FRIDAY, MARCH 31st, 2017

Acceptance – Colliding By Design
Lydia Ainsworth – Darling of the Afterglow
Craig Brown Band – Lucky Ones Forget
Richard Buckner – Impasse
Chaz Bundick Meets The Mattson 2 – Star Stuff
Buttertones – Gravedigging
Rodney Crowell – Close Ties
Cyanide Pills – Sliced & Diced
Bob Dylan – Triplicate
Richard Edwards – Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset
Jake Xerxes Fussell – What In The Natural World
Peter Gabriel – US
Diamanda Galas – All The Way
Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
Goldfrapp – Silver Eye
Tigran Hamasyan – An Ancient Observer
Coco Hames – S/T Though it’s the first album released under her name, Coco Hames is no wide-eyed ingénue. As the singer, songwriter, frontwoman, and indomitable force behind beloved garage-pop combo The Ettes, she blazed a memorable trail across the ’00s underground. The proverbial “little band that could,” the group would record five critically acclaimed albums, establish a fervent international fan base, and tour extensively with everyone from Kings of Leon to the Go-Go’s, the Black Keys to the Dead Weather. Leading a gypsy existence, the Ettes variously called Los Angeles, London, Berlin and Madrid home, before finally settling in Nashville in 2008. A Florida native and once-aspiring Disney kid, Hames had found salvation and what should’ve been a satisfying success in rock ’n’ roll: packed concerts, TV appearances, and soundtrack placements. But after nearly a decade together, the idealized notion of the band was crumbling around her. Following a final bittersweet album and tour in 2011, Hames decided to bring the curtain down on the Ettes’ run. But Hames was pulled towards music again. “The thing I loved, that I was always drawn to, was songs—the magic of creating something out of a fleeting idea and a few chords,” says Hames. “That passion never left me. I began to realize I had more that I wanted to write, and a lot more that I needed to say.” Hunkering down at Nashville’s The Bomb Shelter studio, Hames co-produced the record with Andrija Tokic, who’d helped sire career-making albums for Alabama Shakes and Hurray for the Riff Raff, among others. Playing guitar, piano, and electric harpsichord, Hames was aided in her effort by a pair of longtime pals in bassist Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather) and drummer Julian Dorio (The Whigs, Eagles of Death Metal). Lead guitar was supplied by young Nashville hotshot Adam Meisterhans (The Weight, JP5) while other friends and musical foils contributed, including veteran keyboard/organ wizard Dave Amels of Reigning Sound. Hames also enlisted top Music City vocalists Carey Kotsionis (Bobby Bare, Jr., Clem Snide) and Third Man artist Lillie Mae Rische (Jack White, Jypsi) to form an angelic mini-choir for the sessions. Hames says she had no agenda with the project, apart from fashioning an album that would resist easy genre tags. “I grew up listening to ’60s pop like Dusty Springfield, but also classic country music, like Patsy Cline, and things that bridged both worlds, like Bobbie Gentry. I guess I’m a fan of artists who can move between styles pretty seamlessly,” notes Hames. “Somehow, with this record, the end result doesn’t fit into any one category. Which is an exciting thing to me.” The album’s nine originals are rounded out by a cover of “Tiny Pieces,” a lost ’90s gem penned by Tommy Stinson of alt-rock legends the Replacements. “It’s a really unique song,” says Hames, who delivers it as a duet with John McCauley of Deer Tick, the pair making like a dissolute Gram and Emmylou. “I just love John’s voice—particularly in the way we play off each other.” “I couldn’t have made this album when I was 22,” says Hames, a decade on. “I had to get to the place where I could write and sing the way I do now. I had to earn my way to making this record. I’m glad I didn’t give up before I got here.”
Julia Holter – In The Same Room
Mastadon – Emperor of Sand
My Chemical Romance – Welcome To The Black Parade 12″ Pic Disc
New York Dolls – New York Dolls
Sneaks – It’s a Myth
Spinning Coin – Raining On Hope Street / Tin 7″
Tall Trees – Impressions
Warbringer – Woe To The Vanquished
Soundtrack – Elmer Bernstein – To Kill A Mocking Bird
Soundtrack – Ramin Djawadi – The Great Wall
Various Artists – Inna De Yard, the Soul of Jamaica
Various Artists – Rough Guide To The Blues Songsters

FRIDAY, MARCH 24th, 2017

Dorothy Ashby – Soft Winds – The Swinging Harp of Dorothy Ashby with Terry Pollard, Jimmy Cobb & Herman Wright
Bardo Pond – Under The Pines
Ben Folds Five – Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
Brokeback – Illinois River Valley Blues Featuring members of Tortoise, Eleventh Dream Day, The Steve Gunn Band and Tweedy
Cairo Gang – Untouchable
Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band – Big Machine
Vic Chesnutt – Is The Actor Happy?
Gene Clark – Lost Studio Sessions 1964-1982
Cooper-Moore & Mad King Edmund – Revered Eddie Bones 7″
Creation – Making Time 7″
Craig Finn – We All Want The Same Things
Dire Wolves – Excursions To Cloudland
Ethio Stars / Tukul Band featuring Mulatu Astatke – Addis 1988
Eric Gales – Middle of the Road
Gin Blossoms – Congratulations I’m Sorry
Gold Star – Big Blue
Dexter Gordon – Take The A Train
Jesus & Mary Chain – Damage & Joy
Bridget Kearney – Won’t Let You Down – In the 12 years she has toured the world as a member of the soul-pop sensation Lake Street Dive, Bridget Kearney has fine-tuned many things — voracious collaborating, acclaimed bass playing, and harmonizing to name a few. But the skill she has honed most obsessively is songwriting. While still a student at The New England Conservatory of Music, Kearney won the grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, a harbinger of things to come. Now, Kearney steps into the spotlight with her first solo effort, a wry, bighearted pop album entitled Won’t Let You Down. The record, like its title, promises not to disappoint. Shades of The Beatles, Wilco, Fleetwood Mac and even Nick Cave can be detected, as the album swerves from ‘60s pop to modern indie-rock.
Kissing Is A Crime – S/T
Lift To Experience – The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads
Paul McCartney – Flowers In The Dirt
Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang – Build Music
Otis Redding – Live At The Whisky A Go Go
Skatalites – Foundation Ska
Wayne Snow – Freedom TV
Spiral Stairs – Doris & The Daggers  New record from Scott Kannberg of Pavement & Preston School of Industry.
Trementina – 810
Wolf Eyes – Undertow Free poster and bonus CD for while supplies last
Various Artists – Lord Have Mercy – The Soulful Gospel of Checker Records
Various Artists – Hustle! Reggae Disco, Kingston∗London∗New York∗

FRIDAY, MARCH 17th, 2017

Anohni – Paradise
Bulent Arel – Electronic Music 1960-1973
Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months
Batmobile – Brand New Blisters
Jorge Ben – Tropical
Califone – Quicksand/Cradlesnakes
Gary Clark Jr. – Live/North America 2016
Counting Crows – August & Everything After
Counting Crows – Recovering The Satellites
The Creation – Action Painting
Dad Can Dance – Aion
Dead Can Dance – The Serpent’s Egg
Dead Can Dance – Spiritchaser
Depeche Mode – Spirit
Peter Gabriel – First Album
Peter Gabriel – Second Album
Peter Gabriel – Third Album
Peter Gabriel – Up
Grails – Black Tar Prophecies
Grails – Take Refuge In Clean Living
John Lee Hooker – That’s Where It’s At!
Howlin’ Wolf – The Real Folk Blues Pic Disc
Syl Johnson – My Funky Funky Band
Syl Johnson – We Do It Together
Nikki Lane – Highway Queen Pic Disc
Conor Oberst – Salutations
Pinback – Some Offcell Voices
Public Memory – Veil of Counsel
Pulp – Different Class (Limited edition of 1000 peach coloured vinyl)
Roy Robert – Roy Roberts Experience
Judee Sill – Live In London
Sorority Noise – You’re Not As ______As You Think
Spoon – Hot Thoughts
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Live At Acton Town Hall London, 11/15/2002
Yma Sumac – Mambo!

FRIDAY, MARCH 10th, 2017

Todd Albright – Detroit Twelve String, Blues & Rags
John Andrews & The Yawns – Bad Posture
Animals As Leaders – The Madness of Many
Booher – Funny Tears
Buzzcocks – Time’s Up!
Neko Case – Live From Austin, TX
Steve Earle – Live From Austin, TX
Livy Ekememzie – Friday Night
Flagship – The Electric Man
Thomas Giles- Velcro Kid
Greg Graffin – Millport
Ha Ha Tonka – Heart-Shaped Mountain
Heath Green & The Makeshifters – S/T
Insane Clown Posse – Tunnel of Love
George Jones & The Smoky Mountain Boys
Richard Laviolette – Taking The Long Way Home
Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir
Laura Marling – Semper Femina
Jon McKiel – Memorial Ten Cont
R. Stevie Moore & Jason Falkner – Make It Big
Night Riots – Love Gloom
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Front Porch Sessions
Porter Ray – Watercolor
Rolling Blackouts C.F. – The French Press
The Shins – Heartworms
Sir Was – Digging A Tunnel
Elliott Smith – Either/Or Expanded Edition
Jay Som – Everybody Works
Soundgarden – Ultramega OK
Marty Stuart – Way Out West
Thundercat – Drunk
Paul Weller – Music From The Film Jawbone
Various – Keb Darge & Cut Chemist – The Dark Side: 30 Sixties Garage, Punk & Psych Monsters

FRIDAY, MARCH 3rd, 2017

Animal Collective – Hollindagain
Balto – Strangers
Besnard Lakes – Are The Divine Wind
Bleached – Can You Deal?
James Brown – (Can You) Feel It!
Guy Clark – Best of the Dualtone Years
FKA Twigs – EP1
Gabriella Cohen – Full Closure & No Details
Cramps – Psychedelic Jungle
Damu The Fudgemunk – T.E.K.S.
Epic Soundtracks – Change My Life
Findlay – Forgotten Pleasures
Grandaddy – Last Place
Francoise Hardy – Le Danger
Francoise Hardy – Soleil
Ibibio Sound Machine – Uyai
Robert Johnson – King of the Delta Blues Singers
Methyl Ethyl – Everything is Forgotten
Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
Minus The Bear – Voids
Monkees – Head (Alternative)
The Muffs – Happy Birthday To Me
Sampha – Process
Sleaford Mods – English Tapas
Son Volt – Notes of Blue Limited vinyl LP pressing. 2017 release from the alt. Country/Americana outfit. Led by the songwriting and vocals of Jay Farrar, Son Volt was one of the most instrumental and influential bands in launching the alt. Country movement of the 1990’s. A movement that was the precursor to what is now widely referred to as Americana. The 10 songs on Notes Of Blue are inspired by the spirit of the blues, but not the standard blues as most know it. The unique and haunting tunings of Mississippi Fred McDowell, Skip James and Nick Drake were all points of exploration for Farrar for this collection. The album opens with the country soul of “Promise The World”, followed by “Back Against The Wall”, a song that could stand alongside the great Son Volt songs of their early albums. Farrar possesses one of the most distinctive voices in roots, rock, country or any genre. He exudes a soulful longing combined with a wise-beyond-his-years command that is as arresting and compelling as ever. As a songwriter, Farrar’s depth and poetic penchant has been the foundation of a thoughtful, deep and intelligent body of work. Both attributes are on full display on Notes Of Blue, as he touches on themes of redemption and the common struggle, both of which are at the core of the blues. Whether you call it alt. Country, Americana, roots rock, insurgent country or just good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll, musical trends appear and disappear on regular basis. Notes Of Blue is a testament to the legacy of inspiration and creative spirit that Jay Farrar and Son Volt continue to uphold.
Taking Back Sunday – S/T
Temples – Volcano
Muddy Waters – At Newport
Teddy Williams – Worry Off My Mind
Soundtrack – Tales From The Crypt Presents Demon Knight