STAFF PICKS
Lindsay – American Analog Set, Aerial M, Ty Segall, Sebadoh
Dario – Nigeria 70 compilation
Kimber – Aerial M
Jake –  Aerial M and American Analog Set
Zach – Tycho, Cactus Blossoms
Ash – Laurie Anderson

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God CD/LP (Play It Again Sam)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return with new album, Wild God. Across the ten tracks of the album, the band dances between convention and experimentation, taking left-turns and detours that heighten the rich imagery and emotion in Cave’s soul-stirring narratives. It is the sound of a group emboldened by reconnection and taking flight. There are moments that touch fondly upon the Bad Seeds’ past, but they are fleeting, and serve only to imbue the relentless and restless forward motion of the band. [Available on black and clear vinyl. Indie exclusive version comes with a limited edition print.]

American Analog Set – The Golden Band [Reissue/1999] LP (Numero)
Issued on Emperor Jones in 1999, this 25th anniversary Numero edition has been remastered from the original tapes and flawlessly reproduced in a gorgeous tip on sleeve. The ethereal third album from Texas’s slowcore first wavers. A lethargic, sparse, and autumnal album, The Golden Band is where The American Analog Set developed the courage to drive 40 KPH on the autobahn. [Available on yellow and black vinyl.]

Aerial M – The Peel Sessions LP (Drag City)
Coke bottle green colorway. Unearthed from the neolithic tar that eventually swathes all history, Aerial M’s early- ‘98 Peel Session is once again among us. Compared to the studio takes, played strictly and singly by Aerial/Papa M mastermind David Pajo (Slint), these versions swing from the necks of road-burned players, breathing more bestially than their canonical cousins, glinting ‘pon the dark metallic roots that fed all of Pajo’s best guitar lines, winding thru time immemorial.

Sebadoh – Bakesale [Reissue/1994] LP (Sub Pop)
Sebadoh’s 1994 album, Bakesale, was the band’s fifth full-length album, arguably their best and certainly their most acclaimed. The album expanded the band’s sound well beyond the lo-fi, mostly acoustic sound of their prior releases, using killer rock tunes and powerful production to create an absolute stunner of an album. This 30th anniversary, limited color edition on silver-metallic vinyl contains the 2011 remaster of the album, which was overseen by Sebadoh’s Lou Barlow and Jason Loewenstein.

Ty Segall – Love Rudiments LP/Cassette (Drag City)
A meditation from Ty Segall on love, played on his first love: the drums. Delving deep into the melodic and orchestral possibilities of a full array of percussion instruments, from the trap kit to timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, percussion and e-drums, Ty charts the waxing and waning of a love affair, to explore some of the most delicate space we know of – the private emotional location where only two can meet.

Laurie Anderson – Amelia CD/LP (Nonesuch)
Amelia is the 2024 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient’s first album since 2018’s Grammy-winning Landfall. The record comprises twenty-two tracks about renowned female aviator Amelia Earhart’s tragic last flight. Anderson, who Pitchfork says, “sees the future, but she starts by paying attention,” wrote the music and lyrics for this subjective narrative piece. On the album, she is joined by the Czech orchestra Filharmonie Brno, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, and Anohni, Gabriel Cabezas, Rob Moose, Ryan Kelly, Martha Mooke, Marc Ribot, Tony Scherr, Nadia Sirota, and Kenny Wolleson. 

Various Artists – Nigeria 70 (The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos) [Reissue/2001] 3xLP Strut)
Strut proudly presents a special edition repress of the groundbreaking Nigeria 70 compilation, now available on translucent green vinyl 3xLP to celebrate the label’s 25th Anniversary.

Jon Hopkins – Ritual CD/LP (Domino)
By turns devotional, empowering and nurturing, Jon Hopkins’ RITUAL is a 41-minute electronic symphony built from cavernous subs, hypnotic drumming and transcendent melodic interplay. Tense, immersive and ultimately triumphant, it is a culmination of themes explored throughout his 22-year career, and acts as the kinetic counterpart to 2021’s Music For Psychedelic Therapy.

The Boxmasters – Love & Hate In Desperate Places CD/LP (Keentone)
Formed in 2007, The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalogue of music that touches on their love of a wide array of influences, but most importantly, the rock and roll of the 1960’s. Love & Hate In Desperate Places is their 17th album and the ten songs evince a wry perspective on human nature and love. The lively melodic rock cloaks the wry wit of the lyrics. The album was produced by The Boxmasters, Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew, who also wrote every song. Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys, but also important to The Boxmasters are The Mothers of Invention, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Big Star.

The Cactus Blossoms – Every Time I Think About You CD/LP (Walkie Talkie)
At its best, harmony duo singing can transform simple math into a magic trick. One plus one, instead of equaling two, suddenly yields an unexpected third thing. An upper-case ONE. A universal hum. A deep vibration that encompasses two different points of view. On their latest release, Every Time I Think About You, brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey, aka The Cactus Blossoms, once again prove themselves to be among the most adept – and instinctive – modern practitioners of the classic tradition. All sorts of emotional colors shine through. [A bronze color vinyl pressing is available.] 

Denzel Curry – King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 CD/LP (Loma Vista)
Denzel Curry returns with King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2, embodying his persona “Big Ultra.” A long-awaited album blending sounds from the South’s hip-hop heritage, ’90s inspired beats referencing Memphis and luminary groups like Three6Mafia. Featuring artists like A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla $ign, Juicy J and many more, the album reminisces on Curry’s career and reconciles past relationships. Departing from his concept-driven albums, it highlights Curry’s rap prowess and creative spontaneity. [Multiple colorways are available on vinyl, including indie store exclusive violet.]

Elliott Smith – Roman Candle LP reissue (Kill Rock Stars)
Now available on opaque peach vinyl. Kill Rock Stars is proud to reissue Roman Candle, Elliott Smith’s first solo album, originally released on Portland’s Cavity Search Records in 1994.

David Bowie – David Bowie CD/LP (Polydor)
Double transparent green colored vinyl LP pressing. Deluxe edition. David Bowie is the debut studio album by the English musician, originally released in 1967. Produced by Mike Vernon and recorded from November 1966 to March 1967 in London, the album followed a string of singles Bowie released for Pye Records that failed to chart.

Los Bitchos – Talkie Talkie CD/LP (City Slang)
If Los Bitchos’ electrifying 2022 debut album Let The Festivities Begin! was the rowdy build up to the big night out, then Talkie Talkie is the Technicolor explosion of the dancefloor. Made up of lead guitarist Serra, who carries both Australian and Turkish heritage, Uruguayan synth and keytar player Agustina Ruiz, Swedish bassist Josefine Jonsson and British drummer Nic Crawshaw, the group are united by a commitment to having fun. It’s a contagious energy they’ve had no problem transmitting to the world: since the band officially arrived in 2019 with two sell-out 7″ singles, they marked themselves as one of London’s brightest bands to watch. The London-based quartet’s new album Talkie Talkie is glistening with charisma, sonic experimentation and a puckish spirit. [An indie store exclusive magenta color vinyl pressing is available.]

Oasis – Definitely Maybe [Reissue/1994] 2xCD/2xLP/4xLP (Big Brother Recordings)
30th Anniversary edition. Definitely Maybe is the debut studio album by Oasis, originally released in 1994. The fastest-ever selling debut in the UK on release, this seminal album marked the point when Oasis became a cultural phenomenon. Limited-Edition Deluxe edition includes 2014 remastered album plus the previously unreleased and discarded original recording session from Monnow Valley along with outtakes from Sawmills Studios plus a demo of “Sad Song” featuring Liam’s vocal – all recently mixed for this release by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho. [A ‘strawberries and cream’ color (double-LP) vinyl pressing is available.]

Tycho – Infinite Health CD/LP/Cassette (Mom+Pop)
Grammy-nominated producer Scott Hansen, aka Tycho, has carved a distinct niche for his hypnotic blend of lush synths, atmospheric soundscapes and intricate melodies. His new album, Infinite Health, was co-produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor and frequent tour collaborator Zac Brown with Chris also lending his mixing talents for the album. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

U2 – Zoo TV: Live In Dublin 1993 CDEP/12” (Interscope)
This limited-edition EP features five tracks from one of U2’s two legendary open-air performances at the RDS Arena, Dublin in August 1993 – the hometown stop on their worldwide industry-defining ZOO TV Tour. While much sought-after bootlegged copies of the RDS show audio have been in circulation for years, this marks the first official release, making it a highly covetable collectible for fans and collectors alike. [A translucent yellow color vinyl pressing is available.]

Uniform – CD/LP (Sacred Bones)
American Standard is surely Uniform’s most thematically accomplished and musically self-assured album to date. Sections spiral and explode. Motifs drift off into obscurity before reasserting themselves with new power. Genres collide and burst open, forming something idiosyncratic and new. There’s a grandeur, due in part to the addition of Interpol bassist Brad Truax alongside the percussive push and pull of returning drummer Michael Sharp and longtime touring drummer Michael Bloom, marking his Uniform recorded debut here. However, this magnificence is most clearly attributable to the scale and power of guitarist and founder Ben Greenberg’s arrangements, matching ever elegantly to the intense lyrical subject matter. Without a shred of doubt, American Standard is a work of art, agonizing in its honesty and relentless in its pursuit of sonic transcendence. It is hideous. It is beautiful. It is necessary.

Yannis & The Yaw – Lagos Paris London CD/LP (Transgressive)
In 2016, Foals singer Yannis Philippakis was offered the opportunity of a lifetime: a two-day session with the great drummer Tony Allen. The pair quickly established an intuitive telepathy, and the music germinated from jams and loops, and was complemented by a unique atmosphere of two cultures and creatives colliding. Joined by Tony’s regular collaborators Vincent Taeger (percussion, marimba), Vincent Taurelle (keys) and Ludovic Bruni (bass, guitar) that first meeting resulted in a handful of near complete songs, which were further developed during a couple subsequent sessions. But between scheduling issues and Covid restrictions, the recordings were not completed before Tony passed away in April 2020. Yannis felt a deep duty to complete the project, not only as a bittersweet way to honor and celebrate his old friend, but also because Tony had been so eager to share these songs with the world. The result is this five-track EP, Lagos Paris London, under the Yannis & the Yaw umbrella. [An indie store exclusive red color vinyl pressing is available.]

Clark Terry / Thelonious Monk – In Orbit [Reissue/1958] LP (Craft Recordings)
Recorded in New York in 1958, and released the same year, In Orbit is trumpeter Clark Terry’s sixth album as leader. Featuring Thelonious Monk on piano, in his only Riverside outing as sideman, the album also features Sam Jones (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons CD/LP (SME Nashville)
A collection of 12 poignant tracks, Fathers & Sons was recorded entirely live and features Combs most personal songwriting to date, as he reflects on his own experiences being a dad to his two sons and the unique bond between parents and their children. [A white color vinyl pressing is available.]

Stan Getz – Sweet Rain [Reissue/1967] LP (Verve)
Stan Getz’s incomparable career includes such landmarks as the bossa nova blockbuster Getz/Gilberto, and stellar collaborations with Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Byrd, and Lionel Hampton. The saxophonist’s superlative 1967 quartet recording Sweet Rain can be overlooked but Getz aficionados recognize its quality. Standing in the shadow of the unprecedented mainstream success of Getz’s bossa period that came before, the Creed Taylor produced Sweet Rain is as perfect a straight-ahead date as the leader ever made, with a remarkable young band including pianist Chick Corea, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Grady Tate providing crackling energy that clearly inspired Getz to new heights of expression.

Albert King – Albert Live 2xLP (LMLR)
One white LP; one black LP. Albert Nelson was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He was nicknamed “The Velvet Bulldozer” because of his smooth singing and large size – he stood 6 ft 4 in. King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2023, he was ranked number 22 on Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Steve Wynn – Make It Right CD/LP (Fire)
The brand-new solo album from The Dream Syndicate’s Steve Wynn, released in tandem with his memoir. Make It Right is a commentary between literal and metaphorical ruminating – a dialogue between memoirist and musician – a vulnerable, more reflective Wynn than previously heard. Make It Right features notable contributions from Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Vicki Peterson (The Bangles), Chris Schlarb (Psychic Temple), Emil Nikolaisen (Serena Maneesh), Linda Pitmon (The Baseball project) and a cast of dozens.

Dorothy Carter – Troubadour LP (Drag City)
The first official reissue of Dorothy Carter’s folk-music exegesis comes 46 years after its original release, 20 years after Dorothy passed, and 11 years before the centennial of her birth. Yet it seems right on time for a new celebration of her music. Appalachian folk tunes, old and ancient psalms and hymns, Scottish, Irish, French and Israeli melodies, and original tunes flow together effortlessly in a hypnotic garden of eternal world musics.

New Found Glory – Forever + Ever x Infinity [Reissue/2020] LP (Hopeless)
Yellow colorway. After 20+ years of being a band, twelve studio albums, one live album, three EPs, and four cover albums, New Found Glory’s ethos has never wavered; they always strive to be the friend you always need and who always understands you. With Forever + Ever x Infinity, the band created an album that is 100% New Found Glory. The band has put together a quintessential NFG record, supremely catchy with sing-along anthems, trademark breakdowns, and sweetly poignant lyrics.

John Cale – Fear LP reissue (Vinyl Lovers)
Fear is the first of John Cale’s three studio albums for Island Records, all of which were released in a period of just over a year. During this time Cale was also producing records for other artists, working on albums such as Horses (1975) by Patti Smith, one of the most influential of all proto-punk records. In addition to his lead vocals on Fear, Cale also played keyboards, guitars, viola, violin and bass, and was joined by Fairport Convention’s Richard Thompson, Roxy Music’s Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera, and other artists who were signed to Island at the time. “Gun” features an unusual two-man guitar solo from Manzanera and Eno, with the latter using a synthesizer to process the former’s guitar playing in real-time

COMING NEXT WEEK!
CARDIGANS – Rest Of The Best Vol 1 + 2 CD/LP
DEFTONES – B-Sides + Rarities CD/LP
DAVID GILMOUR – Luck + Strange CD/LP
HEAVY HEAVY – One Of A Kind CD/LP
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA – Cope Live at the Earl CD/LP
REX ORANGE COUNTY – Alexander Technique CD/LP
GEORGE STRAIT – Cowboys + Dreamers CD/LP
FAT DOG – Woof CD/LP
HINDS – Viva Hinds CD/LP
DESLONDES – Roll It Out CD/LP
MATT DUNCAN – I Will Write Your Song  LP
GOOD LOOKS – Live Here For A While CD/LP
HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE – Disaster Trick LP
MERCURY REV – Born Horses CD/LP
MJ LENDERMAN – Manning Fireworks CD/LP
MOLCHAT DOMA – Belaya Polosa CD/LP
SHOVELS + ROPE – Something Is Working Up Above My Head CD/LP
MOSES SUMNEY – Mid-City Island LP reissue
SUUNS – Breaks CD/LP
TORO Y MOI – Hole Erth CD/LP
ANT – Collection Of Sounds LP
EL MICHELS AFFAIR / BLACK THOUGHT – Glorious Game Instrumentals LP
PALE JAY – Low End Love Songs CD/LP
10,000 MANIACS – MTV Unplugged LP
ATREYU – The Curse LP reissue
CASS MCCOMBS – A 12″
CASS MCCOMBS – Not The Way 12″
CASS MCCOMBS – Perfection 12′”
CASS MCCOMBS – Born Horses 12″
NEIL YOUNG – Archive Vol III Takes LP
BREMER/MCCOY – Kosmos LP
JOHN PRINE – Now Playing LP