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Parasolarians'
Top Picks of 2003
Parasolarians'
Top Picks of 2004
Parasolarians'
Top Picks of 2005
Parasolarians'
Top Picks of 2006
Parasolarians'
Top Picks of 2007
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Every week we Parasol folks confess to what's been thrilling
us during the past week.
You can contribute as well, just email us your week's list (link
below) and we'll post it!
Personal Playlists
Send your entries to: angie@parasol.com
RE: Personal Picks |
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JUNE 9, 2009 |
JIM:
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Oneida
- Rated O CD |
PAUL:
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Young
Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is CD
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| ANGIE:
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Gina
Villalobos - Days On Their Side CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JUNE 9, 2009 |
JIM:
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Assemble
Head in Sunburst Sound - Ekranoplan
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ROY:
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Wand
- Hard Knox
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| ANGIE:
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The
Coral Sea - Firelight
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Welcome
to thrillsville, MAY 19, 2009 |
JIM:
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The
Bats - The Guilty Office
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ROY:
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Iron
And Wine - Around The Well
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| GEOFF:
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Comet
Gain - Realistes
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ANGIE:
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Comet
Gain - Broken Record Prayers
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Welcome
to thrillsville, APRIL 28, 2009 |
JIM:
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The
Horse's Ha - Of the Cathmawr Yards
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ROY:
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Kurt
Vile & the Violators - The Hunchback EP
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| GEOFF:
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Tinted
Windows - Tinted Windows
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ANGIE:
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Yeah
Yeah Yeahs! - It's Blitz
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Welcome
to thrillsville, APRIL 21, 2009 |
JIM:
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Wooden
Shjips- Dos
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ROY:
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Larry
Murray - Sweet Country Suite
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ANGIE:
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Wooden
Shjips- Dos
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Welcome
to thrillsville, APRIL 14, 2009 |
JIM:
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Shogun
Kunitoki - Vinonaamakasio
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ROY:
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Wooden
Shjips- Dos
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GEOFF:
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J.J.
Cale - The Very Best Of J.J. Cale
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ANGIE:
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Mono
- Hymn To The Immortal Wind
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Welcome
to thrillsville, MARCH 24, 2009 |
JIM:
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Died
Pretty - Free Dirt [deluxe expanded re-issue] CD
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ROY:
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Grateful
Dead - American Beauty CD
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GEOFF:
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Outrageous
Cherry - S/T CD
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PAUL:
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Obits
- I Blame You CD
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ANGIE:
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Maria
Taylor - Lady Luck CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, MARCH 17, 2009 |
JIM:
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The
Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion CD
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ROY:
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Wavves
- Wavvves CD
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GEOFF:
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Death
- For the Whole World to See CD
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PAUL:
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Pretty
Things - Phillippe Debarge CD
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| ANGIE:
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Neko
Case - Middle Cyclone CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 |
JIM:
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Triffids
- Born Sandy Devotional [re-issue] CD
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ROY:
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Vetiver
- Tight Knit CD
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GEOFF:
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Eels
- Blinking Lights CD
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ANGIE:
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Lucinda
Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - Deluxe CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, FEBRUARY 3, 2009 |
JIM:
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Mazes
- Mazes CD
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ROY:
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Country
Funk - Self-Titled (reissue) CD
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PAUL:
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The
Beatles - Abbey Road LP
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ANGIE:
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Sally
Crewe & The Sudden Moves -Your Nearest Exit May Be Behind
You CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JANUARY 27, 2009 |
JIM:
|
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Joe
Pug - Nation of Heat EP CD5
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ROY:
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Surf
City - Self-Titled CD
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GEOFF:
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Kinks
- Picture Book (Box Set) CD
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PAUL:
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Fireman
- The Electric Arguments CD
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ANGIE:
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Honeychurch
- Early Times 2001-2004 CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, NOVEMBER 11, 2008 |
| JIM:
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Mellow
- Perfect Colors CD
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| ROY: |
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Mellow
- Perfect Colors CD
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| GEOFF:
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National
- Boxer CD
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ANGIE:
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Band
Of Annuals - LIVE EP CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, OCTOBER 14, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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Park
Hotell - Free For Friends CD
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ROY:
|
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Whitehouse
"Asceticists 2006" LP $22.50 (Very Friendly/Susan
Lawly)
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| ANGIE: |
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Band
Of Annuals - Let Me Live CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, OCTOBER 14, 2008 |
JIM:
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Clash
Live At Shea Stadium CD
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ROY:
|
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Dennis
Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue 3XLP
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| GEOFF:
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Bob
Dylan: Tell Tale Signs - The Bootleg Series Vol 8 CD
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| ANGIE: |
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Murder
By Death - Red of Tooth and Claw CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, OCTOBER 10, 2008 |
JIM:
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U2
- Under A Blood Red Sky [expanded deluxe re-issue] CD/DVD
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ROY:
|
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Josephine
Foster "This Coming Gladness" LP $22.25 (Bo Weavil)
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| GEOFF:
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Creedence
Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory CD
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| ANGIE: |
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Toadies
- No Deliverance CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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Motorpsycho
- Little Lucid Moments CD
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ROY:
|
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Vivian
Girls "I Can't Stay" 45
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| ANGIE: |
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Tractor
Kings - Homesick CD
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Welcome
to thrillsville, SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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Mercury
Rev - Snowflake Midnight CD
When a band of this caliber decides to experiment with epic
electronica and krautrock, who's to argue?
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ROY:
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Vivian
Girls "Tell The World" 45 $5.25 (Woodsist)
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| ANGIE: |
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Dean
& Britta - L'Avventura [expanded re-issue] CD
"...I
was pretending that I was in...a Galaxy 500 video...
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| PAUL: |
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Matthew
Sweet - Sunshine Lies
Pauly is out on tour playing guitar with Matthew! We miss him
so!
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Welcome
to thrillsville, AUGUST 26, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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Mercury
Rev - Yerself Is Steam/Lego My Ego DCD
Count
me among those seducers, bonged-out lovers and fine-eager seekers
who was instantly transported to age 23 once again, re-experiencing
one of the finest debuts in post-modern psych-rockdom. Fans
of early-to-mid-period Flaming Lips need to re-embrace this
wiser and indeed weirder thing.
|
ROY:
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Hey
Mercedes - Unorchestrated 12"
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| ANGIE: |
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Neilson
Hubbard - I Love Your Muscles CD Love Love Love
everything Neilson does...why isn't this guy famous???
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| PAUL: |
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Matthew
Sweet - Sunshine Lies
Pauly is out on tour playing guitar with Matthew! We miss him
so!
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Welcome
to thrillsville, AUGUST 19, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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Eddie
Vedder - Into The Wild (OST) CD
It's been long time since I could even
listen to Eddie Vedder but his solo, mostly acoustic songs for
an pretty awesome motion picture has been my Summer soundtrack.
The perfect score for large-scale gardening projects, patio
re-reconstruction and gutter painting, along with countless
High Lifes, Red Stripes and Mothership Wits.
|
ROY:
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Bongripper
- Hate Ashbury (Cassette)
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| ANGIE: |
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CSS
- Donkey CD
I heard a CSS song on the local college radio station and fell
in love. It's everything I love the most. Like 2008's answer
to the Go-Go's (in a really good way!) HOOT
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| PAUL: |
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Matthew
Sweet - Sunshine Lies
(ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE AUGUST 26TH)
Pauly is out on tour playing bass with Matthew! We miss him
so!
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Welcome
to thrillsville, AUGUST 5, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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U2
- Boy [expanded deluxe re-issue] CD
U2
- October
[expanded deluxe re-issue] CD |
U2
- War [expanded deluxe re-issue]CD (ALL ON SALE)
U2’s first three albums have been remastered
and were released July 22nd. Following the remastered release
of The Joshua Tree last year, Edge has overseen a similar remastering
of Boy (1980), October (1981) and War (1983). All of which have
been remastered from the original audio tapes. Deluxe double
version including a disc of b-sides, live tracks and rarities.
The packaging on all three titles has been restored and expanded,
with new liner notes for each record, previously unseen photos
and full lyrics, purportedly housed in a book like Joshua Tree.
|
ANGIE:
|
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Black
Kids - Partie Traumatic CD
Debut album produced by Bernard Butler (Suede. PITCHFORK: "Black
Kids make catchy, tightly executed songs that put a memorable
stamp on pop's classic themes."
|
| ROY: |
 |
Various
- Yee-Haw!: The Other Side of Country
CD
|
| PAUL: |
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Dr.
Dog - Fate CD
Fate" sees the Philadelphia-based quintet filtering
the gamut of American popular music into its own idiosyncratic
brand of blue-eyed, dilated-pupil soul. As ever, Dr. Dog makes
magic from an enduring pop palette of intricate harmonies, shape-shifting
melodies, and ramshackle audio ingenuity - all presented through
the band's slightly skewed and utterly individualistic outlook.
Dr. Dog have toured with Wilco, Strokes, Raconteurs, Black Keys,
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Magic Numbers, Cold War Kids, and
more.
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JULY 29, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
{{{Sunset}}}
- The Glowing City CD
{{{Sunset}}} follow-ups their spellbinding debut, Bright
Blue Dream, with The Glowing City, equal parts seamless song
cycle and singles collection. Skip around, spend some time with
a suite of tracks, or take it in all at once. Songs about reflection,
exhaustion of life and circumstance, join with pop sensibilities
in a beautifully comic-tragic fashion.
|
ANGIE:
|
|
Band
Of Annuals - Let Me Live CD
An amazing combo of devastating heartbreaking alt-country earnestness
and perfect pop-hook craftsmanship. This 6-piece Salt Lake City
band will remind you of the likes of Ryan Adams, Magnolia Electric
Co., Neko Case, Damian Jurado and many others. A+
|
| ROY: |
 |
Beachwood
Sparks - Once We Were Trees CD Cailfornian
country-rock & Essex Green-styled psych whimsey. Stereophonic
earcandy, countrified rock, pastoral psych, & Haight-Ashbury
collide.
|
| PAUL: |
 |
Guy
Clark - Old No. 1 CD
His debut from '75 is one of the all time classic country
singer-songwriter records. From the rollicking Texas swing of
opener "Rita Ballou" to the fingerpicked heartbreak
of closer "Let Him Roll" there is not a stinker to
be found. Feat. EMMYLOU HARRIS, RODNEY CROWELL & a young
STEVE EARLE.
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JULY 22, 2008 |
JIM:
|
|
{{{Sunset}}}
- The Glowing City CD
{{{Sunset}}} follow-ups their spellbinding debut, Bright
Blue Dream, with The Glowing City, equal parts seamless song
cycle and singles collection. Skip around, spend some time with
a suite of tracks, or take it in all at once. Songs about reflection,
exhaustion of life and circumstance, join with pop sensibilities
in a beautifully comic-tragic fashion.
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Various
Artists - Thank You For the Music (Licking Fingers) CD
Sweden's Licking Fingers label (home to Concretes, Frida Hyvonen,
El Perro del Mar) offer this new comp enshrining the best of
contemporary Swedish music. 21 songs, including a few unreleased
tracks, digipacked and ready to go! Features Anna Järvinen,
Jens Lekman, Lykke Li, Shout Out Louds, Concretes, Radio Dept,
Studio, Loney Dear, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, El Perro del
Mar, The Tiny, Frida Hyvönen, Nicolai Dunger, many more.
|
| ROY: |
 |
Beck
- Sea Change CD
From 2002...
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|
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JULY 8, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Beaujolais
- Love At Thirty CD
Debut album from Beaujolais, AKA Joe Ziemba, former
frontman for Wolfie (Mud, March, Kindercore, Parasol), Busytoby
(Parasol) and The Like Young (Parasol, Polyvinyl). Conceptual,
personal, monumental.
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
X
- See How We Are (+6) CD
Remastered reissue with 6 bonus tracks. Includes 4th Of July,
See How We Are, & I'm Lost. 20 page booklet.
|
GEOFF:
|
 |
Wendy
& Bonnie - Genesis CD
San Francisco based teen sisters melodic confections
from 1968. Breezy Brazilian splashes, soft-rock strains &
sisterly harmony.
|
| ROY: |
 |
Woods
- At Rear House CD
Combination of campfire folk & strange assembly
techniques that should make mouth-breathers everywhere tingle
with desire. Indeed, there is muchto like about the way these
guys play by the numbers, then fall apart and reassemble themselves
in different guises. Gotta say, the new-folk reaction to noise
is pretty damn dandy.-Byron Coley, WIRE
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|
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JUNE 24, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Deadman
- Euphoria CD
Dead Man mine the birth of stoner rock, from the Grateful
Dead to Iron Butterfly, trippy and heavy in qual doses, and
now they've signed to Meteor City... Euphoria is much darker
and heavier than their debut self-titled album while maintaining
a thoroughly vintage vibe. There are bluesy up-tempo rockers
alongside melodic folk-pop masterpieces and an unexpected turn
into dark and psyched-out heavy rock. While their debut Self
Titled album made a huge impact on the stoner/prog rock fanatics,
Euphoria will establish Dead Man with cult-status like their
contemporaries Witchcraft and Black Mountain have achieved.
|
ANGIE:
|
|
Beaujolais
- Love At Thirty CD
Debut album from Beaujolais, AKA Joe Ziemba, former
frontman for Wolfie (Mud, March, Kindercore, Parasol), Busytoby
(Parasol) and The Like Young (Parasol, Polyvinyl). Conceptual,
personal, monumental.
|
PAUL:
|
 |
Dennis
Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue [Legacy Edition] CD
Long
lost album, found. And augmented. Pure genius. After 30 years,
this lost classic reemerges to the delight of fans worldwide.
Since coming out in 1977, this CD had only been released for
six months in 1991. This collections contains never officially
released tracks from Dennis' Bambu album which only existed
as bootlegs for decades. Per Dennis Wilson 'Everything that
I am or will ever be is in the music. If you want to know me,
just listen.' Features 'Holy Man' an unfinished track that never
received Dennis' vocal part with Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters
laying down brand new vocals. This limited edition deluxe packing
feature 50 page, full color book with two brand new essays and
never-before-seen photos and memorabilia.
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| ROY: |
 |
Ron
Sexsmith - Exit Strategy of the Soul CD
Sexsmith expands his musical canon w/ vaulted yet direct
string arrangements & sweeping horn sections, resulting
in a work equal in musical breadth & emotional depth. Delving
deep into Cuban music, Sexsmith recruited legendary Cuban musicians
AMAURY PEREZ & ALEXANDER ABREU as well as experienced arranger
JOAQUIN BETANCOURT to lend latin punch & style to his sweeping,
yearnful melodies. The standout track 'Brandy Alexander,' was
co-written w/ fellow Canadian singer-songwriter FEIST.
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|
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Welcome
to thrillsville, JUNE 17, 2008 |
JIM:
|
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Endless
Boogie - Focus Level CD
This NYC four-piece started out as an "old man
hobby" and turned into the best psychedelic rock 'n' roll
band in the city (maybe country, possibly world). Endless Boogie
jam, then jam some more. They lock in grooves so tight there's
no escape - like entering a black hole, that last second stretches
out forever. The only thing keeping them from living up to their
name is the physics of the compact disc. The perfect soundtrack
to hot summer nights. Hanging out in the basement. Smoking figs
in the yard. (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
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Loretta
Lynn - Van Lear Rose CD
The Coal Miners daughter produced and arranged by Jack
White of the White Stripes.
|
PAUL:
|
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Notwist
- The Devil, You + Me CD
The Notwist make music that's at once impossibly personal
and hugely inviting. This release is their most important and
moving to date, in the band's nearly 20 year career. Markus
Acher's singular voice surrounds you with all the comfort of
familiarity, the euphoria of re-acquaintance. It takes a while
before the words and the scale of the musical language sink
in.
|
GEOFF:
|
 |
The
Monks - Monk Time CD
2004 re-issue of this 1966 proto-punk classic, with
bonus tracks. "One of the strangest stories in rock history,
the Monks were formed in the early '60s by American G.I.s stationed
in Germany. After their discharge, the group stayed on in Germany
as the Torquays, a fairly standard beat band. After changing
their name to the Monks in the mid-'60s, they also changed their
music, attitude, and appearance radically. Gone were standard
oldie covers, replaced by furious, minimalist original material
that anticipated the blunt, harsh commentary of the punk era.
|
| ROY: |
|
Notwist
- The Devil, You + Me CD
The Notwist make music that's at once impossibly personal
and hugely inviting. This release is their most important and
moving to date, in the band's nearly 20 year career. Markus
Acher's singular voice surrounds you with all the comfort of
familiarity, the euphoria of re-acquaintance. It takes a while
before the words and the scale of the musical language sink
in.
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, JUNE 10, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Fleet
Foxes - S/T CD
Fleet Foxes are five. There are five of them, and
they are from Seattle. They are, for lack of an imminently more
marketable descriptor, a group trafficking in baroque harmonic
pop. And the joy they derive in doing so is palpable. We feel
it too. They are, self-described, not much of a rock band. With
the help of credit cards, minimum wages, tip money, friends
and family, Fleet Foxes crafted their first demo, and subsequently
the Sun Giant EP and this debut full-length album, with family
friend Phil Ek manning the rudder. (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Joan
As Policewoman - To Survive CD
ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "If To Survive is any indication,
Joan Wasser's life after Real Life is calmer, but no less thoughtful,
than it was before her beautifully stormy debut album. Real
Life was a major statement, filled with a lifetime's worth of
catharsis. To Survive doesn't try for that scope -- as the title
suggests, these songs are about day to day concerns that are
no less vital: aloneness, togetherness, love, hope, and righteous
anger. However, Joan as Police Woman's "beauty is the new
punk rock" aesthetic is used just as powerfully here, with
the same kind of delicate bravery and strong vulnerability."
|
PAUL:
|
 |
The
Quarter After - Changes Near CD
New album from psych-pop kingpins. Lead by the
two Campanella siblings- songwriter/singer Dominic & guitarist/producer
Robert. Dom's prominent twelve-string Rickenbacker & rich
melodies set the tone for songs that range from dense guitar-driven
psychedelic attacks to further explorations into down home country
in the grand tradition of West Coast rock. They are joined by
a collection of LA musicians including friend & mentor Ric
Menck (Velvet Crush, the Tyde), Matthew Sweet, Miranda Lee Richards,
Mara Keagle, Eric Heywood (Son Volt), Christoff W. Certik (Winter
Flowers), Kirk Hellie (Meow Meow), Probyn Gregory (Wondermints,
Brian Wilson Band), & Matthew Sigley (Lovetones, Daytime
Frequency). (MORE) |
ROY:
|
 |
Byrds,
The - Live At Royal Albert Hall 1971 CD
From their earliest days as 12-string-wielding folk-rockers,
to the thrilling psychedelic excursions of their raga-rock period
to their 1968 birthing of country-rock, The Byrds were always
accorded a hero's welcome in England. What better place to record
founding Byrds member/guitarist/singer Roger McGuinn's new version
of the band-featuring fretboard ace Clarence White, bassist
Skip Battin and drummer Gene Parsons, than London's Royal Albert
Hall! (MORE) |
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|
Welcome
to thrillsville, JUNE 3 , 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Wildbirds
& Peacedrums - Heartcore CD
Together, the Swedish duo of charismatic singer Mariam
Wallentin & drummer Andreas Werliin have forged an extraordinary
hybrid of spiritual pop, primal blues, & ecstatic soul music.
Seesawing between pagan rhythms & sparse, bewitching ballads,
this self-produced debut is a declaration of intent: immediate,
exhilarating, & just plain new. (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Aimee
Mann - @#%&! Smilers CD
"I've always been drawn to dark, eccentric personalities,"
says Los Angeles singer songwriter Aimee Mann. On Smilers, her
7th solo CD, Mann presents thirteen exquisitely-crafted new
songs about the inner life of people living far from the bright
lights of success or fame.
|
PAUL:
|
 |
Dillard
& Clark - Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard & Clark CD
The '68 debut, originally released on A&M, from
one of the first & finest LA country-rock outfits. Comprised
of Gene Clark, hot on the heels of his departure from the BYRDS
& Doug Dillard, the virtuosic banjoist/guitarist of the
Dillards. Feat. help from fellow Byrd Chris Hillman, future
Burrito Brother "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, & future
Burrito/Eagle Bernie Leadon, this is an absolutely essential
piece of country-rock history, not to mention an out & out
masterpiece. Contains 3 extra tracks & liner notes. |
ROY:
|
|
Grateful
Dead - American Beauty [Bonus Tracks] (Remastered) CD
Roy really really loves it! |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, MAY 27, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
22
Pistepirkko - (Well You Know) Stuff Is Like We Yeah! [limited
DCD w/book]
Limited edition DCD version of their new 2008 full-length
packaged in a little hardback book. Bonus CDEP features "Suburban
Ladyland", "Close" (exclusive), the yummy Macchiato
Bubble Mix of "Coffee Girl" and, most compellingly,
the English-language version of a 390 page book about 22P in
PDF form! (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Pixies
- Surfer Rosa (reissued) CD
The Pixies reissued at a low, low price! 1988 debut
by groundbreaking Boston band captured brilliantly by Steve
Albini (Big Black/Rapeman/Shellac). 13 eye openers including
Bone Machine, Broken Face, Gigantic, Rive Euphrates, Where Is
My Mind?, and more. Raw, energetic, beautiful, witty... absolutely
ESSENTIAL! Named to Mojo Magazine's list of "100 Greatest
Guitar Albums"
|
| GEOFF: |
 |
Neil
Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971 CD
"The second volume of Neil Young's long-promised,
suddenly thriving Archives series is Live at Massey Hall, preserving
a 1971 acoustic show at the Toronto venue. Where the first volume
captured a portion of Neil's past that wasn't particularly well
documented on record -- namely, the rampaging original Crazy
Horse lineup in its 1970 prime -- this second installment may
seem to cover familiar ground, at least to the outside observer
who may assume that any solo acoustic Young must sound the same.
That, of course, is not the case with an artist as mercurial
and willful as Young, who was inarguably on a roll in 1971,
coming off successes with Crazy Horse, Crosby, Stills &
Nash, and his second solo record, 1970's After the Gold Rush.
(MORE)
|
PAUL:
|
 |
Sykes,
Jesse and the Sweet Hereafter - Oh, My Girl CD
Syke's stark songs roil with themes of loss, resignation,
and love laid bare, placing them sonically and lyrically somewhere
between "Pour Down Like Silver"-era Richard and Linda
Thompson or vintage Neil Young, the warm country-gothic-noir
of Nick Cave, and the elegant indie rock of Cat Power. (MORE) |
ROY:
|
 |
Mason
Jennings - In the Ever CD
Sixth album for Minneapolis singer-songwriter &
debut on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records. Coming off his 2006
majorlabel bow, Boneclouds, for Modest Mouse leader Isaac Brock's
Epic-distributed Glacial Pace label, Jennings retreated to a
studio in the woods, where he set himself up with a laptop and
two microphones. The title comes from his son talking about
where he came from before he was born, "Ya know dad, when
I was in the Ever?' It continues his spiritual journey, informed
by his love of influences like Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt,
Hank Williams, Johnny Cash's American recordings and Led Zeppelin,
his favorite band of all time. (MORE)
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, MAY 20, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Mudhoney
- The Lucky Ones CD
Worldwide lovers of the finer things are rejoicing
at the news that Mudhoney, yep Mudhoney, is back in action in
2008 with The Lucky Ones, the band’s eighth full album
in a mere 20 years of triumphant rocking. Deliberately and aggressively
raw, The Lucky Ones sounds as lean and as full-on as any modern
equivalent one cares to mention. (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
|
Notwist
- The Devil, You + Me CD
The Notwist make music that's at once impossibly personal
and hugely inviting. This release is their most important and
moving to date, in the band's nearly 20 year career. Markus
Acher's singular voice surrounds you with all the comfort of
familiarity, the euphoria of re-acquaintance. It takes a while
before the words and the scale of the musical language sink
in.
|
ROY:
|
 |
Sunset
- Bright Blue Dream CD
This is succinctly all-encompassing, from the faux-simplicity
of the title to the beautiful distortion of its sound, to the
packaging that incl. a 68-pg full-color bk packed w/ photos
& art pieces. The record opens w/ a symphony of noise &
sometimes creeps, sometimes smashes through a sonic headlock
befitting Daydream Nation-era Sonic Youth, Kiwi pop, My Bloody
Valentine, & experimental noise. (MORE)
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, MAY 6, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Sunset
- Bright Blue Dream CD
Bright Blue Dream" is the first widely available
LP from Bill Baird's new project, {{{Sunset}}}, following the
break up of Sound Team. The record is a follow-up to his previous
CDR and cassette albums, "{{{Sunset}}}," "Silence!,"
and "Pink Clouds", which were released independently
through 2006 and 2007. (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
|
Sunset
- Bright Blue Dream CD
Bright Blue Dream" is the first widely available
LP from Bill Baird's new project, {{{Sunset}}}, following the
break up of Sound Team. The record is a follow-up to his previous
CDR and cassette albums, "{{{Sunset}}}," "Silence!,"
and "Pink Clouds", which were released independently
through 2006 and 2007. (MORE)
|
ROY:
|
|
Sunset
- Bright Blue Dream CD
Bright Blue Dream" is the first widely available
LP from Bill Baird's new project, {{{Sunset}}}, following the
break up of Sound Team. The record is a follow-up to his previous
CDR and cassette albums, "{{{Sunset}}}," "Silence!,"
and "Pink Clouds", which were released independently
through 2006 and 2007. (MORE)
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, APRIL 22, 2008 |
JIM:
|
 |
Motorpsycho
- Little Lucid Moments
CD
(ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 15TH) Motorpsycho
was founded in 1989 in Trondheim, Norway's third biggest city,
when mainstays Bent Sæther (bass, vocals) and Hans Magnus
"Snah" Ryan (guitar, vocals) were joined by drummer
Kjell Runar "Killer" Jenssen. The first album, Lobotomizer,
was released in 1991 after which Killer quit and Håkon
Gebhardt took over the drums for many years to come. (MORE)
|
PAUL
|
 |
Tapes
N Tapes - Walk It Off CD
The Minneapolis-based band's first record
since 2006's widely lauded "The Loon" which established
them as ones to watch. Tapes 'N Tapes' signature sound is distinctly
their own concoction: shaky vocals, bursts of lo-fi guitars,
and haunting keyboard refrains. Jittery rock that's found the
sweet spot where experimental song structure meets melodic accessibility.
"The album...is unique in an era of slick 80s chic, mixing
the opaque jams of Pavement with the bruised-teen freakiness
of The Pixies, while adding cocktail jazz and Tex-Mex folk music
like thrift store finds" - Spin.
|
ROY:
|
 |
Woods
- How To Survive In The Woods CD
Initially issued as a double-cassette on the Fuckittapes
label, was recorded in 2 bedrooms w/ no intention of being shared
w/ the outside world. 13 cuts of home-cooked measles & grout
gingerly pulled out of the spleen of a tape deck. |
GEOFF:
|
 |
Gram Parsons & the Flying Burrito Brothers - Archive Volume
1 DCD
(Digipack
Packaging) Two-CD, high-fidelity live set ‘Gram Parsons
Archives Vol. 1: The Flying Burrito Brothers “Live”
at the Avalon 1969’ on Amoeba Records.
Material
from 1969 found in Grateful Dead vaults – The two CD,
27-track set includes a number of never-before-heard -- though
long rumored – rarities including 10 songs never recorded
by Parsons and never before available. (more)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Sera Cahoone - Only As The Day Is Long CD
Despite being an accomplished guitarist and songwriter,
Sera preferred to stay behind the drum kit (drumming for the
likes of Carissa's Wierd, LA musician Patrick Park, and on
the Band Of Horses' debut, "Everything All The Time")
until one tour across the US with Park in 2006. She found
herself inspired by the landscape and she wrote an album in
her thoughts as they drove along the blue highways and back
roads of the expansive west and the plains. "...a breathtaking
collection of sad and dusky songs that reveal an artist of
remarkable depth as well as a truly stunning voice" -
The Stranger.
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, APRIL 1, 2008 |
JIM:
|
|
Motorpsycho
- Little Lucid Moments
CD
(ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 15TH) Motorpsycho
was founded in 1989 in Trondheim, Norway's third biggest city,
when mainstays Bent Sæther (bass, vocals) and Hans Magnus
"Snah" Ryan (guitar, vocals) were joined by drummer
Kjell Runar "Killer" Jenssen. The first album, Lobotomizer,
was released in 1991 after which Killer quit and Håkon
Gebhardt took over the drums for many years to come. (MORE)
|
PAUL
|
 |
Nick
Lowe - Jesus Of Cool [Bonus
Tracks] (Digipack Packaging) CD
Reissue of his classic first solo record.
Pop record making at it's finest. A must own!! 2008 marks the
30th anniversary of Nick Lowe's seminal 1978 album Jesus of
Cool. The album, released in the U.S. as Pure Pop for Now People,
marks the beginning of one of the most storied and influential
solo careers in pop music and marks the true emergence of a
songwriting monolith. The album is a literal compendium of 25
years of pop music history. (MORE)
|
ROY:
|
 |
The
Quarter After - Changes Near CD
New album from psych-pop kingpins. Lead by the two
Campanella siblings- songwriter/singer Dominic & guitarist/producer
Robert. Dom's prominent twelve-string Rickenbacker & rich
melodies set the tone for songs that range from dense guitar-driven
psychedelic attacks to further explorations into down home country
in the grand tradition of West Coast rock. (MORE)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Montys Loco - Farewell Mr. Happy CD
New album from weird/winsome electro-pop mavens.
Highly recommended, more on this later. I'm picking this one
again! I love this one!!
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, MARCH 18TH |
JIM:
|
 |
Paper
- An Object CD
Debut album from Swedish motorik-punk trio featuring
Calle Olsson from The Bear Quartet and Paddington DC along with
members of Audionom. The sound is based around the frustration
of punk, the delicacy of pop melody and the hypnotic power of
repetition. Think early Wire meets early Wire, simple, powerful;
with streamers of Neu!, Silverbullit/Citizen Bird, Joy Division...
Fans of The Bear Quartet’s recent electronic efforts,
Audionom’s hypnotic avant-punk, and Paddington DC’s
zoom-pop will be held in thrall, if you don’t mind a bit
of krautrockin’ cochlea-knocking. |
PAUL
|
 |
Bon
Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago CD
This debut is centered around a particular
aesthetic; Justin Vernon, the primary force behind Bon Iver,
moved to a remote cabin in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin
at the onset of winter, alone for three months. This solitary
time fed a bold, uninhibited new musical focus. All his personal
trouble, lack of perspective, heartache, longing, love, loss,
and guilt that had been stockpiled over the past six years was
suddenly purged into song. The NY Times called this record "irresistible",
and it was given a "Recommeded" rating by Pitchfork.
RIYL: Iron & Wine, M. Ward, and Elliott Smith.
|
ROY:
|
 |
Various
- New Folk Routes CD
When visionary UK underground scene-maker and entrepreneur
Joe Boyd started making records under his own Witchseason banner
in 1967, he could have had little idea of the staggering amount
of uber-influential artists he would go on to produce over the
next few years. Step up Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, The
Incredible String Band, Sandy Denny, Vashti Bunyan, Nico and
Dr Strangely Strange to name but a few. He licensed most of
these records out to the super-cool Island label where they
joined the likes of Traffic, John Martyn and The Amazing Blondel
and unwittingly formed the backbone of the now hugely revered
and collectable British folk-rock movement of the late ‘60s
and ‘70s. (more) |
ANGIE:
|
 |
Club 8 - The Friend I Once Had CD
Reissue. With a glittery mix of jangly guitars, bossa
nova and sophisticated, melancholic pop melodies, ”The
Friend I Once Had” was a big step forwards for Club
8. Their debut album ”Nouvelle” may be regarded,
as a twee pop classic by some but the band would happily rather
bury most the songs under a rock. This is the album they wish
was their debut. (more)
|
Geoff:
|
|
Paper - An Object CD
Debut album from Swedish motorik-punk trio featuring
Calle Olsson from The Bear Quartet and Paddington DC along with
members of Audionom. The sound is based around the frustration
of punk, the delicacy of pop melody and the hypnotic power of
repetition. Think early Wire meets early Wire, simple, powerful;
with streamers of Neu!, Silverbullit/Citizen Bird, Joy Division...
Fans of The Bear Quartet’s recent electronic efforts,
Audionom’s hypnotic avant-punk, and Paddington DC’s
zoom-pop will be held in thrall, if you don’t mind a bit
of krautrockin’ cochlea-knocking. |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, MARCH 11TH |
JIM:
|
 |
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust CD
New album from Danish duo, can't wait! Coasting is
the easy option. Having the balls to recognize that things aren’t
right and doing something about them is much harder. It may
have taken The Raveonettes' Sune and Sharin a little while but
they made the right decision in the end- both personally and
creatively- and ‘Lust, Lust, Lust’ is where the
two worlds collide. The songs cover the toughest decisions,
the fondest of memories, the scariest of fears and the most
tempting of desires all from the most personal viewpoint yet
captured in The Raveonettes back-catalogue.
(more) |
PAUL
|
 |
Adorable
- Footnotes: Best Of (92-94) CD
First
compilation of songs from former Creation Records artists Adorable.
Contains tracks from both their albums on Creation released
in the early 1990’s, along with non-album singles and
B-sides -- all seven singles released by the band. Also included
is a new edit of ‘Glorious’ from the debut ‘Against
Perfection’, which is exclusive to this release. All tracks
included have been deleted & unavailable for several years.
Includes a 20-page booklet with exclusive new extensive liner
notes from all four band members – especially written
for this release – along with photos, classic sleeve images
& items from their personal archives.
|
ROY:
|
 |
Sandy
Denny - Sandy + 5 CD
Second solo LP for FAIRPORT CONVENTION singer digitally
remastered w/ 5 bonus tracks. |
ANGIE:
|
 |
Smile Smile - Blue Roses CD
Hailing from the Dallas, TX music scene, Ryan Hamilton
and Jencey Hirunrusme create their own modern blend of folk,
pop and rock in Smile Smile. Their songs range from heart
wrenching ballads to foot stomping sing alongs. Jencey’s
classical piano background teamed with Ryan’s self-taught
guitar style combine to create sounds, which both soar above
you and pull you in tight at the same time. (more)
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, MARCH 4TH |
JIM:
|
 |
Black Mountain - In
The Future:
Favorite psych-and-prog-spiritual pioneers BLACK MOUNTAIN
are back with "In The Future", their second full-length
album that resonates with the same epic ring, beloved deep rock
touchstones and genuine folk fragility that made their self-titled
debut full-length an instant classic.
(more) |
PAUL
|
 |
British
Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? CD
ALL
MUSIC GUIDE: "The band has crafted a wintry, nuanced, and
bold collection of epic songs that integrate the sweeping theatricality
of Arcade Fire-era indie rock without all of the insularity.
This is music made for people, not a person. The sound effects,
choral vocals, strings, and feedback that populate DYLRM feel
organic and necessary rather than just pasted in for drama's
sake. There has always been a sort of rough-hewn sepia-tone
unity to BSP songs, and that odd, inclusive wartime fervor permeates
each track." FOUR 1/2 STARS! (more)
|
ROY:
|
 |
Common
Loon - Dinosaur vs. Early Man b/w Palestine Everywhere 7"
Blending classic West Coast harmonies with some cosmically-inclined
guitar-gush lushness and an otherworldly hi-fi-ness, local dream-rock
duo Common Loon rates as one of the C-U Music Scene's bands
to watch in 2008. Yes, there's an album in the pipe. Comes with
a digital download ticket, so you can have it both ways. Pink-noise-pop
for Sebadoh, Spiritualized, and Spacemen 3 fans. |
GEOFF:
|
|
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? CD
ALL
MUSIC GUIDE: "The band has crafted a wintry, nuanced,
and bold collection of epic songs that integrate the sweeping
theatricality of Arcade Fire-era indie rock without all of
the insularity. This is music made for people, not a person.
The sound effects, choral vocals, strings, and feedback that
populate DYLRM feel organic and necessary rather than just
pasted in for drama's sake. There has always been a sort of
rough-hewn sepia-tone unity to BSP songs, and that odd, inclusive
wartime fervor permeates each track." FOUR 1/2 STARS!
(more)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Menck - Hey War Pigs 7"
On his new 45rpm vinyl single Velvet Crush drummer
and very occasional solo singer-songsmith Ric Menck covers
former Soft Boys and Katrina & The Waves guitarist-songwriter
Kimberly Rew’s pissed-off protest anthem “Hey
War Pigs” (so very fitting) backed by his dry-hump version
of “Teenage Head” by The Flaming Groovies. Black
wax in a plain paper sleeve. In addition to founding Velvet
Crush Menck is and has been a member of The Drats, The Reverbs,
The Springfields, The Paint Set, The Big Maybe, The Stupid
Cupids, Pop The Balloon, Choo Choo Train, Duffy, The Tyde,
Frausdots, Aimee Mann and Matthew Sweet.
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, November 20th |
JIM:
|
 |
Shipwreck - Rabbit
in the Kitchen With a New Dress On
Champaign, IL combo Shipwreck's second full-length
album (on the heels of two awesome EPs), released by Polyvinyl
sub-label None Records. Shipwreck have a sound that somehow
evokes the enigmatic, haunting, and sometimes dangerous allure
of the open sea. It seems an all-too-convenient metaphor, but
in practice the metaphor feels true. (more) |
PAUL
|
 |
Various:
White Lace & Strange:
It’s Thurston’s first solo outing since
1995’s Psychic Hearts. Of course, Thurston’s been
releasing records here, there and everywhere mostly in the context
of rowdy and rambunctious noise/improv escapades but this new
one is killer diller SONGS! Unlike Psychic Hearts’ skeletal
trio rock, this new jammer, 12 years post, has a far fuller
bouquet of sonic depth and proves this Sonic dude to have a
very real songwriting life outside of the legendary Sonic Youth
(of which he is a founding figure, duh). (more)
|
ROY:
|
 |
The
Band - Self-titled CD
2000 Re-issue remastered with 7 bonus tracks.
Roy + The Band = True Love Always.... |
GEOFF:
|
|
Gram Parsons & the Flying Burrito Brothers - Archive Volume
1 DCD
(Digipack
Packaging) Two-CD, high-fidelity live set ‘Gram Parsons
Archives Vol. 1: The Flying Burrito Brothers “Live”
at the Avalon 1969’ on Amoeba Records.
Material
from 1969 found in Grateful Dead vaults – The two CD,
27-track set includes a number of never-before-heard -- though
long rumored – rarities including 10 songs never recorded
by Parsons and never before available. (more)
|
ANGIE:
|
 |
Whiskey Priest - Hungry CD
Whiskey Priest is the solo debut of Noah Hall of
Easterly. Hall trades Easterly's fuzz and jangle for an acoustic
and a celesta, but his trademark melodies and sad but hopeful
lyrics are present and in fine form. Take the more acoustic
Teenage Fanclub numbers, or even the quieter tracks on Big
Star's Third as a reference point.
|
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, October 29th |
JIM:
|
 |
Anna Ternheim - S-T CD
Swedish songbird's US debut is a neat little collection
of some of her best to date, highly recomended for Cat Power
and Frida Hyvonen fans. A girl and a piano...yum. (more) |
PAUL
|
 |
Various:
White Lace & Strange:
Heavy Psych and Power Fuzz from the USA 68-72CD
White Lace & Strange is comprised of rare U.S.
stomp-rock from the '60s you've probably never heard before.
By the end of the '60s, psychedelia was pretty much a spent
force. Bands were looking for something simpler and more earthy.
Crosby, Stills & Nash had gone all acoustic and harmonious,
The Band had achieved a return to classic Americana, and James
Taylor was showing the world you could be laid back and hip
at the same time. However, not everyone wanted to ditch their
fuzzboxes. Inspired by such outfits as Cream, Blue Cheer, Hendrix
and the nascent Led Zeppelin, these American bands were moving
out of psych into something less cosmic and far heavier.
(more)
|
ROY:
|
 |
Tulsa
- I Was Submerged CD
As comforting & timeless as the songs are, they
retain a melodic eeriness that could leave the listener feeling
unsettled were they not so impeccably crafted. A dreamy concoction
of reverberated vocals & sepulchral guitars layered upon
fervent percussion & the defining touch: the asymmetrical
tones of a Fender Rhodes, which cascade throughout the recordings.
Its often the Neutral Milk Hotel or Neil Young tag that is pinned
to Tulsas sleeve, and they wont deny that. But theres actually
much more that they try to accomplish. If theres a middle ground
between the Carter Family & Can, Tulsa has discovered it.
(more) |
ANGIE:
|
 |
Various Artists - I'm Not There [Dylan Biopic OST] DCD
Features exclusive Bob Dylan covers by Sonic Youth,
Eddie Vedder, Jim James & Calexico, John Doe, Stephen
Malkmus, Cat Power, Iron & Wine w/Calexico, Karen O.,
Yo La Tengo, Sufjan Stevens, Antony & The Johnsons, Dylan
w/The Band, Tom Verlaine, Willie Nelson, and many more!
(Track
Listing) |
GEOFF:
|
 |
Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge CD
New full-length release from exquisite Brit strummer,
former Longpigs guitarist and Pulp sideman, with a voice that
elicts comparisons to Scott Walker and Roy Orbison. The heady
follow-up to his very wonderful 'Coles Corner' album. ALL MUSIC
GUIDE: "Songwriter, guitarist, and producer Richard Hawley
is celebrated by everyone from Scott Walker to former Pulp vocalist
and bandmate Jarvis Cocker to Robbie Williams. The reason is
simple: Over three albums and an EP, Hawley’s rich blend
of rock and roll's past, sophisticated pop and emotionally engaging
music is undeniable in its integrity and its beauty." |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, October 8th |
JIM:
|
 |
Johnossi - S-T CD
Domestic release for one of 2006's BEST Scandinavian
releases. ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Johnossi are singer/guitarist
John Engelbert and drummer Oskar "Ossi" Bonde, and
for a duo, this Swedish pair packs quite a punch. You wouldn't
think so from the folky, acoustic intro to "The Show Tonight,"
which opens their eponymous debut album, not, at least, until
Engelbert's electric guitar storms in and kicks the song toward
hard rock. (more) |
PAUL
|
 |
Pearlfishers,
The - Up With The Larks CD
Glasgow's The Pearlfishers return refreshed and improved
with Up With The Larks, their sixth album for Marina Records
-- the latest in a line of orch-pop masterpieces. The album
is clear evidence that main Pearlfisher David Scott continues
his unique musical journey with renewed joy and verve -- and
that classic songwriting and well-crafted arrangements are alive
and well in 2007. The Pearlfishers, firmly rooted in the classic
tradition of three-minute cinematics as pioneered by Webb, McCartney
and Rufus Wainwright, are back and as brilliant as ever.
|
ROY:
|
 |
Krukid
- African CD
C-U emcee Krukid was officially selected to be part
of the Rawkus 50, Rawkus’ new underground hip-hop campaign.
Krukid’s sophomore album features many of his talented
friends. These include John Doe, Ryan Groff, Kayla Brown, Sanyankanta,
Yes Yes, SMI, Larry Gates and Brandon T Washington. |
ANGIE:
|
 |
Fionn Regan -End Of History CD
Universally hailed by the Brit & Irish press, both
musical & mainstream, Regan plays a version of folk music
"similar to Dylan's early albums, but with the flow of
a Nick Drake-a stunning combination.****"-THE TIMES "Ireland's
answer to Bright Eyes."-NME |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, September 18th |
ROY
+ PAUL both picked:
|
 |
Wooden
Shjips - S-T CD
Debut album? Might come with a bonus CD including
all of the group's early vinyl-only releases including a previously
unreleased unedited eight minute version of "Dance, California"?
It might! Wooden Shjips, a quartet from San Francisco heavily
influenced by the experimentalism of psychedelia, classical
minimalism, and garage rock excess, started as an experiment
in rhythmic primitivism and group improvisation... (more)
|
JIM:
|
 |
Pulsar
47 - Slow Motion Quest CD
Pulsar47 (ex-At Knifepoint) strives to expand from
their post rock roots by incorporating more electronics and
noise by way of circuit bent synths and children's toys, laptop
programming and samples, and even modified scientific equipment.
Their songs feature layered melodies, intense dynamics, and
noise that combined create vast musical soundscapes. Influences
include Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Spiritualized, M83, Mogwai,
Isis, Lanterna, Sigur Ros, Centaur, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin,
Goblin, A Silver Mt. Zion, Radiohead, etc. Guitars intertwined
with bass, bells, strings, keyboards, a little bit of the past,
and some doses of the future. |
ANGIE:
|
 |
Lucinda
Williams - West CD
I saw her live over the weekend in Dallas. It was my
first time seeing LW live, and it was amazing and so inspiring!
YAY! -angie
Perhaps her most personal work to date w/songs touching on both
darkness & redemption. At turns strikingly spare & compellingly
muscular. Produced by HAL WILLNER.drinkers in general. |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, September 11th |
ROY:
|
 |
Blues
Control - S-T CD
Up & coming NYC guitar duo that just might be
the missing link between Van Halen & legendary experimentalist
Henry Flynt. Hazy. Spaced out pulsing electronics laid to waste
by fuzzed psychedelic distortion.
|
PAUL:
|
 |
David
Vandervelde - Moonstation House Band CD
DAVID VANDERVELDE appeared before us one hot summer
day like a dynamo. The sound we heard coming through in stereo
was that of our coming-of-age years screaming back at us -
a faithful reminder that our beauteous days of bowing before
pin-up rock stars and carving iconographic logos on desktops
and in famous treetrunks have not passed us by. No, David
Vandervelde is here to remind us that the truest, most primal
and addictive properties of rock n' roll are ageless. (more)
|
JIM:
|
 |
Black
Cab - Jesus East CD
New album from Australian psych-o-nauts. Jesus East
is something of an antidote to the fear and loathing of their
debut album, Altamont Diary, blending late '60's and early '70's
rock sounds with loops and subtle electronica over pulsing percussion
and driving guitars reminiscent of some of the great German
rock bands of the '70's. Jesus East evokes ghosts of the Velvet
Underground, Can, Neu and coolest Beatle George Harrison's fascination
with eastern sounds. |
ANGIE:
|
 |
New
Pornographers - Challengers CD
The fourth album is airier, more spacious, and more
relaxed than its jackhammer predecessors. In general, Carl Newman's
songwriting is slightly more scrutable this time around; his
lyrics still ring with wry perception and political metaphor,
but they betray some of the magnanimity that comes with new
love. The sophisticated, rich production values and complex
range of songwriting allow us to extend the group's audience
to new groups: AAA radio listeners, fans of Neko Case's solo
work, and coffee drinkers in general. |
GEOFF:
|
 |
Greg
Brown - Yellow Dog CD
"Notebook Songs Live in the Upper Peninsula!"
The beloved songwriter debuts a bouquet of new songs -- and
some old favorites -- one evening at the Peterson Auditorium
in Ishpeming MI; with special guests on two songs: Drew Howard
on pedal steel, bassist Dominic Suchyta, Seth Bernard on guitar
and the humming Daisy May Erlewine. Proceeds to benefit the
area's Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve -- all in an earth-friendly
bifold digipak. Contents: 1. Intro 2. Cold + Dark + Wet 3. Dream
Cafe 4. Better Days 5. Conesville Slough 6. Oily Boys 7. All
of Those Things 8. Canned Goods 9. "Pitchin' In..."
10. Laughing River 11. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, August 28th |
| ROY: |
 |
Perishers
- Victorious CD
New album of soft-pop melancholies and majesties from
excellent Swedish mopes. ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "With their third
album Victorious, The Perishers should finally put an end to
the hackneyed references to their Swedish homeland, and the
cliched use of such modifiers as "icy," "glacial,"
"glassy," et al. (more)
|
| PAUL: |
 |
Neil
Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971 CD
"The second volume of Neil Young's long-promised,
suddenly thriving Archives series is Live at Massey Hall, preserving
a 1971 acoustic show at the Toronto venue. Where the first volume
captured a portion of Neil's past that wasn't particularly well
documented on record -- namely, the rampaging original Crazy
Horse lineup in its 1970 prime -- this second installment may
seem to cover familiar ground, at least to the outside observer
who may assume that any solo acoustic Young must sound the same..."
(more)
|
| ANGIE: |
 |
Bangles
- Return to Bangleonia: Live in Concert DVD
One of the most successful female groups of all time,
The Bangles make a triumphant return to their hometown of L.A.
with their first ever concert DVD. The queens of power pop pull
out all of their hits, from "Walk Like An Egyptian"
to "Eternal Flame," along with early fan favorites
like "Hero Takes A Fall." Extras include acoustic
performances of "Ride The Ride" and Prince's "Manic
Monday," a candid interview with the band about their storied
history and a photo gallery with rare and never-before-seen
photos. |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, August 14th |
| GEOFF: |
|
The
Beatles - 1962-1966 CD
Assembling a compilation of the Beatles is a difficult
task, not only because they had an enormous number of hits,
but also because singles didn't tell the full story; many of
their album tracks were as important as the singles, if not
more so. (more)
The
Beatles - 1967-1970 CD
Picking up where 1962-1966 left off, the double-album compilation
1967-1970, commonly called The Blue Album, covers the Beatles'
later records, from Sgt. Pepper through Let It Be. (more) |
| ROY: |
 |
Tallest
Man On Earth - S-T CD
Debut mini-album from new Gravitation signing The Tallest
Man On Earth. Raw, rootsy, ragged folk stylings performed by
The Tallest Man On Earth, with his Bunyan-esque voice (OK, really
it's more Dylanesque) and his similarly-oversized acoustic guitar.
Influenced by Bob Dylan, Son House, Charley Patton, Nick Drake...
The Gravitation label is home to Bjorn Olsson, Elope, and Diamonds
In The Rougth (among others), one of Sweden's finest rock imprints.
|
| PAUL: |
 |
The
Flaming Lips Late Night Tales CD
The Flaming Lips' contribution to the Late Night Tales
series -- which also includes volumes curated by Four Tet, Jamiroquai,
and Nightmares on Wax -- shows off the band's wide-ranging but
almost always impeccable taste in music. (more)
|
| ANGIE: |
 |
Tegan
& Sara - The Con CD
ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Produced by Death Cab for Cutie's
Chris Walla, the album is full of quirky, Aqueduct-like keyboards,
punchy bass from Weezer's Matt Sharp and AFI's Hunter Burgan,
and even some guitar help from Kaki King that stretch and shove
their way into the spaces between Tegan and Sara's hook-driven
melodies and clean harmonies, more complex than anything they've
done before... An impressive step forward in their already commendable
discography." |
| JIM: |
 |
Sonic
Youth - Daydream Nation CD
Marketing 101: the band will be playing this entire
album start-to-finish for their set at the upcoming Pitchfork
Festival. Disc One features the original 1988 album, remastered
under the band's supervision and adds with a bonus home demo
of "Eric's Trip". Disc Two, the 'Live Daydream' is
comprised largely of previously unreleased tracks, features
15 live performances from the band's Daydream Nation Tour...plus
four studio bonus tracks: "Within You Without You"
(Beatles cover), "Computer Age" (Neil Young cover),
"Electricity" (Beefheart cover), and a cover of Mudhoney's
"Touch Me, I'm Sick", originally released as a Sub
Pop 7" single. |
|
Welcome to thrillsville, July 24th |
| ROY: |
|
Tallest
Man On Earth - S-T CD
Debut mini-album from new Gravitation signing The Tallest
Man On Earth. Raw, rootsy, ragged folk stylings performed by
The Tallest Man On Earth, with his Bunyan-esque voice (OK, really
it's more Dylanesque) and his similarly-oversized acoustic guitar.
Influenced by Bob Dylan, Son House, Charley Patton, Nick Drake...
The Gravitation label is home to Bjorn Olsson, Elope, and Diamonds
In The Rougth (among others), one of Sweden's finest rock imprints.
|
| PAUL: |
 |
Autumn
Defense, The - S-T CD
It's easy to tag the Autumn Defense as a band striving
to re-create the sun-splashed sound of the classic California
folk-rock and chamber pop albums of the '60s and early '70s,
but while their musical influences are clear, the truth is that
Patrick Sansone and John Stirratt have delivered an album every
bit as satisfying and beautiful as the artists they've followed
with their self-titled third release. The Autumn Defense is
a rich and mature collection of songs that sparkle with melodic
beauty without ignoring the more difficult emotions that are
often part and parcel of commitment; thankfully devoid of self-pity
or a deluded joy, these songs speak of passion and experience
in equal portions, and the superb arrangements and crisp, nearly
flawless playing bring forward the impassioned material with
inspired accuracy.
|
| ANGIE: |
 |
Barbara
Manning - Super Scissors (3XCD)
Remastered versions of the classic "Scissors"
album and its' follow up LP "One Perfect Green Blanket,"
both currently out of print in any format. Plus 24 previously
unreleased songs & recordings from the same time period
(mid 1980's-early 1990's). Packaged in a hardshell box set with
3 mini LP innersleeves, plus a thick booklet of photos and liner
notes by Nigel Cross, Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate) and others.
(more) |
| JIM: |
 |
The
Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional CD
Originally released in 1985 by one of Australia's best
bands of the era. Easily one of the finest albums of the decade,
and one of Jim's Tope Ten Albums Ever. Sadly, Triffid's frontman/vocalist
David McComb died on February 2nd 1999, he is mourned and missed
by fans and friends around the world. Re-issue includes the
original album lovingly remastered from the original half inch
tapes. (more) |
Welcome
to thrillsville, July 13th |
| ANGIE: |
 |
Green
Pajamas, The - Box Of Secrets CD
New album of psychedelic pop from Seattle veterans
The Green Pajamas, mining childhood nostalgia on their new album...
Box Of Secrets is a conceptual album, a follow up if you will
to 'Northern Gothic' (Camera Obscura, 2002), with three intertwining
themes running through it: local legends, characters, and personal
mythology. Inspired less by arcane literature and more by The
Green Pajamas three songwriters’ own childhood experiences:
70's TV movies dealing with gothic themes of murder, secrets,
the supernatural; along with small town life in the Pacific
Northwest, the vague setting for many of the songs is the Washington
coast. (more) |
| PAUL: |
 |
Penniless
- The Attraction
New album from Finnish power-poppers/edgy-rockers Penniless,
think Pixies, Weezer, Posies, Beatles, Kinks... Idiosyncratic
and Finnish (which might be redundant), Penniless continue to
re-invent themselves, emerging as popsmiths from a coccon of
distortion, while pouring all the energy and aggression of their
10-year career into these frantic majestic indierock songs.
|
| JIM: |
 |
Prefab
Sprout - Steve McQueen CD
Upon the UK release of Steve McQueen in 1985 frontman
Paddy Mcaloon explained "I'm probably the best songwriter
on the planet... Seriously...on my day, who are my rivals?"
Though assuredly just stirring up the press, the fact is, he
was right. It remains one of The Best Pop Albums EVER... This
is a 2007 digitally-remastered double-disc expansion of the
popular UK band's much loved second album, originally released
in 1985. Original producer Thomas Dolby did the remastering
Job, ensuring that all the band's original artistic sound and
intent remains intact. Include a second disc with eight of the
album's 11 tracks in re-arranged acoustic form, beautiful versions
that prove the songs' genius, recorded by Paddy in 2006 |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, June 25th |
| ANGIE: |
 |
Ryan
Groff - People In The Midwest CD
People In The Midwest’ is the debut solo album
from local hero Ryan Groff, frontman for regionally-acclaimed
Americana-Folk-Rock act Elsinore. Joyful, transcendent songs
with a spiritual vibe, some sporting a sweet seventies soft-rock
vibe, others exploring more ’00 experimental pop idealism.
Ryan’s songwriting runs a bit more expansive than your
normal human as he lets the instrumentation simmer somewhere
between restrained and minimalist and puts front and center
a voice (what a voice!) that recalls icons like Jeff Buckley,
Nick Drake and Elliott Smith (and Thom Yorke and Freddie Mercury
and Morrissey). The kid’s got more range than Amana and
Hotpoint put together! |
| ROY:
|
 |
St.
Vincent - Marry Me CD
WOW! St. Vincent is the moniker of singer/multi-instrumentalist/composer
Annie Clark and this is her debut full-length. She's opened
for such diverse acts as Television, Jose Gonzalez, and Sufjan
Stevens, and she's an inventive and versatile guitarist who
has also performed with avant-garde composer Glenn Branca. On
this record, she writes cinematic pop epics that feel at times
like Paris in the 20s before all the fun ended. Or, conversely,
an orchestra of pure modernity - a new American music, informed
by jazz, gospel blues, Southern folk music, and classical composition
but, in the end, an animal original unto itself. She's been
compared to everyone from Bjork to Kate Bush to Jeff Buckley,
and her beautiful voice melds perfectly with her intricate guitar
work.
*looks like St. Vincent is the new Midlake...do I sense a crush??
-angie |
| JIM: |
 |
Ricochets
- Isolation CD
Dirty Norwegian bohemian redneck blues, crooner rock-n-roll
for hearts that aren't just broken, but shattered. Like fellow
countrymen Madrugada Norway's garage-rock throwbacks The Ricochets
get the hips shakin', and their big guitars and a bigger voice
get compared to The Doors and The Animals alot (plenty of Hammond
organ and Fender guitar), although fans of Nick Cave, The Gun
Club and even The Afghan Whigs will find plenty to love here...
Welcome to the new beat of bohemian rock, brought to you by
five guys from Scandinavia who strike a near perfect balance
between tradition and innovation, knowledge and energy. (more) |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, June 4th |
| PAUL: |
 |
At
Swim Two Birds - Returning to the Scene of the Crime... CD
CD DIGIPACK + 8 page booklet. Returning to the scene
of the crime is the new album by AT SWIM TWO BIRDS, the solo
project of Roger Quigley - singer of the acclaimed duo from
Manchester, The Montgolfier Brothers and undoubtedly one of
the biggest talents in the English music scene. AT SWIM TWO
BIRDS shocks with the very stillness of the music: undulating
guitar lines with a hint of the sound of pubs and fairgrounds,
moodchanging music full of deep beauty. (more) |
| ANGIE: |
 |
Johnette
Napolitano - Scarred CD
An L.A. daughter whose name is synonymous with songs
about the city’s honking traffic blur and Hollywood Boulevard’s
forgotten dreamers, Johnette Napolitano has followed her musical
fancies for more than two decades, most famously with Concrete
Blonde, as a singer-songwriter-musician whose boundless voice
was an instrument of power and passion. Scarred’s 12 songs
are startling, spectacular and sublime. (more) |
| ROY:
|
 |
Arthur
& Yu - In Camera CD
This Seattle duo made an album with soft, layered vocals
that float over textural acoustics, "In Camera" is
an audible effigy of a time past, and an album made for forgetting
and remembering. Drawing sonic inspiration from the Velvet Underground
as well as the studio experimentation of Lee Hazlewood, each
track is a study in expansion, centered loosely around chiming
guitars and swirling melodies. (more) |
| JIM: |
 |
Elope
- 9 Distilled Dreams CD
Perhaps Elope's finest album to date...and that's saying
something consideing how brilliant 'The No Name Record' and
'3WD' are... It is also their very mellowest. '9 Distilled Dreams'
is the mainly acoustic companion piece to the rocking '3WD'
released earlier this year. Check out Jim's Pick page for a
sound sample. |
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, May 22nd |
| PAUL: |
 |
Rick
Hayward - Self-Titled CD
Having played lead guitar for psychedelic legends The
Accent, formed a late incarnation of The Zombies with Rod Argent,
collaborated with Christine Perfect (later of Fleetwood Mac),
joined boogie rockers Jellybread and recorded innumerable sessions,
Rick Hayward finally recorded this solo album for the Blue Horizon
label in 1971. (more) |
| ANGIE: |
 |
Gina
Villalobos - Miles Away CD
Gina’s nothing if not dead serious. Her music
is deeply rooted in time, place, and history. She’s the
real thing: an artist, someone who can show you where you are.
Hailed as the new “Queen of Country Rock” and seemingly
out of nowhere. (more) |
| ROY:
|
 |
Under,
Alex - Dispositivos de mi Granja CD
Repressed. After two successful 12"s on Trapez
and several EPs on his own label imprint CMYK, Alex Under has
made it to the top techno house producers in Spain. His reputation
rising also in other parts of Europe as his psychedelic and
trippy techno and house is the sound of now for many people.
His productions are based on construction/deconstruction, hypnotic
melodies, over blunt electronic rhythms and fine basslines.
(more) |
| JIM: |
 |
Various
- Searchin' For Shakes: Swedish Beat 1965-1968 CD
The Swedish Nuggets! Twenty-six killer tracks from
The Friends, Lea Riders Group, The Namelosers, Tages, etc. Thankfully
available again, expanded digital edition of the original LP
release, no overlap with the Who Will Buy These Wonderful Evils
series, liner notes by Alec Palao and Lindsay Hutton (Next Big
Thing magazine). (more) |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, May 14th
PAUL:
Charlotte
Gainsbourg - 5:55 CD
JIM:
Besnard
Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse CD
Seefeel
- Quique he CD
ANGIE:
Fleetwood
Mac - Original Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (remastered) CD
|
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, April 10th
JIM:
The
Chrysler -The Benelux Years CD
ANGIE:
The
Ponies - Turn Out The Lights CD
ROY:
Human
League - Travelogue CD |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, March 27th
JIM:
Sivert
Hoyem & The Volunteers - Exiles CD
ANGIE:
Maria
Taylor - Lynn Teeter Flower CD
PAUL:
Loudest
Whisper - The Children of Lir CD |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, March 13th
JIM:
Hip
Whips S/T #2 [full-length 2005 album in black jacket] CD
Hip
Whips S/T [9-song 2004 mini-album, white jacket] CD
ANGIE:
Gina
Villalobos - Miles Away CD
ROY:
Besnard
Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse CD
PAUL:
Besnard
Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse CD |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, February 13th
JIM:
Peter
Bjorn and John - S/T CD
ANGIE:
Midlake
- Trials of Van Occupanther CD
PAUL:
Lou
Barlow - Mirror The Eye CD |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, January 30th
GEOFF:
Ric
Menck - Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers Book
JIM:
Frida
Hyvonen - Music From The Dance Performance 'Pudel' CD
ANGIE:
New Ruins - The Sound They Make CD
ROY:
Midlake
- Trials of Van Occupanther CD
PAUL:
Grizzly
Bear - Yellow House CD |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, January 9th
JIM:
Wire
- Chairs Missing CD
ANGIE:
Pink Nasty - Mold The Gold CD
ROY:
Glifted
- Under And In CD
PAUL:
David
Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name DVD |
|
Welcome to thrillsville, December 12th
GEOFF:
Beatles
- LOVE CD
JIM:
Eskju
Devine - Heights CD
ANGIE:
Pink Nasty - Mold The Gold CD
ROY:
Spoils
Of War - S/T CD
PAUL:
Secret
Machines - September 000 |
|
Welcome
to thrillsville, November 21st
GEOFF:
Various
- CD86 : 48 Tracks From The Birth Of Indie Pop CD
JIM:
Consequences
- S/T CD
ANGIE:
Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas Singalong CD BOXSET
PAUL:
Various
- In-Kraut Vol. 2 : Hip Shaking Grooves Made In Germany 1967-1974
ROY:
Closer
Musik - After Love CD |
|
| |
