CDs + Vinyl:
2 Chainz – Collegrove CD (Def Jam)
2 Chainz prohibitively collaborated with a fellow rapper Lil Wayne on his new album, Collegrove, even though it is credited by 2 Chainz as a solo album through Def Jam. The album includes productions from Mike Will Made It, TM88, Infamous, Zaytoven, Lil C, Metro Boomin, Ben Billion$, and London on da Track, among others.
Ahtme – Demonization CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Kansas City technical death metal strategists, Ahtme, formerly known as The Roman Holiday, are the latest addition to Unique Leader Records’ expanding roster of brutality.
American Head Charge – Tango Umbrella CD (Napalm)
New album from the Minneapolis-based heavy metal band.
Amon Amarth – Jomsviking CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)
Jomsviking is Amon Amarth’s tenth album and first concept record which tells a tragic tale of love and revenge, backed by the Swedish band’s trademark melodic, anthemic metal, which features special guest session drummer Tobias Gustafsson (Vomitory). The epic original story is set in the world of the Jomsvikings, the legendary order of mercenary Vikings. As frontman Johan Hegg explains: “The Jomsvikings were a shadowy and legendary sect of Viking mercenaries, as shrouded in myth now as they were when they fought across Europe and the Middle East. Ruthless and deadly warriors who fought for the highest bidder, their code was simple: Show no fear. Never retreat. Defend your brothers, and when called upon, avenge their deaths. I felt we were finally ready to use their story as the jumping off point for an Amon Amarth album.” (CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe digibook edition includes one bonus track plus 24-page, full-color bound booklet.)
Asking Alexandria – The Black CD (Sumerian)
Fourth studio album from the British metalcore band.
Eric Bachmann – Eric Bachmann CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Twenty-five years after Archers Of Loaf broke onto Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s vital indie scene, frontman Eric Bachmann is recording the rawest, most honest work of his career under his own name. The release of Eric Bachmann marks the end of his post-Archers solo project Crooked Fingers, and the beginning of a candid new sound. “To me, the ’90s were for the Archers… The 2000s were for Crooked Fingers,” says Bachmann. “I feel like now—in 2015, 2016—it’s time to metamorphose. When you do this for a long time, you feel a strong pull to reinvent things from time to time, or at least to reconfigure them. There is resistance, of course, from many places to remain the same. But after a while the dam breaks, and the compulsion to change becomes overwhelming. You just have to do it or you sort of feel like you’re not being true to yourself.”
Dave Barnes – Carry On, San Vicente CD (50 Year Plan)
Released last week. “While Dave Barnes may be best known at the guy who wrote Blake Shelton’s #1 ‘God Gave Me You,’ the singer/songwriter [has released] his ninth studio album Carry On, San Vincente. The album will take Barnes in a musically different direction. ‘This album, with its sonic direction, is a project I have always wanted to make,’ said Barnes. ‘From start to finish it’s a nod to some of the greatest artists of all time in my opinion, like Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Crosby Still & Nash, etc. We created an alum that was so fun to make and will really translate live so we are excited to get out on the road and play it for the fans.’” – Nashville Gab
Bayonne – Primitives CD/LP (Mom + Pop Music)
“Roger Sellers is a lot of things. He’s a minimalist composer with a knack for making hypnotic, enveloping songs from a few repeated musical phrases. He’s a gifted musician who is mostly self-taught, having abandoned formal study because it was draining the life from his work. He’s a self-described disciple of Phil Collins. What he is not, however — despite multiple press reports to the contrary — is a DJ. Primitives, Sellers’ debut as Bayonne, is a rich, complex work, the kind with no clear rock parallel. In its winding, maze-like structures are hints of both Steve Reich and Owen Pallett, each instrument working a single melodic pattern over and over and over, as Sellers threads his soft, reedy voice between them.” — Ghettoblaster
Beastmaker – Luses Naturae CD (Rise Above)
Beastmaker hails from the unlikely locale of Fresno, CA. Sweating profusely in a parched no man’s land about 3 ½ half-hours northeast of Los Angeles, the city isn’t exactly a cultural mecca—and yet it’s the birthplace of Hollywood outsiders and weirdos like Sid Haig, Slim Pickens and director Sam Peckinpah. Still, it suffers from an unsurprising dearth of musicians interested in heavy rock. Bleak and burly overtones of Sabbath and Witchfinder General ring through Lusus Naturae like echoes from a haunted past. Slow-rolling bruisers “Eyes Are Watching,” “Arachne” and “It” set the tone of doom and despair with nods to heavy ’70s classics, cult horror flicks and the inimitable work of one Mr. Glenn Anzalone. “When it comes to genre, I think of us as a much slower version of the Misfits or Danzig, but I’ve come to love the word ‘doom’ whether or not it really relates to us,” vocalist/guitarist Trevor Church offers. “It just feels like home.” Vinyl edition due May 6.
Birdy – Beautiful Lies CD (Atlantic)
English singer/songwriter Jasmine van den Bogaerde, who goes by the stage name Birdy, was born in 1996 in Lymington, Hampshire. Precocious from the very start, Bogaerde began composing her own songs at the age of seven and in the coming years frequently posted her music and performances on YouTube. By the time she was 14, Birdy had signed a publishing contract with Warner Chappell. In early 2011, she independently released her first single, a cover of American indie rock outfit Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love,” which peaked at number 17 on the UK pop charts. Her self-titled full-length debut arrived in November of that year and was a huge success, particularly in Australia, Belgium, Holland, and France. Fire Within, the follow-up to her debut, presented a new phase in Bogaerde’s development, displaying her evolving songwriting talent. Her third album, Beautiful Lies, was produced by collaborators including Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys/Adele) and Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire/Florence And The Machine).
Blackbear + The Surf Bums – Retrospective CD (Quality Time)
Nashville art-pop band active from 2011-2014, known for basement shows and DIY attitude. “You mean there’s a Nashville band making Smiths-influenced indie pop? Could this week get any better?”—USA Today
Blood Ceremony – Lord Of Misrule CD/LP (Rise Above)
“In a tradition that dates back to Late Antiquity, the Lord Of Misrule or “Abbot Of Unreason” was the doomed figure elected to preside over the Feast Of Fools, an annual Saturnalian bacchanalia in which masters became servants and servants masters, while drunken revelry and strange entertainments pervaded Britain and parts of mainland Europe for 30 days. At the end of the month’s festivities, the Lord Of Misrule’s throat was cut in sacrifice to Saturn. Taking its title from this fascinating slice of religious history, Blood Ceremony’s fourth album evokes pagan rites and the bizarre mystical underbelly of rural Britain. Embracing the psychedelic and progressive in their indelible songcraft, guitarist Sean Kennedy, bassist Lucas Gadke, drummer Michael Carrillo and triple threat vocalist/flautist/organist Alia O’Brien have created what Kennedy calls “a very English album,” despite the band’s very Canadian heritage. Recorded to analogue tape with producer Liam Watson at Toe Rag Studios in London, Lord Of Misrule possesses a timeless quality within the rock epoch: It could stand alongside a Shocking Blue or Deep Purple record as easily as it will take its place among 2016’s finest albums” – BraveWords. Vinyl version due April 22.
The Body & Full Of Hell – One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache CD (Neurot)
Since their inception in 1999, massively prolific Arkansas band The Body has refined an uncategorized and unmatched sound. The duo writes and acts as one—a deafening wail against a failing species. Full Of Hell was formed in 2009 in Ocean City, Maryland. With a similar ethos, the band is prolific and relentless, ever challenging themselves, channeling influences from across the spectrum of extreme music into a nihilistic wall of oppressive sound. One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache is the debut collaborative work by these two likeminded artists.
Joe Bonamassa – Blues Of Desperation CD/2xLP (J&R Adventures)
Blues Of Desperation is Bonamassa’s most powerfully diverse and boldly realized album yet, with the material ranging from the gutsy, gritty blues call to arms of “This Train” (Joe’s guitar is set to rude throughout) to the elegant yet emotionally shattering ballad “What I’ve Known For A Very Long Time” to the soul-nourishing, acoustic-based Americana of “The Valley Runs Low,” on which Bonamassa’s voice rises up majestically to meet Barnes, McRae and Tippins in gospel-like rapture. And then there’s the bleary, tequila-soaked “Drive,” dripping with the kind of raw, wicked and unsettling sensuality that could make David Lynch green with envy.
Matthew Bourne – moogmemory CD/LP+CD (Leaf)
moogmemory is the second solo studio album by English improvising pianist and synthesizer player Matthew Bourne. “[moogmemory] seems to come closer to the lineage of synthesizer innovators like Raymond Scott rather than most techno or ambient artists, even if there’s a relaxed, meditative feel to a lot of these pieces, and it showcase’s Bourne’s skill for exploring the vast capabilities of his instrument.” – AlMusic
Brian Bromberg – Full Circle CD (Artistry Music)
Brian Bromberg indeed completes a full circle here on his new recording, meaning, he started his musical career on the drums and now returns to sit behind the kit. Guests include Alex Acuna, Charlie Bishirat, Bob Sheppard, Mitch Forman, Arturo Sandoval, Lee Thornburg, Kirk Whalum plus more.
Bronze – Live In San Francisco CD/LP+MP3 (Castle Face)
Ninth edition of Castle Face’s Live In San Francisco series. “For nine years they have been slowly simmering in a pot. For nine years I have been seeing them usurp every bill they have been on. I’ve never seen a bad Bronze show… they range from smiling and hypnotized dancing crowds to a man getting violated and urinated on at a yuppie bar (everyone still smiling). Always the entertainers, always drunk with mad skills; with dashes of John Carpenter, Silver Apples, Liquid Liquid, Birthday Party, Harold Grosskopf, Klaus Schultze, Cluster, and Brian Ferry with a field recorder taped to his tux jacket. Ultra bottom heavy dance beats à la Brian Hock (shirt off / shirt on, it’s all good to me), super hand-wringing oscillations home brewed by Miles Friction and the ever-great Robert Spector delivering homilies from beyond the dimensional wall.” – John Dwyer
Caliban – Gravity CD (Metal Blade)
New album from the German metallers.
Captain Supernova – Doors Of Perception CD/LP (Cold Busted)
Captain Supernova has re-entered the atmosphere from out of nowhere with a fantastic new album, titled Doors Of Perception. An ‘American astronaut’ sent to interact with extraterrestrials using synthesizers, but also a multi-instrumentalist with high profile appearances at San Jose Jazz Festival, Rendezvous L.A., and Loftsess under his belt, Captain Supernova has developed a unique and confident sound that draws upon equal portions of jazz, hip-hop, funk, and synthy trip-hop to complete his vision.
Céu – Tropix CD (Six Degrees)
In her quest for a more upbeat, rhythm-driven album, Brazilian singer Céu employed the production help of French native Hervé Salters, aka General Elektriks, who cut his teeth playing keyboards for Femi Kuti and playing with Blackalicious and Lyrics Born, and Pupillo, drummer of one of a longstanding Brazilian feature, Naçao Zumbi, as well as his country’s most in-demand producer.
Cobalt – Slow Forever 2xCD/2xLP+MP3 (Profound Lore)
New double-album is the first release in almost seven years from one of the most important extreme metal acts around today. Now featuring tormented vocalist Charlie Fell (ex-Lord Mantis). For fans of Neurosis, Tool, Swans, High On Fire, Mayhem.
Death By Unga Bunga – Pineapple Pizza CD/LP (InKind Music)
“Norway’s Death By Unga Bunga hail from the town of Moss, which is credited with being the garage rock capital of Norway, so the group is very much a garage rock band playing highly energetic, rough and rowdy rock ‘n’ roll. Heavily influenced by the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Death By Unga Bunga wants to wipe out bad rock ‘n’ roll. Guitarist Stian Gulbrandsen says Pineapple Pizza is ‘a protest against bad rock ‘n’ roll. It’s about demanding processed cheese, intoxication, high peaks, fun and love. But also about the pain from taking in too much of it.’
Gulbrandsen further says the group is ‘excited about finally releasing Pineapple Pizza. A lot of sweat, tears, and laughs went into making this album. Fast as f*ck. Legit! Always wanted to play in Cheap Trick… Closer than ever.’” – Pop Matters
The Deli – Vibes 3 CD (Cold Busted)
Cold Busted is the label based in downtown L.A. releasing trip-hop, lo-fi, instrumental hip-hop, and other downtempo beats showcasing beatmakers from all over the place. Hailing from Austin – Texas, The Deli serves up old school vibes spread across 18 jazz inspired instrumentals.
Elliphant – Living Life Golden CD (Kemosabe)
Elliphant is the music-making moniker of Swedish wild-child Ellinor Olovsdotter, who’s made waves internationally with a series of unclassifiable catchy jams, outrageous, stylish videos, and an unpredictable, outspoken persona. Elliphant started gaining visibility in the spring of 2012 when she released her debut single “Tekkno Scene” on Swedish indie label TEN. Her dancehall influenced Nordic pop sound (otherwise known as “Dankshall”) soon prompted taste makers to pay attention and her following has been growing steadily since then. Her second album, Living The Life Golden, features guest contributions by heavyweights from across various genres including Major Lazer, Twin Shadow, Skrillex, MØ and Azaelia Banks.
Enemy Planes – Beta Letdown CD (Rock The Cause!)
Comprised of former members of Solid Gold, G.A.Y.N.G.S., and Pictures Of Then, the music of Minneapolis based Enemy Planes drifts effortlessly between melancholy and menace, hypnotic and hysteric, heartache and euphoria. A stirring blend of haunting vocals, dense instrumentation, and driving beats.
Eureka California – Versus CD/LP/Cassette (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
“Other than the name, Eureka California holds no association to the town of Eureka nor the state of California. It is a band from Athens, GA (by way of NC) known for its raw blustery sound built around crunchy guitar riffs and the right amount of fuzziness. Head honcho Jake Ward is the brains, heart, lungs, liver and colon of the group penning songs that express a modicum of disdain towards our dysfunctional society, people that just ‘don’t get it’ and over all life in general. The latest record – Versus –is another fine collection of sardonic songs that find Ward letting everyone know just how he feels about things.” – Exclaim!
Exmagician – Scan The Blue CD/LP+MP3 (Bella Union)
A heady mix of guitars meeting synths and spiraling threads of psychedelia, Scan The Blue is the latest musical incarnation of longtime collaborators Danny Todd and James Smith, the songwriter partnership behind Cashier No.9, who released the David Holmes-produced album To The Death Of Fun in 2011 to widespread critical acclaim.
Ella Fitzgerald – Jazz At The Philharmonic: The Ella Fitzgerald Set CD (Verve)
For the first time, the complete JATP performances of Ella Fitzgerald issued by Verve on various albums, now in one dynamic live set featuring some of the greatest musicians of all time. The collection includes concerts from 1949, 1953 and 1954 and features appearances by Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Hank Jones among others. The newly remastered collection includes an essay by author Will Friedwald. One of the most prestigious labels in the history of jazz, Verve Records is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a trove of historic reissues and stunning new collections from its legendary archives.
Anthony Hamilton – What I’m Feelin’ CD (RCA)
Fifth studio album from the Grammy Award-winning R&B artist. “[On the] title track ‘What I’m Feelin’,’ Anthony gives us his traditional soul-filled lyrics accompanied by a production reminiscent of some of your parent’s favorite jams. Featuring his background vocalists, The HamilTones, the vintage sounding track takes us back to the years of Marvin Gaye, The Chi-Lites, The Delfonics and more.” – This Is RnB
Hammer Fight – Profound And Profane CD (Napalm)
Positively filthy rock meets gloriously sublime classic metal, thrash, speed, punk and hardcore.
Jeff Healey – Heal My Soul CD/2xLP+MP3 (Provogue)
Heal My Soul is a lost album by the late Canadian blues/rock/jazz musician.
Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith – A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke CD (ECM)
A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke features pianist Vijay Iyer and the musician he has described as his — hero, friend and teacher — trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith. The centerpiece of the album is the spellbinding title suite, dedicated to Nasreen Mohamedi (1937-1990), the innovative Indian artist whose improvisatory imagery evokes abstracted rhythms. Trumpet and piano interact here with creative sensitivity to tone, texture and space.
The Joy Formidable – Hitch CD (C’Mon Lets Drift)
Welsh trio The Joy Formidable return with their highly anticipated new album Hitch. Once described by Rolling Stone as “wickedly bracing and Himalaya-huge,” the fantastic live band went to work on their third studio album with one mission: to make sure their unique live performance and energy was captured on record. “We realized we needed to build a space and do it ourselves, go back to being three people in a room again” said Ritzy Bryan regarding the band’s decision to self-produce Hitch. Following suit with their decision to take the reigns on the record, The Joy Formidable chose to “work with people who feel as strong as we do about the music, who listen to albums, love the art and let that take control.” One such early supporter was the legendary Alan Moulder (The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins) who mixed the album. The band states “on this album, we’ve been lucky enough to feel that same enthusiasm from everyone involved.” Vinyl version due April 15.
Judas Priest – Battle Cry CD (Epic)
Judas Priest’s tour in support of their 17th studio album overall, Redeemer Of Souls, was one of the most extensive of the group’s entire career — consisting of 130 shows in 33 countries, and offering a setlist that touched upon selections from nearly all of their classic albums. This 15-track CD was recorded live on August 1st, 2015 at Germany’s Wacken Festival in front of an audience of 85,000. The entire show is available this week on stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray.
Carole King – Writer [Reissue/1970] CD (Friday Music)
To singers, Carole was already famous as one of pop’s great songwriters when Tapestry hit. But that was not her debut LP; 1970’s Writer (featuring newcomer James Taylor) was. Often lost in the shadow of Tapestry, this landmark singer/songwriter album features her own “Up On The Roof,” “Child Of Mine,” “No Easy Way Down,” “Love,” and more.
Kiran Leonard – Grapefruit CD/2xLP (Moshi Moshi/PIAS America)
Kiran Leonard is an indecently good musician, bearing in mind his tender age of 20. This isn’t even his debut… Grapefruit has lots to show off, from fully rock-action passages to chamber orchestra sections and even some radio hiss ambience, all cemented by Leonard’s remarkable voice.
Like Rats – Like Rats CD (Southern Lord)
“Like Rats feature members of Chicago power-violence legends Weekend Nachos. This compact disc compiles every filthy f*cking note they have ever recorded. Most importantly it features their brand new album II. Nachos have spawned a different beast with Like Rats. The focus of the beatdown is heavily death metal influenced with generous helpings of caveman swing. Think of the old school slaughter of Celtic Frost, and Obituary with the modern ass kicking of Nails, Black Breath etc.. Riff worshiping posers need not apply.” Vinyl edition due April 29.
Lody Kong – Dreams And Visions CD (Mascot)
The Cavalera Clan takes another step towards complete worldwide metal domination with this release. Dreams And Visions is the focal project of Igor (vocals/guitars) and Zyon (drums) Cavalera, sons of Max and Gloria. It’s no secret that the two boys have been raised in an atmosphere so full of metal that their lungs are probably coated in steel. What is interesting is what’s come out of this. Lody Kong seem to snatch little pieces of metal history and place them into a dirty, down-tuned mixture.” – The Moshville Times
Lontalius – I’ll Forget 17 CD/LP+MP3 (PTKF/Partisan)
“Lontalius is Eddie Johnston, a New Zealand teenager who came up covering pop songs on YouTube. Lorde and Troye Sivan are among his fans, and as of today, so am I. The first single from Johnston’s debut I’ll Forget 17 is ‘Glow,’ a sad, sweeping, guitar-driven track that strikes me as a post-Drake take on depressive Scottish rock bands like Frightened Rabbit and the Twilight Sad. It’s a seriously pretty epic ballad about how love and honesty can lift you out of a funk.” – Stereogum
Michelle – More Issues Than Vogue CD (Atlantic Urban)
“K. Michelle’s third LP was originally going to be called I Ain’t White But I Hope You Like, but the R&B diva had a change of heart and opted for the chicer title More Issues Than Vogue. The cover art depicts the 31-year-old blowing a pink bubble (there’s a man trapped inside it) against a collage of the insults that have been leveled against her over the years including ‘bipolar,’ ‘liar’ and ‘fake booty.’ The ‘Can’t Raise A Man’ hitmaker also shared the tracklist and it is surprisingly free of features. In fact, Jason Derulo is the only guest. (He duets on ‘Make The Bed’). Other titles include the quintessentially K. ‘Ain’t You,’ ‘These Men’ and ‘Sleep Like A Baby.’ It sounds like the feisty singer is going to be telling it like it is. As usual.” — Idolator
Parker Millsap – The Very Last Day CD/LP+MP3 (Okrahoma)
The sophomore release from dynamic Oklahoma born singer/songwriter Parker Millsap boldly showcases the growth in both his arresting vocals and his thoughtful, intelligent songwriting. Millsap’s themes are both traditional and contemporary, and rife with life and literary influences. Whether he’s singing about the experience of a gay friend, longing for his evangelical father’s acceptance in “Heaven Sent”, or as the king of the Underworld in “Hades Pleads” (inspired by Greek mythology) his character-driven narratives evoke emotion and draw the listener in. Along with band-mates fiddle player Daniel Foulks, bassist Michael Rose and drummer Paddy Ryan, the album features a bigger and lusher sound than his debut, incorporating percussion, piano and Millsap on electric guitar. Guest vocalists Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins and Aoife O’Donovan shine on an album highlight, “Heaven Sent.”
Bob Mould – Patch The Sky CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Patch The Sky follows Bob Mould’s 2014 LP, Beauty And Ruin, and marks his 12th solo effort overall. Mould recorded the album with bassist Jason Narducy and drummer Jon Wurster, both of whom played on Beauty And Ruin and 2012’s Silver Age. Lead single “Voices In My Head” “finds the former Husker Dü and Sugar frontman flying through familiar fuzz-drenched territory. Though the track has an undeniable pop sheen, Mould balances it with sharp, introspective lyrics, ragged glory vocals and a decidedly fiery guitar solo.” – Rolling Stone
Night Moves – Pennied Days CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
The second album from Minneapolis band Night Moves, Pennied Days, is a distinctly modern album and a sonic break from their 2012 debut. Written and recorded by principle members John Pelant and Micky Alfano, and produced by John Angello (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, The Walkmen), the album shows the band’s deep appreciation for rock & roll’s most storied songwriters while maintaining their own voice. You can hear tinges of Leon Russell and The Band to Curtis Mayfield and Sly Stone to pre-punk experimentalists Suicide disassembled and rebuilt in to their own sound. It is a striking leap forward from a promising young band.
Khun Narin – II CD/LP+MP3 (Innovative Leisure)
Khun Narin’s Electric Phin Band initially caught the ears of music enthusiasts via a YouTube clip posted to the Dangerous Minds blog in 2013 with the caption “Mindblowing psychedelia from Thailand”. Helped by some interpreters at his local Thai restaurant, sound engineer Josh Marcy travelled to a small village near Lom Sak to record the band professionally. The result was their eponymous 2014 debut. The music Khun Narin’s Electric Phin Band plays is called phin prayuk. A phin is a three-stringed lute, on which the band uses a string of Boss effects pedals, including a phaser, distortion and digital delay. The ever-rotating cast of members spans several generations of musicians who play on hand-made instruments and take special pride in their custom mobile PA system: an imposing tower of eight loudspeaker horns atop a huge bass cabinet. A standard engagement sees them performing during morning rituals, playing several low-key sets from the comfort of plastic lawn chairs. After a mid-day banquet, they lead a parade through the community to the local temple, picking up more and more partiers along the way. A fan of their casual yet participatory playing environment, Marcy returned to Lom Sak in early 2015 to record more. II features covers of traditional Thai pop songs, introduces some new players including new phin players Aob and Bas while retaining some members of the old guard.
O’Brother – Endless Light CD/LP (Triple Crown)
“Though there are moments that Endless Light, the third full-length from noise revelers O’Brother, plays out like a plodding lullaby (see the very Thrice-esque ‘Bloodlines’), it possesses the ability to be downright menacing (‘I Am (Become Death’). At its core, Endless Light is a sprawling landscape rife with many peaks and valleys, replete with jangly guitars and jilted harmonies; it’s hazy, subdued and mountainous (‘Your Move,’ ‘Time Is A Length Of Rope’), substantial, sparse and dissonant (‘Deconstruct,’ ‘Burn’). O’Brother channels Muse on ‘Complicated End Times,’ complete with frontman Tanner Merritt playing the role of Matt Bellamy fairly well, while the near 8-minute closing entry ‘Realm Of The Physical’ fittingly devolves into nothing more than ambient waves of atmospheric sound, finishing out Endless Light much in the same as your sleep sound machine lulls you to sleep at night.” – Examiner
Open Mike Eagle + Paul White – Hella Personal Film Festival CD/LP (Mello Music)
Open Mike Eagle dominated End of Year Lists with his last album Dark Comedy — making USA Today, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork’s “Best Of” lists. He’s back with producer Paul White — who you may know from his work with Danny Brown, Homeboy Sandman, or Yasiin Bey (Mos Def). With their new album, Hella Personal Film Festival, features are sparse and pointed, one from the legendary Aesop Rock and the other from Future Islands frontman Helmock Ernst. “The rapper’s collaborative album with British producer Paul White finds them both in fine form, with Eagle’s peculiar sense of storytelling fitting perfectly with White’s ’70s-inspired beats.” — Pitchfork
Lee Harvey Osmond – Beautiful Scars CD/LP (MRI Associated)
Beautiful Scars is the third solo album from the eminent and hirsute Steeltown reprobate (Hamilton, Ontario – not Pittsburg, PA), Lee Harvey Osmond — the progenitor of acid folk, — whose previous two albums, A Quiet Evil and The Folk Sinner were previously long-listed for the Polaris Prize and nominated for a Juno.
Danny Oxenberg and Bear Galvin – Late Superimpositions CD/LP (Three Four)
In the last three decades, no other band has surpassed The Supreme Dicks in mystery. No one has, at this moment, penetrated into their irradiant secret. The collection of original songs by Danny Oxenberg — one of the band’s lead vocalists — with Bear Galvin will not illuminate us much further. What we will find is the confirmation of his majestic talent as a songwriter. These hazy duets bring back from such peregrinations what sounds like the burnt map of an authentically savage territory, where radiant melodies and more or less agreed upon dissonances, lymphatic noise and hoarse lyricism, indelible melancholy and profuse epiphanies cross, substitute and rekindle each other, setting in motion something that could be grace.
Winfield Parker – Mr Clean: Winfield Parker At Ru-Jac CD (Omnivore)
Ru-Jac Records, one of the nation’s first African-American owned record labels, was formed in Baltimore in the early 1960s by Rufus Mitchell, who booked East Coast entertainment venues including Carr’s Beach, a segregated summer resort near Annapolis. Ru-Jac was active into the 1970s and featured R&B, soul, funk, jazz and even rock acts. The most frequently recorded Ru-Jac artist was Winfield Parker. Parker cut 17 recordings for Ru-Jac, all of which are collected here along with six previously unissued tracks. Vinyl edition due June 10.
Plague Vendor – Bloodsweat CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Plague Vendor are back with their new album Bloodsweat, their most powerful and menacing work, and a record that cements the band as the purveyors of dark post-punk in the current scene.
Planet Asia & DJ Concept – Seventy Nine CD/LP (Coalmine)
Since debuting nearly 20 years ago, Planet Asia has continued to cement himself as one of the best to ever touch the mic. And that’s become especially apparent these past few years as the Fresno, CA rapper has dropped one distinguished project after the next. That trend only continues with Seventy Nine, a tightly constructed and ambitious new concept album from Planet Asia and Long Island producer, DJ Concept.
Margo Price – Midwest Farmer’s Daughter CD/LP+MP3 (Third Man)
First impressions matter. Especially on a debut album. Time and attention-strapped listeners size up an artist within a song or two, then move on or delve in further. Fortunately, it only takes Margo Price about twenty-eight seconds to convince you that you’re hearing the arrival of a singular new talent. “Hands Of Time,” the opener on Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, is an invitation, a mission statement and a starkly poetic summary of the 32-year old singer’s life, all in one knockout, self-penned punch. Easing in over a groove of sidestick, bass and atmospheric guitar, Price sings, “When I rolled out of town on the unpaved road, I was fifty-seven dollars from bein’ broke . . .” From the honky tonk comeuppance of “About To Find Out,” to the rockabilly-charged “This Town Gets Around” to the weekend twang of “Hurtin’ (On The Bottle)”, Price adds fresh twists to classic Nashville country, with a sound that could’ve made hits in any decade. Meanwhile, the hard-hitting blues grooves of “Four Years Of Chances” and “Tennessee Song” push the boundaries further west to Memphis (the album was recorded at the legendary Sun Studio).
Radical Face – The Family Tree: The Leaves CD/LP+MP3 (Nettwerk)
More than 10 years ago, Radical Face started crafting the story of a fictitious, sometimes otherworldly 19th century family called The Northcotes. He brought these characters to life in a three-part album series he created and recorded alone in Jacksonville, FL. Certain instrumentations and melodies were used to represent various “family members” and each album was recorded using only the instrumentation available during the era represented. The Family Tree: The Leaves brings the series to a close. “Instantly captivating…a layered, dark fairy tale – with pianos weaving in and out of lyrics that unravel slowly and poetically.” –The Wild Honey Pie on “The Road To Nowhere”
The Ragbirds – The Threshold And The Hearth CD (Rock Ridge Music)
Hook-laden pop with a kaleidoscopic array of worldly influences, The Ragbirds exhibit a gleeful disregard for contemporary folk-rock convention, this up-and-coming Michigan band has been traveling the country with their “infectious global groove” gathering a passionate grassroots fan base of all ages. The five-piece project is clearly built around the multi-talented Erin Zindle, who is proficient in a variety of stringed instruments. She is the songwriter and front woman of the band, skillfully switching between violin, mandolin, accordion, banjo and percussion, all while dancing. Zindle wears an infectious smile and a positive message, always spun through a poetic loom. Surrounding Zindle’s earthy-sweet voice is the whirlwind of a guitarist T.J. Zindle, dynamic bassist Dan Jones, drummer Jon Brown, and standout percussionist Randall Moore.
The Range – Potential CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
“James Hinton, the Brooklyn-based producer who records as The Range, doesn’t do anything new, but his music crackles with the air of discovery. Potential recalls the optimistic rave moment when the right combination of people and the right DJ could make you feel like you were part of something that mattered. Hinton crafts songs, full of house piano loops, clapping drum sounds, and tightly sequenced synth patches. This is music designed for uplift, with carefully plotted builds yielding to big choruses, and it taps into electronic music’s sense of possibility not by pushing things further, but by simplifying and paring back. Hinton brings to mind specific eras not from direct reference or slavish devotion to genre, but by striving to remember the historical moment when a specific element of sound first clicked—the squelching synth in ‘Genius Of Love,’ the ghost vocal loop in ‘Xtal,’ the piano in ‘Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt.’ Hinton has an ability, not unlike the Books when they first hit the scene 14 years ago, of making shopworn techniques in sound manipulations seem strangely fresh, and Potential is the kind of music that makes you think about what your own part in a seemingly passive musical transaction of music might mean.” [8.0] – Pitchfork
RJD2 – Dame Fortune CD/2xLP (RJ’s Electrical Connections)
The new studio album from RJD2 continues the sonic exploration that was started 14 years ago on his seminal debut Deadringer. An entirely self-produced and engineered affair, long-time vocal collaborators appear here: Blueprint, Son Little (aka Aaron Livingston, the other half of the Icebird duo), Phonte Coleman and Jordan Brown, along with newcomer Josh Krajcik (runner up on the 2011 season X-Factor). Always soulful, perpetually psychedelic, this album has found the lost threads connecting Aloe Blacc, Tangerine Dream, and King Crimson. From the jagged, angular deconstruction of “A New Theory” and “The Sheboygan Left,” to the poignant elegance of “Peace Of What” and “We Come Alive,” the album Dame Fortune further cements RJD2 as a force to be reckoned with behind the boards. (Color vinyl pressing also available.)
Haroula Rose – Here The Blue River CD/LP+MP3 (Little Bliss)
Recorded with the help of southern staple Jim White, Zac Rae (Death Cab For Cutie, Gnarls Barkley, Alanis Morissette), and Luke Top (Cass McCombs), Here The Blue River is a departure from the acoustic folk of Rose’s debut LP, with smoky, haunting production complementing her alluring voice and magnetic storytelling, reminiscent of early Fleetwood Mac and Daniel Lanois. Inspired by post-apocalyptic imagery, nostalgia, Greek mythology, and meteor showers, Rose sings about creation and destruction, and the ebb and flow of life.
Rotton Sound – Abuse To Suffer CD/LP/Cassette (Season Of Mist)
Finland’s Rotten Sand is one of the titans of modern grind. Abuse To Suffer, their first album in five years, sees the rejuvenated band lay down a punishing barrage of hyper-aggressive extremity. (CD version is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds two bonus tracks.)
Spacin’ – Total Freedom CD/LP (Agitated/Richie)
Long-overdue full-length platter from Philadelphia’s Spacin, low-key torchbearers of both John Sinclair’s bold program and the less-is-more aesthetic (often much more) exemplified by Lou’s time with Morrison and Tucker and Cale. Guitarist and vocalist Jason Killinger blazes the path and lead guitarist Paul Sukeena and bassist Sean Hamilton vamp on economical electric chugs while drummer Eva Killinger reprises her role as the undisputed master of basement motorik. As a handsomely illustrated insert attests, the whole thing is punctuated by flourishes from some of the most celebrated talents of this town’s percolating stew.
Allen Stone – Radius CD/2xLP+MP3 (ATO)
Deluxe edition of Stone’s 2015 album features six brand new studio tracks in addition to an alternate version of the hit “Freedom.” Stone proves himself deeply devoted to making uncompromisingly soulful music. Made in collaboration with Swedish soul phenom Magnus Tingsek, Radius wholly reveals Stone’s easy grace in blending everything from edgy soul-pop and earthy folk-rock to throwback R&B and Parliament-inspired funk.
Take 6 – Believe CD (Independent Label Services, Inc.)
The new album from a cappella group Take 6 includes guest appearance from Stevie Wonder.
The Thermals – We Disappear CD/LP+MP3 (Saddle Creek)
The Thermals are best at making songs you put on mixtapes named Drunken Sing-Alongs When You’re Sad. They specialize in late-night, secret conversations about feeling simultaneously romantic and resentful over being raised Catholic. They’re the soundtrack to breaking glass, and an ode to the beauty of brokenness. They say that the mark of intelligence is the ability to hold two disparate and conflicting truths in the mind at the same time: I am a good person; I am not a good person. We Disappear lives in this delicate, in-between place: at once hard and noisy, while also soft and personal. “Technology, love and death are the three obsessions of the record,” says lyricist Hutch Harris in a statement, adding: “Our privacy used to be so important to us and now everything has changed—we freely offer once private information about relationships and reveal everything about our day-to-day lives. We’re trying to preserve our life digitally so when we’re gone people won’t forget us. We’re using technology to become immortal. You can even set up Facebook and Twitter accounts to continue updating after you die!”
Tournament – Teenage Creature CD/LP (The End)
At-home beer drinkers, hell raisers, feebs, and felons are sure to attend a Tournament show. Wherever they are, the band remains eager to please themselves and the aging youth of America with their unapologetic approach to rock ‘n’ roll.
Robin Trower – Where Are You Going To CD/LP (V-12)
Continuing his productive creative surge, the guitar master rediscovers his rock chops in this new studio package. Ten great new songs, phenomenal guitar playing, and that signature tone that only Robin Trower can cultivate from his Strat.
Various Artists – The Rough Guide To South African Jazz CD (World Music Network)
Encompassing the marabi, kwela and jive styles of mid-twentieth century urban South African music, this compilation covers the sounds, styles, assemblages and musicians that reside under the umbrella of South African jazz – from the golden age of 1960s and 1970s to the new wave of musicians in the twenty years of post-apartheid democracy.
Various Artists – The Rough Guide To A World Of Psychedelia CD (World Music Network)
While psychedelia appeared to have flatlined in Europe and the US during the ‘70s, its pulse remained perfectly healthy in other parts of the world. African bands layered fuzztone guitars over highlife beats and Indian sitarists responded to the appropriation of their instrument by creating totally new soundscapes. In parts of Latin America counter-culture politics went hand in glove with musical exploration while Cambodian pop artists borrowed the psychedelic trappings of their American counterparts. This Rough Guide reflects many aspects of the global psychedelic sphere, not only from the sixties, but continuing through the decades and on into the 21st century.
Will Varley – Postcard From Ursa Minor CD/LP (Xtra Mile Recordings)
“There really is something special about Will Varley. While he’s always been an artist of high quality, it’s on Postcards From Ursa Minor that his talent truly shines through. From the stories he tells to the deceptively simple arrangements he showcases, there’s so much that he gets right on this album that it isn’t even funny. It’s an hour long acoustic fare full of wit, commentary and top notch storytelling that will enthrall you all the way through.” – Renowned For Sound
Sarah Vaughan – Live At Rosy’s 2xCD (Resonance)
Live At Rosy’s is a newly discovered live recording captured in an intimate club setting on May 31, 1978 at Rosy’s in New Orleans. Featuring nearly 90 minutes of music from ‘the Divine One’, Sarah Vaughan is backed by her trio of pianist Carl Schroeder, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Jimmy Cobb.
Walls Of Jericho – No One Can Save You From Yourself CD/LP+MP3 (Napalm)
“An eight-year absence has not dulled Walls of Jericho’s aggression. The stalwarts of American metalcore return with its fifth record, No One Can Save You From Yourself. Frontwoman Candace Kucsulain’s guttural vocals grab your attention on the colossal ‘Illusion Of Safety.’ The track is pure hardcore stomp with blocky riffs and pounding drums. The thrashing title track is notable for its blunt, yet empowering lyrics. Candace advocates the importance of self-improvement and that only you can help yourself. The urgency of the music complements the lyrics as the world will not wait on you to get it together. The chugging riffs on ‘Forever Militant’ drive the song forward as Candace belts out that she is walking proud despite the scars she wears. This is just a heavy slab of hardcore that makes one stand tall and dignified” – Target Audience Magazine. (Limited orange vinyl pressing also available.)
Sean Watkins – All I Do Is Lie CD (Fontana North)
First-time CD edition of Nickel Creek member Sean Watkins’ 2014 digital-only, pre-tour solo album.
White Denim – Stiff CD/LP (Downtown)
Three years on from their critically acclaimed “barbeque” record Corsicana Lemonade, White Denim are back with their sixth record, Stiff. The album is a return to the Austin quartet’s frenetic rock band roots, and is both a jubilant thrill-ride and joyous celebration of their past ten years.
For the most part, Stiff is an album crammed with adrenaline-fueled sing-alongs that show off the band’s staple technical abilities. But it’s also one that sees some new shades that they’ve developed along the way, too. Citing new wave and the razor-sharp pop punk of Buzzcocks as influences this time round, there’s an addictive Elvis Costello circa This Year’s Model quality to “Real Deal Momma,” a tune that highlights the band’s love for hummable synthesizers and curious, affecting oddities. Then there’s the cow bell calm and backing vocals laden brilliance of “I’m The One (Big Big Fun),” that along with “Take It Easy (Ever After Lasting Love)” (a song guitarist/vocalist James Petralli says “wants to be on a collection of doo wop songs written in 2016”) shows a softer and more intricate side to the band while fully emphasizing Petralli’s vocal excellence. (Limited HQ-180gm vinyl pressing in embossed jacket also available.)
Josh Williams – Modern Day Man CD (Rounder)
A child prodigy in the bluegrass world, Williams first came to attention as a child star in the same generation as Sierra Hull, Chris Thile, and Michael Cleveland, leading to three IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Awards. From his years on the road as a member of the Rhonda Vincent band, as well as being the voice of the Tony Rice Unit and lead singer and leader of his own band for several years, Josh Williams has come into his own. Produced by J.D. Crowe.
Wormed – Krighsu CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
“If you don’t already know about the galaxy’s most absurd death metal band, let’s get you up to speed. Wormed formed in the late ’90s and soon released Planisphærium, an album that quickly canonized the group in the realm of technical/brutal death metal. Their compositions were haphazard and their riffing eclectic, but the sheer weight and energy of the album was undeniable. The band proceeded to wait ten years—until 2013—to release the follow-up Exodromos, and it took death metal by storm; soupy grooves, snare-heavy drumming and a ridiculous sci-fi storyline all swirled and sizzled into an slab that beat out Colored Sands as my favorite death metal album of that year. So for Kronos, this release is a big deal.” – Angry Metal Guy
Zayne – Mind Of Mine CD (RCA)
Debut solo album from former One Direction member Zayn Malik. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds four bonus tracks.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Ginger Baker In Africa DVD (Gonzo Distribution)
In November 1971, Ginger Baker, the legendary drummer of Cream and Blind Faith, decided to set up a recording studio in Lagos, then the capital of Nigeria. Baker was one of the first rock musicians to realize the potential of African music. He also decided that it would be a rewarding musical experience to travel to Nigeria over land across the Sahara desert, a journey that would lead him into a number of adventures. This film by Tony Palmer follows Ginger Baker’s odyssey as he makes his journey and finally arrives in Nigeria to set up his studio, which would run successfully through the ‘70s as a facility for both local and western musicians (Paul McCartney’s Wings recorded Band On The Run there). Import/NTSC/57 minutes.
Judas Priest – Battle Cry DVD/Blu-ray (Epic)
Judas Priest’s tour in support of their 17th studio album overall, Redeemer Of Souls, was one of the most extensive of the group’s entire career — consisting of 130 shows in 33 countries, and offering a setlist that touched upon selections from nearly all of their classic albums. Battle Cry was filmed live on August 1st, 2015 at Germany’s Wacken Festival in front of an audience of 85,000. The concert video also contains three bonus tracks shot in Poland on December 10, 2015 at The Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Arctic Flowers – Remix 12’+MP3 (Deranged)
Accompanying digital download includes bonus tracks. Portland peace punk/deathrock hybrid Arctic Flowers have amassed an impressive roster of underground and punk musicians to compile their Remix mini-LP, out now on Deranged Records. The 12” vinyl contains the band’s first three-song EP followed by four remixes. The digital download of the album supplies an extra five remix tracks that could not fit onto the vinyl.
Alessandro Adriani – Montagne Trasparenti LP (Monofonus Press)
Alessandro Adriani has become a trusted source for all kinds of beyond-the-grave coldwave delights, from Maoupa Mazzochetti to The Neon Judgement. Aside from his work in releasing forgotten gems and up to the minute synth incantations, Adriani has also been quietly issuing out his own music as well. With Montagne Trasparenti he returns with nine tracks that further expand on his own interpretation of ghoulish body music.
Arbor Labor Union – Sings For You Now LP (Arrowhawk)
Arbor Labor Union changed their name from Pinecones after signing to Sub Pop in 2015. They believe in handshakes, repetition, and friendship. They are lifelong friends, and they play that sound. “This band basically sounds like if you broke down every single Parquet Courts song, picked out the good bits, and threw away the rest. It’s music that is too melodic for punk conventions, and walks the line of hardcore with shouted vocals. According to them, ‘It’s music that sounds angry, but hopeful—aggressively positive.’ What else could you really want in music?”—Noisey
Mick Barr – Blespec (Spathages) b/w Worthhnt (Rust Mine) 7” (Wharf Cat)
On his new 7”, Mick Barr unleashes two technically masterful and dynamic tracks that straddle the progressive metal and free jazz genres. Both feature only Barr’s maniacally fast guitar shredding and screamed vocals.
John Bender – I Don’t Remember Now / I Don’t Want To Talk About It [Reissue/1980] LP (Superior Viaduct)
John Bender recorded voraciously between 1978 and 1980 at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. Not even song titles could slow down his creative pace, as he named all the tracks after their position on the original tapes. “36A2,” for example, was cassette #36 side A, piece #2. To close the DIY aesthetic circle, Bender made sleeves by hand with no two covers alike and pressed the LPs in hyper-limited editions on his own Record Sluts imprint. I Don’t Remember Now / I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Bender’s first album from 1980, is the holy grail of minimal lo-fi electronics. Layers of fractured melodies, distorted synthesizers, hollowed-out rhythms and claustrophobic vocals unfold over the 40 minutes of this lost masterpiece.
Blu & Ray West – Crenshaw Jezebel LP (Red Apples 45)
Red Apples 45 takes a flight out west on the next release. This time teaming up Ray West with west coast MC BLU for an introspective LP titled Crenshaw Jezebel — a melodic ride were Blu’s flow and word play blend with Rays sound to create a vibe of street essence and relationship conflicts.
The Breathing Effect – Mars Is A Very Bad Place For Love LP (Alpha Pup)
Jazz is supposedly a grown folks’ genre, played by aging bohemians in tiny clubs. Tell that to The Breathing Effect—a self-described electronic group influenced by soul, rock and jazz—whose debut album, Mars Is A Very Bad Place For Love, toes a line between traditional and turn up. By definition, it scans as “jazz fusion,” but the results conjure ‘70s R&B as well as the contemporary Los Angeles beat scene and hip-hop. Clearly, Goss and Terrell study Pink Floyd and the Soft Machine, but it seems they dig Thundercat and Stevie Wonder, too.
William Burroughs – Call Me Burroughs [Reissue/1965] LP (Superior Viaduct)
Originally released in 1965 by The English Bookshop in Paris and later by ESP-Disk’ in New York, Call Me Burroughs marks not only the recorded debut of William Burroughs, but also for many the first encounter with his inimitable voice. While Burroughs has had pervasive influence on counterculture in the past 50 years—from the Beats to punk rock and even hip-hop—no other figure today is so widely considered the epitome of cool. Call Me Burroughs features the author reading from Naked Lunch and Nova Express, two of his best-known works that utilize the cut-up method developed by Burroughs and artist Brion Gysin. An eerie, deadpan drawl guides the listener through sci-fi innerscapes, narcotic nightmares, reports from the edge of the apocalypse.
Cannibal Corpse – Eaten Back To Life [Reissue/1990] LP (Metal Blade)
Cannibal Corpse – Butchered At Birth [Reissue/1991] LP (Metal Blade)
Cannibal Corpse – Tomb Of The Mutilated [Reissue/1992] LP (Metal Blade)
Cannibal Corpse – The Bleeding [Reissue/1994] LP (Metal Blade)
Cannibal Corpse – Vile [Reissue/1996] LP (Metal Blade)
Cannibal Corpse’s first five albums are back in print on standard black vinyl.
Neko Case – The Tigers Have Spoken [Reissue/2004 LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Limited translucent vinyl reissue, remastered from the original analog tapes. The Tigers Have Spoken was recorded live at several live shows in Chicago and Toronto in the spring of 2004. Neko’s backing band featured The Sadies and Jon Rauhouse. Guest performers included Carolyn Mark, Kelly Hogan, Jim & Jennie and the Pinetops, Paul Morstad and Brian Connelly.
Cherry – Gloom 7” (Lame-O)
Cherry is the new bedroom-pop project from Russell Edling, the ex-singer and songwriter of Kite Party.
Cretins – Meat 7” (Deranged)
Cretins rear their ugly heads yet again with six new cuts of destructive hardcore punk.
Cross Record – Be Good [Reissue/2012] LP (Ba Da Bing!)
Between melody and discord, Cross Record’s first full-length LP Be Good forges a quiet path through myriad sounds. Strings, clarinet, flute, steel drum, bells, tape distortion and other instrumentation support Emily Cross’s enchanting vocals while allowing for silences to build like black holes. Her lyrics conjure a dark beauty that leaves an effect long after the album has completed. Released by Lay Flat as a 300-press LP in September of 2012, the record followed a string of self-released recordings by this enterprising 25-year-old. Be Good is now available on vinyl once again courtesy of Ba Da Bing!.
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis [Reissue/2010] LP (Season Of Mist)
Red, white + blue marbled color vinyl reissue. The Dillinger Escape Plan is a paradoxical phenomenon, fusing the raw punkish attitude of hardcore with the mathematical precision of progressive extreme metal and the spontaneity of free jazz.
Dream Theater – The Astonishing 4xLP+MP3 (Roadrunner)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Thirteenth studio album by the veteran prog metal band – an ambitious double-act rock opera. The episodic narrative, in the tradition of earlier concept albums like 2002’s Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, turns on an effort by the Ravenskill Rebel Militia to overthrow the Great Northern Empire of the Americas in the year 2285.
Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters – Father’s Day LP (Stony Plain)
Released last July on CD – now available on vinyl. The current Blues Foundation ‘Blues Guitarist Of The Year,’ Ronnie Earl, returns with his ninth album on Stony Plain. For the first time in decades Earl includes a horn section, bringing him back to his early days as front man for Roomful Of Blues.
Emancipator – Seven Seas 2xLP (Vinyl Digital)
“There is simply nothing more welcoming to the ears than a new Emancipator record. Slathered with organic rhythms and dripping with fusion atmospheres, Doug Appling’s (Emancipator) newest creation is once again a freely majestic pilgrimage into the depths of worldly sound. Seven Seas could not be a more appropriate name, as the album could easily fit flawlessly as the soundtrack to an oceanic escapade lasting months, or even years, in exile” — Funkadelphia. Limited edition dark green vinyl pressing.
Expire – Old Songs LP (Bridge Nine)
In 2011, Milwaukee band Expire was a young and feisty quartet scraping their way through some of the fiercest and fresh hardcore around. Old Songs collects that era’s material onto one convenient release for fans and newcomers, including their first two EPs and their contributing track to the 2012 America’s Hardcore compilation.
Foster Body – Moving Display LP (Diabolical)
Anxious, dissonant, and danceable, Moving Display is Foster Body’s debut LP. The four-piece SLC post-punk combo have been making a name for themselves with their intensely visceral live shows, amplified by songwriting that disorganizes the traditional. The outcome is only nearly familiar. Clean, angular guitar is forced into driving, wet bass lines. Vocals are urgent-yet-playful and as rhythmic as the accompanying dance beats.
From Indian Lakes – Wanderer 10”/Cassette (Triple Crown)
Alt-rock band From Indian Lakes’ Wanderer is a stripped down/acoustic EP featuring new versions of some favorites and a few new songs. Previously just a digital release it’s now available on 10” vinyl and cassette.
Glint – Inverter 2xLP (Votiv)
Recently released on CD – now available on HQ-180gm vinyl. New album from the New York-based electronic musician. “[Album track] ‘Get Out The Way’ touches on the age-old subject of love and relationships. Emotive, powerful, and entrancing, the combination of lyrics, booming percussion, and soft, fluttering synths leave listeners with feelings of introspection and inspiration.” – XS Noize
Françoise Hardy – La Question [Reissue/1971] LP (Parlophone)
Françoise Hardy – Et Si Je M’En Vais Avant Toi [Reissue/1972] LP (Parlophone)
A pair of vinyl reissues from the French singer/songwriter/actress. La Question remains one of her finest and most distinctive efforts. Initially considered a departure from her more commercial hits from the ’60s, La Question has become a virtual calling-card for Hardy and has proven to be extremely influential on the modern French Pop scene. On Et Si Je M’En Vais Avant Toi,Hardy sidesteps her familiar ‘French pop’ sound in favor of a country-blues flavored feel, penning most of the laid-back mellow rock tracks herself.
Mick Jenkins – The Water[s] 2xLP (Cinematic Music)
With all due respect to New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami, the epicenter of the rap universe in 2016 just may be Chicago. With young stars ranging from Chief Keef to Chance The Rapper to Lil Bibby to Vic Mensa, the Windy City continues to push the boundaries of hip-hop music and culture. The latest artist to emerge from this hotbed of talent is Mick Jenkins, a gifted lyricist who has built a strong buzz online with a series of acclaimed mixtapes. Now, one of those collections will be available in physical format for the first time ever, with a limited-edition vinyl pressing of The Water[s] set to hit stores soon. Originally released online in late 2014, The Water[s] features appearances from fellow rising stars Joey Bada$$ and Noname Gypsy, plus production from Statik Selektah, Kirk Knight, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, DJ Dahi, and many more.
Billy Joel – The Bridge [Reissue/1986] LP (Friday Music)
30th anniversary HQ-180gm translucent blue vinyl reissue.
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – I Long To See You LP (Blue Note)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album of a band founded by esteemed saxophonist and composer Charles Lloyd, featuring Bill Frisell (guitar), Greg Leisz (pedal steel), Reuben Rogers (bass) and Eric Harland (drums). Includes a cover of “You Are So Beautiful” with Norah Jones on vocals and “Strangest Dream” with Willie Nelson.
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.
Marcus Marr & Chet Faker – Work EP 12” (Downtown)
Over the past few years, a musical admiration between Chet Faker and Marcus Marr has grown, which culminated in a four-day sojourn in Marr’s South London studio last year. Over the four-day recording session, four songs were written, as the two discovered that Marr’s powerful, punchy dance production perfectly balanced Faker’s soulful vocals.
Matthewdavid’s Mindflight – Trust The Guide And Glide 2xLP (Leaving)
Matthewdavid’s Mindflight is heart music. It’s a record of beauty that has evolved from explorations into his deepest emotions, visions and imagination. The flights were most directly inspired by his profound connection with Michael Stearns’ Planetary Unfolding (1981). You can feel that trust is its brother. Stearns speaks of dreams, resonance, unity, and ecstasy. Matthew adds that this journey has been one of healing, discovery, finding, and transformation. The two and their kindred are wondrous sonic-energetic-midwives helping to usher in this age of expanded consciousness.
Dan Melchior – Plays The Greys LP (Ever/Never)
Dan’s latest offering is a superb collection of songs and sonic vignettes that dips down deep into life’s trenches. Here, where light has to fight to be noticed, misery, monotony and melancholy mingle and bleed into one another. Accordingly, Dan doesn’t play the blues, he plays the greys. Plays The Greys is a patchwork album, but don’t let that imply carelessness. Each odd juxtaposition serves a purpose and illuminates its surroundings like a torch in the night. Part one and part two of the title track are perfect examples of Dan’s decidedly non-academic approach to musique concrete’s a-musical gestures. Field recordings bump up against back-porch guitar plucking that morphs into radio declarations by the good Christians among us.
Walter Mitty & His Makeshift Orchestra – Every Town Needs A Cowboy [2009] LP (Lauren)
Walter Mitty & His Makeshift Orchestra was formed as a loose collective by Walter, songwriter and wanna-be cult leader. Being spread among the West Coast hasn’t stopped this band from creating instant classics, and doing lengthy tours that have runs with bands like Modern Baseball. Acoustic guitars, makeshift percussions, and lyrics that remind you how bad things are but for some reason leave you feeling better in the end. The soundtrack of your 20s.
Mobb Deep – The Infamous [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (All City)
Limited translucent color vinyl 20th anniversary reissue of the Queens, NYC rap duo’s sophomore album. The Infamous features guest appearances from RaeKwon, Ghostface Killah, Nas, Q-Tip, and more.
Museyroom – Pearly Whites LP+MP3 (Grind Select)
A vinyl-only release from “future nostalgia” NY/Philly based trio Museyroom. After playing together in a series of bands, Jack Donovan, Ben Cohen & Matt Coppola painstakingly capture the breadth of their imagination in the form of a pop song, bent on influences from the Strokes to Bob Dylan to John Coltrane. Blending delicate impressionist-inspired melodies with the rhythmic sensibilities of hip-hop, Museyroom’s Pearly Whites is a dense and ambitious work of rare quality. Pressed on transparent purple vinyl with limited edition postcard inserts and two download codes.
New Order – Singularity 12” (Mute)
The Tom Rowland-produced track harkens back to early New Order, filtered through groups that they inspired, yet given another twist by the originators, concluding in a noisy synth vortex. 12” includes remixes by Mark Reeder, Erol Alkan, and JS Zeiter.
Oaf – Oaf 7” (Deranged)
Evil riffs, raw tone, driving beats and manic vocals. Expressing the stress anxiety and rage of living in an insane world. Stuck in a web of violence and oppression, on the bottom of a hierarchy where capital is the sole representation of power and influence. Seeing the game for what it is and understand that in a dying world you must CHEAT 2 SURVIVE.
A Passing Fancy – A Passing Fancy [Reissue/1968] LP (Lion Productions)
Vinyl reissue of a rare yet much beloved Canadian pop-psych record from 1968—an album considered by many to be the best to come out of Canada during the late- 1960s.
Red Dons – The Dead Hand Of Tradition LP (Deranged)
10 new tracks of Red Don’s signature dark, driving, melodic punk rock.
Red Sleeping Beauty – Mi Amor 7” (Shelflife)
Red Sleeping Beauty (singer Kristina Borg, singer/guitarist Niklas Angergard of Acid House Kings, guitarist Mikael Matsson of The Shermans, and bassist Carl-Johan Nasstrom) formed in Stockholm in 1989, making a huge impact on the international indie-pop scene with two fantastic albums and a series of singles and EPs on the Marsh Marigold, Siesta, Somersault Motorway, Grimsey, and Sunday labels. “Mi Amor” is the band’s first ever song with a chorus sung entirely in Spanish. “Breaking Up Is Easy” is an remix from Invisible Twin.
Max Richter – Sleep Remixes 12” (Deutsche Grammophon)
Sleep, released on the famed classical music label last September, is surely among Richter’s most ambitious works: an eight hour-long “personal lullaby for a frenetic world” meant to be listened to while sleeping. This new EP features five new takes on Sleep, including remixes by Mogwai, Clark, Jürgen Müller, and Marconi Union.
Rick Ross – Port Of Miami [2006] 2xLP (Def Jam)
White vinyl reissue of the debut album from the notorious rapper.
The Script – The Script [2008] LP (Sony Legacy)
The Script – Science & Faith [2010] LP (Sony Legacy)
The Script – #3 [2012] LP (Sony Legacy)
First-time vinyl editions. The Script is an Irish pop rock band formed in 2001. Their music has been featured in popular television programs such as 90210, Ghost Whisperer, The Hills, Waterloo Road, EastEnders, Made In Chelsea and The Vampire Diaries. The band has won three Meteor Ireland Music Awards, two World Music Awards and have received two Brit Award nominations.
Secret Space/The Flats – Split 7” (Memory Music)
Secret Space is the songwriting outfit of Dean Tartaglia (vocalist/multi-instrumentalist) featuring Zach Ruetz and Steve Warstler (drummer). Where their EP established their roots in heavy, atmospheric rock, Secret Space pushes their sound foward on their debut LP, with a collection of crossover caliber pop rock anthems. The Flats are a six-piece indie/ alternative rock band from northwest Ohio/southeast Michigan.
Snarky Puppy – Family Dinner Volume Two 2xLP+DVD+MP3 (Ground Up)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This album is the second in the Family Dinner series; which began with 2014’s Grammy Award-winning album, Family Dinner Volume One. Family Dinner Volume Two includes both the audio album and a companion DVD that features footage of the recording process, artist interviews and behind-the-scenes b-roll. Recorded in New Orleans, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of of the album will be donated to the charity organization Roots Of Music. As their website states, “Roots Of Music empowers the youth of New Orleans through music education, academic support, and mentorship while preserving and promoting the unique musical and cultural heritage of our city.”
Sodom – Obsessed By Cruelty [Reissue/1986] 2xLP+MP3 (Wax Maniax)
German thrash metal legends Sodom originally formed in 1981, taking inspiration from bands such as Motörhead, Venom, Tank, Accept, and AC/DC. Sodom’s pioneering musical style has subsequently influenced countless black, death and thrash metal bands for over three decades and counting.
Soundtrack – Fright Night [OST/Reissue/1985] LP (Night Fever Music)
Remastered from the original master tapes and pressed on HQ-180gm blue/white ‘evil fog’ color vinyl.
Spirit Adrift – Behind – Beyond LP (Prosthetic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “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
The Sun Days – Album LP+MP3 (Run For Cover)
The Sun Days are the latest promising export from Gothenburg’s burgeoning indie-pop scene. Album breathes new life into the Sarah Records sound of the UK in the ‘80s, mixing the jangly, upbeat musicianship of bands like The Field Mice and Heavenly with a jaw-dropping vocal performance that rivals hometown contemporaries and label mates Makthaverskan and Westkust. Anthemic highlights like “Come Have Me Over” and “Don’t Need To Be Them” are true slices of dream-pop perfection that are sure to stick in your head whenever you think of sunnier days to come. Silver vinyl pressing.
Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep – Mountain High [Reissue/1966] LP (A&M)
Ike & Tina Turner – Workin’ Together [Reissue/1971] LP (A&M)
Originally released in 1966, River Deep – Mountain High celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. This collection of songs performed by Ike & Tina Turner includes tracks produced by Phil Spector and produced by Ike Turner, with two very different styles. The thread that ties them all together is the outstanding vocals of Tina Turner. Released in 1971, Workin’ Together crackles with style and passion. It is Ike & Tina Turner’s most successful album, and includes covers of two classic Beatles tracks as well as Tina’s outstanding take on John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary.”
Turnover – Humblest Pleasures b/w Change Irrevearsable 7” (Run For Cover/Memory Music)
The title track’s upbeat yet delicate rhythm allows vocalist/guitarist Austin Getz’s vocals to shine, including a falsetto melody that promises to linger in your head long after the song ends. The B-side “Change Irreversible” slows down to recall the finest moments of The Cure’s chorus-heavy guitar leads, as the somber refrain, “there’s nothing that will help what trouble I’ve been thinking of”.
The Underachievers – Evermore – The Art Of Duality LP (RPM MSC Distribution)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Sophomore album from the Brooklyn rap group.
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 – Days Full Of Rain LP+MP3 (Jealous Butcher)
The love of Townes Van Zandt runs deep amongst music folk. You ever wonder how great it would sound if your favorite bands played their favorite TVZ songs? This compilation bears that in mind with covers from Blitzen Trapper, Sallie Ford, Jolie Holland, Michael Hurley, Minus 5, Blind Pilot and others.
Various Artists – Loma Volume One – A Soul Music Love Affair: Something’s Burning 1964-68 LP (Future Days)
Various Artists – Loma Volume Two – A Soul Music Love Affair: Get In The Groove 1965- 68 LP (Future Days)
From late 1964 until late 1968, Loma stood as the subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records aimed directly at the singles market. During its four-year lifespan, the label released over 100 singles and a handful of albums, the vast majority of which reflected the collective taste of the men that guided Loma and thereby the evolution of a distinctive art form: soul music. Viewed objectively, it would be incorrect to compare Loma to the other great R&B repositories of the mid- 1960s. It was strictly an adjunct of a bigger label, a commercially-minded operation that threw product at the wall hoping for a hit to stick. The first installment is a selection of Northern soul aimed strictly at the dancefloor. Volume Two focuses on the funkier, earthier side of the Loma catalog. Volumes Three and Four due April 15.
Wavves/Best Coast – Summer Is Forever 2 7”+MP3 (Ghost Ramp)
A limited edition 7” split features Wavves’ “Dreams of Grandeur,” backed by Best Coast’s cover of Nirvana’s “Dumb.”
Hank Williams Jr. – It’s About Time LP (Nash Icon)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Album number 37th.
Wintersleep – The Great Detachment LP (Dine Alone)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Anthemic new album from the Juno Award-winning band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Long Live Happy Birthday 7” (Topshelf)
“The darkness that pervades the music and characters of The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die tends to point inward, even as its subjects project outward upon the world around them. Even in the stellar ‘January 10th, 2014’ from last year’s Harmlessness, TWIABP expressed a harrowing and heroic story about vigilante justice with self-reflection. The band returns with the Long Live Happy Birthday 7” and this song — which, as vocalist David Bello writes to NPR, is ‘about getting lost in a darkened city and abandoning the warped memories of home and childhood in order to accept that all institutions are corrupt.’” — NPR
Yo Gotti – The Art Of Hustle 2xLP (Epic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Yo Gotti’s new album features the #1 Urban Radio single “Down In The DM” and boasts a killer collection of tracks which show off the Memphian’s prowess in the hip-hop arena. Guests include Timbaland, Future, Lil Wayne and others.
Cassettes:
Dia.L – Dia.L (Etc.)
Dia.L (pronounced Dial) consists of vocalist Lailah Reich and producer Radius both from Chicago and members of the group Beyond Luck. This project showcases a variety of soundscapes; touching on deep soul and ethereal meditative elements rooted in jazz, funk, hip-hop and trip-hop/electronica.
Eureka California – Versus (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
“Other than the name, Eureka California holds no association to the town of Eureka nor the state of California. It is a band from Athens, GA (by way of NC) known for its raw blustery sound built around crunchy guitar riffs and the right amount of fuzziness. Head honcho Jake Ward is the brains, heart, lungs, liver and colon of the group penning songs that express a modicum of disdain towards our dysfunctional society, people that just ‘don’t get it’ and over all life in general. The latest record – Versus –is another fine collection of sardonic songs that find Ward letting everyone know just how he feels about things.” – Exclaim!
From Indian Lakes – Wanderer (Triple Crown)
From Indian Lakes’ Wanderer is a stripped down/acoustic EP featuring new versions of some favorites and a few new songs. Previously just a digital release it’s now available on 10” vinyl and cassette.
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.
Rotton Sound – Abuse To Suffer (Season Of Mist)
Finland’s Rotten Sand is one of the titans of modern grind. Abuse To Suffer, their first album in five years, sees the rejuvenated band lay down a punishing barrage of hyper-aggressive extremity.
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