TODD - Big Ripper

Riot Season are taking CD pre-orders for TODD's newest album "Big Ripper". Enough with those CDs already, give us the vinyl!

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - The Century Of Self Tour Edition 2xLP

Can't find much information about this vinyl pressing, but up for pre-order from Amazon UK is a Tour Edition gatefold 2xLP of "The Century Of Self" by Trail of Dead. Like I said, can't get any details, all I know is that I sincerely enjoyed this record as it sees Trail Of Dead returning to true form. So, up for pre-order for £12,98 is a limited edition tour version 2xLP, grab it while you can from Amazon.co.uk and let me know if you have more details about this.

The Devil's Blood - The Time Of No Time Evermore 2xLP

I've been meaning to post about this 2xLP version of "The Time Of No Time Evermore" by The Devil's Blood for a while now, but I didn't bother to order from the label directly as they only had a pre-order version available for €49,99. To get the CD and a patch with the pre-order package doesn't justify that price, so I sat on it. Now, you can order the deluxe gatefold 2xLP from Burning World Records for only €24. Much better. Not sure if any US distros are carrying this yet though.

The Devil's Blood flirt with 70’s occult rock of bands like Black Widow, Coven and Black Sabbath or nowadays Witchcraft, made by artists who already served their time in bands such as Malkovich and Powervice. If reliving the 70s is your thing, get yours from Burning World

The Feelies - Fa Ce-La / Raised Eyebrows 7"

Insound are taking pre-orders for The Feelies debut 7" called "Fa Ce-La", originally released in 1979 and to date exactly 30 years later will be available exclusively through Insound, who comment: "This 7” first came out Rough Trade in 1979. It’s probably the two “peppiest” of the band’s songs from Crazy Rhythms. "Fa Ce-La" is the second track from the album and flies by so fast that you can’t tell if its all one chorus or all one verse. It's insanely catchy and frantic. There isn’t much else like it in new wave or indie rock.

The B side – “Raised Eyebrows” – is the real gem. It’s the second to last song from Crazy Rhythms and sounds like what I imagine it to be for a surfer catching a big wave. It’s a little like the Talking Heads' “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel.” It starts out with an extended peak and then explodes into a quick refrain and then it's gone. It’s about as much fun as you can have while sounding like a nerd. So, maybe it’s like the music equivalent of kicking ass at an academic decathlon."

No specific pressing information has been made available, but considering the considerable fan following for The Feelies, as well as being one of the most sought after early kult rock 7"s, get yours from Insound while supplies last and don't whine about it when they're gone again.

Ancient Sky - s/t LP

I just stumbled upon the self-titled debut album from Ancient Sky. This Brooklyn -based band goes all out on a psychedelic rock trip, definitely worth checking out for those into the likes of Black Mountain, Ancestors, Witchcraft or Cream.

Ancient Sky have quite an impressive line-up by the way, featuring current and former members of Darkest Hour, City Of Caterpillar, Majority Rule, Verse en Roma and many others. Definitely worth checking it out, so get one one of these LPs which comes packaged in a full color jacket with a printed inner sleeve and full color labels, available on 300 White, 300 Clear w/ Pink Haze and 400 Black copies. Order yours from The Perpetual Motion Machine

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms LP

It's hailing re-issues lately, but The Feelies debut album "Crazy Rhythms" is definitely one worth the effort.

Here's some info:
"Formed in Haledon NJ in 1976, The Feelies released 4 albums- including their critically acclaimed and influential debut "Crazy Rhythms", which was voted 49 in the top 100 albums of the 1980s by Rolling Stone magazine and chosen by Spin Magazine as 49 of the best alternative records of all time. The twin-guitar attack of songwriters and founders Glenn Mercer and Bill Million is the infectious sound of the group.

Paired with driving drums and percussion, it has left an indelible mark on the landscape of rock and roll. According to legend, the band played infrequently (usually on national holidays); however The Feelies performed several American and European tours in support of their records The Good Earth, Only Life, and Time For A Witness, which created a large cult following. The band also appeared on the The Late Show With David Letterman and in concerts with Lou Reed, The Patti Smith Group, REM, and Bob Dylan."

"Crazy Rhythms" comes on limited 180 gram LP and includes a download card. Pre-order it from Bar None Records before the September 22 release date.

Sleepy Sun - Sleepy Son 10"

San Francisco's Sleepy Sun are back with a new 10" called "Sleepy Son" (sic). Their debut album "Embrace" was good but not brilliant, and whilst recently seeing them live a few months ago I pondered that even though they're a light version of Black Mountain now, they have the potential to grow into something great. So, let's hope that this new 10" confirms this, and here's also hoping that there's no flute on thenew track. I don't like flutes.

ATP Records put this new 10" up for sale this week, which features the "Sleepy Son" track which was already on "Embrace", and a previously unreleased track called "Sandstorm Woman" and comes on coloured vinyl. Get it from ATP

Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future LP

Released last week but without any fuzz: ”Child Of The Future” by Motorpsycho, a Norwegian psychedelic rock band, who every now and then pop up out of nowhere and sneak a new release by us, or suddenly show up at some small concerthall in Europe. Their approach goes from classic rock, to weird folky acoustics to hypercatchy psychedelia. I've always given them the benefit of the doubt, and will do so for their new release as well.

Rune Grammofon comments: ”Child Of The Future” consist of six trademark Motorpsycho high energy rockers recorded by Steve Albini in his Chicago studio and bearing the classic hallmarks of great riffs, that driving tractor bass and some truly inspired guitar work. The slightly Zeppelin-esque ”The Waiting Game” is more acoustic and recorded at home. Motorpsycho, and indeed Rune Grammofon, have always been fans of music dating back to the late 60s and the 70s, also when it comes to production values and presentation. It should not come as a shock to anyone, especially not to the fans, that they have chosen to release this album on vinyl only, at least for the time being. Seeing as it is an analogue recording engineered by Steve Albini it only felt natural to release it in the format that many still consider to be the ultimate sound carrier. This sentiment also goes for the possibilities of the cover format, something Kim Hiorthøy has taken advantage of when doing this sleeve. The main sleeve has two die-cuts and has print on the inside, there is a thick colour inner sleeve and there is an amazing 60x60 poster with colour print on both sides. And before we forget, the vinyl itself is 180g and glorious white. Simply a great package and a great way to celebrate 20 years as a band.

Get the 180gr white LP from Rune Grammofon for 150NOK, which is about $25 or €18.

Mission Of Burma - The Sound The Speed The Light LP

As probably thousands others, I got acquainted with Mission Of Burma through Moby's cover of "That's when I reach for my revolver". After picking up "Signals, Calls and Marches" and "Vs."only a few years ago, it began to dawn on me that these guys have left a major impression on many of the "groundbreaking" bands on the nineties, yet somehow never got their moment of glory.

Mission Of Burma reunited a few years ago, I think their last output was called "Obliterati" or something, and now they're back with a new album. Here's what Matador has to say:

"The new album sounds far more spacious and dynamic. It is more or less divided into 4 sets or suites of 3 songs. Each suite explores a set of moods or colors, across the usual dizzying array of lyrical topics, from alcoholism to fleshly concerns. The anthemic, catchy opener, our first MP3, is a classic Burma rocker on a level with “This Is Not A Photograph” or “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate.” Other tracks, such as “Feed,” “Forget Yourself,” and “Slow Faucet,” the latter a live favorite for some time, are slow, hypnotic builders. “Good Cheer” is a burst of almost uncontainable joy and fun that literally explodes from the speakers.Of course, all the Burma trademarks are also present: the military snare drum, the melodic basslines high up on the neck, and the furiously experimental guitarwork, refracted and changed back into the songs via tape loops – all punctuated by the hoarse shouts of drummer Peter Prescott. This controlled chaos, this disciplined letting go, is the heart of what they do and it remains as exhilarating and fulfilling as ever."

For $18 you can pre-order the "The Sound The Speed The Light" LP from http://www.matadorrecords.com/ They also have pre-orders up for new Yo La Tengo 2xLP but I don't care enough to dedicate a full entry on them, as well a 7" pre-order for Kurt Vile - who remains an unkown to me at this point.

The Devil's Blood - I'll Be Your Ghost 12"

Released last week by Vàn Records out of Germany, Holland's best kept secret The Devil's Blood! Think old 70’s occult rock of bands like Black Widow, Coven and Black Sabbath or nowadays Witchcraft, made by artists who already served their time in bands such as Malkovich and Powervice.

Here's what the label has to say: "Taken from the upcoming album "The Time of No Time Evermore", out on Ván Records the 11th of September, the song "I'll Be Your Ghost" deals with insane worship and desperate, obsessive love and will serve as the multitude's first taste of the album. As a B side The Devil's Blood returned to The Void Studios again to record a rehearsal and from that recording the song "Voodoo Dust" was chosen. In a 12 minute version this song, originally released on last year's "Come, Reap" EP, is a very raw and unrefined version of the song, chosen for emotion and gusto rather then for perfect execution, and will give it a new face for some."

Order for 9,99€ at van-gbr.de/ and while over there you might as well get your hands on the Urfaust - "IX: Einsiedler" LP on white vinyl, you won't be dissappointed!

Arctic Monkeys - Humbug LP

No explanation necessary. Humbug. Produced by Josh Homme. Humbug. They don't need my support, but they deserve it. Humbug. Amazing band. Humbug. I love that word. Humbug.

Official release date is set at August 25, pre-order at http://dominorecordco.us/ Humbug!