CDs:
ABBA – Essential Collection 2xCD (Polydor)
New hits collection featuring 39 classics from the Swedish pop legends. Includes “Waterloo,” “Ring Ring,” “SOS” “Mamma Mia,” “Fernando,” “Dancing Queen,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” and more.
Tori Amos – Gold Dust CD/CD+DVD (Deutsche Grammophon)
Tori Amos re-imagines a personally handpicked collection of songs spanning her entire catalogue. Produced by Amos with arrangements by longtime collaborator John Phlip Shenale, Gold Dust features reworkings of songs in orchestral setting which Amos recorded with the renowned Metropole Ochestra, conducted by Jules Buckley. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe edition includes a 32 page hardcover booklet and a DVD that features music videos for “Flavor,” “Gold Dust” and behind the scenes footage.
Axewound – Vultures CD (The End)
It takes just one listen to Axewound’s lead single “Post Apocalyptic Party” to make intentions abundantly clear: they are a metal band — proudly, defiantly and unbendingly so.
Autumn’s Grey Solice – Divinian CD (Projekt)
For fans of darkwave, shoegaze, ethereal wave, and dreampop. “A beautiful masterpiece of shimmering guitars and ethereal vocals that lure the listener in, enraptured and captivated.” –Gothic Paradise
Jessica Bailiff – At The Down-Turned Jagged Rim Of The Sky CD/LP (Kranky)
Down-tuned, distorted bass guitar adds a new color to her palette, but familiar ones also come into play: fuzzed and delayed electric guitar, organ, piano, cello, and drums. Noisy pop-tinged love songs nestle slyly in a bed of off-kilter lullabies & dark, metallic waltzes.
Balmorhea – Stranger CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
Balmorhea’s most forward-leaning album utilizes an expanded sonic palette including guitar loops, vibes, synthesizers, ukulele, and steel pan drums. “An exemplary experiment in restraint, lush with a slow-burning, wordless, and ambient Americana that manages to captivate while avoiding the histrionics of its post-rock forebears.” — The New Yorker
John Cale – Shifty Adventures In Nookie Wood CD/LP (Domino)
Shifty Adventrues In Nookie Wood is an album that seems born out of John’s mischievous youth. It is the result of sessions held at his L.A. studio with days experimenting with MPC’s, pounding fists onto pianos, manipulating glitches and lots of signature viola drone. As a producer, John Cale has reached a new plateau here. He deftly manages to blend equal measures of chaos and beauty.
California Wives – Art History CD (Vagrant)
“In the moment of hesitation between the opening chord and the entrance of the entire ensemble lies the enigmatic quality that drives California Wives’ debut album Art History, an album that continually surprises and refreshes its listeners with a soothing juxtaposition of steady rock anthems and new wave electronic vibes.” — Paste
Dark Dark Dark – Who Needs Who CD/LP (Supply And Demand Music)
Rich, stirring body of songs that sees the band break ground and settle into the strengths of a quintet that has worked incredibly hard, both on the road and in their personal lives. A new tone for avant-garde pop.
Diva – Moon Moods CD/LP (Critical Heights)
Ten tracks filled with wonder and electro pop enchantment. Having honed her pop dynamic to a gloriously melodic precision, Diva plucks inspiration from a myriad of different styles: post-punk churned up with doo-wop, R&B, hip-hop, exotica, italo disco, psych and new age.
DJ Drama – Quality Street Music CD (eOne)
DJ Drama is best known for the successful Gangsta Grillz series as well as todays most popular and powerful mixtape maker. The first single from the album “My Moment” features 2 Chainz, Meek Mill and Jeremih.
Durutti Column – Return Of The Durruti Column [Reissue/1980] CD (1972)
Durutti Column – LC [Reissue/1981] CD (1972)
First-ever domestic CD releases of these Vini Reilly’s masterpieces.
Mark Eitzel – Don’t Be A Stranger CD/LP (Merge)
After a string of bad luck that included a heart attack that set him back several months and the implosion of his band American Music Club, Mark Eitzel fortuitously found himself in the studio with celebrated producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rickie Lee Jones, Ron Sexsmith, Ben Harper), thanks to the generosity of an old friend.
ERAAS – ERAAS CD/LP (Felte)
ERAAS is a tribal atmospheric quartet based in Brooklyn led by its two founding members Robert Toher and Austin Stawiarz which arose from the ashes of New England-based project Apse in 2011, forming with the desire to create more ritualistic and darker themes.
Jackie Evancho – Songs From The Silver Screen CD (Columbia)
Evancho applies her brilliant voice and extraordinary artistry to an entirely new set of classics.
Factory Floor – Two Different Ways CD (DFA)
Hand-stamped CD single featuring remixes by Perc and Richard H. Kirk.
First Aid Kit – Drunken Trees CDEP (Wichita)
The Drunken Trees EP takes you back to the first chapter of First Aid Kits ever evolving career. Features live show staples and fan favorites such as, ”Tangerine”, ”Our Own Pretty Ways”and ”You’re Not Coming Home Tonight”.
First Aid Kit – Lion’s Roar [Deluxe Edition] CD+DVD (Wichita)
This new edition of Lion’s Roar is repackaged with three bonus tracks as well as a DVD which features an exclusive tour documentary and three promo videos.
Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes CD/2xLP (Warp)
Composed, according to FlyLo, as a “collage of mystical states, dreams, sleep and lullabies.” The sound is an unhinged, yet elegant evolution of the melodic and rhythmic interplay that is woven into the DNA of his aural personae. Includes guests Erykah Badu and Thom Yorke.
Rayna Gellert – Old Light: Songs From My Childhood & Other Gone Worlds CD/LP (2nd Story Music)
Rayna Gellert’s deep roots in American traditional music have informed her work with artists such as Robyn Hitchcock, Tyler Ramsey, Sara Watkins, and John Paul Jones, as well as her tenure as a member of the string band Uncle Earl.
Haarp – Husks CD/LP (Housecore)
New album from the New Orleans dirgesmiths.
Hammock – Departure Songs 2xCD (Hammock Music)
Hammock goes massive as they meditate on grand themes of death and loss — their music even larger, more expansive.
Heart – Fanatic CD/LP (Legacy)
Heart’s 14th studio album.
Helstar – 30 Years Of Hel 2xCD+DVD (AFM)
In 1982 Helstar was formed in Texas, being one of the first power metal bands coming from The States.
How To Dress Well – Total Loss CD (Acephale)
How To Dress Well is the stage name of songwriter and producer Tom Krell. Combining a gorgeous falsetto with fractured R&B-influenced beats, an instinctive ear for subtly devastating melody and elements of noise, sound collage and avant-garde composition, Krell’s debut album Love Remains offered a beautiful window into a startlingly realized artistic imagination. Vinyl version due November 13.
Jodis – Black Curtain CD/LP (Hydra Head)
The opening track “Broken Ground” features spikes of reverb-drenched guitar that sprawl across a humming electronic horizon, over which delicately draped vocal melodies twist, collide and dissolve. Drums occasionally rise from the ether, punctuating the meditative passages of pastoral calm. Certainly heavy, but definitely not metal.
Diana Krall – Glad Rag Doll CD/2xLP (Verve)
New album available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds several bonus tracks. Glad Rag Doll is an exhilarating and adventurous exploration of new sounds, new instrumentation and new musicians. It stars a singer and piano player, filled with mischief, humor and a renewed sense of tenderness and intimacy.
Living By Lanters – New Myth/Old Science CD/LP (Cuneiform)
Living By Lanterns brings together rising stars from Chicago and New York: Greg Ward (alto sax), Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor sax), Tomeka Reid (cello), Mary Havorson (guitar), Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone), Joshua Abrams (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Mike Reed (drums, electronics). The tunes on New Myth/Old Science were written by co-leaders Reed and Adasiewicz, based on an archival rehearsal tape by Sun Ra from 1961. That tape contains no compositions per-se, but there are a lot of stream-of-consciousness ideas and some of these ideas were teased out, hugely expanded upon and turned into the pieces heard here.
Cher Lloyd – Sticks & Stones CD (Epic)
New from the high-energy X Factor UK darling. Includes “Want U Back” featuring Snoop Dogg.
Tim Maia – Nobody Can Live Forever: The Existential Soul Of Tim Maia CD/LP (Luaka Bop)
A 15-track survey of Maia’s 1970s recordings, completely remastered, commemorating what would have been the Brazilian musical legend’s 70th birthday on September 28. The release is the fourth in the label’s World Psychedelic Classics series, known for unearthing long neglected masterworks by Os Mutantes, Shuggie Otis, and one of the first compilations of African psychedelia and funk.
Marillion – Sounds That Can’t Be Made CD (Eagle Rock)
“This is just about the most consistent album Marillion have produced over their career (and this is a band whose back catalogue contains Misplaced Childhood, Clutching At Straws, Brave, Afraid Of Sunlight, Marbles, and Happiness Is The Road.)” — Progarchives.com
Demetri Martin – Stand Up Comedian CD (Comedy Central)
This is Demetri Martin’s second album. It was recorded in Minneapolis and has a lot of jokes and stuff. Also available on stand-alone DVD.
Maserati – VII CD (Temporary Residence)
Perfectly captures the essence and evolution of Maserati as face-melting, bone-rattling, ass-shaking Moroder metal. Vinyl version due October 16.
Matt & Kim – Lightning CD (Fader Label)
Matt and Kim return with their fourth album. Features the singles “Let’s Go,” and “Now.”
Menace Ruine – Alight In Ashes CD (Profound)
New album from Montreal industrial blackened neo-folk duo. For fans of Nico, Merzbow, Death In June.
Tift Merritt – Traveling Alone CD/2xLP (Yep Roc)
New album features guest appearance by Andrew Bird and a band that includes Marc Ribot, Eric Heywood (Pretenders, Son Volt), John Convertino (Calexico) and longtime collaborator Jay Brown.
Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream CD/LP (RCA)
Sophomore album from the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter.
Misser – Everyday I Tell Myself I Am Going To Be A Better Person CD/LP (Rise)
New side-project from Tim Landers of Transit and This Time Next Year’s Brad Wiseman.
Moon Duo – Circles CD/LP (Sacred Bones)
“[The] San Francisco duo’s most accessible offering yet, a sumptuous, resplendent slab of psychedelia that — unlike its excellent predecessors — allows for a host of colors and textures with which they’d yet to experiment.” — Spin
Steve Moore – Light Echoes CD (Cuneiform)
Steve Moore is one-half of Zombi. Light Echoes is a 70-minute-long electronic meditation — a continuation of the German ‘cosmic music’ made famous in the ‘70’s.
Van Morrison – Born To Sing: No Plan B CD (Blue Note)
Morrison’s 35th studio album as a solo artist, his first new album in four years.
The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Mountain Goats’ 14th proper studio album is about people who madly, stupidly, blessedly won’t stop surviving, no matter who gives up on them, and features many more instruments than on his early cassette tapes, including Peter Hughes on bass, Jon Wurster on drums, and, for the first time, a full horn section.
Muse – The 2nd Law CD/CD+DVD/2xLP (WB)
England’s masters of maximalist rock expand their sound even further on their sixth album. Continuing to draw on electronic influences like synth pop and dubstep, Muse looked to artists like Justice and Skrillex as they sought out new ways to evolve their grandiose symphonic rock sound. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus DVD.
Natural Snow Buildings – Night Coercion Into The Company Of Witches 3xCD (Ba Da Bing!)
The first domestic release by France’s mythic Natural Snow Buildings, a band revered in experimental music circles despite self-releasing most of their albums in ridiculously limited runs. Fans of Popol Vuh raga drones, Flying Saucer Attack distorted bliss, The Dead C’s intuitive chaos, and Islaja’s oblique folk, take note. Vinyl version due October 16.
Jerrod Niemann – Free The Music CD (Arista)
“Some may say Jerrod Niemann’s Free The Music album pushes the country music envelope, but it actually pays homage to the genre’s past, present and future.” — The Boot
Lindi Ortega – Cigarettes & Truck Stops CD (Last Gang)
Cigarettes & Truck Stops was largely inspired by Ortega’s move to Nashville from her hometown, Toronto, which brought her closer to the origins of many of her influences, including Hank Williams.
Beth Orton – Sugaring Season CD/LP+CD (Anti)
Beth Orton’s new album captures the classic hypnotic sound that won her prominence, at the same time as it shows a singer at the full maturity of her instrument, with a new soulfulness that can recall Roberta Flack or Nina Simone one moment, June Christy at the next. “Folk music for those who think they’re tired of folk music. 4/5.” — Q Magazine
Papa Roach – The Connection CD (Eleven Seven Music)
New album from the nu-metal mainstays — available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds bonus tracks.
Tristan Prettyman – Cedar + Gold CD (Capitol)
With an artistry that lies in her finely etched lyrical details and intimate vocal performances, Prettyman spares no one, including herself, on songs like “Say Anything,” “I Was Gonna Marry You,” “Come Clean,” “Glass Jar,” and “Never Say Never.” As intense as some of the songs may be, the mood is tempered not only by playfully twisted tunes like first single “My Oh My,” but also by the albums warm, earthy sound.
Project Pat – Belly On Full CD (Money Management)
Project Pat brings his street perspective to new levels with production from Three 6 Mafias, Juicy J, and DJ Paul.
Public Image Ltd. – Out Of The Woods/Reggie Song CDEP/12” (PiL Official)
Featuring two singles taken from their recent album This Is PiL, this EP also contains various live tracks taken from the band’s performance at New York City’s Terminal 5 in 2010.
Chris Rene – I’m Right Here CD (Epic)
Hailing from Santa Cruz, California, Chris Renes show-stopping X Factor audition of original song “Young Homie” vaulted him to a top 3 finish on the show.
Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin – Live 2xCD (ECM)
A powerful and atmospheric concert recording with music captured in Germany, Austria, Holland, England, and Japan — a double-album which transmits the live impact of Nik Bartschs band and its enveloping modular groove music of interlocking rhythms.
Jake Shimabukuro – Grand Ukulele CD (Mailboat)
The Jimi Hendrix of the Ukulele continues to defy the limitations of his four-string, two-octave instrument.
Shout Out Out Out Out – Spanish Moss And Total Loss CD/LP (Quite Scientific)
Third full length from Edmonton’s favorite sons. Expanding the instrumentation to include four bassists and two drummers, a mountain of analog synths, sax, piano, baritone guitar, and Rhodes piano, SO4’s new album breathes nicely, and is a more melodic indie-electronic effort than previous efforts. Fans of Solvent, LCD Soundsystem and The Knife should take note.
Cody Simpson – Paradise CD (Atlantic)
This Queensland, Australia-born singer/songwriter is shaping up to be a true pop phenomenon.
Benny Sings – The Best Of Benny Sings CD (Dox)
After the success of his latest album Art Benny Sings releases a ‘Best Of’ album. It features tracks from previous albums (compiled by fans from all over the world), two tracks from side project We’ll Make It Right and two brand new tracks.
Ray Stinnett – A Fire Somewhere CD/2xLP+MP3 (Light In The Attic)
A hippie-fied, soul-rock/folk-rock/psych-rock gem lost in the vaults for four decades.
Sun Airway – Soft Fall CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
Sun Airway’s pop songs move out of the bedroom and into cathedrals. Touches of ELO and New Order brush up against hints of modern sounds like M83 and Radio Dept., carried by the subtle breeze of Bjork’s Homogenic.
Taken By Trees – Other Worlds CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
Taken By Trees’ Other Worlds is a impressionist poem for the Hawaiian Islands, where on a recent visit, chanteuse Victoria Bergsman found a swell of creative inspiration. Working closely with photographer Amanda Marsalis, Victoria intimately documented her time in Hawaii.
The Telephone Man – The Telephone Man 1992-1994 CD (Temporary Residence)
First-ever remastered complete studio recordings of obscure, but prescient Louisville, KY band. They were the missing link between the introverted slow burn of Slint, the angular aggression of Bitch Magnet, and the emotional expressiveness of early-‘90s DC punk.
Three Days Grace – Transit Of Venus CD (RCA)
“Of course the band’s penchant for infectious and often invigorating hooks remains staunchly preserved, but they’ve undeniably progressed here, and the results are nothing short of incredible.” — Artist Direct
Tilly & The Wall – Heavy Mood CD/LP (Saddle Creek)
Produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters Of Folk) and featuring collaborations with Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Clark Baechle (The Faint), Heavy Mood is the band’s most adventurous album to date.
The Tragically Hip – Now For Plan A CD (Zoe)
Produced by Gavin Brown (Metric, Boys Like Girls, Three Days Grace) and featuring guest vocals by Sarah Harmer, Now For Plan A is the thirteenth studio album from the Kingston, Ontario quintet.
Frank Turner – Last Minutes & Lost Evenings CD+DVD (Epitaph)
15 songs, standards and rarities, hand-picked by Frank Turner from his catalog to attract new fans. Includes a bonus DVD of his recent show at Wembley.
Trop Tard – Photodrame CD (Sacred Bones)
“Trop Tard” is a French term translating to “too late.” It is also the name of one of the darkest and most elusive bands to come out of Europe. For nearly a quarter century the music of Trop Tard has been lost to the world, trapped in the icy expanse of mid-‘80s provincial France.
Two Fingers – Stunt Rhythms 2xCD (Big Dada)
Recently released on vinyl — now available on CD. Amon Tobin gets his hip-hop balls out, reviving his Two Fingers alias as a solo outlet.
Ultraísta – Ultraísta CD/LP (Temporary Residence)
Ultraista is a multimedia trio founded on a mutual love of Afrobeat, electronic and dance music, visual art, and tequila. Highly infectious, exquisitely crafted electronic kraut-pop.
The Vaccines – Come Of Age CD/LP (Columbia)
The band worked with producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Laura Marling) to capture a more intimate sound by recording everything live to track. The new album showcases a matured band that has rightfully and rapidly completed their rite of passage.
Bry Webb – Provider CD/LP (Idee Fixe)
Debut solo album from Bry Webb, who was best known as the principal singer/songwriter for legendary rock band Constantines.
Andre Williams – Life CD/LP (Alive)
Andre Williams began a very prolific and creative phase of his life when he finally got off booze and drugs. Life was recorded this past winter in Detroit, the city where his musical career first began in the 1950’s. Produced by Matthew Smith, the album’s sonic palette recalls the work of Norman Whitfield’s Motown productions, ‘70s Rolling Stones, Can, Bill Withers, Serge Gainsbourg, as well as Andre’s own doo-wop and funk history.
Zion I – Shadowboxing CD (Live Up)
A beat-heavy hip-hop album decidedly grittier than past projects.
Z-Ro – Angel Dust CD (Rap-A-Lot)
Joseph Wayne McVey better known by his stage name Z-Ro, is a rapper and producer from Houston, TX. He was named one of America’s most underrated rappers by the New York Times and was an original member of the Screwed Up Click. All of his records are named after drugs.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Demetri Martin – Stand Up Comedian DVD (Comedy Central)
This is Demetri Martin’s second album. It was recorded in Minneapolis and has a lot of jokes and stuff. 60 minutes.
Vinyl:
Allo Darlin’ = Northern Lights 7” (Slumberland)
The superbly jangly “Northern Lights” is the third single from Allo Darlin’s second album Europe, which was released in May.
Aphex Twin – I Care Because You Do [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (1972)
Aphex Twin – Richard D. James Album [Reissue/1996] LP (1972)
HQ-180 vinyl reissues of Aphex Twin’s long-out-of-print second and third LPs.
Big D And The Kid’s Table – Built Up From Nothing: Strictly Dub 2xLP+MP3 (Side One Dummy)
Double-LP consisting of 17 dub interpretations of tracks from the Big D And The Kids Table catalog including songs from Strictly Rude, Salem Girls and Fluent In Stroll as well as other previously unreleased songs.
Neneh Cherry & The Thing – Dream Baby Dream/Cashback 12” (Smalltown Supersound)
First remix 12″ from Cherry Thing containing Four Tet’s wonderful remix of Neneh Cherry & The Thing’s cover of “Dream Baby Dream” by Suicide, and Lindstrom & Prins Thomas’ remix of Neneh Cherry’s own “Cashback” track into a nine-minute disco epic.
Dan Deacon – True Thrush b/w Believer 7” (Domino)
First single from the recently released album America, featuring non-album B-side.
Iris DeMent – Sing The Delta CD/LP (Flariella)
DeMent’s first album of original material in 16 years, Sing The Delta is uplifting and heartbreaking, ripe with twang and soul. Dixie horns, weeping slide guitar balladry and bright, Gospel-tinged piano swirl as Iris contemplates religion, love and family.
DJ Shadow – Reconstructed: The Best Of DJ Shadow 2xLP (Hip-O Select)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Collects tracks drawn from Shadow’s 20-year career — from the early pre-Mo Wax days, right up to the present and his most recent album, The Less You Know, The Better, and two new songs.
djTRIO – 21 September 2002 LP+MP3 (Cuneiform)
A wild sonic collage from noted turntablists Christian Marclay, Toshio Kajiwara, and DJ Olive.
Aaron Embry – Silent Prayers LP (Vagrant)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album from original member of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Embry has previously toured/recorded with Willie Nelson, Daniel Lanois, Elliott Smith and others.
Evans The Death – Catch Your Cold 7” (Slumberland)
Second single from British indie pop five-piece’s S/T debut full-length. Features a non-LP b-side.
Lavender Diamond – Incorruptible Heart LP (Paracadute)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Turns from soaring electro-pop to distantly showtuney eruptions (featuring M. Ward on guitar) to simple strums.
Sondre Lerche – Faces Down [Reissue/2002] LP+MP3 (Mona)
Sondre Lerche – Two Way Monologue [Reissue/2004] LP+MP3 (Mona)
Sondre Lerche – Duper Sessions [Reissue/2006] LP+MP3 (Mona)
Sondre Lerche – Phantom Punch [Reissue/2007] LP+MP3 (Mona)
Vinyl reissues featuring bonus tracks and rarities specific to each album’s recording session.
Lightning Bolt – Oblivion Hunter LP (Load)
A collection of Lightning Bolt’s epic recording sessions over the last few years. From the get-go the sound is amped-up and free: bass sounds jump out of the speaker cones that conjure up ears in alien propulsion systems, nights in faraway wind tunnels, and brutal beatings at Gitmo. Drums and assorted FX pop in and out with the resolve of a finger quivering over the A-bomb button, drunk on power.
MI-GU – Choose The Light LP (Chimera Music)
MI-GU is Yuko Araki (drum / vocals) with Hirotaka “Shimmy” Shimizu (guitar / producer). Araki & Shimizu are also members of Cornelius group, Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band, If By Yes, and Brother’s Sister’s Daughter (with Mike Watt).
Mount Moriah – Mount Moriah [2011] LP (Merge)
Now on vinyl. Heather McEntire (of post-punk veterans Bellafea) and Jenks Miller (of heavy-psych/metal outfit Horseback) use this project as an outlet for their mutual interest in classic American folk and rock music. With nods to both classic folk-rock (Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Emmylou Harris) and their contemporaries (Gillian Welch, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes), they challenge existing traditional folk music forms with arrangements born from Miller’s interest in minimalism and sound texture.
No Doubt – Push And Shove LP (Interscope)
Recently released on CD – now available on picture disc vinyl. New album from No Doubt, their first since 2001’s Rock Steady. A supercharged blend of ska-rock, dancehall, and electronic pop.
Nosaj Thing – Eclipse/Blue 10” (Innovative Leisure)
A brilliantly confident and progressive statement of intent, ”Eclipse/Blue” is a thing of complex beauty, its stunning melodious thick and distinct, echoed claps driving an inspired escapism that could only have been created by an artist named Nosaj Thing. Features vocals from Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead).
Robert Pollard – Jack Sells The Cow LP (GBV Inc.)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Even for a guy whose famously abundant output makes a joke of the word prolific, this has been a spectacularly productive year for Robert Pollard. Jack Sells The Cow is his second solo album in a year that has already seen the release of two records by the reunited Guided By Voices and will see yet a third before it’s done, along with a fair amount of touring.
Riff Raff – Tell ‘Em (Remix) b/w Rhythms Of The Forest 7” (SomeOthaShipConnect)
Georgia Anne Muldrow remixes Riff Raff McGriff‘s “Tell ‘Em.”
Karriem Riggins – Together LP+MP3 (Stones Throw)
Riggins is a jazz drummer, hip-hop producer, DJ, and sometime rapper. He is a former member of the Ray Brown Trio and Mulgrew Miller trio and currently appears in the Diana Krall quartet. This release completes the Alone Together LP duology.
Southern Shore – New World 12” (Cascine)
A 7-song mini album that’s built on a bed of electronics, break beats and Balearic breezes.
Substantial – Home Is Where The Art Is 2xLP (Mellow Music Group)
The DMV rapper Substantial has been ripping mics for years. Starting with the self-made label U.V. Ink, he began making his mark on the game.
Terror Danjah/Riko Dan – Dark Crawler 12” (Hyperdub)
“Dark Crawler” sees Terror Danjah drop punchy, manic beats and claustrophobic stabs on this bloodthirsty grime banger, with grime’s original London Warlord Riko Dan spitting patois menace of the kind that might make MI5 raise their terrorist threat levels.
Trop Tard – Ils Etaient 9 Dans L’Obscurite LP (Sacred Bones)
One of the rarest, most sought after French coldwave bands. The piercing shards of the simplistic guitar and wicked bursts of electronics complement the ennui of the vocals.
Various Artists – Rough Guide To Ethiopia 2xLP (World Music Network)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Compiled by Francis Falceto, who also put together the Ethiopiques series, these 15 tracks are culled from that collection and other single-artist releases to present a broad array of Ethiopian music, much of it recorded before 1974. Here, we go from the funky grooves of Wallias Band to the smooth jazz style of Mogès Habtè to the warm balladry of Girma Bèyenè to the Latin flavor of Fanayé Tesfayé to traditional Ethiopian music.
Yoga – Skinwalker LP (Holy Mountain)
Vinyl reissue of ridiculously limited 2008 cassette release. “The strange combination of grim & Goblin, the tripped-out fucked-up recording quality, the damaged arrangements, the looped hypnotic quality, turn them into something totally out there, most likely way too abstract & psychedelic & deliriously lo-fi to appeal to folks looking for grim, buzzing blackness, but for the rest of you, if you can try to imagine some impossible mix of Philip Jeck, Wold, Goblin, the Skaters & some of the super weird EEE Records unblack bands, all produced by John Maus & Ariel Pink, then you will flip for this.” — Aquarius
Yo La Tengo – Stupid Things 12” (4AD)
The first music since 2009’s Popular Songs album, “Stupid Things” is a different version of a song that appears on their 2013 album. This also included a remix by EYE of The Boredoms and an instrumental version.
Cassette-only:
Demonologists/HHL – Split Cassette (Crucial Blast)
Demonologists have consistently produced high-quality and supremely vicious assaults of demonic electronic noise over the past few years. Here they are joined by comrades in sonic extremism, HHL.
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