New Releases - 6/7/24
Hitting The Racks
Here's your weekly rundown of what's hitting the new release racks at Grimey's
New Releases
Actress – Statik LP (Smalltown Supersound)
For Actress, who wrote most of his subtly majestic new record Statik in an extensive deep flow state, the project serves as a cohesive testament to artistic liberation. Resultantly, the contemplative new album is imbued with a sense of freedom, while belying its creator's expertise through forensic attention to textural detail and signature Actress resonances. Listening closely, influential visions of aquatic realms, such as the mythic Atlantis, and evocations of flying birds (and, perhaps, humans) may reveal themselves.
Alisa Amador – Multitudes CD/LP (Honest Magic)
Alisa Amador is a bilingual singer-songwriter and the winner of the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest. Alisa Amador's music is a synthesis of the many styles she's voraciously absorbed: rock, jazz, funk, and alternative folk, all wrapped in the spirit of the Latin music she grew up with. NPR's Cyrena Touros calls her "a pitch-perfect rendition of my wildest dreams," and NPR's Bob Boilen calls Alisa "a powerful voice whose tender performance commands attention and fosters connection." Alisa has opened for artists including Hozier, Lake Street Dive, Madison Cunningham, Watchhouse, Hiss Golden Messenger, and countless others. Alisa's soulful singing, poetically incisive lyrics, and syncopated rhythms are likely to make you cry, laugh, and dance all within one set. [Limited edition translucent sunset violet color vinyl.]
Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica Vol. 2 CD/2xLP (BMG)
Apocalyptica is a Finnish cello metal band known for their unique style of music, blending heavy metal with classical cello arrangements. Plays Metallica Vol.2 is a very special album; not just going back to their roots, this time Metallica themselves are involved.
Bloomsday – Heart Of The Artichoke LP (Bayonet)
The way Bloomsday's Iris James Garrison writes songs feels like somewhere between a mirror and a memory. Spacious, full-bodied folk songs, they are an ode to things that are good no matter how small. Bloomsday's new record, Heart Of The Artichoke, is a relic of unfettered creativity and community.
Bon Jovi – Forever CD/LP (Island)
Forever features 12 new songs from one of history’s most iconic bands, Bon Jovi, including the lead single, “Legendary.” "This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn-up-the-volume, feel-good Bon Jovi," said Jon Bon Jovi. Forever finds Bon Jovi once again working alongside his two remaining founding bandmates: keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. The trio are joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.
Bonny Light Horseman – Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free CD/2xLP (Jagjaguwar)
At the center of Bonny Light Horseman is, always, the singular combination of three powerful and tender artists, artists who expertly dodge superlatives but are quick to acknowledge that their bond makes each one better, braver and more vulnerable than they’d be on their own. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the force of their voices together, which work with complete trust in one another through the gentlest moments and the most ruthless wails. Bonny Light Horseman’s new album, Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free, is an ode to the blessed mess of our humanity. Confident and generous, it is an unvarnished offering that puts every feeling and supposed flaw out in the open. The themes are stacked high and staked even higher: love and loss, hope and sorrow, community, and family, change and time all permeate Bonny Light Horseman’s most vulnerable and bounteous offering to date. [Limited edition pink (disc one) and sky blue (disc two) vinyl.]
Charli XCX – Brat CD/LP/Cassette (Atlantic)
Charli XCX’s sixth studio album Brat is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2022’s Crash, which reached number 1 on the UK’s official album chart. Brat is an exhilarating club record built around high art references and social commentary. Avant-pop and electronic superstar Charli XCX has become an iconic figure in the arts, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output. Over the course of a trailblazing career, the multi-hyphenate creative has earned critical acclaim for her innovative style and entrepreneurial spirit and seen her forward-thinking approach reshape pop culture in the process. [Indie store exclusive clear w/ pink splatter vinyl.]
Jesse Daniel – Countin’ The Miles LP (Lightning Rod)
For singer/songwriter Jesse Daniel, country music is nothing short of a life force. Hailing from a rural mountain town on California's Central Coast, the Austin-based artist first explored his innate passion for music by playing drums in punk bands, then drifted down a troubled path that included years of battling addiction and spending time in and out of jail and rehab. As he took his first steps toward getting clean, Daniel immersed himself in the pure joy of writing country songs, fully embracing the unbridled vitality of California country and bringing a lived-in honesty to his lyrical storytelling. [Indie store exclusive translucent camo color vinyl.]
Eels – Eels Time! CD/LP (E Works)
Eels, the ever-changing critically acclaimed project of principal singer/songwriter E (Mark Oliver Everett), have released 14 studio albums since their 1996 debut, Beautiful Freak. The new album, Eels Time!, was recorded between Los Feliz, California and Dublin, Ireland. It consists of twelve brand new tracks with some of E's most introspective and personal material in recent years, and features collaborations with American musician and actor Tyson Ritter.
Ekko Astral – Pink Balloons LP+MP3 (Topshelf)
Limited blue and pink color vinyl pressing. Includes poster. The debut long player from Washington, DC-based Ekko Astral is a complex mesh of bubblegum noise punk and no-wave art rock that holds an elastic space for the knotty, tangled horrors of living in the imperial core. Their songs thrash with intense, necessary defiance against codified gender-based violence, their distortion and sibilance a direct response to the dangers outside our front doors.
Fantastic Cat – Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat LP (Missing Piece)
Fantastic Cat is back and older than ever, taking America (and the nicer parts of Europe) by storm with their smash hit new album, Now That's What I Call Fantastic Cat. Galvanized by a transformative journey into the spiritual vortices of the Pocono Mountains, the band found inspiration for their sophomore effort in the world of mind-expanding psychedelics: they dropped antacids, experimented with mushrooms (primarily porcini), and even began microdosing a variety of hard seltzers. The result was an album that could only be described as "Christopher Cross crossed with Kris Kristofferson," a bewildering blend of stepdad rock and in-law country destined to solidify their status as your least favorite songwriter's favorite songwriters.
Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You CD (Epic)
Future & Metro Boomin – We Still Don’t Trust You 2xCD (Epic)
We Don’t Trust You arrives as a celebration of the historic partnership of two culture-shifting legends at the peak of their powers. Future and Metro Boomin’s latest collaborations are a continuation of a musical legacy that dates to "Karate Chop", an electric 2013 single that birthed the most dynastic hip-hop duo of the 2010s. They'd fortify their connection with tracks like 2015's "Jumpman" (with Drake) and 2017’s "Mask Off", singles that have combined to be certified 14-times Platinum by the RIAA. We Don’t Trust You features the track “Like That” feat. Kendrick Lamar as well as other “A list” guest features. The expanded double-CD We Still Don’t Trust You includes guest appearances by the Weeknd, Chris Brown, Brownstone, Ty Dolla Sign, J. Cole, Lil Baby, and ASAP Rocky. [Vinyl versions due July 26.]
The Ghost Inside – Searching For Solace CD/LP (Epitaph)
The Ghost Inside stands as an unstoppable force in the realm of hard rock music. Fueled by unwavering determination and unyielding passion, this band has forged a path marked by resilience and redemption. Their latest endeavor, the sixth studio album titled Searching For Solace, delves into the profound theme of grappling with one's own thoughts - the internal struggle between good, bad, and evil. It explores the journey of finding comfort and making peace amidst the chaos of life's ebb and flow. The album reflects the band's commitment to not succumb to negativity, anger, or darkness, aligning with their identity as an uplifting and comforting musical force for fans seeking solace. [Indie store exclusive eco-mix vinyl.]
Goat Girl – Below The Waste CD/LP (Rough Trade)
Progressing from their angst-fueled self-titled debut (2018) to the escapist world of sophomore LP On All Fours (2021), South London trio Goat girl - consisting of Rosy Bones, Lottie Pendlebury and Holly Mullineaux - enter their most self-assured era in 2024, with third album Below The Waste. Co-produced by the band and John Spud Murphy (Lankum/black midi), the album takes the band's distinctive sound to new extremes, as they delve fearlessly into expansive noise-rock, delicate folk, and synth-driven pop.
Good Looks – Lived Here For A While LP (Keeled Scales)
Good Looks write kindhearted and cathartic rock songs about the persistence required to make it through hard times. In April 2022, the Austin, Texas quartet released their critically acclaimed debut Bummer Year. Immediately after their triumphant hometown record release show, lead guitarist Jake Ames was hit by a car crossing the street, fracturing his skull and tailbone. Thankfully, Ames made a full recovery. The traumatic accident strengthened the bond that built their electric new album, Lived Here For A While. It's fearlessly direct music that captures the full-throated intensity of their galvanizing live show.
Peggy Gou – I Hear You CD/LP (XL Recordings)
Peggy Gou has ascended from underground sensation to global icon by sticking to her own unwavering vision, becoming one of the most in-demand electronic musicians and DJs in the world. Having performed to over a million people worldwide in 2023, the self-managed South Korean-born, Berlin-based producer and artist has blazed her own trail as the first Korean DJ to play Berghain, the first female DJ to headline Ushuaïa Ibiza, and the first woman in over 20 years to appear within the Top 10 of DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 lists. Since 2016, she’s forged a singular blend of club music that’s as forward-thinking as it is nostalgic. [Indie store exclusive blue vinyl.]
Liz Lawrence – Peanuts CD/LP (Chrysalis)
Described as an "intensely British" record, Peanuts is a wry and observational album, with a newfound sense of compassion and reflection on Liz's inner feelings and their projection on the outside world. Peanuts is a playground game, also known as Mercy, where two kids twist each other's fingers until one cries out, 'peanuts!', signaling that they have met their pain threshold.
L’Imperatrice – Pulsar LP (Microqlima)
With two successful albums and a sold-out world tour under their belt, Paris-based L'Impératrice have matriculated from a good-times instrumental act created by music critic Charles de Boisseguin to a six-piece powerhouse whose sashaying mixes of funk and French Touch, disco and deep house now include the fetching vocals of singer Flore Benguigui. Their new album Pulsar is a focused but far-reaching record, the jubilant testament of a band with plenty to say and the skills to say it themselves. Across 10 tracks, L'Impératrice move freely and authoritatively among the sounds they love, bridging hip-hop, kosmische, and modern pop with their most unabashed embraces of French Touch and international house ever. Benguigui, meanwhile, boldly sings of self-empowerment by shirking beauty standards, ageism, and drab normalcy, with a little help from an exciting set of new friends. [Indie store exclusive tangerine color vinyl.]
Loathe – I Let It in And It Took Everything LP (Sharptone)
Loathe has been making waves in the British underground heavy music scene since their inception in 2014. Two EPs and one full-length debut album have already put them on the map and the band has already been nominated for Best New Band at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods and Best UK Breakthrough Band in the Heavy Music Awards. Their intense, visceral multi-media live show extravaganza has marked them out as a band who have ambitions far beyond that of their peers and now, with the release of their second full length album, I Let It In And It Took Everything, those ambitions are beginning to be realized.
Nduduzo Makhathini – uNomkhubulwane CD/2xLP (Blue Note)
South African pianist, composer, philosopher, and healer Nduduzo Makhathini travels beyond any existing notion of music-making to offer his most profound vision of creative mysticism yet with uNomkhubulwane, his stunning eleventh studio album which is his third to be released on Blue Note Records following 2020's Modes Of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds and 2022's In The Spirit Of Ntu. The transcendent three-movement suite-which pays homage to the Zulu Goddess uNomkhubulwane and explores Africa's tragic history of oppression-features Makhathini's trio with bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere on bass and drummer Francisco Mela. The music is both an offering and an invitation to humanity to cultivate ways of being that strive for freedom and balance.
Malphino – Visit Malphino LP (Lex)
Malphino is an outer-national, mystical band from an imagined tropical island that has dreamt up a cinematic score and audio backdrop to their tropical idyll. A promised land of hypnotic cumbia rhythms, subtle digital warbling, accordion textures, voodoo haze, and woodblock charm awaits the off-piste explorer willing to step through the arch and Visit Malphino, the debut album from this London-based collective of diaspora musicians and visual artists. Their debut album Visit Malphino dives deep into the island's mythology. It's a 17-track epic that provides the soundboard to years of imaginative cultivation.
Man Man – Carrot On Strings CD/LP (Sub Pop)
When Man Man released its last album, Dream Hunting In The Valley Of The In Between, frontman Honus Honus (née Ryan Kattner) was in a state of unrest, oscillating between hope and cynicism. Perhaps fittingly, the album dropped during the pandemic, a time at which we could all relate. But much like that bizarre turn of events, the ennui now seems so distant to Man Man. A revived sense of purpose washes through Man Man’s new album, Carrot On Strings, radiating a mix of calm and confidence. Kattner always embodied a wild-man pied-piper vibe: his melodic, unhinged art-rock was at once intriguing and angsty. He was so alluringly creative that you went along with it, even if you were never sure where Man Man would take you. Carrot On Strings is no less inventive, but its ethos is radical in context of the band’s two-decade career. [Limited edition orange vinyl.]
NxWorries – Why Lawd? CD/LP (Stones Throw)
The long-awaited second album from NxWorries – the iconic duo of superstar vocalist Anderson .Paak and Grammy Award-winning beatmaker and producer Knxwledge. Eight years after their breakthrough debut Yes Lawd!, NxWorries return with Why Lawd? – a winning combination of Knx’s unmistakable beats and .Paak’s instantly recognizable vocals. This time, special guests are invited along for the ride. Featured artists include H.E.R., Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, Earl Sweatshirt, Rae Khalil and more. [Indie store exclusive smoke brown w/ blue splatter vinyl.]
Orebolo – The Chateau LP (No Coincidence)
Orebolo (or-RAY-beh-low) is an acoustic trio featuring Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, guitar), and Jeff Arevalo (upright bass). The band, comprised of members of the emergent indie rock group Goose, has built a faithful following nationwide, performing an eclectic mix of originals and covers. With their debut studio album, The Chateau, the trio finds comfort in exploring Goose's deep catalog acoustically - a feeling they hope to translate to those listening at home.
Carly Pearce – Hummingbird CD/2xLP (Big Machine)
Carly Pearce's highly anticipated fourth studio album, Hummingbird, marks Pearce's debut as a co-producer and fully represents her new musical chapter - one of forward motion. Following the success of her last studio album, 29: Written In Stone, Pearce leans in to her authentic country sound encompassed by the symbolism of the hummingbird which represents the album's themes of growth, humility, understanding, playfulness, and optimism. [Limited edition custard yellow vinyl.]
Pedro The Lion – Santa Cruz CD/LP/Cassette (Polyvinyl)
On Pedro The Lion's new album Santa Cruz, critically acclaimed musician David Bazan returns with a new chapter in his ambitious and ongoing recording project - five albums devoted to places he lived in throughout his life. Santa Cruz is Bazan's third album in the series and follows up where 2022's Havasu and 2019's Phoenix left off. Tracks like "Modesto" and "Little Help" foreshadow Bazan's exposure and ultimate love of classic rock 'n' roll records, while songs like "It'll All Work Out" showcase his unique approach to synthesizers, something he introduced with the 2005 self-titled Headphones album. The stories on Santa Cruz highlight Bazan's teenage years and solidifies what he sees as an exposition in a traditional three-act structure. [Limited edition pine forest green vinyl.]
Sect – Plague Upon Plagues CD/LP (Southern Lord)
Plagues Upon Plagues is the follow-up to 2019's critically acclaimed album Blood Of The Beasts. Includes the single "New Low".
Strand Of Oaks – Miracle Focus CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
Strand Of Oaks returns with a vibrant new chapter, Miracle Focus. This album marks a bold departure from Tim's previous introspective work, embracing a sound that's uplifting, diverse, and deeply personal. [Limited edition yellow vinyl.]
Alfie Templeman – Radiosoul CD/LP (Chess Club)
Alfie Templeman's second studio album, is an ambitious suite of tracks that showcase a bold new acid-pop direction for the Bedfordshire-born polymath. [Indie store exclusive eco-mix vinyl.]
Meghan Trainor – Timeless LP (Epic)
Arriving just in time for the 10-year anniversary of her diamond-certified hit "All About That Bass", Timeless is a celebration of Meghan Trainor's growth as an artist over the last decade. On it, she approaches themes of self-love and empowerment with more confidence than ever before, brought to life through her smart lyricism and signature production. Meghan explains, "I cannot believe it has been 10 years since this all began, I have never been more grateful for this life that my incredible Megatronz has gifted me with. This new album and tour are all for them and my beautiful family."
Tony Trischka – Earl Jam CD/LP (Down The Road)
One afternoon during the height of COVID, Tony Trischka opened a small package with a thumb drive. It contained some extremely rare recordings of Earl Scruggs and John Hartford jamming, mostly taken from private gatherings at Earl's house during the 1980s and ‘90s - over 200 songs and tunes - and Tony's mind was blown. He'd been studying Earl for over 60 years, but now he heard exciting new information in these solos, chock full of twists, turns and exciting revelations. Tony immediately began transcribing and learning his favorites.
Umbra Vitae – Light Of Death CD/LP (Deathwish Inc.)
New album by the modern metal band. [Indie store exclusive clear w/ white vinyl.]
Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats – Nell’ Ora Blu CD/2xLP (Rise Above)
Plainly the most radical album of their career to date, Nell' Ora Blu stands out from the sterile desert of rock 'n' roll in 2024 like a gore-drenched beacon. What this scintillating detour tells us about the future of Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats remains a mystery, but after enjoying such rich and fruitful artistic indulgence, Starrs' notoriety as one of heavy music's most distinctive voices can only increase. Nell' Ora Blu is an epic tribute to Italian crime cinema from the late ‘60s/early ‘70s.
The Zawose Queens – Maisha CD/LP (Real World)
The Zawose Queens are Leah and Pendo Zawose of the Tanzanian Wagogo people, whose joyous otherworldly vocals, polyphonic rhythms on drums, thumb pianos, and chizeze fiddle mirror the sounds of nature. The grand-daughter and daughter of the late, great Hukwe Zawose, like all the women in the Zawose family, they were once forbidden from the spotlight. Aided by producers Oli Barton-Wood and Tom Excell, this is a stunning debut deftly blend the acoustic, electronic, traditional, and modern. [Milky clear white vinyl.]
Reissues, Comps, Live Recordings, Vault Excavations...
Action Bronson – Cocodrillo Turbo [Reissue/2022] LP (Loma Vista)
Silver vinyl pressing. A Queens legend, respected for his idiosyncratic pen and vivid raps, Action Bronson is a decade and-a-half into his career and still deepening his skillset.
August Burns Red – Phantom Anthem [Reissue/2017] 6x7” (Fearless)
Phantom Anthem is August Burns Red's seventh studio album, on which the band showcases their skillful instrumentation and powerful lyrical content while telling an empowering story - everyone carries a message, passions, and an identity, and it's that powerful voice inside that drives people forward in life. While some may feel like outcasts, or appear to be off track and going nowhere, the songs highlight that it's what's inside that really matters - the passion that's beneath the surface is what is of value, not the circumstances or physical evidence seen on the surface. The box set includes six 7” 45rpm singles in three different shades of grey.
Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana 2xLP (Rimas Entertainment)
Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana is the fifth solo studio album by Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny, originally released in 2023. It features guest appearances from Arcángel, Bryant Myers, de la Ghetto, Eladio Carrión, Feid, Luar la L, Mora, Ñengo Flow, Young Miko, and Yovngchimi.
Black Uhuru – Live At Soledad Prison 1982 LP (Diggers Factory)
Founded in the mid '70s, Black Uhuru really burst onto the reggae scene in the early '80s when Sly & Robbie took over artistic direction and produced such seminal albums as Showcase, Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out and Anthem (note that a magnificent collection of their singles for Sly & Robbie's TAXI label is available on TAXI TRAXX, released by TABOU1 last year). Not only were the albums revolutionary from an artistic point of view, but the live shows were formidable. An avalanche of lead-heavy drums and bass, augmented by guitars bordering on metal-rock thanks to the late Darryl Thompson, provided a bedrock of rhythm and energy for Michael Rose's lead vocals and the backing vocals of Duckie Simpson and Puma Jones.
Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane – Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane [Reissue/1958] LP (Craft Recordings)
Two jazz greats join forces on this historic recording from 1958.
Alice Coltrane – A Monastic Trio [Reissue/1968] LP (Impulse!)
Recorded in 1968 and intended as a tribute to her late husband, Alice Coltrane is supported in her first solo outing by Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison and Rashied Ali - all members of John Coltrane's last quintet. While initial reviews to the album were lukewarm upon release, looking at it in the context of her larger body of work, A Monastic Trio serves as a delightful foreshadowing of what was to come.
The Cure – Japanese Whispers [Reissue/1983] LP (Rhino)
Limited clear vinyl LP pressing housed in a special transclear sleeve. Remastered by Robert Smith and cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, London. Japanese Whispers is a compilation of Cure singles and B-sides released between November 1982 and November 1983 and charted in the UK Album charts on December 24th, 1983.
Cymande – Cymande [Reissue/1972] LP (Partisan)
With the release of their 1972 self-titled debut album, Cymande emerged as innovators of the Black British music scene. Taking influences from their Guyanese and Jamaican roots, the band fused reggae bass lines, Afro-tinged Nyabinghi percussion, psychedelic touches, and American-style funk instrumentation into a sound they dubbed "Nyah-rock." It has been heralded as the best Brit funk album of all time.
Dälek – Negro Necro Nekros [Reissue/1998] 2xLP (Ipecac Recordings)
When Dälek's debut, Negro Necro Nekros arrived in the Fall of 1998, hip-hop's aesthetic and commercial conventions were in a state of upheaval. While mainstream rap had completed the process of full integration into mainstream pop culture, underground hip-hop had mounted an aggressive opposition movement in response. Forged in the fires of the East Coast underground music scene in the ‘90s, experimental hip-hop pioneers Dälek has spent decades carving out a unique niche fusing hardcore hip-hop, noise and a radical approach to sound. From the very beginning, Dälek came out the gate, following in the footsteps of their predecessors Public Enemy while drawing from influences as varied as My Bloody Valentine and German experimentalists Faust, Dälek have succeeded in adding completely new textural and structural dimensions to rap music. This vinyl reissue includes six bonus tracks.
Skeeter Davis & NRBQ – She Sings, They Play [Reissue/1985] CD/LP (Omnivore)
After working with her sisters in The Davis Sisters, Skeeter Davis embarked on a storied solo career. With nearly 40 charting singles between 1957-1974, her recording of "The End Of The World" (Produced by Chet Atkins) hit #2 on both the Pop and Country charts, #1 Adult Contemporary, and #4 R&B in 1962. Since Skeeter had already crossed perceived genres, the thought of the collaboration with music's Pandora's Box known as NRBQ shouldn't seem difficult to grasp. Terry Adams' discovery of The David Sisters’ 78 RPMs saw tracks added to early NRBQ set lists. The pairing was meant to be. She Sings, They Play was a natural coupling, and was issued to critical acclaim in 1985.
Blossom Dearie – Great Women Of Song: Blossom Dearie CD/LP (Verve)
Noted for a distinctive voice, a tender way with a ballad and a fierce sense of swing, singer-pianist Blossom Dearie invested even the most familiar standards with her delightful, one-of-a-kind wit and charm. The selections included here are from the iconic series of albums Dearie made for Verve Records beginning in 1956.
DJ Krush – Ki-Oku Memorial Release for the 3rd Anniversary of Toshinori Kondo [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Diggers Factory)
Collaborative project between Japanese jazz trumpeter Toshinori Kondo and Japanese hip-hop producer DJ Krush.
Kenny Dorham & Jackie McLean – Inta Somethin’ [Reissue/1961] LP (Blue Note)
This spirited 1961 live date for Pacific Jazz captured Kenny Dorham leading a quintet with Jackie McLean, Walter Bishop Jr., Leroy Vinnegar, and Art Taylor at The Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. The band is firing on all cylinders throughout this set featuring four standards bookended by two Dorham originals.
Fanny – Live On Beat-Club ’71-’72 CD/LP (Real Gone Music)
Live On Beat-Club '71-'72 presents the two sets Fanny recorded for the German TV show, mastered by Mike Milchner of Sonic Vision from hi-res mono files taken from the original videotape. [Limited edition peach vinyl.]
The Four Tops – Still Waters Run Deep [Reissue/1970] LP (Motown)
Still Waters Run Deep was released on Motown Records in March 1970 and features the Top 30 hits, “Still Water (Love),” co-written by Smokey Robinson and their cover of “It’s All in the Game.” Produced by Frank Wilson, the album remained in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for 42 weeks, peaking at #21.
Genesis – Genesis [Reissue/1983] CD (Atlantic)
Reissue of Genesis' 1983 self-titled album, featuring the hit singles "Mama", "That's All", and "Taking It All Too Hard", remastered in 2007 by famed engineer Tony Cousins.
Margo Guryan – Words And Music CD/LP (Numero)
Witness to revolutions in jazz and pop, Margo Guryan earned her place in the songwriting pantheon and then some. That she was largely unknown for decades is not the stuff of crushed dreams, but a result of her own choices and priorities. From humble beginnings to the peaks of her 1968 baroque pop masterpiece Take A Picture and the collected Demos to the recent viral ubiquity of "Why Do I Cry", Words And Music captures the entirety of Guryan's career, featuring 16 previously unreleased recordings and a 32-page booklet telling the whole story. [Limited edition ‘think of rain’ gray vinyl.]
Charlie Haden – The Golden Number [Reissue/1977] LP (Verve)
In this collection of bass-led duets, Charlie Haden enlists Don Cherry (trumpet/flute), Archie Shepp (tenor), Hampton Hawes (piano) and a trumpet playing Ornette Coleman on the four tracks. Hawes' playing on the Ornette-penned "Turnaround" is the clear straight-ahead highlight of this generally exploratory album.
Robert Hunter – Tales Of The Great Rum Runners [Reissue/1974] 2xCD/2xLP (Rhino)
Tales Of The Great Rum Runners (Deluxe Edition) introduces a freshly remastered version of the original album alongside 16 previously unreleased recordings, including alternate versions of album tracks and several session outtakes.
Israel Vibration – Strength Of My Life [Reissue/1988] LP (Real Gone Music)
One of the best reggae albums of the '80s and one of the real highlights in the Real Authentic Sound label catalog finally gets an LP reissue.
Sarah Jarosz – Undercurrent [Reissue/2016] LP (Sugarhill)
Metallic silver w/ white swirl vinyl pressing. On Sarah Jarosz’s fourth album, Undercurrent, the impact of being a full-time artist living in New York City is palpable. A gifted instrumentalist, singularly expressive vocalist and songwriter of rare insight, Undercurrent captures the process of personal evolution and discovery as well as the inspirational nature of change.
K.C. And The Sunshine Band – Now Playing LP (BMG)
10 disco and funk hits on clear vinyl.
Remi Kabaka - Roots Funkadelia CD/LP (BBE)
Following the great success of BBE's 2023 reissue of Remi Kabaka's 1976 lost masterpiece 'Son of Africa' comes yet another neglected and hitherto-hidden slice of pure Kabaka goodness: 1980's 'Roots Funkadelia'. - While the 1976 album was recorded at Island Studios London, roots was recorded and mixed in L.A. in the midst of a golden period for the Motown studios, and the sheer quality of the mix shows in spades. An unexpected but welcome bonus is the appearance throughout of the 'mean machine'- Motown artists the Commodores' brass section alter-ego.
Logan Ledger – Golden State LP (Rounder)
Limited misty morning marble color vinyl pressing. Golden State, the second full-length from singer/songwriter Logan Ledger, marks a stylistic departure from the timeless country noir of Ledger's critically lauded debut. This time around, Ledger worked with producer Shooter Jennings, dreaming up a lush and spirited sound partly inspired by the California country-rock scene of the late-'60s and early-'70s. The result is a sublime setting for Ledger's layered meditations on loss and despair and the search for transcendence.
Lonnie Liston-Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – Astral Traveling [Reissue/1973] LP (Real Gone Music)
Lonnie Liston-Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – Cosmic Funk [Reissue/1974] LP (Real Gone Music)
New colorways (clear yellow and coke bottle clear, respectively). Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes' groundbreaking albums for the Flying Dutchman label don't get the attention from jazz fans that they should. In fact, among the many distinguished alumni of Miles Davis' fusion bands, keyboardist Smith and his cohorts arguably ran with Davis' stylistic breakthrough the farthest. In five albums stretching over four years, Smith and The Cosmic Echoes stretched the fusion aesthetic to embrace post-bop modal and spiritual jazz, funk, rock, pop, and even the smooth jazz, quiet storm, and crossover genres.
Loverboy – Live In ’82 CD+DVD/LP+DVD (earMUSIC)
Live In '82 showcases one of Loverboy’s most incredible live performances. Restored from Paul Dean's personal archive of 16mm film, the joyous energy of a band who helped define the golden era of 80's music is captured like lightning in a bottle.
Luther – This Close To You [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (Sony Legacy)
Following the success of his debut, Luther Vandross continued his musical journey as part of the American singing group Luther, with the release of This Close To You, on March 23, 1977. This second studio album further solidified his status in the music industry, highlighting his exceptional skills as a lead vocalist, writer, and producer. The album's blend of soulful melodies and moving lyrics captured the hearts of fans and critics alike, propelling Luther Vandross to stardom.
Junior Marvin – Happy Family LP (Flatiron Recordings)
Tricolor vinyl (red, gold, green). Junior Marvin is widely recognized as an all-time great reggae musician and musical director and guitarist of Bob Marley's iconic band, The Wailers. Junior's new album, Happy Family, coincided with the theatrical release of One Love, the Bob Marley Paramount biopic feature. In the film, the role of Junior is played by his real-life son, Davo, who is also a musical artist.
Mike Martt – Tomorrow Shines Bright LP (Org Music)
Tomorrow Shines Bright is the sole album from Mike Martt, originally released in 2003. Martt, a singer/songwriter and guitarist, was a respected stalwart in the Southern California music scene who spent time in groups like Tex & The Horseheads, The Gun Club, Funeral, T.S.O.L., The Low & Sweet Orchestra, and Thelonious Monster. The solo effort features contributions from Zander Schloss and Benmont Tench, among others. This limited pressing marks the first ever vinyl release of the album, in tribute to Martt after his tragic passing in November 2023.
Helen Merrill – Great Women Of Song: Helen Merrill CD/LP (Verve)
With her cool, expressive singing style and carefully crafted song selection Helen Merrill has secured a special place in the hearts of fans and other musicians. From intimate ballads to full-band swingers this collection, drawn from her 1950s recordings, provides solid evidence of the unparalleled artistry of one of jazz's must-hear voices.
The Murlocs – Young Blindness [Reissue/2016] LP (ATO)
The Murlocs – Live At The Teragram Ballroom [Reissue/2016] LP (ATO)
Red w/ yellow & green and green splatter (respectively) vinyl pressings. Young Blindness followed The Murlocs’ 2014 debut album, Loopholes, and built upon a foundation of distorted licks and melodic intuition. The hearty compositions are emboldened by the distinct vocal tremolo of singer Ambrose Kenny-Smith. Lyrically, themes of young paranoia and self-doubt are viewed through a lens of experience, exploring the blurred meeting point with an air of blues-borne world-weariness. The first live release from The Murlocs, Live At The Teragram Ballroom is a career-spanning 22-song set recorded at The Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles. The show capped off a busy 2022 for the Melbourne-based band, which saw the release of their 6th album, Rapscallion, as well as a performance at Red Rocks (supporting King Gizzard, with whom the band shares two members) and their biggest U.S. headlining tour to date.
Stina Nodenstam – This Is Stina Nordenstam [Reissue/2001] LP (Real Gone Music)
Clear vinyl pressing. Albums don't get much more intimate than the ones made by Stina Nordenstam. The Swedish singer layers her delicate voice over minimal, ambient soundscapes, and her lyrics are impressionistic, personal, and poetic. It's like you're swimming in her stream of consciousness, which is a pretty nice place to be, especially on this 2001 album, which presents Stina at her dreamiest and poppiest.
Otep – Hydra [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Apple red vinyl pressing. Otep’s sixth studio album, Hydra, is a concept record based on a novel by frontwoman Otep Shamaya, titled None Shall Sleep. Originally released in 2013, Hydra reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart and features the fearsome single, “Apex Predator.” Canadian entertainment site Exclaim! asserted, “the record is the sonic equivalent of an art installation.”
The Pretenders – Learning To Crawl [Reissue/1984] LP (Rhino)
Celebrating the album's 40th anniversary, this reissue is true to the original 1984 release with the artwork and tracklisting remaining the same. This pressing of Learning To Crawl features 2018 remastered audio by the album's original producer, Chris Thomas, on vinyl for the first time. - Learning To Crawl is Pretenders' third album, released after a band hiatus which saw in this time the sad passing of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon before recording started. It sees an assortment of guitar and bass players on the record before Robbie McIntosh and Malcolm Foster joined Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers making the band a four piece.
Smokey Robinson – Smokey [Reissue/1973] LP (Motown)
Blue vinyl pressing. Smokey Robinson’s debut solo album, Smokey, was released in June 1973 by Tamla Records and features the singles, “Sweet Harmony”, which was a tribute to his former singing partners, “Baby Come Close”, and “Just My Soul Responding”.
The Salsoul Orchestra – Anthology II 2xLP (Salsoul)
Founded by composer and percussionist Vincent Montana Jr., Salsoul Orchestra was a big band with a twist: they played disco. Active from 1974 to the early 1980s, they served as the backing band for several vocalists on Salsoul Records and recorded their own material, which included eleven LPs of hard-hitting Philly soul, Latin percussion, and funk. Featuring up to 50 members, the orchestra helped shape the sound of an era. Flamboyant string arrangements, funked-up guitars, and cheeky vocals, topped by an unfaltering horn section, made for memorable hits.
Sister Sledge – Now Playing LP (Rhino)
Experience a blend of disco grooves and soulful melodies in this Sister Sledge Now Playing. Featuring their signature hit single "We Are Family", and the timeless classics "He's the Greatest Dancer", and "Lost In Music", this album is a timeless celebration of Sister Sledge's vibrant and diverse sound.
Smoking Popes – Born To Quit [Reissue/1994] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited pink and white sunburn color vinyl pressing. You remember this 1994 album... it's the one with the hit song "Need You Around," which was "around" pretty much everywhere back then, including in the movie Clueless (for that matter, "Lucky Day" from this album was in Tommy Boy, "Mrs. You & Me" was in Angus, and "Gotta Know Right Now" in Boys). That led to the Popes opening for acts like Morrissey, whose voice lead singer and songwriter Josh Caterer-one of three Caterer brothers in the band-rather echoes (Moz himself proclaimed this album "extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years"). If you like power pop hooks with heart, look no further.
Tina Turner – Simply The Best [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Blue colorway. Simply The Best stands as a premier anthology, featuring an 18-song lineup of Tina Turner's most cherished hits. Highlight tracks such as “The Best”, “What's Love Got To Do With It”, “I Don't Wanna Lose You”, “Steamy Windows”, and “Private Dancer” showcase the breadth of Turner's iconic career.
Various Artists – In The Beginning There Was Rhythm [Reissue/2001] 2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
First released in 2001, this album is fully remastered, remade and presented once more in its entirety and features A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, The Human League, The Pop Group, Gang of Four, The Slits, 23 Skidoo and This Heat.
Tom Verlaine – Warm And Cool [Reissue/1992] LP (Real Gone Music)
Limited pink vinyl pressing. Tom Verlain’s (Television) self-taught, jazz-influenced style, largely devoid of effects, and vibrato tone (oh, that tone) makes any Verlaine solo unmistakably a Verlaine solo. Simultaneously avant-garde and familiar-sounding, Warm And Cool is as contemporary and forward-thinking as any music coming out today, but-as the new liner notes by Verlaine's life partner Jutta Koether point out-the album fits into a larger modern art and philosophical context.
Doug Watkins – Watkins At Large [Reissue/1957] LP (Blue Note)
Recorded in 1956 for producer Tom Wilson's short-lived Boston-based label Transition Records, Watkins At Large was the first of only two albums that the great bassist Doug Watkins would make as a leader. The Detroit native had moved to New York and begun to garner recognition for his contributions to the Art Blakey-Horace Silver co-led iteration of the Jazz Messengers as well as Bud Powell's trio when Wilson decided to give him the opportunity to front his own recording date. Along with a first-rate ensemble featuring trumpeter Donald Byrd, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Duke Jordan, and drummer Art Taylor, Watkins swings through a stellar set of blues, ballads, and more including originals written by Jordan, Burrell, and Thad Jones.
Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. LP (Rhino)
Dwight Yoakam - Hillbilly Deluxe LP (Rhino)
Dwight Yoakam - Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room LP (Rhino)
Indie store exclusive represses of Dwight Yoakam’s first three LPs, on light blue, clear and ruby red vinyl respectively.