((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs ))))) Cat Power, Blood On The Wall, Magnetic Fields, Times New Viking

v/a WAYFARING STRANGERS: Guitar Soli CD
*** On NUMERO GROUP. "Bridging the gap between American primitive pioneers John Fahey, Robbie Basho, and Leo Kottke, and the California modernists William Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, and Michael Hedges, Guitar Soli explores the private side of the solo guitar movement from 1966-1981."

BLACK MOUNTAIN In The Future 2xCD
*** "Resonating with the same epic ring, beloved deep rock touchstones and genuine folk fragility that made their self-titled debut full-length an instant classic, the new album possesses immense breadth, seamlessly showcasing short and classic folk-pop gems along with driving modern rock masterpieces"

BLOOD ON THE WALL Liferz CD
*** "Having gone from hometown heroes to national fan favorites and critical darlings, the band has earned its reputation as top of the rock heap, putting out raucously fun records. Liferz is a portrait of a band at the top of their game somehow they have managed to get even more 'awesomer'."

BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY + DAWN MCCARTHY Wai Notes CD
*** "The material seems to be demo versions of material that ended up on The Letting Go album in 2006, but we don't want to give away all the luxurious details." Packaged in an embossed paper sleeve. LIMITED.

CAT POWER Jukebox CD
CAT POWER Jukebox 2xCD
*** "CAT POWER returns with her second album of cover songs, this one a tribute to the great vocalists who have influenced her over the years. The album comes in two versions: a.) Deluxe silver-foil gatefold cover (on both LP and CD) with bonus disc containing extra tracks, and b.) Regular jewelcase version (CD only)."

DENGUE FEVER Venus On Earth CD
*** "A unique and surprisingly danceable group that combines a beautiful Khmer-language vocalist from Cambodia and a quintet of seasoned locals with a knack for mixing southeast asian pop, Vietnam-war-era lounge music, klezmer, ska, surf rock, and Ethiopian jazz."

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Brighter Than Creation's Dark CD
*** "19 brand new songs! 75 minutes of music! Sprawling, intense & rocking!"

EVANGELICALS The Evening Descends CD
*** "Dabbling in glam, slipping in a little funk and soul, drinking the psychedelic Kool-aid, blasting the synths, cranking up the guitars, and wrapping it all up with a dose of pop smarts, The Evening Descends is the first great album of 2008."

MIKE LADD Nostalgialator CD
*** "Mike Ladd rolls from stuttering, electro steeped funky rock breaks to sci fi boombap and even some spacey soul -- never too schitzo to be straight up fun."

MAGNETIC FIELDS Distortion CD
*** Brand new -- a full-length winner!

MOE. Sticks & Stones CD
*** 10 new jams of the highest order. If you've ever smelled the lobby of one of their shows and liked it, you'll no doubt enjoy this.

MICHAEL ROTHER Flammende CD
MICHAEL ROTHER Sterntaler CD
MICHAEL ROTHER Katzenmusik CD
*** A founding member of KRAFTWERK, 1/2 of NEU! and 1/3 of HARMONIA, Michael Rother's first albums get fancy reissue treatment from Water.

SUPER FURRY ANIMALS Hey Venus! 2xCD
*** "Expanded U.S. edition contains a bonus disc with four extra tracks, the video for 'Run Away', and exclusive video footage of the band recording."

TIMES NEW VIKING Rip It Off CD
*** MATADOR debut. "These two guys and a girl make super lo-fi thrashy arty stuff with melodies buried under screeds of noise. There's a touch of early Pavement, but with Mid-Western energy."

TOWNES VAN ZANT Rear View Mirror CD
*** A collection of live and obscure recordings originally released in 1993. "Backed by second guitarist Danny Rowland and fiddler Owen Cody, Van Zandt works his way through tunes he'd performed hundreds -- perhaps thousands -- of times."