Friday, June 6, 2014

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


new releases from our friends at MusicOnVinyl

ERYKAH BADU - MAMA'S GUN

Mama's Gun is the second studio album by Neo Soul singer Erykah Badu, released in 2000. Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the album incorporates Funk, Soul and Jazz styles. Covering themes of insecurity, social issues and personal relationships, Badu delivered a highly intimate and personal album that reached Platinum two months after its release. Mama's Gun features substantial contributions from several members of the Soulquarians outfit, of which Badu was a member. It also features guests such as soul singer Betty Wright and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

The album contains the single "Bag Lady" which, with its colorful, artsy music video, shot to #1 on the R&B charts, and also into the Top 10 on the billboard charts. "Bag Lady" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best R&B Song. Also the song "Didn't Cha Know?" was nominated for Best R&B Song.

Rolling Stone magazine applauded her for taking "chances the way Stevie Wonder or Nina Simone did in their prime" and went on to say "she has taken her art to the next level." Entertainment Weekly called the album a "'70s soul homage featuring live musicians and a smooth-funk sound that wouldn't be out of place on a CTI record."
  • 180 gram audiophile vinyl 
  • Gatefold sleeve
  • Insert 
  • First pressing of 1000 numbered copies on transparent red vinyl


GRAM PARSONS - EARLY YEARS VOL. 1 & 2

The Early Years Volume 1 & 2 brings together Gram Parsons' (International Submarine Band, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers) earliest recordings in one convenient and beautiful document on 180 gram audiophile vinyl. It may be a good bit different than the music that made Parsons a legend, but these rough tapes show the talent was always there and was capable of expressing itself in a variety of ways.

The first ten songs were taken from a demo Parsons recorded in 1965 at a radio station with the Shilos, a Kingston Trio-type folk group he sang with for a few years. Originals like "Big Country" and "Zah's Blues" show he was already making his mark as a songwriter. Next are eight living-room recordings from late 1965 of Parsons performing solo with his guitar in a friend's apartment in New York City. The performances are thoughtful and full of soul, and the songs show Parsons was strongly developing his creative talent. The set also includes a pair of tunes Parsons cut with The Like, his short-lived rock band. The vinyl set closes with a few tunes Parsons recorded with Brandon de Wilde. Their recordings of "Do Right Woman" and "Together Again" are the first glimpses of the style that would become Parsons' quality mark.

A must-have document of Parsons' first musical efforts!
  • 180 gram audiophile vinyl
  • Gatefold sleeve


MOODY BLUES - ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM

On The Threshold Of A Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released in 1969. Like most Moody albums, On The Threshold Of A Dream follows a concept. It explores dreams, especially on the second side, which climaxes with the "Voyage" suite, inspired in part by Richard Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra".

This album is oozing with bright, splashy creative flourishes in two seemingly contradictory directions that somehow come together as a valid whole. On The Threshold Of A Dream provided The Moody Blues with their first British #1 album and remained on the charts for an astonishing 70 weeks.

The Moody Blues are regarded as one of the most innovative and successful rock bands in music history and you only have to put down the needle on this record to be convinced that this bold statement is indeed a fact.
  • 180 gram audiophile vinyl 
  • 4 page insert


MR. BUNGLE - CALIFORNIA

California is the third and final studio album by Mr. Bungle and the follow-up to Disco Volante (1995). The American experimental band including Mike Patton (Faith No More, Tomahawk, Fantômas, etc) was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to a major label and releasing three full-length studio albums between 1991 and 1999. Mr. Bungle was known for its distinctive musical traits, often cycling through several musical genres within the course of a single song. Many of its songs had an unconventional structure and utilized a wide array of instruments and samples.

Originally released in 1999 California was generally well received. The album was previously only available on vinyl in the USA.
  • 180 gram audiophile vinyl
  • Insert
  • First pressing of 2000 numbered copies on white vinyl


JOHNNY CASH - BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

Originally released in 1963, Blood, Sweat and Tears is the fifteenth studio album by American icon Johnny Cash.

Essentially the album is a collection of songs about the  American working man. It includes the classic ballad "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" and the single "Busted". Five years after the release of Blood, Sweat and Tears, both songs appeared on one of Cash's most famous records, At Folsom Prison [MOVLP274].

The album's title is inspired by a quote from Winston Churchill, saying he can offer "nothing but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." According to critics the album consists almost entirely of first-rate material and is an essential album in the Johnny Cash catalogue.  180 gram audiophile vinyl


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Why Do the Heathen Rage? -The Soft Pink Truth

The new album from The Soft Pink Truth (Drew Daniel of Matmos).  The album features appearances from Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons), Terence Hannum (Locrian), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak), M.C. Schmidt (Matmos), and Owen Gaertner (Horse Lords).  The album takes songs by Venom, Beherit, Sarcofago, Sargeist, Darkthrone, An, Mayhem, Hellhammer, and Impaled Northern Moonforest and presents them as addictive house and techno anthems.

Deluxe LP version includes pink metallic foiling on cover, printed inner sleeve and free download card. The first 666 vinyl copies are pressed on pink vinyl with the remaining copies on black. CD version in 4 panel mini-LP style gatefold package with metallic pink printing.

This is a pre-order for June 17th street date. All orders including this release will ship on or before the June 17th street date.

Pre-Order at ThrillJockey

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The Mighty Fine- "Brothers and Smugglers" LP (Oxblood Vinyl w/ Yellow Splatter)

We are so excited to announce the addition of San Luis Obispo's THE MIGHTY FINE to the Creator-Destructor family! Formed in 2008, the California 4-Piece has been making waves on the West Coast with their special brand of mid-tempo melodic punk, sure to please fans of Hot Water Music, Alkaline Trio, and The Lawrence Arms.

The band's brand new LP, 'Brothers and Smugglers' will see a March 4th, 2014 release in Vinyl, CD, and Digital formats. Recorded throughout 2013 in North Hollywood with Producer Kyle Black (Strung Out, Set Your Goals, Comeback Kid), 'Brothers and Smugglers' is chock-full of powerful sing-alongs and punk rock anthems that are reminiscent of the No Idea / Epitaph persuasion of the last 20 years, while offering up a memorable and exciting spin on the sound. The 10 tracks that comprise 'Brothers and Smugglers' see the band at their very best, only improving on the powerful, catchy songwriting and knack for hooks that have gained the band attention thus far.

Pressing Info: 
125 Pressed
Includes Digital Download
180g Heavyweight Vinyl

Order HERE

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from MergeRecords 


The Clean 'Anthology' Pre-Order (reissue)

Anthology serves as a celebration of The Clean, a band whose influence extends so far beyond their New Zealand home that even if you have never heard of The Clean before, you have surely heard of some of the bands (Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and Superchunk, to name a few) who have been influenced by their unique blend of homemade garage rock, hook-filled melodies, and psychedelic experimentalism.

The album is a compilation of songs from across The Clean’s legendary musical career, which began in 1981 and continues today. Merge originally released the 2-CD Anthology in 2003, but in celebration of our 25th anniversary, we felt the time was right to release this essential collection on quadruple LP.

Hamish and David Kilgour formed The Clean in 1978. Hamish played drums, and David picked up a guitar and figured out how to play it as he went along. Various other folk passed through the Kilgour brothers’ orbit during the first two years or so before Robert Scott (The Bats) joined on bass. Hamish, David, and Robert all wrote songs and sang in The Clean, who made their first recordings for the renowned New Zealand label Flying Nun in 1981.

Anthology kicks off with The Clean’s call-to-arms debut “Tally Ho!”; the story of the infectious track’s $60 recording bill is now legendary. From there, it continues with the early EPs Boodle Boodle Boodle and Great Sounds Great in their entirety. The hits—“Billy Two,” “Anything Could Happen,” “Beatnik,” and “Getting Older”—and live favorites like “Point That Thing Somewhere Else” and instrumentals “Fish” and “At the Bottom” all serve up memories of the joyous noise that characterized The Clean of that time. These recordings, mostly made by the band with Chris Knox and Doug Hood at the helm of the 4-track, capture the bright, raw sound of a classic garage band.

After a brief breakup, the band recorded Vehicle, their first full-length, in 1989. Vehicle was made in three days and engineered by Alan Moulder (later to become one of the top producers of the alternative era, recording the Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, and My Bloody Valentine). The sounds of Vehicle and the two albums that followed it, Modern Rock (1994) and Unknown Country (1996), make up the bulk of discs 3 and 4 of the vinyl Anthology. The Clean used organ and other keyboards to mix bouncing pop tunes with continued experimentation.

In addition to selections from these full-length recordings, Anthology includes two songs released only on an American 7-inch and two that appeared on a bonus flexi-disc with the Modern Rock LP.

The Clean’s story is on-again/off-again purely by design. It suits the trio’s creative desires and keeps them clear of the machinery that threatened to interfere with that process from the moment they threatened to get awfully popular awfully quickly over thirty years ago. The Clean’s modern age has seen them splitting time and hemispheres: David Kilgour has a reputable solo catalog; Robert Scott has The Bats; and Hamish Kilgour has been an endearing and enduring fixture in New York City, playing with assorted combos.

Preorders and t-shirt bundles will ship to arrive on or around the release date of July 15.

Pre-Order at Merge



Caribou 'Our Love' Pre-Order

You reach a point in life where the question of how to stay at the top of your game looms, with the only real solution being: you change the game. Our Love, the new album from Caribou, is the sound of Dan Snaith doing just that. Our Love, due October 7 on Merge Records, is the fifth studio album from Caribou.

Our Love is formed around a mixture of digital pop production, hip hop-inspired beats, muted house basslines, and a love of shuffling garage that can be traced all the way back to the time of Start Breaking My Heart – all of which are, of course, filtered through Dan’s own unique perspective. The warm analog sounds of classic soul should not be overlooked either, for they weave themselves most intensely into the record’s DNA. In fact, Our Love is probably Caribou’s most soulful record to date, with tracks like “Back Home” whose heartfelt lyrics – dealing in tired relationships and a weary kind of love – and organic nature cut through the bubbling synths and blissful euphoria of their synthetic constructions. It’s not all downbeat of course; while some thoughts linger on mortality, loss, and letting go, there is always an element of celebration.

Having followed up his Polaris Prize-winning 2007 record Andorra with the universally adored Swim in 2010 (selling nearly 175,000 copies worldwide and being named Album of the Year by Rough Trade, Mixmag, and Resident Advisor while also hitting The Guardian, Pitchfork, Spin, and Mojo’s Top 20), Dan has spent the intervening four years touring the world, bringing not only the sounds of Caribou to the stage but proving his immeasurable worth as a DJ with epic 7½-hour-long sets. In 2012, Caribou were personally invited to join Radiohead on the road while Dan released his first album under the guise of his dancefloor-loving pseudonym Daphni to widespread critical acclaim. Following the shape-shifting sounds of JIAOLONG and the brightly textured, fluid constructions of Swim – both inward-looking records in their own way – Dan withdrew to the basement once more to work on Caribou’s next opus. Only he didn’t: Our Love isn’t the sound of isolated creation but the sound of Dan at his most connected – with love for his listeners, his collaborators, and those closest to him.

Preorders will ship to arrive on or around the release date of October 7.

Pre-Order at Merge

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ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD - Christmas Island LP (2014) COLORED VINYL

Andrew Jackson Jihad's new album, Christmas Island on vinyl. Choose from 3 different colored LP options.  Also available on CD and in various bundle options. Vinyl includes DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Order HERE


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from our friends at SlyVinyl


Roman Ruins - Source Of Pride // Limited to 300 Cyan Haze on Milky White Vinyl LP




Sculpture - Membrane Pop // Limited to 1000 Yellow Vinyl LP







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No warning's 'Suffer, Survive' Gets Treated To Vinyl Reissue











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Marshall Crenshaw's New Vinyl EP Red Wine












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Eels 'Beautiful Freak Gets Vinyl Reissue











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from the great state of alabama:


Vinyl Fever: Even As Digital Music Has Taken Off, Vinyl Record Sales Have Increased







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from the great state of ohio:


The Main Library's Inspired Idea For Listening To Vinyl Records










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Reissues Track Rekindled Interest In Vintage Milwaukee Rock Records








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John Lennon's Writings and Drawings Go For Big Bucks At Auction








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Interview: The Electric Prunes' James Lowe Discusses What May Be The Prunes' Final Flight Into Psychedelic Rock











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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 5/26 - 6/02, 2014

Vinyl Top 25:
1. Spanish Gold - South Of Nowhere
2. Sharon Van Etten - Are We There
3. The Black Keys - Turn Blue
4. Coldplay - Ghost Stories
5. John Fullbright - Songs
6. Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters 10" (glow in the dark RSD edition)
7. PUJOL - KLUDGE
8. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness
9. Ray Lamontagne - Supernova
10. St Paul & The Broken Bones - Half The City
11. Damien Jurado - Brothers & Sisters Of The Eternal Son
12. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
13. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
14. Van Morrison - Moondance
15. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
16. Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago
17. Sandy Denny & The Strawbs - All Our Own Work
18. moe. - No Guts No Glory
19. Madlib - Shades Of Blue
20. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
21. Blind Melon - Blind Melon
22. Band Of Horses - Acoustic At The Ryman
23. Mac Demarco - Salad Days
24. The Black Keys - Rubber Factory
25. The Strokes - Is This It

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Record stores enjoy resurgence among music lovers