STAFF PICKS
Lindsay – Mary Timony, Mama Zu, Laetitia Sadier, Can, Stan Getz
Dario – Loving
Kimber – Real Estate and Fela Kuti reissues
Jake – MGMT and Hurray For the Riff Raff
Zach – Loving, Fucked Up reissue, Previous Industries, Miles Davis

MGMT – Loss Of Life CD/LP (Mom + Pop)
A joyous return and everything you could want from MGMT. A very “MGMT MGMT album” which the band describes as “a group of songs about love and change, first and foremost.” Descriptors from the band include bold, flavorful, playful, sincere, optimistic, and perceptive. Loss Of Life was produced by MGMT and Patrick Wimberly (Solange, Lil Yachty, MGMT), with mixing and additional production by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Interpol, Spoon). The album includes the first ever MGMT song with a feature, courtesy of Christine and The Queens. The album artwork has been licensed from John Baldessari’s estate and is an artwork titled Noses And Ears, Etc. (Part Two). [An indie store exclusive translucent blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

Real Estate – Daniel CD/LP+MP3 (Domino)
Real Estate’s sixth full-length album Daniel was recorded in an ebullient nine-day spree at RCA Studio A, in Nashville with Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves). In 11 compulsively tuneful songs, they connect the uninhibited wonder of their earliest work with the earned perspective of adulthood. Several days into recording, all five members of Real Estate were discussing album titles when someone suggested “Daniel,” simply because it seemed funny to bestow a human name upon a record. Was it for Daniel Tashian? Maybe. Was it a nod to The Replacements’ Tim? Possibly. Was it the sign of a band that has now been around long enough to take its music seriously without taking itself or its perception too seriously? Absolutely. [An indie store exclusive silver color vinyl pressing is available.]

Laetitia Sadier – Rooting For Love CD/LP (Drag City)
Laetitia issues a call to the traumatized civilizations of Earth: we’re urged to finally evolve past our countless millennia of suffering and alienation. Her songs score the complexities and harmonies within this directive: organ, guitar, bass, synth, trombone, vibraphone, live and programmed drums, and a vocal assembly of men and women billed as The Choir, working intricate chord/tempo/and dynamic changes, as Laetitia’s empathic presence leads the way.

Mary Timony – Untame The Tiger CD/LP+MP3 (Merge)
For more than 30 years, singer-songwriter and guitar hero Mary Timony has cut a distinctive path through the world of independent music, most recently as vocalist and guitarist of acclaimed garage-pop power trio Ex Hex but also as a member of seminal post-punk band Autoclave, celebrated leader of the deeply influential Helium, multifaceted solo artist, and a co-founder of supergroup Wild Flag. Described by Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein as “Mary Shelley with a guitar” and dubbed “a trailblazer and an innovator” by Lindsey Jordan a.k.a. Snail Mail, Timony has distinguished herself as one of her generation’s most influential guitarists and songwriters. The mystical, acoustic-driven Untame The Tiger emerged after the dissolution of a long-term relationship and was bookended by the deaths of Mary Timony’s father and mother. The album was recorded during a two-year period during which she was the primary caregiver for her ailing parents. [An indie store exclusive neon pink color vinyl pressing is available.]

Erika de Casier – Still CD/LP (4AD)
33-year-old Danish singer, songwriter and producer Erika de Casier built a cult following with her 2019 debut album Essentials, and emphatically lopped off that “cult” designation with 2021’s Sensational, her first album for 4AD. In the past few years, she’s performed at some of the biggest festivals in the world, written for pop stars (such as New Jeans) and sung on hyped dance tracks. But when she ushers you into the expanses of her third album-with a coy “Welcome… it’s gonna be a lot of fun” – she’s inviting you to leave any crass The Nordics’ Next Big Thing or Rising Alt-Pop Star epithets at the door, next to your shoes and coat. de Casier may have won a lot of new fans in the past three years, and a lot of high-profile collaborators, but as this album’s title confirms, she’s the same old Erika de Casier.

JJ Grey & Mofro – Olustee CD/LP (Alligator)
Olustee is a masterpiece of soul-shaking music. JJ’s deep Southern roots and skill as a storyteller shine through, whether he’s rocking with gospel-tent fervor or slowly winding his raspy voice around a lyric of heartbreak and loss. It’s an aggressively groove-driven record fueled by JJ’s gritty vocals and funk-infused guitar playing.

Hurray For The Riff Raff – The Past Is Still Alive CD (Nonesuch)
CD out today, LP next week. The follow-up to their acclaimed album Life On Earth – which landed on Best of 2022 lists from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR Music, Mojo, Uncut, among others – The Past Is Still Alive sees Hurray For The Riff Raff reunite with Brad Cook, while further expanding their creative cast of collaborators. Anjimile, Conor Oberst and S. G. Goodman all join Alynda Segarra on vocals at various points throughout the LP, with a band of musicians including Cook, Libby Rodenbough, Matt Douglas, Meg Duffy of Hand Habits, Mike Mogis, Phil Cook and Yan Westerlund. Mike Mogis also mixed the album, and it was mastered by Heba Kadry. The “nature punk” of Life On Earth marked a departure for Hurray For The Riff Raff, as they contemplated surviving and thriving amidst a world in crisis. The Past Is Still Alive brings the focus back inwards, with arrangements that are raw, melodies direct and indelible, and lyrics that are personal yet largely rooted in family and community.

Loving – Any Light LP (Last Gang)
On their new album Any Light, Loving share a batch of songs born from moments of serendipitous inspiration: a spontaneously composed poem, a long-forgotten voice memo, an uncannily pertinent book unearthed in their studio space. In bringing those songs to life, British Columbia-based musicians Jesse Henderson and David Parry surrendered to a prolonged process of free-flowing experimentation, often dreaming up several entirely distinct iterations of a track before deciding on a final version. Through all that unhurried exploration, Loving arrived at a body of work that invites a similar sense of charmed receptivity, even as its songs examine such complex matters as depression, existential uncertainty, and the psychic consequences of living in an increasingly digitized world. Produced by the duo and mixed, mastered, and engineered by Parry, the 10-song project encompasses a far more elaborate sound than its predecessor.

Amigo The Devil – Yours Until The War Is Over CD/LP (Liars Club)
The next chapter of Danny Kiranos, p/k/a Amigo the Devil, continues with Yours Until the War Is Over – his most disarming and singular work to date. The 13-track project weaves themes of relatable self-destruction and trauma bonding with arresting authenticity. Riddled with obscure literary references – akin to Kiranos’ maniac reading habit – the album proves that this whole Amigo The Devil thing isn’t some true crime niche. Yours Until the War Is Over is a songwriter’s record. [An indie store exclusive white/black swirl color vinyl pressing is available.]

Can – Live In Paris 1973 CD/2xLP (Mute)
Live In Paris 1973 finds Can in magical form for a performance recorded at L’Olympia in Paris on 12 May 1973, marking the first of the live series to feature Damo Suzuki on vocals. From 1970-73 the core line up of Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit, Michael Karoli, and Holger Czukay were joined by Japanese improviser and vocalist Suzuki. They met after a chance encounter while Suzuki was busking in Munich, and several months after the Paris 1973 performance his wanderlust would take him back on the road.

Miles Davis – Ascenseur Pour L’echafaud (Decca)
Contradictory accounts of Miles Davis’ creation of the soundtrack to Louis Malle’s film noir Ascenseur pour l’Échafaud have all become part of its legend. Rarely has a soundtrack been so decisive. Nearly 70 years on, beyond the myth, this taut, feverish recording, imbued with extreme dramatic tension, remains one of Miles’ finest records. This beautiful re-issue of the original recording is pressed on 180g vinyl at GZ, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket with Boris Vian’s original liner notes and Jean-Pierre Leloir’s iconic studio photo of Miles and Jeanne Moreau, and an essay on the circumstances that led to this out-of-the ordinary music by Franck Bergerot.

Bad Brains – Omega Sessions [Reissue/1997] LP (Org Music)
Omega Sessions is a five-song EP recorded by Bad Brains in 1980 and released in 1997. The tracks were recorded and mixed at the original Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Maryland. The EP contains early versions of songs that eventually appeared on later releases, including a reading of “I Against I”. Side B of the LP features a custom etching.

The Cult – Dreamtime [Reissue/1984] LP (Beggars Banquet)
The Cult released their debut album Dreamtime in 1984. To celebrate its 40th anniversary two new editions are available: standard black; and an indie store exclusive oxblood colorway. While the origins of The Cult began a few years earlier, Dreamtime was an epic start to The Cult’s long and amazing career. The album has become legendary amongst fans and marks the beginning of their definitive sound. Goth and psychedelic leaning, Dreamtime was included by Kerrang in a list of essential goth albums you need to know and “Spiritwalker” is a radio staple.

Fucked Up – The Chemistry Of Common Life [Reissue/2008] 2xLP (Matador)
15th anniversary orange colorway. Fucked Up’s now classic album The Chemistry Of Common Life synthesizes numerous diverse impulses into an expansive epic about the mysteries of birth, death, and the origins of life (and re-living). Merging elements of hardcore songwriting with up to 70 tracks of guitars, organs, winds, and vocals, (including 18 guitars on the first single, the fatalistic “No Epiphany”), the music remains iconoclastic and startling, with Pink Eyes’ vocals front and center. Guest musicians, of course, abound, notably gorgeous voices such as Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls and Toronto’s Katie Stelmanis.

Stan Getz – Previously Unreleased Recordings [Reissue/1974] LP (Verve)
Stan Getz and Bill Evans are about as close as musicians can get in terms of artistry, musical philosophy, and technique. These sessions, recorded in 1963 with drummer Elvin Jones and bassists Ron Carter (Side A) and Richard Davis (Side B), perfectly blend their strong individual styles and collaborative sensibilities, with both artists at the peak of their creative powers.

Astrud Gilberto – Look To The Rainbow [Reissue/1966] LP (Verve)
1966’s Look To The Rainbow is one of the jewels of Astrud Gilberto’s catalog and of the bossa nova canon. Teaming with arranger Gil Evans and producer Creed Taylor, the orchestral backing perfectly complements Astrud’s whispery, understated voice, especially on the title track and the sweet ballad, “I Will Wait For You”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fela Anikulapo Kuti* & Afrika 70 – Ikoyi Blindness [Reissue/1976] LP (Knitting Factory)
Fḛlá Anikulapo-Kuti – Original Sufferhead [Reissue/1982] LP (Knitting Factory)
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & Egypt ’80 – O.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake) [Reissue/1990] LP (Knitting Factory)
New colorways for four albums by the Afrobeat godfather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bardo Pond – Vol 9 LP (Fire)
Bardo Pond’s extensive archive recordings series opens up once again with Volume 9, an incisive journey into their hypnotic sound. Recorded in the early 2000’s it’s a heady mix of acoustic ambience and menacing distortion. Infamous purveyors of longform stoner rock, Bardo Pond embrace their sludgestorms with graceful nods to Hawkwind, Earth and my bloody valentine. For anyone uninitiated with the band’s tranquilizing sound, Volume 9 leans into their mesmeric practice with reckless abandon.

Mama Zu – Quilt Floor LP (Cosmic Twin)
Mama Zu is Jessi Zazu Wariner and Linwood Regensburg of Those Darlins. Quilt Floor is an album recorded during Wariner’s treatment for cervical cancer before she passed at the young age of 28 in 2017. Those Darlins were a staple of the Nashville indie community from 2006 – 2016. They released three critically acclaimed albums and toured with bands like Dr. Dog, Best Coast and Drive-By Truckers.

Superchunk- Everybody Dies b/w  As in a Blender 7″ (Merge)
Features a brand new song, “Everybody Dies” and a cover “As In A Blender” written by New Zealand songwriter Alastair Galbraith.

 

 

Previous Industries – Showbiz b/w Braids 7″ (Merge)
The Merge debut of Previous Industries, featuring Open Mike Eagle, Video Dave and Still Rift.

 

 

 

 

Post Malone – The Diamond Collection 2xLP (Republic)
Global superstar Post Malone holds the record for most RIAA Diamond-certified singles in history. The Diamond Collection is a compilation of his top hits to date, including “Congratulations (feat. Quavo)”, “Sunflower” with Swae Lee, “White Iverson”, and more. The physical release includes the Diamond-certified hits as well as additional tracks. 2xLP set on metallic silver vinyl.

Prince – The Vault – Old Friends 4 Sale [Reissue/1999] LP (Sony Legacy)
The Vault – Old Friends 4 Sale is a collection of previously unreleased songs from Prince’s legendary vault that was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1999, shortly before the release of his studio album Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic with the brief liner note: “The enclosed material was written during the period beginning 1/23/1985 and ending 6/18/1994 and was originally intended 4 private use only.”

Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Dume 2xLP (Reprise)
Dume is a 16-song album by Neil Young with Crazy Horse from 1975, recorded during the Zuma recording sessions. It includes tracks and outtakes from Zuma. This album is included as CD #8 CD in Neil Young’s Archives Volume II. [An indie store exclusive version w/ litho is available.]

 

 

COMING NEXT WEEK!
LIAM GALLAGHER / JOHN SQUIRE – Self Titled CD/LP
YARD ACT – Where’s My Utopia CD/LP
JULIAN LAGE – Speak To Me CD/LP
SHEER MAG – Playing Favorites CD/LP
SEAN ONO LENNON – Asterisms CD/LP
MANNEQUIN PUSSY – I Got Heaven CD/LP
PISSED JEANS – Half Divorced CD/LP
STRFKR – Parallel Realms CD/LP
FAYE WEBSTER – Underdressed At The Symphony CD/LP
BEVIS FROND – Focus On Nature CD/LP
DONNAS – Early Singles 95-99 LP
SQUAREPUSHER – Dostrotime LP
CARLA MORRISON – Dejenme Llorar LP