December 12, 2019
NEW THIS WEEK AT THE SHOP:
As the year's end draws near, we're still getting in some critical 2019 records this week, starting off with a fresh round of classic LP reissues from FELA KUTI. Affordable, gorgeous copies of some of the deepest Fela jams are here this week, including the scorching 'Coffin For Head Of State', 'JJD', 'No Agreement', 'VIP', 'Yellow Fever', and my personal favorite, the eternally percolating 'Army Arrangement'. You can't go wrong with any Fela pick-up, so have a go!
Graduating pop idol HARRY STYLES goes off the leash with a new record called 'FIne Line', in the house on CD and LP. We finally welcome a second addition of 'Fear Inoculum' from the long-dormant TOOL. This one comes with special packaging as well, in a oversized hardbound book edition with 3D artwork inside. THE AVETT BROTHERS see their 2019 return to form, 'Closer Than Together', come out in a vinyl format, and we have the debut LP from FINNEAS, a California songwriter who probably doesn't want you to know that he is Billie Eilish's brother. And lastly, we've got a 3LP expanded 20th anniversary edition of Eminem's Slim Shady LP inlcuding bonus tracks, freestyles & instrumentals.
BJORK and THE KNIFE trade remixes with eachother on a new EP, and we have the latest bonkers soundtrack from DANIEL LOPATIN, nee Oneohtrix Point Never, who was tapped to score the latest Adam Sandler/Kevin Garnett vehicle, 'Uncut Gems'. Whoa, how much did I take?!! We at last get the sophomore album from the modern jazz-funk whizkids VULFPECK, 'The Beautiful Game', in the building on vinyl. For a solid decade or more, the PSYCHEMAGIK dj/producer duo have been wowing us with their deeply dug compilations of weirdo groove (they also bought a record from us on Discogs once!) and they've finally turned their attentions to the studio for an unreal album of originals, heavily informed by space-rock, disco, and neo-soul, called 'I Feel How This Night Should Look'. Very same, fellas.
The Deutsche Grammophon label throws their considerably hefty cred behind the brilliant modern composer MAX RICHTER with a lushly packaged 4LP boxset overview of his solo and soundtrack work. We've secured some copies of the mythical MARK HOLLIS solo album, released in 1998, well after his band Talk Talk disbanded. Another long-awaited archival project finally lands this week in the form of 'Sweet Season', a detailed overview of the 1980s solo albums by transcendent percussionist GLEN VELEZ. The Mexican-American artist forged new sounds from the liminal spaces of the large frame drum, crafting sensuous, communicative sound-art out of instruments typically thought of as mere rhythm-keeping devices. Songs carefully chosen from his rare early material are paired with some gorgeous artwork here; a true gem.
Longtime folk experimentalist RICHARD YOUNGS has released one of his stronger albums in years alongside songwriter RAUL REFREE. 'All Hands Around the Moment' is insistent, hypnotic folk that shifts into reverie, calling to mind the recent Nick Cave records just a little bit. Never thought I'd be looking at (holding in my hand/talking about/etc) a new album from the almighty DUSTER but here we are! On the heels of the reissues of their original albums and a reunion tour, the band reconvened for a new full length that miraculously finds them picking up right where 'Contemporary Movement' left off, twenty years ago. And just like that, we've also got a new record from EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING, the Australian free-wheeling garage rock band that helped kick off that continent's recent rock renaissance.
The Analog Africa label deals us yet another gem with MOGADISCO, an incredible compilation of Somalian disco pop, the likes of which we simply haven't heard before around these parts. We also welcome a reissue of the early UK techno classic from NEXUS 21, one of the earliest English takes on the Detroit house sound.
A pair of crucial 90s indie staples come back in on vinyl for the first time in many moons; we've got the classic 'Cats & Dogs' from ROYAL TRUX, and a new half-speed master of SMOG's 'Knock Knock'.
Last up, some serious jewels from the jazz archives. LONNIE SMITH's blazing live session 'Club Mozambique' is on vinyl for the first time, with a crucial performance on guitar from George Benson. The last recordings of BUDDY RICH have been collected on 'Just In Time', and we have the first ever vinyl appearance of the breathtaking 'Alone Together' from LEE KONITZ, BRAD MEHLDAU and CHARLIE HADEN.
USED VINYL ALERT:
Downstairs we go for this week's Used Vinyl Alert! We've rounded up some serious troublemakers from the realms of soul, jazz, hiphop and pop for you, with plenty of in-betweenies.
We've stocked both the new arrivals and the regular A-Z bins with lots of our most-requested artists, so have a nice look-around for fresh ones from the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Frank Zappa, plus some cool boots from Bob Dylan and the Band, in addition to a pretty comprehensive run through both of their catalogs. More classics are here from the Byrds, Gentle Giant, the Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Incredible String Band, Who, Yes, Traffic, King Crimson, the Faces, Tom Petty, David Bowie, CCR, and the Hollies.
You get a great chance to clean up on deep soul, funk and R&B this week, with excellent catalog titles from all types of names, like the Stylistics, Ann Peebles, the Ohio Players, Osibisa, the 5th Dimension, Diana Ross, Minnie Riperton, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, Osiris, Ozone, Rick James, Vivian Reed, James Brown, and Sly Stone. Plenty of disco and soul headscratchers on the 12" format too!
Some big ones from the rap world are here from Clipse, J. Cole, Notorious B.I.G., A$AP Rocky, the Roots, DJ Premier, Childish Gambino, Juvenile, and Goodie Mob. More cool stuff from the worlds of pop and R&B are in from Jhene Aiko, the Flaming Lips, Andra Day, Alabama Shakes, Record Company, FKA Twigs, and Angel Olsen.
A cool assortment of blues, country and folk LPs complements some jazz bangers from Herbie Mann, Art Smith, John Coltrane, James Blood Ulmer, and Cannonball Adderley. We've also got some real heat from the 1980s, with a deep run of singles and albums from Madonna, George Michael, Soft Cell, and U2, plus crucial scores from The Jam, Paul Lekakis, Talking Heads, Pet Shop Boys, and Alexander Robotnick.
USED CD ALERT:
Cultural dissonance is something innit, and hey, this week’s incoming arrivals are headlined by Morrissey and Mark Kozelek. In total, there’s seven albums connected to Moz, including Smiths’ high points “Louder than Bombs” and “Strangeways.” The Kozelek portion is limited to but one release: the epic “Ghosts of the Great Highway” attributed to his Sun Kil Moon alias, exploring his sweet tooth for Crazy Horse squall and tragic heroes in boxing history. Moz and Koz, a pair of problematic rapscallions, but they could put a record together. In addition, look out for multiple titles from The Decemberists, Botch, Trail of Dead and Owen. Here’s a quick rundown of the choice stray shots: Drive By Truckers “Decoration Day;” T Rex “Electric Warrior;” Sufjan Stevens “ Seasons Greetings from Michigan;” Mazzy Star “She Hangs Brightly;” and the eponymous Deltron 3030 debut. There’s still plenty of used and new Christmas stuff up front and the racks have been newly replenished as well. There’s no Inspectah Deck, but I’m hopeful Santa comes through.STRICTLY DISCS 2019 STAFF TOP 10s:
SELL US YOUR CDS & LPS:
OTHERS TALK BACK:
This isn't the spot to lay down odds on the third race. OTB is where Others Talk Back and give you the lowdown on what they've been feeling lately. This one's for the customers.
This album is a much better album than their last album. 2006’s “Endless Wire” was a very lackluster release, it was full of quiet songs that meandered and really didn’t go anywhere. “Who,” however, does something that a Who album should do - It rocks! Plus, Mr. Townshend has written some of his catchiest songs since their mid-seventies zenith. Lyrically, Mr. Townshend looks back on the Who’s past and tries to make sense of their place in musical history. But he seems a bit bewildered about what the band meant. If there is any one album in their discography that “Who” reminds me of, it would have to be 1975’s “The Who By Numbers!” And if by some reason “Who” is the Who’s last album, it would be a fitting place to end and a worthy epitaph. - Ted
Ron, Ryan, Angie, Marty, Evan, Matt, Ben, Will, Ed, Isaac, Larry, Andy, Mark, Jack, Eric, Mike & Abe
