CDs + Vinyl:
American Wrestlers – Goodbye Terrible Youth CD/LP (Fat Possum)
“American Wrestlers’ self-titled debut was a true diamond in the rough, a lo-fi collection of timelessly hazy pop songs that practically glowed with homespun warmth. We named the new project from Scottish expat Gary McClure a Band To Watch and one of the 50 best new bands of 2015 on the strength of that first LP, and now they follow it up with new one Goodbye Terrible Youth. Since McClure’s anonymous 8-track recordings first surfaced online in late 2014, American Wrestlers have swelled from a solo bedroom project to a full honest-to-god band, now featuring his wife Bridgette Imperial on keys, Ian Reitz on bass, and Josh Van Hoorebeke on drums. That personnel upgrade comes with a corresponding sound upgrade, but if anything, the increased fidelity only adds to the sense that you’re listening to some lost FM classic.” – Stereogum
Attila – Chaos CD (Sharp Tone)
For over 10 years Atlanta’s Attila have been making uncompromising metal with a penchant for fun and partying.
Berwanger – Exorcism Rock CD/LP (Doghouse)
The new solo project by Justin Berwanger, formerly of The Anniversary.
Big Scoob – H.O.G. CD (Strange Music)
New album from the Kansas City rapper. Features Tech N9ne, E-40, Killer Mike, Bumpy Knuckles, Wrekonize, Krizz Kaliko, Boogieman, Young Boss, Paul Wall, TXX Will, Bakarii, JL and B-Legit.
Black Uhuru – Live At Rockpalast – Essen1981 CD/2xLP (Made In Germany Music)
Audio of the legendary reggae band’s 1981 live broadcast concert for Germany’s popular TV show Rockpalast, which took place in Essen. [Limted clear vinyl edition also available.]
Bobby Bland – The Singles Collection 1951-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
Bobby Bland, often known as Bobby Blue Bland, was one of the best blues, R&B and soul singers of the post-war era, recognized as one of the finest interpreters of blues-influenced songs, comparable within his genre to the likes of Frank Sinatra in the broader popular spectrum. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame described him as second in stature only to B.B. King as a product of Memphis’s Beale Street blues scene. He enjoyed chart success right through until the 1980s, but this extensive collection of his formative decade and more includes all his R&B No. 1s plus other landmark recordings. He recorded initially with Roscoe Gordon for both Modern and Chess before joining the Duke label. This 56-track double-CD set comprises the A and B sides of all his Duke singles through until 1962, plus selected sides from his early releases with Roscoe Gordon.
Blessing A Curse – Satisfaction For The Vengeful CD (Smart Punk)
Blessing A Curse is a hard rock band from Orlando, Florida with a sound made up of intricate riffs, progressive drums, electronic production, eerie as well as appealing/intense vocals, and an eclectic style of screaming. The outfit made up by Joshy Singer, Brandon Swanson, Jorge Romani, Ronnie Mitchell, and Matty Owen have made a mark with catchy melodies not usually combined with their heavier style while also putting a large amount of focus on the story they are telling. Though they project a primarily vindictive persona, they have an extensive style that shows a strong motivation for growth. Satisfaction For The Vengeful’s first track “Caving In” “emulates the feeling of knowing an anxiety attack is coming but you can’t escape,” vocalist Joshy Singer told Revolver about the song. “You know that where you are isn’t where you want to be, but there’s nothing you can do about it and you feel like you’re being swallowed alive.”
The Blind Boys Of Alabama – Atom Bomb [Reissue/2005] CD (Omnivore)
After a trio of acclaimed, Grammy-winning releases beginning in 2001, The Blind Boys Of Alabama showed no signs of moving away from gospel music when they dropped Atom Bomb in 2005. Working with the same production team as their previous albums, they continued to evolve and push the genre into unheard dimensions. Atom Bomb is an eclectic mix of gospel, blues, rock, and R&B—combining standards with tracks like Norman’s Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” and Blind Faith’s “Presence Of The Lord.” The musicianship was, as usual, impeccable, with guests including Charlie Musselwhite, The Gift Of Gab from Blackalicious, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, and the legendary Billy Preston. This expanded edition of Atom Bomb features seven previously unissued instrumental versions of key tracks from the album.
Bon Jovi – This House Is Not For Sale CD/LP (Island)
14th studio album from the New Jersey rockers. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds three bonus tracks.]
Susan Boyle – Wonderful World CD (Sony)
Boyle’s seventh album features renditions of well-known tracks including Madonna’s “Like A Prayer,” Robbie William’s “Angels,” a duet with Michael Bolton “Somewhere Out There,” and Paul McCartney’s “Mull Of Kintyre.” Additionally, in a first for a British artist, Susan Boyle was granted rare permission by the Nat King Cole Estate to sing a virtual duet with the legendary performer on “When I Fall In Love.”
Kenny Burrell and The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited – Live At Catalina’s CD (HighNote)
Burrell is captured live at West-Coast jazz mecca Catalina’s with a well-oiled big band, The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited, which is made up of some of the West Coast’s greatest jazz men and studio players.
The Chainsmokers – Collage CDEP (Sony)
The Chainsmokers is a DJ/EDM duo consisting of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. “If you haven’t heard of The Chainsmokers yet, it’s about time you do. Aside from topping the Hype Machine charts this year with their electro-pop-infused remixes of killer indie tracks, sassy East Coast natives Alex Pall and Drew Taggart are very cool customers, flawlessly operating the enigma that is the NYC club scene.” –Raver Rafting
Civil War – The Last Full Measure CD/LP (Napalm)
Third album from the Swedish heavy metal band.
Shirley Collins – Lodestar CD/LP (Domino)
Shirley Collins is one of the most respected and legendary traditional folk song collectors and singers of all time. She was at the forefront of the Folk Revival of the 1950s and ‘60s when she met Alan Lomax and subsequently traveled the US with him in 1959 collecting traditional old world and American folk songs. On her return to England, Shirley cemented her role in the English folk scene, recording over twenty albums and inspiring untold numbers of fellow musicians in her 60 odd years in music. Lodestar is a collection of English, American and Cajun songs dating from the 16th Century to the 1950s.
Common – Black America Again CD (Def Jam)
11th studio album from the actor/rapper. Featured artists on Black America Again include Marsha Ambrosius and Lauryn Hill. The album was executive produced by Robert Glasper and sequenced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
Covenant – The Blinding Dark CD (Metropolis)
The Swedish electro heroes are back with new studio album.
Crippled Black Phoenix – Bronze CD/LP/Cassette (Season Of Mist)
“Bronze begins with a quite calming and spacey synth and soft beat track that wouldn’t have been out of place on the Drive soundtrack. The record continues on a low heat – always immersive without letting go. As the paradoxically soothing tones of ‘Rotten Memories’ recede, nine-minute epic ‘Champions Of Disturbance …’ marks the shift to a more anthemic gear in which you can almost feel a mid-period Anathema and Katatonia vibe. After another softer moment, ‘Turn To Stone’ picks us up and drops us in a world where Ozzy-era Sabbath became a blues-influenced post-rock band. And yet, the final three tracks on the album are way the real magic happens. The genuinely tear-inducing ‘Scared And Alone,’ with wind backing and female vocals is like the best song Jesse Sykes never performed, while closing masterpiece ‘We Are The Darkeners,’ with Robert Holm’s heart-wrenching trumpet contribution, makes the world around you disappear and will be the sonic parasite taking refuge in your brain for weeks to come. I may well have to go back to 1997 and Godspeed Your Black Emperor’s F# A# ∞ to find a record which sparked such a transcendental journey of build-up and release.” – Zero Tolerance
Czarface – A Fistful Of Peril CD/LP (Silver Age)
Your favorite antiheroes are back. Inspectah Deck, 7L, and Esoteric have entered the booth once more after their two, highly lauded albums for a new entry in their catalog. A Fistful Of Peril includes features from Conway The Machine, Meyhem Lauren, and graffiti legend Rast RFC.
Darcy’s – Centerfold CD/LP (Arts & Crafts)
“10 sugary, glimmering songs that pull together glossy production and airtight hooks, including funk-tinged summer anthem ‘Miracle,’ suburban romantic saga ‘San Diego, 1988’ and the sparkling, desert-creased heartache of ‘Arizona Hwy.’ The album, inspired by the shameless maximalist lean of 1980s classics like Back To The Future and Chinatown and the era’s grandiose pop efforts, be they from Bowie or the Bee Gees.” — KillBeatMusic
Dark Tranquillity – Atoma CD/LP (Century Media)
“Whenever a new Dark Tranquillity album drops, it causes me to reflect on the state of the Gothenburg sound. Despite lesser albums like We Are The Void and Construct, it’s abundantly clear Dark Tranquillity reaped the most benefit from the stylistic tontine they established with In Flames and At The Gates back in 1992. Their particular take on melo-death has aged like a fine vintage while others have become little more than hobo wine. That great gulf is even more stark when Dark Tranquillity crafts a masterful release like Atoma. At once maintaining their classic sound and moving it forward, Atoma is the new phase only hinted at on 2013s Construct. The band’s usual cold melancholy weighs heavily like a funeral shroud, yet the writing delivers a vibrancy that belies the sadness while delivering real and immediate hooks to drag you deeper into the album’s spell. They’ve managed to strike a near-perfect balance between moody goth-rock and death metal with tastefully blackened edges, and in the process delivered their best work since Fiction” – Angry Metal Guy. [Limited color vinyl pressing also available.]
Esben And The Witch – Older Terrors CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
“Hailing from Berlin-via-Brighton, Esben And The Witch have amassed a number of accolades since their formation. The trio has drawn attention for the dark, brooding soundscapes that fill their albums, supported by Rachel Davies’ hypnotic vocals. The good news is that Esben And The Witch did it again on Older Terrors, the dark atmospheric rock group’s first album with Season Of Mist. Older Terrors is often quiet and pensive, at times letting nothing but Davies’ voice drift through the silence, but Esben And The Witch also aren’t shy about injecting distorted riffs that keep Older Terrors interesting. Esben And The Witch set a languid pace to the album. Older Terrors never gets fast, but it never gets lost in its slower pace either. The album’s highlights undoubtedly come in the form of Davie’s powerful vocal performance — just listen to the end of album opener ‘Sylvan’ to get the idea.” – Decibel
Lee Fields & The Expressions – Special Night CD/LP (Big Crown)
A masterclass in soul music past and present. [Limited red color vinyl pressing also available.]
The Fray – Through The Years: The Best Of The Fray CD (Epic)
The first career-spanning compilation ever released by critically acclaimed, three-time Billboard Music Award-winning Denver-based group. Through The Years features nine of their singles as well as three brand new tracks: “Singing Low,” “Corners” and “Changing Tides.”
Front 242 – No Comment/Politics Of Pressure [Reissue/1984/1985] CD/2xLP+3xCD (Alfa Matrix)
No Comment and Politics Of Pressure were originally released in 2004 and 2005, at a moment when Front 242 reached its full force line-up made of Daniel B., Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc De Meyer and Richard “23” Jonckheere; and really started attracting true cult-following. They had become the solid leaders of the newly born “electronic body music” movement in reference to their high-tech and hard edged electronic punk dance music. [Deluxe vinyl edition, which includes several bonus CDs, also available.]
Thomas Giles – Velcro Kid 2xCD (Sumerian)
Tommy Rogers, the visionary vocalist and keyboardist of progressive metal act Between The Buried And Me, has dabbled in solo releases since 2004. Testing the limits of what he can do naturally with his voice, Rogers’ strikingly beautiful falsetto and dynamic range conjures tales of anxiety, collapse, and strength. Exploring combinations of the outré genres of both post-rock and electronic, the music’s emotionally resonant yet textural sounds draw reference to artists such as Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, the Verve, Beck, Oasis and Spiritualized, balancing both rock and electronic impulses.
Charlie Haden and Liberation Music Orchestra – Time/Life CD (Impulse!)
With a career that spanned more than a half a century, Charlie Haden proved to be not only one of jazz’s finest bassists and composers, he was also a staunch champion of justice. Throughout his career, his rebellious yet gentle spirit addressed various socio-political injustices, particularly with his galvanizing Liberation Music Orchestra, which he founded in 1969. Two years after Charlies passing in July 2014, his musical vision continues to ignite that esteemed ensemble with the release of Time/Life (Song For The Whales And Other Beings). The disc documents the final recording on which Charlie performed with the Liberation Music Orchestra.
HammerFall – Built To Last CD/CD+DVD/LP (Napalm
Tenth album from the Swedish power metal band. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus DVD.
Herbie Hancock – The Early Years: Selected Recordings 1961-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
Herbie Hancock is an innovative and influential jazz pianist, keyboard player, bandleader and composer who has embraced other musical developments during his career, playing funk and using synthesizers as he explored beyond the scope of the post-bop style which he helped to define as a member of Miles Davis’ second great quintet from 1963. Born in 1940, he was 20 years old when he played his first recording session in early 1961, and this 21-track double-CD collection includes titles from that session and from almost every session he recorded during the next couple of years, notably his first recordings as a leader, namely the album Takin’ Off, which is included here in its entirety.
Harleighblu x Starkiller – Amorine CD/LP (Tru Thoughts)
Harleighblu x Starkiller is a formidable link-up between British soul/electronic singer Harleighblu and L.A. duo Starkiller (the production outfit of C.E. Garcia & Alfredo E. Fratti, members of Adrian Younge’s Venice Dawn). A science fiction film in sonic form, Amorine tells a tragic future love story in which high drama collides with a cool, clean, sci-fi atmosphere via hip-hop sensibilities that draw on musical references from psychedelic funk to DJ Shadow to Portishead.
Heimataerde – Aerdenbrand CD (Out Of Line)’
Heimataerde’s music can be classified as dark, EBM but with its own unique identity and a modern, up to date sound. On their new album, Aerdenbrand, the band merges forward-driving electronic beats with epic choral chants while electronic bagpipes and hard guitar riffs relentlessly cut their way through the darkness.
Hierophant – Mass Grave CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
New album from the Italian deathpunk band.
Brian Hyland – The Complete Releases 1960-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
Brian Hyland was one of the good-looking teen stars to come to the fore in years after the initial impact of the rock ‘n’ roll explosion had dissipated somewhat and the moguls of Tin Pan Alley sought to recapture the musical high ground by launching artists who they felt would appeal to the broad middle-ground of record buyers. Recording initially in 1960 for Mickey Kapp’s Leader label, he switched to the main Kapp label when he had initial success with the classic pop novelty song “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” a memorable classic of its kind on both sides of the Atlantic. He switched to ABC-Paramount in 1961, and working with the great songwriter/producers Peter Udell and Gary geld, had Top 5 successes with “Ginny Come Lately” and “Sealed With A Kiss.” This 40-track double-CD set comprises all his releases during that hectic first three years of his career, including all his Leader, Kapp and ABC-Paramount A and B sides, plus all the album tracks for those labels which were not otherwise released as singles.
Jim James – Eternally Even CD (Capitol/ATO)
“As frontman of My Morning Jacket and collaborator in various Americana side projects, Jim James has made music synonymous with escape: rollicking and dreamy soundscapes, loose themes of nature and spirituality, a voice that nearly curdles with sheer abandon. Eternally Even, his second solo outing, plants him dead-center in the rubble of modern sociopolitical rot—the result is an album steeped in textures of drone and tones of dismay, with a sort of ramshackle grit tuned to frequencies of urgency and naïveté. Eternally Even is musically meticulous — sometimes corroded and minimal, sometimes fascinatingly warped, the music is a vivid interpretation of a broken system, or of a system breaking. The album opens and closes with songs—‘Hide in Plain Sight’ and ‘Eternally Even,’ respectively—that combine skittering percussion and grinding organ loops, while the two parts of ‘We Ain’t Getting Any Younger’ revive the flow of ‘Hide In Plain Sight’ at double time, adding additional paranoia. ‘Same Old Lie’ rides a similarly dark carnival-esque groove until the outro, when a distorted organ and banging conga drums conjure up an unsettling, eerily militant atmosphere. The grainy automation of these tracks grows identifiable by the end of the album, which is eerie given how eccentric it initially feels. Other songs on Eternally Even slide nicely into James’s comfort zone of psychedelic armchair R&B, yet he works deliberately as a producer to disturb their familiarity” – Slant. [Vinyl edition due December 16.]
Junk Son – Beginning Ending Pretending CD (PIAS America)
Late-night atmospheric electronic soul from the South London producer. [Vinyl edition due November 18.]
Kaiser Chiefs – Stay Together CD (Kaiser Chiefs Recordings)
“This sixth record sees the band take this nondescript sound and stuff it impressively full of sing-a-long hooks, covering topics including monogamy (‘We Stay Together’) and shagging (‘Good Clean Fun’). As with Coldplay’s last album, there’s an underlying disco flavor here, with this more British strain calling to mind a tamed Pet Shop Boys (although, in a rare risky move, Ricky Wilson opts to don a strangely satisfying Leo Sayer falsetto on ‘High Society’). Overall it feels like a kind of gentrified pop: synthetic and nondescript, but predictably appealing all the same” – The Guardian. [Vinyl edition due December 2.]
The Kentucky Headhunters – On Safari CD (Plowboy)
Often called one of America’s original Southern blues country rock bands because of their distinctive style and rich music history, the band lives up to the title on their new twelve-song album.
Alicia Keys – HERE CD (RCA)
New (sixth) album from the singer/songwriter. Includes the song “Blended Family (What You Do For Love),” featuring A$AP Rocky. “On this album, I’ve arrived HERE,” Keys says. “A place where I’m willing to truthfully look at myself in the mirror and to also see the reality of who we have become in this world. The good, the ugly, the shadows and the light. I’ve come to realize that in order for us to grow and to understand and accept each other we have to recognize the complexity of ourselves. We have to be able to talk about it and meet each other where we are, HERE.”
Lambchop – FLOTUS CD/2xLP+MP3 (Merge)
For Love Often Turns Us Still—officially titled FLOTUS—is like many of Lambchop’s records: a subtle masterpiece, the kind that slowly and generously reveals its quiet wisdom to those patient and attentive enough to receive it. Start to finish, FLOTUS is imbued with that magic energy that comes when an artist stumbles upon the thrill of the new—something that makes them crazy enough to want to start the whole process over again. The album is bookended by two long-form pieces: the first, “In Care of 8675309,” is most reminiscent of where Lambchop has been, while the second, the sprawling, hypnotic “The Hustle,” suggests where they might still be headed. The latter seamlessly shifts between movements, a foundation suggestive of krautrock and early electronic music, gorgeously ornamented with perfectly placed piano and horns. Drawing upon a diverse palate of influences and transcending each one, it’s a stunning piece of work—certainly one of the most impressive achievements of Lambchop’s catalogue.
Leaves’ Eyes – Fires In The North CDEP (AFM)
New vocalist, new EP from the German symphonic metal band.
Dean Martin – The Dean Martin Collection 1942-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
This 56-track double-CD set draws on Martin’s single releases from his debut on the Diamond label in 1946 and through his career with Capitol up to 1962. It includes elected A and B sides of releases in the USA and UK, and features 35 recordings which were Billboard, Cash Box or UK chart entries.
Mother Love Bone – On Earth As It Is: The Complete Works 3xCD+DVD/3xLP+DVD (Monkeywrench)
This digitally remastered collection contains the 1989 EP Shine, 1990’s Apple and over 20 B-sides, demos, alternative versions, and unreleased songs, including Andrew Wood’s demo of “Chloe Dancer” and a live version of “Stardog Champion” featuring Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam. Love Bone Earth Affair is available for the first time on DVD and includes bonus features of unseen live Mother Love Bone performances and more. Also includes 24-page booklet with lyrics, credits, and photos.
Stevie Nicks – Bella Donna [Reissue/1981] 3xCD/LP (Rhino)
Stevie Nicks – Wild Heart [Reissue/1983] 2xCD/LP (Rhino)
Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe editions of the first two solo albums from the Fleetwood Mac vocalist. The triple-disc version of Bella Donna includes unreleased versions of “Edge Of Seventeen” and “Leather And Lace,” as well as rarities like “Blue Lamp” from the Heavy Metal soundtrack and “Sleeping Angel” from the Fast Times At Ridgemont High Soundtrack. The also includes a concert from 1981 that features performances songs from Bella Donna along with several Fleetwood Mac favorites. The double-disc version of Wild Heart builds on the original album with unreleased versions of “All The Beautiful Worlds” a session version of “Wild
Heart” and “Garbo,” the B-side to “Stand Back.”
The Pop Group – Honeymoon On Mars CD/LP+MP3 (Freaks R Us)
The post punk provocateurs return with a new album. Honeymoon On Mars finds the band unwaveringly incensed and resolute in their mutative sense of innovation, as Stewart elaborates: “it’s a stand against manufactured hate, a hypersonic journey into a dystopian future full of alien encounters and sci-fi lullabies.” [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a five-track megamix bonus EP, a zine of cut up art by Mark Stewart, three badges, and a sticker. Limited color vinyl edition also available.]
Queen – Queen On Air 2xCD/6xCD/3xLP (Hollywood)
Between February 1973 and October 1977, Queen recorded six radio sessions exclusively for the BBC. The 24 recordings these landmark sessions produced include alternate versions of the band’s debut single, unique takes of classic album tracks and even a radically reworked reimagining of one of their best known anthems that has never previously appeared on any Queen studio release. Available in three editions: Standard double-CD and triple-vinyl (highlights), and Deluxe six-CD (complete).
The Residents – Present Delta Nudes CD (Klanggalerie)
Before The Residents became The Residents, they were a group of friends from the San Francisco bay area. On this collection, a lot of different people are involved. No one remembers how many or who they were. The recordings were made in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some of the people bonded into The Residents. Some of them did not. Four albums were recorded by these Pre-sidents: The Warner Bros Album, The Ballad Of Stuffed Trigger, Rusty Coathangers For The Doctor and Baby Sex. None of them have ever been released. Now finally, on this collection, you can hear music from those pre-Residential days in remastered quality.
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood – If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now CDEP/12” (Silver Arrow)
Less than three months after the release of their new album, Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood release a companion EP If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now. The new EP is comprised of tracks recorded at the same Stinson Beach, CA, sessions as the album. “If You Lived Here is the sonic bookend to our Anyway You Love recording and song cycle,” Robinson says. “When we were sequencing the original album, these five songs seemed to want to hang together in their own way and tell their own little story, so they were set aside to present separately.” EP track “New Cannonball Rag” is fueled with a relaxed groove that includes slide guitar, organ, and a sprinkling of psychedelic sound effects.
Wallace Roney – A Place In Time CD (HighNote)
Wallace Roney’s music is a tough, taut and intransigent continuation of the arcane forms and structured freedoms of Miles Davis’ 1960s quintet. Listeners often associate Roney with Davis, thanks to Roney’s work with the jazz legend early in Roney’s career. But at this point, Davis’ impact on Roney can be considered mostly historic, with Roney’s playing larger in scope, firmer in tone and sharper in attack than Davis’. Today, Wallace’s set lists feature easy-on-the-ear themes that mask harmonic complexities, while solos are fueled by strong moods and sustained rhythmic drive informed by the spectre of Davis but far from imitating him.
Rossington – Take It On Faith CD (Loud & Proud)
New album from a founding and current member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Hope Sandoval and The Warm Inventions – Until The Hunter CD/2xLP+MP3 (Tendril Tales)
Third studio album from Hope Sandoval and The Warm Inventions. The band includes Colm Ó Cíosóig of My Bloody Valentine. “On the nine minute plus opener ‘Into The Trees’ Sandoval’s ageless voice is augmented by church organs and O’ Cíosóig’s slow drum shuffle; it’s a psychedelic drone evocative of Mazzy Stars’ ‘She Hangs Brightly.’ As Sandoval intones ‘I miss you’ with singer Mariee Sioux refraining the line, the feel of melancholy in her voice is set up beautifully, but musically it’s a curveball, as thereafter the album explores country music, folk and blues. The record’s highlight ‘Let Me Get There’ sees Kurt Vile join them on a country rock song where his and Sandoval’s dulcet voices dovetail together wonderfully, like a modern day Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris.” – The Line Of Best Fit
Klaus Schulze – Inter*Face [Reissue/1985] CD (Made In Germany Music)
Klaus Schulze’s 1985 album combines Berlin school electronica with rock & roll textures and spacy atmospheres, experimental timbres, symphonic textures, and deep sequences.
Sims – More Than Ever CD/LP (Doomtree)
New solo album from Sims, member of the Minneapolis hip-hop crew Doomtree. More Than Ever features the adventurous production of Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, and ICETEP.
Starkill – Shadow Sleep CD (Prosthetic)
New album from the Chicago-based headbanger unit.
STRFKR – Being No One, Going Nowhere CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
The title of STRFKR’s fourth album may seem bleak at first. But hold it in your head a minute, feel its weight, and you may recognize the phrase for what it is: a goal. In the era of the personal brand—amid the Fear Of Missing Out Age—it’s increasingly hard to shed a stifling sense of self, or to just be in the moment that you’re in. Well, consider this an invitation to get blissfully insignificant. That’s what STRFKR founder Joshua Hodges aimed to do when he exiled himself to the desert to create this record, but he returned with this set of darkly glistening dance songs rife with sticky beats, earworming hooks, philosophical heft, and bittersweet beauty. Album track “Tape Machine” is “a funky electro-pop ride… Founder Joshua Hodges went alone to the desert with the goal alluded to in the album’s title, Being No One, Going Nowhere, and came up with an album’s worth of rich dark dance songs” – KCRW. [Limited light blue color vinyl pressing also available.]
Stiff Little Fingers – Rockers CD+DVD (Secret)
Recorded during the 2003 Hope Street Tour.
Tad – God’s Balls [Reissue/1989] CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Tad – Salt Lick [Reissue/1990] CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Tad – 8-Way Santa [Reissue/1991] CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
The classic discography and assorted singles from the beloved and iconic Seattle band’s 1988-1992 run receive the deluxe reissue treatment. Producer & engineer Jack Endino (who produced God’s Balls, TAD’s first full-length) has lovingly remastered all of the recordings from the original tapes. These deluxe editions feature new images from photographer Charles Peterson, bonus tracks, and expansive liner notes from the band and Jack Endino.
Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos CD/LP (Lex)
The award-winning British poet and rapper releases the follow-up to her 2014 Mercury-nominated debut Everybody Down. “Framing her tales of dissatisfied Londoners is an apocalyptic polemic about individualism and technological alienation, a world of people ‘staring at screens so we don’t have to see the planet die.’ The solution is for everyone to love each other. It is a soggy remedy — but one that serves to highlight the sinewy writing and beat-making that otherwise predominate.” – Financial Times
Johnny Thunders – I Think I’ve Got This Covered CD/LP (Secret)
Johnny Thunders was a proto punk legend, but he loved rock and roll from the beginning. This collection of cover songs, recorded over the course of his career shows, finds Thunders taking on some classic tracks as well giving a window into his influences as a writer and a guitarist.
Vader – The Empire CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)
Eleventh album from the death metal band.
Waterparks – Double Dare CD (Equal Vision)
Debut album from the Houston pop/punk band.
Lindsey Webster – Back To Your Heart CD (Shanachie)
This contemporary smooth jazz/R&B diva has been compared to R&B royalty Sade, Mariah Carey, and Anita Baker.
Hank Williams – Complete Singles As & Bs 1947-55 4xCD (Acrobat)
This 103-track four-CD set comprises the A and B sides of Hank Williams’ releases, from his debut on the Sterling label in 1947, and through his years with the MGM label and the posthumous releases up to 1955.
Frank Zappa – Chicago ’78 2xCD (Zappa Records)
Frank Zappa – Little Dots CD (Zappa Records)
Two Vaulternative releases: Chicago ‘78 finds Zappa & band at the Uptown Theater, Chicago, Ill, September 29, 1978. Of the two shows played that evening, the late show is captured here in its entirety; Little Dots is the sequel to 2005’s Imaginary Diseases and features a horn-driven ensemble’s mammoth improvisations across ten unreleased compositions originally written during the Petit Wazoo tour of late 1972. Although Zappa worked on this material during different time periods throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, nothing was ever officially released.
Frank Zappa – Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object 3xCD (Zappa Records)
Uncle Meat gets the deluxe treatment in this three CD Project/Object audio documentary. Included is the original 1969 vinyl mix (restored, remastered and available digitally for the first time), an original sequence that includes unique source material and bonus vault tracks mostly compiled from the recording sessions at Apostolic Studios in NYC between 1967 and 1968.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Mötley Crüe – The End: Live In Los Angeles Blu-ray+CD/DVD+CD (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
On December 31, 2015, legendary hard rock band Mötley Crüe completed their 35-year touring career with a final concert at Staples Center in their hometown of Los Angeles, just 10 miles from the Sunset Strip where the band’s decadent career first launched. Includes performances of such mega-hits as “Kickstart My Heart,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Home Sweet Home” and “Dr. Feelgood.”
Brian Setzer – Rockabilly Riot: Osaka Rocka! – Live in Japan 2016 Blu-ray+CD (Surfdog)
Live and loud, this concert encompasses songs from Setzer’s 2014 studio album Rockabilly Riot! A sizzling rockabilly album from start to finish featuring his trademark twang and fretboard fire. Also included are classic hits from his Stray Cats days, Brian Setzer Orchestra tunes and tracks from his solo albums.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell – Keep It Greasy! LP (Rise Above)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Here’s a band proud to be the soundtrack to your weed smokin’, beer swiggin’ escapes from 2016’s dystopian shitstorm reality; one feverishly decorated with unrelenting commercialism, villainous politicians and godforsaken autotune.
Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation [Reissue/1987] LP (Geffen)
Aerosmith – Pump [Reissue/1989] LP (Geffen)
180gm vinyl reissues.
Assemblage 23 – Endure LP (Metropolis)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. With the new album, Endure, Assemblage 23 furthers his position in the narrative of modern EBM and industrial.
Black Tape For A Blue Girl – Bike Shop 7”+MP3 (Projekt)
Featuring Sam’s delicate acoustic guitar work and a stirring vocal performance from Michael Plaster (and drums from The Dresden Doll’s Brian Viglione), these four songs are interconnected, intimate stories of a broken heart.
Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi [Reissue/1984] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit [Reissue/1985] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet [Reissue/1986] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi – New Jersey [Reissue/1988] 2xLP (Island)
Bon Jovi – Keep The Faith [Reissue/1992] 2xLP (Island)
Bon Jovi – These Days [Reissue/1995] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi – Crush [2000] 2xLP (Island)
Bon Jovi – Bounce [2002] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi – Have A Nice Day [2005] 2xLP (Island)
Bon Jovi – Lost Highway [2007] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi – The Circle [2009] 2xLP (Island)
Bon Jovi – What About Now [2013] LP (Island)
Bon Jovi’s back-catalogue is now available on 180gm vinyl. Many for the first time on the format.
Joe Bonamassa – Blues Deluxe [Reissue/2003] 2xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Joe Bonamassa – The Ballad Of John Henry [Reissue/2009] 2xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Joe Bonamassa – Dust Bowl [Reissue/2011] 2xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Joe Bonamassa – Beacon Theatre: Live From New York [Reissue/2012] 3xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Limited 180gm black vinyl reissues.
Kathryn Calder – Bright & Vivid [Reissue/2011] LP (File Under Music)
“Always intriguing … There is still levity in her voice a crisp, bright alto that’s reminiscent of Jenny Lewis but it has far less bounce and naivety here” – Pitchfork. “Alluring sparkle and lilt … Members of The New Pornographers, Ladyhawke, and Frog Eyes chip in, but Calder’s confident voice and commanding presence anchors it all.” — Paste
Candiria – While They Were Sleeping LP (Metal Blade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Brooklyn’s musical alchemists Candiria is known for fusing metal, hardcore, jazz, and hip-hop in a unique, inimitable blend. [Limited color pressing also available.]
Civilian – You Won’t Believe What Privilege Costs LP (Tooth & Nail)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the Nashville indie rockers.
Destrage – A Means To No End 2xLP (Metal Blade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the Italian metal band.
Dysrhythmia – Veil Of Control LP (Profound Lore)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Having established themselves as one of the most notable progressive and unique instrumental metal bands since their inception more than 15 years ago, NY-based power trio Dysrhythmia mirrors the definition of their moniker. The band has, over six albums, shown the ultimate in musical fortitude with wondrous, jaw-dropping compositions that go beyond jazz-infused, avant-garde technical extreme metal.
Dan Fogelberg – Souvenirs [Reissue/1974] LP (Friday Music)
Limited edition translucent blue audiophile vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.
Heart – Dog & Butterfly [Reissue/1978] LP (Friday Music)
Limited edition 180gm translucent gold audiophile vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.
Mitch Hedberg – The Complete Vinyl Collection 4xLP+USB (Comedy Central)
Mitch Hedberg’s singular style and absurd observations about everyday life turned him into a comedy legend. Now you can relive his entire body of work whenever you want. The complete
collection includes all three of his original albums (Strategic Grill Locations, Mitch All Together and Do You Believe In Gosh?), never before heard recordings and a book by Mitch’s wife, Lynn Shawcroft, featuring essays from Doug Stanhope, Mike Birbiglia and Margaret Cho. Includes a custom USB drive with MP3’s of all albums and never before heard recordings and more.
Horse – For Twisted Minds Only [Reissue/1970] LP (Rise Above Relics)
Recently reissued on CD – now available on vinyl. Formed in South London during the late ‘60s, Horse was a band creating occult influenced progressive hard rock, ahead of its time. Guitarist Rod Roach had briefly played in an incarnation of British psych-rock legends Andromeda before forming Horse with other key member, vocalist Adrian Hawkins. Alongside bassist Colin Standring, the band also featured legendary drummer Ric Parnell, later of Atomic Rooster (amongst many others) and future star of This Is Spinal Tap (aka Mick Shrimpton).
James Newton Howard – Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them 12” (Watertower Music)
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is an all new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. Featured on this picture disc 12” are two early recordings by James Newton Howard that helped shape the musical vision for the film.
Quincy Jones – Roots: The Saga Of An American Family [Reissue/1977] LP (Watertower Music)
With the 2016 Roots mini-series such a success, there is new interest in Quincy Jones’ original soundtrack to the ground-breaking 1977 mini-series. Highlights include the “Roots Mural Theme,” composed by Gerald Fried, and the 28 minute, “Roots Suite,” with Letta Mbulu as the featured vocalist. Also included are snippets of dialogue from Roots actor Lou Gossett. Featured players include: Shelly Manne, Victor Feldman, Ernie Watts and Lee Ritenour.
Dom La Nena – Cantando 12” (Six Degrees)
Recently reissued on CD – now available on vinyl. Brazilian born, Parisian resident, Dom La Nena has recorded a beautiful new EP of cover versions of some of her favorite songs.
Lil Dicky – Professional Rapper LP (CMSN)
Self-released late July on CD – now available on vinyl. “Maybe you’ve never heard of Lil Dicky. Maybe you have, and think he’s just a funny guy who makes funny music. But the release of his debut album Professional Rapper in late July of this year made both of those possibilities much less likely. Because the not-so-subtly named album came with an equally unequivocal reality: The dude’s here, and he can spit. While Professional Rapper remains joke-heavy, the beats, the flow, and the featured talent—Fetty Wap, Rich Homie Quan, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg—are not the least bit laughable.” — GQ
Mannequin Pussy – Romantic LP+MP3 (Tiny Engines)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Punk rock is not terribly romantic, or at least not enough to get an on-air dedication from Delilah. That’s not to say punk rock doesn’t know, understand and screw up relationships — it’s just that the gooey underbelly of love and lust is mostly left to belters and crooners. Opening Mannequin Pussy’s second album, Romantic, guitarist Marisa Dabice screams, ‘I am not ashamed to be lonely, but I’m afraid to feel it so deeply,’ a confession that burns into a jangly, frenzied mess of feedback. Mannequin Pussy may not heal a broken heart quite (or at all) like Celine Dion, but the band sure knows — and sounds like — the hell that is heartbreak.” – NPR
Joe McMahon – Another Life LP (Smart Punk)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Joe McMahon (singer/guitarist for Boston punk band Smoke Or Fire) is back with a brand new solo album, Another Life, with guest appearances by Chris Wollard (of Hot Water Music), Lucinda Legaspi and Kaleb Stewart
Mithras – On Strange Loops LP (Willowtip)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Fourth album from the atmospheric, brutal death metallers.
Nico Muhly/Teitur Lassen – Confessions LP (Nonesuch)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New collaboration between acclaimed American composer Nico Muhly and the Faroese singer/songwriter Teitur. The two musicians began work on the project when Muhly was composer-in-residence at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The songs’ lyrics were inspired by or culled from video and commentary the pair found on YouTube. “We came up with this premise of boring videos, home videos,” Teitur explains. “It was a time when everyone was posting these meaningless videos. It was just fascinating when we started watching them… The more you watched them the more you started to wonder, ‘What is behind this? Why are people doing this?’ They are really saying, ‘This is really beautiful, this is really sick, this is me,’ people confessing things. And that gave us the title for the record.”
Norma Jean – Polar Similar LP (Solid State)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Seventh album from the metalcore crew.
Oasis – Be Here Now [Reissue/1997] 3xLP+7”+MP3+3xCD (Big Brother Recordings Ltd.)
This Super Deluxe box set package of the third studio album from the iconic English rock band includes: the Be Here Now Deluxe edition triple-CD set containing B-sides, rarities and a full disc of the Mustique demos; a copy of Be Here Now on heavyweight vinyl including download card containing two additional volumes of content; the Mustique Demo white label LP containing six tracks from the infamous recording session; an exclusive 7” single containing two early demos of “Stand By Me” and “Going Nowhere”; a 12×12, 52-page coffee table photography book with exclusive sleeve notes and rare photos; A Be Here Now embossed enamel key ring; and a set of four postcards.
Panic! At The Disco – Vices & Virtues [Reissue/2011] LP (Fueled By Ramen)
Vinyl repress of the third album by the alt-rock band. Produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker, the album was recorded as a duo by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith, following the departure of lead guitarist, backing vocalist and primary
lyricist Ryan Ross and bassist/backing vocalist Jon Walker in July 2009.
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon [Reissue/1973] LP (Pink Floyd)
Latest vinyl repress of the Pink Floyd classic.
Placebo – A Place For Us To Dream – 20 Years Of Placebo 4xLP+MP3 (Rise)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This expansive 36-track collection ranges from early singles like “Bruise Pristine,” “Come Home,” and “Teenage Angst,” to the career defining “Nancy Boy,” “Every You Every Me,” “Pure Morning” and “The Bitter End” right up to “Meds,” “For What It’s Worth” and “Too Many Friends.” The set also includes the new single “Jesus’ Son.”
Raging Fyah – Judgement Day: Music For The Rebels [2011] LP (VP)
First-time vinyl pressing of the roots reggae band’s debut album.
Set It Off – Upside Down LP (Equal Vision)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Third album from the pop/punk band.
Soundtrack – Hairspray (Soundtrack To The Motion Picture) [2007] 2xLP (Watertower Music)
Vinyl edition of the soundtrack to the 2007 film version of Hairspray. Tracks feature vocals from the cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney and Nikki Blonsky. Black standard weight double LP in custom metallic rainbow foil gatefold packaging.
James Taylor – (Best Live) [1993] 2xLP (Friday Music)
180gm audiophile clear vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.
Henry Threadgill/Zooid – In For A Penny, In For A Pound LP (Pi Recordings)
In For A Penny, In For A Pound — the winner of a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Musical Composition — is the latest installment in saxophonist/ flutist/composer Henry Threadgill’s ongoing exploration of his singular system for integrating composition with group improvisation. Widely considered among the most important artists in jazz, he has been called “one of the most thrillingly elusive composers in and around the jazz idiom” by The New York Times and “a true idiosyncratic great” by NPR. A major influence on an entire generation of jazz musicians, Vijay Iyer calls Threadgill “a true American maverick,” and Jason Moran “my favorite composer, hands down.”
Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club [Reissue/1981] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited edition translucent green colored vinyl LP pressing.
Toro Y Moi – Live From Trona 2xLP+MP3 (Carpark)
Following extensive touring behind What For?, his fourth studio album as Toro Y Moi, acclaimed musician Chaz Bundick brought the band to the middle of the Mojave Desert in April 2016 to play a special concert. Live From Trona documents this experience, recorded live beneath the geological wonders known as the Trona Pinnacles, which formed thousands of years ago in what used to be a prehistoric lake. The album features unique live arrangements of songs from across the band’s catalog, new music, and an expanded band line-up. Limited edition “desert pink” color vinyl pressing.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Texas Flood [Reissue/1983] 2xLP (Acoustic Sounds)
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Couldn’t Stand The Weather [Reissue/1984] 2xLP (Acoustic Sounds)
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Soul To Soul [Reissue/1985] 2xLP (Acoustic Sounds)
200gm 45RPM black vinyl reissues.
Cassettes:
Bright Eyes – Fevers And Mirrors [2000] (Saddle Creek)
Bright Eyes – Lifted Or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Gound (Saddle Creek)
First-time cassette editions now available.
Holiday:
The Blind Boys Of Alabama – Go Tell It On The Mountain [Reissue/2003] CD (Omnivore)
Go Tell It On The Mountain features The Blind Boys’ signature vocals, matched with a bevy of special guests including Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Chrissie Hynde, Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Les McCann, and many more. The mix of hymns and traditional holiday favorites was greeted with adoration, and garnered the group its third Grammy Award in as many years, and as many releases.
Bluegrass Power Picks and Raymond Fairchild – Christmas Bluegrass Power Picks: Pickin’ The Classics CD (Rural Rhythm)
18 Christmas classics that you know by heart performed by bluegrass veterans Cody Shuler (mandolin), Wayne Crowe (acoustic bass), Arvil Freeman (fiddle), Bruce Moody (guitar) and legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild.
Johnny Cash – Christmas: There’ll Be Peace In The Valley LP (Sony Legacy)
A sublime 14-track affair which finds Cash’s golden baritone lending spirit and grace to holiday favorites like “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Blue Christmas” among others.
John Denver – Rocky Mountain Christmas [Reissue/1975] LP (Friday Music)
Limited edition 180gm white colored audiophile vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.
Luther Vandross – This Is Christmas [Reissue/1995] LP (Sony Legacy)
This Is Christmas is the tenth studio album and first Christmas album by Luther Vandross
released in 1995. This is Christmas lent it’s name to a syndicated television special Vandross hosted which aired in November and December 1995, and featured songs from this album.
Various Artists – The Classic ‘80s Christmas Album LP (Sony Legacy)
Christmas music via The ‘80s, featuring: The Waitresses, Wham!, The Bangles, RUN-DMC, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Whitney Houston, Billy Squier, Dave Edmunds, Buster Poindexter and His Banshees Of Blue, The Pointer Sisters, Ray Parker Jr., Bob & Doug McKenzie, New Kids On The Block, Fishbone, and The Hooters.
Eddy Arnold – The Complete RCA Victor Christmas Recordings CD (Real Gone Music)
Captain Kangaroo & Mr. Green Jeans – Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas From Captain Kangaroo [Reissue/1963] CD (BMG Rights Management)
Ray Conniff – The Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings CD (Real Gone Music)
Bing Crosby – A Christmas Story [Reissue/1957] CD (BMG Rights Management)
The Golden Orchestra – Mitch Miller Presents: Christmas Songs & Carols [Reissue/1958] CD (BMG Rights Management)
Jack Jones – Jack Jones Christmas Album [Reissue/1964] CD (Real Gone Music)
Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra – I Want To Wish You A Merry Christmas [Reissue/1957] CD (Real Gone Music)
Living Guitars & Living Strings – The Joy Of Christmas/The Sound Of Christmas [Reissue/1969/1970] CD (Real Gone Music)
Norman Luboff – Songs Of Christmas/Christmas With The Norman Luboff Choir [Reissue/1956/1964] CD (Real Gone Music)
Mantovani – Christmas Carols [Reissue/1958] CD (Real Gone Music)
Mitch Miller & The Gang – Christmas Sing-Along With Mitch [Reissue/1958] CD (Real Gone Music)
Robert Shaw Chorale – Christmas Hymns & Carols 1 [Reissue/1957] CD (Real Gone Music)
Various Artists – A Very Merry Golden Records Christmas CD (BMG Rights Management)
Various Artists – The Classic Big Band Christmas Album LP (Sony)
The Ventures – The Ventures Christmas Album [Reissue/1965] CD (Real Gone Music)
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