Author: Reckless

11/19/21 NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

CAN – Live in Brighton 1975 (Mute)

The second volume of the CAN live series goes back to 1975 with this killer set from Brighton. CAN’s shows were famously mostly improvised & despite the fact that they’d just released “Landed” there isn’t really much recognizable from the album. Like the first volume, this sounds surprisingly good considering it’s technically a bootleg. Just more proof that these guys were one of the best bands of the 20th century. RECOMMENDED!

JOHN DU CANN – The World’s Not Big Enough LP (Just Add Water) available again!

John Du Cann played with a number of great bands of varying styles over the years including THE ATTACK, ANDROMEDA & ATOMIC ROOSTER. This album recorded in 1977 & produced by Francis Rossi of STATUS QUO has never been released on vinyl until now. It’s a crazy mix of glam, punk, new wave & prog with songs that sound like a mix of T. REX, BOWIE, ROXY MUSIC & SLADE with CARS esque synth leads & stellar guitar playing. WILD STUFF!! 

EQUIP – EQUIP 64 TAPE (Equip Picks)

Chicago vaporwave pioneer & Reckless ex-pat Kevin Hein is back as EQUIP with another amazing collection of music. This time Hein is exploring the magical realms & worlds of Nintendo 64 games like Super Mario, Super Smash Bros, Zelda: Ocarina of Time &more. Fantastic stuff!!!

THE OFFSET – Spectacles LP (Trouble In Mind)

THE OFFSET were a band from Beijing & this 10th anniversary reissue comes to us courtesy of the fine Chicago label Trouble in Mind. The band features guitarist Tom Ng who would go on to form the excellent GONG GONG GONG & the two bands are similar with minimalist percussion, dissonant guitars & jagged rhythms. Fans of everything from early SONIC YOUTH, THE FALL, contemporary Aussie post-punk, NYC no wave etc… will flip for this.RECOMMENDED!!

SLOPPY JANE – Madison LP/CD (Saddest Factory) limited color or black vinyl

SLOPPY JANE is the project of the New York based musician Haley Dahl. This album on Phoebe Bridgers Saddest Factory Records is a mix of playful indie folk rock with some songs that reminded us of everything from FLEETWOOD MAC to PINK FLOYD’s acoustic songs (believe it or not) & Nilsson. No joke the album was recorded in a cave & they lowered a piano down into the cave on cables to make the record & you can hear dripping water & everything. WILD!

MACIE STEWART – Mouth Full of Glass LP (Orindal) now on color vinyl! 

Over the past five years or so, Macie Stewart has become of the most vital members of the Chicago music community with her band OHMME & collaborations with artists such as CIRCUIT DES YEUX & Ben Lamar Gay among many others. Her debut solo album is a nice mix of Laurel Canyon esque folk rock & experimental pop. The album features other Chicago talents such as Sen Morimoto, Ben Lamar Gay & more. RECOMMENDED!

TASHA – Tell Me What You Miss the Most LP/CD/TAPE (Father Daughter)

The second album from the talented Chicago singer/songwriter is a wonderful mix of folky acoustic tunes & jazz-influenced pop songs. The whole album has a laid-back & almost dreamy feel, & Tasha’s silky voice really draws you into the record. A really fantastic collection of songs. 

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

PHOEBE BRIDGERS – Punisher LP (Dead Oceans) back in stock!!

CLAIRE CRONIN – Bloodless LP (Orindal)

ANDREW GABBARD – Homemade LP (Karma Chief)

GEESE – Projector LP/CD (Partisan)

OSEES – Levitation Sessions II LP (Reverb Appreciation Society) limited color vinyl

BEN PIRANI – More Than a Memory 7” (Colemine) 2 different versions

DAVID LEE ROTH – Diamond Dave LP (Magna Carta)

SIGUR ROS – Med Sud I Eyrum Vi Spilum Endalaust LP (Krunk) classic back in print!

SIGUR ROS – Valtari LP (Krunk) classic back in print!

SONGS: OHIA – Songs: Ohia LP (Secretly Canadian) color vinyl Secretly 25th pressing

VINCE STAPLES – Vince Staples CD (Motown) vinyl coming next year

GILLIAN WELCH & DAVID RAWLINGS – All the Good Times Past LP (Acony) limited

JAMIRE WILLIAMS – But Only After You Have Suffered LP (International Anthem)

ZERO BOYS – Vicious Circle LP (Secretly Canadian) color vinyl Secretly 25th pressing

Here’s the list of the Black Friday releases that we’ll have. We noted some releases that are only at one or two locations. As usual with Record Store Day/Black Friday titles, everything is 1 per customer, no holds. Items will be available normally on Saturday morning.

LPS

Aerosmith – The Road Starts Here LP (Universal)

All Them Witches – Live on the Internet 3LP (New West)

Louis Armstrong All-Stars – Original Grooves: A Gift To Pops (Verve)

Rich Brian – Amen (Empire)

Big Brother & The Holding Company – Combination of the Two: Live at the Monterey International Pop Festival (Monterey Pop)

Blackberry Smoke – Stoned LP (3 Legged)

BLXST – Just For Clarity 12” (Eagle)

Broken Social Scene – Feel Good Lost (20th Anniversary Edition) Arts & Crafts

Roy Buchanan – The Prophet 2LP (Real Gone)

Canned Heat & Memphis Slim – Memphis Heat (Decca) 

Canned Heat – Friends in the Can LP (Friday Music) picture disc

John Carpenter – John Carpenter’s Ghosts Of Mars (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

(Varese Sarabande )

Ray Charles – Live in Stockholm 1972 (Tangerine)

Chief Keef – Thot Breaker (RBC Records)

Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate (50th Anniversary) (Legacy)

Sam Cooke with The Soul Stirrers – The First Mile of The Way 3X10” (Craft Recordings)

Larry Coryell & The Eleventh House – At Montreux (Concord)

Crobot – Rat Child 12” (Mascot)

Miles Davis – Live Evil LP (Columbia) opaque teal vinyl

Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club  (Interscope) alternate cover art & blue vinyl

Rob Dickinson – Fresh Wine for the Horses (Real Gone) Wicker Park only

Dio – Holy Diver (Warner) picture disc

Dio – The Last In Line (Warner) picture disc

Dire Straits – Encores (Live) (Rhino)

Eric Essix – Songs From the Deep  (Light Year) Wicker Park only

Evanescence – Evanescence (Craft Recordings) 

Tav Falco – Club Car Zodiac (ORG) Belmont & Wicker Park only

Fleetwood Mac – Alternate Live (Rhino)

The Gun Club – Live at the Starwood (Blixa Sounds)

Daryl Hall & John Oates – Philly Tapes LP (Reel)

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Paris 67 (Legacy)

John Hicks Trio – Is That So?  (Tidal Waves) Wicker Park only

Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (BMG) LP Picture Disc 

Chris Isaak – Beyond The Sun (Sun)

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Georgia Blue  (Southeastern) blue vinyl

Henry Jackman – Cherry (Soundtrack)  (Lakeshore) Wicker Park only

Jackson Conti (Madlib & Mamao) – Sujinho  (Madlib Invasion)

Michael Kamen – The Iron Giant (Soundtrack) (Varese Sarabande) picture disc Belmont & Wicker Park only

Jorma Kaukonen – Christmas… (Culture Factory) 

Carole King – In Concert : Live At The BBC 1971 (Legacy)

King’s X – Please Come Home… Mr. Bulbous (Svart Records) Wicker Park only 

John Legend – Once Again (Legacy)

Little Feat – Electrif Lycanthrope: Live at Ultra-Sonic Studios, 1974 (Rhino)

Matata – Independence (Tidal Waves) Wicker Park only

Maxwell – Now (Columbia)

Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction (Anagram Music) Belmont & Wicker Park only

Memphis Slim & the Memphis Horns – Memphis Heat LP (Decca)

Mobb Deep – Free Agents (eOne)

Modern English – Live From Indigo @ O2 (Mesh & Lace) Belmont & Wicker Park only

Motörhead – The Lost Tapes Vol.1 (Live In Madrid 1995) (BMG)

Mr. Big – Lean Into It LP (EvoXS)

Munsters – At Home With the Munsters LP (BMG)

Buck Owens & His Buckeroos – Bridge Over Troubled Water LP (Sundazed)

Ozzy Osbourne – No More Tears (Epic) picture disc

Charlie Parker – Bird In LA 4Lp box set (Verve)

Art Pepper – Promise Kept: The Artists House Recordings 4LP box set (Omnivore) Wicker Park only

Oscar Peterson – Time For Love 3LP (Mack Avenue) 

Grant-Lee Phillips – Yuletide LP (Yep Roc)

A Place To Bury Strangers – Hologram: Destroyed & Reassembled 12” (Dedstrange)

John Powell – How To Train Your Dragon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Varese Sarabande) picture disc Belmont & Wicker Park only

Rev. Horton Heat – We Three Kings LP (Yep Roc)

Todd Rundgren – Healing (Rhino)

Bobby Rush – Chicken Heads: 50th Anniversary (Deep Rush ) 

RZA as Bobby Digital – Digital Bullet (Get On Down) yellow vinyl

Saigon Kick – The Lizard (Real Gone)

John Scott – Inseminoid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Note for Note)

The Shangri-Las – The Best of the Red Bird & Mercury Recordings 2LP (Real Gone)

Smith/Kotzen – Better Days (BMG)

Sons of Kemet – African Cosmology (Verve)

Dusty Springfield – The Complete Atlantic Singles 1968-1971 2LP (Real Gone)

Squirrel Nut Zippers – Lost Songs Of Doc Souchon (Southern )Broadcasting

The Staples Singers – The 25th of December (Craft Recordings)

Stray Cats – Live At Rockpalast (Music On Vinyl)

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Johnny Appleseed 12” (Dark Horse)

Teddy Swims – A Very Teddy Christmas (Warner)

Tammi Terrell – The Irresistible (Elemental)

Big Mama Thornton – Sassy Mama (Justintime)

Thundercat – The Golden Age of Apocalypse: 10th Anniversary LP (Brainfeeder)

Trippie Redd- A Love Letter to You/A Love Letter to You 2 (10K)

U Roy – Creation Rebel: Rare Sides By The Reggae Originator (Sound System) Belmont & Wicker Park only

Various Artists – Beleza Tropical 2LP (Luaka Bop)

Various Artists – Tickets to Doomsday: Heavy Psychedelic Funk & Soul Ballads & Dirges 1970-1975 (Now Again)

Wailing Souls – Fire House Rock (40th Anniversary) (VP Records)

Nancy Wilson – You & Me LP (Carry On)

The Wrens – Secaucus (Craft)

“Weird Al” Yankovic/Osaka Popstar – Beat on The Brat 12”( Demented

Punk)

7”S & CDS

Billie Eilish – No Time To Die 7” (Interscope)

Puscifer – Live at the Mayan Theatre (Puscifer)

Joan Jett – Bad Reputation 7” w/ comic book (Black Heart) Belmont & Wicker Park only

Little Feat – Electrif Lycanthrope: Live at Ultra-Sonic Studios, 1974 CD (Warner) 

Local Natives – Music From The Penn Gala in 1983 (Loma Vista) Belmont & Wicker Park only cassette

11/19/21 NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

DREAM UNENDING – Tide Turns Eternal CD (20 Buck Spin)

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.

EMBARRASSMENT – Death Travels West LP (Almost Ready)

Much needed reissue of this 1983 record by Wichita band THE EMBARRASSMENT. Rhythmic, driving & catchy as hell songs with nods at MINUTEMEN, MISSION OF BURMA, GANG OF FOUR & BIG BOYS. This is ESSENTIAL if you’re into angular post-punk!! RECOMMENDED.

BEN LAMAR GAY – Open Arms to Open Us LP/CD (International Anthem/Nonesuch) limited color or black vinyl

The jazz, experimental & avant garde scenes in Chicago are overflowing with talent & new ideas & no label better expresses that fact right now than International Anthem. Ben Lamar Gay has been at the forefront of this creative explosion for a few years & his 2021 album finds him teaming up with many other talented locals such as OHMME, Rob of BITCHIN BAJAS, Tomeka Reid & Angel Bat Dawid just to name a few. The songs are a mix of outsider pop,progressive jazz & free-form experimentation that reminds us of everything from that International Anthem Sound, Robert Wyatt, PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA & even KING CRIMSON at times. 

LOW LIFE – From Squats to Lots: The Agony & XTC of Low Life LP (Goner)

Fantastic third album from this Sydney band. Melodic post-punk with a distinct 80s sound. This makes us think of TOTAL CONTROL, mid 80s KILLING JOKE, late 80s WIRE etc…Great stuff!

MAKAYA MCCRAVEN – Deciphering the Message LP/CD (Blue Note)

​​Chicago drummer Makaya McCraven gets the ultimate salute by being given the keys to the Blue Note vaults for this fantastic remix project. The album starts off with a quote by the legendary Birdland M.C. “Pee Wee” Marquette which made us smile & then McCraven tackles classic tunes by Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley & more. With some musical help from our friend Jeff Parker, Junius Paul & Joel Ross, Makaya enters a unique Blue Note remix club with Madlib. RECOMMENDED!

LENA PLATANOS – Balancers LP (Dark Entries)

Dark Entries has collected some previously unreleased songs by the Greek electronic artist Lena Platonos. With Lyrics in Greek & English, Platonos’ music sounds like a mix of THROBBING GRISTLE, BLONDE REDHEAD & Leslie Winer. Great stuff.

CLARA ROCKMORE & NADIA REISENBERG – Lost Theremin Album LP (Mississippi) 

Clara Rockmore is known as the “queen of the theremin” & she’s possibly the only well known master of the instrument. Her one 1977 album of classical pieces featuring her staggering playing is now considered a classic & she’s become somewhat of a household name after the release of the documentary “Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey.” Other pieces were recorded during the same session & released on CD in 2006. Nine of those pieces are featured on vinyl for the first time here. Trulyhaunting & beautiful playing that almost sounds like a human voice & we’re not sure we’ve ever heard another player make these otherworldly sounds. 

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

ADELE – 30 LP (Columbia) 

AESOP ROCK – Labor Days LP (Aesop Rock) color vinyl reissue

ART BLAKEY & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS – Big Beat LP (Blue Note) classic vinyl series

BLOOD INCANTATION – Starspawn LP/CD (Dark Descent) available again!

CHRISTIAN DEATH – Wind Kissed Pictures LP (Season of Mist)

FLEET FOXES – Fleet Foxes LP (Sub Pop) available again!!

HELVETIA – Essential Aliens LP (Joyful Noise)

BOBBI HUMPHREY – Fancy Dancer LP (Blue Note) classic vinyl series

WIZ KHALIFA – Rolling Papers LP (Rostrum)

KISS – DESTROYER: 45TH ANNIVERSARY LP/CD/CD box set (Universal) with free slipmat & lithograph while supplies last

KISSISSIPPI – Mood Ring LP (Triple Crown)

LADIES – They Mean Us LP (Temporary Residence) limited color or black

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Sound of Silver LP (DFA)

MAGDALENA BAY – Mercurial World LP (Luminelle)

CHARLES MINGUS – Black Saint & the Sinner Lady LP (Impulse) acoustic sound series 

JACKIE MITTOO – Keyboard King at Studio One 2LP (Soul Jazz)

JESSICA MOSS – Phosphenes LP (Constellation)

JUSTUS PROFFIT – Speedstar LP (Bar None)

KIDS SEE GHOSTS – Kids See Ghosts LP (Def Jam)

ODDISEE – Good Fight LP (Mello Music Group)

ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS – Raise The Roof LP/CD (Rounder) alternate art version or regular

RADIOHEAD – Kid A Mnesia 3LP (XL) red vinyl back in stock!

CLARA ROCKMORE & NADIA REISENBERG – Theremin: Art of the Theremin LP (Mississippi) back in print!

ADAM ROTH & HIS BAND OF MEN – Down the Shore (Soundtrack) LP (Hozac)

SEVERED HEADS – Dead Eyes Opened 12” (Dark Entries) 

ANDY SHAUF – Wilds LP (Anti-) indie color or black 

SLOWDIVE – Slowdive LP (Dead Oceans)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND – Legendary No Nukes Concerts LP (Columnia)

SHARON VAN ETTEN – Silent Night/ Blue Christmas 7” (Jagjaguwar)

TRAGICALLY HIP – Road Apples 5LP box set (Universal)

TWENTY ONE PILOTS – Scaled & Icy LP (Fueled By Ramen)

U2 – Achtung Baby: 30th Anniversary LP (Island) w/ poster

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Buganda Royal Music Revival LP (Nyege Nyege Tapes)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Deutsche Electronische Musik 2 LP box set (Soul Jazz)

COLTER WALL & THE SCARY PRAIRIE BOYS – Live in Front of Nobody LP (La Honda) very limited indie only LP

WEEKND – Highlights LP (Republic)

LUCINDA WILLIAMS – Have Yourself a Rockin’ Little Christmas LP/CD (Highway 20)

11/12/21 NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

COURTNEY BARNETT – Things Take Time, Take Time LP/CD/TAPE (Mom + Pop)

This third record from COURTNEY BARNETT finds her at her most relaxed and frankly confident, easing up the tensile arrangements of her heavier material for a new sound that’s more small and stripped back. Often just relying on a simple guitar / drum machine construction, “Things Take Time, Take Time” breezes by, and BARNETT’s gift for wry, clever songwriting is turned away from inquisiting self-deprecation towards explorations of happiness in the quiet vignettes of life. A lovely LP that seems comfortably homebound.

BUSH TETRAS – Rhythm & Paranoia: The Best of Bush Tetras 3LP box set (Wharf Cat)

YES! Wharf Cat Records has put together this fantastic 3LP set of the best songs by BUSH TETRAS.The group formed in 1979 in NYC & they were part of the exciting post-punk/no wave scene & have broken up & reformed a few times over the years & are currently active now. Rhythmic post-punk with reggae, funk & new wave influences that rival other similar groups of the era like PIL, PYLON, ESG, LIQUID LIQUID etc…RECOMMENDED.

ENDLESS BOOGIE – Admonitions LP (No Quarter)

The 5th album from NYC’s ENDLESS BOOGIE is here. Seven tracks (two of which clock at over 22 minutes) of repetitive blues rock grooves & riffs & that effortless swagger that they’re known for. Matt Sweeney is back this time around & Kurt Vile makes a guest appearance too. Also check it out, the album cover was taken at the Hideout!! RECOMMENDED.

GROUPER – Shade LP (Kranky) now on vinyl!

Liz Harris aka GROUPER has been making some of our favorite records over the past 10-15 years & her 2021 album “Shade” is among her best. After a few mostly piano-centric albums, Harris returns to guitar based tunes & these songs have an almost early 2000s indie rock sound, reminding us of the great “Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill” & some nods at another great Portland artist Elliott Smith. No doubt this will be one of our favorite albums in 2021. As recommended as they get!

PAMELA Z – Echolocation LP (Freedom to Spend)

Originally released on cassette in 1988, these recordings by the Bay Area artist Pamela Z sound incredibly fresh & modern today. Mixing elements of spoken word & experimental pop, Pamela Z’s music is like a mix of Arthur Russell or YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA mixed with SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE. Really cool stuff!

VANISHING TWIN – Ookii Gekkou LP/CD (Fire)

We absolutely loved 2019’s “Age of Immunology”, and so we’re pretty stoked on this album from weirdo London collective VANISHING TWIN. Their lounge-y electronic pop immediately recalls older experimentalists like RAYMOND SCOTT and DICK HYMAN, as well as of course STEREOLAB. More reference points to be found in the rhythmic krautrock of NEU! and CAN, as well as jazz experimentalists like SUN RA and ALICE COLTRANE, But VANISHING TWIN is able to succeed without collapsing under the weight of this many influences, streamlining their sound into a unified whole. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES AND RESTOCKS

AESOP ROCK X BLOCKHEAD – Garbology LP/CD (Rhymesayers)

DAMON ALBARN – Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows LP/CD (Transgressive)

CAGE THE ELEPHANT – Tell Me I’m Pretty LP (RCA) RSD Essential color vinyl press

CAGE THE ELEPHANT – Melophobia LP (RCA) RSD Essential color vinyl press

CHARLATANS UK – A Head Full of Ideas LP/dlxLP/CD

THE CLEAN – Tally Ho! 7” (Merge) remastered, Peak Vinyl edition

THE CLEAN – Boodle Boodle Boodle 12” (Merge) remastered, Peak Vinyl edition

LANA DEL REY – Blue Banisters LP (Interscope) now on vinyl!

FLEETWOOD MAC – Fleetwood Mac LP (Warner) first pressing in a few years!

HAND HABITS – Fun House LP (Saddle Creek) limited color vinyl

IDLES – Crawler LP/CD (Partisan) black vinyl only; color vinyl coming soon!

LOW – Secret Name LP (Kranky) available again!

LOW – Trust LP (Kranky) available again!

LUCID EXPRESS – Lucid Express LP (Kanine)

MASSACRE – Resurgence LP (Nuclear Blast)

MAC MILLER – Best Day Ever TAPE (Rostrum)

MAC MILLER –Blue Slide Park TAPE (Rostrum)

MAC MILLER – K.I.D.S. TAPE (Rostrum)

MAC MILLER – Watching Movies With the Sound Off TAPE (Rostrum)

KYLIE MINOGUE – Disco: Guest List Edition 3LP or 3CD/DVD/BLU-RAY box set (BMG)

JONI MITCHELL – Live at Carnegie Hall 1969 3LP (Rhino) 

NIRVANA – Nevermind: 30th Anniversary LP w/ 7” (Geffen) very limited with lithograph while supplies last. We’ll have some more copies coming in over the next few weeks

NIRVANA – Nevermind: 30th Anniversary 5CD box set (Geffen)

ONE STEP CLOSER – This Place You Know LP (Run For Cover)

ONETWOTHREE – OneTwoThree LP (Kill Rock Stars) white vinyl

JANA RUSH – Painful Enlightenment LP (Planet Mu)

SHE & HIM – A Very She & Him Christmas LP+7” (Merge) deluxe anniversary edition

TAYLOR SWIFT – Red (Taylor’s Version) 4LP/2CD (Republic)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Driftless Dreamers: In Cuca Country LP (Numero) limited color or black vinyl

WAR – Greatest Hits 2.0 LP/CD (Rhino)

11/5/21 NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

BAD BRAINS – Pay to Cum! 7” (Bad Brains) Reckless/Down in the Valley exclusive white vinyl pressing!

We are very proud to have teamed up with the Minnesota based store Down in the Valley for this exclusive white vinyl pressing of one of the most legendary hardcore singles of all time, “Pay to Cum” by BAD BRAINS. The single was self released by the band in 1980 & it jump started their now legendary career that mixed high energy hardcore with reggae. Their live shows are also famous for wild antics, back-flips, massive circle pits & other mayhem. Limited edition one-time pressing on white vinyl. RECOMMENDED OF COURSE!!

DAVID GRUBBS & RYLEY WALKER – A Tap On the Shoulder LP (Husky Pants)

If you follow Ryley Walker on Twitter then you know about his love for 90s/00s Chicago music, especially GASTR DEL SOL so you know he was STOKED when he teamed up with David Grubbs for some duo shows in 2019. They eventually found their way into a studio to make this album of electric guitar explorations. These experimental guitar pieces weave in & out of icy drones to glitched f/x & DEAD C esque noise. Fans of both artists should dig. RECOMMENDED.

CATHERINE HOWE – What a Beautiful Place LP (Numero) reissued on yellow vinyl

“What a Beautiful Place” is part folk, part soft-pop but it never totally veers into either territory. The album was produced by the semi-legendary jazz pianist Bobby Scott who also provided some string arrangements & some pretty bluesy piano parts. Howe’s voice is high, at times sounding like Sandy Denny (Howe claims not to have been influenced by 60’s British folk even though many of the songs have a similar feel) & the soft pop stuff may remind you of some of the Laurel Canyon ladies such as Joni Mitchell. If you’ve been picking up some of the other big folk reissues such as BRIDGET ST. JOHN, KAREN DALTON & JUDEE SILL then you should check this out.

RADIOHEAD – Kid A Mnesia 3LP/3CD (XL) red vinyl; very limited!!

RADIOHEAD opened up the 21st century with two of the best records ever released – 2000’s “Kid A” and 2001’s “Amnesiac” – radically shifting their sound from icy, lyrical art rock into something more abstract, more electronic and more alien. While both albums were made during the same sessions and intended as a singular release, the band chose to split them up for the sake of keeping them (relatively) concise. Over two decades later, they’ve been combined into “Kid A Mnesia”, a massive set that also includes a bonus collection of recordings and previously unreleased songs. These two albums sound as vital and fresh as ever when blended into one, showcasing a band at a peak of creativity. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.

EMMA RUTH RUNDLE – Engine of Death LP/CD (Sargent House) arriving soon!

“Engine of Hell” is songwriter EMMA RUTH RUNDLE’s most stripped-back record to date, isolating her opaquely personal songwriting to solitary performances on piano or guitar. There’s an almost LEONARD COHEN-esque dark quality to these songs that use poetic language over somber chord progressions. This is a fantastic record that should not only appeal to fans of her previous work (solo and with both THOU and CHELSEA WOLFE) but also can serve as an entry point for the emotional world of her songwriting. RECOMMENDED.

SNAIL MAIL – Valentine LP/CD (Matador) limited gold vinyl

Lindsey Jordan goes bigger and more boisterous here on “Valentine”, supporting her romantic, cathartic songs with a more maximalist approach to production that has her dipping into stadium synth pop, sultry R&B, lush acoustic ballads and anthemic, “big chorus” rock. This is a timely record that pairs perfectly with the newer records from PHOEBE BRIDGERS (“Punisher”) and JAPANESE BREAKFAST (“Jubilee”), allowing for bigger sounds to amplify rather than obscure the emotional truth found within the songwriting. Excellent!

SYLVAN ESSO – Sylvan Esso LP/TAPE/CD (Psychic Hotline)

The electronic pop duo SYLVAN ESSO of Durham, NC started the Psychic Hotline label & now they’ve started reissuing their records on that imprint. Their 2014 debut still sounds fantastic 7 years later with some dark dance floor bangers, some fat synth bass & quirky, modern electronic pop that fits nicely with BJORK & ROBYN. Glad to have these back in the racks again. 

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

ABBA – Voyage LP/CD/TAPE (Polar Music) limited blue or black vinyl w/ poster

ANZ – All Hours 12” (Ninja Tune)

BAD BRAINS – Rock For Light LP (Bad Brains) yellow vinyl

BEACH HOUSE – Depression Cherry LP (Sub Pop)

BLACK KEYS – El Camino: 10th Anniversary LP/Super deluxe box set (Nonesuch) these should be arriving in Wicker Park on Saturday

CHILDISH GAMBINO – Awaken, My Love LP (Glassnote)

CHILDISH GAMBINO – Because the Internet LP (Glassnote)

CHILDISH GAMBINO – Camp LP (Glassnote)

NEIL FRANCIS – In Plain Sight LP (ATO) indie only color vinyl

GARBAGE – Beautiful Garbage: 20th Anniversary LP box set (Geffen)

JERRY GARCIA & JOHN KAHN – Garcialive Vol. 14 LP (ATO)

KENDRICK LAMAR – Damn LP (Interscope)

CHARLES MINGUS – MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS LP (Impulse) acoustic sound series

MODEL HOME – Both Feet En Th Infinite LP (Don Giovanni)

MOUNTAIN MAN – Made the Harbor LP (Psychic Hotline) 2LP deluxe ed.

MR. BUNGLE – The Night They Came Home LP (Ipecac) indie color or black vinyl

PALACE – So Long Forever: 5th Anniversary LP (Fiction)

ROSS FROM FRIENDS – Tread LP (Brainfeeder) clear vinyl

LAURA STEVENSON – Laura Stevenson LP (Don Giovanni)

TITUS ANDRONICUS – The Monitor LP (XL) remastered

YOUNG THUG – Punk CD (Young Stoner Life)

10/29/21 NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

MARY LATTIMORE – Collected Pieces TAPE (Ghostly)

The Los Angeles based harpist Mary Lattimore has been incredibly busy over the past few years releasing her own music & collaborating & recording with a number of different artists, most recently Steve Gunn. This is a collection of previously unreleased material from various sources but it listens like a proper album. Beautiful stuff. 

MASTODON – Hushed & Grim LP/CD (Reprise) with free slipmat while supplies last

The mighty MASTODON from Atlanta return with their eight full-length album. The band continues to move away from metal into a more progressive hard rock direction. There’s a lot of melodic riffs, some acoustic passages & mostly clean singing on this one & the songs have great hooks, almost veering into QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE or even a heavier sounding version of FOO FIGHTERS in some songs. Fans of the band should be stoked on this one for sure.

MARISSA NADLER – Path of the Clouds LP/CD limited color or black vinyl

The talented guitarist & prolific songwriter Marissa Nadler is back with her 9th solo album. During the pandemic Marissa supposedly got deep into Unsolved Mysteries (um, YES!) & how some of the stories reminded her of things in her own life. Nadler also learned to play piano & wrote many of the songs on that instrument & then re-learned them on guitar adding yet another tool to her songwriting belt. With help from Mary Lattimore, Simon of COCTEAU TWINS, Emma Ruth Rundle & more, Nadler has created a dreamy album of mysterious & airy songs that sound new & fresh which is impressive so deep into her discography.

SAULT – Nine LP/CD (Forever Living Originals)

The mysterious London collective SAULT return with their third album in about 15 months. We’ve been loving all of their releases so far & a little more info about this mysterious group has emerged, mainly about the line-up which is pretty impressive & includes Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, Laurette Josiah, Kid Sister & Little Simz. The album was originally supposed to be available online for 99 days but we’ll see if that sticks. More great rhythmic songs that blend elements of funk, soul, post-punk & early 80s NYC downtown sounds. Think ESG, M.I.A, LIQUID LIQUID etc… RECOMMENDED. 

TY SEGALL – Harmonizer LP/CD/TAPE (Drag City)

After an absolutely INSANE release schedule over the last decade or so, Ty Segall took about 2 years to make “Harmonizer.” As far has his records go this one is pretty slick sounding & more “pop” leaning with great sounding fuzzed out guitars, falsetto vocals, cool drum production & even some drum machines. The recording sounds big like QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE or ST. VINCENT but it’s still got that Ty vibe.

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

ALABAMA SHAKES – Sound & Color: Deluxe Edition LP (ATO)

BNNY – Everything LP/CD

CAKE POP – Cake Pop 2 LP (Mad Decent)

DAVE CHAPPELLE – 8:46 LP (Third Man)

THE CURE – Disintegration LP (Warner)

SAM EVIAN – Time to Melt LP/CD (Fat Possum) limited color or black vinyl

KHRUANGBIN – Mordechai Remixes LP (Dead Oceans)

JAPANESE BREAKFAST – Sable: Original Videogame Soundtrack CD (Masterworks)

MARS VOLTA – De-Loused in the Comatorium LP (Clouds Hill) color vinyl reissue very limited

MINUS THE BEAR – Farewell LP (Suicide Squeeze) 

MONOLORD – Your Time to Shine LP (Relapse)

NIGHTMARES ON WAX – Shoutout! To Freedom LP (Warp)

PHISH – Joy LP (Jemp) color vinyl

PINK FLOYD – A Momentary Lapse of Reason: Remixed & Updated LP/CD/CD box set (Legacy)

R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi: 25th Anniversary LP (Craft)

SKIP TRACER – Skip Tracer TAPE (Self Released)

THE THE – Comeback Special LP/CD (Ear Music)

WAR ON DRUGS – I Don’t Live Here Anymore LP/CD/TAPE (Atlantic) limited color or black vinyl

WEYES BLOOD – Titanic Rising LP (Sub Pop) rainbow color vinyl

10/22/21 NEW RELEASES

CIRCUIT DES YEUX – io LP/CD (Matador)

This is the first release on Matador for Haley Fohr and her project CIRCUIT DES YEUX, having released a handful of records on local labels Thrill Jockey and Drag City. For “-io”, Fohr creates an expressionistic, operatic statement of a record, with sounds that seem to draw influence from JOHN CARPENTER’s synth horror soundtracks as well as past avant-pop stars like KATE BUSH, SCOTT WALKER and YOKO ONO. Written with a large orchestra in mind, Haley has come into her true form on this incredible album. There’s a distinctly gothic feeling here as well, and it seems to be an appropriate choice for the falling leaves of autumn. RECOMMENDED.

JOHN COLTRANE – A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle LP/CD (Impulse)

For years it was thought that there was only one recorded live performance of John Coltrane’s legendary “A Love Supreme” until the recent discovery of this 1965 recording from Seattle. This Amateur recording was made at the same time as the “Live in Seattle” album & features the classic quartet along with Pharoah Sanders, Carlos Ward & Donald Garrett. The performance is much more intense & wild than the album & hints at the deep dive into the journey of free expression that Coltrane was about to undertake. Though this isn’t a professional recording, it sounds pretty darn good & it’s truly a very exciting discovery. RECOMMENDED!

GROUPER- Shade CD (Kranky) vinyl coming soon, hopefully next week

Liz Harris aka GROUPER has been making some of our favorite records over the past 10-15 years & her 2021 album “Shade” is among her best. After a few mostly piano-centric albums, Harris returns to  guitar based tunes & these songs have an almost early 2000s indie rock sound, reminding us of the great “Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill” & some nods at another great Portland artist Elliott Smith. No doubt this will be one of our favorite albums in 2021. As recommended as they get!

WALT MCCLEMENTS – A Hole in the Fence LP (American Dreams)

Epic & beautiful accordion pieces that combine elements of drone, film soundtracks & ambient music. Fans of ENO esque minimalism, Sarah Davachi,Kali Malone etc… should check this out. 

HELADO NEGRO – Far In LP/CD (4AD)

Wonderful record from Brooklyn’s Roberto Carlos Lange, who explores vast emotional territory with danceable stuff that draws from ambient pop, new wave and deep house. Some of this reminds us of ENO’s “Before and After Science”, some of PETER GABRIEL’s “So”, maybe a bit of the Studio Barnhus releases from AXEL BOMAN or KORNEL KOVACS. This record is centered in Lange’s past growing up in South Florida to Ecuadorian immigrants, and on top of using Latin musical motifs and Spanish vocals from time to time, “Far In” strives to define that experience as holistically as possible. This is an infectiously great record that we’ll be spinning here plenty. RECOMMENDED.

PARQUET COURTS – Sympathy For Life LP/DLX-LP/CD (Rough Trade)

No small feat to follow their popular breakthrough “Wide Awake!”, but PARQUET COURTS manages this return with ease on “Sympathy for Life”, building off the former’s rhythms & atmosphere to make their most purely dance-y record yet. Lots of nods to late-era NYC disco and its incorporation of punk, as well as some light techno-y psych-rock in the HELDON or MANUEL GOTTSCHING vein. Yet even with the band’s shifting chameleonic sound, the songwriting still remains centered in the angular punk that they began with, expanding on the music of groups like WIRE, MINUTEMEN and GANG OF FOUR, making obvious their lineage of influence, yet not trapping themselves in the style by charting out newer pathways for it thru dance, disco and funk. Folks, they haven’t missed yet. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

SPIRITUALIZED – Let It Come Down LP (Fat Possum) limited color vinyl with new art

SPIRITUALIZED existed as a proper band for a few years but the exhaustive touring cycle for “Ladies & Gentlemen…” led to their break up. For the next SPIRITUALIZED album, Jason Pierce gathered over 100 different musicians (!!) to make this epic 2011 album. Inspired by Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound production style, “Let It Come Down” is a massive sounding album & also a good indicator to sounds he’d be exploring on the next few albums.Like the previous Fat Possum reissues, this one features updated cover art. RECOMMENDED!

SUBURBAN LAWNS – Suburban Lawns LP (Superior Viaduct)

First ever domestic reissue of the classic 1981 album by the Long Beach, CA band SUBURBAN LAWNS. The band had a minor brush with fame when their video produced by Jonathan Demme aired on Saturday Night Live (yes they used to play videos sometimes on SNL back then). Tight & aggressive new wave tunes with vocals shared by singer Su Tissue & Frankie Ennui, their sound could be compared to B-52s & DEVO & THE SLITS. Any fan of early 80s new wave & post-punk needs this. 

RECOMMENDED!

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

DEAN BLUNT – Black Metal 2 LP/CD (Rough Trade)

BODY MEAT – Year of the Orc 12” (Partisan)

PHOEBE BRIDGERS – Strangers in the Alps LP (Dead Oceans)

CLINIC – Fantasy Island LP/CD (Domino) limited blue vinyl

JARVIS COCKER – Chansons d’Ennui – Tip-Top: Inspired by Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch LP (Abcko)

DURAN DURAN – Future Past LP/CD/DLX CD (BMG)

EFTERKLANG – Windflowers LP (City Slang) limited clear vinyl

GOOD MORNING – Barnyard LP (Polyvinyl)

GUIDED BY VOICES – It’s Not Them, It Couldn’t Be Them, It Is Them LP/CD (GBV)

HAND HABITS – Fun House CD (Saddle Creek) vinyl coming in November

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER – O Come All Ye Faithful LP/CD (Merge) limited tri-color vinyl

FREDDIE HUBBARD – Ready For Freddy LP (Blue Note) classic vinyl series

JOHN’S CHILDREN – There’s an Eye in the Sky LP (Easy Action) featuring a young Marc Bolan!

MY MORNING JACKET – My Morning Jacket 2LP (ATO) indie color vinyl

ORQUESTA AKOKAN – 16 Rayos LP/CD (Daptone)

MAE POWELL – Both Ways Brighter LP (Park the Van)

ROLLING STONES – Tattoo You 2LP/5LP box set/2CD/CD (Abcko) 40th anniversary remaster with free lithograph while supplies last!

SUPERCHUNK – Here’s to Shutting Up: 20th Anniversary LP/CD (Merge) limited orange swirl vinyl

WHITE STRIPES – White Blood Cells: 20th Anniversary LP (Third Man) peppermint pinwheel color vinyl

WYE OAK – Civilian + Cut All the Wires: 2009-2011 LP (Merge) limited green vinyl

10/21/21 NEW RELEASES

JOHN CARPENTER/CODY CARPENTER/ DANIEL DAVIES – Halloween Kills (Soundtrack) LP/CD/TAPE (Sacred Bones) limited orange or black vinyl

The legendary filmmaker & composer John Carpenter returns with his son Cody & guitarist Daniel Davies to score the 2021 entry into the Halloween series, “Halloween Kills.” They’ve once again done a great job of taking bits & pieces of the original music & updating or reinterpreting it into something new & quite listenable. 

MYRIAM GENDRON – Ma Delire: Songs of Love Lost & Found CD/TAPE (Feeding Tube) vinyl coming soon

The second album by the Montreal based musician Myriam Gendron is an exploration & reinterpretation of Canadian, French & American traditional music. Gendron has a somewhat plain voice & that might sound like critique but it’s an authentic quality & to us it’s what makes some of these songs gut-wrenchingly beautiful. Songs sung in English & French with efficient fingerstyle acoustic guitar & occasional minimal electric songs that remind us of early CAT POWER or DIRTY THREE. The great “Colour Green” by Sibylle Baier comes to mind along with Leonard Cohen & Karen Dalton. It’s all something that on paper sounds interesting enough but shouldn’t actually be this great. A truly remarkable record. RECOMMENDED.

MATT JENCIK – Matt & Lyra: Trouble In Mind Explorers Series Vol. 15 TAPE (Trouble In Mind)

Chicago musician & longtime Reckless staffer spent some of his time in lockdown experimenting with the Russian built Lyra synthesizer. The Lyra is a quirky drone instrument with a unique design that doesn’t have proper piano keys or traditional musical steps. The mictronal nature allows for a wide variety of sounds but Jencik was mostly drawn to the meditative, almost shruti box drone quality of the sounds. A quote in a review online stated that the pieces here sound like a “lost soundtrack to Dune” & we think that’s an apt description.

JULIA SHAPIRO – Zorked LP/CD (Suicide Squeeze) 

Julia Shapiro is a member of the great CHASTITY BELT & the Seattle native also makes some heavy post-grunge/shoegaze. Her excellently titled 2021 album “Zorked” is mostly slow to mid tempo with some heavy songs that remind us SMASHING PUMPKINS or HUM while the more mellow songs sound like a shoegaze take on CHASTITY BELT. Great stuff!

YVES TUMOR – The Asymptotical World LP/7” box set (Warp)

Experimentalist YVES TUMOR’s music has evolved quite a bit over the last half decade, and starting with “Safe in the Hands of Love” in 2018, they have taken their abstract forms of ambient and sound collage and shaped them into pop structures that seem to build and decay with a natural impulse. This EP is TUMOR’s furthest reach into rock, reconstituting the sound of shoegaze, glam and emo in their own playful, idiosyncratic way. Some shades of MBV and A.R. KANE, as well as PRINCE, but this stays in a category of its own. RECOMMENDED.

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

THE BEATLES – Let It Be LP/Pic Disc LP/5LP box set/CD/2CD/5CD deluxe box set (Capitol) with free litho while supplies last

BRUNO BAVOTA – For Apartments: Songs & Loops LP (Temporary Residence) 

THE CHURCH – Starfish: Expanded Edition LP (Arista)

COLDPLAY – Music of the Spheres LP/CD (Parlophone) LP/CD these didn’t arrive yet in Wicker Park but they should be there on Monday

THE dB’S – I Thought You Wanted to Know LP/CD (Propeller)

DOS SANTOS – City of Mirrors LP/CD (International Anthem)

EAGLES – Eagles: Original Master Recording One-Step LP box set (Mobile Fidelity)

FINNEAS – Optimist LP/CD (Interscope) we have a limited amount of signed CDs at all locations!!

FIRE-TOOLZ – Eternal Home CD (Hausu Mountain)

GONG GONG GONG – Phantom Rhythm Remixed LP (Wharf Cat) color or black vinyl

GORILLAZ – Plastic Beach LP (Warner)

GRATEFUL DEAD – American Beauty: Original Master Recording LP (Mobile Fidelity)

IZZY TRUE – Our Beautiful Baby World LP (Don Giovanni)

JERUSALEM IN MY HEART – Qalaq  LP/CD (Constellation)

SYL JOHNSON – Different Strokes/ Is It Because I’m Black 7” (Numero Group) gold vinyl

JUDAS PRIEST – Reflections: 50 Heavy Metal Years of Music LP/CD (Epic)

LE REN – Leftovers LP/CD (Secretly Canadian)

MAC MILLER – Faces 3LP (Warner) limited tri-color or yellow vinyl

MITSKI – Be the Cowboy LP (Dead Oceans)

NORTH AMERICAN – Going Steady LP (Third Man) limited edition color vinyl

QUICKLY, QUICKLY – The Long & Short of It LP (Ghostly) color or black vinyl

DEAN WAREHAM – I Have Nothing to Say to the Mayor of LA LP (Double Feature)

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Everyday LP (Volcano)

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Space Wrangler LP (Volcano)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Performance (Soundtrack) LP (Rhino)

10/8/21 NEW RELEASES

BADBADNOTGOOD – Talk Memory LP/CD (XL) limited white vinyl

Canadian jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD comes through with the highly anticipated follow-up to 2016’s “IV”. Now a trio, BBNG continues their exploration of the spaces between jazz and hip-hop, but also takes a step back through their lineage of influence of soul jazz, early rock fusion and psych. “Talk Memory” features quite a few guests – most notably the Brazilian musical icon ARTHUR VEROCAI, who contributes to four of the album’s tracks – as well as KARRIEM RIGGINS, BRANDEE YOUNGER and LARAAJI, and these collaborations work to enliven the studio improvisations here. A stellar return that was absolutely worth the wait. RECOMMENDED.

JAIMIE BRANCH – Fly or Die Live LP (International Anthem) limited color vinyl

Chicago trumpeter & bandleader JAIMIE BRANCH recorded this live set in Zurich, Switzerland in January 2020, translating the improvisational, exploratory & fluid soul jazz of her “Fly or Die” records to the stage. Featuring support from CHICAGO UNDERGROUND DUO’s Chad Taylor on drums (and some killer thumb piano) as well as Lester St. Louis (cello) and Jason Ajemian (bass), the music performed here is focused on textures and rhythms, whether it’s thudding blues or floating five-accent hambone. Absolutely spectacular, and a great place to start with BRANCH’s International Anthem catalogue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

DOMINGAE – Ae LP (Sacred Bones)

FOLLAKZOID member Domingae recently moved to Mexico City & this is her debut solo album. Glitched-out minimal electronics & beats that all sort of live in the same digitized frequency realm. Like TV fuzz with a distant techno pulse & cut-up vocal samples. Pretty cool. 

LALA LALA – I Want the Door to Open LP/CD/TAPE (Hardly Art)

Chicago’s Lillie West aka LALA LALA is back with her third album. With production help from Yoni Wolf of Why? & guest spots from members of OHMME, Sen Morimoto & Ben Gibbard of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, West has expanded her sonic palette quite a bit since the great 2018 album “Lamb.” The songs & confident & strong & it’s been a real treat to watch Lillie grow over the past few years. RECOMMENDED OF COURSE!!

KEDR LIVANSKIY – Liminal Soul LP/CD/TAPE (2M4)

We’ve been fans of the Russian electronic artist & producer Kedr Livanskiy since her first EP & “Liminal Soul” is her third full length album. Before lockdown Livanskiy toured pretty extensively around the world & during lockdown she returned to her DJing roots which influenced the making of this album. Her last album “Your Need” was a more hi-fi & accessible pop sound than her early lo-fi days & though this one is also hi-fi, the production seems more experimental & maybe more restrained & minimal. We’ve really enjoyed listening to this talented artist evolve over the years. RECOMMENDED!

STEPHEN – Radar of Small Dogs (Yellow Electric)

ATTENTION NEW ZEALAND/FLYING NUN FANS!! A very exciting reissue on Liz Harris’ (aka GROUPER) label Yellow Electric of the late 80s/early 90s recordings by the band STEPHEN. After THE CLEAN broke up, David Kilgour started the group & they released an EP on Flying Nun & started to record an album & then the band fizzled out. All of the band’s material has been remastered & included here along with a few live songs. Fans of THE CLEAN/David Kilgour will freak out when they discover that there’s another great album out there they didn’t know about. RECOMMENDED.

OTHER IMPORTANT RELEASES

ATMOSPHERE – Word? LP/CD (Rhymesayers)

BAD BRAINS – Rock For Light LP/TAPE (Bad Brains) 

THE BEVIS FROND – Little Eden LP (Fire)

EFTERKLANG – Windflowers CD (City Slang) vinyl coming later this year

ESP SUMMER – Kingdom of Heaven LP (Disciples)

H.E.R. – H.E.R. LP (RCA)

MONO – Beyond the Past: Live in London 3LP (Temporary Residence) limited color or black vinyl

KEVIN MORBY – A Night at the Little Los Angeles LP (Dead Oceans) limited color or black vinyl

NEGATIVE APPROACH – 10 Song EP 7” (Touch & Go) very limited color vinyl

ANGEL OLSEN – Aisles TAPE (Jagjaguwar)

KELLY LEE OWENS – Inner Song Remix Series Vol. 1 & 2 12” (Smalltown Supersound)

TAME IMPALA – Currents LP (Interscope)

TARAKA – Welcome to Paradise Lost LP (Kanine) Taraka of PRINCE RAMA

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST – Low End Theory LP (Jive)

10/1/21 NEW RELEASES

DUSTER – 1975 (Numero Group) white or black vinyl

Originally released on Up Records in 1999, DUSTER’s “1975” has been reissued in 2021 on Numero Group. This one has less distortion & is much more mellow than the previous records & the vocals are a little more clear. If you dig the slow core sound of bands like CODEINE, BEDHEAD & more recently MIDWIFE then you need to check it out!

FULL OF HELL – Garden of Burning Apparitions LP (Relapse) neon yellow vinyl

FULL OF HELL continue to dazzle with their unique blend of death metal, grind, hardcore, noise & even some grunge on their 2021 album. Blown-out but simultaneously great sounding, crunchy riffs. 

MAXIMUM JOY – Stretch 12” (1972)

Essential danceable post-punk from 1981 Bristol available once again courtesy of 1972. This two track 12″ almost never leaves this reviewer’s DJ crate (pre-pandemic that is) & that’s probably the case for many other DJs too. Released on Y Records in the UK & 99 Records in the US, the group featured members of GLAXO BABIES & THE POP GROUP, the group created rhythmic & dub-influenced post-punk that will appeal to fans of THE SLITS, RAINCOATS, POP GROUP & 99 bands like ESG & LIQUID LIQUID. RECOMMENDED!!

DAVID RUFFIN – David LP (Third Man)

David Ruffin, a founding member of THE TEMPTATIONS, made this album in 1970/71 & it was intended to be his third album but for a variety of reasons it was shelved & never released. Now this rare album has been issued by Third Man with an extra album of bonus tracks, mono versions etc…It’s pretty wild that a record this good hasn’t been officially released until now. Fans of Ruffin & THE TEMPTATIONS & the classic Motown sound will definitely want to pick this up.RECOMMENDED.

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Back up: Mexican Tecno Pop 1980-1989 (Dark Entries)

Dark Entries takes a journey through 1980s Mexican electronic music on this fantastic compilation. This is the first time most of these songs have ever been released on vinyl & there’s some killer stuff on here. Lo-fi minimal/dark wave, new wave & industrial by 10 mostly unknown bands. RECOMMENDED!

WITCH VOMIT – Abhorrent Rapture LP (20 Buck Spin) color or black vinyl

Four new songs clocking in at around 18 minutes by this Portland death metal band. Brutal death metal with somewhat lo-fi sounds that are dripping with atmosphere. Fans of classic 90s bands & the current death metal revival must hear this one. RECOMMENDED.

NEIL YOUNG – Carnegie Hall 1970 LP/CD (Reprise)

This is the first release in the new Neil Young Official Bootleg series & supposedly there at least 5 more on the way in the next year or so. This is a heavily documented period for Neil solo but there are a number of treats on this one that make it worth picking it up, plus it sounds fantastic. There’s a fun back & forth with the audience for “Sugar Mountain” that leads to a few planned false starts & stripped-down versions of songs that he didn’t do much like like “Cinnamon Girl”, “Expecting to Fly” & “Down by the River.” This is a golden age for Neil geeks & we’re loving it. RECOMMENDED.

OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS

BLACK SABBATH – Technical Ecstasy 5LP/4CD box set(Rhino)

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB – BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB: 25th Anniversary LP/CD (World Circuit)

BRANDI CARLILE – In These Silent Days LP (Elektra)

CHUBBY & THE GANG – The Mutt’s Nuts LP/dlxLP (Partisan) deluxe ed. w/ 3D glasses

DEATH – Human TAPE (Relapse)

DEATH – Individual Thought Patterns TAPE (Relapse)

DEATH – Leprosy TAPE (Relapse)

DEATH – Scream Bloody GoreTAPE (Relapse)

DEATH – Sound of Perseverance TAPE (Relapse)

DEATH – Spiritual Healing TAPE (Relapse)

DUCKS LTD. – Modern Fiction LP/CD (Carpark) clear vinyl

HALSEY – If I Can’t Have, I Want Power LP (Capitol) indie only color vinyl back in stock!

HOVVDY – True Love LP (Grand Jury)

KOKOROKO – Baba Ayoola b/w Carry Me Home 12” (Brownswood)

MADVILLAIN – Madvillainy Remixes LP (Stones Throw)

MAGGOT BRAIN #6 MAGAZINE (Third Man)

PARK HYE JIN – Before I Die LP (Ninja Tune) limited pink vinyl

LEE PERRY & FRIENDS – Black Art from the Black Ark LP (Pressure Sounds)

JOHN PRINE – Fair & Square LP (Oh Boy) opaque green vinyl reissue

David Ruffin – David LP (Third Man)

SCREAMERS – Demo Hollywood 1977 LP (Superior Viaduct)

YASUAKI SHIMIZU – Kakashi LP (Palto Flats) available again!

SKIRTS – Great Big Wild Oak LP (Double Double Whammy) milky clear vinyl

TAYLOR SWIFT – Fearless: Taylor’s Version LP/TAPE (Republic)

STRAND OF OAKS – In Heaven LP/CD (Thirty Tigers)

ULVER – Themes From William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven & Hell LP (Peaceville)

ADRIAN YOUNGE & ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD – Jazz is Dead 9: Instrumentals 2LP (Jazz is Dead)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Daptone Super Soul Revue 3LP/2CD (Daptone)