3/19/21 New Releases
STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES – J.T. LP/CD (New West) limited red vinyl
We were shocked to hear of the death of JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE back in August 2020 at the age of 38, but even in a relatively short period of time the young singer-songwriter produced a rich body of work. As tribute to those songs and to the man who wrote them, JT’s father STEVE EARLE compiled a selection of covers performed with his band THE DUKES. These recordings are often heart-wrenching (particularly because many of the younger EARLE’s songs address struggles with addiction and loss), and yet the effect is often also cathartic; his songwriting shines through on these because the material avoids becoming overworked. RECOMMENDED.
GUIDED BY VOICES – Propellor LP/TAPE (Scat)
REISSUED AGAIN! “Vampire on Titus” is the record that introduced most of the world to the genius of Robert Pollard & GUIDED BY VOICES but in many ways the album that came out the year before was the album that got the ball rolling for Bob & the boys. Originally self-released by the band with many hand-made cover variants, “Propeller” is one of the best records in their vast discography that includes many classic songs that have been staples in their live sets ever since. Originals still sell for a hefty price & the other reissue isn’t easy to find either. This reissue features a different cover variant than the previous one.
RECOMMENDED!
HERE LIES MAN – Ritual Divination LP (Riding Easy) now on vinyl!
HERE LIES MAN simplifies things a little this time around. Though there are still some nods at Africanrhythms, this one is more centered in heavy space rock with some hints of HAWKWIND.
.MAGIC ROUNDABOUT – Sneaky Feeling 7” (Third Man)
MAGIC ROUNDABOUT existed only briefly in Manchester in the 80s & rubbed shoulders with bands like SPACEMEN 3, LOOP & MBV. The only thing they released in their short time as a group was on a rare cassette comp & these 2 songs were only recently discovered by Ian Masters of PALE SAINTS. Those of you that are obsessed with post-Velvets bands, the 80s psych revival, 80s & 90s lo-fi pop, JESUS & MARY CHAIN, SPACEMEN 3, Sarah Records bands etc…will freak over this. RECOMMENDED.
NEW AGE STEPPERS – New Age Steppers LP (On-U Sound)
NEW AGE STEPPERS – Action Battlefield LP (On-U Sound)
NEW AGE STEPPERS – Foundation Steppers LP (On-U Sound)
NEW AGE STEPPERS – Love Forever LP (On-U Sound)
NEW AGE STEPPERS – Avant Gardening LP (On-U Sound)
On-U Sound brings us some very welcome reissues from an essential member of the label’s catalog. NEW AGE STEPPERS embraced the melding of dub and punk that was being explored during the late 70s and early 80s, resulting in a heady, psychedelic sound that fits in with groups like 23 SKIDOO and AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE.
TENO AFRIKA – Amapiano Selections LP (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
Amapiano is a relatively new style of electronic music from South Africa. Starting in the 2010s in townships around the country, these bedroom artists & DJs spread their music mostly on WhatsApp. TENO AFRIKA from Pretoria is a young artist & his beats & production will likely be the intro to Amapiano for many people including us. Efficient production with nods at minimal techno & footwork.
A.R.T. WILSON – Overworld LP (Numero Group)
Vinyl reissue of a 2014 cassette release that was originally composed as a soundtrack for a dance company in Australia. The sounds are a mix of 80s new age cassette releases, 90s video game soundtracks, vaporwave & artists like DISASTERPEACE.
OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES
CANDY & THE KISSES – The Scepter Sessions LP (Sundazed) “butterscotch” vinyl
LANA DEL REY – Chemtrails Over the Country Club LP/CD (Polydor) limited yellow or
black vinyl
DIALECT – Under – Between LP (RVNG)
FLEET FOXES – SHORE LP/CD (Anti-) limited crystal clear color vinyl with limited lithos
while supplies last
GRANDADDY – Sophtware Slump ….. On a Wooden Piano LP (Dangerbird) cloudy clear
Vinyl
HERETICAL SECT – Rapturous Flesh Consumed (Gilead)
SOFIA KOURTESIS – Fresia Magdalena 12” (Technicolor)
MAGGOT BRAIN MAGAZINE #4 (Third Man)
MINT JULEP – In a Deep Dreamless Sleep LP (Western Vinyl)
ODISEE – Traveling Man LP (Mellow Music Group)
PIERCE WITH ARROW – Shatter LP (Dais)
PUBLIC MEMORY – Ripped Apparition LP (Felte)
REAL NUMBERS – Brighter Than LP (Slumberland)
REALLY FROM – Really From LP (Top Shelf) red vinyl
RISE AGAINST – Nowhere Generation 7” (Loma Vista)
TEENAGE HALLOWEEN – Teenage Halloween (Don Giovanni)