New Releases - 9/1/23
Hitting The Racks
Here's your weekly rundown of what's hitting the new release racks at Grimey's
New Releases
Bullant – Late Life Circ 2xLP (PHC Films)
The highly anticipated second solo album from Bullant - aka Joe Walker, lead guitarist for lauded Australian band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Following on from his 2020 solo debut Tyson, Crying, Walker further refines his electronic sound, landing somewhere between techno, dub and house. Incendiary pieces of electronic music that masterfully ascend to the spirit realm to elicit a perfect amount of gurn. Containing tracks that are equally at home on the steroid laden beaches of Ibiza as they are at a house party being played to the last lobotomised dregs circling the bags at 5am. Perfectly crafted - both lush and sparse at the same time - Walker takes the psychedelic, krauty sensibilities of King Gizzard and launches them into an electronic universe.
Empire State Bastard – Rivers Of Heresy CD/LP (Roadrunner)
Sprawling across the alt-metal landscape, Rivers Of Heresy hits like a full-throttle collab between Siege and Slayer. [Limited-edition green vinyl.]
ford. – Guiding Hand LP (Foreign Family Collective)
The creative process can be a difficult one, especially for artists who are constantly questioning themselves and their work. Luc Bradford, better known as ford., has grappled with this issue while writing his third album, Guiding Hand. The title of the album, 'Guiding Hand,' is a symbolic visual representation of the unseen force that helped Luc Bradford, better known as ford., push through the various struggles that came throughout the writing experience. This force represents the collective human spirit, the gentle momentum of positivity that coaxes us forward when we feel we can't move at all. Luc drew on these influences throughout the creative process, using it to pull him through writer's block and moments of doubt.
Frankie & The Witch Fingers – Data Doom CD/LP/Cassette (Ras/Greenway)
There’s long been a growl festering in the West, an earthen rumble fed by tectonic tension, acrid smoke, and sun-parched air. The brew has boiled over lately, a pressure-cooked chaos that can no longer be contained. The growl has grown to a howl... the howl is at the door. Few are as ready to meet the madness head on as Frankie and the Witch Fingers. On their new album Data Doom, the band hurtles the listener headfirst into the wood-chipper of technological dystopia, systemic rot, creeping fascism, the military-industrial profit mill, and a near-constant erosion of humanity that peels away the soul bit by bit. With a fuse lit by these modern-day monstrosities the band seeks to find salvation through a thousand-watt wake-up of rock ‘n’ roll exfoliation. [Indie store exclusive translucent orange vinyl.]
G Flip – Drummer CD/LP (Future Classics)
G Flip is a drummer, singer, songwriter and producer that is cutting through the masses with their rebellious and refreshing sound and identity. Born in Melbourne, the pop/rock non-binary icon returns with their second LP, Drummer. [Limited-edition clear vinyl.]
Mick Harvey / Amanda Acevedo – Phantasmagoria In Blue LP+MP3 (Mute)
Mick Harvey’s new album of duets in collaboration with Mexican artist Amanda Acevedo. The album contains 14 tracks sourced from existing duets, songs that previously were not duets, translations from Spanish and a sprinkling of original compositions. Thematically it explores the perennial themes of mortality, love and mankind’s search for meaning as well as an enthused engagement with the enigmatic and mythical. Harvey and Acevedo met several years ago in Mexico City, but it was during 2020/21 that the project burst into life, as ideas were exchanged across the oceans and through the ether. The resulting collection of songs is lush and sweeping in its emotional content and is full of nourishment for the imagination and the senses.
Illa J – No Traffic LP (BBE)
Enter the realm of Illa J, the musical force shaking the foundations of the industry. His latest offering, 'No Traffic', is a testament to his boundless talent and versatility, showcasing his singing, production, and rapping abilities on 19 tracks written and produced entirely by Illa J himself. Created amidst the chaos of the pandemic, No Traffic serves as a beacon of hope, a roadmap for creatives seeking their path. He enlists the help of Detroit legends Amp Fiddler, Frank n Dank, British soul sensation Harleighblu, and introduces the rising stars of Detroit, Serious, Joz B, Maine Soul, and more, all matching Illa J's energy and passion on the tracks.
Islands – And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs CD/LP (Elf)
If Islands' last record, (2021's Islomania) was a Saturday Night Fever dream, then the follow up - 2023’s And That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs - is the Sunday Morning comedown. Taking a giant leap forward, replete with addictive hooks at every turn, Dolphins (the ninth record in the catalogue), stands out as the strongest and most articulate Islands record yet. Nick Thorburn and crew manage to tap into both the pain and the joy of living, (sometimes within the very same breath), while musically stripping things down to their simplest element: a bouncing bassline, a snappy kick and snare, or a persistent, hooky guitar line. Though Dolphins is arguably their biggest musical departure (which is saying something, coming from a band that has constantly reinvented their sound from album to album), the DNA of Thorburn's first band The Unicorns can clearly be heard throughout. [Limited-edition red vinyl.]
Kool Keith – Black Elvis 2 LP (Mellow Music)
Get ready for a mind-bending trip through the hip-hop cosmos with the one and only Kool Keith. Black Elvis is back with his long-awaited sequel. Kool Keith takes his information-age rhymes to a whole new level, with a sound that's equal parts streets and space. Featuring collaborations with Marc Live, Raaddrr Van, Dynamite, Agallah, and the legendary Ice-T, this album will leave you reeling. Plug in your ethernet and dial up to travel through Kool Keith's multi-verse. Black Elvis 2 is here. [Indie store exclusive ‘electric orange’ vinyl.]
Lathe Of Heaven – Bound By Naked Skies LP (Sacred Bones)
White color vinyl pressing. With little more under their belt than a relentless string of live performances, and a twice pressed (subsequently sold out) self-titled demo, NYC based band Lathe Of Heaven has proved themselves to be a potent and cohesive element amidst the torrent of hardcore punk and synth-driven pop revival currently proliferating throughout the US underground. Formed in 2021, the band features members of noteworthy Brooklyn based projects such as Pawns, People’s Temple, Porvenir Oscuro, Android, Hustlerand more. Though this roster of past and alternate musical endeavors exposes a diverse range of genre and skill sets, Lathe Of Heaven can only be understood as a departure from such influences, exploring a sound entirely of its own.
Me Lost Me - RPG LP (Upset the Rhythm)
Blue vinyl version. RPG (recorded in Blank Studios with Sam Grant of Pigs x7) is Me Lost Me's fourth outing as a collective, led by Newcastle-based artist Jayne Dent. Having transitioned from an ambitious solo project in 2017, Jayne now regularly collaborates with acclaimed North-East jazz musicians Faye MacCalman and John Pope. Me Lost Me delights in experimenting with songwriting and storytelling, creating a beguiling mix of soaring vocals and atmospheric electronics that playfully weave together disparate genres, drawing influence from folk, art pop, noise, ambient and improvised music. Jayne Dent presents RPG as an homage to worldbuilding and the story as an artform, calling back to oral traditions around a campfire, bringing folk music into the present day as she does so. Crucially on RPG, Dent expands her songwriting and looks towards the unreal locations of worldbuilding in video games for inspiration. RPG upends the concept of the eternal return -- we may be in the midst of inevitable repetition, but we tell stories whilst awaiting the passage of time.
Midwxst – E3 LP (Geffen)
Limited translucent cobalt blue vinyl pressing. The songs of Midwxst feel like beacons in a tempest - a blend of rap, rock and whatever else he needs to bottle up the exact feeling in his heart. And on his debut album, E3, it is on prime display. Co-executive produced by Midwxst and Sophie Gray, it's a tightly wound concept record and an intricate painting of love and relationships that Midwxst hopes will guide listeners in a deeper way than anything he's done before.
Jess Nolan - ’93 LP (Righteous Babe Records)
Early Grimey’s exclusive! Get the new LP from Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jess Nolan a week early at Grimey’s. Officially out Sept. 8 on Righteous Babe Records, the new album from Jess reflects on the artist’s experience through the pandemic, moving her involvement in mentoring young female songwriters online, planting a vegetable garden, and returning to her New Jersey hometown to stay with family for weeks at a time. In the face of uncertainty, strong, deeply rooted feelings came pouring out, resulting in 10 poignant reflections on rebirth, reconnection and mindfulness. A member of Jenny Lewis’ touring band, Nolan is a frequent collaborator within the Nashville music scene, lending her writing, vocal and instrumental talents to projects by artists including Joy Oladokun, Katie Pruitt, Lydia Luce and more. All copies at Grimey’s are signed by Jess and they’re available in the shop and in the Grimey’s webstore.
Polaris – Fatalism CD/LP (Sharptone)
The third full length release from the Australian metal band. [Limited-edition clear w/ green, violet & curacao splatter vinyl.]
Puma Blue – Holy Waters LP (Blue Flowers)
Death nestles like a sweet creature at the heart of Holy Waters, the highly anticipated follow-up to Puma Blue's 2021 album, In Praise Of Shadows. It's less a morbid study in mortality, more a chronicle of the graciousness within each repeated cycle of life, death, and rebirth, arriving eventually at a gentle affirmation at the album's close; "don't let the dark take you whole." [Limited-edition transparent blue vinyl.]
Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial [Reissue/2019] LP (Atlantic)
3x Grammy Award-nominated rapper Roddy Ricch releases his major label debut album. Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial for Atlantic 75. Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial includes iconic features from such superstars as Meek Mill, Ty Dolla $ign, Mustard, and Lil Durk alongside such stellar singles as "Tip Toe (Feat. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie)", "Start Wit Me (Feat. Gunna)", and "Big Stepper".
Jeff Rosenstock – Hellmode CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Polyvinyl)
On Jeff Rosenstock’s new album, Hellmode, the spontaneous DIY trailblazer returns with the most confident & cohesive album of his career. Recorded at EastWest Studios with Grammy nominated engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Joyce Manor) and captured live to tape in the same room where albums like Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Toxicity were recorded, Hellmode finds Rosenstock holding nothing back. The studio’s infamous natural tones are juxtaposed with echo chambers used on Pet Sounds, calling to mind the mixture of despair and clear-eyed hope heard throughout the record. It is yet another exciting glimpse into Rosenstock’s powerful and emotionally resonant music, making him one of the most mesmerizing songwriters of the last decade. [Limited-edition neon pink vinyl.]
Royal Blood – Back To The Water Below CD/LP (WB)
Royal Blood release their fourth album Back To The Water Below. From the very beginning, Royal Blood’s story has been one of two life-long friends whose shared passion and dedication for writing and performing has led them on a remarkable adventure together – a story that has yet to be repeated and is a feat as rare as it is remarkable. Long before Royal Blood were even formed, they spent years together in various bands playing to half empty bars around Brighton - and only then did they suddenly become a decade-in-the-making overnight success story. One day they were plotting how to recoup the meagre £300 they had spent on their first recording, but within a year they were at the top of UK album charts, storming Glastonbury and winning the BRIT Award for Best British Group. [Indie store exclusive clear vinyl.]
Sigur Rós – ÁTTA CD/2xLP (BMG)
Following its surprise digital release, Sigur Rós’ first new studio album in ten years, ÁTTA, is their most intimate and emotionally direct record to date. Few bands cut through the noise and distractions of the world to bring you a pure elemental truth or feeling like Sigur Rós. As you hear on ÁTTA, there’s a new compulsion and drive to the band that comes with the new formation of the lineup. Multi-instrumentalist Kjartan Sveinsson is back in the fold – having left the band in 2012 – to join frontman Jónsi and bassist Georg Holm. Recorded across multiple continents - in the band’s Sundlaugin studio in Iceland, the legendary Abbey Road in the UK, and several studios in the US - ÁTTA leans heavily towards the orchestral, and touches on everything that has made Sigur Rós one of the most ambitious and acclaimed bands of recent times. ÁTTA prominently features the London Contemporary Orchestra conducted by Robert Ames, alongside brass performed by longtime Icelandic collaborators Brassgat í Bala. [Indie store exclusive yellow vinyl.]
Slowdive – Everything Is Alive CD/LP/Cassette (Dead Oceans)
Everything Is Alive, Slowdive's fifth record, is exactly what the title suggests: an exploration into the shimmering nature of life and the universal touch points within it. While there are parts of this record that could sit neatly next to the atmospheric quality of 1995's Pygmalion, Everything Is Alive also manages to break down the boundaries of what's come before it. Spanning psychedelic soundscapes, pulsating ‘80s electronic elements and John Cale inspired journeys, the album lands immediately as something made for the future. [Limited-edition clear vinyl.]
Speedy Ortiz – Rabbit Rabbit CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Wax Nine)
Rabbit Rabbit is the fourth studio album by Philadelphia-based Speedy Ortiz, and their first since 2018. Co-produced with Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties and recorded in the nearly alien desert landscapes of Joshua Tree’s Rancho de la Luna and El Paso’s Sonic Ranch, Rabbit Rabbit reaffirms Speedy Ortiz’s desire to push themselves politically and musically, vital and surprising as ever. [Limited-edition clear w/ pink, blue & yellow vinyl.]
Earl Sweatshirt – Sick! LP (WB)
"Sick! is my humble offering of 10 songs recorded in the wake of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns. Before the virus I had been working on an album I named after a book I used to read with my mother (The People Could Fly). Once the lockdowns hit, people couldn't fly anymore. A wise man said art imitates life. People were sick. The People were angry and isolated and restless. I leaned into the chaos because it was apparent that it wasn't going anywhere. These songs are what happened when I would come up for air. Peace and love to Zelooperz the enigma, The Armand Hammer, and my good friends Alchemist and Black Noi$e. Peace and love to u." – Earl Sweatshirt [Indie store exclusive light blue vinyl.]
Yellowcard – Childhood Eyes CD/LP (Equal Vision)
“The year was 2003. Cargo pants were in, camera phones were catching on, and the ultimate “summer” song had just been released: a 3 1/2-minute pop punk track by a band with – of all things – a violin. Yellowcard catapulted into the spotlight with the release of Ocean Avenue but in the 20 years since the band has experienced more than its fair share of ups and downs; magazine covers, radio airplay, TV syncs, lineup changes, even a brief hiatus. So, when they announced their breakup and self-titled album in 2016, it truly seemed that they were closing that chapter of their lives for good. Until Childhood Eyes. From the first playthrough of the band’s Equal Vision Records debut it becomes clear that this isn’t just a reunion; the five song EP is a succinct statement that Yellowcard is back.” – Becky Kovach, Substream Magazine
Reissues, Comps, Live Recordings, Vault Excavations...
75 Dollar Bill - Power Failures 2xLP (Karlrecords)
Originally released on Bandcamp only during the pandemic, now remastered for vinyl. The core duo plus guest collaborators expands its sonic palette of Rick Brown's elemental percussive patterns and Che Chen's ecstatic modal guitar style to a new musical richness. Brown's elemental percussive patterns (often simply played on a wooden box) and Che Chen's ecstatic modal guitar style (often under the influence of his studies with Mauritanian guitarist Jeich Ould Chigaly) are at the core of the tracks with guest collaborators like Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan (guitar), Sue Garner (violin), or Steve Maing (saxophone, guitar) expanding the sonic palette to a new musical richness. Trance-inducing psychedelia, "placeless, gripping grooves" (The Guardian), collaged rehearsal and field recordings, mantric percussion, microtonal guitar sounds -- 75 Dollar Bill sound as deeply rooted in traditions as they sound fresh-of-today, a kind of future music from the past.
Aesop Rock – Skelethon [Reissue/2012] 2xLP+12” (Rhymesayers)
Upon release, Skelethon was praised for its intricate storytelling that expertly balanced abstract imagery with concrete details, and its immersive production incorporating sample-based beats with dusty pianos, distorted guitars, and psychedelic synths. To this day, the album remains a fan favorite and a critical darling, praised for its poignant introspection and razor-sharp wordplay. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, a limited edition 3xLP vinyl package includes a gatefold jacket with revised art layouts, printed sleeves, inserts with full lyrics, two cream & black marble-color vinyl, and a UV printed ultra-clear bonus disc vinyl with four exclusive bonus tracks.
Asking Alexandria – From Death To Destiny [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Sumerian)
Double splatter color vinyl pressing housed in gatefold jacket. Celebrating 10 years of Asking Alexandria's album From Death To Destiny; includes the bonus track "Dead", available for the first time on vinyl.
Codeine – What About The Lonely? [Reissue/2013] LP (Numero)
Following on the somnambulant heels of When I See The Sun, Numero’s massive, near-complete Codeine overview, comes What About The Lonely?, an eight-track LP recorded at the group's live zenith. Captured direct from the mixing board at a stop on Codeine's November 1993 swing through the Midwest, opening for Mazzy Star, this document finds Stephen Immerwahr, John Engle, and Doug Scharin running through their hits at Chicago's notorious Lounge Ax for a crowd of chatty 120 Minutes fans. Gastr Del Sol's David Grubbs adds his guitar to two songs, slinking on and off the 24-inch stage with little fanfare, but leaving his signature indelibly on the performance. [Limited-edition opaque green vinyl.]
Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow Is The Question! [Reissue/1959] LP (Craft Recordings)
Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series presents this 180gm LP edition of Ornette Coleman's second album Tomorrow Is The Question!. First released in 1959 and recorded by legendary engineer Roy DuNann, the album also features Don Cherry, Percy Heath, Shelly Manne and Red Mitchell. This new edition features all-analog mastering from the original analog tapes by Bernie Grundman and is pressed at QRP and presented in a tip-on jacket.
Converge – The Dusk In Us [Reissue/2017] 2xLP (Deathwish Inc.)
The ninth full-length from the Boston-based heavy-music innovators-vocalist Jacob Bannon, guitarist Kurt Ballou, bassist Nate Newton, and drummer Ben Koller - The Dusk In Us proves to be both dark and hopeful, abrasive and melodic, devastating and powerfully cathartic.
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash [Reissue/1969] LP (Atlantic)
The first release from the folk-rock supergroup was a wild success, bringing together members of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and The Hollies in Crosby, Stills, and Nash after a meeting at a Laurel Canyon party. Their self-titled debut, featuring the famous cover photo by Henry Diltz, features their trademark harmonies and guitar work, as well as memorable classics from "Marrakesh Express" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", "Helplessly Hoping" to "Wooden Ships", all of which became canon of the folk-rock foundation that drove the cultural sea change out of Lauren Canyon in the latter half of the ‘60s.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – The Ultimate Collection 2xLP (BMG)
Pressed on crystal clear vinyl, The Ultimate Collection ties together all of ELP's ballads, rock anthems and prog madness.
Peter Frampton – At Royal Albert Hall CD (UMe)
In November 2022, Grammy-winning artist and virtuosic guitar player Peter Frampton performed at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London to a rapturous sold-out crowd. The special evening was filmed, capturing stunning performances of Frampton's finest songs. This album features nine live performances with his long standing band of Rob Arthur, Adam Lester, Dan Wojciechowski, and Steve Mackey. The release features "Show Me the Way", "Baby, I Love Your Way", "Do You Feel Like We Do?" and more.
Gentle Giant – i’nterview [Reissue/1976] LP (Alucard)
Steven Wilson remix. i’nterview is the eighth studio album of Gentle Giant and was released April 23rd, 1976. Stylistically it continued in the vein of their preceding album, Free Hand released the year before. i’nterview further displays the eclectic and versatile nature of the band, from reggae influenced grooves to ethereal a cappella vocal passages and furiously complex rockers. [Limited-edition blue vinyl.]
Grandaddy – Sumday Twunny 4xLP (Dangerbird)
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2003 breakthrough third LP Sumday, Grandaddy releases a limited edition 4xLP box set containing the remastered original Sumday album alongside a complete 4-track demo version of Sumday recorded by Jason Lytle, titled Sumday: The Cassette Demos, and a 13-song set of rarities and B-sides, titled Sumday: Excess Baggage. All the LPs in the boxed set are black vinyl.
Gwar – Battle Maximus [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Pit)
The final album of Gwar founder and lead singer Oderus Urungus has been remixed and remastered for this release. It also includes the song "Tammy, The Swine Queen" which is his final recording and has never before been released. The LP includes a limited edition embossed cover with new art throughout including behind the scenes photos from this time period. [A limited-edition ‘crystal blue’ with dark blue swirl vinyl.]
Jethro Tull – The Broadsword And The Beast [Reissue/1982] 5xCD+3xDVD/4xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition is available as a 5xCD+3xDVD set including a 164-page book with interviews with band members, a track-by-track annotation by Ian Anderson, an interview with sleeve illustrator Iain McCaig, an extensive interview with studio and live sound engineer Leigh Mantle, a recreation of the 1982 tour program and touring schedule, and rare photos and memorabilia. A Steven Wilson stereo remix of the album, associated recordings, demo recordings, the original 1981 master mixes and Live In Germany 1982. The 4xLP vinyl set (one a double LP) is packaged in a card slipcase with a 28 page 12”x12” booklet and includes the Steven Wilson remix of the original LP, Double-Edged Sword (Steven Wilson mixes of additional Broadsword recordings dated March 1981 to January 1982) plus The Maison Rouge Demos.
Local Natives – Hummingbird [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (French Kiss)
L.A. indie rockers Local Natives celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their second album Hummingbird. Praised for its “shimmery songcraft” (The Independent), the album balances poignant lyricism with bright melodies and vivid production; “Local Natives take you to the beach and cry in your umbrella drink,” as Rolling Stone described it at the time. This anniversary edition is pressed on white vinyl and includes three bonus tracks from the Hummingbird sessions, exclusive photos and new artwork.
Native Nod – This Can’t Exist LP (Numero)
An antidote to the tough-guy hardcore spreading from CBGB's, emo outliers Native Nod's unique genre juxtaposition of damaged art-rock, daring/naive songwriting, and raw, poetic vocals have set them apart from the glut of early '90s post-hardcore. Compiled here are the band's trio of seminal 7" EPs for the Gern Blandsten label, with liner notes by Jenn Pelly and scores of unseen photographs and ephemera. [Limited-edition black w/ white vinyl.]
Willie Nelson – Phases And Stages [Reissue/1972] LP (Atlantic)
Phases And Stages is Nelson's concept album narrating the story of a couple's divorce, with side one exploring the situation from the woman's perspective, and side two looking at it from the man's. Nelson has shared over the years that the songs reflect universal accounts of grief and heartbreak and are not autobiographical. It was also one of the first Nelson albums to feature his own band, and the second Willie Nelson release on Atlantic. Originally recorded in 1972 at Muscle Shoals in Alabama, Nelson and his band revisited it in the studio in Nashville and released it in 1974. It was well received by critics at the time and generally considered a breakthrough album for the genre insofar as concept albums were concerned.
Gram Parsons – Another Side Of This Life: The Lost Recordings Of Graham Parsons 1965-1966 LP (Sundazed)
Blue color vinyl pressing. 13 previously unheard demo recordings of Gram Parsons, country-rock pioneer and former member of The Byrds and founding member of the Flying Burrito Brothers.
Passion Pit – Gossamer [Reissue/2012] 2xLP (French Kiss)
Double gold color vinyl pressing. Includes two bonus tracks. Evincing both a darker lyrical tone and vivid sense of rhythm and sonic adventure, Gossamer made a spectacular Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200 upon its July 20, 2012, release. The album includes such iconic singles as "Take a Walk", "I'll Be Alright", "Constant Conversations", and "Carried Away". Gossamer was met by ecstatic critical applause from high-profile media outlets across the globe, with Pitchfork bestowing "Best New Music" honors upon the album, writing, "Three difficult years in the making, Gossamer is an overwhelming album about being overwhelmed, a bold and ultimately stunning torrent of maximalist musical ideas, repressed anger, and unchecked anxiety." Rolling Stone later named the collection among its "50 Best Albums of 2012, " declaring "... It’s high-end dance rock as John Updike might have it."
Big John Patton – Let ‘Em Roll [Reissue/1966] LP (Blue Note)
Kansas City-born Hammond B3 organ dynamo Big John Patton made a stellar run of soul jazz albums for Blue Note through the 1960s but Let 'Em Roll stands among his finest with Patton adding vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson to a standard organ trio line-up with guitarist Grant Green and drummer Otis Finch. Part of Blue Note Tone Poet Series, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog tapes.
John Prine – John Prine [Reissue/1971] LP (Atlantic)
Vinyl reissue of the country singer/songwriter legend's debut Atlantic Album, which was included in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest records of all time. In 2009, Bob Dylan told the Huffington Post that Prine was one of his favorite songwriters of all time, and critics generally agree that his simple song structures support both sarcasm and wry observation and commentary on life that is generally unparalleled.
Buddy Rich – Trios CD/LP (Lightyear)
When Buddy Rich and his Killer Force Band were at their peak, Buddy began to feature a trio segment, often twice a night. Buddy would exclusively use brushes rather than sticks, even in his drum solos. Young prodigy pianist Barry Kiener, who soon sadly died of an accidental overdose at the age of 30 (on Buddy's tour bus), was the magnificent lead instrument. Virtuoso bassist Jon Burr completed the trio on most of the songs. [Limited edition translucent orange vinyl.]
Wayne Shorter – Schizophrenia [Reissue/1967] LP (Blue Note)
Wayne Shorter's 1967 album Schizophrenia found the legendary saxophonist at the pinnacle of post-bop with a sextet of like-minded musical explorers including James Spaulding, Curtis Fuller, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Joe Chambers performing Shorter originals like "Tom Thumb", "Go," and "Miyako." Part of Blue Note Tone Poet Series, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog tapes.
Silverstein – This Is How The Wind Shifts [Reissue/2013] LP (Hopeless)
Gold inside clear colorway. Celebrating ten years of the innovative, ground-breaking, and pivotal release, Canada's punk/hardcore/emo torchbearers, Silverstein, credit This Is How The Wind Shifts for kick starting the second half of their illustrious career. It is a concept album that explores and bends song and album structure.
Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide To Earth Reissue/2016] LP (Atlantic)
The alt-country understated star's Grammy-Award winning album features lead single "Brace For Impact (Live A Little)", a track that also boasts an enigmatic music video which includes, among other visuals, and hot rod coffin, a cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom", and the orchestral "Breakers Roar". A respected and celebrated record, it has received a score of 86 from Metacritic signaling "universal acclaim."
Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones [Reissue/1983] CD (Island)
Tom Waits – Rain Dogs [Reissue/1985] CD (Island)
Tom Waits – Frank’s Wild Years [Reissue/1987] CD (Island)
2023 Marks forty years since Tom Waits released Swordfishtrombones, ushering in a new and critically acclaimed musical era for Waits and his longtime songwriting and production partner, Brennan. Waits went from ‘70’s-era “bluesy, boozy” wordsmith and melodist with seven albums behind him to sound sculptor, miner of the subconscious, abstract orchestrator, sonic cubist—while retaining his innate lyricism, melodic invention, humanity. Rain Dogs is a kind of mutant, late 20th century musical Canterbury Tales with a shape-shifting band. There are banjos and marimbas and bowed saw and parade drum and howling horns (and Keith Richards and Marc Ribot) on this rollicking, rough-hewn opus - and Waits using his voice in increasingly weird-and-wild ways. Franks Wild Years is Tom Waits’ 10th studio album. Titled for a play of the same name and authored by Waits and his wife, Kathleen Brennan, Franks Wild Years was performed by Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1986. Franks Wild Years is an iteration of the track “Frank’s Wild Years” from Waits’ 1983 album Swordfishtrombones. [180gm vinyl reissues are due September 22.]
Wilco – Sky Blue Sky [Reissue/2007] 2xLP (Nonesuch)
Double sky-blue color pressing. Wilco's sixth studio album Sky Blue Sky was released in May 2007. It was a critical and commercial success and received a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best Rock Album. Sky Blue Sky was the band's highest debut on the US Billboard chart, charting at #4 on. The album was also a top 40 album in numerous countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. Includes the songs "Impossible Germany", "Hate It Here", "Either Way", and "Side With The Seeds".
Neil Young – Odeon Budokan LP (Reprise)
A live album recorded in 1976 during a tour with Crazy Horse. Side A is Neil Young solo acoustic from Hammersmith Odeon, London; on Side B, Neil is joined by Crazy Horse at The Budokan in Tokyo. 10 amazing performances of classic Neil Young songs, including the rare "Stringman". This album is included on CD in Neil's Archives Volume II, but this is the debut release on vinyl.