New Releases - 8/18/23

Hitting The Racks

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

New Releases

Baalti - Better Together LP (All My Thoughts)

For their third release, San Francisco based Indian duo Baalti stay true to their signature sampling of nostalgic South Asian flavors derived from classic Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi music, but set against a backdrop of breaks and euphoric club music. Baalti explain: "With this record, we wanted to lean into clubbier energy that's been inspiring, enriching and energizing us. It's our most sincere and complete expression yet, and we've tried to capture all of the feelings we had from a year of touring, living with our bffs, being in love, finding amazing communities through music, and getting more connected with each other as a duo." For fans of: Overmono, Kareem Ali, Dauwd, Nikki Nair.

Jon Batiste – World Music Radio CD/2xLP (Verve)

World Music Radio is the new musical transmission from Grammy and Oscar winner Jon Batiste, following his acclaimed hit record We Are. This concept album stars Batiste as interstellar traveling griot DJ Billy Bob Bo Bob who examines popular music from around the globe on a radio broadcast to the rest of the universe – begging the question, isn’t all music, world music? World Music Radio sees Batiste reach new artistic heights with collaborators Jon Bellion, J.I.D, Camilo, NewJeans and others. [Two indie store exclusive editions are available: autographed CD and baby blue vinyl.]

Birdy – Portraits LP (Atlantic)

Birdy is back with her fifth studio album, Portraits, ushering in a new chapter and marking a confident change in direction for an artist who has achieved an unbelievable amount since releasing her debut album, Birdy. At just 26 years old, Birdy has solidified herself as one of the UK's leading homegrown talents.

Carminho – Portuguesa LP (Nonesuch)

“The album Portuguesa began to take shape in 2019 and its genesis has the same basis as all the previous ones: A permanent fascination with fado, for its inexhaustible paths and possibilities within the same matrix and recognizing in it the most natural language to express myself.”

Cautious Clay – KARPEH CD/LP (Blue Note)

On Cautious Clay’s deeply personal Blue Note debut KARPEH, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer takes an artistic leap forward with an ambitious yet introspective album about growth, conceptions of intimacy and lineage that reveals a new side of his artistry by delving deeper than ever into his jazz influences. Across the album’s 15 tracks, Cautious is heard on vocals, flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, guitar, synthesizer, and bass. [Indie store exclusive grape color vinyl.]

DeYarmond Edison – Epoch 5xLP+4xCD (Jagjaguwar)

In the summer of 2005, four friends left Wisconsin for North Carolina with a singular goal: to outrun their folk-rock doldrums. During a year of intense focus, study, and vulnerability, they did exactly that, reaching toward the ecstatic edge of New Weird America by trying out a little of everything-grindcore and gospel, free jazz and phase pieces, bluegrass, and blues - and packing it into DeYarmond Edison. Maybe you know the rest? One member went home to begin what would become Bon Iver, while three stayed put to start Megafaun. Epoch is the story of DeYarmond Edison: Brad Cook, Phil Cook, Justin Vernon, and Joe Westerlund, told as never before. The collection comprises five LPs, four CDs, dozens of unheard recordings, and unseen photos. It's accompanied by an extensive biography from writer and cohort Grayson Haver Currin, who also serves as executive producer to the collection.

Al di Meola – All Your Life: A Tribute To The Beatles CD/2xLP (earMUSIC)

With All Your Life, legendary and Grammy-awarded jazz fusion guitarist Al di Meola pays his tribute to the universal importance of The Beatles in the form of a solo instrument arrangement with the support by co-producer Hernan Romero. Di Meola's arrangements include 14 Lennon/McCartney covers on acoustic guitar, played with mastery and his own spin to the well-known compositions, that present those Beatles evergreens in an original and artistically free soloing.

Diners – Domino LP (Bar/None)

On Domino, Diners has replaced their gentle pop sound with a more bombastic rock ‘n’ roll approach while maintaining their upbeat positive world view. Diners teamed up with power pop prince Mo Troper and Grammy nominated engineer Jack Shirley to deliver her best record yet.

Doctor Bionic – Sacrifice LP (Chiefdom)

Deep, hard-hitting soul-jazz meets dub instrumental analog grooves for your psyche.

Elephant Gym – Angle LP (Topshelf)

Limited pink and blue color vinyl pressing. The debut full length from Taiwanese instrumental rock band Elephant Gym. Recorded with Mino Takaaki of Japanese rock band Toe.

Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing To Us CD/LP (Run For Cover)

Fiddlehead's third album Death Is Nothing To Us is a defiant, new chapter for the band. Since 2014, the Boston-based group has been honing their unique sound, bringing together the energy of hardcore, the anthemic melodies of '90s alternative, and the unbridled passion of Revolution Summer era emo. Their previous albums, 2018's Springtime And Blind and 2021's Between The Richness, dealt heavily with grief from different perspectives, and now their latest feels like a de facto culmination, drawing together many of the catalog's through-lines sonically and lyrically. [Limited edition neon orange vinyl.]

Rhiannon Giddens – You’re The One CD/LP (Nonesuch)

You're The One is Grammy, MacArthur and Pulitzer-winning singer, composer, and instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens's third solo studio album and her first of all original songs; her last solo album was 2017's critically acclaimed Freedom Highway. This collection of 12 songs written over the course of Giddens' career bursts with life-affirming energy, drawing from the folk music that she knows so deeply, as well as its pop descendants. The album was produced by Jack Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Alicia Keys, Valerie June, Tank and The Bangas) and recorded at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami with a band composed of Giddens's closest musical collaborators from the past decade alongside musicians from Splash's own Rolodex, topped off with a horn section, making an impressive ten- to twelve-person ensemble. "I hope that people just hear American music," Giddens says. "Blues, jazz, Cajun, country, gospel, and rock – it's all there.” [Indie store exclusive clear vinyl.]

Hozier – Unreal Unearth CD/2xLP (Columbia)

Unreal Unearth is the highly anticipated new album from Grammy-nominated Irish singer-songwriter, Hozier. This 16-track collection has production credits for Hozier, as well as Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, Jennifer Decilveo, and Bekon. Hozier burst onto the global music scene in 2013 with his hit single "Take Me To Church", now RIAA certified Diamond, with over 13 million in combined sales and streaming volume. “Hozier’s third record Unreal Unearth follows his established pattern of tracing fable, folklore, and the high drama of Greek mythology onto the landscape of modern politics, whilst simultaneously entangling himself in a series of tender love affairs.” – Caitlin Chatterston, The Line Of Best Fit [Indie store exclusive ‘light umber’ with black splatter vinyl.]

Girl Ray – Prestige LP (Moshi Moshi)

Mimosa yellow color vinyl pressing. Girl Ray, the three-piece comprising Poppy Hankin, Iris McConnell and Sophie Moss, release their much anticipated third album, Prestige. Co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer, Ben H. Allen (M.I.A, Gnarls Barkley, Christina Aguilera, Deerhunter) along with the band’s singer and songwriter Poppy Hankin, Prestige takes the shambolic charm of their debut, Earl Grey (2017), and the indie-fied R&B of 2019’s Girl, and injects it with a booster shot of Hi-NRG ‘80s disco pop.

Gregory Alan Isakov – Appaloosa Bones CD/LP (Dualtone)

Gregory Alan Isakov wanted to pare it all back on Appaloosa Bones, the Colorado-based singer's new album. Arrangement-wise, the impulse to keep things simple was a pendulum swing away from his Grammy-nominated 2018 album, Evening Machines. "I set out to make a record that was really bare bones," Isakov says. "I wanted to go backward a little bit, because Evening Machines was such a deep dive into arrangements. I wanted to have more of a raw experience with this one." [Limited-edition brown vinyl.]

Brian Jackson – Mami Wata - Joaquin Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm And Cosmic Arts Remixes 2xLP (BBE)

A Captivating Journey through West African Rhythms Experience the mesmerizing fusion of traditional African sounds and modern Latin house in Brian Jackson's latest single package, Mami Wata. Drawing inspiration from the depths of West African mythology, this track takes you on a captivating sonic adventure that spans vast regions of the continent. Brian Jackson's rendition of a traditional African song resonates with the richness and abundance symbolized by the mythical figure of Mami Wata. From the sacred lands of the Dogon in Mali to the vibrant rhythms of Ghana, and even reaching into the heart of Central and Southern Africa, this composition pays homage to the diverse tapestry of African cultures.

Justin and the Cosmics - Cool Dead LP (Cosmic Thug)

“Rock ’n’ roll lifers and staples of the East Side underground Justin and the Cosmics have been grinding it out for years, honing their glammy, grungy, thoughtful fuzz to a keen edge. With their new LP Cool Dead, they’ve arrived at a sound that is as familiar and welcoming as it is weird and out-there. Cool Dead comes across like the Taoist maxim, ‘He understands that the universe is forever out of control,’ translated through vacuum tubes and ribbon mics, with Collins playing the role of dive-bar philosopher and sideshow barker.”

—Nashville Scene

Bettye LaVette – LaVette! LP (Jay-Vee Inc.)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. LaVette! hits all the marks. Together with Jay-Vee Records, Bettye has the freedom to explore new territory. Produced by Steve Jordan, LaVette! features 11 songs written by Georgia-born musician Randall Bramblett, who has been releasing solo albums since 1975.

Mapache – Swinging Stars LP+MP3 (Mapache)

In the past, Mapache recording sessions have been laid-back affairs, with friends coming and going, the sessions starting and stopping at the band's discretion-as relaxed a process as the immaculately sunny vibes that their four albums would suggest. But on their dynamic and ambitious fifth album of cosmic folk, Swinging Stars, Sam Blasucci, and Clay Finch decided to take a trip and hunker down somewhere particularly special - Panoramic House, the artist retreat where Swinging Stars was recorded.

Ricky Montgomery – Montgomery Ricky LP (WB)

Ricky Montgomery's music was ahead of its time-literally. His 2016 debut album Montgomery Ricky, featuring the two once-obscure, yet universal singles - "Line Without A Hook" and "Mr. Loverman" - made him an unexpected hitmaker four years after their original release. Among all the hip-hop hits, the Los Angeles native's indie-pop became a balm in the midst of a heavy time, comforting listeners with warm melodies and relatable lyrics. He balances melancholy with a touch of sweet humor and loads of humanity.

Movements – Ruckus! CD/LP (Fearless)

Following up 2020's No Good Left To Give, Movements’ third full-length Ruckus! sees the SoCal quartet taking their sound to expansive and sometimes unexpected places. Produced by longtime collaborator Will Yip (Turnstile), the album fuses post-hardcore and punk influences with a healthy dose of pop songcraft to create a 10-track collection that defies scene conventions in favor of something wholly unique. "‘Fail You' has all the inner workings of a classic Movements track wrapped up in a shiny new package and served with a newer, more modern Movements sound," vocalist Patrick Miranda explains. "It's a song about the fear of letting someone down and losing someone you love – reliving the mistakes over and over again and being haunted by all of your wrongdoings. Fans of both the new and old sounds will find something to love with this one." [Indie store exclusive blue w/ white vinyl.]

NCT Dream – The 3rd Album ‘ISTJ’ [Photobook Ver.] CD (SM Entertainment)

NCT Dream's third full-length ISTJ finds the seven-member K-pop boy group in new territory, opting for sample heavy and sleeker, more discordant instrumentation reminiscent of their older sub-unit 127, unlike their usual bright and saccharine songs. There's a fascinating way in which NCT Dream slowly finds their own style throughout ISTJ. The air of teen rebellion and punkish attitude permeates in every inch of the album and growth is easily one of the strongest characteristics of the album. There's no useless ballad, no drag, no fluff: from the moment it begins till it ends, ISTJ captivates the listener with catchy grooves and some incredible instrumentation that bounces from sample and piano/bass heavy hip-hop to dance and R&B.

Origami Angel – The Brightest Days LP (Counter Intuitive)

“Where are you, my sunny feeling I knew as a kid?” This is the question that Origami Angel asks with their latest output, a sharp and shining 8-song mixtape called The Brightest Days. Its opening title track begins with one of many new tricks for the DC two-piece––a ukulele––but quickly turns left-field as childhood innocence makes way for blistering intensity and hopelessness.

Pale Jay – Bewilderment LP (Karma Chief)

Bewilderment - the feeling of being perplexed and confused - is the inspiration behind Pale Jay's new album. It's a soulful exploration of a family's gradual disintegration due to years of avoidance and miscommunication. During this difficult time, Pale Jay began to question the stories he had always lived with and re-examined his identity. The resulting work, Bewilderment, is his first full-length album, which strives to find answers to these questions and more. Pale Jay is a trained jazz vocalist and pianist, and he wrote, recorded, and produced all songs on the album, except for 'By The Lake', which is a collaboration with labelmates Okonski - Steve Okonski, Aaron Frazer, and Michael Montgomery. Pale Jay's music is influenced by a wide range of songwriters, including Labi Siffre, Carole King, and William Onyeabor. Bewilderment is a seamless blend of Pale Jay's trademark dusty soul, slow disco, and Afrobeat, with string arrangements by Raven Bush adding an extra layer of magic to the beat-heavy productions. [Limited edition opaque red color vinyl.]

Grace Potter – Mother Road CD/LP (Fantasy)

Composed over a two-year span driving back and forth on road trips across America, Mother Road, the new album from Grace Potter, is an audacious and heart-pounding map of the soul. Produced by Eric Valentine (Queens Of The Stone Age, Nickel Creek), Mother Road is Grace's fifth studio album and the follow-up to 2019's acclaimed, Grammy-nominated, Daylight. Mother Road features the singles "Good Time", and "Ready Set Go". [Limited-edition yellow vinyl.]

Reneé Rapp – Snow Angel CD (IGA)

Reneé Rapp's debut album Snow Angel kicks off her new era of music by putting her heart on full display as she continues to round out her already multidimensional artistry. Executive produced by Alexander 23, the album captures Rapp's ability to unabashedly speak her truth, whether it's through emotional ballads or pop hits. In just a year, Reneé has already sold out shows nationwide while netting hundreds of millions of streams, making Snow Angel one of the most anticipated albums of the year.

Bobby Rush – All My Love For You CD/LP (Deep Rush)

Bobby Rush returns with his 29th studio album All My Love For You. Steeped in his signature blues, southern soul, and funk-blues, Rush blends vivid storytelling about his life with comical metaphors about love and relationships. Across the album's ten tracks, Rush puts the breadth of his songwriting capabilities on display and proclaims, "I've got the shackles off my feet, chains off my mind" on the album opener "I'm Free" and "I'm the one who put the funk in the blues" on the single "I'm The One". On tracks like "You Gonna Need A Man Like Me" and "One Monkey Can Stop A Show", he digs into the nuance of love and relationships. After earning his second Grammy Award for his solo acoustic blues album Rawer Than Raw in 2021, he leans into the soul and funky southern blues that he's known for.

Shamir – Homo Anxietatem CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)

Shamir's art is a synthesis of the full spectrum of human emotion; sensual, furious, yearning, joyful and yet tethered together by a very distinct style (similarly to the greats such as Miss Nina Simone, Prince, and Taylor Swift). Shamir's music is based almost entirely on a hyper-specific, fully autonomous, embodied expression of personhood. On his new album, Homo Anxietatem, Shamir takes the Latin translation of the title, "anxious man", and transmutes his anxiety to pop songs. The creation process serves as a balm, or elixir, converting internal anxieties to an 11-track sonic playground. [Limited-edition purple vinyl.]

Spirit Adrift – Ghost At The Gallows CD/LP (Century Media)

"Death has been an up close and personal part of my life since I was a young child. When I began writing Ghost At The Gallows, the specter of death hung as constant as ever. This album navigates a world where ghosts are real, and they haunt us in the form of grief, trauma, and loss. Despite the subject matter, the songs aren’t just downtrodden dirges. The music is diverse and dynamic, ranging from mournful, southern-tinged acoustic passages all the way to aggressive speed metal assaults… and everything in between. And like every entry in the Spirit Adrift catalog, the deepest aim of the lyrics is to find good in the bad, strength in weakness, and hope in darkness. It wasn’t until I finished the recording that I realized all the stages of grief are present on this album. Maybe these songs were my subconscious attempt at facilitating my own grieving process. Either way, this record helps me, and I hope it helps whoever else needs it." – Nate Garrett [Limited-edition beige vinyl.]

Thee Oh Sees – Intercepted Message CD/LP (In The Red)

A pop record for tired times. Sugared with bits of shatterproof glass to put more crack in your strap. At long last, verse / chorus. A weathered thesaurus. This is Osees bookend sound.

Teddy Thompson – My Love Of Country CD/LP (MRI Associated)

“These are all songs that I've known and loved for years,” Thompson says. “That's the real key, having them in your body for a long time, decades really. I didn't really have to think at all about how to sing them. I just honored the originals.”

Joshua Ray Walker – What Is It Even? 2xLP (Joshua Ray Walker)

Joshua Ray Walker’s new album What Is It Even? - lending his signature alt-country style to iconic pop songs - paying homage to female-identified powerhouse vocalists and their influence on global culture. Launching with his reimagination of Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You”, Walker pushes himself and his band to respectfully and artfully build a bridge between two seemingly polar styles of music.

Warren Zeiders – Pretty Little Poison LP (WB)

One of country music’s newest and fastest rising stars Warren Zeiders releases his new studio album Pretty Little Poison. The set showcases his evolving songcraft with tales of heartbreak and longing in the form of title track “Pretty Little Poison”, “Coming Down High”, (Warren Zeiders, Bart Butler, Ryan Beaver, Benjy Davis) and “What Goes On Inside Your Head” (written by Chris Stapleton and Lee Thomas Miller).

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

Acetone – 1992-2001 [Reissue/2017] 2xLP (Light In The Attic)

Counting their early years in the scuzz-rock band Spinout, whose sole self-titled release came out in 1991 on Delicious Vinyl, guitarist Mark Lightcap, bassist Richie Lee, and drummer Steve Hadley played together for a total of 15 years. They disbanded in July 2001, when Lee committed suicide in the garage next to the house where the trio practiced. Against a rising tide of post-Nirvana grunge and slipshod indie rock, Acetone tapped into a timeless Southern California groove by fusing elements of psychedelic, surf, and country. They rehearsed endlessly in an empty bedroom in northeast Los Angeles, recording hours of music onto cassettes that were subsequently stuffed into shoeboxes and left in a shed behind the drummer's house. Those tapes are being released for the first time in this anthology, which also includes highlights from Acetone's official releases. Taken together, the songs form a companion soundtrack to Sam Sweet's book, which maps the character of Los Angeles as a place through the lens of these three unique characters bonded by music. [Limited edition ‘pool haze’ color vinyl.]

Aerosmith – Greatest Hits 3xCD/LP/2xLP (Capitol)

The Ultimate Greatest Hits celebrating 50 years of Aerosmith – available in regular and Deluxe editions. The single-disc CD version collects 18 vital tracks (10 tracks on the vinyl edition) spanning their five-decade career, including “Dream On,” “Walk This Way,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Crazy,” “Cryin’,” “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” and more. The double-vinyl LP version collects 20 tracks, while the 3xCD and 4xLP box sets feature 44 tracks with expanded packaging.

Susana Baca – Espiritu Vivo [Reissue/2002] LP (Luaka Bop)

Recorded in New York after 9/11 in front of a small audience, Espíritu Vivo marries Susana Baca's wonderful vocals and Peruvian backing band with the downtown sounds of John Medeski and guitarist Marc Ribot—for a recording that transcends time and place, with Baca giving every iota of herself to the music. This is the 20th anniversary edition.

Bambara – Swarm [Reissue/2016] LP (Wharf Cat)

Bambara's first song-oriented full length release, recorded by Ben Greenberg (Uniform) and featuring some of the band's most dynamic live-set favorites ("All the Ugly Things", "Her Sister Touya", "I Don't Mind"), is comprehensively remixed to put the audio fidelity on par the band's later output.

Chuck Berry - ..Berry Is On Top [Reissue/1959] LP (Friday Music)

180gm audiophile translucent red vinyl. Introduced to Chess Records by fellow blues rocker Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry hit a goldmine immediately with his arsenal of tunes, culminating in his masterwork Berry Is On Top. Berry roars through a treasure trove of 12 rockers, making this one of the most important albums of all time, which featured gems like “Johnny B. Goode”, “Roll Over Beethoven”, “Carol” “Maybellene”, and “Little Queenie”.

Bonobo – Dial ‘M’ For Monkey 2xLP+MP3 (Ninja Tune)

Simon Green aka Bonobo presents the 20th Anniversary edition of Dial ‘M’ For Monkey, nine perfectly formed tracks on a perfectly formed album. Now housed in beautiful packaging, with a rotating viewfinder, crystal clear vinyl and newly designed inners, its outer beauty matched the beauty contained within the music.

Children Of Bodom – Skeletons In The Closet [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Svart)

Skeletons In The Closet is the second compilation album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, originally released in 2009.

Commander Venus – The Uneventful Vacation [Reissue/1997] LP (Craft Recordings)

25th anniversary edition of Commander Venus' second and final album, originally out on Wind-Up Records. Since its release, this album has become a '90s emo cult favorite. Commander Venus is Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Tim Kasher (Cursive), Robb Nansel (Saddle Creek Records), and Matt Bowen (The Faint). Featuring red and black smoke vinyl and all-analog mastering from the original tape, this edition also includes the bonus track "Congratulations!" which appeared on the original vinyl release.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Travelin’ Band (Live At Royal Albert Hall) 7” (Craft Recordings)

Translucent red wax. For years, rumors have circulated about a long-lost Creedence recording, captured in 1970 during the band’s appearance at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Now, more than 50 years later, fans can own a piece of rock 'n' roll lore with this collectible 7”. Mirroring the original double-sided 45 released in 1970, Side A features the Albert Hall performance of “Travelin’ Band”, marking the debut release of this rare recording, while Side B offers “Who’ll Stop the Rain”, live at Oakland Coliseum, CA.

Jim Croce – I Got A Name [Reissue/1973] LP (BMG)

Beige color vinyl pressing. Jim Croce was one of the premier architects of the singer/songwriter movement in the early '70s, and during his much revered musical career, he managed to successfully cultivate his story telling, humor and heartfelt thoughts and heartbreak into some of the most memorable songs and melodies ever recorded. His legendary ABC recordings are the soundtrack to a generation of music enthusiasts that continues to this day and will forever stand the test of time. 1973's I Got A Name was Croce's third album in two years’ time and the last before a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana took his and his guitarist Maury Muehleisen's lives.

Stuart Dempster - Underground Overlays from the Cistern Chapel 2LP (Important Records)

"This is where you have been forever and will always be forever." - Stuart Dempster, speaking about what it feels like to be in a cistern where time seems to stop. Dempster created Underground Overlays From The Cistern Chapel in the same cistern where the legendary Pauline Oliveros/Dempster/Panaiotis album Deep Listening was recorded. Reverberating with powerful, deep tones, this double LP is intended as a companion to the acclaimed Deep Listening. Underground Overlays From The Cistern Chapel is one of the deepest drone albums ever recorded - nine trombones, didgeridoo and Tibetan bells fill the massive two-million-gallon cistern with dense sonic reverberations that are both haunting and healing.

Erasure – Always – The Very Best Of Erasure 2xLP (Mute)

Originally released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Erasure, Always - The Very Best Of Erasure is available for the first time on vinyl. Presented as a double heavyweight vinyl package, this version includes their biggest singles including “A Little Respect”, “Oh L'Amour” and “Sometimes” as well as three tracks released since the original Always - The Very Best Of Erasure'release in 2015; “Elevation”, “Love You To The Sky” and “Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)”, bringing the collection up to date.

Folk Implosion – Take A Look Inside.... [Reissue/1994] LP (Joyful Noise)

Clear Vinyl. They say there's always something special about the first time and this record is that first time for the Folk Implosion. The band left the acoustic guitars and fragmentary sketch modus operandi of their earlier cassette behind to focus on an eccentric version of home studio craft, held together by a few cheap microphones (including a Radio Shack PZM) and a Tascam cassette 4-track recorder sequestered under the eaves of a 3rd floor, Cambridge Massachusetts double-decker house apartment.

Ryo Fukui - A Letter from Slowboat LP (We Release Jazz)

2023 repress. Ryo Fukui's final album, a very personal contemporary jazz offering. Known for a pair of remarkable hard bop albums, 1976's Scenery and 1977's Mellow Dream, legendary Hokkaido pianist Ryo Fukui, with the help of his wife Yasuko, opened his very own jazz club in Sapporo in 1995, Slowboat. This is where Fukui spent the latter half of his career, playing again and again, welcoming peers for unforgettable sessions, and perfecting the craft he lived for. A Letter from Slowboat is a poetic, soulful, and honest love letter to Hokkaido, to Fukui's jazz club, and to endless hours of practicing artistry in a place called home. Backed by longtime collaborators Takumi Awaya on bass, and Ittetsu Takemura on drums, Ryo Fukui flows through classics and originals with natural class, fluidity, and absolute precision, expressing a smooth balance between skills and heart.

Game Theory – Dead Center [Reissue/1984] 2xLP (Omnivore Recordings)

Original French compilation, reimagined with 11 bonus tracks. In 1984, the French record label Lolita became captivated by the music emanating from Los Angeles’ underground music scene. In the midst of exploring the budding Paisley Underground scene, the heads of Lolita looked north to Davis and found Game Theory. The label loved the band and made a deal to release an album combining tracks from the band’s first two EPs (Pointed Accounts Of People You Know and Distortion), introducing the band to Europe. The result of this alliance was Dead Center.

Jack Harlow – That’s What They All Say [Reissue/2020] LP (Atlantic)
Jack Harlow – Jackman. [Reissue/2020] LP (Atlantic)

Part of Atlantic Records' 75th Anniversary Vinyl Collection. 2021 Grammy Award Nominee: Best Rap Performance: “What's Poppin”. Jack Harow's first and third albums are now available on vinyl.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Murder Of The Universe (Cosmic Carnage Edition) LP (ATO)

2023 pressing of Murder Of The Universe comes on 2xLPs pressed on red and black splatter vinyl with a Side D etching. Originally billed as: A "concept album to end all concepts", MOTU is a face-melting musical assault concerned with the downfall of man, the death of the planet, the murder of the whole goddamn universe. Lit by thunderclaps & lightning MOTU inhabits a sonic landscape of death, decay, ossification, fossilisation, and rebirth.

Mastodon – Remission [Reissue/2002] LP (Relapse)

Violet color vinyl pressing. Mastodon exploded onto the scene in 2002 with their debut LP Remission a record that would immediately establish them as one of the most important bands in the history of heavy music. Combining an unparalleled level of musicianship together with songwriting sophistication that simply did not exist amongst their peers, were it to be initially released today Remission would still be nothing short of mind-blowing.

Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday…Roman Reloaded 3xLP (Republic)

The follow up to Nicki Minaj's debut album Pink Friday, Roman Reloaded features the mega hits "Beez In The Trap" and "Starships". This 3xLP reissue is on standard black vinyl trifold gatefold with matte coating, with bonus material on vinyl for the first time, including "High School". This package is presented on standard black vinyl.

Monolord – No Comfort [Reissue/2019] 2xLP (Relapse)

Clear w/ black & orange colorway. The Swedish power trio channel the most exciting elements of driving rock and crushing stoner sludge to produce one of 2019’s most gripping and heavy albums.

The Pooh Sticks - Straight Up: Noise Pollution C88-90 LP (Optic Nerve)

New band-compiled album of The Pooh Sticks hits and misses. "Straight Up: Noise Pollution C88-90 is a selection of some of the most loved/despised/ignored tracks released by The Pooh Sticks on however many records it was before it all went wilfully 'American' sometime around dotted-lining for BMG mega-corp in 1991. The record has highlights and lowlights. You and me, we'd probably agree on most of them. We chose a reasonable cross-section, I think (although there could've been more tambourine), including: -- 'On Tape' -- zeitgeist-nailin' strum and strangle. 'I Know Someone Who Knows Someone Who Knows Alan McGee Quite Well' -- long title -- 'Teenage High' -- breathy sweetness sneaked onto the depraved Sympathy For The Record Industry label. 'Dying For It' -- the Vaselines cover which beat Nirvana by a full two years (though theirs sold better)... and more! It's like Christmas (no, blocking up the chimney won't help: we've cut spare keys)..." -- 'Trudi' of the Pooh Sticks. Includes repro poster for the March '89 Pastels/Pooh Sticks/Vaselines London gig.

Genya Ravan – Urban Desire [Reissue/1978] LP (BFD)
Genya Ravan – …And I Mean It! [Reissue/1979] LP (BFD)

CD and vinyl (including a red vinyl colorway of Urban Desire) reissues of two albums by the veteran singer-songwriter. As producer of the prototypical punk band the Dead Boys and their classic single "Sonic Reducer", Ravan was an essential part of the new wave explosion of the '70s, which was a blend of punk rock and power pop. Urban Desire is the quintessential new wave album, and though it caused a stir, it has never fully been recognized as the groundbreaking work it is. ...And I Mean It is an amalgam of girl group, new wave, blues, pop, and folk-rock.

Silverstein – Arrivals & Departures [Reissue/2008] LP+7” (Craft Recordings)

15th Anniversary Edition of Silverstein’s third studio album, Arrivals & Departures, pressed on green marble vinyl in a gatefold jacket with booklet. Audio is newly remixed and remastered. Also included is a bonus translucent green 7” vinyl single of “Rain Will Fall” b/w “Falling Down”, originally featured on the limited-edition CD release.

Slipknot – Live At MSG 2xLP (Roadrunner)

Live At MSG immortalizes Slipknot's legendary sold-out 2009 concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden on vinyl for the first time. Featuring new, original art by M. Shawn Crahan, the double-LP set features performances of "Psychosocial", "Dead Memories" and more.

Shira Small – The Line Of Time And The Plane Of Now LP (Numero)

Real people music recorded at a Quaker Boarding school in the mid-'70s. Mixing soft psych, vocal jazz, and sunshine soul, Shira Small and her high school music teacher Lars Clutterham created a peerless artifact of outsider magic. Imagination, wonder, the existential dread of Vietnam and math class and getting caught smoking weed in Nixon's America... it's all here. Is your life alright? [Limited edition sliver vinyl.]

Sonic Youth – Brooklyn, NY 2xCD/LP (Silver Current)

The final US show, a triumphant and blistering bookend to the storied career of one of the most influential bands in rock music, featuring a unique and expansive eighty-five-minute set list that spans Sonic Youth's nearly three-decade catalog.

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Live At Acton Town Hall, London CD/LP (BMG)

Joe Strummer's iconic November 2002 London benefit concert for striking firefighters, Live At Acton Town Hall, saw Joe reunite on stage with Mick Jones of The Clash for the first time in almost two decades. As well as being the closest The Clash ever came to reuniting, this monumental show was also Strummer's final London show and one of his last ever live performances before his passing in December 2002.

Settima Tacca - Wondrous Feelings of Ages Long Gone LP (Hidden Harmony Recordings)

"What an interesting time to be alive full of hardship and love. Let's take it easy on ourselves but let us not forget to solidify our spirits with earthly challenges in the name of a better future. Here's a vinyl edition of an album I recorded in 2021 with a few extras that have been added quite recently for the sake of making it into a full LP. I have recorded the whole thing at my home studio with an upright piano, two of my favorite polyphonic analog synths -- Korg Polysix and Roland Juno-60, and a Greco Stratocaster, that I have bought accidentally because I understand nothing about guitars. The main material for this album was composed around 2017, when entering my mid-twenties and trying to overcome the disenchantments of some crucial personal realms of human life. As for the later added instrumentals (1, 4, 9, 10), I have kept the sonic consistency intact but with way more hopeful spirits during the process. Despite this ambivalent intervention from the future, this work feels even more complete to me now. Have a nice trip. And let every lacking soul on this planet find peace and love within the nearest time attainable. Let us all make an effort." --Settima Tacca

Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense [Reissue/1984] 2xLP (Rhino)

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) 2xLP+28-page booklet. The full concert for the first time ever on vinyl. Includes brand new notes written by Chris, David, Jerry and Tina. The tracklist includes previously unreleased tracks "Cities" and "Big Business/I Zimbra". Among the most adventuresome bands in rock history, The Talking Heads drew from funk, minimalism, and African and Brazilian music in promulgating a new sound that was both visionary and visceral.

Cecil Taylor – Unit Structures [Reissue/1966] LP (Blue Note)

The intrepid free jazz pianist Cecil Taylor made his Blue Note debut with the explosive 1966 album Unit Structures featuring trumpeter Eddie Gale, saxophonists Jimmy Lyons and Ken McIntyre, bassists Henry Grimes and Alan Silva, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. The four extended pieces performed here scale the pinnacle of the mid- 1960s jazz avant-garde.

Various Artists – Go Ahead Punk...Make My Day [Reissue/1996] LP (Craft Recordings)

Orange w/ white and black splatter color vinyl pressing. Any '90s punk fan will surely remember coveting a copy of Go Ahead Punk... Make My Day - a classic CD sampler from Nitro Records. Released in 1996, it delivered early cuts from some of the biggest names in West Coast punk. Available for the first time on vinyl, this reissue features 10 tracks from AFI, Guttermouth, Jughead's Revenge, The Vandals, and The Offspring (including their cover of "Hey Joe," previously exclusive to this compilation).

Various Artists – Studio One 007 – Licensed To Ska: James Bond And Other Film Soundtrack And TV Themes 2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)

Soul Jazz Records release a new expanded version of Studio One 007 - Licensed To Ska: James Bond and other Film Soundtracks And TV Themes, originally only available as a long deleted 7” RSD box set. This new edition is fully remastered and expanded to a massive 18 super rare and killer cuts from the Studio One empire. Featuring The Skatalites, Lee Perry, Jackie Mittoo, Bob Marley, The Wailers, Roland Alphonso, and The Soul Brothers - rare and classic tracks from Jamaica’s no.1 record label, Studio One.

Viktor Vaughn (MF DOOM) – Vaudeville Villain CD/LP (Rhymesayers)

In 2003, MF DOOM introduced us to one of his most intriguing alter egos, Viktor Vaughn. As the story goes, Viktor Vaughn was an interdimensional time-traveling MC from another realm where hip-hop was banned. He'd been exploring time and space looking for new dimensions to sharpen his MC skills, which eventually led him to ‘90s era NYC, where he found himself stranded from a mechanical mishap with his time machine. He began hitting open mics and small venues, battling other MCs and picking up side-hustles in order to raise the funds to repair his time machine. [Limited-edition silver vinyl.]

The Wedding Present – 24 Songs 3xLP+DVD (HHBTM)

Throughout 2022, The Wedding Present's 24 Songs series saw the legendary indie band release two new tracks a month as double A sided 7”s, ultimately creating a much-sought-after box set. David Gedge has now re-curated full-length versions of all twenty-four tracks for a new compilation album that will also comprise five bonus recordings including one featuring The Wedding Present's first guitarist, Peter Solowka. 24 Songs was a doff of the cap to The Wedding Present's Hit Parade project of 30 years previous.

Anthony Williams – Spring [Reissue/1965] LP (Blue Note)

Drummer and composer Tony Williams’ adventurous 1965 album Spring—his second as a leader for Blue Note—found him convening a stellar line-up with saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Sam Rivers, pianist Herbie Hancock, and bassist Gary Peacock. The five Williams originals presented here offer the musicians spacious realms in which to go exploring.

Windhand – Soma [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Relapse)
Windhand – Eternal Return [Reissue/2018] 2xLP (Relapse)

Color vinyl reissues of the Richmond, VA psychedelic rock/doom metal band’s second and fourth albums.