AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:
Camila Cabello – C,XOXO CD/LP (Interscope)
C,XOXO is written by Camila and brought to life with executive producer El Guincho (Rosalia, FKA twigs, Frank Ocean) and co-producer Jasper Harris (Lil Nas X, Baby Keem, Jack Harlow). Camila describes C,XOXO as having “an emotional immediacy and rawness” and goes on to proclaim C,XOXO as her “boldest solo album.” C,XOXO is a full on modern pop album. There are ballads, upbeat songs, cool songs with great features throughout. It’s a fun album, perfectly timed for summer, about being free, dealing with heartbreak, etc. [A blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Johnny Cash – Songwriter CD/LP (American Recordings)
Johnny Cash recorded an album’s worth of self-penned songs in 1993. Shortly thereafter, he released the American Recordings albums and re-established himself as one of the world’s greatest songwriters, introducing him to a new generation of fans. Songwriter‘s unreleased 11 songs have been updated and produced by his son John Carter Cash and co-producer David Ferguson. [An indie store exclusive white/black color vinyl pressing is available.]
jxdn – When The Music Stops CD/LP (Elektra)
Defying the rules with style and substance, jxdn bends and breaks the boundaries as he moves between subcultures to position himself as a rockstar for the new generation. Born Jaden Hossler in Dallas, TX, jxdn struggled to find his voice in high school as an outsider. In 2018, he took control and developed a presence online through a consistent stream of engaging and clever content. He quietly exploded on Tik Tok, attracting 7.2 million followers and 250 million likes. After witnessing an arena show by the late Juice WRLD, he dove headfirst into music and unleashed his independent debut single “Comatose.” [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Kate Nash – 9 Sad Symphonies CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)
Kate Nash’s new album 9 Sad Symphonies is her first signed to the legendary Kill Rock Stars label. The album was produced and mixed by Grammy winning Danish producer Frederik Thaae (K Flay, Jada, Crown The Empire). Marking a new chapter in Kate’s illustrious career, the album’s lyrical scope is both deeply personal and achingly relatable, whilst its orchestral arrangements and melodies draw from Kate’s experience in the world of musical theatre. [A baby pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Early Daze CD/LP (Reprise)
Early Daze is a collection of rare and unreleased studio recordings by Neil Young with Crazy Horse. The 10 songs were all recorded in 1969 with a Crazy Horse line-up of Danny Whitten (guitar and vocals), Ralph Molina (drums and vocals), Billy Talbot (bass and vocals), Jack Nitzsche (keyboards, tambourine, and vocals). Only one track on the album has been previously released (“Dance Dance Dance”). [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Additional Social Media Program Titles:
No additional social media titles this week.
CDs + Vinyl:
Aespa – The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ [Authentic Ver.] CD (SM Entertainment Co.)
Aespa – The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ [My Power Ver.] CD (SM Entertainment Co.)
Aespa – The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ [Zine Ver.] CD (SM Entertainment Co.)
Aespa – The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ [Poster Ver.] CD (SM Entertainment Co.)
Aespa – The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ [Superbeing Ver.] CD (SM Entertainment Co.)
New album from the four-girl K-pop group. Available in a variety of collectable versions.
Assemblage – Album [Reissue/1971] CD/LP (Org Music)
Album by Assemblage is one of the most obscure treasures of the Westbound Records archives. Released in 1971, the album features a more rock-oriented sonic palette than most in the famed funk label’s catalog (underscored by the cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction”), while maintaining the signature psychedelic soul sound the label became known for. [A sea foam color vinyl pressing is available.]
Bernard Butler – Good Grief CD/LP (355 Recordings)
Good Grief is the first solo album in 25 years from songwriter and producer Bernard Butler. Between then and now, Butler had ventured into the world of pop songwriting and producing, including two seminal albums with folk musician Sam Lee, a Mercury nominated project with actor Jessie Buckley as well as working with Bert Jansch and Ben Watt From Everything But The Girl, The Libertines, Tricky and an eight-million selling, Grammy-winning record with Duffy. [A silver color vinyl pressing is available.]
A Certain Radio – It All Comes Down To This CD/LP (Mute)
Now available on CD. It All Comes Down To This, for now at least, is the sound of the current incarnation of A Certain Ratio. Indeed, in many senses, it is the purest distillation of their essential sound ever committed to tape. Their thirteenth studio album, it is the first time ever they have recorded strictly as the core trio of principle band members – multi-instrumentalists Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson. [A deluxe vinyl edition is also available.]
Billy Childish – From Fossilised Cretaceous Seams: A Short History Of His Song And Dance Groups 2xCD/2xLP (Damaged Goods)
A compilation of Billy Childish related groups to celebrate the release of the brand-new book – To Ease My Troubled Mind: The Authorised Unauthorised History of Billy Childish written by Ted Kessler. My name is William Ivy Loveday, aka Steve Hamper, aka Guy Hamper, aka Jack Ketch, aka Billy Childish.
Clutch – Slow Hole To China [Reissue/2003] CD/LP (Weathermaker Music)
Clutch’s Slow Hole to China, originally released in 2003 is a compilation album featuring rare tracks and B-sides not found on their mainstream releases. The album showcases the band’s signature fusion of rock, funk, and metal with a raw, underground vibe, highlighting their eclectic style and lyrical creativity. These groove-heavy songs are remastered, and the album artwork is updated. “Slow Hole to China” showcases the robust, energetic flair typical of Clutch’s distinctive sound. [An orange w/ smoke color vinyl pressing is available.]
Nicola Conte – Umoja (Joaquin Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm Music And Cosmic Arts Remixes) CD2x/LP (Far Out Recordings)
Renowned New York City house music icon Joaquin Joe Claussell has embarked on an electrifying project of ecstatic, spiritual club music with his latest endeavor: a double album worth of reinterpretations of the music from Italian jazz master Nicola Conte’s 2023 album Umoja. Extending the tracks from Umoja for full length, dance-floor focused mixes, Claussell has accentuated the original music’s global, Afro-futurist vision with comprehensive rearrangements – featuring additional percussion, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers and drum programming – excavating the source music and re-recording many of its parts under the auspices of his Sacred Music & Cosmic Arts banner.
Billy Currington – #1s – Volume 1 CD/LP (Mercury Nashville)
Volume 1 includes 11 tracks that all went to #1 on the country charts. A perfect compilation for any country music fan. Album includes “People Are Crazy,” “We Are Tonight,” “Hey Girl,” “Don’t It,” and more. [A limited-edition tan color vinyl pressing is available.]
Fallujah – The Flesh Prevails [Reissue/2014] CD/LP (Unique Leader)
Fallujah announce the 10-year edition of The Flesh Prevails, remixed and remastered by Zack Ohren. The Flesh Prevails shook the technical death metal world by storm on its initial 2014 release and remains one of the most revered albums in their catalog. Fallujah’s pioneering hybrid of ethereal, epic soundscapes weaved into their intricacies created a record that stood alone as a supreme body of work. 10 years on, the record feels fresher and more essential than ever.
Fink – Beauty In Your Wake CD (R’COUP’d)
Fink, Long-established alt-folk trio, return with Fin Greenall’s eighth studio album under the genre-hopping moniker. Coalescing around the emergent urgency in each of the album’s ten tracks and intimate, closed-door sessions in picturesque Cornwall, the soul-reaching ‘Beauty In Your Wake’ is released on the band’s R’COUP’d label. [Vinyl edition due July 19.]
Béla Fleck – Rhapsody In Blue CD/LP (Béla Fleck Productions)
The new release from banjo great Béla Fleck expands and explores George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue by paying homage to the legendary composer while redefining an American classic-just in time for its centennial.
Kaismos – II CD/LP (Erased Tapes)
Kiasmos – Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen – are returning, renewed and restored, with II. The triumphant follow-up to their universally acclaimed self-titled debut in 2014, which re-envisioned minimal techno with orchestral flourishes and weightless production. They’d made most of that album in just two weeks; this time it’s been 10 years. [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Kissin’ Dynamite – Back With A Bang CD (Napalm)
Eighth album by the German stadium rockers. Founded as a teenage school band in 2007 and equipped with an authentic ‘80s stadium rock attitude, Kissin’ Dynamite has performed at countless major festivals internationally, opened for acts such as L.A. rockstars Mötley Crüe and played massive sold-out headline tours.
Trevor Kowalski – Kowalski: The Twilight Glow CD/LP (Neue Meister)
American composer Trevor Kowalski’s latest album, The Twilight Glow, marks an eagerly anticipated addition to his diverse and intricate discography. Known for his serene and dreamy soundscapes as well as his sophisticated classical compositions, Kowalski continues to explore a range of themes and moods with his new collection.
Charles Leclerc – Dreamers CD/LP (Diggers Factory)
In an unprecedented collaboration, Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc and world-renowned pianist Sofiane Pamart present Dreamers, a unique piano composition project. This collaboration brings together the high-octane world of racing and the emotive realm of music, embodied in four distinct and captivating co-composed piano pieces. Charles Leclerc, celebrated for his prowess on the racing circuits, joins forces with Sofiane Pamart, a pianist acclaimed for his innovative and soul-stirring compositions. Dreamers is born from their shared vision of blending the intensity of motor racing with the expressiveness of piano music, creating a narrative that speaks to the dreams and aspirations of both artists.
Liminal Shroud – Visions Of Collapse CD/LP (Willowtip)
Following two critically acclaimed black metal masterpieces, Vancouver’s Liminal Shroud is back with their strongest album to date. Adding to their already impressive catalog, Visions Of Collapse sees the band honing their songwriting by writing lengthy, yet catchy songs that are filled with amazing riffs. [A random eco mix colorway is available.]
Lovejoy – …And It’s Love CD/LP (Shelflife)
Lovejoy make a stunning return with their new album …And It’s Love!. Through eleven shimmering, lushly produced tracks, beautifully bound together by the central themes of love, loss and human connections, the album invites the listener to immerse themselves in Lovejoy’s world.
Royce Martin – Memories On Morgan Street: Scott Joplin Reimagined By Royce Martin CD/LP (Rivermont)
There is something magical about hearing a well-loved piece of music interpreted in a way that rekindles the joy and exhilaration of hearing it for the first time. In his approach to the music of Scott Joplin, composer and pianist Royce Martin has positioned himself at the fore of a new ragtime vanguard. Drawing inspiration from gospel, jazz, classical, and even hip-hop, Martin re-imagines Joplin’s music in a variety of moods, from poignant, heartfelt, and introspective; to playful and humorous; to brimming with joyful, youthful exuberance. Martin’s virtuosic “rag-bop” interpretations never lose sight of Joplin’s melodic genius or the rhythmic drive that animates the best ragtime. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]
The Del McCoury Band – Songs Of Love And Life CD/LP (McCoury Music)
Now available on CD. Seven years after its last LP, the Del McCoury Band returns to take on the challenge with Songs Pf Love And Life. A glorious 13-song collection, the album follows 2021’s celebrated release, Almost Proud, and once again features Del touching down on a diverse set of tracks-vintage and contemporary-as he and his crackerjack Band nod to icons Kenny Rogers, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Presley, as well as welcome next-generation talent, Molly Tuttle, to the party.
Alva Noto – HYbr:ID III CD/2xLP (Noton)
For this extraordinary project, Richard Siegal has invited a special guest: Nazareth Panadero, long-time companion of Pina Bausch, who has long since become an icon of Wuppertal dance theatre and will be on stage with the BoD ensemble. On the other hand, HYbr:ID III is inspired by Noh Play – Japanese performances and deals with the refusal of rules musically. HYbr:ID III continues the two previous albums and weaves both rhythmic and beatless musical pieces into a holistic work.
Octoploid – Beyond The Aeons CD/LP (Reigning Phoenix)
Octoploid is the brainchild of Amorphis-Bassist Olli-Pekka ‘Oppu’ Laine. Having a long history as a songwriter himself, it’s been a dream since his early youth to dive deep into a pool of musical influences and melt them together into what culminated as his new band’s debut work Beyond The Aeons. Mixing many different styles may seem a far stretch, but all these musical vibes, that also attracted several illustrious guest musicians to contribute their special touches, end up blending together in a well-rounded sonic cast that has been described as “melodic death prog”. [A ‘dust of vex’ marbled color vinyl pressing is available.]
Prince – Graffiti Bridge [Reissue/1991] CD (Sony Legacy)
After the hugely successful Batman soundtrack album, Prince returned in 1991 with yet another OST, this time featuring songs from his self-directed movie Graffiti Bridge, the follow-up to Purple Rain. Features the hit Prince single “Thieves In The Temple”, plus the Prince-produced Tevin Campbell single, “Round And Round”.
Red Handed Denial – A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia CD (Paid Vacation)
Toronto, ON prog metal outfit Red Handed Denial release their fourth studio album. A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia is their most accomplished offering to date, both for song composition, musical technique, pushing their melodic and heavy game to a new level as shown on lead single “Parasite”. [Vinyl edition due July 19.]
Wayne Shorter – Odyssey Of Iska [Reissue/1971] LP (Blue Note)
The winds of change were blowing through Wayne Shorter’s life and career in 1970. The saxophonist had just left Miles Davis’ group and was soon to form his collective fusion band Weather Report. His music was evolving too as he began to delve into his own unique fusion explorations on his previous two Blue Note recordings Super Nova and Moto Grosso Feio. Recorded in August 1970, the mesmerizing Odyssey Of Iska would be the last release of Shorter’s early Blue Note period. The album was a tribute to his daughter Iska-who had been born the year before with severe brain damage-with four immersive Shorter compositions portraying a variety of moods: “Wind,” “Storm,” “Calm,” and “Joy.”
Thrown – Extended Pain CDEP/10” (Arising Empire)
Presenting lyrics filled with anger and self-hatred, the Swedish quartet effectively blends intense and crushing guitars with catchy yet aggressive vocal rhythms. [Orange and green color vinyl pressings are available.]
Traumatomy – Triumph Of Enslavement CD (Gore House)
The unstoppable slam-dozers, Traumatomy, continue their relentless sonic assault, with the newest opus, Triumph Of Enslavement. With an unrelenting fusion of groove-driven rhythms, bone-crushing heaviness, and primal energy, Triumph Of Enslavement is the latest addition to Traumatomy’s musical repertoire. Drawing from the depths of the underground, Traumatomy crafts a sound that is raw, uncompromising, and devoid of unnecessary embellishments. It is pure, unadulterated slamming death metal at its finest. The guttural vocals, crushing riffs, and pounding drums, create a sonic experience that’s both primal and immersive.
Oded Tzur – My Prophet CD (ECM)
On his album, My Prophet, Oded Tzur – together with his quartet of pianist Nitai Hershkovits, bassist Petros Klampanis and new member Cyrano Almeida on drums – continues the idiosyncratic musical path he has carved out for himself, a flowing jazz idiom that seamlessly combines multiple forms of expression while delving deeper into the meditative and highly concentrated realm of improvisation.
Vanishing Kids – Heavy Dreamer CD/LP (Aural Music)
The somnambulic doom-metal group from Wisconsin present their album Heavy Dreamer. Vanishing Kids has been an ever evolving artistic and musical journey since the early 2000s with core members and founder’s Jason Hartman (Jex Thoth), and Nikki Drohomyreky on vocals. As kids of the ‘70s and ‘80s who grew up on metal, prog rock, krautrock, psych, punk and goth, they have managed to carve out a niche of their own for themselves. [A purple color vinyl pressing is available.]
Visions Of Atlantis – Pirates II – Armada CD/2xLP (Napalm)
New release from the Austrian symphonic metal band; the sequel to their album Pirates (2022).
Vulvodynia – Entabeni CD (Unique Leader)
New release from the South African death metal band. [Vinyl edition due August 2.]
Wormed – Omegon CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Omegon: a cosmic substance defying mortal grasp. Amidst ancient conflict, civilizations vie for its boundless power, blurring reality’s lines. From shadows emerges Krighsu, a timeline hacker entangled in manipulation by cosmic forces. Amidst surreal realms, he battles to unlock Omegon‘s mysteries, where truths conflict and dimensions warp. In its depths lies ultimate power, yet the price is steep, a fleeting illusion of reality itself.
Xasthur – Disharmonic Variations CD/LP (Prophecy)
Some guys have all the luck. Xasthur founder Scott Conner sure ain’t one of them. The always open wound of his life suppurates in a constant flow of sonic blood into and out of his latest album Disharmonic Variations. The thirteen bitter, painful, dirt-stained, and sometimes even hopeful tracks sure ain’t pretty “Goldberg Variations” either. Rather the title Disharmonic Variations serves as both the program and the message. Music is not just what Scott does. He does not lead a picture book life. There is only music.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Agust D – D-DAY LP (Bighit Music/Hybe)
Agust D, commonly known as SUGA of global K-Pop group BTS, released his first full solo album titled D-DAY that reached #1 on Billboard’s World Albums, #2 on the Billboard 200 and was deemed one of the Top 20 K-Pop Albums of 2023.
Babymetal – Babymetal [Reissue/2014] 2xLP (Cooking Vinyl)
Babymetal – Metal Resistance [Reissue/2016] 2xLP (Cooking Vinyl)
Babymetal – Metal Galaxy [Reissue/2016] 2xLP (Cooking Vinyl)
Color vinyl reissues of the first three albums by the Japanese heavy metal idol group.
Stiv Bators – Disconnected [Reissue/1980] LP (Munster)
Limited vinyl LP pressing of this solo album from the Dead Boys / Wanderers / Lords of the New Church vocalist.
Birth Control – Live @ Tresohr Sessions LP (Look At me)
Live album from the legendary German progressive/hard rock band.
Brothers Vanguard, Electriq – Dominoes b/w Only The Strange Ones Know 7” (Eastwood Music Group)
Brothers Vanguard, Electriq are long-time Dallas staples John Dufilho and Aaron Kelley, who have come together to produce two indie pop tracks reminiscent of ‘90s shoegaze stalwarts Mazzy Star in the track “Only The Strange Ones Know” and Australian neo-psych bands like Pond and Tame Impala. [A color vinyl pressing is available.]
Donald Byrd – Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill [Reissue/1957] LP (Blue Note)
Recorded in 1956 for producer Tom Wilson’s short-lived Boston-based label Transition Records, Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill presented trumpeter Donald Byrd in a relaxed and intimate quartet setting with his frequent collaborator Doug Watkins on bass along with Boston area musicians Ray Santisi on piano and Jim Zitano on drums. The standards heavy set was captured on a rainy Spring afternoon in the Beacon Hill home of engineer Steve Fassett which provided a casual atmosphere that gave the album both its title and its easy-going charm.
China Crisis – Possible Pop Songs Live LP (Secret)
Yellow colorway. For this live recording, an 8-piece China Crisis returned in September 2005 to their spiritual home, performing at the famed Paul McCartney Auditorium at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Impressively, half their set comprised chart singles, from “African And White” to 1986’s “Arizona Sky” and included all of their top 20 songs. Still recording and touring, China Crisis continue to entertain and enthrall their fans to this day.
Jimmy Cliff – In Concert: The Best Of Jimmy Cliff [Reissue/1976] LP (WB)
Originally released in 1976, Jimmy Cliff’s In Concert was recorded at shows in Massachusetts and New York, and overseen by former Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Accompanied by legendary Jamaican musicians like guitarist Ernest Ranglin, Cliff is at his best reinventing some of his greatest hits in these live recordings.
Download – lingAM [Reissue/2013] LP (Artoffact)
At long last, a new reissue of Download’s lingAM, this time on blue vinyl. One of the most influential releases from Skinny Puppy founder Cevin Key, and the late, great Phil Western.
Download – Furnace [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Artoffact)
The first Download release reissued on vinyl after years of being out-of-print. This new edition collects the main album across two LPs and comes in a beautiful gatefold sleeve with touched up cover art.
Everlast – What It’s Like b/w Ends 7” (Tommy Boy)
“What It’s Like” was the lead single off Everlast’s sophomore album, Whitey Ford Sings The Blues. It tells the story of three different people and their everyday struggles, urging empathy from the audience, all over a genre-bending mix of rock, hip-hop and blues. Arguably his most successful song as a solo artist, the single reached number one on both the US Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock tracks charts and peaked at # 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. This 7′ single also featured a B-side, “Ends,” the second single from the same album.
Fastball – Sonic Ranch LP (Sunset Blvd.)
Limited blue color vinyl pressing. Multiplatinum hitmakers Fastball are remembering it’s okay to have hits. Reflecting on their meteoric rise with chart-topping debut The Way, guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga wryly remarks, “I like to say that The Way gave us the freedom to continue doing what we do.” And what Fastball does is write hits. Their latest, Sonic Ranch, produced by David Garza (Fiona Apple) and John Fields (Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus), is ten sing-along gems, combining pop smarts and the wisdom of 30 years together.
Gatekeeper – Deserted LP (Relapse)
Gatecreeper return with their highly anticipated new album Deserted. The new album, a furious mix of snarling guitars and driving, rhythmic pummeling takes death metal from its ‘80s Floridian roots and ‘90s Swedish expansion straight into the here and now. In fact, the vanguard of death metal in 2019 can be found under Arizona’s searing sun.
Grateful Dead – Reckoning [Reissue/1981] 2xLP (Grateful Dead)
Grateful Dead – Dead Set [Reissue/1981] 2xLP (Grateful Dead)
Reckoning is the 1981 live double album by The Grateful Dead. It consists of acoustic material recorded live in September and October 1980. The Dead’s sixth live album was released in April 1981 and contains live material recorded from between September and October 1980 at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco and Radio City Music Hall in New York. Reckoning is essentially an acoustic companion release to Dead Set, a 1981 live album of electric material – both albums were recorded at the same run of concerts.
Charles Gayle / Milford Graves / William Parker – Webo 3xLP (Black Editions)
A legendary concert by one of the greatest unrecorded bands in free jazz history is here at last. For the first time, Charles Gayle, Milford Graves, & William Parker – three lions of the Black American jazz avant-garde – are finally heard together on record, presented here across three audiophile-quality LPs for two brutalizing, joyous hours of real juju and musical mastery.
Mathias Heise Quintet – Mouth Games LP (Storyville)
Danish harmonica virtuoso Mathias Heise launches his highly anticipated acoustic jazz album, titled Mouth Games. The project, described by Heise as his ‘first acoustic jazz album’, is a result of years of meticulous groundwork. Mouth Games features a captivating interplay between Heise and a carefully selected group of highly talented musicians, including accomplished pianist Jacob Christoffersen, master guitarist Pelle von Bülow, acclaimed bassist Thomas Fonnesbæk and versatile drummer Jeppe Gram. With nine carefully chosen tracks, including seven original compositions and two standards, Mouth Games presents a captivating narrative that explores classical structural conventions of jazz with flair, innovation, taste and virtuosity.
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Mojo Hand [Reissue/1962] 2xLP (Sunset Blvd.)
Lightnin’ Hopkins is widely considered one of the most popular architects of the blues style that came be known as “country blues” and which proved to be huge influence on the future development of rock ‘n’ roll. Mojo Hand was one of Hopkins’ signature tunes. Mixing his own style with Louisiana Creole and voodoo culture, the song ripples with an occult energy. This album, recorded for Fire Records, is especially interesting because it casts Hopkins in a more R&B-flavored environment. This obvious effort to get a hit takes for some excellent blues; moody and powerful performances play throughout.
Katatonia – Last Fair Deal Gone Down [Reissue/2001] LP (Peaceville)
Half-speed master. Last Fair Deal Gone Down is the fifth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia, originally released in 2001. The release was the first of a series of four albums done by the band with a stable line up of Jonas Renkse, Anders Nyström, Fredrik Norrman, Mattias Norrman, and Daniel Liljekvist, after years of lineup and role changes with prior albums.
Kira Martini – Open Wide LP (Storyville)
On Open Wide, Martini serves us a handful of her own compositions in a borderland between genres – a fusion of Nordic folk and jazz with notes of the warm ‘70s songwriter sound and mentality, inspired by the likes of Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake. Open Wide is about facing life with an open mindset. Personally. Musically. It’s a soul-stirring fusion of genres, where Martini transcends boundaries and captivates listeners with her personal melodies and heartfelt stories.
My Ruin – The Horror Of Beauty [Reissue/2003] LP (Brutal Planet)
Red w/ black smoke colorway. The Horror of Beauty is an incredible album that surpasses the band’s previous efforts morphing from a nu-metal band into a stoner/groove/heavy/sludgy/thrashy metal treatise
Origami Angel – Somewhere City [Reissue/2022] LP (Counter Intuitive)
Neon orange colorway. When you arrive in Somewhere City, you’re bound to notice a few things. There’s a drive-thru window open all hours of the night, and Dr. Pepper runneth over in all its water cups. A nearby amusement park is busiest on Sunday—that’s when visitors get most thrilled. There’s Danny Phantom playing from an infinite Nicktoons feed. It’s a place governed by caffeine, eternal youth, and the promise of escape. You’re not gonna be the same once you leave.
The Quill – Wheel Of Illusion LP (Metalville)
Yellow colorway. The iconic Swedish hard rock band The Quill unveil their musical prowess in their highly anticipated 11th album, Wheel Of Illusion. With a storied history dating back to the early ’90s, The Quill has consistently pushed boundaries, blending powerful riffs and soulful melodies.
Savava 5 & Yurika – Kokoro LP (Batov)
Middle Eastern psych, funk, disco, and Japanese folk and pop, converge to create a mesmerizing new sound on ‘Kokoro’, Sababa 5 and Yurika’s collaborative debut album for Batov Records, collecting four acclaimed singles and four brand new songs. [A limited blue colorway is available.]
Sheer Terror – Just Can’t Hate Enough [Reissue/1989] LP (Dead City)
Sheer Terror emerged in the ‘80s alongside other greats like Agnostic Front, Warzone, and Sick Of It All. Intense metallic-style riffs over the band’s NYHC /punk breakdowns. Vocalist Paul Bearer pioneered clean vocals with hardcore growls and snarls. Heavy, bulldozing music tinged with tongue and cheek humor.
Sia – 1000 Forms Of Fear [Reissue/2014] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Celebrate a decade of chandelier swings and powerful anthems with Sia’s 1000 Forms Of Fear 10th Anniversary vinyl including all your favorites plus and extra disc of remixes and piano versions of “Chandelier,” “Elastic Heart,” and “Big Girls Cry”. This deluxe 2-LP version is pressed on natural color vinyl.
Stiff Little Fingers – Hope Street Live LP (Secret)
Stiff Little Fingers is a punk rock band formed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1977. They are known for their energetic and politically charged music, often addressing the Troubles in Northern Ireland, as well as broader social and political issues. Stiff Little Fingers gained prominence with their debut album Inflammable Material in 1979, which included classic punk anthems like Alternative Ulster and Suspect Device. Throughout the 1980s, they continued to release albums and tour extensively, cementing their reputation as one of the most influential punk bands to come out of the UK.
Swim Surreal – In The Half Light LP (Make)
Swim Surreal transports listeners to another time, place, and mental space. Nine songs telling a tale that began in the half light and, somehow, resides there still. Lead single “The Crowd” sums up the record’s mood. A slice of subtly psychedelic soul undercut by plaintive electric piano and driving bass motif, its warm soundscape evokes late-night, summertime adventures and bittersweet self-reflection. [CD version due July 19.]
Textures – Silhouettes LP (Listenable)
Orange starburst vinyl. After such classics as Silhouettes or Dualism, Textures was recognized as one of the first bands to develop the modern technical metal genre, all while sharing the stage with illustrious acts such as Meshuggah, Gojira, Machine Head and The Dillinger Escape Plan.
When disbanding in 2018, the Dutch math metal wizards left a significant hole in the global progressive metal community. However, after a break of six years, the pioneering Dutch metal six-piece has resurrected and announced their reunion with a new album and a return to the stages in 2024.
Trha – Rhejde Qhaominvac Tla Aglhaonamec LP (Flowing Downward)
A bit of a more traditional approach but no less enjoyable. This short album features melancholic and depressive parts in a wonderful symbiosis with ever-present keyboard melodies. The final part especially is a concise crescendo of all the brooding and stumbling felt in the first parts of the record.
Vamps – Used To Be Cool LP (Midnight Cruiser)
The Vamps started as an antidote to the prevailing mainstream rock of the early ‘70s. Informed by a love of Detroit R&B, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, ‘60s garage rock and some of the newer artists starting to make waves in New York and the UK, sometime in 1974; The Vamps incorporated all those influences into their sound. [A blue colorway is available.]
The Viceroys – Ya Ho [Reissue/1985] LP (Burning Sounds)
The Viceroys were a Jamaican reggae vocal group formed in the late 1960s. They were one of the numerous vocal trios that emerged during the rocksteady and early reggae eras in Jamaica. The group’s lineup consisted of Wesley Tinglin, Neville Ingram, and Daniel Bernard. They gained popularity with their harmonious vocal style and catchy melodies. One of their most famous songs is “Heart Made Of Stone”, which became a hit in Jamaica and internationally. They worked with various producers, including Derrick Morgan, Clement Coxsone Dodd, and Lee Scratch Perry, recording songs that reflected the social and political issues of the time.
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