CENTRO-MATIC / SOUTH SAN GABRIEL Dual Hawks On "Dual Hawks", you get to hear side-by-side the various ways Centro-Matic and South San Gabriel complement and play off each other; sort of the full-length equivalent of a split single. Catchy hooks, wiry guitars, harmonies and handclaps, splendid string and horn arrangements, and songs so well written and produced, they'll make indie rockers of lesser mettle go home and cry. "This is old-school singer-songwriter slow burn, invoking the greats of early 70's soul-baring: John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, a pinch of Joni Mitchell, a schmilson of Harry Nilsson" - Austin American Statesman. RIYL: Iron And Wine, Magnolia Electric Company, Sparklehorse, Califone, Neil Young, Lambchop. Tracks: The Rat Patrol and Dj's / Two Seats Gold Reserved / Quality Strange / Remind Us Alive / Every Single / Switch / I, the Kite / Strychnine, Breathless Ways / All Your Farewells / Counting the Scars / Twenty-Four A Critical Display of Snakes / Emma Jane / Kept On the Sly / When the Angels Will Put Out Their Lights / Of Evil/For Evil / My Goodbyes / Senselessly / Corner Cross / Trust To Lose / The Arc and the Cusp / Alabama Crusade / Jornado Del Muerto #20 / From This I Will Awake (Misra) MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS LP $16.98 WILLIE NELSON & WYNTON MARSALIS Two Men With The Blues The event was simply billed as "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues," but the historic two-night stand on January 12 and 13, 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center was far more than that. Call it a summit meeting between two American icons, Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, two of the most significant figures in modern-day country and jazz, who discovered common ground in their love for jazz standards and the blues. Their performance stirred the sounds of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and New York City into a brilliantly programmed mix that was equal parts down-home and cosmopolitan, with plenty of swing and just a touch of melancholy. To say that these shows were a hot ticket would be an understatement. Luckily, the tapes were rolling and the results of this unique collaboration now constitute the Blue Note album Two Men With The Blues for everyone who couldn't cram into The Allen Room. Featuring great playing from one of the hottest bands around these classic tracks are given new life by the extraordinary dual talents of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. At a time when most people are thinking of retirement, Willie has never been busier. His profile has been high in recent weeks with his various career retrospective releases and sold out tour and this album can rightly stake it's place alongside anything else he has done. Wynton rarely sounds so relaxed and both of these musical giants are clearly having the time of their lives together on these new interpretations of some of the greatest songs of the 20th century. MORE INFO LP $17.98 M. WARD Transfiguration Of Vincent LP M. Ward`s follow-up to the terrific End Of Amnesia is, at heart, a collection of songs rooted in Americana - folk, blues and tin-pan alley. Some tunes are simple and timeless, while others are run through dark filters, electrified, and thread with hints of underlying mystery. M. Ward`s hushed, somewhat raspy vocal provides for melancholy and despair while working every nuance. Surprisingly reworked, amid the unique original material here, is a lazy acoustic version of Bowie`s "Let`s Dance". Fans of Sparklehorse and Giant Sand should look into this. (Merge) MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS LP $15.98 ME FIRST & THE GIMME GIMMES Have Another Ball Have Another Ball is the unearthed A sides album by a fun quintet of guys having a ball! Rolling into the summer of 2008 with a dozen winning tunes to satisfy any and all Me First & The Gimme Gimme fans. This punk rock supergroup aka cover band formed in 1995. Drawn together by a mutual love of 1960s and 1970s music, the Gimme Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band.The guys are up to their old hijinks with the release of their seventh full length. In order to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their debut album, Have a Ball, the Gimmes are releasing the second installment of recordings from the original session. The wildly popular Have a Ball was initially recorded as a double album, but the band decided that the two disc extravaganza might be too much rock for the uninitiated masses. Subsequently there is another album’s worth of material just waiting to be devoured by Gimmes fans, old and new. Tracks: Rich Girl / The Boxer / Country Roads / I Write the Songs / Sodomy / You've Got a Friend / Mahogany / Mother and Child Reunion / Only the Good Die Young / Coming to America / The Harder They Come / Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me MORE INFO CD $12.98 BRITISH SEA POWER Open Season Over the course of the past two years, the world has been tumultuous, stormy and torrent. Amongst the menace and the madness, there are individuals fighting to bring a sense of tranquility to their fellow man, by whatever means serves them best. British Sea Power emerged from out of a mighty empire capturing a sense of urgency, of the chaos building, and in turn held up triumphantly the spirit of man to survive and excel despite the odds. Those who took notice were swept up and their hearts swelled. Now British Sea Power return with the Open Season, a view of the world from great heights, a record that expresses more vivid clarity which new adventures and experiences have brought forth. (Rough Trade US) MORE INFO LP $15.98 SON AMBULANCE Someone Else's Deja Vu LP Their third full-length marks a departure from 2005's "Key", offers a sharper glimpse into Joseph Knapp's distinct songwriting abilities, and reflects a depth of complexity and dream logic made perfect for a sublime musical experience. A cohesive palette of subtle pop psychedelia encompassing myriad musical genres. Think of this record as great accompaniment to a day where your only responsibilities might include reading a book, petting your cat, or thinking of an old friend. (Saddle Creek) MORE INFO LP $18.98 LIONS No Generation “All roars and manes, Lions blends heavy riffs and explosive attitude for a head-twisting take on ye olde denim rock … a mix of explosive psychedelia and Texas-sized riffs, like a tab of LSD chased with Southern Comfort.” — The Onion Lions is an Austin-based band that formed in August 2005. Their music is influenced by ’60s and ’70s hard rock with ’90s-era fever. The band creates a blend of retro riffage, artful noise, melodic interludes, and revolutionary attitude with a live show that has been described as “furious” with “a full-frontal assault” that will leave you “half-deaf and disoriented.” MORE INFO LP $16.98 ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO Real Animal Blame a midlife crisis or a fury prompted of any number of dramas in Alejandro Escovedo’s life, from divorce to a near-fatal bout with Hepatitis C - but at age 57, the veteran Texas roots-rocker has returned for the first time in his long solo career to the aggressive, at-times punk-rock sounds of his earliest band, the Nuns, with a few hints of pioneering alternative-country combos Rank & File and the True Believers thrown in for good measure. -- Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times (Back Porch) Watch Behind The Scenes of Real Animal Read the Popmatters.com review MORE INFO LP $18.98 RECKLESS KELLY Bulletproof (2 LP 180 Gram) On 'Bulletproof' roots/rock rogues Reckless Kelly explore fragility in relationships and the state of our country. The band's fifth studio album shows their signature duality of barroom ballads and rocking fight songs at its pinnacle. 'Bulletproof' features a superb songwriting collaboration between frontman Willy Braun and country icon Robert Earl Keen on "God Forsaken Town," a song about a person holding out from evacuating during Hurricane Katrina. The grit and gristle of Braun's voice brings the vulnerability of love songs like "A Guy Like Me" and "Bulletproof" to life without the threat of ever being saccharin. (Yep Roc) MORE INFO LP $22.98 WATSON TWINS Fire Songs 'This folky set has enough going on to stave off ennui, though: there's a torchy slow-burner ('Only You'), a horn-fueled shuffle ('Map to Where You Are') and a loping, twangy cover of the Cure's 'Just Like Heaven.' But what each song does boast is an impressive warmth, which Leigh [Watson] attributes to recording in analog at the studio Elliott Smith built (where there are, the singer reveals, "some definite ghosts in the boards.") And each track has a weighty narrative, exploring themes like emotional and physical bruises on 'Lady Love Me' or disengagement from an abusive relationship on 'Dig a Little Deeper.' "These are story-telling songs, and not celebratory at that," Leigh explained. But, as the title alludes, they lend themselves to a fireside session. "These songs carry emotions that we all have, so they create this listening environment. We don't perform the songs so much as we share them." -- Julie Simon, Spinner.com (Vanguard) Listen to the Watson Twins MORE INFO LP $24.98 LIZ PHAIR Exile In Guyville (with CD) Liz Phair is a US singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her signature guitar, which she is often seen playing (and is prominent upon the cover of her self-titled fourth album), is a Fender Duo-Sonic II. Her album Exile in Guyville was chosen as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. (ATO) MORE INFO LP $19.98 AMOS LEE Last Days At The Lodge Last Days at the Lodge is Lee’s third record, following his first two critically-acclaimed and tremendously successful records, Supply and Demand (2006) and his 2005 self-titled debut. This 2008 record is produced by Don Was, and features Lee on guitars, Doyle Bramhall, Jr. (Eric Clapton) on guitar, Spooner Oldham (Neil Young, Aretha Franklin) on keys, Pino Palladino (The Who, D’Angelo) on bass, and James Gadson (Bill Withers) on drums, along with many others. 11 tracks. (Blue Note) MORE INFO LP $17.98 DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Brighter Than Creations Dark MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS LP $24.98 MAGNETIC FIELDS Distortion MORE INFO LP $18.98 MUDCRUTCH Mudcrutch (Bonus CD) MORE INFO LP $29.98 WILCO Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Bonus Cd) MORE INFO LP $24.98 BILLY BRAGG Mr. Love & Justice In his two and a half decades carrying the torch of social justice, Billy Bragg has melded the folksy populism of Woody Guthrie with the anger and indignation of The Clash. Both are perfectly encapsulated on his Anti debut. Despite the intense politics behind his songs, Billy has never lost sight of the power of personal relationships to hold us together and bring about the kind of redemption that outstrips even the greatest political movements. Musically, this record combines the loose, Stonesy groove Bragg found working with Wilco on the "Mermaid Ave." sessions, with the best parts of his punk and music hall roots. On his most mature record to date, the title says it all. (Anti-) FREE MP3: BILLY BRAGG - I Keep Faith Download BILLY BRAGG "O FREEDOM" Video INTERVIEW PART 1 Video INTERVIEW PART 2 Video MORE INFO LP $17.98 OLD 97'S Blame It On Gravity Blame It On Gravity is the seventh studio album and the first new album in 4 years from alt-country pioneers Old 97 s. The album finds the band turning up the amps and returning to the satisfying crunch with a mix of rock, punk, pop and classic country that defined the band s sound on earlier albums. The band credits the new album s enthusiasm to their return to their hometown of Dallas, TX to record, the first time since their initial independent release. The band, still comprised of original members Rhett Miller, Murry Hammond, Ken Bethea and Philip Peeples, deliver what they believe is the finest album of their 15-year career. (New West) MORE INFO LP $18.98 CHRIS BROKAW Incredible Love Hailed as 2005's best record by Time Out's Mike Wolf and received unanimous critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. This is the vinyl version; a gorgeous audiophile pressing on white 180 gram vinyl, with a previously unreleased bonus track. "Incredible Love" stands out as a perfect synthesis of Brokaw's songwriting and inimitable guitar playing. "...beyond all the great playing and subtle orchestration lie a batch of great, straightforward rock songs, sung in a world-weary yet tirelessly optimistic voice by an artist who seems to be just hitting his stride" - Other Music. MORE INFO LP $14.98 DEVOTCHKA Mad & Faithful Telling This four-piece multi-instrumental outfit fuses gypsy, Greek, Slavic, and mariachi with American punk and folk roots. Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris chose DeVotchKa to score "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, the breakout indie film of the year, garnering four Academy Award nominations and earning DeVotchKa a Grammy nod for Best Soundtrack. Their stage set up is fortified by sousaphone, accordion, piano, violin, a bouzouki, upright bass, percussion, trumpet, drums, and a Theramin. The band has toured with similar maverick acts such as Calexico and Flogging Molly and will also appeal to fans of Arcade Fire, Neko Case, and David Byrne. (Anti-) MORE INFO LP $16.98 FLEET FOXES Fleet Foxes 'Seattle's Fleet Foxes are the perfect soundtrack to a cold, rainy afternoon. Like a calm Brian Wilson filtered through My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, the band's lead singer, 21 year old Robin Pecknold is a remarkable musical talent. Like a church choir led by your favorite indie band, the Fleet Foxes sound is a mix of glistening, layered vocal harmonies, softly plucked guitars and a sense of longing and wonder that only open skies and vast wilderness can evoke.' -- Nick Christie, thecoolhunter.net MORE INFO LP $15.98 ROBERT POLLARD Is Off To Business One of the most recognized vocalists in bluegrass music and beyond is back with his long-awaited second solo album, Wheels. Dan Tyminski's prominence has steadily grown through his role as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist in Alison Krauss and Union Station and through his enduring version of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" on the hit soundtrack to the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Now with the release of Wheels, Tyminski delivers a superb project accentuated by the inimitable talent of his band - Barry Bales, bass; Justin Moses, fiddle and Dobro; Adam Steffey, mandolin; Ron Stewart, banjo and fiddle - along with special guests Vince Gill, Ron Block, and Cheryl and Sharon White. Combining a sophisticated, modern sound with Tyminski's hallmark, searing intensity, Wheels features a powerful set of songs dealing with conflict, transition, heartbreak, and the lessons of life - all delivered with timeless soul from one of the great voices of contemporary bluegrass. (Rounder) MORE INFO LP $16.98 PJ HARVEY Rid of Me (180 Gram) PJ Harvey's second album, 1993's Rid Of Me, is an art-punk classic that pushes the genre, and with it the listener, to extremes. Alternating between searing noise/feedback and sparse open spaces, Rid Of Me is truly an emotional experience. As usual, legendary producer Steve Albini maximizes every sound and space, working with that exacting, mechanical precision that he has come to be known for, the perfect complement to Harvey's harsh, stark, disturbed song writing. #52 on Pitchfork's "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s," PJ Harvey's best album is available on vinyl for the first time in years. (Plain) MORE INFO LP $18.98 MY MORNING JACKET Acoustic Citsuoca LP (W/CD) My Morning Jacket's Acoustic Citsuoca EP captures a Halloween concert held at the Startime Pavilion in Braintree, Massachusets. Track Listing: The Bear/Sooner/Bermuda Highway/Golden/Hopefully (ATO/RCA) MORE INFO LP $10.98 MY MORNING JACKET It Still Moves (W/CD) (Bonus Track) "If alt-country heroes decided to go to space, this is what it would sound like. Lead singer Jim James's lonesomely soaring vocals are the linchpin for the Kentucky five-piece. From the album opening Mahgeeta, the band travels a beautifully winding and spooky road." -- Andy Langer, Esquire MORE INFO LP $10.98 MY MORNING JACKET Z (W/CD) (Bonus Tracks) An epic myth serves to tell a fantastic story, while paralleling fundamental aspects of the natural world, and everything that dwells upon it. Returning with their fourth full-length, My Morning Jacket has created a dazzling centerpiece with Z. Those enamored by the band`s previous efforts will find all of the signature My Morning Jacket elements here, though Z finds the band stretching into new territories. Jim James takes greater risks with his vocal performance and comes away sounding even more immaculate. For liveDaily James said, "We wanted to make a record that grooved and swung, but wasn`t trying to imitate classic soul. We wanted to keep an aspect of what we`d always done, but also make something you could dance to or listen to while driving home." (ATO/RCA) MORE INFO LP $19.98 MY MORNING JACKET Tennessee Fire Originally released in 1999, Tennessee Fire is classic country infused with '60s pop sensibilities, lo-fi melancholy and dreamscape guitars. Maybe it's better heard than described. This Louisville band is led by the talented 21 year old Jim James. (Darla) MORE INFO LP $21.98 MY MORNING JACKET At Dawn Jim James dresses up My Morning Jacket with more ambitious threads on this 2001 release. At Dawn twists and enlongates elements of rock, country, psychedelia and blues to create an intriguing synthesis. "A highly rewarding album; it just takes a small leap of faith to work its magic." - Jason Nickey, No Depression (Darla) MORE INFO LP $21.98 JAMES HUNTER ** AUTOGRAPHED BOOKLET (while supplies last) ** Hard Way 'The title of singer-guitarist James Hunter's album for the US Concord label refers to his arduous 25-year climb to what might now be deemed 'success', although it's easily possible that that this still-boyish-at-46 Colchester soulster is going to rise even higher. Toe Rag Studios was very much geared towards a completely live laying-down of all the parts, in real time, as if on stage. [A]nalogue evangelist producer Liam Watson is justified in this retro technique, as Hunter refines his ultimate re-evaluation of '60s soul, with the sweet-voiced Sam Cooke being a predominant influence. This is not to say that Hunter doesn't possess some burr to his croon: he'll often swing from high muesli trill down to bourbon moan in the space of a single line. Hunter also composes all his own material, even though it's emphatically rooted in the classic soul form.' - Martin Longley, BBC 2006 Concert on NPR MORE INFO LP $17.98 MY MORNING JACKET Evil Urges LP "...[C]oming from a young band whose first three albums earned them a reputation as hairy torchbearers of guitar-driven classic rock, the title is also about messing with expectations. More so than 2005's mildly experimental Z, Evil Urges explodes the band's sound with the same kind of creative leap that Wilco took on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Radiohead took on Kid A." -- Will Hermes, Rollingstone.com (ATO) Stereogum's Premature Evaluation of the record Rolling Stone video album preview MORE INFO LP $19.98 SCOTT KEMPNER Saving Grace 'The ex-Del-Lords/Dictators' guitarist first solo album in 16 years is an impressive return that dials down the volume for a sturdy, heartfelt set of urban rock and soul that is never less than well conceived and often emotionally stirring. . . Similar to an East Coast version of Dave Alvin, Kempner doesn't have a great voice but it's good enough and his flinty talk-sung delivery lasers in on the emotional intensity on ballads such as "Passion Red." ... Like Bruce Springsteen, Kempner understands his influences but isn't shackled to them. He hammers these songs with the iconic echoes of classic rock and roll without sounding clichéd or retro. The result is timeless music, informed by sharp lyrics, tough melodies, tight playing and a dynamic mix of bravado leavened by a vulnerability that makes this gutsy material personal, passionate and urgent.' -- Hal Horowitz, allmusic.com READ World's Forgotten Boy, by Peter Linblad MORE INFO CD $19.98 KAISERCARTEL March Forth KaiserCartel have a genuine, homespun, sound that is all their own. "Eclectic, infectious, music," are the words Benjamin uses to describe their lo-fi, song-driven style. "We want people to feel like a fly on the wall in our living room," says Courtney. Whether you come in the middle of the set or come right from the start, by the end of listening to their music, you will be crying, laughing, and will have that warm feeling you get from spending time with close friends. KaiserCartel's earthy blend of folk and rock will make you laugh, cry, sing along, and want to hold hands with the stranger next to you. Warm up by the fire with KaiserCartel. (Bluehammock) Video of Okay linked from The Swill-Merchant. MORE INFO LP $15.98 JOSHUA JAMES Sun Is Always Brighter 'Another silly love song could make me sick/About a heart-broke emo rocker and his messed up chick," Nebraska-bred singer-songwriter Joshua James sings on the opening track of his debut album, The Sun Is Always Brighter. "Geese" is a paean to the earth, "Lord, Devil, & Him" delves into his brother's drug addiction, "Tell My Pa" is a devastatingly beautiful, blood-and-alcohol-soaked sonic suicide note, while a pair of powerful closing songs address wars past ("Commodore") and present ("Our Brother's Blood"). James's voice is scratchy and lived in, evoking contemporaries like Damien Rice and Xavier Rudd and giving his intricately painted stories a cozy, whispered-in-your-ear quality; the music is equally intimate -- carefully plucked folk guitar enhanced with strings, accordion and piano...' -- Sal Cinquemani, slantmagazine.com (Intelligent Noise) HEAR Joshua James on myspace MORE INFO LP AND FREE SINGLE $11.98 EMMYLOU HARRIS All I Intended To Be LP On her second Nonesuch disc, Emmylou Harris assembles an extraordinary cast of veteran musicians and fellow singers, all of them longtime friends, for a set that indeed showcases this Nashville icon, and 2008 CMA Hall of Fame inductee, as all she has intended to be - a singularly expressive vocalist, a brilliant interpreter of other people's songs, a graceful and confident songwriter. In particular, the album displays Harris's ability to bring new life to songs that may have been overlooked, forgotten or lost along the way. Some of the most affecting material here may be the least well-known - though not for long: John Wesley Routh's celtic/country "Shores Of White Sands" and trucker-poet Michael Germino's heartrending story-song, "Broken Man's Lament." Harris has chosen these songs with conceptual care. Like much of the gently uplifting All I Intended To Be, the stories may be bittersweet, the characters may be downtrodden, but somehow a sense of redemption always vanquishes regret. The shared history of all the artists involved deepens the feeling of hard-won wisdom that informs All I Intended To Be. Producer Brian Ahern was behind the boards for such early Harris classics as Elite Hotel, Pieces of the Sky and Blue Kentucky Girl. The players and guest stars are not only a veritable who's-who from the worlds of country, bluegrass and folk, but they have each intersected with Harris throughout her four-decade career as a recording artist. They include Dolly Parton, singers Pam Rose and Maryann Kennedy, dobro player (and longtime Seldom Scene member) Mike Auldredge, keyboardists Glenn D. Hardin (of Harris's Hot Band and Elvis Presley's legendary TCB combo) and Bill Payne (of Little Feat). Two songs - the June Carter tribute, "How She Could Sing The Wildwood Flower" and the breathtakingly beautiful "Sailing Round the Room" - were co-written by and performed with Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Singer-songwriter Karen Brooks, whose own eighties-era version of "Shores of White Sands" was the inspiration and thematic jumping-off point for this entire album, contributes backing vocals throughout; Randy Sharp, Brooks' singing partner, did the vocal arranging. (Harris won a 2005 Best Country Vocal Performance Grammy for her rendition of Sharp's "The Connection.") Harris's own songs, like the heartache ballad "Gold" and the elegiac "Not Enough," blend seamlessly with work by Patty Griffin ("Moon Song"), Merle Haggard ("Kern River") and Billy Joe Shaver ("Old Five and Dimers," from which the album title is taken). Harris revives what is arguably Tracy Chapman's most eloquent song, "Fast Car" notwithstanding - "All That You Have Is Your Soul," a cautionary tale with a simple but profound prayer of a chorus. Displaying the maturity, elegance and ease that distinguished All The Road Running, her best-selling 2006 collaboration with Mark Knopfler. Harris has created a riveting emotional and spiritual journey. All That I Intended To Be is everything a listener and fan could hope for. (Nonesuch) Video of Gold from the new album All I Intended To Be (Live version w/ Buddy Miller) Video of Hold On from the new album All I Intended To Be (Live version w/ Buddy Miller) MORE INFO LP $24.99 HAYDEN In Field & Town '..[T]the guy makes merciless stabs of self-parody. 'I don't lock myself in a room and refuse to talk to my girlfriend for weeks at a time,' Hayden says. 'I'm definitely not a sort of hermit, weirdo character. I'm more the kind of guy who spends most of his day wasting time and complaining about things,' he says, muffling a giggle. 'I have long, long breakfasts, you know, from like noon until two at least, then I start complaining.' There is some truth to the mythology; over the course of his five stripped-back albums, his music and method took on a solitary shape. Recorded in Desser's studio and in woods north of Toronto, In Field and Town embodies this small-scale sensibility. Yearning with the tender, minor-key minimalism of 2001's Skyscraper National Park and the glowing acoustic arrangements of 2004's Elk-Lake Serenade, the album pitches his oddly personal whimseys against an intimate but complete instrumental backdrop. The pealing horns and tumbling pop rhythms of Where and When, wrangling guitars and piano of Did I Wake Up Beside You? are fine examples. . . But it's the wonderfully arranged Lonely Security Guard, an oddly narrated ode to a neighbourhood security guard told from the perspective of a would-be thief, which typifies his peculiar songwriting charms. "I just really enjoy coming up with a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end," he says. It's just that sometimes it's an end that you're not expecting. Like this super friendly-looking security guard being a really tough guy,' he laughs. 'I had a huge smile on my face when I came up with that.''-- Dan Rule, theage.com MORE INFO CD $14.98 SHE & HIM Volume One LP Although [M.] Ward produced the record and closet songwriter [Zooey] Deschanel only started sharing her songs at his request, the album succeeds mostly because those songs feel like familiar AM radio classics and because her voice offers instant emotional empathy. Ward's tasteful playing and sparse arrangements just serve to make something good that much better. -- Grayson Currin, pitchforkmedia.com MORE INFO LP $17.98 ALSO ON CD MORE INFO CD $15.98 SHEARWATER Rook We all love to feel the songwriter has made the right choice in notation, lyric, and sound -- for a song to go exactly where our minds, racing ahead, wish for it to end up. There is comfort in that, and simple joy. Rook perseveres, boasting a gorgeous score, thunderous and steady percussion, and an impressive -- to say the least -- vocal range; [Jonathan] Meiburg sounding at once like David Bowie, Jello Biafra, Television’s Tom Verlaine, and Tiny Tim without a falter, flat or flaunt. Each lyrical line has a genuineness and an unabashed sincerity that is surprising with how forceful and emotive they can be -- almost theatrical but halting before the Elton John comes out... Shearwater have created something lovely within Rook. A stunning complexity of adorned beauty and grace, it is able to slide through the speakers like so many notes tumbled from a page, like their namesake floating above the oceans whole. This album is sure to top many a best of list when the year wraps up. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars -- Lynne Angel, sfgay.org (Matador) MORE INFO CD $14.98 JAKOB DYLAN Seeing Things Between the cataclysmic foreboding of the opening track, 'Evil is Alive and Well,' and the rebounding hope of the single, 'Something Good This Way Comes,' Dylan jounces moodily with denuded vocals and guitar, reflecting the bipolar social swings of the world at large today. Under the spell of Rubin’s trademark stripped-down production, and wearing his new hat as troubadour, the result is nothing short of powerful. -- Ben Corbett, Boulder Weekly MORE INFO CD $15.98 RADIOHEAD Best Of 4 LP Radiohead's first-ever career retrospective, this 4 lp Limited Edition package includes 30 tracks: LP 1/Side Just / Paranoid Android / Karma Police / Creep LP 1/Side 2: No Surprises / High And Dry / My Iron Lung / There There LP 2/Side 1: Lucky / Optimistic / Fake Plastic Trees / Idioteque / 2+2=5 LP 2/Side 2: The Bends / Pyramid Song / Street Spirit (Fade Out) / Everything In Its Right Place LP 3/Side 1: Airbag / I Might Be Wrong / Go To Sleep LP 3/Side 2: Let Down / Planet Telex / Exit Music (For A Film) LP 4/Side 1: The National Anthem / Knives Out / Talk Show Host LP 4/Side 2: You / Anyone Can Play Guitar / How To Disappear Completely / True Love Waits (Capitol) MORE INFO DELUXE LP $69.98 LANGHORNE SLIM Langhorne Slim Langhorne Slim mixes folk, blues, and rock in a way that only lunatic rocker Hasil Adkins could understand. The Brooklyn-via-Pennsylvania songwriter conjures images of many other neo-folk singers, but there's soul, fire, and warmth in his recordings. His self-titled sophomore disc isn't as raw as When the Sun's Gone Down, but the disc -- Langhorne Slim's first for a big label -- still brings out the power and charisma of his live performance. - World Cafe MORE INFO LP $15.98 HORRORPOPS Kiss Kiss Kill Kill Their third release finds the band perfectly poised between the raw punk energy of their 2004 debut, "Hell Yeah", and the brash, singalong pop of 2006's "Bring It On". While never dropping their trademark sexy, horror flick flair, "Kiss Kiss Kill Kill" brings back the rawness and immediacy that's made them the premier touring band in the scene. RIYL: Nekromantix, Rev. Horton Heat, Siouxsie And The Banshees, X, Stray Cats, surf, punk, ska, and good ol' rock 'n' roll. (Hellcat Records) MORE INFO LP $13.98 ALSO ON CD MORE INFO CD $13.98 BYRDS Live At Royal Albert Hall, 1971 From their earliest days as 12-string-wielding folk-rockers, to the thrilling psychedelic excursions of their raga-rock period to their 1968 birthing of country-rock, the Byrds were always accorded a hero's welcome in England. What better place to record founding Byrds member/guitarist/singer Roger McGuinn's new version of the band--featuring fretboard ace Clarence White, bassist Skip Battin and drummer Gene Parsons--than London's Royal Albert Hall! Rescued from a tape that had sat forgotten in McGuinn's climatized garage for decades, this stellar 1971 set, featuring live versions of the current band's studio faves ("Lover of the Bayou," "Chestnut Mare") as well as adventurous reworkings of Byrds classics ("Mr. Tambourine Man," "My Back Pages," "Eight Miles High," "So You Want to Be a Rock `n' Roll Star") might be the most accurate and stirring live performance yet of the legendary Los Angeles combo. By 1971, the guitar interplay of McGuinn and White had become a jaw-dropping highlight of their live performances, as had their stripped-down, acoustic mini-set and peerless four-part vocal harmonies. As McGuinn, in typically understated fashion, says of this new Sundazed release, available now on both compact disc and as a high-definition vinyl, double-gatefold LP: "It was a great night, so I'm happy there's a record of it!" (Sundazed) MORE INFO LP $33.98 CHESTERFIELD KINGS Psychedelic Sunrise LP "The Kings, of course, are mainstays of Little Steven's syndicated radio show "Little Steven's Underground Garage" and have performed at his U.G. showcases...The man holds them in such high regard that he has a special corner of his website set aside for them with photos, discography and a mini-history...The album was recorded at the band's Living Eye Recording Studio in Rochester, NY. Band members Andy Babiuk and Greg Provost produced and engineered the disc with Little Steven serving as executive producer. The album was mixed by Ed Stasium (Ramones, Mick Jagger, etc.)." -- Harp (Wicked Cool) READ a complete review of Psychedelic Sunrise MORE INFO LP $15.98 JOHN HIATT Same Old Man LP New West Records will release John Hiatt s new full length album Same Old Man, his first album since 2005 s critically acclaimed Master of Disaster. Same Old Man was recorded at Highway 61 Recordings and produced by John Hiatt. Appearing on the album are Kenneth Blevins on drums, Patrick O Hearn on bass and Luther Dickinson on guitar, mandolin and national resonator. John's daughter, Lilly Hiatt, sings harmony on the songs Love You Again and What Love Can Do. John Hiatt's career has spanned more than 30 years and his songs have been covered by everyone from Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and BB King to Iggy Pop, Three Dog Night and The Neville Brothers. Tracks: Old Days / Love You Again / On With You / Hurt My Baby / What Love Can Do / Ride My Pony / Cherry Red / Our Time / Two Hearts / Same Old Man / Let s Give This Love A Try (New West) MORE INFO LP $18.98 LOVE PEACE & POETRY: CHILEAN PSYCH Various LP The Love, Peace & Poetry series from QDK continues in Chile, with 17 tracks culled from some of the lost treasures of the psychedelic music scene of the 7-year period between 1967-1973. In 1973, the Chilean dictatorship banned most rock bands and most musicians had to stop or leave the country, or take it underground. The ban extended to the retroactive destruction of many master tapes for many of the albums included here, which only just stopped as recently as the 1980s. Kissing Spell represents with "Yellow Moon" taken from their 1970 album Los Pajaros, as well as Embrujo who released their self-titled LP in 1971. Los Jaivas' debut LP was pressed privately in 1971 in a small edition of 500 copies, making this track extra-rare. MORE INFO LP $19.98 VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO Velvet Underground & Nico (Deluxe, 180 Grams) Quite possibly the most influential rock album and great debuts of all time, despite its initial lackluster sales. The Velvet Underground & Nico has, in the 40+ years since it’s 1967 release, influenced the significant works in almost every sub-genre of rock from glam to punk to new wave to industrial noise to twee to indie rock. From the gentle pop opener of "Sunday Morning" to the dissonance of closer "European Son," with stops at garage rock, R&B, and mellow love songs in between, The Velvet Underground & Nico is an all-time classic whose influence and power still can not be denied. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl with gatefold jacket. (4 Men With Beards) MORE INFO LP $18.98 VELVET UNDERGROUND Velvet Underground (Deluxe, 180 Grams) Following the departure of John Cale in 1968, and the addition of Doug Yule on bass, the Velvet Underground released their self-titled third LP in 1969. More subdued and lyrically compassionate than the first two records it is nonetheless equally powerful and many consider this to be the bands finest work. The Velvet Underground certainly features some of Lou Reed's finest song writing from the narcotic beauty of "Candy Says" and "I'm Set Free," to the angular jangle of "What Goes On" and "I'm Beginning To See The Light." Deluxe 180 gram vinyl reissue. (4 Men With Beards) MORE INFO LP $18.98 VELVET UNDERGROUND White Light / White Heat (Deluxe, 180 Grams) If the Velvet Underground's debut record was a shot at the conventions of rock music then White Light/White Heat, released later that same year (1967), was a full on nuclear blast. The Velvet Underground & Nico was a gentle slab of folk-rock compared to this. From the amphetamine fueled opening of the title track to the the 17 minute assault that is "Sister Ray" White Light/White Heat hardly lets up for a second, with the haunting "Here She Comes Now" being the album's only mellow moment. One of the most difficult, challenging, and ultimately beautiful pop records of all time, considered by many to be the Velvets' greatest record. Reissued on deluxe 180 gram vinyl. MORE INFO LP $18.98 MASON JENNINGS In The Ever Coming off his 2006 major-label bow, Boneclouds, Jennings retreated to a studio in the woods, where he set himself up with a laptop and two microphones. The title comes from his son talking about where he came from before he was born, 'Ya know dad, when I was in the Ever?' 'It was pretty raw, but fun, because that's how I grew up working,' says Jennings about the recording process for In the Ever. 'I wanted to do it quickly in a childlike way. I'd write songs in the morning, record them in the afternoon and finish them up by night.' In the Ever continues Jennings' spiritual journey, informed by his love of influences like Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash's American recordings and Led Zeppelin, his favorite band of all time. 'I just wanted to make sure it's not re-enacted music,' he says. 'I have no use for being a retro artist. I want to understand my past and come from something, but move forward at the same time.' According to Jennings, the songs on the new album can be interpreted about an individual or the longing for God, as in the opening 'Never Knew Your Name,' which juxtaposes the harsh earthly aspects of the lyrics with the comfort of transcendence. 'If the house is on fire/You're gonna run for the door/If the door is on fire/You're gonna kneel on the floor/You get down low/You learn to love the flame/I've been loving you forever, but I never knew your name.' His music has its roots in ancient folk tales updated for the modern world. 'Every human being is put in that position," he explains, "where you mustlearn to love the very things that threaten you.' - Jambase.com Read mason Jennings' blog at Pastemagazine.com MORE INFO CD $13.98 ALSO ON LP MORE INFO LP $15.98 FAIRPORT CONVENTION ** LP ** Unhalfbricking LP (Reissue) Unhalfbricking, originally released in 1969, was a transitional album for Fairport Convention, as vocalist Ian Matthews left midway through the recording. As a result the band looked further into their own country's folk traditions for influence, as their decidedly British style was cemented by the addition of Dave Swarbrick's fiddle. This is not to say that Unhalfbricking is a weak album, on the contrary, it is a classic and includes some of the band's finest material including their take on Dylan's "Percy's Song," the traditional "A Sailor's Life," and one of Sandy Denny's finest compositions in "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" Deluxe 180 gram vinyl reissue. (4 Men With Beards) MORE INFO LP $18.98 FAIRPORT CONVENTION ** LP ** Liege & Lief (Reissue) LP The fourth album from the Fairport Convention, released in 1969, is considered by many to be the paramount of British folk-rock. After three solid albums that only hinted at their British roots, Leige & Lief is their first record to fully and completely embrace their home country. They roll through no less than four traditional British folk songs including an incredible "Tam Lin", along with quality originals that pay tribute to and expand on their rich tradition. This is the last Fairport Convention record to feature Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings, and though it is very British it is a classic of electric folk-rock of any variety. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl reissue with gatefold jacket. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl reissue. (4 Men With Beards) MORE INFO LP $18.98 FAIRPORT CONVENTION ** LP ** What We Did On Our Holidays (Reissue) LP The second Fairport Convention album, originally released in 1969, is the first to feature the beautifully haunting vocals of the legendary Sandy Denny. What We Did On Our Holidays contains some of the Fairport Convention's finest moments, including Denny's own "Fotheringay," Richard Thompson's "Meet Me On The Ledge" and their stunning take on Bob Dylan's "I'll Keep It With Mine." This LP finds the Fairport Convention moving away from the California folk-rock of their debut album towards a more British approach to similar material. It is also the last full LP to feature Ian Matthews on vocals. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl reissue. (4 Men With Beards) MORE INFO LP $18.98 JONATHAN RICHMAN Because Her Beauty Is Raw & Wild (Bonus Track) ** OUT ON LP ** Richman is one of modern music`s most original artists, and quite possibly the friendliest, most sincere live performer on the face of the earth. This is his fifth release on Vapor, and his first new album in three years. Features eleven new tracks, plus a new version of "Old World" and a Leonard Cohen cover, "Here It Is". Vinyl version features bonus track on a 7-inch single. MORE INFO LP $16.98 OLD 97'S Blame It On Gravity (Deluxe) The bonus DVD contains a 44 minute documentary on the history of the band including live performances featuring classics and new songs. Blame It On Gravity is the seventh studio album and the first new album in 4 years from alt-country pioneers Old 97 s. The album finds the band turning up the amps and returning to the satisfying crunch with a mix of rock, punk, pop and classic country that defined the band s sound on earlier albums. The band credits the new album s enthusiasm to their return to their hometown of Dallas, TX to record, the first time since their initial independent release. The band, still comprised of original members Rhett Miller, Murry Hammond, Ken Bethea and Philip Peeples, deliver what they believe is the finest album of their 15-year career. (New West) MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS DELUXE CD $22.98 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $18.98 ALSO ON CD: MORE INFO CD $16.98 VETIVER Things Of The Past Two years after the highly acclaimed To Find Me Gone, Andy Cabic and Vetiver return with a new album of old songs, all hidden treasures, entitled Thing of the Past. Think of it as Cabic's fully realized mix tape to the world-- a collection of some of his favorite songs from some of his favorite records-- but presented, sequenced, and in this case performed by Cabic himself, with a little help from his friends far and wide. Featuring core Vetiver members Cabic (vocals/guitar/banjo), Brent Dunn (bass), Sanders Trippe (guitar/vocals), Otto Hauser (drums/keyboards) and Kevin Barker (guitar/banjo/vocals), the album includes contributions from two of Cabic's heroes, Vashti Bunyan (who duets on "Sleep A Million Years") and Michael Hurley (who does likewise on his own "Blue Driver"). Other players include "Farmer" Dave Scher (keyboard/pedal steel/melodica), Jason Quever (piano/keyboard), Ben Kunin (sarod), Jonathan Wilson (acoustic guitar), Emma Smith (violin), and vocalists Meara O'Reilly and Abigail and Lily Chapin. From good-time rocking on Hawkwind's "Hurry On Sundown" and Loudon Wainwright III's "The Swimming Song" to the beautiful triptych of songs that runs from Biff Rose's "To Baby" through Ian Matthews' "Road To Ronderlin" and Garland Jeffreys' "Lon Chaney," this is a diverse and harmonious collection of songs. With the album so centered around the lasting resonance of the song, the focus inevitably falls upon Cabic's warm, honey-toned vocals, which are perfectly suited to the material he's gathered. Rather than obvious plundering from the well-worn rock cannon, these are largely overlooked and forgotten tunes (spanning a period from 1967-1973), dusted off, reverently refashioned, and given the opportunity to sing again. (Gnomonsong) MORE INFO CD $14.98 ALSO ON LP MORE INFO LP $14.98 ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS Momofuku You really are here because you want to know how good 'Momofuku' is. It's excellent! One of his best! I don't say that lightly, either. It's obvious on first listen that the reason why he decided to set the record off with an initial vinyl-only strategy was because this is a classic-level Elvis Costello record. He surely wanted to remind his listeners of the first time they listened to 'My Aim Is True' or 'This Year's Model.' This is not Elvis Costello experimenting with his classical side. It is an old-school Elvis Costello record with occasionally loud guitars, plenty of bile and a bit of punctuating organ here and there. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a full-tilt rock album, because it does have its softer, more reflective moments, but so do the two classics listed above. Costello is a songwriter and he tends to like to write lyrically dense material. Sometimes you need a softer backdrop to tell a story. Like his 2002 masterpiece, 'When I Was Cruel' and his 1994 rocker 'Brutal Youth,' this album finds Costello in a very familiar comfortable place. All the albums I have just listed each have their own distinct sound, and 'Momofuku' continues that line, but the truth is, each one has showcased Costello the rock star. (Albeit, a rock star who can write more literate rock songs than your average seething curmudgeon-y social critic.) ...[T]here isn't a weak track on 'Momofuku.' It's Elvis Costello completely in his element. It's a clear five star example of a legend adding to his stack of classics. Here's someone who has worked for the past 31 years with no large, significant breaks, honing his craft, creating a diverse catalogue for the ages. 'Momofuku' is a worthy addition to any Elvis Costello fan's collection. -- Allan Raible, abcnews.com Read the story behind the strange album name. Elvis Costello primer from the avclub.com MORE INFO CD $13.99 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $17.98 NEIL DIAMOND Home Before Dark (Deluxe) Deluxe CD/DVD edition of Diamond's 2008 album features two bonus audio tracks plus a DVD containing four videos. 2008 album from the iconic singer/songwriter, his second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin. Once again, Rubin strips away the gloss and makes this Diamond shine brighter than he has since his '70s heyday. Perhaps even more successful than the 12 Songs album, Home Before Dark spotlights Neil's skill as a songwriter and singer and not just a showman and performer. Diamond said: "This record represents a giant step in my evolution as a writer and a recording artist. . . . You will see I've gone deeper. It was more painful to write this -- maybe the most difficult album I've ever written, and maybe my best." (more info...) Neil Diamond Tribute Bands MORE INFO DELUXE CD $24.98 ALSO ON REGULAR CD: MORE INFO CD $15.98 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $19.98 SOUL MESSAGES FROM DIMONA Various Following a path blazed in Belize and the Bahamas, The Numero Group finds yet another stop on the soul diaspora tour: Dimona, Israel. Between 1975-1981, a group of American ex-pats took their native sounds of Detroit and Chicago and intermingled them with the messages of the Black Hebrew culture. The results are a heavenly mix of spiritual soul and jazz with an undercurrent of gospel psychedelia. Featuring the Soul Messengers, the Spirit Of Israel, Sons Of The Kingdom, and the Tonistics, Soul Messages From Dimona is the only living document of a thriving community at both the center and fringe of the world. Deluxe CD comes stuffed with rare photographs, sleeves, and expansive liner notes about the African Hebrew Israelites journey from the sounds of slavery to the intonations of liberty. (Numero) MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS CD $17.99 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS LP $21.98 CHEAP TIME Cheap Time Henderson, Tennessee's Jeffrey Novak is a name familiar to those who pay attention to the whole lo-fi-garage-punk underbelly of today's indie scene. He's released a handful of singles and at least one album on labels in the US and Europe as a one-man-band and with his former group, The Rat Traps. He's been at it for nearly five years and he's barely in his twenties. Cheap Time is his newest and most serious endeavor to date. Founded with Jemina Pearl and Nathan Vasquez of Be Your Own Pet, Cheap Time set out to recapture the essence of teenage schlock rock scuzz of such heroes as Redd Kross and The Runaways. Along the way, members shifted, as did the band's direction. An obsession with '70s glam power pop a la Sparks, The Quick, and Milk 'n' Cookies grew, and the music took on a twisted new slant never hinted in any of his previous projects. The results are the current line-up of Cheap Time and this full-length album. Cheap Time's self-titled debut is 28 minutes of snotty punk pop perfection. From the New-York-Dolls-via-Germs screech of "Tight Fit" to the anglophile power pop of "Ginger Snap" to the bubblegum bounce of "Trip To The Zoo," this debut has instant classic stamped all over its bratty face. (In The Red) MORE INFO CD $14.98 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $10.98 HAYDEN In Field & Town '..[T]the guy makes merciless stabs of self-parody. 'I don't lock myself in a room and refuse to talk to my girlfriend for weeks at a time,' Hayden says. 'I'm definitely not a sort of hermit, weirdo character. I'm more the kind of guy who spends most of his day wasting time and complaining about things,' he says, muffling a giggle. 'I have long, long breakfasts, you know, from like noon until two at least, then I start complaining.' There is some truth to the mythology; over the course of his five stripped-back albums, his music and method took on a solitary shape. Recorded in Desser's studio and in woods north of Toronto, In Field and Town embodies this small-scale sensibility. Yearning with the tender, minor-key minimalism of 2001's Skyscraper National Park and the glowing acoustic arrangements of 2004's Elk-Lake Serenade, the album pitches his oddly personal whimseys against an intimate but complete instrumental backdrop. The pealing horns and tumbling pop rhythms of Where and When, wrangling guitars and piano of Did I Wake Up Beside You? are fine examples. . . But it's the wonderfully arranged Lonely Security Guard, an oddly narrated ode to a neighbourhood security guard told from the perspective of a would-be thief, which typifies his peculiar songwriting charms. "I just really enjoy coming up with a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end," he says. It's just that sometimes it's an end that you're not expecting. Like this super friendly-looking security guard being a really tough guy,' he laughs. 'I had a huge smile on my face when I came up with that.''-- Dan Rule, theage.com MORE INFO CD $14.98 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $14.98 EL PERRO DEL MAR From The Valley To The Stars The fragile voice of Sarah Assbring lends itself beautifully to the angelic lullabies on From the Valley to the Stars, her second album. The title of the work calls to mind the greatest depths and heights of our world, and Assbring's smooth voice, paired with a variety of instruments from a somber church organ to playful flute, takes listeners to the same extremes in 16 songs. . .The extremely talented solo artist juxtaposes simple, nursery rhyme - like rhythms with profound musings. Overall, this album aches with mystery and pain, yet manages to remain tranquil. Sarah's unique combination of light and dark, high and low can be summed up in her song 'Your Name is Never Ending' in which she sings, 'You are a memory/ these days it's all you are/ I have a memory/ sometimes it's all I've got/ don't mean it's over/ just means you're never ending.' -- Adrianne Munkacsy, Feminist Review MORE INFO CD $15.49 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $16.98 JASON SPACEMAN & THE SUN CITY GIRLS Mister Lonely The all-new soundtrack album from Harmony Korine's film Mister Lonely featuring Jason Spaceman (Spiritualized/Spacemen 3) and The Sun City Girls. The soundtrack is deceptively minimal -- a guitar or piano line that blinks past repetition and blushes into something grander; a motif reappearing under new auspices; link pieces that become spotlight moments, densely worked-out, stars in their own right. Working independently and never collaborating, Jason Spaceman and Sun City Girls employ an instrumental approach for the sounds here, with one or two chanted exceptions. Their music conspires in an exquisite corpse-like fashion--without knowing what the other was doing, they've each brought half a body to the film, supplying the apparitional and austere sounds of a world in which everyone is something they're not, i.e., the people they dream of being. (Drag City) MORE INFO CD $15.98 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $17.98 WHISKEYTOWN ** Now On 2 X LP ** Strangers Almanac Audiophile Quality 180 Gram Vinyl With 4 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. Tracks: Inn Town / Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight / Yesterday’s News / 16 Days / Everything I Do / Houses on the Hill / Turn Around / Dancing with the Women at the Bar / Waiting to Derail / Avenues / Losering / Somebody Remembers the Rose / Not Home Anymore / Live in the Studio Radio Performances September 1997 Houses on the Hil: Nurse with the Pills* / I Don’t Care What You Think About Me* / Somebody Remembers the Rose* / Turn Around* (*previously unreleased) (Outpost) MORE INFO LP $24.98 HAYES CARLL Trouble In Mind Hayes Carll released the best Americana album of 2005 in Little Rock. Carll claimed at the time that all the good songs about Texas were already written, but that Arkansas was fertile new territory. And he was right. Trouble in Mind, the followup that arrives on Lost Highway Records April 8th, is worth the three-year wait. There's the usual colorful cast of characters -- drunkards, roustabouts, country singers -- some of them all rolled into one autobiographical sonic package. There's a great cover of Tom Waits' 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up.' There are gut-wrenching ballads like 'Faulkner Street' and some great southern fried boogie, courtesy of guitar duelists Will Kimbrough and Georgia Satellites alum Dan Baird. Best of all there's the hilariously vengeful 'She Left Me For Jesus,' a good ol' boy's plot to get back at the man who stole his formerly fun-loving woman. 'If I ever find Jesus,' Carll avows, 'I'm gonna kick his ass.' There's about forty-five minutes of asskicking here, all of it of the good, stomping musical variety. -- Andy Whitehead, Paste (Lost Highway) MORE INFO CD $11.49 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $15.98 NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS Dig Lazarus Dig (W/Book) Nick Cave at 50 seems as relaxed as any retired gent. But he works harder than ever too, last year alone producing the soundtrack (with Warren Ellis) to Andrew Dominik's epic deconstruction of the Jesse James myth and fronting the magnificently puerile Grinderman.. . Cave always did have a funny side. Even in his hysterical big-haired pomp, his self-conscious invocation of Elvis played up the King's absurd side. His cover of Leonard Cohen's already knowing Tower of Song may well be the most lugubrious performance ever committed to tape. . . But Dig Lazarus, Dig!!!, unbelievably the Bad Seeds' fourteenth studio album, sustains a level of casual insouciance throughout that makes it a career standout. . . This record is ... fun, 11 well-resolved songs that effectively refine a trademark sound. The catchy, clanging We Call Upon the Author .. the Stooges-quoting Today's Lesson relies on jaunty handclaps rather than raw power. . . Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl) attempts to marry Cave's own classic Deanna and the crude Sixties anthems of lusty farm boys the Troggs (ie, it's perfect), while the churning title track turns Lazarus into Larry and tells a picaresque tale of a man who might not have requested resurrection. . Experienced Cave watchers though will be most intrigued by the elegant two-chord chug of the closing More News From Nowhere, in which he references old characters and collaborators in a spot of light self-mythologising. -- Steve Jelbert. timesonline.co.uk (Anti-) MORE INFO CD $16.99 ALSO ON LP: COLIN MELOY Colin Meloy Sings Live A fourteen-song set documenting The Decemberists' lead singer/songwriter's 2006 solo tour. Meloy was heralded by Rolling Stone as "a master of improbable juxtaposition: arcane, detailed fictions of star-crossed passion and avenging bloodshed dressed up in indie rock jangle, la-de-da choruses, and vintage prog-rock bombast" in a review of The Decemberists' show in NY's Central Park last spring. By contrast, the live solo album presents him in a stripped down, acoustic setting. Of the thirteen Meloy originals, two are previously unreleased compositions, "Dracula's Daughter" and "Wonder". Along the way, he employs snippets of songs from The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, and REM. The collection also captures ample between-song banter. Tracks: Devil's Elbow / We Both Go Down Together / "Evoking a Campfire Singalong" / The Gymnast High Above the Ground / Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect > Dreams / Dracula's Daughter / Wonder / "A Brief Introduction to Shirley Collins" / Barbara Allen / The Engine Driver / On The Bus Mall / "A Skull, a Ship, and a Sheep" / California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade > Ask / The Bachelor and the Bride / A Cautionary Song / Red Right Ankle / Bandit Queen MORE INFO CD $14.98 ALSO ON LP: MORE INFO LP $27.98 BREEDERS Mountain Battles Their first album since 2002's "Title TK". By turns goofy, groovy, melancholy, strung-out, catchy, atmospheric, and at times, impossibly lovely, "Mountain Battles" underlines that Kim Deal is a songwriter and musician of rare intuition. Her songs move from offhand charm to emotional truth with casual grace, balancing scuffed-up noise against fraught silence; timeless structures against strange new shapes. And throughout is Kim's unique voice - languid, urgent, bruised, and beautiful. "Mountain Battles" captures all the bittersweet electricity of classic Breeders records like "Pod" and "Last Splash", and still manages to break new ground. Deluxe 28-page booklet. (4AD) MORE INFO CD $14.98 ALSO ON LP MORE INFO LP $16.98 DEVOTCHKA Mad & Faithful Telling Their first album since 2002's "Title TK". By turns goofy, groovy, melancholy, strung-out, catchy, atmospheric, and at times, impossibly lovely, "Mountain Battles" underlines that Kim Deal is a songwriter and musician of rare intuition. Her songs move from offhand charm to emotional truth with casual grace, balancing scuffed-up noise against fraught silence; timeless structures against strange new shapes. And throughout is Kim's unique voice - languid, urgent, bruised, and beautiful. "Mountain Battles" captures all the bittersweet electricity of classic Breeders records like "Pod" and "Last Splash", and still manages to break new ground. Deluxe 28-page booklet. (4AD) MORE INFO CD $16.49 ALSO ON LP ** NEW RELEASE ** MORE INFO LP $16.98 MORE INFO LP $19.98 FELICE BROTHERS Felice Brothers The Felice Brothers' self-titled American debut is a collection of songs originally recorded to sell to make ends meet on the streets of New York. The band made these "field recordings" wherever they could: an abandoned cafeteria, a broken down school bus, a chicken coop, a derailed train, and under a bridge. In these tales of murder, pathos, lust, and love, you'll find an honest new brand of American storytelling and song. "Scruffy and scratched Americana that recalls Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and early Springsteen" - Time Out London. "The Felice Brothers' Catskills folk is rough around the edges and intoxicating. Ryan Adams, eat your heart out" - Metroland / Best Of 2007. "Backwoods Americana is all the rage, but this band of brothers is a cut above the rest" - The Sun UK (4 stars). MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS CD $13.49 ALSO ON LP ** NEW RELEASE ** MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS LP $18.98 BLACK KEYS Attack & Released Last year, Gnarls Barkley's sound scientist, Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton, asked the Black Keys to write songs for an album by Ike Turner. When Turner died in December, so did the project, but its ideas took root. Burton was drafted to produce the next album by the group from Akron, Ohio, and the result is the Keys' most multicolored set: A psychedelic hybrid of vintage Southern R&B, brutish British Invasion rock, and country blues that calls to mind race-blurring Seventies badasses like Jim Ford and Tony Joe White. That's great for the Keys, who are often obscured by the shadow of fellow Midwestern drums-and-guitar duo the White Stripes. Sure, minimalist stompers like "I Got Mine" and "Remember When (Side B)," all raw rock riffs and cymbal sizzles, echo early Jack 'n' Meg. But "Psychotic Girl" is something else, with its banjo opening and spook-house choir. Ditto the Memphis soul of "Lies" and "Oceans and Streams," which show vocalist Dan Auerbach as a first-rate updater of old-school tradition. Note to Amy Winehouse: Book these dudes for a collaboration. -- Will Hermes, rollingstone.com (Nonesuch) MORE INFO CD $18.98 ALSO ON CD: MORE INFO CD $15.98 VAN MORRISON Keep It Simple 2008 sees the release of Keep It Simple, the 35th album which Van Morrison has produced himself. Morrison's first new album of new material since 2005, and the first in several years in which he penned all 11 songs specifically for one album. On this new record, Morrison honours all his varied influences - jazz, folk, blues, Ulster Scots, country, soul and gospel (even making uniquely innovative use of the mighty ukulele) - at times melding them all together at once in his own signature sound. Keep It Simple does not boast the big horns or string arrangements of some of Morrison's previous work. What it does feature are gorgeous songs rich with emotion, depth and beauty. Van has journeyed far and wide since his early days in Belfast but inevitably, the man Bob Geldof called "the one true genius in Irish music" has invariably come back to the philosophy summed up in the title of his new record. (Lost Highway) MORE INFO LP $19.98 ALSO ON CD: MORE INFO CD $13.95 REM Accelerate 'Accelerate' is the sound of a band tearing through an Athens, Ga., record shop snatching and smashing selected bits of rock history in a frantic, euphoric sprint... R.E.M. is burdened by some heavy baggage: ’83’s 'Murmur' invented college rock; ’91’s 'Out of Time' enthralled millions; ’04’s 'Around the Sun' bored a generation of fans to tears. But you’d never know it listening to 'Accelerate.' The band’s 14th album is a naked, furious, sublime 100-yard dash of 11 songs in 34 minutes... All around the half-century mark, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills have made music that reflects and dissects today’s accelerated youth culture - yes, 'Accelerate' is not just a witty title... The antithesis of 'Around the Sun,' 'Accelerate' is full of raucous and crude, yet intense and relevant songs. 'Living Well Is the Best Revenge' jump-starts the proceedings with authentic fury; 'Man-Sized Wreath' makes good on the opener’s energy with bubbly bass and red-lined guitar; and 'Supernatural Superserious' completes the opening trifecta with R.E.M.’s fiercest single since 'What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?' And such jabs of real rock make the down-tempo, deeply introspective songs - including the brilliant Katrina rumination 'Houston' - all the more vital... 'Accelerate' may have trouble going gold in today’s crumbling music market, but that won’t keep it from becoming an R.E.M. milestone. An album this fun and relevant and plain good from an American institution can’t and won’t be ignored. -- Jeb Gottlieb, Boston Herald (Warner) MORE INFO LP $29.98 ALSO ON CD: MORE INFO CD $18.98 MATTHEW RYAN & SILVER STATE Matthew Ryan Vs Silver State Matthew Ryan has two moods: sad and angry. Sometimes you get both in the same song. You get more of the same on this album, but with a sympathetic and sloppy band backing him up. And what you end up with is a Replacements album with a very literate singer/songwriter. Nothing against Paul Westerberg, but he never quoted the great World War I soldier/poet Wilfrid Owen. - Andy Whitman, Paste MORE INFO LP $19.98 ALSO ON CD: MORE INFO CD $14.98 KATHLEEN EDWARDS Asking For Flowers LP Kathleen Edwards` Asking for Flowers is her first new album in three years, and the acclaimed artist`s most penetrating collection to date. The album features eleven new songs, all written by Edwards, and finds her performing at the peak of her creative powers, supported by a group of master backing musicians. Flowers tells indelible, clear-eyed stories of hope and resignation, humor and death, unconditional love and brazen inequality. Co-produced by Edwards and Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Whiskeytown), the album features, among others, keyboardist Benmont Tench from The Heartbreakers, drummer Don Heffington (Bob Dylan, The Wallflowers), bassist Bob Glaub (Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Leonard Cohen), guitarist Colin Cripps (Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams), and pedal steel ace Greg Leisz (Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss). (Rounder) MORE INFO + SOUND CLIPS CD $19.98 LED ZEPPELIN Mothership LP Track Listing: Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown /Dazed and Confused/Babe I`m Gonna Leave Yous/Whole Lotta Love/Ramble On/Heartbreaker/Immigrant Song/Since I`ve Been Loving /Rock and Roll/Black Dog/When The Levee Breaks/Stairway To Heaven /Windows Media/Song Remains The Same/Over The Hills And Far Away/D`Yer Maker/No Quarter/Trampled Under Foot/Houses Of The Holy /Kashmir/Nobody`s Fault But Mine/Achilles Last Stand /In The Evening /All My Love. MORE INFO CD $59.98 LED ZEPPELIN Song Remains The Same (Bonus Tracks) (Rmst) Available in LP. Featuring music from their classic 1976 concert film, the set presents performances recorded at Zeppelin`s now historic three-night stand at Madison Square Garden in July of 1973. Originally released in `76, the soundtrack now features six additional songs. That power surges through the 2-CD reissue`s fifteen songs, all remixed and remastered under the direct supervision of the band. Featured in the track listing are epic live performances of Led Zeppelin essentials including `Rock And Roll,` `Dazed And Confused,` `Stairway To Heaven,` and `Whole Lotta Love.` The six bonus songs not included on the seminal 1976 release are: `Black Dog,` `Over the Hills and Far Away,` `Misty Mountain Hop,` `Since I`ve Been Loving You,` `The Ocean,` and `Heartbreaker.` The package also boasts new liner notes by Academy Award-winning director and former Rolling Stone editor Cameron Crowe. (Rhino) MORE INFO CD $59.98 O.W.L. Of Wonderous Legend LP O.W.L.'s Of Wondrous Legends is a previously unknown album of deeply impressionistic baroque rock, chamber folk, and soft psych tunes recovered from the dustbins of history. To the few who have heard it, it has earned comparisons to Tim Buckley, Pearls Before Swine, and '60s British prog-folk. O.W.L was founded in 1968 on Chicago's north side by Stephen Titra. A founding member of the beloved midwestern hippie jam band Mountain Bus, Titra left that band just as their Dead-inspired, bluesy jams gained serious regional traction in order to fully devote himself to the inward looking, singular vision of O.W.L. Of Wondrous Legends was recorded at the behest of an enthusiastic A & R rep at Chicago's Universal Studios in 1971 with a remarkable number of musicians. A handful of test pressings were produced and circulated, but due to the usual pitfalls of changing times, the album was scrapped. The passage of time only further helped ensure the album's place in near total obscurity until a copy of one of the test pressings was unearthed in a Chicago junk shop in 2004. Following several years of collaborative efforts on this lost epic, Of Wondrous Legends now sees its first public release. (Locust) MORE INFO CD $31.98 RAY DAVIES Float LP "Ray Davies returns to chart-land for the first time since he was wounded by an attacker's bullet in America last year.And if anything, the former Muswell hillbilly is in even better voice. His sonorous delivery, deeper and more resonant, adds to the poignancy of songs dipped in remorse and not a little rage at the Noughties. Change, consumerism and the insidious transformation of Blighty high streets into mini-American malls get the elegant, eloquent Davies treatment. The curator of all things quintessentially English, his ability to wring out heart-catching songs continues to charm as with the title track, One More Time, and the sublime Imaginary Man. In a recent interview with a national newspaper - not the one he first cut a deal with to release this album - he confesses he misses the dynamics of his band, the legendary Kinks. It's a palpable yearning that seeps through this solo showcase." -- Tony Kelly, York Press (New West) MORE INFO CD $18.98 DESTROYER Trouble In Dreams This release cements Vancouver, BC's Dan Bejar as an artist as quirky and enigmatic as David Bowie, as symphonic and grandiose as Scott Walker, and as quixotically literary as Bob Dylan. A collection of songs that is fresh and confounding, yet befitting the Destroyer canon. "Of all contemporary songwriters, he's been the biggest influence and inspiration. Because he is pretentious, but in a way that makes it into a game where we all get to pretend to be so grand" - Okkervil River's Will Sheff. (Merge) MORE INFO CD $21.98 DYNAMITES Kaboom LP "The surprise of the year is a new funk 'n' soul album: Kaboom! by the Dynamites. This 10-piece Nashville band's debut album is due in June from Outta Sight Records, an imprint run by Doyle Davis, owner of Grimey's, Music City's.. The group is fronted by the amazing Charles Walker, who cut sides back in the '60s with his New York outfit Little Charles and the Sidewinders. Listen to his six-minute epic `Dig Deeper` and marvel that such throat-tearing deep-soul singers still exist..." -- Chris Morris, lacitybeat.com (Thirty Tigers) MORE INFO CD $11.98 Vinyl A Vinyl B Vinyl C Vinyl D Vinyl E Vinyl F Vinyl G Vinyl H Vinyl I Vinyl J Vinyl K Vinyl L Vinyl M Vinyl N Vinyl O Vinyl P Vinyl Q Vinyl R Vinyl S Vinyl T Vinyl U Vinyl V Vinyl W Vinyl X Vinyl Y Vinyl Z