Wednesday, July 25, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs & LPs ))))) Madlib (YNQ), Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dorothy Ashby

v/a SITAR BEAT: Indian Style Heavy Funk Vol. II CD
*** "A motherlode of Indian-styled funk -- heavy on the sitar, but with a fair bit of American funk influence. The tracks are pretty obscure, most are actually from India -- not copycat tracks from Europe and the US -- and alongside the sitars, instrumentation also includes some great trumpet, moog, and keyboard bits too. Most numbers are from soundtracks -- and have a definite soundtrack sort of feel -- and although there's some vocals on the album, the main focus is clearly on the great instrumentation and super-heavy rhythms."

v/a SITAR BEAT: Vol. 1 12"
v/a SITAR BEAT: Vol. 3 12"
*** The original 12"s with about six tracks on each, including tracks from Serge, Klaus Doldinger, and bonus beats all around.

DOROTHY ASHBY The Rubaiyat Of Dorothy Ashby CD
*** "Incredible work from the amazing Dorothy Ashby -- a brilliant set of funky and spiritual tunes, set to full backings from Chicago soul arranger Richard Evans! This album is easily one of Ashby 's greatest, and it's dedicated to the writings of Omar Khayyam -- one of the forces guiding Dorothy 's more spiritual sound at the end of the 60s, clearly opened up in a way that's not unlike the direction of Alice Coltrane's work, but a lot more focused and a lot more funky! Ashby not only plays her usual jazz harp, but also koto as well, and even sings a bit too."

BEASTIE BOYS The Mix-Up LP
*** NOW ON VINYL!

GARBAGE Absolute Garbage CD
*** The band's first retrospective featuring 17 tracks.

NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE Gypsy Cowboy CD
*** RE-RELEASE! The original album remastered with a few live bonus tracks.

YEAH YEAH YEAHS Is Is CD
*** 5ive songs recorded between their two albums. Oh, nice. 8.2 on the ol' Pitchfork. Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- you've been Pitchforked!

YESTERDAYS NEW QUINTET Yesterday's Universe LP / CD
*** NOW ON VINYL! "The deepest jazz funk material Madlib has ever laid down -- possibly the best album yet from Yesterday's New Quintet. Freewheeling avant funk, electro jazz groove, furious sound library styled funk, a few chill moments, and a boundless sound over 15 unique tracks -- purportedly played by 10 acts. In all truth, it's all Madlib with special guests including Karriem Riggins and Azymuth precussionist Mamao! Amazing work from one of the most talented wizards in the game!"

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs & LPs ))))) MF Doom, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Sebadoh

THE DOORS Live In Boston 1970 3xCD
*** "Over three hours of live music and mayhem from the first stop of the band's last tour! Featuring previously unreleased performances, this 3CD set presents both early and late shows from one infamous night at Boston Arena!"

MF DOOM Mm...Food CD+DVD
*** RE-RELEASED! Doom's last proper record went out-of-print quickly after it was released. Rhymesayers has issued a new version including a DVD with over and hour of live performances and behind the scenes footage.

M.I.A. Boyz 12"

*** The new single! Oh, nice!

PRINCE Planet Earth CD
*** "Prince's new album, with several cuts revisiting the classic Prince sound that captured dans all over the world."

SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME Cold Colors CDEP
*** "Having relocated to Portland, the band has returned with a new EP that paves the way for SLGTM's K Records release coming this fall. Cold Colors is a toned-down affair, primarily acoustic and ambient--more in line with Animal Collective than the boy/girl Spector-inspired wall of sound that SLGTM is known for.

SEBADOH The Freed Man 2xCD
*** "The debut recording from the original lo-fi pioneers! Featuring 52 tracks, the majority appearing on CD for the very first time."

TEGAN & SARA The Con CD
*** "With The Con, singer-songwriter-guitarist identical twins Tegan & Sara build on their breakthrough success of 2004's So Jealous. Featuring 'Back In Your Head.'"

UNKLE War Stories CD
*** Featuring JOSH HOMME (QOTSA), IAN ASTBURY, 3D (MASSIVE ATTACK), THE DUKE SPIRIT, and AUTOLUX.

Monday, July 23, 2007

(( RECOMMENDED )) Goblin!

GOBLIN Dawn Of The Dead LP
"The original soundtrack recording for this 1979 US cult movie by horror director George A. Romero (the epic sequel to his legendary Night Of The Living Dead ). Terrific music score by Goblin and Dario Argento (yes, the Italian director). Liner notes by Roberto Zamori. Free poster included. 180 gram vinyl in gatefold sleeve."

"In contrast to Argento's own fretful tempos, Goblin create a plodding, lumbering main theme which fits the slow movement of massed zombies. Fat drums, chunky bass, tubular bells, spaced-out synth chords -- the arrangement is a mutation of Black Sabbath's first LP and Morricone's early Spaghetti Western scores. Inappropriately overstated? Maybe. Luridly stylish? Definitely." -- Philip Brophy/ The Wire.

Best cover art ever! And my goodness, the music contained within.... If you've never seen the original Dawn Of The Dead, you've no idea how effective and bizarre the score is, accentuating to the Nth degree the tension and creepiness of one of the finest horror films of all time.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs ))))) Forced Exposure, Cambodian pop, Tropicalia and more!

v/a THE BOMBAY CONNECTION: Funk From Bollywood Action Thrillers CD
v/a BOMBSHELL BABY OF BOMBAY Bouncin' Nightclub Grooves from Bollywood Films 1959-1972 CD
*** These are the first volume in a planned series of 6 CDs presenting the best, rarest and most exciting songs from the colorful history of Bollywood music, most of which are still gathering dust in Indian vaults and are unknown to the Western public. Bombay Connection Vol. 1: Funk from Bollywood Action Thrillers 1977-1984 showcases the sound of the Indian action film of the late '70s and early '80s.

v/a CAMBODIAN CASSETTE ARCHIVES Vol. 1 CD
*** "An unbelievable collection of dynamic Cambodian music recorded between the 1960s and the 1990s, both in Cambodia and in the United States. A truly Khmer blend of folk and pop stylings -- Cha-Cha Psychedelia, Phase-shifting Rock, sultry circle dance standards, pulsing Cambodian new wave, haunted ballads, musical comedy sketches, Easy-Listening numbers and raw instrumental grooves presented in an eclectic variety of production techniques."

v/a DISCO DEUTSCHLAND DISCO: Disco, Funk & Philly Anthems from Germany 1975-1980 CD
*** BACK IN STOCK! Welcome to Teutonic boogie wonderland, fellow disco citizens. Presenting 18 sparkling disco, funk & Philly anthems from Germany -- recorded between 1975 and 1980. While never appreciated by rock critics, disco is actually one of the few musical genres where German productions had a huge international impact and heavily influenced American and British recordings. Shying away from the obvious hits, Disco Deutschland Disco digs a bit deeper - with many tracks appearing on CD for the first time.

v/a NOTHING MUCH: A Best Of Minus Records 2xCD
*** BACK IN STOCK! Eleven track compilation CD plus bonus M_nus mix CD: Something More mixed by Troy Pierce. From its minimalist aesthetic, increasing output and steady impact on electronic music since 1998, a blueprint has been developing at M_nus."

v/a SI, PARA USTED: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba, Vol 1 CD
*** "The first ever compilation of Cuban funk. The music ranges from son, beat, jazz, and funk, and abounds with psychedelic influences, electronic experimentation, and a heavy dose of soul."

v/a SPEICHER 3 (Mixed by Michael Mayer and Jörg Burger) CD
*** "For this installment, Michael Mayer and Jörg Burger join forces to create the digitalmix -- kicking the tunes that have made the kids cry in joy and those singles that these two tastemakers hold dear to their hearts. As with previous installments, this mix CD is unlike the turntable driven, on-the-fly, aux-natural Kompakt DJ mixes you've come to love and enjoy."

v/a STUDIO ONE DUB Vol. 2 CD
*** "Studio One Dub 2 is the latest installment from Soul Jazz Records' journey into the mighty vaults of the legendary Studio One Records. A mighty slab of dub featuring loads of rare and classic dub versions of Studio One's foundation tracks. Studio One Dub 2 brings together the best tracks from both these original Dub albums plus many rare and classic versions from Studio One's original 45s."

v/a TEEN DANCE MUSIC FROM CHINA & MALAYSIA CD
*** BACK IN STOCK! "18 tracks taken from Chinese and Malaysian records by groups who were trying to imitate the Western 'go-go' and psychploitation styles. The fun begins when they innocently throw together a lot of western musical elements, not impeded by any stylistic 'rules' -- the 'do's and dont's' that make most Western music so predictable. nClassic exotica is mixed with outer space sound effects; Chipmunks voices backed by belly dance music. Strange indeed, but not over-the-top. Just great fun."

v/a TROPICALIA: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

ELLEN ALLIEN / APPARAT Orchestra Of Bubbles CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

JUAN ATKINS Berlin CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

WILLIAM BASINSKI El Camino Real CD
*** "Hypnotic new electronic ambient recording using another recently discovered loop from the archive. Premiered at Bleeding Edge Festival, Montalvo Arts Center, August 2006."

BURIAL Burial CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

ESG Come Away With Me CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

FIFTHS OF SEVEN Spry From Bitter Anise Folds CD
*** "Montreal-based Fifths Of Seven is a trio comprised of cellist Beckie Foon (A Silver Mt. Zion, Set Fire to Flames, Esmerine), mandolin-player Rachel Levine (Cakelk with Alexander St. Onge), and pianist Spencer Krug (Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown). Their debut album of pure beauty is centered around the unusual quality in tone of the instruments and the high development of simple melodies, which place Fifths of Seven somewhere between Erik Satie, folkloric Eastern European music and, of course, the Constellation "post-rock" galaxy."

GERARD MANSET 1968 CD
*** BACK IN STOCK! "Gérard Manset's first recordings represent some of the best psychedelic chansons in existence and in league with such luminaries as Gainsbourg, Polnareff and Ferrer, and at times can sound similar to CAN."

ENNIO MORRICONE The Library Vol. 1 CD
*** "Ennio Morricone is quite arguably the greatest film composer of the 20th Century and certainly one of the most prolific with nearly 500 scores to his credit. This is the first volume of the definitive collection of his film music compiled by The Maestro himself."

O TERCO O Terco CD
*** "Their second album (1972), a landmark of Brazilian progressive/psychedelic rock, in no small part thanks to Luiz Pablo Simas (ex-member of Módulo 1000), who brought his talent and his mini-Moog to the band. Perhaps influenced by King Crimson, Led Zeppelin or even Black Sabbath; even so, other tracks present a blend of symphonic and psychedelic sounds, with beautiful pastoral passages that demonstrate the influence of Os Mutantes, the Moody Blues, and early Pink Floyd. Psychedelic sections, with strange keyboard effects merged with fading voices -- dreamy, and ambient; heavy guitar riffs, low-profile keyboards, and aggressive vocals."

POLE Steingarten CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

PRINS THOMAS Cosmo Galactic Prism 2xCD
*** "Alongside Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, Prins Thomas is now intrinsically linked to the eclectic "space-disco" sounds emanating from Norway. Two sumptuous discs of avant-garde dance grooves, twisted funk, spaced-out electronics, psychedelic fusion, classic techno, disco, prog rock and all manner of leftfield concoctions. 36 tracks including Hawkwind jamming with Visnadi, Bob James going toe to toe with The Salsoul Invention, Joe Meek twisting by the pool with Holger Czukay, Boards of Canada segueing into Lindstrøm and Closer Musik doing the Detroit tango with Recloose, Carl Craig and Parliament."

THE TUSS Rushup Edge 3x12" / CD
*** AKA RICHARD D. JAMES. "Rushup Edge is the debut album of new Rephlex artists, the UK's The Tuss, a dynamic duo discovered via intensive MySpace exploration by the A&R dept. Apparently touted by Planet Mu, XL Recordings, Record Makers and Ninjatune all at the same time, they eventually decided to sign with Rephlex for reasons of principle. The label is very excited to find an act with this degree of promise and hopes to be releasing even more work soon. The Tuss' official line seems inspired by the time FFRR signed Chicago house legend Lil Louis' smash hit French Kiss, even though they had no information about him at all at the time. The Tuss offers little biographical info as well, preferring to concentrate on their musical merits, which they describe as "braindance." Rephlex don't really mind too much, but hope to acquire some photographic evidence soon. This album features six tracks featuring a unique blend of head music and dance vibes, everything from classic techno to modern funk, gabba, ambient and classical influences. "Last Rushup" is a breakbeat-y machine with spooky pads, "Shiz Ko E" starts with tuff rhythms, segueing into Prince-y funk and tons of top claps. "Death Fuck" presents mental beats matched with double-speed hip-hop, and "Goodbye Rute" ends things on a mellow note. We'll leave the final word to the journalists, but suffice to say it's very lush music -- so get your ears 'round it!

THE TUSS Confederation Trough 12" / CD
*** AKA RICHARD D. JAMES. "Confederation Trough EP is the debut single of new Rephlex signing, The Tuss, namely Brian Tregaskin, a musician discovered via intensive MySpace exploration by the A&R department. Apparently touted by Planet Mu, XL Recordings, Record Makers and Ninjatune all at the same time, he eventually decided to sign with Rephlex for reasons of principle. The label is very excited to find an act with this degree of promise and hopes to be releasing even more work soon. The Tuss' official line seems inspired by Chicago house legend Lil Louis, when he signed to FFRR with his smash hit French Kiss, even though he revealed no information about himself at all, at the time. The Tuss offers little biographical info, preferring to concentrate on Confederation Trough's musical merits, which is described as "braindance." The EP features four tracks across two formats (just 3 tracks on each), featuring a unique blend of head music and dance vibes -- everything from acid/house/techno/industrial to pastoral and folk influences. We'll leave the detailed review to the journalists but suffice to say it's very lush music -- so get your ears 'round it!"

CAETANO VELOSO Caetano Veloso CD
*** "Originally released in 1968, Caetano Veloso's debut album did for Brazilian music what the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's did for rock & roll, giving birth to the soon-to-be tropicalia movement, which fused Brazilian music with pop, psychedelia and social awareness. Includes the genre-defining classics 'Clarice' and 'Soy Loco Por Tì, América,' 'Superbacana,' 'Tropicalia' and 'Alegria, Alegria.'"

RONNIE VON Ronnie Von CD
*** "Between 1966 and 1972, Ronnie Von released a trilogy of albums on par with Os Mutantes first three LPs. Here on the self-titled 1968 album, we have psychedelia with some pop hints, amazing songwriting, sharp and heavy fuzz guitars combined with groovy organs, piano and tasty horns, along with fantastic vocals by Ronnie. Six bonus tracks from 1967 include several of Von's first hits, all of which are delightful to hear."

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: 12"s, EPs, & LPs ))))) Kompakt, Mo' Wax, Liquid Liquid, and more

v/a QUATERMASS: The Art Of Beats LP
*** BACK IN STOCK! Reissue of this unusual 1997 Mo'Wax "bootleg". "Includes DJ Shadow, Peanut Butter Wolf etc. Collection of trippy hip hop beats from all the greatest turntabilism DJs in that period."

JUAN ATKINS Fast Forward 12"
*** "Fast Forward differs slightly from the Back To Basics series, harking back to classic Juan material, yet with a new twist. 'The Mission' is minimal, melodic, electronic, dancefloor material, 'Tango' is an almost psychedelic drum workout, 'I Love You' is a vocal number with touches of his classic sound again, and 'Spin' is full of melancholy chords and stabs all underpinned with an awesome Detroit bassline proving why Juan, after 20 years +, is still the king of this genre."

GUI BORATTO Chromophobia Remixes Part 1 12"
*** "On the A-side we find an enormously exquisite "Mr.Decay" version by Robert Babicz, that has everything that a good remix needs, which keeps the original recognizable, yet is full of interpretations and surprises. On the B-side, darling of the hour The Field mixes "Hera," holding all the unmistakable, fantastic, futuristic qualities everyone loves about this track and about The Field."

BURIAL Burial 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

BURIAL Ghost Hardware 12"
*** "No need for extensive sales notes on this one. It's three new tracks from the most high profile reclusive artist in the world right now, one or more of which may or may not appear on his almost-complete new album. This music does not represent any great stylistic shift, but at the same time neither does it go back over old ground... it is simply further first rate evidence of Burial's alchemical manipulation of mood, rhythm and sound."

DJ KOZE Kosi Comes Around Remixes Part 1 12"
*** "This is the first remix single of the unforgettable DJ Koze album Kosi Comes Around. Farben (aka Jan Jelinek) does the opener and sends "My Grandmotha" through the laptop sound labyrinth. What comes out is an artful and smartly grooving four-to-the-floor bass drum. Koze's bonus mix "Bobby" is noble ambient with a gentle beat, crowned by International Pony's cosmic guest chant. The B-side belongs to Matthew Dear aka Audion who cuts up "Raw" and rhythmically reassembles it."

DJ SHADOW The Best of Mo' Wax 12"s 2xEP
*** "Never before released on vinyl, this rare Mo Wax DJ shadow 12" compilation features all his finest moments from the early to mid-'90s when he was a founding member of the mighty Mo Wax label."

FALSE Fed On Youth 12"
*** "False (aka Matthew Dear) makes a welcome return to the Minus fold. After his recent adventures as Audion, Dear shifts down a gear to negotiate deeper, darker, minimal terrain. Let your mind wander while your feet do the work."

THE FIELD Things Keep... 12"
THE FIELD Sun & Ice 12"
THE FIELD From Here We Go Sublime 12"
*** BACK IN STOCK!

GOBLIN Profondo Rosso LP
*** "The original soundtrack recording for the 1975 cult masterpiece by horror director Dario Argento. The movie (known in the US as Deep Red and starring David Hemming) has one of the most terrific and intense scores ever and sold millions of copies. New artwork. Gatefold sleeve. 180 gram HQ vinyl."

JUSTICE D.A.N.C.E. 12"
*** "Fast forward to 2007 and a new wave of French artists, lead by Ed Banger Records, are poised to have a similarly influential role in dance music as Gallic Daft Punk 10 years ago. Justice are on the cusp of putting out one of the most anticipated tracks in 'D.A.N.C.E.' -- the blog heat on this track is phenomenal. New 4-track EP from the JUSTICE crew."

JUSTICE Waters Of Nazareth (Part II) 12"
*** "Justice are back with their disciples -- Erol Alkan & DJ Funk remixes. Erol Alkan delivers the perfect edit for the faithful DJs. DJ Funk delivers the perfect beat for the booty shaker DJs. Justice delivers the perfect scratch version of their noisy classic."

LINDSTROM I Feel Space Remixes 12"
*** "Due to popular demand, one of 2005's Balearic anthems is back: 'I Feel Space' by highly respected Norwegian shooting star Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, now touched by the likes of Anu Pillai aka Freeform Five and the Berlin-Stuttgart Axis Messieurs Tiefschwartz and Turntablerocker."

LIQUID LIQUID Liquid Liquid 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK! "2LP re-issue, originally from 1997. Influenced & sampled by Grandmaster Flash ('Cavern'), & LL Cool J to name a very few, this album compiles the 3 EP's released by Liquid Liquid in the early '80s -- seminal funk no wave action!"

SHACKLETON Blood On My Hands (Villalobos Remix) 12"
*** "Villalobos' remix of Shackleton's 'Blood On My Hands' has been played out at major clubs such as Fabric and been featured on Radio One's Essential mix. Bigness!"

THE TUSS Rushup Edge 12" / CD
*** (See desc. in CDs) AKA RICHARD D. JAMES

THE TUSS Confederation Trough 3x12" / CD
*** (See desc. in CDs) AKA RICHARD D. JAMES

CLAUDE VON STROKE Who's Afraid Of Detroit 12"
*** "Claude VonStroke released the original as part of his Beware of the Bird album in 2006 as a tribute to his original home town of Detroit, Michigan." With remixes from Audion, Tanner Ross, Kevin Saunderson.

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: DVDs ))))) The Invasion Of Thunderbolt Pagoda and Maya Deren

THE INVASION OF THUNDERBOLT PAGODA by Ira Cohen DVD
*** "The first-ever, fully authorized commercial release of Ira Cohen's legendary 1968 film, The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda. Invasion is a languidly opiated costume ball in which an assortment of masked and painted bohos, some sporting outsize elf ears, loll about a candlelit, mylar-lined set, blowing soap bubbles and nibbling majoon. In lieu of action, Cohen uses all manner of superimposition and prismatic image-splitting; his big effect, however, is the deliquescent mylar reflection. Celebrated internationally for more than 30 years, Invasion will be released as a fully restored and mastered director's cut DVD. High-quality transfer from the original 16mm film, with color correction supervised by the director. The legendary soundtrack, newly remastered by Tim Barnes, featuring The Universal Mutant Repertory Company (Loren Standlee, Ziska Baum, Angus MacLise, Raja Samayana, Tony Conrad, Henry Flynt and Jackson MacLow). Two new, never-before-released alternative soundtracks to Invasion by Sunburned Hand of the Man and Acid Mothers Temple SWR (Tsuyama Altsushi, Yoshida Tatsuya and Kawabata Makoto)."

THE EXPERIMENTAL FILMS OF MAYA DEREN 1943-1959 by Maya Deren DVD
*** "From the early 1940's until her death in 1961, Maya Deren evoked and exemplified the American avant-garde movement virtually by herself. Her first film, Meshes Of The Afternoon, set the tone for the decade and linked the movement to the older European avant-garde films of Cocteau and Bunuel." -- Cecil Starr, The New York Times. 'Intensely personal, symbolic and surreal films that reveal her deepest, darkest fantasies. She's Fellini and Bergman wrapped in one gloriously possessed body. Watching these films can change forever your concept of what cinema can be.' -- L.A. Weekly. Contents: Meshes Of The Afternoon, At Land, A Study In Choreography For Camera, Ritual In Transfigured Time, Meditation On Violence, The Very Eye Of Night. DVD edition. B/W. 76 Minutes.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs ))))) Madlib, Townes Van Zandt, Colleen, Guided By V

AESOP ROCK Float CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

LAURIE ANDERSON Big Science CD
*** Reissued, remastered, and added onto.

ERYKAH BADU Baduizm 2xCD
*** Remastered with a bonus disc of rarities!

PATRICK CLEANDENIM Baby Comes Home CD
*** "Combining a love of classic songcraft with a mountain of charisma, Cleandenim is just at the start of a highly promising career. Baby Comes Home inhabits a lush world of its own. From the opening drum beat crack of "Baby Comes Home" to the dying seconds of "Hollywood," there's a sense of identity to the album that's rarely achieved these days, like a great novel or film rather than just a collection of songs. While prime time Scott Walker may be an initial point of comparison, Baby Comes Home also features a strong jazz influence on many of its tracks alongside the footprints of Phil Spector, Elvis Presley, David Axelrod and a Tin Pan Alley approach to classic pop song structures.

COLLEEN Les Ondes Silencleuses LP / CD
*** "Gone are the samples and loops of old, as the emphasis moves to the natural tones produced by a range of unusual live instruments, largely unadorned. The seeds for this album were sown when the 15 year-old Schott happened upon the film Tous Les Matins Du Monde, based on the life of Marin Marais, the acclaimed 17th Century viola da gamba (or viol) player and composer. The sound and mystery of the instrument set her off on an obsession which reached fruition in 2005 when she found a viola maker who custom-built one for her. More fascinating to play than she had ever imagined, it produced a sound so rich and naturally resonant that the loop-based works which had become a defining characteristic of Colleen's work could be laid to rest."

DE FACTO Megaton Shotblast CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DJ MAYONNAISE Still Alive CD
*** "Eight years after the release of his debut-- Anticon's inaugural instrumental LP, 55 Stories-- Mayo has returned in more ways than one. Still Alive is both a fitting follow-up to Stories and a reinvention of sorts. While DJ Mayonnaise is still a master of sample and scratch, he's turned his attention to the art of composition and the subtlety of details. And though Still Alive has its moments of quiet, rainy-day beauty, these serve as counterpoints to a brightness that permeates the songs. Simply put, this album, too, is alive."

DNA on Dna CD
*** "New York's seminal no wave band, DNA, makes its highly anticipated American CD debut with this definitive collection of studio and live recordings. Formed in 1978 by Brazilian-raised singer/guitarist ARTO LINDSAY, the band featured two different lineups in their brief four year career, including stints by ROBIN CRUTCHFIELD, IKUE MORI, and TIM WRIGHT (PERE UBU)."

LISA GERMANO Lullaby For Liquid Pig 2xCD
*** "Nobody makes records like Lisa Germano . This music seeps into your system with a warm glow like alcohol gently working its way into the bloodstream through the lining of an empty stomach. From the first moment you're drifting weightless through Germano's gossamer world, where everything's infused with a woozy, fairytale melancholy, and maybe just a hint of the sour taste of last night's wine."

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY Slowly But Surely CD
*** "The lucky thirteenth album from former HEADCOATEES member HOLLY GOLIGHTLY, and arguably if not easily, her best work yet. Twelve brand new songs delivered with a more relaxed, fuller, and polished sound that allows her excellent songwriting and great voice shine."

GUIDED BY VOICES Crickets 2xCD
*** Two-CD collection from the Fading Captain catalog with six unreleased tracks and a 50-page full-color book.

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES What Is? CD
*** "While the previous album, Mr. Supernatural, dug itself knee deep into the suds of the seventies, this newest piece reaches, at least, one decade further back and decorates the garage with psychedelic iridescent wallpaper composed of uninhibited multicolored dazzling sixties fragments. Between clashing, clanking Keith, Lou and Iggy flirtatious guitar psychodelica, the MAHARAJA OF SOUL unexpectedly mutates into the RAJA OF SONG and spits out fourteen manically affected unforgettables into the airwaves, sing-alongs like monoliths--stoic, bewitching, unmistakable.”

THE KNIFE Silent Shout 2xCD+DVD
*** Special deluxe edition of Pitchfork's favorite album of 2006 and the extras are totally wild.

LAST STEP Last Step LP / CD
*** (Check the description in the vinyl update)

LINDSTROM It's A Feedelity Affair CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

MAGIC NUMBERS Those The Brokes CD
*** I may have mistyped that title. Haha. These cats are a little hangly and a bit early-REMy.

MIKA MIKO 666 EP + 7" + Rare CD
*** The 666 EP (recorded on 06/06/06) which is a little darker than their bruising album, along with an early 7" and some extra rare stuff. Totally awesome female no-wavey punk.

PAVEMENT Westing By Musket CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

SAGE FRANCIS Sick Of Waiting Tables CD
*** A tour-only disc of b-sides, spoken word, rare shit, unfinished jams and then some.

TERROR VISIONS World Of Shit CD
*** “The debut full-length from Memphis, TN's JAY REATARD, a god, an icon, a racketeer of noisy angular punk dissonance. This is a foray into harsh, electronic punk that will make your dancing feet twitch and the tips of your fingers bleed. Get them while they're hot!”

TOWNES VAN ZANDT Our Mother The Mountain CD
TOWNES VAN ZANDT Townes Van Zandt CD
*** Two of four new CD reissues of the early albums of renowned songwriter TOWNES VAN ZANDT. Recorded between 1969 and 1978, these albums are the heart of any serious consideration of Van Zandt’s brilliant career. Features some of the most iconic cover art in album history, each designed by MILTON GLASER.

SUZANNE VEGA Beauty & Crimes CD
*** The new album! And no, "Tom's Diner" is not on it.

YESTERDAYS NEW QUINTET Yesterdays Universe CD
*** "Madlib continues to travel to where no beatmaker has gone before. Don't get me wrong, the Beatkonducta and the collaboration releases have been stellar, but it seems that YNQ is Madlib's real passion... especially this particular album. Madlib steps up the signature randomness here, you can see it in the track order, titles, and expanded cast of aliases. Get into the music, and it only gets deeper. I tried to give this a listen sitting at my desk, but it's so dense and thoughtful, that I felt like I needed to be at home to truly absorb this mind meld. 15 tracks, highly recommended."

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: Vinyl ))))) Breaks, 12"s, EPs, and long-players

( BREAKS )
BOOM BIP Doo Doo Breaks Vol. 1 LP
BOOM BIP Doo Doo Breaks Vol. 2 LP
BOOM BIP Doo Doo Tones LP
DJ FLARE Butt Ugly Breaks LP
DJ FLARE Head Shrinker LP
DJ FLARE Stoney Breaks LP
DJ QBERT 100mph Backslidin' Turkey Breaks LP
DJ QBERT Bionic Booger Breaks LP
DJ QBERT Gag Seal Breaks LP
DJ QBERT Skratchy Seals' Training Breaks LP
DJ QBERT Super Sealed Breaks LP


( VINYL )
v/a SECRET HANGOUT EP 12"
*** "Drawing inspiration from the old Mo' Wax "Headz" comps, here's the first in a new series from TURNTABLE LAB showcasing only the strongest tracks and most unique artwork from our motley stable of DJs and producers. To give it our own twist, we've divided the EP into two distinct sides - one with killer club-ready jams and one with heady downtetmpo beats."

v/a TRAP DOOR LP / CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

NEKO CASE Blacklisted LP
*** NOW ON VINYL!

DEERHOOF Friend Opportunity LP
DEERHOOF Runners Four 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DISTANCE Fallen (Vex'd Remix) 12"
*** "Following on the heels of his acclaimed My Distance album, Bromley, England dubstep producer Distance unloads another fine 12-inch single with a Vex'd remix. Beautiful melodies and subtle bass growls."

DR. DRE Nuthin' But A G Thang 12"
*** BACK IN STOCK!

ITAL TEK Ital Tek EP 12"
*** "iTAL tEK is the current musical outlet for Brighton, England's dubstep producer Alan Myson, formerly of the underground band Audiothief. This solo debut EP features four sci-fi flavored techy dubstep tunes sounding like Transformers fucking."

LAST STEP Last Step LP / CD
*** "After his debut ep, "You're A Nice Girl" (included here in its entirety on the cd format), and his appearance on the Sacred Symbols Of Mu compilation, Canada's Last Step unleashes his debut album called simply 'Last Step'. These tracks are all created using original analogue equipment like the Roland 303, 606, 707 and Jupiter etc. He's listed his influences as The Carpenters, Giorgio Moroder, Drexciya, Phuture, Depeche Mode, Luke Vibert, Mozart, Jean Michel Jarre, Roland, The Human League, DMX Krew, Throbbing Gristle, Vav Jungle, Jeff Mills, Simon and Simon, 808 State & Glass Tiger." A.K.A. VENETIAN SNARES.

MINOR THREAT Out Of Step LP
MINOR THREAT Minor Threat LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

QUINTRON Jamskate EP 12"
*** "JAMSKATE is a 5 song 12 inch ep dominated by two versions of the mysterious swirling skate anthem, 'JAMSKATE.' This song has a cajun melody and a perfect skate tempo of 129 BPM. Plus extra jam tracks. This EP is limited to 500 copies of vinyl only.....all hand-assembled by Q himself."

OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ Se Dice Bisonte, No Buffalo LP
*** NOW ON VINYL!

SABO Sol Selectas #4 12"
*** "The fourth release from DJ SABO on his own Sol Selectas imprint. You get four Latin midtempo hip hop stormers that should crossover well for both underground and commercial dancefloors across the globe. All tracks feature the stellar percussion work of NAPPY G (Organic Grooves, Turntables On The Hudson), and Side B features a remix of DJ PABLO SANCHEZ. Limited pressing of 750."

SNOOP DOGGY DOGG Ain't No Fun 12"
SNOOP DOGGY DOGG Gin & Juice 12"
SNOOP DOGGY DOGG What's My Name 12"
*** BACK IN STOCK!

SONIC YOUTH Daydream Nation 4xLP
*** "Daydream Nation was Sonic Youth’s sixth album, their first double LP, and their last for an indie label before signing with Geffen. Widely considered to be their watershed moment, Daydream Nation catapulted them into the mainstream and proved that indie bands could enjoy wide commercial success without compromising their artistic vision. The original 1988 album has been remastered under the band’s supervision. The bonus platters begin with previously unreleased live performances from the Daydream Nation Tour. Culled from performances at CBGB in New York, The Paradiso in Amsterdam, and several other primo venues, “Live Daydream” includes live versions of every song on the original album. Added to that are four studio bonuses: “Within You, Without You” (a Beatles cover from the NME-sponsored charity Beatles tribute album Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father), “Computer Age,” from the Neil Young tribute album The Bridge, “Electricity” from the Captain Beefheart tribute album Fast And Bulbous, and a cover of Mudhoney’s “Touch Me, I’m Sick,” originally released as a Sub Pop 7-inch single. Lee Ranaldo’s original demo of “Eric’s Trip” concludes the album."

STARS OF THE LID And Their Refinement Of The Decline 3xLP
*** NOW ON VINYL!

TITTSWORTH E Z T EP 12"
*** The fifth vinyl release from Bmore club heavyweight TITTSWORTH. Often compared to Technics, Jonny Blaze and Samir, Titts presents a wide variety of (Baltimore) club remixes perfect for any dancefloor. “Tittsworth is dope; I always get a great response when I drop these tracks. Check him out!”--Z-Trip

TOM WAITS Mule Variations 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

WEEN Chocolate & Cheese 2xLP
*** YES! It happened! Double 180-gram vinyl pressing packaged in deluxe gatefold sleeves. The band's US breakthrough album, get ‘em while you can.

WIRE Pink Flag LP
WIRE Chairs Missing LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

XXXCHANGE Money Lotion Vol. 2 12"
*** "Spank Rock producer and worldwide party-rocker XXXchange is back with the second volume in the Money Lotion series. The A-side, "Our Love"-- is a heavy electro workout of Justin Timberlake & T.I.'s ridiculed smash hit "My Love" with elements of Britney's "Slave 4 U" and Frankie Knuckles "Your Love" (and some brand new, minty drums). On the flip, "The Knife Edit" is exactly what the title suggests, a smashing together of three tracks from Swedish indie darlings The Knife ("Silent Shout," "We Share Our Mother's Health" and "The Captain") where XXXchange attempts to "subvert the group's dark and strange lyrics and turn it into something fun and uplifting."

Monday, July 16, 2007

(( RECOMMENDED )) The late, great Phono-comb!

PHONO-COMB Fresh Gasoline CD
"Sixteen instrumentals and a nostalgia play conspire to make an atmosphere collection of tonal colorations from sickly green to turgid grey."

Following the dissolution of Kids In The Hall in-house band, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Reid Diamond and Don Pyle started Phono-comb with Dallas Good of The Sadies and Beverly Breckenridge of Fifth Column. Picking up and taking off from where Shadowy Men left off, Phono-comb added a second guitar and created a loose, dramatic and punchy sound not completely unlike other instrumental Canadian bands (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Do Make Say Think).

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs & Vinyl ))))) A big one from Fat Beats!

( BREAKS )
BUMPS Bumps 2xLP DJ BABU Super Duper Duck Breaks LP TITTSWORTH & AYRES T&A Breaks LP
*** BACK IN STOCK


( 12" SINGLES & EPs )
BLACK MILK Shut It Down 12"
*** "If you needed more fuel to Black Milk's year, here it is. DJs gravitated to "Shut it Down" from the album, and it was a no-brainer for the second single from the smash "Popular Demand." Royce Da 5'9" and Guilty Simpson add more Motor City muscle to the "Sound the Alarm Remix," with the bonus track "Home of the Greats" rounding out another essential slab from the future of Detroit hip hop."

BLACK MILK Sound The Alarm 12"
*** From the Fat Beats debut featuring GUILTY SIMPSON.

BLACK MILK Broken Wax EP
*** "One of the hottest young producers in hip hop is also one of the hottest emcees. Exhibit A: 'Broken Wax.' 5 brand new tracks meet 2 of the joints from "Sound of the City," with guest appearances from MR. PORTER, ELZHI, T3, FAT RAY, NAMETAG, & PHAT KAT. Stay tuned for Exhibit B: "Popular Demand.'"

J DILLA Wild 12"
*** BACK IN STOCK!

J.ROCC Play This 12"
*** "Briilliantly executed record from J.Rocc of the World's Famous Beat Junkies, picking through bits from Stones Throw's "Funky 16 Corners" comp and beyond."

J.ROCC / OH NO Kashmere Remix 12"
*** "J. Rocc and Oh No take on KSB's take of Bill Withers' indelible standard "Ain't No Sunshine," and while the results vary greatly, the superior quality of each makes it difficult to decide who came out on top. J.Rocc manages to translate his energetic DJ style to a schizophrenic remix with multiple changeups (much like he did with Cold Heat and Funky 16 Corners) , and Oh No uses a smooth vocal loop to add a mellow flavor to KSB's horn-driven original (which is also included). One of Now-Again's strongest releases to date."

OTIS JACKSON JR. TRIO (MADLIB) Jewelz EP
*** "Madlib wants everyone to be ready for the forthcoming Yesterday's New Quintet album, or is it a compilation. See, YNQ is breaking up. But if this slab of vinyl is an indication, each of the band's members are off to bigger and better things, because "Jewelz" ranks at or near the top of YNQ releases. Yep, we said it."

KOUSHIK Madvillain Remixes EP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

MADLIB Movie Scenes Vol. 1 LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

MADVILLAIN All Caps 12" MADVILLAIN Money Folder 12"
*** BACK IN STOCK!


( FULL-LENGTH LPs & CDs )
v/a CHROME CHILDREN INSTRUMENTALS 2xLP
*** "Better late than never, Stones Throw delivers the instrumentals to their smash compilation "Chrome Children." Beats from Madlib, Oh No, Dilla, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Koushik, Aloe Blacc, and more."

v/a COLD HEAT 2xLP
*** "Stones Throw subsidiary Now-Again has been dropping heat ever since its inception. "Cold Heat" compiles some of their finest tracks released thus far, and some exclusive to this compilation. Hip hop is definitely derivative of funk music, and it should come as no surprise that the leading hip hop label has their finger on the proper historical button."

BLACK MILK Popular Demand 2xLP / CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DIPLO Mad Decent Radio Vol. 1 CD

*** BACK IN STOCK!

DJ PREMIER Tribute To James Brown 2xCD
*** "Few people have a James Brown collection to match DJ Premier's. He's got live recordings, analog tapes, and almost every piece of wax James ever had anything to do with. A timeless tribute to the hardest working man in showbiz."

MONK HUGHES (MADLIB) A Tribute To Brother Weldon 2xLP
*** "With the latest installment of Yesterday's New Quintet's LP series, Madlib presents Monk Hughes & The Outer Realm's "Tribute to Brother Weldon." Featuring 12 new tracks dedicated to the forever-respected, but rarely-commended legend Weldon Irvine, all in the trademark YNQ groove-heavy free jazz style. With contributions from all of the usual spirits--Joe McDuphrey, Monk Hughes, Otis Jackson Jr, etc--and the expected extraordinarily-designed album jacket."

J DILLA Donuts 2xLP J DILLA Ruff Draft 2xLP J DILLA Welcome To Detroit 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

JAY DEE Instrumentals Vol. 1 CD JAY DEE Vintage: Unreleased Instrumentals CD
*** "Good for us. Waajeed got permission, and pulled 13 beats straight from the MPC2000 used by Jay Dee to produce countless classic tracks. None of these tracks have been released elsewhere, and it's hard to understand why not, as they represent the sound of one of the most influential producers in hip hop."

TALIB KWELI & MADLIB Liberation LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

MADLIB Mind Fusion Vol. 3 CD
*** "Whereas the other volumes were either respectively focused on hip hop or entirely unfocused, this one is the perfect centerpiece, as it blends a little bit of the styles all in one mix. Yes!"

MADVILLAIN Madvillainy 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

ONE.BE.LO S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

PEANUT BUTTER WOLF Yo! 45 Raps Vol. 1 CD
*** A tour-only mix of classic old school rap and electro mixed by the head of Stones Throw! "If you don't know at least 29 out of 36... go back to the old school!"

QUASIMOTO The Unseen 2xLP QUASIMOTO The Further Adventures Of Lord Quas Instrumentals 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

RJD2 In Rare Form CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

THES ONE Lifestyle Marketing CD
*** "Person under the stairs Thes One is dropping his first instrumental album, and it's a dandy. Taking old commercial jingles from everything from GBX boots to Grain Belt Beer, Thes plugs it all into his hardware and makes a nice piece of commercial product for you to purchase. The limited double-disc version includes a CD full of the original jingles he lifted for the album."

WAJEED The War 2xCD
*** IMPORT. Waajeed, Dilla, and Bling 47 have been working on a bubbling movement for a few years now. They have had plenty of releases over the years, but this is the first real compilation showcasing the incredible talent over in that camp. Mostly produced by Wajeed of the Platinum Pied Pipers, but also featuring production and appearances by J-Dilla, Ta'Raach, Invincible, & Tiombe Lockhart. This is that next sh!t.

YESTERDAYS NEW QUINTET Sound Directions LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: Magazines ))))) Magnet!

MAGNET No. 76 MAG
*** SPOON cover story. Articles and features on KRAMER, MITCH EASTER, BAD BRAINS, ELLIOTT SMITH, AGAINST ME!, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, and more.

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs & Vinyl ))))) Interpol, Nick Drake, Spoon, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.!

ARCADE FIRE Intervention 7"
*** Dang! A slammin' album cut on one side and then CALEXICO covers "Ocean Of Noise" for the b-side.

AGAINST ME! New Wave CD
*** The new album featuring some smash hits.

CARIBOU Melody Day CD
*** The debut single from Caribou's upcoming full-length, containing both a FOUR TET remix and a non-album track. Snappy. Majestic. Brilliantly kaleidoscopic.

NICK DRAKE Family Tree CD
*** Recorded in the 1960s at Nick's home in France, this disc presents 28 previously unreleased recordings that precede his three studio albums. These are period amateur home recordings that capture the sketches of a burgeoning songwriting genius as he learns his trade.

THE FOR CARNATION Promised Works CD
*** Several years ago, a version of Slint featuring members of Tortoise and lead by Slint bro Brian McMahan got together to record music. The results became two EPs by The For Carnation, originally issued by Matador. Out of print for years, Touch & Go reissues a compendium of the two EPs, originally a release by import label Runt.

GREAT LAKES MYTH SOCIETY Compass Rose Bouquet CD
*** Ann Arbor sons! Ex-Original Brothers And Sisters Of Love!

INTERPOL Our Love To Admire CD
INTERPOL Our Love To Admire Deluxe CD
*** After three years, the group returns with their most triumphant set yet! Can I get a "boo-yeah!?" The deluxe edition has a book and a big poster.

JUSTICE (Cross) CD
*** "Justice's monster beats, massive hooks, thunderous drums, and near-religious determination to demolish dance floors cast them in a light no contemporary can catch. Huge slabs of beats, brutal strings (!), and cathartic release is what these disco pop gents are all about."

OH NO! OH MY! Between The Devil And The Sea CD
*** An assortment of wholesome and quirky yet charming art-pop influenced by Belle & Sebastian and the Magnetic Fields.

LEE PERRY Ape-ology 2xCD
*** Damn! Scratch The Super Ape and Return Of The Super Ape plus the entire Roast Fish, Collie Weed & Cornbread album. AND 7 bonus tracks. Insanity.

SHELLAC The Rude Gesture: A Pictorial History 7"
SHELLAC Uranus 7"
SHELLAC Excellent Italian Greyhound LP+CD / CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

SMASHING PUMPKINS Zeitgeist CD
*** After seven years...! Yep! And we have a deluxe edition with a paperback book.

SPOON Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga LP / CD + 7" WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
*** Spoon's latest jamming, touching on the piano/guitar vamps contained on recent albums and uncharted territory with some atmospheric tunes and wall-of-sound horns! A free 7" is included while supplies last.

STEPHEN STILLS Just Roll Tape CD
*** Recorded after a Judy Collins session in 1968, Stills wanted to lay down some of his newer songs. The tape was "lost to the wind" for 40 years as CSN put their first album soon after this session. Some songs you may know, some not.

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS The Else CD
*** Includes a bonus CD with a ton more songs.

M. WARD Duet For Guitars #2 CD
*** M. WARD's first record, originally released in 1999, later re-released by HOWE GELB. After three years out of print, Merge offers up this remastered version with three bonus tracks.

Monday, July 9, 2007

( NEWS ) The New Pornographers - Challengers Preorder

We haven't figured out the drum roll sound effects (sorry), and presenting the upcoming 4th album from the New Pornographers, 'Challengers' surely requires special effects that would make Michael Bay dizzy. So if you wanna hear a strong candidate for 2007's Album Of The Year more than 2 months before street date, here's your big chance:

TWO VERSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: "EXECUTIVE EDITION" AND "STANDARD EDITION". As usual, this Buy Early, Get Now preorder is available from a select group of physical and online retailers, listed here Or, you can order direct from Matador.

When you preorder the album with one of them, not only do you reserve a copy of "Challengers," for release date, there's mo' mo' mo'.

Challengers: Executive Edition (list price $19.99)

* You Get It All + an exclusive, limited edition, CD/CD-R Box Set.
*Full Album Stream (available within days of your purchase)
*The Challengers Box-Set A very limited edition Treasury of New Pornography available only to Executive members. Includes three bonus CD-Rs, designed in a deluxe box set package bonus discs.Disc One: B-Sides, Demos and Alternate MixesDisc Two: The New Pornographers "Live From The Future"
Disc Three: Videos, photos and artwork(note: you will download all of this material digitally as part of Buy Early Get Now, so some-assembly is required as some of these recordings haven't even happened yet.)
*Advance notice and exclusive ticket buying links for upcoming New Pornographers dates
*Anything extra that we can scheme up between now and the end of the world.

Challengers: The Standard (Cheapskate) Edition (list price 14.99)
Everything except the box set, the live disc, videos, photos and artwork.
*Full Album Stream Listen to all of Challengers more than 2 months ahead of release
*3 previously unreleased B-Sides
*Advance notice and exclusive ticket buy links for upcoming New Pornographers dates speaking of which, there's a bunch of New Pornographers shows that are 4-real-confirmed. And if you'd like a crack at purchasing tickets a week before the general public, your participation in the 'Challengers' portion of Buy Early, Get Now will allow you to do so starting tomorrow.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs )))))

v/a CLASSIC ROCKABILLY 4xCD
*** "120 classic Rockabilly tracks presented in classic Properbox style with attractive packaging and a monster 68 page booklet. All key artists are included, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Burnette, Gene Vincent along with the most obscure."

BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW Dandelion Gum CD
*** "Hailing from the creepiest of the states, this five-piece junk band grew up watching 321 Contact and The Letter People Show. They say their primary focus is turning their childhood memories into songs and they feel more comfortable playing music in the woods than a club. Dandelion Gum is a loosely based concept record about witches who make candy in the forest. Each of its sixteen songs represent a different candy-induced freakout in the gooiest and sweetest of ways possible. The songs stick in your head, whether they’re playful and bright or dark and moody."

BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW Start A People CD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DAN DEACON Spiderman Of Rings CD
*** BACK IN STOCK! "A brand new album from Baltimore-based electronic artist and classically trained composer DAN DEACON--who sports a Masters degree in electroacoustic composition. Spiderman of the Rings is a nine-track blast of sweat-and-grime-soaked electronics that form the foundation of Deacon’s raging, maxed-out party music, intricate instrumentals, and humorous monologues."

EPSILONS Killed 'Em Deader 'N A Six Card Poker Hand CD
*** RECOMMENDED. A blistering garage rock set from a bunch of teenagers featuring a cover of THE MUMMIES "Stronger Than Dirt." Recorded way into the red by Mike McHugh (John Spencer Blues Explosion, Rocket From The Crypt, Lightning Bolt, The Melvins, among others)."

VELVET REVOLVER Libertad CD
*** By the time Chinese Democracy comes out, Velvet Revolver will have released an album for every song on it. Also, these guys can play guitar.

((((( NEW ARRIVALS: VINYL )))))

RYAN ADAMS Easy Tiger LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW / THE OCTOPUS PROJECT The House Of Apples & Eyeballs LP
*** "The Octopus Project is known and loved for their uncategorizable broken-guitars-meet-samplers-meet-drums-meet-drum machines sound, while the musical island of Black Moth Super Rainbow would rather play their songs in the woods and not let you know if their gear is broken or working just fine. While a couple tracks did make it to the record in their original, one-band form, most were passed back and forth for several rounds of dismemberment, rearrangement, and augmentation. The result overflows with sonic treats: cut-up beats and vocoder melodies collide with huge, distorted riffs. A theremin orchestra descends into layered steel guitars before all is dissolved in a wash of hazy synths."

CRASS The Feeding Of The 5000 LP
CRASS Stations Of The Crass 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR F#A#(Infinity) LP
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR Slow Riot For Zero Kanada LP
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR Yanqui U.X.O. 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

Monday, July 2, 2007

(( RECOMMENDED )) Slim Moon, KRS founder and recent Pitchfork news darling

SLIM MOON Won't You Dance With This Man? CD
"The debut album by Slim, the inspiration & perspiration behind Kill Rock Stars & Witchypoo."

An often hilarious and clever spoken word album from the founder of the KILL ROCK STARS record label. Backed by Tim Green of NATION OF ULYSSES and THE FUCKING CHAMPS, Slim tells of falling in love with his best friend's mom, the after-battle activities of the Legion of Doom, and his experiences with drinking ("...you never know where you'll end up.").