New Releases - 5/21/21
Hitting The Racks
Here's your weekly rundown of what's hitting the new release racks at Grimey's
New Releases
Allison Russell - Outside Child LP/CD (Fantasy)
On her first solo album, Outside Child, Allison shares the harrowing story of her abusive childhood in a deeply moving, unforgettable song-cycle of courage, empathy, hope and love. Produced by Dan Nobler (Lake Street Dive, Rodney Crowell, Erin Rae), Outside Child was recorded at Sound Emporium, Studio A, in Nashville and features contributions from the McCrary Sisters, Yola and Erin Rae among many others. [180 gram orange vinyl. Select copies at Grimey’s are signed by Allison! Available in the shop or online.]
Lambchop - Showtunes CD (Merge)
Out now on CD, but vinyl has been pushed back to June 4. We have an exclusive Grimey’s color variant, signed by Kurt Wagner, that will be available for purchase in the store on that date. In late 2019, Kurt Wagner was experimenting with something new, something that would eventually reveal itself as Lambchop's Showtunes. By taking simple guitar tracks and converting them into MIDI piano tracks, "Suddenly I discovered I could 'play' the piano," he says. "It was a revelation that from those conversions, I was able to manipulate each note and add, subtract, arrange the chords and melody into a form that didn't have any of the limitations I had with my previous methods of writing with a guitar." Removing these limitations led to a surprising new sound, something akin to show tunes but with edges sanded down and viewed through Kurt's own specific lens. "In general, it's a genre I was none too fond of," he admits, "with the exceptions of a few Great American Songbook-type of stuff or some of the works of artists like Tom Waits or early Randy Newman or even Gershwin or Carmichael. I'd always wanted to make songs with a similar feel, but my skills were limited until now.""Now that the door reopened up, I realized that anything is possible given time and space to do it," Kurt says. This led to the addition of one more key player, an effortlessly natural fit and one that for many will feel overdue. For the first time, longtime friend and collaborator James McNew of Yo La Tengo joins on upright bass. "For as long as I've known him, James McNew has been a like-minded artist and one who I've dreamed of working with," Kurt says. "This seemed like the right fit for what he does, and he graciously agreed to be part of this creation. For many years, I've longed for what an upright bass could add to our sound. Now with that, this work was complete."
Alaska Reid - Big Bunny LP (Alaska Reid)
A stunningly visceral and beautifully intimate reckoning, Alaska Reid’s ‘Big Bunny’ weaves her signature dark and moody indie rock into a raw, hauntingly vulnerable and emotionally cathartic listening experience for all.
Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian - Blue Umbrella LP (Big Yellow Dog)
Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian collaborated on an EP called Blue Umbrella last year, to much acclaim. It was released digitally at the time and is now available on vinyl. The project marks Bacharach’s first album in 15 years. “Daniel’s instincts are always right on target,” says Bacharach. “Musically, he’s got the chord before I’ve got the chord, when I can’t find the chord. I appreciate it so much. He hears impeccably. He brings to the table a great lyric sense. He tells a great story. He also brings some valuable music stuff. It’s a really collaborative thing.” “There’s nothing I’d rather do than make music with Burt Bacharach,” adds Tashian. “They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes because they’ll disappoint you. But I haven’t found that about Burt.”
The Bamboos - Hard Up LP (BMG)
Australian funk & soul combo The Bamboos return with their 10th album. They continue their long history of collaborations, with LA-based vocalist Joey Dosik looking towards the light on “It’s All Gonna Be O.K.” and Louisiana-born Durand Jones (of current deep soul faves Durand Jones & The Indications) anticipating when he can just go out and dance with his partner on “If Not Now (Then When)”. But even with guests of that calibre, Kylie Auldist is never outshone on a Bamboos album. Displaying an incredible range and richness with no need for showy vocal gymnastics, she can move from tenderness on torch song “I Just Heard You Leaving”, to carefree sweetness on “The Thing About You” to out-and-out power on “Tomorrow”. Recalling their Deep Funk origins the instrumentalists in the band (which include some of Melbourne’s finest jazz players) get to stretch out on New Orleans-flavoured instrumental “Upwey Funk”.
Richard Barbieri - Under A Spell LP (Kscope)
The man whose illustrious career began in the late 70s with synth-pop visionaries Japan and more recently as a member of influential art-rock band Porcupine Tree follows up 2017's Planets + Persona with a new album. On Under A Spell, Barbieri was intent on capturing the atmospheres and moods that his disconnected brain was conjuring rather than slaving over arrangements and melodies. Songs such as ‘Flare’, ‘Serpentine’, ‘Sleep Will Find You’ and its companion piece-of-sorts ‘Darkness Will Find You’ are sharply defined despite their dream-inspired genesis. The album’s title perfectly encapsulates the haunting, evocative world Barbieri has created. Songs such as the skittering, billowing ‘Clockwork’ and ‘Sketch 6’s dub-inspired soundscape hang suspended in that strange half-world between sleep and waking – a subconscious reflection of the surreal state the planet has found itself in over recent months.
Matt Berry - The Blue Elephant LP (Acid Jazz)
Matt Berry has starred in number of high-profile televison series, including FX's mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows. He has released 7 solo albums and collaborate with the likes of Bond composer David Arnold, Jean-Michel Jarre and Josh Homme. Recorded during the summer of 2020, Blue Elephant is a psych masterpiece and arguably his best album to date. With the exception of Craig Blundel on drums, every instrument is played by Matt including, guitars, bass and a variety of keyboards and synthesizers. The album explores themes surrounding today's close scrutiny in all it's bewildering, objectifying and unnerving experiences, and is a testament to Matt's exceptional musicianship, production skills and songwriting prowess.
BLK JKS - Abantu / Before Human LP (We Are Busy Bodies)
BLK JKS return with their second album, Abantu/Before Humans. Limited to 500 copies. Co-release through We Are Busy Bodies (North America) and Glitterbeat (worldwide excluding North America)
CHAI - WINK LP/CD (Sub Pop)
Since breaking out in 2018, Chai have been associated with explosive joy. At their live shows, the Japanese four-piece have become known for buoyant displays of eclectic and clever songwriting, impressive musicianship, matching outfits, delightful choreography, and sheer relief. At the core of their music, Chai have upheld a stated mission to deconstruct the standards of beauty and cuteness that can be so oppressive in Japan. Wink is a fitting title then: a subtle but bold gesture. A wink is an unselfconscious act of conviction, or as Chai puts it: "A person who winks is a person with a pure heart, who lives with flexibility, who does what they want. A person who winks is a person who is free." Yuuki noted that "With this album, we're winking at you. We're living freely and we hope that when you listen, you can wink and live freely, too." Chai came to see the album-with it's home-y feel-as a collection where each song is like a new friend, something comforting to rely on and reach out to, as the album was for them throughout 2020.
Paula Cole - American Quilt LP (BMG)
The new album from Paula Cole. American Quilt is the fondue of Cole's melting pot, blending a variety of genres that include jazz, folk, and country. Cole takes on classics like "Black Mountain Blues," "Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)," and "What a Wonderful World," creating a patchwork of American music. The album also includes one original song, "Hidden in Plain Sight," which is about quilts women made that provided clues to slaves in the Underground Railroad
Colleen - The Tunnel and the Clearing LP (Thrill Jockey)
Colleen is an aboundingly inventive composer and artist. For two decades Cécile Schott as Colleen has crafted welcoming, enchanting, and bewildering music. The multi-instrumentalist and vocalist’s timeless compositions make use of carefully selected tools to mold memories into transcendent splendor. The Tunnel and the Clearing finds Schott at her most vulnerable and confident, invoking contemplative and swirling organ processed through analog electronics, steady drum machine syncopations and her distinctive voice to embody breaking through the nexus of compounding transitions. On an album centered on processing the complicated washes of emotion through tribulations and revelations Colleen presents a vision of breathless clarity.
Ducks Ltd. - Get Bleak LP (Carpark)
The expanded reissue of their EP ‘Get Bleak’ is out everywhere now. It includes three new tracks “As Big As All Outside”, “Oblivion”, and “It’s Easy” that are equally as jangly and cathartic as the original tracks on the EP. “These new songs are touted as a hint of what’s to come from Ducks Ltd. in the future, and that seems like
a very good sign.” – Stereogum [Limited edition clear vinyl.]
Elkka - Euphoric Melodies LP (Technicolour)
London based producer, DJ and label boss Elkka (real name Emma Kirby) announces a new EP titled “Euphoric Melodies”, marking their first release on Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour. The 5 tracker is a warm and euphoric exploration of what Emma values most - the ability and freedom to believe in oneself, ‘Honing in on your instincts and being able to trust those feelings, whilst being comfortable to do so’ comments Emma, ‘acting on impulse over perfection’.
Fiddlehead - Between The Richness LP (Run For Cover)
Fiddlehead wasn't supposed to make a second record. But, if we're being totally honest, they weren't supposed to make their first record either. Formed in what singer Pat Flynn describes as "a deeply, deeply, laughably depressing part of my life," Fiddlehead was born with modest intentions. Flynn and his then-roommate, guitarist Alex Dow, decided to work on some songs, and with Basement having just broken up, guitarist Alex Henery entered the fold. Drummer Shawn Costa and bassist Adam Gonsalves-who has since been replaced by Casey Nealon-linked up with them and, all together, they wrote what would become the Out Of The Bloom EP. Those five songs established what Fiddlehead would be, a band that merged elements of post-hardcore, post-punk, and classic '80s emo into something that felt distinctly theirs. [Indie exclusive blue & white galaxy swirl vinyl.]
Robert Finley - Sharecropper’s Son LP (Easy Eye Sound)
Sharecropper's Son is the career-defining new album from Robert Finley, "the greatest living soul singer" who found overnight success after 67 years of hard work. Following Finley's semi-finalist appearance on America's Got Talent, he returned to the studio to follow-up his critically acclaimed record, Goin' Platinum! The resulting Dan Auerbach produced album is a soulful masterpiece, rooted in the vintage sounds of southern harmony, rhythm and blues.
Fly Pan Am - Frontera LP (Constellation)
Fly Pan Am have composed some of their most direct, visceral and immediately satisfying music for the acclaimed modern dance piece FRONTERA by Montréal-based troupe Animals Of Distinction. Juxtaposing stern foreboding electronics and minimalist motorik avant-rock, the Frontera studio album superbly captures the bristling, sculpted, intensely evocative instrumental pieces that Fly Pan Am developed in close conception and collaboration with the dancers.
James Francies - Purest Form CD (Blue Note)
Pianist and producer James Francies follows-up his acclaimed 2018 debut Flight with the expansive opus Purest Form, an eclectic new album that taps into the essence of his artistry across 14 tracks that conjure a world of sounds and textures, interpreting love, grief, frailty, and fortitude. In addition to Burniss Travis on bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums, the album features alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, guitarist Mike Moreno, and vocalists Peyton, Elliott Skinner, and Bilal.
The Gabbard Brothers - Sell Your Gun, Buy A Guitar 7” (Karma Chief)
From the ashes of the acclaimed Ohio rock band Buffalo Killers, singers/songwriters/siblings Zachary and Andy Gabbard have re-emerged as The Gabbard Brothers. And while there are still similarities to their previous band, with nods to greats like Neil Young, James Gang and Buffalo Springfield, there's a hazier, organic, earthy-psych vibe running through the brothers' new music. Fresh from their Black Keys tour (Zachary and Andy are current bassist and guitarist, respectively, in the Keys' expanded tour group), The Gabbard Brothers release their debut single "Sell Your Gun Buy A Guitar" via Colemine Records' imprint Karma Chief, which CityBeat music editor Mike Breen called a "great '60s-flavored pop nugget." The B-side, 'Too Much To Feel' - a musical middle finger to the bigots, racists and folks holding on to an old, outdated way of thinking. This new single will be included in their forthcoming debut studio album.
Indigo Sparke - Echo LP (Sacred Bones)
Listening to Australian Indigo Sparke’s debut album, Echo, it is clear Indigo has submerged herself into an abyss of ambiguous grief, dismantling the glass house of hope, and resurfacing with a fragile, yet fearless debut record. It was on a tour in Australia supporting Big Thief that Indigo met Adrianne Lenker. The two formed a transcendental connection and over the next two years, explored vast deserts and heaving cities across the world, eventually ending up in an old castle nestled in the hills of Northern Italy. The record was recorded between LA, Italy and New York, co-produced by Indigo, Adrianne, and Andrew Sarlo (producer of Big Thief, Nick Hakim, Hovvdy, Courtney Marie Andrews, Bon Iver, Hand Habits, Active Child).
Mat Kearney - January Flower LP (Tomorrow Music)
“Grand Canyon,” the first single from Mat Kearney’s new album January Flower, could be seen as a metaphor for quarantine and being so far away from loved ones. “I think we all can relate to the feeling of being disconnected from people in this season,” he says. “Covid & a newborn little girl have left me at home for the longest stretch of my career thus far. To be honest, I have enjoyed sitting still for a season.” Kearney’s sixth studio album, sees him revisiting the signer-songwriter sounds most often associated with his earlier records. This return to form was inspired by his time on the road in 2019 and a fateful trip to Joshua Tree which prompted a stripped down approach to his song-craft. Now, as we’re emerging from an isolated 2020, Kearney brings January Flowers to the people.
John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band - Leftover Feelings LP/CD (New West)
In the midst of a global pandemic, John Hiatt walked into Historic RCA Studio B to record a record. Hiatt teamed up with multi-grammy award winning artist and producer, Jerry Douglas and his band, The Jerry Douglas Band. The result of those sessions would be the album, Leftover Feelings. There's no drummer, yet these grooves are deep and true. And while the up-tempo songs are, as ever, filled with delightful internal rhyme and sly aggression, the Jerry Douglas Band's empathetic musicianship nudges Hiatt to performances that are startlingly vulnerable. In life, leftover feelings can remain unresolved. Explicated in a place of history, a place of comfort. A sacred place, if you believe the documentation of human expression to be a holy thing. Here are Hiatt and Douglas, creating love songs and road songs, sly songs and hurt songs. Their songs, and now our songs. Leftover feelings that edify and sustain. [Indie exclusive blue marble vinyl.]
Khruangbin - Orange Label Color 12” (Dead Oceans)
2nd in a series of super limited 12” singles. No holds or mail orders.
Kishi Bashi - Emigrant EP LP (Joyful Noise)
Over the last several years, the critically acclaimed composer and adventurous multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi has travelled frequently to Montana and Wyoming to work on Omoiyari, a "song film" about Japanese internment during WWII. The experience was potent for Kishi Bashi, who conducted research for the film (and 2019 album of the same name) by speaking to internment camp incarcerees and descendents. These conversations led to him reflecting on his own identity as a Japanese-American while laying the foundation of his forthcoming 'Emigrant EP'. In Emigrant EP, he celebrates these qualities. Arranged and recorded over the last year, the six tracks serve as a time capsule of the 2020 condition and a continuation of the concepts explored in Omoiyari. What's more, they find Kishi Bashi rewriting musical tradition in the image of his own experience, further embracing his love for roots music and violin fiddling. [Mountain Spring Clear color vinyl.]
Travis Linville - I’m Still Here CD (Black Mesa)
A sought-after collaborator, Travis Linville’s instrumental session and touring work includes credits with artists ranging from fellow Oklahomans Samantha Crain and John Moreland to longtime collaborator Hayes Carll and indie rock stalwart Berwanger (feat. members of the Anniversary). In recent years, he’s performed his own music as hand-selected support for Carll and Moreland, as well as Parker Millsap, Todd Snider’s Hard Working Americans, and even country legend Marty Stuart. I'm Still Here is a collection of contributions woven together with endearingly visible seams, but it remains a record only Linville could've made... or at least could've made happen. Producer JD McPherson explains, "I've never worked with someone so open to new ideas yet knows fundamentally who they are as an artist. Everyone had such a great time working with Travis and his fantastic songs. Let me drive that final point home: Travis is a really, really great songwriter. That makes work a pleasure."
Lionel Boy - Lionel Boy LP (Innovative Leisure)
The airy, jazz-cracked, electronic pop of Lionel Boy belies a wistful romanticism, a careful observational streak, and a meditative fixation on life and death. ‘Lionel Boy’ is an electric synthesis of Lionel’s sounds -- which FADER previously hailed as “slacker pop” (alternate ascription: “liquor store pop.”). It’s a warm and mellow album built to keep you company on long drives. If Lionel’s artist DNA stems from a classic singer-songwriter tradition, it’s been subtly transposed with the influences of the rappers, beatmakers, and R&B singers that dominate his listening habits.
Lord Huron - Long Lost CD/2xLP (Republic)
Lord Huron presents their fourth studio album, Long Lost. The band has often tried to uncover the past of their studio, Whispering Pines, without much success. Instead, they decided to imagine what has gone on in the studio, who has passed through, and that is how Long Lost was created. Featuring the singles "Not Dead Yet," "Mine Forever," "I Lied" and "Love Me Like You Used To." [Indie exclusive custard/blue sky color vinyl.]
Lula Wiles - Shame & Sedition LP (Smithsonian Folkways)
Conceived amidst profound change and calls for revolution, Shame and Sedition is the sound of Lula Wiles amplifying the present moment. Each song grew from personal revelations or yearning for collective reckoning, materializing into proclamations against powerful oligarchs, toxic relationships, media narratives, and the callousness capitalism demands. Sung in their instantly recognizable tight harmony, within a landscape of expansive electric guitars, dynamic currents of bass and drums, and intimate acoustic textures, the album sees Lula Wiles' sound deepening to give honest form to their trenchant lyrics. Shame and Sedition captures Lula Wiles at a pivotal juncture, as they critically examine today's nuanced struggles and reconsider how our lives are lived.
Marinero - Hella Love LP/CD (Hardly Art)
Hella Love, the Hardly Art debut from Marinero, is an album about closing a chapter. It's Jess Sylvester's grand farewell, and love letter to his hometown and the place he grew up, The San Francisco Bay Area, before relocating to Los Angeles after finishing his debut release. Using the moniker Marinero (which means "sailor" in Spanish), Jess Sylvester was drawn to this name as a means to honor his parent's stories - his father, a sailor, and mother, a Mexican-American who grew up in San Francisco. This record blends many worlds from beginning to end, and as you go deeper it hits harder. It's his goodbye to The Bay. Pulling sonic influences from classic Latin American groups and international composers from the 60's & 70's: Los Terricolas, Ennio Morricone, Esquivel, Carole King and, Serge Gainsbourg Hella Love finds Sylvester fusing classical arrangements with a variety of different genres, evoking a sonic nostalgia blended with other contemporary artists like Chicano Batman, Connan Mockasin, and Chris Cohen. [Loser edition orange vinyl.]
Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime LP/CD (Matador)
On Afrique Victime, the long-awaited new album by Mdou Moctar, the prodigious Tuareg guitarist and songwriter rips a new hole in the sky, boldly reforging contemporary Saharan music and 'rock music' by melding guitar pyrotechnics, full-blast noise, and field recordings with poetic meditations on love, religion, women's rights inequality, and Western Africa's exploitation at the hands of colonial powers. [Indie exclusive purple vinyl.]
Monster Magnet - A Better Dystopia LP/CD (Napalm)
Take a trip inside the mind of psychedelic rock legend Dave Wyndorf with Monster Magnet's A Better Dystopia - a delightfully psychotic selection of proto-metal and late-era psych songs that fit the band like a glove! With wonderfully obscure song choices and excellent sequencing, the mighty Magnet pay homage to some of their favorite songs of all time, crafting another exciting and unique listening experience alike what they've become famous for.
Morcheeba - Blackest Blue CD/LP (Fly Agaric Records)
Pioneers of the British music scene, 'Blackest Blue' is the band's 10th studio album in a discography that spans three decades. 2020 saw Morcheeba unable to tour or perform live, which gave Skye Edwards & Ross Godfrey "time to write songs and really get to hone them," as Godfrey puts it. "There weren't so many pressures so we could really take our time getting the songs right," adds Edwards. The result of this time is a refined 10 track album that fuses previous incarnations and sound of the band - such as downbeat, chill, electro-pop & soul - into one cohesive record that dives deep into the soul of the band's genre-mashing musical heritage.
Gary Numan - Intruder 2xLP/CD (BMG)
hree years after the apocalyptic Savage (Songs From A Broken World), synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan is back with a prequel of sorts in Intruder. Since his debut in 1979, Gary Numan's extensive influence has been indisputable. From superstars like Prince and Trent Reznor to major modern talents like Lady Gaga and Kanye West, his work has provided limitless inspiration to other leading lights. Intruder looks at climate change from the perspective of the planet itself. The premise is to ask the question: if Earth could speak, and feel things the way we do, what would it say? The songs, for the most part, are an attempt to provide that missing voice. [Deluxe CD & indie exclusive red vinyl.]
The Protomen - Cover Up (Original Soundtrack) 2xLP (Sound Machine Recs)
Governmental conspiracy... Robot assassins... A race to expose the truth... The Cover Up is a cinematic masterpiece that tread too close to a dark reality to ever see the light of day. It is one of the great lost films of the 20th century. A cult classic few have seen and lived to talk about. This soundtrack of covers by Nashville concept rock outfit, The Protomen, is the only remaining testament to it's existence. The included version of 'In The Air Tonight' was recently featured in Season 3 of Netflix's hit show, Cobra Kai.
Reigning Sound - A Little More Time With Reigning Sound LP+MP3 (Merge)
It's been over 15 years since Greg Cartwright uprooted to Asheville NC, but this new Memphis-made record shows the songwriter in top form and wholly inspired by his birthplace. And it's not only the terrain that's familiar: For this new LP, Cartwright also reunited with Reigning Sound's original "Memphis lineup" of Jeremy Scott (bass), Greg Roberson (drums), and Alex Greene (keyboards), all of whom played on the band's earliest recordings. The new songs explore fresh lyrical and musical territories but at times also tastefully echo back to Reigning Sound's Break Up, Break Down and Time Bomb High School. That's not by chance-it's just what happens when these musicians get in the same room. Their sonic chemistry hasn't faded a bit. [Limited edition yellow & green swirl Peak vinyl available in the shop or online.]
Rema - The Three EPs LP (Caroline)
From Nigeria to the world, Rema is the artist everyone across the US is talking about. Championed by artists like Drake and Rihanna to political figures like Barack Obama, Rema is an important and unique artist who is only just getting started. Rema's signature is underpinning pop / dancefloor immediacy with mesmerizing atmospherics. The Three EPs is his first release on vinyl, bringing together a beloved collection of some of his biggest songs and fan favorites.
Gruff Rhys - Seeking New Gods CD (Rough Trade US)
This is Gruff's seventh solo album. Seeking New Gods was recorded following a US tour with his band and mixed in LA with superstar producer Mario C (Beastie Boys). The album concept was originally driven to be the biography of a mountain, Mount Paektu (an East Asian active volcano). However, as Gruff's writing began to reflect on the inhuman timescale of a peak's existence and the intimate features that bring it to mythological life, both the songs and the mountain became more and more personal. [Vinyl shipped late and is expected early next week.]
The Tragically Hip - Saskadelphia LP/CD (UMe)
Canada’s iconic group the Tragically Hip have returned with Saskadelphia, a surprise album made up of unreleased material from 1990. It’s the band’s first album since vocalist Gord Downie died of brain cancer in 2017, though a posthumous Downie solo LP called Away Is Mine emerged last fall.
Five of the unreleased songs were recorded in New Orleans for the Hip’s 1991 record Road Apple, which was supposed to be called Saskadelphia before the title was rejected by label executives for being “too Canadian.”
Twenty One Pilots - Scaled and Icy CD (Fueled By Ramen)
Written and largely produced by Tyler Joseph in isolation over the course of the past year at his home studio, with Josh Dun engineering the album's drums from across the country, Scaled And Icy is the product of long-distance virtual sessions and finds the duo processing their upended routines along with the prevailing emotions of 2020 - anxiety, loneliness, boredom, and doubt. The duo had to forgo their normal studio sessions but reached a new of level of introspection in the process, adopting a more imaginative and bold approach to their songwriting. The result is a collection of songs that push forward through setbacks and focus on the possibilities worth remembering. No word on vinyl yet.
Waterparks - Greatest Hits LP (300 Entertainment)
After three albums of hyperactive punk-pop that saw vocalist Awsten Knight tackle millennial angst with absolutely no filter, it should come as little surprise that Waterparks’ fourth album is audaciously called ‘Greatest Hits’. The title might bait fans and haters alike but rather than playing it safe and releasing a clutch of uptempo, radio-friendly bangers (or actually be a compilation of their biggest songs) ‘Greatest Hits’ is instead a 17-track epic in which they their hand at emo-rap, stadium rock, club floor-fillers, chaotic hyperpop and lo-fi confessionals. It sounds like 2021 on shuffle.
Yaeji - What We Drew LP (XL Recordings)
Yaeji's What We Drew is titled intentionally; the project is as much indebted to her own singular creative vision as it is to her network of close-knit collaborators and friends, a team she's described as a 'family business.' What We Drew is Yaeji's first full-length release, and entirely self-produced, but she's careful to classify it as a mixtape, which belies the way that these songs came together. 'Each track is almost like a snippet of my life, a look into my diary or something, where it's reflective of how I was specifically feeling during that time.' [Limited edition blue vinyl.]
Yautja - The Lurch LP/CD (Relapse)
Nashville underground trio Yautja make their Relapse Records debut with their highly anticipated new album, The Lurch. Yautja's new album amalgamates metal, punk and noise rock into a ferocious hybrid that has propelled them from the obscurity of the American South onto the international stage. Recorded by Scott Evans at the legendary Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, The Lurch marks another step forward for the innovative band. [Neon violet color vinyl.]
Reissues, Compilations, Live Recordings & Vault Excavations...
Doug Carn - Revelation LP/CD (Real Gone)
Aside from McCoy Tyner's 'Contemplation,' John Coltrane's 'Naima,' and René McLean sic McClean's 'Jihad,' Doug Carn himself takes the composing reins on this masterful 1973 release, which further integrates Jean Carn's ethereal yet soulful vocals into the his impressive stylistic vision. And this time the band includes such heavyweights as trumpeter Olu Dara, bassist Walter Booker, and drummer Ira Williams. All of Carn's albums for Black Jazz are classics; this one'featuring a new remastering by Mike Milchner of Sonic Vision and liner notes by Pat Thomas, author of Listen Whitey! The Sights & Sounds of Black Power 1968-1975'might just be first among equals.
David Allan Coe - Biketoberfest ’01: Live From The Iron Horse Saloon LP (Cleveland Int’l)
If there's ever been a way to describe David Allan Coe, it's got to be his ability to defy categorization. With over six decades of following his musical muse wherever it's led, this craggy voiced outlaw has crossed the panorama of American roots music. As well as being a singer, guitarist, songwriter, David is also a magician and a ventriloquist, deep sea treasure hunter, and movie star.
Collider - -><- LP (Escho)
The whirlwind debut album from the underground phenomenon from Copenhagen, released in 2019. High intensity guitar music with psychedelic, dreamy elements of boy/girl vocals and even a flute. The soundscape points towards starry shoegaze and '90s slacker rock, while progressive shifts and a daring, illogical approach to composition places the band in their very own fusion genre. Based on paranormal, astral experiences and a chaotic way of life, the universe of Collider is both expanding and enclosing. A noisy backdrop with soft, hazy melodies in the foreground, occasionally interrupted by snarling outbreaks is the result of an expressive and sensible way of four young human beings playing music together.
Drab Majesty - Unarian Dances 12” (Dais)
Drab Majesty - Unknown To The I 12” (Dais)
Drab Majesty is the project of Deb DeMure, the androgynous alter-ego of L.A.-based musician Andrew Clinco and partner Mona D. With it's combination of reverb-drenched guitars, synth bass lines, commanding vocals, and rhythmic drum machine beats, this project is a stark departure from Clinco's previous stints as drummer in Marriages and Black Mare. Dubbed "Tragic Wave" and "Mid-Fi" by DeMure, Drab Majesty eloquently blends classic 80s New Wave and hints of early 4AD with a futuristic originality. Drab Majesty's first ever release was the 2012 self-released cassette tape "Unarian Dances". Originally limited to 100 copies, tracks from this tape would eventually make their way onto the Completely Careless CD collection as bonus cuts. Now, along with the "Unknown to the I" 12" also released on March 26, these songs are finally made available on vinyl in 45 RPM 12" format, bringing all early Drab Majesty material from the Careless era (2012-2015) to vinyl. Mastered by Josh Bonati with beautiful new packaging by Nathaniel Young. [Limited edition clear vinyl.]
The Fall - I Am As Pure As Oranj 2xLP (Let Them Eat Vinyl)
The Fall - The Lighter User Syndrome 2xLP (Let Them Eat Vinyl)
The Fall - Live At Icc Hannover 1984 2xLP (Let Them Eat Vinyl)
The Fall - Live At Tramps New York 1984 2xLP (Let Them Eat Vinyl)
New reissues of The Fall’s 11th and 18th LPs plus 2 blistering live sets. Describing The Fall to a new listener is a task that even the most talented word smith would find problem with. A mixture of punk fury, spoken word and shamanic chanting that basks in repeated, near-cacophonous guitar riffs and tribal drum textures... it's more simple to sum up by stating 'that's The Fall'. Mark E Smith led the revolving door band through unrelenting decades of musical manufacture - ignorant of trend and fashion - to establish himself as a bonafide, alternative music landmark. Often considered to be at their caustic best live, these live sets from The Fall were recorded in 1984, at New York City's infamous Tramps, and at the ICC in Hanover.
Girlschool - Hit And Run LP (Renaissance)
Hit and Run is the second studio album by the British heavy metal band Girlschool, originally released in 1981 on Bronze Records. [Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket.]
My Bloody Valentine - m b v LP+MP3/CD (Domino)
Newly-signed to Domino, My Bloody Valentine reissue their 2013 LP in a deluxe gatefold tip-on sleeve with 5 “artwork prints” and a new fully analog master cut on 180gram vinyl. Also includes download codes for 24-bit, 16-bit and mp3.
My Morning Jacket - At Dawn 3xLP/2xCD (Darla)
Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition of My Morning Jacket's classic breakthrough record At Dawn with the added bonus of a complete Jim James live acoustic set of seven tracks recorded by Erik Wofford in the Radiology X-ray Room of the old Student Health Center, University of Texas, March 17, 2001, just three weeks before the release of At Dawn. The live performance was recorded and later broadcast on KVRX. Featured all together here for the first time are six previously unreleased tracks from the session, plus Bermuda Highway (Live KVRX) from the same, which is also featured on the compilation Chapter 2: Early Recordings. This is a recording of outstanding quality and captures a peak performance by Jim James. [Limited edition opaque orange vinyl.]
New Age Steppers - Stepping Into A New Age 1980-2012 5xCD (On-U Sounds)
An anthology set of the group that launched the On-U Sound label with the first album and single, New Age Steppers were a collective with an evolving line-up, built around the driving forces of Ari Up (The Slits) and producer Adrian Sherwood. Their records featured contributions from several singers and players from the UK post-punk vanguard such as the Pop Group, The Raincoats and The Flying Lizards; colliding with established movers from the reggae world such as Bim Sherman, Style Scott and George Oban. Contains the following discs: New Age Steppers (1981), Action Battlefield (1981), Foundation Steppers (1983), Love Forever (2012), Avant Gardening (a new compilations of rare dubs, version excursions and unreleased tracks from the vault) plus 32 page book containing photos, ephemera and a new sleevenotes by Oli Warwick that trace the history of the group via conversations with Adrian Sherwood and other contributors.
The Palace Guard - All Night Long: An Anthology 1965-66 CD (Omnivore)
Emitt Rhodes' first band - this release includes the band's entire recorded repertoire, and the packaging contains photos and liner notes from "the Guard's" Rick Moser. Hawthorne, California, may be known as the hometown of The Beach Boys, but another '60s band of renown originated from that city, as well. The Palace Guard only released 6 singles during their tenure, but their influence and legacy is undeniable. Original members of the band included brothers Don, John and David Beaudoin, their roommate Mike Conley, drummer Emitt Rhodes, bass guitarist Rick Moser, and lead guitarist Chuck McClung. The band signed to Orange-Empire Records after months of local gigging.
Various Artists - Pirates Choice Vol. 2 LP (Studio One)
From the vaults of Studio One comes an eclectic grouping of rare shots picked from the treasure chest of the label’s releases. Here album tracks by Willie Williams, Lennie Hibbert and Freddie McGregor are joined by rarer releases by the Conquerors, Cool Operator, Roy Richards and the Freedom Singers. Also included are alternate versions of songs like "All the Way" and "Jah Light" as well as "Pirates Choice" that have circulated among Studio One collectors for some years.
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - Way Out West: The Lost Transcriptions For Tiffany Music 1946-47 Vol. 2 CD (Real Gone)
Back in 2014, with it's critically-acclaimed release of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys: Riding Your Way-The Lost Transcriptions for Tiffany Music, 1946-1947, Real Gone Music offered folks a chance to own some of the most revered-and rare-recordings in the history of American music. Now, some seven years later, Real Gone is back with another 2-CD, 50-track volume of Tiffany Transcriptions from Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys. And guess what? It's every bit as good as the first!