New Releases for March 16, 2018

CDs + Vinyl:

Casey Abrams – I Put A Spell On You CD/LP (Chesky)

The bassist and vocalist makes his Chesky Records debut with an album combining electrifying originals and compelling covers.

The Alarm – The Alarm [Reissue/1983] 2xCD/2xLP (Twenty First Century)

The Alarm – Declaration [Reissue/1984] 2xCD2x/LP (Twenty First Century)

Digitally remastered and expanded editions of the Welsh band’s eponymous 1983 EP and 1984 debut album – both originally released on I.R.S. Eponymous contains the band’s first four singles and B-sides plus tracks from their North American debut EP originally released in 1983. Declaration includes the complete album, singles and B-sides plus rarities spanning the years 1984 and 1985.

Randy Bachman – By George – By Bachman CD (UMe)

Randy Bachman, co-founder and lead guitarist of Canada’s legendary Bachman-Turner Overdrive, offers a unique approach to songs written solely by the late George Harrison. Bachman, an ardent admirer of Harrison from the Beatles’ early days, pays tribute by reinterpreting and taking a few liberties with these landmark songs.

Black Foxxes – Reiði’ CD/LP (Spinefarm)

“Reiði’” – the Icelandic word for rage – is a fitting title for the second full length record to come from Exeter’s Black Foxxes. Born from a restless need to push creative boundaries, and a fear of stagnation in all its forms, the follow-up to their acclaimed 2016 debut album I’m Not Well sees the three-piece pushing the vicious bite that fuels their band to new highs and experimenting with menacing shade and uplifting light alike.

Black Wizard – Livin’ Oblivion CD/LP (Listenable)

Second album from the Vancouver, BC heavy metal and hard rock band. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]

The Bonnevilles – Dirty Photographs CD/LP (Alive)

Northern Ireland rockers The Bonnevilles are renowned for both their incendiary live shows and soulful song-writing skills. Their music is full of heart, smart, and always fun. On Dirty Photographs they display their love for gritty blues, primitive rock ‘n’ roll and Irish folk.

Caroline Says – No Fool Like An Old Fool CD/LP (Western Vinyl)

Sophomore LP from Austin via Alabama musician, Caroline Sallee aka Caroline Says. Moving beyond the surf-folk foundations of her debut, here Sallee loosens her earthly tether, allowing her songs to float to ever higher altitudes on clouds of loops, immaculate melodies, and hypnotic harmonies, as she sings about aging, the daily grind, and hometown stymie.

Creep Show – Mr. Dynamite CD/LP+MP3 (Bella Union)

Creep Show brings together John Grant with the dark analogue electro of Wrangler (Stephen Mallinder, Phil Winter, Benge) to create Mr. Dynamite – a debut album packed with experimental pop and surreal funk. Recorded in Cornwall with a lifetime’s collection of drum machines and synthesizers assembled by Benge and explored by every member of Creep Show, there’s a real sense of freedom in the shackles-off grooves, channeling the early pioneering spirit of the Sugarhill Gang through wires and random electric noise. This sense of adventure is also part of the interplay between the two vocalists, John Grant and former Cabaret Voltaire frontman Stephen Mallinder, who switch between oblique wordplay to sinister humor as Phil Winter and Benge continue to man-handle the machines.

Crescent – The Order Of Amenti CD/LP (Listenable)

Crescent (the metal band, not the post-rock band) was formed in 1998 by Ismaeel Attallah and Amr Mokhtar in Cairo, Egypt. It started as a black metal band influenced by the Swedish black metal scene. They released their first demo in 1999, making it one of the oldest heavy bands of its kind in the region. In the following years, Crescent shifted towards a more melodic black/death metal sound with a murderous old school death metal vibe. Their new album The Order Of Amenti is based on Egyptian mythology; it lyrically and musically manifests the divine nature of

the ancient Egyptian gods’ attributes. [Limited edition bronze colored vinyl pressing also available.]

The Crown – Cobra Speed Venom CD (Metal Blade)

Extreme speed and aggression mixed with classic heavy metal and rock ‘n’ roll from the Swedish death metal band. [Vinyl edition due April 6.]

Current Joys – A Different Age CD/LP/Cassette (Danger Collective)

Current Joys is the enigmatic solo project of 25-year-old Henderson, Nevada-born songwriter Nicholas Rattigan. In addition to his minimal two-piece band with Jacob Rubeck, Surf Curse, Rattigan has been releasing a prolific catalog of heart-wrenching no wave ballads via Bandcamp under a handful of names (including The Nicholas Project and Tele/Visions), eventually choosing Current Joys as the permanent moniker, based on a song by folk-artist Liam the Younger of the same name.

The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl CD/LP/Cassette (Capitol)

The Decemberists explore a new sound with a new producer on their inspired eighth studio album I’ll Be Your Girl. The acclaimed Portland, Oregon-based band worked with producer John Congleton and embraced influences such as Roxy Music and New Order to spark a new creative path as evidenced on synth-driven lead single “Severed.” “The songs tend to the darker, more absurdist side of things and feature a lot of nice vintage synth work by Jenny and Chris, some heavy drumming from Mr. Moen and, of course, the sort of baroque bass work you’ve come to expect from Nate Query. All in all, everyone acquitted themselves quite nicely,” explains the band. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Defecto – Nemesis CD/LP (Black Lodge)

Second album from the Danish metal band. [Limited edition black/red splatter colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Dorothy – 28 Days In The Valley CD (Roc Nation)

Debut album from the L.A.-based band. Rolling Stone deemed them “a [band] you need to know,” and named them #14 on their 50 Best New Artists of 2014 list. 28 Days in The Valley was recorded live.

Earthless – Black Heaven CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)

Earthless has a surprise for you. Whereas the band’s three previous albums featured anywhere from two to four completely instrumental space rock jams, the California trio’s fourth and latest, Black Heaven, is nothing like that. “It’s quite different,” drummer Mario Rubalcaba explains. “It has six songs, and most importantly it has vocals on about 70 percent of the record. There goes being pigeonholed as an instrumental band, I guess…” [Limited edition colored vinyl pressings are also available.]

Elk City – Everybody’s Insecure CD/LP (Bar None)

Record producer and session drummer Ray Ketchem along with vocalist and songwriter Renée LoBue have been making music together since the early ‘90s. At the heart of Elk City is LoBue’s sterling voice and unique vision that adds a bit of magic to the stuff of everyday life. Her sense for airy but immediate melodies propels the band over Ketchem’s studio wizardry. Meanwhile the musical conversation is fleshed out by fellow band members guitarist Sean Eden (of Luna fame), keyboardist Carl Baggaley, and bassist Martin Olson.

Foo Fighters – The Colour And The Shape [Reissue/1997] CD (RCA)

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of Foo Fighters’ second album.

The Fratellis – In Your Own Sweet Time CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)

Irrepressible Scottish trio The Fratellis follow-up the success of their critically acclaimed Top 20 album Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied (2015) with fifth full-length effort which finds the indie rock legends maturing into a chameleonic powerhouse with a sound that is bigger, bolder, and still shot through with a whip-smart, pitch-black sense of humor.

Bill Frisell – Music IS CD (OKeh/Sony Masterworks)

A full album of solo-guitar music from the ridiculously prolific guitarist known for his impressive jazz, surf, fusion, roots, Americana and folk-jazz chops. “The whole process—choosing the tunes, playing the gig, tracking in the studio—ended up feeling like an investigation into memory. There was no planned concept, but what materialized almost felt like an overview. The focus of Music IS is on the telling of musical stories from Frisell’s original and inimitable perspective: some of the interpretations being naked, exposed and truly solo, while others are more orchestrated through overdubbed layering and the use of his unparalleled approach to looping.” – Guitar Player

Green Druid – Ashen Blood CD/LP (Earache)

Brooding. Atmospheric. Isolationist. With weighty riffs summoning the Lovecraftian horrors of the cosmos, Green Druid’s music is ordained at the allowed altars of Sleep, Electric Wizard and all things THC. Hailing from the land of Denver, Colorado – the first US city to legalize marijuana – Green Druid worships at the feet of the monolithic amplifier and performs holy communion with the thunderous onslaught of murky tones that emanate from its maw.

Hogjaw – Way Down Yonder CD (Spinefarm)

Hard hitting southern fried electric guitar rock from Arizona.

Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)

After a 14-year hiatus from the studio, Hot Snakes kick down the door with their new album, Jericho Sirens. The record blasts out of the speakers with the furious “I Need A Doctor,” inspired by Rick Froberg’s experience needing a doctor’s note in order to miss an important work function. Throughout Jericho Sirens, Froberg commiserates with the frustration and torrential apathy that seems to be a fixture in our daily lives, while also reminding us that we have no fucking clue.

“Songs like ‘Death Camp Fantasy’ and ‘Jericho Sirens’ are about that,” he says. “No matter where you look, there’re always people saying the world’s about to end. Every movie is a disaster movie. I’m super fascinated by it. It is hysterical, and it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. It snowballs, like feedback, or my balls on the windshield.”

Durand Jones & The Indications – Durand Jones & The Indications [Reissue/2016] CD/LP+MP3 (Dead Oceans)

Bayou-born soul sensation Durand Jones creates fiery original soul music, pairing soaring vocal work with dusty drums, slinking guitars and screaming organs. Certain to satisfy fans of Charles Bradley, Lee Fields, Aloe Blacc, and Leon Bridges. [Limited edition red colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Junkie XL – Tomb Raider [OST] CD (Sony Masterworks)

Original soundtrack to the 2018 action adventure featuring original music composed by Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL).

Levellers – We The Collective CD/LP (On The Fiddle)

Levellers decided they wanted to do something a bit different with their back catalogue to kick off their 30th anniversary year in 2018. They brought in a string section and enlisted legendary producer John Leckie (Radiohead, The Stone Roses) to assist in the development of new acoustic arrangements for eight of their previous singles and as well as the recording of two new songs – all straight to tape at Abbey Road Studios.

Scotty McCreery – Seasons Change CD (Red Music)

New release from the country music vocalist and American Idol winner. With Seasons Change, McCreery takes a huge creative step forward, co-writing all 11 songs on the album, and working with finest songwriters in Nashville to express a wide range of emotions and musical styles. [Vinyl edition due April 12.]

Monotheist – Scourge CD/LP (Prosthetic)

New album from the progressive death metallers. “While the band follow in the footsteps of the more progressive track of death metal from the early Florida scene, the harsh and heavy, sometimes Azagothian guitar work can herald back to mid-career Morbid Angel, coupled with the blistering, destructive heft of early Suffocation. There are blackened elements here as well, fitting in seamlessly with the swirling, start-stop nature of the album’s more progressive sections, adding a razor-sharp edge to the proceedings. Jazz elements, as is tradition, also find their way into multiple tracks, with Prophet’s saxophone and the flute work of Lamentations’ Danny Jacob flute peppering these compositions with a rich and varied sonic flair.” – Heavy Blog Is Heavy

Murs – A Strange Journey Into The Unimaginable CD (Strange Music)

With stellar production by Michael “Seven” Summers, Murs brings personally introspective and socially conscious lyricism to the fold while still maintaining his unique sense of humor, creating an album that s truly one of a kind.

Meshell Ndegeocello – Ventriloquism CD (Naïve Pop)

Some albums are testimony, some confessions, and some are escape. Ventriloquism, the latest album from Meshell Ndegeocello, is a place, like its process, to take refuge from one storm too many. Musically, Ventriloquism has the hallmarks of all of Ndegeocello’s work: lush and investigative, subversive and sublime. As always, she pays tribute to her diverse influences and in these eleven covers, we hear them layered over one another. [Vinyl edition due April 13.]

NRBQ – NRBQ [Reissue/1969] CD/LP (Omnivore)

The New Rhythm And Blues Quintet formed over 50 years ago, and after playing together for a few years, the band began recording with Eddie Kramer and inked a two-record deal with Columbia Records. Their eponymous debut appeared on shelves in 1969, featuring the band’s wide-ranging originals peppered with versions of songs from artists like Eddie Cochran and Sun Ra, plus a co-write between the band’s Terry Adams and jazz experimentalist Carla Bely. It was, and is, a wildly original and influential release. Combining elements of the original, with additional photos and new liner notes from Jay Berman, the package has never looked, nor sounded better. As Berman says in his notes: “This historic and monumental recording has been remastered, and finally authorized for re-release. This album is a great reminder that NRBQ is on a mission, one that holds steady to its original inspiration to this day. For those fans who missed it the first time around, it hasn’t aged a bit.”

The Oak Ridge Boys – 17th Avenue Revival CD (Lightning Rod)

New album featuring songs penned by Vince Gill, Ashley Monroe, Jamey Johnson, and Brandy Clark. Recorded at Studio A on 17th Avenue in Nashville. RIYL: Cracker Barrel.

Paradise Lost – Host [Reissue/1999] CD/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)

Remastered edition of the chameleonic alt-metal band’s 1999 album. “With the Host album we wanted to take the One Second concept further and make a very dark album with even more subtlety. It was a bold leap from all our previous albums, a leap too far some would say, but for me, the new remastered version really shows it’s still one of the bands strongest albums in terms of song writing, atmosphere and sheer misery.”

PRhyme – PRhyme 2 CD (PRhyme)

Sophomore album from the collaborative project between Detroit rap artist Royce da 5’9″ (Slaughterhouse, Bad Meets Evil) and legendary hip-hop producer DJ Premier (Gangstarr).

Rivers Of Nihil – Where Owls Know My Name CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)

Whereas The Conscious Seed of Light (2013) and Monarchy (2015) were thematically centered around spring and summer, respectively, 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name represents the fall. And although that season is usually associated with death, for Rivers of Nihil, the autumn serves as a rebirth. Now rounded out by guitarist Jon Topore and drummer Jared Klein the Reading, PA quintet delivers an album which is often just as punishing as its predecessors while assimilating ingredients from musical genres as varied as electronica, jazz, alternative, folk, and the golden age of Shrapnel Records. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Shenandoah – Reloaded CD (BMG Rights Management)

New release from the veteran country music band.

Snoop Dogg – Snoop Dogg Presents: Bible Of Love CD (RCA)

The pop culture icon and platinum selling hip-hop artist makes his first foray into the gospel world – “a passion project filled with the musical influences and sounds that have privately fueled and encouraged him for a lifetime.”

Soundtrack – Love, Simon CD/LP (RCA)

Rob Simonsen’s score to the heartfelt teen comedy in the vein of John Hughes, about a young man figuring out how he’ll come out to his family and friends, and trying discover the true identity of a person he’s fallen for over the Internet.

Starchild & The New Romantic – Language CD/LP+MP3 (Ghostly International)

“Black boys have a whole world of complexity that society makes us stomp out of ourselves.” Language, Bryndon Cook’s full-length debut as Starchild & The New Romantic, communicates his refusal to do so. Describing himself early-on as a “young romantic boy from Maryland,” Cook has long been a dreamer, a student of black music’s rich lineage and its intersection with pop. On Language, Cook refines his phonics for funk, electro, and R&B, and arrives at a revelation, best summarized by a single motto: “my sensitivity is my strength.”

Stone Temple Pilots – Stone Temple Pilots (2018) CD (Rhino)

Stone Temple Pilots new self-titled album marks the band’s first release with new lead singer, Jeff Gutt. Despite being one of the best-selling bands of the 1990s with platinum records and a Grammy to its credit, guitarist Dean DeLeo says, “We are thrilled about what lies ahead. The best way for us to honor our past is to keep making new music.” The band does just that on Stone Temple Pilots. Lead single “Meadow” (currently Top 10 at rock radio) and “Never Enough” channel the gritty guitars and swaggering rhythms that STP perfected on Core (1992), Purple (1994), and No. 4 (1999) while “Roll Me Under” glides along a nimble bass line before slamming into the chorus, where Gutt’s baritone digs in. [Vinyl edition due May 25th.]

Sun Ra – “Of Abstract Dreams” CD/LP (Strut/Art Yard)

Strut and Art Yard present another exclusive from the vast catalogue of cosmic jazz pioneer Sun Ra: a previously unreleased radio session most likely recorded at the WXPN FM radio studios in Philadelphia, 1974-75.

Susperia – The Lyricist CD (Agonia)

On The Lyricist, Susperia has gone back to its black origin in many ways, one of which is a more grimmer expression. The characteristic melodic twist the band is known for is still present, and an additional layer of variety has been added thanks to new vocalist Bernt ‘Dagon’ Fjellestad.

Three Man Cannon – Three Man Cannon CD/LP (Lame-O)

Three Man Cannon is an alternative and indie rock band who make slow-burning, lonely tunes about self-discovery.

Thundercat – Drank CD/2xLP (Brainfeeder)

Brainfeeder presents a special “chopped not slopped” mix of Thundercat’s incredible album Drunk (2017) by DJ Candlestick and OG Ron C of legendary Houston DJ collective The Chopstars. Slowed down and chopped up, the mix has been appropriately re-titled Drank. It appeared online last year as an unofficial homage to the virtuoso bassist, songwriter and producer’s third and universally acclaimed album and received hearty approval from Thundercat. [Limited edition purple colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Troll – Troll CD/Cassette (Shadow Kingdom)

Reissue of the Portland doom metal band’s cult self-titled debut album, which quickly sold-out upon its original release last year. Reverently within the doom spectrum, there’s a particularly swampy groove to their thundering chunder that’s less like something rooted in the American South and more like primordial ooze that’s been bubbling eerily since time immemorial. Likewise, Troll largely steer clear of regular rock-rooted verse/chorus structures and instead build rolling, rumbling epics that nod to classic prog more often than not.

Various Artists – My World Of Make Believe: Sunshine, Soft & Studio Pop 1966-1972 CD (Teensville)

Another stone-cold gem in a series of turned-on compilations from Teensville Records that examines the late ‘60s (and in a few cases, very early ‘70s) pop scene featuring 32 tracks that span sunshine, soft and studio pop sounds. The CD is jam-packed with 80 minutes of glorious full productions, engaging melodies and witty lyrics.

Various Artists – Real Delusions: The Finnish Speed & Thrash Metal Explosion 1987-1991CD/2xLP (Svart)

Long before death and black metal took over the extreme metal scene in the ‘90s, denim-clad teenagers were making a racket across basements and rehearsal spaces across Finland. The Finnish speed and thrash metal genres were at their most vital from 1987 to 1991, and this definitive compilation collects together both the biggest hits like Stone, Airdash and Prestige and the most remarkable underdogs from the demo scene of the time, such as Necromancer, Oppression and D.I.E.

Lauren Ruth Ward – Well Hell CD (SME)

“From L.A. comes a fiery, country-tinted, rock and roll and punk and folk inspired debut that’s blazing with energy and amazing vocals. In nine songs clocking in at just over half an hour, Ward and her band swing from ambient, echoing alternative to explosive rock to acoustic folk and more shades in between.” – Pop Dust

Dean Ween – rock2 CD/LP (Schnitzel)

Second official “solo” album from Ween co-founder Dean Ween – aka The Deaner. The new album, which follows up last year’s The Deaner Album, was recorded in Melchiondo’s studio situated near his hometown of New Hope, PA, with help from his Ween bandmates Dave Dreiwitz, Claude Coleman Jr. and Glenn McClelland, along with the Dean Ween Group lineup of Mike Dillon, Bill Fowler, Ray Kubian and Scott Rednor. “I’m pretty proud of this one,” Melchiondo says of the album. “It represents the first time that I was able to take what we do onstage and put it on a record. 2017 is a strange time to be a musician, live music is really your main outlet for making a living. I never thought at this stage of my career that I would be putting in this much time on the road and in the studio, but I am, and I’m enjoying it more than I ever have.” [Limited edition red colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Kim Wilde – Here Come The Aliens CD (earMUSIC)

The first studio album in seven years from pop icon Kim Wilde. Produced by Ricky Wilde, it contains 12 brand new songs recorded at RAK Studios in London – the very same recording studios where a big number of albums that changed pop and rock music were born – and where Kim began her career back in 1981 with such seminal hits as “Kids In America,” “Chequered Love” and “Cambodia.” Another milestone in Kim Wilde’s incredible career, Here Come The Aliens masterfully combines her pop roots with her love for rock music, propelled by Kim’s distinct vocals, great guitar riffs and driving drum beats. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Yo La Tengo – There’s A Riot Going On CD/2xLP (Matador)

There’s a riot going on. You don’t need Yo La Tengo or anyone else for that matter to tell you that. These are dark times, in our heads as much as in the streets. It’s easy to lose contact with the ground. Confusion and anxiety intrude into daily life and cause you to lose your compass. There are times that call for anthems, something to lift you out of your slump and put fire in your feet. And sometimes what is needed is a balm, a sound that will wrap around you and work out the knots in your neck.

DVDs + Blu-ray:

Robert Glasper Experiment – Live DVD (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

The two-time Grammy-winning band in their element, live on stage from New York and Los Angeles to Shanghai and Rotterdam.

This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:

American Pleasure Club – A Whole F**king Lifetime Of This LP/Cassette (Run For Cover)

The longtime project of Baltimore’s prolific Sam Ray (Ricky Eat Acid, Julia Brown) has never been weighed down by expectations of genre, fidelity or album length. 2016 gave us the 26-song epic It’s the Big Joyous Celebration, Let’s Stir the Honeypot and the more concise follow up Bonus EP, but on this album, a striking amount of balance provides the groundwork for A Whole F**king Lifetime Of This. [CD version due March 23.]

Courtney Marie Andrews – No One’s Slate Is Clean [Reissue/2010] LP (House Arrest)

Recently reissued on CD – now available on vinyl. For a decade or so Courtney Marie Andrews was a session and backup singer and guitarist for nearly 40 artists – from Jimmy Eat World to Damien Jurado – but she never stopped writing her own material. Picking up admirers like Ryan Adams (who called her “a phenomenal songwriter”) along the way, she quietly earned a reputation as a songwriter’s songwriter. Her fourth solo effort, 2010’s beautifully crafted No One’s Slate Is Clean, bridges country, pop, alternative folk and even prog-rock, all anchored with her signature majestic melodies and raw honesty.

Bassnectar – Reflective Part 1 & 2 LP+MP3 (Amorphous Music)

Limited edition double vinyl set includes the first two parts of Bassnectar’s Reflective series pressed on 180gm colored vinyl. Gatefold packaging with silver foil stamping inside and out.

Marco Benevento – Invisible Baby LP (Royal Potato Family)

Marco Benevento’s debut studio album Invisible Baby turns ten in 2018. In celebration of that decade milestone, Royal Potato Family is reissuing the album on colored vinyl.

Blackbear – Deadroses [2015] LP (Beartrap)

A lot has changed for Blackbear, the Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter, since Deadroses was first issued on CD in 2015. At that time, he’d already worked with such mavericks as Justin Bieber, G-Eazy, Pharrell Williams, Mike Posner and Childish Gambino and was also one of the largest independent artists on Soundcloud and YouTube. He’s since moved on to a major deal with Alamo/Interscope who reissued his Digital Druglord full length and the all new Cybersex. Now Deadroses makes its vinyl debut. Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.

Cocteau Twins – Head Over Heels [Reissue/1983] LP (4AD

Cocteau Twins – Treasure [Reissue/1984] LP (4AD)

Vinyl reissues of the Cocteau Twins’ second and third albums. Head Over Heels was their first album as a duo of Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie. It features the band’s signature sound of Guthrie’s lush guitars under Fraser’s mostly wordless vocals and is considered an archetype of early ethereal wave music. With their 1984 follow-up, Treasure, the band settled on what would, from then on, be their primary lineup: vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, guitarist Robin Guthrie and bass guitarist Simon Raymonde.

Helena Deland – There Are A Thousand/Perfect Weather For A Crime: From The Series Of Songs “Altogether Unaccompanied” Vol. 3 LP/Cassette (Luminelle Recordings)

Montreal’s Helena Deland writes songs that are a testimony of a given time or place, converting her memories to something that sounds, in a word, unforgettable. A myriad of influences filter in and out of her writing, from ’60’s Parisian pop to indie folk to fuzz rock. She describes her songwriting as a collection of ‘unsent letters,’ perhaps fueling her self-coined genre, ‘sincere pop.’ Helena captures the unapologetic aspects of womanhood the world needs today, highlighting powerful femininity in her vocals and refined writing in her unique lyrical choices.

Dungen/Woods – Myths 003 12” (Mexican Summer)

An EP of all-new songs written and recorded by Stockholm’s psychedelic masters Dungen and adventurous Brooklyn indie-folk pioneers Woods.

The Dwarves – Lick It: 1983-86 2xLP (Burger)

The Dwarves – Free Cocaine 1986-88 2xLP (Burger)

The Dwarves’ 34-track 2xLP extravaganza Lick It: 1983-86 chronicles punk rock’s reigning over-the-hill bad boys’ incredible teenage psychedelic years when they were called the Suburban Nightmare and worshiped The Cramps. Hear the early paisley garage Dwarves tear through their first LP (Horror Stories) and early singles that predate their rebirth as punk icons with plenty of tambourines, Farfisa organs and background vocals with attitude. Free Cocaine: 1986-88 collects material from the band’s F**k-You-Up-And-Get-High Years. The pus-charged and violently dripping assemblage of scum from punk rock’s reigning over-the-hill bad boys includes compilation cuts, the Toolin’ For A Warm Teabag 12”, the Lucifer’s Crank 7″, the That’s Rock’n’Roll 7″, the I Wanna Kill Your Boyfriend 7″, the She’s Dead 7″ and the Sex & Violence 7″ plus 15 unreleased tracks.

Ace Frehley – Space Invader [Reissue/2014] 2xLP (E1)

Double picture disc vinyl LP pressing featuring album art by legendary Kiss cover artist Ken Kelly (Destroyer, Love Gun).

Gang Of Youth – Go Farther In Lightness 2xLP (Red Music)

Second studio album by Australian alternative band. James Clements of Rolling Stone Australia said the album “poetically explores the human experience in all its bleakness and triumph, confusion and clarity, heartbreak and joyousness” adding it’s a “remarkable odyssey of an album that’ll engulf you, leaving a bewildered smile on your face, a tear in your eye and a heart that’s full.” Limited white colored vinyl pressing in gatefold jacket.

Eddie Harris – Plug Me In [Reissue/1968] LP (Get On Down)

Saxophonist Eddie Harris – a favorite sample staple of jazz-leaning hip-hop producers of the ‘90s – was a very busy man in the ’60s, releasing albums at a brisk pace since his first as a leader in 1961. By the late ‘60s he had fully hit his stride, as both a performer and an innovator. A case in point is heard very clearly on this gem from Harris’ expansive catalog – 1968’s Plug Me In, which features his pioneering use of the Varitone saxophone effects processor unit (first heard on his 1967 album, The Tender Storm).

Mississippi John Hurt – 1928 Sessions [Reissue/1979] LP (Yazoo)

13 of Hurt’s 1928 recordings, justifiably legendary, with gentle grace and power on these understated vocal and fingerpicking masterpieces.

Nabihah Iqbal – Weighing Of The Heart LP+MP3 (Ninja Tune)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut 2017 album from the UK electronica maven previously known as Throwing Shade. Blissed-out post-punk ‘n’ psychedelic synth-pop, for fans of New Order and Slowdive.

The J.B.’s – Hustle With Speed [Reissue/1975] LP (Get On Down)

Another top-notch vinyl reissue from Get On Down’s long-running series of collaborations with James Brown’s famed ’70s funk label People Records. As the decade wore on, the classic funk sounds that had defined James Brown’s backing band, The J.B.’s, gave way to the rise of disco music. Fred Wesley and his collective of musicians couldn’t resist the chance to make their mark, releasing Hustle With Speed in 1975, with Charles Bobbit and Don Love producing, and the godfather himself, James Brown co-writing and providing arrangements.

Judas Priest – Defenders Of The Faith [Reissue/1984] 3xLP (Sony)

Judas Priest – Priest… Live! [Reissue/1987] 2xLP (Sony)

Judas Priest – Ram It Down [Reissue/1988] LP (Sony)

Digitally remastered and expanded vinyl reissues from the iconic British heavy metal band.

Keane – Under The Iron Sea [Reissue/2008] LP (Interscope)

Keane – Perfect Symmetry [Reissue/2008] LP (Interscope)

Limited edition 180gm vinyl reissues of the Keane’s second and third albums.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Polygondwanaland LP+MP3 (ATO)

Standard black vinyl edition now available. Following Flying Microtonal Banana, Murder of the Universe and Sketches of Brunswick East, Polygondwanaland finds the Australian psychedelic rock band journeying into the depths of the mind and the limits of the universe once again. “The stirring, quiet percussion of ‘Inner Cell’ tiptoes into ‘Loyalty’ for a slow buildup, before it splashes into the punctuated vocals of ‘Horology,’ a sea of guitar tapping and rich, warm woodwinds,” writes Pitchfork. [Domestic issue of the band’s 13th studio album Gumboot Soup – originally released last December and their fifth album of 2017 – is due March 30.]

The Lightmen Plus One – Fancy Pants 2xLP (Now Again)

Drummer, bandleader and activist Bubbha Thomas had toured America with R&B revues, served as a session musician for Peacock and Back Beat Records, and played straight ahead jazz with legends before the political and social upheaval of the late- ‘60s led him to a path first charted by John Coltrane. 1971’s Fancy Pants is his second LP with his Lightmen band and, like the deep-set, maverick jazz issued by the likes of Tribe and Strata East, is amongst the best of the ’70s jazz underground, a collective voice of resistance to the musical and cultural status quo. This is the first time that Fancy Pants has seen reissue, and it’s presented in both the issued stereo and previously unissued mono mixes as a double-LP.

Tim Maia – Disco Club [2013] LP (Mr. Bongo)

Recorded in 1978, Disco Club is a latter-period gem from the larger than life legend, combining the glitz and glamor of disco’s heyday with Maia’s raw funk and soul roots.

Nightwish – Decades 3xLP (Nuclear Blast)

Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Comprised of 22 tracks, Decades is a compilation spanning the Finnish symphonic metal band’s prolific 20-year history.

Carlos Niño & Friends – Going Home LP (Leaving)

Revered producer/musician Carlos Niño issues the fifth album in his ongoing & Friends series with Going Home, a definitive six-song odyssey in tribute to “passing from the earthly realm” featuring Deantoni Parks, Dexter Story, Jamael Dean, Josh Johnson, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, SK Kakraba, and new age legend Iasos.

Oceans Of Slumber – The Banished Heart 2xLP+CD (Century Media)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Although still proudly channeling the melancholy spirit of the late ‘80s/early ‘90s UK death/doom scene, Oceans Of Slumber has evolved and expanded in myriad new directions, embracing a more grandiose aesthetic in tandem with an enhanced sense of emotional volatility and rawness.

Onra – Nobody Has To Know 2xLP (All City)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The versatile French producer on the various aspects of a secret relationship pulling from R&B, new jack swing and funk to soundtrack the passions of attraction.

Charlie Patton – Founder Of The Delta Blues [Reissue/1971] LP (Yazoo)

As the most popular blues craftsman of the Mississippi Delta, Charley Patton had a resounding influence on many of the musicians that passed through the region during the ’20s and ’30s. Following his initial session for Paramount in 1929, he recommended both Son House and Willie Brown, as well as his mistress Louise Johnson and common-law wife Bertha Lee, to legendary talent scout H.C. Speir for recordings of their own. Furthermore, casual acquaintances like Tommy Johnson, Ishmon Bracey, and Kid Bailey acquired Patton themes, adopting them to suit their own style and playing ability, emerging with a handful of country blues classics in the process.

Persefone – Spiritual Migration [2013] LP (ViciSolum)

First-time vinyl edition of the Andorran progressive death metal band’s 2013 album.

Remo Drive – Greatest Hits LP (Epitaph)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Conceived in suburban Minnesota, Remo Drive delivers a high-energy punky brand of indie rock. For fans of Title Fight, Joyce Manor, The Promise Ring and Weezer

Roxy Music – Roxy Music [Reissue/1972] LP (Virgin)

Digitally remastered 180gm vinyl reissue of Roxy Music’s ground-breaking debut album to mark its 45th anniversary.

Soundtrack – Lady Bird: Soundtrack From The Motion Picture 2xLP (Legacy Recordings)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. With her directorial debut Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig revealed herself to be a bold new cinematic voice, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Gerwig disclosed that she’d written personal letters to artists she had in mind for the film – including Dave Matthews and Alanis Morissette – to expressly ask for their blessing to use their songs. “The soundtrack,” wrote Billboard’s Tatiana Tenreyro, “plays a big role in showing protagonist Lady Bird’s turbulent adolescent years. The film is set in 2002, and Gerwig wanted it to feel as authentic as possible with a soundtrack that transports viewers to the era.”

They Might Be Giants – I Like Fun LP (Idlewild)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. They Might Be Giants’ remarkable new album jumps with surprises, vitality, and the startling point of view of these Brooklyn originals. Over a year in the making, songwriters and band founders John Linnell and John Flansburgh draw on themes of dread, death, and disappointment and set them to their driving, hyper-melodic music.

Until The Ribbon Breaks – Until The Ribbon Breaks LP (1405)

Over the past six years, Until The Ribbon Breaks (AKA UTRB) has honed a signature mix of electronica, experimental rock, and luscious orchestrations enveloped in sound and vision via projections and films.

Verbal Kent & Superior – Half My Life LP (Below Systems)

Released last year on CD – now available on vinyl. Chicago wordsmith Verbal Kent (Ugly Heroes) and Spanish-German beat maker Superior have joined forces for the collaborative album.

John Williams – Star Wars: The Last Jedi [OST] 2xLP (Walt Disney)

Double vinyl LP pressing of Williams’ soundtrack to the cultly, underground 2017 film.

Cassettes:

American Pleasure Club – A Whole F**king Lifetime Of This LP/Cassette (Run For Cover)

The longtime project of Baltimore’s prolific Sam Ray (Ricky Eat Acid, Julia Brown) has never been weighed down by expectations of genre, fidelity or album length. 2016 gave us the 26-song epic It’s the Big Joyous Celebration, Let’s Stir the Honeypot and the more concise follow up Bonus EP, but on this album, a striking amount of balance provides the groundwork for A Whole F**king Lifetime Of This.

Current Joys – A Different Age (Danger Collective)

Current Joys is the enigmatic solo project of 25-year-old Henderson, Nevada-born songwriter Nicholas Rattigan. In addition to his minimal two-piece band with Jacob Rubeck, Surf Curse, Rattigan has been releasing a prolific catalog of heart-wrenching no wave ballads via Bandcamp under a handful of names (including The Nicholas Project and Tele/Visions), eventually choosing Current Joys as the permanent moniker, based on a song by folk-artist Liam the Younger of the same name.

The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl (Capitol)

The Decemberists explore a new sound with a new producer on their inspired eighth studio album I’ll Be Your Girl. The acclaimed Portland, Oregon-based band worked with producer John Congleton and embraced influences such as Roxy Music and New Order to spark a new creative path as evidenced on synth-driven lead single “Severed.” “The songs tend to the darker, more absurdist side of things and feature a lot of nice vintage synth work by Jenny and Chris, some heavy drumming from Mr. Moen and, of course, the sort of baroque bass work you’ve come to expect from Nate Query. All in all, everyone acquitted themselves quite nicely,” explains the band.

Helena Deland – There Are A Thousand/Perfect Weather For A Crime: From The Series Of Songs “Altogether Unaccompanied” Vol. 3 (Luminelle Recordings)

Montreal’s Helena Deland writes songs that are a testimony of a given time or place, converting her memories to something that sounds, in a word, unforgettable. A myriad of influences filter in and out of her writing, from ’60’s Parisian pop to indie folk to fuzz rock. She describes her songwriting as a collection of ‘unsent letters,’ perhaps fueling her self-coined genre, ‘sincere pop.’ Helena captures the unapologetic aspects of womanhood the world needs today, highlighting powerful femininity in her vocals and refined writing in her unique lyrical choices.

Troll – Troll (Shadow Kingdom)

Reissue of the Portland doom metal band’s cult self-titled debut album, which quickly sold-out upon its original release last year. Reverently within the doom spectrum, there’s a particularly swampy groove to their thundering chunder that’s less like something rooted in the American South and more like primordial ooze that’s been bubbling eerily since time immemorial. Likewise, Troll largely steer clear of regular rock-rooted verse/chorus structures and instead build rolling, rumbling epics that nod to classic prog more often than not.