Updated Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Upcoming In-Store Events
In-stores are all free and all ages, always. Come rock with us. 

The BLUEFIELDS - Thursday, May 17th @ 6PM
An American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. Their rock and roll story might be as pure and simple as the prior statement if it weren't for the fact that the combined band members' resumes boast platinum record success, a Grammy nomination, an Americana Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award and song authorships that have become iconic, rock and roll standards, making this band far from simple. Comprised of rock veterans, Warner E. Hodges on lead guitar and vocals (Jason and the Scorchers), Dan Baird on bass, guitars and vocals (Georgia Satellites) and Joe Blanton on lead vocals and guitar (Royal Court of China), these southern bred rockers remind you why you love rock and roll in the first damn place. The Bluefields are about to drop their debut album "Pure" and you can pick it up here at Grimey's when they blow the roof off!
The Bluefields' website

Sigur Ros Listening Party: The Valtari Hour - Thursday, May 17th @ 7PM
The Valtari Hour is a New Year's Eve-style rolling, worldwide stream of the new Sigur Ros album "Valtari" (pronounced VALTRY. Like valkyrie.), taking place on Thursday, May 17, at a consistent local time in every time zone around the world! Please join us here at Grimey's to take part in this amazing event. In addition to previewing the album in the shop, we'll be giving away an ultra rare test pressing of "Valtari" as well as a copy of the sold out Record Store Day 2012 exclusive LP "Hvarf/Heim" (clear vinyl!) as well as a custom made, limited "Valtari" print. We'll also begin taking preorders at the listening party for the album, which streets May 29th.

HONEY LOCUST - Friday, May 18th @ 6PM
Nashville-based underground Southern folk band Honey Locust have a new EP called "Fear Is A Feeling" and it puts the "O" back in "Organic". Every bit of the record was tracked in their house, appropriately called the Honey Pot. The recording is full of house sounds--clinking glasses, creaking floorboards-- plus a tangle of accordion, banjo, viola, keys and cello. The squeak, twang and hum of their strings is warm and inviting. The Detroit Metro Times says Honey Locust is "excavating...to find where the bedrock of jangly-acoustic music, grass-stained banjos and all, can mix with and enrich the elegant, brassy waltzes and accordion-lullabies of baroque-pop." The band is celebrating the release of their new EP with an in-store performance at Grimey's. Join us, won't you?
Honey Locust on bandcamp

John Mayer Listening Party: Born & Raised - Saturday, May 19th @ 5PM
John Mayer has a brand new album on the way called "Born and Raised", produced by Don Was, and some are saying it's the best thing he's ever done. David Crosby and Graham Nash sing on it and Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones) plays on it. It's out next Tuesday, May 22nd, but you can check it out with us this Saturday, May 19th, when we listen to it during beer:30. We have posters and stickers for you if you show up and one lucky person will win an autographed vinyl test pressing! We won't have the test pressing on hand but it will be mailed to the winner. Join us for a free beer and check out the latest from Mayer.

EDWARD SHARPE & The MAGNETIC ZEROS - Thursday, May 31st @ 1PM
That's right, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros will return to Grimey's for their 2nd in-store performance (what? you weren't one of the 50 folks who saw them here the first time around?) The band has certainly blown up since they last graced our humble abode and they have a brand new album dropping the same week so we're doing that thing where you buy the new album to gain entry to the performance. This will be a very intimate show before they rock the Ryman stage later in the evening. The new album is called "Here" and it's out May 29th. We're also producing a sweet, limited edition poster, hand-screened by Grand Palace, that is unique to this in-store event. As soon as the poster is ready we'll begin taking pre-orders for the album. So this is how it will work: We announce the poster & pre-sale, then you can go ahead and pay for the record (or CD) and we'll give you the poster and you'll be on the list for the in-store! Please note that this performance takes place earlier than usual for our in-stores, at 1PM, so take that lunch break, take the day off, call in sick or whatever you need to do to join us for this special show.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros website

back to the top

Stuff You Can Win!
Here's the latest enter-to-win goodies at the Grimey's. Just come down to the store and throw your name into the hat. You can't win if you don't enter.

• St. Vincent - Enter to win a free pair of tickets to see St. Vincent at The Cannery Ballroom on May 21st!
• ALO - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see ALO at Mercy Lounge on May 22.
• Primus - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Primus at the Ryman Auditorium on May 29th!
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros at the Ryman Auditorium on May 31st.
• Explosions In The Sky - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Explosions in the Sky on June 17 at the Ryman Auditorium
• Yeasayer - Win a pair of tickets to see Yeasayer at The Cannery Ballroom on June 22.
• Atmosphere - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Atmosphere on July 12 at Marathon Music Works
• Death Cab For Cutie - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Death Cab for Cutie on July 27 at the Ryman Auditorium
• Dirty Projectors - You could win a free pair of tickets to see Dirty Projectors at the Cannery Ballroom on August 13!  
• Citizen Cope - Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Citizen Cope on November 8 at Marathon Music Works


Free Stuff!
This stuff is just plain FREE, with purchase naturally & while supplies last. 

• Beach House - Free lithograph & sticker with purchase of "Bloom" on vinyl or CD
• Best Coast - Free 7" & poster with purchase of "The Only Place" on vinyl or CD
• Squarepusher - Free poster w/ purchase of "Ufabulum" on CD or deluxe CD
• Mewithoutyou - Free 12" x 12" lithograph w/ purchase of "Ten Stories" on CD (vinyl is due 5/29)
• Pantera - Free sheet of stickers w/ purchase of the remastered reissue of "Vulgar Display of Power" on CD
• Norah Jones - Free comic book w/ purchase of "Broken Little Hearts"on vinyl or CD.
• Father John Misty - Free bonus demos CD w/ purchase of "Fear Fun" on vinyl or CD.
• Gravenhurst - Free Gravenhurst book w/ purchase of "Ghost In Daylight" CD.
• Killer RSD CD Samplers left from New West, Decca Records, Select-O-Hits, Metal Blade, Southern Ground Artists and a Live At Montreux comp - yours free for the asking!
• Plants & Animals - Free "Light Show" 7" with purchase of "End Of That" on LP or CD.
• Dropkick Murphys & Flogging Molly - Free Shot Glasses(!!!) w/ purchase of any album in the catalog from either band for a limited time only!  

back to the top

Hitting The Racks
Here's your weekly rundown of the new releases hitting the racks at Grimey's:
 
Beach House - Bloom CD/2xLP+MP3 (Sub Pop) 
Bloom is the fourth full length album by Baltimore-based Beach House. It builds on 2010's Teen Dream to further develop their distinctive sound yet stands apart as a new piece of work. Bloom is meant to be experienced as an album, a singular, unified vision of the world.
 
Best Coast - The Only Place CD/LP (Mexican Summer) 
The Only Place is the follow-up to the acclaimed Crazy For You and finds Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno maturing in both sound and perspective. This album finds front woman Cosentino transitioning into adulthood, with the feeling of uncertainty and self-doubt at the emotional center of the album.

Sugarman 3 - What The World Needs Now CD/LP+MP3 (Daptone) 
Fine, funky instrumentals to get you shaking your tail feathers. Features renditions of Bacharach's "What The World Needs Now," The Standells' "Dirty Water," J.J. Jackson's "It's Alright," and originals that are sure to please fans of "Sugar's Boogaloo", "Soul Donkey" and "Pure Cane Sugar", as well as fans of Jack McDuff, Rusty Bryant, Jimmy McGriff and the like.
 
Squarepusher - Ufabulum CD/Deluxe CD (Warp) 
New album available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe is presented alternate, expanded packaging. Also available on limited edition deluxe vinyl boxed and decorated in glow-in-the-dark ink and individually sleeved with a 12-page 12'' booklet, album download card and three-track CD EP, Enstrobia. Vinyl is due next week.
 
The Bluefields - Pure CD (Underground Treehouse)
Debut blast of pure rock 'n' roll from these veterans of the Midsouth music scene -- Warner Hodges from Jason & The Scorchers, Dan Baird from Georgia Satellites, and Joe Blanton from Royal Court Of China. Don't miss their free in-store performance here at Grimey's this Thursday at 6PM!
 
Royal Southern Brotherhood - Royal Southern Brotherhood CD (Ruf Records)
The name says it all for this supergroup of the south. New southern blues-rock for the new age. Featuring Devon Allman, Cyril Neville, Mike Zito, Charlie Wooton and Yonrico Scott.
 
Andre Williams And The Sadies - Night & Day CD/LP (Yep Roc) 
Canada's finest live band, The Sadies, have reunited with explicit soul singer/cult legend Andre Williams for an album full of raw, honest, and immediate songs. No filter. Andre and the Sadies are aided by a stellar cast of musical friends, including Jon Spencer (who directed these sessions), Matt Verta-Ray of Heavy Trash, Danny Kroha of Detroit's The Gories, and Jon Langford of The Mekons.

Carlos Santana - Shapeshifter CD/LP (Starfaith) 
Shape Shifter is Carlos Santana's 36th album and is a 13-song instrumental tour de force featuring tracks spanning from the late 1990's to the present and comprises mostly original compositions that have been stashed away for this instrumental project.
 
Willie Nelson - Heroes CD (Sony Legacy) 
On Heroes, Nelson takes on a reflective, emotional tone, moving from heartfelt (a stunning rendition of Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe") to humor (on "Roll Me Up" with guest vocalist Snoop Dogg). Other guest vocalists on the album include Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Jamey Johnston, Billy Joe Shaver and Sheryl Crow. This title will arrive by the weekend.

Lisa Marie Presley - Storm And Grace CD (Universal) 
New Americana-inspired album produced by T Bone Burnett. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds four bonus tracks. Vinyl due 5/22.

The Cribs - In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull CD (Wichita) 
A relentless yet blissfully sonic endeavor, In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull is a pressure cooker of stomping riffs and broad sea shanty melodies. Vinyl due 5/29.
 
Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There Is A Bomb In Gilead CD/LP+MP3 (Alive) 
As much Wilson Pickett as Fugazi, as much the Stooges as the Allman Brothers.
 
Meiko - The Bright Side CD (Fantasy/Concord) 
An intimate, fearless song-cycle about risk, regret, tenderness and love. Her indelible melodies and sharp lyrical viewpoint give The Bright Side a powerful, artistic punch. It features eleven songs that blend sumptuous folk-pop with thumping electronic beats that Meiko helped create with various producers.
 
Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band - Perlas CD (Fire) 
Foster breathes new life into timeless traditional melodies, drawing from the Spanish-folk traditions of Castile, the Basque, Santander and the Costa Brava. Elemental themes of love bind the collection together, with a melancholy joy that casts a shadow of desire and loss.
 
Mewithoutyou - Ten Stories CD (Pine Street) 
Helmed by producer Daniel Smith (Sufian Stevens) and mixed by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumkins), Ten Stories is an allegorical coellection of songs that, at first listen, follows a winding narrative about a circus train crash in 19th century Montana. Vinyl due 5/29.
 
Cherri Bomb - This Is The End Of Control CD (Hollywood) 
Major label debut of of blistering rock songs by the teenage sensations.

Chappo - Moon Water CD (Shout Factory)
On debut album Moonwater, Brooklyn-based inde-rock band Chappo's electric blend of psychedelic pop, and original, heart-pounding harmonies help express vivid lyrics of youthful angst.
 
Advance Base - Shut-In's Prayer CD (Caldo Verde) 
The new project from Chicago singer/songwriter/producer Owen Ashworth (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone). An intimate collection of deliberately crafted but decidedly lo-fi torch songs, waltzes and ballads. Accompanying himself on his Rhodes 54 eletric piano, Ashworth sings nostalgic stories over the simple drum machine rhythms and spare percussion.

Birthmark - Antibodies CD/LP (Polyvinyl) 
Unfolds to the ebb and flow of a gentle, unhurried cadence to form a record comfortable in its own skin. Nate Kinsella's reverberating vocals often result with songs that are undeniably captivating in their sublime simplicity.

Philm - Harmonic CD (Ipecac) 
New side-project from Slayer/Fantomas drummer Dave Lombardo.
 
Pumice - PUNY CD (Soft Abuse) 
Deep into a genius career, Pumice still surprises with his subtle mastery of broke-down sounds, slowed-down Magic Band rhythms, crumbling chord organ hymns and tragic ballads that reach deep into the very soul of Flying Nun/Xpressway/Root Don Lonie For Cash anti-pop pop music. PUNY is as difficult to fathom and as easy to love as all his best work.
 
Hot Water Music - Exister CD (Rise) 
The people spoke and they demanded a new Hot Water Music album. Recorded with Bill Stevenson (Rise Against, The Descendents, NOFX).
 
Slugabed - Time Team CD (Ninja Tune) 
Suffused with a unique mix of humour, next level production, dancefloor smarts and melancholic emotion.
 
Rye Rye - Go! Pop! Bang! CD (Interscope) 
Baltimore's Rye Rye has distilled the sounds of living into an unclassifiable collection of tracks, a collision of the mad movement of every day into a celebratory dance. You might call it rap. It could be hip-hop. This is undeniable dance music (just try to stand still), but it s also pop, beat, rock, hardcore, and industrial melody.
 
Ryan Shaw - Real Love CD (Dynotone Records)
Follow-up to his twice-Grammy-nominated debut. Classic R&B from Shaw featuring guest appearances by Robert Randolph, Al Kooper, and the Soul Survivors.
 
Monophonics - In Your Brain CD/LP (Ubiquity) 
Sits on the fuzzy psych side of soul and funk, paying homage to innovators such as Sly Stone, Norman Whitfield and Funkedelic's George Clinton.
 
Jazzanova - Funkhaus Studio Sessions CD (Sonar Kollektiv) 
The album shows core members Stefan Leisering and Axel Reinemer teaming up with the seven studio musicians that make up Jazzanova's touring band. Armed with an array of acoustic and electronic instruments (synthesizers, sax, flute, congas, ampli-celeste, etc.), the ensemble play renditions of 14 Jazzanova tunes.
 
Reggie Watts - A Live At Central Park CD+DVD (Comedy Central)
Reggie's second full-length album, recorded live at Central Park, contains an album of his best songs and storytelling as well as a DVD of the live performance and special.
  
Shadows Fall - Fire From The Sky (Razor & Tie) 
Their seventh studio album sees the band reuniting with long-time friend, producer/engineer and Killswitch Engage/Times Of Grace guitarist, Adam Dutkiewicz.
 
Godsmack - Live & Inspired 2xCD (Universal Republic) 
This is the first official Godsmack live CD and it includes a bonus four-track EP of newly recorded cover versions.
 
From Across The Pond...
 
Kent - Jag ar inte radd for morkret CD/Deluxe CD (Universal/Import)
10th album from Swedish alternative band. Available in regular and deluxe editions.
 
Reissues & From The Archives...

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless [Reissue/1991] 2xCD (Sony UK) 
Features two versions of the legendary album, one remastered from the original DAT tapes and one from the original ½" analog master tapes, packaged in a gatefold carboard sleeve. Import only.
 
My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything [Reissue/1989] CD (Sony UK) 
Remastered version of MBV's 1989 album packaged in a gatefold cardboard sleeve. Though it's often seen as just a precursor to their magnum opus Loveless, in its own way, My Bloody Valentine's Isn't Anything is nearly as groundbreaking as their 1991 masterpiece. Not only was it the most lucid, expansive articulation yet of the group's sound, it virtually created the shoegazing scene and spawned legions of followers. Import only.

My Bloody Valentine - EPs 1988-1991 2xCD (Sony UK) 
Draws together four EP releases: Feed Me With Your Kiss, You Made Me Realise, Glider and Tremolo alongside seven additional rare and previously unreleased tracks. Import only.
 
Lungfish - A.C.R. 1999 CD/LP (Dischord) 
These 10-songs were recorded and mixed by Craig Bowen at Baltimore's A.C.R. Studios but never released. After the session the band decided to continue writing new songs - ultimately recording at Inner Ear Studios what became Necrophones (2000). Six of these songs were re-recorded and released on Necrophones, while four others remained unreleased, until now.

Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power [Deluxe Edition] CD+DVD (Rhino) 
Deluxe Edition of 1992 album features the debut of "Piss," an incendiary blast of vintage Pantera from the original recording sessions, along with unreleased video of the quartet performing six songs at the Monsters Of Rock show in Reggio Emilia, Italy on September 12, 1992.
 
Dave Alvin - Eleven Seven Expanded 3xCD+DVD (Yep Roc) 
Includes the 2011 album plus bonus discs featuring live and non-album tracks and a 10-song live DVD.

Compilations, Best Of's & Sundry Collections...

Various Artists - Occupy This Album CD (Razor & Tie) 
Legendary and emerging artists inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement have come together to lend their voices to the cause. Featuring Willie Nelson, Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez, Tom Chapin, Jackson Browne and many more. This title will arrive by the weekend.
 
The Funkees - Dancing Time CD/2xLP (Soundway)
Subtitled "The Best of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents 1973-77." For the 5-year period this compilation spans, The Funkees' output crackled with dancefloor fire. Presented here are 18 slices of funky Afro-rock grooves, hand-picked by Soundway's Miles Cleret from a selection of the band's 45s and two full-lengths. In the early 1970s, The Funkees were the #1 east Nigerian band and the only outfit to seriously challenge the popular Lagos-based rock combos MonoMono and BLO.

Vinyl...

Tenacious D - The Rize Of The Fenix LP+CD (Columbia) 
New album features Jack Black and Kyle Gass (Tenacious D's core duo), performing with Dave Grohl (drums), John Spiker (bass, piano, organ) and John Konesky (electric guitar). Also available on HQ-180 vinyl which includes a CD and bonus 12"x24" poster. CD will arrive by the weekend.

Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built b/w Jack The Ripper 7" (Polyvinyl) 
B-side is is a Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds cover. Clear vinyl.
 
Obits - Let Me Drink If I Want To b/w The City Is Dead 7" (Sub Pop) 
On this single, Obits have provided daring new interpretations of well-loved near-standards by Mink DeVille & The Kids.
 
Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute [Reissue/1995] LP (WB) 
Repressed on limited edition red vinyl with 3D lenticular cover.
 
Bassnectar - Vava Voom 2xLP (Amorphous) 
Recently released on CD - now available on vinyl. New album featuring guest appearance by Lupe Fiasco.

back to the top

10% DISCOUNT on Preloved Merchandise EVERY Monday!
To paraphrase Booker T. & The MG's, Times Is Tight. We know. We're feeling it too. So to help you out and, hopefully, to help us out, we'd like to try a new concept - the weekly discount. We're going to start by offering a 10% discount on ALL PRELOVED MERCHANDISE (i.e. used stuff) every Monday from open to close. Come in on Mondays and everything in the store that's preloved (ahem, used) will be 10% OFF, every Monday (excluding dollar LPs and CDs under $5). If this works, we may apply the concept to other items on other days.

back to the top

The Indie Underground Hour on WRLT w/ Doyle from Grimey's New & Preloved Music
Saturdays from 7-8pm CST on WRLT/Lightning 100, Nashville's Progressive Radio, www.lightning100.com

Thanks to Justin Hammel from Lightning 100 for covering the show for me last week while I was in L.A. for NARM. Here's Justin's playlist.

The playlist for May 12th:

Andrew Bird - Eyeoneye - Break It Yourself
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar - The Lion's Roar
Beach House - Myth - Bloom
Yellow Ostrich - Daughter - Strange Land
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - Man On Fire - Here
Truth & Salvage Co. - Hail Hail - Truth & Salvage Co.
Dana Buoy - Call To Be - Summer Bodies
Admiral Fallow - The Paper Trench - Tree Bursts In Snow
Typhoon - Summer Home - A New Kind Of House
Lee Fields & The Expressions - I Still Got It - Faithful Man
SKATERS - Are We Just Doomed? - Schemers EP

back to the top

Tickets, We Have Advance Tickets!
Grimey's offers advance tickets to shows. Ticket sales are CASH ONLY. Check the tickets list now online at the Grimey's website.

What's Happening This Week at The BASEMENT?
Check this week's schedule at the Basement's website.

MUSIC ON THE TV
What's rockin' on the toob this week? Check New Music Tip Sheet for more info. Shows marked with an asterisk (*) are re-runs. Also including some live radio appearances. Check listings below for details.

Tuesday May 15
Gregg Allman @ Conan, TBS
Tenacious D @ Fallon, NBC
Santana @ Leno, NBC
El-P @ Letterman, CBS
The Ting Tings @ Daly, NBC
The Imagineers @ Ferguson (all week), CBS*
Wednesday May 16
Best Coast @ Letterman, CBS
Yann Tiersen @ KCRW (1:15 PM CST)
Bobby Brown @ Leno, NBC
Pat Martino @ Fallon, NBC
Dr. Dog @ Daly, NBC
Thursday May 17
Paul Weller @ Fallon, NBC
Rufus Wainwright @ Conan, TBS
Delta Spirit @ Kimmel, ABC
Regina Spektor & John Mayer @ Letterman, CBS
Young The Giant @ Daly, NBC
Friday May 18
Beach House @ Letterman, CBS
Tenacious D @ Leno, NBC
The Cult @ Kimmel, ABC
Garbage @ Fallon, NBC
Saturday May 19
Mick Jagger @ SNL, NBC
Monday May 21
Lisa Marie Presley @ Leno, NBC
Gavin DeGraw @ Kimmel, ABC
Slash @ Fallon, NBC

back to the top

G.I.F.T. U.P.
Grimey's Incredibly Fantastic Trade-in of Unwanted Presents (or GIFT-UP) Program*
In case you didn't know, we do this goofy thing where we will trade you a
happy Grimey's Gift Certificate for one of the crappy ones you got for
whatever occasion from some unknowing, but well-meaning, relative or friend.
We actually do this gift card exchange thing all through the year because we
don't stop caring about you once December ends, but I only bring it up now
because it's, you know, that time of year when people are in a gift-giving
frenzy but are short on time/energy/ideas, etc. While Grimey's can't do
anything about that sweater with reindeers on it or that smelly candle in
the shape of an evergreen or those tins of stale nougat, we can help with
those unwanted corporate gift cards*.

If you've received some corporate gift cards* that you don't want, stop by
the store and we'll take them and turn them into something you can use -- a
GRIMEY'S GIFT CERTIFICATE. (One of our awesome gift certs will be issued foran amount equal to the current value of the competitor's gift card upon
verification.) Just bring your unwanted gift card to the front counter
before you start shopping, and we'll have a Grimey's gift cert (or store
credit) waiting for you when you're ready to check out. Primarily we're talking about Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Amazon gift cards. If you're not sure if yours will qualify just call or email us for more details.

* Yes, of course, there's a catch or three. (1a) The gift card must be from
a chain competitor -- we don't trade on other indie stores' gift cards
because we encourage you to support them too. (1b) Sorry, but we cannot
accept gift cards from any retailer that has announced going out of
business. Also, the chain competitor must at least sell recorded music in
physical formats. So we won't except iTunes gift cards(seriously?). (2) The
gift card's value must be verifiable via phone or the internet. That means
that we can only accept a competitor's gift card if it has an 800-number or
website where the value of the card can be confirmed -- see the back of your
card if you're not sure. (3) The competitor's gift card must not expire for
at least 6 months from the date of exchange. That's it.