December/January 2018 Program Titles Released This Week:
Hippo Campus – Bambi CD/LP (Grand Jury)
On their sophomore album Bambi, St. Paul, Minnesota-bred band Hippo Campus offer up a self-reflective set of songs that drift into much darker terrain but unfold with a frenetic yet fragile beauty that makes even the most painful moments feel glorious. Partly recorded at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio in Chicago, Bambi finds Hippo Campus working again with producer BJ Burton (Bon Iver, Low, Francis and the Lights), who handled production on their 2017 full-length debut Landmark. And in sculpting Bambi’s distinctly inventive arrangements, Hippo Campus significantly expanded their use of drum machines and synths. Throughout Bambi, Hippo Campus match their relentless self-examination with a joyfully adventurous sonic approach, ultimately transforming the emotional experience of the problems they’re exploring. On “Anxious”, urgent rhythms and untamed vocal delivery draw an unlikely power from raw vulnerability. [Indie-store exclusive pool blue colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Lone Justice – The Western Tapes, 1983 CDEP/12” (Omnivore)
Musician and producer Marvin Etzioni first saw Maria McKee and Ryan Hedgecock in a club in 1982, playing George Jones and Hank Williams covers. He convinced them they needed original material. After working and writing, Lone Justice added Dave Harrington (bass) and Don Willens (drums), the band worked up material with Etzioni and cut five of the six tracks at the famed Record Plant. An earlier session provides the sixth track. The Western Tapes, 1983 exhibits the genesis of this highly-influential band. While the original demo version of “Drugstore Cowboy” has appeared on various compilations, the remainder of the other tracks from the sessions have remained in the can. Two of the tracks appear in their earliest demo form and wound up landing on the classic 1985 debut Lone Justice, “Working Late” and “Don’t Toss Us Away” (written by Maria’s half-brother, Bryan MacLean of the classic band, Love) which would eventually become a country hit for Patty Loveless.
CDs + Vinyl:
Alien Sex Fiend – Possessed CD/2xLP (Cherry Red)
Alien Sex Fiend return with a ferocious new album. Packed with pounding rhythms, speaker- shredding guitars, squelchy synthesizers and, of course, Nik Fiend’s latest chainsaw-psychiatry outpourings, Possessed puts the Fiends back where they belong, at the top of their own rotten pile.
Ashes Of Ares – Well Of Souls CD/2xLP (Roar! Rock Of Angels)
Second album from the power metal band comprised of Iced Earth alumni Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales. [Limited turquois/black splatter colored vinyl pressing also available.]
