For about an hour on Friday, we were very excited to have some vinyl copies of a couple of albums from SAULT in the house. Those went very quick, but we still have CDs in the house for all four of the inspiring, uncategorizable UK punk-soul-jazz groups recent releases: '5', '7', 'Untitled (Rise)' and 'Untitled (Black Is)'. We will be getting vinyl copies of these releases back in the shop in the coming months, so watch this space!
- the very, very excellent new record from Turkish/Dutch unit ALTIN GUN is here in a limited color vinyl edition, much like their spiritual contemporaries Khruangbin, this group makes lighter than air electro-pop that draws on many influences with an effortless grace - long-awaited, its the second volume of NEIL YOUNG's 'Archives' box set. 10 CDs here chronologize the classic period between 1972 and 1976; 'On the Beach', 'Tonight's The Night', 'Homegrown', etc etc, and is stuffed with an abundant amount of unreleased alternate takes and mixes, rare live tracks, and photos and other historical documents of Neil's
- JIMBO MATHUS and ANDREW BIRD first began their musical collaboration as founders of the cult southern rock band Squirrel Nut Zippers, and they've reconnected for a new record called 'These 13'
- the first new record from KINGS OF LEON in over five years is here, and drawing raves. While they last we have copies of the limited indie version of 'When You See Yourself' on cream colored vinyl.
- the revelatory 'Time Outtakes' collecting unheard takes from the original 1959 sessions for DAVE BRUBECK's 'Time Out' is now here on vinyl
- a pair of crucial reissues from the Black Jazz label: GENE RUSSELL's moody, elegant , keyboard-led 'Talk to My Lady' and 'The Skipper', the fiery 1972 debut from bassist HENRY FRANKLIN
- the Acid Jazz label reissues a pair of scorching jazz-dance tracks by Benin's ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO on 'Unite Africaine'
- the absolutely stunning debut album from Denver shoegazer MIDWIFE is back in print; 'Like Author, Like Daughter' has a crushing emotional weight that wraps around you like an old blanket that you may have a hard time unwrapping
- blissfully demented space-rock is here from PLANKTON WAT on his new LP for Thrill Jockey, in the shop on color vinyl Plankton Wat Future Times
- mesmerizing emo is in from LA group IAN SWEET on 'Show Me How You Disappear
- psych pop veterans Jeremy Earl (Woods) and Glenn Donaldson (Skygreen Leopards) teams up for a new duo record as PAINTED SHRINES, channeling Left Banke and Comus
- great comps this week include a generous new volume from Soul Jazz collecting revolutionary Afro-Cuban rumba; the Numero Group has a new comp of synthetic digital ambience in floppy disk form called 'Numero 95', full of obscure gems to do the Bill Gates dance to; a second volume of Japanese funk is here, 'Wamono A-Z Vol. 2', collecting deep gems from names like Hiroshi Sato and Kan Mikami
A quartet of classic CHET BAKER albums get the audiophile vinyl treatment this week. We've got 'Chet', 'Chet Baker in New York', 'Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe' and 'It Could Happen To You'.
- these three records do not go together *at all* unless you are very brave. The beloved microtonal jam band 75 DOLLAR BILL played a gig with an expanded lineup just before Covid hit, and we now have the live release on LP. A hypnotic session here providing lots of clarity
- 'Burden of Proof', the breakout 2020 record from Griselda crew leader BENNY THE BUTCHER is finally here on vinyl
- TODD RUNDGREN presents a live edition of his classic 'A Wizard A True Star', from a 2009 performance in Akron, OH, home of many significant wizards
- Latvian producer DOMENIQUE DUMONT lays aside his drum machines for a stunning new record meant to soundtrack a 1930s silent film called 'People on Sunday'. While this record lacks the bouyantpop leanings of his fantastic pair of earlier albums, it makes up for it with fragrant ambience that truly takes you out of 2021 (yes please)
- dearly departed electronic pioneer PAULINE ANNA STROM sees her final works released by the Rvng label, 'Angel Tears in Sunlight' finds the composer still challenging conventions and creating mythical spaces at the end of her magnificent career.
- vibey synthesist EMILY A SPRAGUE came to my attention when she opened for William Basinski at the Play Circle a few years ago, and her latest, 'Hill, Flower, Fog', delivers on the promise of her phenomenally miniaturized performance
- crucial Nashville hardcore band THIRDFACE release their debut LP 'Do It With A Smile', carrying on the proud Southern thrash traditions of groups like From Ashes Rise and Tragedy
- iconic Finnish black metal freaks BEHERIT see their debut album (actually a collection of their early demos) back in a quality vinyl pressing for the first time in awhile
- the BLACK SABBATH expanded vinyl reissues arrive at the Dio era with new editions of 'Heaven and Hell' and 'Mob Rules'
- bopping Aussie house jams aplenty on a nw ep from LOGIC1000, 'You've Got the Whole Night To Go'
- vampy electro-industrial from DEUX CONTROL
- two generations of sound-sculptors meet on the collab album between IAN WILLIAM CRAIG and DANIEL LENTZ
- Canadian downtempo genius JESSE FUTERMAN pairs up with BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND for a new EP called 'Luckey', with a remix from PEAKING LIGHTS
USED VINYL ALERT:
Some special selections in the Used Vinyl Alert this week, as we welcome one of the sweetest collections of vintage international LPs we have seen in some time. Classic labels championing traditional/indigenous music have always been in short supply, but some of the greatest to ever do it, like Ocora, Lyrichord, Folkways, Original Music, and Paredon turn up in multitudes this week, covering regions and countries like Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Belize, Iran, India, the Sahel, the Balkans, Turkey, Cameroon, Scandinavia, Haiti, Greece, Vietnam, and many more.
Relatedly, we have a deep trove of early blues, folk, and traditional country in the house this week, with just a sample of names including Woody Guthrie, Alan Lomax, John Fahey, HazelDickens, Charlie Poole, Sonny Terry, and more, plus great comps from labels like Arhoolie and Yazoo. Contemporary country abounds as well from names like George Strait, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Joe Ely, Jerry Reed, Merle Haggard, and more.
Plenty of classics this time from the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, the Doors, Warren Zevon, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Lou Reed, Pink Floyd, Yes, Spooky Tooth, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, Captain Beefheart, Van Halen, Kiss, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Judas Priest, the Clash, Black Flag, Television Personalities, and Sleep.
Some quality jazz comes in from Dave Brubeck, Donald Byrd, Oscar Pettiford, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis, Ralph Towner, Dave Holland, John Abercrombie, Wynton Kelly, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond. Soul and funk is in from Marvin Gaye, Prince, ZZ Hill, and McFadden and Whitehead.
We wrap with some fine classical, a killer crop of reggae including Bob Marley, Rita Marley, Byron Lee, and some great early ska/rocksteady/calypso comps. Experimental things from Erik Satie, JD Emmanuel, and Meredith Monk, and a slew of soundtracks!
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S BIWEEKLY FEATURE ON STRICTLY DISCS:
As part ofBillboards efforts to best cover the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts on the music industry, Chris Eggertsen has been speaking withAngieevery otherweek to chroniclethe experience of an independent record storethroughout the crisis. Here is a link to the stories in the series so far:
