Music Releases 10-27-23
The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th. To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long! Pre-order 1989 (Taylor’s Version) now.
Package details:
1989 (Taylor’s Version) Vinyl
21 Songs
Including 5 previously unreleased songs from The Vault
1 of 4 Editions: Collectible album gatefold jacket with unique front and back cover art
2 Crystal Skies Blue vinyl discs
1 of 4 Editions: Collectible album sleeves including lyrics and never-before-seen photos for each version
As they set to work on their highly awaited sophomore album, Black Pumas broadened their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped from the cosmos. The debut was nominated for 7 Grammys and reached one million album equivalents. Chronicles Of A Diamond arrives as the fullest expression yet of their frenetic creativity and limitless vision.
Duran Duran return with their new album Danse Macabre. The 13 song collection features: three brand new songs; haunting covers of songs by artists such as Billie Eilish, Talking Heads, The Rolling Stones and The Specials; and new versions of Duran Duran classics from their own catalog. It also includes a rare b-side and fan favorite: “Secret Oktober 31st”. Guest artists include producer, guitarist and composer Nile Rodgers, Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin and former band members Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo. Exquisitely packaged with a fold-out poster, the record features images adapted from a collection of authentic vintage séance photos that band member Nick Rhodes sourced at auction.
“A lot of this record is questioning all the bad stuff we see in the world and the difficult things we go through in life, and asking how to deal with it,” says vocalist/guitarist Brian Fallon, whose bandmates include drummer Benny Horowitz, bassist Alex Levine, and lead guitarist Alex Rosamilia. “I think the answer is that we’re all in this together and that somehow makes it okay, even when it’s anything but easy. The main message of the album is empathy.”
The first release from their own Rich Mahogany Recordings (a label distributed via Thirty Tigers), History Books finds The Gaslight Anthem working with acclaimed producer/engineer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Death Cab for Cutie) and recording at his Bridgeport, CT-based Tarquin Studios. “We didn’t have any interest in reinventing what The Gaslight Anthem sounds like,” Fallon reveals. “We wanted to stay true to ourselves but also let Peter do what he does best, which is to make things sound beautiful and sad and fun and exciting all at the same time.” Featuring a guest appearance from longtime Gaslight Anthem champion Bruce Springsteen, History Books matches its unfussy yet gracefully crafted sound with the force-of-nature energy that’s defined the band since getting their start playing basement shows back in the mid-aughts. “None of us wanted to make a very somber or serious record showing how much we’ve matured,” says Fallon. “We’ve all changed and grown and learned so much, but the overall mood was a feeling of excitement to be back together and making music that means something to us.”
The follow-up to 2014’s Get Hurt, History Books takes its title from a heavy-hearted track about the power in letting go of what no longer serves you. “I think forgiveness is so important on so many levels, but I’ve learned that in some cases you need to cut ties with the people who’ve done you harm,” says Fallon. Rooted in lyrics that perfectly encapsulate Fallon’s penchant for gorgeously lived-in poetry (e.g., “Nights of smoke and dirty jokes/Darkened rooms with lonely ghosts/They were beautiful some time ago/But time keeps rollin’ us on”), “History Books” also echoes the album’s themes of transience and transcendence. “In some ways each song is a history book—they each tell a story of the past, and all the things that we’ve left behind,” Fallon points out.
The Mountain Goats
Jenny From Thebes [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Half Yellow/Half Black LP]
Vinyl: $22.98 Buy
Jenny from Thebes began its life as many albums by the Mountain Goats do, with John Darnielle playing the piano until a lyric emerged. That lyric, “Jenny was a warrior / Jenny was a thief / Jenny hit the corner clinic begging for relief,” became “Jenny III,” a song which laid down a challenge he’d never taken up before: writing a sequel to one of his most beloved albums. The Mountain Goats’ catalog is thick with recurring characters—Jenny, who originally appears in the All Hail West Texas track bearing her name, as well as in “Straight Six” from Jam Eater Blues and Transcendental Youth side two jam “Night Light,” is one of these, someone who enters a song unexpectedly, pricking up the ears of fans who are keen on continuing the various narrative threads running through the Mountain Goats’ discography before vanishing into the mist. In these songs, Jenny is largely defined by her absence, and she is given that definition by other characters. She is running from something. These features are beguiling, both to the characters who’ve told her story so far and to the listener. They invite certain questions: Who is Jenny, really? What is she running from? Well, she’s a warrior and a thief, and, this being an album by the Mountain Goats, it’s a safe bet whatever she’s fleeing is something bad. Something catastrophically bad. Jenny from Thebes is the story of Jenny, her southwestern ranch style house, the people for whom that house is a place of safety, and the west Texas town that is uncomfortable with its existence. It is a story about the individual and society, about safety and shelter and those who choose to provide care when nobody else will. This is what a follow-up to All Hail West Texas entails. But if you think about the Mountain Goats as they were in 2001, when Darnielle wrote and recorded that album on his own, mostly into his Panasonic RX-FT500 boombox, and how they are now as the recording and touring outfit of Darnielle, Peter Hughes, Matt Douglas, and Jon Wurster, you may find yourself asking how. That occurred to Darnielle, too. “If we’re going to do a sequel to a record that was recorded almost entirely on a boombox,” he asks, “why not do the opposite and make it as big as possible?” Decamping to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s legendary The Church Studio with Grammy-winning producer/engineer Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow’s The Globe Sessions), that is exactly what the Mountain Goats did. Jenny from Thebes is a lush collection of showtunes, pushing Darnielle as a vocalist and the Mountain Goats as a band, broadening their sonic palette once again by leaning into influences like Godspell, Jim Steinman, and The Cars. The resulting album cuts a path that is simultaneously full of allusions longtime Mountain Goats fans will spin entire mythologies from while also being their most inviting record for those who’ve yet to be converted to the cause. Lifted by Matt Douglas’ horn and string arrangements, the dreamy guitar of Bully leader (and Bleed Out producer) Alicia Bognanno, and backing vocals from Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s (“Only One Way,” “Same as Cash,” “Going to Dallas”) and Matt Nathanson (“Fresh Tattoo”), the album is a widescreen musical in scope, a melodrama of richly detailed characters and sweeping emotions. Explaining the title of the album, Darnielle notes that Jenny is not unlike a character from Greek literature, someone on the verge of an unimaginable tragedy whose signs and portents will not make themselves known to her until she finds herself amidst the wreckage. “These things never happen in isolation,” he says. “One bad event leads to and is the reason for another bad event. Jenny should know that you can’t keep a safehouse in a west Texas town, but she’s too wrapped up in the process and has to go through the loss to understand how it happened.” Whether or not she comes to understand how it happened, the events of Jenny from Thebes set Jenny on the run. A woman and her custom yellow and black Kawasaki held in the memories of a vanishing few, someone who held the gate for as long as she could, as a warrior might, before disappearing into the night like a thief.
Sam Hunt’s Between the Pines (Acoustic Mixtape) was originally released via his website in October 2013. Some of the songs later appeared on his debut studio album, Montevallo, while some were recorded by other artists. The mixtape was released in October 2015 by MCA Nashville. Now, it’s available for the first time on vinyl. This 2 LP set is pressed on CREAM vinyl. Indie Exclusive.
Platinum celebrates in a beautiful, collectable 4LP set, the 70th anniversary of Frank Sinatra signing to Capitol Records, a moment that transformed his career and solidified his standing as one of the greatest interpretive singers of all time. For the next ten years, Sinatra recorded more than three hundred songs for Capitol, the majority of them included on the landmark ‘concept’ albums Sinatra pioneered. It is arguably the finest body of recorded work in popular music.
Over 44 songs, Platinum features a cross-section of Sinatra’s best and most sought-after Capitol tracks, from the swinging “I Get A Kick Out Of You” and “Come Fly With Me” to the moody, breathtaking “Moonlight In Vermont” and “Only The Lonely,” with many highlights before, during and after these classic recordings. Also included are vault rarities, including session takes that reveal the man behind the mic.
The 4LPs are housed in a hardback, large format package that includes rare photos, an introductory essay and quotes from Sinatra and his arrangers. Platinum was curated by Charlie Pignone, President of Frank Sinatra Enterprises. An exclusive, limited e-commerce edition includes lithographs of Sinatra images from the Capitol era.
Prince & The New Power Generation’s multi-platinum album, Diamonds And Pearls, dazzlingly remastered for the very first time by Prince’s original mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.
- LP1-2: Diamonds And Pearls - Remastered for the very first time
- LP3-4: 15x newly Remastered Singles Mixes & Edits
- The Deluxe Edition contains 28 audio tracks on 4 black 180 gram LPs, capturing the very most important tracks released by Prince & The New Power Generation in 1991/92.
- The Deluxe Edition opens with Prince & The New Power Generation’s multi-platinum album, Diamonds And Pearls, dazzlingly remastered for the very first time by Prince’s original mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.
- Also included are 15 of the incredible remixes and B-sides from the era, including the never commercially released “Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Min.)” mix, all of which have also been remastered for the very first time.
Mayer Hawthorne cut his teeth in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he started making beats and DJing at the height of Detroit hip-hop. Since his debut heart-shaped seven-inch, Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out, dropped via Stones Throw in 2008, Hawthorne has released four LPs, raking in accolades from esteemed publications like GQ, New York Times Magazine, Playboy, and Rolling Stone. From NPR's proclamation of his imminent stardom to BBC Music's endorsement of his authentic soul, his artistry has captivated the hearts of critics and fans alike. With a wealth of additional press coverage and features in notable outlets such as Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and Vanity Fair, in addition to appearances on Conan, Letterman, Kimmel, The Today Show, and beyond, Hawthorne's cultural impact is undeniable.
Not only do critics and fans love Hawthorne, but his peers do, too. He opened for Amy Winehouse on her final tour before she tragically passed away, and served as direct support for Bruno Mars twice; he crafted modern yacht rock jams with Pharrell poolside in Miami and John Mayer called his debut the “album of the year” on Twitter. His songs have soundtracked episodes of Girls, the end credits of the final episode of Ugly Betty, and is the only non-Kanye song in the famed Spike Jonze directed short film, We Were Once A Fairytale. Hawthorne has written and produced the lion’s share of his catalog, and apart from his solo work, he collaborates with hip-hop producer Jake One on their boogie funk super-group, Tuxedo, which is now three albums and multiple world tours deep.
After the release of his last album Man About Town on Vagrant Records in 2016, Hawthorne launched the next phase of his career as a producer and writer for fellow artists. Recent credits include Jordan Ward’s single “Lil Baby Crush” released through Interscope Records,“Truth or Dare” by Chika featuring Freddie Gibbs, and most notably “Options featuring JID” from Doja Cat’s double platinum album Planet Her, which earned him a Grammy nomination.
This summer, Hawthorne debuted “The Pool,” a swirling, smoke-filled song that guides the listener towards transcendence. Written and produced entirely by Hawthorne, this song is where rebelliousness and carefree living intertwine, inviting you to embrace the thrill in psychedelic adventures. Now, Hawthorne is ready to share his fifth studio album, For All Time, an immersive experience that transcends boundaries and embraces the shadows. On this record, he delves deep into the depths of the human heart, exploring the complexities of love and the raw emotions that accompany it. It's a captivating blend of dark, sexy, and moody vibes that will transport you straight into a smoky, art deco jazz club. For All Time is a celebration of a love that burns with intensity, leaving an enduring mark on the soul.
Robert Finley
Black Bayou [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Olive Green w/Black Splatter LP]
Angie McMahon
Light, Dark, Light Again [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Transparent Green LP]
In This Moment’s eighth studio album, produced by Kane Churko and Tyler Bates. Featuring lead single “THE PURGE.”
The follow-up to the album containing the GRAMMY® Award-nominated single “The In-Between.”
Named after one of her signature catchphrases, Like..? is the best showcase yet for 23-year-old rapper Ice Spice’s defiant charm. Packed with Instagram caption-worthy lyrics and inventive instrumentals from Ice and her frequent collaborator and executive producer RIOTUSA, the Bronx Baddie's new project features the hits "Munch (Feelin U)," "Bikini Bottom," and "In Ha Mood." Deluxe Edition LP is pressed on BABY PINK vinyl and contains 5 bonus tracks, including the single “Deli,” and a new version of “Princess Diana” featuring Nicki Minaj.
Released in 1983 at the height of the Satanic Panic, SHOUT AT THE DEVIL catapulted MÖTLEY CRÜE to superstardom. Delivering on the hype and promise of their PLATINUM debut Too Fast For Love, MÖTLEY CRÜE second album hit the US Top 20 and was certified 4X PLATINUM. For many music fans, SHOUT AT THE DEVIL was the first time they witnessed an album with this imagery and lyrical content on mainstream retail shelves. 40 years later, THE CRÜE is still going strong, bigger than EVER and headlining STADIUMS around the World! So come now Children Of The Beast, be strong and SHOUT AT THE DEVIL...
SOUTHALL
Southall [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Black & White Splatter LP]
Vinyl: $24.98 Buy
Vinyl reissue of the long-out-print 2006 release. Peeping Tom is Mike Patton with special guests Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Dan The Automator and more.
Bruce Hornsby‘s landmark 1998 album Spirit Trail turns 25 this year. In September, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers will launch a fall tour honoring the occasion with a Spirit Trail: 25th Anniversary Edition boxed set.
Spirit Trail 25th Anniversary is a 3-album box set that includes the remastered album, four unreleased tracks and ten live songs.