Review by Tasha “pow-pow” Powers

What makes a good album? lots of people have opinions on the subject, to be sure. Is it the artist? The Equipment? The songs? The Engineer? The arrangements? So, what if, um, all of those are top notch? You get Nicole Atkins’ new release, “Mondo Amore”. If you need more reasons to go buy this album, here they are, but you really don’t.

Firstly, I bought this record expecting a good solid pop record. What I got was a lot more like a good solid rock record. It’s a lot like meeting someone who says humbly “I’m in the medical field” and you’re thinking, cool they’re a nurse, and then it turns out they’re a neurosurgeon. There are elements of Joan Jet, Floyd, The Beatles, and yet, “Mondo Amore” could appeal even to your average college girl who can’t stop humming the latest “Kesha” single. I can’t remember the last time I bought a new release and thought, ‘this record is a complete concept. Top to bottom, can’t skip a song. It’s a whole work of art.’ It’s that way. There’s so much continuity. Abbey Road continuity. Don’t you dare push the next button or put it on shuffle. You’ll ruin the whole experience.

The tone of the songwriting is wonderfully dark and yet, at times, lighthearted. Bittersweet. And just when it borders on becoming estrogen soaked, Atkins comes out with that belting powerful bellow, tinged with oddly sweet vibrato. Eat it, K.D. Lang. ‘The Tower’ Is maybe her best vocal performance on the whole album, though none of them slack. If I wasn’t sold by ‘My baby Don’t lie’ (which I was) by the time I got to ‘Heavy Boots’ I was. Then something funny happened. I thought the album was about to loose steam. For a brief second. But as the song unfolded, it was clear it was to be exactly the opposite. There is a sparseness in that track that has more impact than the rest of the album (saying a lot, considering how tastefully lush the orchestrations are in every other track) Clever engineering and good equipment choices are obvious throughout, though they are most notable in Hotel Plaster. It would have been very easy to ruin that ballad with a few inappropriate textures, a slightly off amp choice, not enough reverb, too much, the wrong mic on the backup vocals. But instead, they are all so perfectly done. It doesn’t take much of a music geek to appreciate how delicate of a balance it must have been to not step on that song, while making it in to somewhat of a power ballad. And how easy is it really to write love songs that don’t blow?

Okay enough, just go buy it. From Boo Boos. Good records don’t come out every day.

BUDOS BAND
[HORN-DRIVEN AFRO FUNK] After two well-received full-lengths and an EP, Staten Island’s Budos Band return with III in 2010. The group’s first two recordings walked a loose tightrope line between the modern jazzed-up Afro-beat sound of Antibalas and the soulful good-time funk groove of Sugarman 3. It’s also true that while they fit the Daptone label’s groove-centric aesthetic, III reveals a new direction, offering the view that they are also something other. This 11-song set, recorded in 48 hours, offers a darker, more spacious tinge. Elements of psychedelic, Far Eastern, and even Latin sounds have entered their mix, without giving up their dance party cachet. The opening “Rite of the Ancients,” “Black Venom,” “Unbroken, Unshaven,” and “Mark of the Unnamed” all feel like they could have been instrumental interludes in a ’70s blaxploitation flick, but are fully developed harmonic ideas instead of simple vamps. The horn chart on the latter track is a monster, with popping three-way dialogue between baritone saxophonist Jared Tankel, Farfisa organist Mike Deller, and all four percussionists. Also noteworthy is guitarist Thomas Brenneck’s reverbed surf sound that introduces the darkly compelling “Nature’s Wrath.” The horns — Tankel and two trumpets (tenor man Cochemea Gastelum is absent this time out) — punch up a minor-key vibe that unwinds around a tense film noir chart and a mariachi melody. Then it gets decorated by Daisy Sugarman’s ghostly flute, as the percussionists play around all dimensions of kit man Brian Profilio’s breaks; it creates a more spaced-out set of atmospherics without losing the groove — Deller’s organ enters in the final moments as icing on the cake. Other tunes with a darker, moodier vibe include “Golden Dunes” and “Budos Dirge,” but they too give off plenty of heat and crackling energy. There’s a Malian tinge in the Budos’ Afro-soul on “Raja Haje,” led by Brenneck’s guitar. The closer, “Reppirt Yad,” is the Beatles’ “Day Tripper” given inside-out, upside-down funky treatment in a slower tempo with out atmospherics. “River Serpentine” and “Crimson Skies” are breezier in comparison to the rest and more traditionally Budos, with plenty of butt-shaking WHOMP. This third chapter in the Budos Band’s legacy is a giant step forward. That said, for band and listener alike, nothing is lost in this gambit; everything just gets deeper and wider and the payoff is nearly immeasurable.

Listen:

Mimicking Birds

[SOFT PSYCH POP] I don’t envy the task of transforming Nate Lacy’s spiraling, naturalist and homemade acoustic pop songs into fully produced album form. So strange and singular are those songs (which he’s been recording on his own for the past four years as Mimicking Birds) that it’s almost a shame to take them out of their natural environment at all. Mimicking Birds’ self-titled debut retains Lacy’s distinct vision, from his squeaky finger-picking to his biologist’s take on humanity. In melding Lacy’s vision with their own, Brock and Jones focused largely on giving the recordings weight: “New Doomsdays” is powerfully oceanic, echoing and rolling as if a great tide is pushing and pulling on Lacy’s lungs. They also broke up Lacy’s tendency to play his listeners into a trance: “Cabin Fever” peppers in synthesized strings and abstract percussion.

Listen:

OMG! Not only does Tusk stand as one of my favorite albums, but my Stevie Nicks crush ranks right up there with my Patti Smith/Blondie devotion. If you suffer from Mac Attack, you’ll share our enthusiasm for this show. Not only that, but we’re thrilled to be able to offer you, a lucky customer, a chance to win a pair of tickets! Whether you win or not, a mere 90 minute drive will get you to Santa Barbara Bowl to witness Stevie Nicks on Wednesday, August 4th @ 7:00pm, in all her glory. Ticket purchasing info below, and consider eating here (http://restaurantjulienne.com/). So tasty! This is a super fast giveaway. A winner plucked by tomorrow. Hit more & scroll down to enter to win.

BIO
Famed for her mystical chanteuse image, singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks enjoyed phenomenal success not only as a solo artist but also as a key member of Fleetwood Mac. Stephanie Lynn Nicks was born May 26, 1948, in Phoenix, AZ; the granddaughter of a frustrated country singer, she began performing at the age of four, and occasionally sang at the tavern owned by her parents. Nicks started writing songs in her mid-teens, and joined her first group, the Changing Times, while attending high school in California. During her senior year, Nicks met fellow student Lindsey Buckingham, with whom she formed the band Fritz along with friends Javier Pacheco and Calvin Roper. Between 1968 and 1971, the group became a popular attraction on the West Coast music scene, opening for Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. After moving to Los Angeles, the duo recorded their 1973 debut LP, Buckingham Nicks. Despite a cover which featured the couple nude, the album flopped; however, it caught the attention of the members of Fleetwood Mac, who invited Buckingham and Nicks to join their ranks in 1974. In quick time, the revitalized group achieved unparalleled success: after the LP Fleetwood Mac topped the charts in 1975, they recorded 1977′s Rumours, which sold over 17 million copies and stood for several years as the best-selling album of all time.

The voice and songwriting talent of Stevie Nicks has solidified her place as one of rock’s most successful female artists. Her extraordinary career includes multiple Grammy awards, numerous gold and platinum records, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and unforgettable performances across the stages of the world for over three decades.

Don’t miss your chance to see Stevie Nicks at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Wednesday, August
4, 2010. The Santa Barbara Bowl is located at 1122 N. Milpas, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, 805-962-7411.

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Ticket prices range from $43 to $123 plus applicable service charges. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets including: The Arlington Theatre and the Santa Barbara Bowl Box Office. To charge by phone please call, 800-745-3000. Order online at www.ticketmaster.com

Best Coast – Crazy for You CD/LP (Mexican Summer)
12-track, 29-minute collection of genuinely romantic, sandy jams. Hazy and dreamy pop perfect for summer.

Seu Jorge – Seu Jorge And Almaz CD/2xLP (Now Again)
New album from Brazilian singer/actor Seu Jorge (City Of God, The Life Aquatic) with members of Nacao Zumbi.

Mark Olson – Many Colored Kite CD/LP+MP3 (Rykodisc)
New album from The Jayhawks co-founder. Many Colored Kite greets the listener with its earthy, neo-folk feel that encompasses classic and ’60′s British folk as well as the “desert country” that he has been associated with in the past.

Madlib/Yesterday’s New Quintet – Medicine Show 7: High Jazz CD (Madlib Medicine Show)
Madlib follows Brain Wreck Show with the seventh installment in his Madlib Medicine Show series, a jazz album with his Yesterdays New Quintet ensemble.

Major Lazer – Lazers Never Die CDEP (Interscope)
New EP from producers Switch and Diplo. “On this concise and surprisingly fresh sounding EP, Major Lazer retain the sweat-soaked club feel that’s curried them so much favor but also appeals to their perennial accessibility.” [7.8] — Pitchfork

Menomena – Mines CD/2xLP+MP3 (Barsuk)
In the wake of brutal disagreements, unrelenting grudges and failed marriages (not to mention a world full of modern terrorism, natural disasters and economic collapse) Menomena is still standing, and has made an album that many are already saying defines the state of intelligent pop music one decade into the millennium.

Jesca Hoop – Hunting My Dress CD (Vanguard)
Hoop’s music is a genre-bending, time-period-blurring mix of off-kilter pop, stark ballads and classic folk. Includes a bonus five-track EP. “Hunting My Dress sounds like the sprouting of a wondrous new talent. Four stars.” — The Guardian

Jaill – That’s How We Burn CD/LP (Sub Pop)
A somewhat sneaky, rarely sleazy group of guys from Milwaukee who play with undeniable guts. Recalling the glory of ’90s lo-fi pop, these songs possess a sinewy tension honed from years of basement shows, and a palpable, gritty rock sense born of enduring cold Midwest winters.

Tom Jones – Praise & Blame CD (Mercury Nashville)
This is Tom Jones going back to his roots on an album of gospel, blues, traditional and country songs, wearing his heart on his sleeve, emotionally raw. Guest artists include steel guitarist BJ Cole, keyboardist Booker T Jones, organist Chris Holland and background vocalists Gillian Welch, Alison Pierce, Dave Rawlings and Orin Waters.

CDs:

36 Crazyfists – Collisions And Castaways CD (Ferret Music)
New album from the Alaskan heavy metal unit.

Angel Band – Bless My Sole CD (Appleseed)
Anyone who likes the “sigh-to-a-shout” vocal chops, lyrical grit and real deal instrumental abilities of the Dixie Chicks and Lucinda Williams (along with the soulful heart of Bonnie Raitt) will definitely be satisfied with Angel Band.

Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare CD (WB)
Their first album since the death of drummer James “The Rev” Sullivan — Nightmare was produced by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem).

The Blasters – The Blasters [Reissue] CD (Wounded Bird)
Originally released in 1982. The Blasters were a rock group out of Los Angeles, featuring brothers Dave and Phil Alvin.

Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey/Garvey’s Ghost [Reissue] CD (Hip-O Select)
Burning Spear’s classic Island Records debut Marcus Garvey (1975) is paired with Garvey’s Ghost (1976), the dub mix companion — both remastered for their 35th anniversary.

Eilen Jewell Presents Butcher Holler – A Tribute To Loretta Lynn CD (Signature Sound)
“Butcher Holler is named for the little Kentucky town where Loretta Lynn was raised. In this tribute to the country star we pay homage to her humble roots and straightforward, hard-hitting performance style.” — Eilen Jewell

Robert Cray – Cookin’ In Mobile CD+DVD (Vanguard)
Live CD+DVD release from the singer/songwriter and world-renowned American blues guitarist. This is The Robert Cray Band’s first-ever live DVD release.

Cruel Hand – Lock & Key CD (Bridge Nine)
Full of just as many catchy, metallic riffs as mosh parts, Lock & Key is a heavy mix of influences including Madball, Leeway, Cro-Mags, Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, and Obituary.

Cut Chemist – Sound Of The Police CD/LP (A Stable Sound/Soul Kitchen)
“Sound Of The Police contains African and South American inspired music from around the world. I had the privilege of performing this set opening for Mulatu Astatke which was his very first Los Angeles appearance.” — Cut Chemist

Dean & Britta – 13 Most Beautiful Songs For Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests CD (Double Feature)
Ex-Luna, Galaxie 500 members were commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum to compose and perform songs for 13 Screen Tests — short, silent portrait films made by Warhol in the mid-’60s.

Decrepit Birth – Polarity CD (Nuclear Blast)
New from Santa Cruz, CA tech-death masters.

Die Antwoord – 5 CDEP (Interscope)
New EP from South African electronic/hip-hop group.

Miniature Tigers – Fortress CD/LP (Modern Art)
Critical darlings Morning Tigers return with a new album — produced by Chris Chu of the Morning Benders. The first single “Gold Skull” was produced by Neon Indian.

Mystery Jets – Serotonin LP+MP3 (Rough Trade)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl. Echoes of ELO, 10CC, Fleetwood Mac and Supertramp rub up against the band’s own idiosyncratic, very British, psychedelic sensibility.

Revamp – Revamp CD (Nuclear Blast)
After Forever vocalist Floor Jansen returns under a new guise. Revamp is bombastic, but with heavy riffing. Complex and pounding drums mix with melancholic strings while crazy synth-sounds mix with a beautiful choir.

Rufio – Anybody Out There CD (Roc-A-Fella)
New from the California pop/punk outfit.

Pete Seeger With The Rivertown Kids And Friends – Tomorrow’s Children CD (Appleseed)
Tomorrow’s Children is like a joyful town picnic featuring Pete as a global village elder, assembling his neighbors to appreciate their past and present, to celebrate their triumphs against environmental threats, to swap old and new stories, to appreciate the natural glories surrounding them and to make sure that the following generations “carry it on” — the unifying spirit and power of music, the “folk process” of adapting or writing songs to respond to current situations.

Slum Village – Villa Manifesto CD (E1 Music)
Slum Village’s sixth studio (and reportedly final) album. “To be completely fair, it’s surprising the group has stayed around this long considering the tragedy that has struck Slum Village. Aside from label changes and the typical industry bullshit, two of their founding members, J Dilla and Baatin, have died since the group formed in the ’90s. Both will appear posthumously on Villa Manifesto along with De La Soul, Colin Munroe, DJ Khalil, Little Brother, and several others.” — Prefixmag

Tech N9ne Collabos – The Gates Mixed Plate CD (Strange Music)
With an emphasis on enjoying life, The Gates Mixed Plate brings together a diverse set of notables including Jay Rock, Glasses Malone, Yukmouth, Devin The Dude and Stevie Stone, as well as the familiar Strange Music cohorts: Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun and Big Scoob.

Thievery Corporation – Babylon Central CD+DVD (Eighteenth Street Lounge)
Double-disc package includes the film and the original motion picture soundtrack. Babylon Central is the directorial debut from Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation. The soundtrack includes tracks by: Thievery Corporation, Bad Brains, El Michaels Affair, Nostalgia 77, and more.

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – Couldn’t Stand The Weather [Reissue] 2xCD (Sony Legacy)
Digitally remastered and expanded double-disc Legacy Edition of the blues guitarist’s 1984 album contains 16 previously unreleased tracks, studio outtakes and the live recording of Vaughan & Double Trouble’s 1984 performance at the Spectrum in Montreal.

Christopher Willits – Tiger Flower Circle Sun CD/LP  (Ghostly International)
Willits uses the language of ambient, dream pop, experimental electronic and Afro/Latin music to explore themes of love, connectivity and universal vibrations.

DVDs:

Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures At An Exhibition [Reissue] DVD (Eagle Vision)
Pictures At An Exhibition was filmed at the Lyceum in London in December 1970. This new special edition, forty years on from when it was originally filmed, has the most complete version of the film available and is presented in the best possible sound and picture quality, complete with the original seventies psychedelic effects.

Grateful Dead – At The Hollywood Festival North West England, 1970 DVD+CD (Ozit)
Very rare archive film footage of the first time the Grateful Dead performed in the UK. Plus, short clips of Free, Family, Screaming Lord Switch and his Heavy Friends, John Peel and crowd footage.

Vinyl:

John Coltrane – My Favorite Things [Reissue] LP (Atlantic)
John Coltrane – Coltrane’s Sound [Reissue] LP (Atlantic)
Vinyl reissues of two Coltrane classics — originally released in 1961 and 1964, respectively.

Eminem – Recovery 2xLP (Aftermath/Interscope)
Now available on vinyl.

Will Holland, aka Quantic, the British DJ/producer/musician who has been making his own brand of soul- and funk-flavored music for the last decade, took a huge step forward with 2008′s Death of the Revolution, the first in the Quantic Presenta: Flowering Inferno series. Holland, who has been based in Colombia since 2007, was interested in bringing together the sounds of the Caribbean and Latin America, and while Death of the Revolution focused more on the Caribbean side of that equation, Dog with a Rope brings in more Latin, and is better for it (choosing between the dubby “Echate Pa’lla” [Version] and “Echate Pa’lla,” for example, the salsa of the latter is certainly the winner). Not that Holland is rewriting the book here: both cumbia and dub have a similarly lazy bassline, but credit Holland for taking advantage of these congruences to make something that sounds authentic but not derivative. Holland is sincere in his respect and love of the music, and it shows, though much of this is thanks to the other musicians on the album, mainly pianist Alfredo Linares, whose buoyant lines on “Dub y Guaguanco” make it one of the best here. Dog with a Rope is one of those records you feel like you know as soon as you hear it, that you start singing along to even though you’re not sure of the words, an album perfect for those humid, lazy summer day. Excellent stuff. (Marisa Brown-All Music Guide)

Listen To: Quantic Dub Y Guaguanco

Listen To: Echate Pa’lla

Zero 7 – Record CD (Atlantic/WEA)
Retrospective featuring tracks and remixes from Zero 7’s previous four albums and a track from their very first EP that was originally released on limited vinyl.

Frazey Ford – Obadiah CD (Nettwerk)
Debut album from The Be Good Tanyas’ Frazey Ford. Obadiah is a collection of songs hand-carved by the hardships and exaltations of life, and stained with the rich colors of soul and folk music that fueled artists like Joni Mitchell, Ann Peebles, Neil Young, and Donny Hathaway. Vinyl version due August 24.

Early Man – Death Potion CD (The End)
When it comes to Early Man, the formula is simple: riffs that detonate on impact, a rhythm section on fire and vocals that soar to Mt. Olympus.

Endless Boogie – Full House Head CD/2xLP (No Quarter)
Anchored by deep, heady grooves and epic guitar playing, Endless Boogie delivers seven fully realized studio tracks and one monumental rehearsal jam — sounding comfortable and focused, not weighed down by any pretension.

The Books – The Way Out CD/2xLP (Temporary Residence)
Over the course of three albums in nearly a decade’s time, The Books have grown to become one of modern music’s most genuine innovators. Creatively complex and truly unclassifiable, The Way Out continues their tradition of meticulous, existential songcraft, infusing the playfully surreal elements of previous albums with a humorous, childlike excitement.

Various Artists – Welcome Home/Diggin’ The Universe LP (Woodsist)
Songs by: Woods, Run DMT, White Fence, Fresh & Onlys, Mantles, Skygreen Leopards, Alex Bleeker, Moon Duo, City Center, Cause Co-Motion, Art Museums, Nodzzz and Ducktails. “The ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and ’00s are all there, bound together by shitty tape machines, reverb and easy chord changes, but melody is back and so is the joy of jamming a perfectly mangled pop song.” — Glenn Donaldson

Shellac – Terraform [Reissue] LP+MP3 (Touch & Go)
Vinyl reissue of Shellac’s now-classic 1998 album.

Sleigh Bells – Treats LP (Mom+Pop)
Recently released on CD — now available on picture disc vinyl.

CDs:

12 Stones – The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday CDEP (Wind-Up Records)
A set of solid rock tracks, featuring the single “We Are One,” a fist-pumping ode to the men and women of America’s military.

Asleep At The Wheel & Leon Rausch – It’s A Good Day CD (Bismeaux Productions)
It’s a match made in Western swing heaven as Ray Benson and Asleep At The Wheel team up with famed Texas Playboy Leon Rausch for their first-ever recording together.

Big Head Todd And The Monsters – Rocksteady CD (Big Head Todd And The Monsters)
The essence of Big Head Todd And The Monsters — a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock & roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting — has been winning fans since the band started playing together in high school. Rocksteady is the their eighth studio album.

The Books – The Way Out CD/2xLP (Temporary Residence)
Over the course of three albums in nearly a decade’s time, The Books have grown to become one of modern music’s most genuine innovators. Creatively complex and truly unclassifiable, The Way Out continues their tradition of meticulous, existential songcraft, infusing the playfully surreal elements of previous albums with a humorous, childlike excitement.

Clutch – From Beale Street To Oblivion [Reissue] 2xCD (Weathermaker Music)
Digitally remastered and expanded double-disc edition of this 2007 album featuring upgraded artwork.

Sheryl Crow – 100 Miles From Memphis CD (A&M)
Seventh album — features guest performances by Keith Richards and Justin Timberlake.

Department Of Eagles – Archive 2003-2006 CD (American Dust)
Collection of archival material from Fred Nicolaus and Daniel Rossen (Grizzly Bear). Atmospheric and grandiose symphonic pop. Vinyl version due August 3.

Jimmy Gnecco – The Heart CD/LP (Bright Antenna)
Debut album from Ours frontman. Though Jimmy plays every instrument on the album, it’s his evocative, soulful voice that takes center stage — a potent mix of intimacy, integrity and beautiful melancholy.

Shawn Lee – Sing A Song CD/LP+MP3 (Ubiquity)
In addition to showcasing a love for ‘60s and ’70s soul, Shawn Lee steers his latest musical mystery tour into psychedelic and cinematic territory over the course of twelve brand new cuts. Sing A Song is a summertime listen, packed with catchy motor city licks and space age songs.

Lillian Axe – Deep Red Shadows CD (Love & War/MRI)
Widely respected but criminally overlooked, Lillian Axe has developed a distinctive sound between progressive rock and heavy metal. Specifically noted for their elaborate song structures and time signatures, they continue to embrace new styles and ideas on their tenth album.

Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement CD/LP (Gnomonsong)
Swarming guitar fuzz, bass waves, insistent drum throbs and Jana Hunter’s redolent, charred voice. Eleven tracks of post-punk drone pop.

Mad Caddies – Consensual Selections CD (Fat Wreck Chords)
Fan-selected favorites collection. Vinyl version due August 3.

Mahjongg – The Long Shadow Of The Paper Tiger CD/LP (K Records)
“The moves you’re going to bust to Mahjongg have yet to be created. Music this frenetic and intense requires a whole new repertoire of dances. The Chicago collective is always surprising… a sound fusion that demands attention and energy you didn’t know you had.” — Bust Magazine

M.I.A. – XXXO The Remixes CD (XL)
Featuring Jay Z. Six remixes of the first single from /\/\ /\Y/\.

Piebald – Volume III 2xCD (Rise)
Features the album We Are The Only Friends We Have plus two B-sides from that studio session, unheard demos, and live songs.

Queens Of The Stone Age – Rated R [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD (Interscope)
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of QOTSA’s seminal album, this deluxe package includes the complete original Rated R plus five B-sides and nine tracks from their live set at the 2000 Reading Festival.

Max Richter – Infra CD (Fat Cat)
With majestic, involved textures and fluent, sweeping melodies, Infra is an enigmatic and inherently intellectual understanding of harmonic complexities that compels and mesmerizes.

Rick Ross – Teflon Don CD (IDJ/Slip N Slide)
New album featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West, Chrisette Michele, and Raphael Saadiq.

Brian Setzer Orchestra – Don’t Mess With A Big Band: Live! 2xCD (Surfdog)
Double-disc live set recorded on his 2009 Japanese tour.

Shannon Stevens – Shannon Stevens [Reissue] CD (Asthmatic Kitty)
Repress of Stevens’ 2000 debut. Includes new artwork plus two previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Kenseth Thibideau – Repetition CD (Temporary Residence)
Debut solo album from member of Pinback, Three Mile Pilot, and Tarentel. Inspired by an increasing obsession with the Can/Cluster/Harmonia/Tangerine Dream world of classic krautrock and European prog, Repetition fittingly centers around a series of circular melodies anchored by repetitive grooves and colored by swirling keyboards and understated vocals.

Tokio Hotel – Humanoid City Live CD+DVD (Cherry Tree)
The German goth/pop band perform Humanoid City live in Milan.

Various Artists – World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria 2xCD/3xLP (Soundway)
Compilation of guitar-driven psychedelic music from Nigeria circa the early 1970s. 32 tracks of funk-laden grooves inspired by Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and more. Vinyl edition features bonus tracks not available on the CD.

Vinyl:

Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot – The Son Of Chico Dusty 2xLP (Def Jam)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl.

Eric Clapton – Journeyman [Reissue] 2xLP (Reprise)
Vinyl reissue of Clapton’s 1989 album.

Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse – Present: Dark Night Of The Soul 2xLP+2xCD (Capitol/EMI)
Deluxe vinyl+CD box edition includes: 2xLPs, a copy of the album on CD, a bonus instrumental CD, poster, lobby cards and a 48-page 12×12 booklet.

Dirty Three – She Has No Strings Apollo [Reissue] LP+MP3 (Touch & Go)
Vinyl reissue of Dirty Three’s 2003 album.

Gogol Bordello – Trans-Continental Hustle LP (American)
Recently released on CD — now available on HQ-180 vinyl.

Indian Jewelry – Totaled LP (We Are Free)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl. Totaled comprises the swamp electro of 2003′s We Are The Wild Beast, the nightmare throb of 2005′s Invasive Exotics, and the sonic angel dream of 2008′s Free Gold.

Japandroids – Younger Us b/w Sex And Dying In High Society 7”+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
New Japandroids track backed with an X cover.

The National – Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers LP (Brassland)
The National’s sophomore album — originally released in 2003 — is available for the first time on vinyl.

Rachels – Selenography [Reissue] 2xLP+MP3 (Touch & Go)
Vinyl reissue of Rachel’s fourth album. Recorded between 1997 and 1999, Selenography is a collection of songs that have been staples of the band’s live shows.

School Of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire 2xLP (Vagrant)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl.

Saint Vitus – Live [Reissue] LP (Southern Lord)
Reissue of this essential album from the premiere American doom metal act of the ’80s.