Strictly Discs

  • NEW THIS WEEK AT THE SHOP

    New albums from MOUNT EERIE, the longtime nom-de-tune of Pacific Northwest indie musician Phil Elverum, come along with the sudden unpredictability of obscure weather events. Oftentimes, they sound like a weather event as well. In the eight years since the tragic passing of his wife and co-parent, the illustrator and musician Genevieve Castree, Elverum's release schedule has dwindled even further. As an artist, he has always captured his life in the moment, as an infinitesimal speck of humanity attempting to sound out the whole cosmos; it is understandably not a method that produces dozens of tossed-off LPs. All that's to say is, if you're a longtime fan of Phil's (or simply someone still entranced by his album 'The Glow, Pt. 2' as The Microphones, which will hold up as one of the greatest recordings of this entire century), the prospect of a humongous new double disc set from him called 'Night Palace', in which he re-acquaints himself with the lo-fi spiritual folk-rock littered with every instrument imaginable that first put him on the sonic map, is incredible news. Just a few listens to this album, quite approachable despite its length, confirms that the guy is still in his long-ranging prime. We've had to wait a little less long to finally get copies of MK.GEE's anointed new album 'Two Star & the Dream Police', though by the looks of things on Discogs, a couple fans could not hold out and have already paid hundreds of dollars for the merch table version. I may not be predisposed to enjoy a record with this much hype, but I gave it a chance and by gum, its phenomenal; an uncanny combo of murky R&B, Knopfler-esque 80s guitar pop moves, and an ephemeral, jazzy feel throughout make up one of the years gems. Next up, CHARLI XCX. I'm sure the timing of the vinyl release of her extended version of 'brat and it's the same but there's three more songs so it's not' was intended to be celebratory; alas, if only that were the case. Anyhoo, its here. Its even bigger. And its not neon green any more.
    Feeling like the world's got you by the brain-cells? Consider MILES DAVIS, who started doing his own thing before he had anyone willing to go the distance with him, and is vindicated for eternity as one of the most creative, demanding, and productive musicians to ever live. A nice heavy box set called 'Miles In France', captures five separate performances of his Second Classic Quintet gigging across l'Hexagone in 1963 and 64, featuring players like George Coleman, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. If you don't have the scratch or the hours to spend on this big boy, there is also a convenient 2LP version collecting one crucial set.
    Doing business under the Peak Oil label name, former Sconnie raver turned LA ambient don Brian Foote has released some of the best dub techno records to come out in the States in a long time, if ever. Looking to throw the haters off the scent, he's launched a new sublabel called False Aralia with two new releases from ZERO KEY and SELFSAME which keep up the good work, while sounding refreshingly distinct from the Peak Oil jawns. Warm, effluvial zoners abound on these two slabs, where voices and rhythms refract and mingle according to some obscure hidden dub logic. In the same spirit, a new compilation from Music From Memory called VIRTUAL DREAMS II continues their excavation of the 90s Japanese supersoft IDM scene.
    A lot more great compilations return to the shop this week. Several we have had before over the years, but three are new. No internet radio station stays atop the pulse of so many strains of music as NTS, and their latest collection of selector-chosen comps is EUROPEAN PRIMITIVE GUITAR, which combs the continents output of Fahey and Kottke-esque 6-string wizards across the 70s and 80s. A new set from the Smiling C label called THE VOICE OF LOVE collects rare and essential slabs of UK sophistipop, street soul, and lovers rock. The UK label Acid Jazz has compiled THE ALBARIKA STORY, which charts the progression of West Africa's most influential independent label through its unique bits of jazz, funk, and disco.
    Last up, we've got bygone classics back in print on limited color vinyl editions from NATHANIEL RATELIFF, 9TH WONDER, MARGO PRICE, COLDPLAY, the VIOLENT FEMMES, and many more.
    Pin It
    Read More
  • USED VINYL ALERT

    Here is your weekly update for November 7th We'll pickup where the Thursday night sneak peek video on our @StrictlyDiscs Instagram and Facebook left off. No frills. Just the artists. The rest is for your 650+ fresh-used digging pleasure downstairs in our Madison shop. Some of the headliners this week:

    Rock/Punk: Aztec Camera, Camper Van Beethoven, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Midnight Oil, The Church, The Band, Boondoggle & Balderdash, Bad Finger, Faces, The Bunneymen, Kraftwerk, Fairport Convention, Tom Tom Club, Duran Duran, Tom Waits, ZZ Top, Question Mark & The Mysterians, Dead Kennedys

    Jazz: Quincy Jones, Julie Tippetts, Yusef Lateef, Harold Land, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Herbie Hancock, Acoustic Alchemy, Ben Webster, Art Blakey, Bill Connors,

    Soul: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, The Supremes, Little Buster, Jimmy Holiday, The Invitations, The Mighty Hannibal, The Isley Brothers

    Contemporary/Hip-Hop: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Green Day, Cyn, Amy Winehouse, Drake, Big Punisher, J.Cole, GT Posse, Run The Jewels

    Country: David Allan Coe, Restless Heart, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Willy Nelson, Waylon Jennings

    Soundtracks: Walt Disney World Epcot Center, Alien, Lord of the Rings, Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Top Gun

    ALSO...holiday albums are back on the top bins! John Denver & The Muppets are there waiting for you.

    Happy Digging!
    Pin It
    Read More
  • SELL US YOUR LPS & CDS:

    Pin It
    Read More


        
back to top