New Releases

 

Format	Artist	Title	Price
CD	a hawk and a hacksaw	deliverance	$13.99
CD	daniel johnston	story of an artist	$19.99
CD	deer tick	born on flag day	$14.99
CD	dogr	in korean wilds	$13.99
CD	loop	world in your eyes	$21.99
CD	moby	wait for me	$14.99
CD	nurse with wound	alice the goon	$13.99
CD	nurse with wound	spiral insana	$13.99
CD	obituary	darkest day	$11.99
CD	omar souleyman	dabke 2020: folk & pop sounds of syria	$13.99
CD	onna	s/t	$13.99
CD	rusted shut	dead	$12.99
CD	sleepy sun	embrace	$15.99
CD	sun araw	heavy deeds	$14.99
CD	sun araw	heavy deeds	$14.99
CD	the bats	guilty office	$14.99
CD	the horse's ha	of the cathmawr yards	$14.99
CD	units	history of the units	$13.99
CD	various	afro baby	$14.99
CD	various	memphis masters [1920s blues]	$15.99
CD	various (analog africa)	legends of benin	$22.99
CD	wilco	wilco (the album)	$14.99
CD	woolfy	if you know what's good for ya	$13.99
7"	a place to bury strangers	missing you	$6.99
7"	sneaky pinks	s/t	$6.99
7"	stolen hearts	heart collector	$5.99
7"	terrible twos	radical tadpoles	$5.99
10"	sunn o))) / pan sonic	suicide covers	$14.99
LP	andrew liles	miscellany deluxe (2xLP)	$39.99
LP	blank dogs	under and under	$15.99
LP	cecil barfield	south georgia blues	$11.99
LP	dave bixby	ode to quetzalcoatl	$23.99
LP	dead machines	invasion	$14.99
LP	death cab for cutie	something about airplanes	$14.99
LP	el michels affair	walk on by	$12.99
LP	haymarket square	magic lantern	$15.99
LP	john's children	jagged time lapse	$23.99
LP	larry jon wilson	s/t	$14.99
LP	legendary pink dots	early recordings (5xLP Vinyl On Demand Import)	$99.99
LP	lightnin hopkins	lightnin strikes	$12.99
LP	m83	s/t (2xLP + CD)	$21.99
LP	mos def	ecstatic (2LP)	$19.99
LP	motorhead	s/t[ltd.ed.reissue]	$31.99
LP	mythical beast	scales	$15.99
LP	quest for fire	s/t	$15.99
LP	rusted shut	dead	$13.99
LP	sandy bull	e pluribus unum	$17.99
LP	sandy bull	fantasise for guitar and banjo	$17.99
LP	sandy bull	inventions	$17.99
LP	secret abuse	the immeasurable gift	$12.99
LP	secret chiefs 3	le mani destre	$13.99
LP	sleepy sun	embrace	$19.99
LP	sun araw	heavy deeds	$15.99
LP	tom waits	romeo bleeding: live from austin	$21.99
LP	unborn unicorn	s/t	$14.99
LP	v/a	300% dynamite!	$17.99
LP	various	fight on, you're time ain't long	$9.99
LP	various	m-squared rare recordings 1979-1983 (5xLP)	$129.99
LP	various	open strings: 1920s Middle Eastern Recordings	$54.99
LP	various	the world is shaking: cubanismo from the congo, 1954-1955	$21.99
LP	various	pentecostes vibrations: spanish xian garage psych & beyond 1969-1979	$34.99
LP	wilco	wilco (the album)	$21.99
LP	wilde flowers	s/t (1964-1967 rare "supergroup" recordings with Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers)	$23.99
LP	wildildlife	peas feast	$13.99
LP	william fowler collins	perdition hill radio	$21.99
LP	ya ho wa 13	magnificence in the memory	$14.99

* All New Releases should be considered in-stock as of this update unless noted otherwise.

Restock

 

Format	Artist	Title	Price
ACC	buddha machine		$23.99
CD	agf/delay	symptoms	$14.99
CD	beirut	gulag	$12.99
CD	burning witch	crippled lucifer	$15.99
CD	crystal stilts	alight	$12.99
CD	edgar broughton band	edgar broughton band	$15.99
CD	edgar broughton band	sing brother sing	$15.99
CD	edgar broughton band	wasa wasa	$15.99
CD	grizzly bear	veckatimest	$14.99
CD	metabolismus	terra incognita	$13.99
CD	nobunny	love visions	$13.99
CD	prince jammy	destroys invaders	$11.99
CD	spoon	got nuffin [CD single]	$4.99
CD	stinking lizavetta	sacrifice	$13.99
CD	sun ra	feat. pharaoh sanders	$13.99
CD	t.p. orchestre poly-pythmo	kings…	$14.99
CD	various	maximum freakbeat	$15.99
CD	various	memphis 60	$19.99
CD	wolves in the throne room	black cascade	$12.99
7"	perverts	six songs	$4.99
7"	us girls	me and yoko	$8.99
LP	akron family	love is simple	$17.99
LP	beirut	flying club	$13.99
LP	bill callahan	sometimes I wish we were an eagle	$14.99
LP	brainbombs	fucking mess	$21.99
LP	charley patton	electrically recorded	$23.99
LP	charlie and the moonhearts / teen anger	split	$14.99
LP	country teasers	destroy	$12.99
LP	davilla 666	on douchemaster	$5.99
LP	devendra banhart	rejoicing / nina rojos	$17.99
LP	django reinhardt	1938 london paris	$23.99
LP	dock boggs	false hearted lover	$23.99
LP	el michels affair	sounding out the city	$13.99
LP	field	yesterday and today [2xLP+CD]	$17.99
LP	gable	I'm ok	$15.99
LP	gunslingers	no more invention	$25.99
LP	iron lung	sexless/no sex	$9.99
LP	jack-o	disco outlaw	$13.99
LP	khan jamal	drum dance	$21.99
LP	kid congo	dracula boots	$9.99
LP	merzbow	hiranva	$15.99
LP	mr.bungle	s/t	$17.99
LP	neko case	blacklisted	$21.99
LP	overkill	feel the fire	$14.99
LP	paavoharju	lauli iaakson	$15.99
LP	phoenix	wolfgang amadeus phoenix	$21.99
LP	q65	afghanistan	$33.99
LP	red hot chili peppers	mothers milk	$21.99
LP	rodriguez	cold fact	$15.99
LP	santigold	santogold	$17.99
LP	six finger satellite	half control	$13.99
LP	sonic youth	destroyed	$13.99
LP	spoon	girls can tell	$15.99
LP	telescopes	third	$13.99
LP	test patterns	blackout	$12.99
LP	tom waits	swordfishtrombones	$17.99
LP	ty segall	horn the unicorn	$13.99
LP	van morrison	astral weeks	$23.99
LP	various	sprigs of time	$21.99
LP	wet hair	dream	$17.99
LP	whitehouse	quality time	$23.99
LP	wilco	yankee hotel foxtrot (180g 2xLP+CD)	$23.99
LP	witch	lazy bones!! [import on shadoks]	$44.99
LP	yeah yeah yeahs	it's blitz	$17.99
LP	yeah yeah yeahs	show your bones	$13.99
MAG	yeti #7	w/bonus CD	$11.95

* All Restocks should be considered in-stock as of this update unless noted otherwise.

Featured Listening Station Titles (On Sale NOW!!)

 

Station One

 

Format	Artist	Title	Sale Price
Format	Artist	Title	Sale Price
CD	Sunset Rubdown	Dragonslayer	$11.99
CD	Dinosaur Jr.	Farm	$11.99
CD	Woods	Songs of Shame	$11.99
CD	Six Finger Satellite	Half Control	$12.99
CD	Sunn O)))	Monoliths And Dimentions	$11.99
CD	British Sea Power	Man Of Aran	$12.99
CD	Dirty Projectors	Bitte Orca	$12.99
CD	39 clocks	Zoned	$12.99
CD	Sonic Youh	The Eternal	$11.99
CD	Spectrum	War Sucks	$8.99
CD	Phoenix	Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix	$10.99
CD	Peaches	I Feel Cream	$11.99

 

Station Two

 

Format	Artist	Title	Sale Price
CD	The Intelligence	Fake Surfers	$11.99
CD	Jeffery Lewis +Junkyard	Em Are I	$11.99
CD	Horse's Ha	Of the Cathmawr Yards	$14.99
CD	Blank Dogs	Under And Under	$11.99
CD	Bats	The Guilty Office	$14.99
CD	Black Moth Super Rainbow	Eating Us (Limited Edition)	$11.99
CD	Clues	Clues	$12.99
CD	Tyvek	Tyvek	$11.99
CD	Rsuted Shut	Dead	$12.99
CD	James Blackshaw	The Glass Bead Game	$12.99
CD	Future Of The Left	Travels With Myself And Another	$11.99
CD	Lindstrom	Prins Thomas II	$14.99

 

* Prices and availability may vary on some titles (especially vinyl). Please email us with any inquiries.

* Live in Chicago and want to put something on hold? We can hold items for up to one week. Just ask! For all of you out-of-town shoppers, we take credit cards and can ship items your way in a jiffy! Shoot us an email or give us a call with your requests.

* Interested in seeing past New Releases and Restock? Click the link below to check out our newsletter archives: http://www.ymlp178.com/pubarchive.php?permanent

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Anals - Total Anal LP (PERM-006) + Digital Download Available NOW!

The Anals - Total Anal LP (w/ 11"x11" two-sided insert & Digital Download)
PERM 006 - $14.99

 

Metz, France seems to be teeming with great bands these days. Cheveu, Feeling of Love, Normals, and A.H. Kraken are just the tip of this incredibly huge Metz iceberg. Many of these bands share members, but they all have their very own sound. The Anals sound is similar to the aforementioned bands in their abrasive, weird punk base, but this duo is more obliviously influenced by the German industrial, electropunk group D.A.F. (via the Brainbombs) than any of their peers. Their single on Sweet Rot sold out almost immediately and the demand prompted a repress. Now here's your chance to hear this unique duo?s entire recorded output. This anthology LP includes both songs from the single, plus ten previously unreleased tracks.

Swing by the shop and pick up a copy or order one here at our webshop today!

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Sonic Youth - The Eternal CD / 2xLP Pre-Order Pick-Up

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Meat Puppets In-Store + New CD/LP Sewn Together

 

Meat Puppets: THE OTHER WHITE MEAT

By Falling James

It's been a long, strange trip for Arizona trio Meat Puppets, who are finally back together and creatively thriving after a decade of false starts and tragedies, such as the incarceration of bassist Cris Kirkwood, who was imprisoned for a couple of years and seriously wounded after being shot twice by a security guard in a bizarre incident outside a Phoenix post office in 2003. He's apparently since recovered from various drug addictions and rejoined his singer-guitarist/brother Curt Kirkwood and new drummer Ted Marcus on the Puppets' 2007 comeback album, *Rise to Your Knees* (Anodyne). The band are now on a new label, Megaforce, for the release of their latest CD, *Sewn Together*, which is a wonderfully satisfying work that evokes classic mid-'80s era albums like *Up on the Sun*. As ever, Curt sings with a laconic drawl, even as his guitar bubbles over with madly psychedelic riffs on tracks like "Love Mountain." The Puppets ramble through bleary-eyed country numbers like "Smoke" and stretch out into stranger territory on the elegantly trippy piano ballad "Clone," where Curt ruminates about scientists "cutting up the molecules of gold" to create "the perfect sheep" who "can fly a fancy plane." Somehow, it all does get sewn together in a mix of styles that's both head-spinning and earthily rocking.

http://www.laweekly.com/events/meat-puppets-560410/

* Buy Sewn Together at Permanent Records and get a free item at the in-store on the 31st! (while supplies last)

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Record Store Day, April 18, 2009

 

 

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Our first 7" release, Sneakers "Children Into People EP" (PERM 005) now available!

Sneakers - Children Into People EP (7"/Tri-fold Cover)
PERM 005 - Limited To 500 - $4.99

 

The fifth jam in the Permanent Records label discography is also our first 7", the Sneakers "Children Into People EP". Sneakers consists of Rex (Cave's drummer) and Zach (former Cave bassist) and "Children Into People" is their debut vinyl release. The grooves within contain some of the catchiest weird punk jams you'll ever lay ears on. Head on over to our myspace page and check out "Chick Freaked Out" if you're not already sold and see for yourself. Limited to 500 copies, y'all. If you live in Chicago swing on by and pick up your copy today. If not, we are also shipping out now - $3 USD S&H for US mail order/ $10 USD for International S&H. We also except money orders and can take credit cards over the phone if you are without a Pay Pal account.

Swing by the shop and pick up a copy or order one here at our webshop today!

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Limited edition Cacaw record (PERM OO4) is here!

Cacaw - Get A Brain EP
(LP/Full Length CD Inside/Completely Hand Screened)
PERM 004 - Limited To 300 - $14.99

 

From the ashes of Coughs, formerly one of Chicago's best noise-rock bands, comes CACAW! Comprised of ardent members of the Chicago underground and art community (half-the band are professional screen printers), Cacaw is Carrie and Anya from Coughs, Zack from Lovely Little Girls, and Kyle from Slut Barf. Cacaw takes the Coughs sound and distills it down to a more minimal, yet no less intense brand of really fucking groovy noise rock. The band is essentially a double-bass guitar and drums rhythm section with some amplified can 'o' pennies, guitar, and snarly female vocals (vocal duties split between Anya and Carrie) over the top.

Though they have only existed for a little over a year, Cacaw have quickly become one of Chicago's most popular underground rock bands. Fans who have witnessed their live show always seem to leave begging for more. People outside of the city have started to take notice as well. Dan Friel of Parts and Labor says "Cacaw sounds smart, and evil, and heavy in an early-90's way, a la Amphetamine Reptile Records. So good." Check out some tracks here: www.myspace.com/cacawband.

The "Get a Brain" EP is Cacaw's first release and it's a doozy both sonically and visually. The clear vinyl record has one side of incredibly intense rhythmic jams and the b-side has been beautifully screen printed by members of the band. The card stock tri-color jacket has also been diligently screen printed by band members. (see above photo)

This release is more than a record, it's a piece of art. Trust us, these are already flying out the door. so order your copy now for $14.99 + $3 S&H (please contact us for any overseas transactions). Limited to 300 copies!

Swing by the shop and pick up a copy or order one here at our webshop today!

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The UK Version of the Cave 12" is now available!

Cave - Hunt Like Devil/Jamz (LP/Full Length CD Inside/Insert)
PERM 002 - Euro Repress - $14.99

 

You heard it right! For a limited time we have repress of Cave's phenomenal "Hunt Like Devil/Jamz" LP. The majority of this pressing is heading overseas via Southern UK and makes it's debut there January 2009. The LP includes all the same mind-blowin' tunes as the original US release. The cover art has been beautifully reworked and is now a full fledged jacket. The insert also varies from the original and a full version of the CD is still included. This album will only be distributed in the UK, but lucky for you we have a few copies you can get from us! Purchase your copy right here for $14.99 USD + $3.00 S&H (please contact us for any overseas transactions) or swing by our Chicago location to pick up your copy today.

* Please read the info listed below for the US release of this album if you'd like a full description of this release.

Swing by the shop and pick up a copy or order one here at our webshop today!

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Our Third Label Release Is Now Available!

Cave/Claifornia Raisins 10" Split (10" Vinyl/Full Length CD Inside/Hand Screened Cover)
PERM 003 - $9.99

 

Cave is back and this time they're sharing the limelight with Columbia, Missouri's newest group, California Raisins. The new, self titled Cave/California Rasins split is now available on 10" wax and includes a CD of the complete album. The California Raisins share nothing in common with the fictional R&B animated Raisins of the late-80s. These dudes get down and dirty on some groove-a-delic punk rock. They share a riff-loving mindset with Cave, but unlike Cave they have a full-time vocalist and a less overtly psychedelic sound. We'll leave the name dropping up to the critics because their sound is so unique, we're having a hard time thinking of any bands they sound like.

Although Cave is now based out of Chicago, they too once called Columbia, Missouri home. Cave shares members with the now-defunct Warhammer 48k that put out 2 intensely heavy and very psychedelic post-hardcore records. Most of the post-hardcore was worked out of their system in Warhammer and Cave has become a distillation of the heavy, psychedelic influences. They take a riff, jam it for all it's worth and then they have their way with it.

This limited edition vinyl 10" with CD is the latest release by Chicago's most exciting psychedelic band, Cave. The Cave side includes two epic psychedelic jams, possibly their best work to date. The California Raisins side is their first release. CD includes the same music that's on the 10". The jackets are hand-screen printed by members of Cave. All this goodness for a meager $9.99. Swing by the shop and grab a copy or purchase below using the PayPal button. We are shipping out now - $3 USD S&H for US mail order/ $14 USD for International S&H. We also except money orders and can take credit cards over the phone if you are without a Pay Pal account.

Swing by the shop and pick up a copy or order one here at our webshop today!

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IT'S OUT-OF-PRINT

Cave - Hunt Like Devil/Jamz (LP/Full Length CD Inside/Insert)
PERM 002 - This Version No Longer Available (See Euro repress above)

 

If you haven't heard already, the band is CAVE. The album is "Hunt Like Devil/Jamz." Its modern psychedelia at it's finest! CAVE features 2 members of Warhammer 48k fame as well as a revolving cast of local musicians. Check out the great review Aquarius Record's gave the album, making it their Record of the Week, over at www.aquariusrecords.org (see newsletter #286). For this release we did 140gm vinyl with an amazing slip sleeve cover (some inner sleeves are even customized by CAVE members!) and includes a tripped out insert. Did we mention that it also contains the full length CD version inside which has its own freaked out cover? It does! These are are limited to 500. Check out a few tracks over at www.myspace.com/realreelpro.

* PLEASE READ: This version of this title is now out-of-print with no plans for a US repress at this time. You can however pick up the Euro repress direct from us or via Southern UK for a limited time. Please see above listing for that version.

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LAZER CRYSTAL 12" w/ Handmade Jackets

 

Lazer Crystal - Hot Pink BMX
HBSP-2X 001 - $9.99

 

Hot off the press is the new 12" vinyl from Lazer Crystal released on HBSP-2X. Stop by the shop and grab a copy or head over to www.myspace.com/hbsp2x and buy online. Yummy!!

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HUGE NEWS!

Warhammer 48k - An Ethereal Oracle (180g Double LP/Full Color Gatefold/Insert)
PERM 001 - $14.99

 

We are now officially a record label as well as a record shop/community space. We've named our label, you guessed it, Permanent Records!

Our first release is Warhammer 48K "An Ethereal Oracle" (PERM001). Pressed on 180 gram vinyl in a limited edition, deluxe gatefold sleeve with a four panel, fold out insert. The vinyl is currently available now through us and world wide starting July 10th through our exclusive distributor, Southern Records. At only $14.99 these will go quickly so stop by the shop or buy one below using the magic of Pay Pal! We are shipping out now - $3 USD S&H for US mail order/ $14 USD for International S&H. We also except money orders and can take credit cards over the phone if you are without a Pay Pal account.

Please listen to a couple of tracks of "An Ethereal Oracle" over at the bands Myspace page myspace.com/warhammer48k. Prepare to have your minds blown! Feel free to drop us a line if you'd like to place an order and/or if you have any questions. We look forward to your business!

Swing by the shop and pick up a copy or order one here at our webshop today!

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Get your Permanent Records T-shirt!

 

Permanent Records T-shirts
All Sizes - $14.99

 

100% guilt-free, American Apparel T-shirts. Available in sizes Ladies M through Men's XXL. Order yours now online or pick one up at the shop. Only $14.99!

Swing by the shop and pick up a shirt or order one here at our webshop today!

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Permanent Records Gift Certificates

Available In $15, $25, and $50 Denominations (And Multiples Of)

 

Not sure what to give the music lover in your life? We've got you covered! Gift Certificates are available in any denomination so leave those gift giving woes behind and head on in to Permanent! Don't live in Chicago or just too busy to make it in? Purchase your Gift Certificates online right now and we can mail them out for you FREE of charge (yes FREE!). Just be sure to click the Add Special Instructions button, note that it's a gift you need shipped and leave your gift receiver's address. We'll make sure it's there in a flash! (We can also hold the Gift Certificate at the shop for your special recipients to drop by and use at any time.) And if online payment isn't for you, feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email. Easy as pie!

Order one here at our webshop today!

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Our Favorite Records Of 2008!

 

Lance's Best of 2008

 

Label Releases Disclaimer

I'm not very good at self-promotion. If I were, I would put the Cave "Hunt Like Devil/Jamz" LP and Cave/California Raisins "Split" 10" records at the top of my list. I obviously love those records, otherwise I wouldn't have released them. You can count on that always being the case with the Permanent Records label releases. That said, I will not include either of our label releases from this year on my list in order to avoid seeming like a shameless self-promoter. Hopefully, others love those records as much as we do and will include them on their list. If not, that's cool too. Just thought I'd throw that out there...on to the list!

 

MY FAVORITE LPs OF 2008 (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

Nothing People "Anonymous" - S-S Records

Orland, CA's Nothing People may be one of the best bands going that I've never seen live. That said, I'm seriously thinking about traveling to Northern California just to do so. After releasing a handful of now-out-of-print 7"s on Hozac and S-S, they finally released their first full-length this year and it's just as good, if not better than the sum of all those 7" parts. Nothing People don't sound like any other band I can think of. Their influences can be determined after repeated listens, but no other band blends these influences they way they do. If you're into Eno-era Roxy Music, Chrome, Hawkwind, Joy Division, and/or any other weird punk or psychedelic rock band, you'll love Nothing People. I can't give this record a higher recommendation. Every time I play it, people want to know what it is and most times they buy it. Anybody down for a road trip to Orland?

A.H. Kraken "A.H. Kraken" - In the Red

In case you haven't noticed, there's been some amazing stuff coming out of Metz, France lately. Cheveu, Feeling of Love, and the Anals are all a part of this music community and it's a true community to say the least. These guys have formed an Alliance and if the quality of the members of the organization have anything to do with the group's power, we're all in big, big trouble. A.H. Kraken is a member of this group and they're one of the most intense. Their debut LP on In The Red is a noise rock masterpiece that bests the majority of the AmRep catalog by a long shot. Repetitive, distorted riffing that'll destroy your brain make you forget who you are. Which is, to me, what listening to music is all about.

Cheveu "Cheveu" - S-S Records

Another member of the Metz, France Alliance I mentioned in the A.H. Kraken review that totally slays. Cheveu does weird punk to the max. Similar to a French version of the Fall, Cheveu mixes repetitive riffing with spoken word style vocals and weird noisy synth parts and live and electronic drums. Unfortuately, I think this record is out-of-print now, so I won't tease you further with all the praise. It's still available on CD and "Happiness" is still available on DVD. Rent it and listen to the fall with French subtitles on. Not exactly like owning "Cheveu" on vinyl, but pretty damn close.

Human Eye "Fragments of the Universe Nurse"

From what I've been hearing lately, Detroit is a pretty bleak place to be right now. But I've also heard that tough times make for great art. If that's the case, maybe that explains why Human Eye is so incredible. Formed out of the ashes of Clone Defects, Human Eye does the psychedelic garage-punk thing better than just about anybody ever has, save Chrome. The difference between Human Eye and a lot of other psych-punks is that Human Eye knows how to write a SONG with HOOKS! These are some fucked up diddies, my friends. Enjoy.

Wooden Shjips "Vol. 1" - Holy Mountain

Not quite as good as the devastatingly awesome eponymous debut LP from last year, but it'll do until they drop the next full-length on us. The only reason this one doesn't do as much for me is that it's not a proper album. "Vol. 1" compiles their debut (and long out-of-print) 10" and a bunch of no-longer-available singles. What it lacks in cohesiveness, it makes up for in great psychedelic jams. If you haven't already, it's time to board the Shjip. It'll take you places you've never been before.

Thee Oh Sees "The Master's Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In" - Tomlab

You're probably already familiar with the Oh Sees, even if you don't recognize the moniker. John Dwyer is the main dude behind this band (formerly known as OCS). John has also been involved with some seminal garage punk genre-related bands such as the Coachwhips, Pink and Brown, Hospitals, and Landed. With all of those bands in defunct or indefinite hiatus stages, John has been focusing his energy on The Oh Sees these days and we couldn't be happier about it. Unlike the earlier OCS records (which are good in their own right) "The Master's Bedroom..." is a full band record with two guitars, a full drum kit, hand percussion, and two-part vocal harmonies. This record also benefits from some seriously infectious hooks. I knew I liked this record, but I didn't realize I loved it until I was walking home one night humming the melodies. For those of you getting turned off by my description thus far, don't fret this is a poppy garage record done-Dwyer style, which means there's plenty of weirdness going on to satisfy even the most snobby noisenik. Mr. Dwyer really knows how to shake some incredible sounds out of a guitar and write some amazing songs while he's at it.

Magic Lantern "Magic Lantern" - Woodsist

If you're not already familiar with Magic Lantern, you're not alone. We hadn't heard of them until they dropped two mindblowing records on us this year. Both albums are filled with dark, repetitive, hypnotic psych jams with groovy riffs and melodic bass lines. There's also lots of Venus in Furs-esque tribal drumming. These guys are from Long Beach, CA. This one gets a little more ethereal than "High Beams", but never meanders too much. The jams are mostly instrumental, but there's some mellow monotone, Ozzy-by-way-of-Om-y vocals on the last cut on the B-side. "Makes you want to meditate and beat people up at the same time" -Anonymous

Magic Lantern "High Beams" - Not Not Fun

Same basic idea as above, but slightly heavier. File these records in your brain somewhere between Earthless and Wooden Shjips. Not quite as metallic as the former, but not usually as mellow as the latter. Most bands don't put out one good album a year, much less two. Who knew you could get quantity AND quality!?!

Love Tan "Miscellaneous Night Feelings" - Kill Shaman

Fucked up, FX'ed, Noisy Punk Jams. Lotsa feedback and reverbed out guitars. Muffled, shouted vocals mixed low. Steady drums keep the opening track from becoming a complete noisefest. Beyond the opener, we have melodic repetitive riffs, mixed with more of the above creating an infectious brand of weird, weird punk.

Mahjongg "Kontpab" - K Records

Mahjongg is a traditional Chinese puzzle game. Mahjongg is also one of the best band's in Chicago. "Kontpab" is their 3rd 12" vinyl release and second full length. The first couple of releases were both great danceable angular post-punk records in the same vein as "Remain In Light"-era Talking Heads and "Entertainment"-era Gang of Four. This release is much more electronic than any of their previous efforts, but it's no less classically influenced. This record has more of a Kraftwerk and Georgio Mororder influence, but they take that influence and twist it into a sound all their own, something Mahjongg has always excelled at. "Kontpab" is one of those records you can enjoy just as much at home as you can on the dance floor and like a Chinese puzzle game, Mahjongg make unfamiliar things seem familiar after playing through. By the way, this is Mahjongg's debut LP on the well-respected indie stalwart K Records label run by ex-Beat Happening dude Calvin Johnson. May this record go down as one of the best K's ever been a part of!

Ooga Boogas "Romance and Adventure" - Aarght!
&
Eddy Current Suppression Ring "Primary Colors" - Goner

I was going to include the Eddy Current Suppression Ring "Primary Colors" record on my list this year, but I'm combining the reviews instead. Eddy Current released "Primary Colors" domestically through Memphis' Goner Records this year after it climbed to the top of the Australian charts when it was originally released there. It climbed so fast because it's a great record that's very accessible (well, to Australian tastes anyways). Lots of Stooges and Birthday Party influence filtered through a Clean sifter, "Primary Colors" is undeniably catchy, sassy, and slightly jammed out Australian rock music worthy of anyone's Best of List consideration. However, the Eddy Current side-project, the Ooga Booga's knocked me out even more. Same influences, but slightly more abrasive and heavier. If that sounds better to you, peep the Ooga Boogas for sure. Actually, check out both bands and decide for yourself. They're both great records. If this kind of stuff would chart in the US, I might start listening to the radio again.

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Growing "All the Way" - Social Registry
• Le Face "Isolation" - Dead Beat
• Blank Dogs "The Fields" - Woodsist
• Wavves "Wavves" - Woodsist
• Feeling of Love "Petite Tu Es Un Hit" - Yakisakana
• Los Lamarada "Take the Sky" - S-S Records
• Factums "The Sistrum" - Sacred Bones
• Group Inerane "Guitars from Agadez" (CD Release) - Sublime Frequencies
• Indian Jewelry "Free Gold" - We Are Free
• Bird Names "Open Relationship" - Unsound

 

MY FAVORITE COMPILATION OF 2008

Various "B.I.P.P.P. - French Synth Wave 1979-1985" - Born Bad

If the subtitle gets you excited, it's time to run (don't walk) down to the nearest record shop (hopefully ours) and pick this gem of a compilation up right now! Maybe you're early-80s French synth wave collection is already huge, but mine isn't and this got the fire burning inside of me to seek more of this stuff out for sure. This is the kind of compilation that will pull any slumping music aficionado out of the darkness and revitalized again. If you've been digging music for any length of time, you've probably gone thru one of these spells. Let BIPPP dig you out with it's synth-y new wave Frenchiness! Born Bad also released "Wizzz Vol. 2" this year and the French pressing of Cheveu's LP. Great label!

 

MY FAVORITE REISSUES OF 2008

• Dead C "Eusa Kills / Helen Said This" - Ba Da Bing/Jagjaguar
• Dead C "DR503 / The Sun Stabbed" - Ba Da Bing/Jagjaguar
• DNA "On DNA" - No More Records
• JT IV "Cosmic Lighning" - Drag City/GZD
• Silver Apples "Silver Apples" - Phoenix
• Blue Phantom "Distortions" - Exiled
• Clean "Compilation" - Mississippi
• Rats "Rats" - Mississippi
• Rodriguez "Cold Fact" - Light in the Attic
• Animals & Men "Never Bought, Never Sold" - Mississippi
• Chrome "Blood on the Moon" - White Label
• Chrome "Red Exposure" - White Label
• Chrome "Retro Transmission" - White Label
• Flipper "Generic" - Water
• Flipper "Gone Fishin" - Water
• Flipper "Sex Bomb Baby" - Water
• Cavaliers Unlimited "Soul Vein" - Mississippi
• Figures of Light "Smash Hits"
• Loop "Fade Out" - Reactor
• Loop "Heaven's End" - Reactor
• Free Pop Electronic Concept "A New Exciting Experience" - Wah Wah
• Various "Nigeria Rock Special" - Soundway
• Debris "Static Disposal" - Anopheles

 

MY FAVORITE SINGLES OF 2008

• Anals "Commando of Love" - Sweet Rot
• Catatonic Youth "I've Had It" - Hozac
• Black Orphan "Transmission" - Hozac
• Wooden Shjips "Loose Lips" - Sub Pop
• Francis Harold and the Holograms "The Eagle Can't Fly with One Wing" - Going Underground
• El Jesus De Magico - "Unclean Ghost" - Columbus Discount
• Vivian Girls "Tell the World" - Woodsist
• Smith Westerns "Crapman" - Hozac
• Sex Vid "Nests"- Dom America
• A.H. Kraken "Gianna Michaels" - Sweet Rot
• Dead Luke "Running Scared" - Sweet Rot
• Love Tan "This Land is No Good" - Sweet Rot

 

OLD RECORDS IN HEAVY ROTATION IN 2008

• Toothpaste "Oh Yeah, Come On"
• Bruce Lose "What's Your Name"
• Easter Monkeys "Splendor of Sorrow"
• Sonny Bono "Inner Views"
• Leonard Cohen "Is This What You Wanted"
• Gun "Gun"
• Armageddon "Armageddon"
• Monoshock "Runnin' Ape Like From the Backwards Superman 1989 -1995"
• Malaria "Emotion"

 

MY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2008

Japrocksampler by Julian Cope

 

MY FAVORITE ZINE OF 2008

Z Gun (First Two Issues)

Scott Soriano obviously has great taste in music and he's not afraid to share his knowledge. He posts tracks and info on obscure albums on his multiple blogs and he releases great new and old recordings on this label, S-S Records. Lucky for us non-bloggers, he's decided to join forces with a few close friends and put out a print zine. The zine generally consists of a few decent sized articles on labels/genres, a few interviews, and a shitload of record reviews. It's well written, well laid out and best of all it's tangible. The third issue of Z Gun should be out early next year. Get stoked!

 

MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2008

• Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution
• The Strangers
• The Dark Knight
• Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell
• Flipper "Live"
• Flaming Lips "Christmas on Mars"
• Iron Man

(There's still a bunch of movies that came out this year that I haven't seen.)

 

Liz's Best of 2008

 

Records:

• Nothing People - "Anonymous"
• Thee Oh Sees - "The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In"
• Cave/California Raisins - Split 10"
• Cheveu - "Cheveu"
• Factums - "The Sistrum"
• A.H. Kraken - "Elle Avait..."
• Indian Jewelry - "Free Gold"
• Blank Dogs - "On Both Sides"
• Rodriguez - "Cold Fact"
• Magic Lantern - "Magic Lantern"
• Shit and Shine - "Kuss mich, meine Liebe"
• Human Eye - "Fragments of the Universe Nurse"
• Free Pop Electronic Concept - "A New Exciting Experience
• Sir Victor Uwaifo - Guitar Boy Superstar 1970-76"
• Atlas Sound - "Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel"
• Anals - Commando of Love 7"

 

Compilations:

"Hoera! Een Hex voor thuis!" (Hex#1)

12 bands performing live at a hip rock club in Amsterdam called Hex. Amazing (and current) new wave sounds to get that rump a'shakin'!

"Nigeria Rock Special - Psychedelic Afro Rock & Fuzz Funk In 1970's Nigeria"

Soundway put out several African comps this year, but this one was the best of the lot in my opinion. Heavy on the afro funk beats with fuzzed out, righteous guitar action. For fans of the Group Inerane comp on Sublime Frequencies or Demon Fuzz's "Afreaka."

"BIPPP: French Synth Wave 1979-85"

Released in France over a year ago. Finally made it here this year. Super danceable collection of synthed-out punk and new wave sounds. The Casino Music track is definitely THE best song I heard this year!

"70's Thai Orchestra"

Terrific of Thai based psychedelia with a dash of funk. Heavy on the xylophone and traditional Thai beats. Released on Mississipi Records which has been pumping out quality titles from day one! From Phil Cohran to Irma Thomas to The Rats reissue, all over the place genre-wise and all gems in a sea of crappy LP re-issues the majors have been bombarding us with since they officially deemed this year the "return of vinyl!" As far as we're concerned it never left and nobody needs an LP reissue of solo Ringo Starr album. I digress. Just wanted to get across that there are wonderful, hard working, small labels that are doing right by the vinyl lovers and Mississippi is definitely one of those. They release what they love, no matter the genre, and we are all better for it!

 

Other albums I've been diggin' this year:

• Chrome - "Alien Sountracks"
• Loop - "Fade Out" & "Heaven's End" 2-Disc Reissues
• Baby Huey - "The Living Legend"
• Spacemen 3 - "Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To"
• Blue Cheer - "Outside Inside"
• "Soul Messages From Dimona" - Numero Group compilation
• Dr. Octagon - "Octagonecologyst"
• Hawkwind - "In Search of Space"
• Haunted George - "Pile O'Meat"
• Debris - "Static Disposal"
• Simply Saucer - "Cyborgs Revisited"
• Getachew Mekuria & The Ex & Guests - "Moa Anbessa"
• Liquid Liquid - "Liquid Liquid"
• Wooden Shjips - "Vol. 1"
• Roxy Music - "Country Life"
• Intelligence - "Icky Baby"

 

Movies:

• The Dark Knight
• Iron Man
• Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution
• The Strangers

 

I don't usually see too many blockbuster films, but there were a couple really great ones this year. Also, the Kraftwerk documentary is basically the history of krautrock. At 3 hours long I suggest a 2 night viewing. Lastly, The Strangers was totally unexpected. I had seen like one quasi-intriguing preview and picked the DVD up from North Coast Video on a whim. SO GOOD!

 

Television:

• Lost Season 4
• Office Season 4
• Dexter Season 2
• Heroes Season 2

 

TV shows have gotten better! Finally, some weirdo shows that really get you excited and make you think, laugh, and leave you wanting more. Unfortunately, I am never home in time to watch these. Fortunately, they release entire seasons on DVD so I can watch them back to back for days without sleep. Welcome to the modern world, folks.

 

That's it for this year. Send us your faves of '08 so we can check 'em out!