Marketing Program/ Banner/ Listening Station Titles Promoted This Week:
Chubby and The Gang – The Mutt’s Nuts CD (Partisan)
West London five-piece Chubby and The Gang are balanced by two energies – a casual “f**k it” on one side, an active “f**k off” on the other. For every moment of punk imperfection, there’s an intricate flurry of detail. For every enraged statement about modern life as war, there’s a lyric like “Hello heartbreak, my old friend” that catches you off guard. Made up of musicians from across the consistently thriving and criminally overlooked UK hardcore scene (ft. The Chisel, Big Cheese and more), Chubby and The Gang marinate its characteristic speed and sick-of-it-all energy in a mixture of ‘50s pop sounds. The result is a prickly take on the older, more melodic genres that punk derives from, chewing them up and spitting them out into something mangled but revitalized. [Vinyl edition due September 24.]
Liz Cooper – Hot Sass CD/2xLP (Sleepyhead)
Liz Cooper’s sophomore album Hot Sass marks multiple departures – from her 9-year home of Nashville, from her band addendum of The Stampede, and from the genre-based expectations she’s accumulated throughout her career. With these 12 new songs, Cooper comes into her own – both musically and as a person – embracing a newfound sense of independence, honesty, maturity and creativity. Hot Sass also features Cooper’s longtime bandmates and collaborators Joe Bisirri (bass), Ryan Usher (drums, percussion) and Michael Libramento (guitar, synthesizer). Cooper shares, “It’s me learning about what kind of woman I am and it’s not pretty all the time…I’m still processing these songs. Still reflecting. And I think that’s the thing – Hot Sass is just a stamp in time of what was happening in my life. I just want to continue making art that displays myself, the moments, and the people around me.” [A limited-edition grey color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Act 1 CD/LP/Cassette (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope)
Mercury – Act 1 is the fifth studio album from Grammy Award-winning Imagine Dragons, the best-selling rock band of the last decade. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, the follow-up to 2018’s Origins features the singles “Wrecked”, “Follow You” and “Cutthroat”, and explores themes of love, faith, pain, passion and loss. “Wrecked” was produced by the group and was inspired by singer Dan Reynolds’ late sister-in-law who died from cancer. Reynolds said in a statement about Alisha Durtschi Reynolds: “She was the brightest light. A beacon of joy and strength for everyone she met. Her sudden passing has shaken me in ways that I still am unable to express.” Reynolds continued: “This song was my way of dealing with it all, as music has always been my refuge. No longer being a man of fervent faith, I can only hope that she hears it somewhere in a place where she is healed and no longer in pain. This song is my wish for an eternity with those that I love.”
Iron Maiden – Sensjutsu 2xCD/3xLP/2xCD+Blu-ray (BMG)
Iron Maiden’s 17th studio album, Senjutsu, was recorded in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by Steve Harris. For Senjutsu – loosely translated as ‘tactics & strategy’, the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular samurai themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Harris. Harris says, “We chose to record at Guillaume Tell Studio in France again as the place has such a relaxed vibe. The setup there is perfect for our needs; the building used to be a cinema and has a high ceiling so there’s a great acoustic sound. We recorded this album in the same way we did The Book Of Souls in that we’d write a song, rehearse it and then put it down together straight away while it was all fresh in our minds. There’s some very complex songs on this album which took a lot of hard work to get them exactly as we wanted them to sound, so the process was at times very challenging, but Kevin is great at capturing the essence of the band and I think it was worth the effort.” [The limited Super Deluxe edition adds a Blu-ray of The Writing On The Wall including making of, special notes from Bruce Dickinson and a 20-page booklet, The Writing On The Wall movie-style poster, a set of three art cards, a 3D Senjutsu Eddie lenticular printed origami sheet (make Eddie’s helmet!)]
Bob Marley and The Wailers – The Capitol Session ’73 CD/CD+DVD/2xLP (Mercury Studios)
In 1973, Bob Marley & The Wailers found themselves stranded on the West Coast after being asked to leave the Sly & The Family Stone tour for outperforming them every night. To make the best of the situation, the band made their way to Los Angeles where they performed this recording session at the famed Capitol Studios. Available now for the first time, this intimate performance has been fully restored and remastered. [A green marble color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Tedeschi Trucks Band featuring Trey Anastasio – Layla Revisited (Live At Lockn’) 3xLP (Fantasy)
Limited edition indie-store vinyl pressing featuring an etched F-side. Layla Revisited (Live At Lockn’) captures Tedeschi Trucks Band at their incendiary best, together with Phish’s renowned guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio. Recorded on August 24, 2019, the performance of Derek and the Dominos’ hallowed 1970 album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs in its entirety was kept secret until the moment the band took stage.
Various Artists – Exit Wounds: The Album [Reissue/2000] CD (Empire)
Exit Wounds: The Album is the soundtrack to the Andrzej Bartkowiak 2001 film, Exit Wounds. Executive produced by Barry and Jomo Hankerson, the album features production from a variety of producers including Dame Grease, Irv Gotti, Bud’da, Eric Seats, DJ Paul, Juicy J, The Beat Bullies, & Timbaland. Appearances include Black Child, Drag-On, Ja Rule, Lady Luck, Mack 10, Memphis Bleek, Nas, Redman, Sheek Louch, Styles P, Three 6 Mafia, Trick Daddy, Trina & WC, as well as the film’s star, DMX. The album features the hit single, “No Sunshine”.
Various Artists – Romeo Must Die [Reissue/2000] CD (Empire)
Named by Q Magazine as one of the “5 Best Compilations of 2000,” Romeo Must Die: The Album is the soundtrack to the Andrzej Bartkowiak 2000 film, Romeo Must Die. The album was executive produced by Timbaland, Barry Hankerson, Jomo Hankerson and Aaliyah, the film’s star. It features production from Irv Gotti, Rapture Stewart, Ant Banks, Eric Seats, Mannie Fresh and J Dub. Appearances include B.G., Chanté Moore, Dave Hollister, Destiny’s Child, Ginuwine, Joe, Lil’ Mo, Mack 10, Playa, Stanley Clarke, and Aaliyah, who appears on four songs.
Additional Social Media Program Titles Released This Week:
Grizzly Bear – Yellow House (15th Anniversary Edition) 2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Limited clear vinyl pressing. Grizzly Bear has come a long way. From its original incarnation as a one-man band of acoustic guitar, field tapes, and a drum machine to its current state as a full band complete with drums, multiple guitars, bass, woodwinds, effects pedals, all cradled by four-part harmonies, Grizzly Bear’s music has made the leap from charming lo-fi folk rock to breathtaking, experimental cinematic pop. Grizzly Bear is remarkable not just for its attention to detail but for the concern for how a song feels. Flush with heart and melancholy, the music is seductive and intimate, deep with hazy-eyed choruses, whistles, piano and banjo. The group’s 2006 Warp Records debut, Yellow House, melded the possibility of the digital age with the classic American songbook. “It’s one of those more timeless works, the ones that years down the line may linger and appear as if they could’ve come from any handful of eras at once.” – Stereogum
My Morning Jacket – Live 2015 3xLP (ATO)
Limited color vinyl pressing. Widely considered one of the greatest live bands of their generation, My Morning Jacket has emerged as one of the most vital and reliably thrilling forces in American rock and roll. On Live 2015, their first live album in 15 years, MMJ showcase 16 hand-picked, explosive live performances recorded over the course of 2015’s The Waterfall Tour.
CDs + Vinyl:
ADX – Execution [Reissue/1985] CD (Svart)
Reissue of a rare French metal cult album, expanded with ten tracks taken from demo tapes. [Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Lauren Alaina – Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World CD (Mercury Nashville)
Lauren Alaina releases her third studio album. The 15 tracks include the Top 40 Country hit “Getting Over Him”, which features Jon Pardi and her signature powerhouse vocals, as well as “Run” which addresses the rat race of life.
Altered Five Blues Band – Holler If You Hear Me CD (Altered Five LLC)
The blues is designed as a form that allows the artist to express sorrow or jubilation in equal measures. The men in Milwaukee’s acclaimed Altered Five Blues Band push the limits of this axiom on their sixth studio album, Holler If You Hear Me.
Bad Waitress – No Taste CD/LP (Royal Mountain)
Bad Waitress’ antsy art punk revels in fits of fury and ego. It spits in your face and winks, ferocious and playful. The Toronto-based four-piece play like they’re conspiring or casting a spell, each member wielding a different power, howls and erratic drum fills and fiery riffs fueling one another.
Peter Bjärgö – The Translucency Of Mind’s Decay CD (Cyclic Law)
With The Translucency Of Mind’s Decay, Peter Bjärgö takes the first steps into something new, bringing along his signature sound from past projects into a slowly evolving transition to a sonic world beyond his previous achievements. Leaning towards a more ethnic, rhythmic sound, integrated with his now trademark melancholic guitar work and deep solemn vocals, these are the first steps to a new horizon he’s ceaselessly crafting for our listening pleasure. [Vinyl edition due October 1.]
Chris Carter – Electronic Ambient Remixes One [Reissue/2000] CD/2xLP (Mute)
Chris Carter – Electronic Ambient Remixes Three [Reissue/2001] CD/2xLP (Mute)
As a founding member of Throbbing Gristle alongside Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Chris Carter (aka CTI) has had a significant role in the development of electronic music – a journey which has continued through his releases as one half of Chris & Cosey, Carter Tutti and a third of Carter Tutti Void, as well as with his own solo and collaborative releases. [Limited-edition color vinyl pressings are available.]
Chubby and The Gang – The Mutt’s Nuts CD (Partisan)
West London five-piece Chubby and The Gang are balanced by two energies – a casual “f**k it” on one side, an active “f**k off” on the other. For every moment of punk imperfection, there’s an intricate flurry of detail. For every enraged statement about modern life as war, there’s a lyric like “Hello heartbreak, my old friend” that catches you off guard. Made up of musicians from across the consistently thriving and criminally overlooked UK hardcore scene (ft. The Chisel, Big Cheese and more), Chubby and The Gang marinate its characteristic speed and sick-of-it-all energy in a mixture of ‘50s pop sounds. The result is a prickly take on the older, more melodic genres that punk derives from, chewing them up and spitting them out into something mangled but revitalized. [Vinyl edition due September 24.]
Liz Cooper – Hot Sass CD/2xLP (Sleepyhead)
Liz Cooper’s sophomore album Hot Sass marks multiple departures – from her 9-year home of Nashville, from her band addendum of The Stampede, and from the genre-based expectations she’s accumulated throughout her career. With these 12 new songs, Cooper comes into her own – both musically and as a person – embracing a newfound sense of independence, honesty, maturity and creativity. Hot Sass also features Cooper’s longtime bandmates and collaborators Joe Bisirri (bass), Ryan Usher (drums, percussion) and Michael Libramento (guitar, synthesizer). Cooper shares, “It’s me learning about what kind of woman I am and it’s not pretty all the time…I’m still processing these songs. Still reflecting. And I think that’s the thing – Hot Sass is just a stamp in time of what was happening in my life. I just want to continue making art that displays myself, the moments, and the people around me.” [A limited-edition grey color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Joel Culpepper – Sgt. Culpepper CD/LP (Mr. Bongo)
Now available on CD. With a unique soulful voice and explosive showmanship, Joel Culpepper’s star is rising. His sonic palette blends an array of genres and influences, that looks back to the greats whilst simultaneously absorbing London’s contemporary musical landscape.
Doctor Smoke – Dreamers And The Dead CD (Ripple Music)
New album from the Ohio metal band – their first in seven years.
David Ferguson – Nashville No More CD/LP (Fat Possum)
With a music career spanning more than 40 years, David Ferguson has engineered landmark albums for Johnny Cash, opened a recording studio with John Prine, and shared a Grammy win with Sturgill Simpson. Now the Nashville native has become a compelling recording artist in his own right with Nashville No More. The self-produced project gathers an exceptional cast of friends from the city’s Americana and bluegrass community, while the track listing is simply a reflection of songs he likes. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Rory Gallagher – Rory Gallagher [Reissue/1971] 2xCD/3xLP/4xCD+DVD (UMe)
50th Anniversary edition featuring a brand-new mix of the original album plus 18 unreleased alternate take/live bonus tracks. After the demise of Taste, Rory Gallagher forged ahead, choosing to go solo and seeking a suitable new rhythm section. He initially rehearsed with former Jimi Hendrix Experience rhythm section Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, but eventually recruited two more Belfast natives, bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell, to complete his durable, new-look power trio. Prolific from the off, the newly established unit were in the studio recording Gallagher’s first studio album within weeks of their initial rehearsals. Recorded at the legendary Advision Studios in Fitzrovia, London and released in May 1971, the ensuing Rory Gallagher LP featured an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from hard-driving live favorites (“Laundromat Blues”, “Sinner Boy”) to delicate, Bert Jansch-esque acoustic folk (“Just The Smile”) and the jazzy “Can’t Believe It’s True”. [The five-disc Deluxe boxset includes 30 previously unreleased alternate takes, a six-song 1971 BBC Radio John Peel Sunday Concert, and four 1971 BBC Radio Sounds of the Seventies session tracks, all mastered at Abbey Road Studios. The box also includes a previously unreleased 50-minute DVD of Rory’s first solo concert for the Pop Deux television show and a 32-page hardback book.]
Grizfolk – Grizfolk CD (Nettwerk)
If Grizfolk, the band, is a study in dichotomy and contrast, then Grizfolk, the album, is the bridge where it all connects. With the release of their self-titled third full-length record, the band creates a place where folk stompers and electronic synths cozy up to the same driving backbeat and golden riffs in a pertinent and perfect way.
Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers – Ramble In Music City: The Lost Concert (1990) CD/2xLP (Nonesuch)
After fifteen years of touring with the beloved Hot Band, Emmylou Harris formed The Nash Ramblers, a new acoustic all-star group, in 1990, featuring Sam Bush (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), Roy Huskey Jr. (bass), Larry Atamanuik (drums), Al Perkins (dobro, banjo, vocals), and Jon Randall Stewart (acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals). The band played on the road for several months before making their Nashville debut at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) on September 28, 1990. That concert was recorded and shelved, while another live run at the Ryman Auditorium the following spring was released as At The Ryman to great acclaim, winning a Grammy and spurring public interest in saving the beloved music hall.
Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Act 1 CD/LP/Cassette (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope)
Mercury – Act 1 is the fifth studio album from Grammy Award-winning Imagine Dragons, the best-selling rock band of the last decade. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, the follow-up to 2018’s Origins features the singles “Wrecked”, “Follow You” and “Cutthroat”, and explores themes of love, faith, pain, passion and loss. “Wrecked” was produced by the group and was inspired by singer Dan Reynolds’ late sister-in-law who died from cancer. Reynolds said in a statement about Alisha Durtschi Reynolds: “She was the brightest light. A beacon of joy and strength for everyone she met. Her sudden passing has shaken me in ways that I still am unable to express.” Reynolds continued: “This song was my way of dealing with it all, as music has always been my refuge. No longer being a man of fervent faith, I can only hope that she hears it somewhere in a place where she is healed and no longer in pain. This song is my wish for an eternity with those that I love.”
Internal Menace – Heritage Of Sickness 2 CD (Comatose)
For 30 years Internal Bleeding has been at the forefront of the underground extreme metal scene. Pioneers in sonic brutality the band is renowned for creating the sound of slam – the ultimate bludgeoning, groove-laden, pit inducing form of death metal.
Iron Maiden – Sensjutsu 2xCD/3xLP/2xCD+Blu-ray (BMG)
Iron Maiden’s 17th studio album, Senjutsu, was recorded in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by Steve Harris. For Senjutsu – loosely translated as ‘tactics & strategy’, the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular samurai themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Harris. Harris says, “We chose to record at Guillaume Tell Studio in France again as the place has such a relaxed vibe. The setup there is perfect for our needs; the building used to be a cinema and has a high ceiling so there’s a great acoustic sound. We recorded this album in the same way we did The Book Of Souls in that we’d write a song, rehearse it and then put it down together straight away while it was all fresh in our minds. There’s some very complex songs on this album which took a lot of hard work to get them exactly as we wanted them to sound, so the process was at times very challenging, but Kevin is great at capturing the essence of the band and I think it was worth the effort.” [The limited Super Deluxe edition adds a Blu-ray of The Writing On The Wall including making of, special notes from Bruce Dickinson and a 20-page booklet, The Writing On The Wall movie-style poster, a set of three art cards, a 3D Senjutsu Eddie lenticular printed origami sheet (make Eddie’s helmet!)]
Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Tenth Anniversary Edition) 2xCD/2xCassette (Interscope)
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Lady Gaga’s iconic album Born This Way, this Tenth Annivesary Edition adds six new versions of songs reimagined by artists representing and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community. [Vinyl edition due December 10.]
Lany – gg bb xx CD (Interscope)
Lany’s fourth album changes gears for Paul Klein, Jake Goss and Les Priest. It focuses on what Klein describes as micro-moments: flashes we experience that come ‘n’ go in the blink of an eye. Nowhere is that spontaneity more evident than in the album’s title (you pronounce it ‘gg’ as in Hadid, ‘bb’ as in Rexha, and ‘xx’ as in, well, The xx.) “I wanted a title that had no pretense, no preconceived notion,” Paul explains. “Whatever the song feels like to you, that’s what the title means.” [Vinyl edition due early 2022.]
Lavender Diamond – Now Is The Time CD/LP (Petaluma)
The first album in eight years from the Los Angeles based chamber-pop band.
Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert CD/2xLP (Age 101)
Over the course of her lush, expansive, defiantly sprawling album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, the Ivor Novello-Award-winning, Mercury Prize nominated Little Simz delivers an undeniable modern classic, effortlessly condensing any number of disparate styles and genres into music which thrillingly broaches the gap between urgent modern treatise and hip-hop. [A milky-clear vinyl pressing is also available.]
Bob Marley and The Wailers – The Capitol Session ’73 CD/CD+DVD/2xLP (Mercury Studios)
In 1973, Bob Marley & The Wailers found themselves stranded on the West Coast after being asked to leave the Sly & The Family Stone tour for outperforming them every night. To make the best of the situation, the band made their way to Los Angeles where they performed this recording session at the famed Capitol Studios. Available now for the first time, this intimate performance has been fully restored and remastered. [A green marble color vinyl pressing is also available.]
Gaz Mayall – Gaz’s Rockin Blues – 40th Anniversary Special CD/2xLP (Stag-O-Lee)
Blues legend John Mayall’s son creates his own blend of rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm & blues, gospel Jamaican music.
The Kate McGarry & Keith Ganz Ensemble – What To Wear In The Dark CD (Resilience Music)
Kate McGarry and Keith Ganz are joined by top jazz musicians including Ron Miles and Gary Versace to cover some of the world’s most well-known songs.
Meredi – Trance CD (Modern Recordings)
“Trance is at once deeply personal and fiercely universal, a state within the self that can also be collectively attained and shared,” says Berlin composer and pianist Meredi, who named her latest album Trance inspired by the immersive experience she would feel in her city’s famed – now faded – nightclubs. “I’m inspired by the intensity and power of the music in techno raves, and I wanted to express it in my own words in this album.”
Chuck Owen and The Jazz Surge – Within Us: Celebrating 25 Years Of The Jazz Surge CD (Mama)
The contemporary jazz big band celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new album.
P.O.D. – Satellite:20th Anniversary Edition 2xCD (Atlantic)
Satellite: 20th Anniversary Edition is a 27-song collection introduces a newly remastered version of the original 2001 nu metal album, plus a selection of rarities, remixes, and four previously unreleased demos.
Portrait – At One With None CD (Metal Blade)
When it comes to modern heavy metal, there are few bands operating at the same level as Portrait. For a decade and a half, the Swedish unit has been forging their own path, and in the process, infuse life into a longstanding, well-established genre, taking it in new directions.
Rippikoulu – Musta Seremonia [Reissue/1993] CD (Svart)
Rippikoulu began their musical endeavors back in the late ‘80s, and like so many of their contemporaries, evolved from primitive punk noise to death metal. However, while many bands played death metal with groovy riffing and overall headbanging attitude, Rippikoulu’s choice of style was darker. Their down-tuned metal is bleak and nearly unbearably heavy in its execution, dark and soul-searching in its themes, intertwining faster bursts of chaos with slow, doomy passages. [Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Renee Rosnes – Kinds Of Love CD (Smoke Sessions)
Pianist and composer Renee Rosnes has emerged with a reinvigorated appreciation for the many different shapes that love can take. Her new recording, Kinds Of Love, is both a celebration of and a meditation on the myriad forms it’s taken in her own life – romantic love, love of family, of nature, of the arts and of close relationships she’s forged with many of her fellow musicians.
Snapped Ankles – Forest Of Your Problems CD/LP (Leaf)
“It’s hard to know where to start with Snapped Ankles. The London based four-piece is a group of forest folk descended from trees and hide their faces behind masks and ghillie suits. Forest Of Your Problems cover sports what I can only guess is a log cutting hooked up to alligator clips, seemingly a makeshift synth device. Aesthetics aside, Snapped Ankles still make music that’s accessible enough it’ll get stuck in your head whether you like it or not. Teeming with nature references, it’s obvious the group is talking about the environment on these songs, but what their exact message is can be hard to decipher.” – Post Trash
Soundtrack – Cinderella CD (Epic)
Original motion picture soundtrack to the 2021 film starring Camila Cabello. The soundtrack features covers of pop, rock, and soul songs originally by groups like the White Stripes, Earth Wind & Fire, Janet Jackson, and others. Includes the single “Somebody To Love” (originally by Queen) performed by Nicholas Galitzine.
Soundtrack – Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings CD (Interscope)
Original motion picture soundtrack from the 2021 motion picture. Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, a part of Phase Four from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Super Furry Animals – Rings Around the World: 20th Anniversary Edition CD/3xCD/2xLP (BMG)
The fifth studio album from Welsh quintet Super Furry Animals is their most commercially successful to date. A musically eclectic record, incorporating pop, prog, punk, jungle, electronica, techno and death metal, Rings Around The World was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 2001 and named Mojo’s best album of the year. [The triple-CD deluxe edition features 40 previously unreleased tracks including remixes, demos, other curios, as well as sleeve notes from Keith Cameron.]
Tuesday The Sky – The Blurred Horizon CD (Metal Blade)
Tuesday The Sky’s origins could almost be considered accidental. Guitarist Jim Matheos, famed for his work with progressive metal giants Fates Warning alongside projects such as OSI and his collaboration with John Arch, Arch/Matheos, penned a few songs that did not fit in with any of his established outlets, and intrigued by this, decided to write more and see where this took him. The result was 2017’s Drift, a record that drew influence from the likes of Brian Eno, Sigur Ros, Boards Of Canada and Explosions In The Sky, and now he returns with its successor, The Blurred Horizon. [Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Various Artists – Exit Wounds: The Album [Reissue/2000] CD (Empire)
Exit Wounds: The Album is the soundtrack to the Andrzej Bartkowiak 2001 film, Exit Wounds. Executive produced by Barry and Jomo Hankerson, the album features production from a variety of producers including Dame Grease, Irv Gotti, Bud’da, Eric Seats, DJ Paul, Juicy J, The Beat Bullies, & Timbaland. Appearances include Black Child, Drag-On, Ja Rule, Lady Luck, Mack 10, Memphis Bleek, Nas, Redman, Sheek Louch, Styles P, Three 6 Mafia, Trick Daddy, Trina & WC, as well as the film’s star, DMX. The album features the hit single, “No Sunshine”.
Various Artists – Romeo Must Die [Reissue/2000] CD (Empire)
Named by Q Magazine as one of the “5 Best Compilations of 2000,” Romeo Must Die: The Album is the soundtrack to the Andrzej Bartkowiak 2000 film, Romeo Must Die. The album was executive produced by Timbaland, Barry Hankerson, Jomo Hankerson and Aaliyah, the film’s star. It features production from Irv Gotti, Rapture Stewart, Ant Banks, Eric Seats, Mannie Fresh and J Dub. Appearances include B.G., Chanté Moore, Dave Hollister, Destiny’s Child, Ginuwine, Joe, Lil’ Mo, Mack 10, Playa, Stanley Clarke, and Aaliyah, who appears on four songs.
Vous Atres – Champ Du Sang CD (Season Of Mist)
French post black metal band Vous Autres return with an album where a glimpse of light cracks into the gigantic wall of despair and melancholy they used to build. [Vinyl edition due September 17.]
Barney Wilen – La Note Bleue [Reissue/1957] 2xCD (Anagram Music)
Saxophonist Barney Wilen’s career was boosted in 1957 when he joined Miles Davis on the soundtrack of Louis Malle’s film noir classic, La Note Bleue. This set presents the complete album remastered from the original analog tapes, plus four bonus tracks and a 28-page booklet with new liner notes and rare photos. Also included is a previously unreleased 1989 Radio France broadcast of the Barney Wilen Quartet, with Jacky Terrasson on piano, playing music from La Note Bleue.
Leslie Winer – When I Hit You-You’ll Feel It CD/2xLP (Light In The Attic)
Now available on CD. When I Hit You-You’ll Feel It spans Winer’s three-decade-long musical career: from her groundbreaking solo work in the early ’90s to her latest inspired projects. Featuring musical contributions from Jon Hassell, Helen Terry, Jah Wobble, Renegade Soundwave’s Karl Bonnie, and others, the collection also spotlights Winer’s diverse collaborations, and unearths previously unreleased recordings.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Robert Ames – Change Rising LP (Modern Recordings)
As a conductor, curator and arranger, Robert Ames is an important mediator between classical tradition and contemporary music.
Nik Bartsch – Entendre 2xLP (ECM)
A fascinating solo album from the Swiss pianist, composer and conceptualist best known as leader of the bands Ronin and Mobile, Entendre offers deeper insight into Nik Bartch’s musical thinking. As the album title implies, Entendre is about hearing as a creative process, referencing the patient unfolding of Bartch’s modular polymetric pieces, with alertness to the dynamics of touch, finding freedom in aesthetic restriction, serving each piece’s development while also taking the music to new places.
Booker T. & The MG’s – The Complete Stax Singles Vol. 2 (1968-1974) 2xLP (Real Gone Music)
Red color vinyl pressing. The Complete Stax Singles Vol. 2 (1968-1974) is one incredible listen, featuring such classic songs as “Time Is Tight”, “Soul-Limbo”, “Melting Pot”, their versions of Domenic Frontiere’s “Hang ‘Em High”, The Beatles’ “Something”, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”, and a bunch of hard-to-find B-sides, and more.
Sheryl Crow – Live From The Ryman And More 4xLP (Valory)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. A 27-song set captured live in 2019 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, Los Angeles’ cutting-edge Ace Theatre and the legendary Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island.
Directions – Echoes [Reissue/1997] 12”+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
In a musical history that spans nearly four decades, Ken Brown (aka Bundy K. Brown) was a member of noise-rock trio Bastro (along with David Grubbs and John McEntire) and a founding member of that group’s evolution into Gastr del Sol, before departing to form the iconic Chicago band, Tortoise. In 1995 Brown exited Tortoise to pursue several projects, including the group, Directions. After releasing one album on Thrill Jockey, the band went inactive, with Brown completing one final Directions release on his own before retiring the moniker. That record – a scarcely limited 12” called Echoes – would resonate with a diverse array of artists and producers, most notably Kieran Hebden (Four Tet).
Eloise – Somewhere In-Between LP (Harbour)
London-based artist and 21-year-old talent Eloise has a rare ability for occupying and relaying the grueling place somewhere between being in love and being broken-hearted. She has had enough incredible experiences to fill several lifetimes, and her uniquely fresh and contemporary voice means she undeniably stands out from the crowd. In a testing time for new artists, Eloise is a talent with the capability to cut through the noise with her take on timeless soul packed with youthful verve; her star is firmly in the ascent.
Stephen Fretwell – Busy Guy LP (Speedy Wunderground)
Born in the town of Scunthorpe in 1981, English singer/songwriter Stephen Fretwell was introduced to the music of Bob Dylan at a young age. Using a borrowed guitar from his grandparents, the young artist began writing his own songs and made tapes for his family and friends. After an aborted attempt at university life – he lasted two days – Fretwell relocated to Manchester, where his clear northern voice, poetic lyrics, and melodic guitar work soon won him an audience.
Goose – Shenanigans Nite Club LP (No Coincidence)
White color vinyl pressing. Connecticut-based quartet Goose shimmy through the cracks between jam, funk, alternative, and rock with head-spinning hooks, technical fireworks, and the kind of chemistry only possible among small-town and long-time friends.
CeeLo Green – The Lady Killer [Reissue/2010] LP (Real Gone Music)
Hot pink color vinyl pressing. Green’s 2010 album The Lady Killer was something of a love letter to old school R&B, complete with strings, horns, and a meaty bottom end.
Grizzly Bear – Yellow House (15th Anniversary Edition) 2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Limited clear vinyl pressing. Grizzly Bear has come a long way. From its original incarnation as a one-man band of acoustic guitar, field tapes, and a drum machine to its current state as a full band complete with drums, multiple guitars, bass, woodwinds, effects pedals, all cradled by four-part harmonies, Grizzly Bear’s music has made the leap from charming lo-fi folk rock to breathtaking, experimental cinematic pop. Grizzly Bear is remarkable not just for its attention to detail but for the concern for how a song feels. Flush with heart and melancholy, the music is seductive and intimate, deep with hazy-eyed choruses, whistles, piano and banjo. The group’s 2006 Warp Records debut, Yellow House, melded the possibility of the digital age with the classic American songbook. “It’s one of those more timeless works, the ones that years down the line may linger and appear as if they could’ve come from any handful of eras at once.” – Stereogum
Homeboy Sandman – Anjelitu LP (Mello Music Group)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. A versatile talent who has checked every box: Unsigned Hype in The Source, Chairman’s Choice in the XXL. Rolling Stone hailed his songs as “dense and word-drunk, spilling past the margins, demanding repeat listens as he re-works rap forms and functions into something truly personal.” Pitchfork said that in the all-star game of the new subterranean, “he is the guy with flawless fundamentals, wearing his socks high and his cleats sharp and polished.” His solo catalogue is sterling and he’s also mastered the group dynamic in tandem with fellow legends like Aesop Rock and Edan. Homeboy Sandman’s new six track offering Anjelitu was produced entirely by and features Aesop Rock.
Ill Niño – Revolution Revolución [Reissue/2001] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited green and yellow splatter vinyl pressing. Includes inner sleeve with lyrics. Founded by ex-Pro-Pain drummer Dave Chavarri, this Latin nu-metal band out of Union City, New Jersey launched what is now a seven-album, 20-year career with this 2001 LP debut.
JK Group – What’s Real? LP (La Sape)
JK Group is a collective of forward-thinking jazz musicians from Australia.
Junkyard – Junkyard [Reissue/1989] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited edition opaque yellow color vinyl pressing. This set of self-described ‘blooze-rock’ has an edge all its own as it simultaneously sends up and celebrates the dissolute Hollywood rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Some folks compared Junkyard to Geffen label-mates Guns ‘N Roses, and some compared them to AC/DC, but the Southern rock touches married to punk rock attitude carve out a nasty niche all their own.
Karate – Karate [Reisssue/1996] LP (Numero)
Underground rock festered and splintered as it spread through the U.S. in the mid-’90s, the alternative boom giving rise to microcosmic regional scenes singularly focused on feral power violence or screamo songs about breakfast. Boston’s Karate emerged as a force that could grip a national youth movement whose disparate tastes still commingled in the inky pages of fanzines overflowing with florid prose and on concert calendars for volunteer-run DIY spaces, community centers, and bowling alleys. In this world, Karate’s music was an enigma, one equally inviting to sneering punks and highfalutin indie-rock aficionados. Their 1996 self-titled debut, issued on Southern Records, set the standard. Lassoing together white-knuckle post-hardcore tension, sharply focused slowcore serenity, and resplendent jazz complexity, Karate eschewed settling in any one definable style.
Kiln – Astral Welder LP+MP3 (Ghostly Int’l)
Orange rust color vinyl repress of 2020 release. Kevin Hayes, Kirk Marrison and Clark Rehberg III began collaborating under the Kiln moniker in central Michigan in the early 1990s. The trio released its self-titled debut EP on the Roomtone label in 1997, further developing their sound – via naturalist recording techniques and nascent digital workstation methods – across subsequent releases in the early 2000s. They make their long-awaited return to Ghostly with Astral Welder, a fizzing, electro-charged gallery of propulsion and abraded tone, offering eleven rotating constellations of force, groove and color that infuse the listener with a buoyant sense of now.
Molly Lewis – The Forgotten Edge 12” (Jagjaguwar)
In the most literal sense, globally renowned whistler Molly Lewis makes her gorgeous and curious compositions out of thin air. New entrees into the exotica canon; sprawling, would-be Spaghetti Western scores; and a dash of Old Hollywood glamour – the whistle-led songs on her debut EP The Forgotten Edge are as complex, delicate and indelible as anything performed with viola or piano.
Desire Marea – Desire LP+MP3 (Mute)
Limited white color vinyl pressing. Desire Marea’s solo self-released debut, Desire, is a skillful stylistic departure from their previous Gqom inspired work. It’s an exploration of loss, displacement, and the terrifying manifestations of love in the contemporary world. Epic, eerie, regal: a good summation of South African Desire Marea’s debut album, which pushes the boundaries of club music to the limit… “so raw, so scattershot, and still so intentional,” wrote PopMatters.
My Morning Jacket – Live 2015 3xLP (ATO)
A limited color vinyl pressing. Widely considered one of the greatest live bands of their generation, My Morning Jacket has emerged as one of the most vital and reliably thrilling forces in American rock and roll. On Live 2015, their first live album in 15 years, MMJ showcase 16 hand-picked, explosive live performances recorded over the course of 2015’s The Waterfall Tour.
The Necks – Mindset [Reissue/2011] LP (ReR Vinyl)
Mindset is the 11th album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks, first released on the Fish Of Milk label in 2011 in Australia and on the ReR label internationally. The album consists of two contrasting pieces titled “Rum Jungle” and “Daylights”, the former propulsive and jangling and the latter more ambient in nature.
Nite Jewel – No Sun LP (Gloriette)
Born out of personal loss, the tradition of lament, and a Moog sequencer, Nite Jewel’s No Sun is a feat of unguarded electronic music. The album is grounded in Gonzalez’s electronic oeuvre and academic research but is also a sonic expulsion of pain.
Other Lands – Sound For Isolated Souls 2xLP (Circles And Phases)
A collection of meditative, genre fluid pieces performed, recorded and produced entirely by Other Lands himself across an unspecified period, all connected by the same playful, semi-improvised approach that has always been a key facet of his music.
Queen Latifah – All Hail The Queen [Reissue/1989] LP (Tommy Boy)
Limited red color vinyl pressing. While Queen Latifah may be known more as an actress, host and TV personality these days, it was Queen Latifah the MC that first burst out of Newark and onto the scene with her 1989 debut album, All Hail The Queen.
Fatima Al Qadiri – Medieval Femme LP+MP3 (Hyperdub)
Inspired by the classical poems of Arab women, Medieval Femme invokes a daydream through the metaphor of an Islamic garden, at the border between depression and desire, where the present temporarily dissolves, leaving only past and future. Mixing neon drones and the faint outlines of Arabesque melody, Medieval Femme reveals a fully realized, dreamlike setting, shaded with color and subtle friction.
Grace Pettis – Working Woman LP (Mpress/Sono Recording Group)
Grace Pettis’ fourth album, Working Woman, includes guest contributions from Indigo Girls, Ruthie Foster, The Watson Twins, and Dar Williams. It ambitiously features an all-female, non-binary band. Recorded in three days in Nashville, these powerful songs span styles from alt-country to neo-folk, raising up the voices of women everywhere with swagger and soul.
Rudimental – Ground Control 2xLP (Atlantic)
Green color vinyl pressing. Tapping everything from anthemic drum & bass to woozy, iced-out house, soulful UKG and huge, festival-worthy club anthems, Ground Control captures Rudimental in full bloom – at their free, expressive and kaleidoscopically creative best.
Saga – The Beginner’s Guide To Throwing Shapes [Reissue/1989] LP (earMUSIC)
Saga – Security Of Illusion [Reissue/1993] LP (earMUSIC)
Limited-edition color vinyl reissues. Over 40 years have passed since Canadian prog-rockers Saga released their breakout self-titled debut album in 1978. Their typical trademarks – synthesizer harmonies, breathtaking guitar riffs, complex keyboard arrangements and the charismatic vocals of frontman Michael Sadler – have helped Saga remain an influential prog-rock institution.
Nina Simone – Little Girl Blue [Reissue/1959] LP (BMG)
Little Girl Blue (also known as Jazz As Played In An Exclusive Side Street Club) is the debut album by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Nina Simone. It was originally released by Bethlehem Records in February 1959. At the time, Simone was in her mid-20s and still aspiring to be a classical concert pianist.
Skid Row – Skid Row [Reissue/1989] LP (Friday Music)
Limited audiophile 180gm gold metallic color vinyl pressing of the glam rock/metal band’s debut album.
Slade – Slayed? [Reissue/1972] LP (BMG)
By the time that Slayed? arrived in September 1972, Slade had scored their third British No.1 single with “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”. Slayed? has been called “music to wreck concert halls to,” and it’s a description that few familiar with it would choose to refute.
Dougie Stu – Familiar Future LP (Heavenly)
Familiar Future is the debut solo album from acclaimed Bay Area multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Doug Stu. It’s a uniquely jazz-attuned record that is soulful and ethereal. It draws inspiration from artists and producers like Lonnie Liston Smith, Charles Stepney, David Axelrod, and Alice Coltrane. Stuart has arrived at a sound that harkens back to the golden era of soul jazz and R&B, while still sounding contemporary.
Supershine – Supershine [Reissue/2000] LP (Svarte)
Limited purple color vinyl pressing. King’s X bassist/vocalist Doug Pinnick joined forces with guitarist Bruce Franklin and drummer Jeff Olson (both formerly of cult-legend doom band Trouble), drummer Jerry Gaskill (King’s X), Wall Farkas (Galactic Cowboys) on Hammond organ, and Heather Crow on backing vocals, for this one-off side project. 2000’s Supershine is an uplifting sermon of groove-based ‘70s rock with touches of psychedelia and ferocious metal outbursts.
Svederna – Härd LP (Carnal)
Ten blistering tracks of supreme black metal performed with a fierce blend of raw aggression and strong melodies.
Tedeschi Trucks Band featuring Trey Anastasio – Layla Revisited (Live At Lockn’) 3xLP (Fantasy)
Limited edition indie-store vinyl pressing featuring an etched F-side. Layla Revisited (Live At Lockn’) captures Tedeschi Trucks Band at their incendiary best, together with Phish’s renowned guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio. Recorded on August 24, 2019, the performance of Derek and the Dominos’ hallowed 1970 album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs in its entirety was kept secret until the moment the band took stage.
Richard Thompson – Mirror Blue [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Real Gone Music)
Double clear vinyl pressing in gatefold jacket. Mirror Blue is the seventh studio album by Richard Thompson, originally released in 1994. The follow-up to 1991’s successful Rumor And Sigh was recorded in January 1993 with Mitchell Froom once again in the producer’s chair.
Trees Speak – OHMS LP (Soul Jazz)
Limited-edition white color vinyl pressing. Tucson, AZ’s Trees Speak create new music that sounds like German Krautrock meets no wave/post-punk and psych rock – music for fans of Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Can, Neu!, Silver Apples and early Kraftwerk.
Various Artists – Euphoria Season 1 Soundtrack LP (J. Cole/Dreamville)
Limited purple color vinyl pressing in gatefold jacket. The Euphoria Season 1 Soundtrack features music from the HBO original series by Labrinth, Zendaya, Air Supply, Arcade Fire, Billie Eilish, Blood Orange and more.
Various Artists – True Romance • Motion Picture Soundtrack [Reissue/1993] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited blue and magenta color vinyl pressing. Though it was directed by Tony Scott, the 1993 film True Romance displayed all the signature themes and images of its writer, Quentin Tarantino, from its grisly violence to its B-movie homages to its gleeful amorality. And the same could be said of the soundtrack; alongside composer Hans Zimmer’s riff on Carl Orff (which itself was an homage to another violent road movie, Badlands), True Romance offered a playlist that smacked of Tarantino in its embrace of rockabilly (Charlie Sexton, Chris Isaak), grunge (Soundgarden), honky-tonk (Shelby Lynne), and romantic machismo (Robert Palmer’s take on “[Love Is] The Tender Trap”).
- V. Wright – A Nickel And A Nail And Ace Of Spades [Reissue/1972] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited 180gm vinyl pressing. Sometimes great things come in humble packages. The ramshackle cover art for this 1972 album makes it look like a bootleg, and the rampant misspellings and inconsistencies in the album and song titles make it clear that whoever oversaw proofreading at the Back Beat label must have taken the day off when the art was circulated. But no matter – seldom has the secular met the sacred with as much emotional force as on O.V. Wright’s southern soul classic A Nickel And A Nail And Ace Of Spades.
WU LYF – Go Tell Fire To The Mountain [Reissue/2011] LP (LYF Recordings)
Manchester band WU LYF originally became known for the mysterious persona they created by declining interviews and not releasing much information to the press. Dissatisfied with the sound in conventional studios, their sole album, the self-produced Go Tell Fire To The Mountain, was recorded in Saint Peter’s Church in Ancoats, Manchester. The band refused offers from established labels and instead released the album on their own LYF Recordings imprint. A little over a year later, the band broke up in a fittingly cryptic way, and this album remains the only remnant of one of indie rock’s ever-elusive acts.
Cassettes:
Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Act 1 (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope)
Mercury – Act 1 is the fifth studio album from Grammy Award-winning Imagine Dragons, the best-selling rock band of the last decade. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, the follow-up to 2018’s Origins features the singles “Wrecked”, “Follow You” and “Cutthroat”, and explores themes of love, faith, pain, passion and loss.
Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Tenth Anniversary Edition) (Interscope)
Double cassette. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Lady Gaga’s iconic album Born This Way, this Tenth Annivesary Edition adds six new versions of songs reimagined by artists representing and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Taylor Swift – Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (Republic)
Double cassette. “Fearless was an album full of magic and curiosity, the bliss and devastation of youth. It was the diary of the adventures and explorations of a teenage girl who was learning tiny lessons with every new crack in the facade of the fairytale ending she’d been shown in the movies.” This new Taylor’s Version includes six unreleased tracks. [Vinyl edition due October 1.]
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