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Reckless Records 2/4/22 & 2/11/22 New Releases

2/422 & 2/11/22

Since so many new releases were delayed due to weather on the 4th we decided to combine last week’s list with this one 

BIG THIEF – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You LP/CD (4AD) recycled vinyl

This sprawling, 20-track double-LP from BIG THIEF does the miracle of managing to be simultaneously ambitious and leisurely, using multiple recording sessions to capture the many facets of their songwriter ADRIANNE LENKER and the band’s intuitive, textured playing. Now what strikes us on these songs is how confident they are rhythmically; the way in which the band can wrap themselves around a hook or a bridge makes it as if these weren’t written so much as plucked from the air. Many of these tracks hew close to a sound like FAIRPORT CONVENTION, others at a more easygoing, JOHN PRINE-like pace. At any speed, this album is among the best in BIG THIEF’s already brilliant catalog. ULTRA RECOMMENDED.

BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD – Ants From Up There LP/CD/dlxLP (Ninja Tune) limited blue marbled vinyl

The sophomore record from London art rock group BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD comes hot off the heels of their 2021 breakthrough “For the first time”, and whereas that debut served as a showcase for their eclectic palette – from epic post rock to no wave skronk to avant indie pop – “Ants From Up There” refines these sounds into a unified whole that places them square between the traditions of leftfield UK pop and prog (think early KING CRIMSON) and 00s indie (SUNSET RUBDOWN, even bits of early ARCADE FIRE!), all while still retaining a unique and original sound. This will absolutely find its way onto some “best of” lists come year’s end. On Ninja Tune and RECOMMENDED!

CLEO SOL – Mother LP/CD (Forever Living Originals)

“Mother” is the 2nd album from the SAULT singer Cleo Sol. Similar to her first album, Sol is exploring 70s & 80s R&B & soul but this one is a bit more mainstream & pop oriented with hints at greats like Stevie Wonder. Obvious her recent motherhood is reflected in the title as well as lyrically throughout the album. 

DREAM UNENDING – Tide Turns Eternal LP (20 Buck Spin) now on limited color of black

One of the great metal albums of 2021 is now available on vinyl! DREAM UNENDING is a new progressive doom metal band featuring members of TOMB MOLD & INNUMERABLE FORMS. A nice mix of shoegazey clean guitars & melodic doom that will appeal to fans of BELL WITCH, early KATATONIA etc…RECOMMENDED.

DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO – Cold As Weiss LP/CD (Colemine) limited color or black vinyl

The great Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio from Seattle return with another fantastic album of raw & funky jams that owe as much to Jimmy Smith as it does the JBs or THE METERS.

CATE LE BON – Pompeii LP/CD (Mexican Summer) black or limited yellow vinyl

Is “Pompeii” CATE LE BON’s apocalypse record? Well, it does feel like things are falling apart a bit, and we may as well find ourselves entombed and calcified in volcanic rock. But title and reality aside, there is more to “Pompeii” than doom and gloom. Rather, LE BON seeks to deconstruct the immediate, instead placing us in a continuum of time that includes both ecstasy and suffering. This comes out not only in the lyrics but in the music as well, which draws influence from the nostalgic genres of new wave, Japanese city pop and 80s electro while still retaining a modern sensibility for composition and arrangement. This is another great release from one of music’s current visionaries. On Mexican Summer and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

MEAT WAVE – Volcano Park LP (Big Scary Monsters) 

The excellent Chicago band MEAT WAVE returns with “Volcano Park.” Originally released digitally in 2021, this one is finally available physically & it sounds great on wax. These guys are one of the best live bands in town & they’re known for their tight-as-hell playing & very catchy post-punk songs.Fans of things like BUZZCOCKS, THE DAMNED, WIPERS, HOT SNAKES etc…need to check this out. RECOMMENDED.

MY DAD IS DEAD – …And He’s Not Going to Take it Anymore LP (Scat) limited color or black

Scat Records continues to dig up treasure, this time with a reissue of the 1986 debut by the indie cult band MY DAD IS DEAD. Led by the talented & prolific songwriter Mark Edwards, MDID was one of those rare one-man bands that truly sounded like a band, releasing a number of classic albums on the great labels like Homestead & of course Scat. The MDID sound was a mix of JOY DIVISION & THE CURE goth & drum machine driven post-punk like MODERNART & IRON CURTAIN. This reissue includes 9 previously unreleased songs & expanded artwork. RECOMMENDED!

SPOON – Lucifer on the Sofa LP/CD (Matador) color vinyl coming soon!

One of the most reliable acts of the last quarter century returns in 2022 with “Lucifer on the Sofa”, the band’s 10th album overall. This is a “basics” SPOON LP, ditching some of the electronics on previous records and returning to the jagged, glammy and soulful stuff of their 00s catalog. Not that we were complaining before! Just that it’s sometimes nice to have a well- executed, “no frill” rock record once in a while! You know it’s RECOMMENDED.

URGE OVERKILL – OUI LP/CD (Ominvore)

UO returns & they’ve crafted a really decent batch of tunes for their first album in over 10 years. Always the masters of glam & cock-of-the-block cheek, not much has changed despite these guys being in their early 50s now. Fans of the band won’t be disappointed.

WORM – Foreverglade LP (20 Buck Spin) now on limited color or black vinyl

WORM comes from the land of death metal, Florida & they’re 2021 album is a remarkable achievement in the genre not to mention the genius album title. These guys aren’t afraid to experiment in the genre either using well-placed synths, a nice back & forth with different singing styles & a good amount of tempo changes. Another instant classicon the 20 Buck Spin label. 

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE – Time Skiffs LP/CD (Domino) limited ruby red vinyl

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – Avenged Sevenfold LP (Hopeless)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – Nightmare LP (Hopeless)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – Waking the Fallen LP (Hopeless)

BOULEVARDS – Electric Cowboy: Born In Carolina Mud LP (New West)

BOY HARSHER – The Runner: Official Soundtrack LP (Nude Club) black or violet vinyl

CONVERGE – You Fail Me LP (Deathwish) color vinyl reissue

DAFT PUNK – Tron Legacy (Soundtrack) LP (Disney) available again!

DISCLOSURE – DJ-Kicks LP (!K7)

ERNIE K. DOE – Ernie K. Doe LP (501 Record Club)

DOLLY MIXTURE – Demonstration Tapes LP (Spa Green) back in stock!

JOSEPHINE FOSTER – Godmother LP (Fire)

HIGH ON FIRE – De Vermis Mysteriis LP (eOne) limited color vinyl

LAURYN HILL – Miseducation of Lauryn Hill LP (Columbia) back in stock!

IMARHAN – Aboogi LP (City Slang)

LOS RETROS – Looking Back 12” (Stones Throw)

MANDY, INDIANA – 12” (Fire Talk) limited sea glass vinyl

CURTIS MAYFIELD – Best of Curtis Mayfield LP (Rhino) blue vinyl

MOONCHILD – Starfruit LP/CD (Tru Thoughts)

PEYTON – PSA LP (Stones Throw)

PRINCE – Around the World in a Day LP (Legacy)

PRINCE – Controversy LP (Legacy)

PRINCE – Dirty Mind LP (Legacy)

PRINCE – For You LP (Legacy)

PRINCE – 1999 LP (Legacy)

PRINCE – Prince LP (Legacy)

PRINCE – Sign O The Times LP (Legacy)

SADE – Best of Sade LP (Sony)

SAULT – 5 LP (Forever Living Originals)

SAULT – 7 LP (Forever Living Originals)

JILL SCOTT – Who is Jill Scott? 20th Anniversary reissue LP (Hidden Beach)

SILAS SHORT – Drawing 12” (Stones Throw)

CLEO SOL – Rose in the Dark LP/CD (Forever Living Originals)

STANDER – Vulnerable LP (The Garrote)

STANLEY TURRENTINE – Rough ‘N Tumble LP (Blue Note Tone Poet

WAR ON DRUGS – I Don’t Live Here Anymore LP (Atlantic) blue and black vinyl back in stock!

WIPERS – Is This Real? TAPE (Jackpot)

WIPERS – Over the Edge TAPE (Jackpot)

WIPERS – Youth of America TAPE (Jackpot)