New Releases - 5/10/24

Hitting The Racks

Here's your weekly rundown of what's hitting the new release racks at Grimey's

New Releases

Amen Dunes – Death Jokes CD/2xLP (Sub Pop)

With Death Jokes, for the first time since the project's incarnation in 2006, the spiritual reflections and meditations of Amen Dunes are turned away from himself, and out sharply towards the world. The album is also a drastic turn musically and thematically, rooted in the electronic music of raves and of rap music he grew up with but never imagined himself able to make, playing like a scathing electronic essay on America's culture of violence, dominance, and destructive individualism. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Arab Strap – I’m Totally Fine With It / Don’t Give A F**k Anymore CD/LP (Rock Action)

Almost 28 years after their debut, Arab Strap have never sounded more essential, and this new record is a fierce testament to their laser focus on wider horizons. Written and performed exclusively by Malcolm Middleton & Aidan Moffat, and finessed with longtime collaborator Paul Savage, the album furthers the band's transformation from swooning, slow-core romantics to raging, alt-pop chroniclers. [Indie store exclusive ‘emoji yellow’ vinyl.]

Bab L’Bluz – Swaken CD/LP (Real World)

Swaken is the second album by Moroccan French power quartet Bab L' Bluz and the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut, Nayda!. The album was recorded at Real World Studios and built on the songwriting, arrangements and production prowess of band members Yousra Mansour and Brice Bottin. In Darija, Swaken, meaning 'possession,' evolves to describe spirits haunting humans. Sometimes associated with a transcendent musical experience, it implies a deep connection with music, surpassing simple 'trance' with highly agitated body movements. In Chaabi music, Swaken goes beyond our dimension, potentially leading to the loss of control over the body and mind, delving into a depth similar to the Lilas of the Gnaoua. Beyond mere 'possession,' we wanted to use this term to emphasize the obsession with ideas, values, and principles, expressing a determination to combat injustices, even challenging customs, and traditions.

Sebastian Bach – Child Within The Man CD/LP (Reigning Phoenix)

New release from the former Skid Row vocalist. Features guest appearances by guitarists John 5, Steve Stevens and Orianthi. [Indie store exclusive blue vinyl.]

Kenny Barron – Beyond This Place CD/LP (Artwork)

13-time Grammy nominee and American Jazz Hall of Famer Kenny Barron's Beyond This Place comes on the heels of his 2023 Grammy-Nominated solo album, The Source. Beyond This Place brings together a multi-generational quintet featuring Immanuel Wilkins, saxophone's rising star; Johnathan Blake, one of the most accomplished drummers of his generation; Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Barron's long-time double bassist and Steve Nelson, one of the most highly regarded vibraphonists.

The Beaches – Blame My Ex LP (Beaches Touring Inc.)

Blue vinyl pressing. The Beaches show us that sometimes a breakup can be a breakthrough on their sophomore studio album Blame My Ex. Following their Juno award-winning album Sisters Not Twins (The Professional Lovers Album), The Beaches are back with their third studio album, cracking their upbeat, brazen shell to reveal a more vulnerable inside on Blame My Ex.

Yaya Bey – Ten Fold LP+MP3 (Big Dada)

New York-bred R&B vocalist Yaya Bey conjures a comprehensive self-portrait on her new studio album, Ten Fold. Where her previous works were earnest and mindful, Yaya's new LP is definitive, harkening back to aspects of her past while examining the future of the world that surrounds her with a stream-of-conscious intentionality. Over rapturous production from Corey Fonville of jazz group Butcher Brown, Karriem Riggins, Jay Daniel, Exaktly and Boston Chery, Yaya delivers a free-spoken masterpiece that speaks to the intricacies of persevering through a year punctuated by grief and loss, life-altering milestones, and everything in between. [Indie store exclusive translucent red vinyl.]

David Benoit – Timeless CD (Sono Recording Group)

New release from the iconic jazz pianist.

Blockhead - Luminous Rubble LP (Def Presse/KPM Crate Diggers)

Blockhead presents his new album, Luminous Rubble, where the artist dives deep into KPM’s iconic music and sound design library to construct something completely new and exciting. The New York City-based hip-hop production legend’s Luminous Rubble is the latest missive in a particularly busy period for the underground hip-hop veteran, who’s spent the last decades lending his considerable talents to work from artists like Aesop Rock, Armand Hammer, billywoods, Murs, and Open Mike Eagle. “For me, as a producer who uses samples, there’s nothing better than free rein. That was so exciting for me. Their vault is the one I’m most familiar with,” he says with a laugh. “Back when I used to go record shopping a lot, I would pretty much buy any KPM record on sight. They were always a huge find at record stores. So to be able to tap into these records with no limitations was really nice."

Blu & Shafiq Husayn - Out of the Blue CD/LP (Nature Sounds)

From weaving thought-provoking poetics to channeling the spirit of vintage West Coast gangsta rap, acclaimed Los Angeles emcee Blu is a dynamic musical presence, forever evolving and defying expectations. Supremely talented producer and musician Shafiq Husayn has a similarly diverse skill set, with production credits for top artists across the musical spectrum, from Erykah Badu to Ice-T to Anderson .Paak to Jurassic 5 and many more. After linking up for the mixtape The Blueprint back in 2018, Blu and Shafiq Husayn have reunited in the studio for Out Of The Blue. Awash in Shafiq’s dense sonic architecture, this new project showcases the intricacy of Blu’s spiritual street talk while simultaneously delivering a series of bass-heavy L.A. anthems. Entirely produced by Shafiq Husayn, the collection features guest appearances by MED, Exile, Chuuwee, Thurz, and more. 

Dehd – Poetry CD/LP (Fat Possum)

Following the whirlwind success of Dehd’s fourth album Blue Skies and hit single “Bad Love”, they first gathered at Kempf’s off-grid Earthship in Taos, New Mexico where they chopped wood to stay warm and wrote songs during the daylight. They then travelled to a cabin on the Puget Sound to set up their second writing camp where, surrounded by chilly waters, time was marked only by the movement of the tides. “Eating, Sleeping, Breathing, Living - our only purpose was to write,” Kempf recalled. This was the first time the band travelled to distinctly notable locations to write and inspire themselves. Leaving Chicago proved to be a watershed moment. They finalized the songs that became Poetry back in Chicago in the warehouse they’ve called home for nearly a decade, where they rehearsed and wrote their entire catalogue. For fans of classy garage rock, The Strokes, a happy and upbeat Velvet Underground, The Jesus and Mary Chain without the fuzz but with all the hooks and Weezer. [Indie store exclusive ‘plutonium-green’ vinyl.]

James Devane - Searching LP (Umeboshi)

James Devane returns with another adept investigation into minimal techno's spaces in between. Searching serves as both a companion to Beauty is Useless and the next logical step in James' exploration of process as a guiding compositional tool. Conceptually simple, technically robust, the end result elicits both an undeniable groove and a trove of detail for listeners willing to go deep. In his own words: "These recordings are the result of chance. Using hours of source material, everything was 'chosen,' manipulated, and assembled at random via custom software without concern for key, tempo, measures, or rhythm. A search button and a save button."

Béla Fleck – Remembrance CD/2xLP (Béla Fleck Productions/Thirty Tigers)

Remembrance serves as a moving final document of the profound creative and personal rapport that banjoist Béla Fleck and pianist Chick Corea first showcased at album length with 2007's Latin Grammy-winning The Enchantment. It's also a crucial addendum to Corea's legacy, featuring three previously unreleased Corea compositions as well as five short free improvisations, or impromptus, that Fleck has infused with written music. "We pushed this duo to a new place before we ran out of time," says Fleck, who produced Remembrance. "We have here another cool look at Chick Corea, at the different ways that he can play that we wouldn't have had. There's a lot of great Chick Corea out there, and this is different."

Myriam Gendron - Mayday LP (Feeding Tube Records)

Mayday is the third LP by Montreal-based artist, Myriam Gendron. It follows her earlier, critically acclaimed albums, Not So Deep As A Well (2014) and Ma Délire: Songs Of Love, Lost & Found (2021). Myriam began exploring the complex folk traditions of Quebec (and beyond), with Ma délire, which combines traditional and original songs with arrangements that make space for avant-garde musical interludes by such folks as guitarist Bill Nace (Body/Head) and renowned jazz percussionist Chris Corsano. Mayday presents an even more syncretic fusion of the elements Myriam uses to create her sound. Most of the songs are original, sung in both English and French, and they blend traditional and avant elements with abandon. She is often accompanied on this album by the guitarist Marisa Anderson and drummer Jim White (Dirty Three, Xylouris White), whose work provides a quietly aggressive sort of free-rock base. 

Hot Water Music – Vows CD/LP (Equal Vision)

Hot Water Music is excited to release Vows, the long-standing, influential punk outfit's 2024 album. Helmed by veteran producer Brian McTernan, Vows features high-profile guest appearances from the likes of Daniel Fang and Brendan Yates of Turnstile, Thrice, Dallas Green of City and Colour and Alexisonfire, The Interrupters, and Popeye Vogelsang of Calling Hours and melodic hardcore greats Farside. Leading the collection is the album opener "Menace" and blistering "Burn Forever", two towering tracks that right out of the gate illustrate the power that the members of Hot Water Music - Chuck Ragan (vocals/guitar), Chris Wollard (vocals/guitar), Chris Cresswell (vocals/guitar), Jason Black (bass) and George Rebelo (drums) – put forth across this intense and musically daring 12-song showcase. [Indie store exclusive clear vinyl.]

Incubus – Morning View XXIII 2xLP (Virgin)

Morning View XXIII is a re-recording/re-think of Incubus' 2001 album Morning View. The band states the album is a "result of [their] desire to honor this burgeoning legacy but also reimagine it as musicians who have been lovingly performing these songs night after night for the last 23 years." The album features their new bass player, Nicole Row. [Limited edition translucent blue vinyl.]

Judah & The Lion – The Process CD/LP (Cletus The Van/Downtown Artist & Label Services)

Judah & The Lion’s new album is a song cycle about the process of grief, moving through the traditional five stages of Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance and welcoming the pain that accompanies each stage. Rather than deflecting or bottling it up, facing the pain head-on allows us to be more human with ourselves and each other. The Process is buoyant, impassioned and emotionally connective and finds the band with a reinvigorated sense of purpose as they aim to create music that resonates deeply, believing in music’s power to connect people and make them feel less alone in life’s journey. K. Flay and Ruston Kelly each guest on a song. [Limited edition pink vinyl.]

Kings Of Leon – Can We Please Have Some Fun CD/LP (Capitol)

Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum rock band Kings Of Leon return big with their ninth full-length studio album, Can We Please Have Fun. As the title suggests, it's a document of one of this era's great rock 'n' roll bands cutting loose, trying new things, and, yes, having some fun. Recorded at Dark Horse studio and produced with new collaborator Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Florence + The Machine) the album sees a new side of Kings Of Leon. On Can We Please Have Some Fun, the band harkens back to their gritty origins while simultaneously finding new gears. It's the sound of a band unified in vision and purpose, freed from any expectations, and the album the band says they've always wanted to make. [Indie store exclusive apple red vinyl.]

Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To CD/LP (Pure Noise)

As Knocked Loose chipped away at what would become their third album, they felt the pressure from all sides. Internally, there was the need to challenge themselves as songwriters while retaining the merciless intensity and unflinching honesty that have always been their calling cards. Externally, there was a whole new set of eyes on the hard-touring Louisville quintet, following a banner year in which they’d brought their underground-seasoned sound to some of the world’s biggest stages, finding themselves the unlikely viral darlings of both Coachella and Bonnaroo. The creative process was arduous, with the band writing close to 40 songs across a span of four years before locking in the 10 tracks that make up the new LP You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To. But in the end, vocalist Bryan Garris, guitarists Isaac Hale and Nicko Calderon, bassist Kevin Otten and drummer Kevin “Pac Sun” Kaine honed a diverse, cohesive, and savagely intense album that both sums up the massive strides they’ve taken during their decade as a band and asserts their boundless potential going forward. [Indie store exclusive half green/half yellow w/ black & white splatter vinyl.]

Pokey LaFarge – Rhumba Country CD/LP (New West)

After crisscrossing the nation for the last half-decade looking for a home, Pokey LaFarge found himself in Mid-Coast Maine. Upon arriving, the Illinois- born singer/ songwriter/ actor pursued a major life change, working 12-hour days on a local farm--a turn of events that catalyzed an extraordinary burst of creativity and redefined his sense of purpose as an artist. Rhumba Country was initially shaped from material that emerged while LaFarge was deep in work on the farm. "I'd be pushing a plough or scattering seeds, and the songs would just come to me," he recalls. "It was tremendously inspirational and made me realize that apart from singing, farming is perhaps the oldest human art form." While farming, LaFarge began dreaming up a kaleidoscopic sound informed by his love of music from far-ranging eras and corners of the globe, including mambo, Tropicália, rocksteady, and mid-century American rock ‘n’ roll. [Indie store exclusive autographed CD and vinyl copies are available.]

Les Savy Fav – OUI, LSF CD/LP (French Kiss)

Les Savy Fav are back with their first new album in 14 years. Almost out of necessity, Les Savy Fav's sixth LP was born in a pocket reality: singer Tim Harrington's Brooklyn attic. Different from anywhere they'd ever recorded, the space allowed for a much-needed rebirth for the long-running post-hardcore band. In that in-between, they pieced together what would become their latest evolution, OUI, LSF, growing the album's title and cover art out of a patch of grass. "The record grew organically - literally and figuratively," Harrington notes wryly. [Indie store exclusive ‘blood & bone’ color vinyl.]

Scotty McCreery – Rise & Fall CD/LP (Triple Tigers)

"I feel I was born to make this album. The producers, songwriters, musicians, and I poured our hearts and souls into it. I wrote 12 of the 13 songs on the album, and it is reflective of me and the country music I love. I hope people hear that and enjoy it as much as we did making it. This is my favorite album I've made yet." - Scotty McCreery

Parsnip - Behold LP (Upset the Rhythm)

Recorded across three sessions over the last three years, Behold is a testament to Parsnip at their most creative, catchy and collaborative. This album showcases the multi-talents of all four members, with spirited performances adding dazzle to the thirteen tracks. Paris Richens lets the bass playfully roam. Carolyn Hawkins tumbles feeling into the drum rumble. Stella Rennex's guitar soars alongside her saxophone work, whilst a sprightly keyboard is tenderly attended by Rebecca Liston. Everyone sings amidst this lush canopy. Parsnip write songs as a form of communion with the intangible in our increasingly delusory world, but there is always a gentle reminder; don't take anything too seriously. On Behold, Parsnip explore both the inner and outer realms of consciousness with quick wits and some seriously quality jangle and jolt. 

Rainbow Kitten Surprise – Love Hate Music Box CD/LP (New Elektra)

Making a bold return, genre-defying, North Carolina-bred quartet and live sensations Rainbow Kitten Surprise will unveil their first full-length album in six years, Love Hate Music Box. After years of struggling with her own mental health that resulted in writer’s block, on-stage episodes, and tour cancellations, RKS singer/songwriter/front person Ela Melo was properly diagnosed and treated in 2023, vastly improving her quality of life. As if suddenly struck by creative intervention, songs once again poured out of her, writing at least one a day for an entire year and forming the backbone of their 22-track opus Love Hate Music Box. This epic mosaic of sound and emotion was fully realized once the band reconvened in the studio, adding another dimension sonically. Produced by Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves) along with Konrad Snyder (Noah Kahan) and Melo, the much-anticipated album ponders life’s ups and downs, and traces the turbulent trajectory of relationships, painted out loud in hues of pop, electronic, rock, and hip-hop. As such, it finds the musicians at their most vulnerable, vibrant, and vital. [Indie store exclusive milky clear vinyl.]

Shannon & The Clams – The Moon Is In The Wrong Place CD/LP (Easy Eye Sound)

The Moon Is In The Wrong Place is an upbeat, yet poignant narrative on grief and resilience from Shannon & The Clams. Woven from the threads of devastating loss and communal ties in the aftermath of profound loss - the sudden passing of Shannon's fiancée just months before their wedding - this record unfolds as the Clams' most introspective to date. With Dan Auerbach's production, the album delves deep into themes of heartache and healing, and showcases the band's trademark wry psychedelia, energetic nostalgia, and flourishes of retro beauty. It's a tribute to the power of art and community to triumph over tragedy, and a milestone in Shannon & The Clams' venerable oeuvre. [Indie store exclusive blue w/ pink & black splatter vinyl.]

Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover LP (Jajaguwar)

Blue vinyl pressing. The woven lyrics and singular songwriting style heard in Sunset Rubdown invoke a mythological world, where magical narratives and tiny metaphors give shape to ordinary objects in the room; sometimes beautiful, sometimes beastly. The moniker was first born to bare the solo bedroom recordings of Spencer Krug but has since evolved into a full-fledged band. Now enter Sunset Rubdown's third full-length record, Random Spirit Lover, featuring twelve songs that bleed in and out of each other, mixing portents with theatrics, confusions with conversions.

Unwed Sailor – Underwater Over There LP (Felte)

Tulsa, Oklahoma's Unwed Sailor has been on a tear over the past few years. Following a quiet phase through much of the 2010s, they reemerged with the aptly titled Heavy Age (2019), and two more full-lengths, Truth Or Consequences (2021) and Mute The Charm (2023), that chart a remarkable evolution of their bass-led, pop-leaning post rock. On Underwater Over There - their ninth LP overall - a current of ‘80s goth and jangle-pop runs beneath a litany of memorable hooks and compositional left turns, creating a propulsive and intricate world of sound. [An ocean blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

Various Artists – My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall LP (Oh Boy)

Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl. My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall is the companion album to Alice Randall's new book My Black Country, which offers a lyrical, introspective, and unforgettable account of her past, her search for the first family of Black country music, and the radical joy in realizing the power of Black influence on American culture. The album is a powerful compilation of Black female country artists re-recording the greatest songs of Alice's catalog, bringing to life the Black characters and portraits of the Black west embedded in her songs. The album is produced by Ebonie Smith (engineer of 'Hamilton', founder, and president of Gender Amplified, and the in-house producer for the Atlantic Records studio in New York).

Reissues, Comps, Live Recordings, Vault Excavations...

Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express – Live Oblivion Vol. 1 Recorded Live At The Whiskey, Hollywood [Reissue/1974] CD/2xLP (Soul Bank Music)
Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express – Live Oblivion Vol. 2: Recorded Live At The Whiskey, Hollywood [Reissue/1976] CD/2xLP (Soul Bank Music)

Live albums are often a 'hit or miss' affair but Live Oblivion 1 & 2 buck that trend, recorded across two nights in 1974 at the Hollywood venue The Whisky A Go Go.

Kenny Burrell – A Night At The Vanguard [Reissue/1960] LP (Verve)

Highlighting an extraordinary guitar trio at the height of their powers in one of jazz's most hallowed spaces, Kenny Burrell's A Night At The Vanguard on Argo makes a strong case for Burrell as one of the most influential voices on his instrument. Featuring bassist Richard Davis and drummer Roy Haynes.

Kenny Burrell – Guitar Forms [Reissue/1965] LP (Verve)

A cornerstone of any jazz library. Kenny Burrell's concept for this album was to demonstrate a variety of jazz guitar styles. And he does so, masterfully. Of particular interest "Moon And Sand" by Burrell and the Gil Evans Orchestra showcases an engaging guitar performance with a Latin combo.

December’s Children – December’s Children [Reissue/1970] LP (Sundazed)

Pink vinyl pressing. Bluesy rust-belt psych from Ohio. Bouncing between male and female vocalists, tight harmonies, country flavor and rock 'n' roll style, their sound fit the transition between pop and heavy rock in the late '60s.

Dettinger - Intershop LP (Kompakt)
Dettinger - Oasis LP (Kompakt)

Dettinger's Intershop and Oasis have long been held, by many fans of ambient and electronic music, to be some of the finest albums in their field. Produced by the mysterious Olaf Dettinger, about whom not much is publicly known, they were some of the earliest full-lengths released by the then-nascent Kompakt, and in many ways, they both articulated and defined the sound that would come to be known as pop ambient. The music here simmers and broods, with opulent banks of tone marking out territory for rhythms that seem to be built from the clacking detritus of technology -- hisses, thunks, knocks. Bass is deployed carefully, each drop a dubbed-out depth charge; drones spin and spiral, warping and weaving between the beats. While Dettinger also released several beloved 12"s on Kompakt, Intershop and Oasis are the releases that distill the producer's singular vision and allow him, should he wish, to claim his place as a modern master of ambient and electronic music.

Ryo Fukui - Ryo Fukui in New York LP (We Release Jazz)

Recorded in February 1999 at Avatar Recording Studios in New York and inspired by Ryo Fukui's idol and mentor Barry Harris, the fourth album from the famed Sapporo pianist captures memorable sessions with seasoned American jazz musicians (and frequent Barry Harris collaborators) Lisle Arthur Atkinson on bass and Leroy Williams on drums. Ryo Fukui in New York is pure bop heaven, glowing with poetic takes on classics by Charlie Parker, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and Bud Powell, plus a supreme remake of Fukui's very own Mellow Dream. It's expressive, soulful, and vibrating with a bouncing swing feel all the way through; every note falls exactly where it should, undeniable brilliance. 

Billie Holiday – At Storyville [Reissue/1976] LP (Org Music)

Billie Holiday is captured live at Storyville in Boston in 1951 and 1953. The discreet recordings capture Lady Day in prime emotive voice. On most selections she is accompanied by the Carl Drinkard Trio, but six others find her joined by Buster Harding's Trio; the great tenor Stan Getz sits in on three of these numbers.

Keane – Hopes And Fears 20 3xCD (Interscope)

Housed in a bespoke three-CD digipak with printed wallets and a booklet, this 20th Anniversary Edition includes the newly remastered album, previously unreleased demos, B-sides and rarities, plus brand-new sleeve notes from the band and original team.

B.B. King – Live In Japan 2xLP (Geffen)

Recorded at Sankei Hall in Tokyo on March 4 & 6, 1971, this live album presents the great B.B. King backed by a wonderful band, including the leader on guitar and vocals, Earl Turbington (saxophone), Louis Hubert (saxophone), Joe Burton (trombone), John Browning (trumpet), and more.

Sam Lazar – Space Flight [Reissue/1960] LP (Verve)

Space Flight is the debut recording by the mysterious organist Sam Lazar. Issued on Argo in 1960, it features guitar wizard Grant Green-on only his second recording-as well as Chicago blues legend Willie Dixon on bass.

David Lee Jr – Evolution [Reissue/1974] LP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)

Limited magenta color vinyl pressing. Drummer and Composer David Lee Jr.'s stunning and rare album Evolution (1974) blends the deep experimentalism of John Coltrane and Sun Ra with the pulsating second line and parade rhythms of New Orleans to create a stunning sonic and rhythmical tour de force.

Orbital - Orbital (The Green Album) 2xLP (London Records)

Originally released on September 30, 1991. Back on double vinyl edition with exclusive splatter vinyl. Orbital's eponymous debut album became known as The Green Album to distinguish it from their second album (known as The Brown Album). The Green Album includes the seminal "Belfast" and a live version of "Chime," the landmark dance track that launched their career in 1990. The Green Album heralded a brave new world for the UK musical landscape (DJ Mag would later decry that the album "rewrote the rule book for rave"). Brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll eschewed formulas and clichés, choosing to explore wider textures, rhythms and stranger mind spaces within dance music. Their resulting album would enjoy both chart success and an enduring legacy, influencing and inspiring artists from Björk to Bicep, with the Hartnoll brothers going on to collaborate with artists as diverse as Madonna, Ennio Morricone, Kraftwerk, Sleaford Mods, and Professor Brian Cox.

Queen – Queen Rock Montreal 2xCD/3xLP (Hollywood)

Queen Rock Montreal was recorded live at the Montreal Forum in November 1981. The 28-track setlist shows the breadth and brilliance of Queen’s songwriting. It mixes ‘70s classics with fan-favorite deep cuts and album tracks (“Keep Yourself Alive”, “Dragon Attack”, “I’m In Love With My Car”, “Sheer Heart Attack”), as well as two songs (“Flash”, and “The Hero”) which are exclusive to the audio-only formats.

Ziad Rahbani - Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah LP (Wewantsounds)

A reissue of Ziad Rahbani's cult album Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah, originally released on the Lebanese label Relax-in in 1987. Mixing Arabic music with funk and fusion jazz and hints of boogie, it's a bonafide Rahbani classic, sought after by Arabic groove DJs and collectors around the world. Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah is the soundtrack to two theatre plays written by famous Lebanese playwright and actor Antoine Kerbaj (born 1935). These two plays were released in the middle of the Lebanese civil war and although Rahbani (who is also an actor) doesn't act in these, he masterminded the soundtrack, composing and recording them at his By-Pass recording studio in Beirut. The album alternates between instrumentals, short interludes and songs sung by his regular fellow singers, Sami Hawat, Abbas Chahine, and Nabil Qazan, among others, mixing Arabic music with Rahbani's usual blend of jazz-fusion, funk and groove.

The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones, Now [Reissue/1965] LP (Abkco)

The Rolling Stones, Now! is the third American studio album by The Rolling Stones, originally released in 1965. The album mostly consists of songs released earlier in the United Kingdom, as well as the group's recent single in the United States, "Heart Of Stone".

Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds In Country Music 10 Year Anniversary Edition CD/LP (High Top Mountain)

Metamodern Sounds In Country Music is the second studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson. The album was produced and engineered by Dave Cobb and was released on May 13, 2014, through High Top Mountain/Thirty Tigers. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music' 10 Year Anniversary Edition features fully reimagined album artwork for the CD and vinyl release.

The Supremes – We Remember Sam Cooke [Reissue/1965] LP (Motown)

The Supremes' fifth studio album, We Remember Sam Cooke, was released by Motown in April 1965 and was a tribute to Sam Cooke, who had died the previous December. Featuring Sam Cooke covers, such as "A Change Is Gonna Come," "You Send Me," "Ain't That Good News" (led by Florence Ballard), and the delightful "Wonderful World." It was the second most successful in a series of themed albums, peaking at #5 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

The Temptations – Wish It Would Rain [Reissue/1968] LP (Motown)

The Temptations Wish It Would Rain is a studio album by the Temptations, originally released in 1968. It was the final release from the group's "Classic-5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams constituted the Temptations' lineup.

Universal Order Of Armageddon – Universal Order Of Armageddon LP (Numero)

From the ashes of Moss Icon, Universal Order Of Armageddon blasted out of Annapolis, MD in a fiery maelstrom of punishing riffs, syncopated breakbeats, and terrifying shrieks. Compiled here are the complete Gravity, Vermin Scum, and Kill Rock Stars recordings, remixed and remastered from the original session tapes, and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket with a chunky 24-page book packed with photos, notes, and iconography from their 1993-'94 run. [Limited edition clear vinyl.]

Various Artists - Cold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities 1968-1974 LP (Now Again)

Cold Heat is Eothen “Egon” Alapatt’s follow-up to the famous Funky 16 Corners set he curated in the early 2000s. And like that one, Cold Heat is overflowing with great bits that had barely (or never) been heard by the rest of the world at large. Egon went through a range of rare singles, masters, and demos and came up with tunes that burn with a brightness that's undeniable.The grooves are all on the harder end of the James Brown Funky People side of the spectrum ,and some tracks are by names that finally got their due here, thanks to Egon, Now-Again, and some of the other funky forces doing the good work over the years.

Various Artists – Studio One Down Beat Special 2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)

Soul Jazz Records' Down Beat Special is a roller-coaster 'greatest hits' ride through many of the all-time classic tunes hand-picked from across the mighty vaults of, without doubt, Jamaica's finest ever record label and pioneering powerhouse of reggae music.

Witch – Witch [Reissue/2006] LP (Tee Pee)
Witch – Paralyzed [Reissue/2008] LP (Tee Pee)

Two new colorways: ochre gold, and blue (respectively). When J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr And long-time friend Dave Sweetapple decided to form a hard rock band, they found conspirators Kyle Thomas and Asa Irons, in the local avant-folk outfit Feathers. Witch's self-titled debut harkens back to the classic heavy metal sound of the ‘70s with the "all in" assault of modern rock and roll production and neatly side-steps "Stoner Rock" pigeonholes by packing more righteous riffs into a single jam than their contemporaries combined. Follow-up Paralyzed was released in 2008, delivering even speedier riffs and raging backbeats that allowed the band's punk and thrash roots to shine through.

Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy [Reissue/2021] LP (Nuclear Blast)

Blue in bottle green colorway. Originally released in 2021, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy is a classic Zombie album through and through with high-energy ragers.

DVD & Blu-Ray

Peter Gabriel – Back To Front; Live In London DVD/Blu-ray (Mercury Studios)

This spectacular live concert, filmed at London's O2 Arena in 2013 and available for the first time on 4K, captures Peter Gabriel celebrating the 25th anniversary of his landmark album So. To mark the event, Gabriel reunited his original So touring band and for the first-time fans saw them play the multi-platinum selling album in its entirety. Alongside the core performance of the So album, the concert features unfinished and re-imagined songs alongside classic hits reflecting what a multi-dimensional artist Peter Gabriel is.

Queen – Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid DVD/Blu-ray (Mercury Studios)

Queen Rock Montreal was scanned from the 35mm negative to ensure the highest resolution possible. The film is presented in both full frame and widescreen formats, and their iconic Live Aid performance is presented in upscaled HD. Also included is a behind-the-scenes featurette composed of Queen rehearsing for Live Aid interspersed with an interview with the band, recorded just prior to Live Aid. Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid are presented in Dolby Atmos audio for the first time ever.