February Program Titles Released This Week:
Tommy Emmanuel & John Knowles – Heart Songs CD/LP (CGP Sounds)
Heart Songs is a new collaborative album from two of the world’s greatest guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles. Both are masters of their instrument, honored by the iconic Chet Atkins with the rare designation of CGP (Certified Guitar Players). Their early journeys were dissimilar. Emmanuel began his in Australia, grew up on the road with his family’s band, settled as a teenager in Sydney and left his rock band to launch a spectacular solo career. Knowles followed a more academic path, eventually earning a PhD in physics from Texas Christian University but then electing to pursue his true love of music. Inevitably they would cross paths, become friends and perform on stages and clinics around the world. Their styles are distinctive but for that very reason they mesh seamlessly, with Knowles generally creating sophisticated but compelling foundations over which Emmanuel’s guitar soars in astonishing yet always musical flights.
CDs + Vinyl:
Afterlife – Breaking Point CD/LP (Hopeless)
Metal act Afterlife emerged from West Palm Beach, Florida, at the tail end of 2016 with a clear vision of what they wanted to bring to the world with their music. Finding the intersection between Slipknot, Linkin Park and modern hip-hop, the band set out to create something both fresh and familiar.
The Brian Auger Piano Trio – Full Circle – Live At Bogie’s CD/LP (Freestyle)
Brian Auger’s very first jazz piano album of his illustrious and award-winning career marks a return to the instrument and the music that first entranced and enthralled him as a young boy. His musical journey, which began in austere post war London, and on which he absorbed so many varied styles of music, has indeed come full circle. Features tracks from a selection of Brian’s musical influences, heroes and friends.
Jacob Banks – Village CD/LP (Interscope)
New release from the Nigerian-born/UK-based singer/songwriter. Inspired by the proverb it takes a village, the record explores human experiences, both good and bad, that universally shape our lives. Jacob became the first unsigned act to ever appear on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. His music is influenced by a range of genres including soul, R&B and hip-hop.
Birdman & Jacquees – Lost At Sea II CD (Cash Money/Republic)
Two years after dropping their joint mixtape Lost At Sea, Birdman and Jacquees have returned with the follow-up. Lost At Sea II reunites the Cash Money representors, who enlist minimal features on the project. Running for 14-tracks, the project features appearances from Trey Songz, King Issa, FYB, Neno Calvin, and B. Pace.
Born Of Orsis – The Simulation CD (Sumerian)
Sixth album from the American prog-metal/djent frontrunners. [Vinyl edition due April 19.]
Boy Pablo – Soy Pablo EP + Roy Pablo EP 2xCDEP (U Ok)
Norwegian 19-year-old indie pop sensation Boy Pablo releases double EP of winningly naïve but old soul pop. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
The Doors – Waiting For The Sun [Reissue/1968] CD/2xCD/LP (Elektra)
50th Anniversary remastered edition of the Doors’ third album – available on single-disc CD and vinyl LP and expanded double-CD which features rough mixes and a live set recorded in Copenhagen 9/17/68.
Randy Houser – Magnolia CD/LP (Stoney Creek)
Country singer and songwriter Randy Houser was born and raised in Lak, Mississippi, where his love of music was apparent even as a young child. Houser started fronting bands when he was around 13 years old and continued playing local gigs all the way through high school. Magnolia is his first new full length since 2016’s Fired Up.
Jinjer – Micro CDEP/12” (Napalm)
Extremely groovy, disharmonic djent – technically tricky like progressive death metal with a flip side of sensual jazz, tumbling delightfully between nu metal and metalcore.
Kero Kero Bonito – Intro Bonito [Reissue/2013] CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Kero Kero Bonito – Bonito Generation [Reissue/2016] CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Kero Kero Bonito – Totep [2018] CDEP/10”+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Kero Kero Bonito – Time ‘n’ Place [2018] CDEP/10”+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Kero Kero Bonito is a J-pop three-piece pop band from London, England. Their name is derived from the Japanese onomatopoeic words for frog croaks and a type of fish. Members Sarah Midori Perry, Gus Lobban, and Jamie Bulled started making music together after meeting on a web forum in 2013 and have several releases including the Intro Bonito mixtape, their debut full-length album, Bonito Generation, and more recently, the Totep EP and Time ‘n’ Place LP. The slick, MIDI heavy production found on earlier releases has subsided to now include heavily distorted guitars, a full drum kit, and the addition of more analog arrangements. [Limited colored vinyl pressings also available.]
Nailed To Obscurity – Black Frost CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Debut album from the German melodic death/doom metallers.
Old Sea Brigade – Ode To A Friend CD/LP (Nettwerk)
Old Sea Brigade is Ben Cramer, an indie folk singer-songwriter. After a series of EPs, his debut album remains rooted in Americana, indie, rock, and ambient soundscapes but also toss and turn between analog cinematic flourishes and provocative lyricism. At times singer-songwriter, other times indie-rock – no matter the inspiration behind the mélange of styles, Cramer has created a soundscape of the utmost sincerity and beauty.
Michel Polnareff – Enfin! CD/2xLP (Wrasse)
New studio album by the most flamboyant of French singers – his first in 28 years. A diverse set ranging from band, folk, disco, pop and symphonic styles.
Gregory Porter – One Night Only (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) CD+DVD (Blue Note)
One Night Only captures the two-time Grammy-winning singer in a stunning live performance at the famed London venue with his band accompanied by the London Studio Orchestra conducted and arranged by Vince Mendoza. Porter sings songs from his acclaimed recent album Nat King Cole & Me, as well as favorite songs of his own.
Powerwolf – Metallum Nostrum CD/LP (Napalm)
Ten cover songs that have influenced the German power metal band through their career.
Ski Mask The Slump God – Stokeley CD (Victor)
“On his album debut, the South Florida rapper (and former XXXTentacion associate) employs a playful approach to celebrate style over substance.” – Pitchfork
Soilwork – Verkligheten CD/LP (Napalm)
Eleventh studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band. “All the Soilwork traits—aggression, melody, huge choruses—remain, but there’s a certain relaxed swagger on display.” – Decibel
A Swarm Of The Sun – The Woods CD/LP (Version Studio)
The follow-up to A Swarm Of The Sun’s critically acclaimed 2015-release The Rifts, The Woods expands their signature sound of chilling, emotional and sometimes unsettling post-rock into even deeper levels of haunting and unnerving soundscapes.
Taking Back Sunday – Twenty CD/2xLP (Craft Recordings)
A 21-track career retrospective, celebrating 20 years of Taking Back Sunday. The collection spans all seven of their full-length studio albums: Tell All Your Friends (2002), Where You Want To Be (2004), Louder Now (2006), New Again (2009), Taking Back Sunday (2011), Happiness Is (2014) and Tidal Wave (2016).
Tiger Bomb – Uproar CD/LP (Dionysus)
“Writers, DJs and musicians in the know all agree, Uproar by the East Coast all-girl garage group Tiger Bomb is a kickin’ rock ‘n’ roll slab from start to finish” (Underground Garage). “This record right here is a boss blast of brilliant genius and non-stop rock ‘n’ roll energy from those way wicked Superchicks from Portland Town” (DJ Mal Thursday).
Ultramarine – Signals Into Space CD/LP (Les Disques du Crepuscule)
New album by acclaimed electronic duo. Signals Into Space was conceived by Ian Cooper and Paul Hammond over a three year period and features four songs co-written with North American musician Anna Domino, a firm favorite of the group since her leftfield pop releases on Crepuscule and Factory in the 1980s. The album also features contributions from saxophonist Iain Ballamy (ECM, Food, Loose Tubes) and percussionist and vibraphone player Ric Elsworth. It was recorded and mixed in London with Andy Ramsay (Stereolab) and mastered by Noel Summerville.
Zero 7 – Simple Things – Special Edition 2xCD (New State Ent.)
Expanded reissue of the British downtempo duo’s 2001 debut.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution DVD/Blu-ray (Altered Innocence)
Started in the 1980s as a fabricated movement intended to punk the punk scene, Queercore quickly became a real-life cultural community of LGBTQ music and movie-making revolutionaries. From the start of the pseudo-movement to the widespread rise of pop artists who used queer identity to push back against gay assimilation and homophobic punk culture, Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution is just that: a how-to-do-it guide for the next generation of queer radicals. The extensive participant list includes Bruce LaBruce, G.B. Jones, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, John Waters, Justin Vivian Bond, Lynn Breedlove, Silas Howard, Pansy Division, Penny Arcade, Kathleen Hanna, Kim Gordon, Deke Elash, Tom Jennings, Team Dresch, and many more.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
All That Remains – Victim Of The New Disease LP (Razor & Tie)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Metalcore vets All That Remains follow-up 2017’s The Madness with Victim Of The New Disease which is ushered in by the pull no punches lead single “F**k Love” and also features a guest appearance by Asking Alexandria singer Danny Worsnop on “Just Tell Me Something”. Integrating excruciating personal experiences, political rants and controversial commentary with music that’s just as confrontational, it’s an unapologetic showcase of honesty and ingenuity which induces gentle head-bobbing one moment and teeth-clenching fist pounding the next.
The Ataris – Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits [Reissue/1999] LP (Kung Fu)
Limited edition blue vinyl LP pressing of the 1999 sophomore album by the power punk icons.
Behemoth – God = Dog 7” (Metal Blade)
Limited 7” picture disc single. Features an alternate version of “God = Dog” on the B-side.
Bow Street Runners – Bow Street Runners [Reissue/1970] LP (Sundazed)
Vinyl reissue of a rare LP—a other-worldly blend of sweet female blotter acid harmonies, hypnotic Farfisa and high-octane fuzz guitar histrionics.
Common Kings – One Day 12” (Island Empire)
Common Kings is an American reggae band from Orange County, California. The band’s debut album, Lost in Paradise, was nominated for a Grammy Award. New EP One Day features Kat Dahlia, Stephen Marley, Matisyahu, and iMAYDAY!. Limited picture disc pressing.
For Against – Aperture [Reissue/1993] LP (Sainte Marie)
For Against – Mason’s California Lunch Room [Reissue/1996] LP (Sainte Marie)
For Against – Shelf Life [Reissue/1997] LP (Sainte Marie)
For Against – 90s Reissues Vinyl Box Set 3xLP+MP3 (Sainte Marie)
It was surprising-gratifying last decade, when Lincoln, Nebraska stalwarts For Against finally garnered the cult popularity they’d long deserved-at least in Europe, where generous, rapturous crowds hailed them as darkwave pioneers. Back home, though, it took this era’s shoegaze explosion/revival to bring them equal underground acclaim, accelerated by Captured Tracks’ 2014 Box Set, compiling their two LPs and EP, 1987-1989. It even received a 7.8 in Pitchfork, suggesting, “If they had gained a tenth of the attention Interpol attracted, it would have been a wonderful world!” That richly deserved, delayed recognition is bound to heighten with these reissues of their three ’90s records Aperture (1993), Mason’s California Lunchroom (1996) and Shelf Life (1997).
Found Wild – Found Wild LP (Memory Music)
Found Wild is the duo of Tim Arnold and Keith Goodwin, both founders of Good Old War.
Hammock – Universalis LP (Hammock Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Nashville’s Hammock follows up 2017’s critically-acclaimed Mysterium with Universalis, the second installment of a planned three-album series. While Mysterium took listeners down a horizontal path that explored themes of death and grief, Universalis begins a vertical, upward movement back into the light. At times, Universalis rediscovers early influences like Low and Red House Painters, while also retaining Mysterium‘s deep ambient, neoclassical style. “This long-running Nashville duo captures the essence of their name with a low-slung, low-stakes sway, tracing a line between languid indie rock and experimental atmospheres.” – Pitchfork
Ted Hawkins – The Next Hundred Years [Reissue/1994] LP (Analogue Productions)
Rough-edged passionate soul debut by the singer/guitarist. Audiophile 200gm pressing. Unnoted and obscure except to those who frequently passed him by, Ted Hawkins sat on a milk crate on the Venice Beach boardwalk for years as a street performer and passed the hat. Although he strummed an acoustic guitar, he wasn’t a blues or folk artist; he was a rough-edged soul/country singer in the fashion of his biggest hero, Sam Cooke. This was Hawkins’ first major-label release (though his sixth album overall).
Haruomi Hosono/Mac DeMarco – Honey Moon 7” (Light In The Attic)
Mac DeMarco covers one of his biggest musical idols, Haruomi Hosono – a towering figure in the history of modern Japanese music. From the groundbreaking folk rock of Happy End and the pioneering techno pop of Yellow Magic Orchestra, to the countless influential solo works that have touched on exotica, funk, country, electronic, ambient, and everything in between. Colored vinyl pressing housed in a custom jacket featuring the original version as the B-side.
Kaia Kater – Grenades LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl. With abundant poise and poetry, Kater composes an odyssey about personal identity, memory, and discovery in the wake of her father’s journey as a young political refugee. She draws upon her diverse musical influences in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, and her bicultural experience as a second-generation Grenadian-Canadian, to envision a new path for herself and her songs.
Leadbelly – Easy Rider: Leadbelly Legacy Volume Four [Reissue/1950] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
This collection of songs by Lead Belly was assembled by Folkways founder Moses Asch from recordings made in the early to mid-1940s, and it focuses primarily on the legendary folk/blues artist’s observations on the hate and racism that permeated America and the world during this turbulent period of history.
Lupe Fiasco – Drogas Wave 3xLP (1st And 15th Productions)
Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl. The sequel to Drogas Light features contributions from Damian Marley, Nikki Jean, Crystal Torres, Rosy Timms, Troi Irons, and others.
Massacre – From Beyond [Reissue/1991] LP (Earache)
Vinyl reissue of the death metal band’s debut album.
Matt & Kim – Grand [Reissue/2009] LP (The Fader Label)
Vinyl reissue of the second album from Brooklyn-based duo. From the anthemic opener “Daylight” to the harmony-rich, atmospheric ballad “Turn This Boat Around” and demented pop of “I Wanna”, Grand is quite literally the sound of Matt and Kim discovering their voice. “All of the songs on the last album we wrote the first year we learned how to play our instruments,” Matt acknowledged, “but this one is much more diverse and instead of thinking about the songs we thought of the album as a whole, too.”
Brownie McGhee And Sonny Terry – Brownie McGhee And Sonny Terry Sing [Reissue/1958] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
The acoustic music duo of guitarist Brownie McGhee and harmonicist Sonny Terry were named National Heritage Fellows in 1982 in recognition of their distinctive musical contributions and accomplishments. Although primarily considered to be blues musicians, McGhee and Terry transcended the genre by including American folk songs and ballads in their repertoire. This 1958 recording, their first for the Folkways label, provides a small but inspiring example of the range of Americana and down-home blues music the duo performed throughout their 40-year partnership.
Metro Boomin’ – Not All Heroes Wear Capes LP (Republic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut solo studio album by the record producer featuring guest appearances from Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Swae Lee, Gunna, Young Thug, Wizkid and Offset, as well as Gucci Mane, J Balvin, Kodak Black, and Drake.
Willie Nelson – Teatro [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (Modern Classics)
When Willie Nelson and producer Daniel Lanois set out to create the cinematic-sounding album, Teatro (1998), they took over a disused movie theater in Oxnard, CA, and pictured its dusty glory on the LP sleeve. Recorded as-live in situ amid the red velvet seats, Teatro sees Nelson working extensively with his frequent collaborator Emmylou Harris, who joins him for duets and on backing vocals on 11 of the 14 tracks. The other major player is collaborator Lanois (producer of Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind, Harris’ Wrecking Ball), who produced the album, plays guitar and bass, took the cover photo and wrote one of the album’s songs, “The Maker”, a stunning performance with glacier-thick vibe where Red Headed Stranger masterfully meets the BrianEno/Lanois classic Apollo.
REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity [Reissue/1980] LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile translucent blue colored vinyl reissue of REO Speedwagon’s ninth album.
Arian Shafiee – A Scarlet Fall LP (VDSQ)
Awash in color and texture, Arian Shafiee’s debut album brings to light a guitarist whose sound and mastery are in full bloom. Best known for his work in the East Coast dance/punk group Guerilla Toss, Shafiee has spent years warping the idea of what a guitar can sound like.
Sly & The Family Stone – Life [Reissue/1968] LP (Sundazed)
Limited colored vinyl reissue. By late 1968, the third album by Sly & the Family Stone absolutely blew the roof off the building. Life sounded so tangibly real it almost seemed like it was cut live. The title track, along with “Love City”, “Plastic Jim”, “Into My Own Thing” and especially “Dynamite!” signaled a perfect alliance between Sly’s multi-influence, far-reaching musical vision and the burgeoning hippie ballroom community, already spreading like lawn daisies throughout the land.
Strawberry Alarm Clock – Wake Up… It’s Tomorrow [Reissue/1968] LP (Sundazed)
Swirl colored vinyl pressing of the second album by the psychedelic rock band.
Throbbing Gristle – 20 Jazz Funk Greats [Reissue/1979] LP (Mute)
Vinyl reissue of the landmark 1979 album from the industrial music pioneers.
Giorgio Tuma – My Vocalese Fun Fair [Reissue/2008] LP+MP3 (Elefant)
Limited electric blue colored vinyl pressing. A delicious album, exquisitely arranged, where psychedelia, lounge and Brazilian samba join hands.
Dave Van Ronk – Dave Van Ronk Sings Ballads, Blues & A Spiritual [Reissue/1959] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Dubbed The Mayor of MacDougal Street, Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) was an iconoclastic folksinger and an influential figure in the American folk music revival of the 1960s. Because of his interest in African American folk music and blues, and his gift (or curse) of a gravelly baritone voice, Van Ronk was often criticized for his approach to his musical repertoire. His rejoinder was that he reserved the right to sing songs in the style that he deemed to be the right way. This 1959 Folkways recording, his first on any label, is a collection of 19th- and early 20th-century traditional folk and blues songs that persuasively illustrates his stance.
Various Artists – Funky Funky New Orleans Vol. Six: Rare And Unreleased New Orleans Funk 1970-1985 LP (Tuff City)
Includes funk tracks by New Orleans legends Eddie Bo, Willie West, Sam and the Soul Machine, and more. Side B features a previously unreleased instrumental of Robert Parker’s “The Hiccup”.
Jamie Wyatt – Felony Blues [Reissue/2017] LP (Forty Below)
Vintage California country that’s equal parts humor and humility, with a few middle fingers thrown in for good measure. For Fans of: Margo Price, Elizabeth Cook, and outlaw country artists who have served time.
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