AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:

Black Sabbath – The End Blu-ray (Mercury Studios)

Available on Blu-ray UHD 4K for the first time, The End is a celebration of Black Sabbath’s final concert at their hometown of Birmingham’s Genting Arena on February 4, 2017. With a hit-packed set list including “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “War Pigs,” and many more, the high production values, visual effects, and pyrotechnics wowed fans, as the band delivered the most emotionally charged show in their history. Included on this release is special bonus material of the band playing a selection of their favorite songs not played on tour. These intimate live sessions at Angelic Studios were recorded in the days after their final live performance.

Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70: Live At Royal Albert Hall DVD (Mercury Studios)

2015 was a year of landmark events for Eric Clapton. He turned 70 in March and then in May he performed his 200th concert at London’s famous Royal Albert Hall, fifty years after his first performance there with The Yardbirds. Clapton’s seven-night run at the venue was acclaimed by the critics and adored by the fans. The setlist blended vintage blues tracks and Eric Clapton classics from across his astonishing career. This is the first time this show is available on Blu-ray UHD 4K.

Cursive – Devourer CD/LP (Run For Cover)

Very few bands manage to last decades, and for the ones that do, it’s often easy to settle down and get a little too comfortable. But there’s nothing comfortable about Devourer, the explosive new album from Cursive. The iconic Omaha group is known for their intensity, ambition, and execution, and has spent 30 years creating a bold discography that’s defined as much by its cathartic sound as its weighty, challenging lyrical themes. And Devourer is as daring as ever. Full of intense and incisive songs, the album proves exactly why Cursive have been so influential and enduring-and why they remain so vital today. [A red/black color vinyl pressing is available.]

[Read more…] about New Releases for September 13, 2024

AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:

AWOLNATION – The Phantom Five CD/LP (Thank You For Listening Entertainment)

AWOLNATION titling the fifth album of original songs in 15 years, The Phantom Five is about more than just chronology. The number 5 is associated with independence and individualism, major life changes and experiences, all of which influenced the resulting album. It’s a collection of ten songs that highlights every different impulse and urge Bruno has learned to master with AWOLNATION in a cohesive, anthemic pastiche of modern music. As he himself admits, it functions almost as a “greatest hits” album, in the sense that it offers something for everyone who has followed the band’s arc in its celebrated, shape-shifting way. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

The Bug Club – On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System CD/LP (Sub Pop)

The way you’re saying it, “prolific” isn’t the right word for The Bug Club. You’ve got to say it with the trademark Welsh lilt and pay due homage to this inimitable band’s origins in the renowned hit factory of Caldicot, South Wales. Do that, and you’re about right with how to summarize a group who’ve released ten singles, two albums, two EPs, three things nobody knew how to describe, and an album under a different band’s name, all since 2021, and while playing 200+ gigs a year.

Initially comprising the songwriting core of Sam Willmett (vocals/guitar) and Tilly Harris (vocals/bass) with Dan Matthew (drums), The Bug Club started plying their trade in 2016. They were signed by UK label Bingo Records in Autumn of 2020. BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley was an early champion, hammering the single, booking the band in for a session as soon as it was allowed, and rightfully praising songwriters capable of singing the whole alphabet in a two-minute song and making it work. Third LP On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System sees the band serve up a beefy slab of their specialty Modern-Lovers-meets-Nuggets garage rock. [A smoke color vinyl pressing is available.]

[Read more…] about New Releases for September 6, 2024

AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:

Laurie Anderson – Amelia CD/LP (Nonesuch)

Amelia is the 2024 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient’s first album since 2018’s Grammy-winning Landfall. The record comprises twenty-two tracks about renowned female aviator Amelia Earhart’s tragic last flight. Anderson, who Pitchfork says, “sees the future, but she starts by paying attention,” wrote the music and lyrics for this subjective narrative piece. On the album, she is joined by the Czech orchestra Filharmonie Brno, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, and Anohni, Gabriel Cabezas, Rob Moose, Ryan Kelly, Martha Mooke, Marc Ribot, Tony Scherr, Nadia Sirota, and Kenny Wolleson.

The Boxmasters – Love & Hate In Desperate Places CD/LP (Keentone)

Formed in 2007, The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalogue of music that touches on their love of a wide array of influences, but most importantly, the rock and roll of the 1960’s. Love & Hate In Desperate Places is their 17th album and the ten songs evince a wry perspective on human nature and love. The lively melodic rock cloaks the wry wit of the lyrics. The album was produced by The Boxmasters, Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew, who also wrote every song. Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys, but also important to The Boxmasters are The Mothers of Invention, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Big Star.

[Read more…] about New Releases for August 30, 2024