AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:
- Balvin – Rayo CD (Capitol)
- Balvin takes us back to his roots with his latest album, Rayo, a rambunctiously energetic collection of electronic inspired reggaeton with an impressive list of start-studded features including Feid, Chencho Corleone and SAIKO.
Dasha – What Happens Now? CD/LP (WB)
Introspective and alluring are just a few of the prolific ways artist and songwriter Dasha has been described. Armed with a passion for telling her true story, Dasha has just released her debut country album, What Happens Now? The focus track, “Austin” has created a phenomenon online with millions of people engaging with the accompanying line dance and the sound gaining over 10 billion Views on TikTok. The New York Times has even named ‘Austin’ “one of the signature country songs of the year.” Dasha’s delicate delivery paired with her audacious and unapologetic artistry allows the rising star to “win the hearts of listeners everywhere” (Country Swag). [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including orange crush and indie store exclusive milky clear.]
The Dead Tongues – Body Of Light / I Am A Cloud 2xCD/2xLP (Psychic Hotline)
Over the last 15 years, Ryan Gustafson of The Dead Tongues has emerged as one of modern folk’s most distinct voices. As idiosyncratic and spectral as the songs have sometimes been, Gustafson has always tied his visions and verses to the kinds of hooks you tuck away like talismans, pulled out in case of emergency. Dust, Unsung Passage, Desert: The Dead Tongues’ albums remain some of the more compelling and curious works in their field on this side of the century. The latest edition to The Dead Tongues’ catalog, the song-centric and magnetic Body Of Light and the discursive and wonderfully elliptical I Am A Cloud, is 16 complete tunes split across interweaving and disparate albums.
Four Year Strong – Analysis Paralysis CD/LP (Pure Noise)
When it was time for Four Year Strong to prep what would become their sixth album, analysis paralysis, they were truly, finally, stumped. Vocalist/guitarists Dan O’Connor and Alan Day showed up to producer Will Putney’s studio on day one of recording without a single finished song, in stark contrast to the 40-some ideas they brought to the table for 2020’s Brain Pain. The two spent those early days in a bedroom at Putney’s house talking about, and listening to, music, desperate for a spark of inspiration. They found it by looking back: at what made Brain Pain a success and even the genesis of Four Year Strong as a band as they rode their trademark sound – pop-punk energy, dexterous riffage and caustic hardcore spirit – to the top of the underground in the late aughts. [An indie store exclusive electric blue/deep purple color vinyl pressing is available.]
Heilung – Lifa Lotungard CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Heilung doesn’t play “shows”. They perform a ritual. Christopher Juul, Maria Franz, Kai Uwe Faust and their Nordic collective sweep audiences into rapture with throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire. What better place on earth to experience their ancient ritual than the Red Rocks Amphitheatre? The world-famous venue – which is located outside of Denver, Colorado in the USA, tucked between two giant sandstones – was once home to indigenous tribes. When Heilung performed there in October 2021, they recognized this history by inviting Natives to join the prayer that opens all their rituals.
Amos Lee – Transmissions CD/2xLP (Hoagiemouth/Thirty Tigers)
On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. The force behind such acclaimed albums as Mission Bell and Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song, ever since his gold-selling 2005 debut Lee has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band. For the new project, he craved a return to an old-school style of recording, working with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, New York that was built by drummer Lee Falco and his dad out of reclaimed wood from an old church (“it’s exactly what you’d think a studio in upstate New York should be,” notes Lee). Playing live on the floor for long hours, in close quarters, they were able to capture the album’s twelve songs in less than a week. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding – Milton + Esperanza CD/2xLP (Concord)
For years, Esperanza Spalding dreamed about making music with Milton Nascimento, the revered Brazilian singer-songwriter. Milton + Esperanza is the moving culmination of Spalding’s long-held admiration. Produced by Spalding, the album is a mixture of classics from Nascimento’s catalog, new songs from Spalding, covers from other artists including The Beatles and Michael Jackson, and features special guests including Dianne Reeves, Paul Simon, Lianne La Havas and more.
NIKI – Buzz (88Rising)
What eventually became Buzz, the third studio album by singer-songwriter NIKI, started with an urgent quake from the innermost core of her being. Her songwriting remains as intimate as ever and Buzz reverberates with the hard-earned wisdom of a young woman who charges dauntlessly towards her dreams — but can still spare a laugh if she stumbles. “The album is called Buzz because it signifies that something is about to happen. The promise of something new, when it isn’t real yet, hangs rich and sweet in the air. That millisecond moment in time, suspended in vast suggestion, where there is every opportunity for a shift in trajectory. Small or seismic. You choose.” – NIKI [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including red and indie store exclusive opaque silver.]
Quivers – Oyster Cuts CD/LP (Merge)
Oyster Cuts finds the Melbourne, Australia-based outfit awash in the kind of emotions people tend to fear losing themselves in. Finding love after grief, the outsized guitar pop of Quivers gleams like the surface of an ocean, beneath which lies a reef that is at turns beautiful and painful, its features alien and sharp enough to wound. Propelled by melodies that at times recall Galaxie 500 and The Pretenders, Quivers make music that is tender and tough, compelling the listener to dive in again and again, each song a new angle on all your feelings.
Additional Social Media Program Titles:
No additional social media titles this week.
CDs + Vinyl:
Beabadoobee – This Is How Tomorrow Moves CD/LP (Dirty Hit)
This Is How Tomorrow Moves is the third album from artist beabadoobee, recorded at Shangri-La in Malibu with renowned producer Rick Rubin and released on her long-standing label, Dirty Hit. This Is How Tomorrow Moves captures beabadoobee’s confidence and introspection, with themes of self-acceptance and personal growth woven throughout. It stands as a testament to her artistic evolution and resilience, marking a significant milestone in her career. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including red and indie store exclusive sky blue.]
- Balvin – Rayo CD (Capitol)
- Balvin takes us back to his roots with his latest album, Rayo, a rambunctiously energetic collection of electronic inspired reggaeton with an impressive list of start-studded features including Feid, Chencho Corleone and SAIKO.
Belong – Realistic IX CD/LP (Kranky)
Realistic IX, the third full-length by the duo of Michael Jones and Turk Dietrich aka Belong, is both an expansion and excavation of their signature acid-washed songcraft. Bleached guitars, metronomic drums, and buried voices rev, swirl, and seethe across shifting gradients of haze and hypnosis, alternately driving and diffuse. Melodies surge closer to the surface, flexing their form before resubmerging into quickening currents of feedback. Elsewhere the elements dissipate into a dusk of murk and microtonalities, electricity liberated back into infinite night. Although it’s been thirteen years since Belong’s prior Kranky offering, Common Era, none of the duo’s rare synergy has decayed in the interim. Jones and Dietrich’s commitment to oblique states of motorik drone and liminal emotion continues to evolve and unfold, increasingly tactile and unreal, an alluring glow glimpsed through fogged windows at witching hours.
Dickey Betts – Live From The Lone Star Roadhouse New York City 1988 2xCD (S’more Entertainment)
Late great guitar legend recorded live on January 1988 in New York City at the Lone Star Roadhouse. The set was broadcast on classic rock NYC radio station WNEW-FM. Features a stellar band of musicians including Govt’ Mule and Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes along with Nashville keyboard player Johnny Neel, bassist Marty Privette and Matt Abts on drums. An indie store exclusive green splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Big Sean – Better Me Than You CD (Def Jam)
Better Me Than You is the sixth studio album from Detroit superstar rapper, Big Sean.
Blue Öyster Cult – 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night 2xCD+DVD/3xLP/Blu-ray (Frontiers)
Following the triumphant success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Blue Öyster Cult releases the eagerly anticipated 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night. This electrifying performance includes the band’s second album Tyranny And Mutation performed track-by-track. In September 2022, Blue Öyster Cult enthralled fans with a unique trilogy of sold-out shows, each dedicated to one of their first three albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard made a special appearance on all three nights, adding a nostalgic touch to the historic milestone. [A stand-alone Blu-ray version is available.]
Alison Brown – Simple Pleasures [Reissue/1990] CD/LP (Compass)
Remixed and remastered. Unavailable on all formats since the early 2000s, Alison Brown’s Grammy-nominated debut album Simple Pleasures was a leap forward for Scruggs-rooted banjo playing when it was first released in 1990. This led to her immediate recognition as a banjo pioneer and to her win in 1991 of the Banjo Player of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (the first female to win an Instrumentalist of the Year award). [A black w/ white swirl color vinyl pressing is available.]
Coalesce – Functioning Under Impatience [Reissue/1998] CD (Relapse)
Coalesce – There Is Nothing New Under The Sun + [Reissue/1999] CDEP (Relapse)
CD reissues of the second album and 1999 EP by the metalcore group.
Louis Cole – nothing CD/LP (Brainfeeder)
Grammy darlings Louis Cole, Jules Buckley and the Metropole Orkest team up on nothing for a raucous musical trip that veers from funk-fueled mayhem to somber balladry with the orchestra dialing up the emotional power to 11. Louis Cole is an LA-based Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and sickeningly talented multi-instrumentalist with a strong DIY aesthetic. He is on a mission to create deep feelings through music. Thundercat describes him as “one of Los Angeles’s greatest musicians”. [A white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Dasha – What Happens Now? CD/LP (WB)
Introspective and alluring are just a few of the prolific ways artist and songwriter Dasha has been described. Armed with a passion for telling her true story, Dasha has just released her debut country album, What Happens Now? The focus track, “Austin” has created a phenomenon online with millions of people engaging with the accompanying line dance and the sound gaining over 10 billion Views on TikTok. The New York Times has even named ‘Austin’ “one of the signature country songs of the year.” Dasha’s delicate delivery paired with her audacious and unapologetic artistry allows the rising star to “win the hearts of listeners everywhere” (Country Swag). [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including orange crush and indie store exclusive milky clear.]
The Dead Tongues – Body Of Light / I Am A Cloud 2xCD/2xLP (Psychic Hotline)
Over the last 15 years, Ryan Gustafson of The Dead Tongues has emerged as one of modern folk’s most distinct voices. As idiosyncratic and spectral as the songs have sometimes been, Gustafson has always tied his visions and verses to the kinds of hooks you tuck away like talismans, pulled out in case of emergency. Dust, Unsung Passage, Desert: The Dead Tongues’ albums remain some of the more compelling and curious works in their field on this side of the century. The latest edition to The Dead Tongues’ catalog, the song-centric and magnetic Body Of Light and the discursive and wonderfully elliptical I Am A Cloud, is 16 complete tunes split across interweaving and disparate albums.
Destroy Boys – Funeral Soundtrack #4 CD/LP (Hopeless)
Working with Carlos de la Garza (Bad Religion, Paramore, The Linda Lindas) Destroy Boys’ new album Funeral Soundtrack #4 embraces everything from garage punk to 90’s college indie rock. [A red color vinyl pressing is available.]
Dillon & Batsauce – What Have We Done CD/LP (Full Plate)
Underground hip-hop veterans, Dillon and Batsauce have been making unorthodox rap music together for nearly 20 years with a simple formula: Batsauce makes the beats, Dillon writes the songs, and whatever happens, happens. After carving out their own lane with a catalog of EPs and LPs over the past two decades, the duo has finally slowed down enough to ask themselves, What Have We Done is the title of their latest effort rhetorical or meant to be an actual question? If so, Dillon and Batsauce probably don’t want to know the answer. They probably don’t want you, the listener, to think too much about it either. Instead, What Have We Done is an invitation to experience the trials and tribulations, the small wins and the big losses of being aging independent artists in an increasingly cut-throat world for music makers.
Justin Townes Earle – All In: Unreleased And Rarities (The New West Years) CD/2xLP (New West)
Justin Townes Earle – All In: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years) is a fitting tribute to Justin’s legacy – The collection features many never heard before songs, demos, and cover tunes, spanning his time as a New West Records recording artist. [A deluxe black (not numbered) and deluxe gold nugget (numbered) vinyl pressings are available.]
eLZhi – The Preface [Reissue/2008] CD/LP (Nature Sounds)
By the time his 2008 solo debut The Preface was released, eLZhi was already recognized as one of hip-hop’s most gifted lyricists. The Detroit emcee was still a member of Slum Village at the time, having replaced hip-hop icon J Dilla in the legendary group earlier that decade. The Preface showcases eLZhi’s undeniable talent and impressive creative flair, foreshadowing the exciting solo career that would follow.
Four Year Strong – Analysis Paralysis CD/LP (Pure Noise)
When it was time for Four Year Strong to prep what would become their sixth album, analysis paralysis, they were truly, finally, stumped. Vocalist/guitarists Dan O’Connor and Alan Day showed up to producer Will Putney’s studio on day one of recording without a single finished song, in stark contrast to the 40-some ideas they brought to the table for 2020’s Brain Pain. The two spent those early days in a bedroom at Putney’s house talking about, and listening to, music, desperate for a spark of inspiration. They found it by looking back: at what made Brain Pain a success and even the genesis of Four Year Strong as a band as they rode their trademark sound – pop-punk energy, dexterous riffage and caustic hardcore spirit – to the top of the underground in the late aughts. [An indie store exclusive electric blue/deep purple color vinyl pressing is available.]
Futurebirds – Easy Company CD/LP (Dualtone Music Group)
By matching the sharply written songs of three distinct frontmen with a progressive mix of rock & roll, electrified folk, and cosmic American roots music, Futurebirds have built an audience that’s as wide as the band’s own sound. With Easy Company, Futurebirds’ fifth studio album, that sound reaches a new peak. Featuring four songs apiece from singer/songwriters Womack, Johnson, and Carter King, Easy Company feels like a celebration of the tight-knit bonds that have held Futurebirds aloft since 2008. Back then, the guys were college students at the University of Georgia, building a buzz around town with shows at fraternity houses and local bars. Years later, they’ve become headliners at bucket-list venues like The Ryman and The Fillmore, collaborating with fellow genre benders like My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel along the way.
Ghostface Killah – Set The Tone CD (Mass Appeal)
Ghostface is ready to “Set The Tone” with his new album, featuring a blend of tracks catering to both male and female audiences. Expect a mix of hard-hitting New York rap and melodic, laid-back records. Additionally, Ghostface has collaborated with hip-hop heavyweights such as Nas, Kanye West, Ja Rule, and many others. [Vinyl version due September 13.]
G(I-Dle – I Sway (Beat Ver.) CD (Cube Entertainment)
G(I-Dle – I Sway (Wave Ver.) CD (Cube Entertainment)
G(I-Dle – I Sway (Wind Ver.) CD (Cube Entertainment)
New album by the five-member K-pop group. Available in a variety of collectable versions.
Heilung – Lifa Lotungard CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Heilung doesn’t play “shows”. They perform a ritual. Christopher Juul, Maria Franz, Kai Uwe Faust and their Nordic collective sweep audiences into rapture with throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire. What better place on earth to experience their ancient ritual than the Red Rocks Amphitheatre? The world-famous venue – which is located outside of Denver, Colorado in the USA, tucked between two giant sandstones – was once home to indigenous tribes. When Heilung performed there in October 2021, they recognized this history by inviting Natives to join the prayer that opens all their rituals.
Honeymoon Suite – Clifton Hill …Revisited CD (Deko Music)
Honeymoon Suite has released a total of seven studio albums with over one million units sold worldwide driven by the success of a string of hit singles such as “New Girl Now”, “Burning In Love”, “Wave Babies”, “Stay In The Light”, “Feel It Again” and “What Does It Take”, to name a few. The band has won numerous awards including a Canadian Juno for group of year in 1986, triple platinum sales in Canada with the first three albums, and platinum sales for the greatest hits CD The Singles, released in 1989. They also received an award in June 2015 for 100,000 + performances on Canadian radio for “Burning In Love”, “New Girl Now”, “Wave Babies” and “What Does It Take”. They have toured extensively in the US, Canada and Europe with acts such as ZZ Top, Heart, Billy Idol, Journey, Bryan Adams, Saga, Loverboy, Jethro Tull and.38 Special to name a few.
The Hooten Hallers – The Devil’s Egg CD/LP (Garlic Press)
A group of three disillusioned teenaged punks find themselves transported into a terrifying alternate universe in The Devil’s Egg, a new fantasy rock opera from Missouri music renegades The Hooten Hallers. Throughout 13 spellbinding tracks, the music flows through a rainbow of musical genres from R&B and metal to punk and prog rock. [A color vinyl pressing is available.]
Kite – VII CD/LP (Dais)
Since surfacing into the Scandinavian synth-pop scene 16 years ago, Nicklas Stenemo and Christian Hutchinson Berg aka Kite have steadily grown from local icons to a global phenomenon, yet until now they’ve never released a full-length studio album. VII breaks the ice, collecting 14 of the duo’s deepest and most dynamic anthems into a stormy saga of immersive, apocalyptic emotion. Sourced from a series of six 7” singles released over the past half-decade, the collection persuasively showcases Kite’s distinctly cinematic strain of Swedish darkwave in all its glory and desolation. [Multiple vinyl colorways are available.]
LA LOM – Lost Angeles League Of Musicians CD/LP (Verve)
LA LOM is an instrumental trio deriving from the vibrant tapestry of Los Angeles’s music scene, who are seamlessly weaving together the diverse genres and cultures of the city into its music. Standing for The Los Angeles League of Musicians, LA LOM is comprised of L.A. natives Zac Sokolow (guitar), Jake Faulkner (bass), and Nicholas Baker (drums/percussion). LA LOM have quickly ascended to playing to thousands of people nightly and have captured the attention of fellow artists from Beck to Vampire Weekend with their unique blend of cinematic, soulful playing crossed with timeless Latin and Soul influences. Their self-titled Verve Records debut is produced by Elliot Bergman (Cage the Elephant, Major Lazer, Wild Belle).
Amos Lee – Transmissions CD/2xLP (Hoagiemouth/Thirty Tigers)
On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. The force behind such acclaimed albums as Mission Bell and Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song, ever since his gold-selling 2005 debut Lee has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band. For the new project, he craved a return to an old-school style of recording, working with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, New York that was built by drummer Lee Falco and his dad out of reclaimed wood from an old church (“it’s exactly what you’d think a studio in upstate New York should be,” notes Lee). Playing live on the floor for long hours, in close quarters, they were able to capture the album’s twelve songs in less than a week. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Geddy Lee – My Favourite Headache [Reissue/2000] CD/2xLP (Atlantic)
Originally release on November 14, 2000, My Favourite Headache is the debut solo album from Rush vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee.
Alex Lifeson – Victor [Reissue/1996] CD/2xLP (Atlantic)
Victor is a solo album by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson under the pseudonym “Victor”, originally released in 1996. The album was recorded at Lerxst Sound (Lifeson’s home studio) from October 1994 through July 1995. The album reached number 99 on the Billboard 200 in 1996 and received a 1997 Juno Award nomination for Best New Group.
Little Big Town – Greatest Hits CD/LP (Capitol Nashville)
Multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning four-piece Little Big Town – comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook – release their first-ever, career-spanning Greatest Hits album via Capitol Records Nashville. The album collects over two decades of chart-busting country smashes on one definitive body of work, ranging from the Grammy Award-winning “Pontoon,” “Boondocks” and “Better Man” to massively influential anthems such as “Girl Crush.” It traces the quartet’s unbelievable journey from humble beginnings to country royalty. For the uninitiated, it’s also the best way to get to know the band. [A translucent white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts – Mission – Ultimate Edition CD (Deko Music)
This extended version of the 2022 album Mission by Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts consists of exclusive new edition artwork plus six extra tracks. Five tracks are acoustic versions and feature piano/acoustic guitars and cello. The sixth extra track is a brand-new song only heard at live acoustic performances.
Mushroomhead – Call The Devil CD/2xLP (Napalm)
Masked metal masters Mushroomhead return with the cinematic Call The Devil – laying waste to any preconceived notions of where the band is headed in their third decade of reign. [Indie store exclusive CD and vinyl (red colorway) editions are available.]
Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding – Milton + Esperanza CD/2xLP (Concord)
For years, Esperanza Spalding dreamed about making music with Milton Nascimento, the revered Brazilian singer-songwriter. Milton + Esperanza is the moving culmination of Spalding’s long-held admiration. Produced by Spalding, the album is a mixture of classics from Nascimento’s catalog, new songs from Spalding, covers from other artists including The Beatles and Michael Jackson, and features special guests including Dianne Reeves, Paul Simon, Lianne La Havas and more.
NIKI – Buzz (88Rising)
What eventually became Buzz, the third studio album by singer-songwriter NIKI, started with an urgent quake from the innermost core of her being. Her songwriting remains as intimate as ever and Buzz reverberates with the hard-earned wisdom of a young woman who charges dauntlessly towards her dreams — but can still spare a laugh if she stumbles. “The album is called Buzz because it signifies that something is about to happen. The promise of something new, when it isn’t real yet, hangs rich and sweet in the air. That millisecond moment in time, suspended in vast suggestion, where there is every opportunity for a shift in trajectory. Small or seismic. You choose.” – NIKI [Multiple vinyl colorways are available, including red and indie store exclusive opaque silver.]
Jim Peterik & World Stage – Roots & Shoots Volume Two CD (Frontiers)
Jim Peterik’s World Stage concept, rooted in the idea of musical and spiritual collaborations among artists and friends, has spawned a series of records. Volume 2 of this concept features Mike Reno (Loverboy), Toby Hitchcock (Pride Of Lions), Jason Scheff (Chicago), Cathy Richardson (Jefferson Starship), The Ides Of March, alongside emerging talents such as Dave Mikulskis, Sophie Sheth, Kevin Farris. World Stage embodies Jim Peterik’s outstanding musical legacy, a testament to his songwriting prowess as one of the true icons of melodic rock.
Pig Destroyer – Painter Of Dead Girls CD/LP (Relapse)
Painter of Dead Girls is a compilation album by the grindcore band Pig Destroyer. It features songs from their Gnob and Benümb splits as well as a cover of the Helmet song “In the Meantime”. [An indie store exclusive translucent gold with silkscreen B-side is available.]
Elvis Presley – Memphis 5xCD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Memphis is a comprehensive collection that takes listeners through the many recordings Elvis had done while in Memphis – from his songs at Sun Records, to his American Studio and Stax sessions, through to his 1974 hometown show and finally, his last recordings in Graceland. This 5xCD collection of Elvis’ songs over the years features 111 tracks, 88 of which are newly mixed versions of the select recordings, pure and without overdubs. [An abbreviated double-LP highlights edition is available on vinyl.]
Quivers – Oyster Cuts CD/LP (Merge)
Oyster Cuts finds the Melbourne, Australia-based outfit awash in the kind of emotions people tend to fear losing themselves in. Finding love after grief, the outsized guitar pop of Quivers gleams like the surface of an ocean, beneath which lies a reef that is at turns beautiful and painful, its features alien and sharp enough to wound. Propelled by melodies that at times recall Galaxie 500 and The Pretenders, Quivers make music that is tender and tough, compelling the listener to dive in again and again, each song a new angle on all your feelings.
The Rare Sounds – The Rare Sounds CD/LP (Color Red)
2024 album. It all started at The Yardbird Suite in Leeds, UK in 1996. The legendary jazz-funk revivalists, The Greyboy Allstars, embarked on their maiden voyage to the UK with a stop at the legendary jazz club hosted by Eddie Roberts and a supporting set from his organ trio, The Three Deuces. That night sparked a mutual admiration between both groups as they had met their cross-continental counterparts who were reinvigorating 60s boogaloo soul-jazz. It was a once-in-a-lifetime connection between devout loyalists of exploring vintage tones, digging for records, and forging paths as trailblazers of the funk and soul revival in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.
Siamese – Elements CD/LP (Long Branch)
Hailing from a small country with big dreams, Siamese stands out as a beacon of hope in the Danish music scene. Drawing inspiration from bands like Architects and Bad Omens, Siamese navigates the contemporary heavy music landscape with finesse.
Temple Of Void – Of Terror And Supernatural [Reissue/2014] CD (Napalm)
Temple Of Void – Lords Of Death [Reissue/2017] CD (Napalm)
CD reissues of the first two albums by the Detroit-based doom/death metal band.
Thee Marloes – Perak CD/LP/Cassette (Big Crown)
When you first hear Thee Marloes, their soul sound may seem familiar enough. There are the weighty drums, a crooning guitar, and a beautiful voice singing about unrequited love and the complications inherent in affairs of the heart. But then there is something undeniably different about Thee Marloes and their music, something new and distinct. And while you may be acquainted with soul music, you’ve probably never heard it from Surabaya, Indonesia-the place they call home. [An indie store exclusive color vinyl pressing is available.]
Tomorrow X Together – Chikai (Standard Ver.) CD (Big Hit/Hybe)
Tomorrow X Together – Chikai (Limited Edition A) CD (Big Hit/Hybe)
Tomorrow X Together – Chikai (Limited Edition B) CD (Big Hit/Hybe)
New release from the K-pop group. Available in a variety of collectable versions.
Ben Wolfe – The Understand CD/LP (Outside In Music)
There is no doubt that Ben Wolfe is one of the most sought-after bassists in jazz, performing with top names such as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall and many others.
Bill Wyman – Drive My Car CD/LP (BMG)
New album from legendary bassist Bill Wyman, who was bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones from 1962 to 1993 (briefly returning in 2023) and has performed as bassist for Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings since 1997. Drive My Car is Bill Wyman’s first solo record since 2015’s Back To Basics.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Blue Öyster Cult – 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night Blu-ray (Frontiers)
Following the triumphant success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Blue Öyster Cult releases the eagerly anticipated 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night. This electrifying performance includes the band’s second album Tyranny And Mutation performed track-by-track. In September 2022, Blue Öyster Cult enthralled fans with a unique trilogy of sold-out shows, each dedicated to one of their first three albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard made a special appearance on all three nights, adding a nostalgic touch to the historic milestone.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Bloodlust – Guilty As Sin [Reissues/1986] LP (Lost Realm)
Bloodlust – Terminal Velocity [Reissue/1988] LP (Lost Realm)
Color vinyl pressings. long-awaited vinyl reissues of Bloodlust’s cult albums: “Guilty As Sin”, originally released in 1986, and “Terminal Velocity”, originally released in 1988. Bloodlust doesn’t need big introductions. They are one of the bands of the golden age of Californian metal, recognized for their fast and furious playing style and that, without a doubt, represent a constant influence for the new wave of bands.
Eddie Bo – The Other Side Of Eddie Bo [Reissue/1977] LP (501 Record Club, LLC)
Eddie Bo’s mythical first LP is a sublime piece of raw New Orleans funk. Originally released in 1977 in tiny quantities on his own Bo-Sound imprint, TRC presents the first ever reissue. Now is your chance to finally hear this masterpiece of rare groove, soul, jazz, and funk.
Boney M. – The Magic Of Boney M [Reissue/2022] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
2022 compilation by these ’70s and ’80s hitmakers. The Magic Of Boney M. (Special Remix Edition) 2xLP color vinyl includes the very best of one of the supergroup’s of the dance music era. From the mega hits “Daddy Cool” and “Rivers of Babylon” to the back in vogue “Rasputin”. This double LP Vinyl (disc one is translucent magenta & disc two is translucent blue) release also features stunning new remixes from LIZOT and Majestic.
Brother Noland – Speaking Brown [Reissue/1980] LP (Aloha Got Soul)
Official vinyl reissue of the 1980 debut of legendary Hawaiian artist.
Canned Heat – Future Blues [Reissue/1970] LP (Made In Germany Music)
The history of Canned Heat is also the history of excesses, drug abuse, mental illness and pill addiction, combined with an affinity for internal band funerals. Drummer Adolfo Fito de la Parra recently said in an interview: I’m still with Canned Heat after more than 55 years. To be alive at all is already a triumph here. After all, Fito had been with the band since their second official album Boogie With Canned Heat, which was released on the US label Liberty in 1968. In 1970, Future Blues was released, the first album with the new guitarist Harvey Mandel.
Charlie Nothing – The Psychedelic Saxophone of Charlie Nothing/In Eternity with Brother Frederic [Reissue/1967] LP (Real Gone Music)
John Fahey’s Takoma label is best known for pushing the envelope when it comes to acoustic guitar playing, but in 1967 it released a record that has become one of the true cult classics of the ‘60s free jazz movement.
Child Saint – Anthology LP (Lost Realm)
Traditional US heavy metal from the late ‘80s.
Clifton Chenier And His Red Hot Louisiana Band – Live At Tipitina’s LP (501 Record Club LLC)
Rust marble colorway. Made in NOLA. This extraordinary June 7, 1980, performance features the undisputed Zydeco King, Clifton Chenier, at the height of his powers, delivering a captivating and energetic live performance at the iconic Tipitina’s.
Coalesce – Live At BBC’s Maida Vale Studios LP (Relapse)
Gold color vinyl pressing. Coalesce’s Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios captures the band’s ferocious live radio performance for BBC radio, featuring 4 tracks from the band’s OX period including “Wild Ox Moan”, “Through Sparrows I Rest”, and “The Villain We Won’t Deny”.
Conway The Machine – Slant Face Killah 2xLP (Drumwork Music Group)
Following his most commercially and critically successful year to date, Conway The Machine returns with his first full length offering of 2024, Slant Face Killah. Long teased as the second half of the chart-topping 2023 album, Won’t He Do It, fans see Conway the Machine embracing his killer instincts on the mic, and doing so with versatility – rapping over the familiar gritty, dark beats.
Cuneiform Tabs – Cuneiform Tabs LP (W.25th)
Yellow colorway. Like an unsent love letter to a psychedelic London where everyone is trying to find their way to a secret Television Personalities gig, Cuneiform Tabs emerge with an astounding debut of lo-fi pop and DIY experimentation. A hazy collage of joyful heartaches, twisted children’s TV themes and sing-song melodies, the album echoes the sounds of ’60s AM radio from a dozen narrow alleyways to the North.
John Davis – Love In The Time Of Capital LP (Joyful Services)
Are you a mannequin in the eyes of your beloved? Does your partner compare your relationship to a factory that emits plumes of smoke? Are you in love with a seductive and destructive Credit Default Swap? Someone who sucks you in with skyrocketing short term erotic returns – only to ghost you until you crash so hard that you end up broke(n) in your own bed? Do you pay $300 an hour out of pocket to a psychiatrist who promises to help you strike a deal with a difficult parent – one that will produce more stable long-term returns on your psychic investments? If so, then you, my friend, may be drowning in the sea of Love In The Time of Capital. It’s where everyone would love to drown. It’s a new album from John Davis of The Folk Implosion that finds him backed with confidence by Eli Moore and Andrew Dorsett of the indie pop band Lake. It was recorded by Nich Wilbur at the Unknown, a cavernous recording studio in Anacortes, WA that has been a favorite destination for indie rockers around the nation.
Zani Diabaté’ Et Le Super Djata Band – Vol. 2 [Reissue/1982] LP Numero)
Connecting Wasulu hunter music, griot praises, Senufo pastoral dances, Fula and Mandingo repertoire alongside Western psychedelia, blues and afro-beat, Zani Diabaté’s Super Djata Band was among Mali’s top orchestras of the 1980s. On their 1982 album, Diabaté enshrines himself within the pantheon of mythical West African guitarists, hypnotically picking through eight vivid compositions on his path to godhead status. [Multiple colorways are available.]
Dune Rats – If It Sucks, Turn It Up LP (BMG)
Yellow colorway. A rollercoaster of good times, hard truths, ‘90s nostalgia, and stoner pop fuzzy goodness.
FireHouse – FireHouse [Reissue/1990] LP (Real Gone Music)
“Smoke & fire” colorway. FireHouse won the American Music Award for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band and best newcomer nods from a host of music mags.
Nelly Furtado – Whoa, Nell! [Reissue/2000] 2xLP (Geffen)
Whoa, Nelly! Is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, originally released in 2000. Includes the singles: “I’m Like a Bird”, “Turn Off the Light”, “Shit on the Radio (Remember the Days)”, and “Hey, Man!”.
Godsmack – Faceless [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Republic)
Double vinyl LP edition pressed at 45rpm. Faceless is the third studio album by Godsmack, originally released in 2003. Faceless is Godsmack’s third studio album that features the #1 rock hits “I Stand Alone,” and “Straight Out of Line.” Giving the band their first #1 album, it has become a fan favorite and rock staple over the years.
Grateful Dead – Dicks Picks Vol. 12 – Providence Civic Center 6xLP (Real Gone Music)
Limited, hand-numbered 180gm 6xLP set housed inside a two-piece hardshell box.
Sandy Harless – Songs [Reissue/1973] LP (Numero)
Arriving as the hippy movement was discovering it’s peaceful easy ’70s feelings, Sandy Harless’ Songs LP is Chillicothe, Ohio’s lone contribution to the Cosmic American Music movement. Financed from a 27-aquarium fish breeding business, the album shows its Appalachian roots with a tight weave of mountain folk, rural rock, and pastoral country. Real people music. [Multiple colorways are available.]
Hell Gun – Kings Of Beyond LP (Lost Realm)
In a perfect mix of heavy and power, the nine songs that make up the album Kings Of Beyond are a must for all those who follow the revival of traditional metal, especially dedicated to the sound of the ‘80s.
Paris Hilton – Paris [Reissue/2003] LP (Real Gone Music)
For the first-ever vinyl release of Paris, Real Gone Music has taken the fetching photos from the CD package and given them plenty of acreage to show their stuff, with a newly created gatefold jacket and four-color printed inner sleeve. The limited-edition run of maroon and blonde marbled vinyl goes smashingly with the album art. In short: a pop culture keepsake from a pop culture icon.
Inner Wave – Apoptosis [Reissue/2021] LP (Org Music)
Inner Wave – III [Reissue/2013] LP (Org Music)
Color vinyl reissues. Inner Wave band blends lo-fi indie rock and groovy psychedelia for an
intoxicating sound that has won them many devoted fans all over the world.
- Rawls – Bump The Floor LP (55 Music)
Get ready to groove like never before as J. Rawls, the iconic figure from the ‘90s hip-hop scene, returns with an electrifying release that will ignite dance floors worldwide. Renowned for his collaborations with hip-hop luminaries like Masta Ace, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli, Rawls showcases his versatility and mastery in a whole new dimension with his latest offering. Titled Bump The Floor, this album is a sonic journey through the realms of house music.
Bombay S. Jayashri – Shravanam [Reissue/2000] LP (Time Capsule)
Transcendental work of intensely spiritual Indian classical music by celebrated vocalist and composer Bombay S Jayashri.
Jefferson Airplane – Woodstock – Sunday August 17, 1969 3xLP (Real Gone Music)
Iridescent blue colorway. At the muddy miracle that was Woodstock, the most miraculous performance just might have been Jefferson Airplane’s. The band had been one of the first to sign on for the festival, their imprimatur prompting many other acts to hop on board, and their stature had landed them a coveted headlining slot closing Saturday night’s schedule. But, as the torrential downpours and the unexpected crush of half a million people kept on delaying their set, the chances of putting on anything approaching a quality performance seemed to diminish…
Elvin Jones – Heavy Sounds [Reissue/1968] LP (Verve)
Recorded for Impulse in 1967, a session originally intended to be a trio date morphed into an 11 ½-minute duet on “Summertime” between drummer Jones and bassist Davis when the guitarist did not appear. The following day, saxophonist Frank Foster and pianist Billy Greene joined in to round out the rest of the cuts including “Elvin’s Guitar Blues,” which features Jones’ only recorded guitar performance.
Kadavar – Kadavar (The First Album) [Reissue/2011] 2xLP+CD+DVD (Robotor)
An East German, a West German and an Austrian meet… What might sound like the start of a somewhat corny joke does, in retrospect and without mincing words, represent both the creation myth and the starting point of one of the most successful and intriguing rock bands of our time. That band is none other than Kadavar. Founded in 2010 in Berlin, they have kept climbing higher on posters for huge rock festivals across the globe for 15 years and are now in the same league as the biggest names in psychedelic and stoner rock.
Earl King – Street Parade LP (501 Record Club LLC)
Street Parade, produced by the legendary Allen Toussaint and featuring The Meters, epitomizes the essence of New Orleans R&B. Earl King’s soulful vocals, Toussaint’s masterful production, and The Meters’ tight instrumentation converge in a musical celebration. A collaboration of unparalleled talent, Street Parade remains a cornerstone in the legacy of New Orleans musical heritage. Orange burst colorway.
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Flight b741 LP (KGLW)
or their 26th album, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard swap the widescreen concepts of their recent albums for the intimacy of six good friends collaborating on the most bonhomie-laden set they’ve yet committed to wax.
David Kilgour – A Feather In The Engine [Reissue/2002] LP (Merge)
Originally released in 2002, A Feather In The Engine followed two full-band efforts – 1997’s David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights and The Clean’s 2001 album Getaway – and is thus almost startling in its intimacy. Recorded at home and mostly alone (The Verlaines’ Graeme Downes provides lush string arrangements), Kilgour once called A Feather In The Engine “the most solo LP I’ve made.” Interpolating his genius for guitar pop through acoustic guitars and gorgeous instrumentals, its melodies unfold gently, suggesting that the 13 songs here, written over the course of four years, were searching Kilgour as much as he was searching them.
Jim Kirkwood – King Of The Golden Hall [Reissue/1991] LP (Out Of Season)
First-ever reissue campaign of the works of cult fantasy synth figure Jim Kirkwood, whose original compositions predated by several years the legendary dark ambient progenitors of what would later be rebranded as “dungeon synth”. Kirkwood’s musical style was unique from his contemporaries, falling less in-line musically with the medieval, subterranean dread of his peers and more with artists like Mort Garson (Plantasia, Atraxia’s The Unexplained, etc.). Kirkwood incorporated a far more diverse palette of influences such as the Berlin School (Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Klaus Schulze, etc.) of electronic music, John Carpenter’s synth-driven soundtrack compositions, and, perhaps most importantly, a spiritual foundation akin to the New Age cassette culture of the 1980’s, albeit much darker.
Azar Lawrence – People Moving [Reissue/1976] LP (Real Gone Music)
Don’t let the list of stellar sideman gigs (with Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Woody Shaw et al.) make you overlook the solo work of saxophonist Azar Lawrence; for over 45 years he has recorded a string of spiritual ‘n’ soulful jazz albums that come closer to the ethos and aesthetic of John Coltrane than probably any of Lawrence’s contemporaries. Recorded for the legendary Prestige label in 1976, People Moving is his third solo album, and it’s one of his best; it features such luminaries as Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Harvey Mason, and Mtume on a soaring set of funky tunes produced by a young Skip Scarborough, who would go on to helm recordings by Bobbie Humphrey, Con Funk Shun, and Phyllis Hyman among others.
Ravyn Lenae – Bird’s Eye LP (Atlantic)
Color vinyl pressing. Ravyn Lenae announces her sophomore album Bird’s Eye. The album – executive produced by Grammy-winning producer, Dahi (Drake, SZA, Kendrick Lamar) – is heralded by two new songs, “Love Me Not” and “Love Is Blind.” “Love Is Blind” reminisces about a past relationship with regret but also hope for personal growth. While “Love Me Not” portrays a tumultuous relationship of desiring someone and rejecting the notion of dependence.
The Logic – Ultra 85 LP (BMG)
Ultra 85 is known across Logic’s fanbase as the album that never was. It has become the Maryland rapper’s “Detox.” Logic first announced he was working on this album in 2017 and is highly anticipated by his fanbase. Despite his many acclaimed projects since then, Logic’s fanbase, The Rattpack have not been able to let go of the coveted album they were once promised. [Multiple colorways are available, including marbled blue and an indie store exclusive pressing.]
Lossapardo – If I Were To Paint It LP (Roche Music)
Known for blending art and music, Lossapardo has caught the eye of big names like The New York Times Magazine or Netflix and built a strong artist community around him (FKJ, Luidji, Bas, Joseph Solomon, Montell Fish, Olivia Dean…). His music, filled with feelings of wonder and a bit of sadness, tells stories that connect with people everywhere. From painting to composing music, every piece of his work is a journey into emotions. His album invites listeners into a world where every note and color create a vivid picture of life’s ups and downs. Lossapardo crafts experiences that speak to the soul, promising an album that continues to share his unique vision with the world.
Lust – Hollywood Roxx – 76-80 Studio Sessions LP (Lost Realm)
Yellow colorway. Collection of tracks from the L.A. band considered part of the first wave of Hollywood metal.
Mamaleek – Vida Blue LP (The Flenser)
Time is a slippery fish. Loss has inspired Mamaleek’s latest full-length album, titled Vida Blue. This marks the San Francisco Bay Area metal deconstructionists’ eighth album and their third as a full lineup. Tragedy struck in March of 2023 when the band lost a longtime friend and member, keyboardist Eric Livingston, leaving the group, which began as a duo of two brothers and later expanded to a five-piece, now with only four members. Despite this profound loss, Mamaleek persevered, performing as a quartet at various festivals, including the 2023 edition of Tilburg. The band returned to the studio to create new material that appropriately reflects their journey through loss and honors their fallen comrade. The resulting album draws inspiration from the legacy of Oakland A’s baseball legend Vida Blue, whose former team coincidentally announced its relocation to Las Vegas that same year. [An emerald colorway is available.]
Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back In Town!! [Reissue/1961] LP (Craft Recordings)
Recorded in 1961 and released by Contemporary Records the same year, Maggie’s Back In Town!! is the second album released on the label by jazz trumpeter Howard McGhee. Also featured are the players Phineas Newborn Jr., Leroy Vinnegar and Shelly Manne.
Pat Metheny – Bright Size Life [Reissue/1976] LP (ECM)
With his first studio recording as a leader, Bright Size Life was the album that decisively put him on the map as a bright new force with something fresh to say in the context of contemporary jazz. Recorded in Ludwigsburg in December 1975, and produced by Manfred Eicher, the album features Metheny’s regular touring band of the day – Bob Moses on drums and the virtuosic but then largely unknown Jaco Pastorius on bass guitar. “I could happily play all the music from Bright Size Life right now,” said Pat Metheny in an interview for the Library of Congress in 2021.
The Monochrome Set – The Independent Singles Collection 2xLP (Lantern)
The Monochrome Set’s complete independent singles collection including B-sides and rare tracks. Collected from their time at Rough Trade, Dindisc and Cherry Red, a superb collection of genre defying “new wave” pop. Suave; debonair; sophisticated. Haughty, perhaps, for those who favour the pejorative. Aristocratic in more than one sense, classy in at least as many. The Monochrome Set were effortlessly inventive, literate, poised and immaculate of tuneage, possessed of an internal dialogue as a band that allowed them to surf their own narrative.
Peter Murphy – Peter Live Volume One – Covers LP (Silver Shade/Cadiz Music)
One of the icons of the post-punk years, Peter Murphy fronted the dark art house crew Bauhaus. His charismatic, devilish and dangerous personae, combined with his stunning voice and razor-sharp cheekbones, saw him become one of the pin-ups for what was to be mis-labelled Goth. Post Bauhaus, he released a series of acclaimed solo albums and fronted the band on their intermittent back from the dead reunions before the band collapsed in 2023. Bauhaus were never short of giving a nod to their mentors with several well executed covers that they made their own. The singer continues this tradition with Peter Live Volume One – Covers, the first of two albums for his own new Silver Shade label, showcasing his own solo interpretations. Gold nugget colorway.
Osees – SORCS 80 LP (Castleface)
“This album [SORCS 80] was a self-imposed ambitious project for us [OSEES]. Something to kick in the creative flow. The last few years, having been a challenging time in general, felt like a good time for a pivot. The last two albums were so guitar and keyboard centric; I wanted a weird and fun set of parameters for us to work with. I demo’d everything at home on cassette four track (harkening back to simpler times) using drum loops, and just had at it ’til I had a pile of ‘songs.” – John Dwyer [Multiple colorways are available, including white and an indie store exclusive “Kelly green with magenta blob pressing.]
Pharaoh Sanders – Thembi [Reissue/1970] LP (Verve)
Released in 1971 on Impulse and recorded with two different ensembles, Thembi marked a departure from the slowly developing, side-long, mantra-like grooves Sanders had been pursuing for much of his solo career. Instead, it offers an intriguingly wide range of relatively concise ideas resulting in something of an anomaly in Sanders’ prime period.
The Pineapple Thief – One Three Seven [Reissue/2002] LP (Kscope)
Following their second European tour for the 2016 summer hit album Your Wilderness, their two European Your Wilderness tours and the release of their stunning concert film recorded at the Islington Assembly Hall, Where We Stood, The Pineapple Thief release One Three Seven; the new, dynamically remastered 2018 edition of their second album of Alt-Rock melancholia from 2001. An excellent entry point into the band’s early career, with songwriter Bruce Soord deftly balancing accessibility and a heavier sound for which The Pineapple Thief have become widely celebrated.
Poison Idea – We Must Burn [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (American Leather)
1993s We Must Burn was the last record that Poison Idea released with the classic Tom “Pig Champion” Roberts Steve “Thee Slayer Hippy” Hanford, Charley “Myrtle Tickner” Nims, Jerry A. Lang, Craig “Mondo” Lower line-up.
Smashing Pumpkins – Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Virgin)
First-ever official vinyl release of The Smashing Pumpkins’ Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits collection. Originally released in 2001, it features the hit singles, “Today,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and many more. The album’s concluding track, “Untitled”, was the Pumpkins’ final recording before their first breakup.
Yasser Tejeda – La Madrugá LP (Seasick)
Blue colorway with bonus track. La Madrugá is a transcendental Afro-Caribbean offering by artist and composer Yasser Tejeda inspired traditional folkloric, jazz, rock, and Caribbean rhythms. Pressed on blue vinyl. Includes vinyl bonus track, “Pa’ Sembrar”.
Jerome Thomas – Submerge LP (Melting Pot Music)
Blue colorway. UK vocalist Jerome Thomas returns alongside producer Pitch 92 with Submerge, a deeply human exploration into ethereal jazz, R&B, and ‘70s soul. Lyrically, the project explores themes of lust, blackness, security, and compassionate love. Sonically, it combines the sophisticated musical arrangements of the past with seductive contemporary production in the lower frequencies.
Oded Tzur – My Prophet LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On his album, My Prophet, Oded Tzur – together with his quartet of pianist Nitai Hershkovits, bassist Petros Klampanis and new member Cyrano Almeida on drums – continues the idiosyncratic musical path he has carved out for himself, a flowing jazz idiom that seamlessly combines multiple forms of expression while delving deeper into the meditative and highly concentrated realm of improvisation.
Suzanne Vega – 99.9F° [Reissue/1992] LP (Rubellan Remasters)
Yellow colorway. Unlike the loud guitars or heavy dance beats of most alternative music of the day, 99.9F° was very melodic and still retained some of the acoustic style of Vega’s earlier albums. The music video for “Blood Makes Noise” was given heavy rotation on MTV’s underground video show 120 Minutes, partially because of the out-of-character industrial vibe. Further singles for the title track and “When Heroes Go Down” were also well-received and cemented 99.9F° as a classic.
Vodu – The Final Conflict [Reissue/XXXX] LP (Lost Realm)
Formed in São Paulo in the early ‘80s, Vodu are among the first heavy metal bands to sign a record deal. The debut album The Final Conflict was the first release of the mythical Rock Brigade Records (Vulcano, Viper, Harppia) and unequivocally established the boundaries in Brazilian speed/thrash.
Zero Boys – History Of [Reissue/1984] LP (Secretly Canadian)
When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early ‘80s punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. From 1979 to 1983, the Indianapolis-based Zero Boys were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Compiled and released as a post-mortem following the band’s breakup, History Of is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn’t all white bread numbers.
Cassettes:
Thee Marloes – Perak (Big Crown)
When you first hear Thee Marloes, their soul sound may seem familiar enough. There are the weighty drums, a crooning guitar, and a beautiful voice singing about unrequited love and the complications inherent in affairs of the heart. But then there is something undeniably different about Thee Marloes and their music, something new and distinct. And while you may be acquainted with soul music, you’ve probably never heard it from Surabaya, Indonesia-the place they call home.
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