CDs + Vinyl:
The Agony Scene – Tormentor CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
The metalcore veterans return with their first album since 2007.
Alborosie – Unbreakable: Alborosie Meets The Wailers United CD (Greensleeves)
Enlisting The Wailers United (former members of Bob Marley and The Wailers with the addition of Aston Barrett Jr.) for instrumental backing, Unbreakable upholds the tradition of roots-rock reggae. While honoring traditional reggae sounds, the inclusion of Alborosie’s re-visioning of the Metallica classic “The Unforgiven” featuring Raging Fyah adds an edge to the album that addresses contemporary issues with a thoroughly modern feel. [Vinyl edition due August 24.]
The Apocalypse Blues Revue – The Shape Of Blues To Come CD/LP (Provogue)
While The Apocalypse Blues Revue’s sophomore album may be the latest project for a couple of guys from Godsmack, it’s also much more than that. There is a grand tradition in the pantheon of blues rock greats, that of the second album that literally defines a band: Led Zeppelin II, Beck-Ola, and Nantucket Sleighride, to name but a few.
Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul CD (Strut)
Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul [Volume 1] LP (Strut)
Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul [Volume 2] LP (Strut)
Strut continue their essential work with the godfather Of Ethio jazz, Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics Afro Latin Soul Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatke’s life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, MA the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms.
Rick Astley – Beautiful Life CD/LP/Cassette (BMG)
Rick Astley follows-up his comeback album 50 (2016), which found the ’80s icon topping the UK chart for the first time in almost 30 years. Similar to that platinum certified album, Rick wrote, produced, and played all of the instruments on Beautiful Life which is ushered in by the shimmering title track. “In the midst of all this madness, I just went back into my little home studio because that’s what I love to do,” Astley notes. “It’s my refuge really. I was tinkering about with bits and pieces and before you know it, I was making a new record.” [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions.]
Boy Azooga – (One) (Two) (Kung Fu) CD/LP (PIAS America)
Debut album from Boy Azooga, the psych-flecked musical vehicle for Cardiff’s Davey Newington. This multifarious musical mission takes inspiration from the likes of Sly & The Family Stone, Caribou, Black Sabbath, Outkast, Van McCoy, Ty Segall and The Beastie Boys. Boy Azooga is a reverent ensemble churning out rave-tinged rock that hints at a progeny of both Can and the Happy Mondays. Limited edition pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
George Benson – In Flight [Reissue/1977] CD (Friday Music)
In Flight successfully consisted of six soul/jazz workouts with an array of funk. Check out his amazing delivery on the Nat Cole classic “Nature Boy” which opens this masterwork. His vocal prowess & intricate guitar tones are second to none, as he continues the soulful trek with the much sampled and much revered War classic “The World Is A Ghetto”. Includes two bonus tracks.
Chicago – Hot Streets [Expanded & Remastered/Reissue/1978] CD (Friday Music)
Remastered impeccably by Joe Reagoso from the original Chicago Records tapes with the supervision of the legendary Lee Loughnane of Chicago, Hot Streets is a truly one of the most important albums in their highly enduring catalog of classic rock releases. Filled with smash singles like “Alive Again”, “No Tell Lover”, “Hot Streets”, and “Little Miss Lovin'” which features The Bee Gees.
Covet – Effloresce CDEP/12” (Triple Crown)
Debut EP from the Bay-area post-rock project.
Dentist – Night Swimming CD (Cleopatra)
New album from New Jersey’s buzziest indie surf rock band named one of the top 10 bands at this year’s SXSW by Mercury News and a darling of critics at NPR, Stereogum, Flood Magazine and more.
Al DiMeola – Elegant Gypsy & More (Live) CD (earMUSIC)
Last fall, jazz fusion guitarist Al DiMeola went out with his electric group for a 40th anniversary tour celebrating his explosive 1977 sophomore outing, Elegant Gypsy. “Mr. Di Meola has managed to age very gracefully. His guitar playing is just as breathtakingly fluid and brilliant as ever. And given the scope of the performance, it seems as though he is just getting warmed up as an artist” (IndieMusic.co). A bona fide guitar hero, Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as virtuoso of the highest order. A prolific composer, he has amassed over 20 albums as a leader while collaborating on more than a dozen others with the likes of the fusion super group Return To Forever, the celebrated acoustic guitar trio featuring John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, and the Rite of Strings trio with bassist Stanley Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.
DJ Seinfeld – DJ-Kicks CD/2xLP (!K7)
Armand Jakobsson aka DJ Seinfeld approached his DJ-Kicks with the intention of representing all the things that made him fall in love with dance music more than a decade ago, as well as showing some of the progression that has occurred in that time and “reflecting the simultaneous fear of leaving something safe behind as well as the excitement of venturing into unknown territories, musically and emotionally.” In order to make it as personal as possible, he called upon the many talented people around him making music.
Epica – Vs Attack On Titan Songs CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Featuring eight tracks from the popular anime show Attack On Titan, the new EP from the symphonic metal masters is a fresh take on some of the show’s most popular tracks.
Finnr’s Cane – Elegy CD (Prophecy)
Third album from the Canadian atmospheric black metal stalwarts.
Frontline Assembly – WarMech CD (Artoffact)
The veteran industrial band present their soundtrack for Carbon Games’ latest creation, WarMech, which ranges from industrial to ambient to techno.
The Internet – Hive Mind CD/2xLP+MP3 (Columbia)
The Internet follow-up their breakthrough Grammy-nominated third album, Ego Death (2015) with Hive Mind. After a lengthy world tour, the band members encouraged each other to explore their identities as solo artists; incredible albums from all five members emerged to rapturous response throughout 2017. Feeling the unity of coming back together, however, created the foundation for what became Hive Mind. Syd (vocalist/songwriter), Matt Martians (producer), Steve Lacy (guitarist/vocalist/songwriter), Patrick Paige II (songwriter/bassist), and Christopher Smith (songwriter/drummer) present kaleidoscopic, neo-soul, future sounds here that reveal the growth in their creative chemistry. It’s light years beyond their previous output, and even in its slower moments, the LP is both intricate and minimal, giving each member’s contributions the space to shine.
Jungle Rot – Jungle Rot CD/LP (Victory)
Tenth album by the death metal band from Kenosha, WI.
Khôrada – Salt Black CD/2xLP (Prophecy)
Rising from the ashes of Agalloch and Giant Squid, Khôrada create colossal, textured, and emotionally powerful music. At once atmospheric, aggressive and apocalyptic, the album’s emotion is driven by the band members’ view of today’s world. [Limited edition clear cvinyl pressing also available. Limited box set edition due August 10.]
Kyle – Light Of Mine CD (Atlantic/Independently Popular)
“The carefree California rapper’s debut is an exceedingly joyous and self-aware slice of pop rap.” – Pitchfork
Liars – Original Soundtrack To The Film 1/1 CD (Mute)
Originally recorded in 2015, Original Soundtrack To The Film 1/1 marks the last recording of Liars’ core team of Angus Andrews and Aaron Hemphill. The film submerges the audience into the mind of Lissa, a twenty-year-old girl trapped in rural Pennsylvania, who grapples with sex, drugs, love and loss. Liar’s daring soundtrack follows the release of 2017’s acclaimed TFCF (Theme From Crying Fountain), an album Pitchfork said “couldn’t be a more appropriate marker of the irrepressible project’s evolution, nor a more fitting testament to Liars’ legacy.” [Vinyl edition due August 10.]
The Lion’s Daughter – Future Cult CD (Season Of Mist)
This is what the most frightening, violent, and disturbing scenes from a good midnight movie might sound like. Future Cult, the harrowing second album from St. Louis, MO’s The Lion’s Daughter, is the epitome of horror put to sound. It compellingly blends harsh and unforgiving modern metal with creeping synths inspired by ‘70s and ‘80s horror and sci-fi scores.
Lori McKenna – The Tree CD/LP (CN)
The sing-songwriter’s previous album, 2016’s The Bird And The Rifle, netted three Grammy nominations, along with Americana Music Association nods – all firsts for McKenna as an artist. Produced by Dave Cobb, The Tree takes one of McKenna’s signature themes family and builds a tapestry of experiences she has lived and overheard, been told and dreamed up, to create a stunning ode to life’s defining relationships.
Meg Myers – Take Me To The Disco CD/LP (300 Entertainment)
Take Me To The Disco is a relentless and brutally honest record, and the raw result of Meg Myers’ own personal journey. She co-wrote most of the songs on the album with producer/collaborator Christian “Leggy” Langdon, and enlisted the help of Victor Indrizzo, who has played with Depeche Mode, to play drums on the record. Meg also used a live string section for the first time – The Section Quartet appears on six songs. On lead single “Numb”, a haunting look at the pressures of the music business and life in general, Meg’s “mysteriously shape-shifting” (Entertainment Weekly) vocal acrobatics are in full force as she alternates between seductive verses and a no-holds-barred chorus. Other album highlights include the dreamy, atmospheric title track and the driving “Tourniquet”, an eerie yet poignant song that details the trials of being trapped in an unhealthy relationship. The thunderous rocker “Jealous Sea” is “a walk on the darker side,” says Meg, “but it also shows the beauty in the darkness.” With each song on Take Me To The Disco, Meg fearlessly bares her soul with an intensity only she can convey.
Nav – Reckless CD (XO)
Debut studio album by the Canadian rapper. features guest appearances from Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott, and Gunna, and features production from Nav himself, Wheezy, Ben Billions, Rex Kudo, Charlie Handsome, and Foreign Teck, among others.
Obtained Enslavement – Soulblight CD/LP (Soulseller)
CD and vinyl reissue of Obtained Enslavement’s 1998 Norwegian death/black metal classic – the band’s fifth release overall.
Izaak Opatz – Mariachi Static CD/LP (Mama Bird)
As leader of Missoula, MT band the Best Westerns, Opatz dabbles in off-kilter country and roadhouse rock. Mariachi Static is Opatz’s solo debut, buoyed by wry tunes that bring twangy, back-porch pop into the 21st century.
Mike Patton – 1922: Original Score CD/2xLP (Ipecac)
1922 is based on Stephen King’s 2010 novella of the same name, from his horror anthology Full Dark, No Stars, which tells the story of a man’s confession of his wife’s murder. The tale is told from from the perspective of Wilfred James, the story’s unreliable narrator who admits to killing his wife, Arlette, with his son in Nebraska. But after he buries her body, he finds himself terrorized by rats and, as his life begins to unravel, becomes convinced his wife is haunting him. Presented on CD and double-vinyl, Mike Patton’s (Faith No More, Dead Cross, Tomahawk) heavily orchestral original score follows his acclaimed work on the 2012 film The Place Beyond The Pines and is equally haunting and dissonant.
Powerwolf – The Sacrament Of Sin CD/2xCD/LP (Napalm)
One of Germany’s most successful metal band is back with their bold and adventurous seventh manifesto. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions.]
Public Image Limited – The Public Image Is Rotten (Songs From The Heart) 5xCD+2xDVD/6xLP (Virgin)
New boxset released to coincide with the career-spanning documentary film about Public Image Ltd. titled The Public Image Is Rotten. The set includes a PiL singles collection, B-sides, rarities and radio sessions, 12” mixes, unreleased mixes and tracks + a live concert from New York Ritz in July 1989. The DVD includes PiL promo videos + some live footage from the BBC’s Top Of The Pops and Old Grey Whistle Test as well as the first Tallinn Rock Summer Festival in Estonia 1988 and the 2013’s Enmore Theatre in Australia.
Punch Brothers – All Ashore CD (Nonesuch)
Punch Brothers’ first self-produced album, All Ashore, includes nine original songs written by the contemporary bluegrass quintet featuring guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjo player Noam Pikelny, mandolinist/lead singer Chris Thile, and fiddler Gabe Witcher. As Thile says, the album is “a meditation on committed relationships in the present day, particularly in the present political climate. We were hoping to create something that would be convincing as a complete thought, in this case as a nine-movement, or nine-piece, thought. Though it’s rangy in what it’s talking about, and in the characters who are doing the talking…” Punch Brothers returned to the same room at United Recording Studios in Hollywood (formerly Ocean Way) where they had recorded both 2015’s The Phosphorescent Blues and their 2010 Jon Brion-produced Antifogmatic. Thile says they felt they had “established a rapport” with the space; the same “level of trust and love that breeds confidence” also led them to produce the album themselves, for the first time. [Vinyl edition due September 7.]
Ranger Doug with Riders In The Sky – Sings… Songs Of The Frontier CD (Rural Rhythm)
Eleven traditional Americana roots classics performed by Ranger Doug lead vocals and rhythm guitar with plenty of help from Riders In The Sky: Too Slim vocals and string bass; Woody Paul vocals and fiddle and Joey The Cowpolka King vocals and accordion.
Nathan Salsburg – “Third” CD/LP (No Quarter)
Third album by one of his generation’s most gifted and idiosyncratic acoustic guitarists – his first strictly solo guitar record—no singing, no guests. The songs, as others have before them, distill a love of old-time dance music and rural ragtime; the melody-centric compositions of American guitarists Peter Lang and William Ackerman; and the work of Scottish and English folk-revivalists like Dick Gaughan, Dolly Collins, and especially Nic Jones, whose monumental arrangement of the pipe tune Planxty Davis has been adapted here in turn.
Ty Segal & White Fence – Joy CD/LP/Cassette (Drag City)
“Ty Segall and White Fence are AS ONE again. Six years after their fun favorite Hair collaboration, and jeez, almost four years after Ty produced the last White Fence record For The Recently Found Innocent, they’re back at it. But the second time around, it’s no Hair 2 – Joy is its own reward. Tim Presley and Ty take it up a notch, with 15 wild tracks that share space in an effortless fashion, dispersing doses of the fabled vintage obsessions, but threading them together instead with their own sound of today. Joy, indeed!”
Skeletonwitch – Devouring Radiant Light CD/LP (Prosthetic)
The fifth full length and first to feature vocalist Adam Clemans, who debuted on the band’s 2016 EP The Apothic Gloom, picks right up where the EP ended, mixing their classic blackened thrash attack with atmospheric, post rock soaring melodies [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Soul Asylum – Say What You Will…Everything Can Happen [Reissue/1984] CD (Omnivore)
Soul Asylum – Made To Be Broken [Reissue/1986] CD (Omnivore)
Soul Asylum first hit the Minneapolis music scene in early 1981. Core members Dave Pirner, Dan Murphy, and Karl Mueller met at local punk rock shows. Coming up in the shadow of formidable bands like Hüsker Dü and The Replacements, who they were all big fans of, was daunting but, ultimately, it inspired them to make a name for themselves. Soul Asylum stood out immediately because of their work ethic and smart, punky hard rock sound. These expanded reissues feature a wealth of bonus tracks, new art, liner notes, plus rare ephemera.
Thy Feeble Savior – And Darkness Fell CD/LP (Hells Headbangers)
14 tracks of utterly blasphemous black/death metal.
Trash Boat – Crown Shyness CD/LP (Hopeless)
New album from the UK-based post-hardcore band.
Trouble In The Wind – Lefty [Reissue/2016] CD/LP (In Your Neighborhood)
Trouble In The Wind – Hammer On CD/LP (In Your Neighborhood)
Trouble In The Wind has been labeled as folk, Americana, alternative, country, surf rock, etc., but the Southern California quartet likes to call themselves “rock and roll”. The band’s stripped-down organic sound is a multi-instrumental collective fronted by songwriter Robby Gira, whose staggering powerful voice creates the center of attention of their songs.
Ume – Other Nature CD/LP (Modern Outsider)
Meshing guitar-based hard rock with the raw passion of punk rock and the melodic sophistication of pop, Ume is an Austin, Texas-based trio who’ve earned a growing following for their relentless touring schedule, explosive performances, and clever but unpretentious music. [Limited edition green colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Vokonis – Old One Ascending CD/LP (Ripple Music)
Ethereal yet punishing new album from the Swedish stoner/doom metal band.
Kanye West – ye CD/LP (Def Jam)
Kanye’s eighth album, Ye, features guest vocals by Ty Dolla Sign, PartyNextDoor, Kid Cudi,
Jeremih and 070 Shake, among others. It is the second of five seven-track albums produced by West in what have been referred to as the “Wyoming Sessions”. West explained the album title, which is a diminutive of his own name commonly used in his songs, by stating: “I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible it means ‘you’. So, I’m you, I’m us, it’s us. It went from Kanye, which means “the only one,” to just Ye – just being a reflection of
our good, our bad, our confused, everything. The album is more of a reflection of who we are.”
While She Sleeps – You Are We 2xCD (Sharptone)
Special double-disc edition of the British metalcore band’s 2017 album, expanded with eight tracks consisting of demos and album outtakes.
Wild Pink – Yolk In The Fur CD/LP+MP3 (Tiny Engines)
On their new album, Yolk In The Fur, Wild Pink again take themselves and their listeners to a place of sonic placidity. Songwriter John Ross and his bandmates trade what sparing crunch they did use on their debut album Wild Pink for lush, balmy synths that lift their sound upwards and out, rather than forward and down. Any traces of slowcore and grunge are gone here, replaced by the angelic airiness of Cocteau Twins and Red House Painters, but with the modern crispness of Lake or Japanese Breakfast. Sporadic splashes of electronic drums and emphasized basslines add fascinating new dimensions to their already-diverse palette, but no instrument or tone ever feels shoehorned in.
Marty Wilde – Abergavenny: The Philips Pop Years 1966-1971 CD (Teensville)
Expanded reissue of the ‘60s British pop sensation’s 1969 album Diversions.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Amorphis – The Karelian Isthmus [Reissue/1992] LP (Relapse)
Amorphis – Tales From The Thousand Lakes [Reissue/1994] LP (Relapse)
Animating elements of modern metal, ’70s progressive rock and fusing them with a superb sense of melody and structure, Finland’s Amorphis have dared to defy preconceptions with every groundbreaking release. Formed at the height of the European death metal explosion of the early-90s, the creative core of Amorphis was, from the very beginning, distinctly different. Their first two albums are now back in print on vinyl. A perfect combination of heavy metal, doom, death metal and progressive rock.
Anti Cimex – Scandinavian Jawbreaker [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Back On Black)
1993’s Scandinavian Jawbreaker is Anti Cimex’s raw and raging swan song which finds the pioneering group entering metallic d-beat territory. Anti Cimex “always regarded themselves as raw punk, even when they found the laurels of Scandinavian hardcore heroes thrust upon them…[They] made an indelible mark on the language and legacy of punk’s nastier permutations (and, in a way, on extreme metal’s as well – the band veered down a more metallic path in its later material).” – Noisey [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
MC Paul Barman – (((Echo Chamber))) LP+7”+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
“MC Paul Barman is the most ambitious type of rapper. He is rhyming art. If your ears are open, MCPM is gonna plug your brain in at voltages to which you are unaccustomed. He’s a social critic with a searing conscience that makes your comfortable bourgeois house of lies tremble with each jagged line on the PB Richter scale. His rhymes are original in the sense of ‘no one has ever used that word like that before…but we will now.’ Not that (((Echo Chamber))) is hard work. It is perfectly pleasurable to bop your head along to great tracks laid down by ?uestlove (six tracks), James Poyser, Mark Ronson, Prince Paul, Kenny Segal, Memory Man, and MF Doom. Not to mention scratches by DJ Yoda and features from Masta Ace and Open Mike Eagle to boot.”
Chuck Berry – Berry Is On Top [Reissue/1959] LP (Friday Music)
Limited audiophile 180gm translucent red colored vinyl reissue; gatefold sleeve.
Big Pun – Capital Punishment [Reissue/1998] LP (Sony Legacy)
Limited vinyl picture disc reissue of the late thug rapper’s debut (and only) album.
Boston – Boston [Reissue/1976] LP (Friday Music)
Limited audiophile 180gm red colored vinyl reissue; gatefold sleeve.
Apollo Brown & Locksmith – No Question LP+MP3 (Mello Music Group)
West Coast Berkeley grad, battle rapper and musician Locksmith has hammered out a reputation as one of hip-hop’s most enlightened no punch pulling emcees, always bringing cutting lyricism that not only questions the status quo but offers deep truths for reflection. Meanwhile Detroit’s Apollo Brown has built his illustrious career on emotive productions that draw the best out of already legendary mic kings. From his work with Ras Kass and OC, Skyzoo to Ghostface Killah, Apollo repeatedly creates eyes shut, head nodding, soul stirring perfection for our greatest storytellers to lay their truth bare.
Byla + Jarboe – Viscera [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Translation Loss)
Kevin Hufnagel and Colin Marston (both of Dysrhythmia and Gorguts), collectively known as the New York ambient noise outfit Byla, teamed up with ex-Swans siren Jarboe for 2007’s Viscera, an album of noise and acoustic soundscapes utilizing epic guitar work as its main sound source while complemented perfectly by Jarboe’s stunning vocal accents.
Eric Clapton – Life In 12 Bars 4xLP (UMe)
Recently released on CD, the official soundtrack to the new Eric Clapton documentary, Life In 12 Bars (also available on DVD and Blu-ray), is now available on vinyl. The documentary about the legendary 18-time Grammy winner premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before Showtime bought the US TV rights. The 32-track double CD features four previously unreleased songs, and includes tracks by Clapton, Yardbirds, Derek & The Dominoes, Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Muddy Waters.
Jonathan Davis – Black Labyrinth LP (Sumerian)
Recently released on CD, the debut album from the KoЯn frontman. is now available on vinyl. “I’ve always got to be different,” he notes. “Once again, I’m doing something I haven’t heard before. This is my swan song. It’s my f**king masterpiece up to this point.” [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Death – Leprosy [Reissue/1988] 2xLP (Relapse)
Death – Individual Thought Patterns [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Relapse)
Death – The Sound Of Perseverance [Reissue/1998] 3xLP (Relapse)
Limited anniversary-themed colored vinyl reissues (milky clear, silver, and emerald/olive green, respectively) of the death metal band’s second, fifth and seventh albums.
Dens – No Small Tempest LP (Facedown)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Dens have found a perfect niche in the space between energetic rock and contemplative ambience. They create an experience that drowns the listener in guitar-driven post-rock and vocal hooks while leaving plenty of room for lyrical exploration. From a wide view Dens is a rock band, although the nuances in their sound send tendrils out into shoegaze, ambient, post-rock, and indie rock concepts.
Diamond D – Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop [Reissue/1992] 2xLP (Mercury)
Vinyl reissue of the debut album from the hip-hop producer/emcee. Features some of the earliest appearances from future rap legends Big L and Fat Joe.
Dorothy – 28 Days In The Valley LP (Roc Nation)
Released last March on CD – now available on limited edition white colored vinyl. Rolling Stone deemed L.A.-based band Dorothy “a [band] you need to know,” and named them #14 on their 50 Best New Artists of 2014 list.
Eisley – I’m Only Dreaming…Of Days Long Past LP (Equal Vision)
A collection of the indie rock band’s acoustic and re-depicted versions of tracks from their 2017 album I’m Only Dreaming.
The Essex Green – The Long Goodbye [Reissue/2003] LP+MP3 (Merge)
The Essex Green – Cannibal Sea [Reissue/2006] LP+MP3 (Merge)
The Essex Green is a neo-psychedelic pop outfit from Brooklyn, NY via Burlington, VT. The band specializes in a classic sound inspired by ’60s/’70s pop and folk in the tradition of bands like The Left Banke and Fairport Convention. On the heels of their recently released new album Hardly Electronic, their second and third albums are both available for the first time on vinyl. [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
Five Finger Death Punch – And Justice For None 2xLP (Prospect Park)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The seventh full length studio album from Five Finger Death Punch, And Justice For None, features their smash cover of The Offspring’s “Gone Away” alongside such rock radio staples as “Sham-Pain,” “When The Seasons Change,” “Blue On Black” and “I Refuse.” One of the most successful groove metal bands of the 2010s, Five Finger Death Punch have been a staple of the Billboard charts since their formation in 2005. The Los Angeles-based outfit formed around the talents of former U.P.O. guitar player Zoltan Bathory, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Darrell Roberts, vocalist Ivan Moody (Motograter/Ghost Machine), bass player Matt Snell (Anubis Rising), and former W.A.S.P. drummer Jeremy Spencer.
John Fogerty – Eye Of The Zombie [Reissue/1986] LP (BMG Rights Management)
John Fogerty – Deja Vu All Over Again [Reissue/2004] LP (BMG Rights Management)
Singer/songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty has signed a deal with BMG to release a new solo album and reissue his solo catalog. Only his second solo release in an 18-year span, Deja Vu (All Over Again) finds Fogerty offering up a low key yet assorted jukebox which touches on all of his signature influences from rockabilly and swamp rock to old school rock ‘n’ roll and country. Eye Of The Zombie is Fogerty’s fourth solo effort and was his last studio release for nearly a decade. An apocalyptic departure from his swamp rock glory days buoyed by its menacing cover art, the album leans on a more synthesized production and finds an indignant Fogerty coming down on consumerism and the music business.
Dana Fuchs – Love Live On LP (Get A Long)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Dana Fuchs is a Jagger blues-jammer, Otis soul-sister, juke-joint Janis and Sexy Sadie all rolled into one passionate performer and compassionate world class singer-songwriter.
Hecate Enthroned – The Slaughter Of Innocence, A Requiem For The Mighty/Upon Promeathean Shores (Unscriptured Waters) [Reissue/1995/1997] LP+12” (Back On Black)
Back in 1993, Jon (vocals), Marc (guitars) and Nigel formed a death metal band known as Daemonium. The band played a mixture of styles, crossing the styles of both death and black metal. After some extensive touring played both locally and non, the British act saw the departure of Jon as he joined the more notorious band Cradle Of Filth. The remaining members found new recruits and eventually successfully renamed themselves to Hecathe Enthroned. This vinyl reissue combines the band’s 1997 sophomore album with their 1995 debut 12”.
Dave Holland – Uncharted Territories 3xLP (Dare2)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Uncharted Territories brings together a quartet of some of the best players in forward-thinking jazz. Joining Holland on this recording are saxophonist Evan Parker, drummer Ches Smith and pianist Craig Taborn. The epic-length album finds the group breaking off into various permutations and coming back together again for quartet performances.
Hypnos – GBG Sessions LP (The Sign)
Eight-track live session from one of the strongest live acts from the contemporary Swedish rock scene.
J.K. & Co. – Suddenly One Summer [Reissue/1968] LP (BeatRocket)
Taking cues from the best of the late ’60s rock scene, with a special nod to the Beatles, Suddenly One Summer is a mature work seemingly years beyond its young creator, 15-year-old Jay Kaye. With a vocal style very similar to George Harrison, Kaye is in command from the start, guiding the listener through the album’s rich sonic journey. Limited edition translucent orange colored vinyl pressing.
Wilko Johnson – Blow Your Mind LP+MP3 (Chess)
Recently released on CD – now available on 180gm vinyl. Wilko’s first album of new material in 30 + years was recorded at Rockfield Studios, where Wilko and the Feelgoods famously parted company back in ’77. Guests include Mick Talbot on keyboards and Steve Weston on harmonica, both of whom were featured on Wilko’s last recorded with Roger Daltrey.
Knxwledge – Gladwemet 7” (Stones Throw)
Knxwledge (pronounced “knowledge”) is a beat maker raised in central New Jersey and Philadelphia, now in Los Angeles. Standing out in a sea of producers rising from the L.A. beat scene, the prolific artist and record collector produces his sound by creating a pastiche of soul, jazz and hip-hop that melts together in a style uniquely his own. He has produced for hip-hop powerhouse Kendrick Lamar on To Pimp a Butterfly, for Joey Badass on 1999, and has released dozens of remix and beat tape collections.
The Left Banke – Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina [Reissue/1967] LP (Sundazed)
The Left Banke’s 1967 album Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina is widely regarded as one of the greatest debuts of the ’60s, thanks to frontman Steve Martin’s evocative lead vocals, the haunting harmonies of band members Tom Finn and George Cameron, the ambitious songwriting of keyboardist Michael Brown, and exquisite, classically-influenced arrangements that were unlike anything else in popular music at the time. Limited edition gold colored vinyl pressing.
Lurker Of Chalice – Lurker Of Chalice [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Nuclear War Now)
Like Leviathan, Lurker Of Chalice is a project conceived of and executed by multi-instrumentalist and visual artist Jef Whitehead, who is generally referred to as Wrest in the context of his music. For nearly 20 years, through his work with Leviathan, Lurker Of Chalice, and many other projects, Whitehead has consistently recorded and released music that has unquestionably left permanent scars on the face of the USBM scene.
LWW – 3PE LP (Leaf)
3PE is the first in a series of releases by Portland, OR, based Luke Wyland under his new LWW moniker. In contrast to his previous work as AU, these are spontaneous, otherworldly explorations in repetition, alternate tuning systems and, for the most part, tempered minimalism.
Masta Ace Incorporated – SlaughtaHouse [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Masta Ace Incorporated – Sittin’ On Chrome [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Vinyl reissues of the only two albums from the hip-hop group comprised of Ace, Lord Digga, Paula Perry and Leschea.
Thelonious Monk – Nutty 7” (Gearbox)
From the forthcoming, previously unreleased Monk LP (due September). To many people this is the definitive Thelonious Monk Quartet line up, recorded at their peak, for a Danish radio broadcast in 1963. Charlie Rouse (sax) Frankie Dunlop (drums) and John Ore (bass) deliver a truly outstanding version of “Nutty”. Ore and Dunlop really dig in and swing. Simultaneously driving and laid back, Monk’s masterful use of space and melody in Charlie Rouse’s solo is a clear demonstration as to why Monk is considered by many to be the best accompanist in jazz history.
Mouse On The Keys – Tres LP (Topshelf)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Tres is, you guessed it, the third album from Mouse On The Keys – a singular Japanese act known for blurring genres. The album traverses dark and avant-garde electronica, minimalist neo-classical, whilst also continuing to develop on their math-rock tendencies with rapid-fire time signature changes, angular rhythms and melodic yet frenetic piano work.
Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor [Reissue/2005] 2xLP+MP3 (Century Media)
Limited silver colored and standard black vinyl reissues of the prog/thrash titan’s sixth studio opus.
The Oak Ridge Boys – Boys Night Out [Reissue/2014] LP (Cleopatra)
Limited 180gm vinyl LP reissue of the crossover country music legend’s live hits album, recorded on their 2013 tour.
ODESZA – Summer’s Gone [Reissue/2013] LP (Foreign Family Collective)
ODESZA – My Friends Never Die [Reissue/2013] 12” (Foreign Family Collective)
Seattle-based production duo ODESZA (Harrison Mills & Clayton Knight) began their meteoric journey in 2012 with Summer’s Gone. The following spring, they released the five-song EP My Friends Never Die – a harder-hitting complement to the lush sounds of their debut – and began to build their reputation as a ground-breaking live act.
Ovlov – Tru LP (Exploding In Sound)
Newtown, CT based band Ovlov is a glimmer of hope for all that is pure in rock and have become one of the East Coast’s more beloved indie bands.
Gram Parsons – Another Side Of This Life [Reissue/2000] LP (Sundazed)
13 demo recordings of Gram Parsons, country-rock pioneer and former member of the Byrds and founding member of the Flying Burrito Brothers – repressed on colored vinyl.
Pedro The Lion – Winners Never Quit [Reissue/2000] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Following a critically acclaimed debut album for Made In Mexico, singer-songwriter David Bazan returned to his Seattle home studio to craft the bulk of 2000’s Winners Never Quit (remastered and reissued on vinyl for the first time in over half a decade) – a haunted collection of material that traces the fictional story of a man who vows to maintain his good name despite a slew of devious activity and malicious intent. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Pendulum – The Reworks 2xLP (Earstorm)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. New remixes of Pendulum classics by Skrillex, Moby, Devin Townsend, Noisia, Knife Party, DJ Seinfeld, ATTLAS and others.
The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Vinyl reissue of the hip-hop group’s second album. Labcabincalifornia was produced by The Pharcyde themselves and Jay Dee, with additional help from Diamond D and M- Walk.
Powerman 5000 – Copies, Clones & Replicants [Reissue/2011] LP (Cleopatra)
Limited edition vinyl repress of the covers project by platinum-selling electro-metal superheroes. Features electrified versions of Devo’s “Whip It”, Van Halen’s “Jump”, David Bowies’ “Space Oddity”, T Rex’s “20th Century Boy”, INXS’s “Devil Inside” and more.
R+R=Now – Collagically Speaking 2xLP (Blue Note)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. R+R=Now is a collective of like-minded boundary-breakers featuring Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin and Justin Tyson. The R+R in the band’s name stands for Reflect+Respond and was inspired by Nina Simone who said an artist’s duty is to reflect the times. With Collagically Speaking, the band presents an urgent musical hybrid that is distinctly of the now.
Sonic’s Rendezvous Band – Live ’78 LP (Easy Action)
Originally released on limited transparent blue colored vinyl for RSD 2018 – standard black vinyl edition now available. Archival live set from the band made up of members of legendary Detroit bands such as MC5, Rationals, and The Stooges.
Tone-Lōc – Lōc’ed After Dark [Reissue/1989] LP (Craft Recordings)
The debut album by West Coast emcee features two collaborations with a pre-fame Young MC that would rocket the artist to the top of the pop charts: “Wild Thing”, the first Top 10 Pop hit for a black rapper, and the follow-up smash, “Funky Cold Medina”. The net result was a #1 album, making it only the second rap album to top the charts at the time (the Beastie Boys’ License To Ill was the first).
Uniting Of Opposites – Ancient Lights LP (Tru Thoughts)
Debut album from the new musical venture from Tim Liken, Clem Alford and Ben Hazleton, bringing to life a melting pot of cultures and inspiration; using new technology as an opportunity to explore and merge aspects of jazz, electronica and traditional Indian musical styles.
Seth Walker – Live At Mauch Chunk Opera House LP (The Royal Potato Family)
Released last February on CD – now available on vinyl. Live set from the revered roots music troubadour, recorded in May 2017 at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe, PA.
Wire – Pink Flag [Reissue/1977] LP (Pink Flag)
Wire – Chairs Missing [Reissue/1978] LP (Pink Flag)
Wire – 154 [Reissue/1979] LP (Pink Flag)
Released last May on expanded double-CD, deluxe audiophile single-disc editions of the highly influential art-punk band’s first three albums are now available on vinyl.
Yardbirds – 1966: Live & Rare LP (Repertoire)
Yardbirds – Live In Stockholm & Offenbach 1967 LP (Repertoire)
Archival live recordings on orange colored vinyl.
Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin’ [Reissue/1989] LP (Craft Recordings)
Latest in Craft Recordings recent spate of reissues of Delicious Vinyl’s early pioneering hip-hop releases. Stone Cold Rhymin’ features Young M.C.’s chart-topping “Bust A Move”.
Frank Zappa – Chunga’s Revenge [Reissue/1970] LP (Zappa Music)
Zappa’s first effort of the 1970s marks the first appearance of former Turtles members Flo & Eddie on a Zappa record, and signals the dawn of a controversial epoch in Zappa’s history. Chunga’s Revenge represents a shift from both the satirical political commentary of his 1960s work with The Mothers of Invention, and the jazz fusion of Hot Rats.
Zephyr – Zephyr [Reissue/1969] LP (Purple Pyramid)
Remastered vinyl reissue of the 1969 recorded debut of guitar legend Tommy Bolin performing with his first major act, blues rock outfit Zephyr. Includes four bonus tracks of rare live material and studio improvisations.
Cassettes:
Rick Astley – Beautiful Life (BMG)
Rick Astley follows-up his comeback album 50 (2016), which found the ’80s icon topping the UK chart for the first time in almost 30 years. Similar to that platinum certified album, Rick wrote, produced, and played all of the instruments on Beautiful Life which is ushered in by the shimmering title track. “In the midst of all this madness, I just went back into my little home studio because that’s what I love to do,” Astley notes. “It’s my refuge really. I was tinkering about with bits and pieces and before you know it, I was making a new record.”
Ty Segal & White Fence – Joy (Drag City)
“Ty Segall and White Fence are AS ONE again. Six years after their fun favorite Hair collaboration, and jeez, almost four years after Ty produced the last White Fence record For The Recently Found Innocent, they’re back at it. But the second time around, it’s no Hair 2 – Joy is its own reward. Tim Presley and Ty take it up a notch, with 15 wild tracks that share space in an effortless fashion, dispersing doses of the fabled vintage obsessions, but threading them together instead with their own sound of today. Joy, indeed!”
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