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Permanent Records Update 07.27.10
Hey Everybody,
It was another scorchin' hot week here in Chicago, as it was in most parts of the U.S. we understand. The in-store on Saturday was hot as hell with Blood Mambas going out with a bang (actually, as it turns out they're playing 2 more shows before calling it quits - we recommend catching at least one of them) and Loose Dudes doing their Angry Samoans-esque KBD punk thing, and doing it well. We're totally lookin' forward to the double Ga'an solo side-project in-store this coming Saturday, July 31st as well. Psychic Steel is Ga'an's drummer Seth's solo project while Fielded is Lindsay from Ga'an doing her thing on her own as well. Both projects are phenomenal and we've actually seen Seth do Psychic Steel live a couple of times now. We can say from experience that it's quite a sight to behold, the sounds are incredible as well. Attendance at this in-store should be considered mandatory if you're at all interested in getting treated to a double dose of experimental prog-influenced horror soundtrack-esque jams. Hope to see you all there, with bells (bottoms, that is) on.
We've been mega busy this week trying to keep up with demand on the Heater LP and compiling the list of new releases for this update. There's a shitload of 'em, mostly great ones, too. So, we recommend grabbing a cup of joe, or better yet, a sixer and sitting down with this one. There are a handful of newish Minimal Wave releases, a new batch of Mississippi records, the entire Limited Appeal catalog, a whole bunch of European LP reissues, and a slew of quality odds and too-good-to-be-sods here to be loved. We've done our best to include the label descriptions and our take on them as usual (sorry that some have generic descriptions from our vendors, but we did read them over and only included them only if we agreed with their sentiments). So, go ahead and dig in!
Before you do, let us inform those of you within physical reach, that we've recently unleashed a batch of 200 or so $3 and under 7" singles and a big batch of used LPs as well. We've also done a massive overhaul on our new and used CD sections and marked some things down as much as 50%. There's also a new bin full of hundreds of bargain CDs at $1.99 each or you can go crazy and get 5 for $5. That's a dollar a CD, y'all. Even iTunes can't fuck with that. Actually, most of our CDs, especially the used ones, cost less than you would pay for the MP3s online (and you can trade 'em back in when yr done for store credit or cash). So get your butt over here and take advantage of these sweet deals before someone else beats you to 'em. Bring yr pals, too! The more the merrier! If you happen to be short on cash currently, you can still get new music. Just grab some LPs, 7"s, or CDs your not listening to anymore and trade 'em in. We think you'll find that our quote is more than fair. We've been told we offer the best trade quotes in the city! We buy and trade for DVDs and other music related items sometimes as well. As a matter of fact, we could use a new tape deck currently. Ours recently crapped out on us. Anybody got one of those for sale? Drop us a line if you have any questions about trade or if you're collection is too big to transport. We might even be able to come to you, if you got the right stuff.
The other big news this week is that Rich at our favorite music blog / message board, Terminal Boredom, elected us the Best Distro / Online Music Shop. Here's his quote:
BEST DISTRO/ONLINE SHOP: Permanent Records - with the sad door-closing of Bistro Distro, many were left scrambling for a new online record-peddler of choice. With a great shopping cart system, outstanding customer service and an impeccable selection of releases from all genres at the NICE PRICE, Lance & Co. have made me miss Troy a little bit less. Their label ain't too shabby either.
We'll be back again next week with another weekly update. Until then, here's this week's MASSIVE jam list:
Featured New Releases
LP - Kebab - We Live In A System
We'd never heard of Kebab before we received the email about the release of this LP. Here's what we were told:
"SoftSpot has delved back into the post-punk archives and unearthed another virtually unheard gem. Our first full-length LP features the recordings of Kebab, a short-lived quartet of punk-minded Belgian youths from the same scene as AA (reissued last on softspot), The Cultural Decay (reissued on Sacred Bones), O Veux, etc. Inspired by the Crass Records DIY mentality, the burgeoning UK art-punk scene, and their own boredom, Kebab combined anti-political punk diatribes with sharp guitars, plodding basslines, synth gurgles, and spastic electronic percussion. The result is an aggressively sparse take on post-punk that remains fresh and visceral sounding today.
Side A compiles all their known studio recordings, including the sought-after "Life It's a Joke" 7" from 1982. Side B features select tracks from their original demo tape, recorded in 1981 and limited to only 30 copies. All tracks have been remastered from the best available sources, and are presented on black vinyl in a full-size poster package containing lyric sheet, rare photos, and a vintage interview with the band."
Needless to say, we were very intrigued so we brought a few in. We couldn't be happier that we did. The SoftSpot description is er, spot, on, pun intended. This is dark euro post-punk of the highest order, which sort of explains why the original "Life It's a Joke" 7" (included here) has recently fetched nearly $350 at auction! Kebab have been tragically overlooked for far too long. Thanks to the label for bringing them to our attention. SoftSpot really did it up on the packaging as well. The fold out poster is super sweet and there's even a envelope glued to the inside containing a miniature photocopied lyric sheet. Even without the well executed artwork, we'd be considering this release for reissue LP of the year. Fans of post-punk NEED this.
Mississippi Records. That's all we really need to say here, isn't it. If they're the label reissuing the record and it's of a genre you're even mildly interested in, you can bet your bottom dollar that it's essential. That just happens to be the case with this one. Here's the Mississippi description:
"Recorded in 1970 as part of the First Biennale of Arts and Culture for the Young in Mali. The Regional Orchestra of Mopti was a state funded orchestra that participated in country wide music festivals and competitions. A hypnotic band featuring electric guitars & a large horn section. This is the first in a series of six Mali music LPs we will be reissuing this summer from Sterns. A serene and droning record that is both sorrowful & celebratory."
This release seems to be of the same origin as the wonderful Orchestre Régional de Kayes LP Mississippi reissued a while back. That one disappeared far too quickly and we imagine that fate will probably hold true for De Mopti. Please don't sleep. You can sleep when you die.
LP - Michael Hurley - Blue Hills
Mississippi and Michael Hurley have obviously developed a strong relationship. Mississippi has reissued nearly half a dozen Hurley records at this point. The back catalog well must be running dry, but Hurley's still active and doing interesting work. It only seems natural that his new record, "Blue Hills", would don the Mississippi logo. Here's the scoop.
"New recordings by Michael. On this LP we find Hurley stretching out on six longer than usual compositions that are heartbreaking & beautiful as anything he's ever done. Side one features Hurley on a creaky pump organ. Side two starts out with two newer compositions - just Michael on guitar & vocals. The record ends with a stunning version of Tea Song (which Michael originally wrote & recorded way back in 1963). A sustained feeling of loss & need for redemption haunts this record."
We're always apprehensive about cult or classic artists from the 60s and 70s making new records, 'cuz let's be honest folks, they're rarely any good. Hurley had defied the odds here and made a quality record that will certainly appeal to fans of "Parsnip Snips", "Armchair Boogie", and "Hi Fi Snock Uptown".
LP - Best Coast - Crazy For You - Limited First Press - Hand Numbered Out Of 4000
One of the most highly anticipated releases of the year is upon us. Just a few months ago, it was difficult to discuss Best Coast without referencing Bethany's previous band, Pocahaunted, but Best Coast has quickly surpassed the solid reputation of Pocahaunted's output and become a virtual household name. Mexican Summer was wise to get in on the ground floor with Best Coast as they now hold the honor of calling "Crazy For You" their own. Here's how Mexican Summer is selling this, their biggest release to date:
"Mexican Summer are elated to announce their latest artist and full length release from California's Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, aka Best Coast. Crazy For You is a 12-track, twenty-nine minute collection of genuinely romantic sandy jams. Hazy, dreamy and genre-defining, Crazy For You proves that the impressive amount of press hype for Best Coast is more than warranted, especially coming off of her previous sold out singles on Group Tightener, Atelier Cuseaux, Art Fag, Black Iris, PPM and Eskuche. The band's much-awaited debut album was recorded at Black Iris, a studio in LA's Echo Park neighborhood, by Lewis Pesacov of the bands Fool's Gold and Foreign Born. The result is a collection of maudlin and magical songs that approach relationships with a pure heart, a cloudy mind and pair of gas station sunglasses."
Those previous singles sold out faster than we could bring 'em in, but we've smartened up and ordered pretty heavy on this one, only to sell through nearly half of the stock before we even wrote this description. Demand for "Crazy For You" has been crazy to say the least and we don't imagine the initial run of 4000(!) copies lasting long. Who hand-numbers 4000 copies anyhow? Mexican Summer, that's who. Regardless of whether you're a super fan or a hater, we think you'll find "Crazy For You" ridiculously catchy. It's fulla earworms that burrow their way into your skull and breed. The first cut on the record, "Boyfriend", must be hella tired, 'cuz it's been running through our minds all day. That's how the whole record is. We consider that a good thing. This record's gonna be HUGE! Do we need to tell you that we recommend this one? You're probably gonna buy it either way. Not a bad idea.
LP - Various - HoZac Hookup Klub Round One
So you didn't subscribe to the HoZac Hookup Klub, huh? Worry not, friends. And pay not the outrageous sums some of these singles are going for just to heard the cuts on wax. Here's the Hookup Klub Round One compilation LP and here's what HoZac has to say for themselves:
"Yes, its finally here, all on one handly format for accessing the hottest cuts from the first Round of the HoZac singles club, along with two previously unreleased BONUS TRACKS by TEEPEE and IDLE TIMES. This compilation spans the first ten elusive subscription-ONLY 7" records released from 2009-2010, featuring rare tracks by DUM DUM GIRLS, WOVEN BONES, BOX ELDERS, FLIGHT, WHITE MYSTERY, TEEPEE, IDLE TIMES, MOTHER OF TEARS, ART THIEVES, and TEETH (the elusive Blank Dogs/Spider side project), and is not to be missed. Not ony does this release mark the 50th record in our repertoire, but its got the goods to back it up with a massive array of underground gems normally fetching hefty ebay prices as the only other means of access. Although not every track from the 7" series is included due to space limitations, we've culled the most sparkling cuts and remastered the tracks to perfection, and housed it in one convenient package. Oh, and those bonus tracks? You can bet you're gonna want 'em based on the brilliance of TEEPEE and IDLE TIMES' exquisite track records. No gold edition for this release, but with a lineup this stellar, every copy's a winner."
This is a no brainer folks and a good way to get acquainted with the bands included and the label if you're not already. Cheap, cheap, cheap, too! Contender for comp of the year, since the some of the singles were the best of 2009. Act now, horizontally. The bonus tracks and the convenience of having all these tracks in one place on vinyl have some of us who subscribed to the original subscription series thinking of buying in again. All we need to do is sell one of 'em to fund this purchase.
LP - Velcro Lewis Group - White Magick Summer
Velcro Lewis is a Chicago staple (singer), sorry I couldn't resist. Velcro does have soul, though, and he has it in spades. His Group is one of Chicago's finest and they can do just about anything. You name it: blues, garage, psych, soul, Velcro Lewis' got it. Their new LP "White Magick Summer" is a total ripper that deserves way more attention than it will (based on the band's underrated history) ultimately receive. It's chock full of soulful psychedelic rock jams, with one of the tightest rhythm sections this side of Daptone and some of the best guitar playing this side of a Earthless record (though a comparison between the two would be far from the truth, especially in heaviness), even though their influences ('60s hardrock, blues, and psych) probably overlap more than we can probably imagine. We bet VLG could give Earthless' cover of "Cherry Red" a run for it's money. We know Velcro is well versed in his Groundhogs material. Like the head Groundhog, Tony McPhee, Velcro is an amazing singer, too. For being such a modest guy in regular life, he really knows how to belt it out on stage, and right here on this record. Fans of blues-y garage rock stompers and shred-tastic psychedelic guitar leads will totally dig "White Magick Summer". We think it's better than most of the records of it's ilk and it puts out reigns the Reigning Sound in just about every way. Go ChicaGo!
You may remember Deux from the B.I.P.P.P. - French Synth Wave 1979 - 1985 comp of 2008 (our favorite compilation release from that year). Deux's cut "Game and Performance" was one of our favorite cuts on B.I.P.P.P. and it got spun at many a "Getting Drunk to Spin Records to Get Drunk To" DJ night (which may be making a comeback at a different venue soon, by the way). Anyhow, we recently discovered a good source for the Minimal Wave LP reissue by Deux and we're STOKED! Here's the label's descriptive write-up:
"Minimal Wave is proud to present a full length LP by French duo DEUX. GERARD PELLETIER and CATI TETE formed Deux after meeting in Lyon in 1981. Their music can be described as minimal synth with stripped down rhythm compositions and suitably cold duets. Their influences are a perfect blend of Kraftwerk and French synthpop. Between 1983 and 1992, they released a cassette and several rare singles. They also appeared on the various artists BIPP LP (2006) (sic) and most recently on The Minimal Wave Tapes: Vol 1 LP. The Decadence LP features selections of their old material, newly remastered. It is a hand-numbered edition, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a heavy matte jacket."
Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. It's all true as you might've already imagined. This reissue is highly recommended.
Minimal Wave is the label behind this reissue. Here's their descriptive write-up:
"Minimal Wave presents the long awaited 30th anniversary release by FUTURDISK. Originally from Florida, Futurisk was a pioneering electro-punk group that recorded and performed in the pre-midi era of the early '80s. They had two vinyl releases that sold out : The Sound Of Futurism 1980 / Army Now and the Player Piano EP. They played a legendary live show and had some TV appearances and videos (check their video for Army Now here), but for a number of reasons by 1984 Futurisk was history. The Player Piano LP culls material they recorded between 1980-1982, featuring all the tracks from their two 7-inch releases as well as some early 4-track tapes and rare studio recordings. The record is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, comes in a matte printed innersleeve (with old photos and press) and orange matte outer jacket."
Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. Original copies of the "Player Piano" EP included here sell for over $100. We may like this one even more than the Deux release. Fans of Gary Numan's "Replicas" will absolutely love this. It's fantastic, electro punk-y, and recommended.
Minimal Wave is the label behind this reissue. Here's their descriptive write-up:
"A full length LP by UK band CIRCUIT 7. Circuit 7 is MARTYN GOOD and ANDY PARTINGTON who made essential new wave, releasing two 7-inch singles in 1984, Video Boys and Modern Story followed by the release of two songs on a highly sought after compilation called The Offering Of Isca. The LP features both previously released and unreleased tracks (including the single version of Video Boys as well as an unreleased studio version), is pressed on neon green 180- gram vinyl and comes in an inner sleeve printed with all their lyrics as well as a heavy weight outer jacket."
Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. Original copies of the "Video Boys" 7" included here have fetched nearly $200. Recommended for fans of the poppier side of Minimal Wave.
Minimal Wave is the label behind this reissue. Here's their descriptive write-up:
"A full length album by Dutch electro pioneer, DAS DING. Das Ding is DANNY BOSTEN, who was active in the early 1980s releasing his music and friends' music via his own cassette label called Tear Apart Tapes. While studying graphic design in art school, he designed all the tape covers himself. Meanwhile, he recorded his own music as Das Ding. Powerful dark electro, some tracks are quite addictive and danceable while others are more for at home listening enjoyment. The dancefloor killer is somewhere between Reassurance Ritual and H.S.T.A. The record features lovingly remastered tracks, and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl with a printed inner sleeve featuring Danny's drawings."
Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. Great shit.
LP - In Aeternam Vale - In Aeternam Vale
Minimal Wave is the label behind this reissue. Here's their descriptive write-up:
"And finally, the fourth release in our series to celebrate Minimal Wave's 4 Year Anniversary is a full length album by cult French band IN AETERNAM VALE. Having made over 200 recordings, I.A.V. were one of the most prolific bands of the French underground scene. Headed by LAURENT PROT and featuring PASCAL AUBERT, the band released many cassettes illustrated with Laurent's wonderful collage work. Their sound is extremely original, overflowing with character, and crossing between genres: electro, minimal, noise, and even garage. 'With the passing of time, In Aeternam Vale's work remains astonishingly powerful, cold and caustic with its uncompromising minimalism, but also provocative and capable to smash your ass on the dance-floor' (Douche Froide Magazine, 2002). The record is pressed on 180-gram clear vinyl and comes in a heavyweight matte jacket with cover artwork by Laurent."
Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. All of the songs included here were recorded between 1983-1986, but they sound as fresh as if they were recorded last week. File this one right up there with the Deux and Futurisk LPs, also on Minimal Wave. Highly recommended. We're sorry we didn't get the Minimal Wave stuff sooner. We've learned our lesson.
LP - Mahjongg - The Long Shadow Of The Paper Tiger
CD - Mahjongg - The Long Shadow Of The Paper Tiger
K released Mahjongg's last long-player, "Kontpab", which we loved. It's become our favorite Mahjongg record actually. Here's their description of the follow-up, "The Long Shadow Of The Paper Tiger":
"Mahjongg is basically a bar band who got lucky. With The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger they will rule 2010. Their previous album Kontpab announced a big noise in the music scene of 2008. Since then, they've partied around the world and come back to invent a new style of music they call Chicagotronics: a wall of sound command center with drums and humans. They sing together and dance all crazy and there's this laser going. It's great. The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger features their first protest song ("Grooverider Free"), which is actually an extended version of a previous single (Pun alert: "Free Grooverider"). Following a closing gurgle-sax on "Gooble," comes "Miami Knights" where our dance detectives take that smooth boat through choppy waters. The album continues with layers of keyboards, guitars, and percussion parts that wind around each other almost like a fugue -- an intrinsic groove that rarely fails to amaze and inspire. No one with ears will listen and be depressed."
We're not really sure what the "Mahjongg is basically a bar band who got lucky" comment is all about, especially since their definitely not a "bar band" and we're also not really sure what luck has to do with whatever success they've had, but the rest of the K description is astute. Fans of their previous records, especially the most dancefloor friendly stuff, will totally get down to "The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger". We have been.
LP - Indian Jewelry - Totaled
CD - Indian Jewelry - Totaled
Indian Jewelry is one of our favorite bands of the '00s. Their album, "Invasive Exotics" will forever be on our best albums of the first decade of the 21st century list. Therefore, we're always excited when a new Indian Jewelry album drops. They're typical MO is a post-industrial-style throbbing fuzz pop, with the least emphasis on the pop, but their songs are catchy as Thurman Munson. Earworm barely begins to describe the infectiousness of their melodies. Anyhow, "Totaled" is Indian Jewelry's fourth full-length and it finds them at their least pummeling. The songs are still quite sinister, but there's definitely less rhythmic throb, which makes this more of a post-party album than a pre/during-party one that'll appeal to fans of the more minimal side of noir synth pop. At times, on "Simulation" for example, they come close to Chrome / Nothing People territory. We're into the new direction the band is heading and we're stoked to see them live this summer. Both formats are finally available and which is good, since we already Totaled our CD copy.
Not Not Fun is always pumping out quality ish. Here's their description of their latest release by High Wolf:
"Pyramidal meditationist HIGH WOLF has been highly active since last summer's Animal Totem tape dropped on NNF: he's released three full-length CDRs, started his own record label (Winged Sun), begun a mail-collab with Astral Social Club (as Iibiis Rooge), embarked on two UK/Euro tours (one with heavyweights Gnod), plus trekked out on a month-long solo journey through India to collect field recordings and get deep. Whoa! Makes you feel lazy right? Well actually that's not all, as he also spent a few months somewhere in there recording, mixing, and re-recording the five multifaceted ethno-flux odysseys that comprise Ascension, his debut vinyl full-length. Utilizing his usual toolbag of looped tablas, fuzz guitar leads, chiming white light guitar, synth swells, and cloud-climbing electronics, the album safaris through a host of ecstatic ritual landscapes with more focus and magic than any other High Wolf hunt to date. A beautiful album for dissolving, dreaming, dancing (in a certain way). Been spinning this one weekly, share the flight. Black vinyl LPs mastered by PETE SWANSON and housed in jackets with artwork by Kaugummi Magazine captain BARTOLOME SANSON."
Not Not Fun is the go-to label for this sort of stuff and they're assessment is shrewd as hell. This is music to take drugs and/or meditate to. We can't think of a Not Not Fun release that's lasted longer than a couple months and this one's limited to 400 copies. Think fast, be happy later.
LP - Michael Rother - Flammende Herzen
Neu and Kraftwerk are two of our all-time faves around here. While we were anxiously awaiting the import reissue of NEU! "86", 4 Men With Beards snuck out a Michael Rother solo record from '76 that we frankly didn't see coming. Fans of all things Krautrock will definitely want to take note. Here's the stats:
"MICHAEL ROTHER (half of the influential Krautrock group NEU! and a founding member of KRAFTWERK) recorded this first solo album with producer CONNY PLANK in 1976. Rother's signature guitar sound, the mechanical percussion (JAKI LIEBEZEIT of CAN) and the simple yet outerworldly anthemic melodies make Flammende Herzen an outstanding and visionary record."
Outstanding. Visionary. And very similar to NEU! actually. Fans of the band and the genre should definitely snatch one of these. We've never seen an original copy here at the shop and we doubt we'll be seeing one very soon. We're GRATEFUL for all of these amazing vinyl reissues.
LP - Son House - And Other Great Delta Blues Singers
Son House needs no introduction. He's the FUCKING man. When you thought you were listening to the White Stripes, you were actually listening to Son House, well mostly. You may be somewhat less familiar with the rest of the artists included here. Here's the story from Monk, the reissue label behind this release:
"This 24-track collection of historic Delta blues recordings kick off with SON HOUSE's earliest recorded material. These seven tracks were recorded by House for Paramount in Grafton, WI in 1930 and are keystone recordings in the history of American music. They include the original rare versions of "Walkin' Blues" (later made famous by Robert Johnson) and "Death Letter Blues" (here called "My Black Mama Part II), covered by Jack White of the White Stripes. The remaining seventeen tracks on this album are a chance for listeners to hear some lesser known Delta bluesmen, all contemporaries of Son House like RUBE LACY, GARFIELD AKERS, JOE CALLICOTT, JIM THOMPKINS, BLIND JOE (WILLIE) REYNOLDS, KID BALEY and WILLIE BROWN. While these men are perhaps not quite the genius that House was—with perhaps the exception of Willie Brown who often played with House (just check out "Future Blues" if you need convincing)—these lesser known artists are still all top drawer Delta bluesmen that add welcome context to the genre."
An incredible release indeed. Double LP import. Recommended for obsessives and newcomers to the genre looking for an introduction alike.
We'd never heard this record, but Forcefield Records' description of their release got our attention. Here 'tis:
"In the storm of current metal bands, INTER ARMA stands firmly as a monolith of esoteric dirge. Hailing from Virginia, their time-honored sound runs parallel to their surroundings. Murky depths ascend to towering peaks and obscure turns are never far. The blackened howl this unique five-piece exudes has resonated across dingy basement walls for the past four years. Now, with the release of their first full length LP, Sundown, Inter Arma's epic vision will be brought to the forefront. Defying genres and crossing boundaries, Sundown, is the sonic achievement of the band's burgeoning career. Their debut full length showcases the band's dim song writing and furious nature. Steeped in heaviness, this album is an enthralling experience. Not just a collection of random songs, Sundown demands to be heard in it's entirety."
Word. "Sundown" is an intense stoner / doom metal record that will crush your soul with it's heaviness. Recommended, indeed.
LP - Various Artists - Shangaan Electro - New Wave Dance Music From South Africa
This is some wild shit right here. Fans of Omar Souleyman could probably get town to this. Here's what the label has to say:
"An astounding compilation of the breakneck Shangaan dance output of the Nozinja studio in Soweto (an urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa), recorded between 2006 and 2009. From his small home studio in Soweto, Nozinja (aka Dog) sells more than 50,000 records a year (DVD, cassettes, CDs) -- without iTunes, without digital distribution. This is hyper‐local music, all of it still considered traditional, all of it marketed through Shangaan radio and newspapers to a relatively small set of people who live between Johannesburg, Limpopo and Mozambique. Besides Dog himself -- or rather Zinja, Dog's performance name -- his label roster includes BBC, Tiyiselani Vomaseve, and Dog's famed mask‐wearing, clown‐dancing group, Tshetsha Boys. Dog often goes to the dances to scout for new talent. That's where he found Tiyiselani Vomaseve, two sisters who perform together as one of the most popular Shangaan traditional groups in South Africa. They count South African President Jacob Zuma's wife, Thobeka ka‐ Mabhija‐Zuma, as a fan and won a 2010 SABC award for Best Female Traditional Album, which is just one of many awards that Dog has accrued. Tshetsha Boys won Best Newcomer, Best Male Song of the Year and best Shangaan Song of the Year. BBC (trans. "Black Beautiful Culture") took home an award for Best Song as well. The awards are indicators of Dog's success, but the real test comes every Sunday in Soweto. Groups like Tiyiselani Vomaseve and BBC compete regularly for the crowd's favor. "You must be prepared to see the fastest dance ever," Dog declares. The dances are wild, with films of them attracting more than half a million hits on YouTube. The tradition grows out of the Shangaan disco movement, a music that dominated in the '80s with artists like Penny Penny and Peter Teanet. Shangaan disco ran at 110 BPM. Dog's music is around 180 and it's getting faster. Yet the lyrics seem to run counter to this rapidity. They read like African soap operas, tied up with domestic matters and a yearning for the slower life. This is country music. There's something distinctive in this Shangaan perspective: they are one of the more rural and traditional groups in the wealthiest African nation, yet "tradition" to them can also be living, electronic and nuanced. Just as Dog samples American phrases in his songs, his videos cut in shots of white joggers on a spring day, a foggy lakeshore reminiscent of Wisconsin, even a corporate office space -- mundane yet exotic images which become intriguing takes on the modern South African dream. Instead of African music becoming Americanized and re‐framed for the global market, Dog's productions do the opposite. American phrases and foreign images become samples in his collage, in his traditional context. This album is the first release of its kind outside South Africa. Here is Dog's music as‐is."
This is an incredible record. We found a used copy and decided to start stocking the reissue, 'cuz we doubt we'll ever see another copy of the OG pressing. Here's the stats from Sunbeam:
"Previously reissued on CD by Sunbeam, now issued on deluxe LP format as well; 180 gram pressing. As virtuoso musicians and members of Sam Gopal's Dream, Clark-Hutchinson (Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson) were well-known to regulars at legendary London clubs such as UFO and Middle Earth when they decided to branch out as a duo. Recorded in two intense overnight sessions in May 1969, A=MH2 is a scorching blend of jazz, raga, blues and psychedelia that has long been established as one of the key recordings to have emerged from the UK psychedelic underground. It's presented here as a 2LP set, together with their March 1969 recording debut, an unreleased collection of acid blues that features some equally stunning musicianship. The deluxe gatefold sleeve comes complete with detailed notes and previously-unpublished photos, making it the most comprehensive vinyl edition of this groundbreaking music ever assembled."
Fans of long-form raga influenced improvised psych jams will fall in love with this instantly. It's incredible. Recommended.
"This collection of 1970s tracks includes 4 songs ("Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch," "Fever," "Baby's on Fire," and "I'll Come Running") recorded with a studio band, THE WINKIES, on BBC 4 with John Peel co-producing, plus 2 more ("Third Uncle" and "Fat Lady of Limbourg") recorded at the Reading Festival in July 1976, and closing with 2 outtakes from "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy," "Wimoweh" and "Seven Deadly Finns." This comes packed in a very nicely done silkscreened jacket, in a limited edition of 500 copies. UK import."
LP - Jim Basnight and the Moberlys - Pop Pleasure
We recently offered up original copies of Jim Basnight and the Moberlys eponymous 4-song EP from 1984. The demand was such that we decided to bring in this, a retrospective compilation LP of Basnight and the Moberly tracks on the Italian label, Rave Up. It includes all of the classic Moberlys power pop cuts, plus some of the raunchier fan favorites like "Sexteen". The liners are extensive and this release is fully licensed. It's not an original pressing from '84, but one does get a bit more bang for your buck here. Recommended for fans of NW power pop, for sure.
"The 1981 sole album by this very short-lived Swiss electro-postpunk-coldwave band, this contains their hit "Eisbaer" as well as all the rest of their recorded output. Euro import."
LP - Sun City Girls - 330,003 Crossdressers 3xLP Box
"When this album first emerged on CD in 1996, there was, to be sure, a wee bit of head scratching, besmirched grinning and, at the end of the day, a little bit of aural indigestion for all those who worshiped at the altar of the SCG. Indeed, it's partly an ethno-surrealist take on places and forms known (Indonesian gamelan, Hollywood/Bollywood soundtracks, Polynesian folk, surf stylistics, sci-fi thematics) and partly a stupefying surreal ethnography of places yet to be discovered, as the collective Bishop brothers, Mssrs. Gocher and Kang walk that liminal tightrope between HERE and THERE. Stretched over three audiophile LPs, over two hours of mesmerizing sound brings this long-vanished release back for all to enjoy. Italian import. (Get Back)"
"A quality vinyl reissue of the extraordinary and very radical 1979 first album by one of the originators of UK postpunk. Not only were the lyrics extremely political and strident, even for that time, but the music gleefully and noisily broke every convention in sight while still maintaining a dancefloor-filling funky beat. With the original full color artwork. Euro import."
LP - Prince Nico Mbarga - Cool Money
"A reissue of a now-rare album by the late Cameroonian-Nigerian highlife vocalist/guitarist, first out in 1979 on the Nigerian label RAS when he was at the height of his popularity. Like many, Prince Nico began playing with a hotel band in 1970, and by 1973 had his first local hit; his 1976 hit "Sweet Mother" sold more than 13 million copies. (Klimt)"
LP - Rolling Stones - 2120 S. Michigan 2xLP
"Their unreleased 1964 blues album, this was recorded at Chess Studio in Chicago during 3 days in June and November of that year and includes versions of "It's All Over Now," "I Can't be Satisfied," "Stewed and Keefed," "Around and Around," "Confessin' the Blues," "Down in the Bottom," "Empty Heart," "High Heel Sneakers," "Down the Road Apiece," "If You Need Me," "Look What You've Done," "Tell Me Baby," "Time is on My Side" (version 1), "Reelin' and Rockin'," "Don't You Lie to Me," "2120 South Michigan Avenue," "What a Shame," "Fanny Mae," "Little Red Rooster," "Time is on My Side" (version 2), the unreleased Bill Wyman song "Goodbye Girl," "Key to the Highway," "Mercy, Mercy" (version 1), "Mercy, Mercy" (version 2), "That's How Strong My Love Is," "Under-Assistant West Coast Promo Man," and the rejected first version of "Satisfaction," as performed on the "Shindig" TV show in 1965. Full color artwork, Euro import."
LP - Amon Duul II - Tanz der Lemminge 2xLP (Out of Stock)
"A reissue of the highly praised 1971 classic album by these Krautrock icons. Moving definitively away from the San Francisco-sound psychedelia of their previous album, "Yeti," this one explores a more expansive and gentle direction including many acoustic and soft electric parts, with the first 3 sides occupied by complex, side-long song suites. Gatefold sleeve, original artwork, German import."
LP - Velvet Underground - Hilltop Pop (Out of Stock)
"This much talked about live recording is from an August 1969 New Hampshire festival, and starts off with "Waiting for the Man," followed by a great 10 minute version of "Run Run Run." Side 2 opens with "Pale Blue Eyes," which goes into a 12 minute, organ-heavy version of "What Goes On," closing with an enthusiastically received "Heroin." Two color artwork, quite good sound, UK import."
LP - Husker Du - Spot's Arcade
"The absolute best of the "Zen Arcade" sessions outtakes and alternate mixes! This very limited edition pressing (only 350 numbered copies!), comes in a beautifully hand silkscreened sleeve with great artwork. Euro import."
"Their complete BBC sessions from 1987 to 1989, this includes "Here Comes Your Man," "Subbacultcha," "Down to the Well" (2 versions), "Break My Body," "Hey," "Levitate Me," "In Heaven," "Wild Honey Pie," "Caribou," "Dead," "Tame," "There Goes My Gun," "Manta Ray," "Into the White," and "Wave of Mutilation." Details to come. Euro import."
LP - Tom Waits - Better Off Without You (Out of Stock)
"This 1975 recording for the PBS show "Soundstage" in Chicago includes "Eggs & Sausages," "Semi Suite," "Diamonds on My Windshield," "Drunk on the Moon," "Better Off Without a Wife," "Nightwalk Postcards," "The Heart of Saturday Night," and "San Diego Serenade." Details to come. Euro import."
LP - Tom Waits - Never Talk To Strangers
"This live set was recorded for the BBC-TV show "Live in Person" in 1979, and includes "With a Suitcase," "I Never Talk to Strangers," "Step Right Up," "On the Nickel," "Red Shoes by the Drugstore," "Burma Shave," "Kentucky Avenue," "Small Change," and "Closing Time." Details to come. Euro import."
LP - Nick Drake - Second Grace
"An LP reissue of this well known collection of studio demos and home recordings, this features 15 songs that did not appear in any form on his 3 original studio albums. Sound quality ranges from murky to very good, and likewise the songs themselves can be anywhere from no-wonder-it-was-never-released to very nice and moving examples of his songwriting skill. Euro import."
LP - Nick Drake - Time of No Reply
"This collection of studio outtakes (all previously unreleased, including 7 completely new songs and the 4 "last session" tracks) includes "Time of No Reply," "I Was Made to Love Magic," "Joey," "Clothes of Sand," "Man in a Shed," "Mayfair," "Fly," "The Thoughts of Mary Jane," "Been Smoking Too Long," "Strange Meeting II," "Riders on the Wheel," "Black Eyed Dog," "Hanging on a Star," and "Voice from a Mountain." Color vinyl pressing, UK import."
"Collecting many rare tracks from this early Washington DC hardcore band (with Henry "Rollins" Garfield on vocals), this includes their 1981 7" on Dischord, a 1980 demo session, their tracks on the classic "Flex Your Head" compilation, some 1980 live tracks, plus tracks from their direct predecessor band THE EXTORTS, which featured Lyle Preslar (later of MINOR THREAT) on vocals. Limited pressing of 300 copies, Euro import."
LP - Crispy Ambulance - Plateau Phase
"Formed in 1978 in the wake of seminal Manchester performances by the SEX PISTOLS and MAGAZINE, this legendary and influential but short-lived postpunk outfit released its sole 1980s studio album in 1982 on the Factory label. Very dark, melancholy and atmospheric, this brings together band leader/singer Alan Hempsall's restrained and sometimes almost ghostly vocals with complex yet minimalistic and experimental music. Original artwork, 180 gram vinyl, limited pressing of 1000. (Drastic Plastic)"
"First out in 1981 on the Factory label, this Martin Hannett-produced gem was the Blackpool band's debut album, and fits nicely into the postpunk zeitgeist with their twilit soundscapes, spare song structures and bleak outlook, though there's also a bit of PUBLIC IMAGE LTD. influence. Original artwork, 180 gram vinyl pressing, limited edition of 1000. (Drastic Plastic)."
7" - Boddie Acetates - 45 Boxed Set
We consider ourselves blessed to be so close to what we consider the epicenter of obscure vintage soul reissues. Numero Group is just a few blocks away from our quaint little shop and we're constantly blown away by the stuff these avid diggers conjure up. Their latest vinyl release is this incredible (in look and sound) 3x7" box set and we'll let them tell you all about it:
"Culled from the Boddie Recording Co. massive tape archive, this 3 X 45 box set captures the essence of Louise and Thomas Boddie's custom recording outfit. Recorded in the late 60s/early 70s, these three unknown groups are a mere sampling of the regional talent pool the Boddie's attracted. Designed to look and feel like the lathe cut acetates available from this humble Cleveland operation, this limited to 1000 box set is the first glimpse into the Boddie's vast and fascinating empire."
The box looks authentic right down to the Boddie packing tape wrapped around the center and the jams contained within these grooves are some of the best anonymous soul jams we've heard in a while. If we know anything about Numero, they'll be spending the next howeverlong digging up the deets and pulling a Boddie LP our two (with extensive liner notes and beautiful packaging) out of their hats. Until then, we definitely recommend reveling in the beauty that is this limited edition mystery box set before they disappear. Preview the cuts here, if you must.
We love GG Allin's early work. The "Always Was, Is, & Always Shall Be" is a fantastic debut KBD LP and "Fags in the Living Room" from this release is a total headscratcher of an inept, but catchy as hell, DIY punk song. Here's the word from the source:
"A reissue of five of GG ALLIN's earliest songs, "Out for Blood" and "Sixty Nine" from '83, "Fags in the Living Room," recorded in his bedroom in '82, and "Nuke Attack" and "I'm Right" from all the way back in 1979! Funny raw sound, funny bonehead punk songs, funny picture of the cretinous band on the front, featuring a very young and goofy-looking GG. Color vinyl, limited edition of 500."
This record is incredibly lo-fi, but it's a great document of a unique individual who, as you all already know, eventually went over the deep end and lost control. Catch him here on the verge. We'll probably only get these this one time, and that's why it's recommdended.
7" - Wet Illustrated - Born Stoked / Flying
The bay area strikes again. Wet Illustrated are from Corvette City, California which is...guess where...c'mon...yep...that's it...just south of San Francisco. Tim Cohen of the Fresh and Onlys engineered this, Wet Illustrated's debut single. Both cuts are summer-y garage pop cuts with Daydream Nation-era SY melodies that will definitely appeal to fans of the SF garage pop sound. There's only 300 of these. You know what that means.
7" - Bruce Lose - What's Your Name
Original pressing from 1983!
This record has been around for some time now. We've been stocking and restocking it since we opened, but it just dawned on us that we've never given it the formal description it deserves. You may recognize the name Bruce Lose as the Flipper bassist, well not exactly, since he was known as Bruce Loose in Flipper, but, trust us, it's the same dude. His solo work will appeal to some Flipper fans, albeit the more open minded ones, but it doesn't sound like Flipper. The confrontational attitude of Flipper won't be found here. As Lose, Bruce dwells in his bedroom and experiments with effects and wrote a couple of shambolic proto-Blank Dogs style 4-track "pop" jams with strong, you guessed it, bass melodies, "What's Your Name" being the poppier of the two. The flip, "Waking To Sleep", is a bit more experimental, dreamlike, and meandering, but it's got a cool Cabaret Voltaire vibe to it. Both of these songs would've fit in nicely on the Subterranean Modern comp released on Ralph Records back in 1979 alongside Chrome, MX-80 Sound, Residents, and Tuxedomoon, which is somewhat odd considering this was released on the similarly named Subterranean label. It's all SF art punk to me. And it's all awesome. Highly recommended.
This is another one we read about on Terminal Boredom and just new we had to have it. Here's the review we read:
"So I still don't have the first single by these guys...I remember it being good agitated punk with vocals that cruised along somewhere betwixt Reatard phrasing and an almost Jim Carroll drawl. I should order this soon. Oops to OOP. On this flapjack, "Young Dumb Bored..." has a mid-pace jab akin to early Functional Blackouts. Not as by the throat, but I wouldn't trust it in a dark alley. Simple snotty and catchy. "Allergic To Your Face" is a dark rhythmic ride with pulsing bass and some warbly electro-rock backin' it up. Funny. I don't remember them getting so Numan New Wave before? Not sure they have. What seems like synth could be a heavily treated guitar. Gives off a Nothing People feel that I'm pleased with. The flipside's "Don't Wanna' Talk" pounds along like Martin Atkins is behind the thumpers. Agro-industrial and simpleton grime. This sucker has a lot of variety to it...and all of it is pretty great. Scum stats: 69 (Ha. Hee.) copies come with a Shining homage sleeve and 231 with the regular "Choogling Chelsea" artwork. Black & Gold vinyl exists. Jump on it. (RSF)"
The review is spot on. Par for the course at Terminal Boredom. "Allergic To Your Face" is our favorite cut here, but as you know we're huge Nothing People fans around here and it definitely has a similar vibe, albeit more in your face. Maybe that's why Lasters are allergic, 'cuz they're always up in it. Anyhow, all three cuts are boss examples of tough-as-nails weirdpunk. We got the "Chooglin Chelsea" Orgasm Addict homage covers and gold vinyl. Only 231 of these? Ridiculous. These Lasters won't last, er.
7" - Jackie Shark And The Beach Butchers - 2nd Generation Rising
More KBD exact repro reissue 7" aktion! Awesome! This one's reputation precedes itself, but here's the descript from the legit reissue label, Artifix:
"JACKIE SHARK started Riverside, California's first punk band in 1977, RABIES, and played at the legendary Masque in Hollywood. The band broke up after a few shows and Shark did not want to leave his original songs unrecorded. With the help of a fellow punk musician, JEFFERY BLAST, the two quickly set up a 4-tack recorder in Jeff's house and recorded these two songs—"2nd Generation Rising" and "Mary Lou"—in February 1978. Approximately 250 records were pressed and were released by Spring 1978. These were mostly given away. Original copies are now highly prized collectors items that have fetched up to $ 1,200.00 a copy."
Nice. Fans of the KBD comps and the recently reissued singles on Last Laugh will obviously want to cop one of these. Chances are you'll never see an original, so why not pick this quality reissue up for a measly six bucks? We couldn't think of a reason why not to either.
New on Not Not Fun. Here's the label's short descript:
"french newcomer blends a spectrum of post-kraut elements into a fresh private hypnosis. been spinning this one a ton."
That all sounds about right. "Hyperion" is full of instrumental, repetitive, hypnotic, and cinematic jams that seem to be influenced by they kraut as well as Silver Apples and John Carpenter soundtracks. It's basically synth-based electro with artificial drums, arpeggios galore, and the Not Not Fun neo hippy dub production quality. Recommended.
Tape - Outer Minds - Outer Minds
These local dudes, forgive yourself for not recognizing the name as it's changed a few times already, have a single out on Hozac and this tape on Plus Tapes. Their tape has a twangy garage pop sound enhanced by multi-part nice boy / girl harmonies and melodies reminiscent of the Vivian Girls dueting with the Black Lips. Apparently, Outer Minds includes Mary from the Runnies on keys. Recommended, pro-dubbed, and limited to 200 copies.
The best tape of the new batch of Plus Tapes by far. Verma are an exciting new Chicago psych rock band. This, their debut tape, is full of mostly instrumental (with some buried femme vocals scattered here and there). The A-side is tranced out, drone-y, repetitious, atmospheric psych with some Hawkwind-esque synth textures over the top. Dare we compare them to an instrumental hybrid fo Can and Hawkwind? We dare. The B-side toughens up a bit and gets more motorik and driving not terribly dissimilar from some of the earliest Cave "Jamz". Fuckin' A! Only 100 pro-dubbed copies exist.
Limited edition of 200 - pro dubbed
Exile plays samples like instruments -- stripping them down to the core and tapping out new melodies and rhythms. But there's a twist: this album was sampled entirely from FM radio in Los Angeles. Commercials, jingles, call-ins, cheesy smooth jazz, late night battle raps, pop songs; they have all been artfully munged into catchy instrumental hip hop jams and interludes sometimes with a political or spiritual message. FM radio today is a strange corporate beast and this album exploits that beast, leaving no stone unturned. Originally released on Plug Research, now on Plustapes cassette!
Limited edition of 200 - pro dubbed
The perfect companion piece to Exile's "Radio", "AM/FM" takes the chop shop aesthetic of its counter part to new levels. A cadre of guests artists, including Shafiq Husayn, Free The Robots, Aloe Blacc, Grouch and Eligh, Fashawn, and Clutch Hopkins reinterpret, reimagine and and reconstitute the original tracks, sometimes adding new vocals and instrumentation. The end result is nothing short of stunning.
Recommended Restocks
LP - Heater - God and Hair (Limited Edition on Red Vinyl)
Not a restock exactly, but we're nearly out of red vinyl so we thought we'd remind you to grab one before they're gone.
Red Vinyl is limited to 100 copies, never to be pressed again!
Heater is a three-piece Columbia, Missouri super group, if such a thing exists. Heater's guitarist and lead singer, Zach "Zz" McLuckie, used to be a member of CAVE and Sneakers (both have released records on Permanent Records), among others. Heater's bassist / second guitarist, Jeremy "Jerusalem" Freeze also plays guitar in Jerusalem and the Starbaskets and both he and Heater's drummer, Jon "Wujj" Wujick, formerly jammed together in California Raisins (their only release was a split 10" with CAVE also on Permanent).
Now that you have the band history, we might as well get into the sounds confined within, Heater's first widely distributed release. "God and Hair" is a super upbeat, melodic pop record in essence, but as I mentioned before, these guys come from a very DIY background. It's got some fast repetitive lo-fi punk rock jams with reverb enhanced vocals similar to those found on the Sneakers "Children Into People" EP, and some Clean-esque pop elements, but it's also got tracks with a great laid back summertime '90s alt-pop vibe not too dissimilar from the least noisy '90s moments of Sonic Youth and Sebadoh. All of these elements come together and make for a unique sound (thanks to a little help by Cooper Crain of CAVE's analog production techniques) and make for one hell of a summertime DIY pop jammer.
There are only 500 copies of this limited edition LP and it may never be pressed again.
LP - Various Artists - Saigon Rock And Soul - Vietnamese Classic Tracks -1968-1974
We've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this release since we pre-ordered it a couple months ago. Now it's here and it's better than we ever could have imagined it. We love Sublime Frequencies for their thorough descriptions almost as much as we love 'em for the quality of their releases. Viva la Bishop bros! Here's their description on this killer double LP:
"The long-awaited foray into the Vietnamese rock, pop and soul sound of the late 1960s and early 1970s is finally here. Saigon Rock & Soul delivers the goods international retro collectors have been searching for in vain for many years -- and it delivers beyond belief. Every song is a mini-masterpiece, be it heavy acid-rock psychedelia, horn- and guitar-drenched funk grooves, or gripping soul ballads reflective of life during wartime. The tracks that form this collection cut a window into a rich musical Vietnamese music scene that has long been obscured, and for the most part, forgotten. As the scope of electrified Vietnamese music from the 1960s and 1970s begins to be revealed, it becomes evident that this was among the heaviest and most eclectic musical scenes of Southeast Asia at the time. These songs tell of war, love and what war does to love. All of them were recorded in makeshift studios and even U.S. army facilities while the Vietnam War raged -- and were issued by a handful of Saigon record companies on vinyl 45s and reel or cassette tapes. Westernized forms of music in Vietnam had appeared during the latter 19th century, and especially during the early 20th century, under the influence of the French colonizers. Tan Nhac (trans. "modern music") always incorporated both domestic and international sounds, and continued to develop alongside Western musical trends. During the 1960s and 1970s, pulp ballads were being recorded by leading crooners of the time who alternated between modern and traditional forms of regional music. When the electric guitar hit the streets of Saigon, Vietnamese renditions of contemporary instrumental trends such as surf-rock, beat and twist soon emerged, followed by some pretty deep soul sounds inspired by Motown radio hits as well as funk grooves brought on by James Brown and his contemporaries. By the mid-1960s, Vietnam had been ravaged by war for years. American G.I.s had become a standard fixture in Saigon, as did many of the cultural artifacts they brought with them. This certainly included the music. The sounds of rock and roll dominated the radio waves, and Saigon nightclubs were teeming with new sounds. Musically, The Shadows and The Ventures soon gave way to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as an enthusiastic set of young Vietnamese rockers signed on to the lifestyle, always eager to hear the latest musical trends the G.I.s would bring in on LP or tape. This era saw the birth of a vibrant rock scene, yet rock music and anything that came close was commonly referred to as "soul" in the Vietnamese genre-listings. Like many cultures in Asia, Vietnamese music is recorded, marketed, listened to and disposed of in a relatively quick manner. This level of advanced ephemera ensures a degree of difficulty when trying to unearth and discover cultural histories. Literally, most of the music heard here has been brought back from the dead. Artists featured include some of Vietnam's most popular at the time: Elvis Phuong, Hung Cuong, Mai Lei Huyen, Le Thu, Thai Thanh, Giao Linh, Mai Lei Huyen and the CBC Band. This limited edition 2LP vinyl release features 70 minutes of classic original recordings compiled by Mark Gergis housed in a beautiful full-color gatefold jacket with extensive liner notes."
As with all of the previous Sublime Frequencies releases, this one's limited and highly recommended. It's probably the label's most accessible release to date and if you think twice, you might end up paying twice as much as we're offering it up for now.
LP - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Rush To Relax
Eddy Current Suppression Ring's 2008 LP was near the top of the list of our favorites of the year (as was the Eddy Current side-project Ooga Boogas sole LP, for that matter). These guys play (post) punk rock the same way the Fall, Television, and the Aussie band X did, where repetition and flat monotone vocals reign supreme. 2009 saw the domestic reissue of Eddy Current's eponymous debut and we seem to remember a cool single or two as well. Anyhow, ECSR is back with their third full-length and it's just as good, if not better, than "Primary Colours". It's more stylistically eclectic and the song "Second Guessing" is as close as these guys get to rocking as hard as that Ooga Boogas record we hold so dear. Obviously, this one comes with our highest recommendation.
LP - Bare Wires - Seeking Love
Bare Wires have been kicking around for a while now, releasing quality powerpop records, but we've yet to include one of them in our recommended release section. We apologize for the oversight, but that doesn't mean that we haven't been listening. "Seeking Love" is on the always quality Castle Face label and here's their description:
" Amplifying the pared down "smooth punk" of their 2009 debut LP Artificial Clouds, BARE WIRES nods to the bubblegum chomping, power pop stompers of '70s glam rock with their sophomore album Seeking Love. What started as the side project of MATTHEW MELTON and ALICJA TROUT in Memphis has now solidified as a three-piece based out of Oakland, CA with Melton, drummer NATHAN PRICE and bassist FLETCHER JOHNSON. Released on BRIAN LEE HUGHES & JOHN DWYER's (THEE OH SEES) Castle Face imprint, the ten songs on Seeking Love boast handclap heavy, stadium-ready production reminiscent of early '70s glam rockers Gary Glitter and Slade, while still speaking to the sincerity and authenticity that has become Melton's songwriting trademark."
Great shit. Probably Bare Wires best record to date, which is why we're making sure to give it a little more attention this time around. Melton really knows how to write a great pop diddy (a whole record's worth here, to be exact) without sounding overly wussy, not an easy feat. Good shit!
LP - Mike Rep And The Quotas - Stupor Haitus
The supply of Ohio underground rock recordings seems endless at times. It makes us wonder if every college town in the Midwest had a similar thing going on. Probably not, but we're hopeful that more recordings like this will be unearthed from places like Madison, Bloomington, and Iowa City. Chances are that Columbus is an anomaly, but it sure would be awesome if it weren't. Anyhow, as we've mentioned before in reviews of recently reissued records from the same scene on Columbus Discount, there must've been (and maybe there still is) something in the water in Columbus. The venerable and mighty Siltbreeze is behind this one. With credentials like these, it's not hard to see why this record is worth owning, but here's Tom Lax's very influential sales pitch:
"Stupor Hiatus culls the complete recorded works of the original MIKE REP AND THE QUOTAS, dating back to 1974 and moving forward into the early 1990s. Essentially a reworking of the Stupor Hiatus Vol. 2 LP released by Siltbreeze in 1992 (minus the questionable original artwork and mysterious French-language insert), this definitive collection is that record in its entirety plus six additional tracks, four of which have never before been released. This double-LP includes the legendary "Rocket to Nowhere," a lovely instrumental interpretation of the 13th Floor Elevators' "She Lives in a Time of Her Own," a cover of Roky Erickson's "Creature with the Atom Brain," a shout-out to the Strapping Fieldhands ("In the Pineys") and fifteen other immortal tracks. Those who already know, know. But if you're only familiar with the name Mike Rep as a producer for such acts as Guided By Voices, Strapping Fieldhands and Times New Viking, here's your chance to get caught up with a back catalog of extraordinary capacity. Before there were peckerwoods buzzing about lo-fi, Mike Rep--fed by a love for B-grade horror flicks, (the aforementioned) 13 Floor Elevators, Velvet Undergound, Kim Fowley and (blech!) The Doors-was concocting a mash of home-recorded punk, pop and psychedelia for a few fortunate ears. This isn't the Sunset Strip or Lower East Side, folks, it's Grove City, Ohio, a scene ruled by codeine, cannabis and Carling. So be prepared to hunker down with a fuzzy, furry and fried collection of 20-plus years of sound from the vaults of one of America's most important legends in the flesh. The Creeping Flesh, that is. One-time vinyl edition of 1000, includes download card."
You heard the man. It's a one-time only pressing of 1000 copies. What are you waiting for? A bidding war on Ebay? Grab one of these and proceed to the check out counter before someone else beats you to the punch.
LP - Psychic Ills - Catoptric
Psychic Ills are staying mad busy. Just a few weeks ago we brought in, and immediately sold out of, the super limited "Astral Occurances" import LP (which we may have more of next week, by the way) and here we are discussing yet another new Psychic Ills record, this time available domestically thanks to The Social Registry. Here's the basic stats:
"New 12-inch from Psychic Ills features four mind mending compositions recorded around the same time as Mirror Eye. Limited to 600 copies, this release is pressed on marbled vinyl with a beautiful silk screened LP jacket and linen insert. Get them before they disappear."
Mind melding? Check. Recorded around the same time as "Mirror Eye"? Sounds like it. Check. Limited to 600, marbled vinyl, beautifully silk screened? Check, check, check. "Get them before they disappear." Sound advice. Highly recommended for fans of the Ills at their most Middle Eastern-y. Trance out! By the way, according to Wikipedia "Catoptrics deals with the phenomena of reflected light and image-forming optical systems using mirrors" Apt title, for sure.
LP - Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime
We've been big fans of the Oh Sees for years around these parts. It could be argued that Mr. Dwyer and crew release too many records, but with the quality so consistently high on most of them, what's the point in arguing? Unlike "Dog Poison" and a few of the more recent Oh Sees releases / reissues (which we liked quite a bit), "Warm Slime" finds them back in full band form, not unlike what we heard on last year's phenomenal "Help" LP. The title track "Warm Slime" is the first thing you hear when you drop the needle. It could've come and gone in the first couple of minutes and we would've been satisfied, feeling as though we just heard one of the greatest Oh Sees garage-y pop jams recorded, but it doesn't. It goes on for another ten or so minutes, getting all "a little bit softer now / a little bit louder now Shout-style on us, something that the Oh Sees have yet to do on record. It's a great centerpiece of a psychedelic garage jam. But don't worry ADD addled garage turkeys, the rest of the record returns to the regular, shorter form Oh Sees style. Fans of "Help" will definitely dig this one, even if any of you felt burned by any of the Oh Sees releases that have been released since then. "Warm Slime" is a great record and it's available now just in time to score your first summertime BBQ. Recommended.
LP - Billy Bao - May 08
One of our favorite records of '09. Brutal, repetitive noise rock influenced by Brainbombs and Fela Kuti!?! Politically influenced nihilism. Thick slabs of noisy reverbed hate fueled dirgecore burners aimed at global capitalism, the food crisis of 2008, and humanity in general. This is punishment meant to open peoples eyes. Highly recommended!
LP - Sibylle Baier - Colour Green
We don't repeatedly listen to a whole lot of singer/songwriter stuff around here, but this one's been a shop fave ever since it's release back in 2006 on Orange Twin. It's the kind of record that'll send chills up your spine and gives you goose pimples on your forearms. Reportedly the tunes were recorded in the early 70s at home on reel-to-reel and weren't shared with anyone until three decades later when her son dubbed some copies for family members. Somehow, a copy fell in to J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.'s hands and it was finally released on Orange Twin in 2006. It, like the Jeff Mangum solo record, has been out-of-print for years, but thanks to American Dust, the same label who released "Live At Jittery Joes", it's been given a second wind on wax. Here's the label's description:
"Recorded in the early '70s in her home on a reel-to-reel tape deck, SIBYLLE BAIER's Colour Green paints intimate portraits of life's sad and fragile beauty. Baier and her music appeared in the 1973 Wim Wenders film Alice in the Cities, but her recordings were never released, and only shared with family and friends. It's said that "Remember the Day," the first song she ever wrote, was inspired by a road trip to the Alps with a friend during a dark period in her youth. Upon return, Baier pulled out her reel-to-reel and preserved these intimate thoughts and feelings on tape. Though she eventually chose family and motherhood over a music career, the bare, hushed folk songs on Colour Green, first released in 2006, have elevated her to the realm of revered cult performers such as Vashti Bunyan, Nico and Bridget St. John. After an extremely limited initial pressing (copies of which have fetched large sums via online auction sites), Colour Green is finally available again on vinyl."
"Colour Green" is a perfect morning time record. The songs will catch your ear upon first listen and stay with you for years. It's one of our favorite all-time singer/songwriter folk records and arguably the best record in the genre. No joke. It's captivating and timeless. Highly recommended, especially for folks who dig Nico, Vashti Bunyan, and bleak, simple, mellow singer/songwriter stuff.
LP - Stooges - Electric Circus
When we read that this was the "...the most important Stooges artifact since Metallic K.O." in Record Collector, we just had to hear this. After months of waiting, this record is finally in stock in quantity and it's a doozie. Here's the quote the UK label, Easy Action, is using to sell this one:
"There are at least two persuasive reasons to hear these recordings: firstly, you have never heard this group before, and secondly, you have never heard these songs before (with one exception). The Stooges that went out on tour in spring 1971 were quite a different group to any version to have entered a studio. Joining the remaining Fun House veterans -- Iggy on vocals, Ron Asheton on guitar and Scott Asheton on drums -- were new boys Jimmy Recca on bass and James Williamson on guitar -- yes indeed! - a dual guitar Stooges!! ... and Jools Thurston nowhere in sight!!! You don't really need me to tell you what this line-up sounded like... you know (don't you?) -- suffice to say they rocked!" -- Alan Holmes
This is a great document of a tragically under documented part of Stooges history. "Electric Circus" is a limited edition import only release on orange vinyl and it surely won't be around for long. The sound quality here isn't exceptional, but it's the fact that these recordings of this short-lived Stooges line-up exist on wax that's important to remember here. It's especially recommended for Stooges diehards. Those looking to pick up their first Stooges record would do better to start with one of the first three LPs instead ("Stooges", "Fun House", or "Raw Power"). All of which are absolutely essential to any decent rock'n'roll record collection. (That probably goes without saying for most of you, but we figure it's good to state that fact at least once a year anyhow).
LP - Silver Apples - Contact
Silver Apples are yet another fantastic group that may be known the world over (at least as much as Can is) had they not been so far ahead of their time. They issued two records in the late '60s, their terrific self-titled debut in '68 and the follow-up, "Contact", in '69. Both are incredible records that have a proto-Suicide krautrock vibe to them and in our humble opinion, any record collection remains (very) incomplete without at least one of the first two Silver Apples records, especially now that they're available so readily and affordably. Original pressings fetch great sums, by the way. Here's the DL from allmusic.com:
"Silver Apples remain one of pop music's true enigmas: a surreal, almost unprecedented duo, their music explored interstellar drones and hums, pulsing rhythms, and electronically generated melodies years before similar ideas were adopted in the work of acolytes ranging from Suicide to Spacemen 3 to Laika. The Silver Apples formed in New York in 1967 and comprised percussionist Danny Taylor and lead vocalist Simeon, a bizarre figure who played an instrument also dubbed the Simeon, which (according to notes on the duo's self-titled 1968 debut LP) consisted of "nine audio oscillators and eighty-six manual controls...The lead and rhythm oscillators are played with the hands, elbows and knees and the bass oscillators are played with the feet." Although the utterly uncommercial record -- an ingenious cacophony of beeps, buzzes, and beats -- sold poorly, the Silver Apples resurfaced a year later with their sophomore effort, Contact, another far-flung outing which fared no better than its predecessor."
Although the first two Silver Apples records sold very poorly, just like the first couple Velvet Underground records, they are much more listenable than the word "uncommercial" makes them sound. Fans of krautrock, psych, and synth experiments need these records!
LP - High On Fire - Surrounded By Thieves
A long overdue double LP reissue of this modern metal classic! Original pressings of these have fetched nearly $200 in recent years. As many of you probably already know, High On Fire is the brainchild of ex-Sleep guitarist Matt Pike. "Surrounded By Thieves" is High on Fire's second full-length orginally released in 2002. This one finds Pike at his most triumphant - you can almost feel the horse hooves trampling o'erfoot! Packaged in deluxe Gatefold 'tip-on' style jackets - this is one bee-yoo-tifully brutal album! Recommended for fans of Black Sabbath, Sleep, Saint Vitus, & Mastodon!
LP - High On Fire - Blessed Black Wings
Yet another long overdue double LP reissue of this modern metal classic! Original pressings of these have fetched nearly $200 in recent years, depending on vinyl color of course. As many of you probably already know, High On Fire is the brainchild of ex-Sleep guitarist Matt Pike. "Blessed Black Wings" is High On Fire's third studio album. It was recorded at Electrical Audio by Albini and it was originally released in 2005, just two years before. It's arguably High On Fire's best record. Packaged in deluxe Gatefold 'tip-on' style jackets - this is one bee-yoo-tifully brutal album! Also recommended for fans of Black Sabbath, Sleep, Saint Vitus, & Mastodon!
LP - Various Artists - Palenque Palenque 3xLP
Man, Soundway just don't quit. They're back again this week with another killer retrospective compilation of Afro Colombian roots music. This one's subtitled: "Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots in 1975-91" and here's what the label told us:
"Deluxe gatefold triple LP version featuring 2 bonus tracks not available on the CD. Palenque Palenque reveals a unique and fascinating story of how Afro Colombian music developed from the 1970s onwards and how the local sound-systems in Cartagena and Barranquilla played such an important role in shaping the sound of the Colombian champeta. Co-compiled by Lucas Silva (resident of Bogota and owner of Palenque Records) and Soundway Records' Miles Cleret, the album highlights the long relationship that the Caribbean coast of Colombia has with Africa stretching back to the 17th century -- specifically, the rise of the percussion-heavy champeta sound, born out of a wave of popularity for psychedelic Afro, Latin & Caribbean music inspired by the DJs of the time. The influence of the sound-systems spread to local artists as well as re-energizing traditional African folk songs and rhythms that had survived since the days of slavery. Record labels recognized the major change in direction from the days when cumbia and porro ruled the hearts of the ghettos and began employing bands that began experimenting and tapping into these new cultural and musical movements. Around 1981, several groups were recording Afrobeat in Baranquilla including Abelardo Carbonó who features with his ode, "Quiero A Mi Gente." A true proponent of the avant-garde, he can still be heard playing in Anibal Velasquez's orchestra. Son Palenque were considered pioneers of the crossover sound of Africa and the Caribbean and are featured three times including the title-track of this album. Fela Kuti's "Shakara" is reworked by Lisandro Meza entitled "Shacalao," while Fela's influence is further felt through Wganda Kenya's contributions, especially on the shuffling cut that is "Pim Pom." Soundway have unearthed a magical era, exposed a radical movement and have, in the process, found some of the world's most eccentric and highly addictive modern dance music. Package includes extensive liner notes plus rare photos and cover art."
As with most Soundway releases, this one comes with the Permanent stamp of approval.
LP - Various Artists - Zulu Stomp - South Africa Garage Beats
We'd been rocking this one on CD for a little while and we're now extremely pleased to be able to offer it up on wax. Here's No Smoke Records description of this killer release:
"While national newspapers portrayed them as 'hordes of sloppy, aggressive, be-jeaned louts and their girlfriends who cause so much trouble in South Africa,' a whole new generation of garage rockers was flooding the clubs with savage, primitive fuzz sounds. No doubt South Africa was the in-place in Mother Africa in the '60s, with a strong scene as can be heard on the Cazumbi compilations and this new Zulu Stomp that is exclusively dedicated to that country. Expect some of the best garage music you've ever heard from Africa, and don't miss this one if you liked Cazumbi... This release includes an insert with liner notes plus a bunch of rare photos. Great remastered sound as well."
We liked both volumes of "Cazumbi" and we're diggin' this one as well. Cop one for yourself and you'll instantly see why.
LP - Herbcraft - Discovers The Bitter Water Of Agartha
Looks like Jeremy Earl of Woods, Woodsist, and Fuck It Tapes is getting bored. Running a couple of labels, being in a full-time touring band just wasn't enough to keep his hands from going idle, so he started a new label. This looks to be the debut release for both Hello Sunshine, the label, and Herbcraft, the band. Here's how Jeremy puts it:
"December 2009: Days after returning to Maine following three heavy months on the road, Blows Against the Empire in one hand, Admiral Richard Byrd's secret diary in the other, Matthew Lajoie (Cursillistas) awoke one morning having dreamt the existence of a lost 1973 concept record about the exploration of inner Earth and the advanced civilization thriving at its center--Agartha, the domain of the Arianni. Using Byrd's account as the thematic framework for the album, he feverishly poured forth a representation of the imagined record, writing and recording the entire LP in a single 24-hour period--guided by sonic Ouija. The result is a cosmic antenna with dials tuned to the Planet Earth Rock 'n' Roll Orchestra, obscure psych-prog spacecasts, and classic rock radio, all refracted through the dusty, cracked and scratched Cursillistas prism. Performed entirely on a borrowed thrift store electric guitar and broken microphone, Herbcraft Discovers the Bitter Water of Agartha was birthed in the Now to scatter the seeds of Agartha's message in our Aquarian Dark Age. Limited to 500 copies."
Whoa. That bit was mindblowin, but don't worry, this is a pretty cool experimental folk record and it's definitely recommended for fans of Skip Spence, Six Organs, and private press acid folk.
2xLP - Sylvester Anfang II - Sylvester Anfang II
"All things must evolve, and given time even the unicellular organisms dwelling in ocean's deepest fathoms may shift form and take to the skies. In celebration of the mysteries of evolution, Aurora Borealis proudly presents Sylvester Anfang II. In the time since the release of Kosmies Slachtafval, Silvester Anfang have grown into Sylvester Anfang II, a more psychedelic beast, a more tangible creature in some ways, but one that defies and confounds standard classification. Taking their cue from Krautrock communes of yore, the Flemish troubadours have expanded both ranks and minds and now present this giant new opus for general consumption. With cultish numbers swollen with new blood in the guise of Stef Anus (Kiss the Anus of a Black Cat), Father Sloow (Sloow Tapes pontiff), Bram (Ignatz) and Clay Ruby (Davenport, Burial Hex), the sound is much fuller and more reminiscent of Kraut-ish dope jams than ever before. Ruby's vocal additions create a whole new universe for the band, rather like if Dr. John had been born in a plague pit in Flanders, and the resulting tracks 'The Devil Always Shits in the Same Graves Parts 1 & 2' are masterful examples of Flemish voodoo boogie. Sure to upset parents and upstanding citizens with their occult themes and liberal European-style artwork, Sylvester Anfang II reach new levels of consciousness with their mantras of goat worship and the orthodoxy of denial that states, 'Only analogue is real.' Dust off your robes, sharpen the sacrificial blade, order in some Trappist beers -- tune in, turn on, evolve."
LP - Screamers - Assault!
Screamers were arguably the first synthpunk band. "Assault! Collects the majority of the known "recordings by the Los Angeles synthpunk legends, [including] 1978 live versions of "Vertigo," "Last Four Digits," "Magazine Love," "The Beat Goes On," "Punish or Be Damned," and "In a Better World," plus "If I Can't Have What I Want" and "Mater Dolores" from the 1977 Pat Garrett demos, "Why the World" and "The Scream" from a 1978 demo, as well as "I'm a Mensch," "The Scream," and "Why the World" from the 1978 Renee Daalder/David Campbell demos." This UK import edition includes a folded insert. As you probably already know, Screamers vinyl is quite hard to come by. No proper studio recordings exist, as far as we know, and demos and live material is all that's ever been available on wax or CD. This is the first Screamers vinyl we've had in stock since we opened and we're not sure when we'll see more.
10" - Red Mass - Split Brain Experiment
We have the limited edition green vinyl copies. Each is hand numbered out of 100! Never to be pressed again!
Our pals at Rococo Records released this one and here's their description:
"Red Mass creates dark, driving, and repetitive apocalypse-punk that's unique to Montreal, especially considering that this band features members of now-defunct CPC Gangbangs. Their dissonant and disjointed dark-wave eventually erupts into hypnotic noise. The sound and vocals range from the low preach of Bad Seeds-era Nick Cave to the severe rants of Fear's Lee Ving, all bound and gagged with acidic guitar solos revived from long-dead Eddie Hazel. This 10" starts out curiously open but gets progressively darker as you are sucked deeper into their vacuum of violence. Limited to 500 copies."
Red Mass is one of the most acid damaged garage bands going these days without being constantly overly blown-out or noisy. "Split Brain Experiment" starts off very minimally, but the laid back guitar leads on the A-side of this mid-sized release are incendiary. The rhythms are hypnotic, the vocals effected, and the songs have a Robotrippin' kind of pace to 'em. The opening cut on the B-side, "Pig", kicks the "trippin' balls" knob up a notch while the closing track "The End Of The World" sounds like a unearthed "Nuggets" jam that gets lost on one helluva bad trip. There's actually a pretty cool timeless outsider private press vibe to these recordings. If we didn't know Red Mass were from the land of free healthcare up north, after hearing this slab, we would've expected the phrase "lovingly fucked with by Mike Rep" to be included in the liners. Regardless of where they're coming from geographically, Red Mass obviously has a lot in common with what's come out of the Buckeye State over the past few decades. This ten-incher comes especially recommended for fans of drug'n'roll and all of the Ohio underground stalwarts.
3xLP - The Plastic People Of The Universe - Magical Nights
The vinyl reissue gods are listening! Just a short while ago they brought us the Parson Sound 3xLP box (that's back in stock this week by the way) and now we have another long sought after vinyl release by the furthest out Czechs we know, The Plastic People Of The Universe on the respectable Spanish label, Munster. They did all the research so we might as well let them tell the story behind this one:
"3LP version. Munster Records presents the most complete anthology of the legendary Czech band The Plastic People Of The Universe. PPUS was formed in autumn 1968 in Prague by teenagers and former school-mates bass guitarist Milan "Mejla" Hlavsa and guitarist Jirí "Premek" Stevich. They teamed up with vocalist and clarinetist Michal Jernek and drummer Pavel "Eman" Zeman. Their increasing popularity attracted attention from Ivan Martin Jirous, until then the artistic mastermind of the legendary Primitives Group. He secured them a professional license and equipment from a state-owned agency. Eventually, another ex- Primitives, Josef Janícek, joined on guitar (later he switched to keyboards). Since the invasion of the Warsaw Pact armies in August 1968, the Czechoslovakian Communist regime was continuously tightening the reins on most segments of the society, and particularly on the West-influenced youth culture. By 1970, the PPU had lost their agency support and the state-owned instruments. Jernek and Stevich quit, replaced by guitarist and violinist Jiří Kabes and the Canadian vocalist Paul Wilson. In 1973, Hlavsa, Janícek and Kabes were joined by saxophonist Vratislav Brabenec. As an experienced jazz musician, Brabenec caused a further major shift in the group's orientation, from relatively straight progressive rock towards more experimental music forms. They also ditched the English lyrics in favor of original Czech poems, supplied at that time by the underground philosopher and poet Egon Bondy. During the winter of 1974-75, the PPU clandestinely recorded their first "album" on archaic equipment in the unheated rooms of the Houska castle. Parts of it were released in France as Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned LP in 1978. In 1976, dozens of members from the underground community were arrested by the secret police, including the PPU musicians, and several of them were put on trial. Brabenec and Jirous were sentenced to eight and 18 months in prison. That trial was the impetus for playwright Václav Havel and other intellectuals to publish the Charter 77 document in January 1977. Despite all the hurdles, the PPU kept on writing new material, which they occasionally performed and recorded at Havel's private farm. The persecutions by the secret police continued, and in 1982, Brabenec was forced to emigrate. Although the PPU home-recorded several albums through the 1980s, after 1981 they did not play before an audience until their break-up in 1988. After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the PPU briefly reappeared in 1992 for a few gigs, featuring the original founding members. In 1997, after being asked by Václav Havel (then Czech president) to perform at the 20th anniversary of Charter 77 at the Prague Castle, the classic 1978-1982 line-up eventually decided to reunite. And despite Hlavsa's premature death in 2001, they continue touring successfully to the present day. 3LP package features 31 tracks recorded between 1969 and 1985 by this influential and revolutionary experimental band. Includes printed inner sleeves with notes by expert Luká Machata, with rare photos of the band."
It's amazing what some folks will do in order to create music. And what a sweet package this 3xLP set is! Not a bad price either, especially considering how rare (and expensive) their original records are these days. Each LP is housed in it's own deluxe printed inner sleeve with loads of liners and photos (these guys may have invented corpse paint, by the way) inside the jacket. Fans of krautrock, experimental pop music, and everything underground from proto-to-post punk will find something to like here. Highly recommended.
LP - Men - Immaculada
The last copies we'll ever see of the first pressing of 300 copies!
The first thing you'll noticed when you pick this record up is the packaging. The jacket is beautifully screen printed, even on the inside of the jacket. The 12x17 two-sided, card stock insert is also super nice. The second thing you'll notice, unless you blindly remove the record from the jacket, are the sounds coming from your speakers. Men's "Immaculada" starts off with a totally-fuzzed out guitar/organ riff that quickly turns into a epic Boris-esque sludge jam of triumph. From there it gets all NYC-circa now aggro, and then almost black metal-lic, then it unexpectedly takes a turn to the slightly more melodic side. The closest thing I can think to compare this to is a more shoegaze-y Pissed Jeans. To pull that off is quite a feat and Men do it well. "Immaculada" has inspired us to coin a new genre term: pissgaze. There's a total of 8 songs, 300 copies, and a whole lot of pissgaze intensity here.
LP - Scorpion Violente - Scorpion Violente EP (Import on Bruit Direct Disques)
Dreams and Scorpion Violente did a great split 7" a year or so ago. Dreams just had released a 7" on Rococo. Now it's Scorpion Violente's turn. In Dreams, Nafi (from the Anals, Plasto Beton, and more) Armelle and do minimal synth noise rock with looped drum tracks, simple synth lines, harsh post-industrial guitar playing, with supplemental polyrhythmic junk percussion, kinda what we imagine Anals might have sounded like while Robo trippin'. Armelle isn't in Scorpion Violente, but Nafi is, but we're not sure whether he's Scott Scorpion or Thomas Violente, but Scorpion Violente is even more minimal than Dreams and not quite as noisy as Dreams or the Anals. Scorpion Violente are more like super repetitive instrumental minimal synth / mutant disco. Similar to D.A.F.'s early material or even 20 Jazz Funk Greats-era Throbbing Gristle. Basically, it's what we wish more of the Wax Trax stuff sounded like. Like almost everything, the King (Midas) of France touches, this 3-long-song EP is gold. This import is on Bruit Direct Disques and is bruit-ally recommended.
LP - International Hello - International Hello
Are you a fan of Hawkwind, F/i, Monoshock, or Bad Trips? If so, you must read Holy Mountain's description of their latest release by International Hello:
"International Hello is the perfection of California psychedelic rock in all its ecstatic glory. Grady Runyan's guitar playing is as fantastic, spacey and heavy as ever, as is Scott Derr's always-pertinent bass throb. Drummer and singer Rubin Fiberglass is just perfect as a screaming maniac who can actually keep time while Doug Pearson's electronics consistently enhance the dominant power-trio rock that swirls in the sky like some kind of creation myth. In case you don't recognize the names, these guys were the prime movers and shakers behind the band Monoshock. Does it sound like them? Yeah but it's way back there, and this is about a new place they're going. And it's good. You'll see."
We've seen and we agree, it's good. Really good. Int'l Hello has the Monoshock 'tude, but sonically it packs more of a Hawkwind improv punch. If you thought the Sternklang or Bad Trips LPs were good, wait til you hear this. Your mind just might be blown. Essential for heads.
LP - The Mantles - Pink Information
The Mantles debut LP on Siltbreeze has been in heavy rotation around these parts ever since it's release last year. They've only issued a mailorder only single since, so we've been jonesin' for some Mantles big time. Mexican Summer stepped up and released the Mantles follow-up EP called "Pink Information". Here's the scoop:
"Incredible jangle-pop that conducts a druggy seance for the spirit of Gene Clark. A collector's dream, these San Francisco visionaries have released an incredible series of singles on Duc-I-Tone, Slumberland, and Slitbreeze. Shades of LA '66, New Zealand '82 and London '86 dance around each other in a delirious, druggy waking dream. Truly beautiful stuff."
Agreed. "Pink Information" is a great summertime garage pop record. Don't sleep, there's only 1000 of these (so they say). Hand-numbered and good as they come.
LP - Cave - Pure Moods
Permanent and Cave go way back. We've known those dudes since long before we opened the shop. We put out their first two records on our own in-house imprint and we've watched them climb further and further up the ladder of success ever since. They're a totally awesome live band and they get tighter and tighter with each release. Their last LP, "Psychic Psummer", came out last psummer on Important Records and we featured it on our best of '09 list. "Pure Moods", their latest EP, is out now on Drag City. "Pure Moods" finds Cave as tight as ever. They've cleaned up their act more than we could have possibly ever imagined back when we put out the "Hunt Like Devil / Jamz" LP, but back then Cave was just a side-project for some of Columbia, Missouri's best DIY musicians. Since then, Cave has solidified the line-up, and rehearsed and toured together for going on 4 years now. Their sound was bound to tighten up as they got more comfortable with each other and the Cave dynamic. That's not to say that their music's gotten any less interesting over the years, just tighter and more focused. These guys still know how to bury a riff deep underground and ressurect it over the course of 5 minutes, or longer in some cases, to great effect. "Pure Moods" consists of 3 new Cave jams that they've rocked live and perfected for this recording. Their stellar rendition of "Teenager" from "Pure Moods" was one of the highlights of the third Permanent anniversary show. "Teenager" is the jam between the bread of "Hot Bricks", "Brigitte's Trip (White Light/White Jazz)" in the "Pure Moods" EP sandwich. We assume the latter, a 13 plus minute epic, is titled in tribute to the Ms. Bardot, since it shares a bit in common with the fantastic jam "Contact" she did with one Monsieur Gainsbourg way back when, but "Brigitte's Trip" ain't no straight cover, though, it's a hypnotic psych jam that's merely influenced by the original. Clocking in at just under 26 minutes, "Pure Moods" is quite the EP and it's got us super stoked to hear what's next from one of our absolute favorite Chicago (or anywhere) bands. Highly recommended, of course.
LP - Chicago Thrash Ensemble - Chicago Thrash Ensemble
Ripping fast no nonsense hardcore skate thrash with howling/barked vocals and metallic influences like pinch harmonics and precision, super-on-point playing. Lots of classic thrash leanings here in the vein of early Metallica and Exodus with a dollop of Motorhead for good measure. Tight, fast, loud, brash, catchy, all killer, no filler 1 sided 12 inch with a screen printed B side. Includes Full Color Baseball Cards of Band Members! No Shit! For a more evil version of this try slowing this down to 33 1/3 from the suggested 45 RPMs.
LP - Mummies - Play Their Own Records
You guys probably know who the Mummies are already, but in case you don't, the highlights include the fact that they performed in mummy costumes, they toured in a vintage ambulance, and they just happened to be one of the best garage bands of the 90s, or depending on who you ask, best ever. Unfortunately, Mummies vinyl has been hard to come by recently, but luckily for us Estrus has reissued the "Play Their Own Records" LP. Here's how they're selling it:
"Volstead tried to kill the still. Squeaky tried to kill the Ford (or was it GM?). And Red Book tried to kill your records. The Mummies proudly join the ranks of these other immutable, indestructible forces: Alcoholism! Imperialism! Consumerism! After long years in remission, "The Mummies: Play Their Own Records" is back in circulation--like the gonorrhea you almost forgot about.
By the turn of 1990, The Mummies were fed up with the records of their time. Not content to take things lying down, these cut-rate visionaries put out a bunch of their own. And so pleased were they with these 45s, that they spent many an hour in rapt amusement, gathered 'round the great big Gramaphone in the lobby of the old Pre-B.S. headquarters listening to them over and over again. When after ruining several sets of their priceless collector's item 45s, they discovered you were supposed to change the steel needle after every single play of a record, they hit upon the idea of recording a mix tape so they could listen to their back catalog on the in-dash 8-track player of their '63 Bonneville ambulance whilst driving around the Bay Area hitting thrift stores and taquerias (remember, gas was a buck a gallon back then). Well, so satisfied were the Kings of Budget Rock™ with themselves, they successfully convinced the A&R men over at Estrus records in 1992 to release it as the standard long play album, "The Mummies: Play Their Own Records," which quickly sold out sometime in 2005.
Relive those lazy hazy crazy days of the twilight years of the last century, or experience them for the very first time through the technological deviltry of reproducing sound by physically (yes, physically!) dragging a needle down a rut cut into a piece of plastic! Amazing! Marvel at the spiritual bond you will share with The Mummies themselves, as you listen to the strains of their first 4 singles (including 5 tracks you won't find on CD) together! Yes, you too can play The Mummies own records... with them!"
A 90s garage punk classic back in print on wax, just in time for the release of "We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut, 1988-2001" book by Eric Davidson of the New Bomb Turks. Both are highly recommended. We have the Mummies LP now, the book should be in stock soon. We'll keep you updated.
LP - Ooga Boogas - Romance and Adventure
I was going to include the Eddy Current Suppression Ring "Primary Colors" record on my best of 2008 list, but I'm combining the reviews of the Eddy Current and the Ooga Boogas "Romance and Adventure" LP instead. Eddy Current released "Primary Colors" domestically through Memphis' Goner Records this year after it climbed to the top of the Australian charts when it was originally released there. It climbed so fast because it's a great record that's very accessible (well, to Australian tastes anyways). Lots of Stooges and Birthday Party influence filtered through a Clean sifter, "Primary Colors" is undeniably catchy, sassy, and slightly jammed out Australian rock music worthy of anyone's Best of List consideration. However, the Eddy Current side-project, the Ooga Booga's knocked me out even more. Same influences, but slightly more abrasive and heavier. If that sounds better to you, peep the Ooga Boogas for sure. Actually, check out both bands and decide for yourself. They're both great records. If this kind of stuff would chart in the US, I might start listening to mainstream radio again.
LP - Davila 666 - 12in EP
"Davila 666 are in full-on take no prisoners mode. we asked them for a couple songs for a 7" and what we got was 5 near perfect pop anthems that would never fit on a 7". of course we wanted them all so we threw them on a 12" and what youre getting is probably their best release to date. these songs are instantly addicting but unlike other puerto rican imports consumption is no crime, it's encouraged! on top of that their live show is one of the best around and their constant touring has left a path of amazed fans. its no wonder that when we booked the atlanta mess around the legendary urinals asked specifically not to be placed after davila 666 in the lineup!! who in their right mind would want to follow davila 666? ...better to follow 'em with a shot of something equally strong. [666 pressed; black vinyl]" - Rob's House
LP - Mastodon - Leviathan (Limited 180g colored vinyl)
Long out-of-print modern stoner metal classic.
LP - Various Artists - Welcome Home/Diggin The Universe
There's no description from Woodsist, but here's how Glenn Donaldson of Jewelled Antler summed it up:
"It's true--the sons and daughters of Homestead, Xpressway and first-wave Drag City (et al.) are now making good music. The '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s are all there, bound together by shitty tape machines, reverb and easy chord changes, but melody is back and so is the joy of jamming a perfectly mangled pop song. Welcome Home might hit some new kids the way Human Music or Nuggets did back in their day. In any case, it's one of those rare compilations you can play straight through and over again."
He hit the nail on the head. If you have been into the previous releases on Woodsist or have had a peripheral interest, but haven't taken the plunge yet, this record is for you. The bands included are Woods, Run DMT, White Fence, The Fresh and Onlys, The Mantles, Skygreen Leopards, Alex Bleeker, Moon Duo, City Center, Cause Co-Motion, Art Museums, Nodzzz, and Ducktails. There's a handful of covers (Moon Duo does Errol Dunkley and City Center does Grateful Dead), but most are originals and are exclusive to this release. Classic Jeremy Earl (Woods) artwork, to boot. A perfect comp for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
LP - Various Artists - The Psychedelic Sounds Of The Sonic Cathedral
Apparently, there are only 200 of these! Grab one quick!
Here's the facts on this one, straight from the source:
"An all star tribute to ROKY ERICKSON and 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, 13 exclusive cover versions including BLACK ANGELS feat ERICKSON himself, DEAD MEADOW, A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, KEVIN SHIELDS, SONIC BOOM of SPACEMAN 3, CHEVAL SOMBRE, BLACK ACID (RICHARD FEARLESS) and many more. Artists royalties go to charity."
Fans of the Elevators and Roky's solo stuff should absolutely pick this up, the bands included are 80% stellar as well. A nice piece and a great listen, especially the A-side.
7" - Pop. 1280 / Hot Guts - Split
Both of these bands issued great singles last year (that was last year, right?). Here they both make their triumphant return sharing sides of a split single. Both sides are great and the label hits the nail on the head with their description. Here's (most of) Badmaster's description:
"This pairing joins New York City creepers Pop 1280 and Philadelphia misanthropes Hot Guts. Two bands, that hold great things in the years to come, bring two sides of dark, brooding post-punk with wire tight rhythm sections. Almost industrial, with enough pop-driven momentum to make you wanna move. Songs you will remember after you've walked away from the turntable. A refreshing sentiment indeed.
For starters, Pop. 1280 hail from the same pool that bands like Twin Stumps...These four New Yorkers excel at creating uneasy, pulverizing downer rock jams, but with a pop sensibility that bounces. Monotone & maniac vocals ride a textured, menacing racket-laced anthem all the way to the end... Look for their debut full length out on Sacred Bones later this fall.
Hot Guts return to Badmaster with two songs about paranoia and male prostitution...With dense guitars and pounding drums fighting to push their deep, goth-tinged vocals into the foreground, you can easily recognize a myriad of familiar influences. Pretty much everything recorded in the years between '78 & '82 when post-punk was cresting, but they always manage the deft trick of incorporating, never emulating any of it...They are currently working on their full length..."
Yep. That's how we would've said it, too. Bottom line: 3 great cuts by 2 great new bands at a very reasonable price thanks to Badmaster. As one of our favorite singles of the year thus far, it comes with our sincerest recommendation.
7" - Kitchen's Floor - Orbit
R.I.P. Society out of Australia hasn't done us wrong yet and they don't disappoint here either. Kitchen's Floor is a three-piece from Brisbane and they do downer DIY jams with the best of 'em. The songs are dark, primitive, and noisy, but they got hooks. It grows on us like a barnacle, more and more, with each listen. Repeat listenings are recommended. It's totally worth the effort.
7" - Hex Dispensers - One Less Ghost
Who else could fill the coveted release number 13 spot but the beloved Hex Dispensers? This ghoulish garage gang of musical maniacs switch it up this time around on this "ghost themed" single & offer up, of all things - a BALLAD?!?! "One Less Ghost" brings the soft & the loud in an exciting ode to one's fears & anxieties, and marks a great leap forward for the band's sound! For those of you screaming "They've gone soft!" - fear not - these bat-winged behemoths haven't lost their edge! The B-side "I'm A Ghost" rips & roars thru a cover of fellow Texans (and fellow gore-hounds) Occult Detective Club! As per usual, the first press of this single comes on randomly mixed colored vinyl, includes a download code, & is housed in the Trouble In Mind factory sleeve!
7" - Night Beats - H-Bomb EP (Limited Colored Vinyl on Trouble in Mind)
Night Beats currently hail from Seattle but as two of the three members are originally from Texas, it's not hard to pick out the influence of golden age TX psych idols such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Lost and Found and Golden Dawn. This 4 song EP will melt your brain with it's mixture of druggy backbeats and blazing guitar work peppered with vocals that channel a screeching, howling Marc Bolan. They are fresh off of a slot at the 2010 Austin Psych Fest and we think you're going to be hearing a lot from these guys (as well as a rumored recording project with members of The Black Angels.) As per usual, the first press of this single comes on randomly mixed colored vinyl, includes a download code, & is housed in the Trouble In Mind factory sleeve!
7" - Sticks N Stones - Is It You? (Limited Colored Vinyl on Trouble in Mind)
This follow up to their debut single on Dusty Medical picks up where that hot slab o' wax leaves off - hitting you square in the gut with two stabs of sharp pop perfection! A veritable Milwaukee "super-group' of sorts featuring Paul Kalfahs and Jon Heibler from Catholic Boys, & Natalie Clark from the Tears (and all three from the Tuff Bananas!), Sticks N Stones keeps it lean & mean, slicing off riffs from 70's & 80's Power Pop (and a nick or two from classic 60's bubblegum) with rapid-fire intensity calling to mind such great Midwestern bands as Cheap Trick, Shoes, & the Kind. "Is It You" is a spastic spark of self-examination & "Telling The Truth" is a pounding plea for the listener's trust - it ain't no lie! The single comes housed in the Trouble In Mind factory sleeve, & first press comes on randomly mixed colored vinyl, & includes a download code!
7" - Tropical Sleep - (Hadita) Girl With The Diamond Tooth (Limited Colored Vinyl on Trouble in Mind)
Don't know what you were doing in the summer of '08 but we were listening to The Pets LP 'Misdirection' on repeat, so it's very exciting for us to release the debut single from Dan Wood of The Pets' new band "Tropical Sleep." Tropical Sleep starts where the Pets left off - the same great vocal delivery and guitar work, but coaxes out a little more finesse & lotsa extra pop! "(Hadita) Girl With A Diamond Tooth" is a stomping serenade to an orally bejewelled siren, while "Bury My Body" is a more laid-back love letter to someone close! As per usual, the first press of this single comes on randomly mixed colored vinyl, includes a download code, & is housed in the Trouble In Mind factory sleeve!
Tape - Cosmonauts - Cosmonauts
Burger Records has done some great tapes over the years, but they've really outdone themselves with this one. Cosmonauts are a psychedelic garage band from the O.C. and this is their debut release. If you dig Spacemen 3, Black Angels, or the Radar Eyes tape on Plus Tapes, you absolutely need this. We're super stoked to hear what's next and we're starting to think that the west coast really IS the best coast. Did we mention that there's only 250 of these? Act fast. This tape actually has quite a bit in common with the Radar Eyes tape listed below, also recommended.
Tape - Radar Eyes - Radar Eyes
Plustapes strikes again! Radar Eyes is AJ from CoCoComa's "other" band. CoCoComa fans may dig this, but it's a Radar Eyes has a much more blown-out, psychedelisized, Woven Bones-esque sound to 'em. This is their debut release, soon to be followed by a Hozac Hookup Klub single, and we can't stop listening to it. There's a layer of fuzz all over this thing, there's solos for days, but the whole thing is very riff based. Unfortunately, none of the songs from the tape are up on the band's myspace page, but if you dig Loop, Black Angels, and / or Disappears you need to hear this tape. One of our favorite tapes of the year so far and it's limited to 200 copies. Please don't sleep.
Holy shit, you made it through the whole thing, congrats! Hope we didn't overwhelm you with all the choice albums. It really was a big week for releases and restocks. Last week's was super skimpy due to Pitchfork insanity. Just wanted to get you all caught up. As usual, place those web orders quickly. Items are limited. Email over any requests if need be and we'll do our best to fill your orders. 'Til next week, we bid you ado!
Peace,
The P-Rex Crew
Permanent Records
1914 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
773.278.1744 (Phone/Fax)
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New Releases
| Format - Artist - Title | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CD - Menomena - Mines | $11.99 | |
| CD - School Of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire | $11.99 | |
| CD - Various Artists - Local Customs - Lone Star Lowlands | $15.99 | |
| CD - Wavves - King Of The Beach | $9.99 | |
| 7in - Boddie Acetates - 45 Boxed Set | $14.99 | featured |
| 7in - Cum Stain - Bachelors Life (Limited to 350 copies) | $5.99 | |
| 7in - Lasters - Allergic To Your Face / Young, Dumb, Bored and Redundant b/w Don't Wanna Talk (Limited Gold vinyl) | $5.99 | featured |
| 7in - Mickey - Highway Bound b/w Wild Kind (Limited to 350 copies) | $5.99 | |
| 7in - Wet Illustrated - Born Stoked / Flying | $6.99 | |
| 10in - Torche/Boris - Chapter Ahead Being Fake Split | $14.99 | |
| LP - Anal Cunt - 110 Songs LP (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Anal Cunt - Old Stuff Part 3 (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Best Coast - Crazy For You - Limited First Press - Hand Numbered Out Of 4000 | $14.99 | featured |
| LP - Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot | $13.99 | |
| LP - Bipolar Bear - Tough Boat (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Clark Hutchinson - A=mh2 | $32.99 | |
| LP - Deux - Decadence | $22.99 | featured |
| LP - Full Blown Aids - Leech EP (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Futurisk - Player Piano | $24.99 | featured |
| LP - High On Fire - Death Is This Communion | $25.99 | |
| LP - High Wolf - Ascension | $12.99 | featured |
| LP - In Aeternam Vale - In Aeternam Vale | $22.99 | featured |
| LP - Kebab - We Live In A System | $13.99 | featured |
| LP - Kilslug - Live At Church 2007 (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Kris Kristofferson - Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72 (2xLP) | $19.99 | |
| LP - Marc Bolan - The Electric Boogie - Volume One | $23.99 | |
| LP - Menomena - Mines | $19.99 | |
| LP - MIchael Hurley - Blue Hills | $11.99 | |
| LP - Orchestre Regional de Mopti - The Best of the First Biennale of Arts and Culture for the Young (1970) | $12.99 | featured |
| LP - Pastor T.L. Barrett & the Youth For Christ Choir - Like A Ship Without A Sail (LP plus bonus 7-inch) | $19.99 | |
| LP - Picnic Of Love (Anal Cunt) - Picnic Of Love (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Red Mass - Red Mass | $12.99 | |
| LP - Roky Erickson - True Love Cast Out All Evil - With Okkervil River | $17.99 | |
| LP - Segun Bucknor - Who Say I Tire | $19.99 | |
| LP - The National - Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers | $15.99 | |
| LP - Tile - Welcome To Ditchyourfriendsville (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| LP - Various - Hozac Hookup Klub Round One | $11.99 | featured |
| LP - Velcro Lewis Group - White Magick Summer | $9.99 | featured |
| LP - When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth - Peaced 12inch EP | $8.99 | |
| LP - White Sand/Badlands - Seeding The Clouds | $15.99 | |
| LP - White Shit / MGFKRS - Split 12 inch (Limited & Numbered Edition) | $17.99 | |
| Tape - Exile - Radio | $4.99 | |
| Tape - Exile Radio - AM/FM | $4.99 | |
| Tape - Holy Strays - Hyperion | $6.99 | |
| Tape - Outer Minds - Outer Minds | $4.99 | |
| Tape - Stacian / Unmanned Ship - Split | $4.99 | |
| Tape - The Alright Alreadies - The Alright Alreadies | $4.99 | |
| Tape - Verma - Verma | $4.99 | featured |
| Tape - You Can Lie Down Here - You Can Lie Down Here | $4.99 | |
| DVD - 2 Everything 2 Terrible II - Tokyo Drift | $14.99 |
* All New Releases should be considered in-stock at time this newsletter was delivered unless noted otherwise.
Restock
| Format - Artist - Title | Price |
|---|---|
| CD - Refused - Shape Of Punk To Come (2xCD w/DVD) | $19.99 |
| CD - Roots - How I Got Over | $12.99 |
| 7in - Panda Bear - Tomboy b/w Slow Motion | $5.99 |
| 7in - Butcher Cover - 4-song EP on Lemon Session | $4.99 |
| 7in - Hex Dispensers - One Less Ghost (Black Vinyl) | $4.99 |
| 7in - Night Beats - H-Bomb EP (Limited Colored Vinyl on Trouble in Mind) | $4.99 |
| 7in - Pop. 1280 / Hot Guts - Split | $4.99 |
| 7in - Sticks N Stones - Is It You? (Limited Colored Vinyl on Trouble in Mind) | $4.99 |
| 7in - Tropical Sleep - (Hadita) Girl With The Diamond Tooth (Limited Colored Vinyl on Trouble in Mind) | $4.99 |
| 10in - Red Mass - Split Brain Experiment | $11.99 |
| LP - Black Angels - Passover | $19.99 |
| LP - Broken Bells - Broken Bells | $23.99 |
| LP - Clash - The Clash (UK pressing on colored vinyl) | $15.99 |
| LP - Electric Bunnies - Through the Magical Door | $12.99 |
| LP - Heater - God and Hair (Limited Edition on Red Vinyl) | $14.99 |
| LP - High On Fire - Blessed Black Wings 2xLP | $25.99 |
| LP - High On Fire - Surrounded By Thieves 2xLP | $25.99 |
| LP - Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy - 180 Gram Reissue | $17.99 |
| LP - Psychedelic Schafferson Jetplane - Psychedelic Schafferson Jetplane | $13.99 |
| LP - Ross Goldstein - Trail Songs | $12.99 |
| LP - Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire De Melody Nelson | $19.99 |
| LP - Silver Apples - Contact | $14.99 |
| LP - Silver Apples - Contact Autographed | $29.99 |
| LP - Six Finger Satellite - Paranormalized | $14.99 |
| LP - Stooges - Electric Circus | $29.99 |
| LP - Sylvester Anfang II - Sylvester Anfang II | $19.99 |
| LP - Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live | $23.99 |
| LP - Various Artists - Palenque Palenque 3xLP | $24.99 |
| LP - Various Artists - Saigon Rock And Soul - Vietnamese Classic Tracks -1968-1974 | $29.99 |
| LP - Various Artists - The Psychedelic Sounds Of The Sonic Cathedral | $23.99 |
| LP - Various Artists - Welcome Home/Diggin The Universe | $13.99 |
| LP - Various Artists - Zulu Stomp - South Africa Garage Beats | $29.99 |
| LP - Yussuf Jerusalem - A Heart Full Of Sorrow | $12.99 |
| Tape - Cinchel - Cinchel | $5.99 |
| Tape - Cosmonauts - Cosmonauts | $5.99 |
| Tape - Monument - Monument I | $4.99 |
| Tape - Radar Eyes - Radar Eyes | $4.99 |
* All Restocks should be considered in-stock as of this update unless noted otherwise.
Sale
| U/N | Format - Artist - Title | Price |
|---|---|---|
| New | CD - Al Green - Belle Album | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Bonniwell Music Machine - Ignition | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Boscoe - Boscoe | $9.99 |
| New | CD - El Michels Affair - Enter The 37th Chamber | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Giorgio Moroder - E+MC Squared | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Greenberg - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | $12.99 |
| New | CD - Killing Joke - Killing Joke | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Morrissey - Years of Refusal | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Move - The Move (Remaster with 16 Bonus Tracks) | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Ms - Real Close Ones | $7.99 |
| New | CD - Nite-Liters - A-Nal-A-Sis | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Pieces Of Peace - S/T | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Pride - S/T | $7.99 |
| New | CD - Ronnie McNeir - S/T | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Stark Reality - Now | $9.99 |
| New | CD - Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain (Motown Legends Series) | $5.99 |
| New | CD - Various Artists - Memphis 60 - Soul R+B and Proto Funk From Soul City USA | $11.99 |
| New | CD - Whitefield Brothers - In The Rain | $9.99 |
| New | LP - Ape School - Ape School | $12.99 |
| New | LP - Collie Ryan - Hour Is Now | $9.99 |
| New | LP - Lights - Rites | $11.99 |
| New | LP - Sex/Vid - Communal Living | $7.99 |
| New | LP - Shudders - Big Heat | $9.99 |
| New | LP - Skygreen Leopards - Georgeous Johnny | $9.99 |
| New | LP - Steven R. Smith - Cities | $9.99 |
| New | LP - Various Artists - Fragments From A Work In Progress - Record Store Day Exclusive (ONE PER CUSTOMER) | $5.99 |
* All Sale Items should be considered in-stock as of this update unless noted otherwise.
Used
| CD - A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder | $3.99 |
| CD - Bobby Smith - Tippin In | $3.99 |
| CD - Burning Spear - Hail H.I.M. | $5.99 |
| CD - Dusty Springfield - Love Songs | $3.99 |
| CD - Ersen - S/T | $7.99 |
| CD - Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky | $5.99 |
| CD - Various Artists - God Save The Queen (3xCD box) | $4.99 |
| CD - John Martyn - Cooltide (Import) | $5.99 |
| CD - Johnny Cash - Giant Hits | $3.99 |
| CD - Johnny Cash - The Sun Years | $3.99 |
| CD - Johnny Cash - Unchained | $3.99 |
| CD - Kool And The Gang - Light Of Worlds | $3.99 |
| CD - Kronos Quartet - Requiem For A Dream Sound Track | $3.99 |
| CD - Lets Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop (on Roydale) | $5.99 |
| CD - Linton Kwesi Johnson - LKJ In Dub | $3.99 |
| CD - Mamadou Diabate - Tunga | $5.99 |
| CD - Marvin Gaye - Early Classics | $3.99 |
| CD - Marvin Gaye - Super Hits | $3.99 |
| CD - Mavis Staples - Have A Little Faith | $3.99 |
| CD - Monkeywrench - Gabriels Horn | $5.99 |
| CD - Various Artists - Music For Gracious Living | $5.99 |
| CD - My Morning Jacket - At Dawn | $5.99 |
| CD - Narrator - All That to the Wall | $3.99 |
| CD - Nebula - To the Center | $3.99 |
| CD - Negativland - Free | $3.99 |
| CD - Neil Hamburger - Sings Country Winners | $4.99 |
| CD - Neon Blonde - Chandeliers in the Savannah | $3.99 |
| CD - New York Dolls - Red Patent Leather | $5.99 |
| CD - Nnck (No-Neck Blues Band) - Clomeim - Qvaris | $3.99 |
| CD - Parliment - Chocolate City | $5.99 |
| CD - Platters - All-Time Greatest Hits | $3.99 |
| CD - Porter Wagoner And The Blackwood Quartet - Grand Old Gospel | $3.99 |
| CD - Ravi Shankar - Live At Monterey | $5.99 |
| CD - Serge Gainsbourg - Vu De LExterieur | $7.99 |
| CD - Sly And The Family Stone - Fresh | $5.99 |
| CD - Sly And The Family Stone - Stand | $5.99 |
| CD - Sly And The Family Stone - Theres A Riot Goin On | $5.99 |
| CD - Various Artists - Just Shuckin Around - 1953-63 Wild and Crazy L.A. R nB | $4.99 |
| CD - Various Artists - Radio Myanmar (Burma) | $5.99 |
| CD - Various Artists - Cherrystones Word | $3.99 |
| CD - Various Artists - Juno - Original Soundtrack | $3.99 |
| CD - Yoro Sidibe - Yoro Sidibe | $5.99 |
| 7in - Blatz - Cheaper Than The Beer | $7.99 |
| 7in - Blatz/Tribe 8 - Bitches N Brew | $4.99 |
| 7in - Buzzoven - Unwilling To Explain | $7.99 |
| 7in - Crimpshrine - Quit Talkin Claude | $7.99 |
| 7in - Crimpshrine - Sleep Whats That | $7.99 |
| 7in - Jawbreaker/Samiam - Split | $7.99 |
| 7in - Pink Lincolns - Sumo Fumes | $7.99 |
| LP - Carter Thornton - Ten Fingers For Forefathers | $7.99 |
| LP - Clark-Hutchinson - A=MH2 (orig.1969 pressing on Sire/London) | $49.99 |
| LP - End Result - Ward | $9.99 |
| LP - Savage Republic Live Trek 1985-1986 | $14.99 |
| LP - Slovenly - Thinking Of Empire | $4.99 |
| LP - Static Static - Psychic Eyes | $4.99 |
| LP - Strip Mall Seizures - No English (on True Panther Sounds) | $4.99 |
| LP - Subtitle - Young Dangerous Heart - 2xLP - See Thru Pink Vinyl | $4.99 |
| LP - Taste - On The Boards (1970 US ATCO pressing) | $19.99 |
| LP - The Time Flys - Rebels Of Babylon | $4.99 |
* All Used Items should be considered in-stock as of this update unless noted otherwise.
Featured Listening Station Titles (On Sale NOW!!)
Station One
| Format | Artist | Title | Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD | Frog Eyes | Paul's Tomb | $11.99 |
| CD | Health | Disco 2 | $11.99 |
| CD/LP | Wild Nothing | Gemini | $11.99 |
| CD | Wovenhand | The Threshingfloor | $11.99 |
| CD | Woven Bones | In And Out And Back Again | $9.99 |
| CD | Nina Nastasia | Outlaster | $11.99 |
| CD | Windsor for The Derby | Against Love | $11.99 |
| CD | Ty Segall | Melted | $11.99 |
| CD | V/A | Bustin' Out 1982: New Wave To New Beat Volume 2 | $14.99 |
| CD | Peter Wold Crier | Inter-Be | $11.99 |
| CD | Wavves | King OF The Beach | $9.99 |
| CD | Menomena | Mines | $11.99 |
Station Two
| Format | Artist | Title | Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD | Secret Cities | Pink Graffiti | $11.99 |
| CD | Woom | Muu's Way | $11.99 |
| CD | Max Richter | Infra | $11.99 |
| CD | Git Some | Loose Control | $11.99 |
| CD | Endless Boogie | Full House Head | $11,99 |
| CD | Trentemoller | Into The Great Wide Yonder | $14.99 |
| CD | Ratatat | LP4 | $11.99 |
| CD | Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | Before Today | $11.99 |
| CD | Wolf Parade | Expo 86 | $11.99 |
| CD | Mahjongg | The Long Shadow Of Paper tiger | $11.99 |
| CD | The Books | The Way Out | $11.99 |
| CD | Lower Dens | Twin-Hand Movement | $11.99 |
* You can now use the Web Shop to check out the list of releases in every newsletter.
* Web Shop quantities are updated daily. If you search our store and still can't find what you're looking for you are welcome to send us an email.
* Live in the Chicago area and want to put something on hold? You can now purchase in-stock items via the web store, fill in your customer information, and choose Store Pick-up as your shipping option. Then just swing by the store with a photo ID and proof of purchase for store pick-up. We will hold items for up to two weeks.
* Automated International Shipping is NOW available via our Web Shop.
* Interested in seeing past New Releases and Restock? Click the link below to check out our newsletter archives: http://www.ymlp178.com/pubarchive.php?permanent
Permanent Records Staff Best of 2009 Lists!
Permanent Releases Disclaimer: Obviously, we love the records we released on our own label this year, but you won't find many of them included here. It goes without saying that they are definitely favs for us.
Lance's Favorite New Records from 2009 (in alphabetical order)
Billy Bao May '08 LP
Noise rock brutality with a lot of repetition. There were a bunch of records similar to this that came out this year that I could've included on this list, but I chose to limit myself to just this one. Fans of this sort of stuff should definitely take note of the Rusted Shut, Twin Stumps, and Homostupids LPs that came out this year as well. Intense.
Blues Control Local Flavor LP/CD
Hypnotic drone. It took a few listens before I realized how much I liked this record, but then it hit me. Hard.
Brainbombs Fucking Mess LP
One of my favorite bands of all time. Their 2009 release hasn't changed my opinion. Brutally repetitive riffs and misanthropic, broken English, spoken word style vocals. Incredibly simple and totally effective. This may have come out in late-2008, but it wasn't readily available til '09, so it's going on the list. If you got a problem with that, take it up with the Brainbombs. I dare you.
Brian Jonestown Massacre My Bloody Underground LP/CD
I could've given a shit about this band before this release. Dig was a fun watch, but I didn't think BJM was my kind of thing. This record changed my mind. The Velvets and MBV influences are apparent throughout.
Cave Psychic Psummer LP/CD
Cave's first post-Permanent full length. Slightly cleaner production, but more coherent jams. Oneida fans should get on board if they aren't already. Psychedelic Psummer jams abound.
El Jesus De Magico Scalping the Guru LP
Weirdo experimental rock jams. A long form band represented in a long format. Their Klip Aught 7" from this year is killer as well, but you get more bang for your buck here.
Electric Bunnies Through The Magical Door LP
An eclectic mix of musical styles, all of which I'm on board with. It's got some garage-y pop numbers, some raga-esque psych jams, and some weird punk jams as well. Somehow works well as a cohesive whole. That's an incredible feat and Electric Bunnies did it better than anybody else has in a long time.
Feeling of Love Suck / Soul / Porn 12" EP
The Way To Suck is the best noise rock songs I've heard all year. It should be on every mixtape that gets made from here on out. The other two songs are good too, but this one makes this list simply because of the Suck part (and partially because there's a pentagram etched onto the B-side). Amazing.
Francis Harold and the Holograms Who Said These Were Happy Times LP
Dirge-y repetitive rock with reverb-drenched vocals...and weirdo masks. They also played one of the best in-stores of the year with Puffy Areolas! This record helped us cope with the loss of Clockcleaner this year.
Fresh & Onlys Debut LP/CD
Perfect summer record. Upbeat catchy garage pop. Infectious.
GR & The Full Blown Expansion GR & The Full Blown Expansion LP
Gunslingers front man goes solo and gets artier than the Gunslingers. Mostly instrumental psychedelic punk. Reminds me of parts of the Warhammer 48k record we started the label off with.
Kid Congo Dracula Boots LP/CD
Another great 2009 in-store performance! Gun Club and Cramps member creates an amazing funky, psychedelic, garage punk record. Sweet beats for days, too!
Kurt Vile Childish Prodigy LP/CD
Nebraska-era Springsteen influenced lo-fi bedroom pop. Great songwriting, but he knows when to let the music breathe to. Tasteful.
Little Claw Human Taste LP/CD
At times this record reminds me of a female fronted Spacemen 3. That's enough for me. The whole record doesn't sound like this, but it's all great. My favorite release of theirs to date, for sure. Fuckin' Detroit, man. Rock city.
Low Red Center Low Red Center 10"
Minimal synth pop. Super catchy and sounds authentic.
Mayyors Deads 12" EP
One of the best noise rock bands of our times. The singles slayed and this EP is just as good. We (think) we're ready for the full-length.
Meercaz Meercaz LP/CD
Timeless proto-punk jams made by a dude who obviously knows his shit. There's some Hawkwind-y momements, some Swell Maps-y moments, and some Kings of Oblivian-era Pink Fairies-y moments on here, but like the Electric Bunnies LP, it plays through well as a cohesive long-player. Righteous fro, Muzz! Righteous liner notes, Mr. Flowers!
Naam Kingdom 12" EP
Epic stoner psych jams. Shorter and more concise than the full-length, which kind of meanders and drones on a bit. Either way you go, you're good with Naam. Plays well with Earthless, White Hills, or Heads.
Nothing People Late Night LP
A mellower, darker affair than Anonymous, but a total grower. Nothing People sound like no one else without doing anything radically different. I've heard the third LP and it's awesome. Look out for that and a brand new Nothing People 7" on our label in 2010.
Oh Sees Help LP/CD
The best Oh Sees LP thus far, in my opinion. Incorporates all the best songwriting elements of The Master's Bedroom... into more repetitive, more psychedelic rave-ups. Amazing art on this one, too!
Oneida Rated O LP/CD
3xLP representing the 3-sides of Oneida. A great place to start with this band's catalog for newbs. Rated O replaced Each One Teach One as my favorite Oneida record. Epic masterpiece.
Pissed Jeans King of Jeans LP/CD
The closest thing to the Jesus Lizard we got going these days, except for the Jesus Lizard. A perfect record to accompany the Touch & Go reissues. Intense, well written, well recorded and well performed. Their best record, without a doubt.
Six Finger Satellite Half Control LP/CD
One of my favorite bands of the 90s returns with an unreleased recording from 2001. I'm stoked this finally got released and that the band's back together. If you don't already own it, Law of Ruins is essential listening. Half Control comes next.
Sun Araw The Phynx LP
Magic Lantern put out two great records last year. Man, has it been over a year already? Anyhow, we didn't get any new Magic Lantern releases this year and we might never, but at least we have Sun Araw to keep us floating in space until they return. This is repetitive space-y guitar psych done right.
Tinariwen Imidiwan: Companions CD+DVD
Our favorite Tuareg group returns with a full-length just as good as last year's Aman Iman, but with a sweet bonus DVD documentary with some live footage. Incredible.
TV Ghost Cold Fish LP/CD
More noisy weird punk stuff that's just a cut above the rest. See the recommended listening notes for the Billy Bao LP above.
Tyvek Tyvek LP/CD
A total grower. Maybe it's the goofball claymation cover that threw me off, but I didn't love this record right away. It wasn't 'til I started unconsciously singing Bad Times, Bad Times, Welcome To The Fucked Up Side Of My Mind that I realized that I really dug this record. These guys do the inept DIY thing just as well as any Messthetics band, but they can also rock a riff with the best of 'em. Urinals meets the Fall meets the Stooges, what? Another great in-store!
Various Artists Shiftless Decay: New Sounds of Detroit LP/CD
Detroit's apparently a pretty bleak place these days, but the same can't be said about the music coming out of the Motor City. Along with Tyvek (see above review), the city claims residents such as Little Claw, Human Eye, and a Hawkwind-esque group called THTX among others. All of them are included here.
Various Artists Skulls Without Borders 10"
Simply a great comp. Boasts tracks from Puffy Areolas (look out for their Siltbreeze LP in '10), Kurt Vile, Sic Alps, Tommy Jay, Dan Melchior, and FNU Ronnies side-project, Chickins. All the tracks are great and it comes in a black on black skull screen printed jacket. Did we mention that Puffy Areolas appears here?!?
Wavves Wavvves LP/CD
I know, I know. I probably shouldn't like this stuff, but I just can't help it. I'm a sucker for catchy pop songs about the beach, weed, and demons that sound like they were recorded on a portable cassette deck. Wavves songs are simple and undeniably catchy pop jams. May not stand the test of time and Wavves was terrible live, but who cares. It's 2009, I like this record, and the dude did a over of Nervous Breakdown to start his set at Pitchfork after he had a nervous breakdown in Spain. Fucking brilliant.
White Hills / Heads Split LP
Who doesn't love this? Epic modern psych on both sides. I'm partial to the Heads side, but they're both great. The White Hills Heads On Fire LP was pressed on wax by Thrill Jockey this year and it rips, too. Shit, the Dead EP on Thrill Jockey is also awesome. 2009 was the year of the White Hills.
Wooden Shjips Dos LP/CD
Anybody who reads our updates regularly won't be surprised to see this one on here. I love what this band does. Repetitive, hypnotic, psych that doesn't sound exactly like anyone else. The first album is great, the LP collection known as Vol. 1 is great, and Dos is great. Dose would've been a more apt title because we're hooked and we're gonna need a regular fix from here on out. Both Moon Duo LPs are essential as well for anyone who digs Wooden Shjips even hjalf as much as we do. Let's start a tribute band called the J IS SILENT.
Lance's Favorite New / Old 7" Tracks from 2009 (in alphabetical order)
- Beyond The Implode Mid Ad Version
- Bronze One Night In Mexico
- Cave Boneyard
- Charles Albright I'm On Drugs
- Drunkdriver Fire Sale
- El Jesus De Magico Unclean Ghost
- Fresh Meat Get To Work
- Gas Pushing Against Me
- Girls At Dawn Never Enough
- Idle Times Get Your Feet Off The Ground
- Outer Spacist I Talk With Telepathy, Baby
- Plasto Beton La Prison
- Puffy Areolas Lutzko Lives
- Rodent Plague Return To Zero
- Scorpion Violente Saignement Hallal
- Watery Love (I'm A) Skull
- Wooden Shjips I Believe It (Spacemen 3 Cover)
- Woven Bones Janie
Lance's Favorite Old/Reissued Records from 2009 (in alphabetical order)
39 Clocks Zoned / Pain It Dark CD
Velvets meets Suicide, but German. Essential! Where's the wax?
Death ...For The Whole World To See LP/CD
Obscuro Detroit proto punk reissued for the whole world to see. Bummer of a reunion show, though.
Ex Scrabbling At The Lock LP
Classic! A must own.
Faust IV LP
Same here. Classic Krautrock! Where the genre got it's name, actually.
Flipper Generic / Gone Fishin / Sex Bomb Baby LP/CD
Sludgy, dumb punk classics! Out-of-print on all formats for far too long. I can finally retire my cassette tape of Generic.
Gods Gift Pathology CD
UK post-punk rarities reissued. Highly recommended for fans of the Fall and Joy Division. Again, where's the wax?
Hapshash and the Coloured Coat Featuring The Human Host and the Heavy Metal Kids LP
Kudos to Sundazed for pressing this on wax again. It's a slightly difficult record, but anyone into Can, Faust, or Red Krayola will definitely want to own this one.
Jesus Lizard Head / Pure / Goat / Down / Liar LP/CD
Most of these were out-of-print on vinyl for far too long. I will love this band til the day I die. Yow's the best front man I've ever seen live and the band was tight as hell at their reunion gigs this year. Probably the best shows I saw all year. Definitely, the best reunion show I saw this year. The Record Store Day singles box was nice as well.
Loop Heaven's End / Fade Out / Gilded Eternity / The World In Your Eyes CD
Tragically overlooked late-80s/early-90s fuzz psych band. I like Loop just as much as Spacemen 3. Fans of Spacemen 3 and Jesus and Mary Chain will definitely want to pick up at least one, if not all of these reissues. Essential stuff, but again, vinyl reissues would've been nice.
Mirrors Something That Would Never Do LP
Cleveland proto-punk a la Velvet Underground. '70s tracks compiled for the first time in 2009. Fans of the Velvets, Electric Eels, Pere Ubu, and Rocket From The Tombs should definitely take note.
Ofege Try and Love LP/CD
Rare Afro fuzz psych rock reissue on Brooklyn's Academy Records imprint.
Os Mutantes Os Mutantes (1968 Debut) LP
The best Tropicalia record finally sees a domestic vinyl reissue. Another must own!
Scrotum Poles Auchmithie Forever LP
UK DIY band's unreleased 1979-1981 material compiled and issued on wax for the very first time. Awesome.
Silver Apples Silver Apples / Contact LP
Oscillating synth proto-punk way ahead of its time. These records date back to '68 and '69, but they sound like they could've been recorded this year. Insanely good, both of 'em.
Various Artists Total Pop: Swedish DIY Punk and Mod Pop 1979 – 1981 LP
Swedish powerpop and DIY punk singles compiled onto one LP for your listening convenience. Every track is solid poppy goodness.
Various Artists Local Customs: Downriver Revival LP/CD +DVD
My favorite Numero Group release to date. It's an eclectic mix of soul, funk, rock, gospel, and jazz all of which sound like they were recorded in endearing DIY fashion. As if this weren't enough, the DVD includes a short documentary on the scene and a massive virtual digital tape vault with over 200 recordings. I could listen to this everyday and not get sick of it.
Various Artists You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977 – 1984 LP+DVD
What's not to like? An incredible document of the early, oft-overlooked, Chicago punk scene. The film includes some great live footage and a bunch of (often hilarious) band member interviews and the soundtrack includes some of the rarest Chicago punk music. Essential for fans of REAL punk rock, everywhere!
Various Artists Rocky Mountain Low: The Colorado Musical Underground of the Late 70s LP + CD
Like the comp above, sans DVD, but Colorado-style. Even more obscure stuff included here. By far, the best compilation of '09, bar none. Fans of DIY and punk everywhere will love this. Includes mostly unreleased recordings from all of these underground bands. It's where Jello Biafra got his start, for whatever that's worth.
Vaselines Enter the Vaselines LP/CD
So many bands these days, and previously, have robbed the grave of the Vaselines. About time they got the attention they deserve. Essential bedroom pop, just ask Kurt Cobain or Stephin Merritt.
White Hills Heads On Fire LP
Great on CD, even better on wax. Epic psych jams. Do it!
Lance's Honorable Mentions
- Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost LP/CD
- Black Mountain - In The Future LP/CD
- Blank Dogs - Under and Under LP/CD
- Disappears - Live Over the Rainbo LP/CD/Tape
- Eternal Tapestry - Palace of the Night Skies LP
- FNU Ronnies - Golem 12" EP
- Group Bombino - Guitars From Agadez Vol. 2 LP/CD
- Harvey Milk - Life...The Best Game In Town LP/CD
- Homostupids - The Load LP
- Hunches - Exit Dreams LP
- Moon Duo - s/t / Killing Time 12" EP
- Mugstar - s/t LP
- Oh Sees - Hounds Of Foggy Notion LP+DVD
- Omar Souleyman - Highway To Hassake LP/CD
- Robedoor - Raiders LP
- Rusted Shut - Dead LP/CD
- Spectrum - War Sucks 12" EP / CD
- Terry Riley - A Rainbow in Curved Air LP
- Twin Stumps - s/t LP
- White Hills - Dead 12" EP
- Abner Jay - True Story of Abner Jay LP
- Cecil Barfield - South Georgia Blues LP
- Circuit Rider - s/t LP
- De Kift - Yverzucht LP
- Dead at 24 - Blast Off Motherfucker! LP
- Ex - 30 Years Of The Ex LP
- Feelies - Crazy Rhythms / The Good Earth LP/CD
- Fred McDowell - s/t LP
- Lake of Dracula - Skeletal Remains LP
- Mississippi Releases
- Monks - Black Monk Time LP/CD
- Mudhoney - Mudhoney / Superfuzz Bigmuff / Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge LP
- Onna - s/t 7" / CD
- Raincoats - s/t LP
- Serge Gainsbourg - Historie De Melody Nelson LP/CD
- Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire 10"
- Spiritual Singers - Ntsamina LP
- Various Artists - Mortika LP Box
- Witch - Lazy Bones LP
Liz's Best Of 2009 Selection (Not In Order Of Importance)
Francis Harold & the Holograms Who Said These Were Happy Times? LP
These guys were so scary looking on their album covers that we were a little nervous to have them play the shop. Maybe they would bring that naked, bloody pig man along or trash the shop. Who knew, it was a crap shoot. All we knew was that we fucking LOVED this album and had to ask them to play an in-store. Dudes, it was so totally amazing! They rocked so hard and Puffy Areolas played that show too. Man, why aren't we video taping this shit. Oh, and the best part, both bands were total sweethearts. They played with the cat and even bought records. Super cool.
Thee Oh Sees Help LP/CD
I LOVE THIS BAND. Hands down, John Dwyer and the gang are one of the most righteously energetic live shows I've ever seen. Everybody involved (onstage and off) always seem to be having the time of their life. I saw them 3 times in one week and it was still amazing. These folks really know how to bring it. I know they been pulling a Pollard with all their releases lately, but Help was quality for sure. Not as good as The Masters Bedroom... but a close second in my book. If you get a chance, don't miss these guys live. People just don't play shows like this anymore.
Fresh and Onlys Debut LP/CD
Such a summertime, fun album. Almost every song is energetic and happy. Even found it highly enjoyable when I had the Devil Flu last summer. I also really dug their performance at Schuba's with the Oh Sees last summer. Definitely helped solidified their place amongst my top albums/performances of the year.
Jeremy Jay Slow Dance LP/CD
This album is so AM it's ridiculous. Seriously smooth jams that make you wanna wear bell bottoms and play frisbee in the park. Who is this guy any way?
Kid Congo Dracula Boots LP/CD
He was in the Bad Seeds, the Cramps, Gun Club, what have you got to lose? Such a fun album! I tell everyone if Dracula made a punk rock album it would be Dracula Boots. Sounds like a dumb answer since the title actually has Dracula in it, but you forget that I can never remember album titles and it was said in all sincerity. P.S. Kid Congo was my favorite in-store of the whole year and that's not an easy thing to say!
Mayyors Deads 12"
It appears that some asshole threw my 12" sleeve into a mud puddle, 4-Wheeled all over it, and then hocked a lugie on it to make it extra special. Wow, how exclusive! Luckily for me, the vinyl was clean and the music totally ruled. Who knows, maybe next time they could mold some turds into a dragon shape and smash them onto my sleeve. I'm just sayin...
Pissed Jeans King of Jeans LP/CD
Holy shit! I loved Hope For Men, but holy shit! This probably takes the cake for best of the year. If there's a Jesus Lizard of today, these guys are it. Haven't seen them live, but if even half the energy contained in these grooves makes it to the stage then sign me up. When are these guys coming to Chicago? Did I miss them, will they be here? Somebody let me know, I've got panties to throw.
Kurt Vile Childish Prodigy LP/CD
I've listened to this record a million times. I can't really place what it reminds me of. Bruce Springsteen maybe? His guitar and vocal stylings are so weird and raw. Super infectious stuff and I have found myself on more than one occasion with song loops from this LP circlin' round my brain. Ridin' on the freak train! Train, train, train.
George Brigman Blowin' Smoke 7"
Imagine your cool, pot smoking Uncle Steve at 22, listening to Blue Cheer and Hendrix in the basement then giving it a go on the ol' reel-to-reel recorder. Can we get a little more mustache in the monitor?!
Charles Albright I'm On Drugs 7"
Catchy from the first note. I think this dude plays all the instruments too. I want what he's on.
Various Artists Rocky Mountain Low LP+CD
I hate cold weather (and I live in Chicago, WTF?!), but I think I would have to move to Colorado if shit like this was still going down. Full of fun, punk meets pop hits guaranteed to have you humming along in no time. Most of these artists are pretty obscure, but who doesn't like being dazzled by the unknown. Nice packaging and even includes a full length CD.Totally worth the price tag.
Dan Deacon Bromst
I liked this album despite my irritation with this dude when he said I don't really DO in-stores anymore. Whatever that means. This album is part Eno, part Elektroplankton, with a dash of chipmunks. A really surprising album (if you ignore the chipmunk vocals) from a guy I thought was doomed to forever twiddle some knobs for the sweaty teens. Really like that he added a full band for the tour. Missed the show, but heard it was a solid performance.
Death For the Whole World to See LP/CD
One of the best punk albums I've ever had the privilege of hearing. The songs were so familiar from the first time I heard them. Felt like I could just start singing along. Weird experience. Basically, if the Stooges, Thin Lizzy, and Bad Brains had a love child, these dudes are what would have come screamin' outta that womb. Seriously good shit.
Faust IV LP
Waited for this re-issue forever! In my opinion, the absolute best Faust album by far. Super accessible and a great first pick for those who haven't heard much Faust. Though to me, the track Krautrock (where the genre name actually originated from) doesn't sound much like Krautrock as I know it, although other parts of the album arguably do. Funny.
Jesus Lizard Reissues LP/CD
I know it goes without saying, but man do these guys rule. I have never come across a single album by them that I didn't dig almost every track. Yow rules as a front man (haven't seen anyone that's even come close to his energy in ages) and their recent live shows, of which I've seen 2 (soon to be 3 with the New Year's Eve show), have been in-fucking-credible! Only wish I had been able to enjoy the spectacle that was the J-Liz of yesteryear. I was a fucking teenager stuck in the boonies, living nowhere near an all ages venue back when they were first doing their thing. Speaking of that, I barely live near one now. Why aren't there more all ages venue in this town? Fucking fascists.
Spaceman 3 Reissues LP/10"
Drugs!!!!!!!!!!
Ex feat. Tom Cora Scrabbling at the Lock LP
The first Ex album I ever heard (I know, many great ones came before and after) and still my favorite to this day. I love what Cora's cello adds to this already phenomenal sound. I had looked for this one on wax for many years and was so happy when they decided to re-release a limited run of these. Score!
Nirvana Bleach LP/CD
How funny is it that all year I had been on this HUGE Nirvana kick. Some times you just come back around to shit and it hits you just right. For some weird reason, that happened with Nirvana this year. And especially Bleach so needless to say I almost pooped my pancakes when I heard about this one coming out as a deluxe re-issue. It exceeded expectations upon arrival. Chalked full of goodies and the live extras are far from filler. Great stuff that made it fun to reminisce on my youth of trailer park, bunk bed, jam outs. Rock!
Older stuff that I've been nerding out on this year
Various Artists African Scream Contest LP/CD
If Satan were rad and lived in 1970's Ghana he never would have went down to Georgia. All I can say is, WTF?! Everything I've heard from that era/region is phenomenal (on second thought, maybe the devil did go down there!). This LP is a bit on the pricey side, but man is it worth it!
Cramps
Pretty much anything by them. This is the first year that I really took this band seriously. Not sure what the hell took me so long to come around!
Ty Segall S/T LP/CD
This dude totally rocks. He's got a nice sized catalog at this point, but this one is definitely my favorite. His in-store performance took a close second to the Kid Congo show. He rocked it on drums, guitar, and vocals all by his lonesome. Totally unexpected and truly amazing to say the least.
Chrome Half Lip Machine Moves & Alien Soundtracks LP/CD
Been throwing either one of these albums on at least once a week. Shit never gets old. Weird beats and swirling melodies are always in need.
These Are Powers Terrific Seasons LP/CD
Nicest fucking band. We met these folks right after we opened the shop. Got to know 'em a bit and they even played our 1 year store anniversary party. Blew us away then and are still blowing our minds today. Good rhythmic/tribal jams from great people. Winning combination in my book.
Favorite In-stores and Shows
- Kid Congo @ Permanent Records
- Ty Segall @ Permanent Records
- Francis Harold & The Holograms/Puffy Areolas @ Permanent Records
- Running @ Ottoman Empire
- So many more that I'm forgetting...balls!
Movies
Inglorius Bastards
One of the least Tarentino of all his films and the movie is better for it. Not to say I don't like his work, it's just good to get something a little different. Not too much rambling, lots of cool death scenes, and a terrific plot. Brad Pitt's acting was a little wonky, but believable overall. In my opinion, actress Melanie Laurent totally out ranks Pitt with her performance as Shosanna Dreyfus. Wonderful!
Whatever Works
Larry David plays the character Woody Allen usually plays in his films and it makes for a much funnier story. You always feel sorry for Woody, but it's easy to laugh at Larry. Great shots of NY, it's like getting the best tour of the city with one of the weirdest tour guides. Overall, another winner from this already accomplished director.
TV
- Weeds
- Dexter
- Lost
- Breaking Bad
- True Blood
Dave's Faves of '09
LPs:
- The Electric Bunnies - Through The Magical Door (Florida's Dying)
- The Hunches - Exit Dreams (In The Red) « Top of the year
- The Mantles - self-titled (Siltbreeze)
- Dan Melchior und Das Menace - Thankyou Very Much (S-S)
- Nothing People - Late Night (S-S)
- Thee Oh Sees - Dog Poison (Captured Tracks)
- Purling Hiss - self-titled (Permanent)
- The Spits - IV (Thriftstore/Recess)
- Strange Boys - And Girls Club (In The Red)
- Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy (Matador)
7"s:
- Charles Albright - I'm On Drugs (S-S)
- Cheveu - Like A Deer In The Headlights (Born Bad)
- Estrogen Highs - Luxury Is God (Never Heard Of It)
- Francis Harold & The Holograms - Mirror of Fear (HoZac)
- The Pink Noise - Gold Light (Sacred Bones)
- Watery Love - Debut 45 (Richie)
- White Mystery - Powerglove (HoZac)
- Wounded Lion - Friendly? (In The Red) « Top of the year
- Woven Bones - Janie (Needless)
- XYX - Momento Ácido Contemporáneo (Skulltones)
EPs / middle of the road:
- Cacaw - Get A Brain EP 12" (Permanent)
- The Feeling of Love - Suck / Soul / Porn 12" (HBSP-2X)
- Flight - self-titled 10" (Kill Shaman)
- The Fresh & Onlys - Bomb Wombs CS (Fuck It Tapes)
- Lazer Crystal - EP 1 12" (HBSP-2X)
- Low Red Center - self-titled 10" (S-S)
- Mayyors - Deads EP 12" (Hurling Man)
- Naam - Kingdom 12" (Tee Pee)
- Timmy's Organism - Squeeze The Giant 2x7" (Sacred Bones) « Top of the year
official reissues:
- Boris - Boris at Last -Feedbacker- 12" (Conspiracy) [2004]
- Dead At 24 - Blast Off Motherfucker! LP (Ride The Snake) [1996]
- The Ex + Tom Cora - Scrabbling At The Lock LP (Ex Records) [1991]
- De Kift - Yverzucht LP (Mississippi) [1989]
- Flipper - Generic LP (4 Men With Beards) [1981]
- Lake of Dracula - Skeletal Remains LP (Rococo) [2006]
- The Monks - Black Monk Time 2xLP (Light In The Attic) [1966]
- Nirvana - "Bleach" 2xLP (Sub Pop) [1989]
- Shoes - Black Vinyl Shoes LP (Wah Wah) [1977] « Top of the year
- White Hills - Heads On Fire LP (Thrill Jockey) [2007]
Jamie's Favorite Records of 2009 in no particular order
- Cobalt - Gin
- Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Dracula Boots
- Monks - Pretty Suzanne - 7"
- Umberto - From the Grave - Cassette
- Tiny Vipers - Life On Earth
- Naam - Kingdom
- Nudge - As Good As Gone
- Slayer - World Painted Blood
- Joker + Ginz - Purple City b/w Re-up 12"
- Harvestman - In A Dark Tongue
- Beak> - Beak>
- James Blackshaw - The Glass Bead Game
- Walls - Tread On Me EP
- V/A - Dub Echoes
- Cold Cave - Cremations
- Shit & Shine - 229-2299 Girls Against Shit!
- Anals - Total Anal
- Onna - Cortigana Dal Velo b/w Enfolding Your Breasts... 7"
- Twin Stumps - Twin Stumps
- Oneida - Rated O
- Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul
- Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
- Sylvester Anfang - II
- Black Math Horseman - Wylt
- Jesu - Opiate Sun