Here's what's going to arrive on thursday. More to come.
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A box just showed up with the new M.I.A. "Maya" LP & CD in it. Also in is the latest LP from Jonsi (Sigur Ros singer) called "Go", Gary Numan's "The Pleasure Principle" LP, and restock vinyl from Interpol, Vampire Weekend, and The National "High Violet" LP.
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I just found out that these CD's & LP's will be here by weeks end. Harvey Milk new CD, Wolf People "Tidings" LP, Gamma Ray "To The Metal" CD+DVD, Japandroids both LP's, Cap'n Jazz "Analphabetapolothology" double LP, Watain new CD, Lee Scratch Perry "Panic In Babylon" CD, Depreciation Guild "Spirit Youth" CD & LP as well as restock on Bon Iver vinyl.
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M.I.A.- "Maya" LPx2 + CD (XL Recordings)
Brand new on both formats.
Jonsi- "Go" LP (XL Recordings)
Debut solo album from Sigur Ros vocalist.
Gary Numan- "The Pleasure Principle" LP (Weatherbox)
The most popular of all the Gary Numan albums is undeniably 1979's The Pleasure Principle. The reasons are simple — there is not a single weak moment on the disc, it contains his sole U.S. (number one worldwide) hit, "Cars," and new drummer Cedric Sharpley adds a whole new dimension with his powerful percussion work. The Pleasure Principle is also one of the first Gary Numan albums to feature true ensemble playing, especially heard within the airtight, killer groove of "Metal" (one of Numan's all-time best tracks). Starting things off with the atmospheric instrumental "Airlane," the quality of the songs gets stronger and stronger as the album progresses — "Films," "M.E.," "Observer," "Conversation," the aforementioned "Cars," and the U.K. Top Ten hit "Complex" all show Numan in top form. If you had to own just one Gary Numan album, The Pleasure Principle would be it.
Interpol- "Turn On The Bright Lights" LP (Matador)
Restock on vinyl.
Vampire Weekend- "Contra" LP (XL Recordings)
Restock on vinyl.
Wolf Parade- "Expo 86" LPx2 + CD (Sub Pop)
Brand new release on both formats. Double 180 gram vinyl has free download.
To Rococo Rot- "Speculation" LP+CD (Domino)
To Rococo Rot, the trio of Stefan Schneider and brothers Robert and Ronald Lippok, arrived just over a decade ago at the point where digital precision and instrumental abstraction were harnessed into new directions in contemporary music, detached and accessible. Their early albums, Veiculo and The Amateur View, spoke in the future imperfect tense, highly complex but concentrated sound happenings.
On Speculation the language, unembellished in character, has changed. This is a record that celebrates uncertainty. Driven by the sound of fingers on instruments, pushing and weaving between the electric pulse, Speculation bathes in a midpoint between propulsion and letting go.
Hawksley Workman- "For Him & The Girls" LPx2 (Outside)
Reissues on vinyl.
Hawksley Workman- "Meat" LP (Outside)
Reissues on vinyl.
Hawksley Workman- "Milk" LP (Outside)
Reissues on vinyl.
Crystal Castles- "II" LPx2 (Last Gang)
New double vinyl version of latest album with poster.
Queens Of The Stone Age- "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" 10" pic disc (Interscope)
Luckily back in stock from leftover RSD inventory. Could be the last time.
Kings Of Leon- "Aha Shake Heartbreak" CDx2 (RCA)
Double CD Australian Tour Edition!
De La Soul- "De La Soul Is Dead" LP ($ Men With Beards)
180 gram vinyl issue. De La Soul’s second album, originally released in 1991, was initially received poorly by the press and their fans due to its immediate rejection of the daisy-age image created by their debut LP. In the years since, however, it has come to be accepted as a stone classic that may even surpass the feel-good jams of Three Feet High And Rising with its expansive scope and more diverse subject matter (drug addiction, incest, poseurs, in addition to the more expected, light-hearted material). Prince Paul’s production is, again, nothing short of brilliant and Plug’s 1, 2 and 3 bring the flow that has made them, rightfully, hip-hop legends.
Metallica- "Ride The Lightning" LP (Rhino)
Restock on single 180 gram vinyl.
Rolling Stones- "Exile On Main Street" LPx2 (Abko)
Reissue on double 180 gram vinyl.
Junior Wells & Buddy Guy- "Hoodoo Man Blues" LP (Delmark)
A stone classic Chicago style blues album from the early 60's.
Madlib- "Shades Of Blue" LPx2 (Blue Note)
Madlib received a rare opportunity with unfettered access to the storied Blue Note archives and permission to use them as he wished for a remix/interpretation album released on Blue Note itself. The result, Shades of Blue, is really more of a Yesterdays New Quintet album, but Madlib's name is far more recognizable then his alter ego and faux-supergroup, YNQ. So, Shades of Blue features Madlib interpreting and remixing Blue Note classics such as Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and Gene Harris' "The Look of Slim" (remixed here as "Slim's Return"). Overall, a good time is had by all, as he doesn't just sample the tracks as much as fit them into his own sound. That's why the record would be better compared to the Yesterdays New Quintet debut, Angles Without Edges, where Madlib takes on the personas of numerous instrumentalists (going so far as to credit them individually in the liner notes) and make laid-back break-heavy jams that serve great as background party stuff -- and that's really where Shades of Blue works the best. Intent listening doesn't really give much up, but for smooth subconscious grooves, it's perfect.
Roots- "Game Theory" LPx2 (Interscope)
Back in stock on vinyl.
Gord Downie- "The Grand Bounce" LPx2 (Universal)
2xLP vinyl format will be available 10 days prior to the CD release date. The Grand Bounce is Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip’s third career solo project; The Country of Miracles band members are Gord Downie, Dale Morningstar, Dave Clark, Dr. Pee, Julie Doiron and Josh Finlayson. It’s a slightly more grass roots direction than The Tragically Hip but it will also be a must for their loyal fanbase.
Jimmy Cliff- "The Harder They Come" LP (Island)
In 1973, when the movie The Harder They Come was released, reggae was not on the radar screen of American pop culture. The soundtrack went a ways toward changing that situation. It is a collection of consistently excellent early reggae songs by artists who went on to thrive with reggae's increased popularity, and others for whom this is the most well-known vehicle. Jimmy Cliff is both the star of the movie and the headliner on the soundtrack. He contributes three excellent songs: the hymnal "Many Rivers to Cross," "You Can Get It If You Really Want," and "The Harder They Come" (the latter two are repeated at the end of the album, but you probably wanted to hear them again anyway). Interestingly, the better production values of his songs actually seems to detract from them when compared to the rougher, but less sanitized, mixes of the other tracks. All the songs on this collection are excellent, but some truly stand out. Toots & the Maytals deliver two high-energy songs with "Sweet and Dandy" and "Pressure Drop" (covered by the Clash among others). Scotty develops a mellow, loping groove on "Stop That Train" (not the same as the Wailers' song by the same name) and the Slickers prove on "Johnny Too Bad" that you don't have to spout profanity or graphic violence to convey danger. The Harder They Come is strongly recommended both for the casual listener interested in getting a sense of reggae music and the more serious enthusiast. Collections don't come much better than this.
Sonny Landreth- "Leevee Town" CDx2 expanded version (Import)
The Mississippi-born slide guitar specialist spent most of his childhood across the way in Louisiana, soaking up the Cajun and zydeco influences that have always been present in his recordings. Landreth's career ignited in the late 1970s, as sideman to Clifton Chenier, followed by a stint with Michael Doucet's Beausoleil. The latter fiddler appears as one of this album's host of guest players, which also includes another old employer, John Hiatt, as well as the omnipresent Bonnie Raitt. As expected, it's Landreth's sliding flash that presides over the self-penned tunes, his burning, skidding tootles and hot yowling licks repeatedly lifting each track into the red. Landreth's song writing often tends towards nondescript rock, but his narrative lyrics have substance, crying out for some harder melodic content. Joe Mouton's accordion and frottoir (rubboard) add authentic spice to "The U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile", while "Broken-Hearted Road" travels from sparse slugging to smoking frenzy. Axe fiends can rejoice in the instrumental "Spider-Gris" and "Z. Rider", then the closing "Angeline" and "Deep South" bring on a soul horn section, adding yet another flavour to this Southern stew.
Lenny Breau- "Guitar Sounds Of Lenny Breau" CD (Wounded Bird)
Guitar Sounds of Lenny Breau is the major label debut of jazz guitarist Lenny Breau, issued in 1968 on RCA. Breau is accompanied by an able if not spectacular rhythm section that includes bassist Ronnie Halldorson and drummer Reg Kellin. The program here features Breau playing a number of pop tunes of many genres, including the Lennon-McCartney classic "Hard Day's Night," Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart," Roger Miller's "King of the Road," John Phillips' "Monday, Monday" as well as standards like "My Funny Valentine," and "Georgia on My Mind." But it is in his material that the guitarist shines best. Take for example the entirely improvised "Taranta," played on nylon string classical guitar. Breau moves from solo flamenco style classicism to dark, modal jazz improvisation with his rhythm section. His classical style is most evident here. His read of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright," also on the nylon string, swings gently and freely in a stylish and beautiful arrangement. Likewise his version of the Hoagy Carmichael classic on electric begins with a silvery, moody triplet before it slows the lyric melody to enter and then seamlessly syncopates and slips off into a swing-fest. The version of Paul James' and Fred Williams' folk classic "Freight Train" is simply astonishing for the wealth of picking styles it displays -- from country and bluegrass to flamenco and classical. "Cold, Cold Heart" is simply transformed from a country song to a jazz ballad. This is an impressive debut as any you're likely to find because of Breau's startling originality on the instrument. The CD reissue by Wounded Bird in 2005 contains one bonus track, a spirited, soulful read of the pop classic "Call Me."
Modest Mouse- "The Lonesome Crowded West" CD (UP Records)
Back in stock on CD.
Modest Mouse- "This Is A Long Drive Home....." CD (UP Records)
Back in stock on CD.
Captain Beyond- "S/T" CD (Wounded Bird)
Captain Beyond is a one-of-a-kind progressive album with rock, heavy metal, and jazz influences with a "space rock" lyrical bend. Formed by former members of Deep Purple (Rod Evans, vocals), Iron Butterfly (Rhino, lead guitar, and Lee Dorman, bass), and Johnny Winter (Bobby Caldwell, drums) Captain Beyond is an album that flows from riff to riff, drumbeat to drumbeat, often with various time signatures within the same song. Taking a tip from the Moody Blues, songs flow directly into each other without benefit of any lag time between selections. Taken as a whole, the album is kind of a rush, as quick, riff-laden guitar lines predominate for a few songs before slowing down temporarily into a lull until the next takeoff. Lyrically, the album differentiates itself by exploring themes of the outer world and meanings of existence, often with references to the moon, sea, sun, and so on. Listeners may get the feeling of taking a journey to space in a rocket ship headed for destination unknown. Musically, the album is superior in all aspects. Rod Evans has a strong rock voice, Rhino plays an enormous amount of hook-laden guitar lines, and Lee Dorman plays complex basslines (for example, at the end of "As the Moon Speaks-Return") that lead to typically rhythmic, nimble Bobby Caldwell drumming. The tightness between musicians is enormous, never lets up for long, and leaves the listener feeling like the ride should continue for the indefinite future.
Tom Waits- "Swordfishtrombone" LP (Island)
Restock of Tom's groundbreaking album.
Bad Brains- "I Against I" LP (SST)
Restock.
Bad Brains- "S/T" LP (Roir)
Restock.
Spacemen 3- "Sound Of Confusion" LP (Fire)
New reissues of these classic late 80's albums. Semi experimental forays into melding psyche/blues & pop.
Spacemen 3- "The Perfect Perscription" LP (Fire)
New reissues of these classic late 80's albums. Semi experimental forays into melding psyche/blues & pop.
Social Distortion- "S/T" LP (CBS)
Restock of SD's first major label album from 1990. With Prison Bound, Social Distortion began to metamorphasize from a rather ordinary L.A. hardcore band into a roots rock band willing to make with more than their share of the attitude, and this process continued on their self-titled third album (which was also their major-label debut). Musically, Mike Ness and company had learned to split the difference between rockabilly and Ramones-style punk, not unlike fellow L.A. vets X, and if Ness couldn't sing or write with the skill or the resonance of John Doe, "Story of My Life" and "It Coulda Been Me" sound a lot more personal and deeply felt than anything on Mommy's Little Monster, and "Ball and Chain" and "So Far Away" prove he could crank out a respectable honky tonk number if he put his mind to it. Thanks to Epic's sponsorship, the group had more time and money at their disposal for Social Distortion than on their previous albums, and producer Dave Jerden made the most of it; Mike Ness and Dennis Danell's guitars sound lean, sharp, and powerful; Ness's vocals are better controlled than ever before; and Christopher Reece's drums have a tight snap that suits both the thrashier numbers as well as the slower, blusier tunes. Social Distortion isn't a great roots rock album, but it's a pretty good one, and it's better and more affecting than anything this band had cranked out before. (AMG)
Wolfmother- "Cosmic Egg" LPx2 (Interscope)
Back in stock, even though I was led to believe it was already out of print.
New Pornographers- "Together" LP+7" (Last Gang)
Finally a domestic release for their latest album on vinyl. Comes with limited 7" single as well as free download. The impoerted version on Matador did not include the 7".
Blakroc- "S/T" LP+CD (Blakroc)
Back in stock. Black Keys team up with various hip hop singers.
Isaac Hayes- "Hot Buttered Soul" LP (Stax)
Restock. By 1969, black artists were following rock's lead and recording extended epics. At the forefront of such experimentation was big bad Isaac Hayes, coauthor of countless Stax classics and an artist in his own right. On this, his second album, Hayes takes two MOR-pop benchmarks, Burt Bacharach's "Walk On By" and Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and spins them out into slow-building sermons lasting 12 and 18.5 minutes apiece. Heavily romantic, they predate by two years Barry White's symphonic adventures in the same style, revolutionizing soul music in the process. Meanwhile, on the album's third epic, the 10-minute "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic," Hayes and his backing band the Bar-Kays wind up sounding, bizarrely, like a black Crazy Horse.
Lady Gaga- "The Fame Monster" LPx2 (Interscope)
Here on LP for the 1st time.
Dethklok- "Metalocalypse: Dethklok Dethalbum II" LP (Williams Street)
Vinyl edition of the second album from DETHKLOK, featuring more songs from Metalocalypse!
Black Flag- "TV Party" 12" (SST)
Restock on vinyl.
Black Flag- "Slip It In" LP (SST)
Restock LP.
Black Flag- "Loose Nut" LP (SST)
Restock LP.
Black Flag- "In My Head" LP (SST)
Restock LP.
Hole- "Nobody's Daughter" LP (Interscope)
Restock of the new Hole LP.
Radiohead- "The Bends" LP (Capitol)
Restock.
Cactus- "Restrictions" CD (Wounded Bird)
With a mixture of members from Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and the Amboy Dukes, it's hard to believe that Cactus didn't really succeed in their time. Often derided for being second-rate boogie rock, the band simply did what it did, and part of the allure of the style is its sloppy, second-rate nature. This 1971 release may not see the band at their peak, but it surely showcases the occasionally thundering rhythm section of Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice. Why a song like "Token Chokin'" was never a hit and why it has yet to be embraced by the classic rock-loving public is a complete mystery. The song is some of the most heels-up, thundering, so-brainless-it's-genius rock that has ever been to tape. It's complete with big guitars, big sing-alongs, and a bass-and-drum combo that could knock out windows. Somebody needs to revive this track. Songs like "Evil" and "Sweet Little Sixteen" are all scorching guitars and long-haired riffing. It's a testament to the blues-inspired power they could surely muster up onstage.
Cactus- "One Way Or Another" CD (Wounded Bird)
One Way... Or Another (1971) was the second and final studio outing to feature the incipient incarnation of supergroup Cactus, comprised of Vanilla Fudge rhythm section Carmine Appice (drums) and Tim Bogert (bass), as well as former Amboy Dukes lead vocalist Rusty Day (vocals/mouth harp), and Jim McCarty (guitar) from Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels and the Buddy Miles Express. Even as their debut was ostensibly rawer, they retained the same amp'ed-up electric blues reminiscent of early Grand Funk Railroad and Foghat. The more polished outcome heard on their sophomore effort is undoubtedly the direct result of assistance from recording engineer extraordinaire Eddie Kramer and their upgraded digs at the recently completed Electric Lady Studios, which they inhabited shortly after the passing of the facilities' owner, Jimi Hendrix.
My Morning Jacket- "Z" LPx2 (ATO)
In 2004, a dreamy cover of "Rocket Man" concluded My Morning Jacket's first volume of rarities. Which was prescient, because it's Elton John that Jim James' songs for 2005's ZHonky Chateau's melodic and genre explorations, John's ability to mesh styles and take detours within his sturdy pop songwriting applies to James here, particularly in the expansive opener, "Wordless Chorus," or the initial happy-go-lucky lilt of "Off the Record." Z is My Morning Jacket's fourth full-length (and second for ATO), and it's the one that might finally jump-start the reaction that James' music has always deserved. It Still Moves from 2003 rightly enjoyed its accolades, but it meandered a little structurally, too, and sometimes got a little lost in its own reverb. On Z, MMJ's traditional influences are present -- the folk, blues, and country tones of John, Neil Young, and the Band shaded by contemporaries like Mercury Rev and Mark Kozelek. But songs like "Lay Low" and "It Beats for You" are crafted tighter, their sound-drenched keyboard lines meeting the percussion head on and riding meaningful flourishes of electric guitar. "Gideon" climaxes in James calling out throatily over twinkling piano and big chords borrowed from the Who, and "What a Wonderful Man" is a raucous, crashing tumble of unhinged crash cymbals, barroom piano, and mirthful yelping. Z is intuitive, intensely creative, classicist-minded, nearly flawless. It's music that's extruded from Jim James' id, and that's bearded, too.
Lightning Bolt- "Earthly Delights" LP (Load)
Released in 2009.
Porcupine Tree- "On The Sunday Of Life" LPx2 (Kscope)
Nicely packaged vinyl versions of PT's early classics.
Porcupine Tree- "Up The Downstair" LPx2 (Kscope)
Nicely packaged vinyl versions of PT's early classics.
Porcupine Tree- "Fear Of a Blank Planet" LPx2 (Tone Float)
Nicely packaged vinyl versions of PT's early classics.
Sam & Dave- "Soul Men" LP (Stax)
Restock of this soul classic.
Tony Joe White- "......Continued" LP (Warner)
Tony Joe's 1st album from 1969. Bluesy swamp rock album which includes "Rainy Night In Georgia".
Deftones- "Diamond Eyes" LP (Warner)
The new album on vinyl.
Dub Trio- "New Heavy" LP (Roir)
Dub Trio has been promising a disc heavier on punk metal since its 2004 debut, and New Heavy delivers. Where that leaves them in the mind of dub kingpin Lee "Scratch" Perry Mike Patton-vocal on "Not Alone," and the genre stew that is "Table Rock Dub" readies the listener, who by then has doubtlessly figured out that the key to enjoying this disc is to roll with it, for the excellent punk onslaught that is "One Man Tag Crew." That New Heavy is a mash barely matters. Dub Trio are musicians' musicians -- they've each proved it individually with their session work -- and twice now they've turned in discs that say as much about their need to breathe creatively as to crank out cool music. Which is the way it should be.
Dub Trio- "Exploring The Dangers Of" LP (Roir)
They've been called the "Sly & Robbie of the tri-state area," but the Dub Trio really have more in common with their fellow New Yorkers Droid, who also take music that is more commonly created using studio trickery and perform it not only in real time, but live on-stage. Bassist Stu Brooks, guitarist D.P. Holmes and drummer Joe Tomino (all of whom share keyboard and mixing duties as well) distinguish themselves from their modern reggae peers by their ability simultaneously to perform and remix their music, sometimes drastically and always in ways that surprise and delight. Their debut album is an outstanding introduction to their unusual style; it includes both live-in-the-studio tracks with minimal overdubs and also three live-in-concert tracks that demonstrate their impressive ability to re-create their unique sound in a concert situation. Highlights include the fun glitchiness of "Sick Im Kid" and the gorgeous atmospherics of "Casting Out the Nines," but the band really shines on the live version of "Sick Im Kid" and the two other live tracks. Very highly recommended to all adventurous reggae fans.
Gene Clark- "White Light" LP (4 Men With Beards)
Remastered 1971 Solo Album from the Late Singer/Songwriter, Best Known for Hsi Tenure with the Sixties Pop Band the Byrds.
Manchester Orchestra- "Mean Everything To Nothing" LP (Columbia)
2009 release. In the two years since the release of their 2007 debut, Manchester Orchestra have played over 300 shows and made fans across the globe. They have toured in support of Kings of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Brand New, Say Anything and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. They have performed at festivals around the world including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Reading / Leeds (UK) and Laneway (Australia). While the debut was an attention-getting shot across the bow, Mean Everything To Nothing, produced by Joe Chicarelli (My Morning Jacket, The Raconteurs, The Shins), presents a substantial leap forward in sonic textures and song craft.
Brian Eno- "Another Green World" CD (EG)
Restock of his 3rd album.
The La's- "S/T" LP (Plain)
And so, by 1990, it seemed that no band in Britain remembered harmonies and jangly guitars and The Beatles and playing tapes backwards and psychedelic pop except The La's. And the La's weren't doing much about it--they spent so long in the studio moving faders up and down a millimetre that Go! Discs had to break into the studio, steal the tapes and release the album against the band's wishes. Chief La Lee Mavers still asserts The La's is a mess; nothing like he'd intended, but to everyone else in the universe it sounds glorious: with it's chiming Byrds-ian guitars and flat Mersey back-beat, "Timeless Melody" is the most aptly named song since Dodgy's "Good Enough;" and as the 60 million cover-versions constantly prove, "There She Goes" is the loveliest smack ode since the Strangler's "Golden Brown". The rest is never less than classic, whatever it's creator might mutter into his pint.
Brian Eno- "Here Come The Warm Jets" CD (EG)
Restock of his 3rd album.
Brian Eno- "Ambient 1: Music For Airports" CD (EG)
Restock of his 3rd album.
Derek Trucks Band- "Roadsongs" CD (Sony)
Restock.
Stone Temple Pilots- "S/T" LP (Atlantic)
Restock of their new LP.
St. Vincent- "Actor" LP (4AD)
The follow-up to St\. Vincent's (Annie Clark) first album "Marry Me" (2007) features eleven new songs, all written and arranged by Clark. The arrangements are more masterful, the songwriting grander, the performances ever more confident and inspired. Clark toured extensively in support of \"Marry Me\" with artists like The National, Death Cab For Cutie, and Arcade Fire, and was named Female Artist Of The Year at the 2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards. Before recording as St\. Vincent, she was a member of The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' touring band, and she performed with Glenn Branca's guitar orchestra.
Hank III- "Risin' Outlaw" CD+LP (Curb)
Back in stock on both formats.
Hank III- "Rebel Within" CD+LP (Curb)
Back in stock on both formats.
Alejandro Escovedo- "Street Songs Of Love" CD (Fantasy)
2010 release from the veteran singer/songwriter. From his days in the now legendary Punk/Alt-Country outfits The Nuns, Rank and File and his own True Believers, to his glowingly received solo gems including 2008's Real Animal, Escovedo has built a rapturous underground following among fans, songwriting peers and critics alike. His highly anticipated Fantasy Records debut, Street Songs of Love, is a 13-track celebration of survival, liberation and ultimate salvation.
Guilty Simpson- "Ode To The Ghetto" LPx2 (Stones Throw)
Excerpted From XXL MAG., December 2007: Remember when Prodigy threatened to “rock you in the face [and] stab your brain with your nose bone” on “Shook Ones Pt. II”? In an art form that draws inspiration from aggression, a lot of MCs pop shit but few can make a death threat a hip-hop quotable. “It ain’t really about sayin’ the toughest shit,” says Detroit MC Guilty Simpson. “It’s about how you say the toughest shit.” Guilty got his start rhyming 12 years ago as a member of Tha Almighty Dreadnaughtz. The lyrical bully rolled in the same circles as Eminem, D12 and Slum Village. After paying his dues on the local scene, Guilty gained the attention of two pillars of the D’s underground hip- hop community: D12’s Denaun Porter and late great producer/MC J Dilla. Dilla’s subsequent death in early ‘06 left Simpson’s solo debut “The Verdict” at the demo stage. But all wasn’t lost for Guilty, as Jay Dee featured the up-and-comer on his 2003 collaboration with fellow producer Madlib, Champion Sound and Dilla’s posthumously released album The Shining. Now Guilty is preparing his official first LP Ode to the Ghetto. Featuring production from Madlib, Denaun Porter, Oh No, Black Milk and, of course, J Dilla, the album should impact the game the same way that nose bone would your brain.
Keef Hartley Band- "Halfbreed" CD (Estoteric)
Great UK blues rock from former drummer with John Mayall's band. 1969. Now with bonus songs.
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart- "Say No To Love" 7" (Slumberland)
"Pains could be the most promising indie pop group around" - Pitchfork. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART released their self-titled debut album in 2009 to universal acclaim, and now present this fantastic new single. "Say No To Love" is a big step forward, combining The Pains’ now-trademark youthful energy and infectious song craft with a more deliberate approach to the studio. It just might be their best single yet - a shimmering slice of pure pop just right for the summer. All copies pressed on colored vinyl and include a free digital download coupon.
Sleepy Sun- "Embrace" CD+LP (ATP)
Formed in Santa Cruz and now based in San Francisco, the intense sextet of Sleepy Sun release their breathtaking debut album, 'Embrace'. Whether droning madly, spiralling into cascades of infinitely-echoing vocals or kicking back with their blissed-out take on classic Americana rock, Sleepy Sun are a band that has made many sit up and take immediate notice. 'Embrace' embodies the quintessential sound of West Coast psychedelia updated for the late noughties. Comprised of Brian Tice (drums), Jack Allen (bass), Rachael Williams (vocals, haberdashery & interpretive dancing) Bret Constantino (vocals & harmonica), Evan Reiss (guitars) and Matt Holliman (guitars), the band met in the counter-cultural hub city of Santa Cruz, California, citing pizza, horticulture, and Neil Percival Young as common interests. Drawing musical inspiration from Black Sabbath, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Can and Creation Records, they forged their sound in intense jam sessions, as heavy and as beautiful as redwoods meeting the ocean.
Creedence Clearwater Revival- "Cosmo's Factory" CD (Fantasy)
Restocked and remastered versions with bonus tracks.
Creedence Clearwater Revival- "Bayou Country" CD (Fantasy)
Restocked and remastered versions with bonus tracks.
Creedence Clearwater Revival- "S/T" CD (Fantasy)
Restocked and remastered versions with bonus tracks.
Creedence Clearwater Revival- "Willie & The Poor Boys" CD (Fantasy)
Restocked and remastered versions with bonus tracks.
Creedence Clearwater Revival- "Pendulum" CD (Fantasy)
Restocked and remastered versions with bonus tracks.
Albert King- "Born Under A Bad Sign" LP (Sundazed)
Restock of this popular blues album.
Radiohead- OK Computer" LPx2 (Capitol)
Back in stock.
Radiohead- In Rainbows" LP (Capitol)
Back in stock.
Dio- "Holy Diver" LP (Universal)
Reissued with free download coupon.
Amon Amarth- "Fate Of Norms" LPx2 (Back on Black)
180 gram grey vinyl reissue of AMON AMARTH's 5th album, packaged in a gatefold sleeve. Limited edition of 1000 copies.
Amon Amarth- "Versus The World" LPx2 (Back on Black)
Versus the World is the fourth full-length studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth, released on November 18, 2002 by Metal Blade Records. Versus the World was the first Amon Amarth album to showcase a more midpaced and heavy sound, unlike their earlier faster works. DOUBLE 180 GRAM LIMITED EDITION GATEFOLD WHITE VINYL.
Judas Priest- "Sin Afte rSin" LPx2 (Back On Black)
Deluxe double 180 gram gatefold green vinyl reissue of JUDAS PRIEST's third album, 'Sin After Sin', originally released in 1977. This was the band's first album on Columbia Records after their contract with Gull Records was terminated. This album featured the drum work of a young and upcoming session drummer, Simon Phillips, who was only 19 at the time of recording. The record features a cover of Joan Baez's "Diamonds And Rust", a track that would become a live favourite from then onwards. This edition includes the two bonus tracks from the 2001 remastered CD. Limited edition.
Dan Auerbach- "Keep It Hid" LP+CD (Nonesuch)
Solo album from leader of the Black Keys. Comes with free CD.
Flaming Lips- "Embryonic" LPx2+CD colored vinyl (Warner)
Christmas on Mars might be the Flaming Lips' bona fide sci-fi epic, but Embryonic is the musical equivalent of the final scenes of 2001: A Space Odyssey: transformative chaos that results in a new start. From The Soft Bulletin onward, the Lips seemed focused on tidying the loose ends of their earlier work, almost to the point of constraining themselves. Their wilder side is unleashed on Embryonic's 18 tracks, and the band sounds more off-the-cuff than it has in years -- some tracks are barely longer than snippets, others are rangy epics, and it all holds together so organically that listeners might wonder just how much these songs were edited. Musically, Embryonic is the least polite the Flaming Lips have been in nearly two decades, mixing in-the-red drums, blobby, dubby bass, squelchy wah-wah guitars, and sparkling keyboards into a swirl of sounds that are strangely liquid and abrasive at the same time.
Woven Hand- "The Threshing Floor" CD (Sounds Familyre)
Latest album from David Eugene Edwards (16 Horsepower). It will be stunning if it's like any of his other WH albums. Tweaked artful gothic folk.
La Roux- "S/T" LP (Universal)
It took just over six months for La Roux to go from issuing their first single on Kitsune to topping the U.K. charts. That's a swift rise — one that was years in the making, of course — but after hearing their self-titled debut, it's easy to understand their sudden fame: La Roux's take on '80s synth pop is as unique as it is familiar. La Roux's inspirations, which include BLancmange and the Eurythmics, might be decades old and well-known, but their spare coldness can still sound weird, and La Roux shows just how committed they are to that chilly oddness and catchiness.
La Roux's dedication to their aesthetic makes this an album where the songs are variations on a theme, and on the rare occasion where the songwriting isn't razor-sharp, the style threatens to overtake the substance. However, that devotion also makes La Roux a standout, not just among the many other '80s revivalists, but the entire Late-2000s pop Landscape.
Tool- "Opiate" LP (Zoo)
Restock.
Built To Spill- "There Is No Enemy" LPx2+CD (Warner)
Indie rock stalwarts going back to the early '90s, Built to Spill have pleased fans for years, and their first album in three years, There Is No Enemy, occupies much the same territory as 2006's You in Reverse. Doug Martsch's absorbed and witty wordplay consistently turns lyrical convention on its head, the songs feature a parade of quirky hooks, and with its driving, accomplished backing, the band draws in a range of potential audiences, from its indie fan base to those who rock out to jam bands or don the headphones to dig into singer/songwriters. The always literate Martsch makes a virtue of steadfastness and reflection, the single "Hindsight" bemoaning those who wonder, "Is the grass just greener 'cause it's fake?" Meanwhile, the band attacks most of these songs, giving Martsch's reflective songwriting a little more bite, even on "Good Ol' Boredom" (which would descend into tedium if it were a ballad). Besides connecting the dots between the chugging side of Neil Young and the slightly warped alterna-pop of the Flaming Lips, Built to Spill continue releasing some of the most affecting, beguiling indie rock of the 2000s.
Arcade Fire- "Cold Wind" 7" (Merge)
On colored vinyl.
Woven Bones- "In & Out & Back Again" CD (Horizontal Action)
WOVEN BONES need no announcement to herald their arrival, but as their iridescent hazy pop grime drills itself deeper into your soft skull, it's best to just stand back and experience them exploding out of your speakers. Like the eardrum-shattering noise pop icons that came before them, they blaze their own trail of lascivious loudness and controlled snarl that's just what the world needs right now, and the perfect soundtrack to your screwed-up summer!
Morrissey- "Greatest Hits" LPx2 (London)
Restock on double vinyl with a budget price for an import.
Coldplay-"Viva La Vida" LPx2 (EMI)
Restock.
Coldplay-"Parachutes" LP (EMI)
Restock.
Fu Manchu- "Signs Of Infinite Power" LP (Cobraside)
The latest release on vinyl.
Bouncing Souls- "Ghosts On The Boardwalk" LP (Chunksaah)
The Bouncing Souls celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band by releasing a new song on the first of each month throughout 2009 via digital download. This release gathers those 12 songs into a complete collection for the first time on LP. The cover art is an embossed image!
D.R.I.- "Dealing With It" LP (Beer City)
Here for the 1st time.
D.R.I.- "Dirty Rotten LP" LP (Beer City)
Here for the 1st time.
D.R.I.- "Violent Pacification: 7" (Beer City)
Here for the 1st time.
Ferocious Few- "Juices" LP (Birdman)
“Two-man duo The Ferocious Few formed in 2006 when Francisco Fernandez (composer/guitar/vocals) and Daniel Aguilar (percussion) took their informal jam sessions in Oakland, CA, to the streets of San Francisco with a portable PA. The Few’s stripped-down, lo-fi sound has been classified as rock, punk or rockabilly, and along with the bluesy elements in Fernandez’s howling vocals, their raw sound may be best categorized by the increasingly ambiguous garage rock genre. Regardless of the venue—the streets of downtown SF or at Shoreline Amphitheater’s Download Festival 2008—the duo delivers a tight, intimate performance, marked by Aguilar’s heavy train beats and Fernandez’s strained guitar and voice chiming in over the top. Juices, their debut LP on Birdman Records, is a visceral and viscous testament to their stunning, heartfelt brutality. In traditional rock angst fashion, Fernandez sings of heartbreak, pain and lost love, tying it all to the post-modern world around him and how it connects him to everyone else. “Our music is based on struggle, and that’s what I think people can relate to,” he says, “I want to create something that’s relevant to our culture, not alienated by it.” Put Juices on your stereo and it will drip down your walls. Listen to it alone and it will feel like you have been flattened by a train and reabsorbed into the earth. Play it at a party and a Bacchanalian orgy is likely to ensue.
Jawbreaker- "Unfun" CD+LP (Blackball)
Blackball Records presents the 20th anniversary edition of Jawbreaker’s beloved 1990 debut album Unfun—twelve groundbreaking tracks (sixteen on the CD) that captured the very inception of emo’s big band and launched a galaxy of young, earnest bands and the scenes that love them. Unfun has been remastered by John Golden from the original analog tapes; the increased sampling rate boosts some of the bottom end and mid-range. It sounds fucking awesome. The vinyl version is available for the first time since 1992, and the CD and download versions of the record include the three song Whack & Blite EP, as well as the 7-inch mix of “Busy” as an unlisted bonus track. This reissue features restored original artwork, and all formats include additional band photos from the time of recording. The CD comes with a 24-page booklet with the Whack & Blite insert reproduced in its entirety. “Want” and “Fine Day” were in heavy rotation on college radio back in the day, and remained set list staples throughout Jawbreaker’s run. Unfun wound up on a lot of fanzine top ten lists, and even the mainstream press took notice. Rolling Stone called it “a feast of heavy melody and righteous braying that roars along with all the spit and spirit of Hüsker Dü’s New Day Rising.
Jerk With A Bomb- "Pyrokinesis" LP+CD (Scratch)
Originally released in March 2003, this JWAB re-issue of their third album is essentially the band that became Black Mountain. Featuring principals Stephen McBean and Josh Wells alongside the distinctive and haunting vocals of newcomer Amber Webber, and bassist Christoph Hoffmeister. The live edition of Jerk With A Bomb also featured Black Halo/Black Mountain bassist Matt Camirand, so in essence the only difference between Black Mountain and Pyrokinesis era Jerk was the later addition of keyboardist Jeremy Schmidt. With their third album, Pyrokinesis, and last before they morphed into the band currently known as Black Mountain, Vancouver, Canada's Jerk With A Bomb have evolved into an outfit that defies easy categorization. Try to imagine the folksy melancholia of Smog if Callahan had a jones for the Queens of the Stone Age's proggy, bottom-end stoner rock. Understanding the adage that "familiarity breeds contempt", Jerk With A Bomb draw the listener in with comfortable lilting melodies only to twist them, sharpening the edges, so that the song is reborn as something new and unexpected. Pyrokinesis showcases a band crafting songs with confidence, a band that knows when to lay low in stark, simple rhythms and when to storm ahead with guns blazing. And through it all, the drawling, yelping vocals paint a mined lyrical landscape torn asunder by the complicated politics of love, apathy and misdirected passions. “A few spins later, and you're rapt, wondering why you never previously custom-ordered a prog Smog who can outpoke Low and outpriss Spoon. Ignore this band's unfortunate name, and love them. Marvel as these three Canucks ask, what if a glam-tragic Bowie fronted a Cramps that had been horse-tranquilized into a calculus-core lurch, stopping occasionally to hijack and deconstruct a Tom Petty/Counting Crows sagamuffin vibe, in order to rewrite a book of Revelation in which evil wins? Steve McBean's vocals are equally pampered and tortured, confident and collapsible, as he utters lyrics so politically mordant they make the Liars seem safer than that act with the guy named Flea. McBean's enunciations add to the fun: from his lips, "to" is "toe" and "love" is "glaubve." Rock as fissile and as desiccated makes Pyrokinesis a front-runner for any list of 2003 albums that could be played to postpone downloading the noose instructions from the Boy Scout web site. Leave it to these capitalism-haters to prove that some albums are more equal than others. Damnation, why aren't these guys huge?”-Magnet Black Mountain are currently on tour in Canada and the US, this is the second of two timely Jerk With A Bomb re-issues this fall. Freshly stickered with "file under Black Mountain" stickers for your selling convenience.
Joy Division- "Heart & Soul" LP (Factory)
These are all the unreleased tracks from the box set.
Mumford & Sons- "Sigh No More" LP (Glassnote)
British four-piece Mumford and Sons has been in the vanguard of something of a UK folk revival since the band formed two years ago and create manly, passionate music which stirs the soul and warms the heart. Sigh No More is an extraordinary debut from a band which has built a committed following through extensive live appearances. Extraordinary not simply because it's a good album but because it is popularizing a style of music which, other than for the odd halcyon period, is derided as only fit for people who think Fishermen's smocks, sandals, and Arran sweaters are cool. Relax; this is good enough for you to rattle your pewter tankards to. The very name Mumford and Sons conjures up a sepia image of waistcoats and starched collars, of a family business from a bygone age. The kind you'd rely upon to build you a dry stone wall or re-roof your hay loft. There's a sense here of building something solid and worthy that runs throughout the record. This is a band that would give its all and not overcharge for the privilege. The very English sensibility of the album is counterbalanced by the production values, which at times call to mind Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. This is no great surprise, as the record was produced by Marcus Dravs, who in addition to Arcade Fire, has worked with Bjork and The Maccabees.".
Mummies- "Play Their Own Records" LP (Estrus)
Finally repressed after being unavailable for quite some time. This is a garage rock classic!! “Relive those lazy hazy crazy days of the twilight years of the last century, or experience them for the very first time on glorious vinyl. Marvel at the spiritual bond you will share w/ the Mummies themselves, as you listen to the strains of their first 4 singles (including 5 tracks you won't find on CD) together! Hooray!”
My Bloody Valentine- "Before Loveless" LPx2 200 gram vinyl (Fanclub)
Fanclub vinyl limited to 500 copies combines the entire "Ecstasy & Wine" album with the two EPs "Feed Me With Your Kiss" and "You Made Me Realize", all of which are long out of print. Tracklisting: 01. Strawberry Wine 02. Never Say Goodbye 03. Can I Touch You 04. She Loves You No Less 05. The Things I Miss 06. I Don't Need You 07. (You're) Safe In Your Sleep (From This Girl) 08. Clair 09. You've Got Nothing 10. (Please) Lose Yourself In Me Disc #2: 01. Feed Me Your Kiss 02. I Believe 03. Emptiness Inside 04. I Need No Trust 05. Sugar 06. You Made Me Realise 07. Slow 08. Thorn 09. Cigarette In Your Bed 10. Drive It All Over Me.
Pains of Being Pure at Heart- "The Pains of Being Pure at Heart" LP (Slumberland)
“Since forming in early 2007, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart have become one of the most talked-about pop bands in years. Their distinctive style tidily distills all the great noise-pop precedents—early My Bloody Valentine, House of Love, Pale Saints, Rocketship—with incredible exuberance and energy in every song. They have released a handful of singles on classy labels like Slumberland, Fortuna Pop!, Atomic Beat, and Cloudberry, each one issued to greater anticipation and even wilder reception. Critical acclaim has come from such varied quarters as Stereogum, Fader, Big Takeover, Indie Pages, Skatterbrain, Drowned In Sound, Indie-MP3, Clash Magazine, and countless others. Following the band’s ace Everything With You single and whirlwind Swedish tour, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart is an instant classic, packed with brilliantly executed pop gems that blend the rush of youthful enthusiasm with crafty arrangements, well-honed tunes and buckets of guitar racket. One instantly identifiable thing about a Pains record is the essential "rightness" of their tunes. They have captured the attention of pop fans around the world and raised anticipation levels for this album to a near-fever pitch. Smashing tunes like "Come Saturday" and "Young Adult Friction" are classic, three-minute masterpieces that simply beg to be played on repeat. "Stay Alive" and "Gentle Sons" show the band can slow it down and still rock it, and "Hey Paul" is a brash a slice of noise-blast guitar pop. Handily transcending easy pigeonholes like "indie pop" and "indie rock," The Pains of Being Pure At Heart is just a great album that shows a smart young band fulfilling their potential and crafting a very convincing statement of purpose.”
Priestess- "Prior To The Fire" LPx2 (Tee Pee)
While the rest of the world were keeping their sights on the “Montreal Music Explosion” in the winter of 2003, a band of merry miscreants brazenly turned a blind eye to their poppy surroundings and just hunkered down in their dank rehearsal space, wood shedding on what would become their blazing debut record. After much industry ballyhoo garnered from their intense live set, Priestess originally signed a deal in 2004 and released what is widely regarded as one of Canada’s greatest hard rock debuts ever, Hello Master. Unlike most hard rock/metal bands that rely solely on ballast and blast to sear their message into gray matter, Priestess had a special trick up their sleeve – they could actually write a song that could walk the rope between being infectious and just downright vicious. Armed with far more hooks than your average metal band, their unique style of pop driven melody with metal muscle and Marshall stack attack quickly earned them a die hard fan base weary of death metal grunts and other metal cliches. It seems not only was the metal/hard rock underground listening, but shortly after its release, major label RCA would perk up some ears and quickly inked a deal with the band, re-releasing the debut and only increasing Preistess’ global grasp. With major label muscle now behind them, the band was able to pick up momentum the way REAL bands have been doing it for years – hitting the road hard. Their incessant touring included playing with such heavy hitters as Black Label Society, Converge, Mastodon, Motorhead, and Gwar, equally comfortable sharing a stage with Iron Maiden as they were with Dinosaur Jr. 2007 was a watershed year for the band with even more touring, including a supporting slot for Megadeth in the UK and reaching even more fans when their song “Lay Down” was featured in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock. After numerous false starts that were beyond the band’s control they would nally spend the fall of 2008 in Los Angeles under the watchful guise of producer David Schi man (System Of A Down, Mars Volta, Nine Inch Nails), recording their crowning achievement, Prior To The Fire. If their calling card Hello Master was considered lethal, this sophomore effort easily trumps it with a devastating display of heaving heaviosity and a new found sense of innovation that will have other so-called metal bands nipping at their heels. On every track the band remains hungry, fierce and focused throughout with their signature melodic elements still in check, but this time around they also scale to new lofty heights and let their progressive rock and hard psych tendencies add to the dynamics, density and drama.” Double LP set also includes a bonus 7” and a digital download card!! While the CD includes digital download card to download bonus tracks!! Hells yeah!
Reigning Sound- "Love and Curses" LP (In The Red)
It’s been five years since Greg Cartwright’s Reigning Sound dropped their last full-length studio album, Too Much Guitar. Not that Cartwright has been resting on his laurels. The Reigning Sound backed Shangri-La Mary Weiss on her critically acclaimed comeback album, Dangerous Game, which was produced and largely written by Cartwright. The band performed with Weiss on tour, including an appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Cartwright also produced, penned songs for, and played in The Detroit Cobras for a spell. All the while, the Reigning Sound toured the US on and off and released a couple of live albums, yet never managed to get into the studio to record. All the while, Cartwright stockpiled loads of new tunes. In the end, the band had more than enough for two albums, and carefully whittled it down to the cream of the musical crop. Love and Curses (title comes from Memphis TV horror host Sivad) is a return to the sound and style of the Reigning Sound’s incredible Time Bomb High School. The band once again features a full-time keyboardist, Dave Amels, and has jettisoned the lo-fi approach used on Too Much Guitar in favor of a bigger, warmer studio sound. As with Time Bomb High School, Love and Curses strikes a balance between soulful rockers and beautiful ballads. The results are a rock ’n’ roll album as near to perfection as any one is likely to hear this year.
Reigning Sound- "Time Bomb High School" LP (In The Red_
Second album from these Memphis boys fronted by Greg Cartwright (aka Oblivian). Follows their Sympathy debut, and on first listen this sounds more like what I was hoping for there (after his great Sympathy solo album). Rough, good times rock along with sweet and tender ballads.
Wiley and the Checkmates- "We Call It Soul" LP+CD (Rabbit Factory)
“Hailing from Oxford, Mississippi, the cultural center of the South, Wiley and the Checkmates have a lot to live up to. The hill country blues of Fred McDowell, Junior Kimbrough, and R.L. Burnside… The literary landmarks of William Faulkner, Larry Brown, and John Grisham… Herbert Wiley formed the Checkmates in 1960 and the group began performing on the chitlin’ circuit as a marquee act and playing behind soul legends like Otis Clay, Percy Sledge, and Syl Johnson. After a dozen years with the Checkmates, Wiley quit music to run the family business and raise a family. In 2002, Wiley was inspired to reform the Checkmates after watching an Oxford punk band rehearse in a local storefront. Wiley brought together local gospel, jazz, and rock musicians and fashioned a modern take on the sound of the original Checkmates. Wiley and the Checkmates released their debut CD Introducing… in 2004. Wiley began crisscrossing the Southeast with Checkmate regulars like J.D. Mark (Precious Bryant, LCD Soundsystem touring guitarist) and Matt Patton (Paul "Wine" Jones, the Dexateens), playing venues ranging from Alabama frat bars to the annual Ponderosa Stomp festival, where the Checkmates backed unheralded soul pioneers like Bobby Patterson, Harvey Scales, Hermon Hitson, Ralph “Soul” Jackson, and the Legendary Roscoe Robinson. For We Call It Soul, the Checkmates searched the far corners of the Southeast to bring together an unlikely cast of aural eccentrics. First the Checkmates met Jim Lancaster, a seasoned engineer that cut his teeth in Memphis and Jackson, Mississippi, who in 2005 bought an abandoned studio in Valparaiso, Florida and cleaned up the mess that Hurricane Ivan had left him. In the 1960s and 1970s Shelby Singleton and Finley Duncan recorded classics with the likes of Johnny Adams and Big John Hamilton at Valparaiso’s Playground Studios. In 2007, the Checkmates hired original Playground session keyboardist David Adkins and were one of the first projects recorded in the re-opened studio.”
X-Ray Records
http://xrayrecords.ca/article.php?story=20100711124828188