CDs:
Ariel Pink – Early Live Recordings: Gorilla/Appleasians 2xCD (Human Ear Music)
A double-disc collection of early live recordings from late ’90s/early ’00s.
Auris & Gino – Rub CD (Public Eyesore)
Exploring electroacoustic sound as an organic art of time and space, Auris is a trio comprised of Christopher Preissing, Eric Leonardson and Julia A. Miller. On Rub they are paired with Gino Robair, who has created music for dance, theater, radio, television, silent film, and gamelan orchestra.
Banks – London CDEP (Harvest)
Four new tracks from the buzzy up and coming songstress, Banks. Videos in the works for two of the four tracks leading into her support tour this Fall for The Weeknd.
Blut Aus Nord – What Once Was – Liber Ill CD (Debemur Morti)
The time is nigh for Liber III, the third chapter in Blut Aus Nord’s open-ended, existential What Once Was… odyssey. Although clearly analogous to the band’s core body of work, this series of works subsists in a parallel plane, presenting the messenger in a more stripped-down and organic state, exposing an aspect of Blut Aus Nord that would otherwise have remained hidden from the world.
Cannabis Corpse/Ghoul – Splatterhash CD (Tankcrimes)
New split release from pot-obsessed death metallers Cannabis Corpse and hooded cannibalistic splatterthrashers Ghoul.
Peter Gabriel – And I’ll Scratch Yours CD (Real World)
Peter Gabriel – Scratch My Back And I’ll Scratch Yours 2xCD (Real World)
And I’ll Scratch Yours is the concluding part of a series of song exchanges in which Gabriel and other leading artists reinterpret each other’s songs. Features covers by David Byrne, Bon Iver, Regina Spektor, Stephin Merritt, Joseph Arthur, Randy Newman, Arcade Fire, Elbow, Brian Eno, Feist, Lou Reed, and Paul Simon. Vinyl version due February 25.
Kid Ink –My Own Lane CD (RCA)
New album from the rapper features guest appearances by Chris Brown, A$AP Ferg, Pusha T, Wale, Meek Mill, Elle Varner and more.
Legion Of The Damned – Ravenous Plague CD (Napalm)
Melodic leads, murderous riffs, furious grooves and rock-hard drums are crowned by the merciless vocals of frontman Maurice Swinkels on this thrash album recommended for fans of Amon Amarth, Children Of Bodom, and Testament.
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Wig Out At Jagbags CD/LP (Matador)
Wig Out At Jagbags is Stephen Malkmus’ sixth solo effort with the Jicks and finds the former Pavement leader at his most playful and joyous in recent memory. The album is a looser, more unbridled affair that gathers those trademark guitar moves and lyrical acrobatics into an amalgam of what Malkmus himself calls: “Projected imaginings of rock & roll from the freezing north, rendered by West Coast stalwarts and a Dutch Uncle.”
Steve Moore – Pangaea Ultima CD/2xLP (Spectrum Spools)
Sonic meditation on our future supercontinent expressed through 4/4 rhythms, eerie sparseness, and tightly coiled compositions.
John Newman – Tribute CD (Republic)
Think the pure soul and groove of early Stax and Motown. Throw in some tasty James Brown and Prince, dirty it up with a bit of Black Keys, and hell, why not mix it all together with a bit of Dangermouse.
Self Defense Family – Try Me CD/2xLP (Deathwish Inc.)
Eschewing sing-alongs and easy anthems in favor of personal lyrics, Self Defense Family stand apart from their contemporaries in punk and hardcore, and is recommended for fans of Fugazi, Lungfish, Touche Amore, Title Fight, and Pianos Become The Teeth.
Will Stratton – Post Empire CD/LP (Talitres)
Will Stratton’s songs are beautiful and bracing, despite or maybe because of the abstract, ambitious goals that motivate him…[his] songs gain strength from their ambiguity; stylistically, they’re too imaginative to be easily pigeonholed. Sufjan Stevens and Nick Drake both work as reference points; like them, Stratton makes songs that are elegantly orchestrated. But Stratton is rapidly coming into his own.” — David Garland/NPR
TOY – Join The Dots CD (Heavenly Recordings)
“If Toy’s self-titled debut album saw them hailed as key figures in the current psychedelia revival, then the five-piece will hope Join the Dots helps them to break away from the mind-bending pack.” – The Guardian
Vinyl:
Ash – Complete A-Z Series 3xLP+MP3 (Noyes)
Definitive compilation of A-Z single series, curated by the band. 27 tracks pressed on virgin vinyl. Foil-stamped jackets. four panel insert. Includes download featuring the following: All bonus tracks (20+ songs), Little Infinity EP (seven cover songs), A Is For Ash (50-minute doc on recording process and first A-Z tour).
Blacklisters – BLKLSTRS LP (Learning Curve)
“There are no two ways about it, Blacklisters make a racket. If you have seen the recent video for the single ‘Trickf**k,’ you will already know that Blacklisters make a terrifyingly unhinged sound (coupled with oddball visuals) and on BLKLSTRS, their debut album, you should expect more of the same.” — Contact Music
Cold Warps – Don’t Haunt Me, OK? 7” (Noyes)
Two perfect scuzz-fuzz-beach-blasts from Halifax heroes, Cold Warps.
Cousins/Construction & Destruction – Split 12” (Noyes)
Each band contributed three songs to this six-song 12”. Cousins’ half is crunchy and minimal, with bullshit-free rock arrangements anchored by pounding drums and guitar grit. Construction & Destruction’s half is similarly stripped down, although it’s a little stranger; “Sea Change” features jarring six-string noise and restless rhythmic changes, while the other tunes boast eerie vibes and quirky vocals.
Electrelane – The Power Out [Reissue/2004] LP (Too Pure)
Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls [Reissue/2007] LP (Too Pure)
Classic Electrelane title back in print on the preferred vinyl format.
Harm Wülf – There’s No Honey In The Soil So We Wait For The Till LP (Deathwish Inc)
Harm Wülf is the bedroom musical entity of G. Hirsch (Blacklisted). This single spans the tranquil resonance of Low, the ascending power of Angels of Light, and the insular/grotesque Americana of Cormac McCarthy & Flannery O’Connor, and is most times sparse and austere, and at others apocalyptically orchestrated.
Julie Of The Wolves – Create/Destroy LP (Noise Pollution)
An impressive debut LP by the Louisville, KY pop/punk band featuring members of Venus Flytrap and Monnow.
Doug Mason – Boogazi 7” (Noyes)
First vinyl release from Dartmouth legend Doug Mason. This is the solo project of actor Michael Jackson, renowned for his role as Trevor on Trailer Park Boys.
Mine – Disappear 12” (Holy Roar)
Progressive, swirling punk. Heartfelt, emotional modern rock retaining a distinct urgency and energy indebted to their hardcore roots.
Motorama – Eyes 7” (Talitres)
Motorama is a Russian post-punk quintet.
Mountain Cult – Mountain Cult LP (Little Big Chief)
Straight out of a cultural dead zone (Brooklyn) comes a band that defies all half-assed attempts at lifeblood leaking, beer soaked rock. Blues influenced punk with the right amount of hazy stumble to it that keeps it all coagulated and alive.
Mutual Benefit – Love’s Crushing Diamond LP (Other Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. A debut LP of lush, watery, pop songs pieced together over the past several years and inspired by the kinetic energy, goodbyes, and blurred landscapes of life on the road.
Philippe Petit – Needles In Pain [Picture Disc] 12” (Alrealon Musique)
Needles In Pain is a symphony for turntables executed live using three turntables and one extra tonearm built for Philippe and allowing to catch two different sounds from the same pre-paired vinyl.
Jay Reatard – Matador Singles ’08 [2008] LP+MP3 (Matador)
Jay Reatard – Watch Me Fall [2009] LP+MP3 (Matador)
Now available on 120gm vinyl.
Rough Hands – Rough Hands 7” (Holy Roar)
Having steadily built a name for themselves around the country, UK hardcore has another fine band to add to its already high fertile scene in the form of Rough Hands. Delivering a self-titled four-track 7” as their first real statement of intent, Rough Hands are pissed-off, concise, modern hardcore with occasional small nods to an expansive, ethereal Deftonesian sound.
Sea Glasses/We Need Secrets – Split 7” (Noyes)
Hazy, dreamy, and haunting on the A side. Washed out and reaching on the B side. Everything is recorded at home. Sea Glasses is Garrett Mombourquette. We Need Secrets is Chad Peck.
Straight A’s – Humility The Hard Way LP (Noise Pollution)
Second album from the Louisville aggressive avant-punk band. 15 self-recorded songs.
Zombi – Cosmos [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Relapse)
Zombi – Surface to Air [Reissue/2006] LP (Relapse)
Zombi – Spirit Animal [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Relapse)
Deluxe vinyl reissues of Zombi’s first three albums. Cosmos has been out of print on vinyl for almost a decade, while Surface To Air has never been available on wax stateside. The double-LP gatefold edition of Spirit Animal includes the bonus track “Infinity” which wasn’t included on the original pressing.
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