Social Media Program Title Released This Week:
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall – The Marfa Tapes 2xLP (Sony Music Nashville)
The Marfa Tapes is a collection of beautifully intimate and raw songs written and recorded by Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, and Jon Randall in the tiny, middle-of-nowhere town of Marfa, TX. Barely a dot on the map, Marfa is an eccentric outpost in the midst of a vast expanse of nothingness, the perfect place to lose – or find – yourself. For Lambert, Randall, and Ingram, it’s both. Over the past several years, the desolate location has become a songwriting haven for the trio, yielding both massive hits and profound personal growth. When they returned for five days in November 2020 though, they came not to write, but to record, capturing a captivating new album inspired by the stark beauty of west Texas and the deep, lasting bonds the three have forged there. Recorded raw and loose with just a pair of microphones and an acoustic guitar, The Marfa Tapes is a stunning work of audio verité; an intimate, unadorned snapshot of a moment in time fueled by love, trust, and friendship.
Marketing Program/ Banner/ Listening Station Titles Promoted This Week:
Tony Allen – There Is No End CD/2xLP (Blue Note)
“I play yours; you play mine. The music never ends.” The wisdom of the late, great Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen’s words was as deep as his grooves, and his words truly capture the spirit of There is No End. For a man “born into rhythms,” the thousands of grooves he recorded, the innumerable more he performed on stages the world over, all make it clear that while this album marks the coda of a legendary career, it will inspire generations more of musicians, artists and fans who hear it. Tony’s motivating concept and desire was to work with younger artists, and especially the new generation of rappers, and give them voice in a time of global turmoil when music has never been more important – as medicine to heal a fractured world today.
Natalie Bergman – Mercy CD/LP (Third Man)
Self-produced, performed and mixed in near solitude, the Natalie Bergman’s debut album Mercy takes a spellbinding step into Bergman’s singular world of sound, spirituality and the search for hope during tragic times. Music and faith have always been at the forefront of the Bergman family, and rather than crawl into a cave of darkness and dread, Natalie decided to spend many days in silence at a monastery in the Chama Valley. It was there she learned she would embark on Mercy, and as she began writing and recording, the collection of songs channeled her cathartic reverence for traditional gospel music – in her words, the true source of rock and roll. It marks the first newly recorded gospel album to be released by Third Man Records. Helmed by Bergman’s heavenly voice, the music is steeped in mystic melodies, time-bending tones of psychedelic rock, soul and a spiritual healing that’s much-needed in the wake of 2020. [An indie store exclusive color vinyl pressing is also available.]
dodie. – Build A Problem CD/LP (SME UK)
“Build A Problem is an album of processing. I build problems – I was the problem that was built. It explores my hugest emotions; from the dark depths of bad brain to the giggly, performative nonchalance of feeling broken,” says Dodie. “Build A Problem is full of feeling, full of soaring strings, thick harmonies, honesty, vulnerability and therapy.” And on lead single “Cool Girl” she adds that it’s a “song about misplaced anger. Stemming from the suppression of communicating your needs in a relationship in order to attempt to be the most chill, cool, and loveable. It’s bitter, desperate, frustrated, proud, determined, and unhealthy.” [An indie store exclusive color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Iron And Wine – Archive Series Vol. 5: Tallahassee Recordings CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Archive Series Volume No. 5: Tallahassee is the lost-in-time debut album from Iron And Wine. The collection was recorded over a two-year (1998-99) window during which Iron And Wine’s Sam Beam attended Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts. Three years later, Iron And Wine would issue The Creek Drank The Cradle and begin a run of records widely praised as being part of a new blueprint in the singer-songwriter genre. Tallahassee doesn’t attempt to re-write history but instead aims to document the very first steps in Beam’s journey to becoming one of America’s most original and distinctive artists. The eleven-song collection was culled from several recordings that had been (mostly) forgotten by Beam himself but had been preserved by former roommate and one-time Iron & Wine member, EJ Holowicki. Tallahassee, with its sparse instrumental canvas and live-in one-room takes, is very much akin to early Iron And Wine releases, The Creek Drank The Cradle, The Sea & The Rhythm, and In The Reins.
The Mighty Mighty BossToneS – When God Was Great CD/2xLP (Hellcat)
Ska-punk pioneers The Mighty Mighty BossToneS deliver their eleventh studio record When God Was Great. Co-produced by longtime collaborator Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys) and Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong (Transplants, Jimmy Cliff), When God Was Great is the culmination of their extensive and all-embracing career and sees the band bringing back friends, tour mates, and bandmates from the past for a sonic celebration that stresses the power of perseverance and human connection during tumultuous times. The album features 15-tracks that initially arose out of a collective sense of loss.
Van Morrison – Latest Record Project: Volume 1 CD/2xCD/3xLP (BMG)
His 42nd record and his most dynamic and contemporary album in years, Latest Record Project: Volume 1 is a 28-track delve into his ongoing love of blues, R&B, jazz and soul. However much you may love his classic albums, this project proves that he’s living in the present, and remains an artist of integrity and distinction. Latest Record Project: Volume 1 is the result of our enforced period of isolation. Unable to tour, Morrison remained busy with constant songwriting, starting ideas on piano, guitar or saxophone. What emerged is a wealth of new material, which shimmers with a directness and vibrancy that comes from working with a rhythm section with whom he shares an immediate, spontaneous. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe features book-bound packaging and adds an expanded booklet.]
Squid – Bright Green Field CD/2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Formed in Brighton, Squid is the brainchild of: Louis Borlase (guitars & vocals), Ollie Judge (drums & lead vocals), Arthur Leadbetter (keyboards, strings, percussion), Laurie Nankivell (bass & brass) and Anton Pearson (guitars & vocals). The band is in a constant, energetic state of evolution, reflected in the intense and infectious spectrum of sound contained in their propulsive songs. Bright Green Field is a joyous and emphatic coming of age record that’s agitated, discordant, groove-locked and flowing, amplified through dystopian Britain, science fiction and cyberspace – a reflection of the tumultuous world we live in.
TEKE :: TEKE – Shirushi CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)
On their debut album Shirushi, TEKE :: TEKE blend classic Japanese balladry, surf rock, psychedelia, and more to produce a set of songs that play like soundtracks to a wildly eccentric epic film saga. From the spiritual tale of “Yoru Ni” to the stomping adventure ride of “Kala Kala” and the doomed romance of “Dobugawa”, the Montreal-based seven-piece find a mystic cohesion. By tearing apart roaring punk guitar riffs, folk instrumentation, poetic Japanese lyrics, and big band energy, Shirushi builds a dazzling mosaic of styles and eras. After initially forming as a tribute band for Japanese guitar legend Takeshi Terauchi, TEKE :: TEKE learned that they had to tear up their surf-tinged covers and build something new. Since then, they have expanded their already wide scope into a dazzling journey through classic Japanese balladry and Brazilian psychedelia alike. Fusing everything from traditional Japanese instrumentation to punk guitar, TEKE :: TEKE has created their own musical universe – one that’s continuously expanding.
Weezer – Van Weezer CD/LP (Atlantic)
Van Weezer, the band’s fifteenth studio album and second of 2021, was produced by Suzy Shinn (Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy). The inspiration for the record derives from the deepest roots of Weezer – metal! What has metal got to do with Weezer, you ask? In his earliest years, Rivers Cuomo was a huge Kiss fan; Brian Bell was a big Black Sabbath fan; Patrick Wilson worshipped at the altar of Van Halen and Rush; Scott Shriner loved Slayer and Metallica. The last time this vein of harder rock was mined by Weezer was on their much-loved 2002 album Maladroit; Van Weezer is primed to take that album’s sonics many steps further. Rivers told Entertainment Weekly that Van Weezer goes “back to big guitars” and is “Blue Album-ish, but a little more riffy.” And he added to NME that, “This is probably the best possible time for this album. It’s about feeling isolated and alienated and secluded, so it’s the perfect album for now.”
CDs + Vinyl:
Aristocrats – Freeze! Live In Europe 2020 CD (Boing)
Live album from the rowdy instrumental rock/fusion power trio.
Artillery – X Metal Blade CD (Metal Blade)
In the mid-1980s Denmark’s Artillery established themselves as being at the cutting edge of the thrash movement, and nearly forty years later they continue to destroy. Returning with their tenth – and aptly titled – full length X they prove once again that they have not missed a step, delivering a record that’s ruthlessly heavy, catchy and pure molten metal.
Daniel Bachman – Axacan CD/2xLP (Three Lobed)
Daniel Bachman has never shied away from bold musical statements, those that follow his exacting vision for what can be seen as guitar music. The bold and engrossing Axacan sees Bachman defiantly playing against type and creating one of the most introspective and deeply personal albums of instrumental music released in recent memory. A solo affair, Axacan weaves together Bachman’s acoustic guitar and harmonium alongside raw field recordings from various locations, events and phenomena to create a conceptual collage that is both documentary and authorial. There is very little superficial ‘sound for sound’s sake’ here. Each creak, clatter, or bang colors Bachman’s aural Polaroids with deep and personal significance.
The Bamboos – Hard Up CD/2xLP (BMG)
On The Bamboos tenth studio album, Hard Up, the nine piece powerhouse, founded and lead by guitarist, producer and songwriter Lance Ferguson have refined their craft of finding the sweetest spot between Soul and Funk to the finest point yet. The album was recorded at a sprawling country house just outside Melbourne, with the communal studio sessions solidifying their already seemingly telepathic musical interplay.
Mandy Barnett – Every Star Above CD/LP (BMG)
Celebrated torch singer Mandy Barnett presents her eighth studio album. Recorded with a 60- piece orchestra, Every Star Above delivers lush and sparkling selections from Billie Holiday’s personally curated 1958 Satin track list, as interpreted by Barnett and legendary jazz maestro and arranger Sammy Nestico (Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Michael Bublé, Barbra Streisand), whose recent passing at age 96 distinguishes the album as his final work.
Natalie Bergman – Mercy CD/LP (Third Man)
Self-produced, performed and mixed in near solitude, the Natalie Bergman’s debut album Mercy takes a spellbinding step into Bergman’s singular world of sound, spirituality and the search for hope during tragic times. Music and faith have always been at the forefront of the Bergman family, and rather than crawl into a cave of darkness and dread, Natalie decided to spend many days in silence at a monastery in the Chama Valley. It was there she learned she would embark on Mercy, and as she began writing and recording, the collection of songs channeled her cathartic reverence for traditional gospel music – in her words, the true source of rock and roll. It marks the first newly recorded gospel album to be released by Third Man Records. Helmed by Bergman’s heavenly voice, the music is steeped in mystic melodies, time-bending tones of psychedelic rock, soul and a spiritual healing that’s much-needed in the wake of 2020. [An indie store exclusive color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Birdy – Young Heart CD/LP (Atlantic)
Five years since Birdy’s last studio album Beautiful Lies may seem like a long break but for Birdy, taking time to stop, experience the world, and find out who she really is was a necessary circuit break. Traveling to Nashville – home to the greatest heartache songs ever written – and visiting L.A. – drawing from classic artists Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake – was the perfect way to seek inspiration. These gorgeous surroundings and her collaborators there seemed to know, instinctively, how to draw the words out from Birdy and imbued Young Heart with strokes of the artists who had come before. The songs on the album tussle between light and dark, between that vastness of space and the interior of home. The conflict between wanting to hide away and being compelled to go away, to new places and new experiences play out across the record.
Candlemass – Green Valley Live CD/2xLP (Peaceville)
After over 35 years of existence, Candlemass still stand tall as true heavy metal greats & kings of doom, in the footsteps of their influences, Black Sabbath. Following a year where most live activity has not been possible, Green Valley Live features the band’s lockdown session (their only 2020 show, and first ever live streamed event), with the line-up of Johan Längqvist (vocals), Mats Björkman (guitar), Lars Johansson (guitar), Leif Edling (bass) and Jan Lindh (drums) delivering their crushing sound for the masses.
Kenny Chesney – Here And Now Deluxe CD (Warner Nashville)
Kenny Chesney builds on the success of his 2020-released 19th studio album, Here And Now, adding four new tracks to the set with Here And Now Deluxe.
Alex Chilton and Hi Rhythm Section – Boogie Shoes: Live On Beale Street CD/LP (Omnivore)
Memphis is a city with music in its blood. When Fred Ford, co-founder of the Beale Street Music Festival, was diagnosed with cancer, David Less organized Fredstock, a fund raiser to help with his medical bills. Less contacted Memphis legend Alex Chilton (The Box Tops, Big Star), who was living in New Orleans, to ask him to participate. Alex said he didn’t have any musicians to play with in Memphis, so Less suggested the Hi Rhythm Section (the band behind classics from artists including Ann Peebles, Ike & Tina Turner, O. V. Wright, Otis Clay, and Al Green). This 1999 previously unissued live set contains versions of soul classics from The Supremes and Otis Clay, rock numbers from Chuck Berry and Little Richard, and even a cover of the KC & The Sunshine Band title track. [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Cold Moon – What’s The Rush? CD/LP (Pure Noise)
Debut album from the Bay Area based band consisting of members of The Story So Far and Set Your Goals.
Judy Collins – White Bird – Anthology Of Favorites CD/LP (Cleopatra)
Folk music legend Judy Collins hand-picked this selection of her most treasured recent recordings [A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Aleister Crowley – Black Magic CD/2xLP (Cleopatra)
Delve into the dark side of the occult with this special collection of tracks featuring the voice of the Beast himself, famed occultist Aleister Crowley. All new remixes feature the production talents of witch house artists Ritualz and ∆aimon plus dark synth act NewSlave, Alan Davey’s Hawkestrel, internationally renowned instrumentalist Jozef Van Wissem, and lots more. Also features all-new sonically de-noised and remastered versions of the famous wax cylinder recordings Crowley made from 1910 to 1914. [A limited-edition purple color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Cvlt Ov The Svn – We Are The Dragon CD (Napalm)
Debut album from the Finnish occult murder pop innovators.
Toumani Diabaté and London Symphony Orchestra – Kôrôlén CD/2xLP (World Circuit)
Kôrôlén is a very special collaboration between two titans in music: Toumani Diabaté, the Grammy-winning Malian kora virtuoso, and the London Symphony Orchestra, renowned worldwide for their performances of orchestral music on record, film and stage. Diabaté, a griot whose musical lineage stretches back generations, is well known as one of the most creative musicians on the African continent and is almost single-handedly responsible for bringing the iconic sound of the kora to worldwide audiences. No stranger to a genre-defying collaboration, he has recorded two Grammy-winning albums alongside desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Touré, as well as projects with Taj Mahal, Björk, Béla Fleck, Damon Albarn and Afrocubism.
McKinley Dixon – Form My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her CD/LP (Spacebomb)
Richmond, Virginia-based hip-hop/soul/jazz artist McKinley Dixon has always used his music as a tool for healing, exploring, and unpacking the Black experience in order to create stories for others like him. For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her is the culmination of a journey where heartbreak and introspection challenged him to adapt new ways of communicating physically and mentally, as well as across time and space.
DJ Black Low – Uwami CD/LP (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
In many ways, DJ Black Low’s debut album, Uwami, shows the signs of an artist’s first offering in any musical genre. Showcasing fluency in a broad range of styles and stuffing a number of ideas to the record’s brim is the 20 year-old producer’s attempt to both introduce himself to a wide listenership and stamp a recognizable sound in their minds. In other ways, somewhat out of the young South African producer’s control, Uwami goes against the grain. Uwami comes at a time when South African electronic music is being fundamentally disrupted. Amapiano, the electronic music movement which first gained popularity with a small, core group of followers, now dominates the mainstream.
dodie. – Build A Problem CD/LP (SME UK)
“Build A Problem is an album of processing. I build problems – I was the problem that was built. It explores my hugest emotions; from the dark depths of bad brain to the giggly, performative nonchalance of feeling broken,” says Dodie. “Build A Problem is full of feeling, full of soaring strings, thick harmonies, honesty, vulnerability and therapy.” And on lead single “Cool Girl” she adds that it’s a “song about misplaced anger. Stemming from the suppression of communicating your needs in a relationship in order to attempt to be the most chill, cool, and loveable. It’s bitter, desperate, frustrated, proud, determined, and unhealthy.” [An indie store exclusive color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Domkraft – Seeds CD/LP (Magnetic Eye)
The latest album from the psychedelic riff-doom trio focuses on the idea of emerging from the ruins to start anew, building something different and better beyond the cataclysm. With Seeds, Domkraft has drawn a detailed map to a groove-driven heavy rock utopia, where humankind can evolve and unite. [A violet transparent vinyl pressing as well as a deluxe box set edition is also available.]
Gospelbeach – Jam Jam CDEP (Curation)
As Gospelbeach continues to work on the follow-up to their third and most successful studio album Let It Burn they are back to raise the vibrations and celebrate the good times with a little detour through the past. The Jam Jam EP is comprised of tracks from an acoustic show recorded March 1st, 2020 at The Betsy Trotwood, a mere fortnight before the world of live rock and roll seemed to stop in its tracks. [Vinyl edition due June 25.]
Iceage – Seek Shelter CD/LP+MP3 (Mexican Summer)
With each new release, Elias Bender Ronnenfelt, Jakob Tvilling Pless, Jojan Surrballe Wieth and Dan Kj’r Nielsen refigure the contours of a typical Iceage song. This is especially true of Seek Shelter, their fifth LP. Enrolling Sonic Boom to produce the record and guitarist, Casper Morilla, the album sees Iceage’s momentum pushing them in new, expansive directions, exploring a new emotional palette, replete with romantic piano balladry, invocations of patron saints, and a gospel choir.
In Asymmetry – Ashes Of Dead Worlds CD (Comatose)
In Asymmetry features features current and ex-members of Deeds Of Flesh, The Faceless and Goratory. “A breathtaking onslaught of raging chaos, a vortex of riffs and interwoven notes delivered at terrifying velocity.”
Iron And Wine – Archive Series Vol. 5: Tallahassee Recordings CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Archive Series Volume No. 5: Tallahassee is the lost-in-time debut album from Iron And Wine. The collection was recorded over a two-year (1998-99) window during which Iron And Wine’s Sam Beam attended Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts. Three years later, Iron And Wine would issue The Creek Drank The Cradle and begin a run of records widely praised as being part of a new blueprint in the singer-songwriter genre. Tallahassee doesn’t attempt to re-write history but instead aims to document the very first steps in Beam’s journey to becoming one of America’s most original and distinctive artists. The eleven-song collection was culled from several recordings that had been (mostly) forgotten by Beam himself but had been preserved by former roommate and one-time Iron & Wine member, EJ Holowicki. Tallahassee, with its sparse instrumental canvas and live-in one-room takes, is very much akin to early Iron And Wine releases, The Creek Drank The Cradle, The Sea & The Rhythm, and In The Reins.
Tom Jones – Surrounded By Time CD (S-Curve)
New album from the legendary Welsh vocalist. Co-produced by Ethan Johns and Mark Woodward, Surrounded By Time marks out new territory with a sonic landscape of outstanding musicianship and a vocal delivery that re-imagines a diverse set of songs of personal importance that have impacted the artist throughout a long, unpredictable but undeniably impressive career.
Kataan – Kataan CD (Prosthetic)
Debut release from the post death/black metal outfit featuring Nick Thornbury (Vattnet Viskar) and Brett Boland (Astronoid). [Vinyl edition due June 11.]
Leftover Salmon – Brand New Good Old Days CD/LP (Compass)
Leftover Salmon deliver a feel-good collection of 10 new tracks, dipping their collective musical toes back into the bluegrass stream from which they emerged as a band 30 years ago. The resulting album is a fun, engaging and deeply musical set which showcases the band’s musical roots even as they embrace the more progressive elements that made the band one of the principal architects of the jam grass sound several decades ago.
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints – Other Worlds CD (Green Leaf)
Other Worlds, the new studio album from saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas’s Sound Prints quintet was recorded following a week at New York’s Village Vanguard in January 2020. Their third full length release, this further nod to jazz visionary Wayne Shorter features boisterous and playful originals as well as a couple of beautiful ballads. The rhythm section features the powerful multi-generational lineup of pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Joey Baron, who continue to provide a fluid and firm footing for the two horn players.
Man On Man – Man On Man CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Man On Man (also M.O.M.) is a new gay lover band made up of Joey Holman (Holman) and Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen, Crickets, Nastie Band). Their self-titled record, Man On Man, is infused with indie-rock distortion and soaked in gay pop confidence while still maintaining the dry acerbic sense of humor they both share. [A limited ‘chic’ white color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Robin McAuley – Standing On The Edge CD/LP (Frontiers)
The new solo album by Robin McAuley sees the respected Irish rock singer make a strong musical statement. Following his re-emergence on the recordings side of the music industry with guest spots on Michael Schenker Fest albums and fronting the hard rock supergroup Black Swan, McAuley is feeling invigorated and creative, while also demonstrating that his voice is as powerful as ever. [A limited clear vinyl pressing is also available.]
Clyde McPhatter – Rocks CD (Bear Family)
Clyde McPhatter – The Ballads Of Clyde McPhatter CD (Bear Family)
Long overdue two-part documentary dedicated to one of the greatest gospel, rhythm & blues, soul and rock & roll singers: Clyde McPhatter (1932-1972).
Metal Urbain – Panik! CD/LP (Cleopatra)
A collection of vintage recordings by the groundbreaking French punk band. Metal Urbain was one of the first punk bands to use a synthesizer and drum machines paving the way for such later acts as Steve Albini’s Big Black [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is also available.]
The Mighty Mighty BossToneS – When God Was Great CD/2xLP (Hellcat)
Ska-punk pioneers The Mighty Mighty BossToneS deliver their eleventh studio record When God Was Great. Co-produced by longtime collaborator Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys) and Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong (Transplants, Jimmy Cliff), When God Was Great is the culmination of their extensive and all-embracing career and sees the band bringing back friends, tour mates, and bandmates from the past for a sonic celebration that stresses the power of perseverance and human connection during tumultuous times. The album features 15-tracks that initially arose out of a collective sense of loss.
Van Morrison – Latest Record Project: Volume 1 CD/2xCD/3xLP (BMG)
His 42nd record and his most dynamic and contemporary album in years, Latest Record Project: Volume 1 is a 28-track delve into his ongoing love of blues, R&B, jazz and soul. However much you may love his classic albums, this project proves that he’s living in the present, and remains an artist of integrity and distinction. Latest Record Project: Volume 1 is the result of our enforced period of isolation. Unable to tour, Morrison remained busy with constant songwriting, starting ideas on piano, guitar or saxophone. What emerged is a wealth of new material, which shimmers with a directness and vibrancy that comes from working with a rhythm section with whom he shares an immediate, spontaneous. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe features book-bound packaging and adds an expanded booklet.]
Maria Muldaur and Tuba Skinny – Let’s Get Happy Together CD (Stony Plain Music)
In January 2020, Maria asked Tuba Skinny to collaborate in a showcase performance at the International Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans. It was so well received that an album was immediately conceived and recorded later that year, with the title track summing it all up: “Let’s Get Happy Together”. Performing 12 songs, Tuba Skinny and Maria Muldaur breathed life into rarely heard gems.
New Order – Education Entertainment Recreation (Live) 2xCD/2xCD+Blu-ray/Blu-ray Audio/3xLP (Rhino)
New Order presents a special performance, their only UK show of 2018 (November 9th) at London’s Alexandra Palace and the first live show from the band’s now established line-up of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert, Phil Cunningham, and Tom Chapman. Sonically spectacular, spanning 2 hours 20 minutes, the show joyously mixed New Order classics, their latest acclaimed album (2015’s Music Complete), and covers of Joy Division’s finest.
NU’EST – The 2nd Album: Romanticize [Ver. 1 For Good] CD (Pledis Entertainment)
NU’EST – The 2nd Album: Romanticize [Ver. 2 To Be Free] CD (Pledis Entertainment)
NU’EST – The 2nd Album: Romanticize [Ver. 3 This Moment] CD (Pledis Entertainment)
NU’EST – The 2nd Album: Romanticize [Ver. 4 After Glow] CD (Pledis Entertainment)
NU’EST – The 2nd Album: Romanticize [Ver. 5 New Romancer] CD (Pledis Entertainment)
NU’EST (acronym for New Establish Style Tempo) is a South Korean boy group formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2012. The group consists of JR, Aron, Baekho, Minhyun and Ren.
Osiah – Loss CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Third album from the UK deathcore band.
Grace Pettis – Working Woman CD (MPress/Sono Recording Group)
Working Woman includes guest contributions from Indigo Girls, Ruthie Foster, the Watson Twins and Dar Williams, and ambitiously features an all-female and non-binary band. Recorded in 3 days in Nashville, the album’s powerful songs span styles from rocking alt-country to neo-folk, raising up the voices of women everywhere with swagger and soul.
Princess Goes To The Butterfly Museum – Thanks For Coming CD (Morpho Music)
Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum is a new alternative band, self-described as Gothadelic Rocktronic with influences from David Bowie to Black Sabbath to Donna Summer, all with a unique and modern spin. The band is comprised of a powerhouse trio: vocalist Michael C. Hall whose TV credits include Dexter and Six Feet Under and Broadway credits include lead roles in Hedwig and The Angry Inch and Lazarus, keyboardist Matthew Katz Bohen from iconic rock band Blondie, and drummer Peter Yanowitz of Wallflowers and Morningwood. [Vinyl edition due May 21.]
Rag’n’Bone Man – Life By Misadventure CD/2xLP+MP3 (Columbia)
The bulk of Life By Misadventure was produced and recorded by Grammy Award-winning producer and multi- instrumentalist Mike Elizondo (Eminem, 50 Cent, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette), and was recorded purposefully like a live album, so the sound is real and 100% human. Musicians on the album include long time collaborators Ben Jackson-Cook (keyboards, co-songwriter and co-producer of the album), Bill Banwell (bass, and co-songwriter) and Desri Ramus (backing vocals), who are joined by drummer Daru Jones (Lazaretto-Jack White) and guitarist Wendy Melvoin who joined Prince’s Revolution at the age of 19. Together these musicians have made an album full of joy and immediacy, something all too rare these days of autotune and countless overdubs.
Save The World – One CDEP (Frontiers)
Save The World – Two CD (Frontiers)
Save the World pens emotionally charged songs with rich, melodic choruses, playing music that forgoes genre conventions in favor of a signature sound that’s modern, anthemic, and refreshingly dynamic. The band features chief songwriter Dan Tracey (Alan Parsons) on guitar, vocals, keyboards and Robert Wright on bass, vocals, keyboards, Taurus pedals, percussion, and drums.
Seth – La Morsure du Christ CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
On their new record La Morsure du Christ (a double meaning title: literally “The Bite of Christ” and phonetically “Christ’s death is certain”), French black metallers Seth return to their original sound, employ French alexandrine verse in their lyrics and choose a striking image as an album art.
Skindred – Roots Rock Riot [Reissue/2007] CD/LP+MP3 (Hassle)
A reissue of the British ragga/punk/metal band sophomore album. [A limited-edition tranluscent green color vinyl LP with bonus 7” is also available.]
Sonic Haven – Vagabond CD/2xLP (Frontiers)
Germany’s Sonic Haven is a new band conceived and fronted by vocalist Herbie Langhans, one of the most gifted metal singers of the scene. His voice has gained him international recognition, both as a studio singer and as a member of the bands Avantasia, Voodoo Circle, Sinbreed, Beyond The Bridge and recently Firewind. Herbie has put together a really outstanding lineup of talent including André Hilgers (Bonfire, Rage, Silent Force) on drums, Carsten Stepanowicz (Radiant) on guitars, and Dominik Stotzem (Beyond The Bridge) on bass. [A limited color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Squid – Bright Green Field CD/2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Formed in Brighton, Squid is the brainchild of: Louis Borlase (guitars & vocals), Ollie Judge (drums & lead vocals), Arthur Leadbetter (keyboards, strings, percussion), Laurie Nankivell (bass & brass) and Anton Pearson (guitars & vocals). The band is in a constant, energetic state of evolution, reflected in the intense and infectious spectrum of sound contained in their propulsive songs. Bright Green Field is a joyous and emphatic coming of age record that’s agitated, discordant, groove-locked and flowing, amplified through dystopian Britain, science fiction and cyberspace – a reflection of the tumultuous world we live in.
Sumo Cyco – Initiation CD/LP (Napalm)
Third album from the Canadian rock/metal crossover quartet.
Carter Tanton – Carter Tanton CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
Carter Tanton has been performing and recording music since the age of 15. Over the years, Tanton has toured and recorded with numerous artists including Marissa Nadler, Strand of Oaks, Lower Dens, and The War on Drugs. In 2012, he assembled Freeclouds, his first collection of songs for Western Vinyl. A couple of years later, Tanton moved to England where he wrote all the songs on his sophomore solo album Jettison The Valley, which featured vocal contributions by Nadler and Sharon Van Etten. Carter Tanton on his new self-titled album: “I recorded these songs from May to September 2017 in my childhood home which had been sitting empty on the market for nearly a year when I first brought over a microphone and laptop, guitar and piano. I set up in my parents’ old room because it had the best sunlight and quietest electrical grounding but from the start an allegorical quality ran underneath any surface level pragmatism I told myself was guiding things. During the year and a half prior, I had finished two discarded versions of the record.”
TEKE :: TEKE – Shirushi CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)
On their debut album Shirushi, TEKE :: TEKE blend classic Japanese balladry, surf rock, psychedelia, and more to produce a set of songs that play like soundtracks to a wildly eccentric epic film saga. From the spiritual tale of “Yoru Ni” to the stomping adventure ride of “Kala Kala” and the doomed romance of “Dobugawa”, the Montreal-based seven-piece find a mystic cohesion. By tearing apart roaring punk guitar riffs, folk instrumentation, poetic Japanese lyrics, and big band energy, Shirushi builds a dazzling mosaic of styles and eras. After initially forming as a tribute band for Japanese guitar legend Takeshi Terauchi, TEKE :: TEKE learned that they had to tear up their surf-tinged covers and build something new. Since then, they have expanded their already wide scope into a dazzling journey through classic Japanese balladry and Brazilian psychedelia alike. Fusing everything from traditional Japanese instrumentation to punk guitar, TEKE :: TEKE has created their own musical universe – one that’s continuously expanding.
Alfie Templeman – Forever Isn’t Long Enough Cd/LP (Chess Club)
Alfie Templeman, at just 18, is a rising international indie-pop star who writes, self-produces and performs his songs with a maturity far beyond his years. This boy wunderkind already has four EPs to his name and an encyclopedic knowledge of music history that some veteran artists would envy.
Tommy’s RockTrip – Beat Up By Rock ‘N Roll CD (Frontiers)
Tommy’s RockTrip is drummer Tommy Clufetos’ (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath) new solo project, where he offers his take on the rock ‘n’ roll influences that made him one of the most sought-after drummers in the current hard rock scene.
Travis Tritt – Set In Stone CD (Big Noise Music Group)
With the release of Set In Stone, his first new studio album in more than a decade, Travis Tritt embarks on the next chapter of his stellar career. Armed with his distinctive voice, insightful songwriting, and an outlaw edge, Tritt returns to the signature sound that has served him well for more than three decades. Produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile), Set In Stone is a rebellious tour de force, and the return of one of country music’s legendary superstars.
Various Artists – Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Celebrating The Winston-Salem Sound CD (Omnivore)
In a fun, Nuggets-like trip back to the era of the Summer of Love, Yesterday’s Tomorrow: CelebratingTthe Winston-Salem Sound shines a strobe light on the vibrant ’60s and ’70s Combo Corner rock scene of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
PM Warson – True Story CD/LP (Legere)
True Story is PM Warson’s debut album. Already lauded by UK soul DJ laureate Craig Charles on his BBC Radio show, among his tips to be ‘Big for 2021’, it takes in the musical sensibilities absorbed over the course of time. Against a backdrop of club-honed rhythm tunes, there’s blues, jazz and swing, with lashings of girl-group pop and soul.
Weezer – Van Weezer CD/LP (Atlantic)
Van Weezer is the fifteenth studio album by Weezer. The title is a reference to the band Van Halen, as the album features a focus on heavy guitars and more arena-rock styled songs. Originally slated for release on May 15, 2020, the album was postponed until May of 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Tony Joe White – Smoke From The Chimney CD/LP (Easy Eye Sound)
Smoke From The Chimney, the posthumous album by Louisiana swamp rock pioneer Tony Joe White, brings to life previously unknown home recordings by the legendary songwriter and musician. Starting with the album’s genesis as an unforeseen trove of demos to the hands of producer Dan Auerbach and legendary session musicians, Smoke From The Chimney captures White’s signature style in its purest form and serves as a living testimony to one of the most gifted lyricists and storytellers music has ever known.
Nancy Wilson – You And Me CD (Carry On Music)
Wilson’s new solo album features eight original songs and an interesting mix of covers along with a few guest star appearances. Sammy Hagar duets on Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” and the original “Party At The Angel Ballroom” features a strong rhythm section in Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters.
Amy Winehouse – At The BBC 3xCD/3xLP (Republic)
Amy Winehouse’s At The BBC features tracks from appearances on Later… with Jools Holland over the years, notably Amy’s first performance on the show in 2003 with “Stronger Than Me”. Plus, two performances from the Mercury Prize: “Take The Box” from 2004 and “Love Is A Losing Game” from 2007. Available for the first time as an audio-only release.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
The Apartments – A Life Full Of Farewells [Reissue/1995] LP (Talitres)
A Life Full Of Farewells, The Apartments’ third album, was originally issued on CD only in 1995. This muffled album filled with melancholy ballads displays the writing talent of Peter Milton Walsh. Here the nuances are subtle and the musician’s demons seem for a time abandoned. It is a centerpiece of Australian discography, now unearthed and released for the first time on vinyl.
Bastards Of Soul – Spinnin’ LP (Eastwood Music Group)
Debut full-length LP release from the east Dallas classic R&B disciples. Spinnin’ resonates with the pulse of the southern R&B of the past and creates a joyous vibe with original soul joints rooted in a vintage sound.
The Beat Farmers – Tales Of The New West [Reissue/1985] LP (Extra Term Audio)
A vinyl reissue of the 1985 debut album from the roots rock/American band.
Spencer Burton – Coyote LP (Still)
Fifth solo album from the artist formerly known as Grey Kingdom and former member of Canadian punk-rock band Attack in Black and indie rockers City And Colour.
Carpenter Brut – Blood Machines [O.S.T.] LP (Caroline)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. With Blood Machines, Carpenter Brut reunites with Seth Ickerman film director duo (Raphael Hernandez & Savitri Joly-Gonfard) to continue exploring the universe of Turbo Killer. United by their passion for cinema and ‘80s music, the movie follows two space hunters tracking down a ship trying to free itself.
A Certain Ratio – ACR:EPA 12” (Mute)
ACR: EPA is the first in a trilogy of EPs by A Certain Ratio. EPA is dedicated to close collaborator Denise Johnson and features the band’s final recordings with her. With their remaining recording time from the ACR Loco sessions, the band spent a day jamming in the studio with no fixed agenda. The result is something very special. This EP will be followed by ACR:EPC and ACR:EPR and comes after the band’s highly acclaimed album ACR Loco.
Chubby and The Gang – Speed Kills LP (Partisan Records)
Speed Kills is the debut full length from London’s loudest breakout band Chubby and The Gang. Beginning as a humble pipedream of West London electrician Charlie Manning, who spent years finding his way through the London punk and hardcore scene, the album is the manifestation of a musical mind marinating in hard punk, pub rock, blues, and doo-wop.
DJM Trio – Cave Art 12” (Paxico)
There’s writing on the wall that speaks of time immemorial, where symbols exist on the edge of language and abstraction. It’s upon this precipice that Dominic James Marshall makes his mark, at the helm and on the keys of Cave Art – a slate of scintillating digital sounds, spontaneously arranged, etched in wax. The project is a thoughtful and inventive response to a long tradition of musical sampling. Familiarity is a vessel through which Marshall channels a fierce artistry and selection is at the heart of what moves it. The trio build upon what makes beat music burrow into us so deeply, maxing out their offerings of giant synths, splintering chords and impactful beats to soul-shifting degrees.
DJ Woody – Scratch Sounds No. 3 (Atomic Bounce) LP (Woodwurk)
The Scratch Sounds series is a resource for the musically minded turntablist practitioner. On Scratch Sounds No 3 (Atomic Bounce), the accent in this record is on the sound of electronic funk.
Dreamer Boy – All The Ways We Are Together 2xLP (Slowplay/Harvest)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Wide-eyed Nashville singer-songwriter Dreamer Boy’s (aka Nashville’s Zach Taylor) new album, All The Ways We Are Together wasn’t necessarily written with the turmoil of 2020 in mind, but its ethereal melodies, delicate timbre and empathetic lyrics will surely speak to fans burdened by the state of things. He chose Earth Day as a release date for the album to reflect the global communal spirit he feels with people and our shared environment. On the earnest title track single “All The Ways We Are Together”, Taylor explains that: “I wrote it when I was at a low point and the song represents the voice of a friend who is helping you through a hard time. We must lean on one another in this life and remind each other who we are and what matters. I needed to be reminded I couldn’t hold the weight on my own shoulders, and that having friends to help bear our burdens is a beautiful part of life.” [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Endemic Emerald – Terminal Illness [Reissue/2009] LP (No Cure)
A melting pot of artists from both sides of the pond;. Sean Price [RIP] Killah Priest, Planet Asia, Hell Razah, Timbo King & Bronze Nazareth repped the US, While Cyrus Malchi, M9, C-mone & Masikah repped the UK pairing up seamlessly with their US counterparts.
First Aid Kit – Drunken Trees [Reissue/2008] 12”+MP3 (Wichita)
First Aid Kit – The Big Black & The Blue [Reissue/2010] LP+MP3 (Wichita)
Limited color vinyl reissues of the first studio releases (one EP and one album) by the Swedish folk duo. Their songs often feature harmony vocals and could be described as folk, country or Americana.
GoGo Penguin – GGP/RMX 2xLP (Blue Note)
Cooked up in the Blue Note Lab, RMX presents last year’s band-defining masterpiece, GoGo Penguin, re-imagined through the filter of some of the world’s finest producers and remixers. Amongst the many highlights are Squarepusher’s thumping remix of F Maj Pixie, alongside Japanese producers Cornelius and Yosi creating sublime new landscapes with the band’s music on Kora and Embers. James Holden assembles an epic synth odyssey around Totem and Portico Quartet produce a sympathetic reworking of “Don’t Go”. Band faves Clark and Nathan Fake produce inimitable reworkings as does noted French producer Rone, while American producer Machine Drum turns “Atomised” into dance floor friendly ‘belter’ which is also the first single. Finally, the band have not forgotten their hometown – Manchester is well represented, with remixes from elder statesman and dance music legend Graham Massey (808 state) and new discovery Shunya, whose enigmatic reworking of “To The Nth” almost steals the record.
Dexter Gordon – One Flight Up [Reissue/1964] LP (Blue Note)
Dexter Gordon had been living in Europe for several years when he recorded One Flight Up, one of his masterpieces, in Paris in 1964. It’s all here: Dexter’s magnificently huge sound, Donald Byrd in peak form on trumpet, the sophistication of pianist Kenny Drew, the brilliance of the then-teenaged bass phenom Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson and the rock-steady swing of drummer Art Taylor. Reissued as part of The Blue Note Tone Poet Series: all-analog, remastered 180gm vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
Andrew Hill – Passing Ships 2xLP (Blue Note)
Andrew Hill is one of the most distinctive pianists/composers in jazz. Recorded in 1969, it sat unreleased until 2003 when it was issued on CD thanks to archivist Michael Cuscuna. Hill penned all compositions for an ensemble featuring Woody Shaw, Dizzy Reece, Julian Priester, Joe Farrell, Howard Johnson, Bob Northern, Ron Carter and Lenny White. This is presented for the first time on vinyl. Reissued as part of The Blue Note Tone Poet Series: all-analog, remastered 180gm vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall – The Marfa Tapes 2xLP (SME Nashville)
The Marfa Tapes is a collection of beautifully intimate and raw songs written and recorded by Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, and Jon Randall in the tiny, middle-of-nowhere town of Marfa, TX. Barely a dot on the map, Marfa is an eccentric outpost in the midst of a vast expanse of nothingness, the perfect place to lose – or find – yourself. For Lambert, Randall, and Ingram, it’s both. Over the past several years, the desolate location has become a songwriting haven for the trio, yielding both massive hits and profound personal growth. When they returned for five days in November 2020 though, they came not to write, but to record, capturing a captivating new album inspired by the stark beauty of west Texas and the deep, lasting bonds the three have forged there. Recorded raw and loose with just a pair of microphones and an acoustic guitar, The Marfa Tapes is a stunning work of audio verité; an intimate, unadorned snapshot of a moment in time fueled by love, trust, and friendship.
India Jordan – Watch Out! 12” (Ninja Tune)
India Jordan is tipped as one of the most exciting dance music producers of the moment. For You EP was released in May 2020 and instantly received impressive pick up from the likes of Pitchfork (8.0), NME (5/5), Clash (8/10), The Guardian, Bandcamp, Mixmag, Resident Advisor, Dazed, radio support from KCRW and KEXP and more.
Kardashev – The Baring Of Shadows LP (Metal Blade)
Limited color vinyl pressing. A self-described deathgaze group, Kardashev is for fans of The Contortionist, Rivers of Nihil, Devin Townsend, Alcest – among others. Their mission statement could be described as: Attempting to create the most beautiful, heavy music through themes of love, loss and altruism in the metal spectrum.
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Teenage Gizzard LP (ORG Music)
Limited edition pink splatter on yellow color vinyl pressing of Australian psychedelic/garage/surf rock band’s 2020 compilation album featuring early recordings.
The Kinks – Word Of Mouth [Reissue/1984] LP (Friday Music)
The rich, warm production on The Kinks’ 1984 release Word Of Mouth is perfectly suited to some of Ray Davies’ finest songs like “Good Day” and “Summer’s Gone”, while “Too Hot” would have sounded right at home on Muswell Hilbillies. “Sold Me Out” even out-Stones’ the Rolling Stones. For anyone skeptical about the British rock institution’s post-’70s output, this album will serve as a revelation. [Two limited 180gm audiophile color vinyl pressings are available.]
Lord Beatjitzu – Shanghai Express aka Bruce Li’s Greatest Punches LP (Grilchy Party)
Extremely reclusive and low key, Lord Beatjitzu is a beatmaker originally from Mexico City D.F. who stays studying and constantly honing his craft. Known strictly through sparse collaborations and various beat tapes over the past decade he has grown a substantial cult following. Lord Beatjitzu has concocted another incredible piece of art which truly represents all the elements of his collectible beat tapes and presents them into a full and lush Instrumental album.
Joe Lovano/Marilyn Crispell/Carmen Castaldi – Garden Of Expression LP (ECM)
Joe Lovano’s debut, Trio Tapestry, was one of 2019’s most talked-about releases. Their concept is taken to the next level on Garden Of Expression. Lovano is a saxophonist who plays with exceptional sensitivity. Carmen Castaldi’s space-conscious approach to drumming further refines his improvisational understanding. The trio is also a wonderful context for Marilyn Crispell’s solos and counter melodies.
Lustre – Night Spirit [Reissue/2009] LP (Nordvis)
Combining this haunting atmosphere with a medieval phantasmagoric feel and harsh blackened metal, Night Spirit broke new ground and opened a new portal in the pantheon of somber music.
Tkay Maidza – Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 12” (4AD)
Tkay Maidza is a tour de force on her new EP Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2. Her mastery of sonic versatility takes center stage on the assertive eight tracks that weave from whiplash-inducing spitfire summer anthem and lead single “Shook” to smooth boy-bye manifesto “Don’t Call Again (ft. Kari Faux)” to trap-infused “Awake (ft. JPEGMAFIA)”, which was nominated for a 2019 ARIA award and earned a best of the decade nod from The Needle Drop, as well as praise from Pitchfork, The FADER, Dazed, Complex, and others. The release follows 2018’s Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 1, which established her as one of the most exciting voices in the new guard of hip-hop.
Meat Puppets – Lollipop [Reissue2011] LP (Megaforce)
The highly influential Meat Puppets started as a punk rock band, but established their own unique style, blending punk with country and psychedelic rock. They later gained significant exposure when the Kirkwood brothers served as guest musicians on Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. 2011’s Lollipop, which celebrates its 10th anniversary here on color vinyl LP, was recorded at Spoon’s HiFi Studio’s in Austin, TX and finds Cris and Curt flanked by drummer Shandon Sahm, son of Doug Sahm.
messier – On Malaise LP (Side One Dummy)
Balancing beauty and anger, hope and despair, tension and release, Finnish trio messier’s exhilarating debut, On Malaise, is an explosive mix of indie rock, alt-pop, and classic punk energy fueled by instantly memorable hooks and airtight vocal harmonies.
Montrose – Montrose [Reissue/1973] LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile yellow color vinyl pressing. The ’70s gave us a slew of classic hard rock albums – the likes of which may never be equaled. Montrose’s eponymous debut proved equally influential and important in its day. Released in 1973, the record also introduced a young Sammy Hagar to the world, but the explosive aggression of Ronnie Montrose’s biting guitar left no doubt as to why it was his name gracing the cover. A rock-solid rhythm section featuring drummer Denny Carmassi and bassist Bill Church rounded out the group.
Ihsan Al-Munzer – Sonatina For Maria [Reissue/1985] LP (Barely Breaking Even)
Taking in a range of styles, Sonatina For Maria illustrates Al-Munzer’s skill in composition and arrangement that saw him become one of the busiest arrangers of Lebanon’s 1980s pop scene. The record goes deeper into the Western rhythm Al-Munzer explored at the beginning of his career and brought to his Middle Eastern fusion productions, with the synthesizer still taking center stage, and the electric guitar, bass and drums ever more present.
Peter Murphy – Holy Smoke [Reissue/1988] LP (Beggars Banquet)
Peter Murphy – Deep [Reissue/1989] LP (Beggars Banquet)
Vinyl reissues of Peter Murphy’s (formerly of the gothic rock band Bauhaus) second and third solo albums.
Mustasch – A Final Warning – Chapter One 10” (Tritonus)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Mustasch is one of Sweden’s biggest hard rock bands. In 2021 the band celebrates 20 years since their first record release. Their new album A Final Warning will be released in two chapters.
Myd – Born A Loser 2xLP (Because Music)
Myd is a French DJ, musician and producer, known for working with and remixing artists like Kanye West, Theophilus London, and Dua Lipa. The former founding member of supergroup Club Cheval will release his anticipated debut album, Born A Loser. A drunken round of jazzercise, a lazy float in the kiddie pool, your weird uncle gyrating under disco lights. It is a soundtrack to life’s strange delights, including special guests Mac DeMarco, Bakar and more.
Nude Model – Love Games LP (No Trend)
Nude Model hail from Chicago and play an explosive brand of post-punk in the vein of bands like black midi, Metz, and Girl Band. Produced by Todd Rittmann of acclaimed Drag City bands Dead Rider and US Maple.
Lewis Parker – All I Got LP (KingUnderground)
Lewis Parker has been releasing records since his early teenage years and has created a deep body of work over the course of his career. He’s been a staple of the hip hop scene since the late ’90s, after inking his first major-label deal in 1998. Leading to some of his most well-known work with the Iconic Ghostface Killah, as well as modern-day phenom, Joey Bada$$. His commitment to the game continues after over 20 years of consistent contributions to the genre.
Tom Petty – Finding Wildflowers (Alternate Versions) 2xLP (WB)
Standard black vinyl pressing. Finding Wildflowers (Alternate Versions) – the latest offering of Tom Petty music, curated with help from his loving family, bandmates and collaborators – features tracks, which were previously released on the Super Deluxe 9xLP version of 2020’s Wildflowers & All The Rest. It gathers 16 studio recordings of alternate takes, long cuts and jam versions of Wildflowers songs as Tom, band members and co-producer Rick Rubin worked to finalize the album in 1994. The release offers fans further deep access into the writing and recording of Wildflowers, as well as realizing the full vision of the project as Tom had always intended. The collection was produced by Tom’s longtime engineer and co-producer Ryan Ulyate who listened to 245 reels of 24-track tape, revealing Tom and his collaborators’ evolutionary process, and finding the group willing to do whatever it took to discover the essence and magic in the material.
Phish – White Tape LP (Jemp)
Limited-edition silver and white color vinyl pressing. Soon after forming the band, Phish (aka The White Tape) was created from four-track recordings which the band and band members mixed, dubbed and circulated as a demo. It consists of an assortment of four-track recordings from 1984-1985 including four songs recorded by all the existing members of Phish as a band: “Alumni Blues”, “AC/DC Bag”, “Slave To The Traffic Light”, and “Dog Gone Dog” (aka “Dog Log”). The balance was recorded separately by the band members and blended from 4-track cassettes to create the album as we know it.
Trevor Powers – Capricorn LP (Fat Possum)
Recorded somewhere near the Sawtooth Mountains, Trevor Powers’ Capricorn plays like a fairy tale or alien quest. Fragmented and full of grace, it serves as a meditation on the passage of time – existing both in the past and future. After a severe panic attack made his legs numb for a week, Powers knew something had to change. “Control is our god, he says. But it’s an illusion. We think we can dictate every day of our lives but that’s like playing chess during an earthquake. Sometimes the pieces move themselves.”
The Red Step – The Red Step LP (Pravda)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Infused with a sped-up version of the Southern California sunshine noir heard from Tobias Nathaniel’s legendary band The Black Heart Procession, the dark and driving music of The Red Step crosses the Sava River and drifts over the concrete towers of Belgrade’s Blokovi districts like a gray cloud tinged by a smoky red sun.
Rexx – Pure Pleasure II LP (Big Neck)
Translucent red color vinyl pressing. Rexxx began as a supergroup of heavy hitters in the Milwaukee punk scene but very quickly proved themselves to be a genuine power pop force. Blending bubblegum melodies and grimy punk riffs, their debut album Pure Pleasure II delivers the hooks and double downs on the sweaty looks.
Johnny Rivers – Best of Johnny Rivers – Greatest Hits LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile vinyl pressing. In 1964, when the British Invasion was in progress and American rockers were tough to find on the U.S. pop charts, Johnny Rivers was one of the first to regain a foothold; his first Top 10 record came right during Beatlemania. His formula was much the same as the British style vintage American rock n’ roll and R&B played with a verve and simplicity that gave his music a contemporary edge. Over the next four years his funky, go-go rock gave him a steady stream of Top 10 records.
Robohands – Shapes LP (King Underground)
The third album from London-based multi-instrumentalist Robohands, Shapes fuses elements of jazz, krautrock, hip-hop and ambient music. For fans of Khruangbin, Yusef Dayes, Can, Coltrane and ‘70s library music moods.
Maggie Rogers – Notes From The Archive: Recordings 2011-2016 2xLP (Debay Sounds)
Limited edition color vinyl pressing. Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter/performer Maggie Rogers releases a special collection of archival music: Notes From The Archives: Recordings 2011-2016. The 16 track collection features newly remastered versions of tracks from Maggie’s early albums and six previously unreleased songs.
Esther Rose – How Many Times LP (Father/Daughter)
With the integrity of Dean Johnson, Faustina Masigat, and Kiki Cavazos serving as primary influences, Rose expands her alt-country sound into a blossoming world of folk pop, rustic americana, and tender harmonies. A collection of complete takes recorded live to tape with rich instrumentation, soul-tugging hooks, and resonating vocal melodies, How Many Times carries you into the room in which it was made.
Royal Blood – Typhoons 4xLP (WB)
Limited-edition four-LP box set edition. When Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher sat down to talk about making a new album, they knew what they wanted to achieve. It involved a conscious return to their roots, back when they had made music that was influenced by Daft Punk, Justice, and Philippe Zdar of Cassius. It also called for a similar back-to-basics approach to what had made their self-titled debut album so thrilling, visceral and original. Typhoons opens in breathless, take-no-prisoners style with the fierce metallic grooves of “Who Needs Friends” hitting an early visceral peak. Royal Blood further reference their array of influences by deploying vocodered vocals on “Million & One” before dynamically switching between the biggest contrasts of their sound with “Limbo”. Already a fan favorite having been a regular during the duo’s 2019 shows, “Boilermaker” lives up to its reputation and is more than matched by “Mad Visions”, which evokes a hyper-aggressive Prince. It ends with a final surprise in the shape of the stark piano ballad “All We Have Is Now,” a vulnerable and revealing reminder to live in the moment.
Shai Maestro – Human LP (ECM)
Pianist Shai Maestro’s 2021 album, Human, magnifies his outgoing band (fellow Israeli Ofri Nehemya/drums and Jorge Roeder/bass) becomes a quartet with inspired addition of trumpeter Philip Dizack. Shai is well-matched by Dizack’s quick alert improvising. Near the end of a programme comprised mostly of Maestro originals in a range of temperaments, is their own take on Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood”, while Shai’s Hank and Charlie pays tribute to the late Hank Jones and Charlie Haden.
Qur’an Shaheed – Process LP (Preference)
Qur’an Shaheed is a 28-year-old pianist, poet, singer and songwriter from Pasadena, California. She has collaborated with Koreatown Oddity & The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (of which her father Nolan Shaheed is also a member). She is also the keyboardist for Jimetta Rose’s gospel choir The Voices of Creation. Her focus now is collaborating with various artists and releasing music in the spirit of uplifting and uniting people.
This Will Destroy You – Variations & Rarities: 2004-2019 Vol. I LP (Dark Operative)
This Will Destroy You – Variations & Rarities: 2004-2019 Vol. II LP (Dark Operative)
Vol. I features six selections of completely unheard material from roughly a three year period in the middle of the band’s career. Whereas traditional rarity collections can feel like an archive dump, Vol. I has been meticulously crafted to flow seamlessly from beginning to end, communicating a long-form narrative that can only be experienced in full when listening to the piece in its entirety. The second installment focuses heavily on the Self-Titled era, giving all a previously- unseen and unheard glimpse behind the curtain at some of the early stages and ideas for songs that ultimately became the band’s most successful album to date.
Vitreous Humor – Posthumous [Reissue/1998] LP (Ernest Jenning)
Formed in 1989 in Topeka, Kansas, Vitreous Humor was best known as the flagship band on the Crank! Record label out of Santa Monica, California. They released two 7” records, one EP, and, after their dissolution, one full-length album of singles, demos, and live tracks during their time with Crank! They shared stages with bands such as Archers Of Loaf, Urge Overkill, Everclear, and The Get Up Kids, and their songs have been covered by bands such as The Get Up Kids and Nada Surf. Vitreous Humor is often spoken of as one of the progenitors of the emo movement, but their style and sound never fit neatly into any category. Their sound evolved over the seven-year lifespan of the band from melodic, guitar heavy indie-rock/pop, to a more dissonant, angular, and aggressive attack later.
White Lion – The Best Of White Lion [Reissue/1992] LP (Friday Music)
Limited-edition 180gm audiophile translucent purple color vinyl pressing of the hair/glam metal band’s 1992 greatest hits album.
Lucinda Williams – Ramblin’ On My Mind [Reissue/1979] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams’ Southern blues roots are unmistakable on her debut record Ramblin’ On My Mind, showcasing the artistry that would make her an icon. Recorded in Mississippi in the late 1970s, the album features a collection of traditional folk and country standards arranged and performed by Williams, with intimate accompaniment by John Grimaudo on his six-string guitar. Her raw and drawly voice is as curvy and natural as a back road as she wistfully explores the familiar melodies of Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, and the Memphis Jug Band, among others.
Frank Zappa – ZAPPA Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2xLP/5xLP (Zappa Records)
Available as a clear vinyl 34-track double-LP pressing or 180gm vinyl 68-track five-LP box set. With unfettered access to the Zappa Trust and all archival footage, ZAPPA explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Alex Winter’s assembly features appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of Frank’s musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others. This soundtrack edition is a perfect complement to the film.
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