CDs + Vinyl:
The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It CD/2xLP (Interscope)
“When Manchester quartet The 1975 broke out in 2013 with their debut album The 1975 (and its glammy single ‘Sex’), they were heralded as rock revivalists with a stylish mix of ’80s new-wave melodies and hip-swiveling grooves. But on their anticipated follow-up I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, The 1975 go in a ’90s-style pop direction thanks to an expanded pool of influences, from D’Angelo and early Christina Aguilera to Janet Jackson producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis” – Entertainment Weekly. (Limited copies also pressed on clear vinyl.)
Ralph Alessi/Gary Versace/Drew Gress/Nasheet Waits – Quiver CD (ECM)
With Quiver, Alessi teams with pianist Gary Versace and the trumpeters longtime rhythm section of choice bassist Drew Gress and drummer Nasheet Waits to create an album of quicksilver melodicism and subtly energized rhythm; there is a lyricism to Alessi’s playing that channels such forebears as Miles Davis and Kenny Wheeler — the mood reflective, even pensive.
Matt Andersen – Honest Man CD (True North)
A powerhouse performer with a giant, soul filled voice and commanding stage presence, Matt Andersen has built a formidable following the old fashioned way, touring worldwide and spreading his reputation through word of mouth. Blessed with a rich, gospel soul voice and armed with a new set of songs, the songwriter found a perfect partner in crime in producer Commissioner Gordon (Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, KRS One).
Horace Andy – In The Light [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (VP)
Horace Andy – In The Light In Dub [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (VP)
Reissue of 1977 dub classic In The Light, paired with a long-awaited repress (in the iconic original sleeve) of its crucial dub companion.
Anthrax – For All Kings CD/2xLP (Megaforce)
“Eleven studio albums and 33 years into their career, Anthrax outputs quite possibly the best thing they’ve ever done Anthrax today, is not the Anthrax of 1987, and For All Kings is not Among The Living, even though four-fifths of the band are still intact from their peak period. I say that in a good way, because as good as they were then, to put it simply, they’re better now. Better songwriters, better musicians, seasoned bandmates that know that they’re better together than apart. If you loved Worship Music as much as I did, you’ll love this album. When you can be a band that has played together for well over 30 years and still put out quality music like For All Kings, it’s nothing short of magic” – Infrared Mag. (Limited copies also pressed on colored vinyl with accompanying slipmat.)
Anvil – Anvil Is Anvil CD/2xLP+CD (Steamhammer)
Canadian metal lifers Anvil are still basking in the success of the 2008 documentary Anvil! The Story Of Anvil, and having released a couple of albums since then. This is Anvil’s first album since 2013’s Hope In Hell.
Black Cobra – Imperium Simulacra CD/2xLP/Cassette (Season Of Mist)
“Black Cobra have always been good for a solid dose of sludge every two years or so like clockwork. But it’s been over four years since the duo’s last album, Invernal, dropped its mud-soaked riffs upon the masses with the power of a snake-infested swamp. So why the long wait this time around? We can only guess, but we posit that Jason Landrian (guitars, vocals) and Rafael Martinez (drums) just needed extra time to make sure their jams were extra gnarly, supremely punchy, and even more sludgy than ever before. Listen to ‘Imperium Simulacra,’ the title track, and we’re sure you’ll agree that it was worth the wait.” – Metal Sucks
Bloodbound – One Night Of Blood CD+DVD (AFM)
Bloodbound have evolved from a highly respected insiders’ tip to an established act in the metal universe within the last years. One Night Of Blood is their live set from the Masters Of Rock Festival 2015.
Bombus – Repeat Until Death CD/LP+CD (Century Media)
New album from the Gothenburg rockers. After a series of tour dates across the world with Graveyard and Monster Magnet, plus several festival appearances including Download (UK), ROck AM Ring, and Tuska, the user-friendly Bombus returned to the studio to record Repeat Until Death.
Paul Burch – Meridian Rising CD (Plowboy)
‘Blue Yodeler’ Jimmie Rodgers was arguably one of the most important people in country music history his other nickname is, after all, The Father Of Country Music. On his new album Meridian Rising, roots musician Paul Burch (loosely) tells the story of Rodgers’ life, delving into how he imagines the Yodeler might have felt at various points throughout his all-too-brief career.
Toronzo Cannon – The Chicago Way CD (Alligator)
Alligator label debut for the electrifying Windy City bluesman. “Progressive as he is rootsy… Slow, simmering riffs and smoldering licks.” — Chicago Reader
Benny Carter – With The Chocolate Dandies & Mezz Mezzrow And His Orchestra CD (JSP)
Benny Carter took up trumpet aged 13 and made rapid progress, quickly perfecting his sight reading and learning to arrange and compose. By his late teens he had mastered the alto saxophone, the trumpet, soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet, trombone and piano. This collection presents six complete recording sessions (24 tracks total), featuring Carter as both leader and sideman.
Bill Carter – Innocent Victims & Evil Companions CD (Forty Below)
“Austin-based singer-songwriter Bill Carter’s ninth self-produced record, Innocent Victims & Evil Companions, is thoughtful, reflective, real, dreamy, optimistic and jarring; with unblemished production, often poetic songwriting, adept instrumentation, including his six- and twelve-string acoustic guitar, harmonica and percussion work, not to mention a who’s who of guests (Charlie Sexton, Denny Freeman, John Mills among others) all present in spades.” – The Daily Country
Celtic Thunder – Legacy Volume One CD (Sony Legacy)
Legacy is a review of Celtic Thunder’s most popular songs to date, recorded live Casino Rama in Ontario early last year. Known for their crisp vocal harmonies, powerful ensemble numbers, Celtic Thunder bring their own twist to an eclectic mix of songs while introducing music from their homeland and traversing with ease the genres of folk, traditional Irish, adult contemporary, rock and classical crossover. Also available on stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray.
Chains Over Razors – Crown The Villain CD (Soulfood)
“Relentless momentum, edgy metal, rock & roll melodies” is how the lads in Chains Over Razors describe the sound that is on display throughout their brand new album.
Joe Chambers – Landscape CD (Savant)
Ever since Joe Chambers made his recording debut on Freddie Hubbard’s classic LP, Breaking Point!, he’s remained a nearly peerless jazz figure in terms of consummate musicianship. His career throughout the 1960s established Chambers as both a noteworthy hard-bop and avant-garde jazz drummer and as an intriguing composer, particularly through his partnership with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. Chambers released his debut LP, The Almoravid in 1974 for Muse Records. After recording several other releases for the Denon, Candid and Blue Note labels, Chambers reconnected with Muse’s Joe Fields in 2005 and released The Outlaw in 2006. Here on his newest disc, Chambers reflects all of his well-honed talents as superb multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader in a pared down trio setting with bassist Ira Coleman and pianist Rick Germanson.
Coastgaard – Devil On The Balcony CD/LP (E1)
There is something timeless about the music of Coastgaard that, while playing to a listener’s sense of nostalgia, still feels innovative. On their new release, Devil On The Balcony, the band has meticulously arranged dynamic chord progressions over immediately engaging rhythmic motifs, reminiscent of ‘50s and ‘60s rock & roll. The influence of surf rock luminaries like The Beach Boys and The Ventures (as well as the recent surf rock revival) is apparent in the beachy vibes scattered throughout the record.
Phil Collins – Hello, I Must Be Going! [Reissue/1982] 2xCD/LP (Rhino)
Phil Collins – Dance Into The Light [Reissue/1996] 2xCD/2xLP (Rhino)
Remastered reissues (CD versions feature bonus discs of demos and B-sides). Next up: No Jacket Required, But Seriously…, Testify and Going Back (all TBA).
COLOURS – Ivory CD (Victory)
The groundwork for electro-R&B duo COLOURS was laid when vocalist Kyle Tamo relocated from Connecticut to Florida to focus on his music. He was introduced to drummer Morgan Alley through mutual connections in the Florida music scene, and the two went on to settle in Sarasota to embark on creating a new sound that was a musical departure from any of their previous rock projects. “A huge sound with dark tones and pulsating electronics serving as the foundation for smooth R&B vocals reminiscent of Abel Tesfaye’s (the Weeknd)” — Alternative Press. “Fusing the sort of dark, electronic undertones of ††† Crosses, with post-modern, Weeknd-tinged R&B, COLOURS have created a lush sound that’s as dangerous as it is seductive.” — Diffuser.FM
Crimson Moonlight – Divine Darkness CD (Ulterium/Endtime Productions)
“The moon glows a deeper shade of blood signaling the return of cult Swedish extreme metallers Crimson Moonlight.”
Brian Cullman – The Opposite Of Time CD (Sunnyside)
“The first – and most striking thing – upon first listen to Brian Cullman’s The Opposite Of Time is how much he reminds me of Lloyd Cole (one of my musical heroes) – both vocally and in his lyrical style. So right there, he won me over. And the comparison is, by no means, a bad thing. For someone described as a ‘rock music Zelig’ (now THAT’s a reference!), it would be safe to say he has, indeed, been something of a chameleon. He’s been a music journalist, producer, performer with his debut album, All Fires The Fire and friend to such luminaries as Iggy, Robert Quine, Nick Drake and the (recently-late) Giorgio Gomelsky. And now on this, his sophomore effort, Cullman paints some dynamic musical portraits, both lyrically and structurally.” — Popdose
Michael Daves – Orchids And Violence 2xCD (Nonesuch)
Daves’ new album is a double-disc set of mostly traditional bluegrass songs. The first disc features straightforward interpretations of them and was recorded live to tape in a 19th-century church by Daves and a band of roots-music innovators: bassist Mike Bub, violinist Brittany Haas, mandolinist Sarah Jarosz, and banjo player and Punch Brother Noam Pikelny. The second disc was recorded in Daves’ home studio and includes bass, drums, and electric guitar, mostly played by himself, and takes a raw, experimental rock approach to the same old-time material.
Death Index – Death Index CD/LP (Deathwish)
Death Index is a new project of Carson Cox (Merchandise, Neon Blud, Church Whip) and Marco Rapisarda (La Piovra, Sgurd, Archaic). Their debut album has “more in common with the primordial days of art punk than anything out there today.” Roaring out of the gate with a feedback driven gallop, the album brings to mind the swagger of The Birthday Party and others. Simple synth lines and manic guitars swirl heavily throughout. Conjuring the experimental spirit of legends Suicide, while Carson’s infectious vocal croon serves as a melodious anchor through a multitude of unpredictable twists and turns.
Dena DeRose – United CD (HighNote)
It’s hard to believe that, after a 20-year recording career, anyone in the jazz world still might need an introduction to Dena and her music. But just in case, the simplest introduction will be the best one: Dena is one of the most accomplished, creative, and delightful singer-pianists on today’s jazz scene. DeRose swings hard, delivers a ballad with great emotional nuance, plays substantive piano and also writes savvy arrangements and smart original songs.
Destroyer 666 – Wildfire CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Renegade black/thrash maniacs Destroyer 666 return with a new album.
The Dirty Nil – Higher Power CD/LP (Dine Alone)
The debut album from Dundas, ON’s The Dirty Nil. Unhinged, destructive rock ‘n’ roll.
DMA’s – Hills End CD/LP (Mom + Pop)
Hills End is a dream come to fruition for Newtown, New South Wales trio DMA’s, a collection of the band’s endeavors over the past three years and, sometimes, beyond. It’s a record that takes each individual’s own influences — folk artists like Dylan for Johnny Took, “American guitar bands from the ’90s,” for Matt Mason and English bands passed down to Thomas O’Dellby his older brother and Liverpudlian dad like The Beatles, The Stone Roses and The La’s — and throws them all in one big mixing pot.
Farm – The Innermost Limits Of Pure Fun [Reissue/1969] CD/LP (Sundazed)
Legendary independent soundtrack recording to the classic 1969 surf movie The Innermost Limits Of Pure Fun, directed by George Greenough. The soundtrack was written, performed and produced by American surfer group, Farm.
Entombed A.D. – Dead Dawn CD/LP (Century Media)
“Just like it’s 2014 predecessor Back To The Front, the commando’s newest strike, Dead Dawn, does not rehash the early, pure death metal nor the softer leanings of Entombed in the late- ‘90s, it proudly sports the filth, the roll, the death, the goddamn dose of heaviness you need.”
Feels – Feels CD/LP (Castleface)
New self-titled EP from the native Angeleno four-piece. Scuzzy, slanted guitar interplay, a little grrrlish swagger, flashes of raw emotion and a cement chip of punk attitude propel these songs directly to your dome and down the brain stem. Kinetic, omnivorous, and easy to get stuck in the noggin, Feels has charm and grit to spare and is pushed deeper into the red, weird wilds by Ty Segalls home-cooked production.
The Flesh Eaters – Forever Came Today [Reissue/1982] CD (Superior Viaduct)
In the wake of the star-filled A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die, The Flesh Eaters frontman Chris D. assembled a leaner, meaner band to deliver his next unbound vision. Forever Came Today, the groups third full-length album, was originally released on Ruby Records in 1982 and features Don Kirk on guitar, Robyn Jameson on bass, Chris Wahl on drums, Steve Berlin on sax and Chris D.s unmistakable voice. “My Life To Live” and “Shallow Water” are masterfully wrought punk tunes, reverberating with heart-wrenching vocals that turn on a dime from desperate whispers to blood-curdling screams. “Drag My Name In Mud” dives deeper into full-throttle rock demonology, bluesy primeval swagger and obsessive imagery, inspired in equal parts by William S. Burroughs and Edgar Allan Poe. This first-time reissue has been carefully remastered and comes with lyric sheet. Forever Came Today is the perfect introduction to The Flesh Eaters dark sense of humor and positively bleak form of rock ‘n’ roll.
Peter Frampton – Acoustic Classics CD (Phenix Phonograph)
Frampton performs a selection of his favorite Frampton songs from past releases using nothing but his acoustic guitar.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. – Happy Bastards CD (Ruf)
Andy Frasco, the 26-year old Los Angeles, CA native singer/songwriter/band maestro/entrepreneur/party starter/everyday hustler, and his band of gypsies “The U.N.” have been dubbed “party blues with a touch of barefoot boogie.” Frasco’s shows can be described as infectious, entertaining, and feel good. His performances are recognized as orchestrated chaos, inciting frenzied, undeniable good times, dancing, and perhaps even a good ole fashion freak out.
From Ashes To New – Day One CD/LP (Better Noise)
From Ashes To New is a rap/rock band that hails from Central Pennsylvania, the same scene that spawned Live, Fuel, Halestorm, and August Burns Red.
Greenleaf – Rise Above The Meadow CD/2xLP (Napalm)
Swedish heavy rockers Greenleaf make their debut on Napalm Records with their sixth full-length, Rise Above The Meadow, and push deeper into a new era of the band along the way. That era began with their last album, 2014’s Trails And Passes, which marked changes in lineup and overall approach both, introducing vocalist Arvid Jonsson and drummer Sebastian Olsson alongside founding guitarist/songwriter Tommi Holappa (also Dozer) and founding bassist Bengt Bäcke, while moving away from the complex arrangements of 2012’s Nest Of Vipers in favor of a more stripped down, stage-ready sound. One of 2016’s best in heavy rock.” – The Obelisk
Tord Gustavsen and Simin Tander – What Was Said CD/2xLP (ECM)
What Was Said brings new colors to Tord Gustavsens musical palette. His new project introduces the entrancing German-Afghan vocalist Simin Tander, and builds upon the subtle understanding of his long musical association with drummer Jarle Vespestad. “Within the trio, Tander rises to the challenge of being both a soloistic interpreter of melody and an ensemble member, singing accompanying motifs, and contributing to improvisations in which the three of us are equals in terms of sharing ideas,” says Gustavsen. “She has a unique way of improvising, finding sounds that really work, staying with them, developing them very gradually.”
Hands Like Houses – Dissonants CD/LP (Rise)
Third album from the Australian rock band and Vans Warped Tour participants. (Limited copies also pressed on colored vinyl.)
Danny B Harvey & Annie Marie Lewis – Barbwire Heart CD (Lanark)
Danny B Harvey is best known as the guitarist for the super group HeadCat (a band he formed with Lemmy from Motörhead and Slim Jim Phantom from Stray Cats) but he was also a founding member of the neo-rockabilly band The Rockats and his dynamic “White Stripes of country” duo The Lonesome Spurs. Danny has produced, recorded, and performed with Wanda Jackson, Nancy Sinatra, Johnny Ramone, Levi Dexter, and The Swing Cats. Annie Marie Lewis is the niece of Jerry Lee Lewis, daughter of Linda Gail Lewis, and cousin of Mickey Gilley she has the genealogy, the roots, and the direct blood connection to the first family of rock ‘n’ roll. Annie Marie has been opening shows for Jerry Lee with her mama ever since she was a teenager and has also sung backups with Van Morrison and toured the world with her mother, Linda Gail.
Headspace – All The You Fear Is Gone CD/LP (Inside Out U.S.)
Headspace is a UK progressive-rock band.
Michael Jackson – Off The Wall [Reissue/1979] CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray (Legacy)
This edition of Michael Jackson’s revolutionary 1979 recording includes the original album bundled with the new documentary Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown To Off the Wall, directed by Spike Lee. The deluxe softpak includes a 16-page booklet containing a new essay and photography plus a piece of chalk and inside panels with a chalkboard finish.
Lani Jane – Catch A Falling Star CD/LP (Cleopatra)
A compilation of superb solo performances and covers featuring the stunning voice of Warrant frontman, Jani Lane. Includes scintillating takes on UFO’s “Doctor, Doctor,” Def Leppard’s “Photograph,” and Bon Jovi’s “Lay Your Hands On Me” featuring guest appearances by two of Lane’s bandmates Erik Turner and Jerry Dixon.
Jagged Leaves – Nightmare Afternoon CD/LP/Cassette (Yellow K)
Dan Penta doesn’t have fans — he has disciples. An outcast of the DC burbs, he arrived in NYC in 1999, quickly becoming a staple of the anti-folk scene. But while friends like Regina Spektor, the Moldy Peaches, and Langhorne Slim went on to earn acclaim, Dan remained unknown. Creating in obscurity, he handmade CD-Rs for the consecrated few who, through the years, came to form a tiny congregation. Finally, now 20 years of retrospection and songwriting come to fruition. “I remember hearing Dan play when I began going to the Sidewalk Cafe open mic. He had interesting lyrics and passionate delivery and always stood out as one of the unique voices in that scene.” — Regina Spektor
Jack Jezzro & David Davidson – Gershwin By Candlelight CD (Green Hill Productions)
Instrumental Gershwin favorites performed on violin and guitar.
Like Torches – Keep Your Head High CD (Rude)
New album from the Scandinvian punk rock band and Vans Warped Tour participants.
Lily And Madeline – Keep It Together CD/LP+MP3 (New West)
Keep It Together, the third album in just over three years by Indianapolis-based sisters Lily & Madeleine is a spellbinding ten-song statement is the dynamic product of two distinct musical personalities, bound by kinship, melding seamlessly into one ephemeral and dreamy collection. Keep It Together is a bit of a departure from their last two records. They arranged all the songs with their friends Kate Siefker (drums, percussion, synth, bass) and Shannon Hayden (cello, guitar, mandolin, synth). Working with a closer knit team of just four ladies helped tighten their sound and unify each track into a complete collection. It’s their voices you’ll fall in love with, as well as their exterior beauty. Both have a smoky, haunting voices which colours each song with emotion and depth.
LNZNDRF – LNZNDRF CD/LP+MP3 (4AD)
LNZNDRF (pronounced Lanzendorf) is a collaborative project between the Devendorf brothers (Bryan and Scott) from The National and brass player Ben Lanz (Beirut, The National and Sufjan Stevens). First coming in to being when they filled an immediate need for a support band for The National after the scheduled opener was waylaid, LNZNDRF has grown into a fully realized, kraut-psych-prog band.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – This Unruly Mess I’ve Made CD (Macklemore)
This Unruly Mess I’ve Made includes the Platinum selling single “Downtown” (featuring Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, and Eric Nally), as well as previously unavailable “Growing Up” (featuring Ed Sheeran). The long awaited follow-up to the acclaimed debut LP The Heist, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made was largely recorded over the course of a year in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. “What I couldn’t find in a hotel room, on the road or in Seattle, I found in the middle of nowhere” says Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty. The eclectic, raw, and emotional album is an honest look into the soul of two artists who “needed time to be human again.” It also marks the official release of the stirring “Kevin”, previously performed on the American Music Awards, and featuring Grammy nominated soul crooner Leon Bridges.
Magic Wands – Jupiter CD/LP (Cleopatra)
Lovewave duo Chris and Dexy Valentine return with the propulsive guitar-rock epic Jupiter. The two have expanded their original sound to include even more swirling vocals, spinning, wavy guitars and driving, uptempo beats.
Magnum – Sacred Blood, Divine Lies CD/LP (Steamhammer/SPV)
“Magnum to me is the quintessential British rock band, never a band to court controversy nor chase fame by wild antics on or off stage; they remain the gentlemen of rock. Sacred Blood, Divine Lies is Magnum’s 19th studio album and in my humble opinion is their best yet. The masterful songwriting by Tony Clarkin and Bob’s expressive singing has really helped to raise Magnum’s profile these last few years.” – Planet Mosh
Steve Mason – Meet The Humans CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
Meet The Humans is an apt title for the third record by the former front man of The Beta Band, Steve Mason. Like his previous two efforts, this album finds him swinging musically across dance, pop, folk, dub, and deep house influences and remaining as lyrically adept and open as anything he’s done going back to The Three EPs. Whilst no ‘happy clappy’ collection, lyrically unafraid to pin its beliefs to its sleeve, Meet The Humans is the sound of a songwriter in full stride, not just in artistic terms, but of the whole 360, full life variety.
Camila Meza – Traces CD (Sunnyside Communications)
This rising star on the global jazz scene has been described by The New York Times as “a bright young singer and guitarist with an ear for music of both folkloric and pop intention,” and “a natural multi-talent, an improvising singer-guitarist who is one of the finest in the world in both creative realms,” by pianist Aaron Goldberg.
Lee Michaels – Recital [Reissue/1968] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – Carnival Of Life [Reissue/1968] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – Lee Michaels [Reissue/1969] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – Barrel [Reissue/1970] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – 5th [Reissue/1971] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – Space And First Takes [Reissue/1972] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – Live [Reissue/1973] CD (Manifesto)
Lee Michaels – Heighty Hi: The Best Of Lee Michaels LP (Manifesto)
In an era when thousands of unavailable or out-of-print albums have enjoyed re-releases, singer/keyboardist Lee Michaels has remained dormant. After retiring from the business in the early- ‘80s, unlike most beloved musical iconoclasts, he turned his back on interviews and performance opportunities for decades, preferring to focus on his ultra-popular Los Angeles based restaurant Killer Shrimp and playing at home. Manifesto has now reissued (separately) the seven albums he originally released on A&M Records from 1968-1973 (all were collected as a boxed set last November). Heighty Hi collects 20 of his biggest hits from his A&M years, and is now available on vinyl.
The Mothers – When You Walk A Long Distance Are You Tired CD/LP (Grand Jury)
“There’s a pervasive sadness to Mothers’ songs that’s strangely disturbing: When Kristine Leschper sings, “We lived unloved in unmade beds / You wore me like a necklace,” it’s hard not to want to reach out and lend her hope. When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired is filled with straightforward observations about frailty, broken trust and insecurity. The songs feel like the sole expression of the artist at their core, made with the support of friends like Matthew Anderegg on guitar, keyboards and percussion. It all might sound incredibly depressing, except that what art does best is serve as a means of growth. When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired sounds like the work of an artist who’s seeking out an understanding of herself and the world around her. There’s a deep underpinning of melancholy and sorrow here, but to watch these songs performed live is to witness a band that’s growing into something fuller and more intense every day. These songs feel like a snapshot of a time getting left behind rather than lived in, performed by a riveting, honest band” – NPR. (Limited copies also pressed on colored vinyl.)
Mothxr – Centerfold CD (Razor & Tie)
Mothxr is a four-piece alternative band from Brooklyn, led by actor/artist Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl, Margin Call, Greetings From Tim Buckley). Centerfold is the band’s debut album. The group came together when Badgley teamed up with his neighborhood friend and producer Jimmy Giannopoulos. Bassist Darren Will and New Zealand guitarist Simon Oscroft soon joined and the group relocated to a bungalow in East L.A. to write and record music. With minimal analogue recording gear, the group crafted a collection of infectious, brooding, dark, new-wave laced songs bursting with sublime creativity and a fascinating range of absorbing diversity.
Mount Moriah – How To Dance CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
The North Carolina-based band Mount Moriah seem insistent to grow. If their self-titled debut showed them standing with sea legs, determined to dream their way free from the dark crevices and corners of alt-country’s stiff template; and if Miracle Temple, their second album, called that darkness by its Southern name and met it with fire; then their latest collection of songs, How To Dance, is a devotion to the cosmic light itself: moving towards it, moving into it, becoming it. Mount Moriah’s third full-length sees them stretching further to explore their collective interest in the intangible fringes of fate and synchronicity. With How To Dance, the band presents new themes of symbolism, mysticism, alchemy, universality, sacred geometry. There is color, confidence, self-direction, joy. There is also darkness, but only to show you how it found its light. In I’m Not There, a film supposition of Bob Dylan’s life, the version of Dylan played by Cate Blanchett—the pre-motorcycle crash, Blonde On Blonde Dylan—says that “a poem is like a naked person,” and then, blending into the same line, “but a song is something that walks by itself.” Mount Moriah have created a continuous dialogue with humanity, with the metaphysical, with the ecology right in front of us. Here, in How To Dance, everything walks by itself.
Willie Nelson – Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin CD/LP (Sony Legacy)
Willie Nelson’s new album of pop standards, penned by America’s legendary songwriting duo George and Ira Gershwin, follows the selection of Willie as the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Among the 11 Gershwin classics recorded by Willie Nelson for his new album are two duets: “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” with Cyndi Lauper (the song was originally introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1937 film Shall We Dance) and “Embraceable You” with Sheryl Crow (the song was performed by Ginger Rogers in Girl Crazy, recorded by Billie Holiday in 1944 and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005).
Sarah Neufeld – The Ridge CD/LP (Paper Bag)
Sarah Neufeuld is a violinist and composer based in Montreal, Canada. Best known as a member of Arcade Fire, she is also a founding member of contemporary instrumental ensemble Bell Orchestre, and most recently as half of a new duo with saxophonist Colin Stetson. The Ridge employs more emphasis on vocalization than Neufeld’s previous works; the interplay between Neufeld’s voice and violin has become strongly integrated and narrative. Arcade Fire’s Jeremy Gara plays drums on the album, adding greater layers to the compositions, creating an intense, dynamic atmosphere, and a captivating listening from start to finish.
The New Black – A Monster’s Life CD (AFM)
Fourth album from the German hard rockers.
Nolatet – Dogs CD/LP (The Royal Potato Family)
Nolatet features legendary New Orleans rhythm section players Johnny Vidacovich (drums), James Singleton (upright bass), Mike Dillon (vibes and percussion) and Brian Haas (piano). While traditional jazz is the backbone and starting point for the Nolatet’s musical language, each member’s piercing individuality allows innovation to be a constant throughout their debut album, Dogs — a collection featuring all original material influenced by the diverse lives and perceptions of these four jazz avatars.
Novelists – Souvenirs CD (Metalville)
“This lovely and long awaited debut record from French progressive metalcore act Novelists is a great opportunity for the band to finally make a splash in the progressive metalcore community.” – New Noise Magazine
Omnihility – Dominion Of Misery CD/LP (Unique Leader)
“Part of Omnihility’s sound has always revolved around their love affair with old-school death metal riffing within a technical death metal setting, yet at the same time it seems they continue to push into more and more technical territory with each release. Obvious nods to Origin were apparent in some places of Deathscapes Of The Subconscious, but the old school death metal influence was still a huge part of that records sound. With Dominion Of Misery they’ve pushed even further into Origin and Archspire style tech-death, and it’s damn good stuff!” – Metal Injection
Omnium Gathering – Grey Heavens CD/LP (Century Media)
Seventh full-length from the Finnish death metal band.
Onslaught – Live At The Slaughterhouse CD+DVD (AFM)
2014 live set from the UK thrash metal band recorded during the UK O2 Academy Thrash Assault Tour.
Jaimee Paul with The Mason Emery Trio – Too Marvelous CD (Green Hill Productions)
Jazz vocal interpretations of Johnny Mercer classics.
Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä CD/2xLP (20 Buck Spin)
Finland’s Oranssi Pazuzu issued Valonielu in 2013, an album of timeless creative immensity that was met with ubiquitous praise throughout the world and solidified the groups position as one of the most forward-thinking and interesting metal bands. Oranssi Pazuzu returns in 2016 with their follow-up album and fourth overall, the mind-bending masterwork Värähtelijä.
Emma Pollock – In Search Of Harperfield CD/LP (Chemikal Underground)
“As one quarter of The Delgados, Scotland’s most perennially underrated band, Pollock has pedigree in emotionally stirring, widescreen indie-rock, and her last (2010) album The Law Of Large Numbers is an enduring, ceaselessly enjoyable work. In Search Of Harperfield is, happily, a worthy follow-up. – Drowned In Sound
Purple Pilgrims – Eternal Delight CD/LP (Not Not Fun)
New release from the lush ceremonial dream-pop duo. Psychic sisterhood and wistful wanderlust are the twin energies feeding Purple Pilgrims.
Quilt – Plaza CD/LP (Mexican Summer)
“For the past five years, Boston quartet Quilt have quietly bubbled under the surface, while laid-back, like-minded peers like Real Estate, Woods and Kurt Vile have floated to the top of the heap. But any discerning listener would wage that 2016 will be their year. Quilt’s third album Plaza is a masterwork of mood-setting psychedelic rock, jilted enough to rope in lovers of the strange, but just straightforward enough—with eminently hummable melodies and crisp arrangements—to capture the attention of more conservative fans who might shy away from anything ‘acid-soaked.’” — Relix
Bonnie Raitt – Dig In Deep CD/2xLP+MP3 (Redwing)
Veteran singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt follows up her Grammy-winning 2012 LP, Slipstream, with her 20th studio album, Dig In Deep. “Bonnie Raitt has got chops a mile deep on slide guitar. Within a few seconds, her tone is instantly recognizable, with its bluesy bent and hint of lingering melancholy, as if she were trying to savor a note just a little bit longer before it vanishes. Memories linger in much the same way, and Raitt’s 20th album, Dig In” Deep, works as a survey of the singer’s past and a mature expression of where she is now.” – The Chicago Tribune
Redemption – The Art Of Loss CD/LP (Metal Blade)
New album from the Los Angeles prog-metal outfit. Containing over 70 minutes of their unique blend of passion, melody, aggression and complexity, The Art Of Loss was produced once again by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pagan’s Mind, Pretty Maids, etc.), who also worked with the band on 2009’s Snowfall On Judgment Day.
Victoria Reed – Chariot CD/LP (MRI Associated)
Chariot is a deeply personal collection of Americana pop featuring some of New York’s best session players and brings to mind Neko Case’s The Fox Confessor Brings The Flood and Jenny Lewis’s Acid Tongue.
The Renderers – In The Sodium Light CD/LP+MP3 (Ba Da Bing!)
New release from the New Zealand-born/U.S.-based outfit. The seismic rumbling of The Renderers goes beyond the fiendish pastoralia of their music. Long-time Christchurch residents Brian and Maryrose Crook are two of the most distinct voices in New Zealand rock, as they trade off vocal duties, and both contribute toward burying their songs in layers of swelling and swirling guitars. For In the Sodium Light, The Renderers take a step back from the furious chug of their last album, A Rocket Into Nothing. Instead, they appear to be representing the landscape of their new home. Songs creep out of holes, seep and spread, permeating the room. The album is a languid, calm-waters drift over the abyss in a glass-bottomed boat.
Emitt Rhodes – Rainbow Ends CD/LP+MP3 (Omnivore)
Emitt Rhodes began his career in his teens, as drummer for the SoCal band The Palace Guard. He eventually took the reigns as leader of The Merry Go Round, who scored pop hits with “Live” and “You’re A Very Lovely Woman” in the late 1960s. At the release of his critically acclaimed eponymous debut in 1971, he gained a reputation as a “one-man Beatles,” since he wrote, recorded and produced the album in his home studio. But then, the way many music stories unfurl, after battling bad contracts and industry demands, Rhodes saw his last release, Farewell To Paradise, in 1973. He never recorded or released another full-length LP. Until now. With a band that includes Emitt Rhodes, album producer Chris Price, Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Jason Falkner, Taylor Locke, Fernando Perdomo and Joe Seiders, Rainbow Ends features guest appearances from Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs, Jon Brion, Nels Cline & Pat Sansone from Wilco, Bleu, Probyn Gregory & Nelson Bragg from the Brian Wilson Band, and more. (Limited colored vinyl also available.)
Logan Richardson – Shift CD (Blue Note)
Assured Blue Note debut from saxophonist and composer Logan Richardson. For the occasion Richardson assembled an impressive band of musical visionaries including guitarist Pat Metheny, pianist Jason Moran, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Nasheet Waits.
Ritual Chamber – Obscurations (To Feast On The Seraphim) CD/2xLP (Profound Lore)
Bay Area metal monstrosity Ritual Chamber is commanded solely by multi-instrumentalist and underground death metal veteran Dario Derna (aka Numinas). Like an extension of his work in Infester combined with the doomy atmosphere of Evoken, Ritual Chamber is a culmination of Derna’s 25 years active in the underground and represents a return to his death metal roots.
Rich Robinson – Paper [Reissue/2004] CD/2xLP (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
Rich Robinson – Llama Blues [Reissue/2011] CDEP/12” (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
In 2002, Rich Robinson (founding member of the Black Crowes) went into the studio with the help of some friends and make a solo record. That’s where Paper began. He had Joe Magistro, Eddie Harsch, Donnie Heron, and Antoine Silverman conducting the strings. They went into Globe Studios in New York’s meat packing district and knocked it out. Originally released in December 2011, Llama Blues is a companion EP to Through A Crooked Sun. Intended as a companion to the full-length album, Llama Blues features blues-based tracks similar in sound to the full LP’s final track, “Fire Around.” Available on CD and on blue vinyl. (New album due “sometime in May, 2016.”)
Royal Republic – Weekend Man CD/LP (Spinefarm)
Swedish rock band Royal Republic play energetic garage rock in the vein of Mando Diao and the Hives.
Roswell Rudd & Heather Masse – August Love Song CD (Red House)
August Love Song is a new collaboration between vocal stylist Heather Masse and octogenarian trombone maverick Roswell Rudd. Masse, the New England Conservatory of Music-trained vocalist, is member of the folk trio The Wailin’ Jennys and a regular on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion show. Rudd burst on the free jazz scene in the 1960s; his ensemble work with Archie Shepp and forays into African and world music inform his explorations in sound and rhythm to the present.
Roswell Rudd/Jamie Saft/Trevor Dunn/Balazs Pandi – Strength & Power CD/LP (Rarenoise)
“Roswell Rudd’s first record came out in 1965; Jamie Saft, Trevor Dunn and Balazs Pandi weren’t even born yet. And yet, the years between Rudd and his new bandmates melt away in that wonderful cross-generational thing called telepathy when the four convened in Saft’s home studio to spontaneously and collectively make some jazz noises. Strength & Power, the harvest from these Woodstock, NY-area sessions, is a union of one, eighty-year-old avant-garde power from the generation of Steve Lacy and Cecil Taylor (two of Rudd’s past musical partners) with leading lights from the current generation of outside jazz. The pianist Saft, acoustic bassist Dunn and drummer Pandi engage with the premier free jazz trombonist so easily…” – Something Else!
Todd Rundgren – The Complete Bearsville Albums Collection 13xCD (Bearsville)
The Complete Bearsville Albums Collection gathers 11 Todd Rundgren studio albums inside a clamshell box. The set showcases the complete collection of Rundgren’s finest work released on the exceptionally cool Bearsville label, including: Runt (1970), Something/Anything? (1972), A Wizard, A True Star (1973), Todd (1974), Initiation (1975), Faithful (1976), Back To The Bars (1978), Hermit Of Mink Hollow (1978) Runt. The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren (1979), Healing (1981), and The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (1982).
Run River North – Drinking From A Salt Pond CD/2xLP+MP3 (Nettwerk)
Based in California’s San Fernando Valley, Run River North is a six-member indie pop ensemble that originally formed in 2011 under the name Monsters Calling Home. Boasting a lush, folk-influenced sound built around singers Alex Hwang (vocals/guitar) and Sally Kang (vocals/keys), the band also features guitarist/violinist Daniel Chae, bassist Joseph Chun, drummer John Chong, and violinist Jennifer Rim. For the new album, the band teamed up with producer Lars Stalfors (Cold War Kids, HEALTH, Matt and Kim), who has helped push them out of their indie-folk comfort zone into a fuller, more ambitious rock sound that incorporates the whole band’s perspective.
Santigold – 99¢ CD/LP/Cassette (Atlantic)
Santigold’s third album, 99¢, features a collaboration with iLoveMakonnen as well as production from Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, Hit-Boy, TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Zeds Dead, Patrik Berger, Justin Raisen, Sam Dew, John Hill, and Doc McKinney. “It’s impossible to not move to this album. There’s a wide array of rhythms, grooves, and sensibilities pulling from dancehall, soca, hip-hop, trap, and electro, but it is never overwhelming or underwhelming because it is balanced so well. The album is like pre-packaged diet meals in that respect, because there is just enough to fill you up and keep your senses engaged, but the artistry is in the portion control because it could easily be too much to handle. Santigold’s vocals vary as well, employing rap cadences, holding notes a bit longer for effect, leaning toward a Caribbean accent in spots, and scaling back for harmonies with other artists. The seemingly standard four-year hiatus she takes between albums is justified when it comes out sounding like this.” – Stereogum
School Of Seven Bells – SVIIB CD/LP+MP3 (Vagrant)
“‘Ablaze,’ from School Of Seven Bells’ fourth and likely final LP, is composed of the same elements SVIIB have threaded together for years: heroic riffs, a colossus of a percussion track and Alejandra Deheza’s weightless sighs. The emotional clarity, however, is new; the song is an ode to redemptive love, delivered with full earnestness and complete surrender. ‘You saw the stars in me,’ Deheza sings, and her often-glassy voice and SVIIB’s usually-huge mixes turn into something more plaintive, almost a cappella: ‘You told me how you saw the stars/You told me that till I believed.’ It’s among the most life-affirming five minutes of pop music in recent memory. It is quite possibly perfect” – Pitchfork. (Limited purple vinyl pressing also available.)
J.Peter Schwalm – The Beauty Of Disaster CD/2xLP (Rarenoise)
The new compositions of J.Peter Schwalm seek to balance the aesthetics of electronic with that of orchestral music. His swelling arrangements mark the difference between opulence (desired) and bombast (to be avoided at all costs), while his electronic sounds highlight his unique techniques, developed way beyond what is achievable by regular plug-ins. Many passages are completely devoid of beat, thus achieving a deep sense of contemplation in music.
Jake Shimabukuro – Live In Japan CD (E1)
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jake’s life has always centered on the ukulele. Known for his powerful strumming on the ukulele, Jake’s performances incorporate elements of thoughtful, sophisticated arrangements with spontaneous, improvised passages. Being influenced by legendary ukulele players like Eddie Kamae, Ohta-San and Peter Moon, Jake also credits icons like Bruce Lee and Michael Jordan as a source of inspiration. Includes his biggest songs “Dragon,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Sinbreed – Master Creator CD/LP (AFM)
Impressive third studio album by Germany’s new melodic speed metal masters.
Sin Ropas – Mirror Bride CD/LP (Jealous Butcher)
On his new release, Sin Ropas’ (aka Tim Hurley) fuzz and blur is tightened into something beautifully sparse and rangy thanks to mixing by Brian Deck (Red Red Meat, Modest Mouse). These are bright, searing, imperfect songs that, as the title suggests, may seep into those places that you’ve been trying to forget or to hide. There’s a catharsis in its splattered slow party of music, in its untethered rhythms and evaporating melodies, music that suggests that there’s more than what we’ve seen or will see, how things seem more meaningful when reflected than in reality. Mirror Bride is the kind of record that reveals itself slowly and evokes the kind of experience you didn’t even know you were missing.
Soundtrack – Deadpool CD (Milan)
Junkie XL (Mad Mad: Fury Road, Divergent) delivers a robust, pulsing score to the movie adaptation of Deadpool that is as energetic and relentless as the Marvel comic book character. It ties in seamlessly with the eclectic mix of songs featured prominently in the film, including tracks by DMX, Wham!, and Salt-N-Pepa.
Spirit Adrift – Behind – Beyond CD (Prosthetic)
“For a band who’ve been around for less than five months, you’d expect this debut two-track EP to be a work in progress. Indeed, the average track length of 14 minutes and myriad ideas being brought to the table suggest a group still trying to hone their craft, yet Behind – Beyond is a remarkably well thought-out and delivered effort. Taking their cues both musically and sonically from the more melodic end of the doom scene, they still find time for both the expansive melancholy and powerful riffs of the likes of Neurosis and Baroness” – Team Rock. Vinyl edition due March 18.
Kane Strang – Blue Cheese CD/LP+MP3 (Ba Da Bing!)
New release from the New Zealand-based psych pop artist. Lead-off track “The Web” channels pummeling bass lines punctuated by a twinkling synth that calls upon microscopic pop principalities of restlessness. Its abrupt ending parallels Strang’s own disconnect. “She’s Appealing” weaves Day-Glo guitar motifs into distant, detached ‘80s garage pop vocals. “Never Kissed A Blonde” is driven by a slapping delay on both vocals and guitar. Strang’s path toward a melody is always surprising, and he never misses a hit-on-the-head-obvious-in-retrospect memorable line.
Sunburst – Fragments Of Creation CD (Inner Wound)
The sound of prog metal band Sunburst can be described as “Dream Theater meets Nevermore and Conception.”
Supersonic Blues Machine – West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco CD/2xLP+MP3 (Provogue)
Supersonic Blues Machine isn’t just a band, it’s a melting pot of ideas with likeminded people. As a result, debut album West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco is a sprawling and emotional journey. An incredible list of collaborators gives the record added warmth and propels it on to a higher level; Billy F. Gibbons, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Eric Gales and Chris Duarte all have a deep and personal connection to the main trio of Grossi, Lopez and Aronoff.
Sworn Amongst – Under A Titan Sky CD (Soulfood)
Under A Titan Sky is armed to the teeth with ball-crunching riffage and grooves, hypersonic solos, soaring vocals and bludgeoning bass lines, absorbing the influence of pioneering bands such as Death, Carcass and Meshuggah and blending it with the likes of Heart Of A Coward, Upon A Burning Body and Lamb Of God.
Tombstones – Vargariis CD (Soulseller)
The Norwegian doomheads return with their fourth full-length album. Vinyl version due March 18.
Tsjuder – Kill For Satan [Reissue/2000] CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Tsjuder – Demonic Possession [Reissue/2002] CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
The Norwegian black metal cult act’s first two albums are back in print on CD and vinyl.
Tsunami Bomb – Trust No One CD/LP (Kung Fu)
Trust No One is a 14-song collection of rare, out of print, and unreleased tracks from the early years of Tsunami Bomb including songs, from the previously out-of-print limited edition B-Movie Queens 7”, the On The High Seas 7”, and The Invasion From Within EP, as well as some hard to find and previously unreleased tracks from their pre-Kung Fu era.
Tweet – Charlene CD (E1)
After a six-year hiatus, R&B songstress Tweet re-emerges with her fourth album.
Twins Crew – Veni Vidi Vici CD (Inner Wound)
New album from the Swedish heavy/power metal band — for fans of Sabaton, Helloween, Hammerfall and Gloryhammer. Vinyl edition due March 18.
The Unguided – Lust And Loathing CD (Napalm)
“Once you get past the harsh melodic death metal exterior, epic clean vocals and catchy keyboard tones await. Dynamic and strong songwriting with that special Scandinavian massive production and delicate guitar solos turn Lust And Loathing into the best gem the band’s discography has to offer.” – Blabbermouth
Unhuman Disease – De Templi Autem Veteris Serpentis CD (Moribund)
Unhuman Disease is a one-man black metal act from America.
United Vibrations – The Myth Of The Golden Ratio CD/LP (Ubiquity)
Music with a message and for community. That’s what United Vibrations has brought to the table their entire career. Various writers and reviewers have tried their best to categorize the sound of London’s United Vibrations using terms like Afrobeat or jazz. However, this unique group may be best described by the feelings their music instills instead of through a genre classification. Call it spiritual, or call it vibrations, for that matter. Vibrations for the sound waves produced by their instruments and voices as well as for the emotions that it stirs from within. Ubiquity is proud to be a part of this band’s unique vision with the release of The Myth Of The Golden Ratio.
Various Artists – George Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music Of George Harrison 2xCD+DVD/2xCD+Blu-ray/3xLP (Hot/Vagrant)
Live tribute recorded and filmed on September 28th, 2014 at the The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, and released on what would have been Harrison’s 73rd birthday. The lineup includes Brian Wilson, Nora Jones, The Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Conan O Brien, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, Britt Daniel from Spoon, Heart’s Ann Wilson, Dhani Harrison, Weird Al Yankovic, The Strokes’ Nick Valensi, Perry Farrell and many others.
Various Artists – God Don’t Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson CD/LP+MP3 (Alligator)
A star studded group of artists celebrate the timeless appeal of legendary gospel bluesman Blind Willie Johnson on this collection of covers. Includes performances by Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Cowboy Junkies, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Sinead O’Connor, Luther Dickinson featuring The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band, Maria McKee, and Rickie Lee Jones.
Various Artists – Head Rag Hop: Piano Blues 1925-1960 4xCD (JSP)
A search for the roots of blues piano will end up in a swirling mist in which blues guitar germinated. One belief is that blues piano developed from the rhythms with which guitarists accompanied themselves. The piano’s wider musical spectrum then encouraged players to create rhythms and melodies with each hand. When it came to mobility, pianists had to rely on residencies. They could never foresee the condition of the pianos they encountered on their travels. Also, unlike their guitarist confreres, they had to be equally adept singers and players, needing at least one instrumental showpiece to satisfy their audiences. St. Louis, Memphis, Birmingham and New Orleans unsurprisingly had coteries of musicians but so did Houston and Dallas in Texas — each with something approaching a regional flavor. The last years of the 1920s saw a proliferation of blues pianists, including Cow Cow Davenport, Pine Top Smith, Will Ezell, Henry Brown and Montana Taylor). Their records — too often overlooked — reveal them as innovators and gifted musicians.
Various Artists – Putumayo Presents Jazz Café CD (Putumayo World Music)
This selection of extraordinary musicians from the US, Brazil, Finland and beyond will transport you to jazz cafes around the world. Featured artists include Lisa Bassenge, Pearl Django, Rosa Passos, Niuver and more.
Voivod – Post Society CD (Century Media)
New five-track EP from the veteran Canadian heavy metal band. Post Society includes previously vinyl-only songs from the limited split 7” EPs with label-mates At The Gates and Napalm Death, two brand new songs, and a cover of Hawkwind’s “Silver Machine.”
Votum – :Ktonik: CD (Inner Wound)
With four albums and hundreds of on-stage performances — including shows with Opeth, Anathema, Pain Of Salvation, Katatonia, Korn and a European tour with Riverside — Votum is one of the leading artists riding the new wave of Polish prog.
Waco Brothers – Going Down In History CD/LP (Bloodshot)
With a devil-may-care attitude towards polish and finesse, Going Down In History captures the thrill ride rush of the Waco Brothers’ live shows. Through the improvisational and fluid approach they adopted at Chicago’s Kingsize Sound Labs with longtime collaborator Mike Hagler at the knobs, the songs took on a muscularity and cohesiveness of an album unlike any previous Wacos recordings. Their pioneering Cash-meets-Clash jet engine mash up is still there, to be sure, but the Wacos have turned their well-scuffed boot heels towards their roots as never before.
Wakey Wakey – Overreactivist CD/LP (The End)
“Spend half an hour in the company of Michael Grubbs, the creative force behind indie band Wakey Wakey and you’ll come out with a renewed enthusiasm for old school music making. Overreactivist is Wakey Wakey’s third album and a radical departure from the previous pop album, Salvation, in more ways than one. In contrast to the first album which was full of youthful expression and captured the spirit of making music with no money and no expectation of success, Salvation was a collaborative experience with a team of writers, producers and musicians and the end result turned out to be even further from Grubbs’ first intention of making a pop album. Whilst acknowledging it was an amazing team experience, Grubbs says this experience and way of making music made him feel ‘disconnected from myself as a musician’ and as a result he returned to the ‘old days’ and decided the next step would be to write and record an indie rock EP. Happily, they managed to find enough studio time to record enough material for not just an EP but a whole album.” – Huffington Post
Gene Watson – Real Country Music CD (Fourteen Carat Music)
“I believe you can guess from the title what kind of music you’ll hear. I really like it and I know you will too.” – Gene Watson
John Zorn – Flaga: The Book Of Angels Volume 27 CD (Tzadik)
For one of the last CDs in the Book Of Angels series, Zorn has assembled an astonishing all-star piano trio featuring three of the most powerful and respected musicians in the jazz/new music scene: Craig Taborn, Christian McBride and Tyshawn Sorey. Diving into eight tunes from Zorn’s mystical Masada project they take off in flights of melodic, rhythmic and harmonic fancy that will make your head spin. Visceral and virtuosic, Flaga is one of the most spontaneous and exciting installments in the Masada catalog.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Celtic Thunder – Legacy Volume One DVD/Blu-ray (Sony Legacy)
Legacy is a review of Celtic Thunder’s most popular songs to date, recorded live Casino Rama in Ontario early last year. Known for their crisp vocal harmonies, powerful ensemble numbers, Celtic Thunder bring their own twist to an eclectic mix of songs while introducing music from their homeland and traversing with ease the genres of folk, traditional Irish, adult contemporary, rock and classical crossover. Also available on stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Bad Religion – 30 Years Live LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Bad Religion’s 30 Years Live was originally released in May 2010, documenting the bands 30th anniversary tour. The album is now available on limited edition vinyl.
Julien Baker – Sprained Ankle LP+MP3 (6131)
Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl. For years, Baker and a group of close friends have performed as the band Forrister (formerly The Star Killers), but when college took her four hours away, her need to continue creating found an outlet through solo work. The intent was never to make these songs her main focus, yet the process proved to be startlingly cathartic. As each song came into shape, it became more apparent that Baker had genuinely deep, surprisingly dark stories to tell from her thus far short life (she turns 20 this Fall). Tales of her experiences are staggering, and when set to her haunting guitar playing, the results are gut wrenching and heartfelt, relatable yet very personal. There’s something wonderfully hypnotizing about Baker gently confessing her soul with such tremendous honesty. (Limited colored vinyl pressing.)
Battleme – Habitual Love Songs LP+MP3 (El Camino Media, LLC)
Third album from the self-described Portland by way of Austin “slacker rockers”.
David Bowie – David Bowie aka Space Oddity [Reissue/1969] LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World [Reissue/1970] LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Aladdin Sane [Reissue/1971] LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars [Reissue/1972] LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Aladdin Sane [Reissue/1973] LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Pinups [Reissue/1973] LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Bowie At The Beeb: The Best Of The BBC Radio Sessions ’68-’72 [2000] 4xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
A quintessential selection of classic, early-period Bowie back in print on HQ-180gm vinyl. (This is the first time Bowie At The Beeb has been available on the format.)
Johnny Cash – Sings Hank Williams [Reissue/1960] LP (Sundazed)
Johnny Cash – Now Here’s Johnny [Reissue/1961] LP (Sundazed)
From the minute he walked into Sun Studios, Johnny Cash began a legendary career that would see him become one of the biggest and most influential musicians of our time. Though only on Sun for three years from 1955-1958, Johnny made some of his most legendary recordings there. When he moved on to Columbia Records, Johnny left behind a large cache of material which Sun happily compiled and released on LPs throughout the ‘60s, mixing Cash’s singles-sides with previously unissued recordings. A couple of those records are back in print on vinyl.
Caleb Caudle – Carolina Ghost LP+MP3 (This Is American)
Caleb Caudle is a country singer/songwriter from Winston-Salem, NC. Last year, His critically acclaimed album Paint Another Layer On My Heart landed him on many year-end lists last December. He has toured with Justin Townes Earle and Jason Isbell.
Harry Chapin – Heads & Tails [Reissue/1972] LP (Friday Music)
Heads & Tails is the debut album from singer/songwriter and human rights activist Harry Chapin. Shortly after it’s release in 1972, and thanks in part to Johnny Carson for asking the artist to come back a second night after he blew the audience away with his signature hit “Taxi,” Chapin was soon on his way to the top rungs of the charts. Rock and pop radio also took notice and began to play the nearly 7-minute single relentlessly. Limited edition 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP pressing.
Cloudland Canyon – An Arabesque LP (Medical Records)
While past recordings on Holy Mountain and Kranky flirted with drone and krautrock modes, An Arabesque skews in a more rhythmic direction with shades of naive disco and new age.
Coffins/Ilsa – Split E.P. 12”+MP3 (Relapse)
A double dose of crushing, cross-continental death/doom/sludge devastation from two of the scene’s leading purveyors of.
Ornette Coleman – To Whom Who Keeps A Record [Reissue/1975] LP (Superior Viaduct)
In the late 1950s, Ornette Coleman set the jazz world on fire. From his own unique playing style to his fundamental deconstruction of harmony and complete rethinking of group performance, Coleman at once confounded critics and inspired a new generation. This revolutionary music eventually became known as free jazz, but Coleman’s influence extended well beyond — into avant-garde rock and art circles — and today his name is synonymous with artistic freedom. Originally released in Japan only, To Whom Who Keeps A Record collects outtakes from Coleman’s legendary Atlantic period, sessions from Change Of The Century and This Is Our Music that are as emotionally transfixing as intellectually rigorous.
Deep Throats – Good, Bad, Pretty LP (Castleface)
“Deep Throats is something that you should be careful of when Googling, but something you should be Googling nonetheless. The iconic San Francisco-based garage band have announced their never-released final LP entitled Good, Bad, Pretty, which is a complete and total powerhouse. Recorded 15 years ago at the popular punk fixture called the Starcleaner warehouse in San Francisco’s Mission District, Good, Bad, Pretty is John Dwyer-approved, and for a good reason. Thee Oh See‘s primary member recalls Deep Throats as featuring ‘smirking medicated bass’ and an ‘abstract guitar dance,’ which rings true to us.” – Earmilk
Drug Church – Hit Your Head LP (No Sleep)
Released late last October on CD – now available on limited clear with orange and white splatter colored vinyl. “Albany, New York punk outfit Drug Church has been known to operate at extreme levels, in both a technical and personal sense. Fronted by Self Defense Family’s Patrick Kindlon, the band has carried the hardcore torch passed down through the likes of Fugazi and Black Flag, their 2012 self-titled debut EP earning them a reputation for self-loathing songs riddled with bombastic guitar licks and deafening drums. This sound showed up in full force on their first full-length album, 2013’s well-received Paul Walker. Now, Drug Church is ready for round two with their sophomore LP, Hit Your Head.” – Consequence Of Sound
Duran Duran – Duran Duran [Reissue/1981] LP+12” (Parlophone)
Back in print on vinyl with bonus 12”. Duran Duran’s eponymous debut artfully coalesced the sonic and stylistic elements of the burgeoning new romantic movement they were soon to spearhead. Features “Girls On Film” and “Planet Earth.”
Efterklang – Parades [Reissue/2007] 2xLP+CD (Leaf)
The second album by Denmark’s Efterklang comprises 11 majestic, otherworldly pop songs, and manages to be both magnificently ambitious and engagingly intimate; a breathtaking panorama of sound with few clear antecedents. One of a series of ten landmark albums, reissued on vinyl to celebrate The Leaf Label’s 20th year. LP includes original CD album in miniature Leaf 20 design card wallet, Leaf catalogue inner sleeves and spot varnished Leaf 20 logo on front cover. Packaged in non-gatefold 5mm spine sleeve with revised credits.
Tav Falco’s Panther Burns – Me & My Chauffeur Blues b/w Whistle Blower Blues 7” (ORG Music)
Equal parts primal, early rock ’n’ roll, deviant hill country blues & avant-garde art – Tav Falco’s Panther Burns is ramshackle, raw, unholy & utterly amazing. This 7” release was recorded during the band’s October 2015 Whistle Blower Tour, and features bass legend Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges) and drummer Toby Dammit (The Stooges, Nick Cave).
Ben Folds – Rockin’ The Suburbs [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (ORG Music)
Rockin’ The Suburbs is Ben Folds’ first solo album after leaving Ben Folds Five. This 15th anniversary pressing brings the album back to vinyl for the first time since its original 2001 release. Like the original pressing, the album contains the bonus track “Hiro’s Song,” only available on the Japanese CD and US vinyl releases. HQ-80gm.
Hawkwind – Space Ritual [Reissue/1973] 2xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Recorded live in December 1972 and released the following year, Space Ritual is an excellent document of Hawkwind’s classic lineup, underscoring the group’s status as space rock pioneers. As the quintessential “people’s band,” incorporating most of Doremi Fasol Latido (1972), the show for the Space Ritual tour was conceived as a space rock opera, it’s blend of sci-fi electronics, mesmerizing psy-fi grooves, and heavy, earthbound jamming punctuated with spoken word interludes from astral poet Bob Calvert. Although his intergalactic musings date the album, coming across now as camp futurism, they still provide fitting atmospheric preambles to Hawkwind’s astounding, mind-warping sounds. HQ-180gm audiophile pressing.
Shooter Jennings – Countach (For Giorgio) LP (Black Country Rock)
Limited pink vinyl edition. Shooter Jennings returns with his seventh studio LP. In 2014 Shooter released Don’t Wait Up (For George), an EP paying tribute to George Jones, and at the same time announced Countach, his album comprised of songs composed or inspired by production pioneer Giorgio Moroder. But this is no tribute album. Countach is a sound-collage-style journey through the ‘80s and ‘90s culture, innovative songwriting, genre bending, fiddle-meets-synthesizer soundscapes and a shrine to pioneers of books, bytes and beats. The album features guest appearances from modern folk songstress Brandi Carlile, Antichrist Superstar Marilyn Manson, country-rock pioneer Steve Young and even Lord British himself, computer game leviathan Richard Garriott. CD version due March 11.
Jethro Tull – Living In The Past [Reissue/1972] 2xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Living In The Past is a 1972 double album quasi-compilation collection by Jethro Tull, which contains album tracks, out-takes, the Life Is A Long Song EP, and all of their singles except for “Aeroplane,” “Sunshine Day,” “One For John Gee,” “17” and the original United Kingdom version of “Teacher” (the United States single version was included instead). Limited HQ-180gm audiophile vinyl LP pressing.
Kid Rock – Devil Without A Cause [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (WB)
Kid Rock – Cocky [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (WB)
Limited edition vinyl reissues now available.
Loner Chic – Year Of The Goth LP/Cassette (Broken World Media)
Drawing members and influences from disparate corners of the Connecticut underground music scene, Loner Chic blends knowing, sardonic lyrics with a dynamic and various musical framework. On Year Of The Goth, power pop riffs intersect with postmodern anxiety in an urgent, distinctly contemporary mélange that remains nevertheless referent to the indie rock tradition of Loner Chic’s predecessors. Blown out, shout-along choruses buttress elegant guitar work, while the lyrics include references to everything from The Lemonheads to Drake to Virgil’s Aeneid. Catchy and brusque without sacrificing severity, Year Of The Goth offers party punk for the literary set.
Mack 10 – Mack 10 [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Priority)
Double-vinyl reissue of the 1995 debut album from the gangsta rapper.
Jesse Malin – The Fine Art Of Self Destruction [2002] 2xLP+MP3 (One Little Indian)
Originally released in 2002, Jesse Malin’s classic Ryan Adams-produced solo debut has been reissued as a limited run on double vinyl with new sleevenotes by The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon. The second LP adds 11 more tracks originally demoed for the record at Electric Lady studios, only four of which made it to the final version – which gives an insight into the quantity and quality of material to hand at the time.
John Mayall – Find A Way To Care LP (Forty Below)
Released last September on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the blues rock legend. John adds harmonica on two songs as well as a classic guitar track reminiscent of Huber Sumlin or Muddy Waters on the latter’s legendary “Long Distance Call.” He is joined by his killer touring band, Rocky Athas (guitar), Greg Rzab (bass) and Jay Davenport (drums).
Mestis – Polysemy LP+MP3 (Sumerian)
Released last November on CD – now available on limited edition clear colored vinyl. Mestis is world renowned guitarist Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders). Polysemy is a ten track offering showcasing Reyes’ vast musical diversity and features an intriguing variety of instrumentation and assistance by highly acclaimed musicians (Matt Garstka also of Animals As Leaders, Joe Lester of Intronaut, and Mario Camarena and Erick Hansel of CHON).
Lee Michaels – Heighty Hi: The Best Of Lee Michaels LP (Manifesto)
Released last November on CD – now available on vinyl. 20 of his biggest hits from Michael’s A&M years.
Moderat – Remainder 10” (Mute)
A collection of remixes of the title track by Moderat, the collaborative project from Modeselektor and Apparat.
Morrissey – Bona Drag [Reissue/1990] 2xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Limited HQ-180gm audiophile vinyl LP pressing. Bona Drag is a compilation album by Morrissey originally released October 1990. The album features an array of Morrissey’s most popular songs from his early solo career, most of which had not been released on any previous album.
Gerry Mulligan – The Emarcy Sextet Recordings 5xLP (Mosaic)
The 1955-56 Gerry Mulligan Sextet was an outstanding ensemble on several levels. In Jon Eardley, Bob Brookmeyer and Zoot Sims, Mulligan found soloists with the same high degree of invention and melodic development that he possessed. The light buoyant swing of Peck Morrison and Dave Bailey without the weight of a chordal instrument was inspiring to the soloists and a joy for the listener. But the most compelling characteristic of this sextet was Mulligan’s ability to write brilliant arrangements for a small group that possessed the drive and intricacy of a big band.
Nothing But Thieves – Nothing But Thieves LP (RCA)
Recently released on CD – now available on limited edition white vinyl. Hailing from Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England, Nothing But Thieves make passionate guitar-based rock that balances indie rock artfulness with a pop sensibility.
Of Feather And Bone – Embrace The Wretched Flesh LP (Good Fight Music)
Released last September on CD – now available on colored vinyl. “Of Feather And Bone are a three piece hardcore/power violence band based out of Denver. With their new album, Embrace The Wretched Flesh, they are looking to make a statement, and if not a statement, a fist-sized hole in your head. With a 24-minute runtime over ten tracks, OFAB waste no time unleashing their ferocity on the listener with first track ‘Ordained In Fire,’ a blistering power violence track that offers not only pure speed and crushing blast beats, but chunky, heavy mosh sections as well, setting the stage for the album to come.” – New Noise Magazine
Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters – Return Of The Super Ape [Reissue/1978] LP (Cleopatra)
Limited edition blue colored vinyl pressing of Lee “Scratch” Perry’s immortal 1978 Lion Of Judah-produced classic.
Polar Bear – Peepers [Reissue/2010] LP+CD (Leaf)
Vinyl reissue of the the fourth album from this outfit led by percussionist Sebastian Rochford. Categorizing Rochford poses problems. Jazz is at the heart of his work, yet his understanding of and engagement with a wide range of genres are such that it’s impossible to shoehorn his recordings into neat and tidy boxes. Peepers sounds very close to a live Polar Bear performance. One of a series of ten landmark albums, reissued on vinyl to celebrate The Leaf Label’s 20th year. LP includes original CD album in miniature Leaf 20 design card wallet, Leaf catalogue inner sleeves and spot varnished Leaf 20 logo on front cover.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Live [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (WB)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You [Reissue/2011] 2xLP (WB)
Back in print on vinyl! (Live has been repressed on limited edition grey marble colored wax.)
Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto – The Revenant [OST] 2xLP (Milan)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “In Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s new film The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio plays frontiersman Hugh Glass as he, his son, and his hunting team raid Native American land in 1832. After DiCaprio is unexpectedly mauled by a bear, the crew buries him, murders his son, and abandons their bodies, continuing the journey unaware that DiCaprio escaped the grave to seek revenge. Calling The Revenant ‘intense’ doesn’t begin to do it justice; among other things, it’s a meditation on the unholy perseverance of the human soul. Yet its soundtrack—co-created by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, German electronic musician Alva Noto, and multi-instrumentalist Bryce Dessner of The National—wisely opts to complement that savagery rather than illustrate it.” – Pitchfork
Frank Sinatra – Ring-A-Ding Ding! [Reissue/1961] LP (Reprise)
Frank Sinatra – That’s Life [Reissue/1966] LP (Reprise)
“Sinatra Warns Russkies To Knock It Off. Singer Gives Kruschev 24 Hours To ‘Drop That Commie Bunk Or It’s Ring-A-Ding Ding For You Bozos. Calls Soviet Premier ‘World-Class Knuckle Head.” – The Onion/Our Dumb Century July 17, 1963
Sonic Youth – Goo [Reissue/1990] LP (Geffen)
Sonic Youth – Dirty [Reissue/1992] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sonic Youth – Washing Machine [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sonic Youth – Diamond Sea [Reissue/1995] 12” (Geffen)
The latest batch of Sonic Youth vinyl reissues, now available.
Soundtrack – Fiddler On The Roof [Reissue/1964] LP (Razor & Tie)
Soundtrack – My Fair Lady [Reissue/1956] LP (Razor & Tie)
Soundtrack – West Side Story [Reissue/1961] LP (Razor & Tie)
You now have two choices when it comes to purchasing the Original Broadway Cast Recordings to these classic musicals on vinyl: either used via the dollar bin, or as a crisp, fresh, virgin-pure new copy courtesy of Razor & Tie’s mind-boggling reissues.
Soundtrack – Rubble Kings: The Album 2xLP (Mass Appeal)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Rubble Kings tells the story of how a few extraordinary, forgotten people did the impossible, during the gang era of NYC and how their actions impacted the city and the world over by planting the seeds to what would become hip-hop culture. The soundtrack was produced by long time Run The Jewels collaborator, Little Shalimar, and features contributions by Run The Jewels, Killer Mike & Bun B, Mr Muthaf*kin Exquire, Ka, Roxiny and others. Grey/white marbled colored.
Soundtrack – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory [Reissue/1971] LP (Geffen)
Vinyl reissue of the original score written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse.
Turkuaz – Digitonium 2xLP (Techne)
Turkuaz – Stereochrome 12” (Techne)
“It’s hard to listen to a Turkuaz record and not feel instantly transported back to the ‘70s—to that time when there was an all-consuming conflation of funk and disco, and everything seemed to glitter. This Brooklyn-based collective would never deny such influences—as their discography shows so far, they fully embrace the past…” — Relix
Various Artists – CiTR Pop Alliance Compilation, Vol.4 LP (Mint)
From the liner notes: “Another two years, another CiTR Mint Pop Alliance. We’re pushing the limits of ‘pop’ with this one, so kick back on your sofa, chair, bed or whatever it might be and get ready to be jarred right out of it again. Pop/rock, pop-punk, indie pop, folk pop…underground dance pop? Well, so much for terminology, suffice it to say there are some sounds here. Sounds from machines, sounds from human beings. Songs from old friends and songs from brand new artists who are doing their best to help keep Vancouver an exciting place to live.”
Various Artists – Jade Tree: Twenty Five Years LP (Jade Tree)
“25 years of Jade Tree. When Tim Owen asked me to become his partner in the label in 1990, neither he nor I thought that Jade Tree might last this long. As young adults we had dreams that Jade Tree would develop into a label that would not only mimic our mentors, but also eventually impart our own unique brand into the sphere of independent music. With the premise that Jade Tree do nothing more than represent the fickle tastes of Tim and I without focusing on any particular genre, geography or belief system, we forged ahead. Looking back, Tim and I believe Jade Tree has made the impact that we had hoped to make twenty-five years ago. This record is a small document of the label and the artists who have helped Jade Tree achieve that dream over the years.” Includes tracks by: The Promise Ring, Pedro The Lion, Strike Anywhere, Denali, Kid Dynamite, Joan Of Arc, From Ashes Rise, F**ked Up, Swiz, Lifetime, Cap’n Jazz, Paint It Black, and Jets To Brazil.
Various Artists – Michigan Nuggets [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Belvedere)
For vinyl collectors of artifacts from 1960s Michigan, the holy grail is Michigan Nuggets, an impressive double LP containing 31 cuts from some of the biggest Detroit-area garage band local hits of the era.
Washer – Here Comes Washer LP+MP3 (Exploding In Sound)
“Washer finds a happy medium between the pop sensibilities you may find in the late ‘90s—early 2000’s punk scene and the fuzzy, slightly-math-rock influenced work of their EIS peers.” – Post-Trash
Cassettes:
Jagged Leaves – Nightmare Afternoon (Yellow K)
Dan Penta doesn’t have fans — he has disciples. An outcast of the DC burbs, he arrived in NYC in 1999, quickly becoming a staple of the anti-folk scene. But while friends like Regina Spektor, the Moldy Peaches, and Langhorne Slim went on to earn acclaim, Dan remained unknown. Creating in obscurity, he handmade CD-Rs for the consecrated few who, through the years, came to form a tiny congregation. Finally, now 20 years of retrospection and songwriting come to fruition. “I remember hearing Dan play when I began going to the Sidewalk Cafe open mic. He had interesting lyrics and passionate delivery and always stood out as one of the unique voices in that scene.” — Regina Spektor
Loner Chic – Year Of The Goth (Broken World Media)
Drawing members and influences from disparate corners of the Connecticut underground music scene, Loner Chic blends knowing, sardonic lyrics with a dynamic and various musical framework. On Year Of The Goth, power pop riffs intersect with postmodern anxiety in an urgent, distinctly contemporary mélange that remains nevertheless referent to the indie rock tradition of Loner Chic’s predecessors. Blown out, shout-along choruses buttress elegant guitar work, while the lyrics include references to everything from The Lemonheads to Drake to Virgil’s Aeneid. Catchy and brusque without sacrificing severity, Year Of The Goth offers party punk for the literary set.
Santigold – 99¢ (Atlantic)
Santigold’s third album, 99¢, features a collaboration with iLoveMakonnen as well as production from Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, Hit-Boy, TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Zeds Dead, Patrik Berger, Justin Raisen, Sam Dew, John Hill, and Doc McKinney. “It’s impossible to not move to this album. There’s a wide array of rhythms, grooves, and sensibilities pulling from dancehall, soca, hip-hop, trap, and electro, but it is never overwhelming or underwhelming because it is balanced so well. The album is like pre-packaged diet meals in that respect, because there is just enough to fill you up and keep your senses engaged, but the artistry is in the portion control because it could easily be too much to handle. Santigold’s vocals vary as well, employing rap cadences, holding notes a bit longer for effect, leaning toward a Caribbean accent in spots, and scaling back for harmonies with other artists. The seemingly standard four-year hiatus she takes between albums is justified when it comes out sounding like this.” — Stereogum
Washer – Here Comes Washer (Exploding In Sound)
“Washer finds a happy medium between the pop sensibilities you may find in the late ‘90s—early 2000’s punk scene and the fuzzy, slightly-math-rock influenced work of their EIS peers.” – Post-Trash
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