CDs + Vinyl:
16 – Lifespan Of A Moth CD/LP (Relapse)
“Relapse Records has been known for taking in bands that show massive amounts of talent in the most unlikely of places. Inter Arma and Iron Reagan being two prime examples, we have another band I’ve never heard of but have been around for ages, and Relapse have the once again shown their genius by allowing 16 to give us the most impressive sludge metal album we’ve seen for quite a while.” – Headbanger Reviews
9Electric – Damaged Ones CD (Another Record Co.)
9Electric fuse deadly electronics to an undercarriage of pure rock abandon. Imagine Ministry carpet-bombing the Sunset Strip and you’ll have an idea of what the Los Angeles quartet has in store for the world.
Agalloch – Pale Folklore [Reissue/1999] CD/2xLP (The End)
Agalloch – The Mantle [Reissue/2002] CD/2xLP (The End)
Agalloch – Ashes Against The Grain [Reissue/2006] CD/2xLP (The End)
Remastered reissues of the seminal progressive black metal band’s first three full-length albums, each with new artwork.
The Anderson Council – Assorted Colours CD/LP (Jem)
“Combining the jangle of power pop, the scorch of psych rock, the reckless abandon of garage rock and the vocal harmonies of ‘60s folks rock, The Anderson Council offer up a delicious blend of American and British pop. Their songs are fueled by crunchy guitars, heavenly harmonies and more than a few ‘ba ba bas’ and ‘la la las’ for good measure.” — Discovery Magazine
Ash Koley – Elements CD (Nettwerk)
This Canadian duo’s sound is an amalgamation of diverse influences, from the Eurythmics to Radiohead. The result is the full embodiment of what they each bring to the duo — quirky charm and upbeat classic pop music.
Awall AKA 2Piece – Rock It Like This CD (Fahrenheit)
New album from the Pacific Northwest rapper – featuring Kurupt (Dogg Pound), Krucial Barz, Mr. Ealey, Marcus Bandz (formerly Young Have-Not), Desta, and J One.
Jeff Beck – Loud Hailer CD/LP (Rhino)
Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck’s first studio album in six years, Loud Hailer, combines fluid fretwork with topical lyrics to make a powerful statement about everything from the love of power, to the power of love. Loud hailer, which is another name for a megaphone, is a suitable moniker for an album that isn’t shy about speaking its mind. The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer explains, “I really wanted to make a statement about some of the nasty things I see going on in the world today, and I loved the idea of being at a rally and using this loud device to shout my point of view.” To help him write the 11 tracks on Loud Hailer, Beck enlisted two fierce young females from London — singer Rosie Bones and guitarist Carmen Vandenberg. Beck produced the album with Filippo Cimatti, who also works with Rosie and Carmen. In addition to the core trio, the album also features drummer Davide Sollazzi and bassist Giovanni Pallotti, who were both recruited by Cimatti. Bones lends her powerful voice to nine of the 11 songs, which is then rounded out by two signature Beck instrumentals.
Jerry Bergonzi – Spotlight On Standards CD (Savant)
There’s an old saying that a great jazz musician never plays a song the same way once. That could certainly be said of Jerry Bergonzi. He is an intellectual artist of uncompromising integrity and a bold, original composer. On Jerry’s new Savant recording he returns to the organ-tenor trio format after a long hiatus from it.
Jherek Bischoff – Cistern CD (Leaf)
Second album by prodigiously talented multi-instrumentalist and composer Jherek Bischoff. Gloriously cinematic, these modern orchestral recordings pull at the heartstrings. It comes hot on the heels of Strung Out In Heaven, a moving string quartet tribute to David Bowie, conceived with Amanda Palmer and featuring the significant talents of Anna Calvi, John Cameron Mitchell and Neil Gaiman. A prolific and divergent collaborator, working with the likes of David Byrne, The Kronos Quartet, Caetano Veloso, Xiu Xiu and Australian star Missy Higgins, the real Bischoff can be difficult to pin down, but Cistern is an intensely personal work. [Vinyl edition due July 29.]
Bright Light Bright Light – Choreography CD/LP (MRI)
Bright Light Bright Light’s third album, Choreography, includes a stellar line-up of guest vocalists, including Elton John, Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters), Ana Matronic (Scissor Sisters), actor Alan Cumming, and Mykal Kilgore (The Wiz Live TV special, and on Broadway In Motown). The album is a gorgeous set of electronica layered with guitars, saxophone, harmonies and nods to the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. “Could Choreography be the perfect title for Welsh electronic singer/songwriter Rod Thomas aka Bright Light Bright Light’s third album? Why? Well first of all it goes perfectly with the gloriously eighties inspired styling of the album; from the fashions, to the artwork, to the big synth sounds that have already dominated all his albums to date. There is no doubt a lot of influence on the album from early ‘80s synth-pop bands like The Human League, The Pet Shop Boys and Soft Cell. But what really makes Choreography the perfect album title is simply because it is packed with tunes that make you want to move. You only have to listen to the power-pop first single ‘All In The Name’ to see that.” – Backseat Mafia
William S. Burroughs – Let Me Hang You CD/LP (Ernest Jenning)
20 years ago, William S. Burroughs was asked to record an audio version of his favorite parts of Naked Lunch. Longtime associates and producers Hal Willner and James Grauerholz produced several sessions, and they recruited a team of world-class musicians to help. Famed for their Naked City involvement, Bill Frisell and Wayne Horvitz contributed their genius, as well as Eyvind Kang, just to name a few. The recordings were then abandoned and collected dust on a musty shelf, as forgotten as a piece of rancid ectoplasm on a peepshow floor. Let Me Hang You is a collection of depraved genius straight from the godfather of punk’s very own mouth.
Cane Hill – Smile CD (The End)
Debut album from the New Orleans band — 10 aggressive, fast-paced metal anthems. [Vinyl edition due August 26.]
Clams Casino – 32 Levels CD+MP3/2xLP+MP3 (Sony)
The hip-hop producer’s new album includes 12 original tracks with vocal appearances from an impressive cast of collaborators, including Vince Staples, Kelela, Sam Herring (Future Islands), Joe Newman (alt-j) and more. CD version includes a digital download of instrumental versions of all songs on the album (all included on the double-vinyl edition).
Steve Cole – Turn It Up CD (Artistry)
The “Go big or go home!” philosophy is an accurate way to describe the approach saxophonist Steve Cole takes to crafting contemporary jazz hits. His eighth album, Turn It Up, follows the same successful ethos. The collection cranks up the intensity on nine bright and shiny new horn-powered instrumentals constructed of funky R&B grooves, jazz spontaneity and vibrant pop along with Cole’s first EDM/trance outing, the adventurous “Mirage,” which is the first radio single.
Jacob Collier – In My Room CD (Membran)
An inventive and prodigious young musician, Jacob Collier’s music combines elements of jazz, a cappella, groove, folk, trip-hop, classical music, Brazilian music, gospel, soul and improvisation.
Confederate Railroad – Lucky To Be Alive CD (BFD)
New album from the Southern rock band.
Dirty Heads – Dirty Heads CD/LP (Five Seven Music)
While most bands reserve a self-titled album for their debut, the Dirty Heads, held off for an album deserving of the moniker. The band found one in their fifth studio release, a total culmination of their signature sound. Drawing on the alternative rock, hip-hop, folk and reggae sounds from albums past to create something elevated and exciting. The band worked with top multi-genre producers such as Da Internz (Rihanna, Nicki Minaj), Drew Pearson (Katy Perry, Zac Brown Band), David Kahne (Lana Del Rey, The Strokes), and Jimmy Harry (Madonna, Diplo). The diversity of the production on this project is a true testament to the Dirty Heads versatility. “With this album you can expect the pure Dirty Heads sound at its finest – a perfect blend of hip-hop and reggae,” says vocalist Jared Watson. “We have songs that range from summer anthems, songs you can vibe out to, and songs that really challenge you to think further. It’s everything the Dirty Heads stand for and what we’ve become up until now.” [Limited HQ-180gm translucent orange vinyl LP pressing also available.]
The Earls Of Leicester – Rattle & Roar CD (Rounder)
With their second album, Rattle & Roar, The Earls Of Leicester have conjured up a fresh batch of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs songs, delivered with their Grammy-winning signature blend of homage, virtuosity, and perspective. The inimitable Jerry Douglas (14-time Grammy-winner) remains the band’s producer and hypnotic dobroist; blue-ribbon songwriter, singer, and producer Shawn Camp (Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton) still soars on lead vocals and guitar; revered multi-instrumentalist and sideman Jeff White (Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn) now deftly handles high harmony and mandolin; ace Nashville banjoist Charlie Cushman (Jimmy Martin, Mel Tillis) tackles banjo and guitars; topflight musician Johnny Warren (son of Foggy Mountain Boys Paul Warren) cuts in radiantly on fiddle; and the esteemed Barry Bales (Alison Krauss & Union Station) holds magnificently steady on vocals and bass. To capture the feel of a live show, Rattle & Roar was recorded in one room, with all of the band members around mics, no separation between them. [Vinyl edition due August 5.]
Teddy Edwards – The Inimitable [Reissue/1976] CD (Elemental Music)
Digitally remastered edition of this 1976 release includes deluxe packaging with a 16-page booklet with original liner notes by Mark Gardner and a new essay by jazz journalist Ted Panken plus restored artwork, photos and session notes. Supervised by original producer and Xanadu label head Don Schlitten. First US reissue since the original LP release in 1976.
Family – Future History CD/LP+MP3 (Prosthetic)
Brooklyn’s rootsy progressive metal collective Family has been wowing audiences since 2011 with its unique and earnest blend of classic rock meets modern heaviness, alongside a healthy dose of behind-the-beat New Orleans groove and progressive rhythmic patterns.
Maynard Ferguson – Complete High Voltage 2xCD (Omnivore)
Hot off the heels of Body & Soul, his self-proclaimed “best album in years,” Maynard Ferguson took a severe left turn and reinvented himself in 1987 with High Voltage. By greatly reducing the members of his musical ensemble and creating work within the small-group context, Ferguson once again pushed the boundaries of his genre. Maynard, never one to rest on his laurels, was always experimenting and in the same quality that took Miles Davis from bebop to Bitches Brew, or Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter’s decision to create Weather Report, Ferguson was playing outside the box. Complete High Voltage combines all of the recordings that made up High Voltage and High Voltage 2, along with two previously unissued bonus tracks.
Flowdan – Disaster Piece CD (Tru Thoughts)
A melodic grime symphony built up of standout tunes that take you on a dark path, crossing all ilks of grime. Fuelled by over 15 years in the game and influenced by his upbringing in East London’s Bow, Flowdan’s Disaster Piece is a hard, gritty and bracing listen.
Garbage And The Flowers – The Deep Niche CD/LP (Grapefruit)
Garbage And The Flowers was Helen Johnstone, Yuri Frusin and Paul Yates—an inspired trio who emphasized lyrical collaboration and sound manipulation as part and parcel to their melodies. They didn’t last long as a group, but luckily, they got a lot of their songs recorded. The Deep Niche is music they wrote before their 1997 debut Eyes Rind As If Beggars and it is every bit as revelatory. Johnstone sings over raucous and raw instrumentation. It’s real rock, the real real thing.
Good Charotte – Youth Authority CD/LP (MDDN, LLC)
“After six years off from making music, Good Charlotte return with Youth Authority, a nostalgic, stomping pop-punk album that highlights the best aspects of the group’s earlier work: rollicking guitar plucks, catchy sing-along choruses, and hidden inside jokes (yes, that’s an iPhone sound on ‘Makeshift Love’). Since they last released 2010’s Cardiology, brothers Benji and Joel Madden have kept busy as judges on The Voice Australia and running their own studio in Los Angeles, where they worked with next-gen pop-punkers like 5 Seconds Of Summer and All Time Low. When asked why they wanted to return to Good Charlotte, to make a new album after calling it quits, Joel Madden, 37, who co-founded the band with his brother when they were struggling teenagers living in Maryland, tells EW, ‘We didn’t want to make another record just for the hell of it, or for the money or whatever. But we all felt like we had something to say.’” – Entertainment Weekly
Hater – Hater [Reissue/1993] CD/LP (A&M)
Reissue (and first-time vinyl release) of 1993’s eponymous album from Seattle-based supergroup Hater. For anyone new to Hater — if we told you it was a collaboration between two guys from Soundgarden and members of Mother Love Bone, Devil Head and the mighty Monster Magnet, you could probably make a pretty informed guess as to how this is going to sound. Lovely swirly noisiness.
Heliotropes – Over There That Way CD/LP (The End)
Heliotropes combine sludgy metal guitar tones, introspective shoegaze interludes, psychedelic drone, and atmospheric harmonies to create a sound that’s as equally hard to pin down as it is alluring, earning them the title of Village Voice’s Best Garage Band Of 2014.
Helloween – Ride The Sky: The Very Best Of 1985-1998 CD (Sanctuary)
New best-of collection from the German power metal pioneers. Includes tracks from their Noise Records years, 1985-1995.
Hollow Tip & C-Dubb – Mercenary Mobmuzik 2 CD (Mercenary Ent.)
New album from the Sacramento rappers – featuring appearances by Reece Loc, G Will, Mac Hard, T Loc, Woon, K-Critty, Tholo, King Ceezar, and many more.
Sam Jones – Changes & Things [Reissue/1978] CD (Elemental Music)
Bassist Sam Jones second Xanadu release as a leader features an all-star sextet with Blue Mitchell, Slide Hampton, Bob Berg, Barry Harris & Louis Hayes. “This is a swinging, feel good session with burning solos all along the way. Sam adds something to a session which is subtle and difficult to put your finger on. You’d miss it if he wasn’t there because he’s one of the great bassists” — Sonny Rollins.
Joy – Of Nothing CDEP (Blood & Ink)
An aggressive ode to the darker side of hardcore, melding elements of black and thrash metal.
Kamelot – Where I Reign: The Very Best Of The Noise Years 1995-2003 CD (Sanctuary)
New best-of collection from the American power metal band. Includes tracks from their Noise Records years, 1995-2003.
Michael Kiwanuka – Love And Hate CD/2xLP (Interscope)
Michael Kiwanuka’s second album Love & Hate was recorded in L.A. and London, and was produced by Dangermouse and young up-and-coming producer Inflo. It is a fascinatingly assured and resonant body of work following Kiwanuka’s acclaimed 2012 debut LP, Home Again. “Released at the start of a summer in which hate, division and anxiety have felt so unusually prominent, Michael Kiwanuka’s second studio album Love & Hate is bound to resonate. Musically, there are obvious similarities to be drawn with the Motown sound with no shortage of tambourines, congas or strings. With some tracks adding liberal amounts of reverb, organs and slide guitar to the mix things occasionally seem slightly psychedelic, slightly Phil Spector influenced. But thanks to the deft production of Danger Mouse it’s not a sound you’ll feel overly familiar with. Central to all the tracks are the tightly plucked basslines and bright snapping snares that make every groove he touches so irresistibly catchy.” – The Line Of Best Fit
Kreator – Love Us Or Hate Us: The Very Best Of The Noise Years CD (Sanctuary)
A collection of tracks from the Teutonic thrash metal band’s band’s six Noise albums including
Endless Pain, Pleasure To Kill and Extreme Aggression.
Mattress – Looking For My People CD/LP (Glacial Pace)
The debut release from Mattress brought to courtesy of Isaac Brock’s (Modest Mouse) Glacial Pace label. Weirdo synth rock. If Nick Cave and Nick Cage and a baby, it would be Mattress.
MJ Guider – Precious Systems CD/LP (Kranky)
Melissa Guion is MJ Guider. She lives and works in New Orleans. Employing heavy washes of bass and a deft touch in mixing, she uses stark contrasts to construct a semi-surreal aural space. What results are songs that exist in a wholly contained sound environment, minimal yet lush, spare yet saturated, and most importantly, entirely compelling. Originally starting out as a solo project, MJ Guider are a trio on Precious Systems, which takes Melissa’s musical vision and adds a much deeper texture to the songs.
Silvano Monasterios – Partly Sunny CD (Savant)
The music of Venezuelan pianist Silvano Monasterios is so easy-on-the-ear, so elegantly structured, and has such a casual, lived-in feel that it takes a bit to catch on to how sophisticated his work truly is. It is only after a while that one notices the harmonic turns, the storytelling soloing, or his rhythmic vocabulary, especially his discreet use of traditional Venezuelan styles. Partly Sunny is Monasterios’ second album for Savant, and his choices suggest that he feels no need to accommodate any conventional expectations about how Latin jazz should sound.
David Nail – Fighter CD (MCA Nashville)
“There are few words that can be used to describe the talent of David Nail. When you hear him on a record – or better yet, see him live – you come away with a deep appreciation for his vocal talent. Simply put, one could make the argument that he’s not one of us. On a ballad, his vocals soar into the stratosphere, and on the up-tempo songs, he takes the ordinary lyric and arrangement, and transfers it into a tour de force. On his fourth album for MCA, the Missouri native continues to develop his craft. There’s a mix of both styles on the album, with ‘Good At Tonight’ and lead-off single ‘Night’s On Fire’ showcasing the groove side of what Nail does so exceedingly well. Seriously, I don’t know if there is any style of music that the singer can’t master. He’s simply that good” – Sounds Like Nashville. [Vinyl edition due August 26.]
NEEDTOBREATHE – H A R D L O V E CD (Atlantic)
NEEDTOBREATHE’s last outing, Rivers In The Wasteland, was a career-defining album, born out of the trials of brotherly competition and the fatigue of life on the road (which almost did the entire band in). Having weathered the storm and written about it so masterfully (the tunes ‘Brother’ and ‘Wasteland’ address the situation with candor), the follow-up record, H A R D L O V E, feels like a continuation of this theme, albeit with a bit more time and distance giving the band some perspective and breathing room. The driving title track, ‘Hard Love’ rightly states that all relationships require a ‘hard love’ if they are to last, and the song fits in nicely with the band’s story, ‘Hold on tight a little longer / What don’t kill ya, makes ya stronger /Get back up, cuz it’s a hard love / You can’t change without a fallout / It’s gon’ hurt, but don’t you slow down / Get back up, cuz it’s a hard love.’ With an ‘80s college-rock vibe (think The Cure or Talking Heads), ‘Hard Love’ is an album highlight right off the bat, and an interesting new flavor for the guys from South Carolina. Motown-style blasts of soulful horns, multi-track choral vocals and handclaps pepper first single ‘Happiness,’ ‘When I Sing,’ and ‘Money & Fame’ giving the album a funky feel that is decidedly lighter than the last time out. ‘Be Here Long’ echoes ‘Keep Your Eyes Open’ musically, and ‘Testify’ is a wonderful worship tune in the vein of ‘Down To The River’ and ‘Multiplied.’ ‘Let’s Stay Home Tonight’ is as (and appropriately so) romantic (and perhaps a little racy) a song as has been included on a Christian market release.” – Jesus Freak Hideout
Aaron Neville – Apache CD (Tell It)
Apache celebrates Neville’s 75th birthday and marks the 50th anniversary of his first number one single, “Tell It Like It Is.” A cast of elite NYC musicians David Guy (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Menahan Street Band), Cochemea Gastelum (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, The Budos Band), Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce, Soulive) and Eric Bloom (Lettuce, Blue Öyster Cult) contributed.
Nurse With Wound – Dark Fat 2xCD (United Jnana/Dirter)
“The latest entry into the monolithic Nurse With Wound catalogue is an absolute stonker. The restless, relentlessly creative force of nature that is Stephen Stapleton and company are in blistering form across this epic two-disc set. Dark, paranoid, claustrophobic, nightmarish soundscapes, gargantuan walls of intricate detailed sound, mangled krautrock jams, surreal, absurd, bizarre, mutant alien free jazz funk, sound collage, weird tape music and beyond. But then of course this is NWW and I’m kinda stating the obvious.” – Norman Records UK
Orbs – Past Life Regression CD (Equal Vision)
New album from the dynamic supergroup comprised of Dan Briggs (Between The Buried And Me), Adam Fisher (Fear Before The March Of Flames), and Ashley Ellyllon, formerly of Abigail Williams and Cradle Of Filth.
Jack and Amanda Palmer – You Got Me Singing CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Jack Palmer, who is 72 and sings choral music regularly for the National Cathedral in Washington DC, says “I believe nothing is more powerful than love, and that nothing expresses it better than singing. It was one of Amanda’s songs that began healing our fractured relationship. Years later, I hope the love that went into this project will perhaps touch listeners in the same way.” Amanda Palmer and (her father) Jack Palmer present You Got Me Singing, a lovingly assembled family affair. Amanda sings, and plays piano and ukulele, and Jack, a semi-professional choral singer, plays guitar and lends his rich bass voice to a variety of cover songs that span decades. “The main inspiration behind this record was to share songs and time with my dad,” says Amanda, who was separated from her father when she was less than a year old. “It was a really good reason to spend healing time together, sharing our musical histories, all poetically punctuated by the fact that I was 7 months pregnant when we recorded. I knew that from my post at the mixing desk and the mic, this music was being heard in the womb, and so the song selection was really important… we didn’t want this album to sound corny, we wanted it to sound like the connective tissue between three generations. The songs had to be simple.”
Cecil Payne & Duke Jordan – Brooklyn Brothers [Reissue/1973] CD (Elemental Music)
“Brooklyn Brothers is truly a meeting of kindred spirits in perfect harmony. Cecil Payne and Duke Jordan are self-effacing people, but their music is strong and it takes on an extra richness when they are together. This is perhaps the most wholly satisfying session they have put down in an association which spans four decades” — Mark Gardner, from the original LP liner notes.
Prairie Empire – The Salt CD/LP (Commodore Trotter)
The Salt is a moving, unexpected departure from Prairie Empire’s folky, self-titled debut. In the four years between albums, Brittain Ashford and her band developed a more sophisticated sound, one that expands beyond the four walls of the bedroom into cinematic terrain. Calm moments give way to fevered climaxes, strings and reeds humming as Ashford’s mournful, whiskey-soaked alto floats above the chaos. Inspired by the quietude of Elliott Smith and the dynamism of Jeff Buckley, Ashford directs her melancholic vocals through lush, atmospheric arrangements, oscillating between grief and anticipation.
Psalm Zero – Stranger To Violence CD (Profound Lore)
Psalm Zero’s unique brand of art-metal has been compared to Godflesh, Katatonia, and Depeche Mode. [Vinyl edition due July 29.]
Sadat X – Agua CD (Tommy Boy)
12th album from one fourth of the legendary hip-hop group Brand Nubian.
Salt Ashes – Salt Ashes CD (Radikal)
New album from the emerging Brighton UK electronic artist.
Save The Lost Boys – Temptress CD (Victory)
Debut album from the Ohio punk band.
Scour – Scour CD (Housecore)
Scour is vocalist Phillip H. Anselmo (Pantera, Down), guitarist Derek Engemann (Cattle Decapitation), guitarist Chase Fraser (Animosity), bassist John Jarvis (Pig Destroyer) and drummer Jesse Schobel (Strong Intention). [Vinyl edition due August 12.]
Oli Silk – Where I Left Off CD (Trippin & Rhythm)
The latest installment in the growing catalogue from UK based keyboardist Oli Silk offers in full display all of the textures, moods and flavors that have come to mark his unique imprint on the smooth jazz gene.
Snoop Dogg – Coolaid CD (E1)
Coolaid is Snoop’s first hip-hop album in five years, and features collaborations with Jeremih, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze, E-40 and others.
Sonny & Cher – Good Times [OST/Reissue/1967] CD (Varese Sarabande)
Sonny and Cher appeared as themselves in Good Times, the 1967 spoof of various genres; including mysteries, westerns and spy thrillers. The soundtrack features songs written by Sonny, as well as two new recordings of their #1 hit, “I Got You Babe” (a Pet Sounds in an elevator version and a comic acoustic version). The album also features two bonus tracks: The single edit of “It’s The Little Things,” and the rare single “Plastic Man.” Original mono verson.
Soundtrack – Ghostbusters [OST] CD (RCA)
Theodore Shapiro – Ghostbusters [Score] CD (Sony Classics)
Original soundtrack to the 2016 remake including tracks from Elle King, G-Eazy featuring Jeremih, 5 Seconds of Summer, Pentatonix, Walk The Moon, Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliott, Wolf Alice and others. [Vinyl edition due August 12.] From the upbeat, jazzy sounds of The Devil Wears Prada to the jungle-adventure send-up Tropic Thunder to the sentiment of Marley & Me, Theodore Shapiro has consistently delivered memorable music for some of the funniest movies of the last 10 years.
The Temperance Movement – White Bear CD (Fantasy)
Meet White Bear, the raucous new rock ‘n’ roll animal from The Temperance Movement. Based in London and Glasgow, The Temperance Movement is a four-piece band featuring front man Phil Campbell, bassist Nick Fyffe, guitarist Paul Sayer, and drummer Damon Wilson. Prior to forming the band, the members each played and performed with prominent acts including Deep Purple, Jamiroquai, Ray Davies, The Waterboys, Jack Bruce and even James Brown. When the friends got together for a jam in 2011, everything they’d experienced as sidemen and session men coalesced, and The Temperance Movement was born. 2012’s five-track Pride EP introduced them to the world, and their debut studio album, 2014’s The Temperance Movement announced the arrival of a major rock band. White Bear is their giant step forward. This US release contains the two bonus tracks “Do The Revelation” and “Time Won’t Leave.”
Toarn – Giant Killer CD (Luxor)
“Head bashing, bone crushing, metal.” – Coming Up Magazine
Trade Wind – You Make Everything Disappear CD (Equal Vision)
“You Make Everything Disappear is a stunning release from start to finish – the kind of album that holds a certain kind of depth and maturity throughout, where each note, breath and word carries a sense of purpose and carries its own sonic weight. The album evokes a distinct blend of melancholy and despair, through cascading soundscapes of dark, brooding guitar and intense driving rhythms balanced by refreshing, delicate touches of minimalist piano work, acoustic guitar and soaring airy falsettos woven throughout.” – New Noise Magazine
The Tubes – Young & Rich/Now [Reissue/1976/1977] CD (Real Gone)
The fact that these two albums, their second and third releases, were out of print for years is eloquent testimony to the fact that the Tubes are one of the most underrated bands of the ‘70s. Salacious Zappa-like satire? Check. Over the top theatricality a la Alice Cooper? Check. BOC-like hard rock? Check. Even avant-garde, Beefheart-ian atonality cropped up in unexpected places. Yet underneath all the pomp and circumstance this San Francisco group was still just a bar band, and it was these radically different stylistic directions that held back these records from widespread commercial success even as they rewarded those listeners that hung on for the ride.
Steven Tyler – We’re All Somebody From Somewhere CD (Big Machine)
For Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, country music is the new rock ‘n’ roll. And it seems an easy transition from one kind of heavy beat to another, with simple melodies, alongside rich textures and honeyed harmonies in this new vista.Tyler brings his own unique flava into the Nashville-infused mix, with album opener ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ introducing us to a deliberate accordion backdrop but with some decent riffing and a screeching hot guitar solo at the end of the song. [Title track] ‘We’re All Somebody From Somewhere’ is set to be a summer hit. It’s a great time to be preaching unity for ‘Some big, some little, Some left, some in the middle, Some white, yellow, black or red’ so brightly to a solid kick drum base. The scene, from ‘Hollywood to New Orleans’ set to the hazy flow of ‘red wine and whisky’ details personal revelations, such as how much Tyler loves cornbread, with heartwarmingly familiar scratchy refrains and scatting. Even though country in tone, We’re All Somebody From Somewhere isn’t a great departure from the grainy vocals, soaring melodies and guitar that gets you right in the gut that we’re used to from Tyler. Whatever the flavor, this is real music telling real stories that sweep you up and takes you along on a travelling journey from New York to Louisiana, from heart break to wonder at falling in love” – The Arts Desk. [Vinyl edition TBA.]
Various Artists – Classic Folk Songs For Kids From Smithsonian Folkways CD (Smithsonian Folkways)
In Classic Folk Songs For Kids, curator Jeff Place culls a cross-section of 26 classics from the Smithsonian Folkways vaults to tell an intriguing story of American signature sing-alongs. The songs’ origins are as fascinating as the songs are fun: centuries-old European ballads, an American Revolutionary tune, 19th-century American folksongs, African-derived game songs, a sea chantey, a railroad jingle, camp songs, and even an opera song! And the singers themselves are a who’s who of American folk music artistry—Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Cisco Houston, Suni Paz, Tom Glazer, Lord Invader, and many more. 56 minutes, 40-page booklet with lyrics.
Various Artists – The Music Of DC Comics 2 CD (Watertower Music)
Selections from over 80 years of recordings from a variety of DC Comics movies, television shows, animated series, videogames, and radio shows. Containing over 60 minutes of music, Music Of DC Comics 2 features John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Junkie XL, Sun Ra, Shirley Walker, and Mark Hamill, among others. Includes never released recordings from Gotham, Superfriends, Batman and Robin, and much more.
Lucy Woodward – Til They Bang The Door CD (GroundUP)
A perfect summation for Til They Bang On The Door: a slinky, brassy and decidedly sexy record that marks a bold, new direction for the singer.
Young Gun Silver Fox – West End Coast CD/LP (Wax Poetics)
West End Coast pays homage to 1970s Los Angeles, a golden age of recording that infused the pop charts and FM airwaves with a blend of soulful voices, immaculate melodies, stellar musicianship, and sophisticated studio technology.
Frank Zappa – The Crux Of The Biscuit CD (Zappa Records)
Frank Zappa – Frank Zappa For President CD (Zappa Records)
The Crux Of The Biscuit was created in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s 1974 album Apostrophe(‘). As part of the ongoing Project/Object Audio Documentary Series, it contains rare alternate mixes, live performances and studio session outtakes. In the spirit of the 2016 dramatic presidential election adventures, Frank Zappa For President gives us a glimpse into what could have been. It is comprised of unreleased compositions realized on the Synclavier along with other relevant tracks mined from the vault with a political thread tying it all together.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Aeriel Pink/Stevie R. Moore – Ku Klux Glam LP (Stroll On)
New psych-Pop masterpiece from two of the best in the business. L.A. native and weirdo-pop enthusiast Ariel Pink joins forces with lo-fi pop pioneer R. Stevie Moore in a crazy freak-out extravaganza. Vinyl-only.
The Aggrovators – Dubbing At King Tubby’s 2xLP (VP)
The Aggrovators – Dubbing At King Tubby’s 2 2xLP (VP)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Freshly sequenced and remastered, Dubbing At King Tubby’s 1 & 2 showcases the mixing skills of King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Phillip Smart and Pat Kelly on a drum and bass heavy selection of groundbreaking Bunny Lee dubs.
Analog Brothers – Pimp To Eat [Reissue/2000] 2xLP (Mello Music Group)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Out of the attics of the insane comes one of the most overlooked rap classics of its era, full of bizarre boasts, ice-cold and meteor-hard beats, and the best bad examples.
A$AP Ferg – Always Strive And Prosper 2xLP+MP3 (RCA)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the member of the A$AP Mob (along with A$AP Rocky and A$AP Yams). Always Strive And Prosper is the follow-up to 2013’s Trap Lord, and features collaborations with $cHoolboy Q, Future, Big $ean, Chri$ Brown & Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ro$$, Chuck D & Mama Ferg, Future, $krillex, and more. White color vinyl pressing.
Asschapel – Total Destruction (1999-2006) 2xLP+DVD (Southern Lord)
At turn of the 21st Century a Chapel of Ass arose from the buckle of shit known as the bible belt, Nashville, TN. Built upon the crushed dreams of many aspiring country singers off music row, some local TN dudes accidentally formed this Satanic thrash rock juggernaut. Total Destruction gathers 31 tracks, and is paired with a 13-song live DVD.
Bahmadia – Kollage [Reissue/1996] LP (Capitol)
Limited vinyl LP pressing of this 1996 release from the Philadelphia-born hip-hop artist – part of UMe’s ongoing Respect The Classics vinyl reissue campaign. Bahamadia’s debut album, Kollage, is a jazzy affair paced by some nifty production and the MC’s own dryly gentle delivery. Despite her laid-back, even deliberate flow, she has a confident, upfront presence on the mic, with strong rhyming skills and a fondness for old-school wordplay.
Marc Barreca – Twilight [Reissue/1980] LP+MP3 (Palace Of Lights)
Marc Barreca has been creating and performing electronic music since the mid-1970s. Twilight, originally released in 1980, was one of the earliest releases on Palace Of Lights, and is part of an ongoing program of documenting the roots of the Pacific Northwest independent impulse. This remastered and expanded edition includes one previously unreleased track on the LP and an additional six bonus tracks via the enclosed download card.
The Bevis Frond – Inner Marshland [Reissue/1987] LP (Fire)
The Bevis Frond – Miasma [Reissue/1987] LP (Fire)
UK RSD 2016 titles now available in America. Influential British psych-rock/folk. “The main strength of the Bevis Frond is the exquisite songwriting, with pithy and poignant lyrics delivered in a very uncompromising English roots accent. Artists such as Teenage Fanclub, Elliott Smith and Mary Lou Lord have covered their songs, while he’s played with Current 93, The Hawklords, Oneida and Arthur Lee of Love, amongst many others — ” The Quietus. [Next round of Bevis Frond vinyl reissues due July 29.]
Big Business – Command Your Weather LP (Joyful Noise)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. Recorded in Joshua Tree, CA, Command Your Weather sees Big Business return to its original two-man lineup of Jared Warren and Coady Willis. It is a haunting dream about the struggle for dominance of will over the power and unpredictability of nature. Or it is just a really great rock record – it depends on how weird you’re willing to get.
The Church – Sometime Anywhere [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Plain)
The 1994 release by The Church “Sometime Anywhere” found the group down to two original members, bassist/singer Steve Kilbey and guitarist Marty Willson-Piper, after the departure of
Peter Koppes. The resulting album featured new song writing approaches and musical experimentation resulting in many lengthy, lush tracks. Orange vinyl.
Connections – Midnight Run LP (Anyway)
Midnight Run kicks the murk of basement four-track recordings from the soles of the five members’ collective shoes with the sound of two guitars that growl as if they are echoing out of the propellers of a B-12 bomber. After the gentle hiss for the opener “Raise Awareness,” which echoes the early power pop of the Shoes or Cars played through a 1987 Mustang’s tape-deck, “Month To Month” shatters the windshield as singers Kevin Elliott and Andy Hampel stand atop the chorus like they just conquered a Two-for-Tuesday slot on your local classic rock station. From there, the record rolls over the speakers with a great band getting greater, flexing sinewy guitar with Hampel’s and Elliott’s majestic melodies.
Fea – Fea LP (Blackheart)
Fea’s self-titled full-length was produced by Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!), Lori Barbero (Babes In Toyland) and Alice Bag (The Bags). Fea is a new band from Girl In A Coma’s Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz a unique riot grrrl resurgence with a Chicana punk edge from San Antonio, TX. The album is a fierce, melodic exploration of societal, cultural, and gender-related issues. Includes a zine featuring exclusive content. [CD version due July 29.]
Peter Gabriel – So [Reissue/1986] 2xLP+MP3 (Real World)
Peter Gabriel – Us [Reissue/1992] 3xLP+MP3 (Real World)
Peter Gabriel – So [Reissue/2002] 3xLP+MP3 (Real World)
Limited numbered half-speed remastered HQ-180gm vinyl reissues cut to lacquers at 45RPM to deliver maximum dynamic range in the sound.
Vince Gill – Down To My Last Bad Habit LP (MCA Nashville)
Released earlier this year on CD – now available on vinyl. Gill’s first solo album since 2011’s Guitar Slinger includes guest vocals from Little Big Town and Cam.
GØGGS – GØGGS LP (In The Red)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Chris Shaw smokes the microphone while Ty Segall and Charles Moothart trade lizardian licks and skin hits. “Ten tracks of misanthropic noise to bring home to mom’s house on fire. Boots to your face after the high speed chase. A death trip down memory lane.” Guests include Cory Hanson, Mikal Cronin, and Denee Petracek.
Heaven For Real – Kill Your Memory LP (Mint)
Heaven For Real’s experimental, progressive pop music incorporates post-punk and tape collage elements.
Hiatus Kaiyote – Recalibrations, Vol. 1 10” (Masterworks Broadway)
New versions and remixes including an acoustic take of their Grammy-nominated song “Nakamarra” from Tawk Tomahawk, and alternate version of “Prince Minikid,” a Vikter Duplaix remix of “By Fire” and a Taylor McFerrin remix of “Laputa” all from their latest album, Choose Your Weapon. Turquoise color vinyl.
Earl Hooker – 2 Bugs And A Roach [Reissue/1969] LP (Arhoolie)
Though born in the Mississippi Delta, Earl Hooker’s family moved to Chicago when he was just a baby and by the mid- ’40s he was performing with one of the early legends of Chicago blues, Robert Nighthawk. Hooker is perhaps best known for his distinct slide guitar style and as a sideman for such luminaries as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and John Lee Hooker (his cousin). In 1968, he assembled a crack band including Pinetop Perkins, and Freddie Roulette, and they’re heard here in fine form on what is probably Hooker’s most well-known and best recorded effort. Reissued on gold color vinyl in a deluxe tip-on jacket.
Lightning Hopkins – Texas Blues Man [Reissue/1968] LP (Arhoolie)
Lightnin’ Hopkins had already recorded dozens, if not hundreds, of sides for various labels by the time he hooked up with Chris Strachwitz in the late ’50s, but his recordings for Strachwitz’s Arhoolie label are some of the rawest and strongest of his career. Originally released in 1968, this classic slab of Texas blues is reissued here on high quality red vinyl with an exact reproduction of the paste-on sleeve.
Kill The Noise – Occult Classic LP+MP3 (Owsla, LLC)
Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl. Bass music stalwart Kill The Noise has been a staple in electronic music since 2008. Occult Classic is his first full-length on Skrillex’s Owsla, following a string of singles and EP’s that have made him one of the most recognizable artists and personalities on the scene. It features twelve hard hitting and dynamic tracks that features a wide array of artists including Dillon Francis, Feed Me, Tommy Trash, Madsonik, Bryn Christopher, 2ton and Aaron from Awolnation.
Diana Krall – All For You [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – Love Scenes [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – When I Look In Your Eyes [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – The Look Of Love [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – Live In Paris[Reissue/2002] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – The Girl In The Other Room [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – From This Moment On [Reissue/2006] 2xLP (Verve)
Diana Krall – Quiet Nights [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Verve)
Limited double HQ-180gm vinyl reissues from the acclaimed vocalist/pianist.
Leimer – Closed Systems Potentials [Reissue/1980] LP (Palace Of Lights)
Originally recorded in 1979 and released in 1980, Closed System Potentials was in the first wave of experimental electronic indie releases of its day. It was the first full-length album released by Kerry Leimer and his Palace Of Lights label. Recorded in a home studio on Teac quarter-track machines, the music draws from tightly and inter-related influences that include work by Cluster, Fripp & Eno, Harmonia and Neu! Combining loop and non-loop elements, Closed System Potentials is an idiosyncratic example of early ambient music.
Lifted Bells – Overreactor 7”+MP3 (Run For Cover)
Carefully crafted mathy-emo instrumentals, paired with the familiar emotion & insight that vocalist Bob Nanna has been working through for decades in various projects like Braid, Hey Mercedes & The City On Film.
Mance Lipscomb – Texas Sharecropper And Songster [Reissue/1960] LP (Arhoolie)
The very first release on the legendary Arhoolie label, from way back in 1960, is also the first for Texas acoustic blues great Mance Lipscomb who was a mere 65 years old at the time of its release. Prior to being ‘discovered’ by the label’s founder, Chris Strachwitz, Lipscomb had spent his life as a sharecropper in his hometown of Navasota, Texas. Lipscomb’s ‘discovery’ was one of the greatest by-products of the blues and folk revival of the late ’50s and early ’60s as this fantastic vinyl reissue of his first album will attest. Classic country-blues from a master, reissues on green vinyl.
Little Richard – Mono Box: Complete Specialty/Vee-Jay Albums 5xLP (Fantasy)
This deluxe, five-LP box set includes the entire output of studio albums recorded by Little Richard for the Specialty and Vee-Jay labels, each in their original, mono mixes: Here’s Little Richard (1957), Little Richard (1958), The Fabulous Little Richard (1959), Little Richard Is Back (1964) and His Greatest Hits (1965). Each LP is housed in a sleeve jacket, within the slipcase. Rounding out the collection is a 16-page booklet featuring new liner notes by journalist Bill Dahl, plus a treasure trove of photos.
Madonna – True Blue [Reissue/1986] LP (Rhino)
Madonna – Like A Prayer [Reissue/1989] LP (Rhino)
Back in-print on HQ-180gm vinyl.
Cliff Martinez – Drive (OST) [Reissue/2011] 2xLP (Lakeshore)
Gold color vinyl repress now available.
Dave Matthews Band – Crash [Anniversary Edition/Reissue/1996] 2xLP+MP3 (RCA)
Newly remastered from the original flat analog tapes.
Sean McConnell – Sean McConnell LP (Rounder)
Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. For one so relatively young, Sean McConnell has an impressive musical resume, from coffeehouses in Harvard Square to Texas roadhouses to major songwriting credits in Nashville. His self-titled album marks a personal and professional breakthrough, a career-defining record, with Sean McConnell ready for prime time, yet still blessed with all the soulfulness and reflective storytelling for which he is already respected and admired.
Fred McDowell – Vol. 2 [Reissue/1966] LP (Arhoolie)
Fred McDowell’s Vol. 2, originally released on Arhoolie in 1966 is one of the finest recorded examples of the Hill Country Blues style. With a distinctive and hypnotic guitar style, McDowell powers through 12 tunes here, almost all originals. A stone classic reissued on blue vinyl in a deluxe tip-on jacket.
Blind Willie McTell – Trying To Get Home LP (Sutro Park)
The delta guitar legend’s 1949 recordings originally on Regal, re-released on Biograph in the 1970s. This is mid-period McTell, finding the bluesman at his best with a pronounced guitar playing that conveys a sense of masterful urgency. Features a classic Biograph cover. Liner Notes by Down Beat’s Chris Albertson and produced by Arnold Caplin. Limited edition gold vinyl.
Moderat – Running 12″ (Mute)
Remixes from Shed and KiNK.
Motörhead – Clean Your Clock 2xLP+CD+DVD+Blu-ray (UDR)
Recently released on a wide-variety of formats – now available as a Deluxe Edition vinyl box set. Live performances recorded November 20th and 21st, 2015 at the Zenith in Munich, Germany. Color vinyl including a Motörhead medal.
Oddisee – Alwasta LP (Mellow Music Group)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Sudanese-American hip-hop artist Oddisee’s new EP takes its title from the Arabic coloquial term used to mean (to use colloquial English) “the plug.” The term “wasta” comes from the Arabic word “wasat,” meaning “middle” or “middleman,” and describes a member of the community who acts as a connector using their wealth of social currency. Understanding the value of social currency and how to use it (for better or worse) is what Amir Elkhalifa aka Oddisee focused on as the primary inspiration for his lyrics. “Oddisee’s Alwasta is no-skip music to ride to” – Stereogum
Redfoo – Party Rock Mansion LP+MP3 (Party Rock)
Limited animal print color vinyl pressing. Stefan Kendal Gordy, better known by his stage name Redfoo, is a rapper and record producer who was one-half of the musical duo LMFAO. Party Rock Mansion is his debut solo album.
Diana Ross – Diana Ross [Reissue/1976] LP (Motown)
Limited vinyl LP pressing. Diana Ross was originally released in 1976, and is her second self-titled LP. It has two #1 hits: “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To),” and the disco anthem, “Love Hangover.”
Blake Shelton – If I’m Honest 2xLP (WB)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. 10th studio album by the country superstar.
Nina Simone – The Phillips Years 7xLP (Verve)
The Phillips Years is a collection of seven albums released by Nina Simone during her tenure on the label. Simone’s albums covered topics as diverse as romance, politics, Broadway, civil rights and more. Albums included in this package are Nina Simone In Concert (1964), Broadway-Blues- Ballads (1964), I Put A Spell On You (1965), Pastel Blues (1966), Let It All Out (1966), Wild Is The Wind (1966) and High Priestess Of Soul (1967).
Sly & The Revolutionaries – Channel One: Maxfield Avenue Breakdown – Dubs And Instrumentals 1974-79 [Reissue/2001] LP (Pressure Sounds)
Opened in 1972, the Channel One studio, located on Maxfield Avenue in the heart of the Kingston ghetto and installed with the best recording equipment available, quickly became one of the most popular studios in Jamaica. The studio was set up and owned by the Hookim brothers and their Channel One in-house musicians, known as The Revolutionaries, became one of the most influential bands to ever record in Jamaica. This set features key dub tracks from the the era.
Alex Somers – Music From The Film Captain Fantastic 2xLP+MP3 (Invada)
Alex Somers’ (Jónsi and Alex/Sigur Rós) original score to Matt Ross’ film Captain Fantastic. The soundtrack also features contributions from Jónsi (Sigur Rós). Appropriately, the soundtrack beautifully mirrors the story’s strange, otherworldly settings with Somers creating a score that is at once delicate yet haunting, fragile and moving to conjure up a gorgeously ethereal atmosphere. Limited HQ-180gm color vinyl housed in a handmade bespoke gatefold sleeve with rounded edges. [CD version due July 29.]
Sonic Youth – Murray Street [Reissue/2002] LP (Geffen)
Sonic Youth – Sonic Nurse [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped [Reissue/2006] LP (Geffen)
Remastered from the from the original stereo analog master tapes on and pressed on high-grade vinyl.
Soundtrack – Everybody Wants Some! Music From The Motion Picture 2xLP (WB)
Released last April on CD and cassette – now available on vinyl. The official soundtrack curated by the film’s director Richard Linklater, featuring classic songs from Van Halen, The Cars, The Knack, and many more. Quote from Linklater: “The Everybody Wants Some soundtrack tries to capture the amazing diversity of what was on the table musically at that time. So many artists were at the top of their game, and it seemed like a lot of popular genres were viable. Metal and R&B were as big as ever, disco was still hanging in there (although it would be ‘dead’ within a year or so), and, thanks to the movie Urban Cowboy, country was suddenly cool in places it hadn’t been before. Even more exciting was the immediacy of punk and new wave, and the first examples of this thing you’d eventually know as hip-hop. Over the years some of this has been parodied and made to look ridiculous, but this movie is asking you to experience it as if for the first time — from those opening drum beats of ‘My Sharona’ to the utter newness of ‘Rapper’s Delight.’”
Soundtrack – Napoleon Dynamite [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Lakeshore)
Limited edition white color vinyl reissue now available.
Suicide – Alan Vega Martin Rev [Reissue/1980] LP (Superior Viaduct)
Innovative and influential NYC band’s sought-after first two albums are back in print on vinyl. Originally released in 1980, Alan Vega Martin Rev features an array of glistening keyboards and early preset rhythm machine sounds whose harsh simplicity suggests the discreet zones and confined movements of urban life.
Sun Ra – Space Is The Place [Soundtrack] 2xLP (Sutro Park)
Vinyl reissue of the soundtrack to the legendary Sun Ra film, Space Is The Place. Featuring some of Sun Ra’s most adventurous and uncompromising compositions ever, the soundtrack incorporates vocal chants, harsh synthesizer and organ blasts along with film dialogue, heavy percussion and just all around weirdness. Limited edition purple and gold vinyl.
Tower Of Power – Live And In Living Color [Reissue/1976] LP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile vinyl LP pressing – part of Friday Music’s ongoing Respect The Dollar Bin vinyl reissue campaign.
Ugly Heroes – Everything In Between LP (Mello Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Ugly Heroes’ Apollo Brown warps soul music and bayonet-hard drums, creating a singular form of soul-coughing dirty-sky symphonies. Levitating boom-bap for the 21st Century. Limited color vinyl pressing.
Vandals – Live Fast Diarrhea [Reissue/1995] LP (Nitro)
Vandals – The Quickening [Reissue/1996] LP (Nitro)
Vandals – Hitler Bad Vandals Good [Reissue/1998] LP (Nitro)
Vandals – Look What I Almost Stepped In [Reissue/2000] LP (Nitro)
Limited green vinyl reissues from the SoCal punk legends.
Various Artists – Mild In The Streets: Fat Music Unplugged LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Mild In The Streets is a collection of songs from Fat Wreck Chords artists who trade in their blaring amps and distortion pedals for acoustic guitars and orchestral arrangements. Features tracks by Against Me!, Tony Sly, Swingin’ Utters, Anti Flag, Get Dead, Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio), American Steel, Stacey Dee (Bad Cop/Bad Cop), Sam Sadowski (Closet Fiends), Joey Cape, Russ Rankin (Good Riddance) and more.
Virus – Memento Collider 2xLP (Karisma)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. For many music fans, the term ‘progressive music’ carries an ugly connotation. Not so for a band like Norwegian legends Virus, who whom progressive music is a palatable thing with welcoming structures and competent musicianship. Born as a continuation of musical themes explored by legendary black metal act Ved Buens Ende, Virus has gone far past any associations with their members’ other work. Since their formation in 2000, the band’s angular, jazz-infused take on heavy progressive music has carried the urgency of bands like Voivod while trading some of the metallic leanings in favor of sparse and spacey sounds.
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