News
What's New 2-2-24
The Prize is a technicolored whirlwind through the restless creativity of Wicklund as she glues together the intimacy of singer/songwriter tropes with grandiose production (thanks in part to Great Van Fleet’s Sam Kiszka). Together they paint vivid imagery via otherworldly musicianship and soaring vocals for an unforgettable album brimming with explosive arrangements.
There are bands that come and go, and then there are those that carve their own unique path, leaving an indelible mark on the heart of listeners. Future Islands are unquestionably of the latter. On their seventh album, the Baltimore band continues to hone its robustly unique style seemingly removed from the tumble and churn of contemporary pop trends.
Opening with the country leanings of its title track before careening into the Tropicália-tinged "They Sold My Home To Build A Skyscraper”, on through to the hymnal, hopeful "Cover Up The Cover Up" and then coming full circle with the defiant "I’ll Keep Singing", Sadness Sets Me Free exalts the power of music to heal on a universal scale.
The songs on Polaroid Lovers feature co-writes with Daniel Tashian (producer of the album who previously collaborated with Kacey Musgraves on Golden Hour), Ruston Kelly, and Natalie Hemby. Conceived in a period of so much change, the album finds Jarosz, now 32, reflecting on her childhood, past loves, and previous versions of herself.
From the ashes of Swedish Death Metal progenitors Cromlech, Carnal Savagery return to take over the world with their most accomplished album to date. Into The Abysmal Void delivers 11 new corpse rousing songs filled with de-fleshing Gothenburg melody, writhing Death Metal groove and enough skull cracking brutality to reanimate the undead!
13 brand-new Static-X songs containing the final vocal performances & musical compositions of founding vocalist Wayne Static, along with the original Wisconsin Death Trip lineup featuring Tony Campos (bass), Koichi Fukuda (guitars) and Ken Jay (drums). Produced by the band’s current vocalist/guitarist Xer0 and mixed/mastered by long-time collaborator Ulrich Wild.
Given unprecedented access to the Smithsonian archive and encouraged to repurpose the source material, Matmos conure an album that illuminates the radical, inquisitive, and poetic aspects of the original recordings, extracting the latent moments of creative revelation on records intended primarily for the backroom shelves of universities and libraries.
This version of K-Poppers NCT 127’s Winter special single “Be There For Me” comprises a total of three songs, including the title track of the same name, “Home Alone”, and “White Lie”. Contents of the album include House Folding Pack, Booklet, Mini CD, Postcard, Standing Ornament and Photocard.
The Philadelphia punk legends' seventh album captures their distinctive live energy, resulting in a sound that's both rich, raw, and complementary to the group's increasingly prismatic songwriting approach. More than 15 years in, The Menzingers are still holding their listeners square in the immediate present with Some Of It Was True documenting that power in thrilling fashion.
Green Day is not your savior. But the spirit of rock n roll might be. And as the greatest punk band alive, they’re the loudest vessel we have… to give it a shot. The enduring power trio -- Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool & Mike Dirnt -- are ready to flip off the famous, stupid and contagious, by putting a mirror to the present tense like only they can, with Saviors.
Saxon meet and exceed expectations on their 24th studio release, a superlative British Heavy Metal classic which strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal muscle which the band co-created. It’s the heavyweight’s most definitive statement in years.
New Release Round-Up 02-02-24
Paul McCartney And Wings - Band on the Run: 50th Anniversary - Capitol
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1973 album, Band On The Run, this special edition was cut at half-speed on 180g vinyl using a high-resolution transfer of the original master tapes by Miles Showell at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. This tracklist mirrors the U.S. release which includes the song, “Helen Wheels.” Also included is a reproduction of the Linda McCartney Polaroid poster.
The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones Singles 1966-1971- ABKCO
The second of two limited edition box sets that are a comprehensive, chronological overview of The Rolling Stones’ early career as chart toppers. Contains 18 authentic reproductions of the original 7” 45 RPM singles in full color picture sleeves, a 32-page book with extensive liner notes by Rolling Stones authority Nigel Williamson, plus set of 5 photo cards and a poster, all housed in a hard-shell box. Features the rare 1971 Decca “Street Fighting Man” maxi-single, non-LP B-sides “Long Long While,” “Who’s Driving Your Plane?” and “Child Of The Moon,” and rare mono mixes of “We Love You” and “Dandelion,” which are exclusive to the single release. Mick Jagger’s “Memo From Turner” and the Ry Cooder instrumental “Natural Magic” from the film Performance, as well as the Neptunes and Fat Boy Slim remixes of “Sympathy For The Devil” are also included.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
J Mascis - What Do We Do Now
Mariah Carey - Music Box: 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition
The Paranoid Style - The Interrogator [LP]
Britti - Hello, I'm Britti.
Taylor McCall - Mellow War
Maddie Zahm - You Might Not Like Her EP
Giant Rooks - How Have You Been?
Hannah Wicklund - The Prize [LP]
The Last Dinner Party - Prelude To Ecstasy [LP]
Lucy Thomas - Beyond
Ghoul - Noxious Concoctions [LP]
& More .....
UPCOMING RELEASES
Madi Diaz - Weird Faith - ANTI
The Dead South - Chains & Stakes - SIX SHOOTER RECORDS INC
Now Hear This! – February 2024
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What's New 1-26-24
There are bands that come and go, and then there are those that carve their own unique path, leaving an indelible mark on the heart of listeners. Future Islands are unquestionably of the latter. On their seventh album, the Baltimore band continues to hone its robustly unique style seemingly removed from the tumble and churn of contemporary pop trends.
Opening with the country leanings of its title track before careening into the Tropicália-tinged "They Sold My Home To Build A Skyscraper”, on through to the hymnal, hopeful "Cover Up The Cover Up" and then coming full circle with the defiant "I’ll Keep Singing", Sadness Sets Me Free exalts the power of music to heal on a universal scale.
The songs on Polaroid Lovers feature co-writes with Daniel Tashian (producer of the album who previously collaborated with Kacey Musgraves on Golden Hour), Ruston Kelly, and Natalie Hemby. Conceived in a period of so much change, the album finds Jarosz, now 32, reflecting on her childhood, past loves, and previous versions of herself.
From the ashes of Swedish Death Metal progenitors Cromlech, Carnal Savagery return to take over the world with their most accomplished album to date. Into The Abysmal Void delivers 11 new corpse rousing songs filled with de-fleshing Gothenburg melody, writhing Death Metal groove and enough skull cracking brutality to reanimate the undead!
13 brand-new Static-X songs containing the final vocal performances & musical compositions of founding vocalist Wayne Static, along with the original Wisconsin Death Trip lineup featuring Tony Campos (bass), Koichi Fukuda (guitars) and Ken Jay (drums). Produced by the band’s current vocalist/guitarist Xer0 and mixed/mastered by long-time collaborator Ulrich Wild.
Given unprecedented access to the Smithsonian archive and encouraged to repurpose the source material, Matmos conure an album that illuminates the radical, inquisitive, and poetic aspects of the original recordings, extracting the latent moments of creative revelation on records intended primarily for the backroom shelves of universities and libraries.
This version of K-Poppers NCT 127’s Winter special single “Be There For Me” comprises a total of three songs, including the title track of the same name, “Home Alone”, and “White Lie”. Contents of the album include House Folding Pack, Booklet, Mini CD, Postcard, Standing Ornament and Photocard.
The Philadelphia punk legends' seventh album captures their distinctive live energy, resulting in a sound that's both rich, raw, and complementary to the group's increasingly prismatic songwriting approach. More than 15 years in, The Menzingers are still holding their listeners square in the immediate present with Some Of It Was True documenting that power in thrilling fashion.
Green Day is not your savior. But the spirit of rock n roll might be. And as the greatest punk band alive, they’re the loudest vessel we have… to give it a shot. The enduring power trio -- Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool & Mike Dirnt -- are ready to flip off the famous, stupid and contagious, by putting a mirror to the present tense like only they can, with Saviors.
Saxon meet and exceed expectations on their 24th studio release, a superlative British Heavy Metal classic which strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal muscle which the band co-created. It’s the heavyweight’s most definitive statement in years.
New Release Round-Up 01-26-24
The Menzingers - Some Of It Was True - Epitaph
Strawberry Shortcake Splash LP (Indie Exclusive). The Menzingers are an absolute institution. The Philadelphia punk legends' multi-decade reputation as road warriors with an unbeatable catalog is cemented as hard truth-and their seventh album, Some Of It Was True, stands as their most immediate-sounding and energetic record to date. The follow-up to 2019's sensational Hello Exile accomplishes the daunting task of capturing the Menzingers' distinctive live energy in the confines of the studio, resulting in a sound that's both rich, raw, and complementary to the group's increasingly prismatic songwriting approach. More than 15 years in, the Menzingers are still holding their listeners square in the immediate present, and Some Of It Was True documents that power in thrilling fashion.
"We wanted to make a fun record and write songs that we wanted to play live, and that's exactly what we did," co-vocalist/guitarist Greg Barnett says "We've always said that we want every album to sound live, but we never recorded an album live before. This was the first time we committed to that idea. We wanted to sound like how our band sounds onstage." Making the process easier: Grammy-nominated producer Brad Cook (Bon Iver, the War on Drugs, Waxahatchee), who joined the Menzingers in El Paso's legendary Sonic Ranch studios and lent his incredible ear for raw, immediate sound to help the band achieve Some Of It Was True's in-the-room live feel. "The Menzingers are as real as it gets," Cook says on his time in the studio with the band. "I had an absolute blast working with these guys and was moved to tears many times. They are truly dedicated to artistic growth, and to each other, in ways I found both refreshing and beautiful. I am now a lifer."
Alkaline Trio - Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs - BMG
Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs - Alkaline Trio / New album produced by Bill Stevenson of All, Descendents, Black Flag, whose credits include As I Lay Dying, Rise Against, NOFX, Against Me! And many more-Guest appearance from Tim of Rise Against! - Alkaline Trio
Katy Kirby - Blue Raspberry - Anti
Blue Raspberry is Katy Kirby’s follow up to her renowned debut album Cool Dry Place, which came out in February 2021. Singer/songwriter Katy Kirby introduced her warm, articulate vocals, perceptive lyrics, and playful adult-alternative style on her debut album as she toured tirelessly supporting bands like Waxahatchee, Andy Shauf, Julia Jacklin and Alex G.
That record was a tried-and-true folk collection, perfectly displaying the chops of a young songwriter and emanating the warm feel of a band in a room; Blue Raspberry, made with the same band and producers (Logan Chung and Alberto Sewald) , hits the gas and enters completely new territory as we see Katy truly step into her own as a songwriting force. She fearlessly leans far into baroque piano pop on tracks like ‘Redemption Arc’ and the title track ‘Blue Raspberry’, and lyrically she explores themes of loss and queer love. Very few are able to capture the same emo- tional, theatrical magic of artists like Fiona Apple, Tom Waits and Joanna Newsom but Katy pulls it off on this record; standout ‘Drop Dead’.
NCT 127 - Winter Special Single ‘Be There For Me’ - SM Entertainment Co., Ltd.
NCT 127 Winter special single ‘Be There For Me’ comprises a total of 3 songs, including the title track of the same name, ‘Home Alone’, and ‘White Lie’. 127 STEREO Ver. is available in 2 versions: A Side and B Side. 127 STEREO Ver. includes a *Photobook(72p), *CD, *Polaroid, *Post Stamp, *Postcard *Sticker and *Photocard. (*Assets unique to each version).
Mac Saturn - Hard To Sell - Saturn Records
Bursting out of Detroit Rock City and hailed by The Michigan Daily as "the past, present, and future of rock n' roll," Mac Saturn has grooves at its heart, playing with a buoyant energy that makes dancing a command rather than an option. As drummer-turned-frontman Macc -- who sings everything with the assurance and swagger that’s as much Harry Styles as Mick Jagger -- puts it: “The songs are rock, but they’ve got that other thing going on — that funky, dancey, Motown, whatever you want to call it — that makes them our own thing.”
The six-piece covered a lot of ground on its last year's debut EP Until the Money Runs Out, from the hip-swiveling “Diamonds” and “Mr. Cadillac” to the urgent punch of “Persian Rugs." Since then, they've become known for their electrifying live shows that harken back to the glitz and glam of 70s rock stars. Their own sold-out headlining shows are packed with fans singing along with every word - even to songs that haven't been released yet - and their tours with The Struts and Dirty Honey have only inspired more people to enter Mac Saturn's orbit.
A vibrant and irresistible earworm, "Mint Julep" is the first single off their upcoming debut album, Hard To Sell (releasing January 2024). The album was produced by The Rust Brothers - aka Al Sutton, Marlon Young, Herschel Boone - at Rust Belt Studios (Greta Van Fleet, Electric Six, Mark Foster) and mastered by Bill Skibbe (Jack White, Franz Ferdinand, Wallows).
Celtic Woman - 20: 20th Anniversary
Celtic Woman returns with a brand-new album to celebrate this incredible 20-year milestone. 20 (20th Anniversary) – the CD – features 18 new recordings and is the group’s first new studio album since 2021’s Postcards From Ireland. It features new arrangements of beautiful and iconic songs, some new compositions and, of course, some fan favorites.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
The Smile - Wall Of Eyes
Future Islands - People Who Aren't There Anymore [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Clear LP]
Benny The Butcher - Everybody Can't Go
Sarah Jarosz - Polaroid Lovers [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Blue & Green Splatter LP]
Office Dog - Spiel [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Clear Violet LP]
Kevin Gates - The Ceremony [Indie Exclusive CD]
Conner Smith - Smoky Mountains
Karate - Some Boots [Transparent Light Blue & Grey LP]
Rod Wave - Nostalgia
& More .....
UPCOMING RELEASES















