August Program Titles Released This Week:
BANKS – III CD/LP (Harvest)
The result of a self-imposed period of quiet and reflection, brooding pop singer Banks returns with her third album III and first full-length effort since 2016's The Altar. "This album is an ode to my journey," the artist explains. "It documents a major growth spurt. Of self-acceptance, letting go, forgiveness, and deep love. It has been painful to realize that life is not black and white. Romanticism leads to fierce reality checks, which leads to wisdom, which leads to deeper empathy which leads to greater love. This album documents the cycle." The album's first single "Gimme" "feels kind of like a slap in the face," she says, explaining that it's "about having no shame in who you are and being proud of your own desires." Banks' music has always been bold, shadowy and self-empowering, but "Gimme" is a decidedly more aggressive beast than any of her previous songs, from its wobbling bass bombs to its unapologetically direct lyrics.
Bones UK – Bones UK CD (Sumerian)
For London-bred band Bones UK, every song is a chance to speak their minds, and to shed light on the disconnect between the status quo and the far more glorious world inside their heads. On their self-titled debut album, vocalist Rosie Bones and guitarist Carmen Vandenberg confront everything from the beauty industrial complex to toxic masculinity to music-scene sexism, embedding each track with choruses primed for passionate shouting-along. Bones UK offer up an album that's both provocative and endlessly exhilarating, even in its most outraged moments. True to the L.A.-based band's anti-conformist spirit, Bones UK unfolds with an entirely uncontainable sound, a riff-heavy collision of rock-and-roll and rough-edged electronic music. On opener "Beautiful Is Boring", Bones UK bring artful riffs and sinister grooves to a feverish statement against societal expectations of beauty. [Vinyl edition due August 2.]
Calexico/Iron & Wine – Years To Burn CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Calexico and Iron & Wine first made an artistic connection with In Ihe Reins, the 2005 EP that brought Sam Beam, Joey Burns and John Convertino together. The acclaimed collaboration introduced both acts to wider audiences and broadened Beam's artistic horizons, but it was the shared experience of touring together in the tradition of Bob Dylan's "Rolling Thunder Revue" that cemented the bond. Their metaphorical roads diverged in the years that followed, but they kept in touch and cross-pollinated where they could. Although they often talked about rekindling their collaboration in the studio and on stage, it wasn't until 2018 that their schedules finally aligned. While Beam wrote all the songs for In the Reins, this recording features contributions from both Beam and Burns. While the two may have taken differing approaches to songwriting, the spirit of collaboration was alive and well in the studio; Sam shared demos ahead of time and was ready for the others to contribute with arrangement ideas and instrumental parts, while Joey spontaneous as ever, came in with concepts and an eagerness to improvise.
Kyle Craft – Showboat Honey CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
There is this curious equilibrium to existence: In order to create balance, the universe must giveth, and the universe must taketh. Kyle Craft, along with his now solidified backing band dubbed Showboat Honey, know this all too well. And therefore, their self-titled album – the contemplative yet restless Showboat Honey – reflects that sturm und drang. "This is basically an album centered around bad luck and good fortune hitting at the same time," Craft explains. "Then, out of nowhere, I find love. Everything went to shit except that. I guess that's how life works." Though aesthetics veer from song to song, Showboat Honey's steadfast formula remains the same. Drummer Haven Mutlz holds down the machine with a '60s/'70s fast-molasses groove that locks in with the slinky rolling bass of Billy Slater. When Kevin Clark isn't bouncing across the piano, his mellotron strings swell in and out of frame. Jack of all trades Ben Steinmetz's organ parts well up from the deep of the songs, while lead guitarist Jeremy Kale's solos rip through them like electricity.
Jerry Garcia Band – GarciaLive Volume 11: November 11th, 1993 Providence Civic Center 2xCD (Rounder/ATO)
The next installment of the Jerry Garcia live archival series GarciaLive features a performance from the final Jerry Garcia Band East Coast tour. The concert from Providence finds Jerry Garcia backed by keyboardist Melvin Seals, bassist John Kahn, drummer David Kemper and vocalists Gloria Jones and Jacklyn LaBranch. This long-running Jerry Garcia Band lineup provided a bevy of gems from the group's repertoire including Garcia/Hunter standouts "Cats Under The Stars" and "Mission In The Rain" as well as covers of Norton Buffalo's "Ain't No Bread In The Breadbox", Peter Rowan's "Midnight Moonlight", The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" and Jesse Stone's "Don't Let Go". GarciaLive Volume 11 contains a pair of rarities: the infrequently played by JGB renditions of Van Morrison's "He Ain't Give You None" and Smokey Robinson's "When The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game".
Gauche – A People's History Of Gauche CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Washington, DC's Gauche present A People's History Of Gauche, a collective catharsis of anger, frustration, and trauma through creativity. Jason P Barnett, Adrienne CN Berry, Mary Jane Regalado, Pearie Sol, and Daniele Yandel find their agency and joy through creating and performing music together in 36 minutes of groove-filled power punk. Gauche bring us music and movement and struggle and light, and now it is our job to dance.
Glitterer – Looking Through The Shades CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)
Looking Through The Shades is Glitterer's debut full-length album and features Ned Russin, bassist/vocalist of Title Fight. This is Glitterer all glown up. Now there are live drums (twin brother Ben did the honors) and dopamine-releasing fuzzy guitars to go with the synths, the bass, and the voice. Now there's a full 14-song tracklist to luxuriate in. Produced by Alex Giannascoli and Arthur Rizk (Code Orange, Power Trip, Sumerlands) the album delivers Glitterer's best-yet sonics and songs. The lyrics are still insouciantly tortured, in a reluctant-college-boy kind of way, the choruses are still obscenely catchy, and the arrangements still carry not so much as an ounce of excess fat. From the saturated distortion of the opener "The Race" ("I wish I could look at your life and know it's mine"), through the road-weary "1001" ("I sang 1,000 songs / didn't want to sing again") and the vox-and-bass-only Side B outlier "The News" ("I used to be original"), the listener is simultaneously satiated and left wanting more.
The Gotobeds – Debt Begins At 30 CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
"'Go big or go home' is a phrase that is seldom heard in indie/punk circles. Generally, it's the opposite that is true. There has been a history in indie/punk of this feeling unauthentic, as authenticity only involves who plays on the album instead of what you're saying/sound like. Pittsburgh's The Gotobeds have decided to ignore this maxim on their third album, Debt Begins At 30. Instead of getting into a studio with each other again, they decided to invite some friends along. On every track. Yup. That's right. Every track on Debt Begins At 30 features a guest spot. This idea is generally used in hip-hop, jazz and electronic circles, but here it works incredibly well. Musically it's business as usual from The Gotobeds. The guitars are slightly abrasive but catchy. The bass is right where you need it and holds each track to the group, and the drums sound flawless. Overall all there is a spiky, Sonic Youth vibe but with a brash optimism that is hard to ignore." – New Noise
Imperial Teen – Now We Are Timeless CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
Imperial Teen includes members of Faith No More (Roddy Bottum), The Dicks (Lynn Perko Truell), Hey Willpower (Will Schwartz) and The Wrecks (Jone Stebbins). Their releases over the past 20+ years have been pointed and specific diaries of musical celebration, windows into the hypersensitive personal drama of relationships within the band, individual conquests and failures, and collective, aspirational hopes, dreams, and perspectives. Roddy Bottum, Will Schwartz, Jone Stebbins, and Lynn Perko Truell— who they've become, how they are dealing, and what their lives are in 2019—all of this is on Imperial Teen's new release Now We Are Timeless. Themes of time and movement, averting and succumbing to crisis, dealing with loss and pain are all represented on the record, but what rings triumphant is the undeniable joy and catharsis that come from the band's spontaneous and improvisational approach to making music together.
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You [Deluxe Edition] CD (Nice Life/Atlantic)
Deluxe edition includes three bonus tracks. Channeling boundless self-confidence through a downright earth-quaking voice, colorful persona, and undeniable star power, Lizzo struts into the spotlight and steps up with a whole lot of sass, spirit, and soul. Embracing her vocal range like never before and celebrating herself to the fullest, she speaks her mind, censors nothing, and delivers an enviable level of honesty, pure passion, and fresh fire. Like a diamond, she's multi-faceted, and Cuz I Love You reflects all her sides; the broken-hearted ballad ("Jerome"), the dance club banger ("Tempo"), the sisterhood anthem ("Like A Girl"), the cocky ode to loving yourself ("Soulmate"), a gospel song that will take you to the church of Lizzo ("Heaven Help Me"), and a sexy slow jam tossed in for good measure ("Lingerie"). Every song is infused with her high-voltage personality, making each song feel like a secret message sent just to you.
Ed Sheeran – No.6 Collaboration Project CD/2xLP (Atlantic)
"Before I was signed in 2011, I made an EP called No.5 Collaborations Project," Ed Sheeran notes on his newest release, No.6 Collaborations Project. "Since then, I've always wanted to do another, so I started No.6 on my laptop when I was on tour last year. I'm a huge fan of all the artists I've collaborated with and It's been a lot of fun to make." The 15-track offering features collaborations with Khalid ("Beautiful People"), Camila Cabello & Cardi B ("South Of The Border"), Chance The Rapper & PnB Rock ("Cross Me"), Stormzy ("Take Me Back To London"), YEBBA ("Best Part Of Me"), Justin Bieber ("I Don't Care"), 50 Cent & Eminem ("Remember The Name"), J Hus & Young Thug ("Feels"), Ella Mai ("Put It All On Me"), Dave & Paulo Londra ("Nothing On You"), H.E.R. ("I Don't Want Your Money"), A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & Meek Mill ("1000 Nights"), Skrillex ("Way To Break My Heart"), and Chris Stapleton & Bruno Mars ("BLOW").
Various Artists – Red Gold Green & Blue CD/2xLP (Trojan Jamaica)
The conceptual adventure that became the compilation, Red Gold Green & Blue calls on the black cream of Jamaican artistry, generations of talent spanning decades. Completing a circle, the classic American blues songs performed here, bring out an intriguing tonality in this record's top-notch selection of already flavorful voices, familiar and brand new. This modern anthology throws down a creative challenge: how will today's great Jamaican artists, themselves descendants of captured Africans, reinterpret African American blues songs written and sung by artists who are effectively their own long-lost family? Red Gold Green & Blue is a missing link that helps to try and bind a fractured African diaspora. Each of the idiosyncratic tracks reborn here represents the sort of pan-African vision that fired Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley and Angela Davis. Wherever they came from, stolen Africans had no control over where the slave ships would make them disembark. But whether it was New Orleans or Kingston, Jamaica, the music they brought with them would survive, against all odds, evolve, elevate and change global culture. This record is in some measure a tribute to their resilience and brilliance.
CDs + Vinyl:
311 – Voyager CD (BMG Rights Management)
311 are back with their 13th studio album Voyager, which features 13 new songs, four of which were recorded with Grammy-nominated producer John Feldmann (Blink-182, Panic! At the Disco) and nine of which were recorded with longtime collaborator/live engineer Scotch Ralston, who produced 311 albums Transistor, Soundsystem and Stereolithic. As with every 311 album, Voyager features 311's unique hybrid sound of rock, reggae, pop, hip-hop and funk that the band have come to blend so seamlessly.
Africa Express – EGOLI CD/LP+MP3 (Africa Express)
Hailed as the most revolutionary force in popular music for two decades, music collective Africa Express was founded in 2006 and brings together musicians from different cultures, genres and generations to break boundaries and offer a new perspective on Africa and its music. Each record and event is unique, based upon on-the-spot collaboration and filled with unique moments of magic; the collective have hosted trips and concerts in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali and UK to date.
America – 50th Anniversary: The Collection 3xCD (WB)
America – America 50: Golden Hits CD (WB)
America celebrates its half-centennial this year with a set of compilations that follow the iconic Grammy-winning band to the top of the pop charts. The three-disc 50th Anniversary: The Collection brings the core of America's recorded legacy together with choice rarities like an early studio recording of "Ventura Highway", a live performance of "Riverside", and an unreleased demo for the #1 hit "Sister Golden Hair". America 50: Golden Hits contains 16 tracks that focus mainly on the band's biggest radio hits.
Attarazat Addahabia & Faradjallah – Al Hadaoui CD/LP (Habibi Funk)
This previously unreleased album was recorded in Morocco in 1973 by three generation family band Attarazat Addahabia & Faradjallah. A unique blend of Gnawa, funk and rock.
Auras – Binary Garden CD/LP (E1)
Auras combine the bite of thrash, the weight of death metal, and the spirit of hardcore with a hypnotic groove-oriented pulse shrouded in a captivating atmosphere. Their new album explores the complex relationship between humankind and technology, as people evolve from symbiotic parts of mother nature into cybernetic bits of code. The intellectual depth of the subject matter on Binary Garden is juxtaposed by its immediate accessibility. The expansion of Auras into bigger melodic hooks is more suited to the digital single oriented era than ever, even as Binary Garden works as a cohesive whole.
Batushka – Hospodi CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)
As civilization continues to eat itself, heavy music's dark spiritual quest has never seemed more vital. Emerging from the shadows of eastern Poland in 2015, Batushka have established themselves as one of the modern era's most powerful and evocative bands. Harnessing the fire and fury of arcane black metal and channeling it through the reverberant grandeur of ancient rituals of worship, the band's debut album Litourgiyastood apart from the extreme metal hordes: a monument to originality, depth and dark mysticism that swiftly cast its spell over the metal underground and beyond.
Bleached – Don't You Think You've Had Enough? CD/LP/Cassette (Dead Oceans)
Don't You Think You've Had Enough? is what Jennifer Clavin asked herself when she hit a turning point in her life. It's also the title of the new record from Bleached, Jessie and Jennifer Clavin's first LP written from a place of sobriety. That newfound perspective serves as the guiding force, yielding a courageous, honest, and sonically ambitious album. It's a record about fighting both literally and figuratively for your life – and the clarity born from that struggle. The album glimmers with inspiration found in touring with the likes of The Damned and Paramore. That arena- ready pop, incisively catchy, was a palpable influence helping to push Bleached's sound in a new direction. [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Mal Blum – Pity Boy CD/LP (Don Giovanni)
Blum has become one of Don Giovannis most popular artists. They've toured relentlessly, both solo and with a band, most notably this year traveling in support of Lucy Dacus as well as the live show of popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale. It's impactful to listen to these songs through a transgender lens and some of the songs do touch on Blums experience coming out as non-binary and transgender, a never-ending project in a starkly binary world – but truthfully, all these songs offer crashes of loneliness and sparks of euphoric recognition that will feel familiar to anyone surviving in 2019.
Clare Bowen – Clare Bowen CD (BMG)
Clare Bowen best known for her popular portrayal of Scarlett O'Connor as the female leading role in the ABC/CMT Nashville TV series has already hit the country charts with her incredibly unique vocals with many of the songs taken from the popular series mostly accompanied by her co-star Sam Palladio.
Cave In – Final Transmission CD/LP (Hydrahead)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. Originally intended as demos, Final Transmission marks the first Cave In album in eight years and the band's last with bassist and vocalist Caleb Scofield, who was killed in a car accident last year. The opening title track is a voice memo of a song idea he sent to his bandmates the last time they saw each other. All proceeds from Final Transmission will be given to Caleb's wife and children.
Disentomb – The Decaying Light CD (Unique Leader)
In their 10th year since conception, Disentomb now stands as one of the most unique and commanding bands in modern death metal. The pursuit of unrelentingly brutal death metal has lead them down a dark and twisted path and into a unique sound completely unlike their beginnings, combining lacerating energy with a bleak dissonance that embodies a focused sonic malice like no other. The band's album The Decaying Light features 13 tracks of doomed-out brutality. [Vinyl edition due August 16.]
The Dollyrots – Daydream Explosion CD/LP (Wicked Cool)
DIY punk-pop duo The Dollyrots (featuring the husband and wife pairing of Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas) return with their seventh studio effort. "Their songwriting has reached a consistent level of greatness," says Wicked Cool Records founder and rock n' roll legend Stevie Van Zandt.
Dope Lemon – Smooth Big Cat CD/LP (BMG)
Dope Lemon's second studio LP, Smooth Big Cat follows up the project's 2016 debut, Honey Bones and was written and recorded over just three months at Belafonte, Angus Stone's ranch studio hidden in the wilderness of northern New South Wales. A dream zone layered with melty moments, mischief and romance, the 10-track collection is ushered in by the swagger drenched lead single "Hey You". "The openhearted spirit of this music transports the listener and if you shut your eyes you can almost hear waves crashing in the distance and taste the sea air, fragrant with eucalyptus" (The Saturday Paper). [Picture-disc vinyl pressing also available.]
Drab Majesty – Modern Mirror CD/LP (Dais)
Drab Majesty's third album, Modern Mirror, is a journey of self-reflection, nostalgia, love, beauty, and heartbreak told across eight addictive and emotional synth pop anthems – a seemingly classic tale delivered unblinkingly through the frame of the modern world.
Elder – The Gold & Silver Sessions CD/LP (Blues Funeral)
Capturing Elder's expanding dynamic and ongoing progression, The Gold & Silver Sessions is an experimental LP of ranging psychedelic jams that captures their expressive and nuanced development in a way a regular studio release wouldn't.
Fleetwood Mac – Boston Volume 1 CD (Madfish UK)
Live recordings from an earlier era of Fleetwood Mac's colorful history. Originally recorded at the Boston Tea Party venue over three nights in February 1970, for a planned release later the same year, these recordings were left in the can, unissued, following leader Peter Green's sudden decision to leave the band a few weeks after the dates.
Foreigner – Live At The Rainbow '78 CD/2xLP (Rhino)
Live archive release. On April, 27 1978, Foreigner played a sold-out show at London's celebrated Rainbow Theatre. 40 years later, the memorable performance by the original band has been restored from the original film reels, remixed and remastered.
Gomez – Liquid Skin [Reissue/1999] 2xCD/2xLP (Virgin)
Digitally remastered and expanded 20th anniversary edition of Gomez's sophomore album, Liquid Skin. The set includes five previously unreleased tracks, four previously unreleased alternate versions and nine live tracks recorded at The Fillmore in San Francisco in 2000.
Peter Green with Nigel Watson/Splinter Group –The Robert Johnson Songbook [Reissue/1998] CD (Madfish UK)
Peter Green Splinter Group – Destiny Road [Reissue/1999] CD (Madfish UK)
Peter Green is widely regarded as one of the finest guitarists of his generation. His virtuoso blues playing was an integral part of the sound of the original Fleetwood Mac, which he founded in 1967, and his tortured lead placed him on a par with legends such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. In the early '70s Green left the band and spent much of the next three decades in the wilderness, battling a number of health issues. He re-emerged in the late- '90s performing with the Peter Green Splinter Group.
Dean Hurley – Anthology Resource Vol. II: Philosophy Of Beyond CD/LP+MP3 (Sacred Bones)
The second volume in sound supervisor Dean Hurley's Anthology Resource series continues Hurley's experimental soundscape work into more ethereal and celestial territory. 12 tracks weave together a rich sonic tapestry built in part from comb-filtering experiments, tape loops, and sampled excursions into unique acoustical environments. [Limited gold colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Insane Clown Posse – Hell's Cellar CD (Psychopathic)
A compilation featuring previously unreleased recordings from the Hell's Pit recording sessions.
Inspectah Deck – Chamber No. 9 CD/LP (Music Generation Co.)
The Shaolin MC is back with a banging new solo album titled featuring Deck shining on the mic over some classic gritty production.
Kaina – Next To The Sun CD/LP (Sooper)
In Chicago, cutting edge hip-hop and R&B artists are forging influential new sounds and catapulting one after the other into the national spotlight. City native Kaina has been at the periphery of many of these successes and is one of the most prominent Latinx voices in this developing story. [Limited pink colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Flay – Solutions CD/LP (Atlantic)
When facing the daily maelstrom of concerns, complaints, and calamities in the news, in conversation, and in social media posts, a smile signals real rebellion. Eschewing self-centered woe and melancholy-for-the-sake-of-melancholy, happiness becomes the brashest, boldest, and ballsiest move-and the sought-after answer. Recognizing this truth, two-time Grammy Award-nominated singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer K. Flay (Kristine Flaherty) sticks to a powerful, passionate, and positive mission.
Kool Keith – Keith CD (Mellow Music)
It's been more than forty years since Kool Herc starting throwing parties in the South Bronx, and so you could forgive the casual fan for thinking that nearly every permutation of hip-hop has already been explored. But Keith, the new album from the iconic rapper Kool Keith and the master producer Psycho Les argues just the opposite: that what's absurdly funny can also be sinister and strange, that the form can still be broken in new and radical ways. [Vinyl edition due July 19.]
Leathürbitch – Into The Night CD/LP (High Roller)
Influenced by the likes of Neil Turbin-era Anthrax, Savage Grace, Loudness, and many more, Leathürbitch is on a mission to bring the decadence, sleaze, and speed from the dark alleyways of Detroit and slimy street corners of Los Angeles back to the forefront with their self-described sleaze speed metal.
Lights – Skin & Earth Acoustic CD/LP (Fueled By Ramen)
Acoustic versions of seven tracks taken from 2017's Skin & Earth album, plus three new tracks.
Little Steven and The Interstellar Jazz Renegades – Lilyhammer: The Score – Volume 1: Jazz CD/LP (UMe)
Little Steven and The Interstellar Jazz Renegades – Lilyhammer: The Score – Volume 2: Folk, Rock, Rio, Bits And Pieces CD/2xLP (UMe)
The soundtrack to Little Steven's acclaimed Netflix TV series, Lilyhammer. For the series, Little Steven Van Zandt created many songs and scores ranging from traditional Norwegian folk, rock to mambo.
The Loire Valley Calypsos – VS The Great Pink Flamingo CD/LP (MaAuLa)
Recently released on vinyl – now available on CD. The Loire Valley Calypsos perform popular Caribbean music from the '50s and '60s.
Paul McCartney & Wings ‎– Wings Over America [Reissue/1976] 2xCD/3xLP (Capitol)
Paul McCartney – Choba B CCCP [Reissue/1988] CD/LP (Capitol)
Paul McCartney ‎– Paul Is Live [Reissue/1993] CD/2xLP (Capitol)
Paul McCartney – Amoeba Gig (Live In Los Angeles) [Reissue/2010] CD/2xLP (Capitol)
Remastered CD and vinyl reissues of four McCartney live albums, including his unannounced performance at Amoeba in L.A. on June 27th, 2007.
Lloyd McNeill – Elegia [Reissue/1980] CD/2xLP (Soul Jazz)
Soul Jazz Records reissue flautist Lloyd McNeill's 1980 album Elegia. Originally released on the artists' own private press Baobab label in New York, the album is a serious collectors' piece, a heavyweight and fascinating fusion of deep spiritual jazz with Brazilian rhythms and melodies.
METZ – Automat CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
A collection of non-album singles, B-sides, and rarities dating back to 2009. METZ, the delightfully noisy three-piece punk band from Toronto, have been laying waste to stages around the globe for over 10 years. During that tumultuous chunk of time the band has cemented their reputation as one of the planet's most exhilarating live acts and trusted providers of bombastic outsider rock.
New Order + Liam Gillick –∑ (No,12k,Lg,17Mif) So it goes.. 2xCD/3xLP (Mute)
Recorded live in concert at Manchester International Festival, Old Granada Studios, Manchester, UK on July 15, 2017. [Limited red, light green and blue vinyl pressing also available.]
Oh, Sleeper – Bloodied/Unbowed CD (Solid State)
New album from the Fort Worth, Texas metalcore band – their first in eight years.
Priest – Obey CDEP/12" (Lovely)
The Swedish electro/synth band's new EP Obey contains five tracks that are catchy yet experimental. Includes a cover of Radiohead's "Street Spirit".
Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains CD/LP/Cassette (Drag City)
After a decade in the wilderness, David Berman has returned to record-making – this time around as Purple Mountains, leaving his iconic Silver Jews brand to history. Fortunately for all the fans, he's retained his iconic songwriting style, with a new batch of tunes conveying an astonishing variety of 21st-century mid-life crises.
Ranky Tanky – Good Time CD (Resilience Music)
On the follow up to their wildly successful debut album, Ranky Tanky explores more of the Gullah culture that makes their musical story so compelling. Numerous originals also color this spectacular collection of iconic regional favorites.
Joe Satriani and Squares – Squares CD/LP (earMUSIC)
Satriani has often mentioned in interviews the musical trio that launched the next step in his musical career, his first band, the Squares, formed in Berkeley, CA in the late '70s. Until now, no recordings of the inception of the legendary Satriani sound were available.
She Past Away – Disko Anksiyete CD/LP (Metropolis)
This unique act blends dark-wave with an '80s influence, post-punk era guitars with minimalist poetry in sung Turkish. [Limited edition red colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Angie Stone – Full Circle CD/LP (Cleopatra)
New album from the R&B singer. Includes a duet with Jaheim. [Limited purple colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Supersonic Blues Machine – Road Chronicles: Live! CD/LP (Provogue)
First live album from the blues rock band recorded in Brugnera, Italy on July 20th 2018.
James TW – Chapters CD (Island)
New release from the British singers/songwriter.
Kate Tempest – The Book Of Traps And Lessons CD (American)
Limited deluxe edition. A handful of words often tell you everything you need to know. When asked, who is Kate Tempest? "Kate Tempest is the words," she responds. For a woman whose public life remains rooted in poetic magnetism, five words serve as an apropos summation. Yet, her actions beg you to surmise so much more. That's because you haven't ever seen, heard, or experienced anyone quite like her. Tempest uncovers the missing link between the Golden Ages of literature and hip-hop.
Tijuana Panthers – Carpet Diem CD/LP+MP3 (Innovative Leisure)
Combining their signature surf rock with new experimentations in sound, Carpet Denim is the culmination of nearly three years of work and the band's subconscious evolution into deeper, more personal places.
Torche – Admission CD/LP (Relapse)
Fifteen years into their career, Torche has established themselves as a cornerstone of American heavy rock. On new album Admission, the band's unforgettable vocal harmonies are met with hook-driven, pop sensibilities that propel the music to new heights.
Twin XL – How To Talk To Strangers CDEP (Century Media)
Twin XL is an alt-pop trio from Los Angeles. The seven songs on mini album How To Talk To Strangers examine issues we have all dealt with in one way or another, like social anxiety, vices, and the difficulties of adulthood. While doing so, they manage to exude an enthralling and mellow vibe that you can't help but to bob your head and tap your foot to.
Tycho – Weather CD/LP (Mom + Pop)
Tycho is the Grammy-nominated electronic music project led by Scott Hansen as primary composer, songwriter and producer. Respected for both their musical output and Scott's graphic design work under the ISO50 moniker, Tycho has drawn comparisons to of Boards Of Canada, Ulrich Schnauss and Jon Hopkins. Weather is an exciting progression from his previous output, with most of the new tracks featuring vocals.
Uzeda – Quocumque Jeceris Stabit CD/LP+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
Uzeda – a national treasure of Italy's underground rock scene, and one of the longest-running punk bands on the planet – returns with their first new album in 13 years. The album's title, Quocumque Jeceris Stabit comes from the famous inspiration phrase that loosely translates in English to "Wherever you throw it, it will stand" – a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the band.
Various Artists – Tiny Changes: A Celebration Of Frightened Rabbit's The Midnight Organ Fight CD/LP (Canvasback Music/Atlantic)
Recorded in 2018 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the acclaimed Scottish band Frightened Rabbit's seminal album The Midnight Organ Fight, friends – including The National's Aaron Dessner and Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry, The Hold Steady's Craig Finn, Katie Harkin & Sarah Silverman, Manchester Orchestra, and Death Cab For Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard, among others – contributed their own renditions of every track on the original 2008 release.
Elle Varner – Ellevation CD (E1)
Varner's new mixtape includes current single "Kinda Love" and previous releases "Pour Me", "Loving U Blind" and "Casanova". There are a couple of features on Ellevation – Wale's appearance on "Pour Me" and Rapsody bringing her girl power to "Wishing Well".
Wear Your Wounds – Rust On The Gates Of Heaven CD/LP (Deathwish Inc.)
Wear Your Wounds was created by Converge founder Jacob Bannon. Initially conceived as a solo project, it evolved into a five-piece band that often works with collaborating musicians.
Yuna – Rouge CD/LP (Verve)
There's a timeless groove to the R&B of Yuna on her fourth album Rouge, one that's been two years in the making. It's the most ambitious project the songwriter has ever taken on, and the first album she's putting out as a fully realized woman.
Doobie Brothers – Live From The Beacon Theatre Blu-ray (Rhino)
In November 2018, The Doobie Brothers returned to the Beacon Theatre for the first time in 25 years to perform two of their landmark albums, Toulouse Street and The Captain And Me. This historic performance at the Beacon offered an opportunity for Doobie fans to hear deep cuts and songs never-before performed live by the band.
This Week's Vinyl Exclusives:
Allman Brothers Band ‎– Where It All Begins [Reissue/1994] LP (Friday Music)
Limited colored audiophile vinyl pressing. After breaking up in 1981, the Allman Brothers' four surviving original members – Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe – reunited for a 20th anniversary tour in 1989. 1994's Where It All Begins marked the band's fourth post-reunion release and second to last studio effort to date. It would also serve as the band's last with Betts.
Avail – Over The James [Reissue/1998] LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Trailblazing Richmond, Virginia punk band Avail reunite this summer for a series of sold-out shows, their first in 12, to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their album, Over The James. Originally released in 1998 on Lookout! Records, this reissue includes bonus tracks that were added in 2006, when Jade Tree Records first pressed the title on vinyl.
Philip Bailey – Love Will Find A Way LP (UMG)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On Love Will Find A Way, legendary falsetto Philip Bailey proves that the atmosphere and ideas that made Earth Wind & Fire possible – a respect for genuine musicianship, a conviction that all music matters – are alive and well in 2019. Along with trusted friends like bassist Christian McBride, the iconic jazz pianist Chick Corea and drum legend Steve Gadd, the album features several of the brightest contemporary lights in jazz, R&B, pop and more: keyboardist Robert Glasper, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, rapper, musician and producer will.i.am, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, singer-songwriter Bilal, singer-saxophonist Casey Benjamin, guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist Derrick Hodge, among many others.
Boca 45 – Forty Five LP (Mass Appeal)
Scott Hendy aka Boca 45 is a Bristol UK institution from his mid- '90s days selling golden-era hip hop at the seminal Purple Penguin Records. Becoming one of Bristol's most in-demand DJs, he's known for a rapid-fire mix of bone-cracking breaks, hip-hop, funk, heavy soul and psych. Celebrating Boca's 45th year, he has honed everything he's learned and loved into one killer solo record. Features guest contributions from Geoff Barrow (Portishead/Beak), Billy Fuller, Kasabian's Sergio Pizzorno, MC Emskee, Louis Baker and Gee.
Body Type – EP1 & EP2 LP (PTKF)
Body Type patched themselves together in Sydney in 2016, and found they each contained pieces that perfectly complemented one another's. They soon set about articulating their ideas through jangling guitars and scuzzy, lo-fi production, and found that audiences at home and around the country were eager to get sucked in. Following the debut release of EP1 in late 2018, and the sophomore release of EP2 in May 2019, both Body Type EPs are presented together on vinyl for the first time.
Boy Harsher – Come Closer 12" (Nude Club)
Boy Harsher – Tears 12" (Nude Club)
On the heels of the critical and commercial success of the band's last album Careful, Boy Harsher return with a pair of remix 12"s.
Tim Buckley – The Complete Album Collection 1996-1972 7xLP (Rhino)
Tim Buckley recorded a diverse body of music between 1966 and 1972 which included six studio albums and memorable songs like "Aren't You The Girl", "Dolphins", and "Song To The Siren". This vinyl boxed set features his first seven studio albums, which were remastered in 2017.
Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield [Reissue/1966] LP (Atlantic)
Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield Again [Reissue/1967] LP (Atlantic)
Buffalo Springfield – Last Time Around [Reissue/1966] LP (Atlantic)
When Canadian transplants Neil Young and Bruce Palmer intersected with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Dewey Martin on the Sunset Strip in 1966, one of the truly great Los Angeles bands was born: Buffalo Springfield. Taking their name from a steamroller they'd seen parked on a street, the quintet emerged as folk-rock/country-rock leaders during their tumultuous two-year existence.
Burning Point – Feeding The Flames [Reissue/2003] LP (AFM)
Limited clear yellow colored vinyl pressing. Finnish power metal band Burning Point is an active part of the European metal scene since the late '90s.
Chon – Chon LP (Sumerian)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. On their self-titled third album, Chon find themselves at the confluence of a great push and pull. Their debut full-length, 2015's Grow, established their mathy, forward-thinking take on the genre, while 2017's Homey furthered that sound while incorporating brand-new influences like effect-pedal-heavy elements of electronic music and trip-hop. Now, with Chon, the trio once again have kicked down their musical guardrails – but in a way that balances their more eccentric impulses with a steadying dose of clarity and restraint. The album is brimming with some of the most forward-thinking, intricate musings the band have ever attempted, from the deep progressive propulsion of first single "Peace" to "Spike", which spins the band's youthful tech and metal influences together into a flashy riff-athon. All at once, Chon respects the trio's current listeners while inviting a broader swath of new ones in – the rare progressive rock album adroit enough to straddle that line. [Cloudy clear vinyl pressing also available.]
Church Of Misery – Master Of Brutality [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Rise Above Limited)
Church Of Misery – The Second Coming [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Rise Above Limited)
Church Of Misery – Houses Of The Unholy [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Rise Above Limited)
Church Of Misery – Thy Kingdom Scum [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Rise Above Limited)
Vinyl reissues of the first four albums by the Japanese doom rock/metal band.
Sanford Clark ‎– They Call Me Country [Reissue/1968] LP (Numero)
Propelled by his 1956 Lee Hazlewood- produced hit The Fool, Sanford Clark was already a rockabilly legend in his own right by the time he swapped his hair gel and switchblade for a pair of cowboy boots on They Call Me Country. Recorded between 1965-67 and originally released as a series of singles for Phoenix's Ramco label, the 12 tracks on this LP borrow Bakersfield's outlaw sound and ignore Nashville's countrypolitan flair, standing as a true lost masterpiece of country music's third generation. Clark's booming baritone tells tales of bar fights, heartaches, and drinking 'til you can't stand, while Waylon Jennings provides a backdrop of fuzzed out guitar twang.
Combichrist – One Fire 2xLP+MP3 (Rough Trade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the aggrotech/industrial band. Formed in 2003, Combichrist took founder Andy LaPlegua's hardcore past and electronica present and merged them into a singular, mechanical music monster. Since releasing the first Combichrist album The Joy Of Gunz, LaPlegua and Combichrist have unleashed six subsequent full lengths. [Two colored vinyl pressings are available: pink and orange.]
Cortex – Spinal Injuries [Reissue/1983] LP (Sacred Bones)
Informed by deep and enthusiastic underground music knowledge, Cortex were key in the ongoing musical narrative of Swedish punk and post-punk. The late frontman of Cortex, Freddie Wadling (1951-2016) is a legend of enormous stature in Sweden: he is revered on the level of, say, Captain Beefheart or Serge Gainsbourg, and has been a key influence for generations of Swedish artists over the past four decades. His work ranges from proto-punk to equilibrist jazz vocals, and the trajectory of his cultural life from the Swedish underground of the early 1970s to his final years as an iconic interpreter of the Swedish songbook in the mainstream has to include a discussion and the experience of what many consider his greatest album: Cortex's debut LP Spinal Injuries. [Limited clear vinyl pressing also available.]
Daisies – What Are You Waiting For? LP (K. Records)
Introducing, Daisies, the latest paisley underground revolution. Forged from the ashes of CCFX and others, Daisies present their debut, What Are You Waiting For?
Dawn Of Winter – Pray For Doom LP (I Hate Records)
2018 album from Germany's tried and tested stalwarts of traditional doom – now available on vinyl.
DMA's – MTV Unplugged 2xLP (Infectious Music)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Australian rock trio played a special acoustic gig at Melbourne's Memo Music Hall last year as part of the network's iconic Unplugged series.
Dope – Live & Rare LP (Cleopatra)
Bludgeoning compilation of live and rare tracks from the New York alt-metal band.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – Black Star Dancing 12" (Caroline)
The Black Star Dancing EP is a change of pace for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, combining a more electronic sound with some eminently danceable rhythms.
Jan Garbarek ‎– In Praise Of Dreams [Reissue/2004] LP (ECM)
First-time vinyl pressing. In 2005, In Praise Of Dreams was nominated for the Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
Grateful Dead – Fillmore West, February 28, 1969 5xLP (Grateful Dead)
The Grateful Dead's four night stand at The Fillmore West from Thursday February 27 through Sunday March 2, 1969 stands as one of the premier events in Grateful Dead history. For once, The Dead played at their creative best when state-of-the-art recording equipment was hooked up and rolling.
Groove Theory ‎– Groove Theory [Reissue/1995] 2xLP (Get On Down)
The neo-soul movement of the late '90s, which fused classic soul sounds with contemporary elements, heralded the arrival of some of the greatest R&B recordings of the decade. Albums like Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo's Brown Sugar, and Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite were all born of this trend, while artists such as Mos Def, The Roots, and Common whole-heartedly embraced the sound, creating some of their most timeless material in the process. These are some of neo-soul's great successes, but a slew of underground acts are what set the initial blueprint for their more pop-friendly acquaintances to follow. Acts such as R&B duo Groove Theory.
Arlo Guthrie ‎– The Best Of Arlo Guthrie [Reissue/1977] LP (Rhino)
140gm green colored vinyl LP reissue.
Kevin Hearn – Calm + Cents LP (Celery)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Current member of The Barenaked Ladies and former member of the Rheostatics, Kevin Hearn is a veteran of the Canadian Music pantheon. Now he has returned with the release of a solo collection of alternative/ experimental tracks.
Honey Radar – Ruby Puff Of Dust LP (What's Your Rupture?)
Ruby Puff Of Dust is the fifth full-length overall for the Philadephia-based outfit, sitting atop a body of releases that swells every time you check back in with them. It's got twelve songs and stands as one of the most pop-oriented Honey Radar releases – all killer, all signal, Roger McGuinn playing 12-string with a glasscutter, Buffalo Springfield eating the draft, mysterious psychoactive compounds found in the bottom of a cardboard box in storage…
Hoodoo Gurus ‎– Crank [Reissue/1994] LP (Big Time Phonograph)
Hoodoo Gurus ‎– Blue Cave [Reissue/1996] LP (Big Time Phonograph)
Vinyl reissues of the Australian rock band's sixth and seventh albums. Limited colored vinyl pressings.
Bobbi Humphrey ‎– Blacks And Blues [Reissue/1973] LP (Blue Note)
Flutist Bobbi Humphrey found wide success with Blacks And Blues, her breakout third album for Blue Note, working with the Mizell Brothers (who had recently hooked up with Donald Byrd to produce the trumpeter's landmark album Black Byrd) to create a jazz-funk classic for the ages featuring the standout track "Harlem River Drive". Humphrey's alluring flute and breezy vocals paired with Larry Mizell's compelling R&B jazz fusion compositions and production proved a winning combination.
Carly Rae Jepsen – Dedicated LP (School Boy/Interscope)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. After dropping critically acclaimed singles "Now That I Found You" and "No Drug Like Me, multi-platinum Grammy, Juno, and Polaris Prize-nominated singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen releases her album Dedicated.
Jordskred ‎– Det Stora Hela LP (Jordskred Kooperatif)
Airy, evolving, eloquent and majestic '70s-inspired prog rock that grips, absorbs and conquers.
Sachiko Kanenobu – Misora [Reissue/1972] LP (Light In The Attic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Often regarded as Japan's first female singer-songwriter Sachiko Kanenobu created an enduring legacy with Misora a timeless classic of intricate finger-picking gently soaring melodies and rustic Laurel Canyon vibes. Originally released in 1972 on URC (Underground Record Club) one of Japan's first independent record labels the Haruomi Hosono-produced album remains one of the most beloved works to come out of Japan's folk and rock scenes centered around Tokyo and Kansai areas in the early 1970s.
Khruangbin – Hasta El Cielo LP (Dead Oceans)
Globetrotting Texan trio Khruangbin release a dub version of their second album Con Todo El Mundo. The band's exotic, spacious, psychedelic funk aligns with the dub treatment particularly well. Includes h two bonus dubs by renowned Jamaican producer Scientist. [Limited yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – Tracing Back The Radiance LP+MP3 (Mexican Summer)
New release from the Brooklyn-based ambient artist. Tracing Back The Radiance includes contributions from Mary Lattimore (harp), Chuck Johnson (pedal steel guitar), Gregg Kowalksy (synthesizer), and others.
Jerry Lee Lewis – The Knox Phillips Sessions: The Unreleased Recordings LP (Time Life)
10 rare tracks from the Knox Philips archives.
Lost System – Left Behind LP (Neck Chop)
With some distance now between their 2017 debut, Lost System has honed their sound beyond mere impetus with Left Behind, doubling-down with measured swaths of suitably icy disenchantment, all tersely arranged to stride alongside the lauded heavies of the international post-punk cognoscenti.
The Love Language ‎– The Love Language [Reissue/2009] LP+MP3 (Merge)
This vinyl reissue marks the 10th anniversary of The Love Language's long-out-of-print debut album. This one-time pressing on opaque yellow vinyl features updated art, full lyrics printed on a heavyweight inner sleeve, and a jacket with spot gloss details. It also includes digital bonus tracks.
Zachary Lucky – The Ballad Of Losing You [Reissue/2013] LP (Nordvis)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Hearing Zachary Lucky's songs, or reading or writing about this emerging and indelible Canadian artist's past, it would seem impossible to separate the singer-songwriter from his prairie origins. With the re-issue of his sixth release, The Ballad Of Losing You, there is an inherent shift. As the album title suggests, Lucky has constructed an earnest and personal narrative about the uncertainty of loss and of transformation. The style of The Ballad Of Losing You has drifted from his folk beginnings into a country and English ballad tradition.
MC5 ‎– Kick Out The Jams Motherf**ker! LP (Cleopatra)
Limited edition gold vinyl repress. A stellar compilation of career highlights from the Motor City rock legends.
The Members – In_Grr_Land [Reissue/2012] LP (Cleopatra)
First-time limited vinyl pressing of the 2012 studio album from the UK punk legends.
Nick Murphy/Chet Faker – Run Fast Sleep Naked LP (Downtown)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The new release from Nick Murphy, the artist formerly known as Chet Faker, Run Fast Sleep Naked is the follow-up to his 2014 debut Built On Glass which was released under the Chet Faker moniker, and 2017's Missing Link EP. Co-produced by Dave Harrington, the vocals for the collection were captured all around the world during the last four years. For the record, Murphy found "spaces and environments that most inspired him," ranging from his grandmother's living room to a studio in Tokyo to a New Zealand rental home while on vacation with his family. During this period, the musician began a process of intense self-examination, using Joseph Campbell's writings to question his role as an artist in modern society. The instrumentation for the album was later recorded at Brooklyn, New York's Figure 8 with help from over 15 musicians and a full orchestra.
Mystik – Mystik LP (I Hate Records)
Mystik is inclined towards classic US heavy/speed metal and is recommended for fans of Omen, Warlord and Original Sin.
Pachyman – Pachyman In Dub LP (Permanent)
Envisioned in the style of early dancehall records, Pachy Garcia took upon the task of recreating the sonic endeavors of Scientist, King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry and the great engineers and players of instruments of early Jamaican reggae music. Inspired by Channel One Studios and Roots Radics band, the tone was set in a dancehall fashion with some detours into Rub-a-Dub and Rockers style playing.
Parliament ‎– Up For The Down Stroke [Reissue/1974] LP (Mercury)
Limited 180gm vinyl reissue of the legendary funk band's second album.
Lee "Scratch" Perry – Makumba Rock 10" (On-U Sound)
A follow-up EP to Perry's recently released and Rainford LP. The A-side of this EP serves up an extended version of album highlight "Makumba Rock", vocal mashed into dub in classic Jamaican discomix style. On the flip is the non-album track "Heaven & Hell", a psychedelic funk shuffle with decaying horns disintegrating into the fog of effects and relentless Upsetter wisdom.
Pottery – No. 1 LP (PTKF)
Initially bonding over artists such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Devo, Montreal's Pottery creates a sound that combines eclectic traces of post-punk, pop, and dance music, forming an unusual atmosphere that envelopes audiences.
Pretty Vicious – Beauty Of Youth 2xLP (Big Machine/ John Varvatos)
Debut album from the up-and-coming UK rockers. Calling for blood on their 12-track collection, Pretty Vicious' white-knuckle rhythms, irresistible hooks, airtight riffing, and gutter soul conjure up the reckless abandon of '70s punk and the timeless songcraft of grunge.
Ravensire – Stone Engraved In Red LP (Cruz Del Sur Music)
"Hailing from Portugal, Ravensire is an epic heavy metal band through and through, taking inspiration from all the best swords (Doomsword, Ironsword), the Viking ethos of Bathory's Hammerheart era, and of course, the loin beclothed he-men of Manowar. This is their third album of unruly barbarian metal for the mighty, strong in its adherence to the stoic, Spartan ways of trve metal." – Angry Metal Guy
Lou Rawls/Les McCann Ltd. ‎– Stormy Monday [Reissue/1962] LP (Bear Family)
180gm vinyl LP pressing of a beautiful cool jazz/blues classic. When Lou Rawls (1933-2006) entered the recording studio in LA in February 1962 to record his first album Stormy Monday in collaboration with Les McCann's combo, hardly anyone could have guessed what success and popularity the black singer, songwriter, producer and film actor would achieve in the coming decades.
The Rileys ‎– Way Out Yonder 2xLP (ORG Music)
Way Out Yonder is the second live release from the duo comprised of iconic American composer and minimalist pioneer Terry Riley and his guitarist/composer son Gyan Riley. The album is comprised of spontaneous improvisations and compositions by both Terry and Gyan, captured during three performances in Canada, Japan and the US, and features the elder Riley on piano, voice, melodica and electronics.
Roots – Tipping Point [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Geffen)
15th anniversary translucent gold colored vinyl reissue of The Roots legendary sixth studio album. Tipping Point, named after Malcolm Gladwell's iconic book, is heavily inspired by jazz, funk and soul borrowing samples from Sly and The Family Stone among others.
Jeff Rosentock – I Look Like Sh*t [Reissue/2012] LP (Really)
Originally released in 2012, I Look Like Sh*t the debut solo record from Jeff Rosenstock. It is a collection of frequently blown out/occasionally tender home recordings from 2010-2012, written during the twilight of Rosenstock's former band Bomb The Music Industry!.
Shaed – Melt 12" (Photo Finish)
Limited sea blue colored vinyl LP pressing. Alternative electro-pop trio Shaed is comprised of powerhouse vocalist Chelsea Lee and multi-instrumentalist twin brothers Max and Spencer Ernst. Shaed's unique presence most recently landed the trio syncs in national TV spots for Apple's MacBook Air and Billboard-dubbed One to Watch in 2019. Following the success of "Trampoline", the band offers an EP of tracks from their previous releases.
Slowey & The Boats – Beneath An Amber Moon LP (Hi-Tide)
Slowey & The Boats is a Hawaii-inspired instrumental folk/jazz band from Philadelphia.
Leroy Smart – Propaganda [Reissue/1979] LP (Burning Sounds)
Vinyl reissue of a roots reggae classic.
Lonnie Smith – Think! [Reissue/1968] LP (Blue Note)
One of the funkiest and most inventive organists to ever walk the earth, Dr. Lonnie Smith made his name on Blue Note beginning with his 1968 label debut Think!. Produced by Francis Wolff, the album featured trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist David Newman, guitarist Melvin Sparks, and drummer Marian Booker Jr., with Henry Pucho Brown, William Bivens, and Norberto Apellaniz adding percussion on two tracks.
Sun Ra – Media Dreams LP (Art Yard)
All the material on this album comes from live performances from January 1978, when Sun Ra was in Italy with a quartet.
Nad Sylvan – The Regal Bastard LP (Inside Out U.S.)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The third and final part of the Steve Hackett vocalist's Vampire trilogy which began with 2015's Courting The Widow.
Taiwan Housing Project – Sub-Language Trustees LP (Ever/Never)
Fiercely independent and furiously articulate, Taiwan Housing Project is the kind of band they don't make anymore. Whether sweating it out in a dark basement with tomorrow's noise-rock elite or tearing up the stage opening for yesterday's no wave heroes, Taiwan Housing Project exude confidence, purpose and poise. But the dominant theme for THP is fire—the kind that burns deep in the gut; the kind that burns the dead growth gone; the kind that sparks violent and necessary change.
Greg Townson – More! Travelin' Guitar LP (H-Tide)
12 more guitar instrumentals from Greg Townson of Los Straitjackets and The Hi-Risers.
Universal Togetherness Band – Dreamality b/w Lucky Stars 7" (Numero)
Two brilliant, previously unissued modern soul discoveries from the archive of U.T.B. mastermind Andre Gibson. "My Lucky Stars" rides the 120 BPM crest, with sharp horns, handclaps, triangle, and a wild guitar solo filling out the four-and-a-half-minute ride. "Dreamality" cops a Steve Miller vibe and goes on a spaced-out future funk adventure.
The Upsetters ‎– Return Of The Super Ape [Reissue/1978] LP (Goldenlane)
Special starburst colored vinyl pressing of a reggae classic.
U.S. Highball – Great Record LP (Run For Cover)
U.S. Highball is a new pop group made up of Calvin Halliday and James Hindle; one the former drummer of Glasgow punks Anxiety and both members of power pop outfit The Pooches. Inspired equally by the organ-led jangle of Felt, the whip-smart new wave of Nick Lowe, and the primitive drum machine sounds of early They Might Be Giants, U.S. Highball revel unashamedly in the pleasures of pure pop.
Various Artists – Brought To Light LP (FatCat)
FatCat has a long tradition of supporting new artists and treating demos with an open mind. This new collection of songs, the first in a trilogy of such releases, is demonstrable to the eclectic taste the label has always possessed. FatCat has always been a label that comfortably straddles the line between guitar music and electronica. For this release, the focus is on the sort of DIY guitar sound of which Paws and TRAAMS fans might enjoy. Away from the FatCat roster, fans of Yuck, Cloud Nothings, Drenge and Girl Band will also find plenty in which to immerse themselves.
We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (FatCat)
To celebrate their debut album's 10th birthday, and just in time for their upcoming US tour this summer, We Were Promised Jetpacks release an expanded anniversary gold colored vinyl edition of These Four Walls, including eight previously unreleased tracks.
Reuben Wilson – Blue Mode [Reissue/1969] LP (Blue Note)
For his third Blue Note album Blue Mode, organist Reuben Wilson kept it right in the pocket and laid down one of the funkiest soul jazz workouts of the late- '60s. Produced by Francis Wolff, the date featured Wilson at the helm of an airtight quartet with tenor saxophonist John Manning, guitarist Melvin Sparks, and drummer Tommy Derrick.
Wishbone Ash – Wishbone Ash [Reissue/1970] LP (LMLR)
Wishbone Ash's debut album features progressive, improvised music, powered by the raw talent of dual lead guitar players, Andy Powell and Ted Turner. Limited deluxe opaque brown colored vinyl pressing.
Cassettes:
Bleached – Don't You Think You've Had Enough? (Dead Oceans)
Don't You Think You've Had Enough? is what Jennifer Clavin asked herself when she hit a turning point in her life. It's also the title of the new record from Bleached, Jessie and Jennifer Clavin's first LP written from a place of sobriety. That newfound perspective serves as the guiding force, yielding a courageous, honest, and sonically ambitious album. It's a record about fighting both literally and figuratively for your life – and the clarity born from that struggle. The album glimmers with inspiration found in touring with the likes of The Damned and Paramore. That arena- ready pop, incisively catchy, was a palpable influence helping to push Bleached's sound in a new direction.
Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains (Drag City)
Summer Cannibals – Can't Tell Me No (Tiny Engines)
Recently released on CD and vinyl – now available on cassette. The Cannibals formed in 2012 and gained a fervent following on the local Portland scene, eventually playing with some their musical heroes including L7, Mudhoney, Stephen Malkmus and The War on Drugs, and touring with Ted Leo & the Pharmacists and Cursive. Can't Tell Me No is the band's first entirely self-engineered and produced album.