CDs:
The 69 Cats – Transylvanian Tapes CD (Cleopatra)
Debut album from the gothabilly supergroup featuring 69 Eyes vocalist Jyrki rockin’ out with head cat six-string slinger Danny B. Harvey, former Cramps bassist Scott Chopper Franklin, and Blondie drummer Clem Burke. Features a guest appearance by Wanda Jackson.
Gerald Albright – Slam Dunk CD (Heads Up)
New release from the jazz saxophonist. Albright continues his reign supreme as urban jazz’ most compelling and consistent artist. Fans will enjoy his searing and soulful sax lines on this 12-track recording.
Alestorm – Sunset On The Golden Age CD/CD+DVD (Napalm)
Catchy songs with an abundance of parrots and eye patches showcase the piratical life on the seven seas. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus DVD.
Amp Live – Headphone Concerto CD (Plug Research)
Through his knowledge of hip-hop, electronica, jazz and indie music, Amp Live weaves a sonic tapestry that ebbs and flows in movements. Each song has touches and flourishes from multiple genres and it will depend on the individual how each track is perceived. The cello may stand out more to those who have studied music, the drums may attract the hip-hop heads and dancefloor junkies might gravitate towards the electronic elements. Through a blending drum machines, live instruments, singers and rappers together, Amp Live created a concerto accessible to all.
Arkells – High Noon CD (Dine Alone)
Named after a street in their native Hamilton, Ontario, this Juno award-winning band creates an accessible style of pop rock
Baths – Ocean Death CDEP/12” (Anticon)
At just five songs and a shade over 20 minutes, the exquisite Ocean Death is not over-thought. Songs were perfected, not embellished. “Ocean Death” reclines in the aquatic seabed, its lyrics at once simple, bleak and celestial. The 3:00 a.m. introspection and heartbeat pulse—reminiscent of Four Tet or Pantha Du Prince—are almost minimal techno, but suffused with maximalist emotion.
Bear In Heaven – Time Is Over One Day Old CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
Bear In Heaven’s new album is aptly titled Time Is Over One Day Old. It’s a record with a visceral relationship to time and its processes. Where invulnerability and ambition can support you as you grow, at some point they become dead weight, and being true to yourself means casting them off, starting anew. This plays out as a powerful analogy for the band across the arc of its career. (Limited copies pressed on white vinyl.)
Belphegor – Conjuring The Dead CD (Nuclear Blast)
Tenth album from the Austrian death/black metal band — an opus filled to the brim with dark and sinful anthems.
Blues Pills – Blues Pills CD (Nuclear Blast)
This young American-Swedish-French quartet creates a very unique, intense and extraordinary rock atmosphere that harkens to the classic rock era of Aretha Franklin, the original Fleetwood Mac lineup, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Cream.
Tommy Bolin & Zephr – Zephyr [Reissue/1969] CD (Cleopatra)
A special expanded reissue of the 1969 recorded debut of guitar legend Tommy Bolin performing with his first major act, the blues rock outfit Zephyr.
Brimstone Coven – Brimstone Coven CD (Metal Blade)
Brimstone Coven is a retro hard rock/doom band out Wheeling, WV. They brew a unique blend of dark occult rock.
Cactus – Live In The USA 2xCD (Cleopatra)
Drum legend Carmine Appice reunites with his fellow rock & roll superstars Tim Bogert and Jim McCarty for a very special Cactus reunion show at B.B. King’s in New York, June 2006.
Ces Cru – Codename: Ego Stripper CD (Strange Music)
New album from the Kansas City rap duo. Ubiquitous and Godemis once again set out to lyrically destroy the opposition with a vengeance. Features custom artwork created by renowned comic book artist, Rob Prior, Ces Cru’s Codename: Ego Stripper features Tech N9ne, Rittz, !Mayday! and others.
Chrome – Feel It Like A Scientist CD/LP (King Of Spades)
The San Francisco-based experimental rock band releases their first album in over 12 years.
Cold World – How The Gods Chill CD/LP (Deathwish, Inc.)
A thirteen song amalgamation of hip-hop character and hardcore heart. Guests include Queens rapper Meyhem Lauren, George Hirsch of Blacklisted, legendary Kool G. Rap, and Max B.
Columns – Please Explode CD/LP (Relapse)
“Please Explode finds Columns perfecting their razor sharp Southern grindcore, marinated in a blistering bowl of death metal. Fusing together rabid vocals and tongue-in-cheek, deviant lyrics with a cacophony of break-neck bursts full of many twists and turns, this is grindcore that is both obscene and extreme.” – Terrorizer
Darkest Hour – Darkest Hour CD (Sumerian)
New album from the neo-thrash band.
Christopher Denny – If The Roses Don’t Kill Us CD/LP (Partisan)
Christopher Denny has a voice that will stop you in your tracks; a fervent Orbison meets Dylan tenor that fills his songs with a tremendous emotional pressure. It’s the voice of a Southern choirboy who attended the church of alcohol, drugs and self-destruction in a failed attempt to deal with his inestimable inner pain and conflicts – his self-described “soft suicide”. Denny has a gift for infusing simple words with raw sentiment and marrying them to haunting melodies over a blend of pre-country Southern music, folk, rock, gospel and singer/songwriter impulses, a style he calls Arkansas soul.
EDJ – EDJ CD/LP (Welk Music Group)
“These are simple stories, some about losses, a few about disappointment and regret, but also of hope and perseverance. I hope you like these melancholy grooves and existential make-out songs. These all mean something to me, I hope they will to you, too.” — Eric D. Johnson
Eluveitie – Origins CD/CD+DVD (Nuclear Blast America)
Initially formed back in 2002 as a studio project by mastermind Chrigel Glanzmannm, the vision for Eluveitie was to be a blend of Gothenburg styled melodic death metal with ancient folk melodies and themes that would soon become the “new wave of folk metal.” Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus DVD.
The Empty Hearts – The Empty Hearts CD (429)
The Empty Hearts features members of The Cars, Blondie, The Romantics and The Chesterfield Kings. The Empty Hearts is a raucous collection of tunes with each player’s rock & roll stripes on display a bracing sound shaped by influences which span decades and include ‘50s American roots rock & roll, ‘60s British invasion and ‘70s garage punk.
Entombed A.D. – Back To The Front CD/LP (Century Media)
666% true to the Entombed everybody loves, just under a new name.
John Garcia – John Garcia CD (Napalm)
Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano, Vista Chino – whenever John Garcia has had a hand, it turned extraordinary. He has always understood to create an own style and to establish himself as the most distinctive voice of the entire Desert / Stoner Rock scene. This record is full of first-class, very catchy rock numbers that commute equally between classic rock and concise stoner elements.
Paul Gilbert – Stone Pushing Uphill Man CD (Shrapnel)
Stone Pushing Uphill Man is a guitar oriented instrumental record on which Paul covers a group of his favorite songs, including “Working For The Weekend,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Why Can’t We Do It In The Road,” “Murder By Numbers,” and many others.
Godsmack – 1000HP CD/LP (Universal Republic)
Sixth album from the Grammy-nominated multi-platinum hard rock band.
Goodnight, Texas – Uncle John Farquhar CD/LP (Tallest Man)
“Americana is arguably an overused term at the moment — but what sets Goodnight, Texas apart from the pack is its richly imagined, full-color stories. Their songs transport listeners from the battlefields of the deep south to a saloon full of hard-drinking but good-natured regulars to the nervous feeling in the stomach of a poor boy about to ask for his girl’s hand in marriage.” – Guitar World
Andy Grammer – Magazines Or Novels CD (S-Curve)
Magazines Or Novels features the new single “Back Home,” a joyously anthemic track that illustrates Grammer’s knack for writing infectious, relatable songs and the strength of his soaring voice.
Herbie Hancock – The Warner Bros. Years (1969-1972) 3xCD (Rhino)
This triple-disc set brings together Hancock’s complete catalog for Warner Bros., together with singles and promotional recordings, reissued for the very first time.
Rowland S. Howard – Pop Crimes [2009] CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Within the first few breaths of Howard’s (The Birthday Party) 2009 album Pop Crimes, he references Stalin, Calvary and genocide, whilst razoring guitar lines the current crop of post-punk revisionists could only fantasize about. Meanwhile, the ghosts of Lee Hazlewood, Snatch, Sergio Leone, The Shangri-Las and nameless guys from a never known chain gang watch on.
Devonté Hynes – Palo Alto (Original Motion Picture Score) CD/LP (Domino)
Palo Alto is the debut feature film from writer-director Gia Coppola and the score is Devonté Hynes (Blood Orange) first composition for film. Based on several linked stories by James Franco, the film is a teenage romance for the ages, made indelible through its ensemble cast (James Franco, Emma Roberts, Jack Kilmer).
Icarus Line – Avowed Slavery CD/LP (Agitated)
This mini-album serves as a booster jab; the feral ferocity of the last album is here in spades, the fire in the band’s belly burning as hotly as ever. Frontman Joe Cardamone leads the gang once more into the rough—the desecrated war-zones of the music industry, American culture, and love—their brand of hellfire and brimstone rock & roll on full display.
Al Jarreau – My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke CD (Concord)
George Duke’s death in August, 2013 inspired Al to record this loving tribute to his longtime friend. With the exception of the fitting title track composed by Jarreau, all the tunes were written by George. Guest artists/collaborators include Gerald Albright, Stanley Clarke, Dr. John, Lalah Hathaway, Boney James, Marcus Miller, Jeffrey Osborne, Kelly Price, Dianne Reeves and Patrice Rushen.
Shooter Jennings – Don’t Wait Up (For George) CD/LP (Black Country Rock)
For his latest release, Shooter Jennings recorded a five-song tribute to one of the greatest singers and interpreters in country music, George Jones.
Prem Joshua & Chintan – Kashi: Songs From the India Within CD (White Swan)
Upon his very first visit to India in 1977, the young Prem Joshua felt an immediate and profound connection. Deeply inspired by the venerable culture, the young German musician began infusing familiar forms of western music with the exotic flavors of India. Already an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he mastered the sitar, and the rest is musical history. With Kashi, Prem Joshua and collaborator Chintan Relenberg have crafted a sparkling suite of new songs around beloved, traditional Indian mantras and shlokas (a type of couplet verse, and the basis of such ancient Indian poetry as the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics).
Katie Kate – Nation CD (Katie Kate)
Katie Kate is a force. A dark horse with an extensive classical background, she channels her quirky, emotive lyrics through the lenses of hip-hop by blending the swagger, attitude, and rhythms with an undeniable pop aura. Nation is the result of a four-month onslaught that progressed from the original beats into something more earnest, raw, and exposed. Refusing to retreat to more safe material, Kate instead chose to embrace the deeper elements, and developed material that is more honest, angry, and visceral than her previous release, yet still hallmarked with the accessibility and humor that made her earlier material shine. Nation is where pop song style and filthy rap verses collide across the landscape of Americana.
David Kilgour And The Heavy Eights – End Times Undone CD/LP (Merge)
End Times Undone offers a robust sampling of the styles Kilgour has mastered over the last three decades. For an album that comes so late in one’s career, it’s a surprisingly convenient entry point into his body of work. After a psychedelic intro, opener “Like Rain” immediately identifies itself as vintage Kilgour, with shimmering guitars that gracefully swell and secede. “Lose Myself In Sound” will appeal to fans of The Clean who favor songs where the band chugs along on a blissful straight-line path. While the album has its share of abstract lyrics, this title is one to take seriously.
Hamish Kilgour – All Of It And Nothing CD/LP (Ba Da Bing!)
Incredibly, after all his work as a founding member of both The Clean and The Mad Scene, Hamish Kilgour has never released a proper solo album of his own, until now. Fans of his work over the years will no doubt be pleased with this debut release. All Of It And Nothing is an ode to the power of jangle, highlighting Kilgour’s innate ability to both gleam the melodic cube and let the choogle of a chord progression ride itself to greatness.
Lakes – Fire Ahead CD/2xLP (Independent Label Services, Inc.)
“Fire Ahead is one of those rare albums that sucks you in, only to have you realize three hours later that you’ve been listening to it on repeat. Lakes, based out of the Golden State, has created an album with distinctly sad – perhaps even nostalgic – lyrics, but still manages to keep the rhythm and melody of the songs summery and fun. Fire Ahead, which reads more like an ode to California than anything else, has several songs with the building blocks of being a hit.” – Culture Collide
Lee Corey Oswald – Regards CD/LP (No Sleep)
Comprised of a classical music teacher, a philosophy student, a nanny/barber, and a professional poker player, Lee Corey Oswald has crafted a collection of twelve intriguing indie-punk tunes. The band’s clever, honest and thought-provoking lyrics combined with their ‘90s-esque indie sound, recall bands like Weezer and Knapsack, while their contemporary edge adds a dash of grit to the musical landscape of Portland.
Library Of Sands – Odd Hourglass + Wavy Heat 2xCD (Wild Sages)
This double-disc set features two Library Of Sands albums available on CD for the first time.
Odd Hourglass reflects sounds that become the atmosphere, a pulse in purple mountain majesty.
Originally released as a five-song, one-sided cassette, Wavy Heat features Shineywater on vintage keys, including a tube organ found on the side of the road, along with Colm O’Closoig (My Bloody Valentine, Hope Sandoval) on drums. Deconstructionalist and minimalist in scope — a vortex opposite of Satie yet as graceful a relationship to the morphed blazing sun.
Nils Lofgren – Face The Music 9xCD+DVD (Fantasy)
Special limited edition retrospective box set, each hand signed and numbered by Nils himself. Includes two CDs of previously unreleased material, as well as a 132-page book written by Nils with track-by-track commentary and introduction by Dave Marsh and personal acknowledgments by Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Bonnie Raitt and many more.
The John Lurie National Orchestra – The Invention Of Animals CD (Amulet)
The Invention Of Animals is a compilation of live and studio recordings. The live recordings have never been released to the public. Included are three tracks from the Fishing With John soundtrack.
The Margots – Soplé CD (Okka Disk)
The Margots is Ken Vandermark, Nick Macri, Tim Daisy, John Dereszynski, and Rick Reger. Soplé is a collection of songs showcasing the accelerated growth of the ensemble, from a unique project to a band with force that balances South American pop music influences with the impact of post-punk. Half the pieces are in English, the other in Spanish, almost all them were recorded in single takes with no instrumental or vocal overdubs.
Mickey & The Motorcars – Hearts From Above CD (Mickey & The Motorcars)
The Austin band featuring two brothers and founding members Micky Braun (lead vocals and guitar) and Gary Braun (guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals) has been invigorated and supercharged by a transfusion of new blood from fresh recruits Dustin Schaefer (lead guitar), Joe Fladger (bass), and Bobby Paugh (drums). Vinyl version due September 16.
Ben Miller Band – Any Way, Shape Or Form CD/LP+MP3 (New West)
Ben Miller Band combines the urgency of rock & roll, the frenetic energy of bluegrass, the soul of the delta blues and the haunted spirit of Appalachian mountain music into a unique musical stew they dub Ozark Stomp.
Mogwai – Come On Die Young [Reissue/1999] 2xCD (Chemikal Underground)
Deluxe edition of Mogwai’s 1999 album expanded with over two hours of bonus material. “Mogwai’s second album, released in 1999, gets a reissue with a bounty of bonus material that includes demos and the Travels In Constants EP. On Come On Die Young, Mogwai went about becoming the most sullen, brooding post-rock band they could possibly be” [BNR 8.3] – Pitchfork.
Deluxe vinyl version delayed until September 2.
Mozart’s Sister – Being CD/LP (Asthmatic Kitty)
Since attracting a ton of buzz for her entrancing live shows and for first EP Hello, Mozart’s Sister (aka Caila Thompson-Hannant) has been head-down in her bedroom writing her debut album. For anyone who’s been following her work – and for new listeners – Being is Mozart’s Sister expressing macrocosmic ideas about life with panache and abundant hooks. Inspired by Discovery-era Daft Punk, Post-era Bjork, and Betty Davis, Caila produced, recorded and wrote the album using a cheap sound card and Ableton software, approaching it with a do-it-all-by-my-f**king-self ideology.
Nachtmystium – World We Left Behind CD/2xLP (Century Media)
The World We Left Behind is Nachtmystium’s swansong, the final chapter in a tumultuous, controversial and always provoking history. Founder and frontman, Blake Judd, has faced his demons and written an album full of desperation and gloom that oozes depravity. Though they previous toured with Opeth, Cradle Of Filth, Watain and countless others, this is truly the end. No tours, no fanfare.
Naomi Punk – Television Man CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
Over the last four years, Olympia-based punk trio Naomi Punk has been lighting up DIY warehouses and large concert halls alike with their singular brand of mid-tempo, cathartic punk.
The Once – Departures CD (Nettwerk)
Decorated with awards in Canada, The Once were nominated for a Juno in 2012 for the Group: Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year and have won four Music Newfoundland Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Awards and the 2011 ECMA Group Recording Of The Year.
Elvis Presley – That’s The Way It Is [Reissue/1970] 2xCD (Legacy)
Elvis Presley – That’s The Way It Is [Deluxe Edition] 8xCD+2xDVD (Legacy)
Digitally remastered and expanded two CD Legacy Edition of this classic live experience from Elvis. Disc One contains the complete original album plus four bonus studio singles and an additional five studio outtakes. Disc Two contains a complete set recorded at the August 12th, 1970 Dinner Show. The Deluxe edition adds the six complete shows recorded and partially filmed by MGM. All the concerts have been either mixed or remixed and digitally remastered to provide the ultimate audio experience, as well as an 80-page, four color book that features rare photos, memorabilia, recording data and insightful liner notes. Finally, two DVDs featuring the original theatrical version (1970) and subsequent re-edited extended version (2000) completes the ultimate overview of this truly memorable event in the career of Elvis Presley.
The Psycho Sisters – Up On The Chair, Beatrice CD/LP (Rockbeat)
Susan Cowsill and Vicki Peterson have been playing music apart and together for their entire lives. Susan was a child star with her family band, who were the real life template for The Partridge Family. Vicki of course is known as a member of The Bangles. Up On The Chair, Beatrice features ten tunes of harmony, hooks and just a touch of New Orleans hoodoo.
Rosebuds – Sand + Silence CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
After recording some initial demos in North Carolina, The Rosebuds headed to Eau Claire, WI to record with their old friend and former band member Justin Vernon. Their comfort and connection with Vernon allowed them to stretch their creative limbs, as Vernon gently teased out some of the band’s most stellar musical performances to date.
Billy Joe Shaver – Long In The Tooth CD/LP (Lightning Rod)
Long In The Tooth charts Billy Joe Shaver’s journey as an unrepentant outlaw. Accordingly, he delivers the classic country fans expect but also brings all new sonic tricks this time around. ”Each song is different with different beats and different kinds of music,” he says.
Somi – The Lagos Music Salon CD (Okeh)
The new album by the superb chanteuse Somi finds her breaking new ground with a hybrid style of music that organically integrates the essence of jazz and soul with the musical depth of her African heritage.
Spider Bags – Frozen Letter CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Formed in 2005, Chapel Hill, NC’s Spider Bags was largely a revolving cast, with only Dan McGee (guitars, vocals) persevering through the various incarnations of the band. But during the 2011 recording of Shake My Head, the current lineup consisting of Steve Oliva (bass) and Rock Forbes (drums) was finally solidified. Building upon the foundation laid down by its predecessor, Frozen Letter rocks with the clairvoyance of three musicians who have spent a lot of time recording and touring together over the last few years. Also available on red vinyl.
Spoon – They Want My Soul CD/LP (Loma Vista)
They Want My Soul is Spoon’s most straight-up, direct and concise rock album ever; A certain “return to form” as a straight up American rock band, a restoration of Spoon’s trademark authority, confidence and swagger; Music runs a gamut from AC/DC-esque guitar-driven songs like the opener “Rent I Pay” to stunning cosmic space disco tracks like “Outlier” to delicately pensive album standout “Inside Out.” After six years of incessant recording and touring, band took a four and a half year break between albums. Also available on white vinyl.
Angus & Julia Stone – Angus & Julia Stone CD/2xLP (American Recordings)
The third album from the Australian brother-sister folk-blues duo, produced by Rick Rubin.
Sunny Sweeney – Provoked CD (Aunt Daddy)
True to her Texas honky-tonk roots, Sunny Sweeney has never been a singer of what you’d call soft country songs the kind you might turn to for easy comfort and or quiet Sunday afternoons with the family. Hell, you can tell just by the titles of her first two albums Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame and Concrete that she reaches straight for the hard stuff. So when this woman sees fit to name her third album Provoked, you better believe she’s not about to start playing coy now.
Twin Peaks – Wild Onion CD/LP (Grand Jury Music)
Sophomore album from the breakout Chicago rockers.
Andreas Varady – Andreas Varady CD (Verve)
Varady blends the accomplished technique of Wes Montgomery, soulful voicing of George Benson and Gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt. While he started absorbing these masters from his parents record collection, he also has a fresh view on their legacy.
Various Artists – Bluegrass Legacy: Timeless Traditional Favorites CD (Rural Rhythm)
Traditional bluegrass compilation featuring Darrell Webb, Ashby Frank, Clay Jones, Cody Shuler, The Crowe Brothers, Jim Van Cleve, Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart and more.
Wildcat! Wildcat! – No Moon At All CD/LP (Downtown)
Wildcat! Wildcat!’s debut full-length ties the trio’s indie-pop anthems into a cohesive widescreen vision. Packed with the Los Angeles-based band’s uplifting musicality and angelic harmonies, the ten-track album, which features production from M83’s Morgan Kibby, represents both a major artistic leap and the culmination of the group’s rise since “Mr. Quiche” and their initial run of buzzy singles. “MGMT-esque spacey psyche pop, and ethereal pitter patter with ease.” – Pitchfork
The Wind + The Wave – From The Wreckage CD/LP (RCA)
New release from the Austin, TX duo comprised of Dwight Baker and Patricia Lynn. Dwight has previously produced and written songs for the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Brandi Carlile and David Archuleta. The duo has already performed with artists as varied as fun., Bruce Springsteen and Stereophonics.
Wovenwar – Wovenwar CD (Metal Blade)
Wovenwar features the talents of Jordan Mancino (drums), Nick Hipa (guitar), Phil Sgrosso (guitar) and Josh Gilbert (bass) of San Diego, California based metal act As I Lay Dying, and Shane Blay (vocals) of Oh, Sleeper. Over the course of this past year, Wovenwar completed work on new material and recorded with producer Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag).
Zion80 – Adramelech: The Book Of Angels 22 CD (Tzadik)
Zion80 is the brainchild of guitarist Jon Madof, a wildly popular project that seamlessly blends the Afro pop stylings of the legendary Fela Kuti with the Jewish tradition. Featuring an exciting 11-piece all-star band, Madof masterfully blends horns, guitars, keyboards and percussion, mixing the polyrhythmic intensity of Afrobeat with the freewheeling madness of the Downtown scene.
John Zorn – On Leaves Of Grass CD (Tzadik)
Following up on the success of 2013’s Dreamachines, the third release by the classic Nova Express quartet is inspired by and dedicated to American poetic genius and father of free verse Walt Whitman. Combining the hypnotic swirls of minimalism, beautiful lyricism and the free intensity of improvisation, From Leaves Of Grass is an exhilarating addition to Zorn’s growing collection of mystical transcendental works.
Vinyl:
Amanda X – Amnesia LP (Siltbreeze)
Hailing from the Kensington area of Philadelphia (home to infamous gangs such as the Yo’s, Twerks and Fuzzies), Amanda X imperviously sallys forth, creating an oasis of bedroom pop and post-punk among a landscape of toxic speed, eroded enamel and chattering human skin suits.
Beach Slang – Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? 7” (Dead Broke)
Debut release from indie rock/emo/pop-punkers from Philadelphia featuring members of Weston, Ex Friends, and CRYBABY. “What this sound lacks in subtlety, it more than makes up in desperation, and that tug between those darting leads and Snyder’s whispered-in-your-ear vocals is electrifying.” – Pitchfork
Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes – Love Cliques LP (Vanguard)
This nine-piece band mixes old-school R&B and soul with a modern spin.
James Brown – Love Power Peace: Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1971 LP (Sundazed)
James Brown’s status as one of the hottest live performers translated into a string of absolutely massive in-concert albums, but none are better than this outrageously funky outing.
Buckshot & P-Money – Backpack Travels LP (Duck Down Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Brooklyn MC Buckshot teams up with platinum selling producer P-Money for this new collaboration, which also features Joey Badass, CJ Fly, T’Nah Apex, Steele of Smif N Wessun, David Dallas and Raz Fresco.
Johnny Cash – The Legend Of Johnny Cash [2005] 2xLP (Mercury)
On vinyl for the first time, The Legend Of Johnny Cash is the Man In Black’s first career-spanning album, and contains material from his American Recordings era in addition to songs from his time at Sun (“Cry Cry Cry,” “Hey Porter,” “I Walk The Line,” and “Folsum Prison Blues”) and Columbia.
Eric Clapton & Friends – The Breeze: An Appreciation Of JJ Cale 2xLP+MP3 (Bushbranch)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Eric Clapton has often stated that JJ Cale is one of the single most important figures in rock history, a sentiment echoed by many of his fellow musicians. Cale’s influence on Clapton and many of today s artists cannot be understated. To honor JJ’s legacy, a year after his passing, Clapton gathered a group of like-minded friends and musicians for The Breeze (An Appreciation of JJ Cale). With performances by Clapton, Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks and Don White, the album features 16 beloved JJ Cale songs.
Colony House – When I Was Younger LP (Descendant)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The threesome maintains a balance of craft and immediacy that reflects its affinity for the sound of such alt-rock outfits as Interpol and The Killers, while echoing the influence of such alternative icons as U2 and New Order. They’ve assimilated their multiple influences in a manner that’s wholly distinctive, adding tight harmonies, strong instrumental chops and a keen melodic sensibility that’s all their own.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River [Reissue/1969] LP (Fantasy)
CCR’s third album contains the ubiquitous international chart-topping hit “Bad Moon Rising” which reached #2 in the Billboard top 200 in the US and #1 in the UK upon its release in 1969.
Daughters Of The Sun – Ride To Die LP (Not Not Fun)
Minneapolis torn-leather psychedelicists Daughters Of The Sun cop a tripped deathless vibe on their fourth album. Highway synth rhythms flutter between motorcycle riffs and pummeling war drums, evoking landscapes harboring psychic venom, a spirit bleaching the grease-stained sand.
Dirty Heads – Sound Of Change LP (Five Seven Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Dirty Heads is a reggae band from Huntington Beach, CA with a melodic style that includes hip-hop and ska punk genres.
Exiles From Clowntown – Tape Scissors Rock LP (Soft Abuse)
Thuggish zen punk trio Exiles From Clowntown have operated in quiet corners and with genuine mystery for several years. Tape Scissors Rock is a resoundingly successful stab at controlled chaos from these unsung Australians. Ties to early ’90s Sydney DIY power scuzz trio 3 Toed Sloth and several others of that ilk, should provide the mind-frame with which to welcome and grapple with this unrelenting LP.
Paul Flaherty/Chris Corsano – Low Cost Space Flights LP (Feeding Tube)
Collaborative album from two New England improv heavyweights — sax-blower Paul Flaherty and percussionist Chris Corsano.
Brigitte Fontaine – Brigitte Fontaine [Reissue/1972] LP (Superior Viaduct)
It is telling that Fontaine chose an eponymous title for her third album, the sole release from her venerable ’70s catalog attributed to her alone. Here the actress-cum-singer has finally arrived. From the introspective opening track, simply named “Brigitte,” seductive melodies perfectly hang above slithery bass lines and acoustic strumming. On “Moi Aussi,” a sparse and trance-like duet with long-time collaborator Areski, Brigitte Fontaine is an unmatched European art-pop masterpiece anchored by both vocal and lyrical dexterity — in many ways, Fontaine’s most compelling work and an excellent entry point for those unfamiliar with this unique French icon.
Peter Frampton – Hummingbird In A Box LP (Phenix Phonograph)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Frampton’s new album was inspired by the Cincinnati Ballet, featuring seven original guitar pieces in Frampton’s virtuosic stylings.
Grateful Dead/John Oswald – Grayfolded 3xLP (Important)
Here it is, Deadheads: the ultimate Dark Star is now on vinyl. Deluxe audiophile pressing cut in Toronto under the watchful ears of John Oswald. Heavy-duty triple gatefold jacket includes liner-notes by musicologist Rob Bowman featuring interviews with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Robert Hunter, plus two “time maps” which chart the source concerts of Dark Star.
Lee Hazlewood – The N.S.V.I.P.’s (Not…So…Very…Important…People) [Reissue/1964] LP (1972)
Lee Hazlewood – Friday’s Child [Reissue/1965] LP (1972)
Lee Hazlewood – Love And Other Crimes [Reissue/1968] LP (1972)
Lee Hazlewood’s partnership with Reprise Records in the 1960s resulted in timeless hits for Dean Martin and Nancy Sinatra. Throughout the decade, though, the label also released three of the artist’s most highly regarded solo works: The N.S.V.I.P.’s, Friday’s Child and Love And Other Crimes.
Hoax Hunters – Comfort & Safety LP (Negative Fun)
Comfort & Safety is a torrent of noisy American rock: Sonic Youth squeals, Hüsker Dü hook-howls, Drive Like Jehu’s ascending tensions, Dag Nasty’s drenching intensity.
The Interrupters – The Interrupters LP+CD (Hellcat)
Fronted by singer-songwriter Aimee Allen, the Los-Angeles based ska band began working with Tim Armstrong on his popular Tim Timebomb series of singles. (Before that, Allen sang background vocals on the Armstrong-produced Grammy-winning Jimmy Cliff album Rebirth). Steeped in ska, reggae, and punk, Allen and The Interrupters bring a sly sense of humor to their music and lyrics on songs like “White Noise” and “Liberty.”
It Looks Sad – It Looks Sad 7” (Tiny Engines)
Debut release featuring shimmering, sharp guitar pop/post-punk songs that echo the influence of bands like Surfer Blood and Beach Fossils.
The Jayhawks – Hollywood Town Hall [Reissue/1992] LP (American)
The Jayhawks – Tomorrow The Green Grass [Reissue/1995] LP (American)
The Jayhawks – Sound Of Lies [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (American)
The Jayhawks – Smile [2000] 2xLP (American)
The Jayhawks – Rainy Day Music [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (American)
Remastered vinyl reissues now available. Some have been expanded with bonus tracks.
Jethro Tull – A Passion Play [Reissue/1973] LP (Rhino)
Heavyweight HQ-180gm vinyl edition featuring a new stereo mix.
Craig Leon – Nommos/Visiting: Anthology Of Interplanetary Folk Music Vol. 1 LP (RVNG, Int’l)
Craig Leon’s seminal synthesizer albums Nommos and Visiting are finally reissued in definitive form as the Anthology Of Interplanetary Folk Music Vol. 1 for RVNG Intl.’s archival series. Issued respectively by John Fahey’s Takoma record label in 1980 and Leon’s Arbitor private press in 1982, Nommos and Visiting were the twin brainchildren of studio wizard Craig Leon. Leon’s production was pivotal in realizing the debut recordings by Ramones, Blondie, Richard Hell and Suicide. While those albums broke ground in new worlds of sound, Leon’s own debut album was arguably, if not literally, more alien.
Lusine – Arterial 10” (Ghostly International)
After his diverse yet cohesive 2013 album The Waiting Room, Jeff McIlwain, better known as Lusine, is back with the more tightly focused Arterial EP. A calmly effortless work, Arterial is economical in everything it does, creating its own tiny universe to house expertly crafted productions.
Mastodon – Remission [Reissue/2002] 2xLP (Relapse)
Over a decade after its release, Remission remains one of the most important titles in Relapse’s rich catalog, and it is with that appreciation that the label is proud to present a super-deluxe version of this classic record put together with the cooperation of the band themselves.
Monomyth – Saturnalia Regalia! LP (Mint)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Monomyth is a crown jewel in the court of the crimson and clover. The Halifax four-piece carries on the hallowed East Coast tradition of janglophile pop with a smirking sense of humor, stadium-sized hooks and starry-eyed harmonies from the barbershop of broken dreams.
Kevin Morby – My Name 7”+MP3 (Suicide Squeeze)
Having established his musical foundation in the trippy roots rock of Woods and rough-hewn Brooklyn party pop of The Babies, Morby stepped out on his own to release his lauded debut album Harlem River in 2013. Here, both the title track and B-side “We Did It All Wrong” simultaneously conjure the haunting heartache of an Anthology Of American Folk Music ballad and the reverb-and-smoke-drenched haze of his contemporary indie peers.
Newmoon – Invitation To Hold 7” (Secret Voice)
Postpunk from Belgium, layered in reverb and influenced by volume. Sounds reflecting ‘90s heroes Slowdive and modern bands such as The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.
NunSlaughter – Angelic Dread 2xCD (Hell’s Headbangers)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The death metal returns with their first studio full-length in seven years.
Old Crow Medicine Show – Remedy LP (ATO)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On their newest album, Old Crow Medicine Show continue to craft classic American roots music while pushing themselves in new directions. Carry Me Back represents a new stretch of road in the timeless journey of a rambling string band.
Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte – The New Standard LP (RareNoise)
A collaborative trio outing featuring the dream rhythm tandem of drummer Bobby Previte and bassist Steve Swallow, both prolific composers and venerable bandleaders in their own right, The New Standard showcases Saft alternating between piano and organ and making thoughtful, melodic contributions throughout.
Skeletonwitch – Breathing The Fire [Reissue/2009] LP (Season Of Mist)
Imagine a young Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Exodus slamming beers and cranking up Immortal records at a rager in 1985. Just when you think the keg is killed, Judas Priest joins the party with a fresh case of beer.
Slaves – Through Art We Are All Equals LP (Atery Recordings)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This Sacramento-based band features Jonny Craig (Dance Gavin Dance, Emarosa).
Soundtrack – Garden State 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Limited double HQ-180gm vinyl LP pressing. This 10th anniversary edition of the soundtrack to the 2004 motion picture now comes with a new handwritten note from Zach Braff.
Soundtrack – Wish I Was Here (Music From The Motion Picture) 2xLP (Columbia)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The soundtrack features 15 songs, including new music from The Shins, Bon Iver, and Cat Power and Coldplay.
Nikki Sudden & The Jacobites – Dead Men Tell No Tales [Reissue/1987] LP (Numero)
Dead Men Tell No Tales takes a stripped-down turn with plaintive lyrical confessions as pretty as they are prescient, summoning Syd Barrett’s wild spirit through a séance of simple reverb burbles and acoustic incantations. Front-and-center vocals recounting love, loss and death’s lurking presence are presented against airy guitar shimmer in a demented yin and yang seemingly forecasting the scarf-swathed, underground dandy man’s abrupt fall nearly 20 years later.
Teenage Fanclub – Man-Made [Reissue/2005] LP (Merge)
Teenage Fanclub – Shadows [Reissue/2010] LP (Merge)
Originally released in 2005, Man-Made is a classic Fanclub record in tone and arrangement, and handsomely demonstrates the “less is more” maxim — it is both airier and lighter of touch than its immediate predecessors. Originally released in 2010, Shadows picks up on the introspective, world-weary quality of Man-Made but also delivers a bit of the classic bright pop the band is known for.
TOPS – Change Of Heart b/w Sleepwalker 7” (Arbutus)
TOPS is a four-piece band from Montreal, equal parts girls and guys, delivering a raw punk take on AM studio pop. Full-length due September 2.
The Uprising – Screaming From The Inside 7” (Not Like You)
Originally released in 1986 as a demo tape, this UK hardcore classic made its way around the world with tape traders for years. Heavily influenced by early US hardcore as well as what was going on in their scene at the time, The Uprising was a short-lived force to be reckoned with. Members went on to play in The Damned, The English Dogs, and Psycho Bombs.
Various Artists – Music From The Mountain Provinces LP (Numerophon)
In 1988, David Blair Stiffler risked life and limb to document under-recorded cultural groups living lives of extreme isolation in the mountainous Philippine regions of Nueva Ecija, Aurora, and Luzon. These are the fruits of that expedition. In the grand tradition of ethnographic recordings that made up the majority of Folkways’ vast and significant catalog comes Music From The Mountain Provinces. By the mid-1980s, David Blair Stiffler was already a most-decorated recordist, with eight Folkways LPs under his belt. These are among the most obscure documents in the entire Folkways catalog.
Various Artists – Temporary: Selections From Dunedin’s Pop Underground 2011-2014 LP (Ba Da Bing!)
New collection of modern New Zealand indie bands. The tiny city of Dunedin, located in the Otago Region of New Zealand, is synonymous with smart bands, incredible melodies and a wholly distinct and innovative music. Thanks to The Clean, The Chills, The Bats, The Verlaines, and The Dead C, Dunedin has amassed a worldwide reputation for innovative music. Local label Fishrider Records has taken on the mission of compiling and producing an album that casts a light toward the Dunedin of today. These bands have all created their own sound away from the shadow of their city’s past, yet like many of their predecessors they retain the air of slightly disturbed melancholia along with a sense of space and distance from the rest of the world. Whether it is dark synthpop, teen angst noise pop, guitar-and-organ jangle, or all-out psychedelic weirdness, these songs all come from a place on the edge of the world where the young still read books in abundance and fend off boredom by creating music and art in cold houses. CD version due September 16.
The Waterboys – A Pagan Place [Reissue/1984] LP (Rhino)
Released in 1984, A Pagan Place was the band’s second album. It was the first Waterboys record with Karl Wallinger as part of the band and also includes Roddy Lorimer’s first trumpet solo for the band on the track “A Pagan Place.”
Weird Al Yankovic – Mandatory Fun LP (RCA)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. 14th studio album from the Grammy-winning pop parodist.
Cassettes:
Earth Is A Man – Paragon (Hausu Mountain)
A surge of major-key six-string ecstasy, winding through counterpoint melodies and synchronized phrases. Populates a wide emotional palette w/motifs shared across disparate segments, its moments of recursion calling us back to solid ground by way of twin tremeolo picking, distorted bass mangling, and blastbeats.
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