Marketing Program/ Banner/ Listening Station Titles Promoted This Week:
Darin & Brooke Aldridge – This Life We’re Livin’ CD (Billy Blue)
Darin is a veteran of the bluegrass world, having played with top groups such as the Country Gentlemen and Acoustic Syndicate while Brooke entered many contests as a younger vocalist. Once they met, fell in love and married, the duo found themselves in the upper tier of the bluegrass genre. Brooke is the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year, her fourth win in a row in that highly competitive category. Darin was named the 2017 IBMA Mentor of the Year.
Leah Blevins – First Time Feeling CD/LP (Crabtree)
Imbued with the grit of vintage country music and the grace of gospel, Leah Blevins’ debut album is a scrapbook of sorts, a collage of feelings and memories from a decade spent working in the big city of Nashville while missing the small town she left behind. “It’s a timestamp of my twenties,” says the Sandy Hook, KY, native. “Here are all the stories and all the experiences from that decade. Here are all the mixed emotions I’ve felt about things I’ve gone through and people I’ve met along the way.” First Time Feeling turns tribulations into what Blevins calls “bundles of triumphs,” which lend weight to her well-observed lyrics and gravity to her soulful vocals. “It’s about coming into womanhood, but it’s more than just a coming-of-age story. It’s me discovering that I’m capable of writing a song on my own. I’m capable of staying sober. I’m capable of all these things that once felt so far out of reach. Within those walls these songs had to be unapologetically honest.”
Hippo Campus – Good Dog, Bad Dream CDEP/12”/Cassette (Grand Jury)
Good Dog, Bad Dream is the new EP from Hippo Campus, and the St. Paul, Minnesota five-piece’s first new music since their 2018 sophomore album Bambi. It finds the band at their most honest and vulnerable to date, with five new intensely cathartic tracks tinged with confessions and dark humor. It’s a collection of songs that came together with ease, and without pressure — a wildly different experience than the typical Hippo Campus recording process. The band – made up of vocalist/guitarists Jake Luppen and Nathan Stocker, drummer Whistler Allen, bassist Zach Sutton, and trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson — assembled Good Dog, Bad Dream with a genuine sense of freedom and enjoyment as part of their first sessions in their new Minneapolis studio space. It’s a celebration of brotherhood, and the “all for one, one for all” mentality that has permeated Hippo Campus’ work since the very beginning. [A limited-edition indie store exclusive vinyl pressing is available.]
Willy Mason – Already Dead CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Magic, miracles, ghosts, world leaders; these days it seems there is little left to believe in. Lies outweigh truth and even truth can be dangerous. Raising everyone’s spirits Already Dead – the fourth album and the first for nine years from Willy Mason – explores honesty and deception, anonymity in the digital age, good intentions with unexpected consequences, freedom, colonialism, love, God, and purpose because, its storyteller says, now is the time to restore some much-needed faith. “Already Dead is a spiritual state to aspire to; it is freedom from the trappings and inhibitions of one’s ego, culture, and mythology. It is freedom and love and freedom to love in the face of death,” tells Willy of the philosophy behind the writing. “It’s about the necessary destruction of one’s mythology; mythology of species, sex, race, nation, self. It’s about the pain and tragedy that comes with such destruction, but also about the freedom, possibility and opportunity for reconciliation; reconciliation with the natural world and with each other.” [A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Sean McConnell – A Horrible Beautiful Dream CD/2xLP (Sean McConnell)
Singer, songwriter and producer Sean McConnell’s latest collection of songs A Horrible Beautiful Dream approaches the difficult task of asking questions of what one really thinks they know, in the simultaneous struggle of not being afraid of the answers that emerge. Musically, the project wraps McConnell’s rich voice in moments of dark intimacy as well as vivid brightness, and guests such as The Wood Brothers, Natalie Hemby, Fancy Hagood, Audra Mae and Dan Tyminski underscore McConnell’s versatility as creative partner and commentator. McConnell’s goal in the creation of A Horrible Beautiful Dream was an album reflecting the chaotic time in which it was made, but still striving for timelessness. “You can look at the suffering of the world and you can look at the beauty of the world and you can hold them in your hands and just be present with that and not have to even understand it,” he says.
Staind – It’s Been Awhile: Live From Foxwoods 2019 CD (BMG)
In 2019 after a five-year hiatus, Staind reunited for some unforgettable festival performances, and a hometown reunion show at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT where their new album, Live: It’s Been Awhile was recorded. Featuring takes on the Top 5 singles “It’s Been Awhile”, “So Far Away”, “For You”, “Right Here”, and “Fade”, the 15-track set serves as the multi-platinum rockers’ first album in nine years. “These were the first grouping of shows we played together in 2019, when we were gearing up for what was to be a very busy 2020…that never happened,” says Staind frontman Aaron Lewis. “I’m glad we captured that energy here and can share it with those who couldn’t be at Foxwoods.” [A stand-alone DVD edition is also available. Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Various Artists – Amerikinda: 20 Years Of Dualtone CD (Dualtone)
Beloved Nashville-based indie label Dualtone Records celebrates their 20th Anniversary this year with the release of Amerikinda: 20 Years of Dualtone. The album features a slew of Dualtone artists and alumni including The Lumineers, Brett Dennen, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mt. Joy, Shovels & Rope, The Lone Bellow, Langhorne Slim, Shakey Graves, The Wild Reeds, and more all covering each other’s songs in celebration of the label’s landmark birthday. “The core of the label has stayed the same, in a lot of ways,” said label president Paul Roper. “Most of us have been here almost a decade together. We had to make a conscious decision to not change our signing philosophy and to not bring on fifteen new employees, and to maintain the hustle and that ethos of ‘don’t forget where you came from.’ Giving albums our full dedication, giving them their own appropriate time and space to find an audience, is something that has always been important to us.” [Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Andrea Von Kampen – That Spell CD (Fantasy)
Andrea von Kampen’s That Spell is an emotionally evocative powerhouse. It’s cinematic and sweeping – with literary references, reflections on nature, and above all the ability to transport you to a memory, a place in time, or somewhere you saw in a dream with vivid lucidity. Like a film director, she works as an aural auteur building scenes with her rapturous voice and the plaintive plucks of her guitar strings. [Vinyl edition due September 10.]
The Wandering Hearts – The Wandering Hearts CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
The Wandering Hearts return with their self-titled new album. The trio – Tara Wilcox, Chess Whiffin and AJ Dean-Revington – started writing for the album by drawing on personal experiences. Themes and stories emerged that reflected how they’ve supported each other, both within music and life in general. They’re topics that are universally relatable: life, death, love and fear. To maximize the potential of the material, The Wandering Hearts called upon the expertise of producers Simone Felice and David Baron. The duo’s magic touch had previously inspired numerous acclaimed artists including The Lumineers, Jade Bird and Bat For Lashes. Most of the album was crafted at the pair’s mountain top studio near Woodstock, NY. It was a location that further fueled the band’s creativity, from the striking scenery of the local area to the historic instruments, notably a celesta once owned by Thelonious Monk. The result is an album which brims with hope, even in the darkest of times.
Social Media Program Titles Released This Week:
No additional social media titles this week.
CDs + Vinyl:
Darin & Brooke Aldridge – This Life We’re Livin’ CD (Billy Blue)
Darin is a veteran of the bluegrass world, having played with top groups such as the Country Gentlemen and Acoustic Syndicate while Brooke entered many contests as a younger vocalist. Once they met, fell in love and married, the duo found themselves in the upper tier of the bluegrass genre. Brooke is the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year, her fourth win in a row in that highly competitive category. Darin was named the 2017 IBMA Mentor of the Year.
Alirio – All Things Must Pass CD (Frontiers)
Alirio is a Brazilian singer and actor, one of the most recognized rock voices in Brazil and generally an up-and-coming name amongst the greatest singers in the country, regardless of genre. Whether it’s on a stage, in the studio, or performing in musical theatre, Alirio makes a strong impression with his powerful voice, amazing range, and effortless control.
Leah Blevins – First Time Feeling CD/LP (Crabtree)
Imbued with the grit of vintage country music and the grace of gospel, Leah Blevins’ debut album is a scrapbook of sorts, a collage of feelings and memories from a decade spent working in the big city of Nashville while missing the small town she left behind. “It’s a timestamp of my twenties,” says the Sandy Hook, KY, native. “Here are all the stories and all the experiences from that decade. Here are all the mixed emotions I’ve felt about things I’ve gone through and people I’ve met along the way.” First Time Feeling turns tribulations into what Blevins calls “bundles of triumphs,” which lend weight to her well-observed lyrics and gravity to her soulful vocals. “It’s about coming into womanhood, but it’s more than just a coming-of-age story. It’s me discovering that I’m capable of writing a song on my own. I’m capable of staying sober. I’m capable of all these things that once felt so far out of reach. Within those walls these songs had to be unapologetically honest.”
Blood Red Saints – Undisputed CD (Frontiers)
New album from the UK melodic rockers.
BTS – The Best 2xCD (Geffen)
BTS – The Best [Limited Edition A] 2xCD+Blu-ray (Geffen)
BTS – The Best [Limited Edition B] 2xCD+DVD (Geffen)
BTS – The Best [Limited Edition C] 2xCD (Geffen)
A compilation from the K-Pop superstars. Each edition includes a 36-page photo booklet with square photo card. [The Limited Edition C version includes a 112-page booklet with square photo card.]
Tom Chiu – Live One 2xCD (XI)
Live One is a diverse and thoroughly engrossing album that showcases the multiple facets of Chiu’s visions. Chiu is a polymath who is as comfortable with lyricism and the beauty of tonality as he is with process-based works and challenging conventions of composition. He specializes in creating spatial experiences and altered states of mind with his music, with a singular, questing path.
Circus Of Rock – Come One Come All CD (Frontiers)
Circus of Rock is a new band masterminded by drummer Mirka Rantanen (King Company) and featuring an arrange of guest vocalists from bands including Amaranthe, Tyketto, Hardline, Nightwish, Leverage, and more, plus musicians from Stratovarius, Brother Firetribe, Masterplan, and others.
Cochemea – Vol. II: Baca Sewa CD/LP (Daptone)
The Dap-Kings’ electro-sax space warrior returns with a groove-heavy sequel to All My Relations, an expressive, transcendental voyage through the archive of his indigenous roots and beyond.
Crescent – Carving The Fires Of Akhet CD (Listenable)
A malevolent piece of murderous and crushing blackened death metal infused with Egyptian elements. [Vinyl edition due August 20.]
Cruzh – Tropical Thunder CD (Frontiers)
New album from the Swedish melodic rock/AOR band.
Travis Denning – Dirt Road Down CDEP (Mercury Nashville)
The second EP from the country singer-songwriter includes five new songs, as well as a new alternate version of his hit single, “Abby”.
Despise You – West Side Horizons [Reissue/1999] CD/LP (Tank Crimes)
West Side Horizons is a 62-track collection from Los Angeles power violence OGs Despise You. Hateful death core from the streets of Inglewood, California, the proceedings are bleak, cruel and relentless in execution and a precious testament of urban decay and violence written during the mid- ‘90s. The 44-minute affair includes the unreleased split LP with Man Is the Bastard, split EPs with Stapled Shut, Suppression and Crom, the PCD Scapegoat EP and compilation tracks. [A color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Drive-By Truckers – Plan 9 Records July 13, 2006 2xCD/3xLP (New West)
On July 13, 2006, the Drive-By Truckers set up shop at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA. It was the 25th Anniversary of the store. The band performed to a packed house and played a blistering set of fan-favorites featuring the songs, “18 Wheels of Love”, “Let There Be Rock”, “Goddamn Lonely Love” and “Daddy’s Cup”. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Geezer Butler – Manipulations Of The Mind: The Complete Collection 4xCD (BMG)
Geezer Butler – The Very Best Of Geezer Butler CD (BMG)
Geezer Butler, founder member of Black Sabbath, presents his entire solo output. Includes his three iconic solo albums as well as a bonus disc made up of largely unreleased material. This brand-new collection brings together all three solo albums into one package for the first time and features a booklet which includes never-before-seen photos from the studio from when the original albums were recorded. [An abridged single disc The Very Best Of Geezer Butler is also available.]
Goblin – Fearless (37513 Zombie Ave) CD/LP (Back To The Fudda)
40 years after the release of the original soundtrack for George A. Romero’s masterpiece Dawn Of The Dead, Goblin release this commemorative studio album. Fearless (37513 Zombie Ave) unveils re-imagined versions of the most significant tunes from their original iconic soundtrack, as well as new arrangements of two tracks from Suspiria. [A beige camo vinyl pressing is also available.]
George Harrison – All Things Must Pass [Reissue/1970] 2xCD/3xLP/5xCD+Blu-ray/3xLP/5xLP/8xLP (Capitol)
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, a suite of various lavish editions is available: standard double-CD and triple-LP featuring the new mix of the album; triple-CD and five-LP editions which are expanded with 17 tracks of demo recordings, session outtakes, and studio jams; a five-CD + Blu-ray edition which 70 tracks total, including 47 bonus (42 previously unreleased) demo recordings, session outtakes and studio jams, plus Blu-ray audio of the main album in hi-res stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos; an eight-LP edition which contains all of the audio of the five-CD edition (minus the Blu-ray); and an Uber Deluxe edition which combines the five-CD + Blu-ray and 8xLP editions in expanded packaging with a 96-page book.
Colin Hay – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself CD/LP (Compass)
Colin Hay first emerged as songwriter/vocalist for hitmakers Men At Work before establishing himself as a solo artist. But his love for music was born in his native Scotland while working at his parents’ record store and hearing the hits of the day. At home during quarantine in 2021, Hay was moved to record some of his favorites from that period. From the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” to Faces’ “Ooh La La” and Dusty Springfield’s “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself”, Hay delivers a set a lushly reimagined classics that showcase both his talent for interpreting songs and his iconic vocals.
Hippo Campus – Good Dog, Bad Dream CDEP/12”/Cassette (Grand Jury)
Good Dog, Bad Dream is the new EP from Hippo Campus, and the St. Paul, Minnesota five-piece’s first new music since their 2018 sophomore album Bambi. It finds the band at their most honest and vulnerable to date, with five new intensely cathartic tracks tinged with confessions and dark humor. It’s a collection of songs that came together with ease, and without pressure — a wildly different experience than the typical Hippo Campus recording process. The band – made up of vocalist/guitarists Jake Luppen and Nathan Stocker, drummer Whistler Allen, bassist Zach Sutton, and trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson — assembled Good Dog, Bad Dream with a genuine sense of freedom and enjoyment as part of their first sessions in their new Minneapolis studio space. It’s a celebration of brotherhood, and the “all for one, one for all” mentality that has permeated Hippo Campus’ work since the very beginning. [A limited-edition indie store exclusive vinyl pressing is available.]
Homeboy Sandman – Anjelitu CD (Mello Music Group)
A versatile talent who has checked every box: Unsigned Hype in The Source, Chairman’s Choice in the XXL. Rolling Stone hailed his songs as “dense and word-drunk, spilling past the margins, demanding repeat listens as he re-works rap forms and functions into something truly personal.” Pitchfork said that in the all-star game of the new subterranean, “he is the guy with flawless fundamentals, wearing his socks high and his cleats sharp and polished.” His solo catalogue is sterling and he’s also mastered the group dynamic in tandem with fellow legends like Aesop Rock and Edan. Homeboy Sandman’s new six track offering Anjelitu was produced entirely by and features Aesop Rock. [Vinyl edition due August 27.]
Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, & Adrian Younge – Jazz Is Dead 8 CD/LP (Jazz Is Dead)
JID008 is the first full album released by the great man in 20 years and it’s a testament to his multifaceted talents that while there are moments throughout that hint at his game-changing history and track record, for the most part it reveals a musician whose considerable lessons learned from the past only serve to keep his eyes firmly fixed on the future. It’s a masterclass in unbridled and open-minded creativity, no different from what Brian did half a century ago. The ease and comfort with which his ideas integrate with those of musicians a generation younger than him bears this out. To listen to this album is to hear a hot up-and-coming musician who also happens to be a major jazz-funk legend.
Tito Jackson – Under Your Spell CD (Sono Music Group)
California-based Tito Jackson is supported on his debut blues album by an array of superlative special guests – George Benson, Joe Bonamassa, Marlon Jackson, Eddie Levert, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush and Stevie Wonder, who all add their special talents to the proceedings. Above it all though, Jackson’s innate abilities as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and arranger shine through brilliantly, creating a spectacular record that is destined for airplay and rave reviews in several formats.
LCD Soundsystem – The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live At Madison Square Garden [Reissue/2014] 3xCD/5xLP (DFA)
The Long Goodbye is the complete, unabridged recording of LCD Soundsystem’s April 2, 2011 “farewell” show at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Spanning 3 hours of music across 28 songs, this remains the band’s lengthiest, most career-spanning show to date, with the core live band of James Murphy, Pat Mahoney, Nancy Whang, Al Doyle, Gavilán Rayna Russom and Tyler Pope joined by a choir, string and horn sections – plus special guest performances including Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Reggie Watts, the Juan MacLean, Shit Robot, Planningtorock, and Shannon Funchess of Light Asylum.
Liars – The Apple Drop CD/LP (Mute)
The Apple Drop follows 2017’s TFCF and 2018’s Titles With The Word Fountain, both distinctly solo affairs, but for Liars’ tenth album, Angus Andrew chose to expand and embrace collaboration. “My goal was to create beyond my abilities – something bigger than myself,” he notes. The new album finds him working with avant-garde jazz drummer Laurence Pike, multi-instrumentalist Cameron Deyell and lyricist Mary Pearson Andrew. “For the first time, I embraced collaboration from an early stage, allowing the work of others to influence the work of my own,” Angus adds. This mixing of raw, organic live instrumentation in the studio, along with Angus’s solo tinkering at the computer, results in an album that blurs boundaries between the archetypal band structure and experimental electronics. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is available.]
Lingua Ignota – Sinner Get Ready CD/2xLP+MP3 (Sargent House)
New release from Kristen Hayter, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist, performance artist, and vocalist known as Lingua Ignota. The follow up to her critically acclaimed break out Caligula, Sinner Get Ready is an abrasive, unsettling portrait of devotion and betrayal, judgment and consequence, set in the derelict landscape of rural Pennsylvania, a neglected region deeply embedded with a particular god-fearing brand of Christianity, and where Hayter currently lives.
Loggins And Messina – The Best Of Friends [Reissue/1976] LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile red color vinyl pressing. When they first met, Jimmy Messina was already a well-established success story, having produced and played with the legendary band Buffalo Springfield and later with the country-rock pioneers Poco. Kenny Loggins, meanwhile, was a young singer-songwriter with far less experience, but with talent to burn as evidenced by early compositions like “House At Pooh Corner” and “Danny’s Song”. Their first greatest hits package, Best Of Friends followed later in 1976 and put a bow on their studio work.
Long Shadows Dawn – Isle Of Wrath CD (Frontiers)
Long Shadows Dawn is a new musical alliance featuring Scottish vocalist Doogie White (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Fest) together with Swedish guitarist Emil Norberg (Persuader).
Desire Marea – Desire CD/LP (Mute)
A captivating introduction to the singular and multi-faceted world of Kwazulu-natal born, multi-disciplinary artist. Desire Marea is from Durban and is a founding member of South African arts collective FAKA, who partnered with Versace to soundtrack their S/S 19 menswear show and were included in the Vogue World 100 and Dazed 100 lists. The sound mixes glitch pop and beats with laidback R&B and sublime vocals. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is available.]
Willy Mason – Already Dead CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Magic, miracles, ghosts, world leaders; these days it seems there is little left to believe in. Lies outweigh truth and even truth can be dangerous. Raising everyone’s spirits Already Dead – the fourth album and the first for nine years from Willy Mason – explores honesty and deception, anonymity in the digital age, good intentions with unexpected consequences, freedom, colonialism, love, God, and purpose because, its storyteller says, now is the time to restore some much-needed faith. “Already Dead is a spiritual state to aspire to; it is freedom from the trappings and inhibitions of one’s ego, culture, and mythology. It is freedom and love and freedom to love in the face of death,” tells Willy of the philosophy behind the writing. “It’s about the necessary destruction of one’s mythology; mythology of species, sex, race, nation, self. It’s about the pain and tragedy that comes with such destruction, but also about the freedom, possibility and opportunity for reconciliation; reconciliation with the natural world and with each other.” [A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Brian May – Back To The Light CD/2xCD/2xCD+LP (UMe)
Brian May’s first post-Queen solo album, originally released in 1992, has been newly remastered by Bob Ludwig from the original master tapes and personally overseen by Brian May. The double-CD edition contains alternative versions, B-sides and live tracks. [A lift top box set featuring both the expanded double-CD and an exclusive 180gm white color viny pressing is also available.]
Sean McConnell – A Horrible Beautiful Dream CD/2xLP (Sean McConnell)
Singer, songwriter and producer Sean McConnell’s latest collection of songs A Horrible Beautiful Dream approaches the difficult task of asking questions of what one really thinks they know, in the simultaneous struggle of not being afraid of the answers that emerge. Musically, the project wraps McConnell’s rich voice in moments of dark intimacy as well as vivid brightness, and guests such as The Wood Brothers, Natalie Hemby, Fancy Hagood, Audra Mae and Dan Tyminski underscore McConnell’s versatility as creative partner and commentator. McConnell’s goal in the creation of A Horrible Beautiful Dream was an album reflecting the chaotic time in which it was made, but still striving for timelessness. “You can look at the suffering of the world and you can look at the beauty of the world and you can hold them in your hands and just be present with that and not have to even understand it,” he says.
Mr Jukes/Barney Artist – The Locket CD/LP (Caroline)
The Locket is the coming together of two masters of their craft to create something hopeful in a time of unrest. The project features 10 tracks cut from sessions that span over 18 months. It’s sunshine-dappled, psych-tinged, hip-hop flavored, leftfield pop. Perhaps most importantly, it’s an utterly joyful listen from start to finish; invaluable in a time when everyone is hard-pressed to find ways to brighten their days. A celebration of music, unity and looking ahead.
Nico – Drama Of Exile [Reissue/1981] CD/LP (Modern Harmonic)
As one critic memorably put it, “when Nico spoke it was like coffin-lids creaking. When she sang it was like listening to ravens taking off, 13 at a time.” 1981’s Drama Of Exile features originals along with stoic takes on Bowie and The Velvet Underground.
Nightcrawlers – Do You Know A Good Thing? CD (Cellar Live)
One of Vancouver’s most beloved jazz groups of the past ten years serve up heaps of grease playing the music of Eddie Harris, Shirley Scott, Hank Marr and other purveyors of greasy jazz.
Night Ranger – ATBPO CD/LP (Frontiers)
The heavy-hitting rock legends deliver their twelfth studio album, ATBPO (which stands for And The Band Played On), an ode to making music during the Covid era. [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Nytt Land – Ritual CD/LP (Napalm)
Nytt Land effortlessly pulls listeners into a world of ancient percussive instrumentation and vocal tradition: the eight songs on Ritual tell tales of gods and heroes, born centuries ago and preserved in traditions, expressed in a unique sonic experience described by the duo as ‘shamanic dark folk.’
Nick Oliveri – N.O. Hits At All Vol. 7 CD/LP (Heavy Psych Sounds)
10 songs taken from the bassist’s personal stash. 30 of pure punk ‘n’ roll madness.
OSI – Free [Reissue/2006] CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)
CD and limited-edition translucent red color vinyl pressings of the prog rock band’s sophomore album.
Buck Owens And His Buckaroos – I’ve Got You On My Mind Again [Reissue/1968] CD (Omnivore)
Buck Owens And His Buckaroos – Sweet Rosie Jones [Reissue/1968] CD (Omnivore)
Buck Owens And His Buckaroos – Tall Dark Stranger [Reissue/1969] CD (Omnivore)
Three late ‘60s albums from the country music legend; available for the first time on stand-alone CD.
Saga – Heads Or Tales [Reissue/1983] CD/LP (earMUSIC)
Saga – Behaviour [Reissue/1985] CD/LP (earMUSIC)
Over 40 years have passed since Canadian prog-rockers Saga released their breakout self-titled debut album in 1978. Their typical trademarks – synthesizer harmonies, breathtaking guitar riffs, complex keyboard arrangements and the charismatic vocals of frontman Michael Sadler – have helped Saga move over eight million records worldwide and remain an influential prog-rock institution. In 2021, earMUSIC pays tribute to Saga’s legacy with a series of remastered reissues of some off the group’s essential material released from 1978 to 2007. [Limited-edition orange color vinyl pressings are also available.]
Sidemen – Sidemen CD (Summit Classical)
Combine world-class Sidemen from the likes of Supertramp, Sting, Natalie Cole with guests of key players from such acts as Chicago, Peter Gabriel/King Crimson, Miles Davis/Bob Dylan, L.A. Express, Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs, Tower Of Power/Santana and the leader of Jefferson Starship – and you’re destined to embark on a fascinating journey through jazz, blues, funk, rock.
Sponge – Lavatorium CD/LP (Cleopatra)
New album from the ’90s alternative rock giants. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is also available.]
Staind – It’s Been Awhile: Live From Foxwoods 2019 CD (BMG)
In 2019 after a five-year hiatus, Staind reunited for some unforgettable festival performances, and a hometown reunion show at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT where their new album, Live: It’s Been Awhile was recorded. Featuring takes on the Top 5 singles “It’s Been Awhile”, “So Far Away”, “For You”, “Right Here”, and “Fade”, the 15-track set serves as the multi-platinum rockers’ first album in nine years. “These were the first grouping of shows we played together in 2019, when we were gearing up for what was to be a very busy 2020…that never happened,” says Staind frontman Aaron Lewis. “I’m glad we captured that energy here and can share it with those who couldn’t be at Foxwoods.” [A stand-alone DVD edition is also available. Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Barbara Streisand – Release Me 2 CD/LP (Sony Legacy)
Archive collection. The only artist to ever achieve #1 albums in six consecutives decades, Barbra Streisand’s Release Me 2 is yet another musical gem in her unparalleled career. The follow-up to her acclaimed 2012 album, Release Me, this new collection contains previously unreleased tracks from Barbra’s vault, including duets with Willie Nelson and Kermit The Frog.
Kate Taylor – Why Wait! CD/LP (Red House)
“It was 50 years ago when Kate Taylor released her first full-length LP, Sister Kate. The album reached the Billboard Top 100, propelled by her version of brother James’ lovely lullaby ‘You Can Close Your Eyes’. Kate was part of a whole slew of Taylor siblings (Alex, Hugh, Livingston) whose musical careers were piggy-backed on top of the rocketing success of James. After all, she was billed as ‘Sister Kate’, not Kate Taylor. Her musical career lost steam after the debut album, but she still occasionally recorded and performed. Now Kate is back again with her original producer, Peter Asher, who is best known as half of the British Invasion band Peter and Gordon (‘A World Without Love’, ‘Lady Godiva’) as well as for producing hit albums by James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and other California rock artists during the 1970s and 1980s.” – PopMatters
Paul Thorn – Never Too Late To Call CD/LP (Perpetual Obscurity)
“On Never Too Late To Call, Paul Thorn charmingly delivers a serious message as a Southern gentleman because he gives a damn. The Tupelo, Mississippi singer-songwriter still imprints his music with Southern charm, whether his drawling out the words slowly for effect or making references to local culture such as comparing love to ‘apple pie moonshine’. These regional affectations allow him to see both exotic and familiar. There’s a tendency to stereotype Southerners as less intelligent and less sensitive than the rest of us. Of course, that’s not true. Thorn uses these tropes to surprise the listener into paying attention” – PopMatters [A limited-edition orange color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Turin Brakes – The Optimist LP [Reissue/2001] 2xCD (Two-Piers)
Turin Brakes critically acclaimed debut album The Optimist LP gets the reissue treatment to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The groundbreaking long player features classic tracks such as “Underdog (Save Me)”, “The Door” and “Feeling Oblivion”. [Vinyl edition due October 7.]
Various Artists – Amerikinda: 20 Years Of Dualtone CD (Dualtone)
Beloved Nashville-based indie label Dualtone Records celebrates their 20th Anniversary this year with the release of Amerikinda: 20 Years of Dualtone. The album features a slew of Dualtone artists and alumni including The Lumineers, Brett Dennen, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mt. Joy, Shovels & Rope, The Lone Bellow, Langhorne Slim, Shakey Graves, The Wild Reeds, and more all covering each other’s songs in celebration of the label’s landmark birthday. “The core of the label has stayed the same, in a lot of ways,” said label president Paul Roper. “Most of us have been here almost a decade together. We had to make a conscious decision to not change our signing philosophy and to not bring on fifteen new employees, and to maintain the hustle and that ethos of ‘don’t forget where you came from.’ Giving albums our full dedication, giving them their own appropriate time and space to find an audience, is something that has always been important to us.” [Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Various Artists – Legends Play The Beatles CD/LP (Cleopatra)
A line-up of rock, pop & folk veterans gather on this collection of the best Beatles covers released in the last decade. Features performances by Heart’s Ann Wilson, Judy Collins, Cream’s Jack Bruce, Asia/King Crimson vocalist John Wetton, Air Supply, Molly Hatchet, Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes and many more.
Andrea Von Kampen – That Spell CD (Fantasy)
Andrea von Kampen’s That Spell is an emotionally evocative powerhouse. It’s cinematic and sweeping – with literary references, reflections on nature, and above all the ability to transport you to a memory, a place in time, or somewhere you saw in a dream with vivid lucidity. Like a film director, she works as an aural auteur building scenes with her rapturous voice and the plaintive plucks of her guitar strings. [Vinyl edition due September 10.]
Mortiz von Oswald – Dissent CD/2xLP (Modern Recordings)
The Moritz von Oswald Trio returns with Dissent, a striking new album that explores the scope of jazz and dance music within abstracted electronic music. It follows the Sounding Lines LP from 2015 with a further explorative and daring sound, which dives through broad ambiences, uptempo dance and jazz sensibilities. As ever with albums from the Moritz von Oswald Trio, this new album, recorded during November and December 2020 in Berlin, emerged from a series of long extended jams then edited down.
The Wandering Hearts – The Wandering Hearts CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
The Wandering Hearts return with their self-titled new album. The trio – Tara Wilcox, Chess Whiffin and AJ Dean-Revington – started writing for the album by drawing on personal experiences. Themes and stories emerged that reflected how they’ve supported each other, both within music and life in general. They’re topics that are universally relatable: life, death, love and fear. To maximize the potential of the material, The Wandering Hearts called upon the expertise of producers Simone Felice and David Baron. The duo’s magic touch had previously inspired numerous acclaimed artists including The Lumineers, Jade Bird and Bat For Lashes. Most of the album was crafted at the pair’s mountain top studio near Woodstock, NY. It was a location that further fueled the band’s creativity, from the striking scenery of the local area to the historic instruments, notably a celesta once owned by Thelonious Monk. The result is an album which brims with hope, even in the darkest of times.
Chris Young – Famous Friends CD/LP (SME Nashville)
New release from the country singer/songwriter. The album is named after the song “Famous Friends”, his hit collaboration with fellow country artist Kane Brown.
Will Young – Crying On The Bathroom Floor CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Young is back with a true pop album of covers, produced by Richard X.
John Zorn – Nostradamus: The Death Of Satan CD (Tzadik)
In this wildly varied program ranging from the softest sacred whisper to the most heretical hysteria, Zorn brings his unique compositional blending of classical, jazz and rock to new heights. The Simulacrum band is tighter than ever, and the recording is rich and powerful.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Staind – It’s Been Awhile: Live From Foxwoods 2019 DVD (BMG)
In 2019 after a five-year hiatus, Staind reunited for some unforgettable festival performances, and a hometown reunion show at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT where their new album, Live: It’s Been Awhile was recorded. Featuring takes on the Top 5 singles “It’s Been Awhile”, “So Far Away”, “For You”, “Right Here”, and “Fade”, the 15-track set serves as the multi-platinum rockers’ first album in nine years. “These were the first grouping of shows we played together in 2019, when we were gearing up for what was to be a very busy 2020…that never happened,” says Staind frontman Aaron Lewis. “I’m glad we captured that energy here and can share it with those who couldn’t be at Foxwoods.”
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Alexander 23 – Oh No, Not Again! 12” (Interscope)
Rising singer/songwriter/producer Alexander 23 makes love and loss feel heartbreakingly relatable on Oh No, Not Again! This nine-track EP proves the artist is wise beyond his years as he transforms simple, everyday sentiments into clever confessions.
Anciients – Heart Of Oak [Reissue/2016] 2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Anciients – Voice Of The Void [Reissue/2016] 2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Limited-edition color vinyl reissues of the Vancouver, BC progressive stoner sludge metal band’s first two albums.
Animals As Leaders – Weightless [Reissue/2011] LP (Prosthetic)
Two color vinyl pressings: pink and yellow. When unknown virtuoso guitarist Tosin Abasi released his debut solo album under the moniker Animals As Leaders in 2009, few would have predicted the band’s meteoric rise over the next two years. Although Abasi earned acclaim as the lead guitarist in the Washington, D.C.-based metalcore act Reflux, it was still a long-shot that an instrumental album of progressive metal with jazz, electronic and ambient flourishes would develop anything more than a cult following. Whereas the group’s self-titled debut was a collaboration between Abasi and Periphery’s Misha Mansoor, 2011 sophomore effort, Weightless features the recording debut of Animals as Leaders, the true band: Abasi (guitars), Javier Reyes (guitars) and Navene Koperweis (drums).
Boy Sets Fire. – This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice Is Being Born. [Reissue/1997] 12”+Flexi (Dark Operative)
This hot pink color vinyl repress of the political post-hardcore/emo-core band’s 1997 EP includes an exclusive white flexi featuring a live version of “Vehicle”.
Arthur Brown – Fire 7” (Golden Lane)
The God Of Hellfire, and one of the most influential figures of theatrical rock, Arthur Brown, returns with this stunning new rendition of his signature hit “Fire”. Pressed on color vinyl.
Jackson Browne – Downhill From Everywhere LP (Inside Recordings)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Jackson Browne’s latest studio album, Downhill from Everywhere finds the lauded 72-year-old singer/songwriter tackling a variety of topical and emotional themes, including the plight of illegal immigrants, prejudice against same-sex relationships, environmental pollution, racial justice and his own mortality. “I see the writing on the wall,” says Browne. “I know there’s only so much time left in my life. But I now have an amazing, beautiful grandson, and I feel more acutely than ever the responsibility to leave him a world that’s inhabitable.”
BruceXCampbell – South To No Life LP (Give Praise)
Blasting, furious grindcore. Random color vinyl pressing.
Christian Death – Catastrophe Ballet [Reissue/1984] LP (Season Of Mist)
Christian Death – Ashes [Reissue/1985] LP (Season Of Mist)
Christian Death – The Scriptures [Reissue/1987] 2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Color vinyl reissues of the goth rock bands second, third and fifth albums.
Sonny Clark – My Conception [Reissue/1979] LP (Blue Note)
The soulful and elegant pianist Sonny Clark brings his A-game to My Conception, a program of all-Clark originals recorded in 1959 but not released until 1979. Joining the pianist are a cast of hard bop masters including Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Reissued as part of The Blue Note Tone Poet Series: all-analog, remastered 180gm vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
Ant Clemens – Happy 2 Be Here 12” (A Blessing LLC)
Ant Clemons’ name has already been cemented in music history, most notably for his Kanye West collaborations and writing credits (Beyonce, SZA, Ty Dolla $ign, Pharrell, G Eazy) plus the Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album for his debut EP, Happy 2 Be Here. Enlisting the likes of Timbaland, Ty Dolla $ign and Pharrell, the 8-track EP is full of truth and spirit, adding a fresh perspective to the R&B landscape.
Crass – Normal Never Was V 12” (One Little Independent)
As part of their ambitious The Feeding of the Five Thousand Remix Project, punk pioneers Crass are returning with another exclusive color 12” single featuring remixes by the masked Italian electronic producer Bob Rifo, aka The Bloody Beetroots, and Commoners Choir, the 70-strong community choir started by singer- songwriter-playwright-activist Boff Whalley.
CWF (Champlin / Williams / Friestedt) – I [Reissue/2015] 2xLP (Black Lodge)
Toto singer Joseph Williams teamed up with former Chicago singer Bill Champlin and Swedish guitarist/Producer Peter Friestedt for a remarkable AOR release following the success with their Live In Concert DVD.
Cynic – Traced In Air (Remixed) [Reissue/2019] LP (Season Of Mist)
Limited color vinyl reissue. In 2008, after a fifteen-year hiatus, the legendary Cynic reemerged with Traced In Air. An album of sublime beauty, it blended their renowned musical prowess with splendor and grace. A decade later, the trio usher forth a renewed edition of that very album. Featuring new tracking by virtuoso bassist Sean Malone, and a vibrant new remix and remaster by Periphery’s Adam Nolly Getgood (Animal As Leaders, Devin Townsend, Haken), Traced In Air Remixed underscores just how vital and important this album truly is.
Darkthrone – Eternal Hails LP (Peaceville)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. With the highly revered Norwegians remaining ever dedicated to the art of the riff after 35 years of existence, Darkthrone returns for album number nineteen and a new dose of metallic godliness.
Distels – Distels LP (Almost Halloween Time/Feeding Tube)
Distels is a Belgian duo comprised of Annelies Monseré and Steve Marreyt. Blended vocals, haunted keyboard tones, slowly struck guitar chords, and stately drones create a densely inviting environment for these ancient songs of love, loss and longing.
Amanda Easton – Wallflower LP (Renaissance)
Amanda Easton is a theatrical, soulful pop artist who has released two self-penned albums and three EPs. Two of her singles appearing in the top 10 of the independent Aussie charts.
Electric Haze – Get In Line LP (Idle North)
Translucent yellow color vinyl pressing. A tasteful mix of classic and modern hard rock that recall the ‘80s and ‘90s, inspired by Deep Purple, Black Country Communion and Rainbow.
Eradicator – Influence Denied LP (Metalville)
Recently released on CD – now available on translucent purple color vinyl. Eradicator creates a combination of the sound of the San Francisco Bay Area à la Testament or Death Angel and the Teutonic elemental force of German genre greats like Kreator or Destruction.
Evergrey – Hymns For The Broken [Reissue/2014] 2xLP (AFM)
Creamy white color vinyl pressing. Originally released in 2014, Hymns For The Broken is the ninth studio album by the Swedish melodic metal band.
Fatlip – The Loneliest Punk [Reissue/2005] LP+MP3 (Org Music)
Vinyl reissue of the debut solo album by Fatlip (of the seminal L.A. hip-hop group The Pharcyde). The Loneliest Punk features guest MCs Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5) and Shock G (aka Humpty Hump).
Foxing – Draw Down The Moon LP (Hopeless)
Hot pink color vinyl. An album about cosmic insignificance that was inspired by games such as Dungeons And Dragons and Zork, Draw Down The Moon was produced by Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra [CD edition due August 13.]
Frankie And The Witch Fingers – Sidewalk [Reissue/2013] LP (Greenway)
Limited clear vinyl pressing. Bubbling up from the psychedelic tar pits of L.A., Frankie and The Witch Fingers have been a constant source of primordial groove for the better part of the last decade. Formed and incubated in Bloomington, IN before moving west to scrap with Los Angeles’ garage rock rabble, the band evolved from cavern-clawed echo merchants to architects of prog-infected psych epics that evoke alternate reality.
Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand [Reissue/2004] LP+MP3 (Domino)
Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better [Reissue/2009] LP+MP3 (Domino)
Franz Ferdinand – Tonight [Reissue/2009] LP+MP3 (Domino)
Vinyl reissues of the Scottish band’s first three albums (their eponymous debut won the Mercury Prize).
Frozen Crown – Winterbane LP (Scarlet)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Winterbane sees Frozen Crown amplifying the classic heavy and power metal components of their sound and toning down the symphonic influences even more, resulting in an aggressive and monolithic album thanks to the tasteful riffs and guitar leads of mastermind and songwriter Federico Mondelli and the astonishing female vocals provided by talented singer Giada Jade Etro.
Giant Squid – Cenotes [Reissue/2011] 12” (Translation Loss)
Giant Squid’s stunning 2011 EP sees a proper vinyl release in this carefully reissued version which features updated artwork and layout by the band’s front man Aaron Gregory and artfully remastered audio from the original tapes by Tim Green (Melvins, The F**king Champs, Earthless).
Godslave – Positive Aggressive LP (Metalville)
Recently released on CD – now available on translucent purple vinyl. New album from the German thrash metal band.
Guccihighwaters – Joke’s On You LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Standard black vinyl pressing. Joke’s On You is the sophomore album from singer/producer Guccihighwaters (aka Morgan Murphy) which features the poignant new single “Hold Somebody” alongside his previously released singles “Straight Jacket”, “Rope”, “Expectations”, and “Needle & Thread”. With Jokes On You, Murphy says, “basically my goal was to make it sound like me.” Members of the cloud rap community, like Powfu and Nothing, Nowhere, feature on the album, adding their voices to Murphy’s signature sound.
Hardline – Heart, Mind, And Soul LP (Frontiers)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Ever since the release of Danger Zone in 2012, Hardline continue to evolve their straight-ahead, gritty, riff-based melodic hard rock sound. [A limited-edition color pressing is available.]
Dereck Higgins – Future Still LP (FPE)
Nebraskan Dereck Higgins takes equal parts Kraftwerk, Prince and the Missouri River to come up with his own unique take on modern electronic music.
The Kinks – Misfits [Reissue/1978] LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile blue color vinyl pressing. Like the Kinks’ previous release Sleepwalker, 1978’s Misfits showcases the band’s newly stripped-down rock & roll direction and includes the tender, oddball hit Ray wrote for his brother, Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy, and the bouncing pop gem In A Foreign Land.
L.A. Guns – Cocked And Loaded Live 2xLP (Frontiers)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. In November 2020, L.A. Guns wanted to get together and do one of the things they love most, which is play a ‘live’ show. The band announced a special gig at the Fremont Country Club in Las Vegas, NV that would celebrate the 31st anniversary of their album, Cocked And Loaded. [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is available.]
Laurenne / Louhimo – The Reckoning LP (Frontiers)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Powerful melodic metal from the duo of powerhouse Finnish vocalists, Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound).
The Legendary Pink Dots – Curse [Reissue/1983] LP (Metropolis)
The Legendary Pink Dots – Island Of Jewels [Reissue/1986] LP (Metropolis)
Recently reissued on CD – now back in-print on vinyl. 1983’s Curse marks an intersection of styles and influences that form The Legendary Pink Dots sound: a deft balance between pop arrangements and sonic experiments, ornamented imagery, somber double-entendres, gothic yet witty arrangements, experimentalism, and psychedelics. 1986’s Island Of Jewels is a more serious release, with themes of war and politics and ranks among the more accessible releases in their vast catalog.
Long Tall Shorty – A Bird In The Hand LP (Acid Jazz)
For the first time on (red) vinyl, Long Tall Shorty’s long-lost masterpiece, A Bird In The Hand was originally released in 2001. Lead singer Tony Perfect mixes a Stones-y drawl with then contemporary garage rock stylings, to show that he was always the smartest of the mod revivalists.
Julie Michaels – Not In Chronological Order LP (Republic)
Debut full-length album from the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter.
Mistreater – Hell’s Fire [Reissue/1981] LP (On The Dole)
If Black Sabbath had been born and bred in an Ohio mobile home and raised on a steady diet of smoke and acid – the result would sound exactly like Mistreater. In 1981, the group independently recorded and released the Hell’s Fire album. Now it’s back in-print on multi-color vinyl.
John Moods – So Sweet So Nice LP (Arbutus)
Full of sprightly guitar work, and burbling, trickling synths, So Sweet So Nice channels the spirit of classic AM pop into something both contemporary and timeless.
Willie Nelson – Make Way For Willie Nelson [Reissue/1967] LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile blue color vinyl pressing. Out of print for decades on vinyl, Willie Nelson’s pre-outlaw era 1967 RCA Victor release, Make Way For Willie Nelson puts the music legend’s versatile interpretation skills on full display with eleven countrypolitan covers of pop and country favorites to go along with the lone original One in a Row. Teaming up with Elvis Presley producer Felton Jarvis, Willie’s rich and breezy vocals are front and center throughout, helping establish him as not just a go-to songwriter but a gifted performer in his own right.
Geoffrey O’Connor – For As Long As I Can Remember LP (Chapter Music)
White color vinyl. The one-time frontman for euphoric guitar pop band Crayon Fields returns with his first solo album in seven years. For As Long As I Can Remember explores late night tales of un-sublimated desire, a synth-pop cocoon world where obsessions drift slowly into the rear view mirror and exert an unsteadying backwards pull.
OMD – Liberator [Reissue/1993] LP (Republic)
OMD – Universal [Reissue/1996] LP (Republic)
Vinyl reissues of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark’s ninth and tenth albums.
Only The Family – Only The Family – Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros LP (Only The Family Ent.)
With a moving album cover paying homage to fallen comrades King Von and Nuski, Lil Durk and Only The Family release their fourth OTF label compilation album, Loyal Bros. Alternating between hard-hitting street anthems and emotional ballads, the 23-track tape sees new music from Lil Durk, posthumous appearances from King Von, and contributions from OTF signees Booka600, Memo600, Timo, Doodie Lo, JusBlow600, THF Zoo, and C3.
Ariel Posen – Headway LP (Ariel Posen)
Limited color vinyl pressing. Ariel Posen’s music occupies the space between genres. It’s a rootsy sound that nods to his influences – heartland rock & roll, electrified Americana, blue-eyed soul, R&B, Beatles-inspired pop – while still moving forward, pushing Posen into territory that’s uniquely his own.
Retirement Party – Somewhat Literate [Reissue/2018] LP (Counter Intuitive)
Limited orange color vinyl pressing. Hailing from Chicago, Retirement Party is a gang of young pups excited to take over the music community one riff at a time. Self-described as bullshit pop music, the band’s debut LP Somewhat Literate was originally issued in 2018.
Todd Rundgren and Sparks – Your Fandango 7” (Cleopatra)
Color vinyl pressing. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren collaborates with the quixotic masterminds Sparks for the first time since the band’s 1971 Rundgren-produced debut album. “Your Fandango” is a perfect amalgamation of these two artists’ aesthetics, elegantly layering Spanish music, Neopolitan cantatas, baroque fugues and glam rock into one truly epic composition.
Section H8 – Welcome To The Nightmare LP (Flatspot)
Formed in 2018, in Los Angeles, California, Section H8 creates gritty and callously honest hardcore punk.
Shinedown – Amaryllis [Reissue/2012] 2xLP (Atlantic)
Limited-edition green color vinyl pressing of the hard rock/grunge band’s fourth album.
The Statler Brothers – Today’s Gospel Favorites [Reissue/1993] LP (Mercury Nashville)
Today’s Gospel Favorites is a 10-track collection of contemporary, inspirational tracks.
Richard Swift – KFC b/w A Man’s Man 7” (Secretly Canadian)
Written in the wee hours of the night, the late Richard Swift’s “KFC” is a winding sardonic monologue about a rough night of food poisoning following a quick dinner of fried chicken. On the track, Swift’s vocal is pitched down and distorted while accompanied by cooing vocal harmonies and drums.
Jerome Thomas – That Secret Sauce LP (Rhythm Section Int’l)
Hackney-raised Jerome Thomas is declaring the dawning of a new age for British soul music. Working with a live six-piece band of assorted ages and musical backgrounds from rock to classical jazz, Jerome’s sound is a 180-degree turn from the direction of travel of UK R&B which has trended towards producer’s tracks made inside the computer.
Tokyo Blade – Dark Revolution 2xLP (Back On Black)
NWOBHM legends Tokyo Blade unleash their ninth studio album.
McCoy Tyner – Expansions [Reissue/1969] LP (Blue Note)
Pianist McCoy Tyner was an acknowledged force of nature. On the aptly named Expansions, Tyner fronts a remarkable band consisting of Woody Shaw, Wayne Shorter, Gary Bartz, Ron Carter, Herbie Lewis, and Freddie Waits. Reissued as part of The Blue Note Tone Poet Series: all-analog, remastered 180gm vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
White Denim – Crystal Bullets b/w King Tears 12” (English Mallard)
White Denim has long pulled hard at the parameters of rock & roll, admitting garage punk, soul, psychedelic boogie, prog, jazz and country blues while holding onto its vital goodtime core, and their up-tempo drive has produced a body of work defined as much by stellar musicianship as off-the-chain exhilaration. Energy and adventurism have always been paramount.
Ian William Craig and Kago – Split Series 24 12” (FatCat)
The 24th – and last ever – issue in FatCat’s long-running and much-loved Split Series arrives on the 25th anniversary of the Brighton-based label. It features acclaimed Canadian singer/composer Ian William Craig alongside the brilliant but little-known Estonian poet/singer Kago. Whilst markedly different, these two fine artists each use their voice as a central element of their craft, mediating it through technology and analog tape to conjure startlingly singular sound-worlds.
Xalpen – Sawken Xo’on CD/LP (Black Lodge)
2020 debut album from this raw black metal horde from Chile. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is also available.]
Yes/And – Yes/And LP (Driftless)
The charged partnership of versatile guitarist Meg Duffy (aka Hand Habits) and producer Joel Ford (Oneohtrix Point Never, Jacques Greene, North Americans) took shape during pandemic-shadowed studio sessions in Los Angeles, gradually congealing into a poetic sonic language compellingly distinct from their respective discographies. As the moniker alludes to, ‘yes and’ embraces an elusive, curious forward momentum, spiraling but subdued, between divination and dissipation. Despite their eponymous album’s experimental nature, its 10 tracks feel distinctly intimate and emotive, imbued with a strange optimism, both open-ended and opaque.
Cassette:
Hippo Campus – Good Dog, Bad Dream (Grand Jury)
Good Dog, Bad Dream is the new EP from Hippo Campus, and the St. Paul, Minnesota five-piece’s first new music since their 2018 sophomore album Bambi. It finds the band at their most honest and vulnerable to date, with five new intensely cathartic tracks tinged with confessions and dark humor.
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