Social Media Program Titles Released This Week:
Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God [Deluxe Version] 2xCD+DVD (Epic)
This three-disc deluxe edition of Lamb Of God’s 2020 album includes two bonus tracks, a live version of the full album, as well as a DVD showing live performances of the album. Being the first new album they had released in five years, Lamb Of God landed the group a spot in Consequence Of Sound’s top 30 metal/ rock albums of 2020, as well as a number one spot in the overall, rock and metal charts of iTunes. [A single-disc vinyl pressing of Lamb Of God: Live In Richmond, VA is also available this week.]
Rival Sons – Before The Fire [Reissue/2009] CD/LP (Sacred Tongue)
Rival Sons – Rival Sons EP [Reissue/2010] CDEP/12” (Sacred Tongue)
The reissues of the Rival Sons EP (2010) and Before The Fire (2009) will be the first releases under the Grammy-nominated band’s new label, Sacred Tongue Recordings. These two projects are from the “early days” of Rival Sons which paved the way for the Southern California blues rocker’s blossoming career. This 10-year anniversary reissue boasts remastered audio and comes pressed on colored vinyl. “We’ve talked about creating our own record label from the very beginning,” notes the band. “It’s about creating a good home for our back catalogue as the Rival Sons community continues to grow together worldwide. The band has always maintained a stance of independence and sole custody of our early works was the long game. [Limited color vinyl editions are also available.]
Tomahawk – Tonic Immobility CD/LP (Ipecac)
On their 20th anniversary, Tomahawk finally return with their fifth full-length album, Tonic Immobility. The guys – guitarist Duane Denison (the Jesus Lizard, Unsemble), vocalist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas), drummer John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), and bassist Trevor “field mouse” Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas) – survey where they’ve come from only to leap ahead once more. “Tonic Immobility is almost a summary of everything we’ve done,” states Duane. “There are references to previous things spread throughout the album as well as new territory. On any of our albums, you’ll find those faster, high energy, abrasive, and dissonant songs. You’ll also find the slower, atmospheric, groove- and tension-based moments too. There’s always been a touch of, dare I say, Latin music in the form of Bossa Nova or flamenco-influenced guitar. All of those things appear on this record.” [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Marketing Program/ Banner/ Listening Station Titles Promoted This Week:
AJR – OK Orchestra CD (S-Curve/BMG)
OK Orchestra is the Multiplatinum indie pop trio’s fourth album. “In the most uncertain year of our lives, making OK Orchestra was the one certain thing we had to hold on to,” said AJR. “We ended up with the most sonically experimental and emotionally raw album we’ve ever made.” “AJR’s new single ‘Way Less Sad’, was created entirely from the living room of their New York City apartment. In addition to hit songs such as ‘Bang!’ and ‘Bummerland’, this track, is from the indie-pop band’s much-anticipated new album, OK Orchestra. The steady but catchy rhythmic voice of the piano, the upbeat clapping, and the quirky, funky melody of the trumpets welcomes the listener to a vivacious, exciting ambiance — creating that beloved head bop-inducing vibe.” – The Harvard Crimson
The Antlers – Green To Gold CD/LP (ANTI-)
Perhaps what distinguishes Green To Gold from the rest of The Antlers’ canon is its, well, sunniness. Conceived and written almost entirely in the morning hours, Green To Gold is the band’s first new music in nearly seven years, and easily their most luminous to date. “I think this is the first album I’ve made that has no eeriness in it,” Peter Silberman asserts. “I set out to make Sunday morning music.” Unlike other Antlers albums, Silberman didn’t feel compelled to turn a human experience into a circuitous mythology. He chose a more direct approach: documenting two years in his life, without overthinking or obscuring what the songs were about. “Most of the songs on Green To Gold are culled from conversations with my friends and my partner. It’s less ambiguous about who’s speaking and who’s listening,” says Silberman resolutely. “I think the shift in tone is the result of getting older,” Silberman adds. “Green To Gold is about this idea of gradual change,” he sums up. “People changing over time, struggling to accept change in those they love, and struggling to change themselves. And yet despite all our difficulty with this, nature somehow makes it look easy.” [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Noga Erez – Kids CD/LP (City Slang)
Building from the raw politics of her 2017 debut, Off The Radar, Kids moves closer to home while retaining singer-songwriter-producer, Noga Erez’s signature smarts and swagger. Its earworms and crisp productions are locked around lyrics that deal with the personal and the political; mortality and loss; war and peace, insecurity and ambition. “These are songs about what we inherit from past generations, how we pass things on,” Noga explains “How this game of evolution of our culture and humanity is very much in our hands. We were all somewhat a blank page at some point. Kids talks about humanity’s potential for both beauty and destruction.” Kids showcases Noga’s style, growing into a crisp bombastic sound she crafts with her creative and life partner, Ori Rousso. The album explores themes of tension and release, anxiety and remedy, and masterly melodic licks in swipes of stomping brass, all wrapped around Noga’s versatile vocals that quick-switch from clipped flow to smoky purr; from stadium chorus to street-ready beats.
Greenleaf – Echoes From A Mass CD/LP (Napalm)
Like clockwork, Swedish stoner rockers Greenleaf spread their concentrated sludgy energy to disciples of the genre with the release of Echoes From A Mass, the successor to their 2018 epic, Hear The Rivers. Opener, “Tides”, immediately draws the listener into a swirl of guitar driven soundscapes, while Arvid Hällagård’s remarkable voice merges with hypnotizing background vocals, ceremonially inviting the listener into a heavy reverie. Floating hypnotic grooves set the stage for the compelling yet chilling “Needle In My Eye” – with its incisive, driving drums and roaring riffs, the record’s third song accumulates piece by piece into a modern rock standout, taking the mind by storm. “Love Undone” breaks in with Tommi Holappa’s acclaimed, blistering guitar riffs that will keep the listener moving to the mesmerizing, distinctive sonic layers of Greenleaf.
NF – CLOUDS (THE MIX TAPE) CD (NF Real Music)
NF is the stage name of Michigan rapper and composer Nate Feuerstein, who emerged with his debut album, Mansion, in 2015. The raw emotion and honesty in his music continued on Therapy Session, building the foundation of an incredibly strong and loyal fan base. With CLOUDS, NF outlines his reasons for releasing this mixtape now. “Hanging onto songs this long is daunting,” he raps, matter-of-factly. He then playfully delivers clever lines in unison with a sparse violin melody before his delivery becomes more fiery, matching a thundering, industrial beat. Throughout, the technically gifted MC passionately strings together intricate rhymes about his continued ascent and the gravity of his ambitions: “It’s probable / That I might press the envelope / Ideas so astronomical / Sometimes I find them comical.” [Includes an 11”x17” poster – while supplies last.]
Suzi Quatro – The Devil In Me CD/2xLP (Steamhammer)
“The Devil In Me is the best album in my career to date!” announced Suzi Quatro. The American rock vocalist would hardly utter such superlatives lightly. The Devil In Me consists of a dozen songs, each of them – from the opening track and title song to the final “Motor City Riders” – a real highlight. The reasons for Suzi’s remarkable creative explosion: on the one hand, the lockdown, which kept her from her usual touring life in spring 2020, and on the other, another collaboration with her son Richard Tuckey, which had already worked out extremely well on her predecessor album No Control. [The gatefold double vinyl edition includes the two bonus tracks “Can I Be Your Girl” and “Desperado”.]
Skegss – Rehearsal CD/LP (Loma Vista)
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of the most intoxicating acts to come out of Australia in years,” Byron Bay power trio Skegss deliver their new Catherine Marks (Manchester Orchestra, PJ Harvey, The Killers) produced album Rehearsal. A thrill ride through the band’s laissez-faire lifestyle and sun kissed narratives of love, friendship and youthful musings, they combine surf, garage, and slacker elements to create their dynamic sound here. The trippy cover art comes courtesy of frequent collaborator Jack Irvine (Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan). [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen – Smith/Kotzen CD/LP (BMG)
Smith/Kotzen is the exciting partnership between guitarists and vocalists Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen. Part-time L.A. neighbors, full time friends with a healthy mutual respect – their music is evocative of the classic rock bands of the 70’s brought bang up to date with punchy hooks, harmonies and sheer guitar virtuosity. Debut track “Taking My Chances” sets the tone for this electrifying collaboration between two hugely admired rock music trailblazers. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Joe Strummer – Assembly CD/2xLP 9Dark Horse/BMG)
Assembly showcases carefully curated singles, fan favorites, and archival rarities from the Joe Strummer solo catalog. This 16-track compilation features three previously unreleased versions of classic Clash tracks, including the never-before-heard “Junco Partner (Acoustic)” and electrifying live performances of “Rudie Can’t Fail” and “I Fought The Law”, the latter two of which were recorded by Strummer and the Mescaleros at London’s Brixton Academy on November 24, 2001. [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Tower Of Power – 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater-Oakland, CA – June 2018 2xCD+DVD/3xLP (Mack Avenue)
With a history 50+ years in the making, Tower Of Power has been a funk institution since 1968, knocking out hits like “What Is Hip”, “So Very Hard To Go”, “This Time It’s Real” and “You’re Still A Young Man” while lending their soulful sound to collaborations with Santana, the Grateful Dead, Elton, Huey Lewis, Justin Timberlake and everyone in-between. 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater captures their storied career with no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits to sold-out audiences in 2018. These historic performances include alumni special guests such as Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Bruce Conte and Ray Greene. [A stand-alone DVD edition is also available.]
Tune-Yards – Sketchy CD/LP+MP3 (4AD)
Tune-Yards’ 2018 release I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life, was a self-reflexive question mark at the end of a decade of outspoken, polyphonic indie music. From 2009 to 2018, Tune-Yards (both Merrill and her partner and collaborator Nate Brenner) released four critically acclaimed albums, travelled the world relentlessly to play live shows, and composed the psychedelic score to Boots Riley’s surrealist cinematic masterpiece Sorry To Bother You. “We had really been non-stop hustling,” Merrill reflects. “And when we’re hustling, we’re complicit in all of the systems that I really don’t believe in.” Interrogating these systems and her role within them had left Merrill feeling heavy with guilt and grief and lost about how to move forward as a musician. But then she began to rediscover the joy in making music. Inspired by the Beastie Boys Book and Questlove’s Creative Quest, Merrill and Nate began jamming daily for hours in their home rehearsal studio “like athletes.” They ditched computer screens for live instruments (Merrill on drums, Nate on bass) and before long full songs started to emerge. Unlike the lyrical introspection of their previous outing, on the project’s fifth studio album Sketchy, Merrill balances self-inspection and reflection with bombastic rallying cries, reminiscent of the furious tones of early days Tune-Yards. The result is a colorful and joyous record with lyrics that cut to the bone. [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Visionist – A Call To Arms CD/LP+MP3 (Mute)
A Call To Arms is Visionist’s (aka Louis Carnell) third album release and where previously the artist used his vocals as samples, for the first time we hear his singing voice in the form of song and lyric. Along with the addition of Visionist’s vocals, the album is also host to a varied list of collaborators. “With every project I want to test myself, so with this ethos, I expand the landscape of sound I have created over the years,” he says. “On A Call To Arms I have furthered my musical direction in terms of collaboration in order to bring new layers of sonics, dynamics, energies and ideas.” For Visionist, each album is a chapter in a bigger storyline, and this new album builds upon 2015’s debut, Safe and its 2017 follow up, Value. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Sara Watkins – Under The Pepper Tree CD/LP (New West)
For two decades, Sara Watkins has been one of the most visible artists in roots music, with her catalog ranging from solo albums and Watkins Family Hour, a duo with her brother Sean Watkins, to her Grammy-winning bands Nickel Creek and I’m With Her. With the nostalgic and gentle new album Under The Pepper Tree, Sara offers a comforting record for those moments as daily rhythms fade into nightly rituals – and when a child’s imagination comes to life. Made with families in mind, the personal project encompasses songs she embraced as a child herself, as well as the musical friendships she’s made along the way. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Tyler Chester, Under The Pepper Tree brings storytelling, solace, and encouragement to the listener, no matter the age.
Neil Young – Young Shakespeare CD/LP/LP+CD+DVD (Reprise)
Just two months after the release of his seminal album After The Gold Rush, Neil Young played a solo show at The Shakespeare Theater in Stratford, CT on January 22, 1971. The show was filmed and recorded, and the concert shown on German TV later in 1971. In 2020, while Neil and his team were reviewing his Archive for future projects, Neil revisited the 16mm film and audio recording of this show that had been preserved in the Archive for almost 50 years. Piecing together the tapes and footage, Neil realized that he had the full concert – the film of which is the earliest live footage of Neil performing that is known to exist. Young Shakespeare is “one of the purest sounding acoustic performances we have in the Archive” states Neil Young, and is released almost exactly 50 years after the original performance [The deluxe box set edition includes the restored audio on both LP and CD and, for the first time ever, a DVD of the concert.]
CDs + Vinyl:
3 Doors Down – The Better Life [Reissue/2000] 2xCD (Republic)
29th Anniversary expanded edition of the alt-rock band’s debut album. Includes four bonus tracks and a second disc containing The Escatapwa Sessions of early home demo recordings, including the never-released “Dead Love” and “Man in My Mind”.
’68 – Give One Take One CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Like a Delta Blues reimagining of Bleach-era Nirvana or the disgraced punkish cousin of The Black Keys, ’68 adheres to a single ethic: unbridled authenticity. There’s not a “plan” with ’68 so much as a ride, with the duo hanging on for dear life in the eye of the storm every bit as much as the audience. The obstacle is the goal. The journey is the destination. Inventive, disruptive, frantic; even when dipping into a bit of Otis Redding or James Brown style funk, ’68 sound urgent. [A limited colored vinyl pressing is also available.]
Abiotic – Ikigai CD/LP (The Artisan Era)
Having written Ikigai over the course of the last couple of years and finishing this record during a pandemic, the band brings out pain, grief, desperation, and perseverance in every note, every chord, and every word. With lyrics touching on topics of suicide, depression, addiction, climate change and the struggle of finding a reason for being, Abiotic makes this record real and relatable in every sense.
Ablaze My Sorrow – Among Ashes And Monoliths CD/LP (Black Lodge)
Gothenburg style death metal.
AJR – OK Orchestra CD (S-Curve/BMG)
OK Orchestra is the Multiplatinum indie pop trio’s fourth album. “In the most uncertain year of our lives, making OK Orchestra was the one certain thing we had to hold on to,” said AJR. “We ended up with the most sonically experimental and emotionally raw album we’ve ever made.” “AJR’s new single ‘Way Less Sad’, was created entirely from the living room of their New York City apartment. In addition to hit songs such as ‘Bang!’ and ‘Bummerland’, this track, is from the indie-pop band’s much-anticipated new album, OK Orchestra. The steady but catchy rhythmic voice of the piano, the upbeat clapping, and the quirky, funky melody of the trumpets welcomes the listener to a vivacious, exciting ambiance — creating that beloved head bop-inducing vibe.” – The Harvard Crimson
The Antlers – Green To Gold CD/LP (ANTI-)
Perhaps what distinguishes Green To Gold from the rest of The Antlers’ canon is its, well, sunniness. Conceived and written almost entirely in the morning hours, Green To Gold is the band’s first new music in nearly seven years, and easily their most luminous to date. “I think this is the first album I’ve made that has no eeriness in it,” Peter Silberman asserts. “I set out to make Sunday morning music.” Unlike other Antlers albums, Silberman didn’t feel compelled to turn a human experience into a circuitous mythology. He chose a more direct approach: documenting two years in his life, without overthinking or obscuring what the songs were about. “Most of the songs on Green To Gold are culled from conversations with my friends and my partner. It’s less ambiguous about who’s speaking and who’s listening,” says Silberman resolutely. “I think the shift in tone is the result of getting older,” Silberman adds. “Green To Gold is about this idea of gradual change,” he sums up. “People changing over time, struggling to accept change in those they love, and struggling to change themselves. And yet despite all our difficulty with this, nature somehow makes it look easy.” [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Band Of Spice – By The Corner Of Tomorrow CD (Scarlet)
The Swedish band’s leader thought that both the first two Black Sabbath records still sound heavy, fresh and clear (can you blame him?). His main goal was to make something in line with those timeless classics: a flowing collection of songs rich of variation, vibe and an unquestionable melodic feeling. As usual, the lyrics deal with the human condition and our hidden dark feelings: fear, madness, hopelessness and the never-ending dream of escaping reality. [Vinyl edition due April 9.]
Gerry Beckley – Keeping The Light On: The Best Of Gerry Beckley CD/2xLP (Blue Élan)
Rare is the musician who can be part of an iconic band and still manage to carve out a path of their own that’s as, if not more, creatively rich and accomplished as that which made him famous. Count Gerry Beckley as one of those precious few. You will know him as half (originally one-third) of America, a troupe that celebrated its 50th-anniversary in 2020 and enjoys a legacy of enduring hit singles, membership of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Budderside – Spiritual Violence CD (Motörhead)
New album from the L.A. prog metal band. Guests include Carla Harvey (Butcher Babies), Phil Campbell (Motörhead) and the Musyca Children’s Choir.
Citizen – Life In Your Glass World CD/LP (Run For Cover)
Citizen has always eluded definition. The Toledo, Ohio-based four-piece have been making dynamic, wide-ranging guitar music for over ten years, challenging expectations with each new album and refusing to fit neatly in a box. [A limited galaxy blue and green color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Cathal Coughlan – Song Of Co-Aklin CD/LP (Dimple Discs)
Widely considered to be one of Ireland’s most revered singer/songwriters, Cathal Coughlan is beloved by fans of caustic, literate music in the vein of Wilco, Robert Forster and Mark Eitzel. He co-founded ‘80s/’90s groups Microdisney and Fatima Mansions and followed with four acclaimed solo albums. Song Of Co-Aklan is his first new music in 10 years.
Death From Above 1979 – Is 4 Lovers CD/LP (Spinefarm)
Canadian dance-punk pioneers Death From Above 1979, the boundary pushing musical alliance made up of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler, return with their first new album in four years.
The Dinallos – The Dinallos CD (Memphis Int’l)
The Dinallos is a beautiful blend of traditional rock and roll and singer-songwriter element.
Noga Erez – Kids CD/LP+MP3 (City Slang)
Building from the raw politics of her 2017 debut, Off The Radar, Kids moves closer to home while retaining singer-songwriter-producer, Noga Erez’s signature smarts and swagger. Its earworms and crisp productions are locked around lyrics that deal with the personal and the political; mortality and loss; war and peace, insecurity and ambition. “These are songs about what we inherit from past generations, how we pass things on,” Noga explains “How this game of evolution of our culture and humanity is very much in our hands. We were all somewhat a blank page at some point. Kids talks about humanity’s potential for both beauty and destruction.” Kids showcases Noga’s style, growing into a crisp bombastic sound she crafts with her creative and life partner, Ori Rousso. The album explores themes of tension and release, anxiety and remedy, and masterly melodic licks in swipes of stomping brass, all wrapped around Noga’s versatile vocals that quick-switch from clipped flow to smoky purr; from stadium chorus to street-ready beats.
Evanescence – The Bitter Truth CD/LP (BMG)
Evanescence returns with their first album of new original music in nine years. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Deftones), The Bitter Truth takes its foundation in the epic, signature sound that has earned Evanescence two Grammy awards.
Damon Fowler – Alafia Moon CD (Landslide)
Tampa’s Damon Fowler, a masterful singer, guitarist and songwriter, has absorbed the best of and furthered the work of the region’s definitive artists. A hard-driving troubadour, his music is steeped with soul and representative of the many styles that make up American music’s roots.
Genghis Tron – Dream Weapon CD/LP (Relapse)
The band’s first new studio outing in over a decade, Genghis Tron’s Hamilton Jordan and Michael Sochynsky are now joined by two new collaborators: vocalist Tony Wolski and Sumac/Baptists drummer Nick Yacyshyn. Together, the lineup perfects the unique mix of extreme rock and electronic music Genghis Tron has pioneered over their storied career. Dream Weapon is a melding of hypnotic rhythms and densely layered synth soundscapes. [A limited transparent blue color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Gorgoroth – Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt [Reissue/2009] CD/LP (Soulseller)
Norwegian black metal masters Gorgoroth pay tribute to the recent passing of bassist Frank “Bøddel” Watkins with a limited-edition reissue of their 2009 classic Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt. The album that officially marked the rebirth of Gorgoroth is now expanded with updated artwork including additional pictures from the original record release era.
Ariana Grande – Positions CD (Republic)
Pop superstar Ariana Grande follows up her Grammy-nominated 2019 No.1 release, Thank U, Next with her sixth studio album, Positions. Built around themes of sex and romance, the 14-track collection – which debuted atop the Billboard 200 – includes guest appearances by Doja Cat, The Weeknd and Ty Dolla $ign. [The Deluxe Version of the CD includes four new songs and adds the “34+35 (Remix)” which features Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion. Vinyl edition due April 9.]
Greenleaf – Echoes From A Mass CD/LP (Napalm)
Like clockwork, Swedish stoner rockers Greenleaf spread their concentrated sludgy energy to disciples of the genre with the release of Echoes From A Mass, the successor to their 2018 epic, Hear The Rivers. Opener, “Tides”, immediately draws the listener into a swirl of guitar driven soundscapes, while Arvid Hällagård’s remarkable voice merges with hypnotizing background vocals, ceremonially inviting the listener into a heavy reverie. Floating hypnotic grooves set the stage for the compelling yet chilling “Needle In My Eye” – with its incisive, driving drums and roaring riffs, the record’s third song accumulates piece by piece into a modern rock standout, taking the mind by storm. “Love Undone” breaks in with Tommi Holappa’s acclaimed, blistering guitar riffs that will keep the listener moving to the mesmerizing, distinctive sonic layers of Greenleaf.
Grorr – Ddulden’s Last Flight CD/LP (ViciSolum Productions)
New album from the French progressive/math/rock/metal band. [A limited gold color vinyl pressing is also availalble.]
Hound – I Know My Enemies CD/LP (Metalville)
Classic hard rock combined with funky, bluesy, punky and psychedelic elements.
Ben Howard – Collections From The Whiteout CD/2xLP (Republic)
British singer-songwriter Ben Howard – whose music has drawn comparisons to Nick Drake and John Martyn – returns with his fourth studio album, Collections From The Whiteout. Produced with Aaron Dessner (The National, Sharon Van Etten, Taylor Swift), it marks the first time that the BRIT Award winner and Mercury Prize nominee has opened his studio doors to an outside collaborator.
Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal – Natural Born Hustler CD/LP (Color Red)
Natural Born Hustler speaks to fans of early ‘70s funky blues, doo-wop with a modern twist, and spellbinding psychedelic soul.
Images Of Evil – Angel Born CD (Pavement Ent.)
Images Of Eden is a fearless concept band that brings together familiar, well-loved elements of metal and rock combined with their own unique vision, message and delivery.
Kali Masi – Laughs CD (Take This To Heart)
Coming off their 2017 debut Wind Instrument, Kali Masi’s sophomore record Laughs is more than a collection of songs – it’s a lifeline. Driving straight through the brick walls of often difficult subjects like emotional abuse, tense friendships and feeling comfortable in misery, the Chicago punks deliver poignant and empowering anthems of identity and self. This isn’t a record of nostalgia – it’s a record of the present. It’s a record for reflecting on where you’ve landed, how you got there and where to go next. [Vinyl edition due May 14.]
Kärbholz – Kontra. CD/LP+CD (Metalville)
New album from the German hardcore punk band.
Kirlian Camera – The 8th President CDEP/12” (Dependent)
After their successful 2017 album Hologram Moon, the veteran Italian electronic act presents the first sample from their upcoming double album Cold Pills. [A limited-edition gold color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God [Deluxe Version] 2xCD+DVD (Epic)
This three-disc deluxe edition of Lamb Of God’s 2020 album includes two bonus tracks, a live version of the full album, as well as a DVD showing live performances of the album. Being the first new album they had released in five years, Lamb Of God landed the group a spot in Consequence Of Sound’s top 30 metal/ rock albums of 2020, as well as a number one spot in the overall, rock and metal charts of iTunes. [A single-disc vinyl pressing of Lamb Of God: Live In Richmond, VA is also available this week.]
Christian Liljegren – Melodic Passion CD/LP (Melodic Passion)
Christian Liljegren is best known as the lead vocalist, and lyricist, for the Swedish Christian melodic power metal band, Narnia. Melodic Passion is a profoundly faith-inspired album of well-crafted melodic metal rock. [A limited purple color vinyl pressing is also available.]
SG Lewis – Times CD/LP (Casablanca)
Following the release of his huge summer singles “Chemicals” and the Robyn and Channel Tres collaborative smash “Impact”, UK songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist SG Lewis (real name Sam Lewis) delivers his long-awaited debut album, Times. The LP finds one of modern pop’s secret weapons stepping out front and center, as he takes listeners on a voyage through soaring electronic dance and kaleidoscopic future disco, with the help of a few friends along the way.
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia (The Moonlight Edition) CD (WB)
New expanded edition of 2020’s Future Nostalgia. Future Nostalgia (The Moonlight Edition) features four previously unheard tracks “We’re Good”, “If It Ain’t Me”. “That Kind Of Woman” and “Not My Problem (feat. JID)” and includes the top 10 smash hit single “Prisoner” by Miley Cyrus featuring Dua Lipa.
Lony dear – A Lantern And A Bell CD (Real World)
New album from Loney dear, aka singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Emil Svanängen. Real World label founder Peter Gabriel says: “Sad soulful melodies that create space in your head that fill with memories dreams and tenderness. I am very proud that we are working with such a gifted songwriter. When you’re isolating, what better than to be wrapped up in these beautiful imaginative constructions — the work of a master.” [Vinyl edition due April 30.]
Lord Finesse – The Awakening [Reissue/1995] 2xCD/2xLP+7” (Tommy Boy)
Digitally remastered 25th Anniversary edition, expanded with a bonus disc of instrumental versions. On his third album, Lord Finesse, representing D.I.T.C. (Diggin’ In The Crates Crew), brought together some of the best rappers of the day for the release of, The Awakening. Mostly produced by Lord Finesse himself, the all-star lineup featured collaborations from KRS-One, MC LYTE, Diamond D, Showbiz & AG, O.C., Grand Puba, Kid Capri and more. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available. The vinyl edition includes a bonus 7” single “Actual Facts”.]
Magnet Animals – Fake Dudes CD/LP (RareNoise)
If ever a moment in history called for the caustic, corrosive rantings of guitarist-composer-poet Todd Clouser and the abstract grooves of his combustible beat-skronk band Magnet Animals, it’s this one. With our collective headspaces dizzied by a nearly yearlong pandemic induced isolation and battered by an unceasing barrage of political insanities, the serrated wit and surrealist insights of Fake Dudes arrives with the kinetic force of a madcap sermon. [A limited mauve color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Roc Marciano – Mt. Marci CD (Fat Beats)
The haunted and evocative Mt. Marci is the self-produced eighth studio album from legendary Long Island, New York emcee/producer Roc Marciano. Features contributions from Schoolboy Q, Kool Keith, Action Bronson, Stove God Cook$ and Trent Truce. [Vinyl edition due May 21.]
Mason Hill – Against The Wall CD/LP (7Hz)
New album from the British hard rock band. From its seductive, inviting opening notes, Against The Wall is an enthralling, spellbinding distillation of everything Mason Hill has learned in their seven-year history.
James McAlister – Scissortail CD/LP (37D03D)
L.A.-based producer, composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist James McAlister is a rare creator, and highly sought-after collaborator. Perhaps best known for his work with Sufjan Stevens, McAlister has also appeared on record with Lorde amongst many others, and is a regular contributor to Aaron Dessner’s projects, including the latest albums from Taylor Swift, folklore and evermore. Scissortail vividly puts McAlister’s evolving master craft on display. It is a collection of moving, meditative, immediately satisfying and quietly stunning work. It is the sound of an artist letting go entirely of pre-conceptions or expectations, instead mining the depths of that very real and abstract place of sound, texture, color and feeling.
Memoriam – To The End CD/LP (Reaper Entertainment)
Marking the beginning of a second trilogy of albums, To The End serves as something of a prologue to the UK death metal band’s first three LPs.
The Mobile Homes – Trigger CD/LP (Wild Kingdom)
Trigger is the first album in 11 years from the electronic/synth band. Their sound has been compared to Depeche Mode.
Mongrel’s Cross – Arcana, Scrying And Revelation CD/LP (Hells Headbangers)
Third album from the Australian extreme metal band.
John Morales – John Morales Presents Teena Marie – Love Songs & Funky Beats – Remixed With Loving Devotion 2xCD/3xLP (Barely Breaking Even)
Producer extraordinaire John Morales celebrates the life and work of R&B/soul legend Teena Marie with a double album full of brand-new remixes, lovingly crafted from the original studio tapes. Teena Marie Brockert forged a unique path through the industry, an artist in-charge of her own destiny, influencing (and heavily sampled by) both the hip-hop and R&B sounds of the 90’s and early 2000’s. Her 1982 lawsuit against Motown records resulted in “The Brockert Initiative”, which has benefitted literally thousands of other artists by making it illegal for record companies to ‘shelve’ artists by keeping them under contract without releasing their material. She continued to tour regularly and deliver commercially successful, expertly sculpted music, right up until her death in 2010.
The Mountain Goats – Songs For Pierre Chuvin CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Surprise-released in April of 2020, Songs For Pierre Chuvin is the Mountain Goats’ first all-boombox album since 2002’s All Hail West Texas. “I dedicate this tape to everybody who’s waited a long time for the wheels to sound their joyous grind: may they grind us into a safe future where we gather once again in rooms to sing songs about pagan priests & hidden shelters, and where we see each other face to face,” says John Darnielle. “Hail the Panasonic! Hail the inscrutable engines of chance! Hail Cybele!”
NF – CLOUDS (THE MIX TAPE) CD (NF Real Music)
NF is the stage name of Michigan rapper and composer Nate Feuerstein, who emerged with his debut album, Mansion, in 2015. The raw emotion and honesty in his music continued on Therapy Session, building the foundation of an incredibly strong and loyal fan base. With CLOUDS, NF outlines his reasons for releasing this mixtape now. “Hanging onto songs this long is daunting,” he raps, matter-of-factly. He then playfully delivers clever lines in unison with a sparse violin melody before his delivery becomes more fiery, matching a thundering, industrial beat. Throughout, the technically gifted MC passionately strings together intricate rhymes about his continued ascent and the gravity of his ambitions: “It’s probable / That I might press the envelope / Ideas so astronomical / Sometimes I find them comical.” [Includes an 11”x17” poster – while supplies last.]
Odd Dimension – Blue Dawn CD (Scarlet)
New album from the Italian progressive metal band.
Pylon – Pylon 4xCD (New West)
A comprehensive look at the band that features their studio LPs Gyrate and Chomp, both of which have been remastered from their original tapes, the 11-song collection Extra which includes rarities and five previously unreleased studio & live recordings, as well as Razz Tape, Pylon’s first-ever recording: a 13-song unreleased session that pre-dates the band’s seminal “Cool” b/w “Dub” debut. The set includes a hardbound, 200 page full-color book featuring pieces written by the members of R.E.M., Gang Of Four, Steve Albini, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney, Sonic Youth, Interpol, B-52’s, Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, Mission Of Burma, Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and K Records, Anthony DeCurtis, Chris Stamey of The dB’s, Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate and many more.
Suzi Quatro – The Devil In Me CD/2xLP (Steamhammer)
“The Devil In Me is the best album in my career to date!” announced Suzi Quatro. The American rock vocalist would hardly utter such superlatives lightly. The Devil In Me consists of a dozen songs, each of them – from the opening track and title song to the final “Motor City Riders” – a real highlight. The reasons for Suzi’s remarkable creative explosion: on the one hand, the lockdown, which kept her from her usual touring life in spring 2020, and on the other, another collaboration with her son Richard Tuckey, which had already worked out extremely well on her predecessor album No Control. [The gatefold double vinyl edition includes the two bonus tracks “Can I Be Your Girl” and “Desperado”.]
The Quill – Earthrise CD/LP (Metalville)
Ninth studio album from the Swedish hard rock institution.
Renée Reed – Renee Reed CD/LP (Keeled Scales)
The songs on Renée’s self-titled debut album chronicle a three-year period. These songs are about toxic relationships, seeing ghosts, ancestral baggage and blessings, and daydreaming about a lover.
Rival Sons – Before The Fire [Reissue/2009] CD/LP (Sacred Tongue)
Rival Sons – Rival Sons EP [Reissue/2010] CDEP/12” (Sacred Tongue)
The reissues of the Rival Sons EP (2010) and Before The Fire (2009) will be the first releases under the Grammy-nominated band’s new label, Sacred Tongue Recordings. These two projects are from the “early days” of Rival Sons which paved the way for the Southern California blues rocker’s blossoming career. This 10-year anniversary reissue boasts remastered audio and comes pressed on colored vinyl. “We’ve talked about creating our own record label from the very beginning,” notes the band. “It’s about creating a good home for our back catalogue as the Rival Sons community continues to grow together worldwide. The band has always maintained a stance of independence and sole custody of our early works was the long game. [Limited color vinyl editions are also available.]
Justin Rutledge – Islands CD/LP (Outside Music)
A youth hostel in London, a dim lit bar in Toronto, the back of the van rolling through the prairies. These are the places that Justin Rutledge penned many of his songs, isolated, him and a guitar. Over the years, those songs have graced records that have won awards, soundtracked weddings, TV shows and film, and gained fans in Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith and Dolly Parton. On Islands, Justin revisits those songs, the way they were conceived, sparse accompaniment, just JR and his guitar. [A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Sanguisugabogg – Tortured Whole CD (Century Media)
Debut full-length album from one of Ohio’s most promising upcoming death metal outfits. [Vinyl edition due May 14.]
Serpentwithfeet – Deacon CD/LP+MP3 (Secretly Canadian)
Serpentwithfeet is not only imagining but exploring a world wherein Black love is paramount. His new album, Deacon, is “a study rather than a story,” delving into Black, gay love and the tenderness present in the best companionships, romantic or otherwise. Fully self-actualized and more devoted than ever to personal fulfillment, Deacon highlights his growth as a songwriter, which he credits to taking a more straightforward approach to expression. Spending time with pop songwriters and observing how they traverse language encouraged serpent to take more risks lyrically, resulting in more purity.
Skegss – Rehearsal CD/LP (Loma Vista)
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of the most intoxicating acts to come out of Australia in years,” Byron Bay power trio Skegss deliver their new Catherine Marks (Manchester Orchestra, PJ Harvey, The Killers) produced album Rehearsal. A thrill ride through the band’s laissez-faire lifestyle and sun kissed narratives of love, friendship and youthful musings, they combine surf, garage, and slacker elements to create their dynamic sound here. The trippy cover art comes courtesy of frequent collaborator Jack Irvine (Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan). [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen – Smith/Kotzen CD/LP (BMG)
Smith/Kotzen is the exciting partnership between guitarists and vocalists Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen. Part-time L.A. neighbors, full time friends with a healthy mutual respect – their music is evocative of the classic rock bands of the ‘70s brought bang up to date with punchy hooks, harmonies and sheer guitar virtuosity. Debut track “Taking My Chances” sets the tone for this electrifying collaboration between two hugely admired rock music trailblazers. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
John Smith – The Fray CD/LP (Commoner)
Against the backdrop of a universally difficult 2020, Essex-born songwriter and guitarist John Smith found himself facing personal and unrelenting change. “With newfound pain coming from so many directions, dealing with the uncertainty it brings, I closed the curtains and picked up the pen, turning to songwriting as a lifeline,” Smith says. On his seventh full-length studio album and follow-up to 2018’s Hummingbird, Smith gives us an uplifting perspective on the path forward but pays beautiful homage to the difficulties along the way. The Fray features collaborations and guest features from Sarah Jarosz, The Milk Carton Kids, Bill Frisell, Courtney Harman, Lisa Hannigan and Jessica Staveley-Taylot.
Dr. Lonnie Smith – Breathe CD (Blue Note)
On the night of this recording the good doctor took the stage with an expanded line-up featuring Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar, Johnathan Blake on drums, John Ellis on tenor saxophone, Jason Marshall on baritone saxophone, Sean Jones on trumpet, and Robin Eubanks on trombone with special guest vocalist Alicia Olatuja on “Pilgrimage.” Two additional studio tracks open and close the album, presenting the unique collaboration between Doc & Iggy Pop including a sublime cover of Donovan’s 1966 hit “Sunshine Superman”.
Spoon – Gimme Fiction [Reissue/2005] CD/LP/2xCD/2xLP+MP3 (Matador)
Spoon make some of the catchiest, most confident rock ‘n’ roll of any group around. Their fifth full-length is nothing short of a dizzying, soulful masterpiece, easily the most expansive work in their career. Gimme Fiction is a sprawling, exhilarating, filler-free album of keenly focused artistic vision and ambition. [The deluxe anniversary edition includes the 2015 remastered version of the original album, a second disc with 12 previously unreleased demos, a digital download of nine bonus tracks, and a full-color book containing photos and an extensive oral history of the making of the album by The A.V. Club’s Sean O’Neal. A limited red and white split-color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Stepson – Help Me, Help You CD/LP (Sharptone/Nuclear Blast)
Formed in Brisbane in 2014, Stepson is a high-octane band whose high energy performances and music have made them one of the most recognized punk/hardcore bands in Australia. [A limited edition clear with pink and purple color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Stortregn – Impermanence CD (The Artisan Era)
With a downpour of eight cosmic tracks, crafted with stellar riffs, thundering blast beats and violence, Stortregn is unleash their fifth studio album. [Vinyl edition due April 9.]
Joe Strummer – Assembly CD/2xLP 9Dark Horse/BMG)
Assembly showcases carefully curated singles, fan favorites, and archival rarities from the Joe Strummer solo catalog. This 16-track compilation features three previously unreleased versions of classic Clash tracks, including the never-before-heard “Junco Partner (Acoustic)” and electrifying live performances of “Rudie Can’t Fail” and “I Fought The Law”, the latter two of which were recorded by Strummer and the Mescaleros at London’s Brixton Academy on November 24, 2001. [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Tomahawk – Tonic Immobility CD/LP (Ipecac)
On their 20th anniversary, Tomahawk finally return with their fifth full-length album, Tonic Immobility. The guys – guitarist Duane Denison (the Jesus Lizard, Unsemble), vocalist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas), drummer John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), and bassist Trevor “field mouse” Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas) – survey where they’ve come from only to leap ahead once more. “Tonic Immobility is almost a summary of everything we’ve done,” states Duane. “There are references to previous things spread throughout the album as well as new territory. On any of our albums, you’ll find those faster, high energy, abrasive, and dissonant songs. You’ll also find the slower, atmospheric, groove- and tension-based moments too. There’s always been a touch of, dare I say, Latin music in the form of Bossa Nova or flamenco-influenced guitar. All of those things appear on this record.” [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Tower Of Power – 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater-Oakland, CA – June 2018 2xCD+DVD/3xLP (Mack Avenue)
With a history 50+ years in the making, Tower Of Power has been a funk institution since 1968, knocking out hits like “What Is Hip”, “So Very Hard To Go”, “This Time It’s Real” and “You’re Still A Young Man” while lending their soulful sound to collaborations with Santana, the Grateful Dead, Elton, Huey Lewis, Justin Timberlake and everyone in-between. 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater captures their storied career with no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits to sold-out audiences in 2018. These historic performances include alumni special guests such as Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Bruce Conte and Ray Greene. [A stand-alone DVD edition is also available.]
Tune-Yards – Sketchy CD/LP+MP3 (4AD)
Tune-Yards’ 2018 release I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life, was a self-reflexive question mark at the end of a decade of outspoken, polyphonic indie music. From 2009 to 2018, Tune-Yards (both Merrill and her partner and collaborator Nate Brenner) released four critically acclaimed albums, travelled the world relentlessly to play live shows, and composed the psychedelic score to Boots Riley’s surrealist cinematic masterpiece Sorry To Bother You. “We had really been non-stop hustling,” Merrill reflects. “And when we’re hustling, we’re complicit in all of the systems that I really don’t believe in.” Interrogating these systems and her role within them had left Merrill feeling heavy with guilt and grief and lost about how to move forward as a musician. But then she began to rediscover the joy in making music. Inspired by the Beastie Boys Book and Questlove’s Creative Quest, Merrill and Nate began jamming daily for hours in their home rehearsal studio “like athletes.” They ditched computer screens for live instruments (Merrill on drums, Nate on bass) and before long full songs started to emerge. Unlike the lyrical introspection of their previous outing, on the project’s fifth studio album Sketchy, Merrill balances self-inspection and reflection with bombastic rallying cries, reminiscent of the furious tones of early days Tune-Yards. The result is a colorful and joyous record with lyrics that cut to the bone. [A limited indie store only exclusive vinyl pressing is also available.]
Carrie Underwood – My Savior CD (Capitol Nashville)
New release and first inspirational album from the country music superstar. [Vinyl edition due April 30.]
Visionist – A Call To Arms CD/LP+MP3 (Mute)
A Call To Arms is Visionist’s (aka Louis Carnell) third album release and where previously the artist used his vocals as samples, for the first time we hear his singing voice in the form of song and lyric. Along with the addition of Visionist’s vocals, the album is also host to a varied list of collaborators. “With every project I want to test myself, so with this ethos, I expand the landscape of sound I have created over the years,” he says. “On A Call To Arms I have furthered my musical direction in terms of collaboration in order to bring new layers of sonics, dynamics, energies and ideas.” For Visionist, each album is a chapter in a bigger storyline, and this new album builds upon 2015’s debut, Safe and its 2017 follow up, Value. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Sara Watkins – Under The Pepper Tree CD/LP (New West)
For two decades, Sara Watkins has been one of the most visible artists in roots music, with her catalog ranging from solo albums and Watkins Family Hour, a duo with her brother Sean Watkins, to her Grammy-winning bands Nickel Creek and I’m With Her. With the nostalgic and gentle new album Under The Pepper Tree, Sara offers a comforting record for those moments as daily rhythms fade into nightly rituals – and when a child’s imagination comes to life. Made with families in mind, the personal project encompasses songs she embraced as a child herself, as well as the musical friendships she’s made along the way. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Tyler Chester, Under The Pepper Tree brings storytelling, solace, and encouragement to the listener, no matter the age.
The Wedding Present – Locked Down And Stripped Back CD/LP (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
The Wedding Present recorded a full acoustic and stripped back album during the lock down from COVID-19 featuring classic Wedding Present hits and deep cuts and new tracks like “We Should Be Together” which is a duet with Louise Wenner of the Britpop band Sleeper.
Writhing Squares – Chart For The Solution CD/2xLP (Trouble In Mind)
A heady, progressive, psychedelic space-rock-cum-minimal synth slop punctuated by MacKay/Chance-style blasts of brass and woodwinds that definitely scratch an itch. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Wythersake – Antiquity CD (Scarlet)
Debut album from the symphonic blackened death metal band.
Xiu Xiu – OH NO CD/2xLP (Polyvinyl)
For nearly two decades, Xiu Xiu has made music for the moments when life’s harsh realities meet its existential mysteries. A profound sense of emotional vulnerability weaves its way throughout the dozen albums the group has made, but also a spirit of openness and experimentalism as they peer into the sonic unknown, creating moments of catharsis by harnessing bursts of noise and other uncommon sounds. OH NO, the group’s newest album, is an album of duets, with Jamie Stewart sharing the spotlight with an array of guests who have made an impact on him personally and musically. Sharon Van Etten’s tentative musings open the album, and from there vocalists from across the musical spectrum, including Circuit des Yeux’s Haley Fohr, Liz Harris, Alice Bag, Chelsea Wolfe, Owen Pallet, and Twin Shadow’s George Lewis Jr., all drift into Xiu Xiu’s distinctive soundworld. [A limited-edition solid cream/solid scarlet color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Yawning Sons – Sky Island CD/LP (Ripple Music)
Transatlantic rock collective Yawning Sons (formed by desert rock legends Yawning Man and post-rock visionaries Sons Of Alpha Centauri) release their sophomore album.
Neil Young – Young Shakespeare CD/LP/LP+CD+DVD (Reprise)
Just two months after the release of his seminal album After The Gold Rush, Neil Young played a solo show at The Shakespeare Theater in Stratford, CT on January 22, 1971. The show was filmed and recorded, and the concert shown on German TV later in 1971. In 2020, while Neil and his team were reviewing his Archive for future projects, Neil revisited the 16mm film and audio recording of this show that had been preserved in the Archive for almost 50 years. Piecing together the tapes and footage, Neil realized that he had the full concert – the film of which is the earliest live footage of Neil performing that is known to exist. Young Shakespeare is “one of the purest sounding acoustic performances we have in the Archive” states Neil Young, and is released almost exactly 50 years after the original performance [The deluxe box set edition includes the restored audio on both LP and CD and, for the first time ever, a DVD of the concert.]
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Tower Of Power – 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater-Oakland, CA – June 2018 DVD (Mack Avenue)
With a history 50+ years in the making, Tower Of Power has been a funk institution since 1968, knocking out hits like “What Is Hip”, “So Very Hard To Go”, “This Time It’s Real” and “You’re Still A Young Man” while lending their soulful sound to collaborations with Santana, the Grateful Dead, Elton, Huey Lewis, Justin Timberlake and everyone in-between. 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater captures their storied career with no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits to sold-out audiences in 2018.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Bad Books – Bad Books [Reissue/2010] 2xLP (Favorite Gentleman)
10th anniversary expanded color vinyl (cream with orange, yellow, and blue splatter) reissue. Bad Books is a supergroup consisting of Kevin Devine and members of Manchester Orchestra. Bad Books is their eponymous debut album.
Badfinger – No Matter What: Revisiting The Hits LP (Cleopatra)
Limited red, white, and blue color vinyl pressing. A stellar line-up of special guest superstars join Joey Molland’s Badfinger to create a full-length album of unique twists on the band’s all-time favorite hits. Featuring Matthew Sweet, Todd Rundgren, Rick Wakeman, The Legendary Pink Dots, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, Rick Springfield, and Sonny Landreth performing revamped versions of the Paul McCartney-penned “Come And Get It” as well as the smash hit singles “Baby Blue”, “No Matter What”, “Day After Day”, and the monster ballad (later covered by Mariah Carey) “Without You”.
Badge Époque Ensemble – Future Past & Present LP (Telephone Explosion)
A pseudo-greatest-hits survey of the Ensemble’s catalog to-date, touching on highlights from all three releases while emphasizing the group’s strength as versatile mood-conjurors. Where these songs once featured vocal heavyweights like Meg Remy, Jennifer Castle, James Baley and Dorothea Paas, they are now strung together instrumentally in a sequence that represents the purest distillation of Badge Époque Ensemble’s collective musical chemistry to date.
Beast In Black – From Hell With Love LP (Nuclear Blast)
Limited blue-in-yellow swirl color vinyl pressing of the sophomore album from the Finnish power metal band.
Justin Bieber – Anyone b/w Holy 12” (Def Jam)
New 12” featuring two hit singles from Justin’s sixth studio album, Justice.
Boston – Boston [Reissue/1976] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Vinyl reissue of the AOR band’s debut album.
Gianni Brezzo – The Awakening 12” (Jakarta)
The Awakening showcases Brezzo’s versatile but still jazz focused approach and style but also displays his pure talent as a musician and a songwriter whilst perfectly delivering that very own, very personal and deeply wonderful melancholy and moody jazz vibe.
Brothers Of The Same Mind – Brothers Of The Same Mind [Reissue/1991] 12” (Ever Rap)
30th anniversary vinyl edition. This self-titled, seven-song album from 1991 is one of the most valuable and sought-after artifacts in the history of Seattle hip-hop.
Cavetown – Lemon Boy [Reissue/2018] LP (Cavetown)
White color vinyl pressing. The son of a professional flautist and Cambridge University’s director of music, Robin Skinner who’s performed under the name Cavetown since 2013 has musical talent literally embedded in his DNA. At age 14, he started posting original songs and covers on YouTube alongside daily musings and behind-the-scenes vignettes, creating a barrier-free connection with his fans as they saw themselves in his music. His whole-hearted optimism and honest songwriting are reflected in effortless melodies about yearning to make sense of life.
Eric Clapton and The Yardbirds – Historic Recordings Vol. 1 2xLP (Let Them Eat Vinyl)
Eric Clapton and The Yardbirds – Historic Recordings Vol. 2 2xLP (Let Them Eat Vinyl)
Rare recordings of legendary guitarist Eric Clapton performing his first love, the blues, complete with collaborations with The Yardbirds, Jimmy Page and Sonny Boy Williamson.
The Clean – Unknown Country [Reissue/1996] LP+MP3 (Merge)
The Clean – Mister Pop [Reissue/2009] LP+MP3 (Merge)
In 1978, The Clean were the seeds of New Zealand punk. In the years since, they have carved out a big sandbox for everyone to play in, and their influence resonates not only in NZ but around the world. A group that thrives when free of expectations, The Clean’s Robert Scott, Hamish Kilgour, and David Kilgour are, as Tape Op described, “a casually wonderful band.”
Conan – Live At Freak Valley 2xLP (Napalm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The undisputed masters of fantastical otherworldly sludgy doom, Conan, cast a spell on the listener and propel them straight into the crowd, captured in dust. Heavily distorted and down-tuned sounds turn the legendary fields of the German Freak Valley Festival into madness. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Tex Crick – Live In…New York City LP (Mac’s Record Label)
Tex Crick is the first artist signed to Mac DeMarco’s label. Performing the majority of instruments himself, Crick has delicately created a world of delusion within the walls of his NYC apartment. The record was compiled from these original recordings and additional instruments were added thereafter.
Dark Tranquillity – Moment 2xLP (Century Media)
New album from the Swedish melodic death metal kings.
Demon Hunter – Songs of Death And Resurrection 2xLP (Solid State)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. 11 newly recorded “resurrected” versions of classic Demon Hunter songs from across their ten studio albums, including “I Am A Stone”, “I Will Fail You”, “Carry Me Down” and “The Heart Of A Graveyard”, plus a brand new composition, “Praise The Void”. Lush string arrangements, haunting piano, and layered vocal harmonies accompany the reimagined acoustic versions found on Songs Of Death And Resurrection. [A limited splatter color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Kevin Devine – Split The Country, Split The Street [Reissue/2005] LP (Triple Crown)
Multi-color vinyl reissue of Kevin Devine’s third studio album. Split The Country, Split The Street was originally released in 2005, and is the first solo record released after Kevin was no longer in Miracle Of 86 (a band in which he was the lead singer). The album features more rock-oriented songs with fuller band arrangements than his previous two releases, and was produced by Chris Bracco, Mike Skinner and Kevin Devine.
D Smoke – Black Habits LP (Woodworks)
As a black, bilingual rapper, musician, and CEO, Smoke utilizes his lived experiences to create music and opportunities that bridge the cultural gaps seemingly present between black and brown communities, and the have and have-nots.
Esbe – Bloomsday [Reissue/2018] 2xLP (Cold Busted)
First-time vinyl pressing. Esbe is a multi-genre music producer from Los Angeles, California. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from extensive use of jazz and soul samples.
Freak Heat Waves – Zap The Planet LP (Telephone Explosion)
A record full of lo-fi digital grit and early MIDI instrumentation. Dirty samples crackle as they skate over immense analog synths. Psychotropic rhythms plant roots and the timeless, signature Freak Heat Waves vocals serve as guides throughout the journey.
Johnnie Frierson – Have You Been Good To Yourself LP+MP3 (Light In The Attic)
A mix of spoken word and gospel songs laid down direct to cassette, these ultra-rare home recordings draw from Johnnie’s religious upbringing and his history in the music business, which was interrupted in 1970 when he was sent to fight in Vietnam. [A limited clear vinyl pressing is also available.]
Fuath – II LP (Season Of Mist)
Translated as hatred in Gaelic, Fuath is the atmospheric black metal offshoot of Saor’s Andy Marshall. Taking inspiration from arguably black metal’s most fertile and explosive period – the early to mid- ‘90s – the music channels the unrelenting tenor and iciness of forebears Darkthrone and Mayhem, as well as the mystery and atmosphere of bands like Windir.
Immortal Guardian – Psychosomatic LP (M-Theory Audio)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Second album from the progressive/power metal quartet.
Izy – Irene LP (Hope Street)
Irene is the debut album from Izy (pronounced eye-zee), a Melbourne-based trio originally hailing from Cairns in Australia’s tropical North. A deeply mature album from a very young band, Irene is a 10-song collection of raw neo-soul grooves, rich vocal harmony and subtle jazz guitar. [CD edition due April 9.]
The Jacksons – Live [Reissue/1981] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
The Jacksons’ Live is back on vinyl and remastered – featuring “Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)”, “Can You Feel It”, and “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”. This set was recorded during The Jackson’s’ North American Triumph Tour in 1981.
Japan – Quiet Life [Reissue/1979] LP (BMG)
Recently released on CD – now available on red color vinyl. That Japan’s breakthrough record Quiet Life was released in both 1979 and 1980 is uniquely fitting for a band who were about to step out of the glam rock, post punk shadows of the late ’70s and deliver a record with a brand-new sound that would come to define the ’80s. Quiet Life was the third, final and most successful release on the Hansa Records label. A forerunner for the alternative/new wave sound of the new decade, the album would become one of the great classic British albums.
Ariel Kalma – French Archives Vol. II 4xLP (Black Sweat)
Few, like Ariel, have really been able to dedicate their life to a tireless experimentation in music. In according to a subtle plot, between his experiences in the World and the restitution of them, he has always found multifaceted combinations of sounds. Kalma uses anything that can stimulate his impressions, expanding his action without boundaries: church bells, dilated flutes, tape machine, drum machine, Revox loops, flanger, reverberations, war drums, modular and wasp synth, Yamaha PS20, Farfisa. etc.
Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God: Live In Richmond, VA LP (Epic)
Single-disc vinyl package featuring a 10-track concert from the band’s live stream event recorded September 18, 2020, in which the band performed the album Lamb Of God in its entirety.
Julian Lennon – Valotte [Reissue/1984] LP (Friday Music)
Audiophile 180gm vinyl pressing. Julian Lennon’s Valotte album was a big surprise upon its release in 1984. Featuring the top charting hits “Too Late For Goodbyes” and “Valotte” as well as further favorites like “Say You’re Wrong”, “On The Phone” and the tribute to his father “Well, I Don’t Know”, the album went on to become a platinum plus debut, and was nominated for Best New Artist by both the Grammy’s and MTV. [A limited turquoise color vinyl pressing is also available.]
L’impératrice – Matahari [Reissue/2018] 2xLP+MP3 (microqlima)
L’impératrice – Tako Tsubo 2xLP+MP3 (microqlima)
French band L’impératrice’s music is a vintage space pop and cosmic disco sound. The band’s name means “The Empress”. It essentially represents the idea of freedom, sensuality, and femininity through music.
George Lynch & Jeff Pilson – Heavy Hitters LP (Deadline Music)
Released last year on CD – now available on color vinyl. Guitar-shredding virtuoso George Lynch reteams with former Dokken bandmate Jeff Pilson for a set of new studio recordings that turn pop music classics into powerful metal anthems. Includes renditions of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World”, Prince’s “Kiss”, OneRepublic’s “Apologize”, Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth”, Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova” and more.
Kovacs The Hun – Mirror World LP (The Content Label)
Budapest based beat-maker Kovacs The Hun is known for his groundbreaking album Five Finger Discount under the name Savages, and his involvement with the musical project Savages y Suefo. Mirror World features a sonic palette of hip-hop, jazz, and eerie soundtracks mixed colorfully with experimental treatments and traditional musical influences.
KXNG Crooked – Good Vs Evil [Reissue/2016] LP (Holy Toledo)
First-time vinyl pressing of the third album from rapper KXNG Crooked. Guests include Eminem, RZA, Xzibit, Tech N9ne among others.
Maistah Aphrica – Meow LP (Black Sweat)
Maistah Aphrica’s music is an explosive bubble of expressions – a feverish, impulsive and unstoppable ritual. A cosmic attitude, such as Heliocentrics or Embryo, marries the majestic and floating sounds of synths and psych organs, acidified by toxic dub sparks and deadly funk forays. A crazy horn section travels without maps from Sun-Ra and Ethiopian echoes, hard-bop reminiscences, to sudden and virulent Balkanisms, making this soup an indecipherable combination of flavors.
The Mansions – Best Of The Bees [Reissue/2010] LP (Bad Timing)
Light blue, pink, magenta tri-color vinyl reissue. Originally released in 2010, Best Of The Bees is a compilation album from Mansions that includes, in frontman Christopher Browder’s own words, the best non-album songs that Mansions released between 2008 and 2009. Previously available only digitally, now available for its 10-year anniversary. This pressing comes with a slightly altered tracklisting and new artwork.
Marianas Rest – Fata Morgana 2xLP (Napalm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Emerging from the Finnish coastal town of Kotka, melodic death metal band Marianas Rest unleash their third studio album. The top-notch offering combines intense melodic death metal spiced with significant doom elements and breathes an overall lyrical theme of the dark aspects of life with every note.
Hugh Masekela & Hedzole Soundz – Live At The Record Plant February 24th 1974 LP (Honeypie)
Legendary South African-born trumpeter Hugh Masekela became a major star when he appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, and he had a smash hit with “Grazing In The Grass” the following year. This superb set was originally broadcast on KSAN-FM and captures him at his infectious best.
The Meteors – Skull N Bones LP (Cleopatra)
Limited translucent green color vinyl pressing. New album from psychobilly legends.
Mutiny – A Night Out With The Boys [Reissue/1983] LP (Tidal Waves Music)
Mutiny performed in a style not far removed from the classic P-Funk style and with a lot of emphasis on the dual lead guitar work, but what makes them unique compared to their contemporaries, is that at times their recordings also emit a darker, more sinister feeling. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is also available.]
New Age Steppers – The New Age Steppers [Reissue/1980] LP+MP3 (On-U Sound)
New Age Steppers – Action Battlefield [Reissue/1981] LP+MP3 (On-U Sound)
New Age Steppers – Foundation Steppers [Reissue/1983] LP+MP3 (On-U Sound)
New Age Steppers – Love Forever [Reissue/2012] LP+MP3 (On-U Sound)
The New Age Steppers – Avant Gardening LP+MP3 (On-U Sound)
A grip of vinyl reissues including a collection rare dubs, version excursions and unreleased tracks from the vault 1980-1983 (Avant Gardening) from the UK dub collective formed by producer Adrian Sherwood. Now available on 180gm vinyl.
Ocean Moon – Crystal Harmonics LP (Be With)
Ocean Moon is a solo project from Jon Tye of Seahawks. A long-time explorer of the sounds of spaciousness, having released the ambient classic LP iO in 1994 as MLO, Crystal Harmonics is a document of Jon’s latest discoveries. An ambient/new age/modern classical library suite for KPM, this is inter- dimensional music for mind, body and spirit. Island Visions, the recent collection of music from Seahawks for KPM, touched on the deeper, more spatial side of music and led to Jon exploring this territory in greater depth, again for KPM, under his Ocean Moon alter ego.
Onslaught – Killing Peace [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Back On Black)
Onslaught – Shadow Of Death [Reissue/2008] LP (Back On Black)
Onslaught – Live Damnation [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Back On Black)
Color vinyl reissues of three albums by the thrash metal band.
Panic! At The Disco – Death Of A Bachelor [Reissue/2015] LP (Fueled By Ramen)
Limited silver color vinyl reissue of the fifth studio album by Panic! At the Disco – their first as a solo project.
Popcaan – Fixtape 2xLP (Ovo Sounds)
Fixtape arrives as the dancehall icon caps off Jamaican Independence Day and includes a star-studded lineup, such as the Nineteen85- produced track Twist & Turn featuring Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Additional guest appearances include French Montana, Stylo G, Dane Ray, and Jada Kingdom. Fixtape continues Popcaan’s historic narrative as one of the most prominent global superstars in the reggae space today. The 19-track body of work is powered by Popcaan’s potent energy, lyrics, and unique amalgam of genres.
Rainbow – Monsters Of Rock – Live At Donington 1980 2xLP+CD (earMUSIC)
Monsters Of Rock – Live At Donington 1980 captures the unique performance by Rainbow with Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Don Airey (keyboard), Roger Glover (bass), Cozy Powell (drums) and Graham Bonnet (vocals). This constellation is very special because it was the last concert with this line-up. The performance also impresses with the high quality of their playing, which reached the peak of musical creativity during the evening.
Reagan Youth – Volume 1 [Reissue/1988] LP (Cleopatra)
Green color vinyl reissue of the punk rock’s band’s 1988 debut LP.
Rock Set – Piteå Kommun [Reissue/1979] 7” (On The Dole)
Ultra-rare 1979 KBD-style punk rock.
Salem – Fires In Heaven LP (Salem)
First new album in ten years from the pioneers of witch house.
Schammasch – Triangle [Reissue/2016] 3xLP (Prosthetic)
Limited multi-color vinyl reissue of the Swiss avant-garde metal titans’ sprawling 2016 album.
- Fidelity – Fidelity Radio Club LP (Jakarta)
Fidelity Radio Club was modelled after a genre crossing radio show exploring hip-hop, R&B, jazz, house and funk.
Sorority Noise – Forgettable [Reissue/2014] LP (Flower Girl)
Transparent purple color vinyl pressing of the indie/punk/emo quartet’s debut album.
Lucy Spraggan – Choices LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. It has been twelve months since singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan chose to get sober, and life has changed a lot for the English singer/songwriter as a result. In fact, the present-day Lucy Spraggan is, in a multitude of ways, unrecognizable from the person of yesteryear. Control – both relinquishing it and taking it back – plus rediscovering oneself, is a recurring theme of the past year and Spraggan’s new album Choices. Aptly named, the songs that comprise the collection offer insight and introspection that saw her let go of alcohol, embrace exercise and a healthier lifestyle, move onwards through a divorce and find solace in its wake. Needless to say, it may have been necessary, but it was by no means easy. In conclusion, “it’s really just been an enlightening thing.” [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Standards – Fruit Island LP (Topshelf)
Limited blue and white color vinyl pressing. Led by the exuberant melodies of cross-tapping guitarist Marcos Mena, the duo named Standards make ebullient instrumental math-rock whose effervescent riffs teem with enthusiasm for life and music. On the band’s debut full-length, Fruit Island, Standards deftly retool math-rock’s sinister and challenging tendencies into a style that is at once danceable yet still compositionally profound.
Steep Canyon Rangers – Arm In Arm LP (Yep Roc)
The Asheville, North Carolina’s Grammy winner’s new album, Arm In Arm, finds the band in a unique position where their sound is much more Americana than their bluegrass origins. Produced by Brandon Bell (Zac Brown, John Prine) and featuring Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers and Michael Bearden (music director for Michael Jackson), the Rangers continue to hone their craft with unlikely collaborators while developing a sound that is uniquely their own.
Sunny War – Simple Syrup LP (ORG Music)
Simple Syrup has a vibrant, loose feel, more focused on the interplay with the musicians than ever before. Sunny’s new songs touch on everything from romance to politics, jumping easily between larger concepts like the expectations for famous black women in American art to an ode to her own drunken self in relationships. [A limited edition blue & red split color vinyl pressing is also available.]
SYML – You Knew It Was Me 12” (Nettwerk)
With a keen grasp on textural and emotive songwriting, SYML aka Brian Fennell wrote this EP choosing to paint in piano rather than using lyrics to describe his feelings. Says Fennell, “Words can be limiting, especially when the writer isn’t speaking a language you understand. I wanted to make a piece of wordless music that still tells a story.”
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker [Reissue/2010] 4xLP (Interscope)
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their acclaimed debut album, Innerspeaker, Tame Impala delivers a deluxe four-LP vinyl box set reissue featuring a trove of bonus content. The collection includes new mixes of “Alter Ego” and “Runway, Houses, City, Clouds”, instrumentals of “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind” and “It Is Not Meant To Be”, a variety of demo tracks, plus the previously-unheard, side-long “Wave House Live Jam”. In addition to an array of sonic treasures, the set also includes a 40-page booklet and a collage of album sketches.
Tank – Filth Hounds Of Hades [Reissue/1982] 2xLP (Deadline Music)
Deluxe red and blue color vinyl reissue of the classic 1982 debut album from NWOBHM kings. Features seven bonus tracks.
Aron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! LP (New West)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Every now and then an artist comes along who makes you remember why you started listening to albums in the first place: Aaron Lee Tasjan is that artist. With his wrecked cool, off-center charm, and restless creative dazzle, he makes music with conviction that has its roots in rock’s murky past, armed with an arsenal of songs that spill over with humor, intelligence, irony, personal vision and at times prophecy. An obsessive creative, Tasjan writes pop songs with a twist, a little overdriven, far too honest at times. He updates the idea of androgyny but dispels the emotional and social ambiguity with lyrics that reflect his own geographic and artistic wanderings.
Bubbha Thomas – Life & Times… [Reissue/1985] LP (Tidal Waves Music)
Limited clear vinyl pressing. Next to his work with The Lightmen, Bubbha also released the fantastic (solo) album Life & Times in 1985. Life & Times is particularly interesting to boogie-enthusiasts because of its high doses of funky twerks, solid grooves, crazy synth work, soulful vocals and excellent drum-beats courtesy of Mr. Thomas himself.
Total – Can’t You See [Reissue/1995] 12” (Tommy Boy)
Certified gold single “Can’t You See” from the New Jersey Drive Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) launched the career of popular ‘90s girl group Total.
Train – Drops Of Jupiter [Reissue/2001] LP (Sony)
Limited edition bronze color vinyl reissue of the pop rock band’s 2001 breakthrough sophomore album.
trog’low – Midnight Calisthenics LP/Cassette (Cold Busted)
trog’low has gained attention with a deft combination of the old timey and fresh aesthetics, as boom-bap beats and deep jazz intermingle. trog’low’s refusal to follow production fads and trends gives his music a classic, timeless feel; with Midnight Calisthenics, he’s delivered an album that’ll linger. [CD edition due April 9.]
Piero Umiliani – L’Uomo Elettronico: Cosmic Electronic Environments From An Italian Synth Music Maestro (1972-1983) 2xLP (Four Flies)
Umiliani builds hypnotic, minimalist sonic landscapes through layers of sharp synths, including Moog, Arp, and VCS3. This music could fit equally well in a sci-fi documentary, a post-apocalyptic film, a television report on climate change, or a journey through outer space.
Valencia – We All Need A Reason To Believe [Reissue/2008] LP (Bad Timing)
Blue and white galaxy color vinyl. Valencia’s We All Need A Reason To Believe is one of the critical pop-punk releases of the late ’00s, an album with high-soaring melodies and riffs for grown-ups.
Vampa – Plugget [Reissue/1982] 7” (On The Dole)
Vampa were just kids, 13-14 years old when they recorded and released this raw and very Iron Maidenesque 7” in 1982 – their only recorded output.
Various Artists – The Secret Museum Of Mankind: Guitars Vol. 1: Prologue To Modern Styles LP (Jalopy)
The Secret Museum Of Mankind: Guitars Vol. 1: Prologue To Modern Styles presents guitar and guitar related music, recorded across the world from Spain, to Papua New Guinea, Greece to Ghana to India and more. The collection is drawn from archivist/cratedigger Pat Conte’s pioneering and remarkable personal collection of 78rpm discs, recorded in the 1920’s-1950’s.
Volbeat – The Strength / The Sound / The Songs [Reissue/2005] LP (Mascot)
Limited 15th Anniversary glow in the dark vinyl pressing of the Danish heavy metal band’s debut album.
Warning – The Strength To Dream [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Svart)
Warning – Watching From A Distance [Reissue/2006] 2xLP (Svart)
Warning – The Demo Tapes [Reissue/2006] LP (Svart)
Warning was a doom metal band from the UK, formed in 1994 by Patrick Walker. They played their final show in January 2009.
Wax Tailor – Dusty Rainbow From The Dark LP (Lab’Oratoire)
Fourth studio album by the French hip-hop producer.
Rodger Wilhoit – The “Social World” Of Rodger Wilhoit LP (Sweet Mental Revenge)
Country music has chased piety, poetry, and much else, but The Social World is unapologetic hardcore, beer-sodden country music reduced to its core values. No faking. No pretension. Spare, unornamented, and straight from the heart, the songs on The “Social World” Of Rodger Wilhoit are all that’s holy and true in beerhall country music.
Wolf King – The Path Of Wrath LP (Prosthetic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Having lost none of their bite, everyone’s favorite Bay Area blackened heavy metal band has crafted a twelve-track opus; The Path Of Wrath tells real life tales of existential struggles and explorations of life and death. This abrasive take on mortality and the afterlife traverses themes of judgement, salvation, and looking ‘beyond the veil’. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
World Party – Bang! [Reissue/1993] LP (Seaview)
180gm vinyl reissue. While previous World Party albums were essentially solo projects by one-man orchestra Karl Wallinger, for Bang! World Party officially became a three-person group.
Yes – Symphonic Live 2xLP+CD (earMUSIC)
In 2001, Yes toured with the European Festival Orchestra to support their album Magnification. Symphonic Live was recorded at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, accompanied by the European Festival Orchestra and conducted by Wilhelm Keitel.
Cassette:
trog’low – Midnight Calisthenics (Cold Busted)
trog’low has gained attention with a deft combination of the old timey and fresh aesthetics, as boom-bap beats and deep jazz intermingle. trog’low’s refusal to follow production fads and trends gives his music a classic, timeless feel; with Midnight Calisthenics, he’s delivered an album that’ll linger.
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