AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:
Matt Andersen – The Big Bottle Of Joy CD/2xLP (Sonic)
The Big Bottle Of Joy is about celebration – hard-won, overflowing, exuberant celebration. Matt Andersen’s latest long-player lives up to the grand title from its opening song, “Let It Slide”; a muscular, organ-drenched urge for people to chill out and be good to each other – to its understated, romantic curtain-closer, “Shoes”. Andersen finds reason to sustain this celebration of the life we share together everywhere – on the road, missing a lover; between the sheets in a southern Ontario motel room; from Montreal “all the way to New Orleans”; in a “little kitchen ballroom” on a quiet night at home. Over a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel, he testifies to something we could all do well to remember: the time we have together is special, so let’s spend it the right way.
Jane Bunett and Maqueque – Playing With Fire CD (Linus Entertainment)
By now the international jazz community knows the story that Maqueque came out of a jam session at the Cohiba Hotel in Havana that introduced renowned jazz musician Jane Bunnett with young women musicians and composers who had recently graduated from the Cuban conservatory. Over ten years the band has created opportunities for composing and performing extraordinary jazz that has taken this all-female ensemble around the world and has expanded to include not only women players from Cuba, but also brilliant vocalist Joanna Majoko (from Zimbabwe) and has had musicians from the Dominican Republic, Latin America, Spain and Lebanon.
Shana Cleveland – Manzanita CD/LP/Cassette (Hardly Art)
Manzanita is the common name for a kind of small evergreen tree endemic to California which has strong medicinal properties. It’s also the name of the brand-new full length by songwriter, musician, visual artist, and writer Shana Cleveland. Subtle, powerful, and unafraid, it’s her strongest and most personal album to date. These songs are as strong as the bricks in the Brill building and seem destined to be covered by others in years to come. Where her previous record, 2019’s Night Of The Worm Moon functions as a collection of speculative fictions equally inspired by Afro-futurist pioneers Herman “Sun Ra” Blount and Octavia Butler, Manzanita concerns the love that loves to love. “This is a supernatural love album set in the California wilderness,” Cleveland explains. [A limited-edition maroon color vinyl pressing is available.]
Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation CD/LP (Columbia)
Endless Summer Vacation is the eagerly anticipated new album from recording artist, songwriter, and trailblazer Miley Cyrus. Introduced by the lead single “Flowers”, the collection marks Miley’s eighth studio album overall, and the follow up to 2020’s Plastic Hearts. 2023 finds Miley the strongest and most confident she’s ever been, with the music and imagery of Endless Summer Vacation serving as a reflection of the strength she’s found in focusing on both her physical and mental well-being. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced with Kid Harpoon, Greg Kurstin, Mike WiLL Made-It and Tyler Johnson, Miley describes the album as her love letter to L.A.
Fever Ray – Radical Romantics CD (Mute)
Radical Romantics documents Fever Ray’s struggle with love, relationships, identity, and self-preservation. Featuring collaborations with Olof Dreijer (The Knife), Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Vessel, Aasthma and more, this album feels like the apex of their career, incorporating elements of The Knife and early Fever Ray, while looking steadfastly into the future. Includes the single “What They Call Us” which Pitchfork awarded with Best New Track. [Vinyl edition due April 28.]
Ryan Hamilton – Haunted By The Holy Ghost CD/LP (Wicked Cool)
Texan indie-rocker Ryan Hamilton, formerly of the band Smile Smile, presents his third solo album Haunted By The Holy Ghost. Continuing the rough and ready power-pop/garage-rock chops of its predecessor 1221, Hamilton addresses his experiences growing up in an extremely conservative religious household. He recorded the album at The Old Cider Press, UK and Ryan’s Home Studio in Stephenville, TX. The album’s 10 tracks were written by Ryan Hamilton and produced by Dave Draper and features a guest appearance from Jessie Wagner.
Jawny – It’s Never Fair, Always True CD (Johnny Utah, LLC/Interscope)
Jawny’s highly anticipated debut album, It’s Never Fair, Always True, is a raucous, wild rush that traces all the twists and turns of life and love in its purest moments; a series of genuine, intricate stories about a boy falling in and out of love. The doomed tale unfolds as Jawny weaves his way through the uncertainty against a milieu of ballads, larger than life anthems, technicolor melodies, a collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Beck and much more. Featuring “Fall In Love” along with the previously released songs “True”, “Wide-Eyed”, “Adios”, “Strawberry Chainsaw”, and “Take It Back”, Jawny shares, “I feel like I made my dream album that I wish I had the ability to make when I was 17.” [Green color vinyl edition due April 28.]
The Nude Party – Rides On CD/2xLP (New West)
For The Nude Party, nearly a decade has flown by in the blink of an eye. In that time, the New York-based band released a pair of well-received albums, an EP and played numerous shows. The band has historically worked with a producer to help them create a distinct sound in their records but with their latest effort, Rides On, the band decided to handle production duties by themselves. The hands-on approach allowed the band to have as much fun creating as they ever had at any other point in their career. They recorded over 20 songs, including some that dabbled in electro-pop and stripped-down country before settling on the final 14 songs containing the best elements of ’70s-driven blues rock. Sonically, the album is reminiscent of Sticky Fingers-era Stones, but the lyrics are mini-vignettes that embody the spirit of what The Nude Party are going for – and their growth as a band. [An indie store exclusive yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]
Sleaford Mods – UK Grim CD/LP+MP3 (Rough Trade)
Sleaford Mods return in with the new album, UK Grim. Throughout their music, the duo’s poetic protest and electronic resistance has seen them consistency chart and call out their times with an eloquence and attitude that has made them one of the most urgent and unique voices in modern music. Hailed by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Seth Myers, Iggy Pop, Amyl & The Sniffers, and a legion of loyal fans whose devotion to the band would rival most sports supporters. Continuing this sonic vocation on their new album, Jason Williamson, and Andrew Fearn’s creative evolution now finds them capturing the atmosphere of their era too. Though no strangers to the dancefloor, the minimal yet immersive beats and grooves of UK Grim’s tracks – which include collaborations with Dry Cleaning’s Florence Shaw and Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell among them – add a new, physical dimension to Sleaford Mods’ sound that makes their words more vital than ever. [An indie store exclusive silver color vinyl pressing is available.]
The War & Treaty – Lover’s Game CD/LP (Mercury Nashville)
Wielding a sound which cuts through the whole of Southern music tradition – from blues, soul, and R&B, to gospel, country, folk and rock, husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter now reach the next creative level as their story plays out amid a transcendent sonic landscape. Their name alone conjures images of struggle, epic conflict, sacrifice, and the eventual birth of a lasting peace. For this “colossally talented pair” (Associated Press), that struggle is found within love itself and it forms the heart of a landmark album. Revealing and bold, the 10-track collection offers unique perspective on shifting cultural tides and the impact of a global pandemic. The soul-soaked title track single co-written by the pair with album producer Dave Cobb is presented as a playful rock-n-roller full of starry-eyed flirtation as the couple compare romantic battle scars and decide they still believe in the cause. Lover’s Game embraces that genre-less vocal dynamism the duo has long employed while showcasing love’s ability to rejuvenate.
Additional Social Media Program Titles:
Ben Kweller – Sha Sha: Deluxe Edition 3xLP (The Noise Company)
Sha Sha is the debut album by American indie rock singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former Radish member Ben Kweller. The album was originally composed of outtakes from sessions for Radish’s unreleased album Discount Fireworks. It was self-released by Kweller, via CD-R, in 2000. In 2002, ATO Records released a second version of the album with a radically different track listing featuring many new recordings and songs. This 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition features 22 previously unreleased rarities including demos, B-sides, and live recordings all from the Sha Sha era.
Mdou Moctar – Niger EP Vol. 1 12”+MP3 (Matador)
Mdou Moctar – Niger EP Vol. 2 12”+MP3 (Matador)
Rare slices of work from Tuareg songwriter and musician Mdou Moctar – material collected from tapes recorded between 2017 and 2020, often featuring the group in a range of different settings in their native Niger. The work throughout is filled with the sublime guitar of Mahamadou Souleymane – but the shift in setting makes for a strong sense of variety, especially as some of the titles feature more guitar lines than vocals.
CDs + Vinyl:
Matt Andersen – The Big Bottle Of Joy CD/2xLP (Sonic)
The Big Bottle Of Joy is about celebration – hard-won, overflowing, exuberant celebration. Matt Andersen’s latest long-player lives up to the grand title from its opening song, “Let It Slide”; a muscular, organ-drenched urge for people to chill out and be good to each other – to its understated, romantic curtain-closer, “Shoes”. Andersen finds reason to sustain this celebration of the life we share together everywhere – on the road, missing a lover; between the sheets in a southern Ontario motel room; from Montreal “all the way to New Orleans”; in a “little kitchen ballroom” on a quiet night at home. Over a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel, he testifies to something we could all do well to remember: the time we have together is special, so let’s spend it the right way.
Blackmore’s Night – Shadow Of The Moon [25th Anniversary Edition] CD+DVD/2xLP+7”+DVD (earMUSIC)
The 25th Anniversary Edition of Blackmore’s Night’s 1997 debut album Shadow Of The Moon features a fully remixed version of the original album with completely refreshed artwork. Also included are two previously unreleased acoustic songs: “Spirit Of The Sea” and “Shadow Of The Moon”, both recorded in an intimate home session by Candice and Ritchie. All physical first-print editions include an exclusive Shadow Of The Moon documentary on DVD. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is available.]
The Blaze – Jungle CD/LP (Animal 63)
The Blaze is back: after the release of their first album DancehallL, the producer-director duo went on a world tour of festivals and sold-out venues. Guillaume and Jonathan Alric composed and recorded their new album, Jungle, with this live perspective in mind: introspective electronic music carried by images and melodies that are always drunk with emotion.
Jane Bunett and Maqueque – Playing With Fire CD (Linus Entertainment)
By now the international jazz community knows the story that Maqueque came out of a jam session at the Cohiba Hotel in Havana that introduced renowned jazz musician Jane Bunnett with young women musicians and composers who had recently graduated from the Cuban conservatory. Over ten years the band has created opportunities for composing and performing extraordinary jazz that has taken this all-female ensemble around the world and has expanded to include not only women players from Cuba, but also brilliant vocalist Joanna Majoko (from Zimbabwe) and has had musicians from the Dominican Republic, Latin America, Spain and Lebanon.
Shana Cleveland – Manzanita CD/LP/Cassette (Hardly Art)
Manzanita is the common name for a kind of small evergreen tree endemic to California which has strong medicinal properties. It’s also the name of the brand-new full length by songwriter, musician, visual artist, and writer Shana Cleveland. Subtle, powerful, and unafraid, it’s her strongest and most personal album to date. These songs are as strong as the bricks in the Brill building and seem destined to be covered by others in years to come. Where her previous record, 2019’s Night Of The Worm Moon functions as a collection of speculative fictions equally inspired by Afro-futurist pioneers Herman “Sun Ra” Blount and Octavia Butler, Manzanita concerns the love that loves to love. “This is a supernatural love album set in the California wilderness,” Cleveland explains. [A limited-edition maroon color vinyl pressing is available.]
The Cold Stares – Voices CD/LP (Mascot/Provogue)
New studio album from the blues rockers. For the past ten years, The Cold Stares has toured the world relentlessly as a duo, blowing away audiences across the US and Europe with a fierce, blistering live show that belied their bare bones, guitar-and-drums setup. Now, the band is embracing a whole new kind of chemistry as they launch their next chapter, adding a third member and channeling the classic power trio sound they grew up on with the explosive Voices. [A limited-edition burgundy color vinyl pressing is available.]
Crimeapple – El Cantante LP (Fat Beats)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Embracing his career path as an emcee/entertainer, Crimeapple returns with his latest solo effort, El Cantante, which serves as an ode to Hector Lavoe and The Fania Era of salsa music’s profound storytelling.
Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation CD/LP (Columbia)
Endless Summer Vacation is the eagerly anticipated new album from recording artist, songwriter, and trailblazer Miley Cyrus. Introduced by the lead single “Flowers”, the collection marks Miley’s eighth studio album overall, and the follow up to 2020’s Plastic Hearts. 2023 finds Miley the strongest and most confident she’s ever been, with the music and imagery of Endless Summer Vacation serving as a reflection of the strength she’s found in focusing on both her physical and mental well-being. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced with Kid Harpoon, Greg Kurstin, Mike WiLL Made-It and Tyler Johnson, Miley describes the album as her love letter to L.A.
Delerium – Signs CD (Metropolis)
Delerium has explored any number of aspects of electronic music, ceaselessly evolving and exploring, seemingly traversing genres in search of the exquisite. Signs is a masterwork of hypnotic rhythms and enveloping ambience, with stunning vocal contributions from Mimi Page, Phildel, Inna Walters, and KANGA. Each singer’s unique voice elevates Signs, adding levels of aching beauty and romanticism. [A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is due April 7.]
The Drawbars – One Finger Only CD/LP (Color Red)
In 2018, bassist David Nesselhauf fulfilled his dream of playing in a highly flexible and funky trio by calling upon the players that impressed him gigging around town in Hamburg, Germany. The Drawbars was formed with keyboardist Chris Haertel playing several vintage organs, pianos, and Wurlitzers, while drummer Julian Gutjahr provided a backbone with a steady beat. During the first session, a good number of original tunes were sketched, soon to be followed by the band’s first gigs and releases. Further defining “off jazz” for the audience and the trio, their debut album, One Finger Only encompasses stylistic unity and diversity at the same time. Fusing elements of soul-jazz, funk, and psychedelic music with the attitude of a rocking, jazz-loving organ trio.
Dylan Earl – I Saw The Arkansas CD/LP (Gar Hole)
I Saw The Arkansas is the third LP from Arkansas country troubadour Dylan Earl. Using a sonic blend of ‘90s neotraditional country, contemporary southern rock, and traditional folk, Earl recalls the many wacky stories, close encounters with the law, dizzying romances and endless highways of this season of his life.
Enisum – Forgotten Mountains CD/LP (Avantgarde Music)
Almost four years after Moth’s Illusion, Arpitanian black metal veterans Enisum, from northern Italy, are back with a brand-new studio album, the fifth in their career. Forgotten Mountains consists of eight atmospheric gems for fans of Wolves In The Throne Room, Earth And Pillars, and the most intimate and naturalistic side of black metal.
The Eyelids – A Colossal Waste Of Light CD/LP+MP3 (Jealous Butcher)
Eyelids’ new album, A Colossal Waste Of Light, does an excellent job of framing the quintet as one of today’s most compelling purveyors of lopsided guitar pop workouts and earworm-laden vocal melodies. It also proves that great guitar pop can still evoke favorites from a glorious past – the penetrating moodiness of XTC’s Black Sea, or R.E.M.’s Fables Of The Reconstruction, comes to mind – while refusing to waste time on idle nostalgia. [A clear w/ purple smoke color vinyl pressing is available.]
Fever Ray – Radical Romantics CD (Mute)
Radical Romantics documents Fever Ray’s struggle with love, relationships, identity, and self-preservation. Featuring collaborations with Olof Dreijer (The Knife), Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Vessel, Aasthma and more, this album feels like the apex of their career, incorporating elements of The Knife and early Fever Ray, while looking steadfastly into the future. Includes the single “What They Call Us” which Pitchfork awarded with Best New Track. [Vinyl edition due April 28.]
Fletcher – Girl Of My Dreams CD (Capitol)
Deluxe edition of 2022 album featuring four bonus tracks. Girl Of My Dreams is an up-close look at the moments of heartache, triumph and deeply transformative experiences on Fletcher’s way to self-discovery. The record expands on the boldly detailed storytelling she’s brought to hits like “Undrunk” and “Bitter”. This time around, Fletcher reveals her inner world more fully and fearlessly than ever before, embracing the kind of uninhibited honesty that’s freeing for both artist and audience.
Ging – We’re Here, My Dear CD/LP/Cassette (Ging Recording Inc.)
Debut release from Ging, the solo project of the artist formerly known as Frank Dukes. Of the album, Ging says: “An ode to a love that’s free. The type of love with space to start as one thing and become something new altogether. This is an ode to the woman I once married and the family we started together. As we stand before the remains of what we once called our marriage, something beautiful and new emerges. A new commitment, a commitment to truth. And even if that truth shatters every idea of what we thought we were, we honor it. We honor our love. To all that has led us to this very moment… We’re here my dear.”
Ryan Hamilton – Haunted By The Holy Ghost CD/LP (Wicked Cool)
Texan indie-rocker Ryan Hamilton, formerly of the band Smile Smile, presents his third solo album Haunted By The Holy Ghost. Continuing the rough and ready power-pop/garage-rock chops of its predecessor 1221, Hamilton addresses his experiences growing up in an extremely conservative religious household. He recorded the album at The Old Cider Press, UK and Ryan’s Home Studio in Stephenville, TX. The album’s 10 tracks were written by Ryan Hamilton and produced by Dave Draper and features a guest appearance from Jessie Wagner.
Lonnie Holley – Oh Me Oh My CD/LP+MP3 (Jagjaguwar)
Oh Me Oh My is both elegant and ferocious. It is stirring in one moment and a balm the next. It details histories both global and personal. Lonnie Holley’s harrowing youth and young manhood in the Jim Crow South are well-told at this point – his sale into a different home as a child for just a bottle of whiskey; his abuse at the infamous Mount Meigs correctional facility for boys; the destruction of his art environment by the Birmingham airport expansion. But Holley’s music is less a performance of pain endured and more a display of perseverance, of relentless hope. Intricately and lovingly produced by L.A.’s Jacknife Lee (The Cure, R.E.M., Modest Mouse), there is both kinetic, shortwave funk that call to mind Brian Eno’s My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts and the deep space satellite sounds of Eno’s ambient works. But it’s a tremendous achievement in sonics all its own. [A limited-edition translucent blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Isole – Anisidora CD/LP (Napalm)
New album from the Swedish doom metal band.
Jawny – It’s Never Fair, Always True CD (Johnny Utah, LLC/Interscope)
Jawny’s highly anticipated debut album, It’s Never Fair, Always True, is a raucous, wild rush that traces all the twists and turns of life and love in its purest moments; a series of genuine, intricate stories about a boy falling in and out of love. The doomed tale unfolds as Jawny weaves his way through the uncertainty against a milieu of ballads, larger than life anthems, technicolor melodies, a collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Beck and much more. Featuring “Fall In Love” along with the previously released songs “True”, “Wide-Eyed”, “Adios”, “Strawberry Chainsaw”, and “Take It Back”, Jawny shares, “I feel like I made my dream album that I wish I had the ability to make when I was 17.” [Green color vinyl edition due April 28.]
Jo Dee Messina – Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best Of Jo Dee Messina CD/LP (Curb)
Jo Dee Messina is a seasoned veteran in the music industry, always evolving and reintroducing herself and her sound as she gains new experiences in life. Jumpstarting her career, Jo Dee’s breakout song, “Heads Carolina, Tails California”, made her a household name. Following the success of her debut, Jo Dee posted nine No. 1 hits, sixteen Top 40 songs, sold over five million albums worldwide, and was honored by the ACM Awards, CMA Awards, and Grammy Awards. As Jo Dee’s résumé grew, she proved to be a trendsetter and history-maker, becoming the first female in country music history to celebrate three consecutive multi-week, chart-topping songs. [A limited-edition white w/ orange & blue sparkle color vinyl pressing is available.]
Killing Joke – XXV Gathering: Let Us Prey [Reissue/2005] CD (Cooking Vinyl)
CD reissue of this 2005 live release from the iconic British post-punk band.
Koo Voo – Koo Voo CD/LP (Personal Affair)
A playful music project by Koo aka Takuya Kuroda and Voo aka Marihito Ayabe (Chimp Beams, Loop Diary) both from Brooklyn, NY. Kuroda’s trumpet and keys dance on Ayabe’s breakbeats. Kuroda, an energetic and nimble jazz trumpet player with a hint of afro beat, and Ayabe, a dub beat maker with a dark and cosmic feel-the light chemical reaction between these opposing elements has opened a new musical page.
Simone Kopmajer – With Love CD/LP (Galileo Music)
With Love is a mix of old timeless classics, love songs and two original compositions, and is Simone Kopmajer’s most romantic album of her incredible career. The album’s string arrangements are performed by Grammy Winning NY string quartet. Guests include jazz legend Sheila Jordan and John Di Martino.
Melissa Lesnie – The Wonderful Things To Come: The Songs Of JC Hopkins CD/LP (Twee-Jazz)
Intimate, exclusive interpretations of Grammy-nominated songwriter’s unabashedly romantic jazz tunes, performed by Paris-based duo Melissa Lesnie (voice) and Jean Baptiste-Franc (piano), with jazz quartet (William Brunard, double bass and Jonathan Gomis, drums), and additional string quartet arrangements by Daniel Garlitsky.
Les Rallizes Dénudés – ’77 Live [Reissue/1991] 2xCD (Temporal Drift)
Mizutani / Les Rallizes Denudes – Mizutani / Les Rallizes Dénudés [Reissue/1991] CD (Temporal Drift)
Les Rallizes Denudes – ’67-’69 Studio Et Live [Reissue/1991] CD (Temporal Drift)
Temporal Drift presents the first-ever officially sanctioned reissue of celebrated Japanese cult band Les Rallizes Dénudés’ three albums, originally compiled and released in limited quantities on CD in 1991. These reissues follow the label’s release of The OZ Tapes in 2022, as part of the label’s ongoing series of Les Rallizes Dénudés reissues. Led by the enigmatic Takashi Mizutani, Les Rallizes Dénudés has gained an almost mythical status the world over with their delicate balancing act between transcendent psychedelia and pure sonic assault, maintaining its status as an underground phenomenon throughout their three-decade existence and beyond. [Color vinyl editions due March 24.]
The Long Ryders – September November CD/LP (Cherry Red)
Long Ryder guitarist/mandolinist Sid Griffin states September November is “two thirds the distilled alt-country genre we helped found back in the 1980s, one third Paisley Underground adventurism yet seasoned with a dash of our own crazed soulfulness thrown in.” Produced by Ed Stasium, best known for his long relationship as producer and engineer for the Ramones.
Van Morrison – Moving On Skiffle CD/2xLP (Virgin)
Several decades after his childhood hangouts in famed Belfast record store Atlantic Records, Van Morrison revisits his love of the genre with his new album Moving On Skiffle. Launching with lead single “Streamline Train”, the 23-track album takes a homemade style that exploded across Britain in the mid- ‘50s and infuses it with sophistication, soulfulness, and an underlying message on the importance of freedom and living on your own terms, his lifetime. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Nanowar Of Steel – Dislike To False Metal CD/LP (Napalm)
New album from the masters of parody-infused heavy metal. [A limited-edition purple color vinyl pressing is available.]
NewJeans – NewJeans ‘OMG’ CD (Big Hit Entertainment)
New release from the five-member K-pop girl group. This first official two-song EP contains the hit songs “OMG” and “Ditto”. The outbox package includes 25 message cards, a photobook (52 pages), a lyric book (12 pages), five photo cards, and stickers (two sheets).
The Nude Party – Rides On CD/2xLP (New West)
For The Nude Party, nearly a decade has flown by in the blink of an eye. In that time, the New York-based band released a pair of well-received albums, an EP and played numerous shows. The band has historically worked with a producer to help them create a distinct sound in their records but with their latest effort, Rides On, the band decided to handle production duties by themselves. The hands-on approach allowed the band to have as much fun creating as they ever had at any other point in their career. They recorded over 20 songs, including some that dabbled in electro-pop and stripped-down country before settling on the final 14 songs containing the best elements of ’70s-driven blues rock. Sonically, the album is reminiscent of Sticky Fingers-era Stones, but the lyrics are mini-vignettes that embody the spirit of what The Nude Party are going for – and their growth as a band. [An indie store exclusive yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]
Otherwise – Gawdzillionaire CD/LP (Mascot)
A one-two punch of airtight guitars, stadium-shaking grooves, and hypnotic hard-hitting hooks. [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is available.]
Party Dozen – The Living Man [Reissue/2017] CD/LP+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
Party Dozen – Pray For Party Dozen [Reissue/2020] CD/LP+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
Party Dozen is a sonic partnership loosely based on improvisation between saxophonist Kirsty Tickle and percussionist Jonathan Boulet. Their debut album, The Living Man, earned critical acclaim upon release in 2017, including ‘Album of The Week’ honors at Sydney’s FBi Radio amidst heavy national airplay (Triple J, Double J, RRR, 4ZZZ, 2SER). They’ve toured relentlessly ever since – each performance a trial of physicality and an expression of maximalism. Like the legendary Dirty Three, the members seem to meld into one mind, oblivious to the viewer. Tickle effortlessly navigates Boulet’s ever-shortening attention span and wild tempo changes; form gradually materializes from chaos. The Australian out-rock duo returned with their second album Pray For Party Dozen in May 2020. [Limited-edition color vinyl pressings (yellow and red, respectively) are available.]
Art Pepper – Unreleased Art Volume 1: The Complete Abashiri Concert – November 22, 1981 CD (Omnivore)
Live archive release from the jazz legend. Recorded in Abashiri, Japan on November 22, 1981. The group’s line-up features Art Pepper, George Cables, David Williams, and Carl Burnett.
Puscifer – Money Shot [Reissue/2015] CD/LP (BMG)
CD and vinyl reissue of the third studio album from this band led by Maynard James Keenan (Tool / A Perfect Circle), originally released in 2015.
Queen – Greatest Hits I & II [Reissue/1994] 2xCD (Hollywood)
Queen’s greatest-hits collections have contained different track listings throughout the world. In the band’s native England, they scored more hits than anywhere else, hence their compilations are usually more extensive. When Hollywood Records purchased the US Queen catalog in the early ’90s, the label reissued the long out of print Greatest Hits album (basing the track listing on the 1981 British album of the same name but with a few changes) and released a companion album entitled Classic Queen. The rest of the world received Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 in 1991, which contained their UK hits from 1981-1991 (Classic Queen contained tracks by the band from all eras).
Rarelyalways – Work CD/LP+MP3 (Innovative Leisure)
For Rarelyalways, a sense of purpose is rarely far from the surface. That’s been true in everything he’s done, as a musician across a huge range of scenes and sounds, as a writer, as an entrepreneur and youth worker – but now, with his debut solo album, it’s really coming into focus. With his already broad musical and life experience, he’s in a unique position to offer something entirely new to UK music.
Eric Reed – Black, Brown, And Blue CD (Smoke Sessions)
Black, Brown, And Blue features music written by jazz masters like Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Benny Golson, Horace Silver, Buddy Collette, and Buster Williams, along with jazz-conversant pop/R&B songwriters Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers. In addition, Reed and his bandmates on this thrilling session – bassist Luca Alemanno and drummer Reggie Quinerly – each contribute a new piece of their own.
Roadrunner United – The Concert (Live At The Nokia Theatre, New York, NY 12/15/2005) 2xCD/3xLP (Roadrunner)
Roadrunner United – All Star Recordings Sessions [Reissue/2005] 2xCD (Roadrunner)
Roadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. On December 15th, 2005, in New York City, Roadrunner Records produced the metal concert to end all metal concerts: 39 musicians (including members of Slipknot, Anthrax, Trivium, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Sepultura, and more), representing 25 different Roadrunner bands, performed 25 songs from 19 different bands’ repertoire. This unique and unprecedented aggregation of musicians was no jam session. Each song was studiously rehearsed and arranged, coming together with exuberant perfection, to produce a concert that can only be called “legend.” Conceived as a follow-up to the Roadrunner United All-Star recording sessions, the label recruited the core team of musicians (Dino Cazares, Adam Duce, Paul Gray, Joey Jordison, Andreas Kisser, and Roy Mayorga) as the backbone of the performance.
Frankie Rose – Love As Projection CD/LP+MP3 (Slumberland)
After spending nearly two decades establishing herself across New York and Los Angeles independent music circles, Frankie Rose returns with a fresh form, aesthetic, and purpose embodied in her new album Love As Projection. Celebrated by countless critical and cultural outlets over the years for her expansive approach to songwriting, lush atmospherics, and transcendent vocal melodies and harmonies, Love As Projection is a reintroduction of her established style through the new lens of contemporary electronic pop. [An indie store exclusive vinyl pressing is available.]
Say Zuzu – No Time To Lose CD/LP (Strolling Bones)
Reverent of the past and excited for the future, Say Zuzu makes the most of the present in their music. The New Hampshire six-piece artfully thread together a reflective patchwork of folk, rock, alternative, and country powered by lifelong friendships and a collective ambition to “carpe diem.”
Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours [Reissue/1992] CD+DVD (London)
Casebound CD+DVD edition. Hormonally Yours is the second studio album by British pop-rock act Shakespears Sister, originally released in 1992. The album went on to become a critical and commercial success and is their best-selling album to date. The album’s second single, “Stay” became the group’s best-selling single, topping the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks.
Sleaford Mods – UK Grim CD/LP+MP3 (Rough Trade)
Sleaford Mods return in with the new album, UK Grim. Throughout their music, the duo’s poetic protest and electronic resistance has seen them consistency chart and call out their times with an eloquence and attitude that has made them one of the most urgent and unique voices in modern music. Hailed by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Seth Myers, Iggy Pop, Amyl & The Sniffers, and a legion of loyal fans whose devotion to the band would rival most sports supporters. Continuing this sonic vocation on their new album, Jason Williamson, and Andrew Fearn’s creative evolution now finds them capturing the atmosphere of their era too. Though no strangers to the dancefloor, the minimal yet immersive beats and grooves of UK Grim’s tracks – which include collaborations with Dry Cleaning’s Florence Shaw and Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell among them – add a new, physical dimension to Sleaford Mods’ sound that makes their words more vital than ever. [An indie store exclusive silver color vinyl pressing is available.]
Soilwork – Steelbath Suicide [Reissue/1998] CD/LP (Listenable)
Soilwork – The Chainheart Machine [Reissue/2000] CD/LP (Listenable)
Remastered, expanded, and overhauled editions of the Swedish metal band’s first two albums. Few bands have mixed the aggressiveness of metal with genuinely catchy choruses to such impressive results. [Limited-edition translucent blue color vinyl pressings are available.]
Sound Of The Year – Tear Me To Pieces CD/LP (Sharptone)
What’s the sound of Story of the Year? Loud guitars, massive singalong choruses, and uplifting perseverance. [Two vinyl colorways are available: magenta and indie store exclusive magenta w/ black splatter.]
Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die CD/LP (Century Media)
Remember… You Must Die is the sound of extreme metal stalwarts Suicide Silence channeling the spirit of their classic albums like The Cleansing or No Time to Bleed and delivering a modern deathcore masterpiece. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Ali Farka Touré – Voyageur CD/LP (World Circuit)
Ali Farka Touré is well known as one of the most influential and talented guitarists that Africa has ever produced. His legacy and impact are hard to overstate Ali’s sound merged his much-loved traditional Malian musical styles with distinct elements of the blues, resulting in the creation of a groundbreaking new genre, now well known as the ‘desert blues’, earning him three Grammy awards and widespread reverence. Voyageur is the first release of previously unheard music since 2006’s Savane and features a collection of recordings captured at various points in Ali’s illustrious career. The album, which features fellow Malian superstar Oumou Sangaré on three tracks, reaffirms Ali’s status as a globally revered legend of African music.
Twice – Ready To Be CDEP (Jyp Ent/Republic)
Twice – Ready To Be [READY Ver.] CDEP (Jyp Ent/Republic)
Twice – Ready To Be [TO Ver.] CDEP (Jyp Ent/Republic)
Twice – Ready To Be [BE Ver.] CDEP (Jyp Ent/Republic)
12th mini-album from the K-Pop girl group. Edition-specific contents include a photobook, a folded poster, and a photo card set.
Ugly Mac Beer – The Valley Of The Kings CD/LP (X-Ray Productions)
Ugly Mac Beer, a key figure in the French breakbeat scene, founder of Beatsqueeze Records and author of the critically acclaimed albums Modonut 1 & 2 alongside Mister Modo, is back with a new solo album The Valley Of The Kings, between lofi hip-hop, abstract hip-hop or even broken beat. A digger/beatmaker effort par excellence, very inspired by the ‘90s productions of masters of the genre such as Madlib, DJ Shadow or RZA, the concept of this instrumental album with oriental sounds is based on the search for the sample of “THE” ultimate and perfectly heady loop, which can be listen to over and over again.
Yuja Wang – American Project CD (Deutsche Grammophon)
Yuja Wang is the brilliant soloist in a piano concerto by a longtime friend of hers: Teddy Abrams. The music director of the Louisville Orchestra, which he conducts here, describes his virtuosic piece as “an opportunity for the piano to guide us through what I think is one of the strengths of American culture, it’s plurality, it’s interconnectedness.”
The War & Treaty – Lover’s Game CD/LP (Mercury Nashville)
Wielding a sound which cuts through the whole of Southern music tradition – from blues, soul, and R&B, to gospel, country, folk and rock, husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter now reach the next creative level as their story plays out amid a transcendent sonic landscape. Their name alone conjures images of struggle, epic conflict, sacrifice, and the eventual birth of a lasting peace. For this “colossally talented pair” (Associated Press), that struggle is found within love itself and it forms the heart of a landmark album. Revealing and bold, the 10-track collection offers unique perspective on shifting cultural tides and the impact of a global pandemic. The soul-soaked title track single co-written by the pair with album producer Dave Cobb is presented as a playful rock-n-roller full of starry-eyed flirtation as the couple compare romantic battle scars and decide they still believe in the cause. Lover’s Game embraces that genre-less vocal dynamism the duo has long employed while showcasing love’s ability to rejuvenate.
Danielle Wertz – Other Side CD/LP (Outside In Music)
Other Side is the stunning sophomore statement from vocalist Danielle Wertz. Wistful and highly expressive, this daring enterprise is both an immersive sensory experience and a polished showcase of Wertz’s seasoned and unique artistry. Fearless while navigating new landscapes, Wertz brings our most existential questions to the forefront, creating a musical work that is hypnotic, impassioned, and familiar at once. Evident from her early marks, Danielle Wertz has a sensational ability to transform abstract feeling into sound. Other Side represents a continued exploration of this craft, an invitation for listeners to indulge in something complex and authentic within a personal, emotional realm.
John Zorn – New Masada Quartet Volume Two CD (Tzadik)
The first release by John Zorn’s newest and most exciting ensemble, New Masada Quartet was one of Tzadik’s bestselling and most popular recent releases. Here the quartet returns to perform eight more classic compositions from the Masada songbooks. The performances are filled with burning solos, telepathic group interaction, heartfelt lyricism, and hypnotic grooves. Spontaneously structured by Zorn’s ever surprising conducting techniques, a crackling live energy brings the Masada music to life like never before.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
ACxDC – Satan Is King [Reissue/2020] LP (Prosthetic)
White color vinyl pressing. Satan Is King is the antidote to excess, greed and mindless indulgence. Politically charged while distributing sonically raw dispatches at break-neck speed, the album is a 15-part manifesto of fury and a visceral open sore of aggression, embracing grindcore, power violence and more.
Aesop Rock – Bazooka Tooth [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Rhymesayers)
Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Rhymesayers)
Bazooka Tooth, Aesop Rock’s fourth album, originally came out on Def Jux in 2003. Produced by El-P, it features contributions from Cannibal Ox, DJ Cip One, DJ pawl, S.A. Smash, and Murs with illustrations from Tomer Hanuka. Aesop Rock’s fifth studio album, None Shall Pass– originally released in 2007 on Def Jux – features production by Blockhead, El-P, Rob Sonic, and Aesop Rock himself. Guest appearances include El-P, DJ Big Wiz, Cage, Breeze Brewin, Rob Sonic, and John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats.
Arrested Development – Don’t Fight Your Demons [Reissue/2020] 2xLP (Ruffnation)
Arrested Development, the 2x Grammy Award winning, groundbreaking, iconic music group, and hip-hop pioneers continue their forward march of curating conscious, revolutionary music formulated to bring societal issues to the forefront and ignite change.
The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers [Reissue/2020] LP+MP3 (Carpark)
Limited red color vinyl pressing. Everything changed for Auckland, New Zealand’s The Beths when they released their debut album, Future Me Hates Me, in 2018. They quit their jobs, said goodbye to their hometown, and devoted themselves entirely to performing across the globe. Songwriter/lead vocalist Elizabeth Stokes worked on The Beths’ second LP, Jump Rope Gazers, in between these intense periods of touring. Like their earlier music, the album tackles themes of anxiety and self-doubt with effervescent power pop choruses and rousing backup vocals, zeroing in on the communality and catharsis that can come from sharing stressful situations with some of your best friends.
Boogie Belgique – Machine 2xLP (Le Plan)
Boogie Belgique’s sound is a blend of electronic music and jazz, with hints of Bonobo, Wax Tailor, and Quantic. Varying anywhere between relaxing, intimate moods and energizing, danceable grooves, Boogie Belgique’s music is characterized by melancholia, vintage samples and a live big band feel.
Bush – The Art Of Survival LP (BMG)
Ninth studio album by alternative rock band. A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is available.
Cake – Prolonging The Magic [Reissue/1998] LP (Sony Legacy)
Prolonging The Magic, Cake’s third studio album, is being released for the first time on 180gm black vinyl. Remastered audio of the 13-track album includes “Never There”, “Let Me Go”, and “Sheep Go To Heaven”.
Ciemra – The Tread Of Darkness LP (Avantgarde Music)
Ciemra, Belarusian for “darkness”, is a black metal band from Minsk which came to life in 2019, “when five essences emerged from the abyss to the veils of night on the eve of the end times, in order to reap the living, to satisfy the hunger of darkness and to nourish the wombs of the dark gods.” [CD version due March 31.]
Crooked Colours – Langata [Reissue/2019] LP (Sweat It Out!)
Crooked Colours – Tomorrows LP (Sweat It Out!)
In 2019, the acclaimed Australian indie-dance trio Crooked Colours returned to the fold with their superb sophomore release Langata. On the album, Crooked Colours have created a new world; atmospheric beats, soft vocals, synths, and guitars that move harmoniously throughout – it’s addictive bliss. In 2022 they released their third album, Tomorrows.
Doolin’ – Circus Boy LP (Compass)
Released last week on CD – now available on white color vinyl. Canada, and another three years locked out of the live performance world they have so ambitiously cultivated, Doolin’, France’s premiere practitioners of Irish and Celtic music, return with a new album entitled Circus Boy. While their 2016 album drew its inspiration from the fusion of traditional Irish music, French chanson, and American roots music, Circus Boy is resolutely more adventurous.
Mariah Carey – The Rarities 4xLP (Sony Legacy)
The Rarities is a 2020 compilation of fan favorites, rare songs, and unreleased gems, all hand-picked by Mariah herself. Also included in this four-LP set is the full-length audio from Live At The Tokyo Dome, Mariah’s first concert performance in Japan in support of her 1996 Daydream World Tour.
Lou Charle$ – Life Goes On LP (Who Is Lou LLC)
Texas native Lou CharLe$ has made a name for himself with captivating live shows sharing the stage with the likes of G-Eazy, Joyner Lucas, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Westside Boogie and more. Great music that stands the test of time is always derived from real life and that’s exactly what Lou Charle$ set out to do with Life Goes On.
Desert Rose Band – Pages Of Life [Reissue/1990] LP (Curb)
Desert Rose Band – True Love [Reissue/1991] LP (Curb)
Pages Of Life proved to be the Desert Rose Band’s most commercially successful album. Pages Of Life peaked at number 17 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album spawned three singles: “Start All Over Again”, “In Another Lifetime”, and “Story of Love”. True Love proves that the Desert Rose Band has a knack for mixing a country-pop attack with pure bluegrass harmonies, making music that is accessible to both mainstream country fans and hardcore bluegrass fanatics. It is a very good collection, featuring a wonderful version of Peter Rowan’s “Undying Love” that features gorgeous duet vocals between Chris Hillman and Alison Krauss.
The Drippers – Scandinavian Thunder LP (Sign)
New album from the Swedish action rock outfit. Two colorways are available: red and yellow.
The Jeremy Edge Project – Saints And Souls Vol. 1 LP (Deko Music)
The Jeremy Edge Project – Saints And Souls Vol. 2 LP (Deko Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Blues-based guitar rock for fans of Joe Bonamassa and Eric Gales.
The Filthy Six – Soho Filth 12” (Color Red)
The Filthy Six was formed in a dingy Soho basement 20 years ago, with the goal of cultivating an ensemble to play classic soul-jazz tunes from the groove-laden vaults of the famed Blue Note Records. They spent their formative years writing, rehearsing, and performing shows in a shabby basement club off Kingly Court, deep in the heart of London’s Soho, around the corner from Carnaby Street and the legendary jazz and R&B clubs of the 1960s: The 41 Club, The Flamingo and Ronnie Scott’s. They eventually moved above ground into slightly more salubrious establishments and hit the road. Here they are, 20 years and several records later, coming full circle and back to creating music in a Soho basement with the release of their new EP, Soho Filth.
Freaksville National Orchestra – Freaksville National Orchestra LP (Freaksville)
A mutant orchestra of Liverpool freaks who produce melodic, noisy, and sometimes danceable radioactive music. Produced by Belgium Headhoncho Benjamin Schoos and Alex Gavaghan (The Cubical, The Boss Jockeys).
Gatekeeper – From Western Shores LP (Cruz Del Sur Music)
Vancouver, British Columbia’s Gatekeeper returns with From Western Shores – a captivating eight-song journey that redefines epic, melodic heavy metal. [CD version due March 24.]
Gío – Mirrors & Smoke [Reissue/2021] LP (Fun In The Church)
Mirrors & Smoke is Gío’s debut album, on which he prefers to bow to the great pop songwriters like Randy Newman, Burt Bacharach, or Harry Nilsson rather than trying to produce contemporary bubblegum pop for the next Insta-story.
Glitter Wizard – Kiss The Boot 12” (Kitten Robot)
Kiss The Boot something of a departure for Glitter Wizard, as they lace up their platforms and head straight for the jugular of early ’70s glitter rock and junkshop glam.
Gosudar / Malignant Altar – Gosudar / Malignant Altar 12” (Rotted Life)
Two of death metal’s strongest forces will unleash a split of cataclysmic proportions. Russia’s Gosudar and American heavyweights Malignant Altar spew rotten filth in unison across four tracks. Doom, death, and demolition is what this split is all about, so prepare to fester.
half•alive – Conditions Of A Punk [Reissue/2002] 2xLP (RCA)
Double turquoise color vinyl pressing. Through a collection of 18 tracks, this body of work explores the breaking and mending of a heart, the realigning of a soul. Conditions Of A Punk embodies the band at their most vulnerable and most mature musically. It boasts an eclectic mix of collaborators such as producers Ojivolta (Halsey, Jon Bellion), John Hill (Cage The Elephant, Khalid), Mike Crossey (The 1975, LANY), and Ethan Gruska (King Princess, Phoebe Bridgers), plus artists Sasha Alex Sloan, Orla Gartland, Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso, and Baird.
Darren Hayes – Homosexual 2xLP (Powdered Sugar Productions)
Released last October on CD – now available on turquois color vinyl. First solo album in 10 years from former Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes. Produced, recorded, and arranged by Darren, Homosexual explores a new artist and personal chapter as he embraces his sexuality and his relationship with the LGBTQI+ community.
Iggy & The Stooges – Raw Power Live: In The Hands Of The Fans LP (MVD Audio)
Vinyl document of the reformed Stooges’ (Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton, James Williamson, Steve Mackay, Mike Watt) Raw Power performance at All Tomorrow’s Parties in September 2010. Iggy and the band sound flawless as they rip through the archetype riffage of “Search And Destroy”, “Raw Power”, “Gimme Danger”, and more. Two colorways are available: red and indie store exclusive blue.
Sonny James – Greatest Hits LP (Curb)
Vinyl LP pressing of this compilation by the country music icon.
Daniel Johnston – Songs Of Pain [Reissue/1988] 2xLP (Eternal Yip Eye)
Songs Of Pain is the first album by folk singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston, recorded on a simple tape recorder and originally released on cassette. This is the album’s first time being pressed on vinyl. Back in the early 1980s, when the punk-rock DIY spirit was going strong, emerging artists found a cheap and efficient way of distributing their music – the homemade cassette. Sometimes very crude and low-fi, the tapes became a hallmark of instant “indie cred”. The erratic, troubled, and startlingly talented Daniel Johnston was one of the first musicians to really make a name for himself in this medium, and his first two tapes.
Howard Jones – Dialogue LP (Absolute Label Services)
Released last November on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the veteran British electropop artist.
The Kaze – Umakazi [Reissue/1977] LP (Panam)
The Kaze – Moony Night [Reissue/1978] LP (Panam)
180gm vinyl reissues of the fourth and fifth albums by AOR/City Pop group Kaze.
King Khan – Nature Of Things LP (Ernest Jenning)
Limited black and clear splatter vinyl pressing. The Nature Of Things is King Khan’s follow up to his jazz debut The Infinite Ones, and is titled after a nature television show he grew up watching hosted by David Suzuki.
Ben Kweller – Sha Sha: Deluxe Edition 3xLP (The Noise Company)
Sha Sha is the debut album by American indie rock singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former Radish member Ben Kweller. The album was originally composed of outtakes from sessions for Radish’s unreleased album Discount Fireworks. It was self-released by Kweller, via CD-R, in 2000. In 2002, ATO Records released a second version of the album with a radically different track listing featuring many new recordings and songs. This 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition features 22 previously unreleased rarities including demos, B-sides, and live recordings all from the Sha Sha era.
Peggy Lee – Classics LP (Curb)
Classics is a ten-track collection that features some of Peggy Lee’s biggest hits, including “A Taste of Honey”, “The Shadow Of Your Smile”, “Hey, Look Me Over!”, “The Boy From Ipanema”, “Big Spender”, and “The Alley Cat Song”.
The Lowest Of The Low – AGITPOP [Reissue/2019] 2xLP (Sonic Envy)
The Lowest Of The Low – Taverns And Places [Reissue/2021] 2xLP (Sonic Envy)
Recently reissued on CD – now available on vinyl (Taverns And Places in a red colorway). AGITPOP is the fifth album released by Canadian band, Lowest Of The Low. The record is very much a product of its time; a collection of protest songs that speak to what’s going on in the world. Taverns And Palaces is a double live album featuring two eleven-song sets that span the entire catalogue of the band’s thirty-year career.
Dean Martin – All-Time Greatest Hits LP (Curb)
Vinyl LP pressing of this collection from the legendary crooner.
The Mars Volta – Landscape Tantrums (Unfinished Original Recordings Of De-Loused In The Comatorium) LP (Clouds Hill)
Lost for two decades, the recent rediscovery of Landscape Tantrums, the first attempt at recording the music that would become The Mars Volta’s De-Loused In The Comatorium, revealed an important and hitherto missing chapter in the group’s evolution. Self-recorded by Omar (assisted by Jon DeBaun) at Burbank’s Mad Dog Studios within a head-spinning four days, Landscape Tantrums captures De-Loused in somewhat embryonic form, though much of what would make The Mars Volta’s debut album such an electrifying, sublime experience was already in place: the fearless invention, the fusion of futurist rock elements and traditions from outside of the rock orthodoxy, the sense of virtuosity working in service of emotional effect.
The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman [Reissue/1961] LP (Destination Moon)
Please Mr. Postman is the 1961 studio debut album from Motown girl group The Marvelettes and the sixth album ever released by the company. The focal track is the number-one hit single, “Please Mr. Postman”.
MED, Blu, Madlib – Bad Neighbor Beats LP (Bangyahead)
MED, Blu and Madlib are pleased to present the special edition instrumental release of their acclaimed Bad Neighbors LP. Produced entirely by the Beat Konducta, Bad Neighbor Beats includes two new bonus instrumentals.
Adam Melcor – Here Goes Nothing! LP (WB)
Here Goes Nothing! is the highly anticipated debut album from rising singer/songwriter Adam Melchor. Co-produced by Melchor and Henry Kwapis (Benny Blanco, Dijon), the record features additional contributions from Charlie Puth, Lennon Stella, Emily Warren, and Andrew Sarlo. Here Goes Nothing! also features Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) on the track “Let Me Know When”.
Mieke Miami – Montecarlo Magic [Reissue/2021] LP (Fun In The Church)
Mieke Miami’s Montecarlo Magic, the follow-up to her debut album In The Forest, (2016, Sonar Kollektiv) may no longer darken through the forest, but there is truly no compulsion to light either. It is more of a special, positive swing that radiates inwards and outwards, a state that seems to be an inner retreat and a journey at the same time: Florida, California and Brandenburg all nestle very close together here. Perhaps there is a river rattling through the picture and surely there are magicians playing with things hidden somewhere: besotted, dreamy, and certainly easy to find. Because in this world, no one is supposed to look around for anything.
Mdou Moctar – Niger EP Vol. 1 12”+MP3 (Matador)
Mdou Moctar – Niger EP Vol. 2 12”+MP3 (Matador)
Rare slices of work from Tuareg songwriter and musician Mdou Moctar – material collected from tapes recorded between 2017 and 2020, often featuring the group in a range of different settings in their native Niger. The work throughout is filled with the sublime guitar of Mahamadou Souleymane – but the shift in setting makes for a strong sense of variety, especially as some of the titles feature more guitar lines than vocals.
The Moderns – Suburban Life [Reissue/2021] LP (Busy Bee)
Limited color vinyl pressing. Sweden’s first and best mod-revival band The Moderns mixed the love of ‘60s pop with the intensity of punk and had the big breakthrough around the corner during the short but intense career, including support to Echo & The Bunnymen on their first English tour in 1980. The band’s first EP The Year Of Today from 1979 is a classic. Along with the second single, songs from a couple of compilation albums and some completely unreleased tracks, here comes the definitive collection with The Modern’s first lineup.
Derrick Morgan – Reggae Train: Best Of Live In London LP (Burning Sounds)
Recorded Live at The 100 Club London, September 13, 2008.
Mother Earth – Stoned Woman [Reissue/1992] LP (Acid Jazz)
Recorded in a Tottenham industrial estate studio at the height of acid jazz, Stoned Woman is a rock inflected, funky brew that heavily referenced Blaxploitation soundtracks from the early to mid- ‘70s. Mother Earth developed a life of their own, moving through line-up changes, and leaving behind the arguably more radical sound that remains distilled in this album. This is a must-have for original-era acid jazz fans, marking an important time in British music.
Nnamdï – Black Plight EP 7” (Sooper)
Nnamdï – Are You Happy? [Reissue/2021] 12” (Sooper)
Written and recorded in three days during the tumultuous summer of 2020, the Black Plight EP is Chicago multi-instrumentalist Nnamdï’s response to the police murder of George Floyd and the subsequent ignition of protests and demands for racial justice that swept the globe. The EP was originally released as a digital-only Bandcamp exclusive and went on to become the Best-Selling Album on Bandcamp Friday (6/5/20) raising over $10,000.00 for racial justice organizations in 24 hours. It is now available on 7” vinyl for the first time. Are You Happy? followed in 2021.
Orphea – Lovesong From Hell LP (Fun In The Church)
Complicated times require complex experimental setups: The Filipino musician, poet, and filmmaker KHAVN meets Alexander Kluge, the German philosophical jack-of-all-trades of cultural work. Together, they conceive a music film with the acclaimed German actress and singer Lilith Stangenberg at its center. Their film Orphea – which celebrated its world premiere at the last Berlinale – deals with the ancient myth of the musician Orpheus, who wants to free his beloved Eurydice from the underworld. Although Orpheus even succeeds in bewitching a hell hound and the ruler of the underworld himself with the power of his music, he fails in the end. Eurydice’s gaze back to him is finally punished by the gods with death.
Public Image – First Issue [Reissue/1978] LP (Light In The Attic)
Red color vinyl pressing. Featuring bassist Jah Wobble, drummer Jim Walker and guitarist Keith Levene, John Lydon’s post-Sex Pistols group Public Image Limited was founded with a greater thought for rhythm, and with a sound that turned the page from snarling punk to a more experimental sound fusing rock, dance, folk, ballet, pop, and dub. But that’s not to say Lydon’s new outfit lacked vitriol. Public Image hits out against the notorious British tabloid press, who never gave Lydon an easy ride, and against his own Sex Pistols public image.
Queensrÿche – Empire [Reissue/1990] 2xLP (Friday Music)
Two 180gm vinyl colorways: red and green. With a unique blend of progressive rock and heavy metal propelled by the first-class musicianship of guitar shredders Chris DeGarmo and Micheal Wilton, power vocalist Geoff Tate, and the solid rhythm section of Scott Rockenfield (drums) and Eddie Jackson (bass guitar), Queensrÿche has struck a universal chord with eleven gold and platinum plaques and several Top 10 hard rock anthems. 1990’s monumental Empire being the most successful of the bunch, a triple platinum, Grammy-nominated effort anchored by the No. 1 power ballad “Silent Lucidity”.
Rilo Kiley – Take Offs And Landings [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Barsuk)
At the beginning of the 2000’s, Rilo Kiley was a fiercely independent band, having released an EP under their own Rilo Records label. But, even with only very minimal touring outside of southern California, their brilliant live show and excellent songcraft started to attract a fair amount of national attention in publications like Harper’s Bazaar and Rolling Stone, and even some airplay on MTV. The band initially self-released Take Offs And Landings before signing to Barsuk, who promptly reissued the album.
Running Wild – Under Jolly Roger [Reissue/1987] LP (Noise)
Running Wild – Death Or Glory [Reissue/1989] LP (Noise)
Color vinyl reissues (grey and silver, respectively) of the German heavy metal band’s third and fifth albums.
Carl Schilde – Europop LP (Fun In The Church)
Initially sparked by a disappointing experience in Los Angeles, Europop is Carl Schilde’s first solo album. Feeling out of place and out of time in the music world, he started to embrace his own limitations, subverting themes like “making it” and pre-internet nostalgia with a Jim O’Rourke-inspired wink in his eye. While holed up in his Toronto basement, a lifelong obsession with outdated pop trickery and yesteryear’s preset sounds launched him into an alternate sonic universe-one where The Beach Boys’ late ‘70s albums were big hits, and long-forgotten Italian soft rock is the style du jour. The resulting ten songs were given their final sheen by mastering impresario Dave Cooley (Tame Impala, Blood Orange, J Dilla).
William Shatner / The Cramps – Garbageman [Reissue/2019] 12” (Demented Punk)
This special limited black vinyl edition split maxi-single pairs pop-culture icon William Shatner’s mind-blowing interpretation of The Cramps punk classic “Garbageman” (a cover that Rolling Stone hailed as a “growling and expertly melodramatic version”), teamed with the original 1980 recording that inspired it-performed by the legendary Cramps themselves and produced by Alex Chilton.
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars + Anderson.Paak with Special Guest Host Bootsy Collins) – An Evening With Silk Sonic [Reissue/2021] LP (Atlantic/WEA)
An Evening With Silk Sonic is a collaborative project featuring Bruno Mars and Anderson. Paak. The seeds of the collaboration were planted in 2017 when the two stars toured together in Europe. One late-night jam session on the road unlocked immediate chemistry. Just before the world slipped into quarantine, Bruno called Anderson: “Remember that idea we had back in 2017? Let’s do it.” One studio session grew into a months-long collaboration, culminating in the “setlist of doom”. Legendary Bootsy Collins christened Silk Sonic and came in as the “special guest host” for An Evening With Silk Sonic, their debut album.
Earl Sixteen – Shining Star [Reissue/1983] LP (Burning Sounds)
1983 reggae album from Earl Sixteen pressed on vinyl.
Sorceress – Beneath The Mountain [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (King Volume)
Before Mizmor, before Hell, there was psych doom rockers Sorceress. The legendary progenitive band, that kicked off the PNW extreme doom metal scene, released a single, massive 65 minute album in 2009 as a limited-edition 100-copy CD. Now available on vinyl.
Soulive – Turn It Out [Reissue/2000] 2xLP (Vintage League Music)
This is the first ever vinyl release of their sophomore soul jazz/funk classic Turn It Out featuring John Scofield, Oteil Burbridge and Sam Kinniger. The Soulive trio blend the sensational melodic guitar of Eric Krasno with the virtuoso Jimmy Smith influenced organ playing of Neal Evans, with tight funky grooves guided by Alan Evans on the drums. The album is remastered by Alan Evans, together with new artwork and unseen photos from the recording session. [A limited-edition orange color vinyl pressing is available.]
Subhumans – The Day The Country Died [Reissue/1982] LP (Pirate Press)
Subhumans – From The Cradle To The Grave [Reissue/1983] LP (Pirate Press)
Subhumans – World’s Apart [Reissue/1985] LP (Pirate Press)
Subhumans – Subhumans [Reissue/1986] LP (Pirate Press)
Subhumans – 29:29 Split Vision [Reissue/1986] LP (Pirate Press)
Subhumans – Time Flies + Rats [Reissue/1986] LP (Pirate Press)
Limited-edition indie store exclusive color vinyl pressings. With their eclectic influences & scintillating musicianship, Subhumans were never content to trot out anarcho punk by numbers.
Sworn Enemy – The Beginning Of The End [Reissue/2006] LP (M-Theory Audio)
Sworn Enemy – Maniacal [Reissue/2007] LP (M-Theory Audio)
Sworn Enemy – Total World Domination [Reissue/2009] LP (M-Theory Audio)
Vinyl reissues of the second, third, and fourth full-length studio album by the crossover thrash band.
Tagua Tagua – Tanto LP (Wonderwheel)
Filled with emotion (even for those who may not understand the Portuguese lyrics), Brazilian singer-songwriter Tagua Tagua, aka Felipe Puperi sings in a melismatic tenor, at times tipping into falsetto, with subtle effects enriching his delivery.
Thrice – The Illusion Of Safety [Reissue/2002] LP (Hopeless)
Limited 20th Anniversary blue color vinyl pressing. Includes bonus track. The Illusion Of Safety is the second studio album by Thrice, originally released in 2002. They wrote new songs at a rate of two per month, prior to recording in July 2001. Sessions were held at Salad Days Studios with producer Brian McTernan. The Illusion Of Safety is a melodic hardcore and post-hardcore album, with a reoccurring topic of death and religious references.
Trench Dogs – Stockholmaina LP (Wild Kingdom)
Released last week on CD – now available on yellow color vinyl. Swedish glam punk/rock ‘n’ rollers Trench Dogs deliver melodic riffs and hooky sing- along choruses.
Unwound – Unwound [Reissue/1995] LP (Numero)
Meeting at the halfway point between Bleach and Damaged, Unwound’s 1995 self-titled album arrived years after the original trio of Vern Rumsey, Justin Trosper, and Brandt Sandeno made their Avast Studios debut. Compiling their EPs for Kill Rock Stars and Gravity Records with five more session outtakes, Unwound was released on Rumsey’s Punk In My Vitamins as the band began flirting with the mainstream. Witness a band’s prehistory as it plays out in a feral maelstrom of screaming, distortion, feedback, and abrasive promise. [A limited-edition ‘rising blood’ color vinyl pressing is available.]
Various Artists – Blacklips Bar: Androgyns And Deviants – Industrial Romance For Bruised And Battered Angels, 1992-1995 2xLP (Anthology Recordings)
A compilation combining original recordings and select DJ tracks from the vaults of Blacklips Performance Cult, a collective of underground performers, artists and drag queens who took to NYC’s Pyramid Club stage every Monday night at 1:00 AM to perform original plays. The broad spectrum of emotional expression, ferocity, humor, and transgression evident in these collected recordings are a further indication of the group’s oeuvre.
Various Artists – Pacific Breeze 3: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1975 – 1987 2xLP/Cassette (Light In The Attic)
An expertly curated selection of the most sought-after City Pop recordings-the mesmerizing and nebulous genre of Japanese bubble-era music of the ’70s – ’80s that encompasses AOR, R&B, jazz fusion, funk, boogie, and disco. [A limited-edition pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
Various Artists – The Devil Wears Prada (Music From The Motion Picture LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited black and white marbled vinyl pressing. 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada remains one of the funniest and smartest comedies of this millennium. And the studio that made it, 20th Century Fox, knew it all along – they bought the film rights to Lauren Weisberger’s novel before it was even published. And they took the same, spare-no-expense approach to the soundtrack, which includes songs by Madonna, U2, Alanis Morrissette, Moby, Ray LaMontagne, Jamiroquai, and more.
Various Artists – Top Gun: Maverick (Music From The Motion Picture) LP (Interscope)
Limited-edition vinyl picture disc.
Vector Seven – Modified LP (Darkhan)
Limited color vinyl pressing. Vector Seven, the virtuoso of the cyberpunk genre serves you the virtual album Modified. Previously only available in the digital format, now available on limited vinyl interface which you can jack in and experience the retro futuristic net personally at your own residence.
Andreas Vollenweider – Book Of Roses [Reissue/1991] LP (Avaf-Music)
The album Book Of Roses by Andreas Vollenweider may be different and more diverse than many of his previous releases, with many different instruments and sound effects in addition to his harp.
Vundabar – Good Old LP (Miscellaneous Records)
Good Old is a compilation album consisting of seven unreleased tracks originally recorded between albums Gawk (2015) and Smell Smoke (2017), as well as the acoustic versions of four of their previously released songs. The songs from these sessions are raw, loud, elastic, and energetic, crackling with the banged-up spirits of punk, art pop, grunge, and indie-rock. Color vinyl pressing
Wingmen – Wingmen LP (Cadiz Music)
Wingmen, the new band formed in pandemic lockdown isolation by Baz Warne (The Stranglers), Paul Gray (The Damned), Leigh Heggarty (Ruts DC) and Marty Love (Johnny Moped), are excited to finally unleash their studio bound creations with this eponymous release. [CD version due March 17.]
Cassettes:
Shana Cleveland – Manzanita (Hardly Art)
Manzanita is the common name for a kind of small evergreen tree endemic to California which has strong medicinal properties. It’s also the name of the brand-new full length by songwriter, musician, visual artist, and writer Shana Cleveland. Subtle, powerful, and unafraid, it’s her strongest and most personal album to date. These songs are as strong as the bricks in the Brill building and seem destined to be covered by others in years to come. Where her previous record, 2019’s Night Of The Worm Moon functions as a collection of speculative fictions equally inspired by Afro-futurist pioneers Herman “Sun Ra” Blount and Octavia Butler, Manzanita concerns the love that loves to love. “This is a supernatural love album set in the California wilderness,” Cleveland explains.
Ging – We’re Here, My Dear CD/LP/Cassette (Ging Recording Inc.)
Debut release from Ging, the solo project of the artist formerly known as Frank Dukes. Of the album, Ging says: “An ode to a love that’s free. The type of love with space to start as one thing and become something new altogether. This is an ode to the woman I once married and the family we started together. As we stand before the remains of what we once called our marriage, something beautiful and new emerges. A new commitment, a commitment to truth. And even if that truth shatters every idea of what we thought we were, we honor it. We honor our love. To all that has led us to this very moment… We’re here my dear.”
Sleep – Dopesmoker [Reissue/2003] (Third Man)
Recorded in 1996 and not released (in slightly different edit/mix) until 1999 under the title Jerusalem, the legend and lore behind Dopesmoker would overshadow an LP of any lesser significance. But the 63-minute magnum opus dedicated exclusively to the sacrament of marijuana is not just the pinnacle of the goofily named stoner metal genre… it’s inarguably one of the most important and influential albums of all time.
Various Artists – Pacific Breeze 3: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1975 – 1987 (Light In The Attic)
An expertly curated selection of the most sought-after City Pop recordings-the mesmerizing and nebulous genre of Japanese bubble-era music of the ’70s – ’80s that encompasses AOR, R&B, jazz fusion, funk, boogie, and disco.
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