CDs + Vinyl:
21 Savage – ISSA CD/2xLP (Epic)
The debut studio album by rapper features production from frequent collaborator Metro Boomin, alongside Southside, Pi’erre Bourne, Zaytoven, Wheezy, DJ Mustard and 21 Savage himself.
36 Crazyfists – Lanterns CD/LP (Spinefarm)
The Anchorage, AK quartet find catharsis within chaos on their seventh album. [Limited edition yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Act Of Defiance – Old Scars, New Wounds CD/LP (Metal Blade)
With their 2015 debut Birth And The Burial, Act Of Defiance delivered a blast of pure and unadulterated metal that ignored fads and hit home hard. Returning with the crushing Old Scars, New Wounds, they have only upped the stakes.
Airbourne – The Diamond Cuts 4xCD+DVD/4xLP+DVD (Nettwerk)
The Diamond Cuts collector’s box set includes discs of the band’s classic studio albums: Runnin’ Wild (2007), No Guts. No Glory. (2010), Black Dog Barking (2013), plus the brand new Diamond Cuts – The B-Sides featuring two previously unavailable tracks, and a bonus DVD of the new documentary It’s All for Rock ‘n’ Roll, all in a slipcase box with original “Diamond Cuts” art.
Arkaik – Nemethia CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Arkaik return with their landmark progressive tech-death masterwork.
Awaken I Am – Blind Love CD (Victory)
“Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, the alt-rock band Awaken I Am, have set their sights on breaking down the barriers of what music can and should be. Their new release, Blind Love, is a decisive, emotional response to a life that is filled with anxiety, depression and pain. A sonic masterpiece that is filled with layered, soundscapes from dueling guitarists Ned Jankovic and Connor Oakley and a strong, platform of innovative drums and percussion from Luke McKenzie, that blends perfectly with the intricate, yet powerful vocals of singer Adam Douglas. While categorized as alt-rock, the Aussie quartet reaches deeper than just a single simple genre tag. Awaken I Am has this ability to snatch elements from pop and folk and wrapped up neatly in those alternative roots that creates a lush and complete sound.” – Lemonade Magazine
Barns Courtney – The Attractions Of Youth CD (Capitol)
Courtney’s debut album melds together the life-affirming abandon of The Libertines with the euphoric, percussive drive of Arcade Fire, and marks a huge creative step forward for the UK born, US raised troubadour.
Black Stone Cherry – Black To Blues CDEP (Mascot)
Six blues-classics originally written and/or performed by legendary musicians like Willie Dixon, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Booker T. Jones, Albert King and Freddy King. [Vinyl version due October 6.]
Blue Note All-Stars – Our Point Of View 2xCD/2xLP (Blue Note)
Featuring trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, keyboardist Robert Glasper, bassist Derrick Hodge,
guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Kendrick Scott and tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, this all-star supergroup also boasts special guest appearances by Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
David Bowie – A New Career In A New Town 11xCD/13xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
This box set features all of the material officially released by David Bowie between 1977 and 1982 including all four studio albums, his 1978 live album Stage in both original and expanded tracklistings, the newly compiled Heroes EP, collecting together both the German and French long and single versions of “Heroes”, an exclusive new compilation of single versions, non-album singles and B-sides, Re:Call 3, and more.
Tamar Braxton – Tamar Braxton CD (Tamartianland)
New release from the R&B singer.
Tommy Castro And The Painkillers – Stompin’ Ground CD (Alligator)
Castro lets loose on a set of 12 tracks featuring six originals and new versions of songs he learned and played as a young up-and-comer. [Vinyl edition due October 13.]
Cherry – Dumbness CD (Lame-O)
Cherry is the new bedroom-pop project from Russell Edling, the ex-singer and songwriter of Kite Party. [Vinyl edition due October 13.]
David Crosby – Sky Trails CD/2xLP (BMG)
Sky Trails, David Crosby’s third album of original material in four years, continues the fearless folk-rock legend’s unexpected late-period resurgence. Sky Trails features a full band sound that takes Crosby in a new musical direction as the set tilts toward jazz. The album opens with the intoxicating “She’s Got To Be Somewhere,” which features sturdy horns, bending guitar notes and lilting melodies. Crosby is backed on the album by the Sky Trails musicians, the core of whom are saxophonist Steve Tavaglione, bassist Mai Agan, drummer Steve DiStanislao, and Crosby’s son, multi-instrumentalist James Raymond, who also produced the album. As writer/co-writer of eight of the tracks, Crosby deserves the credit for the album’s wide-ranging, incisive lyrics that examine the human condition, from our frailty on “Here It’s Almost Sunset” to our greed on the searing “Capitol.” And of course, the album is anchored by Crosby’s instantly recognizable iconic vocals, which are by turns biting and soulful and it holds together remarkably well as a cohesive statement about our humanity.
Miley Cyrus – Younger Now CD (RCA)
Miley’s first commercially released project since Bangerz (2013) written and produced by Cyrus and Oren Yoel, with whom she had collaborated on her previous two full-lengths. Not concerning herself with radio airplay, their efforts resulted in an “honest” final product that sees Cyrus “leaning into her roots.”
Eddie Daniels And Roger Kellaway – Just Friends – Live At The Village Vanguard CD (Resonance)
A previously unreleased recording of pianist Roger Kellaway, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and clarinetist Eddie Daniels, George Benson, Bob James captured live at the NYC jazz club on 11/26/88.
Steve Earle – Jerusalem [Reissue/2002] CD/LP (WB)
Steve Earle – Just An American Boy [Reissue/2003] CD/LP (WB)
Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now [Reissue/2004] CD/LP (WB)
The last batch of (six total) classic Steve Earle albums to be reissued this year – each remastered with some being pressed to vinyl for the first time.
Evil Invaders – Feed Me Violence CD/LP (Napalm)
Evil Invaders wallow in the mad days of early Metallica and Slayer, when thrash metal was marked with speed.
The Expanders – Old Time Something Come Back Again, Vol. 2 CD/LP (Easy Star)
The Expanders operate from a foundation rooted in deep appreciation for classic Jamaican music. Where Vol. 1 saw the band recording songs already incorporated into their live sets, Vol. 2 presented a new challenge for the band in picking, learning and executing songs they had never played before. Deep cuts from The Ethiopians, Burning Spear, and more are curated and represented with conscientious attention to detail exemplified throughout.
Neil Finn – Out Of Silence CD (Lester Records Ltd./Kobalt)
“The multi-talented Crowded House frontman can make the most sophisticated pop music sound like the easiest thing in the world. Perhaps the first thing the listener needs to do with Out Of Silence is forget about the circumstances in which it was created. For four consecutive Fridays in August, Neil Finn has live-streamed the making of his fourth solo album via his Facebook page, releasing the singles ‘More Than One Of You’ and ‘Second Nature’ on the 11th and 18th respectively. The recording was completed in a final four-hour session on the 25th. Clearly, this approach excited Finn and his fans. But when the process is forgotten, all that is left behind is the music itself: piano-based orchestral pop, with a minimum of drums and percussion. The album is compact at 35 minutes, and complex in its instrumentation and arrangements, scored by composer Victoria Kelly. It is beautiful on the surface and yet seemingly bottomless: these songs are too subtle and densely textured to take in all at once. Piece by piece, Neil Finn’s Out Of Silence comes together in simplistic beauty.” [Vinyl edition due November 3.]
Fitness Forever – Tonight CD/LP (Elefant Spain)
An album full of Italian-disco – syncopated rhythms, instrumental exuberance, and unforgettable melodies.
Ella Fitzgerald with the London Symphony Orchestra – Someone To Watch Over Me CD (Verve)
Ella Fitzgerald’s iconic vocals are given new life by marrying newly recorded string arrangements from the London Symphony Orchestra.
Florist – If Blue Could Be Happiness CD/LP+MP3 (Double Double Whammy)
“Florist’s new album If Blue Could Be Happiness might be the kind of record to listen to while wandering through a garden in autumn or around a pond at twilight, and there is still something to be said for halting the world to unplug and unravel the tangled cords of today’s technological existence. Luckily for us, we have Florist to turn to when it’s time to face the quiet realities of life.” – Gold Flake Paint [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available. Cassette edition due October 27.]
Ben Frost – The Centre Cannot Hold CD (Mute)
Frost’s Steve Albini-produced fifth album is an exercise in limitation and chromatic saturation. The Centre Cannot Hold is an attempt at transcribing a spectrum of glowing ultramarines into sound and forbids casual engagement, but rather seeks to engulf those who encounter it. [Vinyl edition due October 13.]
Ben Frost – Super Dark Times [OST] CD/LP (Ben Frost/The Orchard)
“Whilst the sound of the ’80s has long since moved into the realm of retro, 1995 still feels uncomfortably close. CD Walkmans, digital delays, Boss Metal Zone distortion pedals, Intel Pentium chips, and Peavey practice amps inadvertently defined the music of the period (and my teenage years), and it was from that world of technology and my own memories of the confusion, the anxiety, and the black hair dye that the music for the Super Dark Times was born.”
Minoru Hoodoo Fushimi – In Praise Of Mitochondria 2xLP (Left Ear)
Japanese electro original, Minoru Hoodoo Fushimi, self-released four albums. Two vinyl LPs and two CDs between 1985 and 1992. Melbourne’s Left Ear Records have selected twelve tracks for this double vinyl retrospective.
Gentle Giant – Three Piece Suite CD/LP (Alucard)
Following the highly successful releases of the Steven Wilson’s remixes of The Power And The Glory and Octopus, Steven has now remixed a specially curated selection of songs and compositions from the band’s first three albums (Giant, Acquiring the Taste, Three Friends) presented in both 5.1 surround sound and stereo.
Philipp Gerschlauer/David Fiuczynski/Jack Dejohnette/Matt Garrison/Giorgi Mikadze – Mikrojazz! CD/LP (RareNoise)
German saxophonist Philipp Gerschlauer and guitarist David Fiuczynski explore the world of music that falls between the cracks of the tempered scale. Joined by jazz drumming legend Jack DeJohnette, fretless electric bassist Matt Garrison and microtonal keyboardist Giorgi Mikadze, this daring crew creates dreamy, otherworldly soundscapes on tunes by Gerschlauer.
David Gilmore – Live At Pompeii 2xCD/4xLP (Columbia)
Following the release of Rattle That Lock in 2015, David Gilmour set out to play a series of concerts in historic venues across the world. On July 7th and 8th, 2016, David Gilmour performed two spectacular shows at the legendary Pompeii Amphitheatre in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, 45 years after he first played there for Adrian Maben’s classic film Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
The Golliwogs – Fight Fire: The Complete Recordings 1964-1967 CD (Fantasy/Craft)
This comprehensive collection offers fans a unique opportunity to hear the artistic progression and apprenticeship of John and Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford in the three years leading up to the band’s transformation into Creedence Clearwater Revival. [Vinyl edition due November 10.]
Grave Pleasures – Motherblood CD/LP+CD (Century Media)
A truly danceable, pop-feast of raw, banging pleasure – in all its primitive, gothic tribalism. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Keyon Harrold – The Mugician CD (Sony)
The new release from the Grammy Award-winning trumpeter features collaborations with Gary Clark, Jr., Bilal, Big K.R.I.T., Pharoahe Monch, Guy Torry, Robert Glasper, Georgia Ann Muldrow, Darin Atwater, James Poyser. Don Cheadle wrote the liner notes for this album. [Vinyl edition due October 20.]
Honey – New Moody Judy CD/LP (Wharf Cat)
Equal parts concision and brute heaviness, this is the sound of perfect rock and roll music – music that’s always on the edge of spinning out of control.
Horrified – Allure Of The Fallen CD (Shadow Kingdom)
Third album from the UK metal band. [Vinyl edition due October 27.]
Ibeyi – Ash CD/LP (XL)
Their first album, the eponymous Ibeyi, grappled with the past—the sister’s relationship, origins, loss, and roots. It earned them fans and collaborators in some of the most iconic and crucial artists of today, Beyoncé and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre included. By contrast, Ash is a more visceral and potent political statement, and while firmly rooted in Afro-Cuban culture and history, finds itself entirely concerned with Ibeyi’s present: Who Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi are, what’s important to them, and how they live today, especially given that the spheres, both personally and politically, are entirely different from when Ibeyi was recorded.
Ice War – Ice War CD (Shadow Kingdom)
“Canadian one-man band Ice War deal in one thing – heavy metal. Pitched somewhere between Into Glory Ride-era Manowar and early Manilla Road, this is classic metal with absolutely nothing added or taken away.” – Sentinel Daily [Vinyl edition due October 27.]
Iglooghost – Neō Wax Bloom CD/2xLP (Brainfeeder)
Neō Wax Bloom follows the events surrounding two giant eyeballs crashing into the mysterious world of Mamu. Across its 11 tracks, Iglooghost builds a typically intense, hysterical, borderline batshit crazy soundtrack, introducing new characters to his fantastical world and inviting back old friends Mr. Yote and Cuushe for the ride. [Limited 180gm colored vinyl pressing includes a large format 12-page Riso printed comic booklet and Neō Wax Bloom character sticker sheet.]
Michael Jackson – Scream CD (Epic)
13 all-time electrifying dance classics and fan favorites from The King of Pop. [Collectible glow-in-the-dark vinyl edition due October 27]
Jag Panzer – The Deviant Chord CD/LP+CD (Steamhammer/SPV)
New album from the veteran Colorado power metallers.
Kadavar – Rough Times CD/LP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
“Rough Times finds Kadavar once again plowing into the fuzz filled musical earth that bands such as Hawkwind, Captain Beyond, and Blue Cheer have sown. Their endless palate of thunderous riffs and hook-laden grooves are put to expert use as they have masterfully taken this infinite combination and fashioned their own uniquely heavy music. Opening with the thunderous title track, you know you are in for a great ride. ‘Rough Times’ kicks the door open with bombastic drums and guitars drenched in grungy distortion. The beat is relentless and sets the stage for the rest of the album. Each song uses bludgeoning force and pulsing rhythms to develop a sense of impending doom, and exudes its own personality combining to create a marvelous and reflective soundscape. The gods of rock look down upon Kadavar with open ears and smiling hearts at their latest effort. You should too.” – Metal Wani [Two limited colored vinyl pressings also available: bone white and orange.]
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Superscope CD (PIAS America)
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are a London based trio who – now on their fourth album – continue to make old fashioned style pop, blues and soul using analogue gear. [Vinyl edition due October 13.]
Kublai Khan – Nomad CD (Rise)
New album from the Texan metalcore act. “Kublai Khan’s canvas of crushing, raw and driving hardcore infused with a sharp, riveting metallic streak is—once more—defined by the aggravated, blistering vocals from frontman Matt Honeycutt.” – New-Transcendence
Jamie Lawson – Happy Accidents CD/LP (New Elektra)
Fifth studio album from English singer/songwriter.
Loney Dear – Loney Dear CD/LP (Real World)
Whilst inspired by the likes of the inimitable Nina Simone, the new, and darker, Loney Dear is a creation that feels as difficult as it does futile to pigeonhole. However, for those who enjoy the stripped back intimacy and compositional brilliance of Bon Iver, complete with flashes of John Grant’s more electronic work and sprinkles of Brian Eno’s production work – plus hidden flutters of jazz rhythms and subtle nods to Elton John – then this is an album that has moments of all, alongside being very much its own singular creation.
Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me CD (Island)
New album from the pop vocalist/actress featuring production from hitmakers Oak (Alessia Cara, Kehlani), DJ Mustard (Rihanna, Tinashe), Sean Douglas (Dua Lipa, Fifth Harmony) and more. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds bonus tracks.
Macka B – Health Is Wealth CD/LP (VP)
New album from the British reggae artist & dancehall toaster.
Mad Professor & Jah9 – Mad Professor Meets Jah9 In The Midst Of The Storm CD/LP (VP)
This album brings two exceptional talents and two generations of reggae musicians together for the first time. The 2016 release of 9 was critically heralded as one of the most refreshing reggae albums of the year. Here is a fully de-constructed, dubwise version of the album with these nine newly recorded dub sessions from the legendary dub master, Mad Professor.
Makeout – The Good Life CD (Rise)
Rhode Island pop punk quartet Makeout has shared the stage with Blink-182, Goldfinger, and played this year’s Slam Dunk Festival in the UK.
Jessica Lea Mayfield – Sorry Is Gone CD/LP+MP3 (ATO)
Sorry Is Gone, the highly anticipated new full-length album from Jessica Lea Mayfield, was recorded at Water Music and Electric Lady studios with producer John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Phosphorescent). Of the album, Mayfield comments, “The whole record is about me taking my life back, without really realizing it. I realized I’m the only person that is going to look out for me. I have to be my main person. No one else. I have to sing about things and write about things that have happened to me as therapy. That’s what connects me to other music I listen to. I want music to make me feel things. This is my inner dialogue, and my chance to get the last word.” Sorry Is Gone features a variety of world-renowned musicians including Seth Avett on backing vocals and keys, drummer Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth, Sun Kill Moon), bassist Emil Amos (Grails, Holy Sons) and guitarist Cameron Deyell (Sia, Streets of Laredo.) with additional production from Patrick Damphier (The Mynabirds). [Limited edition clear vinyl pressing also available.]
Zara McFarlane – Arise CD/LP (Brownswood)
McFarlane returns to a buoyant UK jazz scene with a head-turning third album. Released on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, it sees her working with much-feted drummer and producer Moses Boyd. The album features a stellar line up of some of the key players on the London scene: Binker Golding on tenor sax, Peter Edwards on piano, Shirley Tetteh on guitar, Nathaniel Cross on trombone and an unusually restrained turn on clarinet from Shabaka Hutchings.
Björn Meyer – Provenance CD (ECM)
There is a distinguished tradition of solo bass albums on ECM, but Provenance is the first to be devoted to the electric bass guitar. Björn Meyer, Swedish-born and Swiss-based, has shaped a unique voice for his instrument inside the most diverse contexts, working alongside Persian harpist and singer Asita Hamidi, Swedish nyckelharpa player Johan Hedin, and Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem. [Vinyl edition due November 17.]
Ronnie Montrose featuring Ricky Phillips and Eric Singer – 10X10 CD/LP (Rhino)
Before his death in 2012, renowned American rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose began recording an ambitious passion project with bassist Ricky Phillips (Styx, Bad English) and drummer Eric Singer (Kiss, Alice Cooper). The idea was to record 10 songs with 10 different singers and call the album 10X10. Sadly, Montrose was unable to see the album through during his lifetime. Instead, Phillips made it his mission to finish the songs by enlisting a small army of Ronnie’s musician friends to record the vocals and the guitar solos for each song, completing the album in recent years.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Anthology 2xCD (Capitol Nashville)
Continuing the celebration of the legendary Americana band’s 50 years of making music together, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s extraordinary career is encapsulated in this new retrospective two-disc set.
Oculus – The Apostate Of Light CD (Blood Harvest)
Orthodox black metal in the most classic sense, The Apostate Of Light verily illuminates every crypt-dark passage with the blinding light of Lucifer. [Vinyl edition due October 13.]
Pearl Jam – Let’s Play Two CD/2xLP (Republic)
In celebration of their legendary sold out performances at Wrigley Field on August 20th and 22nd, 2016 during the Chicago Cubs historic World Series championship season, Pearl Jam releases the theatrical documentary film Let’s Play Two and this accompanying soundtrack album.
Art Pepper – Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions! “Volume 5: Jack Sheldon CD (Omnivore)
“Of the six volumes making up this set of Art Pepper recordings, this one with trumpeter/vocalist/all-around-character Jack Sheldon is my favorite. Sheldon and Pepper were fixtures on the West Coast jazz scene for many years and had previously recorded together on many occasions over 30 years, most notably on The Return Of Art Pepper and Smack Up (Contemporary, 1960). They were comfortable with one another. Sheldon always understood Pepper, despite the destinations of their dramatically different career arcs. What the producers at Atlas Records wanted was some bona fide 1950s’ West Coast jazz. It is a bit disingenuous to call these recording bona fide as many were recorded 20 and 30 year later. That said, Pepper’s collaboration with Jack Sheldon comes closest to achieving the unrealistic goal. These are bright and talkative performances, easily played and obviously enjoyed by the participants.” – All About Jazz
Art Pepper – Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 6: Shelly Manne CD (Omnivore)
Originally issued as Hollywood Jam: Shelly Manne And His West Coast Friends in 1981, this session was recorded at Sage & Sound Studio in Hollywood, CA on May 4, 1981 and featured Shelly Manne on drums, Bill Watrous, trombone, Bob Cooper, tenor sax, Pete Jolly on piano, Monty Budwig, bass, and of course, Art Pepper on alto sax.
Primus – The Desaturating Seven CD/LP (ATO)
Primus’ ninth full-length album, The Desaturating Seven, serves as the cosmic trailblazer’s first studio effort of original material since 2011’s Green Naugahyde and first of original material featuring the classic Primus line-up of Les Claypool (vocals, bass), Larry LaLonde (guitar) and Tim Alexander (drums) since 1995’s Tales From The Punchbowl. The Desaturating Seven is inspired by a 1970’s children’s book Claypool often read to his kids when they were growing up. The book tells a story of seven goblins – one representing each color of the rainbow – who simultaneously pull all of the color out of the world. “Many years ago when my children were little kidlets scurrying around the place wreaking havoc and whatnot till it was time for bed and book time, my wife turned them on to a book called The Rainbow Goblins by Ul De Rico,” Claypool explained. “The dark imagery and beauty of the art struck me immediately and I thought, ‘this would make good fodder for a piece of music.’” [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Propagandhi – Victory Lap CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
The first thing to know, if you want to know about Propagandhi, is that they came here to rock. Right from the snarling opening riff of their seventh album, Victory Lap, that much is clear. For everything else that swirls around the band now, and for the last 31 years – the politics, the people and, lately, a gnawing sense of despair – the sheer volume of it all hasn’t changed. Frontman Chris Hannah and bassist Todd Kowalski experienced a sea change in the band when after nine years with Propagandhi, guitarist David ‘The Beaver’ Guillas left the fold for a teaching position and they added a new member, Sulynn Hago, a seasoned guitar-slinger from Tampa, Florida. That said, Guillas is still all over Victory Lap, contributing licks to four songs. So, what do you do when you’re an unapologetically political band in a time when political speech seems more fractured than it has been in years? You strap up a guitar and get ready to rock. [Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Protomartyr – Relatives In Descent CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
“Protomartyr aren’t going to revolutionize guitar music. That’s a big ask for any rock band in 2017, where many acts are hyper-literate, fiercely political or formally adventurous — though the group possesses all of these strengths. With those lanes occupied, consistency is ultimately what sets Protomartyr apart from the pack. Their development has been steady, as each new album broadened the scope and lyrical ambition of its predecessor. Relatives In Descent is a culmination of the band’s potential; they sound a career removed from the scrappy garage punks who released No Passion All Technique just four years ago, even as they remain snidely dissatisfied. Wolfish, braying boors populate opener ‘A Private Understanding,’ while ‘Don’t Go To Anacita’ contrasts ‘the straight white streets’ of a gated town with the migrant workers and anti-vagrant systems that maintain it. These condemnations feel especially ferocious with the full weight of the band behind them. Relatives In Descent makes guitar music feel radical again, capturing both timely and timeless anxieties.” – Exclaim [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Racquet Club – Racquet Club CD/LP+MP3 (Rise)
A perfect blend of melodic rock and underground emo, not unlike Jimmy Eat World, Sunny Day Real Estate, or Death Cab For Cutie. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Radio Moscow – New Beginnings CD/LP+CD (Century Media)
Led by Stratocaster genius Parker Griggs, Southern Californian rock trio Radio Moscow have carved their own sonic niche fusing crunching, heavy Sabbath-style chords with fiery ‘Hendrixian’ solos and a raw intensity that is addictive and captivating, also citing the likes of Cream, Blue Cheer and Led Zeppelin as further influences. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Chris Rea – Road Songs For Lovers CD/LP (The End)
“Like all truly great artists, Chris Rea has followed his own unique artistic vision and a path that is his and his alone. And although his exemplary musical output to date is deeply embedded into the framework of the world’s rock ‘n’ roll DNA, it is also safe to say that his presence has been something of a glittering thorn in the side of an industry that has always had him down as a perennial outsider. Artist and painter, blues aficionado and self-confessed motoring nut, filmmaker and Italian-influenced classical music composer, eclectic and maverick are two terms that hardly come close to describing a man who has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide for just being himself. It’s been quite some time since Rea released anything ‘mainstream’ or non-blues oriented and the rather good news is that Road Songs For Lovers is Rea’s best record to date. Recorded with Rea’s own band at Metropolis Studios in London – in contrast to recent albums which have been self-produced in his home studio – the record continues Rea’s obsession with travel and motion; songs like ‘The Road Ahead’ (the first single off the album), ‘Happy On The Road,’ ‘Last Train’ and title track, ‘Road Songs For Lovers’ ostensibly suggest that we are constantly going somewhere in our lives and no doubt require a musical soundtrack to document this movement.” – Blues Magazine
Rittz – Last Call CD (Strange Music)
Rittz’s fourth studio album finds the Gwinnett County, GA rapper continuing to provide insight into his life in a style and rapid-fire flow that is uniquely his. Includes the track “F**k Cancer.”
The Rolling Stones – From The Vault: Sticky Fingers Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015 CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray (Eagle Vision)
On May 20th, 2015 at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California, The Rolling Stones performed their entire Sticky Fingers album live in concert for the first and – so far – only time in their career. [Vinyl edition due October 13.]
Cécile McLorin Salvant – Dreams And Daggers 2xCD/3xLP (Mack Avenue)
Co-produced with Al Pryor and recorded live at the Village Vanguard and the DiMenna Center, Cécile appears in multiple configurations here with superb accompaniment from the likes of Aaron Diehl (piano), Paul Sikivie (double bass), Lawrence Leathers (drums) and the Catalyst Quartet (Karla Donehew Perez & Suliman Tekalli – violins, Paul Laraia – viola and Karlos Rodriguez – cello).
The Simpkin Project – Beam Of Light CD (Dub Rocker)
Hailing from Huntington Beach, the six-piece rock reggae band Simpkin Project put a distinct California feel into their work. From the electric guitar accents from group founder and lead singer Phil Simpkin, to the smooth vocal harmonies created with co-founder Sean Kennedy, the sound is at once familiar and refreshing. Having a strong knowledge and respect for roots reggae, the songs blend their favorite influences from Jamaica and California, including Latin percussion. [Vinyl edition due October 27.]
Bette Smith – Jetlagger CD/LP (Big Legal Mess)
Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Bette Smith reconnected with her musical roots in Memphis and Mississippi – and fulfilled a promise to her late brother in the process. Recording her powerful debut full-length album, Jetlagger, in Mississippi brought her to the roots of the gospel she sang in the church and the soul music she heard on the block on hot summer nights music growing up on the corner of Nostrand and Fulton. Jimbo Mathus produced the album at Water Valley’s Dial Back Sound.
Stone Temple Pilots – Core [Reissue/1992] CD/2xCD/ (Atlantic)
Digitally remastered 25th anniversary edition – available in Regular, Deluxe, and Super Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus disc of B-sides and previously unreleased demos. Super deluxe edition collects more than two hours of unreleased demos and live performances, including their appearance on MTV Unplugged. Also included is the original album on vinyl and a DVD containing a 5.1 surround sound mix of the album along with videos for the album’s four singles.
Tank – Savage CD (Atlantic)
New R&B vocalist’s new album features appearances by Candice Boyd, J. Valentine, Ludacris, and labelmate Trey Songz as well as production from Da Internz, Harmony Samuels, and Cardiak.
Timmy The Teeth – Ain’t That Bad CD/LP (Saw Tooth Music)
Raised in a musical family, Timothy George has been singing and playing music from an early age. Growing up, the home was filled with music from his sisters playing piano or his dad keeping rhythm with the butter knife in anticipation for his toast to pop out of the toaster. Says Timothy: “Writing and singing songs has always been my way of getting through the day, working through my feelings, and enjoying life. I’ve independently released two records to date and learned an incredible amount about what it takes to succeed in music. Recording Ain’t That Bad helped me finally put all the pieces together.”
Tone Chop & Frost Gamble – Respect Is Earned Not Given CD (Lux Entertainment)
Classic underground boom bap hip-hop artist Tone Chop teams up with rising Canadian super producer Frost Gamble (Royce da 5’9”, Tragedy Khadafi, Slaughterhouse, Horseshoe Gang, Crooked I & more) release a throwback with guest appearances from Kool G Rap, Tragedy Khadafi, Planet Asia and more.
Torres – Three Futures CD/LP (4AD)
The 10 tracks on Torres’ third album embrace ecstasy, desire and indulgence rather than self-denial, and exude this idea via immersive music. Mechanized grooves are placed at the forefront: perforated electro-pop static, gothic industrial’s harsh textures and insistent Kraut rock.
Nik Turner – Life In Space CD/LP (Purple Pyramid)
Hawkwind co-founder Nik Turner teleports back to Earth for this album featuring guest appearances by Hawkwind alumni. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also avaialable.]
Shania Twain – Now CD/2xLP (Mercury Nashville)
The first studio album for Shania in nearly 15 years is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds four bonus tracks, all of which are included on the vinyl version.
UFO – The Salentino Cuts CD/LP (Cleopatra)
British Rock legends UFO offer up their first ever covers album paying homage to a dozen of their personal favorites. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Unsane – Sterilize CD/LP (Southern Lord)
Unsane makes a vicious return with a pummeling new record that recalls the most defining elements of the band’s seminal Scattered, Smothered, And Covered and Occupational Hazard albums, surging with the band’s unrelenting singular sound created by guitarist/vocalist Chris Spencer, bassist/vocalist Dave Curran, and drummer Vinnie Signorelli.
Vessels – The Great Distraction CD/2xLP (PIAS America)
Featuring collaborations with The Flaming Lips, John Grant, Vincent Neff (Django Django) and Harkin (Sky Larkin), The Great Distraction is Leeds-based Vessels’ most ambitious record to date, and marks further evolution of a band always exploring new avenues of expression. While celebrated third album Dilate, and the breathtaking live shows that accompanied it, were characterized by a definitive electronic shift, The Great Distraction is about much more than a desire to go four-to-the-floor.
- Roddy Walston & The Business – Destroyers Of The Soft Life CD/LP+MP3 (ATO)
The hair flying rock ‘n’ roll of J. Roddy Walston & The Business is back with the long-awaited follow-up to 2013’s Essential Tremors. New record Destroyers Of The Soft Life came to life in their own Richmond, VA recording studio and was co-produced by the band and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Built To Spill). The album is ushered in by the raging, “The Wanting,” the quartet’s first new song in four years. “I personally fell in love with writing music again,” Walston explained. “It took a while but once I realized I had room to try things that I had never tried before, I became addicted to the process.” He elaborated further by explaining how “The Wanting” describes the relationship of an estranged father and son: “Even though it is a dark song with a brutal ending, I find hope and beauty in the idea of these two people that had a shared sense of both regret and longing for each other.” [Limited edition white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Kamasi Washington – Harmony Of Difference CDEP/12” (Young Turks)
Earlier this year, avant-garde jazz titan Kamasi Washington premiered Harmony Of Difference, an original six-movement suite, as part of this year’s Whitney Biennial. The EP is the first new music from Washington since his universally acclaimed 2015 debut album The Epic. Harmony Of Difference explores the philosophical possibilities of the musical technique known as “counterpoint,” which Washington defines as “the art of balancing similarity and difference to create harmony between separate melodies.”
Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock – Death Had Quicker Wings Than Love CD/LP (One Little Indian)
Featuring a plethora of notable instrumental collaborations with the likes of celebrated singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams, Romeo Stodart (The Magic Numbers), Emma Smith (The Elysian Quartet), John Parish (PJ Harvey) and produced by Portishead’s Adrian Utley, this uniquely atmospheric, dark and haunting folk record focuses Waterson and Jaycock’s singular voice and sets them apart. Death Had Quicker Wings Than Love follows in the previous record’s authentic English folk style, similarly inspired by personal experience, but told through the form of historical fables.
Lucinda Williams – This Sweet Old World CD (Highway 20)
Produced by Lucinda Williams and Tom Overby, This Sweet Old World – recorded to mark the 25th anniversary of the original 1992 album Sweet Old World – features all-new renditions of the record’s 12 songs, some of which have been dramatically rearranged and rewritten. Lucinda says, “Sweet Old World was really the only album after the Rough Trade album that sort of fell through the cracks a little bit. I remember going into a record store in Nashville and seeing it in the bin, and it had this sticker on it that said ‘out of print.’ I went up to the manager of this little indie store and said, ‘This isn’t out of print!’ He said, ‘Well, that’s what I had heard.’ It didn’t get attention paid to it that it should have had.” Some of the brand-new bonus material will be familiar to longtime fans. Williams’ live versions of John Anderson’s 1982 No. 1 country smash “Wild And Blue” and her take on Brit-blues power trio the Groundhogs’ version of the traditional “Factory Blues” are heard on the 2014 reissue of Lucinda Williams. The honky-tonk original “Dark Side Of Life” was Williams’ first L.A. recording, heard on the 1988 country compilation A Town South of Bakersfield Vol. 2. “What You Don’t Know,” written by John Leventhal and Jim Lauderdale, was an outtake from the original Sweet Old World sessions. [Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing available October 27 – part of this year’s Ten Bands One Cause pink vinyl campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Gilda’s Club NYC.]
Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life CD/2xLP+MP3 (RCA)
“Wolf Alice are not just another indie band. After the runaway success of debut My Love Is Cool, the London four-piece used their platform to advocate for refugees and motivate their fans to vote. As they prepare to return with an angrier, catchier, just plain greater second album, singer Ellie Rowsell is starting to look suspiciously like a modern icon – not that she’d admit it herself.
‘Even as a kid,’ she says, ‘I would play pretend and wish I was an adult, and now that I’m an adult I sometimes wish I was someone else. That phrase just felt like a poetic way of expressing it. Then there’s the album artwork, a picture of a girl in a frock dancing around a podium with a horse’s head on it – she obviously had some vision of a life that she was playing out. It’s my auntie in the picture, and she actually did become a dancer, so that vision came true. It really resonated with me because I spent my whole childhood not playing with toys but playing inside my head and acting it out. That’s what our songs are, I suppose – visions and little bits of life that somehow get made into music.’ Recorded in LA with Paramore and M83 producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen, ‘Visions Of A Life’ is the antithesis of the overthought, undercooked follow-up album – it’s a big, bold expression of this band’s immense potential, in which choruses (and emotions) are communicated in letters 40ft high.” – NME
Mitch Woods – Friends Along The Way CD (E1)
The theme of friendship has carried Mitch Woods along through his career and has led him to this, his current duets and trios project – Friends Along The Way. Featuring guests Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Ruthie Foster, Joe Louis Walker, Maria Muldaur, Cyril Neville, Marcia Ball, John Hammond, Kenny Neal, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker and more, Friends Along The Way finds Mitch reaching into his historical sense of music. He reaches backwards to the roots rather than forward for his inspiration. This shines through on the first single “Take This Hammer” featuring a stunning vocal performance from Van Morrison and backed on guitar by Taj Mahal and of course Mitch Woods on piano. With Friends Along The Way, Mitch wanted to get a chance to play with some of his contemporaries in an intimate and mostly unplugged environment. The piano as an instrument lends itself to this format so perfectly. Mitch can play rhythm, lead, bass, and sing while accompanying some of his friends, who happen to be today’s blues and musical greats. It is a great instrument for bringing out the best of these awesome artists who are keeping the blues flame burning for generations to come.
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Always Foreign CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
TWIABP are back and as progressive as always. Vocalist David F Bello says of the record: “When we started writing we were fresh off Trump being elected, so there’s an anger to the album that’s different from what we’ve done in the past. There’s a lot more resistance thinking throughout the songs – not in a way that’s strictly anti-Trump, but also addressing things like white supremacy and controlling elements of the state.” The album’s first single, “Dillon And Her Son” (featuring guest vocals from mewithoutyou’s Aaron Weiss) is “a pepped-up cut which forgoes the sprawl of some of their earlier work for a more immediate quick hit rush” (Stereogum). According to TWIABP’s vocalist/bassist Joshua Cyr, the song speaks out against “getting older and becoming the kind of person who resents younger people for having fun and doing something new.” [Limited edition clear vinyl pressing also available.]
Worriers – Survival Pop CD/LP (SideOneDummy)
Singer/guitarist Lauren Denitzio composed the 12-songs on Worriers’ sophomore album Survival Pop after arriving on the other side of a difficult time. From enduring years of health issues that led to open heart surgery at the age of 25, to growing up gay, to losing friends to substance abuse and suicide, Denitzio is no stranger to life’s struggles. But make no mistake, while these experiences certainly influenced the creation of Survival Pop, the record is by no means self-pitying or sad. Instead it is a triumphant rallying cry, a celebration of overcoming, and a cathartic and empowering journey to self-actualization.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
David Gilmore – Live At Pompeii DVD/Blu-ray/2xBlu-ray+2xCD (Columbia)
Following the release of Rattle That Lock in 2015, David Gilmour set out to play a series of concerts in historic venues across the world. On July 7th and 8th, 2016, David Gilmour performed two spectacular shows at the legendary Pompeii Amphitheatre in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, 45 years after he first played there for Adrian Maben’s classic film Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii. The concert performance film was shot in 4k by director Gavin Elder and includes highlights from both shows. [The bonus Blu-Ray on the Deluxe edition includes performances from South America and Poland (with orchestra) as well as five documentaries.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Alborosie – Freedom In Dub LP (Greensleeves)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Newly recorded dub versions of songs from the 2016 album Freedom & Fyah. Using vintage analog equipment, Alborosie bridges the sounds and rhythms of classic reggae to 2017, highlighting his lineage to producers like Linval Thompson and King Jammy among others.
The Black Seeds – Fabric LP (Easy Star)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Black Seeds’ sound casts a wide net, layering funk, soul, Afrobeat, and other eclectic elements over their dub/reggae foundations.
Blue October – Home LP (Up Down)
Eighth album from the Texas-based band known for its shimmering melodies and heart-string pulling lyrics. Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing. Part of this year’s Ten Bands One Cause pink vinyl campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Gilda’s Club NYC.
Cap’n Jazz – Analphabetapolothology [Reissue/1998] 2xLP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Cap’n Jazz were an emo/punk band formed in the early 1990’s in Buffalo Grove, IL by high school friends Tim Kinsella (vocals), Victor Villareal (guitar), and Sam Zurick (bass), along with Tim’s younger brother Mike (drums). The group released their lone LP in the spring of 1995 and broke up while on tour later that summer. Members would continue making music in bands like The Promise Ring, Joan Of Arc and American Football. In 1998 Jade Tree compiled most of their recordings (which were all out of print) on to a double-disc release, which has been repressed on 180gm black vinyl.
Concrete Blonde – Concrete Blonde [Reissue/1986] LP (Capitol)
Concrete Blonde – Free [Reissue/1989] LP (Capitol)
Concrete Blonde – Bloodletting [Reissue/1990] LP (Capitol)
Concrete Blonde – Walking In London [Reissue/1992] LP (Capitol)
Concrete Blonde – Mexican Moon [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Capitol)
Concrete Blonde’s first five albums (original released on I.R.S.) are back in-print on vinyl.
Depeche Mode – The Best Of Volume 1 3xLP (Rhino)
17 of Depeche Mode’s singles spanning 1981-2005.
Dream Control – Zeitgeber LP (Medical Records)
Dream Control is the collaboration of a legend of the Krautrock Kosmiche scene and a pioneer of the German electronic scene. Zeus B. Held, renowned producer (Gina X Performance and works under his own moniker) and Steve Schroyder (former member of Tangerine Dream during their formative period) team up to deliver their debut album Zeitgeber which celebrates their very own sound and rhythm in a cosmic journey through audio and time.
Elliot Root – Conjure LP (E.R. Recordings)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Co-produced by the band’s own Melissa Mattey and Scott Krueger alongside Tony High at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios and Width Music, the debut full-length record from up and coming Nashville band Elliot Root ((featuring Krueger (vocals, guitars), Mattey (keyboards, drum programming), Sean Truskowski (drums) and Todd Bond (guitars)) follows the group’s Thoughts From Yesterday and II EPs. “Echoing the piano driven pop of Coldplay and the moodiness of Travis, Elliot Root’s music is built for stadiums and headphones. In frontman Scott Krueger, Elliot Root possess a charismatic frontman with a powerful, soulful, rock voice that can carry the group’s songs to dramatic crescendos.” – PopMatters
The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots [Reissue/2002] LP (WB)
Limited edition picture disc vinyl.
Jerry Goldsmith – Alien [Score] 2xLP (Mondo)
Goldsmith’s score to Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece.
Green Day – Dookie [Reissue/1994] LP (WB)
Green Day – Revolution Radio [2016] LP (WB)
Limited edition picture disc vinyl.
Chris Hillman – Bidin’ My Time LP (Rounder)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Produced by Tom Petty, Chris Hillman’s new solo album features collaborations with his former Byrds bandmates David Crosby and Roger McGuinn; the Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, and Steve Ferrone; Desert Rose Band’s John Jorgenson, Pedersen, and Jay Dee Maness; premier upright bassist Mark Fain; singer/guitarist Josh Jové; and fiddler Gabe Witcher.
Steve Hogarth and Richard Barbieri – Not the Weapon But The Hand [2012] LP (Kscope)
Vinyl reissue of the debut release from Marillion’s Steve Hogarth and Japan/Porcupine Tree’s Richard Barbieri.
Yotam Ben Horin – One Week Record LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
Yotam Ben Horin is mostly known as the singer/bass player and key writer in Israeli punk band Useless ID.
Hundred Suns – The Prestaliis LP (New Damage)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Hundred Suns drown themselves in doomy groove, bass driven power, loud guitars, and surreal sonic tribalism, with reverent worship of classic darkly romantic alt-rock bands, the scorching intensity of underground music, and the melodic clarity of the more uncompromising radio trailblazers of decades past. Deftones, A Perfect Circle, and even Chevelle are reference points, distant cousins even.
Ivvy – Safe Within 12” (Medical Records)
Four cuts of relentless and dark-tingled techno.
Joan Of Arc – A Portable Model Of [Reissue/1997] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Joan Of Arc – How Memory Works [Reissue/1998] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Joan Of Arc – Live In Chicago, 1999 [Reissue/1999] 2xLP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Joan Of Arc – So Much For Staying Alive And Lovelessness [Reissue/2003] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Four of the emo band’s Jade Tree albums are back in-print on vinyl courtesy of Epitaph.
Dustin Kensrue (Thrice) – Please Come Home [Reissue/2007] LP (Equal Vision)
Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing. Part of this year’s Ten Bands One Cause pink vinyl campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Gilda’s Club NYC.
King Jammy – Waterhouse Dub LP (Greensleeves)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Returning to the ring with Waterhouse Dub, a brand-new slab of megaton dub, King Jammy, the undisputed heavyweight champion of drum and bass, draws for a crucial selection of his toughest rub-a-dub specials to deliver 15 mind-destroying dub knock-outs.
Kreator – Live Kreation 3xLP+2xCD (Steamhammer/SPV)
The legendary live album from 2003 is available on vinyl limited edition yellow colored vinyl.
The Lemon Twigs – Brothers Of Destruction 12” (4AD)
Brothers Of Destruction was written and recorded by the duo on their 8-track at home in New York during 2015, not long after recording their debut album, Do Hollywood. The half dozen songs, most of which already feature in The Lemon Twigs’ searing live shows, are available here.
Ted Leo – The Hanged Man LP (Super Ego)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Hanged Man is Ted Leo’s first solo album in nearly a decade, following his 2014 Aimee Mann collaboration The Both and 2010’s The Brutalist Bricks with The Pharmacists. The 14-track collection was recorded at a home studio in Wakefield, Rhode Island with the singer/songwriter manning almost all of the instruments. The streamlined LP features Leo’s familiar sharp bursts of skinny-tie pop-punk offset with an adventurousness in both tone and structure. The Hanged Man features contributions from Chris Wilson (The Pharmacists), Aimee Mann (The Both), Jean Grae and Jonathan Coulton and is ushered in by the urgent lead single “You’re Like Me.”
Loincloth – Psalm Of The Morbid Whore LP (Southern Lord)
Their final chapter of Satanic instrumental trigonometry. White-knuckled twists wrench in one’s gut like a rusted blade, though the by-the-throat percussive attack and tonal attributes are already enough to suffocate the listener.
Lord Huron – Strange Trails LP (IAmSound)
Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing. Part of this year’s Ten Bands One Cause pink vinyl campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Gilda’s Club NYC.
Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer – Not Dark Yet LP (Silver Cross)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Not Dark Yet provides a potent look at the sisters’ individual and collective artistry through eclectic song choices from writers ranging from the Louvin Brothers, Nick Cave, Kurt Cobain, and back to Jessie Colter. Shelby and Allison wrap their arms around the past, plant their feet in the present, and nod toward what’s around the bend with the co-written “Is It Too Much” which closes out the ten-song set.
Mansionz – Mansionz 2xLP (Island)
Formed in 2016, Mansionz is the collaborative effort of multi-platinum singer-songwriter/producer Mike Posner and frequent collaborator and underground alternative R&B artist/producer, Blackbear. Their eponymous debut is an assortment of R&B and hip-hop tinged pop music with a measurable dose of irreverent chaos.
Mastodon – Blood Mountain [Reissue/2006] LP (WB)
Mastodon – Crack The Skye [Reissue/2008] LP (WB)
Mastodon – The Hunter [Reissue/2011] LP (WB)
Limited edition picture disc vinyl pressings.
Reba McEntire – Icon [2014] LP (MCA Nashville)
Multiple Number One and Top 10 hits from her four-decade career.
Metallica – Hardwired … To Self-Destruct 2xLP (Blackened)
Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing. Part of this year’s Ten Bands One Cause pink vinyl campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Gilda’s Club NYC.
WiLL Made-It – Ransom 2xLP (Eardruma/Interscope)
New album from the A-list producer featuring star-studded collaborators galore including 2 Chainz, Young Thug, Future, Migos, Kendrick Lamar, Gucci Mane, Rae Sremmurd, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Chief Keef, 21 Savage and YG. Pitchfork writes that, “…Mike WiLL Made-It’s Ransom 2 is an anthology that does exactly what it set out to do: fill his mantle with the shiny trophies of recent wins while making space for new ones.”
Monolord – Rust 2xLP (Riding Easy)
Monolord encompasses and transcends genre – a vortex of heavy rock density that consumes all others.
My Chemical Romance – I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love [Reissue/2002] LP (Reprise)
My Chemical Romance – Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge [Reissue/2004] LP (Reprise)
Limited edition picture disc vinyl pressings.
Nelson – After The Rain [Reissue/1990] LP (Friday Music)
180gm autographed anniversary vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.
Palo Duro – Ryou Cannon LP (30th Century Music)
Palo Duro is the pulsating, Technicolor universe of Michael J. Winningham, an Austin based songwriter previously fronting the band Gold Beach. The first single, “Darken The Glow,” is a William Onyeabor inspired pop song with scaling guitars, a dirty back beat and a chorus that soars in the direction of Quincy Jones. “Darken The Glow” embodies the trust, the celebration, and ultimately, the creativity of this body of work and the people involved.
Katy Perry – Witness 2xLP (Capitol)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Witness is the fourth studio album by the pop superstar. “All the singles (‘Chained To The Rhythm,’ ‘Bon Appétit’ and ‘Swish Swish’” are present and accounted for as well as the widely teased title track. The biggest surprise, apart from the fact that most of these titles sound like weed varietals (‘Mind Maze,’ ‘Pendulum’ and ‘Tsunami’), is the absence of collaborations. In fact, Nicki Minaj, Migos and Skip Marley are the only featured artists. This has been an interesting era for Katy with more twists and turns than an episode of Twin Peaks. Things got a little hairy when the criminally underrated ‘Bon Appetit’ came and went in a matter of weeks, but she seems to have turned it around with ‘Swish Swish’ — a song that features heavily on most Song Of The Summer countdowns.” – Idolator [Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
R.LUM.R – Afterimage 12” (PRMD)
R.LUM.R (pronounced Ar-Lamar) showcases his passionate vocals and insightful lyrics on his debut EP.
Smino – blkswn 2xLP (Downtown)
St. Louis rapper/singer Smino who Pitchfork said “has a melodic vocal style…stretching and warping his vocals to form a new vocabulary,” flawlessly implements hip-hop, funk and soul influences on his refreshing debut album, which features guest appearances by Ravyn Lenae, Bari, theMIND, Via Rosa, Akenya and Drea Smith
Sodom – M-16 [Reissue/2001] 2xLP+CD (Steamhammer/SPV)
For the first time since its original release the German thrash icons’ Harris Johns (Helloween, Voivod, Kreator) produced 2001 concept album about the Vietnam War is appearing on colored vinyl.
Ben Sollee – Ben Sollee and Kentucky Native LP (Soundly Music, LLC)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Tracing the origins of a traditional American genre back to early immigrants, Sollee takes a nontraditional approach, blending the influences of early Irish and Scottish musicians with the rhythms of Mexico, Africa and India. Inspired by the interactions and collaborations of string musicians from all walks of life, Ben Sollee and Kentucky Native is Sollee’s most personally revealing work and a reflection of his native Kentucky, a place like many others, that’s still helping refine the ever-changing Bluegrass genre. Sollee and his bandmates recorded the album in a cabin at the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, KY with a mobile, analog studio and with just a few overdubs.
Soviet – We Are Eyes, We Are Builders [2001] 2xLP (Medical Records)
First time on vinyl – expanded reissue of a synth pop masterpiece.
Steppenwolf – Gold: Their Great Hits [Reissue/1970] LP (Analogue Productions)
Audiophile 200gm vinyl reissue.
Various Artists – Sun Records Greatest Hits LP (Curb)
16 classic tracks recorded at Sam Phillips’ legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, TN, including Elvis Presley’s “That’s All Right” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line, ”Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls Of Fire,” and Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Matchbox,” and more.
Gerard Way – Hesitant Alien LP (Reprise)
Limited edition picture disc vinyl pressing of the My Chemical Romance frontman’s 2014 solo debut.
Cassettes:
Kadavar – Rough Times CD/LP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
“Rough Times finds Kadavar once again plowing into the fuzz filled musical earth that bands such as Hawkwind, Captain Beyond, and Blue Cheer have sown.” – Metal Wani
Holiday:
Herb Alpert – Christmas Wish CD (Herb Alpert Presents)
The trumpeter’s first holiday album in almost 50 years.
Dave Koz – Dave Koz & Friends 20th Anniversary Christmas CD/LP (Concord)
With David Benoit, Rick Braun, and Peter White. Features guest vocalists Selina Albright, Javier Colon, Kenny Lattimore, Gabriel Orongo, and Jeffrey Osborne.
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