April 25, 2024
New This Week At The Shop
Pleasant good evening newsletter readers! The dust has settled and the smoke has cleared from another wild Record Store Day, bringing in its wake...even more records! Some rather big ones this week include a new album from ST. VINCENT which finds the icon eschewing the role-playing of her past few albums in favor of a fresh approach to a more personal brand of songwriting. You are enough, Annie! 'All Born Screaming' is here on limited red wax, and features the kind of A-list contributors that only she can dial up: Rachel Eckroth, Josh Freese, Dave Grohl, Mark Guiliana, Cate Le Bon, Stella Mogzawa and several more turn up on a record that confidently careens from synth-pop to soft-rock to reggae. # Its been nearly eight years since we last heard from the French dance titans JUSTICE, who took the torch from Daft Punk in the mid-00s and redefined the French Touch sound of big-room electro-house. All these years later, they are still bearing the cross, and still expanding the definition of their sound while keeping the very appealing basics intact. 'Hyperdrama' keeps the funk first and foremost, while adding elements of gabber, proggy maximalism and metallic detours. Gaspard and Xavier know that any new album they drop arrives with a truckload of hype, and they take that seriously here, delivering their best record since their debut. Guests like Tame Impala, Thundercat, and Miguel (!!) don't hurt the cause either. # When Covid lockdowns sent everyone indoors for a time, some of us fared better than others. I'm guessing it wasn't so bad for IRON + WINE's Sam Beam, who has spent a long-career making homemade folk music that seems to emerge from and exist for the domestic space. 'Light Verse' is the lovely result of his efforts and it will charm any fan of his gently anthemic songwriting. Keeping with the A-List guest star theme of this paragraph, he's got freaking Fiona Apple duetting with him on a track here! # The best dressed man in country music CHARLEY CROCKETT returns with a fantastic new record called '$10 Cowboy' that continues his incredible run of out-of-time swampy C&W, with his familiar minimalist arrangements and straightforward lyricism belying an entrancing depth. Limited color vinyl on this one is as blue as an Abilene sky.
This week's jazz offerings hit hard, starting with a breathtakingly expanded version of SONNY ROLLINS essential 1957 recording 'A Night At The Village Vanguard', which found the tenor playing in various bass/drum trios at the peak of his powers, turning in adventurous performances of standards from Hammerstein, Gillespie, Gershwin, and Cole Porter that morphed them into avant-garde marvels. This expansive 3 LP set restores the never-before-heard analog masters and includes alternate takes from the three live sets that provided the original material, plus unseen photographs and a new interview with Rollins himself. Another landmark 1957 trio release found RED GARLAND alongside Paul Chambers and Art Taylor, where the pianist hit his swinging stride on 'Groovy', which gets the Craft Recordings Original Jazz Classics audiophile treatment this week. A 1966 early soul-jazz classic gets the Verve Pressed at Third Man treatment as we welcome CHICO HAMILTON's 'The Dealer', an entrancingly bluesy piece of mellow goodness that features guests like Archie Shepp and Charles Lloyd, and a standout debut performance by a young Larry Coryell on guitar. Swinging forward a bit to 2014, trumpeter TAKUYA KURODA became the first Japanese musician to release a Blue Note album with 'Rising Son', a masterpiece of funky fusion that has remained in high demand on vinyl ever since. A somewhat pricy import remedies that this week, but every penny is worth it for his extended take on "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" alone.
Sometimes you go to a restaurant where the food looks so good that you can't decide what to order, so you scan the menu for the entree that somehow combines everything good about the place in one dish. So it is with the latest album from FOUR TET, an artist who embodies experimental chillout so fully, he could release an album of insect wings flapping and somehow make year end lists. 'Three' gives you everything you've ever loved about Kieran Hebden's music in one tasteful sampler platter: liminal broken-beat jazz, playful patchworks of microtonal melody, Autechrish acid scaffoldings, miniature piano house blissouts and more, all delivered with the carefree touch of an old pro who seems relieved not to take himself to seriously. # The Dark Entries label never, ever stops unearthing rare classics from the electronic underground, and this week they hit upon a monumental excavation with an early 90s rarity from Greek producer COTI K. The five tracks on the 'Theros' EP are so stylistically varied (scampering electro-funk, cinematic Aegean ambient, 808s and breaks downtempo), they sound like the work of a modern day chameleon. In fact, I thought it was a 2024 release until I checked the fine print! # The Chicago modern funk label Star Creature has become an instant cop over the past decade; their A&R travels the globe to bring us the finest in connoisseur-level boogie. This week we have two gems from the gang: St. Petersburg's A VISION OF PANORAMA delivers housey balearica on 'Fusion To Illusion', while Oakland's E. LIVE runs up another flawless set of squelchy G-funk on 'Soft Approach'.
Melodic crunch-rockers CLOUD NOTHINGS return with 'Final Summer', injecting some synthy goodness into their anthemic, Archers of Loafian rock. It pairs well with the new album from French Canadian post-punkers CORRIDOR, who make their Sub Pop debut with 'Mimi', on which dreamy synths smooth out jagged guitar. When they opened for Slow Pulp here last year, I declared BABEHOVEN to have the best band name of the year, and then they rocked up to the shop where I told them in person! Cool story. Anyway they are back with 'Water's Here In You', another glorious Cocteauvian blend of dreamy mid-fi rock. On the other hand there is FAT WHITE FAMILY, a London rock band with the worst name on Earth, though it hasn't stopped the from achieving great things. 'Forgiveness Is Yours' is here on clear vinyl in a thing white sleeve.
Enchanting, award-winning jazz singer LAUFEY soups up her acclaimed album 'Bewitched' this week with a deluxe version called 'The Goddess Edition' that comes on blue vinyl with four more tracks, a new booklet, and a board game. We'll allow it! Not a moment goes by around here without some NOAH KAHAN news. This week we finally have the repress of the 'Cape Elizabeth EP' which sold out right away on Black Friday. NEIL YOUNG adds to his Borgesian catalog with a new record alongside his longtime band CRAZY HORSE called 'Fuckin' Up', revisiting tunes from their 'Ragged Glory' album.
Baltimore funk-jammers PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG return with 'Day In Time' on a limited run of night galaxy colored vinyl.
Founding father of the freak-folk firmament SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE returns to the storied Drag City label with 'Time Is Glass', another spectral trip of shimmering guitar and his signature wind-howling vocals. Avant pop genius BULLION is back with another gorgeous slab of showroom-sleek tunes on 'Affection'; he's helped produce recent records by Carly Rae Jepsen and she returns the favor with guest vocals here. As a member of Capnjazz, Joan Of Arc, and American Football, Mike Kinsella has been a part of some seriously influential pieces of the post-rock puzzle, but its on his solo project OWEN where his voice sounds most unique. He revives the name for a reverential record of chamber rock called 'The Falls Of Sioux', on Polyvinyl. We will dutifully file it in the Duster section, but CANAAN AMBER's 2010 solo recordings sit a nice distance apart from the slowcore of his (now very) famous band, sounding something like the early work of Cass McCombs, coming out around the same time.
Mexico City free jazz ensemble ATRAS DEL COSMOS embraced the theatrical side of performance art-meets-jazz, similar to the approach of Don Cherry in the 1970s. Very few documents of this prolific group exist, until this new Blank Forms edition called 'Cold Drinks, Hot Dreams'. An obscure CD only 90s release from ambient composer STEVE SHEHAN turns out, all these years later, to have a properly prescient blend of illbient, new age, and trance, making a vinyl eidtion of 'Indigo Dreams' quite necessary. Guitarist TONY PALKOVIC self-released a series of instrumental jazz LPs throughout the 80s that have re-emerged in the weirdo record consciousness in recent years due to their combination of truly progressive technique and an idyllic elevator music vibe; the best of the bunch is 'Born With A Desire', reissued by Numero this week. Last up, a pair of truly unique gothic, minimalist pop albums from Japanese songwriter AI ASO: 'Lone' and 'The Faintest Hint'.
Used Vinyl LP Alert
Here is your weekly update for April 25. 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 500+ fresh-used digging pleasure downstairs. Some of the headliners this week (along with a ton of great stuff still available from last week's RSD used LP drop):
Rock/Pop: David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Jonathan Richman, Van Morrison, The Fugs, Richard Thompson, Pink Floyd, Tonto’s Expanding Head Band, The Roches, Iron Maiden
Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Freddie Hubbard, Chico Hamilton, Donald Byrd, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Art Pepper, Don Cherry, Charles Mingus, George Benson
Soul: Brass Construction, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, William Bell, Ray Charles, Anita Baker
Contemporary: Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Paramore, Alice in Chains, Black Keys, Colter Wall
Country/Folk/Blues: Ernest Tubb, Conway Twitty, Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Sandy Bull, Muddy Waters
Misc: John Carpenter Soundtracks, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Ray Lynch
Happy Digging!
Rock/Pop: David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Jonathan Richman, Van Morrison, The Fugs, Richard Thompson, Pink Floyd, Tonto’s Expanding Head Band, The Roches, Iron Maiden
Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Freddie Hubbard, Chico Hamilton, Donald Byrd, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Art Pepper, Don Cherry, Charles Mingus, George Benson
Soul: Brass Construction, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, William Bell, Ray Charles, Anita Baker
Contemporary: Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Paramore, Alice in Chains, Black Keys, Colter Wall
Country/Folk/Blues: Ernest Tubb, Conway Twitty, Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Sandy Bull, Muddy Waters
Misc: John Carpenter Soundtracks, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Ray Lynch
Happy Digging!
Record Store Day 24 - Thank You!
Thank you for another great Record Store Day. We truly appreciate you supporting us on our biggest day of the year. Whether you were a diehard in the lines overnight battling your brethren for one of our two Sabrina Carpenter 7"s or you strolled in mid-afternoon and went straight downstairs to pick this year's crop of collectibles (still some sneaky fantastic finds left BTW), we hope you had a great time.
Some thoughts from the team for next year's RSD.
What works and we’ll keep doing:
1) Outdoor RSD through 12:30/1:00-ish. With a two-story, 2,500 sq. ft. shop, we simply don’t have the space for everyone until the afternoon. Also…fire codes. Wisconsin Aprils are like your favorite artist’s later work: inconsistent but occasionally still really good. We’ve just got to deal.
2) Street permit through the City of Madison. We got great feedback on the balance of an organized line and a block party with DJs this year.
3) Outdoor restrooms. A universally beloved decision. Our RSD bathrooms could be elected President without Super PAC money.
4) Sponsor partners. Like-minded, local businesses that all share our love for music and Wisconsin culture.
What doesn’t work and will change next year:
1) How we communicate in real-time when we run out of allocated titles. We’re thinking whiteboards on the shop windows. And a staffer up and down the lines adorned with a sandwich board listing sold out titles…of which Mark has agreed to do shirtless. As we share sold out titles in-person and on social media, we'll also share approximate wait times to those just joining the back of the line.
2) Our wish list messaging and website. Wish lists will be built do two things; inform our RSD buy after the list comes out and continue to ensure highly-requested records are available in line until we sell out of a title. The wishlist request website needs to reflect this and be easier to use.
3) Staff quantity. It’s an all team, all-hands-on-deck, 10-12+ hour day effort for us…and it’s still not enough. Next year, we’ll launch a volunteer program for 3-4 record heads up for helping us Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Services paid in wax, food and camaraderie.
4) Two checkouts at all times, regardless of the length of the line.
We strive to get better everyday for our customers and would love to hear your feedback. Next time you're in the shop, drop us a line and let us know what grinded your gears and what you loved.
Some thoughts from the team for next year's RSD.
What works and we’ll keep doing:
1) Outdoor RSD through 12:30/1:00-ish. With a two-story, 2,500 sq. ft. shop, we simply don’t have the space for everyone until the afternoon. Also…fire codes. Wisconsin Aprils are like your favorite artist’s later work: inconsistent but occasionally still really good. We’ve just got to deal.
2) Street permit through the City of Madison. We got great feedback on the balance of an organized line and a block party with DJs this year.
3) Outdoor restrooms. A universally beloved decision. Our RSD bathrooms could be elected President without Super PAC money.
4) Sponsor partners. Like-minded, local businesses that all share our love for music and Wisconsin culture.
What doesn’t work and will change next year:
1) How we communicate in real-time when we run out of allocated titles. We’re thinking whiteboards on the shop windows. And a staffer up and down the lines adorned with a sandwich board listing sold out titles…of which Mark has agreed to do shirtless. As we share sold out titles in-person and on social media, we'll also share approximate wait times to those just joining the back of the line.
2) Our wish list messaging and website. Wish lists will be built do two things; inform our RSD buy after the list comes out and continue to ensure highly-requested records are available in line until we sell out of a title. The wishlist request website needs to reflect this and be easier to use.
3) Staff quantity. It’s an all team, all-hands-on-deck, 10-12+ hour day effort for us…and it’s still not enough. Next year, we’ll launch a volunteer program for 3-4 record heads up for helping us Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Services paid in wax, food and camaraderie.
4) Two checkouts at all times, regardless of the length of the line.
We strive to get better everyday for our customers and would love to hear your feedback. Next time you're in the shop, drop us a line and let us know what grinded your gears and what you loved.
SELL US YOUR CDS & LPS
Yes, we are still buying! Call us at the shop to schedule: 608-259-1991
Ron, Ryan, Angie, Evan, Ed, Eric, Matt B., Steve, Mark, Marty, Brad, Adam, Andrew, Rick, Dru & Ashley.