AIMS Marketing Program/ Featured Titles Promoted This Week:
Dawes – Oh Brother CD/LP (Dead Ringers)
For the first time in almost a decade, brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith grace the cover of a Dawes record. It’s just the two of them this time, and as such, Oh Brother marks a distinctive new chapter for the California rock band – one that is both introspective and accessible, all while maintaining their beloved sense of sincerity. At this point in the Goldsmith’s career, Dawes has cemented itself as one of the most earnest, no-bullshit musical acts out there. They’re a band that can move seamlessly between folk rock, piano ballads, and sprawling jams while maintaining both an immediately recognizable sound and a freedom from expectations. Even as the Goldsmith brothers navigates new chapters in their personal and professional lives, Oh Brother shows how they remain creative, ambitious, and inspired – what it means to be lifers in a band together. [An turmeric color vinyl pressing is available.]
Def Leppard – One Night Only Live at The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 CD/Blu-ray+CD/DVD+CD (Mercury Studios)
Def Leppard celebrated the release of their Drastic Symphonies album by revisiting their club days and playing an intimate show in front of just under 900 die-hard fans at The Leadmill in their hometown of Sheffield, in support of the Music Venue Trust. Those lucky enough to score a ticket to one of the group’s most unique shows in years, along with the global audience tuning into the livestream, were treated to a set filled with hits and rarities spanning their entire catalog from On Through The Night to the band’s most recent album Diamond Star Halos.
Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken CD/LP (Republic)
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter known for his unique blend of country, rock, and hip-hop. Born on December 4, 1984, in Nashville, Tennessee, Jelly Roll started his music career in the early 2000s, gaining recognition in the underground hip-hop scene. Over time, he transitioned into country and rock music, bringing his raw and emotional storytelling style to a broader audience. Jelly Roll’s lyrics often draw from his personal experiences, including struggles with addiction, mental health, and life on the streets. His 2021 album, Ballads Of The Broken, was well-received and showcased his crossover appeal. Beautifully Broken is his new studio album. [An indie store exclusive clear w/ gold splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Samara Joy – Portrait CD/LP (Verve)
Born out of her time on the road, Samara Joy took her touring band into legendary Van Gelder Studios in February of 2024. This record, appropriately entitled Portrait, is a collection of standards (as well as one original) and features her singular voice, alongside arrangements from this tight-knit young group. The recording tells the story of the community she’s created with a new generation of young players and is evocative of the energy of her incredible live show.
Myles Kennedy – The Art Of Letting Go CD/LP (Napalm)
With two solo efforts under his belt and sold-out headline tours in the rearview, iconic frontman, instrumentalist, and “one of rock’s finest vocalists” (KERRANG!), Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators), is guided by a sense of keenly honed intuition on his third full-length album, The Art of Letting Go. While his previous outputs boasted more acoustic and roots elements, this time around, Kennedy & Co. delivered a record that could be performed as a trio, without having to reimagine arrangements – resulting in a more riff heavy, guitar driven sound. [An indie store exclusive CD and an indie store exclusive baby blue color vinyl pressing are available.]
Lady Gaga – Harlequin CD/LP (Little Monsters/Interscope)
Harlequin is the new album from 13-time GRAMMY and Academy Award-winner Lady Gaga.
It serves as a companion to the film Joker: Folie à Deux, where she plays Harley Quinn. The album features a mix of jazz standards and original tracks, reflecting Gaga’s versatile style. With songs like “Get Happy” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” Harlequin blends big band swing with theatrical elements. It showcases her connection to the character and adds a rich musical backdrop to the Joker sequel. [A red color vinyl pressing is available.]
The Linda Lindas – No Obligation CD/LP (Epitaph)
Here comes No Obligation, the second full-length release from The Linda Lindas further advances their unironic, joyful, and exciting trajectory of mashing up L.A. punk with alt-rock, garage rock, power pop, new wave, rock en espanol. No Obligation was written and recorded by the band during spring breaks, winter breaks, and long weekends (Lucia and Eloise are still in high school, Mila just finished middle school, and Bela is patiently waiting for them to get done with it already) and was produced by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Best Coast, Bleached). [A translucent pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
The Offspring – Supercharged CD/2xCD/LP (Concord)
Following up on the global success of their album, Let The Bad Times Roll, legendary So-Cal punk group The Offspring release their 11th album, Supercharged. Produced by Bob Rock, the record continues the band’s legacy with some of their best songwriting to date and unmatched musical energy. The Offspring is an American rock band formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984. The Offspring gained popularity with their third studio album, Smash, released in 1994, which included hit singles like “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem,” and “Gotta Get Away.” Smash became the best-selling album released on an independent label, cementing the band’s place in punk rock history. [An indie store exclusive double-CD version includes three bonus live tracks. An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Tank And The Bangas – The Heart, The Mind, The Soul CD/LP (Verve)
Acclaimed band Tank and the Bangas are back with a three-part spoken word collection – The Heart, The Mind, The Soul. The album features new poems from Tank and are selections from working with producer notables James Poyser, Robert Glasper, Iman Omari, Brian London and Austin Brown. [An indie store exclusive sea blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Xavi – Next CD (Interscope)
Representing a wave of young artists in the Música Mexicana world, 20-year-old singer/songwriter Xavi arrives with a refreshing sound that reflects the different cultures in which he grew up: Mexican and American. His style includes R/B, pop and urban, all blended with Música Mexicana sounds. After releasing music independently, Xavi caught the attention of Interscope’s executives, who discovered him through social media and the rest is history: he is developing a successful musical career hand in hand with one of the most important labels in global music.
Additional Social Media Program Title:
The Sword – Live At Levitation LP (Reverberation Appreciation Society)
Austin, TX legends, The Sword, welcome in the twelfth vinyl release in the Live at Levitation series. On June 27, 2024, the band announced they would reunite for a one-off concert on November 3 at the 2024 edition of Levitation in Austin. In celebration of this reunion, we pulled from the archive and this limited live release showcases the bands appearance at the festival with their 2015 and 2021 performances. These recordings are now immortalized on beautiful limited color vinyl.
CDs + Vinyl:
Abyss – AD Infinitum CD/LP (Napalm)
New album by the Swiss/German modern metal band. Gripping, rhythmic riffs, infectious choruses, heavy breakdowns and singer Melissa Bonny’s inimitable and increasingly versatile vocal approach present the band at the very top of their game.
Juan Almeida – Fantasia CD/LP (Mr Bongo)
An eclectic and epic, instrumental ride through Latin jazz-funk, trippy electronics and orchestrated classical music.
Aztlan Unearthed – Aztlan Unearthed CD/LP/Cassette (Org Music)
Aztlan Unearthed is an indigenous focused acoustic group that is an extension of the group Aztlan / Anahuak Underground, featuring members Yaotl Mazahua, Joe Galarza and Caxo. Seeking to preserve their native culture, the music highlights the instruments inherited from their ancestors, to channel their sounds, energies, and frequencies.
William Basinski – September 23rd CD/LP (Temporary Residence)
September 23rd is the first release in William Basinski’s new Arcadia Archive series. Recorded in September 1982 in his first loft in the pre-gentrified Dumbo neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York, September 23rd is a recently unearthed early entry in what has become a hugely inspirational and influential catalog. Built from a piano piece that Basinski composed in high school in the mid-1970s, September 23rd quickly evolved into a vastly different work. [A blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
James Blunt – Back To Bedlam [Reissue/2004] 2xCD/2xLP (Atlantic)
20th Anniversary edition. Back To Bedlam is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter James Blunt, originally released in 2004. [A red color vinyl pressing is available.]
Ronnie Baker Brooks – Blues In My DNA CD (Alligator)
The son of legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks steps into the spotlight with his Alligator debut, a fiery blast of guitar-stoked blues rock guaranteed to singe your whiskers.
Cemetery Skyline – Nordic Gothic CD/LP (Century Media)
New album by the gothic metal band.
Chat Pile – Cool World CD/LP/Cassette (The Flenser)
Like the towering mounds of toxic waste from which it gets its namesake, the music of Oklahoma City noise rock quartet Chat Pile is a suffocating, grotesque embodiment of the existential anguish that has defined the 21st Century. It figures that a band with this abrasive, unrelenting, and outlandish of a sound has stuck as strong of a chord as it has. Dread has replaced the American dream, and Chat Pile’s music is a poignant reminder of that shift-a portrait of an American rock band molded by a society defined by it’s cold and cruel power systems. [A yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]
Cleanbreak – We Are The Fire CD (Frontiers)
Cleanbreak sees the powerhouse singer James Durbin paired with guitarist Mike Flyntz of Riot V to continue on the path to wave the flag for almighty heavy metal.
The Crown – Crown Of Thorns CD/LP (Metal Blade)
New release by the Swedish death metal band. [A black & white color vinyl pressing is available.]
Current Joys – East My Love CD/LP/Cassette (Secretly Canadian)
East My Love, the resplendent, country-tinged 12th album by Current Joys, feels familiar. It’s meant to: the 12 songs contained within dive deep into the rich folklore of the American West to tell time-worn tales of love and trauma, heartbreak and spiritual renewal. Cast with a warm glow and finding Current Joys’ Nick Rattigan tapping into some of his lushest, most high-fidelity production to date, it’s the kind of album that listeners could see themselves within, and, hopefully, keep close when they’re most in need of reassurance or escapism. For Rattigan, though, it’s all that and more. [An olive color vinyl pressing is available.]
Dawes – Oh Brother CD/LP (Dead Ringers)
For the first time in almost a decade, brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith grace the cover of a Dawes record. It’s just the two of them this time, and as such, Oh Brother marks a distinctive new chapter for the California rock band – one that is both introspective and accessible, all while maintaining their beloved sense of sincerity. At this point in the Goldsmith’s career, Dawes has cemented itself as one of the most earnest, no-bullshit musical acts out there. They’re a band that can move seamlessly between folk rock, piano ballads, and sprawling jams while maintaining both an immediately recognizable sound and a freedom from expectations. Even as the Goldsmith brothers navigates new chapters in their personal and professional lives, Oh Brother shows how they remain creative, ambitious, and inspired – what it means to be lifers in a band together. [An turmeric color vinyl pressing is available.]
Deadly Headley – 35 Years From Alpha [Reissue/1982] CD/LP (On-U Sound)
Long awaited reissue of the 1982 solo LP from the late, great “Deadly” Headley Bennett, a key sideman from the golden age of Jamaican music who played on hundreds of records in a long and storied career. Designed as a showcase record for his unique talents, producer Adrian Sherwood assembled a crack team of his singers and players at the time for this set, including Style Scott, Bim Sherman, George Oban, Lizard Logan, Crucial Tony, and Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah. Also making an appearance on two tracks is fellow Alpha alumni Rico Rodriguez.
Def Leppard – One Night Only Live at The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 CD/Blu-ray+CD/DVD+CD (Mercury Studios)
Def Leppard celebrated the release of their Drastic Symphonies album by revisiting their club days and playing an intimate show in front of just under 900 die-hard fans at The Leadmill in their hometown of Sheffield, in support of the Music Venue Trust. Those lucky enough to score a ticket to one of the group’s most unique shows in years, along with the global audience tuning into the livestream, were treated to a set filled with hits and rarities spanning their entire catalog from On Through The Night to the band’s most recent album Diamond Star Halos.
De Mannen Broeders – Sober Maal CD/LP (Relapse)
The debut Folk collaboration featuring Colin van Eeckhout (Amenra) and the Flemish folk icon Tonnie ‘Broeder’ Dieleman. The latter is a Dutch folk singer whose music is inspired by his religious upbringing and the rural culture of his Zeelandic homeland, who has collaborated with Baby Dee and Bonnie Prince Billy. When the two met, they felt an instant connection.
Doedsmaghird – Omniverse Consciousness CD/LP (Peaceville)
The grimmer and more malevolent twin to Dødheimsgard’s current deep labyrinthian explorations of existence, this is the birth of Vicotnik’s new accompanying project, with a devastating and unrelenting attack of primal black metal, recalling the work on his own ‘Satanic Art’ era of Dødheimsgard.
Dragony – Hic Svnt Dracones CD/2xLP (Steamhammer)
New album by the Austrian power metal band. [A blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Steve Earle – Alone Again (Live) CD/LP (Missing Piece)
Relive the magic of Earle’s 2023 tour with acoustic renditions of classics including “Copperhead Road”, “The Galway Girl”, and “Guitar Town”. Listen to this 15-song journey through Earle’s legendary catalog.
Envy – Eunoia CD/LP (Temporary Residence)
Soaring past the 30-year mark as a band, Japan’s Envy returns with their ninth studio album, Eunoia. Packed with an abyssal emotional depth and an increasingly eclectic (and seemingly inexhaustible) well of ideas, Eunoia is Envy’s most efficiently impactful album of their unbelievably lengthy career. [A grey color vinyl pressing is available.]
Fans Of The Dark – Video CD (Frontiers)
Video is the third chapter of the Swedish act Fans Of The Dark, an exciting new band formed in 2020 by Freddie Allen, drummer and main songwriter and lead vocalist Alex Falk, when they reconnected few year after the high school, where they went together, with a vision to create a band which would mix the melodies and approach of classic and melodic rock.
Rory Gallagher – The Best Of Rory Gallagher At The BBC 2xCD/3xLP (UMe)
The Best Of Roy Gallagher At The BBC is an all-encompassing collection of the many recorded performances at the world-renowned studios. These recordings celebrate the importance of the artist Rory Gallagher, who was possibly the most recorded musician in the 1970s by the BBC.
Goat – Goat CD/LP (Rocket Recordings)
The Ouroborus – that is, the icon of the snake or dragon eating its own tail – appears to some a statement of the brutality of nature. To others of a Gnostic disposition, it symbolizes the duality of the divine and earthly in mankind. But most commonly, it’s taken simply to mean the endless cycles of death and rebirth that characterize life on this planet. As such, it’s an image that looms large in the world of Goat, the ever mysterious and endlessly revivifying collective whose latest album marks another adventure above and beyond this plane of reality. This may be a band that has named albums both Requiem and Oh Death, yet this eponymous salvo proves yet again that transcendence and metamorphosis are their watchwords. [A frosted clear w/ heavy magenta splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Greenleaf – Secret Alphabets [Reissue/2003] CD/LP (Magnetic Eye)
Greenleaf – Agents Of Ahriman [Reissue/2007] CD/LP (Magnetic Eye)
Greenleaf – Nest Of Vipers [Reissue/2012] CD/LP (Magnetic Eye)
Before they become a proper band, Greenleaf began as a loose collective of friends making ‘70s-inspired hard rock and proto-metal. Led by guitarist Tommi Holappa, co-founder of European desert rock originators Dozer, various configurations of Greenleaf included members of Lowrider, Truckfighters, Demon Cleaner, Dozer and more. And despite the rotating cast of players, they managed to release multiple albums of the highest caliber riff rock across the 14 years in their original unstructured form. [Color vinyl pressings are available.]
Hawksmoor – Oneironautics CD/LP (Soul Jazz)
Hawksmoor’s new album Oneironautics on follows on from last year’s critically acclaimed Telepathic Heights, as well as a re-release of his album Saturnalia on the Library of the Occult label earlier this year. James McKeown, AKA Hawksmoor, continues his fascination with the sounds and sensibilities of ‘70s/’80s German electronic groups – think early Cluster, Harmonia, Can, Neu!, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Michael Rother. McKeown successfully combines these pulsating ripples of Germanic electronica with several decidedly English references: the soaring, hypnotic and pastoral qualities of Brian Eno, circa Another Green World; the long, sustained lines of Robert Fripp’s Frippertronics; and the poetic feel of early Durutti Column.
Ashley Henry – Who We Are CD/LP (Naïve)
Ashley Henry presents its second album “Who We Are”, a London-born jazz journey that unites devotion, collective dreaming, and the fight for freedom. Featuring acclaimed artists like Judi Jackson and Aja Monet, this record is a powerful anthem for our times-echoing Nina Simone’s legacy while finding inspiration in the pulse of the city and collective dreaming. Praised by global media such as Wonderland, Notion and the BBC, Ashley Henry is set to become one of the most influential jazz acts in Europe with its signature piano touch and soothing vocal tones.
The Hillbilly Thomists – Marigold CD/2xLP (Vere Music)
Drifters seeking Hollywood happiness, minor prophets preaching to folks who won’t listen, working class sages, and incarcerated saints — Marigold by The Hillbilly Thomists is filled with characters making their way through this valley of tears. It’s a folky down-home Folk album with tight vocal harmonies, jumpy banjo picking, and jangly dobro slides that point listeners to practice patient hope amidst the choking thorns of life and that whoever you are and whatever path you’re traveling on, it’s the Lord who justifies. The vinyl record features four exclusive live tracks from the bandʼs Opry debut.
House Of Lords – Full Tilt Overdrive CD (Frontiers)
Another jewel in a musical crown of albums which is truly second to none in the world of classic hard rock.
Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken CD/LP (Republic)
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter known for his unique blend of country, rock, and hip-hop. Born on December 4, 1984, in Nashville, Tennessee, Jelly Roll started his music career in the early 2000s, gaining recognition in the underground hip-hop scene. Over time, he transitioned into country and rock music, bringing his raw and emotional storytelling style to a broader audience. Jelly Roll’s lyrics often draw from his personal experiences, including struggles with addiction, mental health, and life on the streets. His 2021 album, Ballads Of The Broken, was well-received and showcased his crossover appeal. Beautifully Broken is his new studio album. [An indie store exclusive clear w/ gold splatter color vinyl pressing is available.]
Darius Jones – Legend Of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) CD/LP (Aum Fidelity)
Legend Of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) is the powerful new work by composer & alto saxophonist Darius Jones. Both of his tremendous artistic strengths are to the fore here in a fully committed trio communion with longtime collaborator Gerald Cleaver (drums) & Chris Lightcap (bass). Five potent new Jones compositions, and a striking arrangement of “No More My Lord” (a prison song rec. By Alan Lomax at Parchman Farm).
Samara Joy – Portrait CD/LP (Verve)
Born out of her time on the road, Samara Joy took her touring band into legendary Van Gelder Studios in February of 2024. This record, appropriately entitled Portrait, is a collection of standards (as well as one original) and features her singular voice, alongside arrangements from this tight-knit young group. The recording tells the story of the community she’s created with a new generation of young players and is evocative of the energy of her incredible live show.
Myles Kennedy – The Art Of Letting Go CD/LP (Napalm)
With two solo efforts under his belt and sold-out headline tours in the rearview, iconic frontman, instrumentalist, and “one of rock’s finest vocalists” (KERRANG!), Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators), is guided by a sense of keenly honed intuition on his third full-length album, The Art of Letting Go. While his previous outputs boasted more acoustic and roots elements, this time around, Kennedy & Co. delivered a record that could be performed as a trio, without having to reimagine arrangements – resulting in a more riff heavy, guitar driven sound. [An indie store exclusive CD and an indie store exclusive baby blue color vinyl pressing are available.]
Lady Gaga – Harlequin CD/LP (Little Monsters/Interscope)
Harlequin is the new album from 13-time GRAMMY and Academy Award-winner Lady Gaga.
It serves as a companion to the film Joker: Folie à Deux, where she plays Harley Quinn. The album features a mix of jazz standards and original tracks, reflecting Gaga’s versatile style. With songs like “Get Happy” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” Harlequin blends big band swing with theatrical elements. It showcases her connection to the character and adds a rich musical backdrop to the Joker sequel. [A red color vinyl pressing is available.]
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude To Ecstasy: Acoustics And Covers CD/LP (Island)
Prelude To Ecstasy: Acoustics And Covers features the critically acclaimed studio album, plus curated acoustic versions and covers. [A gold color vinyl pressing is available.]
The Linda Lindas – No Obligation CD/LP (Epitaph)
Here comes No Obligation, the second full-length release from The Linda Lindas further advances their unironic, joyful, and exciting trajectory of mashing up L.A. punk with alt-rock, garage rock, power pop, new wave, rock en espanol. No Obligation was written and recorded by the band during spring breaks, winter breaks, and long weekends (Lucia and Eloise are still in high school, Mila just finished middle school, and Bela is patiently waiting for them to get done with it already) and was produced by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Best Coast, Bleached). [A translucent pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
Terry Marshall and Friends – Living The Blues CD/LP (Marshall)
Despite having never released his own album, Terry Marshall remains one of the most ubiquitous and influential individuals in modern music; this of course comes from the guitar amplifiers which bear his name. Debut album Living The Blues by Terry Marshall and Friends, including Laurence Jones, Emma Wilson, Alice Armstrong, Krissy Matthews and Zoe Schwarz as well as an array of talented blues musicians, is the embodiment of a lifetime of dedication to music and a revitalizing take on blues classics.
Master Boot Record – Hardwarez CD/LP (Metal Blade)
New album by the Italian electronic metal group.
Justin Moore – This Is My Dirt CD/LP (Valory)
The Arkansas native’s eighth studio album, This Is My Dirt, features duets with Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Randy Houser.
The Offspring – Supercharged CD/2xCD/LP (Concord)
Following up on the global success of their album, Let The Bad Times Roll, legendary So-Cal punk group The Offspring release their 11th album, Supercharged. Produced by Bob Rock, the record continues the band’s legacy with some of their best songwriting to date and unmatched musical energy. The Offspring is an American rock band formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984. The Offspring gained popularity with their third studio album, Smash, released in 1994, which included hit singles like “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem,” and “Gotta Get Away.” Smash became the best-selling album released on an independent label, cementing the band’s place in punk rock history. [An indie store exclusive double-CD version includes three bonus live tracks. An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Propaganda – Propaganda CD/2xLP (Bureau B)
Forty years since their inception, and almost two decades since their last release, art-synth auteurs Propaganda return with a brand-new chapter in their enthralling story. This self-titled set from principal songwriting partnership Ralf Dörper and Michael Mertens embodies the depth and drama of their early work, while exploring fresh sounds and styles, and reflecting the personal and societal changes since their last outing. Conceived and crafted entirely in their native Düsseldorf, a deliberate decision to help them stay true to themselves and featuring guest appearances from the acclaimed Hauschka and ascendant Thunder Bae, this is Propaganda at their most essential. [An orange color vinyl pressing is available.]
Radioactive – Reset CD (Frontiers)
Radioactive is a rock band founded in 1991 by the Swedish guitarist, songwriter and producer Tommy Denander.
Rock Machine – La Femme CD/LP (Disque Pointu)
After the Spanish escapade Teatro Lucido and the sweet journey Paris Hawai, the group created by Marlon Magnee and Sacha Got continues their world tour with Rock Machine, their first album entirely written in English. The band returns to its new wave and synthwave roots from their acclaimed first LP Psycho Tropical Berlin (Machine), which they mix with an Anglo-Saxon rock sound from the 80s/90s (Rock). This album is an ode to rock ‘n’ roll, its effectiveness, and timelessness, but also an ode to love and despair.
Dua Saleh – I Should Call Them CD/LP (Ghostly Int’l)
The music of LA-based Sudanese American artist Dua Saleh (they/them) explores the inner self and the world at large. With their long-awaited full-length debut, a collection of R&B-infused electronic indie-pop songs titled I Should Call Them, they portray the spiritual power, resilience, and joy of love. Equal parts imaginative and lived-through, it’s a statement record only Saleh could make. [A black & white inkblot color vinyl pressing is available.]
Tank And The Bangas – The Heart, The Mind, The Soul CD/LP (Verve)
Acclaimed band Tank and the Bangas are back with a three-part spoken word collection – The Heart, The Mind, The Soul. The album features new poems from Tank and are selections from working with producer notables James Poyser, Robert Glasper, Iman Omari, Brian London and Austin Brown. [An indie store exclusive sea blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Dan Tyminski – Live From The Ryman CD/LP (8 Track Entertainment)
With his newest self-produced concert album, Dan Tyminski: Live From The Ryman, Dan proves live music’s power to communicate and connect as it shines a light on his acclaimed live show. Recorded in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium — the legendary venue known as “The Birthplace of Bluegrass” — the album showcases the sharp songwriting, full-throttle vocals, and guitar chops that have powered Tyminski’s music for decades. It’s also a showcase for his ace band, a young group of fiery flat-pickers, hotshot instrumentalists, and harmony singers whose sheer talent is matched only by the band’s frontman.
Touche Amore – Spiral In A Straight Line CD/LP (BMG)
Spiral In A Straight Line was recorded with legendary producer Ross Robinson (At The Drive-In, Korn, Glassjaw) and features guest appearances from Julien Baker and Lou Barlow. Touche Amore is an American post-hardcore band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007. Known for their emotionally charged lyrics and energetic performances, the band’s music often explores themes of loss, personal struggle, and introspection. Their sound combines elements of hardcore punk with melodic and atmospheric post-rock influences. [An indie store exclusive rose-tinted color vinyl pressing is available.]
Various Artists – Cosmic American Music: Motel California CD/2xLP (Numero)
A companion to 2016’s private country rock overview Cosmic American Music, this second volume goes way past Gram Parsons’ “country-rock plastic dry-f***” and explores the twangy falsettos and commercial curiosity that sent the Eagles soaring. Though rooted in the west coast folk rock of the late-’60s, these new kids in town rendered a safe-for-the-suburbs sound bleached of the hippie era’s political strife. [Multiple color vinyl pressings are available.]
Vomit Forth – Terrified Of God CD/LP (Century Media)
Vomit Forth’s sophomore full-length, Terrified Of God, isn’t merely a benchmark for the Connecticut-born extreme metal squad but also for Northeastern death metal itself. Produced and mixed by Randy LeBeouf (Kublai Kahn, Jesus Piece), Terrified Of God hones the raw intensity that frontman Kane Gelaznik introduced with 2021’s Seething Malevolence, taking it to the new, horrifying heights. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]
Immanual Wilkins – Blues Blood CD/2xLP (Blue Note)
Saxophonist/composer Immanuel Wilkins’ third studio album, Blues Blood, is a meditative offering partially inspired by his childhood, a multimedia performance about the legacies of our ancestors and the bloodlines connecting us. Co-produced by Meshell Ndegeocello and feat. Micah Thomas (piano), Rick Rosato (bass), Kweku Sumbry (drums), and vocalists Ganavya, June McDoom and Yaw Agyeman – with guest appearances by vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, Marvin Sewell (guitar), and Chris Dave (drums) – it’s his most ambitious LP to date. Blues Blood marks the first time he’s included vocalists on an album, with each distinctive voice tapping into different aspects of heritage. Blues Blood feels airy and celestial – a soothing balm for anyone searching for peace, and for Black people trying to reconcile history in a country that tries to erase it. It explores ‘blues’ as a symbol of radical optimism in the face of adversity and ‘blood’ as a symbol of all things ancestral and generational.
Xavi – Next CD (Interscope)
Representing a wave of young artists in the Música Mexicana world, 20-year-old singer/songwriter Xavi arrives with a refreshing sound that reflects the different cultures in which he grew up: Mexican and American. His style includes R/B, pop and urban, all blended with Música Mexicana sounds. After releasing music independently, Xavi caught the attention of Interscope’s executives, who discovered him through social media and the rest is history: he is developing a successful musical career hand in hand with one of the most important labels in global music.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Def Leppard – One Night Only Live at The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 Blu-ray+CD/DVD+CD (Mercury Studios)
Def Leppard celebrated the release of their Drastic Symphonies album by revisiting their club days and playing an intimate show in front of just under 900 die-hard fans at The Leadmill in their hometown of Sheffield, in support of the Music Venue Trust. Those lucky enough to score a ticket to one of the group’s most unique shows in years, along with the global audience tuning into the livestream, were treated to a set filled with hits and rarities spanning their entire catalog from On Through The Night to the band’s most recent album Diamond Star Halos.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Mark Ambor – Rockwood LP (Hundred Days)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Mark Ambor’s debut album, Rockwood, is an ode to home and finding the joy in life despite its challenges. Rockwood, a park near Mark’s hometown, was an escape growing up: a place to enjoy a sunset, a picnic, or a first date, and ultimately, feel momentarily weightless. The upbeat guitar, drums, and bass set an impeccable road trip scene while the lyrics promote a deeper listener connection. Rockwood blends sing-along optimism and Mark’s vulnerable insecurities to create the perfect escape.
At The Gates – Terminal Spirit Disease [Reissue/1994] LP (Peaceville)
Marble color vinyl pressing of the third album by the Swedish melodic death metal band.
Guy Blackman – Adult Baby [Reissue/2008] LP (Chapter Music)
Originally released on CD only, Adult Baby is a sumptuous collection of baroque pop tearjerkers, recorded over the course of three years by Casey Rice (Dirty Three, Liz Phair, Tortoise). The album features over 20 musicians, including Swedish pop star Jens Lekman (who sings a duet with Guy set in a men’s sauna on “Dark & Quiet Place”), Dirty Three’s Mick Turner, Mike Young (Eddy Current Suppression Ring/Total Control), plus a who’s who of 2000s Australian indie including members of Crayon Fields, Art of Fighting, Fabulous Diamonds, Pikelet, Minimum Chips and more.
Braid – No Coast [Reissue/2014] LP+MP3 (Topshelf)
Red & blue colorway. You don’t have to be a music industry insider to know that there’s currently a desire for ’90s revivalism, with hordes of defunct bands coming out of the woodwork to do one quick lap on the festival circuit and get the praise they always deserved but never earned their first time around. But Braid knew from the start that this was never meant to be a cash-in reunion. With the ten-year anniversary of No Coast, it’s clear this isn’t where Braid’s story ended – it’s where a new chapter began.
Caroline Says – The Lucky One LP (Western Vinyl)
Caroline Says’ haunting new album, The Lucky One, is a poignant exploration of how the ghosts of past relationships linger, sometimes holding more sway over our hearts and minds than our current connections. We revisit these ghosts through evocative landscapes of our memories – hometown bars, road trips, and late-night swims. Through a series of fractured and persistent memories these songs capture the bittersweet realization that the past, though imperfect, can sometimes be a more comforting and meaningful companion than the present.
Coco & Clair Clair – Girl LP (Alternate Side)
White and pink cornetto vinyl. Coco & Clair Clair knew from the moment they met that they were meant to make music together. Similarly, listeners are immediately drawn to the Atlanta-bred duo through their clever, infectious, and genre-defying songs. Girl is their highly anticipated sophomore album, following their critically acclaimed debut, Sexy, which garnered praise from Pitchfork, Stereogum, The Fader, Nylon, and many more.
The Dears – No Cities Left: The Definitive 20th Anniversary Edition 2xLP+MP3 (Outside Music)
A double LP pressed on white vinyl alongside a digital download card with six previously unreleased acoustic tracks. The acoustic versions showcase Murray Lightburn’s moving vocals and offer a look behind the curtain of The Dears’ signature synth-laden and cinematic arrangements, revealing their powerful and heartfelt songwriting.
Brett Dennen – If It Takes Forever 2xLP (Mick Music)
Since debuting in 2004 with a self-titled album, Brett Dennen has established himself as the kind of singer-songwriter who finds inspiration by digging into the nooks and crannies of the human condition-exploring pain, joy, sadness, and all points in between.
Eli & Fur – Dreamscapes 2xLP ([PIAS] Électronique)
White colorway. Rooted in over a decade of unwavering collaboration, this meticulously curated anthology unveils the next evolution of Eli & Fur’s sound, simultaneously revealing their most authentic expression to date. Each composition introduces a new – yet familiar – sensation, offering a poignant demonstration of their songwriting prowess (they began as lyricists for other successful artists), artistic range and technical expertise. Each song tells its own story ‘about the beauty of all corners of the night, dawn to dusk and the flashes in between’. In this nocturnal interlude, the veil between self and surroundings grows thin and time suddenly stands still. As the outside world fades away a sense of solace and sanctuary sets in, opening the door for the ordinary to give way to the extraordinary.
Fantasy Of A Broken Heart – Feats Of Engineering LP (Dots Per Inch Music)
Fantasy Of A Broken Heart’s debut album, Feats Of Engineering, is both sweeping epic and a candid record of everyday moments, an emotional scrapbook filled with things that happened and things that didn’t. Having earned their chops with groups including Water From Your Eyes, Sloppy Jane, & Dorian Electra, it’s no wonder this special group has already been called “life-affirming” by the New York Times.
Faux Real – Faux Ever LP (City Slang)
Crystal clear vinyl pressing. It’s hard to pin down Faux Real. The Franco-American duo, comprised of brothers Elliott and Virgile Arndt, have been steadily broadening the scope of their project. Their high-octane DIY performances, involving matching cut-up boiler suits lined with fringe, barefoot dance routines, and crowd-splitting high- kicks, are taking on a more established and ever more unhinged form — think Iggy Pop meets campy Eurodance boyband.
Funeral Portrait – Greetings From Suffocate City LP (Better Noise Music)
Neon green colorway. The Funeral Portrait stands to represent outcasts from all walks of life. The misunderstood, the weird, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, marginalized, & otherwise given an unfair hand in life. To offer a sense of community, a place to belong & a space where they can feel safe & accepted for their differences. They all grew up “the weird kid” who was saved by music & the alternative culture, so they now feel obligated to return this favor to the younger generation.
Ginger Root – City Slicker 12” (Acrophase)
On this EP, Ginger Root continues to pioneer their self-proclaimed genre: “Aggressive elevator soul”. By blending the bones and blueprints from the works of yacht rock and city pop, with textures from the ever-evolving bedroom pop scene, glueing them all together fruitions something uniquely Ginger Root.
Mason Jennings – Birds Flying Away [Reissue/2000] LP (Bar/None)
Mason Jennings – Century Spring [Reissue/2002] LP (Bar/None)
Originally released in 2000, Mason Jennings’ sophomore release firmly establishes him as a singer/songwriter with staying power. It reveals his penchant for singing first-person narratives of imaginary rustic characters. The New York Times compared him to Dave Matthews and in 2016, City Pages said that Birds Flying Away was Mason Jennings’ best record. Jennings’ third album Century Spring sees him emerging as an accomplished folk/pop troubadour. “In the spirit of Ray Davies, Rufus Wainwright, and John Hiatt, Jennings’ witty vocal inflections speak volumes, underpinning his meditative lyrics with sex appeal and wisdom borne of experience.” – All Music
Fela Kuti – Alagbon Close [Reissue/1974] LP (Partisan)
Alagbon Close was named after the headquarters of the Nigerian Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos. It was where Fela was detained after the second raid on his home failed to find anything incriminating. The title track calls out the Nigerian police’s violence, arrogance and apparent immunity from prosecution. Alagbon Close was also the first of Fela’s albums to have a sleeve designed by Ghariokwu Lemi, whose artwork became an integral part of Afrobeat’s message. To mark its 50th anniversary, the album is presented on Jollof orange color vinyl in a single pocket, wide-spine jacket with gold foil OBI strip.
Merce Lemon – Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild LP/Cassette (Darling)
Within the quiet, cascading corners of Pittsburgh lies a community – essentially one large family – that spans neighborhoods and generations. Upon this foundation, Merce Lemon built her latest album: Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild. These are earnest songs, of belonging and longing, in which romantic and familial love rip into and out of themselves in a flurry of reckoning. There is a fierceness, a persistence in this vulnerability, that is matched by the wildness of her band. [A bubblegum pink color vinyl pressing is available.]
John Lennon – Mind Games (Meditation Mixes) 3xLP (Capitol)
Newly, radically reimagined remixes, created from John Lennon’s classic song, “Mind Games.” These 9 Meditation Mixes create their own space while maintaining firm, authentic roots in his original recording of the song. Each mix has been radically altered, slowed down and extended, ranging from 5 to 10 to over 33 minutes, allowing for the musical soundtrack to wash over the listener and provide a relaxing, immersive, deep listening and meditative experience. Crystal clear vinyl pressing.
Sondre Lerche – Two Way Monologue [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Sondre Lerche LLC)
This 20th Anniversary Edition of Sondre Lerche’s classic album features four never-before-heard bonus tracks and is the first re-pressing of this album in over a decade. 2xLP set on white vinyl in gatefold jacket.
M.A.G.S. – M.A.G.S. LP (Take This To Heart)
M.A.G.S. is the moniker of the American musician and songwriter Elliott Douglas Kozel, known for his distinctive blend of indie rock and pop-infused melodies. With a unique and dynamic sound that incorporates elements of alternative rock, punk, and catchy hooks, M.A.G.S. has garnered attention for his emotive songwriting and energetic live performances. With a commitment to pushing musical boundaries and a passion for storytelling through his songs, M.A.G.S. continues to evolve and captivate audiences with his distinctive sound.
Nate Mercereau – Excellent Traveler 2xLP (Third Man)
Red colorway. “I consider the music on this album in different ways — as environments, a forest or a city, or some type of new not yet created combination of those things. The album as a place to visit, look around, explore, and travel through … It’s also a type of diary, or a moving sonic photo album, representing Traveling Excellently, physically, emotionally, dimensionally. All of these recordings are made from my living collection of samples interpreted and played with my guitar. I use the guitar as a sampler and synth controller, allowing me to make anything my ‘instrument.’”
Mötley Crüe – Greatest Hits [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (BMG)
The ultimate Greatest Hits from ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Band.’ Released in 1998, this platinum-certified collection features the massive hits, fan favorites and rarities, including “Kickstart My Heart,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Too Young To Fall In Love,” “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” and many more.
Mountain Goats – The Coroner’s Gambit [Reissue/2000] LP (Merge)
Kanky Korn hybrid yellow colorway. Originally released in October 2000, The Coroner’s Gambit finds John Darnielle between physical and sonic spaces, five of its sixteen songs recorded in Simon Joyner’s Omaha, Nebraska, studio, five more at home in Colo, Iowa, and the rest in Ames. The album came together slowly; The Mountain Goats had released music every year from 1991 to 1998, but between the release of that year’s New Asian Cinema EP and The Coroner’s Gambit, 1999 passed without an official Mountain Goats release. The additional time that went into The Coroner’s Gambit paid off: It is a breakthrough for Darnielle as a songwriter and practitioner of the full-length album.
Old Dominion – Odies But Goodies LP (SME Nashville)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Old Dominion take longtime fans on a stroll down memory lane with a collection of career-spanning hits and deep cuts.
The Paper Kites – Evergreen LP (Nettwerk)
Green w/ black splatter colorway. Australian indie folk rock band The Paper Kites release Evergreen, a compilation featuring the band’s debut EP Woodland and follow-up EP Young North for the first time on vinyl.
Passepartout Duo and Inoyama Land – Radio Yugawara LP (Tonal Union)
Clear vinyl pressing. Kindred spirits Passepartout Duo and Inoyama Land embody the essence of play-charting a new chapter and reinvigorating the environmental music and electronic landscape. Passepartout Duo is formed of Nicoletta Favari (IT) and Christopher Salvito (IT/US), who since 2015 have been on a continuous journey travelling the world’s corners, engaged in a creative process they term “slow music”. The respective duo’s approach can really be described as “tuning in”, a tuning into each other, to themselves, and to the surrounding nature of Yugawara.
Pavlov’s Dog – Essential Records 1974-2018 5xLP (Ruf)
It’s been a half century since Pavlov’s Dog burst onto the burgeoning progressive rock scene of the early 1970s. Hailing from the city of St. Louis, Missouri, their heady blend of rock, classical and folk music turned them into cult legends.
Peter Cat Recording Co. – Beta 2xLP (Muddy Water)
After a near decade spent in obscurity, Peter Cat Recording Co., or PCRC, emerged from the toxic winter smog of Delhi to enter the global Krishna consciousness with the release of 2019’s Bismillah, the culmination of years of refining their unique vision of 21st century pop music. Seeking a transcultural sound, centered around the song writing of Suryakant Sawhney, PCRC’s music mines ideas from both time and space, across centuries and continents, extracting and transforming them into modern hymns and timeless folk, something you could perhaps imagine hearing in the holo-deck of a ship from Star Trek.
Sabaton – The Tour To End All Tours – Live In Amsterdam 3xLP (Nuclear Blast)
Red, white, and blue LPs. Experience the explosive power of Sabaton’s legendary stage show in Sabaton – The Tour To End All Tours. Recorded during their European Tour at Amsterdam’s iconic Ziggo Dome Venue in 2023, the electrifying concert recording captures the essence of Sabaton’s monumental stage presence and showcases the band’s ability to tell historical tales through heavy metal.
The Sword – Live At Levitation LP (Reverberation Appreciation Society)
Austin, TX legends, The Sword, welcome in the twelfth vinyl release in the Live at Levitation series. On June 27, 2024, the band announced they would reunite for a one-off concert on November 3 at the 2024 edition of Levitation in Austin. In celebration of this reunion, we pulled from the archive and this limited live release showcases the bands appearance at the festival with their 2015 and 2021 performances. These recordings are now immortalized on beautiful, limited color vinyl.
toe – The Book About My Idle Plot On A Vague Anxiety [Reissue/2015] LP (Topshelf)
toe – Hear You [Reissue/2015] LP (Topshelf)
New colorways. toe is a Japanese post-rock/math rock band formed at the end of 2000. RIYL: Mono, Envy, Russian Circles.
Peter Tosh – Mama Africa [Reissue/1983] LP (Rhino)
Red colorway. Peter Tosh’s most accessible’ solo album, Mama Africa, would also be his best seller outside Jamaica, the only one his albums to break into the U.K. Top 50 and even push into the bottom reaches of the U.S. charts. Tosh concentrated on the music, self-producing an album that sounds fantastic from start to finish. Every track on the album is just as memorable in its own way, as the artist combines styles, genres, moods, and atmospheres across songs old and new.
Tsjuder – Kill For Satan [Reissue/2000] LP (Season Of Mist)
Silver colorway. Lightning-speed, blasphemous metal is Tsjuder’s raison d’etre. Kill For Satan, their first proper full-length, was a vicious statement of intent.
U – Full Moon / Black Hole 12” (Lex)
This formidable double A-side single is comprised of two stern, industrialized workouts functioning in the murky, under-explored area where gothtronica combines with authoritative EBM. Slicing samples from an untapped musical realm where electronically tinged post-punk segued into new wave, experimental pop and eventually early rudimentary house. Both tracks carry hints of that era’s melodic archetypes and employ merciless rhythms to hammer them into the psyche.
Warm Human – Hamartia LP (Sooper)
Hamartia is the fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine. A narrative tool often determining a character’s arc (or fate) underpinning many of our favorite stories in film, literature, and music. Meredith Johnston, the singer-songwriter-producer at the heart of indie project Warm Human, borrowed the term for the title of her latest LP. Hamartia finds Johnston probing the depths of own fatal flaw, self-hatred, without skimping on the catchy hooks and bracingly frank lyricism. “This whole album is pop music for deranged people” she says.
Cassettes:
Aztlan Unearthed – Aztlan Unearthed (Org Music)
Aztlan Unearthed is an indigenous focused acoustic group that is an extension of the group Aztlan / Anahuak Underground, featuring members Yaotl Mazahua, Joe Galarza and Caxo. Seeking to preserve their native culture, the music highlights the instruments inherited from their ancestors, to channel their sounds, energies, and frequencies.
Chat Pile – Cool World (The Flenser)
Like the towering mounds of toxic waste from which it gets its namesake, the music of Oklahoma City noise rock quartet Chat Pile is a suffocating, grotesque embodiment of the existential anguish that has defined the 21st Century. It figures that a band with this abrasive, unrelenting, and outlandish of a sound has stuck as strong of a chord as it has. Dread has replaced the American dream, and Chat Pile’s music is a poignant reminder of that shift-a portrait of an American rock band molded by a society defined by it’s cold and cruel power systems.
Current Joys – East My Love (Secretly Canadian)
East My Love, the resplendent, country-tinged 12th album by Current Joys, feels familiar. It’s meant to: the 12 songs contained within dive deep into the rich folklore of the American West to tell time-worn tales of love and trauma, heartbreak and spiritual renewal. Cast with a warm glow and finding Current Joys’ Nick Rattigan tapping into some of his lushest, most high-fidelity production to date, it’s the kind of album that listeners could see themselves within, and, hopefully, keep close when they’re most in need of reassurance or escapism. For Rattigan, though, it’s all that and more.
Merce Lemon – Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild (Darling)
Within the quiet, cascading corners of Pittsburgh lies a community – essentially one large family – that spans neighborhoods and generations. Upon this foundation, Merce Lemon built her latest album: Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild. These are earnest songs, of belonging and longing, in which romantic and familial love rip into and out of themselves in a flurry of reckoning. There is a fierceness, a persistence in this vulnerability, that is matched by the wildness of her band.
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