AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:
Maggie Antone – Rhinestoned CD/LP (Love Big)
Maggie Antone’s voice has always won people over. Antone’s Rhinestoned offers ten songs worth of compelling evidence that this Virginia native just might be country’s next big thing. The album only builds on the runaway success of her debut original single “Suburban Outlaw” – a song Holler praised for “lyrics that land like zippy teen movie one-liners.” But for all the hard-partying lyrics and self-deprecating jokes, Antone’s biggest strength on Rhinestoned may be her willingness to show weakness.
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet CD/LP/Cassette (Island)
Short n’ Sweet showcases the scintillating spirit of Sabrina Carpenter, the pocket-sized popstar with a larger-than-life artistic presence. One gold album and multiple platinum singles later, it’s no wonder that “Espresso,” the debut single from Short n’ Sweet, has it all: lyrics that make you giggle and blush and songwriting that makes you wish you’d thought of it first. [A color vinyl pressing is available along with an indie store exclusive cassette version featuring an alternate cover.
Cimafunk – Pa’ Tu Cuerpa CD/LP (Terapia Productions)
“This album is a result of my surroundings, fortunately being surrounded by beautiful people and things. It’s a reminder to live day by day with positivity and happiness. Each song is a story; an experience that was lived and that’s what I like the most. The sounds, rhythms and musical details transport you to the emotions of that moment. The collaborating and learning and sharing with other artists is special. And, of course, having the Funk and Afrocuban in the veins and find the right blend and expression of Funk and Afrocuban in each groove. It’s a new sound with new grooves, but the same spirit. This album represents the animal, the flesh, the nakedness, the skin, and the melanin returning to the mountains. The album is a journey as animals thru each song, sometimes in captivity and sometimes as a predator. Cimafunk’s previous albums Terapia (Therapy) and El Alimento (The Nutrient) also represented what’s essential and this album does as well: Basic Instincts.”
Ivan Cornejo – Mirada CD/LP (Zaragoza/Interscope)
“With two albums under his belt, Cornejo makes his major label debut with Mirada.. The album features the wistful, sad sierreño sound that made Cornejo famous three years ago with “Está Dañada,” a heart-wrenching ballad from his first LP, Alma Vacía (2021). In Mirada, the Música Mexicana breakout star presents 12 solo songs inspired by summer nights, including singles “Aquí te Espero,” “Donde Estás,” “Baby Please,” and “Intercambio Injusto.” As with his previous productions, Cornejo makes heartbreak the central theme of his album while guitars and melodies reminiscent of alternative rock take center stage.” – Marysabel Huston, Grammy.com
Fontaines D.C. – Romance CD/LP (XL Recordings)
Irish indie rock sensation Fontaines D.C. return with new album ROMANCE, their debut on XL Recordings. Recorded shortly after their tour supporting Arctic Monkeys, it seizes on the momentum of 2022’s Skinty Fia, which firmly established them as one of today’s most exciting rock bands. Romance represents a bold sonic and stylistic evolution for the band and lead single “Starburster” shows the band at their most electrifying to date, as Chatten’s swaggering stream of consciousness collides with explosive production. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including clear and indie store exclusive pink.]
Ocean Alley – Chiaroscuro CD/2xLP (Ocean Alley)
Ocean Alley continue to solidify their place as one of Australia’s most exciting independent bands, with the release of their sophomore album Chiaroscuro. The band engulfs you in an immense soundscape here via their unique and refreshing brand of psychedelic reggae fusion.
Spirit Of The Beehive – You’ll Have To Lose Something CD/LP/Cassette (Saddle Creek)
For the past decade, Spirit of the Beehive has honed an aesthetic like no other. They’ve chopped up samples, chewed them up, spit them back out again, baby birded it. Across four albums and a smattering of EPs, Zack Schwartz, Corey Wichlin, and Rivka Ravede have fully solidified their stance as some of rock’s weirdest and best deconstructionists. Their last release, 2023’s i’m so lucky, explored the breakup between Schwartz and Ravede, setting the stage and emotional territory for the band’s fifth record, You’ll Have To Lose Something. This latest offering is the most crystallized version of the band’s aesthetic, a continued meditation on the end of relationships and the unsteadiness that follows. It is a meticulous, beautiful, and quietly heartbreaking collection of songs. [An indie store exclusive clear w/ red & white splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind CD/2xLP (Broken Bow)
Multi-platinum Grammy award-winning artist, Lainey Wilson delivers Whirlwind, a daringly honest look into the singer’s life and journey through Nashville. The 14-track album produced by Jay Joyce follows on the heels of Wilson’s seven Country Music Association (CMA) awards including “Entertainer of The Year,” six Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards, and Grammy for “Best Country Album.” [An indie store exclusive tan color vinyl pressing is available.]
Zeal & Ardor – Greif CD/LP (Redacted)
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process. After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, Greif. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Additional Social Media Program Titles:
Charlie Parker – Ornithology: The Best Of Bird CD/LP (Craft Recordings)
Ornithology: The Best of Bird is a new compilation bringing together 11 cuts from legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. Designed as an introduction to this influential artist, it covers Bird’s prime years between 1945 and 1953, with cuts including “Ko-Ko,” “Billie’s Bounce,” and “Groovin’ High”. [A clear vinyl pressing along with a Deluxe box set edition is available.]
CDs + Vinyl:
Colby Acuff – American Son CD/LP (SME Nashville)
New album by the lyrical maverick and unrelenting vocalist. [A white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Jon Anderson – True CD/2xLP (Frontiers)
The Yes lead vocalist’s new nine-song album harkens back to the sound of classic Yes and features compositions of all lengths with the centerpiece being the 16-minute song “Once Upon a Dream”. [An indie store exclusive orange color vinyl pressing is available.]
Maggie Antone – Rhinestoned CD/LP (Love Big)
Maggie Antone’s voice has always won people over. Antone’s Rhinestoned offers ten songs worth of compelling evidence that this Virginia native just might be country’s next big thing. The album only builds on the runaway success of her debut original single “Suburban Outlaw” – a song Holler praised for “lyrics that land like zippy teen movie one-liners.” But for all the hard-partying lyrics and self-deprecating jokes, Antone’s biggest strength on Rhinestoned may be her willingness to show weakness.
Body Meat – Starchris CD/2xLP (Partisan)
On Starchris, Body Meat (real name: Christopher Taylor) puts the distinctive musical language he has spent years perfecting to the test. Across 13 tracks, he explores the roughest edges of R&B, IDM, club music, experimental pop, trap, footwork, and metal, only to soften them into something remarkably warm and welcoming, finding catharsis amongst chaos.
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet CD/LP/Cassette (Island)
Short n’ Sweet showcases the scintillating spirit of Sabrina Carpenter, the pocket-sized popstar with a larger-than-life artistic presence. One gold album and multiple platinum singles later, it’s no wonder that “Espresso,” the debut single from Short n’ Sweet, has it all: lyrics that make you giggle and blush and songwriting that makes you wish you’d thought of it first. [A color vinyl pressing is available along with an indie store exclusive cassette version featuring an alternate cover.
Cimafunk – Pa’ Tu Cuerpa CD/LP (Terapia Productions)
“This album is a result of my surroundings, fortunately being surrounded by beautiful people and things. It’s a reminder to live day by day with positivity and happiness. Each song is a story; an experience that was lived and that’s what I like the most. The sounds, rhythms and musical details transport you to the emotions of that moment. The collaborating and learning and sharing with other artists is special. And, of course, having the Funk and Afrocuban in the veins and find the right blend and expression of Funk and Afrocuban in each groove. It’s a new sound with new grooves, but the same spirit. This album represents the animal, the flesh, the nakedness, the skin, and the melanin returning to the mountains. The album is a journey as animals thru each song, sometimes in captivity and sometimes as a predator. Cimafunk’s previous albums Terapia (Therapy) and El Alimento (The Nutrient) also represented what’s essential and this album does as well: Basic Instincts.”
Cocteau Twins / Harold Budd – The Moon And The Melodies [Reissue/1986] CD/LP (4AD)
CD and vinyl reissues of the Cocteau Twins 1986 collaboration with late pianist/composer Harold Budd.
Emmet Cohen – Vibe Provider CD/LP (Mack Avenue)
Critically acclaimed pianist, composer and bandleader Emmet Cohen has traveled the world with his sold-out performances, created and hosted the “most highly watched regular online jazz show in the world” (The Guardian) with Live From Emmet’s Place, and has earned a reputation for cultivating an atmosphere with his musicality for generations of musicians to find new inspiration. However, it’s his friendship with jazz legend Michael Funmi Ononaiye, the iconic Vibe Provider, that has profoundly shaped his musical journey since 2012. On Vibe Provider, Cohen presents a masterful blend of original compositions and beloved classics, dedicated to his friend and mentor, Funmi, alongside an all-star band.
Ivan Cornejo – Mirada CD/LP (Zaragoza/Interscope)
“With two albums under his belt, Cornejo makes his major label debut with Mirada.. The album features the wistful, sad sierreño sound that made Cornejo famous three years ago with “Está Dañada,” a heart-wrenching ballad from his first LP, Alma Vacía (2021). In Mirada, the Música Mexicana breakout star presents 12 solo songs inspired by summer nights, including singles “Aquí te Espero,” “Donde Estás,” “Baby Please,” and “Intercambio Injusto.” As with his previous productions, Cornejo makes heartbreak the central theme of his album while guitars and melodies reminiscent of alternative rock take center stage.” – Marysabel Huston, Grammy.com
Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Friendlytown CD/LP (Provogue)
New album by the blues guitar legend. [A green smoke color vinyl pressing is available.]
Bryce Dessner – Solos CD/2xLP (Sony Classics)
A collection featuring a series of unaccompanied instrumental works written by the composer over the past few years. Dessner, who is also a founding member of Grammy Award-winning rock band The National has selected works from both his classical and soundtrack worlds, which showcase not only his compositional flair but also the immense talent of his acclaimed collaborators, many of whom work regularly with him and are his friends.
Fleshgod Apocalypse – Opera CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Italy’s Fleshgod Apocalypse returns with new music for the first time since 2019. The band is known for their unique blend of technical death metal with symphonic elements. [A red marble color vinyl pressing is available.]
Fontaines D.C. – Romance CD/LP (XL Recordings)
Irish indie rock sensation Fontaines D.C. return with new album ROMANCE, their debut on XL Recordings. Recorded shortly after their tour supporting Arctic Monkeys, it seizes on the momentum of 2022’s Skinty Fia, which firmly established them as one of today’s most exciting rock bands. Romance represents a bold sonic and stylistic evolution for the band and lead single “Starburster” shows the band at their most electrifying to date, as Chatten’s swaggering stream of consciousness collides with explosive production. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including clear and indie store exclusive pink.]
Ruthie Foster – Mileage CD/LP (Sun)
Blues singer-songwriter and five-time Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster shines bright on Mileage, her tenth studio album offering. Reflecting on journeys both professional and personal, Ruthie brings her soul to the surface with the help of producer Tyler Bryant (The Shakedown). The pair grew in creative partnership from conversations that turned into songs like “Rainbow,” “Heartshine,” and more, celebrating Ruthie’s career as a Black woman and LGBTQ+ artist. [A blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Fulci – Duck Face Killings CD/LP (20 Buck Spin)
The infamous Italian director Lucio Fulci created many of horror and exploitation cinema’s most memorable and vivid visions of the supernatural, sadistic and salacious. Zombi 2, The Beyond, City Of The Living Dead, The House By The Cemetery and more left an indelible impression on the minds of many an impressionable youth. The Italian death metal band Fulci were so possessed by their countryman’s work, they named the band after him, with each album being a concept and tribute based on one of his films. For the band’s fourth bloodthirsty full length, and first for 20 Buck Spin after a steadily growing profile in the death metal underground over the last several years, Fulci presents Duck Face Killings, a homage to one of Lucio’s most depraved and reviled films, The New York Ripper. [A blood red inside electric blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Gas – Gas [Reissue/1996] CD/3xLP (Kompakt)
Wolfgang Voigt, born in 1961 in Cologne, Germany, is an artist, music producer, label owner and one of the co-founders of the Cologne-based electronica and techno label Kompakt. His project Gas, an intoxicatingly sinister work of sound art based on highly condensed classical sound sources, thrills a global audience far beyond the traditional electronica and techno music scenes for over 20 years. By combining abstract nature sounds with strings and brass alongside Gas’s minimalist cover designs incorporating photographs he took in the forest, Voigt shows his strong affinity for Romanticism and portrays the forest as a mysterious or melancholic place.
Geneva Jacuzzi – Triple Fire CD/LP (Dais)
Since first splashing on to the Southern California circuit in the mid-aughts, Geneva Jacuzzi (née Garvin) quickly cemented herself as the queen of the Los Angeles underground. Her immersive and unhinged multimedia performances are the stuff of legend, a psychotropic gallery of masks, costumes, confrontation, and massive art installations. Jacuzzi’s recordings are equally revered, catchy hooks and cryptic moods dusted in 4-track grit. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available.]
Georgia Thunderbolts – Rise Above It All CD/LP (Mascot)
New album by the Southern rock band. [An orange color vinyl pressing is available.]
Gift – Illuminator CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
Illuminator, Gift’s sophomore album, is the long-awaited payoff of the artist’s ever-growing musical and human chemistry. Nods are apparent to label forerunners such as Beach Fossils, DIIV and Wild Nothing, but Gift are shepherding those elements into wondrous new vessels for the present moment – sleek, often danceable and frequently mesmerizing. [A white w/ black color vinyl pressing is available.]
Gunna – One Of Wun CD/2xLP (300 Entertainment)
One Of Wun is the fifth studio album by rapper Gunna. The album features guest appearances from Offset, Normani, Leon Bridges, and Roddy Ricch. Production was handled by a variety of record producers, including Turbo, Teddy Walton, and Larrance Dopson, among others. It serves as the follow-up to Gunna’s previous album, A Gift & A Curse (2023), in which he embarked on the Bittersweet Tour to support both albums. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available including translucent blue and indie store exclusive clear.]
The Halem Gospel Travelers – Rhapsody CD/LP (Colemine)
With their new album Rhapsody, the extraordinary vocalists Ifedayo Gatling, Dennis Bailey, and George Marage fully explore the entire range of music that influenced them. The follow-up to their acclaimed 2021 release Look Up!, the record is a dive into a lesser-known but hugely important era in the evolution of gospel music. [A blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Joe Henry – Civilians [Reissue/2007] CD/2xLP (earMUSIC)
Joe Henry is one of the artists who have shaped the sound of modern American folk and blues music like hardly anyone else. Civilians, his 10th studio album, was originally released in 2007. It takes the listener on an intimate journey into Henry’s poetic lyricism and is heavily influenced and inspired by the more melancholic sounds of folk and jazz music. Recorded in Henry’s home studio at the time, the Garfield House in Pasadena, the album has a raw and stripped-back feel, with several of Henry’s close friends and collaborators, like Loudon Wainwright III, Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, and Van Dyke Parks, joining him in the studio to bring these songs to life.
Illuminati Hotties – Power CD/LP (Hopeless)
Tenderpunk pioneer Illuminati Hotties is the musical project founded by producer/writer, Sarah Tudzin. The new self-produced album Power with co-production by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Death Cab For Cutie) features the Hotties trademark wit, vibrancy, and is undeniably fun. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including clear and indie store exclusive translucent blue.]
Colin James – Chasing The Sun CD/LP+MP3 (Stony Plain)
For his electrifying 21st studio album, Chasing The Sun, acclaimed singer-songwriter and master guitarist Colin James assembled a towering roster of musical guests – Americana icon Lucinda Williams, harmonica ace Charlie Musselwhite, and legendary producer-guitarist Colin Linden, to name just three – to amplify seven scorching blues-rock originals and four dazzling covers.
Kishi Bashi – Kantos CD/LP (Joyful Noise)
The latest full-length from Kishi Bashi, Kantos is a work of exquisite duality: a party album about the possible end of humanity as we know it, at turns deeply unsettling and sublimely joyful. In a sonic departure from the symphonic folk of his critically lauded 2019 LP Omoiyari – a career-defining body of work born from his intensive meditation on the mass incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II – the Seattle-born singer/songwriter/producer’s fifth studio album encompasses everything from Brazilian jazz and ’70s funk to orchestral rock and city pop (a Japanese genre that peaked in the mid-’80s). [A purple color vinyl pressing is available.]
Mark Lanegan – Bubblegum XX (Extended Version] 3xCD/4xLP (Beggars Banquet)
Beggars Arkive in conjunction with the Estate of Mark Lanegan, are honored to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mark Lanegan’s acclaimed 2004 album Bubblegum. Bubblegum XX – a set of releases that include a remastered double LP edition of the original album and a 3xCD/4xLP release containing 40 remastered tracks, 12 of which are previously unreleased.
Jeff Lorber – Elevate CD (Sono Recording Group)
Elevate is Jeff Lorber’s 31st album. Elevate is also a rare, complete solo effort from Jeff. With the help of some of the best jazz musicians in the world, including Erick Walls, Mark Lettieri and Brian McKnight, Elevate is a classic recording from one of the godfathers of contemporary jazz.
Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk CD/2xLP (Mom + Pop)
Magdalena Bay, the Los Angeles-based duo of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, create magical pop music that floats in the ether of our collective social cosmos. While they call California home, their essence lies in the clouds, emitting unique yet familiar frequencies of synthesized nostalgia, kitschy catchiness, and warped neo-hooks. Suited for the times, Magdalena Bay blends the known and felt with innovative sonic landscapes. [A white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Malice K – Avanti CD/LP (Jagjaguwar)
There are ghosts all across Avanti, the debut album from Malice K. At points it’s howling and unhinged, a grungy layer atop a lush foundation of melodic capital-s Songwriting, but in other moments it dissolves into a gentle, wistful haunting. Malice K’s songs are blunt, uncomplicated and unflinching as he probes the interiority of memories, of mistakes – saturated with an innate intensity that sucks you into his gnarled and visceral world, so barbed it could draw blood. [A gold color vinyl pressing is available.]
Melt Banana – 3+5 CD/LP (Azap)
3+5 showcases the duo’s visionary musical approach and extraordinary abilities as performers: Yasuko Onuki’s giddy, hyperactive vocalizing and Ichiro Agata’s glitchy, cyberpunk guitar, delivered at dizzying speed, bathed in aggressive electronic sounds. Their aesthetic approach is exultantly experimental, fusing diverse genres imbued with chaotic energy. As on their previous works, the music on 3+5 is unpredictable, always filled with surprises and excitement. 3+5 synthesizes elements of a variety of extreme musics, hyper-pop, classic punk, vintage metal, and noise. [A silver color vinyl pressing is available.]
Kylie Minogue – Tension CD (BMG)
Limited special edition. Tension is the sixteenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, originally released in 2023. It is her first musical release since Disco (2020), and she began working on it in May 2022, finishing the project the following year. Her team enlisted several collaborators for the album, including Richard “Biff” Stannard, Duck Blackwell, Jackson Foote, PhD, and Cutfather.
Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts – Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts CD (Deko Music)
Matt Mitchell has been known as the voice of a few bands before carving out his solo journey under the moniker Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts. AOR band Pride, heavy rock band Furyon and blues rock band Colour Of Noise were all fronted by the British singer. With much appraisal from UK media Mitchell has received a wide range of print and online press for his new venture Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts. BBC Radio 2 and Planet Rock are amongst the many radio stations that have championed Mitchell’s music.
Mothica – Kissing Death CD/LP (Rise)
New release from the Oklahoma-based alt-rock singer. [A red & black splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Murphy’s Law – Back With A Bong! [Reissue/1989] CD (Astor Place)
Back With A Bong! is the second album from New York hardcore punk band Murphy’s Law, originally released in 1989.
Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All CD/2xLP (Napalm)
Tenth album by the world-renowned death metal icons. [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]
NMIXX – Fe3o4: STICK OUT [Nephelomancy Ver.] CD (Jyp Ent/Republic)
NMIXX – Fe3o4: STICK OUT [Pyromancy Ver.] CD (Jyp Ent/Republic)
Third mini album by the K-pop group.
Paralydium – Universe Calls CD (Frontiers)
Progressive act Paralydium emerged under the guidance of John Berg, a visionary with a passion for blending powerful riffs, melodic landscapes, cinematic atmospheres and hypnotic grooves. Paralydium’s music, influenced by metal, prog, and classical film scores, creates a unique sonic atmosphere – a journey that transcends the boundaries of space and time.
Charlie Parker – Ornithology: The Best Of Bird CD/LP (Craft Recordings)
Ornithology: The Best of Bird is a new compilation bringing together 11 cuts from legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. Designed as an introduction to this influential artist, it covers Bird’s prime years between 1945 and 1953, with cuts including “Ko-Ko,” “Billie’s Bounce,” and “Groovin’ High”. [A clear vinyl pressing along with a Deluxe box set edition is available.]
Alan Parsons Project – Pyramid [Reissue/1978] CD/2xLP/4xCD+2xLP+Blu-ray (Cooking Vinyl)
APP’s third studio album is a concept album centered on the pyramids of Giza. At the time this album was conceived, interest in pyramids and so-called pyramid power was all the rage. A pyramid could be found on the back of a dollar bill, there were stories in the newspapers about the supposed magical properties of pyramids and of course, the cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’. As with other APP albums, the focus was on very high-quality studio sound production, and they recorded the album at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Jerry Phillips – For The Universe CD/LP (Omnivore Recordings)
Debut album by the songwriter/producer (John Prine, Dale Watson) and the son of Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. [A gold color vinyl pressing is available.]
Thomas Rhett – About A Woman CD/LP (Valory)
One of the most engaging and consistent country chart-toppers of the last 10 years, Thomas Rhett has emerged as a superstar with as much songwriting prowess as stadium-rocking charisma. Marking the start of a fresh creative chapter, his seventh studio album About A Woman is full of heart-pounding country with a progressive edge, high-energy anthems and quick-hitting lyrics amid lush soundscape, proving why Thomas Rhett once again leads the evolving genre without forgetting its roots. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including copper and indie store exclusive white.]
Porter Robinson – Smile! 😀 CD/2xLP (Mom & Pop Music)
New album by the North Carolina-based electro-house producer and songwriter. [A pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
Catherine Russell / Sean Mason – My Ideal CD/LP (Dot Time)
A breathtaking album from acclaimed Grammy-nominated vocalist Catherine Russell and prodigious pianist Sean Mason. This modern classic marks a significant milestone in both artists’ careers, capturing a powerful and intimate musical dialogue. My Ideal is a very special project even in the very rarified strata where Catherine works; this is not only her first complete set of voice-and-piano duets, but her partner on this project is a remarkable piano prodigy whose technical skill is only rivaled by his soulfulness. This collaboration represents a unique convergence of experience and youthful virtuosity, offering a fresh yet timeless sound.
Wayne Shorter – Celebration, Volume 1 CD/2xLP (Blue Note)
Celebration, Volume 1 is the first in a series of archival releases that the legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter curated before he passed away in 2023. This thrilling 2014 live recording captured Shorter’s acclaimed quartet with pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade at the Stockholm Jazz Festival in Sweden. The intrepid set includes some of the band’s favorite vehicles of exploration including “Zero Gravity,” “Smilin’ Through,” “Orbits,” “Lotus,” and “She Moves Through The Fair.”
Simone Simons – Vermillion CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Epica’s Simone Simons has been spearheading the world of female fronted metal. Enter stage right Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon). Her musical partner and longtime collaborator is no stranger to her soaring operatic voice, one that can stir even a gargoyle’s stone heart to tears. Together they have crafted a sonic universe that befits the influential figure she is. Vermillion emerges as a gargantuan goose-bump generator, a universally touching, stellar tour de force. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Slaughter To Prevail – Chapters Of Misery [Reissue/2015] CD/LP (Sumerian)
This is a reissue of the Chapters Of Misery EP from Slaughter To Prevail, originally released in 2015. This limited run features a previously unreleased bonus track and exclusive artwork done by Par Olofsson (The Faceless – Planetary Duality). [A translucent yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]
Sofi Tukker – Bread CD/LP/Cassette (Virgin)
Sofi Tukker, the Grammy-nominated duo comprised of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern return with their ambitious forthcoming new album, Bread. Bread‘s acronym, “Be Really Energetic and Dance,” encapsulates the full album experience, inviting listeners into the duo’s pleasure-filled, immersive world. [A white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Spectral Wound – Songs Of Blood & Mire CD (Profound Lore)
Spectral Wound play black metal. Furious and visceral, untrammeled by esoteric posture or grasping idealism. It is music for the poisoned, the futile, the debauched and profane. The blooming of a flower of corruption, torn by cold winds. [A splatter color vinyl pressing is due September 6.]
Spirit Of The Beehive – You’ll Have To Lose Something CD/LP/Cassette (Saddle Creek)
For the past decade, Spirit of the Beehive has honed an aesthetic like no other. They’ve chopped up samples, chewed them up, spit them back out again, baby birded it. Across four albums and a smattering of EPs, Zack Schwartz, Corey Wichlin, and Rivka Ravede have fully solidified their stance as some of rock’s weirdest and best deconstructionists. Their last release, 2023’s i’m so lucky, explored the breakup between Schwartz and Ravede, setting the stage and emotional territory for the band’s fifth record, You’ll Have To Lose Something. This latest offering is the most crystallized version of the band’s aesthetic, a continued meditation on the end of relationships and the unsteadiness that follows. It is a meticulous, beautiful, and quietly heartbreaking collection of songs. [An indie store exclusive clear w/ red & white splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Status Quo – Official Archive Series Vol. 3 – Live At Westonbirt Arboretum 2xCD/3xLP (earMUSIC)
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Status Quo ignite a stunning live performance at the National Arboretum Westonbirt. This unforgettable concert captures the legendary band’s electrifying energy as they deliver their greatest hits and rock anthems in a breathtaking natural setting. Immerse yourself in the band’s signature boogie rock sound, renowned for getting crowds moving.
Thee Heart Tones – Forever & Ever CD/LP/Cassette (Big Crown)
Hailing from Hawthorne, California, Thee Heart Tones are both carrying on a tradition and pushing the boundaries with their music. “Growing up in L.A., you get influenced by the city, the artwork, the music. Dad didn’t own a lowrider car, but other members of our family did. Impalas. El Caminos. We were influenced by the culture, particularly the Chicano culture. And oldies and soul music played a big part. The style. The culture. The nod to the past. That’s what we’re going.”
Thievery Corporation – It Takes A Thief. The Very Best Of Thievery Corporation [Reissue/2010] CD/2xLP (Virgin)
It Takes A Thief, the 2010 compilation from Thievery Corporation, is a collection of tracks specially selected by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton for longtime fans and music lovers who have heard of Thievery Corporation but may have never listened to the band. Featuring “Lebanese Blonde,” the beautiful track used on the Grammy Award-winning Garden State soundtrack, as well as “Sound the Alarm,” the funk-infused track that has become a staple opening track for their live shows.
Linval Thompson – Ganja Man CD/LP (Diggers Factory)
With a career spanning over 50 years, Linval Thompson is one of the last living legends of Jamaican reggae. Singer and producer on the famous Thompson Sound label, he has crossed the decades, leaving his indelible mark on roots reggae with numerous hits such as “I Love Marijuana”, “Jah Jah The Conqueror” and “Don’t Cut Off Your Dreadlocks”, as well as albums and singles he has produced with the biggest names in the game, including Barrington Levy, Eek A Mouse, Johnny Osbourne, Freddie McGregor, Horace Andy and Freddie McKay.
Throbbing Gristle – TGCD1 [Reissue/1986] CD/LP (Mute)
Reissue. The untitled seventh album by English industrial band Throbbing Gristle, also referred to as CD1, was released in 1986 through record label Mute.
Throbbing Gristle – The Third Mind Movements [Reissue/2009] CD/LP (Mute)
Reissue. The Third Mind Movements is the final album released by British industrial group Throbbing Gristle in April 2009 from recordings made at the 2007 Desertshore Installation at the Institute of Contemporary Art on 1 to 3 June 2007 – all the original line-up were present.
Louis Tomlinson – Live 2xCD (BMG)
Following the release of his chart-topping album Faith In The Future, and documentary All Of Those Voices, Louis Tomlinson returns with his debut live album Live, a record that showcases his love for live performance and was recorded at various shows spanning the past three years across Louis’s global Faith In The Future World Tour and Louis Tomlinson World Tour.
Mike Tramp – Songs Of White Lion Vol. II CD/LP (Frontiers)
Respected vocalist and guitarist Mike Tramp is back with The Songs Of White Lion – Vol. II, once again the album sees Tramp re-imagining select cuts from his former band White Lion.
Vex – New Sick Music CD/LP (Heptown)
Vex is a dance-punk, synth-pop band from Malmö, Sweden. The band is easily recognizable by their signature yellow appearance. The music is upbeat electronic pop with a punk attitude, reminiscent of bands like Devo, B52s, Pete Shelley, New Order or just the eclectic energy from any early 1980s weirdo.
Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind CD/2xLP (Broken Bow)
Multi-platinum Grammy award-winning artist, Lainey Wilson delivers Whirlwind, a daringly honest look into the singer’s life and journey through Nashville. The 14-track album produced by Jay Joyce follows on the heels of Wilson’s seven Country Music Association (CMA) awards including “Entertainer of The Year,” six Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards, and Grammy for “Best Country Album.” [An indie store exclusive tan color vinyl pressing is available.]
Yves – Loop (Ver. 1) CD (Paix Per Mil)
Yves – Loop (Ver. 2) CD (Paix Per Mil)
From folk to alternative R&B, the four tracks in the album showcase Yves’ diverse exploration and discoveries.
Zeal & Ardor – Greif CD/LP (Redacted)
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process. After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, Greif. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
311 – Grassroots [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
311’s second studio album, Grassroots, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with an expanded 2xLP edition containing five bonus tracks on clear vinyl with brown swirl.
Backyard Superheroes – Mass Hysteria LP (Jump Up)
New album from long running New Jersey ska-punk band, featuring guest appearance from Collie Ranx of The Pilfers. An energetic throwback ‘90s ska sound for fans of Mustard Plug, Less Than Jake, and Rell Big Fish. Orange colorway.
Becker & Mukai – Spirit Only LP (Sas Recordings)
The mighty Becker & Mukai return with a tidal wave of sonic highways with new album Spirit Only, this time travelling outside of their East London studio bunker to Japanese mountains, with pit stops in Mali and Trinidad & Tobago. Experimenting between Balearic, indie dance, psychedelic, folk and electronica, Spirit Only is a complete body of work, confident and unashamed.
Chris Brown – 11:11 [Deluxe Edition] 3xLP (RCA)
Three red smoke color vinyl discs, exclusive photos and artwork.
Built To Spill – There’s Nothing Wrong With Love [Reissue/1994] LP (Sub Pop/Up)
Jade blue colorway. There’s Nothing Wrong with Love is the second full-length album released by legendary indie rock band Built to Spill. It was originally released September 13, 1994, on the Up Records label. The line-up for the album was Doug Martsch, bassist Brett Nelson, and drummer Andy Capps, with Phil Ek producing. The album features the enduring singles “Car” and “Distopian Dream Girl. ” Pitchfork. Com ranked There’s Nothing Wrong with Love at #24 on it’s “Top 100 Albums of the 90s” list.
Sandy Bull – Still Valentine’s Day 1969 LP (No Quarter)
Sandy Bull was an American folk musician who rose to prominence with a series of albums on the Vanguard label in the 1960’s and 70’s. Still Valentine’s Day 1969 is a comprised of two live shows recorded at The Matrix in San Francisco in 1969 with Bull playing shimmering electric guitar and oud, accompanied by tape loops. Previously available on CD, this is the first ever vinyl pressing and includes the original liner notes from Byron Coley. Patti Smith declared that Bull was “no minor player. He influenced, however subtly, an entire generation. His reinvention of classic pieces paved the way for my own experiments.”
Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine – Post Historic Monsters [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Chrysalis)
Color vinyl pressing. Formed in 1987 by Fruitbat and Jim Bob, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine burst onto the scene with their signature style of punk-pop infused with samples, drum machines, and social commentary. This expanded edition of their fourth album features the complete album across three sides of vinyl, plus a selection of bonus tracks on side four including the single “Glam Rock Cops” along with B-sides and alternate mixes.
Rick Clarke – Time Keeps Moving On [Reissue/1988] LP (Freestyle)
Originally appearing on the Raven label in 1988, Time Keeps Moving On constituted Rick Clarke’s first LP following his work in the earlier ‘80s as part of brit-funk groups Potion and Side On, and solo output including Love With A Stranger (released on The Specials’ Ghost Town’s producer John Collins’ Local Records imprint) and a few singles for RCA. Largely co-written and co-produced with Peter Hinds (Take Three, Atmosfear, Light of the World) and a guest turn from Master T aka Toyin Agbetu – this is foundational street soul that appeared at a time when the likes of Loose Ends were starting to break through to the US, and Soul II Soul just emerging.
Coastal Club – All The Things You Said LP (Colemine)
Coastal Club are back with another set of infectious melodies and upbeat rhythms on All The Things You Said. Locked in these grooves are glistening guitar parts, bright and sunny vocals, along with impeccable indie pop/rock arrangements and production, this is a record that is going to make you feel good. [Blue w/ black swirl color vinyl pressing.]
Clone – CL.1 LP+MP3 (Little Cloud)
Color vinyl pressing. Clone is a band which operates in what’s rapidly becoming an antiquated model. CL.1 is their first LP and only third release, and it’s a damn auspicious opening volley. Completely recorded and mixed by New York City legend Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans). Its sound captures the nascent verve of Warsaw especially in the icy timbre of the slashing guitar figures.
Conway The Machine – Reject 2 [Reissue/2015] LP (Griselda/SCMD Music)
Picture disc pressing. Reject 2 is Conway the Machine’s second solo mixtape on Griselda Records and is a sequel to his first mixtape The Devil’s Reject. The mixtape is produced entirely by Buffalo producer Daringer and boasts features from Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, Mach Hommy, Nes, Roc Marciano and Skyzoo.
Jim Croce – Photographs & Memories: His Greatest Hits [Reissue/1974] LP (BMG)
2023 remix of this classic collection from the late, great singer-songwriter. Includes his best loved songs including “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” “Time in a Bottle,” “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” and “Operator (That’s Not the Way it Feels).”
Crowbar – Lifesblood For The Downtrodden [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Candlelight)
Vinyl reissue of the 2005 album by the New Orleans sludge metal band.
Death Cab For Cutie – The Photo Album [Reissue/2001] LP (Barsuk)
The João Carvalho remaster of Death Cab For Cutie’s The Photo Album, cut for vinyl by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling Sound, and pressed on regular weight black vinyl. Includes an 11.5″ 12-page booklet featuring all the photos from the original 1st pressing 2001 double-CD artwork.
Pepito De Lucia / Paco De Lucia – Pepito y Paquito 3xLP (BMG)
In 1959, a family friend went to the home of Paco de Lucía and Pepe de Lucía where he made several recordings with a Grundig TK46 tape recorder. This tape disappeared in 1967 and, after a long search process, was rediscovered in 2022, when a restoration process started using AI tools. The historical value of this recording is incalculable, and it gathers in 21 pieces an anthology of flamenco where most of its variants are represented (tangos, soleá, seguiriyas, bulerías…). It is, in short, the definitive recording to illustrate the transition from classical flamenco to modern flamenco as we know it today and the first known recordings of Pepe and Paco de Lucía.
Falcon Jane – Legacy LP (Darling)
Sara May grew up on a dirt road just outside a small Ontario town known for its Honda plant and Potato Festival. Over the course of ten indie-leaning, alt-country tracks on Legacy, her latest album as Falcon Jane, she expounds on that origin story through the great archetypes of country music: the drinker, the vagabond, the absent father. [A pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
Montell Fish – Charlotte LP (JCM)
Hailing from Pittsburgh, Montell Fish is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer and composer focused on making world-building projects. Montell’s unguarded approach to songwriting allows listeners to feel welcomed into his world, of which he is the writer, director, and star. Charlotte is the much-anticipated follow-up album to 2022’s JAIME album, and the second in his Jaime, Charlotte, Marshall album trilogy. [Several vinyl colorways are available, including red and indie store exclusive pink.]
Margo Guryan – Take A Picture LP (Numero)
Take A Picture is Margo Guryan’s one and done classic – one of record collecting’s real unheralded masterpieces – bright, breezy, lightly psychedelic, and utterly cosmopolitan, recorded in New York City no less. Newly restored by JessicaThompson from the original two-track safety masters, this beguilingly melodic1968 pop tour-de-force has never sounded better. [Multiple colorways are available on vinyl.]
Dave Harrington – Skull Dream LP (Many Hats Dist)
Dave Harrington – electric and acoustic guitars, pedal steel guitar, electric bass, farfisa organ, piano, wurlitzer electric piano, mellotron, Moog, percussion, bamboo flute, electronics.
Derrick Harriott – The Sensational Derrick Harriott Sings Jamaica Reggae [Reissue/1969] (Dub Store)
In 1966, following his debut album the previous year, Derrick Harriott opened his own record shop and distribution at 125 King Street in downtown Kingston. Like so many other Jamaican vocalists, he began to come into his own artistically with the gentler, more reflective rocksteady beat. Heavily influenced by the music then emanating from America rocksteady proved to be an exciting and authentically new wholly Jamaican style and Derrick proved to be one its greatest exponents. A perfectionist who was never satisfied to accept the first, second or third take, he became well known as a painstaking task master in the studio in the nicest possible way. He closed the decade with Sings Jamaican Reggae.
Michael Hutchence – One Way b/w Save My Life 10” (Deko Music)
Picture disc. Michael Kelland Hutchence was the co-founder, lead singer, and lyricist of the rock band INXS from 1977 until his death in 1997. In 2006, several unreleased song ideas had surfaced in a tape locker in London. This was material Michael’s IP company had financed and that he had been developing for his solo endeavor.
Joe P – Garden State Vampire LP (Atlantic)
Blue colorway. Alternative artist/producer Joe P is back with his newest single, “Birthday Baby”. The track heralds the arrival of Garden State Vampire—his debut album.
The KGB– We’re All Going To Hell LP (Jump Up)
Red colorway. Montreal funky reggae & ska band’s latest album on red vinyl, their first for Jump Up after a decade with Canadian punk label Stomp Records. Danny’s soulful style shines through on this new full length, including guest appearances by Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites and Lorraine Muller of The Kingpins. Danny’s signature painting graces the album cover.
Oan Kim – Rebirth Of Innocence LP (Artwork)
“Timeless” is the best description for jazz artist Oan Kim’s music. This French Korean musical jack-of-all-trades plays the piano, violin, saxophone, guitar and keyboards with ease. Equally diverse are his many sources of inspiration, which Oan Kim finds in contemporary music as well as indie rock, classical and film music.
Kool Keith featuring KutMasta Kurt – Diesel Truckers [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Threshold)
Splatter colorway. The Diesel Truckers first appeared on the infamous 1999 album First Come, First Served by Dr. Dooom which earned the double K’s (Kool Keith and KutMasta Kurt), the honor of being hailed as one of hip-hop’s most legendary team-ups.
Kilo Kish – Reflection In Real Time 2xLP (Groove Diggers)
Cream color vinyl pressing. Kilo Kish has always been in a league of her own. Constructing herself from the ground up, Kish’s career in music began over a decade ago, when she was relatively well-known for providing breathy, uninhibited guest appearances on songs with Childish Gambino, Vince Staples, and more. Since then, she’s been equipped with creating her own multi-dimensional worlds.
Diana Krall – When I Look IN Your Eyes [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Verve)
When I Look in Your Eyes is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, released on June 8, 1999, by Verve Records. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the first time in 25 years that a jazz album was nominated in that category and won two awards for Best Jazz Vocal and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 42nd Grammy Awards. The album also won the Juno Award for Best Vocal Jazz Album in 2000.
Las Nubes – Tormentas Malsanas LP (Sweat)
Tormentas Malsanas, or “unhealthy storms,” is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the reality of living through Miami summers. Similar to the way a clear day turns gray with the threat of inclement weather, Tormentas Malsanas addresses common and uncommon struggles – from the difficulties of starting a family as a female musician and the pains of getting older without a lucid understanding of where you’re going, to Covid depression, and the desire to stand up against injustice in a productive way – through the energetic buoyancy of Las Nubes’s trademark loud as hell, garage pop sound. Color vinyl pressing.
Hecto Lavoe – Reventó [Reissue/1985] CD (Craft Recordings)
Reventó is iconic salsa singer Hector Lavoe’s eighth solo album released on Fania Records. The classic New York salsa album was critically acclaimed and very popular among fans, with hits like “¿De Que Tamaño Es Tu Amor?,” “La Fama” and “Déjala Que Siga.”
Little Hag – Now That’s What I Call Little Hag LP (Bar/None)
Little Hag aptly showcases the wide-ranging songwriting of Avery Mandeville, whose biting and relatable songs paint a world that’s as complicated as the one we live in. Using eight producers and studios, from friends’ apartments in the tri-state area to Headroom Studios in Philly, she delivers punk rock bangers, deep disco dives, torch songs, folk ballads and much more. The band members have been friends since they were teenagers and together have matured into a fierce rock band.
Lydia Loveless – Something Else LP (Bloodshot)
10 years after its release, Lydia Loveless sits down at the piano for an intimate reimagining of her landmark album, Somewhere Else. Title track features guest vocals by Jason Isbell.
Mega Drive – 200XAD LP (Fixt)
Behold the last instalment of the cyberpunk/darksynth trilogy by Mega Drive.
Mother Earth – The People Tree [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Acid Jazz)
Originally released in 1994, Mother Earth’s The People Tree is a gem of an album that encapsulates a love of soul, funk and folktinged ’70s rock. To mark its 30th Anniversary, this special edition 2xLP reissue includes the original album, three previously unreleased tracks, and a further six that have never before been on vinyl.
Nautilus – Pacific Voyage LP (Oonops Drops)
The brand-new album Pacific Voyage by Nautilus from Tokyo is a breezy summertime soundtrack which combines sunny yacht rock with a touch of cool ‘80s city pop. The Japanese jazz fusion trio reinterprets stone cold classics from the modern era in their signature way.
Operators – Self-Titled Second Album LP (Jump Up)
Indianapolis female fronted neo-traditional ska band’s second album, hot on the heels of an east coast tour with The Slackers and an appearance at the Supernova Ska Festival. Pressed on concrete white vinyl with sweet retro train themed cover art.
The Prodigy – Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (XL Recordings)
After spending years out of print, The Prodigy have repressed their fourth album in time for its 20th anniversary. It features guest spots from Liam Gallagher, Kool Keith, Jenny Lewis and more.
Refrigerator – Get Lost LP (Shrimper)
The fifteenth record by Refrigerator marries the two worlds that the band has come to be known for: the wild improvisational strings caught by drums on a vocal harmony and that of their minimal torch song balladering. The core line up for over thirty years of Chris Jones on drums and the Callaci brothers remains intact, as does bass player Daniel Brodo’s bass playing which has been a part of the Refrigerator sound for over 25 years. Joined on the previous record, 2021’s So Long To Farewell by Wckr Spgt guitarist Mark Givens, the five piece’s dual guitar attack is on full display on side one of the new record Get Lost, the sky clearing for a more studied, quieter side two that features saxophone and trombone, a live-to-one track recording and Mott The Hoople heartache.
Reseters – Give Me A Blue Beat LP (Jump Up)
Blue colorway. An exciting organ heavy mod/skin sound for fans of The Aggrolites, The Specials, and The Maytals.
Randy Rogers Band – Roller Coaster [Reissue/2004] LP (Tommy Jackson)
Red smoke colorway. As country music continues broadening its influence in every corner of the modern soundscape, the quickly growing ‘red dirt’ genre, which encapsulates the Western lifestyle and outlaw sound, is taking centerstage lead by acts such as the influential Randy Rogers Band. For over 20 years, the band’s roster and traditional approach has remained unchanged and inspired the surge in a new generation of artists. Acts such as Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel, Flatland Cavalry, and William Beckmann all began their musical careers on the building blocks set forth by Randy Rogers Band. The band’s second album, Roller Coaster, is applauded as one of the most impactful collections in the Texas music scene.
Patrice Rushen – Prelusion [Reissue/1974] LP (Craft Recordings)
Prelusion is the debut album from iconic recording artist Patrice Rushen, originally released on Prestige Records in 1974. The album effortlessly zigzags between post-bop and jazz fusion, and features contributions from legendary saxophonist Joe Henderson.
Elori Saxl – Drifts And Surfaces LP (Western Vinyl)
With Drifts And Surfaces, American experimental electronic composer Elori Saxl flourishes quietly in present-tense synthesis. The three-piece set originates from three different commissions, each influenced by her experience of living on Madeline Island, a small island in Lake Superior, and unified by shared themes that explore how technology has come to define our daily life: the blurring of physical and digital worlds, the compression and datafication of human experience, and the paradox of everyday stasis and constant change. Saxl continues to utilize chamber-music ensemble alongside digital experimentation, deeply tuning into textural emotion.
Janett Silvera – When I Need You [Reissue/1977] LP (Dub Store)
Released by Federal Records subsidiary Wild Flower/RCA in Jamaica, Silvera’s only release was inspired by the metropolitan soulful sounds coming out of the US, with mellow versions of recognizable hits of the day by Patti Austin, Barbara Streisand, Bob Marley, and Albert Hammond amongst others.
Slaughter To Prevail – Misery Sermon [Reissue/2017] LP (Sumerian)
Limited green, black, and white color vinyl pressing of the 2017 debut album by the Russian deathcore band.
The Softies – The Bed I Made LP (Father/Daughter)
The Softies, comprised of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia, embody timeless themes of friendship and self-discovery through their minimalist pop soundworld. Since their formation in 1994, they’ve created uncluttered and fearlessly vulnerable music, contrasting with prevailing trends. The Bed I Made, The Softies’ first new studio album in 24 years, showcases growth while reflecting on life’s complexities with lyrics drawn from real experiences.
Speed Dealer Moms – Birth Control Pill 12” (Evar)
Color vinyl pressing. Speed Dealer Moms, the combustible live electronics duo comprising John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Aaron Funk (Venetian Snares) is over a decade into their idiosyncratic run. On “Birth Control Pill,” the duo’s third release, the parameters of the chaotic and elegant project come into focus. If there are virtuosos patching modular synthesizers and slicing up breakbeats, then they were in the room when these two tracks were recorded.
Stop The Presses – Got It [Reissue/2022] LP (Jump Up)
Repress on nuclear green vinyl. Second album from long running NYC ska pop new wave band, mixed by Agent Jay (The Slackers).
Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Strange Strings – Expanded Edition LP (Cosmic Myth)
For this album, Sun Ra collected an arsenal of exotic string instruments and handed them out to his Arkestra on the precept that “strings could touch people in a special way.” That the Arkestrans didn’t know how to play or tune these instruments was not beside the point – it was the point. Ra framed it “a study in ignorance.” The result was primitive, yet sophisticated; brutal, yet highly sensitive. In his essay for this expanded edition of the 1967 Saturn LP, musician-curator David Toop calls Strange Strings “saturated in mystery.”
Together Pangea – Badillac (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Badillac is the 2014 album by Los Angeles rock band Together Pangea. Their blend of hooky bubblegum pop and primitive punk attitude made the trio standouts among the garage rock boom of the 2010s. The record saw the band taking a leap both commercially and sonically, while still maintaining plenty of their bracing intensity. Bone mix color vinyl.
U-Roy – The Seven Gold [Reissue/1987] LP (Death Is Not The End)
The late foundation deejay U-Roy recorded The Seven Gold at Michael Carroll’s Creative Sounds Studio in Kingston (with assistance from engineer, and singer & producer in his own right, Paul Davidson) for Prince Jazzbo’s Ujama imprint – with the LP then seeing the light of day on the label in 1987. It features the late, great Ewart Beckford appearing on a range of killer Jazzbo-produced late ‘80s digitap rhythms.
Various Artists – Illinoise: A New Musical (Original Cast Recording) 2xLP (Nonesuch)
This is the Original Cast Recording for the 4-time Tony Award-nominated (including Best Musical) hit Broadway show Illinoise. The album features music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens based on the album Illinois.
Various Artists – The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto [Reissue/1985] LP (Shanachie)
In South Africa, long-standing racial segregation, codified by apartheid, accelerated the growth of new musical styles in the black townships where black workers sought some release from the daily grind in music and dance. The resultant township music styles, known collectively as mbaqanga, had the raw urgency of postwar Chicago blues in the United States. With accordions, guitars, fiddles, percussion (and ultimately electric bass and guitar), mbaqanga was rollicking party music inspired by traditional Zulu and Sotho styles in collision with Afro-American rhythm ‘n blues, jazz, blues and, later, reggae. Full-throated singing, often harmonized, rode jumpy rhythms and countermelodies with joyous results; no wonder singer/songwriter extraordinaire Paul Simon used township musicians to recreate their sound on his acclaimed Graceland album. The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto collects some of the greatest mbaqanga tracks recorded during 1981-1984.
Various Artists – My Greatest Revenge: Flamenco Recordings, 1904-1938 LP (Death Is Not The End)
Death Is Not The End presents a limited LP pressing of their collection of haunted, brooding flamenco recordings taken from the early 1900s through to the late 1930s. Focusing in on the cante jondo (or “deep song”) style, seen as the original manifestation of flamenco singing – from which other elements emerged, such as dancing and playing – this survey captures and documents tracks from the form’s earliest recorded stars.
Lauren Watkins – The Heartbroken Record 2xLP (Big Loud)
Drenched in authenticity and rife with barstool charm, with an addictive, Tennessee limestone gravel in her voice, Nashville-born and bred songbird Lauren Watkins writes, breathes and lives country music. The 24-year-old original grew up on the outskirts of Guitar Town, mesmerized by a jukebox rotation of country music, from outlaws like Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow to chart-toppers Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton.
Susan Wong – Someone Like You [Reissue/2007] LP (Evosound)
Susan Wong – 511 [Reissue/2009] LP (Evosound)
Color vinyl reissues. Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Susan Wong maintains a low-profile in her hometown of Hong Kong yet is one of the best-selling Hong Kong artists throughout South East Asia, and has a global following with releases in Japan, Germany, USA and Korea and a strong following in Brazil, Mexico and Spain.
Yogi & Woof – Let Tha Dopeness Begin LP (King Underground)
Yogisoul returns with his first album in eight years, a timeless throwback offering and an instant classic that will leave you wondering if you somehow missed this record reminiscent of ‘90s West Coast Rap.
Farin Young – All-Time Greatest Hits LP (Curb)
This Greatest Hits collection features original recordings from the Country Music Hall of Fame artist Faron Young. Featuring the #1 hits “Alone With You”, “Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young”, “Country Girl”, and “Hello Walls”.
Cassettes:
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet (Island)
Short n’ Sweet showcases the scintillating spirit of Sabrina Carpenter, the pocket-sized popstar with a larger-than-life artistic presence. One gold album and multiple platinum singles later, it’s no wonder that “Espresso,” the debut single from Short n’ Sweet, has it all: lyrics that make you giggle and blush and songwriting that makes you wish you’d thought of it first. [A color vinyl pressing is available along with an indie store exclusive cassette version featuring an alternate cover.
Sofi Tukker – Bread (Virgin)
Sofi Tukker, the Grammy-nominated duo comprised of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern return with their ambitious forthcoming new album, Bread. Bread‘s acronym, “Be Really Energetic and Dance,” encapsulates the full album experience, inviting listeners into the duo’s pleasure-filled, immersive world.
Spirit Of The Beehive – You’ll Have To Lose Something (Saddle Creek)
For the past decade, Spirit of the Beehive has honed an aesthetic like no other. They’ve chopped up samples, chewed them up, spit them back out again, baby birded it. Across four albums and a smattering of EPs, Zack Schwartz, Corey Wichlin, and Rivka Ravede have fully solidified their stance as some of rock’s weirdest and best deconstructionists. Their last release, 2023’s i’m so lucky, explored the breakup between Schwartz and Ravede, setting the stage and emotional territory for the band’s fifth record, You’ll Have To Lose Something. This latest offering is the most crystallized version of the band’s aesthetic, a continued meditation on the end of relationships and the unsteadiness that follows. It is a meticulous, beautiful, and quietly heartbreaking collection of songs. [An indie store exclusive clear w/ red & white splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Thee Heart Tones – Forever & Ever (Big Crown)
Hailing from Hawthorne, California, Thee Heart Tones are both carrying on a tradition and pushing the boundaries with their music. “Growing up in L.A., you get influenced by the city, the artwork, the music. Dad didn’t own a lowrider car, but other members of our family did. Impalas. El Caminos. We were influenced by the culture, particularly the Chicano culture. And oldies and soul music played a big part. The style. The culture. The nod to the past. That’s what we’re going.”
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