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August Podcast Available Now!

We can't believe August is already over. The summer really flies by and we had a LOT of fun this summer. We hope you all did as well.

This week's update is slightly smaller than last week's (a lot fewer restocks, that is), but it packs quite a punch especially with the Les Ralllizes Denudes LP reissues topping it off!

What we lack in restocks, we've made up for with used LPs. We recently purchased a massive collection of MOSTLY 80s, 90s, and early 00s punk and indie rock records, some of which have been out-of-print forever. Come on by and see for yourself what we've offered up. Fans of the genres and eras will most likely be pleasantly surprised to see these records for sale as most of these titles do not come through very often. We've also added some fresh stock to the used 7" and CD bins, so c'mon down and have a look around.

Also, our friends over at The Empty Bottle have offered up some free tickets to this show.: Thurs, Sept 2 - JEFF The Brotherhood, Wizzard Sleeve, Daily Void

See their website for more details: emptybottle.com

This is one show you won't want to miss, especially FOR FREE! The first few replies to emptybottle@emptybottle.com, subject line 'JEFF The Brotherhood' wins a free pair of tickets. Act now before it's too late! Good luck!

By the way, we're just one month away from our 4-year anniversary party at the Empty Bottle. We're pretty stoked about the line-up and we think you will be too! Here 'tis:

MOON DUO, UMBERTO, HEATER, and BRAIN IDEA!

More details to come. Hope to see ya there.

On to the goods!

Featured New Releases

2xLP - Les Rallizes Denudes - Heavier Than A Death In The Family
CD - Les Rallizes Denudes - Heavier Than A Death In The Family

If the VINYL is already sold out, don't worry there's already more on the way this week. e-mail to reserve a copy

Finally, some legit Denudes vinyl! Here's what we wrote about the CD releases just a couple months ago:

This is some of our favorite shit ever. Les Rallizes Denudes are proto-psych punk / pre-noise-pop at it's finest. They never released an official record, rarely performed live (although there are some videos on Youtube), and a member the band was involved in an aircraft hijacking to China at one point. Anyhow, these dudes have a metronomic rhythm section with soaring, feedback drenched, acid damaged guitar leads over top with a reverbed-to-the-max vocal spewing every once in a while as well. Some of their songs actually sound quite a bit like looped doo-wop chorus rhythm sections with absolutely overwhelming guitar noise on top. That's where the noise-pop comparison comes from. Obviously, not for everyone, but heads like us will be foaming at the mouth over these guys. Here's the specs on this release via the reissue label, Phoenix:

"Phoenix Records releases the oft-bootlegged Heavier Than A Death In The Family by legendary Japanese rock/psychedelic noise band Les Rallizes Denudés. This "album" is in fact, a blistering assemblage of live performances (all recorded in 1977, except for "People Can Choose," which was recorded in 1973) which sits at an esteemed #3 position on Julian Cope's Japrocksampler top 50 list. Reverb so heavy, it will split your frontal lobe in two. Limited edition of 1,000 numbered copies only, housed in a unique LP-replica card wallet."

Fans of High Rise, Mainliner, Kousokuya, Acid Mothers Temple and Keiji Haino can now own these wonderful records on vinyl without taking out a second mortgage. This is the stuff that the folks doing the best modern psych (Wooden Shjips, Earthless, Purling Hiss) are drawing from. We couldn't be happier to be offering these up and we can say without a doubt that both of these Les Rallizes Denudes LPs will be topping our Best Reissues of 2010 lists. THE HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

Track Listing:

Side A:
01. Strong Out Deeper Than The Night - 15:33 - listen

Side B:
02. The Night Collectors - 08:32 - listen
03. Night Of The Assassins - 12:08 - listen

Side C:
04. Enter The Mirror - 11:45 - listen
05. People Can Choose - 10:33 - listen

Side D:
06. Ice Fire - 16:13 - listen

LP - Les Rallizes Denudes - Blind Baby Has Its Mothers Eyes
CD - Les Rallizes Denudes - Blind Baby Has Its Mothers Eyes

Finally, some legit Denudes vinyl! Here's what we wrote about the CD releases just a couple months ago:

This is some of our favorite shit ever. Les Rallizes Denudes are proto-psych punk / pre-noise-pop at it's finest. They never released an official record on their own, rarely performed live (although there are some videos on Youtube), and if we're remembering correctly, a member the band was involved in an aircraft hijacking to China at one point. Anyhow, these dudes have a metronomic rhythm section with soaring, feedback drenched, acid damaged guitar leads over top with a reverbed-to-the-max vocal spewing every once in a while as well. Some of their songs actually sound quite a bit like looped doo-wop chorus rhythm sections with absolutely overwhelming guitar noise on top. That's where the noise-pop comparison comes from. Obviously, not for everyone, but heads like us will be foaming at the mouth over these guys. There's no vinyl available, and hasn't been any for a while now, but even vinyl snobs will want to own this regardless of format, it's that good. Here's the specs on this release via the reissue label, Phoenix:

"Legendary Japanese rock outfit Les Rallizes Denudés were formed in 1967 and incredibly, for a group that had only one official release (Oz Days Live, a double vinyl compilation release in 1973), played their last gig almost 30 years later in October 1996. The band's name apparently means "fucked up and naked," which more than adequately describes their music. Formed by band leader Mizutani Takashi, the music remained remarkably familiar over the years, and is best described as high volume, raw, lo-fi, repetitive, feedback-drenched guitar-noise fests with nods in the direction of The Velvet Underground and Blues Creation, but without the electronics. Radical left-wing politics were never far from the band's agenda, with one original band member (Wakabayashi) being involved in the Japanese Red Army's hijacking of a flight to North Korea. Consequently, the group's live appearances became less frequent and increasingly clandestine. All the band's albums were released in very small quantities, and because of the group's reputation for secrecy and violence, as well as the difficulty in tracking down their recordings, Les Rallizes Denudés has assumed almost mythical status. Blind Baby Has It's Mothers Eyes sits at #11 on Julian Cope's list of top Japanese albums. Limited edition of 1,000 numbered copies only, housed in a unique LP-replica card wallet."

Fans of High Rise, Mainliner, Kousokuya, Acid Mothers Temple and Keiji Haino can now own these wonderful records on vinyl without taking out a second mortgage. This is the stuff that the folks doing the best modern psych (Wooden Shjips, Earthless, Purling Hiss) are drawing from. We couldn't be happier to be offering these up and we can say without a doubt that both of these Les Rallizes Denudes LPs will be topping our Best Reissues of 2010 lists. THE HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

Track Listing:
01. Blind Baby Has It's Mothers Eyes - 19:02 - listen
02. An Awful Eternity - 18:03 - listen
03. The Last One - 17:00 - listen

LP - Dictaphone - Dictaphone

We loved the Dictaphone 7" on Sweet Rot really knocked us out. However, one single is hardly enough to get a reasonable impression from a band. Now that we have the debut LP in our hands, we can say for certain that Dictophone rules. Here's the story from the label, Kill Shaman:

"Tours, France's one-man band The Dictaphone has been kind enough to provide Kill Shaman with a full-length LP of pure brutality and fuzz. This 12-song LP is an epic journey into blown out instrumentals, drum machines, guitar noodles, and distortion; a wonderful follow-up to the 7″ on Sweet Rot and the STUFFS comp on Compost Modern Art. The Dictaphone's unique style mixes elements of The Residents, Pink Noise, and the A-Frames to present a fine-tuned face-melting foray of angular guitar noodling and noise punk. It's a real head-banging, toe-tapping, industrial punk rock gem. Limited to 500 LP's on black vinyl with black inner-sleeves."

Kill Shaman are yet another trustworthy label, and they ain't lying about this new Dictophone record. It's a killer weird punk record of epic proportions and it comes with a very high recommendation from us, and not just 'cuz it's French either.

LP - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - Je Taime... Mai Non Plus (plus bonus 7-inch!)
CD - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime... Mai Non Plus

We said it before and we'll say it again, we love '60s French pop, especially Serge Gainsbourg's psychedelic years. "Je T'aime" is a perfect example what made us fall in love with the genre and it's one of his most accessible records as well. Here's the word from the reissue label, Light In The Attic: "Serge and Jane's provocative 1969 collaboration with avant-garde pop arrangements and sexually charged vocals. Includes the couple's legendary and scandalous duet, "Je T'aime... Mai Non Plus" An essential slice of French pop! Remastered from the original tapes, this gatefold LP includes an insert with new, detailed liner notes with English/French lyrics, plus a bonus picture sleeve 45 of '69 cut "La Chanson de Slogan" b/w "Orang Outan"!"

Whether you're hosting a quaint dinner gathering or an orgy, "Je T'aime" is the quintessential party soundtrack, but it's also good for lounging around the house, reading (the French lyrics don't distract), or sexercising. As a matter of fact, it's a great record no matter when you listen to it or what you're doing at the time. Pick up a copy for yourself and try it out. We promise, you will not be disappointed.

LP - Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow

Finally back in print after years of being unavailable and selling for ridiculous sums online. Some would argue that "Wonderful Rainbow" is the best Lightning Bolt record. Here's Load Records description:

" All killer, no filler follow-up to 2003's Wonderful Rainbow, Hypermagic Mountain slams into hyperdrive for a full 57 minute ride. The songs are dense and constructed from an intense three week recording session deep within a psychic sweatbox. The band has blurred differences to any other sound pirates with this record using a primal base and a new musical vocabulary fueled by chemistry-altering volume and kick ass SONGS! Throbbing low-end played on a 300 foot long bass and kick drums the size of Exxon supertankers, all stretched into a triumphant war stomp that all can love. With just bass and drums (a two piece band you see) they have constructed the densest sound imaginable."

We can't say it any better than Lightning Bolt's go-to label. Y'all are probably already familiar with Lightning Bolts all-out-bass'n'drum-assault. Either you already own this record or you know you need it. We'll leave it at that.

LP - Various Artists - Idealistic Youth : U.S. 80's Mod Revival Vol. 1: California (Ltd. to 500)

Here we have volume one of a brand new U.S. 80's Mod Revival series on wax. Supposedly these were imported from Sweden, but this volume includes some of the rarest and best cuts from the Sunshine State. The artists included here are Start, The Jetz, Manual Scan, The Commoners, The Question, The Corsairs, The Patterns, Chardon Square, The Key, The Howling Dogs, and The Idea. Many of these original records fetch a mint. It's super nice to have them comped here in the style of KBD, Bloodstains, and Back From The Grave, except 80s Mod, of course. A nice liner note insert is included and it's and affordable to boot! Get it? Boot? Yeah.

LP - Black Time - More Songs About Motorcycles And Death

Woo hoo! A brand new 12" 45rpm EP from one of our favorite UK garage punk bands. This one's a UK import on Wrench and here's what they have to say about it:

"BLACK TIME are a London band that have been going for a number of years now, playing ultra-loud, noisy punk influenced by bands such as the Electric Eels, Functional Blackouts and Cramps. They released their debut LP on their own label in 2004 and have released a number of records since then, on labels such as In The Red, Yakisakana, Bancroft and P.Trash."

We couldn't have said it any better. This new 12" rips and it's nice an affordable, especially for an import. Recommended for fans of their influences and modern, blown-out garage punk. These guys do it better than most. Awesome cover of Brigitte Bardot's "Harley Davidson" (written by Serge Gainsbourg, by the way), too!

LP - Various Artists - Local Customs - Lone Star Lowlands - Numero Group No.034

The first volume in the Local Customs series entitled "Downriver Revival" remains to this day one of our absolute favorite Numero Group comps. That's saying something considering the quality of work those Numero guys do. Needless to say, we were super stoked to hear the second in the series. "Lone Star Lowlands" takes us for a much different ride. It's more like "across the desert plains" than "down the river", but it's a great ride nonetheless. The opening cut on "Lone Star Lowlands" is an incredible, slightly glam-y, slightly psychedelic, instrumental garage cut called "Trash One" by the Lowlands Studio Band. From there, the record goes in all sorts of directions, but the songwriting remains strong. It's outrageous that we (and most of the world) are hearing most of these artists for the very first time. We'll let Numero take it from here:

"The second in Numero Group's series of peeks into the world of regional studios hones in on MICKEY ROUSE's Lowland operation out of Beaumont, Texas. Texas' Golden Triangle was home to a vibrant scene of musicians, songwriters, and entrepreneurs just trying to make it in Houston, let alone the world. From the ashes of a vibrant garage and stage band scene, the Lowland studio and its clientele were formed. Holed up in a run-down strip mall, groups like MOURNING SUN, INSIGHT OUT, SAGE, SASSY, MOTHER LION, HOPE, CIRCUS and BOOT HILL tracked out hundreds of demos, most of which were put on the shelf and left to bake in the South East Texas heat. Until now. Over the last two years, Numero has painstakingly gone through every tape in the studio's archives, selecting the best of the best (22 for the CD, 28 for the 2xLP) for this peerless compilation. The songs themselves run the gamut; southern boogie rock, CSNY clones, British blues thunder, garage-psych hangovers, Morricone-esque supper club instrumentals, yacht rock, and what can only be described as Bobby McPherin fronting the Velvet Underground, are threaded together in the way only a tightly-knit scene can be. Forget bringing these treasures back to life, Numero's giving them the life they never had."

Leave it to Numero to unearth a whole studio's worth of incredible material, in Texas no less. How they find this stuff is beyond us, but we're glad they're doing it.

LP - Intelligence - Males
CD - Intelligence - Males

In The Red just don't quit. Larry Hardy should change his name legally to Larry Hard-workin' Hardy. The quality generally matches the quantity, too. Insane. Intelligence has worked with Larry for for four of their six full-lengths, "Males" being the fourth. Here's the word straight from the label:

"Males is the sixth full-length release from Seattle, Washington's The Intelligence. This time, main-brain Lars Finberg ditched his usual method of recording all the instruments himself and had his current touring band play on it--Susannah Welbourne, Beren Ekine Huett (Eat Skull) and Chris Woodhouse (Mayyors, FM Knives, Karate Party), who also served as the record's producer. Hopefully this will still be the current line up by the time you read this. The results are as powerful as a punch in the face by Mike Tyson but with the velvet touch of a dandy fop. Marrying buzzsaw punk, DIY post-punk, ramshackle garage (as in played by The Fall--not the Chesterfield Kings), and pop hooks aplenty, Males is The Intelligence's finest statement to date."

A undeniably catchy and unique sounding band has laid yet another great record on us. If yr a fan of Intelligence you'll love this and if you're looking for a starting point, "Males" might just be the best suggestion we have to offer.

LP - Deutsche Wertarbeit - Deutsche Wertarbeit

According to the reissue label, Deutsche Wertarbeit was the "solo project of Dorothea Raukes. Dorothea was the ex-singer in of the famous German progressive, Krautrock band Streetmark (founded 1968 in Düsseldorf and released 4 LP between 1976-1981). Dorothea Raukes was one of the few female characters of the German progressive rock scene. LP was previously released by Sky Records in 1981. The LP is instrumental and reminiscent of a style similar to other classic late 1970s synth pioneers (Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Wolfgang Riechmann, etc.). LP is released on high-quality 180 gram vinyl in a limited edition of 500 (individually numbered). The LP consists of 6 beautiful synth tracks and will be certain to appeal to fans of the above mentioned artists or any fans of early minimal wave, synth soundtrack, or other lost classics from the era of late 1970s/early 1980s." We couldn't agree more. Fans of the poppier, synthier side of krautrock will love this. If you'd like you may click the titles of a couple tracks from " to preview them: "Auf Engelsflugeln" and "Deutscher Wald". We definitely recommend doing so.

LP - James Blackshaw - All Is Falling
CD - James Blackshaw - All Is Falling

Fans of tasteful acoustic guitar virtuosity and modern compositional dronescapes will definitely want to read Young God's description of James Blackshaw's latest offering. Here 'tis:

"The ultra savant of 12-string mantra cycles expands further into cinematic, orchestral glory--an orgy of organic, deeply felt and exquisitely played pathways to the sublime. All Is Falling features James Blackshaw's first foray into the realm of the electric 12-string guitar and stretches his intuitive compositional acumen to the max. The album is comprised of one slowly evolving, shifting piece of music in eight parts, replete with swirling string cycles and wind instruments augmenting his extended pointillist flurries with clouds of sound, sometimes adding delicate counter-melodies but just as often feeding the implicit waves of overtones until they cascade in an all-enveloping onslaught. Listeners willing to close their eyes and surrender will be rewarded with a pure stream of devotional, relentlessly searching sonic incantation."

Sound advice, indeed. Meditational music for those in need of aural medicine. We self-medicate with this sort of stuff all the time and we found "All Is Falling" to be just what the doctor ordered.

LP - Royal Trux - Cats and Dogs

The Royal Trux reissue storm continues thanks to Drag City...this time it's raining "Cats and Dogs". This LP has been out of print for far too long. Here's the label's description:

"Cats and Dogs hit the street in June of '93 and represented a quantum leap from everywhere ROYAL TRUX had previously broadcast from. Their innate feel for disparate styles had been demonstrated over the course of three wildly diverse albums, but Cats and Dogs wove diversity expertly throughout its eleven songs, all united by an interest in rhythmic rock and roll. There was the mulch of grunge, a lean stand of retro-soul, plumes of psychedelic vapor and a thudding post-garage all of which was flung out venomously as if owed to no-one. It sounded like fun—the laughs that had always been encoded in Trux songs were warmer this time around. Their planet had drawn eerily close to earth; we were almost able to read the signs from where we stood."

Rhythmic, rock, and roll are the key words to remember from their description. By the time of "Cats and Dogs" Royal Trux had straightened out quite a bit, especially compared to the earlier days and records like their eponymous debut and, our favorite, "Twin Infinitives", however, we wouldn't call this a "straight" record, per se. The acid (and whatever else Neil and Jennifer had been hooked on) damage had been done and there was no looking back. The avant-blues and street-walkin' attitude of the previous efforts is still present, but it's a much more melodic affair and it's actually pretty accessible. Not a bad place to start if your tastes don't get too extreme, but you're looking to get a little more familiar this great and very eclectic band.

LP - Grass Widow - Past Time (with download)
CD - Grass Widow - Past Time

After a couple of records on Captured Tracks and Make A Mess, Grass Widow has found their way to a very appropriate home at Kill Rock Stars. Here's how KRS is selling the follow-up:

"Influenced by similarly all-female punk and post-punk acts like The Neo Boys and Kleenex, Grass Widow also note Roy Wood's The Move and The Kinks as a major source of inspiration. This can all be heard on Past Time along with the three-part harmonies, complex arrangements and odd chord progressions. Grass Widow is also influenced by a legacy of women who have paved the way through their music and politics. Their collaborative songwriting process, the fact that they don't have a front person and that they all equally contribute to the work of the band speaks to this philosophy. In addition, they take the opportunity as an all female band to bring attention to the roles of spectacle and spectator in their scene and make a conscious effort to play shows where women are involved."

LP - Various Artists - Congotronics (6xLP boxed set) - *SOLD OUT*

We love Konono No. 1! "Congotronics 1" is one of our favorite international LPs of recent vintage. Their latest LP, "Assume Crash Position" is great as well, and currently this box is the only way to obtain that record on wax. This box contains all three Konono LPs and a bunch of other cool stuff. Check out the description from Crammed Disc for all the pertinent info:

"We have taken the bold decision to create an extravagant Congotronics box, containing vinyl versions of the albums by all the Congolese artists featured so far in the celebrated Congotronics series (which documents the incredible electrified traditional music of Konono N°1, Staff Benda Bilili, Kasai Allstars and other like-minded bands). The box set contains vinyl versions of all 5 Congotronics albums to date (full list below), an exclusive 7" featuring a collaboration between Kasai Allstars and US psych-rock-folk adventurers Akron/Family, plus a re-usable Congotronics USB pen drive packed with videos & mp3s, and an album-sized booklet.

More details on the contents of the box:
- Konono No 1: Congotronics 1 (1x vinyl LP).
- Congotronics 2 /Buzz'n'Rumble From The Urb'n'Jungle feat. five different Kinshasa bands: Sobanza Mimanisa, Kisanzi Kongo, Basokin, Masanka Sankayi and Kasai Allstars (1x vinyl LP).
- Kasai Allstars: In The 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into A Swimming Fish And Ate The Head Of His Enemy By Magic (1x vinyl LP).
- Staff Benda Bilili : Très Très Fort (1x vinyl LP).
- The brand-new Konono No 1: Assume Crash Position (2x vinyl LP).
- a specially-designed book featuring photography from Kinshasa, Congo.
- a customized, re-usable 2Gb USB pen drive containing 9 videos, and mp3s (in 320 kbps) of all 5 albums.
- a 7" with 2 exclusive tracks: 'Coupe-Jarret' by Kasai Allstars + Akron/Family and 'Bana Mbende' by Kasai Allstars.

Each vinyl LP (180 gr) comes in an original sleeve, and an inner sleeve of a different colour, reproducing the Congotronics fabric on the box (with a design resembling that of the fabrics used for dresses & robes in the Congo, based on the Congotronics logo)."

3xLP - Various Artists - Kompakt Total 11

"Kompakt's annual flagship release reaches number 11 and is a must-have for new and old fans of the label, featuring 95% exclusive new music. The plot thickens with Total 11, on which newcomers and familiar faces converge on a yellow dotted road and, in many cases, collaborate." - Kompakt

LP - Magic Kids - Memphis (with download)
CD - Magic Kids - Memphis

"With Memphis, their debut LP, MAGIC KIDS have crafted a record that lives up to the Memphis tradition of individualistic, joyful music-making. They create swelling and heartfelt baroque pop gems. MAGIC KIDS share with last century's masters of pop music - Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Jeff Lynne - the ability to take a tiny and simple song, a moment of wide-eyed sincerity, and translate it into something that is bursting with life. The album calls on the sounds of a diverse orchestra of local musicians and friends playing oboes, strings, horns, 808s and synths. The songs are unapologetically joyful, unrestrained in their celebration, and fearless in their expression. However the sound of the album is defiantly contemporary." - True Panther

LP - Limes - Rhinestone River
CD - Limes - Rhinestone River

"Memphis is home to several of rock's most endearingly off-kilter rock storytellers, from Jim Dickinson to Jeffrey Evans to Ross Johnson. To that list, one can now add Shawn Cripps, leader of The Limes. On the band's debut full-length, Rhinestone River, Cripps retains the musical talents of Harlan T. Bobo, who previously helped on The Limes' Rock 'n' Roll Heart single. Bobo's hypnotic keyboards perfectly complement Cripps's gritty guitar work and vocals, particularly on "Sounds Like a Shimmy." Rhinestone River also features contributions by Memphis scene stalwarts Ross Johnson, Paul Buchignani (Afghan Whigs, Bobo's backing band), Alicja Trout (Lost Sounds, River City Tanlines) and Bruce Saltmarsh ('68 Comeback, Porch Ghouls). The title track, with its wobbly gait and lyrics like "Sitting on this barstool, sweating the rhinestone river," can induce secondhand drunkenness in anyone within earshot. "Rhinestone River" is the closest an American band has gotten to the pickled poetry of the Country Teasers. The momentum and melody of "Bottom of the Hole" unfurl like the narrative thrust of a bourbon-soaked anecdote at two in the morning. The album's crown jewel is the closing track, "Last Year." Cater-cornered rock guitars and Cripps's talkin' vocal style build up to a woozy climax that culminates in a feral "woo-hoo." Like the other great songs on Rhinestone River, it threatens to fall apart several times but Cripps, with a little help from his friends and his engaging personality, holds it all together." - Goner

2xLP - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - Strange Weather Isn't It? (2xLP with download)
CD - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - Strange Weather Isn't It?

"Following in the footsteps of artists like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Depeche Mode, who have flocked to Berlin in order to mainline the city's legendary dark energy, !!! traveled to the German capital to produce a record that is simultaneously brooding and somehow their poppiest, most immediate record yet. On the one hand, Strange Weather, Isn't It? is !!!'s most texturally rich record to date and is filled with deep, galvanizing grooves in the tradition of 2003's "Me and Giuliani Down By the Schoolyard (A True Story)" and their mega anthem "Heart of Hearts." On the other, there's a dark undercurrent running through the record that acts as a counterpoint to the glittering surfaces. In other words, although only 25% of the record was recorded in Berlin (the other 75% split between New York and Sacramento, California), Strange Weather, Isn't It? is the perfect Berlin album."

LP - Coil Sea (feat. David Heumann of Arbouretum) - Coil Sea

" Born from the mind of Dave Heumann (Arbouretum, Human Bell), Coil Sea came about as a collaborative experiment between some of Baltimore's finest.

Coil Sea is released on LP-only in an edition of 1,000 copies housed in full-color jackets with insert and DRM-free MP3 download coupon."

LP - Imbogodom (Alexander Tucker & Daniel Beban) - The Metallic Year

" Imbogodom are the UK's Alexander Tucker and New Zealand's Daniel Beban. The Metallic Year is their Thrill Jockey debut and first release under the Imbogodom moniker. Mutual friends in sound exploration, this Trans-Atlantic duo create other-worldly transmissions where improvisation gives way to mutated song forms and intricate soundscapes.

The Metallic Year is released on LP only in an edition of 1,000 copies housed in full-color jackets with double-sided insert and MP3 download coupon."

CD - Heads - Relaxing With

As you may have noticed we love Heads! They're one of the best psych-punk bands going these days and we're stoked to see their debut back in print on CD. For a while there, the CD was fetching nearly $50 and the LP has sold for as much as $150! Here's the story:

"Relaxing With... is The Heads' debut album, first released in 1996. This reissue, remastered and boosted with extras, has been a long time coming. Amidst a world suffocating in Britpop smarm, The Heads' debut cut a timely swath of unkempt psychedelic rock into the face of the English underground. Featuring ten tracks of guitar-driven, amp-destroying jams, Relaxing With... takes its cues from the US--Stooges, MC5, Mudhoney, Pussy Galore, early Monster Magnet--but adds a distinctly British stamp with the drone and fuzz of Loop / Spacemen 3, the attitude of The Fall, Pink Fairies and Walking Seeds and the spaced rock of early Hawkwind. It is obvious that the four members of The Heads are music obsessives. The first disc on this double-CD reissue features the album in its entirety. Originally recorded at Foel Studios (owned by Dave Anderson from Hawkwind), it has been remastered by Shawn Joseph and Simon Price. The bonus disc includes unreleased tracks (including "Spliff Riff" from 1991), all the early singles, a selection of their Radcliffe / Radio One Rock Show material, and their complete first Peel session. The artwork has been retooled and expanded by longtime art collaborator Johnny O, collating an appreciation penned by a former tour manager / dogsbody and dozens of fliers, unseen photos, clippings and more. This 27-track release on the band's own Rooster imprint confirms The Heads' status as a "national treasure." Keep an eye out for a limited vinyl pressing as well as a deluxe reissue of their second album Everybody Knows We Got Nowhere, coming later in the year. "If that's not a freakout, then I'm a Dutchman." --John Peel, after airing the first session"

We rest our case.

12 - No Age - Glitter + 2 EP

"Everything in Between, the new album from the Los Angeles-based art-punk duo No Age, is due out on September 28, 2010. In celebration and anticipation of this new album, we're putting out two "Glitter" singles! Both the 12-inch and the 7-inch feature the album track "Glitter," but each single has different, non-album b-sides (the 7-inch has one called "Inflorescence," and the 12-inch has "In Rebound" and "Vision II")."

7in - No Age - Glitter + 1

"Everything in Between, the new album from the Los Angeles-based art-punk duo No Age, is due out on September 28, 2010. In celebration and anticipation of this new album, we're putting out two "Glitter" singles! Both the 12-inch and the 7-inch feature the album track "Glitter," but each single has different, non-album b-sides (the 7-inch has one called "Inflorescence," and the 12-inch has "In Rebound" and "Vision II")."

7in - Vaselines - Sex with an X b/w Roaster

" "Sex with an X," the a-side of this new single from The Vaselines, is found on and the title of Sex with an X, the beloved and influential Scottish band's first new album in over 20 years. "Roaster" is neither of those things, but it is quite good!"

7in - La Race - La Race (Import)

Here's yet another release from the same French music coalition that includes bands like the Anals, Feeling Of Love, Scorpion Violente, A.H. Kraken, Dreams, and basically any other contemporary French band worth hearing. We're under the impression that this is La Race's first release, but we can't confirm or deny that fact. The label, Electric Junk, has at least two great things going for it, they're also based out of France and seem to be named after the 1971 Guru Guru LP. The third thing they have going for them is La Race. Here's what Electric Junk told us about this record:

"Fucked up punk / no wave, distorted and hypnotic guitar riffs, basic drums, between apocalypse and chaos. With members of Headwar and Death To Pigs. 300 copies." The fourth thing Electric Junk has going for them is an uncanny ability to appropriately describe records. This single is everything Electric Junk says it is and more. It's like a more brutal Anals record. Fans of Anals, A.H. Kraken, and the Feeling Of Love's " Suck / Soul / Porn" 12" need this. It's incredible.

7in - UV Race - I Hate You

Doesn't seem like a week goes by without a new release from down under. You're probably already familiar with UV Race's killer brand of Aussie disjointed garage post-punk from their releases on S.S., Aarght, or World's Lousy, but if you're not, maybe it's time you got acquainted. This purple marbled 7" EP includes 4 brand new cuts and it's on the always wonderful Fashionable Idiots imprint. What's not to like? UV Race is coming to the states in the very near future with their side-project Total Control. Check yr local listings for the full deets. We're stoked! Fans of Eddy Current, Swell Maps, and Tyvek should be too.

7in - Exiles From Clowntown - Around The Corner (Import)

We got our first taste of the Exiles From Clowntown, from the incredible "A Range of Greatdividing" compilation LP, just a week before we received these singles, also on the Greatdividing label. Here's the stats:

"The second seven-inch by this Australian trio, recorded the first time in the fourteen months following the recording of the first seven-inch that they were all in the same room together. Two tracks recorded live and spontaneous in one take using four microphones, one chord and half an idea. Hand-stamped labels and hole-punched sleeves. Edition of 200."

These guys do Flying Nun / Xpressway style improv hypno rock very well. Dead C would be proud. Only 200 copies? Ridiculous.

7in - Voice of the Puppets - Voice of the Puppets

Sing Sing is on a roll. We're not sure how they're tracking all of these bands down, but they're doing a great job if it and apparently all of their reissues are legit. Here's the blog review Sing Sing is using to sell this rarity reissued: "Hailing from Newcastle, VOICE OF THE PUPPETS—RUSSELL MCDONALD, STEVE 'STESH' MILLAR, CHRIS WELTON, and 'STAPPS'—began playing together in 1978 and one year later recorded these two tracks at Impulse Sound Studios, Wallsend. A self-produced and self-financed single surfaced in mid-1980, by which time Voice Of The Puppets were reduced to a trio following Chris Welton's departure. The 250 copies pressed were all housed in a nice poster-sleeve featuring a cartoon history of the band drawn by Chris Welton. The two songs have their roots firmly in 1977 melodic Punk and are worth a spin with their infectious mix of Buzzcockian guitars and TVPs-like vocals. The combo had already split by 1981 with all members quitting music altogether. Steve Millar would sadly commit suicide in 2002."—45 Revolutions"

Fans of the Buzzcocks, TV Personalities, and some of the punker Powerpearls will totally dig this.

The following are all releases on a great label called Bathetic. We haven't had a chance to soak them all in yet, so we've included the label's descriptions for your reference. We've enjoyed everything we've heard thus far. These releases are all super limited and generally go out-of-print immediately.

7in - Cloudland Canyon - Mothlight Part 2

" Bathetic is proud to release, not only the first single from the upcoming Cloudland Canyon full-length LP, Fin Eaves (coming out on Holy Mountain), but also our first 7" vinyl release! We're very happy this chunk of dreamscaped atmosphere could serve as our first venture into vinyl territory.

Cloudland Canyon are widely respected for their shimmering approach to music, a combination of elements as varied as krautrock, shoegaze, pop, and drone. "Mothlight, Part 2" is a perfect first single and represents the band's slight re-direction into the more uptempo, catchier nooks and crannies of their vibe. Don't miss out on this! Limited First Edition of 300."

Tape - Flight - Mississippi Lean - Chopped and Screwed

" This is Mississppi's finest as you've never heard him before! YES, this is the SCREWED TAPE! Get your fucking syrup on and hear these classics dddrrraaagggeeedddd out. FYI: This is Flight's first cassette release! Edition of 100."

Tape - Jeans Wilder - Relics

""relics" is a collection of songs about longing, yearning, loving, and losing. about venting into a tape recorder, instead of a gun barrel. about having your cake and eating it too. about just saying "fuck it", and diving off the yacht, into the sea. you'll be much better down here anyways. trust me. - jeans wilder edition of 66."

Tape - Drew Hill - Seasons In Rust

"DH draws sonic landscapes of swampy, graveyard pop as he travels the country. Edition of 50."

Tape - Tan Dollar/Weed Diamond - Split

"So syrupy, sugary sweet it'll make you want to VOMIT. Party on you monsters. Edition of 150."

Tape - Haunted Houses - Make Believe You're Dead

"The Dirt Prince is back with tales to make your face melt. Share Your Drugs With Those You Love. Edition of 100."

Tape - Malibu Wands - Raw Dagger

"Crumble your way to the crevice, everywhere else is already taken... Pink Priest gets wild and creates his best work yet as Malibu Wands. Edition of 50."

Book - Patrick Lundborg - The Acid Archives - Second Edition

If this is already sold out, don't worry there's already more on the way this week. e-mail to reserve a copy

We reference this book all the time. All you have to do is type the words "acid archives" into the search bar of our web store and you'll find a bunch of highly recommended, obscure reissues (ie. White Boy and the Average Rat Band, Stonewall, Circuit Rider, etc) that we (and probably those who reissued them) read about in the first edition of this book. Click here to see what we mean. Anyhow, there's a second, much improved version of Acid Archives and this is what its makers have to say about it:

"Bigger, better and more colorful! After the huge success of the first edition from 2006, the Acid Archives book has been long out-of-print. Used copies have sold for as high as $200, and there are many inquiries about new runs from around the world. Instead of just a new printing, here is a brand-new edition -- completely revised, massively expanded, and attractively re-designed. The Acid Archives, The Second Edition will delight any lover of rare and great underground music from the 1960s-1970s. All the elements that made the first edition such a hit are here. The A-Z section has been expanded with 90 new pages, detailing many hundreds of previously-unknown LPs. Just as exciting is a brand-new section of special features, where leading experts present the best and rarest albums within exotica, lounge, '70s funk & soul, Southern rock, new age, custom labels and tax scam records. In answer to requests from fans of the first book, the Acid Archives has been fully re-designed and is now printed entirely in color. The 400 pages in the second edition (100 pages more than the old version) are loaded with color images of obscure and trippy album sleeves, posters and band photos, many of which have never been published before. 400 pages, all entirely in color, in a perfect-bound soft cover quarto."

We were absolutely stunned by the improvements. The book is about 25% thicker than the original and the color photos are a great addition, but the added record listings and the "best of" lists at the end of the book are what make this edition worth upgrading for. It's an absolute must-have for record collectors of all types and we think folks that own the first edition will definitely want to upgrade as well. We did. Think of it as an investment into your record digging future. If you don't know about some of the rarities (some of the rarest and most valuable records in the world) included in this book, you may as well go digging with a blindfold on. Everyone who owns Acid Archives cherishes their copy. What are you waiting for? Christmas? They may not be around by then. Do you really want to be put in a situation where you'll have to plunk down $200 or more for this thing when you have the opportunity now to own it for just a quarter of that? We didn't think so.

Recommended Restocks

2xLP - Kris Kristofferson - Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72

LP - Deux - Decadence

You may remember Deux from the B.I.P.P.P. - French Synth Wave 1979 - 1985 comp of 2008 (our favorite compilation release from that year). Deux's cut "Game and Performance" was one of our favorite cuts on B.I.P.P.P. and it got spun at many a "Getting Drunk to Spin Records to Get Drunk To" DJ night (which may be making a comeback at a different venue soon, by the way). Anyhow, we recently discovered a good source for the Minimal Wave LP reissue by Deux and we're STOKED! Here's the label's descriptive write-up:

"Minimal Wave is proud to present a full length LP by French duo DEUX. GERARD PELLETIER and CATI TETE formed Deux after meeting in Lyon in 1981. Their music can be described as minimal synth with stripped down rhythm compositions and suitably cold duets. Their influences are a perfect blend of Kraftwerk and French synthpop. Between 1983 and 1992, they released a cassette and several rare singles. They also appeared on the various artists BIPP LP (2006) (sic) and most recently on The Minimal Wave Tapes: Vol 1 LP. The Decadence LP features selections of their old material, newly remastered. It is a hand-numbered edition, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a heavy matte jacket."

Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. It's all true as you might've already imagined. This reissue is highly recommended.

LP - Futurisk - Player Piano

Minimal Wave is the label behind this reissue. Here's their descriptive write-up:

"Minimal Wave presents the long awaited 30th anniversary release by FUTURDISK. Originally from Florida, Futurisk was a pioneering electro-punk group that recorded and performed in the pre-midi era of the early '80s. They had two vinyl releases that sold out : The Sound Of Futurism 1980 / Army Now and the Player Piano EP. They played a legendary live show and had some TV appearances and videos (check their video for Army Now here), but for a number of reasons by 1984 Futurisk was history. The Player Piano LP culls material they recorded between 1980-1982, featuring all the tracks from their two 7-inch releases as well as some early 4-track tapes and rare studio recordings. The record is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, comes in a matte printed inner sleeve (with old photos and press) and orange matte outer jacket."

Minimal Wave is the authority on the genre. You can trust what they say. Original copies of the "Player Piano" EP included here sell for over $100. We may like this one even more than the Deux release. Fans of Gary Numan's "Replicas" will absolutely love this. It's fantastic, electro punk-y, and recommended.

LP - Raincoats - Raincoats (KRS Reissue with Download Code)

The Raincoats were a seminal post-punk group. They happened to be all female, but that has nothing to do with the staying power of their records, especially their eponymous debut. If you haven't heard this record, it's probably not your fault, the record companies haven't made it easy to get a hold of. Aside from the original LP and the CD reissues in the early '90s (thanks to Kurt Cobain's insistence) the Raincoats records have sadly been out-of-print, until now. Thanks to the fine folks over at Kill Rock Stars, you can now own a copy of the Raincoats LP (conveniently packaged with a free digital download code) for a mere $15. This is one of those records we've been waiting for a reissue of for years now. If you dig the Slits, post-punk, or off-kilter bedroom pop, this is a must own. It actually features Palmolive from the Slits on drums and the production assistance of Red Krayola's Mayo Thompson. Classic stuff, man. Highly recommended.

LP - Druid Perfume - Tin Boat To Tuna Town

A few of us went to the Crown Tap Room recently and saw these guys and we were blown away. Shoes were stolen. Strangers beers were sipped. A ladder was abused and almost maimed the abuser and his audience for it's mistreatment. But, most importantly, the band sounded great. Lucky for us, the Druid Perfume performance coincided with a brand new LP of all new jams. As you probably remember from some previous write-ups, Druid Perfume are from just outside of Detroit and they tout ex-members of the In The Red weirdpunk band The Piranhas. This, their second LP, finds them at their most fully realized and Beefheart-y. If Zappa were still alive and running the Straight imprint, we imagine he'd be all over this like Alice on Cooper. Unfortunately, the label and the man are no longer with us and Druid Perfume have self-released "Tin Boat To Tuna Town". Label or no label, this is a great record of groove-y, skronk-y punk jams only outdone by the live performance. They were phenomenal live and the material on "Tin Boat" comes in a close second. Grab one before all 300 disappear like Mr. Cooper's "thumb cock" on the "Love It To Death" cover.

LP - International Hello - International Hello

Are you a fan of Hawkwind, F/i, Monoshock, or Bad Trips? If so, you must read Holy Mountain's description of their latest release by International Hello:

"International Hello is the perfection of California psychedelic rock in all its ecstatic glory. Grady Runyan's guitar playing is as fantastic, spacey and heavy as ever, as is Scott Derr's always-pertinent bass throb. Drummer and singer Rubin Fiberglass is just perfect as a screaming maniac who can actually keep time while Doug Pearson's electronics consistently enhance the dominant power-trio rock that swirls in the sky like some kind of creation myth. In case you don't recognize the names, these guys were the prime movers and shakers behind the band Monoshock. Does it sound like them? Yeah but it's way back there, and this is about a new place they're going. And it's good. You'll see."

We've seen and we agree, it's good. Really good. Int'l Hello has the Monoshock 'tude, but sonically it packs more of a Hawkwind improv punch. If you thought the Sternklang or Bad Trips LPs were good, wait til you hear this. Your mind just might be blown. Essential for heads.

LP - Lumerians - Lumerians

Rococo Records gave us our first taste of Lumerians in the spring of '10. While looking the Lumerians Myspace page, we discovered that they put out a 12" EP back in 2007. Somehow, someway, the label still had some stock and we cleaned them out. Here's how we described the 7":

"The new single on the Chicago label Rococo by the San Francisco band Lumerians packs quite a lysergic kick. The A-side rides a two-note riff not dissimilar to the MC5's Black To Comm as done by Wooden Shjips with a heavier organ presence, and the B-side is a cover of the Osmonds' Crazy Horses that sounds like it was transmogrified by Loop. This one gets a BIG thumbs up. And for those who care about such things, we have the ltd color vinyl copies."

Those who dug the 7" and / or any of the styles mentioned in the description will definitely want to cop one of these EPs before they're gone for good (we have the very last copies). It's got a similar sound and we feel like Lumerians work better on the bigger format with more room to stretch out. We apologize for missing this back in '07. Better late than never, right? Belatedly recommended.

LP - Mickey - Mickey EP

"As long as there's still hips to shake and asses to move, Mickey will be there to rub it in deep and smother your world with their ineffable concoction of punk brilliance. The most promising new Chicago pop band since the Smith Westerns, these five individual odd fellows have unearthed the primal lunacy and indescribable glam irresistibility that has turned anyone who's seen them into blathering idiots, ready to swallow every stray flung drop of slimy sweat dripping from their guitar necks. After last year's impeccable debut 7" on HoZac and their devastating trip through the wilderness of South by Southwest's seedy underbelly, they turned enough heads and converted so many people, that I finally felt like it wasn't just us that was crazy for their inebriated, yet exasperatingly unique undulating glitter-pop formula.

Just like when GG Allin covered The Ohio Express' "Up Against The Wall" during his early pop fascination period, it's the truly unorthodox filtration of influences that generates unbelievable results like these, and Mickey does it all with the trashy finesse of a sanitation worker at an art gallery. Crushing boring predictability and shoving raw sewage into a powerful pop-art format that sends chills down the spine and makes it fun for the whole family.

This week, FDH Records unleashes the Mickey 12" EP, featuring six serrated songs that will etch their name even deeper into your brain, causing eyeballs to pop and eardrums to throb simultaneously for the duration of each side, with already-classic tracks from their live set such as the rollicking "Space Case" and the very well possibly FU2-inspired "Electric Dreams," both of which have sent many a crowd into a mouth-foaming frenzy on many an occasion. Bands like Mickey seem to only happen when the planets of the universe align a certain way, but as their songs and overall persona continue to build to massively impressive levels, there's really no telling how far they can go, but we can only stand back and watch in awe as they level everything in their path. First pressing with a limited edition die cut LP cover limited to 500 copies (die cut cover will only be on the first pressing edition)." - FDH

LP - Spacemen 3 - Sound Of Confusion (Reissue)

Long overdue Spacemen 3 reissue vinyl! This is classic in the "must-own" sense. Originally released on Glass in 1986, Sound Of Confusion is the debut album from the SPACEMEN 3 led by SONIC BOOM (SPECTRUM) and JASON PIERCE (SPIRITUALIZED). Featuring covers of 13th Floor Elevators, The Stooges, and Juicy Lucy amongst some classic originals, this is the band's first foray into the deep, stoned, trance-inducing, psychedelic sound they would master on later albums. Highly Recommended.

LP - Mike Rep And The Quotas - Stupor Haitus

The supply of Ohio underground rock recordings seems endless at times. It makes us wonder if every college town in the Midwest had a similar thing going on. Probably not, but we're hopeful that more recordings like this will be unearthed from places like Madison, Bloomington, and Iowa City. Chances are that Columbus is an anomaly, but it sure would be awesome if it weren't. Anyhow, as we've mentioned before in reviews of recently reissued records from the same scene on Columbus Discount, there must've been (and maybe there still is) something in the water in Columbus. The venerable and mighty Siltbreeze is behind this one. With credentials like these, it's not hard to see why this record is worth owning, but here's Tom Lax's very influential sales pitch:

"Stupor Hiatus culls the complete recorded works of the original MIKE REP AND THE QUOTAS, dating back to 1974 and moving forward into the early 1990s. Essentially a reworking of the Stupor Hiatus Vol. 2 LP released by Siltbreeze in 1992 (minus the questionable original artwork and mysterious French-language insert), this definitive collection is that record in its entirety plus six additional tracks, four of which have never before been released. This double-LP includes the legendary "Rocket to Nowhere," a lovely instrumental interpretation of the 13th Floor Elevators' "She Lives in a Time of Her Own," a cover of Roky Erickson's "Creature with the Atom Brain," a shout-out to the Strapping Fieldhands ("In the Pineys") and fifteen other immortal tracks. Those who already know, know. But if you're only familiar with the name Mike Rep as a producer for such acts as Guided By Voices, Strapping Fieldhands and Times New Viking, here's your chance to get caught up with a back catalog of extraordinary capacity. Before there were peckerwoods buzzing about lo-fi, Mike Rep--fed by a love for B-grade horror flicks, (the aforementioned) 13 Floor Elevators, Velvet Undergound, Kim Fowley and (blech!) The Doors-was concocting a mash of home-recorded punk, pop and psychedelia for a few fortunate ears. This isn't the Sunset Strip or Lower East Side, folks, it's Grove City, Ohio, a scene ruled by codeine, cannabis and Carling. So be prepared to hunker down with a fuzzy, furry and fried collection of 20-plus years of sound from the vaults of one of America's most important legends in the flesh. The Creeping Flesh, that is. One-time vinyl edition of 1000, includes download card."

You heard the man. It's a one-time only pressing of 1000 copies. What are you waiting for? A bidding war on Ebay? Grab one of these and proceed to the check out counter before someone else beats you to the punch.

LP - Tommy Jay & Mike Rep - The Grim-O Comix Sequence

First Tommy Jay's "Tall Tales of Trauma", then Nudge Squidfish's "20,000 Leagues Under Nashville", now this. Columbus Discount has over the past couple of years climbed up the ranks to the upper echelon of our favorite labels. The Guinea Worms 2xLP from earlier this year is growing on us with every listen and we can't stop listening. Anyhow, the latest batch of new Columbus Discount releases include this and a sweet Tommy Jay & Mike Rep reissues. Here's what the label told us about this Ohio obscurity: "The Grim-O Comix Sequence was a cycle of songs recorded over the course of the summer/fall after Tommy Jay and Mike Rep graduated from high school. It is intended to be some sort of never meant to be released folk rock opera, touching on all the concerns of the day - frustration of minimum wage work, unrequited love, insignificance, and hopelessness - which incredibly remained wholly unreleased and under tight lock and key for all of these years. Listening to these recordings, you can hear them experimenting with recording and songwriting techniques that would end up being staples of their respective musical identities. For example, on the rockers like Box Boy, you can hear Mike Rep hammering out the fuzzy mess of a guitar that would later become the Mama Was a Scitzo/War of the Worlds sound. On folkier numbers like Illusions you can hear Tommy Jay working out the sparkly guitar and vocal delay that would later be a major part of Toms Tall Tales of Trauma. Like everything everybody does in high school, this recording isn't without its cringe-worthy moments, but it's great to hear the beginnings of two burgeoning songwriter/ producers with talents beyond their years. It's no wonder a year or so later they would break out of the basement and famously let loose as Mike Rep & The Quotas on their seminal "Rocket to Nowhere" single." If you're familiar with the dark underbelly of Ohio-based rock music, you know what you're getting here. In a perfect world, Tommy Jay and Mike Rep would be household names, at least as much as Robert Pollard is. There's only 500 of these platters and apparently they're already sold out at the label.

LP - Endtables - Endtables

We, along with many of our colleagues, are super stoked to finally have our hands on this, one of the rarest American punk records, on wax. Just to prove our point, here's what our pals over at VictimOfTime.com had to say about this reissue: "As far as Midwest first wave punk bands go, not many people immediately recognize Louisville, KY's The Endtables as one of the genre's finest, but after the reality sets in with this Drag City reissue LP/CD hitting the shelves this month, their incredibly visceral punk savagery will undoubtedly be turning heads. If you've never had the pleasure of hearing their signature song, "Circumcision" on the Bloodstains compilation series, it's an inhuman punk masterpiece that bridges the gap between garbage and gold like few other specimens of the 70s era can. The original 7" EP now rarely ever surfaces, and luckily the Drag City crew have planted those four EP cuts along with two extras from the same session in 1979 that are not to be missed. The guitars are tuned to outer space levels, the bass and drums churn and burn with that special something no one can ever seem to replicate, and the vocals are derivative of nothing that came before them either." We couldn't agree more. Fans of early American KBD punk records, especially the weirdo shit that came out of Ohio in the late-70s, will definitely dig this record. Don't bother waiting for an original EP to pop up, 'cuz even when they do surface, they fetch upwards of $1000. Collectors know it, too. The first pressing of the LP is already sold out at the source. Take that as an overwhelming public testimonial. The CD version includes some bonus live material not on the LP.

LP - France Gall - 1968

"Definitely the weirdest record of France Gall's career, 1968 (released in 1967, of course, much as Beatles '65 came out in 1964) shows the influence of British psychedelia as it came across the English Channel. Like Merseybeat and other musical forms before it, though, psychedelia was twisted by French musicians into something idiosyncratically Gallic. Even though echoes of Revolver and Sgt. Pepper (and others) are all over this, it's still identifiably French, and unmistakably France Gall. The sources of the Donovan-like boinging sitars on "Chanson Indienne" and the Kinksy music hall rush of the swinging "Avant la Bagarre" ("Before the Brawl," interestingly enough) are clear, but Gall's perky-wispy voice and the indefinably but unmistakably French sound of the arrangements and production -- one gets the sense that these are older, jazz-based musicians, not young rockers -- twists things ever so slightly. Serge Gainsbourg is less in evidence on this album than he had been on Gall's previous releases, contributing only two tracks, the mysterious "Nefertiti" and the just plain weird "Teenie Weenie Boppie." In his place, Gall's producer/songwriter father Roger Gall reasserts his presence, writing a third of the album's 12 songs. Another change is that Gall's normal producer/arranger, Alain Gorageur, is largely absent, with most of the album overseen by a new face on the French pop scene, an expatriate Englishman named David Whitaker. Whitaker's a lighter hand on the baton than Gorageur, and so there's an airiness to this album missing from some of Gall's earlier records. It suits her high-pitched voice beautifully, especially on the almost Pet Sounds-like orchestral opener "Toi Que Je Veux" and the enchanting "Bebe Requin." Thought perhaps not the best starting point for the complete France Gall novice, this is an essential album." - Allmusic.com

LP - Various Artists - Bloodstains Across Texas

"What a way to kick off a series!!! This is one of the best punk reissue comps ever!. Followed soon by Bloostains Across California and ...the Midwest, these comps are the original three in the Bloodstains series. All put together by the same madman [Byron Coley], all completely incredible. They perfectly capture the feeling of each area. On this comp, you hear a lot about Bobby Soxx, and the Huns (and for good reason!) but since the first time I heard the Skunks' "Earthquake Shake," I couldn't (and still can't) get that song outta my head!" - Lipstickkillers.com

LP - Various Artists - Bloodstains Across The Midwest

"Third record in the Bloodstains series. This, along with ...Texas and ...California were the originals of this series. The information given about the bands/records is as often fiction as it is fact. The Gynecologists, for example, were definitely not from Hogfuck, Indiana. I should know--that's my hometown! Actually, next time you are in Indiana, go to Bloomington, head to the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut, right on the town square. You'll see a video store called Plan 9 Video. It's downstairs, under a book store. Ask for Kerry Scott. He's none other than Tommy Afterbirth! Then you can go take a shit on John Mellencamp's front porch. Like Texas and California, this is one of the best in the series! However, being from the Midwest, this one has a special place in my heart." - Lipstickkillers.com

LP - Various Artists - Bloodstains Across Sweden

"Two versions of Bloodstains Across Sweden came out near the same time. This one (and the other Swedish edition) exposed me to the wonderfully rich world of Swedish punk, which seems to have no end of vicious music." - Lipstickkillers.com

7in - Puffy Areolas - Rock N Roll Express

Oh Shit! The Puffies are back! As you all probably already know, we here at the Big Perm fucking love this band. You will definitely find their recent "In The Army 1981" LP near the top of most of our best of 2010 lists. They could've called it quits at that for the year and we would've been satisfied, but no, that's not enough for the hardest working rock band in all of Ohio. These guys have been on the road more than most this year and we're super stoked that they somehow found the time to get yet another great record into our clammy little hands. Here's the clever descript from Die Stasi, the "super secret" label behind this one:

"Rust belt bruisers hailing from the 80/90 corridor of Ohio bang out 3 tracks. The a-side (and title track) travels through inner space before crashing into Lake Erie. The double-dose b-side tears the mask off these heels revealing...songs...catchy songs. They're broken, scarred, ugly (I can see why they wear a mask), but if you can keep yourself from recoiling in horror, the reward is yours for the taking. Acetate overlay sleeve."

Fuckin' A. Three killer, no filler, Puffy Areolas full-on psych jammers crammed onto two-sides of a 7". They could've rocked each of these songs for about 7 more minutes, but we find it very tasteful of them to keep it brief occasionally. Folks who dig these guys, but suffer from ADD, will love this record and the rest of us can just keep flipping and flipping and flipping it into oblivion. Looks like the Puffy Areolas will find themselves near the top of our best of LP and singles lists this year. Highly puffin' recommended.

7in - No Balls - Problems That WIll Solve Themselves - Import

No Balls! Ironic, huh? The band No Balls has more balls than most bands out there these days. Balls in spades. For those of you with short-term memory loss, we'd like to remind you that we released No Balls' "Come Clean" LP domestically back in April. It has since SOLD OUT, just like the former Release The Bats pressing and the previous 7". No Balls is a Brainbombs side-project. Just in case, you're not familiar, Brainbombs are a legendary Swedish noise rock band that've been putting out records for over two decades. They essentially drive dumbed-down, Stooges-esque riffs into the ground for 5 minutes, call 'em songs, and continue that way 'til the record is over, single or LP. Over the top, the vocalist delivers misogynist, creepy, and totally fucked up lyrics, all the while sounding like a serial killer writing his memoirs. Occasionally, there's some atonal trumpet skronk å la Steve Mackay's sax on "Fun House" in the mix. It's a simple, effective formula that should be easily replicated. Many have tried, but very few, if any have succeeded in the way Brainbombs have over the years. For those of you already familiar with the Brainbombs MO, here's the deal. If you like Brainbombs, but you don't particularly care for the vocals, then you'll love No Balls. If you like the Brainbombs, and the vocals, you'll still love this. No Balls makes brutal, pummeling, repetitive, noise rock better than 99 percent of 'em. "Problems That Will Solve Themselves" is a brand new 4-song self-released 7" EP. Not much has changed since "Come Clean". We like it that way. Yet another contender for single of the year. Genius and Brutality. Taste and Power. Indeed.

7in - St. Dad - Jobs and Junk (Limited to 500) - Jobs & Junk/The Unwanted Child b/w Money Hungry/It's Not What I Like

Here's another one Termbo turned us on to. You'll see after you read their review why we just had to bring this record in:

"These guys came to my town, and I was told all week leading up to the show that "Oh, this band is right up your alley." Anyway, I got to the show late because I was too busy acting like a lunatic in my room. Complete with constant sighs, pacing back and forth, and making "to do" lists that I will never ever "do" (believe me, it's weird and probably pretty hilarious to watch, I know). Well, as I arrived to the show, St. Dad just got done playing and I was promptly greeted by at least four "Oh, man you blew it"'s from various friends. So to save face, I just bought the 7" without ever having heard the band, and here we are. I cannot stress enough HOW much I like this. Each of the four cuts I dig equally. "Jobs and Junk" starts out with a riff reminiscent (by that I mean almost the exact same) of "Molly's Lips" or "Boxcar" but everything on this is way more fucked and awesome, and is nothing like the aforementioned references. Each song follows suit with a nice blend of poppy backbeats, deceptively heavy bass lines, inventive guitar parts and snotty lyrics ("I sold my Grandmother on EBay, because she stole my tooth fairy money"). Overall a really nice mixture of punk, pop and amateur avant-weirdness (I mean that in a good way). This really manages to be both dumb fun and pretty clever. Despite all of the potentially "annoying" aspect of this band, each cut is EXTREMELY listenable. The one thing that people will be on the fence about is the vocals (which if you don't like, you are stupid, I'm sorry). They kind of sound like if Darby Crash had a shitty little brother (does he?) who won't quit screaming while bugging the shit out of you to buy him some beer (for the record, if this were a real person and he was in this band, I would totally buy him beer). All these songs make a convincing argument for me to finally start giving a flying fuck about what happens in Florida. Thanks for the Black & Mild dudes, it sure did taste like shit.(ES)"

We totally agree and we'll be sure not to miss St. Dad if they ever make it to Chicago. Fans of the Germs, Homostupids, and all things KBD will love this. We're hoping this is the new sound of Gainesville.

7in - Gardens - Upside/Downside

Gardens are another great band from Detroit. This is their second (as far as we can tell) single and it's a repetitive garage punk ripper. Fans of Eddy Current will find a lot to love here. The "Upside" entitled "Alive in 5-D" is an instant classic in the same way Ty's "The Drag" is. "Maze Time" is hardly a "Downside". How have we not heard of these dudes before? Apparently there's a release on John Dwyer's Castleface Records in the works. This one's limited to 500 copies never to be pressed again according to the label, Just For The Hell Of It Records. Recommended

7in - Boddie Acetates - 45 Boxed Set

We consider ourselves blessed to be so close to what we consider the epicenter of obscure vintage soul reissues. Numero Group is just a few blocks away from our quaint little shop and we're constantly blown away by the stuff these avid diggers conjure up. Their latest vinyl release is this incredible (in look and sound) 3x7" box set and we'll let them tell you all about it:

"Culled from the Boddie Recording Co. massive tape archive, this 3 X 45 box set captures the essence of Louise and Thomas Boddie's custom recording outfit. Recorded in the late 60s/early 70s, these three unknown groups are a mere sampling of the regional talent pool the Boddie's attracted. Designed to look and feel like the lathe cut acetates available from this humble Cleveland operation, this limited to 1000 box set is the first glimpse into the Boddie's vast and fascinating empire."

The box looks authentic right down to the Boddie packing tape wrapped around the center and the jams contained within these grooves are some of the best anonymous soul jams we've heard in a while. If we know anything about Numero, they'll be spending the next howeverlong digging up the deets and pulling a Boddie LP our two (with extensive liner notes and beautiful packaging) out of their hats. Until then, we definitely recommend reveling in the beauty that is this limited edition mystery box set before they disappear. Preview the cuts here, if you must.

7in - Moon Duo - Catch As Catch Can b/w Set It on Fire

Super limited UK only release. The A-side is a new Moon Duo original and it rips. The B-side is a killer cover of "Set it On Fire" by Australian legends The Scientists. We love the original version, but Moon Duo put their own slant on it with great success. You know you want this.

7in - Fresh And Onlys - Impending Doom

One of today's most prolific bands (seriously giving Thee Oh Sees a run for their money!) are back with this import single on ! "Impending Doom" is a dark, driving, hypnotic psychedelic pop jam and the B-side, "Troubling Vision" is a much more upbeat, bubblegum-y affair, but no less hypnotic. Both songs are pretty repetitive, which is never a problem for us. Overall, yet another slightly different, but equally great direction from this very versatile group. We have a feeling that time will be very kind to Fresh & Onlys.

7in - Puffy Areolas - Rock N Roll Express

Oh Shit! The Puffies are back! As you all probably already know, we here at the Big Perm fucking love this band. You will definitely find their recent "In The Army 1981" LP near the top of most of our best of 2010 lists. They could've called it quits at that for the year and we would've been satisfied, but no, that's not enough for the hardest working rock band in all of Ohio. These guys have been on the road more than most this year and we're super stoked that they somehow found the time to get yet another great record into our clammy little hands. Here's the clever descript from Die Stasi, the "super secret" label behind this one:

"Rust belt bruisers hailing from the 80/90 corridor of Ohio bang out 3 tracks. The a-side (and title track) travels through inner space before crashing into Lake Erie. The double-dose b-side tears the mask off these heels revealing...songs...catchy songs. They're broken, scarred, ugly (I can see why they wear a mask), but if you can keep yourself from recoiling in horror, the reward is yours for the taking. Acetate overlay sleeve."

Fuckin' A. Three killer, no filler, Puffy Areolas full-on psych jammers crammed onto two-sides of a 7". They could've rocked each of these songs for about 7 more minutes, but we find it very tasteful of them to keep it brief occasionally. Folks who dig these guys, but suffer from ADD, will love this record and the rest of us can just keep flipping and flipping and flipping it into oblivion. Looks like the Puffy Areolas will find themselves near the top of our best of LP and singles lists this year. Highly puffin' recommended.

7in - Idi Amin And The Amputees - Disco Bitch

Francis Harold and the Holograms put out one of the best 7"s in recent vintage ("The Eagle Can't Fly With One Wing") and one of the best LPs of 2009 in "Who Said These Were Happy Times". Both were released on Going Underground Records outta Bakersfield, California. We've been dying for a new Francis Harold release since the release of the LP (and they're incredible in-store performance) and we're still dying...a...little...bit...more...each...day. Until today! This isn't a Francis Harold record per se, but a couple of the Holograms look to be involved and Going Underground also happens to be the label behind this one. Francis Harold are a dirge-y scummy punk band that fans of Flipper, Clockcleaner, and Homostupids alike. In other words, post apocalyptic punk. Idi Amin have more of a mid-to-late 70s vibe with Killed By Death-style lyrics and production values. "Disco Bitch" would absolutely have been included on a volume of KBD if it had been recorded a just a couple decades earlier. It's catchy and gritty and we can't stop spinning it. The flip, "Nasty Nazi" has a similar vibe. It's a total throwback. It's simple. It's short and fast. It's great. Loving this is easy and fans of Francis Harold and/or KBD are gonna love this, for sure. It's limited to 500 copies and each is housed in a nicely decorated glue-pocket sleeve. These guys sure do know how to take a cover photo, don't they? No brainer. One of our favorite singles of the year.

7in - Black September / Thou - Thrive & Decay (Split)

33 1/3 rpm Red slab of anti-cop hate fueled battery featuring Chicago's very own Black September with their original blend of brutal blackened, death crust onslaught on one side and Baton Rouge, LA's mighty Thou with their crushing atmospheric doom bummage on the other side. Comes with digital download and a bitchin' screen printed poster. Fuck the pigs!

Tape - Verma - Verma

The best tape of the new batch of Plus Tapes by far. Verma are an exciting new Chicago psych rock band. This, their debut tape, is full of mostly instrumental (with some buried femme vocals scattered here and there). The A-side is tranced out, drone-y, repetitious, atmospheric psych with some Hawkwind-esque synth textures over the top. Dare we compare them to an instrumental hybrid fo Can and Hawkwind? We dare. The B-side toughens up a bit and gets more motorik and driving not terribly dissimilar from some of the earliest Cave "Jamz". Fuckin' A! Only 100 pro-dubbed copies exist.

MAG - Yeti - Number 9

For those of you who missed our praise for the last issue, Yeti is a bi-yearly(?) publication that always includes a compilation CD that full of gems. The CD alone is generally worth the cover price of whole package. Anyhow, Yeti Nine is here and it includes features on Alasdair Roberts, Dean Wareham, Indian music scholar VAK Ranga Rao, and more. In addition to all the incredible reading material, the compilation CD included with the ninth issue of Yeti includes some killer material from Teenage Panzerkorps, Human Eye, Art Museums, U.S. Girls, Reading Rainbow, and a bunch more acts we think you'll be hearing a lot more from in the near future like Aias, Puppy Hearts, and Plankton Wat. Do we need to say anything more? Only $12 and seriously recommended!

A Note About A Couple of Last Week's Featured New Releases

Tape - Brain Idea - The Survival Scrolls (Permanent Records Release)

We may have forgotten to mention last week that this tape is limited to 100 copies! Over half are already gone!

Brain Idea is a relatively new Chicago band with nothing but one short cassettte tape release to their name, until now. Their second tape release is also their debut full-length on Permanent Records. Here's what we said about their first cassette tape release back in December of '09:

One of Chicago's most exciting new bands! This is their debut tape and its UK DIY and NZ's the Clean influenced pop. Catchy as hell and totally DIY-style rock'n'roll. Highly recommended! By the way, re-recorded versions of these songs (and some extra material) will be released on your very own Permanent Records imprint later this year. Grab this "demo" tape before it's gone to tide you over 'til then.

Well, the demo tape is out-of-print, but "The Survival Scrolls" is here in all of its fully-realized glory. The band took most of the material on the demo tape and re-recorded it with much more depth and reverb, especially on the vocals. There are some great instrumental interludes that tie the tracks together which are quite kraut-y in nature (these guys were the ones behind that NOi! tape (classic Oi! punk cuts covered krautrock-style), mind you). These guys are also in a CCR cover band called Graveyard Train, so you know they're of good taste. They cover the Clean for chrissakes. Fans of lo-fi DIY pop, krautrock, and CCR-esque maturity will absolutely dig Brian Idea. We fuckin' love 'em.

You may preview two tracks from this tape on Brain Idea's Myspace page and a third on ours.

Tape - Running - Running (Permanent Records Release)

We may have forgotten to mention last week that this tape is limited to 100 copies! Over half are already gone!

Running are another great new Chicago band. They've released two tapes previously, both with notoriously poor sound quality. However, the quality of the jams, made owning those tapes worthwhile. Running finally went into the studio and recorded some material (semi) professionally. Those recordings will become a 12" EP on your very own Permanent Records imprint. Until then, and it'll probably be at least a month, we're offering up the limited edition pro-dubbed cassette tape version with mind-blowing artwork. There are only 100 of these so you should probably act fast if yr interested. Here's what we've said about the previous Running releases:

Back in November '09:

We just saw these guys for the first time at their second show here in Chicago and they were fucking intense. The dudes in this band have previously been involved with PissPissPissMoanMoanMoan, Parsley Flakes, and Loto Ball Show but Running doesn't sound like any of those bands. Running sounds to us like Clockcleaner if they played twice as fast shorter songs. Reverbed to hell vocals pummeling drum and bass parts and abrasive feedback-heavy guitar recorded on a four-track. This tape is mega lo-fi but it rips. You'll revel in the lo-fidelity of these jams!

Back in March '10:

Running is a kick ass Chicago band that hasn't played outside of the city just yet. We've described them as "Clockcleaner on speed". They're a three piece with stereo flange and American Metal distortion on the guitar, reverb-as-fuck shouted vocals, repetitive bass lines, and pummeling, yet nuanced drums. We're really excited about Running and we think you should be too. Their debut cassette was about as shit-fi as they come. This second tape is a live recording documented nicely by one Mr. Andrew Martinec (of Blood Mambas, Arts Of Life Band, and another band we're super stoked about seeing play for the first time ever this month, Bad Drugs (also featuring Kyle from Cacaw on drums)) and hatefully fucked with by Brett over at Catholic Tapes (the label behind this analog disaster). Anyhow, if you'd like to hear and updated and slightly more fidelisized Running, we recommend picking up this here tape.

And finally, what we have here is Running fully-realized on cassette tape. Great, really interestingly created artwork (read about it in the liners of the LP) and 13 totally brutal weird punk songs. If these guys were jockier, they'd be a hardcore band. Thankfully, they're too arty for that ish. We'd love to point you in the direction of the band's Myspace page for a preview, but they don't have one. Trust us on this one, at least 'til we put "#1 Dad" on our Myspace page. This tape fucking rips!

Whew, that'll wrap it up for this week. Get out there and enjoy the last bit of summer. To reiterate, if you make it out our way you'll be rewarded with some great used LPs. Got in a righteous collection that'll we'll be leaking out over the next few months so head in to check out the Recent Arrivals bins. You'll be glad you did!

Goodbye Mopery!,

The P-Rex Crew

Thanks so much for taking the time to read these updates. It's really great to know that regardless of all the media hype over the past several years claiming that MP3's are taking over the world that tangible forms of music live on and this "industry" isn't as gloom and doom as they make it out to be. We're happy to be a store and a label and we hope that it shows. And not to end on a sappy note, but we just wanted to say we heart you guys and look forward to sending this update every week. If you like what you read here, please tell others. Spread the gospel, brothers and sisters!

Permanent Records
Permanent Records
1914 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
773.278.1744 (Phone/Fax)
Web Site | Web Store | Podcast | Facebook | MySpace | Twitter | Email

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New Releases

 

Format - Artist - Title	Price	Status
Book - Patrick Lundborg - The Acid Archives - Second Edition	$42.99	featured
CD - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - Strange Weather Isn't It?	$12.99
CD - CD - Dean and Britta - 13 Most Beautiful... Songs For Any Warhols Screen Tests (2xCD)	$14.99
CD - Dylan LeBlanc - Pauper's Field	$12.99
CD - Grass Widow - Past Time	$12.99
CD - Heads - Relaxing With	$15.99	featured
CD - Intelligence - Males	$9.99	featured
CD - Isobell Campbell and Mark Lanegan - Hawk	$15.99
CD - James Blackshaw - All Is Falling	$9.99
CD - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime... Mai Non Plus	$11.99	featured
CD - Limes - Rhinestone River	$12.99
CD - Magic Kids - Memphis	$12.99
CD - Mogwai - Special Moves (2xCD + DVD + download!)	$19.99
7in - Exiles From Clowntown - Around The Corner (Import)	$11.99
7in - La Race - La Race (Import)	$9.99	featured
7in - No Age - Glitter + 1	$5.99
7in - UV Race - I Hate You	$5.99	featured
7in - Vaselines - Sex with an X b/w Roaster	$5.99
7in - Voice of the Puppets - Voice of the Puppets	$6.99
12 - No Age - Glitter + 2 EP	$9.99
LP - Konono No. 1/Various Artists - Congotronics (6xLP boxed set)	$164.99
LP - Various Artists - Kompakt Total 11 (3xLP)	$22.99
LP - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - Strange Weather Isn't It? (2xLP with download)	$21.99
LP - Black Time - More Songs About Motorcycles And Death	$11.99	featured
LP - Coil Sea (feat. David Heumann of Arbouretum) - Coil Sea	$14.99
LP - Dictaphone - Dictaphone	$13.99	featured
LP - Dylan LeBlanc - Pauper's Field (with download)	$13.99
LP - Grass Widow - Past Time (with download)	$14.99
LP - Imbogodom (Alexander Tucker & Daniel Beban) - The Metallic Year	$14.99
LP - Intelligence - Males	$12.99	featured
LP - James Blackshaw - All Is Falling	$14.99
LP - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime... Mai Non Plus (plus bonus 7-inch!)	$17.99	featured
LP - Les Rallizes Denudes - Blind Baby Has Its Mothers Eyes	$22.99	featured
LP - Les Rallizes Denudes - Heavier Than A Death In The Family (2xLP)	$32.99	featured
LP - Limes - Rhinestone River	$13.99
LP - Magic Kids - Memphis (with download)	$13.99
LP - Royal Trux - Cats and Dogs	$17.99
LP - Various Artists - Idealistic Youth : U.S. 80's Mod Revival Vol. 1: California (Ltd. to 500)	$8.99	featured
LP - Various Artists - Local Customs - Lone Star Lowlands - Numero Group No.034	$19.99	featured
LP - Venereans - Future Primitive	$12.99
LP - Venetian Snares - My So-Called Life 2xLP	$17.99

* All New Releases should be considered in-stock at time this newsletter was delivered unless noted otherwise.

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Restock

 

Format - Artist - Title	Price
7in - Boddie Acetates - 45 Boxed Set	$15.99
7in - Moon Duo - Catch As Catch Can b/w Set It on Fire - (One Per Customer)	$8.99
7in - No Balls - Problems That WIll Solve Themselves - Import	$9.99
10in - Om / Current 93 - Inerrant Rays Of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder)	$9.99
CD - Daughters - Daughters	$12.99
CD - Loop - Fade Out	$15.99
LP - Belle and Sebastian - The Boy With The Arab Strap	$15.99
LP - Cat Power - Moon Pix	$15.99
LP - Drive Like Jehu - Drive Like Jehu	$9.99
LP - France Gall - 1968	$32.99
LP - Kinski - Alpine Static (2xLP)	$14.99
LP - Kris Kristofferson - Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72 (2xLP)	$22.99
LP - Lincoln Street Exit - Drive It	$11.99
LP - Lumerians - Lumerians	$11.99
LP - Mickey - Mickey EP	$15.99
LP - Pixies - Come On Pilgrim	$9.99
LP - Raincoats - Raincoats (KRS Reissue with Download Code)	$14.99
LP - Television Personalities - Mummy Your Not Watching Me	$19.99
LP - Various - Nigeria Special Vol.2 - Modern Highlife Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues 1970-1976 3xLP	$29.99

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

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Sale

 

U/N	Format - Artist - Title	Price
New	CD - France Gall - 1968	$11.99
New	7in - Blank Dogs - Waiting b/w Splitting	$2.99
New	7in - Bosom Divine - I'm Your Animal b/w Hangover	$2.99
New	7in - Dan Melchior - Mr Oblivian b/w Piledriver Nitemare No.2	$2.99
New	7in - Digital Leather - Fresh Secrets b/w Happily Ever After - On Saturday	$2.99
New	7in - Doctor Scientist/Octagon Control - Split	$2.99
New	7in - Friends Forever / Zombie Zombie - Split	$2.99
New	7in - Functional Blackouts - Raw Dawg Raw Deal - In My Vacuum b/w Chemical Bath	$2.99
New	7in - Jean Nipon / Bombo - Split	$2.99
New	7in - Jeffrey Novak - One Of A Kind b/w Short Trip Home (on Sweet Rot)	$3.99
New	7in - Jeremy Jay - Breaking The Ice b/w Winter Wonder - Words of Love	$2.99
New	7in - Juanito Wau One Mouth Band - Reverb Pool / Porron Beat b/w Quiero Un Pub	$3.99
New	7in - Kid Romance - Fuck Punx b/w I Use Electricity	$4.99
New	7in - Les Savy Fav - Plagues and Snakes (Picture Disc)	$2.99
New	7in - Max Elliott - The Nature O' Nature	$2.99
New	7in - My Electric Love Affair - Blow Me Down b/w As Soon As Now	$2.99

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

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Used

 

Format - Artist - Title	Price
CD - Bjork - Volta (no DVD)	$3.99
CD - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (2xCD non-remaster)	$14.99
CD - Psychedelic Furs - Book Of Days	$3.99
CD - R.E.M. - Automatic For The People	$3.99
CD - R.E.M. - New Adventures In Hi-Fi	$3.99
CD - R.E.M. - Out Of Time	$3.99
CD - Rolling Stones - Some Girls	$7.99
CD - Talking Heads - True Stories	$5.99
CD - U2 - Rattle and Hum	$3.99
CD - U2 - Unforgettable Fire	$3.99
CD - Wavves - S/T	$3.99
LP - Beatles - Second Album (mono - T2080)	$14.99
LP - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Ease Down The Road	$9.99
LP - Brain Sound - An Attempt To Record Coincidence	$14.99
LP - Brian Eno / David Byrne - My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (orig on Sire)	$19.99
LP - Brother Jack McDuff - Hot Barbecue (Prestige blue label 7422)	$24.99
LP - Circle X - Circle X	$14.99
LP - Dick Dale and his Deltones - Checkered Flag	$14.99
LP - Genghis Tron - Board Up The House	$14.99
LP - Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere	$11.99
LP - Grizzly Bear - Friend EP	$9.99
LP - Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction (with inner sleeve)	$29.99
LP - Led Zeppelin - IV (Atlantic 7208 includes inner sleeve)	$14.99
LP - Misfits - Collection II	$9.99
LP - Mission Of Burma - Forget (Ltd. Red vinyl)	$14.99
LP - MV + EE with the Golden Road - Drone Trailer	$9.99
LP - No Age - Nouns (white vinyl)	$24.99
LP - Peaches - Impeach My Bush (2xLP)	$24.99
LP - Pharoah Sanders - Black Unity (1997 Limited reissue)	$14.99
LP - Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back	$24.99
LP - Replacements - Tim	$19.99
LP - Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow (w/inner sleeve)	$19.99
LP - Suicidal Tendencies - Join The Army (w/inner sleeve)	$19.99
LP - Sun Ra - Nothing Is (Import on Get Back)	$14.99
LP - Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Out There A Minute (On Blast First)	$14.99
LP - Tape - Luminarium	$9.99
LP - Tape and Bill Wells - Fugue (on Immune Records)	$9.99
LP - Thou - Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For EP	$11.99
LP - Thou - Tyrant (w/booklet)	$9.99
LP - White Stripes - Elephant (2xLP)	$49.99
LP - Windy and Carl - Consciousness	$29.99
LP - Wolfmangler - Wolfmangler 2xLP	$11.99
LP - Xasthur - All Reflections Drained 2xLP (red vinyl w/slipmat)	$29.99
LP - Xasthur - Subliminal Genocide 2xLP (grey marbled vinyl)	$49.99
LP - Yo La Tengo - Today Is The Day! The Music of Yo La Tengo (ole581)	$29.99
LP - Zig Zag People - Take Bubble Gum Music Underground (DL 75110 Stereo)	$29.99

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

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Featured Listening Station Titles (On Sale NOW!!)

 

Station One

 

Format	Artist	Title	Sale Price
CD	Jaill	That's How we Burn	$11.99
CD	Health	Disco 2	$11.99
CD	Wild Nothing	Gemini	$11.99
CD	Wovenhand	The Threshingfloor	$11.99
CD	Department Of Eagles	Archives 2003-2006	$12.99
CD	Best Coast	Crazy For You	$10.99
CD	Various Artists	Hozac Hookup Klub Vol. 1	$11.99
CD	Intelligence	Males	$9.99
CD	JJ	JJ No 2	$11.99
CD	White Mystery	White Mystery	$12.99
CD	Wavves	King OF The Beach	$9.99
CD	Menomena	Mines	$11.99

 

Station Two

 

Format	Artist	Title	Sale Price
CD	Secret Cities	Pink Graffiti	$11.99
CD	Woom	Muu's Way	$11.99
CD	Max Richter	Infra	$11.99
CD	Git Some	Loose Control	$11.99
CD	Endless Boogie	Full House Head	$11,99
CD	Super Wild Horses	Fifteen	$11.99
CD	Arcade Fire	The Suburbs	$13.99
CD	Jim Blackshaw	All Is Falling	$9.99
CD	!!! (chk chk chk)	Strange Weather, Isn't It?	$12.99
CD	Mahjongg	The Long Shadow Of Paper tiger	$11.99
CD	The Books	The Way Out	$11.99
CD	Grass Widow	Past Time	$12.99

 

* You can now use the Web Shop to check out the list of releases in every newsletter.

* Web Shop quantities are updated daily. If you search our store and still can't find what you're looking for you are welcome to send us an email.

* Live in the Chicago area and want to put something on hold? You can now purchase in-stock items via the web store, fill in your customer information, and choose Store Pick-up as your shipping option. Then just swing by the store with a photo ID and proof of purchase for store pick-up. We will hold items for up to two weeks.

* Automated International Shipping is NOW available via our Web Shop.

* 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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Permanent Records Staff Best of 2009 Lists!

Permanent Releases Disclaimer: Obviously, we love the records we released on our own label this year, but you won't find many of them included here. It goes without saying that they are definitely favs for us.

Lance's Favorite New Records from 2009 (in alphabetical order)

Billy Bao May '08 LP
Noise rock brutality with a lot of repetition. There were a bunch of records similar to this that came out this year that I could've included on this list, but I chose to limit myself to just this one. Fans of this sort of stuff should definitely take note of the Rusted Shut, Twin Stumps, and Homostupids LPs that came out this year as well. Intense.

Blues Control Local Flavor LP/CD
Hypnotic drone. It took a few listens before I realized how much I liked this record, but then it hit me. Hard.

Brainbombs Fucking Mess LP
One of my favorite bands of all time. Their 2009 release hasn't changed my opinion. Brutally repetitive riffs and misanthropic, broken English, spoken word style vocals. Incredibly simple and totally effective. This may have come out in late-2008, but it wasn't readily available til '09, so it's going on the list. If you got a problem with that, take it up with the Brainbombs. I dare you.

Brian Jonestown Massacre My Bloody Underground LP/CD
I could've given a shit about this band before this release. Dig was a fun watch, but I didn't think BJM was my kind of thing. This record changed my mind. The Velvets and MBV influences are apparent throughout.

Cave Psychic Psummer LP/CD
Cave's first post-Permanent full length. Slightly cleaner production, but more coherent jams. Oneida fans should get on board if they aren't already. Psychedelic Psummer jams abound.

El Jesus De Magico Scalping the Guru LP
Weirdo experimental rock jams. A long form band represented in a long format. Their Klip Aught 7" from this year is killer as well, but you get more bang for your buck here.

Electric Bunnies Through The Magical Door LP
An eclectic mix of musical styles, all of which I'm on board with. It's got some garage-y pop numbers, some raga-esque psych jams, and some weird punk jams as well. Somehow works well as a cohesive whole. That's an incredible feat and Electric Bunnies did it better than anybody else has in a long time.

Feeling of Love Suck / Soul / Porn 12" EP
The Way To Suck is the best noise rock songs I've heard all year. It should be on every mixtape that gets made from here on out. The other two songs are good too, but this one makes this list simply because of the Suck part (and partially because there's a pentagram etched onto the B-side). Amazing.

Francis Harold and the Holograms Who Said These Were Happy Times LP
Dirge-y repetitive rock with reverb-drenched vocals...and weirdo masks. They also played one of the best in-stores of the year with Puffy Areolas! This record helped us cope with the loss of Clockcleaner this year.

Fresh & Onlys Debut LP/CD
Perfect summer record. Upbeat catchy garage pop. Infectious.

GR & The Full Blown Expansion GR & The Full Blown Expansion LP
Gunslingers front man goes solo and gets artier than the Gunslingers. Mostly instrumental psychedelic punk. Reminds me of parts of the Warhammer 48k record we started the label off with.

Kid Congo Dracula Boots LP/CD
Another great 2009 in-store performance! Gun Club and Cramps member creates an amazing funky, psychedelic, garage punk record. Sweet beats for days, too!

Kurt Vile Childish Prodigy LP/CD
Nebraska-era Springsteen influenced lo-fi bedroom pop. Great songwriting, but he knows when to let the music breathe to. Tasteful.

Little Claw Human Taste LP/CD
At times this record reminds me of a female fronted Spacemen 3. That's enough for me. The whole record doesn't sound like this, but it's all great. My favorite release of theirs to date, for sure. Fuckin' Detroit, man. Rock city.

Low Red Center Low Red Center 10"
Minimal synth pop. Super catchy and sounds authentic.

Mayyors Deads 12" EP
One of the best noise rock bands of our times. The singles slayed and this EP is just as good. We (think) we're ready for the full-length.

Meercaz Meercaz LP/CD
Timeless proto-punk jams made by a dude who obviously knows his shit. There's some Hawkwind-y momements, some Swell Maps-y moments, and some Kings of Oblivian-era Pink Fairies-y moments on here, but like the Electric Bunnies LP, it plays through well as a cohesive long-player. Righteous fro, Muzz! Righteous liner notes, Mr. Flowers!

Naam Kingdom 12" EP
Epic stoner psych jams. Shorter and more concise than the full-length, which kind of meanders and drones on a bit. Either way you go, you're good with Naam. Plays well with Earthless, White Hills, or Heads.

Nothing People Late Night LP
A mellower, darker affair than Anonymous, but a total grower. Nothing People sound like no one else without doing anything radically different. I've heard the third LP and it's awesome. Look out for that and a brand new Nothing People 7" on our label in 2010.

Oh Sees Help LP/CD
The best Oh Sees LP thus far, in my opinion. Incorporates all the best songwriting elements of The Master's Bedroom... into more repetitive, more psychedelic rave-ups. Amazing art on this one, too!

Oneida Rated O LP/CD
3xLP representing the 3-sides of Oneida. A great place to start with this band's catalog for newbs. Rated O replaced Each One Teach One as my favorite Oneida record. Epic masterpiece.

Pissed Jeans King of Jeans LP/CD
The closest thing to the Jesus Lizard we got going these days, except for the Jesus Lizard. A perfect record to accompany the Touch & Go reissues. Intense, well written, well recorded and well performed. Their best record, without a doubt.

Six Finger Satellite Half Control LP/CD
One of my favorite bands of the 90s returns with an unreleased recording from 2001. I'm stoked this finally got released and that the band's back together. If you don't already own it, Law of Ruins is essential listening. Half Control comes next.

Sun Araw The Phynx LP
Magic Lantern put out two great records last year. Man, has it been over a year already? Anyhow, we didn't get any new Magic Lantern releases this year and we might never, but at least we have Sun Araw to keep us floating in space until they return. This is repetitive space-y guitar psych done right.

Tinariwen Imidiwan: Companions CD+DVD
Our favorite Tuareg group returns with a full-length just as good as last year's Aman Iman, but with a sweet bonus DVD documentary with some live footage. Incredible.

TV Ghost Cold Fish LP/CD
More noisy weird punk stuff that's just a cut above the rest. See the recommended listening notes for the Billy Bao LP above.

Tyvek Tyvek LP/CD
A total grower. Maybe it's the goofball claymation cover that threw me off, but I didn't love this record right away. It wasn't 'til I started unconsciously singing Bad Times, Bad Times, Welcome To The Fucked Up Side Of My Mind that I realized that I really dug this record. These guys do the inept DIY thing just as well as any Messthetics band, but they can also rock a riff with the best of 'em. Urinals meets the Fall meets the Stooges, what? Another great in-store!

Various Artists Shiftless Decay: New Sounds of Detroit LP/CD
Detroit's apparently a pretty bleak place these days, but the same can't be said about the music coming out of the Motor City. Along with Tyvek (see above review), the city claims residents such as Little Claw, Human Eye, and a Hawkwind-esque group called THTX among others. All of them are included here.

Various Artists Skulls Without Borders 10"
Simply a great comp. Boasts tracks from Puffy Areolas (look out for their Siltbreeze LP in '10), Kurt Vile, Sic Alps, Tommy Jay, Dan Melchior, and FNU Ronnies side-project, Chickins. All the tracks are great and it comes in a black on black skull screen printed jacket. Did we mention that Puffy Areolas appears here?!?

Wavves Wavvves LP/CD
I know, I know. I probably shouldn't like this stuff, but I just can't help it. I'm a sucker for catchy pop songs about the beach, weed, and demons that sound like they were recorded on a portable cassette deck. Wavves songs are simple and undeniably catchy pop jams. May not stand the test of time and Wavves was terrible live, but who cares. It's 2009, I like this record, and the dude did a over of Nervous Breakdown to start his set at Pitchfork after he had a nervous breakdown in Spain. Fucking brilliant.

White Hills / Heads Split LP
Who doesn't love this? Epic modern psych on both sides. I'm partial to the Heads side, but they're both great. The White Hills Heads On Fire LP was pressed on wax by Thrill Jockey this year and it rips, too. Shit, the Dead EP on Thrill Jockey is also awesome. 2009 was the year of the White Hills.

Wooden Shjips Dos LP/CD
Anybody who reads our updates regularly won't be surprised to see this one on here. I love what this band does. Repetitive, hypnotic, psych that doesn't sound exactly like anyone else. The first album is great, the LP collection known as Vol. 1 is great, and Dos is great. Dose would've been a more apt title because we're hooked and we're gonna need a regular fix from here on out. Both Moon Duo LPs are essential as well for anyone who digs Wooden Shjips even hjalf as much as we do. Let's start a tribute band called the J IS SILENT.

Lance's Favorite New / Old 7" Tracks from 2009 (in alphabetical order)

• Beyond The Implode Mid Ad Version
• Bronze One Night In Mexico
• Cave Boneyard
• Charles Albright I'm On Drugs
• Drunkdriver Fire Sale
• El Jesus De Magico Unclean Ghost
• Fresh Meat Get To Work
• Gas Pushing Against Me
• Girls At Dawn Never Enough
• Idle Times Get Your Feet Off The Ground
• Outer Spacist I Talk With Telepathy, Baby
• Plasto Beton La Prison
• Puffy Areolas Lutzko Lives
• Rodent Plague Return To Zero
• Scorpion Violente Saignement Hallal
• Watery Love (I'm A) Skull
• Wooden Shjips I Believe It (Spacemen 3 Cover)
• Woven Bones Janie

Lance's Favorite Old/Reissued Records from 2009 (in alphabetical order)

39 Clocks Zoned / Pain It Dark CD
Velvets meets Suicide, but German. Essential! Where's the wax?

Death ...For The Whole World To See LP/CD
Obscuro Detroit proto punk reissued for the whole world to see. Bummer of a reunion show, though.

Ex Scrabbling At The Lock LP
Classic! A must own.

Faust IV LP
Same here. Classic Krautrock! Where the genre got it's name, actually.

Flipper Generic / Gone Fishin / Sex Bomb Baby LP/CD
Sludgy, dumb punk classics! Out-of-print on all formats for far too long. I can finally retire my cassette tape of Generic.

Gods Gift Pathology CD
UK post-punk rarities reissued. Highly recommended for fans of the Fall and Joy Division. Again, where's the wax?

Hapshash and the Coloured Coat Featuring The Human Host and the Heavy Metal Kids LP
Kudos to Sundazed for pressing this on wax again. It's a slightly difficult record, but anyone into Can, Faust, or Red Krayola will definitely want to own this one.

Jesus Lizard Head / Pure / Goat / Down / Liar LP/CD
Most of these were out-of-print on vinyl for far too long. I will love this band til the day I die. Yow's the best front man I've ever seen live and the band was tight as hell at their reunion gigs this year. Probably the best shows I saw all year. Definitely, the best reunion show I saw this year. The Record Store Day singles box was nice as well.

Loop Heaven's End / Fade Out / Gilded Eternity / The World In Your Eyes CD
Tragically overlooked late-80s/early-90s fuzz psych band. I like Loop just as much as Spacemen 3. Fans of Spacemen 3 and Jesus and Mary Chain will definitely want to pick up at least one, if not all of these reissues. Essential stuff, but again, vinyl reissues would've been nice.

Mirrors Something That Would Never Do LP
Cleveland proto-punk a la Velvet Underground. '70s tracks compiled for the first time in 2009. Fans of the Velvets, Electric Eels, Pere Ubu, and Rocket From The Tombs should definitely take note.

Ofege Try and Love LP/CD
Rare Afro fuzz psych rock reissue on Brooklyn's Academy Records imprint.

Os Mutantes Os Mutantes (1968 Debut) LP
The best Tropicalia record finally sees a domestic vinyl reissue. Another must own!

Scrotum Poles Auchmithie Forever LP
UK DIY band's unreleased 1979-1981 material compiled and issued on wax for the very first time. Awesome.

Silver Apples Silver Apples / Contact LP
Oscillating synth proto-punk way ahead of its time. These records date back to '68 and '69, but they sound like they could've been recorded this year. Insanely good, both of 'em.

Various Artists Total Pop: Swedish DIY Punk and Mod Pop 1979 – 1981 LP
Swedish powerpop and DIY punk singles compiled onto one LP for your listening convenience. Every track is solid poppy goodness.

Various Artists Local Customs: Downriver Revival LP/CD +DVD
My favorite Numero Group release to date. It's an eclectic mix of soul, funk, rock, gospel, and jazz all of which sound like they were recorded in endearing DIY fashion. As if this weren't enough, the DVD includes a short documentary on the scene and a massive virtual digital tape vault with over 200 recordings. I could listen to this everyday and not get sick of it.

Various Artists You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977 – 1984 LP+DVD
What's not to like? An incredible document of the early, oft-overlooked, Chicago punk scene. The film includes some great live footage and a bunch of (often hilarious) band member interviews and the soundtrack includes some of the rarest Chicago punk music. Essential for fans of REAL punk rock, everywhere!

Various Artists Rocky Mountain Low: The Colorado Musical Underground of the Late 70s LP + CD
Like the comp above, sans DVD, but Colorado-style. Even more obscure stuff included here. By far, the best compilation of '09, bar none. Fans of DIY and punk everywhere will love this. Includes mostly unreleased recordings from all of these underground bands. It's where Jello Biafra got his start, for whatever that's worth.

Vaselines Enter the Vaselines LP/CD
So many bands these days, and previously, have robbed the grave of the Vaselines. About time they got the attention they deserve. Essential bedroom pop, just ask Kurt Cobain or Stephin Merritt.

White Hills Heads On Fire LP
Great on CD, even better on wax. Epic psych jams. Do it!

Lance's Honorable Mentions

• Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost LP/CD
• Black Mountain - In The Future LP/CD
• Blank Dogs - Under and Under LP/CD
• Disappears - Live Over the Rainbo LP/CD/Tape
• Eternal Tapestry - Palace of the Night Skies LP
• FNU Ronnies - Golem 12" EP
• Group Bombino - Guitars From Agadez Vol. 2 LP/CD
• Harvey Milk - Life...The Best Game In Town LP/CD
• Homostupids - The Load LP
• Hunches - Exit Dreams LP
• Moon Duo - s/t / Killing Time 12" EP
• Mugstar - s/t LP
• Oh Sees - Hounds Of Foggy Notion LP+DVD
• Omar Souleyman - Highway To Hassake LP/CD
• Robedoor - Raiders LP
• Rusted Shut - Dead LP/CD
• Spectrum - War Sucks 12" EP / CD
• Terry Riley - A Rainbow in Curved Air LP
• Twin Stumps - s/t LP
• White Hills - Dead 12" EP
• Abner Jay - True Story of Abner Jay LP
• Cecil Barfield - South Georgia Blues LP
• Circuit Rider - s/t LP
• De Kift - Yverzucht LP
• Dead at 24 - Blast Off Motherfucker! LP
• Ex - 30 Years Of The Ex LP
• Feelies - Crazy Rhythms / The Good Earth LP/CD
• Fred McDowell - s/t LP
• Lake of Dracula - Skeletal Remains LP
• Mississippi Releases
• Monks - Black Monk Time LP/CD
• Mudhoney - Mudhoney / Superfuzz Bigmuff / Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge LP
• Onna - s/t 7" / CD
• Raincoats - s/t LP
• Serge Gainsbourg - Historie De Melody Nelson LP/CD
• Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire 10"
• Spiritual Singers - Ntsamina LP
• Various Artists - Mortika LP Box
• Witch - Lazy Bones LP

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Liz's Best Of 2009 Selection (Not In Order Of Importance)

Francis Harold & the Holograms Who Said These Were Happy Times? LP
These guys were so scary looking on their album covers that we were a little nervous to have them play the shop. Maybe they would bring that naked, bloody pig man along or trash the shop. Who knew, it was a crap shoot. All we knew was that we fucking LOVED this album and had to ask them to play an in-store. Dudes, it was so totally amazing! They rocked so hard and Puffy Areolas played that show too. Man, why aren't we video taping this shit. Oh, and the best part, both bands were total sweethearts. They played with the cat and even bought records. Super cool.

Thee Oh Sees Help LP/CD
I LOVE THIS BAND. Hands down, John Dwyer and the gang are one of the most righteously energetic live shows I've ever seen. Everybody involved (onstage and off) always seem to be having the time of their life. I saw them 3 times in one week and it was still amazing. These folks really know how to bring it. I know they been pulling a Pollard with all their releases lately, but Help was quality for sure. Not as good as The Masters Bedroom... but a close second in my book. If you get a chance, don't miss these guys live. People just don't play shows like this anymore.

Fresh and Onlys Debut LP/CD
Such a summertime, fun album. Almost every song is energetic and happy. Even found it highly enjoyable when I had the Devil Flu last summer. I also really dug their performance at Schuba's with the Oh Sees last summer. Definitely helped solidified their place amongst my top albums/performances of the year.

Jeremy Jay Slow Dance LP/CD
This album is so AM it's ridiculous. Seriously smooth jams that make you wanna wear bell bottoms and play frisbee in the park. Who is this guy any way?

Kid Congo Dracula Boots LP/CD
He was in the Bad Seeds, the Cramps, Gun Club, what have you got to lose? Such a fun album! I tell everyone if Dracula made a punk rock album it would be Dracula Boots. Sounds like a dumb answer since the title actually has Dracula in it, but you forget that I can never remember album titles and it was said in all sincerity. P.S. Kid Congo was my favorite in-store of the whole year and that's not an easy thing to say!

Mayyors Deads 12"
It appears that some asshole threw my 12" sleeve into a mud puddle, 4-Wheeled all over it, and then hocked a lugie on it to make it extra special. Wow, how exclusive! Luckily for me, the vinyl was clean and the music totally ruled. Who knows, maybe next time they could mold some turds into a dragon shape and smash them onto my sleeve. I'm just sayin...

Pissed Jeans King of Jeans LP/CD
Holy shit! I loved Hope For Men, but holy shit! This probably takes the cake for best of the year. If there's a Jesus Lizard of today, these guys are it. Haven't seen them live, but if even half the energy contained in these grooves makes it to the stage then sign me up. When are these guys coming to Chicago? Did I miss them, will they be here? Somebody let me know, I've got panties to throw.

Kurt Vile Childish Prodigy LP/CD
I've listened to this record a million times. I can't really place what it reminds me of. Bruce Springsteen maybe? His guitar and vocal stylings are so weird and raw. Super infectious stuff and I have found myself on more than one occasion with song loops from this LP circlin' round my brain. Ridin' on the freak train! Train, train, train.

George Brigman Blowin' Smoke 7"
Imagine your cool, pot smoking Uncle Steve at 22, listening to Blue Cheer and Hendrix in the basement then giving it a go on the ol' reel-to-reel recorder. Can we get a little more mustache in the monitor?!

Charles Albright I'm On Drugs 7"
Catchy from the first note. I think this dude plays all the instruments too. I want what he's on.

Various Artists Rocky Mountain Low LP+CD
I hate cold weather (and I live in Chicago, WTF?!), but I think I would have to move to Colorado if shit like this was still going down. Full of fun, punk meets pop hits guaranteed to have you humming along in no time. Most of these artists are pretty obscure, but who doesn't like being dazzled by the unknown. Nice packaging and even includes a full length CD.Totally worth the price tag.

Dan Deacon Bromst
I liked this album despite my irritation with this dude when he said I don't really DO in-stores anymore. Whatever that means. This album is part Eno, part Elektroplankton, with a dash of chipmunks. A really surprising album (if you ignore the chipmunk vocals) from a guy I thought was doomed to forever twiddle some knobs for the sweaty teens. Really like that he added a full band for the tour. Missed the show, but heard it was a solid performance.

Death For the Whole World to See LP/CD
One of the best punk albums I've ever had the privilege of hearing. The songs were so familiar from the first time I heard them. Felt like I could just start singing along. Weird experience. Basically, if the Stooges, Thin Lizzy, and Bad Brains had a love child, these dudes are what would have come screamin' outta that womb. Seriously good shit.

Faust IV LP
Waited for this re-issue forever! In my opinion, the absolute best Faust album by far. Super accessible and a great first pick for those who haven't heard much Faust. Though to me, the track Krautrock (where the genre name actually originated from) doesn't sound much like Krautrock as I know it, although other parts of the album arguably do. Funny.

Jesus Lizard Reissues LP/CD
I know it goes without saying, but man do these guys rule. I have never come across a single album by them that I didn't dig almost every track. Yow rules as a front man (haven't seen anyone that's even come close to his energy in ages) and their recent live shows, of which I've seen 2 (soon to be 3 with the New Year's Eve show), have been in-fucking-credible! Only wish I had been able to enjoy the spectacle that was the J-Liz of yesteryear. I was a fucking teenager stuck in the boonies, living nowhere near an all ages venue back when they were first doing their thing. Speaking of that, I barely live near one now. Why aren't there more all ages venue in this town? Fucking fascists.

Spaceman 3 Reissues LP/10"
Drugs!!!!!!!!!!

Ex feat. Tom Cora Scrabbling at the Lock LP
The first Ex album I ever heard (I know, many great ones came before and after) and still my favorite to this day. I love what Cora's cello adds to this already phenomenal sound. I had looked for this one on wax for many years and was so happy when they decided to re-release a limited run of these. Score!

Nirvana Bleach LP/CD
How funny is it that all year I had been on this HUGE Nirvana kick. Some times you just come back around to shit and it hits you just right. For some weird reason, that happened with Nirvana this year. And especially Bleach so needless to say I almost pooped my pancakes when I heard about this one coming out as a deluxe re-issue. It exceeded expectations upon arrival. Chalked full of goodies and the live extras are far from filler. Great stuff that made it fun to reminisce on my youth of trailer park, bunk bed, jam outs. Rock!

Older stuff that I've been nerding out on this year

Various Artists African Scream Contest LP/CD
If Satan were rad and lived in 1970's Ghana he never would have went down to Georgia. All I can say is, WTF?! Everything I've heard from that era/region is phenomenal (on second thought, maybe the devil did go down there!). This LP is a bit on the pricey side, but man is it worth it!

Cramps
Pretty much anything by them. This is the first year that I really took this band seriously. Not sure what the hell took me so long to come around!

Ty Segall S/T LP/CD
This dude totally rocks. He's got a nice sized catalog at this point, but this one is definitely my favorite. His in-store performance took a close second to the Kid Congo show. He rocked it on drums, guitar, and vocals all by his lonesome. Totally unexpected and truly amazing to say the least.

Chrome Half Lip Machine Moves & Alien Soundtracks LP/CD
Been throwing either one of these albums on at least once a week. Shit never gets old. Weird beats and swirling melodies are always in need.

These Are Powers Terrific Seasons LP/CD
Nicest fucking band. We met these folks right after we opened the shop. Got to know 'em a bit and they even played our 1 year store anniversary party. Blew us away then and are still blowing our minds today. Good rhythmic/tribal jams from great people. Winning combination in my book.

Favorite In-stores and Shows

1. Kid Congo @ Permanent Records
2. Ty Segall @ Permanent Records
3. Francis Harold & The Holograms/Puffy Areolas @ Permanent Records
4. Running @ Ottoman Empire
5. So many more that I'm forgetting...balls!

Movies

Inglorius Bastards
One of the least Tarentino of all his films and the movie is better for it. Not to say I don't like his work, it's just good to get something a little different. Not too much rambling, lots of cool death scenes, and a terrific plot. Brad Pitt's acting was a little wonky, but believable overall. In my opinion, actress Melanie Laurent totally out ranks Pitt with her performance as Shosanna Dreyfus. Wonderful!

Whatever Works
Larry David plays the character Woody Allen usually plays in his films and it makes for a much funnier story. You always feel sorry for Woody, but it's easy to laugh at Larry. Great shots of NY, it's like getting the best tour of the city with one of the weirdest tour guides. Overall, another winner from this already accomplished director.

TV

• Weeds
• Dexter
• Lost
• Breaking Bad
• True Blood

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Dave's Faves of '09

LPs:

• The Electric Bunnies - Through The Magical Door (Florida's Dying)
• The Hunches - Exit Dreams (In The Red) « Top of the year
• The Mantles - self-titled (Siltbreeze)
• Dan Melchior und Das Menace - Thankyou Very Much (S-S)
• Nothing People - Late Night (S-S)
• Thee Oh Sees - Dog Poison (Captured Tracks)
• Purling Hiss - self-titled (Permanent)
• The Spits - IV (Thriftstore/Recess)
• Strange Boys - And Girls Club (In The Red)
• Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy (Matador)

7"s:

• Charles Albright - I'm On Drugs (S-S)
• Cheveu - Like A Deer In The Headlights (Born Bad)
• Estrogen Highs - Luxury Is God (Never Heard Of It)
• Francis Harold & The Holograms - Mirror of Fear (HoZac)
• The Pink Noise - Gold Light (Sacred Bones)
• Watery Love - Debut 45 (Richie)
• White Mystery - Powerglove (HoZac)
• Wounded Lion - Friendly? (In The Red) « Top of the year
• Woven Bones - Janie (Needless)
• XYX - Momento Ácido Contemporáneo (Skulltones)

EPs / middle of the road:

• Cacaw - Get A Brain EP 12" (Permanent)
• The Feeling of Love - Suck / Soul / Porn 12" (HBSP-2X)
• Flight - self-titled 10" (Kill Shaman)
• The Fresh & Onlys - Bomb Wombs CS (Fuck It Tapes)
• Lazer Crystal - EP 1 12" (HBSP-2X)
• Low Red Center - self-titled 10" (S-S)
• Mayyors - Deads EP 12" (Hurling Man)
• Naam - Kingdom 12" (Tee Pee)
• Timmy's Organism - Squeeze The Giant 2x7" (Sacred Bones) « Top of the year

official reissues:

• Boris - Boris at Last -Feedbacker- 12" (Conspiracy) [2004]
• Dead At 24 - Blast Off Motherfucker! LP (Ride The Snake) [1996]
• The Ex + Tom Cora - Scrabbling At The Lock LP (Ex Records) [1991]
• De Kift - Yverzucht LP (Mississippi) [1989]
• Flipper - Generic LP (4 Men With Beards) [1981]
• Lake of Dracula - Skeletal Remains LP (Rococo) [2006]
• The Monks - Black Monk Time 2xLP (Light In The Attic) [1966]
• Nirvana - "Bleach" 2xLP (Sub Pop) [1989]
• Shoes - Black Vinyl Shoes LP (Wah Wah) [1977] « Top of the year
• White Hills - Heads On Fire LP (Thrill Jockey) [2007]

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Jamie's Favorite Records of 2009 in no particular order

• Cobalt - Gin
• Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Dracula Boots
• Monks - Pretty Suzanne - 7"
• Umberto - From the Grave - Cassette
• Tiny Vipers - Life On Earth
• Naam - Kingdom
• Nudge - As Good As Gone
• Slayer - World Painted Blood
• Joker + Ginz - Purple City b/w Re-up 12"
• Harvestman - In A Dark Tongue
• Beak> - Beak>
• James Blackshaw - The Glass Bead Game
• Walls - Tread On Me EP
• V/A - Dub Echoes
• Cold Cave - Cremations
• Shit & Shine - 229-2299 Girls Against Shit!
• Anals - Total Anal
• Onna - Cortigana Dal Velo b/w Enfolding Your Breasts... 7"
• Twin Stumps - Twin Stumps
• Oneida - Rated O
• Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul
• Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
• Sylvester Anfang - II
• Black Math Horseman - Wylt
• Jesu - Opiate Sun