New Releases - 8/9/24

Hitting The Racks

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

New Releases

J. Balvin – Rayo CD (Capitol)

J. Balvin takes us back to his roots with his latest album, Rayo, a rambunctiously energetic collection of electronic inspired reggaeton with an impressive list of start-studded features including Feid, Chencho Corleone and SAIKO.

Beabadoobee – This Is How Tomorrow Moves CD/LP (Dirty Hit)

This Is How Tomorrow Moves is the third album from artist beabadoobee, recorded at Shangri-La in Malibu with renowned producer Rick Rubin and released on her long-standing label, Dirty Hit. This Is How Tomorrow Moves captures beabadoobee's confidence and introspection, with themes of self-acceptance and personal growth woven throughout. It stands as a testament to her artistic evolution and resilience, marking a significant milestone in her career. [Indie store exclusive sky blue vinyl.]

The Cherry Blossoms - Stars of Tennessee LP (Feeding Tube Records)

“Surreal ruralists of the highest order, this version of the Blossoms includes long-time collaborator, Josephine Foster, who has been colluding with the Blossoms for many years. On Stars of Tennessee, Ms. Foster adds autoharp, guitar, recorder and vocals, merging with the collective’s original members: Peggy Snow (guitar, spoons, kalimba, vocals), John Allingham (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Chris Davis (drums). Allen Lowery (another regular Blossom) was not around for this session, but Victor Herrero added guitar to a couple of tunes. And what tunes they are. The Cherry Blossoms always manage to evoke the simple pleasures of campfire sing-alongs, with the deep commingling of common interest and intimate friendship that idea evokes, interspersed with the sort of weird, but soft-edged logical jumps associated with the kings of post-hippie hillbillyism, the Holy Modal Rounders. The vocal and instrumental blends here range from beautifully pure to emotionally amplified, with lyrical topics that flow from nature’s seasonal changes to the war in Ukraine. But everything is bathed in the same crafty light of sophisticated primitivism that illuminates the work of Michael Hurley (who has told me he’s a long time Blossoms fan.) The homespun simplicity of this musical approach is wonderfully comforting and familiar, but the lyrics contains enough coded mystery (or at least sublime vaguery) to keep attentive listeners occasionally wondering what the hell is actually going on.” —Byron Coley.

Louis Cole – nothing LP (Brainfeeder)

Grammy darlings Louis Cole, Jules Buckley and the Metropole Orkest team up on nothing for a raucous musical trip that veers from funk-fueled mayhem to somber balladry with the orchestra dialing up the emotional power to 11. Louis Cole is an LA-based Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and sickeningly talented multi-instrumentalist with a strong DIY aesthetic. He is on a mission to create deep feelings through music. Thundercat describes him as “one of Los Angeles's greatest musicians”. [Limited edition white vinyl.]

Conway The Machine – Slant Face Killah 2xLP (Drumwork Music Group)

Following his most commercially and critically successful year to date, Conway The Machine returns with his first full length offering of 2024, Slant Face Killah. Long teased as the second half of the chart-topping 2023 album, Won’t He Do It, fans see Conway the Machine embracing his killer instincts on the mic, and doing so with versatility - rapping over the familiar gritty, dark beats.

Dasha – What Happens Now? CD/LP (WB)

Introspective and alluring are just a few of the prolific ways artist and songwriter Dasha has been described. Armed with a passion for telling her true story, Dasha has just released her debut country album, What Happens Now? The focus track, “Austin” has created a phenomenon online with millions of people engaging with the accompanying line dance and the sound gaining over 10 billion Views on TikTok. The New York Times has even named ‘Austin’ “one of the signature country songs of the year.” Dasha’s delicate delivery paired with her audacious and unapologetic artistry allows the rising star to “win the hearts of listeners everywhere” (Country Swag). [Indie store exclusive milky clear vinyl.]

John Davis – Love In The Time Of Capital LP (Joyful Services)

Are you a mannequin in the eyes of your beloved? Does your partner compare your relationship to a factory that emits plumes of smoke? Are you in love with a seductive and destructive Credit Default Swap? Someone who sucks you in with skyrocketing short term erotic returns - only to ghost you until you crash so hard that you end up broke(n) in your own bed? Do you pay $300 an hour out of pocket to a psychiatrist who promises to help you strike a deal with a difficult parent - one that will produce more stable long-term returns on your psychic investments? If so, then you, my friend, may be drowning in the sea of Love In The Time of Capital. It's where everyone would love to drown. It's a new album from John Davis of The Folk Implosion that finds him backed with confidence by Eli Moore and Andrew Dorsett of the indie pop band Lake. It was recorded by Nich Wilbur at the Unknown, a cavernous recording studio in Anacortes, WA that has been a favorite destination for indie rockers around the nation.

The Dead Tongues – Body Of Light / I Am A Cloud 2xCD/2xLP (Psychic Hotline)

Over the last 15 years, Ryan Gustafson of The Dead Tongues has emerged as one of modern folk’s most distinct voices. As idiosyncratic and spectral as the songs have sometimes been, Gustafson has always tied his visions and verses to the kinds of hooks you tuck away like talismans, pulled out in case of emergency. Dust, Unsung Passage, Desert: The Dead Tongues’ albums remain some of the more compelling and curious works in their field on this side of the century. The latest edition to The Dead Tongues’ catalog, the song-centric and magnetic Body Of Light and the discursive and wonderfully elliptical I Am A Cloud, is 16 complete tunes split across interweaving and disparate albums.

Destroy Boys – Funeral Soundtrack #4 CD/LP (Hopeless)

Working with Carlos de la Garza (Bad Religion, Paramore, The Linda Lindas) Destroy Boys’ new album Funeral Soundtrack #4 embraces everything from garage punk to 90's college indie rock. [Limited edition translucent red vinyl.]

Four Year Strong – Analysis Paralysis CD/LP (Pure Noise)

When it was time for Four Year Strong to prep what would become their sixth album, analysis paralysis, they were truly, finally, stumped. Vocalist/guitarists Dan O’Connor and Alan Day showed up to producer Will Putney’s studio on day one of recording without a single finished song, in stark contrast to the 40-some ideas they brought to the table for 2020’s Brain Pain. The two spent those early days in a bedroom at Putney’s house talking about, and listening to, music, desperate for a spark of inspiration. They found it by looking back: at what made Brain Pain a success and even the genesis of Four Year Strong as a band as they rode their trademark sound – pop-punk energy, dexterous riffage and caustic hardcore spirit – to the top of the underground in the late aughts. [Indie store exclusive electric blue/deep purple color vinyl.]

Futurebirds – Easy Company CD/LP (Dualtone Music Group)

By matching the sharply written songs of three distinct frontmen with a progressive mix of rock & roll, electrified folk, and cosmic American roots music, Futurebirds have built an audience that's as wide as the band's own sound. With Easy Company, Futurebirds' fifth studio album, that sound reaches a new peak. Featuring four songs apiece from singer/songwriters Womack, Johnson, and Carter King, Easy Company feels like a celebration of the tight-knit bonds that have held Futurebirds aloft since 2008. Back then, the guys were college students at the University of Georgia, building a buzz around town with shows at fraternity houses and local bars. Years later, they've become headliners at bucket-list venues like The Ryman and The Fillmore, collaborating with fellow genre benders like My Morning Jacket's Carl Broemel along the way.

Heilung – Lifa Lotungard CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)

Heilung doesn’t play "shows". They perform a ritual. Christopher Juul, Maria Franz, Kai Uwe Faust and their Nordic collective sweep audiences into rapture with throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire. What better place on earth to experience their ancient ritual than the Red Rocks Amphitheatre? The world-famous venue - which is located outside of Denver, Colorado in the USA, tucked between two giant sandstones - was once home to indigenous tribes. When Heilung performed there in October 2021, they recognized this history by inviting Natives to join the prayer that opens all their rituals.

King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Flight b741 LP (KGLW)

or their 26th album, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard swap the widescreen concepts of their recent albums for the intimacy of six good friends collaborating on the most bonhomie-laden set they've yet committed to wax.

Amos Lee – Transmissions CD/2xLP (Hoagiemouth/Thirty Tigers)

On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. The force behind such acclaimed albums as Mission Bell and Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song, ever since his gold-selling 2005 debut Lee has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band. For the new project, he craved a return to an old-school style of recording, working with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, New York that was built by drummer Lee Falco and his dad out of reclaimed wood from an old church ("it's exactly what you'd think a studio in upstate New York should be," notes Lee). Playing live on the floor for long hours, in close quarters, they were able to capture the album's twelve songs in less than a week. [Indie store exclusive ‘opaque fruit punch’ color vinyl.]

Ravyn Lenae – Bird’s Eye LP (Atlantic)

Color vinyl pressing. Ravyn Lenae announces her sophomore album Bird's Eye. The album - executive produced by Grammy-winning producer, Dahi (Drake, SZA, Kendrick Lamar) - is heralded by two new songs, "Love Me Not" and "Love Is Blind." "Love Is Blind" reminisces about a past relationship with regret but also hope for personal growth. While "Love Me Not" portrays a tumultuous relationship of desiring someone and rejecting the notion of dependence.

Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding – Milton + Esperanza CD/2xLP (Concord)

For years, Esperanza Spalding dreamed about making music with Milton Nascimento, the revered Brazilian singer-songwriter. Milton + Esperanza is the moving culmination of Spalding’s long-held admiration. Produced by Spalding, the album is a mixture of classics from Nascimento’s catalog, new songs from Spalding, covers from other artists including The Beatles and Michael Jackson, and features special guests including Dianne Reeves, Paul Simon, Lianne La Havas and more.

Osees – SORCS 80 LP (Castleface)

"This album [SORCS 80] was a self-imposed ambitious project for us [OSEES]. Something to kick in the creative flow. The last few years, having been a challenging time in general, felt like a good time for a pivot. The last two albums were so guitar and keyboard centric; I wanted a weird and fun set of parameters for us to work with. I demo'd everything at home on cassette four track (harkening back to simpler times) using drum loops, and just had at it 'til I had a pile of 'songs.” – John Dwyer [Indie store exclusive “Kelly green with magenta blob pressing. This order shipped late and will arrive early next week.]

Quivers – Oyster Cuts CD/LP (Merge)

Oyster Cuts finds the Melbourne, Australia-based outfit awash in the kind of emotions people tend to fear losing themselves in. Finding love after grief, the outsized guitar pop of Quivers gleams like the surface of an ocean, beneath which lies a reef that is at turns beautiful and painful, its features alien and sharp enough to wound. Propelled by melodies that at times recall Galaxie 500 and The Pretenders, Quivers make music that is tender and tough, compelling the listener to dive in again and again, each song a new angle on all your feelings.

The Rare Sounds – The Rare Sounds CD/LP (Color Red)

It all started at The Yardbird Suite in Leeds, UK in 1996. The legendary jazz-funk revivalists, The Greyboy Allstars, embarked on their maiden voyage to the UK with a stop at the legendary jazz club hosted by Eddie Roberts and a supporting set from his organ trio, The Three Deuces. That night sparked a mutual admiration between both groups as they had met their cross-continental counterparts who were reinvigorating 60s boogaloo soul-jazz. It was a once-in-a-lifetime connection between devout loyalists of exploring vintage tones, digging for records, and forging paths as trailblazers of the funk and soul revival in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. For fans of the New Mastersounds and funky organ/guitar soul jazz in general.

Bill Wyman – Drive My Car LP (BMG)

New album from legendary bassist Bill Wyman, who was bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones from 1962 to 1993 (briefly returning in 2023) and has performed as bassist for Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings since 1997. Drive My Car is Bill Wyman’s first solo record since 2015’s Back To Basics.

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

Blue Öyster Cult – 50th Anniversary Live - Second Night 2xCD+DVD/3xLP/Blu-ray (Frontiers)

Following the triumphant success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Blue Öyster Cult releases the eagerly anticipated 50th Anniversary Live - Second Night. This electrifying performance includes the band's second album Tyranny And Mutation performed track-by-track. In September 2022, Blue Öyster Cult enthralled fans with a unique trilogy of sold-out shows, each dedicated to one of their first three albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard made a special appearance on all three nights, adding a nostalgic touch to the historic milestone. [A stand-alone Blu-ray version is available.]

Eddie Bo – The Other Side Of Eddie Bo [Reissue/1977] LP (501 Record Club, LLC)

Eddie Bo's mythical first LP is a sublime piece of raw New Orleans funk. Originally released in 1977 in tiny quantities on his own Bo-Sound imprint, TRC presents the first ever reissue. Now is your chance to finally hear this masterpiece of rare groove, soul, jazz, and funk.

Boney M. – The Magic Of Boney M [Reissue/2022] 2xLP (Sony Legacy)

2022 compilation by these '70s and '80s hitmakers. The Magic Of Boney M. (Special Remix Edition) 2xLP color vinyl includes the very best of one of the supergroup's of the dance music era. From the mega hits “Daddy Cool” and “Rivers of Babylon” to the back in vogue “Rasputin”. This double LP Vinyl (disc one is translucent magenta & disc two is translucent blue) release also features stunning new remixes from LIZOT and Majestic.

Boogie Down Productions - Sex and Violence 2xLP (Get On Down)

Purple vinyl, gatefold jacket with full lyrics. In the early 1990s gangsta rap was becoming more popular. KRS-One took to the mic and continued to write socially conscious raps resulting in the hard-hitting 1992 album Sex And Violence which would be the fifth and final studio album under the Boogie Down Productions name. Produced by KRS-One, Pal Joey, Kenny Parker, D-Square, and Prince Paul, the album explores the darkest sides of the American urban landscape and psyche, with KRS as narrator, detailing all sides of the matrix. 

Alison Brown – Simple Pleasures [Reissue/1990] CD/LP (Compass)

Remixed and remastered. Unavailable on all formats since the early 2000s, Alison Brown's Grammy-nominated debut album Simple Pleasures was a leap forward for Scruggs-rooted banjo playing when it was first released in 1990. This led to her immediate recognition as a banjo pioneer and to her win in 1991 of the Banjo Player of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (the first female to win an Instrumentalist of the Year award). [Limited edition black w/ white swirl vinyl.]

Charlie Nothing – The Psychedelic Saxophone of Charlie Nothing/In Eternity with Brother Frederic [Reissue/1967] LP (Real Gone Music)

John Fahey’s Takoma label is best known for pushing the envelope when it comes to acoustic guitar playing, but in 1967 it released a record that has become one of the true cult classics of the ‘60s free jazz movement.

Coalesce – Live At BBC’s Maida Vale Studios LP (Relapse)

Gold vinyl pressing. Coalesce’s Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios captures the band’s ferocious live radio performance for BBC radio, featuring 4 tracks from the band’s OX period including “Wild Ox Moan”, “Through Sparrows I Rest”, and “The Villain We Won’t Deny”.

Justin Townes Earle – All In: Unreleased And Rarities (The New West Years) CD/2xLP (New West)

Justin Townes Earle – All In: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years) is a fitting tribute to Justin's legacy - The collection features many never heard before songs, demos, and cover tunes, spanning his time as a New West Records recording artist. [A deluxe black (not numbered) and deluxe gold nugget (numbered) vinyl pressings are available.]

FireHouse – FireHouse [Reissue/1990] LP (Real Gone Music)

“Smoke & fire” color vinyl. FireHouse won the American Music Award for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band and best newcomer nods from a host of music mags.

Grateful Dead – Dicks Picks Vol. 12 – Providence Civic Center 6xLP (Real Gone Music)

Limited, hand-numbered 180gm 6xLP set housed inside a two-piece hardshell box.

Sandy Harless – Songs [Reissue/1973] LP (Numero)

Arriving as the hippy movement was discovering it's peaceful easy '70s feelings, Sandy Harless' Songs LP is Chillicothe, Ohio's lone contribution to the Cosmic American Music movement. Financed from a 27-aquarium fish breeding business, the album shows its Appalachian roots with a tight weave of mountain folk, rural rock, and pastoral country. Real people music.

Paris Hilton – Paris [Reissue/2003] LP (Real Gone Music)

For the first-ever vinyl release of Paris, Real Gone Music has taken the fetching photos from the CD package and given them plenty of acreage to show their stuff, with a newly created gatefold jacket and four-color printed inner sleeve. The limited-edition run of maroon and blonde marbled vinyl goes smashingly with the album art. In short: a pop culture keepsake from a pop culture icon.

Jefferson Airplane – Woodstock – Sunday August 17, 1969 3xLP (Real Gone Music)

Iridescent blue colorway. At the muddy miracle that was Woodstock, the most miraculous performance just might have been Jefferson Airplane’s. The band had been one of the first to sign on for the festival, their imprimatur prompting many other acts to hop on board, and their stature had landed them a coveted headlining slot closing Saturday night’s schedule. But, as the torrential downpours and the unexpected crush of half a million people kept on delaying their set, the chances of putting on anything approaching a quality performance seemed to diminish…

Jungle Brothers - Done by the Forces of Nature LP (Get On Down)

Tri-color vinyl, gatefold jacket with full lyrics. The Jungle Brothers 1988 debut, Straight Out The Jungle , is important for many reasons. It is lo-fi and goofy, but has moments of real focus and social consciousness. It is a true kitchen sink record, that caught a rap fanbase enraptured by Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, and Boogie Down Productions a bit off-guard. Also of note, beyond the excellence of the album itself, the Jungle Brothers were the fulcrum for what would become the Native Tongues movement - they came first, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest followed, under their guidance.Done By The Forces Of Nature stands as one of the most cherished hip-hop documents of the late 80s among true-school heads.

Korea Girl - Korea Girl LP (Asian Man Records)

KOREA GIRL - S/T LP on vinyl for the very first time. Remixed/remas - tered by Tobin Mori. Originally released in 1997, the band has been compared to artists like Seam, Velocity Girl, Mazzy Star, Pavement, Lois, Superchunk and Spent. The band was short lived (1996-1999) but holy shmoly.... they gave us an amazing record. Comes in random color vinyl.

Azar Lawrence – People Moving [Reissue/1976] LP (Real Gone Music)

Don’t let the list of stellar sideman gigs (with Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Woody Shaw et al.) make you overlook the solo work of saxophonist Azar Lawrence; for over 45 years he has recorded a string of spiritual ‘n’ soulful jazz albums that come closer to the ethos and aesthetic of John Coltrane than probably any of Lawrence’s contemporaries. Recorded for the legendary Prestige label in 1976, People Moving is his third solo album, and it’s one of his best; it features such luminaries as Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Harvey Mason, and Mtume on a soaring set of funky tunes produced by a young Skip Scarborough, who would go on to helm recordings by Bobbie Humphrey, Con Funk Shun, and Phyllis Hyman among others.

Geddy Lee – My Favourite Headache [Reissue/2000] CD/2xLP (Atlantic)

Originally release on November 14, 2000, My Favourite Headache is the debut solo album from Rush vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee.

Alex Lifeson – Victor [Reissue/1996] CD/2xLP (Atlantic)

Victor is a solo album by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson under the pseudonym "Victor", originally released in 1996. The album was recorded at Lerxst Sound (Lifeson's home studio) from October 1994 through July 1995. The album reached number 99 on the Billboard 200 in 1996 and received a 1997 Juno Award nomination for Best New Group.

Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back In Town!! [Reissue/1961] LP (Craft Recordings)

Recorded in 1961 and released by Contemporary Records the same year, Maggie's Back In Town!! is the second album released on the label by jazz trumpeter Howard McGhee. Also featured are the players Phineas Newborn Jr., Leroy Vinnegar and Shelly Manne.

Elvis Presley – Memphis 5xCD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)

Memphis is a comprehensive collection that takes listeners through the many recordings Elvis had done while in Memphis - from his songs at Sun Records, to his American Studio and Stax sessions, through to his 1974 hometown show and finally, his last recordings in Graceland. This 5xCD collection of Elvis' songs over the years features 111 tracks, 88 of which are newly mixed versions of the select recordings, pure and without overdubs. [An abbreviated double-LP highlights edition is available on vinyl.]

Pharaoh Sanders – Thembi [Reissue/1970] LP (Verve)

Released in 1971 on Impulse and recorded with two different ensembles, Thembi marked a departure from the slowly developing, side-long, mantra-like grooves Sanders had been pursuing for much of his solo career. Instead, it offers an intriguingly wide range of relatively concise ideas resulting in something of an anomaly in Sanders' prime period.

Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil LP (Blue Note)

New blue vinyl reissue of this most classic of Blue Note recordings, exclusively available at official Blue Note Records retailers like Grimey’s!

Smashing Pumpkins – Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Virgin)

First-ever official vinyl release of The Smashing Pumpkins' Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits collection. Originally released in 2001, it features the hit singles, "Today," "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," "1979," "Tonight, Tonight," and many more. The album's concluding track, "Untitled", was the Pumpkins' final recording before their first breakup.

Zero Boys – History Of [Reissue/1984] LP (Secretly Canadian)

When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early ‘80s punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. From 1979 to 1983, the Indianapolis-based Zero Boys were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Compiled and released as a post-mortem following the band's breakup, History Of is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers.