CDs:
Adrenaline Mob – Men Of Honor CD (Century Media)
Adrenaline Mob — featuring Symphony X frontman Russell Allen, guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (Sonic Stomp), Disturbed bassist John Moyer and new drummer A.J Pero (Twisted Sister) — release their second full length album. Vinyl version due March 4.
The Allman Brothers Band – Peaches Picked: Boston Commons 8/17/71 CD (Allman Brothers Band Recording Company)
The fifth album issued by the Allman Brothers Band Recording Company returns to the Duane Allman-led outfit in a moment of triumph. The group’s outdoor appearance in Boston occurred six weeks after the release of their breakthrough album, At Fillmore East, and ten weeks before Allman’s death.
The Allman Brothers Band – Play All Night: Live At The Beacon Theater 1992 2xCD (Sony Legacy)
This new double-disc set showcases The Allman Brothers Band’s very first time playing an extended ten-night run at the Beacon.
Altitudes & Attitude – Altitudes & Attitude CDEP (MRI)
New project from longtime friends/bassists Frank Bello (Anthrax) and David Ellefson (Megadeth).
Artificial Brain – Labyrinth Constellation CD (Profound Lore)
A cosmic dose of complex brutality, Labyrinth Constellation fits neatly alongside the other denizens of Profound Lore’s twisted death metal contingent: Portal, Mitochondrion, Grave Miasma, Abyssal, and newcomers Auroch and Chthe’ilist.
Aztec Camera – High Land, Hard Rain [Reissue/1983] CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. In his new liner notes for this reissue, David Fricke calls High Land, Hard Rain “ten songs of anxious yearning, romantic urgency, big hurt and hard-won learning, distilled into compact dramas of buckskin-folk jangle and skewed-pop elegance.”
William Basinski – A Red Score In Tile [Reissue/2003] CD (2026)
Composed in 1979, A Red Score In Tile eventually surfaced as a vinyl-only edition in 2003. Made up of piano, the album showcases Basinski’s patented tape-loop technique and represents one of his most affecting pieces of music.
William Basinski – Variations: A Movement In Chrome Primitive [Reissue/2004] 2xCD (2026)
Variations was created using more piano tape loops, which were played randomly against themselves creating feedback loops. By “cloning” small cells of melody then “breeding” them randomly, new sounds were formed. These new sounds move in and out of the original cells, creating a complex crystalline structure, a new life form not unlike a city for example, which the original cells occupy in multitudes, moving in and out of one another in infinite combinations.
Bayside – Cult CD/LP (Hopeless)
Cult marks Bayside’s first release on Hopeless Records and is their sixth full-length overall.
Bear Hands – Distraction CD/LP (Cantora)
Distraction is a violently self-assured record that sees the quartet distilling their anxieties and pleasures alike into perfectly twisted pop nuggets. After releasing their debut LP Burning Bush Supper Club, Bear Hands crisscrossed America opening for the legendary GZA, Passion Pit, and AWOLNATION only to return home to Brooklyn and be distracted by the minutia of modern life and shallow urbanity. While avoiding each other for months, the band frittered away their time with help from the internet, serial monogamy, and recreational drugs.
Bootstraps – Bootstraps [2012] CD (Harvest)
Bootstraps began with a small, simple goal — to write a few songs for a friend’s feature film. Since then, their eponymous record has blossomed into what Liza Richardson, KCRW DJ and music supervisor calls, ”Strong songwriting bathed in an instantly likable, intimate vibe”. Which warrants this re-release to a larger audience. Vinyl version due April 15.
Jonatha Brooke – My Mother Has 4 Noses CD (Bad Dog Records)
Companion release to Jonatha Brooke’s new musical play, written and performed by Jonatha herself and now playing on Broadway. “Who knew the distinguished New York singer/songwriter was such a good actress, comedian and writer? Her one-woman play with music about her mother’s dementia was poignant, powerful and funny.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
Paul Byrom – Thinking Of Home CD (Shanachie)
Recorded in Ireland, Thinking Of Home finds Paul giving a classic tenor’s interpretation of some of the greatest and best loved Irish songs of all time, including “Danny Boy,” “The Town I Loved So Well,” “Dear Old Dublin” and others.
Jacques Caramac & The Sweet Generation – Highs & Lows Of CD/LP (Everyday Life)
Jacques Caramac’s sugary soundworld and wry observational rock brings to mind similarly singular British acts from Pulp to British Sea Power and even The Fall. Available on CD and on picture disc vinyl.
The Caribbean – Moon Sickness CD (Hometapes)
The Caribbean make music that rewards patience and attention — the kind of work that doesn’t just stand up to repeated listens, but actually requires them. That sentiment applies both to the Caribbean’s quirky, complex musical palette as well as literate, literary narratives that vocalist Michael Kentoff spins.
Cynic – Kindly Bent To Free Us CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
New album from legendary progressive rock innovators.
Displacer & Nimon – House Of The Dying Sun CD (Hymen)
On House Of The Dying Sun, a range of ingredients melt together to form a fascinating sonic pallette: solid, interlaced patches of percussion and elaborate basslines build the foundation for epic layers of deep ambience, swimming with deep walls of elegiac electrified strings warped from guitars and perfected with the addition of live double bass, electric organ and even disturbing bits of noise.
William Fitzsimmons – Lions CD/LP (Netterk)
Lions was produced by Chris Walla (guitarist for Death Cab For Cutie and previous production credits include Tegan And Sara and The Postal Service). Born to two blind parents, Fitzsimmons grew up in a home where music was integral to communication. With a Master’s degree in counseling, he worked as a mental health therapist and recorded songs during graduate school.
Candice Glover – Music Speaks CD (Interscope)
Debut album from the Season 12 winner of American Idol featuring the track “Cried.”
Noel Gourdin – City Heart, Southern Soul CD (Shanachie)
A heartfelt mix of rootsy soul and contemporary urban styles.
The Grouch & Eligh – The Tortoise & The Crow 3xCD (Empire Distribution Corp.)
The Grouch & Eligh’s new triple-disc album consists of one new solo album from The Grouch, one new solo album from Eligh, and one new collaborative G&E album. It features heavyweight guest appearances from Slightly Stoopid, Pretty Lights, Ant of Atmosphere, Zion I, Kreayshawn, Blu & Exile, and others.
Guided By Voices – Motivational Jumpsuit CD/LP (GBV Inc.)
Motivational Jumpsuit is the latest release by reunited indie rock (whatever that means) juggernaut (means an unstoppable force) Guided By Voices. It speaks in several silvery tongues, and like last year’s English Little League takes many routes to the same shimmery, elusive destination: rock greatness. Features 20 new songs clocking in at 38 minutes.
Mark Harris – Angry Child CD (n5MD)
“Listening back I was stuck by how all of the pieces were evocative of the landscape of rural Norfolk in the UK where I spent a lot of time when I was a boy, an endless flat landscape where the tide would take the sea out from miles and at times the sea/the sky/and the weather all gradually merge together. I remember how as a boy I would spend hours sitting on a small hill looking out to sea watching the light/clouds and weather gradually change… I hope the listener catches something of the feeling of that place and time by listening to this work.” — Mark Harris
Porya Hatami – Shallow CD (Tench)
Porya Hatami is an experimental sound artist based in Sanandaj, Iran. Working in the field of ambient/minimal, his compositions explore the balance between electronics and environmental sounds, utilizing processed acoustic and electronic sources and field recordings.
Hawkwind – Spacehawks CD (Eastworld)
Released late last year in Europe – now available in the US. The 29th studio album from the space rock pioneers is a collection of 14 tracks ranging from the re-imagining of classic hits like “Sunship” and “Season” to brand new, previously unheard tracks like “Lonely Moon.”
I Killed The Prom Queen – Beloved CD (Epitaph)
Third studio album from the Australian metalcore band.
Issues – Issues CD/LP (Rise)
With the release of their critically acclaimed Black Diamonds EP last November, Issues has seen a tremendous amount of success thanks to their innovative sound and constant tour schedule opening for acts like A Day To Remember, Of Mice & Men, Memphis May Fire, Sleeping With Sirens, and a stint on the Vans Warped Tour.
Garland Jeffreys – True Confessions: The Epic Sessions 2xCD (Raven)
Excellent two CD set containing three timeless albums by the peerless Garland Jeffreys: Escape Artist, Rock & Roll Adult, and Guts For Love, all originally recorded for Epic Records in the early 1980s. Born in Brooklyn, the enigmatic and inspirational singer/songwriter wrote gritty tales of New York street life with his most famous song “Wild In The Streets” becoming a staple of FM radio. His music is a unique blend of rock & soul, blues and reggae.
The Jezabels – The Brink CD/LP (The Jezabels)
Australian quartet the Jezabels shimmer with their anthemic, empowering approach to indie pop.
Junius – Days Of The Fallen Sun CDEP/12” (Prosthetic)
“Somewhere between the intricacy and intimacy of atmospheric metal and the cinematic grandness of art rock, Junius have fashioned an aesthetic that blends the aggressive and the emotive.” – Exclaim
Juvenile – Fundamentals CD (Rap-A-Lot)
New release from rapper/songwriter Terius Gray.
Takayu Kuroda – Rising Son CD (Blue Note)
Ascendant trumpeter and composer Takuya Kuroda makes his Blue Note debut with the release of Rising Son, which was produced by José James. Kuroda, who is best known for his inspired presence in James’ band, steps forth here to helm that remarkable band which features keyboardist Kris Bowers, electric bassist Solomon Dorsey, drummer Nate Smith, and trombonist Corey King.
Talib Kweli – Gravitas CD/LP (Javotti Media)
“Talib Kweli has a lot to say right now. Each of Gravitas’ eleven tracks casts an eye around the room and picks up something it notices, dissecting it with the same searing attention to detail whether it be the state of the rap game or the politicization of women’s bodies.” — XXL
Lake Street Dive – Bad Self Portraits CD (Signature Sounds)
Lake Street Dive has been performing for nearly a decade after meeting as fellow students at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Bad Self Portraits is a microcosm of their evolution from a weird alt-country jazz group, to a pop-soul juggernaut with ‘60s influences like Brill Building girl groups, British Invasion rock, horn-driven Stax R&B, Motown soul, and even The Band-like gospel blues.
Dawn Landes – Bluebird CD (Western Vinyl)
Singer/songwriter Dawn Landes has been writing songs for most of her life, and already has more than a decade of experience as a professional producer and engineer. After leaving NYU where she studied psychology and literature, Landes began honing her production and engineering skills, working at Stratosphere Sound (owned by James Iha, Adam Schlesinger, and Andy Chase), and at Philip Glass’ personal recording studio, before launching Saltlands Studio in Brooklyn with partners Steve Salett and Gary Maurer. Her new album, Bluebird, features contributions from Tony Scherr, Rob Moose, and Norah Jones. Vinyl version due March 4.
Lost In The Trees – Past Life CD/LP+CD (Anti)
When Lost In The Trees set out to record Past Life, they knew they needed a break with the past. On their first two releases Picker had used an expanded six-member band to render his carefully composed, classical-inflected songs. For their new album, the band is pared to a lean electronic-rock four-piece; the arrangements are modern, spare, minimal, emphasizing groove and rhythm, blending the sonic architecture of 21st century electronic dance music, and the sensual swerve of post-Bowie ‘80s pop.
Lydia Loveless – Somewhere Else CD/LP (Bloodshot)
Without ditching the ribald, spit-in-your-eye attitude of her previous recordings, Loveless travels into some parallel-universe, roots-born Exile In Guyville territory. These are songs that find her asserting stylistic choices, while baring themes of insatiable desire, unrequited emotion, and mistake making on life’s crooked, messed-up path.
Roc Marciano – Merci Beaucoup CD (Man Bites Dog)
Originally a member of Busta Rhymes crew, Flipmode Squad, Roc left in 2001 to form the UN, a hardcore underground hip-hop group consisting of three other MCs (Dino Brave, Laku & Mic Raw). “Welcome to Marci World — it’s a dusky rap wonderland. Since 2010’s Marcberg, Long Island-raised rapper and producer Roc Marciano has traveled a steady path to connoisseur’s acclaim. He capitalized on the slow-burn, dank appeal of that album with last year’s resplendent Reloaded; now, in 2013, he’s following up last month’s playful The Pimpire Strikes Back with Marci Beaucoup, self-described as more of a producer’s project, and proof that he’s now master of his own domain.” — Spin
Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition – Dark Night Of The Soul CD/LP Fat Possum)
The late Memphis producer Jim Dickinson once called Jimbo Mathus “the singing voice of Huck Finn.” Outside the South, Mathus is likely known as the ringleader of the hyper-ragtime outfit Squirrel Nut Zippers. In his native Mississippi and throughout the South, however, Mathus is the prolific songwriter of born-in-the-bone Southern music, the torchbearer for Deep South mythology and culture. Think Delta highways, bowling-pin Budweisers and “innerplanetary honky-tonk” for the masses.
Murphy’s Law – Back With A Bong [Reissue/1989] CD/LP (I Scream Records)
Founded in Astoria, Queens in 1983, Murphy’s Law is a huge part of the New York and American hardcore legacy. Their albums, such as the self-titled, Murphy’s Law and its 1989 follow up Back With A Bong helped create the sound of New York Hardcore back in the day, as well as what it stands for today.
New Bums – Voices In A Rented Room CD/LP (Drag City)
New Bums is the new grudging match-up of Donovan Quinn (Skygreen Leopards) and Ben Chasny (Six Organs Of Admittance, Comets On Fire, 200 Years, Rangda).
NO – El Prado CD (Arts & Crafts)
“Toronto mainstay indie label Arts & Crafts has been on a roll lately, combing North America far and wide for some of the most brooding, expansive, emotionally-draining indie pop they can find. Fans of local heroes Reuben & The Dark will find much to like on Los Angeles’ NO’s debut album, El Prado: both display a knack for crafting dark, lush pop that seems best suited for overcast skies and rain-soaked urban landscapes.” – Beatroute.ca. Vinyl version due April 15.
Old & In The Way – Live At The Boarding House 4xCD (Acoustic Disc)
Forty years ago on a Monday night, a bluegrass band calling themselves Old & In The Way (featuring Jerry Garcia on banjo, David Grisman on mandolin, Peter Rowan on guitar, Vassar Clements on fiddle and John Kahn on bass) walked on to the stage at The Boarding House in San Francisco. They played again a week later and recorded what would become one of the most influential albums in bluegrass. Now, forty years later, both shows are being released across four CDs.
Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness CD/LP+MP3 (Jagjaguwar)
On her new album, Burn Your Fire For No Witness, Angel Olsen sings with full-throated exultation, admonition, and bold, expressive melody. With the help of producer John Congleton, her music now crackles with a churning, rumbling low end and a brighter energy. (Limited initial quantities also available on white vinyl.)
Phantogram – Voices CD/2xLP (Republic)
After a quiet couple years Phantogram came charging back last year with a series of songs expanding the duo’s big, heavy synth-pop. You’ve already heard some of these, like the first single, “Black Out Days,” and the more recent (and awesomely titled) “Bill Murray.” They’re both on the band’s sophomore album, Voices.
Sean Paul – Full Frequency CD (Atlantic)
Sixth studio album from the Jamaican dancehall superstar.
Laurent Perrier – Plateforme #1 CD (Baskaru)
Plateforme is a concept, a restrictive framework Laurent Perrier imposed on himself: to create an electroacoustic piece using solely a set of sound sources provided by a “collaborator.” The first three fruits of this vast sonic transmutation project are presented on Plateforme #1, the seeds having been planted by Felix Kubin, Lawrence English, and Gianluca Becuzzi.
The Presidents Of The United States Of America – Kudos To You! CD (PUSA Corp.)
Kudos To You! is the seventh full length studio album from Seattle’s The Presidents Of The United States Of America. Since 1994, PUSA has been spreading their skewed and joyous brand of pop to audiences the world over.
Pye Corner Audio – Black Mill Tapes 1-4 3xCD (Type)
This 44 track, triple-CD set collects all four volumes of the Black Mill Tapes series. “Lurking in the shadows between deep house, slow techno, Carpenter soundtracks and classic electronica, these sibling albums transcend genres with hallucinatory, shape-shifting effect, trudging from the pastoral whimsy of the first volumes to a darker, less certain point on the horizon. They could just as easily soundtrack a thriller about Balearic drug dealers as a sleazy, modern film noir set in Glasgow or some cosmic sci-fi adventure, spiking stealthy bass grooves with richly visual darkwave motifs and moments of beat-less, flickering neon ambient.” – Boomkat
Sabina – Toujours CD (Bar/None)
Toujours, the first solo record from Brazilian Girls cofounder Sabina, updates the classic ye-ye music that was exploding in France, Italy and Spain in the early ‘60s. Imagine Nico and Serge Gainsbourg having cocktails. Vinyl version due March 4.
Matt Schofield – As Far As I Can See CD/2xLP (Mascot/Provogue)
Guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer Schofield has been frequently lauded as the British blues guitarist of current times.
Kevin Seconds – Off Stockton CD/LP (Rise)
11 heartfelt songs that are raw and stripped down yet still brilliantly composed. There is no need for much production; it’s a “less is more” mentality for sure. His DIY ethics date back to 1979 when he started seminal punk/hardcore band 7 Seconds.
Skindred – Kill The Power CD (Red River Entertainment)
Fifth studio album from the Welsh reggae/metal band.
Slothrust – Of Course You Do CD/LP (Ba Da Bing!)
Led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Leah Wellbaum, Brooklyn’s Slothrust is a rock band of musicians from the jazz/blues tradition who sound nothing like jazz musicians playing rock. Beneath the know-how, their aesthetic is punk as f##k. How perfect, right? You get the zap without the Zappa, not a lot of Yes, but a load of Oh Hell Yeah! Slothrust’s musicianship sneaks up on you, because the first thing that grabs you is how insanely catchy these songs are. Then you realize that it all comes down to the fact that they play fearlessly and full of tenacity.
Solids – Blame Confusion CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Montreal band Solids went to school with bands from the ‘90s, like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Superchunk. Formed by Xavier Germain-Poitras (guitar) and Louis Guillemette (drums), the duo has understood that melody never shines as much as when it is forced to fight its way through many layers of distortion and feedback effects.
Ralph Stanley/Ralph Stanley II – Side By Side CD (Rebel)
The ancient and the modern converge to create the timeless in Side By Side, a new recording from vocal titan Ralph Stanley and his gifted son and musical heir apparent, Ralph Stanley II.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones – Half The City CD/LP (Single Lock)
Half The City is the new album by this Birmingham, Alabama-based sextet, who have already created a maelstrom of interest with their roof-raising live shows and self-released four-song 2012 EP. Produced by Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes, and recorded and mixed in the storied R&B mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the album harkens back to the region’s classic soul roots while extending the form with electrifying potency.
Jim Suhler – Panther Burn CD (Underworld)
Jim Suhler is one of the next generation of great Texas songwriters and guitar slingers and continues the lineage of Texas legends such as Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons and Bugs Henderson.
Sun Araw – Belomancie CD/2xLP (Sun Ark)
Belomancie is the seventh full-length album from Sun Araw (Cameron Stallones). Belomancie also is a series of corridors that lead to specific chambers. It’s designed to be an active listening experience, yet is not designed to accompany existing environments. It’s designed as a transportation system. It’s recommended to give your full attention and to listen at the highest volume that is comfortable on high quality speaks or with a pronounced stereo field or an excellent pair of headphones.
Sun Club – Dad Claps At The Mom Prom CD (Goodnight)
Hailing from ever-eclectic Baltimore, Maryland, Sun Club infuses bright instrumentals, animal calls, and delirious stomping with dirty sunshine pop to get your body grooving. Pulling from influences like The Beach Boys and Animal Collective, the band creates an array of energetic noises.
Swamp Dogg – Cuffed, Collared & Tagged [Reissue/1972] CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Maverick soul artist Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams) has been described as the “soul genius that time forgot” and “a strange combination of Sly Stone’s progressive funk with Frank Zappa’s lyrical absurdism.” Vocally, Swamp Dogg sounds like a cross between General Johnson (of Chairmen Of The Board) and Van Morrison; as a songwriter, he’s his own man. With the exception of Sly Stone, no other soul men of the period were investigating controversial topics with such infectious musicality and good humor.
Benmont Tench – You Should Be So Lucky CD (Blue Note)
A dynamic and distinguished set of songs written almost entirely by Tench over the course of his thirty-seven year career not only as a keyboardist and founding member of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, but as a first call musician for artists from Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan to The Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello; from the Jayhawks and Ryan Adams to Fiona Apple and John Prine. Vinyl version due April 15.
Thug Entrancer – Death After Life CD/LP (Software)
Death After Life, Thug Entrancer’s debut for Software Recording Co. is a deliberately realized collection of dance experimentation and hybridized electronic music with narrow stylistic precedents. It’s also a gripping, somber tide formed from the gravitational pull of an artist’s amble through unknown turfs.
Otto Totland – Pinô CD (Sonic Pieces)
The recognizable continuation of Totland’s compositions will attract fans of Deaf Center, and the cinematic and classical components of his solo work will hold sway for those familiar with Harold Budd or Dustin O’Halloran.
Trin Tran – Far Reaches CD (Castleface)
Trin Tran: The one-man band without a plan, hurtling through the songiverse without a map or compass. For years now, Trin Tran has been creeping out from deep space (Americas Midwest) and bouncing songs off satellites. These transmissions are a testament to his lovely weirdness. This 2014 EP is an injection of strange-pop — less garage than his recent full-length on Ty Segalls imprint God? Records and more the bastard child of Duran Duran and Bruce Haack.
Various Artists – Putumayo Presents: Native America CD (Putumayo World Music)
Haunting flute music and entrancing vocals reveal the power of contemporary Native American music from the US and Canada.
Suzanne Vega – Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles CD (Amanuensis Productions)
The first release of original material in seven years for the New York singer/songwriter.
Vinyl version due March 4. “Vega steps gingerly out of her comfort zone on ‘I Never Wear White,’ its harsh guitars veering towards garage rock, and the banjo-led angry man blues of ‘Song Of The Stoic.’ If any of this proves too much for less adventurous fans, the literate whimsy of ‘Crack In The Wall’ and ‘Silver Bridge’ trek across more familiar terrain.” – Record Collector
Patrick Watson – Just Another Ordinary Day [2003] CD (Secret City)
Just Another Ordinary Day is Patrick Watson’s debut album, which has never been made available until now. Self-released in an extremely limited run in 2003, it showcases him and his band harnessing the atmospheric rock sound that they would come to perfect on 2006’s breakthrough album, Close To Paradise.
We Are The In Crowd – Weird Kids CD (Hopeless)
A new album featuring more of the pop/punk band’s trademark soaring vocals, powerful arrangements, and updated dynamics.
Mieczyslaw Weinberg/Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer – Mieczyslaw Weinberg/Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer 2xCD (ECM)
The music of Mieczyslaw Weinberg is finally beginning to get the hearing it has long deserved. Weinbergs lifetime spanned the 20th century: born 1919 in Warsaw, he died 1996 in Moscow, in semi-obscurity. Along the way, his allies and supporters had included Dmitri Shostakovich, who considered him one of the great composers of the age. This double album with the Kremerata Baltica, recorded in Neuhardenberg and Lockenhaus, makes a good case for that claim.
White Rainbow – THRU.U CD (White Rainbow)
After the release of 2009’s epic New Clouds on Kranky, White Rainbow drastically changed. Dropping all but the most essential elements of his psychedelic sound palette, Forkner steered his sonics towards synthesized funk, woozy post-hi-fi beats and sample chops in digital releases like 2011’s From Now On Let’s, 2012’s Trick Shot and 2013’s Sand Quality & Every Answer. THRU.U is the culmination of all this.
Norma Winstone/Klaus Gesing/Glauco Venier – Dance Without Answer CD (ECM)
The great British jazz singer Norma Winstone once again casts her net wide for source material for this third ECM album with Italian pianist Glauco Venier and German clarinetist/saxophonist Klaus Gesing.
Young Fathers – Dead CD/LP (Anticon)
Young Fathers are three young men from Edinburgh and Liberia and Nigeria, all at the same time. Their journey has taken them through various incarnations and styles but they are still only in their mid 20s. You can call it hip-hop or rap, but Alloysious, G and Kayus sing more than they chat. There’s an obsession with the surface texture of sound — the psychedelicist’s love of noise.
Dan Zimmerman – Dreams Of Earth CD (Sounds Familyre)
With searching eyes that loom large behind impossibly thick bifocals, Zimmerman’s voice is a canyon, as lonely and persistent as the river that carved it. Dan Zimmerman, the Dog-Man, the Cosmic Patriot, the Space Pilgrim, is both seer and seeker, an embracer of limitations and a big-hearted mystic.
John Zorn – The Alchemist CD (Tzadik)
Zorn’s string quartets are some of the most important modern contributions to the canon and a new Zorn quartet is truly a cause for celebration. His sixth quartet is inspired by the hermetic Angelic actions of John Dee and is replete with the procedures of distillation, calcination, crystallization, sublimation, purification, rotation as well numerology, prayers, canons, contrapuntal complexity and the ghost of a familiar fugue. Also included is Zorn’s mystical response to the ancient Newgrange sacred site in Ireland, a beautiful and evocative setting of Amergin, one of the oldest Celtic sacred texts, written for three female voices.
John Zorn – Psychomagia CD (Tzadik)
New album by quartet of Abraxas, the acclaimed Moroccan rock arrangements for the Book of Angels series.
DVD & Blu-ray:
The Allman Brothers Band – Live At Great Woods 9/6/81 DVD (Sony Legacy)
This DVD release of Live At Great Woods fills a crucial gap in The Allman Brothers Band’s videography: after years of demand, fans can experience the original long form video version of this concert (previously only available on VHS made by the Toronto video production), with no interviews edited into the main feature. 91 minutes.
Asleep At The Wheel – Then And Now DVD (Bismeaux)
This short film and concert footage chronicles the improbable four-decade transformation of a band of ragtag hippies into the 9-time Grammy winning champions of western swing and todays status as Texas cultural icons. From the early days in Paw Paw, WV to the big breaks in San Francisco, settling permanently in Austin, and then on to each of the improbable comebacks through the years, the story culminates in a triumphant 2010 concert the reunites the “family” for its 40th anniversary.
Suicide Silence – Ending Is Beginning: Mitch Lucker Memorial Show DVD+CD/Blu-ray+CD (Century Media)
Suicide Silence’s live memorial show for late frontman Mitch Lucker, recorded 12/21/12.
Various Artists – Live At Wacken 2012 3xDVD+2xCD (UDR)
There’s only one Wacken Open Air. Nothing heats up the summer quite like the world-renowned festival in the north of Germany. 2012’s edition saw heavy hitters like Volbeat, Edguy and Testament tearing up the stages, with 75,000 moshing metalheads in attendance. 60 tracks from 25 bands. 270 minutes.
Vinyl:
7 Days Of Funk – 7 Days Of Funk 8×7” (Stones Throw)
Late-2013 release from the modern funk outfit featuring Dam-Funk and Snoopzilla aka Snoop Dogg. This box set version contains the album’s original tracks spread across eight 7” singles, including instrumentals and two bonus tracks.
David Ackles – David Ackles [Reissue/1968] LP (1972)
David Ackles’s eponymous 1968 debut is a rich emotional experience rife with poignant balladry and evocative lyricism. The era’s market was unprepared for such a singular songwriter, but the cult of Ackles is a potent force and this reissue obliges its demands. Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Elvis Costello are Ackles acolytes—the latter even championed him as “perhaps the greatest unheralded songwriter of the late ’60s.”
Mark Banning – Journey To The Light [Reissue/1985] LP (Students Of Decay)
Recorded in Northern California in 1984 and released in a micro edition by the Creative Sound imprint in January of the following year, Mark Banning’s Journey To The Light is a true lost gem of private issue New Age music, an album that is more spoken about than heard and deserves to be recognized alongside established classics of the genre. Incorporating processed electric guitar, zither, voice and field recordings, it is unabashedly beautiful music—two side-long pieces that feel as though they may have always existed, hanging in the air like a morning fog over the Pacific.
Beat Happening – Black Candy [Reissue/1989] LP (K Records)
Hey, Gravedigger. Welcome to Black Candy, the fourth Beat Happening album. Bret, Heather, and Calvin explore the more sinister aspects of life, with an eye towards the relief that can be found in its simpler pleasures. “Melancholy” is a word that has been used to describe this approach, though Black Candy does include many optimistic moments. The album has been out of print on vinyl for nearly a decade.
The Blue Jean Committee/The Fingerlings – Massachusetts Afternoon b/w Embrace Me 7” (Drag City)
Curated by Fred Armisen himself under his “Hometown Heroes” imprint, both Blue Jean Committee and The Fingerlings are little-heard pop music classics. If you’ve seen Fred’s SNL skits, then you know these bands.
Glen Branca – Lesson No. 1 [Reissue/1980] 2×12” (Superior Viaduct)
After cutting his teeth in the late ’70s no wave scene with bands Theoretical Girls and The Static, Glenn Branca made his first solo statement, Lesson No. 1, in 1980. The inaugural release on legendary post-punk/dance label 99 Records, Lesson No. 1 unveiled Branca’s visionary guitar concepts with two monstrous, sidelong compositions that helped forge NYC’s downtown art-punk sound and acted as a massive influence on countless young groups, including Sonic Youth and Swans.
Peter Buck – I Am Back To Blow Your Mind Once Again LP (Mississippi)
A new set of rock & roll, all done the old fashioned way — direct tape cut to lathe cut to vinyl. This time around you’ll find everything from garage rock to psychedelic soundscapes to pretty ballads.
Bobby Charles – Bobby Charles [Reissue/1972] LP (Light In The Attic)
Bobby Charles pioneered the musical genre known as ‘swamp rock’ — he wrote the early rock & roll classic “See You Later, Alligator” (best known via the version by Bill Haley & The Comets). Another early gem penned by Bobby Charles was “Walking To New Orleans,” as recorded by Fats Domino. He also appeared at the legendary Last Waltz concert in 1976, in which he performed “Down South In New Orleans” accompanied by The Band and Dr. John. A virtual who’s who of classic ‘roots’ rock, his eponymous 1972 album features ten classics supported by the likes of Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel of The Band, long time Neil Young sidekick Ben Keith, Bob Dylan’s former running mate Bob Neuwirth, session maverick Amos Garrett, the esteemed Dr. John, Geoff Muldaur and several others. HQ-180gm.
Cities Aviv – Come To Life LP (Young One)
Come To Life sees Aviv come full circle — finding a balance amid the turbulence of burgeoning adulthood, and arising from the transformative flames as a harbinger of the new hip-hop paradigm. His street gospel stylings exist outside of the confines of trend, genre, or time signature, flowing organically within the digital corridor.
Guy Clark – Old No. 1 [Reissue/1975] LP (4 Men With Beards)
Guy Clark’s debut from 1975 is one of the all time classic country singer/songwriter records. By the time of its release the Texas native had been shopping his tunes in Nashville for a few years and the songs from Old No. 1 were already well aged and often covered. Regardless, though Clark considers himself more a songwriter than a recording artist, nobody holds a candle to these performances. HQ-180gm.
Com Truise – Wave 1 12” (Ghostly International)
First new material since 2011’s Galactic Melt LP features guest vocals from Joel Ford (Ford & Lopatin).
Death – North Street b/w We’re Gonna Make It 7” (Drag City)
Two newly unearthed tracks from Death. “North Street” was recorded in 1980, as Death was transitioning into their next incarnation as The Fourth Movement. The B-side, “We’re Gonna Make It” was completed in 1992.
Gang Starr – Step In The Arena [Reissue/1991] LP (Virgin)
1991’s Step In The Arena is the breakout second full-length album from the legendary East Coast hip-hop duo Gang Starr — consisting of MC Guru and DJ/producer Premier — and follow-up to their 1989 debut No More Mr. Nice Guy. The album firmly established Gang Starr’s trademark sound which radically blended the unprecedented jazz samples of Premier with the deadpan street narratives of Guru and greatly altered the boundaries of hip hop in the process.
Anne Guthrie – Codiaeum Variegatum LP (Students Of Decay)
Based in Brooklyn, Anne Guthrie is a professional acoustician, composer and sound artist whose work combines a highly technical knowledge of natural reverb, field recording and extended microphone techniques with live and processed instrumentation, including French horn, violoncello and contrabass. Her music explores the play of dichotomies: cacophony/beauty, accidental/intentional, unhinged/refined, traditional/outsider.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Purple Haze: 51st Anniversary 7” (Sundazed)
Mono mixes.
The House Of Love – The House Of Love [Reissue/1988] LP (Cherry Red Phonograph)
Equally inspired by the ’60s pop of the Left Banke, Kinks, Zombies and the more distorted sounds of bands like the Velvets and contemporaries The Jesus & Mary Chain, this was The House Of Love’s first and most fully realized album. Includes two bonus tracks (demo versions of the classic singles, “Shine On” and “Christine”).
Chuck Jackson – I Don’t Want To Cry [Reissue/1961] LP (Sundazed)
Chuck Jackson – On Tour [Reissue/1964] LP (Sundazed)
Uptown soul from a regular visitor to the R&B charts (and an occasional one to the pop listings) in the early ’60s with such early pop/soul concoctions as “I Don’t Want To Cry,” “Any Day Now,” and “Tell Him I’m Not Home.” HQ-180gm.
Stefan Jaworzyn – Drained Of Connotation LP (Blackest Ever Black)
Following a brief stint in Whitehouse, in 1986 Jaworzyn formed Skullflower, and in 1990 he established the Shock label (Coil, Dead C). The driving, faintly sociopathic and supremely zoned pieces on Drained Of Connotation were created in early/mid-’82 using a Korg MS10 or 20 and his beloved Dr. Rhythm drum machine.
Ramblin’ Jeffrey Lee & Cypress Grove With Willie Love – Ramblin’ Jeffrey Lee & Cypress Grove With Willie Love [Reisue/1992] 2xLP (Bang)
This expanded vinyl reissue of the 1992 album from Gun Club member Ramblin’ Jeffrey Lee includes seven tracks previously unreleased on vinyl.
Lady Gaga – Art Pop 2xLP (Interscope)
Limited double-vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket on silver foil stock.
Marine Girls – Beach Party [Reissue/1981] LP (Cherry Red Phonograph)
Though misunderstood at the time of its initial release in 1981, the years have been kind to Beach Party and it is now regarded as one of the more important albums of fractured UK twee pop and minimalist post-punk, alongside The Young Marble Giants’ classic, Colossal Youth. Formed in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Marine Girls were an all-female group formed by school friends and include Tracey Thorn, before she found international success with Ben Watt in Everything but the Girl.
Mouth Of The Architect – Dawning LP (Translation Loss)
Recently released on CD – now available on metallic gold vinyl. “Mouth Of The Architect are probably one of our favorites, their sound leaning a lot more toward the massive, heavy, riffy, doom sludge side of the equation, which just makes the pretty parts all that much more special. And the thing about MOTA, is that even at their heaviest, their crushing downtuned riffs are sort of just supercharged mathrock parts, which gives the whole thing a much more moody emotional vibe, gives it a little more groove, makes it a lot more catchy, even subtly so.” — Aquarius Records
The Pretty Things – S.F. Sorry [Reissue/1968] LP (Snapper)
Newly remastered from the original analogue tapes and pressed on HQ-180gm vinyl, packaged in a die-cut “tombstone” sleeve, mirroring the original US LP design.
Lula Reed – Blue And Moody [Reissue/1958] LP (Sundazed)
“Lula Reed’s voice seemed to tremor whenever she sang. As a result, it’s easy to believe every word of both her songs of love and of heartache. On Blue and Moody, she sounds a bit like a cross between Lavern Baker and Billie Holiday. Her high-pitched voice isn’t perfect, but every song on the album is drop-dead sexy ‘50s R&B.” – Cahl’s Juke Joint
Roladex – Anthems For The Modern Age LP (Medical Records)
Imagine Kraftwerk playing Steven Merritt songs. At times their music is cold and moody, at others it is bright and dimly warm. Themes such as nuclear war, cosmology, false memories and technology as the ”opiate of the masses” become apparent as the listener plays through the LP. Fans of early Wire (esp. 154), Drinking Electricity, Fad Gadget and even noisy ‘90s shoegaze are sure to enjoy.
Various Artists – 100 Moons: Hindustani Vocal Art 1930-55 LP (Mississippi/Canary)
Absolutely great compilation of early Indian vocal 78s. Features artists such as Faiyaz Khan, Hirabai Barodekar, Dattreya Vishnu Paluskar, and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Mediative and exciting vocals from the masters. Great liner notes and mastering by Ian Nagoski complete with photos.
Various Artists – Anthology Of American Folk Music 1 2xLP (Mississippi)
Various Artists – Anthology Of American Folk Music 2 2xLP (Mississippi)
Various Artists – Anthology Of American Folk Music 3 2xLP (Mississippi)
Various Artists – Anthology Of American Folk Music 4 2xLP (Mississippi)
Mississippi has gone to great lengths to reproduce the LPs just as they originally were designed by Harry Smith. All the materials and mastering are as top notch as possible. Its hard to even begin to talk about the significance of these 8 LPs. Harry Smith created an alternate version of American culture with these sets that influenced just about everyone who heard them. All pressed on HQ-200gm vinyl
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