CDs + Vinyl:
The 4th Movement – 4th Movement [Reissue/1980] CD/LP/Cassette (Drag City)
Death’s For the Whole World To See was a revelation of early punk music from the mid- ‘70s that didn’t see release until 2009. The true sequel to Death’s then-unreleased album – channeling both the punk-inflected rock and the introspective spirituality that began with Death.
Cyrille Aimée – Cyrille Aimée Live CD (Mack Avenue)
Recorded at a typically lively and engaging performance at New York City’s (Le) Poisson Rouge in August 2017, the album finds the acclaimed vocalist bidding a fond adieu to her long-standing band and looking forward to a brand-new phase in her life and career. The August performance marked the band’s final show together, saying goodbye to this configuration of Aimée’s band.
Arp – Zebra CD/2xLP (Mexican Summer)
NY-based artist/producer/DJ Alexis Georgopoulos (aka Arp) is no newcomer to the scene. An experimentalist who never loses sight of the generosity of pop, with Zebra, the fourth Arp long-player, Georgopoulos has boldly stepped into vastly new musical territory reinventing the project’s paradigm once again, blurring the lines between electronic and acoustic, between the experimental impulse and an addictive pop sensibility.
Arstidir – Nivalis CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
These eclectic Icelanders have never easily fit into any stylistic drawer and hence attracted a particular long list of attempts of a musical definition that ranges from indie rock via progressive rock, indie folk, chamber folk and pop, neo-classical to minimalism. Nivalis features string work (violin & viola) from Viktor Orri Árnason (Of Monsters And Men), drums from Magnús Trygvason Eliassen (Damien Rice) and cello from Hallgrímur Jónas Jensson (Olafur Arnalds).
Jill Barber – Metaphora CD/LP (Outside Music)
Evolving over the course of many albums from folk to jazz, R&B and pop, Jill’s success is defined not by genre, but by her undeniable songwriting chops and distinctive voice. Metaphora is a continuation of her musical story that confidently tackles everything from issues of empowerment, sexual politics, the complications of love, and depression. [Limited turquoise colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Binker & Moses – Alive In The East CD/LP (Gearbox)
Binker Golding and Moses Boyd are trailblazers in the current London jazz explosion. Ten new tracks featuring a wealth of talent, including UK free jazz legend Evan Parker.
Birdtalker – One CD/LP (Birdtalker Music)
Nashville-based quintet Birdtalker’s One is the group’s first full-length record following the success of their song “Heavy.” A blend of pulsing Americana/folk/pop, honest lyrics, and breathtaking harmonies.
Brücken/Froese – Beginn CD/LP (SFE)
A deft fusion of the talents of Claudia Brücken – famously the lead vocalist of revered German avant-pop ‘80s group Propaganda – and Jerome Froese – who, as son of electronic music pioneer and Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese, was himself a driving force and member of Tangerine Dream during one of their most successful and creative phases.
Junior Byles – Rasta No Pickpocket [Reissue/1986] CD (Omnivore)
As part of Omnivore Recordings’ rollout of legendary reggae label Nighthawk Records’ catalog, Junior Byles’ Rasta No Pickpocket has been remastered from the original tapes and issued for the first time on CD. Includes five bonus tracks, among them, two previously unissued versions of “Press Along” and “Thanks And Praise,” plus “Bur Boy” from the 1983 Nighthawk compilation, Knotty Vision. By the mid-’70s, Junior was a major star in Jamaica poised for international exposure, but he was acquiring a reputation for mental instability. Byles was in and out of sanitariums during the latter part of the decade, but still managed to make a few great recordings. One of which, “Heart & Soul” was cut with the biggest producer in Jamaica at the time, his friend, Joe Gibbs, and was a huge hit, but he recorded only a few tracks thereafter, unable to capitalize on the momentum of “Heart & Soul.” The Junior Byles Nighthawk session was planned with the assistance of long-time associate, Niney The Observer. His long history with Byles was most likely a plus in helping get the session arranged. Rasta No Pickpocket was released in 1986 and was his last album release, only a few single sides followed.
Paul Cauthen – Have Mercy CD/LP (Lightning Rod)
Cauthen has been the strongest, loudest singer in the room for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Tyler, Texas, where his grandfather-a songwriter and gospel song leader originally from Lubbock who worked with artists including Buddy Holly, Sonny Curtis, and other Crickets- taught Cauthen and his two sisters to sing harmony. Since Cauthen released his debut LP, My Gospel, he’s crisscrossed the country supporting artists like Elle King, Cody Jinks, Margo Price, and Ryan Bingham.
Bob Corritore and Friends – Don’t Let The Devil Ride CD (Southwest Musical Arts Foundation/VizzTone)
Bob Corritore’s harmonica interacts with killer vocalists and an array of all-star bands on his new modern blues album.
Craft – White Noise And Black Metal CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
White Noise And Black Metal sees the notorious and highly influential Swedish black metal band reclaiming their throne as one of the most intimidating and caustic entities in the underground.
The Cure – Mixed Up [Reissue/1990] CD/3xCD/2xLP (Elektra)
The Cure – Torn Down 2xLP (Elektra)
Digitally remastered single disc and expanded three CD editions. Triple-CD includes additional remixes circa 1982-90 as well as Torn Down which is comprised of 16 new remixes by Robert Smith. [Stand-alone vinyl edition of Torn Down is also available.]
Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay CD (Warner Nashville)
Sophomore album from the country duo of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney.
Miles Davis – Ascenseur Pour L’Échafaud [Reissue/1958] 2xCD/3×10” (Verve)
Expanded reissue of a landmark in the trumpeter’s discography but also in the history of soundtracks. The themes improvised during the legendary recording session made in Paris have now become standards in jazz and keep on fascinating new generations of listeners. Ascenseur Pour L’Échafaud (Elevator To The Gallows) was recorded at Le Poste Parisien Studio in Paris on December 4 and 5, 1957.
Dawes – Password CD/2xLP+MP3 (Hub)
“On the surface, Dawes’ songs are bright, approachable, outward-facing throwbacks to the best in classic countrified rock, from Buffalo Springfield to The Band. Its songs often register as comfort food; as the stuff of festival stages in the summertime or barroom blowouts that can barely be contained by closing time. But singer Taylor Goldsmith also uses Dawes as a canvas for serious, sometimes enormously ambitious ruminations on the meaning of life and the myriad ways human beings find love, hope and meaning. Throughout Passwords and the band’s career writ large, Dawes always returns to its greatest specialty: smooth and ingratiating California folk-rock that never bothers to hide its big, beating, bleeding heart.” – NPR
Anne Dudley – Anne Dudley Plays The Art Of Noise CD/LP (Island UK)
Anne Dudley’s involvement with the The Art of Noise catapulted her career to a new level by making her one the most respected, sought after musicians, arrangers and composers in the music industry. Here she explores the many textures of the acoustic and electric piano by reinterpreting Art Of Noise material..
Dumb – Seeing Green CD (Mint)
Dumb is the new smart. Don’t believe it? Look no further than this ridiculously prolific Vancouver quartet, who have somehow cracked the code on including quality with their quantity. Over the last two years, they have self-released three albums of quirky, frenetic post-punk. New album, Seeing Green, a batch of songs that sound both urgent and timeless, referencing classic post-punk projects like Devo, Pylon and the Mekons, while placing them nicely within the pantheon of Canadian contemporaries like Ought, Fountain and Freak Heat Waves. [Vinyl and cassette editions due July 9.]
Ethiopian & Gladiators – Dread Prophecy [Reissue/1986] CD (Omnivore)
As part of Omnivore Recordings’ rollout of legendary reggae label Nighthawk Records’ catalog, Ethiopian & Gladiators’ Rasta Dread Prophecy has been reissued for the first time on CD.
f**k – The Band CD/LP (Vampire Blues)
f**k’s first new record in over ten years. Recorded in fits and starts and all over the map, from basic tracks in San Francisco to overdubs in Italy and mixing in Memphis, the band comes through with a surprisingly cohesive sound; though, like their six previous studio albums, the genre-bending and boundary-pushing song-writing continues.
Gang Gang Dance – Kazuashita CD/LP+MP3 (4AD)
After a seven-year hiatus, the creatively vibrant musical act return with a new album – an intoxicating mix of shoegaze and electronic ambience, all held together by Lizzi Bougatsos’ otherworldly vocals.
Haken – L-1VE 2xCD+2xDVD (Inside Out)
Live release from the progressive metal band recorded and filmed on April 13th, 2017 at the
legendary Melkweg venue in Amsterdam.
Hatchet – Dying To Exist CD/LP (Combat)
New release from the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers. Fueled by the twin guitar attack of vocalist Julz Ramos and Clayton Cagle, bassist Devin Reiche, and drummer Ben Smith, The Hatchet members have built a name and reputation for themselves carrying the torch of classic Bay Area metal.
Impending Doom – The Sin And Doom Vol. II CD/LP (E1)
Sixth album from the California deathcore band.
Jedi Mind Tricks – The Bridge And The Abyss CD/2xLP (Enemy Soil)
For more than twenty-two years, the name Jedi Mind Tricks has become synonymous with raw, gritty, independent hip-hop JMT’s music embodies the spirit of DIY defiance and their longevity is a testament to their blue-collar work ethic coursing through the bloodlines of their hometown of Philadelphia. Their ninth studio album, The Bridge And The Abyss, features the singles “San La Muerte” and “Marciano’s Reign”.
Juno Reactor – The Mutant Theatre CD/LP (Metropolis)
Ben Watkins aka Juno Reactor is constantly exploring new areas visually & musically, evidenced by the new album The Mutant Theatre.
Dave Koz and Friends – Summer Horns II: From A To Z CD (Concord)
Horn stalwarts Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Aubrey Logan (Post Modern Jukebox), with guest vocalists Jonathan Butler, Kenny Lattimore and Sheléa, cover classics by Earth Wind & Fire, The Crusaders, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Duke Ellington, Jay-Z and more.
The Legendary Marvin Pontiac – Greatest Hits [Reissue/1999] CD/LP (Northen Spy)
Originally released back in 1999, musician, painter, actor, director, and producer John Lurie delivers this masterpiece of a record by way of his half-Malian, half-Jewish alter ego, Marvin Pontiac. Written and performed by Lurie and featuring Evan Lurie, John Medeski, Kenny Wollesen, G. Calvin Weston, Marc Ribot and Tony Garnier, this is the first time The Legendary Marvin Pontiac’s Greatest Hits has ever been available on vinyl! The package is beautifully redesigned with a jacket designed by John Lurie featuring a detail of one of his paintings.
The Legendary Pink Dots – Any Day Now [Reissue/1987] CD/LP (Metropolis)
The Legendary Pink Dots – Shadow Weaver [Reissue/1992] CD/LP (Metropolis)
The Legendary Pink Dots were often called an unlikely link between prog rock and industrial. Any Day Now lives solidly in a world of synthesizers & British goth & Syd Barret & psychedelia. Still as vital & relevant as band’s primary influences — Can, Faust, Neu & Meddle-era Pink Floyd — Shadow Weaver proves the band as masters of psychedelic sound designs. Both have been remastered and expanded.
Like A Storm – Catacombs CD (Century Media)
From the opening melody of “The Devil Inside” to the closing riff of “Pure Evil”, it is apparent Like A Storm has not lost a step in writing infectious, heavy music. The Auckland-bred brothers — Chris Brooks (lead vocals, guitar, didgeridoo, keys/programming), Matt Brooks (vocals, lead guitar, keys/programming), Kent Brooks (bass, vocals, keys/programming) — alongside Los Angeles drummer Zach Wood (drums, percussion), have created a style all their own with the introduction of the didgeridoo in to harder music.
Lingua Ignota – All Bitches Die CD/LP (Profound Lore)
Lingua Ignota, the solo project of multidisciplinary artist Kristin Hayter, takes a radical, unflinching approach to themes of violence and vengeance in ways that are moving, brutal, and harrowing. Her music is intentionally situated at specific and strange intersections, incorporating elements of power electronics, death industrial, and black metal alongside baroque classical, spiritual minimalism and folk.
Lera Lynn – Plays Well With Others CD (Single Lock)
Throughout her career a nearly decade-long run filled with three album releases, a career-shifting appearance and soundtrack for HBO’s True Detective, hundreds of shows on both sides of the Atlantic, and a sound encompassing everything from Americana to stark indie rock, Lera Lynn has balanced her fierce independence with a string of collaborations. For her fourth album, Plays Well With Others, she teamed up with eight different duet partners and seven co-writers. Plays Well With Others is a unique duets album one in which nearly every song is completely co-written and co-sung. Peter Bradley Adams, John Paul White, Dylan LeBlanc, Andrew Combs, Rodney Crowell, Shovels & Rope, JD McPherson, and Nicole Atkins all make appearances, working alongside Lynn not only to perform these songs, but to create them, too. [Vinyl edition due July 27.]
Manic Street Preachers – Resistance Is Futile CD/LP+CD (Shornday Limited)
Resistance Is Futile is the 13th studio album from award-winning Welsh rock band. The album’s first single, “International Blue”, is intensely melodic, supremely confident and driven by an empathetic melancholy. It’s the perfect herald for a classic Manic’s album that’s less one last shot at mass communication and much more a record ready made for massive communion. Unexpectedly lyrically open, Resistance Is Futile finds the band working from an emotional palette they are not immediately associated with. From the cascading opening of “People Give In” to the scattered resonance of “The Left Behind”, the album is very much the work of a band demanding to be heard and joined, at full volume.
Marduk – Viktoria CD/LP (Metal Blade)
For Swedish black metal icons Marduk, war is a topic familiar. Like moth to flame, they’ve been drawn to modern-era bloodshed – since 1999’s Panzer Division Marduk in fact. When the Swedes first moved on from reapers autumnal, black suns, and darkened wings, a lifetime’s worth of intense and very real source material lay in front of them. From the brutality of the World Wars to battles before and after, Marduk’s progression into grim historians – or, at the very least period-specific gearheads – is now complete with their new album, Viktoria. [Limited transparent sun-yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Mick’s Jaguar – Fame And Fortune CD/LP (Riding Easy)
Mick’s Jaguar is bringing noisy, wild, unafraid big rock back to NYC. The band gleefully pillages the history of rock music to create thoroughly modern, but classic rock and roll. Not quite punk, but not metal either, this is hard rock and roll that’s been put through the brain blenders of six musicians who pair their Judas Priest shirts with Steely Dan hats.
Mona – Soldier On CD/LP+MP3 (Bright Antenna)
Mona’s “high-energy garage rock” (Rolling Stone), featuring Brown’s “beautiful, thrusting snarl” (New York Times), has taken them to many places: the UK Top 40, tour dates with Robert Plant, Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon and Noel Gallagher, festivals from the UK (Glastonbury + Leeds) to Australia (Splendour In The Grass) and Japan (Summer Sonic), and TV appearances on The Tonight Show, Conan and Jools Holland.
- Hardy Morris – Dude, The Obscure CD/LP (New West)
Athens, GA’s T Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate, Diamond Rugs) is back with his third solo record. Titled Dude, The Obscure, the album is a work that Morris says, “flowed from a creative space I found at the intersection of dreams and reality.” In captivating songs, Morris sheds the traps of ambition and nostalgia and uncovers the strange satisfaction of living in the moment. Even the album title hints at self-discovery. In an homage to English author Thomas Hardy’s novel, Jude, The Obscure, Morris reveals his love for literature, philosophy and poetry. “The hat tip to the novel seemed appropriate for the album because it deals with doubts, joys, regrets and spirituality, a lifelong journey and such.” Each song on the album seems compelled by Morris’ desire to help himself – and others – conquer the void of everyday meaninglessness. Over 11 powerful songs, the Athens rocker reveals scars and shares lessons from an indie-rock odyssey that has taken him around the world and back home to find himself a little older and closer to something like enlightenment.
Nine Inch Nails – Bad Witch CDEP/12” (Null Corporation)
Final release in a trilogy of EPs that began with 2016’s Not The Actual Events and 2017’s Add Violence.
Orange Goblin – Frequencies From Planet Ten [Reissue/1997] CD (Rise)
Orange Goblin – Time Travelling Blues [Reissue/1998] CD (Rise)
Orange Goblin – The Big Black [Reissue/2000] CD (Rise)
Orange Goblin – Coup De Grace [Reissue/2002] CD (Rise)
Orange Goblin – Thieving From The House Of God [Reissue/2003] CD (Rise)
Digitally remastered CD reissues each expanded with bonus material. Diehard exponents of the noble art of heavy metal since 1995, the London-based quartet have spent the last two decades steadily but surely establishing themselves as one of the UK’s most loved and respected bands. Emerging from the stoner rock explosion of the mid ‘90s, the group led the way for that scene on British shores, kicking off with classic debut album Frequencies From Planet Ten in 1997 and continuing with a steady stream of critically acclaimed albums that boldly and gleefully blurred the lines between stoner, doom, black, crust and southern rock, while always fervently saluting the old school heavy metal flag and the sacred Sabbathian code.
The Orb – No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
The Orb present new album which, as the title suggests, finds them embracing an anything-goes new approach to creative freedom. The ambient duo worked with Roger Eno (brother to Brian), Killing Joke bassist Youth, session musician Guy Pratt and Jah Wobble, formerly the bassist for Public Image Ltd.
Chris Orrick – Portraits CD/LP (Mello Music Group)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. No one confronts the abyss better than Chris Orrick. The Michigan ex-factory worker formerly known as Red Pill has spent the last half-decade documenting industrial decay, familial pain, and struggles with addiction better than almost anyone inhabiting this poisoned soil. It’s somewhere between Charles Bukowski and Michael Moore, or maybe Atmosphere if he couldn’t ignore the arsenic in the air.
Augustus Pablo– Eastman Dub [Reissue/1988] CD/LP (Greensleeves)
Showcasing a vital selection of Rockers dub attacks built on Tetrack’s classic 1978 album Let’s Get Started, Augustus Pablo’s monumental Eastman Dub is back in-print on CD and vinyl. Originally recorded at Channel One and Harry J’s and mixed by Sylvan Morris at Channel One, Eastman Dub is another classic Augustus Pablo collection from the golden age of Rockers.
Panic! At The Disco – Pray For The Wicked CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)
Pray for the Wicked serves as Panic! At The Disco’s sixth studio album overall and follows up their platinum certified 2016 effort, Death Of A Bachelor. “After being away in New York for months doing Kinky Boots, I just wanted to hang out at home when I got back to L.A. I was so revved up that I asked some friends to come over to my home studio to help me write about all the incredible things I’ve experienced the last couple of years,” said frontman Brendon Urie. “Pray For The Wicked is my ‘thank you’ to our fans and the most fun I’ve ever had making album.”
Pantera – Live At Dynamo Open Air 1998 CD/2xLP (F.R.E.T. AB)
Live archive release recorded during their The Great Southern Trendkill album tour.
Pungent Stench – For God Your Soul … For Me Your Flesh [Reissue/1990] CD (Dissonance)
Reissue of the Austrian death metal band’s debut album. [Vinyl edition due August 10.]
The Record Company – All This Life CD/LP (Concord)
The Record Company follows-up their Grammy-nominated 2016 debut Give It Back To You with new album, All Of This Life. The gritty slide guitar, fuzzed-out bass, and driving drums are still front and center, but the songs are bolder and more ambitious this time around, deeper and more reflective, brimming with adventurous vitality while remaining firmly tethered to the roots of American rock & roll that have always grounded and nourished the group. While the band still worked up most songs at home and produced themselves once again, they headed to nearby Boulevard Recording in Hollywood on a quest to break new ground. The eclectic array of analog gear in the studio, which had hosted everyone from Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac to The War On Drugs, enabled the band to push the limits of their productions and arrangements while still capturing all the scintillating power and spontaneity of their live show. The resulting songs reflect our troubled times, but they focus inwards rather than outwards, musing on personal empowerment, self-improvement, and the supremacy of love. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Reina Del Cid – Rerun City CD/LP (Last Triumph)
Part singer-songwriter, part rock band, you can find Reina Del Cid at the intersection of lyrical storytelling and scorching solos. In January of last year, Del Cid released a music video for the song “Death Cap,” filmed in Iceland and directed by the band’s longtime creative collaborator, Jason Ho. Their music has been featured by Paste Magazine, NPR, and Baeble Music.
Priscilla Renea – Coloured CD/LP (White Rose Garden Music)
Coloured marks Renea’s return to focusing on herself as an artist while spending nearly a decade as a songwriter-for-hire. Her credits read like a who’s who of superstar artists and include hits for Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Mary J Blige, Madonna, Demi Lovato, Pitbull, Miranda Lambert, Chris Brown, Fifth Harmony, Mariah Carey, Charlie Puth, Nick Jonas, Train, Diple, Curren$y, and Kelly Clarkson, among others. It’s a list that demonstrates not only her chameleon-like stylistic range, but also an emotional intelligence that enables her to connect with artists with varying personalities and help them sound authentic. Coloured, which Renea describes as “a big gumbo of everything that’s happening in my life,” showcases her powerhouse voice and engaging story-telling.
John Renbourn – Live In Kyoto 1978 CD/LP (Drag City)
John Renbourn, along with his sometimes partner Bert Jansch (with whom he formed Pentangle in the 1960s), has been passed away for these past few years—but the music that he made continues to inspire, alongside the works of fellow travelers like Jansch, Davey Graham, Wizz Jones and John Martyn. Over fifty years ago, Renbourn and these men were at the forefront of the British folk revival as it mingled with the blues boom that was exploding at the same time. Renbourn’s style mixed these traditions with classical, jazz, world and early music techniques, and his picking was second to none. Live In Kyoto 1978 is a remarkable document of Renbourn’s talent spun out over an evening’s-worth of performances, during which his ease of playing left the audience speechless afterwards.
Bebe Rexha – Expectations CD (WB)
Following her massive country-pop crossover single, “Meant to Be”, Expectations is the debut album of Brooklyn-born songstress Bebe Rexha.
Tim Rutili & Craig Ross – 10 Seconds To Collapse CD/LP (Jealous Butcher)
Tim Rutili is the founder and principal songwriter for Califone and Red Red Meat. Craig Ross is a producer, songwriter and collaborator who has worked with Shearwater, Lisa Germano, Spoon, Patty Griffin, Robert Plant, Daniel Johnston. For their sophomore album 10 Seconds To Collapse, the duo employ deconstructed pop melodies, blown-out folk rock, and woozy psychedelia.
The Sea Within – The Sea Within CD/LP (Century Media)
Debut album from the new art rock collective comprised of Roine Stolt (Transatlantic, The Flower Kings), Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain Of Salvation), Jonas Reingold (Steve Hackett, The Flower Kings, Karmakanic, The Tangent), Tom Brislin (Yes Symphonic, Renaissance, Spiraling, Deborah Harry) and Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, U.K., Joe Satriani).
The Smoking Flowers – Let’s Die Together CD/LP (Bandaloop Music)
The Smoking Flowers is a rock duo from Nashville, TN composed of husband and wife Scott and Kim Collins. Their style incorporates stylings from roots, alt-country, punk, and folk. Their sound has been described by Alt Country Magazine as, “less traditional than your classic country-folk duo by bringing a punk-attitude and energy to their highly infectious songs. A marriage of song and voice that is uniquely their own.”
Soulfly – Live At Dynamo Open Air CD/LP (F.R.E.T. AB)
Archive live release from the metal band. Guests on this set include Chino Moreno (Deftones) and Benji Webbe (Skindred).
Soundtrack – The Planet Of Doom – First Contact: Music From The Original Soundtrack CDEP/12” (Ripple Music)
In the spirit of R-rated animated films like Heavy Metal and American Pop, Comes an epic feature-length fantasy/sci-fi tale soundtracked by underground metal artists. This EP is an insight into the full soundtrack due out later this year.
Street Dogs – Stand For Something Or Die For Nothing CD/LP (Century Media)
New release from the Boston-based punk band led by Mike McColgan, a veteran of the (first) Gulf War and original frontman of Boston’s infamous Dropkick Murphy’s. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
David Sylvian ∙ Holger Czukay – Plight & Premonition / Flux & Mutability [Reissue/1988/1989] 2xCD/2xLP (Grönland)
Twofer reissue of a pair of seminal late- ‘80s, evocative ambient albums by Sylvian and Czukay.
This Wild Life – Petaluma CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
New album from the indie rock band. “For Petaluma they made a mutual decision to make a record that felt brighter, more uptempo, and something they would personally want to listen to every single damn day.” [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
U.K. Subs – Subversions CD/LP (Cleopatra)
The first covers album from legendary British punkers. Includes supercharged punk versions of songs that inspired the band throughout their career from MC5’s classic “Kick Out The Jams” and Bowie’s glam hit “Suffragette City” to modern stoner rock heroes QOTSA’s “Feel Good Hit Of The Summer” and more. [Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Various Artists – Epilogue: A Tribute To John Duffey CD (Smithsonian Folkways)
John Duffey’s influence on bluegrass cannot be overstated. His contributions to legendary bands The Country Gentlemen and The Seldom Scene helped transform the genre from a regional Appalachian music to a sophisticated, urban sound, resulting in a legion of new fans the world over. On Epilogue, the bluegrass music community comes together to create a marvelously fitting tribute to “the father of modern bluegrass.” Sam Bush, John Cowan, Bela Fleck, Bruce Molsky, Tim O’Brien, Don Rigsby, and many more.
Various Artists – Soul Jazz Records Presents Boombox 3: Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro And Disco Rap 1979-83 2xCD/3xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
After the explosion of hip-hop in the parks and clubs of The Bronx in the mid- ‘70s, it was in Harlem where the first rap records emerged at the end of ’79 – an avalanche of superb rap tracks released on small independent labels all trying to capitalize on the success of “Rapper’s Delight.” Like hip-hop culture itself, these first rap singles are the product of their own unique set of aesthetics – exciting and innovative rap performed with Bronx block party B-Boy funk breaks, disco jams and Jamaican sound system culture. Boombox 3 features a line-up of stunning, near unknown New York rap artists, classic disco breaks (including Chic’s omnipotent “Good Times,” MFSB’s “Love Is The Message,” Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust”), proto-electro and more. And by the early- ‘80s the first rap records outside New York began to emerge – L.A., Houston, Milwaukee, Phoenix – and the first of these are also featured here in this new collection.
Various Artists – This Is Trojan Dub CD (This Is Trojan Dub)
Various Artists – This Is Trojan Roots CD (This Is Trojan Dub)
This Is Trojan Dub brings together some of the finest dub tracks from it’s heyday, mixed by it’s many of its most influential creators, including such luminaries as King Tubby, Lee Perry, King Jammy, Errol Thompson, Sylvan Morris and Scientist. This Is Trojan Roots focusses on Afro-Caribbean themes, notably the Rastafarian faith and the plight of Jamaica’s underprivileged. Roots reggae dominated Jamaica’s national landscape throughout the mid-to-late 1970s, making major stars of such talents as Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Johnny Clarke.
Vein – Errorzone CD/LP (Closed Casket Activities)
Boston, MA quintet Vein have made their name since 2016 with a brand of unhinged, boundary-pushing hardcore which recalls such late-’90s/early-’00s acts as Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, and Converge.
Victory – The Broken Instrument CD (Roc Nation)
Singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist Victory was personally signed by Jay-Z after being discovered performing with her siblings at their regular performance spot — the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace in Central Park.
Tom Waits – Bastards CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Tom Waits – Brawlers CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Tom Waits – Bawlers CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Previously released in 2006 as a triple-CD/seven-LP set entitled Orphans: Bastards, Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, each volume of that collection has been remastered and is now available separately. Taken as a whole, the collection of 56 songs went far beyond a simple career retrospective. It dipped back as far as 1984 with the bulk of its songs hailing from the mid-nineties onward. Over 2/3 of the material had never been heard when originally released in 2006 and had 30 newly recorded songs.
Kamasi Washington – Heaven And Earth 2xCD/4xLP (Young Turks)
Kamasi Washington’s sophomore album Heaven And Earth is the sequel to his critically acclaimed debut The Epic and consists of two halves where the groundbreaking artist explores the realities and cosmic themes of life. The album is about Washington’s settlement with today’s global chaotic states, as well as his vision for the future. Heaven And Earth not only fulfills its overarching ambition, but illustrates the dialectic between seen and unseen, real and imagined, citizen and culture, self and self, as well as self and other, and does so through the lens of a mature but never jaded revolutionary consciousness. Washington gathered his band, The Next Step, along with members of the well-established collective The West Coast Get Down in Henson Studios in Los Angeles to record the album’s 16 tracks.
White Ring – Gate Of Grief CD/LP (Rocket Girl)
Blending heavy, distorted electronics with eerie, unsettling vocals, Gate Of Grief, created over the course of seven years, pushes the boundaries even further, subverting genre ideas and mashing them all together, with industrial, metal, rave, chopped and screwed, rap, grunge, neo folk, post punk and new wave all in the mix.
Yukon Blonde – Critical Hit CD (Dine Alone)
Juno Award-nominated Vancouver-based band Yukon Blonde’s third album, Critical Hit, is a deeply personal proposition on dating in the digital age. It channels the varying emotions experienced while navigating the sometimes-treacherous waters of today; It’s sometimes tenuous, sometimes depressing, and sometimes jubilant. [Vinyl edition due July 6.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Lily Allen – No Shame LP (WB)
Recently released on CD – now available on 180gm vinyl. English singer-songwriter Lilly Allen returns with her fourth album, No Shame. Working with collaborators Fryars, Mark Ronson, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Burna Boy, P2J and Cass Lowe, Lily says her goal was to make an album that is “as truthful as possible.” Speaking about the sense of catharsis that came with making the record, she adds, “I believe that we as humans work through things by talking about them, and that’s what making music is for me. It’s sharing things that you hope are going to connect with people, not that are going to connect with algorithms.” It includes lead song “Trigger Bang” featuring Giggs, which The Guardian describes as, “a return to the melancholic pop that made her so intriguing.” A departure from the bold, brash lyricism and sun-soaked melodies Lily is known for, “Three” flips perspective in a way only she can, while the hazy, stripped back “Higher” finds the singer as vulnerable as ever.
American Aquarium – Things Change LP (New West)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. In the lush tobacco fields of North Carolina where BJ Barham was raised, people work hard. Families stay nearby, toiling and growing together. BJ loves those farms and his tiny Reidsville hometown, but he had to spread his wings. He couldn’t stay, but he couldn’t really leave, either: he’s still singing about the lessons, stories, and lives that define rural America. Recorded at 3CG Records in Tulsa, OK, American Aquarium’s seventh album, Things Change was produced by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Fullbright and features cameos from John Moreland and Jamie Lin Wilson. Stacked with BJ’s signature storytelling – always deeply personal but also instantly relatable, it questions and curses current events, shares one man’s intimate evolution, and leaves listeners with a priceless gift: hope.
Anthrax – We’ve Come For You All Reissue/2003] 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Anthrax – The Greater Of Two Evils [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Import-only black vinyl reissues of two John Bush-era Anthrax albums.
At The Gates – To Drink From Night Itself 2xLP+2xCD (Century Media)
Vinyl + CD box set edition of the Swedish melodic death metal pioneers’ new album.
Bethlehem – Bethlehem [2016] LP (Prophecy)
Released in 2016 on CD – now available on vinyl. Bethlehem encompasses everything the progenitors of dark metal are about, combining the group’s early harshness with an outrageous catchiness and experimentalism.
Bishop Briggs – Church Of Scars LP (Island)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album from L.A.-based Scottish singer/songwriter Sarah Grace McLaughlin aka Bishop Briggs. Her music transcends the limitations of singular genres, blending folk, pop and electronic music into a wholly unique sound.
Bluestaeb – Everything Is Always A Process LP (Jakarta)
A smooth neo soul-induced epic with guest appearances by Noah Slee, Harleighblu and Melodiesinfonie.
Harlan T. Bobo – A History Of Violence LP (Goner)
A History Of Violence highlights Bobo’s whiskey-and-cigarette-informed vocal style, and on the more intimate tracks, a distorted ear candy that warbles into increasingly sunken, uncomfortable places, like that of the songwriter with which comparisons have followed Bobo throughout his career: the late Leonard Cohen. [CD version due July 6.]
Big Bill Broonzy – Big Bill’s Blues LP (Traffic Ent.)
Big Bill Broonzy was a giant of the urban blues, a key player in the transition between the country blues of the Mississippi Delta and the electric blues of ’50s. Throughout the 1930’s he was a prolific recording artist – perhaps the most prolific. After 1945 Broonzy recorded songs that were the bridge that allowed many younger musicians to cross over to the future of the blues. Emblazoned with his rich timbre and soulful vitality which directly inspired a wealth of legends from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton to Jerry Garcia, Broonzy’s performances of “Key To The Highway,” “Trouble In Mind,” “See See Rider,” “Tell Me What Kind Of Man Jesus Is” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” are equally haunting and historic.
Ben Caplan – Old Stock LP (Rhyme And Reason)
Combining timeless melodies with a contemporary folk-rock twist, Ben Caplan explores the immigrant experience with profound understanding and wry humor on his latest album, Old Stock. Adapted from the New York Times’ Critic’s Pick music-theater piece Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, the captivating, genre-warping concept album reflects on modern issues from immigration, loss, and darkness to love, sex, and God through his “darkly funny and moving” songs (The New Yorker).
Doug “Cosmo” Clifford – Doug “Cosmo” Clifford [Reissue/1972] LP (Craft Recordings)
Originally released in 1972, Cosmo – the only solo effort from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford – was recorded not long after the breakup of the legendary Bay Area band. Encompassing elements of country and R&B, plus plenty of up-tempo hooks, Cosmo includes eight original compositions and a handful of covers.
Phil Cook – People Are My Drug LP (Southland Sounds)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Transforming pain and injustice into love and compassion is a rendering that has been universal to poets and prophets for centuries. In present times, choosing to amplify community and positivity through art can seem like a radical act. With the arrival of People Are My Drug, Phil Cook is taking the spark from lights left on by musical heroes and offering a torch for listeners as they navigate their own dark corners.
Damn Yankees – Damn Yankees [Reissue/1990] LP (Friday Music)
Gatefold 180gm audiophile pressing. The hard rock juggernaut Damn Yankees was originally formed in 1989 by the ‘Motor City Madman’ Ted Nugent, Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw, Night Ranger bassist Jack Blades and drummer Michael Cartellone who would go on to join Lynyrd Skynyrd. Signing to Warner Bros. Records, the band released their Ron Nevison-produced self-titled debut in 1990.
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley [Reissue/1958] LP (Sundazed)
Limited blue colored vinyl LP pressing. Bo Diddley liberated the blues from the 12-bar form and melded it to an insistent, infectious rhumba beat. The simplest ingredients – a guitar, a drum, and some maracas – were packed in a gunny sack and slung over the shoulder of some smiling guy with a slick process and a wild plaid jacket.
Dimmu Borgir – Eonian LP (Nuclear Blast)
Recently released on CD and cassette – now available on vinyl. Eerie shadows are lurking in the dark corners of spring 2018; the spirit that denies, a force able to distort our conception of space and time. Over seven years, deathlike silence has filled the halls of the world’s biggest black metal forge, Dimmu Borgir, whilst powers have been gathering to resurrect the band right in time for their 25th anniversary. Now they finally mark their return with a vicious work of art that can be defined as timeless in the truest sense of the word: Eonian.
From a musical point of view, the band explores their boundaries in every direction with this new record, with the black metal parts even rougher and darker than before, and the epic, orchestral moments pushed to their ultimate limits.
Dio – Holy Diver [Reissue/1983] LP (Rhino)
Dio – The Last In Line [Reissue/1984] LP (Rhino)
Dio – Sacred Heart [Reissue/1985] LP (Rhino)
Dio – Dream Evil [Reissue/1987] LP (Rhino)
Dio – Lock Up The Wolves [Reissue/1990] LP (Rhino)
Dio – Strange Highways [Reissue/1993] LP (Rhino)
Black vinyl reissues now available.
D.O.A. – Fight Back LP (Sudden Death)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from Canada’s legendary pioneering punks, released to coincide with the band’s 40th anniversary. Limited red colored vinyl pressing also available.
Roger Eno – Dust Of Stars LP (Painted World Music)
Dust Of Stars is the latest album from ambient extraordinaire, Roger Eno. This album was very much a collaborative piece of work between Roger Eno and legendary producer, Youth. Dust Of Stars serves as the first release from Youth’s new label Painted Word, focusing on an eclectic mix of artists exploring ambient, jazz, and electronic music.
Tom Fogerty – Excalibur [Reissue/1972] LP (Craft Recordings)
Originally released in 1972, Excalibur is the second solo title from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Tom Fogerty. Full of bluesy hooks, the album features a who’s who of ’70s Bay Area musicians, including the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia on lead guitar, keyboardist Merle Saunders, bassist John Kahn and drummer Bill Vitt.
Margo Guryan – Take A Picture [Reissue/1968] LP (Sundazed)
Take A Picture blends Margo’s infectious and highly intelligent songcraft with her absolutely unique voice – equal parts girl group innocence and seductive torch. One of the most endearing and delicious soft rock records from its era. Silver colored pressing.
Hiss Golden Messenger meets Spacebomb – Passing Clouds 7” (Spacebomb)
All proceeds going to to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization working to end gun violence. In early 2018, Hiss Golden Messenger came to Spacebomb to record a track. Cameron Ralston – Spacebomb’s in-house bass player – lead the charge as producer. The goal was nothing more than to spend time together and make something cool, and that’s exactly what happened. The resulting track, “Passing Clouds,” accompanied by a dub remix of the same track, is “Hiss Golden Messenger Meets Spacebomb.”
Peter Hook & The Light – Closer Tour 2011: Live In Manchester Volume One 2xLP (Dissonance)
Peter Hook & The Light – Unknown Pleasures Tour 2012: Live In Leeds Volume One LP (Dissonance)
Peter Hook & The Light – Unknown Pleasures Tour 2012: Live In Leeds Volume Three LP (Dissonance)
Peter Hook & The Light – Movement Tour 2013: Live In Dublin Volume One LP (Dissonance)
Peter Hook & The Light – Movement Tour 2013: Live In Dublin Volume Two LP (Dissonance)
Peter Hook & The Light – Power, Corruption & Lies Tour 2013: Live In Dublin LP (Dissonance)
Since 2010, Peter Hook has toured classic Joy Division and New Order albums backed by a band featuring his son Jack Bates (bass), as well as Andy Poole (keyboards) and Paul Kehoe (drums), who both played with Hook as part of Monaco, one of Hook’s previous groups.
Little Willie John – Fever [Reissue/1956] LP (Modern Harmonic)
In his 30 years, marked by stardom and tragedy, Little Willie John left one hell of a legacy. Arkansas-born, raised in Detroit, the onetime teen gospel singer became an R&B prodigy when legendary A&R man Henry Glover signed John to King Records in 1955. The hits started immediately with “All Around The World,” followed in 1956 by “Need Your Love So Bad” (written by Willie’s brother Mertis), as well as “Letter From My Darling” and “Do Something For Me”. Released by King in 1956, the Fever LP is Willie’s defining artistic statement, including all his biggest hits, capturing him in his prime and making his legacy crystal-clear. Limited white colored vinyl pressing.
King Crimson – Discipline [Reissue/1981] LP (Panegyric)
Cut from the masters used for the 30th anniversary series as overseen and approved by Robert Fripp. Pressed on 200gm heavyweight vinyl for the best possible audio reproduction.
Kleenex Girl Wonder – Vana Mundi LP (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
A gloriously melodic dive into the deep alienation of contemporary life, with lyrics so simply profound that they have to be heard in order to be felt.
Latyrx – The Muzapper’s Mixes [Reissue/1998] 2xLP+MP3 (Real People)
Pressed on double-colored vinyl (disc one yellow, disc two purple). Bonus cuts feature production by DJ Shadow, DJ Z Trip, and The Herbaliser, plus a brand-new track from Lyrics Born’s upcoming album Quite A Life.
Orlando Cachaito Lopez – Cachaito [Reissue/2001] LP (World Circuit)
Vinyl reissue of a unique album from the legendary Buena Vista Social Club bassist.
Kirsty MacColl – Kite [Reissue/1989] LP (Demon/Edsel)
Kirsty MacColl – Electric Landlady [Reissue/1991] LP (Demon/Edsel)
Limited 180gm colored vinyl reissues. Kite was Kirsty MacColl’s breakthrough second album and her first released on Virgin Records. Originally released in 1989 the album peaked at #34 in the UK charts. The album includes the Top 20 hit single “Days”, a cover of The Kinks song, and also includes two tracks written with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. MacColl’s third album and second on Virgin Records, Electric Landlady charted even higher on the UK charts, peaking at #17 and spawning the Top 40 hit “Walking Down Madison”.
The Mama’s And The Papa’s – If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears [Reissue/1966] LP (Sundazed)
Upon its release in 1966, the Mamas and the Papas’ debut LP If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears quickly topped the album charts, bringing folk-rock into the pop mainstream.
John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers – A Hard Road [Reissue/1967] LP (Sundazed)
Limited white colored vinyl pressing. 1967’s A Hard Road proved to be every bit as powerful and innovative as its predecessor, Crusade, thanks in large part to Mayall’s discovery of Clapton’s equally brilliant replacement, Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green. A one-of-a-kind player with a highly distinctive sound, Green makes his instrumental presence felt throughout the album, while delivering compelling lead vocals on a couple of tracks.
Manuel Mota & David Grubbs – Lacrau LP (Blue Chopsticks)
Lacrau captures the ambience of a warm Sunday afternoon in late fall in Lisbon when two longtime friends, Portuguese guitarist Manuel Mota and David Grubbs, sat down for this waking dream of a first duo performance. The session unfolds with a real-time, documentary feel in which athematic, non-repeating musical gestures are rendered with an extreme sensitivity to microscopic soundworlds brought about by fingertips, strings, and tube amplifiers. These explorations are as apt to find emotional weight in the solitary note in all its fret-buzzing glory as they are in unexpected turns of phrase briefly referencing blues and jazz.
The Del McCoury Band – Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass LP (McCoury Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. With 14 songs brimming with hot licks, classic songcraft, even some boundary-stretching electric guitar, and once again, Del McCoury’s matchless vocal delivery, the Del McCoury Band moves up the gold bar standard of bluegrass yet another notch with new album, Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass.
Motel Mirrors – In The Meantime LP (Last Chance)
The songs that put Memphis on the map are now universal, and for their part, Motel Mirrors treat country, melodic folk, soul, swing and other genres as parts of a whole. Elements of Motel Mirrors’ debut bring artists like the Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison to mind, but the incredibly sharp musical performances and their clear love for playing together takes it into a new and original sphere. Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl.
Nhor – Wildflowers 2xLP (Prophecy/Lupus Lounge)
Over the course of last year, British enigma Nhor released four separate Wildflowers cassette tapes in very limited quantities, each depicting one of the four seasons. On these recordings, Nhor, like nature itself, does not need raw volume to make himself heard. The pauses are just as important as the single notes and the ethereal piano chords feel like brushstrokes on small vignettes. This double-vinyl release compiles Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter with an additional unreleased track for each season.
Otep – The Ascension [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (E1)
Available for the first time in a decade on limited edition white colored vinyl.
Planning For Burial – Quietly LP (The Flenser)
After the release of his debut album, Leaving (2010), Planning for Burial’s Thom Wasluck wrote and recorded a series of EPs that have become collectively known as Quietly. It was a tumultuous time in Wasluck’s life, and the songs he composed reflect the intense feelings of longing and jealousy that he was experiencing. The Quietly sessions took place between 2011 and 2012 and will be available for the first time on vinyl from The Flenser.
Proud Parents – Proud Parents LP (Dirtnap)
A dozen tightly wound tunes full of infectious, harmony-laden choruses, ripping guitar solos and hooks for days. The three singers converse, support, and share vocal duties like passing around a bag of Halloween candy. Recorded and mixed by Bobby Hussy (The Hussy, Cave Curse, Fire Heads) at his own Hex Empire, it is about self-reflection, jumping from saccharine adoration to heartfelt confession, isolation, anxiety, loss and moving on.
Princess Nokia – A Girl Cried Red LP/Cassette (Rough Trade)
Princess Nokia – aka New York rapper Destiny Frasqueri – has been releasing music via Youtube and Soundcloud since she was in High School and catapulted herself to the next level with last year’s critically acclaimed rap opus, 1992 Deluxe. A Girl Cried Red is a self-described “emo mixtape” drawn by influences as varied as the introverted acoustic sounds of Elliott Smith to the bombastic pop-punk energy of Paramore.
Punchline – Lion LP (Invogue)
“Since 2004 Punchline have strived to be their own band showing their own version of pop-punk music and their latest release Lion is no different. This is the album that the band has said is what the fans have been waiting for and I’ve no doubt it won’t disappoint. Being largely self-produced Punchline have been able to create something that is honest and meaningful laced with their pop punk melodies.” – Rock ‘N’ Load
Ike Reilly – Crooked Love LP (Rock Ridge)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Crooked Love is Ike Reilly’s eighth studio album, produced by Reilly and his longtime collaborator and guitarist Phil Karnats (Secret Machines, Tripping Daisy, Polyphonic Spree). Informed by Reilly’s colorful life experiences, his gallows humor and the current political landscape, the songs are poetic, greasy, topical, lustful, self-deprecating and hilarious. Karnats had witnessed Reilly writing and recording demos in hotels, dressing rooms and tour buses and knew he wanted a production that allowed for confident, relaxed takes. In order to provide the most intimate and comfortable environment possible, Reilly and Karnats created a dark, live room vibe with ancient microphones positioned in covert places that allowed the whole band to be in the same space, unencumbered by headphones and isolation booths. The production is decidedly not slick, yet the improvisational nature of the playing is sophisticated in its simplicity.
Corrina Repp – How A Fantasy Will Kill Us All LP (Jealous Butcher)
Built on foundational loops and drones, Repp’s songs mingle solid, folk-tinged melodies with distortion, kaleidoscopic pop, and disjointed, cobbled together beats.
Ruen Brothers – All My Shades Of Blue LP (Ramseur)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Whether it’s their collaboration with the legendary producer Rick Rubin, kudos from the likes of Zane Lowe and the BBC, or a string of memorable performances from the hills of Glastonbury to the deserts of Coachella, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter siblings Henry and Rupert Stansall, known by their amalgam-created moniker Ruen Brothers, are making a mark with throwback rock and roll sound that intersects the early days of the genre with a dynamic present-day act.
Sixman – The Grand LP (Diggers Factory)
New release from the hip-hop artist with production from Matt Houston, 9th Wonder, Araab Muzik, Black Milk, Tommy Vamoz, DJ Premier, Statik Selectah, Pete Rock, Kontender, also featuring J-Rob, A-1, Wise Thoughts and DJ Nano.
The Skygreen Leopards – The Jingling World Of The Sky Green Leopards LP (Soft Abuse)
A collection of songs from the first two Skygreen Leopards CDRs on Jewelled Antler; two mini-albums written and recorded in the distant days of 2001, a year with a name that evokes a psychedelic future but which now seems very much part of the psychedelic past. Guided by Tall Dwarfs, The Monkees and The TVPs, the early SGLs concept was to mix automatic songwriting, two voices, California 12-string and put it on reverb smothered 1/4” tape. The restrictions were that no songs could break the three-minute mark, no jamming allowed, and you never went back to fix mistakes. All songs were written and performed by Glenn Donaldson and Donovan Quinn; both switching instruments and overdubbing until Donaldson’s Tascam 388 had run out of open tracks.
Slum Village – The Lost Scrolls Vol. 2: Slum Village Edition LP (Ne’Astra Media Group)
An underground classic in every sense of the term, Slum Village’s 1998 production Fantastic, Vol. 2 was a breath of fresh air for hip-hop heads when it finally hit shelves in 2000, earning heavy acclaim and artistic clout for the trio of T3, Baatin, and the late production legend J Dilla. Fantastic, Vol. 2 featured vibes and lyrics harkening back to the classic sounds of De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, smooth and infectious production that would go on to set a blueprint for the ‘00s arrival of neo soul, and top-shelf guest appearances from Q-Tip, D’Angelo, Busta Rhymes, and many more. Now, upon the 20th anniversary of the album’s completion, a new collection of long lost tracks from the Fantastic, Vol. 2 sessions is available. Produced between 1996 and 1999, The Lost Scrolls Vol. 2 (Slum Village Edition) features 11 unreleased demos and remixes featuring the classic Slum Village lineup.
The Soft Machine – The Soft Machine [Reissue/1968] LP (Sundazed)
With an unusual three-man lineup comprised of Kevin Ayers on bass and vocals, Robert Wyatt on drums and vocals, and Mike Ratledge on keyboards, The Soft Machine was recorded in New York, while the band was touring North America with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. In contrast to the extended pieces that would later dominate the Soft Machine’s repertoire, the album focuses on shorter, more concise songs that nonetheless provide plenty of room for the musicians to demonstrate their varied abilities.
Sote – Persian Electronic Music Volume 2 / Sacred Horror In Design CD/LP (Sub Rosa)
Sote aims to devise an idealized fusion of the musical heritage and tradition of Iran with the forward-thinking vision which has propelled his storied career producing techno, hardcore, and computer music for labels like Warp, Ge-stell, Morphine, and Repitch. Now living in Tehran, his music has frequently grappled with the strict cultural restrictions imposed in his country over the past few decades, finding a space and setting to nurture new developments in experimental sound and performance.
Sudan Archives – Sink LP (Stone’s Throw)
Sink, the anticipated follow up to Sudan Archives self-titled debut, continues to define the experimental R&B artist as a singular new voice. Her unique blend of ethereal R&B vocals, violin figures and hip-hop beats has already won over the likes of Pitchfork, the New York Times, The Guardian, NPR Music, and more.
Donna Summer – On The Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II [Reissue/1979] 2xLP (Mercury)
This iconic double-LP collection, first issued in 1979, features 16 of Summer’s sweetest hits; all tracks, as they appeared on the original double-LP release, are “DJ-mixed” – they segue together. This edition is presented for the first time on pink (LP1) and lavender (LP2) vinyl.
Swervedriver – Raise [Reissue/1991] LP (Music On Vinyl)
The Oxford based alternative rock band Swervedriver continued to develop themselves by implementing different music into their alternative rock and shoegaze sound. Their first album Raise can be categorized as an album with a heavy sound, but also some melodic parts. Limited numbered 180gm transparent red colored vinyl pressing.
Thou – Ceremonies Of Humiliation 3xLP (Gilead Media)
A three-LP collection of out-of-print material from splits and EPs released prior to the bands third full-length, Summit (2010).
Twilight 22 – Twilight 22 [Reissue/1984] LP (Vanguard)
Twilight 22 was the creative moniker of Gordon Bahary. The now-legendary hit “Electric Kingdom” was Bahary’s first solo recording. In an interview, Bahary related the story behind this song: “I took the most seemingly opposite elements: my father’s middle eastern record collection, and a hip-hop/dance beat and combined them. Then I co-wrote a rap encouraging people to make a positive life for themselves I suppose.” The song would go top ten on the R&B charts and go down in history as one of the major tent-pole hits of the electro genre. This edition, remastered from the original analog tapes at Elysian Masters, presents the groundbreaking collaboration between synthesizer wizard Gordon Bahary and singer/songwriter Joseph Saulter in its singular, danceable glory.
Various Artists – Revamp: The Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin 2xLP (Island)
Various Artists – Restoration: Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin 2xLP (MCA Nashville)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Some of the world’s biggest pop, rock and country artists are celebrating Elton John’s most beloved and legendary catalogue of hits with two albums: Revamp and Restoration. The superstar lineup features artists both new and iconic reinterpreting the timeless songs of the over 50-year writing partnership that Elton and Bernie Taupin share. Restoration contains thoughtful interpretations by Dierks Bentley, Rosanne Cash and Emmylou Harris, Miley Cyrus, Vince Gill and Don Henley, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton and Lee Ann Womack. Revamp refracts Elton John’s most iconic pop hits through the voices of the industry’s hottest talents, including: Pink, Logic, Coldplay, Alessia Cara, Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Mary J. Blige, Q-Tip, The Killers, Sam Smith, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Queens Of The Stone Age.
The Vettes – Rev-Up LP (Modern Harmonic)
A fantastic West Coast rarity, Rev-Up is a mono masterpiece filled with harmony-laden hot rod vocals and powerhouse instrumentals. Limited edition blue colored vinyl pressing also available.
Johnny “Guitar” Watson – Johnny “Guitar” Watson [Reissue/1963] LP (Modern Harmonic)
The original Stratocaster showman who set the standard for flash and guitar virtuosity, Johnny Guitar Watson’s self-titled 1963 King LP contains killer late ’50s and early ’60s material like “Broke and Lonely,” “Cuttin In,” his signature tune “Gangster Of Love,” “Sweet Lovin Mama” and even his take on “Embraceable You,” complete with strings. Limited gold colored vinyl pressing.
The Yardbirds – Dazed & Confused: The Yardbirds In ’68 – Live At The BBC And Beyond LP+DVD (Repertoir)
Limited edition release white colored vinyl release paired a region free DVD containing The Yardbirds live on French TV, Paris 1968. The two-page insert contains extensive notes by Yardbirds expert Chris Welch.
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad – The Midnight Hour 2xLP (Linear Labs)
Featuring Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge, alongside a tight rhythm section and a full orchestra, The Midnight Hour is an ode to the cultural sophistication that the Harlem Renaissance established for its people. The album also boasts features from CeeLo Green, Raphael Saadiq, Marsha Ambrosius, Bilal, Eryn Allen Kane, Karolina, and more. [CD version due July 13.]
Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention – Burnt Weeny Sandwich [Reissue/1970] LP (UMe/Zappa Records)
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Supervised by the ZFT, Burnt Weeny Sandwich was specially mastered for this release by Bernie Grundman with all analog production and cut directly from the 1970 ¼ stereo safety master tape in 2018. Unavailable on vinyl for more than three decades, the LP includes the original album’s black and white poster, which has never been reproduced in any of the album’s CD editions.
Cassettes:
Adam Cadell – Bush Songs (Soft Abuse)
Radical traveling fiddler Adam Cadell is a teacher/student of the instrument, one-half of the duo The Scrapes, and is based in Brisbane. Cadell flirted with a life and practice in academia and modern composition but shed all that in favor of researching and playing with fiddlers from around the globe, including heroes like Tony Conrad and Henry Flynt. The shift from highbrow to a player of the people comes to bear with Bush Songs, his rendering of Australian labor folk songs.
Matthew De Gennaro – Conversation With A Roadside Skull (Soft Abuse)
Matthew De Gennaro is a deep listener & composer of unclassifiable esoterica that draws on folk music from around the globe. In recent years, his finger-picked, highlife imbued guitar playing has taken on more prominence in his pieces, and there’s been a proliferation of personal story songs as well. Ever present is his gorgeous, otherworldly viol, and melodies from an arcane organ or two.
Panic! At The Disco – Pray For The Wicked (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)
Pray for the Wicked serves as Panic! At The Disco’s sixth studio album overall and follows up their platinum certified 2016 effort, Death Of A Bachelor.
Princess Nokia – A Girl Cried Red (Rough Trade)
Princess Nokia – aka New York rapper Destiny Frasqueri – has been releasing music via Youtube and Soundcloud since she was in High School and catapulted herself to the next level with last year’s critically acclaimed rap opus, 1992 Deluxe. A Girl Cried Red is a self-described “emo mixtape” drawn by influences as varied as the introverted acoustic sounds of Elliott Smith to the bombastic pop-punk energy of Paramore.
Ulaan Markhor – Helm (Soft Abuse)
A new batch of Steven R. Smith instrumentals that explore the dissonant, dark corners of post-punk and it’s many permutations.
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