New Releases 11/18

Metallica – Hardwired to Self-Destruct

The thrash-metal legends return from an eight-year recording break (their previous album, Death Magnetic, was released in 2008) to melt faces and blow minds with their tenth album, Hardwired to Self-Destruct. What is there to say about Metallica that hasn’t already been said about a giant ball of lead…. but I digress. Hardwired to Self-Destruct is quite the undertaking as an album – spanning two LP’s and lasting 77 minutes – and Metallica try to make the most of it, filling all open space with riffs that lean heavily towards early albums like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. Die-hard fans are sure to be pleased by the vitality exhibited in this album, and if nothing else, be relieved that the biggest metal band in the world is finally back.

Justice – Woman

French electro duo Justice have built their reputation by mining the past in an attempt to paint the future, much like their fellow countrymen Daft Punk. Their breakthrough 2007 album Cross (stylized as † ) incorporated elements of rock into their unique remembrance of disco, creating swaggering dance tracks with a bite. Now Justice is back with their third full length, Woman, a welcome companion to their previous catalog and a continuation of the more straightforward disco techniques deployed on 2011’s Audio, Video, Disco. Clocking in at just under an hour, Woman spreads its ten tracks out in a technicolor display, working in warm live instrumentation and vocals to accompany Justice’s signature buzzing basslines.

The Dean Ween Group – The Deaner Album

Known best as one half of the iconic lo-fi duo Ween, Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo) had his hand in nine full length albums with his former musical partner Gene Ween (aka Aaron Freeman) before his first solo release with the Dean Ween Group. Following the 2012 dissolution of Ween – a musical partnership and friendship that spanned three decades – Dean Ween continued to write and record music, eventually forming the basis of what would become the Deaner Album. True to the erratic and bizarro form that he so perfected in Ween, the Deaner Album finds Dean Ween retreading familiar territory with a surrealistic blend of punk, funk, hard rock, and psychedelia. While it remains a pleasurable listen, the Deaner Album is likely to leave Ween fans wanting the old band back – due in no small part to Dean Ween’s continued prowess in songwriting and recording.

New releases (cont.)

Broken Social Scene – Feel Good Lost [Reissue/2001] LP (Arts & Crafts)

Tim Buckley – Wings: The Complete Singles 1966-1974 CD (Omnivore)

Andra Day – Merry Christmas From Andra Day CDEP (WB)

The Dean Ween Group – The Deaner Album 2xLP (ATO)

Highly Suspect – The Boy That Died Wolf CD/Cassette (300 Entertainment)

Justice – Woman CD/2xLP+CD (Because Music)

Miranda Lambert – The Weight Of These Wings 2xCD/3xLP (RCA)

Disc One: The Nerve. Disc Two: The Heart. A 24-song collection of all songs she helped write.

Bruno Mars – 24K Magic CD/LP+MP3 (Atlantic)

Metallica – Hardwired… To Self Destruct 2xCD/3xCD/2xLP+MP3/3xLP+MP3 (Blackened)

Moby & The Void Pacific Choir – These Systems Are Failing LP (Mute)

Lou Reed – The RCA & Arista Vinyl Collection Vol. 1 6xLP (Sony Legacy)

Rush – Time Stand Still DVD/Blu-ray (Zoe)

Sixx: A.M. – Prayers For The Blessed Vol. 2 CD/LP (Eleven Seven Music)

Dee Snider – We Are The Ones LP (Twisted Sister/Red River Entertainment)

Solange – A Seat At The Table CD (Columbia)

Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger [Reissue/1991] CD/2xCD/4xCD+2xDVD+Blu-ray/2xLP (A&M)

Soundtrack – Moana CD (Walt Disney)

Touché Amoré – Stage Four LP+MP3 (Epitaph)

Umphrey’s McGee – ZONKEY CD (Nothing Too Fancy Music)

Various Artists – Let All The Children Boogie: A Tribute To David Bowie CD (Virtual Label Group)

Zayn – Mind Of Mine 2xLP+MP3 (RCA)

New Releases November 11

Sleigh Bells – Jessica Rabbit

Sleigh Bells are back with a new album, the follow-up to 2013’s Bitter Rivals. Known for their brash approach to modern pop – filled with drilling guitars and Alexis Krauss’ signature yelp – Sleigh Bells have a history of mixing the sheen of electro-pop with the razor’s edge of hair metal. On Jessica Rabbit the duo stay true to form, offering a sprawling, 14-track masterclass in their idiosyncratic rave-ups.

Body/Head – No Waves

Body/Head, a duo consisting of ex-Sonic
Youth bassist Kim Gordon and experimental guitarist Bill Nace, gained quite the reputation for their fiery live sets following 2013’s Coming Apart LP, and now that controlled tension has been captured in a new release No Waves. Recorded at the Big Ears festival in 2014, No Waves captures three tracks of Body/Head’s free-form and minimal noise, allowing the listener a front-row seat to Nace and Gordon’s dynamic interplay.

Marching Church – Telling It Like It Is

When he’s not sprawling over woozy punk tracks in Iceage, Elias Bender Ronnenfelt finds time for a little indulgence in side project Marching Church. The Iceage frontman doesn’t stray too far from his signature vocal form on new album Telling It Like It Is, but his surroundings have certainly changed. Embracing soul, jazz, and post-punk, Marching Church allows Ronnenfelt to paint his trademark hedonism with a more diverse color palette.

 

New Releases (cont.)

Autechre – Incunabula [Reissue/1993] 2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Autechre – Amber [Reissue/1994] 2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Autechre – Tri Repetae [Reissue/1995] 2xLP+MP3 (Warp)
Lou Barlow – Apocalypse Fetish 10”+MP3 (Joyful Noise)
David Bazan – Dark Sacred Night CD/LP+MP3 (Suicide Squeeze)
David Bazan – Christmas Bonus LP+MP3 (Suicide Squeeze)
Body/Head – No Waves CD (Matador)
Carcass – Heartwork [Reissue/1993] LP (Earache)
David Bowie – Legacy CD/2xCD (Columbia/Sony Legacy)
Dead Can Dance –Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun [Reissue/1987] LP (4AD)
Dead Can Dance – Toward The Within [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (4AD)
Dead Can Dance –Garden Of Arcane Delights/The John Peel Sessions [Reissue/1984] CD/2xLP (4AD)
Delta Spirit – Delta Spirit [Reissue/2012] LP (Dualtone)
Dizzy Gillespie & Friends – Concert Of The Century: A Tribute to Charlie Parker CD/2xLP (Justin Time)
Alejandro Escovedo – Burn Something Beautiful 2xLP (Fantasy)
In Flames – Battles CD/2xLP (Eleven Seven Music)
Waylon Jennings – Dreaming My Dreams [Reissue/1975] LP (Fat Possum)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono – Unfinished Music No. 1. Two Virgins [Reissue/1968] CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono – Unfinished Music No. 2. Life With The Lions [Reissue/1968] CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
LNZNDRF – Green Roses 12” (4AD)
Marching Church – Telling It Like It Is LP (Sacred Bones)
The Men – Devil Music LP (We Are Men)
NRBQ – High Noon: A 50-Year Retrospective 5xCD (Omnivore)
Leslie Odom Jr. – Simply Christmas CD (S-Curve)
Yoko Ono – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band [Reissue/1971] CD/LP (Secretly Canadian)
Radkey – Delicious Rock Noise CD/LP (Another Century)
The Rolling Stones – Havana Moon 3xLP+DVD (Eagle Vision)
The Rolling Stones – Havana Moon Blu-ray+2xCD/DVD+Blu-ray+2xCD (Eagle Vision)
The Roots – Illadelph Halflife [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Geffen)
Sad13 – Slugger CD/LP+MP3 (Carpark)
Sleigh Bells – Jessica Rabbit CD/LP+MP3 (Torn Clean)
Britney Spears – Glory LP+MP3 (RCA)
Soundtrack – Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back [Reissue/1980] 2xLP (Sony Classical)
Soundtrack – Star Wars Episode VI: The Return Of The Jedi [Reissue/1980] 2xLP (Sony Classical)
Sting – 57^th & 9^th CD/LP (A&M)
Superjoint – Caught Up In The Gears Of Application CD/LP (Housecore)
Temple Of The Dog – Temple Of The Dog [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Interscope)
Twin Limb – Haplo CD/LP (Suretone)
2Pac – 2Pacalypse Now [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Interscope)
Various Artists – Killed By Deathrock Volume Two CD/LP (Sacred Bones)
Various Artists – The Life & Songs Of Emmylou Harris: An All-Star Concert Celebration CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray (Rounder)
Various Artists – Punk 45 – Les Punks: The French Connection – The First Wave Of French Punk 1977-80 CD/2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
Wakrat – Wakrat CD/LP (Earache)
Mike Watt – Ring Spiel Tour ’95 Live CD/2xLP (Sony)
Wolf People – Ruins CD/LP+MP3 (Jagjaguwar)
You Blew It! – Abendrot CD/LP+MP3 (Triple Crown

New Releases November 4

Mother Love Bone – On Earth As It Is: The Complete Sessions

This digitally remastered collection contains the 1989 EP Shine, 1990’s Apple and over 20 B-sides, demos, alternative versions, and unreleased songs. Included in the set is Andrew Wood’s demo of “Chloe Dancer” and a live version of “Stardog Champion” featuring Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam. Also included in the set 24-page booklet with lyrics, and a previously unreleased DVD of rare live footage. Any fan of Pearl Jam and 90’s alt-rock would totally dig this!

Lambchop – FLOTUS

For Love Often Turns Us Still—officially titled FLOTUS—is like many of Lambchop’s records: a subtle masterpiece, the kind that slowly and generously reveals its quiet wisdom to those patient and attentive enough to receive it. Start to finish, FLOTUS is imbued with that magic energy that comes when an artist stumbles upon the thrill of the new—something that makes them crazy
enough to want to start the whole process over again. Drawing upon a diverse palate of influences and transcending each one, it’s a stunning piece of work—certainly one of the most impressive achievements in the band’s career.

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – Until the Hunter

In 2001, Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Starand Colm Ó Cíosóig of My Bloody Valentine came together to form somewhat of a dream-pop supergroup in the form of Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions. Back with their third studio album, the Warm Inventions have broadened their songwriting palette to stretch the lines of their dream-pop haze. Kurt Vile stops by on the beautiful “Let Me Get There”, his plaintive voice proving to be a perfect companion to Sandoval’s velvet croon. Definitely a must listen!

New Releases (cont.)

American Wrestlers – Goodbye Terrible Youth CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Berwanger – Exorcism Rock CD/LP (Doghouse)
Blessing A Curse – Satisfaction For The Vengeful CD (Smart Punk)
The Blind Boys Of Alabama – Atom Bomb [Reissue/2005] CD (Omnivore)
Joe Bonamassa – Blues Deluxe [Reissue/2003] 2xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Joe Bonamassa – The Ballad Of John Henry [Reissue/2009] 2xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Joe Bonamassa – Dust Bowl [Reissue/2011] 2xLP+MP3 (J&R Adventures)
Joe Bonamassa – Beacon Theatre: Live From New York [Reissue/2012] 3xLP+MP3 (J&R
Adventures)
Crippled Black Phoenix – Bronze CD/LP/Cassette (Season Of Mist)
Dark Tranquillity – Atoma CD/LP (Century Media)
Esben And The Witch – Older Terrors CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)
Horse – For Twisted Minds Only [Reissue/1970] LP (Rise Above Relics)
Jim James – Eternally Even CD (Capitol/ATO)
Kaiser Chiefs – Stay Together CD (Kaiser Chiefs Recordings)
Lambchop – FLOTUS CD/2xLP+MP3 (Merge)
Mother Love Bone – On Earth As It Is: The Complete Works 3xCD+DVD/3xLP+DVD
Panic! At The Disco – Vices & Virtues [Reissue/2011] LP (Fueled By Ramen)
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon [Reissue/1973] LP (Pink Floyd)
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood – If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now CDEP/12”
(Silver Arrow)
STRFKR – Being No One, Going Nowhere CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Set It Off – Upside Down LP (Equal Vision)

 

 

 

New Releases October 28

Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition

Danny Brown’s highly anticipated new album is the third in a non-linear trilogy that started with 2011’s XXX. Known for his highly distinctive voice as much as his lyrical dexterity, Atrocity Exhibition finds Brown deploying a diverse sound palette to match his mind-bending raps. Influenced by post-punk, emo, new wave, house, and nearly everything in between, Atrocity Exhibition challenges the idea of what a major rap album should be in 2016. Much like Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, this is an album presented as a whole experience, but this experience just happens to be a trip through a dark and caustic hall of mirrors with no clear way out (in the best way possible).

Drake – Views, What A Time To Be Alive, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (vinyl exclusives)

Whether you get behind the 6 God or not, Drake is indisputably on the top of his game. Between the memes, the beefs, and the SNL appearances, Drake has had time to put together one of the more impressive rap-album runs in recent memory with 2015’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, 2015’s What A Time To Be Alive (with trap-music darling Future), and this year’s Views. Now released for the first time on vinyl, these three titles are a perfect addition to any album collection; now you can finally see Drizzy sitting on the top of the CN Tower!

Weezer – Blue Album, Red Album, Green Album, Pinkerton, Maladroit, Make Believe

The indie-rock mainstays Weezer have a rich catalog of music – 10 albums to their name to date. After enjoying a recent resurgence with 2014’s Everything Will Be Alright in the End and this year’s Weezer (The White Album), Weezer’s first six albums have been reissued and remastered on Direct Metal Mastering cut at the legendary Abbey Road Recording Studios. If you missed a chance to pick up your favorite early Weezer albums in the past, now is your chance!

New Releases (cont.)

New Releases October 21

NxWorries – Yes Lawd!

The team of rising-star singer/rapper Anderson .Paak and loop-weaving producer Knxwledge release a gritty and hazy mixtape that mines the sounds of the past to create something that sounds completely of-the-moment. Led by .Paak’s raspy and sensuous raps and
hooks, and held up by Knxwledge’s dusty record-bin beats, Yes Lawd! merges the sound of 70’s soul with the trip-hop orientations of 2000’s artists like the Soulquarians, J. Dilla, Madlib, and Erykah Badu. NxWorries‘ music lives up to their name, continuing the recent trend of chilled-out and relaxed soul and R&B from the L.A. beat scene.

American Football – American Football (LP2)

American Football‘s resurgence over the past five years has been one of the more interesting underdog tales in indie/emo music; after breaking up shortly after their 1999 self-titled debut LP, American Football’s recordings found a slow-burning but devoted cult following. The emo revival that kicked off in 2011-2012 saw American Football gain huge popularity, prompting the band to reunite and return this week with their second album American Football (or otherwise LP2). True to form, American Football brings their clear-ringing guitars, polished songwriting, and world-worn emotional delivery on an album borne out of more than a decade of remission for the band.

Weyes Blood – Front Row Seat to Earth

Natalie Mering’s fourth LP as Weyes Blood recalls the misty-eyed folk of the late 60’s and early 70’s, while maintaining an ear for modernist arrangement that feels wholly original. Armed with a voice that can jump between wistful hints of Joan Baez and Carole King, to the biting lyrical reservation of Joni Mitchell, Mering’s heavy-hearted music creates an alluring and dreamy distance; always close, but just out of reach. Front Row Seat to Earth is a
beautiful record that resists pidgeonholing to a particular genre, opting rather for mindful arrangements that gently defer to the lyrics and vocal delivery.

Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues

The early-aughts alt-rockers are back with their 9th full-length album in Integrity Blues, their first since 2013’s Damage. The band has traversed many sounds in their 23-year career, but their new release is a throw-back to the mixture of of pop-punk, emo, and modern alt-rock that highlighted the band’s commercial breakthrough on 2001’s Bleed American. However, Jimmy Eat World is not without tendencies for progression, and Integrity Blues features polished pop production and ambitious instrumental arrangements.

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases (cont.)

 

American Football – American Football (LP2) CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Polyvinyl)

Erykah Badu – Baduism [1997] 2xLP (Motown)

Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun [2000] 2xLP (Motown)

Kadhja Bonet – The Visitor CD/LP (Fat Possum)

Bright Eyes – The Studio Albums 2000-2011 6xCD/10xLP+MP3 (Saddle Creek)

Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker CD/LP (Columbia)

The Cowboy Junkies – The Trinity Session [Reissue/1988] LP (Acoustic Sounds)

Crocodiles – Dreamless CD/LP (Zoo Music)

David Crosby – Lighthouse CD/LP (Ground Up)

Gavin Degraw – Something Worth Saving LP+MP3 (RCA)

Depeche Mode – 101 [Reissue/1989] 2xLP (Rhino)

Kevin Devine – Instigator CD/LP (PMTraitors, LLC)

Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things: Volume 1 CD/2xLP (Lakeshore)

Piers Faccini – I Dreamed On An Island CD (Six Degrees)

Holy Sons – In The Garden CD/LP+MP3 (PTKF/Partisan)

Iggy Pop – The Idiot [Reissue/1977] LP (4 Men With Beards)

Iggy Pop – Lust For Life [Reissue/1977] LP (4 Men With Beards

I Prevail – Lifelines CD/LP (Fearless)

Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues CD/LP+MP3 (RCA)\

KoЯn – The Serenity Of Suffering CD/LP+MP3 (Roadrunner)

Lady Gaga – Joanne CD (Interscope)

Nekromantix – Symphony Of Wolf Tones & Ghost Notes CD/LP+MP3 (Hellcat)

NxWorries – Yes Lawd! CD/2xLP (Stones Throw)

Agnes Obel – Citizen Of Glass CD/LP (PIAS America)

Pantera – The Great Southern Outtakes LP (Elektra)

Planes Mistaken For Stars – Prey CD/LP/Cassette (Deathwish Inc.)

Pretenders – Alone CD/LP (BMG Rights Management)

The Pretty Reckless – Who You Selling For CD/2xLP (Razor & Tie)

John Prine – For Better, Or Worse LP (Oh Boy)

The Radio Dept. – Running Out Of Love CD/LP (Labrador)

Safe To Say – Down The In Dark CD/LP+MP3 (SideOneDummy)

Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [OST/Reissue/1983] CD/LP (Milan)

John K Samson – Winter Wheat CD/2xLP+MP3 (Epitaph)

Syd Arthur – Apricity CD/LP (Harvest)

Various Artists – The Musical Mojo Of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac And His Music 2xCD/2xCD+DVD/2xCD+Blu-ray (Concord)

The Dean Ween Group – The Deaner Album CD/LP (ATO)

Weyes Blood – Front Row Seat To Earth CD/LP (Mexican Summer)

White Lies – Friends CD/LP+MP3 (BMG Rights Management)