it’s also simply a triumph of their songwriter’s art. “An urgent, fantastic return that sees the band at the very top of their game, and more together than ever.” – DIY Mag [Deluxe vinyl edition featuring dual booklets of original artwork by the band's Andrew Savage also available.]
>Quiet Slang – Everything Matters But No One Is Listening CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
There's something almost cheeky about the title of James Alex's new project: Quiet Slang. As the name implies, Alex is embracing minimalism, smothering the fuzz in favor of a cello, a piano, and his voice. Everything Matters But No One Is Listening is a collection of 10 Beach Slang covers. [Limited clear vinyl pressing also available.]
>Rat Scabies - P.H.D. Prison Hospital Debt CD/LP (Cleopatra)
Debut solo album from legendary co-founder and former drummer of punk rock icons The Damned.
>Max Rault – It’s A New Day Tonight CD/LP+MP3 (Wick)
Michael Rault's second full-length, It's A New Day Tonight, has its home in the darkness, like much rock and roll – many of its songs look at nocturnal activities, particularly sleep. It’s A New Day Tonight has the loose-limbed feel of a lost album by '70s bands that bridged the gap between folk-rock's open-hearted strumming and power pop's crisp, melody-forward confections – Wings, Badfinger, Big Star, 10cc – yet possesses an energy shot through with 21st-century optimism.
>Otis Redding – Dock Of The Bay Sessions CD/LP (Atlantic)
The 12-song Dock Of The Bay Sessions collection was compiled with input from Roger Armstrong of Ace Records and Otis biographer Jonathan Gould and has the Redding family’s full endorsement. Although the individual tracks have been previously released across a smattering of posthumous albums and compilations, this marks the first time they have been assembled to resemble what this album could possibly have been. In the liner notes, musician-journalist Bob Stanley writes: “This album is the first indication of a new Otis Redding, one that has slayed audiences in Europe, one which won him a whole new crowd at the Monterey International Pop Festival.”
>Red Hare – Little Acts Of Destruction CD/LP (Dischord)
Like their debut Nites Of Midnite (2013) and their stop-gap 7”, Lexicon Mist (2016), Little Acts Of Destruction was recorded and mixed by longtime collaborator and friend J. Robbins. These 14 songs are a heady/hearty mix of the familiar and new that bristle with the energy of Washington D.C. sound they helped shape. [The CD version of this release includes the tracks from Red Hare’s Lexicon Mist 7” single.]
>Ike Reilly – Crooked Love CD (Rock Ridge)
Crooked Love is Ike Reilly's eighth studio album, produced by Reilly and his longtime collaborator and guitarist Phil Karnats (Secret Machines, Tripping Daisy, Polyphonic Spree). Informed by Reilly’s colorful life experiences, his gallows humor and the current political landscape, the songs are poetic, greasy, topical, lustful, self-deprecating and hilarious. Karnats had witnessed Reilly writing and recording demos in hotels, dressing rooms and tour buses and knew he wanted a production that allowed for confident, relaxed takes. In order to provide the most intimate and comfortable environment possible, Reilly and Karnats created a dark, live room vibe with ancient microphones positioned in covert places that allowed the whole band to be in the same space, unencumbered by headphones and isolation booths. The production is decidedly not slick, yet the improvisational nature of the playing is sophisticated in its simplicity. [Vinyl edition due June 22.]
>Remember Sports – Slow Buzz CD/LP (Father/Daughter)
New album from the Philly via Ohio indie punks.
>Rotten Sound – Suffer To Abuse CDEP/12”” (Season Of Mist)
Rotten Sound have firmly established themselves as one of the leading acts of the grindcore scene. Expertly wielding the fierce brutality and massive aggression of their genre, the Finns add intelligent songwriting, effective arrangements, and musical proficiency as well as subtle death metal elements to their sound. Their new EP Suffer to Abuse, which is not to be confused with their latest full-length album, Abuse To Suffer (2016), embodies those aforementioned virtues to the point. [Limited 12” vinyl pressing with etched B-side also available.]
>Saweetie – High Maintenance CDEP (WB)
“The “ICY GRL” rapper’s debut EP is a low-stakes but gratifying listen, full of witty one-liners and cheeky quotables.” – Pitchfork
>The Sheepdogs – Changing Colours CD/LP (Dine Alone Music Inc.)
New album from the Canadian-based five-piece guitar-driven rock band. "This album has a much wider range of sounds on it: trombone, clarinet, Latin percussion, pedal steel, fiddle and banjo all make an appearance," the band said in a statement. "The title Changing Colours really lends itself to these different sounds on the record... We were also lucky to work with newcomer Jim Bowskill whose guitar wizardry is almost outshone by his fine mandolin playing and singing."
>She Spread Sorrow – Midori CD (Cold Spring)
The third album by Italian artist She Spread Sorrow (Alice Kudalini), Midori tells a story - the escape from a harsh reality that becomes an echo of nightmares and visions, a house that is the scene of fear and anguish, a soul that is lost in pain to an epilogue of death and purification. The gloomy, intense, dream-like sound, sometimes distorted, sometimes angelic is the soundtrack of a dramatic story, but also of relief.
>The Sidekicks – Happiness Hours CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
The Sidekicks – Runners In The Nerved World [Reissue/2015] CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Nearly three years in the making, Happiness Hours follows The Sidekicks' acclaimed 2015 album Runners In The Nerved World (which has been reissued on CD and vinyl). Produced, engineered, and mixed by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile), Happiness Hours features some of the sunniest, most ebullient songs the Ohio-based band have ever recorded – all adorned with ringing guitars, charging drums, and soaring vocals. That dynamic is more than apparent on the infectious lead single “Twins Twist.” With its warm harmonies and shining melody, bouncing groove and bittersweet lyrics, “Twins Twist” also reveals the more narrative-driven direction that The Sidekicks pursued in creating Happiness Hours. As vocalist/guitarist Steve Ciolek explains, those narratives reach squarely toward a kind of universal experience. “They are relative to my life, but they aren't just about me,” says Ciolek, whose bandmates include drummer Matt Climer, guitarist/vocalist Toby Reif, and bassist/vocalist Ryan Starinsky. “Unlike when you're a kid, when every song has to be about falling in love or breaking up – about me, me, me – you get to a point when you really want your art to be inclusive. You want everyone to be able to locate themselves somehow in your songs.”
>Örvar Smárason – Light Is Liquid CD (Morr Music)
Eight precious electronic pop songs that show Smárason (múm, FM Belfastb) both as a gifted songwriter and producer. It's an update of the sound that made múm one of the most revered Nordic acts since the 2000s, but it's also slightly reminiscent of Boards Of Canada's pastoral beats or even the transcendental tracks of Arca and Björk.
>Sonologyst – Silencers (The Conspiracy Theory Dossiers) CD (Cold Spring)
Eerie drones, oscillations from the ether, distorted dark matter, signals from other dimensions... The music of Sonologyst fluctuates between scientific sonic documentaries and psychedelic abstraction, illuminated by early experimentation of the '50s and '60s, as well as future possibilities of the electronic and electro-acoustic.
>Matthew Sweet – Tomorrow’s Daughter CD (MRI)
Seasoned singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Matthew Sweet is currently in the midst of a personal musical renaissance that's seen him produce some of the most compelling and ambitious music of his three-decade career. That certainly applies to Tomorrow's Daughter, on which such instantly memorable new tunes as “Belong,” “Run Away,” “Lady Frankenstein” and "Out of My Misery" demonstrate his uncanny ability to tap into a bottomless well of pop history to craft music that's effortlessly catchy yet deeply personal. The follow-up to the artist's acclaimed 2017 set Tomorrow Forever is a persuasive testament to the enduring qualities of Sweet's adventurous, emotion-charged songcraft. The 12 new songs abound with the punchy melodic sensibility, playful sonic experimentalism and introspective lyrical insight that have been constants in his expansive catalog. [Vinyl edition due June 15.]
>Steve Tibbetts – Life Of CD (ECM)
One-of-a-kind guitarist and record-maker Steve Tibbetts has an association with ECM dating back to 1981, with his body of work reflecting that of an artist who follows his own winding, questing path. The BBC has described his music as an atmospheric brew… brilliant, individual. Life Of, his ninth album for the label, serves as something of a sequel to his 2010 release, Natural Causes, which JazzTimes called music to get lost in. Like the earlier album, Life Of showcases the richness of his Martin 12-string acoustic guitar, along with his gamelan-like piano and artfully deployed field samples of Balinese gongs; the sonic picture also incorporates the sensitive percussion of long-time musical partner Marc Anderson and the almost subliminal cello drones of Michelle Kinney.
>Nedelle Torrisi – Only For You CD (Frenchkiss)
Los Angeles-based Nedelle Torrisi has been a musician since the day she was born. And while her early years focused on jazz, her career - from her previous solo albums to her work with Cryptacize (her band with Chris Cohen) - has always contained more of a ‘90s R&B sensibility. That appreciation is evident on her new album, Only For You. There is a sonic thread between this album and Torrisi's last release, 2015's Advice From Paradise, but the writing on the new album is intentionally tighter, and the production cleaner. She co-produced the album with Billy Uomo of the band Babes who also played and programmed drums. Jeremy Gara of Arcade Fire lent his skills along with many other talented L.A.-based musicians. “Good Love” was produced by the band Inc., Kenny Gilmore (Ariel Pink) produced “Show Me Your Face” and “Vision Of Love.” David Greenbaum (Beck) and Gilmore mixed the album. Beyond her own work, Torrisi has contributed and played with a number of artists and bands whose ranks include Ariel Pink, Dev Hynes and Sufjan Stevens.
>Trrmà – Trrmà CD (Auand)
Trrmà, an instrumental duo formed by Giovanni Todisco (percussion) and Giuseppe Candiano (synths), present a record composed of five movements that mix acoustic percussion with synthesis. Symphonic and Mediterranean percussion built polyrhythmic structures to create primitive and ancient imagery connected to synthesizers, which draw dystopic and sci-fi soundscapes.
>TT (Warpaint) – LoveLaws CD/LP (Caroline)
TT, also known as Theresa Wayman, vocalist and guitarist of Warpaint, releases her debut solo album, LoveLaws. The 10-track collection reflects Wayman’s personal growth and growth as a musician over the past fourteen years, as well as enabling her to explore ideas that are otherwise difficult in a band setting. The album was written by a mother of a twelve-year-old son “coming from a position of what it's like to have and to get unconditional love.”The record is also about the ups and downs of romance, viewed through Wayman's experience as a traveling musician, where the routine can be maddening in its loneliness and where relationships are difficult. The songs were her way of processing this loneliness. The result is an album that, in Wayman's words, is: “down tempo, pretty sexy, and a bit emotional. I'm a romantic person in a world where a relationship is difficult. But I also needed to be on my own and not force having a relationship.”
TT plays bass, guitar, and synth on the album, and programmed the drum beats on most of the tracks. She also had a little help from Warpaint bandmates Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass) and Stella Mozgawa (drums).
>Various Artists - Flowers From The Ashes: Contemporary Italian Electronic Music CD (Stroboscopic Artefacts)
There is a sensibility of decadence and corroded grandeur etched within the album, reminding you that historically "decadent" times have nonetheless resulted in some of the boldest acts of individual and collective creativity. Includes tracks by Silvia Kastel, Andrea Belfi, Marco Shuttle, Ninos Du Brasil, Alessandro Adriani, Chevel, Lucy, Lory D, Caterina Barbieri, and Neel.
>Various Artists - Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roaring '70s CD (Sony)
Willie Nelson. Waylon Jennings. Kris Kristofferson. Jessi Colter. Bobby Bare. Jerry Jeff Walker. David Allan Coe. Cowboy Jack Clement. Tom T. Hall. Billy Joe Shaver. Guy Clark. Townes Van Zandt. Tompall Glaser. Today, all names synonymous with the word "outlaw," but 40 years ago they started a musical revolution by creating music and a culture that shook the status quo on Music Row and cemented their place in country music history and beyond. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's upcoming major exhibition, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roaring '70s, will explore this era of cultural and artistic exchange between Nashville, TN and Austin, TX, revealing untold stories and never-seen artifacts. The exhibition, which opens May 25 for a nearly three-year run, will explore the complicated, surprising relationship between the two cities.
>Various Artists – Sea For Yourself CD+DVD/2xLP+DVD (Modern Harmonic)
CD and vinyl reissue of a legendary surf/funk/psych soundtrack. Created by an incredible aggregation of California music royalty including Rick Henn, Dennis and Daryl Dragon, plus other friends - this ultra-scarce, in-demand soundtrack for Hal Jepsen's 1972 film A Sea For Yourself features an astounding journey of styles from funky, freeform workouts to homegrown, back-porch rock to breezy, bossa-tinged instrumentals. A fine blend of surfing and music, the film put together the world's best surfers practicing their art in France, Australia, California, and Hawaii with a powerful original soundtrack. Includes a DVD of the original feature film. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Various Artists – This Is Trojan Rocksteady 2xCD (Trojan)
Even though the rock-steady era only lasted a couple years (right before reggae arrived in full force), that short window produced a wealth of classic, influential sides. This Is Trojan Rocksteady is comprised of 50 cuts from that golden age of Jamaican music.
>Various Artists - Warsaw's Jewish Mermaid: Syrena Recordings From The Orvomaa Archive 1909-1933 CD (Renair)
Until its destruction during the War, Warsaw, together with Berlin, was at the cultural and intellectual intersection of East and Western Europe. Known as the Paris of the East, its musical, literary, artistic, and theatrical flourishing was in no small part due to its extraordinary ethnic and cultural diversity. Most traces of this period vanished in the devastation of the 1940s but thanks to the survival of some precious recordings made in this period you can hear echoes of that rich culture. The Syrena (Mermaid) label covered all aspects of musical activity in Poland between 1909 and the end of the 1930s. All human life is on this CD. You will hear people arguing, soldiering, going bankrupt, and praying. They also dance to Klezmer bands, meet the devil, fail to have sex, complain about modern girls, and of course, eat.
>Ryley Walker – Deafman Glance CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
“I was under a lot of stress because I was trying to make an anti-folk record and I was having trouble doing it. I wanted to make something deep-fried and more me-sounding. I didn't want to be jammy acoustic guy anymore. I just wanted to make something weird and far-out that came from the heart finally. I was always trying to make something like this I guess, trying to catch up with my imagination. And I think I succeeded in that way.”
>Kelly Willis – Back Being Blue CD (Premium)
New album from the Austin-based singer-songwriter.
>YFN Lucci – Ray Ray From Summerhill CD (Think It’s A Game)
Debut album from the Atlanta rapper. Features a respectable roster of guests including T.I., Dreezy, Wale, Offset, Meek Mill, and YFN Trae Pound.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
>Jeff Beck – Silo On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story DVD/Blu-ray (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
The story of the legendary guitarist’s career, from early days learning guitar solos with his friend Jimmy Page, through The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group and his multifaceted solo albums. Contributors include Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Jan Hammer, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Slash, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and more.
>Joe Bonamassa – British Blues Explosion Live DVD/Blu-ray (J&R Adventures)
Guitarist extraordinaire Joe Bonamassa’s salute to the icons of British blues features the music of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Joe recently paid tribute to his heroes during a short but very sweet tour of Britain – five performances only. This show, presented across a variety of formats, was recorded at Greenwich Music Time at The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London on July 7, 2016. As one of the world's leading guitarists and a passionate devotee to the sacred form of art that is the British Blues, there is no person more qualified to preach this music than Bonamassa. For the first time, with this unforgettable performance, he was able to give special homage to the British guitarists who inspired him the most. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Against All Logic – 2012-2017 2xLP (Other People)
Much like Kerrier District did to disco, A.A.L. (Against All Logic) borrows heavily from the samples and sounds ingrained deep within Nicolas Jaar's listening habits and evidently a record collection packed to the brim with classic soul, house, and most importantly, funk hooks. Keenly twisting these sounds and filtering them through a studio set up that's leaning heavily on the beefed-up kick drums and reverb units to make a well-executed homage to these sounds, pieced together with the inherent idea of making the listener unable to resist the urge to move, be it in a bedroom, basement, or just sat in work staring at a computer screen.
>Kevin Ayers – Joy Of A Toy [Reissue/1969] LP (4 Men With Beards)
Vinyl reissue of the debut solo album from the bassist and principal songwriter of the Soft machine originally released in 1969. With Ayers playing an impressive list of instruments and bandmate Robert Wyatt on drums for most of the songs, much of Joy Of A Toy recalls early Soft Machine, and features Ayers prog-pop songwriting sensibilities in full force. Reissued on limited edition opaque yellow vinyl in a deluxe tip-on jacket, gatefold sleeve.
>The Black Dahlia Murder – Unhallowed [Reissue/2003] LP (Metal Blade)
The Black Dahlia Murder – Ritual [Reissue/2011] LP (Metal Blade)
The Black Dahlia Murder – Everblack [Reissue/2013] LP (Metal Blade)
Limited colored vinyl reissues of the death metal band’s first, fifth and sixth albums.
>Blackfoot – Strikes [Reissue/1979] LP (Friday Music)
1979's Strikes is the long out of print, platinum-certified third full-length effort from heavy Southern rock band Blackfoot, formed at the onset of the '70s by Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlock.
>The Breeders – Pod [Reissue/1990] LP (4AD)
The Breeders – Last Splash [Reissue/1993] LP (4AD)
The Breeders – Tittle TK [Reissue/2002] LP (4AD)
The Breeders – Mountain Battles [Reissue/2008] LP (4AD)
In October 2017, The Breeders announced their return to 4AD, along with a new album, All Nerve, released in March 2018. The label is also reissuing their previous four albums on vinyl including Pod (1990), Last Splash (1993), Title TK (2002) and Mountain Battles (2008).
>The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Hold That Thought 10” (A. Recordings)
“Hold That Thought” announces The Brian Jonestown Massacre's forthcoming two albums to be released in 2018 (June and September, respectively). White-colored 10" vinyl.
>Peter Brötzmann – Machine Gun [Reissue/1968] LP (Cien Fuegos)
Peter Brötzmann – Machine Gun / Alternate Takes [Reissue/1968] LP (Cien Fuegos)
Vinyl reissue of the second album by jazz saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, released on the Bro label in 1968, later reissued on the FMP label in 1971. Machine Gun was an octet recording often listed among the most notable free jazz albums. Also available: an album of alternate takes.
>Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell – Naptown Blues [Reissue/1973] 1929-1934 LP (Yazoo)
As the classic sound of blues developed in the pre-World War II years, numerous individual artists found success performing and recording throughout the deep South, but relatively few groups and duos. The combination of Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell bucked this trend, attracting audiences with their intricate marriage of Carr's pleasant blues piano to Blackwell's proto-jazz guitar melodies.
>Celldöd - Fragmenterade Minnen LP (DKA)
Industrial funk with flares of body music and techno.
>The Cranberries – No Need To Argue [Reissue/1994] LP (Plain)
Limited 180gm vinyl reissue of the Irish rock band’s second album. Assorted pressings on clear and colored vinyl.
>The Daysleepers – Drowned In A Sea Of Sound [2008] LP (Clairerecords)
Imagine the sounds of the Cure, Cocteau Twins, The Chameleons and Slowdive rolled into one.
>Division Of Laura Lee – Hollow Pricks 7” (Lovitt)
A musical tornado from Gothenburg, Sweden.
>Espen Eriksen Trio with Andy Sheppard – Perfectly Unhappy LP (Rune Grammophon)
Espen Eriksen Trio was formed in 2007 and released their first album in 2010. Their music relies on highly melodic and lyrical instrumentals and a "less is more" approach and is often credited for its unique voice within today's jazz scene by the international press. The aptly named Perfectly Unhappy features eight new songs by the pianist, all written with this collaboration in mind.New
>The Fuzztones – Dark Zone [2009] 2xLP (Bang)
New York City legends The Fuzztones released this collection of their darkest sounds only on CD in 2009 and it had come the time to put it out on vinyl. Rare tracks focusing on their shadiest material. Dark psychedelic and fuzzed-up songs.
>The Garden – Mirror Might Steal Your Charm LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Taking the audience away into a still unfathomed sound world and bringing back some of the scuzzier elements of their earlier work, the duo's more guitar focused third album is another sublime slice of post-modern pop. Welcome back to a land that's familiar, slightly out of sync, and a little bit unnerving.
>G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned 2xLP+MP3 (RCA)
Released last year on CD – now available on vinyl. Third album from the Oakland-based rapper includes the single "No Limit" featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B. The album also includes collaborations with Halsey, Kehlani, E-40, Charlie Puth, Anna of The North and others.
>Anthony Green – Studio 4 Acoustic Session LP (Memory Music)
To celebrate the release of his 2016 album Pixie Queen, Anthony Green (renown singer of Circa Survive and Saosin) performed a number of songs from his catalog at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
>Guru – Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 [Reissue/1993] 3xLP (Blue Note)
Deluxe triple vinyl reissue of the debut solo studio album from Guru, one half of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr. includes the original album, the instrumentals and a third bonus LP of rare remixes and a 12-page booklet that features rare images from the original Jazzmatazz photo shoot.
>Hawkwind – Hawkwind [Reissue/1970] LP (4 Men With Beards)
Hawkwind’s 1970 debut is the perfect introduction to what was going to be a long and peculiar journey. A galactic blues-rock sound rightfully compared to Pink Floyd's early work: hippie rock grooves and interplanetary guitar rides, echoed vocals and nonstop instrumental voyages. This is where it all began: (as original ads for the album proclaimed) “Hawkwind Is Space Rock.” In a gatefold sleeve on limited edition opaque blue vinyl.
>Horseshoes & Hand Grenades – The Ode LP (Tape Time)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. After seven years, three albums, innumerable sold out shows, and countless beers, bluegrass mavericks Horseshoes & Hand Grenades appropriately consider themselves a "family" on a wild, wonderful, and often whacky roller coaster. The bond between the quintet fuels their creativity and chemistry on stage and in the studio.
>Insomnium – One For Sorrow [Reissue/2011] 2xLP+CD (Century Media)
Vinyl reissue of the fifth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band.
>Gregory Isaacs – Roxy Theater 1982 2xLP (Cleopatra)
Reggae legend Gregory Isaacs blows the roof off of Hollywood's Roxy Theatre with the help of a superstar backing band The Roots Radics.
>Kansas – The Best Of Kansas [Reissue/1984] LP (Friday Music)
Limited red colored audiophile vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.
>King Diamond – Fatal Portrait [Reissue/1986] LP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – Abigail [Reissue/1987] LP (Metal Blade)
King Diamond – “Them” [Reissue/1988] LP (Metal Blade)
Limited edition picture disc vinyl reissues of the Danish heavy metal band’s first three albums.
>Lenny Kravitz – Greatest Hits [Reissue/2000] 2xLP (Virgin)
First-time US vinyl pressing. Originally issued in 2000, the triple platinum compilation showcases the many strengths inherent in the grooves of Kravitz's first five albums – 1989's Let Love Rule, 1991's Mama Said, 1993's Are You Gonna Go My Way, 1995's Circus, and 1998's 5 – by assembling 15 of the best tracks from the first stage of his celebrated career.
>Steve Lacy/Yuji Takahashi/Takehisa Kosugi – Distant Voices [Reissue/1976] LP (Aguirre)
Renowned for remarkable solo concerts that confirmed his mastery of the soprano horn and that carried its instrumental language into previously unexplored regions, Steve Lacy loved to collaborate with musicians who could inspire him to stretch the boundaries of his own artistry. During the summer of 1975 Lacy toured Japan, and that June he entered a Nippon Columbia studio in Tokyo with Yuji Takahashi and Takehisa Kosugi, two adventurous kindred spirits, guaranteed to fire Lacy's creative imagination. The fascinating outcome of that dynamic session is Distant Voices, an album without parallel in Lacy's extensive discography.
>The Steve Miller Band – Children Of The Future [Reissue/1968] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – Sailor [Reissue/1968] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – Brave New World [Reissue/1969] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – Your Saving Grace [Reissue/1969] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – 5 [Reissue/1970] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – Rock Love [Reissue/1971] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – Recall The Beginning… A Journey From Eden [Reissue/1972] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – The Joker [Reissue/1973] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle [Reissue/1974] LP (Capitol)
The Steve Miller Band – The Complete Albums 1 9xLP (Capitol)
Fifty years after the Steve Miller Band's first two Capitol Records albums were released in 1968, the acclaimed group's first nine studio albums have been remastered.
>Michael Nesmith & The First National Band – Magnetic South [Reissue/1970] LP (Sundazed)
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band – Loose Salute [Reissue/1970] LP (Sundazed)
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band – Nevada Fighter [Reissue/1971] LP (Sundazed)
Limited edition colored vinyl reissues. The heralded solo debut of Michael Nesmith, Magnetic South features the artist's hybrid of cowboy-'n'-western country music and rock sensibilities, highlighted by "Joanne," one of the earliest singles with the California-country sound to become a major hit record. The second LP from Michael Nesmith and the First National Band, Loose Salute features the country-rock pioneer's hit single "Silver Moon" alongside dreamy, near-psychedelic studies on western motifs and melodies, funky swamp sounds, and straight-up country readings in the inimitable Nesmith style. Nevada Fighter completes a trilogy of LPs by the one-time Monkee and again, the First National Band, augmented by members of Elvis' ‘70s touring band and other Wrecking Crew heroes.
>New Found Glory – Makes Me Sick Again LP+MP3 (Hopeless)
Limited pink with yellow splatter colored vinyl LP pressing with printed inner sleeve and digital download. Pop-punk stalwarts New Found Glory return with Makes Me Sick Again, the deluxe follow-up to 2017's Makes Me Sick, featuring two b-side tracks, alternative artwork and new vinyl colors
>Pennywise – Never Gonna Die LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Never Gonna Die is the twelfth full-length effort from Pennywise and the legendary Southern California punk institution's first of new songs with singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin, and bassist Randy Bradbury in over a decade.
>Pink Floyd – Relics [Reissue/1971] LP (Pink Floyd)
Pink Floyd – Pulse (Live) [Reissue/1995] 4xLP (Pink Floyd)
Relics (subtitle: A Bizarre Collection of Antiques & Curios) is a 1971 compilation album by Pink Floyd. The album was released in 1971. Originally released in 1995, Pulse (Live) was compiled by James Guthrie, using various performances from the band's 1994 Division Bell tour across the UK and Europe featuring David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. The album includes The Dark Side Of The Moon performed in full live, as well as a whole side dedicated to the show's encore. The four-LP set includes four different inner sleeves, each inside individual outer sleeves, plus a 52-page hardback photo book, all encased in a thick card slipcase.
>Redd Kross – Oh Canada! [2016] LP (Bang)
Originally self-released in 2016 on CD, Redd Kross now present this live album recorded in Canada in 1997 during their Show World American tour on vinyl. Redd Kross expose themselves here at their peak of glammest rocking attitude. Melodies, electricity, choruses... Redd Kross at their best.
>Segregates – Burston LP (Cleopatra)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album from the UK power trio inspired by Motörhead.
>Jesper Siliya – Giant Steps [Reissue/1978] LP+CD (Shadoks Music)
This album by Jesper Siliya was released originally on the same label as Chrissy Zebby Tembo's My Ancestors. Jesper Siliya used to play with the Ngozi Family and most likely, they played with him here. Giant Steps is his sole album as a band leader, and it's a great one -- very catchy, simple but beautiful compositions, you'll find yourself singing these songs in your sleep. Heavy fuzz-guitar is all over the album -- Fuzz guitars all over with African beats and political lyrics.
>Bruce Springsteen – The Album Collection Vol. 2 1987-1996 10xLP (Sony Legacy)
Collects remastered editions of the five studio and live albums recorded and released by Bruce Springsteen for Columbia Records between 1987 - 1996 plus remastered editions of the EPs Chimes Of Freedom (1988) and Blood Brothers (1996) (available for the first time on vinyl). Albums included: Tunnel Of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), Lucky Town (1992), In Concert/MTV Plugged (1993), and The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1995).
>Taj Mahal Travellers – August 1974 [ Reissue/1975] 2xLP (Aguirre)
Vinyl reissue of a monumental work by the Japanese experimental music ensemble.
>Tenniscoats – Music Exists Disc 4 LP (Alien Transistor/Afterhours)
Alien Transistor and Tokyo-based label Afterhours release the vinyl-version of Volume 4 of Tenniscoats' masterpiece Music Exists - a magical quadruple release by the Japanese experimental folk luminaries.
>Michal Turtle – Return To Jeka LP (Music From Memory)
Delving further into the archives of British musician Michal Turtle, Return To Jeka brings together eight previously unreleased works recorded between 1983 and 1985. Drawing extensively on the use of percussion and electronics, these songs bring together elements which were not only in many aspects visionary but also sound like little else.
>Various Artists - Heads Records - South African Disco-Dub Edits 12” (Soundway)
Off the back of the recent Gumba Fire compilation, Soundway releases a four-track, dancefloor-orientated EP drawing from the short-lived Heads label out of South Africa, which lasted a brief two years between 1982 and 1984.
>Waveless – As One More Folded Paper Crane LP/Cassette (Moniker)
Waveless has been touring the DIY circuit of damp basements and abandoned warehouses for the last three years. Cutting their teeth as a fast-paced punk band, Waveless has shifted into something that is dense and buzzy, and also melodic and melancholy. The trio take notes from bands like Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, and the Pixies, capturing the energy and sound of the underground as they reshape it.
>Wax Idols – Happy Ending LP (Etruscan Gold Ltd.)
Oakland four-piece Wax Idols reinvigorate the mutated aesthetics of varying strains of post-punk, post-hardcore, and classic pop-rock. Hether Fortune’s powerful voice (as songwriter, arranger, producer, singer, and guitarist) is at the center, but the group’s work together is what makes Wax Idol’s energy so vital. Their fourth album Happy Ending is an exploration of the abstraction and finality of death from philosophical, political, and personal perspectives. Despite the heavy subject matter, Hole drummer Patty Schemel notes the collection’s 'amazing pop melodies [found] inside dark, soulful soundscapes' and the Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala calls it 'a glacial invocation of anthemic horizons.
11 may 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids – An Angel Fell CD/2xLP (Strut)
New album from cosmic jazz travelers The Pyramids, led by saxophonist Idris Ackamoor. Produced by Malcolm Catto of The Heliocentrics, An Angel Fell was recorded during an intense week at Quatermass studios in London and is one of the deepest, richest works yet from a band reaching their highest creative peak since the early '70s.
>Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
Arctic Monkeys return with their sixth album, entitled Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. Produced by longtime collaborator James Ford and frontman Alex Turner, the highly anticipated 11-track effort was recorded in Los Angeles, Paris and London. “The first Arctic Monkeys album in five years is lush and claustrophobic at the same time – it calls to mind a guy going a little nutty in a small room in a nice house on a hill, constructing a fantasy world in his head and setting his visions to piano” (Rolling Stone). “The album’s title is a fitting one: this record feels a lot like gazing into the night sky. At first it’s completely overwhelming – you’ll be trying to connect the scattered dots on this initially impenetrable listen, and maybe even despairing when it doesn’t all come together. But when the constellations show through, you’ll realize that it’s a product of searingly intelligent design” (NME). [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Bad Wolves – Disobey CD (Eleven Seven Music)
From their massive cover of The Cranberries “Zombie”, driving anthems like “No Masters” to the syncopated Faith No More-worthy rocker “Better The Devil,” Bad Wolves’ new album Disobey showcases elements of rock, metal, hip-hop and progressive rock into a unique amalgam of music that is infectious. [Vinyl edition due May 25.]
>Beach House – 7 CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Beach House released B-sides And Rarities in 2017, which served as a proverbial “cleaning out the closet” to pave way for a new creative process. Their approach in the creation of 7 was rebirth and rejuvenation. “Looking back, there is quite a bit of chaos happening in these songs, and a pervasive dark field that we had little control over. The discussions surrounding women’s issues were a constant source of inspiration and questioning. The energy, lyrics and moods of much of this record grew from ruminations on the roles, pressures and conditions that our society places on women, past and present. The twisted double edge of glamour, with its perils and perfect moments, was an endless source (see ‘L'Inconnue,’ ‘Drunk In L.A.,’ ‘Woo,’ ‘Girl Of The Year,’ ‘Last Ride’). In a more general sense, we are interested by the human mind's (and nature’s) tendency to create forces equal and opposite to those present. Thematically, this record often deals with the beauty that arises in dealing with darkness; the empathy and love that grows from collective trauma; the place one reaches when they accept rather than deny (see ‘Dark Spring,’ ‘Pay No Mind,’ ‘Lemon Glow,’ ‘Dive,’ ‘Black Car,’ ‘Lose Your Smile’).” – Beach House
>Jean-Michel Blais – Dans ma main CD (Arts & Crafts)
The sophomore release by pianist and composer Jean-Michel Blais is an expansive album of post-classical piano with strands of electronic detail. Blending his conservatory skill and precise pop sensibility with synthetic accompaniment, Blais creates unique environments where the piano's intimacy can be subtly disrupted at any time. Dans ma main weaves together expressive piano with austere synths in a double-helix of acoustic and electronic arpeggiation, tethering techno, industrial, ambient, and new age music to Blais' solo piano essence. The album explores an everyday life awash in spirituality, stemming from Blais' interplay with music as therapy. Compelled by the cathartic air that audiences exude in his pin-drop performances, Blais considers how music has served as a tool of wellness in his own life. From his prior career in special education, to the role classical and ambient music played soothing the Tourettic symptoms he experienced as a child, Jean-Michel's new compositions subconsciously call upon these periods of his life, reimagining a serenity he had only experienced seated at the piano. [Vinyl edition due June 8.]
>The Body – I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer. CD/LP+2xMP3 (Thrill Jockey)
With each release, the duo of Lee Buford and Chip King continue to defy the constraints of what it means to be a “heavy” band, seamlessly combining composition or production approaches from hip hop, pop, classical, as well as rock and electronica resulting in a rich and utterly singular sound. On I Have Fought Against It, But I Can't Any Longer The Body challenged themselves again by turning their compositional approach on its head, choosing to build the record on their own samples rather than recording the basic tracks of drums and guitars and processing those. The results carry the listener towards the brink of emotional and musical extremes. I Have Fought Against It... conjures the sublime from an unexpected and incomparable variety of sounds.
>Brent Cobb – Providence Canyon CD/LP+MP3 (Atlantic)
Named after a Georgian gully that Dave Cobb often visited as a teenager, the singer/songwriter's sophomore release Providence Canyon is an evocative, electrified album about a life lived on the run. There are road songs, half-lit drinking tunes, tributes to friends and family, and nostalgic nods to one's younger years. There are songs about returning home and songs about getting the hell out of dodge. Gluing everything together is the unforced country croon and sharp songwriting of Cobb, who credits his recent touring history for inspiring the album's quicker pace. On the drawling, guitar-driven “Mornin's Gonna Come” and “Sucker For A Good Time,” Cobb battles against the temptations of the road, where the drinks are free and the nights are long. He doubles down on his commitment to his wife and daughter with “Ain’t A Road Too Long,” whose mix of Bible Belt boogie-woogie and Southern rock channels influences like The Band. Then, on the album’s breezy title track, he casts his mind back to his teenage years, when a trip to Providence Canyon was enough to remind him of life's fleeting, precious nature.
>Ry Cooder – The Prodigal Son CD/LP (Fantasy)
Recorded in Hollywood, CA, and produced by Ry Cooder and his chief collaborator, drummer Joachim Cooder, The Prodigal Son is all America - our spiritual, hopeful voices, our raw cries and our sly provocations, voiced through the songs of the Pilgrim Travelers, The Stanley Brothers, Blind Willie Johnson, and Ry Cooder himself. The album’s 11 tracks, including three Cooder originals and a carefully selected collection of his favorite spirituals of the last century, share a particular resonance in this time and place, forming an unflinching look at the state of play in modern America. “I do connect the political/economic dimensions with the inner life of people, since people are at risk and oppressed on all sides in our world today,” Cooder states. “There's some kind of reverence mood that takes hold when you play and sing these songs. ‘Reverence' is a word I heard my granddaughter's nursery school teacher use, a Kashmiri woman. She said, ‘We don't want to teach religion, but instill reverence.’ I thought that was a good word for the feeling of this music.”
>Del + Amp Live – Gate 13 CD/2xLP (Iot)
Del The Funky Homosapien and Amp Live – two of the most innovative and respected names in hip-hop – unite for one of the most anticipated albums of 2018. The 16 tracks on Gate 13 mix hip-hop, funk, and electronica, and feature Goapele, Eligh, Simi, Zyme, Adult Karate, Mr. Micro, and James Melo, creating a portal into something progressive, futuristic, and fun.
>Denmark Vessey – Sun Go Nova CD/LP (Mello Music Group)
Denmark Vessey is a Detroit rapper and cult rap hero currently living in New York City, named after a brilliant 19th century slave-turned-carpenter who was convicted and executed for planning what would've been the largest slave revolt in North American history. He's funnier than most political rappers, more political than punch line spitters, and too imaginative for regressive underground stereotypes.
>Glenn Frey – Above The Clouds: The Very Vest Of Glenn Frey CD/3xCD+DVD (Geffen)
Frey’s major chart hits after The Eagles break-up, including the Beverly Hills Cop smash "The Heat Is On,” the gritty, slide-guitar-driven gutbucket groove of “Smuggler’s Blues,” the epic Miami Vice ballad “You Belong to the City,” the inward-looking poignancy of “Soul Searchin’,” and much more. [Available as a stand-alone disc and box set. Box set adds two CDs of deeper cuts and a live DVD culled from his performance at the National Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, on September 15, 1992.]
>Jerry Garcia – Before The Dead 4xCD/5xLP (Caroline)
A rare collection of the earliest known performances by Jerry Garcia. From an informal and intimate 1691 performance of simple folk songs at a birthday party with future songwriting partner Robert Hunter to more polished coffeehouse gigs with old-timey and bluegrass bands through 1964, Before The Dead showcases Garcia’s deep study of the folk music tradition and its influence on his musical journey leading to the formation of the Grateful Dead.
>Ghost-Note – Swagism 2xCD (Ropeadope)
Snarky Puppy members Robert "Sput" Searight and Nate Werth return as the duo Ghost-Note. Kamasi Washington guests on “No More Silence”.
>Françoise Hardy – Personne D’autre CD (Arts Music)
The French singer-songwriter and fashion icon releases her 24th studio album.
>Dave Holland – Uncharted Territories CD (Dare2)
Uncharted Territories brings together a quartet of some of the best players in forward-thinking jazz. Joining Holland on this recording are saxophonist Evan Parker, drummer Ches Smith and pianist Craig Taborn. The epic-length album finds the group breaking off into various permutations, and coming back together again for quartet performances. [Vinyl edition due July 20.]
>Illuminati Hotties – Kiss Yr Frenemies CD/Cassette (Tiny Engines)
Despite the pluralized nom de guerre, Illuminati Hotties is the creative outlet of Sarah Tudzin - a producer and engineer hailing from the sprawl of Los Angeles. Lauded as local tenderpunk pioneers, Illuminati Hotties has perfected the blend of sweetness and ferocity, of celebration and despondency on debut album Kiss Yr Frenemies. At first listen, it is a sun-drenched, irreverent volley with the onset of adulthood, but as the listener dives deeper, they will find an earnest consideration of musical phrasing and deliberately crafted wordplay regarding the complexity of love, loss, and skateboarding.
>Kassin – Relax CD/LP+MP3 (Luaka Bop)
A not-so funny thing happens when you get divorced: your friends ask for advice on how to deal with their own relationship struggles. Maybe that's why Alexandre Kassin's new album, Relax, has two songs about this incredible heartbreak. First there's "A Paisagem Morta," a dark bossa nova tune about those initial moments once the breakup is final, when you begin to rediscover yourself. "The lyrics are about trying to keep things happening," says Kassin, a leading producer and instrumentalist in Brazilian music.
>Mark Kozelek – Mark Kozelek CD (Caldo Verde)
The first of two albums Kozelek has planned for 2018, Mark Kozelek is comprised of 11 songs that were recorded in hotel rooms around San Francisco, including the previously released “This Is My Town” and “My Love For You.”
>La Luz – Floating Features CD/LP (Hardly Art)
Los Angeles has often been described as a “dream factory” – both a mecca where dreamers converge to pursue long-held aspirations, and a topography of hallucinogenic contradictions: enchanting tangerine sunsets diffused by smog, crystal-clutching spiritualists mingling with deep-pocketed narcissists, rows of scenic palms competing with garish billboards for commuters’ attention. It was against this backdrop that La Luz conceived their third studio album. References to dreams abound on Floating Features. “Loose Teeth” catalyzes nightmare fuel into a propulsive, intentionally-disorienting collision of honeyed harmonies and Takeshi Terauchi-esque jetstreams of distorted surf guitar. “Mean Dream” unsurprisingly mines dreamstate imagery, and the lyrics and melody for “Walking Into the Sun” actually came to Cleveland during a particularly-vivid night of deep sleep. Looming over the album's coterie of surreal figures (gargantuan cicadas, a monstrous “Creature,” The Sun King, aliens, the titular "Lonely Dozer") is the magnificent “Greed Machine,” a skulking, insatiable engine of consumption - Nathanael West’s “business of dreams” fearsomely manifested. Only La Luz could conjure up Floating Features’ Leone-on-LSD vibes, and the album finds the L.A. band at the height of their powers - golden rebels in a golden dream.
>Domenico Lancellotti – The Good Is A Big God CD/LP+MP3 (Luaka Bop)
The Good Is A Big God, by singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Domenico Lancellotti, features contributions from Nina Miranda, Moreno Veloso, Pedro Sá and Sean O’Hagan. The Good Is A Big God is a collection of reflective samba partially inspired by a trip taken to a Brazilian national park called The Serra dos Órgãos.
>Las Rosas – Shadow By Your Side CD (Greenway)
“Quoted as being recorded ‘during the night shifts of an enormous life dismantling’, Brooklyn rock trio Las Rosas have materialized yet again for a sophomore full-length. Shadow By Your Side brims with irresistible garage psych pop melodies and hooks delivered with authority and muscle, undoubtedly a huge step in their growth since their 2017 debut Everyone Gets Exactly What They Want. Lead single ‘Christa’ throbs with jangly glam rock tremors, strutting along Jose Boyer’s uniquely unkempt vocal delivery and some dirty guitar riff tones that’ll make those chest hairs sprout their own chest hairs. Can’t wait to the whole shebang in its entirety.” – Sly Vinyl
>Little Junior – Hi CD/LP (Grand Jury)
Much of Little Junior's full-length debut Hi sounds like a clear combination of Pixies' lo-fi basement punk with Weezer and Carly Rae Jepsen's penchant for cheery sing-along melody.
>Sarah Louise – Deeper Woods CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
On Deeper Woods, the verdant forest that surrounds Sarah Louise's North Carolina home can be felt with each note. Louise's poetic depictions of nature both lyrical and musical are animated and reverent. Lauded for her work as an accomplished 12-string solo guitarist, Deeper Woods is the first album to prominently feature her voice. Louise enriches her warm singular vocal sound with a lush variety of instruments as well as layers of harmonies that together create a tapestry of texture. Steeped in Appalachian folk traditions, Louise's influences are much broader with shades of psychedelia and experimentalism, pushing her beyond genre constraints. Incorporating both traditional and modern methods of composition, the album is a reflection on the struggle between peaceful isolation and the need for community.
>Mad Professor – Electro Dubclubbing!! CD (Ariwa Sounds)
The dawn of the new dub, Mad Professor is back with a new series of releases. Recorded in London at Ariwa Studios, Electro Dubclubbing!! features an all-star class including Sly and Robbie, Aisha, U-Roy, Black Steel and Lloyd Parks. [Vinyl edition due May 25.]
>Marian Hill – Unusual CD/LP (Photo Finish)
Platinum-selling electronic duo Marian Hill return after over a year's absence with their sophomore album, Unusual. Over 10 taut tracks including lead single "Subtle Thing," the act solidifies their position as a singular voice in modern pop - each song a unique journey into a very particular world. Samantha Gongol's vocals are more effortlessly precise than ever as she sculpts the sound of every word with power and attitude. Jeremy Lloyd's meticulous minimalism has grown harder and more propulsive - each beat dares you not to dance with surprises around every corner, pulling on diverse influences from jazz, electronic and hip hop while bringing to mind ‘00s Timbaland updated for the 23rd century.
>Loreena McKennitt – Lost Souls CD/LP+MP3 (UMe)
Loreena McKennitt’s first release of original material since 2006, Lost Souls is a rich tapestry of contemporary thoughts woven with threads from the Celts to the Bedouins, stitched with the sounds of a diverse collection of musical voices, including nyckelharpa, a military band and flamenco guitar.
>John Mellencamp – Plain Spoken: From The Chicago Theatre CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
“Try to keep it as plain spoken as possible…” those are some of the first words the viewer hears in Plain Spoken: From The Chicago Theatre. A self-narrated musical journey, the film encapsulates the sound and soul of John Mellencamp. Stepping outside the boundaries of a concert film or documentary, Plain Spoken blends highly personal voice-overs from Mellencamp with live footage of him performing with his full band at the historic Chicago Theatre, just 250 miles from his native Indiana. He tells us the story of his Midwestern upbringing, the trials, turns and triumphs of his career, and his overall outlook on life while the music plays, supporting his stories. The result is the essence of John Mellencamp, delivered fully on-screen.
>The National Reserve – Motel La Grange CD/LP (Ramseur)
Founded and fronted by singer-guitarist Sean Walsh, The National Reserve mine an archetypal musical seam, marrying gutbucket R&B, Laurel Canyon lyricism, New Orleans funk workouts, late night soul, and boozy rock ‘n' roll to create their own timeless brand of American music.
>Newcleus – Teknology: The Third Millennium Remixes CD (Jam-On Recordings)
New compilation of remixes of the Newcleus electro classic "Teknology". Features the classic original recording, as well as remixes from Phill Moffa, Intelligentsia, Binalog Frequency, Gods Of Technology and many more.
>The Nonce – 1990 CD/LP (Family Groove)
Reissue of an important milestone recorded during the Golden Age of Hip-Hop.
>Organectomy – Domain Of The Wretched CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Organectomy’s unique brand of slamming brutal death metal incorporates aspects of old school death metal, melodic death metal, brutal death metal, atmospheric death metal, technical death metal, and slam into a twisted amalgamation of pure, sickening brutality.
>Our Solar System – Origins CD/LP+MP3 (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond)
Swelling, Swedish cosmic collective Our Solar System's third full-length is perhaps their most transparent and revealing, unobstructed by anything beyond the group's now-masterful commitment to eclipsing the expected. On Origins, the music is at once rapturous, intense and mysterious.
>Buck Owens and The Buckaroos – The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967-1970 CD (Omnivore)
Newly remastered, and featuring liner notes from Scott B. Bomar, The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967–1970 presents the golden age of Buck Owens in an entirely new way. This is the second in a series chronicling every one of Buck’s historic Capitol singles from the ’50s, ’60, and ’70s. Taken from the original mono and stereo masters, The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967–1970 collects the A- and B-side to all 18 singles from that period, including 14 Top Ten hits, in their original, chronological form. These are the records that made Buck Owens a legend and defined the Bakersfield Sound. “The reason my Capitol records sounded the way they did—real heavy on the treble—was because I knew most people were going to be listening to ’em on their AM car radios. At the time, nobody else was doing anything like that, but it just seemed like common sense to me. And it was one more reason that you knew it was a Buck Owens record as soon as it came on the radio—because it just didn’t sound like those other records…” – Buck Owens
>Potatohead People – Nick & Astro’s Guide To The Galaxy CD (Bastard Jazz)
Comprised of Vancouver producers and multi-instrumentalists Nick Wisdom and Astrological, Canadian duo Potatohead People boast a number of noteworthy accolades thanks to a their signature sound drawing influences from ‘90s boom-bap, future soul, classic jazz, deep house and boogie/funk. [Vinyl edition due May 25.]
>Phill Pratt / Bobby Kalphat – The War Is On - Dub Style [Reissue/1982] CD/LP (Pressure Sounds)
Phil Pratt had an illustrious career in Jamaica stretching back to the rocksteady years of the '60s, but by the '80s was increasingly working on productions in London. Easy Street was a low budget studio with professional but fairly limited equipment - a Soundcraft TS24 mixing desk, a Roland RE301 Chorus Echo, an AKG BX5 reverb, and an MXR flanger/doubler - and a speedy way of working which suited the incoming rush of reggae producers. A sought-after dub album unavailable since its early 1980s release, it typifies Phil's working methods in those days, with the backing tracks recorded at Joe Gibbs' Studio in Jamaica, and overdubs and mixing done in London.
>Charlie Puth – VoiceNotes CD (Atlantic)
VoiceNotes is the sophomore studio album from American pop singer-songwriter and producer Charlie Puth. “Charlie Puth’s silky falsetto made him a global star with the pop ballad ‘See You Again’, but his roots, he is quick to point out, are in jazz. Puth spent a year and a half writing and revising his second album, VoiceNotes, [which has finally been released after a delay]. Despite warnings that it was not commercially viable, he found himself repeatedly turning to jazz. But it’s not as if his fans will think he’s gone in a drastic new direction. Instead, Puth hears jazz in the warm chord progressions of the keyboards hidden under the pop texture. VoiceNotes — whose first single, ‘Attention’, is driven by a gently strummed guitar line and funky bass — harks back to the retro production of songwriters such as Babyface and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who Puth sees as heirs to the jazz tradition. ‘The whole album is jazz disguised as pop music,’ Puth told a news conference in Los Angeles. ‘I’ve established a vibe where my music, it might lean adult in a way, but I still have 12-year-olds, teenagers, pre-teenagers — they are all singing the music.’” – Gulf News Music
>RSO – Radio Free America CD (BMG)
Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer Richie Sambora Teams with Female Guitar Goddess Orianthi (who has shared stages with the likes of Michael Jackson, Santana, Prince, and ZZ Top, and was the first female member of Alice Cooper’s band) for a collection of new music mixing blues, pop, rock, country and many more genres. Sambora and Orianthi’s voices and guitars effortlessly blend together, and their indelible melodies and uplifting lyrics create an album filled with warmth, heart and a whole lot of rock 'n' roll. Most of Radio Free America was recorded with legendary songwriter/producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi) at Sambora and Orianthi’s Los Angeles home over the past two years, where they have built a recording studio in their kitchen, complete with studio-size speakers, keyboards, computers, and mics. There are amps in the dining room, the living room overflows with racks of guitars, and the home theater has been converted into a drum room. At home, the two have created an inviting world filled with love, friendship, laughter, and passion for music that seeps into these songs.
>The Sea And Cake – Any Day CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
The Sea And Cake deliver a refreshingly intimate collection of elegantly arranged, singular pop songs. Any Day is testament to the group’s artistry, song craft, and utterly unique sound. The heart of the album’s instrumentation is Prewitt’s intriguing choice of guitar effects, sparingly used to enhance his counter melodies. The combinations create a wealth of textures from surprisingly few instruments.
>Sevendust – All I See Is War CD/LP (Rise)
Twenty-four years into their career and still with all of their original members intact, veteran heavy rockers Sevendust offer up their twelfth studio album.
>Simian Mobile Disco – Murmurations CD/LP+MP3 (Wichita)
Simian Mobile Disco return with their fifth album and, never a pair of men to rest on their laurels, James Ford and Jas Shaw have switched things up this time by choosing to collaborate with London's all-female, Deep Throat Choir. The end result is lush and sumptuous. Murmurations combines SMD’s unparalleled production talents across layers of synths and percussion with Deep Throat Choir's unique brand of choral vocals.
>Skinless – Savagery CD/LP (Relapse)
Death metal veterans Skinless return with their pulverizing sixth studio offering, aptly titled Savagery. Recorded by Tom Case at Doomsday Bunker Studio in New York and by Dave Otero (Primitive Man, Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage) at Flatline Audio in Colorado, Savagery embodies ten slabs of rotting, aural remains across 37 minutes of titanic slams, untouchable grooves, mauling riffs and blood-thirsty, bestial growls. It sees Skinless at the top of their game, more than 25 years into an untouchable reign of terror. Features stunningly sick cover art by renowned tattoo artist Jesse Levitt. For fans of Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Broken Hope, Devourment, Gatecreeper, Aborted and Obituary.
>Strung Out – Black Out The Sky CDEP/12” (Fat Wreck Chords)
While Strung Out has made their name on intense, frenetic slabs of metal-influenced tech-punk, there is more to the band than meets the eye. It might come as a shock to learn that the band's new eight-song EP, Black Out The Sky, is an acoustic affair, but as vocalist Jason Cruz explains, it's not nearly as surprising for the band members. “Every song starts on an acoustic guitar for the most part,” Cruz notes. “If it's a good song, it can be played acoustic. For about the past five years, I've been pushing the band to release a record in this format.”
>Tents – Deer Keeps Pace CD (Badman)
Debut release from the Portland, Oregon based comfort-pop quartet.
>U-Roy – Talking Roots CD/LP (Ariwa Sounds)
Toasting pioneer U-Roy has re-united with the Ariwa production team to record and release the new studio album Talking Roots which features production from Mad Professor and contributions from Sly & Robbie, Lloyd Parks, Black Steel, Leroy Mafia, Nadine Sutherland, Carroll T and Aisha.
>Gin Wigmore – Ivory CD/2xLP (Interscope)
Ivory is the fourth album from New Zealand folk-pop singer-songwriter and follow-up to 2015's acclaimed Blood To Bone, her third straight chart-topper on the Official New Zealand Music Chart. All adorned with Gin's trademark soulful rasp, the album is preceded by the compelling singles “Hallow Fate,” “Beatnik Trip,” “Dirty Mercy,” “Cabrona” and “Girl Gang.”
>Jess Williamson – Cosmic Wink CD/LP (Mexican Summer)
Williamson's sophomore album Heart Song marked a dramatic departure from debut Native State, bristling beyond the confines of folk to question the comforts of home. On Cosmic Wink, her third album and first for Mexican Summer, Williamson emerges with another self, part of an even wider consciousness. A self that bears wise evidence of past lives, but also feels new and unfamiliar, if at times from a different artist entirely.
>Luke Winslow-King – Blue Mesa CD/LP+MP3 (Bloodshot)
Luke Winslow-King’s new album is an example of craftsmanship at the highest level, radiating a warmth and timeless elegance. Adept at mixing country, blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll, and folk influences intuitively and masterfully, Luke shapes a mood from many sources and shepherds it to a unifying place of acceptance and hope. Blue Mesa is both stately and approachable, manifestly proficient but deeply personal. “The record opens with a bluesy track featuring gospel backup singers. ‘You Got Mine’ was co-written with Lissa Driscoll who was a fixture in New Orleans and sadly, passed last year after her diagnosis with cancer. This track and the other track co-written with Driscoll, ‘Chicken Dinner’, are beautiful memories of Luke’s musical relationship with Lissa. These tracks perfectly display the warmth that he brings to his music and highlight the importance of his collaborations. By the time you get to the third and title track, ‘Blue Mesa’, you’ve already experienced the richness and diversity that comes with the album.” – Get It On Vinyl
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Nik Bärtsch's Ronin – Awase 2xLP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Awase, a term from martial arts, means "moving together" in the sense of matching energies, a fitting metaphor for the dynamic precision, tessellated grooves and balletic minimalism of Nik Bärtsch's Ronin. Six years have passed since the last release from the Swiss group. In the interim, trimmed from quintet to quartet size and with new bassist Thomy Jordi fully integrated, Ronin has become a subtly different band. Bärtsch speaks of a new-found freedom and flexibility in the approach to the material, with "greater transparency, more interaction, more joy in every performance."
>Bicep – Opal 12”+MP3 (Ninja Tune)
A fresh remix by Four Tet, plus exclusive new B-side “Helix”.
>Carla Bozulich – Quieter LP (Constellation)
An enchanting collection of previously orphaned and one-off tracks, a couple left over from the bountifully productive Boy sessions, others featuring collaborations with the likes of Marc Ribot, Sarah Lipstate (Noveller), Freddy Ruppert, Shahzad Ismaily and more.
>Miles Davis – Miles Davis’ Greatest Hits [Reissue/1969] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Limited vinyl LP repress including digital download. This Greatest Hits collection checks in with Davis in 1969 and collects career highlights recorded from 1955 to 1965 including landmarks like "So What," "'Round Midnight," "E.S.P.," "All Blues" and "Someday My Prince Will Come" among others.
>Jerry Granelli feat. Robben Ford, Bill Frisell, and J. Anthony Granelli – Dance Hall LP (Justin Time)
Released late last year on CD – now available on vinyl. Featuring guitar greats Robben Ford and Bill Frisell, the material on Dance Hall reflects Jerry Granelli’s deep gratitude to the artists who originally wrote and recorded these great songs, and at this point in his life the sheer joy of playing the drums. “The key was not doing covers, but finding songs that were personal to my journey. We kept it as open and spontaneous as possible; it’s about the joy of finding the freedom in the form.”
>J Dilla – Dillatronic 2xLP (Vintage Vibes)
Over 40 rare instrumentals that showcase Dilla's undeniable electronic influences.
>Eminem – Revival 2xLP (Aftermath/Interscope)
Released last December on CD – now available on vinyl. Eminem’s ninth album features guest contributions from Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, X Ambassadors, Skylar Grey, Kehlani, P!nk, and Phresher.
>Enigma – MCMXC a.D. [Reissue/1990] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – The Cross Of Changes [Reissue/1993] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! [1996] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – The Screen Behind The Mirror [2000] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – Love Sensuality Devotion (The Greatest Hits) [2001] 2xLP (Vertigo)
Enigma – Voyageur [2003] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – A Posteriori [2006] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – Seven Lives Many Faces [2008] LP (Vertigo)
Enigma – The Fall Of A Rebel Angel [2016] LP (Vertigo)
Limited import-only color vinyl pressings.
>Everlast, Damien Marley, DJ Muggs – Jump Around 25 Year Remix 12” (Soul Assassins)
To commemorate the 25-year anniversary of House Of Pain's hit single "Jump Around", the song has been re-recorded with a new verse from HOP's Everlast with guest appearances from Damian Marley and Meyhem Lauren.
>Grateful Dead – Cornell 5/8/77 5xLP (Grateful Dead Production)
The forces aligned for the Dead on May 8, 1977, at Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; for what many hail the pinnacle performance of their 30-year career. So revered is the performance, that an audience recording of this show joined Prince’s Purple Rain and Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors as 2012’s inductees into the National Recording Registry of the US Library Of Congress, an honor bestowed upon music/songs that “are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.”
>Grimez – Absolute Existence LP (Chiefdom)
Grimez has dug deep into what made the classic instrumentals of soul, funk, rock and dub music so good of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Applying those simple, but overlooked recording technics and sonic passion of live instrumentation, to create surreal realms of melodies, chunky grooves and hard hitting original drum breaks.
>Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? – From Finland With Love 2x7” (Sympathy 4 The R.I.)
This double-7" contains four tracks (one exclusive to this single) of insanely glorious and deeply infectious commotion that just may give you something to smile about and we all could use something to smile about.
>Hollywood Undead – Swan Songs [2008] 2xLP (Interscope)
In 2008, Hollywood Undead's explosive, platinum selling debut album Swan Songs rose from the streets of Tinseltown, delivering a raw, edgy mix of rock, hip-hop and metalcore. First-time vinyl pressing.
>Alice Ivy – I’m Dreaming LP (Last Gang)
Few artists arrive with a debut album as fully formed as Melbourne-based beat-maker and electrifying musical force Alice Ivy's. I'm Dreaming is the product of a life spent playing and studying music – a life that has turned the 24-year-old, née Annika Schmarsel, into something of an auteur, self-reliant but with a love of collaboration. Playing guitar in soul bands in her formative years, it was only when she moved to Melbourne that she started mastering the editing suite. From producing beats, writing music and lyrics and to singing on the record, Alice pulled all the strings for this shimmering album.
>Alan Jackson – Precious Memories Collection 2xLP (EMI Nashville)
Originally issued on CD in 2015 and available on vinyl for the first time as a double-LP set, Alan Jackson's Precious Memories Collection gathers his pair of beloved traditional gospel albums Precious Memories (2006) and Precious Memories Volume II (2013), along with a pair of unreleased songs.
>King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (Fuzz Club Version) LP (Fuzz Club)
Priding themselves on high-quality vinyl pressings, Fuzz Club has created a must for audiophiles and record collectors alike. The lacquer was cut at half-speed by engineer-extraordinaire Miles Showell (The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who) over at Abbey Road Studios, which means that every tiny little detail of King Gizzards wonky, hedonistic sonic prowess has made its way into the record's grooves. With alternative artwork, the limited colored LP is housed in a deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket with printed inner-sleeves and glued-in 16-page booklet featuring lyrics and a bunch of reworked illustrations taken from the original artwork provided by the band. [Fuzz Club CD edition due June 1.]
>Tory Lanez – Memories Don’t Die 2xLP (Mad Love/Interscope)
Memories Don't Die finds Tory Lanez reflecting on his past – ruminating on the death of his mother and exploring how success has changed his life – as well as looking to the future and promising the world to his newborn son. With features from 50 Cent – an homage to the part of his adolescence spent in Jamaica, Queens – Future, Wiz Khalifa, Fabolous, NAV and more, the album highlights Lanez's versatility, as quick to croon a chorus as he is to deliver a rap verse.
>MC5 – Kick Out The Jams Motherf**ker! LP (Cleopatra)
Limited edition red, white & blue splatter vinyl pressing of this stellar compilation of career highlights from the baddest Motor City quintet of all-time.
>Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives Remixes: Part 1 12”+MP3 (Warp)
Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives Remixes: Part 2 12”+MP3 (Warp)
After a stellar 2017 return with Love What Survives, Mount Kimbie hand the reigns of the album over to a stacked lineup of dance floor favorites for a pair of 12"s that belong in the must spin bag of any proper selector. Nina Kraviz, Ellen Allien, Marcel Dettmann and Gerd Janson lend their talents to the tracks and expand the collaborative universe of Mount Kimbie in the process.
>Mr. Airplane Man – I’m In Love b/w No Place To Go 7” (Sympathy 4 The R.I.)
After a 13-year break legendary two-woman garage blues combo Mr. Airplane Man is back with their sexiest, most sublime, soul-bending grooves yet.
>Night Beats – Fuzz Club Sessions LP (Fuzz Club)
Seattle garage-rock outfit Night Beats' brand of bluesy, psychedelic rock & roll has seen them achieve a cult-like status at an unfathomable pace. The trio is seen by many as cutting edge garage rock innovators, which is quite a feat when it's so common to see modern garage-rock bands fall into the trap of being overly nostalgic to their R&B forefathers, to the point of unoriginality. London imprint Fuzz Club invited the band to spend a day at Lovebuzz Studios, an analogue studio in South London, and record a live session. The result is the first installment in the Fuzz Club Session series. Raw, unkempt rock, recorded straight to tape in one take using totally analogue equipment.
>Parallax – Depth Perception 12” (Ill Adrenaline)
Parallax is a conscious rapper/producer from Winchester, UK. Being an East London native since a teenager he has been immersed and driven to push the art form, focusing on powerful lyrical content and hard-hitting beats with a jazzy and soulful touch. He has already received credit from legendary artists such as Raekwon, Afu-Ra, La Coka Nostra and Lewis Parker as well as supporting artists such as Rodney P & Skitz, Skinnyman, Split Prophets, and many more.
>John Prine – The Tree Of Forgiveness LP (Oh Boy)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson) The Tree Of Forgiveness serves as legendary singer/songwriter John Prine’s first album of all original material since his 2005 release ÓFair & Square. Recorded at Nashville's historic RCA Studio A, the album includes ten new songs written by Prine along with co-writers Pat McLaughlin, Roger Cook, Dan Auerbach, Keith Sykes and Phil Spector. In addition to Prine (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Cobb (acoustic guitar, mellotron, claps, kazoo) and Prine’s longtime band, the album features special guests Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires. The highly anticipated collection is introduced by the heartfelt “Summer's End” which is classic Prine.
>Ras_G – My Kinda Blues LP (Ghetto Sci-Fi Music)
A staple of the Los Angeles left-field scene as one of the founders of Poo-Bah Records and a member of the Brainfeeder Records clique, Ras G's innovative beatmaking falls into the same stony, psychedelic style of instrumental hip-hop as fellow L.A. DJ/producers Madlib and Flying Lotus.
>Rhi – Reverie LP (Tru Thoughts)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Reverie is the debut album from Canada-born, London-based producer, singer and songwriter Rhi aka Rhiannon Bouvier. She finds influence in electronic fields near and far, experimenting with gothic sound beds and woozy hip hop beats, and pushing electronic frontiers by melding lo-fi effects and contorting her own glimmering vocals as part of honing a sophisticated, minimal style. Limited purple colored vinyl pressing.
>Rejjie Snow – Dear Annie 2xLP+MP3 (BMG)
Debut album from the Brooklyn-based, Irish-born rap sensation. Produced by Rahki (Kendrick Lamar).
>Soundtrack – Black Panther: The Album (Music From & Inspired By…) 2xLP (Interscope)
Released in February on CD – now available on vinyl. Soundtrack to the Marvel film, curated by & featuring Kendrick Lamar on five tracks plus SZA, James Blake, Schoolboy Q, Vince Staples, Anderson Paak, The Weeknd and more.
>Soulive – Cinematics Vol. 1 12” (Soulive Music Inc.)
These five dynamic new tunes from Soulive are guaranteed to turn the backs of your eyelids into a vibrant, action-packed movie screen as the band transforms their infectious blend of soul-jazz, hip-hop, funk and rock into a series of soundtracks for the movies of your mind.
>Spacemen 3 – Playing With Fire [Reissue/1988] LP (Superior Viaduct)
Spacemen 3 – Recurring [Reissue/1990] LP (Space Age/Superior Viaduct)
Spacemen 3 – Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To [Reissue/1990] 2xLP (Superior Viaduct)
Proper artist sanctioned vinyl reissues of Spacemen 3’s third and fourth albums, along with a repress of the collection Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To. [These titles have also been reissued by Space Age on CD.]
>Stasis – Fromtheoldtothenew [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Peacefrog)
Growing up as a teenager in East London, break-dancing and writing graffiti with B12's Mike Golding, Steve Pickton's musical education moved along a familiar path, from hip-hop to electro and onto techno. Schooling himself in music theory and purchasing a sampler, Pickton set about making his own music. Fromtheoldtothenew saw him slip off his earlier techno shackles and head for uncharted electronic waters.
>Paul Thorn – Don’t Let The Devil Ride LP (Perpetual Obscurity)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Don't Let The Devil Ride collects soulful songs originally cut by black southern gospel groups, and features guests Blind Boys Of Alabama, the McCrary Sisters, the Preservation Hall Jazz Horns, and Bonnie Bishop.
>Tom Waits – The Heart Of Saturday Night [Reissue/1974] LP (ANTI-)
Tom Waits – Night Hawks At The Diner [Reissue/1975] 2xLP (ANTI-)
180gm vinyl reissues. Limited colored pressings also available. The Heart Of Saturday Night is Waits’ second studio album. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Record Plant recording studio in Los Angeles in 1975, Nighthawks At The Diner debuts some of Waits' greatest classics like "Warm Beer, Cold Women" and "Eggs And Sausage" with a crack jazz ensemble
backing him up and some of the greatest stage patter ever committed to record.
06 april 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>Arild Andersen/Paolo Vinaccia/Tommy Smith – In House Science CD (ECM)
Norwegian master bassist Arild Andersen s trio with big-toned tenorist Tommy Smith and powerhouse drummer Paolo Vinaccia is one of the most viscerally exciting jazz small groups of the present moment.
>Daniel Avery – Song For Alpha CD/2xLP (Mute)
It's enlightening to discover that Daniel Avery's second album – Song For Alpha, the absorbing follow up to 2013's Drone Logic – was inspired largely by his transient life spent between nightclubs, flights, the passenger seats of cars and rented rooms, cementing a worldwide reputation as one of the defining techno DJs of the decade. While Drone Logic was mainly created for and honed by countless DJ gigs, Song For Alpha revels in exploring different spaces. As Avery's surroundings have changed, so has the sound of the new recordings.
>Bambara – Shadow On Everything CD/LP (Wharf Cat)
The third LP by Bambara represents a decisive step forward for the NYC-via-Georgia trio. Frontman Reid Bateh, drummer Blaze Bateh, and bassist William Brookshire have always been adept students of noise rock and post-punk, mining the work of bands like Swans and the Birthday Party to construct what NPR called their “beautifully dynamic nightmares.”
>Barren Earth – A Complex Of Cages CD/LP (Century Media)
Fourth album from the Finnish metal band. “A Complex of Cages doesn’t break open Barren Earth’s sound to be something dashingly new. Rather, it shows these Faroe-Finns rocking out mid-paced death riffs, offsetting it with cleaner parts and littering the heaviest sections with borderline orchestral black metal.” – Angry Metal Guy
>Jeff Beck – Live At The Hollywood Bowl 2xCD (Rhino)
In the summer of 2016, guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck celebrated 50 years of his musical career with an extraordinary concert at the famous Hollywood Bowl. Beck set the stage ablaze with incredible live versions of "For Your Love," "Beck's Bolero," "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers," "Big Block," "Over Under Sideways Down," "A Day In The Life," "Blue Wind" and more. The night also included a legendary list of special guests including Steven Tyler, Billy F. Gibbons, Jan Hammer, Beth Hart, Jimmy Hall and Buddy Guy. [Vinyl edition due May 25.]
>Rafiq Bhatia – Breaking English CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
The debut album from New York composer/guitarist Rafiq Bhatia seeks to shatter preconceptions about how much can be said without a word – and, for that matter, who can say it. Bhatia's audacious first album as a producer sets out to challenge existing musical vocabulary with a language of its own. It ruptures the hermetic vernacular of ambient sculpturalism with the emotional intensity of avant-garde jazz, using the techniques of the former to achieve the feeling of the latter.
>Blackberry Smoke – Find A Light CD/2xLP (3 Legged/Thirty Tigers)
Within Blackberry Smoke's catalog, Find A Light is distinctive in several notable ways. The record sounds heavier than other albums; in fact, vocalist/lead guitarist Charlie Starr characterizes the churning, scorched-blues album opener, "Flesh And Bone," as "maybe the heaviest song we've ever recorded." And its title has deep significance to the record's overarching themes. "Most of our albums have been named either for a song on the album or a lyric, and this time I didn't want to do that," Starr says. "I thought, ‘What headspace is humanity in as a whole?' That's pretty hard to argue with that. I think everybody is hoping and looking for something better right now."
>Jakob Bro/Palle Mikkelborg/Thomas Morgan/Jon Christensen – Returnings CD (ECM)
Danish guitarist Jakob Bro creates magical music, impossible to categorize, wrote Downbeat recently. On Returnings the magic is intensified as Bro and musical soul-mate Thomas Morgan reconnect with two living legends of European jazz, trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and drummer Jon Christensen.
>Cabbage – Nihilistic Glamour Shots CD/LP (BMG)
Faced with a band as explosive as Cabbage, it's disturbing if unsurprising that untruths have clouded the positivity of their intent. Here are some certainties among the drama: Cabbage is a band to believe in. Compromises will not be considered. And the group's music is the most thrilling way imaginable to convey their message. Equally drawn to socialist politics and titting about, they're devotees of both big choruses and anarchic totems like GG Allin, Genesis P Orridge and Butthole Surfers. It’s a mixture writ large throughout Nihilistic Glamour Shots, from the frenetic opening salvo of “Preach To The Converted,” “Arms Of Pleonexia” and “Molotov Alcopop,” via “Perdurabo's” swampy blues and wild funk of “Exhibit A” to the devastating seven-minute finale “Subhuman 2.0.”
>Camarão - The Imaginary Soundtrack to a Brazilian Western Movie 1964-1974 CD/LP (Analog Africa)
Fantastic forro from the Brazilian scene of the 60s.
>Johnny Cash – The Total Johnny Cash Sun Collection 2xCD (Curb)
Every classic song Cash released between 1955 and 1964 on Sam Phillips' legendary Sun Records. 62 songs in all, The Total Johnny Cash Sun Collection is newly remastered and includes the career defining Johnny Cash hits “I Walk The Line”, “Cry, Cry, Cry”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Ballad Of A Teenage Queen”, “Guess Things Happen That Way” and many more.
>Michael Chapman – Live VPRO 1971 CD/LP (Blast First Petite)
For a self-confessed "journeyman" musician who has spent most of his 50-year career on the road live, Michael Chapman albums are curiously rare items and it's even harder to find one his earlier years. This one, recorded by Dutch "hippie" station "VPRO" in May 1971 is the earliest known live recording so far discovered of Michael Chapman after he started releasing records on the legendary Harvest label in 1969. A beautiful clear, warm and intimate recording of Chapman duetting with long-time collaborator Rick Kemp on electric bass of which documents material from all three albums in a free-flowing improv-inflected style.
>Chicago – VI Decades Live 4xCD+DVD (Rhino)
The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers celebrate their live legacy with a collection of previously unreleased concert recordings, which includes several deep cuts that have never appeared on any of the band's live albums, all recorded between 1969 and 2014.
>Crisix – Against The Odds CD/LP (Listenable)
Fourth full-length studio album from the Barcelona-based thrash band.
>The Dead Daisies – Burn It Down CD/LP (Steamhammer)
The Dead Daisies are: Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, The Scream), Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy), Deen Castronovo (Bad English, Journey) and David Lowy (Red Phoenix, Mink). A muscular tour-de-force, Burn It Down is a tornado of pounding drums, pulverizing bass, screaming guitars and in-your-face raw vocals, all of which evoke the best of ‘70s rock, with moments of Birmingham's finest, blended with the early works of Boston's best. [Limited edition vinyl picture disc pressing also available.]
>Mark Deutrom – Value Of Decay [Reissue/2011] CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
The second solo release from veteran noisemonger/ex-Melvins bass player/producer Mark Deutrom, The Value of Decay's bizarre passages are alive with creepy, quirky and off-kilter anti-riffage over its fifteen-track cerebral assassination. Originally issued in 2011 and long out-of-print, this reissue features a bonus track as well as expanded art and packaging.
>Diet Cig – Over Easy [Reissue/2015] CDEP/12” (Father/Daughter)
Diet Cig is a pop rock band from New Paltz, NY, fronted by Alex Luciano with Noah Bowman of Earl Boykins on drums. The five charming songs on their 2015 debut EP Over Easy, written by Alex in the comforts of her bedroom, capture the innocence of adolescence and infatuation with consistent sing-a-long lyrics and thrashing drums.
>Die Wilde Jag – Uhrwald Orange CD/LP+CD (Bureau B)
The Uhrwald ("Clockwood") -- a place of dreams and sounds, with its own sense of time. Channeled into his band Die Wilde Jagd, Sebastian Lee Philipp's obsession for this place unleashes a uniquely spellbinding project of minimalist, tenebrous intensity. Recorded in the studio which lends its name to the sophomore album, Uhrwald Orange weaves a dense, atmospheric web of drama, romance, ecstasy, and melancholy.
>Dr. Octagon - Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation CD/2xLP (Bulk Recordings)
Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation is the follow up album to the classic, critically acclaimed 1996 release Dr. Octagonecologyst, the inspired musical collaboration of Dan 'The Automator', MC Kool Keith & turntablist DJ Q-Bert. For the first time in 22 years, Moosebumps reunites the dream team in studio and on stage! Features appearance from frequent Automator collaborator Del The Funky Homosapien on “3030 Meets The Doc Pt.1.”
>Kevin Drumm – Inexplicable Hours CD/2xLP+CD (Sonoris)
Despite Drumm's noisy reputation, his music can be overwhelmingly sensual even at its loudest, providing a form of minimalism replete with a delicate, melancholic motion. How wildly divergent emotions rise, hover, and fall using so little is a mystery that only Kevin Drumm can provide.
>Dusted – Black Out Summer CD/LP (Polyvinyl)
As one of the founding members of the noisy electronic group Holy F**k, Brian Borcherdt has spent years making unhinged dance music. If Brian’s work in Holy F**k represents a reckless night out, Dusted is the somber comedown the morning after. Blackout Summer winds through floating ambience and dark, moody rockers, but every disparate moment somehow feels connected. Dusted’s fuzzy landscapes, dream-like production and buzzing melodies all congeal, burying Borcherdt’s twisted take on pop under layers of that all-important haze.
>Eels – The Deconstruction CD/2x10” (PIAS America)
The Eels' twelfth studio album and first in four years, The Deconstruction, was performed by E (Mark Oliver Everett) and longtime collaborators Koool G Murder and P-Boo alongside The Deconstruction Orchestra & Choir. It was produced by E, with some songs produced by Mickey Petralia for the first time since 1998's Electro-Shock Blues. Eels mastermind E says of the new album, “Here are 15 new Eels tracks that may or may not inspire, rock or not rock you. The world is going nuts. But if you look for it, there is still great beauty to be found. Sometimes you don't even have to look for it. Other times you have to try to make it yourself. And then there are times you have to tear something apart to find something beautiful inside.”
>En Vogue – Electric Café CD (E1)
New album from R&B trio.
>Bernard Estardy – Bernard Estardy’s Space Oddities 1970-1982 CD/LP (Born Bad)
A master of the mixing board from the late '60s until the '90s, Bernard Estardy was the wizard of French musical recordings. As head of CBE studios, he shaped everything from Gérard Manset's concept albums to Claude François's hit singles, Françoise Hardy's delicate tear-jerkers and Michel Sardou's soul-stirrers.
>Eve 6 – Horrorscope [2000] LP (Wargod)
Sophomore album available on vinyl for the first time. Remastered and manufactured on 180gm split orange/blue or blue splatter vinyl with a try-fold jacket.
>Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Cheek To Cheek: The Complete Dust Recordings 4xCD (Verve)
For the first time, all of Ella & Louis' classic duets are in one place. This four-CD set gathers their timeless three Verve albums newly remastered versions of Ella and Louis, Ella and Louis Again and Porgy and Bess combining them with their eight Decca singles, live recordings from Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl plus several alternates & false starts from the Decca & Verve eras, illuminating their craft & good humor.
>Flatbush Zombies – Vacation In Hell CD (Glorious Dead)
Produced primarily by Erick “Arc” Elliott, with guest production by Kirk Knight, Hector Delgado, and Tyler Dopps, the 19-song Vacation In Hell hears emcees Elliott, Meechy Darko and Zombie Juice reflecting on their mortality in a introspective light never before heard from Flatbush Zombies.
>John Fogerty – Centerfield [Reissue/1984] CD/LP (BMG Rights Management)
John Fogerty's classic Centerfield album is back in print featuring two bonus tracks.
>Don Gibson – The Best Of The Hickory Records Years (1970-1978) CD (Omnivore)
The most comprehensive collection of Gibson’s time at Hickory Records, features the #1 Country Hit, “Woman (Sensuous Woman).” By 1970 when Don Gibson signed to Hickory Records, he was already a weathered music industry veteran, successful songwriter and performer. Despite enormous success on the charts (he sent 22 songs into the Top Ten between 1956 and 1974) his album sales were dwindling. Gibson signed to Hickory at the invitation of Wesley Rose who had first signed Don to a publishing deal at Acuff-Rose in 1955. With Rose in the producer chair, Gibson was ready for a second act: 20 Country Chart Hits (included here along with five other key tracks) which galvanized his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2001.
>Goat Girl – Goat Girl CD (Rough Trade)
Across 19 tracks in just 40 minutes, Goat Girl's self-titled debut creates a half-fantasy world out of a very dirty, ugly city reality. In the group's words: "Simply put, it's an album that comes from growing up in London and the first-hand experience of our city's devolution. We wanted to think of it as this place seen not necessarily just through our eyes, but someone who can't get past the abnormalities and strange happenings that exist in our city." It's a very English album (produced by Dan Carey) - full of sharp-eyed observations like The Kinks, louche rage like The Slits - but also swampy, swaggering guitars and singer Lottie's filthy drawl.
>The Golden Grass – Absolutely CD/LP (Listenable)
A soulful mix of heavy-country-funk-boogie and progressive psychedelic freakbeat.
>Great Lakes – Dreaming Too Close To The Edge [Reissue/2006] CD (Loose Trucks)
Great Lakes emerged from Athens, GA roughly two decades ago, but the band led by singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ben Crum has been based in Brooklyn since 2002. Formed in 1996, Great Lakes was initially part of the Elephant 6 Collective. The band's 2000 debut, mixed by Apples in Stereo honcho Robert Schneider, owed much to the psychedelic pop of the '60s, as did the band's second album, The Distance Between. 2006’s Diamond Times, however, offered a significant stylistic progression. Drifting away from the psychedelic milieu, the band's sound took on country and folk leanings, with “Farther” reminiscent of both Wilco’s and Teenage Fanclub's more straight-ahead moments. With the band's sixth album, Dreaming Too Close to the Edge, Great Lakes returned with a record that feels both like a natural progression yet hearkens back a bit to the band's earlier work.
>Hinds – I Don’t Run CD/LP+MP3 (Mom & Pop)
Hinds' breakout debut Leave Me Alone (2016) was an album of party anthems drenched in metaphors. Follow-up I Don't Run is the Madrid-based band's return with an honest reflection on a period that changed their lives beyond their wildest imaginations. Co-produced by Hinds and Gordon Raphael (The Strokes, Regina Spektor), and engineered by Grammy winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, Perfume Genius, The War On Drugs, John Legend), the record shows a bigger, better, faster, funnier, more dexterous Hinds. With this second even more accomplished LP they continue their quest to own their narrative – one of sisters doing it for themselves. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Micah P. Hinson – At The British Broadcasting Corporation CD/LP+MP3 (Full Time Hobby)
Micah P. Hinson At The British Broadcasting Corporation collates Micah's Marc Riley sessions from 2004 through 2017. Remastered at Bent Leaf Studios, TX, these eleven tracks were picked from a wealth of cuts from Micah's visits to the BBC over the last 13 years. The compilation covers ground from his earliest output right up to last year's Presents The Holy Strangers.
>Hop Along – Bark Your Head Off, Dog CD/LP+MP3 (Saddle Creek)
Self-produced and recorded at The Headroom in Philadelphia by guitarist Joe Reinhart and Kyle Pulley, Hop Along’s third album Bark Your Head Off, Dog features the familiar sounds that have always made the band allergic to genre: grunge, folk, punk, and power pop all appear, with inspiration from ELO to Elvis Costello to ‘70s girl group vocal arrangements. This time around, they've added strings, more intricate rhythms, lush harmonies (featuring Thin Lips' Chrissy Tashjian), along with a momentary visit with a vocoder. In more than one place, Mark Quinlan drums like he's at a disco with Built To Spill. Most significantly, Bark Your Head Off, Dog shows the band at its strongest and most cohesive.
>Island – Feels Like Air CD/LP (French Kiss)
Recorded all in one room in just two weeks with sparing use of overdubs and no click track, London-based Island's debut album is a sonic document that's all about feel, all about capturing four musicians at their most unprocessed and uninhibited. A combination of influences ranging from trad-folk to high-octane punk rock and encompassing everything in-between, Feels Like Air, with its hook-filled anthemic choruses and inventive drumming simultaneously deploys Island's rolling melancholy and bottles the lightening of the group's imperious live shows.
>Jan Jelinek – Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records [Reissue/2001] CD (Faitiche)
Faitiche presents this long-lost album on CD. Since 2003, Jan Jelinek's Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records, originally released in 2001 on ~scape, existed only as a download. Includes two bonus tracks, "Moiré (Guitar & Horns)" and "Poren", B-sides from Tendency EP (2000). "Don't be misled by the title, though for there isn't a finger-snapping rhythm bebop lead anywhere on the album. Instead, Jelinek chooses to explore the visual effect moiré - two shifting patterns creating an implied third dimension - in the audio realm." --Alternative Press
>Clarice Jensen – For This From That Will Be Filled CD/LP (Miasmah)
Debut album by the artistic director of the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME). For This From That Will Be Filled explores the variable differences between acoustic and electronic sound as well as depiction of the simulated and the unconscious.
>Ragnar Johnson and Jessica Mayer - Music From Yemen Arabia: Sanaani, Laheji, Adeni And Samar 2xCD/2xLP (Sub Rosa)
a reissue of both Music From Yemen Arabia: Samar and Music From Yemen Arabia: Sanaani, Laheji, Adeni, recorded by Ragnar Johnson and Jessica Mayer. These songs originate from the city of Sanaa, the sheikdom of Lahej and the port of Aden. These songs originate from the city of Sanaa, the sheikdom of Lahej and the port of Aden. Samar is the delicious, luxury time when people gather for relaxation, refreshment, and music. This record contains oudh playing, percussion, and singing from Yemen. The three Kawkabani brothers sing traditional poems and play oudh (lute), double drums, tambourine, and, occasionally, the kanoun (zither). They were recorded in Sanaa in 1973. The oudh player Hassan al Zabeede and his double drum playing brother sing songs in the Lahej style and were recorded in Taez in 1973.
>Jungle Rot – What Horrors Await [Reissues/2006] CD (Victory)
CD reissue of the sixth studio album from the American death metal band.
>Kalmah – Palo CD (Spinefarm)
“A piece of unbridled all-consuming wildfire of melodic death metal mastery.”
>Kamelot – The Shadow Theory CD/2xLP (Napalm)
Deeply intrigued by analytical psychology, Kamelot's new album The Shadow Theory leans on three pillars: The Shadow Empire (The global mind), The Shadow Key (The Resistance) and The Shadow Wall (The veil that blinds us from the truth). It's a dystopian glimpse at the complexity of the human mind and its place in an oppressive society and most of all a fascinating and eerie backdrop for 13 lush and artsy songs that boast Kamelot's trademarks; yet the band steps out to add new and modern elements along with bringing in some amazing emotions that harken back to their earlier days. [Deluxe digipak CD and limited edition white colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
>King Tubby – Never Run Away/Dub Plate Specials CD/LP (Jamaican Recordings)
This collection brings together sixteen B-sides and dubplates cut by Tubby, largely over rhythms built by Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee.
>Le Galaxie – Pleasure CD/LP (Red River Ent.)
Recorded in their own studio with ultra-producer Blende, Le Galaxie's third studio album Pleasure points to the band's evolution from purveyors of dance floor bangers to creators of well-crafted songs. The affecting, almost master and servant like vocal exchange between Michael Pope and longtime collaborator and new full-time member May Kay (Fight Like Apes), demonstrates a self-confidence and maturity of a band in full control of their abilities.
>Lil Xan – Total Xanarchy CD (Sony)
Debut album from the breakout rapper. HypeBeast claims "Lil Xan is now one of if not the hottest new rapper of this year so far," and named him "one of the ten rappers you need to know." The New Yorker calls Lil Xan "just one member of a cohort of young musicians who, by embracing a morose sound, have transformed from underground curiosities into stars in the past year."
>Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas – Sound Prints/Scandal CD (Green Leaf)
Scandal marks the first time that trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano have recorded a full studio album of material together, revealing a passionately adventurous band for whom no territory is off-limits. As on their live debut recording, Sound Prints features pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Joey Baron.
>Love – Forever Changes [Reissue/1967] 4xCD+DVD+LP (Elektra)
Super Deluxe box set edition of the psychedelic folk-rock pioneers’ finest achievement. The set features a few firsts for the album, including the CD-debut of a remastered version made by its original co-producer and engineer Bruce Botnick, as well as the first-ever release of the mono version on CD. Disc three offers alternate mixes of every track on the album, and CD 4 delivers a selection of rare and unreleased singles and studio outtakes. Botnick's stereo remaster of the original album makes i's vinyl debut on the LP included with this set. It was cut from high resolution digital audio by celebrated audio engineer Bernie Grundman. The DVD that accompanies the anniversary collection includes a 24/96 stereo mix of the album version of the original album remastered by Botnick. Also featured is "Your Mind And We Belong Together," a rare promotional video directed by Elektra producer Mark Abramson that was originally released in 1968. [Vinyl edition due May 4.]
>Mellow Mood – Large CD/LP (La Tempesta Dub)
Large stands out from the crowd and rather calls for a more conscious way of life, more sober, non-subjugated by market rules, freer. In the end, that's indeed the true spirit of reggae music.
>Kylie Minogue – Golden CD/LP/CD+LP (BMG)
14th album from the award-winning singer-songwriter. Golden was mainly recorded in Nashville, which was a first for Kylie, a fact which couldn't help but inform the sound – albeit in Kylie's superlative pop style. The album opens with lead single "Dancing," which sets the tone for what is to come on the album. Kylie says: "You've got the lyrical edge, that country feel, mixed with some sampling of the voice and electronic elements, so it does what it says on the label. And I love that it's called ‘Dancing', it's immediately accessible and seemingly so obvious, but there's depth within the song." [Available on CD, vinyl, Deluxe CD (which adds four bonus tracks) or Super-Deluxe edition: the album on vinyl, the deluxe-edition CD and a 12" x 12" hardback book with photos and handwritten lyrics by Kylie.]
>Mipso – Edges Run CD/LP (Antifragile Music)
Mipso brings a distinctly unique sound – full of wistful beauty, hopeful undercurrents, and panoramic soundscapes. Venturing ever-further from its string-band pedigree to discover a broader Americana where classic folk-rock and modern alt-country sounds mingle easily with Appalachian tradition, Mipso's music is lush and forward moving, with lyrics that sear and salve in turn.
>Tom Misch – Geography CD/2xLP (Beyond The Groove)
Geography is the debut album from 22-year-old South-East Londoner and singer-songwriter/DJ/producer Tom Misch. His music is an intrepid and invigorating adventure in sound, bursting with inventiveness. “Geography builds on DIY elements employed in previous projects, namely his Beat Tape 1 and 2, Out To Sea and the ambitious, multi-layered 5 Day Mischon.
The love of J Dilla consistently apparent in his work is most clearly heard on ‘Tick Tock’, which harkens back to his beginnings as a bedroom beat-making adolescent before quickly showing more of a new-found funk influence. This in itself is indicative of the multi-layered nature of Misch as an artist today, and his ability to seamlessly and organically combine genres. Given his grand musical repertoire, it’s easy to forget that Misch is only 22 years old.” – The Line Of Best Fit
>Elizabeth Mitchell and Suni Paz - Tú Eres Mi Flor: Songs for Children en Español CD (Smithsonian Folkways)
A sunny collection of songs sung in Spanish by beloved children’s artists Elizabeth Mitchell and Suni Paz.
>David Lee Murphy – No Zip Code CD (Reviver)
New release from the veteran country singer/songwriter.
>Paddy & Rats – Riot City Outlaws CD/LP (Napalm)
“With enough to cause an international incident being a Hungarian version of an Irish Celtic punk band – right down to their names like ‘Paddy O’Reilly’ and ‘Seamus Connelly’ – nothing could prepare me for the awesome songs on this excellent album.” – Battlehelm
>Panopticon – Scars Of Man On The Once Nameless Wilderness Part 1 CD/2xLP (Nordvis)
Panopticon – Scars Of Man On The Once Nameless Wilderness Part 2 CD/2xLP (Nordvis)
A two-part album that musically explores the two separate musical sides of Panopticon. Part 1 harkens back to melodic black and death metal influences and Part 2 focuses entirely on Americana, folk and country music from North America.
>Rick Parfitt – Over And Out CD/LP (earMUSIC)
Ever since their early beginnings, singer and guitarist Rick Parfitt had been a pivotal member of legendary British rock band Status Quo. Standing abreast of Francis Rossi, the two made up the creative core of the band and therefore birthed more than 60 UK chart hit singles and 32 studio albums. Prior to his death in 2016, and unknown to almost anyone, Rick had almost completed his first solo album whilst undergoing a period of recuperation after his heart attack in July of that year. Over And Out features ten brand new songs, including the title track that was played at his funeral.
>Pestilence – Hadeon CD/LP (Hammerheart)
The Dutch death metal legends are back with a brand-new album.
>Elvis Presley – The Searcher – Original Soundtrack CD/3xCD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Soundtrack to the new multi-part documentary Elvis Presley: The Searcher, directed by Thom Zimny and airing on HBO on April 14, that pushes past the larger-than-life image of The King of Rock and Roll, portraying him instead as a man and an artist “who wanted to heal, to find that thing that was always felt to be missing, and to do it through the music.” Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Standard edition features 18 tracks, while the triple-CD deluxe edition box set offers an expanded 55-track overview of Elvis' career; all as heard in the film.
>Rainbow Kitten Surprise – How To: Friend, Love, Freefall CD/LP+MP3 (Elektra)
With chilling harmonies, dynamic instrumentation, and introspective lyrics, Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s genre-defying sound takes influence as much from artists like Modest Mouse and Kings of Leon as it does from Frank Ocean and Schoolboy Q. [Limited edition purple colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Renee Rosnes – Beloved Of The Sky CD/LP (Smoke Sessions)
Beloved Of The Sky’s nine pieces ruminate on pleasures and inspirations that don't come with a price tag – the splendor of nature, the mysteries of the universe, the comforts of home, the treasured memories of lost loved ones, the simple warmth of an inside joke. The album also celebrates the chemistry and discovery made possible by a band of truly remarkable musicians, each one a master of their instrument: saxophonist Chris Potter, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lenny White.
>Âmes Sanglantes - Chindia Tower Impalements [2015] 3xCD (Hospital Productions)
Triple CD reissue -- originally released as a triple cassette of only 66 copies. A definitive document revealing the cruelty of the Wallachian landscape myths and realities. Dracula vs. Vlad Tepes... Caustic, brittle, and eerie, the six long-duration tracks secure Âmes Sanglantes as one of the most original and overlooked extreme electronic monikers of the '90s North American cassette underground.
>Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Years CD/LP+MP3 (Bloodshot)
Years solidifies the point: Sarah Shook & The Disarmers have moved from getting people's attention to commanding it. The bands' new album-with its sharpened songwriting, unique perspective, deepened sound and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude-will grab you by the collar and put a defiant finger to your chest. It is resolute, blunt, and unflinching.
>Frank Sinatra – Baby Blue Eyes CD/2xLP (Capitol)
Frank Sinatra's daughter Tina has curated a collection of some of his most fondly-loved recordings for a special compilation for children and parents alike.
>Sloan – 12 CD/2xLP+MP3 (Yep Roc)
“That title isn't just some random number.12 is indeed the 12th album from Canadian power-pop perennials Sloan, which means it's as good as Led Zeppelin IV, Black Sabbath's Vol. 4, and Chicago 4 all put together. But seriously: not only are Sloan the rare band to make it to their 12th record, and not only are Sloan the rare band to make it to their 12th record with all four original members, and not only are Sloan the rare band to make it to their 12th album with four original members who are equally prolific songwriters, they're arguably the only band to make it to their 12th album with four original members who are both equally prolific songwriters and all still working at the top of their respective games, sounding utterly ageless in the process.” [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Sonido Gallo Negro - Mambo Cósmico CD/LP+MP3 (Glitterbeat)
Hailing from Mexico City, Sonido Gallo Negro's exhilarating third album, Mambo Cósmico, continues their exploration into the psychedelic richness and rhythmic pulse of Amazonian cumbia while at the same reaching for new sounds and textures -- such as mambo, cha cha, porro and danzon.
>Son Volt – Search [Reissue/2007] CD/2xLP (Transmit Sound)
Son Volt was one of the most instrumental and influential bands in launching the alt-country movement of the 1990's. Originally released in 2007, and out of print for the past several years, this deluxe reissue of The Search features bonus content. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Spiders – Killer Machine CD (Spinefarm)
Spiders weave a wild web of reckless and rip-roaring riffs, spellbinding vocals, seductive rhythms, sticky hooks, and punk soul.
>Lisa Stansfield – Deeper CD/2xLP/2xLP+CD (earMUSIC)
Hearing Lisa Stansfield sing takes you back. In the late ‘80s and throughout the ‘90s, the smiley singer with the Elsie Tanner accent was the coolest pop star on the planet. Her seductive, soulful vocals and timeless dance-pop songs saw her top the charts on both sides of Atlantic, duet with George Michael and Queen. On Deeper, Stansfield challenges herself without compromising her signature blend of pop, jazz, dance, Motown and Northern soul. It showcases some new signature songs, like the club-oriented “Everything” but at the same time reveals the British queen of white soul in a more melodic light with tracks such as “Billionaire.” The smoothly interlocking collection is carried by Stansfield's bulky and multifaceted voice throughout. Deeper features funky groovy disco tracks, well-tempered soul-pop ballads, as well as laid-back easy-listening songs and it all comes together to form a well-crafted blend which sounds as strong-willed as Lisa Stansfield has proven to be. [Also available as a limited-edition box set featuring the album on both CD and vinyl formats and a t-shirt, poster and photo cards.]
>Will Stewart – Country Seat CD/LP (Cornelius Chapel)
County Seat nods to a number of songwriters who sing about the beauty of their homeland without glossing over its imperfections. There are electrified moments influenced by Neil Young, guitar arpeggios suited for R.E.M., turns-of-phrase worthy of Bob Dylan, and the modern-day folksy charm of Hiss Golden Messenger.
>Ebo Taylor – Yen Ara CD/LP (Mr. Bongo)
New album from the Ghanaian music legend. The 81-year-old composer, arranger, guitarist and vocalist has been a key figure in the evolving Afro-funk sound since the ‘70s.
>Thirty Seconds To Mars – The New Album CD (Interscope)
Fifth album from the multi-platinum selling band. "The album is, I think, going to be very surprising to people," frontman Jared Leto told Rogue Magazine. "There's quite a lot of different musical styles on the album, it's a very modern album and a break from the past – we are incredibly excited about it. It has a lot of energy and we've spent years working on it, exploring new ideas." [Vinyl edition due June 8.]
>Triptides – Visitor CD/LP (Requiem Pour Twister)
On their sixth album, the L.A. band digs deep into fifty years of psychedelic pop music with their trademarked pristine and charming melodies. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>The Turbans – The Turbans CD (Six Degrees)
The Turbans are an international musical collective that combine traditional, Near-Eastern and Eastern-European styles with original compositions, to create modern and energetic performances that remain faithful to their ancient roots. This extraordinary project has grown in just a few short years, from humble beginnings into a respected name on the London music scene. Members come from such diverse locales as Turkey, Bulgaria, Israel, Iran, Greece, Spain and England. [Vinyl edition due April 20.]
>Underøath – Erase Me CD/LP (Fearless)
Underøath return with their first new album in eight years – the Matt Squire-produced (Panic! At The Disco, 3OH!3) Erase Me. Right out of the gate, “It Has To Start Somewhere” burns like a rail dragster achieving top speed before hurling itself straight into the sun. “Wake Me” is almost pop that overshadows whatever manufactured nine-person co-writing session is currently being marketed on streaming-service playlists. “Rapture” feels like prog rock that traverses generations near and far, while Chris Dudley's electronics drive “No Frame” into universes unknown. Even the first single, “On My Teeth,” seemingly sends a warning to listeners to protect their necks. Underøath may have tempered the punishing riffage of their previous releases, but they doubled-down on the urgency. Erase Me is the apex where melodic heft, indefatigable power, spatial resonance and arcane electronic textures converge to reveal a band that's positively fearless. [Limited edition 180gm colored vinyl in special packaging also available.]
>Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex & Food CD/LP+MP3 (Jagjaguwar)
The fourth album from Ruban Nielson’s Unknown Mortal Orchestra project is a delightfully shapeshifting affair that filters these real-deal serious themes through a vibrant sonic lens that spans battered drum-machine funk, doomy and thrashing rock, and pink-hued psychedelic disco. [Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>The Vaccines – Combat Sports CD/LP (Capitol)
The Vaccines return to their roots with an album of songs ranging from pure rock and roll to power-pop.
>Christina Vantzou – No4 CD/LP (Kranky)
Belgium-based composer Christina Vantzou’s fourth full-length for Kranky ventures further into the uniquely elusive and evocative mode of ambient classical minimalism which has become her signature: a fragile synthesis of contemplative drift, heady silences, and muted dissonance. In regards to the new album she speaks of focusing particular attention on the effects of the recordings on the body, and of “directing sound perception into an inner space.”
>Various Artists – Johnny Cash: The Music – Forever Words CD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Johnny Cash: Forever Words is a collaborative album consisting of 16 songs created from Johnny Cash's unknown poetry, lyrics, and letters set to music by an astounding array of contemporary artists including Chris Cornell, Ruston Kelly & Kacey Musgraves, Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Brad Paisley, Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, and more.
>Various Artists - Revamp: The Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin CD (Island)
Various Artists – Restoration: Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin CD (MCA Nashville)
Some of the world’s biggest pop, rock and country artists are celebrating Elton John’s most beloved and legendary catalogue of hits with two albums: Revamp and Restoration. The superstar lineup features artists both new and iconic reinterpreting the timeless songs of the over 50-year writing partnership that Elton and Bernie Taupin share. Restoration contains thoughtful interpretations by Dierks Bentley, Rosanne Cash and Emmylou Harris, Miley Cyrus, Vince Gill and Don Henley, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton and Lee Ann Womack. Revamp refracts Elton John’s most iconic pop hits through the voices of the industry’s hottest talents, including: Pink, Logic, Coldplay, Alessia Cara, Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Mary J. Blige, Q-Tip, The Killers, Sam Smith, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Queens Of The Stone Age.
>Andreas Varady – The Quest CD (Resonance)
The Quest is guitar virtuoso Andreas Varady’s debut on Resonance Records and his clarion call statement as an artist. Discovered by the legendary producer Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2012 at a mere 15 years of age, Varady has gone on to wow established music icons such as George Benson and Marcus Miller.
>Dan Weiss – Starebaby CD/2xLP (Pi Recordings)
Starebaby is the upshot of drummer Dan Weiss's long-running dream to bring together some of the most accomplished players on the jazz scene to play music that combines jazz with the power of heavy metal and electronic new music.
>Western Centuries – Songs From The Deluge CD/LP (Free Dirt)
With Songs From The Deluge, honky-tonk supergroup Western Centuries brings country music home to it's eclectic and unpretentious origins. Recorded and co-produced by acclaimed Cajun musician and Grammy-winning producer Joel Savoy at his Eunice, L.A. studio, this fresh set of songs spans psychedelia, boogie-woogie, and quixotic tales of love.
>Winter – Ethereality CD/LP (Lolipop/ORG Music)
Winter is the project of songwriter Samira Winter, who’s love for guitar music and nostalgic imagery inspired the dream pop/indie rock four piece. Samira grew up in Curitiba, Brazil listening to her American father’s punk records, and her Brazilian mother’s MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) tunes. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Winterfylleþ – The Hallowing Of Heirdom CD/2xLP (Spinefarm)
Winterfylleþ is a pagan black metal band from Manchester UK, concerned with themes of England's history/heritage, poetry and folklore. Winterfylleþ (which translates into Winter Full Moon from the Old English language) represents the first full moon in October, as well as the Anglo-Saxon festival of the arrival of winter.
>Alison Wonderland – Awake CD/LP (Astralwerks)
A mix of digital-pop and incendiary beats, Awake finds Sydney-born, L.A. based singer-songwriter, producer and DJ Alison Wonderland blazing new territory – sonically, vocally and emotionally. "I just wanted to go bigger and really push myself," Wonderland explains. "Vocally, I can hear a massive difference. I'm a lot more comfortable with my voice now and I'm not afraid to get on the mic and just go for it." Underneath its vibrant pop pulse, soaring synth-pop single "Church," is the sound of Wonderland emerging from her own darkness.
>The Wonder Years – Sister Cities CD/LP (Hopeless)
The Philadelphia natives return with their new studio album of testimonials on love, loss, and finding commonalities in the human experience despite cultural differences.
>Royal Wood – Ever After The Farewell CD/LP (Outside Music)
New album from one of the most accomplished singer songwriters in Canada. Recorded in London, UK, with Jamie Scott (known for his work with renowned artists like Rag'n Bone Man, Michael Kiwanuka, Niall Horan and Ed Sheeran), Royal's album is not only deeply inspired by both loss and love, but is an ode to the classic styles of both Tin Pan Alley and Laurel Canyon.
>Wye Oak – The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Wye Oak’s fifth album pursues a litany of modern malaises, each track diligently addressing a new conflict and pinning it against walls of sound, with the song’s subject and shape inextricably and ingeniously linked. A gripping and powerful set of songs built with melodies, movement, and emotions that transcend even the best of their catalogue. [Limited pressing on beige/blue colored vinyl also available.]
>XYZ – Artificial Flavoring CD/LP (Mono-Tone)
XYZ = a Trans-Atlantic American/French project featuring Ian Svenonius (Chain & The Gang, Make-Up, Escape-ism, et al.) on vocals and Memphis Electronic (of the groups NON!, Dum Bum Boys, Die Idiots, et al.) on instruments. Twelve dancefloor rockers and sexy glam numbers with fuzz guitars, drum machines, and analog synths on this irresistible plastic platter.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Jhené Aiko – The Trip LP (ARTium/Def Jam Recording)
“Written during a period of grief, Jhené Aiko’s 22-track LP turns her methods of survival—enlightenment, drugs, music itself—into an epic concept album. Some of Aiko’s most honest writing occurs here.” – Pitchfork
>Alessandro Alessandroni - Lost & Found LP (Four Flies)
15 forgotten soundtracks and library music treasures spanning 1972-1978.
>Louis Armstrong And The All Stars – Satchmo At Symphony Hall [Reissue/1954] LP (Vinyl Passion)
>Derek Bailey – Lot 74: Solo Improvisations [Reissue/1974] LP (Honest Jon’s)
Derek Bailey/Tristan Honsinger – Duo [Reissue/1976] LP (Honest Jon’s)
Two vinyl reissues of forward-thinking guitar improv, both originally released on Incus in the mid- ‘70s
>Robbie Basho – Live In Forli, Italy 1982 LP (ESP-Disk’)
Released in January on CD – now available on vinyl. Robbie Basho (1940-1986), who died young after a stroke, never got his due in the culture at large, but steel-string guitar enthusiasts have known for decades that he was one of the greats of "American Primitivism". Technically adept and compositionally imaginative, fusing the music of many cultures into a mesmerizing solo style, he has been an inspiration for many; his music has generated a surge of interest in recent years. This 1982 concert was part of a four-show Italian tour.
>David Bazan/Sean Lane – Rare Coins LP (15 Passenger)
The Rare Coins Series spotlights an established artist who, in turn, chooses an up-and-coming artist they’d like to share a split release with. Fans not only receive new music from the artist they love, but also get a chance to hear music chosen by this artist. David Bazan was the lead singer for Pedro The Lion and a member of the band Headphones. Sean Lane is a drummer/percussionist. He’s played in bands such as Perfume Genius, and with David Bazan and Noah Gundersen. Limited gold colored vinyl pressing.
>Burnier & Cartier - Burnier & Cartier [Reissue/1974] LP (Mr. Bongo)
Vinyl reissue of a sought-after Brazilian LP from 1974 that touches on MPB, soul, jazz, disco and boogie.
>Between The Buried & Me – Automata I LP (Sumerian)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the progressive metal band - the first two parts and eighth album overall. Automata is a concept album that revolves around the concept of being able to view the dreams of others.
>The Black Sun Ensemble – The Black Sun Ensemble [Reissue/1985] LP (San Jacinto)
Vinyl reissue of an “absolutely stunning psych LP, first released in limited edition in 1985 on Pyknotic label and reissued on CD in 2000 by Camera Obscura (instantly sold out). Stunning fuzzy guitar, Eastern tunes, chanting, some horns here and there.... absolutely spacey psychedelic music”—Mutant Sound
>Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum [Reissue/1968] LP (Sundazed)
Long out-of-print mono version sourced from the original Philips reels. Blue Cheer's landmark 1968 debut is widely regarded as Ground Zero of the heavy metal explosion.
>Bonga – Angola ’74 [Reissue/1974] LP (Lusafrica)
Vinyl reissue of the legendary Angolan singer José Adelino Barcelo de Carvalho’s second album.
>Steve Bug & Langenberg – Paradise Sold 2xLP (Poker Flat)
The irresistible pairing of Steve Bug and Langenberg present a full vinyl album of exquisitely crafted house music on Bug's own Poker Flat Recordings.
>Bulletboys – From Out Of The Skies LP (Frontiers/Vinyl Eck)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the veteran hard rockers.
>Casual Hex – Zig Zag Lady Illusion LP (Water Wing)
Drawing influence from a variety of genres (post-punk, no-wave, noise rock), Casual Hex relies on the contrast of heavy, catchy, minimal, and dissonant. It’s difficult to draw a direct lineage, but flashes of Pylon, The Contortions or early Sonic Youth come to mind.
>Charnel Ground – Charnel Ground LP (12XU)
Charnel Ground is a meeting of Chris Brokaw (Come, Codeine, The New Year) on electric guitar, James McNew (Yo La Tengo, Dump) on bass, and Kid Millions (Oneida, Man Forever, etc.) on drums, dedicated to exploring the outer and inner regions of instrumental rock music.
>Chrome Sparks – Sparks [Reissue/2013] 12”+MP3 (Future Classics)
Chrome Sparks – Goddess [Reissue/2014] 12”+MP3 (Future Classics)
Chrome Sparks – Parallelism [Reissue/2015] 12”+MP3 (Future Classics)
Chrome Sparks is the project of Brooklyn-based producer Jeremy Malvin. The 2013 Sparks EP features the internet phenomenon "Marijuana" and "Send The Pain On," and positioned him as an in-demand collaborator and tour artist (supporting the likes of Flume, Bonobo and XXYYXX). His 2014 follow-up Goddess is a tightly-structured six-track EP made in Malvin's bedroom and built on expansive landscapes and his love of percussion and synthesizers.
>Come Holy Spirit – Asters And Disasters LP (Water Wing)
Formed in 2012 in Pittsburgh PA, Come Holy Spirit wields the age-old trifecta of guitar, bass, and drums in unexpected configurations. The songs embody a complex aggregate of musical influences, ranging from the angular deconstructivism of early experimental anarcho-punk (think Dog Faced Hermans and Poison Girls) to the tender repetition of far-flung folk music.
>The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band – Chinese Butterfly 3xLP (Concord Jazz)
Chinese Butterfly is a reunion of two musical titans, a creative partnership that dates back to the early days of Return To Forever with Chick Corea when Steve Gadd was one of the first drummers.
>The Crown – Cobra Speed Venom LP (Metal Blade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Extreme speed and aggression mixed with classic heavy metal and rock ‘n’ roll from the Swedish death metal band.
>Deathrow – Riders Of Doom [Reissue/1986] LP (Noise)
Deathrow – Raging Steel [Reissue/1987] LP (Noise)
Deathrow – Deception Ignored [Reissue/1988] LP (Noise)
Deathrow was a West-German thrash metal band from Düsseldorf formed in 1984. Their second, third, and fourth albums have been reissued on vinyl.
>Decry – Falling: The Best Of Decry LP (Cleopatra)
Limited purple vinyl pressing – 16 bone crushing tracks from the ‘80s punk revivalists.
>Jean Dubuffet – Musical Experiences [Reissue/1973] LP (Etats-Unis)
The legendary French painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet exalted naivety and spontaneity in visual art, and his brazenly experimental recordings on Musical Experiences evince the same spirit through sound.
>John Duncan – Organic [Reissue/1979] LP (Etats-Unis)
The inter-disciplinary maverick John Duncan emerged in 1970s Los Angeles as a confrontational performance artist and, as the decade progressed, aligned himself with the experimental-music collective Los Angeles Free Music Society. His sound art appeared on various self-released cassettes and alongside artists such as Jim Pomeroy and Yoshi Wada on the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art's influential compilation Sound. Duncan's debut album, Organic, released in a tiny edition on the artist's own AQM imprint in 1979 and distributed through LAFMS, collects some of his earliest and most absorbing noise experiments.
>Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan [Reissue/1963] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Vinyl reissue of Dylan’s second studio album.
>Freak Heat Waves – Beyond XXXL LP (Telephone Explosion)
In the two years since their last release, Freak Heat Waves have continued a perpetual process of transformation. Shedding familiar influences from the heavily excavated histories of post-punk and krautrock, the band has now beamed into uncharted territory with the otherworldly sound of their third album, Beyond XXXL. Beyond XXXL is 11-song excursion, alien strains of synth-pop and glam-rock are sandblasted with smooth guitar solos, eerie electronics, and pulsating drum machines propelled into skull-shattering breakbeats.
>Galactic Explorers – Epitaph For Venus LP (Mental Experience)
Vinyl reissue of another album from the Pyramid label shrouded in mystery and produced by Toby Robinson in Cologne, circa 1974. Kosmische and head sounds with plenty of Minimoog, analog synths/keyboards, effects, loops, tape manipulation, treated percussions, etc., courtesy of Galactic Explorers, an electronic, minimal, ambient krautrock trio featuring Reinhard Karwatky (Dzyan). RIYL: Terry Riley, Popol Vuh, Sand, Peter Michael Hamel, Tangerine Dream, Baba Yaga, Cluster, Cozmic Corridors, Brainticket.
>Geld – Perfect Texture LP (Iron Lung)
Swirling psychedelic D-Beat madness from Melbourne, Australia. Acidic fuzz guitars and wild distorted vocals snarling out eleven songs about suffering, vulnerability, paranoia and banality are what make up the perfect texture of living in today's doomed world.
>Girlschool – The Singles [1979-1984] LP (Real Gone Music)
If your knowledge of hard-rockin’, all-female bands from the late ‘70s is limited to The Runaways, friend, it is time to broaden your horizons and cast your eyes across the pond to the British rock institution that is Girlschool. Limited orange colored vinyl pressing.
>Gitkin – 5 Star Motel LP (Wonderwheel)
Debut album from multi-instrumentalist and producer Brian Gitkin, inspired by his mysterious uncle - a travelling salesman who crisscrossed the US in the late ‘70s selling knockoff Gibson guitars to the diverse groups of immigrants from all four corners of the globe who were coming to the States during the second great migration. Recycling and filtering the sounds he encountered through his own psychedelic lens, he created a sound rooted in the disparate sounds he was encountering from places like Ethiopia, Mexico, Peru, and North Africa.
>Miles Goodwin And Friends Of The Blues – Myles Goodwin And Friends Of The Blues LP (Linus)
Myles Goodwyn's passion for the blues began in '60s when he started listening to American blues artists like BB King, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Although the blues songs he wrote over the years never made it onto an April Wine album, he kept saving them for the blues album he knew he was going to make one day. Myles Goodwyn And Friends Of The Blues is the result of these sessions. Some of the Friends joining Goodwyn are Jack de Keyzer, Garret Mason, David Wilcox, Amos Garret, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Joe Murphy, Frank Marino, Shaun Verreault, Bill Stevenson, Rick Derringer and more.
>Hawkwind – At The Roundhouse 3xLP (Cherry Red UK)
On Friday, May 26, 2017, Hawkwind returned to London's legendary Roundhouse venue in Chalk Farm for the first time in 40 years. It was also some 45 years after the band famously performed at the venue (captured for posterity on the Greasy Truckers Party album), where they recorded the hit version of “Silver Machine”. Six months on, this amazing, historic show is captured for posterity within a deluxe vinyl box set which boasts audio versions of the entire performance.
>His Name Is Alive – Black Wings 2xLP (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
Black Wings was originally designed as a collection of outtakes, demos and experiments, combining beautifully layered acapella vocal harmonies with heavy fuzz riffs and sci-fi soundtrack synths, and was included in the Patterns Of Light limited edition super set (2016) but quickly grew in stature and attracted attention as a fundamentally unique stand-alone release. Black Wings is a 30-song cosmic double album housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve and collages an insane variety of styles including psychedelic rock, new age meditation, medieval choral, and the protometal prog of early Rush and Hawkwind, while lyrically covering heavily researched creation myths, visionary theology, particle physics, dragons and some feelings about the fundamental forces of nature and witchcraft.
>J.C. Satàn – Centaur Of Desire LP (Born Bad)
You can count on the fingers of one hand the bands you've loved up until their fifth album like J.C. Satàn -- almost ten years after falling in love. There are dudes who have “seen them too much”, heard them too much, and stopped expecting anything from them anymore. The Satàn crew did not deliver a fifth album just for the hell of it, just to justify their next tour: they got together to seek the rare fuel, the miraculous current able to galvanize our sleeping senses, the electroshock forcing us to revive the urgent impression of being alive.
>Warner Jepson – Totentanz [Reissue/1972] LP (Etats-Unis)
Limited clear vinyl LP pressing. Considered as the first piece of electronic music to accompany a ballet, Totentanz is the arrestingly abstract and mightily expressive result of Warner Jepson's experiments with tape and Don Buchla's groundbreaking synthesizer, the Buchla 100. Totentanz, originally self-released in 1972, reveals a composer relieved of convention.
>John’s Children – Desdemona 7” (Munster)
"Marc Bolan was only a member of John's Children for a few short months, but the experience would have an indelible impact on the future trajectory of his music. The group's first single for Track would be a Bolan composition, 'Desdemona'. The next single, 'Midsummer Night's Scene', was scheduled for release in July but was cancelled at the last minute. Bolan departed [...] but John's Children recorded one more of his songs, 'Mustang Ford', which they repurposed as 'Go-Go Girl'." -- Mike Stax, Ugly Things
>Jack Kerouac featuring Al Cohn And Zoot Sims – Blues And Haikus [Reissue/1959] LP (Real Gone Music)
Just like its predecessor, Poetry For The Beat Generation, legendary beatnik writer Jack Kerouac’s second album, Blues And Haikus, teamed him with producer Bob Thiele and came out on Thiele’s Douglas label in 1959. But this time around, instead of the debut’s dilettante-ish jazz piano jazz flourishes from Steve Allen, Kerouac insisted on bona fide jazz musicians to accompany his stream-of-consciousness prose.
>Killer Of Sheep – Scorned LP (Taang!)
Vinyl reissue of the explosive debut album by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania political-hardcore outfit Killer of Sheep (named after the 1978 cult film of the same name) and featuring scene veterans Oyo Ellis, Greg Mairs, Ollie McClellen and Keith Smallwood. The album contains a dozen blistering tracks in the spirit of Poison Idea, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Slapshot, and Bad Brains.
>Light The Torch – Revival LP (Nuclear Blast America)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the metal band featuring former Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones.
>The Litter – Emerge [Reissue/1969] LP (Purple Pyramid)
Vinyl reissue of the 1969 album by garage rock heroes. Nine classic cuts of guitar driven, fuzzed-out psychedelia.
>Annea Lockwood – Glass World [Reissue/1970] LP (Etats-Unis)
New Zealand-born sound artist and composer Annea Lockwood received formal training at various institutions before exploring the sonorous potential of glass in a series of performances in the late 1960s. With plates of wired glass, glass discs, chunks of green cullet glass, glass tubing,
sheets of micro-glass, glass jars and other incarnations of the material, Lockwood elicited a staggering array of sounds, some subtly uncanny and others as outlandish and alien as anything emitted from the era's early synthesizers. Clear vinyl reissue.
>Lorde – Melodrama LP (Republic)
Two vinyl pressings of Lorde’s 2017 album are now available: Standard and Deluxe 180gm translucent royal blue colored vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket, double sided record sleeve, and bi-fold lyric booklet with six double-sided photo inserts.
>Morbid Angel – Heretic [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Earache)
Originally released in 2003, Heretic is the seventh full-length studio album from Florida's death metal titans.
>Gerry Mulligan/Ben Webster – Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster [Reissue/1959] LP (Analog Production)
200gm vinyl LP reissue of a classic album from two giants. From the first to last note of this velvety 1959 collaboration, you'll hear what made jazz what it is: communication and interaction. Mulligan and Webster devoted the sessions to six relaxed numbers performed in an atmosphere of mutual respect where neither attempted to blast away the other. Soulful and melodic, the selections all come from the Duke Ellington songbook or the pen of Mulligan himself while a swinging West Coast Jazz rhythm section provides supple backing throughout.
>Mike Ness – Cheating At Solitaire [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Mike Ness – Under The Influences [Reissue/1999] LP (Craft Recordings)
Originally released in 1999, Cheating At Solitaire is the first solo release from Social Distortion frontman, Mike Ness. The album incorporates the raw power and social relevance that has always marked Ness' music, while embracing many of the defining styles in American rock 'n' roll history. His second LP, Under The Influences, is a compilation of country, rock, and bluegrass covers released just six months after his first solo effort.
>Okkre – Épica LP (Modern Obscure Music)
Okkre (Uge Pañeda) is producer of the Spanish duo LCC, who have released two albums on Editions Mego. This is the soundtrack to a very special performance named Épica. Directed by Aimar Pérez Galí, it was premiered at Sonar 2017. Épica brings clubbing culture inside the theater, to deliver a highly energetic performance, joining bodies, sound and voices of historic and political dissidence.
>Pere Ubu - Les Haricots Sont Pas Sales 1987-1991 4xLP+MP3 (Fire)
Third box set featuring The Tenement Year (1988), Cloudland (1989), Worlds In Collison (1991) and The Lost Album (1989). Another crucial era for the band unraveled, Pere Ubu’s journey charted new undulating territory and so began a three-album escapade that retooled our understanding of what pop music is. The third in the four-part boxed set series, Les Haricots Sont Pas Salés 1987-1991 sits between The Architecture Of Language 1979-1982 and Drive, He Said 1994-2002.
>Physique – Punk Life Is Sh*t LP (Iron Lung)
By now people know that most of the music coming out of Olympia WA is important in some way, be it artistically or politically. Physique manages to hit both points by channeling the classic Discharge / Kawakami (RIP) model of poetic, simplistic sloganeering and carefully crafted, noise fueled D-Beat punk music.
>Bud Powell – The Essen Jazz Festival Concert [Reissue/1960] LP (ORG Music)
Recorded live in April of 1960 at The Essen Jazz Festival, this masterful nine-track collection finds pianist Bud Powell leading a top flight bebop trio backed by bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke while tenor saxophone giant Coleman Hawkins joins the proceedings for three of the nine selections, highlighted by an incredible take on his own composition, "Stuffy."
>Elvis Presley – Elvis’ Gold Records Volume 5 [Reisue/1984] LP (Friday Music)
Limited edition 180gm colored vinyl LP pressing, housed in a gatefold sleeve. Originally issued posthumously in 1984, Elvis' Gold Records Volume 5 is the final installment in RCA's Elvis Presley's Gold Records series which began in 1958.
>Steve Roach – Dreamtime Return [Reissue/1988] 2xLP (Telephone Explosion)
Steve Roach’s 1988 double-disc is back in production for the first time in 30 years. Dreamtime Return was inspired by multiple visits to the Australian Outback. The tales told over two LPs touch on the Earth's origins, and the role humans have to play in it. Inspired by the stories of Australia’s first people, Roach used a combination of synthesizers and Aboriginal instruments to create the album’s signature sound.
>Remko Scha – Machine Guitars [Reissue/1982] LP (Etatis-Unis)
Gnashing, thrashing and teeming with enchanting microtones, Machine Guitars is the definitive recorded work of Remko Scha, although the late Dutch artist didn't play a single note himself. Rather, Scha arranged a motorized, rotating wire brush and saber saw in front of suspended electric guitars and let these metallic torrents flow. Limited clear vinyl LP pressing.
>Scientist And Prince Jammy – Scientist And Jammy Strike Back! [Reissue1982] LP (Real Gone Music)
Jedi dub riddims from King Tubby protégés Scientist and Prince Jammy, bringing their mastery of the studio Force to tracks written by Lee “Scratch” Perry acolyte Linval Thompson, and backed by the Roots Radics band, no less. This 1982 album is about as good as early ‘80s dub gets, and the artwork, which pays a gleeful tribute to all sorts of sci-fi tropes, from Star Wars to Star Trek to Ming the Merciless, is just a bonus. First-ever Stateside vinyl reissue, in yellow-green “lightsaber” vinyl.
>Andy Sheppard Quartet – Romaria LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Andy Sheppard’s quartet extends the musical explorations begun on the 2015 release Surrounded By Sea, an album praised by Télérama for its poignant serenity. In this new program of compositions by Sheppard (plus the title track by Brazilian singer-songwriter Renato Teixeira), the drones and washes of Eivind Aarset’s guitar and electronics aided by the generous acoustics of Luganos Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI help to establish a climate in which improvisation can take place. There’s a highly atmospheric, ambient drift to the music which Sheppard clearly finds liberating, as do Michel Benita and Seb Rochford, free to move in and out of conventional rhythm section roles and to make impassioned statements of their own.
>Skenet – Morsning LP (Subliminal Sounds)
On their new album Morsning, Skenet establish their sound and reputation as one of Sweden's premier folk rock band and offer a unique mix of dirty riffs and Swedish fiddler traditions.
>Sly & The Family Stone – There’s A Riot Goin’ On [Reissue/1971] LP (Sundazed)
Since it took almost two years to make, the fifth album by now bonafide superstars Sly & The Family Stone found the Bay Area-based genius getting funkier than before, even as his artistic vision becomes darker. Limited red colored vinyl reissue.
>Son House – Father Of Folk Blues [Reissue/1965] LP (Analog Prod.)
200gm vinyl LP pressing at 45rpm. Mississippi's Son House was already legendary for a small collection of live field recordings made by folklorist Alan Lomax in 1941 and 1942, and for having taught some important licks to both Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, before he was rediscovered by a new generation of college-age fans after many years of musical dormancy in 1964.
>The Streets – Original Pirate Material [Reissue/2002] 2xLP (Warner Bros. UK)
Import vinyl reissue of the debut album by English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under the name The Streets. In March 2003, NME placed Original Pirate Material at number 46 on their list of the 100 Best Albums of All Time.
>Tiny Tim – God Bless Tiny Tim [Reissue/1968] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited edition 50th Anniversary pink colored vinyl repress. If you think, based on “Tiptoe Thru’ The Tulips with Me” and his nationally televised marriage to Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show, that Tiny Tim was a mere novelty act, think again. Behind that ukulele, pasty white make-up, falsetto, and prominent proboscis was a serious scholar of American music, perhaps the only performer of the ‘60s (and certainly the only performer of his age group) keeping the torch alive for songs from vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley.
>The Toasters – Dub 56 [Reissue/1994] LP (Jump Up)
The Toasters – 2 Tone Army [Reissue/1996] LP (Jump Up)
Two classic ‘90s album from American ska pioneers are back in-print on limited grey color marbled vinyl.
>Various Artists – Buried Country LP (Flipping Yeah/Mississippi)
A compilation of Aboriginal Australian country music. All of the material presented here has never been reissued on vinyl before.
>Various Artists – I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats 2xLP+MP3 (Merge)
Double-LP cover album and companion piece to the podcast debut of I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats. I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats contains the full All Hail West Texas covers collection, introduced over the course of podcast season one, pressed to opaque pink & opaque blue vinyl.
>Various Artists – Songs From Under The Floorboard Vol. 1 LP (Accident Prone)
From truly humble beginnings—believing it would simply be a show documenting the origin years of post-punk (1977-1983) that DJ Dave Cantrell lived through in San Francisco and London—radio show Songs From Under the Floorboard on Portland's XRAY FM very quickly evolved onto one of the world's premier sources giving focus to the hyperactive, current-day post-punk synthwave and darkwave scene across the globe. From that weekly blast has come Songs From Under the Floorboard Vol. 1, a compendium featuring rare and exclusive cuts from ten bands. This is the first of a yearly series benefiting LBGTQ and fem-fronted service organizations—this initial release residual profits being funneled to Planned Parenthood.
>Sarah Vaughan – In The Land Of Hi-Fi [Reissue/1955] LP (Vinyl Passion)
1955's In The Land Of Hi-Fi is one of Sarah Vaughan's finest albums; the songs are terrific, the arrangements dynamic, the orchestra a blast, and the recording quality first-rate. Accompanied by an all-star orchestra arranged by Ernie Wilkins and featuring J.J. Johnson on trombone, Roy Haynes on drums and altoist Cannonball Adderley (who was near the beginning of his career), the great singer is in superior form during these performances.
>Victor Wainwright – Victor Wainwright And The Train LP (Ruf)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The name of Victor Wainwright's new band - and the sleeve image of their debut album - is also the most fitting of metaphors. In music folklore, the train might have associations with the freight-hopping bluesmen of yore, but with this restless boogie-woogie innovator stoking the furnace, this project is a charging locomotive - surging forward, crashing through boundaries of genre, sweeping up fresh sounds and clattering headlong past the doubters.
>Zola Jesus – Okovi LP (Sacred Bones)
Released last September on CD – now available on vinyl. Nika Roza Danilova has been recording music as Zola Jesus for more than a decade. For the majority of that time, she’s been on Sacred Bones Records, and Okovi marks her reunion with the label. Fittingly, the 11 electronics-driven songs here share musical DNA with her early work on the label.
30 march 2018
New Releases for March 30, 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>Amen Dunes – Freedom CD/LP+MP3 (Sacred Bones)
Over the course of 10 years, Damon McMahon aka Amen Dunes has transformed continuously, and Freedom is the project's boldest leap yet. On the surface, it's a reflection on growing up, childhood friends who ended up in prison or worse, male identity, McMahon's father, and his mother, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the beginning of recording. The characters that populate the musical world of Freedom are a colorful mix of reality and fantasy: father and mother, Amen Dunes, teenage glue addicts and Parisian drug dealers, ghosts above the plains, fallen surf heroes, vampires, thugs from Naples and thugs from Houston, the emperor of Rome, Jews, Jesus, Tashtego, Perseus, even McMahon himself. Each character portrait is a representation of McMahon, of masculinity, and of his past.
>Eric Andersen – The Essential Eric Andersen 2xCD (Real Gone Music)
Eric Andersen is one of the greatest singer-songwriters to emerge from the fabled Greenwich Village folk scene of the '60s. But the one thing that was missing from his catalog is a true, career-spanning anthology chronicling every phase of his multi-faceted career. The Essential Eric Andersen, is a double-CD, 33-track set that spans 45 years, 10 different labels, and 19 different albums.
>Anna & Elizabeth – Comes To Us CD/LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Praised by many well-known musicians and widely loved for their moving minimalist arrangements, Anna & Elizabeth pioneer new ways of presenting old songs and stories to modern audiences. Co-producer Benjamin Lazar Davis (Cuddle Magic) and legendary avant-rock drummer Jim White (The Dirty Three, Xylouris White) assist in the duo's vision of breathing life and new perspective into the crackling and disintegrating recordings and artifacts of the past. Rarely does an album based on traditional folk music resonate so strongly in modern times.
>Ayreon – Ayreon 2xCD/2xCD+DVD/3xLP+MP3 (Music Theories)
After creating rock operas in the studio for more than 20 years, prog mastermind Arjen Lucassen, aka Ayreon, finally took his Universe to the stage in September 2017. The best of these shows, Ayreon Universe is a full-on rock extravaganza, featuring songs from all Ayreon albums. Guests include Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Damian Wilson (Threshold), Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gentle Storm), Marco Hietala (Nightwish), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Mike Mills (Toehider), Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion), Irene Jansen, Robert Soeterboek (Star One), John Jaycee Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Edward Reekers (Kayak), Jay van Feggelen, Maggy Luyten (Nightmare) and Lisette van den Berg (Scarlet Stories). [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions are also available.]
>Barbarossa – Leir CD/LP (Memphis Industries)
Picking up where 2015’s Imager left off, Lier is further electronic wizardry from Barbarossa (London-born James Mathé) - one of the UK’s finest song writing talents. This time, his vocal is at the forefront on some of the most accessible pop songs he’s ever written.
>Apollo Brown & Ghostface Killah – The Brown Tape CD/LP (Mello Music)
The official reissue of Apollo Brown’s re-imagining of Ghostface Killah's striking 2013 release Twelve Reasons To Die. The legendary Detroit producer was asked to record an alternate album at the same time as Adrian Younge created Twelve Reasons To Die. Keep in mind, Brown was given access to Ghostface's original recordings and constructed beats around the rapper's work. Cinematic and nasty, this is hip-hop at its most raw.
>Cabbage – Nihilistic Glamour Shots CD/LP (BMG)
Faced with a band as explosive as Cabbage, it's disturbing if unsurprising that untruths have clouded the positivity of their intent. Here are some certainties among the drama: Cabbage is a band to believe in. Compromises will not be considered. And the group's music is the most thrilling way imaginable to convey their message. Equally drawn to socialist politics and titting about, they're devotees of both big choruses and anarchic totems like GG Allin, Genesis P Orridge and Butthole Surfers. It’s a mixture writ large throughout Nihilistic Glamour Shots, from the frenetic opening salvo of “Preach To The Converted,” “Arms Of Pleonexia” and “Molotov Alcopop,” via “Perdurabo's” swampy blues and wild funk of “Exhibit A” to the devastating seven-minute finale “Subhuman 2.0.”
>Camp Lo –On The Way Uptown & The Get Down Brothers 2xLP (Vodka & Milk)
In celebration of 20+ years since their classic 1997 debut Uptown Saturday Night, Bronx duo Camp Lo present a On The Way Uptown & The Get Down Brothers. On The Way Uptown is a collection of demos and unreleased songs made between '94 - '95, leading to their official debut in early 1997. On The Get Down Brothers, Camp Lo completely pivot away from their '90s nostalgia into a much more futuristic and experimental sound. Although the production is different, their signature tongue-twisting and hype flows remain, creating a unique and seamless fusion packed into 10 dynamic tracks.
>Mary Chapin Carpenter – Sometimes Just The Sky CD (Lambent Light)
Sometimes Just The Sky is not a greatest hits endeavor or a remastered compilation. It's not a celebration or a souvenir. It is a reimagining of a most unusual nature. It is a collection of songs written across the decades, recorded in bucolic western England at Real World Studios with the great producer Ethan Johns. Carpenter sat with new and old friends who circled together in a wooden room and made music, in real time. What we hear is precisely what was played and sung, all at once. There's a song originally recorded for each of Carpenter's original studio records, and then there's a new song, which was aided and abetted by hillside contemplation and a punk poet's advice. [Vinyl edition due May 4.]
>The Cars – Shake It Up [Reissue/1981] CD/2xLP (Rhino/Elektra)
The Cars – Heartbeat City [Reissue/1984] CD/2xLP (Rhino/Elektra)
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts The Cars in April 2018, honoring the legendary band's incredible musical legacy and enormous commercial success. Rhino kicks off the celebration early with remastered and expanded editions of Shake It Up and Heartbeat City. [180gm vinyl editions also available.]
>Critical Mess – Human Prey CD (Metalville)
Critical Mess formed around ex-Cripper vocalist Britta Görtz, Human Prey shows that they have remained faithful to the old-school death metal with which they grew up on. Featuring a blistering guitar solo by Jeff Waters (Annihilator).
>Czarface & MF DOOM – Czarface Meets Metalface CD/LP (Silver Age)
Blending DOOM's trademark abstractions and Czarface’s in-your-face lyrical attack, Czarface Meets Metalface is ripe with cartoon violence, societal observations and pop culture musings. Over banging beats provided by The Czar-Keys, the armored team give you the witty unpredictable treats any hip-hop fan can sink their fangs into. Expect beats, rhymes, and metal as Czarface controlled by Wu-Tang Clan powerhouse Inspectah Deck and 7L & Esoteric team up with everyone's favorite villain, MF DOOM.
>Ramin Djawadi – A Wrinkle In Time [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] CD (Walt Disney)
The soundtrack to the 2018 motion picture includes a score composed by Ramin Djawadi and songs by Sade, Sia and others.
>Eagle Twin – The Thundering Heard (Songs Of Hoof And Horn) CD/LP (Southern Lord)
Salt Lake City-based duo Eagle Twin release their long-awaited third LP, The Thundering Heard (Songs Of Hoof And Horn). Eagle Twin's commanding sound delivers like a tectonic force, where doom and blues collide. Gentry Densley's dominating low-end vocal tone is like an instrument in itself, rumbling alongside towering riffs, and Tyler Smith's powerful rhythmic propulsion. It's a compelling combination, particularly when you add melodious bluesy romp to the equation.
>Entourage - Ceremony Of Dreams: Studio Sessions And Outtakes, 1972-1977 3xCD (Tompkins Square)
30 unreleased tracks by Entourage. Sampled by Four Tet and revered in underground circles for their two ‘70s Folkways LPs, The Entourage Music And Theater Ensemble was an ambient folk music group active from 1970-1983. The primary members were Joe Clark saxophones/keyboards, Rusty Clark viola/guitar, Michael S. Smith drums/percussion and Wall Matthews guitars/keys/ percussion.
>Frankie Cosmos – Vessel CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Sub Pop)
Frankie Cosmos has taken several different shapes since their first full-band album, 2014's Zentropy, erupted in New York's DIY music scene. For Vessel the band's lineup comprises multi-instrumentalists David Maine, Lauren Martin, Luke Pyenson, and Greta Kline. The album’s 18 tracks employ a range of instrumentations and recording methods not found on the band’s prior albums, while maintaining the succinctly sincere nature of Kline’s songwriting. The album’s opening track, “Caramelize,” serves as the thematic overture for Vessel, alluding to topics like dependency, growth, and love, which reemerge throughout the record. Although many of the scenarios and personalities written about on Vessel are familiar territory for Frankie Cosmos, Kline brings a freshly nuanced point of view, and a desire to constantly question the latent meaning of her experiences. Kline's dissonant lyrics pair with the band's driving, jangly grooves to create striking moments of musical chemistry.
>Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness CD/2xLP (Red Music)
Second studio album by Australian alternative band. James Clements of Rolling Stone Australia said Go Farther In Lightness “poetically explores the human experience in all its bleakness and triumph, confusion and clarity, heartbreak and joyousness” adding it's a “remarkable odyssey of an album that'll engulf you, leaving a bewildered smile on your face, a tear in your eye and a heart that's full.” [Limited white colored double-vinyl pressing in gatefold jacket also available.]
>The Garden – Mirror Might Steal Your Charm CD (Epitaph)
Taking the audience away into a still unfathomed sound world and bringing back some of the scuzzier elements of their earlier work, the duo's more guitar focused third album is another sublime slice of post-modern pop. Welcome back to a land that's familiar, slightly out of sync, and a little bit unnerving. [Vinyl edition due May 18.]
>The Guess Who – So Long, Bannatyne [Reissue/1971] CD (Iconoclassic)
Digitally remastered and expanded edition. The Guess Who proved they could weather a significant personnel change with 1970's triumphant Share The Land. The 1971 follow-up, So Long, Bannatyne saw the band branching out, embracing more eclectic and less polished and commercial material, much of it with a considerably darker hue than the band's earlier material and heavily influenced by John Lennon's visceral Plastic Ono Band.
>Mary Halvorson – Code Girl CD (Firehouse 12)
“Guitarist Mary Halvorson is part traditionalist and part avant-gardist. Probably more the latter. She is a busy collaborator as well, having worked with Taylor Ho Bynum and many other creative band leaders recently. Halvorson has also been playing in projects with other extraordinary guitarists like Noel Akchote and Marc Ribot and the equally innovative pedal steel player Susan Alcorn. Halvorson’s new album, Code Girl, is her first to have lyrics and vocal melodies written by the guitarist.
>Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite – No Mercy In This Land CD/LP (ANTI-)
Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite join forces once again for No Mercy In This Land, the first new music from the pair since the 2013 release of their collaborative album Get Up! which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Blues Albums Chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Blues Album. A musical expression of the kinship between the two, No Mercy In This Land is a blues record which recounts both Ben and Charlie's personal stories and adds to the sonic history of American struggle and survival. “That first record happened in the studio,” Charlie says, “But then we toured together for nearly two years and it just kept getting better and better, the musical rapport, the band, the two of us personally. When we finally headed back into the studio we were just charged, ready to go, the songs were jumping out like wild horses ready to run.” Harper adds, “Everything I've ever done has had one foot in the blues. There has never been any doubt in my mind that if Charlie and I are on the planet together, we are going to be making music. The last record kicked the door open, but it was just the beginning. At this moment, I don't think I could make a better record than this. I mean that.” [Limited 180gm pressing also available.]
>Hexed – Netherworld CD (ViciSolom)
Hexed is a Swedish metal band fronted by the amazing vocalist Tina Gunnarsson. Their music is a blend of thick driving rhythms, melodic guitars and are sometimes progressively orientated, but always with catchy chorus lines and strong powerful female vocals.
>Holy Wave – Adult Fear CD/LP (Levitation Partners)
Holy Wave's third albumsees the Austin, TX quintet forging deeper into hazy synths and expansive melodies, coalescing their myriad of influences into a signature sound.
>Insanity Alert – Insanity Alert [Reissue/2014] CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Austrian party-thrashers Insanity Alert exploded out of the underground in 2014 with their blistering and irreverent crossover thrash attack. Their self-titled debut album is a fast, fun, and filthy affair that highlights their devotion to raging, skating, and ripping '80s thrash metal. The group features vocalist Amirtha Kidambi.” – Hartford Courant [New album due this year.]
>Jukebox The Ghost – Off To The Races CD/LP (Priority)
A giddy, vibrant fifth album from the long-running trio of piano pop wizards. Every generation has a band that puts a fresh twist on piano-rock, and Off To The Races serves as a memorably vivid and kaleidoscopic step forward for the genre.
>King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Gumboot Soup CD/LP (ATO)
Domestic issue of the Australian psychedelic rock band band’s 13th studio album, Gumboot Soup, originally released last December. In an interview with Consequence Of Sound, the band's Stu Mackenzie described their final record of 2017 as a “place for us to put a lot of different ideas that we're trying to experiment within the song, rather than within the whole record. And for me, some of my favorite songs of the year are on the fifth record. It's more song-oriented than album -oriented.”
>Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations CD (Atlantic)
Placed among a list of Rolling Stone's “10 New Artists You Need To Know,” Hayley Kiyoko is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, director, and actress.
>Bettye LaVette – Things Have Changed CD/2xLP (Verve)
For her tenth album and first album on a major label in nearly fifty years, legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette takes on the songs of Bob Dylan with the grit and experience that makes her one of the greatest soul singers alive. Things Have Changed is a masterpiece of interpretation of one of the greatest songwriters alive, by one of the greatest soul singers alive. Produced by Steve Jordan, the album spans Dylan's catalogue and features guest appearances by Keith Richards and Trombone Shorty.
>The Lawrence Arms – We Are The Champions Of The World CD/2xLP (Fat Wreck Chords)
In honor of The Lawrence Arms' almost 20 years in the game, Fat Wreck Chords presents a 29-song best-of collection that chronicles the band's steady evolution over the past two decades.
>Light The Torch – Revival CD (Nuclear Blast America)
New album from the metal band featuring former Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones.
>The Lonely Biscuits – The Universe In You CD/LP (Soundly Music, LLC)
The Lonely Biscuits is an alternative rock band hailing from Nashville, TN. With a sound reminiscent of early ‘90s slacker rock, the band continues to mature by leaps and bounds here while still showcasing their playful and lighthearted musical personality.
>The Manhattan Transfer – The Junction CD (BMG Rights Management)
The legendary vocal group release their first new studio album in 10 years.
>Ashley McBryde – Girl Going Nowhere CD (Warner Music Nashville)
Ashley McBryde's Girl Going Nowhere is a collection reflective of her authentic, take-no-prisoners honesty and willingness to not just look at life, but live it, and reflect that experience in her music. Produced and mixed by award-winner Jay Joyce, the album showcases an artistic vision that proves her to be one of the genre's keenest working storytellers, bringing unwavering honesty back into a pop-preoccupied genre. [Vinyl edition due April 13.]
>Geoff & Maria Muldaur – Pottery Pie [Reissue/1968] CD (Omnivore)
Geoff & Maria Muldaur – Sweet Potatoes [Reissue/1972] CD (Omnivore)
In the early '60s, Maria Muldaur could be found performing in the Village in NYC, playing alongside regulars like Bob Dylan, Stefan Grossman, David Grisman, and many others. Geoff Muldaur was a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band which Maria later joined. After the Kweskin Jug Band broke up the Muldaurs produced two albums together. This is the first time both of those albums are available on CD in the US.
>Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour CD/LP (MCA Nashville)
Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves returns with her reflective third full-length studio album, Golden Hour. Recorded at Sheryl Crow's Nashville, TN studio, Musgraves told EW that the LP has a “trippy twist” and cites the Bee Gees, Sade, and Neil Young as influences as well as her recent marriage to fellow musician Ruston Kelly. “I was thinking about how there are different masks that we wear that represent different sides of us,” she says of the album's theme. “None of the masks are solely us, but they're all us. On this record, there's the lonely girl, the blissful girl, the new wife, the girl that's missing her mom, the angry girl, the sarcastic girl, the ‘60s-sequined Cruella de Vil with the beehive, the shy girl, the life of the party, the winner, the loser – they're all characters. None of them alone are me, but the golden hour is when they all come together, and you see me as a whole.” [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Musta Paraati – Peilitalossa [Reissue/1983] CD (Cleopatra)
Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the 1983 debut album from Finland's premiere post-punk/goth rockers.
>Naked Giants – Sluff CD/LP (New West)
Sluff is the debut release from the Seattle, Washington band, Naked Giants. The specific goal here was to capture “that live energy” in a recording, but as the energies of the studio processes began to mingle, the album became an entity unto itself. Bassist Gianni Aiello explains, “We played our very best on this album, but there are still a good amount of mess-ups and rough edges that give it that ‘first album' character. The album gets its personality in large part from the play between the planned and unplanned. With producer Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Low, Damien Jurado, The Posies), we could carefully craft some sonic signatures just as easily as stumble upon some random noise or mic technique. There’s no underlying concept for the album, but it's this sort of order and chaos attitude which gives it a cohesive feeling.” Sluff is a rock and roll record for the modern rock and roller. Some songs are long, some are short, and some are even shorter than that. It's full of hooks and plenty of guitar solos. The most important thing is that everything hits you all at once, feeling like it could all happen in a matter of seconds.
>Octopus – Supernatural Alliance CD/LP (Rise Above)
Supernatural Alliance is the debut album from Detroit's turbo-powered psychedelic rock experience, Octopus. Featuring members of Big Chief, Speedball, Electric Six and Seduce, amongst others, the rock & roll pedigree on display here is massive. If the music on Supernatural Alliance tells you anything, it’s that the spirit of low-slung and bowel-rattling psych rock is alive and well. Veering from thunderous, Sabbath-fueled rampages like “Beyond The Center” and the album's mighty title track to the piano-driven, old school rock 'n' roll clatter of “Strike (While The Iron is Hot)” and the woozy, kaleido-blues of the wryly titled “Fleetwood Mac,” it’s a bold and supremely confident opening salvo from a band that seems destined for big things. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Lindi Ortega – Liberty CD/LP (Soundly Music, LLC)
New release from the country music singer/songwriter. Lindi wrote half of the 12 tracks on her fifth studio album, working with co-writers Aaron Raitiere, Bruce Wallace and John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars). Liberty is what Ortega calls "a three-part concept album reflecting loss, seance, resurrection and freedom."
>Primordial – Exile Amongst The Ruins CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)
Hitting home with what vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga describes as “a direct energy” and wielding an urgency that is undeniable, the veteran Irish quintet once again effortlessly blend elements of Celtic folk and black metal on their ninth full-length, Exile Amongst The Ruins. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>Red Sun Rising -Thread CD (Razor & Tie)
Produced by Matt Hyde (Deftones, AFI, Porno For Pyros) and mixed by Jay Ruston, Thread continues to expand on Red Sun Rising's concept of mixing different genres and influences to create a unique sound.
>Kim Richey – Edgeland CD/LP (Yep Roc)
Since appearing on the Nashville music scene in the mid-'90s, Kim Richey has been nominated for two Grammy awards, recorded seven studio albums, and collaborated with everyone from Trisha Yearwood to Jason Isbell. After a nearly five-year hiatus, Richey returns with her eighth studio album, Edgeland. Richey teamed up with producer Brad Jones at his studio Alex the Great Recording in Nashville during the summer of 2017, where she created a 12-track collection of work showcasing her Americana roots, songwriting prowess, and musical adaptability. Special guests on the record include Chuck Prophet, Robyn Hitchcock, Pat Sansone, and more.
>Saxon – Saxon [Reissue/1979] CD/LP (Union Square)
Saxon – Wheels Of Steel [Reissue/1980] CD/LP (Union Square)
Saxon – Strong Arm Of The Law [Reissue/1980] CD/LP (Union Square)
CD and vinyl reissues of the NWOBHM pioneers’ first three albums.
>The Shacks – Haze CD/LP (Big Crown)
“The Shacks were recently featured in an iPhone 8 commercial, but they could have popped up in nearly any era by the sound of their wonderful new album Haze. They’ve made huge waves in 2018, but the tunes could be pure ‘68. Rotary organ like a lost Kingsmen joint? Check. A pouty, teen-drama vocal like the Shangri-Las? Oh, yeah. These anachronistic twentysomethings are proud to be the odd men and women out of the digital-recording rat race.” – Billboard
>Red Shahan – Culbertson County CD/LP (7013)
Some artists from Texas take the obvious blacktop roads and make country music with the typical Lone Star buzzwords, like bluebonnets and longhorns. Others, like Red Shahan, prefer to ride the Texas dirt roads and blend in some rock, Americana and blues with their country while touching on the grittier side of life in Texas. The sounds on Culberson County range from soft and subtle to hard and twangy. His lyrics jump the typical Texas songwriter tracks and deal with everything from the struggles of a traveling musician missing his family and paying the bills, to the dark methamphetamine fueled corners of society.
>Shotgun Rider – Palo Duro CD (Torrez Music Group)
A mix of country twang and guitar-fueled rock & roll stomp, as epic and darkly cinematic as the Texas landscape that inspired it.
>Sons Of Kemet – Your Queen Is A Reptile CD/2xLP (Impulse)
Sons Of Kemet is the iconoclastic mix of tenor sax, tuba and double drums. On this third studio album, they bring a genre defying approach that celebrates the restless exploration of identity within the Caribbean diaspora within the UK. Your Queen Is A Reptile was recorded in London with a host of guests spanning the breadth of the U.K. scene including jungle legend Congo Natty and poet Joshua Idehen.
>Soundtrack – Isle Of Dogs CD (Abkco)
Includes Academy Award-winning composer Alexandre Desplat's original score, compositions from acclaimed Japanese films Seven Samurai and Drunken Angel, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's brand of American psychedelia, and The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra's eccentric euphonies. [Vinyl edition due June 1.]
>Romain Virgo – LoveSick CD (VP)
Reggae star Romain Virgo takes listeners through a cornucopia of emotions on his new album. The 16-track album explores the ups and downs of romantic relationships, and stages such as yearning, heartache, lust, and love, and includes a cover of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.”
>The Voidz – Virtue CD/2xLP (Cult Recordings/RCA)
The Voidz (formerly Julian Casablancas + The Voidz) return with Virtue, their first new album in nearly four years. “When Julian Casablancas looks at the modern world, he sees the increasingly blurry distinction between lies and truth. On Virtue, his second album with the Voidz, the New York rocker ponders whether it's possible to, as he told Vulture, ‘make complex truth sexy.’ He attempts this feat with a more eclectic approach than on the Voidz's frustratingly abrasive 2014 debut, Tyranny. With Virtue, Casablancas casts a wide sonic net—from death-metal growl to chirpy falsetto, effects-laden synth-pop to lo-fi garage-punk—and doubles down on the Voidz's fiercely political focus.” – Slant
>Zeke – Hellbender CD/LP (Relapse)
Seattle punk legends Zeke return with their first new album in over 14 years. Short, fast, loud, and to the f**kin' point, Hellbender contains 15 tracks laced with Zeke's signature mix of hyper speed thrash-punk and Motörhead possessed, hard as nails, rock n' roll.
>Rob Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 Live CD/2xLP (Geffen)
1995’s Astro-Creep: 2000 (Songs Of Love, Destruction And Other Synthetic Delusions Of The Electric Head) was the final studio album by White Zombie and is performed front-to-back here by Rob Zombie at the Riot Fest in September 2016. [Vinyl reissues of the Rob Zombie back catalog are also available.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
>Auri – Auri 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Nightwish leader/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen has joined forces with his wife, Finnish singer Johanna Kurkela, as Auri. Auri celebrate a kind of epic-romantic ethno pop that seems to float in quaint spheres, which are intangible yet unleash multi-faceted sounds capes filled with powerful imagery. These sound cascades are based on Celtic traditional sounds, atmospheric-cinematic dream sequences, melancholic melodies and a touch of transfigured mysticism; beautiful instrumentation yielding an unfathomable depth.
>By The Grace Of God – Above Fear 12” (State Of Mind)
Limited pink and black and limited purple and black colored vinyl pressings of a new EP by the seminal hardcore band.
>Caveman & Bam Bam – Early Man 12” (Jett Plastic Recordings)
Ten high quality punk/stone age stompers.
>Chromatics – Tick Of The Clock [Reissue/2012] 12” (Italians Do It Better)
Limited edition 180gm ultra-clear dipped in icy blue colored vinyl repress. “Tick Of The Clock” is a 2012 single featuring the Drive soundtrack number along with Visione's “Stroke Of Midnight” remix version and an “Extended Overdrive” mix.
>Corrupted – Felicific Algorithim LP (Cold Spring)
Corrupted is a mysterious Japanese doom metal band, formed in 1994. Immensely down-tuned guitar and crushingly slow bass are shrouded under deep layers of feedback.
>Count Five – Psychotic Reaction LP (Craft Recordings)
Limited 180gm vinyl reissue of the first and only album by the American garage rock band. It
features the hit single of the same name which reached #5 in the Billboard charts in 1966.
>Cut Chemist – Die Cut 2xLP (Cold Busted)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On his long-awaited second full-length solo album Die Cut, the trailblazing DJ and producer underwent a creative birth reflected in its 17 tracks. The artist augments his signature approach famously earmarked by impeccable sample selection, searing scratching, and big-screen worthy arrangements with the inclusion of A-list musicians, songwriter structure, and a whole lot of team spirit including Los Angeles producer, curator and purveyor of culture, Carlos Nino.
>Damnation Of Adam Blessing – The Damnation Of Adam Blessing [Reissue/1969] LP (Exitstencil)
Damnation Of Adam Blessing – Second Damnation [Reissue/1970] LP (Exitstencil)
One the biggest and best Ohio bands of the era, Damnation (taking their name from a pulp novel) recorded three LPs on United Artists, 1969,1970,1971, then changed name to Glory for one LP in 1973. The band started from a breakup of two popular local bands, the Purple Haze (formerly The Alarm Clocks) and The Society.
>The Damned – Stiff Singles 1976-1977 5x7” (BMG Rights Management)
Limited edition 7” vinyl singles including the first-ever punk single “New Rose” and all the other early hits from the impressively chaotic punk quartet. All singles have been recreated with their original artwork, including the ultra-rare, previously fan club only “Stretcher Case Baby”. Also included is a Damned embroidered patch.
>Donovan Wolfington – Waves LP+MP3 (Topshelf)
“Genre-bending, styles-mixing, mood-shaking, tune-crashing and all things in between. On Waves, Donovan Wolfington manage to ascend above the youthful naivety of their past work with bold new instrumental outbursts, blood-pumping energy and memorable song-writing, while still staying true to themselves with the general genre theme of a blasting heavy indie (with as much emo and pop-punk stacked into it, as possible).” – Sputnik Music
>Elephant Gym – Balance [2013] 12”+MP3 (Topshelf)
Elephant Gym – Angle [2014] LP+MP3 (Topshelf)
Elephant Gym – Work [2016] LP+MP3 (Topshelf)
“It takes a fair bit for any band to rise above the constant white noise of new music, but Taiwanese three-piece math rock collective Elephant Gym did just that. And more astonishingly, they have garnered a large, devoted following in both Eastern and Western spheres of the globe, with less than an hour’s worth of recorded music to their name through their five years of existence. Comprised of siblings Tif Chang Kai-ting (or, KT) and Tell Chang Kai-hsiang on bass/ vocals and guitar respectively, and Tu Chia-Chin on drums, Elephant Gym helms an infectiously groovy and dreamy take on math-rock.” – Bandwagon
>Glassjaw – Material Control LP (Century Media)
Seminal Long Island, NY post-hardcore band Glassjaw make their long-awaited return with first full-length effort in 15 years. Limited 180gm pressing in a gatefold jacket.
>Good Lovelies – Shapeshifters LP (Good Lovelies/Fontana North)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Toronto based group has, over the course of their decade-plus career, covered plenty of stylistic ground, adding tinges of pop, roots, jazz, and even hip-hop to their country folk core.
>Gulfer – Dog Bless LP+MP3/Cassette (Topshelf)
“One of the last revival-style emo bands standing sings about boredom and getting older on their frankly audacious second album.” -- Pitchfork
The Idiot Kids – Skeleton Boy b/w Bonfire 7”+MP3 (Jett Plastic Recordings)
The Idiot Kids represent the new age of Detroit rock 'n' roll. Limited white 7” vinyl single.
>Weldon Irvine – The Sisters LP (Nature Sounds)
Keyboardist and composer Weldon Irvine is among the most celebrated jazz-funk artists of all time. He was Nina Simone's bandleader for years and wrote the lyrics for her iconic civil rights anthem "To Be Young, Gifted and Black". Throughout the 1970s, Irvine released a series of seminal albums full of deep, soulful, funky grooves. The Sisters is a collection of lost tracks and demos from his late-1970s studio sessions with fellow jazz-funk luminary Don Blackman.
>Isis – Mosquito Control [Reissue/1998] 12” (Hydrahead)
Vinyl reissue of the first studio release by the post-metal band.
>Fumio Itabashi – Watarase [Reissue/1982] LP (Mule Musiq)
Vinyl reissue of the second solo piano album of the Japanese jazz pianist Fumio Itabashi, remastered from the original recordings. While diving deep into the seven compositions on Watarese, any sensible listener finds out, that the instrumental piano pieces are somehow soulfully connected to what Keith Jarrett plays on his legendary live album The Köln Concert (1975). Like Jarrett, Itabashi does not play his notes in an academic sense. He lets them fly, gives them some kind a life of their own, hits the piano keys deeply emotional and injects his compositions and interpretations some kind of nervous human soul. In terms of style, some call his Watarase recordings post-bop, others contemporary jazz.
>Kooley High – Never Come Down LP (Mecca)
Kooley High has seen many acts come and go since their inception in 2008. This perseverance has led to several acclaimed releases, and the opportunity to craft their newest album with the assistance of Grammy award winning producer 9th Wonder. Never Come Down is a testament to Kooley's growth sonically while MC's Charlie Smarts and Tab-One have elevated their wordplay along with DJ Ill Digitz' scratch work.
>Lifted Bells – Minor Tantrums LP (Run For Cover)
Full-length debut from Chicago, IL's Lifted Bells which features members of Their / They're / There, Braid, Hey Mercedes and Stay Ahead of the Weather.
>Jeremy Loops – Critical As Water LP (Yebo Music)
Juxtaposing booming city rhythms with lilting folk, Jeremy Loops perfectly captures the duality of his South African life on his highly anticipated new album.
>The Music Machine – (Turn On) The Machine [Reissue/1966] LP (Craft Recordings)
While their West Coast brethren were slipping flowers into their hair, these ahead of their time L.A. proto-punkers were dyeing their hair black and exploring the dark side of psychedelia. (Turn On) The Machine, the Music Machine's legendary 1966 debut album, is home to the group's signature hit "Talk Talk" and fellow single "The People in Me" plus innovative covers of Neil Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry," George Harrison's "Taxman," and Rudy Martinez's "96 Tears." 180gm vinyl pressing.
>The Pandoras – Hey! It’s The Pandoras LP+MP3/Cassette (Burger)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. New mini-album from Los Angeles garage-gals, their first in 29 years and the first with guitarist Kim Shattuck (The Muffs).
>Rod Picott – Out Past The Wires [2017] 2xLP (Welding Rod)
Rod Picott's eye for the revealing detail and sense of empathy has brought praise from music critics since his debut. Those quantities, as well as a potent defiance, is on full display across Out Past The Wires, the latest and one of the most potent pieces of work from Picott since he left his hammer to rust and sharpened a new set of tools all those years ago.
>Ryan Porter – The Optimist 3xLP (World Galaxy)
West Coast Get Down's Ryan Porter ushers in an instrumental body of work that encompasses the respite of Los Angeles jazz music. The Optimist pulls together veterans of the L.A. music scene, including West Coast Get Down alumni Kamasi Washington (tenor saxophone), Miles Mosley (upright bass), Cameron Graves (piano, fender rhodes), Tony Austin (drums), Jumaane Smith (trumpet), Edward Livingston (upright bass), Aaron Haggerty (drums), Brandon Coleman (fender rhodes), Dominic Therioux (electric bass), Robert Miller (drums), and Lyndon Rochelle (drums). [CD edition due April 6.]
>Steve Reich – Pulse/Quartet LP (Nonesuch)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Pulse (2015) is performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) – an artist collective committed to transforming the way music is created and experienced – and Quartet (2013) is played by the Colin Currie Group, an ensemble led by percussionist Colin Currie that specializes in the music of Steve Reich; these are also the ensembles that gave the world premiere performances of the respective works.
>Max Richter – Hostiles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2xLP (Deutsche Grammophon)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The latest film score by the award-winning composer evokes with beauty and restraint the wild landscapes of a world in which individuals collide with forces beyond their control. Hostiles is set in the American West of the early 1890s, when the Second Industrial Revolution was fast changing society and the native population had finally been defeated after decades of war with the US Army. Echoing the compelling human drama of the film, the score for this period Western, performed by the Air Lyndhurst Orchestra, combines the haunting stillness and elegiac beauty of Richter's Waltz with Bashir score with the noir-like intensity of his recent soundtrack for the BBC TV series Taboo.
>Steppenwolf – Live [Reissue/1970] LP (Friday Music)
Limited edition 180gm audiophile edition.
>C.W. Stoneking – Jungle Blues [Reissue/2008] LP (King Hokum)
Recently reissued on CD – now available on vinyl. The fourth album by Australian Hokum Blues musician C.W. Stoneking. In 2009, Stoneking received five ARIA Award nominations, Best Blues and Roots Album, Best Independent Release, Best Male Artist and Best Album Cover Art, eventually winning Best Blues and Roots Album for Jungle Blues.
>Torae – For The Record [Reissue/2011] 2xLP (Internal Affairs)
15 tracks worth of high-caliber production and impeccable rhyme. Limited colored vinyl pressing.
>George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Bad To The Bone [Reissue/1982] LP (Capitol)
George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Born To Be Bad [Reissue/1988] LP (Capitol)
George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Greatest Hits: 30 Years Of Rock [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Capitol)
Limited 180gm vinyl reissues of the blues-rock band’s fifth and seventh albums, plus a first-time vinyl pressing of the 2004 hits collection.
>The Vaccines – Combat Sports LP (Capitol)
The Vaccines return to their roots with an album of songs ranging from pure rock and roll to power-pop. [CD edition due April 6.]
>Various Artists – Night Palms LP (Hobo Camp)
Night Palms explores the vibes of AOR, G-Funk, jazz, boogie, and soul; synthesizing these genres to a form more loaded and laid-back (perhaps on a careless night time stroll, returning from the dispensary or watering hole, to the jacuzzi, houseboat, or waterbed). A smoother approach to funk, similar in production ethos to many classic G-Funk tracks (where producers created or sampled the smoothest yacht-rock and jazz-funk moments to create bass heavy rap), Night Palms takes it one step further, offering original tracks that return more to the inspiratory sources of G-Funk... sonically and chillingly cruising at the perfect tempo.
>Rob Zombie – Hellbilly Deluxe [Reissue/1998] LP (Geffen)
Rob Zombie – American Made Music To Strip By [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Geffen)
Rob Zombie – The Sinister Urge [Reissue/2001] LP (Geffen)
Rob Zombie – Educated Horses [Reissue/2006] LP (Geffen)
Rob Zombie – Zombie Live [2007] 2xLP (Geffen)
Rob Zombie – Spookshow International Live [Reissue/2015] 2xLP (Geffen)
Vinyl reissues of the White Zombie frontman’s first three albums, the remix album American Made Music To Strip By, and two live shows.
23 march 2018
New Releases for March 23, 2018
>CDs + Vinyl:
>American Pleasure Club – A Whole F**king Lifetime Of This CD/LP/Cassette (Run For Cover)
Released last week on vinyl and cassette – now available on CD. The longtime project of Baltimore's prolific Sam Ray (Ricky Eat Acid, Julia Brown) has never been weighed down by expectations of genre, fidelity or album length. 2016 gave us the 26-song epic It's the Big Joyous Celebration, Let's Stir the Honeypot and the more concise follow up Bonus EP, but on this album, a striking amount of balance provides the groundwork for A Whole F**king Lifetime Of This.
>Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Although May Your Kindness Remain was predominately written on the road it's not a road record like its predecessor. That is, it's not so much inspired by Courtney Marie Andrews' life on the road so much as it is by the people she's met along the way. It's an inward reflection on the connectivity of their stories and her own. The album is full of vivid depictions of complex people and places with all too common struggles. Every instrument and sound have their proper place, across diverse styles: proud piano ballads (“Rough Around The Edges”); easygoing, country-tinted rock (“Kindness Of Strangers”); and biting, sarcastic folk gems (“I've Hurt Worse”). Gospel singer C.C. White adds backing vocals throughout, including on the stunning title track, a striking statement of purpose that blooms at the end thanks to layers of soulful harmonies. Andrews’ own vocals are notably more powerful and soulful - especially on the organ-heavy blues number “Border,” with a ragged weariness that honors the immigrant's resilience in the face of blatant thoughtlessness and racism; and “Took You Up,” a take on accepting love as a simple offering before any illusion of wealth or success. Her vocal performances reflect her recent listening habits, which include Motown and soul, as well as albums by the eclectic rock band Little Feat. They also point to her confidence and growing range as a live vocalist.
>Army Gideon – Forsake Not CD (Uhuru Boys)
High-energy reggae fusion with lyrical content advocating equal rights, justice, universal love and Rastafari awareness through a militant persona.
>The Art Of Lovin’ – The Art Of Lovin’ [Reissue/1968] CD (Early Dawn)
A reissue of The Art Of Lovin's one and only album, originally on the legendary US label Mainstream in 1968. An album full of interesting and imaginative female-fronted psychedelic folk rock. For fans of Jefferson Airplane, Fort Mudge Memorial Dump, Yankee Dollar, etc.
>Auri – Auri CD (Nuclear Blast)
Nightwish leader/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen has joined forces with his wife, Finnish singer Johanna Kurkela, as Auri. Auri celebrate a kind of epic-romantic ethno pop that seems to float in quaint spheres, which are intangible yet unleash multi-faceted sounds capes filled with powerful imagery. These sound cascades are based on Celtic traditional sounds, atmospheric-cinematic dream sequences, melancholic melodies and a touch of transfigured mysticism; beautiful instrumentation yielding an unfathomable depth.
>Alice Bag – Alice Bag CD/LP (Don Giovanni)
Based in Los Angeles, Alice Bag is a punk rock singer, musician, author, educator and feminist archivist. She was lead singer and co-founder of The Bags, who were among the first wave of punk bands to emerge from that city during in the mid-1970s. Recorded last year, Alice Bag includes a revolving cast of friends and Los Angeles-based musicians, including the members of Bags’ current backing band, as well as guest vocals from Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, The Julie Ruin), Allison Wolfe (Bratmobile, Sex Stains), Francisca Valenzuela, and Teri Gender Bender.
>Baloji - 137 Avenue Kaniama CD/2xLP (Bella Union)
Congolese-born Baloji's music stands at the crossroads of traditional African music and Afro-American music (hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz). Growing up in Belgium – which he describes as, "a land of surrealism and multiple identities" – Baloji discovered the culture of sampling in electronic music. The result is a record combining African rhythms – not only Congolese, but also Nigerian, Zimbabwean, and Ghanaian – with 808 productions and funk-influenced synths. By placing his resilience at the center of his work, Baloji reconciles all these influences to enrich his projects.
>Karl Berger - In a Moment: Music For Piano & Strings CD (Tzadik)
Founder of the Creative Music Studio and a close collaborator of Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Gato Barbieri, Anthony Braxton and so many more, Karl Berger is a master musician and one of the pioneers of creative music. The third and final CD in his trilogy for Tzadik features fourteen tracks spanning a wide variety of moods. Karl’s gorgeous string arrangements are highlighted here in this beautiful and soulful suite of music for piano and strings.
>Bibeau – Bibeau CD (Fade To Silence)
New album from the Texas based progressive rock band.
>Bichkraft – 800 CD/LP (Wharf Cat)
Kiev’s Bichkraft returns with another entry in their unique take on the shoegaze and post-punk traditions.
>Blessthefall – Hard Feelings CD/LP (Rise)
The sixth studio album by the Arizona metalcore band is both heavy and melodic with the vocals pairing up perfectly with the soaring melodies and emotional screams.
>Bonny Doon – Longwave CD/LP (Woodsist)
Arriving in the early months of 2017, Bonny Doon’s self-titled debut was a warm introduction to the band for many. Hazy and bright, the album’s woozy melodies and swirling webs of summery guitar textures were easily ingested as low-key slacker pop. But the nonchalant breeziness belied a serious attention to songcraft and hinted at depths yet unexplored. Lo and behold, before the ink was even dry on the first record, work had already begun on its follow-up Longwave, a conscious about-face from the sonic experimentation of the first album, and a journey inward.
>Borealis – The Offering CD (AFM)
Young Canadian melodic metallers Borealis are return with their fourth studio album.
>Brother JT – Tornado Juice CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)
Brother JT, aka the enigmatic John Terlesky, has returned with a mind-palace of an album. On his second album for Thrill Jockey, JT feverishly concocts songs drawing from influences like gutbucket blues to power-pop, classic rock to garage-psych.
>Bulletboys – From Out Of The Skies CD/LP (Frontiers/Vinyl Eck)
New release from the veteran hard rockers.
>Calamita – Calamita CD (Ruptured)
Calamita is the free-rock powerhouse trio of Lebanese musicians Sharif Sehnaoui and Tony Elieh on electric guitar and bass respectively, and drummer Davide Zolli from Italian psych rock collective Squadra Omega.
>Cornell Campbell – Boxing [Reissue/1982] CD/LP (Kingston Sounds)
A reissue of one of Cornell Campbell's great dancehall, early '80s set of songs. Dancehall was when the beat slowed down to that classic one-drop style that suited his voice so well. The album includes the title “Boxing” which was a massive hit for Cornell on its initial release in 1982. It also includes a dancehall reworking of “Queen Of The Minstrel” and a fantastic dancehall cut to Bob Marley's “Natty Dread”. This was a new chapter in reggae's sound that saw the rhythm slowed down and seemed to add even more emphasis to the songs meanings.
>Carpenter Brut – Leather Teeth CD (Caroline)
This is the story of Bret Halford, an introverted science student. He likes a girl who doesn't like him and much prefers the team's star quarterback. Bret gets mad. He tries to create a concoction that will allow him to control them all, but ends up disfigured and decides instead to become a rock star. This is how he will seduce the girl, and all other girls: by becoming Leather Teeth, singer of Leather Patrol. Featuring 8 tracks wrapped in 32 minutes of cinematic sound, it's a pure feeding frenzy not unlike Master of Puppets, or any of the good ole metal albums of yore. This is the story of French synthwave artist Carpenter Brut. [Vinyl edition due April 20.]
>Cave Bastard – The Bleak Shall Devour The Earth CD/LP (Accident Prone)
San Diego-based metal quintet Cave Bastard—comprised of members of Cattle Decapitation, Gutrot, Ritual Torture, Bridge Jumper, Tremblad, and others—unleash their debut album. Three and a half years in the making, the dark vision of Cave Bastard combines the band's bleak imagery and outlook with devastatingly brutal riffs and earth-moving rhythms, which set the tone for a voyage into the apocalypse.
>The Cavemen – Nuke Earth CD/LP (Slovenly Recordings)
“New Zealand's The Cavemen are back, ready to drink, fight, f**k and play some goddamn rock 'n' roll. Pure, primitive mother**kin' garage punk like you lust after every night when you're licking your sexiest leather record jackets, or '77 punk steeped in a moldy stack of bootleg Motörhead outtake LPs.”
>Cavern Of Anti-Matter – Hormone Lemonade CD/LP+MP3 (Duophonic)
Hormone Lemonade sees Cavern Of Anti-Matter heavily utilizing the sounds of modular synths and home built drum machines, yet still keeping the loose, improvised sound familiar to fans of their first two albums, with minimal guitar melodies and live drum kit helping to build hypnotic layers of texture. The album's genesis was in the self-constructed rhythm machines of band member Holger Zapf, the Taktron Z3 and Taktron Z2, being recorded to tape during three one-hour sessions. These sessions also included the use of 70s Hohner and Eko drum machines. Holger played his parts in a free-form way and the bpm varied wildly as it was not possible to sync it to any outside controllers. Tim Gane (Stereolab) edited these initial jams into useable chunks and proceeded to overdub each new rhythmic "chunk" with some basic musical ideas, keeping in tune to the hum of the machines and retaining the "feel" of the inherent pulse. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
>The Chapparrals – Shake Your Head [Reissue/1978] CD/LP (Everland)
Shake Your Head is the only known album by this super-hot Atlanta, Georgia band. The Chapparrals were known for wild onstage antics, deep funky sounds, and for taking no prisoners when they opened for any of the numerous recording acts they had the pleasure of working with back in the '70s. These guys are a perfect summation of popular funk groove as their rare 1978 album is a blistering blend of bassy rhythms and tight instrumentation.
>Coilguns – Millennials CD/LP (Hummus)
Millennials is a violent and over-the-top distorted record, born in a completely saturated scene and produced by four hyperactive fellows, who for obscure reasons decided few years ago not to work a full time boring job but to invest their money, time and mental health in heavy underground music. One can notice they are eventually older now; their hardcore got lazier, fatter and darker. There is even a new tribal feel to it, just like if those guys were still naïvely dreaming of building a parallel society somewhere in a cursed country where deviance and free self-expression would matter as much as business skills and communication concepts.
>Crowded House – Crowded House [Reissue/1986] 2xCD (Capitol)
Expanded reissue of Crowded House’s 1986 debut album featuring17 bonus tracks including demos & live versions.
>Holger Czukay – Cinema 5xCD+DVD/5xLP+DVD (Grönland)
Following legendary musician Holger Czukay’s death in 2017, Cinema explores his extensive back catalog of music he made as a solo artist and also features several high profile collaborations with artists as iconic and diverse as Brian Eno, Jah Wobble and Karlheinz Stockhausen, alongside previously unreleased music. The set is being released to coincide with what would have been his 80th birthday and Can's 50th anniversary. Cinema guides you chronologically through Holger's recording career, one that spanned five decades. Both CD and vinyl editions include a DVD of a film that was made for German television in the '80s starring Holger as the main character; he also made the soundtrack for the movie.
>Dabrye – Three/Three CD/2xLP+MP3 (Ghostly International)
Dabrye makes his long-awaited return with a razor-sharp rap album that brings to completion a propheti
