CDs: 

The 13^th Floor Elevators – Live Elevation Lost 2xCD/3xLP (Charly)

Live Elevation Lost: The 13th Floor Elevators Live At The Houston Music Theatre is the first ever release of the complete performance of the band’s legendary show from February 18, 1967.

’68 – In Humor And Sadness CD (E1)

The noisy, rambling, shambling, southern-fried, punk-infused, heavy metal hardcore band has long rejected the conventions of the genre that surrounds them by refusing to conform to established structures. ‘68s’ sound and presentation owe more to At The Drive In, Refused, Nirvana or even the Sex Pistols in spirit and vibe than the formulaic processed sounds of their contemporaries.

Amberian Dawn – Magic Forest CD (Napalm)

Amberian Dawn’s melodic symphonic power metal offers the whole spectrum of fast double bass hymns, symphonic epics and magical dream-like parts. Capri crowns the sophisticated arrangements with her beautiful voice and stunning vocal lines.

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Live At Rockpalast 2009 CD (Made In Germany Music)

Live set recorded at Live Music Hall in Cologne, German in support of The Century Of Self album released earlier that year. Also available on stand-alone DVD.

Benny No-Good – I Am You CDEP (East Grand Record Co.)

Benny No-Good started playing punk and metal 20 years ago, and is the frontman for Indiana’s hardcore punk band The Enders. While the three-piece group is his main project, there’s always room for another musical outlet, especially when the songs’ subject matter doesn’t lend themselves well to screaming and vitriol. The songs on this debut solo EP range from five years to just a couple of months old at the time of release, and range from straightforward singer/songwriter material, protest themes, and Irish-traditional influenced ballads.

Blackberry Smoke – Leave A Scar: Live In North Carolina CD (Blackberry Smoke)

Mixing elements of gospel, bluegrass, arena rock, soul and more than a touch of outlaw country; Blackberry Smoke has earned a passionate fan base that continues to grow as the band itself evolves. Also available on stand-alone DVD. 

James Blackshaw – Fantomas: Le Faux Magistrat CD/LP (Tompkins Square)

In celebration of the centenary of Louis Feuillade’s Fantômas silent film series, James Blackshaw was invited by Yann Tiersen to perform a live score to the fifth and final film, Le Faux Magistrat, at the beautiful and prestigious surroundings of the Théâtre de Châtelet, Paris on October 31st 2013. Fantômas – a master of disguise and symbol of terror – is one of the most popular characters in French crime fiction, as well as a favorite with the avant-garde, particularly the surrealists.

Braid – No Coast CD/LP (Top Shelf)

Braid’s first full-length in 16 years is an immediate, energetic album that completely eschews the traditional “reunion record” expectation of older people making slower, softer music. A large part of that can be attributed to the group’s rhythm section, Todd Bell (bass) and Damon Atkinson (drums), who have played in lockstep with one another for more than 15 years and whose musical chemistry is undeniable.

Rick Braun – Can You Feel It CD (Artistry)

Rick Braun is a true superstar of the contemporary/pop jazz genre. A hot ticket as a solo artist Rick also headlines several top-grossing jazz packages.

Bright Light Bright Light – Life Is Easy CD/LP (Self Raising Records)

Life Is Easy builds on the success of Bright Light Bright Light’s debut pop album. Enlisting Elton John for a duet, Scissor Sisters’ Del Marquis for guitar and vocals, and Iggy Azelia/Jessie J producers the Invisible Men for production, Life Is Easy packs a pop punch to match major label offerings.

Darren Brown – Analgesic/Calmative CD (After Music)

New release from the modern composer, noisemaker and performer – his first solo release in a decade. Analgesic/Calmative is a deep mixture of guitars and field recordings, noise and electronics, vocals and random words.

[Read more…] about New Releases for July 8, 2014

CDs:

Air Dubai – Be Calm CD (Hopeless)

Known for their highly energetic live show, Air Dubai’s sound combines hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and alternative rock styles.

Bad Suns – Language & Perspective CD/LP (Vagrant)

Comprised of eleven tracks, Language & Perspective moves effortlessly from start to finish showcasing the Bad Suns’ stadium ready anthems and undeniably catchy hooks. 

Beverly – Career CD/LP (Kanine)

Frankie Rose is well known for playing, writing, and singing in many bands. You might know some as The Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, The Dum Dum Girls, and even her own Frankie Rose band. But being such a prolific artist that she is, she has too much to not do. So for this new band, she enlisted her best friend, Drew and conquered up the spirit of Thelma And Louise to make some raw and raucous girl garage do-op that you can actually sing and dance to.

Bon Jovi – New Jersey [Reissue/1988] CD/2xCD/2xCD+DVD (Island/UMe)

Digitally remastered edition of the AOR band’s multi-platinum 1988 album, released to coincide with their 30th Anniversary. Available in a range of editions: Standard single-disc remastered edition; Deluxe edition which adds three bonus tracks and a disc of demos entitled 13 Sons Of Beaches, remixed exclusively for this reissue; and a Super Deluxe edition which adds a DVD  featuring the 88 minute behind-the-scenes documentary Access All Areas: A Rock & Roll Odyssey, expanded packaging, and more.

[Read more…] about New Releases for July 1, 2014

CDs:

Alias – Pitch Black Prism CD/LP (Anticon)

Every year requires winter records—those sounds one reaches for when cyclical freeze triggers a craving for icy synthesizers and sinister drums. This is where one finds Alias’s Pitch Black Prism, an alternately bleak and beautiful album built for headphones and hailstorms. Few places boast a more severe climate than Maine, the artist’s home state, with its ominous forests and jagged coastlines. Listeners can feel the climate and geography exerting brutal force to the contours of Pitch Black Prism. It’s little wonder Alias’s closest stylistic peers are Burial, Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin—all of whom hail from England, land of the cadaver-colored sky.

Allegaeon – Elements Of The Infinite CD (Metal Blade)

Allegaeon was formed in 2008 by founding member and guitar player Ryan Glisan. Soon thereafter, classically trained guitarist Greg Burgess joined, followed by vocalist Ezra Haynes and bassist Corey Archuleta to round out and form what people have come to know now as the Colorado kings of melodic metal.

Alraune – The Process Of Self-Immolation CD (Profound Lore)

Alraune is a new black metal band based out of Nashville, TN. Complex and twisted, Alraune’s vicious yet progressive style puts them alongside such American black metal bands as Ash Borer, Fell Voices, Negative Plane, Wolves In The Throne Room, Leviathan, Avichi and Krallice.

Arc – Umbra CD (DiN)

Arc is Ian Boddy (also DiN label boss) and Mark Shreeve, two veterans of the UK electronic music scene. Their music is deeply routed in the traditions of the German synthesizer music of the ‘70s and as such they employ a vast range of vintage analogue equipment not the least of which is Shreeve’s massive Moog IIIC modular system.

Auroch – Taman Shud CD (Profound Lore)

Formed in 2008, Vancouver, BC’s Auroch are poised to bear the flag of Canadian death metal chaos alongside likeminded bands of the new generation Mitochondrion (vocalist/guitarist Shawn Haché and live-lineup bassist Sebastian Montesi both play in Auroch), Antediluvian and Chthe’ilist. It’s a tradition stretching from the legendary and still-active Gorguts back to the mid-’90s heydays of Cryptopsy and Kataklysm.

[Read more…] about New Releases for June 23/24, 2014