October Program Titles Released This Week:
Blood Orange – Angel’s Pulse CD/LP (Domino)
Angel’s Pulse is the new mixtape from Blood Orange aka Devonté Hynes. It follows the widely celebrated and critically acclaimed album Negro Swan, released last year. “My new record is called Angel’s Pulse and I performed, produced and mixed the entire thing myself,” Hynes notes. “I’m calling it a mixtape. I have a habit through the years of making records that I just give to friends, or on tape to people on the street, or no one. Usually this material is made directly after the album I’ve just put out. Somewhat of an epilogue to the thing I’ve made before. This time…I decided to release it. I put as much work and care into it as I do with the albums I’ve released, but for some reason trained myself into not releasing things the rate at which I make them. I’m older now though, and life is unpredictable and terrifying…so here you go mates. Hope you enjoy.” Guests include: Toro y Moi, Kelsey Lu, Ian Isiah, Justine Skye, Project Pat, Gangsta Boo, Tinashe, Porches, BennY RevivaL, Arca and Joba. [Indie store exclusive vinyl pressing also available.]
Bonnie Bishop – The Walk CD/LP (Plan B)
The first thing that registers about Bonnie Bishop’s stirring album The Walk is that the seasoned Grammy winner is no longer trying to outrun herself; she owns whatever has come her way, good wind or ill. It’s an uplifting confessional that she dedicates “to all who wander” – laying down searing, emotionally-charged variations to award-winning producer Steve Jordan’s (Robert Cray, John Mayer, Buddy Guy) powerhouse production. She does so in a voice that aches and arches and grabs and never let’s go. The Walk soars as her most honest effort to date. It’s a groove-laden, lyrical lightning bolt from which the tonic of self-revelation pours forth on songs such as the grateful “Every Happiness Under The Sun” and the gut-wrenching “I Don’t Like To Be Alone”. The album’s euphoric closer, “Song Don’t Fail Me Now”, is Bonnie’s heartfelt testament that music can heal the spirit.
City And Colour – A Pill For Loneliness CD/2xLP (Still)
Through a kaleidoscope of lush guitars, ethereal orchestration, and heavenly delivery, City And Colour alchemically transforms life’s turbulence into waves of blissful, bold, and brilliant alternative anthems. Under this banner, singer-songwriter Dallas Green siphons serenity from stress on his sixth full-length studio album, A Pill For Loneliness. Ultimately, these 11 tracks illuminate an entrancing and engaging emotional expanse, balancing two extremes with eloquence and energy. “I wrote a lot of dark songs and wrapped them in the most beautiful sounds we could find,” he explains. Introductory single “Astronaut” lifts off on a dusty rumble of clean guitar and a steady beat. Green’s voice immediately captivates as he carries a divine and dynamic hook before an echoing solo. Elsewhere, “Strangers” hinges on a buoyant riff and hummable groove. It charges towards a ghostly refrain awash in reverb as he pleads, “Don’t wake me when this is over, just let me drift amidst my dreams.” From the slow burn build-up of “Living In Lightning”, which borrows its title from John Steinbeck’s East Of Eden, to the gorgeous last gasp of the piano-driven “Lay Me Down,” A Pill For Loneliness unlocks the catharsis hinted at by the title. [Limited indie store exclusive colored vinyl pressing also available.]
DIIV – Deceiver CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
Rebirth takes place when everything falls apart. On DIIV’s third full-length album, Deceiver, they craft the soundtrack to personal resurrection under the heavy weight of metallic catharsis, upheld by robust guitars and vocal tension that almost snaps, but never quite. Lead single “Skin Game,” gallops forth on a clean guitar riff before unfolding into a hypnotic hook offset by an off-kilter rhythm and hummable solo. “It’s an imaginary dialogue between two characters, which could either be myself or people I know,” says Cole of “Skin Game.” “I spent six months in several different rehab facilities at the beginning of 2017. I was living with other addicts. Being a recovering addict myself, there are a lot of questions like, ‘Who are we? What is this disease?’ Our last record was about recovery in general, but I truthfully didn’t buy in. I decided to live in my disease instead. ‘Skin Game’ looks at where the pain comes from. I’m looking at the personal, physical, emotional, and broader political experiences feeding into the cycle of addiction for millions of us.” [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Feet – What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham CD/2xCD/LP (Clapped)
The debut studio album from Coventry five-piece Feet follows their 10” English Weather. Mixed by Alan Moulder (Foals, Interpol, Beach House), experimentation was integral to the process of making the record, from singing about the unpredictability of the humble hot dog (which is where the album title stems from), to stepping out of their comfort zone and relinquishing traditional song structures. What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham fizzes with bright, bold and intensely exciting songwriting. Combining jangly guitars with a cocksure mentality, this is pop music in 2019. There are hints of Maccabees, but you can also hear nods to Parquet Courts, Blur and The Strokes. [The Deluxe CD box set contains a 40-page photo book, two coasters and an extra CD with six bonus tracks.]
Flying Colors – Third Degree CD/2xLP+MP3 (Mascot Label Group)
In chemistry, when certain galvanizing elements come together, they become quite explosive. In music, when certain galvanizing artists come together, they become Flying Colors. In fact, whenever the five gentlemen who encompass Flying Colors – guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse, bassist Dave LaRue, and powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Casey McPherson are able to conjoin their collective talents, the result is a sweet sonic bouillabaisse that reflects where their inherent mastery of melody intersects with top-shelf progressive musicianship. Flying Colors soar to even loftier heights with Third Degree, their third studio album in a decade. Produced by longtime band associate Rich Mouser, Third Degree builds upon the genre-bending momentum of 2012’s self-titled Flying Colors and the aural template ascension of 2014’s Second Nature. There’s a lot of ear candy sprinkled throughout every song,” observes Portnoy, “and each one takes you on a little journey. As albums go, Third Degree is a complete piece that I don’t think ever overstays its welcome.” [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Kevin Griffin – Anywhere You Go CD/LP (The End)
It happened at just the right time…Three decades into an illustrious and multifaceted career, Kevin Griffin finally decided to write and record his very first full-length solo album, Anywhere You Go. The Better Than Ezra frontman, award-winning songwriter, and Pilgrimage Festival co-founder has added yet another persona to his resume: solo troubadour. Buoyed by minimal production, sweeping vocal harmonies, and narrative lyricism, he’s penned some of his most intimate, inimitable, and irresistible tunes. “. “It’s not a Better Than Ezra album, though with a few tweaks it could have been: Griffin’s writing/singing style is recognizable by now, and the Ezras are capable of arranging anything he comes up with. But the band still prefers an uncluttered guitar-band sound, and this album is all about multi-layered arrangements, with exotic keyboards and walls of backing vocals. The best moments come when the arrangements enhance the lyrics, and when Griffin’s natural cleverness admits a bit of personal detail.” – Off Beat
Kacy & Clayton – Carrying On CD/LP (New West)
The music Kacy & Clayton make is inextricable from where they grew up. They sing about the kind of people you’d find in Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan (population very few.) The hills, barns and remoteness of the area are in these songs, with a bittersweet acknowledgement that this music has taken them far from home. Carrying On follows the international acclaim for their previous records Strange Country (which Q magazine called, “A beautiful album that nudges a classic past into a brave future.) and 2017’s The Sirens Song (described by Uncut as “ageless and beguiling. A classic record for this or any other time.”) Their sound is equal parts homespun, coming from a family and community where playing music is an ever present part of social gatherings, and the rare country, blues and English folk rock these second cousins obsess over and collect. For Carrying On, Clayton cites as influences: Bobbie Gentry’s Delta Sweete, Hoyt Axton’s My Griffin Is Gone, Cajun fiddle music, and the steel guitar of Ralph Mooney who played on many of the records that defined the Bakersfield country music scene of the 1950s.
Levitation Room – Headspace CD/LP (Greeway)
Headspace serves as the follow-up to Levitation Room’s 2016 debut, Ethos and their first record on Brooklyn’s Greenway Records. The band’s fuzzy guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll must have struck a chord with a society yearning for their freakbeat brand of psychedelia. With Headspace, Levitation Room displays their process of maturity in sound and songwriting, exploring new territories of influence in music and instrumentation, combining folk, jazz, raga, soul/R&B, pop and of course…psychedelia. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
The Menzingers – Hello Exile CD/LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Philadelphia-based punk band, The Menzingers are set to release their sixth studio album, Hello Exile. Produced by Will Yip (Title Fight, Quicksand), the album is the follow-up to the band’s 2017 critically acclaimed release After The Party. Since forming as teenagers in 2006, The Menzingers have shown their strength as rough-and-tumble storytellers, turning out songs equally rooted in frenetic energy and lifelike detail. On their new album Hello Exile, the band take their lyrical narrative to a whole new level and share their reflections on moments from the past and present: high-school hellraising, troubled relationships, aging and alcohol and political ennui. And while their songs often reveal certain painful truths, Hello Exile ultimately maintains the irrepressible spirit that’s always defined the band. The Menzingers are: singer/guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May, bassist Eric Keen, and drummer Joe Godino.
North Mississippi Allstars – Up And Rolling CD/LP (New West)
In 2017, Wyatt McSpadden found an old roll of film and tracked down members of North Mississippi Allstars to share his forgotten photographs. The images were so profound and so beautiful that they would come to inspire the latest recording, Up And Rolling. The images inspired the band to ask, “What did the music sound like that night in ‘96? What does Mississippi music sound like now? What would ideally be on the push button AM/FM radio as we drove thru the hills?” The North Mississippi Allstars would return to the famous Zebra Ranch to record Up And Rolling, inspired by Wyatt’s images. They gathered together, trimmed back the wisteria, and swept out the converted barn recording studio. They fired up the tube amps and old computers and began conjuring up modern Mississippi music, ancient and futuristic all at once.
Angel Olsen – All Mirrors CD/2xLP (Jagjaguwar)
The descent into darkness is a trope we find time again across history, literature and film. But there’s also an abyss above. There’s a winding white staircase that goes ever upward into the great unknown – each step, each turn, requiring a greater boldness and confidence than the one before. This is the journey on which we find Angel Olsen. The singer-songwriter’s artistic beginnings as a collaborator shifted seamlessly to her magnificent, cryptic-to-cosmic solo work, and then she formed bands to play her songs, and her stages and audiences grew exponentially. But all along, Olsen was more concerned with a different kind of path, and on her vulnerable, new album, All Mirrors, we can see her taking an introspective deep dive towards internal destinations and revelations. In the process of making this album, she found a new sound and voice, a blast of fury mixed with hard won self-acceptance. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Penguin Cafe – Handfuls Of Night CD/LP (Erased Tapes)
Handfuls Of Night began life after Greenpeace commissioned Penguin Cafe’s Arthur Jeffes to write four pieces of music corresponding to four breeds of penguins, to help raise awareness for the endangered Antarctic seas. Using gut-stringed violins, viola, cello, bass, percussion, upright and grand pianos, synthesizer, harmonium and more, Penguin Cafe has crafted a vivid series of panoramic sonic landscapes that are as rich in cerebral poignancy as they are in emotional depth. Bookended by the atmospheric ambient piano pieces “Winter Sun” and “Midnight Sun”, Handfuls Of Night traverse’s glacial minimalism with their signature contemporary classical panoramas. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Joshua Radin – Here, Right Now CD/LP (Nettwerk)
Produced by Tony Berg with an array of guest vocalists and musicians, including Z Berg, Maria Taylor, Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet) and Danny Burke, Here, Right Now is comprised of seven original tracks and two covers (Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” and The Rolling Stones’ “She Smiled Sweetly”) that tackle themes of broken relationships, rescue, friendship and self-determination, all delivered with Joshua Radin’s silvery, intimate tenor. The album’s title track, featuring vocals from Maria Taylor, serves as a reminder to Radin to stay focused on the present. “A delicate, whispery sunbeam of a song, Joshua Radin’s ‘Here, Right Now’ bounces light into the achy places in your heart. Gorgeously simple and unapologetic, it finds Radin pointing to his true North, both musically and personally.” – Parade
SuperM – The 1st Mini Album ‘SuperM’ CD (SM Entertainment/Capitol)
Drawn from some of the most popular K-pop acts in the world, SuperM is a true dream team. As HypeBae noted when the line-up was revealed earlier this month, “Super M Is The New K-Pop Group Everyone Is Talking About” and “When they were unveiled at the Capitol Congress conference in Los Angeles earlier this month, SuperM were described as ‘The Avengers of K-pop.’ Its seven members – Taemin from SHINee, EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai, NCT 127’s Taeyong and Mark, and Ten and Lucas of Chinese band WayV – have sold more than 14 million adjusted albums combined globally and amassed nearly four billion online video views worldwide. With their respective bands, they’ve performed for over seven million people around the globe.
Various Artists – Big Little Lies: Music From Season 2 Of The HBO Limited Series CD/2xLP (ABKCO Music)
Based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling book, and featuring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley, this darkly comedic series tells the tale of three mothers whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. The soul-tinged soundtrack Big Little Lies: Music From Season 2 features music from The Spinners, Elle King, Cassandra Wilson, Ann Peebles, Phoebe Killdeer, Brenton Wood, Charles Bradley, Donnie & Joe Emerson, Pop Etc, Leon Bridges, Jim James, Willie Nelson, Christina Vierra, and Elizabeth Cotten & Brenda Evans. Series’ producer and director Jean-Marc Vallée shared with Billboard, “Welcome back to Big Little Lies’ music world, where the characters are the ones spinning. From Jane to little Chloe to Renata, Celeste, Madeline, Bonnie and Abigail, here is a taste of their eclectic selection of songs from different areas and styles that define Season 2 and reveal a little bit more of their characters.”
Wilco – Ode To Joy CD/2xLP (dBpm)
Jeff Tweedy and Co. follow-up 2016’s Schmilco and the singer/songwriter’s pair of solo albums, Warm and Warmer, with Wilco’s eleventh studio effort, Ode To Joy. Featuring 11 new songs written and produced by Tweedy and recorded by Wilco at The Loft (Chicago, IL) in January 2019, Tweedy and Glenn Kotche were the launching pad from which most of the songs on Ode To Joy materialized – Kotche’s percussion propels the music forward while Tweedy’s measured words flesh out the cleared paths. As a result, the album is comprised of “really big, big folk songs, these monolithic, brutal structures that these delicate feelings are hung on,” notes Tweedy. Across the entire album, drums pound and plod with a steady one – two pulse, meant to mimic the movement of marching – a powerful act utilized on both sides of the authoritarian wall. There’s also a sense of comfort that comes with the rhythmic marching sound. [Limited indie store exclusive pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
November Program Titles Released This Week:
Bill Frisell – Harmony CD (Blue Note)
Acclaimed guitarist Bill Frisell has signed with Blue Note and releases his debut album for the label under his own name with Harmony, a gorgeous and evocative journey across the landscape of American music of the last century. The album features vocalist Petra Haden, cellist and vocalist Hank Roberts, and guitarist, bassist and vocalist Luke Bergman. Longtime fans will recognize Frisell’s ongoing calling to both honor the totality of American music and represent his personal history with integrity. “If I think back throughout my whole life, all the music that I’ve loved,” he says, “why can’t it all be there at the same time? You can play a Bob Dylan song and you can play a standard song or a Charlie Parker song, and they can fit together. Why not? There’s no reason why you can’t have ‘Lush Life’ and ‘Red River Valley’ on the same album. They’re both beautiful songs.” [Vinyl edition due November 8.]
Old Crow Medicine Show – Live At The Ryman CD (Old Crow Medicine Show)
Honoring the history and traditions of the legendary venue, Live From The Ryman captures the raucous energy of Old Crow Medicine Show’s performances, recorded throughout their many headlining shows on the hallowed ground of Nashville’s Mother Church. Featuring guest appearances by Lee Oskar, Margo Price, Charlie Worsham and Molly Tuttle, the 11-track collection incorporates a mix of covers and originals including traditionals like “CC Rider”, “’Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”, to go along with OCMS classics like “Take ‘Em Away”, “Sweet Amarillo” and “Wagon Wheel”. [Vinyl edition due November 22.]
San Fermin – The Cormorant I CD/LP (Masterworks)
The Cormorant I ushers in a new era for Ellis Ludwig-Leone’s Brooklyn-based art pop act San Fermin, who envisions the eight-track collection as the first of two eventual full-length releases encompassing the full scope of the new project. “The Cormorant I starts with a visit from a strange bird, a death augur, which haunts two characters throughout their lives,” notes Ludwig-Leone of the album’s namesake. “The track listing is chronological: the first few songs are about childhood, while the later tracks follow the characters into their more complicated adult lives. Finally, the last song imagines the return of the bird and their eventual deaths.” The first of a two-part album of kinetic and spellbinding movement spins a deliberately wayward narrative that follows its two main characters from their earliest years, with Tate portraying the male protagonist while the its female perspective is provided by a revolving cast of vocalists, including Wellin, Karlie Bruce (a new addition to the touring group), Sarah Pedinotti (of Lip Talk), and Samia Finnerty (of Samia). [Limited black/white swirl colored vinyl pressing also available.]
CDs + Vinyl:
Angel – Risen CD/2xLP (Cleopatra)
Glam metal sensations, Angel, one-time label mates of Kiss, adorn themselves in white and proudly present a new album. Founding members Punky Meadows and Frank DiMino roll back the clock to the glory days of melodic metal with 16 brand new compositions and a re-working of the band’s classic song “Tower”. [Limited white colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Avett Brothers – Closer Than Together CD (Republic)
New release from The Avett Brothers, their tenth studio album overall and the fifth produced by Rick Rubin on his American Recordings label. Says Seth Avett: “We didn’t make a record that was meant to comment on the sociopolitical landscape that we live in. We did, however, make an album that is obviously informed by what is happening now on a grander scale all around us… because we are a part of it and it is a part of us. Closer Than Together is a record of obvious American origin – a creation that fittingly could only come about through hard work, measured freedom, awe-inspiring landscapes, and perfectly flawed individualism.” [Vinyl edition due December 13.]
Chris Barber – Memories Of My Trip 2xCD (Last Music Company)
A double-CD retrospective celebrating Barber’s ‘A’ list jazz, blues and gospel collaborations throughout his 70 years as a band leader. Includes Eric Clapton, James Cotton, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Ottilie Patterson, Lonnie Donegan, Keith Emerson, Andy Fairweather Low, Rory Gallagher, Edmond Hall, Jeff Healey, Jools Holland, Paul Jones, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Dr John, John Slaughter, Albert Nicholas, Muddy Waters and others.
Bayside – Interrobang CD/LP (Hopeless)
Bayside has always focused on creating songs that are relevant to people who want substance, rather than being relegated to one genre. With Interrobang, the band has put together an eclectic, inspiring, and bold collection of songs.
The Beastie Boys – Root Down [Reissue/1995] CD/2xLP (Capitol)
The Root Down EP from Beastie Boys was released in 1995. The first three tracks are variations of the track “Root Down”, and the remaining seven tracks were recorded live in Europe, winter 1995. Out of print for years, this has been repressed on CD and vinyl.
Black Milk – DiVE CD/LP (Mass Appeal)
“Rap’s most eclectic producer sets his sights on yet another genre, and once again draws on that style in inventive and exciting ways. This time, Black Milk’s muse appears to be R&B, making DiVE a deep decent into mellow grooves, soothing rhythms and swaying melodies. The abundance here is dedicated to sheer singing as opposed to rapping — those croons coming from the producer himself, along with some of the best voices in the game, like BJ the Chicago Kid and Sam Austins — not to mention the moody, immersive slow jam vibes, all set this release far apart from Black Milk’s beloved early backpack-rap-indebted releases.” – Mass Appeal
Charli XCX – Charli CD/LP (Atlantic)
Pop futurist Charli XCX has returned with her highly anticipated third studio album Charli. The album is a collection of 15 songs and features the hit singles “1999” (featuring Troye Sivan) and “Blame It On Your Love” (featuring Lizzo). The album also features collaborations with Christine and the Queens, Haim, Sky Ferreria, Big Freida, Clairo and more. [Limited edition colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Chick Corea – Trilogy 2 2xCD (Concord)
12 formidable live tracks recorded in 2016. As with triple-CD box set Trilogy (2014), Chick Corea brought together bass powerhouse Christian McBride and drum master Brian Blade in a trio that earned had previously earned him two Grammy Awards.
Johnny Costa – Plays Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Jazz [Reissue/1984] CD (Omnivore Recordings)
When Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood premiered in the 1960s, no one would have expected it to have the impact it continues to have to this day. One of the things that made it special, was the music. Host and songwriter, Fred Rogers, found his perfect accompanist in pianist, Johnny Costa. The performances, flourishes and embellishments Costa and the band made during the show (all performed live) not only enhanced the experience, they taught viewers something else-they taught them about jazz. In 1984, Rogers and Costa teamed for the last record released on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Records: Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Jazz. Costa, Carl McViker on bass, and percussionist Bobby Rawsthorne, take an instrumental journey though 13 of Rogers’ classic songs, retaining their original compositional intent, but breathing new life into them.
Josie Cotton – Everything Is Oh Yeah CD/LP (Cleopatra)
From the music sensation that asked Johnny, Are You Queer?, the incredibly talented Josie Cotton, comes this long lost album originally recorded in 1986 but never released until now. [Limited pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
The Darkness – Easter Is Cancelled CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
It is time join The Darkness in their mission to take back control from the fools and liars who purport to lead us, and instead march forwards into the sunlit uplands of inclusivity, togetherness and rock ‘n’ roll fellowship.
Angel Bat Dawid – The Oracle CD/LP (International Anthem)
Composer, clarinetist, singer & spiritual jazz soothsayer Angel Bat Dawid descended on Chicago’s jazz & improvised music scene just a couple years ago. In very short time, the potency, prowess, spirit & charisma of her cosmic musical proselytizing has taken her from relatively unknown improviser to borderline ubiquitous performer in Chicago’s avant-garde.
Dinosaur Jr – Green Mind [Reissue/1991] 2xCD/2xLP (Cherry Red)
Dinosaur Jr – Where You Been [Reissue/1993] 2xCD/2xLP (Cherry Red)
Dinosaur Jr – Without A Sound [Reissue/1994] 2xCD/2xLP (Cherry Red)
Dinosaur Jr – Hand It Over [Reissue/1997] 2xCD/2xLP (Cherry Red)
Four classic 90’s albums from Dinosaur Jr – remastered, expanded and reissued on double CD and colored double vinyl editions. Formed in 1984, Dinosaur Jr carved a singular path through the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s, issuing a number of highly influential albums in the process before finding a home with Sire Records.
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things 3 CD/2xLP (Lakeshore)
Original soundtrack to the third season of the Netflix TV series. [Limited ‘fireworks’ splatter colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Down By Law – Quick Hits Live In Studio CD/LP (Kung Fu)
Hugely influential L.A. punk band Down by Law revisit key tracks from their 30-year career with all the skill and ferocity they’ve acquired over the last three decades.
Down To The Bone – Funkin’ Around 2xCD (Dome)
A collection of dancefloor and Latin-oriented remixes from the leading UK jazz groove band.
Dysrhythmia – Terminal Threshold CD/LP (Translation Loss)
The New York’s progressive metal instrumental trio deliver their eighth studio album.
Epica – Design Your Universe [Reissue/2009] 2xCD (Nuclear Blast)
Remixed and remastered tenth anniversary edition featuring updated artwork and a second disc containing newly recorded acoustic versions of songs from the Design Your Universe session.
Exhumed – Horror CD/LP (Relapse)
21 years since their murderous debut, Exhumed rise once again with gore-obsessed death metal on their new brand-new album.
Bill Frisell – Harmony CD (Blue Note)
Acclaimed guitarist Bill Frisell has signed with Blue Note and releases his debut album for the label under his own name with Harmony, a gorgeous and evocative journey across the landscape of American music of the last century. The album features vocalist Petra Haden, cellist and vocalist Hank Roberts, and guitarist, bassist and vocalist Luke Bergman. [Vinyl edition due November 8.]
Gatekeeper – Deserted CD/LP (Relapse)
Gatecreeper return with their new album – a furious mix of snarling guitars and driving, rhythmic pummeling that takes death metal from its ‘80s Floridian roots and 90’s Swedish expansion straight into the here and now.
Brantley Gilbert – Fire & Brimstone CD (Valory)
Brantley Gilbert has made a pummeling kind of country that consolidates the outsiders, outliers and full-tilt life livers in a collective known as the BG Nation. The Georgia-born songwriter/rocker continues to bring his hard-charging music to fans defining country’s outlaw edge in what Entertainment Weekly hails for his “swaggering guitars, catchy hooks, and a DGAF attitude.”
Gong Gong Gong – Phantom Rhythm CD/LP (Wharf Cat)
Guitar-and-bass duo Gong Gong Gong charges out from Beijing’s underground scene with a distinct vision and uncompromising sense of purpose. The group unites musical cultures, drawing on inspirations as wide-ranging as Bo Diddley, Cantonese opera, West African desert blues, drone, and electronic music.
GospelbeacH – Let It Burn CD/LP (Alive)
“Cultivated from the melodious mind of founding member Brent Rademaker and evolved from the kaleidoscopic California music scene, GospelbeacH blends country folk with modern rock ‘n’ roll to produce inviting melodies and harmonies” – Cowboys & Indians Magazine
Gost – Valediction CD/LP (Century Media)
Gost embodies the character of Baalberith on his propulsive synthwave solo project that channels his fascination with the occult, John Carpenter and ’80s slasher flicks. The result is a volatile mix that ranges from synthwave/retrowave to the most raging and extreme caverns of black metal.
Guillermo Portabales – El Carretero [Reissue/1996] CD (World Circuit)
Guillermo Portabales (1911-1970) was a unique performer of the Cuban guajira rhythm, whose influence and popularity has reached far beyond his native Cuba to North and South America and West Africa. His music had a significant influence on the artists who eventually came together as Buena Vista Social Club (a cover of one of his most famous songs “El Carretero” features on the multi-million selling Buena Vista Social Club album), as well as notable Senegalese artists Orchestra Baobab and Cheikh Lô. This collection of his classic ‘60s recordings was compiled by Nick Gold specifically for release on World Circuit in 1996. [Vinyl edition due October 25.]
The Hand Of Doom – Poisonoise [Reissue1979] CD/LP (On The Dole)
When hearing The Hand Of Doom it’s easy to understand why. It’s like The Stooges fronted by Count Dracula with a pinch of Roky Erickson The Evil One-era thrown in for good measure. Think the most punky and brutal NWOBHM-singles that have ever been recorded.
Jimmie Herrod with Pink Martini – Tomorrow CDEP (Heinz)
The Pacific-Northwest based singer has been touring full time with the globe-trotting little orchestra Pink Martini for the past two years, his breathtaking soaring vocals bringing an instant standing ovation at each Pink Martini show. Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale has produced a special five-song EP featuring Jimmie’s astonishing talent.
Hiromi – Spectrum CD (Telarc)
When she recorded her solo piano debut, Place To Be, in 2009, Hiromi was on the eve of her 30th birthday. She realized that the album would offer a snapshot of the chapter just ending, the ways in which her experiences and personal growth had shaped her sound over the course of her 20s. She decided then that she would revisit the solo format at least once a decade, building a sonic portrait of her evolution and artistry. Ten years later, the prolific pianist goes it alone once again.
Rob Ickes/Trey Hensley – World Full Of Blues CD/LP (Compass)
Powerhouse acoustic duo Rob Ickes (Dobro) and Trey Hensley (guitar) move beyond the acoustic-centric sound of their previous two releases on World Full Of Blues. The topical album juices up their sound with Hammond B3 and a horn section, with plenty of grit and a nod to the rootsy side of Americana. World Full Of Blues was recorded live with minimal overdubs; guests include blues great Taj Mahal, who provides his unmistakable mojo to the title track, and country music legend Vince Gill, who joins the duo on an inspired rendition of The Grateful Dead’s moonshiner song, “Brown-Eyed Women”.
Inoyama Land – Commissions: 1977-2000 CD/2xLP (Empire Of Sign)
After their famed Haruomi Hosono-produced 1983 release Danzindan-Pojidon, the duo became involved in the budding environmental music business that was taking shape in Tokyo during the development boom of the asset bubble – working directly with figures like Hiroshi Yoshimura and Takashi Sekiguchi. This collection expands upon their sound heard on Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990 to illuminate material that is even lesser known outside of Japan – some of it presented publicly for the first time. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Insomnium – Heart Like A Grave CD/2xLP (Century Media)
New release from the Finnish melodic death metal masters.
Issues – Beautiful Oblivion CD (Rise)
Beautiful Oblivion takes the band’s signature cocktail of metallic groove, hip-hop aplomb, alternative echoes, and edgy pop appeal a step further. [Vinyl edition due October 18.]
The Jellybricks – Some Kind Of Lucky CD/LP (Wicked Cool)
The even-keeled ascent of The Jellybricks is living proof that a band need not be an overnight sensation to feel lucky. A rock group in the classic two-guitars-bass-drums tradition, this Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based crew persevered for two decades before claiming the spotlight with Some Kind Of Lucky, their first album for Wicked Cool Records.
Dermot Kennedy – Without Fear CD/LP (Interscope)
Dermot Kennedy is an emerging soulful singer-songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. He has been playing guitar and singing for six years and in the past 12 months has started writing his own unique style of material.
Lagwagon – Railer CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
It was on “Falling Apart”, off Lagwagon’s 2005 full-length Blaze, that frontman Joey Cape first committed the word ‘railer’ to tape, but in fact it’s a term that the California band has been using for a long time amongst themselves. Now it’s become the title of the influential punk five-piece’s ninth album. As Cape explains, Railer is a funny word from childhood that means silly bad, like lame and it captures the sense of throwback that flows throughout its 12 songs. Unlike the last few Lagwagon albums, Railer was written in an incredibly condensed period of time, in an attempt to capture the spirit of the band’s early days. And it worked. While songs like “Stealing Light”, “Dangerous Animal” and “Dark Matter” bristle with a raw, ragged and pure energy that’s unusual for any band to have after almost 30 years of existence, these tracks also directly harken back to Lagwagon’s early days.
Levitation Room – Headspace CD/LP (Greenway)
Headspace serves as the follow-up to Levitation Room’s 2016 debut, Ethos, and their first record on Brooklyn’s Greenway Records. The band’s fuzzy guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll must have struck a chord with a society yearning for their freakbeat brand of psychedelia. With Headspace, Levitation Room displays their process of maturity in sound and songwriting, exploring new territories of influence in music and instrumentation, combining folk, jazz, raga, soul/R&B, pop and of course… psychedelia.
Lightning Dust – Spectre CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
Lightning Dust is the duo of Canadian musician Amber Webber and Josh Wells, who are both former members of Black Mountain. Spectre is their first new album in six years.
Lisa Prank – Perfect Love Song CD/LP (Father/Daughter)
The sophomore album from Seattle’s reigning queen of twee pop punk, Lisa Prank, stitches together pop punk panache and pillow talk introspection. Lead single “Devoted To” “seems to signal a move away from that spooky synth-pop tonality towards something psychedelically darker — and a tad apocalyptic. It’s over a minute and a half into the track before we hear any vocals, and that time is utilized fully to establish the eerie sonic foreground that we can expect on the album.” – Stereogum
Lontalius – All I Have CD/LP (PBWH)
Recording as Lontalius, New Zealander Eddie Johnston released his debut album I’ll Forget 17 on Brooklyn-based indie Partisan Records in March 2016. He moved to L.A. to work on his second album All I Have with Grammy-winning producer Om’Mas Keith (Frank Ocean, John Legend, Jay-Z) and Jim Fairchild (Modest Mouse and Grandaddy). “I love sad songs, and I don’t know why. I’m not sad. I just love that 3AM, kind of sad, kind of happy, listening-to-Drake sort of feeling. That’s my favorite feeling in the world.”
Magnolia – Ta Tjuren Vid Hornen CD/LP (Transubstans Sweden)
One of Magnolia’s strongest traits as part of the Swedish hard rock scene is their incredible ability to tailor the sound, vibe and heaviness for each album. With Ta Tjuren Vid Hornen, their seventh album, Magnolia has taken one step closer to the heavier part of the ‘70s, with clear influences of that decade’s progressive scene taking hold.
Emel Mathlouthi – Everywhere We Looked Was Burning CD/LP (PTKF)
Tunisian-born/New York-based experimental singer Emel Mathlouthi is back with her third album, Everywhere We Looked Was Burning. For the first time, Emel sings almost entirely in English after previously only recording a handful of tracks in the language. The choice was informed by settling in New York with her family, discovering the “essential imagery” of poets Rainer Maria Rilke, T.S. Elliot, and John Ashbury, and “thinking back to how music in English was so important to me growing up.” She initially rented a house in Woodstock, NY and set off to “write about nature as well as the beauty and struggle of these times.”
Mika – My Name Is Michael Holbrook CD/LP+MP3 (Republic)
Pop magpie Mika’s bright, kaleidoscopic music has drawn comparisons to everyone from Queen and Elton John to the Scissor Sisters and Rufus Wainwright. My Name Is Michael Holbrook is his fifth album.
Minor Pieces – The Heavy Steps Of Dreaming CD/LP (Fat Cat)
Brilliant debut album from Vancouver-based Minor Pieces, a new songwriting partnership comprising acclaimed singer/composer Ian William Craig and newcomer Missy Donaldson. Retaining some of the textural play and experimentation of Ian’s solo material while channeling it squarely within the domain of tangible songwriting, the pair use guitar, modified tape decks, bass and synths to fashion deeply felt songs with their beautifully matched male/ female vocals standing resolutely center-stage.
Mister Rogers – It’s Such A Good Feeling: The Best Of Mister Rogers CD (Omnivore Recordings)
23 track collection of Mister Rogers classics including five previously unissued performances.
Gaby Moreno & Van Dyke Parks – ¡Spangled! CD/LP (Nonesuch)
¡Spangled! is a collaboration between Guatemalan-born singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno and American musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer Van Dyke Parks. The 10-song set celebrates the migration of song across the Americas and spans more than a century, including a bolero from Panama, a bossa nova from Brazil, and an elegiac ballad from the Southwest United States – Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, and Jim Dickinson’s “Across The Borderline”, performed with Cooder and Jackson Browne. The album also includes one of Moreno’s own songs as well as the previously released track “The Immigrants” by Trinidadian songwriter David Rudder.
Multicast – Rural Sessions CD2x/LP (Obliq)
A 74-minute excursion into expansive soundscapes, head-nodding rhythms, counter melodies and spot-on improvisational electronics. Rural Sessions takes a rather refreshing approach to leftfield electronic music, doing away with glitch-based DSP programming and falls more into territories of improvisation and session based recording, incorporating DIY analog sound sources with digital synthesis.
Netherbird – Into The Vast Uncharted CD/LP (Eisenwald)
Fifth album from the Swedish melodic black/death metal band. Into The Vast Uncharted’s seven tracks blaze a trail of Scandinavian fury by way of blistering tremolo, scorching solos and battle-ready percussion.
Jeb Loy Nichols and The Westwood All-Stars – June Is Short, July Is Long CD/LP (Compass)
Jeb Loy Nichols, the UK-based, US-born artist and songsmith, has been putting out his own singular brand of smoky retro soul for over two decades, , backed by his touring band, the Westwood All-Stars. June Is Short, July Is Long, his 11th solo release, is a cross-genre collection that documents his journey from being born and raised in the American Midwest through to his current life in the rolling hills of rural Wales. “It’s full circle,” he says. “I started off in the Ozark hills and now here I am, in the hills again.”
Old Crow Medicine Show – Live At The Ryman CD (Old Crow Medicine Show)
Honoring the history and traditions of the legendary venue, Live From The Ryman captures the raucous energy of Old Crow Medicine Show’s performances, recorded throughout their many headlining shows on the hallowed ground of Nashville’s Mother Church. Featuring guest appearances by Lee Oskar, Margo Price, Charlie Worsham and Molly Tuttle, the 11-track collection incorporates a mix of covers and originals. [Vinyl edition due November 22.]
Rachael & Vilray – Rachael & Vilray CD/LP (Nonesuch)
Rachael & Vilray is the debut album by Lake Street Dive singer-songwriter Rachael Price and composer, singer, and guitarist Vilray. The twelve-song set features 10 originals by Vilray, along with two covers from the era that inspired him: Cuban composer Pedro Junco Jr.’s 1943 “Nosotros” and Milton Drake/Louis Atler’s “I Love The Way You’re Breaking My Heart”, first popularized by Peggy Lee.
Alexa Rose – Medicine For Living CD/LP (Big Legal Mess)
A visceral connection between a sense of place and the music she makes is at the core of Alexa Rose’s debut album, Medicine For Living. A stunning ten-track effort, it finds the 25-year-old singer-songwriter bringing a wellspring of tradition to bear on an enlivening collection of contemporary roots songs.
Louis Sclavis – Characters On A Wall CD (ECM)
Louis Sclavis’s 13th ECM recording finds the French clarinetist drawing inspiration from two sources the street art of Ernest Pignon-Ernest, and the interpretive originality of a splendid new quartet.
The Sherlocks – Under Your Sky CD/LP (Infectious Music)
By the tail end of 2018, The Sherlocks begged to be allowed back into the studio. In stark contrast to the sessions for their debut album, recorded in late-night sessions at the cut-off, rural Rockfields in Wales, this time they opted to record at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studios with The Coral’s James Skelly at the desk for the four weeks running up to Christmas, knocking off at six o’clock Monday to Friday to head into town for snooker, beer and a debrief on the day’s work. The result was a tighter, brighter, ultra-modern alt-rock record, benefiting from Skelly’s knack for focusing a killer chorus, less indebted to indie rockers of old and smattered with stylistic swerves into new wave, ’80s textures and all-out feedback freakouts.
Shredders – Greatest Hits CD/LP (Doomtree)
The sophomore album from Shredders features crisp production as Lazerbeak and Paper Tiger combine forces to take on genres outside of the typical hip-hop lens.
Simple Minds – Live In The City Of Angels CD/2xCD/4xLP (BMG)
Referencing their first live album, 1987’s Live In The City Of Light, this new live collection once again finds Simple Minds 30 years later scaling the heights of their mid- ‘80s heyday day as they performed at the Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles on October 24, 2018.
Shane Smith & The Saints – Hail Mary LP (Geronimo West)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. From their home base in Austin through performances across the country (17 states) and abroad (Ireland), these five gentlemen have not just stuck stubbornly to their musical and lyrical convictions. They’ve defied audience expectations by delivering incendiary shows, each one ignited by the band’s ability to unleash, feed from and feedback the energy of the crowd – in spite of the fact that they don’t fit easily into any musical category.
Spite – The Root Of All Evil CD/LP (Stay Sick)
New album from the California metal outfit.
Swim Deep – Emerald Classics CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Newly reconfigured as a five-piece, British indie rockers Swim Deep return with a collection of their most fully-fledged pop songs yet. Gospel infused and spoken word album opener “To Feel Good” featuring Margate’s Social Singing Choir, is a big statement and an even bigger song that transcends the group’s intrinsic feel good factor and DIY ethos of the early days through to the synth-pop strains of their 2015 album Mothers.
Pat Thomas And Kwashibu Area Band – Obiaa! CD/2xLP (Ubiquity)
The modern-day leaders of Ghanaian highlife music are back. Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band’s sophomore release Obiaa! (“Everybody!”) was once again produced by Kwame Yeboah and Ben Abarbanel-Wolff at Lovelite Studio’s analogue HQ in Berlin and is a deep and soulful journey into the heart of Ghana’s indigenous highlife music celebrating the timeless and iconic voice of Pat Thomas, the 72 year-old “Golden Voice of Africa.”
Toxic Holocaust – Primal Future: 2019 CD/LP (E1)
Toxic Holocaust 2.0 detonates like doomsday all over Primal Future: 2019, an ambitious new mission statement from the man whose guiding forces remain Discharge, Megadeth, Venom, English Dogs, Nuclear Assault, D.R.I., and G.B.H., all juiced by the unrelenting, feverish, urgent power of a modern metal trailblazer. A dystopian technological takeover drives the album thematically, but the passionately delivered music is vintage Toxic Holocaust, taking things all the way back to the band’s early origins.
Townes Van Zandt – The Best Of Townes Van Zandt 2xLP (Fat Possum)
Revered Texas singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt had the storytelling ability of a novelist, the imagery of a poet, and the easy conversationalism of a late-night DJ. In his laconic drawl, it all sounded so effortless, as if the songs were sitting in the ethers waiting to be retrieved. Townes liked to reinforce the idea that his songs were simply waiting for him to raise the antenna yet his detailed craftsmanship was second to none. Gathering landmark compositions like “To Live Is To Fly”, “For The Sake Of The Song”, “Pancho & Lefty”, “Nothin”, “You Are Not Needed Now” and “If I Needed You”, The Best of Townes Van Zandt is a unique collection which wonderfully encapsulates the Texas troubadour’s songwriting brilliance.
Various Artists – Jobcentre Rejects Vol. 2 – Ultra Rare NWOBHM 1980-1985 CD/2xLP (On The Dole)
10 tracks licensed from rare and hard to find New Wave Of British Heavy Metal records originally released in England 1980-1985. Kind of a Nuggets, Pebbles or Killed By Death for NWOBHM.
Various Artists – Treasure Isle Ska Rarities 3xCD (Trojan)
Based on the acclaimed 2017 7” singles box set of the same name, this hugely generous three-CD set comprises the original 20 tracks from that collection bolstered by 64 rare and unreleased bonus tracks, all recorded for Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle catalogue between 1964 and 1966. Of the 84 romping ska tracks, 15 are previously unreleased, 44 make their CD debut and over 20 are have been officially unavailable for over a decade.
Kelsey Waldon – White Noise/White Lines CD/LP (Oh Boy)
With White Noise, White Lines, Kelsey Waldon captures the rugged country sound of her touring band without sacrificing the intimacy of her songwriting. Because of that approach, the album feels immediate, somewhere between a concert and a conversation.
Whitesnake – Slip Of The Tongue [Reissue/1989] CD/2xCD/6xCD+DVD/2xLP (Rhino)
2019 remaster. A couple years back, Whitesnake’s 1987 eponymous smash received the lavish 30th-anniversary treatment. Now, 1989’s Slip Of The Tongue get the same royal reception, as it should; after all, this was their third straight platinum seller, thanks to two Top 40 hits (“Fool For Your Loving” and “The Deeper The Love”) that propelled the album into the US and UK Top 10. [Deluxe edition adds a CD of monitor mixes. Super Deluxe features the CD debut of the album’s Wagging Tongue Edition (a 1989 vinyl exclusive featuring Coverdale interviews about every song), a CD of demos, remixes and re-records, a CD of unissued session tapes, interludes and jams and a DVD (as well as a CD) of the band’s 1990 Donington concert.]
White Ward – Love Exchange Failure CD/LP (Debemur Morti Productions)
“In case you haven’t noticed — and judging by your goldfish-like attention span, you haven’t — France’s Debemur Morti Productions has quickly become one of the best underground metal labels on the planet. That’s largely due to the fearless A&R work that has led them to the likes of experimental acts like White Ward. The mysterious Odessa, Ukraine quintet unveil their second full-length, Love Exchange Failure – the next step in their rapid progressive black metal evolution.” – Decibel
Wives – So Removed CD/LP (City Slang)
Queens, NY four-piece Wives is the latest fit into a long lineage of New Yorks gritty, melodic-meets-punk. So Removed is hook-driven, grungy dark-wave tethered to daily anxiety without resorting to cynicism. The noisy dissonance of Sonic Youth, the edgy hooks of early Pixies, and the clever, cerebral sneering of the Fall simmer as touchstones within the LP, sharp and prodding at the details, pulsing with urgency.
y La Bamba – Entre Los Dos CDEP/12” (Tender Loving Empire)
These are songs and powerful prayers, created with their purpose being to protect the land and its people, recognize the ancestry that burns in our hearts, and treasure wisdom weaving healthy and loving bonds that reflect self-love with dignity. Through the veins of front person Luz Elena Mendoza, runs Purepecha blood. Adapting to new environments over and over again, she has become someone who constantly questions and empowers through music: her great teacher and tireless companion.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Helloween – United Live 2xBlu-ray (Nuclear Blast)
Recorded live in front of 75,000 fans at Wacken, 14,000 fans in Madrid and 8,000 fans in Sao Paulo, these performances were captured during Helloween’s Pumpkins United World Tour that began in the fall of 2017.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
100 Gecs – 100 Gecs LP (Dog Show)
Debut studio album by the experimental duo. 100 Gecs consists of Dylan Brady and Laura Les, who meld evocative pop melodies, crystalline sound design, and jarring juxtapositions, drawing from a diverse palate of musical influences spanning pop, emo, trap, punk, dubstep, deconstructed club, ska, metal and more.
Christina Aguilera – Christina Aguilera [Reissue/1999] LP (Sony Legacy)
Limited picture disc vinyl pressing of the pop singer’s eponymous debut.
Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain LP (Fat Possum)
Pink colored vinyl pressing of Courtney Marie Andrews’ 2018 album. Twilight country ‘n’ wounded gospel-folk from the Arizona songstress, for fans of Emmylou Harris and Big Thief.
Big K.R.I.T. – K.R.I.T. IZ HERE LP (BMG)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the rapper featuring J.Cole, Baby Rose, Yella Beezy, Lil Wayne, and more.
The Black Dahlia Murder – Deflorate [Reissue/2009] LP (Metal Blade)
2009’s Deflorate boasts Black Dahlias brand of seamlessly-mixed Swedish influenced blackened thrash and pounding American death metal muscle, and sees one of metals most outstanding underground outfits at the peak of its unmitigated musical brutality.
Kath Bloom & Loren Mazzacane – Sand In My Shoe [Reissue/1983] LP (Chapter Music)
Kath Bloom & Loren Mazzacane – Moonlight [Reissue/1984] LP (Chapter Music)
The extraordinary creative partnership of New Haven, CT duo Kath Bloom and Loren Connors has haunted psych-folk fans since the early ‘80s. Between 1981 and 1984, the duo recorded two live and four studio albums, mostly self-released in tiny quantities. Early on, their music mixed folk and traditional blues with a handful of Kath’s vulnerable, moving originals. By the later albums the songs were all Kath’s – her fragile voice and subdued finger-picking set against Loren’s abstract but always supportive playing. Together the duo created a sound almost impossibly emotional and haunting. [Limited colored vinyl pressings are also available.]
Boris – Akuma No Uta [Reissue/2003] LP (Third Man)
Boris – Boris At Last – Feedbacker [Reissue/2003] LP (Third Man)
Boris – LφVE & EVφL 2xLP (Third Man)
LφVE & EVφL exists as two independent works, encapsulating conflicting connotations that interweave and become intricately entangled with one another, gradually eroding before becoming utterly singular. Continuing to tinker and toil with their sound since the 2017 release of Dear, Boris has pivoted onward a more organic, non-grid literary style. In tandem with this new release, Third Man has reissued a pair of 2003 releases available for first time on vinyl in the US.
Luke Bryan – Doin’ My Thing [Reissue/2009] LP (Capitol Nashville)
Tenth anniversary vinyl edition of Luke Bryan’s second studio album includes two bonus tracks.
C.Aarmé – C.Aarmé [Reissue/2004] LP (Rockshirt Merchandise)
In 2004, C.Aarmé shredded the garage punk aristocracy with their loose aggressiveness and chaotic, yet danceable bass lines reminiscent of vintage Bad Brains or early Damned.
Clairo – Immunity LP (FADER Label)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Clairo, the moniker of 20-year-old multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Claire Cottrill, drops her debut album, Immunity. Following-up her debut EP Diary 001, which featured the hit singles “Pretty Girl”, “Flamin’ Hot Cheetos” and “4EVER”, Immunity sees Clairo team up with co-producer Rostam (Vampire Weekend) in a stunning glimpse into an artist’s growth. Lead single “Bags” is a delicate and delightfully weird taste of the record; the gently strummed track builds to a peak augmented by warped guitars and piano. Quite different from the jangled angst of “Bags”, second single “Closer To You” finds Clairo emoting her desire through autotune and a stark, burgeoning beat.
Alice Cooper – Classicks – The Best Of Alice Cooper [Reissue/1995] LP (Friday Music)
Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group was also famous for their captivating stage show which featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. Marking the end of Alice Cooper’s record contract with Epic Records, the 1995 compilation Classicks gathers the finest from the Godfather of Shock Rock’s Epic albums Trash (1989), Hey Stoopid (1991) and The Last Temptation (1994) plus a selection of live cuts and B-sides. [Translucent blue & black swirl colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Devin The Dude – Smoke Sessions (Re-Lit) LP (SoSouth)
Devin Copeland settled in Houston after graduating from high school and met Rob Quest and Jugg Mugg, together the the trio formed the group the Odd Squad. After forming the Odd Squad, later known as the Coughee Brothaz, the group signed to Rap-A-Lot Records and remained with the label for 15 years until Devin decided to end their relationship in 2008. Within the same year of leaving Rap- A- Lot, Devin released Smoke Sessions. Fast forward 11 years and we now have Smoke Sessions (Re-Lit) on vinyl.
Dirty Fences – Hand-Pickled Melodies LP (Greenway)
This hits collection from one of NYC’s most beloved real-deal rock ‘n’ roll bands features all the out of print classics from every album and 7″.
Empath – Active Listening: Night On Earth LP (Get Better/Fat Possum)
Noise punk band Empath broke onto the national scene with the release of the Liberating Guilt And Fear EP with renowned DIY Philly punk label Get Better Records in 2018. Over the course of 2019 Empath cemented themselves as one of the buzziest emerging bands in indie music, being heralded as “America’s most inventive young psychedelic band” by Rolling Stone Magazine. They also garnered more support from Pitchfork, FADER, Stereogum, NPR and more around “Soft Shape” and “Hanging Out Of Cars,” two standout singles from Active Listening: Night On Earth. [CD edition due November 8.]
Evil United – Serpent LP (Combat)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the Texas-based metal band.
Florence & The Machine – Lungs [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Republic)
Limited tenth anniversary cloth bound deluxe box set featuring the original Lungs album on colored vinyl, and an LP of bonus material. Also included within the box are postcards and inserts.
Rory Gallagher – Rory Gallagher [Reissue/1971] LP (UMe)
Rory Gallagher’s eponymous debut solo album marked his departure from his former band Taste. After disbanding Taste, Gallagher auditioned some of the best musicians available at the time including Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell the bassist and drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He decided on two Belfast musicians; drummer Wilgar Campbell, and bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy to be the core of his new power trio band.
Ross Golan – The Wrong Man 2xLP (Interscope)
Recently released on CD – now available on translucent colored vinyl. From the mind of multi-platinum songwriter Ross Golan, The Wrong Man is a one-man musical, animated film, and now concept album centered around a love affair gone terribly wrong. With his lush voice and gentle chords, Golan deftly conveys the despair and frustration of those who experience injustice.
Gorillaz – Demon Days [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Parlophone)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach [Reissue/2010] 2xLP (Parlophone)
Vinyl reissues of Gorillaz second and third albums. Demon Days was produced by the band, Danger Mouse, Jason Cox, and James Dring, and features contributions from de la Soul, Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Roots Manuva, MF Doom, Ike Turner, Bootie Brown of the Pharcyde, Shaun Ryder, and Dennis Hopper. Plastic Beach was produced primarily by group co-creator Damon Albarn and features guest appearances by such artists as Snoop Dogg, Gruff Rhys, de la Soul, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Mark E. Smith, Paul Simonon, Bashy, Kano, Little Dragon, and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.
Grün Wasser – Not OK With Things LP (Holodeck)
Arising at the forefront of contemporary underground pop, Chicago-based duo Grün Wasser shapes the course of minimal electronic music and blurs the boundaries of art, songwriting and performance on their latest full-length.
Mette Henriette – Mette Henriette [Reissue/2015] 2xLP (ECM)
This double-vinyl pressing features music selected by Norwegian saxophonist, composer, improviser Mette Henriette from her critically-acclaimed 2015 ECM debut. Jazz and classical players are drawn together in her ensembles, but the music shapes its own world, outside genre definitions.
Hoobastank – The Reason [Reissue/2003] LP (Island)
15th anniversary vinyl reissue of the California alt rock band’s second album. Black vinyl pressing; includes an acoustic version of “The Reason”.
Jóhann Jóhannsson – Virðulegu Forsetar [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Deutsche Grammophone)
Virðulegu Forsetar presents an hour-long piece for 11 brass players, percussion, electronics, organs and piano. It was composed with a specific site in mind, the Hallgrímskirkja (Hallgrimur’s church) in Reykjavik (Iceland), and was recorded there. The piece has Englabörn’s quiet, elegiac beauty, but abandons the brevity of the first album’s exquisite miniatures in favor of an extended form that reveals a long, slow process.
Lifetime – Hello Bastards [Reissue/1995] LP (Jade Tree)
Lifetime was formed in 1990 by singer Ari Katz (ex-Enuf) and guitarist Dan Yemin with its roots in the New York/New Jersey hardcore scene. In contrast to the negative, sometimes violent tone promulgated by their New York hardcore contemporaries, lyricist Katz emphasized more positive, personal themes in their two-minute songs. [Clear vinyl pressing also available.]
Live – Throwing Copper [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Geffen)
Throwing Copper transformed Live into one of the most lyrically impactful and instrumentally powerful bands of the modern alternative rock era. This 25th anniversary vinyl reissue features three bonus tracks.
Kenny Loggins –Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: The Greatest Hits Of Kenny Loggins [Reissue/1997] LP (Friday Music)
Two colored vinyl pressings: gold and red. From his popular soundtrack work (“Footloose”, “Danger Zone”, “I’m Alright”, “Meet Me Halfway”, “For The First Time”) to his duets with Stevie Nicks (“Whenever I Call You Friend”) and Steve Perry (“Don’t Fight It”) to his solo numbers (“This Is It”, “Heart To Heart”), Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: The Greatest Hits Of Kenny Loggins has a little something for everyone and is drenched in the best kind of nostalgia.
Machine Gun Kelly – Hotel Diablo LP (Interscope)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The new album from the Cleveland rapper includes features from Trippie Redd, Blink 182’s Travis Barker, Yungblud, Naomi Wild, Lil Skies, Madison Love and Phem.
Majeure – Mass Flashbacks LP (Holodeck)
Released last week on CD and cassette – now available on vinyl. Reviving the essence of Krautrock and classic horror soundtracks, veteran composer and multi-instrumentalist AE Paterra is back with his latest cinematic full-length as Majeure. Naturally gravitating towards the creativity and virtuoso style of ‘70s and ‘80s prog, metal and classic rock, Paterra excelled at percussion and developed a high level of musicianship by the time he moved to Pittsburgh to attend college.
Mariachi El Bronx – Mariachi El Bronx [Reissue/2009] LP (ATO)
Tenth anniversary vinyl reissue of the debut album from the L.A. punk band. NME gave it 8 of 10 stating “When one of our favorite hardcore bands announced they’d been working on a mariachi project, we wondered if it was for comedic value. On our side of the Atlantic this venture could have been greeted with a wall of confused silence, but the L.A. outfit have achieved something special. And not just musically; they’ve informed us that L.A. has not one but two beating hearts, blending the sort of creativity into its people most Hollywood composers would kill for.”
Massive Attack – Massive Attack v Mad Professor Part II Mezzanine Remix Tapes ’98 LP (Virgin)
These radical re-workings by Mad Professor originally created in 1998 include “Teardrop”, “Angel” and “Inertia Creeps” as well as rarities “Wire” and “Superpredators”. The sleeve, designed by Robert Del Naja and Tom Hingston, features original artwork from Brute!’s Aiden Hughes.
James Mckenzie & The McKenzie Brothers – James McKenzie & The Mckenzie Brothers LP (Athens Of The North)
AOR yacht rock vibes from the ‘70s.
Fumio Miyashita – Wave Sounds of The Universe LP (Personal Affair)
Recently released on CD and cassette – now available on vinyl. Musician, music therapist and founder of Healing Music in Japan, Fumio Miyashita began his musical career in 1966. His passion was for creating music that was helpful to people and his recurring theme in his works was relaxation and healing for the mind and body. He named his music ‘Healing Music’ and he established his own unique style of music therapy. [Limited orange colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Edson Natale – Nina Maika (Disk Union)
Most important Brazilian album as post-Clube da Esquina which combined landscape of Brazilian folklore with extraordinary music such as Egberto Gismonti using acoustic instrumentals and synthesizers.
Nektar – Man In The Moon [Reissue/1980] LP (Purple Pyramid)
Limited blue colored vinyl reissue of the prog rock band’s 1980 album.
NxxxxxS – Formatted Excess LP (State 51)
New album by phonk/vaporwave/vaportrap pioneer NxxxxxS. Features Soudiere, DJ YUNG VAMP and massive dutch rapper Ray Fuego. Summer vibes remain.
Oddarrang – Hypermetros LP (Edition)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Hypermetros is the fifth album from Finnish sound sculptors and creators of atmospheric epics, Oddarrang. The album is rooted by bold hooks and melodies, and molded with raw, emotive themes; the title references the Greek word meaning “beyond measure”, which perfectly reflects the band’s ambition and vision.
Oh, Sleeper – Bloodies/Unbowed LP (Solid State)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the Fort Worth, Texas metalcore band – their first in eight years.
Jon Pardi – Write You A Song [Reissue/2014] LP (Capitol Nashville)
Vinyl reissue of the debut album from country artist. Jon Pardis’ high-energy approach, perfected on stages throughout his native California, has its stamp all Write You A Song which features the singles “Up All Night” and “Missin’ You Crazy” plus nine more tracks.
Penny Rimbaud – War & Peace 7” (One Little Indian)
Back in 2012 the Crass mastermind Penny Rimbaud went into the studio to record a couple of covers. Working with cellist Kate Shortt and bass player Jennifer Maidman, and with ex-Buzzcocks fellow Tony Barber at the mixing desk, Rimbaud took on Bob Dylan’s “Masters Of War” and George Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity”. He spits furious peace atop sawing strings for the Dylan original while the Harrison take is more tranquil and mournful – it’s not dissimilar to late-period Nick Cave actually. After being stowed away for several years the tracks now make it to a two-track 7” EP.
Radio Moscow – Radio Moscow [Reissue/2007] LP (Alive)
Limited colored vinyl LP pressing of Radio Moscow’s self-titled debut album. Legendary rock music writer Greg Prato described it as “a throwback to the classic rock of the ’70s”, comparing certain songs to artists such as Ram Jam, The Allman Brothers Band and The Jeff Beck Group.
Rituals Of Mine – Sleeper Hold 12”+MP3 (Carpark)
New EP from the Los Angeles-based electronic and alt-R&B duo. Inspired by ‘90s trip-hop, footwork, and downtempo R&B, the band has crafted a uniquely heavy sound that fuels its cathartic and uplifting performances.
Ruff Cut – The Fiddler Sessions ’84 LP (Deadline Music)
Vintage studio sessions from one of the most unique and talented ’80s metal bands; available for the first time on vinyl.
Ryuichi Sakamoto – B-2 Unit LP (Great Tracks)
Released in 1980 while Yellow Magic Orchestra was enjoying its first wave of mega-success, B-2 Unit was Ryuichi Sakmoto’s second full length solo effort. Contrasting with the pop-oriented works Sakamoto was doing with YMO at the time, the album was produced with a focus on sounds and tones rather than traditional song structures.
San Fermin – The Cormorant I LP (Masterworks)
The Cormorant I ushers in a new era for San Fermin, who envision the eight-track collection as the first of two eventual full-length releases encompassing the full scope of the new project. It sets the tone for San Fermin’s newest chapter, which largely takes place in the ordinary yet enchanted spaces of childhood, centering on the tension between growing up and longing for innocence. [Limited black/white swirl colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Sego – Sego Sucks LP (Roll Call)
Sego’s second long player is woven with the changes of becoming a four-piece band. Originally Spencer Petersen and Thomas Carroll, the band added members Alyssa Davey on bass and Brandon McBride on guitars and keys in 2018. The sound became more focused, but the raucous spirit that has kept people sweating since the beginning is just as tangible and primal as ever.
Jackie Shane – Any Other Way [Reissue/2017] 2xLP (Numero)
Jackie Shane – Any Other Way b/w Sticks And Stones [Reissue/1962] 7” (Numero)
Known by genre aficionados as one of the greatest singers and most riveting stage presences in soul music, Jackie Shane has remained largely unknown outside Toronto, where her career briefly flowered in the 1960s. Beyond her unmistakable gift of the gab, Shane is a pioneer of transgender rights, born in a male body but unabashedly living her entire life as a woman at a time when to do so seemed unthinkable. Any Other Way is the first artist-approved collection of Ms. Shane’s work, collecting all six of her 45s and every highlight from the legendary 1967 live sessions at the Sapphire Tavern, including three mind-blowing, previously unreleased tracks. Rob Bowman’s 20,000-word essay is Jackie’s first communication with the public in nearly half a century, telling for the first time ever Jackie Shane’s story in her own words. [Limited gold colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Soundtrack – Beverly Hills 90210 [Reissue/1992] LP (WB)
Limited colored vinyl pressing. Includes tracks by Paula Abdul, Michael McDonald & Chaka Khan, Jody Watley, Shanice, and many others.
Soundtrack – Melrose Place [Reissue/1994] LP (WB)
Limited transparent teal colored vinyl pressing of the soundtrack to the hit TV series. Includes tracks by Aimee Mann, Urge Overkill, Letters To Cleo, and others.
Spiritualized – And Nothing Hurt LP+MP3 (Fat Possum)
Limited pink colored vinyl pressing of Spiritualized 2018 album. From the opening lullaby of “A Perfect Miracle” through to the Morse Code fadeout at the close of “Sail On Through”, on And Nothing Hurt Spiritualized wrap layer upon layer of gloriously transcendent sound together to create a mesmerizing and cinematic collection of songs. There are points where the waves of blissful noise are almost overwhelming – the thunderous climax of “On The Sunshine”; the spectral waltz of “The Prize”; the towering guitar solo on “I’m Your Man” – where one can imagine the studio’s speakers vibrating themselves off of the walls. Which is an incredible feat when you discover that the album was conceived and recorded almost entirely by one man – Jason Pierce aka J.Spaceman – in an upstairs room in his east London home. With no grounding in digital recording, Jason had to learn everything from scratch.
Spökstan – Hål I Betongen LP (A Message To You/Amity)
Spökstan (Swedish for Ghost Town) release their debut LP; 12 dirty ska/punky reggae tracks.
SQÜRL – The Dead Don’t Die [OST] LP (Sacred Bones)
The Dead Don’t Die is writer/director Jim Jarmusch’s unique, semi-comic take on the zombie apocalypse genre. As with his recent efforts Only Lovers Left Alive and Paterson, the film’s score was composed and performed by SQÜRL, the band Jarmusch and producer Carter Logan founded in 2009. It is the culmination of their passion for analog synths, with guitar violence reverberating from the darker corners of Americana. It is at once a tribute to the classic sounds of horror and sci-fi, as well as a decapitation of traditional film scores. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Taking Back Sunday – Tell All Your Friends [Reissue/2002] LP (Craft Recordings)
Digitally remastered vinyl reissue of the debut studio album from the alternative rock heroes.
that dog. – Old LP LP (UMe)
Fourth album from the L.A.-based alt-rock band and their first studio release in 22 years. that dog. formed in 1991 and dissolved in 1997, reuniting in 2011. The band originally consisted of Anna Waronker on lead vocals and guitar, Rachel Haden on bass guitar and vocals, her sister Petra Haden on violin and vocals, and Tony Maxwell on drums. Petra has since left the band. Their punk power pop songs were full of hooks and many layered vocal harmonies and (trivia) was initially signed to 4AD’s boutique label Guernica before inking a U.S. deal with DGC. [Cassette edition due October 12.]
Ismaïl & Sixu Touré – Mandinka Dong [Reissue/1979] LP (Secousse)
Reissue of this seminal record from 1979 by the two brothers that would form the better known group Touré Kunda. A beautiful blend of Afro disco stompers and mellow reggae tunes.
Twin Temple – Satan’s A Woman 7” (Rise Above Ltd.)
Devout Satanists and meticulous preservers of rock ’n’ roll’s ancient, timeless spirit, this black-clad and effortlessly stylish duo have created a sound that blends their Satanic ideology with the irresistible sass and melody of classic ‘50s and ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll.
Tyler, The Creator – Igor LP(Sony)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Produced entirely by Tyler, Igor features guest appearances from Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Solange, Kanye West, and Jerrod Carmichael, along with backing vocals from Santigold, Jessy Wilson, La Roux, CeeLo Green, Charlie Wilson, Slowthai, and Pharrell, among others.
Thom Yorke, Flea, & Wynton Marsalis – Daily Battles From Motherless Brooklyn 7” (WaterTower Music)
“Daily Battles” was written by Thom Yorke (Radiohead, Atoms For Peace) for Motherless Brooklyn the film directed, written by, produced by and starring Edward Norton. The film features two versions of the song, each performed by musical icons of modern music. Thom Yorke along with Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Atoms For Peace) performs a sparse and emotionally stunning version of the song. The other version of “Daily Battles” was arranged and performed by jazz trumpet icon Wynton Marsalis, who, along with his hand-picked quintet of heavy-hitter-jazz-stalwarts delivers an instant jazz standard version of the song that conjures images of the ‘50s-era gin-soaked Harlem jazz club seen in the film.
VR SEX – Horseplay 12” (Dais)
VR SEX are audio/visual provocateurs who transpose the identifiers of death rock, synth punk, postpunk, ambient, and ethereal soundscapes into an audit on technology and its imprint on our collective psyche.
The Word – Collected Works 12” (Edition Hawara)
The Word is one of the better-kept secrets of 1980s Austrian disco music.
Yung Gravy – Sensational Pink LP (Republic)
Limited pink colored vinyl pressing. Spitting smooth and slippery rhymes dedicated to MILF’s and filtering old school samples through gritty trap beats, Yung Gravy might very well be one of the most unique MC to emerge in decades. Upholding the longstanding hip-hop tradition of competition, the Minnesota-born rapper recognized a void in 2016 when he first picked up the mic. “I really felt like there was something missing, he explains. I wasn’t hearing what I wanted to, so I stepped up to the plate and started doing it myself.”
Zombie-Chang – Petit Petit Petit LP (Toothpaste)
Limited edition transparent blue colored vinyl pressing. Having already morphed from her Moldy Peaches-inspired anti-folk first recordings to the embrace of electronic sounds and synthpop (which Tokyo-based singer and songwriter Meirin Yung aka Zombie-Chang called anti-EDM) on 2016’s Zombie-Change and 2017’s Gang!, Petit Petit Petit introduces the sound of a cohesive band to perfectly frame her strongest batch of songs to date.
Leave a Reply