Yessir! The end is nigh… so we thought we’d reveal what made our musical year worthwhile. In these internet-fueled times, tastes are so disparate & splintered, it’s always remarkable to see titles pop up on more than one list… it kind of galvanizes an album’s value amidst all the chatter.
So yeah, have a gander. We’ll post on our Facebook as well, please feel free to leave comments or your own lists!
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Pretty excited for RSD Black Friday tomorrow! We’re sure most of you remember how amazing Record Store Day was this past April – this Black Friday will be a nice addendum to that & a great way to officially start holiday shopping. Few points of note below…
This contest is great… you win an AUTOGRAPHED TEST PRESSING (!) of the Black Keys’ new album El Camino PLUS a pair of free tickets to see the Black keys the next time they hit Vancouver. To enter, simply pre-order the Black Keys’ new album El Camino (released on December 6).
Here is a list of all the titles that we know we’ll receive. We will not receive every RSD title, but this is a healthy chunk for sure. NOTE: the titles with “**” next to them have not yet arrived, but will show.
Ryan Adams “Do I Wait”/“Darkness” 7” vinyl 3000 US **
Back-Wash Rhythm Band, The Golden Breed Band 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Beatles, The The Singles Box Set 7” vinyl box
Black Keys, “Lonely Boy” 12“vinyl **
Boris, New Album LP/CD **
Brendan Benson Upstairs at United, Vol 1 12” vinyl
Byrds, “The Times They Are A Changin’” 7” vinyl 1200 US, 1000 International **
Byrds, “Eight Miles High” 7” vinyl 1200 US, 1000 International **
Chris Cornell Songbook Double LP 2000 US **
Dr. Dog “Warrior Man” 7” single
Dream Theater Metropolis PT2: Scenes from a Memory 12” vinyl 3000 US
Miles Davis, Miles Davis Quartet 10” vinyl 1800 US, 1200 international
Justin Townes Earle “Slippin’ & Slidin’” 7” vinyl 1000 US
Grateful Dead, The Live Europe ’72, Vol 2 4 LP vinyl 3000 US, 28 **
Iron & Wine Morning Becomes Eclectic 12” vinyl 3000 US
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Soul Time! CD 20,000 US
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Soul Time! 12” vinyl 5000 US
Kings Of Leon The Early Vinyl 4 LP Vinyl box set 3250 US; 1200 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Hot Rod Hootenanny 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Hot Rod Hootenanny CD 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Rods N Ratfinks 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Rods N Ratfinks CD 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Surfink! 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Surfink! CD 1200 US, 800 international
Nirvana Nevermind—The Singles 10” vinyl set 5000 US **
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Kiss My Amps Live 12” vinyl 5000 US
Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Suger Sex Magik double 12” vinyl 5170 US **
Rolling Stones, No Spare Parts 7” **
Soundgarden Live on I-5—Before The Doors Soundcheck EP 10” vinyl 4000 US
Pete Townshend The Quadrophenia Demos Volume 1 10” vinyl 4000 US
Type O Negative Type O Negative Vinyl Box Set 12” vinyl set 1000 US
Various Artists Wheedle’s Groove: Seattle’s Finest in Funk & Soul 1965- 79 7” box set 2000 US
Wilco Speak Into The Rose 10” vinyl
Yardbirds “Ha Ha Said The Clown” 7” vinyl 1600 US, 1200 international
Yardbirds “Ten Little Indians” 7” vinyl 1600 US, 1200 international
(Merge) 3 X 10”
At long last, this masterpiece from Stephen Merritt appears on wax, filling in one of the largest gaps in any indie-rock fan’s vinyl collection. What can be said about 69 Love Songs that hasn’t already been said? I’m not sure what it’s lasting legacy is: the ludicrous scope of this massive anthology of ballads or the fact that through SIXTY NINE tunes, there’s nary a dud! Merritt was in amazing form here, from post-Smiths charmers & synth-pop ditties to crushing mopers & stripped down poems. It’s a relief that gems like “No One Will Ever Love You”, “Death Of Ferdinand De Saussure”, “(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy” & “I Think I Need A New Heart” can now be played on yer trusty old turntable.
(Mute) CD/DVD
The second wave of Nick Cave reissues is upon us & while it was great to hear the improved fidelity of the early Bad Seeds releases, these are some of Cave’s essential albums, most notably The Good Son, which features some behemoth tracks: “The Ship Song”, “The Weeping Song” & “The Good Son”, all are here with a sharper, brighter sound pallette. Both Tender Prey (which features the classic “The Mercy Seat”) & Henry’s Dream (an under-rated Cave album if any) get the revamp as well, continuing a welcome reissue series that beckons a healthy revisiting of one of our generations best writers.
WE WILL BE OPENING AT 10am!
April 17 is officially Record Store Day! Last year was a great success with a bunch of exclusive & cool releases on RSD & this year promises to be even crazier.
For details on RSD & cool artist quotes/interviews, wander over the RSD site …
Along with sweet exclusives & a crazy amount of new releases in general, there are a few nifty things we’ll be adding on to make Saturday radder than the raddest radness, such as…
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Here’s our annual breakdown of what turned our cranks in 2009. An interesting year, with arguably the biggest album of the year (Merriweather Post Pavilion) released within the the first 30 days of the year’s start! Many were swooned by the Dirty Projectors’ r&b alt-pop; few could deny Grizzly Bear’s charms; and who didn’t sing along to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll”. Thanks for all the fun 2009…
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Wire are mindblowingly amazing. Learn about them here.
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(Basic Replay) CD
The Basic Replay label is dedicated to reissuing out of print reggae & dub releases. Timely appropriation aside, the label knows what its doing; this CD compiles notable dancehall, reggae & dub standouts from a myriad of artists, including Jackie Mittoo, Keith Hudson & Barry Brown among others. A handful of tracks are followed by their instrumental version, illuminating the brilliant production being resurrected here. Fans of the UK’s current wave of dub step should check out this great compilation of influential sounds.
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(Soul Jazz) CD & LP
Soul Jazz continues its amazing look at forgotten, under-appreciated & just down right amazing moments in musical history. The New Orleans Funk compilations take an amazing look at a city that has deep musical roots; N.O. was an integral city at Jazz’s birth & the legacy of this musical tradition is documented here. Packaged with extensive sleeve notes & pictures, this is a great document of a city that boasts talents which extend beyond that of just Fats Domino & The Meters. The word “funk” does this collection no justice. You’ll be surprised how many of these tunes you know…
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(Strut) CD
A great look at the brilliant fusion of dub reggae, pop & new wave that crept from Island founder Chris Blackwell’s Compass Point Studios, located in the Bahamas. The Compass Point All Stars (which included Sly & Robbie) were a malleable in-house team responsible for some brilliant club-bound music of the 80’s. Talking Heads, Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club & Sly Dunbar all feature here, placed amongst a brilliant mix of some of the most adventurous productions of the 80’s.
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