CDs + Vinyl:
The Aggrovators – Dubbing At King Tubby’s 2xCD (VP)
Freshly sequenced and remastered, Dubbing At King Tubby’s 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. [Vinyl edition due July 15.]
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble – It’s Time CD/LP (Slow Walk Music)
The third album from Barcelona-based Alma Afrobeat Ensemble, their first with Nigerian singer Joe “Olawale” Psalmist singing in English, Yoruba, and Broken English. It’s Time featuressongs that hearken back to the origins of Afrobeat: extended, elegant arrangements, socially and politically charged lyrics, and danceable grooves. Add in a dose of trance, some unique improvisational solos and a modern feel, and you have It’s Time.
Anderson/Stolt – Invitation Of Knowledge CD (Inside Out U.S.)
New duo comprised of Yes vocalist Jon Anderson and prog rock veteran Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings, Transatlantic).
Augustines – This Is Your Life CD (PIAS America)
“Despite our constant collective quest for The New, we’ll always return to those musicians who imbue their work with only themselves, vulnerability and popularity be damned. On This Is Your Life, Augustines continue to mine adversity for glimmers of hope. There’s more of an electronic presence and more influence drawn from outside the indie-rock sphere, but it remains resolutely an Augustines record. If you’ve been on the fence about the band thus far, this isn’t going to change your mind, but they continue to grow in sound and scope, with each LP bringing bigger ambitions and production that could comfortably be labelled bombastic. With each record the band releases, they inch further from the tragedy and pain that initially threatened to define them. It’s still there, but sits comfortably alongside thankful depictions of events which led them to this point. No longer having to scream to be heard, they’re able to imbue their music with the elegance necessary to create the truest representation of its message: it’ll be okay” – Drowned In Sound. [Vinyl edition due July 8.]
The Avett Brothers – True Sadness CD (Republic)
Seth Avett says that True Sadness is a patchwork quilt, both thematically and stylistically. Wherein a myriad of contrasting fabrics make perfect sense on the same plane, the album draws upon countless resources from its writers and performers. He cites pervasive and cornerstone influences such as Queen, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jimmie Rodgers, Tom Petty, Nine Inch Nails, Gillian Welch, Aretha Franklin, Walt Disney, Pink Floyd, Kings Of Convenience, calypso of the 1950s and country of the 1930s. Most importantly, he assures, “Throughout the album, we stitched together the boldest red and the calmest green, polka dots and stripes, the roughest denim and the smoothest velveteen. They came together because they are the best patterns we have and because each of us brought our own fabric to the quilting frame.”
Alice Bag – Alice Bag CD/LP (Don Giovanni)
Alice Bag is a singer/songwriter, musician, author, artist, educator and feminist. She was the lead singer and co-founder of The Bags, one of the first punk bands to form in the mid- ‘70s in Los Angeles. She was featured in the seminal documentary on punk rock, The Decline Of Western Civilization and went on to perform in other groundbreaking bands, including Castration Squad, Cholita, and Las Tres. Alice’s eponymous debut solo album features all original material written by Bag and includes performances by some of her favorite L.A.-based musicians.
Aidan Baker – Element [Reissue/2000] CD (Teta-Morphosis)
Five tracks of experimental/ambient guitar, originally released in 2000 by Acrolepsy Records, remastered and back in-print.
Bama Boys – Country This, Country That CD (Par-T-Rok Entertainment)
Hick-hop courtesy a bunch of good old boys. Features the soon-to-be classic “Truck Brown From Mud.”
The Bangles – Ladies And Gentlemen… The Bangles! CD (Omnivore)
Hand-selected by the band members from their personal music archives, Ladies And Gentelmen… The Bangles! is a 16-track collection of remastered ’80s-era rarities, demos, live recordings and more, including The Bangles’ debut single and all of the tracks from their self-titled EP—produced by legendary Ramones/Blondie producer Craig Leon—unavailable since its initial release on vinyl in 1982. Encompassing the very first years of the band’s development, from their earliest days as The Bangs to their incarnation as The Bangles, the tracks include performances by The Bangles’ founding and current members—Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, and Vicki Peterson—as well as now-retired bassist Michael Steele, and the band’s original bass player Annette Zilinskas.
Be’lakor – Vessels CD/2xLP (Napalm)
Fourth album from the melodic Australian death metal band.
Robert Bensick Band – French Pictures In London CD/LP (Smog Veil)
In the Summer of 1975, Cleveland multi-instrumentalist, sculptor, and artist Robert Bensick, with the promise of a major label deal that never materialized, brought together the best of the Cleveland underground and recorded an album at Agency Recording, a studio favored by such recording stars as Todd Rundgren. The studio band Bensick assembled for the record included such luminaries as Tom Herman (Pere Ubu), Scott Kraus (Pere Ubu, Cinderella Backstreet, Home & Garden), Cynthia Black (Cinderella Backstreet, Peter & The Wolves), Albert Dennis (Cinderella Backstreet, Wolves) and Michael Hronek (a collaborator of Cleveland proto-punk legend Peter Laughner). Bensick’s magnum opus sought to bring music and art together into a brand new experience. The end result, French Pictures In London, was so far ahead of its time that it remained unreleased for 40 years.
Broods – Conscious CD (Capitol)
Conscious is the follow up to Broods’ 2014 debut album, Evergreen, which climbed into the Top 10 of Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart. Joel Little (Lorde, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding), who produced Evergreen, served as executive producer on Conscious, producing many of the tracks. The album features a duet with Tove Lo and a song the band co-wrote with Lorde.
The Browning – Isolation CD (Spinefarm)
In what could be described as nothing short of ‘adventurous,’ The Browning’s music takes influences from all across the metal spectrum and heavily fuses them with hardstyle, trance and other areas of electronic music.
Sam Bush – Storyman CD (Sugarhill)
Officially recognized by the Kentucky state legislature as the “Father of Newgrass” for his influential musicianship, Sam Bush returns with his first solo studio project in seven years. Storyman was written with longtime friends including Guy Clark, Jon Randall Stewart and Emmylou Harris, and features Alison Krauss on “Lefty’s Song.”
John Cage meets Sun Ra – The Complete Concert June 8, 1986 Coney Island, NY CD/LP (Sundazed)
A near-mythic encounter between two of the twentieth century’s most important avant garde musicians and musical philosophers. This is the full and unexpurgated concert from 1986, including the long-rumored co-performance between the two musical giants. [Limited clear vinyl edition also available.]
Bun E. Carlos – Greetings From Bunezuela! CD (E1)
In Earth geography, Bunezuela — with ports of call in Chicago, Milwaukee and Rockford, Illinois — is located in the great Midwest and ruled over by a kindly potentate: the drummer who was born Brad Carlson but known worldwide as Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. According to the fanciful liner notes inside the band’s 1977 debut, the avuncular Bun — a Venezuelan native from a family instrumental in the building of the Panama Canal — is short for Bunezuela. It’s a good story, but the truth is better. Greetings From Bunezuela! is a rocking and eclectic set of tunes drawn deep from a serious record collection, mixing the reasonably familiar “Tell Me” by the Rolling Stones, “I Can Only Give You Everything” by Them, “Him Or Me” by Paul Revere And The Raiders and Dylan’s “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry” with lesser known classics.
Cash Cash – Blood, Sweat & 3 Years CD (Big Beat)
Debut album from the dance-pop trio. Blood, Sweat & 3 Years boasts vocal features from superstars all over the spectrum, including Fitz & The Tantrums, Nelly, Christina Perri, Busta Rhymes, B.o.B, Neon Hitch, Jacquie Lee, Trinidad James, Little Daylight, John Rzeznik, Night Terrors Of 1927 and Bebe Rexha to name a few.
Claudia Quintet – Super Petite CD (Cuneiform)
Ostensibly the Claudia Quintet is a jazz band, with the music on Super Petite ranging from the frantic deconstructed bebop of “Philly” to the appropriately dreamy “Nightbreak.”
Comet Control – Center Of The Maze CD/LP (Tee Pee)
Toronto space rock cosmonauts Comet Control re-enter the atmosphere with their stargazed sophomore album. Flooded with swirling synths, ghostly vocals and fuzz-bomb guitars that burst into flames in electrifyingly airborne ways, the record effortlessly merges the ethereal and the terrestrial; the end result a 43-minute collection of blinding explosions and brilliant fade-outs.
Dark Funeral – Where Shadows Forever Reign CD/LP (Century Media)
Swedish black metal legends Dark Funeral were founded back in 1993 and are one of the leaders of the second wave of black metal among other legends such as Marduk and Darkthrone. Center Of The Maze is the band’s sixth album.
Dawn Of Disease – Worship The Grave CD (Napalm)
New album from the German death metal band.
Melanie De Biasio – Blackened Cities CDEP/12”+MP3 (PIAS America)
Epic in both scale and sound, Melanie De Biasio’s 25-minute long track “Blackened Cities” is already attracting whispers suggesting it could be ‘her masterpiece.’ Inspired by the post-industrial landscape of her hometown Charleroi in Belgium, “Blackened Cities” finds unexpected hope rediscovered in cities such as Manchester, Detroit, and Bilbao.
Deerhoof – The Magic CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Polyvinyl)
“Deerhoof’s never-look-back aesthetic has become a calling card, and its unpredictability a point of pride. Time and again, the San Francisco band has surprised listeners and pushed them in new musical directions they might not immediately want to go, and yet it’s hard not to loyally follow along with each sonic jump. Still, when a group has churned through as many bizarro ideas as Deerhoof has over the course of a brilliant run of albums that date back to the mid-1990s, you have to wonder how it keeps coming back with something different. To follow up 2014’s excellent La Isla Bonita, Deerhoof’s members ditched the comforts of a traditional studio, rented a sterile abandoned office in the New Mexico desert and, with nothing written beforehand, just played. Seven days later, Deerhoof reemerged with its 14th album, The Magic, an eclectic 15 songs inspired by the music each member — vocalist and bassist Satomi Matsuzaki, guitarists and multi-instrumentalists Ed Rodriguez and John Dieterich, and drummer Greg Saunier — grew up loving. More than just the sound of loud, off-kilter textures colliding, The Magic captures a love for pop melody that provides a perfect antidote to the dissonance, with songs that are as catchy as they are noisy” – NPR. [Limited purple color vinyl pressing also available.]
Denner/Shermann – Masters Of Evil CD (Lakeshore)
Debut full length from guitarists Hank Shermann and Michael Denner from Mercyful Fate.
Deus Ex Machina – Devoto CD (Cuneiform)
A sextet of violin, analog keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and vocals, Deus Ex Machina’s sound is a unique and unequaled blend of aggressive jazz-rock mixed with complex rhythms, 1970s-style hard-rock guitar and hints of Rock In Opposition-style avant-progressive rock, all topped by the incredible vocals of Alberto Piras.
Direct Hit! – Wasted Mind CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
The Milwaukee punk band’s new album is an 11-track concept affair inspired by the warped sensibilities of such savage works as William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch and Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas.
DJ Shadow – The Mountain Will Fall CD/2xLP+MP3 (Mass Appeal)
“Josh Davis, aka DJ Shadow, has been relatively quiet, having been on tour since 2014’s The Liquid Amber EP, and his last proper full-length was The Less You Know, The Better, which came out in 2011. But it seems the time away has served him well, as he’s come back more confident in the announcement of his new album The Mountain Will Fall. The producer told Pitchfork: ‘Sometimes records are a struggle. This record, I knew exactly what I wanted to get across.’ The new album’s title is a hint at revisiting and besting his seminal classic Endtroducing 20 years after its release. The couple of years he spent touring on DJ gigs, returning to the tactile familiarity of his decks has inspired the look back while pushing forward featuring the likes of labelmate Run The Jewels. The first foray into the new album is the opening title track. It’s a slow-building, slow-winding joint that churns bouncy synths, off-time-on-purpose drums, and big, lingering atmospheric sweeps together for a slight scoring feel. The track oscillates, swelling into a huge moment in the middle and dissipating into subdued intricacy. This first indication is nice step toward Shadow returning to classic form.” – Stereogum
Dorothy – RockIsDead CD/LP/Cassette (Roc Nation)
RockIsDead is the visceral debut album from L.A.-based, female-fronted rock band Dorothy.
Drowners – On Desire CD (French Kiss)
Lurking a few levels beneath the group’s tightly wound post-punk tracks are bittersweet minor key melodies that burn like the red light of a setting sun.
Earth Ship – Hollowed CD (Napalm)
On Hollowed, the Berlin sludge/doom rock band tackles the soft yet stronger dynamic of bands like Kylesa and Black Tusk, celebrating and crowning the whole thing with morbid melodies Alice In Chains would be proud of.
Eggs Over Easy – Good ‘N’ Cheap: The Eggs Over Easy Story 2xCD/3xLP (Yep Roc)
For the first time ever, the entire Eggs Over Easy catalog, lovingly restored and remastered, is available as a deluxe set. Included in this collection is the band’s debut album Good ‘N’ Cheap, produced by Link Wray and originally released on A&M Records in 1972; their rarely-heard second LP, Fear Of Frying, originally (if barely) released on Lee Michaels’ Squish Records in 1980; two songs from the band’s lone single released on Buffalo Records; and the previously unreleased London ’71 sessions recorded at Olympic Studios, and produced by Animals bassist and Jimi Hendrix producer Chas Chandler.
Mikey Erg – Tentative Decisions CD/LP (Don Giovanni)
“Tentative Decisions sees Erg stepping up his game and throwing his beanie hat into the ring to be considered as a serious songwriter in a way he’s never done before. He delves into deeper and often times darker places—something that hadn’t yet been fully realized in his prolific career. The album sees Erg stepping out of his comfort zone musically, as well. Erg, the product of a childhood spent absorbing the catchy hooks of ‘50s and ‘60s doo-wop groups, occasionally eschews the traditional verse-chorus-verse structure he’s come to master over the years.” – Noisey/Vice
The Explorers Club – Together CD/LP (Goldstar Recordings)
The Explorers Club mark their return with Together, the quintet’s third album of harmony laden sounds. Jason Brewer, founder and visionary of the band, has patterned the album in the mold of post-Pet Sounds Beach Boys classics such as Friends, Sunflower and Love You, while adding his own unique touches and flourishes of inspiration with his bandmates.
The Felice Brothers – Life In The Dark CD/LP (Yep Roc)
The Felice Brothers return with nine songs in their unique style, a blend of folk, country, rock and soul.
Jerry Garcia/Merl Saunders – GarciaLive 6: July 5th 1973 Lion’s Share 3xCD (ATO)
This set contains Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders’ adventurous performance at small bay area club on July 5th, 1973. Recorded by famed Grateful Dead recording engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson days prior to the performances immortalized on the legendary Live At The Keystone series and weeks before the Grateful Dead’s Wake Of The Flood album recording, the collection showcases the band’s free-spirited exploration of R&B, rock, jazz and extended improvisation.
Hannah Georgas – For Evelyn CD (Dine Alone)
Polaris Prize long-listed indie pop artist Hannah Georgas returns with her third full-length effort, For Evelyn. “With each release, the Ontarian has gotten more adventurous with her compositions, playing with syncopations and experimenting with new instrumentations. [Album single] ‘Waste,’ indicates that she’s gone even farther down the rabbit hole. ‘Waste’ was originally structured as a piano ballad, but producer Graham Walsh (Holy F**k) heard something different in the track. He added a turned the keys into an ’80s cop-show stalker and layered in squealing, funky horns that should make the ears perk up on fans of early Menomena. But for all the track’s hectic, danceable energy, there’s a thread of defeat that still carries over from the original mood of the song. ‘All I really really wanted was to hear from you,’ Georgas sings on the bridge into the chorus. ‘At least I’m more of aware of it now/ At least I know I’ll never ever, never gonna do right in your eyes’” – Consequence Of Sound. [Vinyl edition due July 29.]
Mick Harvey – Delerium Tremens CD/LP (Mute)
Some 20 years after first starting to translate French chanson favorite Serge Gainsbourg’s hefty catalogue, Australian outsider Mick Harvey (formerly of The Bad Seeds) releases his third volume of Gainsbourg covers.
Thee Headcoats – The Messerschmitt Pilot’s Severed Hand [Reissue/1998] CD/LP (Damaged Goods)
A reissue of a Thee Headcoat’s classic. The Messerschmitt Pilot’s Severed Hand features a re-recording of their classic “We Hate The F**king NME” as well as fan-favorites “Punk Rock Ist Nicht Tot” and “Organic Footprints.”
Marquis Hill – The Way We Play CD (Concord)
The Way We Play is the Concord Jazz debut for Marquis Hill, the young, fresh trumpeter who won the 2014 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition.
Hot Hot Heat – Hot Hot Heat CD/LP (Kaw-Liga)
The first studio album in six years from the critically acclaimed Canadian indie rock band. Hot Hot Heat’s style makes use of electronic and traditional instruments and has variously been categorized as dance-punk, post-punk revival, new wave, and art-punk.
Incognito – In Search Of Better Days CD (Shanachie)
New album from the funk/jazz/soul/dance outfit. Special guests include Grammy nominee Maysa, UK soul diva Imaani, legendary Japanese guitarist Hotei Tomoyasu (of Kill Bill soundtrack fame), Jamiroquai bass ace Stuart Zender and others.
Interrupters – Say It Loud CD/LP+CD (Hellcat)
Say It Out Loud is undeniably fun and urgent in message – a batch of feel-good songs. And backing their modernized 2-Tone-tinged, guitar-fueled, melody-heavy sound are lyrics that confront everything from social control and self-empowerment to domestic violence and the media circus surrounding the next presidential election. [Limited orange color vinyl edition also available.]
I.P.A. – I Just Did Say Something CD (Cuneiform)
“Maybe it’s the region’s boundless but stark natural beauty or its internationally envied social order, but whatever the cause Scandinavia has nurtured a particularly vivid jazz scene marked by a tantalizing balance of form and freedom. Over the past decade the quintet I.P.A. has come to embody the best of this volatile sensibility, which makes sense as the band draws its players from definitive Nordic ensembles such as Atomic, Motif, Ensemble Denada, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and The Thing. I Just Did Say Something is I.P.A.’s fourth release and its first recording on the USA-based label Cuneiform. The quintet’s most exhilarating statement yet, it’s the work of a band fully alive to its own power, while eagerly investigating new directions.” – Republic Of Jazz
Kayo Dot – Plastic House On Base Of Sky CD/LP (The Flenser)
On Plastic House On Base Of Sky, Kayo Dot fully embraces a variety of synthesizers (many of them vintage analog) to create another work of ambition and magnitude that fuses the explosive musical imagination of a band like Magma with the forward-thinking experimentalism of Conrad Schnitzler or Morton Subotnick.
Merzbow/Balázs Pándi/Keiji Haino– An Untroublesome Defencelessness CD/2xLP (RareNoise)
New collaboration the trio of renowned Japanese noisemaker Merzbow (aka Masami Akita), Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and Hungarian drummer Balazs Pandi.
Mindless Behavior – #officialmbmusic CD (Conjunction Entertainment)
Returning in 2016, the swagged-up and soulful R&B trio — Princeton, E.J. and Mike River — elevate and expand their patented sound.
Mock Orange – Put The Kid On The Sleepy Horse CD/LP (Topshelf)
“Cult favorites Mock Orange return with an eighth album that reconciles their later alt-country leanings with their Midwestern emo roots.” — Pitchfork
The Monkees – Instant Replay [Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition] CD (Friday Music)
Remastered reissue featuring seven bonus tracks not on the original 1969 album. [Vinyl edition released last September.]
Motörhead – Clean Your Clock CD/CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray/2xLP (UDR)
Live performances recorded November 20th and 21st, 2015 at the Zenith in Munich, Germany. Available across a wide variety of formats, with a deluxe vinyl box set edition due July 15th.
My Jerusalem – A Little Death CD/LP (Razor & Tie)
My Jerusalem is an indie rock band from Austin, Texas founded by singer and lead guitar player Jeff Klein. With his heartfelt song writing, soulful and passionate vocal delivery, backed by an alternative, indie rock sound, this album will appeal to multiple generations of fans whose taste spans a wide range of rock genres.
The Mystery Lights – The Mystery Lights CD/LP (Wick)
In an era when the city kvetches that there are no good NYC bands, when half of the music scene has split for sunny California, The Mystery Lights are an anomaly. Not only did these bold young men reverse the direction — optimistically migrating east against the tide from the west coast, but they also landed in the wormy apple to immerse themselves in the action and diversity of New York City. Hot on the heels of the “Too Many Girls”/”Too Tough To Bear” single, Wick Records (Daptone’s new rock subsidiary) officially rolls out The Mystery Lights’ debut LP, recorded at Daptone Records’ House of Soul studio, in June 2016.
Oh Pep! – Stadium Cake CD (Dualtone)
“Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs are the ‘Oh’ and the ‘Pep!’ in this Melbourne band. They write mostly upbeat music filled with questions about desire and life’s priorities and considerations. Their pop sensibilities offer more twists and turns than the usual ‘verse/chorus’ formula, but there are still big, catchy hooks. It’s just that those hooks seem to happen after you’ve taken a journey through a story, so the hook sinks much deeper and offers a kind of emotional relief.” — NPR
Old Fire – Songs From The Haunted South CD (Kscope)
Songs From The Haunted South shimmers with ghostly pianos, ominous drums, cavernous steel
guitar and aching vocals. It’s the sound of longing, of hope, death and rejection. The album features a total of 22 vocalists and musicians spread out across the United States and Europe. The roster includes such diverse names as Tom Rapp (Pearls Before Swine), Alex Maas (from the Texas psychedelic band, The Black Angels), DM Stith, Christopher Barnes (Gem Club), Warren Defever (His Name is Alive), Thor Harris (Swans), Swedish singer-songwriter Rebekka Karijord, to name only a few.
Palaye Royale – Boom Boom Room CD (Sumerian)
Palaye Royale is a “fashion indie rock” band based out of L.A. In 2014, Palaye Royale were named champions of MTV’s “Musical March Madness.” They are the first fan voted unsigned act to compete and win the competition. The same year the band and their hit “Get Higher,” were featured in a worldwide commercial spot for Samsung Galaxy Note.
Jeff Parker – The New Breed CD/LP (International Anthem)
Best known as a multi-instrumental member of Tortoise and a pillar of the Chicago jazz and experimental music scene, Jeff Parker has been very prolific over the last 20+ years. These recordings were conducted to capture composed passages as well as free playing that used Parker’s beats and sample suites as improvisational criterion. After completing seven songs with the band, the last of which with vocals from his daughter Ruby Parker recorded in Chicago by John McEntire, Parker named the project The New Breed (after a clothing store his late father Ernie owned and operated in the ’70s) and finished the album by stitching the band tracks together with intermittent pieces of beat memories from his archive.
Rudy Parris – Makin’ My Way CD (Warrior)
Rudy Parris, from NBC’s The Voice, cites his mentor Buck Owens, as well as Merle Haggard and B.B King, as his greatest influences. Makin’ My Way features Hank Williams III, Little Joe (y La Familia), Michael Madsen (Hateful Eight) and Chad Smith (RHCP).
Alan Parsons Symphonic Project – Live In Columbia 2xCD/3xLP (earMUSIC)
Alan Parsons with the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded live at Parque Pies Descalzos in Medellín, Colombia, August 31, 2013. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions also available.]
Plow United – Three CD/LP (It’s Alive)
The ‘90s Philly/West Chester punk rock icons are back at it with their fifth album and second since reforming a few years ago.
Public Service Broadcasting – The Race For Space / Remixes CD/LP+MP3 (Test Card)
The Race For Space / Remixes is eight tracks that tell the story of the USA and USSR’s battle for supremacy in space, this time remixed by and through the lens of PSB’s talented musical contemporaries. The album includes brand new mixes from Field Music, Boxed In, Vessels, Dutch Uncles, Maps, Copy Paste Soul, Petar Dundov and Kauf.
Puro Instinct – Autodrama CD (Manifesto)
New album from the two-piece fantasy electro-pop sister-duo. “The lush, shimmery lead single ‘Tell Me’ hints at these shadowy themes, as the subtle groove is on some classy, almost quiet-stormy ‘80s vibes, while Piper’s haunting dusky vocals extend a fiery, breathless plea to a prospective lover. It’s an intoxicating and sweetly seductive slow burn that feels like a major step forward for the group” — Gorilla vs. Bear. [Vinyl edition due July 22.]
Raime – Tooth CD/2xLP (Blackest Ever Black)
Raime has been largely absent since 2012’s Quarter Turns Over A Living Line, which blended jungle, dub and post-punk influences across seven tracks. The follow up is similarly broad in its sources, taking in dub techno, garage, grime and post-hardcore as well.
Riff Raff – The Peach Panther CD (BMG Rights Management)
Riff Raff first introduced his sophisticated Peach Panther persona during a wrestling match between Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio. The disruption distracted Kurt allowing Rey Mysterio to execute his infamous 619 finishing move to pin Kurt for a 3 count to win the fight. The fracas drove fans crazy creating a viral moment and setting the stage for the release of Mr. Raff’s new project, also called The Peach Panther. The album includes guest appearances by G-Eazy, Gucci Mane, Lil Durk, J Doe, and Danny Brown.
The Rippingtons – True Stories CD (E1)
“Russ Freeman, the guitarist for the band The Rippingtons, keeps the names of plenty of talented musicians in his contact list. The Grammy-nominated band celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with the release of True Stories, the 22nd record that features their signature toothy Jazz Cat on the jacket art. Besides, Freeman, Jazz Cat has been The Rippingtons only constant. However, if long time Rippingtons fans couldn’t discern any drop off, it’s likely due to the talent that included the likes of Kirk Whalum, Kenny G, David Benoit and Omar Hakim. And with Freeman playing the guitar, the group’s sound was instantly recognizable regardless of who joined him in the studio or on stage. And it is that guitar playing that distinguishes the 10 tracks heard on True Stories.” – Soul Tracks
Rich Robinson – Flux CD/2xLP (Eagle)
A blues-rock odyssey straight from The Black Crowes guitarist’s soul.
Silver Lake Chorus – Remixes CD (Six Degrees)
The Silver Lake Chorus is a 20-member choral group who perform material custom-written for them by artists such as Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Tegan & Sara, The Bird & The Bee, Flaming Lips, Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), Sia, Ben Lee, A.C. Newman (New Pornographers) and Aimee Mann. Remixers include Hammock, David Torn, Carmen Rizzo, Denny Fongheiser (aka Groovesoup) and starRo, among others.
Kandace Springs – Soul Eyes CD (Blue Note)
Singer-pianist Kandace Springs’ debut, Soul Eyes, was produced by Grammy-winner Larry Klein (Lizz Wright, Melody Gardot, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock). It’s an album of soul and pop that channels her jazz influences (Norah Jones, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone) and her Nashville upbringing. Guests include trumpeter Terence Blanchard and guitarist/songwriter Jesse Harris.
Rae Sremmurd – Sremmlife 2 CD (Interscope)
New album from the hip-hop duo. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions – Deluxe adds two bonus tracks.
Stephen Steinbrink – Anagrams CD/LP (Melodic)
“Olympia, WA’s Stephen Steinbrink is back with a new album – he spent the last two years working on it at a retrofitted analogue studio in a lofty, de-sanctified church in the secluded island town of Anacortes, Washington. The result is another gorgeous album full of delicate, airy guitar pop with nods to ‘70s AM radio and The Beach Boys.” – Brooklyn Vegan
Sunburst – Ave Africa: The Kitoto Sound Of East Africa 1973-1976 2xCD/2xLP+CD (Strut)
A definitive collection of Tanzania’s most revered but short-lived bands of the ’70s, Ave Africa: The Kitoto Sound Of East Africa 1973-1976 covers Sunburst’s entire output from 1973 to 1976, and features music from their rare 45rpm singles “Moto Moto” and “TFC,” as well as their sole album, Ave Africa, and an unreleased radio session recorded in Tanzania in 1973.
Svarttjern – Dodsskrik CD/2xLP (Soul Seller)
“Expect nothing but true Norwegian black metal.”
Tone – Antares CD (Dischord/TminusOneMusic)
Few instrumental bands loom as large as Washington DC’s Tone. Anchored by drummer Greg Hudson and guitarist Norm Veenstra, its lineup of burly dudes always brews an impressive bombast — music that is mammoth and masculine. Tone’s seventh album, Antares, finds the group fit for duty 25 years after it was first formed.
Ugly Heroes – Everything In Between CD (Mello Music)
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. [Vinyl edition due July 15.]
Steve Vai – Modern Primitive / Passion And Warfare (25th Anniversary Edition) 2xCD (Sony Legacy)
Passion And Warfare is the second studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, originally released in September 1990. This 25th Anniversary edition includes the first-ever release of Vai’s recently completed Modern Primitive album, which is based on song sketches and works-in-progress he wrote and recorded, following the release of Flex-Able, his debut album, in January 1984.
Various Artists – Cambodian Cassette Archives: Khmer Folk and Pop Music Vol. 1 [Reissue/2004] CD (Sublime Frequencies)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. New 2016 digipak edition with restored/remastered audio and three new bonus tracks and an extensive booklet of notes and track information. An unbelievable collection of dynamic Cambodian music recorded between the 1960s and the 1990s, both in Cambodia and in the US. A truly Khmer blend of folk and pop stylings – cha-cha psychedelia, phase-shifting rock, sultry circle dance standards, pulsing Cambodian new wave, haunted ballads, musical comedy sketches, easy-listening numbers and raw instrumental grooves presented in an eclectic variety of production techniques.
Various Artists – Heartworn Highways – Original Soundtrack CD/2xLP (Light In The Attic)
Iconic performance documentary Heartworn Highways (1976) saw filmmaker James Szalapski travel to Texas and Tennessee to capture the radical country artists reclaiming the genre via an appreciation for its heritage in folk and bluegrass and a rejection of the mainstream Nashville machine. Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Steve Young, David Allan Coe, Steve Earle, and many others appeared on both screen and soundtrack, where musical highlights include Clark’s brilliant “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” Young’s stirring “Alabama Highways,” and Van Zandt’s emotional “Waiting Around To Die.”
Various Artists – Late Night Tales: Olafur Arnalds CD/2xLP+MP3 (Late Night Tales)
Standing at the intersection where techno meets classical music, Olafur Arnalds directs the newest Late Night Tales mix.
Various Artists – Putumayo Presents Blues Party CD (Putumayo World)
This musical celebration by legends of the blues will have you boogying up the Mississippi from New Orleans to Chicago. Featured artists include Fernest Arceneaux, Big Jack Johnson, Big Walter Horton Lurrie Bell, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Albert King, Magic Sam, Johnny “Big Moose” Walker, and Katie Webster.
Various Artists – Sherwood At The Controls 2 (1985-1990) CD/2xLP (On-U Sound)
In 1984, Adrian met three American musicians who would have a pivotal effect on the future direction his music would take. Collaborating with former Sugarhill Gang members Doug Wimbish, Skip McDonald and Keith LeBlanc resulted in some brilliantly unclassifiable beats-and-sample laden records as Tackhead, with various weird and wonderful off-shoots exploring different permutations of their blueprint. The new sound they developed caught the ear of artists from the industrial scene, resulting in work with the likes of Cabaret Voltaire, Einstürzende Neubauten and Nine Inch Nails. Sherwood also continued to get invitations to put his distinct sonic fingerprint on an eclectic range of music, from African hypno-chant to strange post-punk soundworlds. In 1986 Adrian finally met one of his heroes and key influences: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. As well as helping to revive the recording career of the Jamaican legend, it reignited his own passion for dub, represented here by some killer unreleased versions from the On-U vaults.
Various Artists – Soul Jazz Presents Coxsone’s Music 2: The Sound Of Young Jamaica – More Early Cuts From The Vaults Of Studio One 1959-63 2xCD (Soul Jazz)
Soul Jazz’s latest exploration into the Coxsone vaults yields yet more earthly delights. This time, we go early to the Roots stage: ’59-’63. Featuring early material by Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook (all of whom would form The Skatalites), Toots and The Maytals, young singers such as Bob Marley and The Wailers, Delroy Wilson, Owen Gray all captured in their formative days. The music here spans a wealth of styles – Jamaican rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, proto-ska, Rastafarian – all of which were drawn upon to create the future sounds of Jamaican reggae. [Vinyl edition due July 8.]
Various Artists – Trill Family Compilation CD (Atlantic)
New Trill Fam mixtape featuring Boosie, Webbie, Foxx, Lil’ Trill, Lil’ Phat, Bun B, etc.
We Are Scientists – Helter Seltzer CD/LP (1)
The Brooklyn, NY based power pop troupe return with their fifth album. For Helter Seltzer. We Are Scientists asked their ex-keyboard player Max Hart to produce. Max had just finished a three-year stint as the keyboardist for Katy Perry, choosing as his final gig Ms. Perry’s performance at the 2015 Super Bowl.
White Night – Weird Night CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Burger)
Spaced-out pop punk madness outta Orange County, featuring members of Audacity, Pterodacdudes, Adolescents, Shred Savage, and more.
Whitechapel – Mark Of The Blade CD (Lakeshore)
Mark Of The Blade sees the Knoxville metal band emphasizing groove over blastbeat-driven death metal violence.
Neil Young – Earth 2xCD (Reprise)
Earth features performances of songs from a range of Young’s albums, including last year’s The Monsanto Years, 1990’s Ragged Glory, and 1970’s After The Gold Rush. The audio was captured during Young’s 2015 tour with The Promise Of The Real, fronted by Lukas Nelson (vocals/guitar) and Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals) — Willie Nelson’s sons. A new take on some of Young’s most beloved songs, Earth features the live recordings, along with added musical overdubs, as well as sounds of the earth, such as city sounds like car horns, sounds of insects, and animal sounds from bears, birds, crickets, bees, horses, cows — creating a very strange, yet beautiful atmosphere. [Vinyl edition due August 12.]
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Paco de Lucia/John McLaughlin – Live At Montreux 1987 DVD+2xCD (Eagle Rock Ent.)
Pairing the unique styles of guitarists Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin, this is the first ever release of the classic concert. “A breathtaking evening of flamenco-infused jazz flair.” 91-minutes presented in DTS Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1.
Human Highway (Directors Cut) [Neil Young & Crazy Horse] DVD/Blu-ray (Reprise)
Human Highway is a 1982 American comedy film starring and co-directed by Neil Young under his pseudonym Bernard Shakey, and stars Young, Dennis Hopper, Russ Tamblyn, and Devo. This restored Director’s Cut features new hi-res 5.1 surround and stereo mixes.
Motörhead – Clean Your Clock DVD+CD/Blu-ray+CD (UDR)
Live performances recorded November 20th and 21st, 2015 at the Zenith in Munich, Germany. Available across a wide variety of formats.
Alan Parsons Symphonic Project – Live In Columbia DVD/Blu-ray (EarMusic)
Alan Parsons with the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, filmed live at Parque Pies Descalzos in Medellín, Colombia, August 31, 2013.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Rust Never Sleeps DVD/Blu-ray (Reprise)
Rust Never Sleeps (1979) captures Neil Young’s spectacular live show recorded on October 22, 1978 in San Francisco. It features his most popular songs including “I Am A Child,” “Cinnamon Girl,” “Like A Hurricane” and both the acoustic and electric versions of “Hey Hey, My My.” This restored reissue features new hi-res 5.1 surround and remastered stereo mixes.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
And The Kids – Friends Share Lovers LP (Signature Sounds)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Friends Share Lovers has a more audacious, ambitious, involuted sound than the band’s 2015 debut, Turn To Each Other, with intertwining lines becoming more complex and artfully crashing against each other. The title track is exemplary of their growth. Intricate rolling drum patterns and transitions, wonderfully balanced guitar and bass, and alluring synths compete and combine and play off each other for infectious rhythms. That is not to overlook their consistently introspective lyrics or Hannah Mohan’s silky delivery.
Arctic – Arctic LP (Outer Battery)
Arctic is a California power trio steeped in the roots of early ‘70s blues/psych, a la Blue Cheer and Band Of Gypsies, while drawing elements of modern heavy, reminiscent of early Sleep. Heavy, sludgy, stoner psych played with a slow, driving energy.
Joseph Arthur – Family LP (True North)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Joseph Arthur is a singer, songwriter, poet and artist from Akron, Ohio, known for his solo material and as a member of RNDM and Fistful Of Mercy. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically-acclaimed releases, collaborations and constant touring; his unique solo live performances often incorporate the use of a number of distortion and loop pedals, even live painting and a sprinkling of beat-poetry.
Axodry – You [Reissue/1988] 12″ (Dark Entries)
German duo Axodry was influenced by Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, and John Foxx, and crafted high impact industrial, synth pop, and electronic body music.
Bad Company – Live 1977 2xLP (Atlantic)
Bad Company’s Live at The Summit show in Houston, TX on May 23, 1977, on HQ-180gm vinyl.
Blink 182 – Buddha [Reissue/1994] LP (Kung Fu)
Limited pink color vinyl repress.
Broncho – Double Vanity LP (Dine Alone)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The third album from the Oklahoma quintet takes a more spaced-out and groove-laden vibe only hinted at on previous release, Just Enough Hip To Be Woman.
R.L. Burnside – Mississippi Hill Country Blues [Reissue/1984] (Fat Possum)
Burnside in the raw, playing solo on acoustic guitar as he did for his neighbors for most of his early career when farming was still his profession.
Cerise – Smoke Screen Demons LP (Psychic Cats)
Cerise’s voice inhabits a starkly beautiful place somewhere between Nico and Hope Sandoval.
Combichrist – This Is Where Death Begins 2xLP+CD (Rough Trade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Eighth album from the Norwegian-American electronic hard rock/heavy metal band — an apocalyptic behemoth of guitars, electronica, infernal drums and dark elemental force. Limited red and green color vinyl.
Cute Heels – Third Skin 12″ (Dark Entries)
The new four-track EP from the Barcelona via Bogota techno producer connects the dots between Detroit techno, early Chicago house and Belgium electronic body music.
Miles Davis – Blue Moods [Reissue/1955] LP (Fantasy)
In the ’50s, the party line among New York jazz critics was that hard bop was the “true faith” and that cool jazz was lightweight and unemotional. But Miles Davis knew better. The trumpeter (whose Birth Of The Cool sessions of 1949-1950 proved to be incredibly influential) was smart
enough to realize that cool jazz and hard bop were equally valid parts of the house that Charlie Parker built, and he had no problem working with cool jazzmen one minute and hard boppers the next. Recorded for Charles Mingus’ Debut label in 1955, Blue Moods is an excellent example of cool jazz.
John Denver – Greatest Hits II [Reissue/1977] LP (Friday Music)
HQ-180gm vinyl repress in a gatefold sleeve.
dvsn – Sept 5th2xLP (OVO Sound)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Lusty R&B ‘n’ gaping slow jams from the mysterious Toronto ensemble signed to Drake’s OVO Sound label. For fans of Prince and The Weeknd.
Ella Fitzgerald – Mack The Knife: Ella In Berlin [Reissue/1960] LP (Verve)
The then 43-year-old jazz vocalist rolls through her typical routine in feisty fashion on this 1960 recording, which documents the opening show of her European tour. HQ-180gm.
Free Pizza – Berlin, De LP (Bufu)
Nashville’s Free Pizza release their sophomore album, which trades in the bright melodies and tongue-in-cheek nature of Boston, MA for darker hooks with themes rooted in the concepts of the coming of age, and the process of understanding while still trying to maintain a level of positivity as the years keep piling on.
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On 10” (Motown)
This limited edition four-song 10” vinyl EP includes two new versions of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic “What’s Going On,” including a new duet version featuring Marvin Gaye and Motown artist BJ The Chicago Kid as well as an unplugged “Coffeehouse” mix of the original, using bare parts, particularly a formerly buried acoustic guitar, from the recording session.
Graveyard – Hisingen Blues [Reissue/2011] LP (Nuclear Blast)
Limited mint green and blue color vinyl repress.
Ihsahn – The Adversary [Reissue/2006] 2xLP (Candlelight/Blood Music)
Vinyl reissue of the solo debut from the former Emperor vocalist/guitarist.
Interpol – Everything Is Wrong (Solomun Remix) 12” (2DIY4)
Taken from Interpol’s latest album El Pintor, “Everything Is Wrong” has been given a
dancefloor-ready makeover from Solomun. His remix preserves the gritty guitar line, adding a subtle but deep bassline and echoed percussion. The vocals are slightly tweaked, their electronic twang reminiscent of ’80s bands.
Wynton Kelly Trio/Wes Montgomery – Smokin’ At The Half Note [Reissue/1965] LP (Verve)
Smokin’ At The Half Note is the second collaboration jazz album recorded by Wes Montgomery and the Wynton Kelly Trio and released in 1965. It was recorded live in late June 1965 at the Half Note Club in New York City, and September 22, 1965 at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The album combines guitarist Montgomery with the Miles Davis rhythm section from 1959-1963 of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb.
The Kinks – The Best Of The Kinks 1964-1970 LP (Sanctuary)
Limited vinyl-only pressing of this brand new collection from the British rock legends. The Best Of The Kinks includes 15 tracks from the years 1964–1970. Features the huge US hits “You Really Got Me” (#7), “All Day and All of the Night” (#7), “Tired of Waiting for You” (#6), “A Well Respected Man” (#13), “Sunny Afternoon” (#14), “Lola” (#9) and more.
k.d. lang and The Reclines – Absolute Torch And Twang [Reissue/1989] LP+7” (Sire/London)
Limited vinyl LP pressing including bonus seven inch single featuring “Our Day Will Come” (with Take 6) b/w “Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray” (Live At Town & Country Club, London, U.K.). Absolute Torch And Twang is the third album by k.d. lang and The Reclines.
Little Feat – Feats Don’t Fail Me Now [Reissue/1974] LP (Rhino)
Little Feat – The Last Record Album [Reissue/1975] LP (Rhino)
HQ-180gm vinyl reissues of the bluesy rock band’s fourth and fifth albums. A freewheeling fusion of California rock and Deixie-inflected funk-boogie, with strains of folk, blues, rockabilly, country and jazz.
Look Mexico – Uniola LP (Tiny Engines)
“Look Mexico has never been a band to take things too seriously. A cursory glance at the band’s album and song titles reveals a wealth of wordplay and film references, and Uniola is no different. For its first release in five years, Look Mexico minded the works of Vin Diesel for song titles, creating a fun guessing game for Diesel diehards in the process. What’s more important, though, is that Uniola shows that even as time passed, the band’s take on math-rock remains as fresh as ever.” – A.V. Club
Lord High Fixers – Beginning Of The End – End Beginning [2002] 2xLP (Omentum)
First-time vinyl issue of L.H.F.’s last album. Popular garage-punk blues outfit by Tim Kerr, whose pedigree in untamed wildness is long, solid, and beyond reproach.
Luka – Summon Up A Monkey King LP (Yellow K)
The voice of Luke Kuplowsky, aka Luka, has that rare ability to register love and hurt in a tangible and tactile manner, at times recalling the conversational deadpan of Lou Reed, while at others the airy lightness of Arthur Russell. “Hauntingly intimate.” – Noisey/Vice
Lungfish – Sound In Time [Reissue/1996] LP (Dischord)
Much-needed vinyl reissue of Lungfish’s incredible fourth LP. Remastered.
Madonna – Madonna [Reissue/1983] LP (Rhino)
Madonna – Like A Virgin [Reissue/1984] LP (Rhino)
Fresh vinyl reissues of Madonna’s first two albums. Quintessential ‘80s mainstream pop.
Martina McBride – Reckless LP (Nash Icon)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the multiple Grammy nominated country vocalist.
Loreena McKennitt – The Visit [Reissue/1991] LP (Verve)
Limited vinyl reissue of Loreena McKennitt’s fourth album — a quietly majestic tapestry of worldbeat and Celtic pop that effortlessly weaves together traditional and contemporary songs into lush showcases for her fluid voice and harp.
Glenn Mercer – Wheels In Motion [2007] LP (Sinister Torch)
Glenn Mercer has fronted the Feelies since 1976, and his first solo album, 2007’s Wheels In Motion, contains all the familiar hallmarks of the band; frenetic percussion, jangly guitars, and songwriting that channels Lou Reed.
Milemarker – Frigid Forms Sell [Reissue/2000] LP+MP3 (Lovitt)
Featuring driving synth hooks, angular guitars, melodic male/female vocals, and more crystallized song structures, Frigid Forms Sell is aggressively experimental, yet at the same time insidiously accessible. Back in print on vinyl including download which features rare demo versions of the record.
My Epic – Viscera 12” (Facedown)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The five-song EP Vicera combines elements from My Epic’s past releases – the more ambient, ethereal spirit of Behold with the post-rock, grunge influenced groove of Yet.
Nai Harvest – Just Like You b/w Jelly 7”+MP3 (Topshelf)
For fans of Wavves and Ty Segal. [Limited color vinyl pressing also available.]
Negative Standards – Fetters LP (Negative Standards)
The follow-up to 2012’s VI.VII.VIII.IX.X.XI LP, Fetters finds Oakland, Ca’s Negative Standards further refining their unique and sample-heavy blend of crusty hardcore punk, sludge, black metal, and noise to conjure a bleak, haunting atmosphere of pessimism and decay.
Billy Nelson – Watersports LP+MP3 (Karate Body)
Billy Nelson, co-founder/co-writer of indie synth-folk outfit Whistle Peak, has ventured out solo to write, record, and produce his “post-Genesis Phil Collins record.” Inspired by the reemergence of neon clothing and songs about butts, Billy has decided to stop pretending and embrace his inner Robert Palmer. With promiscuous tastes ranging from Frank Ocean, Liars, Kanye West, Run The Jewels, Disclosure and Blood Orange, Billy makes music that is strange, unpredictable, and hauntingly fun. Limited edition hot pink color vinyl.
Jennifer Nettles – Playing With Fire LP (Big Machine)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Second solo album from the Sugarland lead vocalist.
Parliament – The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein [Reissue/1976] LP (Mercury)
Limited vinyl pressing with 3D lenticular cover.
Axel Rudi Pell – Magic [Reissue/1997] LP (Steamhammer)
Vinyl reissue of the German heavy metal guitar mastermind’s 1997 album.
Quelle Chris – Lullabies For The Broken Brain LP (Mello Music)
Lullabies For The Broken Brain is an odd instrumental project from Detroit producer Quelle Chris (Danny Brown. Sean P, Jean Grae, Stacey Adams). While most have come to know Quelle’s production for its oinky doink, ear gagging smooth jazz, Lullabies… reveals another aspect of his
wizardry.
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Heart Speaks In Whispers 2xLP (Capitol)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Heart Speaks In Whispers is the third studio album by the British singer/songwriter. Recorded both at her studio in Leeds, and in Los Angeles, the album is co-produced by Corinne with Steve Brown, her collaborator on her critically acclaimed previous album The Sea. Guests include Pino Palladino (D Angelo, Erykah Badu, The Who), James Gadson (Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers), Marcus Miller (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock), Esperanza Spalding and Moses Sumney (best known for his work with Beck).
The Royal Sitars – Eloise b/w Distant And Vague 7″ (Agitated)
Australia’s runaway success Royal Headache are responsible for records that have worldwide, and what more proof of this than a sitar instrumental tribute to two of their biggest hits, “Eloise” and “Distant And Vague.” All performed by an anonymous, masked, groovin’ Australian combo.
The Rutabega – Unreliable Narrator LP (Comedy Minus One)
South Bend, Indiana’s The Rutabega – singer/songwriter/guitarist Josh Hensley and drummer Garth Mason – make some of the fullest, brightest sounds generated by just two people, weaving punchy, short pop songs and sweeping, ten-minute epics together seamlessly.
Sass Dragons – True Adventure LP+MP3 (Let’s Pretend)
Anthem-laden power-pop punk.
Septicflesh – The Great Mass [Reissue/2011] LP (Season Of Mist)
Symphonic metal back in print on vinyl. New album due August 5.
Series A – Evolution 5 Technology 12″ [Reissue/1987] 12″ (Dark Entries)
Taking cues from Kraftwerk, Grand Master DST, Grandmaster Flash, and Jam Master Jay, Series A created dark electro beats in an era when sampling appeared to be the future of music.
Shantih Shantih – Winter In September LP (Dusty Medical)
Shantih Shantih is a four-piece band from Atlanta, GA. Their sound is characterized by hypnotic, knitted vocals and lysergic guitar solos that play over fuzzed-out melodies and mesmerizing beats. Shantih’s rock & roll blends Southern gothic images with rural Italian landscapes, creating vivid yet melancholic narratives.
Sleeptalker – Dead Tubes LP (Bakery Outlet)
Second LP from Portland, OR’s Sleeptalker. Punk rock ‘n’ roll through a John Reis filter.
Jimmy Smith – Root Down: Jimmy Smith Live [Reissue/1972] LP (Verve)
The king of the Hammond B3 organ, Jimmy Smith, plays down and dirty R&B. HQ-180gm.
Space Art – Nous Savons Tout [Reissue/1978] 12″ (Dark Entries)
Space Art, the French electronic duo, released three albums of cosmic synth pop between 1977 and 1981, on which they laid much groundwork for French and electronic music to follow. Their third single, “Nous Savons Tout” was released in 1978 on IF Records. Their sound was similar to Jean Michel Jarre’s early analog albums, but with the addition of real drums.
Spell – For None And All LP (Bad Omen/Prosthetic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. As any true devotee will recognize, the creation of heavy metal that genuinely chills the blood and raises the goosebumps is about more than carefully constructed stylistic posturing, more than slavish devotion to the diabolus-in-musica rulebook, and more than a devotedly purchased vinyl collection of crypt-kicking classics. It’s a feeling, an atmosphere, and an attitude that together prove hard to quantify, and even harder for the casually acquainted to summon. No such worries for Vancouver’s Spell however, who display on their second full-length and Bad Omen Records debut, For None And All, that they’re in possession of more heart, chutzpah and sinister sleight-of-hand than a dozen of their contemporaries.
Sublime – 40oz. To Freedom [Reissue/1992] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sublime – Robbin’ The Hood [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sublime – Sublime [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sublime – Second Hand Smoke [Reissue/1997] LP (Geffen)
Sublime – Acoustic (Bradley Nowell & Friends) [Reissue/1998] LP (Geffen)
Sublime – Stand By Your Van (Live) [Reissue/1998] LP (Geffen)
Newly remastered vinyl reissues now available. [Deluxe editions of 40oz. To Freedom, Robbin’ The Hood, and Sublime are also available — each featuring a removable 3D lenticular cover.]
Vardis – Red Eye LP (Steamhammer)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Vardis was forged out of glam, punk, heavy metal, blues and rock & roll in the crucible of 1970s northern England. They are a product of rock music across three generations: inspired by the great rockers and electric bluesmen of the ‘50s and ‘60s, learning their trade rubbing shoulders with the young guns of hard rock and punk in the ‘70s, and achieving prominence in the ‘80s as part of the NWOBHM. The hard, ferocious attack of their sound directly influenced the development of thrash and speed metal across North America and Europe, cited by metal giants such as Metallica and Megadeth.
Various Artists – Sky Girl 2xLP (Efficient Space)
Sky Girl is a mysteriously unshakeable compilation, a deeply melancholic and sentimental journey through folk-pop, new wave, and art music micro presses that span 1961-1991. It’s a DIY collection of different genres, from different countries across different decades that are all bound by the same longing sentiment – deftly compiled by French collectors DJ Sundae and Julien Dechery.
Western Centuries – Weight Of The World LP (Free Dirt)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Round up a country band and an early R&B group with three lead vocalists, weave in a hefty amount of vocal harmony and witty turns-of-phrase, and let ’em rock out like The Band. The sound of roots music mavericks Western Centuries sits at these crossroads, and their debut album Weight Of The World introduces a band as skillful in their musicianship as they are innovative in their writing.
Jim White – No Such Place [Reissue/2001] LP (Luaka Bop)
2001’s No Such Place, Jim White’s sophomore LP, is a collection of whimsical tall tales set to music. It’s not unlike his debut of four years prior, Wrong-Eyed Jesus, only bigger, darker, and weirder. A look back at 43 years of life-in-Technicolor, the disc is suitably all over the map, at times recalling Tom Waits at his most evocative, Neil Young at his most emotive, and PJ Harvey at her most desperate.
Winterpills – Winterpills [2005] LP (Signature Sounds)
First-time vinyl edition of the dark chamber pop band’s debut album.
Cassettes:
Deerhoof – The Magic (Polyvinyl)
A raw and refreshing 15-song wallop of an album about what happens when you leave your comfort zone.
Dorothy – RockIsDead (Roc Nation)
RockIsDead is the visceral debut album from L.A.-based, female-fronted rock band Dorothy.
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP [Reissue/2000] CD (Aftermath)
Eminem’s huge second album is back in print on cassette.
White Night – Weird Night (Burger)
Spaced-out pop punk madness outta Orange County, featuring members of Audacity, Pterodacdudes, Adolescents, Shred Savage, and more.
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