Well this week we have seven tracks from seven albums that you absolutely need to check out:

1) Crystal Stilts – Dark Eyes (off their new EP, Radiant Door)

Crystal Stilts put out one of our favorite albums this year with their full length, In Love With Oblivion. Naturally they decided to follow it up with an EP this year on one of our favorite labels, Sacred Bones! This EP sees them fade into the background a bit with some more laid back cuts but this is by no means something that should be ignored. Absolutely essential!

2) Caveman – A Country’s King of Dreams (off their new album Coco Beware)

Caveman were just touring with one of our favorite bands, the War on Drugs, which is essentially enough for us to recommend them but these dudes have put out quite the crafty album here! Reverb drenched pop tunes that has garnered comparisons to Grizzly Bear and the Flaming Lips. Not bad company to keep!

3) Odonis Odonis – Hollandaze (off their new album Hollandaze)

Odonis Odonis took us by surprise here. Just an absolutely solid album of songs that don’t want to be pigeonholed into one single genre. Shoegaze production with surf record riffs, this album has as much in common with A Place to Bury Strangers as it does the Ventures!

4) Korallreven – Honey Mine (off their debut album An Album By)

There is no reason why this album shouldn’t just absolutely blow up. Hailing from Sweden, Korallreven is making the sort of dreamy pop music that their country is becoming quite revered for. Comparable to jj, Radio Dept(with which half of this duo used to be a part of), and Panda Bear. Excellent.

5) Carter Tanton – Murderous Joy (off his new album Freeclouds)

Like Caveman, Carter Tanton was also just tourmates with the War on Drugs! Their sound is quite a bit different though, which Carter taking more of a singer/songwriter approach with an appreciation of 4AD. Featuring a duet with Marissa Nadler, this album is certainly as well rounded of an album you are bound to find this year!

6) Goldmund – Shenandoah (off his new album All Will Prosper)

Goldmund have been a personal favorite for quite some time now. Having released two classic full length records on the Type Records label, Keith Kenniff returns as Goldmund to release, All Will Prosper, an album of traditional Civil War era songs. Made up just mostly just solo piano with very little accompaniment throughout the album, this album is an excellent album for the Fall!

7) Steve Hauschildt – Already Replaced (off his debut album Tragedy & Geometry)

Steve Hauschildt is one third of the Cleveland, OH group Emeralds. While the other two thirds of Emeralds have released countless solo albums, Hauschildt has remained as sort of the wild card of the group until now. His debut, Tragedy & Geometry is an absolutely gorgeous synthesizer suite. Post-kosmiche brilliance.

Just like before, if you are already signed up with Spotify, go ahead and click the Spotify logo below to hear this volume of the New Release Playlist! If you aren’t signed up, the link below will take you to the sign up. Let us know what you think and if you’d like to see future playlists!

This week we have nine tracks and quite a bit of variety:

1) El Rego – Hessa (off their Self-Titled album)

If you picked up any of Analog Africa’s fantastic compilations(African Scream Contest, Legends of Benin, etc) then you need to have this. 12 tracks of pure African soul, these tracks, recorded in the ’60s and ’70s, will have you dancing in absolutely no time!

2) JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound – I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (off their new album Want More)

The soul and funk continues with JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound! Their new album Want More is catching a lot of ears when we play it in the store but what most people notice is their excellent cover of Wilco’s “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.” Don’t think they are a one trick pony though as this album is a thoroughly great time.

3) Tom Waits – Bad As Me (off his new album Bad As Me)

I am not really sure I need to even write anything here. IT’S TOM WAITS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. The legend grows and continues to churn out more excellent stories on this album.

4) Dirty Projectors + Björk – On and Every Onward (off their bizarrely wonderful album Mount Wittenberg Orca)

Here is a collaboration that I would have never thought of but then you see their names together and you think “that makes perfect sense.” This album also sounds exactly like you’d think…fantastic.

5) Surfer Blood – Miranda (off their new EP Tarot Classics)

We absolutely loved Surfer Blood’s debut album Astro Coast. It might possibly have been one of the most played albums in the store for the year 2010. This EP picks up where they left off and certainly isn’t going to let anyone down.

6) Deer Tick – Miss K (off their new album Divine Providence)

I went and saw Deer Tick play at Mickey Finns here in Toledo last year and was pretty taken back by their performance. I’d never spent enough time with them before then and they certainly made a new fan that night. Their new album takes a lot from their live performance and is a raucous and raw album built on a foundation of Springsteen, Tom Petty and even Nirvana.

7) honeyhoney – Ohio (off their new album Billy Jack)

honeyhoney took us for a bit of a surprise. This isn’t their first album but to be honest, it’s the first we’d heard of them. I can assure you, they have our attention now as this album is one of the better alt-country albums we’ve heard that hasn’t had the words “Bloodshot Records” on the back of it in a long time.

8) A Classic Education – Forever Boy (off their debut album Call It Blazing)

A Classic Education’s debut album has made quite an impression over here. Just a fantastic indie rock record that brings to mind some fantastic bands: Galaxie 500, Velvet Underground, Wedding Present, Smiths.

9) Christina Vantzou – Homemade Mountains (off her debut album No. 1)

While this may be Christina Vantzou’s debut album, it certainly isn’t her first, having cut her teeth as a duo with Adam Wiltzie of Stars of the Lid called Dead Texan. That album is 7 years old now and we’re finally hearing something new from Christina. Her label, Kranky, describes it as “neo-classical minimalism.” We’d describe it is “absolutely gorgeous.”

Just like last week, if you are already signed up with Spotify, go ahead and click the Spotify logo below to hear this volume of the New Release Playlist! If you aren’t signed up, the link below will take you to the sign up. Let us know what you think and if you’d like to see future playlists!

Having said that, we noticed A LOT of you using Spotify recently. We decided what best way to spread the gospel than through means y’all are already using! So we’re here to introduce to you, our New Release Playlist! Every week, we’ll be compiling a playlist of our favorite tracks from our favorite new releases that week. We’ll be sharing it through Facebook, Twitter, and of course right here on our website.

We’ve got seven tracks this week that we’ve been liking a whole lot:

1) Gauntlet Hair – Top Bunk (off their Self-Titled album)

If you liked Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillion, you’ll love this. Adventurous indie-pop out of Denver, CO.

2) M83 – Midnight City (off their new album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming)

M83 finally follow up their critically acclaimed Saturdays = Youth, with a very ambitious double album. Unabashed 80′s John Hughes soundtrack worshiping has continued!

3) Real Estate – It’s Real (off their new album Days)

We can’t stress how excited we were for this album to finally come out. The wait was absolutely worth it. Another picture perfect album by these New Jersey beach bums. Breezy indie rock just in time for…well what’s supposed to be the worst Winter on record.

4) Rob Crow – Sophistructure (off his new album He Thinks He’s People)

Rob Crow is much more recognized as half of the fantastic band Pinback. What most people don’t know is, he churns out equally solid albums by himself! His new album is more of what he does best: Crazy catchy songs that are short and sweet, all killer, no filler.

5) My Brightest Diamond – Reaching Through to the Other Side (off her new album All Things Will Unwind)

Since her last album, A Thousand Shark’s Teeth, Shara Worden has guest starred on about a billion other albums(Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens), moved to Detroit, and built up quite a name for performing alias, My Brightest Diamond. Her new album continues her exploration into a cinematic baroque sound that you won’t hear replicated anywhere else.

6) Psychic Ills – Mind Daze (off their new album Hazed Dream)

Psychic Ills have recently signed to one of our favorite labels(Sacred Bones) and this week sees their first record for the label, Hazed Dream. It’s a rather apropo title as this album is a hazy, drugged out psychedelic jaunt out into the desert. Absolutely essential for fans of Wooden Shjips.

7) Moholy-Nagy – Seagulls (off their debut album Like Mirage)

Moholy-Nagy are a new three piece consisting of three members of Tarentel. That statement might not excite anyone as much as it excites me. These three have put together an album inspired by 1970′s Kosmiche(ie, Popul Vuh, Tangerine Dream) and it’s absolutely fantastic.

If you are already signed up with Spotify, go ahead and click the Spotify logo below to hear this volume of the New Release Playlist! If you aren’t signed up, the link below will take you to the sign up. Let us know what you think and if you’d like to see future playlists!

War on Drugs – Slave Ambient (Secretly Canadian)

Have you ever had an album that people wanted you to describe and the only thing you could come up with is that it’s legitimately good music? That’s exactly what we have here. Sure we could try and pool together a bunch of bands to compare it to. There is some Spacemen 3 in there. Hell, I think there is some old Fleetwood Mac in there. There is also a large blueprint of what the former War on Drugs guitarist, Kurt Vile, has based an entire music career on. Most of all though, we have an album that doesn’t hide behind gimmicks and is the product of some absolutely phenomenal songwriting. Essential purchase.

Listen to “Come to the City” from War on Drugs’ Slave Ambient

Case Studies – The World Is Just a Shape to Fill the Night (Sacred Bones)

If you’ve been in the store lately, you’ve probably heard us freaking out about some new release on Sacred Bones. They’ve been just absolutely killing it this year with the new Moon Duo, the Men, Human Eye, Religious Knives, Fresh & Onlys, Cult of Youth, Slug Guts…the list goes on. Well the debut release by Case Studies shows the label putting out something a bit different. Featuring the Duke half of store favorites the Dutchess & the Duke, Jesse Lortz, he’s constructed an album that draws heavy comparisons to Leonard Cohen. Some excellent darker folk songs that weave stories, Case Studies trumps anything the Dutchess & the Duke did together, which is not an easy feat.

Listen to “My Silver Hand” from Case Studies’ The World Is Just a Shape to Fill the Night

Fool’s Gold – Leave No Trace (IAMSOUND)

Fool’s Gold released an album a couple years back, a couple months after Foreign Born released their excellent Secretly Canadian debut, Person to Person. At the time, I didn’t know they shared members but recognized some similarities, such as their penchant to write some excellent summer pop tunes. I eventually put the connection together months later and was ecstatic to see Fool’s Gold were releasing a follow up.

The new album, Leave No Trace, continues the trend of excellent pop songs. To describe Fool’s Gold might best be summed up by this sentiment: It’s like a Vampire Weekend album you don’t feel guilty about listening to. It’s afro-pop infused indie rock in a way that it’s not blatantly ripping off Graceland. An absolutely excellent record to wrap up the Summer with.

Listen to “The Dive” from Fool’s Gold’s Leave No Trace

If you are as excited as we are about the new My Morning Jacket album, Circuital, which gets released May 31st then you’ll wanna listen up!

From today through the release of the album, we’re offering the new single from the album, “Holdin’ On to Black Metal” which also features a live version of “Butch Cassidy” from their album The Tennessee Fire. Here’s the catch: The single is $2 but once the album comes out, bring in the coupon that’s enclosed for $2 off the CD or LP. It’s like you’re getting the single free!

We have them available at the counter and odds are, if you come in this week, you might hear us playing it as it’s quite killer.

Yuck – Yuck (Fat Possum)

When I first saw the album cover for the debut album by Yuck, I completely judged the book by it’s cover. Mark my word, that will end up being THE WORST ALBUM ART OF THE YEAR. It’s atrocious! Luckily, I gave it a chance as this is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time. Take equal parts Dinosaur Jr., Pavement, Sonic Youth, and maybe even some early Smashing Pumpkins and you are on the right track. There is a very distinct 90′s sound to it. A sound of teenage years and rebellion, although that might only apply to those born from the late 70′s to the early 80′s. Regardless, this album is one of the most essential albums this year.

Listen to “Get Away” from Yuck’s Yuck

Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine (Carpark)

We absolutely loved the first Toro Y Moi album. It rode the chillwave(pun!) to the height of popularity but on this second album, he’s taken a step back and brought in a layer of 60′s psychedelia, along with some rather choice funk bass lines to put together a much more organic sounding record. Beyond organic, this record is absolutely killer.

Listen to “New Beat” from Toro Y Moi’s Underneath the Pine

Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo (Matador)

Our favorite Philly weirdo is back with a new full length! Thing is, he is getting less and less weird but that certainly doesn’t effect how great his output has been or continues to be. Smoke Ring For My Halo finds Vile and his backing band the Violators, toning it down a bit and focusing more on the folk and pop side of things. You could almost consider this album a spiritual sequel to his God Is Saying This To You LP on Mexican Summer. With this record he’s written some of his best songs(see “Jesus Fever”, Peeping Tomboy”, “Runner Ups”) and continues to grow as a songwriter. Essential.

Listen to “Jesus Fever” from Kurt Vile’s Smoke Ring For My Halo

Obits – Moody, Standard, and Poor (Sub Pop)

First things first: Even though they didn’t put it in their album title, I took it upon myself to add the serial comma in the title. It’s just right.

The other thing that’s right is this album. Undoubtedly one of the best rock bands out there today, and they haven’t slowed down with their sophomore album. Sure, it might not be balls to the wall all the time but we’re completely fine with that. Songs like “You Gotta Lose” and “I Want Results” certainly sound like a continuation of the first album but tracks like “Shift Operator”,  “No Fly List”, and “New August” show a band that continues to grow and get better. There is even a bit of Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet on the track “Spot the Pikey” and god does that get us excited.

Listen to “You Gotta Lose” from Obits’ Moody, Standard, and Poor

True Wid0w – As High as the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth (Kemado)

Quite a few sophomore albums on this list, bucking the trend of the sophomore slumps. Not many people got to hear True Widow’s self titled debut, which is a shame because it was absolutely incredible. This three piece from Austin, TX play what could only be described as a crushingly heavy version of slowcore. If Codeine or Bedhead members got really into getting high and listening to doom metal, you might be on the right track. The dual male / female vocals add a whole lot to the mix and keep the album from ever going stale. One of the best albums this year, bar none. Absolutely essential.

Listen to “Skull Eyes” from True Widow’s As High as the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth

Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi (Domino)

If you’ve been in the store in the last month, you’ve heard us playing Anna Calvi. We’ve listened to this album so much, I should be absolutely sick of it. Thing is, it’s seriously incredible and we cannot get enough of it. The combination of Anna’s insane guitar playing, incredible voice and the arrangements of all these tracks make for an album that sounds like Nick Cave scoring a David Lynch. This album actually would make for an excellent companion to the latest Grinderman now that we think about it…

Listen to “Desire” from Anna Calvi’s Anna Calvi

We are pleased as punch to finally announce the first part of our plans for this year’s Record Store Day…

THE BLACK ANGELS!!!

Seriously, by far, one of our favorite bands is going to be playing here, in the store, for Record Store Day!!! Their record, Phosphene Dream, still is played non-stop in here  and I have a feeling it was played a whole lot in your homes as well!

We still have a lot more to announce(at least one more great national touring act, along with some other news) but we couldn’t hold our excitement about this much longer!

Still you might be wondering, “what the heck is coming out for Record Store Day?” Well, here is the list…

Check back on the website next week for another announcement, along with a brand new website that has been in the works for a couple months!

86 – TELESTERION
13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS – WAIT FOR MY LOVE (7 INCH)
DAY TO REMEMBER – ALL I WANT 7″ (Colored, Limited to 2,000)
AC/DC – SHOOT TO THRILL/WAR MACHINE (7 INCH)
ADELE – ROLLING IN THE DEEP (JAMIE XX SHUFFLE)/ROLLING IN (10 INCH)
ANBERLIN – CITIES 2XLP (Limited to 1,000)
ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI -PLACES LIKE THIS
ARP – PASTORAL SYMPHONY
ART HOSPITAL -ART HOSPITAL (7″)
BAD BRAINS – PAY TO CUM (7″)
BAD BRAINS – GOD OF LOVE
BARRETT,SYD – INTRODUCTION TO SYD BARRETT (180GM VINYL/GATEFOLD )
BEACH BOYS – GOOD VIBRATIONS/HEROES & VILLAINS (10 INCH SINGLE/DOUBLE 78RPM)
BEADY EYE – BEADY EYE EXCLUSIVE (BOX SET)
BELLE BRIGADE – BELLE BRIGADE
BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME – PARALLAX: HYPERSLEEP DIALOGS LP (Limited to 1,000)
BIBIO/CLARK – WILLENHALL/BASKERVILLE GRINCH
BLACK ANGELS – PHOSGENE NIGHTMARE
BLACK ANGELS – ANOTHER NICE PAIR LP (Red, LTD 2,000 and 100 random inserts will be signed by the band)
BLACK MARKET BABY – POTENTIAL SUICIDE 7″ (LTD 200 on Gold)
BLACK TWIG PICKERS & GLENN JONES – SPLIT
BLAKE,JAMES – JAMES BLAKE
BLITZEN TRAPPER – MAYBE BABY (7″)
BORIS – ATTENTION PLEASE LP (Gatefold w/ Poster, LTD 3,500)
BOUNCING SOULS – LIVE AT GENERATION RECORDS (LTD 1,500 and wont be pressed again)
BUILT TO SPILL – RIPPLE (PICTURE DISC 7″, LTD 3,000)
BURN – S/T 7″ (Yellow LTD500)
BUSDRIVER – ATM (7″)
BUSH,KATE – HOUNDS OF LOVE (10″)
CARIBOU – SWIM REMIXES
CARS – SAD SONGS (7″)
CIRCA SURVIVE – APPENDAGE 7″ (LTD 3,00)
CIRCA SURVIVE – APPENDAGE (Oxblood colored Vinyl, LTD 3,00)
CITY AND COLOUR – SOMETIMES 2XLP (Silk Screen Covers, LTD 500, Hand numbered & Bonus Track)
CIVIL WARS – DANCE ME TO THE END OF LOVE 7″
CLAPTON,ERIC – UNPLUGGED (180 Gram)
CLOUDS – B CHUGGAS MAY BE LOGGING
COFFEE,DENNIS – UNIQUITOUS (7″)
COSTA,MATT – SONGS WE SING
COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH – ELECTRIC MUSIC FOR THE MIND & BODY
CRIME IN STEREO – LOVE 7″ (with arigato cover limited to 100)
CSC FUNK BAND – TROLL’S SOIREE (7″)
CULTS – ABDUCTED/GO OUTSIDE (REMIX) (7″)
DAEDELUS – TAILOR-MADE
DB’S – PICTURE SLEEVE (7″)
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – ATLANTIC RECORDS PRESENTS: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE 7″(LTD 4,000)
DECEMBERISTS – LIVE AT BULL MOOSE
DEERHOOF – FRIEND OPPORTUNITY (180 Gram, Clear Green LTD 1,000)
DEERHOOF/XIU XIU – ALMOST XIU XIU ALMOST DEERHOOF 7″ (LTD 2,000)
DEFTONES – COVERS (Rumored to be white vinyl, LTD 3,000)
DENGUE FEVER – CANNIBAL COURTSHIP
DENNEN,BRETT -B SIDE TO THE D SIDE 7″
DEREK & THE DOMINOS – GOT TO GET BETTER IN A LITTLE WHILE/LAYLA 7″
DIO – KILLING THE DRAGON LP (LTD 1,000)
DISCORDANCE AXIS – INALIENABLE DREAMLESS
DITTO,BETH – I WROTE THE BOOK/GOOD NIGHT GOOD MORNING
DODOS – ALL NIGHT (7″)
DOE,JOHN & JILL SOBULE – DAY AT THE PASS
DOM – THINGS CHANGE/JESUS 10″
DOORS – RIDERS ON THE STORM(STEREO)/RIDERS ON THE STORM 7″
DURAN DURAN -GIRL PANIC! 7″
DYLAN,BOB – BOB DYLAN IN CONCERT: BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY 1963
EARLE,JUSTIN TOWNES – MOVE OVER MAMA 7″
EARLE,STEVE – I’LL NEVER GET OUT OF THIS WORLD ALIVE 7″
ELLIOTT – US SONGS LP (Gray LTD330)
FAHEY,JOHN – REQUIA (OTHER COMPOSITIONS FOR GUITAR SOLO)
FISTFUL OF MERCY – FISTFUL OF MERCY
FITZSIMMONS,WILLIAM – GOLD IN THE SHADOW
FLAMING LIPS – HEADY NUGGS: THE FIRST 5 WARNER BROS. RECORDS 1992(Numbered and LTD 6,500)
FLEET FOXES – HELPLESSNESS BLUES (LTD 3,000)
FLEETWOOD MAC – RUMOURS
FLEETWOOD MAC – RUMOURS (180 Gram)
FLOGGING MOLLY – DON’T SHUT ‘EM DOWN 7″
FLYING LOTUS – COSMOGRAMMA ALT TAKES
FOO FIGHTERS – MEDIUM RARE LP (12 Cover songs)
FRANZ FERDINAND TRIBUTE – FRANZ FERDINAND TRIBUTE
FRUSTRATORS – GRILLER 7″ (LTD 200 copies on Red)
GELB,HOWE – SNO ANGEL + MELTED WIRES7″
GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER – LA CAROTTE BLEUE
GLASSJAW – WORSHIP & TRIBUTE (LTD 1,000)
GORDON,MIKE – MOSS REMIXES (7″)
GORDON,MIKE – INSIDE IN
GORILLAZ – FALL
GRATEFUL DEAD – GRATEFUL DEAD (MONO) (180 Gram)
GREEN DAY/HUSKER DN – DON’T WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE LONELY (ORANGE VINYL 7″ Limited to 6,500)
GRINDERMAN – EVIL
GRINDERMAN – PALACES OF MONTEZUMA
GROWLERS – GAY THOUGHTS (7″)
GUIDED BY VOICES TRIBUTE: SING FOR YOUR MEAT – GUIDED BY VOICES TRIBUTE: SING FOR YOUR MEAT
GUNN,STEVE & ILYAS AHMED – SPLIT (7″)
HAMMOND,JOHN – SO MANY ROADS
HEAD & THE HEART – HEAD & THE HEART
HENDRIX,JIMI – FIRE/TOUCH YOU/CAT TALKING TO ME
HENDRIX,JIMI – FIRE/TOUCH YOU
HENDRIX,JIMI TRIBUTE -FOXEY LADY/SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC/PURPLE HAZE GREEN/SANTANA/RANDOLPH
HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD – AMERICAN TRAGEDY (Picture Disc)
HURT,MISSISSIPPI JOHN – IMMORTAL
IN THIS MOMENT – PROMISE
INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE BAND – SAFE AT HOME MONO EDITION
JACKSON,MICHAEL – HOLLYWOOD TONIGHT/BEHIND THE MASK (7″)
JAMES,SKIP – TODAY!
JAVELIN – COLERIDGE/COLLEAGUES (7″)
JAVELIN – CANYON CANDY ( 10INCH SINGLE/HAND PRINTED)
JENNY & JOHNNY/GRAM PARSONS & THE FALLEN ANGELS- LOVE HURTS (LIGHT BLUE 7″ VINYL)
JIMMY EAT WORLD – BLEED AMERICAN 3LP (Will be numbered and LTD 3,000)
JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS – I LOVE ROCK & ROLL (180GM CLEAR VINYL/LMTD ED.)
JOAN OF ARC – PRESENTS: DON’T MIND CONTROL (LTD 500)
JOB FOR A COWBOY – RUINATION 10″
JOHN LEGUIZAMO’S FREAK – JOHN LEGUIZAMO’S FREAK
JOY FORMIDIBLE – WHIRRING/CHWYRLIO
KILL ROCK STARS – KILL ROCK STARS
KILLS – SATELLITE 10″ (LTD 500)
KING,FREDDY – WASH OUT/BUTTERSCOTCH (7″)
KINGS OF LEON – HOLY ROLLER NOVOCAINE 10″ (First time released in USA, Red Vinyl)
KODE9 & THE SPACEAPE – OTHERMAN/LOVE IS THE DRUG
KUTI,FELA & THE AFRICA ’70 – MONDAY MORNING IN LAGOS PT. 1 & 2 (7″)
LADY GAGA – BORN THIS WAY
LAMONTAGNE,RAY – LIVE FALL 2010
LENKA – TWO
LOWER DENS – DEER KNIVES
MACHINE HEAD – BLACK PROCESSION (10″)
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA – SIMPLE MATH/THE PLAN (7″)
MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY- MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY
MASTODON – LIVE AT THE ARAGON (180 Gram 2 LP, LTD 3,000)
MASTODON/ZZ TOP – JUST GOT PAID (YELLOW 7″ VINYL)
MATES OF STATE – TEAM BOO
MATT & KIM – BLOCK AFTER BLOCK (7″)
MAYALL,JOHN & ERIC CLAPTON – LONELY YEARS/BERNARD JENKINS (7″)
MCKAGAN,DUFF LOADED – TAKING
MENZINGERS – CHAMBERLAIN WAITS
MIDLAKE – AM I GOING INSANE
MIGHTY CLOUDS – MIGHTY CLOUDS
MITCHELL & MANLEY – NORCAL VALUES
MONA – LISTEN TO YOUR LOVE/ALL THIS TIME (7″)
MUMFORD & SONS – DHAROHAR PROJECT LAURA MARLING & MUMFORD & SONS 10″
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE – NA NA NA
MY MORNING JACKET – IT STILL MOVES
MY MORNING JACKET – Z
MY MORNING JACKET – EVIL URGES
NADA SURF – MOON IS CALLING 7″
NAKED & FAMOUS – THIS MACHINE/NO LIGHT
NEUROSIS – SOVEREIGN
NEW YORK DOLLS – FOOL FOR YOU BABY 7″
NEW YORK DOLLS – DANCING BACKWARD IN HIGH HEELS
NICKEL CREEK – NICKEL CREEK
NICKEL CREEK – THIS SIDE
NICKEL CREEK – WHY SHOULD THE FIRE DIE
NIRVANA – HORMOANING (Colored, LTD 6,000)
NO ONE GOT HURT – NO ONE GOT HURT
OF MONTREAL – PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL LP (Black 180 Gram, LTD 1,000)
OFF! -LIVE AT GENERATION RECORDS 7″
OPETH – THROAT OF WINTER 7″
ORBISON,ROY – ONLY THE LONELY (MONO)/OH PRETTY WOMAN 7″
OS MUTANTES -EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE: WORLD PSYCHEDELIC CLASSICS (180GM VINYL)
OSBOURNE,OZZY – BLIZZARD OF OZ
OSBOURNE,OZZY – DIARY OF A MADMAN
OSBOURNE,OZZY – FLYIN’ HIGH/I DON’T KNOW (LIVE) (7″)
OVAL/LITURGY – SPLIT
OWEN – O EVELYN (7″)
OXBOW – KING OF THE JEWS
PARLOPHONE – PARLOPHONE (7″ Box Set)
PEARL JAM – VITALOGY
PEARL JAM – VS.
PEARL JAM – IMMORTALITY (7″)
PETTY,TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS – TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (WHITE VINYL)
PETTY,TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS – YOR’RE GONNA GET IT (BLUE VINYL)
PHISH – PHISH: TWO SOUNDCHECKS 7″
PIEBALD – VOL I-III TRIPLE GATEFOLD (Each vinyl is a different color, LTD 1,000)
PINK FLOYD – LONDON 66/67
POLVO -CELEBRATE THE NEW DARK AGE
PORTABLE SHRINES MAGICAL SOUND THEATRE – VOL. 1-PORTABLE SHRINES MAGICAL SOUND THEATRE
PRURIENT – MANY JEWELS SURROUND THE CROWN (7″)
QUEEN – KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE (7″)
QUICKSAND – S/T 7″ (LTD 500 on Blue)
R.E.M.- R.E.M. THREE: FIRST THREE SINGLES FROM COLLAPSE (7″)
RANCID – LET THE DOMINOES FALL-COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Incl. Regular CD, Acoustic CD, Regular 180 Gram LP, Acoustic 180 Gram LP, 72 page booklet, poster, four guitar pics and DVD)
RATELIFF,NATHANIEL – SHROUD 7″
RED CRAYOLA – HURRICANE FIGHTER PLANE B/W PINK STAINLE 7″
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS/THE RAMONES – HAVANA AFFAIR (RED 7″ VINYL, Total 6,500)
REKORDS REKORDS – REKORDS REKORDS
REPUBLIC TIGERS – MERRYMAKE IT WITH ME 7″
REPUBLIC TIGERS – NO LAND’S MAN EP
RHYMESAYERS VINYL PICTURE DISC – RHYMESAYERS VINYL PICTURE DISC
RISE AGAINST – JOIN THE RANKS 7″ (LTD 800 Copies)
RIVAL SCHOOLS – WRING IT OUT/CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE 7″ (LTD 1,500)
ROBERTSON,ROBBIE – HOW TO BE CLAIRVOYANT
RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ,OMAR -TELESTERION
ROLLING STONES- BROWN SUGAR (7″)
RYAN ADAMS & THE CARDINALS – CLASS MYTHOLOGY EP 2×7″ (LTD 2,500 one orange 7″, one yellow 7″. Four unreleased outtakes from Cardinology Era. Cover is a collage done by Ryan Adams)
SENNEN – AGE OF DENIAL
SILVERSTEIN – SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD STORE 7″ (LTD 500. Includes one new track plus four covers from Kid Dynamite, American Nightmare and Propagandhi)
SIMON,PAUL – SO BEAUTIFUL OR SO WHAT
SKYSAW – NO ON CAN TELL/SERATED (7″)
SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOUR BORIS YELTSIN – BROOM LP (Includes 2 songs not on CD, LTD 500)
SONIC YOUTH – WHORE’S MOANING: OZ ’93 TOUR EDITION
SPEKTOR,REGINA – FOUR FROM FAR (POWDER BLUE 7″ VINYL)
SPRINGSTEEN,BRUCE & THE E STREET BAND- GOTTA GET THAT FEELING/RACING IN THE S (10″)
SUBMARINES – LOVE NOTES/LETTER BOMBS
SUPERCHUNK – HERE’S WHERE THE STRINGS COME IN
TELEVISION – LIVE AT THE OLD WALDORF (180GM WHITE VINYL)
THERAPIES SON – OVER THE SEA 10″
TOADIES – NO DELIVERANCE/SOMEONE GREAT 7″
TOSH,PETER – LEGALIZE IT (7 INCH SINGLE/COLORED VINYL)
TRANSIT – PROMISE NOTHING 7″ (LTD 1,000 copies with 300 on green/gray and 700 on blue/clear)
TRON TRANSLUCENCE EP -SOUNDTRACK 10″
TOUCHE AMORE – TO THE BEAT OF A DEAD HORSE LP (White, LTD 250)
URGE OVERKILL – EFFIGY 7″
VELVET UNDERGROUND – FOGGY NOTION/I CAN’T STAND IT 7″
VILLAGERS/CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG – MEMOIR/SET THE TIGERS FREE 7″
VIVIAN GIRLS – I HEARD YOU SAY 7″
VORWARTS – VORWARTS
WAVVES/TRASH TALK – THORNS/TV LUV SONG 7″
WHITMORE,WILLIAM ELLIOTT & P.O.S – SPLIT 7″
WILD FLAG – FUTURE CRIMES 7″
WILLIAM ELLIOT WHITMORE/POS 7″
WILLIAMS,HANK III- DAMN RIGHT REBEL PROUD
WILLIAMS,HANK III – STRAIGHT TO HELL
WILLIAMS,HANK III – RISIN’ OUTLAW
WILLIAMS,HANK III – LOVESICK BROKE & DRIFTIN’
WILLIAMS,HANK III – REBEL WITHIN
WIZ KHALIFA – ROLLING PAPERS
YARDBIRDS – GOODNIGHT SWEET JOSEPHINE/THINK ABOUT IT 7″
YOUNG THE GIANT – APARTMENT 7″
YOUTH OF TODAY – S/T 7″ (RED, LTD500)
THE WONDER YEARS – THE UPSIDES LP (Gatefold, orange, limited to 500)

I am going on record to say that this might be the best January I have ever seen when it comes to new releases. We continue to get just absolutely bombarded with great album after great album and we’ve barely seemed to have scratch the surface of 2011! A sign of great music to come this year for sure. This week alone we’ve got new albums by Gang of Four, Iron & Wine, Wanda Jackson, Death, Cloud Nothings, Deerhoof, Fujiya & Miyagi, John Vanderslice, and a ton more.

From the moment we heard the new album by Destroyer we were hooked. From the airy production to the instrumentation(so much smooth saxophone and flute going on here), it completely took us by surprise and has held us captive ever since.

The influences here are all over the place. From Prefab Sprout to Syd Barrett. From Robert Wyatt to Steely Dan. From Roxy Music to just about the entire Windham Hill catalog. Daniel Bejar, the mastermind behind Destroyer, has managed to take a lifetime’s worth of listening and crammed it into a 50 minute album that might teach you more than that pop music class down at the community college.

This is a record though, that while it sounds like it is rooted deeply in the 80′s, is surprisingly modern. Whereas bands such as Washed Out, Small Black, and just about any “chillwave” band have tapped into that 80′s nostalgic sound, they haven’t gone the extra step that Daniel Bejar has here, which is to let the song speak for itself, rather than the sound. From the excellent opening track, “Chinatown”, to the storybook that is “Suicide Demo for Kara Walker”, to the self-proclaimed “ambient disco” closer, “Bay of Pigs”, Bejar takes no shortcuts in crafting these tunes. Each track is dressed to the nines in both the instrumentation and the tales that he weaves throughout them.

If there was an album I could say with absolute certainty that you needed in your collection this year, this would be it. Still eleven months away, Kaputt is already destined to be on the top of most year end lists for 2011. Absolutely essential.

Listen to “Chinatown” from Destroyer’s Kaputt

Highlights

Caroline – Verdugo Hills (Temporary Residence)

Caroline released her first album five years ago and it seemed like she had disappeared into obscurity since then. Hiding away in the band Mice Parade for the past couple years, she returns with her long awaited follow-up, Verdugo Hills. Not much has changed in the 5 years as Caroline has delivered another excellent album of minimalist dream pop that even has some J-pop leanings. An great companion for the remainder of these brutal Winter months.

Listen to “Swimmer” from Caroline’s Verdugo Hills

My Disco – Little Joy (Temporary Residence)

Australia’s My Disco are somewhat an anomaly of a band. Little Joy, their third album and first one that is readily available stateside, is a post-punk album that almost achieves minimalism through sheer volume. Their sound owes as much to what’s being played as what’s not being played. It’s this theoretical “expansive minimalism” that has them sounding almost as if Glenn Branca joined Shellac. If that sounds like the best band ever(I really want to hear that now actually) then you owe it to yourself to check this album out.

Listen to “Rivers” from My Disco’s Little Joy