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Permanent Records Update 02.09.09

Hey Everybody,

Hope you're all doing well. We're freezing our proverbial nuts off here in Chicago, but luckily we got another couple of holidays rollin' up to distract us from the fact that we can't feel our faces. Obviously, we're referring to Valentine's Day and President's Day next Sunday and Monday respectively. We're only bringing this up because we're spinning records over at the Whistler on Valentine's Day. Don't worry, the holiday won't be changing the kind of stuff we'll be spinning, but it is a good excuse to bring your significant other (or all your single Valentine's despising friends out for a few drinks and a good time) and maybe you're lucky enough to have the next day off work as well!?! Another good time can be had on V-Day weekend right here at Permanent Records. Zola Jesus will be performing for FREE at 4pm on Saturday, February 13th. Zola Jesus has released some great records over the past couple of years on respectable labels such as Die Stasi, Sacred Bones, and Not Not Fun. We're super stoked for this one y'all and we'd love to see all your pretty faces here at the shop on Saturday. As always, the in-store performance is FREE and ALL AGES. For those of you who'd prefer to not leave the house, we don't blame ya, we're happy to be unveiling Permanent Records Podcast Numero Dos (193MB). This podcast is basically the (Very) Brief History of the Permanent Records label, so you can expect to hear some cuts from each of our label releases and (sometimes) informative and humorous anecdotes about each one. Click the link and enjoy the second installment of the P-Rex Podcast, for FREE, or don't, it's totally up to you. We're not getting paid either way, we're in it for the love, man!

There are a bunch of sweet new releases this week. Here are the one's we're most excited about:

7in - Monoshock - Primitive Zippo (Original 1994 Pressing - One Per Customer)

We've gushed about Monoshock various times in past updates, quite a bit lately due to the fact that Monoshock keyboardist, Doug Pearson has recently been playing in a couple of phenomenal bands (Ie. Nothing People and Glitter Wizard). Anyhow, we were mega-surprised when we discovered that Womb Records had a few copies of their first release, Monoshock's "Primitive Zippo" 7", laying around. Needless to say, we hopped on the opportunity to snag a few of these and now we're passing the opportunity along to you. This is the original 1994 pressing of this incredible psych/garage/punk record and we guarantee they won't last long. Get one before they disappear or spend years scouring record bins for another copy.

LP - Psyclones / Schlafengarten - Impromtu (Original Pressing)

Here's another one we were surprised to find laying around in a warehouse original 1987 pressings of the Psyclones / Schlafengarten "Impromtu" collaborative LP on RRRecords. Both artists are from the Bay Area. Psyclones actually released a bunch of sweet experimental, artpunk, and minimal synth tapes and records back in the 80s (one LP on the venerable Subterranean imprint which worked with Flipper, Chrome, and some other great artists as well. "Impromtu" as you might imagine based on the titled is an LP full of experimental, minimal improv jams with lots of synth, tape loops, drum machine, and guitar. Some of it is atmospheric while other bits are very propulsive. Fans of early Cabaret Voltaire, Tuxedomoon, and the like will definitely want to snatch one of these rare original copies up. Also, keep your ears to the ground for a likely LP release of previously unreleased Psyclones material later this year on our very own Permanent Records imprint.

LP - Nerve City - Recordings 2007-2008

Nerve City is a home recording project outta Richmond, VA that's released a couple records within the past year or so. Nerve City's "I Fucked Death" 10" had us wanting more. Their 7" on Hozac had us wondering which dented, rusty coffee can they miniaturized themselves to record in, but we still wanted to hear more. This, their debut LP, has us hoping that what they were doing a couple years ago is similar to what they will come up with next. This is, by far, the best Nerve City release to date. It's quality, melodically fantastic lo-fi stuff and we're realizing slowly, but surely that Sweet Rot is one of the best labels of our day. Too bad they're from Canada... kidding, of course. We're stoked on this one and we can't wait to hear their new EP on Sacred Bones that's slated for release sometime this year.

LP - AFCGT - LP+7in

This consonant-loving group is somewhat hard to keep track of. AFCGT is a two-band (A-Frames / Climax Golden Twins, hence AF / CGT) collaboration that doesn't name or number their releases. AFCGT isn't easy to describe. Here goes: their latest LP (on Sub Pop, somewhat surprisingly) contains some heavy rock muscle with free spirited jazzy punk freak outs that envelope into eerie Morricone-esque film score passages, eventually falling apart into scathing noise drone soundscapes/collages of misanthropic anti-music. Of course they always bring back the spastic free fun freak punk with surprising rhythmic change-ups and weird guitar tonalities to keep you either banging or scratching your head. This is challenging music for discerning listeners, for sure. "AFCGT" is a vinyl only release with a sweet gatefold jacket and a bonus 7" (digital download included).

LP - Maurizio Bianchi / M.B. - Das Platinzeitalter

This record was originally released on CD on Incucabulum and it's now available on wax for the first time ever. "Das Platinzeitalter" contains some dark noise drone textures by Italian noise pioneer Maurizio Bianchi with added lute passages by Jozef Van Wissem. Archaic waves, ancient loops, and primitive electronics abound.

LP - Melvins - Sludge Glamorous

This new "From The Nursery" EP features a long version of "Dies Iraea", a remix of "It Tastes Better Than The Truth", and a nine-minute version of The Wipers' "Youth In America". It is limited to 2,000 copies on silver/gray vinyl and as far as Melvins vinyl goes, that's a ridiculously limited edition. If you blink you'll probably miss it.

LP - Attestupa - 1867

Attestupa is from Gothenberg, Sweden. All of the descriptions of their records include long-winded bits about the bleak and cold landscapes of their native country. Their music sounds similar, cold and bleak. Whatever it is about living in Sweden that drives the sound of Brainbombs and No Balls is present on Attestupa's latest "1867" EP. Attestupa is like a more trebly, lo-fi Brainbombs without the serial killer-esque vocals. "1867" is a suffocatingly heavy record that suits the season. There's only 330 copies of this EP on DNT Records and they probably won't last any longer than the No Balls LP on RTB did, which was like 5 minutes.

LP - Nudge Squidfish - 20,000 Leagues Under Nashville

Here's a crazy, eclectic reissue from the depths of the seemingly-infinite Columbus, Ohio underground rock scene. Here are the specs direct from horses' mouth (aka Columbus Discount):

"During a self-imposed exile in Nashville around 1985, frequent Quota and former "Peter Laughner" of the True Believers, Nudge Squidfish sent cassette transmissions back to his friends Mike Rep & Tommy Jay in Harrisburg, OH. From hours of cassettes Rep compiled this collection of psychedelic pop songs, synthesizer experiments, harmonic convergences, and fragments of his rock'n roll past that rival Mayo Thompson or Brian Wilson in complexity, pop sensibility, and authentic absurdity. Think we're talking it up? Well, Hey!... this IS the gem that launched Rep's storied cassette label, Old Age(/No Age). Upon Squid's return to Columbus, he would link up with the late Jim Shepard to form the legendary V-3. Painstakingly mastered for vinyl by Mike Rep from the original cassette. Edition of 500 LPs."

Fans of Tommy Jay, Mike Rep, and weirdo, basement-created private press rarities will definitely want to take note.

LP - Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

Upbeat, catchy guitar pop from Florida. Very similar to Weezer's early work. They toured with Japandroids and fans of either of the aforementioned bands will probably dig this.

LP - MV and EE - Home Comfort Live

Woodsist is the label behind MV & EE's "Home Comfort" live album and they describe this record just as well if not better than we can so:

"Here is the first ever all live LP of "MV & EE" material and it is the perfect example of the scene in the tapers pit. The familiar tunes which have become staples in their set shine with an unheard intensity with killer solos and sonic excursions into the unknown, and then there is the deep of their singular 'environments', their space which manages to showcase the pastoral freakouts and cosmic raga forms so singular to this unique band. Just as their recent run of releases on Ecstatic Peace! and Dicristina consolidates the MV & EE private press universe and Child Of Microtones orbit with the essence of the Maximum Arousal Farm sound "Home Comfort" does the same to distill the gems of their live shows onto sweet wax. For those familiar with Matt and Erika's cottage label "Heroine Celestial Agriculture", known to the heads as "Heroine", this LP reads like a best of curated by the 'you are there' Swingin' Pig and the results are a stunning cross section of their duo exchange, funky trio with Woods' Jeremy Earl and big band exploratory stomp with Doc Dunn, Muskox and Willie Lane of The Golden Road. Here is the true sound of "MV & EE" with the songs, the extended jams and the feeling. This seminal duo and all they sail with need to be heard live and need to be heard live often, what a glorious document from the tapers pit. That's tapers pit twice in a paragraph, class."

Actually that's tapers pit thrice in a paragraph, man, and there's only 550 copies to go around.

CD - Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula

Bassekou Kouyate and his band, the Ngoni Ba, hail from Mali and play the West African instrument the Ngoni. The Ngoni is a stringed wooden instrument with goat skin stretched across the body like a drum. It is an ancestor of the banjo. The Ngoni Ba play quick rhythmic melodies with a line up of four Ngonis all played by members of Bassekou Kouyate's family. Skewing the lines of West African and American roots music, "I Speak Fula", dances out of the speakers with virtuoso picking and guest appearances galore, including Toumani Diabate, Kasse Mady Diabate, Zoumana Tereta, and Vieux Farka Toure an it's highly recommended for fans of Tinariwen and other ethnic, up-tempo, driving, ecstatic music. It's guaranteed to make you smile while you sweat.

7in - Rollerball - Savage Eyes b/w Lay You Down

Sing Sing is on a roll ladies and gents. They've been reissuing rare punk and powerpop singles pretty steadily for a minute now and the latest batch is just as good if not better than anything they've done previously. These guys really know they're shit. Check it out:

"This Rollerball was a pre-Elton Motello thing involving Alan Ward and Mike Butcher (Jet Staxx). Here's what Mike revealed... 'Rollerball was just a one off, with me on guitar, Alan on vocals and 2 studio assistants, Alex on bass and his brother Pascal on drums. Pascal also played the drums on the Jet Staxx singles. We never played a gig and I don't think we even got many radio plays.' "Savage Eyes" and B-side "Lay You Down", both Ward/Butcher compositions, were recorded late 1976 in their adopted home of Brussels, Belgium (the mecca of pseudo punk), with a production credited to Rollerball as a band. It seems that it was only released in Holland on CNR Records in the first half of 1977 with the Dutch copies also being distributed in Belgium. The B-side is a decent rock number with a few New York Dolls moves, but the real action is on the glorious glam/punk of "Savage Eyes". Considering who was behind this record and how great it is, it's a total mystery why it's remained unknown for over 30 years."

We agree! "Savage Eyes" is the m'fin' jam! The Spider and Deaf Aids 7"s are also excellent and were also in stock, but we're sold out at the moment. Look for those items to be listed as restocks in next week's update.

7in - Rot Shit - You're Welcome

Rot Shit sound like a group of teenagers rebelling. They're actually a group of dudes from Philly (supposedly one member is also in Modey Lemon) that probably listen to a fair amount of Angry Samoans records. "You're Welcome" is a 3-song 7" that is musically quite strong, but lyrically, very temporaneous (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). On the opening cut, "Dead I", these kids take the piss out of the bedroom pop scene and actually mention Captured Tracks and Mike Sniper by name. The other two tracks entitled "Hipster Grandma" and "Local Band Forever" sound a lot cooler than you might think based on their titles. This record is definitely worth hearing, the lyrics are actually quite funny (we're not sure whether they're supposed to be or not), but the music is the reason this record might be worth owning (at least until no one's talking about Mike Sniper or Captured Tracks anymore). A perfect gift for the garage punker in your life who's always talking shit about trendy hipsters, bedroom pop, and/or SXSW. We all know at least one of 'em. Us, we don't take ourselves that seriously. "You're Welcome" is a limited edition of 500 with a "pivotal" lyric sheet insert and fashionista-hating full-color sleeve.

7in - Ceremony - Someday b/w Cracked Sun

A Place To Bury Strangers is from NYC, but not originally. The pre-APTBS group was known as Skywave and they hailed from Fredericksburg, Virgina. According to the label, Killer Pimp, "When Ollie left to move to NYC, Paul and John remained and reorganized as Ceremony." Ceremony obviously shares an affinity with Jesus and Mary Chain-style noise pop and wall-of-sound guitar layering and feedback et al My Bloody Valentine with their former bandmate. This brand new 7" is limited to 500 copies it's a teaser for the duo's LP & CD on Killer Pimp, "Rocket Fire", due early 2010. "Cracked Sun," the B-side is exclusive. We can't wait to hear the full-length, but we're totally stocked to own "Cracked Sun" on wax. Fans of any of the aforementioned bands will LOVE this.

7in - Eat Skull - Jerusalem Mall

This Woodsist release is comprised of 3 "Sick To Death" outtakes previously unavailable on vinyl. "Jerusalem Mall" may be the rawest sounding Eat Skull we've heard, almost sounding like "Confusion Is Sex"-era Sonic Youth. It's the stand-out cut on here in our opinion, but we dig the weirder side of things. Side-B perks up a bit with the Link Wray-style rave-up surf jam "Don't Leave Me On The Speaker", but they bring it back down to the gutter with "Thank You Smoke Breaks" which is the most similar to the rest of "Sick To Death". The glue pocket sleeve is donned with a dead child on the front and the track listing carved (or tattooed) into someone's upper leg, to boot. Intense! All in all it's a really solid single.

Tape - Tyvek - Demos

We put Tyvek's eponymous LP on our best of '09 list and we're still spinning it incessantly and our copies of the LP and our turntables are getting slightly worn from it. That's why we're so stoked about this new Tyvek tape, even though it's not all technically new material. It's mostly new material, but you'll definitely recognize a couple tracks from the Siltbreeze LP. In our opinion, there's no such thing as too much Tyvek, they're like pizza and money in that respect, or records for that matter. This tape is "beautifully" hand-painted by the fine folks at Fag Tapes (they named it) and it's supposedly limited to 77 copies, although we definitely got number 81 of 77. Go figure. Don't think about this one too long or it'll be long gone.

Tape - Landlords - Wheelchair Night

Who could've possibly predicted the amount of stellar noise rock bands that would come out of NYC in the 21st century? Drunkdriver, Pygmy Shrews, Twin Stumps, oh my. Well, it's prime time to make some room for another NY noise rock tape in yr collection. The Landlords are on the scene and their outdoing (at least some of) those who came before them. This shit is brutally heavy and dirgey as fuck. Speed up "Lord Got Busted" a bit and add more balls and Landlords is about what you get. My landlord's gonna be pissed that these guys got their tape out before she and her other landlord/lady buddies could get their shit together and record. Three or four ladies should be starting to rehearse under the Landladies moniker right now, if they haven't already. I dig this tape, but I wouldn't want to be their tenant. Insert a slew of land/slumlord jokes here...we got other records to discuss, but this was fun. Super...intendant!

Tape - Universal Studios Florida - Ocean Sunbirds

If you like Animal Collective or the lighter side of Not Not Fun's catalog, you'll definitely like this tape on Animal Image Research. The label's website gives one no idea what to expect from "Ocean Sunbirds", unless you can imagine what "the rainbow in the mist" might sound like. Therefore, we'll refer you to the more descriptive WeeklyTapeDeck.com review:

"Melding staggered sound-scapes and muscular break beats, the duo known as Universal Studios Florida have a firm grasp on the new wave of tropical-influenced music. Add them to the list of bands that are practically un-searchable on the internet; though the simple addition of the bands hometown Seattle (not Orlando), will bring up a multitude of results. Comparable to Ducktails and White Rainbow, Universal Studios Florida have essentially ground up the makings of a summer day in Texas, seasoned it with synth and the final product is their new record Ocean Sunbirds."

We agree.

In addition to all these sweet new releases, we've restocked the following items (and then some, check the lists below for the full scoop):

LP - Spacemen 3 - Perfect Prescription (Reissue)

Long overdue Spacemen 3 reissue vinyl! This is classic in the "must-own" sense. This is the album on which the SPACEMEN 3 perfected their woozy, psychedelic drone-pop, moving beyond mere tribute to their influences into a world all their own. A concept record about a drug trip, from the euphoric high of album opener "Take Me To The Other Side," to the drowsy, disturbed finish of "Call The Doctor," Perfect Prescription is, arguably, this band's finest moment and the album that best represents the creative collaboration of main members SONIC BOOM and JASON PIERCE. Highly recommended.

LP - Spacemen 3 - Sound Of Confusion (Reissue)

Long overdue Spacemen 3 reissue vinyl! This is classic in the "must-own" sense. Originally released on Glass in 1986, Sound Of Confusion is the debut album from the SPACEMEN 3 led by SONIC BOOM (SPECTRUM) and JASON PIERCE (SPIRITUALIZED). Featuring covers of 13th Floor Elevators, The Stooges, and Juicy Lucy amongst some classic originals, this is the band's first foray into the deep, stoned, trance-inducing, psychedelic sound they would master on later albums. Highly Recommended.

LP - Spacemen 3 - Performance (Reissue)

While your picking up (or if you already own) "Perfect Prescription" and "Sound of Confusion, why not make it a triple play and pick up this classic live Spacemen 3 LP that's been long out-of-print. Recorded live in Amsterdam in 1988, on the Perfect Prescription tour, Performance is a fine document of the SPACEMEN 3's early, noisier sound, a hopped up version of the band's more woozy recorded output. Beautifully recorded and featuring the band at their live best. Recommended.

LP - Raymilland - Recordings 79-81

Previously un-compiled vintage recordings from this St. Louis, MO, post-punk band that includes a CD of the LP (re-sequenced) with five bonus tracks. Super new-wave-y in the best sense with a sound that's like the most aggro moments of Roxy Music with a touch of Joy Division (or even a little Killing Joke or Echo & the Bunnymen). Like all good Anglophiles you wouldn't know they were from the States unless you got 'em in conversation (ha!). Both the LP and CD include a cover of Syd Barrett's "No Good Trying" (from his "The Madcap Laughs" LP). Recommended!

LP - Various Artists - You Weren't There (LP/DVD soundtrack/documentary)

White vinyl LP in gatefold jacket + full DVD -and- a poster! Limited to 1000 copies! The film is cram packed with loads of late-70's and early-80's live footage from lots of obscure and some more well known Chicago punk bands. Featured in the film are bands like Mentally Ill, Tutu & the Pirates, Strike Under, Way-Outs, Da, Subverts, End Result, Naked Raygun, Articles of Faith, Effigies, Big Black, and many more. The filmmaker interviewed a bunch of the OG Chicago punkers and got some great anecdotes from seminal musicians like Jeff Pezzati, Santiago Durango, and Steve Albini and less celebrated, but no less important folks like Terry Nelson. Anyhow, the interviews, live footage, still photos, and music are arranged beautifully. The 2+ hours fly by and leave one wanting more. We're super stoked to be offering these items up for sale and we think you'll be equally stoked to add them to your collection. This is the real History of Chicago Punk, a tragically neglected story, that's just as important as anything that went on in L.A., New York, or in the UK. Don't miss out on it.

LP - She - Outta Reach - Limited Numbered, Hand Screened Edition of 550)

She was a '70s girl-group from Sacremento also known as The Hairem. Causeway records has done us the favor of comping all of their material onto one LP, named after their should've-been-a-hit single Outta Reach. We'd love to tell you more about this band's history, but we can't seem to find any info online or otherwise. The LP is housed in blank jackets paste-on, screen printed jacket covers on the front and back. Released in a numbered, limited edition of 550, these surely won't last long. Fans of garage rock and/or girl-groups will definitely want to act fast on this one. We'd be surprised if the Vivian Girls weren't familiar with the entirety of the B-side (all of The Hairem tracks on the comp) as their music is not all that dissimilar. We'd also love to hear Thee Oh Sees cover Come On Along from the same side. That'd be incredible. She comes totally recommended!

LP - Crushed Butler - Uncrushed

Radio Heartbeat is a relatively young vinyl re-issue label with just a handful of releases under their belt. They're obviously going for quality over quantity, though, because the releases they have chosen to deal with have been, for the most part, phenomenal. A couple of weeks ago we mentioned the arrival of the Quick's Mondo Deco LP, a glam-my, powerpop re-issue they did. Fans of Sparks and the Speedies should definitely take note. Prior to that release, Radio Heartbeat reissued seminal records by weird punk bands like Hubble Bubble and Raxola and obscure powerpop bands like Milk N' Cookies and Speedies, and more. Quite an impressive track record if you ask us. Anyhow, Radio Heartbeat seems to be picking up the pace these days, 'cuz their back on track with a killer comp by a band that doesn't all into either of the genres they seemed to previously be dealing in exclusively. The record we're speaking of is Crushed Butler's Uncrushed LP. Crushed Butler was a UK hard rock band from the late-60's and early-70's. Uncrushed is their definitive vinyl release, with original cover art, extensive liner notes printed on the inner sleeve, and a photo copy of the band's original press pack photo included, to boot. The sounds contained on the grooves within are incredible. Imagine Black Sabbath as a power trio, or a slightly darker Blue Cheer, and you're starting to get the idea. Obviously, this one comes with our stamp of approval, as does most of the Radio Heartbeat back catalog, especially the first Hubble Bubble and Raxola records, which we try to keep on hand at all times. Fans of the lighter, Buzzcocks�ier side of punk, will definitely want to hear the Speedies record, but you might want to get vaccinated first, 'cuz it's infectious. Radio Heartbeat says this - Many bands are called legendary, few are. Among them are Crushed Butler whose assault on the UK prog rock scene in 69-70 layed out the dynamics that were to follow in the best punk, glam and pub rock records of the seventies. From the anthemic R&B classic "High School Dropout", to the pure punk mayhem of "It's My Life" and "Factory Grime" and the heavy Sabbath-esque psych of "Love Is All Around Me" this has long been a record deserving of wider accessibility. Radio Heartbeat Records is pleased to make that happen. The RHB LP edition adds a 2nd version of "High School Dropout" and an previously unreleased instrumental recording, "Let It Ring" to the 6 tracks first pressed on the Dig The Fuzz 10" in the 90's to make this the definitive vinyl release that contains the band's complete surviving recordings. We totally agree. This is an incredible record and it comes with our highest recommendation, especially for fans of Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer. Printed inner sleeve with extensive liner notes and photo copied press photo included to boot!

LP - Carlton Melton - Pass It On

500 Pressing on Brown Vinyl - Instrumental jam/space rock group from California with eerie guitar/synth passages held together by tight bass and drums. Some of the tracks are upbeat gutter dwelling head-bangers while others travel lightly through outer space terrain. Carlton Melton excels in both realms. Droney experimental rock risk takers.

LP - High Rise - Live

Ultra-intense and blown-out distorto freak-psych jams that push the meters WAY up in the red like a power-trio cross between Blue Cheer, Guitar Wolf, and a jackhammer in front of a jet engine. Not for the faint-hearted but we like it and like it a lot. Three sides of music and a beautifully etched side 4. Last of the original one-time only US pressing of 1000.

LP - High Rise - Disallow

This is their final studio record. As with all things High Rise it's recommended. Last copies or the US pressing of 1000 and that's it. Get 'em while we got 'em.

Tape - Umberto - From The Grave...

The Umberto tape we recently scored from Sonic Meditations is highly enjoyable. Sonic Meditations is Justin Wright of Expo 70s imprint and Umberto is the solo side-project of Expo 70s bass/synth player. Umberto is bass and synth-heavy but not in the psychedelic drone-y way that Expo 70 is. Far from it actually Umberto (presumably named after Italian horror film director Umberto Lenzi) sounds like the soundtrack to one of his namesakes films but better. The From the Grave... tape is a dark analog dance party in a jewel case. We had this tape pumpin' in the car on Halloween night and we felt like B movie stars. We've played it here in the shop and most people who asked us about it couldn't believe it wasn't at least 20 years old. Pick one up for yourself and you'll see what we mean.

7in - Fresh and Onlys - Second One To Know

The new Fresh & Onlys release is a 7" single on Woodsist comprised of 2 songs from their Bomb Wombs cassette from earlier this year. The tracks are Second One To Know and Hated or Loved respectively and both are upbeat, catchy, Here Come the Warm Jets-era Eno-esque, off-kilter pop jams, for sure. Second One To Know actually sounds quite a bit like Needles in the Camel's Eye from Eno's classic solo debut, but we think it's still worth owning. Highly recommended!

That wraps it up for yet another update. Please check out our podcast if you have time. It's always free and, we hope, informative and funny. 'Til next week, friends.

And boom goes the dynamite,

New Releases

Artist - Title	Price	Status
CD - Album Leaf - A Chorus Of Storytellers	$11.99
CD - Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula	$11.99
CD - Lil Wayne - Rebirth	$14.99
CD - Magnetic Fields - Realism	$13.99
CD - Passion Pit - Chunk Of Change	$8.99
CD - Pierced Arrows - Descending Shadows	$12.99
CD - Surfer Blood - Astro Coast	$12.99
7in - Ceremony - Someday b/w Cracked Sun	$4.99
7in - Eat Skull - Jerusalem Mall	$5.99	featured
7in - Monoshock - Primitive Zippo (Original 1994 Pressing - One Per Customer)	$9.99	featured
7in - Rollerball - Savage Eyes b/w Lay You Down	$6.99	featured
7in - Rot Shit - Youre Welcome	$5.99	featured
LP - AFCGT - LP / 7in	$17.99	featured
LP - Attestupa - 1867	$12.99	featured
LP - Black Jaspers - Black Jaspers	$12.99
LP - Dirtbombs - Race To The Bottom	$9.99
LP - Frank Rosaly - Milkwork	$9.99
LP - Girlschool - Nightmare at Maple Cross	$9.99
LP - Maurizio Bianchi/M.B. - Das Platinzeitalter	$21.99
LP - Melvins - Sludge Glamorous	$21.99	featured
LP - MV and EE - Home Comfort Live	$13.99
LP - Nerve City - Recordings 2007-2008	$12.99	featured
LP - Nudge Squidfish - 20,000 Leagues Under Nashville	$11.99
LP - Pillars and Tongues - Lay Of Pilgrim Park	$12.99
LP - Psyclones / Schlafengarten - Impromtu (Original Pressing)	$19.99	featured
LP - Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx 2	$17.99
LP - Surfer Blood - Astro Coast	$14.99
LP - Various Artists - Minimal Wave Tapes - Volume One	$19.99
Tape - Japp Gutter - Heaven Dollars	$4.99
Tape - Landlords - Wheelchair Night	$6.99	featured
Tape - Perpeteia - Trepanation Constellation	$4.99
Tape - Tristeza - City Gaze	$4.99
Tape - Tyvek - Demos	$7.99	featured
Tape - Universal Studios Florida - Ocean Sunbirds	$5.99	featured
Tape - Voices - Aether Ore	$4.99

* All New Releases should be considered in-stock at time this newsletter was delivered unless noted otherwise.

Restock

U/N	Format - Artist - Title	Price
Used	CD - Aidan Baker - I Wish Too, To Be Absorbed	$8.99
Used	CD - Album Leaf - A Chorus Of Storytellers	$8.99
Used	CD - Au Pairs - The Very Best Of The Au Pairs - Shocks to the System - Import	$11.99
Used	CD - Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula	$8.99
Used	CD - Beach House - Teen Dream (with DVD)	$8.99
Used	CD - Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (2009 remaster enhanced CD)	$11.99
Used	CD - Bird Show - Band	$8.99
Used	CD - Br. Danielson - Brother Son	$8.99
Used	CD - Cecil Taylor - Conquistador	$5.99
Used	CD - Circulatory System - Circulatory System	$7.99
New	CD - Clipd Beaks - To Realize	$10.99
Used	CD - Danielson - Tell Another Joke At The Ol Choppin Block	$8.99
Used	CD - DNA - DNA on DNA	$8.99
Used	CD - Einsturzende Neubauten - Strategies Against Architecture	$8.99
New	CD - Fucked Up - Couple Tracks - Singles	$12.99
Used	CD - Fucked Up - Couple Tracks - Singles	$8.99
Used	CD - Gang Of Four - Entertainment and Yellow EP - On Infinite Zero	$8.99
Used	CD - Herbie Hancock - Sextant	$5.99
New	CD - Inbred - Legacy of Fertility	$12.99
Used	CD - Joan Of Arc - Dont Mind Control	$7.99
Used	CD - Liliput - Liliput	$11.99
Used	CD - Malachai - Ugly Side Of Love	$8.99
Used	CD - Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (Columbia/Legacy 1999 Remaster) 2xCD	$9.99
Used	CD - My Cat Is An Alien - Leave Me In The Black No Thing	$8.99
New	CD - Oh Sees - Dog Poison	$9.99
Used	CD - Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance	$8.99
Used	CD - Rameses III - Honey Rose EP	$8.99
Used	CD - Raven - Back to Ohio Blues	$8.99
New	CD - Retribution Gospel Choir - 2	$12.99
Used	CD - Retribution Gospel Choir - 2	$8.99
Used	CD - Sir Richard Bishop - Polytheistic Fragments	$8.99
Used	CD - St. Vincent - Actor	$7.99
Used	CD - Talking Heads - Fear of Music	$7.99
Used	CD - The Melvins - The Bootlicker	$8.99
Used	CD - Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments - Bait And Switch	$7.99
Used	CD - Various Artists - Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010	$8.99
Used	CD - Vernon Wray - Wasted	$8.99
Used	CD - Wire - 154	$8.99
Used	CD - Xiu Xiu - Knife Play	$5.99
New	7in - Druid Perfume - Says Dont Eat Em Theyre Poison	$4.99
New	7in - Native Cats - Catspaw b/w Lemon Juice (on White Denim)	$5.99
New	7in - Pink Reason - Throw It Away b/w Slate Train/New Violence	$5.99
New	7in - Pygmy Shrews - Lord Got Busted b/w Kill Yourself	$4.99
New	7in - Sinks - No Money b/w Cant Stand You/I Want To Be Dumb	$6.99
New	7in - Young Governor - English Tim b/w In The Heart Of A Harem	$6.99
Used	LP - Alexander Spence - Oar	$11.99
New	LP - Bassholes - Archive Series Vol. 7 - ... And Without A Name	$11.99
Used	LP - Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (orig Capitol Duophonic rainbow label)	$11.99
Used	LP - Booker T and the MGs - Greatest Hits (1970s Stax LP)	$9.99
New	LP - Breeders - Fate To Fatal	$11.99
Used	LP - Brenton Wood - Oogum Boogum (orig. On Double Shot Records)	$9.99
Used	LP - Byrds - Dr.Byrds and Mr.Hyde	$7.99
Used	LP - Caravan - For Girls Who Grow Plump In the Night (German pressing on Brain in gatefold jacket)	$24.99
Used	LP - Caravan - For Girls Who Grow Plump In the Night (US pressing on London in gatefold jacket)	$19.99
New	LP - Carlton Melton - Pass It On	$14.99
Used	LP - Chisel - 8AM All Day - Out Of Print	$49.99
Used	LP - Chocolate Milk - Milky Way	$9.99
Used	LP - Conrad Black - Not Marmosets Yet	$9.99
Used	LP - Creedence Clearwater Revival - 1970	$7.99
Used	LP - Crosby Stills Nash and Young - Deja Vu (textured gatefold jacket)	$7.99
Used	LP - D.A.F. - Alles Ist Gut	$14.99
Used	LP - D.A.F. - Gold Und Liebe	$14.99
Used	LP - David Peel And The Lower East Side - The American Revolution - Hole Punch in Corner	$14.99
Used	LP - David Peel and the Lower East Side - The American Revolution (1970 Elektra Records gatefold)	$19.99
New	LP - De Kift - Krankenhaus	$12.99
Used	LP - Doors - Greatest Hits (1980 Elektra Records with full-color inner sleeve)	$9.99
Used	LP - Drums of North and South India	$14.99
Used	LP - Electric Light Orchestra - Face The Music (orig.UA pressing with inner sleeve)	$4.99
New	LP - Epsilons - S/T	$14.99
New	LP - EyeHateGod - Confederacy of Ruined Lives (reissue)	$27.99
Used	LP - Faithealer - Bound and Chained	$7.99
Used	LP - Fear - The Record (on Slash/WB w/barcode)	$19.99
Used	LP - Feelies - The Good Earth (orig. Coyote/TwinTone pressing)	$14.99
New	LP - Feeling Of Love - Ok Judge Revival	$13.99
Used	LP - Flamin Groovies - Flamin Groovies Now (orig. 1978 Sire pressing w/cut-out punch)	$19.99
Used	LP - Flamin Groovies - Still Shakin (orig.Buddah LP)	$19.99
Used	LP - Fripp and Eno - Evening Star	$19.99
Used	LP - Grateful Dead - Shakedown Street	$9.99
Used	LP - Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson - w/ Poster	$14.99
Used	LP - Husker Du - Candy Apple Grey	$14.99
Used	LP - Husker Du - Warehouse Songs and Stories	$14.99
Used	LP - Jam - In The City (1980s Dutch Polydor pressing)	$14.99
Used	LP - James Brown - Showtime - Mono	$9.99
Used	LP - Jesus Lizard - Head - [Original 1990 Press on T+G w/ Insert]	$29.99
Used	LP - John Cage - Variations / Henri Pousseur - Trois Visages de Liege / Milton Babbitt - Ensembles For Synthesizer (Columbia Masterworks)	$19.99
New	LP - Joseph Spence - Bahaman Guitarist	$12.99
Used	LP - Killing Joke - Whats This For...!	$14.99
New	LP - Kurt Vile - Constant Hitmaker	$12.99
Used	LP - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III (SD 7201 - with wheel, missing spindle)	$14.99
New	LP - M.O.T.O. - Single File	$19.99
Used	LP - Mandrill - The Best Of Mandrill	$9.99
New	LP - Miracle Condition - 68 Degrees	$12.99
Used	LP - Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes	$9.99
Used	LP - Neil Young - American Stars N Bars	$7.99
Used	LP - Neil Young - Harvest	$14.99
Used	LP - Nerves - Live! (at the Pirates Cove Cleveland Ohio May 26 1977)	$11.99
Used	LP - New Model Army - No Rest For The Wicked	$9.99
Used	LP - New Order - Power Corruption and Lies (Fact 75)	$19.99
New	LP - Oh Sees - Quadrospazzed	$12.99
Used	LP - Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - Architecture and Morality (US Epic pressing w/inner sleeve)	$7.99
Used	LP - Pat Metheny / Ornette Coleman - Song X (orig.Geffen issue)	$9.99
Used	LP - Patty Pravo - Per Aver Visto... - Import on Philips - 6323 010 L - Stereo	$29.99
Used	LP - Phantom Pregnancies - The Compilation That Could Have Been A Contender	$7.99
Used	LP - Phil Ochs - Pleasures Of The Harbor (orig. AM gold label)	$7.99
Used	LP - Phil Ochs - Tape From California (AM 1960s gold label)	$9.99
Used	LP - Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon (orig.US Harvest issue w/poster, both stickers)	$19.99
Used	LP - Railroad Jerk - One Track Mind - Gatefold	$7.99
New	LP - Raincoats - Raincoats (KRS Reissue with Download Code)	$14.99
Used	LP - Ray Wilburn And Jerry Moore - Communication With	$9.99
New	LP - Raymilland - Recordings 79-81	$17.99
New	LP - Real Estate - Reality (Limited Pressing on Black Vinyl - Limit One Per Customer)	$19.99
Used	LP - Rep And The Quotas - Songs the Grackles Liked	$7.99
Used	LP - Rhinoceros - Rhinoceros (orig. Elektra gatefold)	$7.99
Used	LP - Rotary Connection - Aladdin (orig.Cadet Concept gatefold)	$9.99
Used	LP - Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure	$14.99
Used	LP - Shango - Shango (orig.AM gold label)	$9.99
Used	LP - Shipping News - Save Everything	$9.99
Used	LP - Silver Metre - Silver Metre	$19.99
Used	LP - Siouxsie and the Banshees - Tinderbox (US Geffen)	$9.99
Used	LP - Smith - A Group Called Smith	$9.99
Used	LP - Soft Machine - Soft Machine (ABC/Probe US pressing, gatefold)	$29.99
New	LP - Spacemen 3 - Perfect Prescription (Reissue)	$17.99
New	LP - Spacemen 3 - Performance (Reissue)	$17.99
New	LP - Spacemen 3 - Sound Of Confusion (Reissue)	$17.99
Used	LP - Talking Heads - Fear Of Music	$14.99
Used	LP - Television - Marquee Moon (orig.Elektra butterfly label w/inner sleeve)	$29.99
Used	LP - The Rudy Ray Moore Album - Eat Out More Often	$7.99
Used	LP - The Zodiac - Cosmic Sounds (orig.Elektra mono pressing)	$29.99
Used	LP - Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (US on Mercury)	$11.99
Used	LP - Thin Lizzy - Johnny The Fox	$14.99
New	LP - Tropa Macaca - Sensacao Do Principio	$13.99
New	LP - tUnE-yArDs - BiRd-BrAiNs	$13.99
Used	LP - Two Pauls - Here They Come	$9.99
New	LP - U.S. Christmas - Eat The Low Dogs	$25.99
New	LP - Undertones - An Anthology Previously Unreleased Live and Demos	$17.99
Used	LP - Various Artists - For Now 2 - [Mega Rare Private Christian Heavy Psych Rock LP From St. Louis]	$79.99
Used	LP - Various Artists - From Twisted Minds Come Twisted Products (1990 Noiseville Records compilation)	$9.99
Used	LP - Various artists - Story Of The Blues (Columbia 2xLP)	$14.99
New	LP - Various Artists - Welcome to 1984	$9.99
New	LP - Vibracathedral Orchestra - Smoke Song	$15.99
Used	LP - Vince Gauraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas	$7.99
Used	LP - Wazmo Nariz - Tell Me How To Live (1981 Big Records)	$7.99
Used	LP - Yaphet Kotto - We Bury Our Dead Alive	$7.99
New	Tape - Chickens - S/T	$2.99
New	Tape - FNU Ronnies - Golem Smoke	$3.99
New	Tape - Glitter Wizard - Live on Stage and in Studio 2008	$4.99

* All Restocks 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	Bassekou Kouyate Ngoni Ba	I Speak Fula	$11.99
CD	Lisa Germano	Magic Neighbor	$9.99
CD	Eddy Current Suppression Ring	S/T	$9.99
CD	Tyvek	Tyvek	$9.99
CD	Vivian Girls	Everything Goes Wrong	$9.99
CD	Jay Reatard	Watch Me Fall	$9.99
CD	Mika Miko	We Be Xuxa	$9.99
CD	Intelligence	Fake Surfers	$9.99
CD	Califone	All My Friends	$9.99
CD	Box Elders	Alice And Friends	$9.99
CD	James Blackshaw	Glass Bead Game	$9.99
CD	Comet Gain	Broken Record	$9.99

Station Two

Format	Artist	Title	Sale Price
CD	Vampire Weekend	Contra	$11.99
CD	Home Blitz	Out Of Phase	$9.99
CD	Four Tet	There Is Love In You	$9.99
CD	Beach House	Teen Dream	$13.99
CD	Retribution Gospel Choir	2	$12.99
CD	Magnetic Fields	Realism	$13.99
LP	Mako Sica	May Day At Strobe	$14.99
CD	Talk Normal	Sugarland	$12.99
CD	Medication	This Town	$11.99
CD	Album Leaf	Chorus of Storytellers	$11.99
CD	St Vincent	Actor	$11.99
CD	Clipd Beaks	To Realize	$10.99

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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]

Jim's 2009 Best Of Picks

New Releases, Reissues, and Compilations

I know there's many more I've forgotten, but I feel like I've played these records more than any others so far this year. Roughly in order as to how often I spun'em

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Dracula Boots
Trad Gras och Stenar - Hemlosa Katter
Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
Gunslingers - No More Invention
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Thee Oh Sees - Help
Death - ....For The Whole World To See
Wooden Shjips - Dos
Various artists - Local Custom: Downriver Revival
Mako Sica - Mayday At Strobe
Expo 70 - Night Flights
Greg Cartwright - Live At The Circle A
CAVE - Psychic Psummer
Spacemen 3 - DJ Tones [best album artwork of the year!]
Harvey Milk - Live at SuperSonic08
Moon Duo - EZ Street Ext. / Love on the Sea 12"
Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice - Moon Colony Bloodbath
Disappears - Live Over the Rainbo
the Heads - Tilburg
Various artists - Light on the South Side
Circle - Triumph
Crocodiles - Summer of Hate
Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans
Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy
Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions

[I would have listed more Permanent titles but I don't want to toot our own horn too much; but yeah, we released some really good records this year!]

7" singles

Charles Albright - I'm On Drugs
Thee Oh Sees - Carol Ann / Bloody Water
Thee Oh Sees - Tidal Wave / Heart Sweats
Plastic Crimewave Sound - Shockwave Rider / Bad Politics
Onna - Cortigana Dal Velo b/w Enfolding Your Breasts
the Monks - Pretty Suzanne [monster fuzz version] / Monk Time
Boris - Heavy Rock Hits #1 - my fave of the three
Spacemen 3 / Wooden Shjips split single on GPS

Live shows

Tindersticks at Epiphany - one of the best concerts I've ever attended
Harvey Milk at Subterranean
Gunslingers at Empty Bottle
Spectrum at Darkroom - LOUD, with a full band, and killer new & old songs!
Jesus Lizard - Friday night show at Metro [ok, and the Saturday show, too, and the Pitchfork set]
CAVE at Bitchpork, Rueben's Palace, Hideout, Logan Sq. street fest
Expo 70 at P-Rex [twice!]
Kid Congo at P-Rex
Disappears at the Hideout
Tinariwen at Old Town School
Mountain Goats at the Portage Theater
Cacaw at Automatic
Mako Sica at Strobe
Fucked Up at Pitchfork
DEVO at the Vic playing Q: Are We Not Men? - thanx Kyle!
Flatlanders at Country Music Fest
Alejandro Escovedo at Country Music Fest
Failures at Beat Kitchen - thanx Jason!
Oh Sees and Fresh & Onlys at Schuba's
J Roddy and the Business at Schuba's
Lucero at Bottom Lounge
Shellac at Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
Feelies at Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
Bloodshot 15th Anniv/Hideout Block Party
And of course the Permanent 3rd Anniv. show at the Hideout!

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

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