December/January Program Titles Released This Week:
Jon Bellion – Glory Sound Prep CD (Capitol)
After disappearing for two years, Bellion’s sophomore album Glory Sound Prep does not disappoint. The record features a seamless blend of hip-hop, rap, pop, a New Orleans jazz band, and completely random background sounds of clinking, beeping and children yelling to complete Bellion’s well-known signature style. When listening, it’s impossible to ignore the musical talent of a writer, singer and producer such as Bellion. The synth, trumpets and guitars work together to create beautiful transitions between genres. Throughout the record, Bellion consistently proves his lyrics are worth every goosebump, every “AHA!” moment, and demand to be heard as what they really are: art. With lyrics such as “If they don’t feel your thoughts, start dreaming in braille”, from the track “Adult Swim”, or the heartbreaking “When she meets God, He’ll tell her all about it/When my mother was a mother to her mom” from the eight-minute-long “Mah’s Joint”, Bellion easily weaves a large range of topics into GSP.
Big Brother & The Holding Company – Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills 2xCD/2xLP+MP3 (Columbia/Legacy)
Columbia/Legacy Recordings celebrates the 50th anniversary of Big Brother & The Holding Company’s major label debut with the premiere release of Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills. Issued at long last under its original title (nixed by the label as too controversial a half century ago), Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills restores the band’s vision and intent in an essential new collection of 16 rare performances including 12 previously unreleased demos and outtakes from the mythic 1968 sessions that generated Big Brother & The Holding Company’s Cheap Thrills, the breakout album that introduced Janis Joplin to the world. It also includes liner notes penned especially for this commemorative release by Jefferson Airplane frontwoman Grace Slick and Big Brother & The Holding Company drummer David Getz. Originally released in August 1968, Cheap Thrills was an out-of-the-box smash, a No. 1 album that – building on the heat she’d generated at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival – established Janis as rock’s foremost primordial psychedelic soul singer, a musical archetype whose influence has never waned.
Distant Cousins – Next Of Kin CD (Julian)
L.A.-based folk-pop trio Distant Cousins, a multi-layered collaboration of three songwriters/producers/performers (cousin Ami, cousin Dov, and cousin Duvid) offers up a blend of music that, like the band name, suggests both deep connections and a wide variety of genres. In the studio, the cousins share various roles as producers, writers and musicians; at their live shows, however, roles are more delineated. Ami sings, plays bass, and handles looping responsibilities, Dov sings, plays drums, and acoustic guitar, and Duvid sings and is the maestro of a myriad of stringed instruments. Onstage, the band also augments it sound with “honorary cousins” as guest musicians. The 11 tracks on Next Of Kin traverse folk-pop, anthemic pop, heartland pop-rock, and bluesy hues. Select standout cuts include “Lights On”, “Running”, “In My Blood”, and “Mighty Love”. Stanky James Brown grooves, swampy New Orleans second line funk, flourishes imbue “Lights On”, a be-true-to-yourself banger. Subtle layers of meaning provoke thought on the stirring sing-along “Running”. Cultural pride swells on the tender slow burner “In My Blood”, and the rousing “Mighty Love” is a stark reminder to hold your next of kin close to protect them in these volatile times.
Reverend Horton Heat – Whole New Life CD/LP (Victory)
Jim Heath and longtime confidant and slap-bass general Jimbo Wallace have polished up their twelfth release, Whole New Life, which Heath calls “the most positive material I have ever written. It focuses heavily on rock and roll but there is a human interest parallel – songs about growing up poor, vices, marriage, having children and walking the rapturous streets of America.” Call it a new twist on an old sound, Whole New Life was recorded between Fun Guy Studios and Modern Electric in the band’s hometown of Dallas. The 11-track rumination features new drummer Arjuna ‘RJ’ Contreras. The Texas based jazz pupil came to the band’s attention from a friend’s reference in the summer of 2017 and brought a whole new backbeat to the legendary rockabilly administration. After clicking with Contreras, Heath hired a new pianist in 2018, Matt Jordan, to flesh out the sound with the pomp and power of Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. “I love playing with these guys, it truly is a whole new band, so the title fits perfectly,” Heath adds. “Whole New Life brought out something in me where I am screaming more and making more throaty sounds. It’s got some Louisiana feel to it, a bit of gruff and some Roy Orbison style in it.” [Indie-store exclusive vinyl pressing also available.]
Daniel Romano – Finally Free CD/LP (New West)
Finally Free marks Daniel Romano’s eighth long playing album in the last eight years. He has had what understatedly would be considered a prolific output of incredibly entrancing, poignant and creative records in this span of time. He has been called a shapeshifter, contrived, a chameleon, a Charlatan, the best living songwriter, an asshole and a genius. His last record, Modern Pressure received outstandingly high acclaim and praise from every notable publication out there and was acknowledged by most reputable “for-profit-prize-corporations” as well as a plethora of voguish “music-as-competitive-sport” year-end lists. Despite being the bronze placeholder in most of these dogfights, he is most often noted as a person of astounding influence on all of his musically economic successors. Finally Free could stand alone as being pivotal if it were only its profound and breathtaking prose on paper. Writing now like an agnostic Whitman in his prime, Romano explores and uncovers new language and meaning for old sentiments grown tired. [Indie-store exclusive split color transparent red & green colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Trippie Redd – Life’s A Trip CD/LP (10K Projects)
Following a relentless string of EPs and mixtapes, breakout 19-year old multi-platinum Ohio rapper/singer Trippie Redd offers up his official full-length debut album, Life’s A Trip which includes “Dark Knight Dummo,” featuring Travis Scott and produced by Honorable C.N.O.T.E and “Taking A Walk” produced by Scott Storch/Avendon. Life’s A Trip is themed around the inevitability of death and inspired by the loss of his peers XXXTentacion and Lil Peep. “Life’s A Trip is a triumph, because it paints Trippie’s painful past as something visceral and real to listeners. On his debut, the Canton rapper proves the shadows and ghosts looming over his career only needed to be eclipsed by proving he is a relatable man behind the scars.” – XXL [Limited red & yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Jeff Tweedy – Warm CD/LP (dBpm)
Jeff Tweedy presents, Warm, an 11-track solo album of all new material, recorded at Chicago’s now legendary studio, The Loft (with help from some of his usual collaborators – Spencer Tweedy, Glenn Kotche and Tom Schick). Warm follows the acoustic retrospective release, Together At Last (2017), and Wilco’s 2016 album, Schmilco. Tweedy describes lead single “Some Birds” as, “like a lot of songs on Warm, being a confrontation between self and shadow self simultaneously feeling I’m to blame and not to blame, present and gone, and utterly confused, but determined to hold someone accountable.” From the liner notes: “‘Warm’ is one of the most joyful, celebratory, infectious collections of songs I’ve heard in a long time. It’s intimate and yet vast and feels lovingly made, by actual people, in some particular place, and not inside a computer. As I was listening, I kept picturing a tight little cabin in the woods somewhere (the woods of Chicago?), under a big yellow moon, and four or five Jeffs in there, all playing different instruments, and Spencer on drums, and Susie and Sammy are there, too, and there’s a fire going, and a feeling of love and discovery and fondness in the smoky air. Also in there, I think, is the spirit of Jeff’s father, Bob Tweedy, who passed away in 2017.” – George Saunders
Wheeler Walker Jr. – WW III CD/LP (Pepper Hill)
Wheeler Walker Jr. embarks on his third album, appropriately named, WW III. Following up 2016’s Redneck Sh*t and 2017’s Ol’ Wheeler, the new 11-track collection marks the foul-mouthed trailblazer’s third collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell) and is ushered in by the rollicking singles “Save Some Titty Milk For Me” and “I Like Smoking Pot (A Lot).” “This new album is a departure for me,” Wheeler offers. “The record is about my recent marriage and newborn son…Country music has turned into a bunch of lame mainstream pop garbage. I’m here to save it. America owes me a thank you gift when this album is released.”
Neil Young – Songs For Judy CD (WB)
Recorded during Neil Young’s fabled November 1976 solo acoustic tour of the US, the archival 23-track live collection Songs For Judy includes performances of all-time classics like “Heart Of Gold”, “After The Gold Rush” and “The Needle And The Damage Done”, along with a number of rarer selections, including one song, “No One Seems To Know”, that has not appeared on any previous official release. “Campaigner”, recorded on November 22nd, 1976 at Boston’s Music Hall, serves as the album’s first “single”. Curated by director Cameron Crowe and producer/photographer Joel Bernstein, both of whom contribute to the fascinating liner notes, Songs For Judy marks the debut release from Young’s Reprise Records imprint, Shakey Pictures Records. “The tour had been so satisfying, and so different from all that rock would become in the ensuing years, something indelible was captured in our humble collection,” explains Crowe. “Listening to it today is a little like discovering postcards from home. It was a precious time in Neil Young’s journey, a breath of oxygen in between some of his biggest adventures.” [Vinyl edition due December 14.]
CDs + Vinyl:
The 9th Creation – Bubble Gum [Reissue/1975] CD/LP (Past Due)
The 9th Creation – Reaching For The Top [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (Past Due)
The 9th Creation – Superheroes [Reissue/1979] CD/LP (Past Due)
The 9th Creation – Love Crime [Reissue/1986] CD/LP (Past Due)
It is well known that talent never guarantees any success in the music industry. This sentence summarizes the story of The 9th Creation, one of the best soul, funk, disco and boogie band to make it out of Stockton, CA.
The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships CD/2xLP (Dirty Hit)
Singer Matty Healy on the new 15-track record to NME: “Our first three albums are the story of a person; it’s always kind of been my story. It spanned adolescence to maturity, success and trying to mediate the two, and the third one is where we are now.” He ambitiously adds to Uproxx: “If you look at third albums, [Radiohead’s] OK Computer or [The Smiths’] The Queen Is Dead, that’s what we need to do. I want a legacy. I want people to look back and think our records were the most important pop records that a band put out in this decade.” [A companion LP tentatively titled Notes On A Conditional Form will follow in 2019.]
The Art Institute Of Chicago – The Art Ensemble Of Chicago And Associated Ensembles 21xCD (ECM)
A box issued as the standard-bearers of Great Black Music prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Both The Art Ensemble of Chicago and ECM Records were founded in 1969, and there have been many shared experiences. This beautifully-designed box set incorporates a 300-page book reprising all original album covers, liner notes and poetry (by Joseph Jarman), as well as quotes from Art Ensemble members and the press, new texts by Craig Taborn, Vijay Iyer and George Lewis, a preface by Manfred Eicher, and an introduction by Steve Lake. Plus: many photographs (some previously unpublished), archival documents, and more.
Badfinger – Badfinger [Reissue/1974] CD (Real Gone Music)
Badfinger – Wish You Were Here Reissue/1974] CD (Real Gone Music)
Expanded CD reissues of Badfinger’s brilliant but ill-fated Warner Bros. albums, each featuring an unreleased song and session outtakes.
Bob Baldwin – Bob Baldwin Presents Abbey Road And The Beatles CD (BFD)
10 catchy Beatles tracks suitable for jazz piano with some stellar vocals from CeCe Peniston and Lori Williams, while other guests include Ragan Whiteside on flute Euge Groove on sax.
BillyBio – Feed The Fire CD/LP (AFM)
First solo release from Billy Graziadei of Biohazard and Powerflo. [Limited orange colored vinyl pressing also available.]
David Bowie – Glastonbury 2000 2xCD/2xCD+DVD/3xLP (Rhino)
This release documents Bowie’s legendary Sunday night headline performance on June 25th at the most famous festival on earth. The package includes the full 21 song greatest hits set and for the first time, a DVD of the entire show (only 30 minutes of which has ever been broadcast on TV) including the Glastonbury performance of “Heroes”, a highlight of the record-breaking David Bowie Is… exhibition and the only track that has been previously released.
Kate Bush – Remastered Part 2 11xCD (Rhino/Parlophone)
Kate Bush – Remastered In Vinyl III 6xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Kate Bush – Remastered In Vinyl IV 4xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Digitally remastered albums from Kate Bush’s esteemed catalog. Includes the albums Aerial (2005), Director’s Cut (2011), 50 Words For Snow (2011), Before The Dawn (Original Mastering, 2016, 11-CD set only) plus four compilations only available in this box: 12” Mixes, The Other Side 1, The Other Side 2, and In Others’ Words (a compilation of cover versions performed by Kate, 11-CD set only).
Alessia Cara – The Pains Of Growing CD (Def Jam)
New release from the Canadian vocalist and winner of the Best New Artist Grammy Award in January.
Cloquet – Cloquet CD (Doomtree)
The self-titled debut album from Cloquet, the dynamic duo of Doomtree producer Paper Tiger and vocalist J. Gundersen.
Death In June – Essence CD/LP (Soleilmoon)
“Echoes of the past ring with echoes of The Now. The War Chimes are over and the Slave Bells have been rung”: Neofolk group Death In June release their first album in eight years.
Death Ray Vision – Negative Mental Attitude CD (Bullet Tooth)
Sophomore album from the Massachusetts-based supergroup including members and former members of the bands Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Cannae and Overcast.
Def Leppard – The Story So Far – The Best Of CD/2xCD/2xLP+7” (Mercury)
Def Leppard’s greatest hits and songs from their illustrious career. [Single-CD is comprised of 11 tracks. Double-CD includes 35. 16-track180gm vinyl edition features the bonus 7” single “Personal Jesus” b/w “We All Need Christmas”.]
Neil Diamond – 50th Anniversary 6xCD (UMe/Capitol)
115 tracks including demos, rarities and 14 previously unreleased songs.
DJ Jazzy Jeff – M3 CD/2xLP (Playlist)
As a renowned DJ and producer, DJ Jazzy Jeff’s career spans decades, genres, and generations. While staying true to his b-boy roots with classic boom bap drums, Jeff infuses a myriad of sounds that have influenced his production work over the years. The result is a cohesive mix of hip-hop, R&B, funk, jazz and house.
Emigrate – A Million Degrees CD/LP (Spinefarm)
Emigrate, led by Rammstein guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe, release their third album.
Farai – Rebirth CD/LP (Big Dada)
Farai’s debut album – a collaborative project between London based vocalist Farai Bukowski-Bouquet and musician and producer TONE, documents a process of recovery. Rebirth weaves together South East London landmarks, the bare-bones ethos of post-punk, and the experience of being part of the African diaspora, continuing the themes of their 2017 debut EP, Kisswell.
FerreTT – In Through The Out Door CD/LP (Moribund)
“High energy, mammoth-fun, sex-fueled hard rock ‘n’ roll.”
Bryan Ferry And His Orchestra – Bitter-Sweet CD/LP (BMG Rights Management)
Bitter-Sweet further explores Ferry’s jazz influences, includes reinterpretations of Roxy Music cuts like “While My Heart Is Still Beating” and “Dance Away”. Ferry is also tinkering with some of his own solo songs, such as the title track, which Ferry’s refashioned as a sumptuous, smoky affair buoyed by melancholic horns.
Fossil Aerosol Mining Project – The Recounting Of Night Time CD (Afterdays Media/Helen Scarsdale Agency)
Mining the snippets of audio found from abandoned drive-in theaters, mangled VHS tapes, and discarded cassettes, Fossil Aerosol studiously pieces together empathic, haunted abstractions of their original source material. their cryptic sound collages address the continued ramifications of the inherent paranoia from the cold war dissonance of stark morality and nuclear apocalypse.
Foxwarren – Foxwarren CD/LP (ANTI-)
Foxwarren’s backstory reads like a page torn from the manual of rock & roll authenticity. They are siblings and childhood friends who formed a band in college. They went on to live as roommates and recorded an album in the basement of a rented house. Even the band’s namesake comes from the brothers (Avery and Darryl) Kissick’s family home. The band’s self-titled debut is subtle and thoughtful, it draws parallels to frontman Andy Shauf’s solo work while leaning on collaboration and looseness rather than Shauf’s meticulous arrangements. Where Shauf leaves space for orchestration, Foxwarren take time to ruminate on passages and themes. Propped up by warm driving rhythms and a familiar voice, and colored with soft electronics and coarse guitars, Foxwarren is a record that ultimately hinges on sincerity.
Franke & The Knockouts – Franke & The Knockouts The Complete Collection 3xCD (Friday Music)
In 1980 after writing music for other artists and recording his own solo work, as well as a member of the hard rock outfit Bull Angus, Franke Previte started a great new band to kick off the new decade with Franke & The Knockouts. Immediately scoring a huge hit single with “Sweetheart” from their debut smash 1980 LP Franke & The Knockouts, the band rode a very successful run for the rest of the year with several more hits and radio friendly songs. This expanded edition of that eponymous debut features 11 bonus rare demo and unreleased recordings from Franke’s personal archives ranging from the early ‘70s into the ‘90s, as well as a bonus CD featuring six live performances.
Ghostface Killah – Ghost Files CD/2xLP (X-Ray/Cleopatra)
Features a guest star line-up for the ages including fellow Wu-Tang members Raekwon, Cappadonna, and Killah Priest plus Snoop Dogg, E-40, KXNG Crooked, Benny The Butcher, Ras Kass, Planet Asia, and so many more. Production by Wu-Tang affiliate who has worked on albums by RZA and Sunz Of Man, Bronze Nazareth, as well as Diplomats associate and Purple City member Agallah.
GospelbeacH – Another Winter Alive CD/LP (Alive)
Another Winter Alive reflects on the GospelbeacH California rock and roll dream and pays homage to friend and founding member Neal Casal by covering his most well-known song “Freeway To The Canyon”. The album features five previously unreleased studio tracks recorded during the band’s sessions for last years Another Summer Of Love plus five live songs recorded in London during their California Fantasy tour, revisiting stripped down live versions of songs from their debut album Pacific Surf Line.
Beth Hart – Live At The Royal Albert Hall 2xCD/3xLP (Provogue)
Beth Hart live in front of a sold-out crowd at The Royal Albert Hall on May 4th, 2018. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
Hog Eyed Man – Old World Music Of The Southern Appalachians CD (Old Time Tiki Parlour)
A vibrant new CD of timeless traditional music from Athens, GA’s Hog-eyed Man, featuring 2016 Clifftop fiddle contest winner Jason Cade, innovative multi-instrumentalist Rob McMaken, and guest appearances by Tom Baker, Nancy & Charlie Hartness, and Art Rosenbaum.
Joji – Ballads 1 CD (88Rising Music)
Osaka, Japan-born singer and producer Joji is a multi-talented visionary; his songs, characterized by downtempo, melancholic themes and soulful vocals, layered over lush grimy textures, blend elements of trap, folk, electronic, and R&B.
Toby Keith – Should’ve Been A Cowboy [Reissue/1993] CD (Mercury Nashville)
Digitally remastered and expanded 25th Anniversary edition. The album that started it all for Toby Keith, his self-titled 1993 debut featuring four hit singles, is celebrated with a special anniversary release retitled Should’ve Been A Cowboy. The album has been remastered from the original analog tapes and includes a commemorative cover, liner notes from Keith and three rare tracks from Keith’s personal vault. [Vinyl edition due December 14.]
Tory Lanez – Love Me Now CD (Interscope)
Third studio album by Canadian rapper features guest appearances from Chris Brown, 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Trippie Redd, Lil Babyand Bryson Tiller, among others.
Leftöver Crack – The E-Sides And F-Sides CD/2xLP (Fat Wreck Chords)
A 30-track smorgasbord of B-sides and rarities spanning the NYC punk band’s entire career.
Sarah Longfield – Disparity CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
Guitar prodigy and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Longfield unveils the brilliant new album Disparity. It sees Longfield raise her virtuosic playing and unique tapping technique (adapted from piano-playing fundamentals) to astounding new heights. Her music defies all genre constriction while artfully melding complex melodies with incredible levels of guitar shred.
Louden Swain – Splitting The Seams CD (3 Car Wreckchords)
New acoustic release from the L.A.-based indie band.
Masego – Lady Lady CD/LP (Caroline)
Debut studio album by Jamaican-American singer. “His music is sophisticated, steeped in 1980s quiet-storm R&B with hints of smooth jazz along the fringes. Lady Lady is a grand coming-of-age record that displays the playful and reflective halves of Masego, illuminating his versatile nature with the promise of more to come.” – Pitchfork
Blake Mills – Look CD/LP (Verve)
Blake Mills is a guitarist, composer, and Grammy Award nominated producer. Look is a concentrated soundscape experience inspired by Japanese synth guitars from the 1970s. An exciting excursion from his previous singer-songwriter material, this release fits in line with similarly groundbreaking records such as Brian Eno’s Music For Airports.
Nachtmystium – Assassins – Black Metal Part 1 [Reissue/2008] CD/LP (Prophecy)
Nachtmystium – Resilient CDEP/12” (Prophecy)
Over the last two decades, American bands have been stretching the boundaries of black metal. One such band redefining the borders of the beloved (and severely protected) genre is Illinois’s Nachtmystium. An interesting study in the evolution of modern metal in the US, Nachtmystium blends multiple genre staples and a unique vision with the essential roots of black metal. [Limited white colored vinyl pressings also available.]
Gary Numan – Savage (Live At Brixton Academy) CD (BMG Rights Management)
2017 saw the release of Numan’s 21st album, Savage (Songs From A Broken World). Working once again with producer Ade Fenton, Numan used a post-apocalyptic Earth as the setting for the release, charting humanity’s struggle for survival and its inevitable downfall.
Nurse With Wound – NWW Play CHangez Les Blockeurs CD (Dirter Promotions)
In 1982 The New Blockaders self-released their debut LP Changez Les Blockeurs, an edition of only 100. Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) was the very first person to purchase/hear the album and subsequently distributed copies via United Dairies. The LP has since attained a somewhat mythical/legendary status and 2017 was the 35th anniversary of its original release. In celebration of this, The New Blockaders invited Stapleton to rework the original, which is now available as NWW Play Changez Les Blockeurs. Includes a bonus track not on the LP and new artwork by Babs Santini.
Dolly Parton – Dumplin’ CD (RCA)
Original soundtrack to the 2018 Netflix motion picture Dumplin’ – a musical comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Kristin Hahn. The soundtrack was composed and performed by country music legend Dolly Parton and features guest performances by Elle King, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Sia, Mavis Staples and Rhonda Vincent, among others.
Phish – The Baker’s Dozen Live At Madison Square Garden 3xCD/6xLP (Jemp)
In 2017, Phish performed The Baker’s Dozen, a milestone 13-show run at Madison Square Garden held over 17 nights. During the run, the band performed 26 unique sets featuring a grand total of 237 songs with not one repeated.
Pink Martini – Non Ouais! The French Songs Of Pink Martini CD (Heinz)
Non Ouais! includes some of this little orchestra’s biggest international hits, including “Sympathique” (Je ne veux pas travailler), nominated for Song of the Year in France. Featuring special appearances by French stars Georges Moustaki and Philippe Katerine.
Elvis Presley – ’68 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary Edition 5xCD+2xBlu-ray (Sony Legacy)
Elvis Presley – King In The Ring 2xLP (Sony Legacy)
The definitive chronicle of the now legendary NBC-TV show includes all the known audio recordings from RCA’s vault and all the videotaped performances. The CD + Blu-ray box set includes an 80-page book with a new, oral history on the special crafted from interviews with producer Steve Binder, recording engineer Bones Howe, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Priscilla Presley, Emmylou Harris, and Scotty Moore. The double-vinyl release King In The Ring features both of the electrifying, intimate sit-down sets from the special – available on vinyl for the first time.
Dennis Quaid & The Sharks – Out Of The Box CD (Omnivore)
Dennis Quaid & The Sharks origins can be traced to a night when Quaid went to see actor Harry Dean Stanton and his longtime band perform in Los Angeles. Quaid was invited to join the band onstage. At first reluctant, because of his decade-long layoff from music, Quaid finally acquiesced, and his performance planted a seed with Jamie James, guitar player in Stanton’s band. Soon after, James approached Quaid about starting a group of their own. Their debut album, Out Of The Box, features Dennis Quaid originals and songs by The Doors, Van Morrison & more.
Razika – Sånn kjennes verden ut CD/LP (Jansen)
Razika has been one of the more popular groups in Noway the last couple of years. Although the band sings in Norwegian, their music has gained International praise from NME, Village Voice, Pitchfork, Uncut, and The New York Times. New album Sånn kjennes verden ut is filled with massive synth riffs and catchy choruses.
Calum Scott – Only Human CD (Capitol)
Deluxe edition of the British vocalist’s 2018 debut including four bonus tracks.
Kodie Shane – Young Heartthrob CD (Epic)
Debut release from Atlanta upstart Kodie Shane. Outfitted with 15 tracks total, Young Heartthrob is minimal with the features, only producing two additional voices with TK Kravitz on the previously-released Flex On Me and Trippie Redd on Love & Drugz II after Kodie lent her vocals on A Love Letter To You 3 select Negative Energy. Behind the scenes, you’ll find production from the hands of Matty P, Wundagirl, Dallas Austin, OZ, Reske, and Mark Murille among others. [Vinyl edition due December 21.]
Supergrass – I Should Coco [Reissue/1995] CD (Echo Label Limited)
Supergrass – In It For The Money [Reissue/1997] CD (Echo Label Limited)
Supergrass – Road To Rouen [Reissue/2005] CD (Echo Label Limited)
Supergrass – Diamond Hoo Ha [Reissue/2008] CD (Echo Label Limited)
Supergrass are one of the most important bands to emerge during the 1990s Britpop scene. Formed in Oxford UK in 1993, they began as an indie group with a uniquely energetic sound and released their debut album ‘I Should Coco’ in 1995. The album’s fourth single, “Alright”, is a pop masterpiece and became a massive hit, catapulting the band to global success.
Twilight – Twilight/Monument To Time End [Reissue/2005/2010] 2xCD (Prophecy)
Twilight – Twilight [Reissue/2005] LP (Prophecy)
Twilight – Monument To Time End [Reissue/2010] LP (Prophecy)
Often described as a black metal supergroup, Twilight has featured in its ranks, at one point or another, members of Xasthur, Draugar, Krieg, Leviathan, Lurker of Chalice, Minsk, The Atlas Moth, Nachtmystium, Old Man Gloom, Isis & Sonic Youth.
Uriah Heap – Demons And Wizards [Reissue/1972] CD/LP (Sanctuary)
Although renowned heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio would become the eventual undisputed expert on dungeons, dragons, and wizards, one of the first heavy metal bands to tackle such subject matter was Uriah Heep on their 1972 release, Demons And Wizards.
Various Artists [Robert Hood] – DJ Kicks CD/2×12”+MP3 (!K7)
Detroit techno luminary Robert Hood curates the latest edition of the DJ Kicks compilation series. His timeless 22-track techno mix includes four of his own new exclusives
Various Artists [Trentemøller] – Harbour Boat Trips 02: Copenhagen CD/2xLP+MP3 (HFN)
For Harbour Boat Trips Vol. 02: Copenhagen, Trentemøller curated and crafted sixteen songs into a heavy, hazy mix. The track selection ranges from shoegaze to electronica, featuring both familiar and celebrated artists like A Place To Bury Strangers (with a new Trentemøller remix) and Slowdive to more obscure finds, as well as Trentemøller’s own tracks and remixes – most notably a brand new Trentemøller cover of Neil Young’s classic “Transformer Man”.
Various Artists [Sven Väth] – In The Mix: The Sound Of The 19th Season CD (Cocoon)
To this day, Väth represents the electronic music scene like no other DJ. After 18 years at Club Amnesia, he and his Cocoon crew moved to Pacha to start a new chapter on the seminal island.
Various Artists – Pop Ambient 2019 CD/2xLP (Kompakt)
“Without a doubt, the 100% kickdrum-free Pop Ambient series is the most endearing and enduring concept that I have had the pleasure to curate. From the start, I felt there was a strong need to add a certain pop- elegance – ensouled by discourse as much as hedonism – to a sound that was recognized as ‘Chill Out’ music that could be heard in seedy techno club back rooms and forgotten festival areas. Over the years, I like to imagine that Pop Ambient has crystallized into a highly recognizable trademark sound and a multi-facetted musical universe of its own.” – Wolfgang Voigt
Various Artists – Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher CD/2xLP+CD (Soul Jazz)
A powerful collection of radical jazz, street funk and proto-rap made in the era of Black Power (1969-75). Features a number of important and ground-breaking African-American artists – The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Don Cherry, Funkadelic, Gil Scott-Heron and more – alongside a host of lesser-known artists all of whom in the early 1970s were exploring new Afrocentric poly-rhythmical styles of music – radical jazz, street funk and proto-rap – while at the same time exploring the Black Power and civil-rights inspired notions of self-definition, self-respect and self-empowerment in their own lives.
Various Artists – Step Out Youth CD/LP (VP)
Punk rock defined a generation in England and across the globe. The often-unsung connection of roots reggae and the inspiration it gave to the fans and creators of punk is the topic of Step Forward Youth, a rallying cry to be your own person and the title for this 36-song retrospective of the reggae vibes that fueled the UK’s ‘blank generation.’ It features Dennis Brown, Big Youth, Augustus Pablo, Horace Andy, Gregory Isaacs, King Tubby etc.
Yowler – Black Dog In My Path CD/LP (Double Double Whammy)
Maryn Jones’ first release under the moniker Yowler, a 2015 cassette (and later LP), The Offer, was a wintery cold reflection on unwanted change, sadness, and the facing down of the realities of loneliness and mental unrest. The songs are somehow quiet even when the instrumentation builds, and clear, even when there is a hazy quality to the recordings. This is likely due to Jones’ voice, which is at once soft and penetrating, warm and distant, and which floats assuredly among the woven arrangement of guitars, synths and harmonies surrounding it. Yowler’s newest album, Black Dog in My Path, expands on these sounds, while exploring past unexplored territory of heavier fuzzy guitars, full band arrangements, and genre-bending tendencies.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Beth Hart – Live At The Royal Albert Hall DVD/Blu-ray (Provogue)
Beth Hart live in front of a sold-out crowd at The Royal Albert Hall on May 4th, 2018. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Oren Ambarchi, Jim O’Rourke & U-zhaan – Hence LP (Editions Mego)
Hence is the third collaborative release from Oren Ambarchi and Jim O’Rourke, following on from Behold. Building on the refined combination of electronics and acoustic instrumentation found on their previous releases, Hence presents two side-long pieces combining synthesizers, heavily effected guitar tones, and tabla rhythms played by special guest Uzhaan.
Amigo The Devil – Everything Is Fine LP (Regime Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Danny Kiranos, better known to the masses as his musical counterpart Amigo the Devil, has been challenging the expectations of traditional folk, country music purists, and rock/extreme metal fans alike with his morbid, yet oddly romantic, take on folk.
Amnesia Scanner – Another Life LP (Pan)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album from the Berlin-based music duo, performing arts group, experience design studio, and production house, created by Finnish-born Ville Haimala and Martti Kalliala. Founded in 2014, Amnesia Scanner’s approach is informed by a unique perspective on technology and the way it mediates contemporary experience. System vulnerabilities, information overload, and sensory excess inform their work, which has found a home in both clubs and galleries.
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino b/w Anyways 7” (Domino)
7” vinyl single of the title track from the Arctic Monkeys’ Mercury Prize-nominated 2018 studio album Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino b/w the exclusive B-side “Anyways”.
Anyways.
Baby Grandmothers – Merkurius LP (Subliminal Sounds)
Merkurius is the mind-melting new surprise album from Baby Grandmothers, the originators of Swedish psychedelia. The band launches into drones, avant-garde dirges, and fevered hard-rockin’ wig-outs heavily overblown with jams rocketing into surreal spheres, all with an urgency of the now.
The Beginner’s Mynd – Ego Death b/w Baby Blue 7”+MP3 (13 O’Clock)
On this follow-up to their debut album Don’t Lose Your Mind, the Washington DC-based group present a new original song on the top side with strong ‘60s UK-style psych vibes in the vein of good ‘ol early Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd meets The Factory.
Brian Bennett/Alan Hawkshaw – Synthesis [Reissue/1974] LP (Be With)
Brian Bennett/Alan Hawkshaw – Synthesizer & Percussion [Reissue/1974] LP (Be With)
Brian Bennett/Alan Hawkshaw – Full Circle LP (Be With)
Be With has worked with original label KPM to re-issue ten albums from across the KPM 1000 Series and the Themes International Music catalog, currently under KPM stewardship. Whether it’s killer soul-funk, sweet jazz-samba, scuzzed-up guitars or accidental Balearic beauty, these records include some of the most innovative work from some of the most talented composers and musicians of the 20th century. These records were never readily available, being originally released as a ready-made, affordable alternative to commissioning music for television and radio. Alan Hawkshaw (piano/Hammond) and Shadow’s drummer Brian Bennett are responsible for some of the slickest, funkiest and most sought-after library records ever made in the UK, particularly ones recorded on the legendary KPM label.
Dock Boggs – Legendary Singer & Banjo Player [Reissue/1964] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Moran Lee Dock Boggs (1898 – 1971) was an old-time singer, songwriter and banjo player. His unique style of singing and banjo playing combined elements of Appalachian folk music and African-American blues. A self-taught musician, Dock recorded about eights sides of music between 1927 and 1929.
Brian Jonestown Massacre – Forgotten Graves 10” (A. Records)
BJM return with a new single, Forgotten Graves. The first track is exclusive “Forgotten Graves”; the second track is “Tombes Oubliées” with Rike (Friedrike) Bienert on vocals which is from the forthcoming self-titled BJM album. The single is released in the same month as the world commemorates the hundredth anniversary of World War I (“the war to end all wars”); this war never ended any other war; more forgotten graves are being added every day.
Bruce – Sonder Somatic LP (Hessle Audio)
The UK artist delivers an 11-song debut album of dense sonic energy that sits somewhere between leftfield techno and IDM.
Byul.org – Nobody’s Gold 2xLP (Alien Transistor)
Seoul’s one-stop shop creative collective Byul.org return with their third international album,. Comprising 14 new songs, Nobody’s Gold is a dizzying, haunting affair that channels the group’s manifold influences and references points (from post-punk to Stockhausen and back via club culture) and yet sounds intriguingly coherent.
Cher – Dancing Queen LP(WB)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The one and only Cher returns with Dancing Queen, a new album of all Abba hits. The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Award winning icon was inspired to record the album following her stunning performance in the recently-released mega-hit film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
James Clarke – Mystery Movie [Reissue/1974] LP (Be With)
Mystery Movie was originally billed as modern, small group compositions in various moods. Ideally suited to the new Americanized style of T.V. and cinema film where music is used to create the mood and carry the action. The album is best-known for the slick drum breaks underpinning the top-notch jazz-funk chase theme “Car Patrol”, the fuzz riffing and ARP soloing of “The Heavies” and the slow-mo strut of “Mystery Moll”. “Study In Fear” and “Empty Streets” are horror soundtrack fodder of the finest sort. However, it’s the understated, plaintive pieces that are the most rewarding. Ambient feels and strung-out fried-folk treats, full of cyclical naïve melodies, this is music that evokes the down-lifting Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood instrumentals from their great Mahoney’s Last Stand (1976), as well as the beautiful soundtrack work of Jack Nitzsche and Ry Cooder.
Francis Coppieters – Piano Viberations [Reissue/1975] LP (Be With)
Piano Viberations’ “small group jazz featuring piano and vibes with rhythm” makes for a gorgeous Coppieters showcase, and is surely one of Belgium’s best-kept musical secrets.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – The Studio Albums Collection 7xLP (Craft Recordings)
This Studio Albums Collection box set comprises the complete Creedence Clearwater Revival studio output, from 1968 to 1972. Each 180gm LP has been mastered at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios, benefiting from an exacting process that allows for an exceptional level of sonic clarity. The discs come housed in handsome tip-on jackets replicating the packaging of the original pressings. The set also features an 80-page book with new liner notes, archival photos and reproductions of band ephemera.
Current Ninety Three – Soft Black Stars [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (The Spheres)
Current 93 – The Stars On Their Horsies LP (The Spheres)
Double-LP reissue of Current 93’s classic Soft Black Stars. Originally released in 1998 in a vinyl edition of just 2000 copies, and on CD, this is the first official vinyl reissue. Remastered by The Bricoleur, this album contains all the released versions of the album’s final track, “Chewing On Shadows” – the original album track, as well as the two different versions used on the expanded CD release of 2004. Comes in a full-color sleeve, reproducing the original paintings by David Tibet, and a two-sided full-color insert. Originally released in 2018 in a limited white-label edition, in two different silk-screened sleeves of 108 copies each, The Stars On Their Horsies contains just one track, and is now reissued as a standard black vinyl LP.
Dog Eat Dog – Brand New Breed 12” (Metalville)
With a new guitarist and a lot of positive energy, these four new songs from the American hardcore/rock/reggae crossover band were recorded and convince with groove, melody and catchy hooks. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Brian Eno – Music For Films [Reissue/1976] LP (Astralwerks)
180gm vinyl reissue of Brian Eno’s seventh album. Music For Films is a conceptual work intended as a soundtrack for imaginary films, although many of the pieces had already appeared in actual films. The album is a loose compilation of material from the period 1975 to 1978, composed of short tracks ranging from one-and-a-half minutes to just over four, making it the antithesis of the long, sprawling, ambient pieces he later became known for.
Eyedress – Sensitive G 2xLP (Lex)
Recently released on CD – now available on limited yellow colored vinyl. Eyedress is the alias of Filipino artist Idris Vicuña, formerly lead guitarist of Manila based psychedelic indie/noise pop band Bee Eyes.
General Franco Lee Ezute And His Harmony International Band – Onye Kata Obia LP (Les Disques Bongo Joe)
The 1970s and ‘80s saw the rise of the Ukwuani style in Nigerian highlife. A funky fusion of the laidback, mellifluous guitar lines characteristic of Igbo highlife with the rugged, animated rhythm section of Edo dance music, the sound was a sensation that made stars of musicians like Rogana Ottah, Steady Arobby, King Love A.U., Bob Fred and Chief John Okpor. One of the most consistent players in this field, though, was General Franco Lee Ezute, leader of the Harmony Kings International Band. Bongo Joe is proud to present this deluxe reissue of Onye Kata Obia, one of the Harmony Kings’ most underrated albums.
Feeling Kréyol – Las Palé LP (Strut Original Masters)
Vinyl reissue of a reissue of in-demand ’80s zouk LP.
Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters – Ashley Flynn & The Riveters LP (Home Perm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. With two critically acclaimed independently released studio albums and a live EP, and a tour history which includes Bonnaroo and Bumbershoot, Delfest, the High Sierra and Vancouver Folk Fests and on the road with the likes of Todd Snider and the Wood Brothers, Ashleigh Flynn continues making a name for herself in Americana music. With a fresh slate of songs in her arsenal, Flynn’s all-female bold new band project, Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters is in both name and spirit a nod to the ”Rosie The Riveter” archetype.
Jim Ford – Harlan County [Reissue/1969] LP (Light In The Attic)
Armed with a powerful whiskey fueled voice, down home rhythms, tight horn section, and occasional spectral orchestration from Gene Page (The Righteous Brothers, Barry White, Marvin Gaye), Harlan County is ripe for reappraisal. And though Ford is unfortunately no longer with us, his musical legacy lives on. With fans and friends including Brinsley Schwarz leader Nick Lowe and actor Marlon Brando, it’s safe to say that Jim Ford was the real deal. So head over to your local brick and mortar record shop, hit the liquor store for a bottle or two, and turn up the stereo.
Free – Free [Reissue/1969] LP (Lilith)
Colored vinyl reissue of the second album by the UK hard rockers, expanded with two bonus tracks, “The Worm” [Single Version] and “Sugar For Mr. Morrison” [Single Version].
Jaco Gardner – Somnium LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Somnium is not necessarily representative of Jacco Gardner’s new Lisbon surroundings in an obvious sense but more a depiction and projection of his thoughts and dreams whilst spent walking the streets; which he did whilst thinking about the books he’d been reading and imagining those worlds put to sound. Jacco has been known to create swirling psychedelic pop boosted by his rich, resonate and baroque voice but on Somnium, his vocals are gone and in their place is an equally seamless melodic exploration but an instrumental one with a synthesized sci-fi edge.
Josh Groban – Bridges LP (Republic)
Released in September on CD – now available on vinyl. Eighth album from the multi-platinum award-winning singer/songwriter and global superstar. Bridges finds Josh singing in multiple different languages that include English, French, Italian and Spanish. This is Groban’s first album with original music since the massively successful 2013 album Stages.
Ground Score – Old Theories On Society LP (Pig)
Ground Score is an overly experienced DIY punk band from Portland Oregon with nearly 100 years in punk rock between them in such bands as p.r.o.b.l.e.m.s, Dirty Kid Discount, Faithless Saints, My Goldfish Ned, and more.
The Higher State – Ten Clear Petals b/w Dark Night Of The Soul 7” (Thirteen O’Clock)
The Higher State dive head first into the hazy, paisley territory of ‘60s-style acid-punk on their latest single, merging loads of fuzzy, garage-punk moves with third eye tickling psychedelia.
Earl Hines – My Tribute To Louis: Piano Solos By Earl Hines [Reissue/1971] LP (ORG Music)
Twelve days after Louis Armstrong died, his old friend Earl Hines recorded a solo tribute to the great trumpeter/vocalist. This album, one of three that Hines recorded in a two-day period, features eight songs associated with Satch including “Struttin’ with Some Barbeque”, “A Kiss To Build A Dream On”, “Someday You’ll Be Sorry” and two versions of Armstrong’s theme “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South”. This set should be of particular interest to Earl Hines collectors for the pianist rarely performed most of these songs, and he gives fresh heartfelt renditions to the standards.
Milt Hinton – Milt Hinton And Friends: Here Swings The Judge [Reissue/1974] LP (ORG Music)
Here Swings The Judge is Milt Hinton’s first LP as a band leader, and includes intimate, private recordings featuring Ben Webster on tenor saxophone before his departure to Europe in 1964. The remaining tracks consist of dynamic studio recordings produced by Harry Lim, and feature prominent players such as Jon Faddis and Budd Johnson. These sessions range from the swinging “Blue Skies” to the slow, serene blues of “Blues for the Judge”.
House Of Krazees – Out Breed [Reissue/1995] LP (Majik Ninja)
HOK (House Of Krazees) was the original name of the Detroit hip-hop band that became Twiztid. After 25 years, HOK is re-releasing their albums on vinyl. The fourth in the series is Out Breed. This LP is standard weight, translucent blue vinyl with orange splatter.
Howlin’ Wolf – Change My Way Revisited LP (Doxy)
A revisitation of classic tunes from Howlin’ Wolf’s 1959-1963 period.
Freddie Hubbard – The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard [Reissue/1963] LP (Down At Dawn)
This explosive session, recorded in 1962, was young lion Freddie Hubbard’s debut album for Impulse!. For the occasion Hubbard displays a solid post-bop horn section with Curtis Fuller on trombone and the great John Gilmore on tenor saxophone in one of his rare appearances outside the Sun Ra Arkestra. The sextet is completed by an extremely dynamic rhythm section featuring Tommy Flanagan (piano), Art Davis (bass), and the super-swinging Louis Hayes on drums.
Shin Joong Hyun – The Shin Joong Hyun Sound Vol. 1, 2, 3 LP (Beatball)
This collection contains albums from the colorful heyday of the Shin Joong-Hyun sound, featuring not only the Bunny Girls, Joo-hyun, Min-ah, and the Golden Grapes, but also the diva of Korea’s 1970s psychedelic music, Kim Jung-Mi. The albums reflect the soul and psychedelic-inspired sounds of the times that paved the way for the rest of Korean pop culture. In this regard, this collection represents a set of masterpieces that will always have a treasured place in Korean pop music. Triple colored vinyl pressing.
IDLES/Heavy Lungs – Danny Dedelko bw/ Blood Brother 7” (PTKF)
Heavy Lungs feature the legendary Danny Nedelko as their frontman – made famous by IDLES’ pro-immigration anthem “Danny Nedelko”, which features on the 7”. He is a close friend of the band (and Ukranian immigrant). “Blood Brother” is a new track by Heavy Lungs. The song is about IDLES’ Joe Talbot.
Nick Ingman – Distinctive Themes/Race To Achievement [Reissue/1976] LP (Be With)
Distinctive Themes/Race To Achievement is legendary arranger Ingman exploring the two distinct ideas of “impressive themes varying in style from Basie to Elgar” and “a study in the pressure and rewards of achievement”. Distinctive Themes is a veritable indulgence of variously-tempoed, full orchestra, big band workouts, from relaxed swing to more propulsive themes. Race To Achievement is all rugged funk with stabbing chords and strutting horns.
Weldon Irvine – Cosmic Vortex (Justice Divine) [Reissue/1974] LP (Pure Pleasure)
By 1974, 31 year-old Weldon Irvine was ready for the next phase of his career. Having spent years working variously as a pianist, band leader, composer, arranger and road manager with the likes of Joe Henderson and Nina Simone, his breakout moment as a solo artist finally came in 1974, when he signed with RCA Records. Finally backed with a budget that could match his ambitions, Irvine’s first release was Cosmic Vortex, a sprawling, monumental work that embodied a musician at the height of his powers.
Jah Gumby – Humility: The Vibes Of Jah G 2xLP (Aloha Got Soul)
What happens when a young kid from Pālolo Valley starts collecting and trading hip-hop tapes at age five, discovers Gregory Isaacs at age 12 (then buys every release Isaacs ever made), learns to play almost every instrument, forms a punk band with his friends at 15 (soon morphing into legendary roots group Ooklah The Moc), amasses a vinyl collection of thousands of reggae rarities (rivaling only that of his father’s massive jazz collection), studies music theory
under unsung hero and fellow Pālolo resident, guitarist Jimmy Funai, then opens his own recording studio at the turn of the millennium to produce hundreds upon hundreds of original riddims? Jah Gumby.
Jeremih – Late Nights: The Album [Reissue/2015] LP (Def Jam)
First-time vinyl pressing. Jeremih’s third studio album established the Chicago crooner as one of contemporary R&B’s greatest. With features from Ty Dolla $ign, Migos, Future, J. Cole, and more, Late Nights became a fan favorite, thanks in part to the ethereal production courtesy of DJ Mustard, Frank Dukes, Vinylz, and others.
Jethro Tull – Aqualung – The 2011 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Deluxe vinyl edition of Jethro Tull’s best-selling 1971 multi-platinum album Aqualung. The audio is the 2011 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix and the packaging contains a 24-page booklet all house in a hard card gatefold sleeve.
Kim Ji-Yeon/Revival Cross – My Heart Wavers LP (Beatball)
This record is the masterpiece recorded by Hahm Joong-Ah, a talented guitarist and composer influenced by Shin Joong-Hyun, under the newly-formed project Revival Cross following
the breakup of his first band, the Golden Grapes. It features vocals by singer Kim Ji-Yeon, who was well-known for her collaboration with Shin Joong-Hyun’s acid rock unit, the Men. [Multiple colored vinyl pressings are also available: red, blue, and black.]
Bunk Johnson & Leadbelly – Bunk Johnson & Leadbelly At New York Town Hall 1947 2xLP (ORG Music)
Pressed to vinyl for the first time with redesigned artwork, this 20-track live double LP collection captured At New York Town Hall 1947 is filled with a set of players from all over the jazz, folk, and blues communities. A great listen for any collector, the historic Bunk Johnson and Leadbelly commandeered summit features artists like Omer Simeon, Jimmy Archey, Ralph Sutton, Freddie Moore, and many more.
Juice WRLD – Goodbye & Good Riddance LP (Interscope)
The debut album by the rapper features a sole guest appearance from Lil Uzi Vert and
production from Benny Blanco, Cardo, Mitch Mula, Nick Mira and Sidepce, among others.
Kenosis – Consecrationem LP (Prosthetic)
Kenosis is a creation manifested by E.S. Tsel and Mysteriis in order to further develop personal levels of spirituality, musicianship and the fulfilment of a cosmic void. The God concept that Kenosis assumes is that of an omnipresent cosmic emptiness, purged of all human characteristics; by becoming empty, one becomes akin to the idea of divinity. For Kenosis it is essential to take distance from the Will, the Self and the dogmatic assumptions to achieve a broader perspective for observation and analysis upon myriads of phenomena. The modus operandi of Kenosis is to engage a concept or experience and meticulously translate the
subject into sound. The themes of Kenosis discuss and contemplates existential, ontological and esoteric subjects.
Lenny Kravitz – Let Love Rule [Reissue/1989] 2xLP (Virgin)
180gm double-vinyl reissue. Let Love Rule established the template for Kravitz’s exploratory nature as an artist, as evidenced by the elegiac buildup of the title track and the poignant social commentary of “Mr. Cab Driver”, a song as relevant today as it was when it was released 30 years ago.
Locust – I Told You So LP (Beatball)
This is the monumental psychedelic/progressive rock album by the five-piece band Locust, who burst onto the scene by winning the third ‘Youth Gayo Festival’ held by TBC in 1981. Produced by Sanullim’s Kim Chang-hwan, this is the only album by Locust, a band that is categorized as a belonging to the so-called ‘campus group sound’. Fronted by the colorfully expressive vocals of Kim Tae-min, the band’s sound sets it apart and above those of it’s contemporary ‘campus’ units, with lyrics that explore an aesthetic darkness beyond a youthful fantasticality, and symphonic song structures built around psychedelic guitars and keyboards.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Skynyrd’s Innyrds: Their Greatest Hits [Reissue/1989] LP (Geffen)
World renowned for their hard driven Southern rock attack, magnificent melodies and tragic past, Lynyrd Skynyrd remain one of the greatest rock acts of all time. Vital and vibrant anthems like “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” continue to enthrall each passing generation, propelled by a searing trio of guitars and evocative, unapologetic Southern rock vocals. Back on vinyl for the first time in decades is the band’s 5x platinum 1989 greatest hits package Skynyrd’s Innyrds which in addition to the above cornerstone cuts gathers more essential Southern rock boogie gems like “Gimme Three Steps”, “Saturday Night Special”, “What’s Your Name”, “That Smell”, “Don’t Ask Me No Questions” and a cover of J.J. Cale’s “Call Me The Breeze”.
Shai Maestro Trio – The Dream Thief LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Features the gifted pianist fronting his superlative trio with fellow Israeli Ofri Nehemya on drums and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder. Expressions of joy, introspective thoughts and heightened intensity all come to the fore. Maestro’s differentiated touch is special; he can convey a range of fleeting emotions in a single phrase.
Keith Mansfield/John Cameron – Voices In Harmony [Reissue/1973] LP (Be With)
Keith Mansfield/Alan Hawkshaw/David Snell – Big Business/Wind Of Change [Reissue/1973] LP (Be With)
Voices In Harmony was released in 1973 as “a selection of contemporary pop titles featuring voices, brass and rhythm.” This collection of works by Mansfield and Cameron can also be described as “a string-laced, harmony-drenched KPM classic”. Big Business/Wind Of Change is mainly the work of the great Mansfield but there’s a killer cameo each from Hawkshaw and Snell to help deliver a thematic suite, diverse in mood, applicable to dramatic and environmental situations.
John Mayall – Plays John Mayall [Reissue/1965] LP (Vinyl Lovers)
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton [Reissue/1966] LP (Vinyl Lovers)
Expanded colored vinyl reissues (clear and light blue, respectively). Classic UK blues-rock from the man that helped create the sound.
Del McCoury – Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass [Reissue/1968] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Delano Floyd “Del” McCoury has been a presence in bluegrass music since the 1960s when he was a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Regarded for both his guitar playing and his distinctive “high lonesome” vocals, McCoury recorded his first album as a band leader in 1967. Performing his arrangements of bluegrass standards and originals, the recording features fellow Bill Monroe alumni fiddler Billy Baker and banjoist Bill Emerson with Wayne Yates on mandolin and Tommy Neal and Dewey Renfo on bass.
The Mekons 77 – It Is Twice Blessed LP (Slow Things)
Brand new LP written and performed by the original 1977 line up of The Mekons. “Formed in the late 1970s as an art collective, The Mekons are one of the longest-running and most prolific of the first-wave British punk rock bands. [Their] new album, It Is Twice Blessed contains twelve tracks full of raw energy, creativity and some exciting songwriting.” – Punk Online
Mercury Rev – Deserter’s Songs [Reissue/1998] LP (Excelsior Melodies)
Fully cementing Mercury Rev’s rebirth as purveyors of a cosmic brand of the popular American songbook, Deserter’s Songs is an album of grandiose proportions. Merging jazz, folk, sweeping orchestration, and a dose of 60’s rock, the album was intended as the band’s swan song and therefore made with utter abandon. However, it became the band’s most acclaimed platter and remains one of the essential records of the past 30 years.
Meshuggah – Meshuggah [Reissue/1989] 12” (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah – Contradictions Collapse [Reissue/1991] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah – None [Reissue/1994] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah – Destroy Erase Improve [Reissue/1995] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah – Chaosphere [Reissue/1998] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Limited colored vinyl reissues of the Swedish prog metal band’s first three albums and two EPs.
The Minders – Hooray For Tuesday [Reissue/1998] LP (Space Cassette)
The Minders – Into The River [Reissue/2016] LP (Space Cassette)
Hooray For Tuesday is an obscure indie pop gem produced and engineered by Robert Schneider (Pet Sounds studio impresario, Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah). The album has been reissued on vinyl in a gatefold jacket with bonus tracks, rare photos of the band and recording sessions. It serves as a lasting testament to the Minders’ skillful pop sensibilities – a classic Elephant Six album from the late 1990s. Into The River is also back in print on vinyl – which served as the band’s first album in eight years upon its original release in 2016.
Miss Rayon – Eclipse LP (Xray)
Members of Miss Rayon have done time in The Gossip, Summer Cannibals, Cat Hoch Band, and Deathlist, among others. Residing somewhere on the spectrum between New York no wave and Manchester post-punk, one can hear influences as broad as Sonic Youth, Yoko Ono, ESG and Magazine.
Lee Morgan – Indeed! [Reissue/1957] LP (Down At Dawn)
Recorded in 1956 at the very young age of 18, Indeed! is the result of a fine hard bop session featuring compositions by Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, Horace Silver and with Morgan leading his own band. The quintet features alto sax player Clarence Sharpe and a solid rhythm section with Horace Silver (piano) Wilbur Ware (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums).
Shawn Mullins – Soul’s Core Revival LP (MRI Associated)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “I am embarking on a recording project in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the release of my album Soul’s Core, which came out July 17, 1998. As you probably know, that record elevated my career to a new level and introduced my music to a worldwide audience. This is not a remix or a remaster of the original, but rather brand new recordings with new arrangements of the songs – one album will be new stripped down solo performances, some on guitar, some on piano and maybe one acapella and the second will be a new studio recording with my full band, Soul Carnival.” – Shawn Mullins
Muslimgauze – Azzazin [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Staalplaat)
Tightly focused on a singular palette of monotone drones and swarming electronic buzzes, Azzazin arguably sounds like a parallel to early Editions Mego releases. Probably the most minimalist Muslimgauze tracks you’ve (maybe) heard.
Nghtmre & Pell – Magic Hour 12” (Mad Decent)
New EP from L.A. electronic producer Nghtmre and rapper Pell.
Northward – Northward LP (Ram It Down)
First release from Nightwish singer Floor Jansen and Pagan’s Mind – stripped down hard rock. [Assorted colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
Gary Numan – The Fallen 12” (BMG Rights Management)
Numan follows-up 2017’s Savage (Songs From A Broken World) with a special edition tricolor 12” vinyl EP featuring three new songs.
The Offspring – Americana [Reissue/1998] LP (Round Hill Music)
Limited red colored vinyl pressing of the fifth album from the punk band.
Lee Pan-Geun – Plays Arirang And Other Assorted Classics [Reissue/1978] LP (Beatball)
Limited blue vinyl LP pressing. The 40th anniversary repackage edition of Lee Pan-Geun and the Korean Jazz Quintet ’78, which marked the beginning of contemporary Korean jazz. [Limited edition ‘spiritual mix’ colored vinyl pressing is also available.]
Alan Parker/Madeline Bell – The Voice Of Soul [Reissue/1976] LP (Be With)
Veteran library musician Parker recorded with session vocalist Bell for his Themes International Music label and the result was The Voice Of Soul. The sensational uptempo dancer “That’s What Friends Are For” is probably the most well-known track on the record, and is a big hit on the rare groove scene, but it is by no means an anomaly. The Voice Of Soul is essentially a perfect, sophisticated soul album with heaps of swagger and sass from beginning to end. Its once generic-sounding title is now deservedly definitive; the whole LP oozes sex.
A Pony Named Olga – Ave Maria LP (Saustex Media)
An intense mashup of polka, surf, punk, jazz and rockabilly that is often combined with Latin rhythmic styles.
Potbelly – The Archives 2xLP (Pig)
A collection of tracks spanning the years 1995-2013. Potbelly formed in 1995 on Whidbey Island, WA. Over the years the band has released 90 records. Playing songs about the darker side of things, from horror to comedy. The band has done multiple split 7″ records with bands they grew up on, like the Accused, D.O.A., and Millions Of Dead Cops.
Primus – Miscellaneous Debris [Reissue/1992] LP (Interscope)
Primus – Tales From The Punchbowl [Reissue/1995] LP (Interscope)
Limited 180gm vinyl LP reissues of Primus’ 1992 cover song EP (the first release by the band
to feature Les Claypool playing his now-famous fretless six-string Carl Thompson bass nicknamed Rainbow Bass) and their fourth studio album (he band’s last album with Tim Alexander before he rejoined Primus seven years later, and again in September 2013).
Mary Puce – The Drought LP (Pan)
Building from a reputation of arresting live performances and critically-acclaimed releases, Puce Mary breaks new ground with The Drought, evolving from the tropes of industrial and power electronics to forge a complex story of adapting to new realities. Remnants of noise still exist, sustaining the visceral penetration offered on previous records, however The Drought demonstrates an intention to expand on the vocabulary of confrontational music and into a grander narrative defined by technical and emotional growth.
Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves – Roll With You [Reissue/2008] LP (Yep Roc)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Tenth anniversary reissue of this vital, gospel-tinged mix of sweaty, up-tempo numbers and aching, lovelorn ballads that connect instantly thanks to the passion of Eli Paperboy Reed and his former band, The True Loves.
Renaissance – Academy Of Music 1974 [Reissue/2015] 2xLP (Purple Pyramid)
Extended live performance from the ’70s prog rock icons performing at the historic Academy Of Music hall in New York in 1974.
Robert Rich/B. Lustmord – Stalker [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Hearts Of Space)
First-time vinyl pressing of the 1995 collaborative album by ambient musicians Robert Rich and B. Lustmord. Stalker was inspired by the 1979 Soviet film of the same name, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky.
Ricky Eat Acid – Three Love Songs [Reissue/2014] LP (Run For Cover)
Ricky Eat Acid’s first full length album Three Love Songs is a modern masterpiece for the Bandcamp era. The album was originally released in 2014 by Sam Ray, whose other projects include American Pleasure Club [FKA Teen Suicide], Julia Brown and Starry Cat. A departure from the indie and lo-fi leaning sounds of most of those bands, Ricky Eat Acid’s first full-length release takes varying elements of all types of electronic music – ambient, drone, dance, house, and more -and infuses them with Ray’s authentic and hyper-personal songwriting to create a truly unique record.
Riot Horse – Cold Hearted Woman LP (Metalville)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The follow-up album to the critically acclaimed debut This Is Who We Are. Cold Hearted Woman again offers a multi-layered sound in the best ‘70s tradition. Bluesy grooving heavy riffs meet psychedelic jam elements. Inspired by bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Black Crowes, Mountain etc.
The Roots – Undun [Reissue/2011] LP (Def Jam)
Despite being rap veterans at the time, The Roots maintained a sense of artistic urgency, crafting this conceptual album with a loose narrative that follows Undun’s imaginary protagonist, Redford Stevens, through a journey of imbalance, self-reflection, and triumph. Couched in an impoverished setting, it is an existential concept album entirely produced by Roots’ drummer Questlove featuring stellar guest features from Big K.R.I.T, Bilal, Phonte, and more, and vocals from the group’s formidable MC, Black Thought.
George Russell Septet – The Stratus Seekers [Reissue/1962] LP (Doxy)
‘Color’ is a word that crops up with great frequency whenever George Russell discusses music. “Dixieland has a color,” he has said; “bop is a definite color, and so is atonality.” Following that train of thought, one might extend Russell’s thesis and refer to him as a kaleidoscopic musical figure: so many different ‘colors’, to use his phrase, appear on this album in so many shifting patterns that such a designation becomes almost inevitable. Colors, kaleidoscopes, and a music that insists on pushing its way out of arbitrary bags and containers. And although Russell’s music is experimental, often difficult, and based on considerable technical theory, it is definitely full of just such vivid, electric and appealing qualities.
Pete Seeger – Goofing-Off Suite [Reissue/1955] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Originally issued as a 10” album in 1955, Goofing-Off Suite finds Pete Seeger playing a mix of classical, popular, and folk music.
Semisonic – Feeling Strangely Fine [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (Geffen)
Limited double 180gm colored vinyl reissue of Semisonic’s second album, expanded with bonus tracks.
Stabbing Westward – Wither Blister Burn + Peel [Reissue/1996] LP (Wargod)
Stabbing Westward – Darkest Days [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (Wargod)
Limited colored vinyl reissues (multiple variations: red and yellow, gray and green, respectively) of the industrial rock band’s second and third albums.
Steal Vybe – Generations LP (Steal Vybe)
A feel-good album that is comprised of multiple genres of music tied into a hybrid style of dance music that contains elements from R&B/soul, jazz, nu jazz, funk, Afro, disco, loft disco, broken-beat, drum & bass, samba. Latin, ‘80s boogie back, soulful house, and much more than meets the ear.
Marcus Strickland – People Of The Sun LP (Blue Note)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On his thrilling new LP, People Of The Sun, saxophonist Marcus Strickland blazes a trail fully at the helm of his music-performing, writing, and producing with his Twi-Life band on deck and special guests including Bilal and Pharoahe Monch along for the ride-as he sonically and socially traces the African diaspora from present to past in an effort to unpack his identity. It’s an album that’s busy and beautiful, inventive and contemplative, an amalgam of influences from West Africa and America.
Gwen Stefani – You Make It Feel Like Christmas [Deluxe Edition] LP (Interscope)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Stefani’s 2017 holiday album has been expanded with five bonus tracks. Limited white colored vinyl pressing.
Kim Sung-Bae – Ritual 2xLP (Beatball)
As he explored traditional Korean shamanism, Kim sought to give musical form to inspirations from the gut performance by the manshin Kim Geum-hwa and her daughter. May be considered both a shamanistic expression of music and a work of experimentalism that includes jazz musicians – Kim Sung-Bae foremost among them – traditional Korean musicians, and electronic music artists. The music is played within a state of deep concentration – much like a carefully-performed ritual – and has been meticulously recorded, imbuing the record with a unique energy and atmosphere that is uncommon on the usual jazz recording. Listeners in search of the most progressive and experimental Korean jazz will do well by enjoying this album.
Surfbort – Friendship Music LP (Fat Possum)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Surfbort, a four-piece punk band from Brooklyn, New York, channels inspiration from the ‘80s punk scene to produce rousing, explosive music.
Cecil Taylor And Buell Neidlinger – New York City R&B [Reissue/1972] LP (Doxy)
Vinyl reissue of Cecil Taylor and Buell Neidlinger’s New York City R&B originally issued in 1972, recorded in 1961. Two nights in January, 1961, high up on West 57th St. A fantastic line-up.
Technical Space Composer’s Crew – Canaxis 5 [Reissue/1969] LP (Grönland)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Holger Czukay made his first solo foray with the experimental electronic album Canaxis 5 (1969), on which he worked with co-producer Rolf Dammers. “…Canaxis 5 is an intriguing work…a delightful piece of history for those interested in the development of world music and collectors of Czukay’s output.” – Bleep
Toquinho – Toquinho [Reissue/1970] LP (Mr. Bongo)
Brazilian guitarist and singer Toquinho (real name Antônio Pecci Filho) was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the 1940’s. His first major hit single was “Que Maravilha”, as featured here, that he wrote with Jorge Ben. This album also features “Zana” and the ultra-famous “Carolina Carol Bela”, also written with Ben. Toquinho had a prolific career releasing a huge number of albums and writing on even more. He released many records with Vinicius de Moraes during the ‘70s.
Mark Turner/ Ethan Iverson – Temporary Kings LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The initial musical connection between saxophonist Mark Turner and pianist Ethan Iverson was made in 1990s jam sessions in New York City, with both going on to individual success Iverson in hit trio The Bad Plus and Turner as a solo leader and in such groups as the trio Fly (recording in both capacities for ECM). A decade after their first meeting, the saxophonist and pianist began an association in the Billy Hart Quartet, the two players featuring sympathetically on two widely lauded ECM albums by that band. Now with Temporary Kings, their debut on record as a duo, Turner and Iverson explore aesthetic common ground that encompasses the cool-toned intricacies of the Lennie Tristano/Warne Marsh school, as well as the heightened intimacy of modernist chamber music.
Twiztid – A New Nightmare [Reissue/2013] LP (InGrooves)
The horrorcore rap group’s 2013 album covers a wide range of hard-hitting issues, from the lows of depression and suicide to the highs of partying.
Various Artists – American Banjo: Tunes And Songs In Scruggs Style [Reissue/1957] LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Although there is debate among musicologists and banjo players as to who “invented” the three-finger style of five-string banjo playing, there is no disagreement that the style was popularized by Earl Scruggs in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The three-finger style enabled banjo players to play harmony and to solo on bluegrass tunes and songs. This 1957 release assembles examples of the three-finger style by bluegrass banjo players including Scruggs’ older brother Junie and Snuffy Jenkins, who may have had an influence on the style as well.
Various Artists – France Chébran Volume 2 LP (Serendip Lab)
While the French National Front was growing in the shadow of François Mitterrand, these guys mixed New York-style funk with electronic, Eastern or African sounds. These musicians from all backgrounds – often lovers of gentle pranking as introduced by the newly-licensed independent radio stations – were seeking the easy money they were told about so much. With their genre-crossing arrangements and often chanted lyrics, they brought honor to the SOS Racisme generation, unconsciously outlining the nascent French contemporary urban culture.
Various Artists – Hot Wax [Reissue/1976] LP (Be With)
Hot Wax is an assured KPM masterclass from a dream team line-up of Brian Bennett, Alan Hawkshaw and John Fiddy. This is what happens when all three decide to explore the latest trends in production music.
Various Artists – Love & Death On A New York Dance Floor 1980-1983 Part 1 2xLP (Reaper)
Lovingly curated across two slabs of vinyl, Love & Death On A New York Dance Floor 1980-1983 introduces listeners to a stunning array of sounds, styles, vibes and feelings that encapsulate the fertile and forward-thinking early- ‘80s era, when music, fashion, sound system innovations, leaps in music technology, a DIY attitude and a freedom from corporate politics combined with extraordinary expressivity. All music contained within this album has been hand-picked and programmed by Tim Lawrence. It represents a selective yet rich introduction to one of the most extraordinary periods in New York City’s epic musical history.
Caetano Veloso – Irene [Reissue/1969] LP (Lilith)
Caetano Veloso – Little More Blue [Reissue/1971] LP (Lilith)
Caetano Veloso – Araca Azul [Reissue/1972] LP (Lilith)
Often referred to as Brazil’s unofficial poet laureate and the Bob Dylan of Brazil, this heavyweight of Brazilian music was also a young revolutionary who used his music to protest against Brazil’s oppressive military regime. This protest music, which became known as tropicalia, first earned Veloso a stint in jail. Colored vinyl pressings.
Ben Webster – The Horn [Reissue/1982] LP (ORG Music)
This combination of studio session tracks, along with their false starts, alternate takes, and outtakes is a real treat. Featuring musicians like Clyde Hart, Charlie Drayton, and Denzil Best, Ben Webster thrives with an expert backing band. The first LP includes the album as originally released. The second LP contains outtakes from those same sessions.
Maeng Won-Sik/His Jazz Orchestra – A Night At Seongbulsa LP (Beatball)
Maeng Won-Sik is a musician who began his professional career as a saxophonist and arranger. He is a major figure in the history of Korean gayo, having conducted and arranged music for large-scale shows of various popular singers (Hye-euni, Hah Chun-hwa, the Hee Sisters) from the 1970s to the 1980s. Additionally, he delved deeply into the project of modernizing/jazz-ifying traditional Korean songs (gagok) and folk tunes, producing a plentiful works as a result. Colored vinyl pressing.
Xxxtentacion – 17 [Reissue/2017] LP+MP3 (Bad Vibes Forever)
Limited black and white colored vinyl pressing of the late rapper’s debut album. 17 experiments with a variety of genres, such as emo, indie rock, and lo-fi.
Yelawolf – Radioactive [Reissue/2011] LP (Shady)
Yelawolf’s debut studio album Radioactive, known as Radioactive: Amazing And Mystifying Chemical Tricks, was recorded within two weeks in Las Vegas Valley. Executive produced by Eminem, the 15-track project features appearances from Kid Rock, Lil Jon, Gangsta Boo, FeFe Dobson, and Killer Mike, among others. Its features production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Diplo, Jim Jonsin, and more.
Sunwoo Young-Ah – Missing My Beloved LP (Beatball)
This record, which was produced during the heyday of the He 6, was composed and arranged by Kim Hong-tak, and features the singers Sunwoo Young-Ah, Lim Sung-hoon, and Song Hye-gyung. The title track is ‘Missing My Beloved’, which is a hard rock number that features singing by Sunwoo Young-Ah and a provocative, fuzz-driven guitar sound employed to psychedelic effect. Colored vinyl pressing.
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