CDs:
The 13th Floor Elevators – Live Elevation Lost 2xCD/3xLP (Charly)
Live Elevation Lost: The 13th Floor Elevators Live At The Houston Music Theatre is the first ever release of the complete performance of the band’s legendary show from February 18, 1967.
’68 – In Humor And Sadness CD (E1)
The noisy, rambling, shambling, southern-fried, punk-infused, heavy metal hardcore band has long rejected the conventions of the genre that surrounds them by refusing to conform to established structures. ‘68s’ sound and presentation owe more to At The Drive In, Refused, Nirvana or even the Sex Pistols in spirit and vibe than the formulaic processed sounds of their contemporaries.
Amberian Dawn – Magic Forest CD (Napalm)
Amberian Dawn’s melodic symphonic power metal offers the whole spectrum of fast double bass hymns, symphonic epics and magical dream-like parts. Capri crowns the sophisticated arrangements with her beautiful voice and stunning vocal lines.
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Live At Rockpalast 2009 CD (Made In Germany Music)
Live set recorded at Live Music Hall in Cologne, German in support of The Century Of Self album released earlier that year. Also available on stand-alone DVD.
Benny No-Good – I Am You CDEP (East Grand Record Co.)
Benny No-Good started playing punk and metal 20 years ago, and is the frontman for Indiana’s hardcore punk band The Enders. While the three-piece group is his main project, there’s always room for another musical outlet, especially when the songs’ subject matter doesn’t lend themselves well to screaming and vitriol. The songs on this debut solo EP range from five years to just a couple of months old at the time of release, and range from straightforward singer/songwriter material, protest themes, and Irish-traditional influenced ballads.
Blackberry Smoke – Leave A Scar: Live In North Carolina CD (Blackberry Smoke)
Mixing elements of gospel, bluegrass, arena rock, soul and more than a touch of outlaw country; Blackberry Smoke has earned a passionate fan base that continues to grow as the band itself evolves. Also available on stand-alone DVD.
James Blackshaw – Fantomas: Le Faux Magistrat CD/LP (Tompkins Square)
In celebration of the centenary of Louis Feuillade’s Fantômas silent film series, James Blackshaw was invited by Yann Tiersen to perform a live score to the fifth and final film, Le Faux Magistrat, at the beautiful and prestigious surroundings of the Théâtre de Châtelet, Paris on October 31st 2013. Fantômas – a master of disguise and symbol of terror – is one of the most popular characters in French crime fiction, as well as a favorite with the avant-garde, particularly the surrealists.
Braid – No Coast CD/LP (Top Shelf)
Braid’s first full-length in 16 years is an immediate, energetic album that completely eschews the traditional “reunion record” expectation of older people making slower, softer music. A large part of that can be attributed to the group’s rhythm section, Todd Bell (bass) and Damon Atkinson (drums), who have played in lockstep with one another for more than 15 years and whose musical chemistry is undeniable.
Rick Braun – Can You Feel It CD (Artistry)
Rick Braun is a true superstar of the contemporary/pop jazz genre. A hot ticket as a solo artist Rick also headlines several top-grossing jazz packages.
Bright Light Bright Light – Life Is Easy CD/LP (Self Raising Records)
Life Is Easy builds on the success of Bright Light Bright Light’s debut pop album. Enlisting Elton John for a duet, Scissor Sisters’ Del Marquis for guitar and vocals, and Iggy Azelia/Jessie J producers the Invisible Men for production, Life Is Easy packs a pop punch to match major label offerings.
Darren Brown – Analgesic/Calmative CD (After Music)
New release from the modern composer, noisemaker and performer – his first solo release in a decade. Analgesic/Calmative is a deep mixture of guitars and field recordings, noise and electronics, vocals and random words.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity [Reissue/1884] CD (Mute)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Kicking Against The Pricks [Reissue/1986] CD (Mute)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – The Firstborn Is Dead [Reissue/1985] CD (Mute)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Your Funeral…My Trial [Reissue/1986] CD (Mute)
The first four Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds albums, reissued and available again in single-disc formats for the first time in years.
Chelsea Grin – Ashes To Ashes CD (Atery)
New album from the Salt Lake City deathcore stalwarts.
Chicago – Now (Chicago XXXVI) CD/LP (Frontiers)
Now (Chicago XXXVI) is the band’s first new album of original material since the release of XXX in 2006, and once again these icons offer their signature fiery, jazz-rooted brass arrangements over slick pop rock songs.
Crosby Stills Nash & Young – CSNY 1974 3xCD+DVD/3xBlu-ray+DVD (Rhino/Atlantic)
Long-rumored and highly anticipated CSNY 1974 captures the band’s one-of-a-kind harmonic alchemy during its remarkable outdoor stadium tour, a trek that spanned more than two months and included 31 concerts, in 24 cities, with combined audiences of over a million people. Produced by Graham Nash and Joel Bernstein, this 40th anniversary CD features 16 live tracks, electric and acoustic, selected from the band’s boxed set. Also available on Blu-ray audio with DVD.
Dirty Heads – Sound Of Change CD (Five Seven Music)
Dirty Heads is a reggae band from Huntington Beach, CA with a melodic style that includes hip-hop and ska punk genres. Vinyl version due August 5.
Dryft – Blur Vent CD (n5MD)
Dryft has always been a way for Mike Cadoo to experiment within the sonic terrain of electronic music. He started Dryft in 1999 as a side project from his then full-time gig as frontman of post-industrial amalgamate Gridlock to explore and produce re-imagined forms of darkstep.
Steve Earle – Live In Nashville 1995 CD (Shout Factory!)
Official stand-alone release of this live set previously, only available in the Steve Earle: The Warner Brothers Years box set. Paying tribute to an incredibly significant time in Earle’s career, this concert album showcases Earle’s performance at the Polk Theater in Nashville, Tennessee on December 1, 1995.
Earthless Meets Heavy Blanket – In A Dutch Haze CD/2xLP (Outer Battery/Roadburn)
After an impromptu heavy psych jam at SXSW left the crowd stunned and breathless, J Mascis and Earthless were asked to play the main stage of the Roadburn Festival in Holland. When Earthless guitarist Isaiah Mitchell had to back out at the last minute, Graham Clise from Heavy Blanket and Witch stepped in on second guitar. What you’ll find here is a recording of that set, almost a full hour of some of the most mind bending heavy psych imaginable.
Eaux – Plastics CD/LP (ATP Recordings)
The London-based band of Ben Crook, Sian Ahern and Stephen Warrington formed back in 2012, inspired by the rhythmic drive of techno. Their own music, however, is said to be more dynamic and spontaneous (“a heavily analogue approach to everything they do [puts] a very human face to this machine-made music,” says a press release). Their songs developed from live jams with hand-triggered drum machines and other live elements (as well as Ahern’s vocals), and the lyrics are inspired by classic sci-fi writers and their views of the future.
Rick Estrin And The Nightcats – You Asked For It… Live! CD (Alligator)
First-ever live release from one of the tightest, hardest-touring bands in American roots music. Harmonica player/singer/songwriter extraordinaire Estrin, former front man for Little Charlie And The Nightcats, leads the current Nightcats (guitar whiz Kid Andersen, multi-instrumentalist Lorenzo Farrell and singing drummer J. Hansen) through a treasure trove of his finest material.
Evil Goat Riders – From Now On CD (Crysella)
Catchy tunes that will stick in your head, heavy danceable beats, lyrics with a message.
The Flesh Eaters – A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die [Reissue/1981] CD/LP (Superior Viaduct)
Originally released in 1981, A Minute To Pray brings together Dave Alvin (Blasters) on guitar, John Doe (X) on bass, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) on sax, along with Bill Batemen (Blasters) and DJ Bonebrake (X) providing the album’s trademark percussive backbone. Chris D. leads the group like a man possessed. Through a series of grotesque vignettes, his lyrical prowess and indelible growl stand toe-to-toe with the music’s powerful shifts.
French Style Furs – Is Exotic Bait CD/LP (Frenchkiss)
French Style Furs is Nathan Willett and Matt Maust (from Cold War Kids) and Nathan Warketin (from We Barbarians). The inspiration of Is Exotic Bait came from Willett’s idea to use the poetry of Thomas Merton as the lyrics. These poems opened a door of possibilities for Willett to sing unhinged and gave vision and direction to the album.
Goatwhore – Constricting Rage Of The Merciless CD/LP (Metal Blade)
This is Goatwhore’s fourth studio outing is still rife with the abrasive sub-nuclear riff torrents, lyrical blasphemies and primal, Celtic Frostian nods for which the band has become synonymous.
Hildur Gudnadóttir – Saman CD/LP (Touch)
This album is about resonance: on Saman, which means “Together”, Hildur melts her voice with her cello, connecting the two instruments together. The result is a highly involving and moving album, recorded, mixed and mastered in Berlin. Hildur’s sylph-like vocals contrast beautifully with rich cello tones, resolving the tension between light and dark to produce a unique listening experience.
The Gun Club – Fire Of Love [Reissue/1981] CD (Superior Viaduct)
Fire Of Love is the no-nonsense debut from blues-punk legends The Gun Club. Formed in 1979—when singer Jeffrey Lee Pierce taught a young Kid Congo Powers to play guitar—the band injects the Delta blues, rockabilly and ’60s garage with their own amplified fury.
Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited: Live At The Royal Albert Hall CD (Inside Out U.S.)
If you love quality rock music, then you will certainly have shared Steve Hackett’s work on some of the greatest songs of the past four decades. Whether with Genesis, GTR, or on his solo output, the man has been a giant of the prog genre.
Handguns – Life Lessons CD (Pure Noise Records)
One of the hardest working pop/punk bands in the game return with their second full length.
The Hell – Groovehammer CD/LP (Prosthetic)
Lauded as ”The most exiting band of 2014” via Front Magazine, UK’s The Hell has been raising eyebrows and wreaking havoc in the hardcore scene with the release of their critically acclaimed and despised debut album You’re Listening To Hell.
Fred Hersch Trio – Floating CD (Palmetto)
“Combines lyricism, brainy improvisation, sensitive interplay, and purring propulsion, adding up to one of the finest piano trios of our day.” — Boston Globe
Hex Bombs – Everything Earned CD/LP (East Grand Record Co.)
New release from the Kalamazoo-based indie punks.
Honeyblood – Honeyblood CD (FatCat)
Honeyblood are Shona McVicar on drums and Stina Tweeddale on vocals/guitar. Despite their fledgling status and minmal setup, Honeyblood’s songs are fully formed and perfectly assured. The songs resonate with deep melodic hooks and the kind of effortless charm that have drawn recent comparisons to the likes of Best Coast, Haim and Frankie Rose. Vinyl version due August 19.
Islander – Violence & Destruction CD (Victory)
Violence & Destruction’s exceptionally bold, brooding, and melodic style has drawn respectable comparisons to The Deftones, The Cure, and everyone in between. Demonstrating a wide array of influences, Islander’s crisp fusion of thrashing instrumentation and impassioned, magnetic vocals are bound to make them a refreshing new focal point in the modern rock world.
Leela James – Fall For You CD (BMG Rights Management)
Fall For You marks Leela’s fourth studio album of her career. To capture her vision on the new project, James procured a talented cast of collaborators including producers Tim ”Tha Arkitec” Kelley (Tim & Bob), Shannon Sanders and Drew Ramsey (John Legend, India.Arie), Joe Ryan III (Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild) and writers Rex Rideout and Francci Richards (Fergie).
Judas Priest – Redeemer Of Souls CD/2xLP (Epic)
The 17th studio album from the veteran British metal band. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds five bonus tracks.
Marillion – A Sunday Night Above The Rain 2xCD (Imports)
From March 8 to March 10, 2013 at Port Zelande, Netherlands, Marillion performed their acclaimed studio album Sounds That Can’t Be Made in its entirety, as well as other hits and tracks from their Fish era. Also available on stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray.
Matt Kivel – Days Of Being Wild CD/LP (Woodsist)
“There are some songs, and albums for that matter, that just seem to fit right into your life. For me, the work of Matt Kivel is perfectly fitting for my reflective summer away from work. For instance, this latest single has this rolling drum beat, with lofty vocals floating atop, while varying layers of guitar work come into the fold. Sort of reminds me of long summer road trips through the Northwest with nothing but the stars overhead.” – Austin Town Hall
Lightfoils – Hierarchy CD (Sainte Marie)
One of Chicago’s brightest new bands, Lightfoils pushes the shoegaze genre into new territory.
Magic Man – Before The Waves CD/LP+MP3 (DMZ)
Before The Waves is the debut album from Magic Man. It was produced by Alex Aldi (Passion Pit, Holy Ghost!), who also worked with the band on last year’s You Are Here EP. Among the 11 tracks is their first single “Paris,” which Rolling Stone compares to the electric-meets-electronic sound of the Postal Service. The swirling layers of synths, which constantly rush behind Caplow’s vaporous voice, give the whole track a hazy vibe.
Richard Marx – Beautiful Goodbye CD (Zanzibar LLC)
The first album of new studio material from the singer/songwriter in six years. Every track on the album incorporates an orchestral element, and the recording of the tracks was, according to Marx, “a thrill beyond anything I’ve done in the studio.
The Mastersons – Good Luck Charm CD/LP+MP3 (New West)
Already recognized for their critically-lauded 2012 debut album Birds Fly South, Austin, TX-based husband-wife duo The Mastersons are now “poised to be one of Austin’s breakout acts in 2014…” (Austin American Statesman). While they are seasoned songwriters and virtuosic multi-instrumentalists in their own right, they have also become integral members of Steve Earle’s band The Dukes, having been featured on Earle’s The Low Highway and playing hundreds of shows with Earle for the better part of three years.
John Mellencamp – Performs Trouble No More Live At Town Hall CD/LP (Mercury)
A month after Mellencamp released his critically acclaimed 2003 album, Trouble No More he performed the album in its entirety for a sold-out audience at New York’s Town Hall. The concert was recorded but never before released until now.
Ministry – Last Tangle In Paris: Live 2012 DeFiBrilLaTouR CD/2xCD+DVD/LP (UDR)
Ministry’s Last Tangle In Paris documents a time capsule in music history that will never be repeated. In addition to live Ministry performances, it also embodies rare backstage footage and one-on-one interviews. Ministry founder and frontman, Al Jourgensen has no intention to tour Ministry ever again, and thus this documentary is most certainly Jourgensen’s last tangle in Paris. Deluxe DVD version due July 22.
Monuments – Amanuensis CD (Century Media)
UK based Monuments continue their work at the forefront of the progressive metal scene. The music combines aggressive angular grooves interwoven with spacious melodic ambience that is punchy yet progressive.
Mortals – Cursed To See The Future CD/LP (Relapse)
Cursed To See The Future is the debut LP by NYC power trio Mortals. It is a blackened slab of heavy metal full of filthy riffs, grooves and growls equal parts High On Fire and Darkthrone propelled by the guitar-work of Elizabeth Cline and the vox of Lesley Wolf.
My Iron Lung – Relief CD/LP (Pure Noise)
My Iron Lung is San Diego’s best-kept secret. Relief is the band’s debut full-length record and was engineered and produced by Sam Pura (The Story So Far, State Champs). The record mixes hardcore and punk rock aggression with poetic lyrics and melodic breaks.
Ted Nugent – Shutup & Jam! CD (Frontiers)
Nugent’s first new studio album in eight years.
Origin – Omnipresent CD (Nuclear Blast)
One of the most intense and technical forces of the contemporary death metal world, Origin have return to stake their claim as the leaders of metal’s new wave with their sixth studio effort.
Phalloplasty – Systematic Mutilation CD (Gore House Productions)
Phalloplasty’s mastermind, Zack Shaw, has performed with various bands including Exhumed, Pathology, and Disgorge and has performed at the Las Vegas Death Fest twice.
Pinnick Gales Pridgen – PGP2 CD (Magna Carta)
dUg Pinnick, Eric Gales and Thomas Pridgen loved the experience of collaborating so much that they quickly headed back into the studio to record a second album of psychedelic blues, hard rock, and progressive soul/R&B together.
Point Of View – Burner CD (Hella Mad)
Taking after the sounds of classic punk power trios, Point Of View is an up-and-coming punk rock band out of San Jose, CA. With a punk base similar to old Green Day and NOFX, the group leans toward the Bay Area pop/punk sound and brings a hook-laden attitude to the genre.
Maxi Priest – Easy To Love CD (VP)
12 new songs highlighting Maxi’s earliest musical influences; roots and lover’s rock reggae. The album features reggae music luminaries Sly & Robbie, Clive Hunt and Beres Hammond with a guest vocal on the R&B flavored Without A Woman
Proper Ornaments – Wooden Head CD/LP (Slumberland)
Mining the rich territories of The Velvet Underground and The Beach Boys, this London-based neo-psychedelic group’s debut features fourteen thrillingly taut and melodic pop songs with a deep, dark undercurrent.
Edward Rogers – Kaye CD (Zip)
Kaye is the fifth solo album from UK-born, NYC-based singer/songwriter, Edward Rogers. Inspired and dedicated to Kevin Ayers, the album includes a version of the English singer-songwriter’s “After The Show.” Recorded live over three days, Rogers describes Kaye as a mixture of madness and softness, and hopes Kevin Ayers, who was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement, would approve.
Peter Rowan – Dharma Blues CD (Omnivore Recordings, LLC)
Recorded in Sausalito, Los Angeles and New Orleans, Dharma Blues features twelve tracks, as well as guest appearances from Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna) and vocals from Gillian Welch with instrumentation ranging from banjo and pedal steel to harmonium and water drum. Rowan continues to evolve and create, and this is especially evident on Dharma Blues.
Sandy’s – Fourth Dementia CD/LP (Um Yeah Arts)
Sun-bleached pop paens in the tradition of Chris Bell & Big Star from members of Sonny & The Sunsets, Citay, and Apollo Sunshine.
Sia – 1000 Forms Of Fear CD/LP (RCA)
The sixth album from Sia Furler, the singer/songwriter/producer/hitmaker best known as Sia. The album features production and writing collaborations with Diplo, Greg Kurstin, Chris Braide. Includes the singles “Chandelier” and “Eye Of The Needle.”
Skygreen Leopards – Family Crimes CD/LP (Woodsist)
The Skygreen Leopards’ latest outing continues the group’s tradition of skewed sunshine pop with lyrics focused on the bummer side of the eternal rock & roll summer.
Starset – Transmissions CD (Razor & Tie)
Starset is the sonic interzone where fact, science and speculation collide. Their debut, Transmissions, is a thought-provoking broadcast of cinematic rock full of epic intents, poignant thoughts and personal nuances.
Steel Prophet – Omniscient CD/LP (Cruz Del Sur)
New album from the progressive power metal originators. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe comes in a digipak with an expanded booklet.
Brenda Earle Stokes – Right About Now CD (Magenta Music Group)
A true triple-threat, Brenda Earle Stokes pivots seamlessly from vocalist to pianist to composer, as she leads a band of top notch New York jazz musicians. Right About Now features six of Brenda’s original compositions, new lyrics to compositions by Village Vanguard lead alto saxophonist Dick Oatts and Brazilian legend Egberto Gismonti as well as unexpected takes on songs by Joe Jackson and Pete Townshend.
Ultramantis Black – Ultramantis Black CD/LP (Relapse)
Behold the debut EP of Ultramantis Black, the hardcore musical vessel of professional wrestling’s own Ultramantis Black. Having spent over a decade dominating the independent pro wrestling scene, Ultramantis recruited a cadre of musicians from today’s finest punk bands, including members of Pissed Jeans, to form a blistering sociopolitical hardcore band that is equal parts Vegan Reich, Deadguy and LARM.
Various Artists – Late Night Tales: After Dark CD/LP (Night Time Stories)
Late Night Tales welcomes back the cult figure and ultimate musical connoisseur, Bill Brewster to compile his second episode of the curated compilation series After Dark. An obscure and timeless DJ -led journey which begins somewhere out in the near ocean, the waves are rolling and lolling gently into the shore, while a full moon shines on the surface. It’s only faint, but somewhere nearby is the sound of bass, pulsing slowly, almost in time to the waves.
Vintersorg – Naturbal CD (Nuclear Blast)
Naturbal (“Nature’s Bonfire”) is a new folk metal record from the Swedish group. Folkloristic tunes merge with technical guitar riffs and multilayered melodies.
Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties – We Don’t Have Each Other CD/LP (Hopeless)
Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties is the brainchild of The Wonder Years’ frontman Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell. We Don’t Have Each Other offers up a more stripped down approach with Campbell’s signature story telling lyrics.
Steve Wilson – Cover Version CD (K-scope)
A collection of six cover versions plus six original songs, previously released as 7″ singles between 2001-2010 from the Porcupine Tree frontman. Includes songs by ABBA, The Cure, Prince, Donovan, Momus and Alanis Morrissette.
Wolves In The Throne Room – Celestite CD/2xLP (Artemisia)
Celestite embarks on a deeper excursion into the crystalline, synthesizer-driven domains that have long intrigued the band. With the aid of producer Randall Dunn (Earth, Sunn O))), Master Musicians of Bukkake), the band unearths a hidden soundscape only loosely tethered to their familiar sound, yet still unmistakably the work of Wolves In The Throne Room.
Wolvhammer – Clawing Into Black Sun CD (Profound Lore)
A volatile amalgamation of black metal, death rock and punk.
DVD + Blu-ray:
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Live At Rockpalast 2009 DVD (Made In Germany Music)
Concert filmed at Live Music Hall in Cologne, German in support of The Century Of Self album released earlier that year. 111 minutes.
Blackberry Smoke – Leave A Scar: Live In North Carolina DVD (Blackberry Smoke)
Mixing elements of gospel, bluegrass, arena rock, soul and more than a touch of outlaw country; Blackberry Smoke has earned a passionate fan base that continues to grow as the band itself evolves. This DVD features a full-length concert shot live in North Carolina as well as rare footage of the band at home.
Marillion – A Sunday Night Above The Rain DVD/Blu-ray (Imports)
From March 8 to March 10, 2013 at Port Zelande, Netherlands, Marillion performed their acclaimed studio album Sounds That Can’t Be Made in its entirety, as well as other hits and tracks from their Fish era.
The Who – DVD Collector’s Box 2xDVD (The Collector’s Forum)
This double-DVD set uncovers the origins of The Who and their cultural developments they subsequently inspired. 156 minutes.
Vinyl:
Ambrose Akinmusire – The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint LP (Blue Note)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire returns an impressive and expansive new album that broadens the palette of his firebrand quintet with the addition of guitarist Charles Altura, the OSSO String Quartet, and vocalists Becca Stevens, Theo Bleckmann, and Cold Specks.
The Animals – Animalisms [Reissue/1966] LP (Secret)
Reissue of The Animals classic third album, pressed on HQ-180gm vinyl with double-sided insert. Animalisms was their first album after leaving Columbia and signing to Decca.
ArnoCorps – Two More! 7” (Alternative Tentacles)
Often imitated, never duplicated, the action-adventure rock pioneers ArnoCorps are back. Returning to their patented “Heroic Symmetry” lineup, the legendary ensemble delivers two pump-inducing tunes that fight back against the Austroploitation films of the ’70s.
Art Fine – Dark Silence [Reissue/1985] 12” (Dark Entries)
Art Fine was the duo of Fabrice Bellini (electronics, vocals) and Rush Blakemann (guitar, synthesizer) from Turin, Italy. They met in art school and became friends, inspired by new wave, dance and electronic music. They recorded their only single “Dark Silence” in November of 1984, which was released by Discomagic in 1985.
Syd Barrett – The Madcap Laughs [Reissue/1970] LP (Parlophone)
Syd Barrett – Barrett [Reissue/1970] LP (Parlophone)
Syd Barrett – Barrett [Reissue/1988] LP (Parlophone)
HQ-180gm vinyl represses now available.
Bassnectar – Noise vs. Beauty 2xLP (Amorphous Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Noise vs Beauty is a 15-song journey that spans the spectrum of music from hardcore noise hysteria to lush, ethereal beauty and many points in between. Said Bassnectar, “I collaborated with over 50 different human beings on this collection, and it is without a doubt my favorite album to date.”
Blacklist Royals – Die Young With Me CD (Varese Sarabande)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Blacklist Royals have been through some tough shit in the past few years, including band member Rob Rufus’ battle with cancer. The band’s new record, Die Young With Me, reflects all that struggle. The record is ragged, raw, and rocking, with tracks like ‘Out In The Dark’ and ‘26 And Gone’ examining the impermanence of life through the eyes of Rob and twin brother Nat Rufus.” – A.V. Club
Johnny Cash – With His Hot And Blue Guitar [Reissue/1957] LP (Original Recordings Group)
With His Hot And Blue Guitar is the debut album of country singer Johnny Cash. Released in 1957, it was the first LP ever issued on Sam Phillips’ Sun Records label. Currently out of print, the album has been remastered and reissued on blue vinyl.
Cradle Of Filth – Total F**king Darkness LP (Shellshock)
Recently released on CD – available for the first time ever on vinyl. Remastered released of the infamous third demo from British extreme metallers, recorded in 1993 and expanded with bonus tracks.
Casey Crescenzo – A Symphony In Four Movements LP (Equal Vision)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Casey Crescenzo is the mastermind behind experimental indie rock group The Dear Hunter. An incredibly talented musician and prolific songwriter, Crescenzo wanted to push himself further as a composer by crafting an original symphony. The completed work was performed by the Brno Orchestra in the Czech Republic for this recording.
Miles Davis – The Musings Of Miles [Reissue/1955] LP (Fantasy)
The Musings Of Miles is the first 12″ LP by Miles Davis, issued by Prestige Records in 1955. This jazz classic features, in addition to Davis on trumpet, Red Garland on piano, Oscar Pettiford on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums.
Dead Flowers – For You [2013] LP (Idol)
A ripping rock base lit up by country and blues fire.
The Dead Space – Faker LP+MP3 (12XU)
The Dead Space is a band whose blend of tension, fragility and genuine muscle — certainly in the spirit of avowed influences like Joy Division, Bauhaus and Swans without being remotely copyist — has never been nearly this confident or incandescent.
Deicide – Legion [Reissue/1992] LP (Metal Blade)
Vinyl reissue of the death metal band’s sophomore album, originally released in 1992 on R/C Records.
Echo & The Bunnymen – Meteorites LP (429)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The legendary Liverpool band release their 12th studio album and first since 2009. Produced by Youth (Killing Joke, The Verve), Meteorites is comprised of ten new songs written by founder Ian McCulloch and performed by Bunnymen stalwarts Mc Culloch and Will Sergeant along with Gordy Goudie (guitar) and Stephen Brannan (bass).
Fleetwood Mac/Christine Perfect Band – Hey Baby LP (Secret)
HQ-180 gram vinyl LP featuring four studio tracks by The Christine Perfect Band from 1969 which included the Yardbirds original guitarist Top Topham, and five tracks from 1970 by a post-Peter Green Fleetwood Mac featuring Christine Perfect, Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer alongside Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.
M. Geddes Gengras – Ishi LP (Leaving)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. M. Geddes Gengras has inhabited the Los Angeles experimental music scene for the last 7 years, bouncing through various bands, monikers, and a critically acclaimed collaboration with Sun Araw and The Congos. Ishi finds him diving headlong into beautiful, sprawling ambient explorations and deep, mystical drone; it is a lushly nuanced sound world generated directly from the deeply personal relationship between one man and his meticulously cultivated machines.
Gentle Friendly – ‘KAUA’I O’O A’A’ LP (FatCat)
Gentle Friendly are the London-based duo of David Maurice and Richard Manber, whose penchant for circular melodies, tidal fuzz and rapid junked rhythms is delivered via an austere instrumental setup of vocals, Casio MT-40 keyboard and drums (sometimes electronic), alongside an array of tapes and electronics. Glimpses of the visceral sonic/rhythmic chaos of early Animal Collective; the fractured melodic sensibility of punk experimentalists like Wire and This Heat; as well as the influence of the loop-based electronics and sample-experimentation of pioneers like Disco Inferno and Seefeel or more modern dance splinter genres like juke/footwork and wonky.
Gingerlys – Jumprope EP 7” (Shelflife)
NYC’s newest pop sweethearts, Gingerlys, present their debut EP. Described as “pure ear candy,” the EP starts off with “Jumprope” which quickly introduces what Gingerlys are all about – songs filled with fuzzy guitars, dreampop melodies, guitar hooks galore and Maria Garnica’s soft sultry vocals.
Greenhorn – I Want More LP (Anchorless Records)
Six catchy pop punk gems with strong guy/girl vocals from Jen Vito (Nomore) and Roger Lima (Less Than Jake).
Helen – Witch/Zanzibar [Reissue/1983] 12” (Dark Entries)
Dark Entries Editions reissue series continues with a double A-side of the first two Helen maxi singles, “Witch” and “Zanzibar,” as a 4-song EP. Helen was an Italo disco studio project that consisted of various producers, songwriters, and vocalists from Italy in the 1980s.
Hippy Boys – Reggae With Hippy Boys [Reissue/1969] LP (Secret)
A reggae classic from 1969 reissued on HQ-180gm vinyl.
B.B. King/Eric Clapton – Riding With The King [Reissu/2000] LP (Reprise)
Clapton recorded Riding With The King with American blues legend, B.B. King, and first released the album in 2000.
The Legendary Pink Dots – 10 To The Power Of 9 Volume 1 LP (Rustblade)
Legendary Pink Dots are back with a new great concept album. This is the first volume of a complex story about conspiracy, magic, and spirituality. Minimal synths, guitars and syncopated rhythms blend with psychedelic and transcendental noises and the distinctive voice of Edward Ka-Spel.
Madlib – Rock Konducta Part Two LP (Madlib Invazion)
The second in the series grabs its source material from various worldwide rock scenes from the ‘60s through the ‘80s, from American psychedelia to Germany’s krautrock to acid-soaked Spanish prog to synthy, early-80s oddities.
Melchior und das Menace– Hunger LP (Castle Face)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. What we have here is a fabulous collection of classic Melchior und das Menace. We asked, he let us dig through the archive, and lo and behold: Hunger, a grip of unreleased Melchior gold. It will take less than ten seconds for the high to kick in after the rush of greasy guitars consume you at the get-go of “A Wizard Doesn’t Need A Computer.” And yes, he’s taking the piss.
Lemon Nash – Papa Lemon: New Orleans Ukelele Maestro & Tent Show Troubadour LP (Arhoolie)
Lemon Nash was a ukulele player from the Storyville district of New Orleans whose career spanned from the earliest days of Jazz up through the 1960s. A fixture for decades in the French Quarter, Lemon Nash also traveled with circuses and medicine shows around the country, hawking blood tonic and performing from his vast repertoire.
Obituary – The End Complete [Reissue/1992] LP (Metal Blade)
Reissue of the death metal band’s third album, originally released in 1992 on R/C Records.
Paws – Youth Culture Forever LP (XL)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. For Youth Culture Forever, the second album from Paws, the band decamped to a studio in the woods just outside New York to hone and expand on the sound that saw their debut ‘Cokefloat!’ acclaimed by the likes of Pitchfork, SPIN and nominated in their homeland of Scotland for the Scottish Album Of The Year awards. “While J. Mascis and Mac McCaughan taught these ‘90s children how to riff and that a catchy lead run can suffice where a chorus might otherwise, pop-punk acts like Blink-182 taught them how to rant” – Pitchfork.
Duane Pitre And Cory Allen – The Seeker And The Healer LP (Students Of Decay)
Performed and put to tape at Estuary Recording Facility, The Seeker And The Healer constitutes the first collaborative work by Texas-based sound artist Cory Allen and Louisiana minimalist composer Duane Pitre. The album’s two side-long pieces were developed out of multiple improvisational sessions governed by predetermined rules, sourced from piano, bowed guitar, harmonium and 49-stringed drone harp (a custom-made instrument of Allen’s own design featured here on record for the first time).
Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dream [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (K-scope)
A new vinyl edition of the 1999 studio album by Porcupine Tree, which contains PT classics “Even Less,” “Pure Narcotic,” “Tinto Brass,” and “Stop Swimming.” This K-scope edition of the 2005 master is pressed on HQ-180gm vinyl and comes with revamped artwork featuring striking new Lasse Hoile images.
Peter Richard – Walking In The Neon [Reissue/1985] 12” (Dark Entries)
Vinyl reissue of the Italo Disco club hit. Peter Richard was the alias first adopted in 1979 by producer and vocalist Walter Beinat. His best-known song was “Walking In The Neon,” released as a maxi-single on Italian label Good Vibes in 1985.
Roche – Stillhope 12” (100% Silk)
San Fran synth sensei Ben Winans ventures further into his arcane hardware labyrinths on second slab of mind-wired Pacific house for 100% Silk.
Roll The Dice – Until Silence 2xLP+CD (Leaf)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Until Silence marks a monumental shift for Roll The Dice. The characteristic framework of piano and synthesizer is reinforced with a newly conscripted string section: dramatic arrangements grind against furnace blasts of static, and phases of unrelenting rhythmic intensity collapse into moments of frayed, fragile beauty.
Sepultura – Schizophrenia [Reissue/1987] LP (Metal Blade)
Vinyl reissue of Sepultura’s third album, originally released in 1987 on Brazilian heavy/thrash/black metal label Cogumelo.
Simply Saucer – Baby Nova 12” (Schizophrenic)
These proto punk legends landed in Detroit during the summer of 2011 to record five classic tracks with some very special guests for this new EP. Taking its name from a song originally destined to be on their legendary “Cyborgs Revisited,” Baby Nova premieres the first ever studio versions of these five songs.
Lindsey Stirling – Shatter Me LP (Lindseystomp Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the violinist, dancer, performance artist, and composer.
Sun Ra – Outer Spaceways Incorporated [1968] LP (Original Recordings Group)
Sun Ra’s Arkestra was at its most radical during this period, alternating simple chants with very outside playing and dense ensembles. Now remastered and pressed on vinyl for the first time in over three decades, this limited edition release features white and purple psychedelic color vinyl and exclusive cover art.
Symbol Six – Dirtyland LP (Jailhouse)
New album from the veteran old school punk band. Color vinyl.
They Might Be Giants – Idlewild LP (Idlewild Recordings)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. While Idlewild is neither a “best of” nor a “rarities” set, it is an ultra-vivid illustration of the band’s prodigious output and singular musical vision. From the spare, folkie chug of “Words Are Like,” which originally appeared as part of TMBG’s internet-only collaboration with eMusic back in the dot.com era glory days of 2001, to the propulsive, dance floor groove of “You’re On Fire” from 2013’s Nanobots release, the scope of Idlewild is as wide as it is beguiling.
This Wild Life – Clouded LP (Epitaph)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This Wild Life is an acoustic duo from Long Beach, CA. Writing songs that mine the same emotional territory as City And Colour, they have created a sound, vibe, and presence that sets them apart from their stripped down peers.
Townes Van Zandt – For The Sake Of The Song [Reissue/1968] LP (Snapper)
Originally released in 1968, For The Sake Of The Song is a reissue of Townes Van Zandt’s well-known debut album. Produced by Jack Clement (Charley Pride, Chet Atkins, U2, etc.) and featuring original liner notes by Mickey Newbury, Van Zandt went on to cement his status as a cult icon among gifted songwriters such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Emmylou Harris who eventually recorded their own covers of Towne’s songs.
Various Artists – Ronnie James Dio: This Is Your Life 2xLP (Rhino)
Recently released on CD – now available on red vinyl. To celebrate one of rock’s most powerful voices, an all-star group of his friends and fans recorded 13 of their favorite tracks for a tribute album that will raise funds for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Produced by his longtime manager and wife Wendy Dio, the album includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as Metallica, Motörhead, Scorpions, Anthrax, and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years.
Viet Cong – Cassette 12” (Mexican Summer)
Viet Cong is a new project made up of four distinct voices. Matt Flegel and Scott Munro (respective former members of beloved Calgary band Women, and Chad VanGaalen’s band) spent much of 2013 in their basement studio with a mess of old and run-down equipment to build a set of fresh material. Cassette is a mixture of sharply-angled rhythmic workouts and euphoric ‘60s garage pop melodies, balanced with a penchant for drone-y, VU-styled downer moments.
Mike Weis – Don’t Know, Just Walk LP (Type)
Using loops of field recordings, gongs, radios, homemade instruments, drums and traditional Korean percussion, Weis (Zelienople) pieced together an album that is as reflective as it is mesmerizing. Solo percussion albums are rare, certainly, but Weis uses his drumming simply as the record’s backbone, allowing his ideas to flourish overhead.
Cassettes:
A Handful Of Dust – Topology Of A Phantom City [Reissue/1996] (Ba Da Bing!)
For these recordings, the core members of A Handful Of Dust—guitarist Russell (The Dead C) and violinist Alastair Galbraith—are joined by Peter Stapleton (Terminals, Pin Group, Scorched Earth Policy) on percussion and synthesizers. The two sprawling paeans to the glories of improvised invention ride waves of menacing intensity and freeform scrawl.
La Morte Young – La Morte Young (Ba Da Bing!)
With members of Sun Stabbed, Talweg and Nappe, this French group “draw[s] singing feedback from expiring amps and extend[s] moments of tense string-brut into colossal, slow-burning ascensions,” explain our friends at Volcanic Tongue. “Padding drums force the eternal upward vectors into waves of dreamtone as the group attempt[s] a flat-lined reconciliation between barbarous psychedelic drone, early music and single tone hypnotics. Wordless vocals touch on… ritual epiglottics… while the levels of dynamic fuzz are almost Japanese…. [P]lug the f##k in.”
Book:
David Yow – Copycat [Deluxe Edition] (Akashic Books)
David Yow’s cat portraits, captured here for the first time in book form, are bold, striking, hilarious, and beautiful. Each portrait is based around a pun, but they capture so much more than wordplay. 160-page hardcover book, signed by David Yow (The Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid), complete with a limited edition T-shirt (large size only) of one of his illustrations from the book.
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