New Releases & Staff Picks - 7/12/24

STAFF PICKS
Lindsay - Chris Cohen, Brian Eno, Luke Temple, Jake Xerxes Fussel
Dario - Luke Temple and Orquesta Akokán
Kimber - Orquesta Akokán
Jake - Jake Xerxes Fussel and Thom Yorke
Zach - Claire Rousay, Clairo and Chris Cohen
Ash - Arthur Baker comp and Ani DiFranco

Cigarettes After Sex – X’s CD/LP/Cassette (Partisan)
With the release of Cigarettes After Sex's third album, X's, the band finally takes center stage as not just one of today's preeminent indie bands, but as one of the most globally accomplished acts across any genre. Filled with raw, imagistic, sometimes smutty vignettes set to entrancing, slow burn pop songs, bandleader Greg Gonzalez captures every emotion a romantic arc inspires. [A deluxe LP housed in a gatefold jacket printed on silver foil board with exclusive lyric and photo book and an indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing are available.]

Thom Yorke – Confidenza: Music For The Film By Daniele LuchettiCD/LP (XL)
Thom Yorke composed the original score for Daniele Luchetti's film Confidenza, an adaptation of the Italian drama based on Domenico Starnone's novel of the same name, which premiered at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam and will be out in Italian theaters in April 2024. Confidenza follows Yorke's previous full-length score work for a narrative film, Luca Guadagnino's 2018's Suspiria remake. As of late Yorke has been touring with The Smile, a project with Sons of Kemet Tom Skinner and fellow Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood. [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Clairo – Charm CD/LP/Cassette (Clairo)
American indie-pop luminary Clairo returns with their third album, Charm, co-produced by Clairo and Leon Michels (of The Dap-Kings and El Michels Affair)! Evoking balmy summer evenings and tête-à-têtes in plush conversation pits, Charm is a collection of warm, ‘70s-inspired grooves that move lithely between jazz, psychedelic folk and soul. [An indie store exclusive purple color vinyl pressing is available.]

Johnny Blue Skies – Passage Du Desir CD/LP (High Top Mountain)
After promising to release only five studio albums under his own name, Sturgill Simpson marks the beginning of a new era with Johnny Blue Skies and the release of Passage Du Desir. Released on his own independent label, High Top Mountain Records, the album includes eight songs produced by Johnny Blue Skies and David Ferguson and recorded at Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville, TN and Abbey Road Studios in London, England. [An indie store exclusive gold color vinyl pressing is available.]

Chris Cohen – Paint A Room CD/LP (Hardly Art)
Chris Cohen was always a quiet kid. In fact, this introversion was one reason he began playing music as a toddler-to communicate without speaking, to identify with others without the direct representation of words. It has worked, too, with Cohen's terrific stint in the mighty Deerhoof and his own captivating art-rock act The Curtains, preceding production and session work for the likes of Weyes Blood, Kurt Vile, Le Ren, and Marina Allen. Somewhere along that long way, Cohen started writing lyrics. He found that, though it didn't come naturally, the process offered a new sense of self-discovery and reckoning, a way to see himself and the world from unexpected angles. His three twilit albums of casually complicated pop during the last decade radiated these epiphanies: handling family strife, navigating advancing age, and understanding social woes. But Cohen has never had as much to sing so directly as he does on Paint A Room, his first album in five years. [A red color vinyl pressing is available.]

Orquesta Akokán – Caracoles LP+MP3 (Daptone)
Grammy-nominated Orquesta Akokán continue to vibrantly usher the mambo into the 21st century and offer a glorious return to the iconic grooves of an era indelibly marked by Benny Moré and Perez Prado in New York bands and Cuba's orquestas gigantes of the mid-twentieth century. The album's fierce, effervescent grooves are designed to transmit feelings and emotions; this is music which inspires the body to move and the mind to uplift. [An indie store exclusive blue color vinyl pressing is available. CD version due July 19.]

Jake Xerxes Fussel – When I’m Called CD/LP (Fat Possum)
Over the last decade, North Carolina's Jake Xerxes Fussell has established himself as a devoted listener and contemplative interpreter of a vast array of lovingly sourced folk songs. On his fifth album, When I'm Called- his first LP for Fat Possum- Fussell returns to a well of music that holds lifelong sentimental meaning, contemplating the passage of time and the procession of life's unexpected offerings.

Luke Temple & The Cascading Moms – Certain Limitations LP (Western Vinyl)
Lauded for his contributions to Here We Go Magic and Art Feynman, Luke Temple brings his signature off-kilter grooves and melodies to his new project's debut album Certain Limitations. The trio's sound takes influence from the likes of Dire Straits and The Velvet Underground, weaving together intricate guitar work, and a propulsive rhythm section, with a touch of jazz sensibility that recalls the ECM catalog. A product of serendipity, The Cascading Moms were formed when in need of a band for an upcoming show, Temple brought together Kosta Galanopolous, a collaborator from his Art Feynman project, and Stuart, a musician he already knew in LA.

Phish – Evolve CD/LP (Jemp)
Recorded in the fall of 2023 at the band's studio The Barn, Evolve (the 16th studio album by Phish) was produced by Vance Powell and Bryce Goggin with the 12 songs emerging from the band's dynamic live performances. Some, like fan favorite "A Wave Of Hope," have become springboards for Phish's most soaring improvisation. The songcraft and production are confident and taut, with Phish's distinct musical language on vivid display; still pushing boundaries, still very much continuing to evolve. [Multiple vinyl colors are available, including indie store exclusive ‘solar discus’ pressing.]

Billy Strings – Live Vol. 1 CD/LP (Reprise)
Billy Strings, born William Apostol on October 3, 1992, in Lansing, Michigan, is an acclaimed American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He developed a deep love for bluegrass music at an early age, heavily influenced by his stepfather, Terry Barber, who introduced him to the genre. Billy's virtuosic guitar playing and innovative approach to traditional bluegrass have garnered widespread recognition and acclaim. Strings released his debut album, Turmoil & Tinfoil, in 2017, showcasing his extraordinary talent and blending of bluegrass with other musical influences such as rock and psychedelia. His follow-up album, Home, released in 2019, won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, further cementing his reputation as one of the leading figures in contemporary bluegrass music. [An indie store exclusive translucent blue color vinyl pressing is available.]

Travis – L.A. Times CD/LP (BMG)
Glasgow's multiple BRIT and Ivor Novello-winning songwriting giants Travis return with 2024's L.A. Times, their tenth studio album. An incredible achievement that arrives 25 years since the band released their breakthrough #1 album The Man Who, L.A. Times marks the beginning of a bold new era for the band. "L.A. Times is our most personal album since The Man Who," says Fran Healy. "There was a lot of big stuff to write about back then, the tectonic plates had shifted in my life. I was 22 when I was writing those songs. They were my therapy. Over 20 years later and the plates have shifted again. There's a lot to talk about."

Deer Tick – Contractual Obligations 12” (Virgin Music)
Deer Tick's Contractual Obligations, contains 8 songs recorded with producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Sleater-Kinney) during the sessions for their latest album Emotional Contracts. The EP arrives as the band celebrates its 20th anniversary, and it is a heavy-hearted yet wildly life-affirming portrait of growing older without losing heart.

Brijean – Macro CD/LP (Ghostly Int’l)
Since their debut as Brijean, the project of percussionist/singer-songwriter Brijean Murphy (the percussive heartbeat for live bands like Mitski, Poolside, and Toro y Moi) and multi-instrumentalist/producer Doug Stuart has moved with ingenuity, fusing psych-pop abstraction with dance floor sensibilities. Through the body and mind, rhythm and lyricism, they make sense of the worlds around and within. [A color vinyl pressing is available.]

Ani DiFranco – Unprecidented Sh!t CD/LP (Righteous Babe)
These days, every artist's album needs to have a story. The music can't speak for itself. But after 22 records, why can't Ani DiFranco's work speak for itself? Yes, her album is shaped by stories - ones about reproductive freedom, the double-edged sword of the pandemic, identity and ever-evolving belief systems that have shaped each of its 11 songs. It was paramount to the folk-feminist hero that listeners not be saddled with preconceived notions while diving into her 23rd album Unprecedented Sh!t. [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]

The Dip – Love Direction CD/LP (Yep Roc)
The Dip is a Seattle-based rhythm and blues band that is known for its poignant songwriting, detailed arrangements, and vintage sound. Featuring a three-piece horn section, the group's music harkens back to earlier soul and funk influences while hinting at the jazz foundations that brought the band's members together. 

Brian Eno – Eno (Original Soundtrack) CD/2xLP (Verve)
Official soundtrack to the 2024 Gary Hustwit documentary Eno - the definitive documentary about visionary musician and artist Brian Eno, and a ground-breaking generative film that's different every time it's shown. The official soundtrack features 17 tracks from throughout Eno's prolific recording career, including three previously unreleased recordings.

Odesza – The Last Goodbye Tour Live 2xCD/3xLP+MP3 (Ninja Tune)
Four-time Grammy-nominated duo Odesza return with their first live album ever, The Last Goodbye Tour Live, which caps off a massive two years of touring that saw them play to over 1.5M fans. The record features live vocal performances from guest artists such as Leon Bridges, Sudan Archives, Naomi Wild, Charlie Houston, Låpsley, MARO, Izzy Bizu, and more. [A clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Speed – Only One Mode CD/LP/Cassette (Flatspot)
Speed is a hardcore band from Australia who surpassed what they thought they might do at the start, and has since doubled down, Only One Mode, as fast and as hard as possible. Speed is doing what they do for the love of their friends, family, and the culture of Australian hardcore.

Various Artists – Arthur Baker Presents Breakers Revenge - Original B-Boy and B-Girl Breakdance Classics 1970-84 CD/2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)
Compiled by legendary producer Arthur Baker, Breakers Revenge is a near-definitive collection of original funk, soul, Latin, disco and electro classic tracks from 1970-1984. These tracks, a combination of classics and obscurities, have all since become legendary to breakdancers everywhere. First played at South Bronx block parties, community halls and park jams in the 1970s and ‘80s, spun endlessly by the first three major hip-hop DJs - Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa - and found in the record crates of any DJ of note ever since.

The Bolshoi – Friends [Reissue/1986] LP (Beggars Banquet)
White colorway of the 1986 debut album by the alternative rock band. Friends reached the top of the Alternative charts, and the album’s first single “Away” hit #1 on the CMJ charts.

Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise [Reissue/2010 LP (Hopeless)
Blue, red & yellow splatter colorway. Emerging out of the Philadelphia suburb of Doylestown, Circa Survive is known for being the leaders of progressive emo rock and boasts one of the most rabid fanbases in the scene. Their major label debut, Blue Sky Noise, completely remastered, shows the band at their best. 

Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band [Reissue/2009] LP (Sub Pop)
Fruit Bats celebrate the 15th anniversary of their acclaimed 2009 album The Ruminant Band with a new, limited-edition pink vinyl pressing. Over the course of the band's prior three records, Eric D. Johnson's Fruit Bats have looked for ways to file down the cynical edge of modern life and found many. Using bright melodies, defiantly major-key chord structures, natural imagery mixed with the occasional blazing insight and tender observation, the Fruit Bats have never shied away from darkness, but more uncommon now, they've refused to shy away from light. With The Ruminant Band, this tradition continues in characteristically rich and involving fashion. 

Dexter Gordon – North Sea Jazz Concert Series 1979 LP (North Sea Jazz)
White vinyl. Dexter Gordon (1923 - 1990) was a giant in every respect. Both his height and his playing exuded authority. He had the power to draw conclusions amid many musical impressions and, carefree of other people's opinions, said/played things as they were. He was one of the first tenor saxophonists to play modern jazz after the big band style, making him a source of inspiration for many. On July 15, 1979, he joined North Sea Jazz with his accompanying trio consisting of pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Eddie Gladden.

Laraaji – Glimpses Of Infinity LP (Numero)
An overview of Laraaji's earliest works, Glimpses of Infinity gathers selections from his 1978 debut Celestial Vibrationand six additional studio sessions from the era. Full of discovery and wonderment, Glimpses of Infinity is a miraculous chronicle of New Age's most fabled artist. 

The Sugarcubes – Stick Around For Joy [Reissue/1992] LP (One Little Independent)
Recut vinyl reissue of the third and final studio album by The Sugarcubes.

Various Artists – Eccentric Soul: The Cuca Label 2xLP (Numero)
Late night '60s R&B caught on tape at Jim Kirchstein's jack-of-all genres Cuca studio. Released on minuscule pressings into the Wisconsin wilderness, these 26 sasquatch-rare tracks uncover the soulful paths between the Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, and Rockford scenes. Featuring Harvey Scales, Step By Step, Betty Moorer, Seven Sounds, Twiliters, Birdlegs & Pauline, Esquires, Artie & The Pharaohs, and Fantastic Six, this 2xLP tells an alternate history of soul music that could only happen in the Hinterlands on Highway 12.

Tom Verlaine – Around [Reissue/2006] LP (Real Gone Music)
Brown LP. Around picks up the lofty mantle of the Warm And Cool album that was released 14 years prior with another set of utterly mesmerizing instrumentals, ranging from solo, almost raga-esque explorations ("Flame") to post-rock vamps ("Balcony") to abstract sketches ("A Burned Letter") to the kind of indescribable, utterly gorgeous beauty that only this man and his guitar could pull off ("Eighty-Eights").

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong - Psychology LP (No Coincidence)
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has been turning heads coast-to-coast with their high-energy psychedelic funk shows for over 15 years. In 2014, the fledgling flock released their now-classic studio album, Psychology. Featuring fan-favorite songs like "Horizon" and "Melting Lights," the album has produced 40 million streams on Spotify alone. Since its release, 'Psychology' has come to represent everything the band stands for, with its hypnotic hybrid of funk, rock, and infectious groove. PPPP celebrates the anniversary with the first-ever vinyl pressing of their definitive studio work. Available on limited edition 180g Splatter Vinyl.

Julia Holter - Never Rarely Sometimes Always--Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP (Real Gone)
This 2020 film has already become an indie classic, and it’s taken on a timeliness that its creators could not have foreseen. Teenage Autumn has to flee her rural Pennsylvania town in search of an abortion, leaving behind her abusive partner, her indifferent parents (singer Sharon Van Etten plays her mother), and her callous community as she embarks on a journey to New York City accompanied by her cousin Skylar. No matter your stance on the subject, Autumn’s harrowing odyssey provokes compassion and contemplation, two states of mind in short supply these days. And accompanying Autumn every step of the way on her journey is the mesmerizing and, at times, achingly sad score by cult favorite composer Julia Holter. 

Various - I Saw The TV Glow Soundtrack LP (a24)
Original Soundtrack for A24's I SAW THE TV GLOW, featuring 16 original songs by an all-star ensemble, including Caroline Polachek, Florist and Jay Som. Also featuring a vinyl-only exclusive bonus track, "Tonight Tonight" by Snail Mail. Pressed on violet vinyl. 

Salute - True Magic LP (Ninja Tune)
Following a stellar year of packed out shows across the globe and scorcher hits from their latest Shield EP, salute is set to release their much anticipated album TRUE MAGIC on Ninja Tune. The Manchester-based artist is due to roll the album out with tracks featuring vocals and production from a groundbreaking array of artists such as Disclosure, Rina Sawayama, piri, Sam Gellaitry, Empress Of, Karma Kid, Léa Sen, LEILAH, and Minami!

Metronomy - Posse EP Vol 2 12” (Ninja Tune)
Metronomy are undoubtedly one of the defining alternative acts of the 21st Century, renowned for their perfectly crafted electronic pop songcraft as well as good time live show which has seen them grace the stage at festivals and headline shows all over the world. Now Metronomy are now beginning their next chapter as they sign to Ninja Tune. The first release in this new relationship is the second chapter in Metronomy’s Posse EP series. These EP’s are a collection of collaborations where Metronomy invite a hand-picked selection of rising talent to join them on every track. The guests for this second edition of the EP include a smorgasbord of exciting talent from around the globe such as Nourished By Time, Pan Amsterdam, Lynks, Master Peace, Faux Real, Naima Bock, Joshua Idehen, Miki, Spider and TaliaBle. 

Claire Rousay - Sentiment LP (Thrill Jockey)
Sentiment is a meditation of the poignant emotional terrains of loneliness, nostalgia, sentimentality, guilt, and sex. The album’s narrative arc is guided by delicate musical gestures and artistic vulnerability, audaciously synthesizing disparate and unexpected influences. Claire Rousay is a singular artist, known for challenging conventions in experimental and ambient music forms. Rousay masterfully incorporates textural found sounds, sumptuous drones and candid field recordings into music that celebrates the beauty in life’s banalities. 

Joe Goddard - Harmonics CD/LP (Domino)
Harmonics is the brand-new album from Joe Goddard. It is a record rooted in warmth, instinct and empathy. Across 14 tracks of left-of-center dance music – touching on UK garage, house, hip-hop, pop, and disco – Goddard opens the floor for a number of collaborators including Barrie, Fiorious, Tom McFarland (Jungle), Alabaster DePlume, Ibibio Sound Machine, Hayden Thorpe, Findia, Oranj, Falle Nioke, Alexis Taylor and Al Doyle (Hot Chip/LCD Soundsystem). 

Lee Morgan - Sidewinder LP (Blue Note)
Limited edition 180 gram repressing on blue vinyl. 

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin Else LP (Blue Note)
Limited edition 180 gram repressing on blue vinyl. 

COMING NEXT WEEK!
GLASS ANIMALS - I Love You So F###ing Much CD/LP
MELISSA CARPER - Borned In Ya CD/LP
ORQUESTA AKOKAN - Caracoles CD
DR DOG - Self Titled CD/LP
FINK - Beauty In Your Wake CD/LP
FREE THROW - Self Titled / Lavender Town LP
ONEIDA - Expensive Air CD/LP
RAVEONETTES - Sing LP
PARLOR GREENS - In Green We Dream CD/LP
ELORI SAXL - Drifts + Surfaces CD/LP
LILACS + CHAMPAGNE - Fantasy World CD/LP
AFI - Black Sails In The Sunset LP colored reissue
BEACHWOOD SPARKS - Across The River Of Stars CD/LP
CLAN OF XYMOX - Exodus LP reissue
DURAN DURAN - Big Thing LP reissue
DURAN DURAN - Self Titled LP reissue
DURAN DURAN - Notorious LP reissue
Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger LP reissue
GROWLERS - Chinese Fountains LP colored reissue
SONIC YOUTH - Hits Are For Squares LP reissue
VINCE STAPLES - Dark Times LP
MR BUNGLE - Quote Unquote 6 LP