New Releases for June 7, 2024

AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:

Alisa Amador – Multitudes CD/LP (Honest Magic)

Alisa Amador is a bilingual singer-songwriter and the winner of the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest. Alisa Amador’s music is a synthesis of the many styles she’s voraciously absorbed: rock, jazz, funk, and alternative folk, all wrapped in the spirit of the Latin music she grew up with. NPR’s Cyrena Touros calls her “a pitch-perfect rendition of my wildest dreams,” and NPR’s Bob Boilen calls Alisa “a powerful voice whose tender performance commands attention and fosters connection.” Alisa has opened for artists including Hozier, Lake Street Dive, Madison Cunningham, Watchhouse, Hiss Golden Messenger, and countless others. Alisa’s soulful singing, poetically incisive lyrics, and syncopated rhythms are likely to make you cry, laugh, and dance all within one set. [A purple color vinyl pressing is available.]

Bonny Light Horseman – Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free CD/2xLP (Jagjaguwar)
At the center of Bonny Light Horseman is, always, the singular combination of three powerful and tender artists, artists who expertly dodge superlatives but are quick to acknowledge that their bond makes each one better, braver and more vulnerable than they’d be on their own. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the force of their voices together, which work with complete trust in one another through the gentlest moments and the most ruthless wails. Bonny Light Horseman’s new album, Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free, is an ode to the blessed mess of our humanity. Confident and generous, it is an unvarnished offering that puts every feeling and supposed flaw out in the open. The themes are stacked high and staked even higher: love and loss, hope and sorrow, community, and family, change and time all permeate Bonny Light Horseman’s most vulnerable and bounteous offering to date. [Multiple colorways are available on vinyl, including pink (disc one) and sky blue (disc two).]

Charli XCX – Brat CD/LP/Cassette (Atlantic)

Charli XCX’s sixth studio album Brat is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2022’s Crash, which reached number 1 on the UK’s official album chart. Brat is an exhilarating club record built around high art references and social commentary. Avant-pop and electronic superstar Charli XCX has become an iconic figure in the arts, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output. Over the course of a trailblazing career, the multi-hyphenate creative has earned critical acclaim for her innovative style and entrepreneurial spirit and seen her forward-thinking approach reshape pop culture in the process. [An indie store exclusive clear w/ pink splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]

The Ghost Inside – Searching For Solace CD/LP (Epitaph)

The Ghost Inside stands as an unstoppable force in the realm of hard rock music. Fueled by unwavering determination and unyielding passion, this band has forged a path marked by resilience and redemption. Their latest endeavor, the sixth studio album titled Searching For Solace, delves into the profound theme of grappling with one’s own thoughts – the internal struggle between good, bad, and evil. It explores the journey of finding comfort and making peace amidst the chaos of life’s ebb and flow. The album reflects the band’s commitment to not succumb to negativity, anger, or darkness, aligning with their identity as an uplifting and comforting musical force for fans seeking solace. [Multiple colorways are available on vinyl, including an indie store exclusive eco-mix.]

Goat Girl – Below The Waste CD/LP (Rough Trade)

Progressing from their angst-fueled self-titled debut (2018) to the escapist world of sophomore LP On All Fours (2021), South London trio Goat girl – consisting of Rosy Bones, Lottie Pendlebury and Holly Mullineaux – enter their most self-assured era in 2024, with third album Below The Waste. Co-produced by the band and John Spud Murphy (Lankum/black midi), the album takes the band’s distinctive sound to new extremes, as they delve fearlessly into expansive noise-rock, delicate folk, and synth-driven pop.

Peggy Gou – I Hear You CD/LP (XL Recordings)

Peggy Gou has ascended from underground sensation to global icon by sticking to her own unwavering vision, becoming one of the most in-demand electronic musicians and DJs in the world. Having performed to over a million people worldwide in 2023, the self-managed South Korean-born, Berlin-based producer and artist has blazed her own trail as the first Korean DJ to play Berghain, the first female DJ to headline Ushuaïa Ibiza, and the first woman in over 20 years to appear within the Top 10 of DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 lists. Since 2016, she’s forged a singular blend of club music that’s as forward-thinking as it is nostalgic. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

Man Man – Carrot On Strings CD/LP (Sub Pop)

When Man Man released its last album, Dream Hunting In The Valley Of The In Between, frontman Honus Honus (née Ryan Kattner) was in a state of unrest, oscillating between hope and cynicism. Perhaps fittingly, the album dropped during the pandemic, a time at which we could all relate. But much like that bizarre turn of events, the ennui now seems so distant to Man Man. A revived sense of purpose washes through Man Man’s new album, Carrot On Strings, radiating a mix of calm and confidence. Kattner always embodied a wild-man pied-piper vibe: his melodic, unhinged art-rock was at once intriguing and angsty. He was so alluringly creative that you went along with it, even if you were never sure where Man Man would take you. Carrot On Strings is no less inventive, but its ethos is radical in context of the band’s two-decade career. [An orange color vinyl pressing is available.]

NxWorries – Why Lawd? CD/LP (Stones Throw)

The long-awaited second album from NxWorries – the iconic duo of superstar vocalist Anderson .Paak and Grammy Award-winning beatmaker and producer Knxwledge. Eight years after their breakthrough debut Yes Lawd!, NxWorries return with Why Lawd? – a winning combination of Knx’s unmistakable beats and .Paak’s instantly recognizable vocals. This time, special guests are invited along for the ride. Featured artists include H.E.R., Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, Earl Sweatshirt, Rae Khalil and more. [An indie store exclusive smoke brown w/ blue splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]

Pedro The Lion – Santa Cruz CD/LP/Cassette (Polyvinyl)

On Pedro The Lion’s new album Santa Cruz, critically acclaimed musician David Bazan returns with a new chapter in his ambitious and ongoing recording project – five albums devoted to places he lived in throughout his life. Santa Cruz is Bazan’s third album in the series and follows up where 2022’s Havasu and 2019’s Phoenix left off. Tracks like “Modesto” and “Little Help” foreshadow Bazan’s exposure and ultimate love of classic rock ‘n’ roll records, while songs like “It’ll All Work Out” showcase his unique approach to synthesizers, something he introduced with the 2005 self-titled Headphones album. The stories on Santa Cruz highlight Bazan’s teenage years and solidifies what he sees as an exposition in a traditional three-act structure. [A green color vinyl pressing is available.]

Additional Social Media Program Titles:

Dälek – Negro Necro Nekros [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (Ipecac Recordings)

When Dälek’s debut, Negro Necro Nekros arrived in the Fall of 1998, hip-hop’s aesthetic and commercial conventions were in a state of upheaval. While mainstream rap had completed the process of full integration into mainstream pop culture, underground hip-hop had mounted an aggressive opposition movement in response. Forged in the fires of the East Coast underground music scene in the ‘90s, experimental hip-hop pioneers Dälek has spent decades carving out a unique niche fusing hardcore hip-hop, noise and a radical approach to sound. From the very beginning, Dälek came out the gate, following in the footsteps of their predecessors Public Enemy while drawing from influences as varied as My Bloody Valentine and German experimentalists Faust, Dälek have succeeded in adding completely new textural and structural dimensions to rap music. This vinyl reissue includes six bonus tracks.

The Murlocs – Live At The Teragram Ballroom [Reissue/2016] LP (ATO)

Green splatter vinyl pressing. The first live release from The Murlocs, Live At The Teragram Ballroom is a career-spanning 22-song set recorded at The Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles. The show capped off a busy 2022 for the Melbourne-based band, which saw the release of their 6th album, Rapscallion, as well as a performance at Red Rocks (supporting King Gizzard, with whom the band shares two members) and their biggest U.S. headlining tour to date.

CDs + Vinyl:

Alisa Amador – Multitudes CD/LP (Honest Magic)

Amen Corner – Written By The Devil CD (Napalm)

Amen Corner, one of Brazil’s underground metal legends, is back with a new album Written By The Devil. Old school in body, mind and spirit this album tell us one thing: death is imminent.

Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica Vol. 2 CD/2xLP (BMG)

Apocalyptica is a Finnish cello metal band known for their unique style of music, blending heavy metal with classical cello arrangements. Plays Metallica Vol.2 is a very special album; not just going back to their roots, this time Metallica themselves are involved.

Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana CD/2xLP (Rimas Entertainment)

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana is the fifth solo studio album by Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny, originally released in 2023. It features guest appearances from Arcángel, Bryant Myers, de la Ghetto, Eladio Carrión, Feid, Luar la L, Mora, Ñengo Flow, Young Miko, and Yovngchimi.

Bloomsday – Heart Of The Artichoke CD/LP/Cassette (Bayonet)

The way Bloomsday’s Iris James Garrison writes songs feels like somewhere between a mirror and a memory. Spacious, full-bodied folk songs, they are an ode to things that are good no matter how small. Bloomsday’s new record, Heart Of The Artichoke, is a relic of unfettered creativity and community.

Bon Jovi – Forever CD/LP (Island)

Forever features 12 new songs from one of history’s most iconic bands, Bon Jovi, including the lead single, “Legendary.” “This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn-up-the-volume, feel-good Bon Jovi,” said Jon Bon Jovi. Forever finds Bon Jovi once again working alongside his two remaining founding bandmates: keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. The trio are joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

Toronzo Cannon – Shut Up & Play! CD/LP (Alligator)

11 striking new originals delivered with purpose and passion. From scorching-hot blues to a gospel-inspired rave-up to deep, slow burners, the songs tackle the gamut of human emotions, all sparked by Cannon’s dynamic guitar work and commanding, cathartic singing.

Charli XCX – Brat CD/LP/Cassette (Atlantic)

Clan Of Xymox – Exodus CD (Metropolis)

Over its four-decade career, Clan Of Xymox has become one of the most influential groups the worlds of dark wave and goth. Exodus, the band’s 18th album, is among their darkest and most despondent. Exodus feels as if songwriter Ronny Moorings has taken stock of the times in which we live, and channels all his grief, his anger, and his world-weariness into a beautifully dark, danceable work of art.

Crime & The City Solution – Just South Of Heaven [Reissue/1985] 12” (Mute)

Crime & The City Solution – Rooom Of Lights [Reissue/1986] CD/LP (Mute)

Crime & The City Solution was an Australian rock band founded in 1977 in Sydney by Simon Bonney and included Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, et al.). Their first EP and debut album are back in-print on vinyl and CD (Room Of Lights).

Jesse Daniel – Countin’ The Miles CD/LP (Lightning Rod)

For singer/songwriter Jesse Daniel, country music is nothing short of a life force. Hailing from a rural mountain town on California’s Central Coast, the Austin-based artist first explored his innate passion for music by playing drums in punk bands, then drifted down a troubled path that included years of battling addiction and spending time in and out of jail and rehab. As he took his first steps toward getting clean, Daniel immersed himself in the pure joy of writing country songs, fully embracing the unbridled vitality of California country and bringing a lived-in honesty to his lyrical storytelling. [An indie store exclusive autographed color vinyl pressing is available.]

Skeeter Davis & NRBQ – She Sings, They Play [Reissue/1985] CD/LP (Omnivore)

After working with her sisters in The Davis Sisters, Skeeter Davis embarked on a storied solo career. With nearly 40 charting singles between 1957-1974, her recording of “The End Of The World” (Produced by Chet Atkins) hit #2 on both the Pop and Country charts, #1 Adult Contemporary, and #4 R&B in 1962. Since Skeeter had already crossed perceived genres, the thought of the collaboration with music’s Pandora’s Box known as NRBQ shouldn’t seem difficult to grasp. Terry Adams’ discovery of The David Sisters’ 78 RPMs saw tracks added to early NRBQ set lists. The pairing was meant to be. She Sings, They Play was a natural coupling, and was issued to critical acclaim in 1985.

Steve Dawson – Ghosts CD/LP (Pravda)

Across Ghost’s ten songs, Dawson’s voice, with his soulful, golden burr, communicates with searing emotion and resilience. That visceral and instantly recognizable tone finds an ideal complement in an ensemble of principally Chicago-based musicians and close friends.

Blossom Dearie – Great Women Of Song: Blossom Dearie CD/LP (Verve)

Noted for a distinctive voice, a tender way with a ballad and a fierce sense of swing, singer-pianist Blossom Dearie invested even the most familiar standards with her delightful, one-of-a-kind wit and charm. The selections included here are from the iconic series of albums Dearie made for Verve Records beginning in 1956.

Eels – Eels Time! CD/LP (E Works)

Eels, the ever-changing critically acclaimed project of principal singer/songwriter E (Mark Oliver Everett), have released 14 studio albums since their 1996 debut, Beautiful Freak. The new album, Eels Time!, was recorded between Los Feliz, California and Dublin, Ireland. It consists of twelve brand new tracks with some of E’s most introspective and personal material in recent years, and features collaborations with American musician and actor Tyson Ritter.

Enhypen – Memorabilia [Moon Ver.] CD (Belift Lab)

Collectable ‘Dark Moon Version’ of the K-pop band’s new ‘special’ album.

John Escreet – Epicenter Of Your Dreams CD (Blue Room Music)

New release from the critically acclaimed pianist. On Epicenter Of Your Dreams, Escreet adds tenor saxophone master Mark Turner to trio with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Damion Reid – a powerhouse band reflecting the thriving L.A. jazz scene.

Sara Evans – Unbroke CD (Melody Place)

Unbroke is the eleventh studio album by country artist Sara Evans. The album is Evans’ first album of original material in seven years, following Words (2017), and her first collection of songs since the cover album Copy That (2020). [Vinyl version due June 21.]

Evergrey – Theories Of Emptiness CD/LP (Napalm)

After more than 30 years of existence, Gothenburg’s finest metal masters Evergrey are far away from slowing things down. The five-piece group, led by founder, singer and guitarist Tom S. Englund, releases its fourteenth studio album, Theories Of Emptiness.

Fanny – Live On Beat-Club ’71-’72 CD/LP (Real Gone Music)

Live On Beat-Club ’71-’72 presents the two sets Fanny recorded for the German TV show, mastered by Mike Milchner of Sonic Vision from hi-res mono files taken from the original videotape. [A peach color vinyl pressing is available.]

Fantastic Cat – Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat CD/LP (Missing Piece)

Fantastic Cat is back and older than ever, taking America (and the nicer parts of Europe) by storm with their smash hit new album, Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat. Galvanized by a transformative journey into the spiritual vortices of the Pocono Mountains, the band found inspiration for their sophomore effort in the world of mind-expanding psychedelics: they dropped antacids, experimented with mushrooms (primarily porcini), and even began microdosing a variety of hard seltzers. The result was an album that could only be described as “Christopher Cross crossed with Kris Kristofferson,” a bewildering blend of stepdad rock and in-law country destined to solidify their status as your least favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriters.

Boney Fields – Just Give Me Some Mo’ CD/LP (Diggers Factory)

Stay positive! This is the laudable intention of the new album by American trumpeter and singer Boney Fields. As the pandemic brought concerts to an abrupt halt, Boney was already thinking about the next stage. He composed intensely in the quiet of this historic global interlude. Just Give Me Some Mo’ is the heartfelt wish of an artist eager to feel the vibrations of the stage again.

Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You CD (Epic)

Future & Metro Boomin – We Still Don’t Trust You 2xCD (Epic)

We Don’t Trust You arrives as a celebration of the historic partnership of two culture-shifting legends at the peak of their powers. Future and Metro Boomin’s latest collaborations are a continuation of a musical legacy that dates to “Karate Chop”, an electric 2013 single that birthed the most dynastic hip-hop duo of the 2010s. They’d fortify their connection with tracks like 2015’s “Jumpman” (with Drake) and 2017’s “Mask Off”, singles that have combined to be certified 14-times Platinum by the RIAA. We Don’t Trust You features the track “Like That” feat. Kendrick Lamar as well as other “A list” guest features. The expanded double-CD We Still Don’t Trust You includes guest appearances by the Weeknd, Chris Brown, Brownstone, Ty Dolla Sign, J. Cole, Lil Baby, and ASAP Rocky. [Vinyl versions due July 26.]

Angélica Garcia – Gemelo CD/LP (Partisan)

Gemelo is the new album from songwriter and pop auteur Angélica Garcia. Its title is a reference to the twin self – the idea of a second, more intuitive self within. It’s a vibrant, prismatic hybrid-pop record that soundtracks a journey through the different stages and forms of grief. Angélica explores its inherent loneliness, beauty, and tension, eventually finding liberation. Gemelo also expertly deconstructs facets of universal themes like religion, spirit, heritage, and womanhood. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Genesis – Genesis [Reissue/1983] CD (Atlantic)

Reissue of Genesis’ 1983 self-titled album, featuring the hit singles “Mama”, “That’s All”, and “Taking It All Too Hard”, remastered in 2007 by famed engineer Tony Cousins.

The Ghost Inside – Searching For Solace CD/LP (Epitaph)

Goat Girl – Below The Waste CD/LP (Rough Trade)

Progressing from their angst-fueled self-titled debut (2018) to the escapist world of sophomore LP On All Fours (2021), South London trio Goat girl – consisting of Rosy Bones, Lottie Pendlebury and Holly Mullineaux – enter their most self-assured era in 2024, with third album Below The Waste. Co-produced by the band and John Spud Murphy (Lankum/black midi), the album takes the band’s distinctive sound to new extremes, as they delve fearlessly into expansive noise-rock, delicate folk, and synth-driven pop.

Peggy Gou – I Hear You CD/LP (XL Recordings)

Grand Slam – Hit The Ground – Revised CD/LP (Silver Lining Music)

Grand Slam’s album Hit The Ground has been remastered and features new artwork. Grand Slam was formed in 1984 by Phil Lynott and guitarist Laurence Archer before being forced to break up in 1986. Originally released in 2019, Hit The Ground signaled the Archer (guitar), Mike Dyer (vocals), Benjy Reid (drums) and Rocky Newton (bass) Grand Slam incarnation and is an unequivocal part of the band’s reenergizing story. With stylistic salutes and tips to the legendary Lynott melding with the energy and vocal performance of Dyer and Archer’s fiery fretboard forays in cuts such as the crunchy “Hit The Ground” and the thrusting “Crazy”, Grand Slam stride confidently back into the conscience of classic rock devotees who didn’t know what they were missing.

Grand Slam – Wheel Of Fortune CD/LP (Silver Lining Music)

The four-piece band formed in 1984 by Phil Lynott and guitarist Laurence Archer before being forced to break up in 1986, have finally formed the appropriate return with a top-drawer of hard rocking songs which resonate with clear and present verve and energy. Wheel Of Fortune is the fully realized modern Grand Slam sound, striding confidently back into the conscience of classic-rock fueled devotees who didn’t know what they were missing.

Margo Guryan – Words And Music CD/LP (Numero)

Witness to revolutions in jazz and pop, Margo Guryan earned her place in the songwriting pantheon and then some. That she was largely unknown for decades is not the stuff of crushed dreams, but a result of her own choices and priorities. From humble beginnings to the peaks of her 1968 baroque pop masterpiece Take A Picture and the collected Demos to the recent viral ubiquity of “Why Do I Cry”, Words And Music captures the entirety of Guryan’s career, featuring 16 previously unreleased recordings and a 32-page booklet telling the whole story. [Multiple colorways are available, including gray.]

Chihei Hatakeyama – Magnificent Little Dues Vol. 1 CD/LP (Gearbox)

From his first full-length album Minima Moralia (“Excellent” 8.1 Pitchfork) in 2006, through the subsequent 70+ albums that followed, Chihei Hatakeyama has created a mighty canon of work. Having collaborated with the likes of Ai Kuwabara, Hiroki Chiba, Kei Matsumaru, Gen Hoshino, Terumasa Hino, Tony Allen, and countless others, Shun Ishiwaka is one of Japan’s most prolific modern jazz drummers. Between them they’ve played across ambient, experimental, electronic, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and metal projects, and that’s what this new release represents – a meeting of like-minded musicians with innumerable reference points coming together at an epoch-making juncture to produce an ambient work brimming with creativity and understanding.

Holy Mother – Rise CD/LP (Massacre)

A career that spans from the 1990’s until the present day, Holy Mother has delivered some of the most blistering American, fist-pumping music of their genre and pulls no punches with its heaviest and most powerful release to date.

Robert Hunter – Tales Of The Great Rum Runners [Reissue/1974] 2xCD (Rhino)

Tales Of The Great Rum Runners (Deluxe Edition) introduces a freshly remastered version of the original album alongside 16 previously unreleased recordings, including alternate versions of album tracks and several session outtakes.

Issa – Another World CD (Frontiers)

Norwegian melodic rock sensation Issa, born Isabell Oversveen, has solidified her place as a prominent figure in the genre, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and captivating melodies.

Key Glock – Glockoma 2 [Deluxe] CD/2xLP (Paper Route Empire)

Glockoma 2 is the third studio album from Memphis rapper Key Glock, and follow-up to the wildly successful mixtape, Glockoma. The deluxe physical release sees the addition of eight new tracks and includes three singles released shortly after the digital deluxe release. [A blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

Liz Lawrence – Peanuts CD/LP (Chrysalis)

Described as an “intensely British” record, Peanuts is a wry and observational album, with a newfound sense of compassion and reflection on Liz’s inner feelings and their projection on the outside world. Peanuts is a playground game, also known as Mercy, where two kids twist each other’s fingers until one cries out, ‘peanuts!’, signaling that they have met their pain threshold.

Left Lane Cruiser – Bayport BBQ Blues CD/LP (Alive)

Bayport BBQ Blues is the new studio album by Indiana’s favorite blues duo Left Lane Cruiser, featuring Freddy J IV on guitar and vocals, and Brenn “Sausage Paw” Beck on drums, washboard and trash kit. The album blends Freddy’s commanding, gritty vocal rasp and positively nasty hoodoo slide guitar work with Sausage Paw’s rhythmic stomp to make for a heady fire-starter for your house party, backyard barbecue or juke joint get-down. Bayport BBQ Blues is dedicated to the memory of the late Chris Jonson, creator of the Deep Blues Festival.

L’Imperatrice – Pulsar CD/LP (Microqlima)

With two successful albums and a sold-out world tour under their belt, Paris-based L’Impératrice have matriculated from a good-times instrumental act created by music critic Charles de Boisseguin to a six-piece powerhouse whose sashaying mixes of funk and French Touch, disco and deep house now include the fetching vocals of singer Flore Benguigui. Their new album Pulsar is a focused but far-reaching record, the jubilant testament of a band with plenty to say and the skills to say it themselves. Across 10 tracks, L’Impératrice move freely and authoritatively among the sounds they love, bridging hip-hop, kosmische, and modern pop with their most unabashed embraces of French Touch and international house ever. Benguigui, meanwhile, boldly sings of self-empowerment by shirking beauty standards, ageism, and drab normalcy, with a little help from an exciting set of new friends. [An indie store exclusive tangerine color vinyl pressing is available.]

Loathe – I Let It in And It Took Everything CD/LP (Sharptone)

Loathe has been making waves in the British underground heavy music scene since their inception in 2014. Two EPs and one full-length debut album have already put them on the map and the band has already been nominated for Best New Band at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods and Best UK Breakthrough Band in the Heavy Music Awards. Their intense, visceral multi-media live show extravaganza has marked them out as a band who have ambitions far beyond that of their peers and now, with the release of their second full length album, I Let It In And It Took Everything, those ambitions are beginning to be realized.

LØLØ – Falling For Robots And Wishing I Was One CD/LP (Hopeless)

LØLØ has built a rabid following with her heart-on-her-sleeve lyrics and hard-hitting melodies spiked with a pop punk spirit over the course of three EPs. On her debut album, LØLØ “explores what it means to be human these days”. Recorded with producer Mike Robinson, her single “u turn me on (but u give me depression) has hit over 15M plays. EUPHORIA writes “[LØLØ] has become an undeniable presence in the pop-punk genre” evident by her constant touring with everyone from Boys Like Girls to New Found Glory and Against the Current. [An emerald green color vinyl pressing is available.]

Loverboy – Live In ’82 CD+DVD/LP+DVD (earMUSIC)

Live In ’82 showcases one of Loverboy’s most incredible live performances. Restored from Paul Dean’s personal archive of 16mm film, the joyous energy of a band who helped define the golden era of 80’s music is captured like lightning in a bottle.

Luther – This Close To You [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (Sony Legacy)

Following the success of his debut, Luther Vandross continued his musical journey as part of the American singing group Luther, with the release of This Close To You, on March 23, 1977. This second studio album further solidified his status in the music industry, highlighting his exceptional skills as a lead vocalist, writer, and producer. The album’s blend of soulful melodies and moving lyrics captured the hearts of fans and critics alike, propelling Luther Vandross to stardom.

Nduduzo Makhathini – uNomkhubulwane CD/2xLP (Blue Note)

South African pianist, composer, philosopher, and healer Nduduzo Makhathini travels beyond any existing notion of music-making to offer his most profound vision of creative mysticism yet with uNomkhubulwane, his stunning eleventh studio album which is his third to be released on Blue Note Records following 2020’s Modes Of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds and 2022’s In The Spirit Of Ntu. The transcendent three-movement suite-which pays homage to the Zulu Goddess uNomkhubulwane and explores Africa’s tragic history of oppression-features Makhathini’s trio with bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere on bass and drummer Francisco Mela. The music is both an offering and an invitation to humanity to cultivate ways of being that strive for freedom and balance.

Man Man – Carrot On Strings CD/LP (Sub Pop)

Helen Merrill – Great Women Of Song: Helen Merrill CD/LP (Verve)

With her cool, expressive singing style and carefully crafted song selection Helen Merrill has secured a special place in the hearts of fans and other musicians. From intimate ballads to full-band swingers this collection, drawn from her 1950s recordings, provides solid evidence of the unparalleled artistry of one of jazz’s must-hear voices.

Casey Mq – Later That Day, The Day Before, Or The Day Before That CD/LP (Ghostly Int’l)

Casey’s known for his 2020 breakthrough release babycasey, which gave voice to songs seen through the lens of childhood, various film score work and collaborations with artists such as Oklou (who returns here), Eartheater, and Vagabon. His gifts as a producer and songwriter are rooted in textural world-building and the excavation of personal truth. With Later That Day… he questions what is entirely true, understanding our mind’s tendency to bend and project onto pictures of the past. Across vivid, baroque pop balladry, Casey Mq reorients his recording project and point of view under the notion that memories are malleable. [Multiple colorways are available on vinyl.]

NxWorries – Why Lawd? CD/LP (Stones Throw)

Pagan Altar – Judgement Of The Dead CD/LP (Dying Victim Productions)

Originally recorded in 1982 during the NWOBHM movement, Pagan Altar’s debut album, Judgement Of The Dead, is a timeless classic of macabre heavy/doom metal centered around magic, witchcraft, and the occult. This holy grail album is one of the purest, most magical records that were ever written, and had a tremendous influence on the heavy/doom metal scene.

Carly Pearce – Hummingbird CD/2xLP (Big Machine)

Carly Pearce’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, Hummingbird, marks Pearce’s debut as a co-producer and fully represents her new musical chapter – one of forward motion. Following the success of her last studio album, 29: Written In Stone, Pearce leans in to her authentic country sound encompassed by the symbolism of the hummingbird which represents the album’s themes of growth, humility, understanding, playfulness, and optimism. [A custard yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]

Pedro The Lion – Santa Cruz CD/LP/Cassette (Polyvinyl)

Sect – Plague Upon Plagues CD/LP (Southern Lord)

Plagues Upon Plagues is the follow-up to 2019’s critically acclaimed album Blood Of The Beasts. Includes the single “New Low”.

Severe Torture – Torn From The Jaws Of Death CD/LP (Season Of Mist)

Unbowed and unbroken, Severe Torture embodies the truest strains of death metal virility.

Shaed – Spinning Out CD/LP (BMG)

Spinning Out is the sound of Shaed’s core ethos, their connection as family and musicians. Inspired by new love and parenthood, the album cohered as a collection of snapshots and vignettes, reflecting on belonging and connection from all different angles.

Strand Of Oaks – Miracle Focus CD/LP (Western Vinyl)

Strand Of Oaks returns with a vibrant new chapter, Miracle Focus. This album marks a bold departure from Tim’s previous introspective work, embracing a sound that’s uplifting, diverse, and deeply personal. [A yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]

Quinn Sullivan – Salvation CD/LP (Provogue)

Quinn Sullivan came to prominence as a young guitar virtuoso who, after a chance encounter with Buddy Guy at the age of 8, would go on to become a buzzed-about blues phenom. When it came time to write and record his fifth album, Salvation, the singer-songwriter-guitarist was processing the sudden passing of his mother. The resulting 11-track album is his most personal release to date. Salvation honors Quinn’s musical roots while forging his path forward as an emotive and engaging singer-songwriter. [A white color vinyl pressing is available.]

Tarja – What Lies Beneath [Reissue/2010] 2xCD (earMUSIC)

Deluxe two CD edition of Tarja’s successful second studio album What Lies Beneath. Includes the 14 original album tracks and combines them with all alternative versions, single edits, and remixes, many of which are released physically for the first time. It also includes “The Good Die Young” performed by The Scorpions & Tarja, originally included as bonus track on 2010s limited Dreamers boxset.

Joan Shaw Taylor – Heavy Soul CD/LP (Journeyman)

Chart-topping British blues rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor returns with her eagerly anticipated ninth studio album, Heavy Soul. Following 2022’s universally praised Nobody’s Fool, Joanne again effortlessly demonstrates her blues rock wizardry as well her ever-evolving skills as a singer-songwriter. Heavy Soul highlights Joanne’s guitar prowess and instantly recognizable, smokey-yet-sultry vocals across three new original tracks and three captivating covers (Van Morrison, Joan Armatrading & Joe Simon). [A ‘violet lightning’ color vinyl pressing is available.]

Alfie Templeman – Radiosoul CD/LP (Chess Club)

Alfie Templeman’s second studio album, is an ambitious suite of tracks that showcase a bold new acid-pop direction for the Bedfordshire-born polymath. [An indie store exclusive vinyl pressing is available.]

Testament – Titans Of Creation CD/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)

Returning with their thirteenth studio album, Testament’s Titans Of Creation contains twelve tracks of unstoppable energy from these originators of Bay Area thrash. Loyal to the roots of the genre they helped define, Testament bring alluring, brilliant, and progressive ingredients to this new release, an exciting new album in their consistently heavy and inspiring cannon.

Juan Pablo Torres – Super Son [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (Mr Bongo)

Juan Pablo Torres – Algo Nuevo [Reissue/1978] CD/LP (Mr Bongo)

The next release in the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series is two of Juan Pablo Torres’ most known and loved albums, 1977’s Super Son and 1978’s Algo Nuevo. Super Son is a wonderful record of tripped-out rumbas, psych-Afro-Latin funk, and quirky orchestrated tracks with a big band horn section courtesy of Torres’ band, Algo Nuevo. Algo Nuevo is a melting pot of an album that weaves together jazz-funk and traditional Afro-Cuban genres with tripped-out synth touches and dancefloor grooves.

Meghan Trainor – Timeless CD/LP (Epic)

Arriving just in time for the 10-year anniversary of her diamond-certified hit “All About That Bass”, Timeless is a celebration of Meghan Trainor’s growth as an artist over the last decade. On it, she approaches themes of self-love and empowerment with more confidence than ever before, brought to life through her smart lyricism and signature production. Meghan explains, “I cannot believe it has been 10 years since this all began, I have never been more grateful for this life that my incredible Megatronz has gifted me with. This new album and tour are all for them and my beautiful family.”

Tony Trischka – Earl Jam CD/LP (Down The Road)

One afternoon during the height of COVID, Tony Trischka opened a small package with a thumb drive. It contained some extremely rare recordings of Earl Scruggs and John Hartford jamming, mostly taken from private gatherings at Earl’s house during the 1980s and ‘90s – over 200 songs and tunes – and Tony’s mind was blown. He’d been studying Earl for over 60 years, but now he heard exciting new information in these solos, chock full of twists, turns and exciting revelations. Tony immediately began transcribing and learning his favorites.

Umbra Vitae – Light Of Death CD/LP (Deathwish Inc.)

New album by the modern metal band. [Multiple colorways are available, including indie store exclusive clear w/ white.]

Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats – Nell’ Ora Blu CD/2xLP (Rise Above)

Plainly the most radical album of their career to date, Nell’ Ora Blu stands out from the sterile desert of rock ‘n’ roll in 2024 like a gore-drenched beacon. What this scintillating detour tells us about the future of Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats remains a mystery, but after enjoying such rich and fruitful artistic indulgence, Starrs’ notoriety as one of heavy music’s most distinctive voices can only increase. Nell’ Ora Blu is an epic tribute to Italian crime cinema from the late ‘60s/early ‘70s.

Doug Watkins – Watkins At Large [Reissue/1957] LP (Blue Note)

Recorded in 1956 for producer Tom Wilson’s short-lived Boston-based label Transition Records, Watkins At Large was the first of only two albums that the great bassist Doug Watkins would make as a leader. The Detroit native had moved to New York and begun to garner recognition for his contributions to the Art Blakey-Horace Silver co-led iteration of the Jazz Messengers as well as Bud Powell’s trio when Wilson decided to give him the opportunity to front his own recording date. Along with a first-rate ensemble featuring trumpeter Donald Byrd, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Duke Jordan, and drummer Art Taylor, Watkins swings through a stellar set of blues, ballads, and more including originals written by Jordan, Burrell, and Thad Jones.

The Zawose Queens – Maisha CD/LP (Real World)

The Zawose Queens are Leah and Pendo Zawose of the Tanzanian Wagogo people, whose joyous otherworldly vocals, polyphonic rhythms on drums, thumb pianos, and chizeze fiddle mirror the sounds of nature. The grand-daughter and daughter of the late, great Hukwe Zawose, like all the women in the Zawose family, they were once forbidden from the spotlight. Aided by producers Oli Barton-Wood and Tom Excell, this is a stunning debut deftly blend the acoustic, electronic, traditional, and modern. [A milky clear white vinyl pressing is available.]

This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:

Action Bronson – Only For Dolphins [Reissue/2020] LP (Loma Vista)

Action Bronson – Cocodrillo Turbo [Reissue/2022] LP (Loma Vista)

Picture disc and silver color (respectively) pressings. A Queens legend, respected for his idiosyncratic pen and vivid raps, Action Bronson is a decade and-a-half into his career and still deepening his skillset.

Actress – Statik LP (Smalltown Supersound)

For Actress, who wrote most of his subtly majestic new record Statik in an extensive deep flow state, the project serves as a cohesive testament to artistic liberation. Resultantly, the contemplative new album is imbued with a sense of freedom, while belying its creator’s expertise through forensic attention to textural detail and signature Actress resonances. Listening closely, influential visions of aquatic realms, such as the mythic Atlantis, and evocations of flying birds (and, perhaps, humans) may reveal themselves.

Monty Alexander – D-Day LP (PeeWee!)

June 6, 2024, marked the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. It’s also the day the Grammy-nominated pianist Monty Alexander turns 80. A highly symbolic historical concordance which the great musician naturally embraces, since the name he was given pays homage to General Montgomery, the famous liberator. The album D-Day is the fruit of intertwining friendships and artistic collusion often observed between Monty Alexander, the French touring agency V.O Music, and the label PeeWee!.

Louis Armstrong – Classics LP (Diggers Factory)

An incredible, charismatic personality, composer, singer and actor, Louis Armstrong remains one of the most influential figures in jazz. His influence on the development of jazz is almost impossible to measure. Billie Holiday said she always wanted to have the big sound of Bessie Smith and the feeling of Armstrong in her singing. This “Golden Classics” compilation includes some of her best recordings, all carefully remastered: “La Vie en rose”, “C’est si bon”, “You Rascal You”, “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and the George Gershwin standard “Summertime”, both performed by the delightful Ella Fitzgerald. In a 1971 interview with DownBeat magazine, Duke Ellington said: “If anyone was a master, it was Louis Armstrong. He was and will remain the embodiment of jazz.”

August Burns Red – Phantom Anthem [Reissue/2017] 6×7” (Fearless)

Phantom Anthem is August Burns Red’s seventh studio album, on which the band showcases their skillful instrumentation and powerful lyrical content while telling an empowering story – everyone carries a message, passions, and an identity, and it’s that powerful voice inside that drives people forward in life. While some may feel like outcasts, or appear to be off track and going nowhere, the songs highlight that it’s what’s inside that really matters – the passion that’s beneath the surface is what is of value, not the circumstances or physical evidence seen on the surface. The box set includes six 7” 45rpm singles in three different shades of grey.

Black Uhuru – Live At Soledad Prison 1982 LP (Diggers Factory)

Founded in the mid ’70s, Black Uhuru really burst onto the reggae scene in the early ’80s when Sly & Robbie took over artistic direction and produced such seminal albums as Showcase, Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out and Anthem (note that a magnificent collection of their singles for Sly & Robbie’s TAXI label is available on TAXI TRAXX, released by TABOU1 last year).

Not only were the albums revolutionary from an artistic point of view, but the live shows were formidable. An avalanche of lead-heavy drums and bass, augmented by guitars bordering on metal-rock thanks to the late Darryl Thompson, provided a bedrock of rhythm and energy for Michael Rose’s lead vocals and the backing vocals of Duckie Simpson and Puma Jones.

Sega Bodega – Dennis LP (Ambient Tweets)

With his first two records Salvador (2020) and Romeo (2021), Sega Bodega introduced a reinvention of dance music driven by a kind of dream-logic which addled the mind but made sense to the body. His third long player, Dennis, arrived following an experience of mania. During a turbulent time in his personal life, the toll it took manifested itself in spikes of euphoria, sleepless nights and surrender to impulse. The difference between ‘reality’ and this mind-altered state felt paper-thin. Dennis is a translation of how this feels.

Roy Buchanan – You’re Not Alone [Reissue/1978] LP (Made in Germany Music)

Immerse yourself in the timeless magic of legendary guitarist Roy Buchanan. In 1969, Buchanan was offered the job as Brian Jones’ successor in the Stones. He declined with thanks and left the position to Mick Taylor and later Ron Wood. In the 1970s, a series of albums were released, some of which were quite successful, and he lost his status as the best unknown guitarist in the world. Buchanan released his masterpiece You’re Not Alone in 1978, offering a unique blend of blues, rock and soul that captivates from the very first note.

Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane – Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane [Reissue/1958] LP (Craft Recordings)

Two jazz greats join forces on this historic recording from 1958.

Alice Coltrane – A Monastic Trio [Reissue/1968] LP (Impulse!)

Recorded in 1968 and intended as a tribute to her late husband, Alice Coltrane is supported in her first solo outing by Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison and Rashied Ali – all members of John Coltrane’s last quintet. While initial reviews to the album were lukewarm upon release, looking at it in the context of her larger body of work, A Monastic Trio serves as a delightful foreshadowing of what was to come.

Cruzloma – Mitos & Ritos 12” (ZZK)

A dialogue with the past, present and future of traditional Ecuadorian music. The debut EP by the Ecuadorian group Cruzloma, consolidates in its six songs a spirit of promoting traditional rhythms in contemporary styles, a process of reinvention and self-discovery in homage to the indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian jungle and the riches of ceremonial music, based around the bambuco style from Esmeraldas on the northern coast, and the bomba del chota and the san juanito from Imbabura province.

The Cure – Japanese Whispers [Reissue/1983] LP (Rhino)

Limited clear vinyl LP pressing housed in a special transclear sleeve. Remastered by Robert Smith and cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, London. Japanese Whispers is a compilation of Cure singles and B-sides released between November 1982 and November 1983 and charted in the UK Album charts on December 24th, 1983.

Cymande – Cymande [Reissue/1972] LP (Partisan)

With the release of their 1972 self-titled debut album, Cymande emerged as innovators of the Black British music scene. Taking influences from their Guyanese and Jamaican roots, the band fused reggae bass lines, Afro-tinged Nyabinghi percussion, psychedelic touches, and American-style funk instrumentation into a sound they dubbed “Nyah-rock.” It has been heralded as the best Brit funk album of all time.

Dälek – Negro Necro Nekros [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (Ipecac Recordings)

Della Mae – Headlight [Reissue/2020] LP (Rounder)

Violet colorway. Headlight carves a new path for Della Mae, featuring original songs by the band and collaborations with other writers, including Mark Erelli, Maya de Vitry, Tony Kamel and Melody Walker. Produced by Dan Knobler, the album marks a time of honesty and courage in our culture with songs that celebrate strong women and stand together as a call to action to continue to do the work of change.

DJ Krush – Ki-Oku Memorial Release for the 3rd Anniversary of Toshinori Kondo [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Diggers Factory)

Collaborative project between Japanese jazz trumpeter Toshinori Kondo and Japanese hip-hop producer DJ Krush.

Dolan – The Wound Is Not The Body LP (Four Finger Distro)

In the aftermath of an emergency spine surgery that radically altered his perspective and body, the underground emcee and poet known as B. Dolan emerges after a four-year hiatus from touring and releasing LPs with a new collection of songs, a new stage show, and a harrowing new story to tell. The Wound is Not The Body finds Dolan’s bold and confessional lyrics winding through nine new rap songs littered with strange characters, autobiographical thoughts on hip-hop, living and aging, and a newly sharpened resolve.

Kenny Dorham & Jackie McLean – Inta Somethin’ [Reissue/1961] LP (Blue Note)

This spirited 1961 live date for Pacific Jazz captured Kenny Dorham leading a quintet with Jackie McLean, Walter Bishop Jr., Leroy Vinnegar, and Art Taylor at The Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. The band is firing on all cylinders throughout this set featuring four standards bookended by two Dorham originals.

Dwarves & Ralph Champagne – Dwarves & Ralph Champagne 7” (Rad Girlfriend)

The Dwarves are back with a follow up split 7″ to their new “Concept Album”. This time sharing a sultry slab of wax with the one and only Ralph Champagne, alter ego of rock and roll legend, frontman Blag Dahlia.

Ekko Astral – Pink Balloons LP+MP3/Cassette (Topshelf)

Limited blue and pink color vinyl pressing. Includes poster. The debut long player from Washington, DC-based Ekko Astral is a complex mesh of bubblegum noise punk and no-wave art rock that holds an elastic space for the knotty, tangled horrors of living in the imperial core. Their songs thrash with intense, necessary defiance against codified gender-based violence, their distortion and sibilance a direct response to the dangers outside our front doors.

The Feeling – San Vito LP (Little World)

Indie store exclusive blue colorway. San Vito is the new album from the Ivor Novello award-winning and multi-platinum selling UK indie-pop band The Feeling. The album was written and recorded in Southern Italy and saw the band decamp there to self-produce the record as a band together. What began as a short writing trip, turned into a full album project with the Italian sun, food, and culture seeping through into the sounds on the record. The band brought in local brass, strings, and pizzica / tarantella percussion players – the result being very much an album by The Feeling but with a subtle Salento flavor mixed-in.

Adam Forkelid – Forkelid: Turning Point LP (Prophone)

Recorded in just one day this music tries to catch an emotion that was fleeting in the air. It came about both with ease and through struggle. At the end we’re left with fragments of all the feelings, thoughts, and Life changes. Feelings change. Music changes. Sometimes, you reach a turning point of some kind. Whenever this happens, the story of your life depends on where you begin and end the chapters. Are things changing for the better or for the worse, or both, or neither? We might not know until we see everything in retrospect, and even then, we might not be quite sure. But in the end, these turning points define our stories. Recorded in just one day this music tries to catch an emotion that was fleeting in the air. It came about both with ease and through struggle. At the end we’re left with fragments of all the feelings, thoughts, and experiences it’s given us, and after a while it becomes a memory.

The Four Tops – Still Waters Run Deep [Reissue/1970] LP (Motown)

Still Waters Run Deep was released on Motown Records in March 1970 and features the Top 30 hits, “Still Water (Love),” co-written by Smokey Robinson and their cover of “It’s All in the Game.” Produced by Frank Wilson, the album remained in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for 42 weeks, peaking at #21.

French Cassettes – Benzene LP (Tender Loving Empire)

The title of French Cassettes’ new album is not an allusion to the dangerous fossil fuel byproduct, nor is it a nod to the anti-anxiety drug Benzos. As a child, Scott Huerta’s birth name-Lorenzo-transformed into Wren, then Renzo. Before long, he was Renzo Benzo. By the age of four, the family had largely settled on Benz, which is what they still call him today. Benzene, Huerta’s own abstraction, was chosen on a whim. “I wish I had a better explanation,” he admits. “I guess I should have Googled it first.”

Good Looks – Lived Here For A While LP (Keeled Scales)

Good Looks write kindhearted and cathartic rock songs about the persistence required to make it through hard times. In April 2022, the Austin, Texas quartet released their critically acclaimed debut Bummer Year. Immediately after their triumphant hometown record release show, lead guitarist Jake Ames was hit by a car crossing the street, fracturing his skull and tailbone. Thankfully, Ames made a full recovery. The traumatic accident strengthened the bond that built their electric new album, Lived Here For A While. It’s fearlessly direct music that captures the full-throated intensity of their galvanizing live show.

Charlie Haden – The Golden Number [Reissue/1977] LP (Verve)

In this collection of bass-led duets, Charlie Haden enlists Don Cherry (trumpet/flute), Archie Shepp (tenor), Hampton Hawes (piano) and a trumpet playing Ornette Coleman on the four tracks. Hawes’ playing on the Ornette-penned “Turnaround” is the clear straight-ahead highlight of this generally exploratory album.

Head Shoppe – Head Shoppe LP (Meadows Heavy)

First record from Head Shoppe aka Eric Von Harding, previously of Eagle Winged Palace. Instrumental psychedelic western sci-fi soundscapes. Classical guitar leads each piece of music, while Moog and Arp Synthesizers flow together with Rhodes and organs while feeding back tape delays glue it all together. Produced by Kenneth James Gibson (Kompakt) at his Meadows Heavy Recorders studio in the mountains of Idyllwild, CA.

HoneyLuv – This Is My Life LP (Nothing Else Matters)

Crowned Radio 1’s Future Star of 2023, Roland Clark aka HoneyLuv has taken the dance scene by storm in recent years with support from Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers, Nicole Moudaber, Kevin Saunderson, Maya Jane Coles, Loco Dice, Idris Elba and more, with releases signed to Black Book, Insomniac, Tuskegee, Three Six Zero and more. On the other hand, Roland has worked and co-produced music with many of the greats, including Fatboy Slim, Mark Knight, Todd Terry, and Bob Sinclair, with his vocals considered the ‘voice of house’ and one of the rare few that can bring you an electrifying DJ set while getting on the mic and giving you a performance unlike no other.

John Lee Hooker – Burning Hell [Reissue/1964] LP (Craft Recordings)

Burning Hell was recorded in 1959 in Detroit, but the album wasn’t released until 1964. Even then, it was only available in the UK. This 180gm vinyl pressing marks the first official single LP worldwide release the album has seen. Pressed at QRP in partnership with Acoustic Sounds, the album features John Lee Hooker solo as he plays originals and classics. AllMusic states that, on this album, “Hooker shows himself to be an excellent interpreter who could have held his own with Delta bluesmen of any era.”

Shin Joong Hyun – Beautiful Rivers & Mountains: Psychedelic Rock Sound 1958-74 LP (Light In The Attic)

Black w/ blue colorway. “…as important to Korean rock in 1970-75 as Phil Spector had been to America’s pop scene a decade earlier, and every bit as busy.” – Mojo

Shin Joong Hyun – From Where To Where: 1970-79 LP (Light In The Attic)

Yellow colorway. Shin Joong Hyun’s tale is personal, spiritual, and deep, not only reflecting the full spectrum of human emotions but also reverberating with echoes of sound, some beautiful and life-giving, others restless and ungovernable. These career-spanning anthologies gather Shin’s work as a guitarist, songwriter, producer and arranger of mind-altering experimental pop, acid-folk, and extended psych-funk jams. A musical trip existing somewhere between Motown, Hendrix, and the Velvet Underground.

Israel Vibration – Strength Of My Life [Reissue/1988] LP (Real Gone Music)

One of the best reggae albums of the ’80s and one of the real highlights in the Real Authentic Sound label catalog finally gets an LP reissue.

Sarah Jarosz – Undercurrent [Reissue/2016] LP (Sugarhill)

Metallic silver w/ white swirl colorway. On Sarah Jarosz’s fourth album, Undercurrent, the impact of being a full-time artist living in New York City is palpable. A gifted instrumentalist, singularly expressive vocalist and songwriter of rare insight, Undercurrent captures the process of personal evolution and discovery as well as the inspirational nature of change.

The JD Pinkus Blunderbuss – Grow A Pear LP (Joyful Services)

“A ‘Pear’ of albums on one vinyl LP… a combo of heavy psychedelia, drum and bass grooves, bouncy boogie, catchy tunes and sprinkles of tastee horns, keys and strings thrown in… kinda like a thumb over the genre-hose nozzle, something for everyone and nothing for someone… guaranteed!” – JD Pinkus

K.C. And The Sunshine Band – Now Playing LP (BMG)

10 disco and funk hits on clear vinyl.

Logan Ledger – Golden State LP (Rounder)

Limited misty morning marble color vinyl pressing. Golden State, the second full-length from singer/songwriter Logan Ledger, marks a stylistic departure from the timeless country noir of Ledger’s critically lauded debut. This time around, Ledger worked with producer Shooter Jennings, dreaming up a lush and spirited sound partly inspired by the California country-rock scene of the late-’60s and early-’70s. The result is a sublime setting for Ledger’s layered meditations on loss and despair and the search for transcendence.

Junior Marvin – Happy Family LP (Flatiron Recordings)

Tricolor vinyl (red, gold, green). Junior Marvin is widely recognized as an all-time great reggae musician and musical director and guitarist of Bob Marley’s iconic band, The Wailers. Junior’s new album, Happy Family, coincided with the theatrical release of One Love, the Bob Marley Paramount biopic feature. In the film, the role of Junior is played by his real-life son, Davo, who is also a musical artist.

Malphino – Visit Malphino LP (Lex)

Malphino is an outer-national, mystical band from an imagined tropical island that has dreamt up a cinematic score and audio backdrop to their tropical idyll. A promised land of hypnotic cumbia rhythms, subtle digital warbling, accordion textures, voodoo haze, and woodblock charm awaits the off-piste explorer willing to step through the arch and Visit Malphino, the debut album from this London-based collective of diaspora musicians and visual artists. Their debut album Visit Malphino dives deep into the island’s mythology. It’s a 17-track epic that provides the soundboard to years of imaginative cultivation.

Mike Martt – Tomorrow Shines Bright LP (Org Music)

Tomorrow Shines Bright is the sole album from Mike Martt, originally released in 2003. Martt, a singer/songwriter and guitarist, was a respected stalwart in the Southern California music scene who spent time in groups like Tex & The Horseheads, The Gun Club, Funeral, T.S.O.L., The Low & Sweet Orchestra, and Thelonious Monster. The solo effort features contributions from Zander Schloss and Benmont Tench, among others. This limited pressing marks the first ever vinyl release of the album, in tribute to Martt after his tragic passing in November 2023.

Matthew And The Atlas – Many Times LP (Communion)

Eco yellow colorway. On his latest record, Matt travelled to the famous Rockfield Studios, recording 11 tracks, live to tape over just a few days. Here worked with Kev Jones with an aim to capture the true magic that is Matt’s vocal and song-writing, and the enchanting auditory treat that just one man and a guitar can produce.

John R Miller – Heat Comes Down LP (Rounder)

2023 release. John R. Miller’s Heat Comes Down finds him teaming up with producers Andrija Tokic and John James Tourville (Alabama Shakes and Sunny War). With its understated but gorgeously detailed convergence of country and folk-rock, Heat Comes Down hits with a potent impact despite its exquisite intricacy. Miller says, “My hope is that there’s some universality in there, and that people find comfort in knowing that someone else feels the same way they do.”

The Murlocs – Young Blindness [Reissue/2016] LP (ATO)

The Murlocs – Live At The Teragram Ballroom [Reissue/2016] LP (ATO)

Red w/ yellow & green and green splatter (respectively) vinyl pressings. Young Blindness followed The Murlocs’ 2014 debut album, Loopholes, and built upon a foundation of distorted licks and melodic intuition. The hearty compositions are emboldened by the distinct vocal tremolo of singer Ambrose Kenny-Smith. Lyrically, themes of young paranoia and self-doubt are viewed through a lens of experience, exploring the blurred meeting point with an air of blues-borne world-weariness. The first live release from The Murlocs, Live At The Teragram Ballroom is a career-spanning 22-song set recorded at The Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles. The show capped off a busy 2022 for the Melbourne-based band, which saw the release of their 6th album, Rapscallion, as well as a performance at Red Rocks (supporting King Gizzard, with whom the band shares two members) and their biggest U.S. headlining tour to date.

Mustard Plug – Pray For Mojo [Reissue/1999] LP (Hopeless)

Released in 1999, the twelve upbeat tracks on Pray For Mojo, were produced by punk legends Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton of the Descendants and All. For the 25th Anniversary Mustard Plug adds their surprise radio hit, an upbeat-singalong rendition of “The Freshman” written by fellow Grand Rapids band Verve Pipe. Mustard Plug’s ska is infused with enough punk to keep you skankin’ all night long.

Stina Nodenstam – This Is Stina Nordenstam [Reissue/2001] LP (Real Gone Music)

Clear vinyl pressing. Albums don’t get much more intimate than the ones made by Stina Nordenstam. The Swedish singer layers her delicate voice over minimal, ambient soundscapes, and her lyrics are impressionistic, personal, and poetic. It’s like you’re swimming in her stream of consciousness, which is a pretty nice place to be, especially on this 2001 album, which presents Stina at her dreamiest and poppiest.

Orebolo – The Chateau CD/LP (No Coincidence)

Orebolo (or-RAY-beh-low) is an acoustic trio featuring Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, guitar), and Jeff Arevalo (upright bass). The band, comprised of members of the emergent indie rock group Goose, has built a faithful following nationwide, performing an eclectic mix of originals and covers. With their debut studio album, The Chateau, the trio finds comfort in exploring Goose’s deep catalog acoustically – a feeling they hope to translate to those listening at home.

Otep – Hydra [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)

Apple red colorway. Otep’s sixth studio album, Hydra, is a concept record based on a novel by frontwoman Otep Shamaya, titled None Shall Sleep. Originally released in 2013, Hydra reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart and features the fearsome single, “Apex Predator.” Canadian entertainment site Exclaim! asserted, “the record is the sonic equivalent of an art installation.”

Jeff Parkhurst – Dark And Deep LP (Green Monkey)

Dark And Deep is Olympian Jeff Parkhurst’s solo debut, 12 years in the making. Jeff is first a highly skilled drummer, but here he makes his first public foray as a singer, a multi-instrumentalist and most importantly, a songwriter, with nine quite varied songs that range from jazzy spoken word to thumping rock.

The Pretenders – Learning To Crawl [Reissue/1984] LP (Rhino)

Celebrating the album’s 40th anniversary, this reissue is true to the original 1984 release with the artwork and tracklisting remaining the same. This pressing of Learning To Crawl features 2018 remastered audio by the album’s original producer, Chris Thomas, on vinyl for the first time. – Learning To Crawl is Pretenders’ third album, released after a band hiatus which saw in this time the sad passing of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon before recording started. It sees an assortment of guitar and bass players on the record before Robbie McIntosh and Malcolm Foster joined Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers making the band a four piece.

Chris Rea – Stony Road [Reissue/2002] 2xLP (earMUSIC)

Embark on a sonic journey with the first-ever vinyl reissue of Chris Rea’s album Stony Road. Originally unveiled in 2002, this timeless album has been impeccably remastered to grace the vinyl format for the very first time, promising an enchanting encounter for audiophiles and collectors. Stony Road is a melodic tapestry woven with Rea’s distinctive gravelly vocals and soulful guitar riffs, creating an immersive experience for every listener. The album is a harmonious blend of blues, rock, and folk influences, reflecting Rea’s eclectic musical palette.

Smokey Robinson – Smokey [Reissue/1973] LP (Motown)

Blue colorway. Smokey Robinson’s debut solo album, Smokey, was released in June 1973 by Tamla Records and features the singles, “Sweet Harmony”, which was a tribute to his former singing partners, “Baby Come Close”, and “Just My Soul Responding”.

Rockpile – Seconds Of Pleasure [Reissue/1980] LP (Yep Roc)

Limited yellow color vinyl pressing. Rockpile was a short-lived yet highly influential quartet, composed of Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. Though Rockpile played together throughout the 1970s, the original 1980 release of Seconds Of Pleasure was the only time the band was able to capture their magic on tape. Meshing the sounds of pub rock, power pop and rockabilly all through a blossoming new wave lens, Rockpile were renowned for their blistering live performances, which were brought to national attention on tours supporting Blondie, Bad Company, Van Morrison, and Elvis Costello.

The Salsoul Orchestra – Anthology II 2xLP (Salsoul)

Founded by composer and percussionist Vincent Montana Jr., Salsoul Orchestra was a big band with a twist: they played disco. Active from 1974 to the early 1980s, they served as the backing band for several vocalists on Salsoul Records and recorded their own material, which included eleven LPs of hard-hitting Philly soul, Latin percussion, and funk. Featuring up to 50 members, the orchestra helped shape the sound of an era. Flamboyant string arrangements, funked-up guitars, and cheeky vocals, topped by an unfaltering horn section, made for memorable hits.

Sampa The Great – As Above, So Below LP (Loma Vista)

Purple colorway. 2023 release. Having started her professional career outside of her home of Zambia, Sampa the Great returned at the beginning of the pandemic to Africa. As Above So Below is the result of this return to her roots, embracing the sounds and themes of her origins. Sampa has reconnected with a different side of herself, one closer to the younger artistry that was nourished growing up. Now, in an age of authenticity, meet a 360 Sampa, a higher version of herself. No mask on, or role to play.

Sister Sledge – Now Playing LP (Rhino)

Experience a blend of disco grooves and soulful melodies in this Sister Sledge Now Playing. Featuring their signature hit single “We Are Family”, and the timeless classics “He’s the Greatest Dancer”, and “Lost In Music”, this album is a timeless celebration of Sister Sledge’s vibrant and diverse sound.

Slightly Stoopid – Everything You Need [Reissue/2003] LP (Surfdog)

Limited orange and yellow color vinyl pressing. Everything You Need is the third album by Slightly Stoopid, originally released in 2003. – “Built on a bedrock of nasty, oceanic slabs of dubby bass, meditative vocal harmonies, rock-steady guitar licks and tightly syncopated percussive rhythms, Slightly Stoopid illustrates a case study in underground success, steeped in years of hard touring, an improvisational business model, and a creative process that continues to unwind and push the envelope of a new jam-based genre the band helped to create.

Skegss – Rehearsal LP (Loma Vista)

Limited vinyl LP pressing with alternate cover. Rehearsal is the second studio album by Australian surf music and garage rock band Skegss, released on March 26, 2021. The album debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Lonnie Liston-Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – Astral Traveling [Reissue/1973] LP (Real Gone Music)

Lonnie Liston-Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – Cosmic Funk [Reissue/1974] LP (Real Gone Music)

New colorways (clear yellow and coke bottle clear, respectively). Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes’ groundbreaking albums for the Flying Dutchman label don’t get the attention from jazz fans that they should. In fact, among the many distinguished alumni of Miles Davis’ fusion bands, keyboardist Smith and his cohorts arguably ran with Davis’ stylistic breakthrough the farthest. In five albums stretching over four years, Smith and The Cosmic Echoes stretched the fusion aesthetic to embrace post-bop modal and spiritual jazz, funk, rock, pop, and even the smooth jazz, quiet storm, and crossover genres.

Smoking Popes – Born To Quit [Reissue/1994] LP (Real Gone Music)

Limited pink and white sunburn color vinyl pressing. You remember this 1994 album… it’s the one with the hit song “Need You Around,” which was “around” pretty much everywhere back then, including in the movie Clueless (for that matter, “Lucky Day” from this album was in Tommy Boy, “Mrs. You & Me” was in Angus, and “Gotta Know Right Now” in Boys). That led to the Popes opening for acts like Morrissey, whose voice lead singer and songwriter Josh Caterer-one of three Caterer brothers in the band-rather echoes (Moz himself proclaimed this album “extraordinary, the most lovable thing I’d heard in years”). If you like power pop hooks with heart, look no further.

Spill Gold – Zaza LP (Teenage Menopause)

The duo Spill Gold blends drums, synths and vocals into a sonic journey that invites listeners to explore realms of energy exchange. Nina de Jong on drums and Rosa Ronsdorf on vocals and synths joined forces in a collaboration that transcends genres. The music of Spill Gold serves as a woven tapestry of (unheard) voices, inviting you to lean in. The result is a fusion of psychedelic echoes, danceable rhythms, and intricate percussive layers. Zaza is a result of a need for hope that longs for an anti-anthropocentric and non-patriarchal world.

Colin Stetson – All This I Do For The Glory [Reissue/2017] LP (52HZ)

Blue colorway. With this, his (then) first solo outing since 2013’s To See More Light, Colin Stetson ventures into territory both familiar and strange. Here still, is the dogmatically stripped down approach to performance and capture (all songs recorded live with no overdubs or loops) but there is an immediacy to the album that belies a more invasive and thorough miking of the various instruments being utilized and a seeming influence drawn from the early nineties electronica of artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre, evident in the more pointed role played by the instruments’ many percussive elements. There are ancestries, motivic and timbral, woven through these six songs that plainly anchor them within the shared universe of his Trilogy, though the overall experience is one of extreme intimacy, the sounds and imagery more tangible and immersive than previous offerings.

Thrown – Extended Pain [Reissue/2022] LP (Arising Empire)

Orange colorway. Presenting lyrics filled with anger and self-hatred, the Swedish four-piece effectively blends intense and crushing guitars with catchy yet aggressive vocal rhythms. Without warning Thrown aims to become prominent with their modern take on heavy music.

TOPS – Picture You Staring [Reissue/2014] LP (Arbutus)

10^th anniversary blue colorway with multi-page photo zine and huge party poster. Tops is a four-piece band from Montreal, equal parts girls and guys, delivering a raw punk take on AM studio pop. Picture You Staring is a lush array of timelessly crafted songs. Singer Jane Penny gives a new voice to the silent girl at the edge of the circle, disillusioned but honest and unpretentious, a tone complemented by David Carriere’s seamless guitar playing and the measured drumming of Riley Fleck. Tops’ subtle arrangements are delivered with a cool restraint that blend with the individuality and self-assured desire of their female lead. Picture You Staring gathers strength through intimacy.

The Tourist – Memory Morning LP (Monday)

Fifth album from the UK Grammy Award-Winning electronic artist, Tourist (aka William Phillips). The project will come as a delightful surprise after the deeply emotional album Inside Out last year.

Tina Turner – Simply The Best [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)

Blue colorway. Simply The Best stands as a premier anthology, featuring an 18-song lineup of Tina Turner’s most cherished hits. Highlight tracks such as “The Best”, “What’s Love Got To Do With It”, “I Don’t Wanna Lose You”, “Steamy Windows”, and “Private Dancer” showcase the breadth of Turner’s iconic career.

UF – Unknown Fate LP (Kick To Kill)

White vinyl. Unknown Fate is the debut release from UF – the collaborative live project between German experimental techno artist OAKE and British producer and live performer Samuel Kerridge. Self-described as the ‘power metal techno’ duo, the project was initially born from an Atonal commission. Now, OAKE & Kerridge present two EPs Unknown and Fate, culminating in nine tracks of unadulterated sonic warfare for their LP release.

Underoath – Erase Me [Reissue/2018] 6×7” (Fearless)

The audacity to profess your true self is a virtue. Moreover, the transparency to outwardly proclaim a significant shift in the sentiment you once held so sacred is both courageous and compelling. Such is the theme that underlines the songs on Erase Me, Underoath’s eighth studio album, and first in a decade with their original line-up. The box set includes six acid-green 7” singles at 45rpm.

Upsammy – Germ In A Population Of Buildings LP (Pan)

On her sophomore album Germ In A Population Of Buildings, upsammy moves through her surroundings with the curiosity of a place-bending landscape architect. The album is rooted in her interest for ambiguous environments in constant shift, and the feeling of discovering strange patterns in different ecosystems. Often, the Amsterdam-based artist finds herself zooming in and out beyond a place’s most recognizable surface features to inhabit the microscopic and gigantic. Gathering field recordings and evocative environmental sounds, she shapes this source material into vibrating electro-acoustic rhythms and unstable, psychedelic textures.

Vacations – No Place Like Home LP (Nettwerk)

Home is not always a literal place. Sometimes, “home” represents inner peace and simply learning to hold space for yourself. This is where Vacations lead singer and guitarist Campbell Burns has arrived as he and bandmates Jake Johnson, Nate Delizzotti, and Joseph Van Lier release their third LP, No Place Like Home. “I had this loose concept of No Place Like Home being an Americana-influenced album,” Campbell says of the album’s sonic inspirations. “I wanted to incorporate more pianos, acoustic guitars, Nashville tuning, and country-inspired lap steel, but then also bringing in drum machines and synths and finding a mix between the two.” Produced by Campbell and John Velasquez (Zella Day, Broods), No Place Like Home comprises 10 shimmering tracks brimming with indie-pop hooks and just a touch of bittersweet sensitivity.

Various Artists [Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy] – Balearic Breakfast Vol. 3 2xLP (Heavenly)

A relentlessly curious DJ, producer, radio presenter, curator, remixer, audiophile and host, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy is unquestionably dance music’s renaissance woman. This third instalment of her hugely acclaimed compilation series is another sunshine-soaked homage to that most amorphous of aural outposts – Balearic. Here there are no rules, just an ever-shifting musical essence that echoes Jose Padilla’s assertion that Balearic is not a sound, but rather a way of life, a spirit. Most of these tracks have never been available on vinyl before, while others are long out of print.

Various Artists – In The Beginning There Was Rhythm [Reissue/2001] 2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)

First released in 2001, this album is fully remastered, remade and presented once more in its entirety and features A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, The Human League, The Pop Group, Gang of Four, The Slits, 23 Skidoo and This Heat.

Tom Verlaine – Warm And Cool [Reissue/1992] LP (Real Gone Music)

Limited pink colorway. Tom Verlain’s (Television) self-taught, jazz-influenced style, largely devoid of effects, and vibrato tone (oh, that tone) makes any Verlaine solo unmistakably a Verlaine solo. Simultaneously avant-garde and familiar-sounding, Warm And Cool is as contemporary and forward-thinking as any music coming out today, but-as the new liner notes by Verlaine’s life partner Jutta Koether point out-the album fits into a larger modern art and philosophical context.

Tashi Wada – What Is Not Strange? LP (RVNG Int’l)

What Is Not Strange? is the first full-length album by Los Angeles-based composer Tashi Wada in over five years, comprising his most far-reaching and impassioned music to date. Written and recorded over a period that encompassed the death of his father and the birth of his daughter, the album sees Wada reflecting inward to explore broad narratives-being alive, mortality, finding one’s place in the world-through new modes of ecstatic, song-based expression. While the denser forms, stark contrasts, and overt surreality may carry a different weight than Wada’s earlier work, which elicited perceptual effects with minimal means, the heart of What Is Not Strange? is still in experimentation and unforeseen outcomes.

Warlord – Free Spirit Soar LP (High Roller)

“Think Wytch Hazel meets Jethro Tull meets Atlantean Kodex and you have a sense of what to expect.” – Angry Metal Guy [Multiple colorways are available.]

Kow Wetzel – Noise Complaint LP (Sony Legacy)

Noise Complaint is the first full length album from genre-bending, Texas country-rocker, Koe Wetzel. It features fan favorites, “Something To Talk About”, “February 28th, 2016,” and “Love (feat. Parker McCollum)”.

Bella White – Among Other Things LP (Rounder)

Orange w/ black and brown colorway. 2023 release from singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Bella White. The album was produced by Jonathan Wilson and features Buck Meek of Big Thief on guitar.

Cassettes:

Bloomsday – Heart Of The Artichoke (Bayonet)

The way Bloomsday’s Iris James Garrison writes songs feels like somewhere between a mirror and a memory. Spacious, full-bodied folk songs, they are an ode to things that are good no matter how small. Bloomsday’s new record, Heart Of The Artichoke, is a relic of unfettered creativity and community.

Charli XCX – Brat (Atlantic)

Ekko Astral – Pink Balloons (Topshelf)

The debut long player from Washington, DC-based Ekko Astral is a complex mesh of bubblegum noise punk and no-wave art rock that holds an elastic space for the knotty, tangled horrors of living in the imperial core. Their songs thrash with intense, necessary defiance against codified gender-based violence, their distortion and sibilance a direct response to the dangers outside our front doors.

Pedro The Lion – Santa Cruz (Polyvinyl)

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