July Program Titles Released This Week:
The Alarm – Sigma CD/LP (Twenty First Century)
Sigma acts as a sequel to 2018’s Equals and features musical contributions from original Alarm guitarist Dave Sharp and Billy Duffy from The Cult. The album features a vast array of instrumentation that The Alarm currently has at its disposal, with guitarist James Stevenson playing both guitar and bass through a unique combination of pedals, double neck, six and four string instrumentation. Charismatic drummer Smiley drives the rhythm unit with a traditional acoustic drum kit augmented by electric percussion and diverse tribal beats. Pianist Jules Peters deploys a wide-ranging palette of orchestral string and synthesized tones, along with pure pianoforte for some of the stripped down sections the songs demand. Throughout, Peters is at the forefront with his impassioned vocal delivery and ever changing use of electro-acoustic instrumentation, custom developed by British luthiers Auden Guitars, to represent the beating heart of the group’s signature sound.
The Allman Betts Band – Down To The River CD (BMG)
Led by Devon Allman, son of founding Allman Brothers Band keyboardist and singer, Gregg Allman, and Duane Betts, son of founding Allman Brothers Band guitarist and singer, Dickey Betts, Down To The River was recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studios with producer Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price, John Prine and Elvis Presley). The beginning of the partnership between Devon Allman and Duane Betts goes back to the Gregg Allman tribute show at the Fillmore in San Francisco. It was time, in that historic venue, to pass the spirit to the next generation. It was time to take all the lessons of the past, all their collective experiences, and make something new.
The Black Keys – Lets Rock CD/LP (Nonesuch)
The Black Keys’ long-awaited album ninth album Lets Rock – the band’s first in five years – is a return to the straightforward rock of singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney’s early days. Auerbach says, “When we’re together we are The Black Keys, that’s where that real magic is, and always has been since we were sixteen.” The 12-track collection was written, tracked live, and produced by Auerbach and Carney at Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville and features backing vocals from Leisa Hans and Ashley Wilcoxson. “The record is like an homage to electric guitar,” adds Carney. “We took a simple approach and trimmed all the fat like we used to.” Rolling Stone said that with lead single “Lo/Hi”, “The Keys have officially returned, louder than ever” while the New York Times hailed it as “the kind of garage-boogie stomp that the band never left behind.” Equally as infectious follow-up single “Eagle Birds” is anchored by some stellar blues guitar work from Auerbach. [Indie-exclusive vinyl pressing also available.]
The Gotobeds – Debt Begins At 30 CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
“‘Go big or go home’ is a phrase that is seldom heard in indie/punk circles. Generally, it’s the opposite that is true. There has been a history in indie/punk of this feeling unauthentic, as authenticity only involves who plays on the album instead of what you’re saying/sound like. Pittsburgh’s The Gotobeds have decided to ignore this maxim on their third album, Debt Begins At 30. Instead of getting into a studio with each other again, they decided to invite some friends along. On every track. Yup. That’s right. Every track on Debt Begins At 30 features a guest spot. This idea is generally used in hip-hop, jazz and electronic circles, but here it works incredibly well.
Musically it’s business as usual from The Gotobeds. The guitars are slightly abrasive but catchy. The bass is right where you need it and holds each track to the group, and the drums sound flawless. Overall all there is a spiky, Sonic Youth vibe but with a brash optimism that is hard to ignore.” – New Noise
Gov’t Mule – Bring On The Music – Live At The Capitol Theatre 2xCD/2xCD+2xDVD/Blu-ray (Mascot Label Group)
Gov’t Mule – Bring On The Music – Live At The Capitol Theatre: Vol. 1 2xLP (Mascot Label Group)
Gov’t Mule – Bring On The Music – Live At The Capitol Theatre: Vol. 2 2xLP (Mascot Label Group)
No two Gov’t Mule shows are alike, as the band draws on the more than 300 songs in their repertoire (and often a host of special guests) to create a unique experience each time. Bring On The Music – Live at The Capitol Theatre was recorded at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, on April 27th and 28th, 2018. The title is taken from Gov’t Mule’s song of the same name that touches upon the passing of time and appreciating life’s journey, is a nod to the band’s treasured relationship with their fans. The Capitol Theatre has been the backdrop of many unforgettable shows for the band and is one of Gov’t Mule’s favorite venues to play. Live At The Capitol Theatre is available in a variety of configurations: a 2xCD+2xDVD deluxe package (the CD and DVD feature entirely different track lists and includes bonus videos of “Soulshine” and “Traveling Tune”), two separate double-vinyl packages, digital, Blu-ray and a 2xCD package (featuring audio from the film). [Limited transparent purple (Vol.1) and blue (Vol.2) colored vinyl pressing are also available.]
Heilung – Futha CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
With the epic new album Futha, the enigmatic Viking historians return with their signature amplified history. A counterbalance to their rugged debut Ofnir, Futha reveals a more melodic and beautiful side of the mysterious ensemble. Their primeval musique concrete blends ancient Germanic tongues, lush geophonic recordings (crackling fires, breaking ice), and the percussive thunder of archaic weaponry (swords, shields, arrows) into a reverential ceremonial experience. “Experimental folk band Heilung take influence from the music of centuries ago, putting a modern, ambient spin on primal influences from the age when the Vikings ruled the land.” – Revolver
Abdullah Ibrahim – The Balance CD/LP (Gearbox)
At the age of 84, Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand) releases his first new album in four years. Entitled The Balance, this project features his long-time septet Ekaya, a line-up that he’s been recording with since 1983. In this case, the album was recorded over the course of one day at London’s RAK Studios in November 2018. The lush horn lines, lilting melodies, and uplifting chord progressions are characteristic of Abdullah’s all-encompassing Township-Jazz. This is contrasted with various solo piano improvisations, which epitomize the nostalgic yet hopeful nature of Abdullah’s musical spirit. Hence, The Balance. In his own words: “We push ourselves out of our comfort zones. So that we can present to the listener our striving for excellence. So that we can engage with our listeners without any barriers of our ego. It’s not jazz. For us, it’s a process of transcending barriers.”
Jade Jackson – Wilderness CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
“Jade Jackson’s sophomore album Wilderness (produced by Social Distortion’s Mike Ness) is her first music release in two years. The twelve-track album focuses heavily on self-discovery using country and folk rock to aid in her storytelling. The first single released from the album, ‘Bottle It Up’, is best described as a toe-tapper of a tune – a statement of independence while recognizing those parts of a relationship worth valuing. ‘Secrets’, one of the darker tracks on the album, tells a story of addiction, loss and how the failure to fulfil your dreams means being stuck in the same place. The highlight of the album is Jackson’s voice, particularly on two of the record’s ballads, ‘Dust’ and ‘Shiver’, where she’s accompanied by little more than a plaintively strummed, acoustic guitar. Arguably one of the best vocalists on the current music scene today, it’s her singing combined with some quality songwriting that make this album a success.” – Americana UK
Pepper – Local Motion CD/LP (Law)
Local Motion, the eighth studio album from Pepper, finds the trio reaching inward and harnessing the power of the community they helped shape to take their career to even greater heights. In creating the album, the band collaborated with various producers and song writers from the reggae rock scene and beyond to reconnect with their signature “Kona Dub Rock” sound that launched their careers with the 2002 release of Kona Town. This sound can be heard throughout the album and is apparent on the lead track “Warning” which features Scott Woodruff of Stick Figure as a producer and vocalist. Local Motion positions the band to further solidify their sound within their fan base as well as cross over to break new ground bringing in an entire new generation of Ohana. [Indie-exclusive vinyl pressing also available.]
Iggy Pop – Zombie Birdhouse [Reissue/1982] CD/LP (Caroline)
After three attempts at commercially viable albums for Arista, Iggy Pop teamed up with Blondie’s Chris Stein for his album Zombie Birdhouse which was originally issued on Stein’s short-lived Animal Records label in 1982. In addition to Stein who produces and plays bass, the album also features fellow Blondie member Clem Burke on drums and Rob DuPrey on guitar and keyboards. A heady concoction of drones, Afrobeat and freeform lyrics, the exotic 12-song set finds Iggy artistically unshackled and in top form on exhilarating cuts like “Run Like A Villain” and “The Ballad Of Cookie McBride.”
Chris Stamey – New Songs For The 20th Century 2xCD (Omnivore)
Chris Stamey’s new double-CD set, New Songs For The 20th Century, finds the singer-songwriter taking a striking turn in his already storied career. Inspired by sheet music (Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, etc.) discovered in an old piano bench when it, and the accompanying instrument, arrived at his home in 2015, the North Carolina-based musician wrote a series of songs inspired by the Great American Songbook. Assembling a series of players who were dubbed the ModRec Orchestra, Stamey includes 26 compositions on this new album. A range of vocalists lent their talents to the material: Familiar names such as Don Dixon, Marshall Crenshaw, and Caitlin Cary as well as the equally formidable Django Haskins, Nnenna Freelon and Millie McGuire. The result is an album that spotlights Stamey’s musical versatility and fertile imagination plus his ability to accurately capture the spirit of the songs and composers who inspired this new journey.
The Tallest Man On Earth – I Love You. It’s A Fever Dream. CD/LP (Rivers/Birds)
“Last summer, Kristian Matsson lamented that steady touring had slowed the arrival of I Love You. It’s a Fever Dream., his fifth album as The Tallest Man On Earth. ‘I can’t write good stuff on tour,’ he complained. ‘I can’t write about life on a tour bus.’ Ironically, Fever Dream arrives as a focused and frequently lovely rumination on life lived on a tour bus. Songs unfold in hotel bars, on open roads, beneath vast blue bowls of rural sky. The rhythms of perpetual travel pulse beneath acoustic melodies that lie somewhere between Dylan and Sufjan—a few gentle, a few forceful. With depth and delicacy, Matsson explores the banalities and oddities of tour, like the phenomenon of performing for an adoring audience to whom you are a stranger. Perhaps Matsson isn’t up to writing about life on a tour bus; perhaps the spinning wheels below make him seasick. But he has written about life on a tour bus, and in so doing, located the love contained within.” – Pitchfork
Vai/Wylde/Malmsteen/Bettencourt/Abasi – Generation Axe – The Guitars That Destroyed The World: Live In China CD/2xLP (earMUSIC)
Roaring sounds, cutting-edge solos, colossal power – Generation Axe is the American rock guitarist supergroup formed by guitar wunderkind and three-time Grammy winner Steve Vai (Frank Zappa Whitesnake, David Lee Roth). For this superb project, the exceptional musician assembled the collective epitome of world-class rock guitarists by his side. Part of this group are, besides Vai himself, legendary guitar heroes Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) and Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders). Generation Axe: The Guitars That Destroyed The World: Live in China was culled from various performances on their last and very successful tour of Asia. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
CDs + Vinyl:
Matias Aguayo – Support Alien Invasion CD/LP (Crammed Disc)
The ever surprising and adventurous Matias Aguayo takes another step into unknown territories with this new solo album. The most immediately striking aspect of Support Alien Invasion is the dual nature of the music: the tracks overflow with dance action via hypermodern grooves, while exuding an impression of quasi-abstract sonic architecture.
Dave Alvin – King Of California [Reissue/1994] CD/2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1994 album from the former Blasters and X guitarist. A former member of various roots rock and punk bands, Alvin chose an acoustic, Americana approach for his critically acclaimed fourth solo album. Per AllMusic, King Of California showcases Alvin’s dramatic sense of phrasing and marvelous feel for the characters he’s created.
Animals As Leaders – Animals As Leaders [Reissue/2009] CD/2xLP (Prosthetic)
April 2019 marked 10 years since former Reflux guitarist Tosin Abasi created his eponymous debut as Animals As Leaders. Now a full-fledged trio, the metal outfit celebrated a decade since their debut release with a 2019 commemorative tour and CD and vinyl reissue. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Ashbringer – Absolution CD/LP (Prosthetic)
Specializing in equal parts brutality, melody and the ethereal, Ashbringer’s black metal metamorphosis began in 2013 as the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Nick Stanger. Several releases and several tours later, they have perfected their craft as evidenced on Absolution.
Beyond The Black – Songs Of Love And Death CD (Napalm)
Beyond The Black – Lost In Forever (Tour Edition) CD (Napalm)
Beyond The Black – Heart Of The Hurricane 2xCD (Napalm)
Expanded CD reissues now available. Energetic, straight forward, uncompromising, symphonic metal.
The B-52’s – Cosmic Thing [Reissue/1989] 2xCD (WB)
Digitally remastered and expanded double-CD 30th anniversary edition of The B-52’s 1989 album. This edition of Cosmic Thing features remasters and remixes of the original album tracks, plus additional edits and remixes.
Pony Bradshaw – Sudden Opera CD (Rounder)
On his 2019 debut album Sudden Opera, 38-year-old Pony offers a convincing argument in favor of art made by adults who have had time to live, screw up, try again, and find their voice. The record’s title is an apt description: it’s sound hits abruptly then steadily, like a flood-swells of moody strings, thundering low ends, and dramatic keys, led by Pony’s swinging soul vocals yearning, consoling, and questioning.
Bloody Hammers – The Summoning CD/LP (Napalm)
The US duo has prepared a wonderfully creepy horror musical experience that pays homage to classic flicks such as Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) and Now The Screaming Starts (1973).
Chris Brown – Indigo CD (RCA)
Ninth studio album from the R&B star.
Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown – Truth And Lies CD/LP (Spinefarm)
The third album from blues rockers. Truth And Lies crackles with intensity and explores Bryant’s blues heritage (“Ride”), heartfelt balladry (“Out There”), southern roots (“Trouble”), love of ’90s rock ‘n’ roll (“Eye to Eye”) and more.
Chase Atlantic – Phases CD (BMG)
Chase Atlantic’s new album Phases is fueled by their obsession with creation, songwriting, and beat-making and refusing to conform to any one sound as their spotlight only continues to grow. [Vinyl edition due August 2.]
Chic Corea – The Spanish Heart Band – Antidote CD (Concord)
New release from the jazz legend. The Spanish Heart Band – Antidote is a musical cure for a turbulent time, bringing together artists from diverse cultures to make harmonious music together. In addition to this stellar new ensemble, the recording features guest appearances by the acclaimed Panamanian vocalist Rubén Blades and gifted singers Gayle Moran Corea and Maria Bianca. [Vinyl edition due July 19.]
Daughter Of Swords – Dawnbreaker CD/LP (Nonesuch)
Daughter of Swords is Alexandra Sauser-Monnig of Mountain Man. Buoyed by the insistent patter of a drum machine and rich acoustic guitars, Sauser-Monnig finds herself in search of new thrills, whether pondering the fleeting nature of existence at a waterfall’s edge or watching the shapes of mountains seemingly dance beneath her headlights. While we can hear the muted, harmonica-lined boogie that begins with a vulnerable confession, a revelation of loneliness; it is, however, a low-key anthem for the open road, about giving oneself over to the infinity of solitude and an endless strip of asphalt. Sauser-Monnig captures these scenes with a painter’s eye and delivers them with a novelist’s heart.
Miles Davis – The Complete Rebirth Of Cool CD (Blue Note)
In honor of the 70th anniversary of its original singles in 1949, The Complete Birth Of The Cool by Miles Davis is being released on CD.
Raheem DeVaughn – The Love Reunion CD (Independent Label Services)
Seventh album from the R&B singer. In the midst of his now decade-long steady climb to international R&B notoriety and prominence, he’s been the singers’ singer, a consummate ladies’ man, the fellas’ fella and the “go-to” modern-day R&B/soul crooner with sensibilities simultaneously grounded in the past and the present.
Ani DiFranco – Ani DiFranco [Reissue/1990] CD (Righteous Babe)
Ani DiFranco’s first album is so revolutionary that the purveyors of status quo install women’s music sections in the dusty corner of their stores in order to hide it. Dorm rooms coast to coast transform into audio dub houses where young women with aching arms scratch out hand written labels and personal letters like you have to hear this.
Doll Skin – Love Is Dead And We Killed Her CD/LP (Hopeless)
Blending punk rock with powerful messages, the all-female band creates a safe, empowering environment through music, especially for young women.
Doobie Brothers – Live From The Beacon Theatre 2xCD/2xCD+DVD (Rhino)
In November 2018, The Doobie Brothers returned to the Beacon Theatre for the first time in 25 years to perform two of their landmark albums, Toulouse Street and The Captain And Me. This historic performance at the Beacon offered an opportunity for Doobie fans to hear deep cuts and songs never-before performed live by the band. [Stand-alone Blu-ray also available.]
Al Foster – Inspirations & Dedications CD (Smoke Sessions)
Inspiration comes from many sources. For legendary drummer Al Foster, it stems from the two groups of people who are closest to him: the jazz giants he’s been honored to play with (and who, though he’d be the last to admit it, have been blessed to work with him); and, first and foremost, his family.
Great White – Great Zeppelin: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin CD/LP (Deadline Music)
Reissue of this salute to Led Zeppelin by Great White recorded live in 1996.
Alex Grenier – 7tet CD/LP (Maaula)
Alex Grenier likes prime numbers. After playing all over with his trio in Europe, but also in the USA, Canada and Japan, won handson the srpingboards of major festivals and released four albums exploring from ’60s soul – jazz to electro jazz from the end of the ’90s, the guitarist from Angers, France, has decided to explore new sound territories… in septet. Latin Jazz cut for dancefloor and cosmic funk come add to bluesy rides from groovy apotheosis style concerts.
He Is Legend – White Bat CD/LP (Spinefarm)
Sixth album from the North Carolina post-hardcore band.
Hollerado – Retaliation Vacation CD/LP (Royal Mountain)
Fourth and final album from the Canadian pop-rock combo.
Homegrown Kids – ‘90s Country CD (Broken Bow)
Conceived and crafted by award-winning hit songwriter and producer Ross Copperman, Homegrown Kids’ ’90s Country is a compilation album featuring children performing ten of the biggest Country hits from the 1990s.
Horse Jumper Of Love – So Divine CD/LP (Run For Cover)
Memory looms large on Horse Jumper Of Love’s hypnotic sophomore album, So Divine, but it remains elusive. Throughout the record, tiny snapshots from the past float to the surface, baring themselves for brief moments before diving back into the ether. Like abstract collages, the Boston-based three-piece’s songs jumble richly detailed scenes and vivid imagery, papering over one moment with the next until each string of seemingly unrelated thoughts coalesces into a breathtaking work of art, one that reveals deep truths about us and our psyches. [Limited gold colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Jambinai – ONDA CD/LP (Bella Union)
Jambinai sound less like a band than a force of nature, fusing the full dramatic range of post-rock dynamics to Korean folk roots to create an exhilarating, vivid and unique fusion. Their music is colored by Kim’s fiddle-like haegum, Ilwoo Lee’s guitar and piri (a Korean flute made of bamboo) and Eun Youg Sim’s geomungo, a Korean zither.
Ryan Kerberle & Catharsis – The Hope I Hold CD/LP (Green Leaf)
Ryan Keberle & Catharsis release their fifth album, The Hope I Hold, an album full of optimism in the face of political and cultural corruption. The album features lyrics drawn from Let America Be America Again, a virtuosic and poignant poem written by Langston Hughes in 1935 that Keberle felt compelled to incorporate into his new work. For this record, band veterans Jorge Roeder (bass) and Eric Doob (drums) anchor the ensemble, trombonist Keberle expands his palette to include vocals and keyboards, and Chilean vocalist Camila Meza expands her role to include her intriguing guitar playing.
Klezmerson – The Book Beri’ah Vol. 6: Tiferet CD (Tzadik)
Based in Mexico, Klezmerson is a super creative ever-changing ensemble led by violinist, composer and arranger Benjamin Schwartz. Here they do their critically acclaimed and best-selling Book Of Angels installment one better with wild arrangements blending a variety of Mexican musical traditions with the sound of Masada. Featuring electric and acoustic strings, keyboards, accordions, saxes and of course a huge array of Latin percussion, Tiferet is one of the most delightful and imaginative CDs in The Book Beri’ah.
Damon Locks + Black Monument Ensemble – Where The Future Unfolds CD/LP (International Anthem)
A live capture of the ensemble’s epic debut at the Garfield Park Botanical Conservatory on the West Side of Chicago, Where Future Unfolds recalls the spirits of Phil Cohran’s Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Eddie Gale’s Ghetto Music, Archie Shepp’s Attica Blues, and Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back in an inspired and utterly immediate contemporary intersection of gospel, jazz, activism and 808 breaks.
Zachary Lucky – The Ballad Of Losing You [Reissue/2013] CD (Nordvis)
Hearing Zachary Lucky’s songs, or reading or writing about this emerging and indelible Canadian artist’s past, it would seem impossible to separate the singer-songwriter from his prairie origins. With the re-issue of his sixth release, The Ballad Of Losing You, there is an inherent shift. As the album title suggests, Lucky has constructed an earnest and personal narrative about the uncertainty of loss and of transformation. The style of The Ballad Of Losing You has drifted from his folk beginnings into a country and English ballad tradition. [Vinyl edition due July 5.]
Majesty – Legends CD (Napalm)
New album from the German heavy metal band. Legends mixes Majesty’s trademarks such as soaring guitar solos and anthemic choirs with modern soundscapes and a massive, crystal-clear production. [Vinyl edition due July 5.]
Mega Bog – Dolphine CD/LP (Paradise Of Bachelors)
Mega Bog is the fluid musical moniker of songwriter Erin Elizabeth Birgy, who has spent the last ten years channeling, capturing, and releasing her unique bouquet of fragrant, sci-pop experiments with a handful of bicoastal collaborators. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Kylie Minogue – Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection 2xCD/2xLP (BMG)
With a peerless career of era-defining music to her name, Kylie Minogue releases an album of greatest hits titled Step Back In Time. This definitive collection of Kylie’s most beloved tracks to date serves as a reflection of her record-breaking career, from the global No. 1 smash hit “I Should Be So Lucky” in 1987 through to her most recent album, Golden released in 2018. [Limited green colored vinyl pressing and limited CD book edition also available.]
Moon Far Away – Zhito Zhala: The Early Harvest 1997-2010 CD/2xCD/LP (Prophecy)
Since their foundation in 1994, Moon Far Away, hailing from Arkhangelsk, Russia, have developed a unique style out of the established neo-folk tropes of the western world and the musical heritage of their home turf – the Russian North; a hotbed within the country for literature, visual arts, architecture and, of course, music. With influences as diverse as their background, they engaged in neoclassical dark wave and world music on earlier releases and have remained a relatively unknown gemstone until this day.
Morano – Incognito CD (Perris)
The sounds of ’80s hard- and melodic rock are on full display throughout the debut full-length by guitarist Duane Morano.
Motörhead – Stage Fright [Reissue/2005] CD+DVD (BMG)
Stage Fright was filmed on Motörhead’s 30th anniversary tour on December 7, 2004 at Phillipshalle in Dusseldorf. CD contains the 17 best tracks from the set, while the accompanying DVD features the entire show. [Stand-alone DVD edition also available.]
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Vweto II CD/LP (Mello Music)
New album from the Los Angeles singer, songwriter, and producer. “Sprawling like a jam session, the record contains a kaleidoscopic blur of 1970s and ‘90s sonic references, through a 2050 filter. Across its 16 tracks, Muldrow deftly weaves the digital with the physical: on Old School Fonk, squelchy bass faces off with feathery, ASMR melodies.” – The Guardian
Nav – Bad Habbits CD (XO)
Deluxe expanded edition of the recently released second studio album by the Canadian rapper. Features guest appearances from Gunna, Lil Durk, Meek Mill, The Weeknd, Future, 88Glam and Young Thug.
SarahBethe Nelson – Weird Glow CD/LP (Burger)
With her breathy voice and knack for catchy but artful melodies, SarahBethe Nelson sounded like a precocious indie pop newcomer with the release of her 2015 album, Fast Moving Clouds. The truth is Nelson wasa seasoned veteran of the California music scene when her solo debut finally expanded her reputation outside her hometown. [Cassette version due July 19.]
Night Moves – Can You Really Find Me CD/LP (Domino)
John Pelant and Micky Alfano, better known as Night Moves, have grown up. Over the past few years, they have perfected their brand of poppy psychedelia, culminating in Can You Really Find Me – their new album. The songwriting, while still steeped in super-catchy, velvety riffs and pure pop glaze, feels more sophisticated and modern. Since the pair met in high school, awestruck by such ear-candy wizards as Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, they set off to craft their version of what sophisticated, emotional modern pop music should sound, and feel like.
Heather Nova – Pearl CD/LP (Saltwater)
25 years after her breakout album, Oyster, Bermudan singer-songwriter Heather Nova returns with her tenth album, Pearl. It is a raw, beautiful and passionate rock album, produced by Killing Joke bassist Youth (who has also produced The Verve, Dido, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney). Nova stated that there is a correlation between both Oyster and Pearl, saying, “A pearl is hopefully what forms inside an Oyster after all the years.”
Os Novos Bahianos – É Ferro Na Boneca! [Reissue/1970] CD (Mr. Bongo)
Originally released by RGE in 1970 in Brazil, É Ferro Na Boneca! features 13 songs composed by Luiz Galvão and Moraes Moreira. The record shows the roots of the group, moving through psychedelics, edgy pop, rock and Tropicália. After writing É Ferro Na Boneca! their music began to move towards MPB due to the influence of João Gilberto, who began working with the group. In 1972 they released their incredible Acabou Chorare LP, which came top of Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Brazilian Records (published in 2007). [Vinyl edition due July 5.]
Outer Spaces – Gazing Globe CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
A collection of Murmur-era R.E.M.-esque power-pop songs, full of catchy guitar riffs, sonically juxtaposing Cara Beth Satalino aka Outer Spaces’ despondent perspective. [Limited translucent blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Preservation Hall Jazz Band – That’s It [Reissue/2013] CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band – So It Is [Reissue/2017] CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
At a moment when musical streams are crossing with unprecedented frequency, it’s crucial to remember that throughout its history, New Orleans has been the point at which sounds and cultures from around the world converge, mingle, and resurface, transformed by the Crescent City’s inimitable spirit and joie de vivre. Nowhere is that idea more vividly embodied than in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which has held the torch of New Orleans music aloft for more than 50 years, all the while carrying it enthusiastically forward as a reminder that the history they were founded to preserve is a vibrantly living history. The band’s 2013 and 2017 albums have been reissued by Sup Pop, who will also soon be issuing new music by the band.
Red Kite – Red Kite CD/LP (RareNoise)
Concocting a head-rush tempest of swirling psychedelia, heavy rock crunch, prog virtuosity and free-jazz experimentation, Norwegian jazz-rock power quartet Red Kite releases it’s highly anticipated self-titled debut.
Runway June – Blue Roses CD (Wheelhouse)
New release from the country music trio.
The Jamie Saft Quartet – Hidden Corners CD/LP (RareNoise)
On the transcendent new album Hidden Corners, visionary keyboardist, producer and composer Jamie Saft embarks on a spiritual journey along the searching path unveiled by such iconic forebears as John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, and Albert Ayler. Inspired by concepts from Jewish mysticism, the album features an outstanding quartet of deeply exploratory musicians.
The Small Glories – Assiniboine & The Red CD/LP (Red House)
The Small Glories make their US debut with Assiniboine & The Red, an album that celebrates the Canadian Prairies. The album title references the junction of two rivers, the Assiniboine & The Red, in the duo’s hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and celebrates the happenstance meeting of members Cara Luft, an original member of the Wailin’ Jennys, and multi-instrumentalist JD Edwards. The duo’s onstage chemistry and humor complements their energetic live performances and buoyant, Americana-inflected folk songs.
Tricia Spencer & Howard Rains – Old Texas Fiddle III CD (Old Time Tiki Parlour)
21 tracks that draw on Texas’ vast repertoire of hoedowns, marches, waltzes, blues, cotillions and jigs.
Chris Staples – Holy Moly CD/LP+MP3 (Barsuk)
Following 2015’s beautifully written introspective album Golden Age, singer-songwriter Chris Staples is back with his upcoming full-length release, Holy Moly. While maintaining the authentic reflection Staples is known for in his songwriting, he has embraced a cautiously optimistic outlook for his future. Staples finds gentle melodies with his trademark stripped-back guitar, and introduces new sounds by integrating keyboards for sonically lush arrangements. [Limited blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Summer Cannibals – Can’t Tell Me No CD/LP (Tiny Engines)
The Cannibals formed in 2012 and gained a fervent following on the local Portland scene, eventually playing with some their musical heroes including L7, Mudhoney, Stephen Malkmus and The War on Drugs, and touring with Ted Leo & the Pharmacists and Cursive. Can’t Tell Me No is the band’s first entirely self-engineered and produced album. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available. Cassette version due July 12.]
Tunng – This is Tunng…Magpie Bites and Other Cuts CD/LP (Full Time Hobby)
Since forming in 2003 and over the course of six albums, Tunng is a group that have explored the boundaries between acoustic and electronic music, becoming synonymous with the folktronica genre. This is a collection of rare gems and oddities released from 2004 to 2018. These are the 7”s, special editions, B-sides and hidden tracks that would otherwise be lost in the ether. Here they are sitting side by side like a wonky gang, leaning in to share their strange tales. [Limited clear vinyl pressing also available.]
U.K. Subs – Subversions II CD/LP (Cleopatra)
The Subs’ put their unique spin on a dozen rock classics Includes reworkings of well-known songs by Led Zeppelin, Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Neil Young, The Who, Queen and more. [Limited blue and white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Various Artists [Peggy Gou] – DJ-Kicks CD/2xLP+MP3 (!K7)
When Peggy Gou released her debut EP Art Of War in 2016, she made a list of career goals. One of them was to become the first South Korean DJ to play Berlin’s techno institution Berghain, an objective she achieved only a few months later. Another item on that list was to record an installment of !K7’s DJ-Kicks series. Her mix features tracks from Pearson Sound, Deniro, Kode9, and JRMS, whose contribution is forthcoming on Gou’s new imprint. You’ll also find tracks from Aphex Twin and Andrew Weatherall, plus three exclusives. “Hungboo”, the first of these, is the first track Gou ever produced. [Limited orange colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Various Artists – Afrotunes: Best Of Juju Vol. II – Oba Mimo Olorun Ayo CD/LP (BBE)
On this rare pressing from Nigeria’s Tabansi label, we have the mystery man Ojo Balingo, juju music master. Popularized all over the globe by King Sunny Ade in the 1980s, juju music had actually been around for decades before. Resembling highlife music in many ways, juju could be described as a more traditionally African form, mainly played by Yoruba people for Yoruba audiences.
Various Artists – Do The Moonwalk CD/LP (Trojan)
On 22 July 1969, the world celebrated mankind’s first steps upon the surface of the moon with the successful Apollo 11 landing. And in no country was this historic event more celebrated musically than Jamaica, where an array of local recording artists penned and cut songs to mark the occasion. Now, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, a dozen of the most popular and sought-after moon-themed reggae tracks from the period have been gathered on this celebratory LP.
Various Artists – Motown: The Complete #1’s 11xCD (Motown)
The Complete #1’s includes Motown’s biggest hits in one special package featuring classic songs that were #1 on multiple charts in the U.S. and around the world. Artists include Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, the Commodores, Gladys Knight & The Pips, the Four Tops, Boyz II Men, and many more. Housed in a replica of the original Hitsville Motown building, the box also includes a 100-page photo book with an introduction by Smokey Robinson, who was responsible for 20 Motown #1’s, plus rare and classic images and detailed annotations.
Various Artists – The Rough Guide To Country Blues CD (World Music Network)
From sublime bottleneck guitar and upbeat rags to classic songster tunes and hokum, this Rough Guide highlights the many different facets of country blues, with tracks by blues legends including Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Skip James and many, many more.
Various Artists – Woodstock: Back To The Garden 10xCD/3xCD/5xLP (Atlantic)
The Deluxe 10xCD edition of Woodtock’s 50th Anniversary Experience features 162 tracks; it is the first Woodstock collection to include live recordings of every performer at the festival. [The 3xCD and 5xLP sets feature highlights from the 10xCD set.]
Victims – The Horse And Sparrow Theory CD/LP (Relapse)
New album from Stockholm’s hardcore crust-punk veterans. The Horse And Sparrow Theory clocks in at 28 minutes of relentless insurrection. VICTIMS’ uncompromising take on d-beat and hardcore is a definitive statement of intent, as the band is set to deconstruct the current socio-political climate, bleak outlook of mass class division, industrialization, and the self-absorbed pursuit of greed and corruption.
The Wake – Masked 2xCD/LP (Cleopatra)
Deluxe CD edition and first-time vinyl pressing of the 1993 debut album from Columbus, OH goth rockers. Double-CD features a bonus disc of unreleased mixes, demos and alternate versions. [Limited purple colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Yabby You Meets King Tubby – Walls Of Jerusalem CD/2xLP (Pressure Sounds)
Walls Of Jerusalem is a celebration of the extraordinary creative relationship that developed between producer Yabby You the legendary dub-master King Tubby. The two were close friends, deep admirers of each other’s artistry and had worked together from Yabby You’s first seven release onwards. It would be the last full-length project they completed together.
Yob – Live At Roadburn 2010 CD/2xLP (Roadburn Productions)
Yob – The Unreal Never Lived. Live At Roadburn 2012 CD/2xLP (Roadburn Productions)
Yob – Live At Roadburn 4xLP (Roadburn Productions)
Live At Roadburn 2010 and The Unreal Never Lived. Live At Roadburn 2012 are now reissued on vinyl and CD formats in honor of the doom/stoner metal band’s European tour. [The vinyl versions have been combined in the 4xLP Live At Roadburn box set].
John Zorn – Nove Cantici Per Francesco D’Assisi CD (Tzadik)
Composed for a museum residency at the Frick in New York City, Nove Cantici is a beautiful suite of music inspired by the life and thought of the beloved spiritual figure Saint Francis of Assisi. A fitting follow-up to the beautiful and moody acoustic guitar CD Midsummer Moons from 2017, here the astounding guitar duo of Julian Lage and Gyan Riley is expanded to a trio with the addition of legendary guitarist Bill Frisell. Ten lovely, spiritual compositions for meditation and contemplation performed by three of the most renown guitarists in the world.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Doobie Brothers – Live From The Beacon Theatre Blu-ray (Rhino)
In November 2018, The Doobie Brothers returned to the Beacon Theatre for the first time in 25 years to perform two of their landmark albums, Toulouse Street and The Captain And Me. This historic performance at the Beacon offered an opportunity for Doobie fans to hear deep cuts and songs never-before performed live by the band.
Gov’t Mule – Bring On The Music – Live At The Capitol Theatre Blu-ray (Mascot Label Group)
No two Gov’t Mule shows are alike, as the band draws on the more than 300 songs in their repertoire (and often a host of special guests) to create a unique experience each time. Bring On The Music – Live at The Capitol Theatre was recorded at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, on April 27th and 28th, 2018. The title is taken from Gov’t Mule’s song of the same name that touches upon the passing of time and appreciating life’s journey, is a nod to the band’s treasured relationship with their fans. The Capitol Theatre has been the backdrop of many unforgettable shows for the band and is one of Gov’t Mule’s favorite venues to play.
Alan Jackson – Small Town Southern Man DVD (Eagle Rock Ent.)
Small Town Southern Man is the story of country music icon Alan Jackson – a driven artist who has played an essential role in bridging the old and new worlds of country music by blending mainstream country and traditional honky-tonk, which irreversibly jolted country music into the modern era. The program travels the entire journey of Jackson’s life, from his boyhood in Newnan, GA to Nashville and his first career successes.
Motörhead – Stage Fright [Reissue/2005] CD+DVD (BMG)
Stage Fright was filmed on Motörhead’s 30th anniversary tour on December 7, 2004 at Phillipshalle in Dusseldorf. CD contains the 17 best tracks from the set, while the accompanying DVD features the entire show.
Various Artists – The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus DVD/Blu-ray (Abkco)
Filmed over two days in December 1968, The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus starred the ‘60s line-up of the Stones, complete with Brian Jones. They were joined by The Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, Yoko Ono and the remarkable, impromptu supergroup known as The Dirty Mac, comprising John Lennon, Keith Richards, Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Eric Clapton. The film’s soundtrack has undergone a new mix and has been expanded to 28 tracks for new 2019 editions. Bonus material includes music by the late American concert pianist Julius Katchen, introduced by Jones; three additional songs by blues titan Taj Mahal; and previously unheard recordings by The Dirty Mac of The Beatles’ “Revolution” as well as “Warmup Jam”.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Agoria – Drift 2xLP (Astralwerks)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. First album in eight years from French producer Sabastien Devaud aka Agoria. Devaud collaborates with a handful of artists including Phoebe Killdeer, STS, Jacques and Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker.
Joe Armon-Jones – Presents… Icy Roads Stacked LP (Brownswood)
A dub-infused jazz wonder.
Aurora Borealis – The Milky Way: The Remix Collection Volume 1 12” (Shazzar Project)
Original 94’ Mix $ Remix by Humantronic. French hard/neo trance.
Baby Huey – The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend [Reissue/1971] LP (Run Out Groove)
James Thomas Ramey, better known by his stage name Baby Huey (taken from the Paramount Pictures animated giant cartoon duckling), was born in Richmond, Indiana but had move to Chicago in the early 1960s to front his band The Babysitters with co-founders Melvin Deacon Jones on organ/trumpet and Johnny Ross on guitar. By the time recording took place for The Living Legend, only Huey and Jones remained from the original line up. According to band members at the time, Huey’s rhymes were very similar in style to those later popularized by rappers in hip-hop.
Band Apart – Band Apart [Reissue/1981] LP (Crammed Discs)
During a meteoric course which lasted around two years, Band Apart made a mark in the bubbling No Wave scene in New York & Europe, yet the duet remains among the era’s unsung heroes. Consisting of New York-based poet & performance artist Jayne Bliss, and Marseille-based musician/producer M. Mader, Band Apart released a mesmerizing, eponymous 4-track EP in 1981, showcasing Jayne’s arresting vocals and lyrics, immersed in the hazy, mysterious atmospheres conjured up by Mader. This vinyl reissue comprises the initial EP as well as five tracks from their 1983 album, Marseille. All tracks were freshly remastered from the original tapes.
Body Type – EP1 & EP2 LP (PTKF)
First physical release from this buzzy female foursome. Body Type patched themselves together in Sydney in 2016 and found they each contained pieces that perfectly complemented one another. They soon set about articulating their ideas through jangling guitars and scuzzy, lo-fi production, and found that audiences at home and around the country were eager to get sucked in. Following the debut release of EP1 in late 2018, and the sophomore release of EP2 in May 2019, both Body Type EPs are presented together on vinyl for the first time.
David Bowie – Mercury Demos LP (Parlophone)
Ten early Bowie recordings captured live in one take to a Revox reel to reel tape machine in Bowie’s flat in spring 1969, with accompaniment from John “Hutch” Hutchinson on guitar and vocals. Deluxe set housed in a replica of the original tape box and features one LP, a print, two photo contact sheets, and sleeve notes by Mark Adams.
David Bowie – D.J. b/w Boys Keep Swinging [Reissue/1979] 7” (Parlophone)
Limited 7” picture disc vinyl pressing. “D.J.” was the second and final single from The Lodger in the UK and the follow up to “Boys Keep Swinging”. The A side of this picture disc features a previously unreleased single edit of the track from The Lodger (2017 Tony Visconti Mix). The previously unreleased version of “Boys Keep Swinging” recorded especially for The Kenny Everett Video Show features on the AA side.
Cash Box Kings – Hail To The Kings! LP (Alligator)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. World class Chicago blues masters The Cash Box Kings deliver a fresh, exhilarating take on the real deal Windy City sound, filled with soul deep singing, brawny harmonica, stinging guitar and infectious ensemble playing. They are revered around the world for their dedication to creating rich, timeless blues.
Cold Showers – Love & Regret LP (Dais)
Official vinyl repress of the long out-of-print 2012 debut album from the L.A.-based post punk outfit. Cold Showers, a unit formed in Los Angeles, CA in 2010, fuses the brash power of their shoegaze predecessors with the smoky compulsions of accessible synth pop standards. Cold Showers fits comfortably within the dusty catalog of Factory Records, if only for their modern interpretation of the romantic isolation that signified that long past era.
Defecation – Killing With Kindness LP (Metal Bastard)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Eight long tracks full of hate, brutality, grinding metal.
Des Lions Pour Des Lions – Derviche Safari LP (Maaula)
Nu-world, post-fanfare from France, the missing link between trance jazz, Sufi grooves and tribal rock.
Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks [Reissue/1975] LP+MP3 (Sony)
Vinyl reissue of Dylan’s 15th album. Blood On The Tracks has been viewed as an outstanding example of the confessional singer-songwriter’s craft, and it has been called the truest, most honest account of a love affair from tip to stern ever put down on magnetic tape.
Flotsam & Jetsam – The End Of Chaos LP (AFM)
Limited yellow colored vinyl LP pressing in gatefold sleeve. 12 inimitable, powerful and thrashy new songs from the veteran Arizona hard rock band.
Folk Family Revival – Electric Darlin LP (Splice)
New release from the Houston-based, genre-bending rockers.
Forty Seven Times Its Own Weight – Cumulo Nimbus [Reissue/1975] LP (Jazzman)
Fairly hard acid jazz out of the mid-’70s Austin jazz scene.
Gang Starr – Step Into The Arena [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Virgin)
180gm vinyl reissue of the second studio album by the hip-hop duo. Step Into The Arena received critical acclaim and was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Dexter Gordon – Clubhouse [Reissue/1979] LP (Blue Note)
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. One of the enduring mysteries of Blue Note history is that superb sessions such as Dexter Gordon’s Clubhouse (recorded in 1965) remained unreleased in the vault until the late 1970s. Recorded during the middle of Gordon’s golden period career renaissance after he signed with Blue Note in 1961, the tenor saxophone legend is joined by Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and the remarkable rhythm section of Barry Harris on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and the great Billy Higgins on drums.
Hoodoo Gurus – Magnum Cum Louder [Reissue/1989] LP (Big Time Phonograph)
Hoodoo Gurus – Kinky [Reissue/1991] LP (Big Time Phonograph)
Vinyl reissues of the Australian rock band’s fourth and fifth albums. Limited transparent colored vinyl pressings.
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell [Reissue/1983] LP (Capitol)
Limited translucent red colored vinyl pressing of the second studio album by Billy Idol. After the release of his 1981 eponymous debut album, Idol continued his collaboration with Keith Forsey and Steve Stevens. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Initially recording without a drummer, utilizing only the electronic drum machine LinnDrum, Forsey and Stevens later decided to hire Thommy Price to play drums on some of the songs.
Index – Vol. 2 (1969) LP (Lion Productions)
In February of 2009, Jim Valice of Index discovered three reels in a cardboard box stuffed in a closet of his parents’ home in Michigan. These songs from 1969 were on those reels. Fourteen original compositions by Index, seven making their vinyl debut, the other seven released for the first time ever, all transferred from the original tapes. Index was once again a pure power trio by 1969. There was massive demand for Index personal performances. Index was not interested. It was becoming more difficult for guitarist John Ford to travel back from Yale University to Detroit on a weekly basis. Index wanted to push the bounds of their own creativity. They chose to use their limited time together to write and record. Index were the epitome of a DIY band.
Rafael Anton Irisarri – Solastalgia LP+MP3 (Room40)
Rafael Anton Irisarri is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer living in New York. Described as one of contemporary ambient music’s most celebrated practitioners, Irisarri’s music often has a mournful, elegiac quality where ostinato phrases tap into minimalist ideals while atmospheric layers of effects suggest a more cinematic approach. In all, his compositions are deeply emotive and epic, like a symphony recording that’s been rescued from attic entombment after half a century. Irisarri concerts at museums, churches, synagogues, and other non-traditional performance spaces explore the physicality of sound.
Billy Joel – River Of Dreams [Reissue/1993] LP (Friday Music)
Two limited colored audiophile vinyl pressings available: translucent red and translucent gold. The 5x platinum River Of Dreams, Billy Joel’s last studio album to date as a performer, also stands as one of his most successful. Released in 1993, the doo-wop influenced pop offering rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was showered with multiple Grammy nominations in 1994.
Joseph – Stoned Age Man [Reissue/1970] LP (Sundazed)
Limited gold colored vinyl pressing. Rooted in the steamy backroads of Texas and deep-fried at a Memphis recording studio, Joseph’s Stoned Age Man was served up like a sizzling hot rattlesnake appetizer slathered in fuzz-blooz grease in 1969.
Memoriam – Requiem From Mankind LP (Nuclear Blast)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the old school death metal band. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Stevie Nicks – Stand Back: 1981–2017 6xLP (Atlantic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. 44-track career-spanning six-LP set including solo hits, studio recordings, collaborations, soundtrack work and live cuts.
Dona Onete – Rebujo LP (Mais Um Discos)
On the eve of her 80th birthday, Dona Onete, the grande dame of Amazonian song, returns with her third album Rebujo, a love letter to her hometown of Belém, situated deep in the Amazon. Rebujo brims with two music styles born in Belém: carimbós, influenced by African grooves, and bangues, a ska-type rhythm. Plus, there’s a cumbia, brega (romantic music) and samba. [CD edition due July 5.]
Pelican – Forever Becoming [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Southern Lord)
A deluxe reissue of Pelican’s 2013 album Forever Becoming, featuring vastly improved mix and mastering of the original songs replete with a revised version of the previously Japan-only bonus track “Bardo”.
Primus – Miscellaneous Debris [Reissue/1992] 12” (Interscope)
Primus – Tales From The Punchbowl [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Interscope)
Primus – Pork Soda [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Interscope)
Primus – The Brown Album [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (Interscope)
Primus – Rhinoplasty [Reissue/1998] LP (Interscope)
Primus – Antipop [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Interscope)
Primus – Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People [Reissue/2003] 12” (Interscope)
Limited 180gm colored vinyl pressings – each remastered in 2018.
Queensrÿche – The Verdict LP (Century Media)
Limited 180gm blue and white colored vinyl pressing. The Verdict features 10 brand new songs expanding upon 2015’s Condition Human. The album offers the finest heavy metal with a dark progressive edge and stellar melodies. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Iced Earth, Hatebreed). Includes the tracks Blood of the Levant, Man the Machine, Inside Out, Dark Reverie, Bent, Inner Unrest and more.
The Raspberries – Greatest Hits [Reissue/1995] LP (Friday Music)
Limited 180gm colored vinyl pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve. The matching Mod suits, trim haircuts, and youthful appearance weren’t just for play. The Raspberries’ looks extended to their irresistibly catchy and refreshingly concise music, a blend of bouncy Britpop, lazy-day psychedelia, mellifluous pop, and crunch arena rock.
R.E.M. – Document [Reissue/1987] LP (Capitol)
180gm colored vinyl reissue. The R.E.M. of 1987’s Document was a sinewy, muscular rock beast, primed and ready to dominate the airwaves. The album’s savage break-out single “The One I Love” provided R.E.M. with their first major US hit single when it peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard singles chart.
Reverend Bizarre – Harbinger Of Metal [Reissue/2003] LP (Svarte)
Reverend Bizarre – Death Is Glory… Now! LP (Svarte)
Reverend Bizarre was a doom metal band from Lohja, Finland, founded in 1994, disbanded in 2007. Death Is Glory… Now! is a compilation of singles, split records, cover tunes and other odds and ends.
Rhye – Spirit LP (Loma Vista)
Limited baby pink vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. Per Mike Milosh of Rhye, the sound of Spirit was born out of falling in love with playing the piano again. “Out of the many sketches, Spirit started to take shape: a collection of songs that I did alone in the studio with just a piano, intertwined with collaborations with some of my favorite piano-based musicians. These are songs about love in my life, but also about the love for piano brought back into my life.”
The Shangri-Las – Leader Of The Pack [Reissue/1965] LP (Cleopatra)
Special limited-edition pink vinyl reissue of the 1965 album by the female vocal group. Features the classic teenage tragedy song that became a #1 pop hit, “Leader Of The Pack”.
Sol Invictus – Lex Talionis [Reissue/1993] LP (Prophecy)
180gm vinyl reissue of the 1993 album from the legendary UK dark folk act Sol Invictus. Orignally issued on Tursa, Lex Talionis introduced the world to the true force of the band. Tony Wakeford was aided by such legendary musicians as Ian Read (Fire + Ice), Karl Blake (Lemon Kittens, Shock Headed Peters), Leithana (Ordo Equitum Solis), Ingrid Fischer, and Richard “Dik” Evans (ex-Virgin Prunes).
Sólstafir – Svartir Sandar [Reissue/2011] LP (Season Of Mist)
Limited clear vinyl pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve. Sólstafir have come a long way from an obscure black metal band out of Reykjavik, Iceland to a musically mindboggling and unique mixture of dark metal, psychedelic passions and an eerily rocking groove.
Spice Girls – The Greatest Hits [Reissue/2007] LP (Virgin)
Limited picture disc vinyl pressing of the English girl group’s greatest hits.
Starcrost – Starcrost [Reissue/1975] LP (Jazzman)
Vinyl reissue of a jazz/rock fusion rarity.
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You [Reissue/1998] 12” (Because Music)
Limited 12” vinyl pressing. Stardust’s “Music Sounds Better With You” is one of the most important songs in the French house canon. Conceived by Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, producer Alan Braxe, and vocalist Benjamin Diamond, the song was first released in 1998.
Steamheat – Austin Funk [Reissue/1975] LP (Jazzman)
“In the 1970s when cowboys were cosmic, Austin Funk was an unlikely word pairing. In the heart of outlaw country, funk renegades Steam Heat packed dance floors at the Armadillo World Headquarters and Soap Creek Saloon with Tower of Power-styled grooves. The eight-piece released its lone LP in 1975 before undergoing an Extreme Heat makeover two years later. The reissue of Austin Funk comes at a time when the 1,000 or so original pressings fetch big bucks online.” – The Austin Chronicle
Steep Leans – Naukeag LP (Ghost Ramp)
Steep Leans’ debut album, Grips On Heat, featured a syrupy, midnight-in-the-desert sound, that through elements of repetition and drone, created a sort of hypnotic landscape to deliver the weary melodies buried beneath. On Naukeag, Jeffrey Gray Somers latest effort as Steep Leans, Somers sheds some of the haze and reverb of his previous work for a more angular and lyrically focused sound.
T.I. – Urban Legend [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Grand Hustle)
Double colored vinyl pressing of the rapper’s third album.
A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario [Reissue/1992] 7” (Mr. Bongo)
All-time classic hip-hop of the highest possible grade from A Tribe Called Quest. Replica reissue of the prized, Germany-only 7” from 1992, cut loud.
Various Artists – Buntús Rince Explorations In Irish Jazz Fusion & Folk 1969-1981 LP (Allchival)
‘Buntús Rince’ translates from Irish as ‘basic rhythms’, and this new compilation explores how Irish musicians were influenced by strands of different genres of music from around the world, merging them to create their own unique sounds. The compilation features some of the most innovative and talented figures in the history of Irish music and includes rare Irish jazz, fusion and folk outliers from the 1970s and early 1980s from musicians relatively unknown outside of Ireland. Often regarded as a musical backwater, the 1970s finally saw Ireland begin to make its mark on international music.
Various Artists – The Rough Guide To Mali Blues LP (World Music Network)
From the beating heart of the capital city Bamako to the rich musical soils of Niafunké, Mali has become synonymous with the raw desert blues sound. Featuring the likes of the legendary Tuareg band Tartit as well as Songhai bluesman Samba Touré, this Rough Guide also includes tracks by other unsung heroes, all of whom share the same goal of preserving a culture under serious threat. [CD edition due July 26.]
Various Artists – The Rough Guide To World Jazz LP (World Music Network)
From the guitar artistry of jazz-fusion legend John McLaughlin to Skandi-jazz innovators the Karl Strømme Quintet, this Rough Guide showcases some of today’s pioneering artists who share the same goal of pushing the boundaries of jazz with truly remarkable results.
Baby Face Willette – Face To Face [Reissue/1961] LP (Blue Note)
Limited 180gm audiophile vinyl pressing in deluxe gatefold jacket. Hammond B-3 organ soul jazz fans know and love the music of Jimmy Smith, but lesser known is the tragically short life and career of Roosevelt ‘Baby Face’ Willette who produced some of the deepest grooves ever recorded on the B-3 on just two Blue Note albums recorded in 1961. Willette’s debut Face To Face is a showcase for his blues-drenched organ pyrotechnics.
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