New Releases for September 17, 2013

CDs:

Anathema – Universal CD+DVD/LP (K-Scope)

Double-disc live release, recorded during the band’s lengthy Weather Systems world tour. The European leg of the tour opened with a triumphant one-off show at the ancient Roman theatre of Philippopolis with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2012. Also available on stand-alone Blu-ray.

Arp – More CD/LP+MP3 (Smalltown Supersound)

More melds bedroom art-pop with avant-garde composition to create a world of heady atmospherics and melodic song craft over its concentrated 46-minute arc.

Avicii – True CD (Island)

New release from two-time Grammy nominated superstar producer/DJ Tim Bergling aka Avicii. True was recorded in Los Angeles and Stockholm, where Avicii collaborated with an eclectic group of artists including Aloe Blacc, Michael Einsinger from Incubus, bluegrass singer Dan Tyminski, Nile Rodgers, and the legendary Mac Davis.

The Band – Live At The Academy Of Music 1971 2xCD/4xCD+DVD (Capitol)

During the final week of 1971, The Band played four legendary concerts at New York City’s Academy Of Music, ushering in the New Year with electrifying performances, including new horn arrangements by Allen Toussaint and a surprise guest appearance by Bob Dylan for a New Year’s Eve encore. Select highlights from the concerts were compiled for The Band’s classic 1972 double LP, Rock Of Ages, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and remains a core album in the trailblazing group’s storied Capitol Records catalog. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions.

Band Of Heathens – Sunday Morning Record CD (BOH Records)

Sunday Morning Record, the Band Of Heathens’ fourth studio album (and seventh overall), marks a milestone in the resilient outfit’s development, capturing the musicians’ remarkable creative chemistry along with the deepening melodic and emotional resonance in the songwriting of founding singer-guitarists Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist.

Berlin – Animal CD (Something Music)

Animal incorporates contemporary electronic dance music, yet remains true to the groundbreaking synth electro-pop sounds and amazing vocals that continue to define Berlin.

The Blackbyrds – Walking In Rhythm: The Essential Collection 1975-1982 2xCD (Soul Temple)

Donald Byrd was one of the greatest and most successful practitioners of the fusion of soul and jazz. Drawn from The Blackbyrds’ eight albums released by Fantasy Records, this specially priced, deluxe multi-CD set presents a complete retrospective of his band’s career. Deluxe adds a wealth of bonus mixes, including a DVD of 5.1 surround sound.

Blind Shake – Key To A False Door CD (Castleface)

Detuned psych-noise. Upcoming tour with Thee Oh Sees.

Blouse – Imperium CD/LP (Captured Tracks)

On Blouse’s second LP, Imperium, they have shed the synths, done away with drum machines and wrote and recorded with “instruments that don’t plug into the wall.” These are delicate songs from the perspective of a valley girl who grew up with gurus and ashrams played by indie lifers on a steady diet of Neu! it makes it all the more understandable to have showers of acoustic guitars and (real, not synthesized) cellos interrupted by fuzz guitar.

Aisha Burns – Life In The Midwater CD/LP (Western Vinyl)

Burns’ contributions as the violinist and occasional vocalist for the Austin band Balmorhea belie a nuanced songwriting prowess, and a dynamic and powerful voice. The album’s title references a deep dark layer of the ocean that flows far below the surface, and just above what we call the deeps sea. Bioluminescent jellyfish often inhabit this layer of the ocean, emitting mysterious flashes of light despite the risk of exposing themselves to potential predators. Similarly Aisha’s songs are dreamlike beacons in the inky abyss.

Bill Callahan – Dream River CD/LP (Drag City)

New solo album from the singer/songwriter also known for his work with Smog. In the song-world of Bill Callahan, the present realities tumble ecstatically like cloth in the wind — sheets and flags and clothes. Bill’s a cartographer way out there, tracing the coastlines, telling the tales he has discovered along the way. Some seen in life and others in mind’s eye, they float down Dream River with humble eminence. The plainspoken flies with the poetic in these songs, along with the sudden jolt of something you might remember: we call it laughter.

Carcass – Surgical Steel CD/2xLP (Nuclear Blast)

New album from the reformed British extreme metal band. Surgical Steel is their first album since Swansong (1996) and the first to feature drummer Dan Wilding.

Clark – Feast/Beast 2xCD/4xLP+MP3 (Warp)

A carefully curated compilation containing the best of Clark remixes — for others and from others — many of which appear here for the first time.

Cloud Control – Dream Cave CD (Votiv)

“Cloud Control hail from the Blue Mountains, a New South Wales region of Australia that borders Sydney’s metropolitan area. After winning the Australian music prize (the Aussie equivalent of the Mercury) with their 2011 debut, Bliss Release, the pysch-pop foursome relocated to London, then chose to set up in the caves of the Kentish countryside to record this follow-up. The resulting sound is expectedly spacious, awash with echoing guitars and soft, ricocheting synths that feel quite starry, for all the subterranean recordings.” – The Guardian

Steve Cole – Pulse CD (Artistry)

In the 15 years since the release of his debut record, saxophonist Steve Cole has traveled full-circle creatively and arrived back home on Pulse, a 10-song set mixing R&B, contemporary jazz, gospel, blues and pop.

Cosmic Psychos –Down On The Farm/Cosmic Psychos [Reissue/1985/1987] CD (Goner)

Cosmic Psychos – Go The Hack [Reissue/1990] CD (Goner)

These first Cosmic Psychos releases are as timeless and necessary as ever—still a bullsh!t bulldozer, a blurry loud night at the bar, a rollicking time hanging with the guys. The time has come for a new generation to be uplifted by these initial blasts from the Cosmic Psychos. Goner is proud to partner with Melbourne’s esteemed Aarght! Records to bring these platters of primal perfection back into a world that definitely needs them. Vinyl version of Go The Hack due October 1.

Elvis Costello And The Roots – Wise Up Ghost And Other Songs 2013 CD (Blue Note)

Long-rumored and shrouded in mystery, this collaborative album between Elvis Costello and The Roots promises to be one of the most unexpected and surprising releases of 2013. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds three bonus tracks. Vinyl version due September 24. “It’s a moody, brooding affair, cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies. I went stark and dark on the music. Elvis went HAM on some ole Ezra Pound sh!t.” –Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson

Crystal Stilts – Nature Noir CD/LP (Sacred Bones)

Nature Noir finds the group expanding their palette to include strings, percussion, and synthesizers, to create a record that is both more sonically adventurous and personal, humane statement than their previous work.

Cult Of Luna – Vertikal II CDEP (Workhorse Music Group)

One album release this year wasn’t enough for Swedish post-metal specialists Cult Of Luna. After releasing a new album, Vertikal earlier this year, they drop a new EP.

Billy Currington – We Are Tonight CD (Mercury Nashville)

Currington is a Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling artist whose No. 1 singles include “Don’t,” “Good Directions,” “Let Me Down Easy,” “Must Be Doin Something Right,” “People Are Crazy,” “Pretty Good At Drinkin Beer,” and “That’s How Country Boys Roll.”

Daedelus – Drown Out CD (Anticon)

Drown Out can be alternately intense or mellow, melancholy or ebullient, danceable or introspective. Genres ransacked and sublimated include ’90s West Coast gangsta rap, rave, classical, jazz, footwork, juke and the heavy beats that crop up out of the Low End Theory. There are neither speed limits nor straight paths, but there’s always a voice and a roadmap. Vinyl version due October 1.

The Darcys – Warring CD/LP (Arts & Crafts)

The new album from Toronto art-rockers the Darcys is being touted as the final installment in a trilogy that started with their 2011 self-titled album and continued with their 2012 interpretation of Steely Dan’s Aja.

Delorean – Apar CD/LP (True Panther Sounds)

Apar is Delorean’s follow up to 2010’s Subiza which brought the band world-wide critical acclaim. The New York Times said, “Delorean traffics in airy atmospherics and enveloping rhythm: ideally, music for a dance floor in the hours preceding dawn” and Filter described the debut as “a compelling balance between Spanish discotheque, indie rock know-how, and sparkling synth arrangements — eight tracks of blissful synth-pop about the emotional extremes of love.”

The Devil Wears Prada – 8:18 CD/LP+MP3 (Roadrunner)

“As far as metalcore goes, The Devil Wears Prada always got the nuances and specifics right. A healthy balance of clean and screamed vocals, heavy and melodic riffs, and rhythms to breakdowns have always been a part of their writing. I feel that lately, metalcore is starting to drift from fast and bright to slow and dark, almost as if the genre is growing up a little bit along with the fans. If you’ve followed The Devil Wears Prada for years, like I have, you can definitely hear that shift in their writing. And it’s none more evident than in 8:18.” – metalinjection.net

Dirtbombs – Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-blooey! CD/LP (In The Red)

It’s understandable to assume that a bubblegum record by The Dirtbombs would be cover versions by groups like the 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express and The Archies. After all, the band already has two albums of cover songs under their belt, which salute specific genres. That is not the case in this instance. Mick Collins wrote ten new tracks which pay homage to the sound and style originally popularized in the late ’60s/early ’70s by producers/exploiters like Kasenetz-Katz and Don Kirschner.

D.O.A. – Welcome To China Town CD (Sudden Death)

Recorded over three nights between June 4th, 2011, and January 19th, 2013, at The Rickshaw Theatre in the heart of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, this definitive album delivers an unbelievable cultural and musical thrill ride. Led by Canada’s Godfather of punk, Joe “Sh!thead” Keithley, D.O.A. pulls classic after punk rock classic from albums like Something Better Change, Hardcore 81, War On 45 and Northern Avenger for an epic live release much greater than the sum of its parts. Vinyl version due October 29.

Mike Doughty – Circles Super Bob Bon Sleepless… CD (Snackbar)

Doughty reinvents select songs originally performed by his former band, Soul Coughing. He had famously eschewed the band’s repertoire as he built a solo career in the years after their 2000 split. But now he’s revisiting 13 of those songs, including “Circles,” “Super Bon Bon,” “True Dreams Of Wichita” and “Unmarked Helicopters,” in an effort to explore his original vision when he wrote them, and before they entered the dysfunctional fray of the band.

Donato Dozzy – Plays Bee Mask CD/2xLP (Spectrum Spools)

In hindsight, the pairing of Chris Madak and Donato Dozzy was inevitable from the moment when the two connected on Mount Naeba, Japan at the storied party Labyrinth last fall. Both artists have worked to craft singular visions unlike anything else happening in electronic music today, yet despite each producer’s unmistakable indivuality there is a deeper reservoir of shared sensibility between them which makes Donato Dozzy Plays Bee Mask feel like a logical and necessary event.

Dream Boys – Dream Boys CD/LP (Art Fag)

Consisting of three Americans and one Scotsman, Dream Boys filter the spirit of Postcard Records through the rural haze of the Paisley Underground; pure pop with nods to New Zealand’s Flying Nun Records and Australia’s The Church.

Arnold Dreyblatt & Megafaun – Appalachian Excitation CD/LP+MP3 (Northern Spy)

New collaboration between the composer and the psych-folk trio.

Duke Ellington – The Ellington Suites [Reissue/1977] CD (Original Jazz Classics)

The Ellington Suites is a studio album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington which collects three suites recorded in 1959, 1971 and 1972 (originally released on the Pablo label in 1976).

Roky Erickson – The Evil One [Reissue/1981] CD/2xLP+MP3 (Light In The Attic)

Roky Erickson – Don’t Slander Me [Reissue/1986] CD/2xLP+MP3 (Light In The Attic)

Roky Erickson – Gremlins Have Pictures [Reissue/1986] CD/LP+7”+MP3 (Light In The Attic)

Celebrating a creative purple patch by a singular performer, Light In The Attic reissues the three Roky Erickson albums orchestrated by Orb Productions, Craig Luckin’s San Francisco-based music company. In revisiting The Evil One, Don’t Slander Me, and Gremlins Have Pictures, a lens is held to a unique artist beloved of Sonic Youth, Spacemen 3, ZZ Top, Jesus And Mary Chain, The Black Angels, Jack White and many more. “Like Syd Barrett, a common point of reference, Roky Erickson rose to cult-hero status as much for his music as for his tragic personal life; in light of his legendary bouts with madness and mythic drug abuse, the influence exerted by his garage-bred psychedelia was often lost in the shuffle.” – AllMusic

Eyes Set To Kill – Masks CD (Century Media)

“With Masks, their fifth full-length album (and first with Century Media), the Rodriguez sisters and company have taken off their ‘emo metal-core masks’ and given the band’s sound facelift of straight hard rock/metal (though lyrics haven’t changed)–more suited for the mainstream.” – musicconnection.com

Factory Floor – Factory Floor CD/LP (DFA)

Produced and recorded by the group in their North London warehouse space on a vintage mixing desk originally used by Dave Stewart three decades ago to record all the Eurythmics’ early hits, Factory Floor is a visceral trip through the band’s repertoire. Perhaps the most unlikely aspect of Factory Floor’s rise to notoriety is their versatility. Even their most ardent of fans describe their sound as punishing, yet they are equally at home playing raves, alternative festivals, art galleries, cinemas, nightclubs and rock shows; on top of that they’re as likely to collaborate with members of Throbbing Gristle and New Order (not to mention Richard H. Kirk of Cabaret Voltaire, Simon Fisher Turner and Peter Gordon) as they are with contemporary artists such as Haroon Mirza and Hannah Sawtell.

Five For Fighting – Bookmarks CD (Wind-Up)

Singer/songwriter John Ondrasik, also known as Five For Fighting, releases his sixth studio album. Bookmarks, produced by Gregg Wattenberg (Phillip Phillips, Train) and Derek Fuhrmann (Phillip Phillips, O.A.R), carries on with the musical tradition Ondrasik has created over the past decade writing deeply personal songs that invoke the human spirit.

The Flatliners – Dead Language CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)

Last year, Toronto punks The Flatliners celebrated their 10th anniversary with a tour, and now they’re kicking off their second decade with a new album.

Forest Swords – Engravings CD/LP (Tri Angle)

An expansive and truly original fusion of rattling dub rhythms, chiming guitar, blunted hip-hop beats, and vocals that sound as if they’re emanating from decades old gospel recordings.

Grateful Dead – Sunshine Daydream 3xCD+DVD/4xLP (Grateful Dead/WEA)

On August 27, 1972, fresh off their now-legendary European tour, the Grateful Dead traveled to Veneta, Oregon and reunited with the Merry Pranksters to throw a benefit concert for the Kesey family’s Springfield Creamery. The show, which was recorded and filmed but never released, has since become the most-requested live show in Grateful Dead history.

Grave Miasma – Odori Sepulcrorum CD (Profound Lore)

Pure death metal revelation, their debut album Odori Sepulcrorum raises the scene to a new level. The release showcases a new sense of artistry, harnessing uncanny atmospherics and heaving might. A milestone in occult death metal, Odori Sepulcrorum is a classic of ritual darkness. 

Grouplove – Spreading Rumors CD/LP+MP3 (Atlantic)

Follow up to their breakout hit record, Never Trust A Happy Song. “If there’s a watchword for Spreading Rumours, with its dollops of Sunset Strip gregariousness and sweet boy-girl choruses, it’s not so much excess as abundance: Forty-five minutes into the record, where most bands would be burying deep cuts, Grouplove is still dispensing impossibly infectious would-be hits like the unshakeable ‘Raspberry.’” – NPR

Gwar – Battle Maximus CD (Century Media)

Battle Maximus was conceived and recorded over the last year at the brands self-produced Slave Pit Studios, and was mixed by veteran metal producer Glen Robinson and mastered by the matchless Howie Weinburg. It features twelve brand-new tracks of sonic sedition guaranteed to make even the most hardened Gwar fans head explode, merely by looking at the packaging. On tour now.

Haken – Mountain CD (Inside/Out US)

Third album from the British prog metal band.

Steve Hauschildt – S/H 2xCD (Editions Mego)

Anthology of rare and unreleased solo work by former Emeralds member.

Islands – Ski Mask CD/LP+MP3 (Manque Music)

Islands’ latest, Ski Mask, percolates with the kind of polymorphous pop and hooky, left-of-center rock songs that have long been the bands stock in trade.

Rob James – Rhodes Scholar: Jazz Funk Classics 1974-1982 2XCD (Tappan Zee)

Legendary keyboardist and composer Bob James is one of the major architects of the ’70s jazz-funk sound, and is also notorious among a younger generation raised on hip-hop. His early albums have been plundered for samples countless times, and his tunes “Nautilus” and “(Take Me To The) Mardi Gras” are two of the most revered b-boy classics, acknowledged as musical foundations of the hip-hop movement.

Garland Jeffreys – Truth Serum CD (Luna Park)

New album from the veteran singer/songwriter. Fifty years into his storied career, Garland Jeffreys is enjoying the kind of creative second wind most artists can only hope for the first time around, earning a swarm of critical accolades and experiencing his most prolific stretch in decades. Truth Serum, his second album in two years, is a cri de coeur, a stripped-down tone poem from an artist taking his rightful and hard-earned place in the musical pantheon. Vinyl version due September 24.

Jack Johnson – From Here To Now To Now CD/LP (Brushfire)

On his last two studio albums, Jack Johnson pushed into darker territory and delved deeper into electric guitar work than ever before in his music career. Now, with his sixth studio album From Here To Now To You, the Hawaii-based artist reclaims his role as a maestro of surf/folk/rock while expanding and strengthening his songwriting craft. Written entirely on acoustic guitar and brought to life with lush yet rustic instrumentation, From Here To Know To You finds Johnson refining his gift for storytelling that’s both refreshingly down-to-earth and enlightening.

Tommy Keene – Excitement At Your Feet CD/LP+MP3 (Second Motion)

Tenth studio effort and first LP of cover songs.

Carol Kleyn – Return Of The Silke [1983] CD/LP (Drag City)

Return Of The Silkie, 1983’s third chapter in the as-yet unfinished saga of the nomadic West Coast harpist, Carol Kleyn, offers a slice of the wild and free utopian dream that changed so many lives in the `60s and `70s. Pure and simple, harp and vocals, accompanied only by scatterings of harbor seals and sea lions, this loosely woven concept album includes gentle reminders that life is short-take it in while you can-and, along the way, try to preserve the magnificence of this world for the next generation.

Jonny Lang – Fight For My Soul CD (Concord)

Since the release of his 1997 major label debut Lie To Me, the then 16 year-old Lang has built a reputation as one of the best live performers and guitarists of his generation. It’s been seven years since he released a new studio album but the wait is finally over.

Last Days – Satellite CD (n5MD)

Fourth album from Graham Richardson’s Last Days. Richardson who is now well known for his cinematic electro-acoustic pieces that effortlessly invoke an almost inconceivably tangible imagery has this time around turned ever inward for Satellite’s core inspiration. While Richardson credits the album with certain personal themes in tow he’s more apt to let the listener gather their own meaning of the album’s affinity of satellite and stars.

Alvin Lee – The Last Show CD (Rainman)

On May 28th, 2012, Alvin Lee played what sadly proved to be his last live show at a festival in Holland. Backed by Pete Pritchard on bass and Richard Newman on drums, Alvin and the band were described by all in attendance as being on fire that night, playing one of the finest shows of his long and impressive career. 

Live Skull – Live Skull [Reissue/1983] CD/LP (Desire)

Live Skull – Bringing Home The Bait [Reissue/1985] CD/LP (Desire)

The unholy trinity of Live Skull/Swans/Sonic Youth dominated New York’s so-called noise scene throughout most of the 80’s. Bringing Home The Bait was originally released in 1985 on the Homestead label. Each are also available on color vinyl.

Los Mockers – The Original Recordings 1965-1967 CD/LP (Get Hip)

Los Mockers, who are often considered the best sixties South American band, started in 1962-‘63 as a skiffle group, playing with home-made instruments at the “Instituto Zorilla” in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Original Recordings collects the entirety of their original recordings including an LP, several singles, and a “Paint It Black” cover.

Mascott – The Cost/Amount CDEP (Kiam)

Kendall Jane Meade aka Mascott has spent a great deal of the past 15 years lending her talents to other notable projects such as Sparklehorse, The Spinanes, and Helium. Here she provides four tracks of sparkling pop bliss.

Del McCoury – Streets Of Baltimore CD (McCoury Music)

Almost sixty years after Del McCoury got his start playing in Baltimore, he is still putting on tremendous live shows and singing as well as he ever has. The Streets Of Baltimore captures this sixty years of pouring his heart into his music.

Mississippi Fred McDowell – I Do Not Play No Rock ‘N’ Roll [Reissue/1969] CD/LP (Water/4 Men With Beards)

This 1969 release by the legendary Mississippi Fred McDowell was his first to feature him playing the electric guitar. Although it was somewhat controversial at the time because of this fact, it is now considered a classic.

Tift Merritt – Traveling Companion 2xCD/3xLP+MP3 (Yep Roc)

After The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and hometown newspaper The Raleigh News & Observer heralded Traveling Alone as her best album yet, it would have been easy for Tift Merritt to sit back and enjoy the praise. Instead, she embarked on national and international tours, released the classical hybrid album Night with pianist Simone Dinnerstein and dug even further into Traveling Alone to create these beautiful new expanded edition CD and LP box sets.

MGMT – MGMT CD/LP+MP3 (Columbia)

MGMT are back with their self-titled third studio album. The successor to 2008’s Oracular Spectacular and 2010’s Congratulations, MGMT finds Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser continuing to push themselves to expand the boundaries of modern pop music. Returning to Tarbox Road Studios to work with longtime collaborator Dave Fridmann (Co-producer and mixer of Oracular Spectacular and Congratulations, The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala), Andrew and Ben experimented with various in-studio writing processes, allowing the music to tell them where it wanted to go. The result is a diverse and powerful collection of ten songs (including a cover of “Introspection” by 1960’s psych band Faine Jade) that directly mirrors the duo’s encompassing surrealist view of the everyday.

Mind Over Mirrors – When The Rest Are Up At Four CD/LP+MP3 (Immune)

Mind Over Mirrors is the solitary reeling of American harmonium/electronist Jaime Fennelly. Utilizing an Indian pedal harmonium, oscillators, tape delay, and an assortment of synthesizing processors, Fennelly bends slowly building, repetitive melodies into massive sonic mountain.

The Mission – The Brightest Light CD/2xCD/2xLP+MP3 (The End)

Their first new album in six years — and first to feature original band members Wayne Hussey, Simon Hinkler and Craig Adams since 1990. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus disc of demo versions.

Justin Moore – Off The Beaten Path CD (Valory)

The third album from country star Justin Moore – available in Regular and Deluxe editions.

múm – Smilewound CD/LP (Morr Music)

The Icelandic experimental collective return with their sixth full-length of offbeat electronic pop, this time featuring a cameo appearance by Kylie Minogue.

MX-80 Sound – Hard Attack [Reissue/1977] 2xCD (Superior Viaduct)

Recently reissued on vinyl – now available on expanded double-CD. MX-80 Sound is one of the real oddities in American music. Their debut album, Hard Attack found little-to-no audience in the States upon its release in 1977, yet remains a key document of the mid-’70s proto-punk zeitgeist. This deluxe double-CD set includes 19 previously unreleased tracks, documenting the band from their early days to the moment they relocated to San Francisco and signed to the Residents’ Ralph Records label.

The Naked And Famous – In Rolling Waves CD/LP (Universal Republic)

The Naked And Famous elicit a romantic connection inspired by the golden era of Alternative rock; a shared response to a teenage soundtrack of epic, emotionally charged mid-’90s music. In Rolling Waves contains darkly nuanced, intricately rocking electro gems.

Nightmares On Wax – Feelin’ Good CD/2xLP+MP3 (Warp)

Nightmares On Wax is an institution, albeit a delightfully different one. The man behind the moniker, George Evelyn, just keeps reinventing, not in a willful Bowie way, but flowing along, going at whatever speed he fancies to wherever his ideas carry him.

Tim O’Brien And Darrell Scott – Memories & Moments CD (Full Skies)

Second studio album from highly regarded writer/singer/multi-instrumentalists Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott. Comprising five songs apiece from O’Brien and Scott plus one memorable collaboration in their timely “Turn Your Dirty Lights On,” along with a pair of chestnuts from Hank Williams and George Jones and a spirited rendition of the John Prine classic “Paradise,” with its author guesting on guitar and vocals, Memories & Moments is a face-to-face record by design.

The Alan Parsons Project – I Robot [Legacy Edition/1977] 2xCD (Sony Legacy)

Remaster of original 1977 concept album inspired by Isaac Asimov writings, now coupled with second disc of bonus material including nine previously unreleased tracks.

Pinkish Black – Razed To The Ground CD (Century Media)

Pinkish Black’s second album continues where the self-titled left off — gloomy and unsettling doom. Vinyl version due September 30.

Placebo – Loud Like Love CD/CD+DVD/LP (UMe)

Placebo’s sixth album — available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus DVD. “…in this age of white male vocal homogeneity – ie, the Coldplay-style falsetto voice-crack – Molko’s squeaky whine is rather refreshing. This is a minor point, though — what’s really appealing is the songs themselves, big things splashed with care over a broad canvas.” – theartsdesk.com

Plankton Wat – Drifter’s Temple CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)

Portland musician Dewey Mahood is one of the most versatile and prolific musicians in the modern psychedelic underground. As Plankton Wat, he has explored the outer reaches of folk and synthesized drift since the mid-aughts, and his dedication to improvisation above all else, his restless exploratory spirit, has earned him his place as a dark horse in the continuum of contemporary sonic explorers such as Sun Araw (with whom he has collaborated), Expo 70, Steve Gunn, Herbcraft, and Daniel Higgs.

Pleasure – Glide: The Essential Selection 1975-1982 2xCD (Soul Temple)

Pleasure originated from the ashes of two local Portland, Oregon bands, The Soul Masters and Franchise, to become veritable monsters of funk, soul and jazz. Their sound is often compared to Earth, Wind & Fire or Kool And The Gang. They had an inspired run of seven albums, six for Fantasy Records and one for RCA, from 1975 through 1982.

Gregory Porter – Liquid Spirit CD/2xLP (Blue Note)

Liquid Spirit marks Gregory Porter’s Blue Note Records debut, which arrives on the heels of two critically acclaimed indie label albums that quickly propelled Porter to the upper echelon of contemporary male jazz singers and earned him two Grammy nominations.

Prozak – We All Fall Down CD (Strange Music)

Fourth album for the Saginaw, MI rapper who has long been a favorite with fans thanks to his poignant writing and the ability to spotlight the dark realities of human behavior.

Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels CD/LP (Fool’s Gold)

Debut album from duo of EL-P and Killer Mike. Ten tracks of speaker obliterating beats and razor sharp verses, laced with searing, honest emotion and pitch black humor.

Said The Whale – Hawaii CD (Hidden Pony)

Once again teaming with longtime studio collaborator Tom Dobrzanski (We Are The City, The Zolas) at his Monarch Studios, Said The Whale pushed their musical limits and honed their love of fast, punchy pop-rock.

Nathan Salsburg – Hard For To Win And Can’t Be Won CD (No Quarter)

Nathan Salsburg’s 2011 debut was a beautiful ode to racehorses (a point of pride for any resident of Kentucky). Comprised of seven acoustic guitar instrumentals and one vocal track, “Affirmed” caused Popmatters to declare the record “one that others like it will soon be measured against.” His second go-round is a grander effort. Although still primarily composed of acoustic guitar, the songs sound bigger. They bounce along, weaving through unexpected twists and turns, with the occasional piano melody or fiddle line.

San Fermin – San Fermin CD/2xLP+MP3 (Downtown)

Led by principal songwriter and composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone, San Fermin is a pastiche of post-rock, chamber-pop and contemporary classical composition. San Fermin features 17 tracks that are strongly influenced by Ellis Ludwig-Leone’s unique background in classical music, which includes a job assisting composer/arranger Nico Muhly, and fittingly features instrumentalists from the likes of Bon Iver, yMusic, and Asphalt Orchestra.

Satyricon – Satyricon CD (Nuclear Blast)

New album from Norway’s avant black metallers — their first in five years. For fans of Immortal and Emperor. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds three bonus tracks.

Saves The Day – Saves The Day CD (Equal Vision)

STD’s eighth album — funded by fans through Pledge Music.

Sebadoh – Defend Yourself CD/LP+MP3 (Joyful Noise)

Sebadoh, the longtime project of Lou Barlow, Jason Loewenstein, and Bob D’Amico, has signed with Joyful Noise Recordings and re-emerged with the full-length album Defend Yourself. Defend Yourself marks a return to the self-recorded DIY ethos of early Sebadoh albums (Sebadoh III, Bakesale), and material from the Defend Yourself sessions has been hailed as commensurate with Sebadoh’s finest moments.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Fly By Wire CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin returned to the attic where they made their debut full-length Broom. Phil Dickey, Will Knauer, and Jonathan James spent up to twelve hours a day working on the songs that would become Fly By Wire. With James assuming the role of engineer, Dickey and Knauer wrote lyrics and guitar parts on a third floor windowsill and recorded vocals in the staircase. This laid-back approach to recording is clearly evident in the album’s warm, welcoming sound. Also available on Coke-bottle clear vinyl with download.

Sphongle – Museums Of Consciousness CD/LP (Twisted)

“Esoteric, spiritually intoxicating, and rich in depth, Shpongle is a manifestation of the artistic visions of Raja Ram and Simon Posford. There is no two-step beat, there is no womp, and bass is far from being the main focus. Practically speaking, their music contains heavy influences of UK psytrance, ethnic guitars, and psychedelic lyricism.” – titsandacidreviews.wordpress.com

A Storm Of Light – Nation To Flames CD (Southern Lord)

New album from the New York metal alchemists, featuring former Neurosis visual master Josh Graham. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) lends guitar on several tracks. “We’ve ditched the rock elements of the last record and let our early influences of Killing Joke, Bad Brains, Metallica and Crash Worship seep in. We are bringing back the intensity of Black Ocean but with the speed and precision, which are akin to our metal influences. While there are still some slower/sludgy tunes, some songs are twice as fast as the older material.”

Subrosa – More Constant Than The Gods CD (Profound Lore)

Since their formation in the summer of 2005, Subrosa has been recognized as one of the more unique bands in the doom/rock genre. Underpinned by a monolithically heavy rhythm section and featuring two electric violinists and the enchanting vocals of Rebecca Vernon, the Salt Lake City-based group garnered widespread critical acclaim in 2011 for their third album (and Profound Lore debut) No Help for the Mighty Ones, a powerful mix of Kyuss, Sleep, L7 and PJ Harvey as well as folk, neoclassical and chamber music influences.

Tantric – 37 Channels CD (Pavement Music)

New album from Louisville-based rockers featuring guests Shooter Jennings, as well as members of Hinder, 3 Doors Down and Uncle Kracker.

Sidi Toure – Alafia CD/LP+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)

Third international release from Malian songwriter and guitarist.

Trentemøller – Lost CD/2xLP+MP3 (In My Room)

New release from the Danish musician, live performer, producer, remixer and DJ. Guests include Johnny Pierce (The Drums), legendary slow-core pioneers Low, Jana Hunter (Lower Dens), Marie Fisker, Ghost Society, Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead) and Sune Wagner (The Raveonettes).

Týr – Valkyrja CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)

Seventh full-length album from the Faroe Islands metal band.

Ulcerate – Vermis CD/LP (Relapse)

“As far as fledgling subgenres go, post-death metal is as unlikely as it gets. Combining heavy-hitting death metal with atmospheric qualities sounds like a mess on paper, but has seen surprisingly brilliant execution. New Zealand’s Ulcerate are leading the pack in that regard, wowing fans of brutal death metal and those seeking musical furtherance alike.” – heavyblogisheavy.com

Various Artists [Rick Ro$$] – Rick Ro$$ Presents: Self Made 3 CD (Maybach Music Group/Atlantic)

The third collection from Ro$$’s Mayback label includes tracks from veteran roster artists as well as new signings Omarion, Lil Snupe, Gunplay and others.

Tony Joe White – Hoodoo CD/LP (Yep Roc)

Awash in danger, spiritual uncertainty, and environmental fury, Hoodoo‘s lyrical concerns are matched by a particularly intense strain of White’s trademark swamp funk.

Windhand – Soma CD/2xLP (Relapse)

Virginia doom metal outfit Windhand release their second full-length album.

Wolveserpent – Perigaea Antahkarana CD/LP (Relapse)

Boise, Idaho duo Wolvserpent summon a deeply lush and powerful amalgamation of doom, dark-folk, drone, chamber music and black metal.

Dustin Wong – Mediation Of Ecstatic Energy CD/LP+7”+MP3 (Thrill Jockey)

Mediation shows Dustin complicating his already complex arrangements for guitar, voice, and loops, expanding not only his timbral palate, but also exploring new rhythmic intricacies. Vinyl version includes a bonus 7” single featuring a non-album track.

Wrong Words – Everything Is Free CD/LP+MP3 (Trouble In Mind)

This time out, The Wrong Words have enlisted a string section, horns, and woodwinds to carefully guide them through the pop landscape. Songwriter Josh Miller still burns with the fiery restlessness that peppered his tunes on their 2011 self-titled debut, but rather than bash and crash their way thru a two and a half minute pop ditty, they ease their way from verse to chorus without sacrificing any of their token pop smarts.

Yip Deceiver – Medallius CD/LP+MP3 (New West)

Electro-pop/indie-dance outfit Yip Deceiver, born out of Athens, GA, is the collaborative effort of producer/songwriter, Davey Pierce, and accountant/vibes manager, Nicolas “Dobby” Dobbratz. The title Medallius encapsulates the elegance and coolness of their current lifestyle and implies the inevitable fame and fortune that awaits. The duo have enjoyed hours in the lab with outdated MIDI hardware, tabletop technology, and analog and FM synths creating an electronic pop record with true soul and character.

Chris Young – A.M. CD (RCA Nashville)

The man known for his classic baritone and melt-your-heart ballads releases a new album.

Zendaya – Zendaya CD (Hollywood)

Zendaya impressed judges and fans alike on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars this past spring.

On her debut album, she worked with an a-list team of producers and writers, including Mick Schultz, Harmony Samuels, Jonas Jeberg, The Suspex, Jukebox, The Monsters and The Strangerz, and Livvi Franc.

DVD + Blu-ray:

Anathema – Universal Blu-ray (K-Scope)

Live show recorded during the band’s lengthy Weather Systems world tour. The European leg of the tour opened with a triumphant one-off show at the ancient Roman theatre of Philippopolis with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2012. Directed by celebrated filmmaker Lasse Hoile, Universal captures the magic of the event. 

Everything Is Terrible! – Comic Relief/EIT! Does Hip-Hop DVD (Everything Is Terrible)

EIT’s first hour long comedy special and the most cringe-inducing set-ups and bomb-dropping punchlines ripped from their magnetic tape time capsules, featuring today’s hottest ventriloquists, racists, prop comics, sexists, impersonators, homophobes, and talk show hosts. EIT! Does The Hip Hop celebrates the “real birth of hip-hop.” You know, the one involving kids rapping about stamps, and claymation doughboys spitting rhymes about crescent rolls.

Peter Gabriel – Live In Athens 1987 Blu-ray+DVD (Eagle Vision)

In October 1987 after many months on the road, it was in the elevated surroundings of the hillside open-air theatre at Lycabettus overlooking Athens that the So tour came to a climactic close. The three nights were filmed in what was the first-ever Peter Gabriel concert to be committed to film. As a concert film, it was brilliantly shot and has now been equally brilliantly remastered, a crystal-clear record of Gabriel and band in their mid-80s pomp. 145 minutes.

Various Artists -12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief DVD (Columbia)

The 12.12.12 benefit concert was organized to provide the most assistance possible to the victims of Hurricane Sandy through the Robin Hood Relief Fund. The fundraising concert at Madison Square Garden featured iconic performers (including Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Roger Waters, Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Chris Martin, and Paul McCartney) and the DVD contains a selection of performances from the event. 157 minutes.

Vinyl: 

200 Years – Holyoke LP (Grapefruit)

Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance) and Elisa Ambrogio (Magik Markers) comprise 200 Years. Following proper release of their official record on Drag City, the duo presents this album, which they describe as “late-night blues jams hoping to capture the mood of Ed Sanders giving a back massage to Loren Mazzacane Connors, while a scratched Jacobites LP plays and Anne Briggs sings in the shower.”

The Andrew Jackson Jihad – Live At The Crescent Ballroom 2xLP (Asian Man)

Vinyl-only live set recorded on the band’s last show of their 2012 headlining US tour in Phoenix. No overdubs, no filters, this is recorded right off the soundboard and includes all this mistakes that makes music human.

Baird Sisters – Until You Find Your Green LP (Grapefruit)

The Baird Sisters consist of Drag City recording artist Meg Baird and sister Laura Baird. Until You Find Your Green was recorded at Laura’s farm-house home over the course of a few weeks in April of 2012. In a departure from the live-performance approach of their previous two albums, At Home (2003) and Lonely Town (2008), Until You Find Your Green makes use of multi-track recording, allowing the sisters to experiment and embellish their music with additional instrumentation and the occasional field recording.

Black God – Three 7” (No Idea)

Two minute punk rock blasts from this melodic hardcore supergroup.

Black Rain – Protoplasm 12” (Blackest Ever Black)

First new material since 1996. Four tracks of desolated cyberpunk techno.

Blank Realm – Deja What? [Reissue/2010] LP (Fire)

An uneasy marriage of ‘70/’80s US experimental punk with ultra-crude Flying Nun styled pop.

Braids – Flourish // Perish CD (Arbutus)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Hailing from Calgary Canada, Braids band broke the music scene with their lighter, shoe-gaze debut, Native Speaker in 2011, scoring points and finding devoted fans almost instantly. Having logged well-earned touring hours of over 18 months and even recovered from the departure of a fellow band member, the now three-piece holed up for an entire year to write, heal and record their follow up. Flourish // Perish offers a soul-reaching contrast through its complex rhythms and structured melodies, affirming the trios collective strength. Finding a harmonic balance between structure and delicacy, it encompasses much-loved older-material roots with raw electro exploration.” – Gigwise

Brian Jonestown Massacre – Give It Back! [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (A. Records)

Double-LP sky-blue vinyl reissue now available.

Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group – Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group 2xLP (Ark)

The Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group is a spice-hunting collective made up of Cameron Stallones, Butch Fuego, Tony Lowe, and M. Geddes Gengras. They spent a week in 2012 at the multicultural center The Worm in Rotterdam — a world-class synthesizer studio. The group spent time among a Syrinx, Serge and Surinamese victuals, tracking this live album to two-track.

Centauri – Lawdy Lawdy Lawdy LP (Numero)

Recorded in 1978, this is a long-playing Golden Fleece of funk, disco, boogie, and deep post-Muscle Shoals balladry.

Centuries – Taedium Vitae LP (Southern Lord)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Emotive punk-influenced style of dark hardcore with elements of explosive d-beat.

Eric Chenaux & Radwan Ghazi Moumneh – Sentimental Moves LP (Grapefruit)

About Chenaux’s guitar playing, Carl Wilson writes, “Ornette Coleman might call it harmolodic. Chenaux might call it an amazing background. His strings chime with all those thoughts at once. I adore the way he teases out a melody.” Radwan Ghazi Moumneh is a Lebanese musician, audio engineer/producer and co-owner of the Hotel2Tango recording studio in Montréal, where he currently resides. He also is the founder of Jerusalem in My Heart, a contemporary Arabic music and multiple 16mm film projector performance project on Constellation Records.

Bill Direen And The Hat – Flavour Of The Meat LP (Grapefruit)

Bill Direen and Hamish Kilgour go back to the early days of NZ’s Flying Nun label and even earlier, when the members of bands like The Clean and Vacuum would skulk to each other’s shows in small bars or run-down church halls in the suburbs of Christchurch. The twelve tracks on Flavour Of The Meat range from garage pop to acoustico-electric assault, and most were recorded in a single session. Expect conventional songs with alternating bursts of improvisation.

Dump – The Silent Treatment LP (Grapefruit)

Dump is James McNew, known primarily for his work as a member of Yo La Tengo. The Silent Treatment, collection of new recordings, comes on the heels of a series of Dump reissues and features a couple covers (“You Say You Don’t Love Me” by The Buzzcocks and “Yo Yo Bye Bye” by Why?) amidst the beautiful originals.

Eight Bells – Captain’s Daughter LP (The Flenser)

Engineered by sound mastermind Billy Anderson (Melvins, Neurosis, Agalloch), The Captain’s Daughter is comprised of four organic soundscapes that oscillate seamlessly between the tranquil and the terrifying. Originally released on CD by Seventh Rule Recordings, this genre-defying masterwork draws from psychedelic rock, black metal and ambient metal.

Jackson C. Frank – Jackson C. Frank [Reissue/1965] LP (4 Men With Beards)

Debut album released on Columbia in 1965, produced by Paul Simon. His most famous song “Blues Run The Game” has been covered by scores of musicians including Simon & Garfunkel, Counting Crows, Colin Meloy, Bert Jansch, Laura Marling and Robin Pecknold, while Nick Drake also recorded it privately.

Fuzz – Sunderberry Dream 7” (In The Red)

Fuzz is Roland Cosio (bass), Charlie Moothart (guitar) and Ty Segall (drums and vocals). Sunderberry Dream features two non-album cuts, the second of which is a cover of King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man.” “…blues-punk slow-grinder in the style of Black Sabbath, albeit re-imagined as a San Francisco garage band.”—Spin

Gap Dream – Shine Your Love b/w Light On A G-String 7” (Fat Possum)

Cleveland bedroom-pop project Gap Dream drop a new single ahead of their forthcoming LP.

Tim Hecker – Mirages [2004] 2xLP (Kranky)

First ever vinyl issue for Tim Hecker’s classic 2004 debut. Features collaborations from Oren Ambarchi, Fly Pan Am and David Bryant.

Holy Ghost! – Dynamics 2xLP (DFA)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Recorded and mixed at DFA Studios with the help of Chris Zane (Passion Pit, The Walkmen, Friendly Fires), Dynamics is front-to-back one of the finest dance pop records of 2013. The duo’s last full-length was hailed as a ”classic pop album’ by The Los Angeles Times and garnered three Best New Music awards on Pitchfork, who premiered the debut Dynamics single and video, “Dumb Disco Ideas.”

Keep Shelly In Athens – At Home LP (Cascine)

“Bunching them in with the chillwave set is to do them a disservice; they do share similar aesthetics – the smoky vibes, minimal dubstep infused beats, washes of atmospheric synths and complex electronic – but beneath the complex studio production, there lies a beating pop heart.” – The Line Of Best Fit

Lambchop – Turd Goes Back: Essential Tracks From Secret Secret Sourpuss & Big Tussie LP (Grapefruit)

This LP is an assemblage of Kurt Wagner’s early recordings, taken from two rare cassettes.

Mark Lanegan – Imitiations CD/LP (Vagrant)

Among the twelve tracks on this covers album, Lanegan tackles Hall & Oates’ “She’s Gone,” Nancy Sinatra’s “You Only Live Twice,” Nick Cave’s “Brompton Oratory,” Bobby Darin’s “Mack The Knife,” and more. Also includes three new originals.

Magik Markers – Ice Skater b/w Machines 7” (Drag City)

There’s always been that starched-collar, puritanical undercarriage to the MM vibe, right? Well here, it melts all over you with a winsome melody, bloodless disco beat and nu-romance synths blearing in pastel flares behind.

Mark McGuire – The Instinct 12” (New Images)

Two new tracks from founding member of Emeralds.

L. Eugene Methe – Calendar Work LP (Grapefruit)

L. Eugene Methe has performed and recorded in Omaha and Austin under a variety of aliases over the last sixteen years, experimenting with song-forms from noise/improvisational to modern composer to whispering folk pop in bands and solo projects like The Naturaliste, Arnoux, The Citizen, Mancini’s Angels, Diamondhead, Rake Kash and recently as one-third of Spiritual Rags (his band with Simon Joyner and Chris Deden).

David Kenneth Nance – Actor’s Diary LP (Grapefruit)

A certain Omaha sacred monster recently called Nance “the best bad guitarist he’s ever heard.” Channeling Jim Shepard, heroin-era Stones and New Zealand’s notorious Jefferies brothers through broken and poorly repaired gear, Nance rock is indeed the new pasture. 

Over The Rhine – Meet Me At The Edge Of The World 2xLP (Great Speckled Dog)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the Southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist. The band has again teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry to record timeless and vivid songs with striking harmony vocals.

Pearls Before Swine – The Use Of Ashes [Reissue/1970] LP (4 Men With Beards)

The fourth album from this psychedelic folk group (second for Warner/Reprise) was released in 1970 and features songs written by Tom Rapp while living in Holland. Recorded in Nashville with the town’s top session musicians including Charlie McCoy, Kenny Buttrey and Neil Young producer David Briggs. A subversive, tender, moving, goofy, maddening, and profound record.

 

Pelican – The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw [Reissue/2005] 2xLP (Hydra Head)

Vinyl reissue of Pelican’s 2005 album. Acoustic guitars take their place beside the group’s traditional (read: highly amplified) power-droning and awe-inspiring instrumental anthems.

Reckless Kelly – Long Night Moon 2xLP (No Big Deal)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Eighth album from the Austin-based band, and follow-up to 2011’s Grammy-nominated Good Luck & True Love.

The Renderizors – Vivid Cloud / Lucky Din LP (Grapefruit)

The Renderizors is an off-shoot project from The Renderers, a New Zealand alt-country/rock/psych noisy band that emerged in the early 1990s based around the husband + wife songwriting team of Brian and Maryrose Crook. Together they have released seven albums and numerous singles and compilation tracks over the 20-something years.

Residual Echoes – Middle Path LP (Holy Mountain)

Taking collage rock to college, bandleader Adam Payne and drummer Matthew Clark present their loftiest contribution yet to the out-rock canon. In the grand tradition of albums consisting of sidelong tracks, The Middle Path ranks among the best. How great is it? On the level of the latest opus by Decimus (NNCK’s Pat Murano), Tangerine Dream’s Zeit and Ash Ra Tempel’s first LP.

The Resonaurs – Crummy Desert Sound LP+MP3 (Burger/Trouble In Mind)

What started as a band, became a solo effort with Matt Rendon playing everything his own damn self and this 14 song compilation gathers together some of his greatest compositions from the opening guitar scree and wall of vocal harmonies of “Definitely Crescent Ridge,” to the cascading guitar jangle of “Marina,” all the way to the winsome chords of “Paint My Window Green.”

Bruce Russell/Roy Montgomery – Split LP (Grapefruit)

This split LP features side-length tracks by two free noise avant-garde pioneers, Bruce Russell and Roy Montgomery. Both artists hail from the fertile New Zealand music scene and have been making challenging, inspirational sounds since the early 1980s.

The Sadies – Internal Sounds LP+MP3 (Yep Roc)

Internal Sounds was recorded in Toronto and produced solely by the band’s Dallas Good. “There was a conscious effort to deliver a finished product that doesn’t suffer from a deadline or budget,” says Good. “We made the record over a span of a year, in session for twenty+ days. We spent every dime we had and used up every favor. There is always a sense of immediacy to our records, maybe because we make a lot of albums. I didn’t want that this time,” says Good. Internal Sounds also features another Canadian legend, Buffy Sainte-Marie, who contributes her haunting vocals to the closing track “We Are Circling.” CD version due October 1.

Strapping Fieldhands – Impossible To Say b/w Whiskers 7” (Richie)

Two brand new songs. One is a lively and scrappy, yet wistful anthem, perfect for hoisting a pint with the lads.  The other is a tender Ray Davies-ian ballad about a bearded lady.

Sun Araw – On Patrol [Reissue/2010] 2xLP (Sun Ark)

On Patrol, originally released in 2010, is a double LP in two parts, and the fourth full length album from Sun Araw. An album for heavy-steamin’ late nights in the city, inter-dimensional back alleys, ghost cabs; it creeps and tunes in on a much darker, sparser, and more classically minded channel than its predecessors: dark and deep steam-vent ruminations on Phil Cohran, lenticular objects, and fried Hot 92.3 R&B slow-jams.

Richard Youngs – Long White Cloud LP (Grapefruit)

Every new album by Richard Youngs may as well be the first one hears, as there is no promise that it will sound anything whatsoever like his previous recordings. He shifts effortlessly from emotionally compelling to repetitively transfixing to sonically aggressive compositions. Recorded following a trip to New Zealand, Long White Cloud is, in Youngs’ own words, “a meditation on native birdsong, Maori place names, the Pacific Ocean, satellite navigation and clutch failure in Wanaka.”

Books: 

Albert “Prodigy” Johnson with Steve Savile – H.N.I.C. (Akashic Books)

H.N.I.C. cements Albert “Prodigy” Johnson’s (half of hip-hop phenomenon Mobb Deep) position as one of the foremost chroniclers of contemporary urban life. Simultaneously a fast-paced crime drama and an engrossing, unsentimental moral tale, H.N.I.C. peers into the dark heart that underpins the codes of loyalty and friendship, betrayal and vengeance. 128p hardback.

Lucian Perkins + Alan MacKaye – Hard Art, DC 1979 (Akashic Books)

Pulitzer prize-winning photographer Lucian Perkins captures four electrifying punk shows (featuring Bad Brains, Trenchmouth, Teen Idles, etc.) in Washington, DC, in 1979, with narrative by Alec MacKaye and an essay by Henry Rollins. 100p.

Ian F. Svenonius – Supernatural Strategies For Making a Rock ‘n’ Roll Group (Akashic Books)

200p paperback book from the leader of Nation Of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and Scene Creamers, Ian Svenonius. This volume features essays on everything the would-be star should know to get started, such as Sex, Drugs, Sound, Group Photo, The Van, and Manufacturing Nostalgia. The book also includes black and white illustrations.