AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:
Atreyu – The Beautiful Dark Of Life CD/LP (Spinefarm)
The Beautiful Dark Life is the ninth studio album from Atreyu. Unfurled throughout the year as a series of three EPs, culminating in a surprise album release, Atreyu are taking their audience on a journey through “the seasons of life” and the rollercoaster of human existence. With songs that speak openly and honestly about anxiety, depression, self-belief, love and identity, The Beautiful Dark Life represents Atreyu’s most universal and important songwriting to date. Through the expression of deeply personal feelings and emotions, Atreyu is giving a voice to a global audience dealing with the very same issues that the band are laying bare, and who are seeking solace, empathy, escapism, and empowerment through music. [Two color vinyl pressings are available: glow-in-the-dark clear; and red teal & yellow swirl.]
Brandy – Christmas With Brandy CD/LP (Motown)
A generational talent who is revered by her peers and fans alike, Brandy brings her wisdom and experience to her new holiday album, Christmas With Brandy. A thoughtful, mixed gift bag, the album features Brandy singing original material and bringing new life to classic holiday standards. When she’s not dazzling listeners with a crystalline cover, Brandy is diving deep into the R&B bag that made us fall in love with her from the very beginning. [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is available.]
Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Underneath Ocean Blvd CD/2xLP (IGA/UMG)
Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Underneath Ocean Blvd is the ninth studio album from acclaimed singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, comprising 16 tracks and interludes with features from Father John Misty, Tommy Genesis, Jon Batiste, Bleachers and more. She introduced the album with the brooding and swelling title track which was written by Del Rey and Mike Hermosa and produced by Lana, Jack Antonoff, Drew Erickson, and Zach Dawes. It follows the prolific artist’s 2021 albums Chemtrails Over The Country Club and Blue Banisters.
Warren Haynes – Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert Volume 20 2xCD+DVD/3xCD+Blu-ray/ 2xLP (Provogue)
Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam returned for its 30th annual installment in December 2018. The charity event was held over two days at the U.S. Cellular Center in the guitarist’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina on December 7 and 8, 2018. Now, for the first time, it’s being released on four different color vinyl sets (due December 22), 2xCD+DVD and 3xCD+2xBlu-ray. It features performances by Gov’t Mule who presented a “Dark Side Of The Mule” tribute to Pink Floyd as well as Grace Potter, Jamey Johnson, Marco Benevento, and Mike Gordon. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also headlined one night for a set billed as “Dave Grohl And Friends Play ‘Play'” in reference to his 23-minute instrumental. Gov’t Mule, Eric Church, Jim James, and Joe Bonamassa round out the lineup alongside many more special guests.
Bruce Hornsby – Spirit Trail [25th Anniversary Edition] 3xCD/3xLP (Zappo Productions)
Digitally remastered and expanded 25th Anniversary edition. Includes remastered original album by Bob Ludwig, four previously unreleased/unheard “lost” songs, and 70 min of unreleased live recordings. “1998 was a formative year for Bruce Hornsby. As if playing a key role in the formation of a Grateful Dead redux – The Other Ones – and the massive coast-to-coast summer tour that accompanied it wasn’t enough, the Williamsburg, VA native still managed to find time to record a double album that continues to stand as arguably the hallowed pianist’s greatest work.” – Dave Goodwich, Glide Magazine
Queens Of The Stone Age – In Times New Roman… CD/2xLP+MP3 (Matador)
In Times New Roman…, the eighth studio album from Queens Of The Stone Age is raw, brutal and rough around the edges but with a refinement that reveals itself further with each successive listen – and QOTSA founder Joshua Homme’s lyrics are as witty and withering as ever. The results are instantly identifiable; QOTSA’s sonic signature, expanded and embellished with new and unprecedented twists in virtually every song, a live in-a-room recording that showcases a band at the height of their creative powers. In Times New Roman… is a party for the obscene and the clean, the outcasts and the weirdos, and anyone and everyone in between. One of the most important bands in recent rock history is back but it’s no exaggeration to call this album a devastating rebirth.
Olivia Rodrigo – Guts CD/LP (Geffen)
Guts was recorded with producer Daniel Nigro, who also collaborated with her on Sour, her chart-topping, 4x Platinum debut album. “For me, this album is about growing pains and about trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life and exactly what I want to say in my songs.”
Chris Stapleton – Higher CD/2xLP (Mercury Nashville)
Current ACM Entertainer of the Year, Chris Stapleton releases his fifth studio album Higher. The album features 14 songs including the first single, “White Horse”. Chris has won numerous awards including eight Grammy Awards, ten Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards – including the current Entertainer Of The Year, and 14 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. He was named ACM’s Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Stapleton at No. 170 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Uncle Lucius – Like It’s The Last One Left CD/LP (Boo Clap)
Second chances are rare in rock ‘n’ roll. Most bands only get one shot at the brass ring, and once the opportunity passes by, it’s gone forever. Maybe that’s why Uncle Lucius sounds like a band reborn on Like It’s The Last One Left, a cathartic comeback album that reunites the platinum-selling group – and pumps new blood into its roster – after a five-year hiatus. Written and recorded in the band’s hometown of Austin, Texas, Like It’s The Last One Left isn’t just a return to form: it’s an expansion, bolstering Uncle Lucius’ mix of amped-up Americana and greasy roots-rock with string arrangements, adventurous production, and the sharpest songwriting of the group’s career.
Additional Social Media Program Titles:
Childish Gambino – Because The Internet [Reissue/2013] CD/2xLP (Glassnote)
Because The Internet is the sophomore album from Childish Gambino, the stage name of Grammy, Golden Globe, and Emmy Award-winning recording artist, actor, and producer Donald Glover. Released in 2013, the album lends perspective to the complications born from an Internet- obsessed society. In creating Because The Internet, Glover set out to not just release an album but to build a world, also releasing a companion screenplay and short film, Clapping For The Wrong Reasons. The album features appearances from Chance The Rapper, Jhene Aiko, and Azaelia Banks.
Slowdive – Everything Is Alive CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
Everything Is Alive, Slowdive’s fifth record, is exactly what the title suggests: an exploration into the shimmering nature of life and the universal touch points within it. While there are parts of this record that could sit neatly next to the atmospheric quality of 1995’s Pygmalion, Everything Is Alive also manages to break down the boundaries of what’s come before it. Spanning psychedelic soundscapes, pulsating ‘80s electronic elements and John Cale inspired journeys, the album lands immediately as something made for the future.
CDs + Vinyl:
Bryan Adams – Live At The Royal Albert Hall 2xCD+Blu-ray/4xLP+Blu-ray (BMG)
In 2021, Bryan Adams headlined three epic nights at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall. Each evening, Adams performed one of his classic albums in its entirety: Cuts Like A Knife (Night 1), Into The Fire (Night 2) and Waking Up The Neighbours (Night 3). For the first time these recordings are available on CD and vinyl box sets which includes 35 songs, a Blu-ray featuring all of the performances, and a 32-page photo book featuring exclusive images from these storied nights.
Aeon Winds – Night Sky Illuminations CD/LP (Avantgarde Music)
Dive into the depths of Night Sky Illuminations for some symphonic black metal from ancient times.
Amalekim – Avodah Zarah CD/LP (Avantgarde Music)
New album from the Italian/Polish black metal band.
Atreyu – The Beautiful Dark Of Life CD/LP (Spinefarm)
The Beautiful Dark Life is the ninth studio album from Atreyu. Unfurled throughout the year as a series of three EPs, culminating in a surprise album release, Atreyu is taking their audience on a journey through “the seasons of life” and the rollercoaster of human existence. With songs that speak openly and honestly about anxiety, depression, self-belief, love and identity, The Beautiful Dark Life represents Atreyu’s most universal and important songwriting to date. Through the expression of deeply personal feelings and emotions, Atreyu is giving a voice to a global audience dealing with the very same issues that the band are laying bare, and who are seeking solace, empathy, escapism, and empowerment through music. [Two color vinyl pressings are available: glow-in-the-dark clear; and red teal & yellow swirl.]
The Bad Touch – Bittersweet Satisfaction CD/LP (Marshall)
Bad Touch return with their fifth album Bittersweet Satisfaction, which showcases their good-time rock and roll over 10 new tracks. [A translucent orange colorway is available.]
Big Thief – Masterpiece [Reissue/2016] CD/LP+MP3 (4AD)
Masterpiece, Big Thief’s debut album, is filled with characters and visceral narratives, songs that pivot in the space of a few words. Adrianne Lenker’s voice and guitar playing speak of rich emotional territory with grace and insight. In her words, the record tracks “the masterpiece of existence, which is always folding into itself, people attempting to connect to both shake themselves awake and to shake off the numbness of certain points in their life. The interpretations might be impressionistic or surrealistic, but they’re grounded in simple things.”
Blue Öyster Cult – 50th Anniversary • Live In NYC • First Night 2xCD+DVD/3xLP/Blu-ray (Frontiers)
The legendary American Hard Rock band Blue Öyster Cult celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a very special set of three sold-out shows in a row in September 2022 at Sony Hall in NYC. For this historic career milestone, each show featured the band playing in its entirety one of their first three albums (Blue Öyster Cult, Tyranny And Mutation, and Secret Treaties), followed by a set of deep cuts and classics from their other albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard was a special guest on all three nights, as well thus featuring a line-up including three original members (Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom, and Albert Bouchard) who were front and center tonight, ably supported by Danny Miranda, Richie Castellano, and Jules Radino. [A stand-alone Blu-ray version is also available.]
Broadside – Hotel Bleu CD/LP (Sharptone)
When you check into a hotel, you immediately step into another mindset. It may not be home, but you can still rest, nonetheless. Without knowing what happened before or what will go down after, you add to the history of each room. In the morning, you leave and essentially return to reality. Broadside explore this phenomenon on their fourth full-length album, Hotel Bleu. The trio architect a thematic vision as expansive and engaging as their seismic and soaring alternative pop hooks.
V V Brown – Am I British Yet? CD/2xLP (Virgin)
Multi-platinum musician, Grammy-nominated songwriter, and multi-faceted artist V V Brown is back with her fourth studio album Am I British Yet? This is a groundbreaking exploration of black identity. This cutting-edge project features influences from James Baldwin, Erykah Badu, Soul to Soul, Roots Manoeuvre, and Windrush generation poets. Showcasing her Jamaican and Black British heritage through genre blurring soundscapes, V V Brown has crafted an innovative musical experience that refuses the status quo.
The Chick Corea Elektric Band – The Chick Corea Elektric Band [Reissue/1986] CD (Candid)
The Chick Corea Elektric Band – Light Years [Reissue/1987] CD (Candid)
What would ultimately become a powerhouse fusion quintet began as a potent electric trio. Demonstrating an ear for remarkable young talent, Chick Corea – the venerated 27-time Grammy winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master – recruited newcomers Dave Weckl on drums and John Patitucci on electric bass, for his new mid- ‘80s project The Chick Corea Elektric Band. [Also available this week: The Complete Studio Recordings 1986-1991 10xLP box set.]
Dimmu Borgir – Inspiratio Profanus CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
As they conjure new, dark compositions, Dimmu Borgir takes a retrospective look back, celebrating the band’s 30th Anniversary and the seminal artists that left a defining imprint on their sound. Conceived in the heart of the Norwegian black metal scene in 1993, Dimmu Borgir quickly broke free from the boundaries of the genre, daring to combine a traditional raven black sound with opulent symphonic orchestration. Dimmu Borgir herald their 30-year legacy by releasing, together for the first time, a collection of their cover songs, Inspiratio Profanus. [A limited-edition white with black splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
James Elkington – Me Neither CD/2xLP (No Quarter)
Me Neither is a 29-track double album of instrumental guitar music. While juggling several other projects James Elkington began writing “music for which there was no purpose.” It became a new way of working for him – waking up each morning and improvising and recording the first thing that came into his head.
Melody Gardot – Worrisome Heart [Reissue/2008] CD/LP (Decca)
Released in 2008 when she was just 22, Worrisome Heart announced the singer-songwriter as the next, and brightest, jazz star of the 21st century. Drenched in a sublime vapor of mellow blues, eclectic folk and jazz, this 10-track collection showcases a superb narrative, nuanced phrasing, skillfully constructed arrangements, and above all, Melody’s hauntingly beautiful voice. [A limited-edition pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
Warren Haynes – Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert Volume 20 2xCD+DVD/3xCD+Blu-ray/ 2xLP (Provogue)
Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam returned for its 30th annual installment in December 2018. The charity event was held over two days at the U.S. Cellular Center in the guitarist’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina on December 7 and 8, 2018. Now, for the first time, it’s being released on four different color vinyl sets (due December 22), 2xCD+DVD and 3xCD+2xBlu-ray. It features performances by Gov’t Mule who presented a “Dark Side Of The Mule” tribute to Pink Floyd as well as Grace Potter, Jamey Johnson, Marco Benevento, and Mike Gordon. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also headlined one night for a set billed as “Dave Grohl And Friends Play ‘Play'” in reference to his 23-minute instrumental. Gov’t Mule, Eric Church, Jim James, and Joe Bonamassa round out the lineup alongside many more special guests.
Xaver Hellmeier – X-Man In New York CD (Cellar Live)
Drummer Hellmeier assembles an all-star group and records his debut as a leader in the hallowed halls of RVG in Englewood Cliffs New Jersey. Produced by Hellmeier’s mentor, drummer Joe Farnsworth, this album features four of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet today. Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington and saxophonist Eric Alexander anchored by the young drummer convened at the legendary RVG studios and recorded a few of Hellmeier’s thoughtful originals and some unique takes on jazz classics.
Helloween – Rabbit Don’t Come Easy [Reissue/2003] CD (Atomic Fire)
CD reissue of the tenth studio album by one of the most respectable German metal exports and pioneers of German melodic speed metal. [Vinyl version due January 26.]
Hum – Electra 2000 [Reissue/1993] CD/2xLP (Earth Analog)
Hum – You’d Prefer An Astronaut [Reissue/1995] CD/2xLP (Earth Analog)
Hum – Downward Is Heavenward [Reissue/1997] CD/2xLP (Earth Analog)
Hum’s sonic universe is a solipsistic world that exists on its own terms, a maelstrom of sensations and colors, a thick metallic vortex of fuzz-toned guitars with a silent core at the center like the eye of a hurricane – equal parts homegrown and high-tech. Hum serves up a cacophony of overlapping harmonics and dense shards of electric guitars providing a counterpoint to Matt Talbott’s reflective tales.
Tate McRae – Think Later CD (RCA)
Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Tate McRae releases her sophomore album Think Later. Executive produced with hitmaker Ryan Tedder (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé), Think Later is steeped in pop appeal and infectious hooks. Showcasing Tate’s boundless vocal talent and evolution as a songwriter, this new body of work explores the all-too-relatable feelings of falling in love and embracing the raw emotions that you experience because of leading with your intuition and heart.
The Mighty Clouds Of Joy – Kickin’ CD (Omnivore)
CD reissue of the R&B/Gospel classic from 1975 with two bonus tracks. Contains the single edit of the #1 Billboard Disco Action single of “Mighty High”. Packaging includes new liner notes from Gospel historian Tim Dillenger-Curenton.
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 CD/LP (Republic)
Fifth studio album from the rap/R&B superstar and follow-up to her 2018 album Queen. [A limited-edition electric blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Fabiano do Nascimento – Mundo Solo CD/LP (Far East)
New album from the Brazilian guitarist and composer. Recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles (2020) Mundo Solo is fundamentally the sound of a man alone with his instruments. Utilizing a variety of guitars, including six, seven, and 1ten strings, Oktav guitar and electric baritone guitar, alongside a host of pedals and synthesizers, Fabiano tracked imagined landscapes with expressive, expansive improvisations, which tend toward the more ambient and atmospheric reaches of his recent output.
Michael Nau – Accompany CD/LP (Karma Chief)
Since the mid- 00s, Michael Nau has crafted a catalog of thoughtful, reflective songs as the frontman of indie-rock mainstays Cotton Jones, Page France, and Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread. All 11 tracks on his latest solo effort Accompany come together to paint a beautiful picture. The lyrics invoke the listener’s imagination throughout. They’re introspective, but vague and open-ended. The indie rock backdrop shows signs of psych-soul influence with dry and punchy drums, lush synth lines, and tastefully verb-soaked vocal production. [A limited-edition powder blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – Session [Reissue/2004] 2xCD/2xLP (Secret)
Available for the first time on vinyl and not released on CD since 2004, this high-energy band is known for their unique blend of punk, rock, and indie sound. Formed in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in November 1987. The band is best known for the tracks “Not Sleeping Around”, “Happy” and “Trust”, all featured on this explosive live double album.
Lee Scratch Perry – Heaven CD/LP (Burning Sounds)
Heaven is the final album from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry before his passing in October 2021. Perry’s contribution to the furtherance of Jamaican music as producer, arranger, writer, and artist is beyond compare. He played a pivotal role in, and was the inspiration behind, many of the key movements in the development of reggae throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Pink Floyd – Atom Heart Mother / Hakone Aphrodite Japan 1971 CD+Blu-ray (Pink Floyd)
Double-disc package in a 7” sleeve containing the 1970 Atom Heart Mother album on CD and a Blu-ray disc featuring newly discovered film of the performance from over 50 years ago. Originally only released in Japan in 2021, the set contains some unique memorabilia – a special photo book containing many rare, never-seen-before photos, reproductions of the pamphlet, the poster, the concert ticket, and the flier distributed at the event.
Robbie Robertson – Killers Of The Flower Moon (Soundtrack From The Apple Original Film) CD (Masterworks)
The soundtrack to the recent film Killers Of The Flower Moon features an original score by the late artist Robbie Robertson, his final score and 11th collaboration with film director legend Martin Scorsese. Robertson spent much of his childhood on the Six Nations Reserve as part of his mother’s Mohawk community; the emotional soundtrack is an imitable sonic companion to the film rooted in authenticity. The album features an original score of 15 tracks crafted by the late musician for Scorsese’s western crime drama. [Vinyl edition due December 15.]
Sodom – Decision Day CD/LP (Steamhammer)
Sodom’s new album Decision Day is a mélange of a fresh, contemporary thrash metal attitude and the group’s traditional fortes. [A limited-edition red w/ yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]
Ulver – Vargnatt [Reissue/1993] CD/LP (Peaceville)
Norwegian act Ulver rose to prominence from a blacker metal-rooted background in their early years, to becoming widely known for high-caliber soundscapes and exquisite experimental and electronic art as part of their continual and ever-shifting evolution. 1993’s Vargnatt was Ulver’s first foray into the wilds and an exceptional debut demo, utilizing what was to become a staple acoustic guitar implementation amid melodic and often complex and obtuse arrangements, conjured and delivered with an already advanced degree of musicianship, with vocals appearing courtesy of longstanding frontman Kristoffer “Garm” Rygg. [A limited-edition oxblood color vinyl pressing is available.]
Uncle Lucius – Like It’s The Last One Left CD/LP (Boo Clap)
Second chances are rare in rock ‘n’ roll. Most bands only get one shot at the brass ring, and once the opportunity passes by, it’s gone forever. Maybe that’s why Uncle Lucius sounds like a band reborn on Like It’s The Last One Left, a cathartic comeback album that reunites the platinum-selling group – and pumps new blood into its roster – after a five-year hiatus. Written and recorded in the band’s hometown of Austin, Texas, Like It’s The Last One Left isn’t just a return to form: it’s an expansion, bolstering Uncle Lucius’ mix of amped-up Americana and greasy roots-rock with string arrangements, adventurous production, and the sharpest songwriting of the group’s career.
Various Artists – Moping In Style – A Tribute To Adam Green CD/2xLP (Org Music)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. This sweeping double album features Regina Spektor, Father John Misty, Devendra Banhart, The Libertines, Jenny Lewis, Sean Lennon, Frankie Cosmos, and The Lemonheads, among many other familiar names whose contributions stand as a testament to the unique influence Adam Green (of The Moldy Peaches fame) has had on indie rock culture over the last two decades. With song selections culled from Adam’s solo albums, beginning with 2002’s Garfield to his most recent That F***ing Feeling, this tribute album displays Adam’s remarkable range as a songwriter.
Venator – Paradiser (Extended) CD/LP (Dying Victim Productions)
Austria has many exciting new talents in traditional metal, one of them being Venator. 2020’s Paradiser features killer, era-authentic artwork reminiscent of Mausoleum Records’ mid- ‘80s heyday and is Venator’s entry with three moody ‘n’ melodic tracks which have a subtly anthemic quality; just as equally, one can feel the chill of night blow across Paradiser. The uniquely retro-futuristic production simply accentuates the atmospheric push and pull. This extended version features three additional raw tracks, one new original as well as two cover tunes.
Neil Young – Before + After CD/LP/Blu-ray-Audio (Reprise/WB)
Consisting of 13 tracks, Neil Young’s 45th album Before + After features solo acoustic re-recordings of some of his past songs. [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia – Blood Brothers: Live In Canada CD (Sono Recording Group)
Blood Brothers: Live In Canada perfectly captures all the excitement and blues/rock energy created by the dynamic duo of guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia on their recent Blood Brothers Tour, featured in an intimate setting that transports listeners to front row seats for all the action. Blood Brothers: Live In Canada was recorded at Blue Frog Studios, White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, on May 19 and 20, 2023.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
America – Holiday [Reissue/1974] Blu-ray Audio (Rhino)
Original quadrophonic mix of this classic album on Blu-ray audio.
Blue Öyster Cult – 50th Anniversary • Live In NYC • First Night Blu-ray (Frontiers)
The legendary American Hard Rock band Blue Öyster Cult celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a very special set of three sold-out shows in a row in September 2022 at Sony Hall in NYC. For this historic career milestone, each show featured the band playing in its entirety one of their first three albums (Blue Öyster Cult, Tyranny And Mutation, and Secret Treaties), followed by a set of deep cuts and classics from their other albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard was a special guest on all three nights, as well thus featuring a line-up including three original members (Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom, and Albert Bouchard) who were front and center tonight, ably supported by Danny Miranda, Richie Castellano, and Jules Radino.
Depeche Mode – Strange + Strange Too DVD/Blu-ray (Rhino)
Freshly restored from original Super 8 sources, the compilation of groundbreaking Depeche Mode videos, directed and filmed by Anton Corbijn, includes 11 music videos + six previously unreleased outtake “Vignettes”. The digipack release includes new artwork & liner notes by Anton Corbijn.
Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown [Reissue/1974] Blu-ray Audio (Rhino)
Original quadrophonic mix of this classic album on Blu-ray audio. One of the leading singer/songwriters of the 1960s and ’70s, Gordon Lightfoot was Canada’s most successful contemporary folk artist, establishing himself as an important songwriter in the mid- ’60s and going on to become a major international recording star in the following decade. Lightfoot’s songs are literate but down to earth, and deal with personal matters as well as global issues in a manner that’s poetic yet accessible, and his rich, strong voice is a superb vehicle for his material, though his songs are versatile enough that many artists have enjoyed success with his tunes.
Charles Mingus – Mingus Moves [Reissue/1974] Blu-ray Audio (Rhino)
Original quadrophonic mix of this classic album on Blu-ray audio.
Porcupine Tree – Closure/Continuation. Live. Amsterdam 07/11/22 DVD+Blu-ray (Sony Int’l Network)
Closure/Continuation. Live. Amsterdam 07/11/22 documents Porcupine Tree’s triumphant return to the stage perfectly. A live recording captured on November 7, 2022, at Amsterdam’s 17,000 capacity Ziggo Dome, it places the listener/viewer right at the heart of the stage for the duration of the show as psychotropic visuals explode behind the band as they play a superlative set of songs that features – to use Steven Wilson’s words – “no hits,” where each one is received like an anthem from an alternate universe.
Spinners – Spinners [Reissue/1973] Blu-ray Audio (Rhino)
Original quadrophonic mix of this classic album on Blu-ray audio.
Neil Young – Before + After CD/LP/Blu-ray-Audio (Reprise/WB)
Consisting of 13 tracks, Neil Young’s 45th album Before + After features solo acoustic re-recordings of some of his past songs.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
The Anix – Shadow_Movement [Reissue/2018] 2xLP (Fixt)
Double vinyl pressing including bonus tracks. The Shadow_Movement is upon us as The Anix’s visionary album is finally unlocked on vinyl format. Featuring 15 main tracks and six extras, including future-rock highlights “This Machine”, “Fight The Future”, “Come Back Down”, and Interchanger, the album is set in a dystopian cyberpunk world, pulling from counter-culture, sci-fi and anime influences of a dark and desolate digitality based future. Assuming multiple roles as composer, producer, and mixer, The Anix mastermind, Brandon Smith, combines influences from both rock and electronic music, crafting a powerful message with excellent musicianship and songwriting.
Fiona Apple – Tidal [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Fiona Apple – When The Pawn Hits The Conflicts He Thinks Like A King What He Knows Throws The Blows When He Goes To The Fight And He’ll Win The Whole Thing ‘Fore He Enters The Ring There’s No Body To Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand And Remember That Depth Is The Greatest Of Heights And If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where To Land And If You Fall It Won’t Matter, Cuz You’ll Know That You’re Right [Reissue/1999] LP (Sony Legacy)
Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do [Reissue/1999] LP (Sony Legacy)
180gm vinyl reissues of the singer-songwriter and pianist’s first four albums.
Arizona – Arizona LP (Fueled By Ramen)
Regarding Arizona’s eponymous album, Zachary Charles explains, “The album is a collection of experiences and memories over the last couple of years. Some are in the present, and others are vignettes of moments before quarantine. It’s a snapshot of what the human mind goes through to keep itself sane. Some records are more upbeat and dance-y, which was our way of having fun in a rough season. Others look back at what life was like, how we didn’t see what was coming, and thinking about where we are now.”
AWOLNATION – Angel Miners & Lightning Riders [Reissue/2020] LP (Endurance Music)
Blue colorway. Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders is a full-throttle journey, linked by a conceptual framework about good versus evil. Featuring friends like Rivers Cuomo of Weezer on the song “Pacific Coast Highway” and Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros frontman Alex Ebert for “Mayday!!! Disco Fiesta”, Aaron Bruno’s 2020 offering is his boldest and greatest body of work to date.
Roy Ayers – Liquid Love b/w What’s The T? 7” (BBE)
With both tracks now coming out for the first time on vinyl, the “Liquid Love” b/w “What’s The T?” 7” single is a must get for all Roy Ayers fans and serious music collectors, not least as 2023 witnessed Roy’s final tour of live dates. This release is a fitting tribute to the career of one of the most influential musicians in global Black music history and each track represents his virtuosity as a vibesman and his versatility across genres.
Count Basie – Swings The Blues! LP (Candid)
Blue colorway. Led by musical director Scotty Barnhart, the Count Basie Orchestra keeps Basie’s unmistakable style alive and thriving around the world. In the great traction of the Basie Swings albums comes this explosive album of collaborations with some of the greatest living blues and jazz artists, Basie Swings The Blues!. In preparation for these sessions, Barnhart took a pilgrimage to the Mississippi Delta to immerse himself in the land where blues began. The resulting album is a joyful mix of downhome blues with the deep swing and sophistication that only The Count Basie Orchestra can provide. Swings The Blues brings together Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Keb’ Mo’, Shemekia Copeland, Robert Cray, Charlie Musselwhite, Betty LaVette, Ledisi, George Benson, and others to bring the blues and swing back together for a set that jumps and jives with an energy not heard since Louis Jordan and T-Bone Walker lit up stages in the ’40s and ’50s.
Belphegor – Bondage Goat Zombie [Reissue/2008] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Belphegor – Totenritual [Reissue/2017] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Two new colorways: transparent blue/black marbled; and crystal-clear w/ gold & black splatter (respectively). Named after one of the seven princes of Hell, the blackened death metal band Belphegor originated in the early ‘90s in the town of Salzburg Austria and have released ten full-length records.
Andrew Bird – Inside Problems LP (Loma Vista)
Sky blue colorway. “I’m interested in the moment when something becomes something else, when somewhere becomes somewhere else. That membrane that separates inside from outside. Retreating as we do into the underlands, molting our plumage, exorcising our inside problems and emerge like newborn foals shaking, naked, squinting in the light.” – Andrew Bird speaking of Inside Problems, his 2022 album produced by Mike Viola and featuring the lead single, “Atomized”.
Boygenius – Boygenius [Reissue/2018] LP (Matador)
Yellow colorway. Boygenius celebrate five years of their iconic debut EP, capping off a triumphant 2023 in support of the record. The trio of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus headlined sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden in NYC and Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles this past October.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby – This House Is Made Of Corners 12” (ATO)
Translucent pink colorway. Chicago-based Brigitte Calls Me Baby span genres and eras, merging the lavish romanticism of mid-century pop with the frenetic energy of post-punk, new wave and early-millennium indie-rock. Originally from Southeast Texas, frontman Wes Leavins grew up hearing Roy Orbison at his grandparents’ house next door, while his parents’ played albums by The Cars and Tears For Fears, and his friends turned him onto Radiohead and The Strokes.
Joanna Brouk – Sounds Of The Sea LP (Numero)
Seaglass wave colorway. Joanna Brouk’s most ambitious recording, Sounds Of The Sea, is a concept album full of mystery and eroticism. A conch shell bookends this journey into the deep, going down and down and down further, never reaching bottom. Drawing inspiration from various legends of mermaids and sailors, Brouk weaves circling flutes, vocals, drones, and whale songs to describe a sense of unfathomable longing more clearly than words could ever express. Sounds Of The Sea is a hypnotic and profound achievement by one of new age’s greatest composers.
Barry Brown – Love And Protection [Reissue/1996] LP (Radiation Roots)
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Barry Brown was one of the handful of upcoming artists that came to define the emerging dancehall style as a singer with a distinctive high tenor that was instantly recognizable, and one which inevitably made a lasting impression on the listener. Most of the work on Love And Protection, an intriguing compilation that surfaced in the mid- ‘90s, brings us back to Barry Brown’s peak period as heard on the Cool Pon Your Corner (1980) and Far East (1981) LPs, along with the original unembellished mixes of two EPs released by Black Roots, as well as some harder to trace material, such as the vibrant digital title track. Running the gauntlet from “reality” tunes to dance numbers to songs of loving romance and everything in between, it ultimately emphasizes Barry Brown’s impressive versatility, highlighting the important role he played in the shift from roots to dancehall.
Burna Boy – Love, Damini 2xLP (Atlantic)
Grammy-award-winning Burna Boy releases his sixth studio album, Love, Damini on vinyl. Named The New York Times’ Critics Pick, the 19-track album features collaborations with Ed Sheeran, J Hus, Popcaan, Blxst, Kehlani, J. Balvin, Khalid, Victony and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Love, Damini follows the African Giant’s Grammy Award Winning album, Twice As Talland was written as Burna Boy’s personal letter to his fans. Each track was inspired by significant life events that have impacted Burna. The record marks his coming of age and captures Burna Boy’s new sound as he turns the page on a new musical era.
Candlemass – Ancient Dreams LP (Peaceville)
35th anniversary green marble colorway. Candlemass was formed by bassist and songwriter Leif Edling in Stockholm, Sweden in 1984, and is well known for its epic doom metal, having a great influence over a generation of the genre’s subsequent greats such as Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride – Candlemass themselves taking a large influence from Black Sabbath. Ancient Dreams is Candlemass’ third album, released in 1988, and it featured a natural progression of slow-mid tempo epic arrangements from their previous release, Nightfall – perhaps even more distinction between slow and faster parts – with the unique tones and unmistakable voice of Messiah Marcolin still dominating proceedings on this pure doom metal classic.
Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined [Reissue/2021] LP (Metal Blade)
Limited blue color vinyl pressing of the fifteenth studio album by the death metal band.
Car Seat Headrest – Faces From The Masquerade 2xLP (Matador)
In March of 2022, Car Seat Headrest brought their “explosive” (Brooklyn Vegan) live show to Brooklyn Steel in New York in support of their 2020 LP Making A Door Less Open. Across three back-to-back nights, the band played revved up versions of tracks spanning their extensive back catalog. Faces From The Masquerade is a collection of recordings from those performances which includes fan favorites “Beach Life-In-Death”, “Crows”, “Something Soon”, and “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales”.
C-Clamp – Dream Backwards LP (Numero)
Percolating in the same watery diner coffee that spawned American Football and Hum, C-Clamp shrugged on and off the ’90s slowcore and emo scenes in a hurry. Compiled here are the band’s two albums for the venerable Ohio Gold label – Longer Waves and Meander + Return, plus a third LP of singles and compilation tracks, and a meticulously annotated book stuffed with lyrics, photos, flyers, and ephemera from their all-too-brief existence. This one’s colder than a Chicago winter-better plug in that space heater. [A limited-edition white w/ blue splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Chunk! No Captain Chunk! – Pardon My French [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Fearless)
Pardon My French is the second studio album by French rock band, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!. Produced by Joey Sturgis (Asking Alexandria, Emmure, blessthefall), the album features the fan favorite single, “Haters Gonna Hate”. To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the album release, this Deluxe Edition is pressed on vinyl for the first time (red smoke colorway) packaged in a gatefold jacket with alternate artwork. The album also includes four bonus tracks.
Class – “If You’ve Got Nothing” LP (Feel It)
“The Artist works in a museum. And that museum is rock ‘n’ roll. In a world of meme punk rockabilly grandads it’s the classicists that really have something to say. Straight lines, hooks, and a clear path to your heart. They might not be dbeat heart throbs, but no one else can give you that feeling that you can hold on to a moment like you are driving too fast down Route 60 and it’s never going to end. In 20 years when you skulk the dark alleyways of wherever punk’s red fern grows, they won’t be talking about Dwight Twilley, the Looks, or the Nerves, they will be looking for a little Class.” – Tobi Vail and Hayes Waring
Comeback Kid – Outsider [Reissue/2017] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Formed in 2000 in the Canadian town of Winnipeg the hardcore band Comeback Kid have made a name for themselves touring all over the world. Outsider is Comeback Kid’s seventh full length release and back-in-print on black vinyl.
Common Kings – Celebration LP (Island Empire)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Common Kings is comprised of Samoan-born Hawaiian lead singer Sasualei “Jr. King” Maliga and Hawaii-raised Samoan guitarist Taumata “Mata” Grey; Fiji-born bassist Ivan “Uncle Lui” Kirimaua, and L.A.-born Tongan drummer Jerome “Big Rome” Taito. The band has toured with Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Meghan Trainor, Fifth Harmony and CeeLo as well as headlining their own shows and music festivals around the country and world.
Ashley Cooke – Shot In The Dark LP (Big Loud)
Recently released on CD – now available on color vinyl. Hailing from Parkland, FL and moved by emotional hit makers like Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson and more, Cooke embraces the energy of pop and depth of country, writing her first song by age 11. She moved to Nashville at 18 and attended the prestigious Belmont University – but unlike so many others, she did not study music. After entering the schools revered Country Showcase on a whim and winning, Cooke decided to pursue music for a year. When the pandemic had other plans, Cooke went to TikTok where she built a thriving fanbase, writing and sharing country music on her own terms.
Chick Corea – The Complete Studio Recordings 1986-1991 10xLP (Candid)
Led by the legendary pianist and composer Chick Corea – 27-time Grammy-winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master – The Elektric Band stormed onto the jazz scene in the mid- ‘80s, making an immediate and lasting impact on the genre. With their electrifying performances and innovative blend of jazz fusion, the group produced a series of albums that set the bar for excellence in contemporary jazz. This 10xLP disc box set presents the original five studio albums in gatefold jackets, with printed inner sleeves, and restored artwork, in a deluxe slipcase. It also includes an envelope of reproduced removable memorabilia from Chick’s private archive. Originally edited and re-sequenced to fit on single LPs, this limited-edition box set restores all five Elektric Band studio albums to their original full running order for the very first time.
Jamie Cullum – Twentysomething [Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Decca)
To mark the 20th anniversary of Jamie Cullum’s most successful album, Twentysomething is available on vinyl for the very first time. It features the original album across three sides with a selection of non-album tracks, and session recordings on the fourth side. Originally released in 2003, Twentysomething was Jamie’s first release on the UCJ imprint in the UK and on Verve in the US. On release, respected jazz critic John Fordham (writing in The Guardian) said, “Cullum’s virtues are a remarkable relaxation (which makes music-making, even in a sophisticated studio recording, sound like fun to him), a youthful bounce that makes his work engagingly airy and light, and a hipness of timing that marks him out from many of his competitors.”
Denzel Curry – TA1300 [Reissue/2018] LP (Loma Vista)
Limited pink color vinyl pressing of the third studio album by the rapper.
Cymande – Second Time Round [Reissue/1973] LP (Partisan)
Translucent green colorway. In 1974, with the release of Second Time Round, Cymande solidified their place in music history. As children of the Windrush Generation, they were part of the first wave of innovators and originators of the fledgling Black British music scene. Taking influences from their Guyanese and Jamaican roots, the band fused reggae bass lines, Afro-tinged Nyabinghi percussion, psychedelic rock touches, and American style funk instrumentation into a unique sound they dubbed as “Nyah-rock.” Second Time Around was the follow up to their self-titled debut and firmly planted the band in the ears of an adoring US audience.
Death Angel – Humanicide [Reissue/2019] LP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
New clear w/ purple splatter colorway. Ascending from the depths, the almighty Death Angel returned in 2019 with their energy fueled masterpiece, Humanicide. A return to the wolves alongside a survivalist pack mentality are what fuel the powerful themes erupting from these fresh metal anthems. In a modern capitalist society where selfishness reigns and communal help and survival are things of the past, Death Angel produces sounds and symbols that point out the truths of attempting to exist safely in the present day.
Mella Dee – Rug Cutters Vol. 1 12” (Warehouse Music)
Rug Cutters Vol. 1 kicks off a slew of upcoming dancefloor weapons from the Warehouse Music boss. Visually underlined by his own original artworks, the EP shows off Mella Dee’s signature flair for whipping up raw, no-nonsense ingredients into irresistibly infectious grooves.
Vince DiCola – Rocky IV: The Symphonic Rock Suite 12” (Notefornote Ent.)
Vince DiCola’s Rocky IV: The Symphonic Rock Suite was recorded live at the 13th edition of the Tenerife International Film Music Festival (Fimucité). Arranged by Leigh Phillips, conducted by Diego Navarro and performed at the Auditorium of Tenerife by the CPMTFE-CSMC Fimucité Youth Symphony Orchestra composed of students from the Professional Music Conservatory of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and of the Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands, this landmark world premiere concert featured Vince on keyboards performing his compositions from the film.
DJ Rashad – Double Cup [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Partisan)
Limited-edition gold colorway. In some ways, Double Cup is Rashad’s debut album, but in more significant ways, it represents a lifetime of incubating a remarkable branch of Chicago house music. In a cruel twist of fate, Double Cup is also a testament to how much creative juice we lost when Rashad died tragically on April 26, 2014.
Dope Purple / Bei San Q Nan – Psychedelic Scum Freaks [Reissue/2019] LP (Riot Season)
Ultra-limited-edition release from Taiwan’s psych-rock heroes Dope Purple, joined here by fellow Taipei resident, noise musician Bei San Q Nan. Here is a one-off pressing of the bands self-released 2019 cassette-only release Psychedelic Scum Freaks, Recorded in September 2018.
Eva Under Fire – Love, Drugs & Misery LP (Better Noise Music)
Yellow colorway of 2022 album. Love, Drugs & Misery is the long-awaited album from Eva Under Fire. The group poured their heart into this project. This album has a message of inclusivity and self-love. With songs like “Coming For Blood” feat. Mat From Ashes To New. It also features the radio hit “Blow” feat. Spencer Charnas Of Ice Nine Kills. With their motto being “Be the fan that fuels that fire” Everyone will fall in love with Eva Under Fire’s powerful vocals.
Sue Foley – Live In Austin Vol. 1 LP (Idla)
Recorded live at the legendary Continental Club in Austin, TX, this electrifying album captures all of the grit, sweat and devastating guitar playing that has propelled Sue Foley to the top of the Blues world in 2023. Here, Sue reaches back and delivers first-ever live recordings of some of her early hits, deep covers, and some surprises too. First arriving in Austin in 1991 at the urging of nightclub impresario Clifford Antone, it’s in that era of Austin where she cut her teeth amongst infamous Texas guitar slingers like Albert Collins and The Vaughan Brothers. It’s all come down to this one hot Friday night in Austin, playing to a packed club. It’s real. And it’s tough as nails.
Michael Franti & Spearhead – Big Big Love 2xLP (Boo Boo Wax)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, activist, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts, and the power of optimism. Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster their community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, founded by Franti and his wife, Sara. Do It For The Love brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date. Franti also owns Soulshine Bali, a 32-room top-rated boutique retreat hotel located in Ubud, Bali.
Frightwig – We Need To Talk… LP (Label 51)
Red color vinyl pressing. Pioneering feminist punk band Frightwig return with their latest album, We Need To Talk… Since forming in San Francisco in 1983, Frightwig have had two objectives: Spread joy and smash the patriarchy. For 40 years, they have succeeded on both fronts, with a mix of in-your-face hardcore energy and a fearless activist spirit. A formative influence on the Riot Grrrl movement and beyond, the band embrace fellow freaks, sinners, and misfits – and the coven of Frightwig devotees has only grown larger and stronger with time. Produced by Eric Drew Feldmen (PJ Harvey, Pixies, The Residents, Frank Black, OK Go, Captain Beefheart), We Need To Talk… includes a single dedicated to their late but forever-present drummer Cecilia Kuhn who transcended this earthly plane in 2017. [CD version due December 22.]
Frnkiero Andthe Cellabration. – .Stomachaches. [Reissue/2014] LP (Vagrant)
“It turns out that the musical prowess of My Chemical Romance wasn’t a fluke. After the dismemberment of the group, the individual members have worked on their own solo material. As the first proper release from any of them, Frank Iero’s debut solo album is damn near perfect.
Frnkiero Andthe Cellabration’s Stomachaches is rough, loud, expertly crafted and a reminder of just how much of a hole was left in the scene after MCR called it quits. Iero’s writing is dark, energetic, and so far above the norm for the punk scene it’s impossible to imagine that there aren’t more striving to follow in his footsteps.” – Kyle Schultz, It’s All Dead
Full Of Hell – Garden Of Burning LP (Relapse)
Limited white, black, and silver splatter color vinyl pressing. Full Of Hell returned with their highly anticipated album, Garden Of Burning Apparitions in 2021. The album, a genre-bending blitzkrieg of hardcore, grind and death metal, sees the band expand upon the very elements that have propelled Full Of Hell to the forefront of extreme music over the last decade. Produced by Seth Manchester at Machines With Magnets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Garden Of Burning Apparitions also sees Full Of Hell adding new dimensions to their warp-speed hellscape.
Ghost – If You Have Ghost [Reissue/2013] 12” (Loma Vista)
Ghost – Popestar [Reissue/2016] 12” (Loma Vista)
Ghost – Meliora/Popestar LP+MP3 (Loma Vista)
Ghost’s 2013 EP, If You Have Ghost, features four cover songs along with a live recording of “Secular Haze” from Ghost’s performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Available on blue/yellow split color vinyl. The band released the Popestar EP in 2016 to coincide with their US headlining tour of the same name. It features the single “Square Hammer”, plus four cover songs. Available on grey smoke color vinyl. [The Meliora/Popestar limited-edition double-LP set features the popular Ghost album Meliora (2015) and the Popestar EP (2016), pressed on blue smoke color vinyl.]
Goat – Levitation Sessions LP (The Reverberation Appreciation Society)
Limited copper color vinyl pressing. Levitation Sessions return with a live performance album from Goat. Despite their cryptic and secretive lifestyle, the mysterious Swedish collective has been at the forefront of modern psych, and this live release follows a decade of cult-classic LPs – each a timeless entry into the psych canon, a heady mix of world music, ‘60s fuzz, Afrobeat and funk grooves and Swedish psychedelia, from their 2012 debut World Music, to their most recent 2023 release, Medicine. Their Levitation Session live album was recorded in the heart of winter in early 2023, capturing the alchemy of the band’s creative process and a glimpse of their legendary live show, filmed in the band’s studio headquarters.
Grieves – The Collections Of Mr. Nice Guy LP (Rhymesayers)
Teal colorway. Following the release of his Running Wild album, Grieves let loose a flurry of new music, surprising and delighting fans with fresh new singles each week. He was able to express his growth and hunger in this new work, as the content and production ranged from light-hearted and jazzy to intense and introspective.
Peter Gutteridge – Pure [Reissue/1989] LP (Superior Viaduct)
In the swirl of underground music emerging from Dunedin, New Zealand in the 1980s, Peter Gutteridge stands as one of the era’s most intense and shadowy figures. Despite being a founding member of The Clean and The Chills, Gutteridge would eschew indie-rock fame for the hypnotic and driving sounds of his later bands such as Snapper. Fittingly, it is Pure – Gutteridge’s lone solo album of intimate home recordings-that serves as the most revealing and celebrated release of his career.
Halfnoise – City Talk LP (Congrats)
Neon green colorway. City Talk is the new self-produced album from Zac Farro’s Halfnoise.
City Talk arrives via Farro’s Nashville artist collective Congrats Records and follows 2019’s critically acclaimed Motif LP. Farro, perhaps best known as the drummer of Paramore, has been honing his skills outside of his main gig for years now. He’s released a steady flow of Halfnoise music, he’s produced and played with Becca Mancari and Elke, he’s directed videos for Paramore, Hayley Williams, Elke and Halfnoise and he’s a consummate photographer – releasing a photo book in 2020 In Transit and shooting his bands and others, including Local Natives who are currently using Farro’s images as their promo shots.
Hammell On Trial – Bring The Kids LP (Saustex Media)
Having spent two years “on the stove” Bring The Kids is everything you’ve come to expect from Hamell and more-biting, hard-edged and heartfelt yet comedic satire and social commentary. But, it’s also a departure on the musical level. Known widely as an anti-folk warrior, Hamell’s manic acoustic guitar splay is replaced here by a denser, crafted sound forged by Hamell and producer Matt LaBozza. It prominently features several guest performances by English folk singer/songwriter Ruth Theodore and Christine Ohlman of the SNL band.
Coleman Hawkins / Ben Webster – Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster [Reissue/1959] LP (Verve)
As critic Nat Hentoff makes clear, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster were larger than life. Formidable, even forbidding presences, they revealed a depth of feeling in their playing that spoke of their vast life experiences, as great writers or painters speak through their work. Recorded in 1957.
Hiromi & Hiromi’s Sonicwonder – Sonicwonderland LP (Telarc)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Virtuosic pianist/composer Hiromi electrifies audiences with a creative energy that encompasses the boundaries of jazz, classical and pop. With her new band, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, she introduces their debut album, Sonicwonderland. A musical nod to her 2007 band Sonicbloom, the quartet showcases nine original tracks featuring Hiromi on piano/keyboards, Hadrien Feraud on bass, Gene Coye on drums and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet.
Hopesfall – The Satellite Years [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Equal Vision)
Vinyl reissue of the second studio album by the post-hardcore band.
In Flames – Reroute To Remain [Reissue/200] 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
In Flames – Sounds Of A Playground Fading [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
In Flames – Sense Of Purpose (The Mirror Truth Version) [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
2023 double-LP remasters on new colorways of the sixth, seventh, and ninth studio albums by the Swedish metal band.
In This Moment – Godmode LP (BMG)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl (including an indie store exclusive colorway). All cultures, religions, and belief systems share one commonality. Life springs forth from a mother. She bears, nurtures, cultivates, raises, and prepares children for the world. Without her, existence ceases. Much like the earth, life grows, thrives, and survives inside of and because of her… Since coming to life in 2005, gold-selling hard rock provocateurs In This Moment have presided over a diehard fan base under the watch of a similar “mother” figure front-woman Maria Brink—joined by co-founder and lead guitarist Chris Howorth, bassist Travis Johnson, guitarist Randy Weitzel, and Kent Dimmel. As millions convened upon the group’s otherworldly and unforgettable concerts, they quietly emerged as a very influential and impactful band.
Gregory Isaacs – New Dance LP (Radiation Roots)
One of the most popular and high profile of Jamaican reggae vocalists, Gregory Isaacs was a rough diamond who clawed his way out of the harsh western Kingston ghetto with an instantly recognizable voice that was wonderfully emotive, expressing both his toughness and determination for betterment, as well as the bleeding heart of a vulnerable lover. New Dance is one of the excellent mid- ‘90s dancehall albums expertly produced by Anthony Dehaney, alias Bunny Gemini, working as usual with the Firehouse Crew, this time with Fatman Thompson of King Tubby’s studio at the mixing desk and guitarist Lascelles Beckford of the Gifted Roots band as special guest. As usual, Gregory rides the rhythms with considerable aplomb, feeling completely natural atop the hard-edged rhythms and tackling a range of topics along the way.
Melvin Jackson – Funky Skull [Reissue/1967] LP (Verve)
On his sole album as a leader, bassist Melvin Jackson – a veteran of the Eddie Harris band (this album includes two Harris originals) – plays with a bow, plucks, and plugs his upright bass into a Maestro G-2 filter box, a Boomerang, an Echoplex, and an Ampeg amp. The result is soulful, psychedelic, and of course, funky – at once one of the grooviest and most avant-garde albums you’ll ever hear. The Verve By Request Series features 180-gram vinyl, pressed at Third Man in Detroit.
Jackie-O Motherfucker – Smiles LP (Castle Sotterra)
Recorded live on April 28, 2014, at Outside Inside Studio, Montebelluna. Alan Zignoto: bass. Dave Easlick: drums. Tom Greenwood: guitar, vocals. Jeffrey Alexander: synth, chalumeau. Michael Whittaker: saxophone, flute, trombone. Dave Siebert: violin, lap steel. Mixed and mastered by Matt Bordin. Photos by Lorenzo Ferraro.
Jane Woe – Jane Woe LP (Saustex Media)
Self-titled debut from self-described “boot-gaze” Houston band Jane Woe. The act brings together pedal steel guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Scott Ayers from grunge-goth legends Pain Teens and more recently Frog Hair, bassist and backing vocalist Carol Sandin Cooley from the city’s punk and experimental scene, drummer Kirk Suddreath who working with Ballet Houston and local theater groups creates improvisational recordings and fronted by guitarist and vocalist Erin Dance.
Kaliii – Toxic Chocolate: Area Codes Edition 12” (Atlantic)
Coming off the success of “Area Codes,” Kaliii returns with the release of her EP, Toxic Chocolate: Area Codes Edition. The original “Area Codes” peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Hot Rap Songs, and #10 on the Hot R/B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Toxic Chocolate spawned hits like “UonU” (Feat. Yung Bleu) and “Standards”. [An indie store exclusive lemonade colorway is available.]
King Louie Bankston – Harahan Fats LP (Goner)
An extraordinary posthumous album by King Louie Bankston (December 18, 1972 – February 12, 2022). The collection showcases an American artist at the pinnacle of his musical and personal identity. An aural roadmap to South Louisiana that’s imbued with personal mythologies and blurry, beer-soaked, and drug-skewed memories, Harahan Fats was recorded over a four-year period that culminated in mid- October 2021.
Knight Area – D-Day II: The Final Chapter LP (Butler)
Color vinyl release of the follow-up to the successful first D-Day album, released in September 2019, to mark the 75th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden. Where that album focused on the hardship of D-Day and consecutive battles, D-Day II puts the emphasis on the psychological strain the war had on the soldiers upon returning home after the end of World War II. Musically the album continues in the somewhat heavier vein of the previous one featuring new singer Jan Willem Ketelaers (Ayreon).
Mark Lanegan Band – Phantom Radio [Reissue/2014] LP (Vagrant)
Mark Lanegan’s chief compositional tool on Phantom Radio was his phone – specifically an app called Funk Box. “I didn’t bother to hook up my 909 and 808 this time,” he says, “because the app had ’em. I’d write drum parts with it then add music with the synthesizer or the guitar.” The album grew organically from these synthetic roots, taking in Mark’s ongoing love of Krautrock and also an ’80s new wave show on Sirius satellite radio, his favored aural companion as he drives around Los Angeles.
The Living End – The Living End (25th Anniversary Edition) 2xLP (BMG)
The Living End was originally released in October 1998 and went on to sell over 500,000 copies globally. Accompanying the original self-titled album is a live recording from Australian radio institution Triple J. Recorded in front of a live audience just as the breakthrough album was released, it captures a band on the cusp of greatness, the energy and raw emotion can be felt from the first note. The recording has not been heard since it was played on the radio only once in the late ’90s. It was thought to be lost until discovered on a fan site in 2022. Remastered in 2023, it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of one of Australia’s greatest live bands.
Junior Mance – Junior [Reissue/1959] LP (Verve)
Pianist Junior Mance, a veteran of albums and dates with Dinah Washington and Cannonball Adderley, was offered his own recording date by Norman Granz during a session with Dizzy Gillespie. The result is this 1959 debut album, a bluesy and swinging date with Gillespie’s drummer Lex Humphries and bassist Ray Brown. Highlights include the original “Jubilation” and Cole Porter’s “Love For Sale”. The Verve By Request Series features 180gm vinyl, pressed at Third Man in Detroit.
Manchester Orchestra – The Million Masks Of God [Reissue/2021] LP (Loma Vista)
Two new colorways: clear w/ pink & blue; and red w/ black. The Million Masks Of God showcases the strength and boundary-pushing invention of Manchester Orchestra’s catalog, and is a testament to the kinship of its songwriting duo – the bond that enables them to take something so tragically personal and turn it into limitless, compassionate, communal, revelatory art.
Jackie Mittoo and The Soul Brothers – Last Train To Skaville [Reissue/2003] 2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
Transparent green colorway. Jackie Mittoo is one of the most important artists in the history of Jamaican music. As a founding member of the legendary Skatalites, as in-house arranger/producer at Studio One and as a solo artist in his own right leading groups such as the soul brothers, sound dimension and soul vendors. These classic and rare recordings were made in the mid- ‘60s at Studio One. The soul brothers bridged the gap between ska and the arrival of rocksteady mixing it all up with funk, jazz, and Latin styles.
Moebius-Plank-Neumeier – Zero Set [Reissue/1983] LP (Bureau B)
In 1983, Dieter Moebius (Cluster) and legendary producer Conny Plank teamed up for the third time, resulting in the Zero Set project. On this occasion, they were backed up by one of the best drummers on the German rock scene: Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru. Moebius had got to know and admire him as the live drummer for Harmonia (Moebius, Roedelius, Rother) and during the recording sessions for their second album (De Luxe). Conny Plank, usually more of a background figure as producer, takes an equal share of the limelight alongside the musicians. His super-modern studio is brought into play like an instrument in its own right; Plank explores the full range of audio editing, pushing recording techniques to the limit to achieve maximum brilliance and plasticity. Neumeier uses all his many years of experience as a drummer, demonstrating the precision and stamina of a drum machine, just infinitely livelier and more inventive. And finally, to Moebius. Always one of the patriarchs of German electronic music, a creator of the most bizarre sound happenings, yet never sounding forced or arbitrary. On the contrary, he consistently worked within the context of the tracks themselves and their relationship to each other.
Peter Molinari – Wondrous Afternoon LP (Blind Faith)
Pete Molinari is a singer-songwriter from the Medway Delta. He was born into a large Maltese/Italian/Egyptian family in Chatham, Kent, where he was discovered by Billy Childish. He’s got five critically acclaimed albums’ worth of timeless folk, blues, rock and alt- country songs to his credit, plus a bunch more EPs. He’s often described as a songwriter’s songwriter. Bruce Springsteen once publicly proffered: “Pete Molinari — if you don’t know anything about him, he’s great!”
New Model Army – Best Of Live LP (Secret)
Best Of Live was recorded at the Astoria, London on December 16, 2003.
Charlie Parker – Now’s The Time: The Genius Of Charlie Parker #3 [Reissue/1957] LP (Verve)
This 1957 release, the third in a series of albums expanding on Bird’s 10” Clef releases from the early 1950’s, Now’s The Time boasts some of Parker’s purest recordings and strongest playing, featuring two different quartets. His lyrical and fluid improvisations on cuts like “The Song Is You” and “Laird Baird” are on full display, prime examples of his unmatched genius. This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180gm vinyl at Third Man in Detroit.
Gary Peters – Beginnings: Collected Pedal Steel Guitar Works LP (Scissor Tail)
Beginnings: Collected Pedal Steel Guitar Works is the first full length album by UK-based pedal steel guitarist and improviser Gary Peters. As there seems to be a slew of pedal steel guitar albums coming out in the last five years, this one is unlike any one has heard. There’s no use of reverb pedals or ambient swells, yet it still has so much atmosphere and emotion. The majority of the compositions and improvisations are solo pedal steel guitar, but there are a couple tracks with accompaniment by upright bassist Christopher Williams and pianist Veryan Weston.
Phish – Farmhouse (Stars So Bright) [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Jemp)
Double color vinyl pressing of Farmhouse, Phish’s ninth full-length studio album. Most songs on the album, including the title track, were derived from 1997 writing sessions at Vermont farmhouses. ‘Farmhouse’ was recorded and mixed by John Siket in fall 1999 and winter 2000 at The Barn studio in Vermont.
Plebeian Grandstand – Rien Ne Suffit [Reissue/2021] 2xLP (Debumur Mori Prod.)
Red colorway. On fourth full-length Rien Ne Suffit (‘Nothing Is Enough’) sui generis synthesists Plebeian Grandstand take a violent wrecking ball to the edifice of extreme music, remolding the pieces as a mirror-portal into psychological, societal, and global turmoil. Always unpredictable and extraordinary, the band create constant tightrope-walk tension as they blur the edges of avant-black metal, chaotic hardcore, blown-out jazz, corrosive noise, experimental electronica, and death Industrial into an ultra-contemporary form of ‘post-metal’ in the truest application of the term.
Max Roach – Moon Faced And Starry Eyed [Reissue/1960] LP (Verve)
Roach’s solid group featuring Ray Bryant, Julian Priester, and Stanley and Tommy Turrentine are joined by the great Abbey Lincoln on vocals for two tracks, “Never Leave Me” and Cole Porter’s “I Concentrate On You”. A fantastic and often overlooked album, this is the first US reissue since the album’s release in 1960. The Verve By Request Series features 180-gram vinyl, pressed at Third Man in Detroit.
Rotting Christ – Thy Mighty Contract [Reissue/1993] 2xLP (Peaceville)
Red w/ black colorway. Greek black metal legends Rotting Christ formed in 1988, with their early demo recordings containing strong grindcore elements as the band quickly evolved their style into something altogether darker. Spearheaded by brothers Sakis & Themis Tolis, Rotting Christ have remained one of the strongest and most respected forces in the black metal scene since their debut release Passage Of Arcturo in 1991. Their legacy towards greatness was cemented even further by the genre classic follow-up ‘Thy Mighty Contract’, helping to firmly establish the Greek scene as being among the most essential black metal movements of the early ‘90s.
Screensaver – Decent Shapes LP (Upset The Rhythm)
Melbourne/Naarm synth-punk five-piece screensaver return with Decent Shapes, their second album. Decent Shapes is loaded with bubbling tension, a low grade but growing fever, a rising rage. The frustration is so tangible you can taste it. Detachment and dissociation become survivalist coping mechanisms.
Silent Planet – Superbloom LP (Solid State)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Fifth studio album by the metalcore band.
Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever LP (Loma Vista)
Sometimes, Forever is the third studio album by American indie rock singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy. Released under Loma Vista Recordings on June 24, 2022, it is her first album produced by Daniel Lopati.
Soundtrack – Frozen: The Songs LP (Walt Disney)
Celebrate the magic of the music of Frozen with this collectible 10th anniversary zoetrope vinyl. Featuring the mega hits from the film including “Let it Go”, “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?”, and more.
SS Decontrol – Kids Will Have Their Say [Reissue/1982] LP (Trust)
Long heralded as the first straight-edge album, Kids Will Have Their Say captures a time and an era in the nascent hardcore scene before formulas and posturing.
Sylvan Esso – No Rules Sandy LP (Loma Vista)
2022 release. Describing their first three albums as a trilogy that is now complete – Sylvan Esso see their latest release, No Rules Sandy, as the beginning of a new period. Their songs are “wilder and stranger and more cathartic than the band used to be,” as Nick Sanborn puts it. “It feels like who we actually are,” Amelia Meath adds. “It just feels like us. We’re not trying to fit into the mold, just happily being our freak selves.” [A limited-edition olive-green colorway is available.]
Testament – Dark Roots Of Earth [Reissue/2012] 2xLP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
Clear w/ gold & green splatter colorway. US thrash metal legend Testament has released many thrash metal classics over the years, including 2012’s Dark Roots Of Earth.
Boillat Thérace Quintet – Live 1974 + 3 2xLP (We Release Jazz)
Boillat Thérace Quintet’s 1974 Montreux Jazz Festival performance, with three bonus studio tracks. All in all, it’s a beautiful soul-jazz/modal fest full of flair and heart, one that perfectly encapsulates the vibrant and inventive Swiss jazz scene of the 1970s.
Toxic Holocaust – Evil Never Dies [Reissue/2003] LP (Tank Crimes)
Yellow w/ black & white splatter colorway. Joel Grind has spent 20 years taking Toxic Holocaust around the world, building a massive rabid fanbase, and becoming a thrash metal legend.
The Toy Dolls – Another Bleedin’ Best Of [Reissue/2011] LP (Secret)
Yellow colorway. Formed from Sunderland in England’s formerly industrial northeast, the Toy Dolls put working-class humor at the forefront of their take on punk, the three-chord format a launching pad for witty originals and clever covers.
Various Artists – Discovered & Covered LP (Dualtone Music Group)
A new compilation album which features exceptional artists from the Dualtone label roster covering beloved contemporary and classic songs, plus a rare original by The Lumineers. Hear new recordings like The Dip’s whip-smart neo-soul take on Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger”, energetic indie-rock upstarts Flipturn’s cover of Tears For Fears, Abraham Alexander and Wilder Woods’ stirring duet on Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me”, Langhorne Slim’s rollicking ode to the late great Gordon Lightfoot, and more. With each track, these singular artists offer a fresh and innovative interpretation, providing a new take on familiar favorites.
Various Artists – Studio One Roots 2 [Reissue/2005] 2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
Tranparent green colorway. Studio Roots 2 delves deep into the vaults of the legendary Jamaican Reggae label and features rare and classic roots as well as an unprecedented seven unreleased tracks that up till now had never seen the light of day.
White Ward – False Light 2xLP (Debemur Morti Prod.)
Double red color vinyl pressing. The ever-inventive Ukrainian black metal band White Ward unleash their defining third full-length False Light, a grand work of exploratory depth and a remarkable expansion upon all that made 2019’s acclaimed Love Exchange Failure such a triumph.
Cassettes:
Death Angel – Humanicide [Reissue/2019] (Nuclear Blast)
Ascending from the depths, the almighty Death Angel returned in 2019 with their energy fueled masterpiece, Humanicide. A return to the wolves alongside a survivalist pack mentality are what fuel the powerful themes erupting from these fresh metal anthems. In a modern capitalist society where selfishness reigns and communal help and survival are things of the past, Death Angel produces sounds and symbols that point out the truths of attempting to exist safely in the present day.
Testament – Dark Roots Of Earth [Reissue/2012] (Nuclear Blast)
US thrash metal legend Testament has released many thrash metal classics over the years, including 2012’s Dark Roots Of Earth.
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