CDs + Vinyl:
The 4 Seasons – Sherry & 11 Others [Reissue/1962] CD (Real Gone Music)
The 4 Seasons – Big Girls Don’t Cry And Twelve Others [Reissue/1963] CD (Real Gone Music)
Original mono mixes of two of the pop vocal group’s early albums.
John Baker – The Vendetta Tapes: Incidental Music From The 1960s BBC TV Series And Other Radiophonics CD/LP (Buried Treasure)
Brand new compilation of rare material by John Baker from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Displays his skill in fusing groovy tape loops, ambient drones and bass textures with real instruments.
Beirut – No No No CD (4AD)
“Finding a new love sparked the creativity and songwriting that went into the making of No No No. Condon and his bandmates, bassist Paul Collins and drummer Nick Petree, worked on the new album in the fall of 2014, finally recording it in two weeks live in the studio. Last June, videos of Beirut playing several new songs at Brooklyn’s Northside Festival appeared online. One of them is ‘No No No,’ the title track to the nine-song collection. It’s a jaunty, syncopated, playful tune with a simple yet anthemic melody. The horn arrangements bring depth to the song’s spirited repetition. It’s undeniably Beirut — and a joyfully welcome return” – NPR. Vinyl version due October 6.
Better Off – Milk CD (Equal Vision)
“Better Off proudly draws influence from some of their favorite rock bands — Weezer, Foo Fighters, and Jimmy Eat World — to help pour their very own glass of exactly what they’ve been so thirsty for. It only took the band’s 2013 (I Think) I’m Leaving and 2014’s Meth Head to concoct the guitar-driven, personal record that is Milk.” – USA Today/College
Bring Me The Horizon – That’s The Spirit CD/LP (Columbia)
The fifth album from the UK-based metal band is an 11-track, exhilarating ride bursting with huge riffs, soaring vocals and stadium filling monster tracks.
The Buckinghams – The Complete Hit Singles CD (Varese Sarabande)
This new Buckinghams compilation features all of their hit singles from the ‘60s, including their #1 pop smash “Kind Of A Drag.” In addition, the album features “Don’t You Care,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” and the special radio edit of the hit “Susan.”
Gary Clark Jr. – The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim CD/2xLP+MP3 (WB)
“On his 2012 major label debut, Gary Clark Jr. was hungry for all the music he could get his hands on. He rose up out of Austin as a certified bluesman and killer guitar player, sure, but Blak And Blu also pulled funk, soul, and molten garage rock under its wide roof. What that album lacked in cohesion it made up for in spirit and a whole pile of hot licks. Three years later, The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim smooth’s out some of that wayward fire, as Clark uses the album to comb through states of danger, frustration, and especially love.” – Consequence Of Sound
Phil Cook – Southland Mission CD/LP (Middle West)
Southland Mission is a soundtrack of shared experiences and Phil’s purity in leadership is self-evident from the moment the needle hits the record. The songs have no prerequisite, no pretension. Instead, as a collection, they call on listeners to witness and immerse themselves in their own journey. Placing focus on the way the tracks make them feel in lieu of searching for superfluous descriptors and categories. Each track is a palpable glance back at the heritage of our shared musical culture, subtly encouraging what will be a vital shift in keeping true artistry alive.
Shemekia Copeland – Outskirts Of Love CD (Alligator)
Shemekia returns to Alligator with a new release celebrating her continuing mastery of roots music styles from blues and soul to rock and Americana. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (guitar on a smoldering version of “Jesus Just Left Chicago”), Robert Randolph, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Will Kimbrough guest, but it’s Shemekia and her commanding vocals that dominate the performances on new original material, plus songs by John Fogerty, Albert King, Jesse Winchester, Jessie Mae Hemphill and her father, Johnny Copeland.
Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Two 2xCD (Concord Jazz)
Chick Corea and Béla Fleck meet once again in a historic duet of piano and banjo. With a mix of jazz and pop standards, crossing a myriad of genres, from jazz, bluegrass, rock, flamenco and gospel, this album captures the casual, intimate playing by both legends from different musical worlds.
The Cramps – Teenage Werewolf… Live CD (Orbit)
This wild live show from the legendary Cramps, recorded at NYC’s Club 57 in 1979, is packed with early classics including “Domino,” “Rockin’ Bones,” “Human Fly,” “Garbageman,” “I Was A Teenage Werewolf,” “Sunglasses After Dark,” “The Way I Walk” and many others.
DJ Cam – Miami Vice CD/LP (Inflamable)
The beatmaker/producer takes a stab at realizing the influence the popular ‘80s cop drama (and its not-so-popular 2006 box office remake) has had on him, with reimagined versions of his favorite Miami Vice themes.
Duran Duran – Paper Gods CD/2xLP (WB)
Duran Duran’s 14th album includes an A-list of collaborators, including Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Mr. Hudson, Janelle Monáe, John Frusciante, Kiesza, Lindsey Lohan and Davide Rossi. On title track “Paper Gods” (which features Mr Hudson) “the celebrated band’s sound is almost unrecognizable from the bouncing, guitar and synth hook-laden hits of their earlier years. And they’ve adopted a serious lyrical tone. It all sounds unlike any other Duran Duran song that came before it. Simon Le Bon blasts today’s celebrity-obsessed culture, singing: ‘Bleeding from paper cuts, money for headshots, fools leading, who needs it’” – Billboard. CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds three bonus tracks.
Brett Eldredge – Illinois CD (Atlantic Nashville)
Brett Ryan Eldredge is an American country music singer and cousin of Terry Eldredge of The Grascals.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Live At Montreux 1997 2xCD (Eagle)
Reunited in the early nineties, ELP produced a new album, Black Moon, and began to tour again. In 1997 they embarked on a world tour which included this superb performance at Montreux on July 7.
Empress Of – Me CD/LP (XL)
Where her previous recordings worked in moody abstractions, layered soundscapes hinting at a voice deep under the surface, Me plays out like diary entries from one female voice musing on the personal, the political, and all the middle ground between. Bringing to life her unique blend of deeply personal yet incredibly celebratory dance music. “Empress Of is the alias of Lorely Rodriguez. Her debut EP consisted of shimmering synthpop, and now, she’s stepping up as an avant-R&B auteur with pop star potential. Her first proper LP, Me is not just Rodriguez’s most outwardly pop-focused work to date, but also her most restlessly experimental and lyrically raw.” [BNM] — Pitchfork
Empty Tremor – Slice Of Life: 20th Anniversary Acoustic Evening CD (Perris)
Empty Tremor is an Italian progressive metal band, at times compared to Dream Theater.
Craig Finn – Faith In The Future CD/LP+MP3 (Partisan)
Faith In The Future is the second solo album from Craig Finn. At times stark and spare, at other times vibrant and dynamic, the album is Finn’s most compelling collection thus far, each song a powerfully alluring and subtly nuanced composition wedded to his distinctive short story narratives, which owe as much to authors such as John Cheever and Raymond Carver as they do any rock influences. Most of the material on Faith In The Future was written several years ago, around the time Finn’s mother died, and while none of them directly address that loss, he insists the idea of transcending grief and finding redemption running through the album can be directly traced to that event.
Ben Folds – So There CD/2xLP+MP3 (New West)
Ben Folds takes a turn on his new album, So There. He embraces strings and chamber music yet still maintains a passion for his love of pop. The album consists of eight chamber pop songs with the very talented yMusic Ensemble and a 21-minute piano concerto performed with the Nashville Symphony. Ben Folds meeting and recording with yMusic became the bridge between the classically themed concerto and the contemporary chamber rock songs that live in harmony on So There. The combination is an inspired body of work on both small and grand scales. (Limited copies pressed on white vinyl.)
The Fresh & Onlys – The Early Years Anthology CD (Castle Face)
A very valuable release here from The Fresh & Onlys, compiling together top-notch early material. The Early Years Anthology is bursting at the seams with Bay Area DIY garage-punk fun, and is released with the assistance of John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees) on his very own Castle Face label. Vinyl version due September 25.
Marvin Gaye – Volume One: 1961-1965 7xCD (Motown)
This set collects seven original albums on individual CDs, replicating the original LP jackets in mini-sleeves, housed in a unique illustrated slipcase. It’s the first of three planned sets that will encompass the breadth of Gaye’s career.
Jess Glynne – I Cry When I Laugh CD (Atlantic)
Jess Glynne is a woman in possession of a rather fantastically distinctive vocal. You might have heard the UK muse’s richly evocative voice featured on the Grammy award winning No. 1 classical-dance smash “Rather Be” with Clean Bandit. Fresh off a second smash collaboration with Clean Bandit, “Real Love,” she presents her debut album — a distinguished mix of hip-hop with a soul voice and a sprinkling of pop.
Grey Lands – Right Arm CD/LP (Paper Bag)
Grey Lands’ debut album Right Arm is a throwback to the early days of American indie rock. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Right Arm is washed with spiked feedback that recalls Slanted And Enchanted or even Daydream Nation along with low frequency, start/stop, Swans-esque punches of bottom-end.
Guilty Simpson – Detroit’s Son CD/2xLP+MP3 (Stone’s Throw)
For years Guilty Simpson has been a rock on the Detroit hip-hop circuit alongside those such as J Dilla, Slum Village, Eminem (whom Guilty still calls “Marshall”) and D12, Obie Trice, Proof, Phat Kat and Black Milk. Guilty’s testosterone-charged, inner city themes possess of a sense of humor at times so side-splitting, it only proves how serious he really is. This rapper was raised on the field of battle and he has more to say than just how fresh he is and how fresh “they” are not. As a matter of fact, he’s found that he’s here to remind the hip-hop world – currently captivated with that manufactured freshness – that life in the ghetto is real. With the subject of life in the Motor City placed front and center on Detroit’s Son, Guilty’s uncompromising rhymes fit seamlessly with producer Katalyst’s hard-hitting beats.
Paul Hardcastle – 19: The 30th Anniversary Mixes CD/2xLP (Nusic Sounds LLP)
Paul Hardcastle marks the 30th anniversary of his 1985 anti-war hit “19” with a celebratory release that collects 14 versions of the career-defining single.
Hauschka – The Boy [OST] CD (Milan)
The Boy is a dark, horrific psychological tale directed and written by Craig Macneill. German modern pianist and composer Hauschka wrote a terrifying and sinister score enhancing the deadly atmosphere of the film.
Bill Hicks – The Complete Collection 12xCD+6xDVD (New Wave Dynamics)
The Complete Collection captures every commercially-released album and special, over ten hours of unreleased performances, and a photo book of rare and never-before-seen photos.
Hollywood Vampires – Hollywood Vampires CD (UMe)
In 1969 the Hollywood Vampires were born in the upstairs bar at the Rainbow Bar & Grill. “To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members,” says Alice Cooper, a founding member of the Vampires. “I would walk in on a typical night” Alice says, “and John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon, Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz would be there.” Three years ago, Alice and good friend Johnny Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking).” Joining Alice and Johnny for this new incarnation is a wide range of leathered veterans: Joe Perry, Perry Farrell, Dave Grohl, Sir Paul McCartney, Slash, Joe Walsh, Kip Winger, and many others. Vinyl version due October 16.
Jewel – Picking Up The Pieces CD/LP (Sugar Hill)
Jewel produced Picking Up The Pieces herself in Nashville, recruiting an A-list session band including 2014’s ACM Guitar Player of the Year Rob McNelley and frequent Neil Young collaborators like drummer Chad Cromwell as an ode to Ben Keith, with whom she worked on Pieces of You and was a staple figure in the Young world before his death in 2010. “Though evocative of her earliest years, Picking Up The Pieces is still also true to her country side, with ‘My Father’s Daughter,’ a collaboration with Dolly Parton that tells the story of Jewel’s father and grandmother, the later whom emigrated from Europe and was an aspiring opera singer. Jewel released her first country album, Perfectly Clear, in 2008, and played June Carter Cash in the Lifetime TV movie Ring Of Fire. And she’s got one heck of a mountain yodel.” – Rolling Stone
Legendary Shack Shakers – Southern Surreal CD (Alternative Tentacles)
The infamous, explosive Southern wrecking crew The Legendary Shack Shakers are back with a brand new full-length titled The Southern Surreal. Their first release in five years, the album lands on the band’s 20th anniversary and is their Alternative Tentacles debut. The infamous, explosive Southern wrecking crew The Legendary Shack Shakers are back with a brand new full-length titled The Southern Surreal. Their first release in five years, the album lands on the band’s 20th anniversary and is their Alternative Tentacles debut. Vinyl version due October 9.
Legion Of Andromeda – Iron Scorn CD (Crucial Blast)
Diabolical in its minimalist approach, the new album from Tokyo-based duo Legion Of Andromeda wormed its way deep into the brains behind Crucial Blast, unleashing a grinding nightmare of violent, industrial doom-death.
Leona Lewis – I Am CD (Def Jam)
Multi-platinum, award-winning, world-class British singer Leona Lewis releases her fifth album. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds five bonus tracks.
The Libertines – Anthems For Doomed Youth CD/LP (Harvest)
Anthems For Doomed Youth is the long-awaited follow-up to the band’s 2004 self-titled, second album. The Libertines was formed in London in 1997 by front men Carl Barât (vocals/guitar) and Pete Doherty (vocals/guitar). The band, centered on the songwriting partnership of Barât and Doherty, was part of the garage rock revival and spearheaded the movement in the UK. “A third Libertines album once seemed about as likely as a fifth Smiths LP. Like recovery, Anthems For Doomed Youth takes things one step at a time. It’s an absorbing listen front to back, rich with mood and gorgeous melodies.” – Pitchfork
London Symphony Orchestra – Tommy CD/LP (Ode Sounds & Visuals)
“This is all-star production of Tommy, starring Roger Daltrey, Rod Stewart, Merry Clayton, Richie Havens, John Entwistle, Steve Winwood, Richard Harris, Ringo Starr, Maggie Bell, Graham Bell, Pete Townshend, and Sandy Denny, is a love-it or hate-it affair. Conceived by producer Lou Reizner, it initially got the endorsement of Townshend, who was present for all of the sessions (as well as singing one part), saw it at one point as a realization of some of what he’d visualized when he’d first written the piece (The Who’s original version was recorded too hastily to treat the music as he would’ve liked, with more than three instruments). Others felt that it was an overblown, leaden interpretation, weighed down by the sheer mass of the 100-piece orchestra and the vast orchestration of the music (courtesy of Wil Malone).” — AllMusic
Low – Ones And Sixes CD/2xLP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
“It’s one thing for Low to have made a rewarding career of spare, dramatic, glacially paced music — for song after slow-moving song to have been constructed out of little more than crystalline guitar lines, minimal bass, maybe a few effects here and there, brushes of snare and the alternating or intertwined voices of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker. It’s another to make those ingredients sound so incredibly dynamic; to spend 20-plus years making a dozen albums that each feel distinct, and that each introduce new ideas, twists and ways to wring drama out of the space between notes. Low’s unwillingness to repeat itself comes in especially handy on Ones And Sixes. Here, the palette feels magnified from the very first song: The tense thud and crackle of ‘Gentle,’ reminiscent of the unease that pervaded 2007’s Drums And Guns, announces that upfront. From there, Ones And Sixes broadens to include sounds that feel as intimate as a whisper over pillows or as obtuse as transmissions from a faraway satellite. Sometimes, they’re intermingled.” – NPR
Ricci Martin – Beached [Reissue/1977] CD (Real Gone Music)
What if key members of The Beach Boys, Chicago, America, and Wings had teamed up to create one of the greatest California rock albums you’ve never heard? Well, they actually did. Singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author and director Ricci Martin, the sixth child of legendary King Of Cool Dean Martin (and younger brother of Dino, Desi and Billy’s Dean-Paul Martin), got a little help from his friends to craft his only LP, Beached – an album of sun-flecked SoCal pop-rock.
Pat Metheny and Jan Garbarek – Hommage à Eberhard Weber CD (ECM)
In January 2015 musicians and listeners converged upon Stuttgarts Theaterhaus for two consecutive nights to celebrate the 75th birthday of Eberhard Weber. The concerts centered around a specially commissioned 35-minute suite by Pat Metheny, with whom Weber had played and recorded back in the 1970s. Featuring Metheny, the SWR Big Band conducted by Helge Sunde, Gary Burton, bassist Scott Colley and Danny Gottlieb on drums, the composition was arranged around recordings of solos by Weber.
Micachu And The Shapes – Good Bad Happy Sad CD/LP+MP3 (Rough Trade)
Micachu And The Shapes’ return, three years after the release of their last record, is almost an accident: the trio of friends decided to rehearse in an East London studio, and found themselves immersed into an hours-long jam. Drummer Marc Bell had an Eiderol field recorder in hand, and unbeknownst to his bandmates, recorded the whole session; Bell, Mica Levi, and Raisa Khan were so enamored of those off-the-cuff audio experiments that they became the underpinnings of a new record. With one listen, it’s easy to see why. Good Sad Happy Bad maintains the avant-pop sensibility the band has brought to previous efforts, combining the lightness and bounce of their best singles with the sonic textures of field recordings, industrial effects alongside straightforward instrumentation.
Midday Veil – This Wilderness CD/LP+MP3 (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond)
Following the acclaim of The Current, listed by The Wire among the best avant-rock albums of 2013, Midday Veil return with This Wilderness, a seven-track opus filled with mysteries of cosmic proportions. Songwriter Emily Pothast gives voice to these mysteries with an uncanny, poetic presence, while the outsized synth wizardry of co-founder David Golightly dazzles under the influence of everything from Stockhausen to Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby.” The intricate percussion of Garrett Moore, driving bass of Jayson Kochan and explosive, reptilian guitar lines of multi-instrumentalist Timm Mason provide a distinctive foundation for these animated, infectious songs. Features guest spots from Bernie Worrell (Parliament, Funkadelic), Eyvind Kang and Skerik.
John Mark Nelson – I’m Not Afraid CD/LP (Gndwire)
Having released two critically lauded albums of melodic, lilting folk songs the ages of 17 and 19, Nelson now 21, is set to take listeners on a leap forward into a new sonic landscape of propulsive rhythms and bright, complex instrumental arrangements.
Nero – Between II Worlds CD (Interscope)
The second album by the British electronic music trio composed of members Daniel Stephens, Joe Ray and Alana Watson. Vinyl version due October 16.
Nightfell – Darkness Evermore CD (20 Buck Spin)
In 2014 Portland’s Nightfell stormed decisively onto the worldwide metal scene with the forceful debut album The Living Ever Mourn (Southern Lord/Parasitic). Having further fortified their ominous fusion of shadowed disharmony, Nightfell marches forward with Darkness Evermore, a commanding display of power, tension and dynamics. Vinyl version due October 23.
Petite Noir – La Belle Est Vie / Life Is Beautiful CD/2xLP (Double Six/Domino)
Yannick Ilunga aka Petite Noir is half-Congolese, half-Angolan and was raised in South Africa. His four track debut, early 2015’s EP The King Of Anxiety, blended raw angular energy with bright African rhythms and subtle R&B into his alt guitar sound, and now La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful takes that sound to louder, more defiant places. It’s what Ilunga calls “Noirwave,” which is more of a concept than a specific sound. Inspired by innovators like Mos Def and Kanye and legends like Fela Kuti and Tabu Ley, Noirwave encompasses a “new African aesthetic,” plain and simple.
John Pizzarelli – Midnight McCartney CD (Concord)
Covers of tracks from Paul McCartney’s solo career by the jazz great. Personal letter, McCartney to Pizzarelli: “Do post-Beatles songs, some lesser known than others?” John played guitar on “Kisses On The Bottom” and backed Paul in live performances including the Grammys.
Austin Plaine – Austin Plaine CD (Razor & Tie)
Having been inspired by artists like Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, and Ryan Adams, it’s easy to see why Austin Plaine found a love for songwriting and lyrics. The Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter turned to music as his personal outlet and hasn’t looked back since. After having his music featured in a Mastercard commercial, as well as some TV shows, his debut album has arrived. Includes the single “Never Come Back Again.”
Plainsong – Reinvented Richard: The Songs Of Richard Fariña CD (Omnivore)
The return of Plainsong! After producer Joe Boyd suggested “Reno Nevada” for Fairport Convention, Iain Matthews became intrigued with the work of Richard Fariña (1933-1966) – songwriter, author, and counter-culture icon. Even though his band Plainsong “retired” in 2012, when founders Matthews and Andy Roberts joined with later member Mark Griffiths, and decided to pay tribute to Fariña, there was no doubt the resulting album, Reinventing Richard: The Songs Of Richard Fariña, should be a Plainsong release. Fariña was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 1966, just after the release of his classic novel Been Down So Long It Looks Up To Me. Aside from that book’s stature, it was the trio of albums he released with his wife Mimi (sister of Joan Baez) that solidified him as a folk legend. Celebrations For A Grey Day (1965) was chosen by Robert Shelton of The New York Times as one of the ten best folk albums of the year. Reflections In A Crystal Wind followed. The third came after his passing. A labor of love and remembrance from those who admire his work, Plainsong’s Reinventing Richard takes this incredible writer’s material and weaves it in the harmonies and instrumentation of Matthews, Roberts and Griffiths.
Rah Rah – Vessels CD/LP (Hidden Pony)
Rah Rah is an indie rock group from Regina, Canada. The band has carved out a sound that spans uplifting indie rock, earthy folk and occasionally flirts with electronic influences.
Santana & McLaughlin – Live At Montreux 2011 2xCD (Eagle)
On July 1, 2011 Montreux hosted the reunion these two master guitarists.
Scorpions – Return To Forever CD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)
19th studio album from the German hard rock band, released to coincide with their 50th anniversary.
Shannon And The Clams – Gone By The Dawn CD/LP (Hardly Art)
For Gone By The Dawn, the Oakland trio hooked up with studio wizard and renaissance man Sonny Smith to record the album at Tiny Telephone Recording in San Francisco. Best known as the driving force behind San Francisco’s beloved Sonny and the Sunsets, Smith uses his refreshing production techniques to create an engaging sonic landscape without compromising the Clams’ signature Lou Christie-meets-The Circle Jerks sound. The Clams have evolved: their skills are sharper, their chops are tighter and weirder and they’ve added new instruments to to the mix. A whole new dimension of the Clams has emerged. In the West everything is big. The mountains are towering, the rivers broad, the deserts vast, the canyons deep, and the emotions huge. The Clams have painted themselves into a massive landscape of sound and desolation. Gone By The Dawn is monumental; immense, magnificent, and unforgettable.
Cody Simpson – Free CD (Banana Beat)
“Simpson has stepped away from his formerly synth — and bass-heavy dance pop and turned to breezy, Jack Johnson-esque acoustic beach pop.” — Rolling Stone
Ballaké Sissoko/Vincent Segal – Musique de Nuit CD (Six Degrees)
When Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal released their first collaborative album, Chamber Music, they caught the music world by surprise. Everything about this duo was unexpected: the Malian master of the kora; the French cellist with the background in trip-hop; and the elegant, soulful music they made together. The album appeared on numerous best-of lists in both Europe and North America. Now, these two sonic voyagers have returned with Musique de Nuit (‘Night Music’) — an album which may not have the same element of surprise, but which may be even more spellbinding than its predecessor.
Slayer – Repentless CD/CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray/LP (Nuclear Blast)
The past couple of years have been tumultuous for the veteran thrash metal band. On May 2, 2013, Slayer guitarist and co-founder Jeff Hanneman died of liver failure at a Los Angeles hospital; he was 49 years old. Surviving guitarist Kerry King and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya refused to let their friend’s death deter them from carrying on with Slayer, and set to work writing a new album. Drummer Dave Lombardo was kicked out of the band for the third time; Paul Bostaph came back on board, and Exodus’ Gary Holt, who had filled in for Hanneman when he was seriously ill with necrotizing fasciitis in 2011, joined as his permanent replacement. The new album was eventually finished in 2015 and is titled Repentless. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds either a DVD or Blu-ray featuring “Live At Wacken 2014” and a making of the album documentary.
Stereophonics – Keep The Village Alive CD/2xCD (Ignition)
“With record labels awakening from their August slumber as the nights draw in, an autumn season packed with major albums is being kick-started by two stalwarts of British rock. Stereophonics have become one of the UK’s most reliable guitar bands since emerging from the Welsh village of Cwmaman to be crowned best newcomers at the Brits back in 1998, and this well-crafted ninth album plays to their traditional strengths. Singer Kelly Jones’s calling card is the bittersweet tale of small-town romance, and Keep The Village Alive finds him in his element” – The Daily Mail. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a disc including six bonus tracks.
Strange Faith – Love & Poverty CD/LP (Tru Thoughts)
Strange Faith is a new collaboration from country soul singer/songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols and producer Benedic Lamdin, acclaimed for his Nostalgia 77 project alongside work with the likes of Prince Fatty, Valerie June and Jamie Cullum. A rich and vibrant, jazz-inflected twist on the trademark sound that has seen Nichols crowned “the high priest of country cool” by Rolling Stone.
Superhumanoids – Do You Feel Ok? CD/LP+MP3 (Innovative Leisure)
Since their 2013 Innovative Leisure debut, Exhibitions, the L.A. trio sound like they’ve traveled 30 years forward. Whereas their first album elicited comparisons to artists from the 1980s, Do You Feel Ok? reflects the present in all the power and clarity possible with modern technology. The synths are phosphorescent. Lead singer Sarah Chernoff’s vocals are sleek, ethereal, and ignore gravitational limitations. With propulsive drum machines and feathery hooks, the band blends futuristic electronic textures with classic regard for songwriting. Superhumanoids are singular, but their grace at switching between dance music and rock recall similar hybrids, Darkside and Caribou.
Texas Tornados – A Little Bit Is Better Than Nada: Prime Cuts 1990-1996 2xCD (Real Gone Music)
This double-disc, 39-track set includes prime cuts from all of Texas Tornados’ albums along with unreleased tracks/rarities.
Urban Mystic – Soulful Classics CD (SoBe Entertainment)
Urban Mystic is an R&B singer who has sold several hundred thousand albums and has enjoyed success with several Top 10 Urban Adult Contemporary hits. As a tribute to the performing legends who preceded him, Urban Mystic dedicated his fifth studio album to paying homage to some of the greatest R&B and soul artists of all-time. Soulful Classics includes covers of songs from artists such as; Bobby Womack, Prince, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart and more.
Various Artists [Nils Frahm] – Late Night Tales CD/2xLP+MP3 (Late Night Tales)
A hypnotic voyage through modern and classical composition, experimental electronics, jazz, dub techno, soundtracks and soul; Frahm’s Late Night Tales haunts and beguiles. It’s not mixing, so much as gently layering, like a particularly fluffy goose-down duvet folding in on itself, the folds part of the attraction, the layers part of the overall picture being painted. Many of the tracks have been edited, effected and re-made.
Various Artists – MusicNOW: 10 Years CD (Brassland)
This 16 track compilation of live recordings features a who’s who of eclectic indie music today (Dirty Projectors, Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear, Tinariwen, Tim Hecker, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy), including the only commercially available solo recordings from Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) and Justin Vernon (from Bon Iver, in a cover of a Sharon Van Etten song). It was curated by Bryce Dessner (a member of indie rock kingmakers The National) from a decade of performances at his MusicNOW festival which takes place annually in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Verbal Kent – Anesthesia CD/LP (Mello Music)
Anesthesia grapples with the ways in which we self-medicate in order to deal with the daily lives put before us. Verbal still has the aggressive wordplay, still has the over the top braggadocio, but he’s added heavier thoughts to the overall canvas — the grain of his real life shining through. The new album features Freddie Gibbs, Skyzoo, Torae, and Red Pill, along with production from Apollo Brown, Varan, Kaz-1, J.O.D., Marco Polo, and Oh No.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. – Benzaiten 2xLP (Important)
Released last May on CD – now available on vinyl. An In C-style homage to the classic Osamu Kitajima record from 1973. Uses the original composition as a departure point for further instrumental explorations.
The Acorn – Tin Fist [2007] LP (Paper Bag)
First time The Acorn’s 2007 album Tin Fist is available on vinyl and Paper Bag is bringing it to you on limited edition black vinyl with white splatter. Includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks. “…a confident, self-assured release, filled with unhurried, folksy, indie rock tracks.” –Beatroute
Ólafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm – Life Story Love And Glory 7” (Erased Tapes)
Limited 7” vinyl collaboration between Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm featuring two exclusive tracks not available anywhere else.
Atlantic Thrills – Bedbugs 7” (Almost Ready)
Jukebox gold for haunted pizza parlors and abandoned bowling alleys; gigantic surf licks and a chorus like a choir of ghouls coming on stronger than a sunburn across Glen Danzig’s pecs.
Peter Buck – Warzone Earth LP (Mississippi)
Steeped deep in the roots of garage rock, Buck’s third solo record rolls out strong. Features contributions from Jeff Tweedy, Kris Novoselic, Scott McCaughey, Bill Rieflin, Kurt Bloch, and more.
Sylvain Chauveau And Ensemble Nocturne – Down To The Bone (An Acoustic Tribute To Depeche Mode) [2005] LP (Ici D’ailleurs)
2005 release — on vinyl for the first time. With the Ensemble Nocturne, Chauveau redefines the contours of several Depeche Mode hits to provide an intimate and highly personal vision.
Civil Twilight – Story Of An Immigrant 2xLP (Wind-Up)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Third album by the alternative rock quartet from Nashville by way of Cape Town, South Africa. “On their third studio album, Story Of An Immigrant, the quartet make clear that while they haven’t left their South African roots behind, their tastes lie all over the place. Opener ‘Oh Daniel’ is full of clattering drums and rapid-fire guitar lines, while single ‘Holy Dove’ gallops atop a heavy, Muse-esque synth bass. The band even throws in a little vocoder on the anthemic ‘River Child.’” – SPIN
Cold Showers – Matter Of Choice LP (Dais)
Cold Showers, a band formed in Highland Park, California in 2010, fuses the brash power of their shoegaze pedigree with the smokey compulsions of post-punk/no-wave ancestors.
Destroyer – Poison Season 2xLP+MP3 (Merge)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Poison Season opens with Vancouver native Dan Bejar swathed in Hunky Dory strings. He’s a dashboard Bowie surveying four wracked characters—Jesus, Jacob, Judy, Jack—simultaneously Biblical and musical theatre. This bittersweet, Times Square-set fanfare is reprised twice more on the record—first as swaying, saxophone-stoked “street-rock” and then finally as a curtain-closing reverie. Mr. Bejar has long displayed a chameleonic instinct for change while maintaining a unified aesthetic (rather than just pinballing between reference points). No two records sound the same, but they’re always uniquely Destroyer. His latest incarnation often appears to take sonic cues from a distinctly British (usually Scottish, to be precise) strain of sophisti-pop: you might hear traces of Aztec Camera, Prefab Sprout, Orange Juice, or The Blow Monkeys. These songs merge a casual literary brilliance with intense melodic verve, nimble arrangements, and a certain blue-eyed soul sadness.
DFL – Proud To Be [Reissue/1995] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Limited 20th Anniversary vinyl LP pressing (some on green vinyl). A missive from the days when 20 tracks of adolescent guitar/vocal angst clocked in at 30 minutes. And of course, produced by Adam Horowitz (Beastie Boys).
DMX – And Then There Was X [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Def Jam/UMe)
DMX – The Great Depression [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Def Jam/UMe)
Limited double-LP reissues of the rapper’s third and fourth albums. Part of Def Jame/UMe’s ongoing Respect The Classics series.
Future Punx – This Is Post-Wave LP (Dull Tools)
A longtime live favorite in New York City, Future Punx finally release their brilliant first LP, This Is Post-Wave. Essentially a dance punk record, with frank and intelligent lyrics, but a demand to be not taken too seriously. For fans of !!!, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Devo.
Vince Guaraldi Trio – Peanuts Greatest Hits LP (Fantasy)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Peanuts brand, Peanuts Greatest Hits is an all-new compilation featuring 12 of the most memorable recordings from the beloved animated Peanuts TV specials, all with the sophisticated, yet accessible jazz stylings of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. The album, which includes such favorites as the instantly recognizable “Linus And Lucy,” the “Charlie Brown Theme” and the humorous “Little Birdie,” also includes all new liner notes by Peanuts historian Derrick Bang.
Guards – Nothing More 7” (Thrill Me)
“Cali reverb scuzz kings.” — NME
Lum Guffin – Lum Guffin LP (Mississippi)
Lum Guffin has been called “the walking Victrola” — a human depository of many musical styles and songs. This LP features great performances recorded in the early 1970’s of Lum playing guitar and singing. A true great of the blues genre who has been seldom heard.
Heaven’s Gate – Woman At Night LP (Dull Tools)
New York City noise-pop band’s third LP, which focuses on the dark lyrical themes of female abduction, anxiety and paranoia, is as raw and emotional as it is catchy. For fans of Babes In Toyland, White Lung, L7, Priests and Perfect P**sy.
Helen – The Original Faces LP (Kranky)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Helen is is comprised of Liz Harris (aka Grouper/vocals/lead guitar), Jed Bindeman (drums/tambourine), Scott Simmons (bass/guitar), and Helen (back-up vocals). Originally started with the intention of being a thrash band, it turned into something else entirely. The Original Faces was recorded over a period of several years in Portland by the band members, their friends Nick, Chris and, largely, Justin Higgins. Written together, some songs based on Liz and Scott’s demos.
A. Kostis – The Jail’s A Fine School LP (Mississippi)
First ever vinyl collection of the legendary Kostis, the most enigmatic of all Greek rebetika artists of the early 1930s. Truly unique guitar duets and black-humor prose chronicling the hash dens, prison culture, and pickpockets of old Athens.
Little Richard – Greatest Hits LP (Fantasy)
A living legend, Little Richard took rock ‘n’ roll to a thrilling new level. The pounding piano, the high voice and trills, and the suggestive lyrics catapulted the former Richard Penniman to the top of the charts. This all new, energetic collection of hits from his time at Specialty Records presents Little Richard at the top of his game, featuring favorites such as “Tutti Frutti,” “Good Golly, Miss Molly” and “The Girl Can’t Help It.”
LL Cool J – Mr. Smith [Reissue/1995] LP (Def Jam/UMe)
Originally issued on Def Jam in 1995, LL Cool J’s double platinum sixth album Mr. Smith was somewhat of a comeback album for the hip-hop legend after his hardcore rap detour with 14 Shots To The Dome. Home to the three top 10 hits “Hey Lover,” “Doin’ It” and “Loungin’,” Mr. Smith clearly demonstrated that LL still had compelling things to say ten years into the game and that he was at his best when he tapped into his romantic side. Guest appearances by Boyz II Men, Keith Murray, Terri & Monica, Prodigy, Fat Joe and Foxy Brown don’t hurt either.
Magma – Kobaïa [Reissue/1970] LP (Jazz Village)
In the late ‘60s, Christian Vander founded Magma and stated his commitment to produce a different kind of music. Released in 1970, Magma’s debut album Kobaïa succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. The group’s sound blended diverse influences from Bach to Coltrane to produce a brand new musical style. While the instruments were familiar, they were used in unconventional ways, and the vocals, which called on an invented language, only heightened the otherworldly affect of this revolutionary band.
Massive Suits Quartet – Full Moon Wizard: Mood Music And Unknown Soundtrack Themes LP (Ubiquity)
Full Moon Wizard by Massive Suits Quartet (MSQ) is a personal journey by its creator Grégoire Marty (aka Dandy Teru) delving into his love of original movie soundtracks and various composers. Crafting a sonic and aural odyssey for a movie that exists only in his mind and imagination. The end goal was to pay tribute to the compositions of various soundtracks of both old and more recent movies, and to show the producer’s love for composers such as Umiliani, Piccioni, Goraguer, Legrand, Cliff Martinez, H. Zimmer, Danny Elfman, and Alexandre Desplats to name a few.
Million Dead – Harmony No Harmony [2005] 2xLP+MP3 (Xtra Mile)
Million Dead were: Frank Turner, vocals; Ben Dawson, drums; Tom Fowler, guitar; Julia Ruzicka, bass. Gatefold double transparent yellow standard weight vinyl with download card.
Quicksails – Fleurs De La Lune LP (Captcha)
Fleurs De La Lune is truly a record that is hard to pin down. It is a series of compositions of electronic music, touching on the Kosmiche school of krautrock and minimalist composers a là Terry Riley.
Pears – Go To Prison LP+MP3 (Fat Wreck Chords)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Pears is an up and coming hardcore punk band from New Orleans.
Red Sleeping Beauty – Always 7”+MP3 (Shelflife)
First release in 15 years for the legendary Swedish pop group. The two tracks feature the trademark RSB sound: brilliant pop hooks and intoxicating sing-a-long choruses, upbeat synth melodies, exquisite boy/girl vocals, and all sealed with a kiss from Stockholm. White vinyl.
Sad Horse – Greatest Hits LP (Mississippi/Eggy)
Sad Horse is a two piece with just drums guitars and vocals — but with these few tools they create memorable compositions. For the past 7 years, Sad Horse has released tracks on the most underground of cassette and LP labels. Their music is savagely joyful — Geoff Soul and Elizabeth Venable trading screechy enthusiastic vocals, the guitar whirling through songs as concise as possible, the drums clanging and banging. This is the real underground sound of Portland.
Self – Gizmodgery [2000] LP (El Camino Media, LLC)
Originally released in 2000, Gizmodgery was recorded entirely on children’s toy instruments purchased in toy stores. Upon its original release, Pitchfork wrote about the single, “Trunk Fulla Amps”: “Verse by verse, Mahaffey trades off emulating his heroes (Queen, ELO… Danzig?), a sign of his wry sense of humor. The instrumental bridge is simply beautiful, an unexpected but somehow perfect transition into a smooth Brazilian-flavored interlude on subtly rhythmic guitar and an uptempo boss nova beat.” Blue vinyl.
Soundtrack – Amadeus [Reissue/1984] 3xLP (Fantasy)
Limited deluxe HQ-180gm vinyl LP repressing of Sir Neville Marriner’s score to the 1984 film, packaged in a gatefold sleeve and housed in a box with bonus materials. This edition marks the first time that the entire score is available on vinyl in one package.
Soundtrack – J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings [Reissue/1978] 2xLP (Fantasy)
Fantasy Records presents the classic score to the 1978 animated feature J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings, from Academy Award-winning composer Leonard Rosenman (East Of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause, Barry Lyndon). HQ-180gm.
Soundtrack – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest [Reissue/1975] LP (Fantasy)
Composed by the prolific Jack Nitzsche (Phil Spector, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young), the score has long been praised for its edgy and effective nature (including the instrumental use of a saw for the opening and closing themes). Deluxe HQ-180gm vinyl box set.
Spain – 3-In-1 Value Pack 4xLP (Omnivore)
Slowcore legends Spain’s classic first three albums are back in print on HQ-180gm color vinyl. Includes: The Blue Moods Of Spain (1995), She Haunts My Dreams (1999), and I Believe (2001).
Sun Foot – Round Dice Fried Combo LP (Mississippi)
A strange mix of minimalism, catchy pop music, and damage. They are a true underground band worthy of recognition.
Tijuana Panthers – Poster LP+MP3 (Innovative Leisure)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Live and on record, the Tijuana Panthers are a great band. You could say garage, punk or surf while describing their sound, but they’re harder to pin than that. The truth is that they write classic songs that don’t depend on tropes from any genre. They craft perfect pop and deliver it with energy and immediacy. However, the real magic of this band is in their weirdness.
Tin House – Tin House [Reissue/1971] LP (Lion Productions)
“In the twinkling universe of virtuoso electric guitarists that followed in the wake of the genre’s progenitor Jimi Hendrix, perhaps one of the most deserving of renewed recognition is Floyd Radford of the band Tin House… the overdriven, fluid guitar work—heavy on the wah-wah pedal—is brought to the fore by a beefy full production that lifts the band above the sludgy audio presentation that bedevilled many heavy rock albums of the era.” —Richard Allen, Shindig! Magazine
Twilight & Twilite Tone – Twilight Meets the Twilite Tone: Special High 12” (Ubiquity)
Side A of the single features The Twilite Tone’s original track “Lovin’ On High” inspired by Twilight‘s original “Love’s High” with his version taking on a decidedly more sultry, smoke-filled and hazy quality replete with swinging off kilter drums, droney warbled synth bass and whispery vocals washing in and out of the groove. Tone’s take of “We’ll Be Special” on the flip showcases his talent in creating a classic dance remix, highlighting his roots in Chicago’s house scene. The mid-tempo four-on-the-floor beat is backed by a rolling, seemingly reversed bassline and interspersed with the beautiful vocal melodies and acoustic guitar rhythm from the original.
The Ukiah Drag – Crypt Cruiser 12” (Wharf Cat)
The Ukiah Drag’s newest slab is more like a taped-up scrapyard majesty than a slick-prick showboat. The band volleys harder here, with amphetamine-deranged insults to surf rock, dashboard-to-the-face guitars, primitive yet well arranged rock ‘n’ roll with enormous energy, no pretense or foolery. Features scorching cover of The Stooges immortal classic “Dirt.”
Various Artists – Cold Waves Of Color Volume 2 LP (Lion Productions)
Following on from the superb first volume, here is the second volume of electronics, synth pop, cold wave and minimal tracks culled from the archives of the legendary Color Tapes UK cassette label from the 1980s. These tracks originally came out as micro editions on cassette back then some of which are also unreleased too. It includes rare tracks by the likes of: Lives Of Angels, Disintegrators, The Lord, WeR7, Mystery Plane and Berserk In A Hayfield.
Various Artists – Ixtab Compilation Series Volume 1 12” (Monofonus Press)
First in a series of compilations from Monofonus Press is this lovely four-song 12” EP, sure to compliment both the DJ’s record bag and the home listener’s collection.
Various Artists – Troubled Waters LP (Mississippi)
A compilation of blues and gospel recordings made by George Mitchell between 1962-1976. Deep hill country stomps and blues of RL Burnside, Rosa Lee Hill, and Jesse Mae Hemphill. The hard driving electric guitar and drum music of James Davis, the haunting gospel ballads of Robert Johnson (not that one, this guy’s great!), and much more. This is the third in the Mississippi series of releases of field recordings by Mitchell.
Westpoint – Dive LP (Triple B)
On their Triple B Records debut, Westpoint deliver a modern take on the snotty alt-rock of bands like Superchunk and Piebald. Angst and indecisiveness echo through the distortion and reverb soaked guitars.
Wolf Eyes – Slicer [2001] LP (Orion Road)
Wolf Eyes’ second full-length – available for the first time on vinyl. Deep stuttering bass, high streams of electronics, rugged tape manipulation, horns.
Wolfheart – Shadow World LP (Spinefarm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Unabatedly raging double bass drum attacks and intricate equilibrium between savage riffs and the arresting melodies of folk metal-influenced twin guitar leads, combined with Saukkonen’s ferocious growls and well-timed dashes of black metal brutality and doom dirge, result in a decidedly Finnish brand of melodic death metal, pioneered by giants like Amorphis and Insomnium.
Wstr – Skrwd LP (No Sleep)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Wstr’s debut EP, Skrwd, is a full force introduction to the band’s keen ear for instantly familiar hooks and head bobbing grooves, showcasing more savvy and swagger than many bands with ten times their experience.
Yo La Tengo – I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One [Reissue/1997] 2xLP+MP3 (Matador)
Back in print – repressed on 120gm vinyl with download. I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One expands the guitar-based pop of it’s predecessor Electr-O-Pura to encompass a variety of other music genres, including bossa nova, krautrock, and electronic music. Most of the songs on the album deal with melancholy emotions and range from short and fragile ballads to long and open-ended dissonance.
Cassettes:
Good Willsmith – Snake Person Generation (Hausu Mountain)
Live in the studio sessions from two periods of the band’s existence: an extended improvisation that predates 2014’s The Honeymoon Work LP and four miniature pieces recorded in advance of their Summer 2015 tour.
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